Archive for March, 2008

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.