The Choice Before Us - Part 3
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
September 23, 2012 - Pastor Dale
Scripture Reading: Matthew 20: 20 – 28
Key Text: verse 20: “...just
as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.”
Theme: The Choice Before
Us.......Consumerism or Discipleship
The purpose of this series of messages is not
to cast ministry vision but to cast
“values vision.” One of the core
values of this house is Christian discipleship worked out in authentic
covenant community and relationship. The number one enemy of true community
is something called consumerism, and
here’s why: true Christian community is
driven and defined by serving one another – even as Christ declared of himself
that he came not to be served but to serve. Consumerism is driven and defined
not by serving but by being served.
In the last message I shared that at the
heart of consumerism is perceived
need. Today I want to identify the ‘twin sibling’ of perceived need. Here
are the two sides of the single coin that drives consumerism: 1) perceived need,
2) personal
ambition.
Note the following scriptures: 2Cor.5:9 -
Therefore
we also have as our ambition, whether at home or
absent, to be pleasing to Him.
1Thes.4:11 - and
to make it your ambition to
lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands,
just as we commanded you…
Phil.1: 15 – 17 - Some,
to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy
and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am
appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ
out of selfish
ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress
in my imprisonment.
James
3: 14 – 16 - But if you have bitter
jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and
so lie against the truth. This
wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly,
natural,demonic. For where jealousy
and selfish ambitionexist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
In these texts the word ‘ambition’
appears in two very different contexts. There is a healthy and essential
ambition without which nothing would get accomplished. That use of the word is
revealed in the first two texts. But in the next three references the word ‘ambition’ is qualified by the word ‘selfish.’
In the first two texts the word ‘ambition’ must be
interpreted by the context in which it is found. In doing so it simply means
“that
which is aimed for.” So in the first text Paul
is saying – here is my ambition, here is
the aim toward which I am working with all my energy – to be pleasing to Him. The same is
true of the second text; ambition means the aim toward which your whole life is
being directed and by which your life is being disciplined. And basically the
aim sited in this second text is to
mind one’s own business.
But when we come to the next three texts we
find something very different and very unhealthy. Just to set this up we need to
understand that very early on the word was used to describe the activity of
electioneering for public office. From there it took on the
following shades of definition, and none of them are
pretty.
: To influence others on one’s own behalf – that is to manipulate
people and things for personal gain and especially personal position and
title.
: To compromise a cause for the sake of personal interests or gain
– to set self interests ahead of or before the greater good of the larger
cause.
These first two expressions refer more to the
external works or manifestation of
selfish ambition. But James went behind the external works and addressed the
heart: ‘selfish
ambition in your heart.’
From that standpoint here is what we are
looking at.
: Refers to the nature
or disposition that is incapable of seeing the higher or greater good;
as a matter of nature or
disposition the true meaning of all things is understood only in
relation to the self.
: Following are the words and phrases that
define selfish ambition as a matter
of nature or disposition – envy, strife, jealousy,
contentious, rivalry, fractious and partisan.
And then we come to the very core and heart
of the meaning of selfish ambition: to
strive with one’s whole heart to bring something about – to establish something
– BUT from or out of a love of
personal honour.
It requires no real revelation to understand
how this heart, this disposition, this mindset and attitude tears down and
destroys community rather than building it. Community is about how each part
serves and contributes to the health and enlargement of the whole rather than
how the individual defines the whole and exist only to be served by the
whole.
It has to be said – although with sincere
regret – the
North American church has become a culture driven and defined by selfish
ambition and most especially the ministry of the North American
church.
I will close this out by looking at the
difference between Christian
discipleship and selfish
ambition. This contrast begins with a definition of a word. It is a word
very prevalent in our culture and in the culture of the church. See if you can
guess this mystery word. It begins with ‘S’and has two sets of double
consonances: SUCCESS.
I do not wish to be overly simplistic but
there are moments when I honestly feel there must be 10,000 definitions of
Christian discipleship in the church and most have to do with external works.
Let me be bold and daring and reduce all those definitions to a single word – a
single reality. Whatever else Christian discipleship may be it is at heart a stewardshipwe have graciously been
given by Christ. The word discipline
is rooted in the word discipleship
or disciple, and when we apply
that to stewardshipwe have to
conclude that a stewardship is
structured and defined by the disciplines required to make that stewardship
work.
Biblically, and according to the words of
Christ himself, what is the single requirement of a steward/disciple? One word:
‘a steward must be found faithful.’
When I cut through the entire accumulated rumble I discover that the meaning of
success in the Kingdom of God, the meaning of success in this stewardship of
Christian discipleship begins and ends with one reality: FAITHFULNESS.
But somewhere this definition of success
shifted away from faithfulness to something entirely different. That ‘different
thing’ is expressed in a single word that begins with ‘P’ and ends with ‘TIVITY’.Fill in the
missing letters: ‘RODUC’ and we have the word: PRODUCTIVITY. Faithfulness
has been replaced by productivity.
This much I know for certain: When life is
defined by productivity – when success is defined by productivity faithfulness
will be meaningless while selfish ambition will reign as king.
Let me bring these considerations regarding
selfish ambition to the issue of consumerism. What is the relationship between
the two? Simply put they feed off each other, and here is how that looks within
the ministry leadership of the North American church. As a pastor I first accept
the cultural definition of success as being productivity. This definition of
success awakens in me an ambition to be successful according to that definition
and now my whole ministry is about productivity.
Driven by this ambition to succeed I study
the culture to identify the dominate dynamic that is shaping the culture – in
this case consumerism. I learn how to appeal to the basic consumeristic
tendencies of people and whatever is required to meet their perceived need at
the moment. If I do this well I will be rewarded by their attendance at my
church and support of my ministry. Suddenly I am a success. We both win because
my selfish ambition driven to produce is satisfied and their consumeristic
nature is satisfied because its perceived need is
met.
Here is how the word of God judges this
madness: Phil.2:
3 – 8
Don’t do anything from selfish
ambition or from a cheap
desire to boast, but be humble towards one
another, always considering othersbetter than yourselves.
And look out for one another’s
interests, not just for your own. The attitude you should have is the
one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think
that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his
own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature
of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human
likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to
death—his death on the cross.
One of the core evidences that the ministry
of the church is far from this truth is the fact that no pastors of
congregations of certain smallness in numbers is ever invited to speak at church
conferences and leadership gatherings. They may be and often are some of the
most Godly people and effective leaders in the church – brilliant Bible teachers
and full of revelation. And while they are seen
and even acknowledged as being faithful
they are nonetheless NOT seen as being successful because they have not yet
reached the present standard of productivity that defines success in the
church.
There is much more to be said about this –
but later.
September 23, 2012 - Pastor Dale
Scripture Reading: Matthew 20: 20 – 28
Key Text: verse 20: “...just
as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.”
Theme: The Choice Before
Us.......Consumerism or Discipleship
The purpose of this series of messages is not
to cast ministry vision but to cast
“values vision.” One of the core
values of this house is Christian discipleship worked out in authentic
covenant community and relationship. The number one enemy of true community
is something called consumerism, and
here’s why: true Christian community is
driven and defined by serving one another – even as Christ declared of himself
that he came not to be served but to serve. Consumerism is driven and defined
not by serving but by being served.
In the last message I shared that at the
heart of consumerism is perceived
need. Today I want to identify the ‘twin sibling’ of perceived need. Here
are the two sides of the single coin that drives consumerism: 1) perceived need,
2) personal
ambition.
Note the following scriptures: 2Cor.5:9 -
Therefore
we also have as our ambition, whether at home or
absent, to be pleasing to Him.
1Thes.4:11 - and
to make it your ambition to
lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands,
just as we commanded you…
Phil.1: 15 – 17 - Some,
to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy
and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am
appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ
out of selfish
ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress
in my imprisonment.
James
3: 14 – 16 - But if you have bitter
jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and
so lie against the truth. This
wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly,
natural,demonic. For where jealousy
and selfish ambitionexist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
In these texts the word ‘ambition’
appears in two very different contexts. There is a healthy and essential
ambition without which nothing would get accomplished. That use of the word is
revealed in the first two texts. But in the next three references the word ‘ambition’ is qualified by the word ‘selfish.’
In the first two texts the word ‘ambition’ must be
interpreted by the context in which it is found. In doing so it simply means
“that
which is aimed for.” So in the first text Paul
is saying – here is my ambition, here is
the aim toward which I am working with all my energy – to be pleasing to Him. The same is
true of the second text; ambition means the aim toward which your whole life is
being directed and by which your life is being disciplined. And basically the
aim sited in this second text is to
mind one’s own business.
But when we come to the next three texts we
find something very different and very unhealthy. Just to set this up we need to
understand that very early on the word was used to describe the activity of
electioneering for public office. From there it took on the
following shades of definition, and none of them are
pretty.
: To influence others on one’s own behalf – that is to manipulate
people and things for personal gain and especially personal position and
title.
: To compromise a cause for the sake of personal interests or gain
– to set self interests ahead of or before the greater good of the larger
cause.
These first two expressions refer more to the
external works or manifestation of
selfish ambition. But James went behind the external works and addressed the
heart: ‘selfish
ambition in your heart.’
From that standpoint here is what we are
looking at.
: Refers to the nature
or disposition that is incapable of seeing the higher or greater good;
as a matter of nature or
disposition the true meaning of all things is understood only in
relation to the self.
: Following are the words and phrases that
define selfish ambition as a matter
of nature or disposition – envy, strife, jealousy,
contentious, rivalry, fractious and partisan.
And then we come to the very core and heart
of the meaning of selfish ambition: to
strive with one’s whole heart to bring something about – to establish something
– BUT from or out of a love of
personal honour.
It requires no real revelation to understand
how this heart, this disposition, this mindset and attitude tears down and
destroys community rather than building it. Community is about how each part
serves and contributes to the health and enlargement of the whole rather than
how the individual defines the whole and exist only to be served by the
whole.
It has to be said – although with sincere
regret – the
North American church has become a culture driven and defined by selfish
ambition and most especially the ministry of the North American
church.
I will close this out by looking at the
difference between Christian
discipleship and selfish
ambition. This contrast begins with a definition of a word. It is a word
very prevalent in our culture and in the culture of the church. See if you can
guess this mystery word. It begins with ‘S’and has two sets of double
consonances: SUCCESS.
I do not wish to be overly simplistic but
there are moments when I honestly feel there must be 10,000 definitions of
Christian discipleship in the church and most have to do with external works.
Let me be bold and daring and reduce all those definitions to a single word – a
single reality. Whatever else Christian discipleship may be it is at heart a stewardshipwe have graciously been
given by Christ. The word discipline
is rooted in the word discipleship
or disciple, and when we apply
that to stewardshipwe have to
conclude that a stewardship is
structured and defined by the disciplines required to make that stewardship
work.
Biblically, and according to the words of
Christ himself, what is the single requirement of a steward/disciple? One word:
‘a steward must be found faithful.’
When I cut through the entire accumulated rumble I discover that the meaning of
success in the Kingdom of God, the meaning of success in this stewardship of
Christian discipleship begins and ends with one reality: FAITHFULNESS.
But somewhere this definition of success
shifted away from faithfulness to something entirely different. That ‘different
thing’ is expressed in a single word that begins with ‘P’ and ends with ‘TIVITY’.Fill in the
missing letters: ‘RODUC’ and we have the word: PRODUCTIVITY. Faithfulness
has been replaced by productivity.
This much I know for certain: When life is
defined by productivity – when success is defined by productivity faithfulness
will be meaningless while selfish ambition will reign as king.
Let me bring these considerations regarding
selfish ambition to the issue of consumerism. What is the relationship between
the two? Simply put they feed off each other, and here is how that looks within
the ministry leadership of the North American church. As a pastor I first accept
the cultural definition of success as being productivity. This definition of
success awakens in me an ambition to be successful according to that definition
and now my whole ministry is about productivity.
Driven by this ambition to succeed I study
the culture to identify the dominate dynamic that is shaping the culture – in
this case consumerism. I learn how to appeal to the basic consumeristic
tendencies of people and whatever is required to meet their perceived need at
the moment. If I do this well I will be rewarded by their attendance at my
church and support of my ministry. Suddenly I am a success. We both win because
my selfish ambition driven to produce is satisfied and their consumeristic
nature is satisfied because its perceived need is
met.
Here is how the word of God judges this
madness: Phil.2:
3 – 8
Don’t do anything from selfish
ambition or from a cheap
desire to boast, but be humble towards one
another, always considering othersbetter than yourselves.
And look out for one another’s
interests, not just for your own. The attitude you should have is the
one that Christ Jesus had: He always had the nature of God, but he did not think
that by force he should try to remain equal with God. Instead of this, of his
own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature
of a servant. He became like a human being and appeared in human
likeness. He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to
death—his death on the cross.
One of the core evidences that the ministry
of the church is far from this truth is the fact that no pastors of
congregations of certain smallness in numbers is ever invited to speak at church
conferences and leadership gatherings. They may be and often are some of the
most Godly people and effective leaders in the church – brilliant Bible teachers
and full of revelation. And while they are seen
and even acknowledged as being faithful
they are nonetheless NOT seen as being successful because they have not yet
reached the present standard of productivity that defines success in the
church.
There is much more to be said about this –
but later.