Losing Neverland

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child;

but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 

(1 Corinthians 13:11, NKJV)

"Responsibility... What's that?

Responsibility? Not quite yet.

Responsibility. What's that?

I don't want to think about it. We'd be better off without it"

(MxPx, Responsibility)

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, 

I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!”

(J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan)

You may have heard it said that youth is wasted on the young. As a fairly young person myself, one might think I might take offense to such a statement... but actually... I'm inclined to agree with it. It saddens my heart to look around and see so many of my contemporaries... so many of the people in my generation... living for so many of the wrong things.

Maybe it's because I was raised "old school", but it just seems to me like so many people in their early-late 20's (at least the ones I've observed) spend most of their lives in pursuit of passions which seem rather hedonistic. To best summarize, it appears to me that they want the benefits of being adult without the responsibility of being adults. The work they do during the week, if any, is to get them to the weekend (in order to squander what little they've earned). Ambition, drive, creativity, calling all seem to take a backseat to the leisure of the moment.

Not that it's wrong to be entertained, by any means, but not to the extent that you live for that. When a young person lives their life with a "What can ___ do for ME... right now?" attitude, this can be problematic for them... perhaps not at first, but eventually it will. "If the party doesn't entertain me, I'll leave"... Then they take that same attitude into church.... into their finances.... into their relationships.... the eventual results of which are  all damaging.

We expect this kind of behavior from the non-Christians. So did Paul, knowing full well he was a "child" himself at one point.... but that's just it... AT ONE POINT... in the past... He equally admits that now he has put those childish things away. What I don't understand is how Christians still seek to hang on to their "childish things"... why they still choose to "think like a child"... especially when living a life of Christ is infinitely more rewarding. 

Why does our young, 20-something culture (even among the Christians) need to be defined by selfishness, drunkenness, sexual liberality, hedonistic entertainment, hallow relationships, and the like? Why are "fruits of the spirit" rotting off of trees so young... fruits like patience....kindness... faithfulness... and even (God forbid) self-control ? Why does it seem like those Christians who seek to live pure, responsible, Spirit-led, Christ-centered adult lives are the quiet remnant in the culture? Why do so many wonderful young adults (who are all around good people) live life with a Peter-Pan-like attitude... never wanting to grow up (at least not for a long time)? These are the same people naive enough to think they are Christians while they are still holding on to the "chilish things" of the world, like some sort of hedonistic security blanket. It just doesn't work that way (at least not according to the Bible).

Isn't it time we young Christians took a stand against such spiritual compromise? Isn't it time we admit that we're in our 20's... we ARE adults... we HAVE grown up... and consequently re-prioritize what we're living for? I say this just as much from personal conviction as I do from a rebuke of others. One of the biggest regrets in my life, to this point, is the amount of time I've wasted (much of which on personal entertainment). Entertainment is good but not the thing we should be living for.

Isn't it time we leave Neverland? Isn't time we close the door, "putting away childish things" and live our life for what (or should I say Who) really matters? The ironic thing is... people are living hedonistic lives to try and put more value on themselves... when in reality, God has already put more value on you, His child, than you could ever put on yourself. I say it's time we grow up, with God's help... and I hope you'll take a stand, joining me on this journey out of Neverland and into the Promised Land. 

I Must Decrease

"And I said: 'WOE is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips,
and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

(Isaiah 6:5, ESV)

"My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things:

That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior" 

(John Newton)

I had a strong desire (for a while now)  to begin creating this new blog. Maybe it was because I became a pastor. Perhaps it was because writing down the spiritual lessons in my life would somehow be christocentrically therapeutic. Whatever the reason, I've wanted to start blogging here for quite some time now. However, until now, I seemed to encounter the same road block to starting this blog over and over again....namely, "What do I write my first blog on?"... "What will be recorded as my first contribution... my first thoughts... my first steps in this sure-to-be-wild theological venture?"

Surely, what I write first greatly reveals a lot about the kind of person I am... and therefore, those first words I type are so important. Whether I'm over-thinking this or not (I tend to do that from time to time), I felt that I didn't have an opening message to write, that truly (and honestly) reflected who I am... until now.

I love the book of Isaiah. I find it quite inspirational in so many ways. Chapter 6 is often well known, and even more often quoted in theological circles. Dr. R.C. Sproul (one of my heroes) points out that this passage is the only one in scripture where something is repeated 3 TIMES (the most emphatic literary tactic in all of Hebrew literature)... and WHAT is being emphasized in this repetition? The HOLINESS of God. 

As noticeable as God's holiness is in this passage (clearly) my mind always seems to shift back to Isaiah's response. Maybe it's because I can identify with him (I don't know). The truth is... we are sinful people... and if there's one attribute I want people to understand about me first, it is that I am a sinner, badly in need of God's grace. That same gracious God also desires to have a relationship with His people. Relationships start with encounters. There's just one problem (and mark it well)... Whenever you have an encounter with the Holy God, you are forced to come face-to-face with your UNholiness. It's the same reason that you can't see how dirty you really are until you step into the light. In fact, when Isaiah came face to face with the splendor and holiness of God, he couldn't even speak.... and when he finally could speak the only thing he could utter from his stammering lips is "Woe is ME!"

God has a way of showing me (and hopefully, us) what a great and Holy God he is. That always drives me to my knees. Moses sang a worship song after he crossed the Red Sea. Noah built an altar in worship as soon as he stepped off the boat. David unashamedly danced in the streets. Joseph wept when he was reunited with his brothers. My own tendency, when I continually encounter the faithfulness of a Holy God in my life, is the same as the hymn writer: "...and from my SMITTEN heart, with tears, two wonders I confess: The wonders of redeeming LOVE AND my UNWORTHINESS". It is in that 'redeeming love' that I reflect on my own unworthiness, to the point where it blows my mind that God even thinks of me at ALL (Ps. 8:4)... let alone LOVES me (Is. 43:4)... loves even to the point where he SINGS over me with delight (Zeph. 3:17)

That is a value which I know full well I cannot place on myself. John Newton knew it too. You didn't need to tell the former slave trader that he was a sinner. The guilt of his own sinfulness is clearly reflected in his preaching. However, it wasn't one thing he knew... it was two. He was a great sinner AND Christ is a great savior. Christ's being a great savior is the ONLY hope that sinful man has. That's the ONLY way our victories can be victories at all (Gal. 6:14). 

In all honest introspection, I know full well that I will never understand how great a Savior Christ is until I first understand how great a sinner I am. Therefore, in closing, if you are to know anything about me, know this... Any positive work I do, any influence I have, any hearts touched by the words on this page (written with trembling hands), anything good that anyone ever says about me... It's NOT ME... The REAL me is a sinner "justly deserving God's displeasure". If I am anything good at ALL, it is because Christ, my Savior, died for me and now lives within me, guiding me every step of the way... and I'm okay with that... because, in the end, HE will get all the glory... and isn't that where it belongs anyway? As a writer, and as a Christian, I may not know much... but two things I do know: "I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior".