In the book, Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You're Irrelevant and Extreme, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons document that 84% of Americans believe that "enjoying yourself is life's highest goal." In addition, 86% believe that to enjoy we must "look for the things we want most". And 91% affirm this statement: "To find yourself, look within yourself." As many theologians have pointed out, in this generation the religion that is growing faster around the world is “the cult of the self.” On the contrary, biblical Christianity is not just a feel-good self-help religion but as the Westminster Catechism (1648) declares:
- “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”
- “The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.”
Therefore, in this Lent-Easter Season join us in:
- Meditating and contemplating what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the Cross,
- Join us in praying Psalm 139: 23-24: "Examine (search) me, O God, and know my heart; try (test) me and know my thoughts. See if there is any evil way in me and guide (lead) me on the eternal way."
- Point to others to the hope of the Resurrection for all those who turn in repentance of their evil ways and conversion to God
Coming itineration: Season to pause, assess, evaluate, and reset
Another term of four years of service in Argentina is about to finish. This coming June we are going back to the States for itineration (home assignment, which is not vacation). Instead of a ministry assignment on the field, we do ministry in our home country for a while. A time to pause, assess, evaluate and reset is in the horizon.
In times such as this it is always important to consider, not just the activities and fruit in ministry but other aspects of the spiritual formation as followers of Christ.
Consequently, there are questions that Virginia and I are starting to ask ourselves in this time of transition such as the following:
Are we …
- Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
- Growing in love for God and neighbor?
- Growing in character in Christ?
- Growing in faith and hope based on His promises?
- Growing in assurance of God’s call in our lives?
- Growing in clarity in God’s vision for our lives?
- Growing in our passion for the Great Commission?
- Growing our gifts for a better service in His Kingdom?
Join us as in taking time to pause, assess, evaluate, and reset.
May God sanctify us all.
