All to often we underestimate the impact and power that young people can have in our congregations. We see them as mere children, and our perception of the abilities of children are seen as weaknesses. Children are dependant, innocent, ignorant, in wonder of the world around them, and easily distracted. They do not provide for themselves, but are reliant on a parent or guardian to make it to adulthood. They must be fed early on in their lives, because they can not feed themselves. They can be disruptive and unruly, and require discipline to become well rounded adults. They are moldable and are quick to mimic what they see around them. Even though they do something wrong we do not hold it against them, but we show them why it is wrong.
Yet our attitude is not the same towards those who are new believers in God. We are appalled when they do something that is out of the ordinary in a worship setting. We believe that they should be knowledgable enough to make the journey on their own. We hold the sins that they have confessed and been forgiven for against them long after God has forgiven them. We are appalled by their inability to provide for themselves spiritually. We act in un-Christian ways expecting no one to say anything, but we are the first to jump when they do the same things. We expect them to be fully mature believers in God, and to be completely independant in their faith.
Jesus paints a different picture.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever recieves one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matt.18:1-5
Not only are we supposed to help those who are young in their faith, we are supposed to be just as dependant on God as they are. We should realize that we are innocent by the blood of Jesus, we are ignorant compared to the knowledge of God, we can only be fed by God and His Word, and we are his to mold. Considering these things will change our outlook on new believers, and on ourselves.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Having all things in common....
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayers, and awe came upon every soul, and many signs were being done through the apostles, And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people, And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” –Act 2: 42-47
The early church had something going right of them. They were growing rapidly, and seemed unrestricted in their amount of growth. How was this so? Quick highlights:
1. They were devoted to discipleship.
2. Fellowship was important to the early church.
3. They were willing to make a sacrifice to help those in need.
4. Their fellowship was a daily activity.
5. They were appreciative of the necessities that God had provided them.
6. They had a good reputation within the community as people and believers.
7. Praising God was an important part of their life.
The life of the early Christians did not focus around the physical life here but the life that was to come. They lived each day as if it was their last, and reminded themselves that they were not alone in this struggle by surrounding themselves with other believers. They cut out the frivolous things in life, and simplified to the things that were truly important: strong faith, a tongue of praise, a prayer of thanks, good food, and good company. The critical part is that they were willing to share this with others. We often believe the luxuries of modern life are the necessities that we need, and we have an unwillingness to share the simple things of life with others. The challenge is for us to rid our life of luxuries, and look for the simplicity that the early church lived.
The early church had something going right of them. They were growing rapidly, and seemed unrestricted in their amount of growth. How was this so? Quick highlights:
1. They were devoted to discipleship.
2. Fellowship was important to the early church.
3. They were willing to make a sacrifice to help those in need.
4. Their fellowship was a daily activity.
5. They were appreciative of the necessities that God had provided them.
6. They had a good reputation within the community as people and believers.
7. Praising God was an important part of their life.
The life of the early Christians did not focus around the physical life here but the life that was to come. They lived each day as if it was their last, and reminded themselves that they were not alone in this struggle by surrounding themselves with other believers. They cut out the frivolous things in life, and simplified to the things that were truly important: strong faith, a tongue of praise, a prayer of thanks, good food, and good company. The critical part is that they were willing to share this with others. We often believe the luxuries of modern life are the necessities that we need, and we have an unwillingness to share the simple things of life with others. The challenge is for us to rid our life of luxuries, and look for the simplicity that the early church lived.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Are you a Cain?
What would you do for a member of the family of God? Do you love them enough to do what ever they need, or are you willing to cut them down at the knees? When we think back to the earliest history of the Bible, we see the story of the first brothers: Cain and Abel. Here were two men who both served God, and lived to serve him. However, Cain’s gift to God did not please God and it counted to him as unrighteousness. Cain grew envious and jealous of Abel, and struck him down.
Now many of you are saying, “I would never kill another brother! I could never be a Cain!” However, John paints a different picture in I John 2:11-18. He explains here that the world hates you, but we have passed out of that death into a new life. Love is the marker of this new life, and if it is not present then it means that we reside in death. Then John makes a bold statement to tie it all together, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (v. 15).” John solidifies this accusation by sharing that those of us who are blessed with worldly gain and see a brother in trouble, but do nothing to help are void of the love of God. We become spiritual murderers of our own brothers, and create an elitist idea based on material goods. John simply ends by saying, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.” We must begin to live by these words. Empty words are the song of failure, but actions are the anthems of success
Now many of you are saying, “I would never kill another brother! I could never be a Cain!” However, John paints a different picture in I John 2:11-18. He explains here that the world hates you, but we have passed out of that death into a new life. Love is the marker of this new life, and if it is not present then it means that we reside in death. Then John makes a bold statement to tie it all together, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (v. 15).” John solidifies this accusation by sharing that those of us who are blessed with worldly gain and see a brother in trouble, but do nothing to help are void of the love of God. We become spiritual murderers of our own brothers, and create an elitist idea based on material goods. John simply ends by saying, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.” We must begin to live by these words. Empty words are the song of failure, but actions are the anthems of success
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Way We Were
As the seasons begin their transition, we find ourselves at an impasse within the year. Children are returning to school, football season is about to begin, and everyone is looking to fresh starts. I may be a bit nostalgic but the beginning of the new school years has always held the concept of new beginnings. Things are swiftly changing around us, and often leave us desiring the way things once were. We begin to long for things that are long past, and as a result, our outlook on the present becomes muddled. Nostalgia is enjoyable, but there comes a negative connotation on the present because of it. We become dissatisfied, and set out in search of that feeling we once knew.
We can become too nostalgic in the church, and can be upset that things are not as they once were. For me, I miss the gathering of grandfatherly men out in front of the building dressed in their overalls sharing conversation over a smoke. Alas, this can never be again. As much as I want that to be present, the parts that made it up are not the same. We find ourselves longing for what used to be, but forget things will never be as they once were.
This is why we must look ahead to the future, and stop living in the past. If we want to be a Family of God, we cannot just talk about it, but we have to live in that way. If we want to grow in Spirit and in number, we have to be willing to do something about it. We must start with the vision of what we want to be. Proverbs 29:18 clearly states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Kyle
We can become too nostalgic in the church, and can be upset that things are not as they once were. For me, I miss the gathering of grandfatherly men out in front of the building dressed in their overalls sharing conversation over a smoke. Alas, this can never be again. As much as I want that to be present, the parts that made it up are not the same. We find ourselves longing for what used to be, but forget things will never be as they once were.
This is why we must look ahead to the future, and stop living in the past. If we want to be a Family of God, we cannot just talk about it, but we have to live in that way. If we want to grow in Spirit and in number, we have to be willing to do something about it. We must start with the vision of what we want to be. Proverbs 29:18 clearly states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Kyle
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