Featured In the world but not of the world

Here's a song by LeCrae called "Don't Waste Your Life" (yep - from John Piper). I think the words are spot on!

I know a lot of people that are scared they gon' die,
Couple of 'em thinkin' they'll be livin' in the sky
While I'm here livin' man I gotta ask why,
What am I here for I gotta figure out,
Waste my life, no I gotta make it count,
If Christ is real then what am I gon do about,
Everything in Luke 12:15 down to 21 ya really gotta go and check it out,
Paul said if Christ aint resurrected we wasted our lives,
Well that implies that our lives built around Jesus being alive,
Everyday I'm livin tryna to show the world why,
Christ is more than anything you'll ever try,
Better than pretty women and sinning and living to get a minute of any woman and men that you admire
It aint no lie!
We created for Him,
Outta of the dust he made us for Him,
Elects us and he saves us for Him,
Jesus comes and he raises for Him,
Magnify the Father, why bother with something lesser?
He made us so we could bless Him, (Bless Him)
To the world we confess Him,
Resurrects Him,
So I know I got life,
Matter fact better man I know I got Christ,
If you don't see His ways in my days and my nights,
You can hit my breaks you can stop my lights,
Man I lost my rights, lost my life,
Forget the money, cars and toss that ice,
The cost is Christ,
And they can never offer me anything on the planet that'll cost that price

Suffer, yeah, do it for Christ,
You're tryna to figure out what to do with ya life,
You make a lot of money hope your doin' it right,
Because the money is God's, you better steward it right,
Stay focused, you ain't got no ride,
Your life ain't wrapped up in what you drive,
The clothes you wear, the job you work,
The color your skin, nah you're Christian first,
People think they livin for a job,
Make a little money start living for a car,
Get em a wife, a house, kids and a dog,
Then they retire, they living high on the hog,
But guess what? They didn't ever really live at all,
To live is Christ, and that's Paul I recall,
To die is gain and for Christ we give it all,
He's the treasure you'll never find in a mall,
See your money, your singleness, marriage, talents, your time,
They were loanin you to show the world that Christ is divine,
That's why it's Christ in my rhymes,
That's why it's Christ all the time,
See my whole world is built around Him,
He's the life in my lines,
I refused to waste my life,
He's too true to chase that ice,
Here's my gift and time,
'Cause I'm constantly tryna to be used to praise the Christ,
If He's truly raised to life,
Then this news should change your life,
And by His grace you can put your faith in the place that rules your days and nights
YES!


More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/l/lecrae/

 

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross
Lift high the royal banner, it must not suffer loss
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead
Til every foe is vanquished and Christ is Lord indeed

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey
Forth to the mighty conflict in this His glorious day
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone
This arm of flesh will faith you, ye dare not trust your own
Put on the gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer
Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor's song
To Him that overcometh, a crown of life shall be
He with the King of glory, shall reign eternally.


Where does it exalt men??

 

I guess you didn't read the third verse.

The song is clear. James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

I don't see anything in this song that is unscriptural or where it is to rob God of his glory.

 

What's wrong with saying "God, why did you love me? Why did you choose me? What can I do to possibly match that kind of love that you showed me? Help me to show others the love that you've given me."

That's exactly what I'm reading in that song.

 

As I'm reading Bonhoeffer, I could totally see him asking this or anyone else going through a struggle. I don't see why this would have anything to do with "works" but instead asking God to give us the strength to get through today. Honestly, when my daughter was in the hospital dying, I basically prayed similarly.

 

Have you read Psalm 13?

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

How about the beginning of Psalm 22?

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest.

Then there is Psalm 74;

O God, why do you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old,
which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!
Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;
the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!
4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place;
they set up their own signs for signs.
5 They were like those who swing axes
in a forest of trees.
6 And all its carved wood
they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire;
they profaned the dwelling place of your name,
bringing it down to the ground.
8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;
they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs;
there is no longer any prophet,
and there is none among us who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the fold of your garment[c] and destroy them!

Exactly. There is NOTHING that would match the love of God. That's just what he's saying. Whatever we can do pales in comparison to what God has done.

Huh?? He's asking God's guidance - not that he's climbing to gain grace but instead he's asking God to show him where to go - what to do. Don't you ever do that? "God, show me the path to take with this decision."

Amen!! He saw that it was not up to him but God.

No - How about maybe it's something like "Oh God, help me through this. Give me the strength to go another day because I can't do it on my own." I guess you've never been in a situation where you were beyond yourself but I have. I was watching my 21 year old daughter die and I couldn't get through that time on my own strength. On my own strength, I wanted to scream and cry and punch something. But in God's strength, I knew He was in control. How do you think martyrs went to their death - on their own strength or God's? It's not about salvation - it's about pressing on towards the goal - the prize in Christ Jesus.

 

I guess you've never cried out to God in a moment of dispair.