A Renewed Mind

Yesterday, a couple of our young adults and I took our youth group on our annual excursion to CedarPoint Amusement Park. If you’ve ever been to an amusement park, you can guess fairly accurately what consumed our day. By early evening, most of the group had pretty much tired of the rides; all but one. Since our young adults were there with the kids, I decided to take a brief hiatus from the group. (In two hours, I had plenty of time to ride 5 more rollercoasters and one other ride; I thought that’s why amusement parks existed.)

Having this unusual time alone in such a setting, I had more opportunity to think about what I was doing as I raced around the park. Waiting lines provide a person with time to think if he or she can block out the music being blasted over the speakers at a nearly unbearable volume of decibels. My contemplation led me to conclude that trips to amusement parks have very little redeeming value, even the best parks like CedarPoint.

I love my annual trip to the park. (As we unloaded the vans in the parking lot, one of the young adults suggested that I seemed more excited to get inside and more agitated at arriving 15 minutes late than did the teens. Ouch!)  But I must admit that the whole amusement park experience is simply worldly. Except for an occasional t-shirt with a Christian message (like the “Love Let’s Live” t-shirt worn by one courageous girl), there is almost no expression of the supremacy of God or the majesty of Christ anywhere. Of course, the evidence is everywhere–every thrill ride in the park can do what it does because of the laws of creation that our infinitely wise God determined; every emotion from fear to relief to joy that brings people to the park was designed by our Maker who also feels those emotions. Yet, his name, his honor, his glory are strangely absent from the whole affair.

If there was any thing of redeeming value in our whole excursion, it probably centered around two things. First, my solo wandering excluded, the overall experience was a shared one. When 19 people are pushed 310 foot into the air and dropped at an 80 degree angle so that you speed to the ground at 93 miles per hour together, it’s more than just a 3 minute rollercoaster ride. It creates conversations and shared emotions and laughter that draw people together and build bonds. When teenagers can laugh at their pastor for wearing a belt pouch that looks “so ’90’s” and the pastor can laugh at his generation’s styles and his own weaknesses (not sinful tendencies) with his teens, possibilities to speak God’s truth into their lives open up. The pastor is reminded that the differences between the teens in his church and himself are largely external, and the teens may begin to open up their eyes to the fact that the pastor’s sermons are not merely attempts to preserve tradition.

Secondly, a day at the amusement park can be a healthy reminder about the emptiness of worldly thrills and the deceitfulness of worldly happiness. Nothing illustrates the former better than our adventure at the Top Thrill Dragster. Forty-five minutes of mostly horrible anticipation, one more check of my pulse (to make sure it hadn’t already reached dangerous levels), and we were strapped into what resembles an F-15 ejection seat aboard an 18-passenger train weighing more than 7 tons with cargo. Moments later, we were waiting helplessly at the starting line. Yellow, yellow, yellow, GREEN! We were catapulted to a speed of 120 mph in less than four seconds, thrust 420 feet into the air at a 90 degree angle, and then dropped 400 feet straight down before leveling out and stopping. No doubt about it, it really was a thrill like no other; great, breath-taking fun. But here’s the catch: A mere 17 seconds after our flight began, we were deboarding wishing for more, wishing for a thrill that lasted longer, that went deeper. Our conversation would lengthen the joy, but the fact would remain: worldly thrills are ultimately brief, unsatisfying, and empty. Granted some worldly pleasures may last a lifetime, but compared to eternity a lifetime hardly seems like 17 seconds.

Regarding the deceitfulness of worldly happiness, a little thoughtful observation at the amusement park makes this perfectly clear. Have you ever noticed that children cry at amusement parks–even while they’re holding their snow cones and cotton candy? Have you ever overheard the tired, exasperated scolding of their parents? Ever noticed an argument between a husband and wife, or boyfriend and girlfriend? Have you ever seen a paramedic giving first aid, or someone frantic because they lost their wallet or purse? It all happens right there in recreational paradise. The park provides so many different kinds of thrills, games, entertainment, and diversions a person could want. Every kind of food is offered anywhere you look. All kinds of helpful accessories are made available to make your day in paradise a pure joy. And yet, it never is pure joy. The reality and presence and effects of sin follow us to the amusement park. No diversion is powerful enough to delight us with pure and lasting joy as long as sin abides. Worldly happiness–happiness that is gained through what this world can offer–is deceitful at best, forever eluding those who seek it.

If a trip to the amusement park can remind us that only a relationship with God through His Son Jesus will bring the thrill and joy that our heart demands, then maybe a trip to the amusement park can be a very good thing. If you’re seeking your joys in the world, maybe you should head to an amusement park tomorrow; perhaps it will remind you that your 17 seconds are nearly past.

I happened to find this post on Religion vs. The Gospel which is adapted from Tim Keller’s work. It provides some helpful tests for us to use to examine whether we are living out of the gospel or out of man-made religion.

I know it’s kind of late to chime in with my thoughts about Susan Boyle’s success, but I’ve been studying the book of Revelation this week to prepare for Sunday’s sermon and I find a compelling parallel that I think is worth sharing. You can be the judge I suppose.

If you have not watched the full-length (7 minutes) YouTube posting of Susan Boyle’s performance, you really should. (Imagine that, me encouraging you to watch something off of television.) For those of you who haven’t heard of Susan Boyle, she is a 47 year-old woman from a village in Scotland who was pursuing her dream of being a professional singer. Obviously, the main problem is that she doesn’t look the part. Nevertheless, she won an opportunity to appear on Britains Got Talent, the UK’s version of American Idol (which I’ve not yet seen).

Prior to her performance, the show’s judges were not just skeptical, they were rude. As one of the judges admitted to Boyle, “{Before your performance} everyone was laughing at you.” Another judge (Amanda) stated afterward, “I am so thrilled because I know that everybody was against you. I honestly think that we were being very cynical.”

As the music began to play and Susan Boyle began to sing, it was only a moment before the judges and the audience discovered the folly of judging a book by its cover, the idiocy of concluding what “is” based on superficial evidences, the sheer madness of determining reality just because we think so. Amanda concluded, “That was the biggest wake up call ever.”

Not quite. The “biggest wake-up call ever” is still to come. On that day, when the seven seals are broken and the seven trumpets sound, the One who is called Faithful and True whose name is King of kings and Lord of lords will ride forth (Revelation 19:11-16). On that day, the surprised cynics will number in the billions. On that day, the jaws of those who laughed at this humble, unimpressive preacher will drop, and their knees will give way, and they will reel in amazement and fear. Some will call on the mountains to fall on them so that they do not have to see his face. What a dreadful awakening that will be.

May the Lord grant us grace that we may labor with all that God has given us to make Him known today. Shall we even attempt to make him known, we will meet the skeptics. They will laugh at us. Most often, perhaps, they will not be impressed. They will not applaud. They will not concede their folly. Yet, those whose eyes are opened today will escape the greatest wake-up call ever. And, with all who believe, they will enjoy the glory of the surprising Savior for eternity.

After my recent sermon on church discipline (5/3/2009 – The Protection of the Church), I was asked a couple of questions that are worth passing on. 

On Being Tight-Lipped

We examined the process given to us by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-20. We saw that the first step is private. When an offense has been committed and we know of it, we are to go to the offender and confront the sin in love and humility with the aim of winning them through repentance. If that attempt is unsuccessful, we return in similar fashion taking one or two mature brothers or sisters with us. On this point, I stressed that we bring the offense to the offender without talking about it to others. As our aim is repentance and restoration, we do not want to complicate that–and we do not want to sin against them–by gossip, slander, or malicious talk. Gossip is too prevalent in our culture and churches, and it kills the very kind of community and accountability which the church is designed to share (and which church discipline makes possible). For this reason, I stated that we must not talk to one another about the offense, but we must go to the offender, and keep the outcome of our conversation private.

This raised a good question: “What if I am not sure that I should address the person? Is it wrong for me to get someone else’s opinion as to whether it is right for me to talk to the person about the offense?” Indeed, sometimes we may need mature, biblical counsel to discern whether we would serve our brother or sister by confronting their sin. If we are concerned for a brother or sister because of their sin, but we are not sure that we should confront them, it would be wise to seek counsel.  In seeking counsel, select someone who:

• is mature, both in life and their Christian walk
• will give biblical counsel and understanding
• will be objective, enough distance from the situation to understand with clarity
• is committed to both you and the offender–that is, a member of the church who will share your concern
• will not talk to others about the situation.

Being Discerning and not Judgmental

The second question was, “How can we confront sin and not be judgmental?” The answer is that we carefully discern whether the offense is sin for which our brother or sister is unrepentant. If so, our brother or sister will suffer greatly. Our concern over their loss of fellowship with the Lord and His church, and their potential of hardening their hearts so that they fall away from the living God compels us to confront their sin. A lack of humble, caring confrontation is really the unloving act.

I tried to explain this briefly, but was pressed for time. In Matthew 7:1, we have the famous command from Jesus: “Judge not, that you be not judged.” This is an important command that all of us need to remember and honor. In the context, it is clear that Jesus is dealing with the kind of judgmental attitudes that the Pharisees (and all of us at one time or another) possessed. This kind of judging refers to a self-righteous use of the law in which we use the law to attack others while being oblivious to our own guilt before God. This judging has the effect of exalting ourselves over our sinning brother or sister while damaging them. We see this very clearly if we are careful to understand the command with the verses that follow.

But it is very possible for us to be discerning without judging. In fact, it is necessary. We can not live in this world without making judgments of some kind everyday. Just five verses after Jesus says “Judge not…”, He says, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matthew 7:6, ESV). Notice again that these are commands from Jesus. And notice that in order to obey His commands, we must discern who the “dogs” and “pigs” are. In this sense, we must make judgments.

When it comes to the issue of judging or discerning our brother or sister’s sin, I believe the key is for us to consider our own motivation for dealing with our brother’s sin. Here are some helpful questions to consider:

• Am I primarily concerned about my brother or sister? Am I genuinely concerned about the effect of the sin on his or her life, the church, and his or her witness of Christ?
• Am I primarily offended personally? Am I motivated by a desire to “make them pay” for what they have done or to get even? Is my reaction due to an offense against my own sense of right and wrong more than it is by Scripture?
• Is the offense serious enough that God would use me to intervene in a humble way?

As I said in the sermon, none of us should be eager to discipline. We need to remember our responsibilities. It is not our responsibility to target our brothers and sisters like some media watchdog, alerting everyone to the weaknesses and sins of another. Rather, we are brothers and sisters. Therefore, we lovingly care for one another. And when a brother or sister goes astray, we go to them to bring them back to God and His people.  

[I know that Tim Challies has written more extensively on discernment and "judging" on his blog, but I don't have the links.]

Unfortunately, this blog didn’t last long initially. Credit lack of discipline and lack of commitment. In less comforting terms, credit sin–selfish use of time, talent, and thought.

During the past week, I had the privilege to attend The Gospel Coalition conference in Chicago. One of the things that seemed to be oft repeated was the necessity for pastors to read a lot. One speaker (I’m sorry, but I can’t say for sure which one) said something to the effect of: “There are a lot of pastors who wish they could write books, but they don’t read books.” I probably should read more books, but applying that thought to myself, I was convicted that it could be said: “There are a lot of pastors who wish they could write books, but they don’t write; pastors, like you for example.” I find the discipline of reading books much easier, than the discipline of writing. I have to change in order for that to change. (Isn’t that insightful.) Therefore, I have to write.

The conviction that I need to revive this blog and keep on blogging actually came before the conference, but now I am emboldened by a greater sense of urgency and a greater desire to lay aside slothfulness. Therefore, for the sake of the gospel I commit to blogging. 

To say that I am blogging for the sake of the gospel could sound arrogant to some. We all know that would be a major faux pas in our day, so let me explain briefly. The gospel doesn’t need my blogs. No doubt about that. The gospel is complete and sufficient (and glorious beyond all human words). But the world and I need the gospel. As I revive this blog, I do so with one purpose: that my writing and discipline will improve, so that my preaching and teaching may improve, so that the gospel will go forth to my church with greater clarity and power, so that my church (people, not buildings) will be transformed by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that the gospel will go forth from my church to the world with greater clarity and power, so that the kingdom of God will cover the earth, so that Christ will be exalted among all nations to the glory of God.

That’s how I hope to blog for the glory of God. My aim and prayer is that this blog will be a means for both of us to experience thr glorious benefits of the gospel together so that testimonies of the gospel will spread and together we give glory to God.

Here’s my humble plan:

Beginning next week, I will post at least one blog giving some substantial thought to a particular issue. Themes and subjects will vary, but I will attempt to examine current issues and/or biblical truth to help us see more of Christ’s glory. I will try to share more about what I am reading, how I understand current events. give insights from Sunday morning’s text that were left on the editing room floor, etc. I noticed that my early blogs tended to be quite long for the modern blogosphere. I will do my best to be concise, but I can’t promise brevity. (I’m already up to 605 words.)

My primary blog will likely be posted by Wednesday afternoon each week; earlier if possible. On other days I will try to post blogs to link you with other resources, news, blogs, etc.  These will probably have very brief comment by me (and so, you may like them best. : )

Please feel free to comment, ask questions, suggest posts, and edify me. 

May the Lord grant that we may grow together for His glory.