Our last sermon GOSPEL WITH A FACE was the last in this series. The series intended to put a face on contemporary Christianity which is purported to be "watered down" and perhaps therefore, ineffective in keeping one "out of the weeds" and on a path of Bible-centered spiritual renewal. "Our Enslaved Free Will" explored the "law of my mind" working against the human nature of flesh and heart in relation to God's Sovereignty. Historically, the concept of "free will" evolved from the Greek "Thelema" (longings or feeling for what I want), early theologies translating to "Autoexousia" (you can choose but you are responsible for it) and then transitioning to Latin "liberatum arbitrium" (free will, a Stoic notion). Augustine then saw this as really not being free but addicted (Hence, his Confessions) or "liberatum arbitrium captivatum" or "Captive Free Will" requiring post provident grace which seems to be the same idea the Apostle Paul was saying.
Take a breath here. Now we launch into the WANT-TO CALCULATOR (a form of deceit) which is controlled by the CHOOSER BOX, which is totally free. The WTC is pictured as a heart balanced on the scale of justice and features a key-hole which is last week's sermon, The HOLY IMPOSITION where God shoves his Spirit into the key hole, an act of Godly love. Therefore, our WTC's are not free but harnessed to our human nature, our ENSLAVED FREE WILL. The point is: current theology tends to waterdown christianity and treat it as a spectator sport or "practice" satisfying the heart while placing the Holy Spirit in a vase on the wall. Like Job, we must repent of our "righteousness" in order to be restored, an important point to consider as we decide next week what to do under our economic circumstances as a church.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
LMCC and JOB
There is an interesting parallel between the current circumstances of our church and the story of Job. Our church is rooted in Rockland Community Church which began as a "pioneer" church in the valley across I-70 from our present location. From a church on the wagon trail up Mount Vernon canyon the present day Rockland Community Church was built. Our current church resulted from a split which sent us to the Nature Center as Mountain Christian Fellowship and then as Lookout Mountain Community Church in a new location. That building was sold to build the new church we presently occupy. In this process we grew from a few pews to a mega-church but like Job, we lost it all and are now struggling again with just a few in the pews.
Job had it all in his day.The story of Job, you may recall, begain with God and Satan agreeing to test Job under dire circumstances. Job remained faithful as some of us but God did not answer his pleas. One day, Elihu, the son of Barakel, the buzite, approached Job's three friends and rebuked them saying, "I have kept my mouth shut and watched what is happening to Job and now I am angry and going to speak. You did not refute Job in his distress". And to Job Elihu said, "Job, I am angry with you. Quit trying to justify yourself, juustify God!" God had not spoken to Job throughout this entire episode and as Elihu continued speaking to Job, Job repented from his pleas which had been "I've been a good boy, God, why are you doing this to me?" It is interesting to note that when the dialogue of Elihu ended, the next chapter begins, "And God said to Job....". Job quit thinking about himself and centered on God and he was restored.
As we begin "deliberations" about last week's Olah service, may we remember our church and the story of Job as we struggle with the ragged edges of creative cooperation and July 17's congregational meeting where our church will reach another milestone or perish with a circumstancial mill stone. Job kept the faith but he had to repent to be restored.
R. Jones
Job had it all in his day.The story of Job, you may recall, begain with God and Satan agreeing to test Job under dire circumstances. Job remained faithful as some of us but God did not answer his pleas. One day, Elihu, the son of Barakel, the buzite, approached Job's three friends and rebuked them saying, "I have kept my mouth shut and watched what is happening to Job and now I am angry and going to speak. You did not refute Job in his distress". And to Job Elihu said, "Job, I am angry with you. Quit trying to justify yourself, juustify God!" God had not spoken to Job throughout this entire episode and as Elihu continued speaking to Job, Job repented from his pleas which had been "I've been a good boy, God, why are you doing this to me?" It is interesting to note that when the dialogue of Elihu ended, the next chapter begins, "And God said to Job....". Job quit thinking about himself and centered on God and he was restored.
As we begin "deliberations" about last week's Olah service, may we remember our church and the story of Job as we struggle with the ragged edges of creative cooperation and July 17's congregational meeting where our church will reach another milestone or perish with a circumstancial mill stone. Job kept the faith but he had to repent to be restored.
R. Jones
Monday, July 4, 2011
Olah-Oh My Gosh!
July 4, 2011
I didn't want to go to church Saturday night because I'd had a glass of wine. I told Kathy it would be just my luck to have the pastor come up and smell it on my breath. (Which he may have) I told her if I could just make it through to communion, not stumble or anything on the way up there, I'd be covered since because, of course, I'm taking the wine and bread so wine on my breath would be expected. What was to happen however, at the "Olah" service (this is the service where you offer yourself as a burnt offering to God, lay all your burdens at the foot of the Cross and find hope and peace as a result) created a giant hang-up for me.
The "Banquet Hall" had changed and there were tables and chairs instead of rows of chairs. We chose a table near where we usually sit and there happened to be a table of people next to us with a bottle of wine on the table. We thought, perhaps, they were just finishing up before the service but no, the wine and cheese indulging continued, right on to communion!
Now, there are many ragged edges to creative cooperation. In renewing my Spiritual life, I have studied and meditated, attempted to clarify my values and then, make a commitment. My personal commitment is to establish a relationship between God and myself. Period. I have strived to develop a balanced focus based on an inside-out, character-based and principle-centered foundation. I simply have a personal relationship with God, no matter how many times I get out in the weeds. At the Olah service, with my sense of values challenged, I must stand and make a statement. I don't believe "we" should be behaving completely opposite of what this worship service represents. To eat and drink in the presence of Almighty God is wrong! It also is a lust of the flesh which interferes with our developing the mind of Christ. Therefore, since this is my church, I'm going to strive to follow the principles of "think win-win, seek first to understand and then be understood in an effort to creatively cooperate with those who now, to me, seem out in the weeds.
Our church is in dire straits. Like Job, who had it all, we are about to lose it. Like Elihu, who rebuked Job and began by saying, "I have kept my mouth shut. However, I am now angry and must speak. Job, quit justifying yourself, justify God!"
My wife and I have raised our children in this church. We are not going to leave, we have decided to make a stand, like Elihu. As Pastor Bill said, "whatever happens to this church is God's will" but for me and my house, "we will serve the Lord".
Ron Jones
I didn't want to go to church Saturday night because I'd had a glass of wine. I told Kathy it would be just my luck to have the pastor come up and smell it on my breath. (Which he may have) I told her if I could just make it through to communion, not stumble or anything on the way up there, I'd be covered since because, of course, I'm taking the wine and bread so wine on my breath would be expected. What was to happen however, at the "Olah" service (this is the service where you offer yourself as a burnt offering to God, lay all your burdens at the foot of the Cross and find hope and peace as a result) created a giant hang-up for me.
The "Banquet Hall" had changed and there were tables and chairs instead of rows of chairs. We chose a table near where we usually sit and there happened to be a table of people next to us with a bottle of wine on the table. We thought, perhaps, they were just finishing up before the service but no, the wine and cheese indulging continued, right on to communion!
Now, there are many ragged edges to creative cooperation. In renewing my Spiritual life, I have studied and meditated, attempted to clarify my values and then, make a commitment. My personal commitment is to establish a relationship between God and myself. Period. I have strived to develop a balanced focus based on an inside-out, character-based and principle-centered foundation. I simply have a personal relationship with God, no matter how many times I get out in the weeds. At the Olah service, with my sense of values challenged, I must stand and make a statement. I don't believe "we" should be behaving completely opposite of what this worship service represents. To eat and drink in the presence of Almighty God is wrong! It also is a lust of the flesh which interferes with our developing the mind of Christ. Therefore, since this is my church, I'm going to strive to follow the principles of "think win-win, seek first to understand and then be understood in an effort to creatively cooperate with those who now, to me, seem out in the weeds.
Our church is in dire straits. Like Job, who had it all, we are about to lose it. Like Elihu, who rebuked Job and began by saying, "I have kept my mouth shut. However, I am now angry and must speak. Job, quit justifying yourself, justify God!"
My wife and I have raised our children in this church. We are not going to leave, we have decided to make a stand, like Elihu. As Pastor Bill said, "whatever happens to this church is God's will" but for me and my house, "we will serve the Lord".
Ron Jones
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