Elder Brother Lostness

"Sin is not just breaking the rules, it is putting yourself in the place of God as Savior, Lord, and Judge... once we have Jesus's deeper definition of sin we should be able to recognize it, and it is crucial that we do. We will call it 'elder brother lostness.' ... the first sign that you have an elder brother spirit is that when your life doesn't go as you want, you aren't just sorrowful but deeply angry and bitter. Elder brothers believe that if they live a good life they should get a good life, that God owes them a smooth road if they try very hard to live up to standards (Timothy Keller, Prodigal God, 43; 49-50)."

I have been revisiting Tim Keller's, The Prodigal God, in my reading time the last few weeks and I have been struck again by what a wonderful exposition of the Gospel it is. He takes the Parable of The Prodigal Son and unpacks in a magnificent way so that we see our own sin and lostness in the characters. In the above passage Keller points out Jesus's redefinition of sin and gives a convicting statement about what it means to be an "Elder-Brother." Here are some key points I have been revisiting in the book.

1. What does it mean to be a prodigal? The definition of the word is actually as follows: recklessly extravagant; having spent everything. Most people tend to focus on the folly of the younger brother... but Keller makes the point that in the reaction of Father (Who is certainly a figure for God) we see a truer form of what it means to be a prodigal. The Father gives much wealth away to the son who squandors it... and then takes him back into the family. What that means is that the younger son is now an heir again. In the same way, God recklessly gives his grace to us, sinners, and accepts us as we are through his grace. That grace come through the CROSS where Jesus spend everything for us so that we can be accepted into the family of God! In that way he is the Prodigal God.

2. What does it mean to be an elder brother? This section has been convicting for me because I am elder brother. So many times I think that if I work hard for God he will reward me. That is what elder brothers do... they think if they live a good life they should get a good life. But the fact is that when I do that I putting myself in God's place. I am saying, "God I did this so I should get this." That is religion... it is not the Gospel. In the parable, the elder brother is furious at the Father because he accepts the younger son back. But that is exactly what God does with us! He recklessly gives us his grace! How often have we looked at someone and said "I am not as bad as that person?" Or when have we thought God should reward us for something we did? That is performance based religion. I hope and pray that I would be a person who lives out the grace of the Gospel and praises God for his prodigality to me!

DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE!

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends of faith--that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the ressurection from the dead." (Philippians 3:7-11)

All of us, myself included, are worshippers of something. We worship fame. We worship youth. We worship money. We worship video games. We worship popularity. We worship talent. We worship technology. You get the picture. The problem with all this worship is that we are worshipping the wrong things. And, ultimately, we are made more and more into the image of the things we worship. The Bible has a word for this: IDOLATRY--and becoming an idolator is a sure fire way to waste your life.

The path we were made for is worship of the living, true God of the Bible. He manifested himself in the flesh as Jesus Christ. So when Paul says in Philippians 3:7-11 that everything he has he considers "rubbish," he is giving us an example. He had every reason to be proud of himself (v. 1--6), but he acknowledges that everything he has is from Christ. And on the day of judgment, when we stand before our God, we can plead nothing but the blood of Jesus who has paid our penalty. My hope and prayer is that we will worship the one true God and not the things of this world. Please don't waste your life on anything but Jesus.

SWEETLY BROKEN

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling
Of it's suffering I do drink
Of it's work I do sing

For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered

What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

LEGACY- Hearing and responding to the Gospel of Grace

"If you hear the Gospel and it does not bless you, hear it again. If you read the Word of God and it has not saved you, read it again. It has the power to save your soul! [...] Oh if men would search for salvation as though it was hidden treasure!" (Charles Spurgeon)

This morning, like most mornings, I sat looking at my face in the mirror. About every two-three days I notice that it is time to take the razor and give myself a good, clean shave. Since I care about my appearance, and my comfort, I chose to take the razor and pare down the growing hairs on my cheek and neck. However, this day was different than most. As I looked in the mirror, I stopped and examined myself. I don't know if you have ever done this before, but if you have did you ever look into your own eyes? Have you ever stared into your own eyes and asked the question... what am I building with my life?

I remember this was one of my favorite things to do when I was in high school. I would stand in front of the bathroom mirror and look myself in the eye. Most times this was because I was practicing for a part I had in a play but other times I asked myself the above mentioned question. James uses this illustration in the first chapter of his epistle. He exhorts believers to look into the mirror and examine themselves, essentially to see if their life is matching up with the faith they proclaim.

As I think about my own life, I often wonder if my life is matching the faith I proclaim. While at the youthful age of 27, I concede I am not old at all, I also realize that I am not as young as I once was. I have completed two degrees in higher education, I have made many friendships and built relationships with people around the country, I have traveled all over the world, and yet I still am asking myself the question- what am I building with my life? Is my life matching up with my faith? What will be my legacy?

My father was a great man. So was my grandfather. I have a picture of them next to my bed. In fact it is a picture of all the men who bear my namesake. The Robert Philip Erbig's... of which I am the fourth and only remaining. As I look at myself in the mirror that question continues to infect my heart. I want to live a life that makes a difference. I want my life to be characterized by a humble dependence on my Savior where he gets the Glory for everything that I do. I want my legacy to be one where Jesus is seen through my actions and life. I think that's what James was talking about in the first chapter of his letter to the church.

Has anyone else asked themselves this question? If you are reading this I hope that it challenges you to strive towards a life that builds a legacy for Jesus. He is the only thing that matters. His grace is something that should drive us to our knees and cause us to respond in humble obedience. We should seek him with our very lives! When we do that- his legacy is secured in us.

A Fall Favorite Returns...

I love the fall. Leaves change. Colors abound. And the Pumpkin Spice Latte has returned to Starbucks. Go get one!

PS- Forgot to make this note in the last post!

HUMILITY (Part One)- A grace filled return to the blogosphere

As my friends have been quick to point out... I have not posted a blog since January 22... or this year. The previous blog on my site was posted by a gentlemen who shall remain nameless, but brilliant. And so, after a long hiatus from the blogging world (let's just say I was running a life-marathon and then resting from it), in the words of the great poet Michael Scott, "I'll be baaaaaaacccckkkkk..... AND I am baaaaaaccccckkkkkk."

With this return, I can think of no better subject to write on than humility. Let me begin by saying that I am NOT a humble man. I am proud. I think I am the greatest thing on the face of the earth. The world does indeed revolve around me. Unfortunately, like most people I was not totally aware of this area of sin. But then I was blind sidedly convicted as I read the opening chapter of CJ Mahaney's book "Humility." Here is his definition of humility: Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness. Now that is quote to meditate on. As I sat there enjoying my pepperoni pizza from Il Vicino my eating started to slow as I gazed off in the distance. The question on my heart was "Am I humble?" And when I was honest with myself I had to answer: No, I am not. I am sinful and I should fall to my knees as I consider the holiness of my God.

Some of us rarely think about the topic of humility. Why would we? In a world of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs, and Unlimited Cell Phone plans we have all created our own worlds where we play God. There is even an application for the iPhone called "Pocket God" where you can create your own civilization and rule over it. When you are God why do you need to be humble? But the truth is we are not God. And we must assess ourselves in view of the holiness of God. Each and every one of us is sinful and depraved before God. Only by his grace have we been saved through faith. For that we should be eternally grateful. As I look at the holiness of God in comparison with how sinful I am... I have no course of action other than to be eternally grateful.

This has huge implications for our homes, work, our family, our church, and our career. If we are not humble then relational discord will no doubt break out in the previous arenas. My hope is that, as each of us lives our lives, we would be humble. After all, Christ gave us the perfect example of humility as Paul wrote in Philippians chapter two. Humility shows other people that Christ has made a difference in our lives because we were given a gift we did not deserve. We must throw off pride and focus on the grace we have been given through the cross of Christ!

The bottom line is this: We must be more humble! When that happens lives will be changed and legacies will be built.

death by breath (or why the world needs christian rap)(or i've been reading stuff by david crowder, can you tell?)

i love Christian rap. unfortunately, there are those who do not share my sentiments that i feel are misguided. its curious that even when the themes in a genre differ from their mainstream secular counterparts, those that claim they simply oppose a genre because of said themes continue to dislike many rap artists and songs with Christian themes. see, i'm in the fortunate position of enjoying Christian rap for its subject matter and secular rap for its common non-sequiter ridiculousness (i hear you screamin dad). however, let me just explain my first statement. from the initial moment when i heard "Jesus is Still Alright" by DC Talk sometime within the first eight years of my life, i decided i preferred rap with a Christian flavor when it came to music. granted i am a fan of many other genres and Christian rap has come a long way since the birth (and subsequent dissolution; still waiting on the reunion) of DC Talk, rap has a way of delivering the Gospel that is unique to itself. in any other genre, the subject of God becomes somewhat narrowed by the repetition of a mere few themes (namely greatness of God meekness of man, stupid stuff we do, all great stuff). however, the rapid rhyme- based format of rap creates a necessity to get creative with the subjects within a song. now, when one has this mandate in addition the the constraints of being Bible- based (not a bad thing!) and sensible (somewhat), the result is usually a very thoughtful and theologically- based number. in a way, the call to be a Christian rapper is the call to be a well- studied theologian.

having said so, let me explain what's going on with the graphic (this is somewhat related). while listening to Breathin' to Death by my man LeCrae the other day, it struck me how profound and unsettlingly true the song is. if our death to ourselves should bring about Life, then our own life will bring about death. i can't tell you how much it bugs me when i hear the cliche "you're not really living unless you're _________." is that so? does my heart start only when i'm plummeting from a plane at 30,000 feet? is a lack of hallucinogens in my system equivalent to a multi systems failure? before someone goes off, let me just say that i do know the concept of a metaphor or whoever, but when such a blatant and ridiculous comparison like absence of life is so commonplace, it reminds me of the cavernous pitfall which is the lie of "life" that so many people buy into. they define their lives by these horrible, damaging (often times; if not, less than God- centered) activities that they think are bringing them meaning and purpose. but they're really just breathing to death. being this caught up in one's own life and own interests brings about the only real death there is: that which comes from rejection of the Source Jesus Christ.

favorite righteous rap lines:

"Satan's taking lives like Ethan Hawke..."

-Azriel

"swagga that's hotta than summertime in Nevada..."

-Group 1 Crew

"even if you don't know systematic theology, yo eschatology, you know Jesus is who ya otta see..."

-LeCrae

"when we spit, get a grip like boots in gravel..."

-Flame