On Theological Debate

I recently followed along with a theological debate via a series of blog posts, articles, video responses from many different parties or theological camps. The specific topics of the debate aren't important for my purposes here. Let's just say there was a theological position being critiqued, then there was the subsequent objections, clarifications, definitions and re-definitions.

Theological debate and clarification is not always fun. In an ideal world, the church would get along without theological disagreement. Heck, in an ideal world, all of humanity would agree on theology, especially that about the nature of God, the lordship of Jesus, the meaning of the cross, salvation, and the eternal state. But as it is in this fallen world, there will be debate, and there will be disagreement, even among the people of God:

"The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate..." Acts 15:6-7

Throughout the course of my following this particular debate in the blogosphere, I did encounter some who were uncomfortable with the fact that we had a debate at all. "Why can't we get along, why can't we be unified?" they would ask, somewhat understandably. Still others would assert something along these lines:

"I'm not into theology; I'm just into Jesus. We don't need to debate doctrine; we just need to be about God's love."

Now, I can understand being uncomfortable with debate or division. In a sense, this discomfort is a longing for heaven, when God's people will all finally agree! However, it saddens me to see the responses indicating that such a discussion about God's truth doesn't matter. Or that we need to just "be about Jesus" or "be about God's love."

Allow me to ask, when you are "just about Jesus", how do you define who Jesus is? When you just "focus on God's love", how do you know what exactly God's love IS and what it ISN'T? If you make the claim that you don't need to be about theology, you must realize that whatever you are "about" is itself its own theology! As Tim Keller says:

"The insistence that doctrine does not matter is itself a doctrine."

You cannot define whatever it is that you are "about" - Jesus, God, Love - without theology or doctrine. Once you have insisted what something IS, you have also stated what it ISN'T. At that point, you have raised a clear definition which is grounds for theological debate or disagreement! For example, if you are just going to be "about God's Love", you must define what God's love is/isn't and what it does/doesn't do - and someone may disagree with you. If you are just going to be "about Jesus", you must define who he is/isn't and what he has done/hasn't done - and someone will disagree with you.

I'm not saying that all debates or issues are of equal importance. Nor am I claiming that all are handled in the right manner. But when issues arise, to simply take a pass or claim them as unimportant is a position in and of itself. At some point, Christians stand on doctrinal definitions, without which we wouldn't actually exist.

Trials and Wisdom: James 1:1-8

Sermon I gave Sunday September 8 at Revive Church in Claremont. This was part 1 in our series on James, entitled "Heavenly Wisdom for a Life on Earth."

James 1:1-8

Trials Produce Perfection (1:2-4).
Wisdom is a Gift from God (1:5-8).

The sermon handout is up for download here.

Why I Teach with Analogies

Jesus did.

Do Not Let your Social Network Know What Your Right Hand is Doing

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

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. 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." 

Matthew 6:1-6

In this passage, Jesus famously decries a religious tendency present in 1st century Jews- doing good works (even prayer) to be seen by others and praised by others. I believe this tendency may be present in us as well. Let's consider a few things.

The problem is not good works being seen. Earlier in the sermon on the mount, Jesus notes that our good works will be seen and will point others to God! "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (5:16). So the problem isn't even that our works are public or visible. We are commanded, "Let your light shine!"

The problem is the motivation for good works. Here, Jesus addresses a specific motivation standing behind good works: "in order to be seen by them"; "that they may be praised by others." Some are motivated by others' opinions, approval, and praise when doing good works.

Does this apply to social media and if so, how? With social media, there is an inherent audience. We post pictures, videos, and statuses because they are seen. If we didn't want them to be seen, we'd write them in a private journal (or on Google+!), not on a relatively public website. The specific motivations may vary as to why we want some items to be seen, but the reality remains; we post something that we feel is valuable enough for others to see, like, comment, and share. It may be something as simple as an interesting and helpful news article; or it may be a promotion of our own good works, in the words of Jesus, "in order to be seen by them."

These thoughts are borne primarily from my own heart motivations in my use of social media; my guess is that your experience may be the same. I believe a tendency exists in us to click "post" or "share" when we're doing things that others will deem praiseworthy. We receive our reward when others comment, like, or re-tweet their approval. That may be a formal ministry activity, informal service of a friend or family member, or even a quiet time. Could it be that Facebook, Instagram, Google+, or Twitter are the "synagogues and street corners" of our day?

I'm not claiming that if we share something potentially godly that we are doing via social media, that our motivation is necessarily off. I am merely claiming that it is a possibility, and it is well worth considering whether we have received our reward in full by sharing such items. If we are to "not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing, so that our giving may be in secret", would the same level of secrecy also be applied to our social networks?

Philippians: Progress and Joy in the Faith

I've been doing a lot of reading in Philippians lately, as I'm speaking for a youth camp this weekend and focusing on several passages for the messages.

I've always characterized Philippians as a book focused on the joy of the Lord and of following Him. This is an accurate assessment, as Paul uses the term joy/rejoice over 10 times in 4 short chapters:
- 1:4- "making my prayer with joy"
- 1:18- "Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice."
- 1:25- "I will...continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith."
- 2:2- "complete my joy by being of the same mind"
- 2:17- "Even if I am am to be poured out as a drink offering...I rejoice with you all."
- 2:29- "Receive him in the Lord with all joy"
- 3:1- "Rejoice in the Lord..."
- 4:1- "Therefore my brothers, whom I love and log for, my joy and my crown..."
- 4:4- "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."

This is a sampling of the types of things that Paul speaks about in connection with joy. He covers items from prayer to evangelism to unity to one's relationship with God. It is obvious that this is a huge theme for this little epistle.

However, as I've dug a little more deeply and more specifically recently, I've also noticed a huge emphasis on a believer's progress in the faith. Specifically, Paul repeatedly addresses the tension of working hard to progress in your faith with the understanding that God is the one working in you and through you. Consider:
- 1:6- "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
- 2:12-13- "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
- 3:12-13- "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..."
- 4:12-13- "I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

Here we see Paul repeatedly describing a believer's faith as a journey where the believer works hard ("work out", "press on", "straining forward") to progress and grow; yet, all the while, God himself is completing the work and supplying the strength (see the bold text above).

It seems then fitting that Philippians 1:25 is a great theme verse for the book, and should be the goal of every believer, and a priority of every church: "Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith."

Fight for joy, fight for progress. God will give it.

Fathers' Day Sermon- A Father's Love

Here's my Fathers' Day Sermon entitle "A Father's Love", given at Revive Church on June 17, 2013.

Psalm 103:13- "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him."

Disciplining Love
Providing Love
Compassionate Love.

Spiritual Fitness- Sermon on 1 Timothy 4:1-10

Here's my sermon from Sunday May 19 at Revive Church on 1 Timothy 4:1-10 entitled "Spiritual Fitness." (We had some technical difficulties with the audio, so I sound like I'm screaming into my pillow, but that's alright!)

The deceived servant will fall away.
- Deceitful Teaching
- Seared Conscience
- Legalism
The disciplined servant will remain faithful.
- Different Diet
- Different Discipline
- Different Source of Strength