If God is All About Godliness, Is Doing Good Good Enough for God?

This morning, our men's study launched into a 3-week study of the book of Titus.  Man, I could stretch this into a 3-MONTH study - some great stuff!

One thing that is noticeable in the entire letter to Titus is that Paul uses at least 8x an expression about "doing good."  (1.8, 1.16, 2.3, 2.7, 2.14, 3.1, 3.8, 3.14)  That is 1 in every 7 verses talks about "doing good."

If God is all about godliness, is doing good good enough for God?

In the first chapter, the "doing good" passages contrast with one another.  In 1.16, it is in reference to the home-ruiners who say they know God but "by their actions deny him" (1.16).  They are "unfit for doing anything good."   On the other hand, an overseer is described as "hospitable, one who loves what is good . . ." As this morning's study suggested, while this is often used as a list of qualifications for elders, shouldn't this list in Titus 1 ("blameless" "self-controlled" "upright" "holy" . . .) be what we all strive for?

When you look at the 8 mentions of "doing good" in this brief letter (the Book of Titus only has 46 verses total!), one can begin to wonder if "doing good" is the pursuit of most Christians.  But if we pervert its intention, are we missing the point?  What if we don't do enough good?  Will it be good enough to please God?

The next few chapters may help us, or may worry us.  2.14 says that because of grace and hope, we will be "eager to do what is good."  3.1 says we should be "ready to do whatever is good."  And 3.8 and 3.14 says we must "learn to devote (our)selves to doing what is good."  You can look at these in two ways:

1. Doing good because that's what "do-gooders" are supposed to do
2. Doing good because it is the fruit of godliness in our lives

Fortunately, 3.5 tells us exactly what our answer is.

"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

We do what is good in response to God's mercy, grace and love.  Not to earn his favor, but because grace bears fruit.  If you are not bearing fruit, you have not received true grace. Do good not to be saved but because you are.

As Paul continues, we are reminded that we are saved by grace through the rebirth we have in Christ and the renewal by the Holy Spirit.  It is not that we are in ANY WAY saved because of the good we may have done.  Nor is it based on how much good we might do tomorrow (we can't "pay it forward").  What about those who have done far more evil than good?  There is an equal implication that a LACK of doing good cannot keep us from being saved either!

There's nothing you can do that will keep God from loving and saving your soul.  There's nothing good that you can do to earn it.  Trust in his mercy!

-Randy

I woke up thinking about vuvuzelas

Today is the final day of the World Cup.  I have enjoyed watching the fanfare of it all, loved the South African elements of the ESPN coverage, and even watched a few games (admittedly, though, I lost interest after the USA loss to Ghana).

But this vuvuzela (vu-vu-ZAY-la) phenomenon is fascinating.  I'm probably no different than many who thought, upon watching my first World Cup match a month ago, that something was wrong with the volume on my TV, or as one commentator said, "it's like a swarm of bees" were swirling around Soccer City or something.  On a funny note, I caught an ESPN clip yesterday from Rick Reilley's "Riled UP" feature scaring every bride-to-be with his "Vuvuzela Invasion" video.

Nevertheless, the World Cup ends today.  Go Spain, Go Dutch - I really have no horse in this race.  I have loved the attention on Africa and I think South Africa had done an incredible PR job with it all (minus the vuvuzela influence).

Last week in our study through the book of Judges, we spent our 2nd week on the life of Gideon.  In the first week, we saw Gideon throwing out his fleece to confirm that indeed God was asking this man of the weakest tribe of Isreal to lead in defeating the massive and impressive Midianite army.  Weak faith or not, Gideon's tests for God were granted with mercy, and those tests compelled and propelled this Israelite to prepare his own army of 32,000 to fight.

Oh wait, says God, "you got too many men."

God asks Gideon to release the men who were "trembling in fear" (later on in the chapter Gideon is said to be afraid, too, but I guess he didn't tremble in his fear).  Then he sifts out the alert soldier from the selfish and ends up with only 300 men.  So now the Lord has determined that His glory can be achieved with a small band of weak men, equipped with swords, jars holding their torches, and vuvuzelas.

What? 

OK, so maybe they were trumpets (I'd love to know if any South African preachers have contextualized the battle horn this way).  In our study last Wednesday, one of our church's furloughing missionaries from South Africa was visiting and he got a kick out of our fascination with the vuuvzela so he played along and every time the word "trumpet" was mentioned, he'd substitute "vuvuzela" in the text.

In this story, we were all struck how God equips His soldiers for battle:

1. Alert & Aware - God's soldiers were to be alert and aware (down on your hands and knees makes you vulnerable to the enemy and thus destined for defeat).  I Peter 5.8 is a stark reminder that our enemy prowls around like a lion seeking to devour those unaware of his schemes (2 Cor 2.10-11).
2. Lead with Light - God's soldiers carry the Light, not as a small pinlight, but as a flaming torch to light the way, leading people out of darkness into the glorious Light (1 Pet 2.9).
3. Jars of Clay - In this account, you can't help as well to think that humility is a factor.  From the beginning, as the numbers dwindle, we are reminded as God's soldiers, that God gets all the glory, not us.  So as we fight for God, we lead with the treasured reality that God works through us.  Paul recounts that "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Cor 4.7-11).
4. Using the Sword Correctly - Throughout Judges, a sword is a weapon of war.  Throughout Scripture, it is analogous to the Word of God.  It is interesting, as one of our study participants noted, that in their left hand was their torch and in their right hand was their trumpet.  Where was the sword?  Not lifted high ready to kill, but surely strapped and ready to do battle.  Don't use the Bible to kill people; use it as a double-edged sword that convicts people themselves.  In this victory, the people turned on themselves so a physical weapon was not even needed.
5. Blasts of Praise - I love the story in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat defeats the Moabites and does so by putting the praise band out front.  I think the trumpets can be seen here as the soldiers' weapon of choice - much like praise and even prayer.  Shouts of God are continuously seen in Scripture as powerful victory sealers, whether they are stomping around the walls of Jericho or scaring the daylights out of the Midianites so bad that they turn on themselves.  Our voices reflect our heart (Mt 12.34), and these vuvuvzelas are indicative of the power we wield when our faith comes in shouts of praise and prayer.  

Enjoy the vuvuzela sounds of today.  Let it remind you of God's instruments of battle, and how when used correctly, the armor of God can equip a small band of soldiers to defeat an overwleming enemy of great strength and size.

-Randy

Image source:  amor por la comiseta

Daddy Boot Camp 2010 launches this week!

This week, we resurrect a tradition dating back several years ago when my family lived in Africa.  Whenever Mom was out of town for a woman's retreat or Stateside visiting family, I would run "Daddy Boot Camp" for the kids.  It has been several years since we have done that and this week marks our first Daddy Boot Camp since we returned to the States several years ago.  Mom's working, but she'll actually be able to join us.  Our kid's summer sitter is out, so stay-at-home-entrepreneur-Dad is in charge!

During Daddy Boot Camp, we do lots of things:

• Have loads of fun including playing "Ceiling Fan Sock Catch" - lousy name (gotta get a better name for this sport) but the kids ask for it every year.  (It's the only time of year I let them do it).  Put 3-4 socks loosely on each ceiling fan blade.  Each kid takes a corner of the bedroom.  Then turn the ceiling fan on.  The fan picks up speed and the socks start flying!  Usually we play this game until someone cries or gets hurt.  Well, crying we'll tolerate and we've gotta see blood to stop!  They love it!
• Arts & Crafts - my kids are creators - artists that love to do things, paint, draw.  So as part of Daddy Boot Camp, I celebrate their inner creativity and look for ways to let them shine!
• Outdoor activities - to keep them from going stir-crazy, we get out to the park to do some sports and exercise.  Might even make it to the pool or waterpark, too.
• Movies, fun foods, etc....here's one "indoor grillout" we did in Africa one year!
• Focus on spiritual disciplines (reading Scripture, praying, serving)
• T-shirt design is in the works and should be ready by Tuesday
• Memorize Exodus 15:2 - the key verse is "He is my Daddy's God and I will tell the world about Him!"

(adapted from The Message)
God is my strength.
God is my song.
God is my salvation!
He is my God.
He’s my Daddy’s God.
He is my God
and I’ll tell the world
about Him!
(Exodus 15.2)