Check this out. ....very encouraging
Wednesday 21 January 2009
Obama's Inauguration Speech
President Obama’s inaugural speech was really quite stunning as far as presidential speeches go. Not only written and delivered well it hit on exactly the issues that fill people’s fears and joys and offered people hope at the same time. It was the kind of speech people love to hear from a leader who (for the time being) they want and will follow.
There was humbleness: The crisis America finds herself was the result of “…greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure…’
There was optimism: “We cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.”
There was generosity: “America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”
There was activism: “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
And there was God!:
But mostly there was America:
The President in human terms nailed it!
The President in American terms nailed it as well. Invoking the glories and principles of the past to change and inspire and renew the American future.
And although it was kind of encouraging (and expected) that God is brought into this great occasion, one kind of get the feeling that God is somehow our great distant helper. Human and national dreams will somehow be secured if we try hard enough and stick to the right principles. Which means God watches over but is not called upon to be trusted…well not directly at least.
God over Obama
There was humbleness: The crisis America finds herself was the result of “…greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure…’
There was optimism: “We cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.”
There was generosity: “America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.”
There was activism: “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
And there was God!:
Obama concluded his speech saying, “…with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”
He also quoted 1 Corinthians early on in his speech saying that, “…the time has come to set aside childish things.”.
He spoke also of the “…God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”, and the fact that “God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.” …whatever that is??
He also quoted 1 Corinthians early on in his speech saying that, “…the time has come to set aside childish things.”.
He spoke also of the “…God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”, and the fact that “God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.” …whatever that is??
But mostly there was America:
The President in human terms nailed it!
The President in American terms nailed it as well. Invoking the glories and principles of the past to change and inspire and renew the American future.
And although it was kind of encouraging (and expected) that God is brought into this great occasion, one kind of get the feeling that God is somehow our great distant helper. Human and national dreams will somehow be secured if we try hard enough and stick to the right principles. Which means God watches over but is not called upon to be trusted…well not directly at least.
God over Obama
We must pray for the new President, he has a very difficult task and his popularity is such that he is destined to disappoint. He may well be the best ‘man’ for the job but the goals of prosperity, unity, peace, generosity, happiness and hope can only be truly met through the ultimate governing work of Jesus…who’s name and work wasn’t invoked today.
We must pray for the new President, that he will work hard and serve with integrity, (oh to have leaders like this).
And we must remember that God is more than just our ‘helper’. He doesn’t help us succeed in our plans, rather he captures us for his…and so we want to and will follow him.
And we must remember that God is more than just our ‘helper’. He doesn’t help us succeed in our plans, rather he captures us for his…and so we want to and will follow him.
Monday 19 January 2009
What does the final judgement hold for Christians
It is like missing the wood for the trees when people insist on judgement by works for Christians, for in doing so they miss the whole point of the gospel. Christians are people who will not come into judgement, they are people who have already crossed over from death to life (John 5:24). Not only do explicit scriptures deny judgement by works, but the great doctrines of predestination, perseverance, atonement, eschatology, justification and sanctification don't permit it either. However, of all the doctrines of Christianity it is a believer's profound union with Christ, our substitute and representative, that won't allow any judgement of a believer's works. Jesus has been judged for us, to save us from that final judgement of God.
We cannot say that a Christian will lose their salvation in the final judgement. Nor can we say that God will hand out different levels of rewards for different believers; for though it is possible to think such a thought, nevertheless it is without exegetical foundation. When we look carefully at 1 Cor 3, the only reward on view is people who are saved through a particular Christian's planting or watering of the gospel message. The supposed levels of rewards, bigger mansions or better experiences of heaven, are without exegetical support. They also seem to be based on a wrong understanding of sanctification. That is, those who do better as Christians deserve rewards for their growth in holiness. But, sanctification in the NT is religious language to describe the same thing as Justification, both of which are wholy in Christ. There are no levels of holiness when God looks at us in Christ. So there are not special levels of Christians who warrant through their effort God's rewards (see Mt 20.1-16).
Nor does God need to vindicate Christians on judgement day based on whether his Holy Spirit has been at work in them as evidenced by fruit, as if his left hand wasn't aware of what his right hand had done at the cross. Quite the contrary, on that day God will uphold the decision he made to condemn sin in the flesh of Jesus (Rom 8:3). The declaration of righteousness that those in Christ are now granted will be revealed to the whole of creation on that day. We are not saying there is no summons to the eschatalogical courtroom along with all humanity. Rather that the Christian will stand before the judge and make the plea 'no merit of my own do I bring, but simply to his righteous life, his cross and the promise it contains and his ongoing mediation of its benefits do I cling' (You can see why I don't write songs). God's answer will be to reveal and welcome us as dearly loved children. Then he will give us the promised inheritance of eternity in fellowship with him and all his people.
We cannot say that a Christian will lose their salvation in the final judgement. Nor can we say that God will hand out different levels of rewards for different believers; for though it is possible to think such a thought, nevertheless it is without exegetical foundation. When we look carefully at 1 Cor 3, the only reward on view is people who are saved through a particular Christian's planting or watering of the gospel message. The supposed levels of rewards, bigger mansions or better experiences of heaven, are without exegetical support. They also seem to be based on a wrong understanding of sanctification. That is, those who do better as Christians deserve rewards for their growth in holiness. But, sanctification in the NT is religious language to describe the same thing as Justification, both of which are wholy in Christ. There are no levels of holiness when God looks at us in Christ. So there are not special levels of Christians who warrant through their effort God's rewards (see Mt 20.1-16).
Nor does God need to vindicate Christians on judgement day based on whether his Holy Spirit has been at work in them as evidenced by fruit, as if his left hand wasn't aware of what his right hand had done at the cross. Quite the contrary, on that day God will uphold the decision he made to condemn sin in the flesh of Jesus (Rom 8:3). The declaration of righteousness that those in Christ are now granted will be revealed to the whole of creation on that day. We are not saying there is no summons to the eschatalogical courtroom along with all humanity. Rather that the Christian will stand before the judge and make the plea 'no merit of my own do I bring, but simply to his righteous life, his cross and the promise it contains and his ongoing mediation of its benefits do I cling' (You can see why I don't write songs). God's answer will be to reveal and welcome us as dearly loved children. Then he will give us the promised inheritance of eternity in fellowship with him and all his people.
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