Religious Multiplicity

One of the most highly debated social issues recently is that of cloning. News began running when Dolly the sheep came on the scene. The more I think about this, the more I think I am in favor of this, and as a matter of fact that the Bible speaks favorably of this. Now, before you begin to inundate me with ethical arguments, hear me out. Paul is the first to speak of cloning sheep.

Listen to his words, "For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church." (1 Corinthians 4:15-17)

On numerous occasions, our Lord Jesus refers to us affectionately as sheep. If you know anything about sheep is this no great complement. Sheep tend to be pretty think-headed and in need of a watchful eye lest they get themselves into trouble. We as sheep are called to be like our Shepherd. In essence, we are to imitate or "clone" Him, and then "clone" ourselves. If you have ever seen the hilarious movie "Multiplicity," you will know that the farther you get from the original, the less like the original. There are a couple of spiritual lessons here of which to take note. First, if we call ourselves Christians, then literally we are calling ourselves little "Christs." So, the closer we stay to the original, the more like the original we will be. Second, we are called to make disciples, so we must reproduce ourselves in others. We are all being cloned. This beckons the question, what are we being cloned into? What we are being cloned into, will be reproduced. So, what are you cloning and who is cloning you? How close are you to the original?

Group Hug!

It has been a few days since I have been available to post anything. Jill's dad has been in the hospital in Houston having a tumor removed from his head, so we have been preoccupied with that, and will probably have periods of the same in the coming weeks. He is doing okay, but the recovery is longer than anticipated as other complications have arisen. We covet your prayers.

This morning I read something this morning that seems to fit what we have been dealing with. Facing tough times alone can make or break you. It was true with my mom before she died, and I believe it is what broke her spirit and led to her early death (she was 64). She had isolated herself from true community, and with the exception of her family, she had no one to walk with in her life. I read this quote by Larry Crabb in Andy Stanley's Creating Community (finished it this morning, good book!) "As our lungs require air, so our souls require what only what community provides. We were designed. . . to live in relationship. Without it we die. It's that simple." I don't know about you, but I have found that to be very true in my own life. I think how well we weathered the roughest times we have faced in our lives was determined almost exclusively by whether or not we were walking through the storm in community with others or not. True community is there to remind us of the Truth of who we are in Christ and God's character.

Our society does everything it can to counter development of true community. Oh it offers many counterfeits, for example, one of Starbucks core values is that they don't just sell incredible coffee, they sell community. They market to a real need in our world, and their profits show they know what they are talking about. The old sitcom Cheers, "where everybody knows your name" theme song cries out what people long for most.

One thing that takes place in a community of believers in Christ that doesn't happen in what the world offers is life change based on the truth of God's Word. I think that is what was experienced in the book of Acts where the church was first born. In chapter 2:42-47, it speaks of them having all things in common, and the result was all the things that we seek to accomplish in the life of the church: true worship, ministry and service, fellowship, discipleship and the end result was that God grew the church. It happened in the context of community, the greek word used to describe it is koinonia.

Unfortunately, we, even in our churches, often do to ourselves that which counters the opportunity to grow in community. We busy ourselves with things that really don't matter in the eternal scheme of things, and our society suffers as a result. Perhaps it is time to simplify our lives, throw off the junk that complicates our lives and pursue that which feeds our soul. Okay, so now it's time. . . everybody. . . group hug!

Too Big for Our Britches

There was a verse in my reading this morning that caught my eye. In Romans chapters 9-11 Paul talks about the sovereignty of God in salvation. Much of his discussion is about how God grafted in the Gentiles (non-Jews) into His chosen people. That for a time He is rejecting the Jewish people so that He may be merciful to us, all the while remembering that Israel is His covenant people. Then Paul makes a statement in chapter 11 that stood out to me. Using agricultural terms in verses 17-22, he describes how Israel, the natural olive branch, had been broken off for a time because of their disobedience and that we, the wild olive branch, are grafted in. Then , in verse 21 he says this, "For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either."

In Texas, we have a saying, "don't get too big for your britches." For you non-Texans, that means don't get too arrogant, because you can get put back in your place. I wonder if we as American Christians have gotten too big for our britches. This morning, I received another e-mail about in the influx of Muslims in America (I get several each week). And while I am concerned about the direction of our nation and its naivete of the fundamental Muslim teachings, it does not surprise me, nor should it you. A short study through the Old Testament should be a quick reminder that God frequently used the ungodly nations to discipline his people.

This reminds me of a story in the Matthew where Jesus was driving out the money changers out of the temple. For years in my immaturity, I thought that it was saying we shouldn't sell stuff at church. However, when you look up the passages Jesus quotes here, he is quoting some Old Testament passages. The first is in Isaiah 56:7. The second is Jeremiah 7:11. If you look at these passages, God is revealing His heart that ALL men were to have access to Him, and instead, these money changers were taking advantage of people prohibiting them from being able to come to Him. Have we become the new money changers? Are we preventing the lost from coming to him?

I find it interesting that those countries we were, for decades, trying to reach with the Gospel, are now sending missionaries to America to reach it with the Gospel. We who have been the senders are now being the receivers. Perhaps we are getting too big for our britches. Perhaps, God is going to, as we say in Texas, take us down a few notches. Gandhi once said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." Church it is time we change some things. I believe that if we continue on the path we are on, we are asking for discipline. It must first begin with ourselves, then our families, then our churches, then our communities, and so on. As I said in a previous post, we must train ourselves in righteousness.

My Holy of Holies

I just read this article by John Ortberg. It is a must read. Click here to read the article. In light of my recent preaching escapade, I found his insights especially chastening.

Live Out Loud, Pt. 6 - Go Make Some Noise!

Today, I will finalize my series which is based on the sermon I preached last week. In an attempt to tie this up, here are some action points on which to move forward:

First, start with the inside. As I mentioned in the previous section, if we start with externals, the result tends to be legalism and Phariseesism. John Ortberg, in his book The Life You've Always Wanted, likens the process to that which an athlete would go through should they want to participate at a professional or Olympic level. You cannot just try harder to be righteous, rather you must train in righteousness. This usually involves developing the spiritual disciplines. Incidentally, if you are like me who either doesn't think in deeply theological circles or need help in getting started in these, I highly recommend his book. His subtitle is Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People. It is VERY PRACTICAL and highly insightful. Here is a list of things to begin working on:

a. Practice Celebration and Thanksgiving - Be aware of all that you have, savor it and begin practicing thankfulness.
b. Practice Slowing - In our fast paced life, slowing down is one of the last things we
do. Instead begin training yourself to not foster a hurried lifestyle. For example, get in the longest line at the grocery store or drive in the slow lane.
c. Practice of Prayer- How do we expect to grow in any relationship without conversation. Paul describes prayer to be a constant open communication between us and God. (1 Thes. 5:17) Don't be fooled into thinking that you can only pray in one place and time.
d. Practice Serving- This discipline has to do with becoming others focused. (1 Pet. 4:9-11)
e. Practice Confession- Keep short lists with God.
f. Practice Hearing the Holy Spirit- "One reason why we fail to hear God speak is that we are not attentive. We suffer from what might be called 'spirit mindlessness.'" (Ortberg)
g. Practice of Secrecy- Ween yourself away from the desire of the approval of others.
h. Practice of Meditation- Biblical meditation is different that what most perceive it
to be. The word for meditation is also "mutter" it has to do with chewing on scripture in such a way that you are mumbling it constantly to yourself. Scripture memory works in here.
i. Practice of Suffering Well- How well we respond in the difficulties of life have tremendous testimony to the authenticity of our faith. People are watching!
j. Practice of a Well-Ordered Heart- Augustine said that a well-ordered heart is to love the right thing, to the right degree, in the right way, with the right kind of love.

If these things become to focus of your life, the next step happens simply as a by-product. Second, let the inside affect the outside. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

In conclusion, it's not about doing, it's a bout being. Living out loud happens when we see God for who He is, and then we live out our identity in Christ, the works can't help but to show, because it is HIS Spirit's fruit that will manifest itself. And Spirit always seeks to glorify the Father and the Son.