At Evergreen Christian yesterday we talked about Hope. We commenced an Advent series that will last 4 weeks, covering the topics of Hope, Love, joy, and Peace. As I sat watching the film "Shawshank Redemption" today, Andy Dufresne's voice called to me at the end of the film. He said in a letter to his friend Red:
"Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
This was a continuation of an earlier conversation the two had while spending their 18th year in prison together (Red was at approx. 36 years). Andy had began to speak of music as a glorious object of hope, saying that in prison you need music so you don't forget "there are places in this world that aren't made out of stone. That there's something inside... that they can't get to, that they can't touch. That's yours."
Red asks, "What are you talking about?" To which Andy responds, "Hope." The final part of that conversation comes from the man who had been behind bars for nearly 40 years. He says, "Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."
Red was right. Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane. It is a simple act to concede defeat, to surrender. When a person is in the midst of difficulty the easiest move to make is to drop everything and become content. It is natural to become content in struggle because when it happens, things can only get better. If we constantly look forward to something with hope and that thing never comes, we are dealt a crushing defeat. To surrender all arms and to lose hope is to say that rescue will not come. In that, we protect ourselves from disappointment.
It is far more difficult to hope. It takes greater courage and determination to hope in something greater...but most of us do take that risk. Most humans dare to hope for a good life, a good marriage, a nice job, true love, quality friends, etc. When those things fail hope is lost, or it shifts to something else. But when there is nothing left- what do we hope in? When you are 80 and those dreams have passed, is there hope left? When you don't have money to pay for school, is there hope? When your marriage isn't what you expected it to be, is there hope? Can there be hope in the midst of the dark night of the soul?
My answer is a resounding yes. There is a part of us that "isn't made of stone. That they can't get to...that they can't touch. That's yours..." That part will not surrender hope at any point. And that part is from God. He created us as beings of hope, and gave us hope.
Thursday I spent most of the day choking back tears, holding back the dam of emotions that had welled up over time. That night the dam broke. The tears flooded my face and the all too familiar feeling of hopelessness warred against all that I knew. All my beliefs were thrust into action, and I was forced into action. It was in that place that this came to mind, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13). In calling to mind that the God I believe in is the God of Hope, He created hope. He stirred it in my heart to hope in something and in that moment to know that all was not lost. There was hope. Despair was defeated on the cross 2000 years ago and because of that I can now abound in hope. My soul is so filled with hope in knowing that one day I will see the sweet face of my Savior, the one who gave me hope, and my hope will become something more, it will become reality.
At the end of Shawshank Redemption, Red is walking across a beach in Mexico and narrating with these words- "I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend, and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."
You were right Red- hope is a dangerous thing. But hope in God does not go unfulfilled...will you dare to hope? Will you be so bold as to stare despair in the face knowing that the tunnel ends, and his mercies are new every morning? Will you hope? I hope you will.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Motivation
Every good investigator knows a suspect in a crime needs a motive. Motivation, or motive in particular, is something that drives/forces us to act. Human beings have an infinite amount of motivators, of which the most prominent in my mind are power, fame, greed, influence (the Christian term for glory that we justify), greatness, legacy, and something I will call "like-ability." We are beings who desire to be accepted and approved in some way by those around us. Our time is either spent trying to get the spotlight, trying to keep the spotlight, or trying to avoid it so as not to draw attention to our folly. When we succeed we desire attention and praise, when we misstep we hope it is noticed by no one, and may it never be brought to light. Hold your head high, and when you stumble be certain to lift yourself from the ground and move on confidently. "Dust yourself off and try again" Aaliyah tells us. Unfortunately, I often feel like my moments to be esteemed are passed over whimsically, while my faults are brought to light readily by every living creature present (my dog reminded me of my selfishness just this evening).
We are such puzzling beasts, human beings. Most of our good deeds are done with selfish motives- self-glorification, adrenaline, heroism, etc- and yet we mask it with "humility" that is defined by the deflection of praise. This is no humility at all. We want so badly for our good deeds to be noticed, so that in the end they turn from selfless acts to self-serving acts. We wish to be viewed as great. Sherlock Holmes once said,
"You know a conjuror gets no credit when once he has explained his trick, and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all."
How it rings true in my soul that if people knew the real me they would see not just my very ordinary self, but even more so the wickedness of my heart. So, like the magician- we work to never ruin our "tricks." If we can keep people looking at the smoke and mirrors we may live a life smothered by "Ooohs and Aaahs" and at the end of our time be admired, heralded, maybe even touted (any time you can use the word touted in a blog it is a good day). And, if we're honest (which none of us ever are), we desire all of those things.
Problem- God calls us to make much of Him and not of ourselves. This isn't our nature. We are wired to seek our own glory and oh how we toil at building that legacy! We hide and shift and deceive in order to be regarded as great among men! Some of the scariest passages of Scripture to me are those like Romans 2:16 where Paul writes, "on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." To know that one day I will lay naked (metaphorically) before God, all my secrets and dark corners exposed, is a terrifying thought. And yet- if I am honest now my legacy is untainted when, on that day, according to my Gospel, God will judge by secrets by Jesus. People will not look on in disgust as a secret life of sin and shame are revealed...they will look on in eager longing for the revealing of the Sons of God. My body will be redeemed and they will see a broken man made whole again. They will see a man who claimed to be the chief of all sinners redeemed, cleaned, justified, sanctified, and pure before Christ.
So what have we to fear? Confession and transparency are messy work. But if they mean drawing nearer to God then are they not worth it? For HE is the motivation that sustains! He is the motivation that never fails, the passion that never subsides, the love that never dissipates! So rather than building my own legacy and chasing the wind in the life I have been given- allow me to step aside and build HIS legacy. Lord, Humble me so that all my works may glorify Christ and not myself! Let my motivation to see the name of Christ exalted and lifted high...may it never be my name. If this means humiliation and shame for a lifetime- let me not save face. I have great hope that the "face" I lose here will be lifted in Heaven to meet my glorious Savior as He allows me to enter in and rest.
Project- Try to do something this week to help someone. Bring them lunch, give them a loan, fix a car, do a favor, stay at the hospital, try anything. Only accept no payment and tell no one of it...see how difficult it is to refrain from seeking praise from men.
"“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:1-4
We are such puzzling beasts, human beings. Most of our good deeds are done with selfish motives- self-glorification, adrenaline, heroism, etc- and yet we mask it with "humility" that is defined by the deflection of praise. This is no humility at all. We want so badly for our good deeds to be noticed, so that in the end they turn from selfless acts to self-serving acts. We wish to be viewed as great. Sherlock Holmes once said,
"You know a conjuror gets no credit when once he has explained his trick, and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all."
How it rings true in my soul that if people knew the real me they would see not just my very ordinary self, but even more so the wickedness of my heart. So, like the magician- we work to never ruin our "tricks." If we can keep people looking at the smoke and mirrors we may live a life smothered by "Ooohs and Aaahs" and at the end of our time be admired, heralded, maybe even touted (any time you can use the word touted in a blog it is a good day). And, if we're honest (which none of us ever are), we desire all of those things.
Problem- God calls us to make much of Him and not of ourselves. This isn't our nature. We are wired to seek our own glory and oh how we toil at building that legacy! We hide and shift and deceive in order to be regarded as great among men! Some of the scariest passages of Scripture to me are those like Romans 2:16 where Paul writes, "on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." To know that one day I will lay naked (metaphorically) before God, all my secrets and dark corners exposed, is a terrifying thought. And yet- if I am honest now my legacy is untainted when, on that day, according to my Gospel, God will judge by secrets by Jesus. People will not look on in disgust as a secret life of sin and shame are revealed...they will look on in eager longing for the revealing of the Sons of God. My body will be redeemed and they will see a broken man made whole again. They will see a man who claimed to be the chief of all sinners redeemed, cleaned, justified, sanctified, and pure before Christ.
So what have we to fear? Confession and transparency are messy work. But if they mean drawing nearer to God then are they not worth it? For HE is the motivation that sustains! He is the motivation that never fails, the passion that never subsides, the love that never dissipates! So rather than building my own legacy and chasing the wind in the life I have been given- allow me to step aside and build HIS legacy. Lord, Humble me so that all my works may glorify Christ and not myself! Let my motivation to see the name of Christ exalted and lifted high...may it never be my name. If this means humiliation and shame for a lifetime- let me not save face. I have great hope that the "face" I lose here will be lifted in Heaven to meet my glorious Savior as He allows me to enter in and rest.
Project- Try to do something this week to help someone. Bring them lunch, give them a loan, fix a car, do a favor, stay at the hospital, try anything. Only accept no payment and tell no one of it...see how difficult it is to refrain from seeking praise from men.
"“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:1-4
Monday, October 12, 2009
Romans 7 Eats My Soul For Lunch
Paul opens Romans 7 by talking to brothers (those who know the law of the Old Testament), in saying that the law is only binding in life. Once death is reached, it no longer holds the person. Using the illustration of a woman who is married and her husband dies, she is free to marry again because death has set her and him free from the law. However, if a woman remarries while her husband is still alive, she is considered an adulteress. All this to point to the fact that the law is no longer binding upon death.
Here's where Paul chose to reach into my abdominal/torso area, pull out my soul, insert into mouth, and chew decidedly. He says likewise, like the woman whose husband had died, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, the one who was raised from the dead (Romans 7:4). Like the woman set free from the law by the death of her husband, we were set free from the law by the death of Christ. This is the reason Jesus must be fully human, if he were not, we would not have been granted freedom from the law. However, because of his perfection as a human being in not breaking the law of sin, he was declared innocent before God.
A law breaker (any normal human being), must bear the punishment of breaking the law, namely, in this case, death (Romans 6:23). In order for Jesus to be a sacrifice, he had to have been not guilty, otherwise, he was merely a sinner being punished for sin. But since he lived a sinless life, he had a "choice" to bear punishment in our stead. The punishment for our sin was death, and he bore that death on Good Friday. This is mind blowing to me- not only did he achieve for us eternal life, but he also died for us. I don't mean the metaphoric died for us in the sense that he loved us so much that he died for us, but in the most literal sense. We were supposed to die, and he did it instead. And Paul says that because he experienced death. all who would follow him for all time are also considered DEAD! I don't have to die to be dead? Seems odd.
Why this is important moves back to Romans 7. Verse 6 says that we may serve in a new way of the Spirit because we are no longer held captive by the law. We can bear fruit instead of bearing death. Why would I follow Jesus one might say? Well, because in Jesus we are dead. Oh what a joy you respond? Great joy is found in knowing that we are free from the law! The law that plagued man for centuries, that marked out morality and man continued to fail at. As every human in history fell short of the life they were called to, Jesus reached that mark. And in his death I consider myself dead and so freed from the law. Being freed from the law, there can be no transgression. Were the law not written I would never have known what it is to covet, had the law not said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7) If the law had not existed, then we would not have recognized sin, and never recognized our own sinfulness, leaving us without need for rescue. But the law was created, and it was holy, but sin seized the opportunity to lead us astray, and so we became slaves to sin. We knew what was wrong and what was right, and yet continued to do what we knew was wrong because we were slaves to sin.
I cannot keep the law. Being born of flesh, I am a slave to flesh, and flesh is sold to sin. It belongs to sin. This is why I prize death. Having died through Christ, my flesh dies- I take on his death as my own. In doing so, I am no longer a slave to sin and am able to bear fruit for Christ. I die with him, but am able to continue living here to do his work while in the flesh, and yet not of the flesh.
I have died through the body of Christ- his human body, and because of His death I am able to preach the gospel today without being a slave to sin. This is the rebirth, the death of my flesh that produces life in my spirit. Oh how I pray that I would be a slave to righteousness and not to sin! That my flesh would be crucified with Christ in order that I may be raised with him to life, and not only life but life in abundance.
Here's where Paul chose to reach into my abdominal/torso area, pull out my soul, insert into mouth, and chew decidedly. He says likewise, like the woman whose husband had died, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, the one who was raised from the dead (Romans 7:4). Like the woman set free from the law by the death of her husband, we were set free from the law by the death of Christ. This is the reason Jesus must be fully human, if he were not, we would not have been granted freedom from the law. However, because of his perfection as a human being in not breaking the law of sin, he was declared innocent before God.
A law breaker (any normal human being), must bear the punishment of breaking the law, namely, in this case, death (Romans 6:23). In order for Jesus to be a sacrifice, he had to have been not guilty, otherwise, he was merely a sinner being punished for sin. But since he lived a sinless life, he had a "choice" to bear punishment in our stead. The punishment for our sin was death, and he bore that death on Good Friday. This is mind blowing to me- not only did he achieve for us eternal life, but he also died for us. I don't mean the metaphoric died for us in the sense that he loved us so much that he died for us, but in the most literal sense. We were supposed to die, and he did it instead. And Paul says that because he experienced death. all who would follow him for all time are also considered DEAD! I don't have to die to be dead? Seems odd.
Why this is important moves back to Romans 7. Verse 6 says that we may serve in a new way of the Spirit because we are no longer held captive by the law. We can bear fruit instead of bearing death. Why would I follow Jesus one might say? Well, because in Jesus we are dead. Oh what a joy you respond? Great joy is found in knowing that we are free from the law! The law that plagued man for centuries, that marked out morality and man continued to fail at. As every human in history fell short of the life they were called to, Jesus reached that mark. And in his death I consider myself dead and so freed from the law. Being freed from the law, there can be no transgression. Were the law not written I would never have known what it is to covet, had the law not said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7) If the law had not existed, then we would not have recognized sin, and never recognized our own sinfulness, leaving us without need for rescue. But the law was created, and it was holy, but sin seized the opportunity to lead us astray, and so we became slaves to sin. We knew what was wrong and what was right, and yet continued to do what we knew was wrong because we were slaves to sin.
I cannot keep the law. Being born of flesh, I am a slave to flesh, and flesh is sold to sin. It belongs to sin. This is why I prize death. Having died through Christ, my flesh dies- I take on his death as my own. In doing so, I am no longer a slave to sin and am able to bear fruit for Christ. I die with him, but am able to continue living here to do his work while in the flesh, and yet not of the flesh.
I have died through the body of Christ- his human body, and because of His death I am able to preach the gospel today without being a slave to sin. This is the rebirth, the death of my flesh that produces life in my spirit. Oh how I pray that I would be a slave to righteousness and not to sin! That my flesh would be crucified with Christ in order that I may be raised with him to life, and not only life but life in abundance.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Reflection's Not so Kind
I remember as a kid I would dress up in my dad's cowboy boots, wear boxers, a t-shirt, tie a towel around my neck as a substitute cape, and wear a mask around my eyes. This made me Batman. I say this not to reveal my secret identity, although I am the caped crusader, I say it because there are times I miss those days. I miss being able to look in the mirror and see what I wanted to see. I wasn't phased by my 2'3" frame, I wasn't phased by my sun-bleached bowl cut, and my freckles didn't disqualify me from destroying bad guys. I would put those boots on and I was Batman, it was the equivalent to stepping into a different universe.
There are often times when I look into the mirror today and I see that same little boy. Not Batman, but the little boy who was scared of spiders, scared of being alone, and facing constant doubts. I see that little boy today in different things (although spiders are still all too dangerous). Today I look in the mirror and glaring insufficiency meets my eye line. Doubts about my calling, doubts about my qualifications, and doubts about my faith peak at seemingly audible levels...and I'm forced to turn away. I don't like that man. I don't like the one in the mirror, the man who has issues and problems and fears and difficulties. I can't look at him too long before his soul is exposed and I am overcome with grief for all of my shortcomings. He's not supposed to be a pastor...he's not supposed to be pure...he's not supposed to preach...how could he when he is worse off than the people he's preaching to? Terrifying.
And yet, I still have a mirror. It rests humbly in the bathroom above the sink. I consult it daily to assure that I'm presentable and ready for life. There are moments when I see that man in the mirror, but I am called back to words like these-
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Col. 3:12-15
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." Psalm 32:1-2
Oh how I rejoice that the man in the mirror is one who is forgiven! A man who the Bible calls blessed, supremely happy, praised because my sin is gone! I can look in that mirror and know that my insufficiency does not play the loudest tune...but like the boy that once pushed back darkness as Batman, I can push back darkness as one saved by God! I can look in the mirror and not see a broken soul, but one knitted back together by the very hands of Christ. I can view myself, not in light of my failure, but in full view of God's glorious success! I can stand, look into the mirror, and see a boy dressed in a man's clothes. I can see a boy who has put on a bathrobe far too large, and it covers up all that is wrong with him. I can put on the righteousness of Christ and know that I am completely covered, even my wickedness, that same boy with all the issues...He can be covered by the righteousness of Christ. That is blessed! I am blessed to know Him.
There are often times when I look into the mirror today and I see that same little boy. Not Batman, but the little boy who was scared of spiders, scared of being alone, and facing constant doubts. I see that little boy today in different things (although spiders are still all too dangerous). Today I look in the mirror and glaring insufficiency meets my eye line. Doubts about my calling, doubts about my qualifications, and doubts about my faith peak at seemingly audible levels...and I'm forced to turn away. I don't like that man. I don't like the one in the mirror, the man who has issues and problems and fears and difficulties. I can't look at him too long before his soul is exposed and I am overcome with grief for all of my shortcomings. He's not supposed to be a pastor...he's not supposed to be pure...he's not supposed to preach...how could he when he is worse off than the people he's preaching to? Terrifying.
And yet, I still have a mirror. It rests humbly in the bathroom above the sink. I consult it daily to assure that I'm presentable and ready for life. There are moments when I see that man in the mirror, but I am called back to words like these-
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Col. 3:12-15
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." Psalm 32:1-2
Oh how I rejoice that the man in the mirror is one who is forgiven! A man who the Bible calls blessed, supremely happy, praised because my sin is gone! I can look in that mirror and know that my insufficiency does not play the loudest tune...but like the boy that once pushed back darkness as Batman, I can push back darkness as one saved by God! I can look in the mirror and not see a broken soul, but one knitted back together by the very hands of Christ. I can view myself, not in light of my failure, but in full view of God's glorious success! I can stand, look into the mirror, and see a boy dressed in a man's clothes. I can see a boy who has put on a bathrobe far too large, and it covers up all that is wrong with him. I can put on the righteousness of Christ and know that I am completely covered, even my wickedness, that same boy with all the issues...He can be covered by the righteousness of Christ. That is blessed! I am blessed to know Him.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Fighting for Joy
I have thought much on the dangers of emotion. I would not define myself as an emotional man as much as I am passionate, I hardly wreck myself due to situations surrounding, however, the more time I spend with people the more I recognize the propensity to be swayed by the slightest spring breeze. People are so often driven to emotional frenzies by the situations that life dictates. Identifying this foul up hardly makes life much easier, but it is possible that this identification will develop something I will refer to as steadfastness.
For as long as I can remember I have been prone to bouts of melancholy. Most of the time the onsets are initiated by loneliness, but at times they seem completely unwarranted and out of place. In days past my response was to flow with my mood, so much so that even the music I chose was founded upon which “emotional state” I had complacently accepted. In my thought on the topic, a phrase has resurfaced time and time again, that phrase being, “Fight for joy.” I borrow it from Dr. John Piper, probably most notably in the book When I Don’t Desire God. Upon first hearing the phrase I was consumed by thoughts of “convincing myself otherwise” and “seeing the silver lining.” I had the idea that I could shift and change the feelings I experienced into something positive. Yet, I don’t believe this is the basis of the statement at all. Human beings are emotional creatures, we are designed to respond emotionally to situations. Without emotional response we would not be human, and thus it is an integral part of our created being. The trouble is, sometimes emotion can be deceiving. Surrendering control of our actions to emotion leads to dangerous decisions, i.e. suicide as the result of hopelessness, drinking as the result of regret, sex as the result of loneliness, marriage as the result of pleasure, etc.. Unfortunately, these things do not offer a solution to the weight in each emotion because feelings are so fickle. I cannot remember a “happiness” in my life that lasted more than a few days, and I certainly cannot formulate an example of a darkness that would not depart. You see, because emotions are controlled by circumstance, and circumstance is constantly changing, our emotions are wholly unstable. While this seems like a logical argument, the strength of the emotions that we feel lead us to believe otherwise. Happiness makes us so ecstatic that foolishness is no disgrace. Sadness makes us so desperate that we must escape it. And heartbreak is so crippling that it must be mended with new love quickly, lest we die with a fault line in our chest. And yet, even the silliest of men will tell you that those emotions will fade in time.
My charge is one that comes from a bleeding heart- fight for joy. The strength of emotions is one of the mightiest of men, and yet it can be overcome. We mustn’t arrive at a place where emotions are shut off altogether, but rather, search for a destination where circumstances do not dictate our response. I say fight for joy because joy is no state of mind, it is a state of being. There is a joy that exists that cannot be touched by sadness, despair, loneliness, or even happiness. There is a joy that wells up inside the soul and is defended forcefully by truth and love. This joy comes from knowing Christ as Savior and as Lord. The joy rests in knowing that while life may be difficult, one day my Savior is going to return and all that has gone wrong in this life will no longer be of substance. Joy is founded upon the promise that Christ is working all things together for the good of those who love him. My joy resides in the knowledge that at this very moment Jesus is at the feet of the Father pleading for me, interceding for me, praying for me to persevere. So while difficulty seems to be surrounding me and demanding a surrender, despair has made rest in my bed, loneliness I call a constant companion, and uncertainty continues to enfold- I believe that one day the dawn will arrive. The sun will set on the dark night of the soul and my Jesus will rescue me, my face unveiled completely, and the emotions that once haunted my every moment will be departed for all time. This knowledge is my weapon as I continue to fight the darkness. And I invite you to join me in this life, fight for joy.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:5-6a
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
For as long as I can remember I have been prone to bouts of melancholy. Most of the time the onsets are initiated by loneliness, but at times they seem completely unwarranted and out of place. In days past my response was to flow with my mood, so much so that even the music I chose was founded upon which “emotional state” I had complacently accepted. In my thought on the topic, a phrase has resurfaced time and time again, that phrase being, “Fight for joy.” I borrow it from Dr. John Piper, probably most notably in the book When I Don’t Desire God. Upon first hearing the phrase I was consumed by thoughts of “convincing myself otherwise” and “seeing the silver lining.” I had the idea that I could shift and change the feelings I experienced into something positive. Yet, I don’t believe this is the basis of the statement at all. Human beings are emotional creatures, we are designed to respond emotionally to situations. Without emotional response we would not be human, and thus it is an integral part of our created being. The trouble is, sometimes emotion can be deceiving. Surrendering control of our actions to emotion leads to dangerous decisions, i.e. suicide as the result of hopelessness, drinking as the result of regret, sex as the result of loneliness, marriage as the result of pleasure, etc.. Unfortunately, these things do not offer a solution to the weight in each emotion because feelings are so fickle. I cannot remember a “happiness” in my life that lasted more than a few days, and I certainly cannot formulate an example of a darkness that would not depart. You see, because emotions are controlled by circumstance, and circumstance is constantly changing, our emotions are wholly unstable. While this seems like a logical argument, the strength of the emotions that we feel lead us to believe otherwise. Happiness makes us so ecstatic that foolishness is no disgrace. Sadness makes us so desperate that we must escape it. And heartbreak is so crippling that it must be mended with new love quickly, lest we die with a fault line in our chest. And yet, even the silliest of men will tell you that those emotions will fade in time.
My charge is one that comes from a bleeding heart- fight for joy. The strength of emotions is one of the mightiest of men, and yet it can be overcome. We mustn’t arrive at a place where emotions are shut off altogether, but rather, search for a destination where circumstances do not dictate our response. I say fight for joy because joy is no state of mind, it is a state of being. There is a joy that exists that cannot be touched by sadness, despair, loneliness, or even happiness. There is a joy that wells up inside the soul and is defended forcefully by truth and love. This joy comes from knowing Christ as Savior and as Lord. The joy rests in knowing that while life may be difficult, one day my Savior is going to return and all that has gone wrong in this life will no longer be of substance. Joy is founded upon the promise that Christ is working all things together for the good of those who love him. My joy resides in the knowledge that at this very moment Jesus is at the feet of the Father pleading for me, interceding for me, praying for me to persevere. So while difficulty seems to be surrounding me and demanding a surrender, despair has made rest in my bed, loneliness I call a constant companion, and uncertainty continues to enfold- I believe that one day the dawn will arrive. The sun will set on the dark night of the soul and my Jesus will rescue me, my face unveiled completely, and the emotions that once haunted my every moment will be departed for all time. This knowledge is my weapon as I continue to fight the darkness. And I invite you to join me in this life, fight for joy.
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Psalm 42:5-6a
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18
Monday, August 31, 2009
Why forgiveness of sins?
5 days ago I preached a message on Luke 7:36-50. It is the story of a sinful woman who walks into the house of a Pharisee crying, broken, and overcome with joy. She washes Jesus' feet with her tears and hair, and anoints his feet with an expensive ointment. Since preaching, I have read through the passage 7 or 8 more times and written a poem on it (albeit a rudimentary one). It is safe to say that this text has been bouncing around in my mind quite a bit.
I tend to stray as far away from the "prototype evangelical Christian" as much as possible. Partially because I am a bit jaded from life in the 90's church, and partially because I think most of the men preaching on TBN are sadly mistaken (maybe that opinion is related to the first part of the sentence). In any case, preaching a message called "grace" seemed a bit overdone...I don't want to stand in front of teenagers nudging them towards tears, promising streets paved with cheese, and that life with Christ is like "Pleasantville." It's not. Life is hard, as a Christian it's harder. I don't believe I did a good job of emphasizing the reason for grace on Wednesday as I read this passage over and over. The woman comes into the house not to hear the words of Jesus, for she has already heard them and received. She comes in to celebrate his words. A sinful woman enters into a house where she is not welcome because she wants to be at the feet of Jesus no matter what the cost. She sees him as the source of the joy that she had been missing for so long and she will not wait to express it through tears of joy and repentance.
I can relate to the woman in the story- I recognize that the forgiveness of sins in my life is a debt I am unable to repay. The mountain of debt stood before me as I knelt at the cross of Christ with empty pockets and he granted me absolution from a past cluttered with failure. And for that I am ever thankful, but it is NOT the source of my joy. All too often I think Christians preach that exoneration is the good news. Forgiveness of sins is the gospel. Heaven is the good news. Heaven is NOT the good news. Forgiveness of sins is NOT the good news. The good news is that God saved us for HIMSELF! Our sins are forgiven so that we can be with him. Heaven is good news because we are in the presence of God- and the byproduct of that is we have no more tears or sadness, our souls are filled to the point of overflow with joy!
If the good news of the gospel is that our sins are forgiven, we may find ourselves sinning more (Romans 6). But if the good news is that our lives are with Jesus because we are dead to sin and will be resurrected with him in life…our lives change. The glory of the gospel comes from the transformation of lives, and the transformation of lives comes from death to self, and death to self happens in order that we may be made like Jesus in suffering and in resurrection (Philippians 3). Let me reiterate this one more time- the grace we are given as sinners is wonderful and should shock us into awe of who Christ is, but the reason it is offered is so we can live a life with God, and eventually be WITH him in eternity. Oh how wonderful this news is! I am not merely forgiven my sins but the object of my greatest affection- the one that I desire to be with and yet could never approach has grasped me in the palm of his hand and drawn me to Himself! This is the good news that does not dwindle with age or sanctification. Each day the joy of knowing I am his brings me to a point of flooding with praise! This is why I worship, this is why death is at work in me…so that one day that feeling of God’s presence being “lost” is not even a memory and is replaced with infinite, glorious, breathtaking joy.
I tend to stray as far away from the "prototype evangelical Christian" as much as possible. Partially because I am a bit jaded from life in the 90's church, and partially because I think most of the men preaching on TBN are sadly mistaken (maybe that opinion is related to the first part of the sentence). In any case, preaching a message called "grace" seemed a bit overdone...I don't want to stand in front of teenagers nudging them towards tears, promising streets paved with cheese, and that life with Christ is like "Pleasantville." It's not. Life is hard, as a Christian it's harder. I don't believe I did a good job of emphasizing the reason for grace on Wednesday as I read this passage over and over. The woman comes into the house not to hear the words of Jesus, for she has already heard them and received. She comes in to celebrate his words. A sinful woman enters into a house where she is not welcome because she wants to be at the feet of Jesus no matter what the cost. She sees him as the source of the joy that she had been missing for so long and she will not wait to express it through tears of joy and repentance.
I can relate to the woman in the story- I recognize that the forgiveness of sins in my life is a debt I am unable to repay. The mountain of debt stood before me as I knelt at the cross of Christ with empty pockets and he granted me absolution from a past cluttered with failure. And for that I am ever thankful, but it is NOT the source of my joy. All too often I think Christians preach that exoneration is the good news. Forgiveness of sins is the gospel. Heaven is the good news. Heaven is NOT the good news. Forgiveness of sins is NOT the good news. The good news is that God saved us for HIMSELF! Our sins are forgiven so that we can be with him. Heaven is good news because we are in the presence of God- and the byproduct of that is we have no more tears or sadness, our souls are filled to the point of overflow with joy!
If the good news of the gospel is that our sins are forgiven, we may find ourselves sinning more (Romans 6). But if the good news is that our lives are with Jesus because we are dead to sin and will be resurrected with him in life…our lives change. The glory of the gospel comes from the transformation of lives, and the transformation of lives comes from death to self, and death to self happens in order that we may be made like Jesus in suffering and in resurrection (Philippians 3). Let me reiterate this one more time- the grace we are given as sinners is wonderful and should shock us into awe of who Christ is, but the reason it is offered is so we can live a life with God, and eventually be WITH him in eternity. Oh how wonderful this news is! I am not merely forgiven my sins but the object of my greatest affection- the one that I desire to be with and yet could never approach has grasped me in the palm of his hand and drawn me to Himself! This is the good news that does not dwindle with age or sanctification. Each day the joy of knowing I am his brings me to a point of flooding with praise! This is why I worship, this is why death is at work in me…so that one day that feeling of God’s presence being “lost” is not even a memory and is replaced with infinite, glorious, breathtaking joy.
Grace for a Sinner (a work in progress- Luke 7:36-50)
Forgiven a debt of 500 days wages
My failures and shortcomings he gently assuages
The righteous gather to point a finger
But the stench of my sin no longer does linger
I enter the house afraid of no sentence
For wrath once mine is lost in repentance
So tears stored long flow freely and fall
Tumbling to earth in sight of them all
Uncertain I quake and kneel to his feet
The dust of the day my lips quickly greet
Scrubbing so humbly with hair unkempt
Recalling a message too real to be dreamt
“Forgiveness of sins for those who believe
The burden of guilt I’ve come to relieve
Cast forth your pain and call on my name
The Father shall answer all sinners the same-
My son I have offered, no love withheld
For those of my covenant whose fears I have quelled.”
Surely not I so filthy and tainted,
“Your name I have called your destiny I painted”
Quickly I offer a life once broken
My affections are yours for my heart you have spoken
Have all of me, Beloved, for I am yours
Lost in the one my heart so adores.
My failures and shortcomings he gently assuages
The righteous gather to point a finger
But the stench of my sin no longer does linger
I enter the house afraid of no sentence
For wrath once mine is lost in repentance
So tears stored long flow freely and fall
Tumbling to earth in sight of them all
Uncertain I quake and kneel to his feet
The dust of the day my lips quickly greet
Scrubbing so humbly with hair unkempt
Recalling a message too real to be dreamt
“Forgiveness of sins for those who believe
The burden of guilt I’ve come to relieve
Cast forth your pain and call on my name
The Father shall answer all sinners the same-
My son I have offered, no love withheld
For those of my covenant whose fears I have quelled.”
Surely not I so filthy and tainted,
“Your name I have called your destiny I painted”
Quickly I offer a life once broken
My affections are yours for my heart you have spoken
Have all of me, Beloved, for I am yours
Lost in the one my heart so adores.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
My Manifesto
It is currently 1:18 AM. I am on a computer I don't usually write on, all the lights are dim in my apartment, my parents are sleeping in my bed, and I am savagely awake. My eyes are tired but my mind will not stop racing. If you've ever seen Jerry McGuire, this is the equivalent to the opening scene where he writes his hopes and dreams for being an agent. He writes and writes through the night and in the morning receives a standing ovation, only to be fired days later. I feel for Jerry in this place- while my thoughts may not be completely coherent the words are like fire in my bones. As I writhed in hopeless effort to sleep I knew ultimately that this would be the outcome- to blurt. And once I've blurted to hope for clarity, and if clarity comes then trust that some good was done. So here is my attempt, be gracious, this screen is much brighter than I remembered.
If you don't know my current situation I will inform you briefly. As of 1 month ago I was employed by Student Painters and planning on leaving for Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary on August 15th. I was nervous, excited, and a little bit of whatever else a young man should feel when moving across the country far from home trying to survive on his own. I say all this in the past tense because around 3.5 weeks ago the youth pastor at Evergreen Christian Community offered me a job as an Associate Pastor. After much prayer and consulting the men in my life I consider mentors I decided to take the job and stay in Olympia. Part of me experienced remorse that I am not going to Boston. I was excited about continuing my education, I was excited about a brand new culture, I was excited about starting a completely new portion of my life in a new place with new people and new challenges. But after 2 weeks of working at this church I know this for certain- I made the right decision. Even if Andrew/Dennis/Dale were to fire me tomorrow it would have been the right decision. Given the opportunity to work at such an amazing church has been great, yes, but it is not my deciding factor. Looking at these last 14 days has opened my eyes to 2 things:
1) The one thing that will bring unimaginable joy in my life vocationally for the rest of my days is doing ministry with friends.
2) When the time comes to look back on my life (if it ever does) the ONLY thing I will care to say is that I helped people.
Doing ministry with friends has to be the greatest job ever. I am surrounded by men who love the Lord, and while this may not be the position I want to die in, it has made me completely aware of the fact that there is nothing better for me in this life. I want to preach the gospel surrounded by men who care deeply for Jesus and for each other so much so that they are willing to speak the truth to one another in love. They are willing to shed light on each other's sins in order to move closer to Christ. They are willing to share struggles with one another, and covenant together to move past sin. And they will do everything in their power to ensure that the world sees/hears/feels/smells/tastes Christ more from their lives.
I can't imagine, as my dear friend William Wallace puts it, that lying in my bed many years from now, looking back and wanting to trade all the days from this day to that (death) for one chance, just one chance to come back to this place and help someone see Jesus. I cannot imagine approaching death and seeing the sum total of my life being cars and money and real estate. I cannot fathom the depths of despair that my soul would breech if I were forced to look upon my life knowing that I had wasted it.
In the end I do not know much, but I know this- the reason I am left on this earth as a Christian is to help people. That is why I want to be a pastor. That is why I want to press onward. I know that there are people out there who need help and I have been granted the days to share with them the majestic doctrine that can save them- a doctrine that says only, "believe and be saved." I do not believe I am special. It is not my words or abilities or voice that will save them, but the very words of God spoken through me. And my hope is that He will do that for anyone who will listen because I just want to help. More than anything I long for people to see how sweet the face of the risen Christ is. Oh that many would come to see his sufficiency knowing that his love is better than ANYTHING this world has to offer.
That is my destiny. I will enjoy my labor for all my days knowing that if even one person will know Christ deeply because of my life than I have done him/her good service in helping reveal ultimate, infinite joy for all eternity.
If you don't know my current situation I will inform you briefly. As of 1 month ago I was employed by Student Painters and planning on leaving for Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary on August 15th. I was nervous, excited, and a little bit of whatever else a young man should feel when moving across the country far from home trying to survive on his own. I say all this in the past tense because around 3.5 weeks ago the youth pastor at Evergreen Christian Community offered me a job as an Associate Pastor. After much prayer and consulting the men in my life I consider mentors I decided to take the job and stay in Olympia. Part of me experienced remorse that I am not going to Boston. I was excited about continuing my education, I was excited about a brand new culture, I was excited about starting a completely new portion of my life in a new place with new people and new challenges. But after 2 weeks of working at this church I know this for certain- I made the right decision. Even if Andrew/Dennis/Dale were to fire me tomorrow it would have been the right decision. Given the opportunity to work at such an amazing church has been great, yes, but it is not my deciding factor. Looking at these last 14 days has opened my eyes to 2 things:
1) The one thing that will bring unimaginable joy in my life vocationally for the rest of my days is doing ministry with friends.
2) When the time comes to look back on my life (if it ever does) the ONLY thing I will care to say is that I helped people.
Doing ministry with friends has to be the greatest job ever. I am surrounded by men who love the Lord, and while this may not be the position I want to die in, it has made me completely aware of the fact that there is nothing better for me in this life. I want to preach the gospel surrounded by men who care deeply for Jesus and for each other so much so that they are willing to speak the truth to one another in love. They are willing to shed light on each other's sins in order to move closer to Christ. They are willing to share struggles with one another, and covenant together to move past sin. And they will do everything in their power to ensure that the world sees/hears/feels/smells/tastes Christ more from their lives.
I can't imagine, as my dear friend William Wallace puts it, that lying in my bed many years from now, looking back and wanting to trade all the days from this day to that (death) for one chance, just one chance to come back to this place and help someone see Jesus. I cannot imagine approaching death and seeing the sum total of my life being cars and money and real estate. I cannot fathom the depths of despair that my soul would breech if I were forced to look upon my life knowing that I had wasted it.
In the end I do not know much, but I know this- the reason I am left on this earth as a Christian is to help people. That is why I want to be a pastor. That is why I want to press onward. I know that there are people out there who need help and I have been granted the days to share with them the majestic doctrine that can save them- a doctrine that says only, "believe and be saved." I do not believe I am special. It is not my words or abilities or voice that will save them, but the very words of God spoken through me. And my hope is that He will do that for anyone who will listen because I just want to help. More than anything I long for people to see how sweet the face of the risen Christ is. Oh that many would come to see his sufficiency knowing that his love is better than ANYTHING this world has to offer.
That is my destiny. I will enjoy my labor for all my days knowing that if even one person will know Christ deeply because of my life than I have done him/her good service in helping reveal ultimate, infinite joy for all eternity.
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Enjoyment of God
I was reading a John Piper blog on the idea of a single passion. It has been burning in my mind for weeks now, the unity of mind and heart and having an undivided soul being the ultimate aim of Christianity. Much of my conversation lately has been focused around suffering, whether it be in my life or talking to those around me. And the constant answer is, "We don't know the answer, but God will be glorified." The Glory of God is such a strange idea. As humans we think that God's aim in seeking His glory is self-centered, and he is in heaven constantly demanding praise. When C.S. Lewis was still an atheist, he described this longing for praise as an old lady wandering the streets demanding compliments from people. After being saved, he wrote this in Reflections on the Psalms:
"But the most obvious fact about praise—whether of God or anything—strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise...
The world rings with praise—lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favorite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favorite game...My whole, more general, difficulty about the praise of God depended on my absurdly denying to us, as regards the supremely Valuable, what we delight to do, what indeed we can't help doing, about everything else we value.I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation."
When the mind is passionate about something, the heart enjoys it and the natural response is PRAISE. Praise is most assuredly glorification, and I think the idea is that our minds can understand God, we can think on him and constantly talk about his glory...but the fullness of our glorification of Him comes when our hearts take pleasure in him. So our hearts and minds come together in fullness, in unity, undivided, solely for the utmost glory of God. Essentially, Lewis says, denying the Praise of God is merely not realizing that he is infinitely valuable, that he is of supreme worth. If we recognize God as better than life than our glorification of him comes from our enjoyment of him. Knowing that he is better than sex, he is better than food, he is better than drugs, he is better than human love, he is better than all things! This type of life makes God look great. That is why the Christian is called to "die daily," denying the self what we want most (sex, food, drugs, fun, pleasure) and effectively "choosing" God as greater than all of those things will glorify him most. And what happens in those places is absolutely inexplicable. Beyond words, one can only describe it as complete satisfaction and pleasure- knowing that God is all satisfying, completely sufficient, and more than we could ever need. Our self denial leads to a place where God is ultimate in our lives, and the joy of that is he fulfills. He sets us free from momentary pleasure and gives us an eternal pleasure. Our needs are met by him and we move from suffering to delight because of his ability to pleasure our souls.
Piper puts it this way- God is glorified not only in being seen (his revealed glory) but also in being rejoiced in. When people who see God see it for what it really is, God is glorified. But he is more glorified when those who see it for what it really is rejoice in it! The completion of that person's soul is glorifying God. It is not only mind but heart that is clinging to God, and those two things make up the fullness of the soul.
If as Christians we value this life, it will show. We will have great fear, when things go awry we will cry out in anger and ask why us? But if we value God above all, we know that no matter what happens in this life in the end we get God. When someone takes our stomach away, or our husband dies, or we lose our house- we can know that God is our ultimate pleasure and those things cannot touch it! That is why denying ourselves for this lifetime is a small task- why some will never marry and be ok with that, while some will have cancer and rejoice in that, and while some will be burned alive and thank God for the opportunity to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. Oh how I long for this undivided passion in my life! God give me one desire, and that is to glorify you by enjoying your love, promises, presence, and glory in my life!
"ONE thing that I ask and ALL that I seek is to dwell in the house of the LORD forever..."
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Paradox Pt. 3
I heard recently that my blog is lacking something of an illustrative quality or practical application. I have been piecing through the idea of paradox recently and felt challenged to find an illustration that would quantify my previous blog.
Imagine this- You are you, a reasonably intelligent human being capable of discerning most truths from falsehoods. A mentally challenged person approaches you excited and begins to recount a story. The story entails them capturing a human baby from the roof top of a building that was on fire and under attack from crazed poison shooting aliens. After rescuing the baby from the roof the handicapped person goes to the police only to find that every officer in the station is corrupt and trying to steal his soul. He promptly rushes from the police station, leaps (in a single bound) across the Bering Sea, and returns the baby to it's rightful owner- Robert DeNiro.
You say? Ridiculous! You might be moved with compassion to hear the story to its end, but, nonetheless, you are not likely to believe this farce. It is an outrageous claim made by someone who clearly doesn't not have the mental capacity that you do and so, in your superior intelligence, you reject the tale as inaccurate and at best an exaggeration of truth.
After your rejection you walk away and your parents both come up to you to tell you that this story is true! Puzzled, you ask how they know and they inform you that they were there the entire way. They saw the whole thing unfold and could barely believe it themselves, yet they must because they witnessed it. Convinced that this wild story is truth, would you not be inclined to retell it? However, in retelling it you would note a few things.
1) You couldn't believe it either. Some persons that you trust dearly must convince you that it is true. It was outside of your knowledge and so you can have no claim to the belief itself without being convinced.
2) This story is insane. You probably won't believe it.
So the story represents the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension and all that comes with it. The idea that Jesus came as the Son of God and bore the sins of all of humanity at once is absolutely absurd. We are not inclined to believe such a tale without help. The witnesses are those who have given us revelation (Paul, James, John, Peter, etc) and ultimately God who has revealed Himself to us. They give us the ability to believe- someone we trust and rely on who has superior reasoning ability to our own is likely to convince us of truth. That is why we have teachers.
The belief in the story is our faith in the work and grace of God. So think on these things...I hope this helps.
Imagine this- You are you, a reasonably intelligent human being capable of discerning most truths from falsehoods. A mentally challenged person approaches you excited and begins to recount a story. The story entails them capturing a human baby from the roof top of a building that was on fire and under attack from crazed poison shooting aliens. After rescuing the baby from the roof the handicapped person goes to the police only to find that every officer in the station is corrupt and trying to steal his soul. He promptly rushes from the police station, leaps (in a single bound) across the Bering Sea, and returns the baby to it's rightful owner- Robert DeNiro.
You say? Ridiculous! You might be moved with compassion to hear the story to its end, but, nonetheless, you are not likely to believe this farce. It is an outrageous claim made by someone who clearly doesn't not have the mental capacity that you do and so, in your superior intelligence, you reject the tale as inaccurate and at best an exaggeration of truth.
After your rejection you walk away and your parents both come up to you to tell you that this story is true! Puzzled, you ask how they know and they inform you that they were there the entire way. They saw the whole thing unfold and could barely believe it themselves, yet they must because they witnessed it. Convinced that this wild story is truth, would you not be inclined to retell it? However, in retelling it you would note a few things.
1) You couldn't believe it either. Some persons that you trust dearly must convince you that it is true. It was outside of your knowledge and so you can have no claim to the belief itself without being convinced.
2) This story is insane. You probably won't believe it.
So the story represents the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension and all that comes with it. The idea that Jesus came as the Son of God and bore the sins of all of humanity at once is absolutely absurd. We are not inclined to believe such a tale without help. The witnesses are those who have given us revelation (Paul, James, John, Peter, etc) and ultimately God who has revealed Himself to us. They give us the ability to believe- someone we trust and rely on who has superior reasoning ability to our own is likely to convince us of truth. That is why we have teachers.
The belief in the story is our faith in the work and grace of God. So think on these things...I hope this helps.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
More on Paradox
As I said yesterday, there is not much on earth that claims to exalt the humble and humble the exalted. However, Christianity does lay claim to this statement and in fact proves it to be true. Christianity also moves towards glory in suffering, power in service, wisdom in submission, and the list goes on. It is difficult to give these paradoxes real, tangible reasons for existing within the faith, but I will try to do just that.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to we who are being saved it is the power of God. We also hear that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent. He chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong, the lowly things and things that are not to nullify the things that are. So that no one may boast.
One of the more commonly repeated themes of the New Testament is that boasting should be done in Christ alone, not in our own works. So why on earth would God ordain a religion and faith that seem so backwards to what humans are accustomed to? So that all glory and honor would belong to him. Without the knowledge of God given to me I would not be believing. I surely would not put my faith in a poor Jewish man and some story of virgin birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection. Ultimately, God ordained the paradox of Christianity to show us his power fully and with great clarity, knowing that no man who believes would believe in such a foolish message were it not for the validity of it in his own heart.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31- "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us the wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, 'Let Him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"
Because of His sovereign grace we find ourselves believing. Our faith is not attributed to our own hearts, for our hearts are wicked and deceitful. Faith is granted by the new heart which is given by God. Our faith is the gift of God, it is because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus. Let us not boast in ourselves but in God for granting us the faith to believe in what once seemed to be the most foolish of all messages, the message of the cross. Through his infinite mercy we find ourselves believing, and the once foolish message has become for us the basis of our own righteousness, justification, holiness, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:18 says the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to we who are being saved it is the power of God. We also hear that God will destroy the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent. He chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong, the lowly things and things that are not to nullify the things that are. So that no one may boast.
One of the more commonly repeated themes of the New Testament is that boasting should be done in Christ alone, not in our own works. So why on earth would God ordain a religion and faith that seem so backwards to what humans are accustomed to? So that all glory and honor would belong to him. Without the knowledge of God given to me I would not be believing. I surely would not put my faith in a poor Jewish man and some story of virgin birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection. Ultimately, God ordained the paradox of Christianity to show us his power fully and with great clarity, knowing that no man who believes would believe in such a foolish message were it not for the validity of it in his own heart.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31- "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us the wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, 'Let Him who boasts boast in the Lord.'"
Because of His sovereign grace we find ourselves believing. Our faith is not attributed to our own hearts, for our hearts are wicked and deceitful. Faith is granted by the new heart which is given by God. Our faith is the gift of God, it is because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus. Let us not boast in ourselves but in God for granting us the faith to believe in what once seemed to be the most foolish of all messages, the message of the cross. Through his infinite mercy we find ourselves believing, and the once foolish message has become for us the basis of our own righteousness, justification, holiness, and redemption.
Monday, May 11, 2009
The Paradoxical Christianity
I have been reflecting much on the nature of Christianity. Quite obviously, the religion in itself is much backwards in the eyes of culture. There are not many other ideas prevalent in society that encourage the worship of a man who was crucified. The encouragement for improving your heavenly "status" is to take up your cross, deny the things that you wish to do most, and follow the man who leads us to the crucifix. The mark of a Christian is a cruciform life. It means that as Christians we are meant for something greater than a life of external comfort and situational happiness.
In Philippians 3 Paul writes that he considers EVERYTHING loss for the sake of knowing Christ...and he goes on to write one of the strangest passages in history v. 8-10 ff.- "...For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death..."
Paul says he has lost everything in his life and it matters not, because he has gained God and righteousness and even more, through this suffering, he has shared in the fellowship of the suffering of Christ. I am not aware of any other religion that has this approach to life. The ascetics do life without "pleasure" trying to isolate themselves from indulgences of the flesh, but they are hardly making the same statement as Paul here.
Some of the foremost persecutors of Christianity claim that the greatest unanswered question in the universe is how do Christians explain pain and loss in the world. The answer, I'm afraid, is not an easy one. It is not simply that God justly punishes in this life those that deserve it, and all those who live faithfully are rewarded by happy circumstances. The answer is this: Human suffering is an act of God in isolating the spirit of a man and calling him into fellowship with the Son. When Jesus Christ died on the cross he uttered the words, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Not because God turned his back on him, like many believe...but because the God man, only familiar with living in the direct presence of the father, was quoting Psalm 22 in death. It is not a moment of weakness in his spirit, it is a word of encouragement for all believers from that point forward. Those 9 words will change our view of suffering for eternity (or at least, should change our view). When the human spirit loses all things and sinks to the deepest possible point it is generally overcome with the sense of loneliness, fear, and depression. These words change that perception if we are willing to see that in that moment of sadness, loneliness, fear, depression, or bitterness Christ is there. Christ's act of humility in leaving heaven to save all of us puts him in a place of suffering that we can only meet, we cannot exceed. And so by suffering, Christians are uniting with Christ. When we lose all things we are by default in a place of Spirit where there is only Christ, and he is seen with more clarity and resolve than at any other point in the Christian life.
So how do we respond to suffering? Realize this- God is not in the seat of judgment punishing you for sin. He is there, he is calling you...he bids you come, die, and find true life in him that can be touched by nothing.
"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:25-26
In Philippians 3 Paul writes that he considers EVERYTHING loss for the sake of knowing Christ...and he goes on to write one of the strangest passages in history v. 8-10 ff.- "...For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death..."
Paul says he has lost everything in his life and it matters not, because he has gained God and righteousness and even more, through this suffering, he has shared in the fellowship of the suffering of Christ. I am not aware of any other religion that has this approach to life. The ascetics do life without "pleasure" trying to isolate themselves from indulgences of the flesh, but they are hardly making the same statement as Paul here.
Some of the foremost persecutors of Christianity claim that the greatest unanswered question in the universe is how do Christians explain pain and loss in the world. The answer, I'm afraid, is not an easy one. It is not simply that God justly punishes in this life those that deserve it, and all those who live faithfully are rewarded by happy circumstances. The answer is this: Human suffering is an act of God in isolating the spirit of a man and calling him into fellowship with the Son. When Jesus Christ died on the cross he uttered the words, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" Not because God turned his back on him, like many believe...but because the God man, only familiar with living in the direct presence of the father, was quoting Psalm 22 in death. It is not a moment of weakness in his spirit, it is a word of encouragement for all believers from that point forward. Those 9 words will change our view of suffering for eternity (or at least, should change our view). When the human spirit loses all things and sinks to the deepest possible point it is generally overcome with the sense of loneliness, fear, and depression. These words change that perception if we are willing to see that in that moment of sadness, loneliness, fear, depression, or bitterness Christ is there. Christ's act of humility in leaving heaven to save all of us puts him in a place of suffering that we can only meet, we cannot exceed. And so by suffering, Christians are uniting with Christ. When we lose all things we are by default in a place of Spirit where there is only Christ, and he is seen with more clarity and resolve than at any other point in the Christian life.
So how do we respond to suffering? Realize this- God is not in the seat of judgment punishing you for sin. He is there, he is calling you...he bids you come, die, and find true life in him that can be touched by nothing.
"Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:25-26
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
C.S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis' thoughts on Incarnation and Atonement. I find this illustration of Christ's incarnation to be most moving and thought provoking. It is from his book "Miracles." Enjoy.
“One may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanishing rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too” (Miracles, chap. 14) . . . .
“One may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in mid-air, then gone with a splash, vanishing rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to colour and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks the surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing he went down to recover. He and it are both coloured now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too” (Miracles, chap. 14) . . . .
Friday, April 17, 2009
Science and Religion
Long considered unfriendly bedfellows, I have had the pleasure of indulging both of these topics quite frequently in my life. Having a BS in Biology, and studying to obtain a Master of Arts in Theology has created quite a mixture of thought, logic, and research in my mind. One of my greatest quandaries is fielded in the area of "spontaneous generation." Spontaneous generation is the belief that life can unexpectedly arise from a non-living thing. Many many years ago, scientists like Louis Pasteur proved this silly myth wrong, irrelevant, and illogical. And yet today I read an article by one of the foremost physicists in the world stating this:
We must rid ourselves of the thought of spontaneous generation. It is a fallacious idea, and it must be replaced with gradual spontaneous generation.
Hmm...let us dismiss this foolish idea that life can arise from non-living things suddenly...but given time it can definitely happen? I'm a bit confused at the logic here. The reasoning of some of the smartest men in the universe has literally blinded them to any possible truth to be found in areas such as this. I write not to critique to scientists, but to say this-
As Christians we are not to stand back and point fingers at those reaching conclusions we wholly disagree with. It is no surprise that men who do not know Jesus reach conclusions that we clearly identify as folly, the Bible tells us that this will happen. The truth is that God has hardened their hearts to His message. He has deafened their ears and blinded their eyes so they can neither hear nor see the truth. Again, our job is not to stand back and point fingers at the condemned for their foolishness- lest we become them as they point at our ignorance in trusting a divine being. We have two wonderful activities to partake in. 1) We rejoice that God has opened our eyes and our ears and softened our hearts so that we can see Him. We praise God for blessed ears and eyes and His election of us. 2) Like Jesus, we do not simply rejoice in our salvation but we venture into the world to bring life to the dead. When Jesus sticks his fingers in the ears of the deaf man he sighs as he looks to heaven, then he says be opened. And for the first time in the man's life he hears the sounds of the world and he speaks (Mark 7:3137). In Matthew 20 Jesus is called to by two blind beggars on the side of the road. While everyone passes by avoiding eye contact or telling them to shutup, Jesus has compassion on them and he touches their eyes healing them so they can see. He does not merely mock them. He touches their eyes and for the first time in their lives they see not only the beauty of creation but their first true sight is the face of the Saviour of the world standing before them. Memorable?
Let us not stand back and watch the world burn. God has called us to much more. We have been given the opportunity to partner with Christ in the restoration of creation and that which He loves most, mankind. So will you not join the cause and begin to restore sight and ears and life to those around you? Let us not condemn but restore. Thank you Lord for blessed eyes.
We must rid ourselves of the thought of spontaneous generation. It is a fallacious idea, and it must be replaced with gradual spontaneous generation.
Hmm...let us dismiss this foolish idea that life can arise from non-living things suddenly...but given time it can definitely happen? I'm a bit confused at the logic here. The reasoning of some of the smartest men in the universe has literally blinded them to any possible truth to be found in areas such as this. I write not to critique to scientists, but to say this-
As Christians we are not to stand back and point fingers at those reaching conclusions we wholly disagree with. It is no surprise that men who do not know Jesus reach conclusions that we clearly identify as folly, the Bible tells us that this will happen. The truth is that God has hardened their hearts to His message. He has deafened their ears and blinded their eyes so they can neither hear nor see the truth. Again, our job is not to stand back and point fingers at the condemned for their foolishness- lest we become them as they point at our ignorance in trusting a divine being. We have two wonderful activities to partake in. 1) We rejoice that God has opened our eyes and our ears and softened our hearts so that we can see Him. We praise God for blessed ears and eyes and His election of us. 2) Like Jesus, we do not simply rejoice in our salvation but we venture into the world to bring life to the dead. When Jesus sticks his fingers in the ears of the deaf man he sighs as he looks to heaven, then he says be opened. And for the first time in the man's life he hears the sounds of the world and he speaks (Mark 7:3137). In Matthew 20 Jesus is called to by two blind beggars on the side of the road. While everyone passes by avoiding eye contact or telling them to shutup, Jesus has compassion on them and he touches their eyes healing them so they can see. He does not merely mock them. He touches their eyes and for the first time in their lives they see not only the beauty of creation but their first true sight is the face of the Saviour of the world standing before them. Memorable?
Let us not stand back and watch the world burn. God has called us to much more. We have been given the opportunity to partner with Christ in the restoration of creation and that which He loves most, mankind. So will you not join the cause and begin to restore sight and ears and life to those around you? Let us not condemn but restore. Thank you Lord for blessed eyes.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Take Your First
Two and a half weeks ago my mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer. When we found out I spent most of the night crying, bitter, praying for God's mercy on her and my family. After feeling semi-conscious for a week at work I drove home to be with her through appointments and planning of treatment. Wednesday, a week ago today, we were told that her cancer had not spread. By the mercy of Christ it was contained in her stomach. Friday they planned a surgery to remove her entire stomach, and yesterday that plan was carried out.
Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to her spleen, intestines, and part of her esophagus. They removed her stomach, 10 inches of colon, her spleen, and 2 inches of the bottom portion of her esophagus. After moving through this enormous range of emotions over the last 19 days I am completely convinced of one thing:
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
The word cancer makes Him no less sovereign, it merely makes us more mortal. We must relinquish control of our lives and when we do we will encounter the greatest joy in all of the earth. Knowing God. Not merely knowing of Him, but to walk with Him deeply and to enjoy the riches of His grace. I believe that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. I do love Him, my mother does love Him, my father, and my sister as well. Trust in Him, all you who are weary...I am weary. I will place my rest and trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me. His mercies are new every morning. I believe that, and therefore I have hope in the darkest night of the soul knowing that in Christ Jesus all that is wrong in the world will eventually be right. I believe God can heal my mother...but ultimately He must be glorified and if He wishes to use my mother's (and family's) suffering to accomplish His means than my most desperate prayer is for us to draw even nearer to Him, and Him to us, during this time of trial. That through this we will know Him more than when it begun and that He will use this suffering to make His name great, for He is the end of all things.
LORD, How I ache for Your restoration of this broken world. I plead for a miracle in my mother's life...knowing that You are far greater than cancer and that with even a word You can cure her. You who calm the seas and created the heavens and the earth. The One who spoke the universe into existence, and came to die that I might spend eternity with you. Heal her body if it is Your will, if not, then Your will be done and not mine. Make much of Your name father in Heaven, be magnified in this situation. Amen...Amen.
Unfortunately, the cancer had spread to her spleen, intestines, and part of her esophagus. They removed her stomach, 10 inches of colon, her spleen, and 2 inches of the bottom portion of her esophagus. After moving through this enormous range of emotions over the last 19 days I am completely convinced of one thing:
Jesus Christ is Lord of all.
The word cancer makes Him no less sovereign, it merely makes us more mortal. We must relinquish control of our lives and when we do we will encounter the greatest joy in all of the earth. Knowing God. Not merely knowing of Him, but to walk with Him deeply and to enjoy the riches of His grace. I believe that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. I do love Him, my mother does love Him, my father, and my sister as well. Trust in Him, all you who are weary...I am weary. I will place my rest and trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me. His mercies are new every morning. I believe that, and therefore I have hope in the darkest night of the soul knowing that in Christ Jesus all that is wrong in the world will eventually be right. I believe God can heal my mother...but ultimately He must be glorified and if He wishes to use my mother's (and family's) suffering to accomplish His means than my most desperate prayer is for us to draw even nearer to Him, and Him to us, during this time of trial. That through this we will know Him more than when it begun and that He will use this suffering to make His name great, for He is the end of all things.
LORD, How I ache for Your restoration of this broken world. I plead for a miracle in my mother's life...knowing that You are far greater than cancer and that with even a word You can cure her. You who calm the seas and created the heavens and the earth. The One who spoke the universe into existence, and came to die that I might spend eternity with you. Heal her body if it is Your will, if not, then Your will be done and not mine. Make much of Your name father in Heaven, be magnified in this situation. Amen...Amen.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Meditations on Psalms (44)
My reading brought me across Psalm 44 recently, and since that day the words have been bouncing painfully through my mind. The Psalmist begins by recalling the ancient glories of his people and then describing the present griefs. But the part that has tortured my soul for many hours is this:
All this happened to us,
though we had not forgotten you
or been false to your covenant.
All this happened to us,
though we had not forgotten you
or been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals
and covered us over with deep darkness.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
23 Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?
25 We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us;
redeem us because of your unfailing love.
The way the Old Covenant was set up was obedience brought about blessing, disobedience brought punishment. And yet in this Psalm we see not a familiar denial of God as Lord, but a faithful people who are suffering through much pain for reasons that are beyond them. They are bold enough to lay their hearts bare before God...and yet faithful enough to know that nothing will deliver them from this moment but the Lord Himself. So often we attribute our suffering to the enemy and to demons and such (which I believe in fully). But in 1 John 2:13, 14 we read that we have overcome the evil one. That like Job, Satan has no power over us, evil has no power over us except what God allows for our sake. We do battle a sinful nature- but our new heart is pure. Our new heart is not under the control of Satan. So when we suffer we must turn to God and rely on Him. Our hearts will be purified in suffering and we will grow like never before, but only if we are like the Psalmist...brought down to the dust, bodies clinging to the ground...knowing that only the hand of God will lift us from the mud and mire and set our feet on solid ground, whether in this life or the next.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Waning Energy
Any one person who knows me could tell you that I am a few things:
1) Laid Back
2) Opinionated
3) Hungry
These things acting together (or apart) can and do get me in trouble. However, since I am opinionated and think that at times it's a good thing, and don't currently have a problem being morbidly obese, I'd like to focus on being laid back. The problem with being laid back is that it often turns into laziness. Upon returning home my mind knows that I should promptly enter into my room and commence homework for the evening. But my oh so powerful body coaxes me into the living room to glance at the TV. In the past, it would not have been a strange happening to watch 9 hours of TV on a day off. Or to come home from work every day and watch 5 hours of TV.
Now by no means do I think that TV is evil. Nor do I believe that everyone should destroy cable because we would probably find something worse to do with our time. But for me I know this is true: When I sit in front of the television for any extended period of time my mind goes numb. I no longer feel any urgency about the gospel, I do not remember that I have many friends who are dying, and I certainly do not find myself trying to wrestle through any of my struggles at that point in time.
I would be willing to contend that for most of us this is true...and that's the reason we watch TV. It takes no effort. After a long day the last thing we want to do is engage the people in our home in active conversation (at the risk of disagreement which causes even more thought). We certainly wouldn't want to stare at some of the issues that have haunted us for months or years in the face (i.e. lust, pride, lethargy, sloth, gluttony, etc.). So we sit and all of our highly defined megapixels line up exactly in a row stealing precious hours of our time from Christ.
Ask yourself this- would I be more apt to walk deeply with Christ if I spent less time on the Internet or on television? Be honest. It hurts when I am.
Another thing about this "free time" everyone on earth is lacking and enjoys so much. When you have a little free time it does not seem like enough. When you have a lot of free time it does not seem like enough. No matter how much time during your day you have- the more you don't do anything the more your body does not want to do. Try waking up in the morning and working out or going for a run- you're wide awake for the day (until you sit down and don't move for 3 hours). Then try getting 11 hours of sleep, waking up and moving onto the couch for 3 hours. I bet you feel exhausted and take a nap. It's interesting. :D
1) Laid Back
2) Opinionated
3) Hungry
These things acting together (or apart) can and do get me in trouble. However, since I am opinionated and think that at times it's a good thing, and don't currently have a problem being morbidly obese, I'd like to focus on being laid back. The problem with being laid back is that it often turns into laziness. Upon returning home my mind knows that I should promptly enter into my room and commence homework for the evening. But my oh so powerful body coaxes me into the living room to glance at the TV. In the past, it would not have been a strange happening to watch 9 hours of TV on a day off. Or to come home from work every day and watch 5 hours of TV.
Now by no means do I think that TV is evil. Nor do I believe that everyone should destroy cable because we would probably find something worse to do with our time. But for me I know this is true: When I sit in front of the television for any extended period of time my mind goes numb. I no longer feel any urgency about the gospel, I do not remember that I have many friends who are dying, and I certainly do not find myself trying to wrestle through any of my struggles at that point in time.
I would be willing to contend that for most of us this is true...and that's the reason we watch TV. It takes no effort. After a long day the last thing we want to do is engage the people in our home in active conversation (at the risk of disagreement which causes even more thought). We certainly wouldn't want to stare at some of the issues that have haunted us for months or years in the face (i.e. lust, pride, lethargy, sloth, gluttony, etc.). So we sit and all of our highly defined megapixels line up exactly in a row stealing precious hours of our time from Christ.
Ask yourself this- would I be more apt to walk deeply with Christ if I spent less time on the Internet or on television? Be honest. It hurts when I am.
Another thing about this "free time" everyone on earth is lacking and enjoys so much. When you have a little free time it does not seem like enough. When you have a lot of free time it does not seem like enough. No matter how much time during your day you have- the more you don't do anything the more your body does not want to do. Try waking up in the morning and working out or going for a run- you're wide awake for the day (until you sit down and don't move for 3 hours). Then try getting 11 hours of sleep, waking up and moving onto the couch for 3 hours. I bet you feel exhausted and take a nap. It's interesting. :D
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Stupid Movies
Despite being incredibly delusional having watched one of the worst movies I've ever seen- I must stay awake to relay this message to the twelve people who read this blog. Disclaimer:
The following is one man's opinion worded strongly on society and films and in no way reflects anything other than reality and Biblical Christianity.
That being said- If you pay money to watch the movie He's Just Not That Into You, I will take you into an alley and stab you as many times as possible before leaving the scene of the crime. Holy Cow what a monumental brainwashing, waste of time and money, and ridiculous plot. I went to go see it tonight with Lauren (Date night- woot woot), and figured it would be a decent little love story. Unfortunately, we were all horribly misled. Now keep in mind I am not the most critical movie watcher, nor do I generally hate movies for "implying" something I don't personally agree with. But this movie blatantly states over and over that
1) One does not need to be married in order to
a. Have sex
b. Live with another person
c. Be in love
d. Be happy spending the rest of life with a person.
Marriage is embodied as the cornering of an unstable man by a demanding woman usually resulting in ultimate unhappiness of both. So why be married when you can wander around and have casual emotionless passionate sex with whoever right? Yeah...spread that message Hollywood. Thanks!
2) When you are married you may still be able to find the person you were "really meant to be with." If that is the case, then one should immediately
a. Get divorced and remarry the "real one" and live happily ever after
b. Get naked with the person and have a passionate affair
c. Become best friends with that person and spend lots of time together tip toeing carefully around actually having sex so it's not a real affair.
So again- Marriage is a hollow cop out for women to control men. And the way men should react is to begin searching constantly for the woman who will really make us happy and leave the lady we promised to love forever. That'll teach her.
3) Girls should continue throwing themselves at guys over and over again until the right one doesn't sleep with them and not call them back. Then you'll know you're really in love.
I am so angry at the world right now. Most especially because there were roughly 14 students from Northwest Christian High School present at this movie (my place of employment), 7 of which were young girls being convinced of this garbage. Why do we continue to spread this message and then wonder why kids are sleeping with each other at 13 years old and thinking they are in love? Either stop letting them watch this crap or get used to it. I hate this, I really genuinely do.
If I could say one thing to the young girls of the world it would be this: You are a beautiful young girl who deserves to be treated honorably by a righteous young man who loves God. You do not need anyone other than Jesus to make you happy, and when you have reached that point it may just so happen that a boy comes into your life and says and does all the right things. If he loves God, and you two continue to walk with Christ daily- you will be given one of the greatest gifts on the entire earth- marriage. Not Hollywood warm fuzzies marriage, but the kind of marriage we read about in Scripture where husbands love their wives and lay down their lives for them. They provide for them and care for them and love them deeply- more and more each day. You will feel beautiful and be beautiful in the eyes of God and your husband. This is marriage- the earthly example of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Marriage DOES NOT END IN THIS LIFE TIME! And it is gratifying for that life time when done right.
"Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him." Matthew Henry
Proberbs 31:10-12 A wife of noble character who can find?She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life.
The following is one man's opinion worded strongly on society and films and in no way reflects anything other than reality and Biblical Christianity.
That being said- If you pay money to watch the movie He's Just Not That Into You, I will take you into an alley and stab you as many times as possible before leaving the scene of the crime. Holy Cow what a monumental brainwashing, waste of time and money, and ridiculous plot. I went to go see it tonight with Lauren (Date night- woot woot), and figured it would be a decent little love story. Unfortunately, we were all horribly misled. Now keep in mind I am not the most critical movie watcher, nor do I generally hate movies for "implying" something I don't personally agree with. But this movie blatantly states over and over that
1) One does not need to be married in order to
a. Have sex
b. Live with another person
c. Be in love
d. Be happy spending the rest of life with a person.
Marriage is embodied as the cornering of an unstable man by a demanding woman usually resulting in ultimate unhappiness of both. So why be married when you can wander around and have casual emotionless passionate sex with whoever right? Yeah...spread that message Hollywood. Thanks!
2) When you are married you may still be able to find the person you were "really meant to be with." If that is the case, then one should immediately
a. Get divorced and remarry the "real one" and live happily ever after
b. Get naked with the person and have a passionate affair
c. Become best friends with that person and spend lots of time together tip toeing carefully around actually having sex so it's not a real affair.
So again- Marriage is a hollow cop out for women to control men. And the way men should react is to begin searching constantly for the woman who will really make us happy and leave the lady we promised to love forever. That'll teach her.
3) Girls should continue throwing themselves at guys over and over again until the right one doesn't sleep with them and not call them back. Then you'll know you're really in love.
I am so angry at the world right now. Most especially because there were roughly 14 students from Northwest Christian High School present at this movie (my place of employment), 7 of which were young girls being convinced of this garbage. Why do we continue to spread this message and then wonder why kids are sleeping with each other at 13 years old and thinking they are in love? Either stop letting them watch this crap or get used to it. I hate this, I really genuinely do.
If I could say one thing to the young girls of the world it would be this: You are a beautiful young girl who deserves to be treated honorably by a righteous young man who loves God. You do not need anyone other than Jesus to make you happy, and when you have reached that point it may just so happen that a boy comes into your life and says and does all the right things. If he loves God, and you two continue to walk with Christ daily- you will be given one of the greatest gifts on the entire earth- marriage. Not Hollywood warm fuzzies marriage, but the kind of marriage we read about in Scripture where husbands love their wives and lay down their lives for them. They provide for them and care for them and love them deeply- more and more each day. You will feel beautiful and be beautiful in the eyes of God and your husband. This is marriage- the earthly example of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Marriage DOES NOT END IN THIS LIFE TIME! And it is gratifying for that life time when done right.
"Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him, and near his heart to be loved by him." Matthew Henry
Proberbs 31:10-12 A wife of noble character who can find?She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm,all the days of her life.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I was reading through Knowing God by J.I. Packer recently when I came across this quote:
"We must learn to measure ourselves, not by our knowledge about God, not by our gifts and responsibilities in the church, but by how we pray and what goes on in our hearts."
I call attention to it for personal reasons mostly, but perhaps it will have the same affect on you as it has had on me. Often times I look at my life and think that I have performed some good in the lives of students and friends and I give enough to the church that I'm safe. I become dangerously complacent and begin to walk in a legalistic pride knowing that I'm doing a good job. I cannot measure myself by my good deeds or by my knowledge about God. The important question is do I know Him? Not about Him, but do I know God? And if I measure my knowledge of God in my prayer life the real answer is no, I don't know God well...I want to. I want to love Him more, I want to know Him better, I want all of those things. But merely desiring to have a better relationship isn't worthwhile. If I were married and I say, "I want a better relationship with my wife," but I don't do anything- my relationship with my wife is not getting any better.
Sometimes I have to toil and labor at my relationship with God. I have to cry and plead for Him to reveal more of Himself to me. And in those times I am made more like Him even when it feels like I am most lacking.
Over and out.
"We must learn to measure ourselves, not by our knowledge about God, not by our gifts and responsibilities in the church, but by how we pray and what goes on in our hearts."
I call attention to it for personal reasons mostly, but perhaps it will have the same affect on you as it has had on me. Often times I look at my life and think that I have performed some good in the lives of students and friends and I give enough to the church that I'm safe. I become dangerously complacent and begin to walk in a legalistic pride knowing that I'm doing a good job. I cannot measure myself by my good deeds or by my knowledge about God. The important question is do I know Him? Not about Him, but do I know God? And if I measure my knowledge of God in my prayer life the real answer is no, I don't know God well...I want to. I want to love Him more, I want to know Him better, I want all of those things. But merely desiring to have a better relationship isn't worthwhile. If I were married and I say, "I want a better relationship with my wife," but I don't do anything- my relationship with my wife is not getting any better.
Sometimes I have to toil and labor at my relationship with God. I have to cry and plead for Him to reveal more of Himself to me. And in those times I am made more like Him even when it feels like I am most lacking.
Over and out.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Mongolian Food and a Few Good Men
Tonight I attended a small gathering of young men from my wonderful, blessed, fruit-bearing church that was a fine "send-off" to one of the greatest men I know. The 5 of us gathered and ate good food, remembered good times, and discussed important issues while basking in the glory of fellowship. As I reflect on as fine a night as I've had in a great while I cannot help but feel slight bitterness in it all.
On Wednesday a U.S. Army Soldier, his wife, and two little ones will pack up their final belongings and leave behind Olympia, Washington. They are headed into California and may the people around them be forever blessed by their presence. I realize I will see you all again soon...but I also realize that I have known many friends and none better than the Jackson family. Your compassion, kindness, love, hilarity, and presence will be greatly missed by many here. Even as I sit here now it is difficult to imagine not having you here to talk with, to laugh, joke, and seek advice.
Ross, thank you for everything. You are a good friend, but a better man...there is none. I am so incredibly thankful for the time we had here- you being the first person I ever met at ECC. Thank you, I'm at a loss for words which is extremely unusual for me, but thank you. I am a better man today because of your influence, and you will not be forgotten. Praise Christ that a church in California will be blessed with your family. That a neighborhood, community, kids, and whoever else will be touched by the authenticity of your love of God and neighbor. I love all of you and I will be seeing you soon.
Christ thank you for people like the Jackson's. Friends that are a light in the darkest night of the soul. Smiles that will lift burdens and walk under them with you. Thank you that they are a part of your church and your body and I have had the pleasure of serving next to them in learning from people far greater than myself. Thank you for your grace in providing undeserved community. You are good, and I am ever thankful. I pray that they feel your presence with them in all that they do.
On Wednesday a U.S. Army Soldier, his wife, and two little ones will pack up their final belongings and leave behind Olympia, Washington. They are headed into California and may the people around them be forever blessed by their presence. I realize I will see you all again soon...but I also realize that I have known many friends and none better than the Jackson family. Your compassion, kindness, love, hilarity, and presence will be greatly missed by many here. Even as I sit here now it is difficult to imagine not having you here to talk with, to laugh, joke, and seek advice.
Ross, thank you for everything. You are a good friend, but a better man...there is none. I am so incredibly thankful for the time we had here- you being the first person I ever met at ECC. Thank you, I'm at a loss for words which is extremely unusual for me, but thank you. I am a better man today because of your influence, and you will not be forgotten. Praise Christ that a church in California will be blessed with your family. That a neighborhood, community, kids, and whoever else will be touched by the authenticity of your love of God and neighbor. I love all of you and I will be seeing you soon.
Christ thank you for people like the Jackson's. Friends that are a light in the darkest night of the soul. Smiles that will lift burdens and walk under them with you. Thank you that they are a part of your church and your body and I have had the pleasure of serving next to them in learning from people far greater than myself. Thank you for your grace in providing undeserved community. You are good, and I am ever thankful. I pray that they feel your presence with them in all that they do.
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