beggarsandBread

Two-Age Eschatology vs. Churchianity

2012-02-09T10:44:00.003-06:00

THIS IS NOT THAT
I grew up religiously attending a conservative, evangelical "church" in America. Ironically, and against statistical odds, the majority of believers I knew back then still profess faith in Jesus today-- although many of them no longer attend such churches, or would consider themselves to be "evangelical", much less "conservative."

I, too, have beat the statistical odds, now having a much larger heart for GOD and neighbor, and a far greater understanding of Christ's kingdom- but I am also like so many of my peers, having hardly any desire to "play church" by attending a weekly service. Apples and oranges. This is simply not that found in the NT.

I believe that Jesus' kingdom is far greater than what has been called "church" for so long. So, for those of us who want to participate in Christ's in-breaking kingdom, what do we do with Christianism, or churchianity? Shall we ignore it? Or, should we play along, saying "Well, it could be worse."?
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Biblical Universalism - Part 4 The Golden Thread

2012-02-04T00:50:00.002-06:00

Here's Part 1 Part 2 & Part 3.

Are you aware of the massive recovering of Truth that has taken place in recent years for Christianity? Most Christians are either unaware, or are simply ignoring what many scholars are calling the next great reformation.

“…the entire history of biblical interpretation contains no stranger fact than this persistent ignoring of such a large part of the New Testament.” // M. T. Chamberlain

I’d like to share a bit of what I believe GOD is revealing today in this postmodern awakening. As it turns out, this is nothing “new.” It has been here all along, right up under our noses, a Mystery hidden in plain sight for GOD to reveal in these last days (Col 1:26) to all who have eyes to see (Luke 24:45, Eph 1:17-18).

Did you know that Paul, the writers of the New Testament, as well as the early Church (for the first 400 years) believed and taught that ALL would eventually be reconciled to GOD through Jesus Christ? It’s true! But, don’t take my word for it.
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Center

2012-01-20T13:48:00.009-06:00

I would like to speak to the idea of center. What does it mean to be centered on something, or someone? Maybe you have used words like "Christ-centered", or "self-centered." In these cases it has to do with finding one's identity in something or someone.
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Q&R (Question & Response) | Homosexuality & The Law Of Love

2012-01-16T05:00:00.008-06:00

Yesterday I recieved a letter from an anonymous reader:

"Dear b+B,

Today I listened to this sermon on the Tree of Life, and it has caused me to struggle with many questions. Since you have listened to this already, and you are also aware that this brother was recently asked to officiate the weddings of two openly gay couples, I would like to know how you navigate these overlapping issues (the hell-myth, poorly translated bibles / shocking correct translations, homosexuality condemned in Romans 1, and the OT law vs NT grace, love, and freedom in Christ). It seems so obvious to me that homosexuality is not God's original design, although I have no position on whether or not people are actually "born this way." Is sin (breaking the OT laws about sexual behavior) OK because we are no longer under the law? I know that Paul said that even though we're not under the law, that we should not use God's grace as an excuse to continue sinning, but as a follower of Jesus, wasn't His context actually the "new" higher law of love? I know that he also said that "all things are permissable, but not all things are helpful", so we must work these things out within that NT framework, with the help of His Spirit, and "rightly divide the word of Truth". I am just feeling a lot of doubt now, and I would like some guidance."

~ Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
Thanks for taking the time to share your heart with us. Here is my objective analysis of the situation that seems to be perplexing you.

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When Naked Is OK

2012-01-15T05:14:00.015-06:00

People often come to me with wonderfully deep, theological questions. Often these questions force me to dig deeper than I would have on my own, and so I experience growth because of them. Other times, however, I have had to admit that I simply am not ready to offer a proper response yet. And you know what, I think this is a wonderful, valid option, and a super safe one, in light of the way that so many theologians have dogmatized on things that have been intentionally left unanswered and mysterious in Scripture. Just take a look at any early (ecumenical) church creed, and you will see that the essentials were few. Now, compare that with just about any church doctrinal statement today, and you will begin to wonder how things have become so complicated. Personally, I do not ever want to make up an answer for the sake of having an answer, and I never want to make anyone else feel pressured to do so. After all, that kind of dishonesty and self-deception is in no way Love. Have you ever felt this kind of pressure?
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Lazarus & The Rich Man, Part 2What's It Really About?

2012-01-14T08:45:00.002-06:00

First Read Part 1. Then watch this 8 minute video:

This video is only a snippet from a wonderul sermon revealing the truth about what the bible actually says about hell (when translated properly). As it turns out, what seemed to be the only real verse about "hell" is really a parable about something else altogether. Thank God that He has freed us from the hell-myth. If you have time, I recommend watching the whole thing, starting at Part 1.

After watching, share your thoughts.

PARODOXY | Seeing God In The Fairytale

2012-01-07T05:50:00.003-06:00

I remember the first time I quoted a scripture at someone else. My understanding was still very primitive and my faith quite immature. As many young Christians do, I quickly encountered the idea(s) of truth being either absolute or relative—the question(s) of whether or not something, such as the bible, is absolutely true, and the various criterion(s) surrounding these modes of [rationalistic] thought. As a boy being raised in the bible-belt, right off the bat I was confronted with this dualism of only two answers: right or wrong, black or white, good or evil—no reasonable options in between. If something wasn’t one, it was automatically sorted into the other box. And everyone I knew seemed to accept this dichotomy. That is, until I realized that they didn’t.

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Is The Role Of the Pastor Unbiblical?

2012-01-05T01:18:00.010-06:00

I am very glad that I never became a pastor. The evolution of this role, from the time of the early church until now, is absolutely disturbing, not to mention unscriptural.

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This Is Not Necessarily That

2012-01-02T08:29:00.002-06:00

Etymologists agree that the meanings of words can change over time. For example, when we hear the word gay used in a Christmas carol, or an old television program such as the Brady Bunch, it obviously doesn't mean the same thing as it does in our current context.

If words and definitions can change over time, then , to a certain extent, so do the religious and philisophical ideas and values that they can represent in a given culture. For example, being a Christian used to mean something entirely different than it does today. In fact, the meaning of this particular word has never stopped changing since its inception, and now has a variety of applications. Personally, I find the way in which this word, and the surrounding ideas about what it means to bear such a title have changed to be extremely disturbing. Images of what it must have been like in the dark ages are haunting enough, but so are the images we have today of religious and pious people looking down upon their neighbors instead of loving them to repentence like the examples in the NT.
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New Music For The New Year

2012-01-01T08:16:00.000-06:00

I spent most of 2011 in Afghanistan. I'm not going to lie... it was awful. However, while I was there I was able to write my first full-length record, which you can sample below. It's personal, and I'm proud of it. Give it a listen. If you like it, please download it, and share with anyone else you think would like it.

<a href="http://jasonslajchert.bandcamp.com/album/all-my-heroes-are-broken">All My Heroes Are Broken by Jason Slajchert</a>

Lazarus and the Rich Man, Part 1 What's It Really About?

2011-12-25T04:00:00.004-06:00

The following is a great explanation of Jesus' parable about Lazarus and the Rich Man, written by Bryan T. Huie:

"The parable of Lazarus and the rich man has been the foundation for many of the erroneous beliefs about "hell" within traditional Christianity. Some have viewed it not as a parable, but as a true story Christ told to give details about the punishment of sinners in hell. Yet a thorough, unbiased examination of this story will show that the generally accepted interpretations of this passage of Scripture are fallacious and misleading. In this article, we will go through the parable verse by verse to determine what Christ was truly teaching.
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Are You Secretly Unhappy?

2011-12-23T07:55:00.001-06:00

Recently Donald Miller talked about vulnerability on his blog, and posted a really great video about what it means to connect with other people. It got me thinking about my own desire to connect with others, and my own aptitude at being a vulnerable, relational, available human being. I didn't t discover anything new, but I was reminded of something that I like to forget.

On some deeply hidden level, I'm unhappy.
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Biblical Universalism - Part 3 Was Paul A Universalist?

2011-12-20T04:25:00.002-06:00

First read Part 1, and Part 2.

Are you considering the current explosion of the teachings of Christian Universalists all over the world today? Do you also find it hard to accept that people could have missed something that was right under their noses, hidden in plain sight for decades?

Below is a snippet from a book by Mark Chamberlain entitled "Every Knee Shall Bow", in which he explains how Paul and the other writers of the NT, along with the early Church for the first 300 years, all believed in Universal Reconciliation through Christ. Yes, this is a long read; it took me a little under an hour, but I'm also a slow, contemplative reader. Trust me, it is well worth the time. And when you're finished, we would love to hear a response from you.

You can buy the book here, or you can read the entire book for free online.

CHAPTER 11 | What the New Testament Teaches

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17)

We now turn to an examination of the many passages in the New Testament that clearly state or imply the salvation of ALL men. The time has come for boldly appealing to the letter and the spirit of the New Testament on behalf of the wider hope. I ask just one thing that common fairness and honesty require that you try to put aside your preconceived ideas, try to keep an open mind, and let our Lord and His inspired spokesmen mean what they say...
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Christmas Is Not Holy

2011-12-17T22:42:00.004-06:00

December 25th has been a federal holiday since 1870. Since that time Christmas has evolved, taking on many different meanings for many different people. And, it's no secret that Christmas has always had a rich, pagan heritage.

In the recent past, Christians all over the world began focusing their traditions on the birth of Christ,even though the exact date of Christ's birth is not known. This turned out to be avery beautiful thing, as is revealed in most of the classic Christmas carols, such as "Joy To The World" (Notice, it's not called "Joy To The Christians!"). Celebrating Christmas quickly became a way for Christians to say to the rest of the world that "Jesus is your Savior too, not just ours."

Today, however, evangelicals are often associated with what has become known as the alleged "war on Christmas", which is really a big joke if you ask me. There exists no such war, and I will offer two reasons for this:
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Biblical Universalism - Part 2 Reasons to Believe

2011-12-17T04:55:00.003-06:00

First read Part 1.

To me, being a blogger is about sharing your journey out loud so that others might peer into your life, and even journey alongside you; it does NOT imply that I am a SME (subject matter expert). Please take the time to follow each link (below), and contribute to the discussion. Before we begin, however, I recommend doing something first:

Consider (or write down) your own list of questions and assumptions concerning your personal views on Salvation and/or spirituality, and consider (or write down) what you imagine the consequences for believing in UR would be. It's important to consider the cost before you embark on any journey, so I recommend that you first ask yourself "Will it be worth it?", and "Do I really want to know the truth?" before you begin down this wonderful, yet initially frightening path. Pray as you go, and you cannot go wrong. Christ's Spirit lives within you, and will lead you into all truth (John 16:13).

Now, there are many reasons to take a close look at the the evidence for Biblical Universalism...
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Biblical Universalism - Part 1 Myths & Consequences

2011-12-14T04:30:00.004-06:00

My coming to believe that Jesus is the Savior of the entire world (aka Universal Reconciliation, Christian Universalism) was an happy accident. Like many great followers of Jesus who first set out to prove Christianity wrong, but were soon presented with the overwhelming evidence for it, I also have recently found myself face to face with a strong argument for Universal Reconciliation that I cannot ignore if I am to continue on this honest journey of truth-seeking.

So I began asking tough questions, just as you who are reading my posts will do. There are some really important questions that will naturally come up regarding specific scriptures (like "Didn't Jesus mention hell... A LOT?", and "What about what Jesus said about the sheep and the goats?", and "what about Lazarus and the rich man?"), and I want to encourage each of you to follow these great questions wherever they lead you, because the answers may surprise you, and you may even experience a paradigm shift like I, and thousands of Christ-followers all over the world have.

As it turns out, the mystery of Jesus' good news has been right in front of us all along, hidden in plain sight; we just weren't asking the right questions, and we also assumed that, since folks have believed certain things for so long, they must be correct, which was a mistake.

MYTHS
There are several myths regarding Universal Reconciliation that I would like to address here.

MYTH #1: "Christian Universalists say that everybody gets to go to heaven no matter what they believe."

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My Faith Statement

2011-12-09T07:44:00.008-06:00

Many of you have been asking me to share what I have been learning on my spiritual journey recently. While most of your are eager to grow in the knowledge of Christ, I realize that some of you only wish to give me a litmus test of some sort. Regardless of your reasons for asking me about my personal beliefs, I am finally feeling comfortable enough to share them openly on b+B. So, here is a condensed statement of how/what I currently believe about God, Jesus, and the fate of mankind. Please read with an open mind. For an actual defense of such beliefs, I'd be happy to point you in that direction.

It all started when I began praying for the entre world. I had no idea that God was going to expand my heart to believe and hope for their salvation. Anyway, without further delay, here is my current faith statement:

I believe that there is one Savior, and He is Jesus, the Eternal Son of God who has always existed with God, and as God (Col 1:15-16; John 1:1). I believe that Jesus is exactly who the bible says He is-- the creator and sustainer of all things (Col 1:17; John 1:3). And I believe that He is the Second Adam, and that just as in Adam ALL died, so in Christ ALL will be made alive (1 Cor 15:22). I believe that Jesus' good news is actually better than many of us have previously thought, and that Jesus is actually the Savior of the entire world (1 John 2:2), not just the Christians, or those who have the correct beliefs on this side of the grave...

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This Blog, Universal Reconciliation, & Me

2011-11-29T04:15:00.010-06:00

When my fellow contributors and I first started this blog back in 2009, I was really excited about reformed, Chrisitian doctrine. I was immersed in a specific stream (reformed, neo-Calvinism, etc.), and I thought I had found my theological team. Little did I know that this was no more my destination that universalism probably is now. I say this because although much of this doctrine (total depravity, irresistible grace) is still quite beautiful to me now, hindsite always seems to reveal imperfections with theology-- since theology is a human convention...
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SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES Part I Cultivating the Habit of Solitude

2011-11-21T00:02:00.001-06:00

We live in a very noisy world. It seems like almost everyone we know has accepted the reality of living publicly through social networking. But, over-sharing is not necessarily honesty, is it? In fact, if character is who we are in the dark, then it's probably safe to say that there are a lot of people who haven't seen their true selves in quite a while. This inauthenticity will likely prevail in the coming years, and may even get worse. This is why I think it is important to find some intentional silence at least weekly.
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The Return of Jesus

2011-11-17T11:18:00.001-06:00

Now, perhaps I’m wrong, but I think that I have leaned more on the conservative side of theological thinking than my literary comrade Jason. His journey has led him to focus on the Gospel from a Universalist perspective. For all those that are raising an eye-brow, please allow me to say, “Don’t.” By Universalist, Jesus as the Savior of the entire world is being focused in on and only Jesus. If there is ever a shadow of a doubt that salvation is connected to Jesus, it won’t be found in Universalism. Likewise with Jesus being the only way to salvation and redemption. My focus, however, has been on the justice of God and the end of oppression that has yet to happen, but will when Jesus returns and concretely establishes His rule over all nations. For a time, I was unsettled at the thought of Jesus’ return because I felt (and often still do) at many times that I was not ready for it. Jesus’ return means judgment.

Why am I so focused on this?

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If Your Life Was A Prayer, What Would It Say?

2011-11-09T02:52:00.002-06:00

If your life was a prayer, what would it say? Do you think that you have ever [secretly] lived/prayed this way?

Dear God,

Please get your hands off my life unless you want to bless it. I really don't want you messing with my life-- particularly in places of tension, crisis, or suffering-- even though it's so that you can purify me. Honestly, your greatest value to me is to make me happy.
Also, I am more interested in acquiring data about You then I am having an actual relationship with You. Relationships can be messy, and having one with the Creator and Sustainer of all things (Col 1:16-17) seems like it would be a huge inconvenience. After all, I like being in charge of my own affairs. And, I like feeling like I'm in control of my own trajectory, no matter how dismal it may seem.
I know that you are always there when I need You. I'll probably talk to you later on this week when I'm feeling overwhelmed again. Until then, keep those blessings flowing, and keep pain and suffering far from me.

Amen.

I'm pretty sure that I have. There's no telling what's still hiding in my heart, even right now, as He continues to change it one issue at a time.

Seriously though, God. Thank you for being so gracious to us.

Amen.

Dead Throne [Album Review]

2011-11-09T02:23:00.000-06:00

Recently I was given the opportunity to write album reviews for a magazine that I have been following since I was a boy, HM magazine. If you're a subscriber, or you'd like to be, please go HERE to see my name in print! However, if you're unable to access it, here is a copy of the review I wrote for the new record from TDWP:

DEAD THRONE| THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Dead Throne is deadly serious. You won't find songs like "HTML rulz d00d", or "Swords, Dragons, and Diet Coke" on TDWP's fourth full-length. Instead, you'll find songs like "Mammoth" and "Vengeance" that are fashioned with an approachable song structure and everything. Don't get me wrong; this album is plenty heavy, tragically epic from start to finish. But there is less dissonance, hardly any mathematical/time signature alterations, and a strong focus on creating dark, sweeping melodies and more catchy choruses. Think early Hopesfall (but more doom and less breakdowns), because this record is packed with just as much emotion. A real upper with beautiful substance, they seem to be relying less on digital sampling and more on songwriting and instrumentation. "My Questions" (6/13) is a hard-hitting track that really delivers with standout guitar work that reminds me of Fall of Troy. "Kansas" is a slow, emotive instrumental track (7/13). "Constance" actually features some memorable guest vocals from Tim Lambesis, which turns out to be quite singable. Overall, I think this record was less fun, but in a really scary, melody-focused way. ~~[FERRET] JASON SLAJCHERT~~

Homosexuality | Preference or Brokenness?

2011-11-03T22:46:00.003-05:00

I was recently asked for my opinion on the singer, Jennifer Knapp, and the recent news of her same sex relationship. This is one issue that I think is important to not give easy answers to. So, I will do my best to respond honestly without pretense.

As far as I can tell, though, homosexuality is not God's original design for humanity, but it is a
confusing state that a lot of human beings have found themselves in. It is a sign that things are
indeed broken, and that we need a Savior. So, for me, homosexuality points me to Jesus, just
like all other types of brokenness.

So, if homosexuality is an example of human depravity, then I think it should be treated like all
other forms of brokenness. After all, anything that doesn't come from Love (as far as human
behavior is concerned) is from Sin, and anything that comes from self-centeredness doesn’t come
from Love. And, according to James, all sin is the same in God's eyes (James 2:10).

But, before I can address this pet sin of many evangelicals, I would like to set up the framework
that I believe most evangelicals operate within when it comes to sin issues (law vs. grace)...
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Treating Scripture As A Library (Instead Of A Book)

2011-10-31T01:59:00.000-05:00

I think it's exciting to see so many people shedding religiosity, rejecting the pitfalls of North American evangelicalism, and following the ancient way of Jesus. And I think that one of the key changes to note at this time in history is the way in which Scripture is treated.

Instead of reducing it to a single book used to control others (i.e. a constitution), as in "the bible says", folks are beginning to handle these ancient texts within their respective genre of literature. This helpful distinction is not insignificant. Handling Scripture this way is going to change hundreds of years of tradition. Of course, it won't happen overnight.

The bible was not written by the hand of God, save the ten commandments. So, to quote Scripture with phrases like "the Word of God", as has been overused in the past, can actually be harmful, rather than helpful. We have seen this repeatedly in the abuses of the Church, and we can still see it when watching just about any televangelist programming (I do not recommend it)...
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My Deployment Story, 2011

2011-10-23T07:24:00.000-05:00

Here is a "storie" I created using StorieApp. Not a bad app at all. Although, I wish I could edit the widget / clean it up a bit. Oh well. Enjoy!

Labels Don't Matter

2011-10-23T05:24:00.001-05:00

"Freedom is found when we let go of who we're supposed to be, and embrace who we really are.". //MIKE FOSTER

Labels do not matter.

Even though I know that this is true, however, I am constantly grabbing on to them. After all, everyone has that thing deep inside them that wants to matter. We all want to belong to something greater than ourselves, so we're constantly being seduced by some label, some banner to fly. Often, it's more about being an anti-label, and flying an anti-banner, or fighting for anti-establishment. I know deeply that for me, labels keep sticking to me, telling me that I need them in order to be significant.

But that's when I look over at Jesus who constantly had to same, sticky problem. Maybe He already felt significant, but people were constantly labeling Him. As I navigate this journey of being human, this quest to matter, I am reminded that Jesus knew who He was, and ignored the masses hurling label's at Him. I want to be like that. Honestly, I understand the value that labels carry for the purposes of study, but I am just so sick of people trying to peg me as...

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The Joy of An Honest Spiritual Journey

2011-10-17T23:53:00.001-05:00

We bring a lot of assumptions to the table when we read the bible. This is true for all types of data analysis. Nobody simply reads the bible objectively without filtering it through what they already believe they know about God, this world, and what it means to be human. All information that we consider to digest, whether it's watching a movie, or reading a billboard, has to be sifted through and understood within one's own worldview. This is absolutely avoidable. That is to say, in order to understand something outside of your own worldview, you need an awakening, a paradigm shift, and a new way of thinking and interpreting data...
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Patriotism, Nationalism, & Christianity

2011-10-07T14:55:00.000-05:00

In the past we have discussed the differences between being a nationalist and a patriot. So, you should remember that an important distinction is that although the nationalist is quick to claim that his/her nation is the best in the world, he/she does not truly love his/her country, because he/she does not wish it would change. It is the patriot who loves his/her country so much that he/she is critical of it. He/she does not think his/her country is the greatest, but he/she believes that it could be if certain changes were made. True patriotism, therefore, has to do with thinking critically, and pursuing change. It avoids nation-worship, and instead seeks to improve on something that he believes has great potential...

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Jesus On Consumerism

2011-10-04T21:38:00.000-05:00

"There are two ways to have enough: one is to acquire more; the other is to desire less." //G. K. CHESTERTON

I think that Jesus was serious when He talked about how we should long for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10). And about how we should learn to live on less (Matt 6:28). And about how we treat the needy among us (Matt 19:21). And about how we should care about the things that GOD cares about (Matt 5:48) like fighting injustice (Isa 61:8) and owning our own self-centeredness (Matt 16:24).What if we began to take Him at His word?
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Another Reason To Avoid Porn

2011-09-27T01:47:00.000-05:00

One of the most beautiful teachings in Christian theology is that God is a communal, triune God. It is there that we learn that all people have been fashioned in God's image, and that we have all been built for the specific purpose of community. This is why people always feel unfulfilled unless they belong to something larger than themselves. It is why artists are drawn to the masses, and it is why lone ranger types are always missing something. It is also why even the most introverted personalities need at least one or two close friends to rely on. So, a key ingredient to a rich, satisfying life, at least according to orthodox Christianity, is being involved in meaningful relationships.

It is because of this fundamental truth that I believe pornography will never be good or helpful for humanity. In fact, it can only serve to propel us further into depravity. The very nature of porn is that it isolates...
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Surviving Evangelicalism Splits, Scandals, & Authentic Spirituality

2011-09-23T17:07:00.000-05:00

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ." //GHANDI

At times my spiritual journey has been a confusing ride.

It began in an unlikely Nazarene church located in the deep south-- Pelham, TN which is in Grundy County-- not far from where Bonnaroo Music Festival is now held annually. It was there that I was first introduced to the Gospel, along with a plateful of North American evangelicalism (anti-evolution, anti-gay, pro-six-day-creationism, pro-rapture, pro-eternal-conscious-torment, etc.).

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Endearing Disbelievers | Two Types of Atheists

2011-09-21T06:30:00.000-05:00

The way I see it, there are *two kinds of atheists.

*Not really, but these are two very broad categories that I have repeatedly experienced, and I think it is helpful to consider the stark difference(s) between these two types of endearing disbelievers.
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The Tired Categories of Sacred & Secular

2011-09-15T22:21:00.000-05:00

"Christian makes a great noun, but it makes a terrible adjective." //GEORGE BARNA

It has been many years since I shed the unnecessary categories of sacred and secular. These days I hardly hear such language from followers of Jesus anymore, and I am glad. Every once in a while though, someone will say something like "Oh, is that Christian music?", or "I really like that band, but unfortunately they are secular", and I sort of reflex with a surprised, silent cringe. Of course, most people would never speak this way about another form of culture, or profession. Can you imagine? "I went to the doctor today, and unfortunately he was not a Christian."
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You'll Dance To Anything

2011-09-14T17:18:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted about art, or tagged a post with music. So, I will share a few of the items I have been especially enjoying lately, and link you appropriately via Amazon at the end of each snippet.

Bon Iver | Self-titled (2011)
The genius contained in their latest, self-titled release is very subtle. It would be easy to merely download one or two of their catchiest tracks, and thereby miss out completely on the rest of this brilliant record. At first listen it gives this vibe that says "leave me on in the background while you're multi-tasking", which may be due to a few cleverly written, yet anti-climatic, minimalist choruses. Even for me, after about the 10th time of consuming it entirely, I was still noticing subtleties that I had missed before. Like the way that Wash (track 7) is merely simple keys underneath color-drenched vocals, building to surprisingly refined heights with the use of really smart background-vocals, and their classic steel guitar instrumentation. Or, how by the time Minnesota, WI (track 3) gets to that enchanting banjo & mandolin-picking instrumentation and hard-hitting drum/bass beat, you've already forgotten about the initial funk/reggae thing at the beginning of the track. Also...
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Patriotism and Pimlico

2011-09-08T12:44:00.003-05:00

In G.K. Chesterson’s book, Orthodoxy, he expressed how both optimists and pessimists are wrong in their outlook to the world.  As modern Christians, this can seem to throw us back a little.  “What?  We can’t look at the glass as half-full?  How will the world know that we have been changed by Christ?”  G.K. went on to say that it was patriotism that provided the best outlook on life. 

G.K.  explained patriotism in his explanation of a suburb in London called Pimlico, which had become a slum by the 1890’s.  He said:

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Humanity | Partners In Re-creation

2011-09-04T08:09:00.001-05:00

Creation is beautiful, but it is also broken. Everybody sins. (Rom 3:23). Often, when trying to avoid something that we recognize as evil, our natural reflex is to try and modify certain behavior(s).

For example:

If someone has an alcohol problem, they will try and get their addictive behavior under control. Same thing with any other form of sinful addiction (i.e. pornography, shopping, gossip, looking in the mirror).

We assume that we should attack the fruit rather than the root.

However, Jesus shows us a better way. He says that if you have a sin problem, then you really have love problem.
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Self-centeredness | Love's Polar Opposite

2011-09-01T17:15:00.000-05:00

What is the opposite of Jesus? Does Christ even have an opposite? When I asked my kids, they answered with "Satan", which I guess makes sense [although I am not sure where they have learned such an emphasis on the devil, 'Sunday school' maybe?].

If Jesus is the exact expression of God's likeness (Heb 1:3, Col 1:15), and God is love (John 4:8), then it seems that the question becomes what is the opposite love?

When I ran this one by my kids, they answered with an unequivocal "hate!" So, I decided to sit down with them and discuss the matter.
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Embracing Contradiction

2011-08-27T15:46:00.010-05:00

David seems convinced that only the righteous are blessed (Psalm 5:12).

Jesus declares that the broken are blessed (Matthew 5:3).
Job laments that even the wicked are blessed (Job 24:21-23).
And Job's friends, although they sound more like the moralist ethic found in David's Psalms, they are annoyingly and entirely missing it (Job 25:5-6). For in the end, God justifies Job, not his well-meaning friends.

Last week, in a post entitled Liferoulette, I quoted G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy as saying that to confess to be a Christian is to readily embrace paradox. The Christian paradox that I am currently finding quite prominent in the biblical library is one of blessing and cursing.

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Incarnational God | Incarnational People

2011-08-24T12:54:00.005-05:00

For a long time, God's Church has seemed absent to much of the world's suffering populace. Although there have been scattered pockets of world-loving faith communities who have consistently cared for the needy, there has been this looming question in the minds of earthlings everywhere, and rightfully so: Where is God's church when we need her?

In John 1:14, we see the most amazing event in all of history:
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Heaven & Hell | A Rabbi's Perspective

2011-08-17T11:59:00.009-05:00

I just finished reading a book called Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom. He tells of the way his old rabbi, Albert Lewis, would preach about heaven and hell:

"He once gave a sermon in which heaven and hell were shown to a man.

In hell, people sat around a banquet table, full of exquisite meats and delicacies. But their arms were locked in front of them, unable to partake for eternity.
'This is terrible,' the man said. 'Show me heaven.'
He was taken to another room, which looked remarkably the same. Another banquet table, more meats and delicacies. The souls there also had their arms out in front of them.

The difference was, they were feeding each other."

Is heaven really just a place where we are sent for being good?
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Liferoulette

2011-08-11T01:15:00.003-05:00

Ever wanted to be someone else? What if you actually could? In Chatroulette (which is where you're put in a private internet chatroom with someone else chosen at random) you can basically pretend to be anyone you want. But that's not exactly real, is it.

What if you could hit a button in real life, and become someone else chosen at random... Would you do it? Honestly, I'd have to think about it. This is not because I do not appreciate my own life. I love my little world, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Still though, the thought of hitting the button and becoming someone else selected at random is intriguing, isn't it?
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Perspective | Revisiting Home

2011-08-09T22:05:00.007-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of returning to a place I called home for 3+ years of my military career. In returning home, I was also returning to a community of believers--brothers and sisters--that I called and still call family. It was heartwarming to be amongst them once again. I felt a love from them that I had almost forgotten about. However, in the two years that I have been gone, something has happened to them.

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Community | Compelling or Complacent?

2011-08-09T09:04:00.007-05:00

People get complacent. Communities weaken over time. And nobody is static. Our sense of clarity comes and goes like favorable weather in the North Dakota, and sometimes doubt comes just as easily as faith. Everything is so fragile, but God holds it all together somehow. That is why I am convinced that the Church is His greatest miracle. I'm not talking about First Whatever across the street; I'm talking about God's universal faith family that He is using to bring about His kingdom on earth. This is nothing short of miraculous, IMO. Of course God rose from death; He is the sinless Creator of everything! But making something Christlike out of us? Well, that would take a miracle.
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Spiritual Makeover | Shouldn't We Leave It Up To God?

2011-08-02T10:13:00.004-05:00

As I sit drinking my morning coffee and listening to the bible, I am thinking of a conversation I shared just yesterday AM with 2 brothers over coffee. It was about sanctification, specifically concerning what followers of Jesus should expect as far as progressive transformation is concerned. How much growth is considered normative for the Christian?
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Fire Insurance | Weren't We Saved For More?

2011-07-16T17:52:00.003-05:00

Fire Insurance... That's how John Bevere put it in one of his lectures about the grace of God. He stated that the American Church has been deceived because they only hear one preaching on the grace of God, "That we are all sinners, just saved by God's grace." I don't know if that's true about the whole American Church, but it sure seemed to be talking about me. Was I missing something about the grace of God?
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"Interested Spectators"

2011-07-06T00:54:00.004-05:00

In Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language, Bruce addressed the question of why the first century church was so successful in evangelism. He stated that the answer started with the historical Jew. Addressing the Jews, Bruce wrote,

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Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, TransgendersGrace & Peace to You From Our Savior, Jesus!

2011-07-03T13:42:00.007-05:00

Dear LGBT brothers and sisters,

Please forgive me if it is harsh to directly address you under this title. I wish to speak directly to those whose sexuality has been a confusing part of their human journey. If we are indeed not humans on a spiritual journey, but spirits on a human journey, then it's no wonder that we are feeling a bit confused having found ourselves in a broken world in need of a savior.

The reason I wish to address you is
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Navigating the Marketplace

2011-06-29T11:47:00.002-05:00

Since I've already established that God has ordained culture, and has created us to be culture creators, I would like to address a specific area of tension that I think exists, especially for evangelicals: the marketplace.
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Small Fires of Contempt Precursors of Hell?

2011-06-25T01:52:00.010-05:00

How would you feel if I, as one who is primarily a theological blogger, started reinterpreting Scripture in a new, unorthodox fashion? As open-minded as I know many of you to be, I think (and hope) that most of you would be asking "Who does he think he is?". And I imagine that is how many would have felt when Jesus said:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother [saying 'raca!'] will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire”

I think that the natural reaction for those listening to Jesus' words would have been to ask "Who is this guy who is raising our attention from murder, which is pretty much 'black-&-white' (i.e. a corpse), to the heart of the matter (the very root of murder) which is anger?" In fact, I'll bet that this was the highest standard of morality every presented to them, or anyone since.

But let's not mistake this with the kind of ethics offered to us by, say, secular humanism. Jesus was not saying that people are basically good, having not yet reached their full potential. Contrarilly, He is saying quite the opposite: People are basically bad, having devestating potential for great evil. However, they are all very valuable because I, their Maker, place much value on them.

So, who is this guy? Well, the apostle Paul gives us this answer in Col 1:15:
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Jesus' Great Commission = Christ + Community + Culture

2011-06-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

Sandwiched between Jesus' ressurection and ascension are His final words to His followers known as the Great Commission: found in Mark 16:15, and Matt 28:19:

"Go everywhere, and tell everyone the good news."

Today a person's faith is often thought of to be some deeply personal part of his or her life; one that is expected to be kept hidden for the most part. I think that we often take this idea of having private faith for granted, assuming that because this is usually considered to be normative today, it has always been so.

The earliest Christ-followers would have had no category for a pocket Jesus, or a private faith. The Way - as they often called it - was meant to be worked out in culturally-connected, tangibly generous communities, centered around teaching (Christ) and fellowship (us); or as Jesus worded it, loving God and loving people (Matt 12:30-31). Here is how one doctor documented first century Christianity:

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. - (Acts 2:42-47)

We are given a similar description two chapters later:
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Sharing Media: Sermon Series on the Gospel of Matthew

2011-06-19T03:15:00.000-05:00

Beggars,

Lately I have been greatly impacted by Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5-7]. So, I thought I'd share with you all the wonderful audio sermon series that I have been listening to that has really helped me to understand & apply Jesus' words. Enjoy!

The Gospel of Matthew [series] (especially Part 8)

G&P2U,

Jason

Affinity Addiction

2011-06-15T07:11:00.003-05:00

In Acts 2:42-47, a doctor named Luke records what was happening when followers of Jesus got together, giving us a glimpse into the truly primative church.

Verse 44 says that "All the believers were together and had everything in common". Now, this idea of having everything in common (κοινὰ in Greek) was not of affinity (common interests), but refered to the most unusual living situation they found themselves in. For these followers of Jesus, united in their worship of the Messiah and their celebration of His kingdom having come to earth (yes, that really is what it means to be a Christian!), thought it best to respond to the needs among them by actually sharing their belongings.

Verse 45 continues with "... selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Now, this dynamic was profoundly attractive, but it wasn't the standard for Christian living (although I would argue that it should have been!) even at around AD 50-60 when it was written (about 30 years after the death, burial, ressurection, and assention of Christ). Many of Paul's letters describe both rich and poor followers of the risen Christ, each group having their own issues to wrestle with, including both how to care for the poor when you are poor yourself, and how to manage your wealth without making it an idol.

But still, why record and preserve this beautiful image if it's not an example to follow, especially since it puts into practice the core teachings of Christ? After all, this dynamic is mentioned again in Acts 4:32-37 saying that "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." What do you think... one-time occurance, or example to follow? Isn't this exactly what Jesus prayed for in John 17:11, "...that they may be one, even as We are one."

Fast forward a couple of millenia to your own context,
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Paul's Thorn

2011-06-10T00:28:00.000-05:00

In a letter to the faith-communities at Corinth/Achaia (a Roman province comprising all of Greece south of Macedonia, AD 55-56), a follower of Jesus named Paul gets honest with those looking to him for direction:

"... Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Cor 12:6-10

Much debate exists surrounding this thorn that Paul describes. All scholarship seems to agree that it is a metaphor for something he wished not to address specifically, which he personifies as an evil spirit [v.7], admitting that God seems to allow it to keep him humble. It could have been pride, a physical or mental illness, financial trouble, some calamity, constant bad luck, or a relentless temptation of some kind. I tend to think it was probably a temptation, since he never married, but this is mere speculation.

Now, most of you know that I am currently deployed to Afghanistan, but back home I lead an accountability group that meets weekly for confession, prayer, and fellowship...
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Redeeming the Pursuit of Pleasure

2011-06-01T00:38:00.000-05:00

For the past month I have been wrestling with two particular themes that, at least in my own mind, seem to be potentially at odds for devoted followers of Jesus.

The first theme is the idea that we have been called to create culture [1], to enjoy nature, to contribute to the artistic community, and that we are free in Christ to enjoy many of the things that mere religion forbids. I am calling this the pursuit of pleasure.

The second is the call for every Christ-follower to lay down his/her life, and follow Him [2]. Jesus was very clear about the mission of the Church, and the responsibility of helping the poor in our spheres of influence. I am calling this theme giving our lives away.

Now, I think that we can screw up the "balance" in two terribly easy ways:
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"Our Interpretation" When the Bible Becomes an Idol

2011-05-29T00:49:00.004-05:00

As a lifelong church-goer, I am quite familiar with the way that many people use the word "biblical" as a way of telling others what God wants, what is intended by a certain biblical passage, or what is accepted in christian culture, when in reality they are projecting, selecting, reducing, and bringing all kinds of baggage to the table [1] when it comes to interpreting the bible...
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My Latitudinarian (but not watered down!) Journey Toward God

2011-05-22T03:10:00.010-05:00

Bloggers. We're an eclectic breed. Many poor writers have really classy domains, and many wonderful writers are still rocking their humble blogspot after 5 years. And many like to pretend that they are smarter than they actually are, myself included. But,
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The Hard Words of Jesus, Pt. 1 "I've come to fulfill the Torah, not replace it."

2011-05-19T04:46:00.007-05:00

"For the Son of Man [Jesus] is lord of the Sabbath" - Matt 12:8

"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him [Jesus], because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God". - John 5:18

Last week I spoke of the differences between the Gospel that Paul preached, and the Gospel that Jesus preached, concluding that if you look closely, there is a fair amount of tension that should be appreciated.

This week I'd like to introduce to you Jesus, the law-breaker...
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Is God Our Biggest Fan? (If He's Not, Then Can You Name a Bigger One?

2011-05-17T07:25:00.005-05:00

I remember when I first began seeing God as Artistic Creator. I remember how many of my categories began to burst, and how my worldview was forced to expand. This process has never stopped.

But I still find myself making these awful assumptions about other people, as if God does not take great pleasure in His creation. Maybe you do the same thing. For instance, how often do we assume that the way we experience God is the way that everyone else should experience Him too?

This week I have had several conversations that have reminded me that there is no singular, right way for us to experience God, to grow spiritually, or to have our faith confirmed. For example,
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Jesus vs. Paul

2011-05-15T04:43:00.006-05:00

Have you ever noticed the difference between the Gospel according to Paul, and the Gospel according to Jesus? Whereas Paul did a fine job of explaining the message of Jesus, I have often wondered why Jesus needed explaining in the first place. Here I shall tackle the question of Jesus vs Paul...
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Why Noah's Ark Is Not Analogous With Christ's Gospel

2011-05-08T10:37:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I talked about how there is something very wrong when Christians do not [at least secretly] desire for the entire world to be saved, since this is God's desire. I have often wondered why I am so drawn to Christian universalism, but now I think that I am beginning to understand it. I mean, who wants to be the only one(s) being rescued? That is how I have felt many times as someone who believes that Jesus really is who the bible says He is. It's like I am sitting in a life boat while billions of other fellow human beings didn't make the cut, and it feels kind of crappy...
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Should We Stop Using the Bible Like Marketers Use Statistics?

2011-04-29T10:59:00.002-05:00

There is a saying that statistics are often used like a drunken man uses a lamp-post -- for support rather than illumination. Last year when I took a Statistics class, there was much gesting about the secret behind statistics (that you can manipulate them into saying anything you want). I guess it's no secret really, but the public still seems to believe anything that has a few numbers behind it. And I must admit that I do not like this fact, because I don't want to be a sucker.

I'm afraid that we use all kinds of things this way, grasping for support from whatever we can, and this is not always a bad thing. Statistics are not intrinsically evil. However, what about when people use the bible this way? I'm afraid that if you're a Christian, then you're probably as guilty of this as I am. Instead of studying a text to objectively ask "What did the author intend to communicate to his audience?", we too often approach the bible with an agenda. We already have an idea in mind, and we are usually looking for backup, am I right?

In a post entitled How Not To Read the Bible, Don Miller said:

"I almost made a mistake the other day of opening the Bible with an agenda. I’d had an idea about a certain “Biblical principal” and I wanted to check a text to see if I was right. Then I realized that’s a slippery slope. There’s not a lot you can’t use the Bible to support. And besides that, if the Bible is designed to be a constitution, it’s horribly organized. I had to put myself in check."

That bit about how the bible is not a constitution is from a book by Brian Mclaren called A New Kind of Christianity. He believes that we should read the bible as a community library that has been organized by genres, rather than as a constitution that we can reference when we need to prove something.

The way I now read the bible has been dramatically changed after reading that book, but I still find myself, as Miller finds himself, approaching the bible with an agenda. Is there any hope for avoiding this?

Is this always a bad thing? Why/why not?

To read more along these lines, go here.

The Futility of Paying the Price

2011-04-26T00:42:00.002-05:00

I grew up in a Christian home in a small town in Tennessee. In 2001, I graduated from high school, played a final summer tour with my band around the Nashville area, and moved to Florida to go to an unaccredited bible college.

Growing up I learned a lot about the bible, but the foundation of my knowledge was not the core message of the bible. Instead it was a religious message about how to please God in/of yourself.

The college I went to also failed to teach the importance of building a strong foundation of the Gospel. Instead, I recieved the following message: You need to pay the price. If you wanted to experience God, if you wanted to know Him and be on His winning team, then you had to pay the price. This price mostly entailed getting up super early to pray, fasting your lunch to pray more, and spending your evenings studying the bible and telling others that they also needed to pay the price.

The irony, of course, is that the central message of the bible is that God has already paid the price. After becoming human, God lived a sinless life on our behalf (Phil 2:5-10). However, if this was all that He did, the Gospel would not be considered the great Cosmic Scandel. Not only did He live for us, but He died for us, for the sins of humanity - past, present, and future. His dying for us paid the price that we could never have paid, for even our best days are utterly wicked compared to His righteousness. The standard is perfection, and everyone fails tragically, but the Gospel lifts us up to His perfect standard without any help from us (Eph 2:8-9).

That first year in Florida was difficult; not because I was living on my own for the first time, but because the foundations of my faith we being crushed under the weight of the Gospel. During that year, it actually crumbled. And for a moment, I didn't know what I believed. But God didn't leave me in that place. He put people in my life who pointed me toward Christ, and thus began the work of rebuilding my faith upon the classic, perfect foundation of Christ's Gospel.

What does it mean to rebuild your life on the Gospel? Or to have Christ as the foundation for all your beliefs? For me, it meant that all my striving had to cease. This message came in the following words: It's all been done by the blood of the Lamb. These words spoke life into my dead faith. I found myself actually amazed at the Gospel for the first time since I was a little kid. Jesus' good news seemed too good to be true, and my heart was being filled with greatful joy (instead of guilt-filled, obligatory, religious drudgery).

I began the process of changing my un-Gospel thought processes by applying that sentence - It's all been done by the blood of the Lamb - to my life. I realized that I am not a Christian because I love God so much, but because He loves me so much.

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." - 1 John 4:10

I have spent much of my life trying to get God to like me. For a long time, the knowledge of God's love was in my head, but not in my heart. But I can remember reading the book of Romans (for the third time), and Rom 8:1 piercing my heart for the first time. "Therefore, there is no condemnation for you who are in Christ", because Jesus has done it all. He has already accomplished what you have been struggling for. Maybe the struggle has been for closeness with God. Maybe it's the struggle for identity, or self-worth. The Jesus Story changes this striving into resting. In fact, the writer to the Hebrews (See Heb 9-10) says that the Sabbath actually points to something (Someone) greater; that Jesus is the Rest. In Him we can now rest, because... it's all been done.

Or, as fellow contributor Toddo has been known to say:

"The Gospel is simply this: You are OK."

May this message be the foundation of your spiritual journey, and mine. His grace & peace to you all. ~JS

How Would You Feel If God Saved Everyone?

2011-04-19T10:59:00.003-05:00

I don't know if God will save everyone, or if the world is full of people who will ultimately reject salvation. But I do believe that there is something very wrong with a Christian who is happy to announce that not all will be saved. Such a person does not seem to represent the heart of God to me (1 Tim 2:3-4). I think that Roger Olson said it best here:

"I already know that some people who read what I am going to write here will claim I’m a univeralist. But that will be based on their attempt to read my “real thoughts” (as they attempt to do with Rob Bell) contrary to what I specifically say. I am not a universalist. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar.

HOWEVER…What I would like to ask people who get so worked up about universalism is this: What difference would it make in your life if suddenly God revealed to you in a way you couldn’t deny that he is going to save everyone?

I have posed that question to students for almost 30 years and one response has been common and very enlightening. Many say “I would think it unfair for God to save people who didn’t have to give up all that I have given up to be saved and I would stop witnessing and supporting missions and striving to live a holy life.” (Of course, this is a paraphrase. No one student ever said it exactly that way; it’s more of a composite of common comments and class consensuses out of discussion of the question.)

What does this reveal? It suggests to me that people who respond that way have not yet experienced the joy of knowing Jesus Christ and the abundant life he gives. I’m not saying they’re not saved; I’m just saying they are missing out on an important aspect of being saved.

Is salvation drudgery? Would God be any more unfair to save everyone than to save me? If you know the joy and peace that comes from being saved and having a relationship with Jesus, why wouldn’t you want everyone to know about that now–in this life?

This very common response (or set of responses) makes me wonder very seriously if American evangelicals have largely missed the boat when it comes to experiencing the fullness of God’s saving grace and mercy? Have we, after all, fallen into thinking of salvation as fire insurance? Is salvation just forgiveness and not also transformation? Are evangelism and missions just to get as many as possible into the “life boat” before judgment comes? Don’t we “love to tell the story” of Jesus and his love just because it’s true and wondefully sweet?

I hope, and pray, that IF I were somehow convinced of the truth of universal salvation (ultimate reconciliation) (something I don’t expect), it wouldn’t make any difference in how I live my life or how I proclaim the goodness of God and his salvation."

Regardless of whether or not God's salvation reaches all or just some, I want more than anything for as many as possible to experience the transformative power of the Ministry of Reconciliation.

What about you...
~How would you feel if you found out that, without a doubt, God is going to reconcile everyone who has ever lived to Himself?

~Would this seem unfair to you?

~Or would it seem like the good news just got better?

Hero's & Grace

2011-04-12T04:56:00.000-05:00

Last night was the quietest I have ever heard it here. We formed two lines from one side of the FOB to the other, both Italian and American troops. The air was charged with a strangely surreal vibe as we all stood in silence. The moon was a brightly shining crescent, and the stars were dancing, even though many of them couldn't see past the stubborn clouds. Finding a place in line for myself and my two brothers-in-arms, I tried to not make too much noise on the giant, shifting rocks beneath my feet. Everyone was very still, and very quiet, except for the occasional dog barking. We were all waiting for the same thing.

Finally, it was time. We knew he was coming; not because we could see him, but because you could hear those at the other end of the line snapping to attention like a set of double 12, color dot, Mexican train bones. Finally, it was my turn to snap to attention. My snapping didn't seem quite as loud as everyone else's, but my attention was sincere. And then, there he was.

A young, American soldier, killed in action.

By the time that he arrived at our FST (Forward Surgical Trauma Team), we were all waiting for him, all gloved up and ready to treat his minor injury (or so we thought). After all, we had treated so many with the same exact injury before and they had recovered. But for some reason, this time it was diffrent. This time the same type of injury sent our patient into cardiac arrest before we recieved him into our care. Since we weren't as concerened because of the nature of the injury, we were jolted into another mode when we heard, only minutes before his arrival, that he "may be in cardiac arrest" - a real CPR-in-progress. We bolted for the thoracotomy set, and began grabbing other items that we would likely need if our new intel was correct. As it turns out, it was.

These Army surgeons are amazing. I think it must've only been something like 30 seconds and this patient already had an airway (tracheal intubation), and a completed thorocotomy (an incision into the pleural space of the chest to gain access to the thoracic organs).

I attempted to place a Foley catheter, but I kept meeting resistance. Since our patient also needed an IV, I asked another medic to take over the catheterization so that we could have IV access. Instead, however, the surgeon said he needed someone to perform cardiac massage. So, I reach into this guy's chest, gripped his slippery heart, and began squeezing it repeatedly. Realizing this was my first time, the doc said "No, like this." He then proceeded to squeeze the heart about 3 times as fast. So, I reached back into his chest, and began to squeeze the heart as fast as I could, rotating hands when one became fatigued.

Nothing. I was squeezing, but there was no electrical activity, and no blood was being pumped at this point. Finally, the doc shouted a few tragic explatives, and said we had to call it. "Time of death: 1749." After a moment of silence (not coordinated, but just natural), we eagerly cleaned this young man up, while the docs closed the gaping opening in his chest. Finally, we added the finishing touches of taping his eyes shut, and draping an American flag over his body.

So, at the Fallen Hero Ceremony that evening, two things kept going through my mind as we saluted this fallen hero. The first was that I held this guy's heart in my hands. The second was that I kept thinking about all the other ANA (Afghan National Army) soldiers that have not survived, even though we tried our best to save them. The thing that I kept thinking was how come the ANA don't get a ceremony like this?

I asked someone that very question, and it was explained to me. I won't go into all that here, but suffice to say that they have their own customs, and we have ours. The us vs.them mentality runs strong here in Afghanistan.

Later that evening after I had played some rapid-fire ping-pong with one of my comrads, I had nother thought: What would happen if we gave their soldiers the same honors that we gave ours? After all, no life is more sacred than another, for all are image-bearers of God, created and loved by Him. And doing this might melt some of the dividing walls, as well as build a strong cohesion between our troops and theirs. As I pondered the question, the answer came all too quickly: we would never do that. For to show such grace in the face of all the mistrust and division would be to show them Christ.

What a picture of the Gospel, though, right? Can you even imagine it? "The American soldiers honor our fallen comrads just like they do their own." It would be Christ to do so, but it would not be American. In my American mind I understand why we do not do this, but in my Christian heart I long for reconciliation on this earth.

Action!

2011-04-10T10:55:00.000-05:00

ac·tion/ˈakSHən/Noun

1. The fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim: "demanding tougher action against terrorism".

2. The way in which something such as a chemical has an effect or influence.

I cannot wait until I can be a part of a community again, submitting my ideas, and allowing the following question to hang in the air: We should do something for Christ... but what?

Action. Christ has called us to action. Not talk. Not study. Not church. Talking, studying, and going to church are great, but if they do not lead to action, then they have not served their biblical purpose.

Action. Jesus has called workers for the harvest. So, Christ-followers are those working to further His kingdom. Do you have ideas? How long have you been sitting on them? Maybe it's time to bring those ideas to the community of faith. Maybe it's time to give your idea(s) away. When was the last time you took a chance? Stepped out in faith?

Action. How many times have you thought I want to do more for Christ? What would you accomplish for Christ's kingdom if you had unlimited resources? What dreams have you buried because they seemed too difficult? What have you previously accomplished for Christ's kingdom, and what did you learn? Is your life oriented for building His kingdom here on the earth?

Action. What Christ has done demands a reponse. This response is not just faith, feelings, words, thoughts, attendence, checking boxes, jumping through hoops, and fulfilling obligations. This response is supposed to make the world a better place. This response involves revealing Christ's beauty in a relational way, because He is a relational God. This response is...

Action.

What Message(s) Are You Sending?

2011-04-08T03:43:00.002-05:00

An emerging value in America seems to be not caring what others think., which I think has been represented in increasing intensity by each passing generation since the dawn of the twentieth century. And I think that this can be both a good and a bad thing.

It would probably be easy to cough up an argument that Jesus didn't care what others thought about Him. Everything about Christ is categorically countercultural. So, disregarding the impressions of others must be good, right?

But didn't Christ also seem to actually care about what others thought, since He is known as our example for how to live? Isn't there another side to caring about what people think that involves being considerate of how your own decisions affect others? After all, almost everyone has some amount of influence on others, even if it is some distant cousin who still think you're cool. So, we should feel that weight a little bit.

However, most of us also know first hand people who care all too much about the thoughts of others, especially the stringent Christian American caricature that is found in popular culture today. Many people, especially in the deep south, still misinterpret the scripture about avoiding an appearance of evil, using it as cause to care way too much about what others think.

So, although many of us would like to say that we could not care less about what others think about us, everything we do sends a message that will be decoded (intercepted and interpreted). And although we cannot control how others percieve our actions, we can , however, carefully consider what messages we are sending. Let's think this through.

What do children think when they see their parents doing the very things that they have advised against? (That when you get older you won't have to obey the rules?)

What message does a father send to his children by spending many hours on the internet each day? (That the internet is a very important part of a household?)

What message does a father send his son by talking rudely to his mother? (That it is acceptable to treat his wife poorly?)

What message does a preacher send his congregation if he hasn't properly studied/prepared for his sermon? (That the text isn't really all that sacred anyway?)

What message does a Christ-follower send his buddies if he watches pornographic movies? (That Sin is not a very big deal after all?)

So, as it plays out, this "emerging American value" doesn't always end well. But, since Christians have been called to be redemptive, is there a way that we can redeem it?

1.) What are some specific (hypothetical or real) examples of sending the right message(s)?

2.) How can we balance caring/not caring what others think?

3.) What messages have you already sent today without even knowing it?

Self-examination Without Self-love is Not Helpful

2011-04-06T06:31:00.001-05:00

Romans 12:9-21 says:

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.
¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]
²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Does your life look like this? (Yea, me neither.)

I live in my world and you live in yours. Everything within us drives us to achieve comfort, although this comfort is defined differently depending on the individual. Regardless of our individual preferences, we like our world, and we tend to get used to things rather quickly. So, when something (or Someone) pushes us to think of our world in new ways, we often reflex defensively as to protect our old world from becoming a new world. This is true even if we actually could use a little new world in our lives.

This is why it is so helpful to sit back and critique our own lives, sorting through our typical day and throwing out those things that aren't helping us progress in our journey. Maybe for some of you this involves opening up the bible and using it as a mirror. For me it usually involves meditating on Christ, and comparing my life to His sacrificial love (which is always devistating).

But you probably know as well as I do that this can be taken to the extreme. Some people are very critical of themselves, to the extent that they cannot make any progress at all. So it is important to remember to show grace to yourself as you are tossing your bad habits into the proverbial waste basket, making room for change, and allowing God's Spirit to move in your life.

In spite of these hovering difficulties, we must learn to examine our old world so that God's Spirit can help us to reimagine ourselves in a shiny, new, Christocentric world - the one that God is creating for us to live in.

Let's intentionally go there, shall we? Close your eyes, and imagine yourself living within all the lingering possibilities that are waiting to be realized. Read the above scripture a few times, and compare your life to the Gospel that is found there. Imagine loving your neighbors like you never have before. Think about a tangible way that you can be Christ to someone today. And try to remember to show yourself the same kind of grace that He has shown us. You're ready. Now, go.

CONTEXTUALIZATION, PART IIILearning To Smile At Truth [Regardless of the Source]

2011-04-04T08:59:00.002-05:00

We saw in my last post that despite the major differences, followers of Jesus still have much to agree with when it comes to other religions/spiritualities, since truth about Christ can be found virtually everywhere. Yet, how much time have we wasted with every passing century on arguing, trying to convince people that they are wrong?

We've already established that most religions seem to contain some amount of truth about God within them. I submit, then, that instead of picking up where the previous generation(s) have left off, we begin to smile at truth as we see it. What would it look like if we began to do this?

I do not want to belong to the camp of fearful Christians who are intimidated by opposing spiritualities. I do not think that it is helpful to call our neighbors enemies of the Gospel just because they don't yet know Christ, nor does it draw them to Christ when we demonize their ideologies. I would rather belong to the camp who is growing in both confidence and humility. Confidence - because we have been rescued by Christ. And humility - because we have been saved by grace alone (Gal 2:20). Again, Paul's example to us as a missionary is so helpful here as found in the book of Acts. But I think that Christ's example is even more compelling, seeing as how He and His friends together spent more time with sinners than with saints. Jesus was the perfect combination of confidence and humility, emphasizing that He was the only way to the Father, and yet this King laid down His life for all of creation (Phil 2:5-10).

Now, I think that it is obvious that some people will take this concept too far, and begin endorsing all religions as equal (pluralism). However, this is true of every form of grace, and should not stop us from moving in this direction, anymore than we should stop preaching the Gospel because some people will inevitably take advantage of God's scandelous love toward them.

I'd like to hear what you think...

What would it look like if God's Church had a renewed attitude toward the cultures and worldviews of this world?

What would it look like if we began to smile at Truth every time we see it, like Paul did in Acts 17:2-3, & Acts 17:22.

How do we combine this kind of gentleness and humility with Christ's (and Paul's) boldness in preaching the good news?

[Part 1]

[Part 2]

CONTEXTUALIZATION, PART II Redeeming Truth From Other ReligionsAre Christians Capable of This?

2011-04-02T09:28:00.010-05:00

All religions seem to exist for one basic purpose. It's what Tim Keller has dubbed the self-salvation project. It's people in search of God, wholeness, balance, etc. In Mark 2:16, when the religous teachers saw Jesus eating with sinners, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" I love Jesus' reply in Mark 2:17:

"When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have not come to call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'"

I think that this is what I love most about Christian spirituality: Christ is for the spiritually bankrupt, not those who think they are already a good person. He is for losers, or as we like to say here, beggars. Brennan Manning is known for calling the message of Jesus the Gospel for ragamuffins. It's this idea that followers of Jesus are not those who seem to have their act(s) together. We're not the winning team. As in my music video, Christians are those who have admitted that they have spent too much time on their résumé. (Isa 64:6)

Now, although Christians believe that we have been saved by sheer grace rather than our moral performance, which dramatically contrasts with most of the religions of this world, I think that there are many things in various religions which actually compliment Christian spirituality.

For instance, in many eastern philosophies we find this idea that we are already at peace with the universe. The problem is that we just don't know it yet. This belief actually fits in nicely with the Gospel which says that we have already been made right with God. God's wrath toward evil/sin has already been appeased. And it is this knowledge which changes everything, and demands a response. These other spiritualities also say that one must experience an enlightening experience, which I think is congruent with the Christian doctrine of regeneration. Likewise, many of these promote meditation as a means toward the end of realizing that we are "part of the the divine". This fits in nicely with what Jesus said in John 17.

20“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Here in Afghanistan, I can speak to a Muslim, or open a Qur'an and find things that are true about Christ. I believe that this is because Christ really is who the bible says He is - the Author (and owner) of all truth (John 14:6). It makes sense to me that since Christ created all things (Col 1:16), we're going to find His fingerprints all over the place - including the writings of those who are searching for Him.

Now, this is where I think that some people might be asking "what about 1 Tim 4:1?" and other places in the bible that explicitly say that other religions are really doctrines of demons invented to distract from the Truth. Well, the bible also says that the devil and his demons know the scriptures, and use Truth to construct their lies. We saw this in my last post. So, here we find a massive need for discernment. But, try not to confuse discernment with fear. Especially if you're interested in loving your neighbor (Lev 19:18, Mark 12:30-31), because there is no fear in love. (1 John 4:18).

So, it's likely that all religions contain a certain amount of truth within them. In fact, that is probably what is so confusing about these false constructs: because many parts therein actually fit into Christian spirituality, even though together they clearly clash with the Gospel. However, I submit that instead of feeling threatened by this, we should be encouraged!

Paul had no problem doing this, as we see him quoting greek texts [originally written about Zeus], saying "this is actually about Christ" (Acts 17:28). Being redemptive is really the opposite of being fearful. Paul wasn't afraid of the fact that some [even many] of their beliefs about life, God, and what it means to be human were actually true [even biblical]. And I think that he actually saw this as good news!

In fact, let's take a look at what the bible actually says about doctrines of demons in 1 Tim 4:1-7.

¹ The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³ They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. ⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.

I love that in this passage it is taken for granted that, while religions will weigh you down, following and applying Christ will give you the most freedom. Verse 4 says that everything God created is good.

Today, may we live the redemptive life of a redeemed, totally free follower of Christ, reclaiming truth as we see it on this wonderful planet, and not being intimidated by the source since we know that all truth really belongs to God. Amen.

[Now read Part 3.]

The Eternal Dance of Love & the Devil's Hidden Agenda

2011-03-29T08:04:00.004-05:00

"Fish swim. Birds fly. People Worship."

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus is led into the wilderness by God to be tempted by the devil. Matthew records 3 specific temptations, although it's likely that there were many more, since it says in Hebrews 4:15 that He was tempted in every way as we were, yet without sin. The third and [seemingly] final temptation recorded here is the temptation to bow down and worship the devil. If Jesus would only bow down for even a nanosecond, Satan promised to let Jesus off the hook (bypassing the cross) and give Him back all the kingdoms of the earth. But, there was a catch: he had to worship the devil. I'd like to take a deeper look at what was at stake here, but only after we clearly define worship.

I think that many things come to mind when we think of worship, especially worshipping the devil. I think it is helpful to remember that the reason that we (human beings) are so bent on worship is because we were made in the image of a worshipping God. Our nature reflects His nature. We worship because God worships.

Now God has always existed in 3 distinct Persons, and this Community has never ceased to worship one another (John 17:5). This is how it plays out:

God-the-Father worships both the Son and the Spirit, constantly pouring Himself out in ceaseless, relational love and adoration. Likewise, God-the-Son is always seeking to glorify the Father and the Spirit, never self-seeking, but constantly giving and receiving love. And finally, God-the-Spirit lives to pour Himself out in relational, self-giving love toward the other two members of the Godhead.

In the ancient picture of the Trinity called the Eternal Dance of Love, the Members of this Community face inward toward each other. Before everything else, there was God, and He has always existed within this mutually satisfying, relational exchange of love that really is kind of like a dance. The relationship within the Godhead is a safe place that is infinitely satisfying, with undending joy and perfect love.

So, God did not create out of need, for He is in need of nothing (Acts 17:25). Rather, creation was (and is) and act of divine love. By creating, God was saying "We want you all to share in and be completely satisfied in this love that We share." Or, as my latest record is entitled, "I want you here with me."

Now, the Hebrew word for Satan means "adversary" and its translation into Greek gives the word "Diabolos", from the root dia-ballo, to divide or separate. So, what was this Separator's hidden agenda when he was trying to trick Jesus into worshiping him?

I think that the devil understands that God exists forever in ceaseless worship, and I believe that he wanted in on the action. In other words, the devil wanted to become part of the Trinity, thus sharing in it's worship. (At least, that is how it looks at first glance.)

However, I think that a deeper look at the devil's own nature reveals that if the devil were allowed into the Blessed Union that is God, that would be to inject evil (selfishness) into this perfect, sinless Community we call God.

Just imagine with me, if you will, a family who loves each other more than anything else in the world. Imagine the love, support, and the mutual satisfaction they share in this unit. Now, imagine if someone injected a pedophile, a rapist, or a serial killer into the mix. Wouldn't that destroy and corrupt what was perfect and pure?

This is what the devil wanted. And notice, he wasn't even trying to get Jesus off mission. God would still be able to reconcile everyone and everything back to Himself. He was just trying to change the method by which this should happen. Instead of self-denying, others-focused love toward the world, Christ would have been choosing to look out for Himself, stepping out of that perfect, God-focused eternal dance of love.

Sin kills community. We see this happen in Gen 3:1-24. As soon as man tries to find His identity in something/someone other than God (which I think is a good definition of idolatry), all community (relationship between God and man, and man and man) is destroyed. In a sense, we are that family that Sin has been injected into. But, brothers and sisters, that's not the end of the Story.

God, for some reason, places value on us, and the rest of His creation. Rather than leaving us to our own destruction, He sees fit to come down and rescue us in the Person of Jesus.

Just imagine that the Trinity is chilling in eternity like they always do, and they are discussing (probably without having to use words, since they are One), what must be done to save humanity. Suddenly, without any hesitation, Jesus - the second Person of the Godhead - says I'll go, send Me. The Father and the Spirit nod in agreement, and they then decide [in their infinite wisdom] the best possible time, place, and culture to insert Themself into human history.

Brian McLaren has said this about the Trinity:

"The early church leaders described the Trinity using the term perichoresis (peri=circle resis=dance): The Trinity was an eternal dance of the Father, Son and Spirit sharing mutual love, honor, happiness, joy and respect… God’s act of creation means that God is inviting more and more beings into the eternal dance of Joy.

Sin means that people are stepping out of the dance… stomping on feet instead of moving with grace, rhythm and reverence. Then in Jesus, God enters creation to restore the rhythm and beauty again."

In John 17:20-21, Jesus says:

"I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me."

In The Great Dance, Baxter Kruger says:

“The great dance is about abundant life—love, passion, joy, fellowship, and creativity. It is the fellowship of the relationship of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The incarnation is the philanthropic act of God to reach out, embrace us through forgiveness, and include us in the dance.”

Satan does not want us to be included in the dance, nor does he want us to know how much God loves us. That is why he is constantly trying to distort our view of the Trinity. But here's the cool part: We do not have to wait until we're in heaven to become a part of this dance. Through Christ's indwelling Spirit we are already included in it!

So, while the devil tries to get us to find our identity in things other than God, we are becoming more like God every day as we are finding our identity in Him. It's interesting to me that God also finds His indentity in Himself, since there is no higher idea other than Himself. It is right and appropriate that God would worship Himself. If there were some other idea higher than God, then He should worship that. But since God is actually worthy of worship, all of creation is pointed toward God - including Himself in three Persons. This is Ultimate Reality, the way things really are. Anything else (seeking to find our worth in created things) is the lie (Rom 1:25).

I'll close with a picture of what it might look like once we've joined the Dance. In Philippians 2:1–11, Paul encourages us to have the same attitude as Christ—the supreme example of humility and selfless concern for others, and a kind of proof that we are, in fact, united with God:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death,
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."

The Gospel Is Events (not what you must do to be saved)

2011-03-28T02:26:00.004-05:00

In my last post, I talked about contextualizing the message about Jesus to people of other faiths. I'd like to pick up where I left off, and get some application going.

Yesterday I met with a friend at our little, secluded place, although this time it was cold and rainy. After we held each other accountable, confessed our sins, and prayed for each other we read aloud an essay called The Centrality of the Gospel, by Tim Keller. It got me thinking about grace.

I think that many Christians struggle with the concept of grace because they do not understand how something can be both free and costly simultaneously. So they assume that since it is free, it must be cheap. This plays out most curiously. These are the types of people who usually bear the name Christian, but do not really understand that Christ's sacrifice demands a response in kind (Matt 16:24).

Keller reminds us of 3 things:
1. That our Sin is so bad that God had to DIE for us (costly grace).
2. That He loves us so much that He was GLAD to die for us (free grace).
3. And that all inward transformation comes from growing in the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

If you think you want to follow Jesus, then please consider that you will be forfeiting all bragging rights. The Gospel is a message about a God who saves by sheer grace. In the Gospel, we are complete failures in the self-salvation project. This is the difference between Christianity and every other spirituality/religion in the world.

While religion tells you what you must do in order to be saved, the Gospel tells you what God has done in order for you to be saved.

Now, let's be honest for a minute. How many times have you heard a Christian tell someone else what they must do in order to be saved? I heard this kind of thing all the time growing up in the Church. However, what if we REFUSED to tag the rapid-fire discipleship onto the end of the Gospel (like many Christians do)?

I think it might begin with something like this:

"Hey, do you know what God has done for you?"

The content (of the Gospel) would be what God has accomplished for you in Christ. What happens next is really up to God, isn't it? After all, Jesus said to Go and preach the Gospel, not go and tell people what they must do in order to be saved, am I right?

I believe that it comes down to actually believing that the Gospel is enough - that it is as powerful as the bible says it is.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Cor 1:18

The Puritans used to say that the same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay. They meant that there is no such thing as someone being unchanged by the Gospel. When someone hears the message of Jesus, somehow this message is alive and powerful and will always have either of two responses: either their heart(s) will be hardened by the Gospel, or their hear(s) will be softened when they hear it. There is no such thing as someone who has heard the Gospel and remains unaffected by it.

Todd, a fellow contributor, used to say that this is because the Gospel is Jesus. That is to say that the good news about Jesus is somehow Jesus Himself, because He is the Author of life. So, when people hear the Gospel, they are actually meeting Christ, because His message (what He has done) is saturated in His eternal Spirit. So, every time the Gospel is on our lips, it is powerful, not only to change the heart(s) of those listening, but also to change the heart of the preacher (you, me). That is why John Piper has said that we will never, never, never outgrow our need to preach to ourselves the Gospel.

Today, try preaching the Gospel (even if only to yourself) as events instead of a list of requirements, and trust that this is enough.

CONTEXTUALIZATION, PART I The Importance of Contextualizing the Gospel

2011-03-26T03:03:00.003-05:00

Christianity can be a confusing camp to belong to. I think that it is because we have a lot of people who use the same words to describe different things. For example, I know several Christians who are convinced that Jesus' message was one of judgement, and that their response is to tell others about said judgement. So, when they say "Jesus", they are talking about a different Jesus than the One I talk about. The same goes for when they mention the gospel. I would like to address that kind of thing here for a minute, and then intersect with the idea of contextualizing the good news to people of other faiths.

This next sentence may shock you. People are not ready for Jesus. Not without preparation. The purpose of John (the baptizer) was to prepare the people to recieve the Gospel (Jesus). He baptized with water for repentance - a general turning away from what our conscience (and the law) says is evil, toward God. By the time Jesus came, (all of Jerusalem and Judea had come to hear him speak) people's hearts had been softened by the message of repentance, and were now ready to hear the Great Mystery of the Gospel.

That is to say, John, the baptist preacher, came preaching judgement and repentance. So when the people were expecting judgement, Jesus came preaching GRACE. He picked up where John left off. He said this is true, God must judge Sin, but that's not the end of the Story!

The "judgement" which many Christians speak of has already been exhausted in Christ. That is the "good news" that we get to share with the world. God is not small. He doesn't belong to us as some commodity that we can share. God so loved the world, and those who realize this get to tell the rest of us - the collective us that is humanity.

Jesus, according to the bible, is actually the Savior of THE WORLD. He is the Christians' Savior, the Muslims' Savior, and the atheists' Savior. That really is the good news. And if you think about it, we aren't much different than the Jewish teachers were during Jesus' lifetime. We (western evangelicalsim) like the idea that He is our Savior, that we're on the winning team. The only problem with that is that it is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. A read through the gospels will reveal that nothing made Him angrier than us vs. them. If we really are His followers, shouldn't we care about the things that He cares about?

This is not pluralism (the belief that all religions are equally effective for saving the soul). It's just that the Gospel is bigger than we ever could have dreamed. Christians have thought that they were the insiders for such a long time that I think that many of us have forgotten that we're really messengers. Maybe we should trade in the name Christians for sent ones because that's what we are. But what happens when we respond to Jesus and go?

I think this is a good place to intersect with the subjects of missions and contextualization.

What happens when people of other faiths realize that Jesus is their Savior? How much of their faith must they release in order to follow Jesus? Keep in mind that whatever we demand of them we should have already demanded of ourselves.

For example, what if an eastern philosopher-type who's into things like yoga hears the good news - that God became a human being, and died so that we could be right with God - and God's Spirit changes His heart so that he is able to respond with obedience? Should we expect him to become a Christian [in the Western sense]? Must he reject ALL of his "other" beliefs or practices? Certainly, he should reject the ones which are in clear violation of the way of Jesus, but isn't even this the job of the Holy Spirit as he/she is being sanctified?

I submit that there would likely be many things that he could salvage from his pre-Christian sprituality. Maybe he meditates every morning. Now, he can meditate on the the beauty of Christ. Let's say that he chants matras. Now he can chant them about Christ, modify them, and even insert some Scripture into the mix. Does he practice talking to spirits of the dead? Well, he should stop that as soon as he realizes that it is in violation of Scripture. There is going to be tension, and even grey areas, but that is OK. God is not intimidated by this. And of course, there is no time table, just as there isn't one with us. We shouldn't expect him to get his life sorted out in a timely manner. He should be allowed the freedom to learn as he goes. I shouldn't even have to blog about this, but I am convinced that I do. Christians seem so afraid to preach the Gospel these days, especially when people of other faiths are around. I am not convinced that people of other religions must lose their entire cultural and spiritual identity in order to follow Christ.

We (Westerners) are a wonderful example of this. God has allowed us to keep many of our pagan customs, modifying them, losing some but keeping many in order to properly contextualize the good news. This has continued until today, yet many Christians insist that people of other faiths and/or cultures should accept our Western version of Christianity if they want to follow Christ. Of course, it is much more subtle than it sounds.

Another example... If a muslim hears the Gospel and responds to Jesus with grateful joy (sign of regeneration), he should not have to throw out his Quran and start eating pork to follow Jesus. Instead (like the rest of us), he should be allowed to "come to Jesus just as he is" with all his baggage, history, and cultural preferences and follow Jesus within his own cultural paradigm.

In conclusion, the miracle of the Way of Jesus is that it can be contextualized no matter the time, place, or culture. That is how "open" The Way actually is.

All roads do not lead home. There is only one Savior, Jesus, but He does not just belong to Christians.

I dare you... the next time you want to share the Gospel with someone of another faith background, simply tell them that they're ok. That all their striving is not necessary. That God has revealed Himself in Christ as Savior - everyone's Savior - and all they have to do is follow Him. Do you really think that God cares if they wave the banner of Christian, Mulsim, or Agnostic? I am not convinced that He does.

I think that this new brand of Christianity will sound a little bit like pluralism to many traditional evangelicals. But, what if God simply wants a ragtag group of spiritual seekers to live in community together as they struggle to follow Him in whatever cultural context they find themselves?

[Now read Part 2.]

When Your Community Falls Apart

2011-03-24T00:56:00.003-05:00

It is easy for me to talk about community, and accountability, and disciplship, and homegrown Church, but I must admit something here: EVERY community I have ever been a part of has "fallen apart" at some point. All have done so for different reasons as far as I can tell, and I must admit that I will probably never know why for sure. And this is hard.

Every time this happens, everyone left seems to be asking the same question: What do we do now? I do not have all the answers here, but I would like to offer a few things that have helped in these situations:

1. I AM SMALL. I am (or "we are") not really the linchpin(s). This community is much larger than little ol' me. I could have never held it together if I tried.

2. THIS WAS INEVITABLE. This "fall" is not neccessarily a bad thing. We define "success" differently than Jesus did in terms of what a successful community looks like. If Jesus' community was successful (which I believe it was), then we must admit that a truly successful community is one that falls apart from time to time. It is one where every time it gets too big, Jesus (the Gospel) pulls a few weeds, or even uproots some of the stronger plants (to move them to a larger garden). On the outside this looks like a complete failure (accident), I know. But we couldn't have stopped it if we knew it was coming 5 years prior! In fact, if we could, I'm not so sure it would've been a good thing. As we have said in our community (about dying ministries), "let the dying horse die!"

3. DON'T HARP ON MOTIVES. People do community (and accountability) for the wrong reasons all the time. In fact, so do we (depending on the week), although we are not fond of admitting this. It doesn't seem helpful to insist that everyone always have the right motives when seeking (or returning to community, or seeking accountability). It seems more helpful to talk about said reasons once their "in" (or back in). Again, our motives are constantly changing colors, and decieving us. Let us not judge the motives of others too harshly, but instead simply be glad for their participation / return.

4. DISCIPLSHIP NEVER STOPS. If you stayed, invest in the folks who stayed. If you left, jump into community with both feet (if you can find it), or be looking for opportunities to build it. If you're not sure what you did, then remember that being in community is fundemental to your spiritual growth. Start small. Set up intentional, discipling relationships all around you. Build such meetings into your week. Intentionally seek to do community with those around you. If you can't find it yet, keep living the Gospel, and keep searching (and praying) for a community. (If you have sincerely searched & it never happened for you, consider moving.)

In conclusion, communities seem to inevitably fall apart. I think that the question becomes "who should I invest in?", which is a judgment call for each of us. Jesus only chose 12. And He seems like a pretty smart guy.

Maybe the challenge here, even if it is an aside, is to dwell within the tension of not having the answers for a while. It is a good example to others (and shows great leadership) to admit that we do not have all the answers. If anything, it reminds us of what we DO know. Anybody feel me?

Comfort

2011-03-23T09:37:00.004-05:00

I won't even lie to y'all: Lately my life has been lacking spiritually. I can't seem to move past this plateau. Maybe it's the lack of time I have due to the demands of going to graduate school; maybe it's the lack of community I've been experiencing; maybe it's the stress of life and all that comes with it. What ever it is, I can't seem to move past it. I've been stuck in this uncomfortable place and eventually have begun to wonder: How can the GOD of the universe love me, even when I have been living so far from Him?

Recently (this week), I found my self picking up a book I read this past fall. Comforts from the Cross by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. As I was sitting there reading during my morning quiet time, I finally felt something I've lacked in a long time, comfort. Comfort not in who I have been, but in who JESUS is.

I wanted to share part what I read in Elyse Fitzpatrick's book:

"As you face this day and all of the disappointments, failures, and vicissitudes of living life here in this defiled world, think: He won't fail to present me to himself "in splendor" because it has, in fact, already been accomplished. I feel inadequate, dirty, ashamed. He sees me as being honorable, glorious, noble, magnificently beautiful; filled with splendor through and through because of what He's done. And remember this: you're not beautiful just because you have been allowed to play dress-up with some other beautiful bride's wardrobe; no, He's made you holy -- spirit, soul, and body. Presented in splendor? Me? Yes, "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it" (1 Thess. 5:23-24)."

Father,
Cause me to have faith to believe that You will accomplish this in me. You are faithful. Help me, everyday, to remember who You've made me to be. May this be evident in the way I serve others. I praise You, Father for even when I fail, I am completely cleansed in Your love. Thank You for Your AMAZING grace.

The Art of Doing Nothing

2011-03-23T04:07:00.003-05:00

What Fuels Your Creativity?

My #1 fuel is alone time. When I get it often and in generous doses I feel inspired. Connected. Alert, and aware of my own journey. This clarity is not something that I take for granted either. When I am denied this luxury (although to me it feels a lot more fundamental), I feel stifled. My mind feels cloudy, and my motivation wanes.

My #2 fuel is community. This might seem like a contradiction, but it's not. As it turns out, I need both. I have met several people who claim that they do not need alone time. And I believe them. I do not understand why, and I secretly think that they are missing out on what the Italians call il dolce far niente - the art of doing nothing. Actually, I think it is more accurately translated the sweetness of doing nothing. Anyway, after I've had my fill of me, I quickly recognize my need to be around other people - people whom I do community with. If anything, my alone time seems to push me out. Contrarilly, I seem to actually avoid community when I haven't had my me time.

Are you one of those people who do not need (or see their own need) for alone time? For some people, maybe they do not realize their own need because they've never gone without it. I mean, if you commute to work every day, for instance, you may never feel the drive to get to know yourself.

You know, I have never met anybody who doesn't need community. I am willing to accept that some people do not need alone time, but people without community are alone. And nobody wants to be alone. That is to say, no one's dreams include a trajectory that ends in dying alone. No matter what we aspire to do, we want to share that dream with other people, in order to have our existence validated by the community, even if that be only a few close friends.

Much like those who do not have a drive to be alone ever so often, I have met a few people in my lifetime who claim that they are just not creative.

I'd like to open this up:

1. Do you think that some people do not have that particular trait called creativity?

2. Or do you think that everyone is creative in some way?

3. How does the idea that we were created in the image of an Artistic Creator play into our purpose for living?

4. What fuels your creativity?

The Word On the Street

2011-03-22T03:23:00.002-05:00

In Eat Pray Love, the author recalls a conversation with someone in Rome where she expresses that she doesn't feel like home there. Her friend replies that "the secret to understanding a city and it's people is to learn - what is the word on the street." He explains that the word in Rome is SEX. It's all anyone thinks about. He insists that it's not a stereotype; it's just true.

She asks "even over at the Vatican?" Her friend replies "That's different. The Vatican isn't part a Rome. They have a different word over there. Their word is POWER. She replies that "you'd think it would be FAITH."

She concludes that if this theory is correct (even though probably a little silly), then the word SEX fills the air and cobbles the streets beneath Rome. People are thinking about it, dressing for it, seeking it, considering it, refusing it, making a sport and game out of it - that's all anyone is doing. Her friend asks what the word is in New York. After thinking about it for a minute, she decides that "it's a verb, of course. I think it's ACHIEVE." Then she adds, "which is subtly but significantly different from the word in Los Angeles, I believe, which is also a verb: SUCCEED.

Soon this conversation between her and her friend begins to deeepen. They begin asking questions like "what was the word in your family growing up?", and "what's your word?"

What do you guys think? What sorts of thoughts and words have come to mind as you read this?

My thoughts have been going both to where I am now (Afghanistan), and my home (which is currently Minot until I am inevitbly removed). I think that this is a relational question with missional application.

What is the word on the streets where you live?

If you could only name 3 words that exude from your existence, what would they be?

To steal from the author, I see myself as a seeker, identifying with the following passage [Acts:17:27] where Paul explains to the Athenians why God created everything:

"God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us."

I love his usage of the word us. He has no problem putting himself on precisely the same level as them even though they are not followers of Jesus. Instead he compliments them because they are seekers [v.22]. He isn't fearful or codependent, trying to manipulate their emotions. He simply tells them the good news about Jesus.

So that word - us - I think, seems to describe where I am at right now. This would explain my draw to Christian Universalism (see here).

The Struggle to Love

2011-03-21T10:52:00.004-05:00

I would like to think that I love people. I mean, I do nice things for people all the time. I stay home with my children and cook for my husband. I care for my family 24/7. I make meals for friends when they're sick. I care for other people's children when they can't. I think that I really must love people. Really.

But then I sit in the local playland and watch other people with their children. I watch parents walk in wearing clothes I wouldn't be caught dead in. I see children kick other people's children with no reaction from their parents. I listen, as the mom sitting next to me says words I wouldn't want my grandma to hear.

And I think, in the back of my mind, creeping thoughts like, "Does she have any idea how awful those jeans look on her?" and "I would never let my child get away with something like that". I let the thoughts sit there for a moment. And then I think, "Stop. You're being judgmental. You're being unfair. You don't know these people, and who are you to decide?" But then, more thoughts come and go.

You see, I struggle. With my thoughts. If it were up to me, everyone would be like me─everyone would think like me and agree with me. If I had it my way, people would only cut their hair in a way that I thought looked cute, people would only wear clothes that I thought were appropriate, and parents would always do their jobs in a way that I thought was right.

But I'm not the standard.

And thank GOD for that! Because the very standard that I "set" for other people is one that I continually fail to uphold. The very thoughts I have about others and their failure to live up to my expectations are the very things that I have struggled with.

But I know One who set a standard and did not fail it.

And neither does He fail to LOVE those that can't and won't uphold it. He loves. He loves in the ways I cannot love. He sees in the ways I cannot and sometimes refuse to see. He cares the way that I don't have time to, decide I shouldn't have to, or justify myself for not.

I don't love people as much as I like to think I do. It makes me feel good to know that I love some people well. But, the fact of the matter is that I usually love people who are like me, who think like me, who act like me, who reason like me. I usually choose whom I will love based on how worthy I think they are of it. But, I exclude those who are broken and lost, who don't act right─those who quite possibly need it the most. I choose not to see them the way God sees them. I choose instead to look at their exterior and judge what I see.

I like what C.S. Lewis said in his book Mere Christianity:

"The bad psychological material is not a sin but a disease. It does not need to be repented of, but to be cured. And by the way, that is very important. Human beings judge one another by their external actions. God judges them by their moral choices.

When a man who has been perverted from his youth and taught that cruelty is the right thing, does some tiny little kindness, or refrains from some cruelty he might have committed, and thereby, perhaps, risks being sneered at by his companions, he may, in God's eyes, be doing more than you and I would do if we gave up life itself for a friend.

It is as well to put this the other way round. Some of us who seem quite nice people may, in fact, have made so little use of a good heredity and a good upbringing that we are really worse than those whom we regard as fiends. Can we be quite certain how we should have behaved if we had been saddled with the psychological outfit, and then with the bad upbringing, and then with the power, say, of Himmler? That is why Christians are told not to judge. We see only the results which a man's choices make out of his raw material. But God does not judge him on the raw material at all, but on what he has done with it. Most of the man's psychological makeup is probably due to his body: when his body dies all that will fall off him, and the real central man, the thing that chose, that made the best or the worst out of this material, will stand naked. All sorts of nice things which we thought our own, but which were really due to a good digestion, will fall off some of us...There will be surprises."

Do you agree? Are we all working with some sort of handicap? If so, we cannot possibly know what someone else's handicap is, and therefore have no right to decide whether he or she is doing the best with it.

Teach me, LORD, how to love like you.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1

*pgs. 91-92

Deployed & Overjoyed

2011-03-20T10:34:00.006-05:00

This is my third month in Afghanistan.

God has provided for me a brother here with whom I am able to be accountable. We have been meeting on Sundays (at this beautiful place with a breathtaking view of everything around) to intentionally seek spiritual growth. When we meet together, we open in prayer, we take turns sharing from the word, and we end our time holding each other accountable and confessing our sins to one another. When we meet, God is there, and His Spirit is leading us into truth as we sincerely seek Him.

Last week we talked about many things to include community (Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-37), and we unpacked the doctrine of the Trinity (John 17:1-25). Today, was interesting because we were interupted by a friend who works here with us. He found us at our little secret place, and ended up engaging us in conversation for quite a while.

Before he showed up we had been reading from Romans. My friend was sharing with me about the tension between faith in the finished work of Christ, and the purpose of our works in response to said rescue. He emphasized the importance of being approachable as we attempt to live out our faith here. He also said that it is important to simply be present in the midst of the lives of others. We discussed our shared desire to be authentic in how we live out the teachings of Christ, as well as a desire to create a safe, seeker commuinity/culture in which people feel comfortable wrestling with any questions they might have. We ended on love - the importance of tough love - telling people what they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear.

This is about the time that our friend walked up. He was raised Hindu, but is skeptical of all religions, not wanting to be a "sucker" by believing something bogus. As he spoke, it was apparent that he believed in God, even though at first he tried to convince us otherwise. As it turns out, he had a lot of good questions, and we were able to discuss these things in a positive, relational sort of way.

It's funny. We were talking about living out our faith in a way that is not tacky, and then walks in an an opportunity for application. He seemed to appreciate our invitation to join us. After listening to him share his experiences with us, we were able to share the Gospel with him. I read aloud Peter's sermon from Acts 17:22-31 which was so timely for the things that he had been saying to us. Peter's words actually confirmed many of the things that our friend seemed to know by instinct - that God is in need of nothing and cannot be served by human hands (Acts 17:24), and that God made us to behold His glory and that He actually wants us to seek Him (Acts 17:27).

When this was all over, my brother and I met up again and held each other accountable. We both confessed the sin of gossip, but had relatively clean WAR's (Weekly Accountability Report) other than that.

I am not alone. God is with me here. Every moment is holy, and every place sacred.

Before we met today, I was able to spend some time alone at our little spot. Man, do I love my alone time! Just me, a bag of beef jerky, a good, robust cigar, and plenty of time to cry out to God in prayer. As I actively seek God, I find that I am put in my place so to speak. It is right and good that we should cry out to God in humility, even in desperation sometimes. Today, I am thankful that the God who exists outside of space and time chose to become a human being (Phil 2:5-10), live the perfect life that we could not live, die the death which we all absolutely deserve, and rise perfectly alive, conquering death once and for all.

What's more... I believe that God is actually making the world right. This world is not as bleak as you might think. God's heart has always been the perfect balance of justice and mercy. Salvation is free. Take, drink, and be filled forevermore.

Courageous Love Cultivating Seeker Community

2011-03-18T01:03:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I built a large fire, and sat beside it for many hours reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think that what I love most about her is her ability to appreciate her own journey. She is a bold seeker in search of truth, just as Jesus said we should be. As I read this delightful memoir, I thought about my own journey, and how I am still wrestling with many different, wonderfully difficult questions.

Also yesterday, John Piper sent a three-word-message via Twitter: "Farwell, Rob Bell." (Click here for context.)

It was as if to be saying: "If you ask those types of questions, you're going to be kicked out of our club [evangelicalism]."

When I asked fellow contributor, Jonathan, if there are any bad questions, he replied "I guess a bad question would only come from bad intent. Is he TRYING to lead people down the wrong path?"
So, is Rob Bell "trying to lead people down the wrong path?" I think that is what all the bloggers are really saying right now. They're calling him a wolf (Matt 7:15). Now, since Jesus spoke several times about wolves, and Paul likewise (Rom 16:17-27), we should take seriously their accusations. If we see someone who preaches another Gospel other than Christ, we should shoot the wolves so as to protect unsuspecting sheep. This is love.

However, there is something else happening here. Aren't there sheep (honest Christian seekers) who are asking tough questions about things such as this? How shall we tell the difference between a sheep and a wolf?

Are we to simply reject those who don't agree with us on every particular? Is that love? So what if one Christian brother believes that hell is empty? Are we to jump all the way to the other side and call him a wolf? Is he denying Christ because he thinks that hell could be empty?

Obviously, since none of us have read the book it is all mere speculation at this point. However, I have a hunch that he is promoting Christian Universalism - the belief that God is going to save everyone, even people of other religions, through the saving work of Jesus. (This should not be confused with pluralism, which promotes that there are many saviors, and all lead to the same salvation.) This is NOT a reason to kick him off the playing field.

In Christian Universalism, Christ's Gospel is so big/good that it extends to every sinner, even those who are ignorant on this side of eternity. That is to say, "the Gospel is even more amazing than we thought!"

Is this denying Christ? Is this anti-Gospel? I am not yet convinced that it is. I think it definitely is a different way to view hell, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Remember, even the great C. S. Lewis believed that the fire in hell was not literal fire. And I don't remember everyone calling him a heretic because he had a different view of hell than "orthodoxy" had provided us.

We Christians have got to do a better job at discerning between wolves and sheep. There is one Shepherd, and he is not intimidated by curious sheep.

I'll end with a few questions:

1. What if we (Christendom) were in the business of cultivating a safe place to ask tough questions, to wrestle with ideas, and to dig for truth, instead of creating derogatory categories for them such as hipster church and rockstar pastor? (THIS IS NOT HELPFUL!)

2. What if we (Evangelicals) stopped being so afraid of popular writers/pastors and their scary questions?

3. What would it look like if we learned to be good seekers with a courageous, Christian love?

4. What if, instead of being intimidated, pastors/churches began to utilize such books/authors as a means of wrestling with these relevant issues in community?

Struggling With Faith?

2011-03-15T12:56:00.005-05:00

I often struggle with faith. I've been thinking about this a lot. I've been having discussions with Tonie about faith and have often concluded that faith is not about how we feel (emotions) but about what we know (that God is faithful to keep His promises).

A relationship is the best example of faith. Your partner really peeves you off sometimes. What should you do? Everybody knows that yelling and insulting is not the right thing to do. But that is our first urge! Likewise, when we are frustrated with a challenge, our primary urge is to give up and move on to something less difficult.

How, then, is faith any different? Should we assume God abandoned us because we feel alone? Should we hate ourselves because we feel ashamed of our poor choices? Like eyesight, our emotions are sensors. Our emotions sense the spiritual and ideal stimuli coming at us, but they do not determine our behavior.

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "...we live by faith, not by sight."

In 2 Peter 1:2, Peter greets the readers by saying, "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" This knowledge was presented in the Gospel, which the readers received in faith. Peter, then, was concerned about the readers' knowledge of the Gospel, if ever it should wither. He was concerned that they would have their understanding darkened by their fleshly senses. Peter gave a good method to combat that situation.

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:6-8)

Let's break it down. We received the Good News of Jesus Christ and our salvation through Him in faith that, just because we can't see it, we trust the messengers enough to believe it was true and will always be true. The next thing that should happen is that we dedicate ourselves to doing good as a response to God's goodness to us. That includes forgiving others, having compassion, and praying for our enemies. Then we seek to know more about God, not being satisfied with just being spiritual babes. We do this through missions, ministry, and service. Such thing produces mature Christians that put their faith into actions. People tend to praise others that serve them. But that shouldn't get to our heads. (See the wisdom in every step of the way?) We should control ourselves so that we don't ruin whatever good we have worked for. That often means putting ourselves last. (Mark 9:35) When we do that, it gets exhausting. So then we persevere, remembering that those that have suffered in the body are done with sin. (1 Peter 4:1) This leads us to live godly lives, that often lead us to setting standards and judging. So the cure for that is mutual affection, treating each other as equals all made in the same image of God (even though we don't always act or feel like it). The result of this is purely tested, godly love. And Paul said, for such love their is no law that one may be accused by. Using that love produces faithful obedience in Christ that keeps us rooted and growing in Him, not only as individuals but also as a community.

All of this requires that we do not live by our instincts and senses alone, but by faith and knowledge of the Gospel. If we keep on living by our emotions, being swayed by whatever impulse weighs heaviest on us, it is easy to get misled or caught up in a worldly life, which produces no fruit for the kingdom and shows no evidence of faith. How possible is it, then, to forget the love that Christ poured out for us?

"But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins"(2 Peter 1:9)

Finding Fulfillment In Not-so-ideal Circumstances

2011-03-10T11:05:00.002-06:00

Not satisfied with the way things in your life have ended up? Feel like you need permission to be happy in your less than ideal circumstances?

Permission granted. I give you permission to be where you are. I mean really be there. Not just in body, but in your heart as well. You don't have to feel guilty for having a good time in the middle of suffering, even the sufferings of others. You are free to enjoy the beauty of being alive on this amazing planet.

I dare you to really be where you are right now with all your heart. Savor each moment, each relationship, and treasure your family/community. Shake off that guilt that comes from those inevitible missed opportunities.

And look into the light of this world, the One who breathed it all into existence. This same Creator is the One who not only died for us all, but who lived for us too! He lived and died as a human, not because He had to, but because He was glad to. He believes that we were worth it all.

A Christian is not someone who professes great love for God. Rather, it is someone who realizes that they are greatly loved by God. He has proven His love for us by rescuing us from the consequences of evil, and reclaiming and redeeming us so that we might know what it means to be in Him (John 17:21).

That is all.

Understanding Grace

2011-03-08T12:29:00.000-06:00

I think that Living the Gospel means having a Gospel response to whatever life throws at you. In my own life, I have found that people do not understand grace. For the most part our culture promotes the idea that we must earn our right to be heard, to be forgiven, or even to be successful. We admire those who have worked hard for what they have. But grace clashes with this American dream work ethic, doesn't it?

In the economy of grace that is revealed in Christ, our achievements are worthless. If someone hurts you, they don't expect you to turn around and help them. That's kind of the whole point. Grace is when we don't get what we deserve. Instead we get better than we deserve. This is what God has done for us in Christ (Phil 2:5-10).

“[Grace is] my favorite word in the lexicon of the English language. It’s a word I’m depending on. The universe operates by Karma, we all know that. For every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction. There is some atonement built in: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Then enters Grace and turns that upside down. I love it. I’m not talking about people being graceful in their actions but just covering over the cracks. Christ’s ministry really was a lot to do with pointing out how everybody is a screw-up in some shape or form, there’s no way around it. But then He was to say, well, I am going to deal with those sins for you. I will take on Myself all the consequences of sin. Even if you’re not religious, I think you’d accept that there are consequences to all the mistakes we make. And so Grace enters the picture to say, I’ll take the blame, I’ll carry the cross. It is a powerful idea. Grace interrupting Karma.” - Bono, in U2 by U2 (London, 2006), page 300.

Here's the kicker. Jesus insisted that if we do not show grace to others, then we haven't really had a change of heart. Responding to what Jesus has done (saving sinners by sheer grace instead of allowing us to merit salvation by working for it) requires that we not only forgive others, but wish our enemies well. It means offering to serve someone when they have not merited it. In other words, because I have been saved by sheer grace having all my sins forgiven, I could never hold anything against someone else, no matter how bad the offense. And this offering grace to others, if it is to be pleasing to God, must be in response to the grace that He has already shown us. If our forgiveness / service is not in response to Chirst, then we are merely trying to get God to owe us, slapping the Hand that has already rescued us from ourselves. So, grace (unmerited favor) demands a response: grace in return.

You know, if Christ took the sins of the world on His back and paid the penalty for Sin, and has called us to live in response to this wonderfully good news, it makes sense then that Paul would nickname this Saga "the ministry of reconciliation". It's living in such a way as to be saying "Since God has reconciled us to Himself, we will work to be reconciled to everyone else."

What do you think?

Intentionally Living A Better Story

2011-03-07T03:05:00.001-06:00

Now you can pick up a paperback copy of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: How I Learned to Live a Better Story which is written by one of my favorite authors/speakers. Check out this video:

I like this idea of intentionally living a better story. Do you think this is a helpful idea?

Growing In the Gospel

2011-03-05T02:33:00.000-06:00

Col 2:2-3 reminds me that our spiritual growth is specifically "in the knowledge of Christ". We don't graduate from the Gospel into deeper things. We will never be finished plumbing the depths of "the Mystery which is Christ". Who Jesus is, and what He has done for us is more than mere information; it has the ability to promote perpetual transformation.

John Piper says that "we will never outgrow out need to preach to ourselves the Gospel."

Likewise, Tim Keller says that "all of our problems come from a failure to apply the Gospel."

In his essay The Centrality of the Gospel (go ahead, click and read!), Keller says:

"... we never 'get beyond the gospel' in our Christian life to something more 'advanced'. The gospel is not the first 'step' in a 'stairway' of truths, rather, it is more like the 'hub' in a 'wheel' of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A to Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make all progress in the kingdom. We are not justified by the gospel and then sanctified by obedience, but the gospel is the way we grow (Gal.3:1-3) and are renewed (Col.1:6). It is the solution to each problem, the key to each closed door, the power through every barrier (Rom.1:16-17). It is very common in the church to think as follows. "The gospel is for non-Christians. One needs it to be saved. But once saved, you grow through hard work and obedience." But Col.1:6 shows that this is a mistake. Both confession and "hard work" that is not arising from and "in line" with the gospel will not sanctify you--it will strangle you. All our problems come from a failure to apply the gospel. Thus when Paul left the Ephesians he committed them "to the word of his grace, which can build you up" (Acts 20:32). The main problem, then, in the Christian life is that we have notthought out the deep implications of the gospel, we have not “used” the gospel in and on all parts of our life."

This is why my family and I will not remain a part of a faith community (or attend a church) where Jesus and His Gospel is not the center. Such an atmostphere will not promote spiritual health. For the sake of our own transformation, let us pray this prayer often:

Jesus, please help us to find you beautiful again, and again, and again...

As a bonus, here is a link to a great sermon about who Jesus is. Peace to you all!

~JS

The Unpardonable Sin

2011-03-03T10:27:00.003-06:00

No doubt, this is one of the touchiest issues in Christian doctrine. Up until this week, it made me walk on eggshells. I was with Britt at Campus Life, a program put on by Youth For Christ, and we were giving advice on dating and sex. One of the last few questions had nothing to do with dating or sex, at least on the surface. A young man to my left asked, "Are there any sins that cannot be forgiven?" Without hesitation, as though the Spirit took hold of me, I responded, "No."

I knew about the verses about blaspheming the Holy Spirit...the unpardonable sin. Yet my compulsion was to say "No." Corey, a good friend of mine, chimed in with saying, "Well, there is the unpardonable sin...blaspheming the Holy Spirit." Normally, I would get quiet and let someone else speak about it. Normally, on this subject, I would not have spoken authoritatively. Not this time. This time, I realized how the question had everything to do with relationships and intimacy.

I got louder and answered the young man with a question: "Have you ever dated a girl that, for one reason or another, you could find an excuse to break up with? Perhaps her voice annoyed you or her breath stank..." "Yeah, actually!" the young man interjected. "Well, its the same way with God. Some people sin so much that they find reasons to reject God. Maybe they hate being told no or can't stand people telling them what is right. Eventually, they harden their hearts so much to God that they never open themselves up to God's forgiveness." I looked over to see if Corey had anything to say or disagree with. Corey had a surprised yet perplexed look on his face, as though something profound had just hit him. Indeed it was profound to even me, as I thought to myself, "What just happened?"

I think that God had spoken comfort into that young man's heart; whether his question was about him or somebody he cared for very much. It was a comfort to me as well. If we are struggling with sin, the impulse should be to draw near to God through confession, and repent by surrounding ourselves with people who encourage that kind of action. In that atmosphere, our hearts are pursuing forgiveness. Sometimes, some people don't do that. They put a chasm between them and God and they let their emotions guard their minds. Like impenetrable walls, they withers away over time and, like weeds over ancient temples, their glory gets covered by the cares of the world. The unpardonable sin is only unpardonable because a person refuses to let God pardon him or her any longer. I hope this comforts you if you are struggling with sin. Let me help you overcome. Just please don't cut off your relationship with God, the relationship Christ died for to restore. I love you.

Two Cabinets Full of Treasure The Trinity, & the Incarnation

2011-03-01T23:50:00.004-06:00

In a poem called Ungratefulness, George Herbert (1593-1633) said what we here at b+B have begun to see over the last few years; that the doctrine(s) of the Trinity, and the Incarnation are unending and satisfying wells to drink from. Here is a mere snippet from the aforementioned piece:

You have but two rare cabinets full of treasure,
The Trinity, and Incarnation:
You have unlocked them both,
And made them jewels to betroth
The work of your creation
Unto your self in everlasting pleasure.

It is revealed in the Trinity that we have been born of Love. The Divine Community (Triune God), who is in need of nothing, creates man in His image, out of a desire to share His eternal joy that He has enjoyed forever within the Godhead. (Herbert confesses that we can barely even understand this concept.)

And it is revealed in the Incarnation that this Transcendent One is somehow humble. He knows who He is, so He has nothing to prove to us, save His undending love for us. The incarnation, then, is a kind of recreation. (Herbert says that what we cannot grasp in the Trinity, He makes up for in the Incarnation.)

In the beginning, God bent down and got His eternal hands dirty, forming us from dust (matter). Later, when human beings created evil and suffering, God repeatedly comes to our rescue (as is illustrated in the OT). Finally, God rescues us once and for all from our own descruction by becoming a man, and entereing into human history (Phil 2:5-10). Once again getting His hands dirty, He becomes what we could never be. He lives the life we should have lived, but couldn't. And then He does what many have called the Great Cosmic Scandel: He died the death we should have died. Our Maker became our Substitute by living and dying in our place(s).

I believe that with an understanding of these two massive doctrines, we are left only to live a life worthy of being called a response. How should our lives reflect the knowledge of the Trinity, and the Incarnation?

(Go here for more works by George Herbert, who died this day in 1633.)

The Best Lies Are Constructed With Many Truths

2011-02-27T22:45:00.001-06:00

I hate hell. If I had it my way there would be no hell. And I think that many people would agree with me.

Yet, I believe in hell. In fact, I understand the necessity for hell. Moreover, I believe I can make a convicing argument that in order for God to be all loving, he must also judge evil. However, just because I understand hell intellectually, and can make an arguement for it apologetically, doesn't mean that I have to like it.

As many of you know, I have enjoyed drinking from the wells of many theologians who are often criticized as being liberal. I have blogged about how we should learn to spit out the bones in order to enjoy precious meat (not one of my favorite analogies, but it works). Recently, Rob Bell has once again taken heat for a book that is soon to be released (March 29th, 2011) entitled Love Wins: Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. He claims that "eternal life doesn’t start when we die; it starts right now. And ultimately, Love Wins."

I have noticed a trend. Some of my favorite authors have been getting closer and closer to what is considered universalism (the belief that hell is empty, and that everyone is saved in the end). And I must admit something: I am drawn to it.

I would be thrilled if there was not hell. This is not because I am afraid of going there. I rest in the truth of the Gospel - that Christ has already paid the penalty for Sin. These guys are just taking it one step further: that Christ has actually paid for the sins (Sin) of all mankind. Now, if I am to be objective, then I must also admit that this is not entirely untrue. After all, that's basically what John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life."

I want everyone to be saved from hell, but I also want evil to be judged. I can't have it both ways... can I? And something tells me that many of the advocates for an empty hell don't want to spend eterntity in heaven with Charles Manson and the like.

So yea, I like the sound of this book, but I am not convinced that it is going to be biblically true. Here's a video describing Bell's book, and you can preorder it here. What do you think?

I'm Exhausted...and Thanking God For Energy

2011-02-21T19:54:00.002-06:00

I've had the opportunity to survey my spiritual life lately and have found that...it's quite dull. I miss my community, I'm feeling very unmotivated, and it seems that the cares of the world have crept up on me. There haven't been many spiritual highs, and my prayer life has been pretty convenience-based. I know God deserves better than that. I thank God so much for pulling me through it each time. It's good to know that God isn't the kind to just sit and wait for you to get your act straight, but is actively engaged in helping you get back on the right path. I've been finding a lot of closeness with God with writing music. Perhaps I'll write a song about it. Could you do me a favor, brother or sister, and pray for God to restore these things to Britt and I. Thanks ya'll. Love you,

Matty B

Self-centerednessThe Root of All Evil

2011-02-19T08:05:00.000-06:00

At about midday today I reflected on how I had spent my morning, and it occured to me that my every thought had been about me. I awoke thinking only of my needs, and stayed focused on me for many hours without even realizing it.

I thought about how this kind of day is not uncommon for me, and I felt ashamed because I knew that this kind of living is exactly the opposite of what Jesus has prescribed for His new humanity.

Being centered on ourselves is sort of our default, isn't it? We don't naturally spend our days thinking about the needs of others. But this is exactly the kind of life that Jesus has called everyone to.

So, how do we get from our me-centered default to Jesus' example to us - laying down our rights, and even our lives for others. I think that for me it involves beginning to see my day(s) as opportunities to serve. For example, I could get up a little earlier and make the coffee in the mornings. I could always be the one to take out the trash. And instead of trying to keep myself entertained all the time, I could take off my headphones and build upon the relationships around me. I could actually be looking for opportunities to serve, which still remains utterly countercultural even 2000 years after Christ's example to us.

God, please shake us out of our numb, self-centered default so that we may become servants to those for whom you lived, died, rose, and have called - and are still pursuing.

Deployed & Annoyed

2011-02-12T08:20:00.000-06:00

My six months in Afghanistan have been going great so far. I have been able to treat many wounded ANA (Afghan National Army) soldiers, as well as many American and Italian troops. For me, the hardest part has not been when the soldiers die, but when they bring little children to us who have been in an explosion, or shot. All I want is to adopt them, each one of them, because their lives are really sad - especially compared to my pampered, western life. I love buying shoes, eating good food, and smoking a good cigar. These kids don't even have shoes, or a coat.

And like anywhere else, I am forced to work with other human beings with whom I don't always get along. Lately, I have had the opportunity to pray for my enemies, forgive them, and even work toward reconciliation. I thank God that He is helping me to live out the ideals that Jesus has prescribed within my specifically military cultural context.

What about you... When was the last time you had to forgive someone for hurting you?

Knowing that I am not even 1/2 way through with this deployment, I am trying to find some sort of routine so that I might maintain my sanity. During my bible reading, I have been reading Acts 17 everyday. I think I am stuck on it because I'm finding Paul's sermon to be so compelling and inspiring right now. In a place where Christians seem to be the minority, I often wonder what would happen if I would stand up in my Aeropagus and proclain Christ that way. Can you imagine? I would probably get in lots of trouble.

I have, however, been able to have many spiritual conversations with many great thinkers - one of whome I have become quite good friends with. This guy has a lot of great ideas, although they often clash with mine. We have been able to discuss things (God, life, existence, etc.) in a very humble, cheritable way, rather than feeling a need to debate, or to convince the other to convert. The benefit here is that our relationship is quite intact, and even growing in spite of our differing ideas and beliefs.

In some ways, he is already living out the life that Jesus has prescribed for us to live. He just doesn't know the Originator of such (love, justice, etc.). Maybe that is why I keep reading Acts 17. My friend is like the Athenians who aren't very far from God at all, and who just need to be pointed toward the God for whom they're groping in the dark.

So for me, sharing Christ here has actually felt like good news, rather than some evangelical obligation. Likewise, I think that my friend has enjoyed sharing his ideas and beliefs about life and God with me. It has been an enjoyable, peaceable exchange, unlike many of the debates I've had with many Christians. Interesting, isn't it?

This post has been all over the place, but I just wanted to share a little bit, and thank God for helping me through it. Thank you, Jesus my Savior, for loving me, and teaching me to love others.

Pocket Hands, Ground Eyes, Open Skies

2011-02-09T03:49:00.001-06:00

We walked on by
Ignoring all the signs
Could not see the rivers in the rain
Could not see the beauty in the pain

We walked on by
A bird spoke of glories yet unknown
The sky in which it's relatives had flown
A woman who had nothing down below

Our eyes seem to be broken
Instead of our hearts
We offer empty tokens
We tally worthless marks

A field without a harvest is our prayers
The beauty that surrounds, is it really there?
A backpack full of boulders is our cares
While the eagles fly above us unaware

I've got my hands in my pocket
And my eyes to the ground
Walking along
Under open skies

I think I'll try to unlock it
Without making a sound
But, here comes a song
About a brand new life

*These lyrics were inspired by a conversation I had with our interpreter, Arman. He and I have terrific spiritual conversations all the time, even though our beliefs about God differ greatly. This song will be on my next record, to be released on iTunes Jan 2012 (New Years Eve!). Meanwhile, you can download this FREE SAMPLER, and/or pick up my latest record on iTunes, bandcamp, or cdbaby. Peace to you all. ~JS

A Day in the Life of an Ungrateful Beggar

2011-02-07T02:18:00.005-06:00

I fell asleep last night without a thought about the stars

I walked past two birds this morning without noticing their song

I complained about my breakfast, and thought about how to avoid work

I watched TV for an hour unaware below a beautiful painting of an ironic sunrise

I cast my gaze past a sun-lit ocean of interesting people, wondering if it was going to rain

Later, while the ground drank gratefully, I cursed the muddy ground as I tried to dodge the puddles

Wind swirled through my entitled soul as I took in oxygen, and released carbon dioxide

I don't care that it's free, nor how hard the trees are working, rain or shine

Life could be better, much better I often confess

My critical default is covered with a well-planned tapestry of witty monologues

As the sun goes down, I am irritated at the decrease in heat

My now is numb, my then is regretful, and my later is dreadful

As lazy afternoon fades into eve, I'm not surprised that my dinner is overcooked

I could probably do a much better job at everything around me

I think that tomorrow I'll think about what I couldn've done today

I think that tonight my asleep isn't much different than my awake

Motivations

2011-01-24T06:39:00.005-06:00

I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. But if there is one thing that I know I love, it is being a husband and a daddy. In fact, I am not sure if anyone in the world enjoys being a husband and a father as much as I do. It's like I was made for it.

And then there's the means to that end: my day job. Since I follow the way of Christ, I know that all of life is [supposed to be] worship, and that each day is sacred - an opportunity to live out His teachings. But who wakes up each day and thinks "Today is devistatingly significant!! I must seize every second..."?

Aaaaand... then there's Life. It looks you in the eye, and makes you feel small. Each passing day seems to be a reminder that I don't have it all figured out, or have any clue what's even ten feet ahead of me in this uphill trajectory. Following Dreams seems to be at war with Surviving Today. Why can't they just be friends?

And, then there's the issue of motives. As I try to live my life for Christ, I may produce great works for Him, but oh, how quickly I become puffed up about it. Or, I may do something that really seems like a selfless, generous act, but I probably have hidden reasons for doing it. And if you dig deep enough, you'll probably find that you're no different. After all, to battle selfishness is a part of being a fallen, sinful human being.

T.S. Elliot calls the greatest sin to do the right thing for the wrong reason. Of this, I am guilty as hell. In a way, I think that this phenomenon is unnavoidable. And Christ seemed to understand this:

'Beware of the scribes... these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayer' (Mark 12:38, 40).

He knew that we would pray, and then feel proud of ourselves. That we would share with the needy, and then blog about it. That we would host a great party, and then gloat when people talk about it on Facebook. We want to be acknowledged. That is why we are always amazed when someone is said to have done something completely selfless (i.e. Mother Theresa working for decades to help the needy. And even she has her critics!) After all, who is capable of really living out the ideals that Jesus has prescribed?

"The noonday devil of the Christian life is the temptation to lose the inner self while preserving the shell of edifying behavior. Suddenly I discover that I am ministering to AIDS victims to enhance my resumé. I find I renounced ice-cream for Lent to lose five excess pounds. I drop hints about the absolute priority of meditation and contemplation to create the impression that I am a man of prayer. At some unremembered moment I have lost the connection between internal purity of heart and external works of piety. In the most humiliating sense of the word, I have become a legalist." -Brennan Manning

That last part packs a punch, doesn't it? Still, I think that this drive to receive credit (as well as the longing to find significance) is what the message of Jesus directly speaks to.

"8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Eph 2:8-10)

Here, Paul shows the Ephesians 1.) that they cannot take any glory in this life, & 2.) that their lives on earth are deeply significant, and weighty, regardless of how they might feel on any given day. The context for the Ephesians was a deeply religious, works-based society, but Paul insists that following Jesus is neither religion, nor irreligion, but something else altogether. A brand new way of viewing everything (i.e. pursuing humility rather than pride/honor, reconcilation/forgiveness over revenge, others-focused-ness instead of self-centeredness.

C. S. Lewis, in his book The Great Divorce, said our lives continue on after we're dead in either of two ways. He said that they will either spiral further into selfish disentirgration (hell), or continue in the opposite trajectory - one where you seek not your own glory (heaven). This is the kind of life that Jesus has prescribed for us to live, and He actually insists that this way is Ultimate Reality - the way things really are (John 14:6).

Likewise, Tim Keller, in his book The Reason For God, says that heaven / hell is merely a continuation of the way one lived life on the earth. Life (i.e. how we treat each other, to include WHY we do the things we do), then, is extremely weighty in terms of our eternal existence.

The idea here is that our lives on earth determine our futures in eternity. The question, then, is when was the last time you searched your own heart? It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to constantly be checking our motives, because chances are... they've already been corrupted without us even noticing.

Is All Art Just Propaganda?

2011-01-21T11:34:00.002-06:00

When asked in 1971 if his art was propaganda, John Lennon answered "Sure... I am a revolutionary artist. My art is dedicated to change."

Some people, however, seem to believe that in order to produce good art, one must simply be honest, like telling a story, having no agenda other than to simply create.

"My experience also taught me that good art is never about propaganda, proving a theological point, or even about having someone come to faith. No, good art is about telling great stories and great stories are what transform lives." - BLAINE HOGAN

Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position.

While I agree that honesty is an important part of producing art, I think that this kind of romantic rhetoric about having no agenda when creating is kind of a joke. First of all, I'm not sure that this is actually possible. Name one person who doesn't have an agenda. No matter what a person puts their hands to, they have some deep rooted reason for doing so. For example, if one plants a garden, they have done so for any number of reasons, like having a desire to connect with nature, or to share the produce with others, or simply because they would like to consume food that they themselves have sewn. All art is not merely abstract, void of any agenda. Not even "good art" must necessarily be free from propaganda.

I submit that all art is, in some way, tainted with the 'P' word. All art is a reflection, representing the character & personality of the artist. And this is not a bad thing. In fact, the bible reveals to us that human beings are actually God's art, representing His very nature. The idea that we reflect God's character is a massively dignifying thought. A person who understands and believes that they have God's fingerprints, that all of their good is because of His good, is a person who has truly scratched the surface of meaning and significance. Likewise, if someone has no clue that they are reflections of their Maker, that they have value and worth, they are likely to go through life feeling empty. So, as it turns out, we - God's art - are actually propaganda machines for Him! Our stories are a part of a much larger story. That is, the Story of creation, the fall, and redemption through Christ. Every time someone does an act of justice, for example, they are - as God's art - promoting some aspect of their Designer. When a child shares one of her favorite toys, or when a husband forgives an adulterous wife, or when someone sends a care package to a soldier in Afghanastan, they are reflecting the imago Dei, fingerprints of their Designer.

For me, that is what I want my art to be about. Yes, I have an agenda. Each song I write, each picture that I draw is important. It is my hope that my art will be truthful, insightful, and, as Blaine Hogan has often said, tell of an even bigger story - the greatest Story ever told. Like Lennon, I want to be a revolutionary artist (except rather than promoting Communist propaganda, I would like to promote Christ's peacable kingdom), and I want to be dedicated to change.

Still, as someone who both creates and consumes art, I understand the negativity that comes from a piece that is saturated in an agenda. And, I think that the best pieces of art are the ones that are subjective to the viewer. For example, a song that can be taken 2 or 3 different ways. Or how 5 people can stare at a painting for an hour, and walk away with 5 different interpretations. So, yes, true art must be interpretted, but that is not to say that it is free of propaganda, "aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position."

What do you think? Is it possible to create art that is free of propaganda?

Motivations For Morality

2011-01-18T01:34:00.007-06:00

As a follower of Jesus, my life is built upon His teachings such as love your neighbor as yourself, pray for your enemies, & share with those in need. A huge part of following Jesus involves building relationships with those who are not His followers, especially people of different faith backgrounds.

One of my closest friends here is Muslim, and a really great guy. The other day we were discussing the differences between our beliefs, and here's what he had to say:

"... both our relgions seem to say the same thing - live moral lives. If everyone did this, the world would be a better place..."

As he said this, I had mixed feelings.

On one hand, I wholeheartedly agreed. I believe that if everyone adopted the teachings of Jesus, the world would be a much better place. And even if they merely strived to live morally, life on earth would drastically qualitatively improve. He was right, and my heart felt sad for the state of the world as we talked.

On the other hand, his entire premise was false. Following Jesus is nothing like any other religion, having spent my life studying what it means to be His disciple. All religions do, in fact, say the same thing: if you perform morally / spiritually, then you will be saved / accepted. But, Christianity was never meant to be thought of as a religion, since it's message states the exact opposite - that we cannot save ourselves through moral performance. Instead, we must accept God's free gift of salvation, and then respond to said rescue by living a moral life.

So, we both are pro-morality. The difference is the motivation. Christ would have us live morally in response to what He has already done for us (saving all of humanity through His death on the cross). Every other religion would tell you, at the very least, that you must save yourself by doing something (i.e. cleaning yourself up so that God will accept you).

In The Reason For God, Tim Keller said that it should make perfect sense that many unbelievers will be found with better moral track records than many Christians, since Christ even said that He came to save sinners, not those who think that they can save themselves without Him (Mark 2:17).
As for me, since I believe that Christ has already done the "cleaning", I am inspired to live a new life in response to Him (i.e. loving neighbor, praying for enemies, forgiving idiots, avoiding gossip, slander, lying, lust, greed, etc.). All my good works are done out of a heart that is grateful for having been rescued from the result of sin, which is eternal death. My new life, I live because the saving has already been accomplished on my behalf. This knowledge is what changes me, along with His indwelling Spirit which helps me.

So, yes, if everyone lived this way (morally, selflessly), the world would be a much better place. The only question that is left is this: will it actually save the soul? While the Gospel of Jesus essentially says "Hey, relax. You're OK. I have already wiped your sinful slate eternally clean. Now go, and live for Me, telling your friends about what I have done for them," religion insists the very opposite - that "you're not OK with God. If you want to be saved, you're going to have to try really, really hard, and even then you can't really know if all your efforts actually worked for you."

So, while I love that my peace-loving Muslim friends care about justice issues, helping the poor, and loving others, I am grateful for the peace that comes from having been rescued by God in Christ- something that I could never have done on my own, since I am a sinner who needs a Savior.

What about you... how do you relate to those of different cultural/religious backgrounds? What challenges do we all face? How can God's grace through Christ be shared in a way that is not a conversation-stopper, or a relationship-ender?

"I'm a Doubter, But I'm Also a Believer!"

2010-12-31T11:03:00.009-06:00

If you know me, chances are you're aware that I am a follower of Jesus. But if you're close to me, you've probably already learned that I have real issues with Christianity.

I am a Christian doubter. I am a post-Christian Christ-follower. I acknowledge so many problems with Western Evangelicalism, and yet I freely call myself a follow of Jesus. Some days, this doesn't seem to matter. But other days my thoughts sound like an unbeliever is thinking them. How easy it would be for me to write an entire list of things I sometimes doubt! However, here's a list of things that I never have trouble believing:

1. That the world would be a better place if everyone knew Christ & followed Him.
In spite of my feelings of doubt about whether or not any of this ever happened, I cannot extinguish the belief that if everyone believed and practiced the Way of Jesus, that the world would markedly be a better place. That, to me, is what Jesus wants for us: to live His Gospel out in culture so that it affects everything/everyone for the better.

2. That Christ is so great that words fail to describe His greatness.
Worship exists in my heart for Him, in spite of my conflicting thoughts and desires. The writer's of the bible seem to insist that this is because of His Spirit who actually lives within His followers. Again, I may question everything in my mind, but I cannot help but have this intense desire to follow Jesus. The only explanation is that His Spirit is constantly wooing me back to Him just as is described in the bible, because if I could "lose my belief" as some have claimed to, I would have done it already. Trust me.

3. That Church could be a really great thing.
I gave up on playing church a long time ago. Most of the church services I have attended have been inauthentic, forced, and goofy. It's always like they're either trying too hard, or not trying hard enough. But still, I cannot shake this belief that Christ's Church could be really great. I am always thinking of ways to improve the current structure(s) of things. In my heart, I know that I am meant to build community that is centered around Jesus. Call me a church-planter, call me a disciple-maker, or tell me I have a pastor's heart. I honestly don't care. I'm afraid you're label won't stick.

4. That Jesus lives as GOD in every sense of the word.
I've already touched on this in #2, but I think that it deserves it's own number. In Christianity, the idea that Christ is both 100%God & 100%man is pretty much what sets orthodoxy apart from heresy. If you cannot accept Christ's deity along with His humanity, then you shouldn't call yourself a Christian. Still, many have felt that to uphold this is to sacrifice at least some portion of their intellectual integrity. And honestly, I totally respect that. Yet, I don't believe that worshipping Christ as God is intellectual suicide. In fact, it has actually been my proof that Christianity is really real.

The church has long dubbed this idea "Regeneration", and it is considered to be a miracle. However, don't think even for a minute that to believe in the miraculous means that you must "just believe", like some cheesy Christmas movie. Regeneration IS actually the proof that allows your sound mind to, not only concede, but whole-heartedly believe in Christ as Messiah, and as Creator of all things.

5. That the Gospel is good news for everyone, no matter their religious / sexual / cultural background.
Yes, I'm about to walk the line. Christ is for everyone, whether or not you are a Buddhist, a Muslim, an agnostic, a rapist, a murderer, an occultist, a homosexual, and even a metrosexual mega-church pastor. This is not to say that "all roads lead to the same place"; I am not promoting universalism (a belief that everyone gets into heaven no matter what). But if the message about Jesus is anything, it is definitely NOT about excluding people.

Now God loves all people exclusively, and He wants our exclusive love in return, but I believe that there is a lot of wiggle room as to how people can follow Jesus. Must they "forsake everything and follow" Him? I would answer "Yes, just like everyone else", but what of the rest of us American Christians who are still holding onto countless things. Things that, at the end of the day, aren't too different from that of a buddhist disciple of Jesus who is working out His salvation with fear and trembling, or a muslim who is trying to figure out what Christ is all about, or a Charismatic Protestant who is trying to re-center on Christ, or a Roman Catholic who desires to untangle the theological web of their upbringing, or a homosexual teenager who desperately needs to realize that he's valuable to God. Aren't we all brothers and sisters with all kinds of baggage?

Some of said baggage is labeled as religion, but other more acceptable things are equally as idolatrous! For instance, I know many Christians who are deeply religious about how comfortable their lifestyle is, or what kind of schools are acceptable for their children to attend. You see, countless versions of the same baggage, and Christ loves each of us the same. Living out the Gospel, then, must involve helping one another carry these loads (and in some cases, helping them to let it go).

After saying all this, I must add that none of this is black & white. I believe that people should follow Jesus within their cultural framework, even if it is pagan (as in the United States). Contextualizing the message of Jesus is in essence what Christianity has always been about, which may be why Christianity was mistakenly Romanized, and later Americanized. These were great attempts at contextualization, but epic failures (IMO) at creating an attractive counter-culture. I could go on, but I won't.

And, there you have it. These 5 things I cannot shake. What things can you "not shake"? Can people of other religions still worship Christ? If so, how? Where's the line?

Perfectly Flawed

2010-12-28T14:25:00.006-06:00

Is humanity perfect or flawed? To admit that we are flawed seems to say something about our Maker, doesn't it? I think this is the kind of conversation that Brian McLaren was speaking to when he wrote about getting away from a Platonic perfection, and getting back to a Jewish goodness.

Think about it. When Jesus created humanity (Col 1:16, John 1:3), He didn't say that we were perfect; He said we were quite good (Gen 1:31).

At the time this blog was created, I was passing around something that had been dubbed as "Jason's monologue". It was a mini-sermon that I had set to some spacey music, in which I talked about how God had purposely made us flawed - perfectly imperfect. I suggested that God receives great satisfaction from watching His creation journey through life, making decisions, and even mistakes.

And if you think about it, without humanity's propensity toward selfishness, there would be no need for God's forgiveness, or His amazing grace that reaches us even when we think we are beyond redemption. In fact, there probably wouldn't be such a thing as Christian joy either, since it is based upon this overwhelming sense that we do not deserve His wonderful love.

So, as it turns out, we aren't perfect, but God still places tremendous value on us, calling us very good. Goodness, then, seems to have nothing to do with being perfect, does it?

///APPLICATION///

How does this affect our daily lives? Here's an excerpt from one of my favorite books that I think seems to be asking what a beggar's life can be like once our deep-rooted desire to be perfect has been relinquished:

"The noonday devil of the Christian life is the temptation to lose the inner self while preserving the shell of edifying behavior. Suddenly I discover that I am ministering to AIDS victims to enhance my resumé. I find I renounced ice-cream for Lent to lose five excess pounds. I drop hints about the absolute priority of meditation and contemplation to create the impression that I am a man of prayer. At some unremembered moment I have lost the connection between internal purity of heart and external works of piety. In the most humiliating sense of the word, I have become a legalist. I have fallen victim to what T.S. Elliot calls the greatest sin: to do the right thing for the wrong reason.

'Beware of the scribes... these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayer' (Mark 12:38, 40). Jesus did not have a naive outlook on prayer. He knew it could be counterfeited by spiritual, hypocrisy, wordiness, & sensationalism. The noonday devil is not intimidated by the boundaries of time.

The letter of James counsels: 'Confess your sins to one another' (James 5:16). This salutary practice aims to guide us in accepting ownership of our ragamuffin status, but as Dietrich Bonhoeffer noted: 'He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness. The final breakthrough to fellowship does not occur because, thought they have fellowship with one another as believers and as devout people, they do not have fellowship as the undevout, as sinners. The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So everyone must conceal his sin from himself and from their fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!" (THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL, BRENNAN MANNING, PAGE 131-132)

My Recruiter Lied To Me

2010-12-22T21:30:00.001-06:00

When I first joined the military, my recruiter told me that I "would probably never deploy". He told me how the Air Force "takes care of families", trying to convince me to join. Yet here I am today, getting ready to deploy to the desert.

I think we have done the same thing in Christianity. We know that following Jesus is costly, and we know that He is worth it. But, I think that we feel the need to sugar-coat it a little bit, don't we? As if making disciples means playing recruiter. (Does it?)

Most of us have heard a sermon or two on "the cost of discipleship", or something to that affect. I have been a Christian for a while, but I have yet to see this play out in real life. Come on Christians... when you became a disciple of Jesus, did your recruiter tell you about how Jesus told His followers that they would be hated for His sake? (Matt 10:22, Mark 13:13, Luke 21:17, John 15:18)

Think about it. When was the last time you counted your pain, and chalked it up to "suffering for Jesus"? What's worse, many of us are probably guilty of blaming our pain on other things such as "the devil", or "God's will".

Life is a wonderful gift, but it can be awfully painful at times. I think that our suffering is neither caused by God, nor the devil. Rather, I think that most of our suffering is caused by people.

What kind of life do you think you deserve? One adorned with pleasure? At least some amount of happiness? Do we curse God in our heart every time something terrible happens to us, or do we have a sense that we truly deserve nothing better? Shouldn't Christ-followers be the least entitled?

From reading the bible, I have learned that we deserve nothing short of death. Jesus' message is that we don't get what we deserve, and thank God for that!

If I die while fighting a war overseas, God remains good, does He not? Who are we to question our end? Nobody is guaranteed tomorrow, right? And truthfully, nobody deserves it either. We're all a bunch of lawbreakers who have been delivered from the death-sentence. Anything more than that is far more than what we could possibly deserve. All this to say that God owes us neither His protection, nor His favor. I don't care how many OT scriptures you have claimed for yourself.

This line of thinking is what makes conversations with some people unbearable for me these days. Everyone wants to tell me how sure they are that I will not die over there, but they cannot possibly know that. It is not faith that prompts them to say such things, but a lack of faith. For if they truly believed that God was good no matter what, they would instead say "...even if you die in war, I know that God will be with your family when you're gone". That, to me, is far more comforting to hear than merely spouting bad theology (i.e. "God's on your side, so nothing bad can happen to you; You have God's favor; claim His blessings; etc.")

But, we don't talk like that in Christendom, do we? We'd rather pretend that we're Christian-invincible.

The next time your tell someone about Jesus, I dare you to be honest about it. Tell them it's going to be difficult sometimes. Tell them about the days when they'll doubt everything. And then tell them how worth it He is.

What keeps us from being realist-Christians?

To the Angel of the Church In Ephesus, Write:

2010-12-21T20:46:00.007-06:00

I did a lot of studying on this message, and it had perplexed for a long time...up until now.

In Revelation 2:1-7, the congregation in Ephesus is addressed, saying:

"These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."

Basically, what happened is that, John was the overseer of the church in Ephesus, and that they had shown brilliant love and faith while they were under the care of the Apostles. But once John was exiled to Patmos, the church in Ephesus fell from its former glory. The congregation went back to their own worries. Perhaps they stopped meeting regularly. Perhaps scandals started going on in the church and many asked, "Should we leave then? I cannot participate in something I disagree with." One thing is for sure, they did not tolerate anyone coming in and dividing them. Christ's words to them was, "Get it together and take charge of you community. John is not your crutch. John did not make the church in Ephesus shine in its former glory. I did." If they no longer loved each other, what evidence of faith in Christ was there? Christ threatened to take their church away from them. It wasn't because Christ had not tended to their needs, but because they had not tended to each other. How can we learn from this?

In Ephesians 3:16-18, Paul says to the Ephesian church, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
You see, Christ is telling us to return to our first love, Jesus Himself, so that our hearts may be filled with faith, and that faith will, with the Spirit, produce love that will be evidence of His work in us. We can never stop thirsting for Christ, because we will never stop thirsting. If it isn't the Spirit of Christ that we drink, we will seek after other spirits.

Some may read this and say, "Wow. That sounds like our church." If so, then perhaps the entire congregation should not wait for a figurehead to lead them to it. Why not get together and start it on your own? When Todd left my church the first time, the flock scattered. But me and two other individuals went out and got them all together and we started our own Bible study, and our congregation was blessed twofold because of it. I think it's time we get back to doing that. When I get back, I intend to start Bagels For Christ full speed. If you say that you need that and you never show up, then maybe you don't. I hope to see everyone interested at the Bagel Stop on Friday, January 7th, 2011 at 6pm. Let's take care of each other in faith and love. I love you all.

Matty

If Mary And Joseph Had Facebook

2010-12-20T15:24:00.001-06:00