Spiritual Disciplines

Marathon Runners. Photo via Flickr:[Steven Johnson]

I have recently read a comment from theologian Elton Trueblood. Trueblood says in his excerpt Leadership, vol. 10, no. 3:
"We have not advanced very far in our spiritual lives if we have not encountered the basic paradox of freedom... that we are most free when we are bound. But not just any way of being bound will suffice; what matters is the character of our binding. The one who would be an athlete, but who is unwilling to discipline his body by regular exercise and abstinence, is not free to excel on the field or the track. His failure to train rigorously denies him the freedom to run with the desired speed and endurance. With one concerted voice, the giants of the devotional life apply the same principal to the whole of life: Discipline is the price of freedom."
In his book Spiritual Disciples for the Christian Life Donald S. Whitney writes that the ultimate goal of the spiritual disciplines is godliness, or to be more like Christ.
Most people will never follow the disciplines of Christ, which non-exhaustively includes daily time in the word, prayer, journaling, and scripture memorization. Though these people may have accepted Christ as their savior, many of them will never know what it means to follow Him. Until the fundamentals of Christianity are learned, the spiritual growth of the believer is put on pause.
It frightens me to think how many of our church leaders, who are active today, actually spend time in the word every single day, or set time apart to communicate with the Lord in prayer. What most of us do not realize is there is no following Christ without complete submission to Him in every area of a believer's life. Take a moment and take a deep breath. Take a deeper breath and make sure you suck in enough oxygen to last you the next week or so. ....... .. Yeah. No. You cannot do that. Our bodies are not made that way. We have to continuously breathe in the air so we continuously have enough oxygen to survive. A relationship with Christ is the same way. We cannot go to church once a week, or year, and have that hold us over. We cannot read the Bible once every few days and hope that the message holds us over. We most certainly cannot just pray when we feel like it. No, just like we must continuously breathe to survive we must also follow the disciplines of God every day so our spirits may survive as well.
This is what it means to follow Christ. If you are wondering how to go about being disciplined then just begin to read the Word every day. Click here for a Bible reading plan. Then, find someone to take the journey with you, hold you accountable, and push you to success. Read the word. Know the word. Pray.
With Love for all.
-Joshua

The Resurrection of Christ

Photo via Flickr:[Martijn Braat]

Today is Easter Sunday. This means that churches all across America will have a spike in their attendance only rivaled by the Christmas service. Churches are filled with those who just want to feel like they have "done their yearly part." However, if we chose to listen to the message being preached across the world today then church attendance would not have spikes. The church as a body would continuously be bringing in new believers, training them, and then sending them out into the world. Jesus does not want us to just do enough, but instead He calls people who are following Him to give everything and to lay down their lives.
Most people doing their part in attending Easter service are not even close to being ready to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is a continuous choice. Christ asks His followers to die daily, which is a continuous choice. We must realize what the gift of Christ's death and bodily resurrection means for us. Christ lived the life that we should have lived and then died the death that we should have died so that the wages of our sin would be paid. Not even death could hold Him. In Christ's resurrection he annihilated the last strong  holds that sin could ever keep over us, death and the grave. Jesus died so that if we choose to follow Him we can again be rejoined with the Father fulfilling our purpose in His plan. Nevertheless, His gift is not one to accept and walk away.
To accept Jesus gift comes with the choice to follow Him. Like Jesus' sacrifice is a payment that keeps on paying, our choice to follow Jesus is a choice that has to be made every day.
Instead of lying choose Jesus in that moment. Instead of cheating choose Jesus in that moment. Instead of lusting choose Jesus. Instead of unrighteous anger. Instead of laziness. Instead of just doing your part. Instead of hate. Instead of jealousy. Instead of ungratefulness. Instead of malice. Instead of you. Choose Jesus.
Christ died so that all those who choose Him can live. In your stead Jesus died for your sanctification. Instead of choosing to ignore him and seek yourself, choose Jesus.
With love for all. Happy Easter.
-Joshua
 

5 Reasons Why You Should Not Watch Fifty Shades of Grey

It thoroughly saddens me that we are at the point in our world where blogs such as this are necessary. Last weekend the movie "50 Shades of Grey" was strategically released in theatres across America. On Valentine's day you could not go more than a few feet without hearing someone talk about how they could not wait to watch the movie, or to take their significant other to see it. Some fellow Christians who I respect very much were among these people, and it breaks my heart to think that the people I love are subjecting themselves to such a film. You may have been someone who went to see this movie. I have not. I have merely researched it as best I could to hopefully receive insight as to why individuals have such a desire to see it. I have come up with a collective list of five reasons why I think that no Christian should subject themselves to the content of this film.

1. Good luck not Lusting! - The book is literally based on sex. The film has basically only prevented the exposure of genitals. Throughout the film (According to IMDB parental guide) there is continuous exposure of nude butts and breasts, and many times where the thrusting and moaning of the characters is visible for all to see and hear. God clearly asks us to guard our hearts and eyes, and tells us that Satan is like a lion on the prowl. Why would you open his jaws and jump in?
2. This does not help your relationship - Couples have been marketed for this film like no other. Many couples are looking forward to a film that might spice up their sex lives. Just like pornography, the film creates unrealistic expectations from yourself and your partner. That is without even mentioning all of the sadism and masochism, which only teaches two things. The first is that if women put up with the violence it will change, and that men can be as violent as they want with women and they will love it. God created sex for a very specific purpose, and when we twist that purpose we are telling God that our way is better.
3. It's porn - Ladies, please do not excuse yourself by saying that erotica is any different, and the same goes for the men. You would not want your significant other to be involved in porn, and this is no different. The book did not have pictures, but your mind is enough. The movie does not expose genitals, BUT YOU SEE EVERYTHING ELSE. You have basically started yourself on a path of soft core porn, and it is only so long until that is not enough.
4. Desensitization to sex - God made sex to be between a married man and woman. It is a personal, worshipful, and intimate thing. No one invited you to watch. The more we subject ourselves to this type of sin the more we excuse ourselves from it. The movie doesn't even have a plot.....go watch the Spongebob Movie. At least it has a plot.  
5. It is messing with your heart and confusing love - Love is a beautiful thing. Love cannot be found in any part of "Fifty Shades of Grey." Love is not sex. Love is a choice, and it is a choice to put someone else before yourself. It is not using them as your own personal object or toy. Love is beautiful. This teaches you that sex is completely for pleasure and that love should be removed from the equation. 

If you are a Christian, and you read God's word, then I implore you to find a place in the Word or even in your heart where subjecting yourself to this is okay. By seeing this movie we are telling writers and producers that we want more. Violence and sex will make them the money they have been seeking. I only say these things out of love for my brothers and sisters. Satan is smart and always on the prowl, but we have a powerful God whose love and grace are enough. Take a look inside yourself and question which way you want to live. With love for all.
-Joshua