He Knows & Sees

"I know your works..." - Revelation 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15

In writing to the seven churches there in Asia minor (modern day Turkey), Jesus begins each letter to them by giving a characteristic of Himself that would specifically speak to the church He was addressing and then telling them, "I know your works" and going on to describe just what those works were.

Those four words should make us stop and ponder: Jesus knows and sees all that you do and more specifically, He knows and sees all the work and labor that you do for Him (or perhaps for yourself).

If you are simply playing the game, fooling everyone into thinking you are super-spiritual but in reality you aren't, Jesus knows. If you are doing works to build a kingdom for yourself, that you may get recognized and for people to know your name, Jesus knows. If your works involve pornography and other filth (which shockingly statistics show that 50% of Christian men are addicted to the stuff), Jesus knows.

Even more importantly (and encouraging) for others: all the works you do for Jesus, He knows. Sadly, within the American church, it seems Christians strive to do all sorts of things to promote themselves. Or they put on pedestals only those who are in the spotlight due to huge numbers or celebrity. However, Jesus sees when you pick up that small piece of trash off the church floor that everyone else ignored. He sees when you are sharing your faith with someone else even though you'll never be asked to get in front of an audience and tell how you shared your faith. He knows when you are faithfully teaching and serving in the children's ministry even though you're not boasting about yourself doing it on Twitter or Facebook! He knows!

He knows about Antipas (Revelation 2:13) even though none of us have a clue what this guy did (besides be a martyr). Jesus doesn't care if the world knows your name or not because we don't serve Him for our name - we serve Him for His name.

So if you are simply doing things for your name's sake, He knows. But if you are ministering unto Him and no one in the world or church knows or cares, He knows and He cares!

Be encouraged by this! For further study compare with: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, 2 Corinthians 5:9-11

Theology Test

"...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies." - 1 Corinthians 8:1

If you were to be asked, how is your theology what would be your response? If then asked, how well does your theology serve you, what would you answer? I'm going to assume if you are reading this you might be wanting to prove, through some sort of test, that the answer to #1 is sound and solid and therefore I commend you. I won't argue that you don't have an immense knowledge of the Word of God.

However, this test is to see how well you fare for question #2 and hopefully this "test" shouldn't take you too long to do (especially since this blog was advertised to be a short test). Without much hesitation, onward to our test.

#1: Do you consistantly find yourself debating with fellow believers your theological viewpoints and/or feel as if you have to defend your theological viewpoints on a regular basis? How is that going for you? Is everyone involved with those discussions (perhaps, even debates or dare I say arguments?) being unified or is there a spirit of animosity and division?

If, upon talking theology, there is division that takes place, it seems your theology is not serving you very well.

#2: Do you feel offended when someone disagrees with your theological viewpoint (not in an unorthodox sort of way or anti-biblical, but simply non-essentials to the faith there is disagreement)? Does your pride kick in when discussing your theological views?

If you answered yes to either or both of those questions in #2, again, your theology is not serving you very well.

#3: Do you feel comfortable around other believers who hold different viewpoints than yours, even majorly different viewpoints? Can you actively fellowship with them? Do you have other friends who have different viewpoints?

If you answered no to any or all of those questions, once again your theology is not serving you very well.

If through this quick test you find that your theology is not serving you well, what should you do? Should you change your theology? Am I saying your theology is incorrect? Should "we all just get along" and forget about biblical truths? Not in the slightest. Rather change your point of view.

"Knowledge puffs up" we read from the apostle Paul. So many have knowledge and yet their knowledge makes them prideful. They feel somehow superior to another fellow Christian because of their educational background or vast array of knowledge. It doesn't mean we don't look to gain knowledge, but rather understand that simply gaining knowledge can lead to pride.

Instead, "love builds up" and therefore what we do should be in love and service. We don't use our knowledge to convict people or try to show them the "error of their ways" (as we may think since they don't hold to our certain theological point of view), but rather we want to edify them and build them up. That's one thing love does...it edifies.

If you are finding theological talks to be divisive (and again we are talking theology talks among believers, not those who are in a cult or what not), then you are simply allowing your "knowledge" to puff you up. Perhaps you could be wrong...do those words make your blood boil? If so, you are holding your theological views too personal. Honestly, who cares if someone thinks you are wrong or disagrees with you, should that really cause a lack of unity?

If you find your pride kicking in when talking theology, your "knowledge" has puffed you up. Instead, look to change the discussion into something that will build the other person up and edify them. The sovereignty of God vs. the free will of man debate shouldn't result in a thing of pride. Either way, the Lord loves you and that should bring humility not pride (and side note: no one has ever satisfied that debate and YOU won't be the one to do so. And besides that, it's both and both are taught in Scripture!).

If you find you can only relate to and actively fellowship with those who hold the same viewpoints as you do (in other words, being around Pentacostals or reformed Baptists or non-denom people or whoever makes you feel uncomfortable), you are missing out on the beauty of the body of Christ.

The key in discussing theology is to learn to agree to disagree yet without holding a superiority complex or looking down on the person(s). Your knowledge and intellect aren't going to change the world, but your love and sharing of the gospel will (and that still is only through the power provided by the Holy Spirit so you still can't get the glory).

If your theology isn't serving you well, don't necessarily change it but change the way you hold onto it. If it isn't changing you to change the world, there is indeed a change that needs to be made!

Called to Serve...Nothing More, Nothing Less

Author's Note: Yes I know it has been too long since my last post...busyness and laziness plus lack of inspiration have attributed to this fact (case in point - I've been interrupted 2 times just trying to get this part typed). I appreciate all you who read this and desire never to simply blog for the sake of blogging but write those things that will hold value. I would hate for the few minutes it takes to read this to have been wasted. This blog was spurred out of a teaching our pastor did on this very verse. I hope you are blessed. And again, I enjoy the feedback...

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." - 1 Corinthians 4:1

The word "servants" there comes not from the typical Greek word of "doulos" (which simply means "slave" or "servant") but rather "hyperetes" which literally means "underrower". An underrower was one of the men in the bottom of the ship who had to row to a beat of a drum (for illustration purposes click here) and were often chained to the oar. If the ship went down, they went down with the ship. The underrower never received any attention - as one watched a ship move past it would be doubtful that you would ever hear "wow, aren't those rowers amazing. Look at how they get that boat to move in the sea. How I wish I could be an underrower some day." No, those conversations just didn't take place because an underrower was a servant that did all the work but didn't get any of the glory.

So too are we! We are called to be underrowers - those who serve Christ because He is our Savior & Master whose whole desire is to give Him all the glory.

It is easy for people to say they are servants for Christ and yet a whole other thing to really mean it, especially if there isn't glory or attention being passed down that way. Would you really be doing what you are doing right now for Christ if you never received acclamation for the job you are doing? Are you really okay if you never receive a title or position with ministry? A "no" to any of these questions means you have failed to understand your position in Christ as a servant, but thankfully God is gracious and will change your heart as you pray through this.

Anytime a person states, "that's not my ministry" my mind wanders if they understand we are mere servants of Christ. Granted, not every person can fill every need or try to fill every need or is even called to every need. But one must look at their own heart to see if they are not doing something because it doesn't carry any title, position, or acclamation from the onlookers. As a college pastor I don't necessarily have the time to teach the children's ministry full time, but if I was asked to switch would I be willing to? Or would I think children's ministry is somehow less important than the ministry I'm doing (which by the way, if you are in a church that thinks children's ministry is somehow less important than any other ministry, you may not want to have your kids attend it)?

My job is not to have my name known here on earth or establish some sort of kingdom for me. My job is to have Jesus' name known here on earth...it has nothing to do with me! The same is true with you so say that with me, "it has nothing to do with me!"

When we understand we are merely underrowers for Christ, we will take more pleasure in simply serving. Oh, if seminaries and other institutions would simply teach that degrees and education is simply for education - not for making our names great - how much more good could we do!

Next time you start worrying about yourself when it comes to serving, focus on the One who you should be serving!