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The dialogue that takes place on blogs is one of remarkable fashion. I have been a part of major discussion and read major discussion from many blogs. Whether about racism, homosexuality, Calvinism or tithing there is room for a constructive debate. I just had a debate with some coworkers who are Christians about their stance that truth is relative. Which is easy target practice?
My point is that I provided proof text, after proof text to no avail. They still had the same mindset that was there before we started the conversation. I marveled at the fact they the held to their guns though from a scriptural standpoint they had no backing. Then I began to see the importance of the Holy Spirit in times like these. My pride and indignation started to rise because they were not getting what I was saying. I was slamming them with all that I knew but nothing was changing.
Why was I giving them proof text? Was I trying to bring my spiritual sword play to the debate in order to smash or was my heart really crying for them to understand truth. I quickly came to the conclusion I was out to smash and their heart was no where in the equation. This is a sad commentary and something that I think even those who are serious about evangelism must be mindful about. Just because you give a proof text does not solve the problem in some instances. Is it needed, yes….Does it always work, no.
1And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Cor. 2:1-5 ESV)
The Apostle Paul made it very clear that he did not come with superfluous wordplay but relied upon the Holy Spirit to come in and bomb where he needed. The interesting thing about it was Paul had the ability to do just that if he chose. He was smart enough where he could have killed them with philosophical rhetoric but he stayed true to his game plan which was to share the gospel. It is such a thin line I believe to stay intelligent or be intelligent in this anti-intelligent society that we live in. Where scholarship is reviled and frowned upon. But on the flipside you have the scholarly or theological astute frowning upon those who do not have the background but have a better faith integration.
So proof text gets thrown around and you have exegetical evangelicals calling revelational reverends heretics and vis-à-vis, when both are actually just trying to get the truth. Charles Spurgeon once said, “The word of God is like a lion. You do not have to defend it all you have to do is let it out of the cage and it will defend itself.”
Just my thoughts
Now, I might be setting myself up for the kill but I have to wonder about my own theology. Has it come to the point that I have made the word of God of no effect because I have chosen to “learn more than I practice.” As I have wrestle the toils of life, I find myself in a place of need and looking for answer. Then I engage in conversation with the everyday believer- who could care less about who Origen, the Council of Nicaea or whether free will or predestination is the truth-but they have faith that God is all that the bible says he is. In a debate I would probably smash them but where it really counts, I fail in comparison.
The common answer that I get when faced with this problem is simply ask and it shall be given. Matthew 21:22 is plain and simple when you read it. I have read it in context and out of context but it still gets back to the same point-if you ask in faith you will receive. This is just to simple and logical not to see the masterpiece presented here from Christ. He has just told a fig tree to die and it withered away. The disciples begin to ask how did he do this great thing and his response was faith. He then precedes to tell them that you must ask and have faith and it will be done. I know that all things will not be given unto us just because we have faith and ask but I still can’t understand why this is so hard.
Is it a timing issue or just a plan ole faith issue. Are we expecting God to move the moment we ask or we will not consider it done. Or is it the fact that we do not have faith to believe that he can do it. Let me go a bit further and say, maybe we do not believe he will do it ,so what is the need in asking. Whatever the case I am find this scripture to be a hard one to put into practice. We can call it the massive result?
The massive result comes from the fact that after reading about the sovereignty of God and understanding that he is in total control, I could not see a need to pray. So if I had a financial need, then God sovereignty will activate and what will be will be. So I am left to assume that I just play my position and let the chess game between God and the Satan run its course. So with that being said sometimes the pawn has to suffer for the sake of the King. Then I read where Moses prayed and God changed his mind(Exodus 32:9-14) and Hezekiah prayed and God extended his life 15 years.( Isaiah 38) Now was God sovereignty still in effect, most definitely but there is something to be said about asking in faith and receiving.
It makes no sense to me whatsoever how this works based upon my understand ing of scripture. I am blown away that a sovereign, predestine event can be changed by the simple elements of prayer and faith. Philosophically and logically this makes no sense. If god has declared a event was going to happen how does my prayer effect the outcome of the effect in all honesty. Are the prayers of the righteous that powerful or was the prayer already incorporated into the equation from the jump?
For the past few months, I have endured such a life change that spiritually and physically I was in shock. I have never had to engage some of the things in my life that I have in the past few months. Nothing was important anymore. I am a student that didn’t matter, I am a husband that didn’t matter, I am a father that didn’t matter and so on and so forth. The challenges of life had worn me down and I really came to the conclusion that if God’s grace is sufficient then I would have to find out. Not to go to deep into my thoughts, I was searching for more than positive encouragement but I needed truth.
I found myself wandering from the very thing that had sustained me for the majority of my life. My life began to change and was going down the drain and fast. But in the midst of everything, I began to see that his grace was sufficient. I began to see the error in my engagement with others. I began to see the pride that was so enlarged in my life. I began to experience the grace of God that I had so frustrated. from that experience I notice that being right from a polemic standpoint did not compare to showing love. Yes, there is still a place for theological reflections, apologetics and systematic theology but in a time of need unadulterated truth and love will bring focus back to the wavering.
Prior to all this chaos, I began to read a lot of Paul and his dealing with the church of Corinth. I was awestruck at how Paul would make some of his comments. How he would see his sorriness in comparison to the Father. Now I do not liken myself to Paul but I get a better understanding of why he says the things he does. God has proven that he is a God of love and will exhaust all means to get his point across to his people. The last three months have dismantled my life but in such a way that will bring such growth and change. I am thankful and honored to have experienced God’s grace.
just my thoughts
Break of Dawn By De La Soul
I have had the opportunity to few many blogs online but a favorite of mine is A Better Covenant. Writing on this blog is a brother I will call my friend, Lionel Woods. His mental game is like that of the old school hip hop group De La Soul. Now if you do not know who De La Soul is then you have missed an iconic group in hip hop. They brought to hip hop a solid base with the nutrients of hip hop laced throughout. They brought a fresh perspective on life in the midst of the chaos. They emerged on the scene during the Golden Age of Hip Hop. Dropping their album, 3 Feet High and Rising was a classic album for all the hip hop heads. They set a standard in hip hop that many have yet to attain.
Much in the same tone my man ,Lionel Woods has done the same for theology. He engages a text without presuppositions that many of us have when studying the bible. He asks the hard questions and gives his precise answers of why he feels the why he does. Whether you agree with him or not you must respect his gangster. ( his bible acumen) I have a had the opportunity to chop it up with him many a times via the Internet and I have seen how he has allowed the word of God to shape his thoughts and life.
Like De La Soul has managed to stay in the game for years as hip hop has gone through major differences, LW continues to allow the word of God to chisel his thoughts and actions. As I read his post today,You Only Voted For Obama Because He is Black!, I was again reminded of the genius wrapped in the vessel we know as Lionel Woods. When and if you read this, stay up brother and keep spitting from the heart. In the words of Corey Red, ” … spit like a tommy gun out the lung.”
Much Respect
It has been about a month, since we started our new church plant and it has been an eye opener as well as a challenge. I have wrestled with the being traditional (in a sense) but also with the organic, simple & house church feel. I see different aspects in both that are appealing. How to perform a collaboration of the two has been a problem.
I have had major issues with the traditional church mainly due to its focus of growing for size instead of building people. The messages are inspirational in nature with really dealing with the nutrients of the faith. The never really deal with sin but always want to encourage as if helping me identify my sin is not encouragement. Pastors who are more concerned about their pockets than that are about people hearts. These became problems with me about the traditional church.
I began looking at the organic churches or house churches and saw an importance placed on the people and not on religious liturgy. How I dressed was not the issue but how I lived my life was of the main concern. The fellowship aspect were of great importance. When we had the fellowship was not as important because we constantly lived in community not just on Sunday.
As you walked amongst the two circles, I was seeing that both types of churches were throwing rocks at each other. One group was saying this is the way you do and the other group was saying this is the way you do it. But this Sunday I got a little clarity on the situation. I had an opportunity to go to what I believe is called a Multi church site or something to that nature to fellowship. This is where the sermon is linked in from the central location to the sister churches and watch like a movie vie a big screen. Interesting concept to say the least but it was strange.
The place was like a movie theater (lights are off) and no one had their bibles. I was a little amissed at this fact. Though the message was more inspirational in nature than challenging I left thinking about what I just saw. I was thrown for a lost because part of the service I really like before the message. They made you feel welcome, you could rock your gear as you say fit and drink coffee while the message was going through. But there did not seem to be a large emphasis on the word.
What I concluded is that I say organic church demeanor with traditional overtones. The moral of the story simply plays out in the fact that I am started to see my error in that my apologetic and theology was based on the win lose theory. I win the debate you lose the debate and not on the life change theory. Which means that when I conversation or debate was done did you life change.
Bottom line is that I am finding that my pride is a beast and I need to hit my knees more…………….
