Important Routines for Missional Living

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Many are frustrated by the productivity, or lack of productivity, in our lives.

We would like to be more engaged in God’s work but, before we know what happened, the week is over and we feel like we have simply run through a mouse maze. We make no real progress on our goals.

Last week I wrote an article for the Center for Great Commission Studies at Southeastern Seminary. In this post, I discussed the importance of establishing routines. I then give 10 simple practices that might help you in your missionary living.

Below is an excerpt and a link to the fuller article.

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FROM: MISSIONAL ROUTINES: “The Center for Great Commission Studies”

I know, we all hate the idea of routines. They seem so mechanical, so unspiritual. They’re so . . . well, routine. When we talk about walking with God and joining him in his mission, it feels wrong to couch it in the language of routine. Our service to the Lord should arise from a love relationship. We tell ourselves (and others) that this kind of behavior should just flow out naturally. We shouldn’t need a list or routine to maintain it.  

That type of thinking is ok if it works. But the problem is that for most people it isn’t working.  You are not alone. The experience of Christians throughout history seems to indicate that disciplines and routines are the keys to spiritual development and joining God in his mission. Without daily routines, we are likely to get sucked into the flow of life and before we know it, the week is gone, and we have not done anything to sustain a relationship with God or advance his mission in the world.

In his book, The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg writes:

Most of the choices we make each day may feel like the products of well-considered decision making, but they are not. They are habits. And though each habit means relatively little on its own, over time. . . Routines have an enormous impact. . .

He then cites a study from Duke University claiming that 40% of the actions people perform each day weren’t actual decisions, but habits.

To read the entire article, click here

Lessons for a New Life from a Children's Story

Is it possible to be completely free from sin and shame?

Have you ever read, or watched, any of the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? In the story, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Lewis introduces the reader (viewer) to a spoiled little boy named Eustace Scrubb. He is selfish and downright mean. In one scene, about halfway through the story, his reckless behavior causes him to turn into a dragon. C.S. Lewis’ point was clear: this boy became on the outside what he had always been on the inside.

Later, when Eustace tries to rejoin his friends, they are afraid — he is a dragon, after all. For several pages, Eustace is mocked, and they even consider leaving him alone on the island. Then, by some stroke of luck, one of the characters realizes that he isn't a real dragon and convinces everyone else to be friendly. 

In one of the most powerful scenes in the book, Eustace determines to set himself free. He tries to scrape the dragon skin off his body. He rips through the thick skin, but the tear heals immediately. Despite his best efforts seems doomed to be a dragon, trapped in this body forever. That is, until Aslan, the hero lion, shows up. 

Aslan rips through the layers of skin and sets Eustace free. The process was exceedingly painful. Eustace describes it like this: 

The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was just the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off . . .

The process was terrifying and painful, but in the end, he was free. He describes his freedom like this:

[Aslan] caught hold of me — I didn't like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I'd no skin on — and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that, it became perfectly delicious, and as soon as I started swimming and splashing, I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I'd turned into a boy again. 

Eustace escaped his bondage. That day, he started on the path to becoming a brand-new person.  Eustace's dilemma is a lot like many reading this post. You have become someone you no longer recognize. Maybe you have hurt those you cared about. Your actions, and even your thoughts, are terrifying to yourself and others. Perhaps, you have been attacked and harassed. In the quiet moments, you understand why this happened, but at the moment, you fought back in anger.  

If this is true, I bet you have already tried to set yourself free. Maybe you have attempted to limit internet time, set behavior checklists,  contacted accountability partners, or installed software to remind you of your problem. Perhaps you have made promises and tried to quit cold-turkey. Despite your best efforts, the dragon skin keeps growing back. 

For some, the frustration of failure is too much to bear. Some are even tempted to give up altogether; some no longer believe freedom is possible. 

Please don’t give up. There is hope.

The Bible says:

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. (2 For 5:17)

Let Jesus cut through your dragon skin and remake you into the person you long to be.

**NOTE: This post is adapted from my book Bondage and Freedom: Escaping the Trap of Pornography. The Book is available at Amazon.com.

How the Gospel Erases Shame

Shame

It is hard to imagine a more powerfully negative human emotion. 
    This feeling of vulnerability and embarrassment . . .
    Wanting to hide but feeling exposed. . .

Shame is personal. It causes isolation, loneliness, and at times, even death. Sometimes it is self-generated, sometimes it results from what someone else does to us. No matter the cause, the pressing question is, “Is there any way to cover this? Will this feeling last forever?”

What is the Christian response to shame? Is there any hope in the Christian message? The short answer to this question is: “Yes. There is hope for those who are living in shame.”

I think it is important to recognize that shame, as a consequence of sin, is neglected in many of our gospel presentations. The most common description of God’s plan for our salvation in forensic terms. By this, I mean that we acknowledge that we are guilty of breaking God’s law. We have a debt that we cannot pay, so Jesus died in our place as the sacrifice necessary for our forgiveness. 

This is a valid description of the Christian message. There is indeed sin-debt that all have incurred. We stand before God as guilty sinners in need of forgiveness. This presentation addresses the guilt and the legal (forensic) requirements of the law. 

However, for many, the struggle with sin cannot be reduced to guilt and forgiveness. For so many, the burden of sin is shame, and the real need is a covering. Sin has stripped us of our dignity and has exposed our weaknesses. These must be restored so we can live in healthy relationship with God and with others.

The Great news is, the gospel addresses both our guilt and need for forgiveness AND it addresses shame and restoration of dignity. 

In what follows, I want to provide a brief answer to the question, “Where is the hope in the Christian message for those struggling with shame?”

1. Shame is the Original Consequence of Sin.

In the third chapter of the Bible, in Genesis 3, we find the story of the original sin. Adam and Eve ignore God’s command. They are guilty of breaking God’s law. Their first emotion is shame. They knew they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. (Genesis 3:7)

When they heard God walking in the garden, they were afraid and ashamed. The Bible tells us that they hid themselves.

You see, this feeling you have to hide because of your shame is not unique to you. It is a consequence of living in this broken world. 

Unfortunately, some of us are forced to endure shame because of the sin of others. Some of our shame is a result of abuse, neglect, dishonesty, etc. You may not be guilty of the original sin, but its consequences cause shame for you.

2. God Acknowledges this Consequence and Covers the Shame

The good news of the Bible is that you are not alone in your shame. God has not forgotten you.

For some, that is a terrifying thought: “Wait a minute, I am ashamed in front of God too.”

I understand. That is normal. In fact, that is precisely what happened after the first sin. Adam and Eve were so embarrassed and so afraid they did not want to face God. 

But it is right here, at the moment of our shame, that the Christian story becomes “good news.” Watch this. . . You might want to look at Genesis 3 in your Bible to follow along:

1. God came to find them

Never miss the fact that God came looking for Adam and Eve. If all he wanted to do was punish them, he could have done that from a distance. Instead, in his grace, God came to them.

2. God helped them face their fears

In their original dialogue, each person blamed someone else for their sin. Like us, when we are caught, we want to pass the responsibility to someone else. But God made them face their fears. Each was guilty. Each was responsible. 

3. God promised them hope

In the very middle of the confrontation, God makes a fantastic promise:

I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15)

WOW - 

In the third chapter of our Bible, we find the promise of the savior. A son will be born of a woman, and through his injury, he will crush the head of evil.

Sound familiar?

HA — that is Jesus. 

At the lowest point of humanity, our gracious God promises hope to the shame-filled.

4. God covered their shame

Adam and Even tried to deal with their shame by hiding behind leaves. They knew there was a problem, but their solution was temporary. Just how long can leaves cover. They will curl up and die. But God, in his rich mercy, did not leave Adam and Eve vulnerable and afraid. God, personally, addressed their most pressing felt need. He covered their shame. 

The good news of the gospel is that God does for us the very thing we need, but cannot do for ourselves. He sent a savior to restore our honor and forgive our sins. 

3. The Christian Hope for those who are shame-filled

It is true that the gospel addresses the penalty of our sin. The Bible is quite clear that all have sinned and we face the judgment. Jesus died in our place and absorbed this penalty. 

It is equally valid that Christianity has a message for those who struggle in the face of shame. Maybe you are addicted to pornography and feel too embarrassed to pray or pursue deep relationships with others. Perhaps you are carrying the scars (internal or external) for bad choices you made. Some are the victims of violence or abuse — this makes us ashamed.

Whether it is a shame from your own actions or the actions of others, bring it to God. He embraces the shame-filled and covers your shame with love demonstrated in Christ.
 

If you are struggling with shame caused by pornography or sexual sin, I have written a book that provides hope and a pathway to freedom. You can find it here  - Bondage and Freedom: Escaping the Trap of Pornography

I am currently working on a book that shows how much God loves sinners and welcoms them home. The book should be out between Thanksgiving & Christmas 2018. You can get a sneak preview -- a teaser chapter -- here  BOOK TEASER

Recent Podcast Interview

This week I had a chance to sit down with one of my students and do an interview about my newest book.

Take a few mins and listen to it. I think you will enjoy it. 

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW:

BRINGING GRACE TO THE NATIONS

An Interview About My New Book

Yesterday I did an interview with The Intersect Project at Southeastern Seminary about my new book. I wanted to give you a chance to read it. 

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D. Scott Hildreth is the George Leile Director of the Center for Great Commission Studies at Southeastern Seminary. Normally, he thinks, teaches and writes about missions — and how we can bring gospel hope to the nations.

Yet In his latest book, Bondage and Freedom, he tackles a decidedly different topic: pornography. In it, he brings gospel hope to enslaved individuals in our own churches.

We had the privilege to talk with Dr. Hildreth about his new book, and how you can find hope in your own battle with pornography and sexual sin.

Why did you decide to write Bondage and Freedom?

I wrote Bondage and Freedom to give a biblical view of sexuality and to provide a practical tool for those who were struggling with pornography. In January 2018, I published a book about the mission of the Southern Baptist Convention. When it came out on Amazon, we all realized there was another author who writes under my name. His material consists of graphic porn/erotica novels. I scrambled to figure out what to do.

Then, I thought, if people see his material when they search my name, it is possible readers will see my material when they search his name. My hope is that the book provides help and hope for those who may even accidentally stumble on it while they are searching for porn.

YOU CAN READ THE REST OF THE INTERVIEW HERE: "The Gospel for Porn Addicts."

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, you can do so through Amazon.com

Bondage and Freedom: Escaping the Trap of Pornography