The Six Mega Themes Emerging in 21st Century Christianity

A few weeks ago I went to YMC – Youth Ministry Conference held by Youthworks. IT was more of a 3 day retreat than a conference; very relaxing, engaging and a break from my Monday-Friday ministry.

We were blessed to have Mark Sayers speak; Christian cultural theorist & pastor (hopefully that title does him justice). Here is an article of his that I found quite helpfully.

The Six Mega Themes Emerging in 21st Century Christianity.

Blessings
Chris.

Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride

This is a very powerful message by Francis Chan recommended to me by Dave Miers please click on link to watch:

Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride on DesiringGod.org

via Think Hard, Stay Humble: The Life of the Mind and the Peril of Pride.

2011 will be the year of the blog for Chris Holding, to the glory of God and for the love of others…just letting you know

God Bless

God, Naomi and Matt

It’s been a while since my last post – Rouse Hill is busy and going great!! Thank you to the friends and family who have been praying for us and supporting us. And the Rouse Hill family for welcoming us in. So many great things to blog about – few highlights; preaching God’s Word to 750 kids at Rouse Hill Anglican College for the whole month of June, the intense conversations about life and God at TRANSIT and seeing God transform the lives of young people on Friday nights at INFINITY.

Soon Mel and I will go on a much deserved holiday – our first break since starting at Rouse Hill – 2 weeks with all communication devices turned off! And just investing time with each other! We are really looking forward to it!

To finish up the term at TRANSIT we looked at the book of Ruth in the Old Testament and discussed suffering and redemption. In the book of Ruth – Naomi is a woman who faces immense suffering; after moving to a foreign land her husband and two sons die. In the context of the ancient culture she is therefore left with nothing, she is so bitter with God she changes her name to Martha – which means bitter. But amongst this pain and suffering continues to demonstrate a real and tangible faith in God.

We also watched an interview with Matt Chandler – a young pastor from the US that was diagnosed with a stage 3 brain tumor. (In an earlier blog post – there is a link to another video of him). The pic above is taken while we watched the interview. What stood out to the TRANSIT crew was when Matt said;<br><br>

…I hate that we have made those great Old Testament narratives; children stories – but the Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they say “he (God) can he will and even if he doesn’t”. I believe he(God) can heal me, I believe he will heal me…but even if he doesn’t… if I am here then lets work, but if I go home (heaven) then that is better…

Naomi and Matt (as well as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) teach us that faith is still possible during suffering – even though it feels like it’s not. That God is still close during our suffering – even though it feels like He’s not. Romans 8:28 teaches us that God works in all things for the good of those who love him. Even when we think He has abandoned us; God and his eternal purposes of redemption and restoration are still at work during our suffering.

Blessings, Chris   

What do pastors think when bad things happen to them?

I know I haven’t blogged in a while, very sorry for that the business of life; finishing up at one church and preparing to start at another is a big emotion mental and physical exercise.

Mel and I would appreciate your prayers as we make the transition.

A really gifted pastor from the USA; Matt Chandler (one that has been quite influential in my life) has being diagnosed with Cancer. As I was praying for him and reflecting on God’s Word I was reminded of Matt 5:45 – the idea of this verse is that bad things happen to both those who seek God and those who ignore him.
And I thought well what does a pastor think when bad things happen.  And I’m not talking about frustrations of life but what do pastors think when they face great suffering or a terminal illness.

Instead of a long winded response with many foot noted verses and a clever little picture I thought I’d let Matt Chandler answer the question.
The was taped at the church he pastors, a few days before his surgery. I hope this encourages you/challenges you or simply enlarges the goodness of God for you.

(make sure you watch it to the end)

“click on the link below”

Video from Matt.

Blessing Chris!

Joy in Calvin – part 2 (Unconditional Election)

The greyhound is a peculiar dog; when caged it takes on the appearance on a fearful, unresponsive almost defeated dog. That’s until it’s released from it’s cage; then it’s an excited, energetic, evangelic dog. One that is empowered not only by it’s design but also by it’s passion.

This is my second blog on my joy in Calvin. Last time I looked at total depravity; that all of humanity is effected by sin; less about the bad things we do and more the state we find ourselves in; no one is righteous (1 Kings 8:46), no one can live at God’s standard (Rom 3:23) and therefore God enables us by his Spirit to enter into a relationship with Him.

This week unconditional election, the basic idea;

God has an elect people, and has predestined them to be saved.(1)

Election by God precedes salvation – election is not salvation but for salvation.(2)

Therefore this election is not based on a foreseen response, foreseen good works, foreseen faith but was done before the foundation of the world.(3)

And finally, even though faith and good works are foreseen by an all sovereign, all knowing God; they are confirmation rather than grounds for election.(4)

My joy in unconditional election is that God has chosen me before the human race was brought into existence. This means no sin is too great, no life path too wicked, no action too dark and no decision too stupid that will eradicate God’s election. Therefore I can’t do anything to earn his love or persuade his choosing. It is based solely on His love for His creation and desire to redeem it.

Is this a license to sin? God Word is clear “By no means!” (Rom 6:15) Believers still have a human responsibility to repent and persevere (this will be covered in coming weeks).

But it does mean for one who is chosen an outpouring gratitude and desire to serve him will be present, not to further their standing in God’s Kingdom but to bring thanksgiving and glory to Him.

And this brings me back to the greyhound. Many people feel unconditional election put’s the believer in a cage particularly when it comes to evangelism. “There is no need to share the gospel because God has chosen his elect, those living in sin are obviously not chosen and those who are elect will obviously be saved.”

I believe this to be a fearful, unresponsive almost defeated Christian – and a distortion of the gospel. Unconditional election isn’t the cage but the door that releases the Christian from it’s cage. That excites us, energisers us and drives us to evangelise because anyone could be chosen. From your taxi driver to your next door neighbour, from the guy that asks for money on the street to the girl in the porn film. From a family member or even someone reading this blog.

To wrap up; I love the doctrine of unconditional election because it stirs (me) believers to have a great love and gratitude of God. It should never be seen as a cage that restricts the believer but the cage door that releases the believer to passionately live for God and share His good news (lovingly) to all they come in contact with.

Blessings, Chris

(1) Deut 10:14-15, Matthew 11:27, Matthew 22:14, 24:22,24,31, Romans 8:28-30, 33, 11:28, Titus 1:1, 1 Peter 1:1-2 etc….
(2) Rom 11:7, 2 Tim 2:10, Acts 13:48, 1 Thess 1:4, 2 Thess 2:13-24, Eph 1:4, Rom 16:7
(3) Mark 13:20, John 15:16, Acts 13:48, 18:27, Eph 1:4, Phil 1:20, 2:12-132 Thess 2:13, 2 Tim 1:9, Rev 13:8, 17:8, Rom 9:11-13,16 1 Cor 1:27-29, 2 Tim 1:9 etc…
(4) 2 Peter 1:5-11, Eph 2:10, Heb 4:11, 11, Titus 3:1-10, Col 3,

Joy in Calvin – part 1 (Total Depravity)

I love icebergs but I’ve never seen one in real life. They hold such beauty that draws you in; it’s only when you see the whole Iceberg that you see it’s danger and avoid it.

It’s a lot like sin, on earth we see the beauty in sin that draws us in; it’s not until we see the eternal significance of sin that we see it’s danger.

Today I start my Joy in Calvin series on Total Depravity.

The term refers to the state of human condition and an inability to do anything about it. That human nature is corrupt, perverse and sinful through out.

The fact that it is total indicates a human’s whole or total being is affected by sin. Not that our actions are as a whole sinful but that corruption in varying size extends to every part of us.

Take a glass of wine that has a few drops of deadly poison in it: Although not all the liquid is poison, all the liquid is poisoned. In the same way, while not all of human nature is depraved, all human nature is totally affected by depravity.

The main points of Total Depravity –

We are born spiritually dead(1); as a result of Adam’s first sin, we are born with sinful natures & therefore can not perceive things which are spiritual (even though we attempt).

Our hearts are evil and corrupt(2); we can not perceive spiritual truths nor can we perceive or do good.

We have a bondage/slavery to sin(3); one that we can not break from or redeem ourselves.

Sin affects everyone universally(4); all humans are under the power of sin and it’s consequences – death.

And most importantly an inability to change(5); we have no power or good within ourselves to change our nature or standing before God.

I remember seeing a famous t.v. personality (will remain nameless) giving millions of dollars to help those effected by Hurricane Katrina, the reason I saw this was because they filmed a 2 hour special showing how much they had helped the people. Now I have no problem with loving those who are worst off but it does well to illustrate Totally Depravity.

A person that is not affected by Total Depravity would help those in need without the t.v. show, without the advertising rights, without the fame, without the prestige and without the tax benefits.

The act itself was good but there is sin behind it…it’s just like the iceberg.

The sin while appearing small and insignificant, sometimes attractive and pleasing. Is in fact an offense against God.

“An offense against a God worthy of infinite praise is in an offense worthy of infinite punishment.”(Jonathan Edwards)

Sin is not just the beauty in the tip but as a whole carries destruction and death.

And this is where I have found great joy in Calvin. That amidst this state of Total Depravity; spiritually dead, an evil and corrupt heart, enslaved by sin with no ability to change. I was rightfully destined to God’s judgement.

But instead God took me; a fallen creature from the valley of dry bones and breathed His Spirit into me. So I am now spiritually alive, with a new transformed heart and freed from the slavery of sin and death. The punishment is not on my head anymore but taken by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

And all of this has not been done by anything I could do but by the grace (undeserved kindness) of God. So that I do not boast in myself but boast in Him alone.

Blessings, Chris

(1) Gen 2:16-17, Rom 5:12, Eph 2:1-3, Col 2:13, Ps 51:5, 58:3
(2) Gen 6:5, 8:21, Ecc 9:3, Jer 17:9, Mark 7:21-23, Jn 3:19, Rom 8:7-8, 1 Cor 2:14, Eph 4:17-19, 5:8
(3) Jn 8:34, 8:44, Eph 2:1-2, 2 Tim 2:25-26, 1 Jn 3:10, 5:19, Rom 6:20, Titus 3:3
(4) 2 Chron 6:36, Job 15:14-16, Ps 130:3, 143:2, Ecc 7:20, 7:29, Is 53:6, Rom 3:9-12, James 3:2, 1 Jn 1:8-10
(5) Job 14:4, Jer 13:23, Matt 7:17-18, 12:33, John 6:44, John 6:65, Rom 11:35-36, 1 Cor 2:14, 4:7

My Joy in Calvin (intro)

Happy Birthday to Mr Calvin…500 is one of those “big” birthdays. So congrats!

You know I haven’t always been in favour of Calvin. I use to take the doctrines that are ascribed to his name to a bastardised extreme. And say bold statements like – it makes God a puppet master, a hate monger, a “cool kid” picking his cool group, a God that you put in your back pocket and live the way you want because you have a false assurance and preservation of your eternity.

While God used my time at Bible college to take my ideas about Calvinism out of the extreme. It was the privilege of preaching the Bible week after week at youth group that God used by His Spirit to start to shift my thinking.

After 4 years of teaching the Bible to youth; my thinking has greatly shifted and God is reminding me of these doctrines and giving me a great peace, contentment and assurance during the roller coaster called life. A lot like what Paul describes in Philippains 4:6-13 and one of the common threads weaved through out Hebrews.

This video made me and my wife laugh, in response to it and Johnny’s 500th I’m gonna reflect on the great comfort and assurance I draw form the key points of his teachings. So stay tuned….

Blessings

Chris