it’s the old old story

I never grow tired of the Gospel. Not only has it forever changed my life and transformed who I am, it continues to be a balm in every circumstance.

This is what true Christians believe, and yes, it is foolishness, but to those of us who believe it is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

[HT: Lyndell]

repent! it’s never the wrong message.

I think when difficulties/trials/catastrophes/sufferings are brought to bear on our lives, an apt message to preach to our own soul is always, “Repent!”

It’s so offensive.  And the message seems to rub salt in the wound.  It’s kind of like, “Hey, I am enduring a terrible loss, the last thing I need to do is be reminded that I’m a terrible sinner.”

And, for many, it seems to imply that if only we had repented sooner, the calamity would not have happened, so then guilt follows, as if we caused the calamity.  (For instance, if I hadn’t made an idol of my children, the Lord wouldn’t have taken one away).

But not everyone who loses a child has made an idol of them.  So, what then?  Is the message still “repent”?  And I think it is.  God’s purposes in the trials He brings to us are beyond finding out.  And I believe the purposes are vast, not singular.  And I also believe that for those who are in Christ, they are always good purposes.

[Sidebar: I am NOT advocating that friends who see another friend experience a trial immediately respond with the message, "Repent!" Bad form!  We don't want to end up like Job's "friends."  And if you are prone to pointing out the reasons why a certain trial has befallen a friend (unless there is obvious consequence-producing sin), think twice.  God's ways are unsearchable.  Humble yourself, you may be next.]

Repentance is always good for us and we’re always in need of it.

Shortly after I found out I was pregnant with the little one that the Lord took at 8 weeks, I wrote this:

“Not all calamities and sufferings are given for the specific cause of jerking us out of rebellion.  But I dare say that all calamities and suffering should have the effect of causing us to draw nearer to God.

So, I’m praying now, as things are good and blessings flow like water and honey in my life, that I’ll think now about how to respond when calamity comes.  That I’ll get a footing for the hard times that I may one day face.

And that my footing will be in the Word and in Jesus Christ, the one Mediator between God and man, without whom, meeting my Maker would be more fearsome than any earthly calamity.”

How often the Lord has brought this to mind as I wage war against being engulfed by sorrow.  I preach to myself, “Repent!  Draw near to God.  Get your footing in the Word.  Gaze at the cross.  Do not fear the loss of a child, fear the Lord and love Him.”

[Pastor John has some thoughts on repentance and tornadoes today..]

gospel in ten words or less

Demian, over at Fallen and Flawed (great blog, by the way), asked 12 bloggers, including me, to summarize the Gospel in 10 words or less.

It was a tough one for me, but here’s my response:

“Jesus’ blood calls, converts, cleanses, cures, carries the once condemned.”

How would you summarize the greatest story ever told if you only had 10 words to do it?  One of the bloggers, Kevin DeYoung, did it in three words.  Whoa.  Go over to the original post to see how he did it (and who he was quoting)!

I found it to be a great exercise.  Thinking about the Gospel (and talking about the Gospel and writing about the Gospel, etc) is the most important thing I do each day.  I am never not in need of the Gospel.  It’s the Gospel that’s brought me through the last couple weeks and is bringing me through today and will one day carry me home.

So take this opportunity to meditate on the big stuff of the Gospel.  And leave your summary in 10 words or less in the comments.

why generalizations about depression aren’t helpful, generally speaking

I have a love and burden for God’s people who are depressed and sorrowing.  

God has also worked in me to give me a love and burden for His people who don’t seem to “get” sorrow.  Christians should be the most tender-hearted, loving, encouraging people toward one another the world has ever seen.  And I long to see His people (and myself) do this.

But, sometimes instead of helping the sorrowing to make their calling and election sure; to encourage them as long as it is called today; to continually pray for all the saints; we say things with arrogance that wound Christ’s own body.

 Here’s a few hurtful generalizations/assumptions I’ve heard said to people belonging to Christ.  And also, my responses to them:

1) Depression is made-up.  Nobody had depression 2,ooo years ago.  

A: To that I say, look to the Psalms or Lamentations or Ecclesiastes or the Minor Prophets or Jesus plight in the Garden or Job.  No, the parallels aren’t perfect, but the Bible is rich with examples of God’s people in great sorrow.  The lesson from Scripture is to comfort.  They will know we are Christians by our love for one another.  

2) Depression is a generational sin.  You may call it genetic, but I think it’s the sins of the father’s being passed down.

A: I don’t think it’s any more generational sin than high blood pressure is.  But certainly the blind man that the disciples asked about comes to mind when assuming generational sin.  Is our view of God big enough to believe that he may cause depression for His glory, the way He caused blindness for His glory?  And, if you belong to Christ, you are no longer a slave to the law of sin and death, but to Christ.  

[Add-on: Providentially, my pastor just posted on this very topic!]

3) Depression itself isn’t a sin, but taking anti-depressants is a crutch that takes you away from reliance on God.

A: I think that anti-depressants are part of God’s common grace to mankind.  I’ve yet to meet a Christian who takes them and, as a result, has been pulled away from God or reliance on God.  When they are viewed as a means of grace, the depressed person’s affections and thankfulness to the Lord is increased and they are humbled.  And from this humility reliance on Him may grow.

4) The Bible is all-sufficient for life and Godliness, not the Bible and anti-depressants.

A: We don’t tell women suffering with low thyroid that their tiredness is really just idle laziness and that the Bible is sufficient for them to live a more godly life.  We are compassionate with them as fellow sisters and laborers for the Lord.  

We tell them to take thyroid medication to change the balance of the hormone.  We don’t admonish them as idle, though they seem totally healthy.  And the Bible is completely and utterly sufficient to help guide them (or the depressed person taking medication) through that part of their life and reveal true Godliness to them.  

5) Depression means you don’t believe God and His Word.  If you did, you wouldn’t be depressed… it’s Good News, after all!  You just aren’t reading the Bible enough.

A: Reading the Bible is sometimes the only thing a sorrowing person can do, along with whispering desperate prayers and hoping that others whisper them on their behalf.  The depth of Biblical wisdom and love of Scripture I have found in depressed Christians is great.  And often their depression does not push them from God, but opens their eyes to the reality that God holds them, apart from works or will.

I may be preaching to the choir with all these posts about sorrow.  But here’s the point: smug remarks about depression and prozac are one sure way to drive a fellow brother or sister in Christ to silence, or worse yet, drive them right out the door.  

And so I will continue to plead for the lowly: take care with them!  It’s what Christians do!

news and reviews

I pay attention to the news and other stuff.

Here’s my take on some news and stuff that I find interesting.  Here we go:

Is Smoking a Sin?

Tim Challies writes a thought-provoking piece on the now taboo behavior for Christians of smoking.  My two cents: smoking is not inherently sinful.  It is sinful inasmuch as it draws you and your affections from God and to smoking.  So, it will depend on each person and whether or not they are bound to it in a destructive way.  Having never smoked myself, my insights are limited.

Of course, I do think it is foolish from a health standpoint.  But plenty of things are foolish and not sinful.  I’m thinking of things like sky diving or bungee jumping or hockey or eating at Long John Silvers.

Clinton Seeks Chinese Support

Clinton calls on authorities in Beijing to keep buying US Treasuries in order to jump start the US economy.  She also avoided any sticky human rights issues.  Apparently when we’re at the economic behest of a people-squelching country we lose the right to say that people-squelching is wrong.  

So we’ve traded our collective conscience about things like religious liberty and free speech in order that the US Treasury has the funds to send converter box coupons so no American has to go without TV.  I’m more than a little concerned.

The Musical is Back!

So says Hugh Jackman, the host of the Oscars.  As I watch for the first time in a few years I am greatly enjoying the musical numbers done by Jackman and a plethora of others.  I definitely go for theatrical musical entertainment over the smutty comedy that I’ve heard in the past.  Not to say there still isn’t plenty of undesirable junk around, but still lovin’ the musical.

Finally Alive!

A new book by my pastor, John Piper, promises to be one of the most important reads outside of the Bible.  I’m only a few chapters in and am loving it for the simple and profound Gospel truths that it preaches.  If I had to write a blurb I’d say, “Finally Alive is a wake-up call for all who call themselves born-again.”  Maybe someone has said that already, if so, my apologies.

Temporary Nationalization?

At the end of this NY Times piece, Alan Greenspan, former fed chair, remarks that, “the government might be forced to temporarily nationalize some banks.”  I know Greenspan is a really smart guy, but does anyone seriously believe that if the gov’t got a hold of the banks that they would ever be given back to the private market?  This seems very naive to me.  Since when has gov’t ever willingly given up power?

 

Feedback is welcome, as always.

a look at sorrow from the cheap seats

Depression is personal.

We (myself included) talk about “depression” like it’s one singular obtuse thing.  It isn’t.  It could mean something minor or major* or clinical*.  It is an array of many particular feelings to particular people with particular circumstances. 

I am trying to refer to it in more terms than just “depression.” Something more specific.  For me the phrase “sorrow without a cause,” seems to fit.  I also identify strongly with the word “lowly.”  Lowly is an almost perfect descriptor for how I feel when “depressed.”

I’m realizing that sorrow and lowliness will probably be a battle for me my whole life.  So I write about it because I’m learning and processing for myself and also to encourage others to deal in a Christ-like, loving way with sorrowing people. 

Here’s a glimpse from the cheap seats of me while low:

1) I feel like someone is squeezing my heart.  As though someone very dear to me has died or is in peril.  It is an overwhelming sense of grief and mourning, but seemingly unfounded.

2) I feel on the verge.  On the verge of crying all the time (which I often do), on the verge of collapsing, on the verge of being totally out of control, on the verge of going to bed and never getting up.

3) I feel alone.  

4) I feel like people don’t care.  Like I’m a freak and nobody in the Christian world wants to deal with someone like me.  Who’s got time for someone with a made-up problem like depression, when there are people really suffering out there. Quit sinning and be happy in Christ you downer.

5) I feel like holing up somewhere.  My instincts are avoid avoid avoid.  Avoid people, conversations, eye contact.  This gets a little tricky with three dependent little ones at home.

6) I feel like my life is in black and white and everyone else is living in color.

7) I feel like someone set me to s l o w-m o t i o n.  My limbs are slow, my words are slow, my thoughts are slow.  Everything sticks and needs some grease.

8) I feel very aware of my sin.  I say with David, “My sin is ever before me..”  This may be one benefit of my sorrow.  It puts me in my proper place before the gracious and holy God.  In the midst of sorrow I have no self-righteousness, no independence.  It becomes crystal clear that Christ holds me, apart from works.  Each breath is grace upon grace.

I want to be clear about why I write about this.  It’s not for personal sympathy, although sympathy is a good thing and I do long for it at times.

I share my sorrow because maybe depression has seemed diffuse and distant to you–like you can’t relate to it– and this can be the beginning of a real person’s experience for you to understand.

 Mostly I share it so that we will take care of the lowly person in our lives.  And so that we will be reminded of 1 Thess. 5: 14  ”..encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”  (a recent fighter verse).  And to “..weep with those who weep.”  (Rom. 12:15)  

The Bible doesn’t say, weep with those who (in our estimation) have a good reason to be weeping.  Just weep with them, even if we deem their sorrow to have no legitimate cause, or even if we think their sorrow is self-indulgent drivel.  We can’t know all the factors at play.  God does; He is the Judge.

Our job is to see our brother or sister in Christ who’s hurting and know that, even in their depression, we have a lot more commonalities than we do differences.  

I Cor. 12:22-26 “On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor.. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

 

*Major or clinical depression has a specific diagnosis.  If you meet the criteria (for time required, etc), I would urge you to seek outside help.

have you heard the good news?

If you have spent any time at this blog, I hope you’ve noticed something.  I hope you’ve noticed an inescapable theme woven through and shaping all my thinking and writing.  The theme is the Gospel.

I have opinions about many things, and I can say with certainty that many of them are flawed.  Sometimes our opinions are a reflection of ourselves, they’re subjective and based on subjective life circumstances.  But there are times when our “opinions” are really beliefs, beliefs based on a reality.  

I think that what I believe about God and His Son, Jesus, and the Bible is one of the latter things.  It is a belief based on a fact, a reality, a truth.  

If I said I believe Lincoln was the President during the Civil War and gave the Gettysburg address and was assassinated while watching the opera, that belief would be true.  It is based on actual events that happened.  

I believe the Bible to have the same sort of historical factual information, and much much more.

Here are the nuts and bolts of what I believe:

God made the earth and Adam and Eve.  They lived in harmony with God, until they sinned.  After they sinned they were separated from God and they and the earth became cursed as a result of their evil.  

The sin problem plagued every human from then on.  It has been life’s biggest, most serious problem.  Their sin, and ours, is against a holy and perfect God who cannot tolerate it and must send sinners to eternal punishment.

For hundreds of years, God’s people, Israel, tried to make peace with God by sacrificing animals to atone for their sin.  God was gracious in forbearing with these less than perfect sacrifices.  

Prophets like Isaiah foretold the coming of a man, called the Messiah, who would save the people from their sins.  And that this Savior would save more than just Israel, but would be for all peoples.  He would be the perfect sacrifice needed to bring peace with God and overcome sin and death.  He would, in fact, be God incarnate.

This God-man, the Messiah, named Jesus, was born of a virgin Mary, he was begotten of God the Father, and He lived a perfect life.  He loved everyone perfectly and was good and just and all the things we might try to be, but fail.  

Eventually He was hanged on a cross.  This was the will of His Father.  It was part of a plan that the Father had to bring reconciliation between Himself and sinful people.  The same sinful people that crucified Christ, would now have the opportunity for peace with God through the very death they enacted.  Jesus was crushed for our iniquity.  

And after He was murdered on our behalf, He rose from the dead after three days, thereby defeating death forever.  

When He rose from the dead, He was seen by many witnesses and even ate a meal with His disciples.  Then God took Him up to heaven.  

This all happened over 2000 years ago.  You can read about it in the Bible.  The Bible is God’s Word.  This means that what is written in the Bible is not simply an historical account (although it is that too), but God’s very words to us, that He inspired mere humans to write.  Everything in it is True and for the benefit of sinful people to come to God and know God and glorify God.  

For me, this is good news.  

This is life-changing news.  It is Life for my dead heart. It is Light for my dark mind.  It is Bread for my hungry soul.  It is the Way, when all ways were shut.  It is the Good Shepherd, when all had gone astray.  It is the Truth, when lies were closing in.  

Does this sound like good news to you?  

Do you sense God’s Holy Spirit beckoning you to taste and see that the Lord is good?  Do you long to cast your burden of sin onto Jesus, gaining for yourself freedom from sin and joy in loving God in this life and forever in heaven?  Do you want to give thanks to God for this gift?  Do you desire to see His name made great, because you now see that He is Great?

I hope you do.  I hope you want to run and find the nearest Bible to learn more about this thing called Christianity.  I hope you decide to find a church that believes the Bible and is depending on Christ for their salvation through faith alone (trusting and believing God), by grace alone (not depending on good works). 

If you want to hear the good news again, in someone else’s words.  Here it is:

Please contact me or a Christian in your life, if you have turned from your sin and are now resting in Christ’s Righteousness.