The Bored and the Stagnant: Recipe for Church Problems

May 22, 2013

Rhodes Davis Bible, Godliness, Worship Comments Off

The Bored

Some Christians always seem to desire something different in the worship or work of the church. They think that change will reinvigorate them or make things better. They seek new cars, houses, jobs, and possessions to fix their boredom and discontent. They feel their marriage is dead so they seek illicit affairs or divorce to find a new spouse. Yet change eventually settles into a new reality and the old boredom and discontent returns because they treated the symptoms and not the root problem.

People do not seek to change things that are effective and fulfilling. It is no surprise that some people feel that the worship is dead, the church is dead, and that we are going through the motions, boring each other to death, with some self-satisfaction that we have done God’s will. When someone reads a popular religious book extolling the value of a new way of operating the church, worshiping, doing God’s work, or introducing practices that were considered long forgotten, it is no surprise when they feel that they have found the magic cure.

If some would look into their own heart they might see if that they are lacking in love, commitment, or total dedication to God in their lives and are looking for a “worship experience” or something in the church—the externals—to fill what should be filled from within. Some are very shallow in their faith, it is a part of their life and not life itself, so they are very sensitive to worship or the church not satisfying their needs and become restless. Some are looking for an experience instead of building a complete life in God.

The Stagnant

Some reading the section above may nod approvingly and with disdain upon such brethren. Do not be quick to judge the dissatisfied and look down on their instability because it may be that we have settled for less than offering the best to God in worship and in the work of the church. Some people are quite content to the point of stagnation:

  • Why do we need to learn new songs? Aren’t the old ones good enough?
  • Why did that brother spend so much time talking before the Lord’s Supper? Doesn’t he know we just need to pray and pass the plates?
  • Why did the song leader sing more than five songs? Doesn’t he know we have lunch waiting?
  • Why are the elders and preachers urging us to practice hospitality, doing things with one another, and serving those in need?

Some are satisfied with continual dry worship and inactivity as a church—it fits their life. Like the person who seeks innovations in worship and the work of the church, if some who settle for less than the best would look into their own heart they might see if that they are lacking in love, commitment, or total dedication to God in their lives and, instead of looking for a “worship experience,” they want to fulfill their duty or commitment and get on with their lives.

Like the innovator, some are very shallow in their faith, it is a part of their life and not life itself, so they are content to come to services, mumble their songs, respectfully bow in prayer, look attentive to most of the sermon (with a couple of naps), and feel that they have been faithful in their duty and return to a life that mostly revolves around their needs, not God’s work.

This was a problem in the Old Testament. Consider the cries of the shepherd prophet Amos:
Amos 4:4-5:

4“Come to Bethel, and transgress;
to Gilgal, and multiply transgression;
bring your sacrifices every morning,
your tithes every three days;
5 offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened,
and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them;
for so you love to do, O people of Israel!”
declares the Lord God.

The people were coming to the places of worship but offer worship but multiplied transgressions for their own satisfaction, not to God’s glory. They enjoyed it but God did not.

Amos 5:21-24:

21“I hate, I despise your feasts,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,
I will not look upon them.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

God hated (twice emphasized) their feasts and would not accept them just because they were offered. He was not satisfied with motions or emotion. He wanted the selfless worship of holy people.

Malachi 1:6-10: If you follow the link to the passage in Malachi you will find a condemnation of the people who did not offer the best. God wished that they would lock the doors and not waste their time and His.

Can we not live in ease in Zion?

Amos 6:3-7: Follow this link to Amos 6. The children of God were in luxurious ease, amusing themselves with idle music and feeding their faces when work needed to be done. If Amos were to come among brethren today would he sound a similar alarm? Stretching out on our couches and easy chairs, eating the bounty of our pantry and refrigerator, watching television, playing on the Internet, investing countless hours in our hobbies and earthly activities until the calendar and the clock tell us, it is the appointed time to serve God. We search the house and car for the Bible and class book, go to the building and find our regular seat, go through the motions of worship, and returned to our regularly scheduled program.

I’m not saying that is true of you, but you had better make sure that it is not true of you and I have to make sure it is not true of me because to paraphrase the words of God to Amos and Malachi said He would rather the doors of the church be locked so that we would not waste our time or His on vain worship that He hates and noisy songs that do not honor Him.

We do not need innovations, we need to do what God commands. Our worship must be done decently and in order, 1 Corinthians 14:40. Our worship must be offered with zeal and enthusiasm. We must live holy and dedicated lives devoted to serving God and not our own needs and comforts.

We must live and worship in the spirit of the New Testament Christians

  • Acts 2:42-47 – Devoted to God’s word, devoted to supporting one another spiritually and materially, Sacrificed possessions to take care of each other, Daily worship, Thankful to God
  • Acts 4:32-34 – United in heart and soul, Forsook a claim on material possessions preferring to meet the needs of their brethren. They enthusiastically preached the gospel even amidst persecution.
  • Acts 5:42, 6:7 – They enthusiastically taught the gospel.
  • Acts 8:4 – those scattered from the persecution preached.
  • Acts 11:19-25 – Passion for the gospel led to growth.
  • Acts 13:2-3 – Sent preachers into foreign places.
  • Acts 17:6 – their teaching turned the world upside down.
  • They helped brethren in need in faraway places as churches and individuals
    • Acts 11:27-30 – Judean famine
    • 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 – Giving of themselves then of their wealth

They rejected the immorality of the world, repented of their wickedness, and tried to live pure and holy lives, Titus 2:11-14. They encouraged one another to live holy lives. They were united. They enthusiastically preached the gospel to others and sent messengers throughout the world. They willingly sacrificed what they had to relieve the need and suffering of their brethren. They did all of this without formal programs or man-made organizations: They fervently loved God and one another and it was expressed in their teaching and practice.

The brethren continued these practices as recorded by early writings. Let us reflect on their example coupled with what we have already read from the scriptures. Consider this testimony of the early church from Aristides – delivered the Apology around the year 125, when Hadrian visited Athens

Apology SectionXV. Wherefore they do not commit adultery nor fornication, nor bear false witness, nor embezzle what is held in pledge, nor covet what is not theirs. They honour father and mother, and show kindness to those near to them; and whenever they are judges, they judge uprightly. They do not worship idols (made) in the image of man; and whatsoever they would not that others should do unto them, they do not to others; and of the food which is consecrated to idols they do not eat, for they are pure. And their oppressors they appease (lit: comfort) and make them their friends; they do good to their enemies; and their women, O King, are pure as virgins, and their daughters are modest; and their men keep themselves from every unlawful union and from all uncleanness, in the hope of a recompense to come in the other world. Further, if one or other of them have bondmen and bondwomen or children, through love towards them they persuade them to become Christians, and when they have done so, they call them brethren without distinction. They do not worship strange gods, and they go their way in all modesty and cheerfulness. Falsehood is not found among them; and they love one another, and from widows they do not turn away their esteem; and they deliver the orphan from him who treats him harshly. And he, who has, gives to him who has not, without boasting. And when they see a stranger, they take him in to their homes and rejoice over him as a very brother; for they do not call them brethren after the flesh, but brethren after the spirit and in God. And whenever one of their poor passes from the world, each one of them according to his ability gives heed to him and carefully sees to his burial. And if they hear that one of their number is imprisoned or afflicted on account of the name of their Messiah, all of them anxiously minister to his necessity, and if it is possible to redeem him they set him free. And if there is among them any that is poor and needy, and if they have no spare food, they fast two or three days in order to supply to the needy their lack of food.; and they escort his body as if he were setting out from one place to another near. And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who has passed through the world without sins. And further if they see that any one of them dies in his ungodliness or in his sins, for him they grieve bitterly, and sorrow as for one who goes to meet his doom.

I have been both the bored and the stagnant in my life and don’t want to go there again. If we are living and worshiping as we ought, we will not become bored and discontent and become susceptible to any innovation or cure that is offered.

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Reclaiming Time – Changes in Godly Youth

May 17, 2013

Rhodes Davis Choices, News Comments Off

I want to thank all visitors for Godly Youth over the years. This has been a work of love that started as a newsletter for kids who attended church with me and for my very young relatives. WordPress has allowed me to expand the audience for these thoughts worldwide and I have been humbled by the comments I receive on its impact in certain people’s lives.

My only goal for this blog was to share some thoughts from my study of God’s word that would help young people and the young at heart. I have never claimed infallibility. I simply write about the things important to me that I think will be useful for others based on what I have studied. I am sure that I will disagree with myself on some of these topics at some future point as I am always studying and growing. I am quite sure that many of my readers will disagree with things I have posted as I disagree with some things I read on other blogs. I think it is a good practice to read things with which you disagree so you can get another point of view and refine your own understanding of God’s word.

Over the years I have tried to grow the audience through “common blogging wisdom” of the Internet sages. For a brief time I tried blogging every day. I felt the posts were weak and the work was time intensive. I’ve done some other things with varying levels of success. I then came back to what was important: letting the blog serve my objectives and not becoming a slave to the blog. I have a very good traffic flow for which I am happy. However, I am not going to be enslaved to growth and traffic. I am going to simply post articles when I wish (though it may be every day or weeks separating posts) but try to make them more substantive. I am going to add more study materials to help people in their studies. And, of course, post articles to encourage the young to live faithfully.

A few weeks ago I made a decision to make some drastic changes to the blog:

  1. I am terminating the Godly Youth twitter account. I will still post links to my personal Twitter account @rhodesdavis and you can follow me from links on this blog. I also have a Godly Youth Facebook page where I post links.
  2. I am turning off the comment feature and hiding prior comments. Turning off the prior comments will clean up the appearance of the site and minimize confusion that a new visitor might have when they see comments but cannot comment. I have received some good feedback over the years and had some good conversations. I get a lot of spam that must be managed (even though WordPress suppresses a lot of it) and it takes up a lot of my time. I remember Leo Babauta doing this on his blog and his sentiments parallel with mine. Perhaps when life slows down I might change this but I need to focus more on the creation process. If you agree or disagree with what I have written feel free to link the article and praise or slay away. That is the beauty of the Internet–you can point to something I have written and write a detailed description of what an idiot you think I am. That’s fine with me. You can comment on the Godly Youth Facebook page as well. With the Internet, there are many ways you can respond or expound on your view–it’s beautiful.
  3. Write when it improves the silence. As mentioned above, I am only going to post when I feel I have something useful to contribute or want to speak about something important to me. I’m not going to try to find things to write about or adhere to a strict posting schedule. This may mean a big gap between posts but I hope when they arrive, they are useful to you.
  4. Consolidate posts. I am going to consolidate some of the earlier posts into more useful concise posts or more useful formats. This should improve searching and the usefulness of some of the earlier writings.

Again, I want to thank you those who visit and follow the blog and I hope these changes help me provide more useful and thought provoking content in the future. In addition, I have some other projects in the works that I hope to announce by the Fall that will provide some focused attention to spiritual development. Of course, it will be announced here.

Is God’s Plan For Your Life a Blueprint or a Game Plan?

May 16, 2013

Rhodes Davis Bible, Choices, Knowing God Comments Off

In the modern religious world it seems almost heretical to think that God doesn’t have a specific plan for each person (by specific plan I mean that He has planned details of our lives). In everyday conversation and on social media, people attribute events in their life to the specific fulfillment of God’s plans and comfort themselves regarding tragedy considering it was sent by God for a purpose and was not mere chance. Some people anguish trying to discover God’s will for their lives or wonder why God’s plan is bringing them such trials and sorrows. Some interpret many events or Bible passages as signs or messages from God guiding them on this supposed road-map.

What does the Bible say about God’s plans and our lives?

God Had Specific Plans For Some People

Before we study the issue we must make it clear by stating that God did have specific plans for some people in history. The Old and New Testament are filled with people whom God used to accomplish His will. Using words like “I have chosen you” or “you have been appointed” He describes plans for people like Moses, Pharaoh, David, John the Baptist, and Paul (among others) to accomplish specific objectives. He even used nations to accomplish His purposes. Even within these exceptions most, like Pharaoh, He used for a limited purpose and there is not mention of further plans for them outside of that defined need.

Also, with the nations, Pharaoh, and the Jews who killed Jesus God used their evil motives and personal ambitions to accomplish His purposes. He accomplished His will in spite of their wickedness or disobedience. With others, like the apostle Paul, the plans were not obvious or revealed to them even though they spoke other things by inspiration (see also the future of Peter and John in John 21:20-25). God, as sovereign ruler, can use His creation as He wills to accomplish His purposes, Romans 9. But a distinction needs to be made between a specific detailed plan for their whole life or a specific plan for a part of their life that moves His master plan forward. In other words, just because God had a plan for Pharaoh during the time of Israel’s bondage and their release does not mean that He had a continuing specific plan for Pharaoh once Israel left Egypt.

Gameplan

Blueprint or Game Plan?

When thinking of God’s plans in our lives, I think Don Truex explained the two approaches best in an excellent sermon asking if God has a blueprint for our life or a game plan. A blueprint is a specific detailed plan with a defined outcome. There is no room for choice because if you diverge from the blueprint you can’t build what was designed. A game plan, by contrast, is a general approach or strategy that allows a lot of flexibility for choice and many possible outcomes that are in harmony with the general objective. As Brother Truex notes, “with blueprints, there is no ‘Plan B’.”

Discovering the Blueprint

The crux of the problem is revealed when we try to discover God’s plan for us. God’s word was written to a universal audience so I find passages that apply to me but not only to me. My name is not listed in scripture with a unique plan for my life. Therefore, if God has a blueprint for our lives,  His will must be revealed outside of scripture. The central problem is that we have no guidance in the New Testament on what signs to look for in our lives, how to tune into the messages of God, or how to discern what is a message from God pointing down one path or from Satan leading me down another path. We have no scriptures telling us that God speaks through feelings, promptings, or a sense of peace to direct our decisions as He navigates us through life. We are not told to expect the leading of the Holy Spirit or instructions on how to discern it. Yet many Christians interpret (and that is the key: they interpret) events and feelings as indications from God that He wants them to take a certain action, make a decision, or is satisfied with their choice. Some have called this the “third revelation.”

Though foreign to the New Testament, this “third revelation” is described as God’s leading through emotions, impulses, and “speaking to/putting upon your heart” to fulfill God’s specific plan for your life. This is idea, rooted in mysticism,  is popular in Christian bookstores, but is foreign to God’s word. Though a former believer in this idea, Reformed writer Gary Gilley, in an enlightening podcast answers biblical arguments offered in support of God’s inner leading and the absence of  Bible instruction about  listening for God’s voice in our heart or how to detect His prompting. He also addresses what proponents do not: why is the “prompting” not considered binding or obligatorily and disobedience considered a sin?

The last question is quite important because if God does have a blueprint, what if we ignore it or choose another path? Proponents argue that many of the choices are not moral choices but are lifestyle choices (should I choose this job or that or live in this city or that) but if God is giving us signals that we should live in Atlanta but we choose to live in Tampa, why would we not be rebellious sinners for circumventing His plan? Any divergence from the plan means we cannot build exactly what God planned! Will God then force us to do His will and take away our free will? I think it might surprise some who teach that predestination is not taught in scripture to realize that they are contradicting their view of man’s free will by promoting the blueprint concept.  When we talk of people that God has planned for us to marry, jobs He has planned for us to have, etc. we are promoting this blueprint concept whether we have realized the implications or not.

Discovering the Game Plan

If we understand that the Bible does not have a specific plan for a mate, job, place to live, or the minute details of life we understand that God could still have a general plan for us to follow. We are faced with the same dilemma described above: discovering the plan. Since this plan is not “personalized” we are given general direction and boundaries and the flexibility to choose within those boundaries. The New Testament is filled with general guidance for the Christian to be holy in his life, edify his brethren, be a light in the world, abstain from immorality, teach the lost, etc. These commands and expectations are bound on all Christians. Some specific life decisions that blueprint followers look for feelings or impressions from God to guide them,  game plan followers look to the principles of scripture to guide their judgment. Consider these examples:

  • How much should I give to the contribution? Whatever you determine is appropriate, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.
  • Who should I marry? Whoever you want to as long as they have a scriptural right to marry, 1 Corinthians 7.

In a book I highly recommend, Is that You, Lord?, Gary Gilley listed several decisions of Paul in his missionary planning and travel that were not attributed to God “laying something on his heart” or some prompting but were completely Paul’s discretion: Titus 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2; Philippians 2:25, 1 Corinthians 16:3-4.

To find the game plan, we study the New Testament instructions for all Christians. We follow general plans such as Titus 2:11-14:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

The challenge here is not to try to find God’s will through some mystical and mysterious promptings but to submit our will and our desires to the will and desires of God expressed in His word.

My View: God’s Game Plan

We understand that “all things work together for good for those that love God” (Romans 8:28). It is not for us to figure out what He is doing through His providence, but to obey His will so He can accomplish His purposes through us. Instead of wondering where God wants me to live or what job H wants me to take, I must make those choices using wisdom taught by God’s word and in whatever city I choose to live and what career I pursue, live to His glory. God can use me where I am even though He has left the decision making to me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) ESV

Instead of attributing events to the direct hand of God, I take the Mordecai attitude of “PERHAPS you were brought here for a reason” because PERHAPS it was just chance but you can use the opportunity to serve God. Unless God explicitly reveals His actions, I feel it is presumptuous of me to say “God did THIS.” Give glory to God that whether by chance or His purpose, the action took place but in humility remember that “His ways are past finding out.”

To take the game plan view, we realize that God has given us boundaries in which to act, guidance on decision making, authority to make choices in our lives, consequences for our choices, and acts providentially to take care of us and make all things to work together for our good. It does not diminish His role in our lives but recognizes that God has a role and has created a role for us to accomplish His will. I do not have to anguish that I may have married the wrong person, lived in the wrong place, chosen the wrong career, or messed up other choices because I wasn’t in tune with the vibrations of the Spirit or hearing the voice of God in my feelings or some signs. If I am obeying His will I am accomplishing His will.

Your View

Your view will largely depend on your view of predestination and free-will. However, there is confusion when people teach that God has given us free-will to act but then speak of trying to find God’s specific plan for our lives. Thinking through your view, based on what God’s word teaches, will help you be more consistent in how you think and how you speak.

Jeremiah 29:11 Is NOT A Promise For Christians

May 9, 2013

Rhodes Davis Bible, Choices Comments Off

flowersI see many Christians, young and old, discussing plans for the future or changes in their life using Jeremiah 29:11 as a verse of comfort that God has plans for a bright future for them. In one sense I am not surprised. The denominational world has emblazoned this verse on coffee mugs, shirts, motivational posters, and it is used by the positive psychology and health and wealth prosperity preachers in the popular religious culture. But I am also perplexed because we are supposed to be careful in our handling of the scriptures and reading from the scriptures instead of reading our beliefs into the scriptures. Consider the verse:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

Standing alone it does appear to be quite comforting. Though I may not know what life holds it appears that God has planned a bright future for me in which I can rejoice. Not only that, it appears that God has a personal plan for my life–different from His plans for others. I am no insignificant person; God has plans for me! But is this the message of this verse?

What Is The Message of Jeremiah 29?

The first indicator that this might not have application to the Christian is the location in scripture: the book of Jeremiah is in the Old Testament and he was a prophet to the Jews. There are some prophecies, such as Joel 2, that speak to the Christian age and many prophesies of the Messiah so further examination is needed to determine if this is for the Christians or the Jews. Let’s look at the broader context. I’ve included the text of Jeremiah 29:1-4 divided with notations (text from the English Standard Version):

These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.

For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

To whom was it written? Jeremiah is writing to the Jews taken by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonian Empire, from the land of Judah to live in the region of Babylon, verses 1 and 4. Nebuchadnezzar took Jews to Babylon in a series of captivities. Jeremiah was part of a group that was left in Jerusalem before it’s eventual destruction and the final deportation.  This is not written to those in “the latter days” or other ways that Christians are referenced in the prophets.

What was the message? From Jerusalem, the prophet instructs the early captives to settle in the land because they would not be delivered and returned to Judea for seventy years (According to Jeremiah 25 and 29:10). He urges them to build houses, plant produce, grow families, and be a blessing to their new communities. He tells them to ignore the false prophets who are preaching an early return to the Promised Land. Finally, he promises that at the end of the seventy years God would return them from the scattering of captivity to the Promised Land.

Plans for whom? So we return to our key passage: Jeremiah 29:11. The captivity and return were not unfortunate circumstances but were part of the plan of God for them. He planned destruction for Jerusalem, seventy years of exile for His people, and a glorious return to the land of Judah where they would rebuild their lives, the temple, and the nation. Thought they were suffering, God had plans for which they could hope if they sought Him with their whole heart.

Doesn’t make sense for the Christian! The immediate verse says that these plans will follow seventy years of Babylonian exile under which no Christian is suffering. The promise was already fulfilled when God visited the Jews, fulfilled His promise, and brought them back to this place (Jerusalem) as recorded in 2 Chronicles 36:17-23. God had specific plans for the captive Jews: care for them in exile and return to the Promised Land. Even the phrase “you will call upon me and pray to me” alludes to Daniel 9 where Daniel prays for deliverance knowing the seventy years are at an end and God answers with the comfort that the plan for their return to Jerusalem has been set in motion. [If you take the time to read 2 Chronicles 36 and Daniel 9 you will notice specific overlapping language with the text in Jeremiah 29]. It is illogical to take one thought out of a broader thought to apply to oneself and ignore the rest.

What about other verses? Strange that people do not take other prophets where God declared he had plans for their destruction and apply it to themselves. God told Israel of His plans for their punishment and destruction in many places but no one seems eager to take them out of context and apply them to their current situation. It is foolish to do it just because the verse says something we like.

The Christian cannot take this promise from the Jews for a specific outcome and apply it to their lives. Let us be careful when we quote passages thrown about in the religious world. The Christian has many promises of God’s care but this isn’t one of them.

5 Ways to Begin the Day With Spiritual Wisdom

May 7, 2013

Rhodes Davis Choices, Godliness Comments Off

Ralphs Boys at SunriseA morning spent in praise and prayer to God and meditating on godly thoughts can set a positive tone for the day. Most people live busy lives and email, phone calls, tasks, and the demands of others quickly fill our time. If we do not carve out time at the beginning of the day to meditate on spiritual things the physical demands of our world can quickly fill our attention and hours. It is often not the evil things that are are greatest problem but the “cares and concerns of the world” that distract us and can lead to our destruction (Matthew 13:22). It seems that when, as a song says, “wake the dawn with praises” we are able to focus our minds on what is most important and keep the challenges of the day in perspective.

Here are 5 good habits to start the day:

  1. Daily Bible Reading. There are many charts that have passages for daily Bible reading. I’ve often suggested Mark Robert’s plan. Don’t worry if it is not January 1st. Just check off each day as you work through the scriptures.  Another options is to read a chapter of Proverbs each day (31 chapters = 31 days). Perhaps devote a month to reading and re-reading a particular book. You do not need a specified format but simply dedication to regular reading.
  2. Bible Class Lesson. I’m not sure that some people realize this but a person does not have to do their Bible class lesson on the drive to the church building or in a frantic hour before leaving for class! Some lessons have daily Bible readings built into the lesson. You can also break the lesson up by questions to do each day or do the reading one day then review and do questions another day, etc. You will find yourself well prepared for Bible class with better questions to ask and points to share with the class.
  3. Wordpoints by Gary Henry. My wife and I have long used Gary Henry’s books Diligently Seeking God and Reaching Forward for morning devotions  with the kids before school. I find his web site Wordpoints a great way to start the day. The messages are brief, biblical, and thought provoking. You may find posts that you want to share with others that can open spiritual discussions. Gary also posts on Twitter.
  4. Around the Web. Jason Hardin posts links to ebook deals and encouraging spiritual articles on his Around the Web posts. I’ve picked up some great free Kindle ebooks and discovered other authors through these posts. He also posts links via Twitter  for Around the Web and his other writing.
  5. Build Your Own. I subscribe to WordPoints, InGodsImage, and other blogs through the Feedly RSS reader. As I find interesting blogs by individuals or on church web sites I subscribe to them in Feedly and browse through the articles using their very user friendly site. It is easy to drop blogs that dry up or no longer hold my interest and adding new blogs is easy. If you do this, please subscribe to GodlyYouth to receive new articles as they are published.

 

Well, Since We’re All Christians…Let Me Tell You This Joke

May 4, 2013

Rhodes Davis Choices, Godliness Comments Off

That was how my friend started his filthy joke. I guess since we were all Christians he thought he wouldn’t ruin his reputation. He felt justified in telling his brothers in Christ something that he wouldn’t tell his non-Christian friends. But this action did harm his reputation among the small audience. It demonstrated that he enjoyed that type of humor but, constrained by what he understood to be appropriate behavior for a Christian, he could only enjoy it himself of fellow Christian confidants. His conviction seemed to be with appearance, not dedication to holiness in God. The oldest of the group said, “Well, I am a Christian and I don’t appreciate that type of humor” to provide much needed correction.

It reminds me of a story of a man in a group who said, “Since there are no ladies present, let me tell you a joke.” Quickly a man arose and said, “There may be no ladies present but there is at least one gentleman and I’ll ask you to wait until I leave before telling your joke.” If you think this is not serious and that God really doesn’t care about such humor, consider Ephesians 5:4

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4 (ESV)

Christians must be Christians among Christians

We should not use our association together to let our guard down but to build each other up! Every act of holiness, meekness, helpfulness, love, compassion, and kindness should be amplified when Christians are together! It is so disappointing to hear of Christians treating their brethren with contempt, unkindness, or apathy. We get enough abuse in the world, the company of Christians should be our place of safety, rest, and building. Yet sometimes when we are among fellow Christians we allow such petty behavior and attitudes to exist as if our brotherhood allows such treatment. We forget that we are a body, under a single head, that is to work in unity and love for one another. Heed the warning of Galatians 5:14-15:

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Christians in the Family

We can see this in families as well. Among husbands and wives, parents and children, where there should be love and edification there is animosity, apathy, and abuse. It seems the attitude is “we are bound together as a family so no matter how I treat or ignore you, you are stuck with me.” Instead of enjoying the bond and building it through love, mutual respect, and edification, they demoralize and demean the others. In the physical family and the family of Christ, this should not be. If Christ commands us to “love our neighbor as ourselves,” do we have any closer neighbors than our spouse, parents, and siblings? I read a quote once that the household of the Christian should be such that even the dog feels blessed to be in it.

We should shine as lights into the dark world and demonstrate the holiness of Christ in our lives so that all will know we are Christians. Especially among fellow Christians.

Quit Sawing Spiritual Sawdust!

April 18, 2013

Rhodes Davis Choices, Depression, Godliness Comments Off

Our house has recently undergone a major transformation as we added living space for my mother-in-law. During the building a lot of lumber was cut which generated many piles of sawdust. The carpenters were careful to measure and check their measurements before cutting the wood because cutting wood is a permanent change. We even have phrases like “measure twice, cut once” to remind us of the permanence of our decision when we have cut the wood. You cannot rejoin the wood once it is cut. Even if you glue or otherwise join the wood, it will be shorter because of the wood lost in the kerf-the slot where the wood was cut. Some strength will be lost that would not be lost in the uncut lumber.

Sawdust is the bits of wood sawed away from the lumber (or the “work”). Sawdust is worthless for the building construction and it is often swept or vacuumed away. It is the waste product of the productive work of building. So if you came upon someone piling up sawdust and trying to saw it again, you would think they were crazy. You can’t saw sawdust. There is no value in the action and nothing good is produced.

Spiritual Sawdust*

However, many people waste a lot of time sawing spiritual sawdust. As I noted before, sawdust is a product of action and is a visual reminder of the cutting process. In a sense, sawdust is the “past” of the finished product. There was a piece of lumber, now it is two pieces of wood, and the sawdust is left behind as a reminder of the action of the process of separation.

Some people have made decisions (or failed to make a decision) then spend long periods of times reliving the decision, digging up the pain and memories, and will not let the past go. Instead of letting the decision stay in the past, the bring it back to the future and agonize over it again and again. The result of this effort is bitterness, misery, failure to forgive themselves and possibly others, regret, and self-reproach.  They can do nothing to change the past, nor can they “uncut the wood” to make things right. What can we do?

5 Steps To Dealing With The Past

  1. Accept it and own it. The past cannot be changed: it is part of the permanent record. When we get on a scale, the weight is not a reflection of what we intend to do in the future but choices we have made in the past. The attention to our diet, exercise, and other physical factors are reflected in the displayed weight. Wishing or regrets will not change the number. However, we can make different choices and those results will be displayed when we weigh again. What has happened is like the weight: you cannot affect it anymore.
  2. If needed, repent and ask for forgiveness. We may regret and ruminate over things that were poor decisions but not sinful. Perhaps you are beating yourself up because you didn’t finish college or you left a good job. Such actions do not demand repentance. However, some decisions you agonize over were also sinful rebellion against God. To move forward you need to ask God’s forgiveness. In Revelation 2:5, Jesus told the Ephesian church to repent and do the first works: the old habits of faithfulness that they gave up. 1 John 2:1 tells us that God is faithful to forgive our sins. If you are challenged with this, I urge you to read this post as well. It may be that you need to seek forgiveness from someone. Do so quickly so you can move on with life and know that you have tried to make amends for your offense.
  3. Learn from it. It does no good to ruminate over your regrets. However, take time to learn from your mistakes. Look at what you did and why you did it. What were the circumstances? What was your attitude that led to the choice? What can you do to avoid doing this again and create better outcomes in the future? You can take the power from Satan’s victories by turning them into victories for God when you create learning experiences to prevent future regrets.
  4. Let it go. The past does not hold onto you, you have the grip on it. You give it power to ruin the future. You give it power to hold you back and keep you down. If it was a sin and you asked God’s forgiveness, He no longer holds it against you. Learn from the past then let it go. You cannot undo the past but you can quit allowing the past to have power in the future.
  5. Create tomorrow’s fruits. Where you are today is the result of prior decisions. Where you will be tomorrow is a result of the choices you make today. You can change direction. The direction of the past does not have to determine the direction of your future. You can get on a different road, travel at a different speed, and choose new travelling companions. You can build on the foundations of the past or, if you are changing direction, build on its ruins. Plant good seeds today so you can eat good fruit tomorrow. Follow the wisdom of God’s word and build a great tomorrow, especially a heavenly eternal tomorrow, regardless of what you have done in the past.

*I can’t remember where I heard the illustration of trying to saw sawdust. It is not original to me.

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