To be a biblical Christian, I must not simply affirm the inspiration of God's Word (that is necessary, but not sufficient).
I must consciously critique everything else in light of Scripture (otherwise all else will unconsciously conform my mind to the world, the flesh and the devil).
I must make a conscious effort to evaluate all my beliefs and my lifestyle preferences in the light of God's Word.
I must commit myself to making an examination, no matter how painful, of all my dearly-held beliefs (e.g. a loving God cannot send people to an eternal hell).
And whenever they do not stand up to Scripture, I must abandon those beliefs.
If I do not, then despite whatever I may profess to the contrary, my true authority is not the Bible, but my background, upbringing, peer group, the media, and schools that have influenced me.
In short, I make myself and my culture (the flesh and the world) my authority.
Randy Alcorn
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
I'm Being Watched
I just found out I'm being watched.
I was alerted to a blogger who is following what I write and post. She then takes it and posts it on her blog along with some of her own commentary about me and what I do. She also posts my name, my picture (not sure where she grabbed that one from), my families pictures, and links to my blog, Twitter and web page.
I must say it was rather odd to see my words reprinted in someone else's blog. She didn't post it because she agrees with me, but because she opposes what I believe and what I do.
Some of her colorful commentary on my posts were mocking of me, and some were actually aggressive towards me. All of it was meant to incite a negative response towards me from her readers.
At first I was a bit unnerved by all this and not quite comfortable. I'm being watched!
But I am ALWAYS being watched, and being aware of that is a good thing. What I do and what I say is being seen by others all the time.
Being more conscience of being watched is good for me because being watched is always an opportunity - even to those who are offended by what I believe.
I've been thinking of this verse today and asking God to help me to walk worth of the Gospel of Christ in everything I do...and post. I want to make the most of every opportunity.
I was alerted to a blogger who is following what I write and post. She then takes it and posts it on her blog along with some of her own commentary about me and what I do. She also posts my name, my picture (not sure where she grabbed that one from), my families pictures, and links to my blog, Twitter and web page.
I must say it was rather odd to see my words reprinted in someone else's blog. She didn't post it because she agrees with me, but because she opposes what I believe and what I do.
Some of her colorful commentary on my posts were mocking of me, and some were actually aggressive towards me. All of it was meant to incite a negative response towards me from her readers.
At first I was a bit unnerved by all this and not quite comfortable. I'm being watched!
But I am ALWAYS being watched, and being aware of that is a good thing. What I do and what I say is being seen by others all the time.
Being more conscience of being watched is good for me because being watched is always an opportunity - even to those who are offended by what I believe.
I've been thinking of this verse today and asking God to help me to walk worth of the Gospel of Christ in everything I do...and post. I want to make the most of every opportunity.
"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents."
~ Philippians 1:27 & 28a
Friday, August 7, 2009
Stubborn and Blind = The Deadly Character Combo!
By James MacDonald
I have a lot of people in my life, and have had for a long time. A LOT! And because of that I have had countless opportunities to observe a deadly character combo: two traits that on their own are bad enough, but together are crushing to any real chance at Christ likeness. In fact if both these things are true of you, life transformation will never be more than a mirage. Wanna know what they are?
There are two character traits that make life transformation difficult if not impossible.
1) Blindness: Not physical blindness but spiritual blindness. Another term would be lack of self-awareness. None of us perceive ourselves perfectly but some people have a large gap (think grand canyon) between who they perceive themselves to be and who they actually are. Like the guy I just heard about who is trying out for American Idol even though he didn’t even pass the audition to sing on our worship team. Or the person who is sowing discord in the church right now because he can’t have the personal relationships he wants with the main leaders. (If you can’t join them criticize them? weird huh?). Or the family I know that was barely holding it together here in America yet claimed that God was calling them to a very difficult part of the mission field. They refused the warnings of others and invested themselves in a 10 year ministry of ’survival.’ Such a waste, all because of a blindness to their true condition. Ever wonder about the problem with the preacher who keeps firing away for almost an hour each Sunday, unable to see that every single person jumped off the ‘pay attention’ train at the first stop? Why is our church shrinking? Hello, hello, are you really unable to see that you are talking peoples faces off and boring them into the bottomless pit? Answer: Yes, I am unable to see that. It’s called blindness!
Now blindness by itself is not that deadly because there will always be an army of people lined up to tell you how incredibly clueless you are about the way you come across. If you have even a shred of humility you will benefit from the input of others. You will listen and learn as loved ones guide you by the hand to the life transformation you desperately need but couldn’t see. That has happened for me more times than I can possibly count. But what if you won’t let other people do that for you? This leads to deadly character flaw number two:
2) Stubbornness: Some people are flat out stubborn. No I’m not, you say! YES YOU ARE YOU! Need some evidence? OK! a) you argue with everyone who tries to tell you anything, b) you keep making the same mistakes over and over, and c) you think that your way of seeing things is the best way, the right way, the only way. Yes you do!! . . . You just can’t admit it because you are . . . ____________ (fill in the blank, hint: it’s starts with ’st’).
OK, so nothing so bad about being stubborn or blind, but together they form the deadly character combo. People who are blind and stubborn are impossible to lead, difficult to follow and painful to be in relationship with. Are you blind and stubborn?
Pr 26:12 “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Blindness and stubbornness; I have seen it in elders who gave up everything rather than let someone shine a light down the dark hole of their own arrogant unawareness. I have seen it in husbands who refuse to even consider that they ARE part of the problem. I have seen it in young people whose immaturity and naivety is massively multiplied because they can’t see the problem and won’t let anyone connect the dots on their behalf. And worst of all, YES I have seen the combo in the mirror and it has terrified me. Are these deadly twins lurking in the corridor of your character? If in doubt, ask the people who know you best: “Hey, am I stubborn, and are there things you think I need to change that I might be unable to see?” Ask a few people who know you well . . .
Then count to a million outloud before responding to their answer.
I have a lot of people in my life, and have had for a long time. A LOT! And because of that I have had countless opportunities to observe a deadly character combo: two traits that on their own are bad enough, but together are crushing to any real chance at Christ likeness. In fact if both these things are true of you, life transformation will never be more than a mirage. Wanna know what they are?
There are two character traits that make life transformation difficult if not impossible.
1) Blindness: Not physical blindness but spiritual blindness. Another term would be lack of self-awareness. None of us perceive ourselves perfectly but some people have a large gap (think grand canyon) between who they perceive themselves to be and who they actually are. Like the guy I just heard about who is trying out for American Idol even though he didn’t even pass the audition to sing on our worship team. Or the person who is sowing discord in the church right now because he can’t have the personal relationships he wants with the main leaders. (If you can’t join them criticize them? weird huh?). Or the family I know that was barely holding it together here in America yet claimed that God was calling them to a very difficult part of the mission field. They refused the warnings of others and invested themselves in a 10 year ministry of ’survival.’ Such a waste, all because of a blindness to their true condition. Ever wonder about the problem with the preacher who keeps firing away for almost an hour each Sunday, unable to see that every single person jumped off the ‘pay attention’ train at the first stop? Why is our church shrinking? Hello, hello, are you really unable to see that you are talking peoples faces off and boring them into the bottomless pit? Answer: Yes, I am unable to see that. It’s called blindness!
Now blindness by itself is not that deadly because there will always be an army of people lined up to tell you how incredibly clueless you are about the way you come across. If you have even a shred of humility you will benefit from the input of others. You will listen and learn as loved ones guide you by the hand to the life transformation you desperately need but couldn’t see. That has happened for me more times than I can possibly count. But what if you won’t let other people do that for you? This leads to deadly character flaw number two:
2) Stubbornness: Some people are flat out stubborn. No I’m not, you say! YES YOU ARE YOU! Need some evidence? OK! a) you argue with everyone who tries to tell you anything, b) you keep making the same mistakes over and over, and c) you think that your way of seeing things is the best way, the right way, the only way. Yes you do!! . . . You just can’t admit it because you are . . . ____________ (fill in the blank, hint: it’s starts with ’st’).
OK, so nothing so bad about being stubborn or blind, but together they form the deadly character combo. People who are blind and stubborn are impossible to lead, difficult to follow and painful to be in relationship with. Are you blind and stubborn?
Pr 26:12 “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Blindness and stubbornness; I have seen it in elders who gave up everything rather than let someone shine a light down the dark hole of their own arrogant unawareness. I have seen it in husbands who refuse to even consider that they ARE part of the problem. I have seen it in young people whose immaturity and naivety is massively multiplied because they can’t see the problem and won’t let anyone connect the dots on their behalf. And worst of all, YES I have seen the combo in the mirror and it has terrified me. Are these deadly twins lurking in the corridor of your character? If in doubt, ask the people who know you best: “Hey, am I stubborn, and are there things you think I need to change that I might be unable to see?” Ask a few people who know you well . . .
Then count to a million outloud before responding to their answer.
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