Looking to Christ in Generosity, Contentment, and Integrity

The following is a college paper I wrote based on a lecture by Mr. Jim Rickard, the director of the Stewardship Services Foundation. The lecture entitled, “Personal Finance Management Principles” underscored fourteen practical steps to the wise management of the resources God has entrusted to our care. At the heart of his lecture were three foundational points for the believer, which I have attempted to uncover in this paper.

From the Stewardship Services Foundation website:

The Stewardship Services Foundation is a privately funded, non-profit corporation established for the singular purpose of serving the fundamental Christian community. The Foundation offers you and your church several important stewardship services: Estate Planning Seminars which includes counseling on Wills and Living Trusts, Income Tax Seminars including the preparation of Federal and State returns for ministers, Family Finance Seminars, and Church Leadership Seminars.

May you be built up.

-Joshua

“You can't have one foot on earth and the other in heaven, it compartmentalizes your life.” These piercing, timely words of Mr. Jim Rickard summarize the epitome of the battle we as believers face daily; a battle over our loyalties; A battle over submission; a battle over who will rule over the throne of our hearts, either God, or our fleshly indulgence, but never both. In speaking to the issue of yoking in his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul says “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14 - ESV).

If in our daily interaction with others we are commanded to reject any notion of entertaining darkness; how much more so in our own lives, in our own struggle with the sinful nature? This astounding dichotomy of natures, nestled deep within the heart of every believer, fabricates a surging war between obedience and rebellion (Romans 7). With lustful hearts bent upon arrogant rebellion, how often do we gaze upon material things to the degree that we become convinced our lives are hopelessly miserable apart from amassing wealth and goods that promise satisfaction, but result in absolute misery; that promise fulfillment, but in actuality, produce the sad and horrific realization of emptiness? What must we do to guard our hearts against attraction to a godless world of material gain? I believe the answer is found in how we practice generosity, contentment, and integrity, the three foundational points outlined by Mr. Rickard in his lecture.

Mr. Rickard spoke for quite some time, and rightly so, about the superior importance of practicing generosity. Its significance is unquestionable and our understanding and acceptance of it absolutely imperative. In fact, as was outlined in the lecture, generosity forms the root of every other financial issue simply because if I refuse to be generous then what I have is a much deeper, much more concerning problem; a lack of desire for obedience and a refusal to acknowledge, by my actions, that God is the provider and sustainer. This type of detrimental thinking meets its logical conclusion in a conceited self-reliance that, if left unchecked, could result in eventual apostasy. Moreover, such an outlook will undoubtedly lead to a foolish lifestyle that uses resources to glorify self, rather than God. This begs the question, how do I get generosity right? Simple. By not starting with generosity. Beginning with the surface issue, namely generosity, gets me nowhere when the root issue is my view of God. Having a right view of God instinctively leads to a right view of generosity. Conversely, I can never start with generosity and arrive at a right view of God because I have started by looking at self rather than gazing at Christ. As believers, we understand this, but what about unbelievers?

Giving, donating, charity, and philanthropy are just a few words that are familiar to, but not comprehended by, most people in our world. Indeed they cannot comprehend - apart from Christ. They give when compelled by a mounting sense of urgency or to gain status with peers and coworkers. Some will give only when they feel like it, and still others from a mere sense of obligation or because they have deceived themselves into believing that it will somehow gain them greater favor with God. What is wrong with all of these reasons and many more besides is the motivation behind the giving. It is self-centered. “I will give when I think it is necessary, I will give to impress peers, I will give when I feel like it, I will give to impress God so He will bless me.”

We should not expect anything other than such self-centered motivation from unbelievers. After all, they are ignorant to the truth. However, the sad reality is how well such motivations oftentimes describe believers. In some cases the sinful motivation of our hearts might be blatantly obvious (as was seen in the paragraph above), but astonishingly subtle in others. Nevertheless, in either case, we must be diligent to avoid the trap of serving self under the guise of serving God. Motivation does matter. This is probably most powerfully illustrated in the offerings of Cain and Abel recorded in Genesis chapter four. Ultimately, Cain's offering was not rejected because it was not a lamb, like Abel's offering. It was rejected because Cain's motivation in giving was not to worship God.

In light of these things, what should be the correct motivation in my giving? Simply this, love accompanied by joy. Jesus says in John 14:23 (ESV), “...If anyone loves me, he will keep my word...” Our love for God drives us to obedience. Anything other than love falls remarkably short. The joy which should accompany my giving is not bound by circumstances, moods, or emotions, but is a Spirit enabled state of mind that remains unshaken, come what may. In addressing this very issue, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:6-9 (ESV):

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.

Loving obedience must serve as the primary motivation for my giving, but there is still more involved. I should be compelled to give because of the unparalleled opportunity to use my resources to help those in need and to advance the glorious gospel of Christ. James 1:27 (ESV) says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” While this command's boundaries extend far beyond money, I should generously offer whatever I have, including money, in loving obedience to help those in need. The Christian is always to be reaching out toward others with the love of Christ, seeking justice for the oppressed and the needy and continually pursuing after the heart of God in being acquainted with the response He requires of us in meeting the needs of the helpless and afflicted. The response, or lack of response, I have to the needs surrounding me also aids in proving the legitimacy or illegitimacy of my faith. Genuine saving faith will lead to action, because faith requires obedience.

Generosity, then, is an outward manifestation of the state of our hearts' dependence upon God alone to save and sustain. To the world it is nonsensical deprivation. But to us, generosity is indicative of simple trust in the kind providence and sovereignty of God. It is rejecting the pervasive attitude of gluttonous self-gratification and replacing it with perpetual contentment. The writer of Hebrews confidently asserts, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” - Hebrews 13:5 (ESV). Here the author reminds his readers of the blessed assurance we have in God's affectionate promise to never leave nor forsake us. His objective being that, in looking to Christ, we might relinquish our grasp to the material and forgo our little efforts to become self-sufficient, recognizing instead that He is all we need! We do not need Jesus plus a larger income. We just need Jesus. In fixing our gaze upon Him, we are assured that He will supply all that is necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). There is truly nothing lacking in Him. He is all-together sufficient. Contentment is found only in its source, Jesus Christ. And until we are content in looking only to Him, we will never be content with what He has given.

So, then, there is a fascinating duality at work here. Lasting contentment on the material level can only be found as a result of unceasing contentment in Christ, which can only be discovered from an ever-present discontentment with self and the current level of our comprehension of and meditation on Christ. Conformity to Christ demands a certain level of discontentment with our current state. Pressing on requires us to first acknowledge that there is something to move away from and something infinitely greater to move toward. It should be stated that this type of discontentment is not pitiful self-debasement, but is a humble desire for more of Christ, born from a cognizance of how little we know Him. Furthermore, this discontentment should not be confused with ingratitude. Rather, with hearts full of thanksgiving for all that Christ is, has done, and has revealed we persevere.

Finally, Integrity forms the cap-stone atop the foundation. It comprises the ethical standards of our conduct. Devoid of a Biblical standard, however, integrity is worthless because its roots are in man's thoughts and reasoning. As with generosity and contentment, integrity begins with looking to Jesus. In doing so, Christ and His word become increasingly more sufficient and we regulate our lives to the authority of His word. Financially, this means being guided by Scripture in the discharge of our funds, being honest in our dealings, using proper judgment and scrutiny, and being a trustworthy people.

These three points, though not exceedingly practical, are the building blocks for financial success. By success, I do not necessarily mean wealth, though I by no means exclude it. Success, Biblically, is responsibly managing the resources God has entrusted to my care and exploiting them to have the most effect for the gospel. After all, everything material will perish. As Mr. Rickard noted, earthly treasures are tools to be used in service to God. “We must pour our lives into people,” Mr. Rickard said, because they are of eternal value. Practical steps will fall into place, as long as Christ is kept at the center. May God grant me grace to seek His face and never turn away, no matter the amount of worldly pressure and opposition that surrounds me. He is worthy; may He find me faithful.    

    

Hymn to Hope

Hi all!

Wanted to share a video project with you that we just released online. 

Watch and share on your blogs, Twitter feeds, Facebook pages, emails...we want to try and reach as many people as possible with this video.

Thanks everyone,

Joshua

The Hunger Games: The World Is Watching

The ironic tagline "The World Will Be Watching" for the blockbuster movie The Hunger Games has proven true as audiences around the world are entering the movie theater to watch a movie about a future society that televises children killing each other.

The internet's been all ablaze about this film over the last couple of weeks. Parents have been asking whether this is a movie they should let their kids see. Public Schools have taken classes of students to view what I believe are the logical results of evolutionary indotrination. So, is The Hunger Games worth seeing?

Short answer: No!

There is so much that is wrong with The Hunger Games and so many things I could highlight in this blog post. Since I have not watched this film, I can't give you an in depth look at what's wrong with it. I can't uncover the plot and explain details. But based on my viewing of the trailer and what I've read about the film online, I have enough information to make a judgment call. I am grateful for those who have previewed this film and offered their shrewd critiques from a distinctly Biblical perspective. It's been very helpful for me in my personal evaluation.

Although I am grateful for those who have watched it for the purpose of review, this is one of those films that I would strongly urge others to not even bother trying to view. It takes a great amount of maturity, scrutiny, and Biblical discernment to sit amidst a storm of humanistic, evolutionary, violent, feministic, atheistic thought and come out from the experience with your views intact. As with any movie you watch, you will not come away from this viewing experience unaffected. Even though we hate to admit it, every movie we see has an affect on us to some degree.

At it's heart, The Hunger Games is a movie that is reflective of the evolutionary, humanistic worldview of our culture. It's a film about the survival of the fittest. It's a film based on a book series that took a self-conscious approach at critiquing the blood lust of our culture...by giving us more violence.

Yeah, doesn't work.

It's a film that desensitizes audiences to the reality of violence and glamorizes it in the form of a grand killing game. Unfortunately and ironically, the only thing this kind of film will succeed in doing for our culture is giving us a greater thirst for movies with more bloodshed. For two hours, audiences are submerged into a world where human life is about as valuable as the squirrel I killed a few weeks ago. In this civilization, the evolutionary process for the human, though portrayed as enhanced because of his robot-like existence, has really devolved into bloodthirsty animals who will only survive another day of his measly existence if he can beat the other guy, or in this case a girl.

I find it rather interesting that with the release of this film, we're about to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of one of the greatest acts of manly chivalry; the sacrifice of the men on board the Titanic. That night, on April 15th, 1912, the cry was "women and children first!" Men willingly and nobly laid down their lives to save hundreds of women and children from certain death. These men had been trained by a generation that accepted a Biblical view of men and women. A view which recognizes that men and women have distinct roles. Both are created equal, but God has assigned a created order, consistent with both the nature of the Godhead and the relationship between Christ and His church, which requires that men lead and protect women (Ephesians 5:22-33).

The Hunger Games is reflective of a culture that is trying desperately to eliminate all distinctions between genders. This film not only shows adults delighting in the slaughter of children, but men and women ruthlessly killing one another without the slightest regard. What an incredible contrast between what was witnessed 100 years ago and what is now being promoted on-screen. Men don't protect women in this movie. They kill them.

An interesting point brought up by Kevin Swanson in his review of the film (see here), is that the men in the movie either shrink back in the heat of conflict or are effeminate. Men are weak and worthless, according to this movie. The filmmakers used this to illustrate that in a crumbling society the only people we can count on to help us are the strong women. Without having to utter any explicit dialogue anywhere in the movie, godly manhood is demeaned and ever absent, while feminism's agenda is made readily apparent.

The only word of praise I have for this film is the sheer brilliance with which the filmmakers have molded their worldview into their “masterpiece.” A worldview made abundantly clear to anyone who will actually take the time to think about the dangerous messages being forced upon them as they consume Coke and popcorn. Sadly, many people are so compelled by the story of the heroine, Katniss, that they can't see beyond the silver screen and are totally enveloped into a world of death, and they love it. In fact, they love to love it.

Now, before you lash out at me, let me explain to you why you love the heroine so much and are led to believe that the choices she makes throughout the film are good. It all starts with a little screenwriting principle called “Save the Cat.” A phrase invented by acclaimed author and screenwriter Blake Snyder to describe a certain moment in a film. What is it?

It's the scene where we meet the hero and the hero does something - like saving a cat - that defines who he is and makes us, the audience, like him. - Blake Snyder - Save The Cat

This principle is a crucial moment in any film, but one that many screenwriters actually forget to include. This seemingly insignificant moment in a movie can endear you to a truly worthy hero. But it can also be used by the screenwriter to make you love the most despicable characters, or to make you sympathize with actions you otherwise would condemn. And boy did Gary Ross (screenwriter) remember it when writing The Hunger Games! To top it off, it seems to be working. What is the "Save the Cat" moment in The Hunger Games?

Well, you don't have to watch the actual movie to find out. The filmmakers put it in the trailer which can be seen above. It begins at about 29 seconds.

You, the viewer, are first endeared to Katniss when she saves her little sister Primrose from having to serve as "tribute" in the games. You see her panicked face and you hear her screams. You see her willingly offer herself in place of her sister and from this point on you couldn't care less whether the heroine does something good or horrid, she performed one good act and her plight now becomes your all consuming focus. Because of Katniss' single selfless act, you will cheer her on no matter how brutal, violent, immoral, or otherwise sinful her actions are. Ladies and gentlemen, that's the dangerous power of film.

In what way does God appear in this motion picture? Well, He doesn't. No one honors Him as Lord or worships Him as King. Man still finds a way to degrade and dishonor Him, however, by taking His name in vain. Because of the fact that those in this dystopian civilization reject God, man is now no longer seen as being made in the image of God. Therefore, if man is no longer perceived as being created in the image of God, he's nothing more than an animal. If man's nothing more than an animal, barbaric brutality and violence become acceptable.

All morality and ethics are also thrown out the door because there is no God who establishes a higher moral standard. Man is free to do as he pleases. Since man is free to do whatever he wants, as the viewer, you are presented with yet another reason to sympathize with each murder the heroine commits. You justify her actions because of the circumstances she's in rather than evaluating them against the Word of God. Furthermore, if there is no God and man is free to do what he wants, then man is not answerable to anyone, can create his own rules, and his salvation is found within himself (humanism). As a result, in the film, Katniss' salvation isn't dependent upon anything but her own will-power to fight and a lucky medallion.

As a culture moves farther away from God, it begins to take a perverted delight in the most unseemly things. Gone are the days when men like Robert E. Lee could look out on battlefields strewn with the bodies of slain men and say, “It is good that war is so horrible, or we might grow to like it.” Now we see death and our hearts rejoice and we clamor for more. Films such as these are training our minds to desire what God hates. May God have mercy upon us and restore to us a right and Biblical view of violence, lest we follow in the path of previous civilizations and begin entertaining the masses with the destruction of human life.

This is the worldview of The Hunger Games and this is what our world is rejoicing over at the box office.

Why did I decide to write about this movie? For a few reasons. First I wanted to strongly urge readers of this blog who have not seen the movie to simply not watch it. Second, if you have seen it, I want you to be informed as to the underlying worldview of this film so that you won't be deceived. Third, I want you to be prepared to answer/confront others about why films like this are so dangerous.

For all you filmmakers, a critical lesson should not be overlooked here: no matter how honorable your intentions, do not try and critique our society's problem of consuming violence by showing them more violence. Our sinful nature is drawn to bloodshed like a magnet and will only respond by asking for more. This doesn't mean violence in film is bad, not at all. There is a proper way for the Christian to handle violence in film, but it must be within the bounds of the law of God.

Finally, I want to use this post to give a plug for a film that my brother and I were honored to be a part of. It's called Captivated. Amongst so many many other important issues relative to our consumption of media, Captivated addresses the issue of violence in film and the danger of desensitization. Please order a copy of this film today if you don't already have one! Instead of watching The Hunger Games, gather your family around, watch this documentary, and then discuss it together.

Buy Captivated here!

If you're interested in reading more about The Hunger Games, John-Clay Burnett of ReelCast Productions has compiled an excellent article about the film on his blog. I highly recommend it! Click here to read.

Stand Fast in the Faith,

Joshua

Rescued - Trailer

The trailer for Rescued has arrived! Check out what Hedrick Brothers Productions and Wintons Motion Pictures have been up to the last several months. Please help spread the word by embedding the video in your blogs, Facebook pages, and emails :)

Rescued: The Heart of Adoption and Caring for Orphans - Trailer from Rescued The Movie on Vimeo.

Also, the newly launched website for Hedrick Brothers Productions is now online. Follow this link to stay up to date with what we're doing: www.hedrickbrothersproductions.com

Joshua

Taking Every Thought Captive to the Obedience of Christ

Many men exhort each other to take their thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. Does this exhortation merely encourage men to think upon good things? What does it mean for a man to take his thoughts captive? The answer lies in the recognition that the Christian life is war, war between the carnal flesh and regenerate spirit. It lies in understanding the context and language used to communicate this truth. It lies in understanding that keeping our minds focused upon Christ is a discipline developed through the process of sanctification.

The Christian life is war. Every day our flesh struggles under the weight of the curse (Gen. 3). As a born again follower of Jesus Christ (John 3:3), we are now no longer subject to the condemnation of God (Romans 8:1-2). Nevertheless, believers still retain a sinful nature by means of Adam's sin, imputed to all mankind. The resulting clash of natures is described by Paul in Romans 7. Satan strives to utilize the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) to gain strongholds in our lives. It's a war that begins and ends in the mind of the believer; an ongoing, raging, spiritual war to either live our lives in submission to the Lordship and sovereignty of Christ or in subjection to the enemy. This command, to take every thought captive, supports other instructions in Scripture (like Romans 12:2) to be continually renewing our minds and dwelling upon what God deems lovely.

We are commanded in Colossians 3:2 to set our minds on things above. This exhortation is at the heart of taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ; it's dying to self and choosing instead to stand fast in the grace and power of Christ by thinking upon that which God declares holy and righteous. It's a discipline of arresting our thoughts and evaluating them against Scripture, a discipline developed through the process of sanctification. Philippians 4:8 tells us that which God deems worthy of our mind's attention. Furthermore, the command is given that we might not fall prey to false ideologies. Scripture must always serve as the filter through which all thoughts and opinions are carefully and scrupulously evaluated that we may not be deceived. However, this command is not just for the individual believer.

Additionally, taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ is striving, in the power of Christ, to pull down Satan's strongholds. It's cultural war. Our world is filled with false views rooted in the destructive reasoning of fallen man. As Christians, it is our duty to determine which ideas are consistent with the teaching of Scripture and which ideas are based upon the opinions of men. It's casting down vain imaginations, creations of man, falsehoods, and the like with the inerrant, authoritative, sufficient Word of God. We do this by proclaiming the gospel and its doctrines to anyone who dares to raise any lofty opinion against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:4).

Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is, most certainly, a multifaceted command that requires an understanding of the battle raging in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12), submission to the Lordship and sovereignty of Christ, the discipline to think upon that which God declares holy and righteous, and a readiness to destroy Satan's strongholds with Scripture. In its very essence, it summarizes the whole mission of the Christian. For it calls us to conform to the image of Christ by walking in His marvelous grace, and endorses the Christian's responsibility to proclaim this glorious gospel and its doctrines to all. The doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture forms the basis for this command. Without it, the Christian has no guide with which to direct his thoughts and actions. By living in absolute conformity to His ways and in submission to the dictates of His holy Word, we are taking our thoughts captive to the obedience of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Men, let's encourage and exhort one another in the battle to take our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.

Stand Fast!

Joshua

Rescued the Movie

Wondering why I haven't blogged in a while? Here's why :)

Check out Hedrick Brothers Productions and Wintons Motion Pictures latest project at www.rescuedthemovie.com

Below is a sample of one of the interviews we shot a little over a week ago. To see more footage of the film click here!

Stand Fast,

Joshua

Beyond the Mask

The day's here! Burns Family Studios announces their latest project, entitled Beyond the Mask. Please take a moment to view their website at www.beyondthemaskmovie.com where you can see a synopsis of the film, a video introducing you to the vision for the project, and a link to the KickStarter site where you can read more information about the film and donate to support the production.

Beyond the Mask Movie from Burns Family Studios on Vimeo.

Please help by spreading the word!

In Christ,

Joshua