A Writer's Conclusion

Borrowed: Revisited

2011-12-11T22:02:00.000-05:00

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. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

–Matthew 18: 21-35 (ESV)

“What I don’t understand, Ian…” began Mr. Johnson, placing one hand on the squad car door and dropping to one knee in order to be level with his son. The teenager, his hands cuffed behind his back, remained hunched over in the car seat, staring at the flashing blue in the puddles beneath his tennis shoes. His messy dark hair obscured his scowling face. After several patient moments, Mr. Johnson reached a hand to Ian’s chin and gently lifted it to reveal two brown eyes and finished, “…is why did you do it?”

“He deserved it,” Ian said, starring coldly into his father’s eyes.

“How?”

“I already told you. He owed me two hundred bucks, all right?”

“And I told you to let it go. So why did you go after him?”

“It was my money and he took it!” Ian said through clenched teeth.

Mr. Johnson sighed, pausing for several moments. He looked Ian over carefully, reminded of the younger version of himself in appearance, but unfortunately not in behavior. “Son, I’m pretty sure if we were to settle accounts, you’d owe me a lot more than that.”

The reply was quick as Ian’s eyes narrowed. “Hey, I’ve never stolen from you.”

“No,” Mr. Johnson said slowly, “you haven’t. But what about that car of mine you totaled?”

“Insurance paid for that,” Ian quickly interjected.

“And who pays for the insurance? Or your last three speeding tickets? And who bailed you out last time you got in trouble with the cops?”

The boy turned his face away.

“What about your braces, Ian? Or your last hair cut? What about the clothes on your back, and all the ones inside your closet? What about the dinner you ate last night, or the breakfast you left on the table? What about the house you live in, or the bed you sleep in? You’ve never paid me for any of these things, and yet I gave them to you!”

Silence.

“Son, the money wasn’t yours to begin with. It was mine. If anyone was ‘owed’ it was me, not you. You had no right to try to take revenge; you didn’t even have a right to be angry, because it’s all borrowed stuff.”

Our Condition

2011-11-27T18:38:00.001-05:00

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!" -Revelation 3:15, 16

“It’s the nature of air conditioners. They leak,” my friend told me. His system had leaked Freon ever since he moved into his home several years ago. I also started noticing that it was not just my unit that accumulated frost often in colder weather, but many of my neighbors’ as well. So according to my friend (and my own observations), my “problem” was common—normal, in fact.

So, every summer I simply called the local heating and air guy to come and refuel my system. It seemed to function fine, although by the end of the summer the air was not very cold. My power usage was also much higher than I was used to. I thought it was just a part of home ownership. I sure do miss the $80 apartment power bills, I bemoaned as I opened the dreaded monthly envelope.

In addition, during the winter months, the inside air from the vents always seemed tepid at best. “It’s the nature of heat pumps,” I rationalized to my wife. “In order to save energy, they blow out air that is only slightly warmer than the temperature of the room.”

“I wish we had gas heat, then,” she replied.

Me too, I thought as I cranked the thermostat down another degree in order to save a few bucks.

However, after seven years I took another opinion and called a highly recommended repairman to look at my system. “No,” he corrected, “You should not be losing air pressure. I’d say your system has a pretty bad leak.” So, about a thousand dollars and a few replaced parts (just out of warranty) later, my system was, for the first time, declared “leak free.” Strangely enough, I noticed a drop in the power bill, especially in the winter months. Apparently a heat pump is supposed to blow out hot air. Who knew?

I guess I’m in the same condition. I so often look to my neighbors to compare my problems, thinking that if we all share the same dilemmas, I’m okay. Yet if we are ever to function as we should, if we are to ever accomplish our purpose, we have to first compare ourselves to the only model that matters, the unbroken one—Jesus. Only after this admission can we call upon and surrender to His restoration process in order to be a source of hot or cold, no longer lukewarm.

Batteries

2011-01-01T17:53:00.001-05:00

I gently placed my Bible on the side table and drew a purposeful breath. After an exhale and a short pause, I leaned forward and grasped the wooden lever to the side of my chair, pulling up as I leaned back, lifting my feet until my body was fully reclined. Satisfied with my spiritual growth for the morning, I reached for the remote mere inches from the book. I brought it closer as to find the large red button at the top, then pointed the remote at the screen and pressed the button.

Nothing happened.

I released a guttural growl and proceeded to the obvious method of resuscitating any electronic device that malfunctions. I slung the gadget several times into the palm of my hand, and then tried again. Finally, a blaring voice reached my ears and the screen sprang to life to images of starving children in the slums of India.

Who left this thing on the Christian channel? I thought.

I pressed the channel up button. Nothing happened. For some reason I tried several others before digressing to my previous tactic. Then the screen turned bright blue as the remote gave a last dying gasp of life.

I suddenly felt guilty for trying to ignore the starving children commercial, and for a moment I wished I could turn it back. I probably should send money… and skip my next meal.

Finally, I flipped the remote over and removed the battery cover. There sat the culprits: Two double As with unfamiliar markings indicating their probable age.

I reluctantly arose from my comfortable seating arrangement and replaced the batteries with two new ones from the desk drawer. I then returned to test the new life of my remote.

Perhaps I’m not too different from my remote. I may know the correct buttons to press, but in the end my effectiveness and ability to truly please my master hinge on the condition of the source of my actions—the motives of my heart. I can continue to attempt all the right combinations, but it’s purely self-serving without a change of batteries.

Facebook

2010-07-17T14:01:00.003-04:00

I have to admit something: I hate Facebook. To be honest, I have an account, but rather dislike the idea of having one. My disdain has nothing to do with functionality or asthetics, and really has nothing to do with the website itself. I simply do not care for social media in general. “Why?” you ask. Well, many reasons (one being the fact that social media is profoundly narcissistic; however, my stance on not wishing to be associated with this new fad is equally prideful, but I digress). The main reason for my loathing is due to the simple fact that I do not have the time.

Now, I am not claiming VIP status by such a comment, for I think none of us really possess the time required to keep track of every individual we accept as a “friend.” This has led some to respond more coldly with request of camaraderie by ignoring or outright rejecting those not of the elite category: “Real Friends.” Some have found other methods of management, or have simply opted out of this “community” altogether.

I would venture to guess that in truth we are all apathetic towards the majority of the world’s population. There are probably only a handful of people that we really “care about.” However, despite this reality, I could literally spend all of my time keeping track of the “important” events in the lives of my friends. Even with the wonderful blessing of a singular location to gather up to date information, such a task allows me no time to live my own life. If anything, Facebook should make us painfully aware of the impossibility of staying connected with every person we meet. And attempting to do so quickly becomes overwhelming.

Fortunately, there is one who can keep track of every person, even those that continually ignore His friend requests.

I find it absolutely astonishing that the Creator of the universe keeps track of me. In fact, he keeps track of every hair on my head (Luke 12:7), not just the status changes I choose to post. And He’s always available and online (Matthew 28:20). I’ve never once had to send out a “poke.” He not only pays attention to every comment, but responds to every prayer. He’s really the only friend I can ever truly rely on.

And what’s more astounding is that he cares for you just as much. Not that you (my reader) are of any lesser value than myself, but that “you” is plural and extends not only to every soul now living on this earth, but every soul created from the dawn of time to its dusk. That’s a lot of accounts to keep track of.

We should feel so small and so insignificant, because we are.

But also realize that God is really, really big, and really, really important, because He is.

I can only conclude that God keeps up with me because He loves me. So much that He offers me true community with Him. Not just as a “friend,” but as a “real friend,” one who gives His life up for another (John 15:13).

But more importantly, He keeps up with you too, because He loves you just as much.

Monotony

2010-05-18T11:55:00.000-04:00

I opened the curtains to reveal the rising sun against a brilliant blue sky, and three inches of white snow covering the world as far as I could see. I’ve lived in Georgia all my life, so any precipitation other than rain is a rare treat. It did not matter that I was thirty years old, I was excited to play in our “winter wonderland,” and even more excited to take my twenty-month-old son with me.

After a delicious breakfast and putting on multiple layers, I took my little boy’s hand in mine and marched out into the cold. I expected him to be thrilled with the powdered snow, and was surprised when he took the most interest in the dirty icicles hanging from my pickup truck, which he broke off and carefully placed into the snow. I curiously watched him repeat this activity numerous times.

As I observed him enjoy the monotony, it occurred to me that children often insist on doing things again and again, long after their mature parents weary of the act. In a way, one might think God the same way. Every morning the sun rises, every year the seasons change. I imagine it to be a tiresome project to manufacture each grain of sand, each flake of snow.

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, ‘Do it again’: and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, ‘Do it again’ to the sun; and every evening, ‘Do it again’ to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daises alike’ it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy, for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
–G.K. Chesterton

But as I glanced about the white landscape, I considered another possibility.

Is not each flake of snow distinct from all the others? Is not each blade of grass a unique creation? Is not each sunrise sky a different painting than the day before? Come to think of it, even when I do encounter something a second time, I do so as a different person.

Perhaps monotony is a figment of our imagination, for no second repeats itself. Our problem is not that we have matured into boredom, but that we have become disenchanted with life. We falsely believe we’ve seen it all before, and lose the wonder and excitement that comes from experiencing the infinite depth of our creator. I conclude that we must discover the uniqueness of every moment; it is there that we recapture the beauty and wonder of our God.

Love Language

2010-05-04T22:26:00.000-04:00

So there I found myself, a thirty-year-old heterosexual male, standing in the middle of the aisle, trying to decide on a reasonable purchase. I struggle to explain my method of choosing, and I felt pressured by embarrassment as I stood along side three women who were chattering about their purchase possibilities. I gave a sigh as my indecision turned into frustration. I was uncomfortably aware of my own lingering presence.

My nervousness might make one consider my location to be in a ladies undergarment shop in the mall, but no. It is simply the scrap-booking section at the local craft store.

Perhaps I need to deal with some insecurities.

Nevertheless, the reason I endure such “hardship” is not to satisfy any of my own guilty pleasures, but rather to demonstrate to my wife that I love her.

When I first got married to my wife Stephanie, we read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. In this book Chapman discusses the various means by which we relay love. Not only does he define these different modes of communication, but shows how we each tend to favor one above the others.

While Stephanie and I were dating and whenever Valentine’s Day or an anniversary would roll around, I would carefully craft a note proclaiming my undying love to her. She would then gift me with a cute stuffed animal or a picture with a Hershey Kiss frame she made herself. Although we could appreciate the other's gesture, they fell miserably short of conveying our true emotions.

After reading The Five Love Languages, we learned that our romantic wires were crossed. We were speaking a foreign language to our spouse, selfishly anticipating our actions to be reciprocated. Instead, we needed to learn the language of the other, and thus express how we felt in a more effective, although less natural, way. Now I can delightedly fill her Christmas stocking with craft supplies and her anniversary cards with gift cards, because that is what truly articulates to her my love. Likewise, she can save her money for most occasions and manifest her love to me with a sincere note that strokes my ego.

I believe God is the same way (not the ego part). He desires to be loved and worshiped, but in the way he reveals to us in Scripture. Not to say that God does not appreciate our innocent fumbling in the infant stages, but mature Christians should know better.

"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands.”
–Malachi 1:10

I conclude that if we really want to worship our Father in Heaven, we will read The Good Book. To worship however we so desire while neglecting its instructions, does not reveal a sincere heart set free from constraints, but a selfish heart set on idolatry. In such a case, God would rather us not worship at all.

Choice

2010-04-24T15:10:00.000-04:00

“I want my daughter to live in a world where everyone's decisions are respected."
–Al Joyner (Olympic gold medal winner, 1984) in a Planned Parenthood Ad

So are we to respect all decisions, and celebrate choice for its own sake?

Shall we then celebrate the decision for one to commit suicide? Shall we celebrate the decision to drive drunk and kill another human being? Shall we celebrate the decision that Andrea Yates took when she drowned her five children?

I would hope not. Yet this is what many today are proposing when they celebrate “choice” and demand it be respected regardless of its outcome. This became glaringly apparent in Planned Parenthood's ad protesting the SuperBowl commercial featuring Tim Tebow and his mom, which actually proved to be disappointingly non-controversial once it aired. Their protests revealed their true agenda: To promote abortion, not choice.

After all, any savage woman can choose to give birth to their child. Only enlightened individuals sacrifice their children for the promise of a brighter tomorrow. Perhaps the Aztecs were on to something (please notice sarcasm).

But before we place too much blame on the mothers who suffer for the rest of their lives with their tragic decisions, let us remember that it’s the abortion doctors that get paid millions a year to propagate the lie to women that their unborn child is not a human being (even though simple biology and genetics prove it). Skeptical? Check out the testimony of Planned Parenthood's most recent defect, Abby Johnson. After having to squirm under high pressure to increase abortion to increase profits in this struggling economy, and after assisting with an ultrasound abortion and having to witness the silent scream, she was faced with the reality that the "fetus" was a human being after all.

“I could actually see it was a 13 week old baby and I could actually see the side profile of the baby on the ultrasound,” she said. ” And I could see the cannula going into the uterus. And I could see the baby moving away from the cannula trying to get away from the probe."1

I conclude that it is time we started celebrating only the good decisions we make, and stop glorifying our failures and rebellion when we, like Adam and Eve, reject Life (or the tree of it) and chose something else.

Notes:
1. Story on Abby Johnson

Which Came First?

2010-03-31T14:38:00.000-04:00

As Easter Approaches we must begin pondering the age old question, "Which came first...

...Grace or Repentance?"

In John chapter 8, a woman caught in the act of adultery (talk about getting caught with your pants down) is brought before Jesus. According to Mosaic Law this woman was to be stoned.

Now I must first point out that many of us today would balk at such a harsh punishment. We come across difficult passages, like Exodus 21:17 or Numbers 15:35, and dismiss them as, “an old, less enlightened way of life." We underestimate the magnitude of our offenses and have come to believe that God's Grace somehow voids the old rulebook. On the contrary, these rules in scripture are divine law and Jesus came to fulfill them, not to abolish them (Matthew 5:17).

Therefore, His appeal to “He that is without sin…” is not a pardoning of a sinful lifestyle by a previously suppressed love that supersedes justice, rather He was reminding them who the rightful judge was... "He that is without sin" (Jesus) should throw the first stone.

Like Judah, we are quick to demand judgment on fellow villains, forgetting that we were accessories to the crime (Genesis 28:4). We tend to overlook our own transgressions, and here Christ reminds us that when a guilty man appeals to justice, he himself is condemned (Romans 2:1).

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged."
-Matthew 7:1

Oops.

Jesus then rises and asks the woman, "Did no one condemn you?"

She answers, "No one, Lord."

Christ is the only one who can truly accuse this woman. In addition, He is also the only one who can truly forgive (Mark 2:7), for only God can atone for her sins.

And my sins.

And your sins.

I find it interesting that this woman did not ask for mercy, nor did she show the slightest signs of repentance. Perhaps it is irrelevant at this stage, for God will show mercy on whom He shows mercy, and compassion on whom He shows compassion (Exodus 33:19). And when He extends this compassion ("Then neither do I condemn you”) she is set free (“Go now and leave your life of sin"). Is not this the true power of God's infinite love?

"The time is coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, " declares the LORD.
"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
"No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD.
-Jeremiah 31:31-34a

God’s new covenant declares that His people will obey, will love, will recognize His voice and come to Him (John 10:27). This is not because He forces them to, but because He extends to them His grace. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more," (v.34b, emphasis mine). Only through His forgiveness, His grace, can we have even the knowledge of salvation (Luke 1:77).

My conclusion is that even though repentance is required for true conversion, it is God’s grace on our lives that morally enables our depraved wills to even take that first step towards Him. It is required that we repent, but once we do, we must realize that the very desire to do so came from God. Looking back, we can only say, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am,” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Direction

2010-03-25T20:52:00.000-04:00

This is what the LORD says:  "Stand at the crossroads and look;  ask for the ancient paths,  ask where the good way is, and walk in it,  and you will find rest for your souls."
–Jeremiah 6:16

There are very few things that my wife and I argue about, but nothing increases the volume and sets my foot so heavily on the gas pedal like getting lost while driving. Such events set us in diametric opposition, as I will be positive that the destination is just ahead, while my wife will argue that we left it behind. Compromise is an impossibility since our vehicle can only proceed in an either/or direction.

There are also fewer things that seem to divide our political spectrum quite like direction. We certainly differ on issues such as taxes, health care, gay marriage, abortion, and even the very nature of government. But these are all peripheral issues.

Likewise the church suffers from the same division. We may all label ourselves "Christians," but we view God, the Bible, and all of creation differently. However, the root of much of our conflict stems, not from our desired destination, but the direction in which it lies.

Is it in a progressive path forward, or a conservative look back?

A progressive perspective is set on the future as the goal. Eden lies ahead, a grander paradise than before. Evolution (not necessarily cosmic) is central, as each generation yields some type of intelligent or moral superiority. Life is forever morphing, forever advancing. Therefore, the outdated ideas of yesterday are discarded, and newness is treasured in hopes of bringing us closer to enlightenment.

Contrarily, what the progressive discards, the conservative embraces. A conservative perspective thinks highly of tradition and history. It cherishes the wisdom of age, firmly resisting anything "new." While the conservative may agree with micro evolution (such as development within a species, personal growth, or societal advancement being built on the discoveries of previous generations), the idea that humanity fundamentally changes over time (macro evolution) is rejected. The conservative clings to Ad Fonte (latin), looking "back to the source."

In all, these tend to be the two extremes of thought, in politics, in religion, in all of life. There can be no both/and, for we can not gaze in two directions at once. So which is correct?

Here is my conclusions:

The problem with the progressive is that he commits "Chronological Snobbery" (C.S. Lewis). It's foolish to believe that the rules of yesterday are no longer applicable today. If you hold tradition and history in little regard, you doom yourself to repeat the mistakes of the past. Its the progressives that continue to lead us down the same dead ends we've been down a hundred times before. Furthermore, the idea of evolution destroys humanities distinctiveness and equality (whether based on race, sex, age, consciousness, ability, or period in history).

As for the conservative perspective, his mistake is that he may fail to look back far enough. For example, the KJV only crowd has forgotten that they too work from a translation, and that the so called "newer" versions are translated from OLDER manuscripts. So it is with those that cling to traditional hymns. They forget that their music falls over a millennium short of being foundational. Even when Christ increased the standards of morality, he wasn't giving new instructions, but taking the people back to the original standard–before Moses and the law (example: Matthew 19:4-6).

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
–Ecclesiastes 1:9

Perfection is the peak from which we fell, and the scaling of other mountains will never yield the same result. The right direction is back the way we came.

"The hope of our future lies in the past."
–Rev. Tom Nelson

Grace

2010-03-07T16:14:00.000-05:00

A while back, we opened our mailbox to find an astonishing contrast in our mail. It gave me great pause to ponder, and I encourage you to do the same.

In fact, before proceeding, you may take a second to consider what conclusions you might draw from these two surprisingly similar, yet drastically different images.

Often, it is images like these that become the rallying cry for those who advocate social justice. I completely understand why, especially if one experienced such juxtapositions in person. Even more understandable if one’s faith drives their impulse. It is all too easy to mine scripture for passages that command us to action in eliminating such things as poverty.

However, recently, Fox News’ Glenn Beck outraged millions by his urging individuals to leave their church if “Social Justice” appeared in their pastor’s vocabulary. I personally seek clarification regarding this inflammatory comment, because I might actually agree.

Now before labeling me a heretic and suggesting that I am saying the Bible does not command us to help the afflicted and the poor, hear me out. I believe we should be gripped by the calamity in Haiti and the carnage in Darfur. We should also be disturbed when we see suffering and struggle in our own cities. How can a compassionate heart not desire to lend aid? It is our duty as fellow human beings.

So then why would I want us to discard the very solution?

Well, because it’s not.

Social Justice (‘sō sh ǝl ‘jǝstis)
noun
the distribution of advantages and disadvantages within a society.

The term “social justice” often implies that we make our appeal to the government to help the poor, feed the hungry, and redistribute income to those “less fortunate.” The problem I have with this idea is that the church, once the source for education, healthcare, and alms, has abandoned its post. We now look to our elected leaders to be our provider rather than God. Our country’s republic may be an institution of God (as with every nation), but it was never created to be His hands and feet. That duty was reserved for the body of Christ, however shriveled these appendages have become.

In addition, even when the church is seen as the dispenser of “social justice,” I believe the gospel becomes severely cheapened. Not to say it is not our duty to reach out, but we make the fatal assumption that those who “have not” are the ones who have been somehow treated unfairly. This belief is an admission to a misunderstanding of scripture, humanity, and God. This crucial error to our intentions is something that must be addressed.

We need to abandon this idea of Social Justice…

and adopt "Social Grace."

Now, this term has often been used to define our ability to politely integrate into society, but I propose a new definition.1

Social Grace (‘sō sh ǝl grās)
noun
the recognition that we have been given more than we deserve, and in response give to others who are equally undeserving.

Too often we mistakenly wonder why innocent people suffer, forgetting that we are born guilty because we are born into sin.2 We should not question the existence of poverty and hunger, but rather prosperity and wealth. For how could such blessings exist in a world that is so saturated in evil? There is not a person among us that deserves to be rich. Not one of us deserves healthcare, a job, or even a full stomach (despite the political rhetoric today). The reality is that humanity does not deserve its next breath… and yet God grants it to us anyway.

Not too long ago one evening, as I was refueling my car at the gas station. I looked out across the road at the abundance of lit stores and restaurants that lined the highway. I was suddenly reminded that I live in a land of plenty, where the “necessities” of life are often luxuries to much of the world. I began contemplating our blessings, our richness. Even during this economic recession, the average American enjoys a rather comfortable lifestyle.

That’s when the question suddenly came to me, “God, why is this country blessed with such wealth and prosperity? And why do I live in it?”

Then the answer came surprisingly quickly, “Because I chose to. It’s a picture of my grace. It’s a picture of my undeserved blessings.”

My conclusion is that church should reflect such love, cease giving out of guilt and start giving out of grace. It is time we correct our view of justice, and allow God to be the sole dispenser of it. We need only to administer what distinguishes us from every other religion and is the only beacon of hope for all of humanity: Grace.

Notes:
1. I have not heard of this term used in this way before, but I will not necessarily claim to be the first.
2. Romans 3:10-12, Romans 5:12

Beast

2010-02-25T23:31:00.000-05:00

"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" -Jeremiah 17:9 (NLT)

The horrific attack on a SeaWorld trainer by a killer whale1 reveals a common truth that we are prone to ignore. We expect animal viciousness in the wild, but we are somehow surprised when captive animals return to their instincts and kill without remorse. Their cuddly appearances can be deceptive, and thus we do not expect it when Roy Horn2 is nearly killed by one of his "trusted" tigers during a show, or when Charla Nash3 is severely disfigured after being attacked by a dear friend's pet chimp.

There are those that take great sympathy on the killers and claim its humanities fault for caging the poor creatures.4 We give them a human name like Travis, implement "affection conditioning," and lavish upon them our love. However, we should realize that animals can never be adopted into personhood. Such domestication is impossible. A wild beast can never contain a heart of compassion without divine transformation, no matter how much training or how many treats we offer it. Our amazement should not be that animals attacks, but rather that more of them do not.

The same applies to the human soul. In our depraved state, man has a beastly heart, one that is set on rebellion and death. The only good we cherish is for selfish gain, and our quest for the supernatural is nothing more than attempts at personal exaltation. And we are beyond hope, for in our depraved volition we will never humble ourselves before God, for we are slaves to another (Romans 6). We should not be surprised by the Mansons and the Hitlers, rather we should be surprised there are not more of them.

I conclude that man is a savage, and even though he possess a mind with emotions and a will to guide it, he is still at the mercy of his desires. And those desires are carnal and have no taste for true holiness. If it were not for divine transformation, we would all still be beasts.

Notes:
1. "Tilikum" the Orca Attacks
2. "Montecore" the Tiger Attacks
3. "Travis" the Chimp Attacks
4. PETA response to SeaWorld accident

Snooze

2010-02-19T22:25:00.000-05:00

Loud, rhythmic beeps pierced my dream, and I realized I was no longer skiing at the lake, but underneath warm covers. After several seconds, I reluctantly surfaced from under the blankets into the morning chill, and reached sporadically in the dark for the culprit. After my fumbling proved unsuccessful, I lifted my head with annoyance and opened my eyes ever so slightly. I spotted the source of the alarm, and slapped the button on top. The beeps ceased mid-rhythm, and my head collapsed on the pillow. Immediately I felt the heat being sucked from my scalp, so I repositioned to find my head’s former resting place. Within a few seconds I was lulled back to a deep sleep... at least for another ten minutes.  

I sometimes continue this process five or six times before exerting the energy required to arise from bed. I then groggily walk to the closet to get dressed for the day's activities. Thankfully I am not still living under my parents' rule where my mother may have finally delivered on her promise to "get the ice-cold washcloth." What can I say? I love being comfortable.  

But I'm not the only one.  

"Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Your father and your brothers have come to you, and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.'" -Genesis 47:5,6  

When the Hebrews moved to Egypt, they were given "the best land" to live in. It is easy to think very little of Egypt's "best land" when all we've seen are pictures of the pyramids and camels riding through the desert. But the Hebrews settled in the land of Goshen, along the Nile River. This is some of the most beautiful and fertile land not only in the Middle East, but also in the world.

Why such rich rewards? Perhaps because Joseph not only saved his family, but essentially saved all of Egypt by being obedient to the LORD. God used Joseph's presence, in both high and low places, to make a huge impact on that culture. Joseph stayed faithful to God, he never compromised, and the land was blessed because of it.  

But apparently the Hebrews became so comfortable there that they became entrenched in the Egyptian culture, even worshiping the Egyptian gods (Ezekiel 20:5-9). No doubt their government jobs, free health care, decent wages and work schedule seduced them into their recliners on the weekends. There was no need to depend on God for their daily bread, Pharaoh took care of their needs. They compromised, and thus became ineffective in their eternal impact. So what is God to do to encourage His people to forsake a comfortable life of idolatry?

  "Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt. He said to his people, 'Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are! Come, let's deal wisely with them.'" -Exodus 1:8-10  

I suspect that America is much like Egypt: A foreign land where God's people came and prospered. And like Pharaoh, our government and its people have forgotten the God who blessed them. However, this is not due to their bad recall, but to our own amnesia. Like the Hebrews, in our comfort we have turned to the gods of our culture and ordered our lives and our living room furniture around the plasma screen. The false gods of entertainment and excess dominate our time, drain our money, and ever so surely we are becoming their slaves .

I recently heard from a friend, who is a missionary to Africa, that when Catholicism spread through the continent it integrated into the culture rather than converting it. Instead of discouraging idolatry and teaching the people to worship the one true God, they were encouraged simply to add him to their lists of deities. Apparently it’s not too uncommon to see a church with the Virgin Mary alongside a sun and a moon. They compromised, and thus rendered the church’s impact ineffective on that society.

But are we really that different?

When we examine our lives, might we be sending conflicting messages? Why do I seek out counsel from Parenting Magazine before looking to God's Word? How can I celebrate with wild enthusiasm during the Sunday afternoon football game, when I barely moved a muscle throughout worship service that morning? Why does food, not my Heavenly Father, dominate my dinner conversation? What am I really planning on doing with that big tax refund?

I conclude that in a land of abundance many of us are comfortable spiritually sleeping in our society and under its idols, continually hitting the snooze on God's gentle warnings. But I suspect that unless we remove ourselves from our cozy situation, God may douse us with a wilderness of our own, where we can learn to worship Him alone and reclaim our effectiveness.

Tune

2010-02-07T19:31:00.000-05:00

"The man who comes to a right belief about God is relieved of ten thousand temporal problems."

–A.W. Tozer

Not too long ago, Stephanie, Elijah, and I spent our Christmas Holiday at my parents’ house. Elijah was intrigued by their piano, so we opened the upright and placed Elijah on the bench; however, his short attention span cut this new experience short as he soon lost interest and climbed down.

But after running my fingers over the black and white ivories, I reminisced of practicing as a child at this exact piano with a jar of candy on top to encourage my vigilance. According to an unbiased source (my mother), I was a child prodigy. You would never know that considering my lack of skill today. Nonetheless, I was compelled to pull several sheets of music from the bench and try my hands at playing. I would have preferred sweet-sounding notes to emanate from every tap of a finger, but each laborious thump betrayed the sweet hymns that I was endeavoring to capture.

I could blame my demotion to rookie status as reason for the horrible sound; no doubt my rusty talent protested the unfamiliar movements. I guess I could have questioned if the sheet music was in error, or if I was really reading the notes correctly. But truthfully, it is an impossibility to create beautiful music on a piano that is out of tune.

I have often been troubled by the fact so many good Christians disagree on so many issues. Men (and women), who genuinely seem to seek God in humility for answers, hold tight to drastically opposing viewpoints. On one hand we need to “agree to disagree,” but truth dictates that some are in error. I would assume we are all searching for the absolute, so then why do people who love Jesus believe such different things? Rather than singing in harmony, our Christian voice has become a chaotic commotion. Are we not using the same book, studying the same sheet music?

Some may defy logic and claim the printed music itself contains mistakes (after all, its not the original), and that may give partial explanation to the cacophony (I’ll leave this issue for another day). We could also blame it on immaturity and inexperience. However, I believe there is an even more subversive problem in our midst.

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry.”

–Ezekiel 14:4

I find this verse enlightening… and also extremely frightening.

Enlightening in that the reason all believers do not sound alike is that idolatry exists in their midst. Their very hearts betray their earnest prayers.

And frightening to the fact that I may be one of them.

“Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it. The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place....”

–A.W. Tozer

Idolatry is not necessarily made from wood or stone, but from inaccurate ideas about our creator. The reason our “music” does not match is that many of our hearts our simply “out of tune.” Our flesh compels us to embrace erroneous views of God, views that elevate ourselves and reduce the one who made us.

We mistakenly think that by reading scripture and asking for revelation that our conclusions will be reliable. However, the problem is not with our minds, but with our hearts. For if our hearts are out of tune, then the message we are receiving will be incorrect, no matter how brilliant we are.

As John Ortberg says in his book, “The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” we tend to treat prayer as “insider-information.” We tend to approach God, not seeking true guidance, but simply to know “which door to choose.” But if we do not know the God we approach, we could be misguided.

After all, the LORD’s ultimate purpose in the Christian life is to mold us into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). We must spend time with God through prayer and studying scripture, all the while being diligent to strip our hearts of unhealthy theology.

I conclude that the biggest problem in the visible church is not sincerity, but idolatry. And even though these false gods still bring us to our knees, their delicate strokes to our egos have us bowing in the wrong direction.

Cakes

2010-01-02T22:03:00.000-05:00

It is at this time every year that my sweet tooth becomes, well… snobbish. Suddenly cookies, cakes, and any other kind of sugary foods lose their appeal. I crave only the best that the world has to offer: my grandmother’s orange and banana cakes (and also my mother’s pumpkin pie). As far back as I could remember, this has been one of those special memories of Christmas, and I am thankful that my wife has now taken over this wonderful tradition. I absolutely love these delicious desserts and savor every bite, and stretch the enjoyment by freezing part and cutting razor thin slices for myself and especially for others to whom I reluctantly share. My devotion to these delicacies is serious, and I forsake all others until the last piece is gone (which tends to be around mid-march).

Perhaps I’m the only one, but when I find something that truly delights my soul (or stomach), I can’t bear to waste precious calories by consuming less satisfying treats. Even when temptation strikes and I reach for cheap substitutes, my hand is stayed by a recollection of better things awaiting me in the refrigerator at home.

If only I could implement this discipline elsewhere in my life.

But the problem is that I have failed to fully appreciate the good things God has given me, tending to ungratefully devour His sweet blessings without truly tasting them. I have forgotten the pleasure it once brought me, and thus I lustfully fall into temptation, indulging in the cheap and immediate.

This has caused me to conclude that much of the sin in my life would be far less appetizing if I simply could improve my recall and savor every bite of what God provides.

Small Gifts

2009-11-30T10:34:00.000-05:00

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;  I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”
—Psalm 9:1

Several weeks back, Stephanie and I were blessed to go and see The Star Wars in Concert (it may score a high nerd factor rating, but the show was nonetheless fantastic). We received these two tickets as an early Christmas present from her dad. In addition, we also ended up with a free dinner at Chick-fil-A before the concert thanks to a former co-worker of Stephanie’s who is now a manager at that location.

So after sliding into a booth and setting our trays in front of us, I was overcome with gratitude to the near point of tears. A date-night with my beautiful bride, a unique concert we most likely would not have ever gotten to attend, and a free dinner—all provided by our Heavenly Father. This evening was a gift from God, provided through the generosity of others (and topped with a gentle spirit nudge to remember the tickets the night before).

And yet I had to wonder, why do I not feel this more often? We have been blessed far more than with a pleasant evening. We have a new home, two working vehicles, good health, full stomachs, and most importantly a wonderful, happy, healthy child. More than that, we have been forgiven of every wrong, risen from spiritual death and reborn into new life. We have been credited the righteousness of another, and now live in freedom from our chosen rebellion.

Why does this alone not bring me to my knees in gratitude every time I consider it? How have I become so callous to miss, not just the nuance blessings of life, but the very essence of existence?

However, maybe that is the point. How can we grasp the depth of any good book without noticing the profundity of its elements? A story comes to life as we better understand its tone, its plot, and its characters. And to appreciate a character, you must study his idiosyncrasies. We may gather the greater concept from the beginning, but to fully comprehend the big picture, we must appreciate the finer details of every stroke of the pen.

I conclude that each small gift is a lesson in gratitude. Our ability to thank the person who bought and wrapped the present under the tree is merely a preliminary step to thanking the God from “whom all blessings flow.” And with each “thank you” we grow into a greater realization to the bigger gifts that God has given us.

Different

2009-11-15T21:46:00.001-05:00

I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be born a twin. To go through life, not just having a sibling so close in age, but one that looks nearly identical to me. Would I be annoyed by the confusion that such similarity creates, or would I harness this power for humor purposes?

For years we had two identical brothers attending our church, and for the majority of that time I had difficulty telling them apart. There were many Sundays that I would use some generic greeting when encountering either brother for fear of mistaking one for the other.

But like a good photo hunt game, it was valuable to see the two brothers together to compare. When I saw them in the same place, I realized what made each unique, and thus could then tell them apart.

Sometimes we need things in close proximity to identify one from another. Like a mixed-up order received in the drive-thru, we must taste the diet and the regular in immediate succession to discover which is which.

So I was reading in Matthew the other day, where Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount. In Chapter 5, verse 43, He tells us, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you" Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven."

This is a familiar verse, one that we all learn in second grade Sunday School.

"He causes His son to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

We witness this seemingly unfair treatment, and thus we question it, "Why?" Why would a loving God let bad things happen to good people?

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"

And for the first time, I saw something deeper: God expects us to be different.

How would the world know what makes a Christian different unless they were to see us in the same circumstances as they found themselves in.

Ravi Zacharias often quotes an old Indian proverb, "What you're filled with spills when you are bumped." Our cups often look the same at just a glance, but when we are placed in unfavorable circumstances, we give others the opportunity to find our whether we are diet or regular.

"'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Phil 4:13), like go hungry, get cancer, be killed and go home." -John Piper

The world expects one to stay married to a faithful spouse, and divorce an adulterous partner. That's what the "pagans" would do. But God wants something different out of us. He wants us to reflect His character, His love, His forgiveness, His Covenant-Keeping Grace. How can we divorce our spouse when we realize that there is nothing that they can do against us that we have not committed against God… and been forgiven of?

How can a Christian get cancer, lose a loved one, become paralyzed, or lose all their possessions in a fire? Perhaps so that the world can see a different response to a "hopeless situation."

And what is that proper response: I think it boils down to gratitude. We must understand that in truth we are all guilty, and none of us are innocent (Romans 3). John Piper suggests the question is not "How come so many are sick?" but "How come so many are well?" I think when we realize we deserve only Hell, and start counting our blessings and thanking God for the little things, we don't have time to complain and ask God, "Why me?"

I think that's the only way a mourning couple can praise God after losing a little baby; by thanking God for the short time that they were able to spend with their child… that really wasn't theirs to begin with.

Look at how David responds to God taking away his child: "He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me." -2 Samuel 12:22-23

Similar thoughts are echoed in Michael W. Smith's "Hello, Good-bye" written for a couple who lost their little child after only 2 1/2 days.

And so I hold your tiny hand in mine
For the hardest thing I've ever had to face
Heaven calls for you before it calls for me
When you get there, save me a place

A place where I can share your smile
And I can hold you for more than just a while

I must conclude that the world is watching and needs to see our "different" response. In the worst of times it is our opportunity to demonstrate the Glory of God, and to show the world what we are filled with.

Rain

2009-09-02T23:33:00.001-04:00

We often underestimate the power of prayer. Our limited perspective causes us to often miss is effectiveness, especially considering our narrow existence in light of eternity. So is it any wonder that it is man's propensity to ask, "Do my prayers really matter?"

I asked God this exact question while driving home late the other night. It was raining, and my faulty wipers were rapidly smearing water across the windshield, distorting the road ahead. I peered intently into the black, attempting to make out the obscured yellow and white lines illuminated by my uneven headlamps. Occasionally the rain would slow its intensity for a moment, allowing me an opportunity to ease both the pace of my wipers and my stress level.

Last year at about this time, North East Georgia was going through a serious drought, giving many of us a renewed appreciation and respect for God's control of the weather. This time was no exception, and I not only gave a quick "Thank You" to God for his gift, but a prayer that his blessing would extend to my little town.

However, as I grew closer to home, I pondered the unpleasant vision of me making my way into the house with all my stuff in the drenching rain. So I sent up another request. "Could you hold up the rain for a few minutes until I get into the house, Lord," I prayed.

But immediately the foolishness of my petition became apparent. How ridiculous to think that God's going to redirect the course of nature in order to accommodate my selfish desire to stay dry, especially in the midst of a previously answered prayer.

I promptly voided my request and settled for a second dose of gratitude for the much needed precipitation. But as I pulled into my subdivision, the rain eased to barely a sprinkle.

Probably just a coincidence.

I pulled up into the driveway and loaded up all my paraphernalia. I walked up to the front door, carefully and quietly unlocking it as not to alarm our miniature dachshund Jalepeño. (Apparently I pose a threat entering my own residence, even after three plus years of him living with us. But I digress.)

I opened the door and sneaked through, giving a quick but poignant "Shhhhh!" to Jalepeño's suspicious growl. I unloaded my stuff on the living room couch, and not thirty seconds passed before I heard the rising roar of a deluge being dropped from the sky.

I smiled.

So did God halt the rain just for me?

It’s a warming thought to our linear minds to think that the creator of the universe reached down and separated the rain clouds simply to prevent my person from being soaked. However, I believe my God is beyond such simplicity. He is much too great, not to make such a kind gesture, but to do only that.

He is the creator of the universe, the vastness of which stretches further than the human mind can comprehend and yet He holds its expanding entirety in the palm of His hand. A massive, moving, raging drama unfolds while we witness a still and quiet tapestry of pinpoint lights in the night sky. And if we could escape the pollution of our own manufactured lights, we could witness the innumerable stars, each known by the God that placed it deliberately and strategically in the sky.

And yet even though He created something so enormous, He has numbered the hairs on my head. He intricately wove my being while in the womb, constructed the cellular mechanics down to my DNA (and quite possibly even smaller). He sees my past, my present, and my future, and He can comprehend the infinite possibilities that stem from every decision.

And not just mine, not just yours, but every human being that has lived or ever will live on this earth. No two molecules can collide and escape his notice, for He can see the ripple effect of every impact--FOREVER!

The LORD is all-powerful, all-present, and all-knowing, and anytime He appears to be doing one thing, He is doing ten MILLION things.

I conclude that my Heavenly Father did stop the rain for me… I have no doubt He answered my prayer. However, He did this while accomplishing numerous other purposes in the same stroke of his finger. I’m just humbled that He cared enough to include me in that stroke.

Bad

2009-07-06T23:34:00.000-04:00

Michael Jackson is bad. He said so himself. But does the subject define the object, or vice versa? What does “bad” mean? Who determines its definition, and by whose authority can we pronounce it on others?

At the recent passing of the “King of Pop,” masses have reflected on this man’s legacy with mixed emotions. Some overlook his strange personal life and now shed tears of mourning as they clutch an idol’s memory. They have seared in their mind the location they stood when they received the news, and marked that memory equal to “when President Kennedy was assassinated.” Now they reminisce with past hits in front of a memorialized shrine, and hope that Michael Jackson now leads a choir in glory.

Yet there are others that disregard all musical accomplishments and focus on his disturbing behavior. They assertively proclaim, “There’s a spot in Hell for [him].” Or as New York’s Peter King, persist calling him a “pervert” and a “low life,” amidst disputed child molestation charges and now rumors of drug abuse. For them, Michael Jackson’s passing is simply a “good riddance,” and an opportunity for more degrading humor at his expense.

How can such a dichotomy exist on such a man, or any man for that matter? Some lavish adoration and are blind to every blemish, while others vilify and ignore even the greatest of contributions. I’m sure Michael Jackson would prefer to be remembered by the former. We all would. It reminds of a Linkin Park song, “Leave Out All The Rest.”

I’ve never been perfect, but neither have you.

So if you’re asking me I want you to know;
When my time comes, forget the wrong that I’ve done.
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed.

And don’t resent me, and when you’re feeling empty,
Keep me in your memory. Leave out all the rest.
Leave out all the rest...

This song may be the cry of many, our deepest desire to leave a great legacy despite our mistakes. And how easy it is for us to appeal to our shared imperfections as reasons to be forgiven of wrong. After all, we’re all “bad.”

So are we confused in how to identify Michael Jackson… or perhaps the very label he claimed?

Are we not prone to semantics? We label injustice, “compassion,” and greed, “ambition.” We call self-serving behavior, “seeking happiness,” and perversion has become “love.” We pridefully deceive ourselves, and attempt to make our wrong, rights.

We’re bad, and we know it, but we desire to change the definition to lesson its intensity. However, bad is not “less good,” but “no good.” It is a word that is equated with evil and wickedness. Bad means that we have marred the very divine image that we were meant to reflect (Romans 3:23). Not through plastic surgery, but through our rebellious behavior. Bad means that even the good things we do is out of a selfish and prideful heart, using our talents and treasures merely to bring glory to ourselves. Bad means we are hopelessly and utterly depraved, capable of vile and perverse evil.

And this is of utmost importance for us to know and understand.

Because simply put, our current understanding of our spiritual state determines how we relate to both God and our fellow man. For if I understand that we are all equal, how can I idolize any human being? How can I romanticize him into some kind of superhero when he is no greater man than I? Furthermore, how can I be surprised when he does fall? How can I ever look down on him with contempt? We are all capable of great evil… even me. Even you.

We have all taken the first steps towards the most vile and evil atrocities. Where does child molestation start, than first a lingering adulterous thought? Our ignorance of evil forces us to attack the seemingly absurdity of this statement, for we tend to take God’s common grace with disdain. And our preoccupation with attempting to find the “good” in even the vilest of villains, is merely an ostensible fabrication of the fact that the same trace evil that drove them mad is present in all our hearts.

But it is imperative that we not only acknowledge this truth, but comprehend its depth. Salvation from sin is unattainable apart from it, for The Gospel begins with a repentance of our wickedness, not merely our imperfections.

John Piper says it this way: “Whether you see what the Bible says about your salvation as “Good News” depends in large measure on how hopelessly lost you think you are.”

I conclude that neither idolatry nor condemnation is the answer to Michael Jackson’s passing, but an awakening to our own “badness.” I am convinced that many have rejected Jesus Christ, not because they fail to realize they are “bad,” but because they do not understand just how bad they really are. For when one does acknowledge the depth of their depravity, true humility is obtained, and one can now approach their fellow man with meekness, and more importantly their Heavenly Father.

Follow

2009-05-02T19:35:00.001-04:00

In the twenty first chapter of John, the disciples, all self-assured failures, have left their master's work and returned to the comfortable life they lived before they met Jesus. They fish all night and catch nothing. Apparently, they've lost even their skills in their former trade. But then some man from shore suggests a unique approach--dropping their nets on "the other side." While this may seem like a sarcastic remark, there is immense symbolism in this statement (we’ll leave that for another time). After hauling up a boat load (literally) of fish, John recognizes Jesus (who performed this same miracle just a few years earlier). That's when Peter impulsively dives into the water and swims ashore.

Now John does not record anything of significance until the disciples haul their full nets on the beach and count the fish (more significance). However, I would make the guess that about half-way to the shore, Peter slows his stride as he remembers the last time he was with Jesus.

"I don't care if every schmuck here runs away, I'll go with you to the death." He exclaimed. And then several hours later he's calling down curses on himself, denying he ever laid eyes on Jesus.

I wonder if Peter' stomach started to cramp as he reached shallow water. The thought had to cross his mind that every time he left the boat, he found himself drowning in failure. I should have stayed with the others, he might have said to himself as he paused to let the boat catch up to him. I’m sure there were several awkward moments of Peter standing on the beach, dripping wet.

Once they ate, Jesus takes Peter for a walk to have a more private moment, although John invites himself to tag along. “Peter,” Jesus asks, “Do you love me deeply (Agape)?”

What kind of question is that? I wonder if Peter was expecting a rash rebuke or at the very least a pointed, “Are you sorry for denying me?” But Jesus doesn’t even say, “Promise me you will never mess up again?” Jesus isn’t looking for apologies, proper conduct, or even unbreakable vows. He looks to the heart: “Do you love me?”

“Of course, Lord,” answers Peter, “You know I love you like a friend (Phileo).” The same question is asked again, and the same answer given. Jesus was asking for a level of commitment, one which Peter does not feel he can give. He must have remembered his previous brash behavior and decided against the impulsive devotion he once showed.

But what happens next is curious. Jesus reduces the requested commitment. "Peter, will you love me like a friend?" To this, Peter could agree.

Christ was not lowering his expectations; his prophetic remarks to Peter's future confirms this. I think Jesus understands the pride and fears that keep all of us from remaking commitments we so recently broke. He understands our flaws, and will let us take baby-steps for our own self-confidence.

Then Jesus gives Peter a simple command, “Follow Me.”

You would think Peter might jump at the request, or perhaps inquire to where, but rather he looks back at John and asks, “What about him?”

Jesus’ response: “What’s it to you? I asked YOU!”

How often does God give me a command, and I look to others for confirmation? Like Barak in the book of Judges (4:8), I’m prone to telling God, “I’ll go if she goes.” And like Peter, I often hesitate unless I’m assured of company and moral support.

However, unlike Peter, I am inclined to stay in the boat until I’m assured of success. I look down on Peter’s failures and claim robust faith when I shrug at impending doom, or charge carelessly ahead. But what I call faith is often irresponsibility.

The conclusions that I draw from this chapter tell me that God is not interested in a faith that is proud and confident, yet devoid of action. He wants a faith that walks in “perhaps” (1 Samuel 14:6), a faith that is active, that is manifested by movement. We are assured of nothing except God Himself, and stumbles and falls are merely evidences of our advancement. Besides, results are His responsibility. Mine is to take the next step—to FOLLOW!

Legos

2009-04-07T10:17:00.000-04:00

I scrubbed my hand over the mound of plastic Lego™ pieces, spreading a chorus of clinking plastic blocks further over the floor. My eyes scanned the pile of red, yellow, white, and blue, hoping to find some hidden gem.

Sighing, I looked back to the small bricks attached to the larger one in my left hand. I used to consider myself proficient in the skill of building when it came to my favorite toy (both from my childhood and today). However, after twenty minutes of failing to create even a semblance of something, I was beginning to panic under the assumption that my Lego™ mastery was coming into question.

I was also displeased with the limited selection my nephew could offer. My eyes took another pass and then looked around the room. The television was quietly flickering a cartoon. A black caped superhero swooped down on several generic villains. Several punches were thrown and a car exploded into a nearby building.

I bet insurance is high in that city.

I looked over at my five-year-old nephew a few feet away, playing quietly and contently with several previously constructed items.

I returned to the cartoon. Maybe this is a little too violent for his age.

I looked back to my nephew. He’s not really paying any attention, but I guess you can never be too careful. Then I looked down at my pathetic excuse for a house. Maybe I should just build something else.

I glanced around the scattered pieces over the carpet. It sure would be a lot easier if I had some instructions, a picture, or better yet a complex model that I could intricately study.

I guess this truth permeates every area of life. I’ve become especially aware of this truth as I’ve embarked on the journey of fatherhood. Perhaps it’s not so much about what I let my son watch, or eat, or experience. It’s more about what I watch, what I eat, how I respond to stressful situations, and the way I interact with my family and friends. I need to be more than a good father, I need to be a healthy individual, a loving husband, a trustworthy friend, a dedicated volunteer, a responsible citizen, and most importantly a faithful disciple of Christ.

I can only conclude that everything I do is a model, an intricate study for my son to observe and emulate. That’s what he will use to build a life from. No pressure.

Race

2009-03-06T23:04:00.001-05:00

Is it offensive to say that I’m annoyed at the amount of press in regards to our “first black president”? I think my irritation is only exacerbated by the fact that race seemed to trump principle, and one finds himself in an awkward position when expected to celebrate regardless of political affiliation.

It could also be argued that part of the absurdity lies in the fact Bill Clinton held this title before Obama, and it makes one wonder if Obama will eventually pass the mantle to another who might prove "blacker," however that may be interpreted. I sometimes wonder if we are so starved for significance that we’ll cling to any statistical importance that places us first in something. They do this in sports all the time: “He’s the first receiver to make a twenty yard or more reception with less than two minutes in the third quarter when the temperature was below freezing and the wind speed over five miles an hour.” Perhaps the "magnitude" of every play is now spilling over into the political arena.

Now, I'll concede that perhaps its my generational experience that contrasts my perspective from one who may be twenty years my senior. I grew up in a racially mixed environment, and events of slavery and oppression were little more than factual data in a history textbook. I have never been physically or emotionally wounded by racial hatred, and I know full well that I fall into a rather comfortable majority. I don't doubt that I lack some perspective on the issue, so these are honest questions that I ask.

But I would think the title of "first black" anything would prove offensive, as if the “black man” needed extra applause for his efforts. Capability is neither helped nor hindered by skin color. My guess is that many consider this "first black president" a milestone to be celebrated, as if we’ve overcome a fault in our humanity. But I hardly see racism as a thing of the past. In fact, if we’ve truly moved beyond our prejudices, his skin color should hold no merit whatsoever, correct?

My personal belief is that its the offended, not the offenders, that hold the keys to forward progress. Not to diminish one's pain, but no one can strip you of your humanity. It’s the discriminator that has forgotten what makes him human, and if anything, he should be pitied. Too many victims hold a death grip to the past, and such a tight fist of bitterness brings with it entitlement and a demand for reparations, and makes it impossible to advance.

But ultimately my conclusion is that although not all of us have been wounded as victims, ALL of us have played the part of the villain. Every single human being on this planet bears in his or her heart racist and prejudiced thoughts that devalue and dehumanize their fellow persons for one reason or another. This is not just a white-on-black problem. This is a human dilemma. And until we realize that we are all guilty, until we are willing to forgive and move on, we will continue to enslave ourselves in bitterness and resentment—chains of our own choosing.

In My Mouth

2009-02-24T16:48:00.000-05:00

One of the downsides to entering adulthood is that you have to start taking responsibility. Now I have to pay the bills, wake up on my own, and fix my own meals. After being burdened with the simplest chores of daily living, I don’t believe adulthood is all it’s cracked up to be. Who knew that toilet paper actually cost money?

This was an especially prevalent truth when Stephanie would leave for a weekend to spend with her mom. Only a few hours after her departure, my stomach notified me of the reality: I had to fix my own meals. But I was so used to Stephanie cooking, that I felt inept in the kitchen. And the sad truth is, that I would either go without food, or end up consuming the ever-nutritious peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I tend to wonder if too many of us are so accustomed to "being served" our spiritual meals, that we don't know our way around the sacred kitchen of God’s Word. And when we're left to our own abilities, we either go hungry or attempt to satisfy our appetite on a single meal a week. Too many adult Christians depend on the church to bring a plate of prepared food, and thus remain infants in their spiritual walk. There’s nothing wrong with approaching church with a ferocious appetite, but too many “leave their fork at home and show up with their bib.”1

Speaking of remaining in the infant stages, not too long ago Stephanie and I ran across a rather interesting interview with a woman in England who was still breastfeeding her children, now five and eight. I’m sure there are those who might see this as perfectly acceptable. I find it disturbing. Once they are old enough to describe the flavor (“It tastes like melons,” said in a little girl’s British accent) it’s time to move onto more mature meals.

The problem with the church today is that “there are too many five, ten, twenty year old Christians still trying to latch on the nipple.”1

We have become lazy in our consumption, lacking the motivation to move onto solid foods. We’ve become the very Christians that Paul was writing to in Hebrews when he said “by this time you ought to be teachers, [but] you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”2

What has happened to our Christian faith? We’re so easily amazed at Jewish children who have memorized whole sections of scripture, if not the entire Old Testament. Yet we forget that we are commanded to do the same.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.”3

Too take it even further, if you look at the Hebrew word for “meditate,” which is “Hagah,” there is a very clear picture of how we should be studying God’s Word. To meditate means to “think deeply or carefully about,” but “HAGAH” means “to growl” like a lion after a fresh kill. A lion doesn’t think about it’s food, it becomes lost in its feasting.

I’m humorously reminded of watching my grandmother devour fried chicken: sucking every bone bare, engrossed in savoring every bite and making sure not a scrap of meat goes to waste.

Yet how often do we labor over every word in our Bible with a ravenous appetite?

I conclude that God did not intend for us to casually grab a sacked lunch on Sundays, expecting it to last all week. To mature we must gnaw on every passage until we’ve exhausted it of nutrients. We must become lost in our feasting, in every delightful spoonful that we place in our mouth. We must toss out our bottles, and work to prepare ourselves some solid food.

1. Perry Noble, pastor at Newspring Church, SC, series: “No Perfect People Allowed.”
2. Hebrews 5:12-14
3. Joshua 1:8

Artwork

2009-02-01T16:46:00.000-05:00

In my current career choice of graphic design, I often miss the days when I, as the artist, was more physically interactive with my artwork; when my hand guided the brush across the canvas; when my fingers manipulated the clay. Design has become, for me, very abstract—something I approach with a more-or-less “trial-and-error” method until I stumble upon a look that pleases the eye. In college, when I painted, drew, or sculpted, my art always seemed more thought-out and intentional. Perhaps the difference lies in my vision, the purpose that I have for my artwork. Art in the past was always about communication, and each piece was conceived in the mind while the artwork remained formless and empty.

I would imagine this is how God approaches His creation—with purpose and intention. Several times in scripture God reveals himself as an artist by comparing himself to the potter. But there is one passage in particular in Romans 9 that I find disconcerting, especially after hearing Pastor Mark Driscoll preach on it last January. Would God really create a vessel purposed for destruction? And thus I began a journey to find the truth behind one of the most debated topics in the church: Predestination.

I have always been plagued by the dichotomy of free-will and predestination. Both are so apparent in scripture, and for years I have come at peace with the two sides by simply deciding that God must choose those who choose Him. But that’s like telling a person they can have any flavor they want, just as long as it’s cherry. It becomes apparent that after the first round of selection, the following decisions are limited. And if any confinement would be applied to choice, it should be ours, not the Almighty’s.

We must remember that God is sovereign. He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. God transcends space and time. God knows our past, our present, and even our future. Now some might argue that simply because God knows I will do something doesn't mean He made me do it, and that's true. I believe we possess a free will; I definitely don’t see God pulling our strings. However, we are not sovereign beings and our free will has obvious limitations. For example, I did not get to choose my parent, or how they raised me, or even the name I have been given. My sex, my race, my personality, my very likes and dislikes are not really of my choosing. My most fundamental makeup is predetermined by God.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." –Psalm 139:13

As our creator, God knows us so intimately and therefore is not simply aware of our talents and skills, but created us with those capabilities. In our very fashioning He must have known who would accept and who would reject Him. In fact, I have been gripped by the image of God handling a lump of clay, knowing full well how each push of the thumb would transform his creation. It would be up to our maker AS we were created to either moisten the clay of our heart so that we could accept Him, or leave it to dry into a prideful stone. For whatever will we have, our choices were given to us by God.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” –Ephesians 2:8, 9

I may be saved by faith, but even that faith comes ultimately from God. If it were not true, and I could inherently make the correct choice independently from Him, then I would have reason to boast. But Paul explicitly tells us in Romans 3 that absolutely all boasting is excluded. We enter Heaven through Christ, and Him alone.

In the quest for wisdom, I often discover that the truth leads me to the universal consistency that God is great, and man is nothing apart from His love. My artwork declares what I desire for it to say. It did not choose it’s purpose, and neither did we. Yet a Free-will perspective, one that demands we chose God first, exalts man. Election gives all the glory to God.

I’ve discovered that it is my pride that demands a part to play separate from the ultimate will of my Lord. I resented the assertion, and demanded that if it were true, my actions would be inconsequential. But to respond in this manner is to not only misunderstand grace, but also treat it with disdain.

Me, a sworn enemy of God, was chosen by Him to be saved. I did absolutely NOTHING to deserve it, not even come to repentance on my own. Once I accepted this truth, it led me to humility and thanksgiving, and an even fuller appreciation for the Gospel and Evangelism. My God is greater than I once believed, and now I am compelled even further to share this great news with the world.

In addition, I am now under no pressure to convert or convince, for it is God that will save those who He chooses. And I share with greater love and thankfulness, knowing that if it was not for my God, I would have chosen death.

In conclusion we must remember it is not the moral heart that enters the gates of Heaven, but the humble one. Predestination grants God the glory, warning man to not place an ounce of trust in his own abilities. And despite our prideful hearts’ protests, we must accept this glorious truth with a resounding, “Amen.”

Arithmetic

2008-12-13T20:04:00.001-05:00

I've been counting up all my wrongs
One sorry for each star
See I'd apologize my way to you
If the heavens stretched that far
You are the one I want, you are the one I want

I wont find what I am looking for
If I only see by keeping score
Cause I know now you are so much more than arithmetic

Cause if I add, if I subtract if I
Give it all try to take some back
I've forgotten the freedom that comes from the fact
That you are the sum

(from “Arithmetic” by Brooke Fraser)

At her concert in Atlanta this past September, Brooke confessed to the audience that the words to this song did not come from her. I smiled when I heard her say this, because I have often thought these lyrics composed one of the most beautiful depictions of the Gospel of Christ.

Only an honest and contrite heart can assess it's past and conclude that the heavens do not contain enough celestial bodies to account for the number of apologies needed to bring equilibrium to the scales of righteousness. This truth is especially profound after studying the vastness of our universe, for it contains much more than the millions of pinpoint lights that our eyes can perceive in the night sky. For regardless of our religious behavior and our earnest efforts to compensate for our evil deeds, we cannot even reach the first rung on the ladder to the almighty.

But I cannot help but ponder how we receive this wonderful revelation. After adding up the pieces, there can be no doubt that God initiated my understanding. How else could this truth penetrate the prideful shell of my ego? Such an arrogant heart could never bend a knee if its creator did not somehow first divide or break. What I do not know is whether this alteration occurred in my inception or at a later time. Either way, I must conclude that God is the author and I am just a character in HIS story, and it is up to Him whether I am even a factor in His final equation.

Thanks

2008-11-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:11-19

It is in this story that we find two attitudes in which to live. One way is to live life in a way that says, “I deserve,” whether regarding what I have or what I want. The other way is in an attitude of gratitude that says, “Thank You.”

As a new father, I’ve been blessed with many opportunities these past five months to see life with new perspective. I’m amazed by the amount of sacrifice that is required by such a tiny individual. Anyone that has had a child can relate to sleepless nights, insistent pleas to be picked up, the messy diapers, and the shrill crying fits (that I guess I’m suppose to see as God’s way of gifting me with patience). And I’m pretty sure that I’ll never once get a thank you… just as I have failed to thank my own parents. Hmm….

Growing up, my dad liked to quote James Stewart from the movie SHENANDOAH, who began every meal with the same prayer, “Lord I planted the seeds, I plowed the ground, I gathered in the harvest. If I hadn’t of put the food on the table, it wouldn’t be here. But we thank you anyway.”

Although we may find this prayer amusing, this is often the approach we take with grace. We sit down at the table of life and immediately seek to fill our bellies. If we do give “thanks,” it is quickly mumbled through habit, devoid of heartfelt gratitude. God is great, and God is good, but shouldn't we thank Him for more than our food?

Often our prayers reflect that of a spoiled child’s wish list. We only thank God when He gives us what we wanted, pitching a fit if a requested toy is missing, and asking for a receipt if anything other appears under the tree. We have the audacity to strut through life, believing that we actually deserve the gifts God has given us.

We are usually reminded of this important truth after great tragedy. For how many of us think to thank him for giving us a clean bill of health after a visit to the doctor, when we’ve been blessed with the same for the past twenty years? We may recognize God’s blessing of protection when we narrowly escaped a deadly collision, but how many of us think to thank Him for safe travels on our ride to work this morning?

We don’t notice his bountiful blessings we breathe every day until we begin to suffocate. It seems we must subject our bodies to periodic starvation to truly appreciate the daily bread we mindlessly consume.

I imagine that the ten lepers appreciated good health, and longed for past vigor when they saw Jesus passing by.

I find it interesting that in some cultures, if you are stricken or born lame, they do not attempt to help you because they believe you were cursed. You simply got what you deserved. Perhaps they have a point.

Because if everything good comes from God, and even our most righteous efforts do not prime the pump enough for an ounce of the almighty. Perhaps charity is not about reaching out to those that received an undeserved dose of bad luck, but a natural outpouring of a heart that recognizes that we all deserve the same.

For we all have the disease, this infectious curse that runs deeper than the skin, spreads, isolates, and defiles our very soul, and ultimately destines us for the fire. No, it’s not leprosy, it’s sin. And we’ve all been given the dreaded news, “It’s terminal.”

But God has granted a measure of grace and mercy to each human being. He has withheld his wraith, giving us time for repentance (Romans 2:4). And for those of us that humble ourselves enough to cry out for mercy, He extends to us forgiveness and healing. We are saved, not just from physical pain and death, but from an eternity of darkness and isolation. And all He wants from us, is a “Thank You!”

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

–1 Thesselonians 5:18

I conclude this to be at the very core of the Christian Faith. For it is in this that we find how to live. Thankfulness is the thing that separates contentment from apathy, ambition from greed, obedience from religion, giving from obligation. It divides the humble from the proud, the righteous from the sinful, not so much in practice, but in heart. For this is the attitude of the Christian—Thanksgiving.

We are not to follow God’s commands to ease our guilty consciousness, nor to abstain from certain practices to appease His wraith. We are not to spend time in study and prayer to earn divine favor, nor to give generously in order to reap a greater return. We follow Christ simply out of gratitude of our hearts for the great things He has done for us.

So which leper are you? Have you returned to your savior to offer up your meager life as thanks, or are you one of the other nine, racing to live the life you were given without a thought to how you received it?

The Sanctioning of Human Sacrifice Part 3

2008-11-13T13:47:00.001-05:00

(The intent of this post is not to attack a particular person, but a particular mindset.)

"A woman's ability to decide how many children to have and when, without interference from the government, is one of the most fundamental rights we possess. It is not just an issue of choice, but equality and opportunity for all women." -Barack Obama

Although we could argue the level of this "right's" fundamentality, I've determined that I agree with this statement. I am pro-choice when it comes to family planning and when to have children. Every woman has the right to choose--to not have sex until they are ready to have children.

I am sure some are offended by abstinence, and are appalled at the concepts of personal responsibility and sexual restraint. After all, unrestricted sex without consequences is an inalienable right endowed by our creator, correct? And if our flawed birth-control methods fail us, we should be entitled to eliminate the life that we failed to "prevent," right?

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not dismissing the proper use of contraceptives in the proper relationships, but to so carelessly address these devices as instruments of "safe sex," is destructively deceptive. It not only reduces sex to a physical activity, and thus our being to a one-dimensional form, but it encourages lifestyles of inhibition that treat sexuality with reckless negligence.

"I explained my belief that few women made the decision to terminate a pregnancy casually; that any pregnant woman felt the full force of the moral issues involved and wrestled with her conscience when making that decision; that I feared a ban on abortion would force women to seek unsafe abortions, as they had once done in this country." -Barack Obama

I am deeply troubled by our exaltation of sexual liberty and our apathy towards life itself. If one is to go so far as to call this decision, "a moral choice," then one must believe the pre-born child is human. So how can one sanction the "right" for a woman to "terminate" that life simply on the basis that one believes she "wrestled with her conscience," as if engaging in the moral struggle rights a wrong. What if I "wrestled" with killing a man before I fired the gun? Does my ethical conflict now absolve me of any guilt? And furthermore, this deceptive use of the phrase "unsafe abortions" may lead some to believe that its antithesis actually exists.

Well, what about "[providing] compassionate assistance to rape victims"? I find nothing compassionate about abortion. Counseling and therapy are necessary, but I find it outrageous that some hold the pretense that eliminating the resulting child will somehow heal the wounds of a sexual assault.

I assume that many individuals have simply not thought through the ramifications of their opinions, and simply allowed the empty calorie talking points of media to pass through without proper digestion. But I conclude the majority may find themselves simply victims of prideful veneration of self above all else, even above their own offspring.

Link:
Obama's Quotes

The Sanctioning of Human Sacrifice Part 2

2008-11-11T16:25:00.000-05:00

“On January 22, 1973 that the taking of unborn human life is constitutionally protected up until the moment of birth. In 1982 the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee concluded in an official report, ‘No significant legal barriers of any kind whatsoever exist today in the United States for a woman to obtain an abortion for any reason during any stage of her pregnancy.’”3

But how many of us put this at the top of our priority list. Somehow we have allowed the stability of our retirement portfolio, rising gas prices, and the war on terror, to take precedence over the fact this nation sanctions the death of nearly 1.4 million babies every year?4 If life is no longer sacred in our land, our freedom is for naught. If we have no inherent worth, our value equates to our service, and thus it becomes widely subjective. Not only are the unborn now seen as disposable, but the handicapped, the elderly, and all those that some may deem a “drain” on society.

Does it anger anyone that the Civil Rights movement has come severely short, and has been hijacked to justify the actions of those who would perverse their own sexuality, rather than broadened to protect the most innocent of our kind? We proclaimed that if this other man is my equal, how can he be my slave? Yet how did we miss the fact that if this child is equally valuable, how can I take his life?

There are those that gladly carry the banner of equality, yet have the audacity to say, "I believe... but I'm not going to force my beliefs on others." Their political rhetoric betrays their façade. If that baby is a human being, abortion is ALWAYS wrong. It is murder, and we should outlaw the practice. However, if the fetus is nothing more than a clump of cells, then allow women to do with it as they wish. All those in between do not understand the issue and find themselves in paradoxical arguments. There is no middle ground here. There IS NO COMPROMISE!

But lets be clear here. Creating laws to criminalize the practice of abortion is not to imprison women who have found themselves on the operating table. Often times these women are just as much the victim, and deserve the same justice.

The true crime stains the very hands of those that hold the scalpel and the blade. How have we come so far to allow Doctors to profit from the death of children? It has become over a 90 billion dollar a year industry,5 which preys on confused and desperate women to fill their wallets. The entire industry is built upon the destructive lies that protect murder under the banner of freedom and choice.

Take this sinister line from Planned Parenthood’s website: “Family planning clinics, like your local Planned Parenthood health center, have specially trained staff who can talk with you about all of your options. But beware of so-called "crisis pregnancy centers". These are fake clinics run by people who are anti-abortion. They often don't give women all their options. They have a history of scaring women into not having abortions. Absolutely no one should pressure you or trick you into making a decision you're not comfortable with.”6

Crisis Pregnancy Centers are true non-profit centers that are truly dedicated to the health of baby and mother, providing women with ALL the facts, sometimes including free ultrasounds. Yet these “non-profit” “family planning clinics” rake in over a billion dollars a year from abortions performed. Their “trained staff,” are nothing more than marketing agents taught to befriend women in need, offering “unbiased” lies to ultimately “hook the sale” and coerce them into killing their child. "If a girl decides to carry her baby to term, . . . clinics don't make any money”.5 Last year Planned Parenthood performed 289,750 surgical and medical abortions. They referred 2410 adoptions. You tell me who has the history of pressuring and scaring women. (If you find yourself skeptical on this issue, read the stories of men and women that formerly performed abortions, and witnessed first hand the true worship of the almighty dollar)

My purpose is not to prove the wickedness of “pro-choice” individuals, but to reveal the evil deception that is propagated by those that believe the lies themselves. And it behooves us to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12). And fight we must, and charge the gates of hell with such vigor and gusto that the entire foundation of this country trembles and God brings this nation to its knees in repentance.

So now reader, these are my conclusions. What are yours? What can we do to win this good fight?7

Links:
3. John Piper’s Sermon on the issue.
4. Abortion statistics
5. Big Business Abortion
6. For a dose of nausea, check out Planned Parenthood’s website
If your lunch remains in your stomach, check out their teen website
And how the information provided so drastically differs from this Boundless Article and this Chuck Colson Article.
7. One state dares to take this on… and so far has failed twice. But they won't give up, and neither should we.

The Sanctioning of Human Sacrifice Part 1

2008-11-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

sac•ri•fice
an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy

“You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols. In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, kicking about in your blood.” –Ezekiel 16:21&22

Why, as a nation, have we not fallen to our knees in agony at the horror and atrocities that we have committed? We have forgotten that we were once in the womb, and have commenced mindlessly slaughtering our own children for the sake of our own comfort. We have convinced ourselves that this special creation of God is nothing more than tissue and blood, forgetting that our makeup is the same, and ignoring even our science that says “embryos and fetuses are fully and individually human from the moment of fertilization on.”1

“The vast majority of abortions are performed between the seventh and tenth week when the baby is already sucking his thumb, recoiling from pricking,2 responding to sound. All his organs are present, the brain is functioning, the heart is pumping, the liver is making blood cells, the kidneys are cleaning fluids, and there is a fingerprint. His genetic code is uniquely and unquestionably human.” (John Piper)3

What is the difference between choosing abortion to cover up the “mistake” of an “unwanted pregnancy,” and placing our infant son or daughter on the burning hot arms of the brazen statue of Molech to pay for past transgressions? Whether we claim reasons of age, deformity, rape, incest, or even to save our own life; we are sacrificing our children for the hope of a more promising future for ourselves.

If there’s one thing I have learned from being a dad, is that parenthood is about sacrifice. Once the pregnancy test turns positive, a sacrifice is inevitable. You must either lay down your wants, your desires, even your very life for the sake of your child; or destroy the very life you helped bring forth.

What does it say us when 93% of all abortions in the United States occur for “social reasons”? This translates to roughly 3,400 babies being killed every day because they are “unwanted or inconvenient.” We have reduced our children to an expendable commodity. We should be echoing the cry of Mother Teresa who said, “If you do not want [your children], give [them to me].”

I can only conclude that we are so entrenched in selfishness that we would rather offer up the lives of our children to the abortion knife, than risk complicating or endangering our own.

Links
1. Abortion: unfiltered.
2. Proof that a baby struggles for his life in the womb.
3. John Piper’s Sermon on the issue.

Utopia

2008-10-28T14:48:00.000-04:00

I am perplexed by the cause of some Christians to rally around government to become our social savior. Have these individuals broken ranks with the "religious right" because of disunity and hypocrisy, or have they actually chosen an alternative philosophy that is inherently incompatible with Christianity? For what we believe about God and humanity determines how we see our world. And it is our world-view, our philosophy that guides our decisions. To be clear, it is not because of political party affiliation that I question fellow Christians, but a concern for their philosophy, or at least its consideration in their political selections.

Economically speaking, neither capitalism nor socialism is inherently Christian. However, whereas Capitalism assumes equality among people and leverages our fallen nature by rewarding those who are productive to society, socialism mocks equality and takes on an assumption that man is basically good inside.

I understand how one could deduce a socialist bend by examining the wonderful community that Christians experienced in Acts 2. But those who would point to these as evidence of the Bible’s advocacy for socialism forget one crucial thing.

The Government is NOT the Church.

The government is not where Christ enters the world. Jesus commanded His followers, not the government, to help the poor and the downtrodden. In fact, I believe Jesus understood that there is a vital difference between charitable contributions and bureaucratic compensation. When individuals give from the heart, they present more than material wealth. When the government gives, it’s a superficial handout that only promotes apathy and an entitlement mentality. And yet there are some that would have us believe that Jesus is the rallying cry of the welfare state.

I conclude that even though a “socialist” economy may appear in scripture, the Acts community was successful due to the true heart transformation in the believers. Our behavior is supposed to be counter-culture. Christians do not give because the other party deserves, but because we don’t either. To force this conviction on a secular economy is to only encourage its collapse, like every utopia that has ever attempted survival.

Fireproof

2008-10-26T13:54:00.000-04:00

Ever sit and watch a fire burn? I find it beautiful the way the blaze consumes its fuel in a violent dance of light. Regardless the size of the conflagration, it is a mesmerizing and dynamic performance. There are the occasions that I find it enticing to pass my hand quickly through the flame. But after reclaiming my prehensile organ unscathed, I wonder if one might come to believe that the fire is powerless to burn, and therefore the body could be subjected to a much longer period within the flames.

One could deduce similar things about the compassion of God, when we walk out of our own folly unharmed. But I conclude that it is simply our boastful pride that overlooks our own abuse of His loving kindness and tells us that the mercy he extends to us in the present for repentance means that we will not have to face His righteous wraith once His divine wick reaches its end.

Illusions

2008-10-17T17:26:00.000-04:00

I find it perplexing how many registered voters cast their ballots without even a basic understanding of the platform in which their candidates stands on. It appears there is great disregard towards concrete evidence that attests to a politician's philosophy and character, and instead we embrace an image of our own fabrication. After all, "it's not important who I am, or even who I think I am. What's important is who YOU think that I am." We care little for one's past voting record, for one's associations, or even one's paradigm; we are only interested in idealistic dreams that send "thrills" up our legs. Truth and substance matter little. As long as the mirage is something we can "believe in" today, little thought is given to the possibility if we find out its a lie tomorrow.

I guess we will believe what we want to believe.

I would also dare say this statement also applies to God, eve though the task of misrepresentation falls solely with the opposition. There have been times when faced with difficult concepts in scripture that I have caught myself thinking, "I don't want to believe in a God like that." It seems we do not wish to be bothered by His scriptural past which points to Holy judgement, nor the world-view that scripture commands our minds to mold to, nor even the uncomfortable associations that Christ embraced in His time here on Earth. No, we'd rather choose to believe in a "graven image" sculpted from half-truths and fanciful notions that grants us additional favor and more of our fleshly desires.

My conclusion is that we care more about our perception of reality that fits snug in our fairy tale world, than wake-up to the cold reality of truth. After all, rousing oneself from a pleasant sleep is almost painful in the short term, but how much more miserable do we feel when we're forced to get out of bed and realize we've missed out on life. And although a lie in politics has the capacity to damage a country, the lies we believe about God have the capacity to devastate our souls.

Filthy

2008-10-14T11:39:00.000-04:00

I have to be honest, there are times I’ve spent several days fairly motionless, and do not feel as though I need to shower. However, a single whiff from an armpit causes me to reassess such a decision, even though I feel perfectly hygienic.

I usually crave a good washing when I’ve spent the past several hours in profuse perspiration. I’m not sure whether my heightened desire derives from the visible dirt that coats my skin, or from the memory of cleanliness that is so fresh in my mind. Either way, in those instances I’m fully aware of my filth.

Contrast this with the habit of hand washing. Even though the spread of bacteria is common knowledge, I can’t tell you how often I’ve witnessed men move from a bathroom stall to the restroom exit without so much as a glance towards the sink. And how often do we think about washing our hands before we eat, especially when we dine at a restaurant?

I guess it’s easy to dismiss what we can’t see or feel.

I think sin is the same way. It’s easy to develop selective amnesia towards our own folly when we cannot visibly observe the scummy buildup of our immorality. Why else would hard-core criminals, convicted murderers and rapists, admit to believing that they were “good” people? We have a propensity to elevate our virtue high above it’s true level, and compare our waste to the soiled beings around us, rather than to the fresh, spotless perfection that a righteous God expects.

Perhaps this sheds light on why some compare Jesus on the Cross to cosmic child abuse. It’s easy to think that an occasional good deed would be sufficient to cleanse us of our transgressions if all we needed were a spiritual bath. But the truth of the matter is, we aren’t just dirty, we aren’t just broken and bruised. The Bible clearly states that rebellion from God deserves “death.”

Ravi Zacharias says, “Jesus did not come to make bad people good, but dead people live.” Jesus confirms this when compared the sinners to the sick (Matthew 9:12). He did not come for the unclean or the broken, but for the terminally ill. And we all have been diagnosed with the same disease.

James Edwards gives us this insight: “The doctrine of atonement obviously hangs on the doctrine of sin. A physician who removes a leg because of a splinter is a monster. A physician who removes a leg because of cancer or gangrene, on the other hand, is a hero who saves his or her patient's life. It all depends on the nature and seriousness of the problem.”

Why else would Isaiah write, “It pleased the Father to crush him”?

I can only conclude that if sin were merely a splinter, an infection that God could simply remove, then the cross would be meaningless. But Calvary confirms the seriousness of our offense. Even though we cannot see or feel it’s grime, its contamination is real and its infectious result is deadly.

Real Poor

2008-09-29T18:36:00.000-04:00

I continually find the tedious task of budgeting to be depressing. I often procrastinate for months before subjecting myself to an all night marathon because I dread the minute figures I eventually derive.

I’m sure there are some that might boast of small bank accounts, but I do not find myself among their number. Perhaps some think poverty can slim us down enough to enter the narrow gates. Jesus did say, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into heaven.”

Can I just say I find this verse disconcerting, especially after I visited www.globalrichlist.com and discovered I’m in the top 10% of income earners in the world. Even though I tend not to see myself as rich, my excess extends to rooms in my house with no inherent purpose, sheltering for my automobiles, a transportation budget that rivals my mortgage, and a comfortable thermostat that prevents me from breaking a sweat. While most of the world struggles not to starve, I’m trying to ignore the opposing message from my abdomen every time I walk past the mirror.

There are numerous passages like this one where Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell all of his possessions, or similarly where He tells a parable in which the unnamed rich man finds himself in Hell, while the poor, yet identified Lazarus finds himself in Heaven. One might wonder if the likes of Jeremiah Wright are correct in their assumption that God does in fact favor the poor.

But I cannot ignore the Old Testament Heroes like Job, Abraham, David, and Solomon. These guys were filthy rich, and they were blessed so because of their “righteousness,” or more accurately, their faith. And I find many places in scripture that speak of riches as a good thing (Proverbs 10:22), or even “the answer for everything.” (Ecclesiastes 10:19)

Furthermore, if God owns everything, in reality we are all poor. Perhaps it’s not the almighty dollar that is the problem, but the pride that sees it as such. It’s not our bulging wallets, but our egos that strain the pockets that hold it. When we think of ourselves as “rich,” not lacking in anything and in need of nothing, we cease our dependency on the one that truly provides “our daily bread.” Truth is, without Him we not only would be without our next meal, but without our next breath.

I think I finally understand what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are the Meek.” Our tendency is to measure ourselves back to back to other men. It is, after all, easy to feel tall when using such a small ruler. But when we evaluate our stature with the divine, we conclude a drastically different size However, to do so requires a more prostrate position.

Traffic

2008-09-29T18:09:00.000-04:00

I've never met a person that liked to be in traffic. The forced pressure of patience that few possess tends to boil like molten lava within the chest, until it erupts into violent outbreaks of spastic fits, which if seen out of context could be viewed as mental instability.

What's most interesting is our relative view of "traffic." For some it's a parking lot of ten thousand cars on an eight-lane interstate. For others, like myself who tend to pass more cows than cars, traffic may consist of a single passenger automobile that has their time clock eighteen hours slow on a Monday morning, and have decided to treat a four way stop as an opportunity to rethink their entire direction in life.

I shouldn't complain... I've concluded I'm in the same position.

I want so desperately to discover God's will for my life, yet I find myself stalled at intersections with a chorus of horns attempting to motivate me onward. I have often found that the thing I can't seem to forget, yet loath to do, is usually the next step God wants me to take. Unfortunately, this realization is more often a reminder of my disobedience rather than the green light that releases me from inaction.

There are those that encourage defensive driving and caution us "not to rush into anything." However, I find myself over-thinking my options, trying to construct some legitimate excuse to why I should turn left when I'm fully aware God is whispering from the right. Erwin McManus notes this "lag time," as the truest indicator of our faith. I hope my delay hasn't shriveled my faith beyond the required mustard seed. Perhaps its finally time I just turn on my blinker and step on the gas before a rear-end collision forces me out into the intersection.

Good Eats

2008-09-28T20:38:00.000-04:00

Today Stephanie, Elijah, and I went to a family reunion. Except for my parents, we are so distantly connected to anyone else there, that we can scarcely be called relatives. But regardless of distance in blood lines, the event is one of the best Sunday lunches we have all year. Rows and rows of home cooked dishes and deserts, as well as the staple box of Kentucky fried chicken. I personally love buffets, mainly due to the fact I love variety. With a buffet you can have a little of everything, and avoid the half-an-hour of indecision while perusing a menu (especially those with pictures).

But there’s something to be said of this eat-out culture. Whether all-you-can-eat or fix-to-order, we have shied from a home cooked meal that we all share in, and have gravitated towards a pick-and-choose lifestyle. Forget about green beans and spinach that mom used to make, I just want a baked potato and some macaroni and cheese (which is a vegetable in the south). Why must I learn to appreciate what you like when I can choose my own meal?

I wonder if that is now the way this culture approaches God and religion. Forget about the carefully prepared doctrines and disciplines served to us from a generation past, I want the flexibility of my own custom spirituality buffet. Leave out the monotonous daily scripture devotions; I prefer to just soak God up through spontaneous meditation. I don’t like a God of righteousness that sometimes leaves my stomach upset; I’ll just take a God of love that gratifies my sweet tooth.

I keep concluding that so many “Christians” today have left their parents table with a bad taste in their mouth. But instead of seasoning the blandness of the traditions, they’ve abandoned wholesome nutrition altogether and chosen to get their spiritual food from a misguided generation’s to-go menu.

Hurricane Discomfort

2008-09-20T15:09:00.000-04:00

If you are in the United States and have watched or read any news on Hurricane Ike, you know about the devastation it left in Galveston, Texas. Last time I checked, 17 people have been confirmed dead in the aftermath of this storm. But how much reporting has been done on the country of Haiti, which Ike left in ruin on its way to the Gulf? The death toll there has risen to over 500, and those that are still alive have been without shelter (not just a home) and food for weeks. But how many of us think much about that? Truth be told, I think very little about those victims in Texas. Perhaps if it had taken place in Georgia, I would be more troubled by nature’s fury. Maybe not. It is not the loss of life, nor the damage to property that concerns me. I am much more bothered by the rising gas prices that are the result of damaged refineries in the Gulf. My thoughts and prayers are more anchored in the reality of the tightening choke-hold from my budget that threaten my own comfort, rather than the removed atrocities that are afflicting people I’ve never met.

And then I wonder, how is it that I am ever able to conclude that I am a good person?

Pretty Colors?

2008-09-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite books is Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was a brilliant man, and his stories are so rich with symbolism and nuggets of poetic thought. One scene in particular is when Gandalf goes to Saruman (I’ll never understand why Tolkien named this wizard a name so similar to the Dark Lord Sauron—it’s confusing) after being summoned, only to discover the white wizard had turned. Gandalf relates his encounter:

“For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!”
I looked then and saw that his robes, which had seemed white, were not so, but were woven of all colours, and if he moved they shimmered and changed hue so that the eye was bewildered.
“I liked white better,” I said.
“White!” he sneered. “It serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white pages can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken.”
“In which case it is no longer white,” said I. “And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.”

My conclusion is that it’s easy to be enticed by the likes of Pleasantville, to try and rationalize our desire for the delectable flavor of sin. It’s more glamorous to believe in our own inner light, our own path, our own paradise that we create with fantasies of absolute comfort. It’s the draw of the drug-induced, tie-dye hallucinations that pull us away from rigid rules of black and white morality. There’s less friction with perfume lubed “love” than with the stark white righteousness that makes us uncomfortably aware our stench of evil. If we must believe in a God, let’s reduce Him to our level. A God who is superior to us requires an amount of humility and surrender that most are unwilling to give. For inherent in surrender is submission and repentance, two words that our pride inhibits us from digesting.

Something old, something new, something borrowed.

2008-09-13T09:54:00.000-04:00

I love books, but one might wonder if I like having them more than reading them if they were to observe the vast number on my bookshelves that are still waiting to be read. I possess many books that are brand new, and many that are well worn, and a few that aren’t really mine at all—they’re borrowed. And come to think of it, there are a few that are missing. Those books would fall into the category of “lent out and never returned.” I can’t complain too much when I find myself in this hypocritical state, but what I do find to be obnoxious is when the borrower has lent the item to third person as if it were theirs to loan. Because what happens when that third person misplaces it and confesses to the original borrower who freely states, “forget about it.” Wait a minute, that’s not his offense to forgive!

But when I really consider this, it’s not mine either. In fact, nothing I possess is mine; not my house, not my car, not even my family or my very life. It’s all God’s. He made it. He owns it. So how can I forgive any kind of offense, when really none can be done to me?

I imagine that’s why people were so upset when Jesus forgave the paralytic man. He was claiming to be God in the very statement, “You’re sins are forgiven,” for forgiveness can only come from God. For forgiveness may be given, but it’s not free. God had to absorb the cost.

Paul Washer says it this way, "Who, but God has life to lay down. Every other life is borrowed. God IS Life, the very SOURCE we get it from."

Does this not speak volumes to the value of Christ, and our lack of it in comparison? For although billions on billions of people have walked the Earth and committed countless offenses to God, Jesus took them all on, and His life was payment enough for each and every sin. Or do we simply forget the magnitude of our own rebellion?

In conclusion, I must remember that my life is not my own. Not the old life, nor the new. It all comes from God. It’s all borrowed.

Game Rules

2008-09-13T09:05:00.000-04:00

When I was a kid, I would often invent my own games. And although I would have defined the rules before testing the “funability,” on willing participants, I would often fail to communicate all said rules, and then suddenly remember one as we were playing. I would then be blamed for cheating and changing the rules in my favor. But I have to wonder, if it’s my game, why couldn’t I have changed the rules? There was no rule in the game that stated the rules had to remain fixed. Besides, how could I be cheating? I made the rules.

So I was thinking the other day about how people want to take the Ten Commandments down from our government buildings, how that supposedly is a conflict of separation of church and state. Somehow I don’t think that’s what the founding fathers had in mind.

Historically, monarchy has been the preferred form of government. And in a monarchy, the king writes the laws. Some may say these “governments” were often terribly corrupt. But I don’t see how. It was the king’s game. He made the rules, so how could it be cheating?

But this country, especially in its inception, was unique. For the government decided that they were playing someone else’s game, ascribing “inalienable rights” to its citizens. Even though government still held great power, it was under a greater authority: God.

But what if there are some who don’t believe in God? So what. There are also some who don’t believe in gravity, but that doesn’t keep them from falling to the ground when they trip. Truth is truth. Without God, man becomes the measure of all things. And then there is no such thing as right and wrong. Naturalism then leads to this type of thinking: “Equality is a herd mentality,” said Nietzsche.

We follow too closely to the teachings of the Greeks that came incredibly close to the truth. We talk of value and virtue, but without God, we have no foundation to stand on. We’re just making up our own rules. And those rules can be changed.

Ravi Zacharias said it this way. “The Hebrews are the ones that told us, "I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me." Morality for the Hebrews was based inextricably on the person of God. Which means morality and personhood are inseparable. It's not just an idea, but the essence [of who we are]."

In conclusion, we must always remember (especially those in government), that we’re playing someone else’s “game.” We don’t really make the rules. And we must remember that morality is not just a set of rules that God made up, but is intrinsically attached to who He is. And if we are made in His image, then the same applies to us. Morality is what makes us human. To deny its importance or even its existence is to reject the very fabric of our being.

Thoughts on Hell

2008-08-30T12:47:00.001-04:00

I'm skeptical of any man that doesn't believe in hell. And I'm also more skeptical of any man that says he doesn't want to believe in a hell.

I heard on the news a while back that some man and his father took turns brutally sexually assaulting a little five year old boy while the mother of the man watched; then they strangled the little boy and threw his body in a garbage bag.

I want that man and his parents to go to hell. I believe my God to be one of justice, and that He will punish evil. We must realize that it is the fact that God is love that makes Hell necessary. "Hell," as E.L. Mascall once said, "is not compatible with God's love; it is a direct consequence of it." To love one thing, we must hate another. To love children, I must hate abortion. To love good, I must hate evil. God is not just loving, but righteous and good. And how could good tolerate even an ounce of evil?

"What hell is, we know not; only this we know, that there is such a sure and certain place." -Martin Luther.

After reading Luke 16 and discussing it with friends, I have come to the conclusion that for those who do go to Hell, they must be aware of God. Eternity for them is the agony and anguish of knowing they will never enter into the presence of the one thing that would satisfy them. They won’t argue with God, but will know that this is what they deserve. But they’ll know, and they’ll recognize that Jesus is Lord.

But you’ve seen Hell. I’ve seen Hell. If you’ve encountered a broken home, cancer, a tragic death, you’ve caught a glimpse of reality without God.

John Piper puts it this way. "Who in this world sheds tears because of the repugnance and horror and the dishonor done to God because of their sin? Nobody. How is God to speak when we are so morally dead, so spiritually blind that the ultimate moral ugliness of this world phases us not one bit. 'This they can feel,' says God. 'Pain they can feel. So I will subject the whole creation with futility until they get the message that SIN IS HORRIBLE!' Diseases and Deformities are God's portraits of what sin is like in the spiritual realm. Calamities are God's previews of what sin deserves."

But before "I" can condemn, I must remember what Paul said.
“…you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1)

I am under the same law that I appeal to for Justice, and that I am also guilty of great evil. The problem is not how could a loving God send anyone to Hell, the problem is how could God not send EVERYONE to Hell?

That's when I realize how great the good news of the Gospel message is.

Thoughts on the Emergent...

2008-08-30T09:08:00.000-04:00

Although I think much of the Emergent movement has definitely taken their questions to the extreme, I believe Rob Bell hit on something: "Heaven is full of forgiven people. Hell is full of forgiven people." The Bible does tell us, "While we were yet sinners Christ died for us." In a sense, every human on this Earth has already been forgiven of his or her sins... (bear with me for a second) but that does NOT mean we opt-out as Spencer Burke says (author of “A Heretics Guide to Eternity” very much the heretical, post-modern, universalistic muddle of a book).

I believe very strongly humanity is deprived, and headed for eternal separation from God. But I also think Burke hit on something when he argued the paradox that Christianity teaches when we say that Grace is a free gift but that we must say a particular prayer to receive it. Apparently saying a prayer means we still must DO something. I would point out that even Paul Washer (a Baptist missionary who is VERY Biblically sound) preaches that it is unbiblical to say that all you have to do is "say a prayer and ask Jesus into your heart." But perhaps we might make the statement that Grace is not entirely free in the sense it costs us nothing.

But I think the problem here is much deeper than semantics. People have begun fleeing the Church, and I have to wonder: what has caused so many people to abandon not only the “institution” (as an organized group is so lovingly referred to), but the doctrines of the faith. I wonder if it’s because we simply are confused as to what “belief” really is. We have inadvertently preached a message that all you have to do is “acknowledge” a truth. But just as a politician can acknowledge his opposition to warm our hearts, saying that “Jesus is Lord” or “Jesus died for my sins,” is nothing more than empty fluff if not backed by evidence, or as James calls it, “works.”

"But if we are already forgiven, why would anyone go to hell?" one might ask. The Bible does tell us the only sin that will not be forgiven, is blasphemy of the spirit. But what might this mean? Perhaps this is what Paul was talking about in Romans when he said, "They traded the TRUTH of God for a lie, and worshiped created things rather than the creator." It's the sin that Adam and Eve fell into: calling God a liar. It's the sin of Satan. If Satan is roaming the Earth, and has really not experienced ultimate separation from God (Hell) himself, could it be that Satan believes he can be his own god... that even though God says "You have no life apart from me," Satan (and all of humanity) has said, "I'd be better off without you"?

We often forget who God really is. He is a not just a God of love, but a God of Righteousness and Holiness and Justice. And we must not forget, it’s God who defines these things, not us. Too often, wayward Christians and borderline believers have allowed our true enemy (“for our battle is not against flesh and blood”) to deceive them into creating their own image of god. They have traded the truth for a lie, creating a god that is all love (as they define it), all forgiving (no one is going to hell), and all completely utterly ridiculous.

I equate it to a marriage relationship. I do not want my wife to marry me and spend a lifetime with me because she like the idea of a husband, or thought of me as another man. No matter how much I love her, I want her to spend her life with me if she loves ME! Who I am. Likewise, God doesn’t want people to spend eternity with him who simply like the idea of Supreme Being, nor even an “alternative,” “redefined,” “re-created” view if Him. No, God wants to spend eternity with those who want to spend eternity with Him.

Could it be that we are all already forgiven of our rebellion, God tells us over and over in his word that He has already made us a way. But our part is not so much to DO something, even pray a prayer... but BELIEVE! Truly, utterly, deeply, BELIEVE that our sins have been forgiven. If you truly believe something, especially something of this magnitude: it will transform you.

Craig Groeschel from LifeChurch said the other week, "If we REALLY believed in Hell... my life would reflect it." He tells of the story of Charles Peace, a convicted felon who was witnessed to before serving his death sentence. His reply to the chaplain who shared with him the message of Jesus:

"Sir, I do not share your faith. But if I did - if I believed what you say you believed - then although England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would crawl the length and breadth of it on hand and knee and think the pain worthwhile, just to save a single soul from this eternal hell of which you speak."  –Charles Peace

The problem in the Church, is that we have a lot of people, who really don't BELIEVE that Jesus died for their sins. And even if we acknowledge the fact he SAVED us, do we understand what He has saved us from?

The Bible teaches us that being living sacrifices, living a life of gratitude, is why we do everything we do. We don't try to be perfect, live a life of holiness in order to win God's favor. We do it because we BELIEVE we have been forgiven (Thus also believe we sinned in the first place and repent), and live a life of THANKFULNESS in return. That, I believe, is the Gospel message.