Lindsay and I have a lot of stuff. I am not going to say who has more but I will say that our closets are bursting and our garage is getting there. Sometimes we look around and think, “Why do we need so much junk?” And that is really what it is. Do two people (or a family of five for that matter) need over twenty coffee mugs? Do we need a huge clunky entertainment center? Not really, but we like to own stuff anyway. I think that is why verses like those in Matthew 5 really jar our American sensibilities. “Blessed are the poor! No way! I need my stuff!”
In the Bible those who posses little seem to be held in higher esteem that those who are rich. Most of you will remember the story of the Rich Young Ruler who was asked to sell all he had in order to follow Jesus and it solidifies the point. Some even go so far as to believe that God does not want us to have money at all (well at least we think no one is allowed to have more money that us.J) In another story Abraham was given a promise. He was promised a son. Not just any son but a son who would be a part of God’s redemptive work in this world. When this son was born Abraham loved him dearly. He loved him more than anything else in this world, almost more so than the God who gave him the son in the first place. I cannot imagine how crushed Abraham must have felt when God asked him to sacrifice his son, his only son who he dearly loved, on an altar. We don’t know if he knew that God would stop him at the last minute. We only know that he willingly and agonizingly obeyed God and gave up possession of his child.
Would you sacrifice that thing you dearly love if God required you to? Most of us would have a serious problem giving up our DVD collection or iPod let alone our firstborn. I think the secret of the poor in spirit is found in holding our plans and possessions, even our very life loosely. Once we understand all is a gift from God and that we truly own nothing; that is when we have the capacity to own everything. We don’t like this idea because it crushes the American idol to the “Self made man.” Godly courage and sacrifice takes a different form. G. K. Chesterton said, “He who would find his life must loose it, is not some piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors and mountaineers…. A man cut off by the sea may save his life if he will risk it on the precipice. He can only get away from death by continually stepping within an inch of it. A soldier surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire to live with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to live, for then he will be a coward, and will not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for he will be a suicide, and will not escape. He must seek his life with a furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine.”
Talk amongst yourselves J
Further thoughts: Genesis 22, Matthew 5, John 12 and The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
Monday, November 20, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Gnostic Stuff
By now, most everyone has heard of The DaVinci Code. We have already debated on the difference between what is fact and what is fiction. The question I want to ask is, “Why is the DaVinci Code so popular?”
Around the 2nd century began a heresy called Gnosticism. In large part it focuses, much like The DaVinci Code, on secrets. They say that the Disciples covered up who Jesus really was in their writing of the Gospels. One of the secrets that Gnostics think they have uncovered is the idea that the world is a nasty and dark place and that we must escape it. That is not Biblical Christianity.
As I read the Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John) I find that they are very much about saving the world and not about escaping it. I see them talking over and over again about the coming New Heaven and New Earth and the availability of those things here and now. The Gospels mark out the way to live in the New Creation Christ has set up with his Death, Resurrection and Ascension. For some reason the message is lost that we are living in the New Creation right now.
I believe The DaVinci Code is so popular because we do not want to believe that the world can be better. Humanity has a deep desire to escape from the hard things of this world. We like to sing the “Gnostic” Hymn, “This Earth is not my home I’m just a passin’ through…” while patting ourselves on the back for how Christian we are. When given a choice between fighting for this world and fleeing from it we usually run away from its problems and our destiny as image bearers for the New Kingdom. That brings me to my real point; the Left Behind Series. Left Behind, with its obsession with secrets, decoding the “end times” and belief that we must escape this world, appears to be a clear indicator about how deep Gnosticism has crept into the Church. Where are some other places you can see its influence? Do you disagree? Why?
Around the 2nd century began a heresy called Gnosticism. In large part it focuses, much like The DaVinci Code, on secrets. They say that the Disciples covered up who Jesus really was in their writing of the Gospels. One of the secrets that Gnostics think they have uncovered is the idea that the world is a nasty and dark place and that we must escape it. That is not Biblical Christianity.
As I read the Gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke and John) I find that they are very much about saving the world and not about escaping it. I see them talking over and over again about the coming New Heaven and New Earth and the availability of those things here and now. The Gospels mark out the way to live in the New Creation Christ has set up with his Death, Resurrection and Ascension. For some reason the message is lost that we are living in the New Creation right now.
I believe The DaVinci Code is so popular because we do not want to believe that the world can be better. Humanity has a deep desire to escape from the hard things of this world. We like to sing the “Gnostic” Hymn, “This Earth is not my home I’m just a passin’ through…” while patting ourselves on the back for how Christian we are. When given a choice between fighting for this world and fleeing from it we usually run away from its problems and our destiny as image bearers for the New Kingdom. That brings me to my real point; the Left Behind Series. Left Behind, with its obsession with secrets, decoding the “end times” and belief that we must escape this world, appears to be a clear indicator about how deep Gnosticism has crept into the Church. Where are some other places you can see its influence? Do you disagree? Why?
Monday, September 25, 2006
Thoughts on the Kingdom
“For a group to be successful their goal must be more important than any individual’s goal”
Christ came to build a kingdom. You can’t get around it. Even a shallow glance at the New Testament will show us that Jesus’ main mission was to build the Kingdom of God. He said, “Turn from your sins (literally: change your mind about sinning) because the Kingdom of Heaven is open.” Almost every parable begins with, “The Kingdom of God is like…” He talks about it over 60 times!
It is obvious that the Kingdom is important to Jesus. He spent His short time on earth dedicated to it. He even died for it. He believed that a time was coming, and in some places had already come, where people really would love their enemies, pray for those who oppress them and be perfect as the Heavenly Father was. I find it interesting that we often filter this message out. We make following Christ all about where you go when you die and good moral choices (side note: That is what the Pharisees were so concerned about). He makes it about entering into a kingdom.
A kingdom is a dynamic thing. It is not confined to a textbook or a catchphrase. You can write all the books on American culture you want but you can’t understand what it really means to be American until you have lived here or met someone who has. Jesus came to reintroduce us to our true homeland. He told us what it was like and how we can get there. He begged us to be about building the kingdom with Him. He calls us to be His witnesses and ambassadors. That is what the Church is for.
We make the Church about a lot of things; I fear we don’t make it about the Kingdom enough. We have the goals of making our opinions known and “sharing information” about each other. We make it our mission to look good on Sunday, have the best behaved kids or upholding the status quo (the way things have always been). We are ambitiously gazing through the planks in our own eyes the point the finger at gays, abortion doctors and Democrats. I am not sure we care about entering into the present Kingdom of God. In short, I am not sure we care about what Jesus cared about. Maybe that is why the American Church by and large has been unsuccessful in the past century.
How do we get back on track? Why do you think Jesus set the Kingdom of God so high in His teachings? Why do we place it so low in ours?
Talk amongst yourselves J
Christ came to build a kingdom. You can’t get around it. Even a shallow glance at the New Testament will show us that Jesus’ main mission was to build the Kingdom of God. He said, “Turn from your sins (literally: change your mind about sinning) because the Kingdom of Heaven is open.” Almost every parable begins with, “The Kingdom of God is like…” He talks about it over 60 times!
It is obvious that the Kingdom is important to Jesus. He spent His short time on earth dedicated to it. He even died for it. He believed that a time was coming, and in some places had already come, where people really would love their enemies, pray for those who oppress them and be perfect as the Heavenly Father was. I find it interesting that we often filter this message out. We make following Christ all about where you go when you die and good moral choices (side note: That is what the Pharisees were so concerned about). He makes it about entering into a kingdom.
A kingdom is a dynamic thing. It is not confined to a textbook or a catchphrase. You can write all the books on American culture you want but you can’t understand what it really means to be American until you have lived here or met someone who has. Jesus came to reintroduce us to our true homeland. He told us what it was like and how we can get there. He begged us to be about building the kingdom with Him. He calls us to be His witnesses and ambassadors. That is what the Church is for.
We make the Church about a lot of things; I fear we don’t make it about the Kingdom enough. We have the goals of making our opinions known and “sharing information” about each other. We make it our mission to look good on Sunday, have the best behaved kids or upholding the status quo (the way things have always been). We are ambitiously gazing through the planks in our own eyes the point the finger at gays, abortion doctors and Democrats. I am not sure we care about entering into the present Kingdom of God. In short, I am not sure we care about what Jesus cared about. Maybe that is why the American Church by and large has been unsuccessful in the past century.
How do we get back on track? Why do you think Jesus set the Kingdom of God so high in His teachings? Why do we place it so low in ours?
Talk amongst yourselves J
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Meeting needs at home
In Detroit you can see a lot of things; anything from nice museums and fine dining to the Pistons and the Tigers. You will also find lots of needs. Underneath Hart Plaza is a literal colony of the homeless. Prostitutes and drug addicts abound and there is plenty of violence and heartache. As I understand the scriptures this is Jesus’ kind of place. He had a knack for finding the worst of the worst. He was continually surrounded by unclean lepers, “beneath notice” fishmongers, street hookers and foreign invaders. Sadly enough the typical Christian today is nowhere near. The people we like to be seen with are not the type of people Jesus sought out.
We hide from needs, don’t we?…at least the ones that have nothing in it for us. We see a chance to show off our new dish at the potluck and we are on it in no time. We see a homeless person walking down the street and we quickly divert our eyes. We like to serve when it makes us look or feel good. We hate it and avoid it when it is actually…well…serving.
As followers of Jesus Christ we are charged with meeting needs and declaring good for all mankind. We are called to seek out those who are lost and hurting, to be the true servant and humble ourselves. Why is it that we fall into the trap of becoming the people Jesus despised the most?
There are needs in our community. Real needs that require real sacrifice and might even lead us to get our hands messy. There are opportunities to be the light of Jesus and never get noticed for it, on earth that is. How are we going to allow Christ to meet the world’s needs through us?
Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 10: 25-37
We hide from needs, don’t we?…at least the ones that have nothing in it for us. We see a chance to show off our new dish at the potluck and we are on it in no time. We see a homeless person walking down the street and we quickly divert our eyes. We like to serve when it makes us look or feel good. We hate it and avoid it when it is actually…well…serving.
As followers of Jesus Christ we are charged with meeting needs and declaring good for all mankind. We are called to seek out those who are lost and hurting, to be the true servant and humble ourselves. Why is it that we fall into the trap of becoming the people Jesus despised the most?
There are needs in our community. Real needs that require real sacrifice and might even lead us to get our hands messy. There are opportunities to be the light of Jesus and never get noticed for it, on earth that is. How are we going to allow Christ to meet the world’s needs through us?
Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 10: 25-37
Friday, June 23, 2006
Control
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
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
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
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