In 1 Peter 5 we find a concise summary of the basics of Christian leadership. This is one of those passages that will take a lifetime to live out. If church leaders would implement Peter's advice, their churches would be well led. Here we find key principles of leadership for the church: humility, voluntary service, examples of faith to the church, exercising oversight under the will of God, avoiding sordid gain, resisting evil and the Evil One, following Christ.
May God bless the church with such leaders.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Sharing with Christ
Far too often we think of fellowship with Christ as sharing in his blessings, his purpose and the life he gives us. Peter is adamant that life with Christ means fellowship with him in all things: blessings and suffering. The Table of the Lord is an excellent reminder that life with Christ brings the sweet and the bitter, just as the Passover meal illustrated for the Hebrews.
"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:14-16).
My reality check comes with opposition and difficulty times. Do I thank God then or only when I am showered with blessings?
"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:14-16).
My reality check comes with opposition and difficulty times. Do I thank God then or only when I am showered with blessings?
Monday, December 17, 2007
The End of All Things
"The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer" (1 Peter 4:7).
By 1830 William Miller became convinced that 1844 was the year of the return of the Messiah. He based his calculations on study of the Bible and dates assigned to events in various prophetic books (Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation). Many Christians were convinced that Miller was right, abandoned their farms or sold their homes and left their employment to wait for the return of the Messiah. When 1844 passed without a visible return of Christ, that year became known as the Great Disappointment. Those influenced by Miller split into a number of groups but did not give up on his view of the imminent return of Christ. The Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists are descendants of those who followed Miller. The current teaching is that Christ return occurred in heaven and is invisible to those on earth.
I tell this story (briefly) as a reminder that we lack the knowledge to assess matters of faith that are known only to the mind of God. The return of Christ is one of these matters. Yes we are to live expecting the return of Christ but with are to do so with sober minds. We are to live lives of hope, prayer, hospitality and service so that we bear witness to Christ not to madness. The expectation of Christ's return and God's judgment calls us to live in the world but not of the world. We remain in the world as obedient servants of Christ, loving our neighbors not abandoning them so we can greet Christ on the top of a mountain. Read all of 1 Peter 4:7-11.
By 1830 William Miller became convinced that 1844 was the year of the return of the Messiah. He based his calculations on study of the Bible and dates assigned to events in various prophetic books (Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation). Many Christians were convinced that Miller was right, abandoned their farms or sold their homes and left their employment to wait for the return of the Messiah. When 1844 passed without a visible return of Christ, that year became known as the Great Disappointment. Those influenced by Miller split into a number of groups but did not give up on his view of the imminent return of Christ. The Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists are descendants of those who followed Miller. The current teaching is that Christ return occurred in heaven and is invisible to those on earth.
I tell this story (briefly) as a reminder that we lack the knowledge to assess matters of faith that are known only to the mind of God. The return of Christ is one of these matters. Yes we are to live expecting the return of Christ but with are to do so with sober minds. We are to live lives of hope, prayer, hospitality and service so that we bear witness to Christ not to madness. The expectation of Christ's return and God's judgment calls us to live in the world but not of the world. We remain in the world as obedient servants of Christ, loving our neighbors not abandoning them so we can greet Christ on the top of a mountain. Read all of 1 Peter 4:7-11.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
The Time In The Flesh
"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2,3).
Christ has redeemed the flesh through his obedience, his teaching and his suffering. The Bible uses flesh to indicate that dimension of life which is lived in opposition to God. Though man was created in the image of God, our flesh has been cursed because of the fall. Flesh that was in harmony with the spirit of man and the will of God became an enemy. Jesus came to the world and assumed the flesh of man in order to overturn the curse and restore wholeness to man and return man to fellowship with the will of God. Through faith in Christ our flesh no longer wars with our spirit and we have peace in God. It is through this peace that we find meaning in our time in the flesh. We now live in the flesh, not under the curse, but for the will of God. Because of this truth we find meaning and purpose because we suffer. Through Christ we now understand suffering as death to the way of sin and life in God.
Christ has redeemed the flesh through his obedience, his teaching and his suffering. The Bible uses flesh to indicate that dimension of life which is lived in opposition to God. Though man was created in the image of God, our flesh has been cursed because of the fall. Flesh that was in harmony with the spirit of man and the will of God became an enemy. Jesus came to the world and assumed the flesh of man in order to overturn the curse and restore wholeness to man and return man to fellowship with the will of God. Through faith in Christ our flesh no longer wars with our spirit and we have peace in God. It is through this peace that we find meaning in our time in the flesh. We now live in the flesh, not under the curse, but for the will of God. Because of this truth we find meaning and purpose because we suffer. Through Christ we now understand suffering as death to the way of sin and life in God.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Low Approval Rating of Congress
Approval rating for Congress is 22% compared to 37% for President Bush. See my previous post on the credibility of Congress for one possible reason why it is so low.
Read the Gallup analysis of Congressional approval rating.
Read the Gallup analysis of Congressional approval rating.
Colorado Gunman Leaves Anti-Christian Message
Matthew Murray posted anti-Christian rants in between shooting sprees at Youth With A Mission and Life Church in Colorado. Here is a sample:
"God, I can't wait till I can kill you people. Feel no remorse, no sense of shame, I don't care if I live or die in the shoot-out. All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you ... as I can especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world."
I wonder where he got that idea?
Read Gunman May Have Warned of 2nd Attack.
"God, I can't wait till I can kill you people. Feel no remorse, no sense of shame, I don't care if I live or die in the shoot-out. All I want to do is kill and injure as many of you ... as I can especially Christians who are to blame for most of the problems in the world."
I wonder where he got that idea?
Read Gunman May Have Warned of 2nd Attack.
Why Politicians Lack Credibility
USA Today has an interesting story about Earmarks in today's paper. Earmarks are spending provisions attached to another unrelated bill to benefit a lawmaker's district and elevate his political stature. Another name for this practice is pork spending. Democrats made this an issue in 2006 and USA Today credits that campaign issue as one key factor in Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives. Now Democrats are using Earmarks to help freshmen Democrats viewed as vulnerable in the 2008 campaign - all of the 49 freshmen Democrats have sponsored or co-sponsored an earmark in the current proposed spending legislation.
"Democratic candidates accused GOP incumbents last year of abusing earmarks. Patrick Murphy attacked then-congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., during a debate for failing to make the "tough decisions" on a transportation bill heavy with earmarks, the Bucks County Courier Times reported. Now a representative, Murphy sponsored $11.8 million for local projects and businesses - fourth-highest among House and Senate freshmen. In an e-mail, Murphy pointed to new rules requiring earmark sponsors to be disclosed for the first time. The House also requires members to disclose each earmark recipient. Murphy said he makes "no apologies for fighting hard for my district.""
And politicians wonder why they have approval ratings just below used car salesmen?
Read 'Earmark' Cash Aids Democrat Freshmen in USA Today.
"Democratic candidates accused GOP incumbents last year of abusing earmarks. Patrick Murphy attacked then-congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., during a debate for failing to make the "tough decisions" on a transportation bill heavy with earmarks, the Bucks County Courier Times reported. Now a representative, Murphy sponsored $11.8 million for local projects and businesses - fourth-highest among House and Senate freshmen. In an e-mail, Murphy pointed to new rules requiring earmark sponsors to be disclosed for the first time. The House also requires members to disclose each earmark recipient. Murphy said he makes "no apologies for fighting hard for my district.""
And politicians wonder why they have approval ratings just below used car salesmen?
Read 'Earmark' Cash Aids Democrat Freshmen in USA Today.
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