Rutkowski subtitled his book “The Journey to Identity, Passion and Purpose.” It has eight chapters that are largely filled with pleasant anecdotal materials. We learn that Todd, a Canadian, was quite a hockey player in his younger days and had to choose service to the King of Kings over a possibly very rewarding career in professional hockey.

We learn, too, of Todd’s father’s struggles, and how Todd dealt with what he wished was different. Todd reviews many things he has learned and experienced in his years with YWAM and with the Vineyard Association of Churches. I found it well written and encouraging.

Reviewed by H. Murray Hohns

Editor’s note: This brief review was originally published in 2006 on the Pneuma Foundation website, the parent organization of PneumaReview.com. Later included in the Fall 2021 issue.

These Things

Matthew 6:31-33 says, “So don’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.”

Why then, if we are not suppose to seek after ‘these things,’ are we encouraged to do exactly that from many pulpits? This type of error in teaching serves only to create disillusionment in the hearts of the people of God. Instead of being happy with what God has blessed us with ‘from day to day’, we sit in discontentment blaming God for not fulfilling His so called promises. (These teaching state that it is God’s will for us to all to drive a Lexus or something comparable and to wear the best of clothes, etc.) We feel like failures for not having ‘enough faith’ to even be able to buy the same kind of suit that the ‘Man of God’ is wearing — though he has thousands of people throwing money in his bucket at every service and we hold a nine to five job.

Let’s look at what the apostle Paul taught Timothy. Timothy had the responsibility of rearing the young church in Ephesus and was instructed to teach these things as ‘foundations for a godly life’ because false teachers had come into the young church who saw religion as a way to get rich (vs. 2b-5)

1 Timothy 6:6-11 Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

So what are we to pursue? According to this scripture, we are to pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. According to Matthew 6, this is summarized as the kingdom of God. It is clear that we are taught by both the apostle Paul and by our Lord Jesus to be content.

I hope you’re off to a great week. This week is a big week in my family. My mom’s birthday is today; So, Happy Birthday to my mama! I know… She has 8 children. But, each of us refers to her as “my mama.” (smile)

I was inspired by the sermon that Jim Wood, senior pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Norfolk, preached yesterday. The focus of his message was that Christians are called to a core identity of being “In Christ.”

Building on Jesus’ teachings in Mark’s Gospel (Mark 8:27-38; Mark 9:30-37; 42-50; and Mark 10:32-45), Rev. Jim explained that being “In Christ” means that we must die to our so-called status and agenda and become like servants to all.

Regardless of denominational or tradition affiliation, what’s important is not if I am baptist, methodist, pentecostal, presbyterian, etc.

What’s important is if we are truly “In Christ!”

In such a self-centered and selfish society a lesson about selflessness falls on deaf ears more times that it should.

Probably because we just don’t get it!

20th century theological educator Reinhold Niebuhr’s Moral Man and Immoral Society, he goes so far to say that we have become blinded by our “predatory self-interest.”

Jim’s sermon brings hope to a self-centered society. he explained that dying to Christ means “denying self, losing self, and forfeiting self;” but, not in a gnostic sort of way as in self-torture.

Indeed, we must take care of ourselves; but not for ourselves.

In The Cost of Discipleship, 20th century German Theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer explains the same lesson this way:

When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die. It may be a death like that of the first disciples who had to leave home and work to follow him, or it may be a death like Luther’s, who had to leave the monastery and go out into the world. But it is the same death every time—death in Jesus Christ, the death of the old man at his call.

We cannot truly serve God and His work in the world until we are truly OUT of self and IN Christ.

Let’s ponder this question: “Am I into my self? Or, am I into Christ? If I am into myself, I serve myself. If I am into Christ, I serve Christ. This means that I am willing to deny myself for Christ’s sake, lose myself in Christ, and forfeit my will to serve Christ and Christ’s agenda in the world.

What eternal joy and great privilege to serve the Lord!

Blessings,

Dr. Antipas

Image: Jan Tielens