 |
| 
Matthew Timothy Short
Huh?
Date Joined Apr 2002
Total Posts : 635
| Posted 6/1/2002 3:22 PM (GMT -6) |   | Today is often spoken of as the age of information. Information is vital to all we do, of course, but then it always has been. What distinguishes the present time is that there is a lot more information (and misinformation) available than ever before, and a lot of people are trying to sell it to us.
What happens to Jesus in the crush of the information pushers? Unfortunately he is usually pushed aside. Many Christians do not even think of him as one with reliable information about their lives. Consequently they do not become his students. What does he have to teach them? It is very common to find Christians who work hard to master a profession and succeed very well in human estimation, while the content of their studies contains no reference at all to Jesus or his teaching. How could this be?
A short while ago I led a faculty retreat for one of the better Christian colleges in the United States. In opening my presentation I told the group that the important question to consider was what Jesus himself would say to them if he were the speaker at their retreat. I indicated my conviction that he would ask them this simple question: Why don't you respect me in your various fields of study and expertise? Why don't you recognize me as master of research and knowledge in your fields?
The response of these Christian professionals was interesting to observe, to say the least. Some thought the question would be entirely appropriate. Many were unsure of exactly what I was saying. Quite a number responded with: "Are you serious?" The idea that Jesus is master of fields such as algebra, economics, business administration or French literature simply had not crossed their minds--and had a hard time finding access when presented to them.
That brings out a profoundly significant fact. In our culture, and among Christians as well, Jesus Christ is automatically disassociated from brilliance or intellectual capacity. Not one in a thousand will spontaneously think of him in conjunction with words such as "well-informed," "brilliant," or "smart."
Far too often he is regarded as hardly conscious. He is taken as a mere icon, a wraith-like semblance of a man living on the margins of the "real life" where you and I must dwell. He is perhaps fit for the role of sacrifical lamb or alienated social critic, but little more.
But can we seriously imagine that Jesus could be Lord if he were not smart? If he were divine, would he be dumb? Or uninformed? Once you stop to think about it, how could he be what Christian's take him to be in other respects and not be the best informed and most intelligent person of all: the smartest person who ever lived, bringing us the best information on the most important subjects.
What lies at the heart of the astonishing disregard of Jesus found in the moment-to-moment existence of multitudes of professing Christians is a simple lack of respect for him. He is not seriously taken to be a person of great ability. But what then can devotion or worship mean, if simple respect is not included in it.
By contrast, the early Christians, who took the power of God's life in Jesus to all quarters of the earth, thought of Jesus as one "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col. 2:3 NAS) They thought of him as master of every domain of life.
A natural progression of this confidence in him was toward "doing everything, in word or deed, all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (3:17) That is, they learned to do everything they said or did in co-operative action with Jesus their always present teacher.
If we would live the life which God made us for, we must take our guiding information from Jesus in three respects:
First, we must learn from him the reason why we live and why we do the things we do. Here as elsewhere we are constantly bombared by misinformation that leaves us to be manipulated into misery by our own desires and the will of those who would use us. The usual human fate is to choose a job, a profession, a spouse, or a house, only for ones own greater pleasure, power and glory. Here rules "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life." (I John 2:16)
Jesus brings us reliable information about who we are, why we are here and what the humanly appropriate motives are for doing whatever we do. First he informs us that we are by nature unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God's great universe. We will never stop existing, and there is nothing we can do about it.
While we have already fallen from God's intentions for us, he can restore us into the flow of God's life if we will only count on him for everything. That is, we must trust him, and really to trust him is to take up his cause, his "yoke." (Matt. 11:29) Then he will teach us how to make our choices with the aim of glorifying God by doing good to human beings. Under his instruction, this will prove to be the most exhilarating kind of life imaginable, with a scope and richness of personal creativity that never stops increasing.
Second, we must learn from Jesus, our `informer', a new internal character: new "bowels," one old translation says. New guts we would say today. (Col. 3:12) He teaches us in the first place that this is what God intends for us, and what he makes possible.
The central teachings of Jesus about the good heart, given in Matthew chapter 5:21-48, deal with all those day-to-day attitudes that keep the pot of human evil boiling: contempt and hostility toward others, sexual lust and disgust in the heart, the will to manipulate others verbally, revenge and "pay back," and so forth. These, Jesus tells us, can all be replaced with genuine compassion, purity and good will.
And when we ask "How?" he points us back to his first lesson, above, that assures us of our place and future in God's eternal purposes. In the clear light of that, our angers and lusts seem repulsive, or even silly, since we see them as God sees them.
Then he invites us to follow him into his practices, such as solitutude, silence, study, service, worship--we call them spiritual disciplines. There, with him, the readinesses to do evil that inhabit our bodily members through long practice are gradually removed, to an ever increasing degree. Our flesh increasingly comes to the side of our spirit in service to God. The disciplines for the spiritual life are a central part of the crucial information which Jesus brings to us, and we dare not neglect it.
Then, as we are advancing in the first two areas of Jesus's teaching, he will begin to teach us in a third area of absolutely vital information. We must learn of his positive interactions and involvements with us in the concrete occasions of our day-to- day activities. When we act "in his name" we act on his behalf, and he always involves himself in the process. We have to learn how this works, and he will certainly teach us as we expect him to move in our circumstances and are attentive.
I have personally experienced this "interaction" in many types of contexts, from family matter to large-scale writing projects, intense committee meetings or counselling sessions, speaking occasions, or repairing a broken water pipe or automobile. You may be very sure that if your sincere intent is to glorify God and bless man in your effort, and you are not motivated by unloving attitudes, you will see the hand of God move with you as you expectantly do your work. Your part is simply to expect it, watch for it, give thanks as you see it, and, on the basis of your experience, encourage others to do the same.
If you trust Jesus Christ as your teacher, he will teach you in all these ways. You should always put forth your very best efforts, of course, and you will always find room for improvement. But you also will certainly know the astonishing reality of God's eternal kind of life flowing through you moment by moment and forever. And the effects of your efforts will, as is seen in persons and events in the Bible, be vastly greater than what could result from your abilities alone.
| | Back to Top | | |
 |
Starkman
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1747
| Posted 6/1/2002 6:24 PM (GMT -6) | | We don't seem to see the connection of spirituality and algebra, economics, business administration or French literature. We pray while we attend these matters, but that is all we do with them.
Remember brother Andrew; spirituality in the washing of dishes!
Starkman
| | Back to Top | | |
|
Cliffy
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2002
Total Posts : 26
| Posted 6/1/2002 8:17 PM (GMT -6) | | What Tim's post was talking about is EXACTLY what I am stuggling with right now. I have, as a "Christian" enjoyed a frank and honest prayer relationship with my Savior. Of course this sometimes borders on blasphemy! I get too frank sometimes! Ok, most of the time. 
Some things that have come to me in prayer have really confused me, and they all center around making Jesus the Lord (and teacher)of what I do as a profession. So, the natural inclination is, I want to please the Lord and do something "higher" in my lifetime, so ministry immediatly stood out. I left my new career as a Jeweler - I hated the job anyways - and took a night job to look for colleges to during the day. I have always deisred a more up-front relationship with God and the "Christian" community. Ministry was always a possibility there. So it seems, in alot of my thinking, that all I want is for people and God to say what a wonderful "Christian" I am. I am starting to realize how prideful this is - and how unecssary - and this gives me pause when I choose my career in ministry. I wish I could take the "people" out of the equation! And this is getting in the way of what I should be doing - namely letting Jesus be my teacher and Lord of my career! ARGH.
I totally agree that Jesus is the smartest person to have ever lived, since he is in essence and in person, the creator of the universe. Maybe the reason why I hated my previous career in Jewelry is more that I hated it, but I didn't let Jesus be the Lord (and teacher) of it. Of course, as I was alluding to earlier, I have also always desired to be out there in the trenches of faith, and ministry (whether pastoral, missionary work, etc.) seems to stand out. But what if I had just let Jesus be the teacher of my Jewelry profession? Argh again. I still want to do ministry. SO THE BIG QUESTION IS:
How do you give Jesus control, and how do you respect him as teacher? And how do you know your calling? In anything, really. I am having serious problems doing that. In all areas of life.
Ah, it's not that I expect an answer, just needed to vent! Thanks very much for the post, Tim. I will definitly go back to it again from time to time. Very much needed on my end!
Cliffy
| | Back to Top | | |
|
Matthew Timothy Short
Huh?
Date Joined Apr 2002
Total Posts : 635
| Posted 6/2/2002 3:13 AM (GMT -6) | | Hey Cliffy,
God gives wisdom or application, knowledge or information, and understanding or interpretation to those that honor him as the source of such. It pleases God to give these freely; it is ours to ask for, by virtue of simply being born. God does not object to anyone, with any kind of background receiving His knowledge or consider it wrong or disgraceful to ask Him for such. To desire to know the will of God, for your life, is what He specifically wired you for, go for it…
Col 1:9…to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Jam 1:5-8If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.
By the way, the article is by Dallas Willard, not me, I simply believed, it would help someone, who might need to read it.
In God’s Love,
Tim
| | Back to Top | | |
|
shell
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 280
| Posted 6/2/2002 10:23 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Then, as we are advancing in the first two areas of Jesus's teaching, he will begin to teach us in a third area of absolutely vital information. We must learn of his positive interactions and involvements with us in the concrete occasions of our day-to- day activities. When we act "in his name" we act on his behalf, and he always involves himself in the process. We have to learn how this works, and he will certainly teach us as we expect him to move in our circumstances and are attentive.
I have personally experienced this "interaction" in many types of contexts, from family matter to large-scale writing projects, intense committee meetings or counselling sessions, speaking occasions, or repairing a broken water pipe or automobile. You may be very sure that if your sincere intent is to glorify God and bless man in your effort, and you are not motivated by unloving attitudes, you will see the hand of God move with you as you expectantly do your work. Your part is simply to expect it, watch for it, give thanks as you see it, and, on the basis of your experience, encourage others to do the same.
Tim, I really really like this article, thanks.
Cliffy,
I usually don't post a whole lot on the board because I feel I have SO much more to learn from this board than to offer right now, but this article and your post really tugged at my heart, so I'll just share from my heart. I really love the fact that you have a frank and honest relationship with Jesus. He can HANDLE it right?
This may sound strange, but you may want to start thinking of the struggle you are going through as a blessing. Your eyes are being opened to a truth here that can change your life forever, just don't be too hard on yourself in the process. My husband and I have been going through a growth process around much of the central points of the Willard article. It has been the most excruciatingly painful process at times, and also the most beautiful. The growth that results from the Lord working out this process in a person's life is so powerful and life changing, and I honestly wouldn't trade one moment of it for ANYTHING. At times during this process we had to stare down defeat and hopelessness as it knocked on our door, and stand firmly on sheer faith that God would see us through the difficulties we were going through in our business. We were able to stand because of the work that the Lord had begun in our lives in the very areas that you are questioning right now. We also had to stand on that faith knowing that for many complex reasons we may not get the answer that we were praying for, but we committed to not waver in our faith, knowing that God was involved in this process in a miraculous way. We were able to learn and grow through each difficult circumstance knowing that we were relying on our only true source of life for the answers in each situation. It has been worth it all to ask the Lord to be Lord in every nook and cranny of our business life, our future, our ministry vision that has been developing over the last year, our marriage, and sooo much more.
I think the most important thing that we have learned is coming to a place where with guidance from the Lord we have been able to define our personal mission and vision for our lives with the Lord being the center of that mission. The bottom line has really been us deciding how much of our lives are we going to trust God with. We came to a huge turning point where we had to decide if we were going to go all the way and say it's ALL yours Lord...EVERYTHING. We always knew that we were called to support missions and ministries through our business. So we thought we would build our business and then do our part by supporting other ministries, and missionaries etc. Well God did confirm that that is part of the plan, but he also had other unexpected plans for us. He has shown us that our business IS a ministry with people to reach, touch, support and love. He has shown that when we develop a personal mission centered around him he can use every contact and every area of our life towards that mission. We are not pastors, or missionaries, or great teachers etc., but we do have our corner of the world that God has called us to to make a difference in. It is so key when Willard says: "When we act "In His Name" we act on his behalf and he always involves himself in the process...be very sure that if your sincere intent is to glorify God and bless man in your effort you will see the hand of God move with you as you expectantly do your work. Your part is simply to expect it, watch for it, give thanks as you see it, and on the basis of your experience, encourage others to do the same." This is SO true, and the biggest part of all that I would add is that the place to START is with prayer. Asking the Lord to help form a personal mission, and vision for your life. Pray for guidance, direction, clear confirmations, and also ask the Lord to bring others into your life who will mentor you and share in your dreams and vision. People who will pray and fast with you. We really had to learn the POWER of prayer. So just to offer you a starting point as you search out God's will a great place to begin is with prayer, resting in him, and not trying SO hard(reliquishing control of everything). For us this meant that we didn't make any moves in our business without praying fervently about it and seeking Godly counsel and prayer from our Godly mentors. Then we were able to grow and begin walking in faith and trusting God for the next move. God has been so faithful! It is FUN to live expectantly knowing that God's hand IS moving in a situation. But don't get me wrong, fun and exciting doesn't mean it's always a peice of cake, but living life like this is rarely boring!
I have come to learn(the hard way) that searching for God's will for our lives and developing a ministry is not a race and we don't have to figure it all out at once. Even though we know God is calling us to a specific ministry, it has been on hold for a whole year since the vision was laid on our hearts. We want to DO it NOW, but the Lord has taught us more than anything that the inner work he wants to do in us is most important to him right now, and that the ministry would have been done in the flesh if we had jumped into it right away. So...we wait... we keep it covered in prayer and know that the doors will open when the timing is right. Then WE will be ready as well. And lastly, live expecting to see God's hand move. The way Willard said this is so good. This is completely living in the faith that God is intimately involved in our day to day living, businesses, endeavors, interests etc.
I know you said you weren't looking for an answer necessarily here on the board, but you were needing to vent...so just take this as encouragement that God knows your heart, and that you are in a great learning process. As frustrating as it can be...you will be blessed. You are asking great questions!
I pray God's blessings on you and your life.
Shell
p.s. sorry for the run on sentences etc...typing and thinking fast. Gotta run my kids need me.
Edited by - shell on 06/02/2002 5:29:11 PM
Edited by - shell on 06/02/2002 9:58:12 PM | | Back to Top | | |
|
Seesaw
Registered Member
Date Joined May 2003
Total Posts : 70
| Posted 5/13/2003 6:15 PM (GMT -6) | | That is a great article. At first I thought you (Tim) wrote it and was very impressed! 
I also understand Cliffy's questions and with various jobs have wondered how I am ministering and what God's call for me is. Some of the most poweful ministry I've had though was in a secular job which I was working closely with many people on a daily basis.
Shell said, "We are not pastors, or missionaries, or great teachers etc., but we do have our corner of the world that God has called us to to make a difference in."
This is very true. Jesus did not really begin his full-on ministry until he was 30 and it only lasted 3 yrs. but was the most powerful ministry ever known to man.
Any job we have can be ministry even if we minister to only one person (one saved person and the angels rejoice!). Maybe those times when we are waiting for that ministry that we long for are times when Jesus is growing and preparing us. That is always the hardest part because there are certain to be growth pains!
Back to the article- sometimes it does seem that intellect and information crowd out relationsip with Jesus and we separate the two rather than glorifying the Creator who gave us the intellect and capacity to understand the information. We can definitely examine ourselves to see if we are glorifying God (and doing all the other things Willard mentioned)!
| | Back to Top | | |
|
DLW
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 2457
| Posted 5/14/2003 9:21 AM (GMT -6) | | I prefer George Marsden's "The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship". It provides more of a historical view of the importance of trying to view one's work from a Christian World-View.
I blab on and on about the Problem of Order, because that is a central theme in the Soscial Sciences and its roots intellectually stem from the amazing amount of scholarly dialogue that surrounded the Problem of Evil.
dlw
Prayer from Kenya
From the Cowardice that dare not face new truth,
From the Laziness that is contented with half-truth,
From the Arrogance that thinks it knows all truth,
Lord Deliver Me. | | Back to Top | | |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Monday, November 09, 2026 1:37 PM (GMT -6)
There are a total of 97,718 posts in 6,040 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 0 new threads and 0 reply posts. View Active Threads
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP3
dotNetBB © 2000-2026 |
|
|