Going to Church

There are a lot of reasons to go to a church. One might go because the doctrine and theology of the church is appealing. One might go because the music is good or the pastor preaches well. One might go to meet people or because of family ties. One might go out of a perceived duty or obligation.

He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. -Luke 4:16

Why did Jesus go?

Choosing Hell

Hell is something that most people don't talk about but when they do they typically fall into three camps: people who believe that a loving God will not send anyone to hell, people who believe that God allows people to choose hell, and people who believe that God condemns people to hell. The distinction between the latter two appears at first to just be spin. After all, who would choose to be tortured? It is like saying that criminals choose jail by committing a crime. Most prisoners would jump at the chance for freedom but have been condemned to prison and must be guarded so they don't escape.

I don't think "choosing hell" is meant in the same way as a prisoner "choosing jail." One doesn't have to look to far to find lots of people who choose of their own free to be chained and tormented. These people don't need to be guarded; they don't want to escape. Living long enough in this world makes it easy to convince me that in the next world, Hell will have no walls or guards.

The Pessimistic Christ

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. --John 2:23-25

Jesus loved us to the extent of dying for us and there is no greater love than that. But He also saw things as they really are. The same Christ that taught us to love men also taught us to beware of them.

Contradictions

For some reason today I remembered a particular evening when I was dining with a group mostly consisting of strangers. I don't remember much about the conversion aside from a conversation which I overhead parts of but that I wasn't involved in. Toward the beginning of the evening, before the food had been brought out, a man was talking to several women about how Christians aren't bright enough to see the contradiction that a loving God would send people to hell. What kind of Father would torture his children for anything that they did wrong no matter how wicked? Everyone seemed to agree that this was plainly unbelievable.

Then out came food and I stopped listening in on the conversation. After the meal had completed and the dishes had been cleared, I heard the same man talking again to the same group of ladies. This time he was talking about another silly Christian belief. He was saying that Christians believe that if Hitler genuinely repented in his heart on his deathbed he could be in heaven right now. How can God be just and yet allow a single act of contrition to erase an entire lifetime of evil? Everyone again seemed to agree with his point.

Christianity is paradoxical in many ways but it is not contradictory like atheism. An atheist can despise God before dinner for sending anyone to hell and then despise God after dinner for not sending enough people to hell.

Needs

If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " -Mark 11:3

I find it absolutely amazing that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, could need anything, much less a donkey. Moreover, the donkey was even prophesied about hundreds of years in advance. If a donkey can play such a role in God's plan for the salvation of the world, what plans might he have for us?

Mercy, Judgment, Redemption

I'm fascinated at the way God handles sin. There seems to be three phases and I'll use Adam and Eve as an example. The first phase is the mercy phase. After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit the only change was that their eyes were opened to evil. But they were not expelled from the garden and they did not "surely die." The only thing that happened to them was a change in their character. The second phase is the judgment phase. After God confronts Adam and Eve and they refuse to acknowledge their sin they are expelled from the garden and cursed. The third phase is redemption. We all know how that came about.

I see similar phases with me and lots of people I've known. First God allows us to sin with apparently no consequences whatsoever. Then, after a time, judgment comes. Finally after suffering enough we find redemption by turning back to God.

Significance

Even in the early church, dating back to the time of Paul. severe doctrinal differences crept into the church. Many of these heretics are called out and condemned by name in several of the New Testament books. We don't live in an ideal world but I do wonder how much different things would be if so many people were not so disposed to use any means necessary, including lies, to achieve worldly significance.

Source of Life

Who did Jesus help anyhow? Lazarus was raised from dead but Death followed quickly behind the voice of Christ and swallowed him up again. Christ visited many town and His hands healed many people but for every one that he healed how many more in the same instant elsewhere became ill? The Apostle John refers to Christ's healings more often as signs than as miracles. As signs they were not the final intent of His ministry but served to point the final intent.

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” -John 10:10

Physical health and material riches pass away but true Life through Christ is forever. It is for freedom that He set us free to live abundant life. The martyrs testify through their blood that nothing in this world, no tyrant, disease or calamity can take from us our true Life and our true Freedom.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -Romans 8:38

Relationships

Having a relationship with God is pretty easy because God is perfect and He loves perfectly. Having a relationship with a person though is hard because they are often wrong, arrogant, spiteful, and generally sinful all around. On the other hand, having a relationship with God is hard because He cannot be seen and His voice is not usually audible. With people we have the advantage of immediate and clear communication even if we don't like what is communicated. So maybe both are hard and both are easy.

Specialization

Living in a specialized society certainly has its perks. It means that instead of spending 6 hours work on my car, I can take it to a mechanic who has expertise and only needs to work 1 hour on it. It means I don't have to grow my food, build my own house, etc. It is what enables us to have the quality of life that we currently enjoy. The downside is that it becomes much easier to be disconnected from the reality of what makes our world go 'round. Specialization produces people who can talk about the barbarism of animal sacrifice while eating a hamburger.

Practical Faith

Faith is too often not regarded as something practical. It it described as mystical, spiritual, holy, etc. but never practical. I think this is unfortunate. What is more practical than living in the knowledge that the world is fading, that we are dust and will return to dust? Living with this knowledge what could be more practical than turning to embrace our Creator with love and eternity in our hearts?

"A man is no fool to give up what he can never keep to gain that which he can never lose"
-Jim Eliot, missionary/martyr

Theotokos

Theotokos is a greek title for Mary that literally translated means "God-bearer" or "One who gives birth to God." Jesus has only been physically born into the world once and that was through Mary. But we all share a very similar calling. Mary was called on to open her womb to the Lord and we are called to open our hearts to Him. By saying "yes", Mary brought Christ into the world and became "One who gives birth to God." By saying "yes", we bring Christ into the world to ourselves and the people arounds. By saying "yes", we become "God-bearers."

Anonymous

I think it would really be interesting to do a study on anonymous Biblical figures. 100 or 200 years from now, its very likely that no one will remember our names or who we were. Yet our faith, like the the faith of these anonymous faithful, will have eternal impact.

Bread of Life II

If God can fill simple bread and wine with the presence of Christ in response to a simple prayer, what will he do when we pray that He fill us with His presence?

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" - Matthew 7:9-11

Bread of Life

A loaf of bread cannot do very much; it is only good for feeding a few people. In the hands of Jesus though, a loaf of bread feeds multitudes. The life of a single person can only do so much good in the world. What can that life do though when it is put into the hands of Jesus?

Family

The first command of God to mankind was to be fruit and multiply, essentially to create families. In the end, God Himself was willing to come and die a painful death for the purpose of creating a family. Everyone I've heard who talks about what really matters in life talks about family. So why do families seem to be breaking apart now?

Terrible

God flooded a world, lead wars, brought death into the world as punishment for sin, cursed women to have painful childbirth, cursed man to work the ground all his life, stuck people dead, struck people mute, had them mauled by lions, starved people, and so on and so on. Probably the worst punishment ever inflicted by God is when he hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he could no longer repent of his evil. It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of a living God.

Joy

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- Galatians 5:22-23

The fruits of the Spirit are difficult fruits to cultivate. I've found the most difficult to be the cultivation of true Christian joy - joy in the face of hardships, challenges, or even during the uneventful times. I wonder if the fruits of the Spirit were the parts of a house if joy wouldn't be the root? After we have sowed the seeds of peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control perhaps then we reap the reward of the servants of God - boundless joy. All the other fruits can be practiced, but how can one practice the joy of God without having first labored to nurture it? My striving, the entire aim of my life, is to grow so that one day I can open my leaves and drink in the fullness of the Light of the Son and feel His joy coursing down to my roots.

What Counts

"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love" -Gal 5:6

Everyone's relationship with God is unique like a snowflake or a fingerprint. Therefore, it shouldn't be surprising that we relate to God in different ways and that we draw closer to Him in our unique ways. One can concede the fact that there are multiple paths to God without descending to pluralism. Out of the multitude of the flock there over time arises a multitude of religious traditions. Each saint is drawn to God in different ways and as the number of saints increases so does the number of traditions. This is a good thing because it allows us to learn from one another. If one man draws closer to God by repeating mantras, perhaps many can. If one woman draws close by singing songs, perhaps many can. The only thing to remember when following traditions is to remember what it is that really counts.

Helpful

If Scripture shows you how everyone except you is living wrong then you're not reading it right.

Psalms

"Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."
-Psalm 51:10-12

Often a a simple psalm is worth more than a volume of insights or theological cleverness. I have the feeling that God values the psalms sung by our hearts more than he values the ideas conceived by our minds.

Faith And Works

A group of young Christians came to speak to a well-renowned Professor about a certain matter they had been discussing. They all stood together now in his office and after a brief awkward silence, a student stepped forward, cleared his throat and asked, "Teacher, we've been taught that everyone does evil and that God hates evil. But how are we saved?" The teacher paused for moment and then asked, "What is it that the teachers of the Scriptures have taught you?"

The student who had asked the question replied, "They teach that men are saved by faith alone. They teach what the Apostle Paul taught when he wrote 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.' If we could earn our way to heaven why would Jesus have had to come and die?"

A second student immediately replied, "I've been taught that saying that we are saved by faith alone is just Easy-Believism. If we are saved only by faith then why does James write that faith without works is dead? Why does he ask, rhetorically, if such a faith can save? Do you believe that dead faith alone is all you need? Clearly we need faith and works!"

A this moment a third student interjected, "This hair-splitting between faith and works is ridiculous! A work, like giving to poor, is clearly a work and we all recognize it as such. But is believing a certain way any less of a work? Giving to the poor is a work done by hands and believing a creed is a work done by the mind but both are works. Both require something of us. If we use honest terms you'll all agree that we're saved by works, and works alone, because what else is there in life? Everything we say, think, do, dream, imagine - it's all a work of some sort."

All the students began to speak at the same time arguing amongst themselves so that they didn't notice the Professor gathering his things to leave for the day until he had stood up from his desk and walked halfway to the door that the group was presently blocking. Reminded again of his presence and why they had come , they all fell silent and gazed at him waiting to see whose side he would choose and what his arguments were.

The Teacher paused and said to them, "We are not saved by faith. Neither are we saved by works." Then he passed through the crowd and walked out of the office.

Upside Down

Homosexuality is preached against from nearly every pulpit, but why is it that so few people take a stand against rampant pre-martial sex?

Why do we swat at the gnats but ignore the bees?

Knowledge

"Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin." Proverbs 10:14

Some things, like knowledge, are good for their own sake.

A Heartless Apostle

The Apostle Paul writes this, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'" This sounds heartless to some modern thinking especially when one considers that God freely gives everything to us whether we earn it or not. Or does he?

When the Israelites where held in bondage by the Egyptians with no hope or means of any kind of escape God answered their many prayers and fought the Egyptians on their behalf. He worked powerful miracles and destroyed Pharaoh's army in the sea without any Israelite needing to lift a hand. Yet once they had been freed and became a people capable of forging weapons and assembling armies, God stopped doing all the fighting for them. They had to fight their own battles and shed their own blood, though God continued to bless their efforts. When they wandered the barren desert and were unable to grow crops, God provided manna from heaven. Yet when they were about to enter the promised land, the manna ceased to appear and they had to provide their own food.

It is not for lack of faith that we work with our own hands or even save a portion of the fruits of our labor. It is not for lack of a heart that many of us find the idea of subsidizing laziness a revolting one. God lifted up the helpless until they could stand on their own feet at which point they were expected to. Sounds like a good plan.

Theology of Freedom

Many of the doctrinal differences between different sects of the Christian faith are close relatives of each other in the sense that they diverge from a common point. That common point is the question of how the goodness of freedom is to be balanced against its potential misuse to do evil.

Consider the doctrine of the communion of saints as an example. Some sects allow or even encourage their members to ask for the intercession of departed brothers and sisters in the faith. Since God is the God of the living, can we imagine an afterlife where the departed faithful were cut off from communion with God? And if they continue to live and commune with God and are a "cloud of witnesses" about us, why can't we ask for their intercession as we might ask those living in the world to intercede for us? Other sects disallow this practice out of the fear that it might to into idolatry. They fear the possibility that their members will fall into the practice of praying to their ancestors as though they had the power of gods and were gods. It is reasoned that any potential benefits derived from these additional intercessors is not worth the risk of falling into idolatry. So the disputes are not so much over the doctrine so much as the balancing of freedom against abuse.

This is but one example among a larger set of similarly related doctrines. Consider the differing doctrines pertaining to dancing, drinking, eating meat, etc. When reflecting on these we must reflect on the fundamental question of freedom. And when reflecting on this fundamental question we should consider the type of world that our loving Father decided in His wisdom to create for us and the remarkable extent of the freedom He grants us in it, either to do good or to do evil.

Bricks

A brick might be put to use for building for a church of God which would be a very good thing or a brick might be put to use for smashing a work of art or destroying a human body which would be a great evil. A brick though is just a brick.

Jesus and David

Jesus and David have a lot in common. Jesus participated in weddings, feasts, and festivals while David danced enthusiastically out his overflowing joy. Both were chastised on account on these actions. Both men wept bitterly during their lives. Both men lived in a type of exile. Both developed friendships so deep and meaningful that they were willing to die for them. Both spoke plainly and honestly to God, not holding anything back or hiding behind words. Maybe that's why Scripture calls David a man after God's own heart.

Any Moment

Any moment can be the start of a new life.

Creation

God is creative. The very first thing we learn about God in the very first book of the Bible is that He likes to create things. When we worship, we imitate God by creating from nothing something that is good and pleasing to Him. When someone writes a worship song they create something that did not exist before to honor God and when God's people join in singing it they create with their voices harmony and sound where there was only empty air before. Worship though is not limited to music or singing but springs forth wherever something good is created to fill a chasm - whether it is art, speech, text, prayer, good deeds, etc. In fact, one could define worship in this way: worship is the act of imitating God by creating what is good as an offering of love to Him.

Love

Without love Christianity is what its enemies claim it is.

Cutting Both Ways

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much." Luke 16:10

This verse is often used as reason to not entrust someone with more responsibility or authority. However, this is a sword that cuts both ways as many parables are. We should use this wisdom to avoid giving more responsibility to someone who clearly cannot handle it, but we should also remember that when someone does prove trustworthy with little that we should not shrink back from trusting them with more. When we start thinking of these parables in only one way, we start losing opportunities to better our lives and the lives of other around us.

Hugs

Nice Idea: Hug a friend.
Good Idea: Hug a stranger.
Great Idea: Hug an enemy.

Holiness

Holiness is a narrow road and its a middle road that winds its way between two extremes. On the one side of the road there is the idea that we live only for our own pleasure. On the other side, there is the idea that we must not taste or touch or engage in details of life for fear that we might dirty ourselves in the process. While both of these ideas are dangerous the latter is more so because it is an imitation of true holiness rather than an outright rebellion against it. True holiness exercises the fullness of the freedom God has granted us for His glory. Fake holiness shys away from the exercise of freedom out of fear because it is not motivated by love of God or people but by the zealous observance of rules and regulations.

Reverence

Its amazing to observe how reverently and with such respect people receive the Eucharist. Care is taken to ensure that no part of the Sacrament falls to or touches the floor and it is received in pious silence. Even when passing in front of the alter, respect is given by a show of reverence because the alter holds the Sacrament. And the respect and reverence itself is not even so amazing as the fact that it is so universally practiced and expected.

It seems markedly incongruous that some of the same believers who treat the Eucharist with such respect do not think they ought to show respect for their own bodies. How can we truly honor what does not even appear to be flesh of God when we do not honor what is clearly flesh made in the image of God? If we bow before alters made by men because they house the Sacrament how should we treat our bodies, created by God, which house the Holy Spirit?

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." -- 1 Cor 6:19-20

Parenting

Parenting is such a difficult task because it requires walking a fine line. On the one hand children must be allowed the freedom and liberty to learn and grow - to be tempted and challenged and to learn how to overcome those obstacles. This requires faith and trust in the children and your own ability as a parent. On the other hand it is also the duty of a parent to know their children well enough to know when they are significant danger and to then restrict them for their own protection. This requires the courage to say "no" when its in the best interest of the child. Loving parents engage in this difficult task so that their children will grow to love God and will learn to serve him in a fallen world.

We ought to have the same goal in mind for ourselves, that is to grow into the likeness of Christ and the technique is the same. How much thought do we give to parenting ourselves and what does the way we've grown say about our parenting skills?

Encouragement

Encouragement is telling someone who they really are.

Bells and Horns

Greed, lust, deception, fear, vanity, pride ...

These are our calls to prayer. We carry around our own bells in our hearts if only we'd listen for the ringing.