Questions on Technology

Today where I attend Seminary we had a panel on technology and the Christian. For once the panel actually was composed of some whose area is in Bible and others whose area is technology (this is an improvement over my undergrad years when they had biology and rhetoric professors doing such panels). This panel returned a question to my mind that I have had before and not found a completely adequate answer. The question is what place does technology have in the body of the church, specifically in the local evidence of the universal church being the local church? As an extension to that question are the questions, what place does technology have in the edification and instruction of the saints? Also, how does technology engender the communal aspects of Christian fellowship?

I have not come up with a patent answer or heard one that satisfies biblical principles. Then today because of the panel my mind added the question of then based upon the answer of the above question(s) what is the appropriate use of technology in the life of the Christian in relation to the church and the proclamation of the gospel? Such as, using technology for witnessing, for studying, even in worship, or maybe even just should Christians being using electronic devices in church?

This topic is one that it may be worth for some trusted expositors to start writing  in an expositional/applicational basis.

What are you singing?

In an age of controversy about what Worship including music styles are acceptable in the church I have a simple question. What are you singing? Those on the conservative side many will say well it has to follow a certain pattern or be from a certain era. Those on the liberal side proclaim liberty, liberty, we sing whatever we want especially to bring in the crowds. Neither of those positions on the surface hold much water to me. I must preface that when it comes to music and generally my faith I am in the conservative camp, but before we have a shouting match, condemn something as heresy or start a religious war over worship it may be instructive to look at the history of song and worship in the church. I am doing such a thing in graduate school taking church music of which one of my courses is Hymnology. I would encourage anyone who is considering the issue of music in the church to do a study on the history of song throughout the church. It may surprise you on what you find.

Colossians 1:1-3

    So you may wonder why the title of the this post  is  the first three verses of the New Testament Epistle to the Colossians written by the Apostle Paul. The answer is twofold, first where I am attending graduate school our theme for the school year is "New Creature Living" taken from Colossians in the third chapter. Secondly, our chapel speaker yesterday Dr. Jim Berg spoke about meditation and scripture memory. Dr. Berg, spoke on using the MAP method of meditation and scripture memory (to find out more see his website or contact him through Bob Jones University). Out of this message I was challenged that my scripture memory is severely lacking and I have decided to memorize the book of Colossians. So to begin I am working on the first three verses.
     Colossians 1:1-3
       1 "Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy our brother"
       2 "To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:"
       3 "Grace to you and peace from God our Father."

    So you may be wondering what is basically the salutation line of an ancient letter of teaching (an epistle) have that is profitable? Doesn't Paul tell us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all scripture is profitable but how can an introduction be profitable? Well today for me verse one was especially close to my heart. Today is much like last Friday in that I had a bad attitude about going to school and was annoyed at myself for not getting enough done and that I always feel like I have to much to do. I was feeling really glum for myself then I went to my first class which we call Friday Preacher Boy's. Today Dr. Bob Jones III spoke to us from Ezekiel and one small thing (not even his main point) that Dr. Bob said struck at me, that if Ezekiel had not been sure of his calling that he would not have ministered to Israel as he did. We are in a day much like Ezekiel with a nation that is sinful and stubborn, who do not want to hear the Word of God. This point of assured calling and my poor attitude made me cry out to God in silent prayer asking for confirmation of my calling. Then I remembered the words of Colossians 1:1 "Paul and apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God..."

   Yes I may be feeling sorry for myself and have a bad attitude and I should not, because as overwhelming and oppressive feeling the responsibilities now are, I have assurance that I am not called to the task now or future tasks by my own will but by the will of God. I can remember the day in which I was called by God to be a proclaimer of His word (no I did not have a vision), I can remember the evening of brokenness at camp where I   re-submitted myself to God's call, and I recall the multiple times God has reaffirmed His call through times of ministry and the joy brought by being in the will of God. Now I take comfort in a sure call by God knowing that it is His Will that I am here today studying, and He is with me as He promised and I can say with Paul "I can do all things through Christ Jesus".

May Jesus Christ be Praised


[Scripture from the  ESV]

Feeling Like Jonah

Have you ever felt like Jonah? You know what God wants you to do but you don't feel like doing it, it feels inconvenient and hard and all you want to do is stay in bed and at ease. However, having the experience of Jonah given to us in Scripture we know the consequences for not doing what you know God wants us to do and we grudgingly get out of bed to face God's will. Yet in our hearts we are still rebelling though outwardly complaint, at the same time we we are missing out on the joy of doing the will of our Creator, Redeemer, and King. This is exactly where I was this morning not wanting to move out of the comfort of bed to face the will of God by going to school. I could make all sorts of excuses and within my mind and heart I did, even to the point of I don't feel well. Then I arrived in at school and my first class where God in his divine omniscient used that very class to strike my heart and convict me of my horrible attitude. Yes school my be challenging and at time down right insanely hard but I can still and should have joy even in the difficulty.  So when we start to feel like Jonah remember the lesson of Jonah, that true joy only comes in willingly obeying the will of God.