April 21, 2010 in Uncategorized with 35 Comments

Information Doesn’t Equal Transformation

Each year I go through a One Year Bible. I’m ashamed to say that I don’t read every single day, but I’m fairly consistent. I usually only fall a day or two behind. I was stressed the other day because I hadn’t read in like 3 days. I sat down and just started reading trying to cram three days reading into a 30-minute setting.

In that moment I felt like God was asking me this question:  Justin, do you equate information about Me for the transformation that I long to bring to your life?

I’ve read the one-year Bible three years in a row now, but do I love others more? Am I more forgiving? Do I have more patience, kindness and gentleness in my life now than I did three years ago? Or, am I just accumulating information and equating it with transformation?  I know a bunch about Jesus. I know a ton about the Bible. I know a ton about being a Christian…but does what I know change me?

We have more access to Bibles and sermons and blogs and devotions and conferences and retreats and books and audio books and electronic books and web sites than any generation in human history…but is it changing us? Is all the information transforming me…transforming you?

The disciples had very little information. They were pretty much set up for failure by our standards. There was no handbook; there was no instruction manual, no online customer service. They go to a mountain, and Jesus starts floating up in the sky and He says: “go to the entire world; teach everything I’ve taught you; baptize people; disciple people; and I’m with you…in Spirit only cause I’m going to heaven.”

With such little information a revolution was born. But has the revolution I long to be a part of sought to be informed more than its desired to be transformed? If I’m honest I say yes.

Here is what I am reminded of today:

I don’t need more information to have a better marriage….I need to be a more loving husband.

I don’t need more information to let go of resentment…I need to choose to forgive, then choose to forgive again, and again.

I don’t need more information to grow in my faith…I need to surrender control.

I don’t need more information to have deeper friendships…I need to be a better friend.

I don’t need more information to know God’s will…I need to apply what I know about God to my life.

When you and I trade transformation for just more information we are reduced to external changes in our lives that might make us appear closer to God, but really leave us unchanged.

Do you find it easier to seek information than to embrace transformation?

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  • http://www.jessiwhitt.wordpress.com Jessi

    Life transformation follows thought renovation!…. Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
    My recent post Iron Chef Jessica

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Great thoughts Jessi…thank you!

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  • http://www.anewcreation33.wordpress.com Mercedes

    Another blinder of a post which puts a massive challenge on the table to churches and their leadership: Stop accumulating more information by attending retreats, conferences, seminars, and reading dozens of books, hearings hours of teaching. Ask the Lord in prayer daily for transformation and begin to take seriously the call to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

    Information does not equal transformation. Indeed, it does not. I believe in many instances it has become a detriment to it, because many are under the delusion that just because they know much, they love much and there is nothing further from the truth.

    Thank you for allowing me to comment and for revealing some more of God's heart today.

    Bless you
    My recent post Hell and Heaven all at once – Part 2

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Mercedes…thank you.

  • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/jennyrain jennyrain

    when God gets ahold of me with a certain passage, it drives me into research mode. I want to know what the original language (usually He grabs me a phrase at a time, and then a word w/in a sentence). So I go on a hunt…

    That hunt usually leads me to some discovery, opens up that word for me – then it gets stuck in my brain for the day… i begin asking "what does that mean for my life now?" "what do I need to learn from it?" "why that particular scripture TODAY?"

    Sometimes God will put an impression of a certain scripture, or part of a scripture in my heart… again, i become Dora the Explorer until I find it and inquire…

    When I am anxious… hurried… or tired… I don't search. When I don't search, I don't dig deeper, when I don't dig deeper, I stay in the shallow end of the pool.

    The shallow end sux.
    My recent post The Chicken Truck

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      It's like the shallow end of the pull has a gravitational pull on our hearts huh? Great thoughts Jenny!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert
  • http://intensedebate.com/people/JasonWert JasonWert

    Fantastic post, Justin. It's so easy to sit and read and learn and get intellectually fat on Jesus because you don't have to deal with other human beings when you do it. I don't know how many times I've found myself in that place where I've learned a ton but haven't put it to use.
    My recent post Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thanks Jason…I'm totally with you!

  • http://godisdoinganewthing.blogspot.com Heidi

    Oh, Justin! AMEN! I am in a Precept Upon Precept bible class. My bible is well marked. I have loads of colored pens and pencils, notes in my bible margins. Do I take *pride* in how well marked my bible is? Or do I bow before the Lord of ALL the Universe and beg him to take my life and change me, transform me? He sends forth his WORD and heals, according to the psalmist, but will I submit to the changes he wants to work in me? I sometimes worship the Word of God more than the God of the Word. It is odd how the Bible can be an idol for me. :-/
    My recent post Apprehended…

    • BigTsButterfly

      I know you know this Heidi but the Word of God is God… Your heart seems to be in the right place… I think PRIDE is the idol to beware of. STUDYING the Bible can certainly become an idol if what gives us joy, meaning and purpose is the simple fact that we're studying it. We shouldn't take pride in our accomplishments not matter how noble they are. Our only boast should be that we KNOW Him, truly know Him, believing as John did, that " He must increase and I must decrease."

  • Jennifer

    Amen! That's so easy to do. God actually had me give up some of the "devotions" and things I was doing to spend quality time with Him being transformed instead of cramming a lot of information in and checking it off my to-do list. I am SO with you!

    Thanks for the reminder to be TRANSFORMED, not just informed.

    Blessings,
    Jennifer
    My recent post Fun

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Thanks Jennifer!

  • BigTsButterfly

    We heard these exact words this past Sunday from Siran Stacy, a former NFL player whose wife and four children were killed in a traffic accident in 2007. God is up to something with His people (as always)!
    It is an awesome thing to be able to hear from God thru His written word and thru His Spirit. Thank you for this.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      Wow…can't imagine that kind of tragedy! Thank you for your words!

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/pa3cia patricia

    stepping on soapbox for a moment…i know this has NOTHING to do with your post but i just want to say that matthew 28:19-20 is one of my FAVORITE scriptures ever… it's one that i embrace and live out as passionately as i can. our generation has taken the great commission all too lightly. we forget that this is a command.

    *steps off soapbox*

    with that being said…. i love your quote: "When you and I trade transformation for just more information we are reduced to external changes in our lives that might make us appear closer to God, but really leave us unchanged."

    great post once again. you both have a way with words that touches people's hearts.
    My recent post vessels of hope.

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      I love that you felt comfortable to get on your soapbox it was a good one!
      Thanks Trish…did you get your book?

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/pa3cia patricia

        not yet =( i dont think the address that i gave to you exists so im hoping you get it back. if you do, could you send the book back to me? i can send you a check to pay for shipping and i PROMISE to give you the right address this time ;)

        LOL! sorry about that…that was not my plan… talk about the irony of the whole plan a, plan b =D

      • http://intensedebate.com/people/pa3cia patricia

        not yet =( i dont think the address that i gave to you exists so im hoping you get it back. if you do, could you send the book back to me? i can send you a check to pay for shipping and i PROMISE to give you the right address this time ;)

        LOL! sorry about that…that was not my plan… talk about the irony of the whole plan a, plan b =D

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Kevin_Martineau Kevin_Martineau

    "When you and I trade transformation for just more information we are reduced to external changes in our lives that might make us appear closer to God, but really leave us unchanged."

    Great challenge and reminder Justin (especially for someone who is at a conference right now:)
    My recent post Get a Firm Grip

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

      It wasn't a slam against conferences :) Thanks for the encouragement Kevin. I hope God shows up for your big time while you are there!

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  • Cyndy

    Ouch! Information doesn't = transformation……………Simply put ~ but stung like the implact of a 2×4 right between the eyes!
    Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
    From my concordance:"God has not left us alone in our struggles to do his will. He wants to come alongside us and within us to help. He helps us want to obey him and then gives us the power to do it.
    (&here's the "kicker"……)The secret to changing our lives is to SUBMIT to his control & let him work in us."
    I struggle with that one, too and will be chewing on the information…. while He continues His transformation!

    Another awesome post!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/davisfamily05 Justin and Trisha

    Thanks Cyndy…submission is something that seems so easy in my mind and so hard to embrace with my heart!

  • http://www.bringbackjason.com/ Patrick

    It wasn’t a slam against conferences :) Thanks for the encouragement Kevin. I hope God shows up for your big time while you are there!