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January 30, 2013
January 30, 2013
"Transformation Formula"
Scripture Reading:
Philippians 3:20-21 (HCSB) but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
Philippians 3:20-21 (HCSB) but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
Devotional Reading:
The longer I’ve journeyed with God, the more I’ve come to realize that Information + Inspiration + Application = Transformation. In particular, I’ve realized that it is very important that we have all three. In fact, I would suggest that one of the reasons why we have so many different churches today is because we’ve chosen to focus-in on one of those three at the expense of the other two. For example, I’ve known some Christians who are so focused on information. And yet if you’re not careful in that, at the expense of the other two, you can end up becoming susceptible to legalism. Secondly, I’ve also met Christians who focused almost entirely on experience or inspiration. But to focus on inspiration at the expense of the other two, can easily lead to emotionalism. Thirdly, there are some Christians that are solely focused on application. But, here again, at the expense of the other two, this might lead to social activism, where you boil the faith down to what we do for others, meeting the needs of others. While this is very important, if you so focus on that at the expense of the other two, then the church really becomes little more than a humanitarian aid organization, who just happens to have a cross on the roof. Here’s the point, I believe that Biblical Christianity is a delicate wedding of all three, united in truth and blessed in love. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about the transforming power of God in us. If we stick to just information we become legal-If we allow inspiration to motivate us, we are easily caught up in the sensation and feeling-If we apply the precepts of Scripture without the heart of compassion and the joy of giving, we make the Gospel of Christ watered down to a social activism. Then we do not need preachers, just community activists.
Keep the Son in your eyes,
Pastor Ben J Lahay
The longer I’ve journeyed with God, the more I’ve come to realize that Information + Inspiration + Application = Transformation. In particular, I’ve realized that it is very important that we have all three. In fact, I would suggest that one of the reasons why we have so many different churches today is because we’ve chosen to focus-in on one of those three at the expense of the other two. For example, I’ve known some Christians who are so focused on information. And yet if you’re not careful in that, at the expense of the other two, you can end up becoming susceptible to legalism. Secondly, I’ve also met Christians who focused almost entirely on experience or inspiration. But to focus on inspiration at the expense of the other two, can easily lead to emotionalism. Thirdly, there are some Christians that are solely focused on application. But, here again, at the expense of the other two, this might lead to social activism, where you boil the faith down to what we do for others, meeting the needs of others. While this is very important, if you so focus on that at the expense of the other two, then the church really becomes little more than a humanitarian aid organization, who just happens to have a cross on the roof. Here’s the point, I believe that Biblical Christianity is a delicate wedding of all three, united in truth and blessed in love. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about the transforming power of God in us. If we stick to just information we become legal-If we allow inspiration to motivate us, we are easily caught up in the sensation and feeling-If we apply the precepts of Scripture without the heart of compassion and the joy of giving, we make the Gospel of Christ watered down to a social activism. Then we do not need preachers, just community activists.
Keep the Son in your eyes,
Pastor Ben J Lahay
Galatians 2:20
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