One of the shortest Psalms is Psalm 133:1-3. It talks about how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity. That, and some of the reading I have been doing lately, has led me to ponder this question: In North America, are our churches truly a family of believers all together, or are we more a collection of individuals who happen to get together once a week?
One hallmark of North American thinking and culture is the focus on the individual and that individual's freedom. Everywhere we are taught to put ourselves and our needs and our cares and our concerns before others. And the sad thing is, this attitude has carried over into our places of worship. We start to look for what we can get out of our gathers. When we don't like the music, or the format, or what the preacher says, we go somewhere else that suits what we think we need.
This kind of thinking is extremely destructive to building unity, in the church as in life. And yet, our God makes it clear that He wants His people to be unified, to be looking for the good of one another. St. Paul even writes that God's people should put others' interests before their own (Philippians 2:3-4). So should we really be surprised that, when we each put our own thoughts and desires above that of our brothers and sisters that we end up with broken, fragmented churches?
God created us as a body together. To borrow another of Paul's images, we are grafted together into one vine, and that vine is Jesus. We are united to Jesus, and in that unity, we also are united to one another.
How can you help to build unity in your house of worship this week? What would be a good first step, and then a second step toward such unity?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
A Day to Remember
In the history of this world, there have been many people who fought and died for the freedom of their families, friends, and countries. Here in the United States, we are no different. Many untold thousands (perhaps millions or even more) of lives have been willingly offered to protect and serve those who benefited from their sacrifice. So it is appropriate for us to take time today to reflect on those lives, and to be thankful for those lives which have been given for our freedom.
Chiefly, though, we have been given a more enduring freedom, won from our in-dwelling sin, from the power of death, and from the clutches of the evil one which the Bible names as Satan. Through Jesus and the cross, these powers have been overcome. We could not do it ourselves, but rely upon His great victory, the spoils of which He gives to all who believe and follow Him.
"Do this, in remembrance of Me." Jesus
Chiefly, though, we have been given a more enduring freedom, won from our in-dwelling sin, from the power of death, and from the clutches of the evil one which the Bible names as Satan. Through Jesus and the cross, these powers have been overcome. We could not do it ourselves, but rely upon His great victory, the spoils of which He gives to all who believe and follow Him.
"Do this, in remembrance of Me." Jesus
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Community: Love in the Community
Throughout the account of Jesus' life that John wrote, he speaks of Jesus and love quite often. This is especially apparent on the Thursday night of Passover, the night before Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, tried, and eventually crucified. As He spent time talking with His disciples, one point that He really seemed to want to get across to them was the necessity of showing love to one another.
That's why you will find Jesus telling them to love one another repeatedly throughout chapters 13-16. You can see it in places like John 15:9-10, John 15:12-13, John 15:17, and many more times throughout. And in doing this, Jesus shows us the importance of love for one another in our faith community.
Yet, love is something that we westerners seem to have forgotten how to do. You watch movies or read books, and the prevailing sense of what love is is some kind of attraction or pleasure. That's because we have so thoroughly watered down what "love" means that we no longer know how we can love one another. After all, if "love" has sexual or pleasurable connotations, then what does it mean to love our brothers and sisters in Jesus? What does it mean to love Jesus, for that matter? If we're looking for some pleasurable feeling in doing this, then it's no wonder we aren't finding or experiencing that kind of love in our church communities.
That's because love finds its base in a verbal form, not in a noun form. Love is action, not some feeling, or something we get from another. Love is something that we do. Love is commitment. Love is caring. Love is, when needed, putting the needs of another before our own needs. Love is looking around at our brothers and sisters and seeing that we need them and they need us far more than some kind of sense of pleasure. In many respects, love is a commitment to care.
Maybe that's why we in the west have such a hard time of knowing how to love one another. We're told to look out for our own selves first and foremost, and then we're told that love is some pleasurable feeling that we should pursue at all costs. Is it any wonder, then, that our faith communities (and in many cases, our families) are falling apart due to lack of love?
Who do you know that needs your love toward them today? How can you go about showing that love to them?
That's why you will find Jesus telling them to love one another repeatedly throughout chapters 13-16. You can see it in places like John 15:9-10, John 15:12-13, John 15:17, and many more times throughout. And in doing this, Jesus shows us the importance of love for one another in our faith community.
Yet, love is something that we westerners seem to have forgotten how to do. You watch movies or read books, and the prevailing sense of what love is is some kind of attraction or pleasure. That's because we have so thoroughly watered down what "love" means that we no longer know how we can love one another. After all, if "love" has sexual or pleasurable connotations, then what does it mean to love our brothers and sisters in Jesus? What does it mean to love Jesus, for that matter? If we're looking for some pleasurable feeling in doing this, then it's no wonder we aren't finding or experiencing that kind of love in our church communities.
That's because love finds its base in a verbal form, not in a noun form. Love is action, not some feeling, or something we get from another. Love is something that we do. Love is commitment. Love is caring. Love is, when needed, putting the needs of another before our own needs. Love is looking around at our brothers and sisters and seeing that we need them and they need us far more than some kind of sense of pleasure. In many respects, love is a commitment to care.
Maybe that's why we in the west have such a hard time of knowing how to love one another. We're told to look out for our own selves first and foremost, and then we're told that love is some pleasurable feeling that we should pursue at all costs. Is it any wonder, then, that our faith communities (and in many cases, our families) are falling apart due to lack of love?
Who do you know that needs your love toward them today? How can you go about showing that love to them?
Friday, May 27, 2011
Community: Meeting at the Gate
One of the charges that the LORD God gave to Israel was to write the contents of His Law to them on their doorposts, and also on the gates of the city where they happened to be. (See Deuteronomy 6:1-9, for example) It was at these gates that the elders of Israel would go, to meet with the people, to hear disputes, and to make judgments on what God's law said pertaining to whatever the people might ask. In essence, the elders were to go out to the gates and pretty much engage with people, answering their questions, and making themselves available.
This is perhaps one of the more difficult lessons to teach those of us raised in North America. We've been raised and taught to be productive with our time. So sitting around simply engaging people in conversation, listening to their needs and thoughts, and building up relationships with them may seem like a waste of time. And yet, this is perhaps one of the weakest components of our western society. We simply do not place a great value on sitting around in conversation with others.
Yet, if we look at spending time with people in this kind of way as a waste of time, is it any surprise that we really don't know how to relate to others? Throughout this week, I have been talking about being a community of faith in Jesus, and of the interpersonal relationships that calls for. It would seem that, if we are to really become the body of Christ, or a community of faith, simply spending time with each other is vitally important.
True, if we spend our time with people to avoid doing other things that we should be doing, then we have problems. But there is such an important part of our life spent in social interactions with others. It's hard to share tough times in life with someone you don't know well, but if you have never tried to get to know people, should it be any surprise that you don't have anyone with whom to share such moments?
Who can you make time to spend with this coming week? Not for any particular agenda, but just simply to grow in relationship with them. Give it a try!
This is perhaps one of the more difficult lessons to teach those of us raised in North America. We've been raised and taught to be productive with our time. So sitting around simply engaging people in conversation, listening to their needs and thoughts, and building up relationships with them may seem like a waste of time. And yet, this is perhaps one of the weakest components of our western society. We simply do not place a great value on sitting around in conversation with others.
Yet, if we look at spending time with people in this kind of way as a waste of time, is it any surprise that we really don't know how to relate to others? Throughout this week, I have been talking about being a community of faith in Jesus, and of the interpersonal relationships that calls for. It would seem that, if we are to really become the body of Christ, or a community of faith, simply spending time with each other is vitally important.
True, if we spend our time with people to avoid doing other things that we should be doing, then we have problems. But there is such an important part of our life spent in social interactions with others. It's hard to share tough times in life with someone you don't know well, but if you have never tried to get to know people, should it be any surprise that you don't have anyone with whom to share such moments?
Who can you make time to spend with this coming week? Not for any particular agenda, but just simply to grow in relationship with them. Give it a try!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
What connects the body and holds it together?
As a runner, I have a fairly significant interest in the parts of the body that hold it together. At various times, knees and ankles can feel a little sore from the movement of running, and the stresses that are placed upon those parts of the body. But if those parts are not strengthened and prepared for the task, then the connections between the feet and the legs, or between the upper and lower legs, suffers greatly.
When Paul writes about the body being one unit made up of many parts, or members, he doesn't just leave it there. After all, what good is a body without the various connections that give it form and shape. While our skeletal system shapes what our body looks like, it would be nothing more than a pile of bones without connective tissue holding them together, to give them form.
In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul speaks about Christ's body (that is, all those who have faith in what He has done for us) growing up into Him. But then, Paul speaks about connections in the body. He says that the body is held together by the joints, and that the joints are equipped for what they are supposed to do. When each part is working properly, then the body grows, built up in love.
That last part is key for us as we think of ourselves as the body of Christ. The body is built up and equipped by love. Faith is what connects us to the head, but it is love that connects the parts of the body to one another. If we are missing those connections of love between the members of the body of Christ, should we be surprised to see that body fall apart, sometimes literally. In our current day and age, so many wander in and the "slip through the cracks", and we wonder why, when the reality is, they have not been joined with the connection of love that unites the body together.
Perhaps you can think of someone in your worshiping community who may share faith in Jesus, but is barely hanging on to their connection to the body simply because no one has shown them love and care. Why not find some way to make that kind of connection with them? It just might be the kind of thing that joins two vital bones together in the body of Christ, and equips it even greater for the task of proclaiming Jesus' good news.
When Paul writes about the body being one unit made up of many parts, or members, he doesn't just leave it there. After all, what good is a body without the various connections that give it form and shape. While our skeletal system shapes what our body looks like, it would be nothing more than a pile of bones without connective tissue holding them together, to give them form.
In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul speaks about Christ's body (that is, all those who have faith in what He has done for us) growing up into Him. But then, Paul speaks about connections in the body. He says that the body is held together by the joints, and that the joints are equipped for what they are supposed to do. When each part is working properly, then the body grows, built up in love.
That last part is key for us as we think of ourselves as the body of Christ. The body is built up and equipped by love. Faith is what connects us to the head, but it is love that connects the parts of the body to one another. If we are missing those connections of love between the members of the body of Christ, should we be surprised to see that body fall apart, sometimes literally. In our current day and age, so many wander in and the "slip through the cracks", and we wonder why, when the reality is, they have not been joined with the connection of love that unites the body together.
Perhaps you can think of someone in your worshiping community who may share faith in Jesus, but is barely hanging on to their connection to the body simply because no one has shown them love and care. Why not find some way to make that kind of connection with them? It just might be the kind of thing that joins two vital bones together in the body of Christ, and equips it even greater for the task of proclaiming Jesus' good news.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Living Stones and the Chief Cornerstone
Many people are familiar with the words of 1 Peter 2:4-10, where God's people are called a royal priesthood, and are described as living stones, with Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. It's a great picture of God's people, built up by God, all in line with Jesus, and being built as God's spiritual house in this world.
A couple of nights ago, I was talking about this section with my friend Bill. Bill had a rather startling insight that I think is really worth sharing. Lately, I've been focusing a lot on our community of faith, and what it looks like for that community to be built up in Jesus, showing love to one another, and the great variety of ways that God has given for us to do so.
That's when Bill said something rather profound. He said you can't really call yourself a spiritual house if you are a brick sitting on top of the cornerstone all by yourself. In fact, if a good wind came along, you might even be blown off of top of the cornerstone. Sadly, there are many Christians who don't feel like they "need" to be a part of a community of faith, and so, in many respects, they are like this solitary brick. Are they still on the cornerstone? It's likely, but, as Bill pointed out next, they truly are missing out on something.
Think of the difference between that solitary brick on top of the cornerstone, and then the whole wall of bricks, built together, mortar sealing them to one another (the mortar of faith, of forgiveness, of godly love to one another). The same wind that might knock that solitary brick off has little effect on the whole wall. The individual bricks of the wall receive strength from their connections with the other bricks, and are able to withstand much more than the single brick.
Likewise, the brick that simply sits upon the cornerstone all alone has no form or structure to it. It could be aligned along the edge of the cornerstone, or it could sit diagonally, or even on one end. But the bricks that are built together to form the wall are aligned with the cornerstone, and help serve to keep one another in that proper alignment. Their strength is in the proper alignment with the cornerstone and with one another.
I even see Bill's insight, which he shared with me, as part of this. All alone, he might know this, but when it is shared with the rest of his fellow bricks, it serves to give us even more strength as we live life together as fellow bricks in God's spiritual house.
A couple of nights ago, I was talking about this section with my friend Bill. Bill had a rather startling insight that I think is really worth sharing. Lately, I've been focusing a lot on our community of faith, and what it looks like for that community to be built up in Jesus, showing love to one another, and the great variety of ways that God has given for us to do so.
That's when Bill said something rather profound. He said you can't really call yourself a spiritual house if you are a brick sitting on top of the cornerstone all by yourself. In fact, if a good wind came along, you might even be blown off of top of the cornerstone. Sadly, there are many Christians who don't feel like they "need" to be a part of a community of faith, and so, in many respects, they are like this solitary brick. Are they still on the cornerstone? It's likely, but, as Bill pointed out next, they truly are missing out on something.
Think of the difference between that solitary brick on top of the cornerstone, and then the whole wall of bricks, built together, mortar sealing them to one another (the mortar of faith, of forgiveness, of godly love to one another). The same wind that might knock that solitary brick off has little effect on the whole wall. The individual bricks of the wall receive strength from their connections with the other bricks, and are able to withstand much more than the single brick.
Likewise, the brick that simply sits upon the cornerstone all alone has no form or structure to it. It could be aligned along the edge of the cornerstone, or it could sit diagonally, or even on one end. But the bricks that are built together to form the wall are aligned with the cornerstone, and help serve to keep one another in that proper alignment. Their strength is in the proper alignment with the cornerstone and with one another.
I even see Bill's insight, which he shared with me, as part of this. All alone, he might know this, but when it is shared with the rest of his fellow bricks, it serves to give us even more strength as we live life together as fellow bricks in God's spiritual house.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
God's Community: Different Looks at Life Together
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Acts 2:42
I've often heard this verse and the verses that follow it (Acts 2:43-47) outlined as the ideal way that Christians should be in fellowship with one another. I've heard it talked about as the ideal way that we live our Christian lives together with one another.
But I have to admit that I have always struggled with thinking that. It's not that I think what they did was bad or wrong. In fact, I see a lot of strengths in how those Christians lived together and cared for one another. The thing that I have struggled with is the idea that these verses tell us how all Christians should pattern their lives together.
Let me explain for a moment. In some cultures, sharing possessions such as is described in Acts comes much more naturally than in other cultures. If we suggested doing that same kind of thing in North America, however, I doubt there are many churches that would be able to pull it off. Our culture is just different. It's not to say that one culture is better or worse than another, but the idea of independence and ownership is just different for most Americans that it likely is for much of the rest of the world.
In other words, part of our challenge is to figure out how to incorporate the principles behind what these disciples in Acts did, and then act upon those principles. It may not result in a shared pot, but consist of, say, a church benevolence fund that is continually given toward. It may mean that we find different ways to pray for one another and to let each other know about it (facebook, email, text message, or some other means of letting someone know prayer needs or that we are praying for them). It may mean that we have to be more intentional about being in connection with one another simply because our lives don't bring us into that regular contact with each other that those Christians in Acts experienced, as they saw each other in the market or along the towns streets. The principles remain the same, but the form that they take varies from culture to culture.
Perhaps the biggest thing that has started to stand out to me is that it has to be intentional. We don't live in a society where we regularly run into each other anymore. We have to plan the times we see each other, and so, if we are to maintain the community life together, it will require planning and intentionality. That doesn't make it any less of a community than that which is spoken of in Acts. It just means that the same things happen, but the way they happen looks a little different.
I've often heard this verse and the verses that follow it (Acts 2:43-47) outlined as the ideal way that Christians should be in fellowship with one another. I've heard it talked about as the ideal way that we live our Christian lives together with one another.
But I have to admit that I have always struggled with thinking that. It's not that I think what they did was bad or wrong. In fact, I see a lot of strengths in how those Christians lived together and cared for one another. The thing that I have struggled with is the idea that these verses tell us how all Christians should pattern their lives together.
Let me explain for a moment. In some cultures, sharing possessions such as is described in Acts comes much more naturally than in other cultures. If we suggested doing that same kind of thing in North America, however, I doubt there are many churches that would be able to pull it off. Our culture is just different. It's not to say that one culture is better or worse than another, but the idea of independence and ownership is just different for most Americans that it likely is for much of the rest of the world.
In other words, part of our challenge is to figure out how to incorporate the principles behind what these disciples in Acts did, and then act upon those principles. It may not result in a shared pot, but consist of, say, a church benevolence fund that is continually given toward. It may mean that we find different ways to pray for one another and to let each other know about it (facebook, email, text message, or some other means of letting someone know prayer needs or that we are praying for them). It may mean that we have to be more intentional about being in connection with one another simply because our lives don't bring us into that regular contact with each other that those Christians in Acts experienced, as they saw each other in the market or along the towns streets. The principles remain the same, but the form that they take varies from culture to culture.
Perhaps the biggest thing that has started to stand out to me is that it has to be intentional. We don't live in a society where we regularly run into each other anymore. We have to plan the times we see each other, and so, if we are to maintain the community life together, it will require planning and intentionality. That doesn't make it any less of a community than that which is spoken of in Acts. It just means that the same things happen, but the way they happen looks a little different.
Monday, May 23, 2011
God's Community of People
In Deuteronomy 7:6, God calls His people a "treasured possession". I love this Hebrew word, pronounced segolah. It's the kind of word which speaks of something that has great value to you. It's the kind of thing that you would run back into your burning house to save and rescue. And that's the kind of word that God uses to describe His people.
We are God's treasured possession. Yet, it has been my sad experience that we don't always act as though we are His treasured possession, or we can even treat others as though they are less than God's treasured possession. So for a while, I want to spend some time just thinking about this community which God calls His treasured possession.
When you think of your fellow Christians, do you think of them as someone whom you would rush back into a burning house to save? As a community whom God has seen fit to do this for (think Jesus and the cross), it would seem appropriate to consider each other that way. While our sinful natures will always interfere with our ability to do so, the great thing is, God's renewing Spirit gives us the desire to do so, and there is no end of ways that we can show that treasuredness to one another. How will you show someone today that they are God's treasured possession?
We are God's treasured possession. Yet, it has been my sad experience that we don't always act as though we are His treasured possession, or we can even treat others as though they are less than God's treasured possession. So for a while, I want to spend some time just thinking about this community which God calls His treasured possession.
When you think of your fellow Christians, do you think of them as someone whom you would rush back into a burning house to save? As a community whom God has seen fit to do this for (think Jesus and the cross), it would seem appropriate to consider each other that way. While our sinful natures will always interfere with our ability to do so, the great thing is, God's renewing Spirit gives us the desire to do so, and there is no end of ways that we can show that treasuredness to one another. How will you show someone today that they are God's treasured possession?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Faith and Life: God's Doing, or Ours?
"And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." Genesis 45:5
I've always been intrigued by this statement which Joseph made to his brothers, who, years earlier, had been jealous of him and sold him as a slave to some people heading to Egypt. Joseph sees how God was at work in everything that happened (and yes, some of it was really bad). Even though there were visible, tangible causes of what happened to him, he recognized that it was really God's work all along.
This introduces one of those funny things in life. We recognize that God has given us minds, and even in parts of His Word, tells us how to deal wisely with the things of this world. He gives us great guidelines which can serve to help improve our lives, though we also must remember that this life, lived with sin in it, is not God's ultimate goal. Because of that sin, it's now to re-create and make everything new. But He does still care about what happens in this life and in what we make of it.
The thing is, it may seem like we are making our way along in life, sometimes with wisdom, and sometimes not. But in the end, we're going to look back (like Joseph) and see that God's hand was at work in everything all along. Some of it we'll be surprised at. Other times, we'll recognize that God is at work at that particular time, and see it even more keenly afterward.
We will always want to live our lives for ourselves. That's part of that sinfulness that lives in us. But the great thing is, even when we think we're doing it all on our own, God's hand is working unseen, and will probably become rather apparent later on. Thanks be to God that He does this in our life!
I've always been intrigued by this statement which Joseph made to his brothers, who, years earlier, had been jealous of him and sold him as a slave to some people heading to Egypt. Joseph sees how God was at work in everything that happened (and yes, some of it was really bad). Even though there were visible, tangible causes of what happened to him, he recognized that it was really God's work all along.
This introduces one of those funny things in life. We recognize that God has given us minds, and even in parts of His Word, tells us how to deal wisely with the things of this world. He gives us great guidelines which can serve to help improve our lives, though we also must remember that this life, lived with sin in it, is not God's ultimate goal. Because of that sin, it's now to re-create and make everything new. But He does still care about what happens in this life and in what we make of it.
The thing is, it may seem like we are making our way along in life, sometimes with wisdom, and sometimes not. But in the end, we're going to look back (like Joseph) and see that God's hand was at work in everything all along. Some of it we'll be surprised at. Other times, we'll recognize that God is at work at that particular time, and see it even more keenly afterward.
We will always want to live our lives for ourselves. That's part of that sinfulness that lives in us. But the great thing is, even when we think we're doing it all on our own, God's hand is working unseen, and will probably become rather apparent later on. Thanks be to God that He does this in our life!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Faith and Life: Dealing with Guilt
Part of the Christian life involves our recognition that God outlines certain things in how we live that are good and beneficial for us, as well as things which serve Him and demonstrate love for Him and love for our neighbor. Alongside that, we also recognize that there are many times where we fail to do what He says, or even find ourselves not wanting to do them. In general, it seems that this situation leaves many dealing with a great deal of guilt.
Dealing with guilt in our lives involves two different things in our relationship with God and others. First, it means that we have to admit (or the "churchy" word we use is confess) that we simply cannot do everything God says and commands and desires, and even, at times, to admit that we don't want to. (What, love a terrorist as myself? That's just insane! But that's what God says.) Part of dealing with the guilt is to realize what it is that we are feeling guilty about. So it's a great benefit to us to actually take a little time to reflect and inwardly discover the things that we actually feel guilty about.
(On a side note, another part of this point in the previous paragraph is to know what God says enough to know what we should feel guilty about and what not. I've heard a lot of people say that God requires things which the Bible does not say, or they deny that God says certain things which are clearly laid out in the Bible. So an additional point to the previous paragraph is to know the Bible and actually discover what we should feel guilty about in relation to God.)
The second part of dealing with this guilt is to come to an admission to ourselves. We're not God! We cannot do everything perfectly. God did not make us all knowing, or give us such powers as to be able to do everything. Instead, there are times where we need to admit our limitations. I know, it's easy to beat ourselves up over something that we really couldn't do anything about, but that is to take the guilt of another onto ourselves, and only Jesus could do that in any kind of meaningful way.
God gave the great gift of forgiveness to help us deal with guilt. This is also why having a person to go to and confess your guilt and feelings of guilt is such a great thing. (Incidentally, this is really what a pastor is for!!!) Not only do we better understand what we are feeling guilty about, but we hear that, in Jesus, God has forgiven that guilt and dealt with it. It may not instantly change how we feel, but it is God's provided means for taking that burden off of our shoulders and putting it onto the shoulders that have done something about it.
Dealing with guilt in our lives involves two different things in our relationship with God and others. First, it means that we have to admit (or the "churchy" word we use is confess) that we simply cannot do everything God says and commands and desires, and even, at times, to admit that we don't want to. (What, love a terrorist as myself? That's just insane! But that's what God says.) Part of dealing with the guilt is to realize what it is that we are feeling guilty about. So it's a great benefit to us to actually take a little time to reflect and inwardly discover the things that we actually feel guilty about.
(On a side note, another part of this point in the previous paragraph is to know what God says enough to know what we should feel guilty about and what not. I've heard a lot of people say that God requires things which the Bible does not say, or they deny that God says certain things which are clearly laid out in the Bible. So an additional point to the previous paragraph is to know the Bible and actually discover what we should feel guilty about in relation to God.)
The second part of dealing with this guilt is to come to an admission to ourselves. We're not God! We cannot do everything perfectly. God did not make us all knowing, or give us such powers as to be able to do everything. Instead, there are times where we need to admit our limitations. I know, it's easy to beat ourselves up over something that we really couldn't do anything about, but that is to take the guilt of another onto ourselves, and only Jesus could do that in any kind of meaningful way.
God gave the great gift of forgiveness to help us deal with guilt. This is also why having a person to go to and confess your guilt and feelings of guilt is such a great thing. (Incidentally, this is really what a pastor is for!!!) Not only do we better understand what we are feeling guilty about, but we hear that, in Jesus, God has forgiven that guilt and dealt with it. It may not instantly change how we feel, but it is God's provided means for taking that burden off of our shoulders and putting it onto the shoulders that have done something about it.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Faith and Life: Picking and Choosing
Most of us know how a buffet works. You go through, and you get to pick and choose what you want to eat. If you don't like liver, you don't have to pick it, and if you really, really like fried chicken, you can get as much as you want.
We can be that way with the tension between our faith and how we live as Christians sometimes. We have certain parts of our life that we don't mind living along the lines which God has said are good and which He created us to follow. We're okay with that not murdering people. We may struggle at times with the whole lying thing, or the lust thing, but overall, we understand that it's better not to do those things, and that people will like us more if we prove trustworthy in them. They're kind of like green beans, okay at times, but there are times when we don't really want them.
Then, there's the liver. Jesus says to go make disciples of all the Gentiles, and we feel like that's up to us to choose whether or not we do it. Or He says to show love and care for our neighbor as if for our very own selves, and we really don't want to choose that for that annoying person at work, or who lives down the street. If we choose not to help them, we start to think that God doesn't really have any strong opinion on it.
But that's the thing with God. The parts of our life that fall under His jurisdiction are not left up to our picking and choosing. It's all under what He says. And the reality is, no matter how much we try, or make our best efforts, we don't do it as He says or instructs.
I don't say this in order to drag us down, but simply to point out that we do not get to pick and choose the parts of our life that God has something to say about. It's all a gift from Him, and He does indeed have something to say about it all. And then, because He knows that we are unable to live it as He says and instructs, He sent His Son to live it out perfectly in our place.
So the next time you find yourself thinking that God doesn't really have a say-so in what you do in certain parts of your life, just remember that your whole life is a gift from Him. And then, as we continually find ourselves picking and choosing, we give thanks for full and complete forgiveness through Jesus.
We can be that way with the tension between our faith and how we live as Christians sometimes. We have certain parts of our life that we don't mind living along the lines which God has said are good and which He created us to follow. We're okay with that not murdering people. We may struggle at times with the whole lying thing, or the lust thing, but overall, we understand that it's better not to do those things, and that people will like us more if we prove trustworthy in them. They're kind of like green beans, okay at times, but there are times when we don't really want them.
Then, there's the liver. Jesus says to go make disciples of all the Gentiles, and we feel like that's up to us to choose whether or not we do it. Or He says to show love and care for our neighbor as if for our very own selves, and we really don't want to choose that for that annoying person at work, or who lives down the street. If we choose not to help them, we start to think that God doesn't really have any strong opinion on it.
But that's the thing with God. The parts of our life that fall under His jurisdiction are not left up to our picking and choosing. It's all under what He says. And the reality is, no matter how much we try, or make our best efforts, we don't do it as He says or instructs.
I don't say this in order to drag us down, but simply to point out that we do not get to pick and choose the parts of our life that God has something to say about. It's all a gift from Him, and He does indeed have something to say about it all. And then, because He knows that we are unable to live it as He says and instructs, He sent His Son to live it out perfectly in our place.
So the next time you find yourself thinking that God doesn't really have a say-so in what you do in certain parts of your life, just remember that your whole life is a gift from Him. And then, as we continually find ourselves picking and choosing, we give thanks for full and complete forgiveness through Jesus.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Faith and Life: I love my life!
Yesterday, I shared a few thoughts on the problems when a person emphasizes faith matters over how that faith impacts how they live their life. Today, we're going back up on the tightrope, but we're going to fall to the other side, and see the problems that come when we emphasize how we live significantly more than what we believe.
One thing I have come to understand in my years of life is that you cannot legislate morality. In other words, you can't pass laws that basically tell people what do to and expect them to do them for the right reasons. Sure, you can perhaps get them to follow the rules, but it doesn't bring about the necessary heart that typically drives such action.
In fact, one of the realities we face as humans is that, the more tightly we are made to follow rules and laws, the more we tend to rebel. That's the sinful nature in us. When we are told to do something or to avoid something, we fight against it. We don't like being told what to do, even if it's the best thing for us.
That's the problem with an emphasis on life over against faith. Sure, it's easier to try to convince people to just do the right thing, but without the mind, heart, and soul understanding and claiming it as its own, it's just law enforcement (and no one likes law enforcement when it happens to them). Simply telling people to do what God says will, in the end, only drive them away from God.
The technical term for this is legalism. It's the other side of the coin from yesterday, and, while it may seem the simpler approach, will, in the end, only serve to cause more rebellion. Like Paul said in Romans, once I knew what I was supposed to do and supposed to avoid, I only rebelled against it more. And that's the last thing we want to emphasize when we talk about faith and life.
One thing I have come to understand in my years of life is that you cannot legislate morality. In other words, you can't pass laws that basically tell people what do to and expect them to do them for the right reasons. Sure, you can perhaps get them to follow the rules, but it doesn't bring about the necessary heart that typically drives such action.
In fact, one of the realities we face as humans is that, the more tightly we are made to follow rules and laws, the more we tend to rebel. That's the sinful nature in us. When we are told to do something or to avoid something, we fight against it. We don't like being told what to do, even if it's the best thing for us.
That's the problem with an emphasis on life over against faith. Sure, it's easier to try to convince people to just do the right thing, but without the mind, heart, and soul understanding and claiming it as its own, it's just law enforcement (and no one likes law enforcement when it happens to them). Simply telling people to do what God says will, in the end, only drive them away from God.
The technical term for this is legalism. It's the other side of the coin from yesterday, and, while it may seem the simpler approach, will, in the end, only serve to cause more rebellion. Like Paul said in Romans, once I knew what I was supposed to do and supposed to avoid, I only rebelled against it more. And that's the last thing we want to emphasize when we talk about faith and life.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Faith and Life: A Heavy Dose of the Faith, Please
If you've been following my blog for a while, you have probably caught on that I often see two sides of the coin when I look at faith matters. We as humans tend to have a leaning toward one side of the coin or the other, and that means that those who fall on the other side often seem strange to us. I've grown enough in my faith over the years to recognize that I also do that, but I have also started to see how the life and faith of a Christian really seems to be a kind of tightrope walk (which, incidentally, we never get right. Only Jesus could walk it perfectly.)
Same thing when it comes to having faith and living our lives as Christians. I come from a tradition that places a great deal of emphasis on faith. You'd find statements like "We are saved by our faith, not by what we do." While that is a completely true statement, those who follow it can find themselves letting the living out of their faith slide by with such a heavy dose of the faith side. In a way, it can lead to a downplaying of doing the things that God says, or avoiding what He says to avoid, because, after all, we're saved by grace, through faith, not by what we do.
What do we do when we find our emphasis is a bit heavy on the faith side and the life side seems a bit short? Well, we cannot go so far as to say that person doesn't really believe since they aren't living out their faith. Yes, it is frustrating to see someone who says that they believe the Gospel message is the most important message of the world, but then keeps it quietly to themselves. But we simply cannot say that this person doesn't really believe. True, the actions may not completely reflect the belief, but then again, that's what our being sinful does to us. It keeps us from doing what we should do.
Does this then serve as an adequate excuse? Well, not really. The truth is, there is a problem when faith is emphasized so much, and the corresponding life is not seen or witnessed. The possible causes of it are truly without number. Lack of knowledge, lack of confidence, lack of understanding of what the message really is, past experiences that turned out badly, all of these and more could explain why the confessed faith may not be actively seen in a person's life. Does it indicate that there are problems? Yes. Do those problems necessarily negate faith? That hardly seems to be the case.
You probably know people in your life that fit this description. Perhaps a good thing for today would be to think about how to motivate them to bring that life element into line with their faith.
Same thing when it comes to having faith and living our lives as Christians. I come from a tradition that places a great deal of emphasis on faith. You'd find statements like "We are saved by our faith, not by what we do." While that is a completely true statement, those who follow it can find themselves letting the living out of their faith slide by with such a heavy dose of the faith side. In a way, it can lead to a downplaying of doing the things that God says, or avoiding what He says to avoid, because, after all, we're saved by grace, through faith, not by what we do.
What do we do when we find our emphasis is a bit heavy on the faith side and the life side seems a bit short? Well, we cannot go so far as to say that person doesn't really believe since they aren't living out their faith. Yes, it is frustrating to see someone who says that they believe the Gospel message is the most important message of the world, but then keeps it quietly to themselves. But we simply cannot say that this person doesn't really believe. True, the actions may not completely reflect the belief, but then again, that's what our being sinful does to us. It keeps us from doing what we should do.
Does this then serve as an adequate excuse? Well, not really. The truth is, there is a problem when faith is emphasized so much, and the corresponding life is not seen or witnessed. The possible causes of it are truly without number. Lack of knowledge, lack of confidence, lack of understanding of what the message really is, past experiences that turned out badly, all of these and more could explain why the confessed faith may not be actively seen in a person's life. Does it indicate that there are problems? Yes. Do those problems necessarily negate faith? That hardly seems to be the case.
You probably know people in your life that fit this description. Perhaps a good thing for today would be to think about how to motivate them to bring that life element into line with their faith.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Tying Together Life and Faith: How does this happen?
This isn't a new question. That's the first thing I must say. It seems that, as long as people have believed in something, the question of how life reflects belief is one that needs to be answered. It also seems that many answers have been given, some better thought out than others, and all with relevant points and weaknesses.
This question invades the Christian community time and again. How does one see a link between one's faith and one's life? Is it possible to say that one has faith if there is not a corresponding change in life because of that belief? What do you do when someone says that they believe something, but their actions seem to be contrary to what they believe? In my chosen career, these are questions that arise far more frequently than I had ever thought they would.
This week, I plan to take us through a number of different thoughts and approaches that have arise in answer to this question over the ages. Hopefully we'll shed some light on good points to think about, as well as pointing out the weaknesses that various points have. I don't know that we'll come to a firm conclusion, since that answer may only lie on the other side of the gateway into Christ's everlasting kingdom. But hopefully it will spark some thinking about how we live as Christians, as well as how we approach our fellow Christians in how they live their faith lives.
This question invades the Christian community time and again. How does one see a link between one's faith and one's life? Is it possible to say that one has faith if there is not a corresponding change in life because of that belief? What do you do when someone says that they believe something, but their actions seem to be contrary to what they believe? In my chosen career, these are questions that arise far more frequently than I had ever thought they would.
This week, I plan to take us through a number of different thoughts and approaches that have arise in answer to this question over the ages. Hopefully we'll shed some light on good points to think about, as well as pointing out the weaknesses that various points have. I don't know that we'll come to a firm conclusion, since that answer may only lie on the other side of the gateway into Christ's everlasting kingdom. But hopefully it will spark some thinking about how we live as Christians, as well as how we approach our fellow Christians in how they live their faith lives.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Psalm Reflections: Psalm 98
One of the things I'm am discovering as a difficulty is limiting the number of Psalms that I like which I wish to include in these reflections. I've read the Psalms so many times, and have come to know and love many of them, but don't wish to make this a 4 month excursion through the Psalms.
Psalm 98:1-9 is another beautiful Psalm which speaks of the joy that we have in God. Over the years, I have heard a number of different characterizations of God, most of which have some basis in accuracy, but never paint a complete picture. Many fear God as someone just waiting to extract His price from them for a lifetime of wrong. Others focus merely on a God of love and bypass the idea of a God who demands justice. Others focus on God as a God far away, and others see Him as a God nearby.
Psalm 98 focuses on the God who is full of steadfast love and faithfulness. While God does indeed know of us by our nature, separated and fallen away from Him, He doesn't give up on us, no matter how far we may run or how deep we may fall. He remembers His love and is faithful to us, and that's the reason that we can give thanks and sing a song of joy and praise to God. He, and He alone, can overcome this distance and depth.
This Psalm paints a beautiful picture that it's not just us who recognize this, but the whole world. The rivers clap their hands. The hills sing. The waters roar. Everything acknowledges and praises the God of this world, who does such great things. That's the joy and hope that I find in this Psalm.
Psalm 98:1-9 is another beautiful Psalm which speaks of the joy that we have in God. Over the years, I have heard a number of different characterizations of God, most of which have some basis in accuracy, but never paint a complete picture. Many fear God as someone just waiting to extract His price from them for a lifetime of wrong. Others focus merely on a God of love and bypass the idea of a God who demands justice. Others focus on God as a God far away, and others see Him as a God nearby.
Psalm 98 focuses on the God who is full of steadfast love and faithfulness. While God does indeed know of us by our nature, separated and fallen away from Him, He doesn't give up on us, no matter how far we may run or how deep we may fall. He remembers His love and is faithful to us, and that's the reason that we can give thanks and sing a song of joy and praise to God. He, and He alone, can overcome this distance and depth.
This Psalm paints a beautiful picture that it's not just us who recognize this, but the whole world. The rivers clap their hands. The hills sing. The waters roar. Everything acknowledges and praises the God of this world, who does such great things. That's the joy and hope that I find in this Psalm.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Thoughts on Psalm 4
Psalm 4:1-8 has come to have a great deal of meaning for me recently. Just this past winter, I wrote a research paper on it, about 12 pages total. (Yes, it says something about me that I can write a 12 page paper on a Psalm that's only 8 verses long.) In fact, I really focused on only two verses of the Psalm for that paper. Yet, this Psalm is remarkable for how it applies to our lives as Christians.
David, the writer of the Psalm, seems to have had an experience where he had followed what God said and outlined for life, but others were pointing to it as a dishonorable thing. Maybe it was an occasion such as the time when David could have killed Saul, but chose to let him live. Doing what God had said by honoring the life of a fellow human could have been seen as dishonorable, since Saul was trying to kill him.
Yet, even as that is happening, David doesn't let his spirit get down. He knows that God hears. He knows that there is a place for anger at that, but that the anger is not an excuse to sin. And then, David does something that is truly astounding to me. He gives thanks to God that God will see him through it, and that God's face will shine upon him. He is so assured of this that he can lie down and sleep without having to worry about it at all.
It's difficult to do the right thing when you know that others will criticize you for it. I've experienced that a time or two in my life. And yet, this Psalm reminds me that life is not about simply being liked by others. It's about living God's design, being thankful that God has made me His own. I don't have to worry about what others say or think because I am in the hands of the God who loves me enough to lay down His life for me. And that is so reassuring that I can sleep at night, knowing that I am in His hands, and I am His.
David, the writer of the Psalm, seems to have had an experience where he had followed what God said and outlined for life, but others were pointing to it as a dishonorable thing. Maybe it was an occasion such as the time when David could have killed Saul, but chose to let him live. Doing what God had said by honoring the life of a fellow human could have been seen as dishonorable, since Saul was trying to kill him.
Yet, even as that is happening, David doesn't let his spirit get down. He knows that God hears. He knows that there is a place for anger at that, but that the anger is not an excuse to sin. And then, David does something that is truly astounding to me. He gives thanks to God that God will see him through it, and that God's face will shine upon him. He is so assured of this that he can lie down and sleep without having to worry about it at all.
It's difficult to do the right thing when you know that others will criticize you for it. I've experienced that a time or two in my life. And yet, this Psalm reminds me that life is not about simply being liked by others. It's about living God's design, being thankful that God has made me His own. I don't have to worry about what others say or think because I am in the hands of the God who loves me enough to lay down His life for me. And that is so reassuring that I can sleep at night, knowing that I am in His hands, and I am His.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Psalms: Music, Poetry, and God
I love reading through the Psalms. Some of the most well-known verses of the Bible are found in them, and I just find them a refreshing word from God when I read through them. They are the kind of words and phrases that paint pictures of God for us, and that make us think about who God is, what He has done. They engage the mind, while at the same time touching the heart and the soul.
Also, a good number of the Psalms give titles to tell the tune in which they were to be sung. Music has a way of touching our hearts and souls at a very deep, personal level. For me personally, there are times where I just have to put down the books, close my eyes, and let some music play to re-orient myself in life. Sometimes it's just instrumental, but sometimes it involves words. And that's what the Psalms seem to have been written for. They were the way that God's people would sing and rejoice and grow in their faith as they sang them, whether together or when they were alone.
Over the next few days, we'll walk through some of the Psalms. I'll share some of my thoughts on them, and how they point out a number of things about God that are good and useful and beneficial for us. But above all, I hope you get a glimpse of how God works in our hearts through words and phrases that really serve to engage our minds and hearts and souls.
Also, a good number of the Psalms give titles to tell the tune in which they were to be sung. Music has a way of touching our hearts and souls at a very deep, personal level. For me personally, there are times where I just have to put down the books, close my eyes, and let some music play to re-orient myself in life. Sometimes it's just instrumental, but sometimes it involves words. And that's what the Psalms seem to have been written for. They were the way that God's people would sing and rejoice and grow in their faith as they sang them, whether together or when they were alone.
Over the next few days, we'll walk through some of the Psalms. I'll share some of my thoughts on them, and how they point out a number of things about God that are good and useful and beneficial for us. But above all, I hope you get a glimpse of how God works in our hearts through words and phrases that really serve to engage our minds and hearts and souls.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Post # 70: Thoughts on Forgiveness
"Then Peter came up and said to Him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.'" Matthew 18:21-22
I'm not a big numbers guy (ask my wife, who has to keep up our checkbook!). Yet, there is something to consider with particular numbers throughout the Bible. And with this being my 70th post, I thought I would focus on this time when Jesus makes use of the number.
It seems that when I teach the younger people about Matthew 18, when we read this section, they invariably want to have a number of times to forgive someone. I think that's human nature. We want to know when we have done what is required, or done enough. We like a hard, fast number to hold to. If Jesus says forgive seven times, then I'll forgive seven times, but woe for the eighth!
But that is also where numbers take on a greater meaning than their literal figure. God created the world in seven days, and, yes, I believe that is literal. Because He did it all in 7 days, that links the idea of completeness to the number. So when God uses the number 7, quite often He means something is complete.
So think of that. Peter wants to forgive seven times, and that should be the end of it. But Jesus says that even that many times is incomplete. Then He throws in 70. Now, 70 appears a few times in the Bible, at times to intensify the meaning (see Genesis 4:24), but to also express an idea of completeness (all of Joseph's family, 70 in number, went to Egypt, as one example). So Jesus intensifies the action of forgiving, going beyond simply bringing it to a point of completion to seemingly wiping it away as though it never existed. Seven times seventy. Complete forgiveness, as if it never happened.
Of course, such complete forgiveness isn't going to be possible for us as people who bear grudges and who tend to have long memories. Only God's forgiveness through Jesus can be that complete. God has forgiven you seven times seventy, so completely that it is as though that sin never existed.
So what do we do as people who have been forgiven that much? We strive to be forgiving in our lives. While we may never be able to forgive as completely as Jesus says here, we strive to be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us through Jesus. So with this, my 70th post, I hope that you practice much forgiveness in your life, and that you rejoice in God's forgiveness toward you!
I'm not a big numbers guy (ask my wife, who has to keep up our checkbook!). Yet, there is something to consider with particular numbers throughout the Bible. And with this being my 70th post, I thought I would focus on this time when Jesus makes use of the number.
It seems that when I teach the younger people about Matthew 18, when we read this section, they invariably want to have a number of times to forgive someone. I think that's human nature. We want to know when we have done what is required, or done enough. We like a hard, fast number to hold to. If Jesus says forgive seven times, then I'll forgive seven times, but woe for the eighth!
But that is also where numbers take on a greater meaning than their literal figure. God created the world in seven days, and, yes, I believe that is literal. Because He did it all in 7 days, that links the idea of completeness to the number. So when God uses the number 7, quite often He means something is complete.
So think of that. Peter wants to forgive seven times, and that should be the end of it. But Jesus says that even that many times is incomplete. Then He throws in 70. Now, 70 appears a few times in the Bible, at times to intensify the meaning (see Genesis 4:24), but to also express an idea of completeness (all of Joseph's family, 70 in number, went to Egypt, as one example). So Jesus intensifies the action of forgiving, going beyond simply bringing it to a point of completion to seemingly wiping it away as though it never existed. Seven times seventy. Complete forgiveness, as if it never happened.
Of course, such complete forgiveness isn't going to be possible for us as people who bear grudges and who tend to have long memories. Only God's forgiveness through Jesus can be that complete. God has forgiven you seven times seventy, so completely that it is as though that sin never existed.
So what do we do as people who have been forgiven that much? We strive to be forgiving in our lives. While we may never be able to forgive as completely as Jesus says here, we strive to be forgiving, just as God has forgiven us through Jesus. So with this, my 70th post, I hope that you practice much forgiveness in your life, and that you rejoice in God's forgiveness toward you!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Does God Understand Us?
Have you ever had one of those moments where it just seemed like no one understood what you were going through, or what you were thinking? It just seemed that they couldn't relate to your experience, and no matter how much you may have tried to explain, they just didn't get it.
I had one of those moments yesterday, only it was me who was failing to understand another person. The sad thing was, it was my wife I was failing to understand. She had some thoughts and experiences, and no matter how much she explained them to me, it just didn't seem like they were getting through. I'm pretty sure she was rather frustrated with that (and me, probably!).
This leads me to today's question. Does God understand us? Does He know what it's like to feel sad, and lonely, and misunderstood? Does He get frustrated, like we do, when no one seems to get what He's saying? Doesn't He get that sometimes we really need someone to just get who we are, what we are going through, and to be there, supporting us and helping us through that time?
As I have given thought to this question, it has seemed to me that we should almost flip the question around. Do we understand God? Do we know what it's like to have an entire creation which He dearly loves turn on Him, become His enemies by nature, and look for other reasons to explain our existence? Do we know what it's like to create a bunch of people, and then have them do what seems to be right in their eyes rather than live the full life He created them to live? Do we know what it's like to know what is best for them, but then, watch them pick almost anything but the best time and time again?
When we feel like no one gets us or understands us, I think we start to feel a reflection of how God must look at His entire creation. What we go through at that time is a dim reflection of what He experiences every moment that this creation is in existence. And the solution, at least from God's perspective? Not to blow the whole thing up and start over, but to completely re-create it, and giving them all as many opportunities to be a part of that new creation as possible.
Does God understand us? More deeply and intimately than we could ever imagine. Do we understand God? Only as in looking at a frosted over mirror in a dim room.
I had one of those moments yesterday, only it was me who was failing to understand another person. The sad thing was, it was my wife I was failing to understand. She had some thoughts and experiences, and no matter how much she explained them to me, it just didn't seem like they were getting through. I'm pretty sure she was rather frustrated with that (and me, probably!).
This leads me to today's question. Does God understand us? Does He know what it's like to feel sad, and lonely, and misunderstood? Does He get frustrated, like we do, when no one seems to get what He's saying? Doesn't He get that sometimes we really need someone to just get who we are, what we are going through, and to be there, supporting us and helping us through that time?
As I have given thought to this question, it has seemed to me that we should almost flip the question around. Do we understand God? Do we know what it's like to have an entire creation which He dearly loves turn on Him, become His enemies by nature, and look for other reasons to explain our existence? Do we know what it's like to create a bunch of people, and then have them do what seems to be right in their eyes rather than live the full life He created them to live? Do we know what it's like to know what is best for them, but then, watch them pick almost anything but the best time and time again?
When we feel like no one gets us or understands us, I think we start to feel a reflection of how God must look at His entire creation. What we go through at that time is a dim reflection of what He experiences every moment that this creation is in existence. And the solution, at least from God's perspective? Not to blow the whole thing up and start over, but to completely re-create it, and giving them all as many opportunities to be a part of that new creation as possible.
Does God understand us? More deeply and intimately than we could ever imagine. Do we understand God? Only as in looking at a frosted over mirror in a dim room.
Friday, May 6, 2011
God: The Source of All Justice
The human sense of justice can be changed as we learn more information about the situation, and every individual has a slightly different sense of what constitutes justice, with the extremes actually being fairly far apart. Over the week, I have colored the pages of the book of justice, and today, want to bring it to a conclusion as we look at the origin of justice.
When God created the man and then the woman, they were created with a perfect connection with Him. No sin or evil thought interfered. It seems as though the man knew perfectly what God's will was. But then, when the man and woman disobeyed God and ate from the forbidden tree, that perfect knowledge of God's will was broken, kind of like a computer losing its internet access (shocking!). No longer would the man or woman or any of their descendants know perfectly what God's will is, and that includes God's sense of what is just.
Yet, it didn't change the fact that they were created with a sense of justice within them. The only problem was that they would listen to their internal voice of reason or conscience rather than the voice of God to learn what perfect justice is. And that reason or conscience had just been irreparably broken by sin. Instead of doing the just thing, and bearing their own fault, they each pointed the finger at another. Justice became trying to avoid consequences rather than recognizing and acknowledging guilt. Justice was when the other person got what they deserved.
Ever since then, no one except Jesus has perfectly known God's justice. Sure, we may get it right sometimes, and we may fail miserably sometimes. But this points out why we go to God's revealed Word in the Bible to help us understand what He means by justice. And that is where we find that God is a God of perfect justice and of perfect compassion. Disconnected from Him, we cannot know how that combination works together perfectly, but we can glean some ideas and thoughts, and then work to apply them in our lives. That's part of the importance of knowing God's Word. It helps us better understand His sense of justice and compassion.
When Jesus makes His re-appearance, we will see God's full justice and compassion fully at work. Sadly, Jesus Himself said that many who expect compassion will receive justice. God's justice, worked through Jesus and the cross, will then demonstrate compassion on many who cling to the name and work of Jesus. That's when we will once again realize perfect justice and perfect compassion. Until then, we recognize that we will most often get it wrong, but cling all the more firmly to Jesus' forgiveness and study God's Word to be a little better at it.
When God created the man and then the woman, they were created with a perfect connection with Him. No sin or evil thought interfered. It seems as though the man knew perfectly what God's will was. But then, when the man and woman disobeyed God and ate from the forbidden tree, that perfect knowledge of God's will was broken, kind of like a computer losing its internet access (shocking!). No longer would the man or woman or any of their descendants know perfectly what God's will is, and that includes God's sense of what is just.
Yet, it didn't change the fact that they were created with a sense of justice within them. The only problem was that they would listen to their internal voice of reason or conscience rather than the voice of God to learn what perfect justice is. And that reason or conscience had just been irreparably broken by sin. Instead of doing the just thing, and bearing their own fault, they each pointed the finger at another. Justice became trying to avoid consequences rather than recognizing and acknowledging guilt. Justice was when the other person got what they deserved.
Ever since then, no one except Jesus has perfectly known God's justice. Sure, we may get it right sometimes, and we may fail miserably sometimes. But this points out why we go to God's revealed Word in the Bible to help us understand what He means by justice. And that is where we find that God is a God of perfect justice and of perfect compassion. Disconnected from Him, we cannot know how that combination works together perfectly, but we can glean some ideas and thoughts, and then work to apply them in our lives. That's part of the importance of knowing God's Word. It helps us better understand His sense of justice and compassion.
When Jesus makes His re-appearance, we will see God's full justice and compassion fully at work. Sadly, Jesus Himself said that many who expect compassion will receive justice. God's justice, worked through Jesus and the cross, will then demonstrate compassion on many who cling to the name and work of Jesus. That's when we will once again realize perfect justice and perfect compassion. Until then, we recognize that we will most often get it wrong, but cling all the more firmly to Jesus' forgiveness and study God's Word to be a little better at it.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Digging Deeper into the source of Justice
As more and more details continue to come out about bin Laden's death, I have seen questions of justice continue to be asked. I've even noticed that a lot of people are struggling to figure out if and how justice was done in this situation.
Yesterday, I looked a bit at how our individual senses of justice are influenced by details of the situation, even though we seem to have some basic things in common. I want to look at those basic things today, and tomorrow, look at why I believe that our imperfect sense of justice finds its true origin and understanding in the God who created this world.
Most people agree that you shouldn't just walk down the street and kill some random person for no reason whatsoever. Likewise, most people agree that simply taking something that belongs to another is wrong. While we may try to split hairs by examining motives and the details of the situation, typically we do that in order to prove why such an occasion should be an acceptable exemption to our sense of justice. We acknowledge that a wrong was done, but soften the blow by making it appear a bit more acceptable.
Yet, the one thing we tend to miss in this is that the person still did wrong. The man who steals food from the grocery store to feed his disabled children because he lost his job still did wrong. It's only because we feel sympathetic to his situation that we soften the blow. But no one can deny that a wrong was done. He stole. There is an element of the black and white underneath the shades of gray that we introduce.
I would suggest that, even though God paints the picture of a sinful, fallen humanity, we still retain elements of that perfect being which God created Adam and Eve to be. We are completely marred, and can never be repaired without passing through death, but that original created sense of justice still resides in us. Because we are disconnected from God's will, we simply do not want to accept what justice may call for in particular situations (especially ones where we don't see what the big deal is), or consider that our sinfulness means that we are imperfect judges, at best. Only God can perfectly judge right and wrong, since He alone is without sin.
Tomorrow we'll look at God's justice, and how His justice tends to play out in our world.
Yesterday, I looked a bit at how our individual senses of justice are influenced by details of the situation, even though we seem to have some basic things in common. I want to look at those basic things today, and tomorrow, look at why I believe that our imperfect sense of justice finds its true origin and understanding in the God who created this world.
Most people agree that you shouldn't just walk down the street and kill some random person for no reason whatsoever. Likewise, most people agree that simply taking something that belongs to another is wrong. While we may try to split hairs by examining motives and the details of the situation, typically we do that in order to prove why such an occasion should be an acceptable exemption to our sense of justice. We acknowledge that a wrong was done, but soften the blow by making it appear a bit more acceptable.
Yet, the one thing we tend to miss in this is that the person still did wrong. The man who steals food from the grocery store to feed his disabled children because he lost his job still did wrong. It's only because we feel sympathetic to his situation that we soften the blow. But no one can deny that a wrong was done. He stole. There is an element of the black and white underneath the shades of gray that we introduce.
I would suggest that, even though God paints the picture of a sinful, fallen humanity, we still retain elements of that perfect being which God created Adam and Eve to be. We are completely marred, and can never be repaired without passing through death, but that original created sense of justice still resides in us. Because we are disconnected from God's will, we simply do not want to accept what justice may call for in particular situations (especially ones where we don't see what the big deal is), or consider that our sinfulness means that we are imperfect judges, at best. Only God can perfectly judge right and wrong, since He alone is without sin.
Tomorrow we'll look at God's justice, and how His justice tends to play out in our world.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
More Thoughts on Justice
Yesterday, I talked about how our view of justice in a particular situation can change as we learn more details about the situation. A man who simply steals food from a grocery store is wrong. But when he has hungry, disabled children at home and has recently lost his job, compassion begins to seep in and take what was black and white, and suddenly introduce shades of gray. On the other hand, if it's some man who does it just to prove that he can, it suddenly seems as though he needs to be taught a lesson, and maybe even receive a more strict judgment against him.
On top of that, we all have different ideas about what we think is 'just'. If I were to be pulled over for going 68 in a 65 MPH speed zone, I might not think that was very just. However, if you are a strict interpreter of the law, then the ticket is just. But if you are someone who thinks that speed limits are in place merely for safety reasons, fudging a few MPH may not seem like all that big of a deal.
This shows us the problem of trying to deal with justice from a merely human perspective. If we all have different senses of what is actually just, and if our thoughts change as we learn more about the situation, how can we ever truly say that justice has been realized? What is just in one person's eyes may not be so in another's. I have seen this as I follow the legal issues of the NFL and its dispute with its players. One judge sees harm to players, while the appeals judge sees the harm to the owners, and each side tries to get a favorable judge to oversee the case. This shows that, from a human perspective, justice truly is variable and in the eyes of the beholder.
Does this mean we give up on justice? No. While we may disagree on levels of what is just or not, overall, most humans seem to have an understanding that certain things are right and wrong. It's not perfect, but most will see murder as wrong, or stealing as wrong. While we may seek out reasons to defend certain situations as an exception, overall, God seems to have created us with a sense of justice within us. Tomorrow, we'll look a little bit more at this inherent sense of justice.
On top of that, we all have different ideas about what we think is 'just'. If I were to be pulled over for going 68 in a 65 MPH speed zone, I might not think that was very just. However, if you are a strict interpreter of the law, then the ticket is just. But if you are someone who thinks that speed limits are in place merely for safety reasons, fudging a few MPH may not seem like all that big of a deal.
This shows us the problem of trying to deal with justice from a merely human perspective. If we all have different senses of what is actually just, and if our thoughts change as we learn more about the situation, how can we ever truly say that justice has been realized? What is just in one person's eyes may not be so in another's. I have seen this as I follow the legal issues of the NFL and its dispute with its players. One judge sees harm to players, while the appeals judge sees the harm to the owners, and each side tries to get a favorable judge to oversee the case. This shows that, from a human perspective, justice truly is variable and in the eyes of the beholder.
Does this mean we give up on justice? No. While we may disagree on levels of what is just or not, overall, most humans seem to have an understanding that certain things are right and wrong. It's not perfect, but most will see murder as wrong, or stealing as wrong. While we may seek out reasons to defend certain situations as an exception, overall, God seems to have created us with a sense of justice within us. Tomorrow, we'll look a little bit more at this inherent sense of justice.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Exploring Justice
Given recent world events, and then throwing in the fact that just over a week ago, we celebrated the great Christian holy day of Easter, it seems like diving into the topic of justice may be very appropriate. We've heard the word a lot over the past couple of days, and it seems to me that this situation just cries out for a good understanding of what justice really is and means.
We all get a sense that justice has been done when a person pays the consequences of their crime. Yet, my experience has been that justice is not always that black and white, at least from our eyes. True, from one person's perspective, it may seem relatively clear. We see the guy steal a basket of groceries from the store, and justice would be that he is caught and has to pay whatever the appropriate penalty is. However, if we look at this man's family and see that he has two children who suffer from severe disabilities that cost a lot, and we find out that he recently lost his job, suddenly our sense of justice turns a bit gray. Yes, stealing was wrong, but we find that we temper that justice with compassion when we realize how bad his situation is.
This is the problem when we look at justice merely from our human point of view. Extenuating circumstances almost always seem to change how we view "justice" being done in a particular situation. What we see as strikingly wrong in one situation changes as we apply it to a different situation. And so, from a human perspective, it becomes very difficult to truly define when justice has been served.
Over the rest of this week, I'll think out loud about how we tend to arrive at what seems to be "just" in our minds, and how we arrive at this kind of thinking. Then, since I am a Christian, I will also take a look at some thing that God says about justice and how that also frames our thinking. In the meantime, I would really like to find out how you derive your sense of what is just and what is not. Feel free to comment and discuss, but please, keep any comments or discussion respectful. Or else, I'll have to administer my own sense of justice as I oversee this blog!
We all get a sense that justice has been done when a person pays the consequences of their crime. Yet, my experience has been that justice is not always that black and white, at least from our eyes. True, from one person's perspective, it may seem relatively clear. We see the guy steal a basket of groceries from the store, and justice would be that he is caught and has to pay whatever the appropriate penalty is. However, if we look at this man's family and see that he has two children who suffer from severe disabilities that cost a lot, and we find out that he recently lost his job, suddenly our sense of justice turns a bit gray. Yes, stealing was wrong, but we find that we temper that justice with compassion when we realize how bad his situation is.
This is the problem when we look at justice merely from our human point of view. Extenuating circumstances almost always seem to change how we view "justice" being done in a particular situation. What we see as strikingly wrong in one situation changes as we apply it to a different situation. And so, from a human perspective, it becomes very difficult to truly define when justice has been served.
Over the rest of this week, I'll think out loud about how we tend to arrive at what seems to be "just" in our minds, and how we arrive at this kind of thinking. Then, since I am a Christian, I will also take a look at some thing that God says about justice and how that also frames our thinking. In the meantime, I would really like to find out how you derive your sense of what is just and what is not. Feel free to comment and discuss, but please, keep any comments or discussion respectful. Or else, I'll have to administer my own sense of justice as I oversee this blog!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Terror, Death, Justice, and Forgiveness
By now, it's old news to everyone. Sometime over the weekend, US military forces struck and killed Osama bin Laden and took possession of his body. As the news broke throughout the US, may rejoiced that justice was done.
In this world, God has created governing institutions to care for and protect the people under them. These servants of God are to ensure safety, peace, and protection for the people that they rule over, and thus, serve the people in that fashion. Sometimes this does entail carrying the sword, just as Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-7.
We can always be thankful when a threat to our safety has been removed. Yet, the very fact of death also is a reminder that every single person in this world is a sinful human being, who stands in need of God's forgiveness offered through Jesus. In that regard, you and I stand before God just the same as Osama bin Laden, a sinful person in need of God's forgiveness through Jesus and the cross. And yes, I know that many may find that a very offensive thought, but that is the reality of sin which lives within us, and from which we cannot escape.
The cry of justice has also been trumpeted regarding bin Laden's death. Worldly justice has indeed been done. The consequences of crime and terror have been paid. Yet, in our souls, we should also remember that every soul that perishes in this world without saving faith in Jesus is one that we have sadness for. God's justice, in pouring out the wrath at sin on Jesus and the cross, means that no person need depart from this world without saving hope. Sadly, there are many, such as bin Laden, who seem to defy that need for God's justice in Jesus.
I believe it is very easy to confuse our Christian faith and our nationality as Americans. God has not specifically blessed the United States more than other countries, and our way of life is not better, biblically, than others. While it is good and right to be thankful for what we have been given, we also remember that it is by God's grace, and that we are messengers of His grace into a world that desperately needs to hear of God's justice and mercy and forgiveness, through Jesus and the cross.
In this world, God has created governing institutions to care for and protect the people under them. These servants of God are to ensure safety, peace, and protection for the people that they rule over, and thus, serve the people in that fashion. Sometimes this does entail carrying the sword, just as Paul wrote in Romans 13:1-7.
We can always be thankful when a threat to our safety has been removed. Yet, the very fact of death also is a reminder that every single person in this world is a sinful human being, who stands in need of God's forgiveness offered through Jesus. In that regard, you and I stand before God just the same as Osama bin Laden, a sinful person in need of God's forgiveness through Jesus and the cross. And yes, I know that many may find that a very offensive thought, but that is the reality of sin which lives within us, and from which we cannot escape.
The cry of justice has also been trumpeted regarding bin Laden's death. Worldly justice has indeed been done. The consequences of crime and terror have been paid. Yet, in our souls, we should also remember that every soul that perishes in this world without saving faith in Jesus is one that we have sadness for. God's justice, in pouring out the wrath at sin on Jesus and the cross, means that no person need depart from this world without saving hope. Sadly, there are many, such as bin Laden, who seem to defy that need for God's justice in Jesus.
I believe it is very easy to confuse our Christian faith and our nationality as Americans. God has not specifically blessed the United States more than other countries, and our way of life is not better, biblically, than others. While it is good and right to be thankful for what we have been given, we also remember that it is by God's grace, and that we are messengers of His grace into a world that desperately needs to hear of God's justice and mercy and forgiveness, through Jesus and the cross.
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