Hey Everyone! Thanks for reading this blog!
I've switched to a new format, and will be re-releasing each post as a Podcast here.
After each post has been re-released as a podcast episode, I'll start covering brand new subject matter.
Thanks again!
Chris Cowan
www.breakroomstudios.com
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Monday, November 14, 2011
Complete Surrender?
My dad has recently begun blogging. All of his posts are definitely worth a read, but his most recent one particularly seemed appropriate for the theme of Superstitianity, as it tackles what may be a misconception for some: is surrendering everything a one-time event, or an ongoing decision?
Check it out:
Pastor John's Journal: Complete Surrender?
About Pastor John:
John is extremely happily married to Laura - his best friend, lover and ministry partner of over 38 years. After Pastoring Calvary Chapel of Sacramento, CA for 26 years, he joined the Pastoral Staff of Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City in 2006 and is loving the Adventure!
Check it out:
Pastor John's Journal: Complete Surrender?
About Pastor John:
John is extremely happily married to Laura - his best friend, lover and ministry partner of over 38 years. After Pastoring Calvary Chapel of Sacramento, CA for 26 years, he joined the Pastoral Staff of Calvary Chapel Salt Lake City in 2006 and is loving the Adventure!
For a similar discussion, you might want to check out one of my previous posts:
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Knowing God's Will - Part 1: The Big Plan
The Myth
The Reality
How many times have you said or heard someone say this?
Obviously, it's a good idea to seek God's will, but too often, Christians can overcomplicate it to the point of distress. Then it can become a vicious cycle: the more time we spend stressing about accomplishing God's will, the less time we're spending actually accomplishing it!
When Christians talk about having difficulty knowing God's will, they generally mean one of two things:
God's Big Plan For Me
Often, when we talk about "knowing God's will" for our life, we're thinking in terms of where we will go, what our career will be, or what our life's ministry will be. When we become too focused on these things, it's almost like we're telling God, "Hey, there's a lot you can accomplish through me, so you'd better get started and show me what my big contribution is going to be!"
I believe the fundamental problem lies in the amount of detail we expect God to reveal about His will. The amount of detail in God's will for us can increase or change based on where we are at in our relationship with Him, or even what season we're in in our life. He starts out by only introducing us to His general will, and as we get to know Him better, we begin to understand some of the more specific aspects and applications of His will. A brand-new, day-old believer doesn't necessarily need to immediately understand God's will as it pertains to the structure of the church, eschatology, or even modesty. They just need to understand God's will for mercy, repentance, and salvation. As they develop in their relationship with God and allow God (and God's people) to correct them, that's when they can start to find out the more specific details.
Likewise, those of us who have been walking with God for a longer period of time do not need to be overly concerned with what God will reveal to us. We should make sure we're listening to God so that if and when He does reveal more, we are ready to act upon it. Before asking what God's big plan is for our life, we should start with a much simpler question:
The fact is, God has already given you your homework. The Bible is chock-full of things that can and should keep you busy for a lifetime!
My job is not to speculate about what grandiose mission God will accomplish through me. My job is to make sure I'm thoroughly accomplishing the mission(s) He has already given to me, and not arrogantly demanding more details than I need!
Accomplishing God's will daily is the only thing that will lead to accomplishing God's will with my life.
As I've said before, walking with God is a lot simpler than we often make it out to be. You want to know what God's plan is for you?
It's really that simple.
If you still find yourself getting distressed or impatient about it, here's what God has to say about that:
God's will is difficult to determine.
The Reality
How many times have you said or heard someone say this?
"I'm just trying to figure out God's will."
Obviously, it's a good idea to seek God's will, but too often, Christians can overcomplicate it to the point of distress. Then it can become a vicious cycle: the more time we spend stressing about accomplishing God's will, the less time we're spending actually accomplishing it!
When Christians talk about having difficulty knowing God's will, they generally mean one of two things:
"What's God's big plan for my life?"or
"I've got a tough decision to make."I'll discuss the former today, and the latter in a future post.
God's Big Plan For Me
Often, when we talk about "knowing God's will" for our life, we're thinking in terms of where we will go, what our career will be, or what our life's ministry will be. When we become too focused on these things, it's almost like we're telling God, "Hey, there's a lot you can accomplish through me, so you'd better get started and show me what my big contribution is going to be!"
I believe the fundamental problem lies in the amount of detail we expect God to reveal about His will. The amount of detail in God's will for us can increase or change based on where we are at in our relationship with Him, or even what season we're in in our life. He starts out by only introducing us to His general will, and as we get to know Him better, we begin to understand some of the more specific aspects and applications of His will. A brand-new, day-old believer doesn't necessarily need to immediately understand God's will as it pertains to the structure of the church, eschatology, or even modesty. They just need to understand God's will for mercy, repentance, and salvation. As they develop in their relationship with God and allow God (and God's people) to correct them, that's when they can start to find out the more specific details.
Likewise, those of us who have been walking with God for a longer period of time do not need to be overly concerned with what God will reveal to us. We should make sure we're listening to God so that if and when He does reveal more, we are ready to act upon it. Before asking what God's big plan is for our life, we should start with a much simpler question:
Am I acting upon what I already know of God's will?In other words, am I being faithful in the responsibilities God has already given to me, or am I like an entry-level employee who is so focused on what he'll accomplish as an executive that he is unable to do his current job?
The fact is, God has already given you your homework. The Bible is chock-full of things that can and should keep you busy for a lifetime!
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. - Jesus
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - JamesSeriously, if these things are all that God ever told you to do during your life, it would be more than you could accomplish during your brief stint here on Earth. And the truth is, that might be all that God tells you to do during your life.
My job is not to speculate about what grandiose mission God will accomplish through me. My job is to make sure I'm thoroughly accomplishing the mission(s) He has already given to me, and not arrogantly demanding more details than I need!
Accomplishing God's will daily is the only thing that will lead to accomplishing God's will with my life.
As I've said before, walking with God is a lot simpler than we often make it out to be. You want to know what God's plan is for you?
Love Him daily.
Listen to Him daily.
Obey Him daily.
It's really that simple.
If you still find yourself getting distressed or impatient about it, here's what God has to say about that:
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Saved by a Prayer
The Myth
When people become Christians, it usually starts with a prayer, known as "The Sinner's Prayer". The prayer essentially summarizes our need for forgiveness, our thankfulness to Jesus for paying for our sins when He died on the cross, and our new commitment to follow Him. Here's an example:
The Reality
I think (or hope) most Christians will claim to recognize that this prayer has no magical ability to send people to Heaven or make their life perfect, and in itself has no actual bearing on the rest of someone's life. We all know it's just a verbal expression of an inward transformation, right?
Unfortunately, a common problem we have is acknowledging things verbally, but not necessarily thinking it through. People do this when they act like the "The Sinner's Prayer" has so much meaning when spoken, but then don't concern themselves with making sure that the verbal commitment is fulfilled with a change in their lifestyle.
Following Christ is not just some one-time commitment that saves you: You don't just say the prayer, and then that's your ticket to Heaven. The word Christian means like Christ. In other words, being a Christian means a daily commitment to trying to be like Jesus; and that's a point I don't feel is made clear in many altar calls.
We're quick to emphasize the Romans 10:9 part of becoming a Christian, which talks about believing and confessing, but then act like no further action should be taken on our part. We've got the insurance plan and are good to go, and ignore the words of John and James that say our faith must result in righteousness.
Why It Matters
When we treat our covenant with God like it's a mystical password that gets us into heaven, then we are essentially rendering it meaningless. As anyone who has ever heard of a politician or made a New Year's resolution can tell you, the words you say hold only as much meaning as the commitment behind them.
If you promise your son that you'll take him to a movie this weekend, and Monday comes around and you failed to fulfill your promise, then it doesn't matter how sincere that promise felt: if you didn't keep the promise, it holds no value. Why should our commitment to God be viewed any differently?
As a side note...
The whole "repeat after me" thing has bothered me for a long time. I'm concerned that it puts too much emphasis on the words themselves, and not the heart behind them. Rather than repeating a prayer verbatim, I'd prefer to see the evangelist provide an outline of what God requires of us, and then exhort the new believers to pray to God in their own words, from their own hearts. But this is simply a matter of opinion, and in no way is meant to say that repeating after someone is an invalid form of prayer.
When people become Christians, it usually starts with a prayer, known as "The Sinner's Prayer". The prayer essentially summarizes our need for forgiveness, our thankfulness to Jesus for paying for our sins when He died on the cross, and our new commitment to follow Him. Here's an example:
"God, I know that I have sinned against you and that my sins separate me from you. I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my sinful past and turn to you for forgiveness. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay for my sins. Please reign in my heart and make me your disciple from this day forward. My greatest purpose in life is to follow your example and do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."Many Christians treat this as an incantation, and believe that anyone who has said this prayer at any time is immediately "saved."
The Reality
I think (or hope) most Christians will claim to recognize that this prayer has no magical ability to send people to Heaven or make their life perfect, and in itself has no actual bearing on the rest of someone's life. We all know it's just a verbal expression of an inward transformation, right?
Unfortunately, a common problem we have is acknowledging things verbally, but not necessarily thinking it through. People do this when they act like the "The Sinner's Prayer" has so much meaning when spoken, but then don't concern themselves with making sure that the verbal commitment is fulfilled with a change in their lifestyle.
Following Christ is not just some one-time commitment that saves you: You don't just say the prayer, and then that's your ticket to Heaven. The word Christian means like Christ. In other words, being a Christian means a daily commitment to trying to be like Jesus; and that's a point I don't feel is made clear in many altar calls.
We're quick to emphasize the Romans 10:9 part of becoming a Christian, which talks about believing and confessing, but then act like no further action should be taken on our part. We've got the insurance plan and are good to go, and ignore the words of John and James that say our faith must result in righteousness.
Why It Matters
When we treat our covenant with God like it's a mystical password that gets us into heaven, then we are essentially rendering it meaningless. As anyone who has ever heard of a politician or made a New Year's resolution can tell you, the words you say hold only as much meaning as the commitment behind them.
If you promise your son that you'll take him to a movie this weekend, and Monday comes around and you failed to fulfill your promise, then it doesn't matter how sincere that promise felt: if you didn't keep the promise, it holds no value. Why should our commitment to God be viewed any differently?
As a side note...
The whole "repeat after me" thing has bothered me for a long time. I'm concerned that it puts too much emphasis on the words themselves, and not the heart behind them. Rather than repeating a prayer verbatim, I'd prefer to see the evangelist provide an outline of what God requires of us, and then exhort the new believers to pray to God in their own words, from their own hearts. But this is simply a matter of opinion, and in no way is meant to say that repeating after someone is an invalid form of prayer.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
We will always fail on our own?
The Myths
"We will fail every task we attempt on our own."
OR
"Non-Christians cannot do any good works."
The Reality
Any non-Christian can tell you that those statements are bogus. There are plenty of people who don't trust in God, but are able to accomplish all kinds of things successfully.
The follow-up argument I've heard sometimes is that if you are able to accomplish something, it won't be satisfying. Lance Armstrong, Bill Gates, and many others have not only accomplished impressive tasks, but done good works, which I'm certain they could honestly say have brought some level of satisfaction.
Why It Matters
Rather than try to differentiate ourselves from unbelievers by making false claims about what they can or can't accomplish, or judging their motives or level of satisfaction, we should instead recognize that the principles that lead to satisfying accomplishments are God-given principles. Hard work and perseverance pays off, and good works are rewarding.
There are many natural blessings that come from following Godly advice, even for those who don't follow God completely. I think of it as a taste of the lasting satisfaction that comes from being fully devoted to God.
What's important is not whether we can succeed in accomplishing anything on our own. What's important is recognizing that what we can't accomplish on our own is salvation and fellowship with God. It's important to recognize that our good works don't purify us from our sins and depravity; only God can do that.
"We will fail every task we attempt on our own."
OR
"Non-Christians cannot do any good works."
The Reality
Any non-Christian can tell you that those statements are bogus. There are plenty of people who don't trust in God, but are able to accomplish all kinds of things successfully.
The follow-up argument I've heard sometimes is that if you are able to accomplish something, it won't be satisfying. Lance Armstrong, Bill Gates, and many others have not only accomplished impressive tasks, but done good works, which I'm certain they could honestly say have brought some level of satisfaction.
Why It Matters
Rather than try to differentiate ourselves from unbelievers by making false claims about what they can or can't accomplish, or judging their motives or level of satisfaction, we should instead recognize that the principles that lead to satisfying accomplishments are God-given principles. Hard work and perseverance pays off, and good works are rewarding.
There are many natural blessings that come from following Godly advice, even for those who don't follow God completely. I think of it as a taste of the lasting satisfaction that comes from being fully devoted to God.
What's important is not whether we can succeed in accomplishing anything on our own. What's important is recognizing that what we can't accomplish on our own is salvation and fellowship with God. It's important to recognize that our good works don't purify us from our sins and depravity; only God can do that.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Don't Take The Lord's Name In vain
The Myth
Taking the Lord's name in vain means using "God" and "Jesus" as curse words.
The Reality
It's true that you should avoid using "God" and "Jesus" as exclamatory statements when you're not actually talking about God. For my part, I try to avoid using any terms that refer to God unless I actually mean it, but I'm not personally offended when people casually say things like "Lord have mercy" etc.
But I strongly believe that the worst case of taking the Lord's name in vain is when people claim to be His followers, but then their actions demonstrate the oppposite. That is what is most offensive to God.
Another translation for the word take in Exodus 20's account of the 10 commandments is lift. We should not lift God's name in vain.
Taking the Lord's name in vain means using "God" and "Jesus" as curse words.
The Reality
It's true that you should avoid using "God" and "Jesus" as exclamatory statements when you're not actually talking about God. For my part, I try to avoid using any terms that refer to God unless I actually mean it, but I'm not personally offended when people casually say things like "Lord have mercy" etc.
But I strongly believe that the worst case of taking the Lord's name in vain is when people claim to be His followers, but then their actions demonstrate the oppposite. That is what is most offensive to God.
Another translation for the word take in Exodus 20's account of the 10 commandments is lift. We should not lift God's name in vain.
Why It Matters
God demands reverence. While what we say does matter, it fades in comparison to how we live our life. First and foremost, we must make sure that our life is not taking the Lord's name in vain. Whether by our words or by our actions, we must make sure we are truly lifting up God's name, and not dragging it down in the mud.
Are All Sins Created Equal?
The Myth
All sins are equal.
The Reality
God never said that all sins are equal. I believe the point of confusion comes from where James 2:10 says that being guilty of any sin makes you a sinner, but that's not the same thing as saying all sins are the same. James is making the point that we are all guilty of sin and disobedience, regardless of whether we committed a tiny sin or a huge sin. Hopefully, nobody's going to say that telling a white lie is just as bad as bombing a school bus, even though both sins separate us from God.
1 John 5 even makes a distinction between sins leading to death and sins not leading to death.
Why It Matters
Some sins carry a lot more weight than other sins because of their impact. By making all sins equal, we are watering down the consequences that those sins carry. This is the same mindset that causes people to brush off their sins by saying, "Nobody's perfect."
Furthermore, recognizing the fact that there is a huge spectrum of small to large sins helps us to appreciate even more the fact that all sins are equal in terms of God's ability to forgive them.
All sins are equal.
The Reality
God never said that all sins are equal. I believe the point of confusion comes from where James 2:10 says that being guilty of any sin makes you a sinner, but that's not the same thing as saying all sins are the same. James is making the point that we are all guilty of sin and disobedience, regardless of whether we committed a tiny sin or a huge sin. Hopefully, nobody's going to say that telling a white lie is just as bad as bombing a school bus, even though both sins separate us from God.
1 John 5 even makes a distinction between sins leading to death and sins not leading to death.
Why It Matters
Some sins carry a lot more weight than other sins because of their impact. By making all sins equal, we are watering down the consequences that those sins carry. This is the same mindset that causes people to brush off their sins by saying, "Nobody's perfect."
Furthermore, recognizing the fact that there is a huge spectrum of small to large sins helps us to appreciate even more the fact that all sins are equal in terms of God's ability to forgive them.
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