Archive June 2010
Where do you find truth?
I continue to think about the elements of growth: grace, truth and time. Where does one find grace and truth? Let’s just take truth. Where can we get it?
This is the cue for someone to slap the cowhide cover of their wide margin, black KJV and loudly proclaim, “You find truth in the Bible, Brother!”
Yes. Without doubt. Jesus said to his Father that his word is truth (John 17:17). When we think of truth, we often think of preaching, teaching and Bible study. The temptation is to think that all our needs will be met if we just read the Bible and listen to preaching and teaching. That’s a great foundation!
However, if we limit ourselves to preaching, teaching and Bible study as our only source of truth, we eventually limit our growth. When we actually open our Bibles and read them instead of just slapping the cover and repeating pious sayings, we discover that truth is to be found in many places and needs to be in many places. Consider the following examples.
- Finding truth in our innermost beings as we open ourselves to the examination of God’s Spirit. Psalm 51:5; 139:23
- Not just learning the Bible, but learning to live its truth, hold to it and integrate it into daily life. John 8:31-32
- Confessing by telling the truth about who we are. James 5:16
- Speaking the truth to others. Ephesians 4:15, 25
- Being a model of the truth for others and learning truth from the example of others. 1Corinthians 4:16; 11:1
- In a fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just reading about Jesus, but getting to know him. John 1:14, 17; 14:6; Philippians 3:10
- Through what we do in the power of God. John 3:21
- Through the witness of the Spirit. John 15:26; 16:13; Ephesians 5:9; 1John 5:6
- By mutual transparency and accountability. 2Corinthians 4:2
These are some examples of places where we get truth. The authority of the scriptures is foundational to all life. Growth occurs when we not only learn intellectual information about truth in the Bible, but begin to assimilate that truth, integrating it into the reality of daily life. What are the sources of truth in your life?
How do YOU grow?
“Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle-shells
And pretty maids all in a row!”
If you were raised in an English-speaking environment, there is a good chance you recognize this old English nursery rhyme from Mother Goose. No one is certain of its origin and it comes in several variations. It has also been the object of all sorts of speculation as to hidden meaning and significance – all the stuff of legend and myth.
Our theme this year has been one word – grow. All healthy living organisms grow. If you have been feeling a bit contrary yourself lately, it could be that you need to ask yourself the same type of question that was asked of contrary Mary. How do YOU grow?
I have been reflecting on the theme of human growth as we have moved through this year and am planning a major emphasis this Fall. It is perilous to be too simplistic, but the more I look at this theme, the more convinced I am that human growth has three key elements: grace, truth and time. There are obviously more details and dimensions, but sometimes it is good to reduce things to their most basic elements in order to see the big picture. After all, Jesus once reduced the entire Old Testament to two simple rules: love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).
Listen to the words of John’s Gospel. In this Gospel that focuses on knowing Jesus as God in human form, the emphasis on his nature is reduced to two elements: grace and truth.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Consider the implications:
- Truth without grace results in legalism. Legalism actually promotes sin and results in the death of true spirituality (Galatians).
- Trying to latch on to grace without truth results in chaotic, out-of-control life with no boundaries.
- Expecting to get grace and truth and have all your problems disappear overnight results in total frustration. Growth takes time.
If there are the biblical elements of growth, then where do you get them? How do you get them? How long does it take to get them? Or, as the nursery rhyme suggests, how do you, as a individual, grow? Don’t just say that you need to read the Bible and pray more. Be specific. Where do you go to get grace, and how? Where do you get truth? How? Are you allowing sufficient time in your life for these elements to take root and grow? What is the role of time in your personal growth?
Sadly, many professing followers of Jesus don’t seem to have the will or the time to grow. They might identify more with the parody of the old nursery rhyme by Roald Dahl in Ryhme Stew.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
“I live with my brat in a high-rise flat
so how in the world would I know.”
Living the Mission
Each month we have a new member reception at our home. It’s one of the highlights of the month. I love hearing everyone tell their story. Each group is different, yet each one very special.
Tonight’s group was a fabulous illustration of what I have been teaching this summer – The Mission. This morning I was talking about how geography is not the primary factor in The Mission. Many of those who have not yet heard are in limited access areas. God often helps us out by bringing the world to our doorstep. Our church, where there is no majority group, is a good illustration of this.
As we went around the room tonight sharing our stories, we had people from Liberia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Mexico, Albania and the United States, black, white and Latino. As we mingled over snacks later, we were communicating in English, Spanish and Italian with a few words of Portuguese and German tossed in. What fun! I love this about our church!
Next Sunday we will be talking about culture and The Mission. Sunday is also the 4th of July. Our nation is a nation of immigrants. Always has been. We have become rich by the synergy of a diversity of cultures. What about culture? What place does it play in The Mission? Those are some of the issues we will grapple with next Sunday. Be there!
Who or What is a Missionary?
Another World Cup day! Team USA lost and was eliminated, but they can hold their head high for as far as they advanced. Who is left to represent the Americas? Well, there is Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and, of course, Brazil!
Some of the Brazilian players are very committed evangelical followers of Jesus Christ. Does that make them missionaries? Especially since they are in South Africa right now.
So what is a missionary? What does a missionary do? Is everyone a missionary? And what is this “new missionary” that we have talked about on several occasions?
Tomorrow we deal with the third of three words never once found in the Bible – mission, missions and missionary. I’m excited!
Who’s Winning? You, or the Clock?
For those of us who are full-fledged or borderline workaholics, that’s quite an interesting thought. No matter what we say, we seem to convey the idea that we are invaluable by virtue of the fact we work so many hours. The more we work, the more tempting it is to imagine that we are successful. There’s nothing wrong with hard work, of course, but are hard work and long hours alone the measure of our effectiveness?
Hmmmm. So how would you spend your time if you could only work five hours a day and no more?