Musings.

Two things.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:45:31 -0800

I am leaving Vox. I have been convinced that WordPress does a better looking blog, and I like it's features. One thing I'll miss is the Vox neighborhood updates. I've replaced that with GoogleReader. So if you still want to know whats up with me, throw me on to your GoogleReader page and stay updated with me and all your other friends not on Vox.

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Dry Period

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:26:37 -0800

I have a very bad habit of being very hot and cold when it comes to spending time with Jesus. I go on hot streaks and cold streaks. The cold streaks last longer and have more frequency than the hot ones do. Coming off of the cold streaks is kind of a chore and generally isn’t too fun. I’m currently trying to end one of these cold streaks.

This morning’s Jesus time or whatever you want to call it was kind of discouraging. I read the second half of Romans 1, and it was just dry and bland to me. I got nothing from it. Times like that really discourage me as far as trying to be consistent with diving into the Word, but I know I need to keep truckin’ on. I know there is a verse somewhere that basically says that the Word of God always accomplishes its purpose. If you know what verse that is leave it in a comment because I’d like to know it.

I think one of the reasons that I have cold streaks for a long time is that in my mind it is easy to get doing things for Jesus and loving Jesus mixed up. Like if I am doing things for Him then I must also be loving Him too. I’m going to make more of an effort to wake up early and get into the Word daily. It needs to happen. It just sucks that I am one of the most undisciplined people ever. So if you feel like praying that I’ll be able to do so regularly that would be great.

Now, I’m going to go to bed. I’ve got class in the morning.

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Seperatism.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:56:52 -0800

I'm as big a fan as fellowship as the next guy, but I mean I think sometimes we Christians take it too far. I know go ahead and get ready to stone me, but I'm serious. We as Christians, for the most part, have completely secluded ourselves from the world. We have different music, different hang outs, a different culture. We have no longer taken on the job of redeeming the culture we are in, but condemning it and starting our own.

The problem with this is chances are if you are always with your Christian friends, you are never with your friends who don't know Jesus, if you even have them. That's not good. We are supposed to love and serve our neighbors so that they could come to know Him. Yet we only love and serve our own, who already know Him. Now, I'm not against fellowship at all, I just think it has been taken to such an extreme an opposing view needs to be shown. Fellowship should be a time to be encouraged and get recharged to take the gospel to those who are enslaved by sin. We are not doing that.

This hits me every time I go into the Russell House (USC's Student Union place). Walking through the cafeteria seating area its easy to know where all the Christians are. They are in the Christian Cubby. We have a place known as the Christian Cubby/Corner. If you want to see people from Young Life, FCA, CRU, Midtown, Shandon, etc. Go there and hit it up. They'll be there. We don't even eat lunch in the same area as non believers, much less with them. Come on. Be friends with some people who don't know Jesus. Show Him to them.

Get out of the bubble.

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Joshualongbrake.com

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:45:25 -0800

Guys, if you are a fan of everything that is good in the world, go check out www.joshualongbrake.com. His pictures are off the chain. Buy a print if you can afford it.

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The Dirt and the Flood are Teases.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:52:04 -0800

The Dirt and the Flood are killing me.

Picture 2

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Does Christianity advocate Socialism?

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:54:26 -0800

A lot of people view the life that Jesus lived and Socialism as very similar. They feel that both Jesus and Socialism want a redistribution of wealth to benefit the poor. Socialism kind of takes the role of Robin Hood in taking from the rich and giving it to the poor. That sounds awesome in story books, but I know that even if I wanted to help people I would still get pissed if someone just took my stuff and gave it away, leaving me and my desire out of the equation.

I think the main difference, and a very important one, between what Jesus is trying to usher in and the goal of socialism is that while socialism forces the redistribution of wealth, Jesus does not. Jesus wants our heart to change so that we realize that what we "own" is not our own. It is His and he has given us temporary possession of it. We have no claim over it. Therefore we should give freely. We should desire to love and help the poor. To proclaim to them the gospel by living it and helping them meet the needs they have by using the abundance of things that Jesus has given into our hands. Love is the motivating factor behind the life of Jesus and how He calls his followers to live.

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The Son of Rambow.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:50:50 -0800

Man I really want to see this.

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My Plea.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 21:11:36 -0800

One of my pet peeves with the American church is how the consumer mindset has infiltrated it. Church is a place where attendance is won by who can best serve the individual Christian. Who has the best music, best teacher, best small groups. Did it ever cross anyones mind to just stick it out at a church before? I mean if you just go every week, sit there, leave and thats it, I mean why should you have a right to complain about anything?

What needs to happen is the consumer mentality needs to die. Yes, Church is a blessing. No, it isn't just for you. If you have a problem with something, help make it right. Don't jump ship. Get involved. Tithe. Be a member. Stop just attending whatever church you want to that week. Get a home. Join in a family. That is when Church is such a blessing. When it stops happening alone. When people care about you, pour into you, fight with you, and when you do all that for other people too.

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The trickle down effect.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:09:04 -0800

I was reading a book by Mark Driscoll today and he said something that kind of makes sense to me. He said that age specific ministry (ie. College ministry) was lame. He basically thinks that its a way for a bunch of people the same age to act immature and never grow up. That sounds harsh, but he goes on to explain what he thinks would do better, and I agree. Adults/Married couples should pour into college students. They should show them things like how to balance life and a job, how to work on a marriage and things that college students will need to know when they graduate instead of it just being like jumping into a pool of icy water. It will help them wade into it a little bit.

College students on the other hand need to hang out with high school students and show them how to balance school and life, basically help them along the path. Its genius because the college students will grow more mature in their faith, help high school students become more mature in theirs, all while still being poured into by friends/mentors. One college leader would normally have bunches of kids. This way the ratio is way closer to 1 to 1. Good old fashioned discipleship. It's biblical. Age ministry is not. Not that age ministry is the devil or anything. I just like this set up better.

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The Goal.

nobody@vox.com(seanabrereton) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:41:13 -0800

David Bosch has a quote in his book Transforming Mission that says, “Even so, personal conversion is not a goal in itself. To interpret the work for the church as the ‘winning of souls’ is to make conversion into a final product, which flatly contradicts Luke’s understanding of the purpose of mission. Conversion does not pertain merely to an individual’s act of conviction and commitment; it moves the individual believer into the community of believers and involves a real — even a radical — change in the life of the believer, which carries with it moral responsibilities that distinguish Christians from ‘outsiders’ while at the same time stressing their obligation to those ‘outsiders’.”

I think that this has a real application to every church and those who make it run. Conversion isn’t just accepting Jesus. It is that, but it is more. There are things required in accepting Him. Bosch stated it like this, “it moves the individual believer (from the world) into the community of believers and involves a real - even a radical - change in the life of the believer.” I think that this is very important. There are so many Christians that I know who are not in a community of believers. Yes, they go to a church or a ministry outreach thing, but all they have are friends. They are lacking in intentionality that pushes the person into the real (radical) change in their life.

Churches must be able to help fill this role. The church going after just “seekers” and not trying to build up the body will be a church full of baby Christians, who never grow into who God wants them to be, leaving a minimal impact on the community around them. I firmly believe that community pushes people to work for the Kingdom. Lives change. Cities change. The world can change. We just need to have the backing of believers who believe in Jesus so much that they believe He can use people like you and me to change the world that we live in for His glory.

So please, find biblical community. It isn’t easy. It isn’t always fun. But it is real. It’s authentic. It’s biblical. It is the catalyst that brings about change in us and the community around us. It’s a fight. No one likes to call people out or be called out but it is necessary.

It is worth it.

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