A sermon I listened to yesterday struck a cord with me. Nick Field (the preacher) was saying that often those people who start to say things like 'I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian' are often the ones whose faith is either dying or at least slipping in some way. It basically comes down to arrogance. As well as trying to remove any feeling of accountability, they are no longer thinking about what they can give to the Church, but more about what they feel they are no longer getting from the Church. They are thinking only about themselves, it is selfish. Biblically (very briefly) though, how does this sit?
Jesus Himself said in Mark 9:35 that "whoever wants to be first must take last place and be servant of everyone else." Paul adds in Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." These pretty strongly suggest that you should always be looking to others, to try and help build them up in their faith, to serve their needs rather than try to service your own. Paul gives Christ as our example Philippians 2:5-11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
As God, Jesus deserves all praise and honour. But instead, He came to serve us, to show us how to live, to teach us, and to die for us. His rights (for He has no 'needs') were put to the side so that He could serve us. We must do the same. Rather than try to get something, we should be looking to give, to build up, and to serve. This means that even though we may feel we are not getting something from church, we should instead be looking at what we contribute to the body of Christ.
The irony is that those who try to put others first rather than let their selfish ambition takes over are in fact put first. Jesus is exalted even more because He humbled himself (Phil 2:9-11) and Jesus said that those who put others first will themselves be put first (Mark 9:35). By letting selfish ambition take hold you are in fact doing the opposite to what you desire.
God obviously knew that His church would work best when all its members focused on each other. A church's and member's faith always seem to struggle when they become self-focused rather than looking to help progress another's walk. The bible really does seem to show us that God wants us to be outward focused - It seems to work so much better when we do what He wants us to do!
So from these verses we can see that we are not called to consume as members of the Church, we are called to serve. How can you serve the Church and put other member's needs first, when you no longer meet with them and are unaware of their needs? You become somewhat arrogant and self-focused right? This is not good. As Romans 11:11-24 states, you should not boast [be arrogant] in your faith. It is not you that supports the church, the church supports you.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Instruction to the Church
Ephesians 4 17-31 gives some pretty strong instructions on how we should live as Christians. In essence Paul is stating we should no longer live as non-Christians do. Because we are no longer separated from God (v17) (due to Christ's sacrifice on the cross) we are no longer ignorant and, therefore, should be sensitive to what God desires of us (v19-24). As always this means we need to always strive to overcome sin. Paul talks specifically about this in relation to other Christians, "for we are all members of one body." The sermon at 'The Street' mentioned the global Church too, so this really stuck out to me today.
Interactions
I found it very interesting that in v25 he says we are to speak truthfully to one another, but then in v29 adds we should not let unwholesome talk come from our mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others. No doubt you can recall countless times in churches you have been involved with when people are happy to criticise and speak truthfully about what they see as wrong. In some senses correction is needed, however in most situations when this occurs the "but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" bit is completely ignored!
We need to think before we speak to a brother or sister about an issue. Why are you saying it? Will it help build them up? At times love is saying the hard things in order to help someone's walk, but there is a difference between loving correction in order to build someone up and malicious gossip, slander, or criticism. Emotions are normal and emotive responses are often desired. Paul was only too aware of this (after all, he was writing this from jail!) however, he reminds us in v29 not to sin in our anger. Self-control is a recurring theme in the bible. It should be as much a part of our Church life as any other. Loving correction is is about someone's progressive sanctification rather than trying to get your own way. The focus is not on what you want, but about concern for a family member's walk.
Self-Control and Forgiveness
Christ is our ultimate example in all things (except maybe in how do hit a perfect Drive?) It is difficult, but we are called to be a different. Rather than allowing emotions to overcome us we need to focus on Christ and act accordingly. Jesus was on the receiving end of bitterness, rage, anger, malace, slander etc, but instead of responding in the same way, He responded with such compassion that He sacrificaed His life in order for the Father to forgive them/us. He even asks for his executioners to be forgiven as He is killed! How can we say we love Jesus and then not even try to do as He did and forgive those exhibiting these negative traits toward us (let our acts be light that glorifies the Father (Matt 5:16)). Therefore, we are told in V.31 to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Rather, we should be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (v.32).
Don't Grieve the Holy Spirit
Another thing which caught my eye in this passage was v.30. Here we are told that God/the Holy Spirit is grieved by our sin. Charles Spurgeon noted that "grief is a sweet combination of anger and love" that it is like God grieves to think that we 'injure' ourselves in the fact that we have sinned. It is like seeing a loved one do something wrong which ultimately harms themselves. You are both angry of their action, yet your concern is really that they are hurting themselves. Its not a good feeling. Taking this on board, Paul is saying we should not grieve the one we love. To try and avoid this we need to try to be compassionate and forgiving which really should lead to us speaking truthfully but with the intent to build up those who hear it.
Its tough, but I shall always try to keep my focus on Christ. It is for His glory, He is the goal, He is the prize, and He is my motivation. Therefore I hope to be self controlled, think about the motivation and benefit of reactions before acting, and forgive where needed. Only through the Holy Spirit can this be done and I pray He will keep this on my mind.
Interactions
I found it very interesting that in v25 he says we are to speak truthfully to one another, but then in v29 adds we should not let unwholesome talk come from our mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others. No doubt you can recall countless times in churches you have been involved with when people are happy to criticise and speak truthfully about what they see as wrong. In some senses correction is needed, however in most situations when this occurs the "but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" bit is completely ignored!
We need to think before we speak to a brother or sister about an issue. Why are you saying it? Will it help build them up? At times love is saying the hard things in order to help someone's walk, but there is a difference between loving correction in order to build someone up and malicious gossip, slander, or criticism. Emotions are normal and emotive responses are often desired. Paul was only too aware of this (after all, he was writing this from jail!) however, he reminds us in v29 not to sin in our anger. Self-control is a recurring theme in the bible. It should be as much a part of our Church life as any other. Loving correction is is about someone's progressive sanctification rather than trying to get your own way. The focus is not on what you want, but about concern for a family member's walk.
Self-Control and Forgiveness
Christ is our ultimate example in all things (except maybe in how do hit a perfect Drive?) It is difficult, but we are called to be a different. Rather than allowing emotions to overcome us we need to focus on Christ and act accordingly. Jesus was on the receiving end of bitterness, rage, anger, malace, slander etc, but instead of responding in the same way, He responded with such compassion that He sacrificaed His life in order for the Father to forgive them/us. He even asks for his executioners to be forgiven as He is killed! How can we say we love Jesus and then not even try to do as He did and forgive those exhibiting these negative traits toward us (let our acts be light that glorifies the Father (Matt 5:16)). Therefore, we are told in V.31 to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Rather, we should be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us (v.32).
Don't Grieve the Holy Spirit
Another thing which caught my eye in this passage was v.30. Here we are told that God/the Holy Spirit is grieved by our sin. Charles Spurgeon noted that "grief is a sweet combination of anger and love" that it is like God grieves to think that we 'injure' ourselves in the fact that we have sinned. It is like seeing a loved one do something wrong which ultimately harms themselves. You are both angry of their action, yet your concern is really that they are hurting themselves. Its not a good feeling. Taking this on board, Paul is saying we should not grieve the one we love. To try and avoid this we need to try to be compassionate and forgiving which really should lead to us speaking truthfully but with the intent to build up those who hear it.
Its tough, but I shall always try to keep my focus on Christ. It is for His glory, He is the goal, He is the prize, and He is my motivation. Therefore I hope to be self controlled, think about the motivation and benefit of reactions before acting, and forgive where needed. Only through the Holy Spirit can this be done and I pray He will keep this on my mind.
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