6 Questions to Ask Before Presuming on Grace

Posted on April 27, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 2 Comments

I have had a few discussions lately with people that have struggled with the tension between law and grace. This is not a new question, and the Bible does have some things to say to us as we work out how to navigate through this tension.

There are many issues on which the Bible is silent or has little to say. It is on these issues that this tension seems to be felt. Questions such as, “can I go to bars as long as I don’t get drunk?”, “is it OK to gamble?”, “what about dancing?”, “can a church group have a poker night?”, come to mind.

In response, I came up with six questions to help determine the right course when thinking about a particular activity.

Does the activity satisfy the Two Great Commands as found in Matthew 22:37-40? Does this activity demonstrate love for God and love for my fellow man? In John 13:3-5, we see Jesus washing the disciples’ feet as an example of how to love and serve others. The converse of this is an activity that is self-focused which ends up being hurtful to others.
Will I avoid being a stumbling block to a believer by engaging in this activity? The Apostle Paul presents this principle in his discussion about meat which was sacrificed to idols in 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 28. While we are free to do many things, some of those things might be a stumbling block to a weaker brother. We are not to have our freedom cause a weaker brother to stumble and perhaps fall into sin.
Is it wise? We have freedom to do many things that wisdom tells us are not good for us or those around us. Look at 1 Corinthians 10:23 again. Not every activity is profitable. What is your goal and does this activity help you toward that goal?
Is it a good use of my time and resources? This is the principle of stewardship as illustrated in the parable that Jesus tells in John 25:14-30. We will have to give an account to the Master as to how we spent our time on Earth. Would you want Jesus to participate with you in this activity?
Is this activity consistent with who God has created me to be? Does this activity fit in with my calling? In Romans 12:1-8, Paul tells us that to be renewed in our thinking will result in service to the Body of Christ in humility. It is only through this renewal that we can discover what the will of God is for us and begin fulfilling our role in the Body.
Does this activity help me fulfill the command to make disciples as found in Matthew 28:19? Would a non-believer be confused by knowing that I do this thing? This is similar to question #2 above. Our freedom should not be something that gives a non-believer an excuse to reject Christ.

This list is not exhaustive, but I do hope it is helpful. If you can answer “yes” to each of the questions above, then it is safe to say that activity is one to pursue.

Do you have any other principles that should be considered? Please comment below.

The Idol of Perfectionism

Posted on April 25, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 4 Comments

I have been challenged to confront my tendency to hold a standard for myself that is unrealistic and idolatrous.

I have struggled with attempting to be perfect in some areas of my life.

What is wrong with holding a high goal?

I’m glad you asked.

The problem comes when I start avoiding people and activities because I might get feedback indicating that I’m not doing such a great job in the area in which I seek to be perfect.

I doubt that I am alone in this. In the best tradition of beams and specks (Matthew 7:3-5), I have seen this speck in the eyes of others despite the beam in mine.

The only solution is to confess this idolatry as sin and focus on what is really important. In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus tells us that the two great commands are to love God and love the people around me. Anything that prevents me from accomplishing these commands is sin, period, no exceptions.

I choose to give up the illusion of perfection. I choose to give up the idea that I can be above criticism.

Rather than seeking perfection, I choose to better listen for direction from my King and follow that direction, knowing that this will be best for all.

How are you doing? Anybody else wanna confess?

Four Lessons From the Resurrection

Posted on April 24, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 2 Comments

The four lessons

It is Easter Sunday 2011, the day which commemorates the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. I insert the adjective “bodily” to distinguish myself from those who would understand the resurrection story to be nothing more than a metaphor for renewal and hope.

In 1 Corinthians 15:14, the Apostle Paul tells us that without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, “our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” The Apostle tells us in Romans 1:4 that the resurrection of Jesus is a powerful declaration that Jesus is the Son of God. Belief in the resurrection is foundational to historic Christianity. If you do away with the resurrection, we have nothing to believe.

The question is, what difference does the resurrection make in my life? How can an event that happened close to 2000 years ago affect me? Does it really make a difference?

The answer is yes, it does make a difference and I am writing this post to remind myself and my readers of some ways that resurrection should change our minds and attitudes. Here are four applications that I would like to explore in this post:

Despair is never an option
Sin can be overcome
Renewal is available
The grave is not our final destination

Despair is never an option

I am grateful that Tony Campolo brought attention to a sermon entitled, “It’s Friday but Sunday’s Coming” by African American preacher S. M. Lockridge. The point is that no matter how bleak it looked on that first Good Friday, the events of the following Sunday made all the difference in the disciples’ outlook.

The resurrection demonstrates to me that no matter how bad things might look right now, God has the power to change me and/or change my circumstances. God remains in control and as I look to him, I can be assured that he will arrange the outcome according to his plan. Paul tells us this in Romans 8:28, but a few verses later in that chapter (Romans 8:38-39), he assures us of God’s love for us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because of God’s power and love, I should never despair.

Sin can be overcome

One of the best short descriptions of what Jesus accomplished on the cross is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21. Jesus took our sin and gave us his righteousness. The resurrection proves that Jesus has the power to accomplish this. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:17 that “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” The converse is that if Jesus has been raised then we can be freed from our sin.

Ultimately, sin will be overcome when Jesus returns, but until then sin is being overcome in believers. God is working.

I should never think that there is any sin that the cross and resurrection cannot overcome.

Renewal is available

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 tells us that “in Christ shall all be made alive.” Not only can our sins be removed, we can be renewed in our thinking and in our behavior if we are in Christ. The resurrection demonstrates the power of God to bring renewal. In Christ, I have the power available to become what God has intended me to be.

I should always remember this and be doggedly, unrelentingly, seeking from God this renewal.

The grave is not our final destination

In John 14:1-3, Jesus tells the disciples that he is going to prepare a place for them and that “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” This is true for all believers.

The resurrection proves that Jesus has the power to live up to this claim. He will come and take us to himself and we will dwell with him.

I should always live with the knowledge that this life is not all there is and that any struggles now will be forgotten in the glory that is to come.

What lessons have you learned?

Great Packaging + Great Product = Integrity

Posted on April 21, 2011 Written by Mark McIntyre 1 Comment

As consumers we know that beautiful packaging does not guarantee the quality of the product inside. The photo on the box often looks much better than the content. On the other hand, with the rise of store brands, we know that good stuff can be found in very plain packages.

Visually stunning packaging is done because it sells product. Good products will sell better with attractive packaging. Effort needs to be extended toward development of both.

This morning, I was thinking about three areas to apply this idea. The first is on an individual level, the second is with regard to web media and arena for application is the Church.

Personal Behavior

One of Jesus’ criticisms of the Pharisees was that their behavior did not match how their public appearance. In Matthew 23, there is a long discourse given by Jesus in which he condemns the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He says of them in 23:3, “they preach, but do not practice.” Later, in verse 5, he says, “they do all their deeds to be seen by others.” From this, we get the proverbs that we should practice what we preach, or we should walk what we talk. This speaks to personal integrity, something that we should all strive for.

Web Media

Recently, I started paying more attention to site design as I looked around on the internet. I found some web sites that were visually stunning but lacked compelling content. I found some other sites that had great material but the site layout made it difficult to navigate or the format hindered the reading. It seems to me that there needs to be a balance struck between the form and the content. It is not an either/or decision, both the form and the content must be considered. Good content must be presented in a form that is both functional and pleasant for effective communication to take place.

Churches

Impressive buildings, talented musicians and diverse programs are all for naught if they are devoid of solid, Biblical teaching. Paul warned Timothy this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 where he writes,

¹ But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. ² For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

It is possible to have a beautiful presentation that is devoid of content. The key phrase in the Scripture above is “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” If the function of the church is not based on Scripture and aimed at deepening relationships with God and each other. There is no power in the congregation.

On the other hand, we need to structure the local church body so that it is accessible to the people in the community. The “packaging” should not deter someone from participating in the church. The music, style of dress, decor of the building, etc. should be within the “bell curve” of the surrounding society. If people are to be offended, let them be offended by the gospel message, not how it is presented.

The Challenge

The word that seems to run all through this is integrity, having our individual or corporate behavior match what we claim to believe. I see two basic steps to living in integrity:

Discover a sense of purpose. Ask yourself, why am I doing this thing?
Continually assess if what I am doing helps me fulfill this purpose.

I heard someone say that the person who knows how to do something will almost always have a job, but he will work for the man who knows why it should be done. The “why” should be asked before the “how” question.

In what other areas do you see needing this balance?