Skip to main content
Why am I so consumed with myself? Never is there a day where I do not lavish myself with some form of self-indulgence. If I eat, I eat to filling. If I drive, I drive to my advantage. If I walk, I move at my pace. If I sit, I choose the luxurious chair. If I speak, I choose language that will improve my standing. If I love, I love to the end that I may be loved. My days are filled with "me". Where is the worship in that? Is not my day to be an act of worship? Is not worship inherently an act of giving rather than taking?

I suppose there are some necessary elements of this self-seeking phenomenon. Right? Must I not must be concerned about my health, my safety, my well-being in general, but have I come so far that trivial matters are just as important as vital matters? Is it really necessary that I speed around the "grandma" in front of me only to exit the freeway in 1/2 of a mile? Is "supersize" a necessity? Must I defend my reputation for the sake of personal dignity? Will not Christ be my advocate? Will not Christ provide for my every need? Will not Christ care for my well-being according to his good will and purposes?

Atheists! I am a practical atheist. We are all practical atheists. Why? Because we take rather than give. Do I really believe that God will care for my every need until the end? I fancy, with good reason, that my heart demonstrates otherwise, else would I not live like I believed in the sufficiency of God's goodness? Did Christ not teach that if he cares for the sparrow he will care for his own that much more? Did he not say, "take no thought for the morrow?" Did he not say, "He will never leave us, nor forsake us?" Did he not say that, "My life is hid with Christ in God?" Why then? Why is my being the only constant in my reality?

Christ cares infinitely for his children. Is that not a true statement? If Christ is fully God and a PERSON within the triune God, is he not infinitely able to provide for the smallest of my need? Even the largest of my need? If Christ is mine and he is in me cannot I trust him to see to the smallest detail of my life? Worship frees me from my own self.

Popular posts from this blog

You and Whose Army?

America elects a pro-choice candidate and suddenly my fellow Christian brothers and sisters head for the hills screaming the world has come to an end. Are not abortion rates much higher in several other countries? Why aren't we just as concerned about "life" in those countries? America elects an economically progressive candidate and people are screaming "socialism" preparing for a Rapture. (An mid-1800's invention of conservative Christian theology). Doesn't America know that Democracy is one of the youngest political philosophies to be employed? Why do we think the fate of the world depends on the success of our economical and political philosophies? America is struggling economically, and Jesus is now coming back to rescue his 2000 year old church from this difficult tribulation. Doesn't America remember that its only 232 years old? Why does God's blessing equate with monetary blessing? Why do American Christians constantly tie the end of the ...

Pastor Or Theologian?

I received a facebook message from a long-lost college friend and roommate the other day. In his cordial greeting he noted, and correctly, that I had just graduated with a Masters in Theology. I really appreciated the recognition and congratulations, but what bothered me was his next question. He asked if I was "going to be a Pastor or a Theologian?" I laughed, not because I thought the answer to the question was obvious, but because of the fact that he dichotomized the two disciplines as mutually exclusive. My first reaction was to respond with a smart alec remark about his ignorance and misconstrued views of Christianity and its relationship to education, but then I had to stop and remember that he graduated from the same undergraduate institution which I graduated from, and probably, like me, attended a 'fundy' church growing up. Reminding myself of this context cooled me off a bit and I kindly responded that I would hope someday to do both. Nonetheless, what his ...

Three Questions

Q1. If you were to be in ministry 10 years from now (whether you're in ministry now or not) what would you like to be doing and where? Q2. If you could wake up tomorrow with a degree and all the learning that would have gone with it from any seminary which one would you pick and why? Q3. What's your poison: donuts, beer, wine, pizza, chocolate, twinkies, key-lime pie? 1. In my crazy mind I see myself either A) functioning in a ministerial role (non-denominational or denominational?) or B) functioning in an educational administrative role in a Christian School (high school or college?) 2. Truett Seminary (Baylor University) because I would like to study Christian History with D. H. Williams. 3. Djarum Blacks (literally, they're killing me...) I tag: Matt Woodard Patrick Mitchell Ethan Welch Joel Reemstma