7/31/2010
I’ve been praying and thinking of some words used often but wonder if I really know the meanings of them, or have they simply become another “Christianese” phrase used?
Disciple and discipline; what do these words really mean to me. To study this out I first apply the scripture to itself, as we know scripture will verify itself. My thoughts are first in the natural then in the spiritual. (1 Corinthians 15:46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.) We are shown many things but first understanding them in the natural, then can apply to the spiritual. But we cannot understand the spiritual things unless our eyes are opened to them by God. In saying that, these words I will first look at in the natural setting.
Disciple: (from Websters): one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: as a : one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ's followers according to the Gospel accounts b : a convinced adherent of a school or individual
Disciple as we know is in the word discipline.
Discipline: (from Websters): training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character
Those are pretty straight forward. A disciple is someone who accepts AND assists in spreading a doctrine of another; a convinced individual. If you claim to be a Christian, are you first convinced? Do you accept the doctrine of Jesus Christ the way we hear in the Bible or do you add to the scripture to justify your lifestyle? Do you take away from scripture what offends, or isn’t “politically correct”? Do you add your own teaching/opinions? Do you assist in spreading or do you simply know for yourself that you are saved and that’s good enough? I was talking to my Christian doctor the other day while I was there for an appt. and we were discussing ministry and being Christians. I stated/posed the question, that if someone were to hang out with me w/o knowing me would they leave knowing I was a Christian? He then posed/stated that what would be worse is if someone who knows you found out you were Christian and were surprised.
I think we have become so pushed into having to accept everyone/everybody mindset that we have compromised the Word of God, the teachings of the scripture. We have become so afraid to be seen as a narrow minded Christian that we curb anything that might offend someone. Do you realize it’s not YOUR teachings that bring salvation? The Word of God, the truth of the blood of Jesus being accepted is. We are to be convinced ourselves of the teaching, accept them and then assist in spreading the doctrine. I suppose now I can see a difference in simply being a “believer” and being a disciple of Christ. What are you?
In understanding now what a disciple is, we can see that there must be a discipline; “a training that corrects and molds!” When we come to Christ we come with all our ideas of how something needs to be. We see a broad spectrum of thoughts; from the legalistic/judgmental condemning, afraid God’s ready to whack you if you mess up mindset, to the everything is acceptable, just love, love, love and accept mindset. The balanced mindset is realizing that God is a God of order, righteoueness, and is Holy. We ourselves are made clean by the blood of the lamb and as we are called to love, being compassionate we have never been called to close our eyes to sin and being compassionate of the sin, thus compromising the Word of God.
We see people in the world, and non-believers beginning to use the WWJD question to apply to excusing sin. It’s an almost mocking phrase when they use it. Well the answer is that Jesus absolutely showed compassion and mercy. He dined with the “scum” tax collectors, he defended the woman caught in the act of adultery, but He also said to them “Go and sin no more.” That’s the balance we need. So how does that fit in with discipline?
Prov 3:11-12 (NIV) My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Prov 15:5 (NIV) A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
Heb 12:5-8 (NIV) And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Heb 12:9-11 (NIV) Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Job 5:17-18 (NIV) "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."
1 Cor 11:32 (Phi) But when God does judge us, he disciplines us as his own sons, that we may not be involved in the general condemnation of the world.
Rev 3:19 (NIV) [Jesus] "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent."
So we can see from these verses that discipline is from God, He does it because He loves us, we should see it as a blessing, and that we may share in His holiness. It’s not pleasant, but painful but produces righteousness and peace FOR THOSE TRAINED BY IT. This means that the two-fold or “if then” implied statement is, IF we are disciplined THEN we will produce righteousness, peace, and be His sons. Do you accept the discipline, or do you find yourself in correction only to plant your feet in deeper, trying to be right in your own eyes; justifying why you do what you do? It is possible to be corrected and not take the correction. I have witnessed many lives (including my own), where God has pointed His finger on an area in that person’s life that He wants to correct and mold, and the person rejects it. What happens is they may find an escape route, weasel out of another situation, only to find themselves once again in the same situation; only different people, different job, different setting, SAME PROBLEM!
Here’s how that might look in a practical scenario:
1. Why do I always end up with all the bad guys/girls/relationships?
2. Why can’t I hold a job down or lose a job?
3. Why am I in debt, to recover only to be in debt again?
4. Why do I have constant conflict with others?
5. Why do I struggle in feeling rejected all the time?
These are only SOME of the questions people ask themselves. They find themselves constantly in cycles of these questions. They search and think they found the answer in some new job, some new person, some new scenario, only to have some time go by and they are asking themselves that same question. Do you not recognize the finger pointing in that area? Get rid of the “victim mentality” and repent and become a victor by overcoming; accepting the unpleasant discipline and lining up with what the Word of God truly says.
Now in closing I would like to say a disclaimer. We endure times of testing our faith that might bring about situations that are unpleasant (read James chapter 1) but as we grow and mature we won’t continue to see the exact same testing. But if it is an area that God is putting His finger on you will see that scenario over and over again. And if you have questions, ask, email, comment, call.
I pray today that your hearts are not hardened, that you are not stiff-necked, that instead you get before the Lord and ask honestly if there is an area in your life that the Lord has been putting His finger on to bring healing and discipline. I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to reveal that to you and that the Lord would give you wisdom, that you’d feel the love of the Lord even in His discipline! In Jesus name, Amen.
“Change my heart oh God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart oh God,
May I be like You.
You are the potter,
I am the clay,
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray.”
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
STUMBLING BLOCKS
Stumbling Blocks
The last week or so I have been thinking a lot about stumbling blocks in our Christian walks. In reading scriptures it appears that the stumbling blocks are those that are stronger in faith! Those that cause the little ones or weak ones or young ones to stumble because of their example. I suppose if we are known as Christians and we profess that, we are examples of who and what Christ is about. When we are known as Christians yet practice sin or lawlessness this causes others to stumble. My guess is this is the very reason the world has such a problem w/Christians. They see on one hand the professing and preaching and the other they see the acts of the flesh; which Galatians 5 makes clear are:
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Our lives are examples of Christ, as Christians we represent Him whether we think we do or not. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
This verse tells me that people are watching so be a good example! If we ourselves are entangled in sin, we are hindered, and that can hinder others. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. So this verse is giving instruction, where the apostle is “begging” you on Christ’s behalf! He is telling us to be reconciled to God. We are a representation of Christ, His ambassadors!
We will all fail, all Christians sin but I believe there is a difference between “practicing” sin and sinning. Practicing sin means to knowingly continue in it, refining the skill! Think of manipulation and how one can practice this, getting better at it each time there is an opportunity to do so. Then there are those times when we are weak, we fail and we sin; it may be an area we struggle in but it is something that is given over to God, is repented of, turned away from and hated! That is very different than practicing a sin.
How do we cause one to stumble then? By living in and practicing sin; most likely justifying it. So how does a stumbling block look? I have been watching my youngest son learn to walk. Knowing he is my last I am savoring the last baby moments; really taking them in. Since he was 9 months he’s been standing up alone and unsupported in the middle of the floor, it takes a lot of concentration. You can see this is hard; he’s wiggly and trying to catch his balance. He is very cautious and has been taking a few steps but falls and eventually tries again. He is now 11 months and walking all over, but its new and awkward looking. Sometimes he walks faster than he is ready for and boom; hits the ground. But as I noticed even the smallest things can make him fall. A change on texture on the floor from tile to carpet, a tiny toy, or a wanting to go one direction but his feet are not pointed correctly…will all make him fall. As a parent I try and clear all possible stumbling blocks out of his way to make his path clear, but it seems there is always something at some point that will make him fall. Sometimes it’s his own eagerness of reaching for something that is out of reach that catches him off balance. He is bound to fall, that is how he will learn but I certainly try to make it so he doesn’t stumble on something I am leaving around! Much like a walk of young or weak Christians, we need to not become their stumbling blocks. It would be strange for me to have such a hard time walking and the carpet changing wouldn’t trip me up, but I have been walking a long time.
I think the hardest area to work on is our relationships with those closest to us; especially in marriages. One spouse might be a younger Christian and we may have expectations of them to be a certain way. We may fall into a cycle of being critical of them; husbands leadership or lack thereof apathy or laziness, wives overbearing or unsubmissive hearts or lack of gentleness. We can point the finger expecting different results all the while we are the ones that are their very stumbling block! It could be my need for my spouse to grow into a role they are not yet walking in could be the reason we become critical, which in turn causes dissension, factions and the result is the spouse stumbling over the hypocrisy.
It is not just for myself that I do not “practice” sin, it is for others as well. Today I ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart and reveal to me areas where I may be practicing sin; becoming a stumbling block for others. Do I have fits of rage? Do I gossip? Do I practice a sinful lifestyle that doesn’t line up with that of what is instructed in the Bible? Do I justify this lifestyle?
The last week or so I have been thinking a lot about stumbling blocks in our Christian walks. In reading scriptures it appears that the stumbling blocks are those that are stronger in faith! Those that cause the little ones or weak ones or young ones to stumble because of their example. I suppose if we are known as Christians and we profess that, we are examples of who and what Christ is about. When we are known as Christians yet practice sin or lawlessness this causes others to stumble. My guess is this is the very reason the world has such a problem w/Christians. They see on one hand the professing and preaching and the other they see the acts of the flesh; which Galatians 5 makes clear are:
19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Our lives are examples of Christ, as Christians we represent Him whether we think we do or not. Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
This verse tells me that people are watching so be a good example! If we ourselves are entangled in sin, we are hindered, and that can hinder others. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. So this verse is giving instruction, where the apostle is “begging” you on Christ’s behalf! He is telling us to be reconciled to God. We are a representation of Christ, His ambassadors!
We will all fail, all Christians sin but I believe there is a difference between “practicing” sin and sinning. Practicing sin means to knowingly continue in it, refining the skill! Think of manipulation and how one can practice this, getting better at it each time there is an opportunity to do so. Then there are those times when we are weak, we fail and we sin; it may be an area we struggle in but it is something that is given over to God, is repented of, turned away from and hated! That is very different than practicing a sin.
How do we cause one to stumble then? By living in and practicing sin; most likely justifying it. So how does a stumbling block look? I have been watching my youngest son learn to walk. Knowing he is my last I am savoring the last baby moments; really taking them in. Since he was 9 months he’s been standing up alone and unsupported in the middle of the floor, it takes a lot of concentration. You can see this is hard; he’s wiggly and trying to catch his balance. He is very cautious and has been taking a few steps but falls and eventually tries again. He is now 11 months and walking all over, but its new and awkward looking. Sometimes he walks faster than he is ready for and boom; hits the ground. But as I noticed even the smallest things can make him fall. A change on texture on the floor from tile to carpet, a tiny toy, or a wanting to go one direction but his feet are not pointed correctly…will all make him fall. As a parent I try and clear all possible stumbling blocks out of his way to make his path clear, but it seems there is always something at some point that will make him fall. Sometimes it’s his own eagerness of reaching for something that is out of reach that catches him off balance. He is bound to fall, that is how he will learn but I certainly try to make it so he doesn’t stumble on something I am leaving around! Much like a walk of young or weak Christians, we need to not become their stumbling blocks. It would be strange for me to have such a hard time walking and the carpet changing wouldn’t trip me up, but I have been walking a long time.
I think the hardest area to work on is our relationships with those closest to us; especially in marriages. One spouse might be a younger Christian and we may have expectations of them to be a certain way. We may fall into a cycle of being critical of them; husbands leadership or lack thereof apathy or laziness, wives overbearing or unsubmissive hearts or lack of gentleness. We can point the finger expecting different results all the while we are the ones that are their very stumbling block! It could be my need for my spouse to grow into a role they are not yet walking in could be the reason we become critical, which in turn causes dissension, factions and the result is the spouse stumbling over the hypocrisy.
It is not just for myself that I do not “practice” sin, it is for others as well. Today I ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart and reveal to me areas where I may be practicing sin; becoming a stumbling block for others. Do I have fits of rage? Do I gossip? Do I practice a sinful lifestyle that doesn’t line up with that of what is instructed in the Bible? Do I justify this lifestyle?
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