Throwing the Book

Lisa Spencer4 Comments

I’ve noticed this tendency in on-line dialogue with Christians to respond to a comment by just quoting scripture or a string of passages. I’ve seen this in blog, discussion forum and Facebook comments. Now I think it’s reasonable for Christians to quote Scripture. However, when we respond by only quoting a verse or passage of Scripture, it sends a message. It communicates a few things I think.

  • We’re really not interested in hearing what the other person is saying
  • That other person obviously does not know Scripture
  • We have the holy upper-hand, so to speak
  • We are right and they are wrong

Whatever the reason, it says I really am not interested in dialoguing with you. There are other problems with responding with only proof-texts, as well, especially with a string of proof-texts. One of the main issues is addressing the context. I’ve written more about that here. But again that takes communication. Throwing a passage of scripture at someone is not really communicating.

However, one exception that comes to mind is quoting something in support of what they are saying or as a means of edification. Because at that point, it’s not really dialogue anyway but something more akin to pressing the Facebook “like” button.

So here’s a radical idea. Perhaps we should talk to the person first. Make sure we understand their perspective correctly. Identify with them as a person. When quoting scripture, explain why that passage is relevant to the discussion or use it as support of your point. What that communicates is that you are willing to engage with person and what they are communicating.

Otherwise, it can have the impression that we are throwing the book at someone and preaching at them rather than talking to them.

Why Marriage?

Lisa Spencer3 Comments

Despite being married before, I have never experienced a healthy, godly, mutually loving partnership with Christ at the center. Widowed since 2004, my entrance into Dallas and seminary in 2008 was met with an intense desire for join forces with one whom shared the same gospel-centered passions and understood what it meant to love another person.

Now for those who don’t know the full extent of my personal history, there can only be shallow presuppositions concerning this desire.  To be sure, there are personal reasons namely to experience human love. In a way, it is a restoration of sorts.

But most importantly, when I consider Ephesians 5:22-33, I see marriage as a reflection of Christ and his church. A good, strong partnership in the Lord is meant to point to Christ and demonstrate the gospel in action. I can’t help but see this as a marvelously, beautiful thing.

I came across this post today What is Unique about Marriage that Makes it a Forum Ministry. I think Paul Tripp really summed up my thoughts on the subject well;

When you think of the marriage between a man and a woman who are believers as being a forum for great commission ministry there are a couple things that come to mind. If you have these two sinners who by nature are self sovereigns who have little interest in doing anything in life, but building their own kingdom…And if they’re now living in a relationship of real unity, real love, willing self sacrifice, you’re seeing the Kingdom come. It has come in this marriage. There are few places where you can better invite people in to see the King at work and see how His Kingdom operates more than a marriage, because typically you don’t have unity, understanding and love.

It’s why I wrote here why I do not want a “good” man but a gospel centered man who is not concerned with building up his own kingdom. Sure there are the realities of two imperfect people co-existing and sorting through differences. But a kingdom focus points to a greater reality.

Still praying. Lord willing

Integrity Doesn’t Stay in the Closet

Lisa Spencer1 Comment

I saw this picture on Facebook a few days ago with a very common saying about integrity. Well, I think it sounds like a good and reasonable definition. It denotes honesty. If we have integrity we will be honest people when no when is watching. In other words, it looking at integrity from the outside to the inside.

But I think there’s something more to integrity than this simplistic saying will allow. Integrity is about our actions lining up with beliefs. So whatever we believe about something or someone our actions will be consistent with that.  We lack integrity when we do or say something that is inconsistent with our belief. This means looking at integrity from a reverse angle – from the inside to the outside. Continue reading →

Why I Can’t Only Imagine

Lisa Spencer2 Comments

Since my CD player has been busted in my car for awhile, I’m reliant on the radio or my own voice for listening pleasure. Every so often Where the Streets Have No Name by U2 will come on. Without fail, it sends me to another place…the future, the new heaven and earth where God will dwell with his people and the Son has returned and set everything right (Revelation 21:1-5).

Interestingly, I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe doesn’t quite have the same impact. I’ve been contemplating why this is the case. One reason is that it sets a sedate tone. Now when I read Revelation 21, I get the picture of a celebration. Think about it, no more death or mourning or pain. God dwelling among his people. I’m sorry but I don’t here a soft piano and violins.

Music is a powerful medium. The composition of the arrangement of notes and instruments can set a tone without using words. It is a reflection of our creator God in whom his creatures and their creations reflect. The music of Where the Streets Have No Name creates a celebratory tone of enthusiasm with just the music alone. The words only emphasize what the music is conveying, a song about the celebration in eternity. Continue reading →

The Road to Somewhere

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I mused when I saw this photo yesterday on Facebook of incoming DTS students

That was me four years ago. What enthusiasm I had. I was so thrilled to be here. I couldn’t believe that I was embarking on such a journey. Little did I know what I’d be stepping into that would begin to chip away at that naive enthusiasm. No need to rehash since I’ve written about here and here and touched on it here.

Well, that’s been just my journey. The one thing I’ve discovered is that the Lord carves out a unique seminary experience…good, bad and/or the ugly for each one.  From what I’ve experienced?

  • Some will find love and marriage
  • Some will encounter marital difficulty
  • Some will find unexpected ministry opportunities
  • Some will lose loved ones
  • Some will encounter health issues
  • Some will have great financial difficulty
  • Some will have their ministry focus shifted
  • Some will be confronted with deep rooted issues
  • Some will have cherished doctrines deeply challenged
  • Some will change church affiliations
  • Some will withdraw for various reasons
  • Some will encounter a crisis of faith
  • Many will develop life-long friendships
  • And many will get weary in the process

….And the list goes on

Whatever the case may be for these smiling faces, they are embarking on a journey with twists and turns that will probably surprise most if not all of them. But it too is all part of the ministry training process, too. They’re on the road to somewhere. And even if it may not be what they expected, the Lord will see that they get there. And he will do the same for those of us who have lost that initial enthusiasm.