Lose The Self and Find The Son

From early childhood we are encouraged to "be yourself, think for yourself, establish your own identity." As a parent of three young boys I am amazed at how even in their early years they are all uniquely their "own person." At a young age this doesn't appear to be a problem. I mean really, who doesn't want their children to "be themselves" But I think we as Christians (if your are not a believer then this really doesn't apply and you may stop reading any time) need to take some time and stop and consider if these words "be yourself, and establish your own identity" have deeper meaning then the way we use them.

Romans 8:29 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" (ESV)

In the discussion of establishing ones self, this verse should make us stop and ponder if it is personal identity we should strive for or is Christ identity we should strive for? Really for the believer we should never "be our self" but each situation in life should be directed to Scripture so we can live as Christ lived each day. In a follow up thought from the previous post this is the very understanding of the "Rabbi/ Disciple" model that Scripture teaches. To follow the Rabbi it means you leave behind all your identity and do everything in the footsteps of the Rabbi. A proper understanding of this relationship, makes the Scripture so much more clear.

Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." (ESV)

A man who is carrying a cross has no more "self" his will, his desires, his plans, his identity is found only in the cross that he carries and that identity is that of a man who is dead. In the same way we as professing followers of Christ should be dead to self. Our identity should be completely wrapped in the very image of Christ.

"Who am I?" seems to be a question often thought on by people of all ages. This question often creates all kinds of struggles and hardships in our lives. Youth who desperately run to one style of life after the next, from goth, grunge, jock, joker, prep. etc.... trying to find their own identity. Young adults who run wild after they leave home looking to establish themselves in this world. Middle aged men who go through the dreaded "mid-life crisis" leave their families, buy motorcycles and get tattoos. To seniors on their death bed wishing they had done everything different, a life full of regret knowing the person they should have been and yet never were. To the Christian the "who am I" should only have one answer. Who am I, I am alive in Christ and am walking in his footsteps striving to do all he did, the way he did it.

Next time you look in the mirror and start to ponder who you really are, instead go to Scripture open it, read it and place your identity in Jesus. Lose the self and find the Son.

Disciple/ Rabbi vs. Teacher/ Student

Matthew 4:21-22 "And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father mending their nets; and he called them.  And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed him." 

Do you ever wonder what it was that made the first disciples of Jesus, "immediately" walk away from everything and follow him?  They left behind their jobs, their way of life, their comforts, their previous plans, they even left their father standing in the boat.  Why?  What would possibly be so captivating about Jesus that they would drop everything to follow him?

This kind of radical commitment is rarely if ever seen in our American culture today.  This extreme step of completely changing everything in life at a moments notice has not traveled over the centuries and across the oceans to 2011 America society.  I would like to share a few things with you that would cause these ordinary men, these fisherman to commit their lives to following "a Rabbi" at a moments notice.

In the culture where our Text is pulled from common practice was for a young man to spend the first roughly 13 years of his life at Hebrew school.  There they would learn the Scripture, and  be instructed on God from a Rabbi.  At the end of their schooling there were two options. You could ask the Rabbi (the teacher) if you could be a disciple (a follower).  If the Rabbi said no, then you left school and returned to the trades, carpentry, fishing and other occupations.  Or if the Rabbi said yes, you would then completely surrender your life to following very literally everything the Rabbi did.  This was the greatest honor a young Hebrew boy could ever hope for. 

Now in Matthew chapter 4 we find some young men out fishing with their father.  So we can assume they either did not ask to follow the Rabbi, or they did ask and were not chosen by the Rabbi so they returned to enter into a life of "normal work"  How incredible it would be then for all off a sudden a Rabbi (Jesus) to come by and ask you (instead of you asking him) to come and follow him!   And they dropped everything to follow him.

This concept really has not translated to our western culture as we have translated the words "Disciple/ Rabbi" as "Teacher/Student" and in changing the wording we have lost the meaning.  Think back to your childhood days in school.  The teacher stands before the class and teaches on various topics.  The student sits and listens, picks up a few things, pays no attention to most things, graduates and moves on to establish himself/herself as an individual, with their own identity, and their own goals and plans.

Unfortunately this is what much of Christianity has become.  We attend church, we pick up a few things, pay no attention to most and then continue on with our own lives.  Is this what Jesus had in mind when he called us to follow him?  Should our relationship with Christ look like a modern day "Teacher/Student" model or the Biblical "Rabbi/Disciple" model?

Just something to chew on for a while.  Have you dropped everything to follow the Rabbi to become like him? Or are you just trying to pick up a few things and hang on to your own identity?

"Daddy, Are We There Yet?"

Not to long back my family was blessed with a wonderful vacation to Florida.  A beautiful Time Share on the beach was just waiting for us to come and enjoy.  A week of restful family time, warm sunshine, and great sea food.  The only problem, 21 hours in the car with a four year old and a one year old stood between us.  We had looked into plane tickets hoping to make the trip easier and shorter.  However the cost was to high.  So we packed the family into the Pontiac G3 and headed south.

The boys did pretty good.  We drove through the night, stopped for breakfast then pressed on.  I had spent several weeks prior trying to explain how long this trip was going to be.  I got out the map and I showed my son Truman where Michigan is and where Florida is.  I assured him over and over that it was going to be a long trip, but daddy knew where we were going and when we got there how great it was going to be.

After 20 hours the breaking point finally came.  From the back seat, pulling on his car seat straps and with a look of agony on his face Truman yells out, "daddy I just can't take it anymore, I gotta get out of here"  I tried to explain that I knew where we were going, and that we were almost there, he just needed to hang on a little bit longer.  His trust in me was wavering, his desire for the beach was gone, all he could think about was how bad it was at that moment.  Every hotel we passed he would say "we can stay there, let's stop there"  I would respond "no son, that hotel is nothing compared to where we are going, this is going to be great, be patient, we are almost there"

Can you relate to this story?  Not the kids in the car, but in your walk with God.  On our journey of spiritual growth we generally start out strong.  We are confident that God is in control and that He knows where He is taking us.  But as the trip continues and starts to get long we stop focusing on the end result and we start focusing on the immediate struggles.  We feel trapped and stuck, although God has explained in His Word how difficult the trip would be, how "long" it is going to take.  We quickly loose sight of the destination.

We reach a point where it just doesn't matter any more.  We cry out "I can't take it anymore, I gotta get out of here."  We start looking around and we think anywhere would be better then where we are now, every "hotel" along the way would provide immediate relief. 

We pressed through the tears and pain, and finally after 21 hours of travel we arrived at the Resort.  We rushed up to our room, slid open the sliding door on the balcony and my son for the first time saw beauty and greatness of the ocean.  All of a sudden the misery of the car ride was worth it.  The hotels along they way that once looked so inviting were forgotten.  The confidence and trust in his father was restored.  We spent a while jumping on the bed, then headed off to put our toes in the sand and feel the refreshing water splash against us.

The same is true for us.  God has a plan, He is in control, and although we don't really understand just how long it is going to take, He knows.  I pray you let this little story be an encouragement to you.  Press on, don't bail out, don't lose sight of the end, trust the one who knows the plan.  I promise you, well actually God promises you it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

If it Looks like a Goat, Then it is Not a Sheep

Sometimes I am blown away at the silliness of "modern Christianity."  We love to take selected text from Scripture and separate them out individually so we can make then say all kinds of false teaching that fit better with our comfort level and society. 

For example Matthew 7:1 says "Judge not, that you be not judged."  This seems to be one of the favorite verses for non-believers and believers alike to twist, and all kinds of damage has been done in the name of "following" this text.  

For the purpose of a short post allow me to briefly attempt to explain what Jesus was saying.  Back in the day the religious leaders (Pharisees) had elevated themselves to a position of self righteousness.  They looked down and condemned all those who were not part of the elite.  They themselves made themselves the standard of holiness, and devotion to God.  As others looked to please God and serve God they were squashed by the pharisees, who declared "unless you be like us, you cannot know God" 

Now if you happen to be a non follower of The Way and you somehow got lost and landed on this post then you are probably thinking "well that sounds like most "Christians" I know."  Well you may be right.  Many who profess the name of Christ have elevated themselves to high positions of "religious glory."  They do this against God, and against His Word.  Pastors, evangelist, missionaries as well as other faithfull church attenders have declared themselves to be the standard of holiness as the pharisees did.

Others of you who may be followers of The Way and have accidentally stumbled  across this post while looking for tips on raising sheep or goats you may be thinking "but that is just a good rule to live by, if I don't judge, then no one will judge me.  What could go wrong with that."  To that I say nothing is wrong with it if you don't want to follow Christ!

The bottom line is we are not to judge in the way the pharisees of old, or the pharisees of today judge.  An elevating of self, making ourselves the measure of holiness.  However if we see someone who is clearly walking in the ways of the world, and are not lining up with God's Word (not our word) but "God's Word then we have an obligation, duty, and calling to lovingly confront their lifestyle.  Not with with an attitude of supremacy, but with love, compassion and grace knowing the great danger they are in, unless they repent, believe in the gospel and are made a new creation in Christ.

The danger that lies in the false teaching of this text is that many are marching happily down the broad path that leads to destruction, but think they are going to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life and no one is warning them.  If you believe we are not supposed to "judge" others even when they are openly living in sin your attitude will be an attitude of complacency and selfishness.  "Well who am I to say something, they say they are a Christian so that is between them and God" 

Do you see the difference in going to someone and saying "YOU WEREN'T IN CHURCH LAST SUNDAY, AND YOU DIDN'T GIVE IN THE OFFERING, AND YOUR KIDS ARE LITTLE DEVILS. YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN LIKE ME.  Or, "Friend looking at your life knowing that you profess to be a christian I am concerned that you may not be in the faith, please examine yourselff in the light of Scripture, test yourself and see if you are walking with Christ.  I am concerned by your actions that you are not walking in the light, but are still enjoying the dark.  Repent and turn to Christ."

My friends we don't hesitate to call someone who commits murder a murderer we don't hesitate to say that the sky is blue, or that a ball is round.  However when we see a herd of goats telling everyone they are sheep, we say "well who am I to say they are not really sheep."  My friends, if it looks like a goat, it is not a sheep.  Lovingly confront and spread the message of salvation to a world who believes themselves to be saved, but are lost.

The Parable of the Fishless Fisherman Fellowship

This is a story I have recently came across  by an anonymous author. 

The fishermen were surrounded by streams and lakes full of hungry fish.  They met regularly to discuss the call to fish, the abundance of fish, and the thrill of catching fish.  They got excited about fishing!

Someone suggested that they needed a philosophy of fishing so they carefully defined and redefined fishing, and the purpose of fishing.  They developed fishing strategies and tactics.  Then they realized that they had been going at it backwards.  They had approached fishing from the point of view of the fisherman, and not from the point of view of the fish.   How do fish view the world?  How does the fisherman appear to the fish?  What do fish eat and when?  These are all good things to know.  Some traveled to faraway places to study different kinds of fish with different habits.  Som got doctorates in fishology.  But no one had yet gone fishing.

So a committee was formed to send out fishermen.  As prospective fishing places outnumbered fisherman, the commitee needed to determine priorities.  A priority list of fishing places was posted on bulliten boards in all of the fellowship halls.  But still, no one wsa fishing.  A survey was launched to find out why.  Most did not answer the survey, but from those who did, it was discovered that some felt called to study fish, a few to furnish fishing equipment, and several to go around encouraging the fisherman.  What with meetings, confferences, and seminars, they just simply dind't have time to fish.

Now, Jake was a newcomer to the fisherman's fellowship.  After one stirring meeting of the fellowship, he went fishing and caught a large fish.  At the next meeting, he told his story and was honored for his catch.  He was told that he had a special "gift of fishing."  He was then scheduled to speak at the Fellowship chapters and tell how he did it.

With all the speaking invitations and his election to the board of directors of the Fisherman's Fellowship, Jake no longer had time to go fishing.  But soon he began to feel restless and empty.  He longed to feel the tug on the line once again.  So he canceled the speaking, he resigned from the board, and he said to a friend, "let's go fishing." They did, just the two of them, and they caught fish.

The members of the Fisherman's Fellowship were many, the fish were plentiful, but the fishers were few!

-Anonymous-

Just something to ponder.

Reaching the Rural Teen

(This post was written as a comment on http://crossroadsfarm.org/blogs/no-one-wants-this-type-of-ministry/)


I would agree with the "get saved act like a beleiver" direction. I believe that is a Biblical concept. Now the process doesn't happen overnight, repentence is a life long daily action, not a one time deal. The problem I have seen within the local church is that we have spent a ridiculas amount of hours trying to train goats to act like sheep. It is the same for "church kids" or "outreach kids" I have heard it so many times I can't count.


"O well we know little Johnny is saved he said the prayer at VBS when he was 5, I was there and now that he is a teenager he is just going through a time of rebellion."

Ask "little Johnny" if he is saved you will recieve a harty YES, ask him what that means, and what he is saved from he will look at you with a blank stare or spout off some "christianeese" that he heard from the pastor.

Have we forgotten about Regeneration? Do we not understand the old has gone, the new has come? What does it take to reach teens? The same thing as it takes to reach adults. What the Scripture teaches. Preach the gospel! Use the law as a school master to lead them to Christ. Show their depravity, reveal their wickedness. Once they are humbled, and broken then and only then once the soil has been plowed plant the seed of grace and mercy, and show Jesus Christ.

Your absolutly right about making the mistake that everyone who attends Crossroads is a Christian. We make the same mistake assuming everyone who attends church is saved. Withoug going into a mini sermon on false conversions, let's just say there are a lot weeds among the wheat, a lot of goats among the sheep. It is time to stop teaching the goats to act like a sheep then getting frustated when they turn their back on the church and walk away. After all if they have gone out from us, they were not of us to begin with.

O that God would raise up a generation of true believers. The fancy brick buildings filled with false believers that we call "the church" are far to worried about living their best life know, and becoming a better them, then they are about preaching the truth! "Here are three helpful points to live life, and here are 5 tips to deal with difficulty", and bla bla bla. How about confess, repent and believe in Christ to SAVE you from the wrath of Almighty God!

We have this idea that the "church" is failing today. Let us make no mistake about this, that there is ONE church and it is not failing at all! The Church of Jesus Christ is a beautiful bride preparing herself for her groom. The church is preaching the Gospel, removing themselves from wickedness, walking in the light, obeying the commands, fellowshiping with beleivers, bearing good fruit and bringing glory to the Father.

Taking a new convert and placing them in 99% of American "churches" is like feeding a lamb to the wolves. But fear not, because the shepherd is good, faithful, and powerfull. And He who begins a good work, will finish it.

"Churches" truly don't want the the teens they claim to want, but they also don't want the God they claim to love.

It's So Simple, Isn't it?

For about the last week my oldest son Truman has decided that he is a "Super Hero"  He runs through the house wearing his Super Suit yelling "T-Man to the rescue!" He has even came up with his own theme song that changes frequently but goes something like this "He's T-Man, he's a big guy, yeah he's a big guy, he's T-Man, he can rescue anything, he's got the power,  he's got the pooooweeerrrrr!!!!!!" Trust me if you could see the dance that goes along with it you would be falling out off your chair right now.

The greatest thing about T-Man is just ask him where he gets his power from.  With both hands in the air and as loud as he can he will respond "GOD!!!!!!!"  Isn't that great.  A super hero, with the power to rescue anything and he get's his power from God. 

There is so much truth packed into these simple words from a four year old that I don't know where to begin to unravel it all.  It has been rather convicting for myself as I have thought about these words.  "How come my four year old get's it, and I at 29 continue to try to draw the power to rescue from myself?" 

I have been in a variety of roles in church leadership.  From Deacon, to Trustee, various commitee's, Youth Pastor, Chrisian Education Pastor and as I review the vast majority of my efforts I am alarmed at the discovery.  I have sat through endless brainstorming meetings, planning meetings, confrences and retreats focused on how to build a program, or grow a church.  Methods, techinques, how to relate, how to be relevant, and on and on. I have focused the majority of my "career" on man made ideas desinged to win and whoo people into some kind of religious commitment to Jesus Christ, (to rescue them).

Where does the power to resuce from? God, Who has the power to save? God.  Where do all these man made ideas about relevance, and method come from? There is so much focus how to do "church", and we have all kinds of ideas about what it takes to be succesful.  But what does the Bible say?  Can anyone tell me where Paul wrote to any of the early churches and gave them a list of methods and techniques?  Is the book of Acts filled with how to be culturally relevant?  Did Paul write Timothy, a young preaher and say what you really need is a more exciting kids program on Wednesday night?  Did Jesus, in any of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation say anything about programs, outreach events, confrences.

I will tell you with great confidence the answer to all these questions is no.  Instead we read warnings of false teachers moving into the church, the need to preach the Word, and Jesus' last word to the church was repent.

Is God not soveriegn? Is His providence not perfect?  Are not all our answes about how to "do church" found in God's Word?  Where are we drawing our power to rescue from?  God or Man?

I feel I am rambling so I will finish with this thought.  We can learn a valuable lesson from a four year old super hero  named "T-Man"  The power to rescue everything comes from God and God alone. Let's take the glory off of our own efforts, and return the Glory to God.