Education vs. Obedience

30 April, 2010

Mick Christianity , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

These are two words that I have been thinking a lot about recently.  I’m specifically thinking about how they can govern our relationships with one another.

Too often we are about education.  Isn’t that what Western culture is built around?  We believe that if you have an education that your life will be quantitatively better.  True or not, education is a good thing.  But I think that we are so ingrained with wanting to learn and teach that it becomes a priority in our Christian walk.

Think about your typical week as a Christian.  You come one Sunday to sing some songs of praise, take communion, and listen to a sermon.  This is a good thing.  Hebrews 10: 25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Maybe you go to a Bible study to learn some more.  It may be a steep assumption to think that we join a small group to continue to learn, but I think it’s accurate.  This is all build around education/learning about what the Bible says.

I wonder what would happen if we spent less time trying to educate one another about what Jesus, and started spending more time on encouraging one another to be obedient to what Jesus said.  Isn’t that what Jesus wanted anyways?

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

He doesn’t just say, “teaching them everything I have commanded you,” He says, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  This is why it is so important to be living life with one another.

I’m not suggesting that we give up learning.  How else are we supposed to know what Jesus wants from our lives?  What I’m suggesting is that as we come together as Christ-followers (whether on the golf course, over dinner, or in a small group), we should encourage one another how to live for Jesus.

If our relationships are built around educating and learning, there is a good chance that we will have our wheels spinning without going anywhere.  If our relationships are built around staying true to Jesus’ teachings, the world could be a better place.

Come Together

7 March, 2010

Mick Christianity , , Leave a comment

Each weekend we come together and participate in things that have a grand purpose.  While drinking coffee, we are building community with other Christ-followers.  While singing, we lift praises to the Lord of all creation.  While taking communion, we remember how much God loves us.  While listening to the sermon, we are learning how God’s Word applies to our life.  How awesome is it that we have the ability to do these things with other believers every week?  God bless.

We Have So Much

4 March, 2010

Mick Christianity , , , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Yesterday, a friend and fellow band mate of mine shared her recent experience while on a mission trip to Guatemala.  One of the things she talked about, as well as almost any other person who has gone a short-term missions trip, was the fact that the people they visit have so little.  More importantly, we have so much that we don’t need.

I know I’m guilty of taking things for granted all the time.  Right now I’m drinking coffee and had about 15 mugs to choose from.  The water used to brew the coffee came from our sink. Most people in this world don’t even have running water.  My socks are clean. I’m wearing glasses to help with my vision. I’m listening to Eric Clapton on a surround stereo. I’m warm even though it’s 25°F outside.

Yesterday I took some time to thank God for things.  Here’s my prayer:

  • Thank you for me family.
  • Thank you for great parents.
  • Thank you for great in-laws.
  • Thank you for coffee.
  • Thank you for my guitars.
  • Thank you for my friends at Crossroads.
  • Thank you for fireplaces.
  • Thank you for the internet and how it can aid ministry in so many ways.
  • Thank you for my journal.
  • Thank you for my record player.
  • Thank you for community.
  • Thank you for Girl Scout Cookies; particularly Samoas.
  • Thank you for Converse All-Stars.
  • Thank you for the blues.
  • Thank you for my musical ability.
  • Thank you for my car.
  • Thank you for the house we are in.

This is a short list compared to what it could be.  It would be easy to go Energizer Bunny on this list.
What do you take for granted?  Take some time a thank God for the things you have today.

Are We Still Excited?

20 June, 2009

Mick Christianity, Community , , , 2 Comments

Are you still excited about your faith? I want to challenge you with this question.
Several evenings past at the communty group I attend, this question came up. This is a serious matter here. Think about it. If you are excited about something, you generally devote time and effort to that particular thing.
Take a football game for example. People get excited about this to the point that an entire day is devoted to the event. This isn’t just a one time occurance either. Every week the same energy is there. And the off season is spent dwelling on the upcoming year (in the case of the Cubs you also hear phrases like “this will be the year”).
Why is that same excitement not the case at our Sunday gatherings? Honestly, the fact that God died for us is worth getting excited over time after time.
How can we get more excited about our faith? What’s it going to take?

A Day of Community

24 May, 2009

Mick Christianity, Community , , , , , , 1 Comment

I want to share with you my great day yesterday.  Please do not look at this as me bragging and saying, “look what I can do.”  But rather let this be an encouragement for all of us to pursue constant community with other Christ followers.

With the nice weather comes great activities that can be done outside.  One of those is riding a bike, and Joliet has some good trails that encourage people to enjoy the sport.  I met up with man from Crossroads who also enjoys biking and went out for about an hour and half.  We had some good conversation and got a good workout at the same time.

As soon as I returned home and cleaned up, my exercise was ruined by an Italian beef sandwich from Portillo’s.  Another person from Crossroads met with me there and discussed various things including Crossroads, college, and community groups (how’s that for alliteration?).  We also talked about how we need to be growing more organically… but that is for another post.

A tire on my wife’s bike needed to be fixed, so as soon as that was done I went out again.  This was not for near as long as earlier in the day, but just a chance to do something outdoors.  She wanted to show me where someone else from Crossroads lived in relation to us.  As we peddled by, one of them was outside.  Long story short, I spontaneously hung out and played some video games with another guy in our community.

I wish everyday was filled with this kind of togetherness.  We were not just getting together because we had to or felt obligated to, but because we just wanted to.  That is really what organic community/growth is all about.  Be looking for more on this topic in the near future.

Older Entries