Pleasing God Isn’t That Hard

Christian ethics is a large subject.  It includes living out specific practices articulated in the Bible, while at the same time grasping its broader principles of holiness in order to navigate well the complexities of life.

But at its core, its personal meaning is that of simply pleasing God.  We must ask questions like:  “How might I please God?”  “How might I please God more?”  “How might we be even more pleasing to God as His church?

Getting the Attitude Right

The Thessalonian church was full of new Christians, only three months down the road in their walk with God at most.  They were at the very beginnings of their development, but they were eager to please God.  This disposition would put them on the fast track to Christian maturity; and they would soon take the lead as a model church for the world to follow.

The Apostle Paul considered strong ethical instruction part of basic discipleship for new believers.  They are more likely to obey early on than later if they are allowed to continue unchallenged on any immorality or ethical lapses.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 ESV “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”

It is not uncommon today to do the opposite, fearing offending or losing new converts.  Perhaps this is one reason why there are so many so-called “Christians” who do not even meet minimum moral standards, who are constantly asking questions about living as undisciplined as possible, and who have such little consideration of, or concern for, what truly pleases God.

Developing Spiritual Instincts

Christian Ethics are all about pleasing God.  The concept of pleasing God is so helpful and so challenging.  It is so much more helpful than a list of rigid rules.  And it is so much more challenging than simply living by a few moral generalizations.

Pleasing God is not about being reactionary against unbiblical standards, nor is it found in self-righteously liking them.  The first leads to confusion and lack of definition.  The second misses out on happiness and depth of understanding.  

It isn’t that hard.  The concept of pleasing God implies that Christians can have their instincts trained by the Holy Spirit.  As maturity is described in Hebrews 5:14 ESV “they have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

Move Out, Move Ahead

It requires true spirituality to move beyond rules and regulations, and relying on a Christian culture of policing one another’s lives.  Likewise, it requires true spirituality to leave the realm of culture-bound human reasonings and personal preferences on morality and honestly submit to God.

These are big questions to be asked in prayer, while simultaneously meditating upon the the Word of God and assessing our own lives:  “How might I please God?” and “How might I please God more?”  Embracing this larger concept is part of embracing the onward and upward call. 

Philippians 3:12–14 ESV “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Four Lackluster Church People

Romans 6 is one of the most common passages of Scripture used in teaching about Christian baptism.  These verses reach far beyond baptism and teach about our new life in Christ.

Romans 6:4–7 ESV “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

Our union with Christ is a mysterious and powerful personal relationship.  And it is through this union that we receive all the benefits of our salvation and new life.  

Difficult Spiritual Counseling

After reading Romans 6 it is puzzling to find church people lacking in spiritual vitality.  How would you counsel each of the following friends of yours?  What questions might you ask to lead them to consider their relationship with Jesus Christ?

1. A professing believer for 30 years, who is a pleasant and morally good person, but one without much visible Christian growth.  What is going on here?
2. A professing believer who continues to live in certain sins, and appears unconcerned about this, or only mildly bothered.  Why should they be concerned?
3. A person who wants to believe in Jesus Christ, but doesn't want too much of a changed life.  What are they missing?
4. A person who wants a changed life, but does not want to believe in Jesus Christ.  How much change can they expect?

Don’t Inspire Them, Rather Instruct Them

It is a mistake to attempt to inspire these people to perform like better Christians.  But this is often the approach taken in preaching at them and counseling with them.  They themselves often expect to hear this, and may even comply in hope that something good may happen.

We can’t counsel or convince people into union with Christ.  God alone does this.  And this teaching is exactly what we need to make known to them.  1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV “And because of him you are in [have a relationship with, united with] Christ Jesus.”

We don’t want to frustrate and confuse people about their relationship with Christ.  We want them to make their own comparison of their lives with the experience Scripture describes for a true Christian.  Let them think and wrestle with their souls before God.

While we wait, and probably have many more Gospel conversations with them, we pray for God to give His grace.  As it has been our experience described in 2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

O Lord, Smite My Enemies, But In A Loving Sort Of Way

Many of the Psalms contain imprecations, that is requests for God to bring judgment upon one’s enemies.  There are over a dozen Psalms with this as a major theme; and many others that contain such requests somewhere in the Psalm.

The first occurrence is in Psalm 3, and it is a strong statement.  Notice the certain confidence in the request in verse 7, “Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.”

What place do these Psalms have in our lives and ministries today?  We need to resist our urge to be repulsed and reject them as expressions of an outdated Old Testament religion.  Rather, how do we honor the Word of God, and value and use these passages of Scripture?

It is by considering the larger story of redemption that such prayers can become our prayers.

The Progress of the History of Redemption

We need to recognize the historical development in God’s plans which modifies our use of the imprecatory Psalms a bit.  For example, though we might experience similar situations as David, we still are not completely like David.  He was a directly anointed King over God’s people and had the ark of God’s presence in his midst.  We live at a different point in redemptive history.

Our Lord Jesus Christ came and established the New Covenant, inaugurated the Kingdom of God, and has given the Holy Spirit to His Church to preach His Gospel to the world in power.  We have a different task to perform, and different interests to protect, and different methodologies to employ.  The People of God today are a spiritual people united to Christ, and not embodying a political state; not until Christ returns.

We know we are to “love our enemies” and speak the Gospel of Christ to them, and so it doesn’t seem right to pray for opportunity to slaughter them with a sword.

Three Prayer Modulations for Moderation

We have to learn to pray the imprecations in a New Covenant manner, such as “Smite them on the jaw, and shatter their wicked teeth . . . but in a loving way, O Lord.”  This may sound strange, but it is not too poor of a way to express the change of tone required in our prayers.

First, we are not to give up on righteousness being upheld, but to pray and work for it earnestly.  Justice is a good thing.  We certainly must not take our own vengeance, but do pray that God will uphold His glory whatever it takes.  And a good test of our own heart is that we must be willing to see this glory and righteousness displayed even in our suffering and growth.

Second, we should enter humble self-examination before, and every time, we pray imprecations; and yet we can and should rejoice at God’s vindication of His holiness and our righteous cause when it comes.  Ultimately, we should desire our enemies’ salvation and even relational reconciliation as the best outcome.

Third, sometimes it is best that we pray our imprecation in a more general and eschatological sense, and less specifically upon individuals for the here and now.  This lifts our thoughts and sets our minds on the glory of God, and can be a safeguard against thoughts for personal vengeance.

2 Thessalonians 1:6–10 ESV “since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

These Psalms Address Our Experiences

Undoubtedly there are many times in our lives when concerns for justice and righteousness overwhelm us, whether it is a personal situation of ours, or it is the general condition of a society, or it is the suffering of the weak, or often most painfully when it is someone we know.

And the spectrum of injustice in the world is wide, from daily wrongs we endure all the way to the most infamous crimes of humanity.  These seemingly uncommon type of  Psalms actually address our common concerns in this world.

So, go ahead and use these imprecatory Psalms to pray for glorious victories and blessings from the Lord.  Look to God for more than just refuge, but for full deliverance, in such a way that you wake up each morning with confidence, joy, and song in your heart for the Lord’s new day!

(See related blog:  When Your Enemy Falls.)

Give It Time, Give It Effort

What do we as a church bring to the table?  What can we contribute that will be significant in His Mission?

Give It Time

Such questions about adding value in doing the mission are asked by many church leaders eager to make a focused impact for Christ in a specific part of the world. This might be in reference to a geographical area, people group, or partnering with an ongoing ministry or ministries.

Most likely, none of the potential partners will know the answers for a while.  So don’t be in a hurry.  Begin by focusing on relationships and doing a few small projects together.  Commit some time to encourage and develop leaders among all partners, praying for them and with them.

These value-added questions should be asked at the beginning when considering levels and types of ministry engagement.  But, the answers will not be readily apparent until some level of engagement begins.  

As things start moving forward and more definition is needed, the questions need to be asked again.  Answers to the questions will start emerging at this stage, and it will become much clearer whether God is putting together a partnership.  

Be prayerful, patient and active in trusting the Lord.  Give it time.  And if He keeps building a valuable partnership it becomes even more important to ask these value-added questions often to keep increasing ministry effectiveness together.

Give It Effort

Mission partnerships are not easy to start or sustain, and they rarely follow a straight path.  Finding and developing quality partnerships requires patience and perseverance.  The uncertainties will be demanding, and demanding of much prayer effort.

Don’t be cheap by trying to save money or find shortcuts; many churches hurt themselves and their potential partners and their ministries by doing such things.  Be faithful and make the investment of energy, people, and resources that is necessary.  It will be worth it in the end, whether a partnership forms or not.

Enjoy the on-site visits and the process of learning and doing ministry together.  Schedule plenty of down time to get to know one another well, and of course debrief the work, but especially to dream big and pray larger together.  This will help answer the value-added questions and help to better plan for the future.  It really does change all our lives and ministries to think bigger and think cooperation.

Not All Have What It Takes

Ultimately, we have to ask whether can we truly add value to the on-site ministry and do more together than we could separately, or whether it would be best not to partner but simply bless one another.  Regardless of the outcome, all the time and effort will have been valuable in the process for everyone.  And the relationships themselves may still continue. 

Many churches need to give more time and more effort to the process.  I have seen some churches jump in too early only to become discouraged.  I have seen other churches jump out too early only to become disheartened.  

We can’t “bottom-line” it so quickly.  And our congregations need help understanding this, and they need to be given opportunities to get further involved in the process. 

Does your church have what it takes to get to a focused mission partnership?