How Deep is our Faith?

David Kinnaman writes the following in his book You Lost Me:
"Overall, knowledge of Scripture, doctrine, and church history is poor among most Christians, not just young adult believers. But the cultural pressures faced uniquely by Mosaics [born in 1984 through 2002] make holding on to Christian faith a difficult undertaking--if their faith is shallow, how can it survive? Are their theological  views and commitment to Christ deep enough? Will this be a generation to be reckoned with or one that pushes their convictions to the sidelines? How much will cultural accommodation and acclimation define their faith? Will they capitulate to faith-killing cultural norms?
The next generation is caught between two-possible destinies--one moored by the power and depth of the Jesus-centered gospel and one anchored to a cheap, Americanized version of the historic faith that will snap at the slightest puff of wind. Without a clear path to pursue the true gospel, millions of young Christians will look back on their twentysomething years as a series of lost opportunities for Christ."
I've gotta admit, this excerpt has got me excited about teaching on Sunday evenings. There is so much kingdom potential in a generation devoted to and seeking Christ. What will God do?

Zeal

While reading Knowing God by J. I. Packer I came across an inspiring quote having to do with zeal for God. It is by Bishop J. C. Ryle and has to be shared:  

           "Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature – which the Spirit puts in the heart of every believer when he is converted – but which some believers feel so much more strongly than others that they alone deserve to be called ‘zealous’ men . . .

            A zealous man in religion is pre-eminently a man of one thing. It is not enough to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted, fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he lives for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether he lives, or whether he does – whether he has health, or whether he has sickness – whether he is rich, or whether he is poor – whether he pleases man, or whether he gives offence – whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish – whether he gets blame, or whether he gets praise – whether he gets honour, or whether he gets shame – for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all. He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it – he is content. He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has but done the work for which God appointed him. Such a one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, work, and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray. . . If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the world of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill (Exod. 17:9-13). If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of ‘zeal’ in religion (Practical Religion, 1959 ed., p. 130)." 

J. I. Packer, Knowing God (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1973), p. 196.

Praying in Faith Part 2

I believe that one hindrance to faith-filled prayer is poor theology. In a world where so much evil happens and where pain is everywhere it is easy to forget that God is love. One of the greatest struggles individuals have in the West with Christianity is the problem of pain and suffering. "If God is loving," they ask, "why is there so much hurt in the world?" And if we are honest we will admit that we find these questions troublesome ourselves.
In spite of our confusion the Bible presents to us a God who is love and who is concerned for humanity. In 1 John 4:16 we read "God is love" and one of the most popular verses of Scripture, John 3:16, tell us: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." We need to allow the conviction of God's love to flow through our veins and inform our every prayer. We need to be reading Scripture which reveals God's loving nature to us. God cares much more deeply about people than we do and He longs to bless. Knowledge of God's good nature must fill our prayers with the expectation that God will indeed do good.

Praying in Faith Part 1

Yesterday I was reading a passage of Scripture that causes many of us Christians some significant trouble:
Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. (Matthew 11:23-24)
As a "good Christian" should, I believe the words of Christ intellectually. However, in practice, I often find myself doubting in the midst of my prayers. I find myself not fretting over whether God can do what I ask, but wondering whether He actually will. Why? What prevents me from praying in faith at all times? I'd like to spend some time over the next several days exploring hindrances to faith-filled prayers and discussing ways that our faith might be increased.

Biblical Illiteracy Part III

Where do we go from here? Each one of us is in agreement that we must read and reflect on Scripture. Hearing sermons once a week is good, but this is not enough. Attending a cell group is beneficial, but not sufficient. Sunday school is enlightening, but we need more. The Word of God deserves prominence in our lives. The Psalmist wrote: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” How wonderful it would be for all followers of Christ to have such passion for the Word!

Those who, in the past, have been deeply immersed in God’s Word but have let this pursuit fade know what they need to do. My challenge here is for the individual who is new to seeking God. Set aside ten minutes a day to read one chapter of Scripture. Begin with the book of Mark or even Genesis. Read. Think about what the passage has to say about God, about what He’s done for you and about living for Him. God will meet you. He will teach you. He will shape you.

Biblical Illiteracy Part II

                The theologian and pastor, R. C. Sproul, points out a couple of other reasons individuals might utter to defend their distance from Scripture. He refers to them as myths and summarizes them thus:

Myth 1: The Bible is so difficult to understand that only highly skilled theologians with technical training can deal with the Scriptures.[1]

 and

 Myth 2: The Bible is boring.[2]       

In reference to the first of these justifications for not reading God’s Word, we must admit that there are certainly some portions of Scripture that we find confusing, at least at first read. Training in the biblical languages, logic, culture and history certainly help us in our interpretation. However, understanding the Bible is not as difficult as many make it out to be. Sproul explains:

When we express this myth, we do it with astonishing ease. The myth is so often repeated that we do not expect it to be challenged. Yet we know that as mature adults, living in the United States of America [or Canada!], having a high-school education or better, we can understand the basic message of the Bible.

If we can read the newspaper, we can read the Bible. In fact, I would venture to guess that more difficult words and concepts are expressed on the front page of a newspaper than on most pages of the Bible.[3]

I wonder how often this argument (that the Bible is difficult to understand) is put forth by those who have a bias against reading and obeying Scripture in the first place? How often is it an excuse, rather than a road block? Soren Kierkegaard comments on this myth. Philip Yancey explains: “Kierkegaard dismisses the objection ‘There are so many obscure passages in the Holy Scriptures, whole books which are almost riddles’ with the reply that he would only consider that objection from someone who had fully complied with all the passages that are easy to understand!”[4]

The suggestion that “the Bible is boring” needs some comment as well. Perhaps the most helpful idea that can be stated here is simply that many people strongly disagree with this sentiment. Borrowing again from Philip Yancey and R. C. Sproul:

The Old Testament portrays the world as it is, no holds barred. In its pages you will find passionate stories of love and hate, blood-chilling stories of rape and dismemberment, matter-of-fact accounts of trafficking in slaves, honest tales of the high honor and cruel treachery of war. Nothing is neat and orderly. Spoiled brats like Solomon and Samson get supernatural gifts; a truly good man like Job gets catastrophe.[5]

               

            and

When people say the Bible is dull it makes me wonder why. Biblical characters are full of life. There is a unique quality of passion about them. Their lives reveal drama, pathos, lust, crime, devotion, and every conceivable aspect of human existence. There is rebuke, remorse, contrition, consolation, practical wisdom, philosophical reflection and, most of all, truth. Perhaps the dullness some experience is due to the antiquity of the material that may seem foreign. How does the life of Abraham—lived so long ago and so far away—relate to us? But the characters of biblical history are real. Though their life settings are different from ours, their struggles and concerns are very much like ours.[6]

These are not the words of individuals whose eyes glaze over and whose minds wander as they read from the Holy Scriptures. At times the Bible shocks us, then it convicts us, it teaches us, entertains us and challenges us to be more than we have been. This is not to say that it is without less exciting sections for us to read. I admit that genealogies, for instance, do not stimulate my imagination the way that narratives do. However, the number of passages which I find intellectually, emotionally and spiritually stimulating, far outweigh those which I find “slow.”  

---

[1] R. C. Sproul, Knowing Scripture (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1977), p. 13.

[2] Sproul, Knowing Scripture, p. 14.

[3] Sproul, Knowing Scripture, p. 14.

[4] Philip Yancey, The Bible Jesus Read (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), p. 30.

[5] Yancey, Bible, p. 11.

[6] Sproul, Knowing Scripture, p.

Biblical Illiteracy Part I

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. (Psalm 119:97)

There are studies which suggest that the Church is in serious theological trouble due to biblical illiteracy. In an age where knowledge abounds and we have the ability to learn about any topic which excites our minds with the push of a button, knowledge of the Bible is waning. Why is this so? Why do we Christians find such little excitement at the mention of Holy Scripture and why do exhortations to pick up God’s Word and read it diligently so often fall on deaf ears and hard hearts? Let me propose a few possible explanations.

                My first reason is simply that God is not our first love. When we first fell in love with a young man or lady our lives were transformed. We couldn’t spend enough time with them. Conversations would run into the early hours of the morning. We longed to learn everything we could of the likes and dislikes, the opinions and experiences of our newfound infatuation. With this knowledge we sought to bring joy to their hearts by purchasing their favourite box of chocolates or taking them to a movie or to a restaurant they would most certainly adore. In short, when we love someone we long to spend all of our time with them and all of our energy on them. In Matthew 22 Jesus is asked: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” He responds with a two-part answer, but the first element is of particular concern for us here: “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” Our failure to obey this greatest of  commandments keeps us from spending time with God (reading His Word and praying) and obeying Him (blessing His heart through our obedience). I find that I cannot force myself to love someone. Even if I am able to produce some sort of loving feeling for a short time, it quickly fades and I am left with my indifference or even disdain. If we truly want to love God the way He calls us to, I suggest that we start on our knees – asking Him to give us this love that is due Him.

                Another contributing factor to our lack of knowledge about Scripture is that we lack discipline when it comes to reading God’s Word. There are many habits which we routinely perform on a daily basis because we recognize their importance. We know that showering leads to favourable social consequences, exercising is the cause of many health benefits, reading keeps us intellectually stimulated and knowledgeable, and eating, well, eating keeps us alive. We discipline ourselves to perform many activities that we trust are “good for us.” Yet for some reason, even though each and every believer would agree that it is profitable to read Scripture, many of us fail to spend significant amounts of time immersed in its pages. We fail to set aside regular times for “devotions” or we skip over these times because other priorities emerge. Proposing a solution is easy. Seeing it through is not. We all acknowledge that reading Scripture is important. We have all made plans to read it on a regular basis. So, with a will of iron, let us begin following our reading plan, allowing nothing to get in its way. We will find that as we begin habitually reading Scripture, it will become easier and easier to continue in this essential discipline.

                A third hindrance to regular Bible reading is the busyness of life. Modern people lead chaotic lives. We work, go to school, taxi children, pursue relationships, have friends, exercise and have gruelling entertainment schedules. Many, if not most of the things we do are necessary and even good. The danger comes when we crowd out the “best” with the “good.” In the book of Luke we meet Martha and Mary: two sisters who are devoted to Jesus but who demonstrate their devotion in different ways (Luke 10:38-42). Mary sits at the feet of Christ to listen to His teaching. Martha is busy preparing food and perhaps sleeping arrangements for Him. Martha is angry at her sister for leaving all of the hard work for her to do. But Jesus points out that Mary had chosen the better option. With Jesus in her home, the wiser decision, the necessary thing to do, was to soak in His life-transforming words. Dinner could wait. How often do we let the less important tasks of life prevent us from accomplishing the essential ones?

Certainty

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6

This is a verse which broadcasts Paul's understanding of Christian dependence and which also highlights the incredible hope he had for the Philippian believers. Paul knew something that many of us miss - that our faith journey and our progress in becoming more like Christ (sanctification) are works of God. While we certainly have the responsibility to believe and to strive for holiness, unless God is at work, any attempt on our part will be futile. Therefore, when we are struggling with our beliefs or when we are feeling crushed by our addiction to a particular sin, perhaps the best place to begin is on our knees in front of the God who works in us.
Furthermore, Paul was also filled with hope - not merely "wishful thinking" hope but certain or confident hope. He knew and trusted that the God who had started working in them was going to finish His task. Their salvation would be realized.
May we learn to lean on God for our progress in the Christian faith, and may the Spirit fill us with confidence that we are in good hands - hands that will complete the task He has begun.

Partnership

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Philippians 1:5

Paul, the greatest missionary the world has ever known, himself knew the value of partnership. The Philippian Christians were an incredible blessing to him and his ministry. I imagine that many prayers were offered on behalf of Paul and that words of encouragement from Phillipi touched his heart. And we know that this church offered financial gifts to aid him in his ministry.
May God protect us from an "island" mentality - believing that we stand alone and can do all things without the help of others. May God build into us an appreciation for the body of Christ and all its gifts - working as one towards a common goal.

Praying with Joy

always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
Philippians 1:4

How often do our prayers sound more like monotonous, monotonal repetitions than joyful choruses? It seems sad, and just plain wrong, that prayer is often the last thing we wish to do in a day. It takes the back seat to eating, to television, to checking our email or facebook accounts. And when we do pray it is often emotionless - just saying the right words as quickly as we can without feeling guilty so that we can get on to other activities.
When Paul prayed for his beloved Philippian brothers and sisters joy filled his heart. He experienced a true emotion that was inseparably attached to his pleas for them. May our prayers be more than just words. May our whole being - mind, body, spirit, emotion - be involved in our crying out to God.

Thanksgiving

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
Philippians 1:3

Who are those people who have blessed you on your journey through life? Perhaps it was a grade six Sunday school teacher who taught every week with joy and showed a true interest in your life. Maybe it was a pastor who regularly invested time in you - walking you through the Word of God. Or possibly you find yourself thinking of a best friend who was available to listen whenever life didn't make sense. The list could go on: Mom, Dad, brother, sister, teacher, boss or coach.
When we reflect on these lives that have intersected with ours for our good it is good to turn to God in praise and thanksgiving, for every blessing that we receive comes from Him.

Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:2

Paul blesses the Philippian Christians here with a blessing that can be said to sum up the whole Christian life: grace and peace.
The word grace (Greek charis) is one which has behind it the idea of a free gift. God in His love chooses to deal with us in a way that we don't deserve. He chooses to pay for our sins Himself and offer us the joy of forgiveness, righteousness and eternal life. Even obedience is an act of grace, as God puts His Holy Spirit within us and causes us to obey.
Peace (Greek eirene) is what we receive as a result of God's grace. At one time we were enemies with God, but now we are His beloved children through adoption. Once we struggled to live in harmony with those unlike ourselves but now God is at work creating a new community grounded in love for one another. And He is busy creating an inner, subjective peace for His people as well.
May God's grace and peace be poured out upon us all. And may we be full of thankfulness for these gifts.

Saints

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Philippians 1:1b

Many of us have grown up with the belief that a saint is a very special Christian - a Christian who stands out above the rest, who has performed a certain number of miracles or who has led the Church in a dramatic fashion. We understand that Billy Graham and Mother Teresa can be called saints, but it strikes us as odd that all believers possess this title.
A saint is someone who is set apart to God. It is someone who is holy. And as such a saint is every and any believer in Jesus Christ. We are all holy ones. We are all set apart to God. Because of the washing of the blood of Christ we are all forgiven and are God's special possession.
The term "saint" speaks of incredible privilege. Through no merit of our own we were chosen, forgiven and adopted as God's people. We have a blessed position in creation. And for this we must stand in awe, wonder and thankfulness as we praise God for what He has done.
But "saint" also reminds us of the great responsibility that has been laid upon us. For as God's special possession we must strive to be like our Father and thereby bring praise and glory to His name.
How are we doing today at living as saints? May the Spirit of God shape our minds and hearts so that we become more like Christ today.

Slaves?

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
Philippians 1:1a

In our world of personal rights and the pursuit of our dreams it is really quite shocking to read Paul's words here in Philippians. Paul refers to himself and Timothy as "servants" of Christ Jesus. Now, at first reading this might not seem disturbing in the least. For "servant" is certainly a digestable word for all of us within the context of Christianity. Which of us wouldn't want to serve the one who died for us?
But the Greek word used here - douloi - has a deeper meaning than servants. The primary meaning of doulos (the singular of douloi) is slave: someone who no longer has any personal rights and who is owned by and bound to the service of another. Paul realized that his life was no longer his own, for God had bought him at a great price. And he was going to spend his life doing whatever Christ called him to do.
Are we willing to lay down our "rights" before Christ and serve Him as slaves, regardless of the path He sets before us?

Faith in Focus Vision

I spent some time today working on a Faith in Focus vision "paper." More to do, but here's a start:

For several months now we have been holding a bi-weekly event at Toronto Alliance Church called Faith in Focus. Faith in Focus (FiF) has attempted to explore deep issues and tough questions related to the Christian faith with young adults. I would now like to spend some time expanding upon the vision that I see for this ministry.

Downtown Toronto is undergoing some significant change. Demographically, young adults are moving into the downtown core in large numbers (see http://www.toronto.ca/planning/living_downtown.htm). Many of these young adults have no saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (leaving aside nominal Christians and other religions, the 2001 Census revealed that 16.6% of Torontonians have no religious affiliation and that this grouping of individuals had grown a staggering 39.3% since the 1991 Census – the median age for this segment of society is 32.9 years of age – see http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/Religion/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=CMA&View=2a&Code=535&Table=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&B1=501&B2=1). The Downtown Core is also home to two major universities and many colleges. Young adults in Downtown Toronto are desperate in their need of the cross of Christ.

But that is not all. Last Fall I attended a conference in which one of the seminars was entitled The Most Over-Rated Generation. The speaker’s point was that while young adults have been given everything – money, education, knowledge and experience – they fail to live up to the responsibility that comes with such blessing. Certainly their hearts are moved at the mention of social justice issues, but these warmed-hearts amount to relatively little action. It is my opinion that young adults are filled to the brim with potential. I am convinced that if the young adults of Toronto were unleashed on the world with the power of God then transformation, healing, restoration and justice would be realized in beautiful and dramatic ways.

Both of these ideas – the demographic change of Toronto and the potential of young adults feed this vision. My hope and desire is that Faith in Focus would become a place where spiritually dead or weak young adults can encounter the holy and loving Father, be redeemed through the risen Lord Jesus Christ and be empowered by the Holy Spirit to transform the world.

Faith in Focus nights, for now still every second Saturday evening, will begin with worship, have a message, a response song or two and then a time for questions and answers. In the messages it is still my desire to explore deep issues related to faith and life, answer difficult questions related to the Christian faith and encourage people to shine in the world using their gifts and heeding their calling.