Category: Gospel and Culture

Our Poverty in this Year’s Christmas

As the holidays approach, many of us are increasingly aware of our budget limitations. We nod at the hope Retailers offer through early bird incentives, knowing its just not enough for Christmas this year. There’s an acute national sense that we just won’t be able to give as many Christmas gifts (or as expensive ones) this year. My family is drawing names to give one gift to a family member instead of showering one another with gifts from everyone this year.

Giving the Gospel to the Poor

But wait a minute. This isn’t what Christmas is about at all. Spending lots of money one another in order to have lots of things we don’t need. The original Christmas was quite the opposite. In Christmas, God poured out his deepest wealth to those of neediest poverty. He brought the gospel to the poor. Jesus’ birth was prophesied, delivered, and honored by the poor (Luke 1-3). When he was grown, baptized and ready to begin his ministry, he announced that his greatest gift, the gospel, would be for the poor. How did we get so far away from the actual gift of Christmas and its intended recipients?

Jesus was sent and anointed by the Holy Spirit to “preach the good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18-19). Following this tremendous sermon, Jesus immediately began to care for the poor (a word that head several lists of marginalized people in Luke). He came to preach and to prove the gospel to the socially marginalized: a mentally ill/demon possessed man and Peter’s mother-in-law who had a high fever. The Gospels chronicle Jesus’ joint ministry of preaching and proving the gospel, of announcing the age of salvation and accomplishing physical/spiritual salvation among the marginalized. But was this call unique to Jesus? Must all Christians care for the poor? Is it the responsibility of the Church or individuals?

Tim Keller’s article “The Gospel and the Poor” is tremendously helpful in addressing these and many other questions about ministry to the poor. Consider the following excerpts:

Must all Christians Care for the Poor?

The principle: a sensitive social conscience and a life poured out in deeds of service to the needy is the inevitable outcome of true faith. By deeds of service, God can judge true love of himself from lip-service (cf. Isa 1:10–17). Matt 25, in which Jesus identifies himself with the poor (“as you did it to the least of them, you did it to me”) can be compared to Prov 14:31 and 19:17, in which we are told that to be gracious to the poor is to lend to God himself and to trample on the poor is to trample on God himself.

Are the Poor the Responsibility of the Church or Within the Church?

God gave Israel many laws of social responsibility that were to be carried out corporately. The covenant community was obligated to give to the poor member until his need was gone (Deut 15:8–10). Tithes went to the poor (Deut 14:28–29). The poor were not to be given simply a “handout,” but tools, grain (Deut 15:12–15), and land (Lev 25) so that they could become productive and self-sufficient. Later, the prophets condemned Israel’s insensitivity to the poor as covenant-breaking. They taught that materialism and ignoring the poor are sins as repugnant as idolatry and adultery (Amos 2:6–7). Mercy to the poor is an evidence of true heart-commitment to God (Isa l:10–17; 58:6–7; Amos 4:1–6; 5:21–24). The great accumulation of wealth, “adding of house to house and field to field till no space is left” (Isa 5:8–9), even though it is by legal means, may be sinful if the rich are proud and callous toward the poor (Isa 3:16–26; Amos 6:4–7). The seventy-year exile itself was a punishment for the unobserved Sabbath and jubilee years (2 Chron 36:20–21). In these years the well-to-do were to cancel debts, but the wealthy refused to do this.

But that was Israel. What about the church? The church reflects the social righteousness of the old covenant community, but with the greater vigor and power of the new age. Christians too are called are to open their hand to the needy as far as there is need (1 John 3:16–17; cf. Deut 15:7–8). Within the church, wealth is to be shared very generously between rich and poor (2 Cor 8:13–15; cf. Lev 25). Following the prophets, the apostles teach that true faith will inevitably show itself through deeds of mercy (Jas 2:1–23). Materialism is still a grievous sin (Jas 5:1–6; 1 Tim 6:17–19). Not only do individual believers have these responsibilities, but a special class of officers–deacons–is established to coordinate the church’s ministry of mercy.

What to Give for Christmas

The Gospel shows us that God gave the most expensive gift to the least likely recipients. It reminds us that God poured out his deepest wealth to those who had very little. When we miss this, we become the poor, those who mistake many gifts for the meaning of Christmas. God calls both the individual and church to Christlike love and generosity. How can you recover the meaning of Christmas this season? Instead of hunting for early bird specials, look out for the poor, the marginalized. And don’t just give them materialism. Give the gospel hope that lasts well beyond the latest fashion and fading Disney toys.

Redeeming Marriage Blogging

Bruce Wesley is kicking off Redeeming Marriage with his first talk “How Marriage Works”. Laying a biblical foundation from Genesis for marriage with insight. For most this will guide the way, however some will need more help from sites like https://auritmediation.com/divorce-in-az/ and that is perfectly fine if you have exhausted all the Godly actions available to you.

  • “They were naked and unashamed.” God’s intention for marriage is that we can be completely known and unconditionally accepted.
  • Sin is Grade A selfishness. It refuses to believe that God knows what is best and insists in our own version of “best”.
  • What we need most is not a more vibrant sexual life in marriage, more spiritual intimacy, better job. What we need most is redemption.
  • Redemption not only forgives us for our selfishness but redirects us for serving our spouse.
  • Love is constant, mutual awareness.

“Tear Down this Wall to Build your Marriage”

  • A wall of static in a marriage is created when life becomes so busy that spouses “don’t talk like they use to.”
  • Forgiven people should be forgiving people.
  • Forgiveness is free & trust is earned.
  • Your anger is your anger.
  • Use your words to give life to your spouse. Build them up, encourage them. Dont tear them down.

Fights Worth Fighting

Marital Sanctity

  • Dont ride in cars alone with members of the other sex
  • Dont have deep soul conversations with members of other sex
  • Dont counsel with the door closed
  • Dont discuss deep issues of your marriage with members of other sex
  • Affair Progression: Show attn/Express consideration/express empathy/accidental touch/response/private communication/sex

Training Elders (or Centrist Masculinity)

As I’m training our current elder candidates, I’ve been significantly encouraged and sharpened by their response to the calling and qualifications of godly eldership. We’re using Strauch’s Biblical Eldership and Bob Thune’s adapted, gospel influenced Study Guide (forthcoming) as a general guide to our training. While these tools are certainly helpful, what has been most significant is gathering with men who care about the deep things of life. As we meet, we’re collectively cultivating a centrist manliness that is neither hyper-masculine nor hyper-feminine but deeply biblical and Jesus-shaped. I sense a “third view” of evangelical manliness emerging from our discussions. Here are few highlights from our time so far.

Gravity and Joy in the Call

Our very first meeting was marked with a gravity and earnestness about being deep men, husbands, and fathers. We went around the table and shared our fears and hopes about the call of elder. I was struck by how seriously these men weighed the call and how personally they embraced the process. Regardless of the outcome, we all agreed that this process would make us better human beings, men, and leaders for our families and church. This really set the tone for a training that is deeply relational not merely theological. This tone has carried over into all our discussions. We leave each 6-7:30am time challenged, inspired, and often changed. I take notes throughout.

Centrist Masculinity Clears Away the Cultural Noise

Our most recent discussion revolved around male eldership and essential masculinity. While we debated both liberal and conservative readings of a host of biblical texts, the real traction began when we considered what an elder who treats (not just sees) women and dignified equals. What would it look like in a church for men to not just affirm masculinity in theory but for them to lead and care for women and children around them? How would it change social interaction, leadership, teaching, City Groups, Fight Clubs, and family life? We are challenging one another to a centrist manliness that flows from a deep conviction about how God has made us and a personal commitment to relate to others out of profound love, grace, and godliness.

Before this can truly happen, we observed that men need to clear away a lot of confusing cultural noise regarding how we interact with women so that we can relate to them as people made in God’s image who deserve godly, genuine attention not social disinterest or general disregard. We identified a few ways forward in cultivating deep, centrist masculinity.

  • Men need to toss aside the inequality of women depicted in objectified advertising, internet porn, and sex-saturated film.
  • Men need to cultivate a deep manliness that overflows in love and care for women through godly deportment and dignifying social interaction.
  • Men need to be dependently prayerful, profoundly Scripture saturated, Jesus formed, and others oriented.

Art Breeds Worship

There’s nothing like great art to inspire great creativity, awe, and joy. A recent art collector found $42.6 million worth of joy in a painting by Roy Lichtenstein (pictured right). What compels such an audacious purchase, such profound responses to the art we love?

Jonsi, Lyle Lovett & David Fincher

Awe-inspiring creativity is what I feel when I walk away from a Jonsi concert, a Lyle Lovett and his Large Band show, or watch a film like The Game, directed by David Fincher. In the case of Jonsi, the fusion of diverse instrumentation, unmatched vocals, and video imagery. With Lyle, a musicianship that pushes 14 other people up front to create a harmony and western swing that is both witty and jaw-dropping at once. With, Fincher’s films a storyline, cinematography and suspense that draw you into the plot refusing to let you go. Immense creativity, excellence, and talent gather at a the head of these artists’ respective mediums to inspire the viewer to create themselves, or, at the very least, to worship.

When Admiration Overflows

We might walk away adoring the talent, struck by such deep admiration that we can’t pry our fingers off of the personality. We end up adoring the artist so much that we overflow in joy and awe in conversations with others. “You have to see X live. They are so incredible.” There is certainly no replacement for a live performance of a great artist, but I doubt we would find their lives entirely admirable were we given a glimpse into all the decisions that led them to that stage, moment, or piece.

Art and Community

When our admiration overflows, where should it go? Some would say to the community, to people around us with whom we can share our joy. A joy shared is a joy doubled. We gather community around us to increase our effusive satisfaction in witnessing great art. A concert, a conversation after a movie, a book club. When admiration overflows it requires community, but when it overflows uncritically the admiration is offered unduly. Yes, unduly.

How Art Fails Us

The true object of admiration is not the art or the artist, though they should receive our respect and admiration for their creative works. What we find ourselves doing in this blessed act of admiration is reaching the shores of the Originator of what is good, beautiful, true, symmetrical, harmonious, and excellent. All too often we fall short of the shore, remaining content to ride the undulating sea of creativity and excellence until we encounter yet another peak into the originator of the good, true, and beautiful. We go from artistic experience to experience—a book, a film, a concert, another download—hungering for one more glimpse, one more shot of beauty, but as each shot fades we subtly realize that another artistic experience isn’t enough. Art fails us.

Made for More Than Art

We were made for more than art, more than admiring art. Art breeds worship. But worshiping the art/artist (we would rarely state it so boldly) does not consummate our joy. Art is meant, not to breed worship of itself but of its ultimate originator. Art breeds worship through its medium not to its medium. It graciously, wonderful guides us but can not open the human heart in admiration to God. Art breeds worship but should not receive worship. We were made for more than art.