Christian Life

Human Flourishing

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

As my son goes off to college in a matter of weeks I am seeing my influence, in the form of authority and control, dissipate with each passing day. I hope I will always have some influence in his life. To have no influence is to have no relationship.  Further, I hope that over the years he has developed a level of respect rooted in my love for him and demonstrated by the life I live.  But the nature that influence expresses itself is changing as he assumes more responsibilty for himself, moves to a new city, where he will begin a life that I am a visitor to but not a resident in.

I find I ask myself what advice I want to offer that he might take with him. 

One important area, as he engages in study to prepare for the life God has in store for him, concerns a perspective on work itself.   Danielle Sallade has written a wonderfully insightful treatise titled Human Flourishing.

Here is how Sallade introduces her work:

This essay proposes that living as a Christian, an alternative to the prevailing culture, leads to flourishing. First, I briefly sketch what the worldly culture of busyness looks like. I then discuss how our modern notions about the nature of work and success create the culture of busyness and keep it going. Finally, I attempt to show how the Christian faith offers an alternative way to understand work and success that, when believed and lived out, results in joy, peace, and genuine flourishing instead of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion

I think this article will find fertile ground in the minds of a wider audience than merely college students.  We all have to deal with this issue.

The Least We Can Do

/ Dennis Griffith / 2 Comments

If Jesus could rise from the dead, we can at least rise from our bed, get off our couches and pews, and respond to the Lord’s resurrection life within us, joining Jesus in what he’s up to in the world. We call on others to join us—not in removing ourselves from planet Earth, but to plant our feet more firmly on the Earth while our spirits soar in the heavens of God’s pleasure and purpose. We are not of this world, but we live in this world for the Lord’s rights and interests. We, collectively, as the ekklesia of God, are Christ in and to this world.

 -Leonard Sweet & Frank Viola, from A Jesus Manifesto

Lord Dissolve My Frozen Heart

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

Lord, dissolve my frozen heart/ By the beams of Love Divine;/ This alone can warmth impart/ To dissolve a heart like mine.

O that love, how vast it is!/ Vast, it seems, though known in part;/ Strange indeed, if love like this/ Should not melt the frozen heart.

Chorus: The love of Christ passes knowledge./ The Love of Christ eases fear./ The love of Christ hits a man’s heart;/ It pierces him like a spear.

Savior, let thy love be felt,/ Let it’s power be felt by me,/ Then my frozen heart shall melt,/ Melt in love, o Lord to thee.

Source: Red Mountain Music

Graceful Break-in

/ Dennis Griffith / 3 Comments

“The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome…”

-Tim Keller

Re-Gridding Revisited

/ Dennis Griffith / Leave a comment

Measure of a Heart

A few days ago I penned a post suggesting that we consider the Christian Life through a different paradigm than what I believe is ordinary.  I suggested the the fundamental gauge ought to be Humble vs. Proud, rather than Good vs. Bad and/or Right vs. Wrong.  I have received several positive responses, and I have been asked a couple times for some clarification. 

While I suspect few, if any, would suggest that Humble vs. Proud is not a valid grid, I understand how some might find it a bit audacious to say it should be the fundamental, or primary grid.  What makes this the predominant paradigm?

Humble vs. Proud is the grid within which these other standards fit.  

Let me explain:

First, Christianity is a substantive faith.  Doctrine is the way we express and transfer the substance of Truth.  So Right vs. Wrong is an important concept; an indispensible concept.  But God tells us that there is a knowledge that merely “puffs up”, a knowledge that may be true but which is not helpful.   It is not the substance of truth that it the problem. The problem is the condition of the heart that is receiving and processing this truth. 

What is interesting is that understanding  Truth also promotes humility.  Paraphrasing C.J. Mahaney: “Humility is seeing ourselves in right relation to God.”  In other words, the more we understand about God and about ourselves the more humble we wil feel. But paradoxically, before Truth produces humility the heart must already be humble before God.

Second, James tells us that we are known by our actions; that Faith without works is dead.  This underscores the importance of Good vs. Bad.  But our actions can be deceiving. Not only can we deceive others by our actions, but we often deceive ourselves.  Many people think of themselves as being loved by God because of their actions.  But this often stems from a false sense of righteousness. God tells us that our best efforts, if they are not generated from faith and a love for God, are as appealing as a filthy rag. And Jesus spoke to a group of people telling them that despite their “good deeds” he had no relationship with them. (See Matthew 7.21-23)

Again, while both the Good vs. Bad and Right vs. Wrong paradigms are important, and have their place, I still suggest that Humble vs. Proud is the most fundamental. Against this paradigm there is no warning. And it is only within this paradigm that the others get their meaning.

Re-Gridding the Christian Life

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

Measures

Not long ago, while a friend of mine was preaching in my place at Walnut HIll Church, I had somewhat of an epiphany.  I understood something that had been nagging at me for a long, long time, but that I had never before been able to express – even to myself.  I realized: We have it all wrong. We are using the wrong standard to measure our spiritual lives.  We need a new grid.

Too often, I am afraid, we gauge the Christian Life through a grid of Good vs. Bad, or of Right vs. Wrong.  The more serious of us may see that both ought to be wedded together.  But I am convinced that, while both of these grids have some value, the real grid that God fundamentally calls us to use is Humble vs. Proud.

Good vs. Bad gauges our behavior.   Right vs. Wrong evaluates our doctrine, or our Worldview.  But Humble vs. Proud reflects our heart – and that is where everything must begin. If we get that out of whack, everything else will be too.

“God opposes the proud but He gives grace to the humble.”

Grace Will…

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Paradox Hand

I was blown away as I thought about the paradoxes of the Gospel as it was described by Paul Tripp in his book, Broken-Down House.  Don’t just read through quickly. Stop and consider the contrasts:

Grace is a story and grace is a gift. It is God’s character and it is your hope. Grace is a transforming tool and a state of relationship.  Grace is a theology and an invitation. Grace is an experience and a calling. Grace will turn your life upside down while giving you a rest you have never known.  Grace will convince you of you unworthiness without ever making you feel unloved.

Grace will make you acknowledge that you cannot earn God’s favor, and it will remove your fear of not measuring up to his standards. Grace will confront you with the fact that you are much less than you thought you were, even as it assures you that you can be far more than you had ever imagined. Grace will put you in your place without ever putting you down.

Grace will enable you to face truths about yourself that you have hesitated to consider, while freeing you from being self-consciously introspective. Grace will confront you with profound weaknesses, and at the same time introduce you to new-found strength. Grace will tell you what you aren’t, while welcoming you to what you can now be. Grace will make you as uncomfortable as you have ever been, while offering you more comfort than you have ever known. Grace will drive you to the end of yourself, while it invites you to fresh starts and new beginnings.  Grace will dash your hopes, but never leave you hopeless. Grace will decimate your kingdom as it introduces you to a better King. Grace will expose your blindness as it gives you eyes to see. Grace will make you sadder than you have ever been, while it gives you greater cause for celebration than you have ever known.

Grace enters your life in a moment and will occupy you for eternity. You simply cannot live a productive life in this broken-down world unless you have a practical grasp of the grace you have been given.

Salt & Light

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God Rays Redwoods

“The true Christian cannot be hid, he cannot escape notice.  A man truly living and functioning as a Christian will stand out.  He will be like salt; he will be like a city set on a hill, a candle set upon a candlestick.

But we can also add this further word: The true Christian does not even desire to hide his light.  He sees how ridiculous it is to claim to be a Christian and yet deliberately to try to hide the fact. 

A man who truly realizes what it means to be a Christian, who realizes all that the grace of God has meant to him and done for him, and understands that, ultimately, God has done this in order that he may influence others, is a man who cannot conceal it.  Not only that; he does not desire to conceal it, because he argues thus, ‘Ultimately the object and purpose of it all is that I might be functioning in this way’.” 

-Martin Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount.

Crazy Love

/ Dennis Griffith / 3 Comments

I don’t know Francis Chan, but I think I like him.  I know I like what I see so far.

A friend, who is also an Elder in our church, introduced me to Chan a few months ago. He had just finished reading Chan’s book, Crazy Love, and said that Chan was teaching the same things I had been introducing to Walnut Hill Church – namely a Gospel-driven, missional approach to living.  He wanted to know if I was familiar with Chan, and what my thoughts were.  At the time I had none.  But obviously I was curious. I was curious to see what this guy was saying, if indeed we were teaching similarly.  I was curious to see what my friend and colleague percieved I was teaching, since he thought we were teaching the same things.

I did some investigation on the Internet.  The only negatives I found, or rather the only criticisms of Chan I found, were a couple of Asian-American bloggers who thought Chan acted too “White” or Anglo; and someone who seemed put off by Chan’s frequent application of the Gospel to the use of money.  I didn’t find either of these charges to be anything to discredit Chan, so I conintued with my investigation.

Now, a few months after first hearing Chan’s name, I find myself impressed.  I don’t know all he has said or written, so the day may come when I find myself disagreeing with Chan about something. But that day is not today.  And even if, or when, it does come I suspect it won’t be too big a deal.  It’ll only be a matter of degree.  Francis Chan is a man who loves God, who loves people, and who knows how God has loved His people.  He is passionate about telling people about God’s Crazy Love. He is faithful to call people to love God and each other in tangible ways, in seemingly crazy ways.

So not only has my friend stumbled upon a faithful teacher, I have become a student as well.    

To get acqauinted with Francis Chan, check out the above video, and the related website, Just Stop and Think.

Worldliness in Prespective

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worldliness1

I recently finished reading the short book Worldliness, edited by C.J. Mahaney.  Each chapter is written by different men from the Sovereign Grace family.  I found it very insightful and practical. 

I appreciate that the writers did not merely resort to the worn out separatist “Us vs. The World” rhetoric.  Instead they wrestled intelligently, theologically, and bibilcally about the pertinent questions: What does worldliness actually mean?  What actual problems does worldliness pose?  Only once those questions are amply answered do the writers delve into practical applications in the various spheres of our culture.

I had given some thought to blogging about the book.  Already in previous posts I have elaborated on some of the insights I have gained.  But then on Crossway.blog I have found that Jonathan Leeman of 9 Marks has shared some highlights from each chapter.  Leeman has done such a good job that it made my intentions unnecessary.  I will still likely interact and expound upon some other insights in future posts, but for a good introduction to and overview of the book I encourage you to check out what Leeman has written.  Click: Worldliness. 

But don’t neglect the book. It is short, but beneficial. I’ve added it to my ‘must read’ list.

Recharging a Spiritual Battery

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batteries2

Unfortunately I’m going to miss it.  Our church is hosting a seminar tomorrow.  After scheduling the seminar I received notice that a committee I am on that serves our whole denomination meets the same day.  So I am sitting here writing from my hotel room in Atlanta.

I would not have even considered missing the seminar, excpet that I had already gone through training for this ministry – PLACE – several years ago.place 

PLACE is designed to help Christians discover how they are wired for the purpose of more effective and enjoyable service for the Kingdom of God.  Taking Personality, Spiritual Gift(s), Life Experiences, and Passions & Interests into consideration, each participant develops a profile for himself/herself.  The profiles reflect how each of us is uniquely made. The intent is to help people think through these factors and help them match how they are wired with various opportunities for service and ministry.

Despite missing the kickoff seminar, I am excited about seeing this implemeted in our church.  I am convinced that serving in line with ones interests and in accord with ones gifts not only enhances the effectiveness, but also energizes the one who serves. 

As I see it, functioning according to how one is wired functions in the life of a Christian much like the alternator does in my car.  Now I’m no mechanic, but I’ve had cars with bad alternators. What happens – or what happened – was that my car would work for a while, but eventually, with the alternator malfunctioning, the battery was drained until it was dead.  Likewise, many conscientious Christians serve selflessly in the church and the community.  But when one operates for a length of time without regard for how God has wired us, eventually our batteries run low.  Burnout.  But, when the alternator is functioning properly, the act of service actually recharges the batteries. 

That’s what we are praying for.

Grace of Repentance

/ Dennis Griffith / 1 Comment

 

Today is Ash Wednesday. That does not mean much to many in my theological circles.  But for many other Christians it is a day that launches the Season leading to Easter – the Season of Lent.  This day is designated Ash Wednesday because of an ancient practice of marking believers with ashes as a symbol of repentance. 

Hopefully it is more than symblolic, but is also a reminder that, as Martin Luther said, “When Christ said ‘Repent’ he called for the entire lives of Believers to be lived out in repentance.” 

Repentance is a lost art.  Repentance is also a neglected practice.  I suspect that many assume repentance is someting to be avoided; that repentance is what we must do if we have sinned; but if we can avoid sin we have no need of repentance. 

Seems logical. Except it mischaracterizes the nature of sin.  Sin is not what we do, sin is the condition we have, whether we are aware of it or not.  I find helpful the old saying: “We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.”  Thus, as Luther suggested, the necessity of life lived out in repentance. 

Perhaps a better way of putting it might be that our lives should include repentance.  I say that because repentance never stands alone. Repentance should always accompany Faith; and Faith should always accompany Repentance.  They are two sides of the same coin of Gospel Christianity.

I like the way the old Puritan Thomas Watson says it:

“Faith and Repentance are the two wings by which we fly toward heaven.” 

I love the imagery. It shows us that our salvation involves not only our conversions (which, by the way, requires both Faith & Repentance), but is a sanctifying journey which requires us to grow in our awarenss of both our ungodliness and the greatness of the Gospel.  To have one wing longer than the other; or worse, to have only one wing, would be disastrous.  Try it for yourself.  Try flying one of those balsa wood planes, with one wing longer than the other and see how it flies.  But this is life without both Faith & Repentance.

Three books I have found helpful in shaping my understanding and appreciation of the need of ongoing repentance:

Repentance & 21st Century Man by C. John Miller

The Doctrine of Repentance by Thomas Watson

Repentance: The First Word of the Gospel by Richard Owen Roberts

Hard Grace

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“Even though we are now in faith, the heart is always ready to boast itself before God and say: ‘After all, I have preached the law, and lived so well and done so much that surely He will take this into account ‘.  

We even want to haggle with God to make Him regard our life, but it cannot be done. With men you may boast: ‘I have done the best I could… If anything is lacking, I will still try to make recompense.’  But when you come before God, leave all that boasting at home.  Remember to appeal from justice into grace. 

But let anybody try this and he will see and experience how exceedingly hard and bitter a thing it is for a man who, all his life, has been marred and has worked righteousness to pull himself out of it with all his heart, to rise up through faith in the one mediator.

I myself have been preaching and cultivating it through reading and writing for almost twenty years and still feel the old clinging dirt of wanting to deal so with God that I may contribute something so that He will give me His grace in exchange for my holiness. Still I cannot get it into my head that I should surrender myself completely to sheer grace. 

Yet I know that this is what I should and must do.”  

– Excerpted and edited from Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians

The A-to-Z of the Christian Life

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“The gospel shows us that our spiritual problem lies not only in failing to obey God, but also in relying on our obedience to make us fully acceptable to God, ourselves and others.

Every kind of character flaw comes from this natural impulse to be our own savior through our performance and achievement. On the one hand, proud and disdainful personalities come from basing your identity on your performance and thinking you are succeeding. But on the other hand, discouraged and self-loathing personalities also come from basing your identity on your performance and thinking you are failing.

Belief in the gospel is not just the way to enter the kingdom of God; it is the way to address every obstacle and grow in every aspect. The gospel is not just the “ABCs” but the “A-to-Z” of the Christian life.

The gospel is the way that anything is renewed and transformed by Christ — whether a heart, a relationship, a church, or a community. All our problems come from a lack of orientation to the gospel. Put positively, the gospel transforms our hearts, our thinking and our approach to absolutely everything.”

– Timothy Keller

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