Thursday, April 29, 2010
Glimpses of Eternity
In Jesus Christ, in His image, we begin a relationship that issatisfying here and now, but that extends beyond the known and theseen into the greater realities of forever. We cannot let the precious trinkets and imperfect promises ofthis passing moment overshadow the wealth of what it means to be ajoint-heir with Jesus Christ in inheriting the riches of reality thatwill endure when Donald Trump's billions have vanished like smoke, nomatter how the wisdom of this age undervalues them. We are God'sfamily!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Maybe my "Last Chapel Sermon"
... about "loyalty" and "vision" . . . if you can decipher my spacey speech:
For E.N.C. chapel 4/29/92
DEALING WITH CONFLICT IN LOYALTIES
(( A NEW EXPERIENCE, BEING PAID TO SPEAK IN CHAPEL FROM MY OWNPULPIT, WHICH IS NOT MY OWN PULPIT WHEN THIS IS THE COLLEGE CHAPEL
1) reflections on the history of this church's relationship toENC across the years
2) reflection on the larger relationship of ENC to the church atlarge, and to the Church of the Nazarene in particular))
1. A FOCUS ON OUR LOYALTIES
".. to thine own self be true and it must follow as the nightthe day thou canst not then be false to any man.." Shakespeare'scharacter notwithstanding, this is only partially true. and as Tony Campolo has said in the title of a book outliningseveral damnable heresies-- there is a kernel of truth in mast lies;the title is "Partly Right", by the way
WHEN LOYALTIES CONFLICT, how do we address the tension? who orwhat has to give? William C. Placher in a recent article says
"imagine admissions literature stating something like this:
We groom you to success in your careers. We prepare you for graduate and professional work at the best universities or cocktail conversation at the best country clubs. And also, we will get you thinking about the service of the crucified son of a carpenter who calls his disciples to give up all that they have and pick up their crosses and follow." Then Placher adds with bitter irony: "On second thought, perhaps we'd best leave out that last sentence." So-- am I called to be a millionaire, or called to be a monk?Am I to be socially active, or fundamentalist-defender of the faith?Is there any kind of safe way to go? or better, is there any one rightway?
2. SEEKING THE DEEPEST, HIGHEST LOYALTIES
Kohlberg, Lawrence Kohlberg, (who had some influence in myunderstanding of how I think about 'right and wrong'), saw- still inindividualized understanding- the highest motivation as being"principled" or "post-conventional" motivation. He wrote that he had never observed anyone under 22 years of agethat was really into this high level of loyalty to truth.
I question that-- for the highest understanding of truth isnever abstract, never objective. Robert Coles, also an eminent Harvardteacher, has seen in children nine, ten, eleven years of age aspiritual sensitivity that went beyond their rational understanding ofmoral issues.
We are dealing here with mystery! And I have known many people whose moral understanding may havebeen lacking, but whose commitment to Truth was so thorough and soirrevocable that they lived like Jesus because they lived with Jesusand Jesus lived through them.
There is a better, a higher way of loyalty. It is the personal loyalty to Jesus that transcends all other loyalties. It denies self-sovereignty ("I am NOT God!") and identifies with Christ's body,the Church, (imperfect as it may be, especially after you join it)!
Conclusion: Change is threatening. We live in tension between the joy ofchange and the security of steadfastness. This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek Thy face OJacob!
For E.N.C. chapel 4/29/92
DEALING WITH CONFLICT IN LOYALTIES
(( A NEW EXPERIENCE, BEING PAID TO SPEAK IN CHAPEL FROM MY OWNPULPIT, WHICH IS NOT MY OWN PULPIT WHEN THIS IS THE COLLEGE CHAPEL
1) reflections on the history of this church's relationship toENC across the years
2) reflection on the larger relationship of ENC to the church atlarge, and to the Church of the Nazarene in particular))
1. A FOCUS ON OUR LOYALTIES
".. to thine own self be true and it must follow as the nightthe day thou canst not then be false to any man.." Shakespeare'scharacter notwithstanding, this is only partially true. and as Tony Campolo has said in the title of a book outliningseveral damnable heresies-- there is a kernel of truth in mast lies;the title is "Partly Right", by the way
WHEN LOYALTIES CONFLICT, how do we address the tension? who orwhat has to give? William C. Placher in a recent article says
"imagine admissions literature stating something like this:
We groom you to success in your careers. We prepare you for graduate and professional work at the best universities or cocktail conversation at the best country clubs. And also, we will get you thinking about the service of the crucified son of a carpenter who calls his disciples to give up all that they have and pick up their crosses and follow." Then Placher adds with bitter irony: "On second thought, perhaps we'd best leave out that last sentence." So-- am I called to be a millionaire, or called to be a monk?Am I to be socially active, or fundamentalist-defender of the faith?Is there any kind of safe way to go? or better, is there any one rightway?
2. SEEKING THE DEEPEST, HIGHEST LOYALTIES
Kohlberg, Lawrence Kohlberg, (who had some influence in myunderstanding of how I think about 'right and wrong'), saw- still inindividualized understanding- the highest motivation as being"principled" or "post-conventional" motivation. He wrote that he had never observed anyone under 22 years of agethat was really into this high level of loyalty to truth.
I question that-- for the highest understanding of truth isnever abstract, never objective. Robert Coles, also an eminent Harvardteacher, has seen in children nine, ten, eleven years of age aspiritual sensitivity that went beyond their rational understanding ofmoral issues.
We are dealing here with mystery! And I have known many people whose moral understanding may havebeen lacking, but whose commitment to Truth was so thorough and soirrevocable that they lived like Jesus because they lived with Jesusand Jesus lived through them.
There is a better, a higher way of loyalty. It is the personal loyalty to Jesus that transcends all other loyalties. It denies self-sovereignty ("I am NOT God!") and identifies with Christ's body,the Church, (imperfect as it may be, especially after you join it)!
Conclusion: Change is threatening. We live in tension between the joy ofchange and the security of steadfastness. This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek Thy face OJacob!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
For GOOD FRIDAY
April 17, 1992
IT IS FINISHED
Good Friday Meditation
John 19:30 When Jesus had received
the vinegar, He said, "It is finished!"
and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
A STATEMENT ABOUT CHRIST'S LIFE WORK
The cry from the cross, "It is finished" is the final word in the
Gospel of John. "Into Thy hands I commend My spirit" is a personal
word of faith; this is a statement about what Jesus has done with His
life, and where He had finally ended His earthly ministry.
THE VIEW OF UNBELIEF: IT'S ALL OVER
I suppose there are different ways to hear these words. One
interpretation, I hasten to say 'Not my own!', might say that with
these words Jesus has simply said: "It's all over!"
The agony has ended, but with it also the noble experiment has
failed! 'My disciples are scattered, the high and holy-sounding words
I uttered have proved empty. Love is NOT stronger than hatred; the
people with the biggest army always win.'
But if this had been the true meaning of these words we never
would have heard of Jesus Christ except as a tiny footnote somewhere
in an historian's notebook about some eccentric Jewish revolutionary.
This is the interpretation we must give these words however,
if all that we see is the cross of Christ.
I know it is Good Friday. I know we aren't supposed to celebrate
the Resurrection until Sunday. I praise God that the Cross is God's
victory for us over the power and guilt of sin. But it takes the power
of the Resurrection to unlock the full meaning of these words: "It is
finished!"
John 20:9 expresses how helpless we would be to see the full
meaning of "It is finished" without knowing, as we most certainly
know, that Jesus not only died but rose again from the dead. John 20:9
says:
"For as yet they did not understand the Scripture
that [Jesus] must rise again from the dead."
From our perspective this side of Calvary, this side of the
resurrection, this side of Pentecost and the living Christ inhabiting
His church, we know that Jesus was NOT admitting defeat with his
statement from the cross, IT IS FINISHED!
THE PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH: IT IS COMPLETE
The only way we Christians can understand these words of
completion is in the light of the mighty power of LIFE ETERNAL, the
Resurrection Power that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.
In His own words in the High Priestly prayer Jesus said: (17:4)
"I glorified Thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou
hast given Me to do."
And what DID Jesus come to do?
1. JESUS CAME TO SHOW US THE FATHER.
John 1:1 declared that Jesus is the WORD. In John 14 Jesus
tells the disciples, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the
Father." God is Transcendent, beyond our full
comprehension. Yet forever we know what God is, for God is
like our Lord, like our Friend, Jesus of Galilee.
2. JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF EVIL.
I John 3:8 says: "The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
that He might destroy the works of the devil." Satan has set
up shop on this planet, and has taken many prisoners. He has
propagated lies about what real power and real wealth and real
satisfaction might be. Jesus has come to set the prisoners of
evil free, and show them His own love, and share with them His
own life!
3. [Here we come to the truth that from our perspective is
central, having to do directly with our salvation:]
JESUS CAME TO BRING LIFE TO YOU AND ME.
John 10:10 I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they
may have it more abundantly. And also John 1:12 He came unto
His own and His own received Him not; but as many as received
Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God, even
as many as believed on His name.
When Jesus said, "It is finished" He was saying that everything
necessary was set in place that we might be God's children, heirs of
God's grace in Christ, joint-heirs with Christ to all the love of
God's family!
"It is finished!" means that we may be:
justified - counted as righteous in Christ
regenerated - new creatures in Christ
adopted - brought into God's family with His Spirit crying
"Abba, Father" within us and
sanctified - or the actual work of making us LIKE Christ begun
within our personality
BEHOLD: THE FINISHED WORK
Perhaps the best news is that this cry of Jesus from the cross
means that THERE IS NO MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE YOU AND I CAN
COME TO GOD, to receive this gift of life (this Gift=Jesus Himself!),
and to be received into God's family:
This finished work is ours to receive as the Holy Spirit makes it
available to us by God's grace:
John 1:12 " ...as many as received Him, to them gave He power to
become the children of God, even as many as believed on His
name."
I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE LORD JESUS INTO YOUR HEART
AND LIFE OR YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. BUT IF, BY CHANCE,
YOU HAVE COME WITH BURDENS OR DOUBTS OR FEARS, FEARS OF LIFE OR FEARS
OF DEATH, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT WHEN JESUS SAID, FROM THE CROSS: IT
IS FINISHED! HE HAD YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION, AND YOUR PERSONAL
ASSURANCE AT HEART. HE DIED BECAUSE HE LOVES US, AND HE COMPLETED THE
WORK THAT MAKES HIS ETERNAL LIFE OUR OWN!
Prayer:
———————————————————————————————————
Dr. Russell Metcalfe is Pastor Emeritus of the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene. Permission to reprint or publish this material is GRANTED as long as the reprinting or republishing is not-for-profit. You can access more of Dr. Metcalfe's sermons at his scripturally indexed sermon archives web site. Now with MP3 audio sermons and audio bonus material.
IT IS FINISHED
Good Friday Meditation
John 19:30 When Jesus had received
the vinegar, He said, "It is finished!"
and He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
A STATEMENT ABOUT CHRIST'S LIFE WORK
The cry from the cross, "It is finished" is the final word in the
Gospel of John. "Into Thy hands I commend My spirit" is a personal
word of faith; this is a statement about what Jesus has done with His
life, and where He had finally ended His earthly ministry.
THE VIEW OF UNBELIEF: IT'S ALL OVER
I suppose there are different ways to hear these words. One
interpretation, I hasten to say 'Not my own!', might say that with
these words Jesus has simply said: "It's all over!"
The agony has ended, but with it also the noble experiment has
failed! 'My disciples are scattered, the high and holy-sounding words
I uttered have proved empty. Love is NOT stronger than hatred; the
people with the biggest army always win.'
But if this had been the true meaning of these words we never
would have heard of Jesus Christ except as a tiny footnote somewhere
in an historian's notebook about some eccentric Jewish revolutionary.
This is the interpretation we must give these words however,
if all that we see is the cross of Christ.
I know it is Good Friday. I know we aren't supposed to celebrate
the Resurrection until Sunday. I praise God that the Cross is God's
victory for us over the power and guilt of sin. But it takes the power
of the Resurrection to unlock the full meaning of these words: "It is
finished!"
John 20:9 expresses how helpless we would be to see the full
meaning of "It is finished" without knowing, as we most certainly
know, that Jesus not only died but rose again from the dead. John 20:9
says:
"For as yet they did not understand the Scripture
that [Jesus] must rise again from the dead."
From our perspective this side of Calvary, this side of the
resurrection, this side of Pentecost and the living Christ inhabiting
His church, we know that Jesus was NOT admitting defeat with his
statement from the cross, IT IS FINISHED!
THE PERSPECTIVE OF FAITH: IT IS COMPLETE
The only way we Christians can understand these words of
completion is in the light of the mighty power of LIFE ETERNAL, the
Resurrection Power that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus.
In His own words in the High Priestly prayer Jesus said: (17:4)
"I glorified Thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou
hast given Me to do."
And what DID Jesus come to do?
1. JESUS CAME TO SHOW US THE FATHER.
John 1:1 declared that Jesus is the WORD. In John 14 Jesus
tells the disciples, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the
Father." God is Transcendent, beyond our full
comprehension. Yet forever we know what God is, for God is
like our Lord, like our Friend, Jesus of Galilee.
2. JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF EVIL.
I John 3:8 says: "The Son of God appeared for this purpose,
that He might destroy the works of the devil." Satan has set
up shop on this planet, and has taken many prisoners. He has
propagated lies about what real power and real wealth and real
satisfaction might be. Jesus has come to set the prisoners of
evil free, and show them His own love, and share with them His
own life!
3. [Here we come to the truth that from our perspective is
central, having to do directly with our salvation:]
JESUS CAME TO BRING LIFE TO YOU AND ME.
John 10:10 I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they
may have it more abundantly. And also John 1:12 He came unto
His own and His own received Him not; but as many as received
Him, to them gave He power to become the children of God, even
as many as believed on His name.
When Jesus said, "It is finished" He was saying that everything
necessary was set in place that we might be God's children, heirs of
God's grace in Christ, joint-heirs with Christ to all the love of
God's family!
"It is finished!" means that we may be:
justified - counted as righteous in Christ
regenerated - new creatures in Christ
adopted - brought into God's family with His Spirit crying
"Abba, Father" within us and
sanctified - or the actual work of making us LIKE Christ begun
within our personality
BEHOLD: THE FINISHED WORK
Perhaps the best news is that this cry of Jesus from the cross
means that THERE IS NO MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE YOU AND I CAN
COME TO GOD, to receive this gift of life (this Gift=Jesus Himself!),
and to be received into God's family:
This finished work is ours to receive as the Holy Spirit makes it
available to us by God's grace:
John 1:12 " ...as many as received Him, to them gave He power to
become the children of God, even as many as believed on His
name."
I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED THE LORD JESUS INTO YOUR HEART
AND LIFE OR YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY. BUT IF, BY CHANCE,
YOU HAVE COME WITH BURDENS OR DOUBTS OR FEARS, FEARS OF LIFE OR FEARS
OF DEATH, LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT WHEN JESUS SAID, FROM THE CROSS: IT
IS FINISHED! HE HAD YOUR ETERNAL SALVATION, AND YOUR PERSONAL
ASSURANCE AT HEART. HE DIED BECAUSE HE LOVES US, AND HE COMPLETED THE
WORK THAT MAKES HIS ETERNAL LIFE OUR OWN!
Prayer:
———————————————————————————————————
Dr. Russell Metcalfe is Pastor Emeritus of the Wollaston Church of the Nazarene. Permission to reprint or publish this material is GRANTED as long as the reprinting or republishing is not-for-profit. You can access more of Dr. Metcalfe's sermons at his scripturally indexed sermon archives web site. Now with MP3 audio sermons and audio bonus material.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Worthwhile--get to Tracy's editorial
IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE?
Romans 4:1
"What shall we say that Abraham ... has found?"
A. (A story. A true story.) Once upon a time there was a good man.He had a good family. He had good connections. He was living in areasonably comfortable manner. He was abreast of the latest moderntechnology. His life was not in crisis. But deep in his heart therewas the nagging uncertainty, the question he could not put into words: "IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE?"
B. Then one day this good man became aware that Almighty God wastalking to him. Just how this awareness came about I can not tellyou. [ We're so sophisticated... we "know" God doesn't talk to people... now! Or does He? ] But Abraham heard a call from God that sent himpacking. It was a call of a loving God, calling a seeker to Himself.
C. We usually miss this basic fact in the telling of this greatstory. But God was answering the question that sooner or later we allcome to ask: IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE?
God was saying, "Well, no,as a matter of fact THIS isn't all there is to life! And if you arewilling and obedient, I will show you what your heart is seeking! Iwant you to "come home" and live your earthly life WITH ME as yourclosest Friend!"
D. In order to find his true home in God's Presence, Abraham hadto LEAVE all false security behind. ("Entering" almost always alsomeans "leaving.") God said, "I want you to LEAVE... your country your people your father's relatives and above all your right to control your own direction!" But never lose sight of the fact that this was (1) a call fromGod (2) inviting Abraham into a one-on-one relationship with Himself!
II. QUESTIONS THIS PASSAGE RAISES:
1) Does God still call people like He did Abraham?
2) How would God get your attention if He wanted to speak to you?
3) How might we respond to a call from God in (2010)1993?
A. Does God still call individual people?
1. My 'message' is "yes:" I am convinced that God is thunderingHis call to a "radical departure" ... all the life stories ofconversion and salvation, from Noah, and Abraham, and the Exodus, andthe prophets are being echoed today in one great call "Save yourselvesfrom this reprobate civilization!" In a society where it is acriminal offense to hand out Bibles in the schools - while it iscommendable to teach perversion and hand out birth control devices;where millions of people use abortion as a means of birth controlafter the fact; where public media does its best to ridicule anythingsupernatural that has to do with God Almighty, while at the same timepromotes the worship of Mother Earth and in the name of Pluralismmakes Jesus Christ sound like a bigot when He declares: "No one comes to the Father but by Me!" ... still in all thisGod calls, "Leave the prison of your self-made gods-- come away from aScripture that YOU edit and cut and pick and choose and stand injudgment over -- leave the bondage of "what so-called sophisticatesmight think," -- and step out on a journey of faith with Me!
2. My personal testimony is "yes:" I know you would expect anevangelical Christian minister to answer in the affirmative. I cananswer that I am certain, convinced, sure, that God spoke to me when Iwas living selfishly and out of fellowship with Him. He spoke to meby both love and fear; by what I might call "Behold the goodness andthe severity of God" (Romans 11:22)
B. How would God call YOU, if He wanted to call you?
1. God speaks through dramatically unspectacular, quiet "meansof grace," through a regular submission to the Word; by an habitualobedience in prayer; by the sacrifice of praise and worship in thecorporate worship of the church.
2. It might just be that God has a quiet but absolutely vitalmessage for you during this next week of revival services. I ask younow if you have re-arranged your schedule even one little bit in orderto give God a chance to communicate with you during this LentenSeason-- and even perhaps through Floyd and Barbara Flemming, who havebeen praying and preparing for their ministry in the Word to us? Itdoesn't make much difference HOW God is calling if you are notlistening, or tuning in on a completely different channel.
[I toyed with the idea of just reading Wesley Tracy's editorialin last week's Herald. It really challenged me. So here it is:]
COME ON HOME[1]
Isn't it time for you to come home? Haven't you had enough of the world's shallow gratifications? Haven't you had enough counterfeit answers to your heart's deep needs? Haven't you leaned your ladder on the wrong wall too long already? Aren't you tired of trying to be a classy sophisticate who knows all about things timely-- progressive education, career enhancement, political correctness, next season's fashions, and the done thing? Are you not tired of having just enough religion to make you uncomfortable at a cocktail reception and yet ill at ease in the presence of the Holy? There is time to come back to simple holy living. A time to come back to self-control, Christian simplicity, and spiritual discipline energized by God's grace. "Now is the time. We have been through it all-- the grasping, the looking, the searching. We have lived as people who try to serve God and mammon, and we know now that it cannot be done.[2] Too many Christians have drifted into letting the world tell them how to dress, what to drive, what songs and entertainment with which to saturate the soul, and just how to put me first at the expense of other people whom nobody puts first. Some who take the name of Christ seem owned by their ambitions, chained to a success formula, enslaved by the hunger for prestige-- diseases they have caught from our sinful culture. They fill up the ranks of the Christian jet set. Visit any important Christian conference and you will see them-- "dressed alike, talking alike, smiling alike, looking over the shoulders of the people to whom they are speaking in order to see who else has come into the room."[3] The world has taught us to reach for the things that matterleast while neglecting the things that matter most. Prayer, Biblestudy, devotion, and obedience have been elbowed to the margins asChristian self-help propaganda taught believers to dress for success,win through intimidation, fulfill themselves, enjoy sex, and loseweight. Richard Baxter's 17th-century description fits today'scosmopolite evangelicals like a glove: When we should study God we study ourselves; when we should mind God, we mind ourselves; when we should love God, we love our carnal selves; when we should trust God, we trust ourselves; when we should honour God, we honour ourselves; and when we should ascribe to God and admire Him, we ascribe to and admire ourselves: and instead of God we would have all men's eyes and dependence on us, and all men's thanks returned to us, and would gladly be the only men on earth extolled and admired by all. And thus naturally we are our own idols.[4] Even spirituality has become something to be utilized. We werecoached to practice the spiritual disciplines in order to achieveself-fulfillment, discover happiness, become fully human, and overcomestress. Such behavior is a lilac-scented blasphemy. The only reasonto practice the spiritual disciplines is because of who God is. Not even Hollywood has "out-glitzed" evangelical religion.Popular Christianity has been polled, charted, televised, and made"user friendly" by the best ad crews in the world. But now we knowthat making Christianity compatible with the loose living andundisciplined conduct of our culture does not work. The popularchurch "has lower standards for membership than those for getting on abus."[5] But we have learned a few lessons, haven't we? "Now we cansee . . . where uncontrolled living goes. We know the misery. We havefelt it."[6] It is time to come home. Time to stop trying to be citizens oftwo countries. It is time to stop trying to blend God's way with ourown wants and lusts. Come home to Christian simplicity, discipline,and holiness of heart and life. The journey is not easy. The worldly culture will try to sweepyou back into its whirlwind of shallow gratifications, its conscience-deadening maze of greeds and lusts, its "cosmetic diversions andplastic pleasures." Resist them in the power of the Spirit. They are vapors offantasy that lead only to emptiness. On the other hand, the holy lifeto which God is calling you is "astonishing in its completeness," asThomas Kelley writes. Of the holy life, he says, Its joys are ravishing, its peace profound, its humility the deepest, its power world-shaking, its love enveloping, its simplicity that of a trusting child ... It is the life and power of Jesus of Nazareth.7
C. Yes, God calls! The last question, is How can we respond? :...
III. WE CAN RESPOND WITH FAITH
A. The other story of the morning is from John 3. Here is anotherwealthy, successful, respected man, a leader in society, who is askinghimself: IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE? He comes to Jesus by night. He says, nice things to start theconversation, but Jesus almost interrupts him to say: "Unless you areBORN AGAIN you cannot even SEE the kingdom of heaven!" Nicodemus was a sort of "literalist." "How can such a thing be?"
Right at this place Jesus reminded Nicodemus of an Old Testamentstory every Jewish child knew-- and ever Christian child ought toknow, too. You know it, too-- remember the Children of Israel had beendisobedient, and as a judgment an invasion of poisonous snakes began afatal assault on them, left and right. God had Moses fashion a serpentof brass and lift it up on a pole. As many as looked to the serpentrecovered. Those who refused to look died. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Your journey into life starts with alook! It begins with faith in what I am going to do on the Cross ofCalvary! Faith is trusting ME!"Conclusion:
Our text tells us that Abraham, the father of faith, discoveredsomething. Just what was it that Abraham discovered and passed on toall people of faith?
It is the answer to the question so many have asked through theages: IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE? Abraham discovered that real LIFE is about walking with God!Getting to know God! And in the text Paul tells us that God stillwants people to walk with Him by faith. God still calls people to come HOME into the growing assurancethat we can live in the will of God, and we can KNOW it!
I'm convinced that if we answer this call, two things arenecessary:
(1) We need to deliberately break the insulation that separatesus from entering into God's Presence, the "Shekinah." God's Presenceis life-giving. We must enter into the Presence and worship, whereverwe are coming from.
(2) We need to break the bondage of self-consciousness beforethe judgment of other human beings. "If I buy into this radicalresponse I will be stepping back into the '30s-- I will be an ignorantsheep---" NOT if it is truly GOD who is calling you to come HOME toHIM!
Footnotes_______________________________
1. Editorial by Wesley Tracy in The Herald of Holiness, March1993, 2,32. WT quotes Roger C. Palms, Enjoying the Closeness of God3. WT quotes Palms, Enjoying, 204. WT quotes Richard Baxter, The Saint's Everlasting Rest5. WT quotes Harry R. Rudin, Christian Century, June 4,19526. Wt quotes Palms, Enjoying 307. WT quotes Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 29
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
God speaks to children . . and to child-like . . .
Eighteen years ago one Sunday morning in Wollaston I talked to the children about Samuel and how God spoke to him . . .I was surprised to hear them say God had spoken to them, too . . .we prayed together and I was joined in the Lord's Prayer by the children . . .then I continued the theme in the sermon that day. If you have a few minutes to spend in uselessness before the Lord I am posting both segments of that morning service . . . those "kids" are now pushing 30 . . .but the message spoke to my own soul this morning . . .http://russellmetcalfesermons.nazarene.nl/AudioSermons/Speak%20Your%20Servant%20is%20Listening%20Childrens%20Sermon%201992.mp3..........and.......http://russellmetcalfesermons.nazarene.nl/AudioSermons/Speak%20Your%20Servant%20is%20Listening%201992.mp3
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
IS REVIVAL IN OUR DAY POSSIBLE?
THOUGHTS ON SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN OUR DAY
What if revival and renewal depends in some way on the witness of the Church? In this Lenten Season I want to be a faithful witness. Christian “witnessing” usually falls into one of two categories: either ACTIVIST, or CONVERSIONIST.
Activists create pressure. They seek to enact law. They form a moral majority or a green peace. They protest. Conversionists seek to evangelize. Nothing wrong with that-- except that all too often this means "Join MY group the way WE say and then circle the wagons and wait for the cavalry." I do not deny that I believe that people need to be born again, and that unless a person is saved he or she is lost.
But there is a third way. Stanley Hauerwas suggests that this "third way" is not in any way a blending of the other two, but a radically different approach to Christian reality! This third way says: EAT IN FRONT OF YOUR ENEMIES! Don't just try to block them in legislature, or persuade them to become a member of your church-- but show them your Shepherd!
Instead of an ACTIVIST APPROACH or a CONVERSIONIST APPROACH, this is A CONFESSIONAL APPROACH to Christian living. . . . saying: "Jesus Christ is MY Shepherd! He is MY Lord and MY Master. I will seek to do everything I do in a way to please Him and reveal Him to the world! I’m thinking here, of course, of the 23rd Psalm that we all know by heart- and that verse that says “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies!”
No for us to say “Nah-nah-nah-nah-nahh!” But to make it clear they’re welcome to join the picnic. It is NOT a table for two! Yes, it IS personal! But there is fellowship around the Shepherd's table. Actually the fellowship is not the primary thing-- even though sometimes it becomes the focus. But the fellowship is incidental to the MEAL.
Personally, I believe the way we observe Holy Communion, and the way we integrate our lives around being part of the Body of Christ, broken for the life of the Church and available to all who are invited by the Host is a key, if not THE key to renewal, revival, and spiritual awakening in our day, dark as it may seem.
-Russell Metcalfe
What if revival and renewal depends in some way on the witness of the Church? In this Lenten Season I want to be a faithful witness. Christian “witnessing” usually falls into one of two categories: either ACTIVIST, or CONVERSIONIST.
Activists create pressure. They seek to enact law. They form a moral majority or a green peace. They protest. Conversionists seek to evangelize. Nothing wrong with that-- except that all too often this means "Join MY group the way WE say and then circle the wagons and wait for the cavalry." I do not deny that I believe that people need to be born again, and that unless a person is saved he or she is lost.
But there is a third way. Stanley Hauerwas suggests that this "third way" is not in any way a blending of the other two, but a radically different approach to Christian reality! This third way says: EAT IN FRONT OF YOUR ENEMIES! Don't just try to block them in legislature, or persuade them to become a member of your church-- but show them your Shepherd!
Instead of an ACTIVIST APPROACH or a CONVERSIONIST APPROACH, this is A CONFESSIONAL APPROACH to Christian living. . . . saying: "Jesus Christ is MY Shepherd! He is MY Lord and MY Master. I will seek to do everything I do in a way to please Him and reveal Him to the world! I’m thinking here, of course, of the 23rd Psalm that we all know by heart- and that verse that says “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies!”
No for us to say “Nah-nah-nah-nah-nahh!” But to make it clear they’re welcome to join the picnic. It is NOT a table for two! Yes, it IS personal! But there is fellowship around the Shepherd's table. Actually the fellowship is not the primary thing-- even though sometimes it becomes the focus. But the fellowship is incidental to the MEAL.
Personally, I believe the way we observe Holy Communion, and the way we integrate our lives around being part of the Body of Christ, broken for the life of the Church and available to all who are invited by the Host is a key, if not THE key to renewal, revival, and spiritual awakening in our day, dark as it may seem.
-Russell Metcalfe
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Build an Ark for Lent
TO BUILD AN ARK
Genesis 9:8-17
Mark 1:9-15
I never, ever, put myself into the Bible story of Noah, even as a
small child. I could never build a model airplane that would fly, let
alone a boat that would float. I could imagine myself as David, or as
Paul and Silas, but never Noah.
But did you ever think that sooner or later every one of us comes
to a Noah-like situation. We see a world that is tuned out on God,
and that seems bent on going to hell. We may not recognize it as such,
but we have to make a Noah-like decision. We think about it. We
ponder, "What can I possibly do?" We think, "I don't want my family
to be lost! I don't want to lose my own soul!"
Then amid all the pondering comes a thought from God: "Start
building an ark!" Well-- maybe not that. But a challenge comes from
the God of Noah. God says, "Did you know that you don't have to live
like the world?" And we face the question, "How much do we really
want to be saved?"
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
Water in the story is significant. Christian baptism, among
other things, refers back to this Noah story when eight people in the
world were saved by the very water that destroyed their generation.
To be baptized is to be saved-- right? Well--
Believing in Jesus is absolutely vital. THAT is what it means to
be saved, isn't it? The Bibles tells us (Romans 10:9,10) that to say
from the heart "Jesus is LORD!" and to believe that God has raised him
from the dead is the essence of salvation. But the Bible also teaches
us that "to believe" is more than just a mental assent-- saying the
right things. "To believe" is to hear God make a promise-- and to
respond to that promise!
II. BEING SAVED IS A PROMISE
1. Being saved is a promise GIVEN.
God is a covenant-making God. He makes promises. In the Noah
story he covenanted never to destroy the world again by flood. Then
nearly 2,000 times in the Bible we read about "covenant." We live by
promises. We exist by honor.
God has promised (John 3:16) that "whosoever believes in Jesus
will not perish"
God has promised (I John 1:9) that if we confess our sins he will
forgive them"
God has promised (Luke 11:13) that if we ask the Father will give
us the Holy Spirit
God has promised (John 15:7) if we abide in Jesus, and Jesus'
words abide in us we can ask what we will and it shall be done!
Our Christian life-- salvation depends on promise GIVEN.
2. Being saved is a promise RECEIVED
Every promise in the word is conditional. God's LOVE does not
depend on whether we are good or bad. God loves us when we deserve
nothing. To meet the conditions of a promise is not the same as
deserving what is promised. To pass from death to life is a mystery.
But there must be a WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE!
To RECEIVE forgiveness there must first be CONFESSION.
To be filled with the Spirit there must first be an ASKING!
But did you know that salvation is more than an "experience" or a
"fact of history?"
3. Being saved is a promise HONORED
Being saved is more than an event-- more than a one-time
happening. Just as a good marriage is much, much more than an
exciting wedding-- but is built on covenant and mutual trust, so our
relationship with God is an on-going PROMISE, a COVENANT!
III. SALVATION IS AN ARK OF SAFETY
Unless we are living differently from the world around us what
assurance to we have, and what witness does the world see that
salvation is worth anything at all?
Is that judging? Is that spiritual elitism?
No-- that is God's still, small voice saying:
"Get busy! Start building an ark! Save your children!
The flood of judgment is coming!"
IV. LENT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK TO HONOR GOD'S COVENANT
Jesus began his ministry proclaiming GOOD NEWS!
He said: "The kingdom is near!" Where Jesus is-- THERE is God's
kingdom!"
BUT JESUS ALSO SAID REPENT! JESUS SAID BELIEVE ME! JESUS SAID
CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE! THAT IS WHAT 'REPENT' MEANS! The challenge
of Noah sounds like a great sermon preached on the day of Pentecost.
Peter challenged the good people of his day to avail themselves of
God's covenant-making love. In Acts 2:38:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall
call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort,
saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same
day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Save yourselves from this perverse generation! God help us in OUR
perverse time!! Peter was not preaching self-salvation! But he was
preaching repentance and obedience!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
IT MEANS BEING DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD!
IT MEANS BEING FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN!
IT MEANS BEING IN A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH A WONDERFUL SAVIOR!
You can reach Dr. Metcalfe at eflactem@aol
Genesis 9:8-17
Mark 1:9-15
I never, ever, put myself into the Bible story of Noah, even as a
small child. I could never build a model airplane that would fly, let
alone a boat that would float. I could imagine myself as David, or as
Paul and Silas, but never Noah.
But did you ever think that sooner or later every one of us comes
to a Noah-like situation. We see a world that is tuned out on God,
and that seems bent on going to hell. We may not recognize it as such,
but we have to make a Noah-like decision. We think about it. We
ponder, "What can I possibly do?" We think, "I don't want my family
to be lost! I don't want to lose my own soul!"
Then amid all the pondering comes a thought from God: "Start
building an ark!" Well-- maybe not that. But a challenge comes from
the God of Noah. God says, "Did you know that you don't have to live
like the world?" And we face the question, "How much do we really
want to be saved?"
I. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
Water in the story is significant. Christian baptism, among
other things, refers back to this Noah story when eight people in the
world were saved by the very water that destroyed their generation.
To be baptized is to be saved-- right? Well--
Believing in Jesus is absolutely vital. THAT is what it means to
be saved, isn't it? The Bibles tells us (Romans 10:9,10) that to say
from the heart "Jesus is LORD!" and to believe that God has raised him
from the dead is the essence of salvation. But the Bible also teaches
us that "to believe" is more than just a mental assent-- saying the
right things. "To believe" is to hear God make a promise-- and to
respond to that promise!
II. BEING SAVED IS A PROMISE
1. Being saved is a promise GIVEN.
God is a covenant-making God. He makes promises. In the Noah
story he covenanted never to destroy the world again by flood. Then
nearly 2,000 times in the Bible we read about "covenant." We live by
promises. We exist by honor.
God has promised (John 3:16) that "whosoever believes in Jesus
will not perish"
God has promised (I John 1:9) that if we confess our sins he will
forgive them"
God has promised (Luke 11:13) that if we ask the Father will give
us the Holy Spirit
God has promised (John 15:7) if we abide in Jesus, and Jesus'
words abide in us we can ask what we will and it shall be done!
Our Christian life-- salvation depends on promise GIVEN.
2. Being saved is a promise RECEIVED
Every promise in the word is conditional. God's LOVE does not
depend on whether we are good or bad. God loves us when we deserve
nothing. To meet the conditions of a promise is not the same as
deserving what is promised. To pass from death to life is a mystery.
But there must be a WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE!
To RECEIVE forgiveness there must first be CONFESSION.
To be filled with the Spirit there must first be an ASKING!
But did you know that salvation is more than an "experience" or a
"fact of history?"
3. Being saved is a promise HONORED
Being saved is more than an event-- more than a one-time
happening. Just as a good marriage is much, much more than an
exciting wedding-- but is built on covenant and mutual trust, so our
relationship with God is an on-going PROMISE, a COVENANT!
III. SALVATION IS AN ARK OF SAFETY
Unless we are living differently from the world around us what
assurance to we have, and what witness does the world see that
salvation is worth anything at all?
Is that judging? Is that spiritual elitism?
No-- that is God's still, small voice saying:
"Get busy! Start building an ark! Save your children!
The flood of judgment is coming!"
IV. LENT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK TO HONOR GOD'S COVENANT
Jesus began his ministry proclaiming GOOD NEWS!
He said: "The kingdom is near!" Where Jesus is-- THERE is God's
kingdom!"
BUT JESUS ALSO SAID REPENT! JESUS SAID BELIEVE ME! JESUS SAID
CHANGE THE WAY YOU LIVE! THAT IS WHAT 'REPENT' MEANS! The challenge
of Noah sounds like a great sermon preached on the day of Pentecost.
Peter challenged the good people of his day to avail themselves of
God's covenant-making love. In Acts 2:38:
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all
that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall
call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort,
saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same
day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Save yourselves from this perverse generation! God help us in OUR
perverse time!! Peter was not preaching self-salvation! But he was
preaching repentance and obedience!
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SAVED?
IT MEANS BEING DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD!
IT MEANS BEING FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN!
IT MEANS BEING IN A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP WITH A WONDERFUL SAVIOR!
You can reach Dr. Metcalfe at eflactem@aol
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