Unit Testing
2Cr 13:5-6 NIV - [5] Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-unless, of course, you fail the test? [6] And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
Computer programming has been developing a rather recent innovation to deal with the increasing complexity of software and, as many of us have probably figured out, the notorious level of “bugs” in software. The trouble is that complexity in software grows exponentially. If you flip one “switch” on the circuit board, you have two possible outcomes. If you have two switches, four; three switches, eight; 20 switches—over a million. There’s simply no way to ensure that all of this software works in concert all the time. A method was developed, however, to help solve this problem. It’s called “unit testing.” Unit testing is a jargon word that describes a rather simple idea—test each piece of software separately. The programmer writes code to simulate certain functions. These tests can all be run in the click of a button. If they all pass, you can be fairly certain your software works the way it should. If one or more tests fail you fix the bug(s), run all the tests again, and repeat the process. In this way, testing is a constant bombardment of your software. You must constantly challenge yourself to see if your assumptions are true.
Long before unit testing came around for software, Paul was well aware of this concept. That is why he tells the Corinthian church to “examine [themselves] to see whether [they] are in the faith.” What is the point of this? Paul’s point is that we should check to ensure that our attitude and actions fall in line with God’s Word. If we pass the test, we know “that Christ Jesus is in [us].” While most of us are, I hope, confident we live in Christ and that He lives in us, we must check to make sure that is, in fact, the case. To me, this is a daily test. We must examine our actions every day to see whether what we do falls in line with the Holy Spirit’s direction. I realize this is perhaps not the same sort of testing Paul was talking about—we aren’t questioning our salvation daily. Rather, we are looking to ensure that we are behaving as one who has been saved. Paul says in his first letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 1.18 that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Notice the tense, here—we are being saved. Salvation is a process we undergo daily. The Scripture implies that every day Christ is saving us, not from sin—for the sacrifice needed only happen once. Rather, He is saving us into His kingdom. It is the sort of salvation one receives when he does not realize he is even lost. It is the sort of confirmation, the hardening, of that which was already there. Schools test students at the end of the semester not to give them some knowledge they did not already have, but to re-enforce that knowledge.
The same, I believe, is true with continual testing of our faith. At the end of our day, we should check to see if our actions were Christ-like. If they were not, we can learn from our mistakes and not make them again. It is a method of self-checking which constantly builds us. Our tests will show that Christ is alive and well. Even if we fail them, the conviction and direction from the Holy Spirit ought to alert us that God still lives within us, that we are still His temple, in spite of our mistakes.
If you have been failing your spiritual tests, God has continual office hours. Come to Him and make it right. There’s no reason to be frightened. God is just, but He shows us mercy through His Son. We have forgiveness, and that forgiveness extends out to us every day. Praise be to God for His continual mercy and blessings of tranquility. Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Godly Peace
Godly Peace
Phl 4:6-7 NIV - [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jhn 14:26-27 NIV - [26] But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The New Testament is filled with encouragement to Christians to be filled with peace. This is fortunate, for our world today is filled with anything but peace. For thousands of years man has struggled in darkness: war, disease, famine, and death. It seems he has spent more time running than creating. But Christ offers us an alternative. Rather than fearing the things of this world, He grants us peace. In John, Jesus tells His disciples that He is leaving peace with them, not “as the world gives.” The disciples are instructed to “not let [their] hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Peace, then, is an instruction originating directly from God. It is a promise to those who believe in Him. Peace is the IV fluid of the spiritual life—it nourishes and heals in the midst of a dying world.
Beloved, if Jesus thought it so important to mention peace, we ought to find it important to realize it. Many people believe peace is a passive process. They believe it comes to them without any effort on their part. Secondly, they believe peace magically heals wars, broken families, and poverty. But peace is merely the nourishment Man needs in order to carry these actions out. Godly peace must be recognized and grabbed hold of, like a child to his blanket. We have a choice to allow the peace of God to fill us, or to allow doubt and anxiousness fill us. Paul notes this in Philippians 4. He says that we ought not ‘be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present [our] requests to God.” Man must willfully put away his anxiousness in exchange for prayer and thanksgiving. What is the result? The “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.”
When God’s peace fills us, people see it. Godly peace will spur us on to great ministries. People will feel more open to talk to us about their problems. The tension present in so many relationships will slowly fade. This sort of peace heals not only ourselves, but others. We must be careful to define it, however. Jesus is very clear that He does not give us peace “as the world gives.” You see, the world defines peace as the safety of a large brick home, a colossal SUV, a strong husband, a financially secure job. Notice Jesus never promises anything of this sort. He never even promises to provide us with jobs or money, in spite of what the modern prosperity gospel proposes. Instead, He promises just what we need. He meets our needs sufficiently but fills our souls abundantly. It is His grace and love that pours out of us, not security.
Allow God’s peace to meet you today. When you are filled with worries and doubts, just remember that Christ is there with you. Millions of people have probably been through whatever it is you are going through. God has not failed any who follow Him. However long this earth has been here, God has yet to withdraw His hand from us. The world still turns every day. He still loves us every day. His peace goes with us every day. Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Phl 4:6-7 NIV - [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jhn 14:26-27 NIV - [26] But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
The New Testament is filled with encouragement to Christians to be filled with peace. This is fortunate, for our world today is filled with anything but peace. For thousands of years man has struggled in darkness: war, disease, famine, and death. It seems he has spent more time running than creating. But Christ offers us an alternative. Rather than fearing the things of this world, He grants us peace. In John, Jesus tells His disciples that He is leaving peace with them, not “as the world gives.” The disciples are instructed to “not let [their] hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Peace, then, is an instruction originating directly from God. It is a promise to those who believe in Him. Peace is the IV fluid of the spiritual life—it nourishes and heals in the midst of a dying world.
Beloved, if Jesus thought it so important to mention peace, we ought to find it important to realize it. Many people believe peace is a passive process. They believe it comes to them without any effort on their part. Secondly, they believe peace magically heals wars, broken families, and poverty. But peace is merely the nourishment Man needs in order to carry these actions out. Godly peace must be recognized and grabbed hold of, like a child to his blanket. We have a choice to allow the peace of God to fill us, or to allow doubt and anxiousness fill us. Paul notes this in Philippians 4. He says that we ought not ‘be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present [our] requests to God.” Man must willfully put away his anxiousness in exchange for prayer and thanksgiving. What is the result? The “peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.”
When God’s peace fills us, people see it. Godly peace will spur us on to great ministries. People will feel more open to talk to us about their problems. The tension present in so many relationships will slowly fade. This sort of peace heals not only ourselves, but others. We must be careful to define it, however. Jesus is very clear that He does not give us peace “as the world gives.” You see, the world defines peace as the safety of a large brick home, a colossal SUV, a strong husband, a financially secure job. Notice Jesus never promises anything of this sort. He never even promises to provide us with jobs or money, in spite of what the modern prosperity gospel proposes. Instead, He promises just what we need. He meets our needs sufficiently but fills our souls abundantly. It is His grace and love that pours out of us, not security.
Allow God’s peace to meet you today. When you are filled with worries and doubts, just remember that Christ is there with you. Millions of people have probably been through whatever it is you are going through. God has not failed any who follow Him. However long this earth has been here, God has yet to withdraw His hand from us. The world still turns every day. He still loves us every day. His peace goes with us every day. Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Sunday, April 18, 2010
An Emperor on His Feet
An Emperor on His Feet
Luk 9:10-11 NIV - [10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Emperor Trajan is considered one of ancient Rome’s greatest Emperors. A man skilled at both military expeditions and civil works projects, Trajan both expanded the limits of the empire to their greatest extent and extended the glory of the city of Rome with new architectural marvels such as Trajan’s Column, Trajan’s Forum, and Trajan’s Market. Adored by the people and known for his openness and fairness, his legacy has stood for nearly 19 centuries. As a previously great military commander, Trajan was always moving. It is said that, on his arrival to Rome as Emperor, he “entered the city on foot, he embraced each of the senators and even walked among the ordinary people. This was unlike any other Roman emperor and perhaps grants us a glimpse of Trajan's true greatness. Such modesty and openness easily helped the new emperor gain yet more support during the first years of his reign” (http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/trajan.html). The most impressive thing to me about Trajan was his willingness to constantly stay on his feet. In his military campaigns against the Dacians, Trajan went out with his troops to share in the horrors of war. He did not sit locked in a palace, divorced from the common soldier. He went out and led them to victory.
Trajan serves as an example as to how great leaders ought to lead. Some of the greatest leaders in history have been the ones willing to share in the hardships of war or common, everyday tasks. Thankfully, we too serve a King who stays on His feet. Jesus, in spite of all His power, knowledge, and wisdom, chose to live among Jews. He was cursed, beaten, and despised by men. Yet He led His disciples by example. One of the greatest displays of His involvement with men comes in the account just before the feeding of the 5000. We see that Jesus “[takes his disciples] with him, and they [withdraw] by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.” Jesus could have withdrawn much more often than He did. He had every right to abandon us and instead worship the Father without the hassles of a sinful and hopeless human race. But the Scripture says that, when “the crowds [learn] about [his withdrawing], [they follow] him.” What is Jesus’ response? Instead of sending the crowd away, He “[welcomes] them and [speaks] to them about the kingdom of God.” He “[heals] those who [need] healing.”
Jesus, like Trajan, moves in this world. He is not some distant, refraining God who is too high and mighty to deal with the affairs of little animal/spirit hybrids. He did not merely wind the clock of the universe and leave it after it began ticking. Jesus is alive and working within our world, and He is working in whatever other worlds may be out there that need redemption. Christ sets in us an example we should follow—move! Stay on your feet. Don’t grow complacent in your faith. Many of us reach spiritual “peeks” that we never exceed because we are unwilling to move forwards. We grow content with our position, and we see progress as a threat to our security. We avoid change; we dismiss it as disruptive and divisive. We slowly but surely divorce ourselves from the problems of the world until those images on television of starving children are glanced over with passive indifference. We forget to mention the poor and hungry and forsaken in our prayers, and instead we pray for blessings only for ourselves. This sort of attitude has crept into the American society. We need a dramatic shift. We need to look at Jesus’ example of how to lead. We lead on our feet. We lead by getting out of our boat and greeting the crowds. We lead by healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, and preaching the kingdom of God. Be a leader who stays on your feet today. The Holy Spirit is proof that Jesus is still moving on this earth. The pulling of our hearts are echoes of Christ’s footprints beating against the ground, healing and praying and touching the lost. Will we obey that voice today? Will we, too, move for Him? Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Luk 9:10-11 NIV - [10] When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida, [11] but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Emperor Trajan is considered one of ancient Rome’s greatest Emperors. A man skilled at both military expeditions and civil works projects, Trajan both expanded the limits of the empire to their greatest extent and extended the glory of the city of Rome with new architectural marvels such as Trajan’s Column, Trajan’s Forum, and Trajan’s Market. Adored by the people and known for his openness and fairness, his legacy has stood for nearly 19 centuries. As a previously great military commander, Trajan was always moving. It is said that, on his arrival to Rome as Emperor, he “entered the city on foot, he embraced each of the senators and even walked among the ordinary people. This was unlike any other Roman emperor and perhaps grants us a glimpse of Trajan's true greatness. Such modesty and openness easily helped the new emperor gain yet more support during the first years of his reign” (http://www.roman-empire.net/highpoint/trajan.html). The most impressive thing to me about Trajan was his willingness to constantly stay on his feet. In his military campaigns against the Dacians, Trajan went out with his troops to share in the horrors of war. He did not sit locked in a palace, divorced from the common soldier. He went out and led them to victory.
Trajan serves as an example as to how great leaders ought to lead. Some of the greatest leaders in history have been the ones willing to share in the hardships of war or common, everyday tasks. Thankfully, we too serve a King who stays on His feet. Jesus, in spite of all His power, knowledge, and wisdom, chose to live among Jews. He was cursed, beaten, and despised by men. Yet He led His disciples by example. One of the greatest displays of His involvement with men comes in the account just before the feeding of the 5000. We see that Jesus “[takes his disciples] with him, and they [withdraw] by themselves to a town called Bethsaida.” Jesus could have withdrawn much more often than He did. He had every right to abandon us and instead worship the Father without the hassles of a sinful and hopeless human race. But the Scripture says that, when “the crowds [learn] about [his withdrawing], [they follow] him.” What is Jesus’ response? Instead of sending the crowd away, He “[welcomes] them and [speaks] to them about the kingdom of God.” He “[heals] those who [need] healing.”
Jesus, like Trajan, moves in this world. He is not some distant, refraining God who is too high and mighty to deal with the affairs of little animal/spirit hybrids. He did not merely wind the clock of the universe and leave it after it began ticking. Jesus is alive and working within our world, and He is working in whatever other worlds may be out there that need redemption. Christ sets in us an example we should follow—move! Stay on your feet. Don’t grow complacent in your faith. Many of us reach spiritual “peeks” that we never exceed because we are unwilling to move forwards. We grow content with our position, and we see progress as a threat to our security. We avoid change; we dismiss it as disruptive and divisive. We slowly but surely divorce ourselves from the problems of the world until those images on television of starving children are glanced over with passive indifference. We forget to mention the poor and hungry and forsaken in our prayers, and instead we pray for blessings only for ourselves. This sort of attitude has crept into the American society. We need a dramatic shift. We need to look at Jesus’ example of how to lead. We lead on our feet. We lead by getting out of our boat and greeting the crowds. We lead by healing the sick, feeding the multitudes, and preaching the kingdom of God. Be a leader who stays on your feet today. The Holy Spirit is proof that Jesus is still moving on this earth. The pulling of our hearts are echoes of Christ’s footprints beating against the ground, healing and praying and touching the lost. Will we obey that voice today? Will we, too, move for Him? Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
The Good Kind of Jealousy
The Good Kind of Jealousy
Exd 20:4-6 NIV - [4] "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. [5] You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, [6] but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Many people struggle with this concept of God being “jealous.” Surely, we think, if God calls us not to be jealous, He Himself cannot be jealous? But I want to talk about a different kind of jealousy: righteous jealousy. This is the sort of jealousy which we must recognize God has, and we ourselves must learn to possess it.
Almost every time you see the word “jealous” connected to God in the Old Testament, you see some sort of wrath or anger being poured out on the unrighteous. That wrath all stems back to this original usage here in Exodus 20. God sternly warns His children that “the Lord your God [is] a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate [Him].” Notice the connection of jealousy to the object in the first two sentence before this. God is commanding the Israelites to “not make for [themselves] an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” The Israelites “shall not bow down to them or worship them.” So we see a link between jealousy and idolatry. This is significant in defining righteous jealousy. When most of us think of jealousy, we are really thinking of envy—a form of jealousy, though not the context in Exodus 20:5. If we lookup the word used in Hebrew, qanna, we see it is a form of another word qinah. Quinah can refer to envy, ardor, zeal, or jealousy(http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/7068.htm). The Hebrew language had a very limited vocabulary spanning only a few thousand words(compared to a few million words in English). Thus, we must look at the context to see why God is not being envious. I think a more proper context here would be ardor or zeal. Zeal is defined as “fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.” Similarly, ardor means “great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zeal; http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ardor).
Isn’t that interesting? It appears that all the fire and brimstone God warns against the doers of unrighteousness is really rooted in something that has to do with love. This reflects the critical constant of God: God is love(1 John 4.8). God’s anger against the unrighteous is also coupled with a desire, a zeal, for us. By demonstrating His anger among the Israelites, He turned the people back to God.
The only way I can think to relate this to a human event is to consider the love of a husband to an unfaithful wife. We already see this analogy in the book of Hosea, where God symbolizes His faithfulness to an unfaithful Israel through Hosea’s marriage to the unfaithful prostitute Gomer. But let us consider now that this wife goes and commits unfaithfulness night after night with the rough men at the rough parts of the city. Does not the husband have an anger burning inside of him at the men and at his wife? There are few who would say this sort of “jealousy” is unrighteous, for we are really not talking about the English version of jealousy(envy), but of zeal. The man has a right to His wife, and she has a duty to be faithful to him. The man is just in going in rage and taking back his wife, scolding her, and then loving her. This is almost exactly the same point that God is trying to make with His righteous jealousy. God’s anger burns against the unrighteous in order to show his people who they should truly be worshipping. Does not the wife, seeing her husband’s love for her, return to her husband and repent of her ways? In the same way, God’s zeal, His passion for His people burns in both anger and passion to restore us to Him.
Stop and consider the implications of this. God is jealous of you. How you spend your time, who you spend it with, the actions you take. He is watching you, desiring for you to do right and worship Him. And when you fall, He is there to pick you up. He is there to correct you, to discipline you back into His love and faithfulness.
I pray you will recognize that love and faithfulness today. If you have not been living faithful to God or to someone or something else, you need the jealousy of God to overcome you. Allow Him to pick you up and lead you back into His straight and narrow path. It is the path of hardship, but it is also the path of love. Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Exd 20:4-6 NIV - [4] "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. [5] You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, [6] but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Many people struggle with this concept of God being “jealous.” Surely, we think, if God calls us not to be jealous, He Himself cannot be jealous? But I want to talk about a different kind of jealousy: righteous jealousy. This is the sort of jealousy which we must recognize God has, and we ourselves must learn to possess it.
Almost every time you see the word “jealous” connected to God in the Old Testament, you see some sort of wrath or anger being poured out on the unrighteous. That wrath all stems back to this original usage here in Exodus 20. God sternly warns His children that “the Lord your God [is] a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate [Him].” Notice the connection of jealousy to the object in the first two sentence before this. God is commanding the Israelites to “not make for [themselves] an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” The Israelites “shall not bow down to them or worship them.” So we see a link between jealousy and idolatry. This is significant in defining righteous jealousy. When most of us think of jealousy, we are really thinking of envy—a form of jealousy, though not the context in Exodus 20:5. If we lookup the word used in Hebrew, qanna, we see it is a form of another word qinah. Quinah can refer to envy, ardor, zeal, or jealousy(http://strongsnumbers.com/hebrew/7068.htm). The Hebrew language had a very limited vocabulary spanning only a few thousand words(compared to a few million words in English). Thus, we must look at the context to see why God is not being envious. I think a more proper context here would be ardor or zeal. Zeal is defined as “fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence; ardor.” Similarly, ardor means “great warmth of feeling; fervor; passion” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zeal; http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ardor).
Isn’t that interesting? It appears that all the fire and brimstone God warns against the doers of unrighteousness is really rooted in something that has to do with love. This reflects the critical constant of God: God is love(1 John 4.8). God’s anger against the unrighteous is also coupled with a desire, a zeal, for us. By demonstrating His anger among the Israelites, He turned the people back to God.
The only way I can think to relate this to a human event is to consider the love of a husband to an unfaithful wife. We already see this analogy in the book of Hosea, where God symbolizes His faithfulness to an unfaithful Israel through Hosea’s marriage to the unfaithful prostitute Gomer. But let us consider now that this wife goes and commits unfaithfulness night after night with the rough men at the rough parts of the city. Does not the husband have an anger burning inside of him at the men and at his wife? There are few who would say this sort of “jealousy” is unrighteous, for we are really not talking about the English version of jealousy(envy), but of zeal. The man has a right to His wife, and she has a duty to be faithful to him. The man is just in going in rage and taking back his wife, scolding her, and then loving her. This is almost exactly the same point that God is trying to make with His righteous jealousy. God’s anger burns against the unrighteous in order to show his people who they should truly be worshipping. Does not the wife, seeing her husband’s love for her, return to her husband and repent of her ways? In the same way, God’s zeal, His passion for His people burns in both anger and passion to restore us to Him.
Stop and consider the implications of this. God is jealous of you. How you spend your time, who you spend it with, the actions you take. He is watching you, desiring for you to do right and worship Him. And when you fall, He is there to pick you up. He is there to correct you, to discipline you back into His love and faithfulness.
I pray you will recognize that love and faithfulness today. If you have not been living faithful to God or to someone or something else, you need the jealousy of God to overcome you. Allow Him to pick you up and lead you back into His straight and narrow path. It is the path of hardship, but it is also the path of love. Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Sunday, April 11, 2010
What is a Witness?
What is a Witness?
Act 2:32-36 NIV - God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ' "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Luk 24:46-49 NIV - He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
What does it mean to be a witness of Christ? The word has unfortunately lost most of its original connotation. When most people think of a witness, they think of “witnessing.” It is an act; a proclamation of the Gospel to the lost. It is that terrifying and burdensome act which they feel they cannot possibly accomplish. There is, however, much more to be witnesses of Christ than a mere action. The word witness exists for a very good reason—we are witnesses of Christ’s death and resurrection. The origin of this word came from the early Christians in the New Testament. Jesus is the first to address the apostles as “witnesses” when He says that the apostles “are witnesses of [Christ’s death and resurrection].” The apostles were literally witnesses—they saw Christ die and then rise again. That was why they were so motivated to share the Good News. That is why they were willing to be beaten, stoned, crucified, and martyred for their witness. In Peter’s great address at Pentacost, he proclaims to his audience that “God has raised this Jesus to life, and [they] are all witnesses of the fact.” The Gospel to these people was not merely some religious doctrine. To Peter it was not merely some checklist stating he “witnessed” to someone. It was not a contract he fulfilled. It was real and authentic—he was proclaiming his literal witness of seeing Christ raised from the dead.
Oh, how I wish that we too would realize we have a witness. You see, beloved, we are witnesses of Christ’s resurrection as well. While we never literally saw Christ rise from the dead, we saw Him rise in our hearts. We see Him transforming us and those around us day after day. We see Him miraculously healing the sick, turning the drunken man into a saint, the abusive husband into a loving man, the brawler into a healer, the adultress into a faithful wife, the crippled into a dancer. We see the transforming and living power of the Gospel. It lives in us and all around us. Jesus is alive! We are witnesses to these things. We must proclaim these things!
There are many Christians who believe they are not “witnesses.” They are not too terribly good at speaking with others, let alone tell them the Gospel. We must remember, however, that the Gospel can be spread in more ways than one. My own deficiency in conversation is made up for with writing. The shy young girl’s witness is in her voice. The recluse artist spreads the Gospel through his art. The psychiatrist proclaims it through his therapy. There are so many ways in which we are witnesses to the glory of God. Just because you aren’t skilled verbally, don’t believe the lie that you have no message to spread. God can use you to spread the Good News. Will you be a witness for Him today? Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Act 2:32-36 NIV - God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ' "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Luk 24:46-49 NIV - He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
What does it mean to be a witness of Christ? The word has unfortunately lost most of its original connotation. When most people think of a witness, they think of “witnessing.” It is an act; a proclamation of the Gospel to the lost. It is that terrifying and burdensome act which they feel they cannot possibly accomplish. There is, however, much more to be witnesses of Christ than a mere action. The word witness exists for a very good reason—we are witnesses of Christ’s death and resurrection. The origin of this word came from the early Christians in the New Testament. Jesus is the first to address the apostles as “witnesses” when He says that the apostles “are witnesses of [Christ’s death and resurrection].” The apostles were literally witnesses—they saw Christ die and then rise again. That was why they were so motivated to share the Good News. That is why they were willing to be beaten, stoned, crucified, and martyred for their witness. In Peter’s great address at Pentacost, he proclaims to his audience that “God has raised this Jesus to life, and [they] are all witnesses of the fact.” The Gospel to these people was not merely some religious doctrine. To Peter it was not merely some checklist stating he “witnessed” to someone. It was not a contract he fulfilled. It was real and authentic—he was proclaiming his literal witness of seeing Christ raised from the dead.
Oh, how I wish that we too would realize we have a witness. You see, beloved, we are witnesses of Christ’s resurrection as well. While we never literally saw Christ rise from the dead, we saw Him rise in our hearts. We see Him transforming us and those around us day after day. We see Him miraculously healing the sick, turning the drunken man into a saint, the abusive husband into a loving man, the brawler into a healer, the adultress into a faithful wife, the crippled into a dancer. We see the transforming and living power of the Gospel. It lives in us and all around us. Jesus is alive! We are witnesses to these things. We must proclaim these things!
There are many Christians who believe they are not “witnesses.” They are not too terribly good at speaking with others, let alone tell them the Gospel. We must remember, however, that the Gospel can be spread in more ways than one. My own deficiency in conversation is made up for with writing. The shy young girl’s witness is in her voice. The recluse artist spreads the Gospel through his art. The psychiatrist proclaims it through his therapy. There are so many ways in which we are witnesses to the glory of God. Just because you aren’t skilled verbally, don’t believe the lie that you have no message to spread. God can use you to spread the Good News. Will you be a witness for Him today? Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Eyes Have It
The Eyes Have It
Mat 28:1-8 NIV - After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
One of the great strengths of the validity and soundness of the Gospel accounts comes from its overwhelming presence of first-hand eyewitness testimony. Matthew records that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw Jesus’ empty tomb, and He appeared to them afterwards. Furthermore, Paul records that Christ “appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15.6). Jesus also appears to the disciples (Matthew 28.17, Mark 16.14, Luke 24.14). There is a tremendous amount of evidence that Jesus did, in fact, rise from the dead.
Still, some refuse to believe. Why? There are, as I see it, two reasons. The first is that some people’s faith is either absent or placed elsewhere. It is often said that people do not believe in Christ merely because they do not wish to admit and repent of their sins. While this is the case for many people, I believe there are genuine people who simply have not learned to put their faith in God. These are usually academics—lovers of knowledge who need to learn that there is more to life than can be found in books and nature. Then there are those who do not believe because they are afraid of the Gospel. They don’t want to think about the consequences of Christ’s Resurrection because it calls them to action. So they hide in their allegations of “myths, fantasies, and delusions” of Christians. They are often abrasive to Christianity, proclaiming the Church is full of hypocrites so that they can feel justified in having nothing to do with God’s Church.
Either form ought to lead us to a great concern for the lost. You see, the Easter message is not merely about rejoicing in Christ’s resurrection—it is also a call for us to proclaim the Great Commission. What great love God poured out on us! We are incredibly blessed and rightly celebrate the Resurrection, but there is still a world that does not accept it. There is still a world that needs to see with their own eyes the Resurrection. Like the witnesses of Jesus believed in Christ’s resurrection, the lost need to see Him rise from the dead. Beloved, they see Jesus through us. Our celebrations of Easter, our love for one another, our gifts to the poor and helpless—these are all manifestations of Christ’s life in us. Indeed, they have evidence that Christ arose because He lives now in us. That is the power of our testimony. We too are witnesses of Christ’s death. Like the two Marys, we must run and proclaim the Good News. Won’t we do it today? Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Mat 28:1-8 NIV - After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
One of the great strengths of the validity and soundness of the Gospel accounts comes from its overwhelming presence of first-hand eyewitness testimony. Matthew records that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw Jesus’ empty tomb, and He appeared to them afterwards. Furthermore, Paul records that Christ “appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15.6). Jesus also appears to the disciples (Matthew 28.17, Mark 16.14, Luke 24.14). There is a tremendous amount of evidence that Jesus did, in fact, rise from the dead.
Still, some refuse to believe. Why? There are, as I see it, two reasons. The first is that some people’s faith is either absent or placed elsewhere. It is often said that people do not believe in Christ merely because they do not wish to admit and repent of their sins. While this is the case for many people, I believe there are genuine people who simply have not learned to put their faith in God. These are usually academics—lovers of knowledge who need to learn that there is more to life than can be found in books and nature. Then there are those who do not believe because they are afraid of the Gospel. They don’t want to think about the consequences of Christ’s Resurrection because it calls them to action. So they hide in their allegations of “myths, fantasies, and delusions” of Christians. They are often abrasive to Christianity, proclaiming the Church is full of hypocrites so that they can feel justified in having nothing to do with God’s Church.
Either form ought to lead us to a great concern for the lost. You see, the Easter message is not merely about rejoicing in Christ’s resurrection—it is also a call for us to proclaim the Great Commission. What great love God poured out on us! We are incredibly blessed and rightly celebrate the Resurrection, but there is still a world that does not accept it. There is still a world that needs to see with their own eyes the Resurrection. Like the witnesses of Jesus believed in Christ’s resurrection, the lost need to see Him rise from the dead. Beloved, they see Jesus through us. Our celebrations of Easter, our love for one another, our gifts to the poor and helpless—these are all manifestations of Christ’s life in us. Indeed, they have evidence that Christ arose because He lives now in us. That is the power of our testimony. We too are witnesses of Christ’s death. Like the two Marys, we must run and proclaim the Good News. Won’t we do it today? Amen.
With love in Christ,
Austin Aldrich
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)