Don't My Good Works Count For Anything?

(Originally written for pulbication in The Tidings)
To be honest, I think this question gets at the heart of the struggle for the modern western church. Too often I think American Christianity answers this question with an overly simple no, and consequently our faith and our journey with Christ stops at intellectual ascent and belief. The problem is our good works do count for something!! So, the issue is not whether or not our good works count for something, but what they count for.
Scripture makes it clear that it is by grace that we have been saved through faith. This comes from the often quoted passage of Ephesians 2:8-9. So, our salvation and acceptance by God is not contingent on the good or bad that we do, but on the goodness and graciousness of God! The truth is that outside of Gods grace we would not be able to do good works whether we are a Christian or not. So good works are the result of grace, rather than grace being the result of good works.
On the other hand, the good works that we do certainly count for something! Too often the church has ignored this point. The truth is, Jesus spent a large part of his earthly ministry addressing the fact that the religious leaders of his time were not doing good in their communities. Jesus often encouraged his followers to love the unloved, to feed the hungry, to care for the widows and the outcasts. So, the letter of James teaches that faith without works is dead. And the verse that states “It is by grace we have been save through faith” is immediately followed by this, “For [because] we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” So we are not just saved to passively live the rest of our lives here on earth and then in heaven. Rather, we are saved to do good works that God has prepared for us to do. And rather than waiting for heaven after we die, we have a part to play in fulfilling the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
The sooner we as the church and as members of humanity can grasp the fact that we cannot do anything good apart from the grace of God, and that we cannot earn our salvation, the sooner we are able to honor Jesus as Lord of our lives, trusting him for every good and perfect thing rather than trusting ourselves. And, in so doing, we will begin, through the grace of God, to live lives that will make a difference in our world not just for today, but for all eternity.

How Can I Know the Will of God?

(Originally written for publication in The Tidings)

This question reminds me of a story that Brennan Manning tells in his book Ruthless Trust. The story is of an ethicist named John Kavanaugh who went to live with Mother Teresa in Calcutta. On his first morning Mother Teresa asked Kavanaugh, “What can I do for you?”
Kavanaugh replied, “Please pray that I get clarity for the future.”
Mother Teresa responded, “No! I will not do that . . .Clarity is the last thing you are clinging to and must let go of.”
“But you always seem to have clarity” was Kavanaugh’s reply.
Mother Teresa responded by saying, “I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust. So I will pray you trust God.”

This story is a harsh reminder of how difficult it is for us to give up control; how difficult it is to allow Jesus to be Lord of our lives; how stubborn we are to trust.

Often times when this question is asked the real meaning behind the question is “How can I know God’s purpose for my life?” I have learned over the last five years that when we ask this question we define purpose as a dangling carrot. Purpose, as most of us understand it, is that carrot that hangs right in front of us that we will never be able to grasp. Here is what I mean. Purpose so often for us is about tomorrow. “What am I going to be or what should I be when I grow up?” For instance, my purpose in high school was to get to college. And my purpose in college was to get to seminary. And my purpose in seminary was to get into ministry. One thing always leads to another. Now I am in ministry. So, what is my purpose? Over the last five years I have learned that I will never reach my purpose as long as it is defined as tomorrow.

Pete Grieg in his book The Vision and The Vow writes this, “When Jesus calls us to follow Him, we want clarity: to assess our options, set expectations, and know our boundaries. But God’s route from A to C is rarely via B. His voice is rarely unmistakable. His word often raises more questions than answers. We ask for guidance expecting a roadmap, or at least a sign, and He gives us His hand and the dimmest of torches.”

However, God is clear on how he calls us to live in His word. God’s purpose and the will of God is found in every decision we make, every day.

The will of God for you and I is that we would trust Him. Everyday.
That we would worship Him. Everyday.
That we would love those who are unloveable. Everyday.
That we would feed the hungry, and care for the poor. Everyday.
It is to forgive those we love and those who have hurt us. Everyday.
To share the story of Jesus with those who have never heard, and those who think
they don’t need to hear. Everyday.
To seek justice. Everyday.
To love mercy. Everyday.
To walk humbly. Everyday.
To glorify God. Everyday.
And to make disciples. Everyday.
To love God with all our heart, mind and soul. Everyday.
And to love our neighbor as ourself. Everyday.

Pete Grieg says it well, “The problem for most of us is not that we don’t know what God wants of us. It’s that we know exactly what He wants of us, and it’s not what we want to do!”

Hebrews and Kierkegaard

We have been studying Hebrews together as a church and this past week looked at chapter 12. One of the passages in the chapter states, “let us throw off everything that entangles us”. I was thinking this morning about how comprehensive that statement is! The passage does not say, “let us throw off everything that entangles us badly”, but states everything with no qualitative statement. In other words everything. What if I took that seriously? What would I have to get rid of? When will I be ready to buy into those comprehensive words in my life?

This reminds me of a quote I read recently from Soren Kierkegaard who was a nineteenth-century Danish philosopher. He said, “The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.”

The hard part for me is reading a quote like this, and knowing that I will continue to refuse to live according to the face value of Scripture. My prayer is that God will continue to give me the strength to let go of my ability to justify the parts of my life that fall short of the example of Jesus and the commands of Scripture.

Where in the world? and What'sthe deal with . . .

OK, not ever sure if anyone is reading this. But I know you are not reading if I am not writing. I am one of those guys that reads other's blogs and gets irritated when they haven't update! Talk about needing to remove the plank from my eye!

I am hoping to update soon!

By the way. What is the deal with Peace, Love and Gap. Seriously! I like Gap and everything (I can shop there with fashion confidene), but putting a clothing store on the same level as peace and love? At least the song is catchy!

What? and How?

I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a follower of Christ and how that relates to how we live our lives. This ongoing dialog with myself, Scripture and the Holy Spirit (OK a trialog) has been prompted largely by questions that some of you have been asking.

Generally in life we must answer the what question before we answer the how question. Here is what I mean. I don’t determine how I am going to build something before I determine what I am going to build. I must first determine the what before I try to determine the how. Almost all of life operates this way! As a consequence we are consumed with answering the question of “what am I going to do with my life?” instead of focusing on the question of “how am I going to live my life?”

However, following Christ so often requires looking at things in a completely different way! I wonder if a follower of Christ shouldn’t be more consumed by the question of how than the question of what. Is God as concerned with what as he is with how? Now, I know that being obedient requires both! I am just suggesting that maybe we have the two questions out of balance!! And, because we do, we struggle with living life day to day! Instead of living day to day determining how we are going to live we are paralyzed with the thought of what am I going to be in the future!

As I have been thinking about this I am more and more convinced that the Bible lays out instruction on how we are to live more than on what we are supposed to do. I believe it is the failure to recognize this that leads to legalism. Again, I am more and more convinced that the whole of Scripture supports this (I see foreshadowing of it in the Old Testament and fulfillment in the New Testament). However, it is the first part of Colossians chapter 3 that keeps coming to mind (Colossians 3:1-17). That passage closes with the statement, “And whatever (would suggest that what is not the main issue) you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

I know there are other examples of instruction and stories from Scripture that could be included! I would love to hear your thoughts! If you think of other support for this found in Scripture, let me know! And, better yet, if you are able to poke holes in this let me know!!

How Long Does it Take To Build a Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant?

Too long!

John Mayer, (Red), and our place in the world

I have been listening to the latest John Mayer album and I have been haunted by the first single released from the album. The track is on the album Continuum and is titled Waiting on the World to Change. The song opens with the following lyric:

"me and all my friends
we're all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there's no way we ever could
now we see everything that's going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don't have the means
to rise above and beat it
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change"

The song has bothered me for two reasons. First is the lack of hope that we have the power or authority to change the world. And second, is that the consequence of that lack of hope is the decision to just sit back and wait on the world to change.

These two concerns lead to two other concerns. First, I believe that not only do we have the power to impact the world, but we are impacting our world everyday in either a positive way or a negative way. And second, if we are sitting back waiting on the world to change, our passivity is impacting the future of our world.

As these thoughts have been kicking around in my head (especially while hearing the song) I have come across this picture that displays the statement “We are the people we’ve been waiting for.” This statement has been challenging me in positive ways to examine how I am living my life. Am I sitting back waiting for the world to change and only complaining about why things are the way they are or am I choosing to make a positive difference. You have know choice in whether your life will have an impact on the world. However, you can choose how you will impact the world!

Jim Wallis was the speaker at the Stanford graduation in 2004 and had these words to share (the speech can be found in it’s entirety here):

“I would encourage each of you to think about your vocation more than just your career. And there is a difference. From the outside, those two tracks may look very much alike, but asking the vocational question rather than just considering the career options will take you much deeper. The key is to ask why you might take one path instead of another - the real reasons you would do something more than just because you can. The key is to ask who you really are and want to become. It is to ask what you believe you are supposed to do.

Religious or not, I would invite you to consider your calling, more than just the many opportunities presented to graduates of Stanford University. That means connecting your best talents and skills to your best and deepest values; making sure your mind is in sync with your soul as you plot your next steps. Don't just go where you're directed or even invited, but rather where your own moral compass leads you. And don't accept other's notions of what is possible or realistic; dare to dream things and don't be afraid to take risks.

You do have great potential, but that potential will be most fulfilled if you follow the leanings of conscience and the language of the heart more than just the dictates of the market, whether economic or political. They want smart people like you to just manage the systems of the world. But rather than managing or merely fitting into systems, ask how you can change them. You're both smart and talented enough to do that. That's your greatest potential. Ask where your gifts intersect with the groaning needs of the world.

The antidote to cynicism is not optimism but action. And action is finally born out of hope. Try to remember that.

What is really possible? The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews says this:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." And my best paraphrase of that for you is this: Hope is believing in spite of the evidence, and then watching the evidence change.”


You can make a difference! And whether you know it or not, you are making a difference, you don’t have a choice in that! But will you choose to make a positive impact on the world, or will you settle for the alternative.

I Have a Log in My Eye, or How Batman and NPR Taught Me an Important Lesson

A couple of weeks ago on my way home I surfed the radio dial to NPR. I usually only listen to NPR when I need some quiet background noise, but don't want to listen to the crap on the radio and am tired of the 3,000 songs I have on my ipod (completely American).
Anyway, on the ride home one of the stories was that George Clooney was appearing before the UN to address the crisis in Darfur. My immediate response was to laugh. My immediate thought was, "Why in the world is George Clooney meeting with the UN?" "How arrogant for him to think he has something to say!" And, "How ignorant of the UN to waste time with him!" Surely the UN can find someone more intelligent and more in touch with the situation to listen to.

These thoughts were almost immediately followed by my realization that it is so easy for me to point the finger at Clooney and complain. Instead, I should focus that energy on finding out what I could do to help the situation! My initial reaction to the story was the same that the Pharisees would have had! It's easier to pass judgement than to extend grace! And, besides, if the church were doing more to help in these situations we wouldn't be relying on Hollywood stars to issue a call to action.

I know that there are some Christians and Christian organizations serving in the area, but where is the rest of the church? Why do we always seem to be the last to respond to these social issues? Why is it that sometimes the non-Chrisitans seem to follow the example of Christ better than those that profess to follow him? Maybe it is because we are too busy following the example of the pharisees. Maybe it is because we are too busy passing judgement on those who are setting an example, we should be setting.

There are two songs that speak to the injustice in the world in light of the sovereignty of God in an incredibly powerful way! Well worth downloading!! One is called Our God Reigns and is by Delirious. The other is Oh My God by Jars of Clay! Seriously, check them out!

Salvation from . . . and to . . .

I have been thinking a lot about the idea of salvation. When we say salvation what do we mean? Often I think we limit the definition of salvation to a rescue from hell. I mean, this is what is preached in many churches; that is, if you don’t believe in Jesus or accept him as Lord, you will spend eternity in hell. Salvation, when defined this way, has very little to do with our lives in the here and now. I think this is why so many of us live our lives the exact same way our non-Christian friends do.

Dallas Willard writes this in his book The Divine Conspiracy:

“The sensed irrelevance of what God is doing to what makes up our lives is the foundational flaw in the existence of multitudes of professing Christians today. They have been led to believe that God, for some unfathomable reason, just thinks it appropriate to transfer credit from Christ’s merit account to ours, and to wipe out our sin debt, upon inspecting our mind and finding that we believe a particular theory of the atonement to be true—even if we trust everything but God in all other matters that concern us (italics mine).
It is left unexplained how it is possible that one can rely on Christ for the next life without doing so for this one, trust him for one’s eternal destiny without trusting him for ‘the things that relate to Christian life.’ Is this really possible? Surely not! Not within one life.
In the Gospels, “the gospel” is the good news of the presence and availability of life in the kingdom, now and forever, through reliance on Jesus the Annointed.
Accordingly, the only description of eternal life found in the words we have from Jesus is ‘This is eternal life, that they [his disciples] may know you, the only real God, and Jesus the anointed, whom you have sent’ (John 17:3). This may sound to us like “mere head knowledge,” But the biblical “know” always refers to an intimate, personal, interactive relationship.
The eternal life of which Jesus speaks is not knowledge about God but an intimately interactive relationship with him."

So, if salvation is not just the promise of eternal abundant life after I die, but is also the promise of abundant, eternal life in the here and now, how come I often feel like life falls short of abundant? I believe it is because I often choose to live life on my own, apart from Christ. My pride takes over, and I decide I want to live life for myself! I choose to make myself and idol. True life, abundant life, eternal life can only be found as we seek an interactive, personal, intimate relationship with Christ in all things and recognize that He is Lord of our lives.

Studio 60 continues

Another good hour of television writing. I continued to recognize parallels between what was going on in the show and what is going on in the church. The most interesting thing was the way the church was presented in the show as pointing the finger at culture. The opening number (which was shown at the end of the show) had some caricatures of Christians in America that we should probably pay attention to. These shows may be missing the point (though not always); at the very least they are informative as to how non-Christians percieve our behavior.

Studio 60 and The Sunset Church

I never saw an episode of The West Wing, but I caught Studio 60 and the Sunset Strip last week and was immediately impressed with the writing of the show. The premise is that it follows the behind the scenes happenings of a show that is obviously a reflection of Saturday Night Live.

In the first episode the Lorne Michaels type character interrupts a live broadcast and has this to say to his national audience:

Wes: This isn't gonna be a very good show tonight and I think you show change the channel.

Wes: (on air) You should change the channel right now, or better yet turn off the TV.

Lilly: (in control room) Does anybody know what the hell is going on? (audience laughs)

Wes: (on air) No, I know it seems like this is supposed to be funny, but tomorrow you're gonna find out it wasn't and I'll have been fired by then. This isn't supposed--this isn't a sketch.

Cal: (in control room) This is for real.

Wes: (on air) This show used to be cutting edge political and social satire, but it's gotten lobotomized by a candy-ass broadcast network hell-bent on doing nothing that might challenge their audience. We were about to do a sketch you've already seen 500 times. Yes, no one's gonna confuse George Bush with George Plimpton, we get it. We're all being lobotomized by the country's most influential industry which has thrown in the towel on any endeavor that does not include the courting of 12-year-old boys. And not event the smart 12-year-olds, the stupid ones, the idiots, of which there are plenty thanks in no small part to this network. So change the channel, turn off the TV. Do it right now.

As soon as the character started into this rant, I immediatly began thinking of the church in America. I think the church in America has been pandering for far too long. God forbid we ever challenge or offend someone. We have ended up with church members that want to leave church feeling good, but have no idea what it means to say "Jesus is Lord". The Church in America has too often bought into a placebo religion that offers no transformational power. We have traded the gospel for the American Dream (see last week's issue of Time magazine). Consequently, Christians in America look no different than non-Christians in America. I believe this is a result of churches preaching an I'm ok if you're ok "gospel", instead of preaching the transformational good news of Jesus Christ. These are the times that I would love to tell our congregations to change the channel, turn off the TV.

Placebo Religion

Tom (my senior pastor) is currently working through a sermon series on the book of Hebrews. I believe this book has some very important things to say to our current culture.

I am troubled at the form of Christianity that so many of our churches and pastors practice and preach. It seems to me that way too often we are fed and we participate in a placebo religion. A religion that allows us to be self-satisfied and self-content. Our form of Christianity leads to lives that don’t look any different than the lives of non-Christians, simply because they are not any different. Anything in Christianity that challenges our way of life is watered down, or compromised so that it will not fringe on our way of life. This is why so many mainline denominations have downgraded the position of Christ to simply being a good teacher, a moral person. I also think this is why mainline denominations are struggling. Deep down, we know we want, desire, crave and even need a promise of transformation. There is a part of us deep down that needs that promise, and another part that shows it’s ugly head more often that enjoys life under our authority.

Dallas Willard, one of my favorite authors, puts it this way, “Generally, what I find is that the ordinary people who come to church are basically running their lives on their own, utilizing ‘the arm of their natural abilities to negotiate their way. They believe there is a God and they need to check in with him. But they don’t have any sense that he is an active agent in their lives. As a result, they don’t become disciples of Jesus. The consume his merits and the services of the church . . . Discipleship is no essential part of Christianity today.” (as quoted in the latest issue of Christianity Today)

Hebrews chapter 2 sounds a wake up call!! The author writes, “We must pay more careful attention . . . so that we do not drift away.” He goes on to say this, “If the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?”

Paul puts it this way in the letter to the Ephesians, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Making the most of every opportunity! Who do you want to become? What do you want your life to count for?

Willard writes in The Spirit of the Disciplines, “Why is it that we look upon salvation as a moment that began our religious life instead of the daily life we receive from God?” In the Divine Conspiracy he writes, “God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being ‘right’, we will simply have no place to receive his kingdom into our life. For those situations and moments are our life.”

Paul writes, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation!”

Sonic Change

I work hard to find things that I like! I say this because I think "they" (the same "they" that are always against you, kind of like the "others" on Lost), are watching me, waiting me to finally find something that I like only to yank it out from under me. This has been evidenced many times! On The Border taking Miguel's #10 combo off the menu, Wendy's taking away the 99 cent double stack, someone taking the cents symbol off the keyboard, etc.

So, now Sonic is joining the bandwagon. First of all, the new look of Sonic is simply gaudy. People should learn from Oral Roberts University that the future/spacey motif does not work architecturally. So, while the old look didn't do a lot for me, the new grey/green look does less.

However, that is the least of my concerns. I am more bothered by the addition of the drive-thru window. It is Sonic America's Drive in, not drive thru! Now, if it was the addition of a drive-thru window, no problem. However, what they have done is they have taken away the cool side of the drive-in. Everyone knows (unless you are a mother in a minivan) that you do not park on the right side of the restaurant! You must drive around and park on the cool side! This allows you to face both the front door of the franchise and the street! It is the "power seat" of Sonic. Now that the drive-thru is there I am lost.

But I still want my large Dr. Pepper easy ice!

death, life, powers, Love

The Bible is really a pretty amazing book. Seems like an obvious statement, right? While that is true, I think that it is such an obvious statement that we often take it for granted.

Many of us have heard the story from Creation to Final Redemption so many times that we forget how incredibly awe inspiring the story really is! We forget that we were created! We forget that God is going to redeem all the pain and hurt and falleness we see around us!

I was thinking through one of my favorite verses in the car the other day. Not sure what caused this verse to pop in my head, but I couldn’t let go of it. I just kept “hearing” it over and over again in my head. I really spent some time with it! And the verse spoke to me in a much deeper way than it had before, almost as if I was hearing it for the first time!

This may be a stretch for some of you, but I would encourage you to take 10 minutes to write this verse out on paper in your own handwriting and let the verse sink in! For the first time in a long time I was able to hear God speaking his love and acceptance to me over all the other competing voices that surround me telling me I am not good enough!

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

Maybe even spend some time creating your own list:
Niether the wrong clothes
Neither my failures
Neither others opinions
Neither bad grades
Neither my low self-worth
Neither anything else . . . .
Neither anything else!!!!

If you feel up to it, and it is not too personal share your list with me!

The Solar System, Faith and Arrogance

I am always fascinated by how arrogant we can be as humans. This whole “debacle” with our understanding of the solar system has been a strong reminder for me that we don’t have everything figured out.

Christians are always labeled as arrogant because we claim that we believe what Jesus said when he said “I am the way, the truth and the life”. Fascinating when science says that it has provable and testable truth on its side, and yet the truth has to be “tweaked” from time to time. Now, I don’t have a problem with science (I am quite fascinated by it), nor do I think that it is not valuable. I just think we need to be honest that our faith, science, reason and experience do not guarantee us exhaustive knowledge of the universe and how it works.

As I have reflected on this it has reminded me of something that Rob Bell writes in his book Velvet Elvis. I include this as an encouragement to those of you that are struggling with questions and doubts. Rob is talking about responding to some questions that people had asked him:
“Most of my responses we about how we need others to carry our burdens and how our real needs in life are not for more information but for loving community with other people on the journey. But what was so powerful for those I spoke with was that they were free to voice what was deepest in their hearts and minds. Questions, doubts, struggles. It wasn’t the information that helped them—it was simply being in an environment in which they were free to voice what was inside.
And this is why questions are so central to faith. A question by its very nature acknowledges that the person asking the questions does not have all of the answers. And because the person does not have all of the answers, they are looking outside themselves for guidance.
Questions no matter how shocking or blasphemous or arrogant or ignorant or raw, are rooted in humility. A humility that understands that I am not God. And there is more to know.
Questions bring freedom. Freedom that I don’t have to be God and I don’t have to pretend that I have it all figured out. I can let God be God.”

Bell goes on to say, “It’s not so much that the Christian faith has a lot of paradoxes. It’s that it is a lot of paradoxes. And we cannot resolve a paradox. We have to let it be what it is. Being a Christian then is more about celebrating mystery than conquering it.”

Reflections of a grandfather's life

I just got back in town from Rogers Arkansas. My grandfather passed away this past weekend and that is where we attended the funeral. The funeral was emotional, but not especially difficult for me. My grandfather was either 83 or 84 and had lived a long life. More importantly my grandfather made his life count! He lived with a joy and a spirit that infected all those that he came in contact with. He valued the things that matter most. Namely, his relationship with Christ and his relationship with others.

The funeral got me to thinking about a couple of conversations that I have had with some of you and I wanted to send these thoughts in reflection on those conversations and as a way to put this school year into perspective:

What matters most: I am not sure what my grandfather would have said was the measure of a successful life if you had asked him, but I do know how he was remembered. During the open mic time at the funeral not one person said anything about his financial accomplishments or any position that he had attained. Some mentioned that he served in WWII, and as a postal inspector, but neither were what he was remembered for. My grandfather left behind lives that had been changed by his joy and his selfless service. I couldn’t help but realize that our world says it values status, power and money, but when it comes to the end of one’s life even the world recognizes that these are the things that matter least!! Sounds cliché to say, but how many of us live with the clarity of that statement? How would you define success or significance? A good question to ask of life, but also a good question to ask of this school year. What does a successful school year or life look like, and how would you measure your significance at the end of the school year or your life?

Significance: My grandfather’s significance did not come from leading others from a position of power. The power of his life came from serving others! He changed the lives of others because he found that the lives of others would be changed from power under rather that power over. Do you want to have influence in the life of another person? How are you serving that person?

Calm: There were a number of comments about my grandfathers calmness. I was told that “I am not sick” were basically his last words. My G-dad (that is what we called him) was not ignorant of what was going on around him, but he had a sense of joy and peace that had to come from his faith. I will remember him as a whistler, a laugher and a joker. My G-dad controlled that which was his to control (and he liked to control that part), but was willing to let go of that which he could not control. What are you holding on to that you need to let go of? How long will you let that thing rob you of the joy of life?

I could go on, but don’t want to take up too much space or muddy the point I am trying to make. My biggest desire for each of you is that you would not waste your life living for something that is not worth living for or is of temporal significance at best!

Grace=Freedom from sin or freedom to sin?

God has been teaching me a lot about grace this year. I have written about this a couple of times. For instance, God has been teaching me and I have written about how grace means a lot more than just forgiveness of past sins, and that it means freedom from sin more than it means freedom from the consequences of sin. As God has been challenging me with this I run into more and more people that are struggling with false definitions of grace and freedom. Grace becomes a license to sin, and excuse to do whatever we want. I had a conversation with a student last night who was struggling with a roommate’s faith and actions and how to respond (this is like the fourth conversation I have had along these lines in the last three months) that reminded me of this whole discussion. Then, when I got home last night I read this in a book by Pete Grieg called The Vision and The Vow (buy it and read it):

As I look around the Church at this time, I see a real danger looming: I am concerned that the message of grace, which is currently being propounded so passionately from pulpits and paperbacks around the word, might merely be a “license to chill”—an all-embracing, one-size-fits-all, mindless rationale for accepting the greatest comfort and personal pleasure in any given situation. Such an aberration of grace labels those who break its code—those people who are seeking to be more disciplined and sacrificial in their faith—“religious,” “pious,” “driven,” “culturally irrelevant,” “caught up in good works,” “perfectionist,” or simply “legalistic.”
Of course, there is an ever-present danger of legalism and unhealthy pietism in the Church at large, and we all need to be told to relax at times, to be reminded and re-assured of God’s love and endless mercy. But in a culture forsworn to self-gratification, the danger far greater to us than legalism is surely the tendency toward the deification of pleasure in the name of grace.
Grace is calling us to “give up the game of minimum integrity.” Too often we are reduced to trivial debates about how far we can go sexually or how much we should give financially—all shades of gray in the ethics of obedience. And I suppose if we are mere adherents to a religious code, then such negotiations are fine and necessary. But if we are caught up in an infatuation of the holy, if this is a religion of living relationship and burning passion, then the impulse will not be to get the best deal, but rather, to give with joyful extravagance. When in doubt, we will not try to negotiate the minimum personal outlay, but rather will go the extra mile.

I hope this offers guidance to some of you, comforts others, and challenges some!

Gospel of Judas?

Many of have heard the recent reports on the "newly discovered" Gospel of Judas. Here are some links that might be insightful. Dr. Witherington is a NT scholar from Asbury. He has been on ABC news, NPR, etc. He has been sought as an authority in the discussion about the ossuary of James. Anyway, would love to get your feedback!

These link to the national geographic stories
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0406_060406_gospel.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0406_060406_judas.html

A couple of responses from Dr. Witherington:
http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2006/04/gospel-of-judas-et-al-part-one.html
http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2006/04/gospel-of-judas-part-two.html
http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2006/04/gospel-of-judas-npr-discussion.html
http://benwitherington.blogspot.com/2006/04/sad-truth-about-judas.html

Teleo

It’s the end of the semester! The final stretch. I was watching TV this past Saturday as I was resting from the mission trip and caught one of my favorite funny movies Office Space. Thinking about this last stretch of the semester reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from the movie. The main character engages in a conversation with Jennifer Anniston that goes like this:
Joanna: So, where do you work, Peter?
Peter Gibbons: Initech.
Joanna: In... yeah, what do you do there?
Peter Gibbons: I sit in a cubicle and I update bank software for the 2000 switch.
Joanna: What's that?
Peter Gibbons: Well see, they wrote all this bank software, and, uh, to save space, they used two digits instead of four. So, like, 98 instead of 1998? Uh, so I go through these thousands of lines of code and, uh... it doesn't really matter. I uh, I don't like my job, and, uh, I don't think I'm gonna go anymore.
Joanna: You're just not gonna go?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Joanna: Won't you get fired?
Peter Gibbons: I don't know, but I really don't like it, and, uh, I'm not gonna go.
Joanna: So you're gonna quit?
Peter Gibbons: Nuh-uh. Not really. Uh... I'm just gonna stop going.
Joanna: When did you decide all that?
Peter Gibbons: About an hour ago.
Joanna: An hour ago... so you're gonna get another job?
Peter Gibbons: I don't think I'd like another job.
Joanna: Well, what are you going to do about money and bills and...
Peter Gibbons: You know, I've never really liked paying bills. I don't think I'm gonna do that, either.

Sounds tempting doesn’t it!! Now I don’t want to get too “churchy” here and don’t want to invalidate those end of the school year feelings, but when I begin feeling this way I remember the Greek word teleo. The word means “end”, “finish”. Ironically enough, this is not a word that I learned in seminary. I actually learned it from one of the Kanakuk counselors while I was a camper there. Matt Houston (still at Kanakuk every summer) had twenty red shirts with the word teleo in white block letter made before the summer so that he could wear them every day. The shirts were a reminder to him to not grow weary, to finish strong, and the finish was as important if not more important than the beginning. Most importantly, however, was the fact that Jesus finished strong to the point of death. So, when he didn’t feel like he had the strength to go on, that he was sacrificing too much he remembered that God gave Jesus the strength to finish strong, even enduring death.

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Paul writes, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

The author of Hebrews 12:1-3 states, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

I know you are probably thinking to yourself, “OK aren’t those verses a little intense or overstated in light of finishing out a school year?” That may be half true, but how are we to apply those verses to our lives and to the “bigger, more important things” if we can’t live them in the day to day, semester to semester parts of our lives? Our lifetimes won’t reflect this way of living if our semesters, days, hours and even moments don't.

Be encouraged! Persevere! Be strong! Teleo!

Storms

Seeing the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in pictures and images on a page or a screen is one thing, seeing them in person is another, and seeing them through a spiritual lens is another thing altogether.

As I have stated in a previous post, God's grace shows up in ways that we often don't recognize. Too often we place I place my hope in things and people other than God. It is incredibly painful when those are taken away from us, and at the same time is the best thing that can happen for us. Does this make those experiences easy? No! But in hindsight if we are able to let go of those things and allow Jesus to be Lord in our lives again then we can take delight in those life-storms.

Caedmon's Call has a great song that was on their first independent release titled My Calm/Your Storm. If you don't own the CD, buy it! In the meantime, check out these lyrics.

A scary and dangerous prayer to pray if we want to remain in control of our lives and are willing to settle for the life that we would choose over the life that God has planned for us! But, if our desire is to live in the abundance of life that God promises, then it is a prayer that we will pray without reluctance and we will rejoice when God destroys the "comfortable", complacent life that we have created!

Seen and Unseen

About a month ago I wrote about the word compelled. That was born out of reading 2 Corinthians chapter 5. The idea of seen and unseen comes from chapter 4.

I am in the midst of a week following a mission trip to Mobile, Alabama. This usually means two things. First, I am in the process of returning from the trip in practical way. Spending time with my family, getting my feet back on the ground at the church, etc. On the other hand, I am working to be intentional about not returning as well. I left a dry spiritual life when I left for Mobile and I don't have any desire to return. Clearly, there will be other dry times in my life, but I don't need to go there intentionally or end up there passively!

This past week was probably one of the richest weeks for me spiritually (at least in a long time). I will clarify that statement in a moment, but for now just let it stand. Rather than outline everything our team did last week (too many inside jokes anyway) let me share some of the things that I learned and I am learning as a result of my experience:

I said earlier that this was one of the richest weeks for me spiritually; I would like to qualify that statement. I am intellectually fully aware that God is present with us always and is always at work in, around and through us. So, was this week really more rich, or was I just more aware of what is unseen? On one of the first nights of our trip our team read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. In this passage Paul states that he fixes his eyes not on what is seen (temporary) but on what is unseen (eternal). This set the perspective for the rest of the week for all of us. We were intentionally looking for ways that God was at work during the week in and through each of the team members and those we were serving. It was amazing to see the fingerprints of God's grace all around us. My hope and prayer is that we live the same way in our daily lives! Be actively aware of the unseen that is going on around you!

I was also reminded of how powerful it can be to simply be obedient to the call and life of Jesus! We live in a culture that thrives itself on experience. Consequently we show up to worship services, Bible studies, etc. In the hope of experiencing God (we even have curriculum with that title). The beauty of God is that he desires that we experience him in relationship. However, we often leave worship services (or experiences as some like to call them) and Bible studies disappointed. The experience that we are looking for seems to have alluded us. I don't think that should surprise us! We can "know" Christ in an intellectual way by reading his word, but we must live the word to "know" Christ in an experiential way. To know the experience of Christ is to follow him (Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23).

I have been thinking and praying a lot about how to understand natural disasters in light of the past couple of years. I am not arrogant enough to think that I will ever fully understand it, but here is where I am right now. I think we have forgotten that the consequences of sin were not and are not felt just by the human race (Romans 8:18-20). So are natural disasters a form of judgment? I am not sure I am ready to say that, but I do think they are a consequence of sin. I don't mean to say that New Orleans was a sinful city so God sent a hurricane to destroy it. I think the hurricane was a consequence of sin in a general way (just like pains in childbirth, etc.). However, I also want to be clear that I think the consequences of sin are founded on God's grace. If we are able to sin (or if Adam and Eve were able to sin) without consequence, then we would all be sinning with no reason to stop. Because God wants to be in relationship with us freely and because sin separates us from that, God created the world in such a way that we would be aware of the destruction of sin. The consequences of sin (ultimately death) remind us that we need God, that we cannot sustain life on our own. Everywhere we looked we were reminded of the fact that we are not in control, that we need God. All the comforts that we build for ourselves are temporary! God alone is eternal! So often, we treat the comforts that we are able to build for ourselves as our rights, and we think that they are permanent (even though they are not). What a blessing, and how gracious that we can be reminded of that before it is too late!

In light of this perspective, it was fascinating to hear Ron and Jean (a couple whose house was four feet underwater) share about the new beginning they were experiencing (not just with a new physical home, but spiritually as well). Jean kept commenting about how dark her house had been, and how much brighter and open it was with the new paint (the metaphor was not lost on her). Again the importance of not just focusing on what we can see, but on what is unseen!

Katrina, FEMA

Wanted to share about a recent experience that I have had in Alabama, but needed to get this out of the way first!

First, I am amazed at the fact that hurricane Katrina was more organized than FEMA! (and at the same time, I think there is a theological lesson to be learned here).

Second, I am really annoyed at the way the media has portrayed this whole story (what's new)! So much coverage of how poorly FEMA has handled this, but no reports of the incredible impact that the church is having on recovery (again there is a theological lesson here)! Additionally, we have all found reason to be judgmental of those that are taking advantage of the help they are getting (free loaders). However, our team saw the immense need, the appreciation of the help, and the willingness to work alongside us. (Some argue about the liberal media (networks) vs. the conservative (Rush, et. al.). Let me tell you, they have all jacked up this story!) Wouldn't it be nice if our news looked more like Extreme Home Makeover?

Third, I am always amazed at how easy it is for us to sit back and criticize without getting involved! Sitting on the sidelines we think we have a full view of what is going on. In some ways I think we might, but we certainly don't have a full feel of what is going on! As I stated earlier I fell into this category, and fall into this category.

Compelled

Many of you know that one of my favorite passages in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5. I absolutely love that chapter! I hope someday I am given the opportunity to preach a series on that passage. The passage has been a “heart” passage for me. Different parts of Scripture speak to us in different ways! And while all Scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, I think that for each of us there are different passages that really “grab” us.

In 2 Cor. 5:14 Paul writes, “Christ’s love compels us”. I want that! I want to be able to say that Christ’s love is the source or the motivator behind everything I do!

The American Heritage Dictionary defines compel this way:
1. To force, drive, or constrain: Duty compelled the soldiers to volunteer for the mission.
2. To necessitate or pressure by force; exact: An energy crisis compels fuel conservation
3. To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway: “The land, in a certain, very real way, compels the minds of the people”.

Some people may have a hard time with the word “force” in these definitions. I don’t think we need to get hung up on that word. Maybe a better word would be motivated or moved. Imagine allowing Christ’s love to rule our hearts or to be such a strong part of our lives that it was the driving motivation behind everything we did, every decision we made.

The problem is that there are so many other “compelling” voices that we allow to speak into our hearts and our lives. Fear, the opinions and judgments of others, past sins, our environment, and the list goes on and on. For whatever reason we give these voices more value than they deserve. If we were able to recognize the love of God, the love of Christ for what it really is, then all these other voices would shrivel and be silenced.

Clearly, I recognize that this is easier said than accepted! My point isn’t to condemn you or me for failing to recognize this, but encouraging us to do so! I don’t know what you are struggling with today, but I want to ask, “What is it that compels you in that struggle”? What compels you in your relationships, in your school work, in your social time, in your worries, in your joys?

My prayer is that each of us is able to recognize and accept the abundance of God’s love to such an extent that it would compel the way we view ourselves, the way we view others, the decisions we make and our actions!

American Idol and The State of The Union

Watching the Fox channel last night was like listening to an ipod on shuffle and going from a Hillary Duff song to a Bob Dylan song. There is probably no good way to transition from American Idol (especially the audition episodes) to the State of The Union Address. As different as the two programs might be, I was surprised to recognize some similarities. Here are a few (I would love to hear your additions):

• The audience for both is probably depressingly the same size, or Idol's is larger.
• Everyone is excited before the Idol auditions, but after the auditions about half leave in tears or angry. In the same way everyone seems happy and cheerful before the State of the Union, but afterwards you find half the people are happy or at least content and the other half is ticked off.
• Regardless of your political views you have to admit that Bush is about as uncomfortable giving a speech as most of the people performing auditions for Idol. (though Bush has gotten much better!)
• Just like I don't to watch the Idol auditions for the singing but for the response of the judges, I am more interested in hearing what the pundits say after the speech than the speech itself (I don't necessarily respect the pundits, they are just more interesting).
• Just like the auditions for Idol are usually filled with musical fluff (how many can try out with a Celine Dion song, etc), the State of The Union is generally filled with political fluff.
• Just like the facial reactions and expressions of Simon, Randy and Paula are more interesting than the auditions themselves, so is the response of congress (who could miss Hillary Clinton's smug smile and head shake) more interesting than the address itself.
• The goofy opening title for American Idol is a little more overstated than the opening titles for the news shows, but only a little.
• The only thing that I wish was a little more similar is that I wish the guy that says "Ladies and Gentlemen, The President of The United States" was as fake cool as Ryan Seacrest.
• Oh, and maybe instead of Bush saying "And may God Bless America" (tradition I know) he could say "Bushy Out"! (its more politically correct anyway)

I'm Not Perfect, but God's Grace Is

I have had a conversation with a couple of different people over the last several weeks that have lead me to read the following excerpt from Eugene Peterson’s book God’s Message For Each Day in a unique way. Peterson writes,
“Michelangelo sculpted in marble what many Jews and Christians have carved in their imaginations—a flawless David, the spirited human body in perfection. But the Biblical text does not give us a flawless David. Putting people on pedestals is a way of not having to deal with who they really are (and who the God working in them really is). The Biblical narrator insists on telling us everything bad about David . . . The narrator refuses to idealize or glamorize him to show that God’s sovereignty works through just such a mixed bag of human failure and sin.”
Obviously, Peterson intends for us to consider times that we place others on a pedestal and are need to repent of that. However, I also think there is great application to the way that we perceive ourselves and the way we allow others to perceive us! If we allow ourselves to think that we have everything under control or to allow others to perceive us in the same way is to discount the fact that we rely on God for everything! Remember that God never calls us to be God! In fact, generally speaking, this was the desire of Adam and Eve that lead to the fall. Peterson writes, "God’s sovereignty works through a mixed bag of human failure and sin". Paul put it this way “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” God’s strength is shown in our weakness! We must quit pretending we have it all together. We must treat ourselves and others with grace and understanding. God does!

Piper and Passion

Here is an email that I recieved from a college student about John Piper's words at Passion 06 and his cancer announcement and my response to some of his questions.

The Student's Email:
If you've not read his announcement letter to his congregation I have included a link here. In fact, you might want to read that now as the rest of the e-mail won't make much sense without the context of the letter.The letter is consistent with the theological tenets of Calvinism (we could have both assumed that before reading the letter). However, as I finished the letter I began thinking about one idea in particular regarding the following sentence: "God has designed this trial for my good and for your good" (emphasis mine). I don't know for sure which point of the five a statement like this can be justified by, but right now that is not important to corresponding questions I will pose. My question is essentially this: doesn't John Piper have a more "total" or "complete" faith in God if he can say that God is in fact designing these trials he is encountering? This is opposite of the view that I would espouse: God didn't design this trial but rather allowed this trial to happen for the purposes of His glory. Everything about Dr. Piper's statement is contradictory to what I have learned but it certainly sounds appealing to be able to pray and say the following words: "God, I know you are sovereign and I have utter faith that you have designed this trial for me in order to more fully reveal the glory of your grace." It sounds a lot more reassuring than the following: "God I know you are sovereign and I understand you have allowed this trial to happen in order to more fully reveal the glory of your grace." In the former I feel there is substantially more recognition of the supremeness of God, whereas in the latter I feel like some other being has caused this affliction. In fact, it feels beyond the realm of God which is discomforting. I understand that it seems odd to say that God is the author of evil as well as good but how about this question. Would you rather have God authoring evil than Satan? At this point I am pretty confused. The sentence by Dr. Piper I quoted earlier in the e-mail sounds so reassuring -- it sounds confident. I do not feel like I could say a sentence with the same gravitas under the banner of Arminianism.That was a terribly long paragraph, and it was probably very opaque, but I hope it communicated what I am feeling. I honestly disagree with many of the tenets of Calvinism but if Calvinism allows Dr. Piper to say that God authors the good and bad in our lives then it deserves a second look in my opinion. I suppose what this comes down to is this: is what Dr. Piper is saying biblical? Can we really use the words ordained and allowed interchangabely when speaking about God's sovereignty with respect to sin?

Here is my response:
I am going to work through some of your statements one by one and hopefully that will help organize thought. But I want to start by including some quotes from an article written by some of my seminary professors that will help give some background. The whole article can be found here.

Consider the words of Baptist leader Albert Mohler: "The God of the Bible is the holy ruling, limitless, all-powerful God who makes nations to rise and to fall, who accomplishes his purposes and who redeems his people. Arminianism-the theological system opposed to Calvinism-necessarily holds to a very different understanding of God, his power, and his government over all things."
Mohler is surely right in underscoring the very different views of God in these opposing theological systems, but we believe he is mistaken in thinking that the primary difference pertains to how we understand the power of God. We believe the heart of the matter is how we understand the character of God. The issue is not how powerful God is, but what it means to say that he is perfectly loving and good. This difference does indeed affect our understanding of God's "government over all things," but it is not most fundamentally a matter of how much power we think God has.
We are in full agreement with Calvinists and other orthodox Christians that God is supremely powerful. God's power has been displayed in unmistakable and breathtaking splendor in creation (Job 38-41; Ps 8:3-4; 19:1-6). The vast size and complexity of our universe, with its countless galaxies, are all the proof we need that God has supreme power and knowledge. Moreover, God has demonstrated his power on the stage of human history by his acts of special revelation, culminating in the bodily resurrection of Jesus (Ex 15:1-18; Josh 23:1-3; Jer 1:9-10; Rom 1:4; 6:4; Eph 1:20).
Furthermore, we agree that God could have created a world in which he precisely controlled and determined all things, including the choices of human beings. But we believe such a world would make true human love impossible. True human love requires libertarian freedom.
If we think of the issue only in terms of power, the question is naturally framed in terms of what God could do; but if we think of it in terms of God's character, the focus shifts to what he would do. And it is clear to us that if God determined all things, including our choices, he would not determine the sort of evil and atrocities that we have witnessed in history. Nor would many, perhaps even most, of the human race ultimately be separated from the love of God and lost forever. Indeed, if God determined everything, none would be lost (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9). Again, if it is a matter of sheer power, it is plausible that God could create a world in which many would be lost. But the God of holy love not only would not, but could not.

In a fascinating historical study, British theologian Colin Gunton identifies key points at which he believes some central Christian doctrines got off track. One particularly interesting development is that in Western theology since Augustine, "the theme of love becomes subordinate to that of will." Gunton sees this manifested in the way the doctrine of double predestination is understood in some traditions. Part of the fundamental problem, Gunton believes, is a deficient understanding of the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity above all shows that God necessarily exists in an eternal relationship of perfect love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God's will must always be understood as an expression of his essential nature of perfect love (Mk 1:11; Jn 3:34-35; 5:19-20; 17:20-26). Because he has such a nature, he genuinely loves all persons and genuinely invites them to share his love (Jn 3:16; 14:19-21, 23; l Jn 2:2; 4:7-12).
Writing in The Reformed Journal, Calvinist John Piper recognizes the possibility that God may not choose his sons for salvation, but he insists that he would adore God even in that case. We acknowledged that we have a certain admiration for Piper, although we profoundly disagree with his understanding of the character of God. This, we suggest, serves as a good test case for those who still may be trying to make up their mind on Calvinism. Does Piper's attitude reflect piety at its best, or is it deeply at odds with God's character revealed in Scripture? Interestingly, the title of the article in which Piper insists on adoring a God who might consign his sons to hell is "How Does a Sovereign God Love?" We believe Piper has the question backward and that his article reflects the unfortunate subordination of love to will that Gunton identifies. Given the full revelation of God in Scripture, the question we should be asking is, how would a God of perfect love express his sovereignty?
When love is subordinated to will, then the fatherhood of God, which is emphasized in the Trinity (Mk 1:11; Jn 1:18; 5:19-20; 17:20-26; 20:17; 1 Cor 15:20-28), takes a back seat to the image of God as King or Ruler. God's essential relational nature as a being who exists in three persons becomes secondary to the notion that God is a sovereign monarch whose will cannot be thwarted.

Does God love all of us and desire our well-being? We believe that Calvinists cannot answer this question in the affirmative without equivocation and inconsistency. The breathtaking vision of God's trinitarian love is obscured by the Calvinist claim that God passes over persons he could just as easily save and thereby consigns them to eternal misery. The exhilarating message of the gospel that should be good news to all sinners is muted by the Calvinist claim that only the elect are truly able to join the dance. While Scripture teaches that not all will come, the Calvinist account of why this is so ultimately goes back to God's choice not to save those persons rather than their refusal to accept the invitation. Indeed, Calvinists hold that God's sovereign choice not to save some sinners enhances his glory.
God is truly and fully glorified when his nature is brought to clearest light and he is properly worshiped and adored. It is noteworthy that in the Old Testament when the temple was dedicated, the Levites praised God by singing of his goodness and everlasting love and mercy. As they did, the temple was filled with the glory of God (2 Chron 5:11-14; 7:1-4). This glory was shown most fully when the Son of God took on a temple of flesh and lived among us (Jn 1:14-18; 14:8-11; Phil 2:5-11; 1 Jn 4:l-12).


Ok, so there is a start! I am going to take your questions one by one and try to respond to them!

1. “Doesn’t John Piper have a more “total” or “complete” faith in God if he can say that God is in fact designing these trials he is encountering”?

a. I don’t want to get into a faith contest with Dr. Piper (or anyone else for that matter). I really don’t believe this is a faith in God issue. Now, you might be able to argue that this is a faith in God’s sovereignty, power, goodness or love issue. At that point we have gotten more specific than just faith in God.

b. I do think that you could argue that Piper’s perspective makes faith easier or more simple, but that doesn’t make it true. And I wouldn’t agree that this perspective is easier anyway! It might be easier to understand God’s sovereignty this way, but it makes understanding God as having a character of love VERY difficult! Additionally, I don’t think you have to give up a faith in God’s ultimate and absolute power to accept the Armenian view of God (hopefully this is clear as I continue answering questions).

2. “The sentence by Dr. Piper I quoted earlier in the e-mail sounds so reassuring -- it sounds confident.”

a. I could argue a lot of things with arguments that sound confident, but that doesn’t make them truth, so be careful when allowing that to shape your critical thinking. And I don’t mean this to just apply to Piper’s language here, but to anything that you hear. In fact, it is important to keep this in mind as you read what I am writing! Neither one of us is God (obviously) and if we sound too confident that might be a good time to read and listen even more critically!!!

3. “Everything about Dr. Piper's statement is contradictory to what I have learned but it certainly sounds appealing to be able to pray and say the following words: "God, I know you are sovereign and I have utter faith that you have designed this trial for me in order to more fully reveal the glory of your grace." It sounds a lot more reassuring than the following: "God I know you are sovereign and I understand you have allowed this trial to happen in order to more fully reveal the glory of your grace." In the former I feel there is substantially more recognition of the supremeness of God, whereas in the latter I feel like some other being has caused this affliction. In fact, it feels beyond the realm of God which is discomforting.”

a. I would be hesitant to base your pursuit of truth on whether or not something agrees with everything you have been told in the past. Now, hear me clearly on this, your past experience, lessons etc. should play a large role in your discernment process! But truth, not the past should be your ultimate pursuit. In the same way, I think it is even more dangerous to base your pursuit of truth on that which sounds appealing (or reassuring)!!! This is why the church struggles so much with liberal theology!

b. Let me assure you, the Bible makes it clear that there is nothing that is beyond the realm of God!!! I understand your comments about the former statement being more reassuring than the latter on the surface. Here is the problem. I believe that God wants what is best for us! I don’t think that in the beginning sin was necessary in order for God to glorify himself and receive glory. In fact, in the beginning “it was good”. I don’t think sin or evil was ever God’s desire (there is nowhere in the Bible that even hints at God being the author of evil! The Job scripture is a stretch at best, see below. The logic that Piper used to get there required a couple of assumptions based on a Scripture from Revelation, which is written in apocalyptic language which tends towards a poetic style. Reading this type of literature literally instead of poetically and figuratively is what got the Jewish leaders in trouble, and I believe is the primary reason that they didn’t recognize Jesus as Messiah). On the other hand, I think the consequences of sin were part of God’s created order. At the point that we (Adam and Eve) decided that we didn’t need God or that we could be god’s on our own the consequences of sin became a form of grace!!! The pain that we feel apart from God reminds us of our utter dependence on him. Notice that this is very different than God causing pain. It is not caused by God, but is a consequence of our sin (which God uses to reveal our dependence on him). If Adam and Eve had not sinned there would be no need for this reminder because it would not have been called into question.

c. In light of all of this, I find the fact that God can use that which was meant for evil (by Satan and by Adam and Eve, whether they recognized it or not) for good reveals his supremacy and grace just as fully and clearly, if not more so, than to say that God ordains evil or suffering. So does God use our suffering for his glory and grace and goodness? YES!! Does God originate that evil suffering, etc? NO!! (I don’t think his character allows that).

d. I think it is important to clarify my theology of the fall. I think too often we assume the fall was simply about humans. However, the Bible makes clear that the fall “infected” or affected all creation! Paul writes in Romans 8:18-25: “18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that[i] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In light of this scripture I would argue that hurricanes, tsunami’s, sickness, death, etc. are not ultimately God’s will but a God instituted (or ordained if you will) consequence of the fall that serve as reminders of our dependence on God.

e. This is from The Word Biblical Commentary Romans Volume:

i. “God subjected all things to Adam [in Genesis], and that included subjecting creation to fallen Adam, to share in his falleness . . . [this also] has the furthering effect of emphasizing that creation’s present condition is not the result of chance or fate but deliberately so ordered by God—precisely because it is not an end of God’s dealings but a stage in his purpose, the means by which the self-destructiveness of sin can be drawn out and destroyed, and creation restored to it’s proper function as the environment for God’s restored children [new heaven and new earth].”

ii. “The same character of creation-bound existence which causes some to despair, seen from another angle becomes ground for hope . Looked at in terms of man’s vaunted independence from God the future for the world is bleak. But seen in terms of the creator’s purpose, the present state of affairs is not all there is to look forward to; the goal of the created order will be determined by God, not by the puny mind of man. As the suffering of believers becomes a ground of hope because it is experienced as the formation of character and renewal of the inner man, so the out-of-jointedness of creation itself is testimony that it was not always intended to be thus. From the beginning the primal-time subjection to futility had the final-time fulfillment of God’s original purpose for man and his habitation in view. Even in it’s futility creation is still God’s.

4. “I understand that it seems odd to say that God is the author of evil as well as good but how about this question. Would you rather have God authoring evil than Satan?”

a. First of all the way God works is not dependent on how I wish he would work!

b. In light of that, I will answer your question and say that I absolutely would not rather have God authoring evil than Satan!!!!! While I wish that Satan had NO authority, I have to recognize that the authority that he has is authority that he has gained as a result of our sin. We clearly have an enemy that has the authority to tempt. I can’t imagine reading the Bible and arguing that Satan is not at work in the world (you can’t get through chapter 3 of Genesis with that perspective). If God is authoring evil, then you can’t argue that God’s character is love (this is what the article above argue). At the same time, to say that God allows evil (evil must be allowed as a possibility if Adam and Eve are to have free will) does not mean that he is not sovereign. It is a matter of God’s choice (in his sovereignty). God can be all love and all good and allow pain/suffering/etc, but I think it is much harder to argue that God can be all love and all good and create pain/suffering/et. (Again, truth is not contingent on how easy or hard it is to argue something, so that works both ways).


I want to be clear that while I disagree with Piper’s statement I must confess that I don’t have it all figured out!! It would be arrogant to suppose that I could. I have learned that theology is almost never simple (God is far too big for that). Additionaly, I have great respect for Dr. Piper and have appreciated and will continue to appreciate his challenging words! I will pray for him as he goes through this difficult time, and I believe that to be the bottom line here! John is a brother in Christ and I pray for complete healing.

Let me know your feedback, if you have questions, and if there are holes in my argument (and I am sure there are) or if I have contradicted myself in anyway!

Tuesday Night on the Tube

I spent half of my night last night watching TV and learned a couple of things.

First, there is nothing more funny on TV or in the movies than the audition episodes of American Idol. I laugh so hard I cry (seriously)!

Second, I was watching the show Love Monkey (disappointing first episode) and really appreciated the music. I realized that I find better music in the background of shows like Love Monkey (minus the new lame INXS song), Alias, Grey's Anatomy, etc. I am amazed that movies and TV understand good music and radio doesn't. It's crazy! Music is radio's business, and yet we are subjected to lame-unispired music 24/7 (Thank goodness for I-pods!).

Anyone out there?

My first post! Found out quite accidentally that I have had a blog page since 2002. I guess I started to create one (ahead of the trend) and then forgot. Now, I am way late in catching up but I finally made it.

My hope is to share some thoughts, work on writing skills, and get some feedback!