Despair and the Virginia Tech Massacre

I'll admit up front, I have no earth shaking, insightful commentary on the massacre that took place yesterday on the campus of Virginia Tech. How can my small words provide any consolation or comfort to those who lost loved ones? How can the life of Liviu Lebrescu be replaced? This is a man who previously survived the Holocaust now giving his life so others may live. (Read here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266506,00.html)

All I am left thinking is that our world has so much despair that human tragedies like this will inevitably make the headlines and prompt us to ask 'why?' Now, I can say it's Satan making another statement, attempting to hang on as God prepares for a world without evil. But I don't think it's that. I think it is people giving up. It is people having no hope. It is people simply coming to the conclusion that life is meaningless. Without a hope for the future, what is the point? With no hope, with only despair, why would life be valued? If we're just a cosmic, evolutionary accident, we're also simply food for worms. We live, we die, we fertilize.

If you happen upon this post, and if you are despairing, there is hope. There is hope in the salvation offered us all through Jesus Christ. If you are at a place of despair, please let someone know. There is hope.

Maundy Thursday

(I can't believe it's been 3 months since I wrote - a testament to my chaotic schedule...)

The trend in Christianity is to grow churches through "seeker friendly" services. Casual dress, popular music, and feel-good messages prevail with the goal it seems to grow congregations. Sadly, while this does grow the congregation, it doesn't necessarily bring people into a proper relationship with Christ.

I mention this because I like many Christians need to be convicted more for my sins, and for my true nature. And nothing does this better for me than attending service on Maundy Thursday. Sitting in service two days ago was a heart-wrenching experience. Hearing again how we all betrayed Jesus, from Peter to Judas, brought tears to my eyes. Knowing I am responsible for his suffering and crucifixion humbles and hurts me. Knowing that Jesus hung on a cross above his mother and friends ... how do you deal with that?

You deal with that by knowing Jesus willfully chose this path, knowing full well he would be beaten, tortured and crucified so that we would not have to be. Jesus did this for me. Jesus did it for you.

And Easter is tomorrow. My redeemer lives...

Political and religious glee - us versus them

Over the last couple of days, there was a lot of news coverage on the changing political leadership in our country. There has been an incredible amount of celebration (if you are a Democrat), I would even say glee on the part of the victors. According to dictionary.com, that word means "open delight or pleasure." When I looked the word up, just to make sure there wasn't a better one to choose, I also found this alternative definition - "malicious satisfaction." Yes, I think the word glee sums up quite well the feeling of many.

As I was thinking about this, my mind wandered to Christianity. Yes, going from politics to Christianity is a stretch - most of what I see in politics has nothing to do with being a Christian. But I started thinking about "being a Christian,", versus not being one. I began to contemplate, "Don't we Christians often approach our lives from an us versus them mindset?" You're either on our side, or you're not. The right side or the wrong side. Democrats versus Republicans, Christians versus non-Christians. And I think sometimes, Christians look toward non-Christians with a type of glee, using either definition from above.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if our country were filled with Americans, not Democrats or Republicans? When one party won an election, the other side would reach out their hand and offer genuine congratulations, and offer to walk side-by-side with them to do what was best for our country (not for their own personal, political advancement)?

And wouldn't it be more wonderful if Christians didn't view non-Christians with the same contempt with which Democrats view Republicans (and vice-versa)? Yes, it is wonderful to be a follower of Christ (a Christian), but aren't we all God's children? Shouldn't we be extending our hand to Christians and non-Christians alike, sharing God's love with everyone, offering to walk side-by-side with them on this incredible journey?

It shouldn't be an us-versus-them thing. Jesus died for all of us, not just Christians. He died to save the world, not just me.

Stop trying to figure God out

In my morning devotional time, I just read a great quote from A.W. Tozer on the Holy Spirit. He said of the Spirit, "Knowledge by acquaintance is always better than mere knowledge by description, and the first does not presuppose the second nor require it." Following along the theme from my last post, too many intellectual Christians seem to be trying to figure God out. They contemplate, 'Why did He do this? What does it mean that this happened? What can we learn from this event?' I'd say we'd all be better off pursuing the relationship than the understanding.

How often do we desire to know more about who God is when we would benefit more from simply knowing Him?

Why did God inspire the Bible?

I'm reading an interesting book by Brian McLaren called, "A New Kind of Christian." I can understand after reading the first half of the book why McLaren has become such a lightning rod for criticism, in particular from Conservative Christians. His views on a variety of topics, presented from the perspective of a character named Neo, who seems to be a thinly veiled McLaren, are edgy, pushing the reader to think, contemplate, and to a degree become a bit uncomfortable. Which is fine by me. As a newer Christian, I don't want my views surrounded in concrete, but want them to be nurtured, to grow, dare I say to evolve...

One of the least controversial topics in the book was about the Bible, about how the Bible should be "reading us" as much as we are reading it. There was one quote in particular that resonated with me. Neo says to Dan, a pastor working his way through a mid-life crisis of sorts, "...maybe we need to read it less like scholars and more like humble seekers trying to learn whatever we can from it, in the context of our sincere desire to live for God and do what he wants."

I love that! How often do we completely miss that point? I attend a Bible study once a week, and very often I find myself sitting and listening to the "experts" and think, "Why do they think they know what God was communicating?" This isn't an all-the-time thing, but it is a regular occurrence. Too often it seems as though someone just wants to be right.

And this seems to be pervasive in the evangelical wing of Christianity. A great example is the debate between Greg Boyd and John Piper, going back about 5-6 years ago. I think both of these guys are brilliant. They know more about theology than I'll ever dream about. I learn from each of them and their followers truly admire them (as evidenced by the thousands that attend their weekly services.) But these two evangelical giants faced off on the topic of pre-destination and God's foreknowledge. Piper is a true Calvinist, while Boyd leans more toward Armenianism. The debate got downright personal. In reading the various documents that went back and forth between these two men, I was left thinking, "How do you know what was meant? You are reading the Bible and extracting theology and meaning from very confusing and some times conflicting information. What makes you think you know God's thoughts?" It seemed to me the men were more interested in making a point, not necessarily understanding.

But the "point" isn't to know God's thoughts. After all, isn't that what got Eve in trouble? She desired the fruit not for the fruit, but for the knowledge she would gain, knowledge that would put her on par with God. Isn't it also how the Babylonians earned God's wrath, by building a tower so they could somehow be as important as God? (Genesis 11) I sometimes think we're doing the same thing.

McLaren suggests that what we should be doing is living for God. I love his phrase, to read "as humble seekers." Too often I see nothing resembling humility when that trait would do wonders for so many. And this includes the scholar. Shouldn't even scholars approach the Bible from a humble perspective, letting the Bible do the talking, not try and fit the Bible into some sort of box the scholar has built and designed. It minimizes God.

I'm not ready to digest all that McLaren offers in this book, but I have ordered the two sequels and will eagerly read them to continue my personal faith journey. In the mean time, my advice to my evangelical friends is to cozy up to the Bible. Approach it as a friend, not some sort of science project.

Freedom from the law

I just read a disturbing article. Evidently, a sheik in town in Somalia is threatening to behead residents if they do not pray five times daily.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,234817,00.html

My initial reaction was one of being horrified. How can this happen today? And, how can this religion be followed? Why don't the people see that murdering and torturing people because they fail to abide by legalistic rules of behavior can't possibly be a faith that makes any sense?

And then it dawned on me. Sadly, this reminds me of the Pharisees and other religious leaders during the time of our savior Jesus. Those that weren't following the law were crucified, stoned, beaten, tortured. The same fate met many of the Apostles of Christ. Fortunately for us, the atoning death of Jesus has freed us from legalistic stipulations. We are still asked to follow the Law, but our law is summarized by Jesus in Luke 10:26-27:

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

See: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=49&chapter=10&version=31&context=chapter

We're shocked when we read about religions doing this today, and rightfully so, because we think we are more civilized. Brutally attacking another is certainly not loving your neighbor. But this is disturbing evidence that should shock us. We live in a brutal world, fighting against Satan on a daily basis. It is evidence of how distorted faith can lead to inexplicable atrocities.

This is also a call to be missional in our lives. Introduce the Gospels at every opportunity. Explain the freedom that comes from a life in Christ. Give a reason for the hope you have. (1 Peter 3:15)

Black Friday

Why would anyone want to shop in a retail store anymore, in particular on the day after Thanksgiving? Let me offer this experience.

My daughter wanted to be dropped off to go shopping with her grandmother (the queen of day-after sales) this morning, so I did so about 7:30. After dropping her off, I went to Circuit City store to buy a gift for one of my kids. (The details are intentionally omitted because one of them may read this.)

The first thing I saw was a line of at least 50 people just trying to check out with their deals. I'm not sure how long they had already been in line, but you could sense a bit of tension as you walked by people with credit cards ready, holding the latest gaming system/DVD player/camera/stereo/etc. When I went to the department to buy the particular item I wanted, the retail associate simply nodded his head as if to say, "Dude, it's 7:30 - we've been open since 5AM. Did you really think you'd get one of the two we had on hand..." I left, not really discouraged, but wondering.

When I got to my office, I logged into the Circuit City site to see if the item I wanted was available on line. And, to my surprise, it was. Not only that, it was at the same price as the retail ad. And it was in stock. And, to put a cherry on top, there would be no shipping charges on the transaction.

In about 2 minutes, I bought the exact item I wanted, without having to worry about lines, jammed parking lots, angry customers, etc.

So help me understand - why do we have retail stores anymore? What a waste of real estate. Not only that, but if the retailers didn't have to pay associates, pay inflated lease rates, high utility bills, etc., imagine how much lower they could push the pricing. And imagine how their profits would be enhanced.

And as a side benefit - no large heat-radiating asphalt parking lots, no fuel guzzling cars to drive, no pollution, emissions, etc.

It's just a matter of time before big-box retailers selling easily researched products go the way of 8-track tapes. They just don't make sense anymore.

For me, one gift down, a few to go...and it's all going to be done on-line!