Book Review - ADOPTED FOR LIFE

Adopted For Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches - Russell D. Moore

Let me start out by stating that this is a great book. This is the best discussion of either adopting a child or the doctrine of adoption that I have ever read. Russell Moore writes as a theologian, pastor, father of four children (two adopted), and adopted son of God; and he appears to fill each of these roles better than most men fill any one of them. Furthermore, each of these roles was crucial to his writing this excellent treatment of the subject.

First, this book fills a gap that has been left open for a long time: a wide market appeal to Christians for adopting because of our own adoption. I have heard others state similar claims, but until now, this information was scattered throughout my library of books and sermons in the form of random quotes and appeals. Moore offers a focused discussion that is just as useful for the seminary student as it is for potential parents. I will highly recommend this book to anyone considering adoption, discouraging adoption, or studying the theology of adoption.

Second, this book weaves theology, biography, and appeal into a wonderfully engaging read. The first half of the book is heavier on theology than the remainder, but the entire book reads like an enjoyable discussion one might have over coffee or a beer.

While this book does read like a story or conversation, it is a conversation not easily forgotten. Moore's story will cause tears and his appeals will bring conviction. He holds nothing back in sharing his experiences, and he makes no apologies as he preaches to his readers (I have a feeling that he has preached all of this to his local church). This book will make a difference in the life of each reader.

His goal is clearly stated in the subtitle: to make adoption a priority for Christians and churches. A few quotes will make his aim even clearer, and should provoke everyone to pick up this book:

Our churches often don't "get" adoption, first and foremost, because they don't "get" God.

Adoption is not just about couples who want children - or who want more children. Adoption is about an entire culture within our churches, a culture that sees adoption as part of our Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself.

Here's where, I think, the nub of the whole issue lies. Adoption would become a priority in our churches if our churches themselves saw brotherhood and sisterhood in the church itself rather than in our fleshly identities . . . Of course that's hard to imagine, when so many of our churches can't even get over differences as trivial as musical style.

Ultimately, this book isn't really about adoption at all . . . It's about Jesus.

I believe this book will have a significant impact on many Christians and churches. Every pastor needs to read this book and communicate its truths to his church. Adoption isn't a priority for most churches, but it is a priority for God. If this previous statement caused some curiosity, then go read the book.

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Slavery Still Exists

It is weird to think that slavery still exists in the world. I usually think of slavery as a biblical concept or a terrible practice that we corrected many years ago; however, slavery is still big business in many countries. Some slaves are a more traditional servant, but most are unwilling prostitutes. This is very distubing to think about or bring up in conversation, but it is reality. 

As Christians, we don't need to look the other way and avoid the uncomfortable thoughts or discussions; we need to find ways to be part of the solution to end this terrible practice. This website, Not For Sale, has a lot of information and offers ways to help.

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Book Review - TOTAL CHURCH

TOTAL CHURCH by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

I began reading this book having already heard Steve Timmis speak (via podcast) and already having an idea of what the authors were proposing. However, I had no idea that within a week I would be recommending this book to everyone I know. I may not agree with every single claim or proposition, but the thesis of this book is so strong and needed, that even if I disagreed with many of the particulars, I would still recommend this book. However, since I concur with the vast majority of the details, I truly cannot help but herald the need for this book in our local churches. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THIS BOOK, THEN STOP READING MY REVIEW AND GO READ THIS BOOK.

The thesis can be found on the cover of the book as the subtitle: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community. They propose that "church" should be focused on the Gospel and should be done in the context of community. As they state:

This book argues that two key principles should shape the way we "do church": gospel and community. Christians are called to a dual fidelity: fidelity to the core content of the gospel and fidelity to the primary context of a believing community. Whether we are thinking about evangelism, social involvement, pastoral care, apologetics, discipleship, or teaching, the content is consistently the Christian gospel, and the context is consistently the Christian community. What we do is always defined by the gospel, and the context is always our belonging in the church. Our identity as Christians is defined by the gospel and community.

This idea seems commonsensical as you read the New Testament, but the Western Church has lost this shape and reshaped itself primarily around the mold of programs, meetings, and buildings. The wake up call of these authors needs to be heeded by the American church.

Another theme that runs throughout this book is missional living in our communities. They challenge all Christians to live as missionaries in their communities, because God has sovereignly placed each one of us in our exact location. This missional living means doing the same cultural exegesis, lifestyle sacrifice, and community invasion that a foreign missionary undertakes. Many stories from members of their church are included to support their claims and lend credibility to this model (although, they would hate that I just called it a model). These stories not only prove that this way of "doing church" is more than simply an idealistic model, but also put flesh on the principles espoused throughout the book.

I could find a few minor details that I disagree with or find concerning, but those instances were few, far between, and ultimately overshadowed the grand message of this book.  Timmis and Chester are calling the church to reconsider the definition and purpose of the church, and they have done much of the work for us. I cannot think of a church leader, pastor, or member who would not benefit from reading this book. Every pastor should be promoting this book to his flock. If I were a pastor, I would make this book mandatory reading for the leaders of the church.

The primary complaint I have heard concerning this book, is that their model is idealistic and "won't work in my situation or church." The people that make this comment probably also find the Bible too idealistic and, in their minds, Scripture probably won't work in their situation. This pervading mindset explains why the American church has strayed so far from the New Testament picture of the organized church. It seems that most pastors believe that being biblical won't work, but being entertaining, materialistic, and timid will work. This explains what we see whenever we walk through the doors of most church buildings. The disturbing part is that no one has told these pastors and leaders that what they are doing in the name of pragmatism isn't actually working. They aren't building the church, they are building buildings and community programs. They aren't even what the Bible defines as pastors/elders, they are country club directors. I am begging everyone to read this book and compare it with the New Testament picture of the church. Don't trust these two men anymore than you trust your local megachurch pastor; trust Scripture.

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Galatians 5:16-26 - 4 Truths of Walking By the Spirit

Here are my notes from Phud's sermon this past Sunday at Remedy Church:

INTRODUCTION

Galatians 5:1-15 summarized: We are in desperate need and the only solution is the gospel; our right response to this solution is loving others, as God loves us, and taking the gospel to them.

How do I live, now that I am a Christian?

Is my life characterized by sinful living or living by the Spirit?

How do we live by the Spirit?

The answer to the "How?" of living Christlike lives and loving others is obviously "by the Spirit" - Gal. 5:16, 18, 22, 25.

4 TRUTHS OF LIVING BY THE SPIRIT

1) Your desires, because of you flesh, are often too weak (Gal 5: 16-17)

- C. S. Lewis quote:

- Desires are not bad - Paul is making a contrast between the desires of the flesh (which are sinful) and the desires of the Spirit (which are holy)

- Desires are only bad when we desire lesser things than those things which should be our ultimate desires

- We have to constantly check to see if our desires are in line with God's desires

2) Walking by the Spirit means we are no longer under law (Gal 5:18)

- When you come to know Christ, you don't have to law-keep anymore (Rom 7:6; Rom 6:14; Rom 3:20; Gal 3:23-25)

- We don't have to keep the law anymore; rather, we should be living by the Spirit

- We are freed from sin, BUT slaves to righteousness (Rom 6:17-18)

3) The "works of the flesh" describe those who are not in Christ (Gal 5:19-23)

- The bad news is that all those who live according to the flesh (which is everyone) will not inherit the kingdom of God

- The good news is THE GOSPEL; this is the only good news

- Only because of the cross of Christ can we be reconciled; the fruit of the Spirit is exactly that - "fruit of", not payment for

4) You must count yourself crucified with Christ in order to live by the Spirit (Gal 5:24-26)

- The core Gospel message is not how we become a better person; rather, it is that we are all dead people who can only be made alive by God, through Christ's work (Gal 2:20)

- Christianity is not about stopping the fruit of the flesh or starting and doing the fruit of the Spirit; Christianity is not a self-improvement plan

- As Tim Keller communicates, being fanatical/legalistic/Pharisaic does not come from being too Christian or understanding the Gospel and theology too much; rather, this misplaced zeal comes from not being Christian enough and not having a proper understanding of the Gospel and theology

Every act of the fruit of the Spirit is only by God doing it through us - ALL glory should go to God - this is why Paul includes this last verse at the end of the chapter (Gal 5:26)

CLOSING COMMENTS

- Stop Preforming!

- You cannot become a better person, but you can become a worshipper of Christ; you cannot be better, but you can be forgiven and adopted

- Believers need to preach the Gospel to ourselves and each other daily so that we will not become duty driven, because duty leads to arrogance or depression (depending on how you perceive your performance on any given day)

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Mr. President, You Say It Best When You Say Nothing At All

Most Americans are aware of the controversy surrounding President Obama's invitation to speak at Nortre Dame's graduation ceremony. In his speech, Obama made the mistake of addressing the topic of abortion.  In reality, he didn't actually say anthing at all, but in doing so, said a lot. Al Mohler has written the best commentary I have read on this speech so far:

Mr. Obama went on to call for "Open hearts. Open minds. Fair-minded words." In the end, the President's comments were entirely about how Americans should discuss or debate abortion. There was no serious consideration of abortion itself. President Obama merely talked about talking about abortion.

This was a moral evasion and an insult to the importance of the issue. If the President had actually addressed the issue of abortion -- if he had actually even offered a defense or rationale for his own position -- he would have dignified the issue. Instead, Mr. Obama issued what amounted to a call for civility.

When the President called for Americans to agree that, while differing on abortion, "we can still agree that this heart-wrenching decision for any woman is not made casually," he failed to make clear why this is so. If the unborn baby is not a person who possesses an intrinsic right to life, why is the decision to abort so "heart-wrenching?" If the fetus is just a collection of cells, why the angst? Furthermore, does the fact that a decision is "heart-wrenching" make it right or rational?

When the President acknowledged that, in the end, the two positions on abortion are irreconcilable, he was on more solid ground. Both sides frame the issue as a question of rights -- specifically a woman's "right" to control her reproductive destiny by any means, including abortion vs. the unborn child's right to live. The weakness of the pro-abortion (or "pro-choice") position becomes evident at this point. The claimed right of control over reproduction is not commensurate with another person's right to live, and not to be killed in the womb.

If President Obama had actually spoken of abortion itself, rather than addressing abortion only as an issue of controversy, he would have found himself defending the indefensible, which explains why he avoids this discussion at all costs. Yet, now that he is President, he cannot get by with claiming that this question is "above my pay grade."

[Mohler's conclusion] At the University of Notre Dame President Barack Obama talked about talking about abortion. One day, he will have to talk about abortion itself. He will put that day off as long as possible.

Read the whole thing

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Total Church Theology

A quote from Total Church, regarding theology:

The main thing that prevents us from understanding the Bible alright is not lack of hermeneutical skills but our sin. Our sin warps our understanding because we all tend toward self-justification.

A significant part of the problem behind academic theology and biblical scholarship is the way in which it is, all too often, self-referential. Professional theologians often write about and for other professional theologians. In the New Testament, church leaders were responsible for guarding the flock from error (Acts 20:28-31). They were, if you like, theologians-in-residence within the congregation. We have often moved this function of guarding from error into the academy, but this is a dangerous place for it to reside.

If true theology is the fruit of engagement with the Bible set in the context of the local church [which he argued for previously], then much of what passes for theology is not theology at all. Why do we allow such people to set the agenda?

Please understand that this is not a plea for dumbing down the truth of God, nor for despising theology per se. It is a critique of professional theology removed from the furnace of life and not hammered into shape on the anvil of the local church. As Calvin says, doctrine is an affair "not of the tongue, but of life. It is not apprehended by the understanding and memory alone, as other disciplines are, but it is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds a seat and resting place in the inmost affection of the heart. . . . It must enter our heart and pass into our daily living, and so transform us into itself that it may not be unfruitful for us."

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Youth Ministry Satire

I have some experience with youth ministry, and I have spent a lot of time considering what youth ministry should look like in a local church, or if there should even be a separate "youth ministry" per se. However, after watching this video, I realized what I was doing wrong for those years. This guy has it all figured out. Flame on!

Ignatius from travis hawkins on Vimeo.

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John Piper speaks to President Obama regarding Abortion

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Missional Living: Ask Yourself These Questions

As I am reading “Total Church” (which I can already recommend to everyone), Steve Timmis and Tim Chester encourage people to imagine that they are a part of a church planting team in a cross-cultural situation in some other part of the world and answer the following questions:

What criteria would you use to decide where to live?

How would you approach secular employment?

What standard of living would you expect as pioneer missionaries?

What would you spend your time doing?

What opportunities to share the gospel would you be looking for?

What would your prayers be like?

What would you be trying to do with your new friends?

What kind of team would you want around you?

How would you conduct your meetings together?

They make the point that most Christians expect missionaries in a foreign country to ask these questions, but we seldom, if ever, ask these questions of ourselves, in our own context. We are all on the same mission for God. Just because some of us do not need a passport, doesn't change our mission. We need to ask ourselves these question regardless of our location or vocation. This whole mindset that causes us to think radically about overseas missionary activity while remaining complacent in our own city and neighborhood is not biblical.

Missional living is not just something missionaries engage in or something for us to do once a month; missional living should be our lifestyle. Ask yourself these questions, and then in another month, ask them again. We need to start asking these questions and never stop.

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What is Total Church?

I have begun reading Total Church and will hopefully have a review of this book by the end of the week. This book has been highly recommended by many pastors and leaders, including Mark Driscoll and the other guys at Resurgence and Acts 29. However, since this book has such a vague title that could easily be confused with one of the other  ______ Church  books that have been published over the past few years, I am posting a quote from the Introduction to inform potential readers of the premise and purpose of this book:

This book argues that two key principles should shape the way we "do church": gospel and community. Christians are called to a dual fidelity: fidelity to the core content of the gospel and fidelity to the primary context of a believing community. Whether we are thinking about evangelism, social involvement, pastoral care, apologetics, discipleship, or teaching, the content is consistently the Christian gospel, and the context is consistently the Christian community. What we do is always defined by the gospel, and the context is always our belonging in the church. Our identity as Christians is defined by the gospel and community.

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Emergent and Sour

A friend of mine recently wrote:

When I find out someone is emergent, it's like finding out someones favorite band is nickelback.

AND

The emergent church is like sour milk...on the outside it looks good but once you get a taste of the inside you realize you just messed up!

I don't think I could say it any better myself. The emergent church movement really is a peculiar thing; it reminds me of your best friend's younger brother... it is so easy to pick on and make fun of, and all it does in return is whine and cry.

In all fairness, the emergent movement was started due to some valid complaints with the Christian culture created by the boomer generation. We can definitely learn some things from these men; however, since the movement was founded on complaints with the norm, I wish they would be more attentive to the complaints other Christian leaders and pastors are have with the culture the emergent movement is creating.

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Galatians 5:1-15 - Two Admonitions Regarding Faith

Remedy Church - 05/10/09

Crucified Christ: week 14

Sermon Notes:

INTRO

- Remember, the freedom Paul is speaking of in this section is indeed a freedom from guild and sin; however, it is also a freedom to live for Christ

TWO MAIN POINTS

(1) If salvation is by works and not the Gospel, then you have been severed from Christ and have fallen away from grace (Gal 5:2-4; Gal 5:7-12)

- This if/then statement is true, despite the fact that a person cannot lose his salvation

- According to Paul, if you are going to be a legalist and choose certain rules/laws that everyone must obey for salvation, then you must obey every single one of them perfectly if it is going to be any benefit for you

- Paul makes this previous point abundantly clear by using the strong language of proclaiming that these men should follow their own system to its logical conclusion and castrate themselves

- Two doctrines are being communicated: (1) Justification by faith, not law or obedience; (2) REAL faith really saves

• If your actions/life appear to prove that you are not a believer, then you were never actually regenerated
• A Christian cannot lose his justification or return the gift of salvation: (Phil 1:6; Jn 6:39; 1 Pet 1:36; Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:13-14; 2 Cor 1:21-22; 1 Jn 2:19)
• The point of contact between eternal security by God's sovereignty and our responsibility as Christians is fuzzy; the place where these two truths meet is a mysterious place from our point of view (1 Jn 2:24-25; Gal 5:4)
• We can know that God is sovereign, and Christ will not lose a single one of the elect (Jn 10:27-29); however, we are also supposed to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12)

(2)So, real faith shows itself by showing outward demonstrations of love for your neighbor (Gal 5:13-15)

- Faith ALWAYS gives birth to love (this cannot be overstated)

- 1 Jn 4:7-8; Matt 22:37-39; James 1:22; Gal 5:22-23; Eph 2:10; Matt 7:17-20; 1 Cor 13:1-3

- Don't be the podcast/blog guy who knows what everybody believes and hears every sermon or conference, but doesn't get out there to love and serve his neighbors

- We need to pull ourselves away from ourselves for long enough to serve others - this should be convicting for all of us

QUESTIONS

Are you recognized by your fruit/love?

Does your love for others make you stand out at work, at school, or in your neighborhood?

What should our lives look like according to Gal 5:5-6, 13?

What would it look like if you really loved your neighbor?

MY THOUGHTS

It seems that most Christians love claiming their justification. We love to proclaim that we are no longer under the consequences of sin. We are excited about our pardon (our get out of Hell free card). We all cling to the fact that we have been saved from something; however, we usually forget, or have completely missed, that we have been saved to something.

Phud began his sermon by making the point that we are not just free from our sin, but we are free to live for Christ. We have to understand and embrace this from/to duality of our salvation. We are saved not only "from", but also "to". God does not simply pardon us and send us on our way. Rather, he pardons us for a purpose. He saved us from sin and self, so that we can live for his glory and our mission.

As I am writing this, I am deeply convicted by my utter failure to live according to this principle that I know to be true. Christians are called to be MISSIONAL PEOPLE. He calls us out of darkness and into light. Being MISSIONAL means being about God's mission of making worshippers of his name. This means taking the gospel to the ends of the earth and to the end of my street. Being missional PEOPLE means that we carry out this mission in the context of community, primarily that of the local church. Both of these characteristics, "missional" and "people", are directly relevant to loving my neighbor. 

I am to love my unbelieving neighbor in Singapore, my unbelieving neighbor a few houses down from me in my subdivision, and my believing neighbor in my church small group. David Fairchild made this point wonderfully in a recent sermon; he said, "God does not save us for the purpose of sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac." It really does all come back to love. Remember Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

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Mark Lauterbach's Article on Christans and Culture

The May issue of NEXT Magazine is viewable. There are articles by D. A. Carson, Bob Kauflin, and Justin Taylor in this issue, but the article that I am recommending today is by a lesser known pastor; Mark Lauterbach has written a great article on interacting with culture.  Here is an excerpt:

But I want to suggest that this question–“How should a Christian relate to culture?”–may be the wrong question. This may be the wrong place for us, as Christians in the middle of culture, to start. Here’s why: I am not sure how I am to relate to the culture, but I am sure I am to relate to people outside of Christ for the sake of their salvation. Before we ask how we as Christians should relate to our culture we must ask how and why Christ came into culture. Christ and his mission should define the questions we ask about culture ... 

Knowing people is different than going to movies. I think the whole discussion of being culturally aware dodges the real work of knowing lost people deeply.  I am called to love and serve them for Christ.  I am called to help them when they have marital problems, children problems, and are living with effects of their sin. I am called to relate to them in what we have in common. And we have a lot in common. They are made in Godʼs image. They know love and hate, sadness and joy, and the beauty of music and creation. I do not need to focus on the unique culture of our times, so much as on the real people around me. 

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Hospitality 101

Hospitality is typically viewed as having people over for dinner; however, hospitality is so much more. A more dictionary style definition from Justin Kuravackal defines basic hospitality as "treating a stranger as equal to the host by creating space for him to be protected, provided for, taken care of, all of which is followed by assisting and guiding him on to his next destination." How do these definitions hold up to the biblical principle of hospitality?

Biblical hospitality seems to be primarily focused on Christians treating strangers or outsiders very well. This means us treating as equals those people we might not typically associate with. This could be other families in your church or neighborhood, visiting Christians, or displaced unbelievers. The idea is that we honor and care for those whom we might not normally be in relationship with.

We see many biblical examples of hospitality. In the beginning, God created a place, then he created man and put him in that place. This was the first act of hospitality. Another example is Rahab inviting the spies to stay in her house. Of course, the bulk of our understanding of biblical hospitality will come from the New Testament.

Two primary passages regarding hospitality for strangers can be found in Matthew's description of Jesus' life: Matt 5:43-48 and Matt 25:34-40. The implications of these passages are very clear: we are to care for everyone around us, regardless of their opinion of us or their connection to us. It doesn't matter if you know the person or if you like the person; you are still called to love the person and be hospitable towards them. Some practical implications can be made to our current culture. Why not invite the annoying neighbor over for dinner? Shouldn't you know and see how you can help every neighbor in your subdivision? Why not take your nemesis at work out to lunch? How can you assist the guy or gal a few cubicles down from you? Hospitality to strangers involves knowing, loving, welcoming, and caring for everyone you encounter. God is sovereign in regard to who he brings across your path, we need to consider this everyday.

Hospitality towards those we are friends with will look very similar to hospitality towards strangers or enemies; however, it can be far more focused and intentional due to our existing relationship. We see hospitality towards friends exhibited by Jesus at the last supper. Here he fulfilled the responsibilities which should have reserved for the host by caring for the disciples, even to the point of washing their feet (Jn 13:12-15). Many times hospitality towards friends means being willing to meet their needs, even to the point of humbling ourselves to accomplish the lowliest of tasks on their behalf. This could mean cleaning up their kid's puke or willingly allowing them to let them talk about themselves the entire time.

Regardless of your prior relationship or lack thereof with a person or family, hospitality always involves viewing someone else as more important than yourself. I love Jeff Vanderstelt's description that hospitality is essentially "giving space to allow people to be, become, and do." Of course, space could refer to physical, emotional, or any other kind of space that may be required. So, the question becomes, what does this person need? Other questions are, what will be restful, relaxing, and enjoyable for this person? How can I best care for this person? How can I create space for this person to be his true self?

One thing is for sure, hospitality is not about entertaining, impressing, or controlling guests in your home. Such ideas are both unbiblical and sinful. We have to forget the prideful, penetrating mindset of our culture that attempts to do whatever is necessary to impress others. This mindset asks, What will impress this person? What kind of house, car, meal, or whatever will make this person or family think well of me? This is pride, which is sin, not hospitality. Biblical hospitality should be centered around love for one another; unfortunately, most modern "hospitality" is centered around pride. 

One of the primary questions to ask regarding hospitality: What are your motives? Are you trying to impress? Are you checking one item off of your good Christian's "to do" list? Of course, you have to even be practicing hospitality before you can check your motives, so start practicing hospitality.

• Much of this information has been modified from several sermons and training sessions at Soma Communities.
  

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Get Out There

The weather has changed, the flowers are blooming, and most people are starting to go outside a lot more than the previous six months. This means that Christians have a great opportunity to get out there and begin living missionally. Several recent posts have given some great advice or strategies in this area:

Simplified Missional Living

Get Off the Couch this Summer

Gospel-Driven Garage Sale

Being Missional Everyday

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Galatians 4:12-31 - 4 Reasons Why Following Slavery is Foolish (Part 2)

Remedy Church - 05/03/09

Crucified Christ week 12

Remember, you can download all of Phud's sermons on Galatians at the Remedy Church website or by subscribing on iTunes. Also, an interview with Phud, aka John, was in today's Rock Hill Herald. 

This week at Remedy, Phud continued his discussion of why remaining in slavery is foolish. This fact should seem fairly obvious to most people, but we all return back to the chains of our sin and law exalting legalism. We all choose different areas to focus on. One guy will say that if you love God, then you will wear a shirt and tie on Sunday morning; while another guy will say that if you love people, then you will wear jeans and a t-shirt. Both of these are legalistic, if the person believes a certain mode of dress is required for holiness or proper worship.

Last week, Phud discussed the first two reasons why following slavery is foolish. This week, he discussed the third and fourth reasons.  Here are my notes:

3) BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE CHRIST FORMED IN YOU! (Gal 4:12-20)

• These Galatians are very close to stepping over the edge and showing that they are not regenerate
• Paul's desire is for them to become like him - he wants them to model his description of himself in Gal 2:20
• The wolves in the flock, the legalistic Jews,  are making much of the Galatians; they are appealing to their natural pride and idolatry (this is never for our good)(be cautious of being told how great you are)
• Paul wants Christ to be formed in them = this causes complete transformation and makes Christ the center

4) BECAUSE YOU SHOW THAT HAGAR IS YOUR MOM, AND NOT SARAH (Gal 4:21-31)

• Paul is using Hagar and Sarah (Ishmael and Isaac) as an illustration of slavery/law-keeping (works salvation; doing it yourself) versus freedom/faith (justification by faith alone; the promise; the true gospel)
• When Abraham tried to do it himself by listening to Sarah and forcing a child through Hagar, the result was of the flesh and useless for the promises of God; however, when God gave Abraham a child through Sarah, which was his promise to Abraham, the result was the child of the promise and the first born of the nation of Israel.
• We are no longer under slavery, yet we continually go back and request Hagar to be our mother
• We have to cast out legalistic, law-keeping, and do-it-yourself theology and those who teach it
• Rather, we need to embrace the gospel because we have been freed and born of the promise
• We have freedom, but freedom to do what? (Col 3:1-3) - We are free to live in Christ and be like Christ, not the world.

ASSIGNMENT: Have dinner with someone else this week - We are supposed to be living in community, so invite over someone else from the church, your neighborhood, or your work.

MY THOUGHTS

A couple of topics really stuck out as Phud taught this passage.  First, as a side note he mentioned how Gal 4:16 perfectly describes our current postmodern culture. Most people today would rather hear something comforting, self-affirming, and uplifting than the truth. The truth of sin and the coming wrath of God are rarely met with enthusiasm, regardless of the truthfulness of these claims. The average person would prefer you to pat them on the back as the walk decidedly into Hell. They consider this pat on the back the gesture of a friend, but if you attempt to share the truth with them, then you may be viewed as an enemy. Truth has lost its value over the past couple of decades; the great value once assigned to the truth has now been given to tolerance and recycling.

Second, Gal 4:17 has a lot to say about the wolves that often enter the flock of God. These enemies enter the church and claim to be a part of the church. They volunteer their services, attend church functions, encourage believers, and all sorts of other endeavors to win people over. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. They usually appeal to your pride and seek to have you on their side. Such men or women cannot be trusted, and at the first sign of their evil intentions, they must be disciplined. Paul was seeking to protect the Galatians from such wolves who were winning people over, because he knew that such men would only bring destruction. Wolves always seek after destruction, whether it is the life of an individual, the local church, or the gospel itself. Be leery of such men who are "zealous to win you over"(NIV) or "make much of you"(ESV), because as Paul wrote, "it is not for your good."

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American Idols

In a recent sermon, Jeff Vanderstelt discussed several signs of idolatry in our lives.  Here is a paraphrase of his discussion in the form of the five key signs he seemed to indicate.

Signs of Idolatry in our Lives:

ANXIETY / INSECURITY – Not trusting in the sovereignty of God or the sufficiency of the Gospel

DEFENSIVENESS – If you are overly defensive about anything in your life, then watch out

FAILURE – If you feel like you are a failure, because you have bought into some unbiblical standard of what you should be or do

PRIDE – Still buying into an unbiblical standard, but feeling like you are successful or doing well (both failure and pride are essentially a misunderstanding of the gospel and justification)

ADDICTION – Being controlled or led by anything other than God (even to normally good things, such as work, exercise, NFL football on Sundays, etc.)

One great determiner in the area of idolatry is to ask what you give your time and money to: How do you use your time and money?  The use of your time and money should be controlled by the gospel and the principles in Scripture.  What consumes your thoughts?  Are your thoughts focused on Christ?  Or, are you concerned the most with the next TV show you’re going to watch, the next meal you are going to eat, the next car you going to buy, the latest Hollywood gossip, the latest problem or hardship in your life, or anything other than God and the Gospel?

What is my focus?  This has been a question I have been struggling through recently.  I am so often consumed with a subtle idolatry that I am usually not even aware of, but it is still idolatry. Our entire world and understanding of reality should be based on the sovereign existence of God and the necessary, atoning sacrifice of Christ. Our lives are supposed to be evidence of the truth of the Gospel (1 Pet 2:12), and we should base how we spend our time, money, and thoughts around the fact the Christ died and resurrected (1 Pet 4:1-6).

Another good way to uncover your idols is to ask the question, What “but’s” are you buying into?  For instance, “I know the Bible says this, but…” Or, “I know that Scripture says I should be doing this, but…”  Many times, we would never openly practice idolatry or commit heresy, but we are actually doing those very things by placing a “but” after a command, principle, or precept of Scripture.  The “but’s” can be devastating to our lives, our church, and our effectiveness on mission.  

Francis Chan recently made this point clear when answering some objections to some of the possible changes Cornerstone is considering.  They are trying to refocus the church around house groups, instead of the Sunday morning experience.  People didn’t disagree according to Scripture, and they may have even liked the idea, but they just didn’t think such changes were possible in today’s current culture.  So, the comments were “That sounds good, but it will never work”, or “I like that idea, but I just don’t think I could do that.”  

I have often heard very similar things and even said them myself whenever a person, a book, or a sermon has challenged me regarding particular areas of my life.  I find myself saying “I really want to do that, but I don’t have time or I just don’t think it would work for my family.”  Usually the areas that require the most commitment or change on our part will also be met with the most “but” statements. Which begs the question, what are my priorities?  Do I want to grow in my faith and obedience?

Idolatry is when we look to something else instead of or in addition to Christ for our hope, fulfillment, purpose, or anything else reserved for God.  All of these are actually the worship of a created thing instead of the worship of the one, true, uncreated God.  How often do we worship comfort, convenience, success, money, and the opinions of people?  

What Idols commonly overtake Jesus in your life?

We were created to worship; we are ceaseless worshippers.  Idolatry is a heart matter, not a hands matter.  Martin Luther said that if you don’t break the first two commandments (Ex 20:3-6), then you won’t break any of the others.

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