Dress Us Up~Lyrics (via TheCK1993)

I’ve been reading Church Unique by Will Mancini. When talking about clarity in leadership, he mentions that some things (mission) are written in stone while other things (modes) are written in sand. Our challenge is to know what things belong in each column and communicate clearly those things that are written in stone so that when what is written in sand must change we are connected to the mission and not the mode.

My pastor has also been preaching a series of messages on things that are Unshakeable. This week he taught about “Unshakeable Convictions”. These would be the things written in granite, those beliefs about God that aren’t up for debate. They are absolute. Things like: God’s sovereignty as Creator and Ruler of the universe, the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), the deity of Christ, salvation by grace through faith. 

So, as a worship leader I’ve been thinking about how this effects music. Now, before you turn me off, this isn’t another discussion about how we need to change our musical style with the times or some argument about how one stylistic expression is better than another. No, I would argue that those things are sand and to focus on them removes clarity from the role of the worship team and the function of worship, especially music, in the church.

Often our worship is focused on what “I” will do. I will bring this… I will do that… I want this… I need that…

Now, I don’t want to discount the validity of human action in our relationship with our Creator, but I do want to say that all of these are addressed when we see God rightly and that any of these things will ultimately fade. Nothing that I offer has any value outside of His enabling and involvement. I have nothing to give.

So, I propose worship that focuses on those things that are unshakeable. Let us sing of Him, of His kingdom, of His work, of His love, of His mercy, of His grace. It is these things that will remain and it is these things that transcend this life and call people into the eternal. Let God be all.

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

So, Jennifer and I have been watching the first few episodes of “Sister Wives” on TLC. That, along with the popularity of “Big Love”, has gotten me thinking about why Christians disagree with the idea of plural marriage.

Typically, when you hear folks comment on the issue, you hear things like, “I can barely handle one woman.” etc. However, there is a very real reason for objecting to more than one wife.

First, it sets up a double standard. The women are expected to be faithful to one man, but the man has no such obligation. So, what is sin for the wife isn’t sin for the husband. God’s standard for holiness is the same for every person, regardless of gender.

Secondly, it distorts the gospel in several ways. According to Eph. 5, the relationship between a husband and wife is to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church. Plural marriage makes this impossible.

Because of His omnipresence, God is fully present in all places at all times. This means that he is fully available to, and fully present with, each of his children at all times. There is no division of his time, attention, or affection. He is singularly available to us. No human, no matter how great you might be at multi-tasking, can be fully present to more than one person at a time. Your affection, time, attention, and everything else are divided in a polygamy.

Additionally, scripture always refers to God’s people as a single bride. Not brides. I don’t believe that this is splitting hairs. It speaks to the way in which God wants us to relate to Him and to each other. We should undersand that God’s intent and our aim should be that there is no division among us. We are one, “even as the Father and I are one.”

Lastly, it is plainly church sanctioned adultery. If you have a wife and sleep with another woman, even if you call her your wife also, you have broken this commandment and your vow to your spouse to be faithful to them.

Jesus was, is, and always will be faithful toward his bride.

I thought this is worth sharing.

Bed Intruder Song - Marching Band Style! This rocks!

Todd Stanley (@tstanley1299) has shared a Tweet with you:

“tstanley1299: RT @CSLewisDaily: The New Testament does not envisage solitary religion: regular assembly for worship is everywhere in the epistles.”
—http://www.twitter.com/tstanley1299/status/21242707341

The old saying goes, “You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.” Truer words were never spoken. Family is messy. Family is difficult. Family is, well, family. I am fortunate enough to have a family that I love and that loves me, but the family I was born into isn’t the only family I’m a part of. 

Jesus expands the idea of what constitutes family when his family shows up in Matthew 12. Here’s what he has to say.

Matt. 12:46   While he was still speaking to the people, behold,  his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.*  48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

In the other gospel accounts we are told that Jesus’ family has come to retrieve him because they think he is mad. They haven’t yet come to understand and believe in His true nature as God, later they will all believe. However, at this point they haven’t believed and are come to hinder Jesus in His pursuit of the Father’s business. His reaction is somewhat surprising.

He expands the idea of family to include those who do the “will of the Father”. Family is no longer defined by biology, though sometimes, by God’s grace, it includes our biological family. Jesus says that it is a spiritual reality that God brings about through faith in Jesus.

This has several implications for the Christian. First, if your family shuns you because of you faith in Christ, you are not left without a family. Secondly, we cannot “disown” those within the family with whom we disagree. We must lovingly, humbly, and prayerfully dialogue and fellowship with the hope that we might benefit mutually from one another and that the Spirit of God would lead us into Truth. Thirdly, it means that we must live toward others as toward our family. When they are hurting we comfort them. When they are in need we help them. When they are rejoicing we party with them. Whey they are sick we care for them. And so on and on.  

So, I ask myself and you. How do I act toward those in the family? Do I consider my Life Group family? Would I open my home to let them stay with me if they needed? Would I sacrifice to see their need met? Do I consider their needs above my own? Would I come to their defense? In short, do I love them as Christ does? 

Who is your family?