The Wardrobe Door

Being good is not enough, it never has been

2012-02-16T07:35:00.000-05:00

The Rich Young Ruler. Anyone who has grown up in church knows the story. The rich guy comes to Jesus and wants to know what he has to do to get eternal life.

Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. The guy claims he's keep all those, but something's still not there.

Jesus says go sell all your stuff and give it to the poor. The rich guy leaves sad because he loves his stuff.

The lesson being - don't love stuff. Right? Yes, but ...

There is more at work in the conversation between the rich young ruler and Jesus than simply an admonishment against materialism. Unknowingly, the man seeking Jesus' answer to his dilemma has answered much of his own question. Inadvertently, he has shown what is lacking in his attempts to gain salvation.

His questions give away the answer.

Photo from Sxc.hu by J. Henning Buchholz

What good thing must I do to gain eternal life? (Matthew 19:16)

His first question has the right goal and is asked to the right person. Life after death is a question and a longing of humanity since the beginning. Jesus is exactly the person to speak to about the issue.

The question still has a significant flaw. He limits the answers Jesus can give to what good thing he can do. He comes with the assumption that eternal life can be gained by doing something good. What will we find, however, is that underneath it all, the rich young ruler recognizes that there is more to it than that.

Which ones? (Matthew 19:18)

Jesus responds that he should obey the commandments to gain the life he is seeking. On the surface, Jesus' answer seems to betray the point of my post and the entire doctrine of salvation by grace. Yet, salvation can theoretically be obtained by obedience to the Old Testament law. You simply have to obey them all, completely, your entire life, as Jesus did.

The man's follow up question indicates that he is looking for something more specific. He could get "obey the commandments" from any Jewish rabbi. For some reason, he thinks Jesus is different and has real knowledge that the others lack. He wants it narrowed down for him, so he can focus on the specific command that will bring eternal life.

I've done all these things; what else do I lack? (Matthew 19:20)

The standard and obvious way to look at this question is to assume the guy is being a bit ... prideful. Jesus gives him a list of Old Testament commands (strikingly all dealing with our love for others, not our love for God) and he responds that he's done those already. Obviously, he has not fully kept those laws. No one, outside of the One he is speaking to, has. I want you, however, to look at his question - what else do I lack?

He says that he has kept those commandments. He has loved others as he has loved himself (even though Jesus is about to demonstrate that he has, in fact, not done that because he refuses to give his possessions to the poor). But something is still missing.

He recognized that something was still missing beyond his observance of Jewish law. Being good is not enough because being good is not perfect. Eternal life requires perfection and you and I don't meet that standard.

The rich young ruler believed he met the Old Testament standard of righteousness. He believed that he had been loving others as himself and keeping all the commandments. He believed a lie. He may have been good, but he wasn't good enough and he knew.

You and I know it, too. Sure, we think we are pretty decent folk. We can look around and find all sorts of people that behave worse than us. We feel like we love others as much as is reasonable. But, if we are honest, we know that it takes more.

Like the rich young ruler, we want to come to Jesus and have him give us one magic command that we can follow and gain eternal life, earn salvation. But just like the rich young ruler, we deceive ourselves about our own goodness and still recognize that we aren't there yet.

Think of your life. You know you aren't there. You realize you've done some things that you aren't proud of. Yes, I know everyone else has done some of those things, too. But that's really the point. We have all messed up and none of us will ever do enough to earn salvation. Sound familiar?

The rich young ruler didn't have to walk away sad. He could have gain salvation by changing his questions to find the right answer. You and I are the same. Salvation is here, but you will never gain it by doing good things. You can only gain it by acknowledging that you aren't good enough and you need Christ to save you.

For Christians, we have to live in the fact that our salvation does not come from our works, our works come from our salvation. For those who are not Christian, you have to realize that no matter how hard you try, you will never be good enough. Something inside of you will always be asking, "what more do I lack?"

If you have any questions, click on the box in the top, right corner that says "The Story" or click here. I would also love to talk with you, as well. You can email me at wardrobedoor@gmail.com.

Jesus' Old Testament words

2012-02-15T06:30:00.000-05:00

Right now, if it has not been obvious from the subject matter of many of my recent posts, I'm working on reading the Bible through in a year with some Old Testament chapters and part of a New Testament chapter each day.

Recently, I struggled reading a difficult passage in the Old Testament about rules for slavery and other seemingly obscure commands given to ancient Israel. What do I do with those passages? How do I treat them?

Some would say, "The Old Testament is done with. Ignore it." My position on that should be perfectly clear. Not recognizing abandonment as a viable solution, what do we do with the Old Testament?

I was reminded of the first step, when I moved to my New Testament reading for the day. It started off with, "When Jesus had finished saying these things."

This phone may be old, but it can still work. Photo from RGBstock.com by Jean Scheijen

In Matthew 18, Jesus is responding to questions from his disciples about greatness according to God's standards and how often one has to forgive another. Following this, Matthew 19 describes Jesus relocating from Galilee to Judea and interacting with the Pharisees.

The first verse of my reading, following the difficult Old Testament passage, was Matthew 19:1. It begins, "When Jesus had finished saying these things." While I recognize that the doctrine of inspiration does not extend to the selection of specific passages for yearly reading programs, God did use the confluence of those verses to remind me of an important truth.

As part of the Trinitarian Godhead, every single Old Testament commandment comes from Jesus. Let me repeat that so there is no misunderstanding, you will not find a command in the Old Testament that Jesus, as a Person in the Trinity, did not give.

So often, people want to split the New Testament and the Old Testament. Many seek to make the divide explicit by pitting the New Testament and Jesus' words against the Old Testament and Yahweh's commands. Often times, liberal Christians will lay claim to (certain) teachings of Jesus and argue those are opposed to Old Testament teachings.

They are not the only ones, however, to draw up dividing lines between the two portions of the Christian Bible. Many conservative Christians will unwittingly see the Old and the New Testaments as being in conflict with one another, as if Jesus is God 2.0.

Jesus, himself, said that He did not come to abolish the Old Testament, but to fulfill it. After His resurrection, He explained to the disciples on the road how, from Moses to the Prophets, all the Scriptures pointed to Him.

Often times, as Christians living on this side of the cross and thousands of years removed from the Old Testament events and writings, it can be difficult to see the relevance and value of those writings. We should also remember, however, that those words as just as much the words of Jesus as John 3:16 or any of his New Testament parables.

Ultimately, they reflect the character and nature of our Triune God and are, therefore, worthy of our attention, respect and study. They may be older, but they are not any less true.

Humor: Top 10 Christian pick-up lines

2012-02-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Valentines Day is always fun here at Wardrobe Door. Last year, I gave you the top 5 Christian Valentines Day gifts (that you should never buy). I also put together some sweet Christian conversation hearts ("sweet," get it?). Those are well and good for the person in a relationship. but what about single Christians?

Not every Christian is married or in a dating ... uh, I mean ... courting relationship. Some of them are still trying to find that special person. What about them? This year, I've got you covered. I've scoured the internet and racked my own brain to give you the top 10 Christian pick up lines. That's right singles. Usually I do a top 5, but for you - double it!

With that being said, use at your own risk. I will accept no blame for flaming crashes in attempts at these lines. I will, however, bask in your thankfulness (and perhaps, cash donations), if you use these and end up in a loving marriage. But let's be honest, if you are resorting to using these ... chances aren't good.

Photo from Blogger

10. Do you believe in laying on hands, because I sure do?

9. You need to buy an indulgence, because it's a sin to look as good as you do.

8. I'd move to Egypt to be your slave.

7. Is your name Esther, because you and me were made for such a time as this?

6. Be my Bathsheba, except, you know, the whole peeping tom, adultery and
murder thing.

5. I'm predestined to ask you out and you were predestined to say "Yes."

4. I've been saving my love offering for you.

3. I was reading the book of Numbers and I noticed I didn't have yours.

2. I don't believe in sprinkling, because you were dunked in hotness.

1. Does your WWJD stand for "Who Would Jesus want you to Date," because I'm
pretty sure that's me?

_________________________________

What other Christian pick-up lines have you heard? If you have had someone use one on you, please share that. If you had a .... um .... "friend" use a Christian pick-up line, I would love for you to share what your "friend" said and if it actually worked for your "friend." Would anybody be honest and admit that any type of pick-up line actually worked with you?

Victoria finally keeps a secret: model quits for her marriage

2012-02-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure most women understand how difficult it is for men, who are trying to trying to avoid temptation, to walk through a mall. Not only are there women and girls dressing provocatively, there is the ubiquitous Victoria's Secret store with displays that push boundaries of decency.

One young lady may actually have understood the potential hazards of scantily clad Victoria's Secret models. Kylie Bisutti, 21, has taken a stand for modesty, her husband and her faith by becoming a former Victoria's Secret model.

Former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, photo from peru21.pe

Shortly after she was married, Bisutti beat out 10,000 other beautiful women to win the 2009 Victoria's Secret Model Search. After reaching her "biggest dream" of becoming a model for the world famous lingerie company, Bisutti said she loved the modeling "while I was there, it was so much fun and I had a blast."

It was not long after she achieved what she called the biggest goal in her life that she began to have doubts about what she was doing, as a Christian and as a wife. "It wasn't all that I thought it would be," said Bisutti. "... the more I was modeling lingerie, and lingerie isn't clothing, I just started becoming more uncomfortable with it because of my faith. I'm Christian, and reading the Bible more, I was becoming more convicted about it.”

Part of what made Bisutti reconsider was her relationship to her new husband. “My body should only be for my husband and it's just a sacred thing," she said. Seeing the things that were a part of her lifestyle as a lingerie model caused her to think about the impact it could have on her marriage. "I just wanted to keep my marriage sacred because divorce rates now in America are pretty high, and I just want to do everything I can to keep my marriage special.”

In order to honor her husband and her faith, Bisutti walked away from the opportunity of a lifetime and quit modeling for Victoria's Secret. She said she did not want to send the message to young girls that parading around in lingerie in front of men was acceptable.

One of the more shocking things about her taking this stance has been the reaction. Many questioned her intelligence for "throwing away" the money she could earn as a Victoria's Secret model. Other's asserted that she made this change merely as a publicity stunt. One questioned her ability to communicate, not recognizing the Christian use of the word "convicted." Some even said that it was foolish to discard her career for her husband.

Isn't it odd that so many to be pluralist and not force their morality on others, yet here this young lady made a personal, faith-based decision and she faces ridicule? Feminist will decry the over-sexualization of our culture and the objectification of women, but they lambast this woman because part of her motivation is her husband and the strength of her marriage.

It takes strength to admit that you were wrong in a previous decision. It takes courage and conviction to stand up for your beliefs even though it will cost you financially and perhaps in other ways. After the news of the Komen Foundation buckling under pressure from the abortion-friendly media, it is striking to see someone this young make such a difficult, but needed, decision.

UPDATE: Here is Kylie Bisutti in her own words on why she "quit being a Victoria's Secret model to become a Proverbs 31 wife."

The forgetfulness of sin

2012-02-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

I have a tendency to forget ... my wife reminds me of this fact.

It's not intentional, but important information slips my mind. Even though I can remember useless random trivia facts, I have to double check before I give someone my phone number.

The Israelites had a gigantic mental slip as they began their journey away from Egypt. Somehow along they way, they had forgotten what life was like in Egypt and began to long for a live of servitude again.

When we step out in faith to follow God in obedience, our memory often becomes hazy. We tend to glorify the circumstances of past, while harshly judging our present situation.

Illustration from Sxc.hu by Billy Alexander

In Exodus 14, God leads the Israelites across the Red Sea on dry land, only to drown the pursuing Egyptian army. In Exodus 15, Moses and the Israelites praise God for His provision and care of them.

In Exodus 16:3, we get this:

The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by pots of meat and ate all the bread we wanted. Instead, you brought us into this wilderness to make this whole assembly die of hunger!”

Are they thinking about a different Egypt? Was there some Egyptian Olive Garden that they were able to hang out in eating never-ending bread sticks and pots of meat?

They had forgotten the suffering and pain that was the reality of their life in Egypt, because now they were out on their own and it had become difficult. They had left the life of a slave, but it was the only life they had ever known. Now with this new challenge in front of them, the difficulties of old circumstances disappeared from their minds.

Why do you think God commands the Israelites to remember so often? He wants them to remember how they were brought out from Egypt. He wants them to remember that they were slaves. God wants them to remember what life was like before, so they could recognize God's current provision.

An elephant may always remember, but a sinner never does.

We forget. We forget what sin was like. We forget what God has done already. We forget the pain that we experienced before. We forget who we really are.

When we keep our past in mind, however, it keeps our present in perspective. "Sure, following God in this new adventure is difficult, but I remember He was faithful before. I remember the times when I did not follow Him and the pain that came as a result."

Don't allow yourself to forget. Remember what God has done. Believe in what He's doing. Trust in what He will do.

Adoption movement recaptures early church distinctive

2012-02-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

Evidence of infanticide (the murdering of infants) in early Rome is staggering. A recent study published in an archeology journal focused on a site with around 100 bodies of babies all around the same age. They were not lovingly buried or even seemingly mourned, "but instead were cast into a sewer that ran beneath a brothel."

A letter dating from 1 B.C. records the wishes of a husband to his wife regarding the upcoming birth of their child:

If - good luck to you! - you bear offspring, if it is a male, let it live; if it is a female, expose it.

"Expose it" refers to the practice of exposure, where babies were left out somewhere like the sewer or the town dump to die, unless someone came by to take them in and care for them.

With the outbreak of Christianity in the Roman Empire, "someone" finally did start to show up to rescue these abandoned children. Christianity began to teach, as Judaism did prior, that infanticide was wrong. Early Christian writers, apologists and theologians began to speak out against the immoral practice. Not only did the early Church teach on the subject, however, they acted upon it.

Photo from RGBstock.com by J. Solis

Though it brought about numerous negative repercussions, the Christianization of the Roman Empire did bring about the beginning of the end of infanticide in the Western World. While virtually every significant, ancient civilization practiced infanticide prior to the Holy Roman Empire, Christianity brought about a change through consistent teaching and application of inherent value of human life, created in the image of God.

The recent increase in adoptions among Christians is a worthy step in recovering and recapturing one of the things that made early Christians distinct from their culture - a demonstrable recognizing of the worth of every human being.

It was not just that early Christians refused to engage in the killing of "unwanted" babies, those who were an undesired gender (usually girls) or had some physical defect. Christians began going out to the sites where infants were left to die and rescuing them.

Modern day Christians are not simply speaking out against abortion, they are not only acknowledging the commands to care for orphans, they are actively engaging in being consistently pro-life by adopting children who would otherwise be considered "unwanted."

A Christian adoption movement has become a recognized phenomenon, as multiple Christian adoption agencies have reported an increase in interest and actual adoptions. Numerous theologians and pastors, like Russell Moore, have been sounding the call for Christians to live out the Gospel through adoption. Anecdotally, I know of several families who are currently in the adoption process or have recently completed an adoption, while still having children biologically.

One could say this is a new trajectory of Christian life, seeking to practically live out theoretical commitments on the issue of life. It would be more accurate, however, to acknowledge this as a recapturing of an early church distinctive or a reclaiming of the heart many first century Christians had for the most helpless around them.

As I argued last week, understanding history is important for our faith. It can help us to maintain orthodoxy and confront heresy. History can show us areas where we have improved, but it can also remind us of areas where we once were making a difference in culture and have recently, for whatever reason, abrogated our duty.

Christians rescuing orphans from around the world to raise them in homes where they will be loved is nothing new. May we continue to grow in loving our neighbor, whether they live across the street or around the world, in exactly the way they need to be loved and in the manner to which Christ has called us to love them. May we love the orphan as only Christ in us can.

Are you a Pharisee? It's not always what you think it is

2012-02-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

The Pharisees. The agreed upon bad guys of the New Testament. We know about them. They are the legalistic, self-righteous, hypocritical, religious leaders of their day.

You don't want to be a pharisee, so don't be rules-oriented and don't forget to love others. That's all I need to worry about, isn't it? As long as I'm not a hypocritical legalist, I'm not a Pharisee, right?

Pharisees often did challenge Jesus on His failure to live up to their human additions to God's Old Testament law. That was not all that they did though. Occasionally, they also engaged in activities that you or I might do on a regular basis, while never suspecting that we are following in the footsteps of the Pharisees.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Lars Sundstrom

In Matthew 16, the Pharisees popped up yet again for another challenge. If nothing else, you have to give it to them for their tenacity and determination. They show up, thinking they have the question or the statement that is going to trip up Jesus, and every time they leave embarrassed and angry. If they were a cartoon villain, they would definitely be Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget. "I'll get you next time, Jesus. Next time!"

This time they forego all the questions and just go for something big - they are demanding He show them a sign. The strangest thing is not that Jesus has already performed numerous miracles, sometimes directly in front of the Pharisees. No, the strangest thing is that they've already tried this on Jesus one time before. In Matthew 12, they ask Jesus for a sign and He tells them the only sign they'll get is the sign of Jonah - Jesus will be the belly of the earth for three days. Yet, here they are again. "Show us a sign that you are from heaven."

So, Jesus responds that they are so adept at interpreting the signs of earthly events, looking at the sky to forecast the weather, but they can't see the spiritual signs right in front of them. They'll get the sign of Jonah, just like He has already told them, and that's it.

Have you ever told Jesus to give you a sign? Be honest.

I'm not speaking of praying and asking God to give you direction and guidance, I'm talking about trying to take passages like Gideon in the Old Testament and use that as an excuse for not following God in obedience.

Well, God, if I flip this coin and it lands on heads, I'll know you want me to do this.

If I read my Bible and the first name I come across starts with a "B," that will let me know You are with me.

Does God sometimes give us unusual signs in our lives as part of his guidance? Sure. Does He always? No. How about most of the time? Nope.

Just like Jesus had already performed miracles and taught with authority in front of the Pharisees, more often than not, God has already given us all the signs we need to follow Him in obedience.

Most of the time, it's not a matter of needing more information from God, it's a matter of acting on the information He has given us. We like to use the sign request as an excuse to delay obedience or ignore commands.

Often times, we know what we should do. God have given us clear instructions in His word or the Holy Spirit has worked in our lives to give us a sense of peace or leading in a certain direction. We just don't feel like stepping out there right now, so we say we "just want to be really clear" and ask God to give us some additional special, heavenly sign.

The Pharisees saw Jesus preach, teach, heal, serve, live and love. God was very clear in His word. This man was the Messiah. But they didn't want to believe it. Their comfortable life would be upset, if this man was the Son of God. It's not that they wouldn't follow God's Messiah, but they just wanted a sign to be sure. Is that too much to ask? Just one sign ...

We might not be a Pharisee in terms of demanding others live by our absurdly high behavioral standards, but we might be a Pharisee in demanding God give us an additional sign before we recognize His work and direction in our lives.

Are you a Pharisee? If I'm honest, I've been one far more often than I'd like.

Humor: Top 5 Christian alternatives to Groundhog Day

2012-02-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Christians always complain about the evil that comes along with Halloween. There is another holiday, however, that subtly offers believers a false gospel - Groundhog Day. Sure, the little, chubby land beaver looks cute, but lurking behind those beady eyes lies a sinister plot to undermine the Christian faith.

Who controls our weather and the lengths of our seasons? It is most assuredly not Mother Nature, a groundhog named Phil, a beaver named Bill or a hedgehog named Sonic. It is God, Himself.

Why would we stoop so low as to believe some animal popping his head out of his hole and seeing his shadow or not will predict our future weather? The appropriate response to seeing an animal stick his head out of his home is to shoot it and cook it, preferably deep fried.

We should be concentrating at least some of our made-up holiday to counteract an ingrained secular holiday energy on Groundhog Day. We've got to make sure that our children don't one day bow down to a golden groundhog erected by the mayor of Punxsutawney, PA. With that tragic future image in mind, here are the top 5 Christian alternatives to Groundhog Day.

"I'm hiding my wife and my kids. The Christians are coming." Photo from Sxc.hu.

5. Come Forward Day - The pastor has given a very evangelistic sermon. He is expecting people to come forward and make a profession of faith. He's counting on the music minister to choose the right song for the moment. The local reporters are gathered, eagerly awaiting the hymn announcement to inform the viewing public just how much longer they can expect the service to go on.

Come Forward Day rule: If the music minister picks "Just As I Am" as the invitational hymn, the service will last 15 extra minutes.

4. Head Banger Day - The joys of being extremely young or extremely old, you can eat snacks and take naps during church. That's all well and good until someone drifts off with their head titled back. Their snores grow louder and louder as they go deeper and deeper into dreamland, until something tilts their head forward and *bam* it hits the pew. Just hope it doesn't happen during the Lord's Supper or they'll be six more weeks of cleaning the carpet.

Head Banger Day rule: If the someone falls asleep and bangs their head on the pew, in order to keep anymore from drifting off, the pastor will turn his microphone up to eleven.

3. Buffet Day - The mad rush to the restaurants after Sunday services are bad enough, but if Golden Corral is having a special or sent out coupons in the morning paper, things could get ugly. Sacrifices have to be made to make this celebration work. No one wants to get there last. The golf playing heathens get the first shot at it. After that, which ever church dismisses first will have the poll position for the steak carving line.

Buffet Day Rule: If Golden Corral is having a Sunday lunch special, the pastor will only let the worship leader do one song.

2. Angry Deacon Day - This would be very similar to Groundhog Day, except you replace the cute groundhog with an angry, bitter, disgruntled deacon. In both holidays, however, you are hoping that you don't see the shadow. A groundhog shadow means six more weeks of winter. Seeing the deacon's shadow means a night full of off-topic rants and questions about why we put new carpet down ... in 1993.

Angry Deacon Day rule: If the angry deacon doesn't show up, the business conference will only last 5 minutes.

1. Survival Day - When you have a rotation for children's church teachers, it helps to spread out the work and involve more church members. If the pastor's wife is one of the teachers, it also assures you at least one Sunday of the quickest sermon ever. It only takes once for her to be stuck in Goldfish cracker purgatory during a long service, for the message to be delivered loud and clear that afternoon. It's called Survival Day because the pastor wants to survive, he knows what he has to do.

Survival Day rule: If the pastor's wife is in children's church, the sermon will not be longer than 10 minutes.

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What other Christian alternatives to Groundhog Day can you think of? What other holiday needs to have a Christian version of it?

Do we need more than the Holy Spirit & our Bible for theology?

2012-02-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

It sounds so godly. Why would the Christian need anything more than the Holy Spirit living inside and God's word to direct his theological studies?

After all, God is the Author of the Bible. Now, as a believer, He is dwelling inside of you. That should give you everything that you need. To say anything else would be to diminish God, His word and His work in your life. Right?

Despite the pious sound of the sentiment, it is the height of arrogance and ungodly pride to declare that you need nothing more than the the Holy Spirit and the Bible for theology. Why? You are forgetting you.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Sanja Gjenero

Unlike upwards of 80% of American households, we do not have cable or satellite TV in our home. That's not a moral decision we made, it is a purely financial one. Therefore, if we want to watch something on television, we watch broadcast TV. Let me use this as an example to demonstrate my point about arrogance.

The federally mandated switch to digital TV has not been a popular decision at our house. Prior to digital TV, if the station wasn't picking up perfectly, it could be a little fuzzy or not perfectly clear, but you could watch it.

Now, the screen blacks out, freezes and any number of other things making it all but impossible to watch anything unless the signal is picking up perfectly. The further you are away from the digital towers and the cheaper you digital antenna, the worse your signal will be.

The person (or isolated individual church) who relies on "nothing but the Holy Spirit and the Bible" for their theology is like the home with digital TV, but having no idea how it is supposed to look. If you've never seen cable or you've never watched a channel that came through clearly, you would have no idea that your signal was not working properly. You have nothing with which to compare it.

The person with only the Bible and the Holy Spirit is forgetting that they have to be able to completely trust their antenna, themselves. Does anyone want to argue that they are perfect? Because that's what it would take to be the perfect antenna. You would have to be perfectly, without fault, tuned into God and His desires. If you are operating by yourself, you would have to be without need of the Savior to perfectly hear from the Savior. This is what I mean by that stance requiring the height of arrogance.

When you say you don't need other churches or church history to help you with your biblical interpretation or your theology, you are in essence arguing that the Holy Spirit does not operate outside of you. Has God not been at work in His church since its founding? Is He not at work in His church now?

Do you know where those who answer "no" end up at? Cults. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. They all argue that much of church history is wrong and that God wasn't working in those, so He has to restart it all with their teaching. When you have no checks and balances of church history and other Christians and churches in your life or the life of your church family, you end up in cult territory.

Look at a completely isolated church like Westboro Baptist. They accept no influence from the outside, either form the past or the present. They have become a family cult, preaching a false gospel. No one can speak truth into their lives because everyone outside of their circle is considered apostate.

Has the church made mistakes in church history? Yes, plenty. But you can learn from those. When you totally ignore church history, you don't cut yourself off from the mistakes others made. You remove yourself from recognizing how to fix them. Throughout history, the church has dealt with various types of heresies and false teaching. By disregarding what they've done, you open ourselves up to the same temptations to which past Christians succumbed.

This was one of the pitfalls that C.S. Lewis observed so well. In "Learning and War-Time," he wrote:

Most of all, perhaps, we need intimate knowledge of the past. Not that the past has any magic about it, but because we cannot study the future, and yet need something to set against the present, to remind us that the basic assumptions have been quite different in different periods and that much which seems certain to the uneducated is merely temporary fashion.

Isolating yourself from the past and others, does not speak to an increased faith in the Holy Spirit to communicate through God's word. Rather, it communicates an increased pride that believes it, alone, can clearly hear what God is saying.

That is a very dangerous place to set oneself, as the sole mediator between God and man. It is a very dangerous place because it belongs to Someone else.

The Christian should spend time alone with God's word and listening to the Holy Spirit speak, but he cannot assume the arrogant position that he is the only one who has ever done or is doing it now. That's not pious, that's prideful and God will not honor it.

The repentance that earns death

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

A parent can always tell.

There are those moments when one (or more likely - both) of my sons have done something wrong and the words, "I'm sorry, Daddy" come out of their mouth, but I know the unspoken part of that sentence. What they really mean is "I'm sorry I got caught, Daddy."

There are times when they are genuinely remorseful for disobeying. There are other times, however, when they know they are going to get disciplined and they are only sorry about the soon coming punishment. A parent can always tell the difference.

Even more so, God the Father recognizes when we truly regret committing a sin and when we are only truly sorry that punishment is taking place. Pharaoh thought he could fool God to end the punishment. But God knew and Pharaoh would pay dearly for his false repentance.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Dominic Morel

Moses had met with Yahweh, the Great I AM, in the burning bush. He has been commanded to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the Israelites go free so that they could worship God. When he refused, God worked through Moses to bring plagues to bear on Egypt.

Eventually, it all became too much for Pharaoh. After the seventh plague, a ferocious hail and lightning storm, the leader of the world's most powerful civilization humbled himself before God. He acknowledged God's righteousness and power. He spoke of his sin and agreed to release the Israelites.

Pharaoh told Moses: "I have sinned this time. Yahweh is the Righteous One, and I and my people are the guilty ones. Make an appeal to Yahweh. There has been enough of God’s thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t need to stay any longer.”

That seems remorseful. It seems genuine. He acknowledges his own sin and guilt. He recognizes God's sovereignty and righteousness. Pharaoh agrees to God's demands. This appears to be the what Moses was after the whole time.

But the Father always knows.

Pharaoh was never going to let them go - at least not yet. He was still too prideful. He had not reached the lowest point. So as soon as the crisis was over, Pharaoh went back to his old self - showing his true heart.

His "repentance" was fake repentance. It was a big production. He made a show of it. All the right words were said, but the heart had never changed. He was sorry God was punishing him. He wasn't sorry for his sin. The life of Pharaoh was the narrative form of 2 Corinthians 7:10.

For godly grief produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation, but worldly grief produces death.

True repentance leads to salvation. Fake repentance, worldly grief, however, produces death. Pharaoh had the latter and received the results of it. Death was brought on his family and his entire nation, when the death angel killed the firstborn in every family - including Pharaoh's.

Notice that our repentance, true repentance, leads to salvation. Pharaoh repentance, however, produces death. Real repentance recognizes our own sinfulness and dependance on God. We cannot produce salvation, even with repentance. We can only be led to salvation by our repentance. God is still the one who brings about the salvation.

Pharaoh repentance, however, actually does produce death. We bring about our own demise, when we fail to repent properly. When our repentance is based solely on ending our personal, temporary discomfort, we will produce death in our lives - like Pharaoh.

Don't act as if God should be pleased with a half mumbled "I'm sorry." Don't believe for a second that you are doing God any favors by saying all the right words, while refusing to acknowledge your desperate need for Him. Not a need for Him to end the discipline or change the circumstances, but a desperate need for Him and only Him. Even if all hail storm continues to rage, it would be worth it to have Him.

True repentance brings life because God, not a change in circumstances, is the One desired. Pharaoh repentance, false repentance, brings death because a change in circumstances, not God, is desired.

Do not mistake feeling sorry for true repentance. That could be a deadly error. It was for Pharaoh.

Sometimes God has to shut us up

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000-05:00

For some infants, it takes a lot of time and effort to develop the ability to talk consistently. For some children and adults, it takes a lot of time and effort to develop the ability to stop talking constantly.

Simon Peter was like that. He had no problem blurting out his opinion. Sometimes, it earned him praise. "Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven." Other times, it earned him rebuke. “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s.” You can find both of those in Matthew 16.

Still, Peter did not learn His lesson. In Matthew 17, Jesus takes Peter, James and John with Him up the mountain to witness the Transfiguration. These three see Jesus suddenly changed into His glorified body and having a conversation with Moses and Elijah.

It was such a special moment. Elijah was seeing the face of the One who took him to heaven in a chariot of fire. Moses was able to see the Prophet he had foretold about and stand, for the first time, in the Promised Land. More importantly, the Son of God is standing on this mountain in all His glory. James and John were stunned, speechless and absorbed in the moment. Peter? Well, Peter just had to say something.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Adrian van Leen

"Hey Jesus! Jesus! I know you are having a cool conversation with Moses and Elijah, but that's what I wanted to talk to you about. This is so great. Us, all of us, up here and all. How about we just build some places for you three guys and we just stay up here on this mountain? What do you say?"

Before Peter could finish, God the Father interrupted. Someone was finally able to shut Peter up.

Obviously, the Father was affirming and commending the ministry and teaching of His Son, but it strikes me as a bit humorous that He did so in the middle of Peter talking and concluded by commanding them to listen to Jesus. Is a secondary idea at work there? "I am pleased with and love my Son Jesus. Now Peter, stop talking for just a moment and listen to Him. You might want to remember His words in the future, but you can't hear them if you won't hush."

Has God ever had to shut you up? You just had to express your opinion. You could not resist saying something in the situation. The next thing you know, your words are coming back to haunt you. You spoke when you should have listened silently.

A major part of being a good husband or wife, a good son or daughter, a good friend, a good Christian is learning that sometimes you need to not talk and just listen. Sometimes, you do need to speak up. Often times, however, our immediate reaction, similar to Peter's, is to say something. End the silence. Give our two cents.

How can we actually hear what others have to say, when our minds are focused on what we are going to say next? You are not respecting the other person. You cannot show love to them in that way. You will never learn anything. Living requires listening. Helping requires hearing.

Because of this, sometimes God has to shut us up. He may use His word, circumstances, a sermon, a friend, a spouse or any number of other things to draw our attention to our endless desire to speak and not listen.

A mouth continually speaking without ever listening is like a facet continually running without being connected to water pipes. You cannot pour out, if you do not take in.

Thankfully, when Peter heard the voice of the Father from heaven, he and the other disciples fell on their face. It's hard to talk with your mouth in the dirt, but you can still hear. God may bring us low to remind us to be quiet and listen. We cannot grow in Him without those times.

When did God shut you up? What did you learn from those times?

The drama of deliverance

2012-01-30T06:30:00.000-05:00

It is a classic storytelling technique. Virtually every story, no matter the form, regardless of the characters, contains it - the crisis. Everything has gone from bad to worse. Every possible solution has been tried and failed, now matters are even worse than they were.

Stories have this because it builds tensions and draws the audience into the situation, into the lives of the characters. Without the crisis, there is no real drama, no tension, no excitement. Stories have to have this to keep our attention. But what about life?

You want your life to be different, don't you? We love the tension in a story, but, for most of us, we'd rather our live not have that kind of excitement. It would be much more preferable, in our minds, for our lives to just steadily get better and better with no deviation.

Our lives, however, are often like the stories we enjoy. We are the characters who are experiencing the tragic circumstances. We are the role players looking on as friends and family endure heartache.

Fictional stories with a crisis attracts us because we somewhat recognize, in our own lives, the circumstances. Those stories resonate and inspire us because the crisis is somehow averted. Evil is surprisingly thwarted at the last possible second.

"It is always darkest before the dawn" may not be scientifically correct, but it sure does feel real. We can look back over those symbolic "nights" in our lives and find the tinges of gray that come through and how the small glimmers of yellow began crawling through before we recognized them. But that's all after the fact.

What about right now? How does that help me in the crisis I'm going through now? The Israelites thought it had went from bad to worse, with no hope of deliverance, but dawn was breaking through - they just had to recognize it.

Photo from Sxc.hu by Sukru Kar

We've talked before how God was going to use Moses the shepherd on the other side of the mountain to respond to the cry of the Israelites in slavery. The problem is that their deliverance was not immediate. It was sure, but it did not happen over night (at least not yet).

Before God brought them out through the Passover, they were still stuck in Egypt and the Egyptians did not like the fact that they wanted to leave. In Exodus 5, Pharaoh essentially tells Moses, "So, the Israelites are thinking about leaving? Well, apparently, they have too much time on their hands. How about I make their work even harder? Who's got time to plot about leaving now?"

How do the Israelites respond? They blame Moses for bringing up this whole idea of leaving, waiting on him and Aaron to walk out from their meeting with Pharaoh. "It's all your fault. Now, we've got to make the same number of bricks, but we have to gather our own straw. Thanks a lot!"

Have you been there? You feel God's leading you in a direction, but as soon as you take a step in that direction everything seems to fall apart. You end up in a worse place than you were before. This can't be right. That's not how it was supposed to go. Your eyes slip from Christ to the circumstances, from the One who's leading you, to the things surrounding you. Like the Israelites, you don't realize that your deliverance, while not immediate, is sure.

For starters, Christ has already brought about your ultimate deliverance. You have been redeemed from sin and death. The results, while immediate, are not fully realized at this moment. One day we will recognize that our present struggles, trials and sufferings are not even worth comparing to the glories that we will experience during our eternal life with our Savior.

Secondly, our God is faithful, not just eternally, but presently. He will not leave us, nor forsake us. As we live our lives in obedience to Him, Jesus will be with us always, even until the end of the age.

As the drama of deliverance plays itself out in our lives, sometimes our perspective becomes clouded with temporary troubles. Often times we go through dark periods that last much longer than we liked. Through it all, however, the streaks of light are shining. The Light is with us to guide us, no matter how dim our circumstances look.

We don't know exactly how deliverance will arrive, but we know it will arrive. We know it has arrived. The story of our lives have crises, as it allows the drama of deliverance to play itself out again. We know who the Hero will be. He is the Hero of all of history. Your deliverance is sure, even if it is not immediate, because your Deliverer is sure.

Humor: Top 5 Hidden Third Stanzas to Classic Hymns

2012-01-27T06:55:00.000-05:00

Growing up in a small Southern Baptist church, I didn't know there were such things as "third stanzas." To ask, "What's the third verse?" was like asking, "What shape is the color blue?" At the very least, trying to find it was like a Bigfoot hunt. There were rumors floating around, but no one had any solid information on where these legendary third stanzas were hiding.

It was not until college, when I met my future wife, who is from a different denominational tradition, that I ever heard the music minister say anything but "First, second and last verses." We started to sing the third verse and I had no idea what to do. I felt like if I sang along I would be denying my Baptist faith. It was tantamount to expressing my support for infant baptism. If I were Catholic, I would have left that church and went straight to confession.

Since that time, I've done my due diligence and research, discovering there is a reason why Baptists have long hid from the third verse of these classic songs. They teach things that no Baptist could ever agree with or even hear, much less sing as worship. Here are the top 5 hidden third verses of classic hymns.

5. How Great Thou Art - Seriously, is there a more anti-Baptist thing than dancing? It's a wonder we ever sing this song at all, what with its promoting of the illicit moving.
  Lord my God! When my leg starts shaking,
  Consider how I can break it down.
  I see the jukes and the moves I'm making;
  It's time to groove with this funky sound.

4. Just As I Am - Baptist don't gamble because it's not gambling if you always win! No, that's a joke. I'm sorry. Card playing is no laughing matter. I don't know if we would have supported Billy Graham's ministry, if we had known this lyric was hiding in his invitation song.
  Just as I am without one pair
  but that next card has to be gold
  I'll bet my coat, I've got a spare
  You've got to know when to hold

3. It Is Well With My Soul - I was wrong. There is something less Baptist than dancing - drinking ... because drinking might lead to dancing, too.
  When beer, like a river, flows straight from the can
  When liquor like rain falls around
  Whatever the bar, or no matter the band
  I will drink, I will drink 'til I fall down.

2. Amazing Grace - Apparently, Isaac Watts snuck a verse about infant baptism in his classic and beloved hymn. We cannot abide by the Presbyterians and Methodists putting their doctrine in our worship service.
      Amazing babe, how sweet it twinkled
      that glimmer in your eye
  You once were lost, but now sprinkled
Not dunked, so your still dry

1. I Come To The Garden Alone - All along, the garden was actually a garden with vegetables and such. Baptists don't do veggies. Not even if they are deep fried and sold at Chick-fil-A.
  I come to the garden alone,
  But I'm not here to pick potatoes;
  lettuce, zucchini, vegetables for me,
  Beets, asparagus and tomatoes.

_____________________________________________

Seriously, why do Baptist avoid the third verses of songs? There's a lot of them that are really inspiring and convicting. What's your favorite third stanza? Did you get to sing all seventeen verses of Just As I Am growing up or did you skip the third verse like it had the lyrical plague?

The unknown solution to your problem

2012-01-26T06:30:00.000-05:00

Recently, my wife and I began to watch Doctor Who, the latest incarnation of the BBC sci-fi phenomenon. Trouble seems to gravitate toward the Doctor, as each episode finds him in a death-defying situation, along with whomever his traveling companion may be for that episode.

As we were watching one episode, the Doctor was trapped on a window washing elevator, as the bad guy was cutting the cables. Every possible avenue of escape was being cut off, so I said, "What are you going to do now Doctor?" Because I'm strange, I talk to the TV.

All the ways I could think of to get off the dangling cart had been tried and failed. I had no idea what has going to do ... then he did something totally random that I hadn't thought of. It's a standard plot device of television shows. It creates and sustains suspense for the hero to be in a seemingly hopeless situation and then - a solution comes out of nowhere.

Have you seen that in your own life? Are you waiting for a solution right now? That seemed to be the case for the Israelites leading up to their exodus from Egypt. All of the "normal" ways had been cut off, but God still had His plan. His unknown solution was a fugitive hiding out in the mountains tending sheep. To paraphrase a line from countless TV shows: "It was so crazy, it just might work."

Photo from Sxc.hu by Svilen Milev

Exodus 2:23-25 provides an aside from the story of Moses' flight from Egypt and subsequent meeting of his future wife and in-laws. We find Moses, the adopted grandson of the Pharaoh, has murdered an Egyptian and fled into the wilderness.

Now the Bible is telling us that the Israelites were suffering and they cried out because of their slavery. God heard their cry, remembered His covenant with their forefathers and "took notice" of them. So, God has taken notice. He's heard their agony. He has brought to mind the covenant He made with the ancestors of the Jewish people. He's about to do something to save them. That solution should be coming up any second.

How does the Bible follow up this declaration of God's noticing the Israelites? Exodus 3:1

Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.

Does that seem totally disconnected to you? God saw the suffering of His people. Moses is tending sheep.

Sure, if we know the rest of the story, we know how God brings about the connection. But just like in the Doctor Who episode, the solution seems obvious after the fact, not so much in the middle of it.

Wouldn't it have made much more sense for Moses, as an adopted part of the royal family, to hold some position similar to Joseph and convince the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go? Or maybe, Moses could inspire and lead the rebellion of which the Egyptians were always wary. Those sound somehow plausible, but how is anything going to happen with Moses hiding out as a shepherd in the wilderness?

How is anything going to happen? God is going to show up in an unusual way. God did see the suffering of His people. Moses is off in the woods tending sheep. God, however, will bring about the solution to the former by interceding in the later.

Moses meets a bush on fire, but not consumed and hears the voice of the great I AM instruct Moses on how He will use Moses to free His people. The solution came out of nowhere.

Have you been there? Are you there right, now?

We all face problems and troubles in our lives. Usually not quite as bad as our entire race and religion being enslaved, but maybe it feels like that when we are going through it. You've looked around and there seems to be no solution in sight. Did you check out in the woods for wandering shepherds? Did you check the cross for a humble, dying Savior?

For those who follow Christ, He will provide the perfect solution because He is the perfect solution. Moses foreshadows the later Prophet who would come like him. Jesus was that Prophet and Jesus is the ultimate unknown solution to our problem - no matter the problem.

I know sometimes your problems seems unbearable and unescapable, but that is only because of your limited perspective. You cannot see on the other side of a mountain in the wilderness to where God is coming down to speak through a burning bush. Your problems will not let you see through time to the top of a mountain outside the city to where God is coming down to speak through wooden cross.

Don't give up. The cross means victory in this life and the next. The unknown solution to your problem is the Savior you've known all along.

Turning God into a snack machine savior

2012-01-25T06:30:00.000-05:00

Have you ever lived off of a snack machine?

I'm not talking about actually surviving some post-apocalyptic Earth where you find yourself unable to cook, so you have to loot the snack machines in a frantic effort to stave off starvation. I'm hoping that's not something you've actually endured.

But you know those days at school or work where you missed breakfast or you had to work through lunch? That snack machine is sitting temptingly in the break room. All you have to do is put the correct amount of money in, push the right sequence of buttons and you get what you want.

Recently, our pastor used this as a perfect illustration for many evangelicals' attitude toward God. We have created God in the image of a snack machine.

Photo from Flickr.com by Kristin Kurtz

How imposing is a snack machine? Not very. It sits there waiting for you to want it. The snack machine never makes a demand of you. It just stands, out of the way, in case you get hungry. If you have a need or a desire, it is there to meet that.

We want to believe that God is that way. He's sitting there in Heaven, out of the way, never imposing his will on our lives, just content to be there when you want him. He is easy to handle. He is non-demanding. He never tells us we are wrong. He never makes judgments. He doesn't care how we choose to live our lives. He doesn't exist.

That god is completely and totally fictional. He is an imaginary creation of our imagination and desires. He is what we desire God to be - our divine vending machine, our heavenly snack savior.

No, we protest. We aren't like that. We believe in the God of the Bible. We are not so selfish as to expect God to bow to our wishes. Really? Here is where I thought our pastor's illustration became so dead on target.

When a vending machine takes your money or gives you the wrong thing, what do you do? If you are like most people, you beat on it, you shake it, you push it around demanding that it give you what you really want.

What do you do when you don't get the answer you want from God?

Do you shake and beat and push, demanding that He give you what you want? It's not fair. I want that. I gave you my life, so you owe me.

We treat our very lives as if they were two quarters to slide into the coin slots of prayer and out should come the answer we are seeking. How that cheapens our life and misunderstands whose we are, besides obviously missing the point of who God is.

God is not a snack machine, ready to take your order. He is not a genie, ready to grant your wish. He is not a cosmic grandfather, ready to give out gifts to spoil all the children. He is a personal, holy, sovereign, loving, perfect, omnipotent God with an absolute moral standard that we repeatedly violate.

He does not respond to our whims because He is God and does not take orders from anyone. He, also, views our life as worth more than two quarters spent at a moment of impulse. Our prayers are so often, so petty, so cheap, so finite, so tiny.

We want to give away our lives for a temporary bag of chips, when God is telling us there is an eternal feast laid out at His table for us.

He is not our fictional snack machine savior. He is the very real holy Creator God. When we continually insist on the former, we leave no room for the latter.

You can choose a tiny bag of pretzels and a lukewarm can of Coke in the break room or you can come to the table that has been spread for a spiritual feast. You can't have both. A pretend vending machine god or the real sovereign Ruler.

Make your selection.

History is not cyclical, history has a point

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Often times, without even thinking about it, people say things like "History is cyclical," meaning that history moves in circles and things are also repeating and recycling.

It sounds plausible. I've repeatedly said that at the age of 30 your old high school clothes in the back of your closet become cool again.

Where does Christianity stand on this issue? Does it speak to the development of history? Yes, and it speaks quite clearly that history is not spinning in a circle. History is linear and it has a point.

Photo from Sxc.hu by Leo Cummings

The book of Genesis is a bit of a wild ride. Obviously, most people immediately think of the creation story in connection with the first book of the Bible. This shows us the beginning point of history. We find that history had a definite beginning. Even here, near the introduction of the human race and our history, we find allusions to the reason behind it all.

The other stories of Genesis continue to narrow the focus for the reader. After creation, humanity began to "be fruitful and multiply." Because of the prevalence of sin, there was a kind of restart with Noah and his family. Then again, humanity began to increase and spread out across the globe (with a little help from God at the Tower of Babel).

But, as if it were a funnel, Genesis flows the reader down to one man in the midst of all of humanity. Abram was chosen by God to be the father of a great nation. His faith in Yahweh was credited to him as righteousness. Still, God's not done yet.

We go just a few generations from Abraham (after a name change) and arrive at Jacob (or Israel after his name change) and his twelve sons. Is history going to branch off into twelve distinct and equally important stories at this point? Actually, no. It all draws down to one of his sons, Judah. But beyond Judah, there is One of his descendants who will be the focal point of all history.

The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Genesis 49:10

There is one who "shall come." He is the culmination of everything. He is the point of history.

Galatian tells us that Jesus came in the "fullness of time." All of history was waiting for this moment - the incarnation.

Since Jesus' life, death and resurrection, history has continued on from this point in a straight line to its final point - the return of Christ.

History is not cyclical. It has advanced since creation until the time Jesus arrived. Since His first coming, history has continued on and will continue on until the culmination of everything. History will follow its line until Jesus comes again and has "the obedience of the nations."

History has a point. His name is Jesus.

Law & Grace: Old treasure is still treasure

2012-01-23T06:30:00.000-05:00

What if you dug in your backyard or forest near your home and discovered a treasure chest full of old gold coins - would you throw it away?

I mean, obviously, you would just get rid of it, right? Who needs old gold coins, when you've got a new iPhone or iPad? Old coins can't measure up to a flat screen HD television. They don't compare to an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3. Think of all the amazing new treasures you have in your house. Why even bother with those old treasures?

At this point, you are probably thinking I'm crazy. Why would you get rid of old valuables simply because you have new valuables? You're right. Treasure is treasure. Who cares how old it is? It's silly to get rid of the old, when you can have the new and old.

Yet, so many Christians behave this way toward the Old Testament and the law.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Zoran Ozetsky

In Matthew 13, Jesus is using parables to teach in such a way that many of his detractors miss the point, while his disciples can understand them. Still, his disciples have problems with the parables, as well. They have to ask Jesus to explain them.

After giving them even more parables and some explanations, Jesus asks the disciples if they have understood what He was teaching them. They answered that they have. Then, Jesus says something that I have missed until this past week.

He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.” Matthew 13:52

These disciples, who knew of the Old Testament law, were now following Christ. It is not that they traded law for grace. They had the law and they now had the fulfillment of it. They knew the purpose of this treasure.

But that doesn't seem right. Isn't grace supposed to be the end of the law? Doesn't Paul speak out against the law?

If there is one book of the New Testament that should speak harshly against the law, it is Galatians. In that epistle, Paul is challenging the Galatian believers who have left the true Gospel for a false gospel of works. They have a misunderstanding of the law. Even here, however, Paul does not tell them the law is worthless and should be discarded as trash. Rather, the law should be used according to its actual purpose.

He wrote that the law is absolutely not opposed to God. It was our guardian or tutor to bring us to Christ. (Galatians 3:24) It was to show us our need of a Savior and leads us to salvation. The law points us to grace.

So, now that we have grace, we are with Christ, should we discard the law? In doing so, we would discard so much of value, an old treasure. In Psalm 119, we see how much joy is brought from keeping the law.

I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.
Psalm 119:14-16

Seeing (and obeying) the eternal truths present in the principles of the law leads to joy and peace. The law can still point us to behaviors that please the Lord and instruct us in behaviors that displease Him. The law doesn't save us, but it was never designed for that purpose.

The law was like a jeweled key leading to room with the greatest prize - Christ. No, the key is not the door, but it is the key. If you have a key, there's a good chance there is a door to match it. The law, that we cannot obey on our own, shows us of our need for the One who can live perfectly according to the law. Then, it continues to show us how we can live our lives more like His.

The Old Testament in your Bible is not some antiquated piece of writing, eclipsed by the New Testament. It is the faithful and accurate recording that demonstrates the character of our God, whom we may see in a clearer way in the New Testament.

The law is not opposed to grace. According to Jesus, the law is a jewel to be displayed beside grace. Old treasure is still treasure.

Humor: Top 5 biblical heroes who couldn't be elected president

2012-01-20T06:30:00.000-05:00

As the Republican field for president narrows, the flaws of each candidate remaining become much more visible and discussed. This leads many to long for one of the heroes of the Bible to step off the pages and onto our ballots. Do you know what would happen if that somehow did take place? They would lose and lose badly.

Yes, I am well aware that Constitutionally no one from the Bible could run for US president as you have to be a natural born citizen and the United States didn't even exist during biblical times. If that weren't the case, however, what would prevent these men from being elected as our president? Think our current crop of candidates are flawed with skeletons in their closets? Just see if you could vote for any of the top 5 biblical heroes who couldn't be elected president

Personal photo illustration. Background image from Sxc.hu by Emilien Auneau

5. David - Even with his impressive war record, David had some serious moral failings that would haunt him in an election. You think Newt Gingrich has marriage issues to deal with, what would David do with our 24/7 news channels? It's not exactly easy to politically recover from having an affair and murdering the husband.

I guess David would run on jobs creation and a strong military, but seriously do you think CNN is letting the whole Bathsheba thing slide? TMZ's hounding Bathsheba, taking photos from the bushes, asking her neighbors if she bathes on her roof often. The National Enquirer is posting photos online of Absalom partying hard before he leads a rebellion against his father. It's a mad house. An unelectable mad house.

4. Samson - I know what you are thinking. Delilah, right? He's got to overcome the whole crazy wife giving him over to his enemies thing. Actually, I think that plays to his political advantage. He is the trusting husband, who loved his wife, but had her betray him. That gives him the sympathetic vote right there. The thing he has to fight against is his hair.

Take a look at this picture of all the presidents up until our most recent former president. What do you notice about their hair? Not one of them looks like Fabio. There are no sweet, flowing locks. There are some impressive beards from long ago, but no one has hair to make women jealous. Women do not want to be jealous of their president's hair (see Edwards, John).

3. Paul - Sure, Paul was very inspirational to his audience and extremely passionate about his beliefs, which in today's political climate means he's not getting out of the single digits in polling numbers. That sounds like another "Paul" I know.

Just like the present day Paul, the former Saul had horrible optics. He said he could not speak eloquently and tradition says he looked .... well, weird. While he had moved on spiritually, it would be hard for the voting public to move beyond him being responsible for the torture and death of numerous Christians. That tends to lose you votes.

2. Abraham - Mitt Romney has had to answer difficult questions concerning his Mormon faith. Abraham would be forced to answer exactly why he thought it was a good idea to offer his son as a human sacrifice. Romney may have to answer questions about special Mormon undergarments. Abraham initiated circumcision. Who's "winning" that one?

Again, people want to bring up questions of polygamy with anyone who is Mormon. What about Abraham? The descendants of his two sons, one by his wife's servant (whoops! there's another one), are the ones constantly at war in the Middle East. Not to mention, he went around repeatedly telling people his wife was his sister. Then when confronted about his lie, his response was, "Well, technically it's true." How do you see that one playing with Fox News focus groups?

1. Jesus - In endorsing one of the current presidential candidates, Rep. Trent Franks said, "“All of us have baggage, but Jesus is not on the ballot. Maybe it would be great if he were, but the point is we have to, in this case, pick the person who can best lead this country into the place that the Founding Fathers dreamed it could be."

You want to know one person who could never win a national election? Jesus. As soon as a crowd started following Him, He would say something controversial to cause them to leave. If you think Rick Perry quickly lost his popular support, Jesus had a parade in his honor one week and then had the some people call for his execution the next. Jesus would be too demanding and wouldn't tell us how great we are. If there was any person who has zero chance of being president, it's somebody perfect. Thankfully, He didn't have to be elected as Lord. Besides, all the Walmart receipts He appears on show Him with long hair and we all know that's a deal killer.

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What biblical character could you not vote for in an election? Why? What Bible character would make a great president, if that were, you know, Constitutionally and temporal possible, what with them being from a different age and currently dead now.

If Jesus is humble, Jesus is divine

2012-01-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

People love Jesus.

Even those that reject Christianity entirely have a sense of affinity for Jesus. There's just something about this man that draws people to him. It was the case in the Bible and it is the case as we read the Bible.

Part of what makes him so alluring is his obvious humility. Virtually everyone recognizes this instantly.

Many of those same people, however, almost immediately reject Jesus' divinity. They read the words of the New Testament and sense his humility, but cannot accept his divinity. That's a step too far. They prefer Jesus to be a great moral teacher.

What they do not understand is that when you acknowledge Jesus' humility, as relayed in the Bible, you are admitting His divinity.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Jean Scheijen

In Matthew 12, Jesus was having one of his usual confrontations with the Pharisees. They are accusing him of being a lawbreaker, even Satan. After having Jesus logically refute their charges, the religious leaders shift tactics.

If they can't bring accusations against him, maybe they can prove he is a fraud by demanding a sign from him. They'll demand he perform a miracle on the spot. Maybe those other supposed miracles were an elaborate hoax with people planted around to look as if they were sick or lame. He would walk up and "heal" them and create a buzz among the people. Not if they could help it. When he's unable to give them a miraculous sign, it will show the crowd that he's not the Messiah. In fact, he's not even a real miracle worker.

Too bad they were too busy crafting their plans to actually recognize who Jesus truly was.

They were right. Jesus did not perform a miracle, but He did give them a future sign that would prove once and for all He was the Messiah, the Son of God, God Incarnate. He would give them the sign of Jonah and be in the belly of the Earth for three days and would then rise victoriously proclaiming God's message of salvation.

Speaking of Jonah, Nineveh would stand up at judgment day and condemn the Pharisees and religious leaders. The Ninevites were able to recognize a prophet of God like Jonah had come and they repented at his preaching, but the ones who were supposedly studying God's word in Jesus' day were unable to see that One greater than Jonah, preaching a greater message had arrived in their midst.

Not only that, but Queen Sheba will stand and condemn them because she traveled from the ends of the Earth to come and hear the wisdom of Solomon, now they had One who was wiser than Solomon directly in front of them and they refused to acknowledge Him.

Those are bold words that Jesus spoke. I'm a greater prophet than Jonah. I'm wiser than Solomon. Not to mention the fact that he declared He would rise from the dead. Do they sound like the words of one renowned for His humility?

How about in John 10:30 where Jesus says, "I and the Father are one"? Is claiming to be God the mark of a humble man? The Pharisees recognized what Jesus was claiming. They picked up rocks to stone Him right there, telling him they were doing it because though He was a man, He claimed to be God.

So the question remains - if Jesus is humble as virtually everyone recognizes Him to be, then why do we see humility in a man that claimed such grand things for Himself? The obvious answer is because they were true.

If President Obama, gave a speech and he said, "I am the President of the United States of America" and he outlined some of the Constitutional powers he has because of that office, would he necessarily be bragging? No, the statements would simply be factual statements. They would give no indication of his personal humility or pride.

If I gave biographical information about myself and told you who my wife, the names of my sons, my hometown, and that I'm pursuing my master's degree and other facts, you couldn't hear those words and call me prideful. I may, in fact, be arrogant, but stating normal information about myself doesn't tell you that.

Jesus boldly proclaimed Himself to be a greater preacher than Jonah and wiser than King Solomon. He said He was one with God the Father. The only way those are the words of a humble man is if those words are true. The only way those words, and others, are true is if that man is God. If you look at Jesus and see a humble man, you recognizing Jesus is God.

A humble Jesus is a divine Jesus.

I can't do it

2012-01-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

Those are difficult words to say sometimes. I'm not sure they could have ever been more difficult to say as when Joseph uttered them to Pharaoh in Genesis 41.

Joseph had been sold into slavery by his own brothers, barely escaping death at their hands. After becoming the most trusted man in the house of Potiphar, the Pharaoh's captain of the guard, he had that all ripped away from him by a false accusation from Potiphar's wife. In jail, Joseph helps Pharaoh's cupbearer, who is released and returns to his job. Despite his promises otherwise, the cupbearer forgets Joseph and leaves him to rot in the cell for two years.

Now, he is finally here with a chance to show himself. He is standing before Pharaoh, who is desperate for someone to interpret his dream. Joseph's life story, though centered around dreams, has been more nightmare up until this point.

Pharaoh tells Joseph, "I've had this dream that no one can interpret. My cupbearer tells me that if you hear a dream, you can interpret dreams."

With everything riding on this moment, Joseph's first words to Pharaoh are "I cannot do it."

Oh, no.

Photo from LittleBoBeep.com

Can you imagine the cupbearer when he hears those words come out of Joseph's mouth? He's been freed from jail, back in his important position and has been able to bring Pharaoh this man who seemed to have the ability to interpret dreams.

He's thinking about the reward Pharaoh is going to give him for informing him of Joseph, imagining the praise with which he will be recorded in the annals of Egyptian history, picturing the statue they'll build of him .... wait what did Joseph just say?!?

What about Pharaoh? Apparently, he has been severely troubled by this dream. He's talking to every wise man, sorcerer, magicians, anyone who can help ease his mind. He knows this dream is important. There is a meaning there that he must find out.

His cupbearer says he knows someone in jail who interpreted his dream. What can it hurt? He's tried everything else. Bring him on.

The cleaned-up accused criminal stood before Pharaoh and listened to his situation. When asked about his ability to interpret dreams? He, just like everyone else, said he couldn't do it. Could no one in Pharaoh's kingdom give him some relief?

Thankfully, for everyone involved, Joseph was not done yet. "I cannot do it ... but God is able to give Pharaoh the answer you want." Joseph recognized that he could not, but that God could through him. In the classic biblical twist, Joseph was only able to do it, by admitting he couldn't do it.

So often in my life, God places me in situations where I have the opportunity to express my self-confidence or my self-recognition. Will I attempt to take credit for talents, abilities, decisions, moments for which I can lay no claim? Or, instead, will I acknowledge my short-comings and my ever present Savior?

I seems so counter-intuitive to say, "I can't" in order to accomplish a task. But is it any more so than dying to live? Christianity is full of these seeming paradoxes that force us to operate in the realm of faith. "I can't" enables me to say "I did," through God's strength.

Yet, the temptation is always there. Enticing us to take credit, profess talent, garner attention, stroll through the spotlight. We want to be out front and noticed. The only way to do that is by standing up and saying, "That's me. I can do it all by myself."

Joseph knew that without God working through him, he would never be able to tell Pharaoh the meaning of his dream. That's the point. Nothing of eternal significance can ever be accomplished apart from eternal strength with eternal perspective.

God has chosen, for our good and His glory, to use us to accomplish His will here on earth. That doesn't mean we can brag or gloat, any more than a hammer is able to boast about going from the tool box and hammering a few nails down.

If we want our actions to mean anything, we have to say "I can't." When we can't God does. I think it goes something like, His power is made perfect in my weakness. That's why I can't do it.

Faith brings ridicule from the crowd, but a response from God

2012-01-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

People gathered in the house, offering condolences and meals. Most of the family was simply in shock. How do you recover from something like this? When one so young and full of life dies, where do you turn?

Everyone was there except the father. He loved his little girl and he was taking it harder than anyone. He was in denial, they all said. He had rushed out of the house just as the last breath was weakly being pushed from the small, frail lungs. Poor dad. He was yelling things like, "He can help. I know it! I just have to get to him. He can make her better!"

Not now.

Not ever.

She was dead and he would return, with his supposed help or without, faced with unparalleled guilt. I should have never left her. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up and left her to die without me here with her.

Here comes the dad, now. Should they tell him before he rushes up to her bed? Wait, he's not alone. So, he did find his "help," not that it matters. That guy's probably just a con man trying to make some money off a dad who will try anything to help his sick daughter, but there's no con to be played here. She's dead.

Although, he doesn't look like any con man they've ever seen. He's .... different, confident, even hopeful. As he enters the house full of well wishers, he speaks to the gathered crowd. "Get out! The girl isn't dead. She's just taking a nap."

Was this some kind of joke? Apparently most of the people thought it was because they began laughing hysterically, as they were ushered outside. This guy really was going to do something, wasn't he? Surely, he doesn't think they are all so stupid that they couldn't tell the difference between someone asleep and someone dead.

There is nothing this man could possibly do to change the situation ... or was there?

What do you do when they all laugh at you? Photo from RGBstock.com by Sanja Gjenero

In Matthew 9:18-26, we find what may be the only instance of a resurrection story being overshadowed by another miracle. For some reason, people often remember the healing of the woman who touched Jesus' robe, but forget that Jesus was on his way to the home of a religious leader with a daughter who had just died.

When he arrives, Jesus sees the crowd gathered for the traditional mourning of the little girl's death. He tells them all to leave because they are mourning someone who is only asleep. Their response? Laughter.

Jesus knows something they don't know. He knows that He is about to go in there and raise that girl from the dead. In the broad picture of this girl's life, her "death" will be nothing more than a nap. Their laughter shows that they have no idea the power behind the words spoken.

Have you ever been there? Has God ever given you a direction to go, a decision to make, a calling to follow that seemed outrageous, but you knew God was leading? You tell some of your friends and family and they respond in much the same way the crowd did to Jesus.

It is at this moment, when you face the most difficult choice - will you allow fear of the crowd to dictate your obedience to God? Will their laughter drive you away from following Christ? Jesus did only what the Father told Him to do, so he boldly went through the house, to the girl's room and brought her back down alive and well.

The laughter lasted only as long as the outcome was not obvious. Once God showed up and honored the faith of His Son, praise erupted.

Words spoken in faith are often laughed at before they are lauded. Ridiculed before they are recognized. Assaulted before they are acknowledged. But you have to go through the first to get to the latter.

Do not cede your obedience over to the laughing crowd. Do not let their lack of faith prevent you from following God in radical, crazy obedience. They are going to laugh. They always do. But obedience is going to be honored. It always is.

Did God abandon Tim Tebow in New England?

2012-01-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

Of course not ... it's the Northeast, God never even made the trip. Seriously, the easy, short and correct answer to the question is "No." The question, however, is the result of the theology that led many to say Tebow was winning because he had God's favor.

There are two extremes we can fall into in this discussion. One often comes as a corrective to the other. Unfortunately, I may have communicated poorly my own thoughts, which in turn seemed to fall into one of the extremes. What are the two statements that we want to avoid and what is the proper way to discuss this issue?

Photo from ESPN.com by Charles Krupa/AP

1. God is actively involved in Tebow's games, helping the Broncos win. I've spent most of my time challenging this because I saw it as the most prevalent of the distorted extremes. Many of those advocating this position were abruptly confronted with their mistake somewhere around the Tom Brady's 4th or 5th touchdown pass.

Many postmillennialists in the early 1900's thought the world was becoming better and better, which would lead to the return of Christ. They looked around themselves and saw unparalleled technological advances, a growing missionary fervor and moral improvements in many areas. Surely, this was a sign that they were accomplishing the mission of God and would soon bring about the establishment of the Kingdom of God. All of this thinking changed when the world was plunged into World War I. Some may have held out hope, but then World War II erupted. Reality did not seem to match their theology.

Do you think it was like that Saturday night for many of the fans who claimed God was directly leading Tim Tebow to victory? The 316 yards suddenly seemed so far away in the face of a record breaking Patriot offense explosion, a Denver secondary that refused to cover New England's talented tight end duo, and a Broncos offensive line that consistently failed to provide Tebow time to throw or even run.

Believing that on the field victory equals God's favor is either superstitious paganism or an athletic prosperity gospel, neither of which is orthodox Christianity. Tom Krattenmaker has an excellent piece in USA Today on our misplaced propensity to tie sports success with religious reasoning.

Would God care about Tebow if was exactly the same man he is today, but was instead the third string fullback for the St. Louis Rams? Yes, but the public wouldn't. Were there not Christians on the Steelers, who lost to Denver last week? The Steelers are well-known as a team with numerous deeply devout Christians.

My hope is that Christians would cheer for athletes are outspoken consistent followers of Christ, but that we would not attempt to divine the mind of God when it comes to His plan for sporting events.

2. God doesn't care about football games. This statement is usually followed up with something to the effect of "He has more important things to worry about." This displays a complete ignorance of the God of the Bible.

If your god can only focus on the things you deem "important," your god is too small and is a much different god than the actual God. Scripture teaches us that God is intimately concerned with each of us and has the ability to simultaneously sustain all of creation, hear every prayer and work in your life on the smallest of levels.

I worry that some of my earlier rhetoric gave off this mistaken impression. In trying to disavow the above mistake, it can be easy to drift into this territory, but this is just as wrong. It teaches something false about God and Christianity.

God does care about football, just like He cares about every decision in your life. Obviously, some choices made have more blatant significance. It is clear to me that my choice to marry my wife was a life-changing (positive) decision. On the surface, it doesn't seem as if my choice to take a freshman Introduction to Mass Communication class as a sophomore in college was a major decision. That class, however, was the place where I got to know my wife before we began dating.

In the sovereign plan of God, the Denver Broncos victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers did not take Him by surprise, but neither did their loss to the Patriots. Owen Strachan wrote an excellent piece on God's sovereignty as it relates to the issue of Tebow and his football wins and loses.

God continues to sit on His throne, sovereign over all of creation and intimately concerned about the good of His children. Sometimes, that good, however, includes what could be bad from our perspective. Sometimes, God recognizes that our good and His glory will more perfectly be realized in a loss than in victory.

Conclusion: God's plan was not ruined Saturday night when the Patriots dismantled the Broncos, in fact, God's plan was upheld. The only thing we learned is that most of us are really bad at trying to figure out what it is that God wants. He recognizes this. It's why He gave us the Bible. And since John 3:16 doesn't have anything to do with passing yards or overtime Broncos victories, we aren't going to find football scores in Scripture.

Humor: Top 5 pre-game prayers Tebow will not be praying

2012-01-13T06:30:00.000-05:00

This weekend, the Denver Broncos will take the field against the New England Patriots. Tim Tebow vs. Tom Brady. Light vs. Darkness. Good vs. Evil. Mother Teresa vs. Hitler. OK, maybe it's not quite like that.

Heading into their showdown, 43% of Americans believe that God is helping Tim Tebow win football games. My thoughts on that have already been expressed and it seems from Tebow's prayers quoted in the article that he's not asking God for wins and stellar passing performances. But what if he was ...

What if Tebow went full-fledged Ricky Bobby and asked "Dear Lord Baby Jesus" to help his team shake and bake to victory? What kind of prayers would the Denver quarterback pray then? Here is the top 5 pre-game prayers that Tim Tebow will not be praying, but would be hilarious if he did.

5. May Tom Brady's hair be cut off like Samson, robbing him of his arm strength.
Dear Teenage Jesus wearing a Broncos jersey with blue and orange face paint,
   Thank you for helping me beat the Steelers last week, but I just want to ask you to take time out from doing your homework and playing video games and help me again this week. Can you please make his super hot supermodel wife go all Delilah on him and cut off his beautiful, flowing locks of hair and can that hair cut make his arm lose all of its' strength?

4. Strike Bill Belichick's hoodie with a plague of locust.
Dear Grown-up Jesus with a killer mullet and my number shaved into his hair,
   New England head coach Bill Belichick always wears that nasty hoodie. If he had any class, he would be wearing a tuxedo t-shirt. Do you still have some of those locust laying around up there? Not the kind that John the Baptist ate, but the kind that you sent in that sweet plague back with Moses. I'm asking that you take what ever ones you've got left over and send them all into his hoodie.

3. Open up the Patriot's defense like the Red Sea.
Dear cool old Jesus that always gives you candy when you see him with a huge orange foam finger,
   That was pure amazingness how you made that Pittsburgh safety miss my touchdown pass during overtime. You're old, but you're cute old and you are still omnipotent. So could you find that stick Moses used and let me or John Elway have it? I don't quite trust coach John Fox with it. I just want to strike that ground with it like that cool looking wizard guy did in the movie about the little dude with the heavy ring. I also would like a heavy ring that makes you invisible, so when we win the Super Bowl, can you also make my Super Bowl ring an invisibility ring?

2. Let my passes surprise the New England secondary like a thief in the night.
Dear middle age Jesus driving a minivan, that can transform into a rocking sports car with a flaming Bronco charging down the side panel,
   I was able to go all ninja on the Steelers. They weren't expecting my shake and bake skill with Demaryius Thomas. I went all 316 on them, but now the Patriots might be ready for me. They might try to confuse me with some voodoo defensive schemes that I don't know about. Help me to pull off the most wicked play action fakes ever, so I can throw to wide open receivers running for touchdowns.

1. Give me the strength and wisdom to lead your people into the promised land and by "your people" I mean the Broncos and by "promised land" I mean the AFC title game.
Dear sweet, cuddly baby Jesus holding your stuffed Denver Bronco,
   I'm going to need all the strength your cute little body can give me this week. I need to go to the godless New England, where they barely have any NASCAR tracks, as it is far, far removed from the Bible belt. Though you are a tiny newborn, you still are all-knowing. Please give me a sign prior to each snap to let me know what defense they are running. If it is man-to-man, blink your baby eyes once. If they are in zone, raise your baby hand. If they are going to blitz, scream with your loud baby voice. Whatever you do, just help me reach the AFC title game. Then, the Super Bowl. Then, we've got to win it. I'm asking this for you. So many people believe you are helping me win these games. If I don't win, you don't win. C'mon Lord baby Jesus. We both need this win. Let's do this!

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Thankfully, Tebow will not be praying to any of those "Jesus" before he takes the field against the Patriots. Have you ever heard somebody actually pray a "Ricky Bobby prayer" before? What is the wildest, strangest prayer you've ever heard in person?

Atheist idea of brains as "meat computers" does not compute

2012-01-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

You had no choice, but to read this. You may think you could have simply chosen not to click the link to bring you to this page, but in reality, you could not have done otherwise. You have no free will because you are nothing more than a meat computer programmed by your genes and environment. This programming gives you the illusion of free will, but in actuality you could never choose differently than you do.

That is the reasoning of Dr. Jerry Coyne, one of the nation's leading evolutionary scientists, in a resent Op-Ed for USA Today - Why you don't have free will. Coyne is not alone in this assertion. There is a growing number of materialistic atheists holding to this claim.

The logic sounds plausible, even convincing if you allow Coyne to guide the discussion. This is where the Christian who seeks to engage an educated populace must understand the arguments being made in culture and how exactly we can respond. So, how could a Christian seek to rebut Coyne's argument? I believe there are questions that can be asked, which demonstrate the shortcomings in viewing our brains as nothing more than "meat computers."

Photo from RGBstock.com by Michaela Kobyakov

1. Why should I trust your argument, since, according to you, it came from a "meat computer"? If Coyne is right, we are all simply products of naturalistic evolution that has no outside guiding influence. It is just time and chance working together with no "knowledge" of the outcome. If this is the case and my brain is only the product of those forces, why should I trust it?

To use Coyne's illustration, who or what originally programmed the "meat computer" and why should I believe that it can be used rationally and can find truth? Maybe our meat computers are full of bugs and viruses and when we believe we are thinking rationally, we are actually thinking irrationally. If there is nothing outside the circular system of naturalism, then we have no reason to trust anything Coyne or anyone else (including our own mind) says.

2. What would morality look like without free will? Coyne argues that people have no choice over their behaviors because that is simply the output of their genetic material and environment. If this is the case, then there is no sense of moral responsibility. As Coyne says, Bernie Madoff, who scammed people for millions, is no different from Nelson Mandela, who helped bring freedom to a nation. Because this is the case, we cannot punish based on personal choice. We should, however, punish based on future deterrent. Here is where Coyne's argument falls apart.

Why? Why should we deter someone from murdering or committing other crimes? Coyne says we should continue to punish criminals as that adds to the environment of others and can make them choose differently later. But the question remains as to why we would want them to choose in a certain way. If there is no sense of morality, as it would only be the by-products of our brains, why would we care what other's do, particularly if it does not effect us personally?

3. If it is impossible to act as if free will does not exist, is that not a strong indication that it does? The column repeatedly acknowledges the appearance of free will and even the inevitability of behaving as if free will does exist. If that is the case, why is that not then evidence for free will's existence?

Coyne's theory does not fit with the coherence test of a worldview. If you are unable to live with the logical conclusions of your worldview, then it is evidence for its falsity. Coyne will continue to mentally hold to the non-existence of free will, but he will continue to live his life as if it existed. Yet, he wants me to jettison the idea as out-dated. First, let me see him live a fully functioning life without behaving as if free will existed. Then, he can come talk to me about his new way of thinking. If it can't be lived out, why should I believe it?

4. How could society be better if we stopped believe in free will? Coyne argues that realizing that we do not have free will would bring about positive changes to society. It would cause us to wonder at our evolved minds and would increase our empathy. At this point, however, Coyne has to answer two questions - "What is better?" and "How can I stop believing?".

As we just talked about with morality, how can you call one result "better" compared to the other. That would require some standard of morality that exists outside of our minds. Coyne's system does not allow for that, so he cannot sneak in terms like "postive," "kinder," or "improvement." The other question is practically begging to be asked - how could I possibly stop believing in free will? According to the entire article, I have no choice over my actions. I cannot truly decide to do otherwise, so am I not locked into believe in free will, regardless of what Coyne may argue?

_______________________

Coyne compared our brains to computers. That analogy is not the best one for his argument. He is right that computers can only use what has been programmed into them to use, but how does that information get into those computers? That's right. Humans put it in there. An outside source, makes the computers for a purpose and then programs them to fulfill that purpose. That sounds vaguely familiar.

Cain, Abel and the travesty of leftovers worship

2012-01-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

The story with Cain and Abel is an intriguing and heartbreaking story - an older brother becomes so jealous of his younger brother that he premeditatedly murders the one he should be protecting.

What could cause someone to go so far into the depths of sin that they would commit the very first murder? In the case of Cain, it was God. More specifically, it was God's acceptance of Abel's sacrifice and not of his own.

Why would God accept Abel's and not Cain's? What can we possibly learn from this tragic story?

Where exactly does worship fit on our calendar?

I don't have a brother, only an older sister, so I can't place myself into the situation of Cain and Abel. I do, however, have two sons. I cannot imagine the older one becoming so jealous and enraged that he sets out a plan to murder his younger brother. Do they argue? Of course they do, but never to the point where I could even see them getting into any type of physical fight, much less murder.

We are not told the events of Cain and Abel's childhood. They are the only sons mentioned, until Seth later. Obviously, Adam and Eve had daughters (who became wives of the sons) and possibly other sons who go unmentioned. All we know in this story is that Cain is their firstborn son and Abel comes along later.

Cain becomes a farmer and Abel and shepherd. They both brought offerings to God, but the Lord only expresses His approval with Abel's sacrifice. Why did God accept Abel's and not Cain's? We are not told explicitly, but we are given clues.

In Genesis 4:3, Cain brings some of his produce to God as an offering. On the other hand, in Genesis 4:4, Abel brings part of the fat portions of the firstborn of his flock. Later when God sees Cain angry over His rejection of Cain's offering, He asks Cain, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"

As it so often does, it seems to revolve around the hearts of those making the offerings. Abel intentionally set about the bring God the best, the first. Cain seems to have brought some as an afterthought.

Clearly, God saw this as an heart issue because in Genesis 4:7, He tells Cain that sin is crouching at his door, desiring to have him. Sin was there in Cain's heart. He wasn't concerned with bringing God his best. He was concerned with being as good or better than his brother. He wanted the praise without the sacrifice.

Cain gave God the scraps, the leftovers, while Abel gave the best.

How many times am I Cain in that regard? How many times do I simply give God the leftovers? Well, I've got a few minutes I guess I can say a quick prayer. Oh, my favorite show is a rerun tonight, maybe I can read a chapter in my Bible.

How often do I want to throw the scraps of my day, the warmed up leftovers of my worship and act as if I'm making a significant sacrifice worthy of significant praise?

If I'm honest ... way too often.

Cain didn't plot his brother's murder the moment he came out of the womb, but, as God told him, sin was crouching at the door. His heart needed to be focused with right worship, instead it was rotted with dead ritualism.

I don't make plans to fall deep into the pit of sin or find myself far away from God, but the choices I make each day can drive me there. I must be intentional about giving God the best of my time, my habits, my mind, my worship, the best of me.

Leftover worship only leads to tragedies, be they as blatant as Cain's murder or as subtle as my slipping away from fellowship with my Savior.

Have you been giving God worship like Abel or like Cain? Has your worship been leftovers worship? Is God simply getting something when you find the time? If so, be careful; sin is crouching at your door, desiring to pull you down.

Jesus doesn't win Tebow's football games

2012-01-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

Previously, I asked if we could slow down on this Tebow thing. Now, I'm asking if we can just stop.

Let me make myself clear, I like Tebow as man, as an underdog NFL quarterback and as a clutch performer in big games. I love Tebow as an outspoken Christian, who shares his faith at every occasion and seems to be entirely genuine and not the least bit hypocritical. He is someone that people can get beyond and feel comfortable pulling for. I've even said that part of what makes Tebow successful in the NFL as a QB has been his Christianity.

Some Christians, however, are doing more than just cheering on the Broncos. They are claiming that Jesus is actively involved in helping Tebow win. The Heisman trophy winning QB threw for 316 yards in Denver's win Sunday, that has to mean something they say. Don't the comebacks and thrilling victories point to God exalting one of His followers?

Those believers mean well, but the logical conclusions of their statements and the unintended consequences lurking out there should cause us to think twice before we say Jesus won those football games for Tebow. There are at least five significant reasons why we should stay away from making those claims.

Photo from ESPN.com by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

• Diminishes Tebow's athletic achievements: Tim Tebow had a fantastic game against a great Steelers defense. In fact, it was one of the greatest playoff games by an NFL QB in history. If God won the football game and directed his passes, that doesn't say very much for Tebow's abilities. If it was only God, then why couldn't I or any other Christian go on to the field next week, pray, and see God work a football miracle? If it was a matter of just trusting Jesus, NFL teams would be doing all their scouting at seminaries and in churches on Sunday morning.

Tebow has God-given abilities, but he also works hard to make the most of those abilities. It would be the height of idiocy for Tebow to tell his team that he didn't need to practice because he was just going to pray that God would help him have a great game. Why not do both, trusting that God has given you abilities and availability to work to improve. If it is just a matter of prayer, then there would be nothing special about Tim Tebow the NFL quarterback.

• Perpetuates a type of prosperity gospel: The prosperity gospel, not the true Gospel, teaches that if you have enough faith God will reward you with possessions and a happy life. The version many of Tebow's Christians fans seem to be leaning toward is that if you have enough faith God will grant you a playoff spot and a first round victory.

It seems as if people are saying that we can see God's favor on Tebow because he had a winning record and won a big playoff game. Is that really what we want to say? Do we want to equate winning with God's approval? That line of thinking seems entirely backwards to me.

• Makes God seem absent during loses: So, God brought about the Broncos win Sunday. What was He doing last Sunday when they got beat by the Chiefs? How about the two previous weeks during Denver loses to Buffalo and New England?

Christians only want to bring up God's involvement when Tebow has a great game and the Broncos win. But you also have to talk about those games where he struggled, had several turnovers and Denver lost. When we say God made Denver win, what are we saying about God when Denver loses?

• Raises difficult & unneeded questions: This ties in with the previous point. I've seen numerous people ask questions about the Bronco's loses and Tebow's struggles because Denver's wins and his achievements have been so linked with his faith.

I would prefer we not make God's existence dependent on whether or not the Broncos win the Super Bowl. You cannot point to a Denver win as proof God exists and then ignore it when they lose. When we open this door, atheists and critics are rightly going to force us to its logical conclusion and we don't want to go there. Christianity has legitimate difficult questions to answer. I don't want to add God's correlation to Tebow's completion percentage to that list.

• Seemingly limits God's omnipotence: Many Christians are calling on others to pray that the Broncos make it to the Super Bowl so that Tebow can bring more glory to God. Really? God can't be glorified in a Broncos loss? Is it not possible that God could be doing something much larger than what we can see? Could God not use the Christlike response of Tim Tebow in defeat to bring Himself glory?

God's glory and Kingdom are not inextricably tied to the outcome of a football game in America. We need to see beyond ourselves and our context to get a much broader picture of God and His work in this world. Believers in Asia, persecuted for their faith, have never heard of Tim Tebow. Do you think they need to know about his overtime touchdown pass, so they can really recognize God's glory?

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Is that absurd? Absolutely. But so is the way many Christians are reacting to Tebow's victory on Sunday. Why can we just not sit back and enjoy the fun and excitement that Tebow brings to a game? Why do we have to place on it some larger significance that it was never meant to bear?

Don't spend the game looking for hidden verses in Tebow's stat line. Taking numbers and cramming biblical significance into them is not orthodox Christianity. If you want to know how well biblical numerology works out for you, ask Harold Camping.

When the Broncos line up against the New England Patriots on Sunday, why don't we let the only thing riding on the game be a trip to the AFC Championship and not God existences and goodness?

The one word that can stop God's work

2012-01-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

I wrestled with this headline.

Nothing can stop, hinder, slow down God if He desires to do something on His own. He is omnipotent in every way. He spoke all of creation into existence. So, in that sense nothing can stop God's work. I want to be clear on that.

God has chosen, however, to work through people to accomplish His work in this world. We, obviously enough, are not omnipotent and often fail to do all that God has called us to do. Again, this does not mean that God's work has failed. He's also omniscient, so He knows all that is needed to accomplish what He wants done.

But from my human perspective, when I look at the times God has asked me to follow Him in obedience and I've shrank back from the challenge, one thing stands out as the primary hinderance in my life. One word crops up over and over again, working to prevent me from being who God wants me to be and doing what God wants me to do.

What word has so much power over me? Fear.

What lies beyond? Do we go forward or shrink back? Photo from RGBstock.com by Helmut Gevert

Maybe you have been in the same situations, but for me it is almost always fear of something or someone that keeps me from stepping out to follow God. You don't share your faith because you are afraid of how they'll respond. You don't make a major career decision because you are afraid your family won't understand. You refuse to do something new for God because you are afraid you might fail. Fear brings faith to a grinding halt.

Thankfully, God knows humans. He did make us, after all, even creating us in His image. He knows that fear can so often get in the way of what He wants to do in our lives. Why do you think humans are repeatedly given the command to "Fear not" in Scripture?

Recently, reading through the Christmas story this idea really connected for me.

What did the Gabriel say to Mary? "Fear not." When Joseph was thinking about divorcing Mary, the angel said, "Do not fear." The angel began talking to the shepherds with "Fear not."

Sure, part of that may have been calming humans down after they have witnessed the angelic, but I think it is more than that. It's the starting point for the instructions God has given them.

Fear not, Mary. Things will be difficult, but you are going to give birth the Savior of the world.

Do not fear, Joseph. Mary, who has not been unfaithful to you, is going to need you during this time.

Fear not, shepherds. Leave your sheep behind. You are going to see and testify about the Good Shepherd.

Paul told Timothy that we are not given a spirit of fear. He gave the young pastor this encouraging word in the midst of describing the calling that God had placed on Timothy's life.

"Yes, Timothy I realize this is a huge task and I am about to be martyred and leave you, but God has not given you a spirit of fear. He has given you a spirit of power, love and self control. Don't be ashamed of this Gospel or the task God has before you."

More often than not the first step in obeying God is to fear not. Stop allowing fear to govern your decisions. Once fear has been removed as an obstacle, obedience seems a lot easier and God's plans a lot more obtainable.

If God is calling you to obedience, do not allow that one word prevent you from following Him. Instead add one word of your own. Fear not.

Humor: Get tomorrow's news today, Top 5 Religion Stories of 2012

2012-01-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

The end of the year and the beginning of a new one always brings out the year in review pieces that look back at the top stories from the previous year. Big deal. Anybody can give you the top news stories at the end of the year, but I'm giving you the top news stories before they happen.

This new year is gearing up to be an exciting one in the world of religion with plenty of interesting stories to grab your attention, but five stories will rise above them all. Here are the top 5 religious stories of 2012.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Sanja Gjenero

5. New Mayan calendar discovered that pushes back doomsday
Tegucigalpa, Honduras - In a stunning setback to conspiracy theorists and end of the world advocates, archeologists claim that a new discovery extends the infamous Mayan calendar far beyond 2012. A small piece of the calendar had been broken off from the bottom. It was considered lost forever, but a team of scientists found it a new excavation site.

When affixed to the proper place on the calendar and translated, it reads: "Please turn over." After the archeologists turned the slab over, they found the continuation of the calendar that now runs until 3045.

4. Mitt Romney reveals he's actually a Scientologist
Los Angeles, CA - Traveling through California, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney told a shocked audience that he is not Mormon, but rather an adherent of Scientology. To prove his Scientologist credentials, the former Massachusetts governor invited Tom Cruise and John Travolta on stage with him to provide endorsements and star power to his campaign.

The Romney camp denied reports that the announcement was connected to their internal polling that found Americans view Scientology as "the most appealing cult." He also refused to comment on rumors that he will announce his conversion to Catholicism in a return to Massachusetts, being born again in North Carolina and his recommitment to Mormonism in Utah.

3. Catholic women from Texas, Evangelical couple from SC see Jesus in random object
San Antonio, TX and Greenville, SC - In seemingly unrelated events Maria Sanchez along with Shaun and Mary Smith claim to have seen a picture of Jesus in their dryer sheet. The three people say they have never met and can only explain the unusual looking Bounce sheet as a "miracle."

When asked exactly how a shape in the right lighting that could resemble a generic male face constitutes a miracle on par with Jesus' resurrection, Shaun responds that it is simply a matter of faith. "I know people are going to be critical and suspicious, but we needed this sign to let us know God was with us," said Smith as blew the dust off of his unread Bible.

2. Harold Camping: "This time I know I'm right"
Oakland, CA - In his return to Family Radio, Harold Camping announces his latest calculations for the end of the world. He claims to have corrected his formula that caused him to give two false predictions in 2011. The AP was unable, however, to secure those dates as no one actually listened to his radio announcement.

When asked about the country's apathetic response to his latest date setting, Camping said he was shocked that no one wanted to know when Jesus was returning. "It's surprising to me that the public isn't rushing to send more money to my ministry or at least give us a call and say, 'Hi.' It gets lonely." Camping also expressed shocked when asked if he had read the story about the boy who cried wolf. "No, I've never heard of that. Why on Earth would you ask me that?"

1. Pat Robertson actually did hear from God
Virginia Beach, VA - Surprising everyone who has ever heard him speak, CBN founder and 700 Club host, Pat Robertson was actually able to hear a word from God this past Monday. In the past, Robertson has claimed to hear from God on a number of topics including the results of US elections, global political events and future natural disasters. In each instance, Robertson's predictions have failed to materialize or even come marginally close, so it was a shock for his son and fellow 700 Club co-host Gordon Robertson when his father actually did hear God speak.

"We've been wondering for years if dad just needed hearing aids," said the younger Robertson, "but apparently his ears are working fine." What exactly was this message that caused everyone to immediately agree that the former presidential candidate had indeed heard from God. "It rang through clear as day," the elder Robertson said, "God spoke and said, 'Shut up! You are making Me look bad.'"

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What news stories do you see happening in 2012? Share your predictions in the comments. The person with the closest guesses will win an amazing Wardrobe Door prize pack ... if such a thing actually existed.

My Wardrobe Door resolution & a word to Christian writers

2012-01-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

I have to be honest. I really dislike that headline. Speaking of a resolution always strikes me as silly, if not even counterproductive. They are more often fodder for jokes than real commitments to change.

Not only do I avoid resolutions, I would rather not use Christian as an adjective to describe something else: Christian music, Christian store, Christian writer. I much prefer to the C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkein language of a writer who is a Christian. A writer whose Christianity cannot help but infect everything he writes.

For this instance, however, I believe the headline will work and communicate what it is I'm pledging to you, my reader, for this coming year and will hopefully encourage other writers committed to using their abilities to honor Christ. Here's what I want you to expect from me this year.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Sanja Gjenero

"Shakespeare said, 'Give the worst of thoughts the worst of words. The challenge of a Christian rhetoric lies in the inversion of this injunction: 'Give the best of thoughts the best of words.' Clothe the Word in words of royalty; give the Logos healthy flesh, not the common trappings of the age." - from In the World: Reading and Writing As a Christian

That's my goal for this year - to clothe the Word in fitting words, to communicate in such a way that the very best of thoughts, those centered on God, will have the very best of words.

For those of you who write, whatever the venue and whomever the audience may be, let these words sink in deep. Are you giving the Logos healthy flesh? It was a challenging question to me, one that I desire to answer with a "yes" much more in 2012.

Top 10 Wardrobe Door Top 5's of 2011

2011-12-30T06:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I posted the 10 most read Wardrobe Door posts of 2011 with the notable exception of any explicitly funny posts. Today brings back all your favorite top 5's and other various humor posts from this past year, though I'm not sure any of these are "explicitly funny" either (I need the bar set low).

It was a bit of an evolution (I promise I don't mean that in the bad way. Please, don't boycott me.) to arrive at posting a top 5 virtually every Friday. I can't help but write things that I think are funny, comments that make me laugh. So last year, I decided to shoot for writing one comedy post a week and call it WAAH, my Weekly Attempt At Humor. That didn't last long, if for no other reason, WAAH is a stupid name.

I was hit or miss with humor posts at the beginning of this year. There were some good ones, which turn up on this top 10 lists, but I couldn't keep it going consistently. Finally around July, it stuck and I found that top 5's were the best way to have a regular humor post. Why top 5's? I'm not funny enough or brief enough for a top 10. Those would end up being long pieces of writing with a joke or two mixed in. We already have those things - they're called books.

As it ended up, most Fridays you can now find a humor top 5 here, except today, of course. Today, you find the 10 most read Wardrobe Door humor posts of 2011.

Photo from Flickr.com by esteban

Bonus posts (because I'm in generous mood): These weren't part of the top 10, but they did elicit a some fun social media conversations. Two of my humor photoshop posts: Christian Conversation Hearts and Reformation Day Posters.

10. Top 5 Bible Tales not allowed in Children's Story Books - What a better place to start off the top 10, than pondering why children's Bibles don't have assassinations, human sacrifices and man eating bears. These are five Bible stories that you read through and think, "Did I really just read that? Did that left-handed guy really just stab the fat king until his guts spilled out? Did that stay-at-home mom really ram a tent peg through that army general's head?" Yep and there's plenty more where that came from.

9. Top 5 Bad Sermon Ideas - Pastors have a hard job. Sometimes communicating the message of Scripture to the congregation comes easily and the sermon is magnificent. Other times ... well at other times ... it's just not. Some ideas sound great in your head, but for whatever reason they just don't quite come out right in the end. Jesus as a rapper. Old youth pastors wearing skinny jeans with a fauxhawk. Good times. Bad sermons. Oh, and this post has what has to be my favorite photo caption I've ever written. It's worth the cost by itself, which of course isn't saying very much, but it is funny.

8. Top 5 Christian Tattoos - What Would Justin Beiber Do? - I'm honestly shocked this one was higher on the list. I thought for sure adding Justin Beiber to the headline was traffic gold. Come on, teenager girls. Are you no longer Googling Justin Beiber? Have you already moved on to other insignificant, scarcely talented tween boys? I cannot keep up with all your fashion and trend changes. But at least the post was funny and spot on - if you have gotten a tattoo since becoming a Christianity, it will be on this list.

7. Top 5 Christian Halloween Costumes - If I got all the Christian tattoos right, I nailed the Christian Halloween costumes. At the church Halloween party (which is what you call it if you want to be honest), there are essentially five and only five costumes. Because part of the 10 Commandments says that if a church has a party near October 31, they must ban costumes that are vampires, monsters and such. Plus, you don't want people showing up in *ahem* inappropriate costumes. So, you just say only Bible character costumes. These are what you get and will get. Every. Single. Year.

6. Top 5 Christian Facebook Apps - Facebook has become ubiquitous, reaching almost 1 billion users in less than 8 years, making it a cultural phenomenon that just needs to have some Christian paint slapped on it. Who needs to go the hard route of developing real, actual friendships with people and living a life for Christ online and off? No, what you need are some "love" buttons on your social media sites, a virtual farm to grow cyber fruit of the Spirit and a way to side hug your fellow Christians online.

5. Top 5 Christian Reality TV Shows - Here we go again. Popular in mainstream culture? Make a version of it for the Christian subculture. But if we are going to do it, let's do it right! None of this fake Christian reality TV shows. Let's cut to the good stuff. They should just put a live feed video from a Baptist business meeting. That sucker would go viral faster than the monks and the priests fighting at the Church of the Nativity. If we are going real ... let's go real.

4. Top 5: Is that Jesus on my Walmart receipt? - This had to be my favorite top 5 because this had to be the absolute weirdest, most stereotypical story ever. A couple from SC claim to have seen Jesus' face on their Walmart receipt. With that in mind, I came up with some of my own Jesus appearances news stories. The only problem? Truth is always stranger and, in this case, funnier than fiction.

3. Bible Names That Should Not be Baby Names - A top 5 before I started calling them top 5, several people said this was their favorite of the year. One of these days, it's going to happen. Somehow, somebody with one of these names is going to find me. Maybe we meet by pure coincidence. Maybe they go all Mission Impossible and hunt me down to enact revenge. But at some point it's going to go down. And when it does I'll be ready ... to delete this post like it never happened, so read it before it's too late.

2. Top 5 Gift-Exchange Gifts Everybody Brings But Nobody Wants - I feel certain I ruined hundreds of people's Christmases with this post. First, people ready the list and thought to themselves, "But I thought everyone loved the Snuggie I brought to the last 5 Christmas parties." Second, somebody was googling "Gift-exchange gifts" and found this post and thought to themselves, "Well, if that's what everyone brings, I might as well go grab a sausage and cracker platter, too." You know someone was trying to find a last minute gift idea and used this top 5 for evil, evil purposes. For those impacted, I'm sorry.

1. Def Comedy Bible Jam - This being my most read humor post of the year is a bit surprising. I suppose part of it has to do with it being the second humor post in 2011 (Baby names was the first). Part of the traffic might also have to do with this most likely being the only blog post on the internet to reference the Bible, Charlton Heston and Ric Flair. In fact, shockingly enough, this post is the top Google result for searching all of those together. After looking at the other results that came up, however, and thinking through it for a moment, I'm fairly certain that few if any every actually searched for those three things at the same time. So, scratch that last explanation. We'll just leave this as the great unsolved mystery of 2011.

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These posts always generated the most interaction with you the reader, whether it was here on the blog or on social media sites, which made these posts special. I enjoy writing humor. I hope I pull it off enough times to justify doing it repeatedly. But I really enjoy talking with you about your thoughts on the topic, sharing funny stories you have related to the post.

While I make the content for The Wardrobe Door, you make it come alive, by stepping through the door and striking up a conversation about bad gift-exchange gifts or crazy things you've seen on Facebook. That's what makes this really fun. So as long as you agree to keep coming back, I'll agree to keep opening The Wardrobe Door.

Happy New Year!

They were there (almost) when Heaven touched Earth - the wise men

2011-12-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

This is a bit of an epilogue to last week's Christmas series on those who were there the moment when God Incarnate came out into our world, when Heaven touched Earth. While the wise men were not there at the birth of Jesus, they are traditional connected with Christmas and can also teach us a valuable lesson.

If ever there was a misunderstood group, or at least a group with more misconceptions, than the biblical magi, I haven't met them. Much of what we assume about them is wrong and at least one of the things we can learn from them is missed.

Let's start with what we think we know. For starters, the wise men were not there at the manger with the shepherds. Matthew tells us they did not arrive in Jerusalem until sometime after Mary had given birth. From there, they were told to head toward Bethlehem - that's where the Messiah was to be born.

You can also tell their arrival is later by Matthew referring to Jesus as a "child," not a baby, and the place this new family was staying is a "house," not a stable. This is why, when Herod finds out the wise men will not be returning to him, he kills all the boys in Bethlehem who were under the age of two. Jesus would have been just under that age.

Also, the Bible never says there are "three kings of orient." It is an assumption, based on the number of types of gifts presented. We only know that it was more than one, as it does use the plural to reference them.

Having said that, what do we know about them and what can we learn from them. We know they were wise, and not just because we call them wise men. From the little we read of them in the biblical text, we can know that they studied science (the stars), politics (they head to Jerusalem to find a Jewish king) and religion (they know this King is worthy of not just allegiance, but worship). These are the best and brightest of their day.

Educated in all the proper fields of study, the magi of that day would be like combining the best traits of our politicians, professors and preachers. But these wise men had something that seemingly no politician, few professors and, unfortunately, not enough preachers have - humility, enough of it to recognize when they needed others.

Going off what they knew, the wise men could only get so far. They knew that a sign in the sky indicated that a special king was recently born to the Jewish people and He was worthy of their worship. However, that's about all they knew. They came to Jerusalem to ask King Herod about a royal child who had been born. Where else would a royal Jewish boy King be living?

It would not have been hard for these privileged travelers to hear the answer and be dismissive. Bethlehem, you say? Why on Earth would a King be born in a dingy, little town like that? No, no, he couldn't have been born there. Thankfully, the wise men weren't like that. They had some knowledge, yes, but they needed more to achieve their end - worship of the King.

How often do we insist that our knowledge is enough and we don't need anymore from anyone else? How absolutely arrogant to think that we have God all figured out? That's not to say, "Throw all orthodox and doctrine out the window," the wise men did know some facts. It is to say, however, that much of what we elevate to orthodox and doctrine do not deserve such an elevation and may in fact be a hinderance to our own theological advancement.

If you have everything solved, what's left to search? God is a mystery to us. That's because He is a Being far beyond us and also because it reminds us to keep seeking, keep chasing, keep trying to understand more and more of Him. Hold firm to the foundation of historical Christian orthodox teaching, but other ideas can be held much more loosely.

Also, how many of us, when confronted with a seeker such as the magi, would venture to lead them, as Herod did, in a purely self-interested way? Obviously, we wouldn't be after murder, but maybe we would be after personal notoriety or a convert, not to Christ, but our individual theological persuasion. Far too often we are more concerned that someone become a Calvinist, a Baptist, a Presbyterian, a Molinist, a Pentecostal or whatever the case may be, more than we desire to see them simply become a follower of Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit and Scripture to work upon their conscience to direct them later.

The wise men were great men who were greatly humbled by the emergence of this new King. As Christmas is once again behind us, may we follow in their footsteps. May humility lead us to the feet of our King, where we will lay down all our treasures, trophies and triumphs. May we recognize that only humility will ever lead us to the feet of our King.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Luke 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

He was here when Heaven touched Earth: The Trinity

2011-12-23T06:30:00.000-05:00

This is the fifth and final part in a Christmas series this week on those who were there the moment when God Incarnate came out into our world, when Heaven touched Earth.

What was God thinking during this? Is it even possible for our finite brains to comprehend His infinite mind and thoughts. Obviously, we know God said "His thoughts are not our thoughts." We can never truly grasp what God was thinking, but do know that Christmas and the Incarnation is the decision and work of the entire Godhead. The Trinity was present and active during Christmas.

Nativity stained glass window at Trinity Church in Boston, MA

Holy Spirit - He was the Person of God directly responsible for the miraculous conception of Mary with the divine Son. In response to Mary's question of how exactly she could have a baby since she was a virgin, the angel responded:

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore, the holy One to be born
will be called the Son of God.

Despite His intricate role in bringing about the Incarnation, the Holy Spirit is often ignored for His part. It seems that is His preferred way of operating. He desires to bring glory to Jesus. Still it must have been strange. From the beginning, we see the Word (Jesus, according to John 1) and the Spirit working together to accomplish the will of the Father.

Here the Son and the Spirit are again bringing about the Father's will, but this is unique in all of history. The Spirit is causing Mary to become miraculously pregnant and her child will be the eternal Son of God. The baby will be God, as much as the Holy Spirit is also God.

Father - This was the Father's will, from the moment of the incarnation to the last breath of Christ on the cross (and beyond through the resurrection). The plan had been set in motion the very second God decided to create. The Son was (and is) the "Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." By choosing to create, God was in essence condemning His Son to die. All of our history had been leading up to this moment of the incarnation, but for the Father, this has been a certainty before time even existed.

Do we dare personify God's emotions at this moment? What would I, as a father, feel about my sons following me in obedience, doing something of the greatest of all eternal significance, but that I knew would end in their deaths? How would I even put into words my thoughts and emotions? It has been said that God had only one Son and He made Him a missionary. Perhaps that is the closest relation we would be able to experience here - sending a son away into a deadly mission field to proclaim the Gospel.

I honestly have no idea how we would verbalize what was going through the mind of God during these moments of rejoicing for all mankind. But this I do know, the Father was there.

Son - I've written frequently this week about all of the wonders involved in God the Son become Jesus, Mary's son. Nothing I could write, however, could top what Athanasius said in his famous apologetic work, On the Incarnation. The early church leader stood "against the world" in defending the Trinity, more specifically the full deity of Jesus.

In one sense, indeed, He was not far from it before, for no part of creation had ever been without Him Who, while ever abiding in union with the Father, yet fills all things that are. But now He entered the world in a new way, stooping to our level in His love and Self-revealing to us. He saw the reasonable race, the race of men that, like Himself, expressed the Father's Mind, wasting out of existence, and death reigning over all in corruption. He saw that corruption held us all the closer, because it was the penalty for the Transgression; He saw, too, how unthinkable it would be for the law to be repealed before it was fulfilled. He saw how unseemly it was that the very things of which He Himself was the Artificer should be disappearing. He saw how the surpassing wickedness of men was mounting up against them; He saw also their universal liability to death. All this He saw and, pitying our race, moved with compassion for our limitation, unable to endure that death should have the mastery, rather than that His creatures should perish and the work of His Father for us men come to nought, He took to Himself a body, a human body even as our own.

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When Heaven touched Earth, the Trinity was there. The Holy Spirit brought about the miraculous conception. The Father implemented the plan that had been set before the foundation of time to redeem man. The Son was lying in a manager and sustaining all of creation.

The animals in the stable show how the lowly becomes the holy. The shepherds remind us that the dirty often experience the divine. With the angels, we find that the angelic is amazed by the good news they proclaimed. In Mary and Joseph, the ordinary has become so extraordinary. Now, God has become man. Deity has taken on humanity. Because of this fact, we can say, "Joy to the world!"

They were there when Heaven touched Earth: Mary & Joseph

2011-12-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

This is the fourth part in a Christmas series this week on those who were there the moment when God Incarnate came out into our world, when Heaven touched Earth.

A very pregnant newlywed wife and her devoted husband travel across the country and endure looks of disgust and whispers of shame. They've arrived in this town, along with hundreds of relatives from near and far, none of whom can find room for the tired couple. Maybe all the hotel rooms are full or maybe they're ashamed to be around the now infamous couple. Maybe they are afraid of being caught up in the gossip.

So it's just the two of them ... well, now the three of them. They know what they have both been told, by an angel no less. Still, it's difficult, yet excited, yet terrifying, yet amazing. Being newlyweds is life-changing enough. Having a child is even more dramatic. But having this child, this very special child who holds so much promise in his tiny little hands, words can't really describe it. Moments can only be treasured in the heart.

How often do we blow through the Christmas story as if it were common place? Yeah, yeah, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in a manager. We've heard it all before. We've heard it, but have we listened to it? Have we actually taken the time to think about what all of this meant for Mary and Joseph? They didn't read about this - they lived it.

Photo from Sxc.hu by Stefan Wagner

The social shame must have been virtually unbearable. (An interesting twist on the story, that may help some better understand the situation is the video A Social Network Christmas.) Were it not for their faith in the God of Israel, their hope in the promise of the coming Messiah, and, tangibly, the visit from an angel, this couple could have never made it.

Unwed pregnancy has lost much of its stigma, for better and worse, in our society. Women are as shamed as they once were, but marriage is not valued as it should be. In their culture, Mary could have been put to death for her pregnancy. All a very hurt Joseph would have had to do was give the word and the religious leaders would have sought to stone her.

Mary, like most engaged women of her day, was likely in her early teens. This young lady found herself in the unlikeliest of positions. She was living a normal, if pious, life, seeking to serving God and prepare herself for marriage. That all changed in an instant. An angel said she was highly favored, but what exactly did that mean? She was told she would give birth to the long awaited Savior. But, this would be impossible, she has saved herself for marriage. She would become pregnant miraculously, the angel explained, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It was all too much. She can't handle such pressure. What will her family think? What will Joseph think? There's no way she can agree to this. Everything about this screams, "No!" Instead, she simply responds in trusts and agrees to all the angel has told her. The angel leaves and Mary is alone. With her thoughts. With her trust in God. And soon with a growing child in her womb.

Meanwhile, Joseph has already decided to do the most noble thing he could do in the situation - quietly divorce Mary. He couldn't bear to have her killed. He didn't want to publicly shame her by dragging her name through the mud around town with a very visible divorce. Obviously, he felt that she was happier with someone else or that she was not the type of person he thought she was. Either way, the best thing would be to let her go her own way. An angel saw to it that Joseph understood exactly what was going on.

It was such a real and relevant dream. A messenger from God appeared and told him all about the situation with Mary, but said that Joseph didn't have all the information. Mary was indeed pregnant, but that she was still a virgin and the child would be a special child. The special child. He will be Immanuel - God with us. His name will be Jesus - He will save His people from their sins. Joseph knew what had to be done. Ignoring the public disgrace, Joseph does the honorable thing, in the midst of the most dishonorable accusations against he and his now wife Mary.

Now looking down at this newborn baby boy, it is so difficult to comprehend just who He really is. These hands that stretched out the foundations of the universe, are now just big enough to wrap around their fingers. These tiny hands that stretched out the universe and now grip their fingers, will one day be stretched out on a cross to bring about God's promise of salvation and the redemption of all of mankind from the Fall.

The Holy One has become the lowly one. The Divine has become the dirty. The One worshipped in all glory and power by the angels, now amazes them with his helplessness. And Mary and Joseph look on. From ordinary to extraordinary.

Was it only just a few months ago, less than a year, that they were merely a simple engaged couple in a tiny town in yet another conquered Roman province. To everyone around them they were two ordinary, yet righteous, individuals. They were devout in their faith, but nothing about them indicated they were destined to be world changers. But that had been God's plan, they had been God's plan from the beginning, before the beginning. The ordinary would be the extraordinary. The plan hasn't changed.

Most of the time, you feel pretty ordinary, don't you? Is there anything about you that is really all that important? Absolutely. You are made in the image of this God and He desires to use you as He did Mary and Joseph. For the Christian, how can you be ordinary when you have the extraordinary God living inside of you, in the Person of the Holy Spirit?

God turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. He's been doing that for awhile.

They were there when Heaven touched Earth: the angels

2011-12-21T06:30:00.000-05:00

This is the third part in a Christmas series this week on those who were there the moment when God Incarnate came out into our world, when Heaven touched Earth.

We can connect with the shepherds. Most of us know in someway what it means to be ostracized. We can even relate to the animals. We've been around pets and farm animals. But what about the other beings that have become synonymous with Christmas - the angels?

Photo from Sxc.hu by Fred Fokkelman

How strange it must have been for the angels. Can you imagine what they were thinking during Jesus' birth? The Son they have worshipped since their creation is being born into His creation. The Creator and Sustainer of the stars, the One who stretched them out across the heavens, is coming down to live (and die) beneath them.

It had to be hard to understand for the angels. They long to look into the Gospel and the way that salvation works, but as beings who never fell (or permanently fell, as the case is for the demons) it is beyond their comprehension.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you concerning things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things. [1 Peter 1:10-12, emphasis mine]

Here they are proclaiming good news to the shepherds, but they have no idea exactly what it is they are proclaiming. Angels desire to look into these things, but they still proclaim them nonetheless. They know it's God's plan, so it must be good news. They know that all of history has been leading up to this moment. This is when the foreshadowing becomes the climax of the story. This is when God Himself becomes man. But, why? It is a mystery to the angels.

Why would God stoop so low? Why would the Son become Immanuel - God with us, God with humanity? Us humans are by no means deserving of this "honor." It is not a noble thing that God has become one of us. It is because of our ignobility, our sin, our rebellion, our Fall, that the Son has become a son. God's Son is now Mary and Joseph's son.

In this little manger, outside of a overcrowded inn, at a small town with a deep history dawns something new in every way. The lowly becomes holy. The dirty experiences the divine. The angelic are amazed. This great mystery is unfolding before their eyes, as they praise God unaware of precisely what it all means.

I can relate to that. I know what it is like to stare at the pages of my Bible, pondering the depths of the incarnation, only to come away simply amazed. How did it all happen? How is the little helpless babe the same one who is simultaneously sustaining all of creation? How is the tiny Christ child both fully God and fully Man? How is it that God would love us so much to send His Son to this place, this broken, damaged place? Why would He bare our self-inflicted wounds?

Those are mysteries that I, like the angels, will never completely understand, but I, unlike the angels can experience it firsthand. That's the miracle of the first Christmas. The mystery of the Gospel becomes a reality in our world because a baby was born in a stable filled with animals, visited by shepherds and praised by angels, who could never comprehend what it all meant.

They were there when Heaven touched Earth: the shepherds

2011-12-20T00:56:00.000-05:00

This is the second part in a Christmas series this week on those who were there the moment when God Incarnate came out into our world, when Heaven touched Earth.

Jesus came into this world as a helpless baby immediately surrounded by animals who were anxious for him to move out of their feeding trough. At least the first visitors for the newborn King would be some local, national or even foreign dignitaries or leaders, right? It couldn't be men from the lowest of all professions who were ostracized from their own people. It wouldn't be the shepherds, would it?

As we saw yesterday, God has a tendency to transform the lowly into the holy. Shepherds would be the first to see Mary, Joseph and God Incarnate.

Photo from Sxc.hu by Constantin Jurcut

Do you know who wanted to be a shepherd in the first century? No one. Shepherding was the job for the man who could get no other job. It wasn't a resume building job, a stepping-stone position to move upward. It was a stigma.

Oh, you're a shepherd. You would hear it said almost in disgust. They were like the lowest of the low manual labor jobs today, a necessary evil. People wanted the job done, but they didn't want to do it themselves or have any of their family be involved in it.

This past Sunday, our pastor preached on the shepherds and brought out some very interesting facts about first century shepherds. Living outside with the sheep could be a very dangerous job. If you remember, David killed both a lion and a bear while he was shepherding his father's sheep.

One of the worst facets of the job is that shepherds were maligned by the very people they helped the most - the religious leaders. The sacrificial system needed animals. The priests and scribes were certainly not going to care for those animals, so it was left to the shepherds. That job, however, forced the men to work on the Sabbath and violate a multitude of the Pharisees' laws. Not only were these men considered physical unclean, they were spiritual unclean.

Just like with the animals, however, the shepherds were going to be a special part of God the Father's plan for bringing His Son into this world. This time, the dirty would experience the divine.

On what would have probably been just another night, watching sheep outside of the city, away from everyone else, the shepherds suddenly hear a strange noise, see a brilliant light and come face to face with a creature who spends his existence in the presence of God and who looks the part. You can excuse the terror of the shepherds.

As our pastor reminded us, God hasn't spoken to His people in hundreds of years. Why would He be speaking again now through this angel? How could it be anything be news of judgement, a reason to fear?

Yet, what did the angel tell the shepherds? "Fear not." What was his message about? "I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." It wasn't a terror filled proclamation of judgement. It was a joy inducing announcement of good news or, quite literally, the Gospel.

The shepherds, after hearing the message, leave their sheep to go find this baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding trough. This is a King they can identify with - one born in a barn and sleeping in hay and donkey slobber.

After experiencing this wonder of a Child for themselves, they ran off and told everyone about Him. People were amazed - probably both at the message and the messengers. Has God really spoke again? Is the Messiah really here? Were shepherds actually the first to hear?

They are the first missionaries. The shepherds hear a message about Christ, leave everything, experience Him personally and then go tell others about Him. In that sense, not much has changed in 2,000 years. We hear the good news. We leave behind everything to find and follow Him personally. Then, we go and tell others all about it. The plan seems to work.

The lowly becomes the holy and the dirty experiences the divine. If that is the case, why am I so often concerned with being the opposite? Why do I fight against being treated lowly? Why would I avoid the "dirty" jobs?

The King of Kings wasn't born in a palace, but rather in a barn surrounded by animals. The Prince of Peace wasn't first greeted by royalty, but rather by shepherds straight from their flocks.

Perhaps, when we run away from those things in our lives, we run away from the very places where God so often shows up. Yes, our Father does want the very best for our lives, but sometimes His very best is hidden behind dirty sheep herders and in the midst of smelly animals. The question becomes - are we willing to look for Him there?

They were there when Heaven touched Earth: the animals

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

This is the first part in a Christmas series this week on those who were there the moment when God Incarnate came out into our world, when Heaven touched Earth.

We get cute kids to play them and make animal noises, but that's far from the reality of the first Christmas. The animals who would have been there in the stable would have been dirty, smelly farm animals. The Son of God. The Savior of the World. The King of Kings. Born in borrowed feeding trough with donkeys waiting on him to move so they could get back to eating their hay.

Why did the Father choose this of all the locations on Earth to send His Son into this world? Why have Him surrounded by animals?

Think this donkey is cute? Would you want your baby to be delivered right beside it?
Photo from RGBstock.com by Michael Zacharzewski

Mankind is created in the very image of God. Animals are not. Mankind was brought to life by God breathing His breathe into us. Animals were not. The animals were brought to Adam to be named. Only humankind was capable of such a task. Man and Woman were clearly valued above animals, so why here at this, the most pivotal moment of history, is God's Son making his grand entrance in the presence of lowly farm animals?

Besides Mary and Joseph, the first creatures on Earth that saw the newborn baby King were the animals. They weren't cute, cuddly, clean animals. They were dirty, outside, working animals. Heaven has come to the lowest part of Earth and made it holy.

One of the nastiest places on our planet at that time would have been the stables of the animals and here comes this baby to make this place special, make these animals historic. They were just lowly farm animals. It was just a dirty barn. Yet, now they are forever different. The lowly becomes the holy.

Mankind is the apex of God's creation, but he is not the sovereign ruler. That title belongs only to God. Man is a steward, charged with caring for all that God has created. He does not have the right to do things as he pleases. He is to rule in light of the commands of the King. He is to care for creation, including the animals that are here at the manger.

We should be better stewards of the resources and animals that God has placed here on our planet because we recognize that God chose to bring Jesus into their midst. He chose the lowest place for His highest gift.

That should extend outside of the way we view animals, but also to all of creation, including humans. Whatever and whoever we see as low or dirty and undignified, even if it is ourselves, we should recognize God's tendency to use those very things and those very people. That theme will become even more clear tomorrow with the first group of people told of the good news of Jesus' birth.

But for today, we see the animals there in the stable reminding us of our role as stewards over creation and showing us that God uses the lowly for the holy.

The five women who made Christmas possible

2011-12-13T06:30:00.000-05:00

When retelling the Christmas story, where do you begin - the birth itself, the shepherds visited by the angels, Joseph's dream and angel visit, Gabriel appearing to Mary, or maybe the story of John the Baptist's birth?

For Matthew, the tax collector turned disciple, the answer was simple - Abraham. It seems like such an odd place to start the story of Jesus coming as the Messiah, but Jesus showed that he was the Messiah because He came as the Old Testament taught He would.

While Matthew starts with Abraham and goes through a fairly standard genealogy to arrive at Jesus, he takes five very interesting detours. Family trees always mentioned the men. In patristic societies, the ultimate concern was, "Who was the father?" While Matthew does move the genealogy along from father to son, he also mentions five women, whose purposeful inclusion can give us a fuller understanding of Christmas and the God who came down to us as a helpless baby.

Photo from MorgueFile.com

Often, people have some reason as to why they could never accomplish anything significant for Christ. These five women that made Christmas possible show that five common excuses are no match for God's sovereignty and His desire to use you.

1. Tamar (Gen. 38), Matthew 1:3
Horrible circumstances are no match - Tamar's first two husbands, sons of Judah, were evil and put to death by God. Judah told Tamar to wait until his youngest son was old enough to marry her. She did, but Judah forgot about her until his own wife died. Tamar dressed as a prostitute to trick Judah, who failed to give her a husband. Their "unusual" union produced twin boys, one of which is in the lineage of Jesus.

2. Rahab (Joshua 2), Matthew 1:5
Sinful past is no match - Unlike Tamar, Rahab didn't just dress like a prostitute. She was a prostitute. But she saw the Israelite army at Jericho and turned herself and her family over to them and their God, leaving behind her people, her gods and her profession. Rahab married a Jewish man named Salmon and they have a son named Boaz, the great-grandfather of King David, a part of the Messianic line.

3. Ruth (Book of Ruth), Matthew 1:5
Bad family tree is no match - Like Tamar and Rahab, Ruth was a foreigner. She wasn't Jewish. She didn't worship the God of Israel. In fact, she only married an Israelite because his family disobeyed God and left the promised land to come to Moab. Ruth, however, became fully devoted to her new Jewish family and the God of Israel. She overcome the checkered history of the Moabites and became the great-grandmother to King David.

4. Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12), Matthew 1:6
Wrong choices are no match - Interestingly, Matthew does not include Bathsheba's name. He writes the names of all the other women, but for Bathsheba he refers to her as "Uriah's wife." Perhaps this is a reminder that before she became David's wife, she was married to Uriah and only became David's wife after he kills Uriah when his attempted cover-up of his affair with Bathsheba is foiled by Uriah's honor. Despite all of the sin that took place with David and Bathsheba, God's plan would still be honored and their son, Solomon would be king and in the line of Jesus.

5. Mary (Book of Luke), Matthew 1:16
Age is no match - Mary was a young girl, most likely an early teenager, when she was told she would become the mother of the Messiah. So much had to be racing through her mind when Gabriel told her of God's plan. She was just now preparing herself for marriage to Joseph and now she finds out she is going to become miraculously pregnant, out of wedlock, with God made flesh. She was chosen from all of the girls in history for this great, shocking responsibility, despite being so young.

________________________________________

How often do we feel as if we could never be used by God because of our circumstances, our past, our family, our wrong choices, our age or some other excuse? These five ladies were used by God to bring about the greatest miracle of all - the Incarnation. Never doubt God's desire and ability to use you to accomplish His will.

What is "the spirit of Christmas"?

2011-12-12T12:52:00.002-05:00

According to Wikipedia and Google, when you say "the spirit of Christmas," you are either talking about:
• an animated mini-movie made by the creators of South Park,
• a series of Christmas albums made in Australia,
• a reference to spiked eggnog,
• three Charles Dickens characters,
• or "a general feeling of emotional beneficence associated with Christmas." (If you are like me and you need the specific definition of beneficence, you can find that here.)

For most of us that means we think of the spirit of Christmas as having this desire to do good and act kindly. Too bad that's wrong, as well.

Now, do not get me wrong. Doing good, acting kind - great things. I'm a fan of those. I have no problem with someone wanting to be nice to others, but those things are not the underlying spirit on which Christmas is based. The spirit of Christmas is something that we want others to have, but something we rarely want to do what it takes to have it in our own lives. The actual, real, true spirit of Christmas is humility.

OK, but what is it? Photo illustration from Jennifer's Blog

In December, churches often go through passages of Scripture that relate to Christmas. Last year, our student pastor, who, similar to me, sometimes goes about things in an unusual manner, picked several passages that were unusual and not often associated with Christmas. One that he used was Philippians 2:1-11. It is here where we find what the spirit of Christmas is?

Paul instructs the believers at Philippi to treat one another with humility and then he gives Jesus as the primary example of this.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
   did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
   by taking the very nature of a servant,
   being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
   he humbled himself
   by becoming obedient to death—
      even death on a cross!

Perhaps we often forget this, but Jesus' trip from heaven to earth was a humbling one, even a humiliating one. He left His perfect existence as God the Son, basking in the Oneness of He, the Father and the Spirit, drawing in the worship of the angels, ruling and reigning from the throne of heaven, to come to earth.

Not just coming to earth, but to come to earth, emptying Himself and becoming a helpless, vulnerable baby.

Not just a baby, but a baby born to a poor, socially shunned (because of His unexpected arrival) couple that was just now learning about being married to each other, much less about this special child from God they had been given.

Not just coming to earth as a helpless baby to a poor couple, but entering this world in a moment where his mother and adoptive father could find no real place to stay and no hospital for the baby's arrival. He was born in a barn and laid down in a feeding trough.

The King of Kings, who had ruled in heaven, had been foretold since creation, worshiped by men and angels, longed for by kings and prophets left perfection to come to this world, take on our frailness and flesh, be born and laid down, only after the donkeys were shooed out of the way, in an animal feeding trough.

Who were the first visitors of this newborn King? Shepherds, the people with the lowliest job of their day. The first century janitor, fast food worker, UPS box loader, manual laborer were the first set of human eyes, outside of the parents, to see God in flesh.

The true spirit of Christmas is a humble heart echoing the heart of one who would leave heaven to come here. Because we often forget, C.S. Lewis aptly explains humility to us: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." To be in the true spirit of Christmas is to not really be thinking of yourself at all.

If you want to experience Christmas this year, pour your life into others, never once thinking about what you will get in return. Even when we do good things, we still think about what we get in return. We want the "warm feeling" or "to feel appreciated." Even if it is nothing tangible, we still expect something in return for our acting "humble." We have missed it.

Possessing the spirit of Christmas is having the attitude or mind of Christ. It is having and displaying humility, but not even knowing that we are because we are so concerned with others. Most of us aren't there yet, but this is the perfect time to continue striving. What better time to display the true spirit of Christmas.

This is an edited repost.

Top 5 gift-exchange gifts everybody brings, but nobody wants

2011-12-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

Tis' the season for hostile gift exchanges. Fa la la la la la la la battle!

Not all gift exchanges break out into hostilities, but the chance is always there. There's always that one gift that everyone wants and who knows how it shakes out. But, if it goes down wrong, you may want to take the gigantic tin of popcorn you got and run.

The gift exchange game is why you get married before Christmas. OK, maybe it's not the only reason why you get married, but the wedding can pay for itself with all the gift exchange wins. OK, maybe it won't "pay" for the wedding or really even the corsage, but you do double your chances of scoring the sought-after gift.

Married people can work together, use some strategy and plan out their alloted "steals" to take home the top gifts. Single people? Well single people are reduced to taking home the gifts no one really wants. They get the gifts that everyone always brings, but nobody really wants. If you are single or you and your spouse are really bad at the gift exchange games, these are the top 5 gifts you can go ahead and prepare yourself for - these are all you.

What does gift-exchange Santa have in his bag for you? Probably this ugly gift-exchange Santa.
Photo from RGBstock.com by John Nyberg

5. Fruitcake - I seriously believe it takes effort to make two great things (fruit and cake) come together to form something so universally despised, yet perpetually given. Nothing says Christmas quite like the fruitcake that has been re-gifted 12 times since the first get together in early December.

Just so you know, I'm not talking about your fruitcake. Your fruitcake is amazing. It's all those other people reading this that make and give bad fruitcakes. You keep making your fruitcake. I would love to have your fruitcake for Christmas. Just make sure you give it to me earlier in the month. I mean, I want to enjoy the seasonal deliciousness for the whole month. No, of course I'm not going to re-gift your fruitcake. Your fruitcake is truly special.

4. Sausage and cracker platter - How do these companies stay in business all year long? Do you ever see these sausage and cracker treys any time but Christmas? Go to a church gift giving and every other box is a plastic sealed platter of meat, cheese and crackers. The really good ones throw in a single strawberry hard candy.

I mock these, but I do actually like these. One night last Christmas I grabbed a knife and one of these platters and went to town. I was like the Lebron James of cutting off pieces of processed meats, hunks of cheese and slapping them on a cracker. The skill and efficiency displayed was so amazing, it was almost a work of art.

3. Chocolate-covered cherries - If every other gift opened at a church Christmas party is a sausage and cracker platter, the other one is a box of the chocolate covered cherries. Once again, something that only appears during Christmas.

Its hard economic times. These companies are going to have to start diversifying their sales. I noticed Peeps have moved beyond Easter to other seasonal marshmallows covered in colored sugar. Chocolate-covered cherries should do the same. Paint them green for St. Patrick's Day. Shape them like a heart for Valentines. Put them in a recycled box for Earth Day. You've got to start making money year around.

2. Tacky Christmas decorations - Yes, I realize it is Christmas. Yes, I realize that the stores are full of Christmas decorations. But answer me this, if you give me a Christmas decoration right now what can I do with it? It's pretty much going straight into storage for me. I realize most crazy Americans start listening to Christmas music and decorating for December sometime between July 4 and Labor Day, or maybe the first day it dips below 85º outside, but at my house we are doing good to get the Christmas tree up before Santa shows up.

But the worst part about these gifts, is that it is rarely ever a Christmas decoration anyone would want to display. Once I got a blue snowman toilet seat cover, which would have been bad enough, but the snow man actually had a carrot nose that stuck out from the top of cover in what would have been a horribly compromising spot had you sat down on top of it. Needless to say, that one was directly re-gifted. Someone else can have that hazard in their house.

1. Snuggie - Why was this ever invented? Who was so lazy that this needed to be made because they couldn't A) put on some more clothes or B) reach their arms out from under a blanket? Also, how is this even "invented"? It's a fleece bathrobe put on backwards, except in Germany. They have electric Snuggies, which brings up a whole new set of concerns.

At one gift exchange, I saw three Snuggies. Three Snuggies. There were only four people. OK, there were more than four people, but still I thought it was theoretically impossible for that much Snuggie to be in the same physical location at the same time. I was under the impression that the sheer volume of infommercial cheesiness would create a tear in the space-time continuum. I suppose we were simply lucky - no one brought a Sham-WOW.

_____________________________________

What are some of the worst gift-exchange gifts you've been stuck with? What's your record for number of Snuggies in one gift game?

WWJO: What Would Jesus Occupy?

2011-12-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams wasn't going to let Pope Benedict be the only world religious leader trying to capitalize on the Occupy Movement. The leader of the Anglican Church declared that Jesus would not just express solidarity with the protesters, but would be there "sharing the risks."

His declaration of Jesus' presumed support of the protest movement was, however, not the most troubling thing Archbishop Williams said in his interview on the subject. The most concerning subject was his apparent ignorance of basic biblical understanding.

Photo from TheNation.com

If you are like me, you are slightly tired of people declaring what specific modern political movement or idea Jesus would or would not support? We know what principles Jesus gave us. We know the moral foundation that God established in Scripture. Those are there to guide and teach us.

On numerous issues, we can know clearly what Jesus would or would not do. Many of these issues, however, have so many factors at play and so many variables that are not dealt with specifically in Scripture that pronouncements like that of Archbishop Williams seems presumptuous.

This pales in comparison to biblical rationale he gave to defend his statement. The Archbishop referenced Jesus' statement, in response to a trick question by the Pharisees, to "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar." This is to be understood, according to the leader of the worldwide Anglican Church, as Jesus asking “what’s the exact point at which involvement in the empire of capitalist economy involves you fatally.”

Wait, what?

On what interpretive planet, does Jesus' answer about a question on taxes speak to being overly involved in "the empire of capitalist economy"? The economic system of capitalism was not even developed until over 1,500 years after Jesus spoke these words.

Words matter, the words of Scripture even more. It is the Word. Simply because you personally support some social or political cause, you do not have the right to completely change what words mean, particularly those in the Bible.

Jesus statement in Matthew 22:21 may provide us with some economic policy principles, but nothing in that verse or the surrounding context give any indication that Jesus would be anti-capitalist and part of the Occupy Movement.

Would Jesus challenge the way Christians view, spend and handle their money? Absolutely. Would he only do so against the "1%"? Not hardly. While on Earth, Jesus always went to the heart of the matter and that stretches beyond economic brackets.

What would Jesus occupy? He would invade and occupy each of our comfort zones to force us out of them. He would challenge our thoughts, motives and behaviors. That's where Jesus is occupying.

Atheist family demands attention, also puts up skeleton Santa crucifix, but mostly demands attention

2011-12-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

Every parent knows the behavior. When a child doesn't feel like they are getting enough attention, they lash out and do something to make people look at them.

Apparently, some atheists feel like the ignored child during Christmas. They make ad campaigns begging you to notice. They set up a "Tree of Knowledge" (yeah, they actually called it a Tree of Knowledge) instead of a Christmas tree. But this latest one may be the most "Look at me! Look at me!" act yet - some atheists nailed a skeleton Santa to a cross and put it among other Christmas displays outside a Virginia court.

Maybe they were Nightmare Before Christmas fans?

This is the by-product over the idiotic new batch of rules governing ~~Christmas~~ ... er ... Holiday displays. Towns cannot have Christmas displays because acknowledging a religious holiday is establishing a religion or something.

In 2009, Leesburg, VA banned all holiday displays. Last year, they changed their policy to allow the first 10 displays to be placed in front of the courthouse. This year, a mother and son belonging to a local atheist group were able to place one of the ten displays - they chose to put up a skeleton in a Santa suit, nailed to a cross.

Someone thought it was intentionally offensive and they tore it down, leaving it lying on the ground all day Monday, until the mother and son took it away that night. Someone thought it was intentionally offensive, but not someone from a local atheist group. "The message to me at least," said Jonathan Weintraub, of the group NOVA Atheists, "is that the meaning of Christmas, which is about faith and family, is dead and has been replaced by commercialism."

Yes, we all know evangelical atheists are regular Charlie Browns, concerned over the commercialization of Christ's birth and the replacing of faith with materialism. Seriously? I'm more offended that Jonathan Weintraub believes Christians are that stupid than I am over the ridiculous display that points more toward the pettiness and self-absorption of the atheists than anything else.

Atheists could do a display that draws attention to any of their celebratory traditions. They could do something that speaks to what would unite people of faith with the irreligious. They could get over themselves and quietly and simply celebrate Christmas in their own manner and allow Christians to do the same. Or they could be jerks and rub a mocking display in the faces of those that disagree with them.

Yes, the atheists have (and should have) freedom of speech. No, the Christian does not (and should not) have the freedom from everything that may offend them. But neither does the atheist have the right to do something offensive and then demand that no one get offended by it or pretend as if you were not being offensive.

If you want to be an arrogant, self-absorbed atheist, at least own it. Don't do an attention grabbing, religiously offensive display and then say, "Who me?!? Why would you ever think little ol' me would do such a thing?"

I get it. Being an atheist can be difficult, especially during Christmas, but that doesn't mean you can behave like a spoiled child demanding attention. Rational adults can discuss the matter calmly. It seems odd that the atheists, who are supposedly centered on rationality, would behave in such an irrational manner.

The skull and bones Santa nailed to the cross will be returning to his display site soon. Christians should leave it up. It provides the perfect contrast between the worldviews involved. The choice is clear - a living Savior or a lifeless skeleton, sacrifice or selfishness, peace or pride. The atheists are making the case for Christianity better than I ever could.

University of Buffalo: Intolerance will not be tolerated

2011-12-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

In many ways, New York has found a new rival. The battles with Boston and Red Sox Nation have taken a backseat. New York has bigger fish to fry. They are going after a Kingdom. New York has essentially decided that Christianity is an unwanted nuisance.

Over at The Wardrobe Drawer, you can read about the Supreme Court refusing to hear an appeal by churches in NYC that have been banned from using public schools as gathering places. The city ruling specifically forbids religious groups from renting the facilities.

Meanwhile, at the University of Buffalo, the campus chapter of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship has been suspended following an accusation by the groups secretary that leadership of the club asked him to resign after it became know he was gay. The leadership of the group has to sign a "faith-based agreement."

Photo from RGBstock.com by Bill Davenport

How asinine has the push for "tolerance" above all else become? Look at the statement by the Student Association lawyer at Buffalo in the case with InterVarsity. It reads, in part, that "SA clubs – even religiously focused clubs – may not deny membership or participation on the basis of a student not professing a belief in a particular faith advocated by that club, and may not require students to sign a statement of commitment to pray and participate in a local church."

The very point of clubs is to join together members, students, in the case of college clubs, who share some common interest. They have chosen to unite around a shared interest or idea. Why rule that religious clubs cannot limit their membership to those within that particular religion? Should Jewish students be on the executive committee of the Muslim student group? Even outside of religion, what does it prove to have a Republican be the vice president of the campus' Democrats club?

Forcing religious groups to allow members and even leaders who do not agree with the core morality (or even the religion itself) of the club is not really tolerance. It's forced pluralism. The ruling is enshrining a particular position into the guidelines of the university's student organizations - every student group had to agree that the position of every other student group or individual student is just as valid as their own.

The major problem with that position is that it is self-defeating. It declares that every position must be treated equally and accepted as the same, except the position that every position should not be treated equally and that some ideas are better than others. Intolerance is something they will not ... tolerate.

Not only does their position actually display the very thing they wish to rid the campus of - intolerance, it also shows itself to be contradictory to reality. It should be obvious that American democracy is morally better than Nazi fascism. A principle of protecting life is clearly better than one of destroying life. The forced pluralism of the University of Buffalo would require you to see no significant difference. In fact, pluralism would say that intolerance is no worse than tolerance.

It appears that while the University of Buffalo has devoted considerable amount of time to which freedoms it will allow its students, it has not concerned itself with teaching logic to anyone on the campus.

Peace: The perfect umpire

2011-12-05T02:33:00.001-05:00

As a major league umpire for over 20 years, Jim Joyce had made a lot of calls. Going into the 2010 regular season June game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, no one would think that game would provide the most memorable call of Joyce's career.

Despite only being recently called up from Triple-A, Detroit's Armando Galarraga was pitching a gem. He had complete control of all of his pitches and it showed. As the innings ticked down, the idea of a perfect game became increasingly possible.

Prior to 2010, two perfect games had never been thrown in the same season. That year, two had already been thrown that month. Galarraga was down to his last out, saved by an amazing catch in center field. He only needed to get Cleveland's Jason Donald out to secure the third perfect game of the young season.

As soon as the ball left the bat of Donald, things looked perfect. It was a routine ground ball fielded by Detroit's first baseman Miguel Cabera. Galarraga ran over to cover first and make the historic out himself.

He squeezed the glove in his mitt, stepped on first and was preparing for the soon-to-be-coming celebratory onslaught of teammates, but they never came. Joyce had called Donald safe. Despite instant replay clearly showing Galarraga beating Donald by a full step, Joyce called Donald safe and broke up the perfect game with a blown call.

After the game, everyone, even Joyce, recognized and acknowledged Donald was out. Joyce apologized to Galarraga for ruining his perfect game. But nothing could be done. While all of Detroit's players said they would view the game as a no-hitter, the record books will have Jason Donald with an infield single, denying Galarraga the no-hitter and perfect game every pitcher longs for.

As Christians, we have the perfect umpire that will never blow a call - the peace of Christ.

I don't think he's the perfect referee. Photo from SportsRubbish.com

In Colossians 3:15, Paul writes to the believers in Colossae and tells them to let peace control their hearts. The word for "control" is an interesting word in the Greek, which is only used in this verse. It gives the connotation of an umpire at an athletic event. Paul is telling the Colossians, when you have a disagreement within your church body, take it to the peace of Christ. Let peace decide the outcome of your dispute.

Can you imagine the change that would take place if we allowed peace to be the guiding factor in our disagreements? If both sides are seeking peace more than anything else, solutions would be found easily and quickly.

In 1 Corinthians 6:7, Paul tells the believers in Corinth that instead of taking each other to court, they should just put up with an injustice against them. It would be better for them to be cheated than to take their disputes outside of the church to secular courts for a decision. Peace was not being consulted, much less allowed to rule and control in those situations.

How different would all of our relationships be if we allowed peace to be the decided factor for any disagreement? Instead of worrying about protecting our rights and being right, we looked to peace to make the final call. That would end most conflict before it started - that's the point.

If the peace of Christ is the perfect umpire and we allow it to rule and govern our interaction with others, we will avoid worthless conflicts and pointless disagreements. Instead, we would be showcasing Christ to the world. We would be showing them something different. They've seen people fight until the end to prove their point. They don't often see someone seek peace above all else and allow themselves to be cheated.

Jim Joyce blew a call, costing Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Peace has never and will never blow a call. Our job is simply to seek it out during those times of difficulty in our lives, much more crucial than the record books of Major League Baseball.

Humor: Top 5 must not have toys for Christmas

2011-12-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

Every year there are lists of toys that are "the must have" toys for Christmas. Every year some of those turn out to be "the should have never been bought" toys.

One of those toys from the 90's was the Cabbage Patch Kid Snacktime Dolls. You may know them as the "Oh, no! This thing is eating my hair and won't stop" Doll. Unfortunately, the dolls, which were designed to chew and shallow fake food, didn't have an off or reverse switch and would snack on anything that got near their mouths - including the long hair of little girls. They all wanted that Cabbage Patch Kid, until they wanted the missing patch of hair on their head more.

This year, I did the work for you. You don't have to wait until a baby doll is stuck to your five-year-old's head to discover which toys you should not have bought. I found five of the best-selling toys for Christmas that are destined to be discarded, forgotten, recalled or "accidentally broken by Daddy" before Valentines Day. Here are the top 5 must not have toys for Christmas this year.

My photoshop, actual photo from RGBstock.com by Steve Woods

5. My Keepon Dancing Robot - It's a yellow blob on top of a stick. Seriously, it looks like someone melted a Peep, slapped it on top of a mini-trash can and sold it to you for $30. Yes, it dances, moves and "reacts to your touch," but if I shake it so does a melted Peep. In fact, I'd rather have a melted Peep. It would save me $29 and I could eat it when my kids got bored with it bouncing up and down.

4. Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar - Nothing says celebrating the birth of the Savior, quite like a collection of tiny alien and robot toys from a Buddhist-inspired movie series that went horribly awry after the original trilogy. The calendar itself leads up to a special Yoda dressed as Santa Claus. I would make a Santa Yoda joke, but I'm not sure how Yoda would say "Ho Ho Ho!" other than "Ho Ho Ho!" Maybe it would be "Oh Oh Oh"? How about I just have him say, "Naughty or nice, have you been?"

3. Let's Rock Elmo (or any of the previous robot Elmos ... Elmoes ... Elmi?) - Every year. Every year, somehow, they make some Elmo that parents would fight over to the death in the Walmart toy section. This year's ridiculously over-priced Elmo is wearing a black rocker shirt with a lightning bolt on it. Is anyone else worried that Elmo is going to reach down and bite the heads off of the Angry Birds?

2. Kiddy iPads - If I don't have an iPad, my kids do not need a fauxPad. Is Apple paying Leapfrog and the other toy manufacturers to build up their user base from childhood? Those things are like the old candy cigarettes. "You wanna get 'em started early." I'm fairly certain we'll see Big Bird using his "fast and fun iPhone" soon on Sesame Street, while Hasbro will have a whole line of Transformers turning into iMacs and iPods.

1. I Am T-Pain Mic - Christmas is such a magical day. The children are so excited about their presents. Love and goodwill is in the air as we celebrate Jesus' birth by hearing the little ones gather around and sing their rendition of the famous rapper's Yuletide hit "Take Your Shirt Off." Or who can forget the holiday favorite, "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)"? No kid's Christmas would be complete without the I Am T-Pain Mic. On second thought, quite possibly everyone's Christmas would be entirely complete and whole without ever seeing the I Am T-Pain Mic again.

____________________________

Did you ever get a toy that scarred (and scared) you for life? What are some of the hottest toys for sale now that you think should be gotten rid of as soon as possible - quick before the kids see it!

Giving God a gift He's not asking for

2011-12-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

Everyone has gotten that gift before. Whether its from someone you really love or someone you really ... tolerate. For some reason, you think you are getting something you really wanted. Maybe you dropped a bunch of hints. Maybe you feel like they know you well. Something is telling you this is going to be a great gift.

You tear through the paper. Open the box and then ... yikes. Not only is not what you wanted, it's exactly the opposite of what you wanted. You hate cooking and they bought you a pot. You are an indoor person and they got you a tent. The gift is so far away from what you asked for and even who you are, that it almost hurts. This person obviously doesn't know you like you thought they did. If they knew you, they would not have given you this.

What about you and God? Are the things you give Him, the things He wants from you? Does your gift to God show that you don't know Him like you should?

Photo from RGBstock.com by Sanja Gjenero

What does God want? Has He dropped any hints about what gift He would like from you? Actually He has. Psalm 40:6-8 lays out God's one item list.

You do not delight in sacrifice and offering;
You open my ears to listen.
You do not ask for a whole burnt offering or a sin offering.
Then I said, "See, I have come;
it is written about me in the volume of the scroll.
I delight to do Your will, my God;
Your instruction resides within me."

You can find the same idea in 1 Samuel 15:22, Psalm 51:16 and Amos 5:22. God's desire is not for sacrifices, but for obedience. But how often do we give God just that? We give him rituals and religion. Songs and symbols. We show off our outward trappings, as i that was what God wanted.

He's told us that He wants our obedience. But it's so much easier to give Him the motions. The appearance. However, that shows us that we may not know God like we say we do. If we knew God, if we were in His word, we would know that the desire of His heart is for our obedience, which deepens our relationship with Him.

That's the gift He wants. He wants us, through our obedience, to recognize Him as the ultimate gift. He wants to be our desire. Are we giving Him the gift He desires to receive or the gift we desire to give? God has asked for our obedience. Will you give it to Him?

Should we allow others to change our life?

2011-11-30T06:30:00.000-05:00

Working where I do, I hear lots of people having lots of different conversations. A midnight shift job attracting graduate students and high school drop-outs tends to create a diverse discussion environment.

One night while I was leaving work, I caught the middle of a conversation. One of the sentences uttered struck me as a sad commentary of American culture. One man said to the other, in almost a boastful way, "There ain't no guy, no woman, no church, nothing ain't never changed me."

We'll leave the grammar alone and look at the sentiment expressed. No one has ever changed this man. In his mind, this was a praise worthy facet of himself. For too many, even in the church, the same could be said.

Photo from Sxc.hu by Nossirom

On the surface, it sounds like not being changed by anyone or anything is something for which we should aim. Who wants to be around someone who is constantly shifting and changing depending on the varying opinions of those around them? But that is not what was said, the other extreme was suggested.

The positive alternative to being changed by everyone is not being changed by no one. You should instead strive to be selective about the people you allow in your life who can motivate, challenge, convict, encourage and even change you.

Think about your life and how empty it would be if you never shared a relationship that was close enough for them to change you in some way. How boring would your life be and how much growth would you miss out by not giving someone the privilege of changing your life?

This is an area where I struggle. I tend to limit the number and the depths of relationships I have and as a result not many people have the ability to bring about change in my life. Thankfully, I have had many individuals who have shaped me into the man I am today and others who are currently speaking into my life to make me the man God desires for me to be. But there is not enough, because it is easy to be caught up in the American myth of individualism.

As humans we were created to be in relationship. God exists in relationship (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and we image Him in that regard. If our life flows forward, never to be directed by God, through other individuals with whom we share relationships, then we will not end up the person we should be or make the impact we were meant to make.

My co-worker may have thought he was expressing a positive character trait or accomplishment in his life, but in reality he was communicating a shortcoming in his life, with which I unfortunately related. However, I do not want to see my life unchanged.

My desire is to have my friends make me a better friend, to have my wife make me a better husband, to have my children make me a better father, to have all the Christian relationships I share make me a better follower of Christ.

I need to be, we all need to be, changed by the Gospel because we are not there yet. Change is required until perfection is realized.

This is an edited repost.

Christ as Sustainer: Why this world still matters

2011-11-29T06:30:00.000-05:00

"If Christians believe that the afterlife is such a wonderful thing, why don't they just jump in front of a truck?"

That was a quote posted on Twitter by a prominent atheist blogger. Non-Christians have a huge misunderstanding of the Christian perspective on this life. More than likely, that is because many Christians have a huge misunderstanding about the Christian perspective on this life.

While we are constantly longing for the completion and fulfillment of our hope that is to come, we should recognize that this world, though fallen, is still good. It still has value to God, so it should still have value to us.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Isabelle Bart

In the hymn Paul records in Colossians 1:15-20, Christ is described as several things. The main point the apostle wanted to get across to the Colossian believers was that Christ was supreme over all. They had no need of any other secret way or special trick to get to God. They had Christ and He was all they needed.

One of the ways in which the song describes Christ is as sustainer (Col. 1:17) - by Him all things hold together. Not only is He, as one Person of the Triune God, Creator, Jesus is also the Sustainer of all that was created. It exists because of Him and it continues to exist because of Him.

Why is this important when considering a Christian view on this life and this world? It should show us that not only does Christ exhibit his sovereignty and supremacy in creating, He displays those in his sustaining of creation. Not just the creation, but the continued existence of creation proclaims the glory of our Savior. Creation, though fallen and marred by sin, still speaks of the majesty of the One who created it and sustains it.

As a Christian, I don't jump in front of a truck and kill myself because my life is to point to my Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. As a Christian, I should care whether or not this planet is harmed by human activities such as pollution. Not because I view the Earth as more important than humanity, but because I view the Earth as God's creation that declares His handiwork.

The Christian is to fight against the affects of the fall, two of which are death and a more difficult environment in which we live. Christians should fight death and attempt to live. God has given us this life to serve Him, we should seek to serve Him here as long as He will allow. We are to seek to better Earth, make it more habitable to humanity. That is part of our charge as stewards of this place.

Christians should work in fields of science and medicine finding ways to prolong life and fight the curse of death. They should seek to cultivate this planet, maximizing the God-given resources and eliminating mistreatments of them.

We are not here just to make it to there. We are here and will be there to glorify our Creator, Savior and Sustainer. There is a reason that God will make a new Heaven and a new Earth. Creation "groans" with us, longing to be remade in original perfection.

This world matters, this life matters, because Christ works continually to sustain it for us. If He does so, should we not be doing the same?

Ladies as Princesses: My wife is not "one of the guys"

2011-11-28T06:30:00.000-05:00

I remember early in our marriage, my wife and I were sitting beside each other at church. For some reason, we were aggravating each other in the pew. Eventually, she either punched me or pinched me pretty hard. All I can remember is that it hurt.

So, I did what I always did when me and my friends were going back and forth like that - I punched her back on the leg. That was not the right thing to do.

Photo from Sxc.hu by Shyle Zacharias

She shot me a look that said, "I can't believe you would do that!" In my mind all of these excuses flashed through: "You shouldn't have hurt me." "That's what you get for punching me." "I would have punched my guys friends even harder." But thankfully, I had enough sense to say, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

One of the unfortunate consequences of modern feminism, and our unknowing acceptance of its conclusions, is the rejection of the seemingly obvious biblical truth - men and women are different. I should not treat a woman the same way I treat another man.

Colossians 3:18 reminds us of the role of a husband toward his wife. "Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them." [NIV] I am to treat my wife with an attitude of gentleness. Similarly, 1 Peter 3:7 instructs the husband to live with his wife "in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life." [ESV]

This is not simply an injunction against spousal abuse, but rather a recognition that the differences involved between a man and woman require a husband to take special note of the way he treats his wife. More often, it is an issue of emotions and words, rather than fists and punches.

The other day as my wife and I were preparing to leave for a trip, she was commenting about all the work she had to do the next day. I remarked, "Wow. I don't know how you are going to do it all." Her response shocked me. "Why would you even say that?" I wasn't sure what she meant. "That's completely discouraging to me."

I apologized for the comment, but I began to think more deeply about it later. Why had I said that and why did she respond the way she did? My comment would have been entirely appropriate for another man. In fact, it would have been encouraging. I would have heard that comment as a challenge, as almost a dare. "You can't get all this done." To which I would respond with my words and actions, "Watch me."

To her, as a woman, it was not a challenge, but rather a statement of doubt. It communicated to her that I didn't believe she could accomplish all that she had before her. My comment, which was to me at worst a throw-away line and at best an encouragement to get it done, was to her a discouraging remark about her husband's lack of faith in her ability.

I've been married 10 years and I'm still learning this. My wife is my best friend, but she is not my best guy friend. She does not always appreciate my guy humor. She is not motivated to action the way another guy would be. She is not continually riveted by my breakdown of Duke's fast break offense. In other words, she's a woman. She's my wife and must be treated as such.

There is a reason that brave knights rescuing princesses from danger became a staple in human storytelling - it speaks to the needs of both men and women. Men have the desire for adventure and courage. Women long to be sought after and valued. That's not to say that men don't want to be valued or a woman cannot appreciate an adventure. But it is to say, that men and women appreciate different aspects of the classic fairy tale story.

My wife is my princess, even if I don't always treat her as such. It is my God-given responsibility to value her in that way. I am to cherish her and recognize the ways in which we are different.

That means not responding to her or attempting to communicate to her as if we were two guys who just finished a pick-up game of basketball or a video game marathon. Some day I'm going to learn this lesson for good. I hope it's today.

Humor: Top 5 Criminal Christmas Carols

2011-11-25T06:30:00.000-05:00

Have you ever turned on the radio, heard some Christmas music and thought, "I'm not sure, but it sounds like a crime is being committed in that song"? OK, maybe that thought never actually crossed your mind, but seriously, there are some carols that have strange lyrics that would bring about legal trouble in real life.

I'm not even thinking about the modern ones like the insanely annoying "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" or the expletive filled and titled Christmas song from deceased rapper Easy-E. [No link for that one, but as a friendly helpful reminder, if you do find it, don't play it at your church Christmas party. You're welcome.]

Maybe you never actually thought about the lyrics when you sang all these songs, but I promise you'll never be able to sing them again without contemplating a 911 call. Here are the Top 5 Criminal Christmas Carols.

Personal photoshop

5. Frosty the Snowman - crimes: child endangerment, ignoring the commands of a police officer. First of all, if you let your children wander around town with a snowman that "magically" came to life and told them to follow him, I'm just going to say it, you are a bad parent. I'm not letting my kids anywhere near that. Plus, he leads the children through the town and into traffic, while blatantly disregarding the directions of the traffic cop. That Frosty is a bad man.

4. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - crimes: possibly adultery (it's still illegal in almost two dozen states), being just plain strange. Yes, I understand the concept, but how many of your dad's dressed up like Santa Claus when they put the presents out on Christmas Eve? Al Davis is dead, so there is no reason for a grown man to be wearing a jump suit. Much less, to put one on and be "Santa," while my kids are in bed asleep.

3. Winter Wonderland - crimes: impersonating clergy, bullying. Apparently snowmen equal crimes. First Frosty, now this. In the first verse, they have the snowman pretend to be a minister who can marry them. Wait, is this kids singing the song? Do I need to add underage marriage to the list of crimes? In the second verse, they pretend the snowman is a clown until some other jerk kids come by and knock it over. They are playing the "Eskimo way," so maybe it was even a hate crime.

2. Baby It's Cold Outside - crime: date rape. One of my friends mentioned this on Twitter and my suspicions were confirmed. Read the lyrics - that's a scandalous song. The lady says, "What's in this drink?" and it goes down hill from there. I don't have daughters, but if I did ... I'm just saying this situation better never take place if I ever do. People talk about lyrics today, I'm telling you with those lyrics you just need to add a beat by Timbaland or Jay-Z and that's a top ten rap song yesterday.

1. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - crimes: taking hostages, extortion. Sure, it all seems nice and cheery when carolers come to your doorstep wishing you a merry Christmas, but what happens when they demand some obscure food product you've never heard of along with a cup of cheer (who has an actual cup of cheer)? Then, if you don't bring them the figgy pudding, whatever that is, they say they are not going to leave. Sounds pretty threatening to me. Perhaps, you'll need to call up a dangerous individual to deal with this threat. You need to find that magic hat and unleash law-breaking Frosty on those crazy carolers.

_________________________________

Do you know of any more criminal Christmas carols?

Thankful ... but to whom?

2011-11-24T09:27:00.001-05:00

As our nation pauses to give thanks today, remember that you cannot simply "give thanks." You have to give thanks to someone. If you are thankful for something, you are thankful to someone.

This desire has always been in humanity and it still exists today. Be thankful today, but be thankful to God. We have this desire to give thanks because He has placed this in us.

Be thankful, yes. But recognize that our thankfulness must flow, as it did for the pilgrims, beyond ourselves, beyond our neighbors, to our Creator and Sustainer God. Colossians 1:17 "He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together."

What's worse: Bible as a drug smuggler or decoration?

2011-11-23T06:30:00.000-05:00

A woman from South Carolina (of course she was), was recently arrested for attempting to sneak something besides God's Word into prison using a Bible. Inside the hollowed out Bible she mailed to the Lieber Correction Institute, Shareca Jones had inserted razor knives, a cell phone, ecstasy pills and cocaine. Apparently she didn't have enough cake mix to bake a cake with a metal file inside.

Clearly, what Jones did was reprehensible, not to mention obviously illegal, but from the standpoint of a Christian is what she did that much worse than what so many of us do with our Bible - leave it laying around, unread?

Photo from RGBstock.com by Adrian van Leen

Growing up in the Bible Belt, I've experienced weird moments were people who weren't even nominal Christians, in fact they were about as heathen as you could get, would make some comment about how outraged they were about someone doing something to a page of the Bible. While what the Bible said meant next to nothing to them, damage to the actual physical Bible was beyond the pale to them.

But moving beyond the heathen, cultural Christian, what about the actual Christian? Which do you think dishonor's God more - the actions of someone like Jones who obviously doesn't know Christ and has no idea the value of God's word or the behavior of many of us who claim to know Jesus and say that we believe the Bible is the very word of God?

If we believe our Bible actually contains the words of the Creator, Triune, Sovereign God, why does someone not have to pry us out of it to go about our daily lives? Why does it not so captivate us that we get lost in it on a regular basis?

Part of it is that while we mentally assent to the fact of the Bible being the word of God, we aren't internalizing the ramifications of that fact. Another issue is that we often do not recognize the spiritual warfare that is present over something so simple as reading our Bible or praying. Those are two things that Satan wants to keep us far away from, because he, unlike us most of the time, recognizes the power that is inherent in spending time with God in His word and in prayer.

Hollowing out the Bible to traffic drugs is horrible, but hollowing the word of God out of the Christian's life is even worse in some ways. No, we should not cut out the pages of a Bible to place knives inside, but we should be cutting out things in our lives that prevent us from placing the word of God inside of us. Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly."

The word of God is sweeter than cake ... even cake with a metal file hidden inside.

Pirates of the Mediterranean: Journey for the Priceless Pearl

2011-11-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we looked at a one verse story that Jesus told about hidden treasure. The treasure was stumbled upon in a field. Today, we have a story twice as long - two verses - about a priceless pearl that's worth it all. This is a treasure that was sought after for a lifetime.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Marja Flick-Buijs

This parable introduces a merchant searching for a once-in-a-lifetime pearl. It's Pirates of the Caribbean meets American Pickers. The History Channel show follows two antique dealers around as they search through people's garages, barns and attics, all in an attempt to find something of value that they can buy and then resell. They say they are "looking for rusty gold."

This merchant is like those two guys except he is very specialized. He's after one thing - pearls. Rarest of the rare stones in antiquity, pearls were the ultimate status symbol of the wealthy. They were extravagantly priced for at least two reasons. Divers often died in search of them. Remember, they didn't have any of the modern diving equipment. Also, they are extremely fragile. They are not much harder than a fingernail.

They allowed people to carry a large amount of wealth in a small place - or bury it as was the case in yesterday's parable. Pearls were also used by the rich to flaunt their wealth. Queens and royal women would use as many pearls as possible in their clothing and hair to show off their style and fortune. When the fabulously wealthy really wanted to make a statement about how rich they were, many would use vinegar to dissolve pearls, then mix the dissolved pearls in with their wine to drink.

The merchant in the story is searching for fine pearls, but he finds a priceless pearl. This one is worth all the rest. This one is worth everything. Like the man in the field, he sells everything to buy this treasure. This priceless pearl.

When trying to understand this parable and the one from yesterday, we must keep in mind that even though both use the phrase "buy" when speaking about the treasure that is the Kingdom of God, neither are teaching that salvation can be bought. However, they should teach us that we must be ready and able to give up anything for Christ.

The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 thought he could buy eternal life with good works and social status. It didn't work. Jesus told him to sell everything he had and he could gain eternal life. The young man walked away sad. He saw that eternal life was a fine pearl, but for him, it was not the priceless pearl. He valued his possessions more.

This merchant recognized the value of the priceless pearl, but he only found it after a long journey, after a considerable search. Should he then turn away or even be upset that he did not find it sooner? No, he should rejoice that he has gained the one thing he has spent his whole life chasing after.

Some people spend much of their life chasing one fine pearl after the next, only to discover that priceless pearl of a relationship with Christ much later in life. Is that something to dwell on? No, just as yesterday, the treasure is the point. You have Christ. Praise God for the journey, long or short, because it lead you to Him, the true treasure.

Paul would know something about a life spent chasing after fine pearls, oblivious to the priceless pearl. In Philippians 3:4-8, Paul rattles off a list of impressive religious credentials, but says that all of them are of no value when compared to knowing Christ. In fact, everything is trash, junk, dung compared to knowing Jesus. He found the priceless pearl and he would gladly sell all of his junk to obtain that treasure.

In our lives, we may have many fine pearls - possessions, money, status, jobs, houses, cars, hobbies, relationships or any number of things. We may not have them, but maybe we are seeking after them. The problem is that Christ is the One Priceless Pearl. He is worth our surrendering everything over to Him. Will we trade our rags for His righteousness, as Paul did? Or will we cling to our trash, as if it was treasure and walk away sad, as the rich young ruler did?

We each face this choice, each day of our lives. Will you choose to seek the Priceless Pearl today?

Pirates of the Mediterranean: Legend of the Buried Treasure

2011-11-21T14:05:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, most of the buried treasure stories we have come from pirate legends and not pirate facts. It's kind of disappointing that you won't be able to find some map marked with an X, leading you to a hidden island in the Caribbean.

However, there are some real buried treasure tales. A man in Austria discovered some jewelry and precious-looking stones when digging in his yard to expand a small pond. Not knowing what he had, he put it in a box that ended up in his basement for a few years. Finally, he posted some pictures on the internet, where some experts told him what he had.

The haul contained jewelry over 650 years old and, including the jewels, was worth an untold amount of money. It was there, in his yard, waiting to be discovered.

Jesus told a similar story, but the treasure in his story was even more valuable than the treasure in Austria.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Sanja Gjenero

In Matthew 13:44, Jesus gives a one verse parable set in the Mediterranean country of Israel. He pairs it with a second parable (two verses) that we will look at tomorrow. So we have two stories in three verses. That's why He's God. When you are the Word, you can communicate words effectively like that.

But in this one sentence parable, Jesus told his disciples about a man who stumbles across some buried treasure in a field that belongs to someone else. Rabbinic law mandated that treasure which was completely lifted out of a field belonged to either the owner of the field or the master of the servant, who found it.

So, being a smart man and recognizing the value of what he found, the man in the parable reburies the treasure, without ever completely removing it from the ground. Then, he sells everything he owns and goes back to buy the field containing the treasure.

Jesus' listeners would have known about the circumstances. Because of the war-torn nature of the country, Israelis often buried their most valuable possessions in their fields to protect them from the invaders. After the enemy had come through, the owner would go back later and retrieve his treasure ... except occasionally they didn't - for whatever reason.

It was probably like an urban legend of the one guy who found some treasure one time. "Did you hear? I know this guy, who's friend's brother's third cousin knows a guy, who knew another guy who found some treasure." Jesus is playing off of those thoughts with his story here.

The man in the parable recognizing what he has found, sells everything to gain this field. Everything is worth this field - it has treasure in it.

What are we to do with this one sentence parable? How does this parable set in a field in a Mediterranean country 2,000 years ago, relate and apply to me now? The point is the treasure. The point of the parable is the treasure and the point of our application is the treasure.

Jesus tells us that this parable, this treasure, is like the Kingdom of Heaven. It has immeasurable value. It is worth everything in our lives to obtain it. For the man in the parable, he sells everything to get this treasure ... and he does it with joy.

How often do we treat serving God as a burden, as troublesome. William Barclay said, concerning this passage, "To do the will of God is no grim, grey, agonizing thing; it is a lovely thing." We have joy in our service to Him because Jesus has given us His joy, so that our joy would be complete in Him - our treasure (John 15:11).

Some may would like to dismiss the man who found the treasure in the parable. "He didn't search for it. He didn't work for it. He just stumbled across it." Does the way in which he discovered it, diminish the value of the treasure? Not in any way.

If you grew up in church and you almost stumbled into following Christ as a child, do you sometimes feel as if your testimony is somehow less? Every once in awhile, do you wish you had a more exciting story of coming to Christ?

This parable is for you. The point is the treasure. You have the treasure. The point is Christ. You have Christ. That is the goal. All that means, is you have the rest of your life to spend exalting in the treasure. You are able to have the joy early on. It doesn't matter if you stumbled across it as part of your everyday life. That does not reduce the value of the prize.

The treasure is still the treasure. It's value can never be reduced. Knowing Christ is worth everything else. It's better than Austrian jewels or pirate gold. Jesus is better than any jewels, any gold or any other treasure.

Humor: Top 5 movies I would rather see than Breaking Dawn

2011-11-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

Last night, thousands of movie-goers (read "girls") waited until midnight to see the new Twilight movie, Breaking Dawn. They anxiously piled into theaters across the nation to see (read "scream at") the first installment of the conclusion to the vampire teen drama (read "opportunity for male actors to take their shirts off").

I was not one of those in front of the big screen last night, even though working on the midnight shift at UPS you do see some weird-looking guys that may be either a vampire or a werewolf. Thankfully, they all kept their shirts on.

However, I would not have watched Breaking Dawn last night even if I was off from work, had a free ticket, and suddenly found myself sitting inside a theater as the previews rolled just before the movie started.

Before, I get hate emails from friends, family and random teenage girls googling "Breaking Dawn, shirts off," let me explain that I'm not saying you can't watch the movie. I'm just telling you I would rather watch Breaking My Leg.

With that in mind, let me introduce you to the top 5 movies I would rather see than Breaking Dawn.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Agnes Scholiers

5. Glitter: Twilight has been mocked by many critics (read "me") for having the male actors sparkle, instead of sweat. Almost like they perspire glitter. Speaking of Glitter. This 2001 box office bomb was horrible. I wouldn't know personally because prior to the Twilight movies series, Glitter would have been one of the movies I would never go see.

But if some high-on-sugar pack of angry tween girls forced me to choose between Glitter and Breaking Dawn, I would bang my head until I passed out, but when I woke up, I would sob quietly and whisper in a defeated tone ... "Glitter. I'll take Glitter over Sparkly."

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: This movie proved that Steven Spielberg was determined to ruin my childhood. I spent so many hours outside in my yard practicing using my homemade whip so I could be like Indy. I have all the old Indiana Jones movies (on VHS no less). All of that was crushed by the insipid Crystal Skull movie.

It's like they got together with GI Joe and Transformers to maim the memories of every kid growing up in the 80's. I feel certain if they do another GI Joe movie, they'll find a way to cram Shia LaBeouf in it, too. But I would rather see a shiny Shia LaBeouf and a shimmering (much older now) Harrison Ford shirtless than be subjected to Breaking Dawn and the Coming of the Crazy Vampire Baby.

3. Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo: Seriously. They made a sequel for a horrible movie about break dancing. A sequel. There are so many good stories that Hollywood never brings to the big screen, but we can get a sequel of a movie that feels the need to add "Electric Boogaloo" to it's title?

Do you remember the Macarena? Electric slide? Those were popular dances back in the 90's, but nobody felt the need to turn them into a movie, much less a sequel. What would you even call them? Macarena 2: This Time You Move Your Feet. Electric Slide II: Clapping and Spinning Strikes Back. There's a reason you never saw these movies. Movies about dance moves are bad, but I would take Breakin' and Breakin' 2 over Breakin' Dawn: Do the Bloodsucker.

2. Batman & Robin: Those growing up now, during the renaissance of comic book movies, can't quite understand why those of us who are a a little older are always so worried about the film being horrible. They don't remember the seemingly never-ending Superman franchise that was forced out of theaters after the wretched Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, which was little more than actor Christopher Reeve's personal PSA on the dangers of nuclear weapons. It would have worked better as a PSA since the acting was about as good and the plot about as deep.

Teenagers don't know that Christopher Nolan rescued Batman from the trash dump after all the horribly campy movies of the 90's nearly destroyed the Caped Crusader as a viable box office earner. If Nolan had not saved the character, Batman & Robin would have been the end of the movies. Batman and the Boy Wonder had nipples on their superhero suits, if that tells you anything. Do I even have to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze and his ice skating bad guys? Still, I'd rather see Batman and Robin's plastic nipple suits than Edward & Jacob: Do We Take Our Shirts Off Now?

1. UPS hazmat video: Every company has their training video that you have to watch on a repeated, regular basis. UPS makes you watch a 30-45 minute video about not touching a box that might contain hazardous materials (hazmat). Yes, they need to take close to an hour to let me know that I should not touch a box that is on fire.

It starts off promising enough because the host looks like a young Lex Luthor. Maybe, they are accidentally showing us an episode of Smallville. Maybe, they finally did just turn the Superman franchise into dozens of PSA about potential dangers. Maybe ... no, it's just a boring, way too long video about not touching a box that has smoke pouring out of it. Yet, still I would rather watch fake Lex Luthor explain to me why it's a bad idea to grab that box which seems to be pouring out flesh eating acid, than have to endure Breaking Dawn: What to do in Case of an Emergency Vampire Pregnancy.

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If you were not one of the (screaming) fans who saw the midnight screening last night, what horrendously bad movie would you rather see than Breaking Dawn?

Why we are upset about Jerry Sandusky & Penn State

2011-11-17T06:30:00.000-05:00

No one can hear about the alleged activities at Penn State between Jerry Sandusky and underage boys and have no opinion. There's really only one way to describe the reaction - moral outrage.

That outrage is good. It's right. We should be upset about such a violation of basic human decency. That sense of moral wrong shows us we are human. It also shows us we are created in the image of a moral God.

We can't hide our eyes from the existence of moral evil in our world.
Photo from LIFE School

Notice that the cries of moral relativism fall away during moments like this. Just like after September 11, 2001, people will not accept the idea that right and wrong are some subjective thing - dictated by our feelings, our culture or any other continually changing foundation.

No matter your religious affiliation you can recognize the horror in what Sandusky is accused of - it is obviously, horrifically wrong. Christianity does not say that only Christians can recognize or possess morality. It fits with reality (and Christianity) that virtually everyone, except literally those with mental issues, can stand up and say, "This is not right. Something should be done about it."

Pay attention to how we want to move beyond simply what the law says - what would be considered our nation's collective statement on morality. Joe Paterno and numerous others at Penn State may have done all that the law required, but they didn't do enough. They did not live up to the moral code that we all recognize is there, even if we don't like to admit it sometimes.

This is where Christianity lines up with the truth of reality. The Christian has a foundation for absolute morality, an absolute, unchanging God. What does materialism have? Society? Our genetic make-up? If you believe that to be the case, consider if you would accept either of those (or any thing else) as an excuse for Sandusky's behavior.

Imagine that once the trial begins, he testifies that yes, he did do everything alleged to have happened and even more things, but you shouldn't hold him responsible because he grew up in a home (society writ small) where sex with children was acceptable. Would that make it OK for you? What if he said, I can show that genetically, I am sexually attracted to young boys. Should he go unpunished because of his genetic make-up?

We can all agree that there is no excuse for sexually abusing children. It would not matter your society, your culture, your religious background, your genetic make-up or anything else. Intrinsically as humans, we know that some things are absolutely wrong. The only logical explanation for this is the fact that a moral God establishes those facts as such, flowing from His character. Every naturalistic explanation is severely lacking, as it proposes the immaterial (absolute morals) arising purely from the material. That cannot be explained.

The wretched behavior discussed in the Penn State tragedy provides us with an ugly portrait of the depths humanity will sink in our fallen state, while reminding us that as moral agents created in the image of God we can know and recognize evil for what it is. If guilty, and every sign screams that he is, Sandusky is morally (not just legally) responsible for his actions - because absolute morals exist.

What has Narnia to do with Hogwarts? The Christian & Magic

2011-11-16T17:11:00.000-05:00

How is the Christian to regard magic in literature? On one hand, the Bible explicitly condemns the use and practice of magic (Deut. 18:10-11). On the other hand, two of the most beloved fantasy series of all time, The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, contains magic and were written by Christians.

Somehow, many Christians are able to accept Middle Earth and Narnia, but have a problem with Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Is it possible to draw a line of distinction that separates fantasy, and even magic, that can be used to communicate Christian truth from fantasy and magic that is inappropriate for the Christian to use when writing to deliver that type of message?

I would argue that one can make a distinction based on three essential principles that should be present when the Christian writer wants to use magic in a manner that can present Christian truth.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Michael Koralewski

First, let me say this is not about what books a Christian can read. I think that question has more to do with personal work of the Holy Spirit inside each believer. There are books that a Christian should whole-heartedly reject. There is no book, outside of the Bible, that a Christian should whole-heartedly embrace without question.

Each Christian must come to a decision of what books and what portrayal of magic they feel comfortable with. For the child, that decision should be made by the parents. For the teenager, that decision should be made in conjunction with the parents.

This post will not tell you read Narnia or not read Harry Potter. This post will outline guidelines that I believe should be in place to present Christian truth and therefore, what current books can be used in that manner and what books cannot. I'm going to focus on Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter, simply because they are the most well-known and allow for the best discussion and comparison. A series like His Dark Materials is obviously not helpful in presenting Christian truth because it is written from a thoroughly atheistic viewpoint. Harry Potter has Christian critics and supporters, so it can be used to see where our guidelines play out.

1. There must be a clear distinction between the fantasy world and the real world. When the line between the two worlds is blurred or non-existent, it makes it much easier for the reader, especially a child, to see practicing magic as a worthy goal to pursue. This is the first line of distinction between Narnia and Middle Earth on one side and Hogwarts on the other.

Middle Earth is separated from us by a huge gulf of time. Narnia exists simultaneously with our Earth, but those who go to Narnia obviously go to a different world from ours. J.K. Rowling's series places Hogwarts in modern day Scotland. It's a real place, whose only disconnect between it and the everyday world is that spells keep non-magical people from finding it. This close proximity to our own world may cause confusion on the acceptability of magic here.

2. Magical powers should be granted by and connected to an ultimate, supernatural Authority. This again helps to prevent the reader from becoming confused about their own potential practice of magic. It's not something the characters go out and learn how to do. Praiseworthy magic is given at the discretion of the Authority and its use is to be governed by the Authority. Only bad magic is portrayed as something to be sought after and used for personal benefit. This is most definitely the case in Narnia and Middle Earth.

This again provides a contrast with Rowling's work. In Harry Potter, magic is seen as a neutral source of power, unconnected to any governing authority. The use of magic becomes entirely pragmatic - can I use this to help me achieve my goals? Obviously, different characters have goals that are more laudable than others. However, the Christian cannot only be concerned with the ends. We have to have correct means as well. Pragmatism is more often than not in direct conflict with Christianity.

3. Finally, there must be a solid moral foundation within the story. When the magic is grounded inside of a narrative that praises good behavior and criticizes bad behavior, the fantasy elements can be used to communicate Christian truth. In Narnia, we see Edmund be condemned in the Deep Magic for his lying and treachery, but we find the Deeper Magic that allows Aslan to sacrifice himself for Edmund. Law and grace coexist and Christian truth is delivered using magic as a plot device.

Harry Potter is a bit of a muddled bag when it comes to morality. There are redemptive arcs within the story. There is self-sacrifice at the heart of the narrative. However, as we discussed in the second point, pragmatism is the guiding principle. Will this help me? Does this work? Harry and other good characters often use negative actions (lying, disobeying rules, consulting with the dead, etc.) in an attempt to achieve their positive goal. Sometimes they are punished for their actions. Other times they are praised for their ingenious success. This unsteady foundation hinders the way magic could be used as a delivery tool for Christianity.

Conclusion: Again, this is not me telling you to not read Harry Potter or never let your kids see the movie. That is a call you, your family and the Holy Spirit should make. This is also not to say that there are "Christian messages" within Harry Potter. Certainly, the concept of self-sacrifice is one that the Christian can find and praise. However, the Christian must be careful about using questionable means to present unquestionable truth. The principles we discussed here and others (Steven Greydanus has an excellent guide on magic in fiction) should be considered before we argue that a magical, fantasy tale can be used as a vehicle for the historical facts of the Gospel story.

This is a summary of a research paper I recently completed. If you are like me - nerdy enough and a glutton enough for academic punishment that you like to read other people's research papers. You can read the entire paper here. I have deleted the text of the footnotes (so as to reduce the temptation of direct plaglary other students may face), but kept the bibliography (so those interested can see related sources and those sources can get credit for their contributions to the paper).

Why should I follow God?

2011-11-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

That's a legitimate question, isn't it?

I mean, if we understand Christianity properly, we are asking people to give up a lot to follow God in salvation and in obedience as a Christian. Now, obviously, we believe that we gain much more than we offer, but, if we are honest, we have to admit that the thought crosses our mind as well.

Why I should I follow God in this decision? What makes it the case that, I should respond in complete obedience to God's commands and instruction?

Well, we can simply say, "Because He's God," but does that really address the heart of the question. Some may be asking it from a heart of rebellion, but others may have a sincere heart of inquiry.

So, why should we follow God? I think Isaiah 6:1-8 gives us a great reason.

Photo from RGBstock.com by Robert Linder

First, Isaiah has a recognition of God's holiness (Isaiah 6:1-4). He sees God on His throne in heaven, but He is so holy and wholly Other, that Isaiah spends more time describing the angels around the throne. They are awe-inspiring in their own right, but they are nothing compared to the One whose robe fills the temple. Even the angels are so in holy terror of this One that they do not even praise Him directly. They call out to one another about the magnificence of His holiness.

Then, Isaiah experienced the reach of God's forgiveness (Isaiah 6:5-7). The only response Isaiah can have to this exalted vision of God is to confess his utter unworthiness. Here is Isaiah, a prophet of God. He's not a "bad guy." He's God's spokesperson. But still, Isaiah recognizes before this awesome God that he is sinful and all of his people are sinful. Despite the sinful reality, God offers forgiveness to Isaiah. God sends an angel, who does not move unless they are told, to touch Isaiah's lips with a coal. This symbolizes God's forgiveness extended to Isaiah.

With all of this as a background, Isaiah heard the reality of God's call (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah had seen God in His holiness. He had experienced God's forgiveness. Now, he hears God ask for someone to go. Isaiah immediately responds. He has no idea what the mission will be. No idea what God is about to ask him to do, but he is ready. He recognizes that in light of God's holiness and in response to God's forgiveness, there is nothing else he can do but respond to God's call.

So, how does this play out in our lives, as far as us following God? There seem to be three steps involved with each leading to the other. Isaiah does not respond to God's call, without first recognizing God's holiness and experiencing the reach of God's forgiveness. This seems to be the process we should take.

If we find ourselves struggling to obey God or looking for a reason to follow Him, more than likely we have not properly understood one of the first two steps that led to the finally one.

First, we must acknowledge God's holiness. Nothing else matters, if we do not see God for who He is.

Second, we must accept God's forgiveness. If do not see the depths of sin from which God has restored us, then it will be difficult for us to find motivation for service.

Finally, we must answer God's call. As with Isaiah, after an encounter with a holy, yet forgiving God, the only true way to respond is obedience and a willingness to serve Him in whatever way He ask.

Why should I follow God? Because He is a holy God that is entirely worthy of my service, but He has gone even beyond that to the point of forgiving my sins. Living in the light of these two facts should be all the motivate I need to respond to His call and follow Him wherever He leads.

Humor: Top 5 Holidays ignored between Halloween & Christmas

2011-11-11T06:30:00.000-05:00

Every year, Halloween is an eventful night for many across the nation. Not because they are busy dressing up in costumes, giving out candy or passed out in a sugar coma, but because store employees are frantically trading out their Halloween decorations for Christmas ones - ignoring almost two months of significant holidays in between.

Not here at Wardrobe Door. Not ever.

We will not let this stand. We will take a stand for all the neglected holidays (well at least five of them anyway) and tell the stores to hold off on their exploitation of the birth of Jesus. There are several other days they can exploit before it's time for that.

Here are the top 5 holidays that retailers should find ways to make money off of after they take down all of their pumpkins, but before they slap candy canes all over the store.

Cartoon from WeKnowMemes.com

5. National Roast Suckling Pig Day (December 18): Seriously. It's a holiday in honor of roast. suckling. pig. How amazing is that? Well, unless you are the suckling pig, of course. Then, it's not so awesome.

Think of the eye-catching displays in Walmart of gigantic, plastic roasted pigs hanging from the ceiling. Who wouldn't want to shop there? OK, on second thought I'm not sure that's such a good idea. Honestly, I don't think I want to go to Walmart and see an enormous whole pig cadaver being cooked above my head.

4. Sadie Hawkins Day (first Saturday after November 9): Or as I like to call it Passive Aggressive Guy Day. Why would you not honor this day with some kind of big sale on "man stuff"? This could be like a reverse Valentines Day. Instead of having a man buy their wife or girlfriend something, the ladies are out shopping for their man.

Instead of chocolate in heart-shaped boxes, you could sell bacon in football-shaped boxes. TVs, video games, bacon, sporting equipment, bacon, Blu-ray players, movies with explosions, bacon, and even more bacon would all be on sale.

3. Leif Ericson Day (October 9): What's sadder - that I had never heard of this holiday or that I thought this was a day devoted to 70's teen idol and subsequent drug addict, Leif Garrett? I'm going with the later.

But is it just me or is this some kind of Nordic attempt at a providing an alternative to Christopher Columbus Day? "Why celebrate some diseases carrying Italian sailing in three Spanish boats who thought he landed in India, when you can honor a Viking who found the land 500 years earlier?" If you are in Berkley, CA, they don't celebrate Columbus Day anyway. They celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead. Why? Because it's Berkley that's why.

(Yes, I realize that October 9 does not fall in my time frame between October 31 and December 25, but the jokes right themselves. Sometimes, you have to go outside the lines a little. It's Leif Ericson Day. How can I not include that?)

2. Veteran's Day (November 11): If there is a group of people I do not want to make mad, it's the veterans. Obviously, they deserve our respect and deepest gratitude, so I wanted to honor them, not anger them, but I also recognize the fact that virtually all of them could snap me in half without breaking a sweat.

I really would not want to explain to a veteran why my store is skipping his day to focus on Christmas already, especially the World War II vets. The old guys are tough. Sure, some of them may roll around in a hover-round scooter, but if he had to I bet that old vet could leap out of that comfy chair like a panther. An angry, offended panther because the store decided it needed to put up a fake North Pole display instead of an American flag.

1. Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday in November): Ah, Thanksgiving. The holiday were public school teachers dance around the issue of Who the Pilgrim's were giving thanks to. The holiday were people pretend like they enjoy turkey, a can shaped glob of cranberry sauce and their family.

Growing up on a turkey farm, as I did, Thanksgiving was always such a special day. Actually, I just lied about the whole "special day" thing. It was a day like any other. Turkeys have no idea it's Thanksgiving. If they knew what the day was, don't you think they would feel a little differently about it than we do. Thankfully, they don't have the Force to hear the cries of thousands of their fellow fowl being silenced/devoured at once.

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What holiday is ignored the most during the "holiday season?" What is your favorite off-the-wall holiday?

Why are Christians having sex before marriage?

2011-11-10T06:30:00.000-05:00

We're doing it wrong.

Teaching about sex in the church, I mean. We've tried lots of things. Warning about the potential dangers. Preaching about how it should never be done outside of marriage. Speaking about how wonderful it is inside of marriage. Giving out promise rings. Using romantic language of waiting for your true love. Yet, somehow not much seems to change.

According to a recent study, young, unmarried evangelical adults (18-29) are separated from their non-Christian peers by only 8% when considering who has had sex. Eighty-eight percent of non-Christians have had sex, while 80% of Christians had. That's not much of a difference.

The article blames the high percentage of sex participation among Christians on the numbers of those engaging in sex ("everyone is doing it") and the long wait until marriage ("We get married so much later in life").

Churches have tried a lot of things, but unfortunately I don't think most of us have been doing the one thing that will have the most impact - the Gospel.

Photo from ConservativeRefocus.com

Let me first dismiss the excuses given in the article. "Maria" is quoted in the article as saying that she wanted to wait until marriage, but as a 20-year-old she began having sex with her college boyfriend because nearly everyone she knew, including her Christian friends, were having sex.

It seemed everyone in my life, older and younger, had “done it.” In fact, I waited longer than most people I knew and longer than both of my sisters, even though we were all Christians and came from a good home.

Are we still really using this as an excuse - everyone is doing it? If everyone is doing it, it's only because you are doing it. If you didn't do it, then by definition, everyone would not be doing it. I recognize that peer pressure can be intense and intimidating, but the popularity of a choice has no bearing on the morality of it.

Secondly, many seem to want to excuse young Christians because so many are waiting longer to get married in our culture today. It is not uncommon for people to wait until they are in their 30's before marrying.

New Testament scholar Scot McKnight told Relevant magazine:

Sociologically speaking, the one big difference – and it’s monstrous – between the biblical teaching and our culture is the arranged marriages of very young people. If you get married when you’re 13, you don’t have 15 years of temptation.

Who says you have to wait until you are 35 to get married? Some people don't find their future spouse until later in life, but many people (especially guys) simply want to live out extended adolescence. "Why get married and support a family; I can just live at home with my parents for 10 years, grabbing random jobs and playing video games."

Much of the wait could be reduced by simply marrying at an earlier age. I know it sounds so ... so counter-culturally, but isn't that what we are supposed to be? Christian Hip-Hop artist Trip Lee had an excellent post on why he married "so young." Kevin DeYoung also wrote on excellent piece on the issue, so I'll move on to the matter at hand.

If it's not because everyone is doing it or because we are marrying so late, why is it that Christian young people are having sex outside of marriage at the same basic rate as non-Christian young people? They have been taught to use the wrong things to overcome sin and temptation. As I mentioned earlier, we aren't using the Gospel.

Virtually all of what we are trying to use is some form of moralism. If we just tell teenagers enough times that sex outside of marriage is wrong, then they'll get it and avoid it. Um ... no. Sin, especially sexual sin, is attractive. Simply saying it's wrong will only work on a few (oh, say 20%, if you catch my point). The rest will remember that we said it was wrong, will probably wait a few years longer than their non-Christian friends, but will eventually give in. Everyone's doing it and marriage is too far away.

Look at what "Maria" said about how she did wait longer than her sisters "even though we were all Christians and came from a good home." That's it isn't it. I'm from a good home. I'm a good girl. I'm not supposed to do this, yet here I am anyway. "Good home" is code for being taught good morals.

Notice what "Maria" did not say. "I waited as long as I could, but me and my sisters all had sex before marriage, even though we were all Christians and love Jesus more than anything else" or "we were all Christians and recognize how wonderful the Gospel is and the depth of God's grace and forgiveness."

The Apostle Paul was confronting false teachers who were trying to influence the Colossian church. Part of the false beliefs was an emphasis on treating the body negatively. More likely than not, they would intentionally harm themselves in an attempt to control physical temptations. They would starve themselves or whip themselves. All of this was to show how they could conquer sin and temptation.

The only problem? Well, not the only problem, because just physically harming your body is a problem in and of itself. The main problem for these false teachers? It didn't work. Colossians 2:20-23

If you died with Christ to the elemental forces of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: "Don't handle, don't taste, don't touch"? All these [regulations] refer to what is destroyed by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. Although these have a reputation of wisdom by promoting ascetic practices, humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value against fleshly indulgence. [emphasis mine]

Just giving commands of "don't touch" or even treating your body harshly doesn't have any real value in fighting against our temptations. Saying, "don't have sex," is not going to be very effective by itself. It's not that we stop saying "don't have sex" altogether. It's that we ground the command in the proper place - the Gospel.

Paul goes on to tell us this in Colossians 3. In fact, he specifically addresses sexual sins, but he does so only after he grounds it in proper theology and understanding of the Gospel. He tells the Colossians believers that they have been raised with Christ, therefore they are to focus on things beyond just this earth. They are to put to death sins, like sexual sins, because they have been given life in Christ.

What our teenagers and young adults need to hear today is the same thing the Colossians needed to hear. We need to hear how great our Father is. How amazing our Savior is. How powerful our indwelling Spirit is. How wonderful God's Gospel really is.

When I truly see God for who He is ... nothing else compares. We don't teach our teenagers a code of conduct. We show them the Christ of the cross, then tell them how sexual ethics tie into Him.

This is what Paul does in all of his letters. He gives the church proper theology, a right understanding of Christ and salvation, then instructs them, on the basis of their knowledge of Jesus, on how to live out their salvation.

Christians are having sex before marriage because they recognize that sex is better than rules, but what they fail to realize is that sex is not as good as the Gospel. Sex is not as good as a right relationship and unhindered fellowship with God.

Young adults of the church are going to continue displaying essentially the same sexual ethics of the world until we move beyond repeating moral mantras to the point where they have encountered Christ in such a real way that they desire Him more than gratifying sexual desires.

Why would I care if everyone was having sex, I have a relationship with my Savior?

Who cares if the wait until marriage is long or short, I can spend this time focusing on Christ?

Hopefully one day, instead of Christians having this discussion, non-Christians will be asking "Why are Christians waiting to have sex until marriage?" Then we can say, "Let me tell you about the Gospel."

Football & Jesus: Sports as an idol

2011-11-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

In America, there are two dominate religions - Christianity and sports, football specifically. Sometimes, they can work together. Often times, they lie in contrast to one another. With the next two posts, I want to illustrate how football can be used as an apologetic pointing to Christ, but how it can also be elevated as a false god to rival Christ. Yesterday, we looked at how our culture's insatiable appetite for football shows some truths about reality that our culture is often afraid to address. Today, we will look at how football (and sports in general) must sometimes be confronted by the church as a false god in our culture.

This summer, the NFL owners and players were locked in a legal battle over revenue sharing that threatened the start of the season. In the end, nothing of significance was lost, but that did not stop many fans from fretting about the potential of having no football on Sunday's in the Fall and Winter. How could they survive? What would they do? They might even have to kill time by going to church.

Seriously, sports are an obsession that many feel as if we could not do without. In this way, sports have become a cultural idol that stands opposed to Christianity, as any other false god stands opposed to Christ. How can the church recognize the value that is present in sports, while reminding culture that sports should be the end-all, be-all of our existence?

Photo from Google Images from High School Football America

1. Counteract the hype - Sports is all about hype. Every game is the biggest ever. Every player is the greatest of all time. ESPN and other sports broadcasters do not simply report the athletic news, they drive the story. The more important you believe the sports to be, the more you want to watch the events (and their coverage surrounding the events). It is unbelievable how less significant I see sports as since we dropped cable and I no longer watch ESPN. I still enjoy sports, but I'm not hanging on each and every game each week as something bigger than it really is.

Christianity is not about hype. You don't have to hype God becoming man. You don't have to hype the God-man dying on the cross for our sins. You don't have to hype the God-spirit coming to dwell inside of the believer. Christianity is not about hype. Christianity is about substance.

The Church should teach members to look past hype for substance.

2. Affirm other aspects of life - While sports are hyped beyond belief, other areas are often ignored. I can say this as someone who was both a writer and an athlete growing up - our culture over-emphasizes the athlete to the exclusion of many other groups. Christian athletes are celebrities. Christian artists (outside of Contemporary Christian musicians) are largely ignored.

Christianity is about the body. It is about the many members coming together under the head. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says that those members who seem to be less honorable we should give more honor. I'm not sure the Church does that. We give honor to the same individuals the world gives honor to - celebrities, including athletes.

The Church should remind members that every individual, regardless of gifting, is valuable to the body.

3. Refocus our attention on higher things - America is drawn to sports. America is overdrawn to sports. I say this as a sports fan. People are more concerned about how their college sports team does than they are their community soup kitchen. You could substitute almost any other social need there and it would still be true. Even (maybe especially), Christians are obsessed with sports to the point that other pressing needs are ignored in their life, the lives of those around them and especially those who are far from them or different from them.

Christianity should remind us that we were made for something more than just temporal amusement. Sports are fun. Yesterday, I argued that they can effectively be used as an apologetic. But that can only be the case if they are kept in perspective. When they are ruling our lives and the decisions we make, they have become an idol and should be devalued. For most of our culture (and most of the church), sports have become an idol that needs to be placed back in proper perspective.

The Church must teach members that anything that takes away from our devotion to God is an idol, and sports is that for many people.

___________________________

There can be a fine line between using a cultural trend, like the popularity of sports, as a means to present a Christian message and being used by a cultural trend, like the obsession with sports, as a means to undermine the Christian message. Virtually everything in culture can be used positively and negatively. It takes work to understand how to use without being used. That's the point. None of us have arrived yet, so we must work together to achieve our Christ-centered goals by Christ-glorifying means.

Sports can be used to present the Gospel. They can also be used as a counter-gospel. We must no the difference between the two and help our community and culture see exactly how everything should fit together.

Football & Jesus: Sports as an apologetic

2011-11-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

In America, there are two dominate religions - Christianity and sports, football specifically. Sometimes, they can work together. Often times, they lie in contrast to one another. With the next two posts, I want to illustrate how football can be used as an apologetic pointing to Christ, but how it can also be elevated as a false god to rival Christ. Today, we will look at how our culture's insatiable appetite for football shows some truths about reality that our culture is often afraid to address.

This past Saturday, LSU and Alabama matched-up in what ESPN was billing as "the game of the century." While I would tend to doubt the overwhelming hype surrounding the 1 versus 2 clash, the game was an epic, evenly matched defensive struggle that took overtime to decide. And it was watched by 20 million American households. Twenty. Million. It grabbed the highest rating (11.4) for a regular season football game on CBS in 22 years.

Obviously, America loves football. But what is it about football and sports in general that captures our nation's attention? I would contend that part of what makes sports attractive to us, and men in general, are issues that echo a Christian worldview.

Our postmodern culture tells us there is no truth, no absolutes and, essentially, nothing to strive after. We are adrift in a world with no meaning. Then there is sports.

There are at least three areas where sports echos reality, even when culture refuses to acknowledge it as such. Here is part of the reason why football and sports speak to so many in our world.

Photo from morgueFile.com by jeltovski

1. Rules and regulations - You may not agree with this initially, but we all know that sports have to have rules. There have to be guidelines that are obeyed by the participants. There could be no sports without rules that are to be applied fairly to everyone.

While the world says that there are no absolutes, sports lays down regulations that are to be followed no matter what. They provide the parameters needed to understand the game and successfully participate in it. If you had no idea how to advance the ball in football or what it meant when you reached the endzone, the game would stop being fun and interesting very quickly.

In life, despite what our culture may say, we need rules that provide guidance for our lives. We want to know the places we should go and those we should not go. At that point, it is up to us as to whether we obey the rules or not, but knowing that they are present provides comfort for us and stability in life that often seems chaotic. We know these rules exists because this is the behavior we expect from others in the way they treat us.

Sports are one of the last areas in our culture where rules are an accepted part of the participation.

2. Goals to work toward - What is a sport without a goal? Within the game, you have certain goals (score a touchdown, make a tackle, hit the shot, hit the ball, etc.) and the game as a whole has one main goal - win.

Our world doesn't really give us substantial goals to work toward. Sports speaks against this. Every game has some type of goal. A goalless game is a waste of time that no one would participate in. If we refuse to take part in a game that has no goal, what should that say about our lives? Shouldn't our actual lives have more meaning than our games?

However, goals are not possible without the rules that have already been rejected. But also, achievement is often frowned upon because it brings about a delineation between one person and another. You cannot set and reach a goal because that may hurt the feelings of someone who did not reach the goal. Sports does not care - the goals are there to be achieved.

Sports rejects the notion that goals are insignificant, but rather understands the depth they bring to our lives.

3. Individuals within a team - The most popular sports are team sports. Some individual sports can gain significant followers and viewers, but there is a reason why they refer to football, basketball, baseball and hockey as "the big four" in America. Team sports dominate our viewing and participatory habits.

The world can only go in one of the two extremes. Either, we stress the individual and ignore the team or we ignore the individual to stress the team. True teams are made up of individuals who have put aside all real differences to work toward a common goal. That does not mean they cease being individuals and become one big organism. Each player on a team is distinct and has their specific role and function within the larger team.

This lines up with Christianity, which teaches that we are created in the image of a Triune God, who exists as 3 in 1, diversity with unity. The football team exists as diversity with unity. There are many parts of the team, but they can only achieve their goals when they work together as a unit. God has created us to work within units (marriage, family, church), where we are to be distinct parts with differing abilities, responsibilities and callings, but also a unified whole with a shared purpose.

Sports shows us that individualism and collectivism are both wrong. We should remain distinct, while growing as a unit.

_______________________________

When we examine sports we can see many things that reflect the truth of our situation. These three things in particular provide us with echoes of our creation and why we are here. The Christian can and should use these as means to demonstrate how and why their faith best fits with reality as we know it and as we know it should be.

Drinking from a skull one week & a communion cup the next

2011-11-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

Have you ever met that person?

The person that is so ... evil, that they could never become a Christian.

Why even share the Gospel with them? There is no way they could ever follow Jesus.

Even if they did come to Christ, how could they be part of a church body with other, normal people?

If anybody would know about how this dynamic would work, it was the Apostle Paul, former Assassin Saul. The man who had been an accessory to the murder of the first Christian martyr, became the first great missionary. He knew about this and mentioned a group of people to the Colossian church that was truly outrageous.

Please Scythians, keep your dirty feet
out of our clean church carpets.
Photo from Sxc.hu by Elvis Santana

Colossians 3:11

Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.

Barbarian is an onomatopoeia that the Greeks used to make fun of the way non-Greeks sounded. To them other languages just sounded like "bar bar bar." It became to be a term that spoke of cultural inferiority.

But the Scythian's were something different. The Greeks called them more barbarian than the Barbarians. They were people who lived just north of the Black Sea and were thought to be the epitome of unrefinement and savagery. They had a reputation that stretched across the Roman Empire and throughout history.

Josephus, the Jewish historian employed by the Romans, said the Scythians delighted in murdering people and were little more than wild beasts. They weren't even people. They just killed for fun, like they were animals.

Greek historian Herodotus describes how they invaded the Middle East and left nothing but destruction behind them simply because they wanted to. He described them like this:

They drank blood from their enemies, made napkins of scalps and drink bowls from their skulls. They had filthy habits and never washed with water.

That is a cruel and nasty group of people. If any group of people didn't belong in church and with civilized people, yet here they are.

Here there is no Scythian or slave, Greek or Jew. There is Christ and He is all and in all. He has joined together those who would never be that way otherwise.

I love reading stories about Israeli and Palestinian believers worshipping together, while both of their cultures are essentially at war. This story on Bryon Widner was so encouraging, as his life has been changed - from being a leader of a racist, murdering white supremacy group to reaching out to a black man for help in turning his life around.

That is the Gospel.

If we are honest with ourselves, before Christ, we were Scythians. We are rebelling against God. We were His enemies on our way to hell, and deservedly so. But the Father has redeemed us and brought us into His family because of His grace and through the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross.

God could never save Paul.

God could never save the Scythians.

God could never save me.

But He did.

Now the question becomes, who are the people around us right now that God could never save? Because He can.

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Drinking from a skull one week & a communion cup the next