Disputable Matters

For those that know me know that my family and I are still in the process of finding a new church home. We used to live in another community and had the privilege of assisting with a church plant there. We remained in that church home for 3 years and loved it. However, we ultimately decided to move to another community to be closer to our jobs, and have been in the process of finding a church home ever since. Regrettably, this process has grown to be much longer and more drawn out than I had anticipated. One of the frustrating things I've found is how there are so many differences between the churches that we've visited over the last 9 months. We've visited traditional baptist churches, more nontraditional baptist churches, charismatic churches, churches with strong teaching and sermons, churches that focus on worship, and others. After visiting all of these churches, it leaves me always with the thought on which church is God calling my family and I to? And those thoughts always ultimately lead me, probably incorrectly, into the thinking on which church has it right? Who's truly right? At this point in my Christian walk, I can honestly say that I'm very concerned with truth. I have less and less regard for what isn't true, and more and more interest in what is true from God's perspective, and this applies to all areas of my faith and my future church community.

Should we attend a church where the gifts of the Spirit (speaking in tongues, prophesy, etc...) are the pillar of the church's worship or should we be apart of a church where these gifts are seldom (if ever) mentioned? Should we attend a church where new songs are sung and old hymns are still celebrated, or attend a church where the belief is that old hymns have no place in the church of today? Should we attend a church who's driving focus is social justice and serving and showing God's love to others or a church who instills the more direct evangelistic methods? Should we attend a church that embraces women leadership in the church or one that doesn't? Should we be apart of a church whose mission is to grow rapidly and get people in the doors (and as a result, maybe lack a little sermon depth) or attend a church where I will always be taught on Sunday morning like I'm in a seminary classroom?

Now, in all fairness, we've enjoyed nearly all of the churches we've visited, and all of them I believe are truly seeking God's will for their church's mission. I am by no means an expert in the Bible, but I do know that there is a lot of room in the Bible for interpretation and allowing God to speak to us through the Bible. The Bible is God's Living Word, and I believe God uses His Word to teach and grow his disciples as He sees fit. Some believers will be granted the gifts of the Spirit according to God's Word, and God will use those gifts to glorify Him, reach the lost, heal the sick, etc... God will use his Word to equip some to directly share the gospel with their friends and neighbors, while others he will use His Word to shape the direction of a church into loving others through service and kindness. God will use His Word to call some for the first time to church to draw them to himself, and will also use His Word to call seasoned believers to a church that specializes in discipleship and teaching. I guess that is likely part of the reason why there are so many denominations (obviously this discussion is rooted in the protestant church), and so many differences even between churches within these denominations. However, I at times need to be reminded that it is OK for these churches to individually seek God and His Will as they believe He is calling them to do, as long as everything surrounding their church mission and direction is biblical and from God. Additionally, these disagreements between churches and denominations must be done in a respectful and loving manner. (Again, provided that a church is seeking God's will in a biblical way - I would argue that there are churches and denominations that have potentially strayed too far from biblical teachings)

As I was recently reading in Romans, Paul speaks on this topic in chapter 14. Paul uses this chapter to speak about the weak and the strong in the faith and how we as Christians should not judge other believers based on where they are at with the Lord. He also discusses disputable matters and how Christians do not agree on all matters pertaining to the Christian life, nor do they need to.

I think this is an important reminder for the church today. However, it does leave one question - what does Paul, and ultimately God, believe are "disputable matters" that are OK for Christians to disagree on? Christian churches, in my opinion, obviously must hold to the tenets of the Christian faith. However, what are the disputable matters beyond the basics? What is OK to disagree on and what should we be in agreement on? The answer to that question probably only comes from the Lord and is granted to his disciples who continue to seek Him. May we all continue to seek Him as the collective body of Christ.

One Last Thought On Keller's Book (Maybe)

One last thought on Keller's "The Reason for God" book (maybe). Keller concludes his book with another thought that gave me pause. On pg. 237, Keller includes an explanation on "How does one become a Christian". As someone who has been a disciple of Christ since I was a young boy, I admit that I have really examined my salvation over the last year or two. As the apostle Paul calls us to "examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith", I have truly been examining myself (over and over again). I have read books, read the gospels, listened to sermons and podcasts, and had conversations with friends and family. All in an attempt to shore up my understanding of the gospel and to make sure that I have truly received it and been converted.

On pg. 237 Keller extends some advice to people like me that struggle with the salvation assurance. Keller states the importance of seeking God, of understanding the need for repentance, the need for a Savior. These are all truths that I believe and confess. However, at times I don't "feel" close to God. I don't feel his presence. I don't always feel "saved". I worry or fear that I am a nominal Christian who is just kidding himself. So, what's a person to do who feels the way I sometimes do? What is the answer to this perplexing question?

According to Keller, I've been praying for God to help me find Him. I can't count how many times I've prayed that prayer. However, when was the last time I prayed for God to come and fine me? For a Christian, it isn't that we came to God's grace and sought him out, but that God and his grace sought US out! If it weren't for God's grace and his presence and calling in my life, I don't believe I would even know that I was a sinner apart from God at one time. I wouldn't even know that I needed Him. But, I do know these things. For God's grace sought me out and saved me, and I pray for that understanding and assurance yet again.

Keller's concludes his book with a story on pg. 240:

During a dark time in her life, a woman in my congregation complained that she had prayed over and over, "God, help me find you," but had gotten nowhere. A Christian friend suggested to her that she might change her prayer to, "God, come and fine me. After all, you are the Good Shepherd who goes looking for the lost sheep." She concluded when she was recounting this to me, "The only reason I can tell you this story is -- he did."

"God, I want to know you more. I desire for a joy and an assurance of my salvation that only comes from you. I thank you for your grace and your love. I pray that you will reveal yourself to me more and more each day, and that I will know your will and your truth. Amen"

More Thoughts on Keller's Book

More thoughts on Tim Keller's "The Reason for God" book...

Keller, on pg. 178, warns us believers against the tendency for "Pharisaism". I must admit that as I examine my own life and walk, I do have a tendency for this. Pharisaism, named after the Pharisees in Jesus' day who were a self-righteous group of Jews who Jesus often called out for the sinful, selfish motives.

Keller reminds us of the danger of pharisaism - how these people tend to build their lives and sense of worth on their moral and spiritual performance, and that God owes them salvation for being such a "good Christian". This is contrary to the gospel and is legalistic - for salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. It is not the good works that we do after our conversion that saves us, for we do not earn any righteousness from God for anything that we do. All of our righteousness is granted to us through our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ! When God grants us righteousness, He grants it to us because of what Christ did for us on the cross.

Unfortunately, we see pharisaic (not sure if that's a word :-) ) tendencies all of the time in the church. Sadly, sometimes the pews are filled with legalistic, self-righteous, insecure, politically-driven, and insecure people. People who tear down others Christians doctrinal beliefs because they do not perfectly align with their own. Again, sadly, I confess that I am prone to these tendencies and am need or repentance.

"Please God, forgive me for the times I act like a Pharisee. Holy Spirit, change my heart into a heart like Jesus'. Amen."

I recently read K.P. Yohannan's book "Revolution in World Missions". Yohannan is the founder and international director for the mission organization Gospel for Asia. Gospel for Asia trains and equips native missionaries throughout Asia to spread the gospel and meet the needs of the poor and oppressed. You can check out their website here.

I requested a free copy of this book after hearing a little about this wonderful organization. You can request your free copy here. I must say that Yohannan's thoughts on the native missionary movement fascinated and excited me. The book goes into great depths on how successful the native missionary movement is in Asia, and is a bold call to the affluent church in the West to do more to support native missionaries throughout the world. Yohannan strongly believes that native missionaries are far more productive and successful at reaching the lost with the Good News of Jesus Christ than missionaries that are traditionally sent from western nations. This is in large part due to language and cultural barriers that must be overcome by non-native missionaries, as well as the huge amounts of financial resources that it takes to support western missionaries in foreign lands. Native missionaries, however, already know the language, culture, and have the contacts to be succesful immediately. They also require a small fraction of the financial support for living expenses that a typical western missionary needs. However, Yohannan doesn't believe that western churches should stop sending their own missionaries. He does, however, believe that our churches should refocus on what we can all do to assist what God is obviously doing through native missionaries. He also calls into question (rightly so!) some of the large amount of financial resources that are spent in thousands of North American churches each year on buildings, programming, and entertainment, with many of those dollars having little to do with reaching the lost for Christ and loving our neighbors. If we could redirect even some of these resources to native missions, Yohannan believes that so much more of the harvest that is exploding in Asia could finally be brought in!

I for one was gripped by this vision after reading this book. I hope you request your copy, read the book, and commit to helping missionaries in other parts of the world reach the lost for Christ.

I recently finished up Pastor Tim Keller's book "The Reason for God". This is a great book that I began reading a year ago, never finished, and re-read this past month. Keller is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC. In his book, he outlines several of the objections to Christianity and Christ that he has heard in his years of ministry. In the book he presents his apologetic arguments against many of these beliefs that are held by skeptics in society. I found his book to be an excellent book on apologetics, and quite frankly, one of the best books I've read on addressing the main tenets of the Christian faith.

Among the tidbits I read from the book was Keller's definition of the problem of sin. I, like most, often am guilty of filing the "problem of sin" into a series of wrongs or "don't do's". And sin certainly applies to those "don't do's" in our life. However, Keller correctly argues that the "problem" of sin goes much deeper than this. Sin is foundational in man's quest for his own identity apart from God. The first of God's Ten Commandments is to "have no other God's before me". Therefore, the problem of sin is often a problem of idolatry - or worshipping things other than God. I think that this is a signficant problem - even in many Christian's lives. Sadly, we are all at times guilty of putting things above God - even good things. According to Keller, "...the primary way to define sin is not just the doing of bad things, but the making of good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship with God." (p. 162) Therefore, as Christians who understand the need for repentence, we must recognize our need to repent not only of the things we do that are apart from God's will, BUT also to repent of our own selfishness, our desires for other things above God, and for striving to build up our own identies instead of God's.

"Lord, please forgive us"