Christ's Steroid

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.--Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV translation)

Jesus commanded his followers to love one another. (John 13:34) But not only is Christian love a duty, it is also like a steroid for Christ's body. The body (the church) "builds itself up in love." When I wonder why our churches seem stagnant, I have to answer there is not enough love. You really want to see church growth? Inject some love.

How do we apply this? Here's one way the early church did it: "There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need."--Acts 4:34-35 (ESV) Right now, American Christians have an excellent opportunity to love one another now by providing financial aid. How will we respond? I'm praying we take the steroid.

President Obama

Last night was historic: a Black man was elected (by a landslide) to the most powerful position in America. How should Christians respond to this event?

1) With prayer. Prayer for President-elect Obama, prayer for our federation, prayer that the Gospel will spread during his reign. (Yes, I use the term reign in regard to presidents.)

2) With hope. President-elect Obama is a smart man who has great potential to benefit America. Not only that, but we can have real hope that we have put the stain of racism behind us. His pro-abortion positions are morally repulsive but thanks to the beauty of the Constitution, his power to apply those positions is very weak. It appears that Republicans (the more consistently but not perfectly pro-life party) will keep over 40 seats in the Senate. With more than 40, they can kill liberal legislation with a filibuster. There is no need to cry, "Save us, God!"--any more than usual, at least.

3) With a change in direction. Support for John McCain by Evangelicals was hypocritical: 8 years ago, he was anathema to conservative Christians. Not only that, it was not support of a great man but futile struggling against Obama. In the next election, we should try working towards pro-life policies, not against pro-death policies.

May God bless America and her new ruler.

A Poet's Politics

Over at the Scriptorium Daily, Matt Jenson posted poet W. H. Auden's essay on party issues versus revolutionary issues. Read it--it's an interesting and very applicable piece.

Where Am I?

It's been a while since I've had a real post. I've thrown some good links up here--I hope you've enjoyed those. So what's keeping me busy? Basically, two college classes are keeping me immensely busy right now, so I've had to neglect this blog. Hopefully I can put up some of my thoughts soon though. Until then, may God smile on you.

Two Christianities

Dan Edelen recently reposted an old post which is well worth reading on externally-motivated Christianity versus internally-motivated Christianity. It's especially helpful during this election year.

Viewer Discretion Advised

If you can stomach it, watch the video on abortion which Justin Taylor recently posted on his blog.

O'Harra on Pride

Over at the Desiring God blog, Aaron O'Harra has a good post on self-importance.

His conclusion:

"In the end, God will not be impressed that I talked with Bob Kauflin, or shook the hand of Mark Driscoll, or saved a seat for Paul Tripp, or that I know John Piper. The only thing God will care about is 'Did you talk with the poor? Did you shake the hand of the leper? Did you save a seat for the lame? And most of all, did you know my son?'"

Spiritual Sustenance

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.--Deuteronomy 8:3

I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.--Job 23:12

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD,"when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.--Amos 8:11

But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"--Matthew 4:4 (all ESV)

Over the last few weeks, God has been convicting me that I don't treat His Word as a necessary part of my life, but as an optional accessory. His Word should be my spiritual food, and it is absolutely necessary for my survival. So, the plan I have developed recently is to treat the Bible like I treat my food: three solid meals a day with snacks in between. What do you think? How do we have God's attitude toward the Word in our heart?

Harvard Economist Rejects Bailout

Jeffrey Miron, senior lecturer on economics at Harvard University, wrote an excellent commentary rejecting the proposed bailout of Wall Street.

"The fact that government bears such a huge responsibility for the current mess means any response should eliminate the conditions that created this situation in the first place, not attempt to fix bad government with more government.

The obvious alternative to a bailout is letting troubled financial institutions declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcy means that shareholders typically get wiped out and the creditors own the company. . . .

. . .

Thoughtful advocates of the bailout might concede this perspective, but they argue that a bailout is necessary to prevent economic collapse. According to this view, lenders are not making loans, even for worthy projects, because they cannot get capital. This view has a grain of truth; if the bailout does not occur, more bankruptcies are possible and credit conditions may worsen for a time.

Talk of Armageddon, however, is ridiculous scare-mongering. If financial institutions cannot make productive loans, a profit opportunity exists for someone else. This might not happen instantly, but it will happen.

Further, the current credit freeze is likely due to Wall Street's hope of a bailout; bankers will not sell their lousy assets for 20 cents on the dollar if the government might pay 30, 50, or 80 cents."

Read This

Dan Edelen has a fantastic short story--take the time to read it. Just do it. You'll thank me later.