Bear with me…this is going to be a long post.
For any of you that grew up in the culture of sports and vividly remember the sometimes subtle and mostly overt messages of pride that were instilled in you at an early age, you might appreciate my next comment. I love the song “I Want To Leave A Legacy,” by Nichole Nordeman. Why you ask? Well, it was the closest thing to an excuse that I had to try to make a name for myself when I was in High School. But, despite the fact that I can see now that being president of various clubs and captain of various teams does not constitute a legacy, I still love that song because of the honesty of some of the lyrics…
I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world
It’s true, we do want an “Atta boy” at times, or even all the time. But, in the end of that wrestle that occurs between our greatest fleshly desires and our deepest yearnings for the Lord, we ultimately come to the conclusion that God’s treasures are greater and more worthy of our pursuits. So, then we should ask ourselves what is a legacy worth pursuing?
As always, we must defer to the Bible. And, while I used to think King David had it on lock because of that beautiful phrase, “A Man after God’s own heart” it’s hard to remember David without conjuring up thoughts of Bathsheba. In fact, most of our biblical heroes are wrought with deceit, adultery, doubt, anger, drunkenness, etc. While, that fact could lead this post in the direction of God’s grace and ability to use sinners…I’m still wanting to focus on a legacy worth pursuing. Thus, I want to draw your attention to 2 Kings 22-23. As Chapter 21 is coming to an end we find that the nation of Israel has already been split, and Judah is about to inherit a new king after the Death of Amon. Now, Amon was an evil dude, as was the king before him (Manasseh) and the kings before him, etc. These men were notorious for their idol worship to Baal, and a big part of that idolatry was to erect Asherah poles. These poles (or trees) were next to pagan religious sites and were the places where idolatrous sacrifices were made. You can imagine the anger that God had for these places (or maybe we can’t). Anyway, it’s against this backdrop that Chapter 22 begins with a new king, King Josiah. KJ was only 8 years old when he became King of Judah, but even then he began to build his legacy. What did he do, you ask?
Dude cleaned house.
During KJ’s reign a book of the Law was found in the temple, and after having heard the message he immediately began to change the way things were done in Judah. He tore down the high places, cut down the Asherah poles, slaughtered the priests/priestesses (prostitutes) of the pagan gods, and reinstated the Passover. In Verse 23:25 it says, “And before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.” That’s a legacy worth pursuing.
So, in an effort to clean house, and to always strive to be a woman who practices what she preaches, I am just finishing a season of tearing down my Asherah poles. As some of your remember I recently posted on the idols that exist in our culture (The Biggest Idol). That post was mostly directed towards myself, so afterwards I began a 20-day juice/water only fast as well as a 25 day facebook and television fast. First, let me be clear, I am not telling you this for my glory, only so that I can bring it to Him.
But, I wanted to write this message to share a bit of what I learned during that time.
1) We, excuse me, I had fallen for the lie that I need more than I really do. I often say that God is enough with my mouth, but with that same mouth I fill it with the comfort of food and the lie that I need much to be satisfied. But, after not eating for almost three weeks it is clear that God is enough. He always has been, and the freedom from food and worldly comforts only drove me further into his loving embrace. Food is good, but God is so much better.
2) Facebook is a lie. It tells me I’m valuable and popular and needed. But, God has told me I’m beautiful and redeemed and eternally secure. Facebook is cheap. God is priceless.
3) TV is a thief. And, I voluntarily let it rob me of the time that is so much better spent in the riches of God’s word. The Office is funny, the Word is living and active.
4) Cutting down the Asherah poles is a lifelong pursuit. I was made to worship, and I am so thankful for this time to align my highest praise with our loving Father. But, I’m not so ignorant to think that I’ve beaten this ability to prostitute myself. So, with the grace of God and the accountability of you good people, I’ll keep sharpening my ax so that I can continue to cut down the poles I will foolishly erect in the future.
My final words on the subject: if you find yourself standing in the shadows of the poles you’ve created, know that God delights in helping his children clean house.
1Co 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
What's in a name?
Despite the commands throughout scripture to imitate God and His character, there are few times when I read my Bible that I think to myself, “Hey, I do that.” Consequently, I am always delighted when I come to the passage in Genesis 17 where we see God giving Abram a new name—Abraham. While there are deep theological implications to this re-naming, I will simply liken it to giving a nickname. Which, for those of you that know me, now understand why I enjoy this passage. I love nicknames. In fact, if I call you by your real, parent-given name, then you are in rare company.
[Allow me to digress for a moment to brag…I once gave a friend of mine the nickname “Pookie” in high school, and it soon became her name used by almost everyone in those days. Yes, I do delight in that, yes, I’m that vain.]
Back to the point, when I give out nicknames, it doesn’t really matter to me what everyone else calls you either. I will continue to call you by that nickname, even if I’m the only one. To the world, you may be Lori, but to me you’re Pookie. To the world, you may be Laura, but to me you’re Lo. To the world you may be Nick, but to me you’re Papi…and this could go on for quite some time. You see, when I name someone, I’m not only giving them a title, I’m also to some degree possessing them (now, don’t get me wrong, by giving you a nickname I’m not trying to own you or subordinate you, I’m just letting you know that I love you and want to claim you as my friend). You’re MY Pookie, You’re MY Lo, You’re MY Papi. I think in large part, that’s what God is doing also. Abram is no longer just a Middle-Eastern man shepherding his flock, he is now Abraham—a man chosen by God to begin the line of descendancy that will lead to Christ. He’s God’s now.
So, what’s my point? The dishing out of nicknames didn’t stop in the Old Testament with Abraham’s clan. God has given His children (you and I) names as well. Here are just a few:
Royal Priests, Holy, Chosen (1 Pet 2:9)
Beloved (Jude 1)
Saints (Rom 1:7)
Blessed (Matt 25:34)
Brothers of Christ (Luke 8:21)
Child of Promise (Rom 8:9)
Child of Light (Eph 5:8)
Elected (Col 3:12)
Excellent (Ps 16:3)
Co-Heirs (Eph 3:6)
Heir of the Grace of Life (1 Pet 3:7)
Just (Hab 2:4)
Lambs (John 21:15)
Lively stones (1 Pet 2:5)
Ransomed (Is 35:10)
Redeemed (Is 51:11)
Now I hope from this blog you have not assumed that my point is to encourage everyone to become people that give out nicknames (although, I do recommend it). Rather, I hope to encourage you to realize that you’ve been named, and and are ultimately His. To the world you may be no one; to Him you’re His Redeemed. To the world, you may be average; to Him you’re His Royal Priesthood….
[Allow me to digress for a moment to brag…I once gave a friend of mine the nickname “Pookie” in high school, and it soon became her name used by almost everyone in those days. Yes, I do delight in that, yes, I’m that vain.]
Back to the point, when I give out nicknames, it doesn’t really matter to me what everyone else calls you either. I will continue to call you by that nickname, even if I’m the only one. To the world, you may be Lori, but to me you’re Pookie. To the world, you may be Laura, but to me you’re Lo. To the world you may be Nick, but to me you’re Papi…and this could go on for quite some time. You see, when I name someone, I’m not only giving them a title, I’m also to some degree possessing them (now, don’t get me wrong, by giving you a nickname I’m not trying to own you or subordinate you, I’m just letting you know that I love you and want to claim you as my friend). You’re MY Pookie, You’re MY Lo, You’re MY Papi. I think in large part, that’s what God is doing also. Abram is no longer just a Middle-Eastern man shepherding his flock, he is now Abraham—a man chosen by God to begin the line of descendancy that will lead to Christ. He’s God’s now.
So, what’s my point? The dishing out of nicknames didn’t stop in the Old Testament with Abraham’s clan. God has given His children (you and I) names as well. Here are just a few:
Royal Priests, Holy, Chosen (1 Pet 2:9)
Beloved (Jude 1)
Saints (Rom 1:7)
Blessed (Matt 25:34)
Brothers of Christ (Luke 8:21)
Child of Promise (Rom 8:9)
Child of Light (Eph 5:8)
Elected (Col 3:12)
Excellent (Ps 16:3)
Co-Heirs (Eph 3:6)
Heir of the Grace of Life (1 Pet 3:7)
Just (Hab 2:4)
Lambs (John 21:15)
Lively stones (1 Pet 2:5)
Ransomed (Is 35:10)
Redeemed (Is 51:11)
Now I hope from this blog you have not assumed that my point is to encourage everyone to become people that give out nicknames (although, I do recommend it). Rather, I hope to encourage you to realize that you’ve been named, and and are ultimately His. To the world you may be no one; to Him you’re His Redeemed. To the world, you may be average; to Him you’re His Royal Priesthood….
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Biggest Idol
Not long before you step foot inside any major bookstore will you find yourself immersed in the culture of the self-help world. At the Barnes in Noble by the SMU campus the self-help section is juxtaposed to the New Age Books, I doubt this is a coincidence. Of course, this is what one would expect in a country like ours: home of the self-made man. Whether watching televisions shows, cheering on one’s favorite sports teams, or simply reading out of any magazine on the shelves today, one thing is made clear: do it yourself. Americans today are familiar and engrained with the phrases “pick yourself up by your bootstraps”, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”, and my personal favorite “just do it.” While many of this may seem harmless, and really quite motivating, there is a major flaw to this philosophy: scripture negates those claims.
The Word is clear that “the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests in the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). And, that all good things (weight loss, emotional stability, that new car, a promotion, etc) come from the Lord. Thus, what is one to do when there is illusory triumph over one’s circumstance apart from the Lord? My suggestion, study the change more carefully and you may just find no victory was actually claimed. I’ll use a certain case study in sin to make my point…The Biggest Loser.
At this point I think I should note that I love The Biggest Loser, in fact, I’m rather involved in that show. But, I think it’s fair to call things the way I see them, and that show is sinful, take that for what you will.
Anyways, The Biggest Loser is a show that entirely built around changing people’s lives by helping them lose weight. I would submit to you that those people are idolaters of food when they go on the show. You can hear it in their confessional tapes as they lament, “I use food to numb the pain”, “I use food to have something to control”, “I use food to calm me after a stressful day”, etc. For the sake of this blog I will define idolatry as placing anything in your life as ultimate, or using things to satisfy you instead of the Lord. Therefore, I am usually amazed when I see these outstanding weight losses on the show, since there is no spiritual reference made claiming their victory over this idol. Obviously, this would be an astonishing feat to see that people who do not profess the Lord can overcome sin in their lives when Romans 6 so clearly states that they are slaves to sin. What then is the real cause behind their pseudo-success?
I submit to you that these people are not overcoming their sin of idolatry of food, but rather are exchanging it for idolatry of self. I would encourage you to listen to the people talk about their success stories. They are full of self-exultation with phrases like “I need to put myself first”, and “I want to inspire the nation telling them it’s okay to make yourself #1.” Even someone with limited theological experience can tell that putting oneself first usually ends in doom (something about pride coming before a fall rings a bell).
Now don’t get me wrong, I think these people are wonderful and wish them all the best success in their weight loss, but the reality for them still exists that they are full of idolatry and for this the Lord is not pleased.
My point: idolatry is rampant. And, apart from the Lord there is no true victory. So, the next time you are tempted to go reaching for anything that comforts you—cell phone, food, best friend, boy friend, tv, facebook, or even the illusion of your self-sufficiency—remember that the only true satisfaction in this world is the Lord. His nearness is our Good. Ps 73:28
The Word is clear that “the horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests in the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). And, that all good things (weight loss, emotional stability, that new car, a promotion, etc) come from the Lord. Thus, what is one to do when there is illusory triumph over one’s circumstance apart from the Lord? My suggestion, study the change more carefully and you may just find no victory was actually claimed. I’ll use a certain case study in sin to make my point…The Biggest Loser.
At this point I think I should note that I love The Biggest Loser, in fact, I’m rather involved in that show. But, I think it’s fair to call things the way I see them, and that show is sinful, take that for what you will.
Anyways, The Biggest Loser is a show that entirely built around changing people’s lives by helping them lose weight. I would submit to you that those people are idolaters of food when they go on the show. You can hear it in their confessional tapes as they lament, “I use food to numb the pain”, “I use food to have something to control”, “I use food to calm me after a stressful day”, etc. For the sake of this blog I will define idolatry as placing anything in your life as ultimate, or using things to satisfy you instead of the Lord. Therefore, I am usually amazed when I see these outstanding weight losses on the show, since there is no spiritual reference made claiming their victory over this idol. Obviously, this would be an astonishing feat to see that people who do not profess the Lord can overcome sin in their lives when Romans 6 so clearly states that they are slaves to sin. What then is the real cause behind their pseudo-success?
I submit to you that these people are not overcoming their sin of idolatry of food, but rather are exchanging it for idolatry of self. I would encourage you to listen to the people talk about their success stories. They are full of self-exultation with phrases like “I need to put myself first”, and “I want to inspire the nation telling them it’s okay to make yourself #1.” Even someone with limited theological experience can tell that putting oneself first usually ends in doom (something about pride coming before a fall rings a bell).
Now don’t get me wrong, I think these people are wonderful and wish them all the best success in their weight loss, but the reality for them still exists that they are full of idolatry and for this the Lord is not pleased.
My point: idolatry is rampant. And, apart from the Lord there is no true victory. So, the next time you are tempted to go reaching for anything that comforts you—cell phone, food, best friend, boy friend, tv, facebook, or even the illusion of your self-sufficiency—remember that the only true satisfaction in this world is the Lord. His nearness is our Good. Ps 73:28
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