Cherokee People, God’s People

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

For these next few days I get to spend some time at the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina, preparing for a mission trip a team from our church will be again taking this Summer.  I have come to love our work in Cherokee and look forward both to opportunities to go over the mountain to the reservation and to opportunities to share why we do what we do.

Some have wondered: “Why Cherokee?”  Perhaps this is part of a bigger question: “Why Native American Mission?”  After all, I supposed some assume, it is not like they are a pagan people, unexposed to the gospel.

While it is certainly true that Native Americans have had interaction with Christians for years, I find people are stunned when they hear how few Indians are followers of Jesus Christ. I know I was.

Overall only about 3% of Native Americans profess to believe the gospel.   To be considered an Unreached People Group a People must be less than 2.5% evangelized. So it is obvious that despite having the “advantage” of regular interaction with American Christianity, Native Americans almost qualify as an Unreached People.  When I think of this, and then consider that, at least in Cherokee, the vast majority of those in church on any given week are very, very old, it will not be long until Native Americans revert back into Unreached Peoples – unless they are reached now.

Perhaps the thing that first struck me, and continues to fuel my commitment to Native American Mission, was an  ad I saw several years ago in a Christian magazine.  I do not recall what mission agency had placed the ad, perhaps First Tribes, but the caption read:

“Why should America’s First People, be the last to hear?”

I could not give an answer, and the unjust irony struck a chord.  So now, I am laboring to be part of the answer.

To give you a good introduction to the work we are doing, and why we are doing it, please watch the video above.

I Wish I Had Said That

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OK. I’ll admit it. After reading J.D. Greear‘s book, Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary, I found myself subtly frustrated… Disappointed…

Why?

Not because of anything in the book J.D. wrote. But because it was a book that I wish I had written! So I am jealous… envious… and greatly appreciative.

This is a book I could have written.  It is not that I would have written it as well as J.D. did. But in this book J.D elaborates on a number of practical issues that I have found need to be explored and explained from a gospel-centered perspective.  And J.D. nails it. He interacts with the writings of many of the same folks who have helped shape my own understanding, illustrates the principles, and applies them to an assortment of questions and confusions that many seem to have when first introduced to gospel-centered Christianity.

Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics – An Interview

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

I am not a fan of Diane Rehm, by any measure.  Not only do I find her views unpalatable, her voice grates my ears.  But as I was driving to an appointment today I clicked the NPR preset on my JEEP radio and in the matter of seconds had my attention arrested by the discussion between Rehm and her guest, New York Times columnist Ross Douthat.  Earlier this week Douthat released a book provocatively titled Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics.  This book was only on my “To Read” list – or at least, it was on the list to put on my list, but now it on my “Definite Read” list.

I have no doubt that there are areas of doctrinal difference that I have with Douthat, but as I listened to him make his points and respond to Rehm and some of her regulars, I could not help but nod in agreement.   Douthat offers some astute cultural observations that, being missional, I cannot ignore.

To listen to today’s interview click: Bad Religion

5 Causes of the Decline of the American Church

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Previewing Ross Douthat’s new book, Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics,  which hit bookstore shelves yesterday, Tim Keller draws five observations about the causes of decline in the American Church.

As Keller notes:

In his second chapter, Douthat attributes the change to five major social catalysts that have gained steam since the 1960s…

Here are the five factors:

  1. First, the political polarization that has occurred between the Left and Right drew many churches into it (mainline Protestants toward the Left, evangelicals toward the Right). This has greatly weakened the church’s credibility in the broader culture, with many viewing churches as mere appendages and pawns of political parties.
  2. Second, the sexual revolution means that the Biblical sex ethic now looks unreasonable and perverse to millions of people, making Christianity appear implausible, unhealthy, and regressive.
  3. Third, the era of decolonization and Third World empowerment, together with the dawn of globalization, has given the impression that Christianity was imperialistically “western” and supportive of European civilization’s record of racism, colonialism, and anti-Semitism.
  4. The fourth factor has been the enormous growth in the kind of material prosperity and consumerism that always works against faith and undermines Christian community.
  5. The fifth factor is  that all the other four factors had their greatest initial impact on the more educated and affluent classes – the gatekeepers of the main culture-shaping institutions such as the media, the academy, the arts, the main foundations, and much of the government and business world.

I find these observations significant. As God’s missional people, it is important that Christians recognize not only the reality of the decline of our influence within our culture, but the specific contributing factors.  Simply wishing things were the way they used to be won’t accomplish anything.  It is akin to sticking our heads in the sand.  But when we discern what is going on in the world around us, a number of signs direct us toward ways we may address the causes,  both directly and indirectly.

Read Keller’s entire article: Redeemer City to City

Pay Attention!

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In his book, Joy Unspeakable, Martyn Lloyd-Jones notes:

Pay attention!

I am certain that the world outside is not going to pay much attention to all the organized efforts of the Christian church.  The one thing she will pay attention to is a body of people filled with the spirit of rejoicing.  That is how Christianity conquered the ancient world. It was this amazing joy of these people.  Even when you threw them into prison, or even to death, it did not matter, they went on rejoicing; rejoicing in tribulations.

Perhaps we would be wise to recover this attitude.  It seems to me, many of our contemporaries spend too much energy griping about the world, and about lessened stature in the estimation of the culture.  But if we recover the joy that should be an inherent attribute of our faith,  perhaps we can regain our effectiveness as redeeming and preserving agents in this world.

The Lamb is a Lion

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Mark 11.12-18 & Luke 19.45-47

Weak from the journey, the long travelling days/ Hungry to worship, to join in the praise/ Shock mad with anger that burned on His face/ As He entered the wasteland of that barren place

Chorus:

And the Lamb is a Lion who’s roaring with rage/At the empty religion that’s filling their days/ They’ll flee from the hug of the Carpenter’s strong arm/ And come to know the scourging anger of the Lord

Priests and the merchants demanded some proof/ For their hearts were hardened and blind to the Truth/ But Satan’s own law is to sell and to buy/ But God’s only way is to give and to die

– Repeat Chorus-

The noise and confusion gave way to His word At last sacred silence so God could be heard…

A Basic Quiet Time Plan

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

OK. You sit down in a quiet place, Bible in hand – or at least on the table in front of you. You really mean it this time. You are going to begin having regular “Quiet Times”.  But then the practical questions come to mind: How do I do this? What am I supposed to do?  Is that all there is to it?

Been there, done that.  And been there and NOT done that.  I didn’t know what to do, so I didn’t do anything.

There are so many different ways to approach personal devotional time that sometimes the whole idea can seem simultaneously appealing and daunting. At other times it can feel stale – and even boring.

If any of this sounds familiar to you, let me suggest a solid and diverse plan that I ran across some time ago.  I do not recall where I found it, so I cannot give proper credit. But I have found this plan provides a good foundation and flexibility.

***

Step One: BIBLE STUDY – Goal: To understand the truth

First: Slowly read a paragraph or chapter 3-4 times. When a thought or phrase or word captures your attention, pause for a moment and thank God for it.

Then: Write down answers to any one of the following sets of questions. Don’t try to do them all (though you may mix questions from different sets).

Set #1.

1. What do these verses teach me about God?
2. What do these verses teach me about myself (or mankind in general or believers)?
3. How do these verses point me to Jesus as Savior?
4. List examples to follow or avoid, commands to obey, or promises to claim

Set #2.

1. Write down the key verse or thought that impressed you.
2. Write the verse out in your own words.
3. Make sure you look at the context. What is the thought just before the verse and just after?
4. Give 2-3 reasons it impressed you.

Set #3.

1. What was beautiful about this verse?
2. What surprised you about this verse?
3. To what in this verse do you need to give more thought?
4. What didn’t you understand?
5. How does the verse connect to your life and/or the life of your church?

Step Two: MEDITATION – Goal: To drive the truth down into your heart

First: Write out one or two (at most!) of the main truths you got out of your Bible study.

Then: For each truth, write out the answers to each of these questions:

  • If you have little time, just answer the following:

1. “How would I be different if this truth caught fire in my inner most being?”
2. “Why is God showing me these particular things today?”

  • If you have more time:
  1. Adoration: How can I praise God or Christ for what this reveals about him? (Think of at least 2 or 3)
  2. Confession: What wrong behavior, harmful emotions, false attitudes result in me when I forget he is like this? (Think of at least 2 or 3)
  3. Thanksgiving: Thank God that you are saved by grace through Jesus, not by your performance. How can this grace in Christ help you overcome the sins you just confessed?
  4. Supplication: What do I need to become and do in light of this truth? Ask him for it!

Step Three: PRAYER – Goal: To commune with God and ask Him to work out His purposes in the world and in your life.

First: Pray especially for the things that came out of your meditation.

Then:

  • Pray through a prayer list of things to ask God for regularly.
  • Praise and thank him for the things you saw today.
  • Confess sins that were brought to your attention today.
  • New items for supplication you saw today (add some to your prayer list).
  • Pray for former items on your prayer list: for family, for church, for friends, for world, for self.

Suggested passages to start:

  • Psalm 1
  • Psalm 4
  • Psalm 8
  • Psalm 19
  • Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7
  • Psalm 103
  • Psalm 106 (particularly verses 28-31

Please Note that while this is a good pattern for personal devotions, it is simply a suggestion. By no means is this the RIGHT plan. If you have something that works for you, keep at it.  I post this simply because I know there are many who get stuck right out of the gate, not knowing what to do.

For a .pdf of this plan, click: Basic Quiet Time Plan

Centering Our Lives On Something

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

“Since we are made to worship, we are always centering our lives on something whether we realize it or not.  It is like a fire hose that is stuck in the ‘on’ position and shooting water out endlessly with great force. We must decide where we aim the hose as the focus of our worship. The idols of our modern world are not necessarily the hand-carved statues of the ancient world.  In our autonomous self-seeking ways, people have instead come to serve or worship the self-erected idols of approval, comfort, and security.  We must ruthlessly inspect the sin in our heart for these idols… so it is vital that [we] get to the heart. As Tim Keller puts it, ‘The solution to our sin problem is not simply to change our behavior, but to reorient and center our entire heart and life on God.’  Therefore, we must go after the nature of the sin by going after its root and not just the fruit of the sin. Oftentimes people repent of sin that is simply the fruit of the idols in their hearts. We must find out the why of the behavior and not just the what”.

~Tom Wood & Scott Thomas, Gospel Coach

From Graced Again

Resurrection

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O GOD OF MY EXODUS,
Great was the joy of Israel’s sons
when Egypt died upon the shore,
Far greater the joy
when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust.
Jesus strides forth as the victor,
conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might;
He bursts the bands of death,
tramples the powers of darkness down,
and lives for ever.

He, my gracious surety,
apprehended for payment of my debt,
comes forth from the prison house of the grave
free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death.

Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,
that the claims of justice are satisfied,
that the devil’s sceptre is shivered,
that his wrongful throne is levelled.

Give me the assurance that in Christ I died, in Him I rose,
in His life I live, in His victory I triumph,
in His ascension I shall be glorified.

Adorable Redeemer,
Thou who wast lifted up upon a cross
art ascended to highest heaven.
Thou, who as man of sorrows wast crowned with thorns,
art now as Lord of life wreathed with glory.
Once, no shame more deep than Thine,
no agony more bitter, no death more cruel.
Now, no exaltation more high,
no life more glorious, no advocate more effective.

Thou art in the triumph car leading captive Thine enemies behind Thee.
What more could be done than Thou hast done!
Thy death is my life, Thy resurrection my peace,
Thy ascension my hope, Thy prayers my comfort.

from: Valley of Vision

There is a Fountain Filled With Blood

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

There is a fountain filled with blood
drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.
and sinners plunged beneath that flood
lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
that fountain in his day;
and there may I, though vile as he,
wash all my sins away.
and there may I, though vile as he,
wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood
shall never lose its power
’till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.
’till all the ransomed church of God
be saved, to sin no more.

E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
thy flowing wounds supply,
redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.
redeeming love has been my theme,
and shall be till I die.

Words: William Cowper

Video: Red Mountain Music

5 Songs for Good Friday

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With Easter coming Sunday, the MOST Holy day on the Christian calendar, it is easy to overlook or undervalue Good Friday.  But to do so deprives us of great opportunity to glory in the Cross.

When I was a kid, I remember asking my mother one day: “Why do they call it Good Friday, if that’s the day they killed Jesus?”  My mother, who is not a theologian, gave the best answer she could: “Well, I guess it because we know he rose again.”

My mother was right. No doubt the death of Jesus cannot be considered apart from the Resurrection that was to follow.  All our blessings are wrapped up in these two inseparable events.

But there is even more to it than that. The death of Christ itself, not alone but as a distinct redemptive act, carries it’s own beauty when viewed from this side of the Cross.  It was Jesus’ blood shed on the Cross that paid the debt for all my depravity, and set my sin into remission.  It is by Jesus’ voluntary death that we most vividly view the love of God – that we most clearly see nearly all of God’s attributes, really.

So with this in mind, and in hope to redeem the day for our greatest good, here are 5 songs for Good Friday that focus us on the blessing of that GREAT first Good Friday:

NOTE: All songs played on MOG. You may have to sign up for this free app to listen. But once you listen, you’ll agree it was worth it.

Crucifixion & Resurrection

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Here is a reflection, taken from Valley of Vision, for Good Friday:

O Lord,
I marvel that thou shouldst become incarnate,
be crucified, dead, and buried.

The sepulchre calls forth my adoring wonder,
for it is empty and thou art risen;
the four-fold gospel attests it,
the living witnesses prove it,
my heart’s experience knows it.

Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life,
for I wish to be as dead and buried to sin, to selfishness, to the world;
that I might not hear the voice of the charmer,
and might be delivered from his lusts.

O Lord, there is much ill about me – crucify it,
much flesh within me – mortify it.
Purge me from selfishness,
the fear of man, the love of approbation,
the shame of being thought old-fashioned,
the desire to be cultivated or modern.
Let me reckon my old life dead
because of crucifixion,
and never feed it as a living thing.
Grant me to stand with my dying Saviour,
to be content to be rejected,
to be willing to take up unpopular truths,
and to hold fast despised teachings until death.
Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained.
Never let me wander from the path of obedience to thy will.
Strengthen me for the battles ahead.
Give me courage for all the trials,
and grace for all the joys.
Help me to be a holy, happy person,
free from every wrong desire,
from everything contrary to thy mind.
Grant me more and more of the resurrection life:
may it rule me,
may I walk in its power,
and be strengthened through its influence.

8 Golf Courses I Want to Play This Spring

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The Masters gets under way today, officially marking the beginning of Spring. At least for me.  There is just something about watching them tee off in Augusta…

Inspired by the Master’s to get into swing, I thought I would post a list of Golf Courses I want to play this Spring: