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16
Jun

simple, yet profoundly glorious

By couch 1 Comment
Categories: Dilemmas

The other week I heard a local (B/CS) pastor say the following: "I am getting sick of this ‘new theology’ that proclaims that God sent Jesus to die on the cross only to fulfill ‘His glory’. I’m telling you today they are missing it! Jesus didn’t die on the cross to make God look bigger, He died on the cross because HE LOVED US." As you can imagine, I reached back for an extra something on my amen for that!

Curious that the pastor used the term ‘new theology’ when describing this. After pondering it through, and searching the scriptures, I’ve concluded that he is absolutely right - it is a new theology. The old theology, that of the apostles and Christ Himself, was that Jesus died on the cross because "God so loved the world" (John 3:16). And as the people of God rightly cry out in Psalm 79:9 "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your Name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!", we arrive at the crucial question - does God ‘use’ love to arrive at His glory or is His glory His love itself?

This may sound like splitting theological hairs, but the logical conclusions of each leave us in profoundly different places with the very character of God. In the first, love is merely the card God plays to checkmate His opponent, sin and death, that he may arrive at his final and most basic motive, His own glory. I would suggest this completely misreads the heart of God, and in fact, the very definition of what ‘Glory’ means. The second conclusion, that God’s glory is His great love and that His love is His glory, gives us the understanding that God does not have love as a tool to use for His glory sake - but that He, in of Himself, is LOVE! (1 John 4:8) Therefore, any revealing of His glory is the revelation of who He in of Himself is, that is - Love. If the ultimate manifestation of God Almighty is at the cross, then the simple, yet profoundly glorious revelation is that God is love.

"And this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

"In this case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Cor. 4:4)

Jesus is the image of God, revealing the gospel of God, which is the gospel of glory. Jesus, being the fullness of the God-head bodily (Col. 2:9) is the revelation of the character of God. His sacrificial life and death reveal the most glorious but simple truth, that God is love!

Even a babe in Christ understands this, so why don’t some of our theologians?

14
Jun

the boy and the tree

By couch 1 Comment
Categories: Story

There once lived a boy who found a tree in which was all his delight. Good thing, because the tree was especially fond of him as well. The tree was hidden in a grove that looked ordinary on the outside, but was hiding this unique treasure on the inside. Bold yet inviting, the tree received regular visitors, some who found it on their own and some who were told about it by the boy.

The boy didn’t mind sharing his secret about the tree, he had found it to be so enjoyable that he firstly couldn’t keep it to himself, and second, the tree seemed to have so much to give that he knew he wouldn’t receive any less with more people around. Each time at the tree was a little different, finding new patterns in the bark, crevices leading to the plummeting roots below. Looking up was always a joy, as the branches seemed to go far up and out of sight, and he would constantly wonder how many there were and, of course, if he would ever be able to climb them.

The boy was a natural climber, schooled by the tree itself, and the boy had spent enough time by the tree to learn some secrets to getting up. The boy wasn’t the tallest or most athletic in his class, but somehow when he came to the tree he was able to swing himself up just fine. Climbing was an added joy because when he first did so he realized that the tree was bearing fruit! Exuberant, he lunged toward what looked like an apple and nearly fell off entirely. He learned to be more and more careful in his joy to reach out for the fruit, and eventually (through practice) became so good at getting the fruit that his friends would ask him to get certain fruit for them to take home. That was his joy of course, because it meant more and more climbing. Until one day.

Until one day - a terrible storm visited the valley where he lived, and the wind shook the tree so violently that several of the branches were broken off entirely. This didn’t phase the tree in the least bit, but some of the branches that fell happened to be the very ones that the boy was so skilled at climbing. One of the lower branches, the one he always used to swing up toward the second branch that no one could reach any other way, was gone. There it lay, on the ground, still looking strong - but, slowly losing its color as it had its security to the tree. The boy knew from science class that the roots were no longer able to feed that branch with its’ life and that it could no longer bear fruit. Therefore, if he was going to get fruit from the tree, he would have to get it from a different branch.

That was the most troubling part of all, getting to those different branches meant finding new ways to climb. The boy was so used to running full speed into that tree, swinging up his favorite branch and landing just high enough to reach the fruit and climb even higher to other yet unexplored areas of sheer joy and fulfillment. The fruit he would usually bring down would indeed bring joy to others, but he wasn’t as concerned about that as he was about merely getting it for himself. What would he do?

He knew he had to set about learning how to climb the tree in a different way, new angles to reach new branches to reach, of course, new fruit. Everyone had to do this, he knew that. No one knew how to climb the tree right away and everyone had to learn new ways to climb it, especially as they grew. Even though the boy knew this, he was still very sad. Though he wanted to think, plan, and scheme new ways to climb the tree and dream about the fruit he would find there, his mind kept wandering back to the sadness he felt and not being able to swing up the tree like he was used to.

This process proved difficult indeed. Though the boy still enjoyed the tree very much, he felt more bruised and battered than ever trying to jump, claw, and swing - but mostly ended up on his back or knees. There was one particular branch he just knew he would be able to reach, but it seemed just beyond his height. He tried and tried, just almost getting success, but never being able to hang on for more than a few seconds or so. As a boy who again was not the tallest in his class, he wished he could simply grow an inch or two so that he could reach that branch and back up the tree to the fruit. Oh how he longed for the fruit again! And who knew? Perhaps the different route up would lead him to greater tasting fruit and different panoramas of the valley below?! He just had to get up that tree!

Alas, day after day the boy tried with little gain. The boy couldn’t contain his frustration even to his best friend, the girl. After telling her over and over again that he wished he could grow just a few inches taller so that he could reach that branch, she finally told him in her nonchalant, frustrating yet insightful way, she said "You know, you can enjoy the tree in other ways besides climbing it. Why don’t you just sit down against it and enjoy its shade?" Sit against the tree and enjoy its shade?! The boy was in no small way peeved at the statement. How could he enjoy the tree at its base when he had climbed and seen higher heights! Who wants to sit at the base when all that wonder is accessible just a few rungs up?

But it wasn’t anymore, and that was the problem. He just wasn’t tall enough yet! And the fruit, oh how tasty it was! Surely it would help him grow - oh how he loved that tree. In his half-angered half-grieved state, the boy ran to the tree as fast as he could, and, almost on purpose, threw himself down back against the tree.

He didn’t mean to slam it that hard, and it kind of stung his back. It was the expression of his frustration with himself and the tree, and the lack of fruit he had taste…PLOP!

The shaking of the tree has loosened the fruit, bouncing off the branches the boy would one day climb, and landed right on the boy’s head.

He sat back against the tree, a tear rolling down his cheek, and bit into the fruit.

10
Mar

on the listening of many sermons

By couch 0 Comments
Categories: Articles and Preaching

Jenny and I will have the opportunity to travel to Europe for the second time this summer. The first time we did was shortly after we met, and many know of our date with God’s destiny when we happened to sit next to each other on the plane for 9 hours and had our lives forever changed. This time with family, we’ll travel to Barcelona, and also to Italy, with a stop in France. Obviously, we’re excited.

After watching Ratatouille, I was convinced that the rumors are true, surely some of the best food in the world is found in France. That cartoon made me want to eat really good food, even though it was only merely caricatured before me in hues of red and blue. Seeing the “Little Chef” close his eyes and picture the taste sensations popping in his mouth via vibrant colors, you almost could sense them yourself. But it is not the same. I must fly over the sea, go to a restaurant, pay the money, and eat of the fine food myself. Only that is truly real, all else mere pretense and imagination.

It is my fear that the same occurs with the listening of many sermons, or the reading of many books. Praise God for the writing and preaching of His Word, absolutely essential for our growth in Him. However, in a western culture of consumerism, it is far too easy to collect and consume a multitude of sermons without ever having been transformed by the power of God. Much like I cannot truly eat the food of Paris by hearing someone talk about it, we can not merely dine off of the speaking alone.

In this way, sermons are meant to be like menus, offering insight into the track to renewal, to life, to salvation, to lasting satisfaction - even through suffering. It parades the joy that is set before us as believers, and calls us to endure what we must to drink the water that quenches (John 4) and eat the bread that sustains (John 6). And though this rich food is without cost (Isaiah 55), few actually eat what is offered. Why? Because our culture praises collection and form, rarely substance and reality.

I’m speaking to myself here, as I’ve collected sermons and books for years now. I’m not going to sulk in myself for my lack, though I have many sermons, nor delete them to make me feel better. Rather, I want to dedicate myself to hearing the Word, and with the faith there given (”Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17) go on my own treasure hunt for what has been proclaimed. And the Lord, who is the Spirit, will be my guide on the journey.

Eugene Peterson, in his excellent book “Eat this Book” gives a helpful illustration. Suppose there was a family living in an abandoned warehouse. The only windows were blackened and high up on the wall, and the door was chained shut. Building something high one day, the children manage to wipe off a dirty window and look outside. As they do, they see people walking along a path, and they point and stare. This continues for many days, and they continue to point and stare, not only at the people but at the bountiful sky and ongoing landscape - so different in comparison to the drab warehouse. Some of the children, so inspired by what they have seen, fix together some sharp materials and cut a whole in the side of the warehouse. As they come into the light of day, they experience all that they had previously only seen - the path, the sky, the grass, and the air. They call and call for the rest of their family to join, and some do, but others are cautious - preferring to simply stare at them from the window, too comfortable in what they are used to in the warehouse to come out.

Come out, come out oh soul of mine! Come out, come out oh church of God! Experience the reason for the Word of God - not merely to inform, but to form the life of God in us and around us. Let us do what it takes, what sacrifices we must make, to stop pointing at things exposited, and experience the substance therein!

07
Mar

the fruit of the wrong tree

By couch 1 Comment
Categories: Random!, Right In Their Own Eyes and Vision

A quote from my wife’s Starbucks cup across from me:

"The law, for all of its failings, has a noble goal - to make the little bit of life that people can actually control more just. We can’t end disease or natural disasters, but we can devise rules for our dealings with one another that fairly weigh the rights and needs of everyone, and which, therefore, reflect our best vision of ourselves." - Scott Turow, Author

Wow. Well, there it is - a quote that sums up the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. A quote that encompasses the self-delusional disease that has been progressively taking over the human heart since that fateful bite. Mind you, I have nothing against Scott Turow - I’m sure he’s a fine person, and perhaps an inspiring author. This quote may have been spoken by Turow, but might as well have been from anyone else who’s being honest about the situation we find ourselves in under Adam, the man of the earth, a man of dust.

"The first man was from the earth, a man of dust. The second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those of the dust, and as is the man from heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man from heaven." (1 Corinthians 15:46-47 ESV)

Wow. Great news is - a quote from the New Testament that sums up the fruit of the tree of life. A quote that encompasses the God-reality that has existed before time began and has been progressively taking back the human heart since the death and resurrection of Christ. Mind you, I think everything of Jesus Christ - because His life and word are being sent forth from heaven and will not return void. He will show everyone, not just "Christians" that there is a man who can end disease and natural disasters - the God-man, King of Heaven/Earth Jesus Christ. He has spoken, and anyone who’s being honest about what He has said has to believe we are in a good situation under Jesus, the second Adam, the man from heaven.

The problem is - we are still deceived into thinking we can figure out this whole good/evil thing. After we think about it hard enough, we really can deal with each other fairly, understand the needs of everyone, and in the end, create the best possible version of ourselves in our own image. Right? Hasn’t human history been one tale after another of men and women making the best of themselves and creating wonderful times on the earth that respect the needs and rights of all? Isn’t that the fruit of our choice, the fruit of our understanding of the law?

God have mercy on us - and He has, in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the second Adam, who has come to renew our minds from earthly to heavenly. Because we were made to reflect His image, not our own. We just can’t seem to get over ourselves, our laws, and our "best vision of ourselves" - even sometimes in the Church. Only when we die to that (self) vision will we find the life in the true vision (God) that we were created to have and be completely satisfied in it.

25
Feb

on the preaching of many sermons

By couch 1 Comment
Categories: Heart, Preaching and leadership

Preached my head off and my heart out tonight - the third message in 48 hours I have given. Even though I felt at the height of weakness, the Lord was gracious to me, surely because of His love for me and for the hearers, and His earnest desire and understanding that the messages on His love were necessary, exceedingly more so that I’ll ever know or be able to communicate.

It is an amazing gift of the Lord to preach, and a joy to be "caught up" in the whirlwind of His word, speaking the things you hear, see, and experience, and the things you catch glimpses of, though afar off, but in the straining of prayer and voice attempt to articulate. It is sincerely humbling, for every time you see how much you need the very Word you gave, perhaps moreso than those hearing! And, having reached a pinnacle with the revelation you were given, you proclaim it, only to see, as you do, that there are infinitely higher heights that you have yet to even begin to understand.

You don’t despise the revelation, for it is high to you, but for the greater heights one must continually lay Himself down, trusting in the readiness of the Father to lift us up and take us ever step of the way. You don’t know what to do, either to continue to plead the truth from the peak on which you stand, or continue to press on to higher heights. Then, the word hits you, "My son, do not cease to learn, lest you forget what you’ve already learned." And higher and higher you go, knowing you don’t fully understand where you’ve been but that you must go onward in the hand of a trustworthy guide.

More acutely, there is this restlessness, especially after preaching, this ache that seems to grow. It can be easily dulled by going into some other mind-numbing activity, but it returns again and again. It is the feeling of being poured out, which is a good thing, and it is that feeling that is inspiring us to be filled again, lest we, being in the vulnerable state of emptiness we are in, are quickly filled with something other and darker.

For me, it is also this feeling that reminds me that preaching is never and can never be my highest calling. Oh how I used to think it truly was in God. How thankful I am now that its’ not! It is surely a joy and a blessing, but it reinforces what I know to be true, that my highest calling is my own personal singular pursuit of the knowledge of God. That alone is eternal life (John 17:3), that alone satisfies and sustains, and though I am called to preach, my identity is a child of God meant to be in His embrace. Seasons of preaching will surely come and they will go, but let my heart always be before Him, the all-consuming fire.

To the young(er) preacher, I exhort you - do not be deceived, though many men make a glamorous picture of preaching, they may still be dead on the inside, bored in their life with God. Your heart before the Lord, more than your words before men, will sustain you in the night hour. Then, your preaching, having been placed in proper order, will be more authentic, and God will honor that with grace and favor. So I am believing for myself!

21
Feb

true worship involves sacrifice, inspires movement

By couch 1 Comment
Categories: Ezra and worship

I’ve begun a study through the book of Ezra, and it is timely for me in the season of transition that Jenny and I are in. I felt the Lord leading me to study it, and I find myself immediately in it! The people of Israel just finished 70 years of exile in Babylon, and they receive the prophetic call (through Jeremiah through Cyrus, the Persian King who defeated Babylon) to return to Jerusalem, reoccupy it, and rebuild the temple.

The Scriptures say that the call was to everyone (Ezra 1:2-3), but only a remnant actually made the long, arduous, and costly journey home. Considering the day they were in, it would seem probable that many Israelites grew accustomed to life in Babylon, trading rather the treasure and comfort of men for the treasure of God in His presence in Jerusalem. In order to truly worship, they had to "ascend the hill of the Lord", which was the uphill road towards Jerusalem, and Mount Zion.

In order to encourage those who were making the journey, Cyrus brought out many temple vessels that were taken when Nebuchadnezzar plundered Israel and presented the vessels to his gods. (That is, before his radical conversion and worldwide evangelism effort - Dan. 4-5) This greatly encouraged the people, to see the things associated with God’s presence and long for His nearness once again.

True worship is more than the songs we sing, we know that. True worship is a God-stirred hunger within us to be near to God and honor Him as we behold Him. True worship doesn’t want to be on the sidelines, but wants to get its’ own stones from the river. True worship is the posture of heart that keeps going, amidst the pressures, temptations, and trials, to press onwards toward the goal of knowing God, being found in Him, and worshipping Him as He is.

This is the highest form of worship, seen 24/7 around God’s throne - creatures completely covered with eyes (Rev. 4:7) looking at the beautiful, majestic God and crying out what they see. As they do, only one word continues to bombard their mind, and only one word seems to define Him - Holy. Again and again they see Holy and they declare Holy. They don’t do it because its’ rehearsed, or they have to. They do it over and over because each time it is fresh, infinite holiness beaming into those many eyes. I can’t even imagine worship this pure, just as I can’t imagine a God that beautiful to inspire infinitely fresh worship. But, this is the reward of those who ascend the hill of the Lord to be near Him.

And just as "God stirred the people" to rebuild His temple, He has stirred us by His Holy Spirit, to daily return to Him, reoccupy His promises and presence, and rebuild our bodies as His temple of praise. No matter what uphill battle, costly journey, or sacrifice we make, we must continue to say - "It’s going to be worth it!".

20
Feb

the singular light of the healthy body

By couch 1 Comment
Categories: Heart and Vision

Jesus said - "Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is healthy, your body will be full of light. If it is bad, your whole body is full of darkness." (Matt. 6:22-23) Of what great importance is what we lay our eyes upon! This is another great passage to demonstrate that the defeat of darkness, sin, and temptation does not come from the focused elimination of the bad via the bad, but on the focused concentration of the good, from which the bad simply falls away.

Paul said it this way - "Walk therefore in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Gal. 5:16). And David, having this revelation for Himself (as we need) said "I have hidden (focused, meditated on) your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" and "How can a man keep his way pure? By living in accordance to (the understanding and application of) Your Word." (Psalm 119:9,11) Again, it is by the revelation of the Word, not the revelation of what sin is, that gives us the power to overcome. Of course, Jesus is the Word, and revealed through the written Word by the Holy Spirit, and is our light in the darkness (John 1).

Note the verse above about the lamp of the body instructs that our eye needs to be "healthy". Interestingly, that same Hebrew word that’s translated "healthy" can also be translated as "singular". The point being obvious - a healthy eye is a singular eye. A healthy vision is a singular vision, not looking to the right or to the left for fulfillment, passion, or power, but "unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (Heb. 12) There’s a reason Paul told us to "set our minds on things above, where Jesus is…" (Col. 3) because its’ both the wisest way and the most blessed (inner-fulfilled) way to live!

Everywhere you look these days, our eyes are being bombarded with tons of messages, information, and images. When I think about the volume of all of this, compared to what a man 150 years ago would have to deal with, it is overwhelming! The great servant of the Lord Art Katz once told me "You are apart of a special generation. I can’t imagine being a young person and having to deal with the continual rampart of filth being thrown at you from every direction." When he said that, I realized how true it really is. One can not even go to a News website without being tempted with shady pictures and links. How important, more than ever, is it that our gaze is singular, on the majestic King! And how much grace is given, in lieu, to those who will continually war for the healthiness of their soul!

Truly, David was not deadening his heart’s passions when he asked "One thing I ask….that I may gaze upon the beauty of the Lord." (Psalm 27:4) Surely David was not beating his body, forcing his gaze away from more pleasurable things to be "religious" and do the right thing. Most definitely he had the revelation (as we all need) that to look upon Jesus is to behold the most pleasurable, satisfying, fascinating and wonder-inducing thing in the universe. A true treasure/pleasure seeker! A true man after God’s own heart.

Lord, keep our eyes away from what will darken our souls. Let our eyes be filled with the light of Your face, yes, make Your face to SHINE upon us. You are our light and our salvation, and let our gaze upon You not be to fulfill a new law, or to satisfy some great requirement, but to truly understand that it is the primary purpose for which we were all created. Let our body be full of what light brings to a dark room: illumination, vision, purpose, warmth, joy, power, growth, energy, and more. Truly singular vision is healthy vision. In Jesus name, Amen.

And now, I remember that tonight (20th) there is a lunar eclipse at 9:01 CST. Interesting.

19
Feb

on the night He was betrayed

By couch 0 Comments
Categories: revelation

The Lord was gracious to us last night at IGNITE, stirring our hunger through a period of time of feeling nothing, but pressing in and through anyway, and towards the end, some amazing revelation came out. Sometimes waiting for the fruit to pop out of the vine is too much for us, but when it appears, it is sweet to the taste and transforms us, renewing our strength in Him.

One thing that really struck me was found in the "Lord’s Supper" passage in 1 Corinthians 11 that most every pastor reads before the church celebrates the ordinance together. Amazing how the Lord often likes to take some of the most familiar passages, and in His presence illuminate them (often more than brand new passages) with the light of His face.

The Scripture says "On the night he was betrayed Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said, "Take, eat. This is my body, broken for you - do this in remembrance of Me." I won’t speak for you, but if I’m about to be betrayed unto death, and deserted by all of those around my table in that hour - even denied by one (perhaps more) of them, probably the last thing I would do is give thanks and then break bread with them. Unbelievable! He’s not running for his life, but unto His life in the Father.

"On the night he was betrayed." It was the most crucial hour of testing, not only for him to try and "save his life", but to not be angry and bitter in the least towards these men who had been with him for years and yet were just about to walk away from him. Not a hint of bitterness in Jesus. Not a hint of anger or even rebuke. In fact, He goes into this long 4 chapter speech (John 14-17) about how much He and the Father loves them, will not leave them alone, and will give them all that they need to endure. They have just about no clue what is about to happen (though he repeatedly told them) but over and over He tells them not to lose heart, to have peace and joy, and to abide in His love.

He doesn’t withdraw in the face of the storms, he lays into them with His Word. He doesn’t shrink from the difficulty ahead, but plunges through it with the all-conquering love of His Father. This and this alone allowed Jesus to be able to lift that glass of wine "on the night He was betrayed" and say "This is the new covenant in my blood - given for you." He was so completely and utterly secure in the Father’s love - that though he may have been tempted to think He was abandoned, even when His closest earthly friends did, He was not shaken. He was "rooted and grounded in love", utterly founded on the rock of the God who is love. The winds and the waves crashed against Him, and He did not bend or break.

May this mind which is in Christ Jesus, be ours in Him. This love of the Father, given us as He gave Jesus, be in us. Only that will sustain us in the great and terrible days that are coming.

13
Feb

wright about heaven

By couch 2 Comments
Categories: Heaven

One of the greatest, most fascinating things the Lord has revealed to me over the past few years is the true biblical concept of heaven. He’s showed me more and more that our definition of heaven or "the after-life" is almost completely unbiblical. What I mean by that is the concept of "floating around on clouds for all eternity singing songs". As He’s opened up the scriptures to me, I’ve been continually blown away and fascinated - truly, deeply, really.

The interesting thing is - if you were to ask most any Christian "Where do we go after we die?", they would answer "Heaven, to be with the Lord." Which is true. Then, if you were to ask them "Will we be resurrected as Jesus was?", they would say "Absolutely, 1 Corinthians 15 speaks of it." Which is also true. The third, and hopefully obvious question should then arise - "Are we going to be in resurrected bodies on the clouds of heaven?" This seems certainly foolish. And even worse, it dulls the very "hope laid up for us in heaven", which Paul said was the Colossians motivation for sincere faith and widespread love! (Colossians 1:5)

Why? Because there are many gaps missing. What about the earth? How can we have bodies in heaven? If Jesus comes back to the earth, will we stay in heaven… and the like.

Obviously - the greatest hope "laid up for us in heaven" is in deep, lasting communion with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father for all eternity. We understand that part well enough - the whole worshipping and being with our Triune God forever. But the fascinating part to me is not merely the "what", but the "why", "how, and "where" part of it! Paul says that God’s ultimate plan is not just the redemption of mankind, but the redemption of all things - things which are in heaven and things which are on earth - in Christ (Eph. 1:10-11) What does this mean? Literally - that one day the Father will unite heaven and earth together in a glorious harmony. The spiritual and the natural realms will come together, joined together in Christ! The new heavens and the new earth will be a joint realm of glory, filled with the Holiness of God and His people, His spotless Bride!

And we, the Bible speaks - will not float around forever in this place, but will have glorified physical bodies, where we will have real interaction in complete holiness with each other, angels, and God Himself. We will be worshipping, but that will look many different ways according to the last few chapters of Isaiah and Revelation, including doing real, meaningful and satisfying work, and ruling and reigning over the nations! God is coming to reign over every area of society on earth, as it is in heaven!

This is good news - the world is not going to hell while we go to heaven, heaven is coming down to us!And as I have only begun to learn these biblical truths, I see that others are receiving wisdom and revelation about this - including N.T. Wright, the now popular Christian Theologian. Praise God for him, I don’t know much about him but I’m thankful for men who are continually willing to let the Word burst age-old boxes with its’ life-changing truth.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1710844,00.html

01
Feb

leadership: what about a wife?

By couch 0 Comments
Categories: Articles and leadership

As you all know, I’m privileged to be married to one of the most amazing of God’s creation, Jenny the Carson the Couch. She makes me laugh all the time, and her smile is daily my joy. She’s extremely intuitive and very smart, and seeing her grow through seasons of testing and blessing is truly an honor. Plus, she kind of likes me, and that really, really helps.

As God has us working with college students, we spend a lot of time with singles and not married couples, though we are thankful for the jaunts with the Arbuckles, Shaws, and Stockbergers when we can get together with them. I don’t consider myself a marriage expert by any means, but I’ve been thinking more recently about how exactly one goes about leading His wife spiritually.

Ironically, its not something I think about very much, how I “lead” my wife, and to be honest, I’m not that convinced that its’ something I should be thinking about too hard. It’s certainly important, but like many things in our Christian life, the more we look to ourselves the less we learn, the more we analyze ourselves the more we find ourselves back where we started in confusion. Oppositely, the more we look at Jesus, learn from Him, and are filled with His truth and passion, the more things begin to work themselves out day by day, from strength to strength, faith to faith, and glory to glory. Hallelujah, amen.

I want to lead my wife better, for sure! And I know I have lots to learn. But, especially as some of our friends are getting married soon, or have recently been married, I thought I’d share a bit of the wisdom I have gleaned over my 3.5 years of matrimony.

And let’s get right to my point. Leading your wife does not mean helping her understand theological knowledge. Leading your wife doesn’t necessarily mean “teaching” your wife. Though it may be apart of it, I don’t believe teaching your wife the Bible is the primary means of how you lead her spiritually. In fact, if you make it your primary means of leadership, your wife will end up feeling more like your student, disciple, or follower, and not your wife. This is not good - she is your partner!

Some marriages have a new believing husband and a wife who has grown up in the faith. Because of this, the man often feels very insecure, as he is growing into maturity and is expected to lead his more mature wife. He therefore tries to read great books, study deep theological concepts, and grow in His “knowledge of the scripture” quickly, to make up the gap he feels so readily before him. Though none of these things are wrong, it is a subtle deception in understanding what true spiritual maturity is - and mere theological knowledge is not maturity. Neither is it a basis of leadership.

Biblically, we are told that spiritual maturity is the measure of Christ-likeness we walk in. The Holy Spirit is taking what is Christ’s and making it known to us (John 14), so that we might know Him and be transformed into His image (2 Cor. 3:18, Romans 8:26-28). We would do well as husbands to learn the Holy Spirit’s model of leading us to maturity, that we might follow that pattern with our wives.

Instead of trying to grow in our knowledge and then “leading” our wives with our new found depth of theological knowledge, I propose an alternative. Fall in love with Jesus. Truly - deeply - madly! Let your passion for Him grow day by day. Seek Him, yes through the Scriptures, but also in your everyday life. Don’t just imitate the principles of the Bible, seek the God who can breathe on those principles and cause them to work in you from the inside out.

And as you do, your wife will follow. You can’t lead her somewhere you aren’t going! And teaching through the Bible, though important, is not an end destination. The Bible is meant to be the gateway into a living, breathing, vibrant relationship with God Himself. That’s the end we want as Christians, to be found in Him, to be found like Him, to be found with Him in what He is doing.

You may be 1 year old in the Lord and she 10, but if your passion for the Lord is fresh and hot, she and many others will be lining up to follow you. Even if it isn’t immediate, don’t be fake, but commit yourself to the process to knowing Christ for yourself. It takes time, and your pursuit of God will be contagious to your wife and will be an excellent means of leadership. Perhaps this is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11, before going on to discuss the authority of a husband over a wife, says in verse 1 “Follow me as I follow Christ” or “As I follow Christ’s example, you do the same”.

And what was Christ’s example? He was always speaking about the Father. Always passionate about revealing Him, showing His beauty and the wisdom of His ways. He didn’t do anything in order to gain favor in the religious crowd - never once tried to put himself forward by his deep theological knowledge. No, He said - I do what I see the Father doing, and say what I hear the Father saying. And the Father is not feigned of passion. The Father, who “so loved” the world, is a whirlwind of Holy Fire and Glory, igniting our often bored and apathetic hearts aflame again.

And that is something all Christians, no matter how mature, are in continual need of - a constant recapturing of our heart by that which truly matters - the One who created us.

This is Christ-likeness, to go after a deepening relationship with the Father of passion. The eternal life that is to know Him and to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. And that’s the best way I believe we can lead our wives, because its how Jesus leads His Bride, the church!

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