Think about how often we communicate with our close friends on campus either in person or through technology. Imagine seeing a friend several times in one day and yet not communicating with them. How would your friend feel if you never talked to them or even acknowledged their presence throughout the day? Yet how often do we go an entire day without acknowledging God’s presence (except to thank Him briefly for our meals) or fellowshipping with Him in prayer? “If we communicated with our friends as infrequently as some of us communicate with the Lord, those friends might soon disappear.” (John MacArthur, Alone with God)
How do you practically “pray without ceasing?” This does involve setting aside specific time to pray. However, let’s think about being in the attitude or spirit of prayer at all times. As John MacArthur puts it, “I think of praying at all times as living in continual God consciousness, where everything we see and experience becomes a kind of prayer, lived in deep awareness of and surrender to our Heavenly Father" (Ibid.). How do we live in this kind of continual fellowship? Foremost, we must have a right view of God. When we see God as our Creator, Heavenly Father, and Best Friend, we desire the close communion that is possible only through prayer. Let’s consider 3 aspects of praying at all times. 1) Praying at all times is a command. The New Testament contains over 30 commands to pray and many examples of Christ praying. One of our biggest motivations to prayer should be the fact that God commands us to pray. As you may have learned from a catechism, our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Enjoying God can only happen when we fellowship with Him! So prayerlessness is denying our chief end as a believer. Prayerlessness is, in fact, sin. 2) Praying at all times is an expression of our dependence on God. When we pray, we are living in awareness of our omnipresent God. Praying at all times includes asking, interceding, thanking, pleading for help in temptation and much more! These are all expressions of reliance on our Heavenly Father. How can we put on the armor of God expecting victory and not depend on God through prayer? Look at how often the Gospels show Christ praying. If Christ—the very Son of God—prayed as often and as fervently as He did, how much more do we need to be devoted to prayer? 3) Praying at all times is linked with thankfulness. Colossians 4:2 says, "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving" (also Phil 4:6, 1 Thess 5:16-18). How often do we thank God for the little blessings of the day? I can remember multiple occasions when driving that I voiced my thanks to God for a close parking spot when it was raining or an escape from a near-accident. And how often do we thank God for the challenges of the day? I love how one author puts it, “I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine or I can worship! And I can't worship without giving thanks" (Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Grattitude). Here are some practical suggestions for praying at all times that I’ve tried to incorporate in my own life:
Overall, ponder how you can cultivate an intimate relationship with the Lord, so that communicating with Him becomes instinctive. In response to our Ministry Leaders' Training Survey, we promised to announce a winner of the book by Jeremy Pierre, The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life. We drew a name based on a randomly-generated number from the number of survey responses, and the winner is... someone who will be announced at our next Ministry Leaders' Discipleship Training seminar.
The next seminar is scheduled for Monday, October 9th, at 7:00 PM in Stratton Hall. Dr. Pettit will be speaking to us. Be there! UPDATE: As announced at our Discipleship Seminar, the winner for this year is ZACH KIRCHNER. Zach is one of our Assistant Group Leaders and is a Business Administration major from Scottdale, PA. Congratulations Zach! By Eric Newton
In the previous posts we have considered the importance of developing virtuous habits and the role of faithful examples in doing so. This post considers another component, a word that many of us dreaded as kids when our mom connected it with the word piano—practice. Another aspect of developing virtuous habits is God-dependent practice. Habit is not a word that leaps off the page to fill our souls with splendor. It sounds mundane, perhaps even lethargic or inauthentic. But the problem isn’t the idea of habits. All of us tend to do certain things. We all have routines, even if they amount to a typically chaotic life! The problem is what we love and what habits we develop. That’s why it’s so important to establish patterns of beliefs, values, and commitments that lead to life. The world recognizes this. Motivated by philanthropy or perhaps the almighty dollar, a lot of contemporary advertising attempts to shape our outlook and influence our choices about diet and exercise. Business leaders read and write books about the habits it takes to be effective. College football coaches implement a system of recruiting, conditioning, practice, and strategy that will hopefully lead to bowl success. In other words, it’s no secret. Habits are crucial. In order to bring God glory as His children, we not only need to find faithful examples to learn from but also to establish faithful practices. Simply attending a church service isn’t virtuous. Simply opening a Bible, reading a few verses, and checking a box is not sanctification. Doing a service project doesn’t make us righteous. But joyfully submitting to God’s instructions about the primacy of the local church . . . taking God at His Word that success comes by meditating on Scripture day and night . . . building into our weekly schedule opportunities to serve others so that they see God’s light and give Him glory. These are the kinds of rhythms that God uses to form Christ in us. It’s not about meriting His favor or proving our superiority. It’s about intentionality that has His kingdom and righteousness squarely in view (Matt. 6:33). It’s about “giving all diligence [to] add to your faith virtue” (2 Pet. 1:5). So, our quest this year is to cultivate good patterns of thinking and believing and choosing. May God help us. By Eric Newton
The previous post considered what a Christian college education is all about. It is a whole-person education aimed to glorify God and help people flourish by developing character, the imprint of virtuous habits. This leads us to another question. How do we establish these patterns? Or, how do we translate goals into lifelong pursuits? Here is the answer we’ll unpack over the next two posts: Virtuous habits develop through God-glorifying imitation and God-dependent practice. All of us need inspiration more than occasionally, because success is more than knowledge. We often make strides due in large part to the example of others. For instance, Paul commends Timothy in 2 Timothy 3 not only for believing apostolic doctrine but also for adopting the apostolic pattern of discipleship. Timothy learned how to live from Paul. This emphasis on imitation can seem contradictory to being Christ-centered. In fact, the pendulum of imitation tends to swing out of balance. Many times in history, both Christian and otherwise, leaders set themselves up as paragons of virtue and dictate that their followers copy their every move. Such a proud, man-centered environment is very unhealthy and often ends in catastrophe. As Proverbs 16:18 says, “. . . an haughty spirit [goes] before a fall.” God never desires one mere human to be the center of anyone else’s universe. But there is an opposite error, an overreaction to this real and present danger. The other ditch is to dismiss imitation as an illegitimate category. Sometimes with good intention we attempt to step out of the picture, not wanting the scrutiny or pressure of being exemplary. The problem is that God made His image-bearers to affect others by our example. It’s a part of created human nature. To be relational is to have influence. Without blushing Paul wrote these God-breathed words, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Therefore, we cannot simply take a pass when it comes to God-glorifying imitation. The truth has to be embodied. As Jeremy Pierre says in The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life, “Imitation is an effective means of spiritual formation as people model themselves after others who embody a full-hearted faith. . . . The gospel message for Paul was not merely knowledge content to be transferred, but also a life to be lived in light of that knowledge. People learn what that life looks like by seeing it” (148). We don’t seek to bring glory to the faithful examples we’re following. We follow their footsteps because their gaze is firmly fixed on Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). So, our quest this year involves finding faithful examples we can learn from and humbly attempting to set the right example for those whom we will influence. by Eric Newton
A Christian liberal arts college education is virtue education. It seeks to develop the whole person, not merely as laborers but as truly human beings who bear God’s image and help others flourish. But this raises a question? How does one develop character? Can it be mastered in one three-credit course or even a full 128 credit hours? Answering that question well requires clarity about character itself. Character isn’t a commodity that can be purchased or transferred. It is a result. Character is the imprint of virtuous habits. Our patterns in life engrave qualities that exemplify who we are. Character is life’s trademark inscribed by habits over time. What kind of habits? The kind that reflect Jesus Christ, our Savior and the only perfect Human. God’s master project is to conform redeemed sinners into the image of His Son, “that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). Peter puts it this way, “And beside this [or because of God’s gracious provision], giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). These are core virtues because they resemble the Lord Jesus Christ. And unsurprisingly, these characteristics—moral excellence, true knowledge, self-control, perseverance, God-centered devotion, empathy, sacrificial love—are what families and churches and communities and employers need. NYT columnist David Brooks calls them “eulogy virtues,” the kinds of qualities that at the end of the day and the end of a life really matter. Our world needs people whose lives have been stamped so clearly by the gospel of Jesus Christ that they live in a distinctly virtuous way that helps others flourish. So, our quest this year is to place all of our time and energy and obligations and opportunities at God’s disposal so that by His grace we might develop virtuous habits.
By Pearson Johnson
Brought to you by: ife Video Links via Huzzaz
"I can put it down any time I want to." "It doesn't isolate me from people--it helps me connect!" "My phone is my life!" These and many other comments are overheard here on campus. This summer, Dr. Newton challenged the Student Life and Student Care staff to read a book about technology and its effects. I read 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, by Tony Reinke (Crossway, 2017), promoted by the above video.
He begins: "That blasted smartphone! Pesk of productivity. Tenfold plague of beeps and buzzing. Soulless gadget with unquenchable power hunger . . . dictator, distractor, foe!" but then says "untiring personal assistant, my irreplaceable travel companion, and my lightning-fast connection to friends and family... This blessed smartphone!" I think we all feel this tension. I know I do. My smartphone has gone from being a nicety to being a necessity because of how I use it for work, for ministry, and for staying in touch with family and friends. Let's face it-- smartphones are a part of our lives and we need to deal with that fact. How can we do so with biblical wisdom? Tony is far from anti-tech. His job is to use tech, creating content for Desiring God. He is a journalist and writer as well, so he is tech-fluent. His book is balanced and was very helpful. I wanted to recommend it. The Student Life team will also be posting some pointers based on what we learned from our summer reading in posts to come. Stay Tuned! by Eric Newton
You don’t need a green thumb to understand that plants grow under certain conditions. (I can personally testify that learning about photosynthesis does not translate into growing plants successfully!) Sunshine is a factor. The type of soil matters. And far above all else, plants need water. But how do Christians grow? Human beings are more complex than plants (though we don’t do so well without water either). When you consider the human heart according to Scripture—in terms of beliefs and values and desires and commitments—you realize that answering the question of Christian growth could get quite complicated. However, the essence of growth is quite simple. At the end of his second letter Peter writes, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” This concluding exhortation expresses some basic yet profound truths. First, growth isn’t an option. This is the final verse of an apostolic letter urging believers to grow in order to maintain stability in the face of false teaching. In other words, if we don’t grow, we’ll shrivel. Our spiritual vitality will wither under the effects of false doctrine and worldly practices. Second, growth requires grace and knowledge. This is familiar territory. We know we need grace. It’s one of our favorite truths, and for good reason. We have no hope unless God chooses to rescue us from our sin and favor us in spite of our desert. It is also clear that knowledge of Christ is important. He is central to our lives. Eternal life is knowing Christ. But how are grace and the knowledge of Christ related? Are they simply two big ideas placed next to each other? Or are they organically related? Perhaps grace comes through knowledge? It’s easy to think of grace in terms of a commodity. We often ask the Lord in the morning to give us grace for the day, perhaps like a pharmaceutical prescription or a same-day Amazon shipment. We know we have a need, so we place an order. But grace isn’t impersonal. It is the active presence of a Person. In Titus 2:11 Paul says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Clearly, the apostle is referring to the coming of God the Son. Grace arrived (in a new way) in Jesus Christ. In 2 Timothy 1:9 Paul speaks of God giving us grace “in Christ Jesus.” Peter begins his second epistle with this blessing, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord” (1:2). Let these words sink in. Grace isn’t an add-on or a side benefit. God graciously forgives and blesses and strengthens and teaches us in Christ. The only way to grace is a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So, how do we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior? The New Testament directs our focus to three primary ways: Scripture, prayer, and the local church. These three are sometimes called the “ordinary means of grace.” Ordinary doesn’t mean boring or lifeless. It means this is how God typically works. Of all the ways He could sanctify and strengthen His people, He has characteristically used these three. God gives us grace through the Word of Christ, praying in the name of Christ, and living as a vital member of the body of Christ. We listen to, meditate on, and respond to Scripture (Acts 20:32; Rom. 15:4). We commune with God in prayer (Eph. 6:18; Heb. 4:16; Jude 20). We actively participate in the life of the church, including ordinances, worship, church discipline, spiritual gifts, and fellowship (1 Cor. 14:12; Eph. 4:29; Heb. 10:24-25; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). Plants need water. Christians need to know Christ. What would be a great year of discipleship? It comes down to the basics. We need to be solidly rooted in the ordinary means of grace, prizing them for what they are—the life-changing means by which we know and grow in Christ. By Eric Newton, Dean of Students
Leadership is a very common topic. Amazon sells over 58,000 books with leadership in the title. With few exceptions, every church and community and company and even groups of children have at least one leader. Sometimes he is self-appointed. Sometimes she is thrust into the role, while at other times she has steadily grown into it. Sometimes he plays the part even though he doesn’t own the title. BJU is a training ground for leaders, and we have arrived at the dawn of a new year. What would good peer leadership look like this semester? In other words, how would you finish this sentence: leadership is . . . ? Do you have some thoughts? We’ll come back to that. Leaders tend to pride themselves on accomplishment. Success means achieving the sales goal or winning the championship or landing the promotion or gaining a large social media following or receiving an award or delivering an impressive speech. Some of these achievements are worthwhile. But none of them get to the heart of leadership. Nearly 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a group of believers who had become caught up in the celebrity culture of Corinth. Some favored Paul, others Apollos, some Peter, and other Christ. They were puffed up. They approved obvious moral sins and tried to gain the upper hand on fellow believers through the secular courts. They wanted the best spiritual gifts, the obvious ones that gave them apparent authority. But to view influence in this way is to forget the gospel. The reason we are in Christ is not because of our personal pedigree or accomplishment or status. Through the preaching of Christ on the cross God calls to Himself the foolish and weak and poor and despised. He designed the good news to do us good by bringing glory to Himself. In addition, God manifests His Spirit’s presence in every believer through at least one gift “for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). Our roles and gifts vary, but the purpose is the same—to bring God glory by building one another up. So, the point of my opportunities is not to show my worth but to reflect God’s, not to satisfy myself but to edify others. What does this have to do with leadership? We should do our best. We should take initiative. We should use exercise our gifts and be resourceful. We should communicate in a winsome and compelling way. But these “accomplishments” do not in and of themselves equal spiritual leadership. You could do any or all of these things but in God’s eyes find they amount to nothing, if you don’t have love. There is “a more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31). We could pull of the most heroic feat, give the most inspiring challenge, raise a record-setting amount of money, tolerate the most obnoxious roommate—but without love, it is nothing. In other words, leadership is more than love but never less. We need good communication skills and initiative and perseverance and vision, just to mention a few. But Christians cannot lead without love. As we consider opportunities as leaders this semester, let’s keep 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 squarely in view. Meditate on these verses. Notice the activity. (All sixteen characteristics are active verbs.) Notice the selflessness. Reflect on how they exemplify Christ.
Finally, immerse yourself in God’s love for you. Remember what 1 John 4:10 says: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” May our gracious heavenly Father enable us to reflect His love as leaders this year. |
AuthorSBlog posts are authored by the Student Development and Student Care & Discipleship Staff of Bob Jones University Archives
May 2020
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