Spiritual Disciplines (7 of 7) :: Accountability

When Jesus sent out his disciples he sent them in groups of two.  When Paul went on his missionary journeys he alway had a companion to walk alongside of.  The power of accountability and not walking alone is bigger than most of us realize.

Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, is also famous for his relentless pursuit of accountability.  He never traveled anywhere alone.

In our journey to honestly pursue God we need to be honest with other people.  Time to do the dangerous thing, drop the masks, break down the walls and let someone else walk alongside of you.

Don’t go it alone.

One of my favorite things that we do at theAlley is OnetoOne.  Simply put, two people meeting weekly to read the Bible, share life and dig deeper.

Truth is, I don’t care if you connect via ministry of the church, another church or a friend at work.  What we really want is not more people attached to the church  ministries but to Jesus.  Or as we like to say, we’d love to see more people in the word and in the word with each other.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

Spiritual Disciplines (5 of 7) :: Sabbath

Spiritual Disciplines (6 of 7) :: Fast

Spiritual Disciplines (6 of 7) :: Fast

This is a little understood and probably the least practiced discipline.  In our quest to better understand it, I like the way pastor JR Vasser defines it.

Fasting is a way to take a break from the lesser things that have hijacked our hearts: things like TV, the internet, consuming relationships, books, fashion, shopping, sports and the most basic – food.

When we fast we deny our physical appetites in hopes that our spiritual ones might be awakened.  We rescue our hearts from being fixated on the passing pleasures of this life and we rivet our hearts on the eternal God, who alone can satisfy our souls.

Fasting is not just the abstinence from food but it is purposeful denial of something so that all attention and devotion may be turned to God.   It is an act of devotion and a beautiful depiction of surrender to our father God, “who alone can satisfy.”

In the Bible we find people fasting in times of war (Judges 20:26, 1 Samuel 7:6), in prayer for loved ones who are sick (2 Samuel 12:16-23), when in danger (Ezra 8:21, Esther 4:3, 4:16), when seeking God’s forgiveness (Duet. 9:15-18, Jonah 3:4-10).  We even read about people fasting in prayer for their enemies.  (Psalm 35:11-13)

Fasting is often looked at as a burden but it is truly a gift.  A wonderful reminder of how feeble the gods of this world are and how we are ultimately in dependent upon an awesome, true and great God.

A few warnings and reminders as you consider fasting.

1) Be aware of any health risks and ease into more extreme fasts.

2) Fast for the right reason. Sometimes I see people fasting as a method of dieting or in a way to “bribe” God into doing their will.  Two things about that.  First of all, fasting is not about you, it is about focusing on God and His will.  Likely that will not be what you want, but it will be what you need.  Secondly, if food is an idol for you then that hunger is a great way to seek the Lord.  If your motivation is simply to diet.  Please find something else to fast.  Fast something close to your heart.  Fast something that you will miss. Fast something that will remind you that it is our living God whom we should be dependent on and not that.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

Spiritual Disciplines (5 of 7) :: Sabbath

What’s wrong with Christians.

Our local newspaper has a faith column that rotates from pastor to pastor in the community.  This week (Wednesday to be exact) my column entitled, “What’s wrong with Christians.” will be published.  Thanks to everyone who offered ideas and input off of facebook.  It was invaluable in prep!

But before it goes to press I wanted to share it with you.

Talking Faith: What’s wrong with Christians –  by ben griffin, pastor of theAlley church.

What is wrong with Christians?

Depending on who you ask you’ll get a litany of answers: narrow-minded, hypocrites, self-centered, exclusive, intolerant… and those are just the nice ones!

I know a lot of Christians who are working hard to distance themselves from those terms.  However, I don’t think any of them identify what is really wrong with Christians.

The problem is NOT pointing out that Christians aren’t perfect.  The problem is Christians not being honest about their imperfections.

I’m not giving permission for Christians to go do whatever “sinful” thing they want.  I am challenging them to do something much harder: be honest about their past, present and future imperfections.

As a follower of Jesus I believe that Jesus died for sinful broken people and I’m fully aware that I am one of them.

A Christian’s hope should NOT be in an empty pursuit to act holy, or an endless cycle of penance (trying to balance out our bad deeds with good ones).   Like a four year old trying to win an olympic sprinting medal, we will fail.

God doesn’t want us to “do” better to earn his love.  God loves you now, not “when you…”. That is why the Bible says that, “God showed his love for us by sending Christ (Jesus) to die for us while we were still sinners.”  Our hope is not in our own effort or perceived “holiness”.  Our eternal hope is in Jesus.

The Bible calls Jesus the friend of sinners, the Son of God, the hope of all nations.  Sometimes those who carry Jesus’ name on their buildings forget why he actually came.

He didn’t rise from the dead and tell his followers to go and “franchise churches in my name.”  He states his reason for coming as, “to seek and save the lost.”

What’s wrong with me and other Jesus followers is that sometimes we forget that we are the ones in need of saving.

I know that saying Jesus is the only way to eternal life is offensive.  In fact, the Bible clearly noted 2,000 years ago that it would be.  But that doesn’t make it not true.

Funny thing is,  I don’t believe my conviction that Jesus is the hope for every person including myself is bad news at all.  I’m not upset that he only offers one way.  Rather, I’m thankful that God offers us a way at all!  And that’s good news that even though there is something terribly wrong with us, there is hope.

Spiritual Disciplines (5 of 7) :: Sabbath

Funny how people often pick and choose what parts of the Bible they “like” and “don’t”.  For instance, we all know that the 10 commandments teach us not to murder, steal, lie and/or covet.  But are you also aware that one of the big 10 tells us to “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”

God, quite literally, commands that we take a day off.  And can you think of a commandment that we more actively ignore than this one?

I know, I know, you are important and have important things to do.  I don’t understand you kids’ sports’ schedules, your work demands, your commitments.

Remember, this command is coming from God.  The very God of the universe who created the universe in 6 days.  And on the 7th day… he rested, sabbathed.

Now, before I simply convince you to take a day off.  Let me remind you what the heart of the Sabbath is about.  It is a time for renewal of your heart, mind, body and spirit by stopping to spend time in connection with your maker.

Some of us get the stopping part.  But, Sabbath is meant to be a reconnection with our maker, our King, our God.

This is a crucial part of practicing the other Spiritual Disciplines.  How can you repent if you’re not stopping and seeking God?  Your routine should include a true Sabbath.

As I write this, my wife and I are getting ready for a week long trip in a tropical place.  We will definitely stop, soak in the sun, enjoy a slower pace.  However, we are very excited about a time of Sabbath.  A time to seek our creator.  To pray to Him, listen to Him and read His word without distraction or noise from the rest of the world.

This is crucial to understanding that life is bigger than this world. That we are heavenly citizens and serve an eternal God.

May God bless you as you Sabbath in Him.

Here’s a quick link to the other Spiritual Disciplines.

Spiritual Disciplines (1 of 7) :: Spiritual Influence

Spiritual Disciplines (2 of 7) :: Routine

Spiritual Disciplines (3 of 7) :: Repentance

Spiritual Disciplines (4 of 7) :: Meditation

A new video

I was asked by our denomination to shoot a short video on what it’s like to be a mission church 2 1/2 years after launch.  Thought I’d share.

You asked, “What does he mean by FEW?”

This is part two of a discussion started here.

Today’s question, “What does he mean by FEW?” comes from Matthew 7:13-14.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.  But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

To hit the question head on, what Jesus means when he says few find the road to salvation is that… (drumroll)  few find the road to salvation.

Just because you are in a church does not mean you are saved.  Just because you do good things or are a moral person does NOT mean you are saved.  Our hope is in Jesus alone.  Not by any merit of our own.  In fact, we are saved by grace (not because we deserve it) through faith (because our hope is in Jesus alone.)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. ⁷Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  Romans 5:6-8

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Our world is filled with false hopes that ultimately and always lead to death.  Charles Spurgeon, a 19th century preacher called the “prince of preachers” put it this way…

I am told that years ago a boat was upset above the falls of Niagara, and two men were being carried down the current, when people on the shore managed to float a rope out to them, which was seized by them both.

One of them held fast to it and was safely drawn to the bank; but the other, seeing a great log come floating by, unwisely let go the rope and clung to the log, for it was the bigger thing of the two, and apparently better to cling to. The log with the man on it went right over the vast abyss, because there was no link between the log and the shore.

The size of the log was no benefit to him who grasped it; it needed a connection with the shore to produce safety. So when a man trusts to his works, or to sacraments, or to anything of that sort, he will not be saved, because there is no junction between him and Christ.

But faith, though it may seem to be like a slender cord, is in the hands of the great God on the shore side; infinite power pulls in the connecting line, and thus draws the man from destruction. Oh the blessedness of faith, because it unites us to God!

Unfortunately there are a LOT of people holding on to logs and missing the rope of salvation.  Let’s pray that our trust is in the one true hope, our saviour Jesus.

You asked: Is Jesus the only way to heaven?

Thanks for all of your responses and questions.  Please keep them coming as I would like to answer all of them over time.

Sarah asks about Matthew 7:13-14…  “What does he mean by FEW?”

In order to best answer that question I have to answer another one…   “Is Jesus the only way to heaven?” (check back tomorrow for part two and the answer to Sarah’s specific question of  “What does Matthew 7 mean that few find that road?”)

The Bible clearly teaches that there is one way to heaven/salvation and that is through Jesus alone.

For example:

“There is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.“  Isaiah 45:21

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“  Jesus in John 14:6

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Peter speaking about Jesus.  Acts 4:12

Jesus lived a perfect life where we could not.  His death on the cross carried the weight of our sin with him.  And his resurrection showed his victory over death and validated him as the way, truth and life.

A common reaction to this is that the Bible and therefore Christianity as a whole are intolerant.  “How dare we say that everyone else is wrong.”  Yet, this rude, intolerant and narrow-minded stance is frequently referred to in the Bible as “Good News”.

Saying that Jesus is the only way to heaven is NOT hate speech but hope speech!

See, some think that we teach that Christians are somehow holier than others and therefore deserving of heaven.  That is just not true.  Actually what the Bible teaches is that NO ONE deserves to go to heaven.

“No one is righteous- not even one” Acts 3:10

So if you’ve every heard someone jab a Jesus follower as a hypocrite, bigot, self-righteous, messed up… ect.  Remember that no one claims that we aren’t.  In fact, we should be the people who are the MOST honest about our imperfection and need for a savior.  We do NOT deserve a God who would sacrifice Jesus for us.  Rather, we have a God who gave his only son as a ransom for us, in spite of us.

Our hope is NOT that if we clean up our act enough he’ll say we’re we’ve earned it.  Rather, we know we’re not okay and because we put our hope in him he begins to clean up our act.  Or as the Bible puts it, makes us new.

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son (Jesus) while we were yet his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”  Romans 5:10

Tolerance argues that it’s narrow-minded to claim Jesus as the only way.  The Gospel claims that it’s amazing that he has allowed us a way at all because not one of us deserves it.

“23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

In my laziness I didn’t shovel out my driveway last night. And in my haste this morning I lodged my mini-van into a 3 foot bank of snow in my own driveway.  Desperate to be free, everything I did only made it worse… rocking, pushing, digging only deepened the hole I was stuck in.   My neighbor brought his car over to tow me out.  Two snapped ropes later I was just as hopeless.   Until yet another neighbor came by who just so happened to have a tow rope in the back seat of her car.  Ten minutes later the van was free.

I didn’t think that my neighbor was intolerant to offer me a rope that was specifically designed for the job.  I was thankful that she had it and offered it.

No analogy is perfect but let’s think about it.  It is no secret that the world is broken.  Sin is a universal issue.  Hang around with a 2 year old and you see it.  Watch congress try to make a decision.  Spend a few weeks around a church.  It doesn’t matter where you are, it’s there and it’s universal.   Even the best person has a dark side.  Sin is a disease common to all men.

The Bible says that the wages of sin is death.  Not just the “big” sins but any sin.  You could say that we are stuck and though other things might make us feel better about our situation… there is ultimately only one way out.

Lots of options have been offered.  From self-help to rehab to just plain ignoring that there is a problem at all.  But none of them answer the real issue.  Sin’s ultimate end is always death.  No one wants to hear that they need help or that they are wrong, but ultimately it is NOT logical for everyone to be right.  There is one ultimate and absolute truth and I love you enough to tell it to you.

Without God’s gracious intervention we are without hope.

Thank God that help is here and has been given.

And hope is what we have.  I know that this isn’t a popular truth, but it is the truth.

I also know that some reading this won’t take the Bible’s word for it and certainly won’t take my word for it.  I know that to some this will come off as complete foolishness. However, there will be a day when all else fades away and this one hope will be all we are left with.

If you don’t believe this I dare you to challenge it.  Not to me, but to God.  He is real, he can answer for himself and he says in his word, “Ask you and you will receive.  Knock and the door will be opened. Seek and you will find.”  Ask him, seek him and may he open your eyes to see the fulness of his truth.   Test him.  But know this.  He will answer you on his terms and not on yours.

Happy “Holy”day

Merry Christmas by Definition

Definitely not by Chance…

« Previous Page