Christian Catchphrases

They're all over social media: short, inspirational phrases meant to be uplifting and to brighten your day a little as you're scrolling along. You read them, you smile, and then you move on. Contemporary Christian culture seems to have become just a little obsessed with positive slogans like, Pray really big! Believe even bigger! or God has to break you in order to build you. Those bright spots are helpful; we definitely could all use a little positivity sometimes. But is that all there is to it?

Most of these mini pep-talks are true, maybe even directly Biblical. But there's a subtle danger that we may settle for catchy slogans rather than Scripture, getting a spiritual pick-me-up from a statement that may be encouraging, but lacks real substance. In fact, a steady diet of these sweet treats without the real food of God's Word can put you at risk for hollow theology. No quick quote can give you the whole story, and might leave out an important qualifier that is essential to the point. Take the above example: yes, we all experience some kind of brokenness in life, and that is very often the most effective method God uses to conform us to the likeness His Son. But on the other hand, who's to say what God has to do in order to make you what He wants you to be? He might just as well do it some other way, and we certainly don't want to be unconsciously led to think that life without struggle is somehow unspiritual. There's another side to this story that we shouldn't miss.

Whether it's a Christian catchphrase, a popular new devotional book, or a powerful message from your pastor, don't swallow it without chewing first! Take the time to think carefully about the smallest thought bites you take in, and pair them with truth directly from God Himself. There's nothing more encouraging, and in the long run truly nourishing, than a good look at His precious Word.

The Nobility of Humility

Humility, says Andrew Murray, is "the glory of the creature." Wherever they are found, those who modestly and joyfully give of themselves for the sake of others are held in high esteem. Those we deem our heroes are not the ones calling attention to themselves -- they are too busy using their gifts to serve others. No one demonstrated this exceptional attitude more wonderfully than our Lord:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist. Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. . . . When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

John 13:3-5, 12-14

By this startling act of service for His disciples, Jesus, Maker and Master of Heaven and Earth, did not give up an ounce of His eternal greatness; in fact, He affirmed His position of Teacher and Lord. Rather, He demonstrated that true greatness shows itself in willingness to perform even the most menial tasks. He did not think it beneath His dignity to serve those clearly inferior to Him; He remained steady and certain when His worth was doubted; and ultimately, He who was highest stooped the lowest in awesome, matchless humility.

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name . . .

Philippians 2:6-9

It was not in His intrinsic worth alone, His position as eternal Son of the Almighty God, that Jesus found His glory. It was in cheerfully setting aside His rights for the sake of others, doing what only He could do to restore us to His Father, taking our blame and giving us His credit. This is the secret of our Lord's greatness, just as it is of ours. We have not so far to bend as He did, but the higher our position, the greater our potential for humility. This is the proof of true nobility.

I Am With You...Always

Where in the Bible is God's presence not seen? At every turn, the pages of Scripture bear witness to His active interest in His creation. Even in Esther, the only book of the Bible in which God's name is conspicuously absent, the divine hand may be clearly seen behind every coincidence. God is real and involved in the lives of Bible characters, sometimes more than they would like Him to be! But when it comes to our self-sufficient modern times, God is imagined as a distant Being who dutifully keeps the universe ticking from some zillion light years away while we tend to our own affairs on our own little planet. We don't need His help anymore; we are a technologically advanced species and can send lightning bolts from heaven all by ourselves now, thank you very much.

Even Christians easily adopt this prevailing attitude, theoretically acknowledging that God is omnipresent, faithful, loving, and so forth, while at the same time "living like atheists." Is it any wonder that believers so often struggle in their devotional lives, trying to relate to a God of long ago and far away? All the while, our Lord's promise, "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20) is still as true as the day He spoke it, and if that's not enough, the promise continues, "I will never leave you" (Hebrews 13:5). He is with us, constantly at work in our lives. Constant companionship is almost unheard of in the world as we know it, so perhaps it's difficult to imagine someone who is always there, always available. But whether you acknowledge Him or not, Jesus is right beside you every moment. You're not alone, so why live like it?

Lead By Encouragement

On frigid days like these, reading about the Antarctic adventures of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton sure puts the low temperatures in perspective. Shackleton has long been one of my favorite heroes for his remarkable example of leadership, and his personal account has added to my admiration -- not so much for what he said, but what he didn't say. Being stranded in the most inhospitable conditions on earth would have been fair excuse for anyone to complain, but not Sir Ernest. Despite the constant hardships he and his crew endured, he relates them as almost trivial while cheerily telling of the humorous moments in the midst of them.

But perhaps even more striking is Shackleton's portrayal of his men. Though other accounts give the sometimes ugly truth of friction and fights among them, their leader speaks only praise. If he states anything negative, it is only a light-hearted mention along the lines of "one of the men" being too seasick to eat his hoarded food. Instead, he calls out the admirable qualities of his followers by name. The slightest dip in their morale was of greatest concern to him, and he understood the importance of encouragement, not only to ward off depression but ultimately for their survival. Even so he did not ignore the issues that arose, but dealt with them with as much sternness as was required, then did not bring them up again. Such things simply didn't merit repeating.

The responsibility of leadership requires attentiveness to the needs of those we lead -- not only physical needs, but mental, emotional and spiritual. The attitude of the leader will dictate that of the followers, and this is very often expressed in words. If a leader gives in to negative talk about the situation at hand, or worse, his followers themselves, the result can be disastrous. Leadership looks forward and seeks success for everyone involved, and there can be no room for holding grudges, fostering doubts, or allowing divisiveness. A wise leader knows that generous encouragement and praise are vital for success, and when problems must be addressed, will quickly "forgive and forget" in order to move forward together.

Therefore encourage one another

and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

2016: The Year of Service

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served,

but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

This year, my role as a leader taught me many things, but perhaps the most impactful thought, and my summary word for 2016, is service. Leadership of all kinds, I've been reminded, is largely a position of serving one's followers - giving time and effort for their benefit, bearing the unseen load so they are enabled to be successful. Servanthood is often mundane, lonely, and thankless, and must have a driving force to prevent it from becoming either unbearably frustrating or mere heartless duty. Belief in a cause is not enough - you can't serve a cause. Nothing but love for those one serves will suffice to keep service fruitful and alive. "Through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). The joy of true service with love is that, expecting no return, it becomes an honor and reward in itself because its focus is completely on the one(s) served.

Christ Himself is, as always, the perfect example - He wholeheartedly served those closest to Him as well the thousands who crossed His path. He was driven by love, and looked for no reward but the ultimate benefit of those for whom He gave of Himself. He held nothing back, not even His life. In the great divine paradox, He who most deserves to be served is the greatest Servant of all. This, Jesus tells us, is the measure of greatness in God's eyes - not how many subordinates you command, but how willingly you offer your unconditional service to even the most undeserving.

Spiritual Hearing

"...it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say,

'Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.'"

1 Samuel 3:9

"I keep hearing my name," said the girl. "I think God might be calling me." As I counseled this young believer, barely a month old in the faith, I was convicted by the sharp spiritual hearing of someone who has just begun to walk in the Spirit. With a heart so eager to learn, she keenly knows how little she knows, and yet desires to share that little with others. It is a trait we so quickly lose as we settle into life with Christ, forgetting the joy of first meeting our ever-present Friend, and losing that sweet voice in the din of earthly noise. I had no profound advice but what I needed to hear myself: ask Him to speak, and then be constantly listening -- when you open His Word, when you talk with others, when you look at Creation, and at all times in between. He will speak, because He has much to say to you!

The Patience of God

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise,

as some understand slowness.

Instead He is patient with you, not wanting

anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

"If God can get rid of sin, why hasn't He done it yet?" asked a little boy. Countless people under the weight of a wicked world have asked such a question. How can we reconcile the endless string of wars, corruption, brutality and suffering with a good God who hates evil? Why does He let it all continue unchecked? A look at the darkness and depravity of the world brings sorrow that the human race, myself included, can make such short work of everything good and beautiful. Yet how much more must God sorrow to watch His children ruining the gifts He gave them and driving themselves to destruction? By all rights, He should have put an end to it long before now, and not in our favor. But He waits . . . because there are still souls He is rescuing even in the chaos. His grace and patience are unfathomable!

The Election Debate

No, this isn't a post about the presidential election . . . but the election vs. free will debate of theologians has had its own fair share of heated moments through the ages of church history. The arguments abound, and the hours I've spent discussing and musing on this particular doctrine may well outnumber any other. In the end, the doctrine of election remains both one of the most clearly stated in Scripture and one of the most paradoxical. Ephesians chapter one declares that God "chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" (v. 4), and a few verses later, we learn God's purpose in this mystery: "the praise of the glory of His grace" (v. 6). This, after all the scholarly studies and emphatic debates, is the essence of election -- God chose you, His child, not for any merit of your own, but that your ransomed life should result in praise and glory to Him.

Every point of doctrine has bearing on our lives, and it is a worthy pursuit to understand all we can about what is revealed to us. But there comes a point when the arguments must finally give way to the most basic faith: we know that somehow, God has seen fit to choose His saints, and yet legitimately include human responsibility. We may attempt to understand, to explain the paradox away, and yet it seems to me that the more we learn of the depths of God's mysteries, the more we see that is still far beyond comprehension. But for me, this brings a quiet sense of acceptance -- God is who He is, and that is enough. Whether the side I take in the election debate is correct or not, I do know that I am chosen to bring glory to my Lord, and I can do no better than this.

Where Do We Begin?

Oh, where do we begin -- the rubble or our sins?

~"Pompeii" by Bastille

My favorite line from this popular song asks an important and sobering question which is relevant to all of us. The rubble in our lives is easy to see, and tends to be our first focus when something goes wrong. We turn our attention to picking up the pieces and trying to fix our problems by painstakingly putting the broken bits back together. Maybe it's because the effect is so much easier to identify and deal with than the cause. Once life is back to normal, we think, then we can take care of the issues that started the whole mess in the first place.

Nehemiah was a man who had to deal with a whole lot of rubble. When the news came to him that Jerusalem lay in ruins, and such ruins that a donkey could not even get through the streets, Nehemiah immediately began, not with the rubble . . . but with his sins. He said to God, "I pray before You now . . . and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned" (Nehemiah 1:6). Nehemiah knew that the rubble was only a visible result of the inward condition of his people's souls, himself included. So he began with their sins, and God then used him mightily to repair the rubble.

Of course, the rubble in Nehemiah's day still required a whole lot of work once the sin issue had been addressed, and so will the rubble in our own lives. But where we choose to begin will go a long way to determine our attitude and approach to the restoration process, and thus, the outcome. Where will you begin?

Gifts From a King

In ancient times, kings often demonstrated their lordship by bestowing extravagant gifts on their favored subjects. Such generosity established the wealth, power, and benevolence of the ruler. In addition, the recipients were in a sense bound to their sovereign by the gift -- they possessed something that belonged to the king and spoke of their relationship to him. They were justly expected to use that gift in the service of their lord. The glory was to the giver, not the receiver.

A. W. Tozer says of God, "He gives but He does not give away. All that He gives remains His own and returns to Him again." We serve a King with infinite riches to bestow on His people, and He does so very generously -- all that we have is a gift from Him. As an absolute Sovereign, all in His dominion remains His, no matter who possesses it, and He expects us to use the gifts of His favor to honor Him. Do you rejoice in all your gifts as royal privileges from God? Do you serve your Lord faithfully with what He has given you?

And what do you have that you did not receive?

1 Corinthians 4:7