Does God Have Me?

The title of this post was not the title of last Sunday’s message at Ranch Community Fellowship, but it was the question we were asking. Does God have me? Have I truly surrendered myself to him and trust him with my life? We’re looking at our use of money to answer those questions.

What does our giving say about our relationship with God? People give many reasons for why they do not give to God and others generously. At the root of almost every reason one can imagine there are two issues that cannot be ignored.

First, some of us don’t believe God is capable of providing for us with what is left after we give to Him. Admittedly, many of us have either mismanaged our money. We have used credit way too freely to get what we can’t really afford. Some of us have had a staggering, unexpected crisis of some sort that has shaken our financial footing. Still others of us have been struggling with our financial stability for so long that we don’t know what it’s like not to always be worried about there being more month than money. Of course, it takes more faith to give in the face of these situations, but it always takes faith to give to God. With God’s multiple promises to take care of us couple with his directives to give, what does it say about us when we don’t give. Does it say we don’t trust God to do what he says he will do; that we don’t trust him to provide for us when we give to him?”

The second reason can sometimes, but not always, be related to why we find ourselves in these situations. As a result of the sin infection we all carry, most of us tend to view life as if we were the center of the universe. We’re what matters, and as long as our desires, wants, and needs (real and imagined) are met, that’s what’s important. While it may sound harsh and we might not want to admit it, we’ve clearly determined that what God wants is not as important to us as what we want. Does this mean we have not surrendered our lives to God?

A popular passage on tithing, Malachi 3, is often quoted simply to encourage people to tithe, that is, give ten percent of their income to God. However, that is not the main point of the passage. While I have no doubt God wants us to give ten percent and more (tithes and offerings) to him and that he will pour out blessings so great we cannot contain them, this is not the most important thing here. In Malachi, God is bothered the people are not fully embracing and following him. He points to their lack of giving, among other things, as evidence that they neither fully trust him nor are they fully surrendered to him.

“I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." (Malachi 3:6-10, NIV)

Generous giving indicates our trust in God and the full surrender of our lives to him. As harsh and as crass as it sounds, when God does not have our money he does not have us. There is no such thing as mature Christ-follower who is not a generous giver.

Proving God Exists, Part 1, Introduction

Recently a friend asked me, “How do we KNOW, other than something we feel in our heart, that there is a God?” So far the only answer she had been given by anyone was, “When you know God, and he is in your heart, there is no doubt.”

I was bothered that my friend had not been given a better answer. Essentially my friend was told, “If you want to be sure God exists, you just need to know God.” That’s a bit circular.

Is It Possible to Prove the Existence of God?

How does one definitively answer that question? Is it even possible to “prove” the existence of a supernatural being? My well-worn copy of Webster’s dictionary defines the supernatural as “an order of existence beyond the visible, observable universe.” The same dictionary also states the supernatural departs “from what is usual or normal, especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature.” If something is not visible or observable and is not confined by the “laws” that customarily govern our understanding of the world, how can we “prove” that which is beyond our ability to observe or to fully understand?

The Subjective Nature of Proof

Another challenge we face is the subjective nature of proof. Consider a criminal trial by jury. In our system of justice, twelve people are asked to judge the proof presented by an attorney to judge whether or not a person is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. My extensive legal education, obtained from watching way too many reruns of Law and Order, has taught me there are trials that end in hung juries, where the jurors have an irreconcilable difference of opinion as to guilt or innocence. In other words, the evidence that was presented was enough for some to KNOW the defendant is guilty, but not enough for others to KNOW the same thing.

Why We Call It Faith

With these challenges in mind, perhaps this is why we refer to any system of thought that acknowledges a belief in the supernatural as a “faith” system. That same Webster’s dictionary to which I referred earlier offers the following as one definition of faith, “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”

Does Proof Matter?

I guess these are just a couple of the problems we encounter as we try to answer this question. Perhaps that is why my friend got the answer she was given. Perhaps it is impossible to “prove” that God exists according to the laws of evidence in a courtroom, by scientific method, or by mathematical equation. However, I’m not sure how much that matters.

While there are many who are honestly seeking proof of the truth, for most, I suspect proof is irrelevant. Most of the discussion I am finding on this topic is put forth by those on one side or the other seeking to bolster what they already believe. No matter what proof is offered, they will cling to their predetermined belief. After all, even today there are people who believe, in spite of all scientific data to the contrary, the world is flat. (See International Flat Earth Society.)

In some ways I fall into that camp. I clearly believe in the existence of God. More specifically, I believe in God as revealed to us through the Christian Bible, and because I find so much benefit through what I believe, I want others to believe as well.  Even though I personally feel no need to bolster my belief with an effort to construct data and philosophy that would support it, I understand how such efforts might be helpful to others.  Therefore, I am willing to make the effort.  

If I am unable to prove the existence of God in a way that would satisfy standards accepted in a court of law or in a scientific laboratory, it does not mean God does not exist. It only means I was incapable of proving it by standards generally accepted in our culture.  However, I hope to add enough “evidence” that it will help move some closer to accepting this vital truth.

Walking in the Shoes of Others

That being said, I hope to set myself apart from those who do not make an honest attempt to put themselves in the shoes of those who struggle with believing in the existence of God; those who may even want to believe in God’s existence. I hope my views are sensitive to their concerns and not condescending. Too often honest seekers with questions have been dismissed because their questions were hard to answer. Sometimes they were even ridiculed. Such responses were, and are, harmful rather than helpful.

Join Me in the Journey

Over the next few weeks, as I think and research this topic, I hope you will be patient with me. This is not easy writing for me to do, since I have not given much thought to proving the existence of God. Having always accepted the idea that God is real, I’ve never felt the need to “prove” it.

I am looking forward to this process, and I invite you to join me with your thoughts, even if they run counter to mine. Our honest opinions and responses will help us to sharpen each other’s thinking, and I am sure you will think of things I have not considered.  Your questions are also welcome.  I cannot promise I will always be able to provide an answer, but you will get an honest, genuine response.

Technorati Tags: bible,God,atheist,agnostic,apologetics

Fulfilling the Heart of God: Acknowledging the Gifts of People

1 Corinthians 12

As I was reading the passage designated in our personal journals for the week, I didn’t get much further than Verses 4 through 6 when things I had not noticed before began to jump out at me. It actually set the tone for the rest of the passage, as I concluded this passage is about unity without uniformity. Let’s take a closer look at those three verses and their relationship to the rest of the chapter.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, NIV)

The people of God have always held as a central thought that God is one God. We see God operate through three different persons: the personhood of the Father Creator, the personhood of Jesus Redeemer, and the personhood of Holy Spirit Empowerer. In these three verses we see all three aspects of God in the words “Spirit,” “Lord,” and “God.”

The words “gifts,” “service,” and “working” also caught my eye. There are at least two things to learn from the use of these words. First we learn that there are more than one kind of each of these. There are multiple gifts; there are multiple services; there are multiple “kinds of working.” The second thing we can learn is seen in the words themselves. “Gifts” is about the different expressions of God’s grace that is shown in the different abilities bestowed upon people. “Service” has to do with the different ways these varied abilities contribute to and provide for the church – the people who follow Christ. And “kinds of working” has to do with the varied impact or results of the gifts expressing themselves in service.

As interesting as that might be to some, I think there is actually a larger point in these three verses that carries through the rest of this chapter, into chapter thirteen, and perhaps farther. In these three verses we see a contrast repeated in every verse between “different” and “same.” The emphasis seems to be on how diversity functions for the benefit of unity. We can see this theme in the rest of the chapter.

• v. 7 varied expressions of God’s grace are given for the common good.
• v. 11 after a listing of various expressions of God’s grace, the passage emphasizes that they all spring from one Spirit.
• v. 12 -27 the emphasis is on the fact that we are one body with different parts and every part needs each of the other parts.
• v. 28 to the end of the chapter is how God has “appointed” different people to fulfill different functions, but in the text it’s clear these different gifts are for the benefit of the one body given by the one God.
• Even though Chapter 13 was part of our reading assignment for today, a case can be made that the discussion on love is about how we are to be bound to each other in love.

Often we mistake unity for uniformity. Uniformity has to do with everyone doing everything in the same way. Unity is more about purpose and motive. Unity allows for variety and diversity, as long as the expressions of that diversity enhance, rather than divert, the unity of the group.

As you pray about this week’s question, seeking to understand how the gifts God has given you can be used to further and enhance the Kingdom of God, you might also want to consider how your gifts contribute to the diversity and creativity of God’s people without threatening the unity that is ours in Christ.

Fulfilling the Heart of God: Growing Through Relationships

Ranch Community Church is in the second week of a series of messages, small group discussions, and personal reflection on what each of us need to do तो be in alignment with God’s vision for our church – thus fulfilling the heart of God. Below are my reflections, not my finished thoughts, on this week’s passage and questions.

As I read through Romans 16, this week’s passage in our “Fulfilling the Heart of God” journal, three things caught my attention.

Personal Relationships

First, I noted the large number of people to whom Paul was personally connected or knew about. In this one chapter I counted twenty-nine individuals or groups to whom Paul sent greetings or in some way praised. (That does not include the eight people mentioned as having been with Paul when he dictated this letter.) This is astonishing since, as far as I know, Paul had not previously visited Rome. In fact, it was only one of two churches in Paul’s letters that were not “planted” by him. I’ve never thought of Paul as a “people-person,” but it seems clear he was.

Hard Work

Second, more than once I saw phrases that involved the words “worked hard.” I also saw the words “tested and approved,” in his references to individuals. I am not exactly sure how these people worked hard or how they were tested, but it is interesting to note that hard work was a part of church life even in that first generation of Christ-followers. We sometimes choose not to do things as a church, because we feel it is asking too much of people. It’s almost as if we are trying to orient ourselves around all the other stuff that goes on in our lives rather than orienting our lives around what’s truly important, a life with God. We would never want to become insensitive to what’s going on in people’s lives, but there does seem to be some truth in the idea that we squeeze our life with God’s people in around everything else, effectively giving it a much lower priority than we should. I’m not sure we should ever apologize for expecting people to work hard for the benefit of the rest of the church.

Unity of Thought

Third, I noticed an emphasis on unity. Beginning in verse 17 Paul warns them to be on the lookout for people who “cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.” Obviously the warnings about division are about protecting the unity of the Christ-followers. However, the encouragement to not stray from what they had learned about the Gospel could also be seen as protecting the unity of the group. Obviously, knowing what we believe and bringing our lives into compliance with those beliefs is important for what it brings to us in terms of eternal and full life. However, striving to maintain the integrity of the truth they have learned was also important in maintaining their relationships – their unity. If they began to differ in what they believed, it would certainly have an impacted in their relationships with each other.

Their Connectedness

The theme I see, if I am not working too hard to “force” several paragraphs into one theme, is about the connectedness of these early Christ-followers to each other. They had strong personal ties, they worked hard for the benefit of the church which is the same as saying the worked hard for each other’s benefit, and they had integrity as a group as they sought to remain true to what they had learned – letting no one disrupt their unity.

Answering the Questions

None of this is possible without a relationship with Christ. Only in Christ can we put to death our selfish, prideful desires that would cause us to be only about our selves than to be about each other. Only in Christ can I become the kind of person who seeks to benefit others rather than to simply be benefitted by them. I suppose that would be my answer to the question posed for the week and the one I added last Sunday. How do we benefit from our relationship with God, and how do others benefit from their relationship with us. At the very least, it’s a start to answering the questions.

The Role of Praise

Today, as I was reading in Jeremiah, I came across these words.

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise. (Jeremiah 17:14, NIV)

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled internally when someone says to me, “Praise the Lord!” I can distinctly remember the emotional reaction I felt when a life-long family friend looked at me and said, “Praise the Lord, Eddie!” I cringed on the inside – not wanting to “praise the Lord.” Nearly three decades later I still “feel” resistance within me when I hear that phrase, and it bothers me.

We do a great disservice to those who are already Christ-followers, and to those who are not, when we focus only on behavior that is displeasing to God. The real issue, the real wound between us and God, is an attitude of not wanting to let God be God. We don’t want to surrender control. We want to think what we want to think and do what we want to do. We are too full of ourselves and convinced of our own self-importance to acknowledge a relationship of dependency upon God. That’s why my internal reaction when someone encourages me to “praise the Lord” bothers me. What is it telling me about how I am dealing with that attitude of self-sufficiency that is at the root of every sinful thought and act?

Genuine praise of God, or the lack of authentic praise, is an indication of what place God holds in our lives. To praise God is to give him credit; to lift him up. To praise God is to acknowledge who he is and, therefore, who we are. He is God; we are not. So when I sense hesitancy or reluctance within myself to give God praise, then I have to take a moment to wonder what’s going on in me that I would not want to acknowledge God as God! 

I hope my resistance to someone telling me to “praise the lord” has more to do with how those words might have been abused in my past rather than with me not wanting to give God his rightful place in my life. I don’t seem to have the same resistance when I acknowledge God’s greatness in other ways. Still, since I am human, infected with the same tendencies as every other mortal on the planet, I know resistance to letting God be God is always lurking somewhere within me; preventing me from being in a right relationship with him and experiencing the good gifts that come through that relationship; gifts like healing and salvation.

Fortunately, that very attitude is why Jesus died.  He died, not only for our forgiveness of it, but to render its negative influence in our lives powerless.  It is precisely because we struggle with a willingness to let God be God that he died.

With this in mind, is it possible that our praise of God is not just an emotional or mental response to God?  Could it also be that scripture repeatedly encourages, even commands, us to praise God for the benefit we derive from it?  After all, does God really need our praise?

God does not need our praise, and he loves us unconditionally.  Therefore, God’s instructions to us in scripture always contain benefit for us.  When we praise God, whether we feel like it or not, it functionally helps us to let God be God of our lives.  It deals with the root attitude, from which all sinful thoughts and activities in our lives flow, and reminds us who God is and who we are to be. Perhaps the praising of God is not just intellectual or emotional response.  Perhaps it is also a spiritual discipline; a gift God has given to us to practice so that he can enter more fully into our lives.  If that’s the case, then there is only one thing to say or do.  Let’s PRAISE THE LORD!

 

Technorati Tags: praise,God,Jesus,Bible,sin,relationship,healing,salvation

Focusing on the Future

This morning I took time to do exactly what I am asking every friend and member of Ranch Community Fellowship to do. I skipped a meal and spent time with God praying, reading His Word and reflecting on the question in our “Fulfilling the Heart of God” journal. Even though I am your pastor and responsible to serve you by leading us in our journey, I also see myself as your friend and fellow traveler; someone who walks with you and not in front of, nor behind you. With that in mind, I want to share with you the thoughts that came to mind as I read this week’s journal selection.

The question I found myself asking was not exactly the one our journal proposed. The journal question for this week is, “What would our church look like in ten years if our vision for ministry was successfully accomplished?” I’m really more interested in what our church should look like, regardless of the time frame; today, ten, twenty, or more years in the future! In one form or another, that is the question that is always before me.

The suggested scripture readings for this week, 2 Timothy, Chapters 2 and 4, were loaded with images: soldier, athlete, farmer, workman, instrument/utensil, drink offering, fighter, and runner. These passages are also full of instructions, too many to list here. However, the words that seemed to jump off the page at me did fall into some themes.

A Life Fully Surrendered

Paul seems to repeatedly share with Timothy, a young pastor whom Paul deeply loves and mentors, images that talk about being completely sold out to the Gospel. He speaks of the soldier that does not get entangled in civilian affairs, the athlete who does not wander outside the boundaries of the course, the workman who obviously works hard at his task, an instrument/utensil that is useful to its master, a drink that is upended and poured out as an offering, a fighter that has fought well, a runner that has finished his race, a person who has not abandoned their faith. All of these images speak to me of a single-minded devotion to God in private and in public, or in difficult times as well as good times.

A Mind Fully Informed

Perhaps it should be so evident it goes without saying; unfortunately it is not.  God’s word and the instruction of it are central to our ministry and what we are supposed to be about.  Paul talks about being chained, but God’s word is not.  He encourages Timothy to correctly handle the word of truth.  We are to instruct in the hope that others repent. We are to preach. We are to correct, rebuke, encourage, and do the work of an evangelist.  Knowledge of God’s word is necessary for any Christ-follower to live the life God has for them.

A Heart Full of Love

Throughout these two chapters are scattered encouragements to be gentle, kind, patient, and not resentful.  Paul encourages Timothy to persevere, to endure, and be ready to take advantage of every opportunity for the Gospel.  It’s important not only to do the right things, but to do the right things in the right way.  It’s possible to not only be right, but to be DEAD right!  (I can’t help but think of 1 Corinthians 13 where we are taught that when we do things without doing them in love, we are nothing!)

Our Mission

RCF passionately loves God, each other, and the world and influences others to do the same.  That statement of our mission requires we be completely surrendered and sold out to God, have a solid understanding of what he teaches us through His word, and are not only doing the right things but doing them in the right way. 

Questions

Are we there yet?  We’re definitely on the right track, but I think we have a ways to go before we can say we are that group of people.  Fortunately for us, it seems traveling in the right direction is more important than arriving.  In some sense we can never fully arrive in this life.  While we are forgiven and set free, the sin infection is always lurking in each of us trying to influence our thoughts and actions.  I

I think the question for us is, “How do we move in that direction?”  We continue to pray, to worship, to learn what God teaches us, and to invest in each other, and to serve the world in an attitude of grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.  Repeatedly giving ourselves to the right things with the right attitude is what we must do to be and to become the people God has created us to be.

The Future

As I look toward the future for our church, I see a group of people who are head-over-heels in love with God.  We are completely surrendered and sold out to him and nothing is more important to us than He is.  We are a people who love His word and are living by it.  Because His love and His word lives us, love will be the word that characterizes our every motive and action.

Make no mistake, you and I will be different.  RCF, Cypress and Northwest Harris County will be a better place because we are, and people will have been rescued from the destructive clutches of evil.  We will be known as a place of refuge for the desperate and a place of rest for the weary.  And it will all be because we have chosen to passionately love God, each other, and the world.