Pastors as Idols
Oct 21, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
1 Corinthians 3:4-7 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
One of things I love about the interwebs is how easy it is to listen to and learn from some of the best communicators / pastors around the world. On a semi-regular basis I listen to Andy Stanley, Francis Chan, Mark Discoll, Darrin Patrick, Erin McManus, Matt Chandler, and many others. Often at Riv, I have people come up and tell me how my message agreed with (or disagreed with) one of these communicators on some point. It’s an awesome thing that we have the ability to learn from so many voices…but it’s also a dangerous thing.
One of the dangers is when we begin to say “I follow Francis” or “I follow Mark” and forget that it’s not important whose podcast you are listening to. It’s important only when God uses these men to help the Word grow in your life. When the men are elevated over God, watch out.
It’s also dangerous when these podcasts begin to replace your connection with a local church under local pastors. It’s dangerous when listening to podcasts is your only connection to the Word. It’s dangerous when you are no longer in community with others, other than the voices in your head(phones).
How to deal with conflict…a flowchart!
Oct 20, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Yesterday’s post on “Covering an Offense” triggered some interesting responses from several people. One of the common things that came up was how to deal with someone who has sinned against you. A few years ago, I created a little flowchart for a teaching I did at Riv on the subject. You can download a PDF version of it by clicking on this image:
To listen to the audio of the message that went with the message, click here. For a crappy video of the teaching, click here.
Tags: conflict
Covering an Offense
Oct 19, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
I love those moments when Scripture leaps off of the page (or the screen) and is so immediately applicable in your present situation!
I just had such a moment. I was reading blogs and came across this simple one verse post on TheResurgence:
Let those words sink in.
Last week, I saw this simple truth play out both ways several times.
The right way: covering an offense. Notice this doesn’t say “pretending like it never happened” or “there are no consequences for someone’s actions” or “hiding sin.” Rather, it is the idea of letting go of an offense, forgiving and moving on. This is not often easy, but it is the loving approach to someone who has sinned against you. Here’s a verse I have often repeated to my kids:
1 Corinthians 6:7b Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?
The wrong way: repeating a matter. When someone has done wrong by us, we tend to start talking about it and we never stop. Even after forgiveness has been sought and even offered, we keep talking. We like to say we are “asking for prayer” or “getting counsel” or “venting” but really we are often gossiping. Our gossip separates close friend, destroys relationships, and splits churches. Maybe that’s why Paul is so severe in his treatment of divisive people.
Friday Random Linkness
Oct 16, 2009 Friday Random Linkness
It’s Friday!
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OK, this is a must see. Musician yearbook photos.
Totally wish I could do this but I don’t have the time / energy to learn. (HT: Aaron)
Wow. Trapped in an elevator for 41 hours.
Double wow. A 6 year old girl survives a crazy accident unscathed.
Perry Noble has good questions for husbands and wives to ask themselves (and each other).
The craziest effect of global warming yet.
Pictures that make you say “Wow.”
As you watch these 12 videos of stupid people crashing cars don’t forget that it could be you.
Now that you’re done with those 12, you can watch 100 viral videos in 3 minutes.
I need one of these cameras.
Team Teaching
Oct 15, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
One of the things that I love about Riverview is the fact that we have multiple teachers for our weekend services. This helps in a great many arenas: from avoiding the cult of personality to allowing people to use their gifts well. However, one of the lesser mentioned advantages (because it only affects a few of us) is how it serves those of us who share the teaching load.
On my weeks off I get to sit down and learn from one of the other guys. I love sitting in the service with my wife, listening to a teaching and being able to be “one of the flock” for a few weeks. The experience of “you are teaching right to me” is one I get to have with everyone else as the Holy Spirit works through whoever is teaching and in my heart.
I am so stoked because Steve Sommerlot is launching an awesome new series this weekend at our Holt Venue. It’s dealing with the death and the afterlife.
For those of you out at the MSU Venue, Mark Brett will be teaching on Joy from the book of Philippians (which I’ll have to download since I’ll be in Holt with my fam).
You’re Doing it Wrong: Folk Theology
Oct 14, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Yesterday, I posted about Tabloid Theology, which is one of the ways people do theology wrong according to The Theology Program podcast. Today, I want to hit on another that I see a lot: Folk Theology. Here’s a quick definition of this type of person:
One who uncritically and unreflectively constructs his or her theology according to traditions and religious folklore. The Folk theologian is often very dogmatic and militant about his or her beliefs.
I have met many Folk Theologians. In fact, I would hazard a guess that most Christians I know fall into this camp. They have been told things about Jesus, God, the Church, etc and they believe them simply because someone told them. They don’t have convictions that are based upon the Word, rather they are based on what they have historically believed.
I’ll give you an example from my own life. I grew up in a great church. I was taught a great many things and believed them with deep conviction. Then, when I was in college, I began to really read the Bible for myself. I discovered that some of my beliefs were dead on and biblical, some of them were nowhere to be found in the Bible. Because I hadn’t critically and scripturally thought about these issues, I held them both with the same amount of conviction.
I really love that the TTP guys defined this theologian as being “often very dogmatic and militant about his or her beliefs” because this is exactly what I have experienced. The people that fight with me the most on theology are those that have the least verses. When I begin to ask them where they get their beliefs from the Word, they hem and haw and talk about what someone once told them or what they grew up hearing or what they have experienced or what the latest book told them. When they do have a verse, often it’s out of context and they have built entire theologies off of a single verse or two.
You’re Doing it Wrong: Tabloid Theology
Oct 13, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Lately I have really been digging The Theology Program podcast (especially since I discovered I can listen to it at twice the speed on my iPhone). Don’t let the name freak you out, it’s a great entry level podcast for people who want to take the next step in thinking theologically (which should be all of us).
One of the things that struck me was the clear presentation of two wrong ways to approach theology. To be completely frank, I know tons of people who do one or both of these and this gave me language to use.
The first wrong way to approach theology is Tabloid Theology. Here’s the definition TTP uses:
One who constructs his or her theology based upon naïve hearsay information that has no basis in fact and very little, if any, evidence to be believed. Many times people are Tabloid theologians because of the theology’s appearance of originality. As well, it can be “cutting edge” in many people’s minds.
Let me put this in layman’s terms. A Tabloid Theologian hears something cool (or something bad) about Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, Church, or whatever and they instantly get excited about it and believe it. What’s missing? The Word. This person doesn’t ground their faith in what Scripture teaches, but rather on reports from other people about cool (or bad) ideas, experiences, or whatever. These are the urban-legends of the faith, but for many people they build their theology falsely on them.
One simple example: those who say they have seen (or dreamed or talked with) angels. Often, the description of the angel doesn’t jive with scriptural descriptions (the little we have). In addition, people often describe a “sense of peace,” which is the exact opposite of the reaction of those who see angels in the Bible (and need to be constantly told, “Don’t be afraid!”).
Another example would be reports of “special movements of the Spirit” in different cities or churches that are full of unsubstantiated claims of miracles that do more to wreck the church’s reputation than share God’s love with the world. People get all fired up about these things without examining what the Bible may have to say about them (I would encourage many of these people to read 1 Corinthians, for example).
These are just a couple examples and in each one, either the Bible is the authority or a story you have been told is the authority. You can’t have it both ways. Not all experiences contradict the Bible (some stories we hear may very well be true / authentic), but many of the extreme ones that people get excited about do.
Tomorrow I’ll talk about the next wrong way to approach theology.
Osteen and Bacon
Oct 12, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Thanks to Todd for this one. Apparently, Joel Osteen has gone all sacrilegious and ripped on bacon.
So, here are your three assignments.
1) Watch this video
2) Read this passage
Acts 10:9-15 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.
Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.*”
But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”
3) Go eat a BLT
Tags: bacon
I’m Sorry
Oct 12, 2009 Uncategorized Hodge Podge
Last week was an interesting week for me for a lot of reasons.
One of those (because I don’t want to bore you with all of them) was I found myself apologizing a lot. I mean it…a lot. Every apology was for something I said or the way I said it. In case you didn’t know this about me, I kind of have a big mouth and I found many ways to stick my foot in it last week.
So I made a lot of phone calls to say sorry to lots of people.
It’s humbling to apologize, but it’s amazing how much weight is lifted from your shoulders when you utter those nine simple words:
“I was wrong. I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Tough question time. When was the last time you said those words to anyone?
If apologizing is hard for you, here’s an awesome article on How to Apologize for Your Mistakes.
Tags: apology, forgiveness
Friday Random Linkness
Oct 9, 2009 Friday Random Linkness
OK…time to put the random back in Friday Random Linkness
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Anyone have any idea what a “Non-Gender Child” is?
Ever wonder why traffic seems to slow down for no possible reason? This is why.
Seven reasons to eat more saturated fat. Yeah buddy.
Time to bow down to our robotic overlords. Can you say, “Skynet?”
Quick: can you name all 50 states from memory? Better yet…can you draw them from memory?
and how to light a grill in 30 seconds.
Well, it’s now been scientifically proven. Drinking is as good for you as yoga.
