Entangled

Sometimes “Christian” radio drives me crazy!! I was flipping channels when I came across a local radio personality complaining about how the Democrats are using the alleged torture to gain political advantage. (A charge I do not deny) However, in the process of doing so the radio talk show host actually defended the act of waterboarding saying that “some members of our own armed services are waterboarded as part of their training. If it’s so wrong, they should sue their own government.”

WHATTT!!!!!!!????!?!?!??!?!

Have we become so enmeshed with the Republican party that we forget our moral standards? Seriously?

I agree that the Democrats most likely knew about the torture tactics long ago, and that some of those who are calling for the investigations likely knew about this long ago. However, we can decry their political posturing without going so far as to DEFEND torture tactics.

Then as if that was not enough, she went on to make an example of Janet Napolitano (Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security) for commenting that crossing the border isn’t illegal per se. The talk show host then sardonically stated that she should read up on the laws that she is entrusted to enforce.

Are we sure that we want to jump up and down and scream about the masses of people entering our country illegally while tacitly supporting torture tactics? Is that the Christian posture we really want to have in the world?

Sometimes I wonder if we’ve lost our ever-loving mind.

Rightly Handling the Word of Truth

"Did you know that everything I was taught about God as a kid was a lie? Did you know that God actually likes us and gives us grace?"

This statement got me wondering. How in the world could this be a revelation for someone who actually grew up in the church? How could God’s love come as a surprise?

Regrettably, all too many people already know the answer. Regardless of what a church preaches, it is our actions that resonate most clearly. An environment of judgment, works-based salvation, keeping up appearances, and an almost paranoid avoidance of anything remotely “sinful” will leave anyone feeling like God is simply out to get them.

Then again, there are many churches and many pastors who choose to preach nothing but love and grace. They become instant stars in our world and sell books and have fancy TV coverage of their sermons. Some have become so popular that they have to buy their own stadiums to hold all of their followers.

These guys champion love and grace. Surely their followers will never feel the doom of the “big, bad God.”

But can this really be the model for preaching “the true Gospel?” Is love and good feelings really all it’s about?

It seems everywhere I go, people are in search of "what the Bible really says." Nobody has ever seemed to find that person or that church that has all of the answers. But it seems that everyone has found someone or some church that DEFINATELY does NOT have the answers. At least so their opinion goes.

All of which culminates to remind me how difficult it really is to "rightly divide the Word of Truth."

Mishandling the Word of God can have profound effects in someone’s life. (as the comments above easily illustrate) After all, your relationship with your Creator, your Savior, your Hope, and your only true Friend is by nature deeply personal and will affect every aspect of your life. One would expect that any teaching that influences that relationship would be a powerful one.

So the Truth must exist somewhere between the extremes outlined above, but the question is “where.” Even if we find the balance between responsibility and grace, that is certainly not the only principle inherent in the Gospel. Each time I sit down to explore the Word of God, it seems that there is an entirely new aspect to it that I had not previously considered.

So how can one accurately divide the Word of Truth? Who knows. So, may the Holy Spirit guide us and God’s grace save us. We have a lot to learn.

Hypocrisy

Once upon a time the only word that could be leveled against the church was “Christian” (little Christ.) The church was known as nothing more than a small band of Christ-followers. Amazingly this was intended to be a derogatory critique of “The Way.”

Today the criticism is much more poignant. Far from being a compliment in disguise, many in our country have used the term “hypocrite” to describe the followers of “The Way.” Some have even gone so far as to conclude that their only option is to dispense with Christianity altogether in order to rid themselves of such unpleasant company. Unfair? Untrue? Maybe a bit brash and misguided, but many have seen this hypocrisy first hand and have the wounds to prove it.

Thankfully many in the church have recognized the call to action and sought to change the culture of the church. Throughout my life I have heard many sermons, messages, and even casual references to hypocrisy and the need to “live what you preach.” It has become one of the benchmark lessons in any evangelical upbringing – “A genuine faith not only preaches the Word, it lives the Word.

A rudimentary but still accurate definition of hypocrisy could read as follows: “saying one thing and doing another.” Basic, but does the trick.

Many have used such a definition and chosen to solve the problem by insisting that we must live it, not just preach it. Our actions must match our professed faith or else we rightly wear the title of hypocrite.

But what about the other half of the equation? What about taking a look at what we are “preaching” in the first place? Is it possible that the label of hypocrite has as much to do with our inconsistent message as it does with our inconsistent actions? I think the world finds it far more easy to believe that we are a bunch of sinners in need of grace than to believe the often implied messages of superiority or exclusivity.

What messages, verbal or otherwise, are we sending about our faith? Does the church earn a reputation as an open or welcoming place? Do “outsiders” feel free to “come as they are?” Once inside the church walls, will they feel safe to reveal their brokenness and need for grace? Or are they forced to hide their imperfections because they are not welcomed within the community of the redeemed?

What if the church developed a reputation for openly confessing our sins to one another? What if we were known for our willingness to accept our frailty and our tendency to cast ourselves at the feet of the Merciful One? What if we were simply known as a bunch of Christ-followers who work together to follow Christ more closely? Could the term hypocrite even be leveled against such a community?

Continuing Thoughts on Marriage

As some of you may recall, I wrote a blog article on marriage this past July. My uncle and I had a very good discussion about that posting recently and it has forced me to rethink the issue. I invite continued feedback as I work to solidify my thoughts on the issue.

One of the major debates of our generation has been the issue of so-called gay marriage. There have been many attempts to legalize gay marriage and there have been many counter attempts to preserve the definition of marriage as that of one man and one woman. As these legal decisions get put to public vote, how should we as Christians cast our ballot?

This question was at the forefront of my previous article. However, I think we’ve allowed ourselves to ask the wrong question and fight the wrong battle.

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred event. Why is the government involved in a spiritual matter to begin with? Our government has interwoven civil liberties, tax codes, legal rights, and a host of other “earthly” matters into this sacred act. What if we fought to restore the term “marriage” back to its intended meaning AND purpose. One man + one woman joined by a covenant made in the presence of God. What God has joined together let no man separate.

My previous article addressed a few of the civil and legal matters tied to marriage such as tax codes, ability to make end of life decisions for an individual, etc. Only by untangling these issues from the bonds of marriage can we protect both the institution of marriage and the civil rights of all United States citizens.

Maybe we’re just fighting the wrong fight.

Shake the Foundations

Good morning all. I wanted to make you aware of a blog that my friend and I are starting together called http://shakethefoundations.blogspot.com/. The hope is that this will become an interactive community of Christians wanting to think through and talk through spiritual topics. He and I are hoping to post a few times per week so that there will always be fresh content. Feel free to check it out when you can and add your thoughts to the discussion.

See you there!

Our Prince of Peace

Life is hard. Nobody will disagree with that. I know many aspects of my life have been and are currently very hard. But I also know that the lives of many around me are fraught with difficulty. Some undergoing medical tests, some struggling with hidden pain or shameful wounds, some struggling financially, and some struggling in their marriages. Though none have directly said as much, it recalls to mind a phrase often heard in Christian circles, “I’m glad I have my faith. I don’t know how people survive without faith.”

Though I agree with this statement, I wonder what people mean by it. I suspect that they mean far less than they actually intended. What is it about their faith that they find so valuable in hard times? Is it that they have someone to talk to? Is it that there is someone who will never leave them or forsake them? Is it that they have someone who will love them unconditionally? Though all of these things are good and should be a factor in us appreciating our faith, I believe it is incomplete. After all if this is all we needed God for, then how about we just get a cat instead.

I rarely hear people appreciate the fresh perspective they get from their faith. Do we turn to God in times of crisis and realize that He is weeping along with us? Do we realize that he is weeping not just for our pain, but for the pain of the entire world. Sin was not the original plan. The pain and suffering that come from living in a broken world breaks His heart. Do we gain hope from realizing that God sent his Son to die and reconcile this fallen world to Himself? Do we gain confidence and determination from the fact that God calls us to be a part of His redemptive work? Do we realize that God is actively working to establish His kingdom on earth which will not only eradicate the pain of our current trials, but all pain and suffering worldwide. Do we draw encouragement and fresh vision from the knowledge that we are citizens of His new kingdom? Are we renewed by the fact that our present sufferings are nothing in comparison to living eternity in His presence? Or are we simply content to have someone to talk to?

Our faith means much more than the pithy testimonies we are accustom to hearing. God sent His Son to be our Prince of Peace because it was His ultimate sacrifice that paved the way for reconciliation. He is our hope and our peace. No matter what circumstances we are facing or may face in the future, the hope of the world has come to carry us through.

Part 7 - Finale