We live in a world that is riven by the have/have not divide economically, socially, geographically and militarily. It breeds an innate sense of superiority and inferiority - even the terms we use to describe nations reveal this: developed, developing world etc... And it applies in the locality, in jobs, in families, in income, in car ownership etc... Badge appeal is a big factor people think of when buying their car, status symbols are not just for the exceptionally wealthy are they. They make us feel superior, or are a show of superiority.
The gospel is the great leveller or is it? Last night in home groups as a starter question we were thinking about what badges of superiority or inferiority there are as Christians. It was a fascinating question; we know the theology that we are all united in Christ, sinners saved by grace and yet so much worldly thinking infiltrates our way of thinking about church and relationships. Here are some of the things we came up with that make us or others feel either superior or inferior and often both at the same time: marriage, singleness, bible knowledge, training, area in which you serve in the church, job (christian work v secular, hierarchy within secular work that views medicine or teaching as better than office work etc...), youth, old age, bible translation preference, literacy level and so on.
It was so helpful to be reminded of all the spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ lavished on us from God our Father, and to be challenged in our unbiblical thinking.
Showing posts with label worldliness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worldliness. Show all posts
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
A Modern Psalm 23
This was posted over at Pure Church, I thought it helpfully reminds us of the dangers of TV.
The TV is my shepherd,I shall want more.
It makes me lie down on the sofa.
It leads me away from the faith;
It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the path of sex and violence
for the sponsor's sake.
Yeah, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibility,
there will be no interruption, for the TV is with me.
It's cables and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me in the presence of my worldliness;
It anoints my head with humanism and consumerism;
My coveting runneth over.
Surely, laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house watching TV for ever.
The TV is my shepherd,I shall want more.
It makes me lie down on the sofa.
It leads me away from the faith;
It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the path of sex and violence
for the sponsor's sake.
Yeah, though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibility,
there will be no interruption, for the TV is with me.
It's cables and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me in the presence of my worldliness;
It anoints my head with humanism and consumerism;
My coveting runneth over.
Surely, laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house watching TV for ever.
Friday, 18 September 2009
Wordliness
Last night in home group we finished our study of Worldliness - resisting the seduction of a fallen world (ed. C J Mahaney). Over the summer months we have been reading a chapter a week and then discussing what it taught. Did we agree or disagree, how would it affect our lives, how would we put it into practice etc...
In the final chapter the question of how to love the world is the subject, the challenge not to love the world but not to disengage from it either. It is a helpful corrective and one of the best chapters in a very good and challenging book. Jeff Purswell begins by challenging the reader to examine and correct their worldview (John 3:16; 17:18) we are to be those in the world but not of the world. Using the four markers; creation, fall, redemption and consummation he explains the Biblical worldview and some of the consequences and implications of this.
He then moves on to suggest that the Bible sets believers three tasks in terms of interaction with the world:
1. Enjoy the world - God has made the world, it witnesses to him we are to praise God for the world he has given us to enjoy but without loving or worshipping it. I guess I experienced something of this at U2, where so many were worshipping U2 I was struck by the amazing gift God gave us in music and the gifts he had given these 4 guys and praised God for his goodness and creation.
2. Engage the world - We have a tendency to compartmentalize life into spiritual and secular (interestingly an agenda society and the government seems keen to encourage) but this shouldn't be so, work, home leisure are all part of my worship of God.
3. Evangelize the world -We are witnesses - a witness simply takes the stand and tells the truth as he has known and experienced it. That was tremendously liberating for those who fear that they can't adequately explain the gospel - we are to work at our understanding - but we are to witness to what we have experienced, it doesn't have to be polished and slick.
Finally the book ends as most chapters did by looking at the cross which tells us who we are, interprets the world we live in, transforms our view of people and gives me purpose.
It has been a book that has been challenging and one of those that will go on my shelf to be re-read every 12-18months. Personally it is a great read but my hunch is that only when read with others and when we open up to allow others to keep us accountable to change will we do so most effectively.
In the final chapter the question of how to love the world is the subject, the challenge not to love the world but not to disengage from it either. It is a helpful corrective and one of the best chapters in a very good and challenging book. Jeff Purswell begins by challenging the reader to examine and correct their worldview (John 3:16; 17:18) we are to be those in the world but not of the world. Using the four markers; creation, fall, redemption and consummation he explains the Biblical worldview and some of the consequences and implications of this.
He then moves on to suggest that the Bible sets believers three tasks in terms of interaction with the world:
1. Enjoy the world - God has made the world, it witnesses to him we are to praise God for the world he has given us to enjoy but without loving or worshipping it. I guess I experienced something of this at U2, where so many were worshipping U2 I was struck by the amazing gift God gave us in music and the gifts he had given these 4 guys and praised God for his goodness and creation.
2. Engage the world - We have a tendency to compartmentalize life into spiritual and secular (interestingly an agenda society and the government seems keen to encourage) but this shouldn't be so, work, home leisure are all part of my worship of God.
3. Evangelize the world -We are witnesses - a witness simply takes the stand and tells the truth as he has known and experienced it. That was tremendously liberating for those who fear that they can't adequately explain the gospel - we are to work at our understanding - but we are to witness to what we have experienced, it doesn't have to be polished and slick.
Finally the book ends as most chapters did by looking at the cross which tells us who we are, interprets the world we live in, transforms our view of people and gives me purpose.
It has been a book that has been challenging and one of those that will go on my shelf to be re-read every 12-18months. Personally it is a great read but my hunch is that only when read with others and when we open up to allow others to keep us accountable to change will we do so most effectively.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Worldliness
I've started reading the second chapter of this book today, the first chapter was brilliant and I'm thinking through what changes I need to make in what I watch and what DVD's sit on my shelf.
But the second chapter deals with music. It begins with the wonder of music and reminding us of the great joy and gift of God that music is. But Bob Kauflin also reminds us that "listening to music without discernment and godly intent reveals a heart willing to flirt with the world."
Am I flirting with the world with the songs I have on my itunes? In the way I listen to the radio?
But the second chapter deals with music. It begins with the wonder of music and reminding us of the great joy and gift of God that music is. But Bob Kauflin also reminds us that "listening to music without discernment and godly intent reveals a heart willing to flirt with the world."
Am I flirting with the world with the songs I have on my itunes? In the way I listen to the radio?
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Worldliness
That's the title of a little book which C J Mahaney is the editor of that I picked up a while ago but am now getting round to reading. I've read the foreword (by John Piper) and opening chapter and it is excellent so far. It challenges us about our snippet approach to the Bible - specifically how we seem to have effectively cut out John 2:15 "Do not love the world..."Later chapters deal with the media, music, stuff, clothes, and finally how to love the world. We need its reminder that when it comes to wordliness we are all at risk and also that we do not drift into holiness, that it is a series of choices we make every moment of every day. The example of Demas as a danger of worldliness and where it leads: "Demas, because he lived this world, has deserted me..." Is a challenge especially when you consider he began well and was so involved with the gospel mission.
I'm looking forward to reading it, though the proof will only be in the practical application of it to my heart, my thinking, my bookshelves, DVD collection, CD collection, iPod, TV viewing habits and so on.
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