Same God?

That's a Theological Statement:

Larycia Hawkins an associate professor of political science
                              at Wheaton College.

In the last few days there has been an enormous uproar over the fact that Wheaton College's professor, Larycia Hawkins, carefully articulated the notion that Christianity and Islam share the same God.  This statement alone, theologically, carries a gigantic weight and should not be perceived with passing ease or careless wonder.  Though I do not seek to comment on the governmental or institutional right in suspending the professor (I think the Chicago Tribune does a remarkable job in hitting on this subject -- the link is below), I do hope to assist in helping our young people think through this statement with biblical clarity and a Gospel lens.

In a pluralistic society it can become quite confusing when these types of issues come to surface, and even more disheartening when a small community like the Hmong people have an immediate connections to Wheaton College through youth events such as HLUB and SALT.  The Hmong District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) has forged a great relationship with the institution while their parishioners, mainly the younger generation, have cemented affectional ties to the school.
Through these endeavors there comes to surface a multitude of theological questions that begin to posture the Christian faith in a particular perspective.  And without the proper guidance and biblical scope, our young people can fall into syncretistic or integrative fallacies without even realizing it.

Trinitarian Issue:

Much of the questions that may arise surrounding this story is the legitimacy of Hawkins' claim.  Is the god of Islam and the God of Christianity the same?  Blog comments and FaceBook statuses have been filled with support for Hawkins and the surprising thing is not necessarily the support — because I understand the pluralistic state that America is in — but rather the evangelical support!  Most comments that I have come across are from evangelical believers who, for the sake of progress, don't see the theological fallout of the professor's claim.  How are we to understand the theological error of Hawkins' statement?

God — Three in One:

Clearly it can be understood that Christianity does not share the same God as Islam.  The vagueness to the descriptive nature of the term "god" doesn't help the issue at hand, but with a deeper look into Christian theology, in particular the doctrine of the Trinity, we can come to a definitive answer on the matter.  By looking at the intrinsic nature of the Christian God (intra-Trinitarian) we can begin to see that Jesus plays a central role in how we understand the differences between Islam and Christianity.

Scripture, Christianity's final authority, illustrates Jesus as not merely a good teacher, a moral guide, or a charismatic leader; but rather the incarnated Word of God that is distinct in personhood but is of the same essence as God the Father (John 1:1-2; Phil. 2:6).  In His very nature He is God; the exact imprint and image of the invisible God (Heb. 1:3; Col. 1:15).  Jesus Himself claims unity with the Father (John 14:7, 9: 15:24) and yet places Himself subordinate to the Father (John 5:19-29; Phil. 2:6).  Ultimately, Jesus "and the Father are one" (John 10:30 ESV, italics added).

Islam and Christianity clearly do not serve the same God, because if they did the Islamic faith would cease to exist and those who claim Allah would be praising, worshipping, and honoring the Lord Jesus Christ!

Jesus in the Beginning:

The claim for sameness of God in worship between Islam and Christianity is often linked to the origin of the respective faiths.  This claim can also be proven valueless if we view Scripture through the lens of biblical theology.  Johannine theology would lead us to conclude that Jesus was not a plan B for God following the fall nor was Jesus, according to Pauline theology, a created tool to clean up the mess of Adam.

John in his Gospel states that Jesus is the Word that brought forth the created order which encompassed the entire universe (John 1:3; Heb. 1:2).  It can be conceived, then, that Jesus' introduction into the narrative of redemptive history does not start at the break of the New Covenant with the book of Mark (the first of the Gospels to be written), but was evident in the opening sequence found in the book of Genesis.  On the account of John, Jesus was active when "God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1 ESV).

Hebrews 1:2 ESV, "2 but in these last days He has spoken to
us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also He created the world."

The Apostle Paul affirms John's theology in that Jesus was not an afterthought to the created order.  Jesus, in the words of John, "was with God and . . . was God" (John 1:1 ESV).  Paul articulates this reality by conveying the notion that "He (God) chose us in Him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV, italics added).  In Paul's mind Jesus was prior to creation and, therefore, was present during creation in which God's redemptive plan was put into motion.

Islam and Christianity clearly do not serve the same God, because if they did the Islamic faith would cease to exist and those who claim Allah would be praising, worshipping, and honoring the Lord Jesus Christ!

Centrality of Christ:

Christianity and Islam do not share the same God because Christianity is centered and focused upon Jesus Christ who is the God-man in the flesh.  He is the last Word from God in which all things conveyed by God will be known and understood (Heb. 1:1-2).  There can be no unification between Islam or any other faith based religion if Christ is not elevated to being supreme, ultimate, and only.

Though there is great sympathy for the followers of Islam and any other community that is contrary to Christ, we believers of Jesus Christ can not belittle our God in order to satisfy the pluralistic thirst of our day.  The call of the church is to be holy set apart (1 Pet. 1:16) and to be a pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).  The distinction of the church from the world is to center around the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Jesus commends His followers to be known by their love (John 13:35), and yet that love is to be defined by abiding in His Word (John 14:21; 15:5, 7) which is the wellspring and source to life (Ps. 1:1-3).

*** the link below to the Chicago Tribune ***
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-wheaton-college-islam-christian-larycia-hawkins-edit-1218-20151217-story.html

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McYoung Yang is the husband to Debbie Yang and the father to McCayden (7), McCoy (6), McColsen (4), and DeYoung (6 months).  He graduated from Crown College in Saint Bonifacius, MN with a Youth Ministry degree and has served as a Youth Pastor in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for over 8 years.  He is currently studying at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY for his Masters of Divinity.  He hopes to use his training to serve the local church in living life through the Gospel lens.    

Tension Seeker

In or Out:

Growing up as a 2nd generation Hmong person has been — to say the least — interesting.  You find yourself being marginalized from both ends of the spectrum and you learn quickly to live within the tension.  Entering into the Hmong context you are never truly Hmong because the OGs constantly remind you that you can’t speak the language and, therefore, you have lost the genuineness of being Hmong.  When entering into your American context you are never truly American, because you don’t seem to look the part.  Its that moment when people ask, “Where are you from?” and a confused look is reciprocated back at you due to the fact that your response is “Indiana.”  Only if I had a dollar for every time that happened! 

Tension is somewhat of a norm for 2nd generation immigrants who ride the fence of their existence in America.  There were definitely times growing up where I felt overwhelmed at the notion of fitting into a context that was extremely contrary to who I felt I was.  Being from Indiana, Hmong people called me “Twinkie,” and being Hmong my caucasian surroundings called me “Ching Chong.”   Either way, I lost!  

Is There Something to be Learned: 

And yet through it all I think God used the tension to rub against me in order to teach me the intricacies of His grace and truth.  It is in those uncomfortable moments where God reminds us that He is enough and that He is bigger than what our little world can comprehend.  His plans for redemption and His movements for His glory are far beyond our imagination, and yet in our distress He meet us there and gives us the grace to press forward.  It is in the tension that we grow and mature into the image of the Son (Rom. 8:29; Col. 3:10).  It is in the tension that God shapes and molds us to reflect His character.  

I played college ball for a coach who taught me far more than the game of football.  He challenged me during weight training to push myself to the point of failure.  His motto was that muscle growth, like mental growth, can only occur when it is challenged.  True growth in muscle will not occur on the first or even the second rep, but rather finds its greatest opportunity for growth in the tension of failure.  When you get to the point where you can’t push the bar up any longer; that is the moment, he would say, when you should push for two more reps (with help from the spotter).  It was in the tension that growth occurred!  

It is my understanding that this principle is not merely for physical or mental growth, but spiritual growth as well.  

Tension Seeker:

If we look closely at the life of Jesus we find that He continuously places Himself in situations that you would typically think He would avoid.  Jesus looks for opportunities to rub against tradition and to question the (unbiblical) status quo.  I mean, being the author of Christianity, you’d figure He’d avoid some of the mess that He gets Himself into but, quite frankly, He’s a tension seeker! 

Awkward: 

In high school I use to avoid walking down certain hall ways because I didn’t want to encounter particular people, or be left in that awkward moment of chasing the “in” crowd.  To be honest, I’m glad that high school is over!  I just wanted to enjoy my time at school and not play this social pressure game of whose cool and whose not.  I avoided the tension at all cost! 

Well, Jesus was totally different!  When traveling from Judea to Galilee Jews would normally walk around Samaria due to the racial tension that had been historically evident between both 

parties.  Samaria happened to be located in-between the two regions.  Both sides would go out of their way to avoid any type of contact. How about Jesus?  He went straight through Samaria!  Not only did He go through Samaria, but He stops at a well and began to engage in a conversation with a woman!  Yeah, I said it, a woman.  Now to us that may not be a big deal, but to the culture of that day it was, simply put, inappropriate.  Even the disciples were thrown aback at the situation they found their master in.  And yet through the tension Jesus brought forth healing, restoration, and redemption.  In the end, “[many] Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of the woman’s testimony” (John 4:39, italics added).  

Jesus engaged in the tension and through His seeking the tension forgiveness of sin was granted to the woman, she was restored to the community, and the community was redeemed through the person of Christ.  Jesus engaged where others avoided.  

Not in My House:

Another incident, among many others, that showcased Jesus’ eagerness to enter into the tension was His encounter with Zacchaeus (Luke 19).  Socially Zacchaeus was a man who had burned many bridges.  Not only was he profiting economically from his kinsmen through unethical means, but he was funding the oppression and abuse of the nations via the Roman military.  On many levels Zacchaeus was a man with many enemies.  How does Jesus respond to this situation?  “Zacchaeus, I wanna eat at your crib!”  (paraphrased) The tension does not stop there.  As Jesus is making His way to the home of His new found friend people begin to murmur at the fact that Jesus is entering into the home — let alone sharing a table with — a sinner like Zacchaeus.  Sharing a table, in those days, meant that you were embracing the person — the whole person!  

In light of all the carnage that was unraveling before the eyes of the people, Zacchaeus received the free gift of grace in Christ Jesus  and not only exited out of the tension a new man, but reconciled with all those who he had exploited for economical gain.  Zacchaeus found forgiveness from his sins, restoration back into the community, and the community saw on display the infinite mercy of God in Christ.  Jesus engaged where others avoided.

By His Name: 

In an age where emotional tension tends to be swept under the rug, Christ has shown us that by His grace we can enter into the tension and find healing, relief, and reconciliation.  During this holiday season many may be facing relational turmoil that has caused dissension within their social structure, but I hope that the cross would be the source of our humility and meekness that brings forth the possibility of reconciliation.  Our relational situation may not be ideal, but by engaging in the tension we may have the opportunity to not only address the hurt that has been done to us, but be awakened to the self-righteousness that we are all guilty of.  In any case, we all need the mercy of the cross!  

Tension can be deafening in the moment, but through the chaos may we keep our eyes focused on Him looking to please and make much of His glorious Name.  May His fame be the center of our engagement.  Regardless of the consequences, may all things be done for the glory of His Name and the joy of our hearts.

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McYoung Yang is the husband to Debbie Yang and the father to McCayden (7), McCoy (6), McColsen (4), and DeYoung (6 months).  He graduated from Crown College in Saint Bonifacius, MN with a Youth Ministry degree and has served as a Youth Pastor in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for over 8 years.  He is currently studying at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY for his Masters of Divinity.  He hopes to use his training to serve the local church in living life through the Gospel lens.    

Purpose Movement

We Are In a Search:

With the new release of Justin Bieber’s album Purpose there has been a public awakening toward a movement to search for the individual’s call.  I’d have to admit that the song is captivating and leaves you wanting to strive toward greater dreams, a higher calling, and a deeper meaning.  Excellence is a word that comes to my mind when I ponder upon my initial thought on the song.  It seems to have the ability to strike an emotional chord with the listeners (which is typical of any great musician and actually impacted me enough to drive me to my laptop in order to write this blog).  My Facebook feed has been bombarded with Bieber-fever and countless friends (Facebook friends to say the least) have been putting this song on repeat!  It was inevitable for me to sit down and listen to the song, and it doesn’t hurt that my wife is a loyal fan (she’s a Belieber)!

I think Bieber’s new found maturity and journey has been one that is common to our generation of adolescents whose own journey has been prolonged in comparison to the historical transition toward adulthood.  It may strike you as a bit of a surprise to say that the struggles that adolescents face — those in their late twenties who are categorized as “kids” — are connected to the lack of a clear and definitive interpretation on the essence of life.  This journey is an incredibly important odyssey for the postmodern individual.

What Are We Searching For?

Though I tip my hat off to Justin Bieber for displaying a great deal of courage, determination, and fortitude to embark on such an authentic journey (especially in front of the entire world); I can not but wonder if such an attempt is lacking in its fullness.  I see the seriousness to advocate for such a journey, but my worry is that the starting point to the purpose movement is lacking one key element — God. 

How are young Christians who enjoy artists like Justin Bieber engage in the message of the music without conforming to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2)?  How are believers to maintain a Gospel lens in our interactions with societal norms? How are young believers to live in the world but not be of the world?

There Are Layers to Our Search:

When we engage in journeys such as the one to “find our self,” it is essential to understand that the odyssey will consist of peeling back layers in order to get to the core issue at hand.  Self actualization is hardly ever obtained by centering on the self, but rather encapsulates a gaze upon the broader aspects of life.  There is a great calming when we understand our finiteness and begin to acknowledge God’s infiniteness. 

The starting point to Scripture, which should give us a clue to where our approach should begin, is centered upon God Himself (Genesis 1:1).  Within the creation narrative we find God creating humanity in His image (Genesis 1:27).  This reality, then, conveys the notions that in order to understand the self one must understand the Person he (or she) has been made to reflect.  As image bearers of God we can only know the self when we know, or are known, by the Creator.

God is the Big Picture:

The divine purpose for man is to display the glory of God, which is reflected in the image of humanity.  The objective aim, then, is for humanity “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 ESV) through the work and person of Jesus Christ.  Our innate thirst to desire for more is ingrained in the fact that we have been formed to reflect His infinite and eternal glory.  The quest to find divine purpose is intrinsically woven into us, and yet the fall has taken away our capacity to embrace all that God has created us for.  Through the redemptive work of Christ, we can enter into that divine purpose again and find the creative fulfillment by walking in line with Jesus Christ to reflect His perfect and holy image.  This is the essence and purpose of the created order formed within humanity. 

In this sense the pursuit to find the self is intrinsically woven into the fabric of God who is the objective standard for human life.  This objective reality grants life, wisdom, and power to pursue the definitive goal and aim — the glory of God.  In a postmodern world the bible gives clear indication of an overarching theme that God is the grounds to understand our internal longings for a divine purpose.  We are made for more because we have been made for God (Colossians 1:16). 

All the more for us to emphasize that Bieber’s claim to strive for purpose is lacking or, dare I say, empty in of itself.  Without centering our pursuit of purpose toward and in God, we will ultimately pursue in vain.  The starting point to our searching must begin outside of ourselves — namely in God. 

The Big Picture Through My Eyes:

In light of all the “objective” talk, it must be conveyed that though theoretically (and realistically) there is an overarching standard that is pressing upon our existence, we must not underestimate the reality that life is experienced through the subjective lens.  There is a beauty to the fact that God has created us as individual beings who experience, engage, and receive life through our personal encounters.  This must not be overlooked!

As image bearers of God we are created with an understanding of otherness.  In the intra-Trinitarian nature there is a distinction of persons in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Though distinct there is unity and unison in the personhood of the Godhead.  Simply put, there is an otherness that is in perfect harmony and relationship within itself.  Our interaction with one another, which is called the church, is ultimately a reflection of the Trinitarian mystery to the world. 

It is on this basis that the pursuit to find the self is connected with looking outside of oneself — namely to God and secondly to the community of saints.  The subjective perspective lends to the fact that knowing God is intrinsically link to knowing the self in relation to the Creator (John 17:3).  Yes, we are other, and in our otherness we understand our dependence upon the Source — Jesus Christ.  Our otherness helps us to take ownership of our experiences, whether good or bad, but also informs us that in God’s sovereignty “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 ESV).  The Apostle Paul on numerous occasions connected through is own personal experience, and yet those experiences were understood in light his theological understanding of who God is.

Therefore, Bieber's claim (if that is his claim — I have heard he is a believer) to pursue purpose solely for the sake of the individual has no ground to build off of.  To this point, the Christian can not engage in this movement without first incorporating a God-ward gaze.    A lack of such a gaze would render the pursuit fruitless.

Finding the Self by Finding God (or Being Found):

Justin Bieber is a world renown musician whose mark within the the industry is still being written and whose influence will be heard for years to come.  His journey and endeavors for personal growth is admirable and has given believers (at least within this blog) a steady glimpse into our search for God’s creative design for our lives.  And yet that search can not be fully embraced without a clear starting point which does not terminate upon our own personal agenda, but is cemented in who God is and what He has created us for. 

How can we look at Bieber’s movement for purpose through the Gospel lens?  How can we understand all these worldly messages through a God filtered scope?  It is by understanding that Bieber, along with many other adolescents, is searching not merely for a subjective perspective to life’s ultimate questions, but is asking the intrinsic questions that God has innately infused into the created order of life — the glory of God.  And these questions can not be answered by mere spiritualism or self-help motivational speeches, but through the work and person of Jesus Christ found in the Word of God. 

Upon finding Him, or rather being found by Him, let us not forget to blast that message on repeat.  It would be a welcomed flow into my Facebook feed.  Blessings upon your journey Justin Bieber. Blessings to you (reader) in your endeavors as well! 

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McYoung Yang is the husband to Debbie Yang and the father to McCayden (7), McCoy (6), McColsen (4), and DeYoung (6 months).  He graduated from Crown College with a Youth Ministry degree and has served as a Youth Pastor in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for over 8 years.  He is currently studying at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY for his Masters of Divinity.  He hopes to use his training to serve the local church in living life through the Gospel lens.   

Have We Idolized 2nd Generation Ministries?

Acoustic Guitar:

I came to faith during a time when contemporary worship was gaining steam and hedging its mark on youth culture.  Movements such as Passion flooded our CD binders, players, and radios while every tasteful youth leader sought to learn the acoustic guitar and passionately lead their youth group to Jesus (unfortunately I fell into the former).  In the circles I ran in, Christianity had little to do with doctrine and theology, and had more to do with emotion and expression.  Chris Tomlin and David Crowder, The Newsboys and DC Talk, and Hillsongs and Jesus Culture were individuals that many of the youth groups emulated.  Effective ministry was based upon how well your band could play contemporary worship.  If for some reason your youth group did not have a band, you were out dated.  Period! 

Ministries were constructed around the notion of coming together to sing songs of praise.  This movement birthed ministries (at least thats what we thought) like Worship Nights, Battle of the Bands, Talent Shows, Special Songs, and the list goes on.  As young people we felt it our duty and obligation to find songs that would be indicative of the passion and desire we had for God.  We were tired of old hymns that seemed out of date, out of touch, out of style.  This movement was filled with devotion and fervor, and the challenge was to sustain a spiritual high in order to pursue the next spiritual high — next week’s Youth Revival. 

Do not misunderstand me, worship is a reality that God invites us into.  God calls His people into an intimate life of worship that sees His Name and fame lifted up on high.  God is a God that is for His Glory.  This reality is not being downplayed.  Worship, in of itself, is not a bad thing.  Jesus clearly states that “the Father is seeking such people to worship Him” (John 14:23 ESV, italics added).  Worship is an invitation to pursue our greatest joy in Christ Jesus.  Yet, what started out as a passion for the Gospel soon began to reek of idolatry.  Contemporary worship, at the time, no longer was the means to the end — communion with God — but became the focal point of the youth culture’s existence (at least in our circle of faith) to magnify our own talents.  

God’s Grace to Open My Eyes:

It was not until recently that I began to realize the sinfulness of my heart in idolizing contemporary worship as a functional savior for the local church.  At that time, in the early 2000s, there was a great deal of chatter amongst young people about the “fact” that the Hmong church needed to change, in particular their style of worship, in order to be relevant to the next generation.  In more or less words, “contemporary worship will save the church!”  From our perspective, the local church was out dated and out of touch with the 2nd generation Hmong who had assimilated to the American culture.  We (more like I) fell into the trap of thinking that style would save the state of the local church.  As God continued to love me and shape me I began to realize how wrong I was.  

Centrality of the Gospel:

By His grace and for the glory of His Name He lead me to see that there is no "plan B" in regards to His redemptive work.  God knows what He is doing, and it was/is His plan to make much of Christ in order to redeem, restore, and renew His church for His glory.  In His infinite wisdom “He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:5 - 6 ESV, italics added).  His plan and purpose has always been Jesus.  It is the duty of the church to remain faithful to that plan through the power of the Spirit.

For this reason Paul urged the church of Ephesus to “maintain the unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3 ESV).  Not create unity, but rather maintain unity.  Maintain because Christ on the cross and through the power of the resurrection has already created the unity for the church.  The centrality of the Gospel holds the community of saints together.  The Gospel is sufficient to save and sufficient to sustain the life and breath of the church.  No longer will there be a distinction between Jew and Gentile, but “you are [all] fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19 ESV).  

The Gospel needs no gimmicks.  The Gospel needs no revision.  The Gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 ESV). 

Concern for Today:

In our day idolatry rears its ugly head again, and we must be aware of how the church can fall into its deceptions and lies.  Much of the talk amongst young Hmong believers is the movement for 2nd generation ministries and/or English speaking services that will restore the life of the local church (realize that I am and have been at the forefront of many of these conversations).  This is, in our current season and climate, the model and practice that will restore the hope to the lost generation.  We must be careful, then, to not place our hope in finite ideologies, least we dethrone the Gospel of its rightful place and elevate pragmatism and innovation to an ungodly sphere.  The Gospel must remain central and the main focus in the heart of the local church!

What About Understanding our Ministry Context?

Pragmatism, innovation, and technique all have their rightful place in the scheme of Gospel ministry, but we must remember that these ideologies are merely tools to usher in the central hope for humanity — the Gospel.  It cannot be overemphasized that these devices are simply means to the ultimate end — Jesus Christ.  The issue that arises in the heart of broken humanity is the bent to elevate good things to ultimate things. 

God’s decree for Israel was to “be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6 ESV, italics added).  That same decree was given to the body of saints to live in holiness (1 Peter 1:15).  This holiness is not a self derived holiness, but rather a holiness contrived by the presence of God through the Spirit.  This God empowered holiness was to be to the nations a distinction from the world in order to proclaim to the world the beauty and majesty of God.  

The church is responsible to know the context to which they minister, but comprehending the context will never supersede the power of the Gospel.  Gimmicks will never paint the Gospel in a way to be accepted in terms of publication and presentation.  If so, we have lost the Gospel altogether.  Acceptance of the Gospel is initiated by the Spirit (John 3:1 - 15; 1 Corinthians 2:6 - 16).  Again, the Gospel has no need for gimmicks or revision!  Context must be understood in the realm of observing a set people group in order to minister effectively and position oneself to communicate clearly the Gospel message.  Context, then, becomes a vehicle to carry the Gospel, not the main thrust of the ministry.

Are You Against 2nd Generation Ministries or English Services?

By no means am I against ministries longing to proclaim the Good News!  I, myself, have been apart of ministries and services that cater to the English speaking portion of our indigenous community group.  These ministries are agents for the generations to hear the beauty and majesty of the Gospel.  These ministries are instruments used by God for the expansion of the Kingdom and the salvation of the people.  

In light of this reality it is our duty as ministers to remain faithful to the Gospel which is the proclamation of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This message must remain central to the heartbeat of Gospel ministry and be hedged into the make-up and DNA in the culture of the local church.  

Conclusion:

Contemporary worship started from a heart that longed to see Jesus magnified and glorified through song.  This was/is a beautiful reality!  Yet the wayward heart will always sway from the Gospel, and it is pivotal that we evaluate our hearts to see where they are at.  This garnered my attention to think: “what else are we buying into that is hindering us from full Gospel gaze?” This blog is a shout out for accountability, a shout out to analyze the foundation of your ministry, a shout out to check the heartbeat of the ministry culture in your church, a shout out to reorient the strategy and aim of the ministry to focus in on the person of Jesus Christ.  

My fear is that we will deviate from the centrality of the Gospel and fall into a pragmatic approach in regards to local church ministries.  This in turn will lead to a dependence upon method and strategy rather than Spirit-filled regenerative power through the proclamation of the Word.  We will begin to love the idea of the community, rather than the One to whom our community is built upon.  We will begin to acknowledge our innovation, rather than admiring His faithfulness.  We will begin to elevate our ministers, rather magnifying Jesus. 

If the Gospel is not enough for us to build community and make disciples in our current church community, what makes us think that adopting a 2nd generation model or English service will do to change that?  The issue is not our model, the main issue is our heart.  Is the Gospel enough?

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McYoung Yang is the husband to Debbie Yang and the father to McCayden (7), McCoy (6), McColsen (4), and DeYoung (6 months).  He graduated from Crown College with a Youth Ministry degree and has served as a Youth Pastor in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota for over 8 years.  He is currently studying at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY for his Masters of Divinity.  He hopes to use his training to serve the local church in living life through the Gospel lens.   

What is Real?

Reality:

Recently Essena O’Neill, a social media celebrity, made an outcry on behalf of the unauthentic and disingenuous portrayal of her own life displayed across the internet via instragram.  The confession was rot with tears and an objection against the fraudulent display of a high profile life succumbed to glitz and glamour coated with a consumeristic bent to exploit the capitalistic tendency of our age.  The societal pressures to maintain the mantra of an A-level type lifestyle became overwhelmingly difficult and unsatisfyingly dull to say the least.  My heart goes out to her as she battles through this identity-stricken season of life and commend her for acting upon her convictions to seek out truth and to become aware of her imperfections and blemishes.  I am not sure if she is a Christ-follower, but my prayer and hope is that she would, by the power of the Holy Spirit, find her way to true satisfaction in Christ. 

And yet this reality appeals to the Christian lifestyle that has, to a certain degree, assimilated itself to the consumeristic pattern of this world.  Many young believers (and old for that fact) have attributed this type of “success” to the spiritual progress of being an authentic Christ-follower.   There has been in recent years an over-glamorization, or what I like to call Hollywoodization, of spiritual growth.  The church seems to have fallen into what the first century would have called gnostic elitism.  This is a false sense of spirituality that cripples the church and does not allow the saints to see sanctity as a process, but rather as a club or fraternity for gifted individuals.  This broken lens into the self glamorizes the individual and pushes the redemptive work of Christ to the margins.  This ideology elevates the individual through a false facade and alludes the true nature of being a Christ-follower — surrender. 

Renewing the Mind:

I have had the privilege of working with young people for the last 10 years in student ministry and have found that many walk away from the faith because of their misunderstanding of sanctification, or rather their journey with Christ.  Many attend youth conferences like HLUB or SALT and become infatuated with the work and person of Christ, and yet when reality hits them 3 weeks later they find themselves unable to come to grips with the true notion of their self.  Their presupposition on the Christian walk is skewed due to biblical illiteracy and conformity to the societal norms, and they begin to place the yoke of the law back onto their shoulders.  What they have bought into is not the Gospel, but rather Hollywood’s gospel.  

What I hope to accomplish in this blog is to establish helpful truths rooted in Scripture that can assist the church to walk with people through the mundane journey called the Christian life.  Hopefully I have been able to deconstruct the false notion of the spiritual life, and will attempt to reconstruct a Gospel lens on sanctity.  This is what I like to called the grind.  This grind consist of two simple truths: the Christian life is meant to happen within the ordinary mundane things of life and the cross is not merely initiatory, but the sustaining source of the Christian life.

Spirit-filled Daily Living:

I think its extremely important to understand that whenever Paul gives the church an imperative, or command, it is intrinsically connected to the truth of the Gospel.  “The Law of Christ,” as the Apostle Paul would call them, is never given as a blanket statements to follow, but are statutes interwoven into the character of Christ.  And if we are “to be conformed to the image of His Son,” (Romans 8:29) then these commandments are to be imitated in reflecting His character, traits, and attitudes. 

Therefore, when the Spirit is sealed in us as the guarantee of our inheritance of God’s Kingdom (Ephesians 1:13 - 14), we are given the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22 - 23).  Yet one thing to notice about these character traits is that they are meant to function within community.  One can not be patient alone, or one can not express kindness by oneself.  Furthermore, sanctity is a process that is endured through community that sharpens our gaze not upon the self, but rather on the Lord Jesus Christ.  Sanctity takes time by living life on life through our ordinary daily routines and experiencing progress by His grace. 

For this reason the Apostle Paul commends the church to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) and that filling is played out in the daily exchanges of wives submitting to husbands (Ephesians 5:22), husbands loving their wives (Ephesians 5:25), children obeying their parents (Ephesians 6:1), parents not provoking their children to anger (Ephesians 6:4), and slaves and masters exhibiting mutual honor (Ephesians 6:5 - 9).  There are other areas in Scripture where the saints are commended to bear “with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive” (Colossians 3:13).  Through these interactions the saints begin to engage in opportunities to sharpen themselves in Christ-likeness through the power of the Spirit and model a life for the glory of God.

This exchange of growth within community is hardly epic nor is it dramatic for a lack of a better word.  It is simply within the framework of life that growth occurs and sanctity finds its beauty.  Do not beat yourself up for not having an action packed fast paced life.  Social media has clouded our minds to think that progress is equated with theatrical "booms" and "awes."  Biblical growth, for the most part, is steady with a consistent pace (now granted there are season of great growth).

The Gospel is the Beginning and End of Life:

I am assured that throughout all these communal endeavors there will be individuals who annoy you and ones who you downright seek to avoid.  The bible does not paint a picture of reality that is based upon facades, but meets you where you are at in all the uncomfortable interactions of life.  And yet you can anticipate a great deal of failure in the midst of the Christian walk.  Though we are saved and created new, we still remain in a broken and fallen world, and the beauty of the Gospel is that He meets us there and does not allow those failures to define us.  The cross is not a place where we merely enter into God’s Kingdom, the cross is where the life of the Kingdom begins and is sustained. 

Therefore, the bible extends that we would “bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8).  Martin Luther understood this reality well when he conveyed “the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”  This means that the Christian grind is cementing oneself at the foot of the cross and living life through the grace and mercy of Jesus.  And in doing that we do not merely hoard God’s mercy, but rather extend God’s grace to others because we have been extended grace by the Creator.  There will be failures and obstacle, but nothing that will hinder us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:31 - 39).  Growth is accumulated in small steps but His grace is sufficient in making sure that progress is continuous if we humbly come to the cross and dwell, because the cross reminds us that in our interactions with other (others who definitely annoy us) we have a power source of grace to extend mercy where we normally would not. 

When we begin to realize that the love of God was not achieved by our meriting it, but rather “in love, He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5) we can be set free from trying to earn salvation and be set free to live in salvation through grace.  Meaning regardless of our filth, stitch, and corruption He set His affections on us.  God chose to love us.  Not because we are amazing, but because in His nature “God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Therefore, we can run to Him when we slip up.  When we drop the ball.  When we burst out at our children.  We can run to Him and the cross is ever present to restore us and guide us by grace to heal and reconcile those pieces within us that are broken and the individuals to whom we have wronged.  Progress is setting our gaze at "the founder and perfecter of our faith," (Hebrews 12:2) and walking with Him through the hurt to find healing and restoration.  And knowing that our hurts and pains are never wasted because He "comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction" (2 Corinthians 1:4).

God is Our Reality:

Living in a day and age where one’s identity is rooted in all the achievements, accolades, and degrees that can be mustered up, our God — the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — is not impressed with such titles.  He longs for a people that will “humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).  Sanctity is a slow and tedious process, and yet He remains ever faithful to renew His people in the knowledge to the image of the Creator (Colossians 3:10). 

We can buy into social media, but that too will fade.  The only eternal being that is faithful from beginning to end is God Himself.  Let us trust His means and rely on His process to do in us what we can not do for ourselves.  Let us throw away the ways of the world and let us walk in the newness of God in Christ Jesus.  The process may be slow and mundane, but the end result is 100% pure. 

The Christian Life as a Paradox

Why does the Christian life feel like such a paradox sometimes then?

Differentiating the Two (2) Lens:

When looking at the salvific standard established by the authoritative Word of God the systematic comprehension is expressed by what theologians call justification and sanctification.  When pastors and teachers stress the pursuit of morality in light of those standards and laws; to be a good person, to not drink alcohol, and to not skip church; outside the work and person of Jesus Christ the church begins to communicate a gospel that is not the Gospel due to the lack of its Christ-centeredness.  They begin to preach, consciously and/or subconsciously, that salvation can be obtain through a moral latter.  When preachers and teachers do not differentiate between the two ideologies of justification and sanctification we can confuse our congregations and, in many instances, lead them to believe that salvation is based off of works rather than grace.  

When discussing a Christian’s responsibility to moral development we must engage the members to understand morality in light of these two theological principles.  Morality, for Christians, is not spoken of in one simple plain but rather two rhythmic strands harmonizing interdependently through the course of the Christian life.  A misunderstanding of the two theological ideologies can hinder the church’s ability to evangelize as well as edify.  When the church presses morality onto the unregenerate person (nonbeliever) they place that person in pursuit of salvation under the law rather than through the work and person of Jesus Christ.  First and foremost, the church must communicate the blood of the cross and the power of the resurrection to secure that the unregenerate individual is saved, or justified, by Christ alone prior to their walk toward sanctity.  The carriage can not come before the horse.

The downfall is that not many pastors and teachers, let alone believers of Christ, understand the difference.

Justification in the Work and Person of Jesus Christ:

When theologians speak of justification they are communicating that a person can be saved only through the work and person of Jesus Christ.  John 14:6 ESV, “6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  In the redemptive process man is a passive agent.  Redemption is not granted through any ability of man to appease the eternal and infinite God, but rather through God’s unsearchable grace He grants mankind salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2:8 ESV, “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”  Since redemption is not our own doing and is a gift then the notion that prior to salvation we must fix ourselves in order to be Christian is contrary to biblical teaching (heretical to say the least).  In the same light, when the church presses a moral pursuit outside the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ they are pressing a Christless Gospel that leads people to be enslaved under the law again.  

So to communicate that a person can not be saved by church attendance, by not drinking alcohol, by being heterosexual, by reading their bible, or by being good is in line with sound biblical teaching.  Now are these things bad in light of the Christian life?  By no means, yet in light of the understanding of justification these “good” things can not bring forth salvation.  They are the fruit of salvation not the means to salvation.  So, it is extremely vital to understand that morality, in light of the Christian life, flows in two strands which are interdependently harmonized.  The first strand is that we have been justified by grace through faith, and the second strand is that through salvation God is conforming us into the image of the Son.  

Sanctification in the Work and Person of Jesus Christ:

Sanctification is the process in which the Holy Spirit is conforming us into the image of the Son.  This theological principle, the second strand, has a prerequisite in it’s function, justification (the first strand).  An individual can not begin their pursuit toward sanctity without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  This knowledge brings forth the indwelling Spirit that fuels the Christ conformity in the saints.  In Christ through the indwelling Spirit the saints becomes His righteousness in which His character permeates forth from our being.  Righteousness is not an abstract pursuit but rather on inner transformation which manifests itself through an outward expression of holiness.  

As a regenerate individual (a believer), who has been given life through the Son and in the Spirit,  biblical fruit must begin to bear as they grow in their relationship with Christ.  To have Christ as Lord and Savior and to walk contrary to His ways is strong evidence that the individual’s conversion may not and is not genuine.  1 John 3:24 ESV, “24 Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him.  And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.”   New life through the Spirit, or regeneration, should breed forth new desires and devotion to God’s ways.  This devotion and new desire is not an obligation to follow a list of rules, but rather to pursue ultimate joy which is founded in the function and trust of God’s statutes.  John 15:10 - 11 ESV, “10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” 

Now as preachers and teachers when we stress the imperative of bible reading, engaging in biblical community, embracing the functions of how God has made us, and reflecting in the character of God; these moral pursuits, in light of sanctification, are a means to conform us into the image of Christ.  We, Christians, have a duty to uphold these standards and to keep accountable any brother and sister who professes to live as a follower of Christ.  1 Corinthians 5:12 - 13 ESV, “12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders?  Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?  13 God judges those outside.  ‘Purge the evil person from among you.’”  Accountability is a means to sanctity in that there are blind spots in all of our lives.  A mature believer who desires to walk in the Lord should embrace rebuke and seek for discipleship.  In this arena of life you can know and be known by a community as a means to grow in one’s affection toward the Lord.  Romans 8:29 ESV, “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”  

Conclusion:

In light of our journey to walk with the Lord Jesus Christ it is imperative that we are able to differentiate between the lens of justification and sanctification as well as be sensitive to how we present the Gospel in light of these theological principles.  An inability to do so will result in, as we are witnessing today in our churches, generations who believe that salvation is through a moral pursuit.  My hope is that God would use this short article as a means to renew our minds and set our affections back toward cherishing the Gospel and living dependently on the Word.  Amen!

Cost of Discipleship: Luke 9:57 - 62

In the midst of Jesus’s earthly ministry thousands came to His side to hear the soundness of His teachings and the works of His miracles.  Many were drawn to the amazing signs and wonders performed by the God-man who broke into the created order and lived among the common people.  Many of the Jews were looking for a militant Messiah who would come and overthrow the Roman government.  They sought to gain an advantage with Him in order to reap the blessings of the new world.  Yet their pursuit and inquiries were met with contempt and disdain as Jesus sought not those who desired selfish gain or political status, but rather embodied Gospel living saturated with self-denial, self-sacrifice, and submission to divine authority.  

Self-Denial:

During the climax of Jesus’s ministry men and women sought after the attention of the messenger who embodied great wisdom and astounding power.  Even a scribe, as the account in Matthew indicate, came to Jesus proclaiming: “I will follow you wherever you go” (Luke 9:57 ESV).  This man of high esteem and whose colleagues were hostile toward Jesus came to Him and sought to learn under Him.  There was no doubt that the scribe had witnessed much of Jesus’s teachings and miracles.  Yet, like so many other instances, Jesus had a keen understanding of the scribe’s intention and, rather than embrace His new found convert, solidified the treacherous road ahead of him.  Jesus simply responded by saying: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58 ESV).  Jesus was aware that “the scribe, having seen the crowds and the miracles and having heard Jesus’ incomparable teaching, wanted to be associated with the one in the center of all the action, who had an unequalled potential of elevation.”1 Though the scribe desired for fame, honor, and reputation; Jesus indicated the stark reality of His call to discipleship.  Gospel discipleship is not a pursuit toward worldly glory, but rather the glory that is founded in saturating oneself in the person of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus understood that the issue underlining the scribe was his unwillingness to deny his own idol -- fame and notoriety -- and pursue the glory and majesty of Christ.  Like the rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16 - 30; Mark 10:17 - 31; Luke 18:18 - 34) the scribe’s reluctance to deny himself was the downfall in pursuing his ultimate joy in Christ Jesus. 

Self-Sacrifice:

Others were eager to follow Jesus and jump on the band wagon of what was stirring around His earthly ministry.  Jesus openly invited those who were around Him and many seized the opportunity.  Yet it is important to understand that Jesus’s call to discipleship was not merely an emotive drive or an event coursed agenda, but rather a commitment to a life long journey as having Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Luke uses the Greek word akoloutheo which the verb was used “in the present imperative tense, to indicate He was not seeking a momentary following, but a continuous, lifelong commitment.”2  The individual’s response of wanting to return to his family, first, and fulfill the customary traditions of the son in burying the father was contrary to the type of commitment Jesus was demanding.

Jesus’s response was straightforward and sincere by saying: “Leave the dead to bury their own dead.  But as for you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60 ESV).  Jesus may have seemed emotionally disconnected or insensitive to the individual’s situation, but His challenge was for the “individual to leave temporal, earthly matters to worldly people and not make them his overriding priority.”3 It was not that Jesus was cold and cynical, but rather Jesus was aiming at the heart of the individual and the idol that hindered ultimate loyalty to Him.  

Sacrifice is an essential attribute in the life of a Christian.  Sacrifice mirrors and reflects the character of the Savior and fuels, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Gospel living.  Christian discipleship is not an embrace of grace that enables sinful practice, but rather it is the empowerment of grace that enables obedience in pursuit of Christ exaltation in the heart of the saint.  Discipleship, rooted in Christ, is continuously sacrificial in its aim to have Jesus as

the center and focus of one’s life.

Submission to God’s Authority:

The third and final individual to engages in Jesus’s offer says: “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home” (Luke 9:61 ESV).  This individual seems adamant to take Jesus at His offer and embrace the life of discipleship under the wise and authoritative counsel of the Lord.  But what seemed to be an appropriate response becomes a lens into the heart and mind of the potential disciple.  Jesus responds by saying: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 ESV). Jesus is directly saying that it “is impossible to follow Christ with a divided heart.”4  This individual’s request of Christ revealed that his ties to his family were stronger than his pull to sit under the leadership and discipleship of Christ.  His idol, though within itself (family) is not inherently evil, became a stumbling block in the throne of his heart.  Jesus will not share His glory nor will His “glory [He] give to no other” (Isaiah 42:8 ESV).  

Full submission to Jesus is the response He is seeking for and that is not cheap nor easy.  Cheap grace has lead the church to trample on the glory of God by embracing a Hollywoodized picture of Christianity.  Biblical discipleship is costly and it challenges individuals, as well as the church, to surrender themselves to the power of His Spirit and the grace He provides to fulfill His requirements.  

No doubt about it, salvation through the work and person of Jesus Christ is a gift which is freely given by God.  Yet discipleship, in following Jesus all the days of our life, is a costly call to leave the world behind and seek out obedience in His Word for our joy.  In God’s infinite love and compassion He does not leave His church to pursue a life of obedience by our own strength or ability, but has empowered us by His grace through His Spirit to affectionately pursue righteousness for His glory.  Though the Christian life is full of peaks and valleys, His promise is secure in this: He is “with [us] always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 ESV).  This truth allows us to press forward with hope, assurance, faith, and love.  

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1 John MacArthur. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Luke 6 - 10 (Moody Publisher: Chicago, 2011), 318.

2 Ibid., 315 - 316.

3 Ibid., 320.

4 Ibid., 321.