I love houses that have lots of big windows in them. The sun can filter in. It gives warmth and a sense of love to the house. But have you ever been to a prison? Not a lot of windows. Very few ways for the sun to get in. It is pretty depressing. And when I read this passage, I think we can expound on Jesus’ parable about building on the rock and not the shifting sand. Of course we all agree that the foundation must be firm. We choose to build on the rock—the foundation is Christ. He is solid.
But what are we going to build on top of that? Will we see our life as merely abiding by some rules that we have made up that seem to be wise? Will we look down on others who don’t seem as spiritual? Will we turn the Christian life from a celebration of forgiveness into a checklist of rules? If so, we are building a prison.
But when we see our lives in the context of grace, realizing that righteousness and purity are not what gets us to heaven, I think we are free to let the light of God’s love in. We are free to revel in his grace. But most importantly, we are free to shine that love back on this world. There are many people who won’t enter into a church because they don’t want to be judged and they don’t feel they are good enough. And until we return to grace as the building material, they probably never will feel comfortable. The house of God is a house of glass that allows us to view the world freely through grace-tinted windows.
Friday, April 29, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Free at Last - Point 3
But after a while, the celebration winds down. We begin to think about what has taken place. And even though we may know that we are forgiven, victorious people, somehow we still try to earn salvation. More than that, we look down upon those who perhaps aren’t as spiritual as us or we make up arbitrary rules that “good Christians” follow. We come up with rituals you should be involved in, and make rules to determine the things that you should not be involved in. But Paul speaks to that as well. He tells us to be Focused on Christ—Free from restrictions (vs. 16-23). Let me read just a couple of snippets from these verses:
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Why do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
According to the Law, good Jews celebrated the yearly, monthly, and weekly special services. Good Jews kept themselves strictly pure and wouldn’t even touch or go near something that might possibly be defiled. Good Jews would only eat certain foods, considering other foods sinful. They prided themselves in their accomplishments. They made up rules that clearly showed how good of a Jew you were. They set up boundaries. It was called “putting a hedge around the Torah”. You use a hedge to keep things out. But hedges also keep things in. And their boundaries were human commands, not divine ones. Unfortunately, these rules didn’t deal with the heart. They skewed the Word of God. They lost the freedom to be the people of God. They lost the ability to love outside their rules—outside of their hedges.
I think when they started focusing on the extra rules instead of the intent of the original command they were doomed for failure. But we do it too. Why do we change how we speak and act when we walk into the church building as though there are special rules for church? Our speech and conduct should be the same. Or we try to become somebody different through artificial means. For example, how many of you have ever tried to stop a habit by wearing a rubber band on your arm. If you want to quit smoking, every time you think about smoking you snap it. It is sort of like shock therapy. Eventually your body cringes at the thought of smoking and you quit. Or perhaps your house has a swear jar. And every time you use foul language you have to put money in. Makes you watch your language or you can watch your money leave you.
Here’s the problem with that—it doesn’t get to the heart of the habit. You care more about the consequences then you do about the nature of the addiction. You are destined for relapse because you haven’t addressed or solved the problem. We do the same things with kids. We put boundaries on them without telling them why. My parents would never let me mess around with fire or firecrackers, but they wouldn’t tell me why. When I asked, “Because I said so.” But we all know that 10 year olds shouldn’t be messing around with fire—they burn down houses, blow off fingers, cause scarring, perhaps worse. And if we just say, “Don’t do it” with no explanation, it will just cause us to be enticed even more by it. These boundaries will not keep kids from wandering close to flame.
Boundaries are good for the most part, but if we focus on the boundaries and not on grace, we get into trouble. When we obsess about staying away from certain influences, it gives material things more importance than they deserve. And we often overlook the root problem. These self-imposed disciplines seem to be wise and appear valuable, but they do not encourage faith. These things are self-reliance and not Spirit-reliance. They seem good, but they are based on our own power and not the power of God.
God said, “Don’t eat.” Eve added, “Don’t touch.”
God said, “Be holy.” The Jews added “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”
Jesus said, “Go into all the world, preach, baptize, make disciples.” We added all sorts of traditions, rules, and restrictions.
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Why do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
According to the Law, good Jews celebrated the yearly, monthly, and weekly special services. Good Jews kept themselves strictly pure and wouldn’t even touch or go near something that might possibly be defiled. Good Jews would only eat certain foods, considering other foods sinful. They prided themselves in their accomplishments. They made up rules that clearly showed how good of a Jew you were. They set up boundaries. It was called “putting a hedge around the Torah”. You use a hedge to keep things out. But hedges also keep things in. And their boundaries were human commands, not divine ones. Unfortunately, these rules didn’t deal with the heart. They skewed the Word of God. They lost the freedom to be the people of God. They lost the ability to love outside their rules—outside of their hedges.
I think when they started focusing on the extra rules instead of the intent of the original command they were doomed for failure. But we do it too. Why do we change how we speak and act when we walk into the church building as though there are special rules for church? Our speech and conduct should be the same. Or we try to become somebody different through artificial means. For example, how many of you have ever tried to stop a habit by wearing a rubber band on your arm. If you want to quit smoking, every time you think about smoking you snap it. It is sort of like shock therapy. Eventually your body cringes at the thought of smoking and you quit. Or perhaps your house has a swear jar. And every time you use foul language you have to put money in. Makes you watch your language or you can watch your money leave you.
Here’s the problem with that—it doesn’t get to the heart of the habit. You care more about the consequences then you do about the nature of the addiction. You are destined for relapse because you haven’t addressed or solved the problem. We do the same things with kids. We put boundaries on them without telling them why. My parents would never let me mess around with fire or firecrackers, but they wouldn’t tell me why. When I asked, “Because I said so.” But we all know that 10 year olds shouldn’t be messing around with fire—they burn down houses, blow off fingers, cause scarring, perhaps worse. And if we just say, “Don’t do it” with no explanation, it will just cause us to be enticed even more by it. These boundaries will not keep kids from wandering close to flame.
Boundaries are good for the most part, but if we focus on the boundaries and not on grace, we get into trouble. When we obsess about staying away from certain influences, it gives material things more importance than they deserve. And we often overlook the root problem. These self-imposed disciplines seem to be wise and appear valuable, but they do not encourage faith. These things are self-reliance and not Spirit-reliance. They seem good, but they are based on our own power and not the power of God.
God said, “Don’t eat.” Eve added, “Don’t touch.”
God said, “Be holy.” The Jews added “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”
Jesus said, “Go into all the world, preach, baptize, make disciples.” We added all sorts of traditions, rules, and restrictions.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Free at Last - Point 2
But in order to really accept our new life, we have to also understand that we are Forgiven in Christ—Free from Guilt (vs. 13-15):
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Most people like an underdog. We like seeing the losers win occasionally. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the Boston Red Sox. They were losers for so long. They couldn’t overcome the Yankees. I mean, think about all those years of failure. All those years of defeat. But when they actually won it all, the amount of revelry was unbelievable. They were celebrating their victory. They had parades where millions turned out to celebrate with them. They were celebrating their present and their future. The past was forgotten. And if it was brought up, it was to show how far they had come.
That is the very picture that Paul lays out. We were the Red Sox. We constantly lost. We could never beat our rival—sin. But then Christ came, and the championship was and is ours. He cancelled the written code that stood opposite us. He took our past history, and nailed it to the cross. All our failures are gone. There is no need to bring them up. As the classic by Queen states, “We are the champions, my friends. No time for losers cause we are the Champions...of the world.”
Right? We are the champions. We even have a parade. Paul says that Christ made a public spectacle of them. That references a Roman General when he would enter the city in triumph after a great victory. In such a parade, the Prisoners of War would be displayed as part of the procession. When Paul says that Jesus “disarmed” the powers and authorities, it has the connotation of discarding the enemy like a raggedy garment that you just throw away.
We can’t celebrate true freedom if we carry around those sins with us like a nasty old garment that just needs to be thrown away. Jesus is leading a parade that is celebrating God’s grace. We’ve been forgiven. The past is null and void. The guilt of our sins has been nailed to the cross. We are living a new, free life, no longer slaves to sin. People can bring up your past all they want. They can talk about what a hypocrite you are. How they know the real you and what you used to do. But they don’t understand that you are the current reigning Champion. All that failure before doesn’t matter. You have won because of Christ.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Most people like an underdog. We like seeing the losers win occasionally. Nothing illustrates this more clearly than the Boston Red Sox. They were losers for so long. They couldn’t overcome the Yankees. I mean, think about all those years of failure. All those years of defeat. But when they actually won it all, the amount of revelry was unbelievable. They were celebrating their victory. They had parades where millions turned out to celebrate with them. They were celebrating their present and their future. The past was forgotten. And if it was brought up, it was to show how far they had come.
That is the very picture that Paul lays out. We were the Red Sox. We constantly lost. We could never beat our rival—sin. But then Christ came, and the championship was and is ours. He cancelled the written code that stood opposite us. He took our past history, and nailed it to the cross. All our failures are gone. There is no need to bring them up. As the classic by Queen states, “We are the champions, my friends. No time for losers cause we are the Champions...of the world.”
Right? We are the champions. We even have a parade. Paul says that Christ made a public spectacle of them. That references a Roman General when he would enter the city in triumph after a great victory. In such a parade, the Prisoners of War would be displayed as part of the procession. When Paul says that Jesus “disarmed” the powers and authorities, it has the connotation of discarding the enemy like a raggedy garment that you just throw away.
We can’t celebrate true freedom if we carry around those sins with us like a nasty old garment that just needs to be thrown away. Jesus is leading a parade that is celebrating God’s grace. We’ve been forgiven. The past is null and void. The guilt of our sins has been nailed to the cross. We are living a new, free life, no longer slaves to sin. People can bring up your past all they want. They can talk about what a hypocrite you are. How they know the real you and what you used to do. But they don’t understand that you are the current reigning Champion. All that failure before doesn’t matter. You have won because of Christ.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Free at Last - Point 1
I think our passage gives 3 ways we can truly be free in Christ—how we can truly be free at last. The first step is to return to the basics. Paul tells us to be Founded on Christ—Free from Philosophies:
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Paul has in mind a specific worldview when he writes this passage. The people of that day viewed the world as though it consisted of falling atoms. These atoms are very structured, precise, and easy to follow. Unfortunately, what happens is “the swerve.” These atoms sometimes veer off course, and if the hit you, it is bad news. It is very similar to astrologers who look to the stars for guidance. So what do you do to avoid the collisions? Well avoid pain of course. Seek only pleasure. Don’t worry about serving a god or gods. Get rid of any and all agitation in life or things that could lead to any stress.
Popular culture is telling us what we need or don’t need to have a good life—wealth, happiness, a fit body, a certain stance on issues. They try to align the stars in their favor at every chance, hoping to avoid any sort of bad times. But you don’t need to figure out your astrological sign and outlook. You don’t need to get good karma. You don’t need to get your yin and yang straight. Instead, Paul gives us different advice when it comes to living in this crazy world. He says “Be rooted and built up in Christ, not in the traditions and philosophies of man.” It’s that simple he says—be founded on Christ. And he goes on: “The most important thing you need to know is that you have put to death your sinful nature and have been raised a new person in Christ. All the extras that people try to put on aren’t important.” For the Gentiles of that day, the Jewish Christians were encouraging circumcision as a sign of their faith. They sounded intelligent and knowledgeable. We see the same today. Studies come out and professionals tell us how to live. And that sound like they know what they are talking about. After all, she has a degree in psychology, I guess she must be right. But Paul is clear: watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions and practices.
But Paul says such things aren’t necessary. All we need to know is found in verse 12: we’ve been buried and raised again through faith. Our sign of life is our baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s it. We don’t have to be in alignment with the stars. We don’t have to buy into these philosophies that crop up. We just need to be rooted and founded on Christ. Then we will be free from the newest fad or philosophy that comes along.
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Paul has in mind a specific worldview when he writes this passage. The people of that day viewed the world as though it consisted of falling atoms. These atoms are very structured, precise, and easy to follow. Unfortunately, what happens is “the swerve.” These atoms sometimes veer off course, and if the hit you, it is bad news. It is very similar to astrologers who look to the stars for guidance. So what do you do to avoid the collisions? Well avoid pain of course. Seek only pleasure. Don’t worry about serving a god or gods. Get rid of any and all agitation in life or things that could lead to any stress.
Popular culture is telling us what we need or don’t need to have a good life—wealth, happiness, a fit body, a certain stance on issues. They try to align the stars in their favor at every chance, hoping to avoid any sort of bad times. But you don’t need to figure out your astrological sign and outlook. You don’t need to get good karma. You don’t need to get your yin and yang straight. Instead, Paul gives us different advice when it comes to living in this crazy world. He says “Be rooted and built up in Christ, not in the traditions and philosophies of man.” It’s that simple he says—be founded on Christ. And he goes on: “The most important thing you need to know is that you have put to death your sinful nature and have been raised a new person in Christ. All the extras that people try to put on aren’t important.” For the Gentiles of that day, the Jewish Christians were encouraging circumcision as a sign of their faith. They sounded intelligent and knowledgeable. We see the same today. Studies come out and professionals tell us how to live. And that sound like they know what they are talking about. After all, she has a degree in psychology, I guess she must be right. But Paul is clear: watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions and practices.
But Paul says such things aren’t necessary. All we need to know is found in verse 12: we’ve been buried and raised again through faith. Our sign of life is our baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit. That’s it. We don’t have to be in alignment with the stars. We don’t have to buy into these philosophies that crop up. We just need to be rooted and founded on Christ. Then we will be free from the newest fad or philosophy that comes along.
Free at Last - Introduction
I preached yesturday. This week will contain the points of my sermon. Hope you enjoy.
Free at Last—Colossians 2:6-23
Most of our houses have rules that are laid down from the outset. No running or playing with the ball inside. Brush your teeth after meals. Use a coaster. Be home by 11:00. Call me if you go somewhere. No friends over when we aren’t home. Don’t play in the street. Eat your vegetables. Pick up after yourself. The list goes on and on. All these rules are intended for some purpose—to keep you safe, out of trouble, help you grow, etc. But parents usually don’t convey that information. When asked “Why?” what is the response? “Because I said so!” Not very convincing, even with the paddle in hand.
Some houses are stricter than others. Some houses feel like a prison with all the rules and the things that are not allowed. Of course, most teenagers always feel like they are living in a prison, regardless of how lenient the home may be. They long to break free from these arbitrary rules that really don’t make sense and live with freedom. And at some point, parents have to let them go. Well, at least they are supposed to.
When I go to my parent’s house, I often feel like I have been transported back to high school. They want to know where I am going; when I’ll be back; and it better be by 11:00. Okay, I am a grown man. I don’t need my parents telling me when to be home. Though the rules may have had their place in the past, it is time for them to let go and let me live free. They don’t make sense any longer. These rules that at one time helped keep me from harm are now making me feel like a prisoner—locked up for life with no hope of parole.
Sometimes the Christian life can feel the same way. When we are young Christians, just learning the way, it is good to have structure before we are thrown to the wolves. But when we become more concerned about keeping rules than living free in Christ, we are like a 40 year old with a curfew—destined for frustration.
Free at Last—Colossians 2:6-23
Most of our houses have rules that are laid down from the outset. No running or playing with the ball inside. Brush your teeth after meals. Use a coaster. Be home by 11:00. Call me if you go somewhere. No friends over when we aren’t home. Don’t play in the street. Eat your vegetables. Pick up after yourself. The list goes on and on. All these rules are intended for some purpose—to keep you safe, out of trouble, help you grow, etc. But parents usually don’t convey that information. When asked “Why?” what is the response? “Because I said so!” Not very convincing, even with the paddle in hand.
Some houses are stricter than others. Some houses feel like a prison with all the rules and the things that are not allowed. Of course, most teenagers always feel like they are living in a prison, regardless of how lenient the home may be. They long to break free from these arbitrary rules that really don’t make sense and live with freedom. And at some point, parents have to let them go. Well, at least they are supposed to.
When I go to my parent’s house, I often feel like I have been transported back to high school. They want to know where I am going; when I’ll be back; and it better be by 11:00. Okay, I am a grown man. I don’t need my parents telling me when to be home. Though the rules may have had their place in the past, it is time for them to let go and let me live free. They don’t make sense any longer. These rules that at one time helped keep me from harm are now making me feel like a prisoner—locked up for life with no hope of parole.
Sometimes the Christian life can feel the same way. When we are young Christians, just learning the way, it is good to have structure before we are thrown to the wolves. But when we become more concerned about keeping rules than living free in Christ, we are like a 40 year old with a curfew—destined for frustration.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Jesus is greater than the Temple
"At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”
He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-8.
Jews also had expectations of what should and should not happen. And what if I told you that Jesus was a bad Jew. He was looked down upon, judged to be a big sinner, and ostracized because he didn’t follow the Jewish religion to the letter. There is a little document called the Talmud. It basically expands the laws and clearly lays out how people are supposed to be good Jews. One aspect is the way in which they celebrate the Sabbath day. No work is supposed to be done. I mean none. They were not allowed to walk more than a mile. They were not allowed to prepare food. That was to be done ahead of time. They were not allowed to light a fire in their homes, but could keep a previously lit fire burning.
So, when the disciples were gathering food on the Sabbath instead of eating already prepared food, they were not practicing Judaism correctly. So the Pharisees let them have it. But Jesus isn’t impressed. He told them they were full of it. He gave an example of David and his companions doing something even worse. They entered into the temple and took the special bread. That is what happens when religion takes over. We loose the ability to be free in Christ. We care more about the ritual than the relationship. The Pharisees didn’t care if the disciples were hungry; they wanted to make sure that their traditions weren’t broken. Their traditions weren’t even from the Bible. They were made up. And many of ours are the same.
We all do things without thinking about it. We drive to familiar places and don’t remember how we got there. We do things without really considering the impact. In the same way, we think that doing a few ritual type things is what makes one a Christian. But that is dead wrong. God doesn’t care a whole lot about the rituals if the rituals aren’t being done to draw close to Him. That I what Jesus means when he says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” It is what Jesus means when he says that He is greater than the temple. A relationship is greater than a religion. God desires a heart that longs after Him, not that just goes through the motions and actions that are expected. God wants a relationship with you, not your religion. If our religions they aren’t done to cultivate a relationship with God, then why are we doing them?
You can spend the rest of your life living a religion—going to church, singing songs, taking communion, offering up halfhearted prayers. But if you are just going through the motions, without any goal of drawing close to God, you are missing out. You are just doing busywork. God desires a vibrant relationship with you. He wants to provide you with a life-transforming, destiny-changing experience. It results in a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God. Rituals may help that relationship. But when the fulfilling the rituals becomes the end instead of the relationship, we turn into a bunch of emotionless followers who are aimlessly driving around with no clue how we got there.
He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-8.
Jews also had expectations of what should and should not happen. And what if I told you that Jesus was a bad Jew. He was looked down upon, judged to be a big sinner, and ostracized because he didn’t follow the Jewish religion to the letter. There is a little document called the Talmud. It basically expands the laws and clearly lays out how people are supposed to be good Jews. One aspect is the way in which they celebrate the Sabbath day. No work is supposed to be done. I mean none. They were not allowed to walk more than a mile. They were not allowed to prepare food. That was to be done ahead of time. They were not allowed to light a fire in their homes, but could keep a previously lit fire burning.
So, when the disciples were gathering food on the Sabbath instead of eating already prepared food, they were not practicing Judaism correctly. So the Pharisees let them have it. But Jesus isn’t impressed. He told them they were full of it. He gave an example of David and his companions doing something even worse. They entered into the temple and took the special bread. That is what happens when religion takes over. We loose the ability to be free in Christ. We care more about the ritual than the relationship. The Pharisees didn’t care if the disciples were hungry; they wanted to make sure that their traditions weren’t broken. Their traditions weren’t even from the Bible. They were made up. And many of ours are the same.
We all do things without thinking about it. We drive to familiar places and don’t remember how we got there. We do things without really considering the impact. In the same way, we think that doing a few ritual type things is what makes one a Christian. But that is dead wrong. God doesn’t care a whole lot about the rituals if the rituals aren’t being done to draw close to Him. That I what Jesus means when he says, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” It is what Jesus means when he says that He is greater than the temple. A relationship is greater than a religion. God desires a heart that longs after Him, not that just goes through the motions and actions that are expected. God wants a relationship with you, not your religion. If our religions they aren’t done to cultivate a relationship with God, then why are we doing them?
You can spend the rest of your life living a religion—going to church, singing songs, taking communion, offering up halfhearted prayers. But if you are just going through the motions, without any goal of drawing close to God, you are missing out. You are just doing busywork. God desires a vibrant relationship with you. He wants to provide you with a life-transforming, destiny-changing experience. It results in a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God. Rituals may help that relationship. But when the fulfilling the rituals becomes the end instead of the relationship, we turn into a bunch of emotionless followers who are aimlessly driving around with no clue how we got there.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Anger Management - Part 2
This is the second part that discusses dealing with pent up anger and frustration that arises from minsitry. Yesturday I was mistaken in the author. It is actually Ed Rowell who is a teaching pastor at The People's Church in Franklin, Tennessee.
Unresolved anger is a spiritual problem that won't get better without a spiritual solution.
Discover why I need to be busy all the time. When I overbook my life, I get stressed. When I get stressed, I get insomnia. When I get insomnia, I get cranky. "So why not just work fewer hours?" some uninformed person might ask. Because I have to, that's why. Why? Because most days I enjoy the work of ministry. Because my staff colleagues are counting on me to help lead our church toward a preferable future. Because there's a whole lost world depending on me to save them. And because there are voices from my past, telling me "You're lazy," or "You'll never amount to anything."
Anger is a byproduct of a life with skewed priorities. Jesus modeled for us a rhythm of periodically retreating from both people and process long enough to recharge. In Mark 6:31, Jesus said to his weary disciples, "Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest."
Practice what you preach about community. Give more than lip service to the necessity of community. Change happens when we allow others into our lives. We could whine all day about the difficulties of building trustworthy friendships with our parishioners. There are some people either in your church or in your community who are willing to like you in spite of your vocation. As hard as it may be to connect with others, we'll never get our anger under control alone. I can choose to seethe in solitude or to change in community.
Give up the occupation of people pleasing. A friend recently experienced in his ministry a rebirth of sorts. When I asked what had happened, he responded, "After a dozen years in ministry, I discovered it wasn't my job to make or keep people happy." Pursuing purpose instead of popularity allows me to keep focused in spite of criticism. If people don't like me, it makes me sad (after all, what's not to like?), but it no longer angers me. As long as my life is invested in pleasing God, as long as the ones who know me best love me most, I can deal with rejection from the masses.
Let go of unresolved hurts. Forgiveness is the harder road, and one that must be taken intentionally. Living our lives on cruise control will only take us down the Interstate of bitterness. I must consciously forgive even the slightest of slights if I am to maintain good emotional health.
Once I accepted the problem as my own, that put me in control to do something about it. As I enter the middle years of this race called ministry, I struggle to throw off some ugly souvenirs of anger I picked up along the way. I'm more committed than ever to finishing this race with my faith, character, and family intact. I refuse to allow anger to rob me of experiencing joy along the way. And I reject the notion that change is too hard, or that it's optional. With the help of my small group, my family, and the Holy Spirit who resides within me, I'm hopeful that I'll finish the race having set aside the anger that has hindered me thus far.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Anger Management - Part 1
An article about anger was emailed to me from a friend of mine. It is written by Jim Wetterau out of Raleigh, North Carolina. Whether you are in the paid ministry or minister in your church, often with the opposition of people, I think you will find this article insightful about the anger that builds. It is called, "Why am I angrier than I used to be?" I have edited it for length. The first part is aobut identifying the problem. The next will be about the possible solutions. Hope you enjoy.
The anger complex
All agree ministry is more complex than we ever bargained for. People's lives are more broken than even ten or fifteen years ago. The personal cost of doing ministry is higher than anyone ever dared tell us. Petty issues that once would have received only a fleeting thought now get under our skins where they fester. Imaginary conversations with the objects of our anger get nasty or even violent. But the reasons for a growing anger go far beyond these realities.
More responsibility, less support. We feel this awesome responsibility to transform a world increasingly hostile to the gospel, yet the people who are supposed to help us become the very obstacles we must overcome to reach that world. People with a casual or insulated faith and the incipient universalism of our day frustrate anyone called to do the work of an evangelist. We stand alone against the world, and the world appears to be winning by a big margin.
Accumulation of petty anger. Every day we ingest minute amounts of conflict and disrespect. No big deal, we think. Just blow it off. But we don't. Instead it gets buried in our liver and 20 years later, we go ballistic over some kid skateboarding in the parking lot and wonder, Where did that come from?
Midlife realizations. "Midlife is when the skepticism of youth collides with the cynicism of old age." By the time a pastor gets enough experience to be wise, he or she has also picked up enough battle wounds to be angry. Most of us never attain some unspoken goals. Perhaps it's the expectation of a comfortable income, or the dream of a particular size or style of church. The invitations from book publishers and conference planners still aren't coming, and the seminary still hasn't honored us as alumnus of the millennium.
Coming to terms with unrealized hopes is part of our maturation process. Often, when we scuttle our dreams, God gives us a better one.
The anger complex
All agree ministry is more complex than we ever bargained for. People's lives are more broken than even ten or fifteen years ago. The personal cost of doing ministry is higher than anyone ever dared tell us. Petty issues that once would have received only a fleeting thought now get under our skins where they fester. Imaginary conversations with the objects of our anger get nasty or even violent. But the reasons for a growing anger go far beyond these realities.
More responsibility, less support. We feel this awesome responsibility to transform a world increasingly hostile to the gospel, yet the people who are supposed to help us become the very obstacles we must overcome to reach that world. People with a casual or insulated faith and the incipient universalism of our day frustrate anyone called to do the work of an evangelist. We stand alone against the world, and the world appears to be winning by a big margin.
Accumulation of petty anger. Every day we ingest minute amounts of conflict and disrespect. No big deal, we think. Just blow it off. But we don't. Instead it gets buried in our liver and 20 years later, we go ballistic over some kid skateboarding in the parking lot and wonder, Where did that come from?
Midlife realizations. "Midlife is when the skepticism of youth collides with the cynicism of old age." By the time a pastor gets enough experience to be wise, he or she has also picked up enough battle wounds to be angry. Most of us never attain some unspoken goals. Perhaps it's the expectation of a comfortable income, or the dream of a particular size or style of church. The invitations from book publishers and conference planners still aren't coming, and the seminary still hasn't honored us as alumnus of the millennium.
Coming to terms with unrealized hopes is part of our maturation process. Often, when we scuttle our dreams, God gives us a better one.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Luck is...luck
“Everybody’s dealt a hand. Tiger Woods looked at his hand and said, ‘Cool. I can hit a golf ball 400 yards.’ Someone else said, ‘Darn I’m only ever going to be 4’11”.’ And somebody else said, ‘I can’t believe I’m to going to be hit by a bus on my 21st birthday.’ Luck. Luck is luck, its…All that you can do is keep going.” --Scene from “Ed”
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. --John 9:1-3
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” --James 1:17
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” --Psalm 150:6
Life’s not perfect. We don’t understand why some are blessed in certain ways, and others seem cursed. The combination of the will of God, living in a fallen world, and the unexplainable blessings that come from above lead us to see God in the light of one who overcomes the evils of the world with his love and grace. If something good happens, it is from God. If not, it is a consequence of sin, which God can still redeem. And our response is simple—we should keep going and praise him.
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. --John 9:1-3
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” --James 1:17
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” --Psalm 150:6
Life’s not perfect. We don’t understand why some are blessed in certain ways, and others seem cursed. The combination of the will of God, living in a fallen world, and the unexplainable blessings that come from above lead us to see God in the light of one who overcomes the evils of the world with his love and grace. If something good happens, it is from God. If not, it is a consequence of sin, which God can still redeem. And our response is simple—we should keep going and praise him.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Whose side are you on?
And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw right in front of him a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, “Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?”
He said, “Neither. I’m commander of GOD’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?”
GOD’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.” Joshua did it. (Joshua 5:13-15 MSG)
In God we trust. God bless America. God please help our team win the game.
Every time I hear these sorts of statements, I cringe. We speak and live as though God plays favorites. We think God is concerned about the outcome of some mundane sporting event. We assume that since America was founded on “Christian morals” that God has more concern for us than other nations. We think that God’s blessings on America should come no matter what. After all, we are far superior than the other heathen nations.
This same arrogance existed among the Israelites. They had assumptions about God’s presence in their lives and actions. But Joshua’s encounter with this spiritual soldier caught my attention. One would think that Joshua’s question, “Whose side are you on?” would emit a response of, “Yours. Go. Be victorious. We will be with you.” But it wasn’t. The Commander said he wasn’t on a side. He wasn’t overly concerned about the battle that was about to take place. Even when Joshua pressed him for a word from Yahweh, the soldier didn’t give Joshua any marching orders or even a word of encouragement. He gave him the same word that Yahweh gave Moses—“Holy ground requires holy action.”
Instead, he cared more about holiness than victory. His concern was making sure that Joshua was approaching God properly. Here in the midst of this pivotal battle with one of the most fortified cities in the Promised Land, Yahweh seemingly had other things on his mind. Maybe I am stretching this but here is what I learn about God:
God is not a national God. He is not on the side of countries. There are not pagans versus the chosen ones.
God is the God of goodness. He is on the side of whoever is right. He is also concerned about how we come before Him and how we treat one another more than he cares who wins a game, which country is the most affluent, etc.
Our prayers and wishes should change. Asking for blessings is not necessarily bad. But asking that we are holy and pleasing before God in everything we do is what should drive our prayers and our actions, not some sense of divine allegiance.
He said, “Neither. I’m commander of GOD’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua fell, face to the ground, and worshiped. He asked, “What orders does my Master have for his servant?”
GOD’s army commander ordered Joshua, “Take your sandals off your feet. The place you are standing is holy.” Joshua did it. (Joshua 5:13-15 MSG)
In God we trust. God bless America. God please help our team win the game.Every time I hear these sorts of statements, I cringe. We speak and live as though God plays favorites. We think God is concerned about the outcome of some mundane sporting event. We assume that since America was founded on “Christian morals” that God has more concern for us than other nations. We think that God’s blessings on America should come no matter what. After all, we are far superior than the other heathen nations.
This same arrogance existed among the Israelites. They had assumptions about God’s presence in their lives and actions. But Joshua’s encounter with this spiritual soldier caught my attention. One would think that Joshua’s question, “Whose side are you on?” would emit a response of, “Yours. Go. Be victorious. We will be with you.” But it wasn’t. The Commander said he wasn’t on a side. He wasn’t overly concerned about the battle that was about to take place. Even when Joshua pressed him for a word from Yahweh, the soldier didn’t give Joshua any marching orders or even a word of encouragement. He gave him the same word that Yahweh gave Moses—“Holy ground requires holy action.”
Instead, he cared more about holiness than victory. His concern was making sure that Joshua was approaching God properly. Here in the midst of this pivotal battle with one of the most fortified cities in the Promised Land, Yahweh seemingly had other things on his mind. Maybe I am stretching this but here is what I learn about God:
God is not a national God. He is not on the side of countries. There are not pagans versus the chosen ones.
God is the God of goodness. He is on the side of whoever is right. He is also concerned about how we come before Him and how we treat one another more than he cares who wins a game, which country is the most affluent, etc.
Our prayers and wishes should change. Asking for blessings is not necessarily bad. But asking that we are holy and pleasing before God in everything we do is what should drive our prayers and our actions, not some sense of divine allegiance.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Has anyone seen the ark?
“When you see the Covenant-Chest of GOD, your God, carried by the Levitical priests, start moving. Follow it…Look at what’s before you: the Chest of the Covenant. Think of it—the Master of the entire earth is crossing the Jordan as you watch.” Joshua 3:3,11
For the Israelites, the ark of the Covenant symbolized the presence of God. When it was placed in the tabernacle, God would descend and enthrone himself between the cherubim. I suppose the ark was more than a symbol—it was a reassurance that God had not left them. In all their battles and travels, the ark led the way. Or perhaps, more literally, God led the way and the people followed. No matter what the opposition looked like or how tough they seemed, the Israelites could look to the ark and be reminded that the “Master of the entire earth” was with them.
We don’t have an ark. We don’t have a physical symbol of the presence of God. And so it may seem far more difficult to engage in difficult tasks. But reassurance still remains. The presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct dwells among us, if we would only listen and respond. When we sense the presence of God moving and pushing forward, we need to follow. It may take us to places that are not comfortable. It may take us to places that are difficult. But through it all, we should be reminded that the God of the universe is leading the way. It is He that will direct, command, and ultimately win the battle.
For the Israelites, the ark of the Covenant symbolized the presence of God. When it was placed in the tabernacle, God would descend and enthrone himself between the cherubim. I suppose the ark was more than a symbol—it was a reassurance that God had not left them. In all their battles and travels, the ark led the way. Or perhaps, more literally, God led the way and the people followed. No matter what the opposition looked like or how tough they seemed, the Israelites could look to the ark and be reminded that the “Master of the entire earth” was with them.
We don’t have an ark. We don’t have a physical symbol of the presence of God. And so it may seem far more difficult to engage in difficult tasks. But reassurance still remains. The presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct dwells among us, if we would only listen and respond. When we sense the presence of God moving and pushing forward, we need to follow. It may take us to places that are not comfortable. It may take us to places that are difficult. But through it all, we should be reminded that the God of the universe is leading the way. It is He that will direct, command, and ultimately win the battle.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
The Wideness of God's Mercy - Part 2
Often, people point to Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” to show that only belief in Jesus can get you into heaven. But that isn’t what Jesus says. Jesus says that through Him people get to the Father. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is what makes the way for God’s children to return to Him. But could it be that there are different ways for people to return to God and upon seeking Him they find that Christ’s sacrifice has already removed the enmity that existed, even if they didn’t know it? Who will say that the ancients, especially the Jews, are not in heaven? Why not? Because they didn’t know about Jesus? How about those who have never heard of Jesus? Does their ignorance then result in their eternal demise? I can’t believe that to be true. No, I believe God judges humanity based on their faithfulness and their attempts to live rightly. He judges based on our response.
I guess what has gotten me to considering this view of salvation and who is saved stems from a few things in the Bible. I find that people are “saved” based on various circumstances and actions. Hebrews 11 is full of people who were said to be faithful (and one can assume saved), and yet they knew nothing of Jesus. And what were they faithful to? Their revelation of God. There are people whom Jesus would encounter and whom Jesus would bestow salvation upon, and yet His sacrifice had not even been made. Look at the thief next to Him on the cross. All the man did was rebuke the other thief for his mockery. Yet Jesus seemed to promise him salvation.
I don’t believe this view makes light of Jesus’ sacrifice and by no means understands that all people will go to heaven (Universalism). Rather, it shows wideness in God’s mercy that returns salvation to Christ, and not so much to us. There must still be a response on the part of the human to seek God. And we seek God in various ways. In addition, we emulate Christ in various ways. But in the end, salvation is based on Christ’s sacrifice not necessarily on a limited view of a response to the gospel.
This is obviously a work in progress. Though I may speak as if I have bought into it completely, I have not. So you are welcome to critique the allegory or the conclusions drawn from it (in a nice way). But whatever you do, don’t just spout off the party line without considering what I am saying. Thanks. Look forward to your input.
I guess what has gotten me to considering this view of salvation and who is saved stems from a few things in the Bible. I find that people are “saved” based on various circumstances and actions. Hebrews 11 is full of people who were said to be faithful (and one can assume saved), and yet they knew nothing of Jesus. And what were they faithful to? Their revelation of God. There are people whom Jesus would encounter and whom Jesus would bestow salvation upon, and yet His sacrifice had not even been made. Look at the thief next to Him on the cross. All the man did was rebuke the other thief for his mockery. Yet Jesus seemed to promise him salvation.
I don’t believe this view makes light of Jesus’ sacrifice and by no means understands that all people will go to heaven (Universalism). Rather, it shows wideness in God’s mercy that returns salvation to Christ, and not so much to us. There must still be a response on the part of the human to seek God. And we seek God in various ways. In addition, we emulate Christ in various ways. But in the end, salvation is based on Christ’s sacrifice not necessarily on a limited view of a response to the gospel.
This is obviously a work in progress. Though I may speak as if I have bought into it completely, I have not. So you are welcome to critique the allegory or the conclusions drawn from it (in a nice way). But whatever you do, don’t just spout off the party line without considering what I am saying. Thanks. Look forward to your input.
Monday, April 11, 2005
The Wideness of God's Mercy
The following is an allegory about the wideness of God’s mercy. I wrote it to express a point of view that I am struggling through. I don’t necessarily buy completely into it, but it allowed me to get out my thoughts. So read it. Think about it. You might even comment about it. Tomorrow I will unpack it and consider the implications.
There was once a Father and His children who lived in a house. They lived a good life, full of love, content in the company of one another. The children were free to do what they wanted, but the Father asked that they stay on the property when they played and not wander off into the dark woods. He told them of the dangers of the dark woods. It was so dark that they would get lost, and getting back home would be difficult. The children agreed and spent many years playing around the house in the yard.
But one day, as the children looked out from their yard, they saw the dark woods and thought that it would be fun to leave and explore them. Though they knew of the Father’s warning, the children decided to leave the house and play in the woods. Upon entering the woods, they children got split up and lost. The woods were dark and thick, and they could not find their way back to the house. Many of the children spent all their time trying to find their way back to the house. Others gave up, laid down, and prepared for death. Some decided to make the best of it and began to enjoy living in the woods. One day, all of the children throughout the woods heard the Father’s voice calling them home. Some thought it was the wind and ignored the Father’s voice. Others knew it was the Father calling them home. Thus, they started back home again.
The oldest son, Yeshua, came from the house and called out to the woods. Some listened and followed him back. Some had a narrow path to follow to get there; others had to wade through some water; still others ignored the thorns that cut them. Others located the path they took and so following it was easy. Others chose different paths thinking they were better.
Those that heeded the Father’s calling headed back home again. Though they were all in different places in the woods and took different paths, they were all striving for the same goal—to get back home to the Father. Upon arriving, they found that there was now a wall around the house keeping them out. Seemingly there was no way to get through to the Father’s house. Yet, there was one section of the wall that was broken down with a gap large enough for the children to walk through. Standing by the gap in wall was the oldest son, Yeshua with a cross-shaped sledgehammer in hand. He had knocked out a hole in the wall. As the siblings went through the wall, they found on the other side of the wall the Father, with his arms outstretched, waiting to welcome back home again all of His children that heeded His call.
The Symbols
God is the Father on the porch of the house calling all people home.
The children represent humanity who are all in a woods outside the house.
The woods represent life, struggles, walking around in the darkness of sin.
Many will respond to God’s calling, and will come home. However, they will take different paths to get there. This represents various understandings (religions) about how to reach God. Some will follow the path blazed by Christ. Others will take other paths. All that respond to the Father’s calling will make it to God, but the way in which they get there is different.
For those who respond to God’s call, upon arriving at the house, they find a wall all the way around with only one way in. The wall represents alienation that comes from sin, and the gap in the wall is made by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Though some did not know about Jesus’ sacrifice or sin, Jesus still died for them and they have come home and are allowed into the house.
Many will not respond to God calling them home. These people will be banished to eternal darkness and out of the presence of God were there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There was once a Father and His children who lived in a house. They lived a good life, full of love, content in the company of one another. The children were free to do what they wanted, but the Father asked that they stay on the property when they played and not wander off into the dark woods. He told them of the dangers of the dark woods. It was so dark that they would get lost, and getting back home would be difficult. The children agreed and spent many years playing around the house in the yard.But one day, as the children looked out from their yard, they saw the dark woods and thought that it would be fun to leave and explore them. Though they knew of the Father’s warning, the children decided to leave the house and play in the woods. Upon entering the woods, they children got split up and lost. The woods were dark and thick, and they could not find their way back to the house. Many of the children spent all their time trying to find their way back to the house. Others gave up, laid down, and prepared for death. Some decided to make the best of it and began to enjoy living in the woods. One day, all of the children throughout the woods heard the Father’s voice calling them home. Some thought it was the wind and ignored the Father’s voice. Others knew it was the Father calling them home. Thus, they started back home again.
The oldest son, Yeshua, came from the house and called out to the woods. Some listened and followed him back. Some had a narrow path to follow to get there; others had to wade through some water; still others ignored the thorns that cut them. Others located the path they took and so following it was easy. Others chose different paths thinking they were better.
Those that heeded the Father’s calling headed back home again. Though they were all in different places in the woods and took different paths, they were all striving for the same goal—to get back home to the Father. Upon arriving, they found that there was now a wall around the house keeping them out. Seemingly there was no way to get through to the Father’s house. Yet, there was one section of the wall that was broken down with a gap large enough for the children to walk through. Standing by the gap in wall was the oldest son, Yeshua with a cross-shaped sledgehammer in hand. He had knocked out a hole in the wall. As the siblings went through the wall, they found on the other side of the wall the Father, with his arms outstretched, waiting to welcome back home again all of His children that heeded His call.
The Symbols
God is the Father on the porch of the house calling all people home.
The children represent humanity who are all in a woods outside the house.
The woods represent life, struggles, walking around in the darkness of sin.
Many will respond to God’s calling, and will come home. However, they will take different paths to get there. This represents various understandings (religions) about how to reach God. Some will follow the path blazed by Christ. Others will take other paths. All that respond to the Father’s calling will make it to God, but the way in which they get there is different.
For those who respond to God’s call, upon arriving at the house, they find a wall all the way around with only one way in. The wall represents alienation that comes from sin, and the gap in the wall is made by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Though some did not know about Jesus’ sacrifice or sin, Jesus still died for them and they have come home and are allowed into the house.
Many will not respond to God calling them home. These people will be banished to eternal darkness and out of the presence of God were there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Preview and review
Thought I would give you a preview of next week. I will be posting about universalism…sort of. There has been much discussion on the GLCC Forum about who is saved and not saved, purgatory, etc. So, I thought I would share something I have been thinking about for, say, 3 years. Anyway, I leave you with my classic reality TV moment from last week. This could be a new feature if you like it and if I find one every week. So, from Thursday’s Apprentice:
Donald: “Did you choke?”
Frantic woman: “I could have done better.”
Donald: “Did you choke?”
Frantic woman: “Yes, I choked.”
Donald: “You’re fired.”
I love that he made her say it before he fired her. Love the Donald! Have a good weekend.
Donald: “Did you choke?”
Frantic woman: “I could have done better.”
Donald: “Did you choke?”
Frantic woman: “Yes, I choked.”
Donald: “You’re fired.”
I love that he made her say it before he fired her. Love the Donald! Have a good weekend.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Calvin was correct...sort of
I used to eschew the Calvinistic idea of total depravity and inherent sin. I thought that people were born into the world as basically good and the thought that we were born evil was anti-biblical. I still believe that, but I now adhere to a modified form of total depravity. Let me explain.
Lately, I have really been saddened by the state of the world and my contribution to it. I speak mostly of the proliferation of sin and the cycle of sin that the world just cannot break. My son Elijah was born and he was perfect. There was not a spot of sin on him. And to this day, he has not committed a sin since he does not yet know good from evil. But, he lives in a world of sin:
The Carter clothes he wears, the Nike shoes we put on his feet—these are more than likely made by under aged sweatshop workers who receive a pittance of a wage.
I drive Elijah around town and contribute to the pollution and the gas wars that are taking place, damaging God’s creation.
It goes on and on and on. We live in a world in which sin is inherent. It is everywhere we look. Our children are born into it. What is worse, they are raised thinking that it is acceptable. Considering the state of the world causes me deep sadness and outrage, but where is the solution? How can the cycle be broken? How can I feel like I am not sinning just by putting on clothes or driving around town? How can I be part of the solution instead of multiplying the problem?
Or is there a solution? Must we just be subject to frustration and groan with the rest of creation, waiting to be liberated from bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:18-21)? I have to say, it doesn’t sound like the fullest life that Jesus talks. The slave child in Thailand. The mother with AIDS in Africa. The disfigured father in the Middle East. Where is their full life?
I don’t know what to pray for or what to work for or what to change. So I leave it in the hands of God, and ask for intercession through the power of the Spirit.
Lately, I have really been saddened by the state of the world and my contribution to it. I speak mostly of the proliferation of sin and the cycle of sin that the world just cannot break. My son Elijah was born and he was perfect. There was not a spot of sin on him. And to this day, he has not committed a sin since he does not yet know good from evil. But, he lives in a world of sin:
The Carter clothes he wears, the Nike shoes we put on his feet—these are more than likely made by under aged sweatshop workers who receive a pittance of a wage.
I drive Elijah around town and contribute to the pollution and the gas wars that are taking place, damaging God’s creation.
It goes on and on and on. We live in a world in which sin is inherent. It is everywhere we look. Our children are born into it. What is worse, they are raised thinking that it is acceptable. Considering the state of the world causes me deep sadness and outrage, but where is the solution? How can the cycle be broken? How can I feel like I am not sinning just by putting on clothes or driving around town? How can I be part of the solution instead of multiplying the problem?
Or is there a solution? Must we just be subject to frustration and groan with the rest of creation, waiting to be liberated from bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:18-21)? I have to say, it doesn’t sound like the fullest life that Jesus talks. The slave child in Thailand. The mother with AIDS in Africa. The disfigured father in the Middle East. Where is their full life?
I don’t know what to pray for or what to work for or what to change. So I leave it in the hands of God, and ask for intercession through the power of the Spirit.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
The Ultimate Rivalry
I love the auto correct function on Microsoft Word. Basically, it fixes your mistakes quicker than you even realize that you have made a mistake. I don’t even notice the vast majority of these corrections. I am either typing too fast or am looking at a book or something. The program just automatically fixes mistakes I make. You can even tailor the program to fix commonly misspelled words. It is great!
Auto Correct. It is a great thing. In the spiritual realm, we have the same sort of thing. We have an auto correct system. Check out a passage of Scripture from Romans 5:18-21 in The Message Version:
“Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. Because where sin increased, grace increased all the more. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. But God is putting everything together again through the Messiah. Grace invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.”
When I read this passage I envision a spiritual rivalry as heated as the Red Sox and Yankees, Duke Blue Devils and NC Tar Heels, or UK and UL. The two teams involved are the “Worldly Sinners” and the “Kingdom Gracers.” This rivalry is as old as time, and for a long time the Sinners had been winning. But eventually the Gracers got a new GM and he started recruiting better players so that the Kingdom Gracers won the championship. And the Sinners, being sore losers, upped the ante and added more top notch players. But Gracers signed the ultimate player who was better than all the Sinners’ players put together. Now, even Sin’s best player, Death, cannot contain the Gracers star—Yeshua.
This is the same picture that That Scriptures says that every time sin tried to increase, grace increased all the more. Adam is the archetype for sin and the continuation of sin throughout humanity. That means over time, things have gotten worse it seems. Sin runs rampant in the land. We are in a bad situation. But where sin increased, God’s grace increased even more. Jesus is the archetype of forgiveness and grace. Every time we seem to draw further away from God, he comes closer with his forgiveness. God is the one doing the auto correction. No matter what you have gotten yourself into, God is there one upping sin with is grace. That is why “Grace is Greater than sin.” There is no sin that God can’t and won’t forgive. There is no mistake you have made or will make in the future that God can’t make right. Before we even commit a sin, God is there ready to forgive. Some people can’t comprehend that God would forgive murderers, and rapists, and awful people like that. But he does. Sin doesn’t have a chance against God’s grace.
And what is more, God also invites us into his presence for eternity. God wants all of us, despite our flaws and sins at his great party in heaven. That is why he has chosen to extend His grace to us. Sin’s biggest threat—death—has been destroyed by God. Though we might die in this life, God promises us a life that will not end. It’s all because of God’s Amazing Grace. His grace that is greater than sin could ever be or ever will be.
Auto Correct. It is a great thing. In the spiritual realm, we have the same sort of thing. We have an auto correct system. Check out a passage of Scripture from Romans 5:18-21 in The Message Version:
“Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. Because where sin increased, grace increased all the more. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. But God is putting everything together again through the Messiah. Grace invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.”
When I read this passage I envision a spiritual rivalry as heated as the Red Sox and Yankees, Duke Blue Devils and NC Tar Heels, or UK and UL. The two teams involved are the “Worldly Sinners” and the “Kingdom Gracers.” This rivalry is as old as time, and for a long time the Sinners had been winning. But eventually the Gracers got a new GM and he started recruiting better players so that the Kingdom Gracers won the championship. And the Sinners, being sore losers, upped the ante and added more top notch players. But Gracers signed the ultimate player who was better than all the Sinners’ players put together. Now, even Sin’s best player, Death, cannot contain the Gracers star—Yeshua.
This is the same picture that That Scriptures says that every time sin tried to increase, grace increased all the more. Adam is the archetype for sin and the continuation of sin throughout humanity. That means over time, things have gotten worse it seems. Sin runs rampant in the land. We are in a bad situation. But where sin increased, God’s grace increased even more. Jesus is the archetype of forgiveness and grace. Every time we seem to draw further away from God, he comes closer with his forgiveness. God is the one doing the auto correction. No matter what you have gotten yourself into, God is there one upping sin with is grace. That is why “Grace is Greater than sin.” There is no sin that God can’t and won’t forgive. There is no mistake you have made or will make in the future that God can’t make right. Before we even commit a sin, God is there ready to forgive. Some people can’t comprehend that God would forgive murderers, and rapists, and awful people like that. But he does. Sin doesn’t have a chance against God’s grace.
And what is more, God also invites us into his presence for eternity. God wants all of us, despite our flaws and sins at his great party in heaven. That is why he has chosen to extend His grace to us. Sin’s biggest threat—death—has been destroyed by God. Though we might die in this life, God promises us a life that will not end. It’s all because of God’s Amazing Grace. His grace that is greater than sin could ever be or ever will be.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Buying some time
I am working on a couple of things to post about, but it has been slow going. In lue of any original thought by me, I have another great prayer for you today. It is awesome and challanges the way we pray and approach God to be more specific and tangible. Hope you enjoy.
Reform our deformed lives
The words are familiar to us and we are filled with yearning. So we say them glibly, passionately, filled with hope — liberty, mercy, freedom, release, grace, peace. We have some fleeting notion of what we must have in order to live our lives fully. And we have some wistful certitude that these gifts are given only by you, you with the many names ... you ... holy, merciful, just, long-suffering, forgiving, demanding, promising. We gather ourselves together to subsume our hopes under your rich names.
We name you by your name, harbinger of liberty: hear our prayers for liberty. We are mindful of those caught, trapped, held, imprisoned by systems of enslavement and abuse, by ideas and ideologies that demean and immobilize, by unreal hopes and ungrounded fears. We ourselves know much of un-liberty, too wounded, too obedient, too driven, too fearful. Be our massive way of emancipation and let us all be "free at last."
We name you by your name, power of peace: hear our prayers for peace. We dare ask for the middle wall of hostility to be broken down, between liberals and conservatives in the church, between haves and have-nots, between victims and perpetrators, between all sorts of colleagues in this place, and in all those arenas besot with violence, rage, and hate. We know we are not meant for abusiveness, but we stutter before our vocation as peacemakers. Transform us beyond our fearfulness, our timidity, our excessive certitude, that we may be vulnerable enough to be peacemakers, and so to be called your very own children.
We name you by your name, fountain of mercy: hear our prayer for mercy. Our world grows weary of the battering and the vicious cycles that devour us. We seem to have no capacity to break those vicious cycles of anti-neighborliness and self-hate. We turn, like our people always have, to you, single source of newness. Waiting father, in your mercy receive us and all our weary neighbors. Remembering mother, hold us and all our desperate friends. Passionate lover, in your mercy cherish all our enemies. Gift giver, in your mercy embrace all those who are strangers to us, who are your well-beloved children. Make us, altogether, new.
Hear our prayers for liberty, for peace, for mercy. Form us in freedom and wholeness and gentleness. Reform our deformed lives toward obedience which is our only freedom, praise which is our only poetry, and love which is our only option. Our confidence matches our need, so we pray to you. Amen.
Reform our deformed lives
The words are familiar to us and we are filled with yearning. So we say them glibly, passionately, filled with hope — liberty, mercy, freedom, release, grace, peace. We have some fleeting notion of what we must have in order to live our lives fully. And we have some wistful certitude that these gifts are given only by you, you with the many names ... you ... holy, merciful, just, long-suffering, forgiving, demanding, promising. We gather ourselves together to subsume our hopes under your rich names.
We name you by your name, harbinger of liberty: hear our prayers for liberty. We are mindful of those caught, trapped, held, imprisoned by systems of enslavement and abuse, by ideas and ideologies that demean and immobilize, by unreal hopes and ungrounded fears. We ourselves know much of un-liberty, too wounded, too obedient, too driven, too fearful. Be our massive way of emancipation and let us all be "free at last."
We name you by your name, power of peace: hear our prayers for peace. We dare ask for the middle wall of hostility to be broken down, between liberals and conservatives in the church, between haves and have-nots, between victims and perpetrators, between all sorts of colleagues in this place, and in all those arenas besot with violence, rage, and hate. We know we are not meant for abusiveness, but we stutter before our vocation as peacemakers. Transform us beyond our fearfulness, our timidity, our excessive certitude, that we may be vulnerable enough to be peacemakers, and so to be called your very own children.
We name you by your name, fountain of mercy: hear our prayer for mercy. Our world grows weary of the battering and the vicious cycles that devour us. We seem to have no capacity to break those vicious cycles of anti-neighborliness and self-hate. We turn, like our people always have, to you, single source of newness. Waiting father, in your mercy receive us and all our weary neighbors. Remembering mother, hold us and all our desperate friends. Passionate lover, in your mercy cherish all our enemies. Gift giver, in your mercy embrace all those who are strangers to us, who are your well-beloved children. Make us, altogether, new.
Hear our prayers for liberty, for peace, for mercy. Form us in freedom and wholeness and gentleness. Reform our deformed lives toward obedience which is our only freedom, praise which is our only poetry, and love which is our only option. Our confidence matches our need, so we pray to you. Amen.
Friday, April 01, 2005
Easter Us
I really enjoy reading other people's prayers, especially theologians that I respect. It changes the often stale study of God into something alive and amazing. The depth and richness of these prayers is founded in the honest and creative images of God. It makes me think of God, and as a result, pray with more vitality and less rigidity.
Below is a prayer from Walter Brueggemann called "Easter us." And though it is appropriate for Easter SUnday, if we proclaim CHrist's death and resurrection daily, then I believe it is just as appropriate every day. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Easter us
You God who terrified the waters,
who crashed your thunder,
who shook the earth, and
scared the wits out of chaos.
You God who with strong arm saved your people
by miracle and wonder and majestic act.
You are the same God to whom we turn,
we turn in our days of trouble,
and in our weary nights;
we look for steadfast love and are dismayed,
we wait for your promises, but wait in fatigue,
we ponder your forgetfulness and lack of compassion,
and we grow silent.
Our lives, addressed to you,
have this bitter-sweet taste of
loud-clashing miracles and weak-kneed doubt.
So we come in our bewilderment and wonderment,
deeply trusting, almost afraid to trust much,
passionately insisting, too timid to insist much,
fervently hoping, exhausted for hoping too much.
Look upon us in our deep need,
mark the wounds of our brothers and sisters just here,
notice the turmoil in our lives, and the lives of our families,
credit the incongruity of the rich and the poor in our very city,
and the staggering injustices abroad in our land,
tend to the rage out of control, rage justified by displacement,
rage gone crazy by absence, silence, and deprivation,
measure the suffering,
count the sufferers,
number the wounds.
You tamer of chaos and mender of all tears in the canvas of creation,
we ponder your suffering,
your crown of thorns,
your garment taken in lottery,
your mocked life,
and now we throw upon your suffering humiliation,
the suffering of the world.
You defeater of death, whose power could not hold you,
come in your Easter,
come in your sweeping victory,
come in your glorious new life.
Easter us,
salve wounds,
break injustice,
bring peace,
guarantee neighbor,
Easter us in joy and strength.
Be our God, be your true self, lord of life,
massively turn our life toward your life
and away from our anti-neighbor, anti-self deathliness.
Hear our thankful, grateful, unashamed Hallelujah!
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann, March 29, 1994
Below is a prayer from Walter Brueggemann called "Easter us." And though it is appropriate for Easter SUnday, if we proclaim CHrist's death and resurrection daily, then I believe it is just as appropriate every day. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Easter us
You God who terrified the waters,
who crashed your thunder,
who shook the earth, and
scared the wits out of chaos.
You God who with strong arm saved your people
by miracle and wonder and majestic act.
You are the same God to whom we turn,
we turn in our days of trouble,
and in our weary nights;
we look for steadfast love and are dismayed,
we wait for your promises, but wait in fatigue,
we ponder your forgetfulness and lack of compassion,
and we grow silent.
Our lives, addressed to you,
have this bitter-sweet taste of
loud-clashing miracles and weak-kneed doubt.
So we come in our bewilderment and wonderment,
deeply trusting, almost afraid to trust much,
passionately insisting, too timid to insist much,
fervently hoping, exhausted for hoping too much.
Look upon us in our deep need,
mark the wounds of our brothers and sisters just here,
notice the turmoil in our lives, and the lives of our families,
credit the incongruity of the rich and the poor in our very city,
and the staggering injustices abroad in our land,
tend to the rage out of control, rage justified by displacement,
rage gone crazy by absence, silence, and deprivation,
measure the suffering,
count the sufferers,
number the wounds.
You tamer of chaos and mender of all tears in the canvas of creation,
we ponder your suffering,
your crown of thorns,
your garment taken in lottery,
your mocked life,
and now we throw upon your suffering humiliation,
the suffering of the world.
You defeater of death, whose power could not hold you,
come in your Easter,
come in your sweeping victory,
come in your glorious new life.
Easter us,
salve wounds,
break injustice,
bring peace,
guarantee neighbor,
Easter us in joy and strength.
Be our God, be your true self, lord of life,
massively turn our life toward your life
and away from our anti-neighbor, anti-self deathliness.
Hear our thankful, grateful, unashamed Hallelujah!
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann, March 29, 1994
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