Thoughts & other musings…
Posts tagged Jesus Christ
His Love…
07 months ago
This past Saturday night I was descending into Calgary on a plane. I was returning from northern BC where I was speaking at a youth camp. While I was descending I was finishing up a book I had been reading all week. The book was called “Love Wins” by Rob Bell.
This is a book that has churned up so much controversy that being who I am, I had to read it. I went in not knowing what to expect or what I would get from it. The reason for the controversy was Bell’s take on hell. Some prominent leaders from across the many different streams of Christianity have accused Bell of being a “heretic” or a “false prophet”. They called him a “universalist” (all people go to heaven) or a pluralist (many paths to God). Which lead me to ask the questions “What was everyone so afraid of?” and “Why do we feel we need to hold God’s hand across the street like a little old lady?” (pardon the U2 lyric) when someone might have possibly a different revelation than we have been taught or indoctrinated?
I have read the book and was deeply impacted and transformed by some of the truths that Bell was imparting. Some of you are asking the question, “do you agree with him?”. My answer to that question is “the verdict is still out”. There is so much to process both theologically and spiritually.
I can tell you this. The revelation that I now have of Gods love for me and the role I actively play in seeing the redemption of all creation is more clearer than ever. Just ask the young man who was sitting beside me on the plane, his concern for me as I was crying uncontrollably was both endearing and comical. I never really did explain myself to him. Poor guy…
One thing I have learned as I watch the church rip apart their own when a new idea is presented contrary to another’s idea is, Christ is not the cause and it gives Him no Glory.
Just my 2 cents…
Who do we honour?
011 months ago
by Keith Waara
in Personal Thoughts
John 7:18 (New International Version – UK)
“He who speaks on his own does so to gain honour for himself, but he who works for the honour of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”
This passage is powerful and challenging on so many levels. These are the words of Jesus. Being that they were spoken by Jesus means we need to take note.
As of late I have been wrestling with many things, faith, life, church and what it all means. I watch those around me say they love God. I wonder if they have sat back and ask what it means to “love God”? Do I know what it means to love God? Because if “loving God” is self seeking, ego inflating and attention whoring than I guess the whole world is thus “in love with God”?! I see this in the church today. I have even been a willing participant from time to time.
When I read these words, I’m moved to a place of humility and honour. I am very aware of my own shortcomings in this area. I am not perfect by any stretch but one thing I try to do, is be aware of my hearts posture before the Lord. Am I living for his glory or my own? Do I serve him or self? I think these questions can get convoluted quickly in the context of church because sometimes we do a poor job of bringing glory to him in all we do.
“He who speaks on his own”
Sometimes, I think we speak on our own. Not from Him or for Him. He sent His Holy Spirit to be our guide, inspiration, the very source of our breath. To lead us into all truth so that we can speak in truth.
I don’t think we do this on purpose. I think that our problem isn’t just a flesh issue, it’s an intimacy issue. You can’t bring glory (which means to bring focus to one’s character or nature) to someone outside of relationship. We can attempt to but we will do a poor job but there is grace for this. Why would we try to serve outside of intimacy? “Those who know their God will do exploits”. Daniel 11:32
When we do this we become frustrated in our striving and achievements. We will quickly realize that we will never be enough to do the job in and of ourselves.
The key is to “know” him. Not the knowledge that is found in reading about Him but in the knowledge that is discovered when you meet with Him, time in His presence. I believe Jesus is saying, we lie to ourselves and others when we try to minister from that place of not knowing who He is. Mary and Martha comes to mind.
When we avoid intimacy with the Father we will never know the Father’s heart and thus we will not bring glory to the Father, we will not properly reflect who HE is to those around us. We are just lying to ourselves and others.
When we work for the honour of the “One who sent us” everything changes. We begin to walk according to His will. We sow His will and not our own and we will reap His harvest and not our own. Actually, the context in which Christ spoke these words support this conclusion. Read John 7: 14-18
Besides, I wouldn’t want my harvest, it’s bears no fruit. My desire is to be a man of truth…