Simple Life In Christ

As we move a bit further into Acts 2, we come upon the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit.  There is a might wind, fire, and the apostles are able to speak strange ‘tongues’ that allow others to hear them in their native language.  Have you ever asked yourself why God did this?  Again, I’ve read this chapter a thousand times, and heard numerous sermons/classes on it, but hadn’t considered it this way.

So why did God express the Spirit in this way?  Why all the theatrics?  and particularly, why the miracle of speaking in tongues??

Let’s go back to our desire to see the Bible as a whole.  It is not really a bunch of books, chapters, and verses.  It is God telling His story to His people.  So how does this fit into the story?

We spoke last time about the connection between the giving of the Law(old covenant) at Sinai, and the giving of the Spirit(new covenant) at Zion.  Let’s continue with that connection.  At Sinai, God spoke to His people with thunder, and lightening and a cloud descending from heaven.  At Zion He comes with a mighty wind and tongues of fire.  We can certainly see the connection, and if we can see it, rest assured that the Jews of that time saw it!

I think we forget how immersed first century (sometimes called ’second temple’) Jews were in the story of God and His people.  They studied it and lived it.  They were always conscious of the relationship they shared with God.  Might be worthwhile for us to consider this for ourselves, but it’s also key for us to remember that they would have picked up on many of the allusions to OT themes/stories that we might miss in Christ’s and other NT writers’ teachings.

But what about the speaking in tongues?  I have thought about this quite a bit.  The two dominant languages of the day for Jews was Hebrew and Greek.  It’s likely almost everyone there would have had at least a passable understanding of one or both languages.  Two of the apostles could have spoken in these two dominant languages, and everything would have been fine.

In this miracle, I think God was trying to demonstrate something about Himself and His new covenant.  By translating the message into the native language of the hearer, God shows something He has repeatedly demonstrated; He will come to us!  God doesn’t make you come to Him.  He is going to come to you, and bring His message of peace in the language you most easily understand.  He wants to make clear to everyone that this message is for all, and He will go to any length to save people.

At Babel, God confounded the languages of men to frustrate their efforts and limit their effectiveness.  On Pentecost, He breaks throught this barrier to unite people under His Son.

Everytime you read this account of the tongues, remember the urgency God has for communicating the good news of His Son’s victory!  Remember that we worship a God who comes to us!

Do we have that same urgency and desire to reach out to those around us?

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The famous beginning of the church recorded in Acts 2 is said to have taken place on the day of Pentecost.  In all the sermons and classes I have sat thru that discussed this chapter, this is hardly a talking point.  If it is talked about at all, it is simply to note that because of the feast, many Jews from all over the world were in Jerusalem.  Of those that were converted, they learned of Jesus, and then went home a few chapters later during the persecutions, to spread the gospel throughout the empire.

While I agree with the above point, I think there is alot more to it than that.  Let’s explore.

First off, what was Pentecost?  I won’t be offended if you don’t know, not many Christians do. To begin, it wasn’t originally called ‘Pentecost’; this is the Greek name for the feast which comes 50 days after Passover.  The Jews called it ‘the Feast of Weeks’; so called because it took place seven weeks after Passover.  Ok, great!  What does that have to do with anything concerning the establishment of the church? Actually, everything.

The Feast of Weeks celebrated the giving of the Law at Sinai.  You’ll remember that the children of Israel celebrated the Passover the night before they left Egypt.  Passover reminded the Jews of their salvation from slavery.  Seven weeks later, Moses came down from his 40 days on the mountain with God, and gave the Law to the people.  This day is significant, because it is the day that the children of Israel became the nation of Israel!  The Law of Moses was the covenant between God and Israel.  This covenant encompassed all the promises that God had made to them.

Fast-forward a couple thousand years.  Jesus is the true Passover lamb.  Through His sacrifice He leads His people on a new Exodus out of the bondage of sin and into the salvation of God.  And seven weeks later, God pours His Spirit out on the apostles and begins His church.  On the same day that God established His covenant with Israel through the Law, He establishes His new covenant with the church through the Spirit.  Thus making this day the true Pentecost.  I think that’s pretty stinkin’ cool!

In fact, it’s more than that.  I believe it is just these sorts of things that truly build our faith in God.  Paul says in Romans 10. 17 that faith is developed through hearing the word of God.  I believe that as we grow to see that God is truly in control, and that the Bible could only have come from Him, we trust Him more.  We should share things like the above with each other in hopes of encouraging more trust in God.  If God can do something as magnificent as what we just read above, I think He can sort me out pretty well.  Maybe I should trust that fact.

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I must begin this post with an apology.  You see I am what Australians would call an ‘ideas man’.  I have all these plans, very few of which actually happen, unfortunately.  I knew that we would be going to the states for a trip, and that effectively that would mean that I would be AWOL from this site for a minimum of two months (actually, it’s been a bit longer than that!).  So I decided to schedule two months worth of ‘re-runs’.  Sort of a ‘best of…’ for the Simple Life.  I even envisioned making a poll where readers could vote for their favorite posts!  haha

Alas, none of this actually happened.  So, we come back to visit a site covered in dust and cobwebs.  Coincidentally, that’s the way I feel about my brain.  Lately, I have felt foggy and unfocused as far as spiritual matters are concerned.  Not that I haven’t been seeking and asking, just that some of the answers weren’t fully formed yet.  I’m happy to report that clarity is returning, and with it, a renewed desire to write to you about the wonders of a spiritual journey with God!

So let me again say, ‘Sorry, for the long layoff!’  I hope that your faith will be built up and your mind will be challenged by our future discussions, and I pray that God will be glorified through it all!

I was reading the first few chapters of Acts the other day as I prepared for a series of classes that I’m teaching on the NT church.   You know it’s going to be a long study when you can’t even get past the first verse!  Consider Acts 1:1 for a moment.  Anything catch your eye in that opening greeting?  I really hope so, because in it, Luke shares a foundational principle of our faith!

Don’t believe me?  Read it again.  ‘¹In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,²until the day when he was taken up…‘

Do you see it?  It seems that Luke believed that Jesus’ earthly life, death, ressurection, and ascension where merely the beginning of his work!

It’s wonderful to consider that Jesus work continues on!  The rest of the book of Acts shares some of that work that Jesus continued.  He establishes His church through the power of His Father and the working of His Spirit.  This church, founded on the Messiah, proceeded to change the world.  They changed the world by carrying the healing and hope of Christ.

Christ continues to work today!  The calling of the church has not changed.  Followers of Christ are still charged with carrying Christ’s love to a dying world.  We do this by living out the sacrificial servanthood that He modeled for us.  We do this by standing in God’s grace and mercy and allowing His Spirit to work through us.

Christ’s work will never end.  From now til the end of time, He will work through His siblings.  Even when time is no more, He will spend eternity with all those who put their trust in Him.

Do you believe in a Christ who is done working?  Do you ‘follow’ Him by celebrating His past while sitting around waiting for eternity?  No offense intended, but I don’t think this is what God intended.  The Christ of the Bible is a living, active Savior.  If He’s still at work, shouldn’t we be?

In our next few posts, I want to explore some of the things that Peter said about Jesus in his famous sermon recorded in Acts 2.

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Sorry for the break in posts!  For those who don’t know, our little family has been traveling around the USA visiting family for the last six weeks.  If I was more organized than I am, I would have scheduled some posts for while I was out, but alas, that didn’t happen.

I’m really looking forward to getting back into writing for the site, so hopefully, we’ll get some good stuff going here again.

Among other things, I’d like for this site to be a bit more inter-active.  One way for that to happen is for you to tell me what you want to read about.  Are there topics you would like to see explored on SLIC?  drop me a note and let me know!  Also, be sure to write me back when I post things.  Often your comments spur thoughts for me that get me going on future topics.

So hopefully, we’ll be up and going with a new post in the next couple of days.  Thanks for reading and please, share this site with anyone that you think might benefit from it!

Love to you all!

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The following was written by my friend Steve.  Enjoy!

As you would expect, there is a lot of praying going on in the
scriptures, and many places where prayers are being offered for
other people. Yet it struck me the other night, as I was reading
the letter to the church in Colossae, that there are few places
where these prayers are actually recorded.

Here is an example of a prayer for the saints, with more of an
emphasis on how (not) to act.

2 Cor 13:7-9 (ESV) But we pray to God that you may not do wrong
– not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may
do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we
cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your
restoration is what we pray for.

This next prayer has a positive focus, with emphasis on doing
good works.

2 Thess 1:11-12 (ESV) To this end we always pray for you, that
our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every
resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that
the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in
him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Christ.

When you read the prayer in Colossians though, there is a robust
explanation of what Paul is praying for, which I believe helps
us understand what he thought was important and what defines us.

Col 1:9-12 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to
pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge
of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to
walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him,
bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge
of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his
glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving
thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the
inheritance of the saints in light.

Paul wants us to have more than just knowledge of God’s writings,
to the point where we have wisdom — spiritual wisdom and a
spiritual understanding.

He prays that we conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects
Christ, which would bring such joy to our Father.

He continues to emphasize that we are to be actively working,
doing good for those within and outside our family, to the end
that we bring others to Christ by them seeing His compassion and
service in us. Doing these things then take us from a knowledge
of God’s word, to a more intimate knowledge of God Himself, as
we work as extensions of God, Him working through us.

Paul prays for our resolve and resolve in the face of trials and
persecution, that we take joy in the participation with Christ
in like manner to His sufferings.

As we share in these present trials, we will also share in the
future glory, so praise God for the adoption we have.

This did me a world of good, knowing what Paul was praying for
both them and me, as to how we are to be.

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In my last post I talked about, among other things, a very screwed up view of the concept of love.  Unfortunately, this is a view that has infected many in our modern society.  The view that I’m talking about is what I’ll call ‘tough love’.  It is the idea that there are many people who are undeserving of my love, because they have not reached an arbitrary standard that I have set for the world.  This is decidedly convenient for me, because it vastly reduces the number of people that I have to love and serve.  Those who qualify to be loved are easy to love, and if they become difficult because of hardship or sin; it’s no problem, because that probably means they’ve fallen below my standard and so I absolve myself from having to love them anymore.

You may think that sounds pretty harsh and I would agree with you.  You may say to yourself, or even to me, ‘Well, that’s not me!’  I hope you are right, but check in the mirror for me if you don’t mind.  Listen to yourself in what you say and think over the next week or so.  I know for certain you encounter people everyday who need your love.  What are you saying to yourself about them?

When you see a homeless man, do you see a soul needing love? or do you see a loser who needs to get a job?  When you see neglected children acting out, do you see souls needing love and attention? or do you see a brat who needs to straighten up!?  When you encounter an addict(and you probably do more often then you realize), do you see a soul needing love and fulfillment? or do you see someone to be despised and even worse; pitied?  This is the test.

I’m sad to say that many who call themselves Christians have this mentality!   Shouldn’t Christians love like Christ??

Let’s have a look at Christ’s love in action in Luke 5.

¹²While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” ¹³And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.

In this short passage in Luke, we see something extraordinary!  This man approaches Jesus ‘full of leprosy’.  Lepers were the ‘untouchables’ of ancient times.  They were cast out of mainstream society, seperated for the good of all the healthy people.  Most people conveniently ignored them; they were disgusting, possibly contagious, and utterly unloved.  If a friend contracted the disease, well, ‘Too bad for him!’, he is now cut off and avoided.  Does any of this sound familiar?

Yet what does Jesus do? He reaches out and touches this ‘untouchable’ man.  He didn’t have to do this.  Jesus had before, and would later heal with a word.  But he touches this man.  I wonder how long it had been since this man had been touched by anyone.

I also find it revealing that Jesus says to him, ‘I want to heal you, be clean.’  How beautiful!  Jesus has the power to choose to heal or not, and his choice is to heal this man!

We face this same choice everyday.  No, we don’t have the power to bring this level of physical, miraculous healing.  But we choose each day whether we will love the unlovable, touch the untouchable, or not.  Are you willing to reach out your hand to the many people you encounter who need the love that is inside you?  Are you willing to trade the way of convenience for the way of the Cross?

I must warn you, if you choose the path of Jesus, it will be the end of many things that you might hold dear!  It will likely be the end of many of your selfish pursuits.  It will likely mean that you have less money and time to spend on you, maybe ALOT less.  It will mean that you will come in contact with ‘dirty’ people who often aren’t loved because they have made themselves difficult to love.  It will be a choice that you must make everyday! Just because you chose it today, does not guarantee that you will tomorrow.

But, it will also mean that you are a true disciple of Christ.  It also means you will build relationships that you will never forget!  It means that you  can set yourself free from selfishness and this myopic ‘love’ that is full of judging and categorizing.

Will you choose to love everyone without prejudice?  Or will you choose not to follow Jesus?  The choice is yours.

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‘All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
‘Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad World‘ ~ ‘Mad World’ by Roland Orzabal

Not the most cheerful song in the world, but something about it really resonates with me.  This song speaks of detachment from a world gone mad.  Often in my life I am dismayed at the senseless nature of this world.  While many days are filled with joy as I follow my Savior and seek to fulfill His purpose for my life, I would be lying if I didn’t say that I have days where none of it makes sense and I feel like I don’t know what to do about it.

Depression is a serious issue in our society today, and I’m sure that everyone reading this has been touched by it, either in your life or the life of someone you care for.  Self-harm is a devastating by product of our modern society.  People cutting or burning themselves just to feel something real.  The lyrics above along with simple observation let us know that this world can have a numbing effect that leaves us feeling empty and alone.

The answers to such problems are not always as easy as they appear.  Unfortunately, many of us(self included) when encountering someone suffering these thoughts and feelings, simply slap them on the shoulder and say something inane like ‘You just need more faith in Jesus!’, and then go about our life.  It puts me in the mind of James’ condemnation of people who tell a homeless person, ‘Be warmed and filled’, yet do nothing to feed or clothe them.

If you are waiting for me to give you an answer, I’m afraid I’m forced to leave you disappointed.  We do need to have more faith that Christ is real and that He cares for us, but those words ring hollow sometimes when we are really down.  Sometimes we just need a friend.  We just need someone who will love us and support us.

America’s brand of Christianity is full of ‘tough love’.  Homeless people are slackers!  Addicts are weak!! People with depression just need to cheer up!  It’s a mighty convenient brand of ‘love’, because it simultaneously convinces me that I am right about everything, and I don’t have to do anything to help others.  That’s awfully nice for me, unfortunately,  it doesn’t do much for those who are suffering.

May our compassionate and merciful God help me to stop being such a selfish jerk, and start sacrificing myself for those who need to be loved!

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It is always fascinating to me how often I encounter dedicated Christians who question their own salvation.  I find it equally shocking to talk to ‘casual believers’ who are absolutely certain they are in!

The issue of salvation is a challenging one and I hope you aren’t waiting for me to tell you who is saved and who isn’t, because that is up to God.

Paul tells us in Romans 5 that through Christ, believers have, ‘obtained access by faith into the grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.’  He goes on to say in vs. 5 that this hope ‘does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us! ‘  In chapter 8 of the same letter, Paul assures us that when we have life in the Spirit, we have been freed from sin and death.  So how can that be right!?  Because I know for certain that I have sinned since I have become a Christian….many times in fact!

John can help us out here, so have a look at 1 John 1:5-10.  John here contrasts ‘walking in light’ and ‘walking in darkness’.  One is the path to life with Christ, the other leads to death and separation.  It’s interesting to note, vs 8 says that we must be honest about our sins; they are real and cannot be ignored.  But they are not ignored by God; vs. 7 says that are cleansed by Christ.  An important note there that is made in some translations is that this cleansing is continual, not a one time event.

So what does all of this mean?  Let me tell you what I think.  I’m not going to cite passages here for the sake of readability, but if you would like references to anything I say, I’m happy to share them.

We are told in the Bible that no person is without sin.  So we are not justified by our own actions.  All of our justification comes from Christ, and our trust in Him.  If we trust in Him, with all that we are and obey Him, we are given His Spirit and we walk in His light.  While on this walk, we continue to sin, but we stand in the grace of God, and Christ continually cleanses us.  Such people, though still sinning, can be confident in their salvation.

The problems come when we do one of two things.  The first one is that we can consciously choose to turn our backs on God.  If we do this then we walk a path that leads to death.  The second problem is if we choose to put something…anything in the spot where God belongs; the dearest thing to our hearts.  The Bible says that this also, will separate us from God and His Spirit. 

I think the problem for those who aren’t confident in their salvation as they do their best to follow God is that they are relying too much on self.  When they sin, they are shattered because they believe that they must be perfect to be saved.  This is ridiculous!  The whole concept of Christianity is that I know I can’t be perfect!!  I joined my life to Christ because I need Him to access the grace and mercy of God.  If you feel this way, focus more on Christ and what He has done and is doing, and trust in that.  The other issue here could be that you realize that, in reality, Christ is not what’s most important to you and that you’ve just been going through the motions.  If this is true, turn back to Him!  He will forgive you and give you and abundant life!

On the other hand, some walk around with the false hope that God will save them no matter what.  It is true that God can and will forgive ANY and ALL sins for those who turn to Him and put their trust in Him.  But we cannot just say that we believe, and then do whatever we want.  We must live a life that demonstrates that Christ is our all.  Christ repeatedly said that those who don’t walk the walk are not with Him.  Our actions are not what saves us.  Christ saves us when we trust Him completely.  But when we trust Him completely and obey Him, it will change our actions.

Let us turn to Christ with all that we are, and have faith in His power and love!  And let’s have a greater confidence in God’s power and desire to save us!

Like I said, if you want to read in the Bible for yourself about this, just email me with your questions, and I’ll be happy to share the passages with you.

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Last night during our evening devotion, one of our elders led us in a discussion on the Bible’s concept of ‘peace’.  We talked about this from many angles, but I’d like to focus on one we didn’t discuss here.

Romans 12 has quite a bit to say about peace and we looked at this passage in our discussion.   I would like for us to particularly consider the second phrase in vs. 10, ‘Outdo one another in showing honor.’

Now what does this have to do with peace?  I think quite a bit.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that prides itself on cynicism.  It is consider good to be cynical and fill all your thoughts and comments with sarcastic cut downs of those around you.  We praise such people for being clever with a ‘razor whit’.  This mentality not only tears down those around you, but also makes it nearly impossible for you to ever believe a sincere compliment directed towards you.

To me the ultimate shame is when Christians allow cynicism to rule in their relationships.  Paul implores us here to see the good in others, and actually compete to see who can be best at honoring others!  This is basically the exact opposite of what we do.  How many times have you heard other Christians bash the worship leader for singing to slow or too low?  How often do we spend our time finding fault in those around us and pointing out their failings to anyone who will listen?

Does that qualify as ‘outdoing one another in showing honor’?  Why did Christ die?  Wasn’t it because He sees value in each and every person and wanted to give us all a chance to be our best?  But no! I’m clever and have seen every episode of Seinfeld, so I have the right to tease and shame everyone around me!

Maybe we should consider that it is our negativity towards those around us that causes strife in our relationships.  Perhaps Paul is on to something here…if we each did our very best to honor those around us instead of tearing them down, maybe that would promote peace.  The idea of honoring another person is that I….shock…horror!…actually take the spotlight off of myself and shine it on another!  I must have the humility to remember that I am not the center of the universe. Why would I want to boost my own ego if I have to hurt others to do it?

In vs 18, Paul sums this passage about how Christians should treat other people by saying, ‘If possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.’  That doesn’t seem to leave alot of room for me to hurt others to make myself feel better.

Find ways to honor those that you live, work and play with, and see if it doesn’t bring some peace into your relationships!

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Well, I’ve taken a bit of break over the holidays, but now we should be back on schedule.  Some great stuff coming up in ‘09, so stay tuned, and share the site with others if you want!  I love to fish, so thought I would share these thoughts with you.

I’d like you to start by reading Luke 5:1-11.

This is a beautiful little passage, and an account not recorded in any other gospel.  I think most comments I have heard or read on this center on Peter’s faith in Jesus demonstrated by his obedience, or perhaps just an off-handed remark about how Christ used this miracle to give confidence to his soon to be apostles.

I think there is a lot more this than that, and I’d like for us to think about it a bit.

Peter is exhausted from a night of hard work.  To top it off, he has nothing to show for his efforts.  Jesus is teaching the people and is pressed up against the shoreline.  Peter graciously allows Jesus to use the boat for his teaching and we can easily assume that he would have been listening to Christ’s words as he sat in the boat with him.  After He is done, Jesus asks Peter to go out wide and let down his nets.

Think about this for a minute.  Peter is tired, and just got done cleaning his nets.  But, at the word of Jesus, he does it.  He catches heaps of fish, so many that his net is going to break.  He calls out to his friends to come help him, and they come.  The two boats are filled to the point of sinking.  Peter and the others recognize the hand of God in this and acknowledge it.

Jesus says, ‘Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men!’

Jesus makes a connection here that I think we often fail to make.  It’s a connection that I reckon Peter would have made later in life.

Along with Peter, many of us spent many years on this Earth with little to show for it.  But with Christ comes wisdom, purpose, and fruitfulness.  Not only that, but through His power, He gives increase to our efforts!  As we work and follow, and He blesses our work, more and more workers will be needed, and we must be reaching out to others for their help as we recognize God’s help.  But the amazing thing is, no matter how many of us enter into the work, Christ always has more abundance than we can take in.  He will literally SINK us with increase, if we will do our best. Even when we are tired, even when we’ve tried over and over without success, even when we thought our work was over for the day…

If you look at this little episode, it is a microcosm of Peter’s future.  He will spend time listening to the words of Christ.  From there he will begin to fish for men based on Christ’s command, and God will give great increase to his efforts. And he will call many to help him in this effort . 

He calls you today!  It is up to us to listen, act, and recognize God’s hand in it all.

I love fishing!

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