Blogging BCM: My Heart and Media

Last night Tim spoke on My Heart and Media, a message regarding Christian worldview and stemming once again from the book Worldliness by CJ Mahaney. I think out of all the chapters of this book, this one challenged me the most and Tim's message once again did the same. Media is the thing I struggle with most. At one point in my life it would not surprise me if I spent a third or more of my day consuming media. In recent months, I've recognized the hold media has in my life and have taken measures to break that hold and move away. Although it's hard and I still struggle, I feel in regards to media I am in a much better place than i was several months ago. The following are my new thoughts regarding media and how we must view media and it's impact on our lives from a Christian perspective. I am in no way an expert, but God's Word is and it clearly defines the things that should be important and that should take precedence in our lives. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I firmly believe this has to be a starting point when looking at media and it's impact on our lives as Christians. Paul tells the Corinthians that whatever you do should be done to the glory of God. That means when we eat it should be to the glory of God. It means our relationships should be conducted in a manner that is to the glory of God. Our schoolwork should be done so that it is to the glory of God. When we are at work, we work in a manner that is to the glory of God. Most importantly at this time in our lives it has a clear pulling and weight on the issue of media. The media that we take in and the media that so often consumes our lives, according to this verse, should be viewed and consumed to the glory of God. WOW that's hard. That means that whatever movies we watch should glorify God. Whatever TV we watch should glorify God. Whatever music we listen to (more on this subject next week) should glorify God. Whatever magazines we read should glorify God. I could go on and on about the different aspects of media that need to be consumed to the glory of God, but I think you get the picture. Craig Cabaniss writes in Worldliness:

Glorifying God is an intentional pursuit. We don't accidentally drift into holiness; rather, we mature gradually and purposefully, one choice at a time. In the Christian walk, we can't just step onto the right path and figure all is well. Christian discipleship is a lifelong journey consisting of a series of countless steps. Each step matters, and thus our viewing habits matter.

Glorifying God is not something that just happens. As Cabaniss says, it is intentional and we must make every effort to concentrate in our lives on making sure that whatever we do, we do it to the glory of God. The hardest part on our walk towards spiritual maturity and holiness is that Satan knows where we are weak and for most that is in the media that we mindlessly take in everyday. Cabaniss continues:

The drift towards worldliness is subtle, gradual, and internal. And if we assume we're immune to it, that's a sure sign the drift has begun.

We as Christians must realize this fact and take heed. We must be on constant guard to the sin that infiltrates our lives everyday due to the media that is provided to us. We so often do not consider what we're watching or reading to have an impact on our lives. We somehow think that by watching or consuming the sin in others lives, we can remain holy and blameless before God. Let me ask you this...how often do we sit at home and watch programs on TV or movies that deal with issues of extramarital affairs, vulgarity, premarital sex, homosexuality and other things that are dishonoring to God? How often are we entertained by these things? Quite often we think that although we are called to glorify God in our own lives, it's OK to be entertained and view other people do the exact opposite. We must be on a constant pursuit to view to the glory of God. Cabaniss writes:

Viewing for God's glory requires responding to temptations as they arise. This means we press the remote, click the mouse, or walk out of the theater when we discern that our entertainment displeases the Lord. We must resist the temptation to think, "There's nothing else to watch," or "I'm only looking for a moment," or "It would be stupid to waste the money I spent to see this."

It is in these moments when we compromise our pursuit to glorify God for the entertainment of our fleshly desires. It is in these moments that Satan knows he has us and begins to strike harder than ever, slowly drifting us out into the sea of Worldliness. Let us take a stand and say no to Satan's lies that we need to watch this to relax or to take a break from the struggles of life. Let us say know when Satan tells us there's nothing else to watch. Let us sacrifice the money out of our pockets and leave the movie when we make a poor choice of what to watch. Let us, as 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, "do all to the glory of God."

Questions to focus on this week in your personal devotions:

1. Does the media you consume glorify God in any manner?

2. Do you find yourself making statements and remarks from media you may have consumed that are dishonoring and therefore not glorifying to God?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17 and Philippians 4:8. How do these verses relate to the media we consume and how do they relate to the sin of worldliness?

As always, if there is any questions you may have or need to just talk, Tim and I are always available.

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An Evening Praise from Challies

Tim Challies writes an evening praise that challenged me greatly tonight:

Giver of all,
Another day is ended
and I take my place beneath
my great Redeemer's cross,
where healing streams continually descend,
where balm is poured into every wound,
where I wash anew in the all-cleansing blood,
assured that Thou seest in me no spots of sin.

Read the whole thing.

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The Priority of Discernment When it Comes to Reading

I'm reading a great book on preaching entitled Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching by many great theologians and scholars. One part of the book in particular that really challenged me as I was reading yesterday was in the chapter entitled "Experiential Preaching" by Joel R. Beeke. The part that jumped out on me most was on the subject of books and how to be discerning in what we read. Although this book is intended for pastors, I think this particular excerpt should be read and held onto by all who are devout followers of Christ. It reads:

Be selective about what you read, however. Measure all your reading against the touchstone of Scripture. So much of today's Christian literature is froth, riddled with Arminian theology or secular thinking. Time is too precious to waste on nonsense. Read more for eternity than time, more for spiritual growth than for professional advancement. Think of John Trapp's warning: "As water tastes of the soil it runs through, so does the should taste of the authors that a man reads."

Before picking up a book, ask yourself: Would Christ approve of this book? Will it increase my love for the Word of God, help me to conquer sin, offer abiding wisdom, and prepare me for the life to come? Or could I better spend time reading another book?

Speak to others about the good books you read. Conversation about experiential reading promotes experiential living.

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Challies on Theology

Tim Challies on the importance of theology:

Theology remains something of a bad word in Christian circles. I’d believe that the success of a book like The Shack has proven this to us yet again. Many people seem eager to embrace some form of Christian spirituality but have little desire or love for theology. Theology is linked in people’s minds with frigid, dead religion that cares more about principles and matters of the head than deeds and matters of the heart. It is associated with fundamentalism and with cold conservatism. We need only look at the meaning and etymology of the word, though, to conclude that God requires all Christians to be theologians.

Read the whole thing.

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Blogging BCM: What Happens When a Christian Sins?

Last night Tim talked about what happens when a Christian sins in the final part of his three part series on sin. One of the statements Tim made that stood out to me the most was when he said that it is so easy to play Christian. How true is this? Too often we put on our facade and march in to church like we're holier than thou, but really we're just faking to the world. When we do this we not only hurt ourselves, but more importantly those around us who are sincerely living out their lives for Christ and trying to advance the gospel. The thing we must realize is that every one of us, whether we're putting on a mask or not, sins. It is imperative though that when we do sin we do not dwell on that sin or continue in it. We must repent. The following are verses that speak on the need for us a Christians to repent:

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. [Revelation 3:19]

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out. [Acts 3:19]

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless your repent. [Revelations 2:5]

So we see in God's word the need to repent, but what does this repentance actually mean. This morning I happened to stumble across a great definition of repentance on Joshua Harris' blog. The definition is by J.I. Packer from page 87 in his book Keep in Step with the Spirit and it reads:

Repentance means turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of yourself to as much as you know of your God, and as our knowledge grows at these three points so our practice of repentance has to be enlarged.

WOW. How powerful is the definition in the believer's walk. You may like me at first be thinking, "I have no idea what any of it means." Let's walk through the definition piece by piece to fully understand what repentance is and how it applies to our Christian walk. We're going to look at each point in the context of our knowledge growing in that area.

First, Packer says it "means turning from as much of you know of your sin." What Packer is saying here is that the more of your sin you recognize, the more your realize you are sinful, the more you understand the weight of your transgression, the more you will see the need to repent. This is why when a believer comes to Christ, they repent because for the first time they recognize and feel the weight of their own sin. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of realizing and recognizing one's own sin is that of the psalmist David. He writes throughout the Psalms:

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. [Psalm 38:3]

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. [Psalm 51:3]

Second, Packer says we do turn from as much of we know of our sins to give as much as we know of ourselves. The more we realize the weight of our sins, the more we will want to give ourselves over to God. As we continue to grow in recognizing and learning of our sin, we will realize more and more that we must give ourselves to the Living God. The more we see our sinful nature and the wickedness of which we were brought into this world [Psalm 51:5]

Finally, Packer says we give ourselves to as much as we know of our God. The greater knowledge we have of God, the greater we will recognize the need to repent. Last week I talked about how the study of God and the more we gain a knowledge of who God is, the more we will grow in godliness. This rings true here as well. As we study God and read His Word, we will be so appalled by the sin that is in our lives that we will move towards repentance. In doing so, we will continue to be strengthened in godliness.

The more we realize the sins we have committed against God, the more we will recognize the need to give ourselves over to the knowledge we have of the One True God. Ultimately all three of these points lead us to the cross. It is at the cross where we truly see the weight and cost of our sin. It is at the cross we fully see the need to give ourselves as a living sacrifice and it is at the cross where we see a full picture of who God is.

CJ Mahaney talked this past weekend of a quote by Charles H. Spurgeon. Spurgeon said:

The more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard the more noble our lives will become.

Mahaney asked a great question upon reciting this quote. "How often do you dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard?" Ponder this question. We must recognize that the more we dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard, the more we will recognize our need for repentance, grow towards godliness and away from this world.

Questions to focus on this week throughout your personal devotions:

1. Read Psalm 51. How does this apply/relate to what Tim talked about Tuesday night and what we've just discussed?

2. "How often do you dwell where the cries of Calvary can be heard?"

3. For further focus on the cross and realizing the weight of what was accomplished, read the parts of the gospels that give an account of Christ's death and resurrection.

As always, if you have any questions regarding the subjects that are discussed or anything you need, please talk to Tim or myself.

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Albert Mohler on Facebook and Social Networking

Facebook just turned five years old and Albert Mohler offers some great thoughts on how Christians should view and use Facebook and social networking.

HT: JT

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Tim Challies on Freedom

Tim Challies writes:

We see that our submission to Christ leads to submission to others. We see that our submission to Christ requires us to do so many things that come so slowly and reject many things that come so easily. And we regard this as captivity. We may even resent these high, tough standards that God requires.

But God gives these high standards, he gives us these laws, he gives us these boundaries for our good and for our freedom. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). As we grow in our knowledge of God and as we grow to be more like him, we see that what we thought was freedom was really slavery and what we thought was slavery is in reality glorious freedom. We find our freedom in submitting to God and obeying him, even when such obedience goes against all we want to do and all we want to believe. God knows best and we live best before him when we submit to his ways, whatever the cost.

To read the whole thing.

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Blogging BCM: God's Wrath

Last night Dan talked about God's wrath and the many parts of Scripture that speak to that subject. In this post, I want to dig deeper and gain an understanding of why it is imperative that we come to study and accept this prevalent attribute of God. In an introduction to an article on Biblical Doctrine in the ESV Study Bible, Erik Thoennes writes:

The study of theology is considered by many to be dry, boring, irrelevant, and complicated. But for those who want to know God, the study of theology is indispensable. The word “theology” comes from two Greek words, theos (“God”) and logos (“word”). The study of theology is an effort to make definitive statements about God and his implications in an accurate, coherent, relevant way, based on God's self-revelations. Doctrine equips people to fulfill their primary purpose, which is to glorify and delight in God through a deep personal knowledge of him [refer to Ephesians 1:9-11]. Meaningful relationship with God is dependent on correct knowledge of him.

Any theological system that distinguishes between “rational propositions about God” and “a personal relationship with God” fails to see this necessary connection between love and knowledge. The capacity to love, enjoy, and tell others about a person is increased by greater knowledge of that person. Love and knowledge go hand in hand. Good lovers are students of the beloved. Knowledge of God is the goal of theology.

Knowledge without devotion is cold, dead orthodoxy. Devotion without knowledge is irrational instability. But true knowledge of God includes understanding everything from his perspective. Theology is learning to think God's thoughts after him. It is to learn what God loves and hates, and to see, hear, think, and act the way he does. Knowing how God thinks is the first step in becoming godly.

You may be wondering, how does theology or being theologically minded have anything to do with God's wrath? If we as Christians are on a path to godliness and striving to be more and more like Christ, we must start by striving to understand how God thinks. We must, as Thoennes writes, strive "to learn what God loves and hates" and by studying His attributes to begin "to see, hear, and think and act the way he does." If we want to grow closer to God, it is imperative in our walk to study His attributes. Where we study His attributes is in His Word. God's Word is the place we go to gain knowledge and understanding of the things of God. In order to understand His wrath, we must go to His Word. One Scripture in particular that stood out to me last night was Romans 1:18, 24-25. It is this Scripture that I want to focus on to help us to understand this idea of wrath from God's perspective. It reads:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

These w=Words have an inherent message; they are filled with meaning. They are the Words of God Himself explaining His wrath. Read these verses again. They blatantly state what God's wrath and its prevalence in this world. God's wrath...His righteous anger...is cast upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness. By being ungodly and unrighteous we are suppressing His truth. Because of His holiness, His wrath is default, and His mercy through Christ gives us exemption. So how does God show His wrath? Does God just get angry and kill everyone? NO! God gives man over to the lusts of their hearts...their desires. Why does He do this? Because they are not doing the one thing He created us for...to glorify Him. Those who bear the wrath of God are those who buy into the lies of Satan. Those who decide to glorify things of this world rather than the one Being that created it.

When we as Christians begin to study who He really is and recognize His undeniable traits exposed in Scripture, we will then begin to grow closer to Him. When we realize that the wrath of God is real and is present in the very world we live in today, we will be so struck with fear and humility that we will strive to not love this world and the things in it. We must fight the sin of worldliness. We must realize and understand that God's wrath is present around us. We must study and strive to understand God and who He is, for when we do this, we grow in godliness and grow farther from this world.

Questions to think about regarding God's wrath throughout your personal devotions this week:

1. Study Romans 1:18-25 and 1 John 2:15. How do these two passages relate to each other? How does God's wrath relate to the sin of worldliness?

2. In what ways is God's wrath displayed in the world around us?

3. How can you strive to work at understanding and learning more about God, so that you can grow more in godliness and less in the world?

If you have any questions regarding God's wrath, worldliness or anything else, do not hesitate to talk to Tim, Dan, myself or any of the leadership.

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