G is for Golden Calf

Now that Lent is over, I'm still very much aware of the idols in my life.  All denominations suffer from bowing to some graven image, some more obviously, but we all worship something without realizing it.  I think the Presbyterians worship their theology as much as God.  We idolize saints like Calvin, Luther, Augustine, and all of these guys would be appalled at such hero worship as they loved Christ so much. 

But like Calvin said, our hearts are idol factories, and even redeemed people struggle with idolatry as we cannot see God and are often starved for love in this technological society.

The solution: never go a day without reading Scripture or praying that God will captivate your heart in such a way that you desire no one else more.  Realize how great and omnipotent our God is, how he is the only one who created, the only one who sustains, the only one who can save us and not we or any action we can do.  Christ has already paid for our sins; we won't have to pay for any subsequent sins via rituals.

F is for Fishing

Jesus called his disciples fishers of men.  I consider myself a disciple.  So, I'm in charge of going out and telling the world about Jesus.

We should also be greatly sad that there are still people who don't believe in God, follow Christ, or if they do, have no Christian education.  This is why I went into that field.  So that someone will lead the youth correctly without resorting to some food fight. 

So, when I listened to the late Keith Green this week on YouTube, I couldn't help being embarrassed about his screaming to his audience about how they aren't reaching enough people for Christ.  Then I remembered, while Keith was certainly no heretic and one of my favorite singers of all time, somehow, he was influenced by Charles Finney who didn't believe in the Holy Spirit at all.  To Finney, a revival was a result of a contrived means.  Whatever it took to get people to commit to Christ, he would do it.  This philosophy lives on in true believers who are not aware of Finney's Pelagianism.  For the example of Keith Green, it's like he believed that if a Christian was not spending 24 hours doing what he or she can to rescue people from hell, then he's not really a Christian.  Or if there's still people out there unreached for Christ, then it's our job to singlehandedly reach them. 

This is not what Christ commands in the Great Commission.  When the disciples were met with rejection, they were told to simply move on to the next folks, not plead with them beyond all reason.  Christ's Word is enough to save someone despite its deliverer, and if they are elect, God will lead them to him.  We just have to proclaim his name to all nations and influence them to come to Christ.  Yes we should try our hardest to reach the lost people.  It's why I'm thankful for people like Wycliffe International who translate the Bible for tribes who still don't have it in their language.  The Word of Christ is what saves, not me.  I would despair if I really was tasked with saving every single person in the ocean of sin.  Just like we are not expected to catch every fish in the lake, we are only charged with reaching as many people as possible.  Let God take care of the rest if he wants the whole lake saved.

E is for Eglon

This is a Judges story.  It's in the Bible, and one day I'll teach it to my teens.  However, this video features the story told twice by Joel Hanson, lead singer of PFR, and feeds my PFR kick from last week.  Warning: this video is bizarre.

D is for David Murray

I mentioned Challies yesterday.  Because of Challies, I also love David Murray.  He makes these amazing videos about the Old Testament a la Rob Bell but with good theology, and his blog has daily articles about how church leaders can stay sane with practical psychological advice.  He's big on counseling and holistic health as well as good theology.  Again go over to his blog and have fun!

C is for Challies

Tim Challies has the best blog for resources any Reformed youth minister could need.  It was on Tim Challies that I found out about David Murray's video series about the Angel of the Lord in the OT.  It is there that I get good discernment news and articles concerning other preachers without feeling angry with said people.  I even get good pro-life articles there. 

Here is a wonderful article piggy-backing off of R.C. Sproul's sermon this week on Renewing your mind.

And here's an amazing infographic about the tabernacle, a topic that always fascinates me.

Go have fun on his site!

B is for Burrito

As people should know, the Spanish word for "donkey" is "burro." That would make a little donkey a "burrito." 

This is inspired by R.C. Sproul's book, the Donkey Who Carried a King.  It's a cute, apocryphal story about the little donkey that rode Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.  He was the littlest donkey who was still not old enough to do any tasks.  His brothers and sisters did many things, and he just sat and ate.  He thought of his ancestor who carried Balaam, who spoke to Balaam.  He also had an older relative who carried Mary to Bethlehem as she bore Jesus.  His day would come.

Then Jesus came by and asked to ride the donkey who's name was Davy.  He felt so proud that he got to carry the king into Jerusalem.  Then Davy's owners began making him do chores.  He felt so humiliated after having such an honor.  Then on Friday, he saw the same king getting beaten and crucified.  Jesus took on all that pain and humility for our redemption.  The least Davy could do was do his chores and not envy people. 

R.C. reads the book on Ligonier this week.  You should either listen to it or buy it.

A is for April

A is for April.  It's the month I was born (in fact today is the day I was born), spring is here, and Easter is usually nearby. 

It is a wonderful time to praise God for creating me, sustaining me, and providing for me all that I need.  It's also great to praise the Lord for giving his life for me and for coming back to life.  I praise the Lord for always existing so that we could exist and always loving so that we could still exist.