Thoughts

Dan Kimball recently posted on his blog about doctrine. You can read it here.

But it got me thinking, so I thought I would go ahead an post my comment to his blog here as well.

Your post got me thinking . . .
The church has latched on to doctrines rather than commands . . . hmmm.

If we have the "right doctrines," we no longer have to preserve the unity of the church (universal--Eph 4:3) . . . We have a license to be critical . . . We no longer have to walk in love (greatest and second greatest command).

What is the differences between doctrines and commands?
Doctrines are to be understood.
Commands are to be lived.

Both are important, but I would argue commands clearly have the emphasis of the scriptures.

In the name of "doctrine" I fear many have taken a pass on God's clear commands. I wonder which God thinks is more important?

(At the same time, Dan, you do a good job pointing out that one of God's commands is to watch our doctrine).

Know the Shepherd

As I read John 10 this morning, a few things hit me.

1) I never noticed before that John 10 were words in response to John 9 where Jesus was getting into it with the Pharisees about their blindness after he healed the blind man. In that light, emphasis here is placed on knowing and recognizing the Shepherd (Jesus) who loves his flock.

2) Here Jesus says he came that they may have life, and have it to the full. One of these days I should start a list of all the ways knowing Jesus has brought life to the full.

3) Verse 38 is interesting, "even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father." Here we see avenues of belief about Jesus. Belief in his works, which leads to belief in who he is in relationship to the Father. I think you have to start with living out your faith no matter how small to find more faith.

Mud

I think it is interesting that Jesus uses mud to heal the blind man in John 9. He could do it any way he wants, and do it with nothing. Yet he smears mud on the guys eyes. Why mud? It wasn't the mud that healed the guy, it was God. Yet Jesus used mud?

Any thoughts?

A comment

So I was responding to a comment by my friend Marta on my blog, and I ended up writing so much I thought I would just make it a post. Here is her question and my response. Maybe you are interested as well.

My question is: which Brian McLaren book is your favorite? In other words, if I only think I have time to read one, which one should I read? Also, did you like Velvet Elvis?

Thanks for helping out this non-speed reading, busy, blogging, mom. :-)

That is a hard question . . . I guess it depends on what you are looking for, let me recommend a few.

Read New Kind of Christian if you are interested in understanding the big picture shift from modernism to postmodernism and all that goes with it.

Read the Story We Find Ourselves In if you want to get a big picture view of the story of the Bible.

The Last Word and the Word After That (though this shouldn't be the first book you read of his) it might help if you are troubled by the way some Christians use "hell."

A Generous Othodoxy if you are interested in exploring Theology that tries to take the treasures from all sects of Christianity, and learn from them.

His newest book, Secret Message of Jesus focuses on the Kingdom of God.

More ready than you realize if you are interested in evangelism.

And there are several others, but those are my favorites. The first three books I mentioned are a trilogy, written with fictional characters. Those are a great read . . . So I guess a New Kind of Christian would be a good start.

You could also pick a topic you are interested in and start there. Do I want Chicken, do I want Steak, fish? They are all good, what am I in the mood for? I guess just order up and enjoy the meal. =)

I did like Velvet Elvis. If you have seen his nooma videos, you have already read part of the book. It is an easy read, but good. I think his opening analogy is really worth the price of the book.

He talks about the need to paint and repaint the Christian faith. Imagine a master painter finishing his master piece, would he call out to all artist everywhere, "Attention artists! It is done you may put your paint brushes down never to pick them up again because I have finished the master piece. No one every needs to paint again." absurd. There is a need to continue painting and repainting. With that thought, he says that he sees the need to continue to repaint the Christian faith. Not that he is saying anything new (in his book), but it is an important part of our faith. To paint and repaint, not settling on someone having the final word on matters of faith and God.

I thought that was a good analogy.

Hope that helps.

Upside Down

Jesus always seems to amaze me. In John 8 after showing great grace and love to a women caught in adultery (who the crowds wanted to stone), Jesus enters into a conversation with the Jews. In this conversation he basically says that this group of Jews are children of the devil. Those are pretty strong words. I guess what amazes me about Jesus (one thing) is how compassionate he is to "sinners," and how hard he is on the religious who have gone astray in there thinking and actions. He said enough that by the end of the conversation the Jews wanted to kill him.

Doing Good

In John 7 Jesus is talking about just how crazy the pharisees are (my paraphrase). The people where angery with Jesus healing people on the sabbath, and Jesus rebuked them, showing how they are inconsistent in there approach to the law. When Jesus healed he was doing a greater good (and not actually breaking the law).

It seems like the higher calling that Jesus lived by was love.

It seems like living in the way of Jesus isn't as complicated as it might seem. We must simply love God and love others. I think sometimes we try to make things more complicated because we are not very good at those things.

With Just a Little

John 6 talks about how Jesus fed five thousand people. There are lots of things I like about this chapter, but today one things sticks out. Jesus could have produced food out of thin air, but he used what a boy offered to him (five small loaves and two small fish). Why do I like this so much?
--Kids were looked down on . . . Jesus elevates those that the world casts aside.
--The boy didn't have much, but gave all he had to Jesus . . . Jesus used that to do a great work. I think this is what the kingdom is like, none of us possesses much, but if we give what we have to God He can do a great work out of it.

Again later in the chapter we see great focus on receiving eternal life. Only one thing, vs 40, "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." That it is present tense. Eternal life is to be had and lived now, in fact the additional reference to the "last day" makes it sound like the emphasis of eternal life is now, not later. A state of living through belief in Christ. It doesn't seem like Jesus is talking about going on and on forever when you die here, but living in a way that brings life to the full.

Done

So this spring I built a fence/gate/arbor so that my dog could have a dog run, and not destroy the rest of my yard, and so that my honeysuckle plants would have somewhere to grow.

I've got to admit I am pretty proud of it, since I made it all from scratch, and bought the exact right amount of wood, down to the last piece. I know it is not that impressive, but I like it.

Water

What does Jesus have to offer (John 4)? A drink of water that will quench your thirst forever. This water becomes a spring inside of you that bubbles over giving "life to the full" forever (eternal life).

Why do I follow Jesus?

Because this has been true in my life. You don't need to find the Holy Grail to have life, you simply need to follow and live in the way of Jesus.

Life

What a week! A week ago Sunday I had the honor of baptizing the newest addition to our church family. 2 Months ago they were homeless, living on the streets, with no money, and nothing but a car. In the last 2 months, through the Holy Spirit working through our church and Bridgetown ministries and their hearts, they gave their lives to Jesus, became a part of our church family, got an apartment, everything they need for the apartment was given to them, they both got jobs, they got baptized, last Wednesday they got married, they go back to Bridgetown to love, serve, and share their faith!

Last week I also got to attend a missions pastors retreat. I think the average age was about twice my age (no joke), but I really enjoyed it. Had some great conversations with people, built some great relationships, and got a deeper vision for what got can do through churches seeking to engage the world.

I drove straight from there to speak at the High School beach retreat, with 180 ministries where Brian Eberly is the pastor, and Aaron Geist is also in ministry. Had a great time. Left late Saturday night, got back home to lead worship, teach adult ed, and do college group that night. I am wiped.

Today is crazy though. It is my last day to live life in my 20's. Kind of a weird thought. Tomorrow I will be 30. The age that Jesus began his earthly ministry. That is another weird thought. Jesus did all that he did as a young man (I know my wife says I am old, but I am still young).

Anyway it has been a great week, and I am just preparing myself to step into the next decade of my life.

Nick

Something I never noticed before. In Jesus conversation with Nicodemus in John 3. The conversation about being "born again" (a metaphor for belief) revolves around seeing and entering into the kingdom.

So even in John's gospel with this well know passage about being "born again", and the passage that John 3:16 is written. The goal is seeing and entering into the kingdom of God. The way a person does that is through faith. Faith opens the door to the kingdom. Faith opens the door to eternal life (read life to the full . . . John uses this as something here and now in the world with implications throughout eternity). vs.15 "That everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."

So I guess it would be pretty accurate to say that the goal isn't to be "born again," the goal is to see and enter the kingdom of God.

The Guild

Check out The Guild. A few of my friends have gotten together to write on different topics of interest. The current subject is mission(s). I just posted my thoughts if you are interested.

Wine

Jesus first miracle was to make wine out of water. Just a few observations from the text.

1) I think it is significant that Jesus first miracle was to make wine (apparently so did John). Jesus liked to party! He like to hang out at parties. There is some aspect of the kingdom of God that involves a party . . . At least the spirit of a party.

2) Jesus didn't just turn a little water into wine . . . It says he made approximately 150 gallons of wine!!! This is after the wine they had purchased ran out! Some party! Of course we know Jesus never got drunk, but I can understand how he got the reputation of being a "drunkard."

3) He made awesome wine! We at least know it was the best wine served that night.

4) Finally, John's gospel deals with belief. It is why he wrote the Gospel, "that you might believe." Belief is an important aspect of the kingdom of God. That we believe in Jesus. Up until this miracle the disciples must have had some faith in Jesus . . . At least enough to follow him. Just at the end of this party, it says, "He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him." This was the beginning of a deeper faith that the disciples had in Jesus.