Coram Deo=Before the Face of God

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil-Psalm 101:2-4

Let me start by saying this: There is NOTHING done in secret. All things are laid bare before the Creator of the universe. While I have affirmed this truth as long as I can remember, until God made me His child, it never meant a hill of beans in terms of how I lived. Coram Deo, latin for "before the face of God" should bring fresh fear to the heart of a believer. It means that our entire lives, both private and public, are lived out in the sight of a blazingly Holy God.
As I was reading "Worldliness," a book of essays compiled by CJ Mahaney, I was struck by the chapter entitled, "God, my heart, and Media" written by Craig Cabaniss. Struck because it's been a very long time since I have taken inventory of my heart when it comes to my media habits. I should say, honest and Scripture-informed inventory. I, like many before me, have compared my own media habits to others, and of course I came out "better than average" against that standard. The bitter truth, however, is that the standard is not "other people," but the only objective truth known to man-the Word of God.
So what was it that struck me about this particular essay? Well, I'm glad you ask. In his essay, Cabaniss at one point writes, "Many of us don't think about actively filtering our viewing [television]. As long as we avoid the obvious traps such as pornography, we don't consider deliberate evaluation necessary. Though we may faithfully apply the Scriptures in other areas of life, we may not consciously think about how God's Word applies to our entertainment choices." While reading this, I wondered aloud what such conscious thought would look like played out in my life. I was reminded of a lyric from Da TRUTH, a Christian artist, that goes "some of what I struggle with is internal..........; that's why I GOT CERTAIN CHANNELS ON MY TELEVISION BLOCKED." It's that type of intentional, proactive thought into my intake that I need. Actually, I must go even beyond the blocking of certain channels. A particular channel may not get blocked, but there needs to be a growth in Biblical discernment that leads to my changing channels more often than I have. The apostle John noted two-thousand years ago that all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and pride in possessions (1 John 2:16). Has anything changed from that generation to this? It is against this backdrop that the Lord warns us not to love the world, neither the things in it. Let's walk through an important text concerning our walks. Ephesians 5:1-16 (all emphasis mine)
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Eph 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Eph 5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Eph 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
Eph 5:14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Eph 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Eph 5:16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil


Wow! As I read this passage over and again, I realize God's call to discern what is pleasing to Him; at the same time, the clear description of what's displeasing to Him should rouse my suspicion in both what I watch and what I listen to. How much of what's contained in this passage do I intentionally avoid in my personal life, yet entertain myself with in depictions of the lives of others? How is my behavior much different in this, than the behaviors I typically discipline my children for as dishonoring? For example, let's say I instruct my 4 year-old not to run across the living room because it's dangerous. He proceeds to walk as fast as humanly possible instead of running. Is his speed-walking less dangerous? Is it honoring to me that he is seeking to "push the envelope" of obedience as far as he can without blatantly disobeying? On the contrary, I correct him because what he is doing is, at the core, showing his desire to disobey the spirit of my command, even while obeying the letter. Also, let's say he completely stops running, yet encourages and even finds entertainment in his little sister's running. What does that say about his heart? In the same way, I could be seen as dishonoring my Lord's commands by "pushing the envelope" of obedience by being entertained by the very things that God hates, the things that actually put my Savior on the cross. I, like the author of the essay, am not advocating the banishment of all TV, movies or other entertainment. What I agree with is that thoughtless watching is to be avoided as dangerous. The pursuit of holiness is indeed an intentional pursuit. As Cabaniss points out, "we don't accidentally drift into holiness; rather, we mature gradually and purposefully, one choice at a time."
I certainly am not exempt from the many self-justifications that are possible when faced with these Scriptural truths. I have argued, like many others, that "I don't," for instance, "watch a murder and then go out and commit one." In other words, just because I watch such and such doesn't mean I'll imitate what I see. I'm smart enough to watch TV and then determine what the Lord finds displeasing about it, and then not do it. Cabaniss states, "our sanctification aspirations should be loftier than avoiding murder." It is blissful ignorance to believe that our hearts aren't negatively affected by the programs or films we watch. Not to mention the hearts of our children and spouses. As a man, I am held accountable for what I allow within my home, not just my own eyes. How's that for upping the ante?
Although I've only scratched the surface of what's contained in this short essay, I would highly recommend you read it for yourself. I'd like to leave you with some points the author makes to help facilitate thoughtful viewing. There are many more points than you'll see here, but I'll give a bite-size chunk as an example of the valuable advice I found here.
Cabaniss gives categorical questions that we can ask before viewing (or while viewing) that can help us discern the Lord's will concerning a particular show or movie. I'll just highlight two questions from each category here:
Time Questions
1. Am I delaying or skipping something important in order to watch this now?
2. In the last week, how much time have I spent on the spiritual disciplines, building relationships, or serving in my local church compared to the time consuming media?
Heart Questions
1. Do I secretly want to view something in this show/movie that is sinful? Am I deceiving myself by saying, "I'll fast-forward through the bad parts?"
2. Am I watching because I'm bored or lazy? If so, what does that reveal about my heart?
Content Questions
1. What does this show/movie glamorize? What is valued, or considered important?
2. Would I benefit in any way from viewing this show/movie or visiting this website?

Paul's word to the Corinthians that all things are lawful, yet not helpful is an oft-used text to herald the joys of Christian liberty. I, myself have harped on this verse to advocate my freedom to watch whatever I please, so long as it's not "blatantly sinful." Think about this quote from "Worldliness," though:
"What if we began to test all our media consumption from the nightly news to our entertainment programs to our video rentals? And furthermore, what if the standard was looking for what might be beneficial instead of what might simply be permissible?" In my life, this would/will change a lot. Look back to the Scripture that opened this entry; Psalm 101:2-4
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil
The psalmist seems to have gotten the point of permissible vs. beneficial. We live our entire lives Coram Deo, before the face of God. I pray that God would give me the grace to walk as such in public, but even more so as David in Psalm 101; WITHIN MY HOUSE. I pray the same for you as well.
Grace and Peace

The Biggest Loser, HCR Style

Ahhhhhhhhh...........Seems I'm not the only one feeling a certain way about these temples the Lord gave us. Some of my brethren over at HCR have started a "Biggest Loser" competition to begin in January. January 1st to be exact. The great day of resolution for the world. I intend to participate in this contest, of course, especially based on my last blog post. I mean, I've been searching for proper motivation to get up and do something active. It sort of smacked me in my face as I was reading on the message boards, and really I have no reason not to do it. My question is, should a contest be the reason I do what I am now being compelled to do anyway? I would say yes in my case, and maybe no in others. Let's face it, someone having a contest to see who can read the most Scripture in a 6-month period would be futile. There should be an inner motivation towards that exercise by virtue of the Holy Spirit within us. So I'm not advocating "motivation by contest" willy nilly. However, for some of us, it's been our deep look into the mirror of Scripture that has prompted us to want to be better stewards of what God has given us. In this case, it's our bodies. Clearly, Scripture tells us that we have been bought with a price, and that our bodies are not our own (I Corinthians 6:19,20). Such being the case, we should seek to glorify God with our bodies, Paul goes on to say. Now I realize that the context of that passage was sexual purity. In no way would I strip this verse from its original context to suit my need to lose weight here. However, I don't think it a stretch to say that the bottom lines are two. 1. God created us, and gave us these bodies, and 2. If we are believers, He caused His Holy Spirit to dwell in these bodies. Meditation on these two facts have caused a desire to take better care of what God has given me on a number of fronts. Physically, I was motivated as of yesterday; this motivation led me to pray that the Lord in His grace would help me along in what's easy for my mind/spirit, but hard for my flesh. Voila! I'm reading one of my favorite sites and there is the post by my Brother. The burst of mass that happened to me over the last few years had also befallen him!!!! I was not alone in the outcome of overrelaxing and apathy towards my weight. As the post gathered readers, he and I knew WE were not alone. Now there's a group of us that want to do something about it, but realize the support of the brethren is vital. Hence, HCR's Biggest Loser contest. See, the Bible says that if we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. Not that He will give us what we want, but that He will by His Spirit INFORM us of what we want. Cyclical prayer is what I call it. A. We seek God through His Word and Prayer (John 15:7, Psalm 119:105, Phil. 4:6 among others) B. Our time in the Word shapes our worldview and perspectives (Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:9, etc) C. God in His grace draws closer to us as we are drawn to Him through relationship (James 4:8, Psalm 145:18, etc) D. Our affections are changed to reflect more of Him through that relationship (again, Rom. 12:2, Ezekiel 36:26 and more) E. We pray according to those changed affections and WOOP WHAM!!! F. God answers the prayer that He Himself motivated and shaped within you. (Psalm 37:4, Psalm 21:2, Psalm 145:19, etc) I say all that to say that as I searched the Scriptures, I found within myself one more of many shortcomings. Namely, the lack of proper stewardship over the body that the Lord blessed me with. The temple in which He has made His Holy Spirit to dwell in. The body that does not belong to me, for I am bought with a price. My mind changed from, "why does it matter, it's APPOINTED every man to die anyway," to "Lord I want to please you in the way I take care of the things you give me. I don't want to take your selfless sacrifice for granted. I don't want to treat your gifts like they don't mean anything." As my mind changed, I realized that I didn't know how I could motivate myself to exercise, or change my diet or anything. Then along comes my brother Teddy P with the answer. To that I say, Thank you Lord. Soooooooooooooooo, in this case, a contest motivating me to exercise is actually an answer to prayer. I'll let you know how I do come January. Pray for me.

Grace and Peace

My Belly's Conscience, Part I

When it comes to fitness, exercise, dietary restriction and all things similar, I am known as a "bahhhh humbug" type of guy. I mean don't get me wrong, it's not like I sit around eating deep-fried donuts and sleeping 13 hours a day. 1. I'm a very busy man. 2. I work from home. 3. There's really not enough time in the day for me to work out regularly. 4. I believe that God allowed us the ability to enjoy the foods we eat for a reason. If He wanted, He could've made us machine-like creatures for whom eating was simply like "gassing up" a Honda. Simply giving us fuel for the sake of energy. No taste, no emotional attachment, no nothing (that's right I said no nothing). You'll notice that the preceding few sentences were numbered. That's because those are just a few of the excuses I have skillfully utilized over the past few years. Years that have seen my weight bubble (lol) from 155lbs to where I am now, a whopping 235lbs!!! There have been intermittent periods of exercise and even periods of careful eating. My wife will remember the week or so that I decided to eat a salad with every meal. Oh, and a portion of meat no bigger than the size of a man's hand. The sad thing is, during these times, I have ALWAYS felt better. I had more energy, I was more alert throughout the day, my memory even increased (I think). Somehow though, these periods always faded, lasting no more than 2 consecutive weeks. Why is that???

Well, it's easier to do what I feel like doing than what I don't feel like doing. It could be as simple as that. As I got up this morning and thought about this subject, I asked myself "what does the Bible say?" Not about how fat I am, but specifically about exercise; and whether I should do it. Now some of you may be thinking, "if you think you're overweight then just exercise dude," and you may be right. However, that line of thinking has been utterly fruitless in motivating me to hit the gym again. I'm thinking I need Biblical exhortation, but is it to be found? The first place I found myself looking was 1 Timothy. This is because this is where we are as a local body. My Pastor is walking us through this book verse by verse (known as expository preaching). It's amazing, and those of you who attend Churches that teach this way can likely vouch for the fruit the Lord bears as a result. Anyhow, as we travel through chapter 4, we see Paul dealing with the false teachers who will come in and lead folks astray. I mean, they're going to try to forbid marriage and promote abstaining from certain foods as a means of attaining right standing with God. There is a lot in the first few verses of I Tim 4 that could be dealt with in light of this discussion here, but I want to just look at verse 8. "for bodily exercise is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for al things........." This is a verse that I have actually used in defense of my not exercising! The all-important question to be asked by anyone doing the same is, "what does the verse say?" Well, first we note that in the context here, Paul was addressing those who were teaching that one could commend himself to God through intentional abstinence from things that were normal and typically appealing. Again, marriage and foods were expressly mentioned. Paul says in verses 3 and 4, however, that these things were created by God as good things, to be shared in by those who believe and know the truth. So in light of this, we understand that the teaching (false) that was going around was that one way one could please God was by not doing things that God intended believers to do. This type of abstinence took a type of discipline that was seen as profitable by those espousing it. In verse 8, we see Paul stating just the opposite. "Bodily exercise (the ESV translates it discipline) is only of little profit." Paul didn't say there was no profit in physical discipline. Look at what he contrasted physical discipline with. He goes on to say "but Godliness is profitable for ALL things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." Now, I get it. So the parallel that Paul draws indicates that physical discipline is indeed profitable, yet only temporarily. My being disciplined in body makes a difference here, but not in eternity. This was step one for me, realizing that this verse does not disregard physical exercise (or restraint, or even abstinence from some foods), but simply puts them in their proper perspective. None of these things serve to make me righteous in the sight of God. In fact, there are a lot of things that are in and of themselves "good," yet doing them does no more to get me favor with God than not doing them. So if I participate in any of these things, I'd better have the right expectation of outcomes. So exercise is good, just not eternally so. Exercise profits me in some ways, just not in ways that will cross over from this life to my next (MARANATHA). This is a good understanding for me to have come to, because next I'll examine the ways exercise could profit. Along with that examination, I'll take a look at some of the implications of not exercising physically and how that could relate to the spiritual discipline we are commanded to seek (I Timothy 4:7). For now, I have one less excuse to use in my slothfullness. The excuse that "the Bible says bodily exercise profits little," has become a motivation. More to come.........