Views of God

Leigh Bortins made an interesting observation about contemporary evangelicals and their view of God. We see God as a "Nice God who does nice things for nice people."
I immediately remembered the testimony of R. C. Sproul. When he first became a believer and read through the Old Testament, he realized one thing clearly: "This is a God who plays for keeps."
Which view do you think is closer to the truth?

Curriculum and Nature

Today's educational curriculum begins with utility because the authors are agnostic about nature. The value and worth of a thing is tied to its utility, they would say. This explains debates about abortion, end of life care, and sex education. Beginning with the nature of a thing brings about far different ends. Education before Dewey had character development and wisdom as its ends. After Dewey, education was pursued for utilitarian ends. I fear the day when a man's value is discussed only by his contribution to society and not by who He is as a human being.

The Contemplation of Nature

Classical Conversations introduced me to Andrew Kern's CD "The Contemplation of Nature." I'll have to listen to it a dozen times to grasp the implications of his lecture on education, but I did learn this. Public, and sadly Christian, schools begin with utility- a holdover from Dewey. To really understand something, you must begin with its nature. Everything that exists began as an idea in the mind of God.
To know anything, Kern says you must follow a three step process:
1. Understand its nature
2. Discern its purpose from its nature.
3. Grasp its propriety.
For example, as a leader, I must understand the nature of those under my care. A follower is made in the image of God, a sinner, a male or female, and one whose ultimate purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Propriety tells me the moral and fitting ways for that nature to be fulfilled.

My Sheep Know My Voice

What is the difference between “Harassed and helpless” and displaying the great love of God? The wandering sheep has gone beyond the voice of the Shepherd. He no longer hears those calming tones, those assured directions, those tender affirmations. He directs his own way, searches for self-confidence, and tries to settle himself in the face of the Predator.
“My sheep hear my voice.” The sheep that is safe rejoices when he hears his shepherd. He runs to him because he knows the shepherd leads him to water, to food, to rest, to safety. He learns to love the shepherd not just for what he supplies, but for his faithfulness. Day after day, he has met the needs of one who cannot meet his own needs. He speaks clearly, lovingly, and with great affirmation. The Shepherd loves his sheep first, and sheep with good sense love him in return.

Show the Wonder

Jesus could see it. Those with spiritual eyes could see it as well. Harassed and helpless. It is not hard to see- the nervousness, the restlessness, the wide-eyed fear. There is another way to live. The Shepherd has another idea:
“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; Give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand, those who take refuge in you from their foes” (Psalm 17:6-7).
The Shepherd envisions a loving, compassionate relationship with his sheep. They will call and He will answer. Sheep take refuge from their foes in Him. They rest. They call. He answers. In the process, the watching world is awed by the shepherd’s care. God’s compassion for sheep like you and me should make the witnesses around us go “Wow! I want that kind of care.”
Lord, display your compassion in my life. Show your wonder. Let me witness the width and the depth of your great love. Use me to whet the appetite of others to seek after You. Keep me as the apple of your eye. In Jesus’ name.

Seven Steps to Giving a Testimony

Seven Steps to Giving a Testimony

1. Make Jesus the hero. Tell about his grace, love, mercy or help. The goal is to help others follow Christ better by your example.
2. Focus your testimony to one life lesson. What did God teach you through that experience, answered prayer, period of suffering, or miraculous intervention? Explain your testimony in a way that will help others learn the same life lesson.
3. Add a verse that briefly explains the biblical basis for your testimony.
4. Be careful with the past. Tell what God did. Don’t describe the past in such detail that the listener thinks you’d like to go back!
5. Talk about failures too. By sharing successes and failures, we give a hopeful picture to those who want to follow in our train.
6. Short is better than long. Share your life lesson, how God worked, and a Bible verse to show you have interpreted the lesson correctly. Most people wander because they feel like they need to fill time. Instead, stand and share confidently, then sit down. Practice with a friend. Have him check for clarity, focus, and time.
7. Pray. We share our testimony because we want to give examples of Christ’s faithfulness to us in our individual lives. We want others to be willing to follow him too. Ask God to help your testimony achieve the end of glorifying Him!

Harassed and Helpless

When Jesus watched crowds coming to hear the Good News, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Anxiety, sadness, stress, weariness, and fear. The enemy was closing in on his prey. Collapse was imminent.
This is the natural state of the unbeliever. Satan pursues his kill with unrelenting zeal. There is a growing realization in the mind of his prey that all his energy, speed, and cunning have been expended in vain. The race is coming to an end.
Too often, however, it has been reflective of my own spiritual state. In the life of a sheep, the shepherd makes all the difference. Water, food, and protection all come from his skill, his rod and staff. The life and health of the sheep is in his hands alone. What does it say to the watching world if I appear harassed and helpless? Worse, what does it say about my Shepherd?