So I haven’t blogged in ages, and as those who know me to frequent message boards etc have seen I’ve pretty much been missing in action. Part of this was a purposeful decision to pull back on the time I spend on the Internet. The lack of blogging was actually a result not having time to really sit down and put together coherent thoughts and ideas in blog format, though I do have them in notebooks, note on my phone etc, and waiting for the opportunity.
Music recommendation :
I’ve been looking forward to Stephen the Levite’s album, I’ve been listening to snippets here (http://dawhistleblower.blogspot.com/) and what can I say other than I’m thankful that he posts the lyrics up because it gives you a greater appreciation of the mastery he has of his craft. If y’all have slept on Shai Linne’s Attributes of God album…don’t, just don’t. In my opinion it’s Shai’s best album by a country mile. Exciting times at Lampmode (Json’s album is also dope) and it’s good to see them go from strength to strength. I also been on This’l joint Beautiful Monster for a while, and I’m glad for digital music because the tape would be worn out by now…What business a Kenyan has calling people “Dirty” I don’t know but edifying things are coming out from St Louis. Also fam, Theory Hazit Thr3e album, which can be copped free from the Humblebeast website, but i encourage you to support this dude and actually buy the album. I have a lot of respect for cats who hone their craft, and supporting these dude ensures they can keep blessing us with their talents. I’ve also rediscovered Corinne Bailey Rae, and she’s what I’ve been listening to when I need a (short) break from Hip-Hop.
Free Stuff recommendation:
Themlios is an International Theological Journal, Its main target is pastors theology students, but its chock full of meat for anyone willing to learn and be tested, and worth a read. You can find the archive of the publication here! (http://thegospelcoalition.org/publications)
An Interesting thought
It was reading Themlios (April edition) recently that I came across the article by Micheal J Ovey on the “Goldilocks Zone” (Themlios 37-1, page 5-6) and he brought up something that I have been taking for granted, which is “Scripture provides sufficient, but not exhaustive knowledge of God.” (And my mind went on a tangent to the very good point he was making and I urge you to read the whole essay) I realize as one starts getting a better understanding of things, you run in to frustrations where you realize there’s still so much you don’t understand. One area this is evident for me is the theology of Limited Atonement. It makes perfect sense, but when I read through I’m consistently left wondering about the methodology God uses to chose some heaven and others for condemnation. Clearly there is no earthly criteria, (by merit we all deserve to be condemned) but I would be eager to understand the method used to conclude Yes “Wanjiku” is chosen but not “Doreen”. At the heart of it is my desire also to be at peace with my salvation in the face of so many others who are not. Reading this there’s also the issue of pride which shows itself, because I naturally assume that I’m able to handle an understanding of God greater than what he has chosen to reveal to me through his word. It’s as if His wisdom has to be audited by my own. As i chewed through this it was a fair reminder than I often need to check my intentions when I study things, and constantly investigate my heart and intentions which may appear outwardly positively motivated.
This brings me to a video a friend sent me, that went out to prove God is evil. It was a sad video on many levels but at the end of the day it was a strawman argument. One thing that did stand out is something all of us are prone to do, which is judging things by our own standard of morality. I believe that my own moral standard is inherently flawed, because in practice I hold to no absolute. I’m not beyond telling a convenient lie, my entertainment choices reflect I’m not so hard set against murder. There’s evidence to show that my own natural moral compass although not broken does not point true north. That I believe is true of humanity, and so it becomes tricky to use human opinion to gauge morality, and really that’s where the video failed. But thankfully it was a fair reminder to use the correct compass otherwise I may miss my target.
When I was around 13 (before becoming jaded and cynical) I met a girl (a woman by my reckoning she was around 18) to me was so beautiful she was frightening. Thing was she knew it too, so she walked with an air of confidence that added on to the intimidation, and when she said your name….PHEW planets changed their course! Something reminded me about that experience of meeting her and being so awed at the same time. Remembering my experience with this beautiful woman reminded me that in many ways while we may all wish to have a personal experience with the divine and see heaven or have God directly speak to us, we must not that desire undermine our understanding of the perfection of Creator and our own imperfection. Similarly remembering how I felt fortunate to have someone I was awed by talk to me and engage in a few minutes of conversation how much more I must savour brotherhood with Jesus who in glorification shall make all knees to bow and tongues confess. - Funny the things you think about at 5:30am
I have a growing concern that younger evangelicals do not take seriously the Bible’s call to personal holiness. We are too at peace with worldliness in our homes, too at ease with sin in our lives, too content with spiritual immaturity in our churches.
God’s mission in the world is to save a people and sanctify his people. Christ died “that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Cor. 5:15). We were chosen in Christ “before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Eph. 1:4). Christ “loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her…so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:25-27). Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).
J.C. Ryle, the Bishop of Liverpool from the nineteenth century, was right: “We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world…Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer’s sin, He does more–He breaks its power (1 Pet. 1:2; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:10).” My fear is that as we rightly celebrate, and in some quarters rediscover, all that Christ saved us from, we will give little thought and make little effort concerning all that Christ saved us to.
The pursuit of holiness does not occupy the place in our hearts that it should. There are several reasons for the relative neglect of personal holiness.
The Suffering Servant Promo // Believin Stephen from shot by esso™ on Vimeo.
Suicide Acapella // Believin Stephen from The Lamp Lounge on Vimeo.
