When Paul says, "If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink," (1 Cor. 15:32) he does not mean "Let's all become lechers." He means there is a normal, simple, comfortable ordinary life of human delights that we may enjoy with no troubling thoughts of heaven or hell or sin or holiness or God - if there is no resurrection from the dead. And what stunned me about this thought is that many professing Christians seem to aim at just this - and call it Christianity ... Am I overstating this? Judge for yourself. How many Christians do you know who could say, "The lifestyle I have chosen as a Christian would be utterly foolish and pitiable if there is no resurrection?"
~ John Piper, Desiring God, p. 261
Reflection is healthy, and the Thanksgiving holiday provides a great lens. What am I thankful for? I think too often I am thankful for the "normal, simple, comfortable, ordinary" that Piper describes above.
This year, I'd instead like to honor (Romans 12:10) some close friends - men that I admire - whose lifestyles would be "utterly foolish" without the resurrection. John Nehme, who is leveraging his talents to raise awareness about human trafficking at Trade in Hope. Kevin Turner, probably the most talented musician I know, who has dedicated his talent to advancing the kingdom locally through the church. Justin Miller, who is using his business-IQ to leverage the church's resources to Care for AIDS and spread the gospel in Kenya. Will Killmer, a true scholar, who has traded a chance at an elite, niche professorship in linguistics for training to bring the gospel to all languages.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Cor. 1:4)
This year, I'd instead like to honor (Romans 12:10) some close friends - men that I admire - whose lifestyles would be "utterly foolish" without the resurrection. John Nehme, who is leveraging his talents to raise awareness about human trafficking at Trade in Hope. Kevin Turner, probably the most talented musician I know, who has dedicated his talent to advancing the kingdom locally through the church. Justin Miller, who is using his business-IQ to leverage the church's resources to Care for AIDS and spread the gospel in Kenya. Will Killmer, a true scholar, who has traded a chance at an elite, niche professorship in linguistics for training to bring the gospel to all languages.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Cor. 1:4)
