How Many Rings Are on the Average Earthworm?

Truman points out that we are trivial people.  We see these insignificant things in our lives, and then celebrate and discuss them at length as if they mean something.  Even more though, than the "hilarious" time of announcements at the beginning of the service, do we take God's Word and trivialize it?  I think that we do this in two ways.  The first, we take the facts of Scripture and make them out to be little tidbits of information of no more significance than how many rings are on the average earthworm.  Instead of learning from King David's example, we memorize facts about him for only the facts sake.  The second is taking short passages of scripture to move the service along or manipulate it for our own sake.  I honestly am not sure quite where I stand on this one.  I use passages of Scripture when leading songs, but do I actually treat them like the Words of God?  Do we use the Word or let it work on us?

My question is how do we trivialize the Word in church, and how can we not trivialize it?

Unjust Justification

“...I am struck by how Christian talk of cultural engagement has coincided with a watering down of Christian standards of behavior and, ironically, thought. I have lost count of how many times I have been told in recent years that Christians should be able to watch any movie, providing they do so with a critical, Christian eye....I have a suspicion that for some it might simply function as a rationalization for watching whatever they like and not feeling guilty about it...” (Trueman, pg. 97-98).

Personally, I have heard many people apply this very idea to music and books as well as movies. I find, however, that what we put into our minds is there to stay, no matter what we are thinking when we take it in. That which we ingest ultimately does affect our thinking on any number of subjects, and so that which we watch, read, and listen to does color our thinking on even the most important issues. As we seek to be Christians with hearts for God, should we not be seeking to fill our hearts and minds with Godly things?

To refute the argument that familiarity with questionable worldly movies/books/music/etc. helps us understand and better minister to unsaved people, would not a ready knowledge of God’s Word do that same thing, only so much better? And in our churches, how does this attitude and rationalization of behavior affect how our worship leaders lead others in worship (as well as affecting those whom they are trying to lead)? 

Watering Down Sin

In this week's reading I was both encouraged and fascinated with Carl Trueman's book. I found what he had to say about the church and culture to be very accurate. In this chapter he talks about the "watering down of Christian standards of behavior and ironically thought." (pg. 97) I really appreciate the fact that he mentions this mainly because I feel to often Christians try to justify what they do and their reason for whatever they have done.  Trueman uses movie watching as an example of this type of act. Many people believe that a Christian can watch any movie as long as they watch it with a critical Christian eye, however, there is no Biblical proof to justify this kind of statement. Watching a movie filled with sin is still sin. You cannot say that watching it with a "critical Christian eye" changes the sin in which you are indulging yourself in. Even today movies have changed in their rating and yet we have just slowly been sucked in, and have become to comfortable with a "rationalization for watching whatever they (we) like without having to feel guilty about it." (pg. 98) My question is this: How does the "watering down of Christian standards of behavior and thought" affect our churches and worship settings? How does this or how should this affect our personal lives?

"Father, let us be altogether here."

These words were spoken a few months ago in chapel by Pastor Ron Berrus.  His main point was this:  if we are not faithfully serving Christ today, we can have no assurance that we will serve him in the future.  In Fools Rush In, Carl Trueman makes a similar point.  He says:

"There may be bigger churches, there may be better churches, but here is where we find ourselves; here is where the Lord has put us; here is where we are to serve and to love our fellow believers in Christ" (p. 90).

My question is this:  If God has placed us here at BBC, what is our responsibility to serve Christ now, in this place?

I know we are not yet leaders, we are not ready to pastor a church, but does this excuse us from faithfully serving Christ while we are here at BBC?  Since we see school as our main priority, we finish our schoolwork and we "hang out," but this causes us to miss the real needs that exist all around us - the people who are certainly not saved, the people whose faith is on the edge, the people who are planning on going into ministry but are spiritually immature.  BBC is not a "Bubble of Baptized Christians", but it is a place where the bubble of assumption keeps us from looking for needs (because "there are none") and living out our faith (because that "is for tomorrow").  My question is this, if not us, then who?

The Little Goldfinch

In Give Praise to God, Donald S. Whitney is discussing the power of private worship in the lives of Christians.  By sharing his thoughts on routine in private worship, the daily consistency of private worship, and the point of private worship as growing close to God, he avoids making private worship part of a daily checklist or making it something that happens sporadically because it is not made a consistent priority.  On pg.311, he says that “Nothing in the Bible says that your way of ordering private worship . . . has to be the same or like anyone else’s”. While I have appreciated the wise contributions of mature Christians in my private worship, there should be no feeling of guilt in deciding that my worship of God and relationship with Him is better benefited with a certain mode of learning from God’s Word over another.  At the same time however, Whitney does not excuse a lazy and “whatever goes” approach to private worship but that it takes discipline and desire for God to make that spot in busy schedules for private worship to happen (314-315). Our daily consistent investment in private worship will make the most incredible difference in our relationship with God and our reflection of Him (316).  Thus, while not fostering a “there is only one right way to private worship and then we can check it off the list” mindset, Whitney shows that our relationship with God requires diligence and thoughtfulness in private worship. 

While I cannot say statistically how many people think like this, I know that I have to consciously think of private worship as part of my relationship with God instead of an activity to check of the list and I think that part of the Christian struggle to have private worship is related to our mindset that it is a good Christian thing to do, not that it is investing in a relationship.  How do we better promote a mindset of private worship being about our worship of and relationship with God in children’s programs like AWANA or WOL where private worship becomes part of checking it off the list?

Hearing through Heart and Mind

    In this week's reading Jeremiah Burroughs discusses the dangers we run into by not sanctifying God's name by hearing His Word. He mentions that it is up to us how we hear the Word of God. (204) In many ways people come to and understanding that The Law is everything we need. However as we see on page 207 The Law is only something, "you hear in your ears"(207) or as I think of it; It is written on your mind. Think about it, The Law whether it be the Old Testament Law or the Governments Law was written on our minds by our parents and teachers. BUT The Gospel was written on our hearts by God. This isn't something parents or teachers could have done, only God could do this. The Law is something we hear and it is Gods word however Gods Gospel is written on our hearts and we hear it but we also try to understand it and grasp it so that we use it for Gods Glory!

How Did the Gospel come to be on our Hearts? Could this relate to Election? Where do you stand?

Private Music Vs. Corporate Music

I was excited to read page 302 in Give Praise to God this week.  This is a topic that has weighed heavily on my mind since it was brought up in a career chapel last year.  On page 302, Whitney discusses the importance of singing God's word as a part of private worship.  I used to be very interested in creating music, not for corporate worship, but private.  (I have since veered in the direction of corporate.)  If music that is used in corporate worship is designed to fit the needs of the congregation, what differences should there be, or are there in music designed for private worship?  What music would be more or less appropriate for the private worship as compared to the corporate worship, and why?