Jesus Houdini?

The Easter story details sometimes go by unnoticed. The linen wrappings that covered the body of Jesus are a good example. According to the burial custom of the day, 100 pounds of linen cloth with burial spices mixed in to the wrapping, would have covered the body of Jesus. The cloth is wound tightly around the limbs and then the body itself, with a separate wrapping for the head. All of this results in an airtight seal.

Luke 24:12 (NLT)
However, Peter ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

I would wonder what had happened, too! How did Jesus get out of the wrapping when he came back to life again? It doesn’t say "a pile of ripped up linen" ala’ the Hulk. There was no one there to unwrap him. Mel Gibson’s, The Passion of the Christ, reenacts it with Jesus eerily flowing out of the cloths. This might be closer to the actual scene. Jesus, who has command of all dimensions through his glorified body (walking through walls [John 20:19]), can certainly escape his grave cloths and the tomb (Sorry, Mel, but the stone had been rolled aside after Jesus left, so people could look inside, not so Jesus could get out [Matthew 28:2]).

Amazing. And, and now I have a question. Why do we call it the “Empty Tomb?” There were linen wrappings still there. Probably because, “The Empty Tomb, Except for the 100 Pounds of Burial Linens,” is just too much of a mouthful.

where do you find life?

The words of the angel on Easter morning are to the point.

Luke 24:5b (NLT)
"Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive?

To look for life you seek someone who is alive. This day after Easter the message of life is clear. If you wish to really live, then look for the one who is alive, Jesus.

If Jesus is the creator of all there is (Colossians 1), than he designed the best way to live life. Meaning and purpose become central. Yet, we can “look for the living among the dead” in the many things we focus on that aren’t healthy for us. Things that are even called an “escape” from life.

Obvious things like drinking or drug use to get us in another place than our real lives. Not so obvious things like excessive TV watching or excessive game playing. Even less obvious escapes like being dominated by our studies (for you students out there) or our work (for you employee’s). Isn’t it rather ironic that something we call “making a living,” can become that which draws us away from true life?

I keep going back to the words of Jesus from Matthew 6. Here they are “old school” King James Version.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Live for Jesus, through Jesus, with Jesus and join him in the greatest cause of life, bringing his Kingdom life into your everyday life. Living out his Kingdom in your “kingdom,” where your “kingdom” begins to look like his.

The message of Easter is about new life. Keep seeking Jesus and you keep getting life from him.

why crucifixion?

Today is Good Friday, in many ways the most somber day of the year. I was looking through various images of the crucifixion this morning, and I thought, once again, of the meaning of the actual event. Why did Jesus die in this way?

Here are some alternatives.

Death of the baby Jesus- Herod tired to have Jesus killed before he could do any harm (Matthew 2:16). Kill the baby Jesus and you never discover who God really is. End of story.

Death by stoning- The Jewish authorities attempted to have Jesus stoned to death on several occasions (John 8:59; 10:31, e.g.), but were never successful. Death due to a religious dispute is quite common and it remains “in-house.” Not much of an impact outside of the local Jewish scene.

Death in the Garden- Dallas Willard introduced me to the ancient church’s teaching of the devil trying to kill Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The anguish he is going through is not some attempt to get out of the crucifixion (a careful reading of the Gospels shows a Jesus almost sprinting to that cross, not wimping out), but rather the “opportune time” (Luke 4:13) Satan has been waiting for. But Jesus will have none of it. Dallas puts it this way, “Try to preach a Savior who dies of a heart attack.” No witnesses other than his own three disciples. No Roman or Jewish authorities involved.

So, a very public crucifixion during Passover in Jerusalem with thousands and thousands of potential witnesses of various cultures (see John 19:19-20) is an awful, but effective, setting for the truth of Jesus really dying.

For all people.
For me.
For you.

did Newsweek get a "Jesus" article right??

They did it again and this time--- trumpets are blowing now--- Da, da, da, da, da da--- they actually used mainstream scholars and made normal, orthodox claims based on evidence and logic. I am talking about the latest “before Easter” Newsweek Jesus cover story.

I posted before Christmas (December 17) how it always seems like Time and Newsweek have out of the mainstream extreme scholars giving reports about the questionability of the Christian faith in articles before Christmas or Easter. Well, I have to give credit where it is due. The most recent Newsweek story wasn’t bad. Not bad at all.

The fact that they use highly respected normal biblical scholars like N.T. Wright is compelling for their fairness. Then I am struck by sentences by the author of the article, himself, Jon Meachem. Like this.

“The uniqueness- one could say oddity, or implausibility- of the story of Jesus’ resurrection argues that the tradition is more likely historical than theological.”

Indeed! So, many opportunities for contemporary opponents of the Christians to refute the evidence of the empty tomb and the resurrection appearances of Jesus to eyewitnesses, and instead they are silent. You couldn’t have made up a more bizarre story unless of course it is true.

Congratulations, Newsweek. I have to give you credit. Now, please don’t disappoint me next Christmas. You are on a roll.

Terri Schiavo pt. 3

I remember working in a Veteran’s “Mental Hospital” back in the 70’s as part of my training in psychology. The mental capacity of some of the patient’s was severely challenged. Some scenes seem to have come straight out of “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Schizophrenia, catatonic states, you name it; there were the elderly from wars of the past, and the young more recently from Vietnam. There was no way you could ever hope to communicate with some of these folks, and yet to even think of purposely killing them would never register.

If there is no brain function and someone is on total artificial life support than there are arguments to be made from all sides. But when we are simply using terms like “quality of life” and such for those who are living in a challenging situation like Terri’s, let alone with opportunities for improvement that haven’t been explored, than I would argue there is no question as to the rightness of letting her live.

The efforts of those who would starve her seem diabolical, not judicious. When I hear she can swallow on her own and is being denied water, even ice chips, I must admit I am haunted by the whole scene.

Matthew 10:42 (NLT)
“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded."

Well, Jesus, what happens if you don’t?

It appears there are many who are going find out the answer to that question.

Terri Schiavo pt. 2

There have been comments made by supporters of Michael Schiavo’s efforts to end his wife’s life that are a bit disingenuous, I would argue. It goes something like this. If you are a Christian you should support Michael’s husbandly authority in the marriage to make the decision. I have no idea where that is coming from. I suppose it is a misguided effort to connect these submission texts to the situation.

Ephes. 5:21-22 (NLT)
And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord.

First, notice the Bible is calling for a mutual submission for all Christians. Listening deeply and responding carefully in placing the needs of others ahead of your own, when appropriate. This is a far cry from, “I am the husband, and so I can order for you to be starved to death.”

Second, it’s not as if Terri has a choice of “submission” in all of this in the first place. She cannot communicate clearly, remember? And while we are on this subject, if husband’s have marital authority than where are these same people when we pass laws that say abortion can be carried out without the husband’s consent? Where is the outcry?

So what is a husband’s duty to his wife? In many Christian marriage services these words provide a haunting backdrop to this case.

“…to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.”

Michael Schiavo is engaged to another woman and has two children with her. Why didn’t he divorce Terri in the first place? I am not saying I agree with him doing that, but in his circumstance if he was going to marry again why not do it in an honorable fashion? The whole “husbandly” argument as it relates to Terri kind of breaks down here, don’t you think?

Terri Schiavo

Terri Schiavo. I have some questions about this situation.

Is a human being less of a human being when the brain becomes damaged? Conversely, are you more human, the more your brain capacity? If this is the case than those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders are less human. Any of us who slowly lose our memory are becoming less human as we age. Am I “Dana” now, but become less “Dana” as my brain function declines in some ways, as I get older? Do you constitute my being by my memories? Can you decide to starve me to death because I am losing my humanity? At what point do you decide?

Terri Schiavo is not about a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order. Taking extraordinary measures to keep a heart pumping. This is about starving her to death because she cannot eat on her own. But, I spent a good part of my early days not being able to feed myself. At least my mom and dad would tell you that. When I was an infant, did that fact make be less human? When we assist people who are paralyzed to eat, are they less human, as well?

Taken to the extreme, where does IQ and ability to “increase” brain capacity fit in to all of this? Am I more superior than someone else because I have better use of my faculties? Should there be an IQ test requirement before I am allowed to vote?

I think the answer to all these questions is you are a human being or you are not. The questions become more difficult when we consider that our mind is more than our brain. The research of patients who are “brain dead,” not registering any brain activity, reviving and then clearly speaking of the things that were happening around them clouds the picture even more. And everybody keeps using the phrase “vegetative” state, and such, and I don’t know how you really can accurately make that statement.

If you can’t communicate clearly with a human does that make them no longer human? Then does that make me more human if I can communicate “better” than you? Is someone who “communicates” for a living, like an effective preacher, a higher order human than someone who does not?

More questions tomorrow.

follow the evidence

If you are going to trust that Jesus rose from the dead almost 2000 years ago and lives today, this doesn’t take a lot of faith. A careful and honest examination of all the evidence makes it a very reasonable proposition.

Of course, just like in the sciences, we are not talking about “proving” anything. Jesus knows the human condition better than anyone. It’s not about proof, it’s about following the evidence. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, we see that if Jesus were visibly standing before you today saying, “Follow me,” you may decline. In the story, the rich man, suffering in hell, asks Abraham, who is in heaven, to send someone to warn his brothers still living on earth to turn from their sin.

Luke 16:30-31 (NLT)
"The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.'
[31] "But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets (examine the evidence of the scriptures), they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead.' "

There will always be reasons why you might choose not to trust in Jesus. But, when you follow the evidence, you will find it takes a lot more faith to not believe in him than to believe in him.

getting personal

Ultimately, trust that Jesus did rise from the dead has to do with personal experience. Here are the various possibilities.

1. He didn’t rise from the dead and he doesn’t make a difference in your life or the world around you.

2. He didn’t rise from the dead, but you believe he did, and all the transformation for the good accomplished in his name by you is really by chance. In other words, “All you have to do is believe.”

3. He did rise from the dead, but you aren’t becoming the kind of person (read, “dead-to-yourself humility”) he can trust with his power, yet.

4. He did rise from the dead and you are his apprentice who is learning from him in every way, immersed in the life of his Kingdom now. He is transforming you to live your life as he would live it if he were you in any given situation.

Do you want to know another reason why I have confidence that Jesus did rise from the dead and he is who he says he is? I look at the lives of those who authentically live on the path of discipleship. Who live # 4. Their lives are qualitatively different.

Yes, I know Jesus has risen from the dead because I know his transforming power in my own life. I have seen his power at work through me and around me, and have experienced his presence. If you have another way of living that will bring about what I have experienced, by all means, go ahead. I just can’t imagine any other way that works like living in his Kingdom now. Good luck.

why would anyone doubt the resurrection of Jesus?

With the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus so compelling, why would anyone doubt it? Here are some reasons:

1. They have never honestly examined the evidence.
   
   
2. People don’t use the same criteria for studying the resurrection as they do for all other ancient history. As a result, no matter how much evidence there is, they will set the standard for authenticity so high they don’t have to acknowledge it.
   
   
3. They come to the resurrection with a prior belief that there is no such thing as the supernatural.
   
   
4. They have preconceived notions about the bad things done in the name of Jesus and are already set not to believe.
   
   
5. They want to appear politically correct and want to say all religions are on the path to the truth and so are uncomfortable with the exclusive claims of Jesus that it is only through him that one has access to God. If he didn’t rise from the dead, then you don’t have to take his claims seriously.
   
   
6. They do think it happened but they have a fear of following Jesus and so continue to delude themselves into thinking the resurrection didn’t happen.
   
   

So, what can be done to change all of this?

• If you don’t trust in Jesus, examine all the evidence and realize he will give you the power to believe through his Spirit, if you allow him in. But he will not force himself on you.
  
  
• If you do trust in Jesus, become more familiar with the evidence and quit relying on simple slogans like, “The Bible says it and so I believe it.” Your friends may need a little more than that.
  
  
  
  
  
  

the rapid spread of Christianity

The Christian faith spread rapidly from the Holy Land outward. There is evidence of Christian influence from Great Britain to India, sweeping through North Africa and the Middle East, all within 100 years of the resurrection of Jesus.

Now what is so remarkable about this spread of the preaching of the good news is that this is also a time of persecution and hardship for those who preached Jesus. Eventually there would be no property ownership rights, lack of right to employment, imprisonment, and during some periods, execution for Christians. This all took place during the absolute rule and authority of the Roman dictatorship.

The Christians faced tremendous obstacles. So, we see how compelling the message of the eyewitnesses and their students must have been. Teaching a holy man who was crucified was no big deal. This had happened frequently. Preaching the Son of God who died and rose from the dead, now that was a big deal! What is more compelling evidence than the actual response of the earliest Church that Jesus is indeed risen Lord?

But what about Islam? It spread rapidly through the Middle East and North Africa within 100 years of the time of Mohammed. Why doesn’t this make the spread of Islam unique? The spread of Islam, like Alexander the Great’s conquest and the Roman Empire before, and Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan after, was by the sword. Islam spread through military force. Sweeping through countries with the message, “Surrender or die,” is a little different than the Christian message, “Surrender to Jesus and die to yourself for the sake of others and you will live.”

disciples are willing to die for the truth

The constant reporting of suicidal murder by militant Islamists makes this seem like an everyday part of our world now.

How many people were killed this time?
How did the Lakers do last night?

Purposely trying to kill innocent people for your religious cause is astoundingly arrogant and narcissistic. “Unless you think exactly as I do I will try to kill you.” Why do these bombers do it?

First of all, when you mix a cult of death and hate it is a deadly combination. There is an obsession with death that is hard to comprehend. The bombers die willingly because they believe they will go directly to Paradise. Most of the bombers are young men and for many of them their imam’s (religious teachers) are telling them they will receive 72 virgins to have sex with in Paradise as a reward for blowing up babies on purpose at restaurants, or children on school buses, and so forth.

Not a very attractive worldview. And a lie. Unfortunately, dying for a false cause is not uncommon. The suicidal murderers don’t realize you don’t get to “party with the babes” when you hate and destroy. Not only is that sick (sexist, as well, by the way), but I don’t think that’s exactly what God has in mind for these young men.

Now, contrast this to the first disciples of Jesus. They followed the cause of life and love. Because they knew Jesus personally, and knew he had died (they had seen it happen) and had raised from the dead (they had spent time with him after), they were embolden by the Holy Spirit to spread his message of hope and new life throughout the world. Tradition tells us they got pretty far. From Great Britain to India.

If you didn’t think like the disciples and trust in Jesus as your Savior, they didn’t blow you up, they just moved on to the next town to see if there was a more receptive audience for their message, following the example of Jesus (Mark 6:1-6). And they prayed for you to change your mind.

The disciples didn’t kill for their cause. They died for it. Tradition tells us every disciple but John was killed for their faith. But unlike suicide murderers, the disciples died for the truth. You see every disciple except John was killed because they would not recant (go back) on witnessing to the living Jesus. If he hadn’t risen from the dead, there was no reason to die for something you knew for a fact wasn’t true. They had seen Jesus alive.

This is powerful evidence for the truth of the resurrection. People will die for what they think is true. In the disciples case, a truth they were eyewinesses to. No one gives their life for a lie knowing it is a lie.

women as the first eyewitnesses

In my post for yesterday, we saw how we have discovered manuscript evidence so close to the actual events, that there were eyewitnesses alive as the message is being passed along. Unlike other ancient writings and the sacred writings of other religions, the New Testament doesn’t give much time to develop legendary material. Another compelling piece of evidence is the simple fact of the first recorded witnesses of the empty tomb and first sighting of the resurrected Jesus.

By women! (Matthew 28:1-10)

Women were not allowed to testify in court at this time. They were not considered reliable witnesses. It makes absolutely no sense to attribute the first witnesses of the resurrected Jesus to women. Why would the authors of the gospels mention the women at all?

a. To make their case stronger?

No, it weakens their position to use less “trusted” witnesses.

b. Because this is what actually happened?

Ah, that’s more like it. The Bible records women as the first witnesses because---they were.

eyewtinesses accounts

The Bible records eyewitness accounts to the death of Jesus and the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Of course the actual physical resurrection occurrence was not witnessed at the very moment as Jesus was in a tomb when it happened. The standard procedure of following the evidence would suffice it to say it happened if the appearances are legitimate.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 is the earliest account of the resurrection appearances. There are eyewitnesses alive at the time who can deny Paul’s reporting of the event. They do not. There are Jewish writers at the time who can refute the eyewitnesses during their lifetime. They do not. There is no denial. But, how accurate is the Bible?

Compare the New Testament to other ancient writings. In the Bible days there were, of course, no printing presses. Books were passed down orally from one generation to the next. If something were extremely important, it would painstakingly be written down on stone, animal hide, or papyrus. Obviously the earlier it was copied, the more accurate it would be. So how does the Bible compare to other ancient writings?

We all have heard of the writings of Aristotle and his teacher, Plato. Chances are somewhere in high school or college you were introduced to these philosophers. Much of modern thought can be traced partially to these two men’s teaching.

Well let’s compare how many ancient pieces of manuscript we have today that are from Plato or Aristotle, and how many manuscript pieces are there from the New Testament. Then let’s compare how close the age of the manuscript piece is to the actual time of the person. These are two tests that archeologists use to measure the authenticity of texts.

Source Copies Time from actual event Plato 7 excerpts 1200 years after
Aristotle 49 excerpts 1400 years after
New Testament 24,633 excerpts 25 years after first excerpt

Also, within 350 years after the whole New Testament is available!

Now, philosophers don’t seem to question the accuracy of Plato or Aristotle, but the same people may question the accuracy of scripture. There is no ancient document that even comes close to the historical accuracy of the Bible! The evidence compelling.

the foundation of the Christian faith

The physical resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. Everything else rises or falls on this historical event. Trusting that Jesus did rise from the dead and is ruling now is what identifies us as Christians. Not trusting in this, or considering it a figment of the early church’s imagination makes you a non-Christian. To say “Jesus is a wonderful role model and had some noble teachings” is not an option for a Christian. The miracle of the resurrection is the ultimate evidence that Jesus is God.

I have posted several times on the recent announcement by Antony Flew, world’s most prominent atheist that he now believes in God. He doesn’t believe in the particular God of the Bible, but he did say if he was to believe in a specific God, it would be the God of Jesus, Why? He doesn’t believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus, but he thinks it is the most compelling possible miracle.

The evidence for the resurrection is better than for claimed miracles in any other religion. Its outstandingly different in quality and quantity, I think, from the evidence offered for the occurrence of most other supposedly miraculous events.

Flew is close.


So, what is the evidence that Jesus really did rise from the dead? Let’s highlight four areas in the coming days:

1. eyewitness accounts
2. women as witnesses
3. willingness of the apostles to die for this belief
4. rapid and non-violent spread of Christian faith

protest?

A common example of opposition to government is the protest. Protest can be an effective media event. At the same time, it is probably the most common act of civil disobedience if city law is being violated by the event. Protests, many times, become simply ad hominem (name calling rather than stating your case in a principled, reasonable fashion) events. Many protests are rather arbitrary.

Take the most recent anti-war protests concerning Iraq. One of the main issues of protest was no “UN OK” for going into Iraq. Yet, I don’t recall massive demonstrations when we went into Bosnia without UN support.

Should Christians be involved in protest? It depends. Does it support arbitrary thinking? Are we using logical fallacies and spin to lift up our cause? Then we aren’t “loving the Lord with all our mind.”

Are any laws being violated? Then we need to be willing to suffer the consequences. There may be times when a Christian would stand up and be counted at a protest (think recent protests against the Syrian occupation in Lebanon), but it would have to be done in a truthful, respectful, and reasonable fashion. In many cases, there are probably other ways for a Christian to spend their time being an influence that would be more effective.

disobeying government?

When would it be proper to rebel against your own government? Well, according to the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

So, possible rebellion is one of America’s foundational principles. What is less clear is when individuals oppose their government for sake of conscience. Especially in light of biblical passages like Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17 which speak of obedience to government.

Perhaps the best guideline is we are to follow our government’s rule unless it forces us to disobey God (Acts 5:29). If the choice is disobey God or government, we go with disobeying government, always remembering we must be willing to suffer the consequences. Paul gives an example of what this willingness might look like.

Acts 25:9-11 (NLT)
Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, "Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?"
[10] But Paul replied, "No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty. [11] If I have done something worthy of death, I don't refuse to die. But if I am innocent, neither you nor anyone else has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!"

We commonly refer to disobeying government for reasons of conscience, “civil disobedience.” There are many issues at stake.

- What if you are wrong about what you disagree with? What if you don’t have your facts straight?
- Have you exhausted legitimate means to express your opposition?
- Are you harming others in your acts of disobedience as a byproduct of your cause?

An example tomorrow.

being the church

The way a Christian community stays focused on discipleship is primarily the result of the preaching and teaching that takes place. As Dallas Willard says,

“Does the preaching and teaching of the community attract people who are choosing to become disciples or does it attract consumers of religious goods and services?”

Most churches in America would cater to the latter. The most popular mission statement (subconsciously)?

“It’s all about You”

So, where is the next Luther going to come from? A church that caters to consumers or a church that calls people to join Jesus in what he is doing in his Kingdom work now by dying to yourself and becoming the kind of person God can trust with his power?

Just asking…

challenge of church

When Christians gather in communities on a regular basis to worship Jesus, walk with Jesus, work with Jesus, and witness to Jesus, we call this, “church,” or “fellowship.” The biggest challenge of living in a church community has to do with commitment to the mission of Jesus to be disciples and make disciples. Metaphors are helpful in considering what is a healthy church and what is not.

Healthy
A school of life with Jesus the Master Teacher where you learn from Jesus as much as you can how to live life as he would live it if he were you in any given situation.

A training camp where you learn the plays, get strong, work as a team, and scrimmage, all for the sake of getting into the real game of life and thriving.

A hospital where you go to be healed so that you can get out into the community and serve once more.

Not so healthy
A country club where you go to relax, socialize, connect with your friends, and you are catered to by the staff and leaders of the church.

A museum where you admire worship done “correctly” (meaning what you are used to growing up), admire “real” church music (what you are used to growing up), and where you are looking to connect with experiences you remember when the church was “really” faithful.

A political action group where you decide to let society tell you what cause is important and you work for that cause rather than grow as a disciple and become the kind of person who can make a difference and bring benefit to others in the natural flow of discipleship.

You get the idea about the meaning of church. Now you can see where conflict can arise. Groups of people connected together for different reasons. With healthy churches the agenda is making disciples. With unhealthy churches the agenda is having your needs met. With unhealthy churches the challenge is all of those metaphors can appear important if you want them to be. Good fellowship, upholding our rich heritage, and working for peace and justice, who can argue with these?

dating and marrying a disciple (continued)

I have been posting on taking a stand when family, church, or government might bring pressure on you to not follow Jesus' way. I want to post more on raising children in the faith.

First, we need to get one huge misunderstanding out of the way. If you don’t trust that when you are a disciple you get to join Jesus and live within the work he is doing now and enjoy the eternity you are spending with him, then it might seem “bigoted” to only look to marry a disciple of Jesus. If your worldview is, "everyone can live a healthy and fulfilled life regardless of their faith," and if you believe that "all people will live in heaven forever, or all 'good' people," then why would it matter to you if your children are Christian or not, let alone who they end up marrying? Of course you would have a problem with the idea that your children should have a shared faith with their spouse or prospective spouse.

At the same time, if Jesus is really God and his words from the Bible are true, then you are going to have a different view. Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me (John 14:6).” If he means this, then it would certainly be going against God’s desire for you to raise your children in such a way that you didn’t give them the best opportunity to place their trust in him, as well.

Hence, I posted earlier on teaching children to date active Christians only. This is an extremely difficult situation to comprehend, on the surface. To give one example. Christians, of all worldviews, want to make friends with potential Christians, in order to be an influence in the possibility of their coming to faith in Jesus.

But friendship isn’t all that marriage is about. It is about making a lifelong covenant under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and, for most married couples, raising children. If the model of Jesus and his words from the Bible are correct, then to not give your children every opportunity to trust in Jesus is sinful. To not encourage them to be the primary influence (which a parent is) to carry on their faith to the next generations by raising their children as disciples, is sinful, as well. So, the best opportunity for your children to raise growing disciples of their own is if they are joining in this mission with a spouse who is also a disciple.

Now, obviously, Christians marry non-Christians, or come to Christ after they are married, and are able to raise their children in the faith, in part, because their spouse is open to this and encourages this. I commend these non-Christian spouses for seeing the benefit of their children trusting in Jesus. I pray that they will see the benefit of discipleship some day and see the need to seek Jesus for themselves. If Jesus is God and the words of the Bible are accurate, we want our potential Christian spouses to come to faith. Our greatest act of love for them would be to pray for this and be as much of an influence for Jesus as we can.

never say, "never"

(More on standing up for your faith tomorrow. Have to post on recent event.)

First Antony Flew, and now Brian “Head” Welch.

Flew, if you haven’t heard, announced back in December that he believed in God. Not the God of Jesus. Yet. But coming from the world’s most prominent atheist, believing in God is a start. Flew was finally convinced at age 81 that there must be a God because of the evidence of intelligent design, in particular in DNA research.

Brian Welch is a different story. Last Tuesday, it was announced that he is leaving the heavy metal rock band, Korn. This is a very dark, very explicit lyric, very popular group. One of the most popular hard rock bands around. Well, it’s not unusual for band members to leave. So, why is this news being reported all over the world? Why is MTV freaking out?

Here is the announcement from the Korn website.

"Korn has parted ways with guitarist Brian 'Head' Welch, who has chosen Jesus Christ as his savior, and will be dedicating his musical pursuits to that end…"

This is headline news.

“Korn off the kob,” was the headline of the Miami Herald.

Welch came to Christ when he started attending Valley Bible Fellowship in Bakersfield, California. He gave his testimony Sunday to about 10,000 worshipers. It wasn’t intelligent design theory. It was getting off of “meth” that drew Welch to seek the Lord.

"I have a 6-year-old daughter, and I want her to be able to look me in the eye.”

Never say, “Never.”

against family?

To oppose your family is something that is not to be taken lightly. But there are circumstances when this might be necessary. Some are obvious, some not so obvious. An example of each.

Obviously, when a family member is physically abusing another you must take action. It must stop. Reporting them to the authorities will be part of this picture. Support for the victim is absolutely necessary.

Not so obvious are situations of faithfulness to Jesus when this stands in opposition to family harmony. Especially when you have a spouse who is not active in a faith life.

One situation would be if you have children you need to raise them Christian. You need to pass on your faith to the next generation. This is a command of God. So, many things come to mind.

Don’t marry someone who is not a seeking disciple of Jesus in the first place. As far as that goes, don’t date someone who is not a seeking disciple. There is just too much uncertainty for your future relationship and raising possible children some day to make it wise to commit your life to someone who doesn’t follow Christ. Included in this is not doing any “missionary” dating. Going out with someone and figuring you can lead them to Christ in due time isn’t helpful.

If you have become a follower of Jesus since you are married, then asking to raise the children Christian could well be a negotiation. There is so much benefit to following a Christian lifestyle that isn’t directly spiritual and a case for simple physical and emotional health can be made, if necessary. Also, being a godly spouse will have impact eventually.

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.