Psychology Strikes Again!

"Gen Y's ego trip takes a nasty turn" reads a headline in today's Los Angeles Times. The article is about a recent study led by Jean Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University. The results of the study show that narcissism is on the rise in students today. "All the effort to boost children's self-esteem may have backfired and produced a generation of college students who are more narcissistic than their Gen-X predecessors." The jest of the research is as follows:

In the study released today, researchers warn that a rising ego rush could bring personal and social problems for the Millennial Generation, also called Gen-Y. People with an inflated sense of self tend to have less interest in emotionally intimate bonds and can lash out when rejected or insulted.

A rising ego rush? Is there a pill for that? Twenge shares her immediate discomfort with their findings, "That makes me very, very worried. I'm concerned we are heading to a society where people are going to treat each other badly, either on the street or in relationships."

While I appreciate the efforts of such a study and the diligent time and research that I am sure Twenge and her cohorts put into this, I must say that anyone who does not have their head in the sand could have come to these conclusions on their own. My concern is that Twenge is worried "we are heading" towards this type of selfish, prideful, narcissistic society. HELLO!!!

The issue is society's unwillingness to call sin sin. Of course, of greater concern to me is that this narcissism is prevalent in the church today. Worship is all about me, for me, to me. Worship is to make me feel better about myself, not to expose my sinfulness through the proclamation of the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit. After all, God wants me to feel good about myself!

We need to return to the purpose for which we were created, which plainly stated is "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever" [Spurgeon's Puritan Catechism]. It's not about you; it's about Him!

Academy Gone Green

I promised myself that I would not chime in on the whole global warming thing. I am as sick of hearing about it as I am hearing about Anna Nicole Smith and Britney Spears. However, they did not win Oscar's last night, and global warming (Al Gore) did.

I would like to point out a few things concerning the Academy's agenda (which, by the way, is not even subversive - they admit they are going green, at least according to Leonardo DiCaprio):

1) "An Inconvenient Truth." Ever heard of it? I knew a documentary was made chronicling the efforts of Al Gore to warn the world of global warming. The Associated Press called it a "nonfiction hit." They must be right - it won the Oscar for Documentary Feature. Interesting. This category used to be on the scroll-through going to a commercial break.

2) An Inconvenient Truth? I am not sure that climatologists are even ready to call global warming truth. I guess "An Inconvenient Theory" would not have gone so well.

3) There was more than enough praise for Al Gore's lifelong study of climate change. Boy, he has really been busy over the past few years - Vice-President of the United States of America, running for president, filming a documentary, inventing the Internet. Just when has he had time to research?

4) Now it gets really good. Al Gore's comments in receiving the Oscar: "People all over the world, we need to solve the climate crisis. It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue." Let me make sure that I've interpreted their position correctly: Homosexuality and homosexual "unions" are not moral issues. Abortion is not a moral issue. These are rights that have been politicized. Global warming or climate change is a moral issue.

OK. What about my right to drive my SUV wherever I want whenever I want? I know, lives are at stake. That is not the case with HIV contracted from homosexual relationships and abortions.

Please don't misunderstand me. We do have a Scriptural mandate to safeguard God's creation (Genesis 2). However, to infer that it is immoral (i.e., "sin) not to believe as these folks do is simply preposterous. I do not believe global warming is truth. I think it is a waste of time to even theorize about it. There, I said it.

5) It gets better. Not only did "An Inconvenient Truth" get the Oscar for Documentary Feature but it also took the Oscar for Original Song. Are you kidding me? When was the last time a documentary won this Oscar? Or was even nominated in this category? (Never and never - I did a little research). The song, "I Need to Wake Up," was nominated along with three (3) songs from the movie "Dreamgirls" (at least I've heard of that movie). You would think that with three nominations in the category at least one of them would be a cinch to win the Oscar. What an upset!

6) Or was it? The song was written and performed by Melissa Etheridge who promptly thanked her wife when she received the Oscar. You read that right - she thanked her wife. This should not surprise us from the Academy. Remember "Brokeback Mountain" last year?

7) There is good news concerning this. Jerry Seinfeld introduced the category and nominees for Documentary Feature and called them "boring." BINGO!

I have a suggestion. Stop going to the movie theatres. I am not suggesting a boycott. That would do no good anyway. The Academy is not paying attention to attendance figures in selecting nominees. If they were they would nominate films we have actually heard of. Perhaps if we stop attending they will at least ask themselves why the industry is suffering. Not to mention you spare yourself getting gouged at the concession stand.

Ark-La-Tex Regional Founders Conference

I am currently attending the 10th annual Ark-La-Tex Regional Founders Conference in Shreveport, LA. The conference theme is "The Sufficiency of Scripture." Due to my tardiness, I was unable to attend the devotional psalm given by Shaun Armstrong.

In the opening session on Thursday evening, Earl Blackburn spoke on "The Nature of Holy Scripture." He addressed the following questions:

1. How might the Bible be described in general?
(1) a large book; (2) a divided book (OT & NT); (3) an ancient book; (4) a foreign book (foreign authors, foreign lands; foreign cultures); (5) a translated book (from Hebrew, Aramaic, & Greek); (6) a multi-book book; (7) a book of literary genre; (8) a book of many authors; (9) a book with only one Author; (10) a topically arranged book; (11) an historically arranged book; (12) a book of organic unity; (13) a book punctuated by advance and progress in a covenental structure; (14) a canonized book; (15) a preserved book

2. How might we describe the nature of Scripture?
7 attributes of the Bible that we need to know:
(1) It is inspired - a product of divine self-disclosure
(2) It is inerrant - Freedom from every type of error (original manuscripts, not translations)
(3) It is infallible - the Scriptures cannot err. Therefore, they can never lead you astray. Whatever subject they address, they address infallibly.
(4) It is authoritative - 3,308 times "God spoke"
(5) It is perspicuous - clarity; clear; transparent
(6) It is preserved
(7) It is sufficient

Blackburn concluded with the challenge to return to the rally cry of the Reformers, sola Scriptura. In quoting the words of Christ Matthew 4:4, "MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD," Blackburn observed, "The problem in the world today (and sadly with some professing Christians) is that they are living by bread alone." He considered 5 areas that the sufficiency of Scripture is under attack today:

(1) Salvation in Christ alone - dangers of relativism and pragmatism
(2) The charismatic movement - the need for signs & wonders for verification; preaching of the gospel not enough
(3) The church's worship - entertainment-oriented; music central, not the proclamation of the Word
(4) The Christian's walk - danger of legalism
(5) The Christian's service - Future 500 approach to missions & evangelism

The Children's Hour

I recently came across a blog titled The Children's Hour. It is written by Dr. Ray Van Neste, director of the Ryan Center for Biblical Studies and professor in Christian Studies at Union University in Jackson, TN. The blog reviews children's books and shows the value of reading to our children and encouraging them to read. Here is the inaugural post that shares his heart in creating this blog:

Since it seems that fellow parents and I are often looking for personal recomendations for books for our children, I decided to create this forum for passing along the opinions and experiences of my family in this regard. We seek to be intentional in reading regularly to our kids good books on bible and history. So I will simply pass on our impressions of the books we read in hope that this will be of help to others as it seems to have been in various conversations. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts on books I comment on, your recommendations or books you would like to see discussed.

You can go to the link by clicking on the title above. I have also included it in my list of blogs listed on the left.

Happy reading!

Honoring God

Having recently finished a series of sermons in Jonah, I have been reflecting on Jonah's responses to God when he was commissioned (twice) to go and proclaim God's message to the wicked Ninevites. Jonah was unsettled in this commission because his initial calling as a prophet was to proclaim God's truth to his people, the nation of Israel, the people of God (2 Kings 14:24-27). Now God was sending him as the first missionary to the Gentiles. Jonah's responses, first in running from God in chapter 1, then in resenting God in chapter 4, reveal his heart. Jonah demonstrates that he was willing to serve God only while he was comfortable. Even when he was obedient to God, it appears that Jonah served God begrudgingly to avoid God's divine discipline. In chapter 4, God provides a plant to shade Jonah as he sat on a hill above Nineveh in the blazing sun. The plant was given so that Jonah might recognize God's goodness and compassion and repent of his anger towards God. While Jonah was happy with God's provision, he was not repentant. He continued in his obstinate way. After God sends a worm and an even hotter wind, Jonah reveals his heart, "I have a good reason to be angry, even to death" (4:9). Jonah is an example of a man that was all to willing to honor God in order to be comfortable.

Contrast Jonah's response with those of Joseph and Job when they faced trials in their lives. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and endured the trials of the pit, Potiphar's wife, and prison. He is rewarded for his obedience with a seat in the palace. Joseph's testimony at the end of the day when meeting his brothers, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring about this present result." And what was that result? "To preserve many people alive" (Gen. 50:20). Joseph's trials were given to preserve God's covenant with His people. In other words, Joseph's trials were all part of God's sovereign plan for His people. And Joseph honored God throughout.

Then there was Job. Job suffered by the hand of Satan. He lost his health, his farm, his fame, his fortune, and his family. We read in Job 2:9, "Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!'" Job's response, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (2:10). Job did not question God's sovereignty in the matter. While his actions that follow show his intense struggle, when all was said and done, God's purpose in bringing Job to see Him in all of His glory was accomplished. Job was blessed by God.

The stories of these men serve to humble us in our relationship with God. Like Jonah, we often are more than willing to honor God when all is going according to our schedules. We often look at material prosperity and creaturely comforts as indication that we are truly serving God. Jonah saw the plant as evidence of God's blessing. And it was - but to drive him to acknowledge his sinfulness. Jonah failed to do so, and experienced God's divine discipline. Conversely, both Joseph and Job honored God in the midst of their trials. Unlike Jonah, who honored God only with his lips, they honored God with their lips and their hearts.

The lesson for us is clear. When we are in the midst of trials, we should seek to learn what God is trying to teach us in the trial. We should focus on Him and seek to learn His purpose not only in our lives but in others as well. In our comfort, we should acknowledge God as well, admitting that we depend on Him for all things and thank Him for His blessings. We must also acknowledge that just because we are living comfortably is no guarantee that we are truly living for Him.

How are you honoring God today? Are you honoring Him for your own benefit, like Jonah, or are you honoring Him because He is God? To honor Him for His glory is to honor Him with your lips and with your heart.

Podcast Central

Attention all podcasters!!! As part of blog upgrade comes the opportunity for you to subscribe to sermons at Grace Covenant Baptist. I have set up separate subscriptions for morning and evening sermons. Of course, you can find full manuscripts and audio sermons on our web site.

Podcast subcription links:

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New Look, New Drive

Welcome to the new look for Our Daily Grace. A fresh design brings with it a renewed commitment to provide more frequent updates. I have found that this little exercise stretches me in a positive way. Writing helps to give life to my meditations and readings. In other words, as a pastor I need to to this! My hopes are that these blogs will benefit you as well as you seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.