Posts Tagged ‘growth’

My Thoughts on Radical

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Multnomah Publishing recently put out the book Radical by David Platt, pastor of The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. My friend Ashley was reading this book when she came to visit and she was enjoying it, so I decided to pick it up as well.

I must say that I did like this book. I think Platt had important things to say, and he did so in a way that many will enjoy reading. He seems authentic, down-to-earth and passionate about living a life obedient to Scripture. Platt challenges his reader to live in radical abandonment to Christ. He calls American Christians on their consumerism/materialism idolatry issues, and challenges us to live more simply so that we can love God and others (who live in poverty) better.

I have read other books like this, and heard other sermons about this, so most of the things in this book were not new for me. I mean, a lot of what he said is what Scripture says. But, maybe for those who need to be specifically challenged, this is a good book.

BUT, there is one insight that I gleaned that has made me think…and it’s related to the idea of the American Dream. Anyone who knows me knows that although I may desire some sort of the American Dream at times, I am pretty vigilent to guard myself from the temptation to be lured in. Plus, I have a husband who probably is rarely tempted to buy into the American Dream, which helps me out too :) . But, Platt brought up a really good point about the American Dream that I have definitely folded into my life. He says on page 46, “The dangerous assumption we unknowingly accept in the American dream is that our greatest asset is our own ability.” He goes on to say that we here in America prize what people can do when they just work hard, believe in themselves and trust in themselves. Did your parents ever tell you growing up that you can do whatever you want? I agree with him that we have mistakenly adopted this mentality as maybe even biblical. However, throughout Scripture we are given example after example of people who were unable to do something, but God helped them do something because he loves to display His power. It leads to the question- are we dependent on ourselves or desperate for God? I think most in America (definitely myself included) need some desperation for God. So, for me, this point was a real impactful one, and something that I’ve been talking and praying and thinking about over these past couple weeks.

One beef I have with Platt is his understanding and expectation of overseas missions. I have been overseas doing missions- and in several different contexts- so I obviously agree that God does call people to go and go they must if called. BUT, Platt tells many stories of how he went overseas and taught pastors about the Bible. My question is- should we be teaching Western Christianity to non-Western nations and people? Why should I go and teach a bunch of pastors in China about the Bible. They have Bibles, they know how to read, they know how to think, and they see God working in their context. I don’t think we have to go and teach them. I think we need to have exchanges of ideas and information. Sure, they could benefit from our thoughts, but also could benefit from their thoughts. I felt like he (and not just him, but others do this too) sees our role as a little too vital to their faith development. However, like I said before, we need to help meet physical needs (however we choose to do that) and we need to go. Sometimes we need to go for our exposure and growth, sometimes we need to go for others’ exposure and growth. And we won’t really know until we go. The reality is we can’t just throw money at them and the churches and say “go do ministry”, because we are a church, one body, and we are created to be in relationship with one another. Sometimes we need to go (and to welcome those who come) because we need to build and foster those relationships. One question he was asked was – “Should I really spend $3500 to go to a country in Africa for a couple weeks when I could just give them the money?” Yes, you should. Because the kingdom of God doesn’t come through money. It comes through relationships. I think we sometimes think that money is what makes the world go round. We need money, or the church needs money, or we need more stuff to do cooler ministry. But the reality is, we don’t need that. We need the Spirit. We need to be desperate for the Spirit in our lives and in the lives of the church body. I need to be desperate for the Spirit to work in and through me and my faith community.

[I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.]

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Characteristics of a Disciple

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010

For one of my classes, Equipping the Laity, we’ve been talking about what it means to be a disciple of Christ (as opposed to being a cultural christian). Below are some characteristics that we talked about (as expressed in Dr. Steve Martyn’s lecture, What is a Disciple?). As we were discussing, I thought to myself- how does my life reflect or not reflect these values/characteristics/traits that I would agree make up a true disciple of Jesus. It was challenging to me, especially in the area of “means of grace” (aka spiritual disciplines for those of you in the southern baptist world). If these are traits I hope and pray and labor towards for others in my future congregation/campus ministry, how much more should I be modeling and living these myself?

What about you? Which ones are challenging to you? Any that you hope to grow in? Any you disagree with? Or anything you would add to this list?

We want to make disciples of Jesus Christ who:

  • Understand the whole story of the Bible and where they fit into the history of salvation
  • Know how to enter into transformative study of God’s word
  • Are living in and practicing the means of grace and are experiencing ongoing transformation
  • Are walking in purity of heart and the freedom of the Gospel and are experiencing release from destructive addictions and collapse of prideful sin
  • Are living in life-giving relationships with others and are allowing the directives of the Gospel to define their roles in those relationships
  • Are seeking to accept and live into the gifts of ministry given to them by the Holy Spirit
  • Are taking the time for critical thinking/discernment and for thoughtful reflection/meditation upon the actions of God in their lives
  • Are missionally engaged for the transformation of the world
  • Understand that ministry is to be done and the Gospel spread through a community of committed disciples who love and honor one another and who seek to unfold the Kingdom within the context of ministry teams
  • Love God’s church and are faithfully engaged in worship and are building up the body of Christ
  • Are tithing their income (as a minimal standard) for the work of the God’s Kingdom
  • Are seeking to be stewards of all of God’s good gifts including creation, their physical bodies, their resources, and their very lives
  • See themselves as followers of Jesus Christ and full-time ministers of the Gospel of grace and understand they are to be servant leaders in the work of redemption

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Freedom

Sunday, July 4th, 2010

As I get a little older, I realize more and more that I’m not going to be young forever. Of course, I am only 27 years old and can still do many of the things that I’ve always done. However, there are small changes that I notice…not being able to bounce back as easily after a night of little sleep, back and shoulder aches after working a little harder than usual, etc.

For one of my summer classes, we are reading through a book called, Mastering Self-Leadership by Neck and Manz. And although I’m not a fan of it, the chapter on being physically healthy was a good reminder for me.

Typically I enjoy working out- but only at a gym by myself or running with Jake outdoors. However, as of late, my gym membership expired, so I haven’t done much besides the everyday chasing Aly/Asante and the heavy lifting required to tote them around :) . I was reflecting on this, and decided it’s no big deal– that once I get to the seminary, I’ll be able to work out in the gym they have there and that’ll be fine. And then I realized what HUGE strides I have made in this area of my life.

In high school I struggled with anorexia and also excessive exercise. If I didn’t exercise every single day, I would have major guilt and anxiety. My days were literally planned around exercise. It was such a burden. In college, I did not struggle with anorexia and eating disordered thoughts as much, especially after my freshmen year, but my felt need to exercise was still significant. I felt like I needed to go to the gym 5-6 days a week and if I didn’t, I would feel bad about it. I liked having a work-out schedule, but I wasn’t a slave to it like in high school.

Post college I have typically had a gym membership or tried to get outdoors to walk a few days a week at least. There have been seasons when I haven’t been able to do so (weather, busyness, etc.) and it hasn’t really bothered me. I acknowledge the uniqueness of the season and make a plan in my head to start working out again after _______ when it’d be feasible for me to do so again. I feel real freedom from the slavery to exercise that I once felt. Instead of being a burden, it’s a stress-relief!

And it’s really quite a work of the Lord that I have this freedom. Many eating disorder specialists say that a person can never be fully recovered. I, however, have found true freedom and recovery, and I’m so thankful for that. It’s funny because I can’t put my finger on when it happened exactly, but it was just a gradual working of the Lord in my life.

So, on this independence day, because I’m not particularly patriotic (although thankful for the freedoms that I have in this country), I want to highlight my freedom from that pattern of destructive thoughts and behaviors. Praise be to God!

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