callofezekiel's Xanga

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 13:18:08 GMT

Let's say we get serious about the gospel, and how our understanding of grace impacts our evangelism...will we still share the gospel?

I hope in future posts to flush out how a balanced Calvinism should help our evangelism, apologetics, and other areas of life and ministry. Some personal thoughts on evangelism:

First, we want results; we want people to bow to Jesus – but our measure of success is not response, but faithful presentation.

Second, we want people to respond immediately to God, not to us. The biblical pattern is urgency (Heb 3:15), but we must not presume on the Lord's work, because the Spirit blows where he wills (Jn 3:7-8). By all means, if somebody is crying out in distress, “What must I do to be saved?” tell him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:31) But remember that others are not yet broken and need to be told, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow [Jesus].” (Mt 19:21) Don't give people a pattern or a prayer, point them to Jesus and let him deal with them. We're not their mediator!

Third, while hesitant about “relational evangelism,” I believe the biblical pattern for most Christians is evangelism in the context of life's everyday interactions and relationships. The keystone verse for our Christian systems of intellectual persuasion (“apologetics”) – “Always be ready to give a reason for the hope...” (1 Pe 3:13), is actually not calling us to equip ourselves with archeological evidence that “proves” Christianity to be true. Rather, because God chose us to be a people who declare his gracious excellencies (1 Pe 2:9), Peter is calling us to let a living hope inspire holy living that baffles our neighbors. When Jesus's people start giving up “the passions of the flesh” (1 Pe 1:14; 2:11) because we've got better pleasures waiting; when we start following Jesus in suffering meekly, even when misunderstood and maligned (1 Pe 2:21); when Christian wives quit trying to manipulate and graciously submit to insensitive husbands (1 Pe 3:1-2); when I can love you genuinely, sacrificially, because I have nothing to protect down here (1 Pe 1:22) – the unbelieving world's gonna wonder what's up. Somebody who's dropping Benjamins like a wannabe drops names is either tripping or he's got bank to back it. Peter says in 3:15-16, “If you're living right, they're gonna be asking you what you're banking on...be ready to talk about Jesus and holiness and heaven and love.”

That said, some use “relational evangelism” as an excuse to never talk about Jesus. “My life is my witness” is often a cover for cowardly Christianity. If your life revolves around Jesus, he's gonna come up in conversation. Nevertheless, both holy living and holy conversation require intentionality.

Per Futurepastorswife's request, here's a gospel conversation I had with a 20 yr. old coworker named Steve. Please understand that, although I do most of the talking here, I had listened for a long time as he talked about himself.

(In dialogue leading up to the gospel-heart of the conversation, Steve made some reference to drinking alcohol and then apologized somewhat because “I know you’re not into that…”)

(Laughing) Oh really?...What makes you think I don’t drink?...The funny thing is that a lot of people view Christianity as a bunch of rules that tell you what you can’t do. Don’t drink beer. Don’t have sex… Did you know that God actually created alcohol?

Really?

Sure. In the Bible, there’s a part where it’s talking about all the good things God gives his creatures and it says he’s given wine to gladden the heart of man. And it was God who came up with the idea of sex. We could have reproduced in a hundred ways, but God chose a way that was intensely enjoyable. See, God’s not out to ruin all our fun. He created the world to be enjoyed. People that just focus on a bunch of negative rules miss that.

Yeah, I see that

Of course, there are rules. There’s a reason I’m a virgin. There’s a reason I work hard.

(Here, he noted that I was about the hardest worker in our area and I was able to give glory to Christ, I hope)

But what I want to focus on is the passion behind the rules. What is keeping me from going out and getting laid tonight? A lot of people focus on the rules and lose the gospel of Jesus Christ. A bunch of rules doesn’t get me excited. What gets me excited is the fact that I used to be a rebel against God and now I’m forgiven. You might not have thought I was so bad, but the Bible describes all of us as rebels in a crowd of rebels following the devil, the prince of rebels. Well this means we’re all pretty jacked up, because God has promised himself to kill rebels. The Bible says the paycheck we get sinning is death. But, see, God didn’t leave me there. Jesus came to take the place of sinners like me. I could never do enough good to make God like me, but when I quit trying to make myself good enough for him and accepted what Jesus did, he took away all my sin. All this crap I was living for was placed on Jesus and he died in my place. Then he put all of Christ Jesus’s good works in my bank account. It’s like I had on this skank nasty hoodie with crap all over it and Jesus traded it for his brand new hoodie.

Huh, I've never heard it put that way...

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:09:30 GMT

“INNER CITY EVANGELISM PROJECT SEES 260 PEOPLE RECEIVE CHRIST”

A headline like that reminds us where the real action is, right? Why do we spend so much time wrangling over theological systems like Calvinism when there's work to be done?

Here's why...

Relating one conversion, the BP news article on this outreach to Los Angeles tells how a young man named Allan came to Christ at a bus stop. When approached and asked by an evangelist whether he was “50, 75, or 100 percent sure” he would go to heaven when he died, he shook his head confused. The volunteer quickly laid out the plan of salvation and then asked “if there was any reason why he would not want to receive the gift of eternal life.” “Allan replied, 'I can't think of a reason.' So on the City of Angels' busy Vermont Street, at a smoky bus stop, Allan prayed to received Jesus Christ.”

Seriously...somebody who “can't think of a reason” why not to accept Christ doesn't know enough to receive Christ. I can think of several reasons that any responsible evangelist should feel obligated to share. How about,

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Lk 9:23)

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves...
and you will be hated by all for name's sake.” (Mt 10:16-20)

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.” (2 Tim 3:12)

Don't get me wrong. I know I need to be bolder in sharing the gospel; but “evangelism” like that is not merely deficient, it's dangerous. We have a nation full of people who have been inoculated to the gospel by false assurance. The next time Allan is bothered by a nosy Christian, he can say, “Yeah, I've done that.”

This is where our “theology,” our view of what salvation is, laces its Nikes and starts walking. If we view conversion mainly as a decision, we must large-heartedly affirm the salvation of masses of “converts” who have no resurrection power in them, whose lives look just like the world, and who are going to hell. We make the new birth something man does rather than a work of God (1 Pe 1:3; Jn 1:13; Eph 2:4) and end up with Barna polls showing that “born again Christians” are just as immoral as the world. Didn't Jesus save us to make a people “zealous for good works”? (Tit 2:11-14; Eph 2:10) Is this just a pathetic wish or does the Lord get what he wants?

We need a fresh appreciation of what salvation is. There is a sense in which we make a decision, but “decision” can be misleading because it implies a choice between options. A Christian is a person who has run out of options. We don’t “try out” Christ. We don’t join the Jesus club. We are people who have been born again so that we see spiritual realities and are overwhelmed with our sin and God’s wrath and the mercy of God in Jesus and we cry out “Lord, to whom should we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (Jn 6:68)

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:33:08 GMT

Welcome to the world, Oliver Spurgeon Kesselring!

Our new, little guy was born at 6:40 a.m. on Saturday (11/17/07) at home.

8 lbs. 21.5"

BTW, thanks go out to Rebecca (Rebamac) for helping with the birth and photographing us!

Aight...here's a sample...Be kind to a suburban white boy

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:52:34 GMT

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:55:11 GMT

Whoa...look ya'll. My second baby!!!

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 05:24:49 GMT

Yo, check it y'all. This here's a rap I composed in honor of two elders who were leaving Immanuel. I performed it at a going away party/talant show that Athena and I helped assemble.

We in a war, y'all. But the Bible says our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against powers, authorities, spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies. So listen up...

If you wanna stand, you need some traction
Ground yo’ hope in satisfaction
Now I ain’t talking superficial
but objective and official
Christ's bearing of God’s holy wrath
Against our sin...you do the math
If Christ has suffered; who’ll condemn
When all our sins was laid on him?

But I got a warnin’ for ya... I got a warning y'all

Satan’s gonna snag ya if yo' pants is hangin’ loose
Tighten up yo’ doctrine wi' the belt of truth
In many churches today, it’s a sin to be precise
Ya drop the C-bomb, it’s like a block of ice
But we ain’t skerred to use words to convey the Bible’s teachin’
And you’ll hear the ancient creeds in the Gospel that we’re preachin’

But some say our dogmatism’s gonna kill their "conversation"
I’m more scared we’re gonna lose the truths of
inspiration,
justification,
We’ll have a nation full of people who
Love Jesus, but not his truth; want the Spirit, but not his fruit
Who want Paul without his quarrels; Bible’s ethics, but not its morals

And I think that’s where we are today. But we need these truths. They’re precious, y'all. We can't lose truths like imputation. Check it...

Satan’s got us sighted, so God wants us kevlar vested
No goodness that we’ve got is gonna pass when tested
Satan’ll cut you open and expose you like a photo
And you’ll feel the force of impact like a cave troll sticking Frodo
But that hobbit had a secret, and we get one even better
When Christ walked upon our earth he kept the law to every letter
And he’s clothed us in his righteousness if we’re trusting in his grace
So the Father looks with pleasure; ain’t no wrath upon his face
So don’t depend on virtue; and don’t rely on karma
Christ imputed goodness is the only under armor

The accuser wants to mess yo' head and get inside yo' noggin’
But the Father’s made provision with a pimpin’ war toboggan
The helmet of salvation is our confident assurance
That our God will finish his work; it's the key to our endurance

Now a million other flamin’ doubts will be hurled by that wraith
And God wants us meetin’ every one wit da sturdy shield of faith

But we ain’t get’n all defensive, ‘cause we got a blade as well
And so with the spirit’s sword we gonna storm the gates of hell
The same Word that caused light to shine when darkness ruled the earth
Now tumbles forth from human lips as God creates new birth
The former slaves of Satan are enlisted, armed, and trainin’
And we’re tearing down his kingdom cause we got a new King reignin’!

And we’re grateful for our leaders, as we hasten Jesus’ reign
And we’re clingin’ to the gospel so their labor’s not in vain.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:18:04 GMT

I love this picture. Like daddy, like son.

"I'm Fine" - How Self-sufficiency Almost Killed Me

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 16:17:43 GMT

I’m fine, I’m fine
No really, I am
I’m great; I’m grand
I’ve never been better
What’s that you say?
There’s blood on my sweater?
A nasty discharge from that gash in my thigh?
And a cancerous growth surrounding my eye?

Well, yes, I’ll concede it might cause some concern
That both of my arms have third degree burns
And infection’s set in, and around me flies hover
But I’m tryin’ real hard, so I’m sure I’ll recover

What? Go to the doctor?
Now that’s a bit much
Those doctors, so sterile, are way out of touch
With the way that I run and the way that I play
They’re convinced it’s important to wash every day!
They’re all about needles and cutting and stichin’
And they tell me ‘No scratching’ though I feel something itchin’

And I’m really ashamed to seek medical help
Since I know it’s been months since I cared for myself
But I’ve made fresh resolves, all writ down in a letter
And I’m tryin’ real hard, so I’m sure I’ll get better

Sadly, this far too often has been a description of my spiritual life. For a long time, I allowed myself to live without support, rarely if ever crying out to others for spiritual help. But, having been brought back from the edge of apostasy, I am more desperate these days.

How bout you? How welcoming are you to the spiritual imput of others? We need to give friends the spare keys to our hearts and we need to start losing the deadbolts. Invite your friends to be invasive.

So, do you have anybody who speaks truth into your life? Are you listening?

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 07:19:40 GMT

One of my favorite little saints made this comment on her blog and got me thinking:

"I watched the Christmas Carol again today. It got me thinking. It's so much easier to love a christmas like that. Where everybody suddenly becomes their best, loving, joyful, patient, goodwilled and benovelent. But the fact is, it's not like that. For a lucky few, maybe, but it's not typical."

Hmmm...maybe that's what makes Christmas special. Maybe the fact that the life is messy, families are dysfunctional, and the world is filled with unhappy, impatient, selfish people like you and me is the most perfect and strange stage for God to step onto with a plan to change everything. But God is no Hollywood play-write. Their plots are too simple. Disney would have God fly in like some bubbly fairy godmother, wave his wand, and immediately make life beautiful. But that sort of change only lasts until midnight. Then Cinderella's coach turns back into a pumpkin. God is out for a more long-term change.

God's plan is to make his chosen people their best. But he does this through imperfect people like you praying for, speaking Bible to, and showering grace on imperfect people like me - and visa versa. And he works slowly - or at least, slower than we'd like.

Now is the perfect time to say, "I know. You're right. But doesn't God care that I'm getting hurt in this slow process? Does he know my pain? Does he care?" Which brings us back to Christmas, because when the infinite Almighty stepped into a body - a little body, a dependent body, a messy body, he came to know what it was to live through pain. He felt what it was like to live with sinners. He came to suffer our insults and forgive us and show us a better way. And he calls us at Christmas to learn from him.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:35:55 GMT

A picture says a thousand words. .. (but if you want the words also, click over to Athena's site http://www.xanga.com/childofmany She has a sweet post that gives a little more detail) I'm so excited!!!

Look really close at her left hand (ring finger)!!! So, y'all keep January open, y'hear? More details forthcoming... <dramatic music>

Additional note: St. Louis friends can meet my fiance Friday evening, Nov 24, at David and Heather's. Call me or email for RSVP and directions. If you can't make that, consider going swing dancing at Casaloma with us on Sat (11/25).