16 Sept 2017 - Have You Read Anything Good Lately?

A Practicing Christian ch 16 - Have You Read Anything Good Lately?

"There are times when each spouse needs to escape from the world by relaxing with a magazine or  book or a game. There is nothing wrong with that. You just need to be careful that it doesn't get out of control. It becomes wrong when all your other responsibilities are no longer priorities."

I can attest to this. Just this last week, I used amounts of time that should have been reserved for studying to take "reading breaks" to try and finish a book I was reading. As a result, while I am not behind, I am definitely more pressed to try and finish my work by the deadline.

"You become what you read and consume. ... If we are only reading things that are detrimental to our Christian walk, we will struggle to be practicing Christians."

What you sow is what you reap. If you are constantly filling your mind with ungodly concepts and items, then that's what's going to come out - and I don't mean just pornography. We need to be careful even when reading philosophy, science, economics, politics, etc. If the writer is an unbeliever, he or she will be speaking from a very worldly perspective, often with some very convincing arguments and it's easy to compromise our faith in favour of  these rational arguments.

 Questions

1. Why do we need to make the Bible part of our daily reading?
1. We need to do as the psalmist wrote: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I may not sin against You." We cannot obey God, we cannot know His voice if we do not spend time in His word.
2. How can some non-Biblical reading hurt our walk with Christ?
1. It can fill us with ungodly images or thoughts that can lead us to sin.
2. It can teach us ungodly manners of thinking that can lead us to trust in our own understanding and can lead us to ungodly premises and conclusions.
3. What does Mark 9:14 mean in the context of what we read?
1. I'm not sure that this is the passage the author intended, but I'll run with it. If we're not careful in how we read what we read, we can end up like the disciples within our own minds, surrounded by a crowd of spectators and debating with learned scholars, conflicted in the thoughts and ideologies we should use or ascribe to.

1 Timothy 6:11-16

"But you, man of God, run from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness." - v. 11

It's interesting to me how these two segments have come together at the same time and when they've come together. I've just finished reading a rationality Harry Potter fanfic, called Harry  Potter and the Methods of Rationality (HPMOR). I have a decently strong history with rationality, logic, and logical debate/argument and have maintained a fairly strong interest in these things, wanting to learn the various aspects of philosophy and applied reasoning that contribute to ethics, metaphysics, origins, and epistemology, particularly in the public sphere and how we, as Christians, can better address the zeitgeist of modern society.

As I mentioned above, it can become very dangerous and tempting to drink deeply from the humanistic leanings of the rationality community, but it is important to remember that man is not the source of all wisdom, that all wisdom is God's wisdom and that, in learning the varying bits of jargon, thought experiments, and arguments, I need to remember that many of these authors do not appear to believe in God. In many ways, many of these thought experiments seek to provide deeper nuanced answers to things many believers take for granted, because we sometimes put them under the blanket explanation of "God made it that way," or "all of mankind is innately depraved and sinful." As such, many of these arguments unintentionally  seek to supplant God while they intentionally refuse to consider the existence of God as any contributing factor.

In addition, there can be a negative attitude towards the general society by some modern internet rationalists as "sheeple", unable to think and see clearly the deceptions and realisations of the governments, religions, etc., meanwhile thinking of themselves as the saviours of humanity, separate from the crowd and clear-sighted, sometimes blind to their own inabilities and faults. This, of course, stands in contrast to the word of God that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, that no-one is righteous, that Christ is the way, the truth, and the light, the only way to God, and that the attempts of man to reach Godhood, as evidenced by the tower of Babel, will ultimately fail.

So, then, the reminder to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness stands as a reminder to keep Christ as the focus and to measure the degree to which I buy into the arguments and explanations given, as some, but not all, may contradict with what God has written and I will need the God-given discernment to see what ideas fall into which camp.

 

15 Sept 2017 - Do You Share God with Others?

A Practicing Christian ch 15 - Do You Share God with Others?

Questions

1. How did the early church in Acts share the love of God? See Acts 2:41-47.
1. Amongst themselves, they met for the sake of fellowship, teaching, and prayer
2. Amongst others they performed miracles and were generous in giving to the needy
2. What are some ways you can share the love of God in your life every day?
1. First, I can testify to the changes that the love of God has wrought in my life and marriage. Second, I can share with others the truth that God does indeed love them and pursues a living relationship with them. Third, I can model the love of God in how I engage with and treat others.
3. What are some special initiatives you can make to share the love of God?
1. Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm still looking for the best opportunities to witness to the patients I see and the preceptors over me.

1 Timothy 6:2b-10

14 Sept 2017 - Are You Scared of Rejection?

A Practicing Christian ch 14 - Are You Scared of Rejection?

This topic hits home for me, because fear of rejection is the number one reason I hesitate to share the Gospel. I definitely agree with the author when he states that it seems easier to evangelise in a distant country than in your own hometown. After all, if you are rejected, turned down, or mocked, it's a pretty safe bet that you won't see those same people the next morning, the morning after next, the one after that, etc.. Rather, you might see them once or twice in the span of a couple weeks and then never see them again.

Of course, as the author also suggested, it can be an amazing training ground to be able to witness at home, too.

Questions

1. Why do some people fear rejection when sharing the Gospel?
1. I can't answer for all people, but for me, conflict stresses me out - especially perceived conflict/grudges/bad feeling. So, then, I find myself living in a manner, not necessarily to appease everybody, but to keep the peace and not foster any ill will or resentment towards me. Of course, this isn't quite what Paul had in mind when he exhorted Christians to keep the peace.
2. So, then, I end up hiding my witness so as to not create a sense of conflict with others in my daily life, particularly if I perceive they are areligious or disdainful towards religion or Christianity. I find myself constantly looking for signs that say "It is safe to be a Christian here," whether they be Christian books on a shelf, a cross on a wall, a piece of jewelry, etc. instead of just being bold and forward in my witness and speaking out without those reassurances being in place.
2. What are some ways you can be more active in sharing your Gospel witness?
1. I need to grow my security and trust in God. I find that my fear of rejection indicates that I place the opinion of men far too highly in my personal validation and identity - above even the validation of God - and I think part of that has to do with the fact that while I interact with God on a fairly regular basis, I don't physically interact with God like I interact with the people in the world around me. There is a cognitive bias in me towards perceiving the immediate, present, and physical as of greater relevance and value than the eternal, intangible, and invisible.
3. What types of rejection did Jesus endure for sharing His good news with others?
1. Societal rejection
2. Familial rejection
1. From God, while on the cross
3. Physical punishment
1. Including death
4. Social and ideological oppression
5. Isolation

1 Timothy 6:1-2

As the white husband of a black woman, scriptures pertaining to the conduct of slaves and masters can be a very touchy subject, given this country's history and how, many times, these passages have been twisted to try to keep slaves passive and subservient.

I will be up front and honest here: The slavery endorsed and enacted during the early colonial period through the entire British Empire, particularly in the British American colonies (but also (and reportedly worse) in the Spanish American colonies) up through the end of the Civil War - most notably the institution of Black-only slavery, as instituted by Gov Berkeley of the Virginia colony following Bacon's Rebellion.

The type of slavery permitted in the Old Testament was a limited-term indentured servitude based on the proximity to the semicentennial "Year of Jubilee", which was a year following the seventh set of seven years, during which the restoration of both property and freedom was written into the Levitical law. That being said, I see no evidence in scripture that many of the Israelites actually obeyed this practice.

Additionally, I see nothing in Scripture endorsing the institution of slavery. Every scriptural reference I know of in the context of slavery deals with how to navigate the pre-existing evil of slavery in a Godly way.

Regardless, until Bacon's Rebellion, a similar indentured servitude-type of slavery was the manner of slavery practices in America, but without the certainty of a Year of Jubilee manner of release and freedom.  After Bacon's Rebellion, with Berkeley's passage of the Virginia Slave Codes of 1705, the already questionable existence of slavery became drastically immoral and ungodly.

In this context, then, we read:

"All who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters to be worthy of all respect, so that God’s name and His teaching will not be blasphemed. Those who have believing masters should not be disrespectful to them because they are brothers, but should serve them better, since those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved." - vv. 1-2

So, we have an instruction to those who are already enslaved, that, for the sake and reputation of the name of God, they are to love their masters as themselves, to turn the other cheek, to walk the extra mile, to love and pray for them (to reference different statements Christ made about loving our neighbours and loving our enemies). If the master is not a believer, the idea is that this type of action - loving respect that is otherwise unearned - should bring the master to Christ. If the master is a believer, then Paul writes that slaves should serve their masters as though they were serving their own family.

It's pretty easy to see how this can be taken out of context in support of slaves serving their masters, who call themselves Christians, particularly because this specific passage does not also include an injunction to masters for how they are supposed to be treating their slaves. However, we must remember that this was not the original intent of the passage, but rather it was to encourage those who were already under the institution of slavery to be a witness for Christ in how they served their masters.

13 Sept 2017 - Are You Involved in Missions?

A Practicing Christian ch 13 - Are You Involved in Missions?

"When I think of the word 'missions' it brings images of people who go overseas to work and spread the Gospel. This is what I have always been taught in church. This is one definition, but it can be only a small part of the completed word."

"I was so wrong in my previous thinking. We need to go to other countries to spread the word of God. We need to be great disciples. We need to hear the Word of God preached. We also need not to give up on the people of America, but to reach them all and be open to what God may require of us. You don't have to go to a foreign land to do missions work. You can do missions work at your church, in your community, and at your workplace."

Questions

1. What is the Biblical concept of a missionary?
1. A missionary is one who has picked up the task of furthering the mission of God through the Great Commission. They have been historically distinguished from pastors and evangelists by the fact that they have usually gone where there is no record of Christians having ever been - that is, they are the first witnesses of Christ in a community.
2. Today, missionaries encompass more than just foreign missionaries. A missionary is someone who moves from one place, their home, to another with the intent of embedding themselves in the community, sharing the Gospel within the context of that community and their culture. A missionary could move one town over or halfway around the world. What distinguishes a missionary is the calling.
2.  Explain Acts 1:8 in the framework of missions.
1. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you - You're not doing this alone, but through the power of God
2. And you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem - The city you're from, the towns and places you're comfortable in
3. Judea - Your country
4. Samaria - Those parts of the world that you dislike and that dislike you in return. So, for an American, somewhere in the Middle East; for an Indian, Pakistan; etc.
3. How has the United States become a mission field?
1. Increasingly there is a lack of knowledge about what true Christianity says, looks like, and believes. There is a large region of "cultural christianity" in which everybody assumes they are and is assumed to be a Christian, but few would probably be able to stand under close scrutiny. There is a growing population of professing christians who have fallen for progressive theologies, false gospels that exonerates sins God does not and that believe popular philosophy primarily into which they fit the Gospel. There is also a growing number of (honest) agnostics and atheists. There are many who believe in the existence of a spiritual realm, but who have false ideas of what it looks like or how it operates. There are many, even, who believe in other religions masquerading themselves [the religions, not the adherents] as just another brand of Christianity.
2. The harvest in the US is huge and there are many who are seeking who would be receptive to the true Gospel, but it seems like many Christians have become used to being the punching bag of popular angst and are increasingly muttering amongst themselves instead of reaching out.

1 Timothy 5:17-25

Paul seems to be giving direction regarding measures by which to show honour and respect to faithful elders in the church for their service

• Those who put in many hours of preaching and teaching should be considered worthy of an "ample honorarium" (lit. "double honour") and the immediate context suggests a financial gift might not be a bad consideration
• I know this passage is often used in support of a pastor's salary, but, seeing this, I wonder how many churches recognise faithful, dedicated deacons who have put in years of service, particularly in leading a Sunday School or Home Group ministry.
• Those who, by virtue of their testimony and service, have been offered the title and/or role of elder should be afforded a measure of confidence, that is, in the case of a singular accusation against an elder, the elder should be able to trust his leadership to have his back.
• I understand that sometimes matters of personal misconduct do not have witnesses readily available and may present as a singular accusation. I would agree that the best course of action for the leadership would be to investigate the matter, but it is still possible to treat the elder as innocent until proven guilty, whether by the discovery of evidence, eyewitnesses, or other offences that would warrant a temporary to permanent removal of eldership during the remainder and following the conclusion of the investigation. 
• Additionally, if church leadership is exercising a robust means of scrutiny and a great deal of wise, discernment-seeking prayer for those raised to and maintained in the role of elder and if the candidate for eldership and the present elder alike continue to pursue God, then such offences should not be anything but a rarity.
• Lastly, Paul gives instruction to Timothy to publicly rebuke those who sin. This action allows the church body to see that the leadership takes sin and conduct seriously, particularly for its leaders, allowing them to trust the leadership during times of internal investigation. If a leadership is in the habit of concealing sins, then uncertainty and doubt can easily set in to the congregation
• Those who have been appointed to the role of an elder must have been done so maturely, with thorough consideration of their character, witness, and testimony and through prayer, seeking the inspiration and affirmation of God. To do any less discredits the validity of the title and role. For, as Paul previously instructed Timothy, the elder is supposed to be a mature, wise, consistent, fruitful believer and a man of integrity (which, again, addresses one of the sub-points above)
• Paul specifically cautions Timothy in this context that some people's sins are not as obvious as others, coming to the surface later. Similarly, not everyone's good deeds are obvious immediately, but will eventually be made known. It is definitely for this reason I believe that much prayer should go into the appointing of an elder.

Remuneration, confidence, and a robust vetting process. These are the three ways Paul gave for Timothy as a means of honouring the elders in his church and, when all three are in place, it definitely seems that none of this is done blindly.

12 Sept 2017 - Do You Give?

A Practicing Christian ch 12 - Do You Give?

"God does not need your money. Tithing is a sign to God that you have put your faith in Him."

Questions

1. What does the Bible teach about tithing?
1. That tithing is the means of supporting our pastorate
2. That the 10% tithe is the bare minimum
2. Explain Malachi 3:9-10 in the context of your own life.
1. Tithing is an important way to show honour to God. It says that we place our finances and our financial well-being lower than we place God. It also says that we trust God to take care of our finances. To withhold tithes, whether out of direct greed or fear of hardship, is to tell God that we no longer trust Him supremely to take care of us.
3. What does your money have to do with your walk with God?
1. It is the indicator of where my heart is. The more I come to trust God and His provision, the more freely I give

1 Timothy 5:3-16

"But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to practice Godliness toward their own family first and repay their parents, for this pleases God. The real widow, left all alone, has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives." - vv. 4-6

With this passage, and the ones following, Paul gives instruction regarding the serving of widows. We see the ideas of stratifying by need and merit. First, by need - those widows who have family, let the family support them and honour God in the process. Second, by merit - those widows who work to the service and honour of God, not to their own gain, are the ones who are worthy of being helped. Does that mean that all others are not to be helped? Not so. It just means that those who best fit the two criteria make the highest priority.

Later in the passage, we see further instructions about setting an age threshold and about encouraging young widows to remarry. Again, part of this helps with the stratification, but there is a moral argument given here, that the young women have not yet learned the discipline of keeping busy and, if allowed to be a registered widow, will become idle gossips and busybodies. Now, Paul isn't being blanketly misogynistic here. There must have been some measure of trouble that Timothy was having with people abusing the widows' ministry and it's important to keep that mindset in place.

11 Sept 2017 - What Do Your Kids Say about You?

A Practicing Christian ch 11 - What Do Your Kids Say about You?

Questions

1. Explain Proverbs 22:6 as a practice for your life.
1. I mean, it's a practical reminder of the goal of parenting - to raise up a child that loves, desires, and seeks out God.
2. How do children emulate their parents?
1. In every way possible: In their way of thinking, speaking, and holding themselves; in their actions, habits, relationships, pastimes, discipline, values, and goals.
3. How does our view of God  affect our view of our parents?
1. Usually I think of this question in reverse, but I think having a right view of God lets my parents off the hook a bit. Because I receive perfect love, teaching, and discipline from the perfect Father, I do not hold my parents to the idol of parenting perfection, rather that they pursue modeling, reflecting, and pointing towards Christ in all their ways.

1 Timothy 4:11-5:2

10 Sept 2017 - How Do You Handle Social Media?

A Practicing Christian ch 10 - How Do You Handle Social Media?

"If you live for Jesus, be an example for Jesus to the best of your abilities. ... Let people see Jesus in your social media posts, not just what they see of you in church on Sunday."

Questions

1. Does the Bible relate at all to our activity on social media?
1. Oh yes. There are a number of passages talking about how our witness needs to be  ready and prepared at all times, that we need to be consistent in our faith and action, that we need to always be aware of what we speak, etc. Social media is just another arena in which we live our daily lives.
2. How can social media be used for the glory of God?
1. By curating and maintaining a presence that glorifies God.
2. By actively using the various platforms to be a voice pointing towards God and rallying others to the cause of God. 
3. How can social media be a stumbling block to others? 
1. By what you post - If what you post is not consistent with the Christ you claim, then it may turn people away from Christ or share a false Gospel about who Christ is and the effect He has on His followers
2. By what you follow - Social media is a tool and, just as good can be done with it, it can be used to spread many ills. Beware, especially on visual platforms that you are not compromising yourself and your integrity in setting yourself up for temptation and sin. Additionally, consider your witness if others see your list of whom you follow.

1 Timothy 4:6-10

"But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in Godliness." - v. 7

First, we see that we are not to keep our minds and eyes on things, particularly beliefs and doctrines, that are not of God. Instead, we should seek Godliness. Now, since Godliness is such a Christianese word, I looked up the definition:

1. Conforming to the laws and wishes of God; devout; pious
2. Coming from God; divine

So, we should be seeking and pursuing the things that come from God and that conform to God's ideals

"[T]raining of the body has a limited benefit, but Godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." - v. 8

Okay, so, we recognise that Paul recognises the benefit of exercise for its health benefits in this earthly life, however, Paul is saying that while exercise is beneficial in this life, pursuing Godliness is of an even greater benefit in that it benefits both this earthly and the later eternal life.

"In fact, we labour and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of everyone, especially of those who believe." - v. 10

And here we have Paul's explanation of why it is that we are to pursue Godliness above exercise and healthy eating: it is because we have put our hope in the living God. Think about it. Most of the super-crunchy health and fitness nuts that I know of usually have put a decent portion of their identity into their physical appearance and health. What they have put their hope in, what they are leaning on to get them through life, is that idea of being in good health and/or being attractive. If we, as Christians have truly put our hope in God, then we should pursue God.

Come to think of it, in many ways I have put my hope in being "smart" and being able to do everything on my own/think my way out of any circumstance. I'm gonna go and take some time to deal with that.