I need to know the facts, I need proof and I research things a bit compulsively. My whole life I've taken Christianity as the "one and only true religion" based on faith. One day I picked up a book by Greg Boyd titled "Letters from a Skeptic" and it changed my life. It's a book of letters between Greg Boyd, a Christian, and his atheist father. The book opened my eyes to the deep questions that skeptics have about Christianity, as well as the apologetics ("defense") of the faith. I became fascinated with the "defense" and "proof" of the historical accuracy and philosophical defense of the Christian faith. For several years I have been reading book upon book of apologetics and theology. For the last year or so I have gone a step farther and started chatting with people of different faiths (and no faith) -- and it has rocked my world. It's one thing to read books from Christians defending the faith, but it's an entire other thing to discuss faith with people who are as ingrained in their belief (or lack of belief) as Christians who are ingrained in their belief. To be honest, I had become overly confident in my ability to defend what I believe. I had become quite arrogant that if anyone didn't believe in Jesus, they were intellectually dishonest -- and it wasn't in an arrogant way -- I just honestly couldn't see why people, if they did their "homework", didn't believe in Jesus. Since I have spent time talking with many people of various faith and non-faith backgrounds, I can see why many people can be very confused because there is an overwhelming amount of religions and philosophies to choose from (not including the many different "Christian" sects!). I was spending time on beliefnet.com in Christian debate forums getting my butt handed to me on a platter by Jews, athiests, and Noahic believers who knew what they believed, why they believed what they believed and why the don't believe in Jesus. It was humbling, and pretty much faith rattling for me. I thought I had all the answers!
I've learned that I have a lot to learn about Christianity -- and I've come to realize that we don't have enough years in our life expectancy to learn about all of the different religions out there. And on the other side of the coin I believe that there is more than enough time for being confused about Christianity, or any religion for that matter. There are so many questions I could ask about Christianity, and so many intellectual and philosophical questions that could literally drive me crazy trying to figure them all out. It could consume me very easily. I have been consumed more than I want to on questions about Christianity and why I believe what I believe -- and if I'm believing in something that isn't "proovable" to my satisfaction. I've been very uncomfortable in my faith for about the last year -- a feeling kind of like if you're just leaving for a trip and you know that you're forgetting something very important but you don't know what it is.
I think I figured out what it is.
I was sitting in church this weekend listening to our pastor, Greg Boyd (the same "jerk" that wrote the book "Letters from a Skeptic" that got me questioning everything!) talking about love, and I had a thought something like this: I think the most valuable thing in life is love in relationships -- I don't think anyone would argue with this -- and if I'm to figure out what is true --of -- if I need peace that I'm following the right "spiritual path", I think I can hang my hat on choosing the one that best explains "love".
Is there any better story of love than the gospel? If love is the most amazing thing in our live, wouldn't it make sense that love runs the universe -- doesn't the gospel explain love so perfectly?
I know I could spend the rest of my life questioning everything -- spending a LOT of energy making sure I had all the answers for why this religion is wrong and why my religion is right, but I think that would be a sad way to spend my life. I choose to spend my life aiming for self sacrificial love as displayed perfectly by Jesus.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Doubt and the Vain Search for Certainty
Fantastic article for anyone who wrestles with needing certainty for things. Click here
Here's an excerpt:
Two major surveys of the religious beliefs of scientists, carried out at the beginning and end of the twentieth century, bear witness to a highly significant trend. One of the most widely held beliefs within atheist circles has been that, as the beliefs and practices of the “scientific” worldview became increasingly accepted within western culture, the number of practicing scientists with any form of religious beliefs would dwindle to the point of insignificance. A survey of the religious views of scientists, undertaken in 1916, showed that about 40% of scientists had some form of personal religious beliefs. At the time, this was regarded as shocking, even scandalous. The survey was repeated in 1996, and showed no significant reduction in the proportion of scientists holding such beliefs, seriously challenging the popular notion of the relentless erosion of religious faith within the profession. The survey cuts the ground from under those who argued that the natural sciences are necessarily atheistic. Forty percent of those questioned had active religious beliefs, 40% had none (and can thus legitimately be regarded as atheist), and 20% were agnostic.
The stereotype of the necessarily atheist scientist lingers on in western culture at the dawn of the third millennium. It has its uses, and continues to surface in the rehashed myths of the intellectual superiority of atheism over its rivals. The truth, as might be expected, is far more complex and considerably more interesting.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
What('s) the hell?
I struggle with the concept of the hot, fiery, tortuous eternity in hell for non-believers -- I just have a hard time picturing Jesus allowing someone to burn baby burn. So, I've been reading different perspectives on the topic of hell that makes more sense to me. I may never understand hell, but what I do believe is that there is a choice to live for God or not, and that the end will be different based on that choice. I'm thinking that living for God will have a better final destination.
Here's a very good article I found on heck..
Click here for the rest of the article
Here's a very good article I found on heck..
Why We Need Hell
It is tragic that some Christians have been so battered with stories of a prideful, vindictive God that they have fled from Jesus’ fold. No wonder some become atheists; who would want to spend eternity with such a tyrant?Click here for the rest of the article
Thursday, June 07, 2007
God is Pro-Choice
What if you had a child that was the perfect student, the perfect citizen, the perfect brother, nephew and so on and so on -- yet, he rejected you as a parent? He did everything to please everyone in his life, except honor you?
Silly example, but if your pet dog is nice to all of the neighborhood dogs, and can do all the tricks in the world, but still bites you everytime he's around you, you have no choice but to part ways no matter how much you love him. Same with God, if you reject him at every turn in your life, He will eventually give you what you want -- eternity without Him -- even though that's the last thing he wants. God will make every attempt to reach you (by your conscience, people in your life, etc.), but he will always give you your choice -- your free will -- to choose or accept him.
The laws that God gave to Moses (the big 10) instruct us to treat our fellow humans well (the last 6 of the 10) BUT also to honor God (the first 4). If we are only doing good to our fellow humans, that is great, but we are still ignoring our creator/master/savior.
Jesus said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Fortunately, God does want to be with us for eternity! All we have to do is have a relationship with him and trust Him that he is God, and he knows what's best for us. God is pro-Choice!
Silly example, but if your pet dog is nice to all of the neighborhood dogs, and can do all the tricks in the world, but still bites you everytime he's around you, you have no choice but to part ways no matter how much you love him. Same with God, if you reject him at every turn in your life, He will eventually give you what you want -- eternity without Him -- even though that's the last thing he wants. God will make every attempt to reach you (by your conscience, people in your life, etc.), but he will always give you your choice -- your free will -- to choose or accept him.
The laws that God gave to Moses (the big 10) instruct us to treat our fellow humans well (the last 6 of the 10) BUT also to honor God (the first 4). If we are only doing good to our fellow humans, that is great, but we are still ignoring our creator/master/savior.
Jesus said: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Fortunately, God does want to be with us for eternity! All we have to do is have a relationship with him and trust Him that he is God, and he knows what's best for us. God is pro-Choice!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Intolerance is Not a Bad Word
Below is a great article about tolerance. It's not really intolerant, unless you are one who is intolerant of people who may challenge your beliefs about intolerance.
When Tolerance Is Intolerant
By Greg Koukl
There’s one word that can stop you in your track. That word is “tolerance.”
Let’s take a look at the confusing and mistaken ways tolerance is used in our culture today.
Using the modern definition of tolerance, you will see that no one is tolerant, or ever can be. It’s what my friend Frank Beckwith calls the “passive aggressive tolerance trick.” Let’s start with a real life example.
I had the privilege of speaking to seniors at a Christian high school in Des Moines. I wanted to alert them to this “tolerance trick,” but I also wanted to learn how much they had already been taken in by it. I began by writing two sentences on the board
"All views have equal merit and none should be considered better than another."
“Jesus is the Messiah and Judaism is wrong for rejecting that.”
They all nodded in agreement as I wrote the first sentence. As soon as I finished writing the second, though, hands flew up. “You can’t say that,” a coed challenged, clearly annoyed. “That’s disrespectful. How would you like it if someone said you were wrong?”
“In fact, that happens to me all the time,” I pointed out, “including right now with you. But why should it bother me that someone thinks I’m wrong?”
“It’s intolerant,” she said, noting that the second statement violated the first statement. What she didn’t see was that the first statement also violated itself.
I pointed to the first statement and asked, “Is this a view, the idea that all views have equal merit and none should be considered better than another?” They agreed.
Then I pointed to the second statement—the “intolerant” one—and asked the same question: “Is this a view?” They studied the sentence for a moment. Slowly my point began to dawn on them. They’d been taken in by the tolerance trick.
If all views have equal merit, then the view that Christians have a better view on Jesus than Jews is just as true as the idea that Jews have a better view on Jesus than Christians. But this is hopelessly contradictory. If the first statement is what tolerance amounts to, then no one can be tolerant because “tolerance” turns out to be gibberish.
“Would you like to know how to get out of this dilemma?” I asked. They nodded. “Return to the classic view of tolerance and reject this modern distortion.” Then I wrote these two principles on the board:
“Be egalitarian regarding persons.”
“Be elitist regarding ideas.”[1]
The first principle is true tolerance, what might be called “civility.” It can loosely be equated with the word “respect.” Tolerance applies to how we treat people we disagree with, not how we treat ideas we think false. Tolerance requires that every person is treated courteously, no matter what her view, not that all views have equal worth, merit, or truth.
To say I’m intolerant because I disagree with someone’s ideas is confused. The view that one person’s ideas are no better or truer than another’s is simply absurd and contradictory. To argue that some views are false, immoral, or just plain silly does not violate any meaningful definition or standard of tolerance.
The irony is that according to the classical notion of tolerance, you can’t tolerate someone unless you disagree with him. We don’t “tolerate” people who share our views. They’re on our side. There’s nothing to “put up” with. Tolerance is reserved for those who we think are wrong, yet we still choose to treat them decently and with respect.
This essential element of classical tolerance—elitism regarding ideas—has been completely lost in the modern distortion of the concept. Nowadays if you think someone is wrong, you’re called intolerant no matter how you treat them.
Whenever you’re charged with intolerance, always ask for a definition, then point out the contradiction built in to this new view.
As ambassadors for Christ, however, we choose the more courageous path. In Paul’s words, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In a gracious and artful way, we accurately speak the truth, and then trust God to transform minds.
When Tolerance Is Intolerant
By Greg Koukl
There’s one word that can stop you in your track. That word is “tolerance.”
Let’s take a look at the confusing and mistaken ways tolerance is used in our culture today.
Using the modern definition of tolerance, you will see that no one is tolerant, or ever can be. It’s what my friend Frank Beckwith calls the “passive aggressive tolerance trick.” Let’s start with a real life example.
I had the privilege of speaking to seniors at a Christian high school in Des Moines. I wanted to alert them to this “tolerance trick,” but I also wanted to learn how much they had already been taken in by it. I began by writing two sentences on the board
"All views have equal merit and none should be considered better than another."
“Jesus is the Messiah and Judaism is wrong for rejecting that.”
They all nodded in agreement as I wrote the first sentence. As soon as I finished writing the second, though, hands flew up. “You can’t say that,” a coed challenged, clearly annoyed. “That’s disrespectful. How would you like it if someone said you were wrong?”
“In fact, that happens to me all the time,” I pointed out, “including right now with you. But why should it bother me that someone thinks I’m wrong?”
“It’s intolerant,” she said, noting that the second statement violated the first statement. What she didn’t see was that the first statement also violated itself.
I pointed to the first statement and asked, “Is this a view, the idea that all views have equal merit and none should be considered better than another?” They agreed.
Then I pointed to the second statement—the “intolerant” one—and asked the same question: “Is this a view?” They studied the sentence for a moment. Slowly my point began to dawn on them. They’d been taken in by the tolerance trick.
If all views have equal merit, then the view that Christians have a better view on Jesus than Jews is just as true as the idea that Jews have a better view on Jesus than Christians. But this is hopelessly contradictory. If the first statement is what tolerance amounts to, then no one can be tolerant because “tolerance” turns out to be gibberish.
“Would you like to know how to get out of this dilemma?” I asked. They nodded. “Return to the classic view of tolerance and reject this modern distortion.” Then I wrote these two principles on the board:
“Be egalitarian regarding persons.”
“Be elitist regarding ideas.”[1]
The first principle is true tolerance, what might be called “civility.” It can loosely be equated with the word “respect.” Tolerance applies to how we treat people we disagree with, not how we treat ideas we think false. Tolerance requires that every person is treated courteously, no matter what her view, not that all views have equal worth, merit, or truth.
To say I’m intolerant because I disagree with someone’s ideas is confused. The view that one person’s ideas are no better or truer than another’s is simply absurd and contradictory. To argue that some views are false, immoral, or just plain silly does not violate any meaningful definition or standard of tolerance.
The irony is that according to the classical notion of tolerance, you can’t tolerate someone unless you disagree with him. We don’t “tolerate” people who share our views. They’re on our side. There’s nothing to “put up” with. Tolerance is reserved for those who we think are wrong, yet we still choose to treat them decently and with respect.
This essential element of classical tolerance—elitism regarding ideas—has been completely lost in the modern distortion of the concept. Nowadays if you think someone is wrong, you’re called intolerant no matter how you treat them.
Whenever you’re charged with intolerance, always ask for a definition, then point out the contradiction built in to this new view.
As ambassadors for Christ, however, we choose the more courageous path. In Paul’s words, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In a gracious and artful way, we accurately speak the truth, and then trust God to transform minds.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Now I Know Greek, Kinda
Click here
A great website where you can check out the original Greek translation of the New Testament -- and look up what specific words in the bible meant. i.e.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
believes: (Pisteu)
- to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in
- of the thing believed
- to credit, have confidence
- in a moral or religious reference
- used in the NT of the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul
- to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something: saving faith 1bc) mere acknowledgment of some fact or event: intellectual faith
- of the thing believed
- to entrust a thing to one, i.e. his fidelity
- to be entrusted with a thing
Friday, June 01, 2007
Kill Your Enemy?
This Blog entry of Greg Boyd's captures my sentiments on war. Here's a snippet -- the whole post is very much word reading.
...my Lord’s words and example have taught me that it's better to love your enemy, do good to them, pray for them, and bless them than it is to ever kill them. I’ve been taught to never retaliate but to always return evil with good. I’ve been taught that violence is cyclical, and that if you live by the sword you’ll die by the sword. By submitting myself to this teaching, I’ve come to actually see its wisdom and beauty. I’ve come to see the taking of human life as demonically arrogant – demonic, because it expresses hopelessness in another, which is the opposite of love (I Cor. 13:7), and arrogant, because only the giver of life can justifiably take it.
Click here for the rest
...my Lord’s words and example have taught me that it's better to love your enemy, do good to them, pray for them, and bless them than it is to ever kill them. I’ve been taught to never retaliate but to always return evil with good. I’ve been taught that violence is cyclical, and that if you live by the sword you’ll die by the sword. By submitting myself to this teaching, I’ve come to actually see its wisdom and beauty. I’ve come to see the taking of human life as demonically arrogant – demonic, because it expresses hopelessness in another, which is the opposite of love (I Cor. 13:7), and arrogant, because only the giver of life can justifiably take it.
Click here for the rest
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Spiritual Warfare
If a normal picture says a thousand words, this one says at least 1,250. This sums up what I believe Jesus taught about war. Credit for this illustration goes to Alan Close.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Keeping it Safe
So our 12 year old is getting to the age where she's interested in the internet, and her friends are talking about Myspace -- YIKES! I've been spending some good time finding out what kind of internet filters there are, and there happen to be some good free ones. Naomi actually has a MySpace blocker and Google image & video blocker!
Naomi
We-Blocker
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Fiero's and God's Will
I was just driving back from my lunch break and I saw a Fiero. Remember those? Click here.
During lunch, I was reading one of my favorite books "Man to Man" by Richard Halverson (I hope you don't get sick of me talking about it, because I may keep on for a while). I only wish it wasn't titled in a way that leads people to think it's only for men - because it's written for all humans. I still can't get over how brilliant the guy is. Here's some bits I read today.
"The blood of Christ cannot cleanse excuses, it only cleanses sin. 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' I John 1:9
How that works is a mystery - but regardless - it only makes sense that God can only work on a sinful heart that wants to be made clean (and that has to happen by a willful admitting that there is something wrong that needs to be worked on).
Another great lesson:
Genesis 24:1-27
"Here is one of the most beautiful and practical incidents in the Bible demonstrating how the will of God is understood. The key to the passage is verse 27. Note the simplicity of the arrangement.
Knowing God's will is NOT complicated. "I being in the way, the Lord led me." The servant was "in the way", therefore, "the Lord led."
Man's side is to be "in the way." God's side is "to lead." Do not confuse these. They are two orientation points in knowing and doing God's will. God promises to lead the man who puts himself in the way to be led. Man does not have the responsibility to figure out God's will, this is God's part. Man's part is to be "in the way." Man's part is to be available.
However he does it, God will make known his way to the man who waits to walk in it. This is not an over-simplification. Count on God to lead, never mind how. He promises so to do! Be sure you are committed to His will, ready to be led, then depend upon Him to keep His side of the bargain. Whether or not you feel you are being led is immaterial. You have God's promise. Count on it! "I being in the way, the Lord led me."
So how does that work? I think it's about listening to our conscience -- to me it sounds like an internal whisper telling me what is the right thing to do. It's easy to drown out the small whisper sometimes with my selfish desires, but when I follow that whisper, I find that God upholds his end of the bargain and leads me to peace.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Not So Smart, Are We?
One of my favorite books is the book "Man to Man" by Richard Halverson. It's been out of print for about 20 years, but it's amazing how relevant to the current times it is.
Here are some excerpts from one of my favorite essays:
"Human-like, man blames everything but himself for his trouble. It's the government or education or economics of the military or the law or management...
Everything is wrong except man himself!
So man goes on in his blundering, egotistical way puttering with the symptoms while the disease rages unchecked. The pay-off is precisely what we feel at the mid-twentieth century--complete frustration. Take a frank look at our position in this enlightened age...
We are more knowledgeable about child psychology than we've ever been, yet juvenile delinquency steadily increases.
Law enforcement has become an excact science and sociologists have produced the answers on rehabilitation of the criminal, yet the crime rate rises every year.
Elaborate, scholarly research has gone into alchoholism and its causes. A.A. labors tirelessly around the clock, yet in the U.S. there are fifty new alcoholics every hour (1200 a day).
Book and articles by the hundreds are published on marriage and the home, marriage clinics and counselors abound everywhere, yet the divorce rate ascends inexorably.
In an era of unprecedented application of psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy, mental hospitals are bulging, mentall illness is skyrocketing, and millions exist on Benzedrine, tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Even the perfecting of astounding new antibiotics seem to trigger new, unfamiliar mystifying viruses.
While America is burdened with a growing food surplus, halft the world never knows the luxury of a full stomach and millions perish of starvation annually -- and apparently the only solution man can devise for the dreaded population explosion is some method of preventing babies from being born.
There is more and more talk about peace--and less and less hope for it...
Incredible progress has been made in science and technology, but the consumerate product of that progress constitutes a sickening, relentless threat to survival of civilization. Meanwhile, human nature sweats it out, blaming everything but itself for its confusion and perplexity.
One step forward and two steps backward, seems to be the pattern of history. It looks like the smarter we are, the farther behind we get--the more we know, the less we can do about it!
However, the mystery lifts when we consider the diagnosis Jesus made as it is recorded in Mark 7:14-23. He declared that the trouble lay withing human nature itself. He diagnosed it as a malignancy in the human heart which infects all that man does. Man's trouble originates within man, springing from a condition in his nature which only God is adequate to meet. The burdens of the world are the symptoms of which the disease is sin, and the only cure for sin is the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
Not the way human nature is organized, but human nature itself is the root of the problem. While he was president of the United Nations General Assembly, General Carlos Romulo of the Philippines said, "We have harnessed the atom, but we will never make war obsolete until we find a force that can bridle the passions of men and nations." This is the big question, where do we find that force?
The answer is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes..." Romans 1:16"
Man to Man, Richard C. Halverson, Zondervan Books, Copyright 1961 by Cowman Publications, Inc.
Here are some excerpts from one of my favorite essays:
"Human-like, man blames everything but himself for his trouble. It's the government or education or economics of the military or the law or management...
Everything is wrong except man himself!
So man goes on in his blundering, egotistical way puttering with the symptoms while the disease rages unchecked. The pay-off is precisely what we feel at the mid-twentieth century--complete frustration. Take a frank look at our position in this enlightened age...
We are more knowledgeable about child psychology than we've ever been, yet juvenile delinquency steadily increases.
Law enforcement has become an excact science and sociologists have produced the answers on rehabilitation of the criminal, yet the crime rate rises every year.
Elaborate, scholarly research has gone into alchoholism and its causes. A.A. labors tirelessly around the clock, yet in the U.S. there are fifty new alcoholics every hour (1200 a day).
Book and articles by the hundreds are published on marriage and the home, marriage clinics and counselors abound everywhere, yet the divorce rate ascends inexorably.
In an era of unprecedented application of psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, and psychotherapy, mental hospitals are bulging, mentall illness is skyrocketing, and millions exist on Benzedrine, tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Even the perfecting of astounding new antibiotics seem to trigger new, unfamiliar mystifying viruses.
While America is burdened with a growing food surplus, halft the world never knows the luxury of a full stomach and millions perish of starvation annually -- and apparently the only solution man can devise for the dreaded population explosion is some method of preventing babies from being born.
There is more and more talk about peace--and less and less hope for it...
Incredible progress has been made in science and technology, but the consumerate product of that progress constitutes a sickening, relentless threat to survival of civilization. Meanwhile, human nature sweats it out, blaming everything but itself for its confusion and perplexity.
One step forward and two steps backward, seems to be the pattern of history. It looks like the smarter we are, the farther behind we get--the more we know, the less we can do about it!
However, the mystery lifts when we consider the diagnosis Jesus made as it is recorded in Mark 7:14-23. He declared that the trouble lay withing human nature itself. He diagnosed it as a malignancy in the human heart which infects all that man does. Man's trouble originates within man, springing from a condition in his nature which only God is adequate to meet. The burdens of the world are the symptoms of which the disease is sin, and the only cure for sin is the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
Not the way human nature is organized, but human nature itself is the root of the problem. While he was president of the United Nations General Assembly, General Carlos Romulo of the Philippines said, "We have harnessed the atom, but we will never make war obsolete until we find a force that can bridle the passions of men and nations." This is the big question, where do we find that force?
The answer is the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes..." Romans 1:16"
Man to Man, Richard C. Halverson, Zondervan Books, Copyright 1961 by Cowman Publications, Inc.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Holy to the Core
During lunch today I was reading an article in Christianity Today (a very well produced and non-cheesy pub I should add) titled "Holy to the Core" by Joel Scandrett. I thought Joel does a great job of detailing how the Christian church has struggled for many years with the term "holiness". Even though many churches today have done a good job of casting off the old legalistic notions (i.e. no dancing, drinking & playing cards) -- a lot of churches are guilty of replacing them with "private, moralistic notions" of sexual purity, financial honesty and commitment to private prayer. While these things are good of course, they miss the bullseye of what being holy is. As Joel says:
"This is partly due to our quest for cultural relevance, which is defended in the name of winning others to Christ. If we talk about holiness with unbelievers, won't that present just another hurdle for them to overcome on their way to Christ?"
"Moral purity is not, first and foremost, what Scripture is talking about. Instead, the most basic meaning of the word 'holy' is to be 'set apart' or 'dedicated' to God - to belong to God. "I will be your God, and you will be my people," says Yahweh (Lev. 26:12, Heb. 8:10). Thus, prior to any consideration of morality, biblical holiness describes a unique relationship that God has established and desires with his people. This relationship has moral ramifications, but it precedes moral behavior. Before we are ever called to be good, we are called to be holy. Unless we rightly understand and affirm the primacy of this relationship, we fall into the inevitable trap of reducing holiness to mere morality."
Tell it like it is, Joel! I know that in my past I have been guilty of reducing my "spirituality" and relationship to God to just following rules of do this and don't do that. In hindsight, I was so dumb. God doesn't want me to follow rules -- he want's me to be in union with him. We don't want our children to just follow our rules -- we want a relationship with them!
Joel goes on to say: "At bottom, God's call to be holy is a radical, all-encompasing claim on our lives, our loves, and our very identities. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ requires nothing less than death to our fallen, egocentric selves in order that we might live in and for him." (Mark 8:35-36)
Have a joy and peace filled day.
"This is partly due to our quest for cultural relevance, which is defended in the name of winning others to Christ. If we talk about holiness with unbelievers, won't that present just another hurdle for them to overcome on their way to Christ?"
"Moral purity is not, first and foremost, what Scripture is talking about. Instead, the most basic meaning of the word 'holy' is to be 'set apart' or 'dedicated' to God - to belong to God. "I will be your God, and you will be my people," says Yahweh (Lev. 26:12, Heb. 8:10). Thus, prior to any consideration of morality, biblical holiness describes a unique relationship that God has established and desires with his people. This relationship has moral ramifications, but it precedes moral behavior. Before we are ever called to be good, we are called to be holy. Unless we rightly understand and affirm the primacy of this relationship, we fall into the inevitable trap of reducing holiness to mere morality."
Tell it like it is, Joel! I know that in my past I have been guilty of reducing my "spirituality" and relationship to God to just following rules of do this and don't do that. In hindsight, I was so dumb. God doesn't want me to follow rules -- he want's me to be in union with him. We don't want our children to just follow our rules -- we want a relationship with them!
Joel goes on to say: "At bottom, God's call to be holy is a radical, all-encompasing claim on our lives, our loves, and our very identities. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ requires nothing less than death to our fallen, egocentric selves in order that we might live in and for him." (Mark 8:35-36)
Have a joy and peace filled day.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Morality vs. Sprirituality, Round 1
Did you realize that morality and spirituality are different? I just learned the difference in an old book I picked up at The Salvation Army: Questions Non-Christians Ask by Barry Wood.
Morality means right relations with your fellow man. Morals refers to ethics on a man-to-man, person-to-person level. Morals denotes our horizontal relationships.
Spirituality means right relations with God. Being a spiritual man involves a daily walk with God. It's a vertical relationship -- man to God and God to man.
Morality is not spirituality. Just because someone has good morals, does not mean they are spiritual. Just because you are on the in's with people, doesn't mean your on the in's with God.
However, every spiritual man will be a moral man. The story of Nicodemus in the book of John illustrates a moral person who was not right with God. A good example of someone who is spiritual and moral, is the story of Jesus of Nazareth.
Have a moral day, I mean, spiritual day!
Morality means right relations with your fellow man. Morals refers to ethics on a man-to-man, person-to-person level. Morals denotes our horizontal relationships.
Spirituality means right relations with God. Being a spiritual man involves a daily walk with God. It's a vertical relationship -- man to God and God to man.
Morality is not spirituality. Just because someone has good morals, does not mean they are spiritual. Just because you are on the in's with people, doesn't mean your on the in's with God.
However, every spiritual man will be a moral man. The story of Nicodemus in the book of John illustrates a moral person who was not right with God. A good example of someone who is spiritual and moral, is the story of Jesus of Nazareth.
Have a moral day, I mean, spiritual day!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
His name is Jesus?
If you are interested in the history of the name of Jesus Christ, here are a couple of good sources:
Jews for Jesus article
Yeshua.com
Jews for Jesus article
Yeshua.com
My Record is Broken
Maybe I'm sounding like a broken record -- maybe not -- but my thought on the way to work this morning is: There are so many things about God that are confusing -- so many things that are debated about God not only between Christians and other faiths -- but also within Christianity. I think when you look at the story of Adam & Eve eating from the tree of knowledge of good & evil it makes sense why we have the confusion. It's the first time that they were told that they could be like God -- they could know learn on their own without God's help -- they could be their own God. Since man from the time of Adam has had this obsession with figuring things out on their own -- and when man tries to figure out the infinitely higher and wiser God -- there is going to be a lot of frustration and confusion. My worldview lately has been that of the analogy that we have all been poisoned by sin. We all have this poison inside of us -- Adam and Eve were infected by the poison and they've passed it down from generation to generation all the way to us.
We have these ideas that if we learn enough, if we keep on studying, we'll get it figured out. We will know who God is and how he thinks and how everything works. I'm not turning into a relativist, because I do believe there are some fundamental things about God that are knowable when you look throughout history how God has made Himself known, but I also believe that God doesn't leave some things a mystery for some reason. I believe that some things about God we just can't comprehend with out little human brains.
My theory is that we have so many varied beliefs about God -- different religions -- different sects of Christianity -- because we hold on so tightly to our human understanding and our obsession with study and knowledge and getting it all figured out. We all have pride in what we think we know is the truth. When we rely on our own reasoning to figure out God we can end up with really bad human reasoning and understanding. When we yield to God and plead and beg for him to show himself to us, I think we are at a good place to study and reason to learn more about him. I know that I'm guilty of this -- I love to read, study, contemplate etc. My favorite form of worship is reading and learning about God. I don't spend enough time in prayer and/or asking God to show me truth about him as I study and seek Him.
Please pray for me and for those you love that we can all give our questions, confusions and frustrations to God, and that we ask him to sort them out for us instead of obsessing about doing it ourselves. One promise that I hold on to in the Bible is that if we seek God, we will find him.
We have these ideas that if we learn enough, if we keep on studying, we'll get it figured out. We will know who God is and how he thinks and how everything works. I'm not turning into a relativist, because I do believe there are some fundamental things about God that are knowable when you look throughout history how God has made Himself known, but I also believe that God doesn't leave some things a mystery for some reason. I believe that some things about God we just can't comprehend with out little human brains.
My theory is that we have so many varied beliefs about God -- different religions -- different sects of Christianity -- because we hold on so tightly to our human understanding and our obsession with study and knowledge and getting it all figured out. We all have pride in what we think we know is the truth. When we rely on our own reasoning to figure out God we can end up with really bad human reasoning and understanding. When we yield to God and plead and beg for him to show himself to us, I think we are at a good place to study and reason to learn more about him. I know that I'm guilty of this -- I love to read, study, contemplate etc. My favorite form of worship is reading and learning about God. I don't spend enough time in prayer and/or asking God to show me truth about him as I study and seek Him.
Please pray for me and for those you love that we can all give our questions, confusions and frustrations to God, and that we ask him to sort them out for us instead of obsessing about doing it ourselves. One promise that I hold on to in the Bible is that if we seek God, we will find him.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
People I'd like to have dinner with this week
C.S. Lewis
Rob Bell: Teaching downloads or podcast @ iTunes, or books
Greg Boyd: Teaching downloads or podcast @ iTunes, his books or get his blog
Rick Warren
Josh McDowell, the guy I'm reading right now
Rob Bell: Teaching downloads or podcast @ iTunes, or books
Greg Boyd: Teaching downloads or podcast @ iTunes, his books or get his blog
Rick Warren
Josh McDowell, the guy I'm reading right now
Friday, April 13, 2007
Am I wrong?
I have a friend (I can't prove it) who has a website where he talks about Christian stuff and he gets Christians and non-Christians posting comments etc. I'm kind of jealous. The thing is, as you know, that I love a good discussion/debate or whatever you call dialoging about debatable things. It challenges me, and I suppose there's that little person inside of me that needs to feel like I know what I believe and why. Also, I sell radio ads, so I spend a lot of time selling, negotiating and persuading and it tends to come out in my non-work life.
Here is my formal request to please challenge me on what I believe. My passion in life is studying, following and telling others good news, I mean, THE Good News. Have I told you yet? 2000 years ago God came to the earth as a human, named Jesus. His Hebrew name is Yeshua, which would be Joshua in English speaking countries (I just learned that - pretty interesting, huh?). Jesus came to offer his life as a sacrifice for our sins so that our souls can go to heaven and be with our creator -- because we are too messed up to ever do enough good to make up for the bad we do. The conscience we have that we especially notice when we do something wrong comes from God. The fear of death and our desire for eternal life comes from God. The Good News is that we don't have to worry about doing more good than bad to live forever with God. The Good News is that Jesus paid for our sins (our past sins and future sins) by giving up his perfect life for us. God chose to live the most lowly, humble and persecuted life as a human and die a horrible death so that we would be reconciled with him forever. All we have to do is live for God -- acknowledge that we are not the ruler of our lives and acknowledge that God is. Accept his sacrifice and stop trying to "work our way to heaven".
This sums up what I believe to be true... it's an oversimplified, stream-of-conscious "statement of faith" but I think I'm saying enough to fire up any dissenters out there.
18-21The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (The Message) The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Here is my formal request to please challenge me on what I believe. My passion in life is studying, following and telling others good news, I mean, THE Good News. Have I told you yet? 2000 years ago God came to the earth as a human, named Jesus. His Hebrew name is Yeshua, which would be Joshua in English speaking countries (I just learned that - pretty interesting, huh?). Jesus came to offer his life as a sacrifice for our sins so that our souls can go to heaven and be with our creator -- because we are too messed up to ever do enough good to make up for the bad we do. The conscience we have that we especially notice when we do something wrong comes from God. The fear of death and our desire for eternal life comes from God. The Good News is that we don't have to worry about doing more good than bad to live forever with God. The Good News is that Jesus paid for our sins (our past sins and future sins) by giving up his perfect life for us. God chose to live the most lowly, humble and persecuted life as a human and die a horrible death so that we would be reconciled with him forever. All we have to do is live for God -- acknowledge that we are not the ruler of our lives and acknowledge that God is. Accept his sacrifice and stop trying to "work our way to heaven".
This sums up what I believe to be true... it's an oversimplified, stream-of-conscious "statement of faith" but I think I'm saying enough to fire up any dissenters out there.
18-21The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (The Message) The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Resurrection Hoax?
I encourage everyone to read a book on proof of the resurrection sometime -- it's pretty interesting and faith building. Here's an article online I just read that is a succinct version of proof of the ressurection. Otherwise, check out The Case for Easter, or, I am eagerly awaiting The Jesus Legend by Greg Boyd and Paul Eddy - a nice and beefy 512 page book that comes out in August. Happy Easter!
Love that Rick guy
Newsweek featured a debate between well known Christian author Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life -- incredible book) and athiest Sam Harris. I recommend reading it here.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Do Good People Go To Heck When They Die?
One thing I struggle with sometimes is the age old question: how could a loving God send "good people" to Hell? I know most of the text book Christian answers to that question - and they help - but I still have to wrestle with the question now and then. I've decided that I believe good people just go to heck when they die. Of course I'm kidding, but anyways...
I believe that God doesn't send anyone to hell -- I believe going to heaven or going to hell is up to you! God won't drag anyone to heaven kicking and screaming -- if you tell God you want to live for him you will be with him in heaven when you die -- if you do not choose God now, he will not force you to be with him when you die. The cool thing is, is that people who really want to know God WILL find him. The Bible says that God wants nothing more than for us to find him and know him. I love meeting people who want to know God -- I think if oftentimes means they are humble and the universe is not revolving around them -- they are open minded enough to seek the truth. Plus they're usually just fun to talk with. My wife is a perfect example. She was in to all sorts of miscellaneous beliefs and then she found God. She's been a new person since, and she has a faith that will move mountains. If you need to know if the claims of the bible are true, just look at her life. The nativity story tells how God chose people who were in to astrology to be the first people to see Jesus -- what an amazing God to choose people who didn't even follow him but a different religion to be the first to greet the savior of the world.
So... where do good people go when they die? I think most of the time good people will go to heaven, because most good people are not living for themselves but for God. Even if some good people haven't discovered the real God, they are probably on their way to finding him. As a follower of Jesus, I want good people to know about the ultimate good person -- Jesus. I figure good people like to know how they can be gooder -- and Jesus is a great good person to model. Not to mention that living like him will land you in heaven when you die. I don't want to be pushy about telling good people about Jesus though, because sometimes people think you're just trying to make them a religious person, and they usually don't like that. Plus Jesus was never pushy, and he's the ultimate good person and I want to be like him. I think with bad people you can be pushy about Jesus - they usually need a good role model.
WARNING - A LITTLE TEACHIN'/THEOLOGY/PHILOSOPHY: C.S. Lewis, I believe it was, says that God doesn't send anybody to hell - they send themselves. It's a choice. Everyone either chooses to trust God and live for him forever, or live for yourself and not be with God when you die. God doesn't send good people to hell - it's like choosing to do drugs or not - if you don't, good things happen, if you do, bad things happen - you already know what happens if you choose drugs, or choose a self centered God-less life - God isn't guilty for sending anyone anywhere. Now hell is often portrayed as never ending torture - this is actually up for debate. Some people interpret hell in the Bible to be that your soul is destroyed -- Annihilationism -- basically you die and lose out on heaven - this is the "eternal punishment." I used to be the person who does good things to try to earn my way to heaven, until I realized that God sacrificing his Son for the sins of the world was so that I didn't have to try to earn my way - I just accept God's sacrificial gift. I also believe that either Jesus is God, or he's not. If he's not, the whole Christian faith is a lie. If Jesus IS God, than all the other religions of the world are lies. Jesus and other religions aren't compatible - they all have different endings. It's a choice we all have to make -- even if you choose nothing - you're choosing something!
I believe that God doesn't send anyone to hell -- I believe going to heaven or going to hell is up to you! God won't drag anyone to heaven kicking and screaming -- if you tell God you want to live for him you will be with him in heaven when you die -- if you do not choose God now, he will not force you to be with him when you die. The cool thing is, is that people who really want to know God WILL find him. The Bible says that God wants nothing more than for us to find him and know him. I love meeting people who want to know God -- I think if oftentimes means they are humble and the universe is not revolving around them -- they are open minded enough to seek the truth. Plus they're usually just fun to talk with. My wife is a perfect example. She was in to all sorts of miscellaneous beliefs and then she found God. She's been a new person since, and she has a faith that will move mountains. If you need to know if the claims of the bible are true, just look at her life. The nativity story tells how God chose people who were in to astrology to be the first people to see Jesus -- what an amazing God to choose people who didn't even follow him but a different religion to be the first to greet the savior of the world.
So... where do good people go when they die? I think most of the time good people will go to heaven, because most good people are not living for themselves but for God. Even if some good people haven't discovered the real God, they are probably on their way to finding him. As a follower of Jesus, I want good people to know about the ultimate good person -- Jesus. I figure good people like to know how they can be gooder -- and Jesus is a great good person to model. Not to mention that living like him will land you in heaven when you die. I don't want to be pushy about telling good people about Jesus though, because sometimes people think you're just trying to make them a religious person, and they usually don't like that. Plus Jesus was never pushy, and he's the ultimate good person and I want to be like him. I think with bad people you can be pushy about Jesus - they usually need a good role model.
WARNING - A LITTLE TEACHIN'/THEOLOGY/PHILOSOPHY: C.S. Lewis, I believe it was, says that God doesn't send anybody to hell - they send themselves. It's a choice. Everyone either chooses to trust God and live for him forever, or live for yourself and not be with God when you die. God doesn't send good people to hell - it's like choosing to do drugs or not - if you don't, good things happen, if you do, bad things happen - you already know what happens if you choose drugs, or choose a self centered God-less life - God isn't guilty for sending anyone anywhere. Now hell is often portrayed as never ending torture - this is actually up for debate. Some people interpret hell in the Bible to be that your soul is destroyed -- Annihilationism -- basically you die and lose out on heaven - this is the "eternal punishment." I used to be the person who does good things to try to earn my way to heaven, until I realized that God sacrificing his Son for the sins of the world was so that I didn't have to try to earn my way - I just accept God's sacrificial gift. I also believe that either Jesus is God, or he's not. If he's not, the whole Christian faith is a lie. If Jesus IS God, than all the other religions of the world are lies. Jesus and other religions aren't compatible - they all have different endings. It's a choice we all have to make -- even if you choose nothing - you're choosing something!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Gina's new Biz
Gina's officially out of the coffee biz and now working as an independent consultant for The Body Shop at home. It's a home party business offshoot of the original Body Shop (copied by Bath & Body works, etc.). Gina is looking forward to making her own hours so that she can spend more time in ministry and volunteering. She has her own website: www.thebodyshopathome.com/web/ginanorman.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Clearing Things Up. Part A.
Christians are not people who go to church on the weekends. Going to church is one thing that Christians do, but it doesn't make anyone a Christian. I was trying to think of an analogy to really paint this picture, and I think I have one:
Pat enrolls in a community education class on becoming a certified lifeguard. She finishes the class, but decides that she doesn't want to teach lifeguard classes because she's perfectly fine with her life as it is without commiting extra time at the local beach to be a lifeguard. Is Pat a lifeguard? Not really. She took a class on it, but if you were to ask Pat what she does, would it make sense for her to tell you that she's a lifeguard, when she's never ever used her knowledge in a real life lifeguarding situation -- when she doesn't?
Just because someone attends a class (church), or even makes a commitment to attending a class on a regular basis, doesn't make somebody something unless they apply/use what they learn (living a Christian life). Now like any analogy, this one isn't perfect. However, it's sad that many Christians and non-Christians identify Christians as people who just go to church. Church is an important part of the Christian life - it's where people go to learn, spend time with other Christians, and thank God for what he has given us -- but if people who go to church don't get out and live the kind of life that Jesus teaches us to live in the bible, it's like that person who takes the class, but does nothing with it -- you're shouldn't say you're a Christian -- just like Pat shouldn't say she's a lifeguard! And to be clear, it's not about "being good and doing nice things" -- another common misconception of the Christian definition that I'll probably blog about later -- it's about BEING a Christian and not DOING Christian traditions!
Pat enrolls in a community education class on becoming a certified lifeguard. She finishes the class, but decides that she doesn't want to teach lifeguard classes because she's perfectly fine with her life as it is without commiting extra time at the local beach to be a lifeguard. Is Pat a lifeguard? Not really. She took a class on it, but if you were to ask Pat what she does, would it make sense for her to tell you that she's a lifeguard, when she's never ever used her knowledge in a real life lifeguarding situation -- when she doesn't?
Just because someone attends a class (church), or even makes a commitment to attending a class on a regular basis, doesn't make somebody something unless they apply/use what they learn (living a Christian life). Now like any analogy, this one isn't perfect. However, it's sad that many Christians and non-Christians identify Christians as people who just go to church. Church is an important part of the Christian life - it's where people go to learn, spend time with other Christians, and thank God for what he has given us -- but if people who go to church don't get out and live the kind of life that Jesus teaches us to live in the bible, it's like that person who takes the class, but does nothing with it -- you're shouldn't say you're a Christian -- just like Pat shouldn't say she's a lifeguard! And to be clear, it's not about "being good and doing nice things" -- another common misconception of the Christian definition that I'll probably blog about later -- it's about BEING a Christian and not DOING Christian traditions!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
It's OK To Be Right
There is a school of thought out there that says that everyone is right - experience is the yardstick for truth and if you suggest that someone is wrong, well you are wrong because there is no such thing as absolute truth. The problem with this school of thought is that if you claim there is no absolute truth, than that statement is false... think about it. I believe another term for this school of thought is post modernism.
In relation to religion, post modernism says that all religions are true and heaven is what you believe to be true. For some Christians, the sparkle of post modern thought is very appealing because those raised in a fundamentalist background have been turned off by those who claim to know ALL the answers and have a patronizing attitude to anyone with a different viewpoint -- that nothing is negotiable -- that man can know everything about God -- that all other denominations are wrong -- and that God is a God of technicalities. I believe this rotten stench of "know-it-all"ism makes post modern thought -- not having to claim anyone is wrong for fear being one of those "know-it-alls" -- very attractive. I've been there and I can say I've found happy middle ground between Christian radical fundamentalism (i.e. those that claim to pretty much know everything and say everyone else is going to hell) and post modern thought.
I guess my happy middle ground would be this: I have beliefs that I find to be true, but I can admit that I could be wrong.
I believe the danger is when someone can't admit that they might be right, for fear they are saying everyone else is wrong. I think that there are things that are flat out, true: (2 + 2 = 4, everyone dies, the sun is hot, etc., etc.).
I'll give an example: you may have seen the episodes of American Idol where they show all of the contestents that are really, really, horrible. The parents and friends of these horrible singers just might be people who are afraid of giving someone the truth for fear of hurting their feelings.
"No, Bobby, you are a really good singer! You should try out!"
[Weeks later, after the pain and humiliation of sucking really bad on national television]
"Mom, everyone is saying I was horrible!"
"Oh Bobby, they just don't know a good singer when they hear one!"
"I don't know, mom, I was just on the "bad auditions" show, Paula was in tears laughing at me and you're the only person saying I'm good."
OK - here's an example of a mom knowing their kid stinks - but they don't want to hurt their feelings. What would have been the loving thing to do? Tell their kid the truth up front and save their kid the humiliation of singing really badly on national TV.
This example should make those who believe in God stop and think - if I know the truth - even if I could be wrong - is it more loving to share it, or not share it? Most religions believe their truth leads to heaven, nirvana, etc. If you don't have the truth, most religions believe that there is hell, or at worst, a ton of lost blessings. Shouldn't you share the truth - especially if it's good news?
Here's my happy medium again: as a Christian, I will share what I believe to be true. I share it with love and humility -- but I'm not insisting that I have all the right answers. If I am right -- it's something that I HAVE to share or else those I don't share with are REALLY missing out. If I don't share it, it's like being pretty sure that your friend has the winning lottery ticket but not telling them. I'm doing them a favor. I think I'm right, because I've done my homework and my life experiences corroborate my homework. Again, having an attitude of humbleness, and love are crucial.
One thing that confuses me about other religions, is that if following their religion leads to fulfillment and if not following their religion doesn't -- than why don't their followers share it with as many people as possible? If they can show me the truth, I'd want to be "converted!" Again, if I had some really good news, I think it's the moral thing to share it with as many people as possible. From what I know, Christianity is one of the very few religions that care about telling this wonderful truth. Admittedly, a lot of Christians, including myself, have done a really crappy job in how we share the truth.
Post modern thought is very attractive, because it's much easier to not tell someone they are wrong. And who like's being like the annoying "know-it-alls"? However, I believe it's not an "either-or" proposition. You don't have to be a "know-it-all" if you think that you have some truth to share. And I suggest that you are really my friend if you share what you believe to be true with me, and tell me that I might be missing the truth (i.e. I might be wrong).
In relation to religion, post modernism says that all religions are true and heaven is what you believe to be true. For some Christians, the sparkle of post modern thought is very appealing because those raised in a fundamentalist background have been turned off by those who claim to know ALL the answers and have a patronizing attitude to anyone with a different viewpoint -- that nothing is negotiable -- that man can know everything about God -- that all other denominations are wrong -- and that God is a God of technicalities. I believe this rotten stench of "know-it-all"ism makes post modern thought -- not having to claim anyone is wrong for fear being one of those "know-it-alls" -- very attractive. I've been there and I can say I've found happy middle ground between Christian radical fundamentalism (i.e. those that claim to pretty much know everything and say everyone else is going to hell) and post modern thought.
I guess my happy middle ground would be this: I have beliefs that I find to be true, but I can admit that I could be wrong.
I believe the danger is when someone can't admit that they might be right, for fear they are saying everyone else is wrong. I think that there are things that are flat out, true: (2 + 2 = 4, everyone dies, the sun is hot, etc., etc.).
I'll give an example: you may have seen the episodes of American Idol where they show all of the contestents that are really, really, horrible. The parents and friends of these horrible singers just might be people who are afraid of giving someone the truth for fear of hurting their feelings.
"No, Bobby, you are a really good singer! You should try out!"
[Weeks later, after the pain and humiliation of sucking really bad on national television]
"Mom, everyone is saying I was horrible!"
"Oh Bobby, they just don't know a good singer when they hear one!"
"I don't know, mom, I was just on the "bad auditions" show, Paula was in tears laughing at me and you're the only person saying I'm good."
OK - here's an example of a mom knowing their kid stinks - but they don't want to hurt their feelings. What would have been the loving thing to do? Tell their kid the truth up front and save their kid the humiliation of singing really badly on national TV.
This example should make those who believe in God stop and think - if I know the truth - even if I could be wrong - is it more loving to share it, or not share it? Most religions believe their truth leads to heaven, nirvana, etc. If you don't have the truth, most religions believe that there is hell, or at worst, a ton of lost blessings. Shouldn't you share the truth - especially if it's good news?
Here's my happy medium again: as a Christian, I will share what I believe to be true. I share it with love and humility -- but I'm not insisting that I have all the right answers. If I am right -- it's something that I HAVE to share or else those I don't share with are REALLY missing out. If I don't share it, it's like being pretty sure that your friend has the winning lottery ticket but not telling them. I'm doing them a favor. I think I'm right, because I've done my homework and my life experiences corroborate my homework. Again, having an attitude of humbleness, and love are crucial.
One thing that confuses me about other religions, is that if following their religion leads to fulfillment and if not following their religion doesn't -- than why don't their followers share it with as many people as possible? If they can show me the truth, I'd want to be "converted!" Again, if I had some really good news, I think it's the moral thing to share it with as many people as possible. From what I know, Christianity is one of the very few religions that care about telling this wonderful truth. Admittedly, a lot of Christians, including myself, have done a really crappy job in how we share the truth.
Post modern thought is very attractive, because it's much easier to not tell someone they are wrong. And who like's being like the annoying "know-it-alls"? However, I believe it's not an "either-or" proposition. You don't have to be a "know-it-all" if you think that you have some truth to share. And I suggest that you are really my friend if you share what you believe to be true with me, and tell me that I might be missing the truth (i.e. I might be wrong).
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Don't Leave Money on The Table
You may have heard of the saying "Don't leave money on the table". In business it means don't incorrectly assess a prospective client's buying power. For example, if you work at Caribou Coffee and someone orders a coffee, don't assume that they don't have enough money for a muffin. If you sell them a coffee, and they have $10 and they only spent $2, you "left money on the table."
What does this have to do with more important spiritual matters? Well I've been thinking a lot about how God is probably very pleased when he sees us using the talents that he gave us. I'm thinking that this is SO IMPORTANT -- to find out what your good at, and really use it for God's glory. If we don't use our God given talents -- you see where I'm going with this -- we're "leaving money on the table".
I encourage you to discover your spiritual gifts. One way to do this is find a church that has a class for finding your spiritual gifts. There is also a free spiritual gifts survey online right here. Personally, I am happiest when I'm using my talents for things of higher importance -- and I think God is too.
What does this have to do with more important spiritual matters? Well I've been thinking a lot about how God is probably very pleased when he sees us using the talents that he gave us. I'm thinking that this is SO IMPORTANT -- to find out what your good at, and really use it for God's glory. If we don't use our God given talents -- you see where I'm going with this -- we're "leaving money on the table".
I encourage you to discover your spiritual gifts. One way to do this is find a church that has a class for finding your spiritual gifts. There is also a free spiritual gifts survey online right here. Personally, I am happiest when I'm using my talents for things of higher importance -- and I think God is too.
Monday, March 05, 2007
How To Not Have a Warm Pew
I am finally taking my thoughts to the streets. I've always been an idea person, but most of my ideas never see the light of day and they end up in my large idea graveyard. Since I've had several ideas that I thought may benefit the community of believers, I've finally by the grace of God put them in to writing. My mission now is to share my ideas with communities of believers thoughout the planet with hopes that they may be used to ignite people into action for the Kingdom of God. You may view these ideas at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddbbs8tw_38chd45w
Friday, February 23, 2007
Deception
I was talking to a co-worker yesterday who had the blessing of going down with a group to New Orleans last week for Mardi Gras. They went down to share the good news with the partiers. One of the things that he told me about was that there were other groups who called themselves Christians, yet acted nothing like Christ asks us to act. Instead of showing love and sharing the good news, they judged and condemned. Now I wasn't there, but I can imagine what the type of people are that he saw. I don't believe that you should leave sin and judgement out of the gospel message (what is good news without telling people what they are saved from?). But I'm also a believer that you "attract more flies with sugar than vinegar" - or however that saying goes.
One of the ways that my co-worker, Eric, described the condemner people, is that they are "deceived". I think that word is so good - it's so much better than heathen, pagan, idiot, moron -- and many other words that some Christians use to describe non-Christians that come off as rude and "I'm better than those sinners". If we truly look at non-Christians as lost and deceived, we can have compassion for them. Good chance that these people have been brainwashed into thinking they're doing the right thing to "save these pagans from destruction". I can admit that I used to think to use any means to save someone from hell regardless of how rude it is was a noble thing to do. Greg Boyd gives analogy that we shouldn't "shoot at the sinners because we need to save them". We're in a war against Satan who is a great deceiver, we're not in a war against flesh and blood.
One of the ways that my co-worker, Eric, described the condemner people, is that they are "deceived". I think that word is so good - it's so much better than heathen, pagan, idiot, moron -- and many other words that some Christians use to describe non-Christians that come off as rude and "I'm better than those sinners". If we truly look at non-Christians as lost and deceived, we can have compassion for them. Good chance that these people have been brainwashed into thinking they're doing the right thing to "save these pagans from destruction". I can admit that I used to think to use any means to save someone from hell regardless of how rude it is was a noble thing to do. Greg Boyd gives analogy that we shouldn't "shoot at the sinners because we need to save them". We're in a war against Satan who is a great deceiver, we're not in a war against flesh and blood.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
OK... I Have an Agenda
I was listening to Toby Mac's new album "Portable Sounds" on the way to work this morning and in one of his songs he uses the highly offensive word - Jesus. It got me thinking for some reason why do some people accept Jesus, and some people reject Jesus. It's not exactly a new question, but in light of my recent obsession with how should one evangelize, I've had some new thoughts about it. As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, I think that I have been guilty of trying to push Jesus on people -- as if I push hard enough they will have to believe. I'm sure part of this comes from me being wired by God as an "influencer" -- I like to influence people -- I'm in sales, etc. But like sales, good sales people should be asking more questions vs. dumping tons of info about their product or service. I think we as Christians would be more loving if we remembered that. Of course some may say that "you have an agenda" even if you're asking questions to try and get people to follow Jesus but hey -- I'm guilty as charged. As a Christian, that's my marching orders (i.e. the "Great Commission"). Honestly, if I found out that someone had an agenda to share Good News with me -- life saving, life altering, purpose giving, hope of heaven news with me, I wouldn't be offended -- that is, unless they were sharing it in a pushy, I don't care what you think, "accept this or you're going to hell" way!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
One thing that I know...
...is that I don't know much.
One thought I've had recently that is that a lot of people think that Christians are closed minded - OK many are - but if we can let people know that we are OPEN to a dialog about things - let us reason together - we are starting at a point of humility which is more approachable and less arrogant. I think a big turn off is when people think you just want to talk AT them instead of talk WITH them and get to know their opinion on things and what they think. It's the whole eating from the tree of knowledge - the whole thinking we have ALL the answers - that is a major problem with Christians - and I'll be the first to raise my hand to admit I've had this stink about me before! I think a big reason we Christians can come off as arrogant and unapproachable is because we put on this facade that we know everything - out of a fear we may not be able to prove what we believe is true. Who likes to talk with somebody who is completely close minded to anything you have to say (i.e. a Christian who is completely close minded to your experiences and opinions about things) - not me! What a turn off! We Christians have a tendency to get nervous if someone has something to say that may cause us to question if what we believe is true. Let's not fear that - true faith is believing that God will come through in our fears and questions. Rob Bell talks a lot about this in his book Velvet Elvis. Here's my challenge today for me and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ - let's be humble, approachable, and let's have a desire to get down and dirty with those questions that seekers have and we may have ourselves - let's not be afraid to have God reveal himself in honest questions from others and from our own minds!
One thought I've had recently that is that a lot of people think that Christians are closed minded - OK many are - but if we can let people know that we are OPEN to a dialog about things - let us reason together - we are starting at a point of humility which is more approachable and less arrogant. I think a big turn off is when people think you just want to talk AT them instead of talk WITH them and get to know their opinion on things and what they think. It's the whole eating from the tree of knowledge - the whole thinking we have ALL the answers - that is a major problem with Christians - and I'll be the first to raise my hand to admit I've had this stink about me before! I think a big reason we Christians can come off as arrogant and unapproachable is because we put on this facade that we know everything - out of a fear we may not be able to prove what we believe is true. Who likes to talk with somebody who is completely close minded to anything you have to say (i.e. a Christian who is completely close minded to your experiences and opinions about things) - not me! What a turn off! We Christians have a tendency to get nervous if someone has something to say that may cause us to question if what we believe is true. Let's not fear that - true faith is believing that God will come through in our fears and questions. Rob Bell talks a lot about this in his book Velvet Elvis. Here's my challenge today for me and my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ - let's be humble, approachable, and let's have a desire to get down and dirty with those questions that seekers have and we may have ourselves - let's not be afraid to have God reveal himself in honest questions from others and from our own minds!
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