Insights Magazine: February 2013

february 2013

A R E YO U F O R

In this issue

8 11 3

Grace Allows us to Accept Ourselves—Warts and All Charles R. Swindoll

6 The Beauty of Doing Nothing Robyn Roste

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14

"Does God expect Christians to be Perfect?"

11 What is This Thing Called Love?

Dr. Malcolm Gill 14 Q & A Steve Johnson

Laughing Matters Get Real Phil Callaway

Copyright Š 2013 Insight for Living Canada. All rights reserved. No portion of this monthly publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Insights is published by IFLC, the Bible-teaching ministry of Charles R. Swindoll. IFLC is an autonomous ministry and certified member of the Canadian Council of Christian Charities.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture passages are taken from the NASB. Unless otherwise noted, photography and illustration by IFLC staff. Printed in Canada.

by Charles R. Swindoll

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Chuck Swindoll recently sat down with Michael Easley, pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, to discuss their mutual love for the Lord, for God’s Word, and for God’s amazing grace. Here, Chuck shares about his personal “grace awakening” and how God’s all-sufficient grace allows Chuck to be himself.

Michael: So if there’s something that comes out from the depths of Chuck Swindoll, it’s this message of grace. I mean, it comes out of your pores. Your laughter, your self-deprecating humour, the way you throw your head back when you preach. It’s compelling. Others can’t help but think I wish I could love life like that guy. I wish I had that much joy. Help us. What’s that all about?

Chuck: I will tell you in one word; it’s freedom. I am free. I am really free.

Michael: Was there a defining moment in your life? What was it like when you started tasting the freedom of grace?

Chuck: Well, I write about it in my book, Saying It Well. I found out who I was. I accepted who I am. I didn’t like everything about it, but I accepted the person God made inside this skin. And then I began to be who I am.

Now, it wasn’t this way at the first. In the early days, when I got in the pulpit I was severe. I handed out a lot of reproof. I felt, we’ve got to get this straight. These are biblical principles, and, you know, eternity’s at stake. And one day Cynthia said, 4

“We all know those things, but we just need to be charmed into righteousness,” which is a line Reinhold Niebuhr used in one of his works.

Michael: OK, so there are those who will hear “understanding who I am” and say it sounds like a bunch of psycho-babble. So how do we help people understand that grace isn’t about sanctifying the fact that we are the way we are—in that we are human and make bad choices—but about accepting the way God designed us, even in a fallen context?

Chuck: Well, there’s a difference in accepting who I am, warts and all, and focusing on “it’s all about me.” That’s narcissism.

And life is not about that. Freedom says that God made you who you are. Don’t try to hide the fact that it includes weaknesses and strengths. See, to deny that I have strengths is ridiculous . . . just as is denying that I have weaknesses. Somewhere is the balance. Grace allows me the freedom to know the difference.

Michael: Yes, grace is about accepting who we are, and it’s not about what we do. It’s not about conforming to lists or being perfect.

Grace Allows us to Accept Ourselves—Warts and All continued from p. 3

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"No list God gives us is for the purpose of legalism. It’s for the purpose of obedience."

frogs

© istockphoto.com/Antagain

“Nothing you can do,” as Prof Hendricks would say, “will make God love you more. Nothing you can do will make Him love you less.” God gives us the freedom to fail and still be loved.

And yet we are to still strive for righteousness.

Chuck: Oh sure. Listen, I joyfully—exuberantly—embrace my freedom in Christ. But I’m constantly dealing with the real world too. I face the same fight others face when they see a sign that says, “Don’t touch the wet paint.” I, too, want to touch it. And when I’m given rules, I don’t always want to keep them.

Now that’s grace gone to seed. If I start thinking, That rule doesn’t apply to me. I’m free of rules and lists, that’s not freedom.

That’s another kind of bondage; it’s a kind of self-made bondage where I’ve twisted grace and called it grace, when in fact, it’s disobedience. No list God gives us is for the purpose of legalism. It’s for the purpose of obedience. Furthermore, it’s for our

good and His glory. And I think, when you embrace grace, you care about that. You want to obey. You know, I don’t stay faithful to Cynthia because she might catch me if I don’t. I stay faithful to her because I love her, and I cannot NOT be faithful to her.

Michael: You know, I’ve adopted a definition of grace as “undeserved favour in the face of deserved wrath.” I think it helps people to consider not only “I’m getting grace,” but also “I deserve hell. I deserve God’s wrath, but in His kindness, He extends grace to me.”

Chuck: Incredible. That’s what makes us want to obey, to follow our Saviour with all of our hearts. I don’t believe there is the passing of a day or two in my life that I don’t think about grace and give thanks for it. Freedom—it’s the only way to really live. ▪

* Watch the entire interview online at insightforliving.ca /video.

Photograph of Chuck Swindoll © 2012 by Luke Edmonson

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the beauty

of Doing Nothing

by Robyn Roste

M

y husband works in a remote part of Alberta and every few weeks his crew must move their camp to a new location. Last week they were ready to move but couldn’t because it was Sunday.

Here’s why: according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Compliance in Alberta, moving anything larger than 3.85 metres wide is not permitted on a Sunday or statutory holiday.

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While I don’t know the history behind this rule it smells like leftovers from the Christian tradition of Sabbath rest. It’s not like the practice has died off completely, however, when I was younger shopping on Sunday was frowned upon and I felt guilty if I had to miss church for any reason. Now, not so much.

I think it’s safe to say in general our society no longer values regulated Sabbath—in fact we tend to rebel against any

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structured religious practice, labelling it legalism. These kinds of rituals and traditions are seen as old school, as something we’ve collectively outgrown.

So then where does Exodus 20:8 fit into our lives? “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” I mean, the directive made it into the Ten Commandments so it must be important. Is there a way we can remember the Sabbath without becoming legalistic about it?

“Most of us don’t know how to rest. We work hard, and we spend our down time playing hard.”

I’ve been wondering about this for some time. Recently I’ve come to the conclusion our culture actually does value the concept of Sabbath rest, we just don’t realize it. Most people, if they’re anything like me, picture the Sabbath as a day of strict religious observance and abstinence from anything fun. But this is not accurate.

Our word “Sabbath” originates from a Jewish word “Shabbat,” which intertwines two biblical concepts: to remember and to observe. It’s not a day of self-denial but one where simple things like family, eating, and relaxing are meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. It’s a day of rest and spiritual enrichment.

But even this is too dated for our secular minds. There’s an Italian phrase floating around pop culture I believe will update the concept of Sabbath perfectly: “il bel far niente.” The beauty of doing nothing.

Resting (or doing nothing) does not take away from the value of hard work; it puts into perspective the reason we work—so we can relax once the work is finished.

Most of us don’t know how to rest. We work hard, and we spend our down time playing hard. We relentlessly pursue happiness and pleasure instead of observing times of renewal.

It’s in these quiet times of rest and renewal God speaks loudest to us. Or, perhaps, it’s when our minds are silent we can hear His voice above the white noise of our everyday lives. I like to think of God’s voice as the same gentle whisper Elijah encountered in 1 Kings 19:11-12.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (NIV) I’m filled with shivers imagining what that must have been like for Elijah. And I wonder how many times have I been too preoccupied to recognize God’s gentle whisper in my life.

This year, I’m determined to discover true rest. I don’t know exactly how to go about learning to rest but I think the first step is recognizing the beauty of being silent, and doing nothing. My hunch is there is a deep well of refreshment awaiting me, which will help me continue on. ▪ Robyn Roste is the Living Bridge Media manager at Insight for Living Canada.

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Laughing Matters by Phil Callaway

O

ne of the mixed blessings of public speaking is listening to the way folks introduce you.

It’s sometimes best to cover your ears.

You wonder if they’ve got the wrong guy.

Sometimes I wonder what it would sound like if someone who knew me well did the introducing. My friend Vance would likely introduce me this way: Phil is an author of books that he sometimes wishes would sell more copies. He has an awful slice when he golfs and his wife practices what he preaches. He has, on occasion, yelled at his kids, and he once yelled at me for starting a Rototiller outside his window on a Sunday afternoon. I know for a fact that he loves his wife, but he also frustrates her at times, to the point where Ramona has twice considered scrambling an egg on his head. He loves Jesus, but sometimes does the thing he doesn’t want to and doesn’t do the thing he knows he should. I have seen him give way to covetousness, pride, jealousy, anger, and self-righteousness. But I’ve also seen him ask for forgiveness. Phil is a sinner saved by grace. God loves him. I love him.

And I hope today that you will too.

I think I’d like that. The truth is, I have lived much of my life a hypocrite and it’s hard work. In the church where I grew up (I actually grew up at home, but you know what I mean) hypocrisy was rewarded

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One night David Letterman interviewed well. I learned early that looking right and sounding right was all I needed to get by. conservative talk show host Rush LimBut if ever I started asking tough ques- baugh and asked, “Rush, do you ever wake tions, or stepped out of line, it was like up in the middle of the night and think to climbing Everest on a scooter. I thank God yourself, ‘Boy, I’m full of a lot of hot air’?”

Limbaugh answered without a smile, for parents who were real, who taught me that God looks past the outward appear- “No.” Whether Rush was kidding or not, I do ance. But hypocrisy dies hard. not know. But I do know that many of us spend our lives trying to convince oth"Many of us spend our ers that we have it all together. But what lives trying to convince would it look like if our lives were charothers that we have it acterized by the refreshing simplicity of all together." truthfulness? Pulling the weeds of duplicity, manipulation, and verbal gymnastics In 1 Timothy 1:16, the Apostle Paul causes authenticity to take root and integrefers to himself as the worst of sinners, rity to grow.

What does it mean to get real? the chief of sinners, the head honcho. In It means that pretending is no longer Romans 7:19 he admits, “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I in our bag of tricks. We accept the reality do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” that we are sinners, that nothing we do Such an admission brings us to our knees, will impress God, that His grace is enough.

With such an admission comes forgiveand brings freedom.

After the disgraced televangelist Jimmy ness and peace.

Now I’d better run. My wife is asking me Bakker released his book I Was Wrong, I spent some time talking with him about how I’d like my eggs. ▪ his time in prison. I couldn’t help but think Phil Callaway is the author of To Be Perfectly Honest, and editor of Servant Magazine. that the worst prison he had ever been in was the self-imposed prison of hypocrisy.

on the air in March

Biblical Parenting 10

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by Dr. Malcolm Gill

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I

t is quite possibly the most abused, misused, and flippant word in the English language. Consider how we use it. I love God, and I love sausage rolls. I love my children, and I love empty parking spaces. I love Jesus, and I love football.

What is love?

According to some, love is mercurial.

People, they say, fall in love, and almost as often, people say they fall out of love.

Others view love as having an element of expectation. People say, “If you love me then buy me this…do that…or give me what I want.” What is love? The romantics among us picture love as the illusive dream of sitting down with someone of the opposite sex enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate watching the sunset while listening to the inspirational rhythms of jazz. Love, love, love, it’s all you need, or so say the Beatles. But what exactly is love?

The Bible’s picture of love is as striking as a diamond. There are many beau12

tiful and wonderful facets that gleam in the Scripture’s descriptions and expressions of love. One of the best insights into the subject of love comes in the short little book of 1 John, often known as the epistle of love. In this letter, John gives us much insight into the origin of love as well as what it looks like. In 1 John 4, the author expresses at least three ideas that should sharpen our focus and understanding of love.

First, the author explains that love is deeply rooted to the character of God. As he explains the expressions of love and the significance of love to the Christian community, John reminds us love is ultimately a character trait that finds its origins in God. In a concise and startling way John simply states, “God is love.” Only two other times does John make “God is” statements.

John 4:24 say “God is Spirit” and 1 John 1:5, “God is light.” By stating, “God is…” John is talking about God’s character, His nature, His disposition. That is, by stating God is love, he is reminding his readers that at

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"God does not merely state that He loves us.

He demonstrates it." the heart of God’s very being is the nature to “love.” When you think of God do you think of Him as a loving Father, one who really cares deeply for you? Do you think of Him as one who desires to benevolently bless and care for His children? Or do you view Him as a cosmic killjoy frowning at those who enjoy life? Love is first and foremost an attitude that reflects God’s character. When we love others, we demonstrate what our God is like.

Second, John gives us a picture of what love looks like. In 1 John 4:9-10 we discover love is expressed most clearly in the sending of Jesus. Listen to what these verses teach, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” God does not merely state that He loves us. He demonstrates it. He communicates how much He cares, not in words alone, but in actions. Sending His “one and only Son” God gives His greatest gift. He expresses His love by giving His Son for those who did not at first love Him. His love is sacrificial in that it involves payment for our wrongdoings. By sending Jesus God shows the depths of His love. This was no cheap gift—it cost God everything. If you want to see love in action read the accounts of our Lord’s life.

Finally, John explains that as Christian believers we too ought to be people who reflect God’s character by loving others.

Put another way, the act of love makes the invisible God visible (1 Jn. 4:11-12). The defining sign of a Christian is the character trait of love (Jn. 13:34-35). John writes, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” When you show your co-worker love, when you share with the lonely person, when you spend time showing God’s concern for lost people, God is revealed. When you love, it is like God’s character putting on flesh. When people look at your life do they see God’s character, disposition, and nature shining through you?

The Beatles said “all we need is love” but they didn’t tell us how to love. Fortunately the Bible does. How do you love?

Let John be our guide, “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 Jn. 4:11). Get busy loving and show the world how to make the invisible God visible. ▪

Dr. Malcolm Gill lectures in Greek, New Testament and Preaching at Sydney Missionary and Bible College in Sydney, Australia. He also serves as board member of Insight for Living Australia.

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by Steve Johnson

Question: Does God expect Christians to be perfect?

Answer: The short answer is yes and no.

The yes answer is based on Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Jesus was telling us that God is the standard against which everything else is measured. Specifically, we are to love our enemies so "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:45a).

The use of “perfect” here means complete. God loves all people, even evil people. This is how we can be as perfect as God. Our love for our fellow man needs to grow and mature to even include loving our enemies. If we do not love our enemies we are not behaving as sons of God should.

The answer is also no. We’ve all heard the sayings, “Nobody’s perfect” and “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.”

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect in the sense that we never sin. He knows we sin and has made provision for us for that 14

through Jesus’ high priestly work (1 Jn. 2:1).

Some Christians believe we can become perfect in the sense that we no longer sin. But the only way to believe that is to redefine sin as something less than it is, or reject the words in 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

No matter how hard we try we sin constantly and are therefore far from perfect.

We commit sins of commission—doing that which we shouldn’t, and sins of omission—not doing that which we should.

I may sin by stealing or taking the Lord’s name in vain. And I may sin by failing to rejoice, or to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

God sees and knows our shortcomings.

And that is why in daily life we need His undeserved favour—grace. In spite of us, His infinite love is unconditional. Our relationship to God is not based on our perfection, but on Christ’s. His perfect obedience

lamb

© istockphoto.com/Erik Lam

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I will get nowhere if I trust in my own is credited to us so when God looks at us, He sees us as perfect. If we could be perfect abilities. That which God demands, only on our own strength, Christ’s death would He can accomplish, including the demand to love our enemies. What is impossible have been unnecessary.

These two answers actually do fit for man becomes possible for those who together. The standard believers are to live give their lives to Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy by is our Heavenly Spirit who lives in our Father’s, who loves “Our relationship to hearts. For “I have completely. Perfectly.

God is not based on our been crucified with Jesus taught that we Christ and I no longer must demonstrate perfection, but live, but Christ lives love to all people, no on Christ’s.” in me. The life I now matter what faith, live in the body, I live nationality, or personality. If you love your enemies you then by faith in the Son of God…” (Gal. 2:20).

When I accept my imperfection, undertruly are perfect, complete, like your heavstand my inability, and receive God’s grace enly Father.

Will we ever achieve loving perfectly I will be able to love all men in a way that is like our heavenly Father loves? Not in this characteristic of our heavenly Father.

And that is what God expects. life. But this is to be our goal and we are to I hope this helps. pursue it wholeheartedly. Perfect love is a - Steve standard impossible for us to attain by our Steve Johnson is the executive own efforts but what is impossible for man director at IFLC. is possible with God. It’s only through the power of God’s Spirit His people can truly love and pray for those who intend to do them harm (Rom. 12:14-21).

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