"Zealots" for Jesus?

Every once in a while, something comes along that's too good to pass up. I regularly get e-mail updates from a variety of youth-focused ministries with links to current trends, music, and events in the youth ministry world. Recently, I received one of these e-mails about a group called FF5, or Family Force 5 - a high-energy rock band trying to capture people's attention for Jesus through their music. While I applaud their desire to honor God with their gifts and talents, I wonder if they understand the history behind some of their suppositions about why they're doing what they're doing.

For example, in the interview transcript passed along to me through the e-mail mentioned above, the following exchange takes place between the interviewer and Solomon Olds (aka, “Soul Glow Activatur”), the presumed leader of FF5:

There’s no misunderstanding that you guys enjoy music that’s pumping, having fun, and dancing. Is there a bit of hope to change the world’s perception that Christians are quiet and can’t move?

Exactly! We want people to know that Jesus is the baddest break dancer that ever
lived. He is our hero, and we want people to know that there is humor and fun in
God’s love. Just like the zealots of the Bible, we want to show people that you can dance and have fun for Jesus (emphasis added).

Jesus is the "baddest break dancer that ever lived?" I'm not sure how to even respond to that. If Mr. Olds (or should I refer to him as Mr. "Activatur?") means that Jesus isn't a very good break dancer (as his English litterly suggests, albeit in a very poor way), then I guess I would probably agree. If, on the other hand, he's suggesting that Jesus is the best break dancer that ever lived, I'd have to think about that for a minute. Maybe it's just me, but the idea of Jesus being the "baddest break dancer that ever lived" seems to contradict Jesus' own testimony about himself when he said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matt 11:28-29). And didn't Isaiah prophecy about him,

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out."

I just have a hard time imagining this "gentle" and "humble in heart" man who "will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets" - who will not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick - break dancing at all.

And do we really want to be "just like the zealots of the Bible?" According to The Enhanced Strong's Lexicon, the word zealot refered to "one burning with zeal" and was "used of God as jealous of any rival and sternly vindicating his control." Moreover, as the lexicon goes on to report,

"From the time of the Maccabees there existed among the Jews a class of men called Zealots who vigorously adhered to the Mosaic law and endeavouring even by a resort to violence, after the example of Phinehas, to prevent religion from being violated by others; but in the latter days of the Jewish commonwealth they used their holy zeal as a pretext for the basest crimes."

I'm not sure Mr. Activatur really wants to go down that road. I'm not sure I want to go down that road!

Again, I applaud anyone who wants to use their gifts and talents to glorify God. In fact, I encourage all believers to do so. But let's not forget that glorifying God isn't done on our terms, but on His, and so we better understand His terms if we really want to glorify Him with the gifts and talents that he's given us.

To God be the glory, now and forever. Amen.

Congratulons Chi (and Kim)

We have a winner! Congratulations Chi on winning our "Sweet Contest." The method may have been random, but there couldn't have been a more deserving winner. Like Christ, you took what you deserved and gave it to someone else. That is so admirable.

Thanks to all the others who entered and made the contest so much fun. I was tempted to buy chocolate bars for everyone, but as Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth, "in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize." That being said, keep on running, not for a chocolate bar that lasts a moment (or maybe a month for Jon), but keep running for the "imperishable crown" that those obtain who run for Christ.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (1 Cor 9:24-27).

p.s. Special thanks to Katherine F. as the only youth to enter the contest. Kudos to you Katherine. Thanks for your faithfulness.

Sweet Contest!

Here's the rules: Leave me a comment with your name and why you should win a Hershey's chocolate bar in thirty words or less. The winner will be announced at the Praise and Worship Service this Sunday night. You must enter by Friday, September 19th at 11:59 PM. Remember: Don't be selfish. Let as many people as you can know about the contest. The winner will be decided solely by me, and probably as a randomly as possible (unless there's a clearly distinguished entry). So, get typing, let me know why you should win a chocolate bar, and I'll see you on Sunday night at Praise and Worship.

June 2nd Already?

Is my calendar right? Is it really June 2nd? What happened to May? I mean, all we've done since the last post was a Beach Retreat, a Work Day / Car Wash, Mother's Day, VBS Ladies' Workday, Girls' Night, Praise & Worship Service, Prince Caspian Movie, Graduate Recognition Dinner, Memorial Day, Youth Group at the Burns, Two Graduations, and a Short Term Missions Steak Supper and Auction! How could it possibly be June 2nd already? I'm glad all we've got in June is a goodbye party for A.K., VBS, a sermon and a Praise & Worship Service, Ridge Haven Camps, Youth Group at the Berry's, and a Mission Trip to get ready for.
July is the real kicker. You see, after returning from the mission trip to Bay St. Louis, MS on Saturday, July 5th, we'll be driving to RYM in Panama City, FL on Monday, July 7th. Which reminds me: Final payments for RYM are due by Monday, June 30th. The week after RYM, we've got a music camp scheduled. On the 16th, we've got a mid-summer cookout and Short Term Missions Report. Another Praise & Worship Service on the 20th, and I'll preach on the 27th. Then, it's "Family Vacation Time!" - Orlando, if anyone's wondering. A trip to the Lego store, Sea World, and possibly a day at the Magic Kingdom. What summer! What a life. Kind of makes you wonder how we'll get around to being still and knowing that God is God. What about you? How's your summer looking? Pray for us, and we'll pray for you - that in the hustle and bustle of ministry and life, we won't forget to take some time to remember that God is still God, and we are not. To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen.

Graduate Recognition Dinner Scheduled

On Wednesday, May 21st from 5:30 - 7:00 PM, Trinity Families, Youth, and Children's Ministries will be hosting the 2008 Graduate Recognition Dinner at the Church. This will be a time of celebration and reflection as well as concentrated prayer for the 2008 graduates and their families as they prepare to make the transition from High School to young adulthood. This will be a church-wide event, and everyone is encouraged to attend.

Parents of graduates are reminded to get pictures of their students to Joe Junquet by May 4th so that he can begin working on the slide show as soon as possible. If you have questions, please call the Church office or see Andy at the Church.

Service Projects Planned

Attention all Youth: On Saturday, May 10th, the deacons have scheduled a Church workday. I thought it would be a good idea if we could get as many of the youth to participate as possible by offering free car washes for members of the Church that same day. We'll meet in the lower parking lot at 9:00 AM and wash cars until about 12:00 Noon. The Church van also needs a good cleaning, so come dressed to get messy as we clean cars for those who are working around the Church or who just need their car washed. Yes, you can bring your own car, too.

Also, Kim has planned a service project for the Jr. High girls. They'll be delivering cookies to some of our senior citizens while the other youth are washing cars. This should be a fun day of projects for all of us - maybe we can plan to go to House of Pizza for lunch together when it's all over.

Let me know what you think.

Ephesians 4:17 - 5:2

Just got through preparing for our Youth Bible Study tonight. Read through Ephesians 4:17 - 5:2 again. This stuff is great. The topic of this section of Paul's letter is our sanctification - big word, I know, but it just means "the process by which we are being made more like Christ." Basically, it's what our lives as Christians are supposed to look like. I noticed that Paul basically gives us a three step process to becoming more like Jesus: 1) Put off the "old self," 2) Get a new attitude, and 3) Put on the "new self."
The "old self" is simply who we are / were before becoming followers of Christ. The fact that Paul speaks about an "old self" implies that there's something about us before we begin to follow Jesus that needs to be done away with. In other words, we're not born Christians. We have to become Christians. And the first step is to rid ourselves of whatever it is that defines us before we become Christians. Question: If you claim to be a Christian, what were you before you started following Christ? At what point did you get rid of whatever it was that defined you, and when did you start to follow Jesus?
The second step in becoming more like Jesus is to get a new attitude. Paul says, "Be made new in the attitude of your minds." The language is passive. It's something that has to happen to us. We have to "be made new." It's not that we have to change our attitudes; we need to receive a new attitude. Paul wrote to the Philippians that our attitudes "should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). But this is impossible for us to have in our own strength. To have this attitude, we must receive it from the Holy Spirit.
The third step in becoming more like Jesus is to put on the "new self." In the Greek, this phrase indicates a continual action. In other words, we're to be always putting on the new self. It's not a one time deal. Our sanctification is an ongoing process in which we have an ongoing responsibility to take part.
What does all this look like practically? Paul gives us a list of ways that this three step process is accomplished in 4:25 - 5:2. As those who are putting off the old self, receiving new attitudes, and putting on the new self, we are are to be putting off falsehood and speaking truth; not sinning in our anger, but dealing with our anger on a continual basis; not stealing, but working; not speaking unwholesome words, but saying things that build each other up; we're to be pleasing the Holy Spirit rather than grieving Him with our words and actions; and we're to be getting rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice; and we're to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving.
In short, we're to be "imitators of God" living a life of love with Christ Jesus as our ultimate example. Just as Christ sacrificed himself for us, we're to love one another by sacrificing ourselves for each other. Only the "new self" is able to live and love this way. And only by God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to put on the "new self." The good news is that God enables us to live this life increasingly as we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory. Amen.