I recieved this article in the mail a couple of days back, and is something that broke me. I have developed a definite swagger in my walk and in my life, and i hurt(with careless words) a friend and sister who i hold dear. May the words of a true servant of Christ reach you with the same potency as they have with me.

August 27, 2003
Taking the Swagger Out of Christian Cultural Influence

The fact that Christians are exiles on the earth (1 Peter 2:11), does not mean that they don’t care what becomes of culture. But it does mean that they exert their influence as very happy, brokenhearted outsiders. We are exiles. “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).



But we are very happy sojourners, because we have been commanded by our bloody Champion to rejoice in exile miseries. “Blessed are you when others . . . persecute you . . . on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). We are happy because the apostle Paul showed us that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). We are happy because there are merciful foretastes everywhere in this fallen world, and God is glad for us to enjoy them (1 Timothy 4:3; 6:17). And we are happy because we know that the exiles will one day inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Christ died for sinners so that “all things” might one day belong to his people (Romans 8:32).



But our joy is a brokenhearted joy, because Christ is worthy of so much better obedience than we Christians render. Our joy is a brokenhearted joy because so many people around the world have not heard the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). And our joy is a brokenhearted joy because human culture – in every society – dishonors Christ, glories in its shame, and is bent on self-destruction.



This includes America. American culture does not belong to Christians, neither in reality nor in Biblical theology. It never has. The present tailspin toward Sodom is not a fall from Christian ownership. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). It has since the fall, and it will till Christ comes in open triumph. God’s rightful ownership will be manifest in due time. The Lordship of Christ over all creation is being manifest in stages, first the age of groaning, then the age of glory. “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23). The exiles are groaning with the whole creation. We are waiting.



But Christian exiles are not passive. We do not smirk at the misery or the merrymaking of immoral culture. We weep. Or we should. This is my main point: being exiles does not mean being cynical. It does not mean being indifferent or uninvolved. The salt of the earth does not mock rotting meat. Where it can, it saves and seasons. And where it can’t, it weeps. And the light of the world does not withdraw, saying “good riddance” to godless darkness. It labors to illuminate. But not dominate.



Being Christian exiles in American culture does not end our influence; it takes the swagger out of it. We don’t get cranky that our country has been taken away. We don’t whine about the triumphs of evil. We are not hardened with anger. We understand. This is not new. This was the way it was in the beginning – Antioch, Corinth, Athens, Rome. The Empire was not just degenerate, it was deadly. For three explosive centuries Christians paid for their Christ-exalting joy with blood. Many still do. More will.



It never occurred to those early exiles that they should rant about the ubiquity of secular humanism. The Imperial words were still ringing in their ears: “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13). This was a time for indomitable joy and unwavering ministries of mercy.



Yes, it was a time for influence – as it is now. But not with huffing and puffing as if to reclaim our lost laws. Rather with tears and persuasion and perseverance, knowing that the folly of racism, and the exploitation of the poor, and the de-Godding of education, and the horror of abortion, and the collapse of heterosexual marriage, are the tragic death-tremors of joy, not the victory of the left or the right.



The greatness of Christian exiles is not success but service. Whether we win or lose, we witness to the way of truth and beauty and joy. We don’t own culture, and we don’t rule it. We serve it with brokenhearted joy and longsuffering mercy, for the good of man and the glory of Jesus Christ.



John Piper



  posted by Andy @ 3:40 PM

 
(Written 8-24 during service at Magna View Baptist Church)

The church is weak.

And follows after many lovers.

Yet, her Hosea, her Boaz, The Kinsman-Redeemer, still loves her.

He pursues her wildly, for she has been bought for a great price:

His own blood, His own life.

His grace overflows to her always,

But she is blind, cold, uncaring towards His advances.

Is there no more love in Zion for her lover?

Awake!

In your love, O Zion, Awake, and turn back to the one who redeemed you;

Who paid the price for you.

He waits still, both now and forever.

  posted by Andy @ 4:39 PM

 
(Written 8-23 during Matriculation Ceremony)

May we be true, not only to ourselves, but to You.

May our faith in You be genuine, not fake.

Even if it's not there.

May we be steadfast in holding true to the Grace given to us.

And may we never forget that we are not our own,

But we were bought with the blood of Christ.

  posted by Andy @ 4:30 PM

 
This is being written from my new home, Carson-Newman College. Wow. Boy does that feel good to say. We(meaning the Bonner orientation people)went to Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge. If you havent been before, it's this place where they have kind of a rodeo(but only it's North-South), and they feed you, and you get to eat with your hands. Awesomeness. I ended up sitting on the end of our group(but still in the middle of the row)until a large group of about 7-8 people(including kids)sat down beside me. I noticed that the father, and his wife and kids spoke with a different accent than i usually hear, so i leaned over and asked him where they were from, so he told me that he was from England. Nothing really noteworthy happened. We introduced ourselves to each other(his name is Tom), and pretty much spent the evening shooting the breeze as we watched the show and whooped and hollered. But maybe a change has been wrought through that man. People are people. Though they may landscape lawns, or be plunging themselves into the depths of a college education, people are people. The same Creator that made the rich man also made the poor one. And He made us all with the same need. The need to be loved. (yes, adam, i see what you're talking about now. it's NOT about ideology, but about love.) And the only perfect portrayal of that love comes not from man(for we are fallen beings), but in Christ. While i'm on this subject, i have something to confess. My focus these past couple of weeks(as i'm sure you've seen by my posts)has not been about showing that love to those who need it. It's mostly been about me, and getting me out of my house and away from my former situation. And that's wrong. No matter my situation, nothing should keep me from loving people. It doesnt take a big effort, to love someone you dont know. Just make them better than you. Attempts to force "love" on people will only fail if not backed up with your actions(as influenced by the Love you have been given. So dont try, just do it.

  posted by Andy @ 12:36 AM

 
I have three days until i move into Alumni Residence Hall at Carson-Newman College. THREE DAYS! All this time of waiting and waiting and waiting, and it's upon me. Not right upon me, but still. Upon me. And i havent got anything really packed or ready(which, is a thing that i will rectify over the next couple of days...the benefits of not being in high school) so that's kind of freaking me out. Cause i'm moving to another county. IN THREE DAYS! Sorry. You know. For the outburst. So things are probably going to be rather hectic round my place for the next couple of days. But anyway. The concert is also rapidly aproaching. If you havent heard, i'm opening up for Nothing Done(that's my roommate's band) at New City Cafe(probably the finest place in all the world) on Friday, August 22. Show starts at 8:30, and the cover is 5 bucks. C'mon, a great night of music and worship, and only 5 bucks. You cant miss it. If you do, you probably have cranial damage(except for you who are supporting your friends and family at the Jamboree Kickoff @ Neyland Stadium(My brother plays both ways, so my parents arent gonna be at the show)...then you're excused). And yes, i did say cranial damage. Lemme interject a little thought here. Is free will/free choice really free? And if it's not, then would we ever choose Christ on our own(with no pursuit by Christ)? Post your thoughts on the comments. That's what it's there for. Until later, may His grace and His peace go with you.

  posted by Andy @ 2:04 PM

 
Unworthy. Yup. Unworthy. I can fully and completely say that i am totally unworthy of anything that i have been given. From the air i breathe, the blood coarsing through my veins, to the friends i have(including the woman called Beautiful), and the talents with which i am able to make praise to my Maker. Today, i'm going up to C-N to pay my bills for the semester. I just pray my car makes it...i have the gas, but yeah. Those of you who know, know that my car is ghetto. I would write more, but...i have to go before lunch traffic hits. Cause that would suck.(even though it's 11-E...and that equals-no traffic.) I'm going to go take a shower so i can go. See yall later.

  posted by Andy @ 10:54 AM

 
Kentucky. Yeah. Kentucky. I went with my uncle(who is the youth minister at a Methodist church in Farragut) to Harlan, Ky to deliver and hand out backpacks to elementary school kids there. I went as the music leader or whatever for the group. So, let's start from the beginning. I ended up going to bed at about 12 last night, only to be awakened at 2:30 by someone calling my cell phone. I get up and rouse myself enough to be coherent, then answer. The reception was bad on his phone(whoever it was), and he asked for me...but the phone call cut out. I waited for about 5 minutes to see if he would call back, and then went back to my bed. At 5:45, my alarm went off and woke me up, but i delayed in getting out of bed for about 15 minutes. I then left my room(towel in hand) and stumbled through the darkened house(for some reason, we dont believe in light at night.) up to the bathroom and showered/shaved/brushed my teeth, then dressed and headed to the Bi-Lo parking lot(where the group was meeting me). Even in my delay, i still beat the first person there by 5-10 minutes. After we left, we went up through Maynardville(Hickville, U.S.A.), (where i recieved a phone call from the loveliest woman on the planet)on up to Harrogate, where we stopped at Hardee's and ate breakfast. (right now, the 20 oz. coffee i had this morning is gone, so excuse any lag or whatever.) After we left, we continued up through the Cumberland Gap tunnel to Middlesboro(Kentucky.). I'll just skip to the important stuff instead of rambling on about the rest of the trip. We were delivering backpacks filled with school supplies to Hall Elementary in Harlan, Kentucky. Before i continue, let me give you some background information on the students at Hall Elementary. 98% of the students there(K-8) are on some sort of free lunch/free breakfast plan, and are most likely in a level of poverty that we cannot imagine. During the summer, some of the kids go without eating(except for maybe beans or potatoes), and sometimes lose as much as 25 pounds during the time that school is not in session. They have no means of obtaining anything. No books, no paper, no crayons, no calculators, nothing. So a group of us were up there to have fun with the kids and hand out the backpacks, and i was there to lead them in some choruses. I dont know what impact our presence may have had, but i am truly thankful for the chance to take what God has given me an over-abundance of(time), and use it to share the love that Christ has for all of us to those children who may have never heard the name of Christ. Praise God, through whom all blessings flow. Praise God, because He is.

  posted by Andy @ 4:04 PM

 
Sup. I figured it was about time to post, just so yall would know that i am still here. The past couple of nights were spent mainly on the phone with Courtney. 1:30 and 3:00. That's AM. I'm getting ready to head towards the bed...i have to be up really early tomorrow. 5:30. I'm going with my uncle to Kentucky for a Mission of Hope thing. Well, i'll talk to yall later, and in more detail tomorrow.

  posted by Andy @ 11:09 PM

 
Dude. I probably had the worst night i've ever had at New City last night. To be honest, it was because it was me and my own ability trying to get things done. I couldnt even stay in time on "Table for Two"(and when i mean i couldnt stay in time, i couldnt stay in time. It was terrible.). I have no idea why, but the only song that was any good was "Run". It's probably because it's never been my song. It's too good for me to have written it. I really need to refocus myself. I've let so much stuff distract me from the things that i need to be doing. It's about time that i get going in the right direction.

  posted by Andy @ 3:41 PM

 
And i'm back. Parents are asleep, everything is go. If you didnt notice, i'm a night owl poster. Thursday is now here. In a few short hours(God willing) i'll be at New City. I have truly grown to love that place. It is as home to me, and not just because that's where i have "dates" with Courtney. I dont know. It's a feeling i have. I love being down there. I love the people, the atmosphere, everything. It's almost as good as church is.(and if you know me well enough, you'll know that my church is my second home) It's hard to belive that, in 13 days, i'll be writing this from Jefferson City. And in 15, i'll be opening up for my roomate and his band(Nothing Done). I look ahead a lot, as i'm sure you've seen from my writings on here. But i dont know whether i should be focusing on the future as much as i do. I pray that Christ would open my eyes to the things that i would normally blind myself to and therefore block out. Then i might not miss as much as i fear that i do.

  posted by Andy @ 2:20 AM

 
Howdy. We went bowling tonight. Fountain Lanes is so much better than ghetto bowl. Words cannot describe how great it is. They actually put wax on the lanes! They have a wide selection of different sizes and weights of balls! (i found a 16 lb that fit perfect. If you hit a strike on that, the pins dont fall, they explode. A very cool sight, btw.) Sorry to cut this short, but i have to. No choice...(i'll actually be back at about two. hehe)

  posted by Andy @ 12:45 AM

 
I've got fire in my belly. And i dont know what it is. But i'm angry. So i'm going to try to use this to get it out of me. This is going to be unedited and unwatered-down. If i hurt anyone in the process, i'm sorry. It's not my intention. What is it with The Church today(especially in america) that puts up with heresy? I'm not talking about Arminianism v. Calvinism here, i mean the stuff that makes Christ want to throw up. (Rev. 3:15-22)Why dont we just take off our wedding dress and roll around naked in the pig shit? Really. I say this out of love for the Church, and in hopes that she will open her lustful eyes and run back to the Husband who bought her back out of prostitution. We are Gomer. Plain and simple. We are the prodigal son(only we keep running off). Plain and simple. He is Hosea. Plain and simple. He is the Father. Plain and simple. Why, why cant we just open our eyes and see what Christ has done for us, and what he gives us, and see the difference between that, and our sin? (when i say we, i mean we, in every sense of the word.) As C.S. Lewis once said,(and i realise that this might not be completely accurate, but bear with me)"It is like turning down a holiday at the sea to stay at home and play with mudpies." We are all sinful, we all fall. And we are all just as blind as everyone else.
And all we have to do is just recieve the gift.

  posted by Andy @ 11:55 PM

 
Oh wicked and perverse generation, when will you listen to Christ's call of repentance and faith in Him, and turn from your wicked and sinful ways?

  posted by Andy @ 10:11 PM

 
Welcome yall. Take a look at the new look...like it? If ya do, leave a comment thanking Joe for his beautiful work.

  posted by Andy @ 1:40 PM

 
Hey, It's me. I had meant to write about last night...well, last night. But anyway...i got to New City at 6, and hung out for a while. I love that place so much. The concert was great. It was Lori Chaffer(of the band Waterdeep), Katy Bowser, and Sandra McCracken. You might know her husband. He was in a little band called Caedmon's Call...he didnt play but one song(with his wife), but it was still cool. I ended up talking with Derek for a while after the show about different things...actually everything from the .net to church government. He's also coming back to the Cafe in November to play a full show, and i'm going to try to get him down to C-N in the spring. Well, i'm gonna get off of here...i'll be back later.

  posted by Andy @ 3:36 PM

 
Hey y'all, what's up? I just got in from the great american saturday tradition that is mowing the yard. So i'm tired. But less tired than i would have been had i push mowed the entire thing...like i had planned to. I think i might be getting to go to the girls tour show. That will be p-i-m-p. Oh yeah. I just said p-i-m-p. But anyway. Before i break into a schpeal(sp?) about this word, i need to change the subject. I finished Return of the King last night. It was quite good. Dr. Tolkien, i quite enjoyed your work. (yes, i know he's dead. his best friend is my favorite author) Well, friends, i must away...to take a shower among other things. If i go tonight, i will write back later(i.e. 1:30-2:00 am) about the goings on of the night. Farewell, yall!

  posted by Andy @ 5:35 PM

 
(Written in Long John Silver's on a napkin)

It's interesting, the faces you'll see when you look. Some are oblivious, some are angry, some are joyful, and a few are familiar. Truly amazing what you see if you open your eyes. These are the people Christ died to save. The smokers, the jokers, the liars, the drunks. We are them. Because of our sin, we are instantly depraved, and worthy of death. Whether we are rich or poor, intelligent or stupid, or somewhere inbetween. It doesnt matter. Lord, open my eyes to what you could be teaching me; be it in this restaurant, or in the relative comfort of my house.

  posted by Andy @ 7:00 PM