Today I filled out an online survey from Reformed Theological Seminary, where I received my Masters' degree. I kept getting emails encouraging me to do it, and kept deleting the emails, but finally gave in today, and decided to let my voice be heard. At the end, here's some comments I put:
I hope RTS and other seminaries will move toward ecumenism and training men and women to lead churches and ministries that are effective in bringing the gospel to our society. I fear many churches are like little country clubs operating much the same way they did in the last century. We're focused on keeping things going, perpetuating the status quo, because that's all we're trained for. We're so focused on right doctrine...but it doesn't necessarily lead to right practice in the lives of not only our congregants, but also our leaders.
I hope RTS and other seminaries will learn from some of the emerging "new Calvinists" like Mark Driscoll and Mark Chandler, and dare I say, be willing to reach across denominational boundaries and learn from today's leaders like Craig Groeschel, Andy Stanley, Steven Furtick, Ed Stetzer, and Francis Chan, to name a few. I hope practical theology found in the writings and conference speeches from men like these will be brought more into seminary training.
My current ministry position is "administrative director." I have had to learn nearly EVERYTHING from the ground up--how to lead teams and volunteers, how to run an office, how to do budgets, how to do bookkeeping, how to run a portable church,...
I've been so thankful God called me into the direction he did. I love the church I'm a part of, leading and growing as a follower of Jesus alongside new Christians, young Christians, and those from other denominational backgrounds. Gone are the days of pastor do-it-all. Let's move into the future bringing the best of what the Reformed faith offers and humbly offering it to the world and the church, helping the bride shine as bright as She can for her Groom, Jesus!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Don't Squander Your Freedom
233 years ago today the declaration of independence was signed. A thought came to me this morning that I would like to share with you--I was reminded of a passage in Galatians 5:
"It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom" (v. 13-14, MSG).
I think this can be applied to the individual and to this country of America. Paul originally was directing it toward the newly converted Christians in Galatia. They were abusing their freedom by just doing whatever they wanted, thereby becoming slaves again to their sinful ways, their idols, their addictions. Ultimately, when you've been given freedom in Christ, who set you free from sin, it's not so that you can just keep on sinning and not worry about the consequences. You must act responsibly and beware becoming enslaved again.
We live in a great country and God has for these 233 years given us amazing blessings and incredible privileges of freedom and global influence. Our freedom as a country was won through hardship, death, and war by thousands of soldiers and their families. We've been given this freedom. Yet we are indebted to credit card companies, to banks, and to other nations because we want to just do whatever we want. We've made the mess that leads to recession by just buying whatever we want whenever we want it. Now we're not ALL to blame as citizens, because many of us try to be good citizens who are morally, judicially, and financially responsible. That's the kind of living that's worth dying for.
As Paul's words apply individually: "use your freedom to serve one another in love....Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom." If enough individuals lived by this, it would be true of us corporately, and we would continue to enjoy freedom for many long years to come.
I'm thankful that we live in freedom, thankful for the incredible blessing it is to live in the United States. Thankful to Jesus for the freedom from sin that He won for me. I did not pay for either. Thankful people live responsibly, lovingly, so as to enjoy freedom.
"It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom" (v. 13-14, MSG).
I think this can be applied to the individual and to this country of America. Paul originally was directing it toward the newly converted Christians in Galatia. They were abusing their freedom by just doing whatever they wanted, thereby becoming slaves again to their sinful ways, their idols, their addictions. Ultimately, when you've been given freedom in Christ, who set you free from sin, it's not so that you can just keep on sinning and not worry about the consequences. You must act responsibly and beware becoming enslaved again.
We live in a great country and God has for these 233 years given us amazing blessings and incredible privileges of freedom and global influence. Our freedom as a country was won through hardship, death, and war by thousands of soldiers and their families. We've been given this freedom. Yet we are indebted to credit card companies, to banks, and to other nations because we want to just do whatever we want. We've made the mess that leads to recession by just buying whatever we want whenever we want it. Now we're not ALL to blame as citizens, because many of us try to be good citizens who are morally, judicially, and financially responsible. That's the kind of living that's worth dying for.
As Paul's words apply individually: "use your freedom to serve one another in love....Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom." If enough individuals lived by this, it would be true of us corporately, and we would continue to enjoy freedom for many long years to come.
I'm thankful that we live in freedom, thankful for the incredible blessing it is to live in the United States. Thankful to Jesus for the freedom from sin that He won for me. I did not pay for either. Thankful people live responsibly, lovingly, so as to enjoy freedom.
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