Posts Tagged ‘Christianity’

Finally Alive (Intro)

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Comments Posted on Nov 09, 2009 Last Updated Nov 10, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

Finally Alive by John PiperAlright…we’ll not waste any time with lengthy salutations and monologues. Let’s jump right in to our reading.

What is the aim of this book? What is it about? John Piper sets out to give an explanation of what it means to be born again according to the Scriptures. He contends that there is a misconception among many people about what it truly means to be regenerated by God. He begins the book with a great opening line: “The declaration of Jesus that we must be born again (John 3:7) is either deluded or devastating to the one who would be captain of his soul.” (p. 9) There is no middle way. Jesus’ words to Nicodemus were perplexing. How can a person be born again? What Jesus says goes beyond external obedience or conformity. Being born again means being completely transformed from the inside out.

Piper tells the story of two individuals, Augustine and C.S. Lewis, who had very different regeneration experiences. Augustine was struck by the utter filth of his own sin. As a result, he took up the Bible and read Romans 13:13-14. Paul’s words drew him to the Savior and Augustine was transformed. For Lewis, it was completely different. Upon the influence of a few friends who had been discussing Christianity with him, Lewis says he came to faith in Christ begrudgingly. He had no more arguments, no more reasons. Though their stories are different, “nothing is more important for two human souls than to say truly, ‘We know that we have passed out of death into life’ (1 John 3:14).” (p. 12)

The major issue that Piper highlights in this introduction is the fact that there are many “Christians” who look and live just like the world but still claim that they have been born again. How can this be true? If we have been regenerated, then we have been transformed into a new creation in which our lives are progressively becoming more like Christ. True regeneration absolutely leads to a changed life. There is no such thing as a carnal Christian. So it means that many people who call themselves Christians and yet bear no resemblance to Christ are not born again.

I think that gives us plenty to think about and discuss this week and in the weeks to come.

Your turn…

So what do you think about Piper’s claims? Is he right about being born again? And are there many people claiming to have been born again that really haven’t? Fire away.

Next Reading:

Read chapter 1 this week and expect a post on Monday (November 16th).

SI on Tim Tebow

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Comments Posted on Jul 23, 2009 Last Updated Jul 24, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

Tim Tebow is the son of missionary parents and forthcoming about his faith in Christ. Sports Illustrated recently ran a cover story on him concerning his life outside of football. It’s a nice look at how God is using a man and his love for sports to do even greater things. I would caution everyone to not make Tim into the second coming of Moses or Paul. Too often we take celebrities who are Christians and thrust them into the limelight to act as the perfect representatives for all Christians. We place a heavy and lonely burden on their shoulders that often cannot be carried. With that being said, this is a good article on a good guy who really loves the Lord.

Tim Tebow

(HT: Zach Nielsen)

The Monday Muse – Onward Christian Soldiers

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Comments Posted on Jun 29, 2009 Last Updated Jun 29, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

A little over a week ago Newsweek released an article discussing “the growing controversy over military chaplains using the armed forces to spread the Word.” I have heard that chaplaincy in the military has been forced to take on a more postmodern, pluralistic flavor (though I confess that I know little about military chaplains). Gone are the days when the chaplaincy’s sole convictions are Christian.

The U.S. military Central Command has established a rule called General Order Number One that forbids active-duty troops from “trying to convert people to any religion.” In spite of this rule, the military has encountered a growing “problem” among their chaplains. Some Christian chaplains have continued to be involved in evangelization through Bible initiatives. “The effort is an example of what critics call a growing culture of militarized Christianity in the armed forces.”

It should come to no one’s surprise that Christian ministers serving as chaplains would seek to share the truth of the gospel in the hopes that many would believe and be saved. If the gospel is true and Jesus is the Savior of humanity, doesn’t it make logical sense that people convinced by such things would naturally want to share this news? The impact and influence of the gospel in such desperate situations such as war and conflict should not be underestimated. What hope can a soldier, caught in the line of fire, have unless he believes in Jesus as deliverer from pain, suffering, conflict, and death?

On the flip side, some people would say that the mixing of religion and government via the military can be a dangerous thing. I see the implications of an amicable union to be detrimental to the church more than the government. State sponsored Christianity does not have a good track record. However, Kathryn Joyce also points to the negative aspects of Christian influence on public policy and military actions. The melding of both worlds raises the potential for holy war in the name of God’s will.

That leads me to my question for the week: How should Christian faith and secular government interact with one another? What type of relationship should they have?

Collision – Hitchens vs. Wilson

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Comments Posted on May 14, 2009 Last Updated May 14, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

If you haven’t caught wind of this new independent documentary then here’s a taste of what you can expect. Collision documents the debate, discussion, and tour over this question: Is Christianity Good for the World? The main players are Christopher Hitchens (journalist, author, atheist) and Douglas Wilson (pastor, professor, author, Christian). As Wilson puts it in the documentary, the whole tour and interaction between then two of them is really more a collision of lives than a simple debate over a specific topic. There is no official release date for this documentary. However, you can read the correspondences between Hitchens and Wilson in their book: Is Christianity Good for the World?

COLLISION – 13 min VIMEO Exclusive Sneak Peek from Collision Movie on Vimeo.

The Word 2.2.09

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Comments Posted on Feb 02, 2009 Last Updated Feb 02, 2009 Posted by Jeff Lash

Prayer is a real area of struggle for many Christians including myself. It is easy to neglect amidst the list of things to do each day. It is easy to push aside because it seems to provide little immediate benefit or satisfaction in comparison to other things. Yet prayer is one of the most powerful aspects of our faith. Being able to pray to the Creator of all things is a mind-blowing idea and reality. We fail to take advantage of such a blessing. I fail to take advantage of such a blessing. So how shall we pray? What mindset should we take on? What does it look like?

Hypocrisy is a stumbling block to many people in regards to Christianity. Though we cannot completely avoid sin, we must make every effort to avoid creating stumbling blocks for anyone who comes into contact with us. We should pray with humility. We should pray with the intent to speak to the Father and honor Him. We shall avoid hypocrisy when we make much of Jesus and little of ourselves.

Matthew 6:5-14 (ESV)

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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