Tonight I had to stay home from church because Jenilee had a fever (Jenilee is my daughter if you didn't know). So since I was at home on a Wednesday night for the first time in a while, I decided to see what was on TV. I watched a couple episodes of the Andy Griffith Show. Man I love that show, because everything was so much simpler then. After that was over I figured I would flip back to Fox News and go do a few things. Then I remembered that I had set the DVR to record the new Knight Rider. So quickly I flipped there very excited about the show that I loved as a kid. Let me tell you if you did not see it that it was great. I will be recording the whole series to watch later since it comes on on Wed. night. As I was watching and loving the cool graphics that the old one was missing. I wondered does this make it better than the original? Well, the answer is no! Because the original has been around since the 80's and it had the Hoff. I must admit it was rather flashy and I was quite drawn in to it, but it still doesn't stack up to the original.
I think sometimes in our pursuit of the flash and bang that draws people in soetimes. What they really crave is the original Gospel. Lived out and breathed through us the congregation of believers, this is most relevant way to share the Gospel! For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Rom 5:10)
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10 comments:
interesting parallel Neil. I know what you're saying --- and ultimately the Word & The Message is always enough....
but if you're not reaching people, and some flash does reach them to get them to be open to The Word - then I say it's a good thing.
I say that in Jesus there is freedom to do our best without condemnation. Freedom to use our talents to the best of our abilities. Freedom to pour out ourselves in work of flashes and bangs and attraction to give glory to Him and offer our talents up as a sweet perfume.... like the story in the Bible of the lady pouring out her expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.
but ultimately if we are not sharing the Word & putting God first, praising Him for what is seen, putting others 2nd above ourselves.... then our sacrificies and pouring out of talents mean so little to Him...... because He looks at our hearts.
I suppose what I am trying to say is the flash and bang wear off and then you are left with what is real. I do think that some of it is ok and on some levels even necessary. The point is that we must not water down the Gospel in any degree of this. Check out http://www.9marks.org/ click on the bar 9 marks, and spend some time reading each of them in depth. If we have these things then I say flash and bang is fine for bringing them in. As long as we have the Gospel in place when all of the other stuff doesn't matter anymore. I am reminded of a song by Matt Redman:
When the music fades
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the ways things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I'll bring You more than just a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You Jesus
Its all about you
Jesus
Mark Dever...is the man. The gospel, needs not flash. It is the flash, it is the light. All the flash in the world outside of the gospel doesn't light a candle on the saving grace of Christ Jesus. All the flash in the world cannot save people, only the effectual calling of the Holy Spirit.
Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the word of Christ.- Romans 10:17
I desire nothing more, than to preach Him and Him Crucified.
SOLA SCRIPTURA
SOLI FIDE
SOLUS CHRISTUS
SOLA GRATIA
SOLI DEO GLORIA
SEMPER ET SEMPER
Allen
thanks Neil - I will check out that article.
I agree that the Word is always enough... it always has been.... and the Word doesn't NEED anything.... but my thing is --- why not use your talents to glorify God?? If you were given creative talents --- shouldn't you use them to glorify Him rather than use them for secular messages?
Either way --- the Word is always enough yes.
and I agree it's important to never water down The Message.
but God is a God of creativity and creation. What He creates is beautiful and I think all of our world does in His name can be a beautiful and wonderful reflection of Him as well.
Sunday mornings are very much only that -- sunday mornings. the real work takes place not in a building but outside of the walls.
Whatever we do - we should do it to the best of our ability and whole heart.
A heart poured out and expressed in any outlet can be glorifying to God. These creations are precious not because of what they are --- but because the heart behind it.
I believe that Jesus would want us to focus on Him and allow Him to do the judging of a person's heart and motives. What is a beautiful outpouring of one's talents to glorify Him might seem lavish to others..... what is simple and stale and drab to some might be beautiful to Him --- because He is looking at the attitude and heart not exactly the content that is delivered.
we are to focus on Him -- not on these details & judging each other's motives, intentions or spiritual maturity.
Good point randi, I don't want to judge. What I want to do is as Derik always has put it "put the cookie jar on the top shelve". What this does is help us all grow because we see other sides that have great points as well. It is ok to disagree on the details as long as we agree on the end result. Act 15:7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.
yeap u got it. people will recognize us by the way we love on each other and focus on the good in each other... assuming the best.
I do love talking things out though and seeing new perspectives as you can tell. I tend to always be the person that sees all sides and is just sort of in the middle ground going back and forth and as usual that is where I am on all
the changes going on @ Southside.
I think it's a great thing to challenge and stretch --- because in the end differences are okay as long as we get closer to God.
Differences become so small compared to Him. I heard it once described that we need to picture Him geometrically at the point at the top of us as the body... He is at the top and we all are interwoven conneted because of Him soo as long as we get closer to Him, we by default get closer to each other as He is the point at the top and we are the body.
bla bla bla :) have an awesome day! thanks for ur perspective!!
thanks again for your perspective Neil & TheReformist too - although I've never met you!
I think I just wrote the longest blog entry ever because of all that's on my heart but it felt good to get it out! haha
u all have an awesome day! :)
Thanks for you comments as well. You know the Reformist though he was one of our youth and is now off at Southeastern. In fact he has spoke a couple of times at Southside. I love his perspective on things, he always makes me think. Have a great day!
I'm Allen, I used to go to Southside. I've moved away for College so I've not been around in a little over a year. I preached on the 30th of December last year at Southside.
oh HEY! :) yeah!!! I loved when you preached on Dec 30th. I have about 4 pages of notes from that I still look at! You have such a passion for God & the lost - I loved hearing from you!!!
nice to 'see' you :) I've been a member for about 4 years @ Southside with my husband and 2 year old son. i'm just an every day regular sitting in the pew member --- and I'm helping revamp our websites now with Tre & excited about that --- but most of my service is done outside of this church body though....
:) have a great day! thanks for u!
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