Archive of October 2009
Review: You Can Change, by Tim Chester
Posted at 5:38 PM
Is there a secret knack to holiness? Why can’t I stop sinning? Tim Chester’s book You Can Change mines the resources of pastor-theologians down the ages who have pointed to the human heart as the root of sin, and therefore the necessity of God’s power to change us. Tim tells the reader that yes, you can change, because it’s not down to you – it’s God’s work, that we participate in. By addressing the twin errors of unbelief (where our mind believes lies) and idolatry (where our heart is set on something other than God to satisfy), he shows us how to take part in the fight of faith, armed with God’s truth and a heartwarming knowledge and love of him. Tim Chester has written a book to help Christians go after real change in their lives, but is not glibly unrealistic about the endeavour. He shows that, just as our Christian lives started with faith and repentance, through coming to Christ crucified, so it is as they carry on. Becoming more holy is not a work we achieve, but a result of grace.
I’ve begun studying Colossians recently, and it struck me that right at the heart of the letter is the same message:
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7, NIV.)
We can’t move on from Christ in the Christian life, because it ceases to be Christian. The Colossians were being tempted away from the sufficiency of Christ, seemingly to rules and experiences that would offer the “next level” of the Christian life, even perhaps a life free of sin (Colossians 2:16-23). Paul assures them that Christ is all they need. Sure, rules have the appearance of wisdom, but in reality have no power. When it comes to fighting sin and pursuing holiness, if the basis of change is not faith in Christ, it has no ultimate power. (I seem to have been banging a similar drum recently. What can I say? The Christian life is all about grace, and as Relay workers we get constantly reminded of this!)
As I finish this review, it turns out I’m not the best at writing them. In summary, this is an incredibly helpful book, and I’d recommend it highly. Tim suggests that you pick a particular “change project” to think about as you work through the book, and has questions at the end of each chapter to help you think this through in the light of what’s been said. I’ve also heard the suggestion that it’d be a good book to work through with friends. Both of these suggestions are excellent ones. Get a copy! (Also read a blog entry he’s written on one of the topics he covers.)
“The most Godless city in Britain”?
Local newspaper the Argus reports on a HTB church plant to St Peter’s, the unofficial “cathedral” of Brighton. There’s a quote from the local councillor:
Just because people do not go to church every week, it doesn’t necessarily make them less good, or even ‘Godless’. The church can provide an example and a place but it’s humanity that is important.
I think saying “it’s humanity [not God] that is important” would fit the definition of “godless” quite well. Okay, I might be twisting the intention of the quote, but I think it’s telling. Look at the videos of people asked what they think of the statement “Brighton is the most Godless city in Britain”: each one seems to hear “immoral” instead of “godless”, somehow managing to remove God from the definition of the word itself!
Of course we as Christians can often make a similar connection between the words; and godlessness can of course lead to immorality. However it can also lead to false religion (see excerpt from Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God), and perhaps that’s where the statement falls down. The most statistically secular city, maybe; the most godless, who knows?
Grace and godliness
Posted at 6:38 PM
My former staff worker Jim Walford hasn’t been blogging long, but he’s been consistently writing brilliant entries. His latest is no different:
All too often CUs can be not much more than holy huddles of students with very little evangelistic endeavour and no real commitment to prayer. And this is something we need to challenge. But the answer is not to remove things we normally associate with church life like systematic teaching from the Bible and times of singing and praise. Remove these from the CU meeting and all zeal for evangelism and prayer will die.
Why is this? Well, Jim answers the question better than me, so go read his article. In short: the more we love and delight in God and his gospel, the more we’ll want to tell people about him; stirring up joy in our hearts is the best motivation for evangelism there is!
It strikes me that this principle is extendable beyond gospel proclamation. When I sin, it’s because I believe that it will give me more satisfaction than following God. How then do I confront sin? I remind myself of the glorious gospel, and delight myself in God once again. It’s in seeing more of God and his grace towards us that motivates us to change, as we see that in living for him we can find true joy. We fight the fire of sin’s pleasures with a burning passion for God that’s greater (to paraphrase John Piper heavily).
Secondly, how is it that we grow as Christians? Grace spurs us onto lives of godliness. Paul writes to Titus:
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14, TNIV.)
How can grace teach us? Surely the more we understand God’s grace to us in Christ, the more we’ll want to live our lives for him. The joy of our salvation will overflow into obedience. John Piper comments on Twitter:
‘Right behavior’ without right feeling is not really right behavior.
This joy isn’t optional; it’s the necessary starting place, otherwise our good works will be done out of duty or legalism.
So fight sin by cultivating joy in God; godliness, too, should grow in response to God’s grace; and as Jim writes, having our hearts stirred to admire and love Christ more will mean we want to share him with others. It’s all tied up together; we love God more because of the cross, as it shows us God’s love for us despite our sin; our love for God inspires our worship, in resisting sin, growing in godliness, loving the lost and living and speaking for him. Grace doesn’t just save us in the past, but changes us in the present, and gives us a glorious future. God’s salvation is truly awesome.