After my teaching on art this week, I received the following question by e-mail:
"When you said that we should engage our minds with the art that we expose ourselves to, I was wondering does the artist matter? For example, I know some singers who have some songs that I like and others that just disgust me. Can a good song have a negative influence if the artist's other work is questionable?"
This is a great question. As I understand it, the question is whether or not we can enjoy a piece of art on it's own merit? Do we have to take the artist's beliefs, behavior, and other works into account?
This raises another important question: What is the source of truth? Can there be any truth apart from God? I believe the answer has to be, no. God is the author of truth.
John Calvin picked up this same theme in the Institutes: "If we regard the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth, we shall neither reject the truth itself, nor despise it wherever it shall appear, unless we wish to dishonor the Spirit of God."
There are not two kinds of truth, God's truth and, free floating truth. We are made in the image of God and the Holy Spirit is communicating to everyone. These two facts make truth available to us. Even if we don't submit to God, his Spirit is still at work trying to get our attention and working to teach us. There are many times when truth is communicated by people who have not yet submitted themselves to God. This also means that one piece of art may reflect truth while the other pieces by the same artist don't. We can embrace the piece which reflects truth while rejecting those that don't.
We have to do this all the time. None of us possess perfect truth. Only God does. Even our best intentions will contain error. So we should take in information of all kinds the same way we eat chicken. Eat the meat and throw away the bones. Sometimes it's hard to know the difference. That's why our minds need to be engaged constantly. (vegetarians feel free to insert your own metaphor)
Here's the larger quote by Calvin:
If we regard the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth, we shall neither reject the truth itself, nor despise it wherever it shall appear, unless we wish to dishonor the Spirit of God. For by holding the gifts of the Spirit in slight esteem, we condemn and reproach the Spirit himself. What then? Shall we deny that the truth shone upon the ancient jurists who established civic order and discipline with such great equity? Shall we say that the philosophers were blind in their fine observation and artful description of nature? Shall we say that those men were devoid of understanding who conceived the art of disputation and taught us to speak reasonably? Shall we say that they are insane who developed medicine, devoting their labour to our benefit? What shall we say of all the mathematical sciences? Shall we consider them the ravings of madmen? No, we cannot read the writings of the ancients on these subjects without great admiration. We marvel at them because we are compelled to recognize how preeminent they are. But shall we count anything praiseworthy or noble without recognizing at the same time that it comes from God? (Institutes, 2.2.15)
Keep asking questions!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
What Is Faith?
The proper response of the gospel is to repent and believe, but this might be a bit deceiving. Our English vocabulary does not always mean the same as the original Hebrew or Greek. In this case, our word "believe" means less than the word used in Scripture.
Jesus' call to us is to have faith in him. That doesn't solve the problem for us since many people equate faith and belief, but the difference is that of merely holding a group of ideas in your head or becoming a disciple (the proper response to Jesus' invitation).
There are three components to faith: knowledge, assent, and trust. All three need to be present to say that you have responded to Jesus in faith.
The first is knowledge. This is a knowledge of what Jesus has done and what it means to us and the rest of the world. Without this basic knowledge, there is nothing to respond to. But how much knowledge do we need? We don't start with perfect knowledge, so you must respond to what you have, but this is why we see faith as an active, growing response to Jesus. As we walk with God, our knowledge will increase and so will our need to respond positively to God.
There are two responses that make up an act of faith. The first is assent. We need to accept the knowledge we have been given. This is the act of believing that what God has communicated to us is true. This is the part of faith that most of us understand.
The second response of faith (the third component) is trust. Belief is not enough, or at least the way we define belief today is not enough. We usually define belief as intellectual assent alone, but if our actions and our intellectual belief are at odds, then our intellectual belief is just a facade. We act on what we really believe.
This doesn't mean that our actions are perfect or consistent. There are always other factors involved (such as our weaknesses), but faith actively strives for perfection and consistency. This is what we mean by faithfulness.
Faith is not a one-time event in our life. Our knowledge should continue to grow. None of us know God's mind completely. Part of discipleship is to become a lifelong learner. This means that assent is not a finished act. As we learn, we must still decide to accept God's counsel. Trust is also ongoing. We are daily challenged to enter the life Jesus has won for us.
Without knowledge, we are just superstitious. Without assent, we are double-minded and confused. Without trust, we are aimless. Jesus promises that with all three we find life.
Jesus' call to us is to have faith in him. That doesn't solve the problem for us since many people equate faith and belief, but the difference is that of merely holding a group of ideas in your head or becoming a disciple (the proper response to Jesus' invitation).
There are three components to faith: knowledge, assent, and trust. All three need to be present to say that you have responded to Jesus in faith.
The first is knowledge. This is a knowledge of what Jesus has done and what it means to us and the rest of the world. Without this basic knowledge, there is nothing to respond to. But how much knowledge do we need? We don't start with perfect knowledge, so you must respond to what you have, but this is why we see faith as an active, growing response to Jesus. As we walk with God, our knowledge will increase and so will our need to respond positively to God.
There are two responses that make up an act of faith. The first is assent. We need to accept the knowledge we have been given. This is the act of believing that what God has communicated to us is true. This is the part of faith that most of us understand.
The second response of faith (the third component) is trust. Belief is not enough, or at least the way we define belief today is not enough. We usually define belief as intellectual assent alone, but if our actions and our intellectual belief are at odds, then our intellectual belief is just a facade. We act on what we really believe.
This doesn't mean that our actions are perfect or consistent. There are always other factors involved (such as our weaknesses), but faith actively strives for perfection and consistency. This is what we mean by faithfulness.
Faith is not a one-time event in our life. Our knowledge should continue to grow. None of us know God's mind completely. Part of discipleship is to become a lifelong learner. This means that assent is not a finished act. As we learn, we must still decide to accept God's counsel. Trust is also ongoing. We are daily challenged to enter the life Jesus has won for us.
Without knowledge, we are just superstitious. Without assent, we are double-minded and confused. Without trust, we are aimless. Jesus promises that with all three we find life.
Monday, March 21, 2011
A Biblical Imagination
"Discover what Scripture says about spirituality and immerse yourself in it. This is not a matter of hunting for a few texts, but of acquiring a biblical imagination - entering into the vast world of the Bible and getting the feel for the territory, an instinct for reality. The scriptural revelation is not only authoritative for what we believe about God and the way we behave with each other, but also for shaping and maturing our very souls, our being, in response to God. The Scriptures provide as much precision in matters of our being as they do in our thinking and acting. Spirituality that is not continuously and prayerfully soaked in the biblical revelation soon either hardens into self-righteousness or dissolves into psychology."
Eugene H. Peterson, Subversive Spirituality
The Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity that we interact with every day. Jesus left the earth physically so that he could have an even more intimate interaction with us through the Holy Spirit. Along with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit has been active in our salvation since the beginning, and His work isn't done yet.
So what does this have to do with Scripture and a biblical imagination? The Scriptures are a work of the Holy Spirit. He (Not "it." The Holy Spirit is a person not a thing), He worked through men and women to orchestrate the events that Scripture describe; He inspired the recording of those events so that God would be accurately represented; He illuminates the Scriptures as we read making the message known as He communicates to each one of us personally; and He shapes our lives in the process.
The reading and study of Scripture is a supernatural activity. It is meant to be an interaction with the living God. This does not mean that we demean the academic dimension of Bible study. Our minds and bodies are not separate from our spirit. We come to Scripture as whole beings. We still need to use the brains God gave us to make sure we understand the words on the page, but there is much more going on.
As the Spirit illuminates, He shapes and transforms us. He pulls away the veil and let's us see the world as it really is. He shows us the love the Father and the Son have for us. He shapes new dreams and goals for us that can free us from our destructiveness. He holds up a mirror that does two seemingly contradictory things. He shows us who we are--warts and all--so that we might realize our need. At the same time, He shows us the way the Father sees us--a love that is more powerful than warts and all.
A biblical imagination sees the world that God is building. Sees the possibilities in broken lives. Sees the value in love over busy-ness, authenticity over fame, servanthood over power. It inspires, frees, and shapes our being.
The world and your flesh will fight you on this one, but if you spend time with the Scriptures you will be transformed.
Eugene H. Peterson, Subversive Spirituality
The Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity that we interact with every day. Jesus left the earth physically so that he could have an even more intimate interaction with us through the Holy Spirit. Along with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit has been active in our salvation since the beginning, and His work isn't done yet.
So what does this have to do with Scripture and a biblical imagination? The Scriptures are a work of the Holy Spirit. He (Not "it." The Holy Spirit is a person not a thing), He worked through men and women to orchestrate the events that Scripture describe; He inspired the recording of those events so that God would be accurately represented; He illuminates the Scriptures as we read making the message known as He communicates to each one of us personally; and He shapes our lives in the process.
The reading and study of Scripture is a supernatural activity. It is meant to be an interaction with the living God. This does not mean that we demean the academic dimension of Bible study. Our minds and bodies are not separate from our spirit. We come to Scripture as whole beings. We still need to use the brains God gave us to make sure we understand the words on the page, but there is much more going on.
As the Spirit illuminates, He shapes and transforms us. He pulls away the veil and let's us see the world as it really is. He shows us the love the Father and the Son have for us. He shapes new dreams and goals for us that can free us from our destructiveness. He holds up a mirror that does two seemingly contradictory things. He shows us who we are--warts and all--so that we might realize our need. At the same time, He shows us the way the Father sees us--a love that is more powerful than warts and all.
A biblical imagination sees the world that God is building. Sees the possibilities in broken lives. Sees the value in love over busy-ness, authenticity over fame, servanthood over power. It inspires, frees, and shapes our being.
The world and your flesh will fight you on this one, but if you spend time with the Scriptures you will be transformed.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Resource: The BioLogos Forum
I wanted to pass on a great resource that was recommended to me the other day.
Over the last few decades there has been a growing tension between faith and science. From the Christian side, most of this has originated from a reaction to those who claim that science invalidates faith. The most recent public attacks have come from the "New Atheists." Well meaning, but somewhat panicked responses have led to a distrust of science and a distortion of Scripture that actually strengthens the arguments of those who are trying to discredit believers.
Reactions have a tendency to do that. If we don't start with careful study of our own belief then the people we react to are given the driver's seat. Their statements trigger hasty responses that can led us down the wrong path. We always need to know what we are defending before we respond. Ill informed reactions have driven many students who love science away from their faith. The tragedy is that the tension is often based on misinformation that is presented as orthodox Christianity. The BioLogos Forum aims to help set the record straight.
The BioLogos Forum was founded by Francis Collins. He headed up the Human Genome Project and is now the Director of the National Institute of Health. A former atheist turned Christian he has worked to reconcile the perceived tension between faith and science. In his book, The Language of God, he explained to his friends in science why he believed, while explaining to his Christian friends how he could accept both Scripture and evolution.
I highly recommend the book as a starting point, but meatier content was needed. That's the purpose of the website. The site has resources for students, teachers, and pastors that address both scientific and Scriptural concerns.
For your sake and the sake of those you are sharing with, you should visit this site.
www.biologos.org
Over the last few decades there has been a growing tension between faith and science. From the Christian side, most of this has originated from a reaction to those who claim that science invalidates faith. The most recent public attacks have come from the "New Atheists." Well meaning, but somewhat panicked responses have led to a distrust of science and a distortion of Scripture that actually strengthens the arguments of those who are trying to discredit believers.
Reactions have a tendency to do that. If we don't start with careful study of our own belief then the people we react to are given the driver's seat. Their statements trigger hasty responses that can led us down the wrong path. We always need to know what we are defending before we respond. Ill informed reactions have driven many students who love science away from their faith. The tragedy is that the tension is often based on misinformation that is presented as orthodox Christianity. The BioLogos Forum aims to help set the record straight.
The BioLogos Forum was founded by Francis Collins. He headed up the Human Genome Project and is now the Director of the National Institute of Health. A former atheist turned Christian he has worked to reconcile the perceived tension between faith and science. In his book, The Language of God, he explained to his friends in science why he believed, while explaining to his Christian friends how he could accept both Scripture and evolution.
I highly recommend the book as a starting point, but meatier content was needed. That's the purpose of the website. The site has resources for students, teachers, and pastors that address both scientific and Scriptural concerns.
For your sake and the sake of those you are sharing with, you should visit this site.
www.biologos.org
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
My Judgmental Dashboard
All of us have those people in our lives. Those people who feel it's their place in life to monitor your life and give you their running commentary on how you're doing. One of those for me is my van's dashboard, and I find it very judgmental.
It always seems to be there whenever I climb into the van. It lights up and waves at me whenever I turn the key trying to get my attention and give me it's take on my life at the moment. It is constantly calling my attention to my speed, nagging me right up to that point I get pulled over. If I haven't stopped for gas lately, it criticizes me with a bright yellow light. I'd tape over the blighter, but I'm not fond of those late night walks to the gas station can in hand.
Of course, that's the point. The dashboard is there to make my life better. That oil gauge may seem somewhat meaningless most of the time, but it helped
me understand the white cloud that suddenly erupted from the back of my car alerting me to the blown oil seal just before my engine seized up forcing me to walk to the nearest service station. At that moment, I wished that oil seal had some kind of indicator. A ten minute warning sure would have been helpful. And if I paid attention to that speedometer, then I'd have less tickets and more money (don't panic! It's just an example. Your missions money is not going to the State Patrol. I have a good relationship with speedometer). Feedback and guidance are often a good thing.
That the primary way that God's guidance and discipline work in our lives. He communicates to us so that we don't break down on the road of life with an empty gas tank and a blown oil seal (pretty nifty, huh. I could do this all day, but I'll spare you). That's what it means when Scripture says God disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:7-11). God actively guides us away from disaster and toward growth that shows itself in wisdom, strength, joy, and peace. You can choose to tape over his indicators, but don't blame him for the results.
The community of Christ also assists in this guidance, but we need to be careful. The voice of a GPS is helpful when your lost and don't know where your going, but it soon becomes irritating when you can't shut it off. Being slow to speak is a virtue (James 1:19).
On the other hand, love includes accountability and the occasional rebuke. Otherwise, it's not really love. But these should be outweighed by encouragement, hope, service, intercession, and the willingness to help bear each other's burdens. The critic who has hard words but is never there to lift a humble, loving hand to assist is just a clanging gong, a stuck horn, a seal belt alarm that won't silence itself after you buckle up, a... (you get the picture).
God does judge, but mostly he disciplines. He guides and directs our paths. He also judges the fruit of our lives based on his perfect perspective. If our lives abuse and oppress others, then there is a point where his judgment can become harsh to bring relief to the suffering. God is patient, though, he prefers to guide and inspire and throw up stop signs when we head down a wrong path.
I invite discomfort and sometimes even disaster when I ignore my dashboard. That's true with God as well, but it goes a step further. I also miss a great deal of good in my life as well. God's discipline has my best in mind.
It always seems to be there whenever I climb into the van. It lights up and waves at me whenever I turn the key trying to get my attention and give me it's take on my life at the moment. It is constantly calling my attention to my speed, nagging me right up to that point I get pulled over. If I haven't stopped for gas lately, it criticizes me with a bright yellow light. I'd tape over the blighter, but I'm not fond of those late night walks to the gas station can in hand.
Of course, that's the point. The dashboard is there to make my life better. That oil gauge may seem somewhat meaningless most of the time, but it helped
me understand the white cloud that suddenly erupted from the back of my car alerting me to the blown oil seal just before my engine seized up forcing me to walk to the nearest service station. At that moment, I wished that oil seal had some kind of indicator. A ten minute warning sure would have been helpful. And if I paid attention to that speedometer, then I'd have less tickets and more money (don't panic! It's just an example. Your missions money is not going to the State Patrol. I have a good relationship with speedometer). Feedback and guidance are often a good thing.
That the primary way that God's guidance and discipline work in our lives. He communicates to us so that we don't break down on the road of life with an empty gas tank and a blown oil seal (pretty nifty, huh. I could do this all day, but I'll spare you). That's what it means when Scripture says God disciplines his children (Hebrews 12:7-11). God actively guides us away from disaster and toward growth that shows itself in wisdom, strength, joy, and peace. You can choose to tape over his indicators, but don't blame him for the results.
The community of Christ also assists in this guidance, but we need to be careful. The voice of a GPS is helpful when your lost and don't know where your going, but it soon becomes irritating when you can't shut it off. Being slow to speak is a virtue (James 1:19).
On the other hand, love includes accountability and the occasional rebuke. Otherwise, it's not really love. But these should be outweighed by encouragement, hope, service, intercession, and the willingness to help bear each other's burdens. The critic who has hard words but is never there to lift a humble, loving hand to assist is just a clanging gong, a stuck horn, a seal belt alarm that won't silence itself after you buckle up, a... (you get the picture).
God does judge, but mostly he disciplines. He guides and directs our paths. He also judges the fruit of our lives based on his perfect perspective. If our lives abuse and oppress others, then there is a point where his judgment can become harsh to bring relief to the suffering. God is patient, though, he prefers to guide and inspire and throw up stop signs when we head down a wrong path.
I invite discomfort and sometimes even disaster when I ignore my dashboard. That's true with God as well, but it goes a step further. I also miss a great deal of good in my life as well. God's discipline has my best in mind.
Monday, February 28, 2011
A Love of Life
Jesus did not give up his life easily. He did not take death lightly. He loved life.
Jesus was not a stoic or an ascetic. Life in the world was not an annoyance to be shrugged off as soon as possible. He loved it. After all, he created it. The Father had created the universe through him and it was good - very good. Humanity had been created in the image of God and we were good - very good. Until we screwed it up.
Our rebellion and desire for personal godhood brought disaster and ruin, but it didn't diminish Jesus' feelings about us (to say nothing of the affections of the Father and the Spirit). It's hard to imagine that the Son became one of us reluctantly. In some ways it must have been like a holiday to spend time with the people he had invested such creativity and nobility in. To be made in the image of God is no small privilege. The Son was not visiting a wildlife reserve to point at the animals and feign enthusiastic admiration.
Jesus came to spend time with us, to get close to those he had given the gift of personality, to personally enjoy the life he had given as he walked, ate, laughed, and cried with us. This was loving parents visiting with the children after they had grown up. A chance to share in their life again, if only for a moment. This is the grandparent holding a grandchild. This is the traveler who travels far, not to see the monuments and museums, but to spend time with people he would never know unless he made the trip.
Jesus enjoyed the people around them. He had real affection for his Apostles. He cared about the several Mary's and Martha's in his life. No one was a project or a problem to be solved. They were people, and he took joy in them. And he wanted them to experience his joy.
His love was so strong that he couldn't just leave people in their sin and ruined lives. He knew that he had the power and the wisdom to bring lasting healing and to give them back the humanity that he had always intended them to enjoy, but Jesus' mission never turned people into pawns. People were and still are what he is about.
How do we know that Jesus loved life? Luke tells us that Jesus did not face death lightly. His anguish was so great that he sweat blood as he asked his Father to let him live out a normal life. Jesus loved life, but he loved us more. When he was assured there was no other way to meaningfully bless us, he took up the cross given him and handed over his life.
Life and people are a gift to be treasured. If we are biding our time till we can escape all this, then we don't yet have the heart of Jesus. Life is a gift to be experienced and invested in. But as valuable as life is, people are more important. When the choice was between life and people, Jesus chose people. Jesus' investment opened the way to spend all eternity with those he loves through a new and even more dynamic life.
Jesus was not a stoic or an ascetic. Life in the world was not an annoyance to be shrugged off as soon as possible. He loved it. After all, he created it. The Father had created the universe through him and it was good - very good. Humanity had been created in the image of God and we were good - very good. Until we screwed it up.
Our rebellion and desire for personal godhood brought disaster and ruin, but it didn't diminish Jesus' feelings about us (to say nothing of the affections of the Father and the Spirit). It's hard to imagine that the Son became one of us reluctantly. In some ways it must have been like a holiday to spend time with the people he had invested such creativity and nobility in. To be made in the image of God is no small privilege. The Son was not visiting a wildlife reserve to point at the animals and feign enthusiastic admiration.
Jesus came to spend time with us, to get close to those he had given the gift of personality, to personally enjoy the life he had given as he walked, ate, laughed, and cried with us. This was loving parents visiting with the children after they had grown up. A chance to share in their life again, if only for a moment. This is the grandparent holding a grandchild. This is the traveler who travels far, not to see the monuments and museums, but to spend time with people he would never know unless he made the trip.
Jesus enjoyed the people around them. He had real affection for his Apostles. He cared about the several Mary's and Martha's in his life. No one was a project or a problem to be solved. They were people, and he took joy in them. And he wanted them to experience his joy.
His love was so strong that he couldn't just leave people in their sin and ruined lives. He knew that he had the power and the wisdom to bring lasting healing and to give them back the humanity that he had always intended them to enjoy, but Jesus' mission never turned people into pawns. People were and still are what he is about.
How do we know that Jesus loved life? Luke tells us that Jesus did not face death lightly. His anguish was so great that he sweat blood as he asked his Father to let him live out a normal life. Jesus loved life, but he loved us more. When he was assured there was no other way to meaningfully bless us, he took up the cross given him and handed over his life.
Life and people are a gift to be treasured. If we are biding our time till we can escape all this, then we don't yet have the heart of Jesus. Life is a gift to be experienced and invested in. But as valuable as life is, people are more important. When the choice was between life and people, Jesus chose people. Jesus' investment opened the way to spend all eternity with those he loves through a new and even more dynamic life.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Love and Hope
"I had you pegged the first time I saw your mug." That's a line from one too many cheap detective novels. The job of the detective is to size up the possible suspects and neatly pigeon-hole them, so he can find the murderer. Christians are not supposed to be cheap detectives.
The Apostle Paul tells us that, "love always hopes (I Corinthians 13:7)." This means that we see the potential that Christ brings into each life. People grow. When we pigeon-hole someone it's as though we see them stuck in amber. They cease to be people to us. They become static things.
They don't really. It's only our perception that is crippled. Well, that's not true either. Our potential to be a healing, helpful influence is crippled as well.
A river flows. It has a source in the past and a destination in the future. You can ride the current; you can dig trenches and divert the flow; you can build a dam to slow it down; but nothing short of an ice age is going to stop it in it's banks (and that doesn't even work as evidenced by the tracks left by glaciers).
Every life is like a river. We move through time as we grow. A judgmental person evaluates someone based only on where they have been and not on who they can become. We must make sober assessments based on past behavior. Trust must be earned as well as given (see the Parable of the Talents, Mat 25:14). But our love, service, and dedication to someone hopes for how Jesus can transform a life.
None of us is without regret. None of us has escaped failure. None of us wants to be defined by those moments. Sometimes it's hard to escape our disappointments and failures, but that's exactly what Jesus is doing in our lives as he extends his forgiveness for our pasts and the power of his Spirit to bring new life and growth. Many times we need the help of those around us to remind us of what Jesus is doing in our lives.
Others need that reminder as well. We need to learn from our past; sometimes we need to make restitution for our past; but we are defined by what we choose to do today and by the transformation Jesus promises as we follow him. We spur each other on to love and good works not by whips and rods but by reminding each other of the glorious person God is transforming us into. Love hopes because Jesus is not done with any of us yet. Pigeon-holing everyone he met may have helped the dime-store detective get his man, but maybe it was also the reason he ended up alone when the case was over.
The Apostle Paul tells us that, "love always hopes (I Corinthians 13:7)." This means that we see the potential that Christ brings into each life. People grow. When we pigeon-hole someone it's as though we see them stuck in amber. They cease to be people to us. They become static things.
They don't really. It's only our perception that is crippled. Well, that's not true either. Our potential to be a healing, helpful influence is crippled as well.
A river flows. It has a source in the past and a destination in the future. You can ride the current; you can dig trenches and divert the flow; you can build a dam to slow it down; but nothing short of an ice age is going to stop it in it's banks (and that doesn't even work as evidenced by the tracks left by glaciers).
Every life is like a river. We move through time as we grow. A judgmental person evaluates someone based only on where they have been and not on who they can become. We must make sober assessments based on past behavior. Trust must be earned as well as given (see the Parable of the Talents, Mat 25:14). But our love, service, and dedication to someone hopes for how Jesus can transform a life.
None of us is without regret. None of us has escaped failure. None of us wants to be defined by those moments. Sometimes it's hard to escape our disappointments and failures, but that's exactly what Jesus is doing in our lives as he extends his forgiveness for our pasts and the power of his Spirit to bring new life and growth. Many times we need the help of those around us to remind us of what Jesus is doing in our lives.
Others need that reminder as well. We need to learn from our past; sometimes we need to make restitution for our past; but we are defined by what we choose to do today and by the transformation Jesus promises as we follow him. We spur each other on to love and good works not by whips and rods but by reminding each other of the glorious person God is transforming us into. Love hopes because Jesus is not done with any of us yet. Pigeon-holing everyone he met may have helped the dime-store detective get his man, but maybe it was also the reason he ended up alone when the case was over.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Really?
I'm going to be blunt for a moment. Most Christians need to develop a better BS detector. The Apostle Paul commended the Bereans (Acts 17:11) because they tested everything he taught. Good advice for Christian teaching and just as good for everything else that our culture attempts to convince us of.
I often hear that religion is the source of most, if not all, wars in human history. Really? World War I and II didn't seem to originate in some religious debate. Homer's description of the Trojan War contains oracles and portents, but it's root cause is pride and arrogance, not a religious dispute. The Spanish American War, the first and second Gulf War, the United State's Revolutionary War, and the 100 Years War all had nonreligious causes at their heart. The civil wars in Russia and China (responsible for the greatest number of war casualties in the last century) had nothing to due with religion (unless you count the goal to eradicate religion). In fact, most wars are fought for the acquisitions of goods or to expand power (sometimes referred to as security).
There have been battles fought for religious reasons. The Crusades remain a blight that should be learned from and not overlooked, but these are the exception rather than the rule. But it is too easy to reduce conflicts to comic book level. Northern Ireland saw a conflict that divided along denominational lines, but that conflict had more to do with two conflicting views of nationalism and self-rule. The truth of the matter was that many believing Catholics and Protestants worked together in spite of the conflict around them.
An MIT professor once told one of our students that no Christian had ever made a meaningful contribution to the scientific endeavor. The professor when on to say that a student would have to put away their thoughts of God in order to pursue a meaningful life in the sciences. Really? George Washington Carver, Nicholas Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Michael Faraday, Max Planck, and Louis Pasteur are just a few who would take issue with that sweeping statement. Belief in God is not all that rare in the scientific community though it is a bit lower than in the general public.
Not all Christians are at war with science, reject psychology, believe preChristians can do no good, or are Republican (or Democrats for that matter). Both the educated and the ignorant can wear blinders and be prejudice in some things.
Sweeping statements need to be questioned. Just because someone is in a position of authority does not mean his or her statements should go unquestioned.
It's never been easier to fact check the things we hear. While a general Internet search will bring up a great deal of misleading information, there are trusted sources such as Wikipedia (trustworthy, not perfect) that help out immensely. A good set of encyclopedias is still a wonderful way to dispel the fog.
We are warned in Scripture that our culture will fight the work that Jesus is doing in the world. It threatens our pride and ego. It calls into question our motives. But Jesus' work ultimately liberates us.
In the end, the best BS detector is based in a firm grasp of the truth, whether the subject is history or faith. But before we swallow anything whole, our first question should be, "Really?"
I often hear that religion is the source of most, if not all, wars in human history. Really? World War I and II didn't seem to originate in some religious debate. Homer's description of the Trojan War contains oracles and portents, but it's root cause is pride and arrogance, not a religious dispute. The Spanish American War, the first and second Gulf War, the United State's Revolutionary War, and the 100 Years War all had nonreligious causes at their heart. The civil wars in Russia and China (responsible for the greatest number of war casualties in the last century) had nothing to due with religion (unless you count the goal to eradicate religion). In fact, most wars are fought for the acquisitions of goods or to expand power (sometimes referred to as security).
There have been battles fought for religious reasons. The Crusades remain a blight that should be learned from and not overlooked, but these are the exception rather than the rule. But it is too easy to reduce conflicts to comic book level. Northern Ireland saw a conflict that divided along denominational lines, but that conflict had more to do with two conflicting views of nationalism and self-rule. The truth of the matter was that many believing Catholics and Protestants worked together in spite of the conflict around them.
An MIT professor once told one of our students that no Christian had ever made a meaningful contribution to the scientific endeavor. The professor when on to say that a student would have to put away their thoughts of God in order to pursue a meaningful life in the sciences. Really? George Washington Carver, Nicholas Copernicus, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Michael Faraday, Max Planck, and Louis Pasteur are just a few who would take issue with that sweeping statement. Belief in God is not all that rare in the scientific community though it is a bit lower than in the general public.
Not all Christians are at war with science, reject psychology, believe preChristians can do no good, or are Republican (or Democrats for that matter). Both the educated and the ignorant can wear blinders and be prejudice in some things.
Sweeping statements need to be questioned. Just because someone is in a position of authority does not mean his or her statements should go unquestioned.
It's never been easier to fact check the things we hear. While a general Internet search will bring up a great deal of misleading information, there are trusted sources such as Wikipedia (trustworthy, not perfect) that help out immensely. A good set of encyclopedias is still a wonderful way to dispel the fog.
We are warned in Scripture that our culture will fight the work that Jesus is doing in the world. It threatens our pride and ego. It calls into question our motives. But Jesus' work ultimately liberates us.
In the end, the best BS detector is based in a firm grasp of the truth, whether the subject is history or faith. But before we swallow anything whole, our first question should be, "Really?"
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Why Sloth is a Deadly Sin
Life is meant to be vital. It's like hooking a marlin, following it with your rod, letting out your line so it can jump without breaking the line, reeling it in slowly so you don't lose it as it dives. All so that you bring it along side the boat, lift it up, and hold it in your hand. It is bigger than you, stronger than you, and has gone places you have never been, but you can take hold of it if you put the effort in. The Christian life is like that.
In Philippians chapter three, Paul talks about his life in Christ. He desires to experience Christ's fulness, to be found sharing life and the vitality of life, and to experience the rightness and life-giving health that Jesus offers. Then he reminds us that he hasn't yet experienced all this.
What? Paul is a disciple of Christ. He is an apostle for goodness sake. He's prayed the believer's prayer, received the free gift of salvation. Doesn't he have it all? Paul says, "no. There's more." he says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)
Jesus promises us a lot, but it is not automatic. The believer's prayer is not enough. We are called to a believer's life. This means that we are called to actively take hold of Christ, to pursue him, to become a purposeful disciple. If we do that, we will find our world will expand in ways we haven't yet imagined. If we don't life will shrink.
It is important to note that Jesus didn't call people to mere intellectual acceptance. He called them to follow. The rich young ruler believed in Jesus, but would not follow. He lost out. Others had belief, but wanted to follow something other Jesus (family, lifestyle, past loyalties). They lost out. Jesus calls us to actively pursue him, to take hold of him.
The option is to try to grab cheap grace and then relax. If we believe that intellectual belief is enough, that all we need is a believer's prayer (something never mentioned in Scripture), then we will miss out.
Jesus calls us into a new life. That new life is not an on/off switch but a journey. As we follow Christ our life is transformed. We travel from the mundane to the exotic. A slothful person sits in front of their TV all day watching other people. That is not the same as living. A travel show on France may supply you with a few facts (you will believe things about France), but it will not change your life. A trip to France will. Life is to be lived, not watched from an armchair.
I'll go a step further. You can only know Jesus by living with him, going where he goes, sharing life. You don't get to know a person by reading about them or watching them on TV. You get to know about them that way. Good fiction or history can get us a bit closer, and that's a good thing. But you get to know someone by sharing your life with them. You can only know about George Washington, but you can actually get to know a friend or lover.
Sloth leads to a shallow, toneless life of missed opportunities. Life needs to be embraced to be experienced. You need to push off in your boat, bait your hook, and cast. When the nibble comes, you need to play the catch for all your worth. The same is true for Christ. Jesus promises a lot but you won't see if if you don't follow him into the deep water.
In Philippians chapter three, Paul talks about his life in Christ. He desires to experience Christ's fulness, to be found sharing life and the vitality of life, and to experience the rightness and life-giving health that Jesus offers. Then he reminds us that he hasn't yet experienced all this.
What? Paul is a disciple of Christ. He is an apostle for goodness sake. He's prayed the believer's prayer, received the free gift of salvation. Doesn't he have it all? Paul says, "no. There's more." he says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14)
Jesus promises us a lot, but it is not automatic. The believer's prayer is not enough. We are called to a believer's life. This means that we are called to actively take hold of Christ, to pursue him, to become a purposeful disciple. If we do that, we will find our world will expand in ways we haven't yet imagined. If we don't life will shrink.
It is important to note that Jesus didn't call people to mere intellectual acceptance. He called them to follow. The rich young ruler believed in Jesus, but would not follow. He lost out. Others had belief, but wanted to follow something other Jesus (family, lifestyle, past loyalties). They lost out. Jesus calls us to actively pursue him, to take hold of him.
The option is to try to grab cheap grace and then relax. If we believe that intellectual belief is enough, that all we need is a believer's prayer (something never mentioned in Scripture), then we will miss out.
Jesus calls us into a new life. That new life is not an on/off switch but a journey. As we follow Christ our life is transformed. We travel from the mundane to the exotic. A slothful person sits in front of their TV all day watching other people. That is not the same as living. A travel show on France may supply you with a few facts (you will believe things about France), but it will not change your life. A trip to France will. Life is to be lived, not watched from an armchair.
I'll go a step further. You can only know Jesus by living with him, going where he goes, sharing life. You don't get to know a person by reading about them or watching them on TV. You get to know about them that way. Good fiction or history can get us a bit closer, and that's a good thing. But you get to know someone by sharing your life with them. You can only know about George Washington, but you can actually get to know a friend or lover.
Sloth leads to a shallow, toneless life of missed opportunities. Life needs to be embraced to be experienced. You need to push off in your boat, bait your hook, and cast. When the nibble comes, you need to play the catch for all your worth. The same is true for Christ. Jesus promises a lot but you won't see if if you don't follow him into the deep water.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Whose Driving Your Car?
The unexamined life is not worth living.
-Socrates
An unplanned life is not worth examining.
-Aristotle, a follower of Socrates
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
-Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26
What do you value? What do you want out of life? When you look at most people's lives, what they are actually doing? Does it looks like they only value survival and the approval of others?
The good, important, valuable things in life are not accidental. If you want that trip to Europe, a car, or to help build an irrigation system in a developing country, you need to save for it. The same is true for your time. Friendships, education, and answering the call of Jesus in your life require time. If that time is spent on things that don't really matter, then it won't be there when you need it. Most of us wouldn't drop our hard-earned money on the street as we walked along, but we sometimes do as much with the way we spend our time.
Is the goal of life to have a full schedule sheet so we can prove our lives are worthwhile? No. That is merely a projection of insecurity and poor self-worth. The reason we plan our lives is to gain freedom. There is no such thing as an unplanned life. Either we plan it or someone or something plans it for us. To be blown around by the winds of circumstance is not freedom. Too many people mistake panic for spontaneity.
You don't plan to just fill up your schedule. You determine what you value and then create a schedule that will help you achieve it. Work is... well, work. Of course we will avoid it by puttering away our time. But that puttered time is gone forever. You schedule so you can get what you have to do done. If you do it wisely, you have guilt-free open time that you can use to spend on friends, God, entertainment... on life really.
A healthy schedule lets you shoulder the world out of the drivers seat so you can take the wheel again. Then you can steer your life down the road Jesus shows you.
-Socrates
An unplanned life is not worth examining.
-Aristotle, a follower of Socrates
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.
-Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26
What do you value? What do you want out of life? When you look at most people's lives, what they are actually doing? Does it looks like they only value survival and the approval of others?
The good, important, valuable things in life are not accidental. If you want that trip to Europe, a car, or to help build an irrigation system in a developing country, you need to save for it. The same is true for your time. Friendships, education, and answering the call of Jesus in your life require time. If that time is spent on things that don't really matter, then it won't be there when you need it. Most of us wouldn't drop our hard-earned money on the street as we walked along, but we sometimes do as much with the way we spend our time.
Is the goal of life to have a full schedule sheet so we can prove our lives are worthwhile? No. That is merely a projection of insecurity and poor self-worth. The reason we plan our lives is to gain freedom. There is no such thing as an unplanned life. Either we plan it or someone or something plans it for us. To be blown around by the winds of circumstance is not freedom. Too many people mistake panic for spontaneity.
You don't plan to just fill up your schedule. You determine what you value and then create a schedule that will help you achieve it. Work is... well, work. Of course we will avoid it by puttering away our time. But that puttered time is gone forever. You schedule so you can get what you have to do done. If you do it wisely, you have guilt-free open time that you can use to spend on friends, God, entertainment... on life really.
A healthy schedule lets you shoulder the world out of the drivers seat so you can take the wheel again. Then you can steer your life down the road Jesus shows you.
Friday, February 11, 2011
A Schedule for Life
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
You might be surprised to discover that this passage has a lot to do with your homework (yes, God cares about your grades).
The Psalmist is reminded that we only have so much life to spend. No matter how you spend them, you only have 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week, 52 weeks in a year. Time works a lot like money. You have to budget it in order to control how it's spent. But there is one important difference. You can put your money in a bank and save it indefinitely. Time on, on the other hand, just keeps moving past never to be seen again. That makes our decisions on how we spend our time much more important.
You only get one chance for each moment. You can always make more money, but time is gone for good.
The goal here is not to create a guilt trip but to consider new opportunities. If we don't number our days, think about and plan how we will use our time, then we will miss opportunities. This Psalm was written as the people of Israel were being judged about using their time badly. Their unplanned lives led them to be uncaring toward each other and indifferent toward God. They wasted the time they had for the necessities of life and then, in their last minute panic to catch up (think late night cram sessions), they lost the creative and relational time they should have had.
We don't merely number, plan, our limited time so we won't get in trouble. We do it so we won't miss the opportunities to really live life. We don't live to work. We work to live. So it's important to schedule our lives so we can spend our time on God, people, and the joys of life.
Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
You might be surprised to discover that this passage has a lot to do with your homework (yes, God cares about your grades).
The Psalmist is reminded that we only have so much life to spend. No matter how you spend them, you only have 24 hours in a day, seven days in a week, 52 weeks in a year. Time works a lot like money. You have to budget it in order to control how it's spent. But there is one important difference. You can put your money in a bank and save it indefinitely. Time on, on the other hand, just keeps moving past never to be seen again. That makes our decisions on how we spend our time much more important.
You only get one chance for each moment. You can always make more money, but time is gone for good.
The goal here is not to create a guilt trip but to consider new opportunities. If we don't number our days, think about and plan how we will use our time, then we will miss opportunities. This Psalm was written as the people of Israel were being judged about using their time badly. Their unplanned lives led them to be uncaring toward each other and indifferent toward God. They wasted the time they had for the necessities of life and then, in their last minute panic to catch up (think late night cram sessions), they lost the creative and relational time they should have had.
We don't merely number, plan, our limited time so we won't get in trouble. We do it so we won't miss the opportunities to really live life. We don't live to work. We work to live. So it's important to schedule our lives so we can spend our time on God, people, and the joys of life.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Love Conquers Self-Consciousness
For years, I watched my life in the third person. It was as though I had access to a camera through which I could watch my every move. Like Narcissus, my focus was limiting. I was so concerned with how others saw me, that I missed most of what was going on around me.
Self-knowledge is a good thing, but self-consciousness can be crippling. It can spawn crippling fear, shyness, and aggression. Most of all, it tends to make us judgmental and negative toward ourselves. Love frees us from all this.
The best cure for self-consciousness is love. When we focus on those around us, we have less time to focus on ourselves. We stop watching our own life through a camera. As we get to know others, their needs, and the power of grace, we tend to be more gracious toward ourselves. Love is able to see other people's imperfections through the eyes of God's grace. As we understand how necessary and healing God's grace is to others, we have a better perspective from which to see God's love and grace towards us.
Self-knowledge is a good thing, but self-consciousness can be crippling. It can spawn crippling fear, shyness, and aggression. Most of all, it tends to make us judgmental and negative toward ourselves. Love frees us from all this.
The best cure for self-consciousness is love. When we focus on those around us, we have less time to focus on ourselves. We stop watching our own life through a camera. As we get to know others, their needs, and the power of grace, we tend to be more gracious toward ourselves. Love is able to see other people's imperfections through the eyes of God's grace. As we understand how necessary and healing God's grace is to others, we have a better perspective from which to see God's love and grace towards us.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Priorities
God makes some pretty big promises. In Matthew, Jesus says, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (6:33) Jesus is promising two things here. First, he is promising to care for our physical needs. This doesn't mean that we can expect to sit around and do nothing and all our needs will be met. We always read passages in light of the whole counsel of Scripture. God also speaks of our responsibilities elsewhere.
The point here is that our thought should no be consumed by mundane issues. God cares about the day to day issues of life, and he will help with those, but there are greater things that we are intended for. Jesus wants to introduce us to a rich, full life that moves beyond the mundane. Survival is not enough.
God has allowed us to participate in his work to bring beauty into the world. The Kingdom of God represents life as God intended it. Life has been marred by our rebellion. Pain, resentment, selfish competition, bitterness, and more has been the results. All of us have been twisted and wounded by pain.
When we seek God's Kingdom, we work to see God's rule restored. We work to communicate Jesus' liberating message. We choose to act out of healing love. We forgive instead of getting even. We serve rather than fight our enemies. We offer others the grace we have received.
We have needs that must be addressed, but Jesus asks us not to let them define our lives. We can become entangles by and obsessed with money, security, and reputation in such a way that we rob ourselves of the fulness of God's grace. Jesus calls us to something bigger. We are to seek, to work towards the realization of God's Kingdom. Beauty, security, significance, hope, grace, and love are found there.
The point here is that our thought should no be consumed by mundane issues. God cares about the day to day issues of life, and he will help with those, but there are greater things that we are intended for. Jesus wants to introduce us to a rich, full life that moves beyond the mundane. Survival is not enough.
God has allowed us to participate in his work to bring beauty into the world. The Kingdom of God represents life as God intended it. Life has been marred by our rebellion. Pain, resentment, selfish competition, bitterness, and more has been the results. All of us have been twisted and wounded by pain.
When we seek God's Kingdom, we work to see God's rule restored. We work to communicate Jesus' liberating message. We choose to act out of healing love. We forgive instead of getting even. We serve rather than fight our enemies. We offer others the grace we have received.
We have needs that must be addressed, but Jesus asks us not to let them define our lives. We can become entangles by and obsessed with money, security, and reputation in such a way that we rob ourselves of the fulness of God's grace. Jesus calls us to something bigger. We are to seek, to work towards the realization of God's Kingdom. Beauty, security, significance, hope, grace, and love are found there.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Jesus & Community
"His (Jesus') obedience to the Father's will meant that Jesus also lived in fellowship with others. He was no self-sufficient recluse, no isolated individual. Rather, life-in-human-community included both mutuality of friendships and compassionate ministry to the needy. Jesus was both the "man for others" and the one who received the gift of friendship from others. And Jesus showed that community ought to know no boundaries; it reaches from friends to the outcast and hurting, and even encompasses one's enemies."
-- Stanley J. Grenz, Theology for the Community of God
What would it like to have super powers? In most of our cultural tales--Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman (they're not all men!)--the hero is a lonely outsider that retreats to the Bat Cave or the Fortress of Solitude to brood between earthshaking missions. They never get to participate fully in the world they are protecting.
Let's be honest. Their stories can be fascinating entertainment, but they're not great role models. For them, the act of saving the world through brute strength and violence makes them unfit to enjoy life, people, and the world they have saved. An entire world of Batmen would be a lonely place indeed.
Jesus offers a different picture. Instead of the brooding outsider, he is a lover of people. He may be the eternal Son of God, but he lived a fully human life. This meant that his relationships were two-way. He gave and he received. Although, he is our Creator, he did not live his life among us as the unmoved dispenser of gifts. His friendships were truly mutual. He made sure he had solitary time to pray and to study and to think, but his life was relational. He got to know and cared for the people around him.
Jesus was no outsider, but people chose to be outsiders by pushing him away. Unfortunately that still happens today (John 3:16-21). But Jesus is about building communities.
The main reason that Jesus did not share the lonely fate of modern superheroes is that he fought his battles differently. He chose to love and serve rather than fight his battle with his fists. It is ironic that superheroes fight their battles by becoming what they hate. Again, poor role models.
Jesus fought his battles by building a new kind of community, one that serves the outcasts, the hurting, and even enemies. He doesn't call us to be hermits. Instead, we're to be involved in other people's lives. Greatness in God's kingdom is not measured by power but by service.
If Jesus was preoccupied with people and went so far as to die to establish a new kind of community among believers, then community should be our primary concern. In the end, God's work is about people. We will not be judged by our personal power, our degrees, or our wealth. "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mat. 20:26-28)" Community is vital in Jesus' eyes.
-- Stanley J. Grenz, Theology for the Community of God
What would it like to have super powers? In most of our cultural tales--Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Wonder Woman (they're not all men!)--the hero is a lonely outsider that retreats to the Bat Cave or the Fortress of Solitude to brood between earthshaking missions. They never get to participate fully in the world they are protecting.
Let's be honest. Their stories can be fascinating entertainment, but they're not great role models. For them, the act of saving the world through brute strength and violence makes them unfit to enjoy life, people, and the world they have saved. An entire world of Batmen would be a lonely place indeed.
Jesus offers a different picture. Instead of the brooding outsider, he is a lover of people. He may be the eternal Son of God, but he lived a fully human life. This meant that his relationships were two-way. He gave and he received. Although, he is our Creator, he did not live his life among us as the unmoved dispenser of gifts. His friendships were truly mutual. He made sure he had solitary time to pray and to study and to think, but his life was relational. He got to know and cared for the people around him.
Jesus was no outsider, but people chose to be outsiders by pushing him away. Unfortunately that still happens today (John 3:16-21). But Jesus is about building communities.
The main reason that Jesus did not share the lonely fate of modern superheroes is that he fought his battles differently. He chose to love and serve rather than fight his battle with his fists. It is ironic that superheroes fight their battles by becoming what they hate. Again, poor role models.
Jesus fought his battles by building a new kind of community, one that serves the outcasts, the hurting, and even enemies. He doesn't call us to be hermits. Instead, we're to be involved in other people's lives. Greatness in God's kingdom is not measured by power but by service.
If Jesus was preoccupied with people and went so far as to die to establish a new kind of community among believers, then community should be our primary concern. In the end, God's work is about people. We will not be judged by our personal power, our degrees, or our wealth. "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mat. 20:26-28)" Community is vital in Jesus' eyes.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Cultivating Good Fruit
Fruit is the natural product of a well-planted and tended tree. An apple tree doesn't spend all day thinking about the essential qualities of an apple, the practical application of apples, or the ontological distinctions between apples and oranges. It is an apple tree. It grows oranges.
The same is true for us. At least to a degree. What we plant our life in, what we invest our lives in, will determine the fruit of our lives. Paul tells us that if we invest in a life of rebellion toward God, then sin and pain will be the fruit. If we invest it in God, then the fruit will resemble the character of God. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23 )
These are fruits of God's Spirit. They are not our fruit. We don't produce them through better study, harder work, or our initiative. This is fruit that God produces as we spend time with him in prayer, as we listen to him through Scripture, and as we walk with the Spirit. The soil is important. Do we base our life first on surrender and obedience or on our own wisdom? God does not ask us to force a character change before we can live a life of obedience. The character change is a work of grace, a gift of God, that is given as we walk with him.
It is the presence of God in our lives that brings change. It is the influence and the power of the Holy Spirit that liberate and shape us. Activism seems like the best first step, but God starts by asking us to "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) If we take the time to focus on God, to take time in prayer and Bible study, and remain alert to the Spirit's leading throughout the day, then your life will bear fruit.
An apple tree doesn't have to worry about what kind of fruit it will produce. Neither does a life purposefully planted in Christ.
The same is true for us. At least to a degree. What we plant our life in, what we invest our lives in, will determine the fruit of our lives. Paul tells us that if we invest in a life of rebellion toward God, then sin and pain will be the fruit. If we invest it in God, then the fruit will resemble the character of God. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Gal. 5:22-23 )
These are fruits of God's Spirit. They are not our fruit. We don't produce them through better study, harder work, or our initiative. This is fruit that God produces as we spend time with him in prayer, as we listen to him through Scripture, and as we walk with the Spirit. The soil is important. Do we base our life first on surrender and obedience or on our own wisdom? God does not ask us to force a character change before we can live a life of obedience. The character change is a work of grace, a gift of God, that is given as we walk with him.
It is the presence of God in our lives that brings change. It is the influence and the power of the Holy Spirit that liberate and shape us. Activism seems like the best first step, but God starts by asking us to "Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) If we take the time to focus on God, to take time in prayer and Bible study, and remain alert to the Spirit's leading throughout the day, then your life will bear fruit.
An apple tree doesn't have to worry about what kind of fruit it will produce. Neither does a life purposefully planted in Christ.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Winter X Games Attitude
I confess. I don't watch a lot of sports on television. But the Winter X Games is a yearly exception. Each January I try to catch as much of the Games as possible. There are three reasons for this. One, it's still a young sport and it still has a freshness to it. You really don't know how the sport is going to redefine itself, but it will. Second, the primary challenge is for the athlete to push him or herself to new heights. Sure, there are competitors to overcome, but still the sport seems to be very personal on the competitive level. But what I like best is its sense of community.
The Winter X Games are competitive, but the event is first and foremost a reunion of athletes that share a common love. The X Games are an excuse to get together, display what they've learned since the last time together, and a chance to learn from each other.
This is not an event filled with trash talk or throwing down. No one wants to win because someone else failed. They applaud each other and are quick to check on fallen comrades. They feel each other's pain and they celebrate each other's victory. There is business involved, but these people love their sport. They are surfers on snow, and they remind us of what is best about Christian community.
The call of Christ is a high one. He challenges us to live a more dynamic life of love and service. He asks us to take chances. Sure, it's a different kind of adrenaline rush, but it's a life that should move us. I can never understand sideline Christians. They miss so much.
As Christians, we also try to push our personal best. Our community should also be dynamic, filled with a love that hopes and roots for each other. We laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry.
And we look forward to celebrating together. We don't have to wait a full year for the reunion. We come together regularly to celebrate a loving God and to hear from him as he speaks through our neighbor. We learn from each other as we allow others to see what God has added to our lives.
We sharpen each other, spurring each other on. We party with each other as we enjoy the gifts of God. There should always be a freshness as Jesus leads us into new territory.
Someday the Winter X Games may lose their edge and become another commercial event. I hope not. I hope these athletes are able to protect what they have. In the same way, I hope we never lose our edge. I hope we not only protect what we have, but we push it even farther.
The Winter X Games are competitive, but the event is first and foremost a reunion of athletes that share a common love. The X Games are an excuse to get together, display what they've learned since the last time together, and a chance to learn from each other.
This is not an event filled with trash talk or throwing down. No one wants to win because someone else failed. They applaud each other and are quick to check on fallen comrades. They feel each other's pain and they celebrate each other's victory. There is business involved, but these people love their sport. They are surfers on snow, and they remind us of what is best about Christian community.
The call of Christ is a high one. He challenges us to live a more dynamic life of love and service. He asks us to take chances. Sure, it's a different kind of adrenaline rush, but it's a life that should move us. I can never understand sideline Christians. They miss so much.
As Christians, we also try to push our personal best. Our community should also be dynamic, filled with a love that hopes and roots for each other. We laugh with those who laugh and cry with those who cry.
And we look forward to celebrating together. We don't have to wait a full year for the reunion. We come together regularly to celebrate a loving God and to hear from him as he speaks through our neighbor. We learn from each other as we allow others to see what God has added to our lives.
We sharpen each other, spurring each other on. We party with each other as we enjoy the gifts of God. There should always be a freshness as Jesus leads us into new territory.
Someday the Winter X Games may lose their edge and become another commercial event. I hope not. I hope these athletes are able to protect what they have. In the same way, I hope we never lose our edge. I hope we not only protect what we have, but we push it even farther.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Significance
"The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being unwanted."
- Mother Teresa
Jesus was a busy man. He had a mission to change the world, and he had very little time to do it. His schedule should have been filled with meetings, speaking engagements, and audiences before people of power.
He certainly did speak to crowds wherever he went, but it is surprising how much time the gospel gives to individual encounters with people that weren't movers and shakers. He took time out to encourage a cynical woman drawing water at a well. He stopped for a desperate, abused woman who was healed by touching him when he should have been preaching to the crowd that was following him. He touched a leper to heal him even though Jesus knew that act would force him to quarantine himself for a time. Over and over it seems that Jesus takes time away from his mission to do small things.
But this was his mission, and these acts are why we remember him today. Grand campaigns don't matter. People matter. Causes and movements can gain a life of their own and roll over people--small people, difficult people, people without power, unwanted people.
For Jesus there are no unwanted people. There are people who think they are too important to care for others. There are people who make their faith all about themselves. There are people who try to prove their worth at the expense of others. But there are no insignificant people. We can rule nations, discover cures, or fly to Mars, but if we can't stop to get a glass of water for a thirsty person, then our values are misplaced.
Jesus' approach may have seemed inefficient, but people were Jesus' mission. He stopped for people, he gave them time, he listened to them, and touched them. He showed people they were worth his time. In doing that, he met their deepest need. He let them know they were wanted.
- Mother Teresa
Jesus was a busy man. He had a mission to change the world, and he had very little time to do it. His schedule should have been filled with meetings, speaking engagements, and audiences before people of power.
He certainly did speak to crowds wherever he went, but it is surprising how much time the gospel gives to individual encounters with people that weren't movers and shakers. He took time out to encourage a cynical woman drawing water at a well. He stopped for a desperate, abused woman who was healed by touching him when he should have been preaching to the crowd that was following him. He touched a leper to heal him even though Jesus knew that act would force him to quarantine himself for a time. Over and over it seems that Jesus takes time away from his mission to do small things.
But this was his mission, and these acts are why we remember him today. Grand campaigns don't matter. People matter. Causes and movements can gain a life of their own and roll over people--small people, difficult people, people without power, unwanted people.
For Jesus there are no unwanted people. There are people who think they are too important to care for others. There are people who make their faith all about themselves. There are people who try to prove their worth at the expense of others. But there are no insignificant people. We can rule nations, discover cures, or fly to Mars, but if we can't stop to get a glass of water for a thirsty person, then our values are misplaced.
Jesus' approach may have seemed inefficient, but people were Jesus' mission. He stopped for people, he gave them time, he listened to them, and touched them. He showed people they were worth his time. In doing that, he met their deepest need. He let them know they were wanted.
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