working against family, church, or country?

Living in the Kingdom of God now and within the human institutions of family, church and country, the disciple has the tension of loyalty to the institutions subjugated to loyalty to Jesus. But how do you live as a disciple within this tension?

We are called to serve. We are called to work for the good will of others so that what God wants for them is more likely to be a reality. This is always done with the humility and graciousness. This is done knowing we could be wrong. Using the Bible as our guide, we serve and bring benefit for others best we see fit.

Do we ever work against family, church, and country? In extraordinary circumstances, yes. Loyalty to the way of Jesus always takes priority. A rule of thumb would be this. Work against that which forces you to commit sin. Be willing to suffer the human consequences for this. You need to be very clear from scripture that what family, church or country is forcing you to do is directly a violation of God’s ways. Again, this would always be done with much humility and honesty that you may be wrong in God’s big picture. What would be examples of this? I will give some in the next few days.

where do citizens of God's Kingdom live?

Disciples of Jesus live in God’s Kingdom now. Though it has not been fully revealed to us, there are certainly glimpses he favors us with. In 1 Peter, we are called a “kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation.” We all have access to God and are citizen’s of his kingdom forever. Then we read this.

1 Peter 2:11 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls.

Here lies the tension. I am a disciple of Jesus who lives in a foreign land, America. But it is more than this. I am a disciple of Jesus who lives in a foreign land, my family. I am a disciple of Jesus who lives in a foreign land, my church. Do you see what Peter is getting at?

We are God’s and wherever we attach our allegiances, we are living in his Kingdom in the midst of that attachment. Whether family, church, or country, we remain Kingdom citizens first. What is the privilege and responsibility of a disciple in God’s Kingdom while living on earth? Work with Jesus and be an influence to reach others for Christ. Be a “Kingdom recruiter,” as it were.

I have been placed in the reality of family and country. These are ordained by God as social structures to keep sin in check and to be the place where I live out my discipleship. Church is where I connect with other disciples and potential disciples to join together in our Kingdom work.

Each of these social structures is precious to me. Each is an institution where sinful human beings gather. Each is fraught with hardship and struggle. And each is a venue for my loyalty. Just as I work for the benefit of my family and church, I work for the benefit of America. Just as I give my family wide boundaries of graciousness in our life together, I give my country and my church the same. When I am being an effective witness for Jesus, I don’t “bash” my family, church, or country. I also am not so attached that I allow any of these entities to overpower my loyalty to Jesus first.

This is where a balance God’s Kingdom already come and yet not fully revealed becomes the place where I live.

heal our land?

2 Chron. 7:14 (NLT)
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.

The United States is a sovereign nation made up of citizens of many religions, including atheism. It is not like the nation of Israel in Old Testament time where God’s people had their own country. When the Bible is speaking of the “land,” it is speaking of the gathered community of Jews in the Holy Land.

So why is it that some Christians treat the scriptures that speak of Israel as if it means any place where people live? The verse quoted above is a good example of this. Ever since we were attacked on September 11th this scripture has been referred to as an antidote for what ails us as a nation. But is that an accurate biblical interpretation?

Oh, believe me, Christians need to prayer for America. We need a lot of help. All Christians are called to pray for the nation they reside in, as well as other nations. But where is the connection to make an equivalence of “my people” and “Americans” or “their land” and “America”? In the passage cited, is it Christians who humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from wickedness? Then do other citizens who don’t do these things get a free pass on the forgiveness and healing? Just wondering.

Perhaps it is more likely that God’s people are called to humble themselves etc. and the influence we will have as we die to ourselves and live to benefit our neighbor will bring blessings to our country. Maybe I am just quibbling over language, but I think it is more than that. Treating America like it were Israel of old invites some fuzzy thinking. More tomorrow.

generosity

One of the most basic spiritual disciplines is generosity. No area touches home with the action that is involved quite like this. Giving money for the mission of Kingdom Work is the only investment we have that has eternal potential.

God gives the guideline of a tithe (10 % of income) as a place to start in giving back to his work what he has already given us. Generosity moves there and beyond. There is no more life-changing act than this and most Christians are reluctant to pursue it. Wouldn’t that just be the case?

The reason Christians are hesitant to tithe is simple. Insecurity. I don’t think it is selfishness. The lack of tithing and beyond is a trust issue. I can practice all other disciplines, worship on a weekly basis, and have a ministry, all marks of a disciple, but they all cost me only time. Time I would be spending on something else anyway. Christians understand this eventually.

I wonder why we don’t have the same viewpoint when it comes to money? I am moving toward a tithe and beyond. I would only be spending the money on something else anyway.

Tithing and beyond will not automatically turn someone into a strong disciple. But until you address that core issue of security/ insecurity, there will be little growth. Nothing keeps a Christian from becoming a disciple more than hoarding what’s not ours in the first place.

service

All Christians are called to service. We serve God by serving others. But this isn’t like volunteering for a local charity. Even though volunteering for a local charity can be part of a discipline of service. If this is confusing, well, welcome to my world.

When is service a discipline, when is it a Christian response, and when is it just doing good for the sake of another person, whether you are Christian or not? Let’s break these down.

Non-Christian service- God is the source of all good and so when non-Christians serve they do so within God’s realm. Human conscience alone will lift up many opportunities to serve.

Christian response- When we follow Jesus and learn from him we become the kind of people who serve others naturally as a response to the love we are given by him.

Service as a discipline- Intentional acts of service, focused areas of service, hidden acts of service (see my last “secrecy” post) are all specific ways one can expand God’s influence on one’s own life.

When someone joins the armed forces, we say they are “in the service.” When they are discharged or retired, it is called, “getting out.” Well, when we join Jesus in the greatest mission of the galaxies, to do Kingdom work with him, we are “in the service” for eternity. We never “get out.”

secrecy

The discipline of “secrecy.” Now we are getting to the core of the matter. Can we become the kind of disciples who do not seek the recognition of the growth occurring in our lives? Can we serve without at the same time looking consciously or subconsciously for affirmation? This is huge.

It is important for us to affirm and encourage others in their service, but can this happen in Christian circles without getting caught up in the recognition trap? It is a “both and” world. Both not seeking the reward of others noticing what I am doing for the Lord and encouraging my brothers and sisters of the faith with a job well done. The greater influence God trusts you with, the greater the battle for humility.

Humility is the key to Kingdom power. “Can I trust you with the power I give you?” is a haunting question from Jesus. The more he can trust us, the more influence we have. It has been said this way.

“What can Jesus accomplish through us if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit?”

All credit belongs to Jesus in the first place.

lectio divina

There is a way to bring together silence and solitude, bible reading, and prayer. It is called, Lectio Divina. This is an ancient practice that blends all of these disciplines. Here is a brief description.

Reading/ Listening
This is what St. Benedict called, “Hearing with the ear of our heart.” Take a brief passage of the Bible and read it slowly. Listen carefully as if God is speaking this word alone to you today.

Meditation
Repeat the passage, a phrase, and then a word from the passage in silence. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Connect it to other thoughts and memories you have. Spend time slowly taking it in.

Prayer
Pray the word to God. Spend time lifting it up and changing you from the inside. Give back to God what you are “hearing” from the word.

Contemplation
Different than meditation, this is a time when we just quietly rest in God without words. A clearing of the mind and enjoying God.

Lectio Divina is not a technique. It is a gift. Why not open this gift and discover what Christians have for centuries? Insight, rest, and refreshment.

bible reading

An animal that “ruminates” is one that chews on a cud. Like a cow. We use this same term when we are talking about quietly paying close attention to something. Like reading the Bible.

If the Bible is really inspired by God to reflect exactly what God wants us to know to live in his Kingdom now, then it would be wise to read it. Like a love letter, though, not a newspaper article. We want to “ruminate” on the Word, slowly taking in and savoring how it speaks to us today. God is eternal, and so somehow the meaning of his Word always applies directly to any given age. An example.

If you are really stressed out at work or at school right now, “chew” on this for a while.

And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? (Mark 8:36)

fasting

Like other spiritual disciplines, fasting is shared by many religions. The Christian discipline has an ample biblical witness from Moses to Jesus himself. 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil is a very well known event in Jesus’ life. So, what is the purpose of fasting?

Unlike fasting for political purposes, it is not to draw attention to yourself. Quite the contrary. When Jesus spoke of fasting he said,

Matthew 6:16a
"And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do…”

Fasting is to focus your mind, body, and spirit on Jesus. It isn’t meant to be difficult or painful. In fact, according to Jesus, you may be “eating” anyway (John 4:32).

Fasting can be abstaining from different items of food or drink, or a period of time without food or drink, or without food. Throughout the ages Christians have tried a variety of fasts. Sunup to sundown (like Muslim Ramadan), once a week for 24 hours, even strict fasts like twice a week, eating only.

I recommend a fast from dinner one night until dinner the next. During this time I would drink as it relieves dehydration headaches. When you fast, you might have cravings, and this is a good thing. This focuses your attention on Jesus, the reason for the fast. This can be a spiritually sharp time to tune in to God, and so take advantage of the opportunity.

silence and solitude

“Jesus went out in the desert alone.”

Lord, where did you go? We couldn’t find you.”

Before every major decision, Jesus spent time alone and prayed. Why?

Silence and solitude are related spiritual disciplines that have rich history. Spending time alone and quiet is a refreshment for your very soul. I asked one of our sons why he thought Jesus was so fond of being alone and he said, “To get away from all the sin for awhile.”

We don’t have that advantage as we bring sin with us, but that is a keen observation. Like soldiers in the time of war pausing to play a football game, it is good to get away. But with silence and solitude, we may get away from all the busyness of business, the ups and downs of our daily lives, but we actually are more “bothered” by someone else. God.

During times of being alone and quiet, God has a chance to really get our attention. In the Orthodox Church tradition before the gospel is read the priest commands the congregation with a simple word,

“Attend!”

This is what silence and solitude can do for us. Cause a pause.

prayer

“Talking with Jesus about how it is going in our life together.” Prayer is not something that takes tremendous spiritual depth. Whatever that means. We are created to connect with God. Imagio Deo. Image of God. Created in God’s image. I think that is what the image is like. When we pray, we reflect the relationship God has in mind for us.

How do you pray? What concerns you today? What is on your mind? It doesn’t make much sense to try to figure out what you ought to be praying about. What God would “like” to hear. When I speak with someone and I try to say what I think they want to hear that is called “manipulation.” Good luck trying to manipulate God. Honesty is absolutely essential in all relationships. Why would we expect less in our relationship with God?

Another thing. When you pray for people in need, pray for all people in need. At our Christian school chapel children are always praying for the homeless. Good choice. Yet, think about it. Who needs more pray than the CEO of a large corporation? A wealthy developer? A venture capitalist? Who will lift up their concerns that they would make good decisions which are going to affect the lives of millions? That they would be just in their dealings with others?

the throne

Another way to speak of Jesus taking control of our lives is to use the imagery of the throne of our lives. Sitting on the throne is the ruler. So, the goal of discipleship is to get Jesus on the throne. How does this happen?

Who is on the throne now? If you are on the throne of your life then you need to get off that throne for Jesus to get on. Discipleship happens when a throne emptied by you is filled by Jesus. Jesus will not jump up on your lap.

So the emptying (death to self) becomes the way to be filled. Filled by the Spirit who takes charge of the throne. The way God has chosen for us to die to self is the way of spiritual disciplines. We do not change directly. We do not will ourselves to be empty.

“I am a humble empty vessel ready to be filled by you, God….Right now!”

It doesn’t work that way. “Me” on the throne is not going to leave easily. The direct approach will be a lot of kicking and screaming. I have to “trick” my sinful nature that just “wants what I want, and I want it now.” This is where the spiritual disciplines come in. It is like doing an “end around” of my self. I am going to reflect on a few of these in the days ahead. These disciplines are the ones Jesus himself modeled in order to gain access to his heavenly Father.

vacancy

On the path of discipleship, our greatest desire is to have more of God in our lives. At the same time, we don’t possess the capability to demand of God more of himself. God is in charge God. We can’t orchestrate his life. What can we do?

We are in charge of choices. We have the ability to consciously choose to die more to our being in control. “Death to self” is an act of will. This is where I realize that my life isn’t going to shatter simply because I don’t get my way. We can’t force God to give us more of him, but we can give up more of ourselves, and guess who will fill in our will?

God.

It is like the “Control” Motel with a “Vacancy” sign out front. We invite God to come on in and make himself at home. Then he will “leave a light on” for us.

illusion of control

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NLT)
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. [7] Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

Humility is connected to emotional health in this passage. I wonder why?

Well, more than anything I think it is about control. The more control we try to have of our lives and others, the more we place ourselves in positions where anxiety is likely. When you are trying to juggle the whole world to have it “my way,” there is a price to be paid. I remember a saying by John Maxwell.

“Unless God is in control of your life; your life is out of control.”


But isn’t that just what happens in real life? One of the reasons people don’t come to trust in Jesus is because it brings a loss of control. Or at least the illusion of control because we all know there is no controlling, after all. When you say, “Yes,” to Jesus, you say, “No,” to you. It’s hard to admit you need a Savior and a Guide.

Those who do trust in Jesus have a hard time giving up their illusions of control, also. That’s why there is so much shenanigans going on when it comes to the Bible. Take your desires, your efforts to be in charge of what you want in life and then go to the Bible and try to find passages that support your point of view. Or as is more likely the case today, when the Bible universally says your desires are not healthy, just say the Bible isn’t meaningful to your context. Either way Christian or non-Christian, illusion of control is the disease and humility is the cure. When you come to Christ you die to self.

no big deal

I just finished presenting a weekend science and faith seminar for high school students and adult youth leaders. Quantum physics, dark energy, irreducible complexity and they were ready for more. What a great group of young people!

We know that America respects scientists as the most trusted profession according to the latest Harris polls. We also know that there really is no such thing as science. There are fields of sciences but certainly no unifying variable. One field generally has a limited view of the other. The speculation, uncertainly, lack of evidence, and the like in the various sciences make trust in the physical resurrection of Jesus according to historical evidence look like no big deal. And then there is the sure experience of disciples of Christ for about 2000 years. Knowledge based on the evidence of experience. Where else would I go for meaning, purpose, and hope? I have no idea.

CSI and intelligent design

All CSI, all the time. Grissom, Catherine, Warrick, Sarah, Greg, and Nick. I have no idea who they are, but I do know that this show is like the Simpsons. It’s on all the time and on every channel. I know. I haven’t watched a full episode, but my wife and daughter are fascinated. It’s on all the time. The only thing I can figure is Nancy is an expert at puzzles and Kristina’s goal is medical school and pediatrics. Also, I guess a show basically about dead bodies might be interesting to the niece, granddaughter, great granddaughter, and great-great granddaughter of funeral directors.

But, here is what I am thinking. A team of people are spending an hour examining the evidence and coming up with the best possible explanation for something that happened in the past but was not directly observed. This is called, “Forensic Science.”

Boy does this sound familiar. Examine the evidence and come up with the best possible explanation for something that occurred in the past which cannot be directly observed. Sounds a lot like intelligent design. I haven’t heard anyone talking about “Intelligent Design Science” lately. Interesting.

every night in every home

“Every night in every home.” This is the branding phrase for Faithinkubators, a leading kid and youth ministry system for congregations. Every night (or morning for that matter) parents check in with their children. Not a very revolutionary system. Just effective. Both parents and kids share in this.

Share highs and lows (“What’s the best thing that happened to you today? The worst?”)

A verse from the Bible

What does the verse have to do with your highs and lows (or life in general)

Pray for each other

Bless each other for the day

Actually talking about what’s going on in life? The wisdom of scripture? The personal connection of praying for each other?

Nah. I’ll just buy him another PS 2 game.

can I ask for forgiveness of the sins of others?

I posted yesterday that Jesus never apologized for anything. Of course, the reason he never did might have something to do with the fact that he never wronged anyone. But, there were certainly people who were offended by Jesus. He didn’t find it necessary to apologize for causing offense to be taken. And another thing Jesus didn’t do. He didn’t apologize for the “feelings” of the lepers, tax collectors, Gentiles, and all others that were ostracized by his Jewish community. He reached out to the outcasts, but he didn’t give an apology for the way they were treated. He didn’t ask for their forgiveness for the actions of his fellow Jews.

Which brings us to Christianity. It is not my place to ask for forgiveness from the work of some people in the name of Jesus. Yes, there were preachers who supported slavery, for instance. They were wrong. There is no mandate of slavery in the Bible. Slavery was an economic reality of biblical times, but it was not commanded by God. God did not condemn those who would free slaves. Ultimately, it was Christians who brought abolition of slavery into the world. As a Christian, I simply side with those abolitionists.

I am responsible for my sins. I seek forgiveness from God and those I have wronged. But, I cannot ask for forgiveness for the sins of others, only my own. Now, Jesus could ask for forgiveness for the sins of others. He did it once. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” In fact, he did more than that. He took all sin of all people upon himself. “Father forgive them.” That’s why we call him “Savior.”

I'm sorry

I was reading Colossians 3:21 this morning to our boys, when David asked me to say that again. “Fathers, don’t aggravate your children…” I paused, knowing where he was going with the question. Last weekend he had a couple of turnovers (basketball) in a close game and I yelled (screamed, actually) at him from the sideline. I felt better, but of course, it didn’t help him.

“The Bible is talking about like the game this weekend.”

“Yep.”

“Like when you yelled at me.”

“I’m sorry I yelled, David, but you always ask me to tell you what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong.”

“But not yelling.”

“Ya, I’ll do better about not yelling.”

It dawns on me; there is no record of Jesus apologizing. He never said he was sorry for anything. No wonder it is so hard to say I am sorry. I think I am the Messiah, after all.

freedom

Watching the Iraqi people vote in a democratic election for the first time in over 50 years, is just another reminder how precious freedom is to human beings. There is something about being able to make choices that inspires people to brave hardship and suffering. Creatures who live by instinct take the most convenient and efficient route. Democracy is yet another example of the uniqueness of creativity and imagination for humans.

That said, isn’t it interesting that the Christian faith works so effectively in people’s lives without a democracy? The only vote Jesus gives is “yea or nay” in our trust of him. When we come to faith, we live under an eternal monarchy. Oh, we still get to vote. We vote to not reject King Jesus every day, but instead follow the lead of his Spirit. We vote to not ignore the influence his love has on us which causes us to want to reach out and be a benefit in the lives of other people. As Moses instructed (Deuteronomy 30:19) long ago, once again this morning, we are invited to “choose life.” Life with God is lasting freedom.

how could a loving God allow natural disasters?

Looking at the devastation of the recent earthquake and resulting tsunami, how could a loving God allow this to happen?

Great question. First a practical response. Without major plate tectonics (earthquakes and such), we would not be here. We need the land mass it generates, the changes in the atmosphere it causes to protect us from the growing brightness of the sun, and the nutrients that are circulated. Without plate tectonics we would have a sterile planet. Also, when the earliest life formed on earth about 3.8 billion years ago, there were five times as many major quakes. With the God of creation, one can say he is so benevolent to wait so long before introducing humans to planet earth when the tectonic activity had settled down.

From a human perspective, two things come to mind. First, we live where we live. There are four of these major earthquakes and resulting tsunami’s every century, on average. Educating your populace is a government’s responsibility. Along this same line, God already “instituted” an early warning system with tsunamis. A full 20 minutes before a tsunami hits, the ocean’s waters recede extremely further than any tide cycle. This is why shell fish, coral, and live fish were exposed to an extent not witnessed before by the people affected. Many of the dead were simply trying to reap this “miraculous” harvest, or were overcome by their own curiosity. This is why animals, without the creativity and imagination of humans, were much less likely to die.

Natural disasters are awful tragedies, and our prayers and our aid go out to our fellow humans. God certainly knows suffering and is there with those who suffer. This is also another opportunity for us to realize how fragile and brief our lives are in this created world. We look forward to the days that will have no end in the new creation where we will live safely and joyfully with Jesus forever. Now, we reach out and invite others to trust in Jesus and experience his presence now and forever, as well.

isn't the Bible filled with contradictions?

Contradiction- “A statement cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same respect.”

So, two statements which share the identical time and context are offered. In contradiction, one would be true and one false. Where are there contradictions in the Bible? There are certainly difficulties and challenges to our understanding to be sure, but specific contradictions?

I’m still looking…

what about the Trinity?

I find the article, “Thinking about The Trinity: One What and Three Whos,” by Kenneth Sample, helpful. Some of what is revealed concerning the Trinity is a mystery. We are trying to explain God in our dimensions when God has more dimensions available. The question is whether human beings will accept God as He actually reveals Himself to be, mystery included, or only settle for a being they think they can fully comprehend. Of course if the human mind can comprehend God, can he be much of a God? As C.S. Lewis points out, some concepts of God are easier than others: “If Christianity was something we were making up, of course we could make it easier. But it isn’t. We can’t compete, in simplicity, with people who are inventing religions. How could we? We’re dealing with fact. Of course anyone can be simple if he has no facts to bother about!”

One what and three who’s

In terms of what God is (essence), God is one; in terms of who God is (subsistence), God is three. To put it in the negative, it is not three different gods (tritheism), for that would divide the essence. Rather it is only one God (monotheism). And it is not one single solitary person (monarchianism, modalism), for that would blend or confound the persons. Rather it is three distinct and distinguishable persons (triune).

The way God is one, he is not three. And the way God is three, he is not one.

isn’t saying, “Jesus is the way” offensive?

Isn’t saying, “Jesus is the way” offensive?

Isn’t saying “Jesus isn’t the way” offensive? Either salvation is through Christ alone, or it isn’t. Someday we will find out. In the meantime, to have a point of view and support it with principled, reasoned thinking is quite appropriate. We learn to live with our disagreements. That’s called “tolerance.” Remember.

Tolerance= I respect you as a human being and I respect that you have a point of view and I think your point of view is wrong.

One thing we cannot do to try to smooth over this “Jesus is the way” challenge. We don’t have the option of saying, “There are many ways.” “Many paths.” For example consider the claims of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The main and earliest statement of faith of Christians is, “Jesus is Lord.” “Jesus is God.” This is considered blasphemy in Islam and Judaism. To say, “Jesus is God,” in either one of these faiths is a serious violation.
On its core teaching, Christianity is totally contradictory to Islam and Judaism. Either Jesus is God or he isn’t. One day we will find out. In the meantime, we need to be tolerant.

what about “good” people of other worldviews, including atheists?

Again, God will do exactly what is right. Whenever someone says, “What about good people who don’t trust in Jesus?” Won’t they be in heaven, too?”

First, if they have never heard of Jesus or the Gospel, then that is exactly what they will be judged on. How they responded to their God-given conscience. But if you are talking about someone who has heard of Jesus and rejects him as God, then it is a different story.

Moral behavior is one thing, trust in Jesus is another. God is not asking, “Did you behave, well?” He is asking, “Did you trust in Jesus?”

Now, don’t get me wrong. Moral behavior is important for a Christian. If we don’t love our neighbor, we are showing that we don’t really trust in Jesus, and such. And people of no faith or other faiths can be very caring, compassionate, loving people. But, we are not being compared to each other. We are being compared to Jesus.

If Jesus is who he says he is, and did what the Bible says he did, then our only hope is to be connected to him. Our good works, as it were, will not cut it with God. We are being judged according to the model of the perfect Jesus. So, all people need him to live with him forever.

Also, if Jesus did what is claimed about him, if it’s true, then someone who has heard his story and been invited to follow him and rejects him, well, that is not a “good” person. If it’s true, the greatest sin of all is to not thank him or trust him.

what about people who have never heard about Jesus?

When talking about trusting Jesus and hell, it doesn’t seem much of a choice to accept or reject Jesus for the people who have never heard of him. This could be people growing up in remote areas of the world. Also, a person may never hear the true Christian viewpoint about Jesus in a strict Muslim-influenced environment like Saudi Arabia, or, as in the recent past, a strict communist government like Albania, for example.

So, if you have never heard of him, or you have never heard the true Christian message, how do you have a choice to love Jesus and trust in him?

The Bible (Romans 2) says if you have never heard of him, God will examine your life based on your response to the God-given conscience he has placed within you. The Christian claim is everyone has the ability to tell right from wrong without knowing Jesus and his ways. God judges by how you respond.

This all makes sense. It gets a little confusing when you consider someone who has been exposed to the message of Jesus, but in a false way. I wonder about children brought up to believe in a Jesus who isn’t the Jesus whose story is told in the Bible? As they grow older, if they are truly seeking they will learn the truth. You can think of a lot of possible scenarios on this topic of what about people who have never heard the gospel story, either literally, or the real story. Ultimately, I am just glad I know Jesus and it causes me to want to make sure I get the message of Jesus as recorded in the Bible to many others.

how can a loving God send people to hell?

How can a loving God send people to hell?
More than anything, hell is a choice.

Hell is separation from God forever. It is not so much God “sends” people to hell as they choose to separate from God in this life and become the kind of people who cannot want God.

I believe there is a hell. In the Bible, Jesus himself talks about it 16 times. I don’t know the population of hell. I don’t know who will be there. All I know for sure is if you love Jesus and trust in him, you get to live with him forever. If you live your life in a way that separates you from Jesus and refuse to thank him and trust in him, you get to live without him forever. In a profound way, God gives you exactly what you want.

It’s is not so much God is love and so he will automatically force people to have a change of will and want to live with him. God is love but God is also just and he will honor people’s intentions towards him, even to the point of allowing them to reject him. As to who will be in hell and who will not…

God will do exactly what is right.

innocent suffering

There are two types of questions from those who are not Christian. How can there be a God and how can you trust in the God of the Bible? Usually something along the line of, “How can there be a God when…?” Or “How can you trust in a loving God who…?”

How can you trust in a loving God when children suffer?

The answer from yesterday’s posting is a good response here. The suffering of children in war time, poverty, hunger, and abuse, are all somehow connected to human sin. Parent’s lifestyle choices, government corruption, governments that oppress their own people, and unjust business practices all come to mind.

I also like to introduce another topic when this question is asked, when it seems appropriate. I ask why it seems so much worse when children suffer. Usually it is the innocence of the suffering that is mentioned. Then I might say,

“Who is the most powerless and innocent human being in the world? What human has absolutely no voice in his/her suffering?”

The answer, of course, is the developing human being in his/her mother’s womb. The planned death of almost 1.5 million or so humans a year in the US alone. This is innocent suffering at it’s core, and it is a powerful way to address human choice in the suffering. No matter what the mother’s circumstances, no matter if it is a necessary tragic option (mother’s life is in danger, for instance), taking the life of a purely innocent and powerless human being may bring a more pertinent question from God.

“Why?”

tough questions

When you are sharing your faith in Jesus, a fruitful time to explore is when people ask tough questions of Christianity. If they are not a Christian, then you aren’t likely to have much impact by quoting the Bible. There will be plenty of time for Bible, but in the beginning you are probably going to be asking them to look at things from a different perspective than they normally would. Over the next several days, let’s look at some clear responses to these tough questions. I am assuming you have already asked the person what they think, ala the “Columbo method.” Brief review on that.

• Ask them to tell you more about their question. What do they think?
  
• Ask them how they came to that conclusion. What are the sources that influenced them to think that way?
  

In this way, you will know what they will begin to understand, and what might take some time

Then, when they say, “What do you think?” I am going to give brief discussion starters, sound bites as it were, to get them thinking from a different angle.

But first, let me give a general teaching that is going to be used repeatedly by Christians to explain the ways of God.

God creates people out of love and wants to be in relationship with them. He wants people to know they are loved and to love Him back. But God will not force himself on anyone. Forced love is not really love, it is assault. We worship no rapist God. No abuser.

God gives the means for people to discover who he is if they truly seek him. But God also allows people to reject him. We have free will. We can trust or reject. God allows us to sin against him and against each other. If we could not sin, we would not be beings created to relate to God and with each other. We would be computer software that God simply manipulates.

Tomorrow we begin with some questions.

who has influenced you?

I have been posting on influencing your friends towards Jesus and I want to pause and ask the question, who influences you in your faith? The answer to that question is going to vary during your lifetime of discipleship. You may have many influencers; you may have a few. They may be living; they may be dead. They may be prominent; they may be a grandma, an uncle, a youth worker. Probably a combination of many.

It is a good idea to know who influences whom when you are considering another’s thinking. For disciples of Jesus, it is going to be the scriptures first. But then your thinking is shaped by others. For me, Martin Luther and Dallas Willard (if you have been reading this blog you already know him) would make my key short list. Then another Christian thinker you might not be familiar with. Reinhold Niebuhr.

Niebuhr was an important Christian thinker during the 20th century, arguably the most prominent American theologian. He was a behind the scenes advisor to our government both before, during, and after WW II. It was Niebuhr, identified as a “liberal socialist,” who broke with colleagues on pacifism, and championed the necessity of going to war to stop the greater evil brought about by Nazi Germany. I learned much from his writings. Let me give two examples that have helped me over the years.

Niebuhr said that whenever you have disagreement with someone, whether between individuals, groups or nations, it is always good to remember this. You are always more wrong than you think, and your opponent is always more right than you think.

Niebuhr also was very realistic about human sin. It has always been deemed reasonable for some who deal in “peace and justice” issues to consider sinful behavior only coming from the dominant group. In other words, the oppressed cannot be considered sinful in their dealings with others. We witness this today when we hear comments like “African-Americans can not be racist.”

I commend reading Niebuhr, today, more than ever his message has great validity.

Oh, by the way. As we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day yesterday, Reinhold Niebuhr was one of the greatest influences on his life. Niebuhr and Ghandi, an interesting combination.

people are waiting

In my last posting I spoke of the receptivity of people to the message of Jesus and our efforts to be of influence. In this venture, the word “self-differentiation” comes to mind. This is the ability to work objectively in an arena where you have personal and emotional attachment. Coaching your own children in Little League or having your own children in class as a teacher comes to mind. Self-differentiation also takes place when witnessing for Jesus with your friends. An invitation is what we are talking about, not a persuasive debate. When reaching out to someone close to you, one has to be careful of undo disappointment.

The receptivity of your friend is their problem, not yours. The work of the Holy Spirit drawing them to faith is God’s problem not yours. You are responsible for the invitation. God is responsible for the results. There is one other area you are responsible for, as well.

Instead of being discouraged and depressed over the fact that people you care for deeply are not responding to the gospel, there are many people who are just waiting for an invitation to seek more. I find it fascinating that Christians will feel so much pain and discouragement over loved ones and friends who don’t trust in Jesus or who have drifted from living out their faith, and then will do nothing to reach out to those who don’t trust in Jesus but who are totally receptive to discover saving faith. They just don’t know any Christians.

When you trust in Jesus are your Lord you are entering the arena of maturity. You have to be differentiated enough to know it is not your desires that are most important, but God’s desires. And God desires that you focus your attention on those who are receptive, not just those you are attached to.

a pebble in the shoe

God has given us free will. We have the ability to reject what God has to offer. God honors and respects us so much, he allows us to trust in Jesus or not. And as the Bible makes clear, God gives life and nurtures the life of those who trust in Jesus as Lord and those who don’t (Luke 4:25-27).

These observations are important when witnessing to the love of Jesus with your friends. If they are not receptive, so be it. You still have a friend and you have patience. Another day. I like what Greg Koukl says about this.

He says when you share your faith, you are being an influence. If people don’t respond and begin to trust in Jesus that’s O.K. You have at least “put a pebble in their shoe.” What a great way to think about it! By dealing with God issues with you, your friend will not quickly stop thinking about deeper things. It’s like a pebble in your shoe. Kind of bugging you and reminding you. Consider this.

An atheist visited the great rabbi and philosopher Martin Buber and demanded that Buber prove the existence of God to him. Buber refused, and the atheist got up to leave in anger. As he left, Buber called after him, "But can you be sure there is no God?" That atheist wrote, forty years later, "I am still an atheist. But Buber's question has haunted me every day of my life."

Now, unlike this story, we will give reasonable evidence of the existence of God. But if our friends choose to not seek further, we respect that. And we remember there are receptive people just waiting to meet us.

natural friendship

I have been posting on making friends with potential Christians in order to be an influence for their trusting in Jesus. A logical question is, “Isn’t this kind of an ulterior motive for friendship?” Actually, the process is quite normal. Think about it this way.

You are going to be friends with people you connect with. You connect because of common interests, common activities, and so on. You will enjoy each other’s company. That’s what friends do. They talk, hang out together, and share in activities together. What do you talk about with friends? Things that interest you. It will be natural to talk about faith matters in an ongoing friendship. It is important to you and it will be intriguing to your friend. Friends will also naturally invite friends to something that is important and meaningful to them. Your friend might invite you to the auto show, a museum, a movie, or a sport’s event, and you are not bizarre to simply invite them to worship or small group or some other activity with other Christians that may be of interest to them. At worst they can say, “No, thank you.”

So, what do we make of all this? First, it’s not like you are going to meet someone and say, “I want to be friends and, by the way, let me tell you about Jesus.” Friendships grow. They take time. So does being an influence for the Lord.

Second, if we invite our friends to attend a Christian gathering and they say, “No,” it’s not like we turn around and say, “O.K. that’s it, I don’t want to be your friend any more.” Reaching out can take a lot of time. It requires tremendous patience on our part and lots of grace from both us and our friends.

get out more

There is common knowledge when it comes to sharing faith with friends. What if your friends are all Christian? This is a natural phenomenon when you have been part of a Christian community for many years. The rule of thumb is “The longer you are a Christian the fewer potential Christians you meet.” In a way, the joy, care, and support one receives by being with, well, joyful caring, and supportive Christians makes it more likely that one will spend most of one’s time with these people. Kind of a “Catch 22” situation. The better the fellowship I receive within a Christian community the more likely I am to want to spend time with these Christians.

So, what do you do? You need to get out more. If you work, the most likely people you will reach out to will be people at work. If you go to school it will be other kids from school. It can be neighbors. If you have children, it can be parents you meet from sport’s leagues, scouting and so forth. You have (as Ken Callahan would say) help, hope, and a home being connected to Jesus and his church and so you want to share this with others.

Making friends with people who are not Christian becomes essential and intentional for a disciple of Jesus. It is also a lot of fun. You will meet some great people and you will have your thinking expanded. When you spend time with potential Christians you can learn from Jesus because if they have been seeking at all they have been influenced by Jesus drawing them to himself. So, you are not bringing something they don’t have any connection to as much as inviting them to join you on the path to learn from the Jesus who is already there. Name the name, as it were. The story in the Bible (Acts 17:19-31) of Paul speaking of the statue of the “unknown god” is a wonderful analogy.

being a friend

According to research, when a person comes to trust in Jesus before the age of 13, it is through parent’s influence (50%) more than anything else. Between 13-21, friends and parents are equally influential, (20% each). If a person comes to trust in Jesus after 21, the highest percentage (20% again) do so as a result of the influence of friends. This is not shocking that friends would be so influential.

What energizes us, energizes our friends. I have a friend who is a latecomer to the internet. Sure enough, as soon as he is online he discovers a poker game room. He has told several friends and they are now playing. He said this to me.

“If I would make the same effort letting my friends know about Jesus as I do about internet poker…”

You get the picture. Our friend’s respect our interests. They also trust us. They feel safe with us. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t remain friends. The more transparent we are to our friends, the richer the relationship can become.

So, why is it so hard to share our faith with them? Some possible reasons:

1. We will be held to a different standard if they know we are an active Christian.

2. We are hesitant to say the wrong thing.

3. We are fearful they may be turned off by our faith emphasis and not continue the friendship.

Some observations:

1. Different standard? Meaning we don’t want to make lifestyle changes more in tune to a disciple of Jesus?

2. Wrong thing? The whole idea of friendship is wide boundaries for saying whatever one wishes. The absolute worst response from a friend in a sharing faith experience is going to be, “That’s great for you but I am not interested.” How devastating is that?

3. Turned off? It all depends on our approach. If we are respectful and caring (always a good idea in all our relationships), and don’t treat them like idiots, friends will at best want to explore more, and at worst change the subject.

considering Jesus

When we reach out to potential disciples of Jesus, there are some basics to consider. I will post on several this week. For instance…

According to research, most people have acquired their morals values and the faith they will hold by the age of 13. Afterward, learning and growing in their beliefs is primarily reinforcement. So, when you are reaching out to adults with the good news of Jesus, from a human standpoint, good luck. No amount of persuasion, argument, challenge, any other “method” is going to make much of a dent. It is not common for an adult to come to trust in the Lord for the first time.

So, what is the use? Well, let’s wait a minute. There are many possibilities that make it more likely someone is receptive. Here are a few.

We know the Holy Spirit has been drawing the other person to Jesus anyway he can. Always without forcing love, but ready for an open heart seeking. If someone is truly seeking, eventually they will come to Jesus. That’s the way he set it up.

There are times in life, especially crisis or uncertainty, where someone is less likely to accept his/her own status quo and be more willing to consider the possibility of trust in Jesus. These are the times when we may ask questions of meaning and purpose to who we are and why we are here. Soul searching time is ripe for Jesus to break through.

Friends trust friends. If you are in relationship with potential disciples of Jesus, they will have the opportunity to see him at work through you. Why would they be influenced? I’ll look at that tomorrow.

labels

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you have seen I am not a big fan of using “labels” like “left wing” or “right wing,” “Christian Right” or “Christian Left,” and so forth. I would personally fit into what would be traditionally called “conservative” by some, and I would also fit into what would be traditionally called “liberal” by some. Now, I do not find the terms, "liberal" or "conservative" offensive. But alone, they are not very accurate descriptively. It simply depends on the issue. I would hesitate to guess I am not alone in not fitting neatly into any category.

A friend of mine recently wrote an observation about this issue that was extremely helpful. She said,

The prime example of that in today's world is the reference to the Christian Right and the Left..........Yes we have Christians that have different philosophies and approaches when doing the work of Christ. Within a liberal frame of mind and a conservative frame of mind sits many common values.

Well said. I did a Google news search on the use of these terms in the public media. Here are the results:

“Christian Left”- 10 uses in the news
“Christian Right”- 345 uses in the news

Let’s be careful about our use of “labels” and let’s hope the media catches on.

American tsunami relief

The outpouring of support for the tsunami victims has been amazing. The American government, in particular military, and the private sector are responding in record numbers. If the trend continues, the contributions made by Americans will exceed all the donations of all other countries in the world combined. The two top ranked charities, according to the American Institute of Philanthropy, are the American Red Cross and Lutheran World Relief. These are the only two organizations to receive an A+ rating. Donate on-line by clicking on their name.

LA Times, I am still waiting

Well, it’s been almost a month since Antony Flew, world’s most prominent atheist, announced he was a believer in God. As has been said, the equivalent of Billy Graham announcing he has become a Buddhist. I have already posted on the lack of response by the media. As of today, my own local paper, The LA Times, has never mentioned it at all! Well, my hunch is the name Antony Flew will not go away. His “conversion” (remember, he is only talking “god” here, not God of the Bible) was based in a large part in examining the evidence of design in nature. His claim that the evidence for intelligent design is compelling will make for a huge shift in the intelligent design/ Darwinian evolution rhetoric. Every time I read or hear from a Darwinian evolutionist, they use the common litany that intelligent design is simply “creationists masking their religious views in scientific language.”

No longer will they be able to say this with much energy. I don’t doubt we will continue to hear this logical fallacy of the “straw man” variety (straw man- find the most extreme example related to your opponents view and then attack that example as if your opponent believes it). Oh, there have been many atheist and agnostist proponents of intelligent design out there. But, we are now talking about Atheist #1. Pretty difficult to spin that Flew is trying to get Christianity taught in our schools under the guise of intelligent design.

We shall see...

human tsunami's

There is an outpouring of response for the tsunami victims, and rightly so. A natural disaster where 120,000 have died and perhaps another 120,000 will die of disease in the aftermath is worthy of the world’s attention. Our prayers and support go out to these parts of the world.

And then there is the Sudan.

An Arab Islamist government has “quietly” murdered or starved a couple of million Christians and other non-Muslims in the last 20 years and we hear nary a peep. Last year the government became an “equal opportunity” demonic power and began killing fellow Muslims in the Dafur region at the pace of 70,000 in the last several months.

What is the moral of this situation? First of all, news is news. A Google news search, “Dafur,” results in 72 mentions. “Tsunami,” 120,000. Second, plate tectonics and the unleashing of such devastation on a natural level is cause of great international concern and response. But the “tsunami’s” of the human variety of religious bigotry, racism (the Muslims of Dafur just happen to be black), and bloodlust, well, this warrants some concern, meager response, and quite frankly, business as usual.
And I haven’t even mentioned the lack of international response for the AID’s crisis in sub-Sahara Africa… (6,600 dead a day in 2004!).

the choice

So, I am looking at the various statues of ganesh at the Norton Simon, and then I'm thinking about God coming to earth as Jesus. Some of these statues are formed during the same time Jesus was here in person. There is a distinct difference here. Worshipping a many limbed man with the head of an elephant or worshipping the God made man who said,

Luke 4:18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim
that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors,
[19] and that the time of the Lord's favor has come."

Why did some people worship an elephant god and some Jesus? Same time, same “eastern” culture. Same intelligence, same human need, same seeking. Why?

When you think of this situation at its basic core, it is an amazing statement of God allowing human freedom of thought. The Bible addresses this issue. (Romans 1:18-22)

I am thinking about this deeply. Every one of us has a choice. Either Jesus is God or he is not.

Follow the evidence. Open yourself to the possibility.

eastern religion

I visited the Norton Simon Museum yesterday with Kristina. Daddy/daughter day choice, as it were. It has such a rich and varied collection in such a small space. I am a painting guy myself and the Rembrant’s, Degas’, Van Gogh’s, and such were fascinating, as usual. But we made a special trip downstairs to see the South Asia exhibit. One of the most extensive collections from this region anywhere in the world.

With only a couple of exceptions, it was all religious art. Hinduism, Buddhism, and a little bit of Jainism thrown in. So I am looking at a statue of Ganesh, the elephant/man from about 100 B.C. This is one of the most popular Hindu gods. Here is what I am thinking.

It always strikes me as inaccurate to call Christianity a “Western” religion. Yes, the “West” has come to dominate world culture in some ways and Christianity is the religion most practiced. But Christianity and the faith it grew out of, Judaism, are “Eastern” religions. Born in and bred in the Middle East. Our Holy Scriptures written by people of an “Eastern” mindset. So, when someone says to me, “I’m into Eastern religions,” I reply, “I’m into an Eastern religion, too. Christianity.”

More on this tomorrow.

whose side are you on

Jesus wants us to worship him. Someone once said when you worship you are declaring “whose side you are on.” Jesus desires our worship, as it makes it clear to us what team we are on. The Jesus team. This simple fact is important as a statement as well as an act of personal faith.

In the “olden” days when I was a young child, it was an advantage to be connected to a church. People were expected to “go to church” in my community. It was good for social reasons and business reasons, as well as spiritual. Many banks would even require church membership before they would give out a loan!

My, how times have changed. Oh, it’s still good for social reasons and business reasons to be involved in a church. This is because active disciples make good friends and following Jesus’ way helps business success in the long run. Not a magic blessing but Jesus’ principles are just sound truth for healthy practice. But all of this is without the cultural approval for joining a church that was available a couple of generations ago.

When you look at the faces around you today at worship, you are looking at people who may be there for a variety of reasons. But there is one reason you know why they are not there. Societies expectations.

getting excited

I was reading the story of the woman at the well from John 4. After meeting Jesus she got so excited she dropped everything she was doing and ran into town to tell everyone about Jesus.

Boniface is one of my favorite Christian missionaries. He gives up the life of a noble in 8th century England and goes to the wild woods of Germany. There he found people worshipping the Norse Gods such as Odin and Thor. Boniface stayed and brought the good news. He was so excited to tell everyone about Jesus.

Christians have the greatest mission in the galaxies. To tell of the love of Jesus for all people. This love is received purely as a gift. It is not dependant on human effort or ability. Instead of humans relying on their efforts to obtain the favor of God, Christianity teaches God is pleased with humans already and gives them his love freely. He breaks into our history as Jesus and lets us know himself.

Now, that’s something worth getting excited about.

Happy New Year

Going with family on a little trip. No blog until January 1. Have a happy new year!

I'm a Christian, I just don't go to church

When someone says to me, “I am a Christian, I just don’t go to church,” I know there is one reason given more than any other. “I was forced to go to church when I was younger.” So, what does this mean?

Obviously, it means the person didn’t like church. I don’t think you will hear one of our children saying someday, for instance, “I don’t go to Disneyland because I was forced to go there when I was a child.” The church experience wasn’t a positive one if people say they were forced to go. Well, as an adult, you can actually go wherever you want. It’s not as if an experience with the Christian community is limited to what you remember years ago as a child. Church experiences can be quite different.

By the way, don’t too quickly buy into parents “forcing” their children to go to church as a bad thing. Being an active Christian is an extremely healthy lifestyle. Active Christians statistically have much better mental and physical health than people of no active faith life. I will say, however, that if parents attend a church which is not “youth-friendly,” then they are doing their children a great disservice, by "forcing" them to go there rather than taking them to a church that loves kids. This can make a big difference in the future.

a public Merry Christmas?

I posted earlier about Christmas in the public arena. Let me give an observation that I think is important to note in general. It has to do with issues of faith and values and demographics.

Philip Jenkins in the book, The Next Christianity, speaks of the rapid explosion of Christian faith in the global east and south. The immigrant population coming to America is mainly from these areas. As a result, most immigrants today are Christian. This trend will continue. The types of Christianity most represented in these immigrant groups are traditional Roman Catholic and Pentecostal-influenced Protestant. These groups tend to be quite “traditional” in their morals and values. Joined with existing Americans from these areas, as well as a “traditional,” in many ways, African-American population, America is likely to look far different than many would predict. Obviously, there are large exceptions to cultural generalizations, but I would predict that now and in the years ahead, let’s just say I would be shocked if our nation is leaning left anytime soon.

What does this have to do with Christmas in the public arena? I will give you powerful, yet totally subjective and anecdotal evidence that something is afoot. Shopping and getting the typical “Happy Holidays” from employees is the norm this time of year. Except if your store clerk is Latino/a, Asian, or African-American, which he/she is in many cases in my community. Then you are just as likely to hear, “Merry Christmas.” I can’t think of a time I heard that phrase more often. Interesting development…

natural disasters

Living in earthquake country, whenever I hear of one occurring somewhere else, I take notice. But, when the earthquake is followed by tidal waves, or tsunamis, as they are called, the notice is followed by amazement. I have been through a big earthquake, but waves traveling at 500 miles an hour? I can’t even imagine.

My prayers go out for the families and loved ones of so many; 23000+ at my last check. The devastation of 20 foot walls of water is pronounced. In the days ahead there will be many questions. First among them will be why?

Why did so many die? Most of the death occurred on islands and low-lying coast land. Also, tsunamis are so rare in the Indian Ocean that, unlike other areas of the world, there was no early warning system. Many of the dead were clad in swim suits. There is another why question whenever there is a natural disaster of such magnitude. Why did God do this?

Consider two points. First, only people who live in these kind of island and coastal areas, or are visiting, are going to be affected by tsunamis. We know where we live has an impact of our risk level of certain disasters. Hurricanes in Florida, earthquakes in my backyard; we know what is possible and are willing to take the risk. Humans choose to live where they are susceptible. It’s not a God thing where we settle.

Second, why tsunamis in the first place? Factually, earthquakes and tsunamis are essential to “stir” up nutrients in the world’s oceans. Without them, we would not be here. This is no solace for those who have been so devastated, but without natural “disasters,” advanced life would not be possible on earth.

So, what does this all mean? I don’t know about tsunamis. I don’t know why God designed earth’s life enhancing systems in such a way. I only know that one way or another we all face personal “tsunamis” in our lives. Devastating, unexpected disasters come calling as part of the human condition. And I do know something else.

I know that when I have been wiped out, it was holding on to Jesus that got me through. Jesus was able to bring new life in the midst of the pain. And I know another thing. The earth is not my home. My home is the kingdom of God where I live now, and will live face-to-face with Jesus forever, some day. Martin Luther said it in the old hymn, A Mighty Fortress,

Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever.

I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’ll stick with Jesus.

Christmas carols

What will Christmas look like in the years ahead? In the Church, the birth of Jesus will be celebrated as always. The traditions of Christmas are secure. For many Christians, Christmas carols are our children’s connection to our faith and the faith of the generations before. How?

The vast majority of churches in America where there are actually children present have contemporary worship. Many children grow up not knowing the hymns sung in prior generations. My children fit into this category. They know the praise choruses and modern Christian songs. They don’t know too many hymns.

Now, don’t get too excited about this fact. God says repeatedly in the Bible, “Sing a new song.” I would take the discipleship exhibited by my children and their peers where I worship and match it with any prior generation. They walk the walk, more than ever, in a “strange land,” shall we say.

At the same time, there are signs that hymns are coming back again. In new arrangements. The old hymns are so ancient that now they are becoming “hip” with modern church worship leaders. In the next decade, I won’t be shocked if we are doing a little revisiting of our hymnody. But in the meantime, it is carols that connect the generations. These songs have a lasting power like no other. Why is that?

Composer Ralph Vaughan Williams put it this way:

The carol is so popular because it gives voice to the common emotions of healthy people in language that can be shared by all.

I agree. Music is such a personal taste, but carols transcend the genres. They never seem to get old. And another thing-

we only sing them for a month.

Christmas in the public arena?

Merry Christmas. Well, today is the day. We have finally reached Christmas Eve and I would like to pause and do some inventory. You have undoubtedly had occasion to see the various attempts to bring Christmas into the public arena or keep it out. I will make comments on both points of view.

Keep Christmas out. Honoring Jesus through songs or specific decorations that depict him or use his name, well, I can understand where non-Christians might object. This is simply not a God they believe in and so why are they paying tax dollars to honor him? I have to admit it warmed my heart that my daughter’s public high school choir sang all three verses of Silent Night at the holiday concert, but I can also understand how it might seem rather unfair to the practicing Muslim student who wants to sing in choir, but who is forbidden to commit blasphemy according to the Qur'an and sing those words (“Jesus, Lord at thy birth,” etc.) Now I realize the Muslim could just choose not to participate in that song, but it does cause one to wonder why he/she should be put into that predicament in the first place.

Keep Christmas in. Christmas is a part of our cultural landscape and is not only a celebration of the birth of Christ. The vast (80-85%) majority of our citizens do, however, celebrate this birth. It is a noble part of our heritage. Non-Christians would do well to give their fellow citizens a pass, honoring their fellow citizen’s faith as they are proclaiming peace and goodwill, while not having to honor their Savior. Besides, the birth of one who brought cherished teachings, some of which are universally admired (“pray for your enemies, blessed are the peacemakers…”), can be acknowledged and honored, even if you don’t believe Jesus is God. After all, we honor a preacher of that faith, Martin Luther King Jr., quite extensively in the public arena. Ultimately, America is a bastion of tremendous freedom of religion, almost unprecedented in the world community, and it is not logical to think now Christians are somehow attempting to force religion onto non-Christians.

So, what’s the answer? Legally, Christmas symbolism set up by school staff is allowed in our schools as a teaching tool (Supreme Court, 1998). I think teachers who use the symbols as such are being reasonable. At the same time, I don’t think government employees ought to try to actively promote the Christian faith on public time at public expense, whether in our schools or other government institutions. Christians can do this quite well on our own, thank you very much. Christian students are allowed to reach out in school. Christian teachers are allowed to examine Christianity in class, along with other worldviews. Christian government employees are allowed to share their faith privately at work.

In summary, I think all sides of this debate need to take a time out and look at these issues from the viewpoint of those they disagree with. We can keep Christ in Christmas and respect those who don’t acknowledge him as Christ, in a reasonable, moderate fashion.

what I can't do for you

I am posting about reaching out to potential Christians with the good news of Jesus. Christians call this “witnessing.” Yesterday I posted about what I can do as a Christian to fulfill my role of witness. Now I will look at what I can’t do.

I can’t force you to believe anything. Your faith in Jesus will come to you through the Holy Spirit as a gift. There is nothing you can do to earn Jesus’ love and there is nothing I can do to force you to receive it. In fact, there is nothing Jesus can do to force you to receive it.

I can’t shove my religion down your throat. When I am sharing about Jesus, I am commanded to be gentle and respectful (1 Peter 3:16). If you have had a bad experience with a Christian who was being aggressive and obnoxious, in other words was not following Jesus, than that is too bad. First, a central teaching of Christianity is all people, including Christians who know better, are sinful and in need of forgiveness. If you meet a belligerent Christian you see why there is a need for Christ. Second, don’t be too quick to dismiss the Christian faith because of the behavior of someone who calls himself/ herself a Christian. That is a huge dose of the genetic fallacy in logic. Remember? “First you must show that a man is wrong before you give reasons why.” Jesus can still be God and the Bible can still accurately tell his story even if you meet an obnoxious Christian.

I can’t try to hide the truth. Unlike many other worldviews, Christianity encourages you to put Jesus to the test. Be skeptical. Compare Christianity to other religions and philosophies. Christians are encouraged to do this. Some other worldviews try to keep the Christian message out. Some countries where Islam is the official religion, for example, will not allow Christian teaching, or even Bibles to be read. If Christianity is false, than what is there to be afraid of? You won’t find this with Christianity. We are encouraged to study other worldviews carefully. This helps us when we witness to the non-Christian. If you think Christians try to suppress open-minded thinking, it is just the total opposite. We worship the God who created the mind. I don’t discount that you may have experienced Christians who you thought were “closed- minded.” See the paragraph above for an explanation. Another explanation might be when you call someone “close-minded” what you are really saying is he/she doesn’t agree with you.

what I can do for you

As I alluded yesterday, my primary goal in life is to grow as a disciple of Jesus. A central role of a disciple is witnessing to Jesus. I want you to trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. I want you to be a disciple, too. Practically, here are some ways I can go about living my role.

I can pray for you. Jesus is guiding the whole process of receiving the gift of faith and so I communicate with him about you.

I can befriend you. I have to be in relationship with you in order to get to know you and for you to know me. In this way we can explore faith together. This isn’t weird or manipulative as there is nothing more caring and valuable I can do with you than join you in exploring deep issues.

I can listen to you. What do you think about Jesus? Where do you get your ideas about Jesus and the Christian faith? It is important for us to see what we hold in common where we differ.

I can study for you. I have to be informed about Christianity, other worldviews, and the whole process of clear, principled, reasonable thinking. I honor you by making an informed case for Jesus.

I can behave myself. I have to model life the way Jesus would live my life if he were me, as much as possible. It isn’t helpful for you if there is any confusion of me saying one thing and doing another.

relax, I'm a Christian

All people who identify themselves as Christian are not the same. Unlike some other worldviews, you are not “born” a Christian. You are not culturally a Christian. Christians can only really be considered Christians if they follow the authority of the scripture and the model of Jesus. Yes, there are some variations to how these are interpreted, but not much, really. When bad stuff is done in the name of Jesus, one needs only look at scripture and the model of Jesus to sort it out.

That Christians can call themselves Christian but not be Christian is not widely understood by non-Christians. There are so many generalizations about Christians that would take a slight amount of time and effort to understand. This isn’t even deep work. Take evangelism for example.

Some non-Christians are afraid that Christians are going to try to “convert” them. This is a rather narcissistic focus on the part of the unbeliever. We care, but we have other things on our mind, as well.

We Christians are first and foremost concerned about own relationship with Jesus, let alone try to worry about yours. Your relationship with Jesus begins with you and him.

Second, Christians may try to be helpful to guide you to Jesus, but that is simply his command and our pleasure. The same Jesus who tells us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19) tells us to back off if you aren’t interested (Luke 10:10-11). A healthy Christian is a Christian who focuses on receptive people.

If you aren’t interested, I am not going to get any Holy Spirit “brownie” points by bugging you. At the same time don’t get too put out that I actually expressed some interest in you. You might have some explaining to do when you stand before Jesus and tell him you were offended I talked to you about him- He probably sent me.

reaching out in the name of Jesus

Christianity is a religion built on a relationship between the believer and Jesus. This is a relationship strengthened in community with other Christians. We gather in these communities throughout the world. The purpose of our communities is to make disciples (followers of Jesus) out of all people groups everywhere. They are to join us in this same task and privilege. Now, we are not alone in this process.

Jesus said he will send his Spirit to empower us and guide us. And the potential believer is not alone. The same Spirit prepares the potential believer to hear the good news of Jesus. How? Let me mention two ways.

One way all people are prepared to know Jesus is through their conscience. The Bible says God’s ways are “written on people’s hearts” (Psalm 40:8). When you connect with Jesus, you connect with your best, true self.

Another way people are prepared to know Jesus is through what humans do with their conscience. They develop religions and philosophies to explain the world and their place in it. So, the potential Christian already has been thinking on the truths of Jesus where those truths are reflected. This is why it is helpful for Christians to know the basics of other religions and philosophies so we can witness to what we hold in common.

As we think about this, let’s be clear that Jesus is God revealed to the world. He is not hidden in other worldviews. We do not come to Jesus through other religions or philosophies. It’s not necessary. It’s just that truth is truth and Jesus is the sole source of truth.

the silence is deafening

I am still waiting on the massive news campaign about Antony Flew’s announcement. I’m sure at least pastors are going to make the most of the news that the world’s most prominent atheist is no longer an atheist. I noticed Robert Schuller had two film clips of Flew in this morning’s sermon. Kind of like a before and after picture. Before, not believing in God because believing in God is like a “married bachelor.” God is a contradiction. After believing in God “almost entirely because of the DNA investigations.” Flew uses words like extraordinary and unbelievable when considering design.

So, be prepared to hear much about this in churches around the country for some time. Christmas Eve will have a lot of Flew illustrations. At the same time recognize that you will not hear much more about this from anywhere else.

Now, if the pope had said he no longer believes in Jesus… Oh, I suppose there would be a Nightline, 20/20, or at least a brief report on the Discover channel. We’ll have to wait and see on Professor Flew.

A Newsweek Christmas

Every year at Christmas and Easter, it seems Time and Newsweek always have a Jesus cover story. This year is no exception. What they know is Jesus sells. What they don’t know, it usually appears, is Jesus. There is a standard formula that goes like this.

1. Have a non-theologically educated, non-historically educated journalist cast doubt on many aspects of the life of Jesus.
   
2. Find obscure out-of- the mainstream biblical scholars or historians to support some of your hypotheses.
   
3. Rehash the same questions that have been asked for the last 250 years since the Age of “Enlightenment”
   
4. Conclude with nothing startling and no new evidence to refute the basic truths of scripture
   
5. Try again next year

Here is this year's Newsweek article. Here is one of many respected scholarly responses. So, what does this all mean? For Christmas, it always comes down to a couple of basics.

1. The Christmas story is told differently by gospel writers Matthew and Luke
   This is no surprise. All basic Bible students are taught this. What is so astounding are the similarities of the stories between two independent authors.
   
2. The wise men weren’t there when Jesus was born.
   Christians just combined the later visit of the Magi with Christmas Eve for poetic reasons. The Bible never says they were there.
   
3. Christmas was not in December.
   The Bible never said it was. Christians just started celebrating it then because the surrounding culture already had celebrations at this time and they borrowed the culture’s emphasis and “Christianized” it. Like Jesus did when he connected Holy Communion out of Passover or like Christian rock music of today.
   
4. The Virgin birth.
   This is a strange and unusual claim. Miracles always are. Examine the evidence and the response by the earliest Christians. And remember this: After resurrection, all the other miracles are a piece of cake. Our faith rises and falls on the resurrection of Jesus, and nothing more or less than that event.

Well, enough on this topic. I imagine I'll have more to say around Easter time.

what's the big deal?

I have posted about Antony Flew’s “conversion” from atheism to theism. It is not that unusual for this to happen with the scholastically minded (at least honest, seeking scholars), as the origin of life question is not being satisfactorily answered by Darwinian evolution. Getting something out of nothing and getting life from non-life is becoming more difficult to explain in any other way but a super-intelligent creative agent.

But what makes Flew’s conversion newsworthy is, of course, his stature. I have explained it this way, it is like Michael Moore becoming campaign manager for George W. Bush. Don’t take the analogy too far, however, as Flew has had a gracious relationship with the theist’s he has debated over the years. An exclusive interview of Flew by prominent Christian philosopher Dr. Gary Habermas is available online. This is the first major piece since Flew’s announcement, to be published in “Philisophia Christi.” Take a look.

Famous Atheist Now Believes in God

"Famous Atheist Now Believes in God." This is the headline from an AP article last Thursday. I have been writing on atheism the past couple of days and wouldn’t you know it, one of the world’s foremost atheists has second thoughts. Antony Flew, a British philosophy professor, has had a change of mind at 81 years old. Here is an excerpt of a recent interview.

A super-intelligence is the only good explanation for the origin of life and the complexity of nature.

That sounds vaguely familiar. This is big enough news that it has caused an instant rebuttal, of sort, but I believe the damage has already been done on this one. Because of the prominence of Flew, his work is frequently cited by atheists attempting to make their case. Time will tell how long that lasts.

In the meantime, remember I mentioned it is up to the theist to make the case for a personal God, for me, the God of the Bible? Sure enough, Flew hasn’t gone that far.

"I'm thinking of a God very different from the God of the Christian and far and away from the God of Islam, because both are depicted as omnipotent Oriental despots, cosmic Saddam Husseins," he said. "It could be a person in the sense of a being that has intelligence and a purpose, I suppose."

Oh well, it’s a start.

the atheist goes first

Complete intellectual honesty requires a serious consideration of there being a God of some sort. It goes back to that critical question that must be answered in a rational fashion: How do you get something from nothing? This question is so foundational and obvious that it puts the ball in the atheist's court.

Until you can make a principled, reasonable case for something to be created from nothing, you must always rely on technique rather than logic. Examples of technique used by atheists might be aggressively questioning the God-believer (theist) and taking the offensive, defaulting to an emotional appeal, or falling into logical fallacies.

Now, when it comes to a specific God, then it is the theist’s turn to make the case in the same principled, reasonable way. A “creative agent” does not automatically turn into the God of the Bible.

So, I would argue the atheist is required to provide the evidence there is no God and the theist is required to make the case for a specific God.

and Christians are different?

Why don’t those who are following Jesus have the same despair as atheists and agnostics? After all, Christ followers disappoint themselves. Christ followers doubt their own abilities to handle life. What’s the difference? It’s all about the Other.

Those who follow Jesus (disciples) can look outside of themselves for help. If there really is a God then this God can actually intervene and provide guidance. In the Christian worldview, this God can forgive and disciples realize this and can bounce back from any disaster they bring upon themselves. If there is a God then this God’s power must be amazing (universe creator, after all). Therefore, to follow this God will bring hope and assurance rather than despair and hopelessness, because the results of faith are immersed in reality.

if there is no God

Have you ever disappointed yourself? Have you ever doubted your own abilities? Now, add to the mix that there is no God. No spiritual realm. So what do you do?

Learn from your mistakes? How do you know you won’t just mess up again? How would you learn in the first place? If there is no God then you are just the circuitry in your brain and that has already disappointed you before. Are you going to try to tell your brain to fire in some different synapses next time so you get the correct decision? How do you know you are thinking correctly in the first place to be able to do even that?

Now you can see how unbelievably difficult it is to fathom there not being a God. I would argue that these kinds of questions are not generally examined by an agnostic or atheist. How could they? Despair is not a sustainable condition. Eventually it will drive one to madness or some psychological or chemical dependence to attempt to mask the hopelessness. In the meantime, how would any decision be made other than what your body and emotions influence you to do? Unless of course, you are not an atheist or agnostic at all.

Maybe, just maybe, you are holding out for something more. He is holding out for you. Tomorrow we’ll look at another way.

girls just want to have fun

I hung out with our soon-to-be 16 year old daughter and her friends the other day. We went to the mall for a quick look and then off to the volleyball banquet at the local soul food restaurant. As I am eating fried okra and hot links watching the young women sing karaoke, it dawns on me what a strange world I have entered. Girls do just want to have fun.

You never saw a group of people so enjoying the company of each other, no posturing, and no one was left out of the mix. I don’t know if it was the fact that they played sports together (has to help), or these young women simply have their act together. Now I am not naïve. I have worked with youth for over 20 years. I coach middle school girl’s basketball; I have seen Bring It On and Mean Girls for crying out loud! But I dare say there is something we can learn from teenage young women.

Pay attention to everyone in the room. Encouragement and affirmation are pretty powerful tools. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Smile a lot. Laugh a lot. Thanks for the lesson 2004 Reseda High School Girl’s Volleyball team. You rock!

some concluding thoughts

I have spent several days now reviewing the debate concerning Darwinian evolution. Those of you who may have glossed-over eyes, you can breathe a sigh of relief, I am done for a while on this topic. Please know that this is an important issue. For example, it is a good entry point for discussion with your atheist or agnostic friends. The debate is not over by a long shot. As evidence for “something else” continues to mount, we will see science adapt. Now I will make some final observations before moving to different topics.

Darwinian evolution is not a crackpot theory. There is much in this theory that has solid evidence behind it. Most scientists wouldn’t call themselves classic Darwinians anyway. In fact, it is said that if he knew the new evidence today, Darwin himself would not be a Darwinist! Most scientists have adapted from this position and have modified their views. The late Stephen Jay Gould is probably the most prominent (he was featured on the Simpson’s after all!) scientist in this camp. Neo-Darwinism, or whatever term is in vogue, questioning some of the aspects of the Darwinian model, is what science is all about. Examine the evidence.

I think it is important to put your cards on the table and examine the evidence. In a proper education environment, the weaknesses of an argument are always clearly stated. Those few “pure” Darwinians left out there will not be able to hold on to a monopoly (intended or not) on public information in government and education much longer. The search will continue.

As far as a Christian view of all of this, I don’t consider the Bible a science book. I don’t base my validating of the biblical texts according to their accuracy with the scientific traditions. At the same time, I find it interesting that there are so many allusions in scripture which “coincide” with the evidence of the latest scientific theories. I address this in detail on my website.

Saying all of this, examining the evidence is what Christian faith is all about. It’s not just good theology; it’s good science.

rare earth

Another challenge to the idea of Darwinian evolution is how common you would expect it to be to find advanced life on other planets, if he Darwinian model were so easy. Even life as advanced or greater than human. But that isn’t proving to be the case at all. In fact, just the opposite evidence is surfacing. We continue to search for the most primitive life forms on any other planet. We are not having a lot of luck! When it comes to advanced life, the odds are unbelievable. It has been worked out to 1 to 10282 odds of there being even one life-supporting body in the universe.

All the work that is being done to show life on other planets in interesting. As I have stated before, part of the problem is that we don’t have a real clue about the origin of life here on earth and so we are going to other planets for the source. It appears miraculous that we have a planet that would support life in the way it does. In fact, here is a use of the word (in quotes, of course) in a paper published by Stanford and MIT physicists that says just that.

"Therefore, livable universes are almost always created by fluctuations into the “miraculous”states discussed above."

Indeed.

random chance?

If life begins and is developed by random chance, then mathematicians get in on the action when it comes to Darwinian evolution. If random chance is an option, one begins to see how improbable it is for life to form in this way. One example I find fascinating is a protein molecule.

A minimally complex cell would need between 300 and 500 protein molecules. The odds of only one protein molecule forming by chance are 1 to 10125. This is a huge number. A number you can’t even comprehend. Michael Behe, author of Darwin’s Black Box, gives an example of what these odds look like.

Take three grains of sand and paint them red. Then hide them individually somewhere in the Sahara desert. Send a friend out to find the grains. They have to pick only three times and each time it has to be one of those red grains. One other thing. They have to do this blindfolded! The odds of your friend finding those three grains and choosing correctly? 1 to 10125.

Now you can see why questions are being raised.

starting from the beginning

When considering the origin of life, you can see why there is a challenge to Darwinian evolution immediately. If natural selection and mutation are the mechanisms that drive the process, first you have to have something to naturally select from and you have to have something to mutate. The Darwinian model presupposes you have life in the first place! But how was that formed?

In origin of life research there is no strongly supported theory at this time. We just don’t know. This doesn’t mean we will not discover a solid origin theory, it just is not happening today and it would be honest to admit as much in the classroom rather than gloss over this fact. Like anything else in life, if you want to know about something, an important part of the process is to start at the beginning.

how do you explain the origin of life?

The greatest difficulty of the Darwinian evolution model is the most obvious- How do you get life from non-life? In the Christian worldview project we are working on, Rich Melheim puts it this way.

“One cannot speak of the origin of life. Today one must speak of the origins of life. The carbonaceous deposits in the oldest known rocks on the planet suggest that life appeared shortly after the earth cooled, then disappeared, then arose again, then disappeared in a series of multiple spontaneous eruptions and mass extinction events. Recently, science has made it disturbingly clear that the conditions on earth were hostile to life arising at each of those times. The chemicals for the “primordial soup” did not exist for the recipe and the UV radiation bombarding the earth would have killed off anything organizing into strands of life without some thing or some one “hovering over” the whole experiment. That life would arise by chance even once is mathematically improbable. That it would arise again and again in absolutely hostile conditions is cause for great skepticism.”

The “primordial soup” was such a slam dunk theory, that scientists have been quite slow in taking it out of high school and university textbooks now that it has shown to be a dead end for first life. Now scientists are looking to outer space and other planets to try to explain where life comes from. Problem is this just delays the inevitable question, “How did life originate?” All the evidence points to advanced life only on earth. If life did originate on other planets or heavenly bodies the question will be the same regardless if it is Earth, Mars, or a moon of Jupiter, “How do you get life from non-life?”

intelligent design

A fourth viewpoint in the Darwinian evolution is intelligent design theory. Most of the scientists questioning the validity of some of the Darwinian model are in this group. The organization most active here would be Discovery Institute. They define intelligent design in this way.

intelligent design- The theory of intelligent design holds that certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection.

Intelligent design scientists come from all religions as well as agnostics. Supporters of Darwinian evolution have tried to label them, “creationists,” but this is a failing attempt at the straw man approach, as the scientists are becoming well known in the public arena, including their religious background, or their lack thereof.

Intelligent design theorists use real scientific methodology to support their theory and they are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals despite efforts to isolate them from the scientific community. Presently, intelligent design proponents don’t advocate teaching intelligent design as an alternative to the Darwinian model. Instead they focus simply on teaching the Darwinian model and the challenges to the Darwinian model.

I will give some examples of some of the challenges to the Darwinian model in the days ahead.

theistic evolution

Another viewpoint in the Darwinian evolution controversy is the one held by many mainline Christians. This can be called “theistic evolution.”

Theistic evolution- the view that there is a God who created the universe and set everything in motion. The origin and development of life follows the natural system as given by the Darwinian model.

This is the official position of some Christian denominations. Generally theistic evolutionists would keep speaking of the miraculous in the private faith department and mutation and natural selection in the science department.

The challenge with theistic evolution is it really is simply Darwinian evolution in practice. The question is not, “Could a God have done the creating and continue to create through a Darwinian process?” but rather, “Are there difficulties with the evidence for the Darwinian model to begin with, whether you believe in a God or not?”

real bible/ real science

Another group of people who would challenge the evidence of the Darwinian model as an accurate explanation of the origin and development of life would be those who are labeled, “Old Earth Creationists.”

Old Earth Creationists- those who trust in the God of the Bible and use current scientific critiques when examining Darwinian evolution evidence. This group would say that the Bible gels with big bang theories and the evidence of a 13.7 billion year old universe. The “old earthers” would say the creation story of Genesis One is not 6 literal days but rather 6 “eons” of time. The word “yom” (day) in the Bible language can be translated accurately as:

24 hours
12 hours (daylight)
An undesignated period of time (e.g. the “day” of the Lord)

The most influential “old earth” creationist is Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe ministries. Dr. Ross’s organization is developing a scientifically testable creation model which matches the Genesis One creation account. This group would be in favor of critiquing the Darwinian evolution model in public schools, but not bringing the Bible into the science classroom, as some of the strict biblical creationists would advocate.