Remember this.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20
When I first started following Jesus, some thirty plus years ago now, this is one of the first texts of Scripture I memorized. These verses are a succinct expression of the gospel. They teach us who Jesus is and they affirm that our whole faith rests on his identity and the blood of his cross. They gave me, and still give me, a rich sense of security. Every time I remember them they recall to me that my hope is in Jesus' power and blood and not, mercifully, in my own worthiness or merit.
All things are created by Jesus and for Jesus – Jesus is God eternal.
All things were reconciled to God through Jesus – Jesus is the Redeemer.
All things are reconciled to God by Jesus’ blood at the cross – Jesus is the Savior.
Here’s a new year’s challenge to you: Memorize this text. When you have it memorized e-mail me and tell me you have it down. I may find you and have you share it with the church (that would be awesome!) While you are memorizing soak up the hope and power of this great truth; let it sink into your heart and into your bones – let it change you.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Cain and Abel
Many Christians reject out of hand the Old Testament teaching on giving, tithing in particular, protecting themselves from the concept of the tenth on the grounds that Jesus freed us from such formally structured legalistic kinds of standards in our relationship with God. But who would you rather be, Cain or Abel?
Cain is a murderer and a whiner, you get the sense he’s just a jerk all the way around. But then, Abel is victim and who wants to be a victim? It doesn’t seem like there is much of a choice - but you have chosen, you are one or the other. Cain’s name means “gotten” or “acquire,” that should give you a clue to his nature right there. He was very concerned about his possessions. Still, when it came time to bring God an offering, and he did bring an offering, he wasn’t a total deadbeat when it came to worshipping God with his material things; he gave God the “fruit of the ground.” That’s where the trouble started because Abel came along and brought God a different kind of offering, and God noticed the difference.
The key to understanding Cain’s offering is the description of Abel’s, “the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.” Cain brought God an offering; Abel brought God an offering of the best, the firstborn and the most valuable parts. Cain’s offering was token, the casual ritual of measured obedience. Abel brought God an offering rich in love and trust. The Scripture gives the story of Cain and Abel to teach us that our offerings are a tangible and measurable representation of our relationship with God, and that God cares about the difference between the two.
As I reflect on the story of Cain and Abel, and on what Jesus teaches about giving and worship, I don’t see where God has changed at all. I believe God wants you to give the first and best of your material blessings to him for his use. I believe in so doing you declare your trust in him, you declare your recognition of his provision for you, and you declare you value his glory over everything you give as an offering to him. How do Jesus’ commands, “do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…” (Matt.6:19) and, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt.6:33) reflect a change in God’s heart about our offerings? How does Jesus’ praise of a widow who gave her last two coins, “all she had to live on” (Luke 21:1-4) communicate to us God is indifferent to the offerings we give? How does Paul’s exhortation in 2 Corinthians 8-9 to sow bountifully and cheerfully allow us to think God is now happy with an offering of “fruit of the ground” as much as with an offering of “the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions?”
I don’t believe people who claim the grace of the New Covenant commissions us to be stingy with God. I think the reason the tithe isn’t repeated in the New Covenant is because the men who wrote the New Testament couldn’t imagine it needed to be. I think resistance to the tithe is simply an indication that many, many followers of Jesus have given themselves over to Cain’s perspective on giving, convincing themselves that something, anything, is an acceptable offering.
Here’s an ironic statistic: according to Edmunds Auto the average American devotes 11%, a little more than a tithe, of their gross income to the payment on one car, while the average Evangelical Christian gives less than 4% to their church. And get this, if the people who attend Clear Creek Community Church contributed on a monthly basis the amount of one average car payment the financial resources of our church would triple!
Don’t tell me that Jesus didn’t know what he was talking about when he said “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt.6:21)
I repeat the question. Who would you rather be, Cain or Abel?
Cain is a murderer and a whiner, you get the sense he’s just a jerk all the way around. But then, Abel is victim and who wants to be a victim? It doesn’t seem like there is much of a choice - but you have chosen, you are one or the other. Cain’s name means “gotten” or “acquire,” that should give you a clue to his nature right there. He was very concerned about his possessions. Still, when it came time to bring God an offering, and he did bring an offering, he wasn’t a total deadbeat when it came to worshipping God with his material things; he gave God the “fruit of the ground.” That’s where the trouble started because Abel came along and brought God a different kind of offering, and God noticed the difference.
The key to understanding Cain’s offering is the description of Abel’s, “the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.” Cain brought God an offering; Abel brought God an offering of the best, the firstborn and the most valuable parts. Cain’s offering was token, the casual ritual of measured obedience. Abel brought God an offering rich in love and trust. The Scripture gives the story of Cain and Abel to teach us that our offerings are a tangible and measurable representation of our relationship with God, and that God cares about the difference between the two.
As I reflect on the story of Cain and Abel, and on what Jesus teaches about giving and worship, I don’t see where God has changed at all. I believe God wants you to give the first and best of your material blessings to him for his use. I believe in so doing you declare your trust in him, you declare your recognition of his provision for you, and you declare you value his glory over everything you give as an offering to him. How do Jesus’ commands, “do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…” (Matt.6:19) and, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt.6:33) reflect a change in God’s heart about our offerings? How does Jesus’ praise of a widow who gave her last two coins, “all she had to live on” (Luke 21:1-4) communicate to us God is indifferent to the offerings we give? How does Paul’s exhortation in 2 Corinthians 8-9 to sow bountifully and cheerfully allow us to think God is now happy with an offering of “fruit of the ground” as much as with an offering of “the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions?”
I don’t believe people who claim the grace of the New Covenant commissions us to be stingy with God. I think the reason the tithe isn’t repeated in the New Covenant is because the men who wrote the New Testament couldn’t imagine it needed to be. I think resistance to the tithe is simply an indication that many, many followers of Jesus have given themselves over to Cain’s perspective on giving, convincing themselves that something, anything, is an acceptable offering.
Here’s an ironic statistic: according to Edmunds Auto the average American devotes 11%, a little more than a tithe, of their gross income to the payment on one car, while the average Evangelical Christian gives less than 4% to their church. And get this, if the people who attend Clear Creek Community Church contributed on a monthly basis the amount of one average car payment the financial resources of our church would triple!
Don’t tell me that Jesus didn’t know what he was talking about when he said “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt.6:21)
I repeat the question. Who would you rather be, Cain or Abel?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
One More Kiss
“One more kiss” she said as they tried to lead her away. “One more kiss.” So her friends held her up and turned her around so she could lean over the casket and kiss her sister one last time. Funerals, if you pay attention when you’re there, have a way of waking you up to a generally ignored but inescapable truth, you are going to die. People you love are going to die. And, when it happens there is no going back. You cannot apologize, or forgive, or bless, or inspire, or love a dead person. They are gone, and all the sweet, sappy things we say about dead people at funerals don’t help that corpse in the tiniest way. Besides that, they aren’t true; she did have a mean bone in her body, he did actually say unkind things, yes, she was selfish in some ways. I’ve often wondered why lies are so freely offered and consumed at funeral services. Maybe we say that stuff to make ourselves feel better for a little while, but it doesn’t really help much when deep down inside we know it isn’t true.
I think that much of what passes for grief at funerals isn’t really grief, it is regret. It is the empty ache inside when you know you should have said you’re sorry, you know you should have made those visits, you know you should have enjoyed the good and had patience with the annoying – and now you can’t. So now you stand around and whisper little sweet sounding lies to bless and celebrate someone who can no longer hear you.
As I watched that little old lady give her dear sister “one more kiss” God called to my mind all at once a whole sea of faces and he screamed in my ear “Go Kiss Them Now!” Go hug them now! Go encourage and forgive and affirm them now! Go now and let them know that even though they aren’t perfect, even though you disagree sometimes, even though they have some bad habits you love them and appreciate them and you are grateful for them! Go! Now!
I hope that when you die I won’t have to say anything nice and kind and affirming about you that I haven’t repeatedly said to you. I hope I am learning to love you well even when you are wrong and selfish and annoying, in spite of all that. I hope that God is teaching me to number my days so I live aware of how precious and fleeting our flesh is. I hope that when I lean over your casket and give you one more kiss it is a kiss of gratitude and love, no regrets.
I have a lot of work to do.
I think that much of what passes for grief at funerals isn’t really grief, it is regret. It is the empty ache inside when you know you should have said you’re sorry, you know you should have made those visits, you know you should have enjoyed the good and had patience with the annoying – and now you can’t. So now you stand around and whisper little sweet sounding lies to bless and celebrate someone who can no longer hear you.
As I watched that little old lady give her dear sister “one more kiss” God called to my mind all at once a whole sea of faces and he screamed in my ear “Go Kiss Them Now!” Go hug them now! Go encourage and forgive and affirm them now! Go now and let them know that even though they aren’t perfect, even though you disagree sometimes, even though they have some bad habits you love them and appreciate them and you are grateful for them! Go! Now!
I hope that when you die I won’t have to say anything nice and kind and affirming about you that I haven’t repeatedly said to you. I hope I am learning to love you well even when you are wrong and selfish and annoying, in spite of all that. I hope that God is teaching me to number my days so I live aware of how precious and fleeting our flesh is. I hope that when I lean over your casket and give you one more kiss it is a kiss of gratitude and love, no regrets.
I have a lot of work to do.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Two AM Friends
It’s a great concept, “Two AM friends.” It means having the kind of friends you wouldn’t hesitate to call at two o’clock in the morning because you know they will be there for you. It means having the kind of relationships that even if the two AM need is a consequence of sin or stupidity we would still call and our friends would still show up. A two AM friend is a friend who is a fellow follower of Jesus who really takes Ephesians 4:1-2 seriously:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…
I have Two AM friends. I want to be, and try to be, a Two AM friend. But I had a recent experience that both convicted me of my pride and caused me to reconsider the kind of friend I want to be. I got a call from a friend but it wasn’t at two AM, it was at two PM.
At two AM there’s nothing going on, at least not for me. At two AM I’m drooling on my pillow. At two PM I have all kinds of things going on. At two PM, I have calls to return, meetings to attend, work to complete, plans to plan, appointments to keep… you get it. At two PM my friend’s need was inconvenient, an interruption. The two PM need revealed the unholy separation between what I do and who I am called to be.
The two PM call scared me. I know there have been many times I have been called but was too busy to hear the call or simply justified not responding because I am so engaged in doing my agenda. My agenda makes everyone that isn’t on it an interruption, a threat, a problem. So does yours.
I repent and ask you to help me repent. I want to be as good a Two PM friend as a Two AM friend. I want my life to be lived on God’s agenda with the humility and gentleness that come from knowing that all these people that “interrupt” my day are brought to me in the will and purpose of sovereign God. And, if I meet them excited to see why he brought them along maybe I will become a good Two PM friend and not just a too busy friend. “Two PM friend,” that’s what I want to be.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love…
I have Two AM friends. I want to be, and try to be, a Two AM friend. But I had a recent experience that both convicted me of my pride and caused me to reconsider the kind of friend I want to be. I got a call from a friend but it wasn’t at two AM, it was at two PM.
At two AM there’s nothing going on, at least not for me. At two AM I’m drooling on my pillow. At two PM I have all kinds of things going on. At two PM, I have calls to return, meetings to attend, work to complete, plans to plan, appointments to keep… you get it. At two PM my friend’s need was inconvenient, an interruption. The two PM need revealed the unholy separation between what I do and who I am called to be.
The two PM call scared me. I know there have been many times I have been called but was too busy to hear the call or simply justified not responding because I am so engaged in doing my agenda. My agenda makes everyone that isn’t on it an interruption, a threat, a problem. So does yours.
I repent and ask you to help me repent. I want to be as good a Two PM friend as a Two AM friend. I want my life to be lived on God’s agenda with the humility and gentleness that come from knowing that all these people that “interrupt” my day are brought to me in the will and purpose of sovereign God. And, if I meet them excited to see why he brought them along maybe I will become a good Two PM friend and not just a too busy friend. “Two PM friend,” that’s what I want to be.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas
We were busy-
Surfing the net, mowing grass,
Feeding kids, commuting.
So preoccupied
With credit cards,
Appointments, promotions.
We were busy when
God came.
Like a whisper in the world’s ear,
The creator’s breath,
An infant’s breath,
Stirred the chilly air.
Tears and straw,
A mommy’s fingers
Touched the face of God.
Creation paused
Because it knew.
Still we swept floors,
Changed channels, crowded streets.
Still we went our way
Spending, yearning,
Chasing rest.
Shepherds ran!
Shadows fell
From newborn glory.
The light of God,
The glory of God in the face of Jesus,
Shining.
Heaven cheered,
Angels sang,
A chorus written in our souls.
Good news!
Good news!
“Unto you is born this day a Savior”
Christ the Lord!
Good news!
Great joy for all the people!
And hope, precious hope.
Comfort and joy
And precious hope.
I pray the wonder of the coming of Jesus will grab your heart like it does mine. Merry Christmas.
Surfing the net, mowing grass,
Feeding kids, commuting.
So preoccupied
With credit cards,
Appointments, promotions.
We were busy when
God came.
Like a whisper in the world’s ear,
The creator’s breath,
An infant’s breath,
Stirred the chilly air.
Tears and straw,
A mommy’s fingers
Touched the face of God.
Creation paused
Because it knew.
Still we swept floors,
Changed channels, crowded streets.
Still we went our way
Spending, yearning,
Chasing rest.
Shepherds ran!
Shadows fell
From newborn glory.
The light of God,
The glory of God in the face of Jesus,
Shining.
Heaven cheered,
Angels sang,
A chorus written in our souls.
Good news!
Good news!
“Unto you is born this day a Savior”
Christ the Lord!
Good news!
Great joy for all the people!
And hope, precious hope.
Comfort and joy
And precious hope.
I pray the wonder of the coming of Jesus will grab your heart like it does mine. Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Pilate's Problem
I know Pilate’s problem intimately. If Pilate had given in to the wonder and amazement he experienced in the presence of the power and character of Jesus he would have fallen to his knees, and surely ended up on a cross himself.
I often find myself, after reading John 19, agonizing over Pilate. I can’t escape the feeling that he knew Jesus was special, unlike anyone he ever met, maybe even the Messiah some said he was. I think Jesus’ bloody, swollen eyes burned a hole in Pilate’s soul. I don’t think it an accident he got the sign right, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Pilate knew the pleas of the bloodthirsty mob were a farce. But he just couldn’t bring himself to choose to join Jesus in the suffering, so he handed him over.
Pilate’s problem was that he couldn’t bring himself to respond to Jesus exclusively because of who Jesus is. Pilate couldn’t factor out of the decision his marriage to his position, his wealth and power, his image or his fear of losing it all.
Pilate’s problem is my problem. Before I decide how I will respond to Jesus I have to decide on which criteria I’ll base my decision.
There are a million things that enter our minds when it comes to following Jesus (by following I mean worshipping, glorifying, obeying, enjoying, serving him, loving him.) What are my parents going to think? What is going to happen to me at work? Do I have to get rid of my Jeep? Do I have to actually start giving a real sacrificial offering to the church? Do I have to stop drinking beer or watching movies? The implications are far too great to quantify. But the implications aren’t the question. The question is who is Jesus? If he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God nothing else matters.
Sometimes I get wadded up over my wife, my job, my Jeep, my suburban lifestyle and the next thing you know all those things become a factor in my response to God’s call. And his glory, bloody and humble and holy, gets lost on me because my response to him is filtered by these idols of self preservation and comfort, and not by the singular will and person of the sovereign God of the universe.
I am so grateful for grace. I am desperately in need of it. I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. May the Lord grow me up in how I choose and how I choose to live.
I often find myself, after reading John 19, agonizing over Pilate. I can’t escape the feeling that he knew Jesus was special, unlike anyone he ever met, maybe even the Messiah some said he was. I think Jesus’ bloody, swollen eyes burned a hole in Pilate’s soul. I don’t think it an accident he got the sign right, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Pilate knew the pleas of the bloodthirsty mob were a farce. But he just couldn’t bring himself to choose to join Jesus in the suffering, so he handed him over.
Pilate’s problem was that he couldn’t bring himself to respond to Jesus exclusively because of who Jesus is. Pilate couldn’t factor out of the decision his marriage to his position, his wealth and power, his image or his fear of losing it all.
Pilate’s problem is my problem. Before I decide how I will respond to Jesus I have to decide on which criteria I’ll base my decision.
There are a million things that enter our minds when it comes to following Jesus (by following I mean worshipping, glorifying, obeying, enjoying, serving him, loving him.) What are my parents going to think? What is going to happen to me at work? Do I have to get rid of my Jeep? Do I have to actually start giving a real sacrificial offering to the church? Do I have to stop drinking beer or watching movies? The implications are far too great to quantify. But the implications aren’t the question. The question is who is Jesus? If he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God nothing else matters.
Sometimes I get wadded up over my wife, my job, my Jeep, my suburban lifestyle and the next thing you know all those things become a factor in my response to God’s call. And his glory, bloody and humble and holy, gets lost on me because my response to him is filtered by these idols of self preservation and comfort, and not by the singular will and person of the sovereign God of the universe.
I am so grateful for grace. I am desperately in need of it. I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. May the Lord grow me up in how I choose and how I choose to live.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Acts 29 at CCCC
They are committing to financial struggle and emotional turmoil. They are committing to being betrayed, unappreciated, scoffed at and argued with. They are committing to a life of pouring themselves out only to be accused of being unloving and uncaring and downright evil. They are committing to an unending series of gut wrenching decisions and ambiguity. They are launching themselves, or seeking to launch themselves into a life that no one, with the exception of their few peers, can appreciate. They are gospel centered church planters.
Some of them came to Clear Creek Community Church this week for the Acts 29 Boot Camp and I got to meet them.
I would lie if I said I understand what they are or will go through, I don’t. You can only possibly understand by sharing the experience and I didn’t. I am where I am because one of them made the commitment to endure the misery that only the people of the church can inflict on each other. I shake my head at the stories - but I didn’t live the days when there was no money but plenty of competition for power and no one to share leadership but everyone to criticize the direction. I just marvel that some are desperate to answer the call of God and so endure the furnace of selfish, consuming, idolatrous “Christians” God uses to refine their characters into capable leaders of his church. These church planters are the blood, sweat and tears that transform grace from concept to experience.
I learned a lot in two days, you couldn’t avoid it. But the essential learning is this: the Kingdom of God is alive and growing. The wisdom and faith of seasoned saints is being shared with and rekindled by the faith and passion of a new generation of Christ followers. There is no doubt - the Spirit is moving and the gospel is transforming and the church will prevail until the coming of the Bridegroom. Amen.
Some of them came to Clear Creek Community Church this week for the Acts 29 Boot Camp and I got to meet them.
I would lie if I said I understand what they are or will go through, I don’t. You can only possibly understand by sharing the experience and I didn’t. I am where I am because one of them made the commitment to endure the misery that only the people of the church can inflict on each other. I shake my head at the stories - but I didn’t live the days when there was no money but plenty of competition for power and no one to share leadership but everyone to criticize the direction. I just marvel that some are desperate to answer the call of God and so endure the furnace of selfish, consuming, idolatrous “Christians” God uses to refine their characters into capable leaders of his church. These church planters are the blood, sweat and tears that transform grace from concept to experience.
I learned a lot in two days, you couldn’t avoid it. But the essential learning is this: the Kingdom of God is alive and growing. The wisdom and faith of seasoned saints is being shared with and rekindled by the faith and passion of a new generation of Christ followers. There is no doubt - the Spirit is moving and the gospel is transforming and the church will prevail until the coming of the Bridegroom. Amen.
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