"The afflicted and troubled conscience has no cure for depression unless it takes hold of the forgiveness of sins by grace." - Martin Luther
"When work is your identity, if you are successful it goes to your head, if you are a failure it goes to your heart." - Tim Keller
I've been wanting to write this for awhile now but other topics keep coming up that divert my focus. However, I think it is particularly timely and I want to get this down on "paper" so that if God takes my life tomorrow others may have the opportunity to benefit from my experience. As a disclaimer, I note that my fights with depression have never been diagnosed by a physician nor included medication. That is only because I have always believed that my depression has been a function of circumstances and not chemical imbalances. For many suffering with depression, there is no question that prescribed medication can be very helpful and I fully support using it responsibly in the right situations.
In 2003, I made the decision to try to make a living by trading stocks full-time at home on my own. I was coming off of three very successful years of trading that spanned very different market environments - good and bad. That gave me the confidence that I could generate income regardless of what the market did and had also provided me a level of capital that I thought would be sufficient. This was the culmination of several years of studying and reading everything on which I could lay my hands. I also felt God was giving me the go ahead after my salary had been cut to zero at my full-time office job. Additionally, I had spent ample time in prayer over this decision and really felt moved to try it after a particularly intimate talk I had with God at John Eldredge's spiritual retreat.
Needless to say, it couldn't have gone much worse. Yes, there were some up weeks but it was almost an uninterrupted decline. After years of reflection, there are many possible reasons why it went so poorly but none of those are important for the purposes of this blog. Depression started to set in after a few months and I began to experience all of the classic symptoms - insomnia, lack of energy, not wanting to be around other people, etc. I didn't fully recognize what was happening at the time. I wasn't diagnosed and this was my first experience with severe depression. I realize now that it was the result of having an idol in my life let me down. That idol was the belief that the combination of hard work and intelligence would bring me joy and fulfillment. The idol was ultimately myself.
This went on for many months and grew deeper and darker. I still belonged to a church at the time. I was even on the Board of Directors. But my relationship with God was only a shell as was my relationships with many other people in my life. It was probably the spring of 2004 that marked the bottom. I truly felt like there was no hope. Not only had I lost a good chunk of my original capital but I had taken on debt in the quickly dissipating hope that things could still turn around. It was another night of no sleep as my nights and days had effectively been turned around (which also wasn't good for someone working in the market). The movie "Cast Away" was on. I had seen it before but viewing options are limited at 3 AM so I watched again. There was nothing different about it from the times I had seen it before until it reached the part where Tom Hanks' character has returned from the island and he is sitting across from his best friend having a drink. He is talking about his experience. Suddenly, it had my attention like it never had before.
We both had done the math. Kelly (his girlfriend) added it all up and...knew she had to let me go. I added it up, and knew that I had... lost her...cause I was never gonna get off that island. I was gonna die there, totally alone. I was gonna get sick or get injured or something. The only choice I had, the only thing I could control was when, and how, and where it was going to happen. So... I made a rope and I went up to the summit, to hang myself. I had to test it, you know? Of course. You know me. And the weight of the log, snapped the limb of the tree, so I-I - I couldn't even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over nothing. And that's when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow, that I had to stay alive. Somehow. I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that's what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing. And one day my logic was proven all wrong because the tide came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I'm back. In Memphis, talking to you. I have ice in my glass... And I've lost her all over again. I'm so sad that I don't have Kelly. But I'm so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?
I muted the TV as this scene concluded and I had tears in my eyes. This was me. I was on this island, this self-imposed island and I had power over nothing. Nothing. All of my logic told me that things weren't going to get any better. I had no reason to hope. I was in a pit of darkness and there was no light. I was alone and my dream had been shattered. The words echoed in my head..."I gotta keep breathing." Breathing...OK...I can do that.
"Tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?" God used those words to begin lifting the veil of darkness that clung to my heart and mind. Remember Longfellow? The darkness is real but the light is greater. God reached down and wrapped His arms around me and told me that there was hope. Hope in Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." - Jeremiah 29:11-12
I realized that my logic ultimately didn't matter. God could bring me a sail tomorrow or the next day or the day after. My life wasn't over even though this dream of mine had died. None of us know what God has in store for us. But in that moment, He told me that I had reason to hope in something better then what I had been experiencing only moments ago. He has been faithful in that. It wasn't a false promise. While He has provided full-time employment, new joys with family and friends and other wonderful experiences, His greatest gift has been Himself. I am not immune from depression but it's power has been greatly minimized in my life as my hope and joy is now truly found in a God that does not disappoint as so many worldly things do time and time again.
If you are struggling with depression or know someone who is, I will offer a few final thoughts. When you feel depression closing in, look outside of yourself. Put your focus on God and put it on others. Your problems and your disappointments will seem smaller when you are giving yourself to a cause that is greater than you. Talk about what you are feeling. The darkest thoughts lose their power when brought into the light. You might not want anyone to know you have thoughts of suicide. Then talk to a counselor and let it out. Satan wants nothing more then for those thoughts to spiral downward to the point of no return. If you have a loved one struggling with depression, encourage them to talk about it even though it is probably the last thing they want to do. At the very least, let them know you stand ready to listen at anytime with no judgments, no condemnation.
Finally, don't be afraid to seek help. You are a broken human in a broken world just like the rest of us. Fortunately, the God of the Bible knows you are broken. It is why he sent Jesus Christ to bind up the broken-hearted and to restore us to our Creator and Heavenly Father. You can place your hope in a God who has given us the ultimate hope - an eternal home in heaven. There is no problem bigger than the love of God even though it may feel just the opposite. Take heart that God is on His throne and that He loves you. Tomorrow He will make the sun rise. Who knows what God may bring?
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland." - Isaiah 43:18-19
http://ezinearticles.com/?More-Than-You-Can-Handle?&id=50001
http://ht.ly/6LLhO
http://throughthevallies.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/kristen-c/
http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-suicide-saved.html
http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/christian-trends/5-things-christians-need-to-know-about-depression-and-anxiety.html
https://www.iamsecond.com/how-to-fight-feelings-of-futility/
http://erlc.com/resource-library/articles/8-ways-to-help-depressed-christians
https://www.crossway.org/articles/did-you-know-that-charles-spurgeon-struggled-with-depression/
http://www.beautifulbetween.com/love-jesus-but-want-to-die/
https://corechristianity.com/resource-library/articles/christian-your-depression-is-real-so-is-gods-deliverance
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Amen
"It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to." - C.S. Lewis
Perfect summation of a conversation I had yesterday.
Perfect summation of a conversation I had yesterday.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Stop Playing "Christian"
How to know if a person is true: God-exaltation has replaced self-exaltation as the ruling life force. (John 7:18)
God has really placed this on my heart today. I had never heard of Rob Bell until 2 days ago and I still know little about him. Apparently, he is a liberal pastor who has a very large following, especially among young adults. He has a new book coming out. The trailer makes it sound like he has adopted the theology of universalism, i.e. everyone gets to heaven because a loving God would never send someone to hell. John Piper and a few others have already voiced their concern/dismay. The book isn't out yet so I think it's premature to make a judgment but supposedly his theology has always been a little loose on the topic of eternal destination so many feel like he has finally made the leap.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/26/rob-bell-universalist/
http://trevinwax.com/2011/02/27/rob-bell-and-the-judgmentless-gospel/\
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/02/28/bell-brouhaha/
http://www.dennyburk.com/zondervan%E2%80%99s-break-with-rob-bell/
However, my real frustration and sadness today comes from those who have very harsh words for Piper and others who hold to Biblical truth. Social media, such as Twitter, allows me to see more viewpoints from self-proclaimed "Christians" than I have ever before. Many are disheartening. Many decry Christian fundamentalism, a term that seems to be defined as taking the Bible literally. It is as though many feel like we should be evolving from the ideas of God's judgment and hell and (here it is again) absolute truth. However, the real truth is that God isn't the one that is changing. Many others are moving away from a fixed point. They are on the wide path of destruction (Matthew 7:13) and yet they call it "Christianity".
I am continuing Matt Chandler's sermon series on Habakkuk. Today the anchor verse was from 2:4:
"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith."
Those who are puffed up are those that justify themselves. They are self-righteous. As an insightful Tweeterer(?) put it today...they create God in their own image. The righteous aren't people who do everything perfectly or are without sin. They are people who put God first. The righteous pursue, chase and seek after God. If you are not doing those things, you are a functional atheist. It's the equivalent of having food and not eating any of it. You will eventually starve to death.
Yes, there are plenty of moments during the day when I am not putting God first and my heart isn't desiring Him above all else. I am a sinner and I am fighting in the strength of the Holy Spirit to grow in spiritual maturity and holiness that my life might better reflect God's glory. The difference to me between someone who sins within the mindset of self-glorification and someone who sins in the pursuit of glorifying God, is the latter will be convicted and unsettled in their sin which leads to repentance and restoration. The former will actually enjoy licentious behavior and thought because the only god he/she is actually answering to is themselves.
Last night, as I was sitting in my car, I heard an interesting fact about the Bible. The Greek word "doulos" is used 140 (maybe 150) times in the New Testament. It is usually translated in English as "servant" (Mark 10:44, Matthew 20:27 would be exceptions). However, it's actual meaning is "slave" as the Greeks didn't have different words for servant and slave. Servant just sounds more palatable, doesn't it? I feel OK about being a servant of Jesus Christ but slave has a different feel. This could be due to the horrific practice of slavery in this nation's history and the scars that remain. But I think it's even more at the root of human nature. Being a servant makes it sound like it was my choice to serve. Being a slave makes it sound like I had no choice in the matter. That just doesn't sit well with Americans who believe we are endowed with certain inalienable rights.
"For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings." - 1 Corinthians 7:22-23
This passage means that as a Christian you were made to serve God and God alone. That doesn't mean to ignore your parents or your boss or the police. But it does mean that the highest and final authority in your life is God. It certainly isn't you. As a slave for Christ you are not your own. I read too many comments today from "Christians" who have no understanding of this concept. Honestly, I find it incredibly depressing and tiring to think of how diluted truth has become among those who claim to be of Christ. There are so many outside the church that need to hear and know the Gospel that the amount of repentance and change that needs to happen inside of the church seems almost insurmountable. I rest in the knowledge that all things are possible through Christ and I ache over the word "remnant".
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." - Matthew 6:24a
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15
Choose who you will serve this day. Will you serve your version of God or will you serve the God who is revealed to us through the inerrant and divinely inspired Scriptures? Faith must be exercised and practiced by pursuing the God who our faith is in so that there is assurance of what we are hoping for and a conviction in what we can't see. (Hebrews 11:1)
If you claim to have faith in Christ that means you are His slave. You are the slave of the most wonderful and magnificent Master you could ever desire. To either set yourself up as God or to re-create God in your own image and idea of what God should be is to play the most dangerous game of all. It's a game that you cannot win and a game that you do not want to lose. At the end of the day, we all need to stop trying to change God and simply allow Him to change us.
God has really placed this on my heart today. I had never heard of Rob Bell until 2 days ago and I still know little about him. Apparently, he is a liberal pastor who has a very large following, especially among young adults. He has a new book coming out. The trailer makes it sound like he has adopted the theology of universalism, i.e. everyone gets to heaven because a loving God would never send someone to hell. John Piper and a few others have already voiced their concern/dismay. The book isn't out yet so I think it's premature to make a judgment but supposedly his theology has always been a little loose on the topic of eternal destination so many feel like he has finally made the leap.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/26/rob-bell-universalist/
http://trevinwax.com/2011/02/27/rob-bell-and-the-judgmentless-gospel/\
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/02/28/bell-brouhaha/
http://www.dennyburk.com/zondervan%E2%80%99s-break-with-rob-bell/
However, my real frustration and sadness today comes from those who have very harsh words for Piper and others who hold to Biblical truth. Social media, such as Twitter, allows me to see more viewpoints from self-proclaimed "Christians" than I have ever before. Many are disheartening. Many decry Christian fundamentalism, a term that seems to be defined as taking the Bible literally. It is as though many feel like we should be evolving from the ideas of God's judgment and hell and (here it is again) absolute truth. However, the real truth is that God isn't the one that is changing. Many others are moving away from a fixed point. They are on the wide path of destruction (Matthew 7:13) and yet they call it "Christianity".
I am continuing Matt Chandler's sermon series on Habakkuk. Today the anchor verse was from 2:4:
"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith."
Those who are puffed up are those that justify themselves. They are self-righteous. As an insightful Tweeterer(?) put it today...they create God in their own image. The righteous aren't people who do everything perfectly or are without sin. They are people who put God first. The righteous pursue, chase and seek after God. If you are not doing those things, you are a functional atheist. It's the equivalent of having food and not eating any of it. You will eventually starve to death.
Yes, there are plenty of moments during the day when I am not putting God first and my heart isn't desiring Him above all else. I am a sinner and I am fighting in the strength of the Holy Spirit to grow in spiritual maturity and holiness that my life might better reflect God's glory. The difference to me between someone who sins within the mindset of self-glorification and someone who sins in the pursuit of glorifying God, is the latter will be convicted and unsettled in their sin which leads to repentance and restoration. The former will actually enjoy licentious behavior and thought because the only god he/she is actually answering to is themselves.
Last night, as I was sitting in my car, I heard an interesting fact about the Bible. The Greek word "doulos" is used 140 (maybe 150) times in the New Testament. It is usually translated in English as "servant" (Mark 10:44, Matthew 20:27 would be exceptions). However, it's actual meaning is "slave" as the Greeks didn't have different words for servant and slave. Servant just sounds more palatable, doesn't it? I feel OK about being a servant of Jesus Christ but slave has a different feel. This could be due to the horrific practice of slavery in this nation's history and the scars that remain. But I think it's even more at the root of human nature. Being a servant makes it sound like it was my choice to serve. Being a slave makes it sound like I had no choice in the matter. That just doesn't sit well with Americans who believe we are endowed with certain inalienable rights.
"For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings." - 1 Corinthians 7:22-23
This passage means that as a Christian you were made to serve God and God alone. That doesn't mean to ignore your parents or your boss or the police. But it does mean that the highest and final authority in your life is God. It certainly isn't you. As a slave for Christ you are not your own. I read too many comments today from "Christians" who have no understanding of this concept. Honestly, I find it incredibly depressing and tiring to think of how diluted truth has become among those who claim to be of Christ. There are so many outside the church that need to hear and know the Gospel that the amount of repentance and change that needs to happen inside of the church seems almost insurmountable. I rest in the knowledge that all things are possible through Christ and I ache over the word "remnant".
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." - Matthew 6:24a
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15
Choose who you will serve this day. Will you serve your version of God or will you serve the God who is revealed to us through the inerrant and divinely inspired Scriptures? Faith must be exercised and practiced by pursuing the God who our faith is in so that there is assurance of what we are hoping for and a conviction in what we can't see. (Hebrews 11:1)
If you claim to have faith in Christ that means you are His slave. You are the slave of the most wonderful and magnificent Master you could ever desire. To either set yourself up as God or to re-create God in your own image and idea of what God should be is to play the most dangerous game of all. It's a game that you cannot win and a game that you do not want to lose. At the end of the day, we all need to stop trying to change God and simply allow Him to change us.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
God's Glory
Just a couple of follow up thoughts in regards to the "Why?" blog.
God is the most God-centered being in the universe. What is likely the most God-centered verse (according to John Piper) in the Bible goes like this:
"For my name’s sake I defer my anger,
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
that I may not cut you off.
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried[a] you in the furnace of affliction.
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another." - Isaiah 48:9-11 (ESV)
"Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted." - Isaiah 12:4 (ESV)
I post this to convey this truth. If you have placed yourself as the supreme being in your life then when things don't go exactly the way you think they should there is going to be despondency. If you believe that glory should come to you first and foremost you will be angry when it doesn't. If you believe the answers to all the issues in your life reside within your will and mind then you will be lost when your problems are not resolved to your satisfaction.
To take God off His throne and to put ourselves in His place is to say that our way is better. Don't read this and think that you don't do it. I do it everyday. I am guilty of breaking the first commandment consistently...even more than I am consciously aware. If you want more clarity in life and a greater understanding of why things are happening the way they are, you have to place God back on His throne and seek to see things through His prism outlined in His Word. This isn't easy for 21st century, self esteem-starved, self-centered, independence-driven, myopically-focused human beings to accept.
To do life any other way is to have missed the point of life altogether. As a friend of mine might say in response to placing God at the center of everything..."This is where life makes sense."
God is the most God-centered being in the universe. What is likely the most God-centered verse (according to John Piper) in the Bible goes like this:
"For my name’s sake I defer my anger,
for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you,
that I may not cut you off.
Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried[a] you in the furnace of affliction.
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it,
for how should my name be profaned?
My glory I will not give to another." - Isaiah 48:9-11 (ESV)
"Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted." - Isaiah 12:4 (ESV)
I post this to convey this truth. If you have placed yourself as the supreme being in your life then when things don't go exactly the way you think they should there is going to be despondency. If you believe that glory should come to you first and foremost you will be angry when it doesn't. If you believe the answers to all the issues in your life reside within your will and mind then you will be lost when your problems are not resolved to your satisfaction.
To take God off His throne and to put ourselves in His place is to say that our way is better. Don't read this and think that you don't do it. I do it everyday. I am guilty of breaking the first commandment consistently...even more than I am consciously aware. If you want more clarity in life and a greater understanding of why things are happening the way they are, you have to place God back on His throne and seek to see things through His prism outlined in His Word. This isn't easy for 21st century, self esteem-starved, self-centered, independence-driven, myopically-focused human beings to accept.
To do life any other way is to have missed the point of life altogether. As a friend of mine might say in response to placing God at the center of everything..."This is where life makes sense."
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Real Persecution
http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/23987/28442/
Praise God that Said was freed!
http://www.christianpost.com/news/watchdog-said-musa-released-from-afghan-prison-no-longer-on-death-row-49156/
And now we pray for another brother in chains - Shoaib Assadullah.
I pray for boldness, courage, provision and ultimately freedom for God's glory and according to His will. I so want those prison bars to shake and his bonds to break as they did for Paul that all would know the God of the Bible is the one true God!
Praise God that Said was freed!
http://www.christianpost.com/news/watchdog-said-musa-released-from-afghan-prison-no-longer-on-death-row-49156/
And now we pray for another brother in chains - Shoaib Assadullah.
I pray for boldness, courage, provision and ultimately freedom for God's glory and according to His will. I so want those prison bars to shake and his bonds to break as they did for Paul that all would know the God of the Bible is the one true God!
Why?
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:17-18
"A dark hour makes Jesus bright." - Robert Murray M'Cheyne
"The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. The harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away." –J.I. Packer
Faith in God entails many levels. For instance, I have found it relatively easy to have faith that God exists given the scientific evidence that shows creation, design, art and order in this world and universe. Science has shown that life can't come from non-life and matter can't arise from nothing so it is only logical to believe that there is a Creator.
Faith in Jesus' resurrection is not as intuitive as we don't have any other example of someone rising from the dead after three days. Still, I have found this miracle relatively easy to embrace due to historical evidence including the inability of ruling authorities to disprove the claim, the 180 degree turn in the disciples' courage and conviction and Paul's assertion that he interviewed hundreds of individuals who saw Jesus after his resurrection. If we truly believe Jesus is divine then this becomes even easier to believe as God is sovereign over life and death.
However, what about our faith in God's heart toward us? We look at the cross and can see that God loves us. We can't grasp His love fully but each Christian has some sense of the sacrifice involved. Yet, it is very difficult to take that ultimate example and allow it to saturate our souls so completely that we are unshaken when the tragedies and sufferings of this life threaten to drown our hope. Each of us have been let down at one time or another by people we know love us. We begin to wonder, "Is God really any different? Has He forgotten about me? Is He not listening? Why does He allow a child to brutally suffer or prolong the life of an older person who continues to endure the effects of a long-term debilitating disease? Is He really close to the brokenhearted as the Psalmist proclaims? He couldn't seem any further away. I don't see God delivering me or my loved one from trouble."
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'" - John 9:1-3
I often come back to this verse. We often simply see what is visible and obvious and it makes no sense to us. The disciples attempt to find a reason for this man's blindness but aren't even close. They look for a worldly reason, namely sin, as the cause. Jesus says no. There is something much larger going on here. Jesus then restores the man's sight.
I once heard Piper give a sermon in which he said that when God is doing one thing He is actually doing a thousand things. We may be able to see a few but literally have no idea regarding the scope of His plan. God is working His plan to ultimately show His glory, which is also for our ultimate good, and this case was no exception. When we attempt to join our finite idea of what is just and good with God's infinite omniscient plan of what is right and true the result is confusion, frustration and doubt.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
This is another big aspect of faith...the faith that agrees with God that His glory should take precedence over everything. Doesn't that make God sound like a megalomaniac? Yet, that is exactly what Jesus taught us to pray for in the Lord's prayer. The first petition is "Hallowed be your name". I wonder how many of us really know what we are saying. If we are sincerely praying that then we are agreeing with the Son that the Father's name should be made holy everywhere. God's name should be treasured, set apart and glorified above all else.
If we come to the understanding that there is nothing more beautiful, wonderful and meaningful that God can give us than Himself, then we will agree that His glory takes precedent and is being manifested in ways that are a complete mystery until the Spirit opens our eyes or until we learn all the answers in heaven. Still, God has promised us that we will have trouble in this life.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
We can understand that we will have trouble in this world because we live in a sin-filled broken world. But wait a minute. Didn't the passage at the beginning of this blog say that God will deliver believers from their troubles? Isn't this a contradiction? Not at all...unless we once again have confused the temporal with the eternal. God's deliverance ultimately came through Jesus' death and resurrection which delivers us from trouble for all eternity. However, God offers us many promises as we must deal with earthly trouble in the here and now.
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:20b
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
Finally, it's not just that God allows trouble for the sake of trouble or that trouble is only used to demonstrate our weakness and need for God. He also uses trouble to change, conform and mature His children.
"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." - 1 Peter 1:6-7
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation." - C.H. Spurgeon
"Great hearts can only be made by great troubles." - C.H. Spurgeon
"One sees great things from the valley, and only small things from the peak." - G. K. Chesterton
For further insight on this topic you may want to check out "Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand" by Anne Graham Lotz as well as:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/07/keller-on-jonah-and-jesus/
http://tumorhater.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-love-hate-relationship.html
A Story | Tears of Hope from Adam Kring on Vimeo.
http://michaelhyatt.com/seven-better-questions-you-can-ask-in-the-midst-of-adversity.html
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:17-18
"A dark hour makes Jesus bright." - Robert Murray M'Cheyne
"The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. The harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away." –J.I. Packer
Faith in God entails many levels. For instance, I have found it relatively easy to have faith that God exists given the scientific evidence that shows creation, design, art and order in this world and universe. Science has shown that life can't come from non-life and matter can't arise from nothing so it is only logical to believe that there is a Creator.
Faith in Jesus' resurrection is not as intuitive as we don't have any other example of someone rising from the dead after three days. Still, I have found this miracle relatively easy to embrace due to historical evidence including the inability of ruling authorities to disprove the claim, the 180 degree turn in the disciples' courage and conviction and Paul's assertion that he interviewed hundreds of individuals who saw Jesus after his resurrection. If we truly believe Jesus is divine then this becomes even easier to believe as God is sovereign over life and death.
However, what about our faith in God's heart toward us? We look at the cross and can see that God loves us. We can't grasp His love fully but each Christian has some sense of the sacrifice involved. Yet, it is very difficult to take that ultimate example and allow it to saturate our souls so completely that we are unshaken when the tragedies and sufferings of this life threaten to drown our hope. Each of us have been let down at one time or another by people we know love us. We begin to wonder, "Is God really any different? Has He forgotten about me? Is He not listening? Why does He allow a child to brutally suffer or prolong the life of an older person who continues to endure the effects of a long-term debilitating disease? Is He really close to the brokenhearted as the Psalmist proclaims? He couldn't seem any further away. I don't see God delivering me or my loved one from trouble."
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'" - John 9:1-3
I often come back to this verse. We often simply see what is visible and obvious and it makes no sense to us. The disciples attempt to find a reason for this man's blindness but aren't even close. They look for a worldly reason, namely sin, as the cause. Jesus says no. There is something much larger going on here. Jesus then restores the man's sight.
I once heard Piper give a sermon in which he said that when God is doing one thing He is actually doing a thousand things. We may be able to see a few but literally have no idea regarding the scope of His plan. God is working His plan to ultimately show His glory, which is also for our ultimate good, and this case was no exception. When we attempt to join our finite idea of what is just and good with God's infinite omniscient plan of what is right and true the result is confusion, frustration and doubt.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." - 1 Corinthians 10:31
This is another big aspect of faith...the faith that agrees with God that His glory should take precedence over everything. Doesn't that make God sound like a megalomaniac? Yet, that is exactly what Jesus taught us to pray for in the Lord's prayer. The first petition is "Hallowed be your name". I wonder how many of us really know what we are saying. If we are sincerely praying that then we are agreeing with the Son that the Father's name should be made holy everywhere. God's name should be treasured, set apart and glorified above all else.
If we come to the understanding that there is nothing more beautiful, wonderful and meaningful that God can give us than Himself, then we will agree that His glory takes precedent and is being manifested in ways that are a complete mystery until the Spirit opens our eyes or until we learn all the answers in heaven. Still, God has promised us that we will have trouble in this life.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33
We can understand that we will have trouble in this world because we live in a sin-filled broken world. But wait a minute. Didn't the passage at the beginning of this blog say that God will deliver believers from their troubles? Isn't this a contradiction? Not at all...unless we once again have confused the temporal with the eternal. God's deliverance ultimately came through Jesus' death and resurrection which delivers us from trouble for all eternity. However, God offers us many promises as we must deal with earthly trouble in the here and now.
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - Matthew 28:20b
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
Finally, it's not just that God allows trouble for the sake of trouble or that trouble is only used to demonstrate our weakness and need for God. He also uses trouble to change, conform and mature His children.
"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." - 1 Peter 1:6-7
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Whatever your losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation." - C.H. Spurgeon
"Great hearts can only be made by great troubles." - C.H. Spurgeon
"One sees great things from the valley, and only small things from the peak." - G. K. Chesterton
For further insight on this topic you may want to check out "Why? Trusting God When You Don't Understand" by Anne Graham Lotz as well as:
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2011/02/07/keller-on-jonah-and-jesus/
http://tumorhater.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-love-hate-relationship.html
A Story | Tears of Hope from Adam Kring on Vimeo.
http://michaelhyatt.com/seven-better-questions-you-can-ask-in-the-midst-of-adversity.html
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Absolute Truth
I've had almost 48 hours to think about this and believe God has helped me reach some clarity. A nice long walk on a beautiful day didn't hurt either. I have found a commonality between the last post on persecution and a conversation I had Friday evening. I want to explore that further here.
In the last post I noted that one of the things Christians are often accused of lacking is "tolerance". I put it in quotations because I think people making those accusations are operating under a different definition than I am. Their definition usually goes something like this..."you can believe whatever you want as long as you don't attempt to impose your beliefs on others". However, that definition is now being extended to "you can believe whatever you want as long as it doesn't upset someone else". If it does, it will increasingly be called hate.
So how did we get here? We live in a postmodern society which says, "All values, beliefs, lifestyles and truth claims are equally valid." It is moral relativism. Truth is what you believe it to be. What might be true for you might not be true for me. Truth ultimately depends on the moment...also known as "situational ethics". There is no black and white, only shades of grey. For anyone to say differently is viewed as arrogance and intolerance. This thinking also promotes a "whatever feels good" mentality and lifestyle. You have effectively set yourself up as your own idol and life revolves around you. It doesn't take a genius to see that this way of thinking will ultimately lead to chaos as your idea of truth will eventually collide with mine.
Of course, what is more arrogant than claiming you are the barometer of truth? It works both ways but most don't see that. The real belief being espoused by those who live under moral relativism is that there is no absolute truth. Unfortunately, as I was reminded Friday evening, many Christians are prone to falling into this same trap.
I was having a discussion with a good friend of mine, former member of my care group and life long Catholic, when I shared my concern regarding a couple of people I knew who were wandering off in different spiritual directions and putting their hope and purpose in things other than Jesus Christ. His response was to feel like he needed to defend them and to tell me that I was judging them which I shouldn't be doing. I feel that having concern is different than judging someone but it is true that there is an implicit judgment in that what they are doing is sinful. So here is the verse he was thinking of:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Matthew 7:1-2
This may be the most misused verse in the Bible by believers and non-believers alike. He was using it to say that I have no right to say that someone is involved in sinful actions and that their heart is straying from the Lord. I will certainly agree that only God can judge the heart but to say that I can't have concern based on the fruit, or lack thereof, I am seeing in someone's life is simply wrong.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5
Since he was upset that I would point out sin in someone's life that was jeopardizing their relationship with God, it begged this question from me - "How do you believe you get to heaven?" You would have thought that I asked him, "Which of your family members would you most like to get cancer?" He was visibly angry that I would ask such a question and stated that he would never answer a question like that where he was being put on the spot. Keep in mind, this was asked humbly and out of sincere curiosity and the only expectation I had is that he would have an answer. This is really Christianity 101 and I thought a Christian of 50 years would have an answer. His defiance was the last thing I expected.
There were already signs of postmodernism in him that he was so defensive about the idea of calling a sin a sin. Upon reflection, the next piece of information I got out of him was the clincher. As he was telling me why it was so wrong of me to ask him that question, I said that I thought that Scripture was pretty clear on the matter. He then took great offense at my using the term "Scripture" and said it made me sound insincere. OK, at this point I was pretty lost. But I think I understand (somewhat) a bit better now. He went on to say that the Bible was basically unknowable. There is no way that human beings with finite minds can hope to correctly interpret God's Word. There are different interpretations and schools of thought for pretty much every verse and for me to claim that I had some understanding of what the Bible says was arrogant and wishful thinking.
There is the commonality. My friend doesn't believe in absolute truth because he finds the author of truth - God - to basically be unknowable. How incredibly sad. I will be the first to admit that there are a lot of challenging parts of the Bible that are difficult to understand. That is why I study as much as I do and listen to godly men who immerse themselves in the Word and preach with wisdom and discernment. I make no claim to understand everything and know that I won't have every answer until I am in heaven. But just because we can't understand everything doesn't mean that we can't understand anything. I used John 3:16 as a verse that is readily understandable and at the core of Christianity. Why would God give us His Word if He knew we wouldn't be able to learn from it?
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 1 Timothy 3:14-17
He also made the comment that anything Paul wrote was mysterious and impossible to understand. Yet, here is Paul writing to his friend and disciple Timothy, and making some very clear statements. First of all, Timothy has had at least some understanding of Scripture his entire life. Keep in mind, that the Holy Spirit grants us wisdom, well beyond the capabilities of our finite human intellect. Timothy has clearly had the indwelling of the Spirit throughout His life as does every Christian from the time they are born again. Secondly, the Scriptures make us wise for salvation, meaning they help us to know and see God and open our hearts and lives to Him, even as our faith begins as an act of God's grace. Also, the Scriptures are essential for rebuking and correcting. That sounds a lot like it is our duty to call sin what it is and to bring our Christians brothers and sisters back in line with God's will when we see them drifting away.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." - Colossians 3:16
The message of Christ is wisdom. If that message was unknowable to us then that verse would make no sense. That conversation left me confused and saddened. I was unprepared for what I heard and it has been on my mind and heart ever since. I am reluctant to ask any follow-up questions because I have already been met with anger from what I felt were very innocent and non-threatening questions. But it did leave me with a couple thoughts.
If you are a Christian you are commanded to study Scripture. You don't get to just throw your hands up in the air, say you don't understand anything and go about your life. Yes, there will be passages from which you don't have complete clarity. You won't understand everything. But to use that as an excuse to not study at all is to basically throw the Bible back in God's face.
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." - Joshua 1:8
If you don't know God's truth then you don't know absolute truth. That means you will fall prey to your own ideas of truth and you will simply join the postmodern masses. Your light for Christ in this darkened world will also dim and your witness will be greatly neutralized if not extinguished. You may still be saved. Only God knows that. Regardless, you will have lived a life that will only be a shadow of the purpose God intended.
“If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32
In the last post I noted that one of the things Christians are often accused of lacking is "tolerance". I put it in quotations because I think people making those accusations are operating under a different definition than I am. Their definition usually goes something like this..."you can believe whatever you want as long as you don't attempt to impose your beliefs on others". However, that definition is now being extended to "you can believe whatever you want as long as it doesn't upset someone else". If it does, it will increasingly be called hate.
So how did we get here? We live in a postmodern society which says, "All values, beliefs, lifestyles and truth claims are equally valid." It is moral relativism. Truth is what you believe it to be. What might be true for you might not be true for me. Truth ultimately depends on the moment...also known as "situational ethics". There is no black and white, only shades of grey. For anyone to say differently is viewed as arrogance and intolerance. This thinking also promotes a "whatever feels good" mentality and lifestyle. You have effectively set yourself up as your own idol and life revolves around you. It doesn't take a genius to see that this way of thinking will ultimately lead to chaos as your idea of truth will eventually collide with mine.
Of course, what is more arrogant than claiming you are the barometer of truth? It works both ways but most don't see that. The real belief being espoused by those who live under moral relativism is that there is no absolute truth. Unfortunately, as I was reminded Friday evening, many Christians are prone to falling into this same trap.
I was having a discussion with a good friend of mine, former member of my care group and life long Catholic, when I shared my concern regarding a couple of people I knew who were wandering off in different spiritual directions and putting their hope and purpose in things other than Jesus Christ. His response was to feel like he needed to defend them and to tell me that I was judging them which I shouldn't be doing. I feel that having concern is different than judging someone but it is true that there is an implicit judgment in that what they are doing is sinful. So here is the verse he was thinking of:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Matthew 7:1-2
This may be the most misused verse in the Bible by believers and non-believers alike. He was using it to say that I have no right to say that someone is involved in sinful actions and that their heart is straying from the Lord. I will certainly agree that only God can judge the heart but to say that I can't have concern based on the fruit, or lack thereof, I am seeing in someone's life is simply wrong.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5
Since he was upset that I would point out sin in someone's life that was jeopardizing their relationship with God, it begged this question from me - "How do you believe you get to heaven?" You would have thought that I asked him, "Which of your family members would you most like to get cancer?" He was visibly angry that I would ask such a question and stated that he would never answer a question like that where he was being put on the spot. Keep in mind, this was asked humbly and out of sincere curiosity and the only expectation I had is that he would have an answer. This is really Christianity 101 and I thought a Christian of 50 years would have an answer. His defiance was the last thing I expected.
There were already signs of postmodernism in him that he was so defensive about the idea of calling a sin a sin. Upon reflection, the next piece of information I got out of him was the clincher. As he was telling me why it was so wrong of me to ask him that question, I said that I thought that Scripture was pretty clear on the matter. He then took great offense at my using the term "Scripture" and said it made me sound insincere. OK, at this point I was pretty lost. But I think I understand (somewhat) a bit better now. He went on to say that the Bible was basically unknowable. There is no way that human beings with finite minds can hope to correctly interpret God's Word. There are different interpretations and schools of thought for pretty much every verse and for me to claim that I had some understanding of what the Bible says was arrogant and wishful thinking.
There is the commonality. My friend doesn't believe in absolute truth because he finds the author of truth - God - to basically be unknowable. How incredibly sad. I will be the first to admit that there are a lot of challenging parts of the Bible that are difficult to understand. That is why I study as much as I do and listen to godly men who immerse themselves in the Word and preach with wisdom and discernment. I make no claim to understand everything and know that I won't have every answer until I am in heaven. But just because we can't understand everything doesn't mean that we can't understand anything. I used John 3:16 as a verse that is readily understandable and at the core of Christianity. Why would God give us His Word if He knew we wouldn't be able to learn from it?
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 1 Timothy 3:14-17
He also made the comment that anything Paul wrote was mysterious and impossible to understand. Yet, here is Paul writing to his friend and disciple Timothy, and making some very clear statements. First of all, Timothy has had at least some understanding of Scripture his entire life. Keep in mind, that the Holy Spirit grants us wisdom, well beyond the capabilities of our finite human intellect. Timothy has clearly had the indwelling of the Spirit throughout His life as does every Christian from the time they are born again. Secondly, the Scriptures make us wise for salvation, meaning they help us to know and see God and open our hearts and lives to Him, even as our faith begins as an act of God's grace. Also, the Scriptures are essential for rebuking and correcting. That sounds a lot like it is our duty to call sin what it is and to bring our Christians brothers and sisters back in line with God's will when we see them drifting away.
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." - Colossians 3:16
The message of Christ is wisdom. If that message was unknowable to us then that verse would make no sense. That conversation left me confused and saddened. I was unprepared for what I heard and it has been on my mind and heart ever since. I am reluctant to ask any follow-up questions because I have already been met with anger from what I felt were very innocent and non-threatening questions. But it did leave me with a couple thoughts.
If you are a Christian you are commanded to study Scripture. You don't get to just throw your hands up in the air, say you don't understand anything and go about your life. Yes, there will be passages from which you don't have complete clarity. You won't understand everything. But to use that as an excuse to not study at all is to basically throw the Bible back in God's face.
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." - Joshua 1:8
If you don't know God's truth then you don't know absolute truth. That means you will fall prey to your own ideas of truth and you will simply join the postmodern masses. Your light for Christ in this darkened world will also dim and your witness will be greatly neutralized if not extinguished. You may still be saved. Only God knows that. Regardless, you will have lived a life that will only be a shadow of the purpose God intended.
“If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32
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