The leaf lives its appointed time, and does not struggle against the wind that carries it away. The leaf does no harm, and finally falls to nourish new leaves. So it should be with all men and women. –Aram the Tinker
At first glance this quote appears to advocate giving up. “Just be like the leaf…go where the wind takes you,” offends our American sensibilities. “God helps those who help themselves,” is our motto. I am wondering if this is just a farce, a clever lie meant to hide the fact that we have no control. Maybe we are more like the leaf than we think.
I have been thinking a lot about control. Who is in control? We say God is in control but we also “help ourselves” so He can “help” us. We hate the idea of God determining our steps but we say He is in control. When life is going well we marvel at our brilliance; when it is bad we blame God and try to get out. Do we really even have a clue what we are talking about?
What can we control? We can’t control the weather. We saw that last week when our cities became rivers and our parking lots became lakes. We put so much effort into stopping the rain from damaging our stuff and we still get surprised. We can’t control life and death. Abortions go wrong and the child lives and fertility drugs can fail to come through for us. Some live to 90; some are lucky to reach 9. We can’t even control ourselves. Listen to what Paul has to say in Romans 7: 21-24, “It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin?” Even Paul seemed to be out of control.
We all want control of our lives. We usually want control of others lives too. I am not sure we will ever get it. How can we? All out attempts to keep the rain out, to stay alive and to stop sinning fail. What choice do we have but to give control to someone who can do it? Paul says later that the Answer is held only in Jesus Christ our Lord. He did not deliver us so we could control our destiny. He liberated us so we could be a part of His destiny for us. When are we going to learn the lesson of the leaves?
Verses to ponder: Matthew 16:24-26, Romans 7 and 8, Job 38
Friday, June 23, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
Medication
“I don’t want medication, just give me liberation. Even if it cuts my legs right out from underneath…” – Derek Webb “Medication”
How many times have we heard…“Jesus makes everything better?” This seems to be the story we have all been told. Please don’t get me wrong, I know He makes all things work for the good of those who love Him. I simply think that we misunderstand what the good is and what making our life better really consists of. We think goodness equals a life free of conflict and pain. If things are going our way we believe/pretend that things are going God’s way too. All that suffering was good for Paul and Peter…it was a different time back then. Today we believe Christ has called us to health, wealth and prosperity, the American dream, etc. etc. I am not sure that this is the case.
Many times in my life, I have approached God like I approach a bottle of Advil. Something bad happens (an interpersonal conflict, bad news, I sin, whatever) and I go to God for a quick fix. “Deliver me!” I scream. I stop caring about how dealing with the situation might make me better. I just want out of it. I will minimize it, I will blame someone else, I will do anything short of actually coming to grips with the fact I might need fixing. I want Him to cure the symptom (the situation). He wants to cure the problem (me and how I react to the situation).
I wonder if it grieves the heart of God when I just want medication. Forget how this situation might make me more perfect or liberate me from a damaging attitude. I want God to make it better not make me better. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” goes right out the window when I am faced with a circumstance that makes me uncomfortable. I cite the founding fathers and pursue happiness when God demands holiness. Give me the pill…hold the treatment.
I see Christ continually challenging us to walk a narrower road and embrace a wider view of what making everything better means. It does not mean deliverance from all problems we face. It means being uncomfortably aware of our shortcomings and being forced to face life with the strength of Christ. Freedom in Christ will not come to the “spiritual pill-popper.” It will only come to the man and the woman who has the courage to face the death of self. We have to feel the burn and the loss of our comforts in order to gain the comforts and grace of God’s great kingdom.
Talk amongst yourselves
How many times have we heard…“Jesus makes everything better?” This seems to be the story we have all been told. Please don’t get me wrong, I know He makes all things work for the good of those who love Him. I simply think that we misunderstand what the good is and what making our life better really consists of. We think goodness equals a life free of conflict and pain. If things are going our way we believe/pretend that things are going God’s way too. All that suffering was good for Paul and Peter…it was a different time back then. Today we believe Christ has called us to health, wealth and prosperity, the American dream, etc. etc. I am not sure that this is the case.
Many times in my life, I have approached God like I approach a bottle of Advil. Something bad happens (an interpersonal conflict, bad news, I sin, whatever) and I go to God for a quick fix. “Deliver me!” I scream. I stop caring about how dealing with the situation might make me better. I just want out of it. I will minimize it, I will blame someone else, I will do anything short of actually coming to grips with the fact I might need fixing. I want Him to cure the symptom (the situation). He wants to cure the problem (me and how I react to the situation).
I wonder if it grieves the heart of God when I just want medication. Forget how this situation might make me more perfect or liberate me from a damaging attitude. I want God to make it better not make me better. “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” goes right out the window when I am faced with a circumstance that makes me uncomfortable. I cite the founding fathers and pursue happiness when God demands holiness. Give me the pill…hold the treatment.
I see Christ continually challenging us to walk a narrower road and embrace a wider view of what making everything better means. It does not mean deliverance from all problems we face. It means being uncomfortably aware of our shortcomings and being forced to face life with the strength of Christ. Freedom in Christ will not come to the “spiritual pill-popper.” It will only come to the man and the woman who has the courage to face the death of self. We have to feel the burn and the loss of our comforts in order to gain the comforts and grace of God’s great kingdom.
Talk amongst yourselves
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Does God speak out of context?
In colege I learned that when it comes to reading the Bible, “Context is everything”. In my 4 years at the ol' IWU I was trained so well that applying the “who, what, where and why” to Scripture is second nature to me. Linds and I are fortunate to have had a great education in this area. Most of the students in my youth group have not had this kind of training. I have had workshops and taught all the basics I can but stories like this next one always come up. This one got me thinking…
A student in our youth group came up to us and shared a problem she was having and how God spoke to her about it. She showed us in the Bible where she got her answer and it was way off. It wasn’t even a complete sentence let alone a complete though. We didn't want to embarrass her too much but it was ripped way out of context. I think that the first thought in both Linds and our minds was, “Out of Context: Commence Teaching mode…Execute.” Yet when she shared what God was teaching and directing her to do it was spot on with what we believed was the best and most godly course of action. She read the words incorrectly but she got the right message.
This and other circumstances like it have come up numerous times in our ministry. What are we to do? The way she was reading the scripture was way off but the Spirit of God still directed her in the right direction. Could it be that God can and sometimes does speak out of context? She needed a word from Him and He gave it to her without the benefit of context.
In this situation do we….
A: Put it in God’s hands. Keep quiet about it. She is getting the right answer; what does it matter. She is making a scholarly error and not a spiritual one. She is on the right track, context will right itself in time.
B: Save it for later. She got it right this time but what about another time. What happens when she reads something about handling snakes or connects concepts from opposing testaments to make a new heresy? Maybe do it passively but make sure that she knows the danger of reading into the text.
C: Nip it in the bud. Say something right away. Strike while the iron in hot. Commend her for coming to the right conclusion but take this time to teach her the best way to read and study the Bible.
Each of these has its own problems. I could hide behind A because I fear or dislike confrontation. The same could be said of B. If I take C I could be anal at best and most likely spiritually prideful.
What do you think is the best course of action? Is there something I am missing? Could there be something that collective biblical scholarship is missing by binding itself too tightly to context? How do you argue against someone else’s experience?
A student in our youth group came up to us and shared a problem she was having and how God spoke to her about it. She showed us in the Bible where she got her answer and it was way off. It wasn’t even a complete sentence let alone a complete though. We didn't want to embarrass her too much but it was ripped way out of context. I think that the first thought in both Linds and our minds was, “Out of Context: Commence Teaching mode…Execute.” Yet when she shared what God was teaching and directing her to do it was spot on with what we believed was the best and most godly course of action. She read the words incorrectly but she got the right message.
This and other circumstances like it have come up numerous times in our ministry. What are we to do? The way she was reading the scripture was way off but the Spirit of God still directed her in the right direction. Could it be that God can and sometimes does speak out of context? She needed a word from Him and He gave it to her without the benefit of context.
In this situation do we….
A: Put it in God’s hands. Keep quiet about it. She is getting the right answer; what does it matter. She is making a scholarly error and not a spiritual one. She is on the right track, context will right itself in time.
B: Save it for later. She got it right this time but what about another time. What happens when she reads something about handling snakes or connects concepts from opposing testaments to make a new heresy? Maybe do it passively but make sure that she knows the danger of reading into the text.
C: Nip it in the bud. Say something right away. Strike while the iron in hot. Commend her for coming to the right conclusion but take this time to teach her the best way to read and study the Bible.
Each of these has its own problems. I could hide behind A because I fear or dislike confrontation. The same could be said of B. If I take C I could be anal at best and most likely spiritually prideful.
What do you think is the best course of action? Is there something I am missing? Could there be something that collective biblical scholarship is missing by binding itself too tightly to context? How do you argue against someone else’s experience?
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Thoughts on Star Wars
If I lived in the Star Wars Universe I would have a healthy dislike for the Force. Whether Jedi or Sith I would just not like them, here is why.
Every major war in the Universe has been fought by them. They are always fighting each other and everyone gets sucked into it. Even a cursory glance at Star Wars lore will reveal that when the Jedi and the Sith are at odds the whole universe has to suffer. It does not matter what else might be going on the Sith are seeking their Revenge and the Jedi their Return. Empires rise and fall, whole planets and ways of life are destroyed because they can’t get along.
You can’t trust them to care about anyone but themselves. This is especially true of the Sith but even the Jedi care more about the “mysteries of the Force” than curing societal ills and righting wrongs. They have some great propaganda but when the bantha poodoo hits the fan, they care about keeping and getting control. The universe is going to pot in the Clone Wars and it is all a ploy to get the Sith back in power. The Jedi have to destabilize the entire political climate because the Emperor happens to be a (you guessed it) Sith. “Oooo Luke you just killed the Emperor and destroyed the Imperial Regime. I am so glad you ushered in this new era of political and economic confusion.” I don’t think so.
There is no middle ground with them. You can’t be a Sith with Jedi tendencies or vice versa. I thought it rather ironic when Obi-wan told Anakin that only the Sith deal in absolutes. Isn’t that an absolute? There is no place for anyone outside of their structure and belief system and if you can’t use the Force you might as well resign yourself sitting back or dying a quick death by lightsaber. If you are not one of them you have no voice. Democracy by the people really doesn’t work when you have two absolutist groups wielding an all powerful and infallible Force.
Ok I admit it, I am a nerd. I love Star Wars a lot but I realize most of you don’t care so I will move on to my thoughts on Republicans and Democrats…
Every major war in the Universe has been fought by them. They are always fighting each other and everyone gets sucked into it. Even a cursory glance at Star Wars lore will reveal that when the Jedi and the Sith are at odds the whole universe has to suffer. It does not matter what else might be going on the Sith are seeking their Revenge and the Jedi their Return. Empires rise and fall, whole planets and ways of life are destroyed because they can’t get along.
You can’t trust them to care about anyone but themselves. This is especially true of the Sith but even the Jedi care more about the “mysteries of the Force” than curing societal ills and righting wrongs. They have some great propaganda but when the bantha poodoo hits the fan, they care about keeping and getting control. The universe is going to pot in the Clone Wars and it is all a ploy to get the Sith back in power. The Jedi have to destabilize the entire political climate because the Emperor happens to be a (you guessed it) Sith. “Oooo Luke you just killed the Emperor and destroyed the Imperial Regime. I am so glad you ushered in this new era of political and economic confusion.” I don’t think so.
There is no middle ground with them. You can’t be a Sith with Jedi tendencies or vice versa. I thought it rather ironic when Obi-wan told Anakin that only the Sith deal in absolutes. Isn’t that an absolute? There is no place for anyone outside of their structure and belief system and if you can’t use the Force you might as well resign yourself sitting back or dying a quick death by lightsaber. If you are not one of them you have no voice. Democracy by the people really doesn’t work when you have two absolutist groups wielding an all powerful and infallible Force.
Ok I admit it, I am a nerd. I love Star Wars a lot but I realize most of you don’t care so I will move on to my thoughts on Republicans and Democrats…
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Busyness
“Busyness is next to godliness” – Most American Christians
I am a busy person. I fill my day with a lot of stuff. Some of it is important. I plan Bible studies and trips for the students in my youth group. I take time to meet and council people in my community. I try to make time for my wife. I do a lot of “good Christian things.” I even get paid some of them. At first glance one might be tempted to call me a godly man. I do all this stuff for God so I must be godly. People think, “He is busy, therefore he is godly.” I am not sure they are right.
I remember when I was in college how I loved to recite how busy I was. I would go through the list of all the good things I “just had to do.” I felt so godly and I think people thought I was. Truth be told I was so busy then and am still so busy now I have very little time for God himself. I do a lot for Him but I spend so little time knowing Him. I wonder how many “good Christians” get to heaven and say, “Look at all we did for you Lord!” only to hear God say, “Depart from me I never knew you.”
If we allow busyness to be our reward, that is all we will get. Sure we will get a lot of pats on the back and get “burnt out for Jesus” but will we ever know the one God we are working for. Do we really think that eternal rewards are dispensed on the basis of how little time we make for God? I think we do and it needs to stop.
I think we say “Faith without works is dead” far too often. We do a lot of works at the expense of knowing God. Biblically speaking knowing God is not facts and figures or even serving. It implies a much deeper, personal and time consuming connection. I wonder how many of us are willing to give up our measurable acts of service for a deeper and hidden understanding of Christ. It is going to be hard and it will take time but it will ultimately be the substance of true godliness that will last.
If we don’t have love…we are nothing.
Talk amongst yourselves
I am a busy person. I fill my day with a lot of stuff. Some of it is important. I plan Bible studies and trips for the students in my youth group. I take time to meet and council people in my community. I try to make time for my wife. I do a lot of “good Christian things.” I even get paid some of them. At first glance one might be tempted to call me a godly man. I do all this stuff for God so I must be godly. People think, “He is busy, therefore he is godly.” I am not sure they are right.
I remember when I was in college how I loved to recite how busy I was. I would go through the list of all the good things I “just had to do.” I felt so godly and I think people thought I was. Truth be told I was so busy then and am still so busy now I have very little time for God himself. I do a lot for Him but I spend so little time knowing Him. I wonder how many “good Christians” get to heaven and say, “Look at all we did for you Lord!” only to hear God say, “Depart from me I never knew you.”
If we allow busyness to be our reward, that is all we will get. Sure we will get a lot of pats on the back and get “burnt out for Jesus” but will we ever know the one God we are working for. Do we really think that eternal rewards are dispensed on the basis of how little time we make for God? I think we do and it needs to stop.
I think we say “Faith without works is dead” far too often. We do a lot of works at the expense of knowing God. Biblically speaking knowing God is not facts and figures or even serving. It implies a much deeper, personal and time consuming connection. I wonder how many of us are willing to give up our measurable acts of service for a deeper and hidden understanding of Christ. It is going to be hard and it will take time but it will ultimately be the substance of true godliness that will last.
If we don’t have love…we are nothing.
Talk amongst yourselves
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Prayer
I am often amazed at my lack of prayer. I talk to the ceiling often but I think that I rarely pray. Let me walk you through a pretty common scenario in my life. Something bad happens, I pray “God help,” and I move on. Like a hitchhiker or a kid that can’t reach the cookies; once I get what I want I move on with a thank you and a goodbye. If I don’t get what I want I pray “Why God” and then move on to fix the problem myself.
I am finding that so much of my prayer life is really a series of prayer-speeches to the ceiling. I don’t pray to encourage communication with the Almighty, I pray for self-help or self-benefit. I don’t worship God, I try to get God to do what I want and if he does not I assume he is being silent and wants me to do it myself. One of these days I will figure out that silence is not an answer. Nowhere in scripture is God’s silence an indication of anything good. It is usually a sign of the people’s inability or refusal to hear what he is in fact saying. If God says no I refuse to hear it. I will misquote passages like Jeremiah 29:11 so I can get the chief benefit. I forget that it is God who has the plans and not me.
I talk about having a “personal relationship with Jesus” but what is a relationship without communication between two people anyway? People might think talking to God and listening for His answer is insane or unhealthy but I say the opposite is true. Who in their right mind asks a question with no intent of ever finding out the answer? I am tired of making prayer-speeches to the God-in-the-attic, I want to converse with the King of Kings. It is a right that the blood of Christ bought for me and I think that I am a fool not to make use of it every day. I read about God regularly speaking not just in the Bible but to many people in human history. What excuse do I have for not tuning in and listening to Him?
Am I crazy to think that God will speak to me daily if I let him? Why do you think that? Does God give specific revelation anymore or did that stop when the Scriptures were closed and now all we get are vague impressions and dreams? By seeking to listen to God am I opening myself up to evil and sinful influences?
Talk amongst yourselves J
Suggested Reading: Hearing God by Dallas Willard and Prayer: Conversing with God by Rosalind Rinker
I am finding that so much of my prayer life is really a series of prayer-speeches to the ceiling. I don’t pray to encourage communication with the Almighty, I pray for self-help or self-benefit. I don’t worship God, I try to get God to do what I want and if he does not I assume he is being silent and wants me to do it myself. One of these days I will figure out that silence is not an answer. Nowhere in scripture is God’s silence an indication of anything good. It is usually a sign of the people’s inability or refusal to hear what he is in fact saying. If God says no I refuse to hear it. I will misquote passages like Jeremiah 29:11 so I can get the chief benefit. I forget that it is God who has the plans and not me.
I talk about having a “personal relationship with Jesus” but what is a relationship without communication between two people anyway? People might think talking to God and listening for His answer is insane or unhealthy but I say the opposite is true. Who in their right mind asks a question with no intent of ever finding out the answer? I am tired of making prayer-speeches to the God-in-the-attic, I want to converse with the King of Kings. It is a right that the blood of Christ bought for me and I think that I am a fool not to make use of it every day. I read about God regularly speaking not just in the Bible but to many people in human history. What excuse do I have for not tuning in and listening to Him?
Am I crazy to think that God will speak to me daily if I let him? Why do you think that? Does God give specific revelation anymore or did that stop when the Scriptures were closed and now all we get are vague impressions and dreams? By seeking to listen to God am I opening myself up to evil and sinful influences?
Talk amongst yourselves J
Suggested Reading: Hearing God by Dallas Willard and Prayer: Conversing with God by Rosalind Rinker
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