After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.--Matthew 4:2
This may seem like a strange verse to start off a blog post but considering that we are in the middle of the season of Lent I believe it to be extremely relevant. So how are your commitments going? Perhaps you decided to give up something like facebook, cigarettes or pop for Lent and I hope that is going well. I think Lent in some ways can be like 'take 2' on your New Years resolutions. I have failed miserably in my attempts at giving up sarcasm for this season. I personally don't know anyone that has done something on the level of a forty day food fast but I would love to talk to someone who has. I would love to sit and ask them about what they initially hoped to gain or lose during this intense experience as well as hear about what they actually got out of it when all was said and done. I think many in our culture would find it impossible to do such a thing in the midst of their daily lives with all of its busyness and responsibilities. We are a 'go go go' culture and we need food to fuel such a fast forward lifestyle. The problem with just such a pace is that if you are headed in the wrong direction, even just slightly, you can quickly find yourself way off track. I think that is why what we see in Jesus' fasting is in many ways a radical departure from today's norm.
People who say 'no no no' instead of 'go go go' to things such as food, communication, community, and sexual pleasures are often seen as oddities or just plain crazy. When the monastics would take vows of chastity, or live in solitude or silence it was intentionally done to separate themselves from things they saw as detrimental to the kind of lives they were called to live. It's easy to look at them and think that they had some sort of higher calling but I don't think that is the case. I think that there are many elements of the monastic life that we all need at one time or another. Prayer and fasting were regular routines for their lives. I find it interesting that when Jesus talks about giving to the needy, praying and fasting he does not say 'if' but 'when'. (Matthew 6:2,5,16) He gives us some insight into how we should give, pray and fast and each section starts off with 'when'. There is a clear implication that as his followers our lives will involve giving to the needy, praying, and fasting. It's not about 'if you fast' but 'when you fast' as a follower of Christ.
It is significant that it is here at the onset of Jesus' ministry where we see him doing something like this. As he sets his course toward the cross with all that is in store he first gets his bearings. He establishes the orientation and direction of his life in an act of self-denial and after forty days he is hungry. After that long without food I'd be ravenous but all we see in this passage is that Jesus was hungry. Please don't confuse this with any sort of spiritual hunger or with the passage in Matthew 5 about hungering and thirsting for righteousness. He is hungry for physical food thus there is the temptation to turn stones into bread. Despite this very physical hunger there is something else that takes precedence and that is the dependence upon God for that which is truly life giving. In Genesis we see life breathed into man from the very mouth of God and in Matthew we hear Jesus saying that life is sustained by the word that proceeds from the mouth of God as well.
Following this fasting experience Jesus resumes eating and many pivotal moments during his earthly life happened in the midst of meals. When he spoke in parables describing the Kingdom of God he talked about feasts. Two of his most popular miracles involved food and drink. He turned water into wine and multiplied the loaves and the fish. One of the things that got him into trouble with the religious leaders was the fact that he ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners. Even the resurrected Jesus is connected to meals. He shows up during mealtime at the end of Mark. Luke adds that after he shows up he asks for something to eat and they give him broiled fish. In John, Jesus appears a second time to the disciples and fixes them breakfast on the beach. And finally we even eat and drink the Lord's Supper in remembrance of him! There is nothing more human than eating and drinking and there is nothing that brings bodies together like sharing a meal.
Finally, fasting is never to be seen as a rejection of the flesh but a reorientation of the flesh. Our bodily lives are to be oriented toward the Kingdom of God and it's purposes. It is when we are properly oriented toward that Kingdom that we are opened up to and filled with the Spirit of life. We are empty bodies that need to be filled and fasting orients us toward the only One that truly can fill us and bring life to these earthen vessels.
When Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 he says that they should pray for their 'daily bread'. Food provides us with the daily reminder of our dependence on the Father for our livelihood. We are to daily orient our lives around him. Paul says to the church in Corinth:
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."--1Corinthians 10:31
When our bodily lives are properly oriented around Kingdom purposes even the mundane things like eating and drinking have the ability to give glory to God. So what are you being filled with? Maybe it's time to empty yourself via fasting and be truly filled.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Listening With Both Ears
Growing up in the country during the 80's and 90's has provided me with memories that are absolutely foreign to the kids currently sound asleep and snoring as I write this. I work at a residential treatment facility for teenage guys and since I work night shift they sleep while I work. It boggles my mind to think that I was finished with high school before many of these kids were even alive! So many things have changed since I was their age and media is by far what has changed the most. Being that we lived in the country we didn't have access to things like cable or satellite dish and so the only television channel options we had came via antenna. On most days we had three options but if the weather was clear we had four. NBC, ABC, and CBS were a part of our daily television regimen and on special days FOX came in clear enough of to make it worthwhile trying to watch it. Deciding what to watch was so much easier back then! And get this, there was no such thing as 24 hour programming! Mind blown! I remember waking up as a youngster and watching the colored bars on the screen until it was 5:30 am and cartoons came on. I remember watching television until 1:00 am and then television cutting off to those same colored bars.
One of the most exciting things about moving to town when I was in high school was that we got cable and with cable came options. We were no longer narrowed in our options and could find things that more suited our taste. Needless to say I was thrilled to be able to watch every single Chicago Bulls game with my dad for years on our non-HD tube television. Can you even buy a tube television now? Before all of these options we would sometimes watch things that may not have been our top choice but when the options are few you learn to deal with it. In our consumer culture with its limitless options we no longer have to put up with watching or listening to something we don't like, even commercials. We can DVR our favorite shows and skip past commercials and not once have to deal with or digest information we have already decided that we don't like. In a way we have the ability as a culture to mute an ear to anything that doesn't fit our fancy. Tune out, change the channel and then tune in to what our other ear really wants to hear. Our preferences get affirmed over and over and over and over again to the point that anything contrary to them is extremely distasteful.
I think it is pretty clear that the United States is anything but united. There are some pretty glaring divisions that are creating havoc within families and leading to the elimination of facebook friends. You don't agree with me….BAM….removed from my friend's list. Pretty severe stuff! I make fun of the facebook scenario, which is pretty common, but the divisive situation in our country really is pretty bad. In my opinion the one thing that feeds this kind of divisiveness is a mute ear. Whatever the topic (religion, politics, sexuality, or all 3 of these at once) I don't get the vibe that either side is really listening to each other and I'm not surprised in the least. We don't like what we hear so we change the radio station. We don't like a particular biased media channel so we go to the biased media channel we do like. We consistently reinforce what we like and this is a hindrance to our ability to truly listen. We literally tune out or mute anything or anyone that challenges what we 'know' to be true.
Being a one-eared Christian in this world is detrimental in many ways to the health and vitality of the church. I love what God says in his conversation with Moses:
"The Lord said, 'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.' "--Exodus 3:7
God hears the cries of His people! That is a big deal! I wonder if Moses heard their cries prior to God's acknowledgement of their suffering. Perhaps by turning his ear toward God he was simultaneously allowed to turn his other ear toward those whom God loves and hear their cries for himself. I think a good indicator for whether or not a church has it's ear turned toward God is whether or not it is attuned to the needs and the suffering of those in it's midst. God hears their cries and in turn so should the church.
This past year I have made a habit of reading and listening to things that in no way align with what I believe. Before I go on, let me state that I am not an 'open minded' person nor do I think you should be 'open minded' either. I am not open to believing things that are untrue. Nowhere in scripture do I read anything about being open minded but it does say an awful lot about being discerning. I have often compared discernment to digestion even though the final picture isn't too pretty. I will eat just about anything but my body discerns what comes in and I will only keep what is of nutritional value. The rest is….well…you know. Having a discerning ear helps sort through all kinds of garbage being sold as treasure in this world. My new habit was not an attempt to be more open minded but more open eared. The fact is that even if something I hear is untrue and contrary to what I believe someone out there does believe it. It is important for the church to better know and understand some of the core beliefs that drive people in this world.
Beliefs always dictate action. If people honestly believed they could get killed in a car accident they would drive differently or not at all. We can all attest to the fact that there are CRAZY drivers out there and I'm sure there are people who think we are those crazy drivers ourselves. People believe they are excellent drivers and do not believe that today could be their day to depart this earth and so they drive like idiots. Our true beliefs are revealed in how we live our lives and drive our cars. Turning an ear toward the beliefs that people hold explains a lot about how people live their lives. I'm not saying to go out and read 50 Shades of Gray to better understand our cultures sexual obsession but I am saying that there are a variety of helpful things to be gleaned from a variety of sources so keep your ear open and your heart discerning.
Here's something I believe to be true about some of the most vocal and public people in the media world: The things that they yell at the top of their lungs in public are more similar to what people believe in private silence than we would like to admit. All too often, when we come across a loud and boisterous figure ranting about something we disagree with, we categorize them as an extremist, a rarity, and discredit their argument based on volume (speaking volume) than actual content. We think they represent only a small proportion of people who really don't understand the issue. These people are yelling advertisements and as a culture we are suckers for advertisements. People, many people, actually believe what these vocal people are selling and people in the church need to recognize it. The charges and accusations made against the church by media figures many times reflect actual belief in the larger population, whether true or not.
And now here's the tough part. What if the accusations and disappointments expressed by people about the church are true? Even if just a little bit. I think that in a culture trained to mute what it doesn't want to hear, a person yelling at the top of his/her lungs is necessary to get our attention. Don't discredit the content because of the volume. Over the last few weeks I have listened to hours upon hours of Bill Maher and trust me he is LOUD! Maybe not high on the Richter scale loud but an 'Up In Your Face' kind of loud. He is as honest as he is loud and he believes every word he says. In his stand up routines as well as on his regular show he is outspoken about his atheism and never misses an opportunity to rail against religion. So why do I listen to him? I think this world is filled with people who believe just like he does but without the platform. I believe that some of his railings against the church are extremely valid and this world is filled with people that have hardened hearts toward God and the church. If God's people don't realize just how deeply fractured this world is, it will never love as deeply as it needs to love in order to bring about the kind of deliverance and reconciliation this world desperately needs. To love as God loves just might start with hearing what God hears. He gave us 2 ears so use both of them!
One of the most exciting things about moving to town when I was in high school was that we got cable and with cable came options. We were no longer narrowed in our options and could find things that more suited our taste. Needless to say I was thrilled to be able to watch every single Chicago Bulls game with my dad for years on our non-HD tube television. Can you even buy a tube television now? Before all of these options we would sometimes watch things that may not have been our top choice but when the options are few you learn to deal with it. In our consumer culture with its limitless options we no longer have to put up with watching or listening to something we don't like, even commercials. We can DVR our favorite shows and skip past commercials and not once have to deal with or digest information we have already decided that we don't like. In a way we have the ability as a culture to mute an ear to anything that doesn't fit our fancy. Tune out, change the channel and then tune in to what our other ear really wants to hear. Our preferences get affirmed over and over and over and over again to the point that anything contrary to them is extremely distasteful.
I think it is pretty clear that the United States is anything but united. There are some pretty glaring divisions that are creating havoc within families and leading to the elimination of facebook friends. You don't agree with me….BAM….removed from my friend's list. Pretty severe stuff! I make fun of the facebook scenario, which is pretty common, but the divisive situation in our country really is pretty bad. In my opinion the one thing that feeds this kind of divisiveness is a mute ear. Whatever the topic (religion, politics, sexuality, or all 3 of these at once) I don't get the vibe that either side is really listening to each other and I'm not surprised in the least. We don't like what we hear so we change the radio station. We don't like a particular biased media channel so we go to the biased media channel we do like. We consistently reinforce what we like and this is a hindrance to our ability to truly listen. We literally tune out or mute anything or anyone that challenges what we 'know' to be true.
Being a one-eared Christian in this world is detrimental in many ways to the health and vitality of the church. I love what God says in his conversation with Moses:
"The Lord said, 'I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.' "--Exodus 3:7
God hears the cries of His people! That is a big deal! I wonder if Moses heard their cries prior to God's acknowledgement of their suffering. Perhaps by turning his ear toward God he was simultaneously allowed to turn his other ear toward those whom God loves and hear their cries for himself. I think a good indicator for whether or not a church has it's ear turned toward God is whether or not it is attuned to the needs and the suffering of those in it's midst. God hears their cries and in turn so should the church.
This past year I have made a habit of reading and listening to things that in no way align with what I believe. Before I go on, let me state that I am not an 'open minded' person nor do I think you should be 'open minded' either. I am not open to believing things that are untrue. Nowhere in scripture do I read anything about being open minded but it does say an awful lot about being discerning. I have often compared discernment to digestion even though the final picture isn't too pretty. I will eat just about anything but my body discerns what comes in and I will only keep what is of nutritional value. The rest is….well…you know. Having a discerning ear helps sort through all kinds of garbage being sold as treasure in this world. My new habit was not an attempt to be more open minded but more open eared. The fact is that even if something I hear is untrue and contrary to what I believe someone out there does believe it. It is important for the church to better know and understand some of the core beliefs that drive people in this world.
Beliefs always dictate action. If people honestly believed they could get killed in a car accident they would drive differently or not at all. We can all attest to the fact that there are CRAZY drivers out there and I'm sure there are people who think we are those crazy drivers ourselves. People believe they are excellent drivers and do not believe that today could be their day to depart this earth and so they drive like idiots. Our true beliefs are revealed in how we live our lives and drive our cars. Turning an ear toward the beliefs that people hold explains a lot about how people live their lives. I'm not saying to go out and read 50 Shades of Gray to better understand our cultures sexual obsession but I am saying that there are a variety of helpful things to be gleaned from a variety of sources so keep your ear open and your heart discerning.
Here's something I believe to be true about some of the most vocal and public people in the media world: The things that they yell at the top of their lungs in public are more similar to what people believe in private silence than we would like to admit. All too often, when we come across a loud and boisterous figure ranting about something we disagree with, we categorize them as an extremist, a rarity, and discredit their argument based on volume (speaking volume) than actual content. We think they represent only a small proportion of people who really don't understand the issue. These people are yelling advertisements and as a culture we are suckers for advertisements. People, many people, actually believe what these vocal people are selling and people in the church need to recognize it. The charges and accusations made against the church by media figures many times reflect actual belief in the larger population, whether true or not.
And now here's the tough part. What if the accusations and disappointments expressed by people about the church are true? Even if just a little bit. I think that in a culture trained to mute what it doesn't want to hear, a person yelling at the top of his/her lungs is necessary to get our attention. Don't discredit the content because of the volume. Over the last few weeks I have listened to hours upon hours of Bill Maher and trust me he is LOUD! Maybe not high on the Richter scale loud but an 'Up In Your Face' kind of loud. He is as honest as he is loud and he believes every word he says. In his stand up routines as well as on his regular show he is outspoken about his atheism and never misses an opportunity to rail against religion. So why do I listen to him? I think this world is filled with people who believe just like he does but without the platform. I believe that some of his railings against the church are extremely valid and this world is filled with people that have hardened hearts toward God and the church. If God's people don't realize just how deeply fractured this world is, it will never love as deeply as it needs to love in order to bring about the kind of deliverance and reconciliation this world desperately needs. To love as God loves just might start with hearing what God hears. He gave us 2 ears so use both of them!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Kingdom Math: 1000000 > 0000001
I recently read a book by Shane Hipps called "Selling Water by the River" and in it he uses a simple but extremely helpful digital depiction of value and priorities. 0000001 and 100000 are identical in virtually every aspect except their order and this has a tremendous impact on value. I could add a limitless amount of 0’s to the front end of ‘0000001’ and its ultimate value would never increase. I could add a single 0 to the end and it would increase tenfold to ‘00000010’. If I added a single 0 to the end of ‘1000000’ I would go from 1 million to 10 million in value, another tenfold increase. Order means everything when it comes to numerical value.
Order also means everything when it comes to eternal Kingdom values. I think most Christians are plenty familiar with the following passage:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."—Matthew 6:33
The overwhelming topic throughout Jesus’ teaching ministry was the Kingdom of God. In word and in deed he exemplified what this Kingdom looks like in practical ways. When Jesus talks in Matthew 5 about how to respond when insulted by a slap to the face, someone taking your cloak, or someone forcing you to go one mile, he is not giving examples that we do not see himself doing in his own earthly life.
"The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face."--John 19:2-3
"When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom."--John 19:23
"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)."--John 19:17
Jesus was insulted and mocked. His clothes were stolen and gambled away. After being beat and whipped he was forced to carry his own cross until someone else is forced to carry it for him in the other gospels. Jesus’ teachings carry weight and Kingdom values are of the utmost importance.
Let’s revisit the digital example for a bit. The Kingdom is represented by the ‘1’ in both 0000001 and 1000000. The zeroes can be representative of numerous things but I’ll stick with 6 ‘0’s like the example so here are 6 options: spouse, kids, work, friends, hobbies, ministry/church. It is significant that these items are represented by a zero. They hold no intrinsic value of their own. They derive their value only by what precedes it or takes precedence. Whenever these items are placed before the Kingdom they add no value to our lives. The role of creation is to, as Matt Chandler frequently says, "roll up in thanksgiving to our Creator." If, however, the things that God created become an end in themselves, they will consistently fail to satisfy. When added to the front of the line they are never able to actually fulfill ones life and that is why there are many people who live with a continual drive for more. They want more money, more toys, and more relationships simply because the ones that they have aren’t enough to satisfy completely. And they never will when they are placed in a role they were not created for in the first place. But by adding these items after the Kingdom value of '1' there is tenfold growth and fulfillment. The Kingdom injects meaning, purpose and value into our marriages, our parenting, our jobs and even into our hobbies.
The hard part is knowing how to move something that has improperly been in front of the Kingdom to its proper place after the Kingdom? This can be tough especially if something has been an empty idol for any length of time. I think there are a couple questions that might be helpful in making that transition. What kind of Kingdom value would I like to see manifested in my marriage, in my kids, in my job? Fill in the last part with whatever priority you think needs to be reordered and think about what kind of Kingdom value you feel needs to be reflected better in that particular area. I think this is a good starting point because it gets you looking at that particular area with more focus and has you evaluating how things are currently. If things are out of sorts there’s a good chance it’s because it’s out of order.
Now that you’re looking at that area of your life you may be ready for a follow up question. How can I help my spouse/children/job/hobby be used for Kingdom purposes? This goes beyond simply injecting Kingdom values into our lives like the first question and instead injects our lives into the Kingdom. I think you can see certain degrees of improvement when we add the Kingdom to certain aspects of our lives but I don’t think it is anything lasting. I also don’t think it encompasses enough because one might be encouraged to add Kingdom values only to certain parts of their lives. The entirety of our lives needs to be placed within a Kingdom lifestyle and united with Kingdom purposes.
The order of priority is clear and the math is simple. A life that is ordered with our Creator and His Kingdom at the front of the line is abundantly more fulfilling than a life which places the created things of this world before it's Creator. Today starts the season of Lent and perhaps you may find a way to incorporate Kingdom values into how you observe this particular season. They say it takes 40 days to start a new habit or quit an old one. Maybe you are trying to give up smoking or make scripture reading a daily habit. Whatever it is try to unite it with Kingdom purposes and you just may find a bit more success in your venture! Best of luck and God bless!
Order also means everything when it comes to eternal Kingdom values. I think most Christians are plenty familiar with the following passage:
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."—Matthew 6:33
The overwhelming topic throughout Jesus’ teaching ministry was the Kingdom of God. In word and in deed he exemplified what this Kingdom looks like in practical ways. When Jesus talks in Matthew 5 about how to respond when insulted by a slap to the face, someone taking your cloak, or someone forcing you to go one mile, he is not giving examples that we do not see himself doing in his own earthly life.
"The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face."--John 19:2-3
"When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom."--John 19:23
"Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)."--John 19:17
Jesus was insulted and mocked. His clothes were stolen and gambled away. After being beat and whipped he was forced to carry his own cross until someone else is forced to carry it for him in the other gospels. Jesus’ teachings carry weight and Kingdom values are of the utmost importance.
Let’s revisit the digital example for a bit. The Kingdom is represented by the ‘1’ in both 0000001 and 1000000. The zeroes can be representative of numerous things but I’ll stick with 6 ‘0’s like the example so here are 6 options: spouse, kids, work, friends, hobbies, ministry/church. It is significant that these items are represented by a zero. They hold no intrinsic value of their own. They derive their value only by what precedes it or takes precedence. Whenever these items are placed before the Kingdom they add no value to our lives. The role of creation is to, as Matt Chandler frequently says, "roll up in thanksgiving to our Creator." If, however, the things that God created become an end in themselves, they will consistently fail to satisfy. When added to the front of the line they are never able to actually fulfill ones life and that is why there are many people who live with a continual drive for more. They want more money, more toys, and more relationships simply because the ones that they have aren’t enough to satisfy completely. And they never will when they are placed in a role they were not created for in the first place. But by adding these items after the Kingdom value of '1' there is tenfold growth and fulfillment. The Kingdom injects meaning, purpose and value into our marriages, our parenting, our jobs and even into our hobbies.
The hard part is knowing how to move something that has improperly been in front of the Kingdom to its proper place after the Kingdom? This can be tough especially if something has been an empty idol for any length of time. I think there are a couple questions that might be helpful in making that transition. What kind of Kingdom value would I like to see manifested in my marriage, in my kids, in my job? Fill in the last part with whatever priority you think needs to be reordered and think about what kind of Kingdom value you feel needs to be reflected better in that particular area. I think this is a good starting point because it gets you looking at that particular area with more focus and has you evaluating how things are currently. If things are out of sorts there’s a good chance it’s because it’s out of order.
Now that you’re looking at that area of your life you may be ready for a follow up question. How can I help my spouse/children/job/hobby be used for Kingdom purposes? This goes beyond simply injecting Kingdom values into our lives like the first question and instead injects our lives into the Kingdom. I think you can see certain degrees of improvement when we add the Kingdom to certain aspects of our lives but I don’t think it is anything lasting. I also don’t think it encompasses enough because one might be encouraged to add Kingdom values only to certain parts of their lives. The entirety of our lives needs to be placed within a Kingdom lifestyle and united with Kingdom purposes.
The order of priority is clear and the math is simple. A life that is ordered with our Creator and His Kingdom at the front of the line is abundantly more fulfilling than a life which places the created things of this world before it's Creator. Today starts the season of Lent and perhaps you may find a way to incorporate Kingdom values into how you observe this particular season. They say it takes 40 days to start a new habit or quit an old one. Maybe you are trying to give up smoking or make scripture reading a daily habit. Whatever it is try to unite it with Kingdom purposes and you just may find a bit more success in your venture! Best of luck and God bless!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Bravest Person I Know
I am the bravest person I know. Quit laughing. I’m serious. For those that actually know me this might be a bit too much to take in because I’m rarely serious and they’re probably well aware of my fear of water. I grew up in the country and my exposure to swimming was pretty limited. I honestly don’t even know if I could tread water if push came to shove and I ended up in deep water. It would literally take some pushing and shoving to get me in deep water. I did receive lessons when I was younger but there was one big problem. If I stood on my tip toes I could still keep my head above water. Because my feet could touch the bottom of the pool I never truly had to face my fear and learn to swim confidently. Because of this fear I have forever united myself via the bonds of marriage to a woman genetically linked to dolphins. She LOVES to swim and I’m fairly confident she would attempt to save me.
During my high school years I attended a youth conference in Phoenix but before the event officially started the group I was a part of went to a water park. I LOVE basketball and my love for basketball was the only thing that could lure me into what I later found out was a huge wave pool. Apparently this particular wave pool would be off for 15 minutes and then on for 15 minutes and it just so happened to be off when I first saw the pool. I got involved in a basketball game in the pool but shortly afterward the wave machine came on and the 5 feet of water I was in quickly became 10 feet at it’s peak. My short life flashed before my eyes but ultimately I got a hold onto the side and lifted my scrawny butt out of there.
So what makes me the bravest person I know? I go to church! Not only that, I also go to other churches! Since the church I regularly attend has Saturday services this provides me the opportunity on Sunday mornings to attend services at a variety of churches. And get this! I have attended a men’s bible study at a church I don’t regularly attend! If attending church makes me brave then attending other churches as well as participating in things like a men’s study makes me the bravest person I know. Anyone with a brain knows that churches are filled with the most judgmental, hypocritical, phoney, sexist, racist, homophobic, self righteous, gun toting patriots you’ll ever come across. Fill a church building with these types of people and you have the scariest place you’d never want to visit!
Time for the truth. I am not brave at all. Shoot, I’m not even the bravest in my own home on most days. Going to churches doesn’t make me brave in the least because to be honest church isn’t the scariest place to visit. Despite how consistently church people are portrayed as ignorant and hate filled in the media I know that this simply is not the case. The most loving and intelligent people I have ever met in my life I have met in connection with the Christian church. Don’t get me wrong, churches have their share of baffoons just like the rest of our world. But generalizations simply don’t work and there are many people that have a very generalized fear concerning the church. Fears shape the boundaries of our lives. I fear water so that limits where I go. I’ll go out into Lake Michigan so far but there is this 5 foot high boundary that says just how far. I am not afraid of ‘the church’ so I have no issue walking in to places I’ve never been and places where I might not know a single person there. As an actual churchgoer I know what church is really like but for some the thought of going to church stirs up all sorts of anxiety and so for them that is a boundary they don’t want to cross. They have bought into things that I don’t deem to be truthful and are afraid of something that ought not be feared.
(Let me interject a brief disclaimer here: I am not oblivious to the multitude of people who have been genuinely hurt by church people. I know the stories because I know the people. There are people who have left the church and done so quietly because no word could be uttered. You won’t hear their voices in the media because they don’t want it to be heard. They don’t want the stories retold because they don’t want to relive the nightmare they experienced. The pain is deep. In many ways I think the pain is a little bit deeper because whatever it was happened in the context of the church. People are more vulnerable because they feel safe and then something happened that shouldn’t have. If this is your story just know I’m not directing this at you.)
Maybe there are some that wouldn’t necessarily call their anxiety or hesitation about church a fear. There are plenty of people who have had pretty horrid church experiences and maybe anger or disappointment in church people is more in line with why they stay away from church. Here’s my main issue with people who stay away from the church for whatever the reason: A person who has had a bad work experience would not quit working for the entirety of their lives because of the bad experience they had at one or two jobs. Such a person would try to find work somewhere else because making a living is vital to their growth and development as well as survival. Yet people quit going to church for the entirety of their lives because of something that happened 20-30 years ago! The only way a person can take such a drastic stand is if they do not see what happens in connection with the church as vital to their growth and development as well as their survival as a believer. That view of church (that it is not vital) is utterly and biblically false. Perhaps I’ll do a blog series at a later time about the many ways in which a church through the work of the Spirit is a source of growth and maturation for believers. Or perhaps a series on how disconnecting from fellowship of all types is one of the most unfruitful choices a believer can make. Or about how people tend to magnify their bad experience in order to justify their absence. I could go on and on.
Back when it was actually nice outside, unlike the dreary Illinois day today, my wife and I went to Lake Michigan for a quick dip. I surprised my wife by actually getting in. I might add that I’m also not a fan of sand. OCD. As we stood out near the 5 foot boundary I had a newfound fear. I wondered what would happen if Lori were ever in danger in the water. I’ve seen the news stories of spouses dying trying to save their loved one and I was convinced that could just as easily be me. I told Lori to never ever put herself in a risky situation because the thought of me being unable to save her would be a nightmare and chances are I’d drown trying to. I now have another reason to get over my fear of swimming. Not only do I need to get over my fear in order to keep myself safe but if I want to be of any use to those I love or even just some stranger in need it's time for me to learn how to swim.
My guess is that there are entire families that would benefit tremendously if one person would get over their fear and lead the way to a place that isn’t to be feared at all. I recently read an excellent book by Brennan Manning called The Signature of Jesus. In it he contrasts ‘metanoia’ with ‘paranoia’. Metanoia is a biblical word referring to conversion or repentance, or a change of mind. It’s easy for us to think of the mentally ill when we see the word paranoia but biblically there is something extremely helpful here. Paranoia is more an attitude or stance of the heart. And as John Heagle, author of On the Way, puts it:
"Paranoia of the spirit is an attempt to deny the reality of Jesus in such a way that we rationalize our behavior and choose our own way."
What is the stance of your heart toward God? How long has it been that way? Perhaps a change of mind in regard to church might be a good first step towards growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
During my high school years I attended a youth conference in Phoenix but before the event officially started the group I was a part of went to a water park. I LOVE basketball and my love for basketball was the only thing that could lure me into what I later found out was a huge wave pool. Apparently this particular wave pool would be off for 15 minutes and then on for 15 minutes and it just so happened to be off when I first saw the pool. I got involved in a basketball game in the pool but shortly afterward the wave machine came on and the 5 feet of water I was in quickly became 10 feet at it’s peak. My short life flashed before my eyes but ultimately I got a hold onto the side and lifted my scrawny butt out of there.
So what makes me the bravest person I know? I go to church! Not only that, I also go to other churches! Since the church I regularly attend has Saturday services this provides me the opportunity on Sunday mornings to attend services at a variety of churches. And get this! I have attended a men’s bible study at a church I don’t regularly attend! If attending church makes me brave then attending other churches as well as participating in things like a men’s study makes me the bravest person I know. Anyone with a brain knows that churches are filled with the most judgmental, hypocritical, phoney, sexist, racist, homophobic, self righteous, gun toting patriots you’ll ever come across. Fill a church building with these types of people and you have the scariest place you’d never want to visit!
Time for the truth. I am not brave at all. Shoot, I’m not even the bravest in my own home on most days. Going to churches doesn’t make me brave in the least because to be honest church isn’t the scariest place to visit. Despite how consistently church people are portrayed as ignorant and hate filled in the media I know that this simply is not the case. The most loving and intelligent people I have ever met in my life I have met in connection with the Christian church. Don’t get me wrong, churches have their share of baffoons just like the rest of our world. But generalizations simply don’t work and there are many people that have a very generalized fear concerning the church. Fears shape the boundaries of our lives. I fear water so that limits where I go. I’ll go out into Lake Michigan so far but there is this 5 foot high boundary that says just how far. I am not afraid of ‘the church’ so I have no issue walking in to places I’ve never been and places where I might not know a single person there. As an actual churchgoer I know what church is really like but for some the thought of going to church stirs up all sorts of anxiety and so for them that is a boundary they don’t want to cross. They have bought into things that I don’t deem to be truthful and are afraid of something that ought not be feared.
(Let me interject a brief disclaimer here: I am not oblivious to the multitude of people who have been genuinely hurt by church people. I know the stories because I know the people. There are people who have left the church and done so quietly because no word could be uttered. You won’t hear their voices in the media because they don’t want it to be heard. They don’t want the stories retold because they don’t want to relive the nightmare they experienced. The pain is deep. In many ways I think the pain is a little bit deeper because whatever it was happened in the context of the church. People are more vulnerable because they feel safe and then something happened that shouldn’t have. If this is your story just know I’m not directing this at you.)
Maybe there are some that wouldn’t necessarily call their anxiety or hesitation about church a fear. There are plenty of people who have had pretty horrid church experiences and maybe anger or disappointment in church people is more in line with why they stay away from church. Here’s my main issue with people who stay away from the church for whatever the reason: A person who has had a bad work experience would not quit working for the entirety of their lives because of the bad experience they had at one or two jobs. Such a person would try to find work somewhere else because making a living is vital to their growth and development as well as survival. Yet people quit going to church for the entirety of their lives because of something that happened 20-30 years ago! The only way a person can take such a drastic stand is if they do not see what happens in connection with the church as vital to their growth and development as well as their survival as a believer. That view of church (that it is not vital) is utterly and biblically false. Perhaps I’ll do a blog series at a later time about the many ways in which a church through the work of the Spirit is a source of growth and maturation for believers. Or perhaps a series on how disconnecting from fellowship of all types is one of the most unfruitful choices a believer can make. Or about how people tend to magnify their bad experience in order to justify their absence. I could go on and on.
Back when it was actually nice outside, unlike the dreary Illinois day today, my wife and I went to Lake Michigan for a quick dip. I surprised my wife by actually getting in. I might add that I’m also not a fan of sand. OCD. As we stood out near the 5 foot boundary I had a newfound fear. I wondered what would happen if Lori were ever in danger in the water. I’ve seen the news stories of spouses dying trying to save their loved one and I was convinced that could just as easily be me. I told Lori to never ever put herself in a risky situation because the thought of me being unable to save her would be a nightmare and chances are I’d drown trying to. I now have another reason to get over my fear of swimming. Not only do I need to get over my fear in order to keep myself safe but if I want to be of any use to those I love or even just some stranger in need it's time for me to learn how to swim.
My guess is that there are entire families that would benefit tremendously if one person would get over their fear and lead the way to a place that isn’t to be feared at all. I recently read an excellent book by Brennan Manning called The Signature of Jesus. In it he contrasts ‘metanoia’ with ‘paranoia’. Metanoia is a biblical word referring to conversion or repentance, or a change of mind. It’s easy for us to think of the mentally ill when we see the word paranoia but biblically there is something extremely helpful here. Paranoia is more an attitude or stance of the heart. And as John Heagle, author of On the Way, puts it:
"Paranoia of the spirit is an attempt to deny the reality of Jesus in such a way that we rationalize our behavior and choose our own way."
What is the stance of your heart toward God? How long has it been that way? Perhaps a change of mind in regard to church might be a good first step towards growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Left Behind: The People That Never Left
Over the past few months I have been noticing more and more articles and blog posts by people talking about why they have left the ‘traditional church’ or left church altogether. Last night my intention was to post my thoughts as to why these people have ‘quit’ church because I think there are some huge issues with their claims. Last night as I worked on the intended post I found myself going in numerous directions because there are vastly different reasons people have given up on the church. I also found that the more I worked on the post the more negative I seemed to feel and write. So tonight I’m going to travel down a slightly different road and see where I end up.
Today I want to focus on the type of people that are staying in the church and why they do so. By that I mean people who have just as much reason to leave as those who actually leave but have purposefully chosen to stay. This is not going to be a description of all the people that are in the church but of the more particular group of people who chose to stay instead of go. I think that by simply describing a few of the qualities I see in these types of people I will in a way be challenging many of the reasons other people leave.
The first thing I notice about the people that choose to stay is that they have a tremendous depth of love for people, even the ones that challenge that love to the extreme. They are well aware that the church is filled with imperfect people and know that they have just as much an opportunity to ‘be salt and light’ in the church as they do in the world. Because they love people they take advantage of the opportunity to positively influence their church community. This love gives them the added ability to co-exist with those intolerable church folk who cause intolerant or less tolerant people to leave. They practice rather than preach tolerance and this is visible in their choosing to stay. By staying they can shape the church community they have united with via their love for the diverse members of that body. In turn, their influence is multiplied out through the lives of those changed which would never have occurred if they had simply left.
The second thing I notice is that they have a servants heart. The love that they have for God’s children moves them into action as they find opportunities to serve the body of Christ. Church isn’t a place they attend but is a place they serve. Not only are they found serving the people within the church but they are also the ones looking for ways to connect the church with the surrounding community. They serve as the eyes and ears of the church as they motivate others to look beyond the walls of the building and serve as a vital hub in the community. They can’t sit back and talk about how the church is disconnected from the real life issues of this world because they themselves are making those connections happen.
The third and most important characteristic I see in the people who stayed is an unswerving hope.
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."—Hebrews 10:23-25
I think hope provides an excellent set of lenses through which we see the church and in many ways it is hope that fuels the first two characteristics I discussed. When you lose hope it becomes increasingly difficult to serve? When you are no longer serving it becomes increasingly difficult to love. And when you find it hard to love the people of the church community it becomes increasingly difficult to attend. Many of the articles and blogs I’ve read by those who left are completely void of hope for the church. However, those who have held unswervingly to the hope they profess have simultaneously not given up meeting together. By staying they are able to spur on and encourage others while also being spurred on and encouraged themselves.
"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."—Colossians 1:24-27
The hope of the church is found in Christ and it is only in Christ that the church can participate in his redeeming of the world to himself. You can’t be a servant at arms length and those that chose to stay have recognized God’s commission on their lives to be servants to His church even when they may have preferred to leave. It’s impossible to be a servant and be on the outside looking in. The only way to be a servant TO the church is to be a servant IN the church.
Today I want to focus on the type of people that are staying in the church and why they do so. By that I mean people who have just as much reason to leave as those who actually leave but have purposefully chosen to stay. This is not going to be a description of all the people that are in the church but of the more particular group of people who chose to stay instead of go. I think that by simply describing a few of the qualities I see in these types of people I will in a way be challenging many of the reasons other people leave.
The first thing I notice about the people that choose to stay is that they have a tremendous depth of love for people, even the ones that challenge that love to the extreme. They are well aware that the church is filled with imperfect people and know that they have just as much an opportunity to ‘be salt and light’ in the church as they do in the world. Because they love people they take advantage of the opportunity to positively influence their church community. This love gives them the added ability to co-exist with those intolerable church folk who cause intolerant or less tolerant people to leave. They practice rather than preach tolerance and this is visible in their choosing to stay. By staying they can shape the church community they have united with via their love for the diverse members of that body. In turn, their influence is multiplied out through the lives of those changed which would never have occurred if they had simply left.
The second thing I notice is that they have a servants heart. The love that they have for God’s children moves them into action as they find opportunities to serve the body of Christ. Church isn’t a place they attend but is a place they serve. Not only are they found serving the people within the church but they are also the ones looking for ways to connect the church with the surrounding community. They serve as the eyes and ears of the church as they motivate others to look beyond the walls of the building and serve as a vital hub in the community. They can’t sit back and talk about how the church is disconnected from the real life issues of this world because they themselves are making those connections happen.
The third and most important characteristic I see in the people who stayed is an unswerving hope.
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."—Hebrews 10:23-25
I think hope provides an excellent set of lenses through which we see the church and in many ways it is hope that fuels the first two characteristics I discussed. When you lose hope it becomes increasingly difficult to serve? When you are no longer serving it becomes increasingly difficult to love. And when you find it hard to love the people of the church community it becomes increasingly difficult to attend. Many of the articles and blogs I’ve read by those who left are completely void of hope for the church. However, those who have held unswervingly to the hope they profess have simultaneously not given up meeting together. By staying they are able to spur on and encourage others while also being spurred on and encouraged themselves.
"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."—Colossians 1:24-27
The hope of the church is found in Christ and it is only in Christ that the church can participate in his redeeming of the world to himself. You can’t be a servant at arms length and those that chose to stay have recognized God’s commission on their lives to be servants to His church even when they may have preferred to leave. It’s impossible to be a servant and be on the outside looking in. The only way to be a servant TO the church is to be a servant IN the church.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Name Bearers
I don’t know what parents are thinking nowadays when naming their kids. Whatever happened to spelling names the way they ought to be spelled? I can understand a couple variations on a name but it’s getting to the point where the sky is the limit and anything goes when naming a child. Even as an ‘adult’ you can decide you want your name changed to things like "Chad Ocho Cinco" or "Metta World Peace". (Chad Johnson NFL, Ron Artest NBA) Parents in many ways want their children to feel special and what better way to kick off that uniqueness than with a name they can’t spell until the 3rd grade because it defies every rule of English spelling and pronunciation.
Recently I’ve been reading in Genesis and it’s funny what names were given to kids and the meaning of the names. I’ll just mention Esau (hairy) and Jacob (heal grabber or figuratively ‘he deceives’) for example. There’s nothing really special about those names by today’s standards. It’s interesting to note that God has a habit of changing people’s names as Abram, Sarai, and Jacob become Abraham, Sarah, and Israel. But what is of utmost significance is the name we find in Exodus 3 when Moses asks who he is to say sent him to free the Israelites and God gives him the name by which he is to go to Pharaoh. God’s name becomes the ultimate source of authority and identity for Moses and all of Israel. Previously God told Moses that He has seen the misery of His people and heard their cries and in Exodus 6 He states that He will free them, redeem them, and take them as His people. These people will bear the name of their God who rescued them from captivity and all other nations will know them by the God they serve. They bear the name of their God.
In the New Testament we see something similar happening after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the very early history of the church we see a name get placed on followers of Christ. People on the outside of the church start referring to them as Christians and so they end up bearing the name of the one they are following. Their identity becomes connected to a name. Paul says in Philippians 2:9-11
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
His name carries all authority and power and his people end up bearing not just his name but also trials and suffering. We read in 1 Peter 4:12-16
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
A couple months ago a friend and I were talking the third commandment and what that looks like in today’s culture. The third commandment deals with using the Lord’s name in vain, or misusing it in some form but what does that look like? I remember learning about the commandments as a kid and back then it meant not saying God or Jesus Christ in a swearing fashion. This included all of the variations that could be used as a way to avoid actually using a name in vain. Oh my ‘gosh’! Is that what it’s about? Not saying His name in a vain or improper way?
The purpose of bearing God’s name went beyond a simple name of identification and had everything to do with the covenant relationship He had with His people. The covenant had an impact on what they ate or didn’t eat, how they worshipped and even had a physical element to it via circumcision. His name had a bearing on how His people lived their lives. For the early church the name of Christ had a bearing on how they were to live their lives and it should have an impact on how people in the church live today. What if someone bears the name of Christ but their lives do not reflect Christ? What if someone bears the name ‘Christian’ but consistently speaks behind the backs of co-workers just like everyone else? What if someone bears the name ‘Christian’ but is unforgiving and harbors bitterness towards others? What if someone bears the name ‘Christian’ but engages in questionable ethics when it comes to how they run their business? When we bear the name of Christ but refuse to let it change how we live our lives isn’t that a form of using His name in vain?
In Matthew 5 Jesus raises the bar on many of the commandments mentioned in Exodus. Hate becomes equivalent to murder and lust becomes equivalent to adultery. I can’t help but think Jesus would have upped the ante when it came to using God’s name in vain as well. Media is quick to point out when religious leaders, political figures, celebrities or athletes who bear His name fail miserably but who takes notice when you or I aren’t reflective of Christ? Co-workers? Family members? Grocery clerk? Bank teller? Customer service person on the phone? Unless you have a Jesus bumper sticker on your car and only have shirts with a church name on it there are many people in this world that you will come across who won’t know whether or not you bear the name Christian. But I’m guessing that there are a ton of people you interact with daily or weekly who do so don’t take the 3rd commandment and the name that you bear lightly. There is no other name like it!
Acts 4:8-13
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is
‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Recently I’ve been reading in Genesis and it’s funny what names were given to kids and the meaning of the names. I’ll just mention Esau (hairy) and Jacob (heal grabber or figuratively ‘he deceives’) for example. There’s nothing really special about those names by today’s standards. It’s interesting to note that God has a habit of changing people’s names as Abram, Sarai, and Jacob become Abraham, Sarah, and Israel. But what is of utmost significance is the name we find in Exodus 3 when Moses asks who he is to say sent him to free the Israelites and God gives him the name by which he is to go to Pharaoh. God’s name becomes the ultimate source of authority and identity for Moses and all of Israel. Previously God told Moses that He has seen the misery of His people and heard their cries and in Exodus 6 He states that He will free them, redeem them, and take them as His people. These people will bear the name of their God who rescued them from captivity and all other nations will know them by the God they serve. They bear the name of their God.
In the New Testament we see something similar happening after the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the very early history of the church we see a name get placed on followers of Christ. People on the outside of the church start referring to them as Christians and so they end up bearing the name of the one they are following. Their identity becomes connected to a name. Paul says in Philippians 2:9-11
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."
His name carries all authority and power and his people end up bearing not just his name but also trials and suffering. We read in 1 Peter 4:12-16
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
A couple months ago a friend and I were talking the third commandment and what that looks like in today’s culture. The third commandment deals with using the Lord’s name in vain, or misusing it in some form but what does that look like? I remember learning about the commandments as a kid and back then it meant not saying God or Jesus Christ in a swearing fashion. This included all of the variations that could be used as a way to avoid actually using a name in vain. Oh my ‘gosh’! Is that what it’s about? Not saying His name in a vain or improper way?
The purpose of bearing God’s name went beyond a simple name of identification and had everything to do with the covenant relationship He had with His people. The covenant had an impact on what they ate or didn’t eat, how they worshipped and even had a physical element to it via circumcision. His name had a bearing on how His people lived their lives. For the early church the name of Christ had a bearing on how they were to live their lives and it should have an impact on how people in the church live today. What if someone bears the name of Christ but their lives do not reflect Christ? What if someone bears the name ‘Christian’ but consistently speaks behind the backs of co-workers just like everyone else? What if someone bears the name ‘Christian’ but is unforgiving and harbors bitterness towards others? What if someone bears the name ‘Christian’ but engages in questionable ethics when it comes to how they run their business? When we bear the name of Christ but refuse to let it change how we live our lives isn’t that a form of using His name in vain?
In Matthew 5 Jesus raises the bar on many of the commandments mentioned in Exodus. Hate becomes equivalent to murder and lust becomes equivalent to adultery. I can’t help but think Jesus would have upped the ante when it came to using God’s name in vain as well. Media is quick to point out when religious leaders, political figures, celebrities or athletes who bear His name fail miserably but who takes notice when you or I aren’t reflective of Christ? Co-workers? Family members? Grocery clerk? Bank teller? Customer service person on the phone? Unless you have a Jesus bumper sticker on your car and only have shirts with a church name on it there are many people in this world that you will come across who won’t know whether or not you bear the name Christian. But I’m guessing that there are a ton of people you interact with daily or weekly who do so don’t take the 3rd commandment and the name that you bear lightly. There is no other name like it!
Acts 4:8-13
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is
‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Unconditional Love?
"Unconditional love" is a phrase that has caught my attention on a regular basis over the past year. When I hear it being used I take note of the particular way it is being discussed. In many of those occasions I feel a bit uneasy. On the surface, the concept of unconditionally loving others is easy to grasp. Even though ‘unconditional love’ isn’t a specific phrase found in scripture it’s easy to see it woven in. Here are a few verses in Romans that top many peoples ‘favorite verses’ lists which blatantly hint at unconditional love.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."—Romans 5:8
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."—Romans 8:38-39
God loves everyone, even the unlovely, and if you follow what Paul says in Romans you should come to the conclusion that everyone is unlovely.
"There is no one righteous, not even one;"—Romans 3:10
However, our poor condition did not keep Him from loving us and there is no condition that separates us from His love. And so, in scripture, we see the example of non-preferential love in the pouring out of Jesus on the cross for all people once and for all time.
So what’s my problem?
My problem has to do with the fact that in a majority of the contexts in which I hear this phrase being used it has to do with family, or more particularly with parents. I reckon that this is probably one of the highest compliments any child could give their parent, but I struggle with whether such an honor is an actual reflection of unconditional love. Are human beings actually capable of unconditional love?
My parents have an overwhelming love for me and my two brothers, but can it be described as an unconditional kind of love? Underlying the love that they have for us is the pretty significant precondition of being their children. They love us the way that they love us because of who we are, their sons. Despite our failures they keep on loving us and I honestly think that there is ‘nothing in all creation’ that could separate us from their love. Ultimately though, I think that this kind of love is only a shadow of the kind of love that ‘the Father has lavished on us’. (1John 3:1) If my parents were ‘unconditional love’ type people my testimony about them would be more like, "My parents loved my friends as much as me. My parents loved the next door neighbor kids as much as me. My parents loved their enemies as much as me." Wouldn’t it?
It seems to me that unconditional love is like a faucet that won’t turn off. It overflows the sink and gets on everything and everybody. It shows no hint of preference. That’s the kind of love I see poured out in Jesus for the world. That’s the kind of love we are called to participate in. The story of the Good Samaritan wouldn’t have the same kind of power if it ended with a father coming across his own son in that dire situation and caring for his needs. We would probably still like the story as it would reaffirm how families care for each other, but it would be far removed from a story displaying unconditional love. If we exchanged the victim’s father in for the good Samaritan we would have a glimpse into the ‘why he did it' aspect of the story. Of course the dad stopped to help. Of course he paid for his son’s recovery. And while we could feel a sense of warmth about the love of a father for his son, the story would still fall short of unconditional love. Instead, we have a Samaritan who has every reason in the book not to take care of this man’s needs. Why would he? The power of cross is that we can’t even fathom the depth of ‘why’ Christ did what he did for us.
So back to my question stated earlier: Are humans actually capable of unconditional love? I think it can easily be shown that we have an overwhelming capacity for preferential love. The disparity between how we love family and how we love everyone else in many ways testifies to our preferential love tendencies. Jesus' command to love our enemies challenges the preferential quality of our love to its core. The question posed by the expert in the law prior to Jesus sharing the story of the Good Samaritan is an attempt to narrow the list of ‘who is my neighbor’, almost like asking, "How far down the block to I have to go? Where does my list of neighbors end?" That’s the nature of preferential love. It narrows the list of people who will be the recipients of love. Rather than slim down the expert in the law’s list, Jesus’ response tears it up altogether. If we are to truly love unconditionally, we need to widen our vision beyond those we prefer to love. He did it for us, all of us, and calls us to do the same. If we are to have any hope of loving as Christ loved then it's time to tear up that list.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."—Romans 5:8
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."—Romans 8:38-39
God loves everyone, even the unlovely, and if you follow what Paul says in Romans you should come to the conclusion that everyone is unlovely.
"There is no one righteous, not even one;"—Romans 3:10
However, our poor condition did not keep Him from loving us and there is no condition that separates us from His love. And so, in scripture, we see the example of non-preferential love in the pouring out of Jesus on the cross for all people once and for all time.
So what’s my problem?
My problem has to do with the fact that in a majority of the contexts in which I hear this phrase being used it has to do with family, or more particularly with parents. I reckon that this is probably one of the highest compliments any child could give their parent, but I struggle with whether such an honor is an actual reflection of unconditional love. Are human beings actually capable of unconditional love?
My parents have an overwhelming love for me and my two brothers, but can it be described as an unconditional kind of love? Underlying the love that they have for us is the pretty significant precondition of being their children. They love us the way that they love us because of who we are, their sons. Despite our failures they keep on loving us and I honestly think that there is ‘nothing in all creation’ that could separate us from their love. Ultimately though, I think that this kind of love is only a shadow of the kind of love that ‘the Father has lavished on us’. (1John 3:1) If my parents were ‘unconditional love’ type people my testimony about them would be more like, "My parents loved my friends as much as me. My parents loved the next door neighbor kids as much as me. My parents loved their enemies as much as me." Wouldn’t it?
It seems to me that unconditional love is like a faucet that won’t turn off. It overflows the sink and gets on everything and everybody. It shows no hint of preference. That’s the kind of love I see poured out in Jesus for the world. That’s the kind of love we are called to participate in. The story of the Good Samaritan wouldn’t have the same kind of power if it ended with a father coming across his own son in that dire situation and caring for his needs. We would probably still like the story as it would reaffirm how families care for each other, but it would be far removed from a story displaying unconditional love. If we exchanged the victim’s father in for the good Samaritan we would have a glimpse into the ‘why he did it' aspect of the story. Of course the dad stopped to help. Of course he paid for his son’s recovery. And while we could feel a sense of warmth about the love of a father for his son, the story would still fall short of unconditional love. Instead, we have a Samaritan who has every reason in the book not to take care of this man’s needs. Why would he? The power of cross is that we can’t even fathom the depth of ‘why’ Christ did what he did for us.
So back to my question stated earlier: Are humans actually capable of unconditional love? I think it can easily be shown that we have an overwhelming capacity for preferential love. The disparity between how we love family and how we love everyone else in many ways testifies to our preferential love tendencies. Jesus' command to love our enemies challenges the preferential quality of our love to its core. The question posed by the expert in the law prior to Jesus sharing the story of the Good Samaritan is an attempt to narrow the list of ‘who is my neighbor’, almost like asking, "How far down the block to I have to go? Where does my list of neighbors end?" That’s the nature of preferential love. It narrows the list of people who will be the recipients of love. Rather than slim down the expert in the law’s list, Jesus’ response tears it up altogether. If we are to truly love unconditionally, we need to widen our vision beyond those we prefer to love. He did it for us, all of us, and calls us to do the same. If we are to have any hope of loving as Christ loved then it's time to tear up that list.
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