Category Archives: The Historical Faith

Where Does Our Hope Lie? (re-post)

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In spite of the gloomy weather, the impending crowning of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and the prospect of tomorrow’s New Testament test, I’m feeling upbeat. You know why? Because none of this caught God off guard. He’s not thinking, “Uh oh! What do I do now?” What allows me to be filled with joy in this world of shifting sand is the constancy of the Creator who is ever faithful and ever true to His words that He’s so generously recorded for us in the Bible. Instead of looking at the waves and the wind, I need to focus on the steady arm of our Heavenly Father and the marvelous work done by His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.

What pessimism those who don’t have an all powerful, all good God must have! Where lies their hope? In themselves? I know I frequently let myself down. In humanity? One look at the many genocides and wars of the 20th century would cloud your outlook at any hope of an utopian society. In money? One tumultuous day on the stock market or one thief could take that all away. In a loved one? They may be here today, and gone tomorrow.

No, these things provide little realistic hope that tomorrow will be better than today, or that today will even be better than yesterday. Instead, let me join with Habakkuk and say,

“Though the earthly things I counted on do not come to pass,
Though my money and resources are taken away,
Though the people around me fail me,
And though the political future looks dim,
“Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And make me walk on my high places.”
-Habakkuk 3:18-19 NASU

Thank you for allowing me to candidly speak from my heart.

Originally posted 11/8/2006

Why I Can’t Live without the Church

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This post is inspired by Rachel Held Evans’ posts a couple of weeks ago about why she left the church and why she returned. I wouldn’t say that it is a response to those posts, though.

Perhaps you find the title a bit dramatic, but I use the term “live” in the title on purpose, and not as a hyperbole. I may be able to “live” in a physical sense without the church, but without it, I would not be able to thrive. And what is living without thriving?

Here are a few reasons why I can’t live without the church:

1. I am prideful. I think I can do everything on my own. Being a part of a church reminds me that in fact I can’t do everything and I shouldn’t try. I need others.

2. I am sinful. The church helps to remind me of my own sin and points me to Christ. On my own, I am much more likely to think I’m doing just fine.

3. I am an individual. I tend to think I stand alone, particularly as a single woman. But the church reminds me to reject American individualism and embrace that I am a part of something much bigger than myself, and my greatest identity is not in “me.”

4. I am a single woman living alone. I need a family where I can serve and rub up against (Proverbs 27:17). Living alone, it’s super easy to believe that everything is all about me.

5. I am gifted. God has giving me gifts not for me to hoard them and think I’m super awesome, but to use them to bless others.

6.I’m a 21st Century American. I have many of the blind spots, influences, and weaknesses of the culture around me. Through the church I interact with others of different ages and cultures. These interactions help reveal my own biases.

7. I need the Word. Yes, I can read, study, memorize, and hear the Bible on my own. I can listen to sermons online, on the radio, and on television. But doing these things alone allows me to perpetuate my own false ideas about the text, as I can read and listen to what I choose.

8. I need the Holy Spirit. Yes, I believe the Holy Spirit lives within me and can and does guide me. But He also lives within other believers and if I’m not interacting with them in a non-superficial way, then I’m not allowing the Holy Spirit full access to my life.

9. Others need me. Not because I’m special or so great, but because God designed His church so that we each have role, and if we aren’t there to fill it, it will go unfilled or become an extra burden on someone else.

I could go on, but I want to publish this post. What other things should I add?

A year ago today: With Prince Charming or Not

Sober Good Friday (re-post)

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In an effort to provide you good content, I’m going to occasionally (no more than once a week) re-post old blog posts. Some of you may remember some of these posts, but I hope they will be a blessing to you.

Today is Good Friday, a holiday I never really thought about growing up. We never got it off from school or had any special activity at church, so it was never more than a passing thought. I just thought that is was a part of the Catholic calendar that I need not pay attention to, kind of like Ash Wednesday. Easter, however, was a rather big to-do with Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies, Easter dresses, and Easter eggs.

I’ve since come to realize the importance of Good Friday. Without Christ’s death, there is no resurrection. Yes, Christ’s resurrection is something worth celebrating (without which we have no hope – 1 Corinthians 15), but in a rather more somber way Good Friday deserves celebrating, too.

On this day we remember the work that Christ did on our behalf. Because you and I have sinned against an infinite, holy God, we are worthy of eternal punishment. That’s the just reward for our actions. No amount of good works can counteract the wretchedness that we are.

Yet God did not leave us there. Instead of requiring of us what we cannot do, He did it for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life and to die. Since He did not sin, His death wasn’t deserved or necessary. He chose to die that we might live (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Our Savior died not because of His sins (since He didn’t have any), but because of ours. Good Friday is somber not because He died (after all, He comes back to life!), but it’s because of our sins that He suffered so.

Understanding Good Friday gives proper perspective to Resurrection Sunday, Easter. It allows us to remember why it is a holiday!

While God did the work of salvation on our behalf, He forces it on no one. He offers it up as a gift, one that you and I can choose to take. This changes everything for the one who accepts this gift. As a Reliant K song says, “The beauty of grace is that it makes life unfair.” Instead of being rightfully cursed, we are unjustifiably blessed!

If you are a Christian, I challenge you to spend some time thinking on the Cross today, maybe reading Isaiah 53 or one of the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion (such as Matthew 27:11-61). If you aren’t a Christian, but are curious about what Good Friday is all about, I would suggest that you check those passages out as well.

If you have any questions about what I’ve said or would like to discuss this, please leave a comment or email me. I know that I might not have been as clear as I would have liked.

Originally posted 3/21/2008

Two years ago this week I planted my first garden

Foolish Worry

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Wednesday night I found myself worrying. I wouldn’t say that I struggle with worry regularly, but occasionally I get caught up in it. Wednesday was one of those nights.

There were two small things that were really bugging me. Two things that I had hoped would have been resolved previously but weren’t. So I allowed myself to think on these things and get caught up in the cycle of worry. The irony is that this happened just after I had met with a young lady about issues of anxiety.

The next afternoon, I received a simple email that completely solved one of the issues that I had. Then when I check the mail after work, I found the answer to the other worry that I had. The interesting thing is that when I was worrying about it I already had the answer, I just hadn’t checked the mail yet.

I was absolutely worried for no reason. But really, all worry is without reason as who among us can add a single hour to our life by worrying? (Matthew 6:27)

I’m thankful that I did not receive that email or letter one day earlier, so that I could be reminded of that truth.

Photo by Princess MeLeia

Cruise Control Christianity

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I’m a part of a small group of a few women from my small group who meet twice a month to discuss a book that we’re reading together. I think we all cherish those hours we spend together sharing life and growing together.

Right now, we’re reading Jerry Bridges’s Discipline of Grace. I read it a few years back, but I’m still getting a lot out of it. You can never read a good book too many times. You may think I read a lot, but really, I have to read so much because I forget to so much. Reading a lot is the only way I can retain more.

One concept that really caught my attention this time around that I didn’t remember from the last time was Bridges’s metaphor of “Cruise Control Obedience” and “Race Car Obedience.”

The idea in “Cruise Control Obedience” is that you get to a certain level of obedience, and then just put on the cruise control, not seeking to pursue Christ any harder. You do the disciplines of the faith at a level that you’re comfortable with and then just remain there, content.

On the other hand, “Race Car Obedience” is characterized by a drive to always be going faster and farther. They are not content with going the speed of those around them, or the speed that they’ve were previously driving at. This person is consumed by his love of Christ and it influences every aspect of his life.

Well, I’m definitely one to take advantage of cruise control. Most of the time, I’m pretty happy with the time and energy I devote to Christ.

But is that pleasing to God? Is that really what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30)?

No. I want to have a race car mentality, not settling for “fast enough.” Not that I have what it takes to follow Christ wholeheartedly in my own strength. But I know one who does.

Photo by MonkeyBoy69

Real Life in the Psalms

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Growing up, I was under the impression that the Psalms were full of niceties, to be read by those who want to praise God because life is good. Or those who need to put on a happy face during hard times, pretending that everything was okay.

It’s easy to see why I would think that. The most quoted verses in the Psalms are all about joy, praise, and comfort. Generally, people like the Psalms. There’s a reason why they’re usually included in copies of the New Testament. They’re “safe.”

But ever since I really started digging into the Psalms, thanks to reading one every day, I’ve started seeing new things. While some Psalms only include the more pleasant aspects of following God, that’s actually not the norm.

Most psalms come to the conclusion of praising God only after revealing hard times and difficult circumstances. On my latest read through the Psalms, I’ve started to underline those difficulties, and there are a lot of them.

“For my enemies have spoken against me;
And those who watch for my life have consulted together,
Saying, ‘God has forsaken him;
Pursue and seize him, for there is no one to deliver.’ ” – Psalm 71: 10-11

“O God, why have You rejected us forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?” – Psalm 74:1

“In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
In the night my hand was stretched out without weariness;
My soul refused to be comforted.” – Psalm 77:2

“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me;
For I am afflicted and needy. ” – Psalm 86:1

“You have put me in the lowest pit,
In dark places, in the depths.” – Psalm 88:6 (all NASU)

One of the commonalities I’ve found between these passages is that the psalmists were confident in God’s sovereignty over their circumstances. It was in this certainty that were able to have the strength and hope to praise God.

The Psalms were written by real people in real struggles and are written for real people with real struggles. I don’t know how I never saw that before.

I Am Not Silenced

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For a couple of years now, I’ve been reading the blog of Rachel Held Evans. While I don’t agree with everything she says, I find it helpful to read the views of someone who has a different take than me as it gives me deeper understanding and polishes my views.

Lately, Rachel has talked a lot about some recent comments of  John Piper about the masculinity of Christianity, as well as some things Mark Driscoll has previously said about the subject. I have read John Piper’s original statements and was not phased by them. I believe I, even as an unmarried woman, will benefit by the strengthening of the men in my church. When they grow in faith, we all grow.

If I understand Rachel correctly (and I’m open for correction), she and many of her blog followers feels like statements like these are evidence that women are being silenced in the evangelical church.

I’d like to go on the record as saying, as a woman, that in no way do I feel silenced in the church.

Yes, my church and I believe that God only calls men to the pastorate. I believe that both the home and the church are rightfully led by men. Not because they are better or smarter than women, but because this is the order that God has set up.

I don’t think I, as a woman, have a lesser status if I choose to submit to authority. Jesus submitted to the Father’s authority, and I don’t think that makes him inferior to the Father.

I don’t claim to be speaking for all evangelical churches. But in this post, I will gladly talk about my own.

If I will never speak from the pulpit, in what ways do I have a voice in my church?

1. In my small group. Public teaching is great, but it’s in this small group time that the real sussing out of our faith happens. It’s where we work on applying the sound teaching we’ve heard and work out what it means in our daily lives.

2. Through access to the pastors. Any concern I have I can take to the leadership of my church and they will listen. I know this, because they have listened previously. They don’t treat me like a child who needs correcting, but as a sister in Christ with valid opinions and concerns.

3. I’m encouraged to not stick to soft topics in my studies. My church supported me while I was receiving my Master of Divinity, not a “soft” degree. I studied theology and biblical languages, among other subjects that interested me. I’m not using this degree professionally today by choice, not by force.

4. My church believes that being a woman is not an excuse for poor or weak theology.

5. I’m a vital part of my church. If I did not do my part, my church would suffer for it. This is as God designed the body of Christ. Most of us aren’t the flashy parts of the body, but we are all necessary for a well-functioning body.

6. My church leaders know my strengths and will seek my help and even advice when they see that they could benefit from it. They don’t seem to think arrogantly that women have nothing to contribute.

7. My church invests in me, providing me the training and support I need to take a more active role in our church’s counseling ministry.

These are just a few points that came to me easily…I’m sure I’d come up with a more complete set of points if I spent even more time on it. But I do want to be clear that I am not silenced.

Christ’s Body

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I mentioned in last week’s thankful post that I was thankful for my small group at church, my second family. But I’m also thankful for my church as a whole.

When I moved to North Carolina, I had only planned on staying here for school. I’m not a southern girl at heart, so this would not be my first choice of places to settle. But I have settled, almost entirely because of my church.

My church certainly has it’s flaws (it’s made up of sinners!), but I believe the trend is that we’re growing closer to Christ in word and deed. The elders and staff are great models and encouragers. They don’t allow us to get away with being superficial in our faith any more than they would settle to do so themselves.

In my church is where I started to learn what real ministry entails. It’s where I’ve learned to say, “I don’t know.” It’s where I’ve learned to love God and others more (though I have a long way to go).

I feel for those Christians who try to go it alone. What gifts and opportunities for sharpening their missing!

I Choose to Hope

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It’s now been a week since I’ve been laid off. Though the last month or so has been particularly emotional time for me, I can’t say that I’ve found unemployment itself much to be emotional about. At least not at this point.

But I think I’ve also been helped through this time of uncertainty by knowing where I can find certainty. Immersing myself in Scripture has been incredibly helpful in reminding myself of the truths about what really is important.

Like most (if not all) Americans, I struggle with trusting in money for security. But what a foolish, flimsy thing to trust in! You’d think the stock market would have taught us that.

For me, I also tend to trust in my own abilities. I have been blessed with my natural abilities and with the education and opportunities I’ve been given, but ultimately these don’t amount to much. If and when I get a job, it may be humanly because of these things, but ultimately, it’ll be in God’s providence.

While I’ll continue to struggle with placing my trust in the wrong place, I choose to hope in the Lord. Not because I want Him to give me what I want (though, obviously, that is something I have and will continue to struggle with), but because I want to want Him alone. I believe all else is rubbish compared to Him, though I don’t always act like I believe that.

I choose to hope in God.