Ichabod!

What comes to mind when you see this word? Biblically speaking this is not the term that Christians desire and it is not the term that we seek in our church advertisement pieces. At face value the term is a male given name that comes from the hebrew to mean without honor.[1] Biblically the term occurs in 1 Samuel 4:21; “And she named the child Ichabod, saying, the glory has departed from Israel! Because the ark of God has been captured and because of her father-n-law and her husband.” The essence of this term focuses upon the glory departing.

I would ask us to pause and reflect upon certain present realities[2]:

•       Six thousand churches close their doors every year
•       Thirty-five hundred Americans leave the church daily
•       Only one pastor in ten retires while still in the ministry
•       Less than 20% of Americans attend church regularly
•       Only 15% of churches in America are growing numerically
•       Only 2% of growing churches are effectively sinning converts to Christ
•       Only 9% of evangelicals tithe to their churches
•       Eight hundred new church plants survive each year
•       Ten thousand new church plants would be needed annually to keep up with the population growth

Consider a mother that dies after the birth of her son and yet the name of that son is Ichabod – the glory has departed. This level of angst is not due to loosing “cultural relevance” or “market share.” The glory of God leaving was much deeper and far more serious.

What does this mean to the modern church? With trending being what it is there is one question that demands a response from every church leader and worshipper, “How long do we keep doing “business as usual church” before we realize the glory of heaven has departed?” The desire to reach for a transcendent experience requires more than “horizontal programs” doesn’t it? To experience the “glory of God” in church is a game changer in your life.

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[1] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ichabod Accessed 15, 2012.

[2] James McDonald Vertical Church, [David C. Cook, 2012 electronic ed.] Referencing Philip Brenner University of Michigan Sociologist as reported in USA Today “God Knows, We Lie about Going To Church” by Cathy Lynn Grossman

God's Glory Brings The Miraculous

What God gives to satisfy the spiritual longing He has placed in every human heart is the only product the church has to offer[1] – Jesus Christ!

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory…” [Jn 2:11]. It did not take long for Christ to expose his identity and for glory to start flowing out of him like a mighty river. Jesus talked in a way that was different from other. Jesus thought differently from humans. Jesus loved in ways that humans had no category for understanding. His miracles manifested the glory of God. It is safe to say that where Christ is at work, things are happening that cannot be explained by rational channels of comprehension.

So who gets the glory by our definitions of doing church in 2012? Consider the words of Christ in John 5:44; “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that only comes from God? This passage should arrest every minister/leader/teacher. Isn’t Christ suggesting that taking the glory that belongs to another is sin? The miraculous is plausible in our midst when leaders intentionally deflect the glory to its rightful place. Failing to deflect the glory to its rightful owner restricts the glory that God wants to pour down. Let us learn to confess our preoccupation of exalting one another. If we allow the culture’s compulsion to celebrate celebrity to carry our church, we inhibit the glory of God that s desperately needed on the people of God![2]

When people are taught that their ultimate purpose is horizontally reaching the lost or building a church or extending their hands to the poor, these people run the risk of derailing during difficult times of life. I come back to my opening passage in John 2:11 – Jesus simply talks, thinks, and performs miracles in ways that I cannot replicate, but I can give him the glory and challenge others to do the same. Yes, God’s glory brings the prospect of the miraculous!

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[1] James McDonald, Vertical Church [David C. Cook, 2012] electronic.

[2] Ibid.

Theology Vs. Politics

Theology Vs. Politics

A Bibliography of Resources

I have always appreciated those scholars who have created a bibliography of resources for further research. I am creating a bibliography that points ministers and church leaders of various levels to materials that aid in the discussion of Theology and Politics. The church should not be relegated to silence, but must speak with intelligence regarding a biblical world-view and how governments play a significant role within the fabric of our cultures. The genesis of this list comes from Dr. Wayne Grudem, my Theology Professor from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His book is listed below, “Politics According To The Bible.”

Bibliography

Bauckman, Richard. The Bible in Politics: How to Read the Bible Politically. London: SPCK, 1989.

Carson, D. A. Christ and Culture Revisited. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2008.

Colson, Charles W. Government: An insider's View on the Boundaries between Faith and Politics. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007.

Culver, Robert. Toward a Biblical View of Civil Gernment. Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1974.

Green, Chris ed. A Higher Throne: Evangelicals and Public Policy. Nottingham: Apollos, 2008.

Grudem, Wayne. Politics According To The Bible: A Comprehensive Resource for Understanding Modern Political Issues in Light of Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2010.

Kennedy, James D., and Newcombe, Jerry. How Would Jesus Vote? A Christian Perspective on the Issues. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Waterbrook, 2008.

MacArthur, John. Why Government Can't Save You: An Alternative to Political Activism. Nashville, Tennessee: Word, 2000.

McConville, Gordon. God and Earthly Power: An Old Testament Political Theology. London: T & T Clark, 2006.

Minnery, Tom. Why You Can't Stay Silent. Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House, 2001.

O'Donavan, Oliver. The Desire of the Dnations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Schluter, Micahel and Ashcroft, John eds. Jubilee Manifesto. Leicester: Ingter-Varsity Press, 2005.

Spencer, Nick, and Jonathan eds. Chaplin. God and Government. London: SPCK, 2009.

Thomas, Cal and Dobson, Ed. Blinded By Might: Why The Religious Right Can't Save America. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1999.

Wallis, Jim. God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It. New York: Harper, 2005.

The Person of God's Glory

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these days he has spoke to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” [Hebrews 1:1-3ESV]

This description of God’s glory is dripping with the notion that Jesus Christ is the central concept of scripture that we dare not miss this point. God now speaks through his Son…the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s nature. Let us break apart two key components for better understanding.

• ·      First of all we learn that Christ is the “radiance of the glory of God.” To better understand this clause we would say that as “brightness is to sun” so Christ is to God. The radiant reflection is so identical that to discuss God Almighty to automatically include Jesus Christ.
• ·      Secondly we learn that Christ is the “exact imprint” of God. This New Testament term indicates something that has been engraved. Therefore, we would conclude that the selection of this term teaches us that Christ is so precise in representation that “originality/only one of a kind” is the concept that comes to mind.

These are powerful concepts when discussing the “glory” of God. Adding to the discussion of John 1:14; “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” That glory is a manifestation of God, it is evidence for God. Is it any wonder the angelic host in heaven declared “Glory to God in the highest…” [Lk 2:14] at the birth of Christ. This was not glory in a “high place,” but rather glory of the highest degree. There is no greater manifestation of the glory of God than through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.

What God gives to satisfy the spiritual longing He has placed in every human heart is the only product that church has to offer[1] – Jesus Christ.

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[1] James McDonald Vertical Church [David Cook, 2012] electronic.

The Quest For God

The Quest For God

“[God] wants to do the inconceivable, the uncommon, the unexpected, the remarkable, the incomprehensible, so that He – God – is the only explanation for what occurs in our lives.”[1]

Let’s bring into focus some terms that will assist us in understanding this God-shaped vacuum that drives our spiritual hunger. The first term is “transcendence.” This term is used to described God as being far away or wholly other. “Manifest Presence” is what we call God coming near. On the one had scripture declares that the Lord God is in the heaven above (Deut. 4:39), and that He has set his glory above the heavens’ (Psa. 8:1). Yet on the other hand we realize that God is actually not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27). Another term to consider is “Omnipresence” which means that God is everywhere fully and completely. However, we should not assume that Omnipresence means everywhere the same in terms of God’s activity.

Exodus 33 reminds us why this discussion matters if in fact we desire to experience the manifest presence of God in our church. What a shock that it must have been for Moses to come from Mount Sinai only to discover the people intoxicated with idol worship from “golden calves that jumped out of the fire.” Even more serious was God’s appraisal of the situation: “…I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people” (Ex 33:3). The intoxicated idol worshippers sobered quickly and notice their response to God’s words of removing His presence; “When the people heard this disastrous word they mourned…” Still hung-over they were shocked at the meaning of God’s report.

From this scenario Moses intercedes on behalf of the people. Do not miss the power of his words in 33:15; “…if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” Can we imagine that level of intensity – Are we terrified to take one step in ministry without the manifest presence of God? Are we comfortable in activity for God as opposed to His manifest presence? Does a thought of weekend services without the presence of God cause you to go into a “melt-down” mode like Moses?

Perhaps it is time that we return to our Biblical purposes that allows God to be the leader and spokesman instead of our many programs and plans that we invite God to attend. There are thousands of ways that churches can distinguish themselves. Our goal is not to uniquely distinguish us from each other. However, all of our glitz, bling, and light-show displays are not what makes the church of Jesus Christ unique in front of a watching world. The only thing that we can shout about is God showing up in power and doing what we cannot do for ourselves!

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[1] Don Cousins, Unexplainable: Pursuing A Life Only God Can Make Possible (Colorado Springs: David C Cook, 2009) pp14-15.

What Makes Us Distinct?

What Makes Us Distinct?[1]

Omnipresence of God states that He is everywhere fully and completely at every moment of every day. You cannot escape the omnipresence of God. Is it possible to nuance the fact that God is everywhere and the problem that He is often not at church?

As church leaders, have we lost sight of the only thing that truly separates us from other churches and the only thing worth shouting about is God showing up in power and doing what we cannot do in ourselves? Our well-orchestrated church service designed to hit our “target audience” is not attractional enough to a hurting world searching for real answers to real dilemmas of life. Do not misunderstand my thoughts. We should have a sharp presentation of who and what we are as a church within the context of our community. But all of the business-sense and marketing strategy will not make up for the loss of manifested presence of God.

Moses captures the essence of this concern; “Is it not your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people from every other people on the face of the earth? [Exodus 33:16].  Moses understood that his only identity and the people’s only scintilla of significance was the distinction of God’s manifest presence in their midst.

Omnipresence does not mean everywhere the same does it? Dr. Wayne Grudem, one of my theology professors states; “God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with His whole being, yet God acts differently in different places.”[2] With that said what is it that we are asking when we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” [Matthew 6:10].  We are not praying for some “hope-so-maybe-so” prayer are we? Rather, are we not asking God to come and do in this immediate time and space what He is continuously doing in heaven and will some day do in totality on the earth? Stated another way, we are asking God for his manifest presence meaning God is at work right here, right now!

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[1] The Book “Vertical Church” by James McDonald is the genesis for this article

[2] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Downers Grove: InterVarsity 1994), p.173.