Francis Chan on persecution in India

Westernised Churches

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The Sound of Silence

"Silence frees us from the need to control others ... A frantic stream of words flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out. We want so desperately for them to agree with us, to see things our way. We evaluate people, judge people, condemn people. We devour people with our words. Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on that."

- Richard Foster, from his book Freedom of Simplicity

Grow up before you grow old

"God wants us to grow up."

In reading these words in Andre Agassi's recent and excellent autobiography, I was taken aback. I've felt the challenge to 'grow up' from a number of different angles recently, not least conversations with others and engagement with the scriptures, but this was the final nail in the coffin, as it were.

The goal of Christian discipleship is, after all, full maturity in Jesus, which equates to absolute conformation to his character. To put it another way we are intended to become just like him. We will, one day, be fully conformed to his image, just as he is perfectly in the Father's image. As Peter puts it we will 'participate in the divine nature'(2 Pet 1.4).

So often I think we sell ourselves short of this massive goal. We get through conversion and then, feeling fully assured of our salvation, we fail to grow up. We carry on drinking spiritual milk when there is meat to be had, and plenty of it. We begin a relationship with the Father through the Son, but we miss out on the daily empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We fail to consummate the relationship we have begun with God. This is tantamount to failing to grow in relationship with our wife after exchanging the vows.

This hits on the main way in which we will grow in maturity in Christ, which is through 'sharing space' with Jesus. We grow in relationship with our spouse, friends or kids by sharing experiences and space with them. We aim to cross paths as often and as intimately as possible, through which we grow in intimacy and passion for them. We understand them, they understand us and they rub off on us.

It's the same with God only more so.

If we are going to grow into Christ's shape then there is only one way. Sharing space and experiences with him. I would want to call this prayer. I'm not simply thinking of the stuff we do when we're on our knees by our bed, but everything in life which is said and done in communion with Jesus. We become like him through the mundane things we do in communion with him. Things like eating, talking, laughing and even sleeping.

Of course, this is not a passive growing. It takes great energy for anything to grow. We are saved by grace through faith, yes, but God has prepared good works for us to do that will enable us to grow so that Christ will fill us up in greater measure. Being formed in the image of Jesus is the hardest thing we will ever do. It is the culmination of millions of little decisions we make over the course of our lifetimes.

Ultimately the final consummation comes when we are raised again through the power of the Spirit. We then see him as he is and so become fully like him.

In the meantime we need to re-focus our efforts and energy on becoming like him. We can't settle for anything less than this. This is, after all, the whole point of us being saved in the first place. God wants us to look like Jesus that the world might see the blessing that comes in relationship with Him, and that they might seek it for themselves. It was the Pharisaic propensity to hoard this blessing to themselves that Jesus criticized so heavily.

May 2010 be the year of growing up. For me, for you and for all God's people.

John 21 - Jesus and Peter

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." (John 21.15)

Simon Peter is on the rebound. He has ridden the rollercoaster of following Jesus all the way to the bottom, denying Jesus in his time of need. He has nothing left to give, nothing to boast about. There is no way back for him except by the grace of Jesus. Is there a way to be good again?

Jesus meets him in his time of need as they sit down for breakfast on the beach. Peter is desperate for reconciliation and Jesus doesn’t disappoint him. But it’s the way that Jesus does this that interests me.

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

It is Simon’s love of Jesus that has been tested and found wanting. The denial episode has shown him and Jesus what was really going on in his heart all along. His answer to the question is, of course, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus asks him the same question three times, once for each denial. Each affirmation of love heals the wound of previous betrayal. And the love that Simon affirms is linked to his calling. Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

And that’s the point. Simon’s only capability in his calling is his love for Jesus. His only preparation for being useful in the plans of Jesus is his relationship with the one he loves. The situation is no different today. We become useful to Jesus when we fall in love with him. It’s not about our gifting, our striving, our savvy, our training or anything else. It’s not a matter of whether we love going to church, reading our bible, teaching people about God, or anything else. It doesn’t matter whether we want to build his Kingdom by working in church, Starbucks, Costco or anyplace else.

It all means nothing unless we love.

We are only useful to Jesus if we truly love him. This is the one and only qualification Jesus asks for in Simon and it is what he asks for in each of us too.

Do you love him?