Is This Helpful or Needlessly Pessimistic?

Mike Leake 2 Comments

As an aging man, and one who had been a Christian for over 30 years, John Newton had this to say about his experience:

At my first setting out, indeed, I thought to be better, and to feel myself better from year to year; I expected by degrees to attain everything which I then comprised in my idea of a godly Christian. I thought my grain of grace, by much diligence and careful improvement, would, in time, amount to a pound; that pound, in a farther space of time, to a talent; and then I hoped to increase from one talent to many; so that, supposing the Lord should spare me a number of years, I pleased myself with the thought of dying rich in grace.

In other words Newton expected to grow exponentially in his faith.  You can imagine that there were various sins of the heart that Newton figured he would have conquered within 30 years time.  Not only that but there were certainly a good number of graces that Newton had hoped to “improve upon” within this time.  Yet this was what he discovered:

But, alas! these my golden expectations have been like South-Sea dreams! I have lived hitherto a poor sinner, and I believe I shall die one! Have I then gained nothing by waiting upon the Lord? Yes, I have gained, that which I once would rather have been without, such accumulated proofs of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of my heart, as I hope, by the Lord’s blessing, has, in some measure, taught me to know what I mean, when I say, “Behold I am vile!”

The core of what Newton learned was that he is more vile than he imagined.  If he stopped there this would be obviously depressing.  There is really no benefit in acknowledging our sinfulness and wretchedness if we don’t look to Christ the remedy.  Admitting human need is empty application unless God’s provision is simultaneously exalted.  And this is what Newton does:

And, in connection with this, I have gained such experience of the wisdom, power, and compassion of my Redeemer; the need, the worth, of his blood, righteousness, attention, and intercession; the glory that he displays in pardoning iniquity and sin and passing by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage—that my soul cannot but cry out, “Who is a God like unto you!”

Still, my question to use is this: Do you find Newton’s testimony here helpful or needlessly depressing?  Is he denying the image of God and work of the Spirit in his own life too much?  In his desire to exalt the work of Christ on the Cross is he at the same time casting a dark shadow on the work of the Spirit in the Christians life? 

I’m interested to read your comments…   (I’m hoping to get opinions from both sides). 

Proverbs for Christian Blogging: Avoiding the Temptation to Crush Heads

Mike Leake

Enjoy this video:

 

This video proves that if you distance yourself just far enough from people and change your perspective just enough you can make yourself a giant and other people but tiny ants. 

I wish this poor chap was alone in his delusion.  But I fear we bloggers may give him a good bit of company.  It is no accident that bloggers have gotten a bad rap as those that don housecoats and live in their mothers basement and spend all their days straining gnats and swallowing camels.  Every blogger can be tempted to use lofty and dicing words to sit atop our throne and crush the heads of all those that aren’t within close proximity of our theological camps.

It is to expected that the very tools of the trade—namely, words—can be used to either exalt Christ and build up other or to tear down and belittle.  Spend anytime in the world of blogs and especially comments and you will see numerous examples of belittling.  Spend a little time on a sports blog or political blog and you will see several “I’m crushing your head” type of statements. 

Yet Christian blogging must rise above this level.  After all Proverbs 11:12 reminds us that, “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.”  Faithful bloggers will avoid “Crushing Your Head”.  Faithful bloggers will view themselves accurately and those with whom they differ with respect and courtesy.  Faithful bloggers don’t belittle.

What Must Be Present for Belittling to Occur

There are a couple of things that had to be present in order for the head crusher in the above video to accomplish his goal of belittling every passerby.  Those that desire to belittle will want to take note. 

First, you have to keep your distance from your opponent.  It’s much harder to belittle someone that you have supper with.  Of course you still can belittle those that are close to you, but it is more difficult to do so without feeling the effects.  You can’t squish your next door neighbor like a bug without getting your hands filthy with bug guts.  So if you want to be good at belittling others then by all means keep yourself a safe distance from those you wish to crush.

Secondly, in order to belittle someone you have to think of yourself as a giant and your opponent as an ant.  This directly rejects the admonition of Philippians 2:3 to “in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  When we belittle another person we are making them smaller than they actually are (often denying the work and image of God within them).  We also have to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.  Both of these come from an inadequate view of God, as well as self.

Faithful blogging comes from acknowledging that the people we interact with are actually living, breathing, yard-mowing, teeth-brushing, water-drinking people just like ourselves.  They are no better than people.  But they are certainly not less. 

Faithful bloggers rub shoulders with their opponents and make every attempt to view them from up close and not hiding behind a bush so that they can fool themselves into thinking they are giants and their opponent and ant.  The only head-crushing that needs to go on in the Christian blogsophere is when believers stand behind Christ as he overturns the works of the devil and crushes the head of the serpent.  But he doesn’t do that as a delusional goon from behind a bush.  He gets close.  He looks death in the face.  And he crushes it for real.  Let’s follow suit. 

Today in Blogworld 5.29.12

Mike Leake

Lessons from a Megachurch Pastor Who Killed a Man

Trevin Wax attempts to learn a few lessons from the life and ministry of J. Frank Norris.  With some help from The Shooting Salvationist, Wax gives 5 things we can learn from his life and ministry.  I found this really intriguing.  It makes me want to learn more about J. Frank Norris.  Helpful lessons too. 

Homosexuality and the Church: Walking the Tightrope! 

I appreciate Dave Miller’s tone and perspective in this piece.  He admits that the issue of homosexuality is a difficult one to navigate for the church of the 21st century.  He then gives 10 biblical principles that can assist us as we walk the tightrope. 

Create!  New E-Book by Stephen Altrogge

Stephen Altrogge is one of my favorite authors.  So it takes very little to motivate me to throw $2.99 at his latest project.  From Stephen, “I believe that God has given every person creative gifts, and that all of us are called to use our creative gifts for the glory of God. This book is intended to inspire and motivate Christians to start using the creative gifts that God has given them for the glory of God and the good of others. It’s a book for artists and homemakers, poets and plumbers, architects and accountants. In other words, this book is for you.”  Pick up a copy. 

Deeper Application

Daryl Dash offers 3 helpful things that are needed for preachers/teachers to make application in a sermon/lesson deeper.  One of his best lines in the article is this quip: “Good preaching shows how our need is met in God.”  The whole thing is worth a read.  (HT: Aaron Armstrong)

Here is a little D.A. Carson for your viewing pleasure:

(HT: Ed Stetzer)

Proverbs for Christian Blogging: Avoiding the Temptation to "Crush You Like a Bug"

Mike Leake

Enjoy this video:

 

This video proves that if you distance yourself just far enough from people and change your perspective just enough you can make yourself a giant and other people but tiny ants.

This guy is not alone in his delusion.  From the lofty perch of our keyboards, in the comfort of our housecoats, and in the safety of our mother’s basement we bloggers can fool ourselves into thinking that we are bigger than we are.  We can be tempted to use lofty and dicing words to sit atop our throne and crush the heads of all those that aren’t within close proximity to our theological camps.

I believe that every active blogger will at one time or another face the temptation to belittle a perceived opponent.  Words are tools of the trade for bloggers.  We know how to use them to build up others and exalt Christ.  And, sadly, we also know how to use them to either outright belittle or subtly belittle through passive aggressive tactics.  

Proverbs 11:12 reminds us that, “Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.”  Faithful bloggers will avoid “Crushing Your Head”.  Faithful bloggers will view themselves accurately and those with whom they differ with respect and courtesy.  Faithful bloggers don’t belittle.

What Must Be Present for Belittling to Occur

In our above video there are a few things that must be present in order for him to “crush you like a bug”.  First, you have to keep your distance from your opponent.  It’s much harder to belittle someone that you have supper with.  Of course you still can belittle those that are close to you, but it is more difficult to do so without feeling the effects.  You can’t squish your next door neighbor like a bug without getting your hands filthy with bug guts.  So if you want to be good at belittling other then by all means keep yourself a safe distance from those you wish to crush.

Secondly, in order to belittle someone you have to think of yourself as a giant and your opponent as an ant.  This directly rejects the admonition of Philippians 2:3 to “in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  When we belittle another person we are making them smaller than they actually are (often denying the work and image of God within them).  We also have to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to.  Both of these come from an inadequate view of God, as well as self.  

Faithful blogging comes from acknowledging that the people we interact with are actually living, breathing, yard-mowing, teeth-brushing, water-drinking people just like ourselves.  They are no better than people.  But they are certainly not less.