Response to Newsweek Article: "Our Mutual Joy"

In a recent issue of Newsweek magazine, Lisa Miller's article Our Mutual Joy makes the case that Scripture, instead of arguing against homosexuality and gay marriage, actually argues drastically for it. For the article, here is the link http://www.newsweek.com/id/172653 . Now, while Miller does make some very pointed arguments in this article, upon further examination, most of her points come from either the misinterpretation of Scripture to fit her own particular agenda she is bringing to the text, or she is quoting a part of the Bible completely out of context. Therefore, in this post, I will atttempt to address some of her points and demonstrate how they are unashamedly flawed.

Speaking about the biblical model of marriage in a negative light, Miller states "The New Testament model of marriage is hardly better. Jesus himself was single and preached an indifference to earthly attachments - especially family." Clearly, Miller has missed the biblical Jesus I know. Jesus preached an indifference to material wealth, not an indifference to the people that make up the children of God. For example, in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus does not preach an indifference to family but an expansion of the common model. According to Jesus himself, family can be defined as someone who does the will of His Father in heaven. Therefore, Christ was very much interested in family. In fact, he died for the children of God. For Miller to say that Jesus preached an indifference to people is the height of folly and bad hermeneutics.

Demonstrating the modern understanding of marriage, Miller also relates that "...no sensible modern person wants marriage - theirs or anyone else's - to look in its particulars anything like what the Bible describes." Now, you may be shocked, but for the most part, I agree with what Miller is saying. Our current culture does not want to be confronted with the facts that marriage requires fidelity, committment, and it might actually take some work. However, if we were not such selfish beings, Ephesians 5 or even the Trinity itself give beautiful frameworks for how marriage should function. The Bible teaches that marriage is a covenant, a promise before God between two people. Yes, women should submit, but if you look at the text in Ephesians, the burden of proof for a good marriage rests upon the men. We are to love our wives like Christ. What a huge standard!!!!! This teaches that we should value the people in this world. To contemplate anything else, is just not biblical. If you guys want me to respond to more, let me know.

He Was Despised - Christmas Time and Poo

Isaiah 53:1-6

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

During this Christmas season, I must admit that I am humbled by the stark reality of this text. Isaiah, speaking prophetically of Christ, clearly relates that Christ was not some beautiful thing that people desired. In fact, he was born in a manger smelling of cow and sheep crap, learned a simple trade from his father, and was despised by the popular culture of today. Now I know it seems sort of drastic to say this, but I am not sure that anything has changed since the time of Christ's birth. Christmas has become a holiday celebrating mass consumerism, not a baby born in a feeding trough next to animals that was the incarnate son of God that would one day restore the broken relationship of humanity to God. During this Christmas season, I find myself more and more considering how the importance of Christmas is not consumerism, is not Santa, is not pretty decorations, its a nasty poo-filled stable where Christ would start a journey that would ultimately lead to salvation. Yet during this wonderful time of the year, we miss this. We still, being the good sheep we are (simply following the sheep-butt in front of us) just do like everyone else at Christmas. I think this is wrong, not just wrong, it is down right disappointing. Christ bore the ultimate torture for those whom he loved, and we would rather pray for snow that pray for salvation for others. This Christmas season, remember that the only real reason that we celebrate Christmas is because a little baby was born, grew up, and was torn up into a piece of raw meat that you and I might live eternally. Merry Christmas!

In Defense of Natural Theology

Issue
Natural theology, the concept that God has intentionally revealed Himself and humanity can gain knowledge about Him from His natural revelation without the use of the Scripture, has been a theme of discussion that ranges from the early church to the present day. Even Scripture itself testifies that “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”[1] Yet while some scholars maintain that this is one of the most vibrant areas of Christian theology, still other evangelicals feel that natural theology is blasphemy and the height of human arrogance. Augustine, Aquinas, Barth, Brunner, and many other Christians throughout ecclesiastical history have considered this aspect of theology important, and therefore they made very scriptural arguments either for or against this particular branch of theology. Natural theology, properly understood and given certain modifications to the traditional version, does have an important place in the realm of theology within evangelical Christianity.
Positions
The oldest position of traditional natural theology finds many important allies among the theological greats of Christianity. Thomas Aquinas made strong arguments for the legitimacy of natural theology via what has come to be called the Five Ways. In five separate ways, Aquinas demonstrates that real knowledge about God is possible outside of Scripture. Alexander Hall summarizes the five ways quite well when he states
The Five Ways rely on five observations: things that are in motion, there exists an order of efficient causes where one entity moves another, contingent entities exist, among beings we find varying degrees of perfection, and unintelligent entities exhibit seemingly end-directed activity. Aquinas argues that these phenomena disclose the existence of a first mover, first efficient cause, etc., and identifies these entities with God.[2]
In other words, Aquinas understood that humans, with the help of reason, could construct arguments for the existence of God based on philosophical observations from nature itself. John Calvin himself, though some scholars disagree on the extent, supported the concept of natural theology. Calvin stated within the Institutes of the Christian Religion that
There are innumerable witnesses in heaven and on earth that declare the wonders of his wisdom. Not only those more arcane matters for the closer observation of which astronomy, medicine, and all of natural science (tota physica scientia) are intended, but also those which force themselves upon the sight of even the most unlearned and ignorant peoples, so that they cannot even open their eyes without being forced to see them.[3]
Here Calvin argues that even the most non-intellectual people possess the ability to see clearly the evidence of God. In this particular instance, Calvin states that humans ought to gain an appreciation for God’s wisdom when they behold the attributes of God found within creation. While Aquinas and Calvin understood natural theology as beneficial to Christianity, they are not the only perspective on the matter.
Several theologians have developed critiques and objections to the validity of natural theology. Karl Barth, in his famous debate with Emil Brunner over this issue, stands as the primary prosecutor of natural theology. Barth held the notion that knowledge about God apart from special revelation violated sola gratia. Millard Erickson describes the point of view of Barth when he states
Barth is very skeptical of the view that humans are able to know God apart from the revelation in Christ. This would mean that they can know the existence, the being of God, without knowing anything of his grace and mercy. This would injure the unity of God, since it would abstract his being from the fullness of his activity. A human who could achieve some knowledge of God outside of his revelation in Jesus Christ would have contributed at least in some small measure to his or her salvation or spiritual standing with God. The principle of grace alone would be compromised.[4]
Here Erickson explains that Barth understood the core of natural theology to argue for a works-based salvation. If knowledge of God can be achieved without knowing Christ in Scripture, then he or she would have a small role in their own salvation. Since one of the main tenets of natural theology is that true knowledge about God can be gleaned from nature apart from Scripture, Barth maintained that natural theology exemplified human arrogance because it appeared to violate the intrinsic need of humanity for the grace of God.
Some more modern theologians have attempted a sort of via media when discussing the viability of natural theology. Thomas Torrance, a Scottish theologian that agreed with the analysis of Barth on natural theology, redefines natural theology in such a way that it can stand against the objections of Barth. McGrath illustrates the new version of natural theology argued for by Torrance when he states
Torrance can therefore be thought of as moving natural theology into the domain of systematic theology, in much the same manner as Einstein moved geometry into the formal content of physics. The proper locus of natural theology is not debate about the possibility of hypothetical knowledge about God, but within the context of the positive and revealed knowledge of creator God.[5]
Torrance, as McGrath rightly illuminates, shifts the definition of natural theology away from independence from the revelation of God in Scripture to a type of systematic theology. To clarify, Torrance thought natural theology viable because the Word of God taught that general revelation displays some knowledge about God. Since this version of natural theology relies on other forms of revelation, Barth would not have disagreed with this definition.
Support
Natural theology does have a rightful place in theological study once the scope and limits of this aspect of theology are properly examined. Clearly some knowledge about God is revealed in nature as can be seen from the teachings of Scripture. Aside from Psalm 19, the Apostle Paul argues for revealed knowledge of God in nature. In Romans chapter one, Paul argues “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”[6] This passage is commonly cited in support of general revelation, the appropriate setting for natural theology. Wayne Grudem defines general revelation when he states “The knowledge of God’s existence, character, and moral law, which comes through creation to all humanity, is often called ‘general revelation’ (because it comes to all people generally).”[7] While natural theology constitutes a form of general revelation, notice that the definition that Grudem gives does not say that general revelation is absolute proof of God’s existence. General revelation is merely knowledge of God. This is due to the fact that general revelation comes to humanity from God, but has an intellectually sinful reception. Again, the Apostle Paul explains
For though they knew God, they did honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and birds of the air and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.[8]
Paul states that sinful humanity did actually gain knowledge about God, but sinfulness pushes them toward idolatry. Because the sin of humanity darkens this knowledge, Bruce Demarest explains that “Instead of proving salvific, general revelation serves only to condemn and to establish guilt-worthiness before God.”[9] Demarest means here that general revelation is not involved in the salvation process, but it does have other uses. Since natural revelation is a form of general revelation, it follows that natural theology also possesses no salvific truth.
Apart from establishing the guilt of humanity before God, natural theology does have other uses that have importance in Christian theology. It does not, as in the traditional view, necessarily prove the existence of God. As James Barr notes “We may question whether all natural theology seeks to ‘prove’: it may, on the contrary, merely indicate, merely register, what people think about God.”[10] McGrath notes the view of Alvin Plantinga who also does not believe that natural theology proves the existence of God when he states “In other words, natural theology is not intended to prove the existence of God, but presupposes that existence; it then asks ‘what should we expect the natural world to be like if it has indeed been created by such a God?’”[11] Linking the ideas of Barr and Plantinga to Scripture, since the knowledge from general revelation and natural theology is sinfully received, only after the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit after conversion does this information point to the existence of God. While this seems to restrict the usefulness of natural theology, Demarest illustrates several beneficial aspects of natural theology as contained in general revelation when he states
But general revelation serves several salutary ends. (1) It accounts for the presence of the truth wherever found in human experience and culture, including valid elements in the non-Christian traditions. (2) The universally implanted moral law provides the only authentic basis by which good and evil can be distinguished. The fact that good is enjoined and evil proscribed provides society with a viable moral framework. (3) Since all people possess rudimentary knowledge of God, Christian witnesses are assured when speaking to the unconverted that the notion of God is not meaningless.[12]
Here Demarest lists three important effects of doing natural theology in the correct manner. It allows Christians to explain how other religions do have at least some truth in them. Natural theology also explains how all of humanity has similar concepts of right and wrong. This particular point, known as the moral argument, is discussed in C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere Christianity. Lastly, it gives encouragement to believers because natural revelation acknowledges that unbelievers do have some knowledge about God, even if this knowledge has been twisted by sin.
Other observations that natural theology supports are the claims made within the special revelation of Scripture. When humanity can observe in nature and in themselves the phenomena listed within passages like Psalm 19, Job 36-37, and Romans 1, this lends weight to the authority of the Bible. Natural theology, under the umbrella of natural theology, works with the revelation of God in His Word. Rodney Stiling relates this cooperation between Scripture and natural theology when he states
Very little of the biblical text refers specifically to nature or natural phenomena, but in those few places where Scripture makes reference to nature, Christians committed to the time-honored notion that the one God is the author of both a general revelation in nature and a special revelation in Scripture would insist that these ‘two books’ in some real sense actually agree.[13]
Stiling argues here for what must be the proper relationship of natural theology and Scripture. Natural theology gives knowledge about God, but it works with Scripture to accomplish this.
Objections
The primary theological objection to natural theology derives from the debate of Barth with Brunner. Describing one serious aspect of the objection concerning natural theology, McGrath, quoting Torrance, relates the critique of Barth when he states
Epistemologically, then, what Barth objects to in traditional natural theology is not any invalidity in its argumentation, nor even in its rational structure, as such, but its independent character – i.e. the autonomous rational structure that natural theology develops on the ground of “nature alone,” in abstraction from the active self-disclosure of the living and Triune God (…).[14]
While this critique of Barth is justified in terms of traditional natural theology, if it is reclassified as a part of traditional systematic theology that is dependent on the Word of God for understanding and is studied in Christian community, then this objection deserves dismissal. McGrath demonstrates the appropriate understanding of natural theology as described by Torrance when he states
So it is with natural theology: brought within the embrace of positive theology and developed as a complex of rational structures arising in our actual knowledge of God it becomes ‘natural’ in a new way, natural to its proper object, God in self-revealing interaction with us in space and time.[15]
Here McGrath and Torrance rightly assert that if natural theology is understood as part of a systematic theology that stands in a supportive role to the special revelation of Bible, then the independence that Barth noted in traditional natural theology has changed into an utter dependence on God. Scripture clearly teaches that God has revealed Himself in nature and the humans He created, but this knowledge cannot save without a dependence upon the saving work of Jesus Christ that proceeds out of the accounts of Scripture and not nature. Therefore, natural theology exists as an aspect of general revelation.
Alvin Plantinga, an evangelical philosopher in the Reformed tradition, gives a philosophical objection to natural theology. Though his objection is complex to understand, his problem with natural theology is rooted in the definition of traditional theology. McGrath correctly interprets the view of Plantinga when he states
Natural theology supposes that belief in God must rest upon an evidential basis. Belief in God is thus not, strictly speaking, a basic belief – that is, something which is self-evident, incorrigible or evident to the senses. It is therefore a belief which requires to be itself grounded in some more basic belief. However, to ground a belief in God upon some other belief is, in effect, to depict that latter belief as endowed with a greater epistemic status than belief in God. For Plantinga, a properly Christian approach is to affirm that belief in God is itself basic, and does not require justification with reference to other beliefs.[16]
According to the understanding of Plantinga, the goal of traditional natural theology is to prove the existence of God via observations in creation. These observations, however, if they are understood to prove the existence of God, are given a higher epistemological value than belief in God Himself. To answer this objection, traditional natural theology seems to affirm that argument that Plantinga makes. However, if the definition of natural theology changes to mean that it exists only as a part of the revealed theology about God that is dependent on His Word, then the idea of James Barr that natural theology does not attempt to “prove” the existence of God maintains the assertion of Plantinga that belief in God is basic. This basic belief, in turn, is not grounded in natural theology but supported by it.
The concept of natural theology has maintained an important role throughout the broad extent of ecclesiastical history. Though its traditional form does have both theological and philosophical problems with serious ramifications, the usefulness of natural theology can preserve with a change of its definition and purpose.
[1] Psalm 19:1 NASB.

[2] Alexander W. Hall, Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus: Natural Theology in the Middle Ages (New York, NY: Continuum Publishing, 2007), 53.

[3] Alister E. McGrath, The Christian Theology Reader (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2001), 98.
[4] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1998), 188-189.
[5] Alister E. McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction (Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing, 2001), 217.
[6] Romans 1:20 NASB.
[7] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 122-123.
[8] Romans 1:21-23 NASB.
[9] Bruce A. Demarest, “General Revelation,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001), 1021.

[10] James Barr, Biblical Faith and Natural Theology (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1993), 2.
[11] McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction, 218.
[12] Demarest, “General Revelation,” 1021.

[13] Rodney L. Stiling, “Scriptural Geology in America,” in Evangelicals and Science in Historical Perspective, eds. D.G. Hart, David N. Livingstone, Mark A. Noll (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1999), 177.
[14] McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction, 216.

[15] Ibid., 217.
[16] Ibid., 218.

Life and Death

Psalm 51:12-17 - "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."


As Christians, most of us sooner or later become fed up with the theology, with not hearing from God, or just this machine called Christianity. Some of us, like Donald Miller, think it has become too showy...too much like someone is trying to sell us something that is incredibly broken. Others of us just slip into a a state of not caring about stuff that we know deep down we care about. My own struggle came when I was going through what some have deemed "the dark night of the soul." Have you ever been there? This was a time in my own life when God seemed so distant, so silent, that the loneliness and suffering was almost unbearable. To be honest, I hated God for so long. He had allowed things to take place that, in my opinion, made him not real. I am glad to say that I am not here any longer.
Through the work of his spirit and the the caring of friends, God granted me forgiveness in a way that I could not imagine and gave me back the joy that only he can give. I have a passion for my relationship with God and feel his presence guiding my footsteps. Because I am an analytical being, I have often wondered why God puts his children through their own personal "hells." The only answer I have come up with is that he wants to drive us to the very end of ourselves so that we realize our utter dependence on him. To be honest, he has to kill us before he came make us new. C.S. Lewis speaking from Christ's perspective puts it this way "Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthy life , whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect - until my father can say without reservation that he is well pleased with you, as he said he is well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less." (Mere Christianity)

True worship and devotion to God is allowing him to do his work that is so painful in our lives, and then, just when we think he can't prune anything else out of our lives, praising and trusting him as we give the last little piece of our identity over to him. Usually, well...at least in my case this took a brokenness in my life from sin and from my life falling a part, but praise God that he carried me through this. He has given me so much freedom and so much responsibility, and has granted me such mercy.

I would love to tell you that this process was over. I would love to tell you that I am in heaven and God no longer is at war with me over my soul, but this is not the case. One of the starkest realizations that I have had is that the process of God breaking me and rethrowing me back onto his potter's wheel will never be over until I meet him face to face...and you know what? That is okay. My soul is ready, my heart is willing, though I need God's grace because my flesh is weak. This is a never ending process, restoration of joy and brokenness. Love and sacrifice. Dying to find true life. May we never forget to praise God for his love and sovereign will as he guides us through this journey called life.

Hot Coals and Chapped Lips in America

"'Woe to me! I cried. "I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." - Isaiah 6:5

This text was penned by Isaiah in a great time of political upheaval. It strikes me that in a time of uncertainty, God granted to Isaiah this vision which speaks volumes to us today. After staring into the face of the Almighty, Isaiah became all to aware of the darkness in his life and the darkness of the people with whom he dwelled. As I look around the current situations in America, whether it be the great financial crisis, the dissolution of the nuclear family, or the jockeying of politicians in Washington, I am forced to confront the fact that we are a people of unclean lips. I...am a person of unclean lips. Knowing this to be inherently wrong, like Isaiah sometimes the overwhelming sinfulness of this world can be quite exasperating. What should we do? How do we change? In Isaiah's own story a Seraph touches a hot coal to his mouth and says "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and you sin atoned for." This little hot lump of coal seared the sin out of Isaiah's life. The lump of coal that seared the sin out of our lives was also straight from the altar, and his name was Jesus. If we are redeemed, then what we must do is like Isaiah. We must proclaim that we are ready to go and say what needs to be said, even when it is unpopular. Our message though it can be expressed in a few simple terms is the most revolutionary political platform to have ever been conceived. Love, forgiveness, justice, patience, dying to self, doing to the least of these, Christ are all aspects that make up the gospel. This is what our people need to hear, even if it offends them. I am no longer willing to tolerate simply blaming government for all of our problems. Our problems have come from the fact that all of us, from the crack house to the Senate House, to the House of Representatives, to the White House, and to my house are all unclean. We need to touch the coal of God's Word to our mouths again and speak truth to God's people again, but it takes more than speaking. We must carry the fire from the altar into every place where people dwell. Yes, this means we may have to deal with the poor, the discarded, the people in society that politicans talk so much about and yet so often rarely ever meet, but that is our mission. God never said to Isaiah, ohhh this will be so easy and you will always hang around with people just like you. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Christ went so far as to say that first we must die, then we must serve those least in the eyes of the people with the most. Maybe if we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, some of the desperation and utter dependence on God that those without will rub off on us. Maybe we can get a little desperate. Maybe, with God's help, we can turn a generation of spoiled and comfortable Christians with unclean lips into a people whose hearts burn with a zeal to become the people of God that He wants us to be. However, the long and the short of it is this: it all begins with YOU!!! What are you going to do or say today for your God? Are you willing to take the coal of the gospel to those around you? Are you willing to put your life on the altar?

Role of Women In Church

As many of you know, John McCain's choice in Sarah Palin has sparked quite the debate in Evangelical Christian circles (as well as just random circles in general) over the ability of women to lead in our government or in church. If you look at Newsweek's website, "On Faith" is a panel that has currently asked the question about women's role in the church. To be honest my friends, I continue to struggle with this very issue to this day. However, we must all agree that if we wish to debate this issue, then Holy Scripture must be our standard. So, here is my problem at hand. I understand most interpret 1 Timothy 3 as restricting the pastorate to men alone because it says "husbands of one wife." Yet, I sometimes feel it is simply assumed from this statement that women are automatically disqualified because it only mentions them as wives. However, this particular Scripture does make for strong evidence against women in the pastorate. Next, we have passages like Romans 16:1 that specifically mentions a "deaconess." Now traiditionally, two theories dominate this occurence. One, their were women that functioned in a servant leadership role in the early church and were given the title of deaconess. Two, this term merely refers to the wife of a deacon. This particular piece of Scripture, more than any other to my knowledge, seems to allow that women could perhaps lead in some capacity. This is notably not necessarily a teaching position of authority like a pastor or elder, but one of service. Therefore, I do not see a theologically issue with female deacons within the local church. In regards to 1 Timothy 2:9-15, I am not precisely certain of what these restricitions refer to. Is Paul talking about something specific to the church where Timothy is? Is he talking about the marriage relationship? Is he talking about a universal rule for churches? These questions become very interesting because the very same Apostle Paul also says that there is neither male or female, but we are all one in Christ. Therefore, I must conclude that I do not yet fully know what I think about women in the pastorate. I have seen some do wonderful work for the kingdom of God. So, to all my biblical scholars out there, what do you think?

Dad and Memories

I was casually searching the internet today and found my dad's funeral picture slideshow from the funeral home. As I looked through pictures that span the years of my father's life, I am again reminded of how much I miss him...how much he is still a large part of who I am. Two of the pictures really stood out to me. One is the last hike we did together in the Smokies in Elkmont where our family was from. On that trip, dad annointed me with the dirt and water from that place, read from his 1970's era FCA Bible, and consecrated me to God for his ministry. It snowed on us the whole way over and as long as I live, I will never forget that hike. The second photo is of us smoking our pipes together. We both loved this as it usually stemmed great conversation. I believe it is just simply talking to him that I will miss the most. But he has gone to a place where I cannot follow...for now. He is now having the "great conversation" with a God that always has and always will continue to speak to his creation. Thank God for fathers, both heavenly and earthly, and thank God that they love to talk to and spend time with their children. Take time today and tell your dad that you love him.

Central High School Shooting and Uncertainty

Well...not even a month outside of a church shooting, some kid made the decision to settle a score that ended in the death of a 15 year old boy. When a commmunity is rocked by violence, I am at a loss as to any explanation or words that provide consolation to all. I am again reminded of the brevity and uncertainty of all life, and how...time holds the unprecedented and unpredictable. Sometimes...I am beginning to think that when God looks down on his creation and sees his children acting in such ways, he must be terribly disappointed with what we have done to ourselves in this thing called life. At the same time, the only place that I do find comfort is in his Word. Psalm 119 speaks of how God is literally every place that humans can go and can't go. He is even in the midst of terrible things like church shootings and school shootings...constantly moving...constantly drawing people to himself in spite of any circumstance. I take comfort in knowing that God is a God of purpose, of love, of mercy, and of justice. This wonderful God that has the ability to take the ugliest events in society, cover them up with the paint of his blood, and start repainting the picture of his kingdom all over again. He never gives up on what he knows is important, and neither should we. Thoughts???

Knoxville Church Shooting - Progressive Theology

George Orwell said, "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Once again, Christianity in various forms has hit the news with tragedy. I am sure you all will mourn the loss of the family members and friends at the Unitarian Church. Please understand that though we differ drastically theologically, I still love them as fellow children of God. When the recent news station revealed that the man accused of murdering several congregants did so over an anger at their progressive views, I must admit that I was deeply saddened. I believe that the church has grown way too soft on very important issues that stem from topics as broad as sin and as specific as the role of homosexuals in the church. I am angry that instead of ministering in the culture of this world, we have let the prince of this world and current culture infect the church and our way of thinking. I am angry at the times when we have sat back and watched injustice and done nothing to change the hurt in the world, however; under no circumstances are you ever going to change hearts of people to Christ by shooting at them. What this man has done will have ripple effects for the name of Christ in the media in ways that can only make demons delighted. So people are liberal (whatever that actually means, I find it more of a loaded term) and have poor biblical theology, I am sure that when Jesus looks into the deepest darkest sins in our hearts he thinks we are quite liberal too!!! Please understand that I am not making an argument for tolerance of bad religion and theology, I just do not understand why the man killed people over their religious stance. Jesus ran up against all sorts of liberals and people of other religions. I do not ever remember him killing anyone for not accepting the gospel. In fact, he would tell stories, ask questions, confront sin, but never killed anyone. He never forced his beliefs on anyone. In fact, he loved the very people that crucified and killed him. Yes, the church does need to return to sound biblical theology, but not at the cost of killing other people Thoughts anyone? Why do you feel this man did this?

The Parable of the Two Servants

I would like for as many who wish to read the following passage and tell me what it means. I am preaching on this soon and would like just some other people's impressions as to what Jesus is telling us in this parable. When I have finished my sermon outline, I will post it as well.
Matthew 24:42-51 (New American Standard Bible)
Be Ready for His Coming 42"Therefore (A)be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
43"But be sure of this, that (B)if the head of the house had known (C)at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
44"For this reason (D)you also must be ready; for (E)the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
45"(F)Who then is the (G)faithful and (H)sensible slave whom his master (I)put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time?
46"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
47"Truly I say to you that (J)he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
48"But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'
49and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards;
50the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,
51and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be (K)weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Response to Critical Comments of Dr. Mohler's Defense of the Resurrection

I posted the following on the ON FAITH website to support Dr. Mohler's understanding of the importance of the resurrection. One guy just quotes a bunch of random biased evidence and then I responded to some accusations of pride and arrogance.

As an evangelical Christian, I openly confess that I believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, I would like to make two points and then ask two questions. First, I also can take up a great deal of space with evidence from a wide variety of evangelical authors that supports the resurrection of Christ. Block quoting someone else's analysis of scripture and calling them facts does not really provide a convincing argument. Second, I believe that many misinterpret why Christianity claims to be more than a "mere religion." It is not out of pride or arrogance, although Christians are certainly guilty of these. Our cause is simply this: to preach Christ crucified to the world. We do this out of the love that God first showed us. We are exclusive because Christ says that he is the only way in Scripture, but all people have the potential of coming to faith in him. What we hold to be true in Scripture motivates us to share the gospel with people out of love because we desire that they come into a moving relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In my opinion, it is this unique personal relationship that sets Christianity apart from all other religons. Now for the questions: one, For all those who believe that the resurrection did not happen or do not believe in Christ, in your own religious system what do you hope for? Two, if you do not believe in the resurrection, is your problem really with Christ or with Christians. Just some thoughts.

THE LOVE QUESTION

As some of my students will explain, we have been discussing the definition of love in my different classes. Essentially the debate boils down into to primary points. Either love is a choice and we can control who we love, or the objects of our love are beyond our control. If you can tell, I have defined love as a choice to selflessly elevate some other person above yourself in all things. In addition, I believe that all love springs from the very nature of who God is; he is the ultimate source of it. Therefore, when I John 4: 9-11 seems to support my argument. Though God made us and knew we existed, he (if he wished) could have sent us all straight to hell. However, out of his great love, he sent his Son to die on the cross for our sins as a manifestation that he did love us. I believe love, real love mind you, is similar in humans. We have a choice to love our spouses, parents, and friends. If it is not under our control, then are we blaming God for causing us to screw up when we do not meet his standard of loving our neighbor? Certainly not! We must acknowledge the human responsibility of loving people in the right way, as Christ himself loved us. All right. Now, my rant has been short. Let the discussion begin.

The Road of Faith

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. - 1 John 2:4-6 (NASB)

Every person on the face of this planet is on a journey. Both the journey and the destination do matter, for one is spent with what reality is and the other is the parody of it. The destination is either complete perfection or complete denial, there is no alternative. I guess I wanted to write today about "walking" as the passage mentions. I believe that I know Jesus Christ as my everything everyday, but I am stricken with my own sin and the things that happen around me. I admit that I do not obey his commandments, but like any person I try. I attempt to walk like Christ. Two things have recently reemphasized my appreciation for the grace with which Christ walked this earth. First, my father has been diagnosed with cancer. I haven't a clue to what type, but to be honest that isn't important. My dad, this man of all men from perspective, is coming to grips with this worst type of news. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I have witness my father sharing his faith in a way that make my heart want to explode. I then realized, would I walk like my father? The answer is only time will tell. I am so proud of him and what he has done, and I am truly humbled by the fact that God showed me grace upon grace by giving a father who walked as he did and is still doing.
Second, I have recently struggled as work with a variety of issues. I know that I am not the teacher I should be, but (primarily because of the example of my father's walk), I will never quit, period. He never gave up on this son (I am talking about my own physical and spiritual father as well), and I will not quit on the young people I work with. I will walk with them through whatever valleys they go through...and yes, I can't help them all. But my father sowed his righteousness into the lives of me and a lot of other people, I want to walk as he walks. So, I will help as many as I can. Because, after all, we are all on the same road...the road of faith. Some are close and some are far from Him who loves them best. I hope my journey can one day be similar to what these verses have talked about. I want to walk with Jesus in the same way my dad does. And just like Psalm 73 mentions, It is good to be near God. That's where I want to end up with everyone I know or can get to know. It's my calling. To walk with people on this road...this road with an infinite destination.

War is Hell

As I listened to NPR this morning, I once again became terrified by the effects that War can have on humanity. The reporters related a story of some army drinking buddies doing what soldiers do when they get home (having a drink with their buddies), when one suddenly shoots the other five times with virtually no hesitation. The report further stated that the shooter had a myspace page dominated by his tattoos that said things like "born to kill" and he also apparently had a Waffen-SS tattoo. Forgive me, but I can't help but see this as another negative aspect of exposing God's creatures to a sin they should have never experienced. Its as though once humanity got a taste of killing their own kind, they have never stopped developing it as some sick art form. War...must be one of the most difficult things for the human intellect and emotion to endure. People go, defend themselves and their country, are exposed to traumatic amounts of violence, and then go home and people expect them to just be okay. Aside from this instance, I recently was reenlightened about the sad state of many of our veterans in the care of our government. I did not know of the Walter Reed incident where many wounded and disabled veterans experienced a new "hell" when they came home. Some had to literally army crawl to the bathroom, and apparently there was even one soldier who had not been given a change of clothes or a chance to go to the bathroom for three days. This is unexcusable. We say that we support the soldiers, concepts like freedom and liberty, and then the very men and women who provide this blanket of protection, we basically just forget about. Once again, this just shows you how quickly Americans forget the freedoms that we have, just like most things in life, are bought with a price. I really look forward to the days when wars are over and the soldiers can return to a state of peace. I have a feeling, and I am not soldier so I don't know for sure, but I think soldiers that have really seen true combat spend the rest of their lives trying to do one of two things: finding peace or re-living the most difficult experience in their lives. I hope in God that one day all of this War will cease. Psalm 46:9-10 states that "He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Let us not forget that War is a terrible thing that should never happen. Sadly because of sin, however, sometimes people have to fight for what is right.

Death in Hollywood

Well...another person has died in Hollywood. Forgive me, but I can't help but notice the ever increasing trend of self-destruction among the famous people in the United States. When I asked my Bible classes what was the cause, I received a variety of answers. They included the following: searching for God, a lack of real friends, drug abuse, living in a fishbowl, a lack of self-worth, the lonely feeling of stardom, no rules, bad parenting, etc. However, upon further reflection on C.S. Lewis' book The Problem of Pain, I realized that all of these people endure suffering and what they are trying to do is alleviate the pain in their lives. Face it, Heath Ledger, Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan; they are all just people like you and me. They all endure trials just like you and me. They all reach for help just like you and me. Sometimes we reach for the wrong thing, just like you and me. Christ tells us to cast all our cares upon him and he will give us rest. The difference between Hollywood and the Christian perspective is that we look at the eternal, as well as having a different concept of pain in general. May God help us all to endure the pain in life to the glory of God, and to carry the burdens of others that we may fufill the law of Christ.

Divorce

Okay, well the topic of today is quite possibly the most stupid man made idea that I have ever heard of, its called divorce. Yes, I know that Jesus says that its permitted in some cases of marital unfaithfulness (the definition of this though can be quite varied), but I sincerely wish that we could do something about the dissolution of the nuclear family. Recently someone extremely close to me that has been married for 52 years is getting a divorce. Whether this sad thing is thrust upon people because of violence, money, or just because they do not like each other anymore; it is quite plain that marriage no longer means what it used to mean. Our culture seems to have lost the meaning of the word commitment and replaced it with selfish conditional love. If, and yes I realize that this is virtually impossible, we as men and women could just follow the advice of Paul in Ephesians chapter 5, then homes would not be broken, children emotionally scarred, and lives lost to the other spiritual side. Please understand however that I believe a woman should submit totally to her husband. A husband should love his wife like he loves Christ. If both partners keep this as their goal, what a different understanding of Christian marriage would their be in this world. I do think women should be doormats for their husbands. I do not think husbands should just make all the decisions and use the submission concept to dominate their wives. This is not the point that Genesis makes when it says that couples should be one flesh. One flesh is the idea of unity. This means that you have to operate as one being because that is the way that God views you. This does not mean that you should just defer to the man in every decision. To be quite honest, sometimes I defer to my wife's judgement because I trust her. She defers to me some of the time because she trusts me. When we don't agree, we continue to COMMUNICATE until we find some resolution. That is another thing about marriage. If you have the attitude or the mindset that you can just quit, then you are doomed from the beginning. Marriage is not something that you should just quit, unless you think you can quit on God and I would not advise that either. What God has created, let no man put asunder.

The Problem of Pain

Today, I had to pull out a student from chapel and, with her mother present, pray for her Uncle as he is apparently on his death bed. It is at times like these, when I truly realize my incompetencey as a minister. What words can I offer to comfort this sort of pain? What can I do? The painfully obvious answer is absolutely nothing other than pray. These events, while traumatically painful beyond all comprehension, should bring each one of us to a pause. As God calls this man into eternal fellowship, we are called by the spirit to evaluate how we view life...and death for that matter. Life, how infintely a short thing to understand. Perhaps, now, after considering the sum of our actions in life, we can be changed by the power of God to be a different person that brings glory to him. Having an eternal perspective that comes only from Christ, we are challenged by death to live differently than the present. In terms of death, for the believer and non-believer alike, an eternity awaits. Death to those of us with hope is not an end, it is not the end, it merely is another door through which we all must pass. We step into eternal fellowship with God and leave the temporary darkness of this world and move into a realm where no darkness is tolerated. The other option, well, although it is real place and real people dwell there, is rather painful to discuss. Hell... a word we use frequently, yet do not fully understand at all. However, I sincerely hope that God can use to me keep people from this literal God-forsaken place. It is truly a privilige to minister to hurting people, to show them Christ's love. As Christians, it is our calling to carry each others burderns because the other option is nothing short of the failure of the kingdom. May God use each one of us to live for heaven, to point people towards it, and keep our eternal perspective on life. God will accept nothing less, and we can give him nothing more than all of who we are. Now...get out there and show some love!!!!

The Church - Some Thoughts and Some Ranting

So I was reading in Matthew. You know... the passage where Jesus says that not everyone who cries to him "Lord,Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, only he who does the will of the heavenly father who is in heaven gets in. Now, call me a southern simpleton, but upon reading this passage, I began to examine myself and what I feel to be Christendom in general. My question is two-fold, who am I? Am I the one crying Lord, Lord that makes it, or am I going through the motions? I ask the same question of the church in general. So, I know that I don't meet the standard of Christ, but why is it that the church tries so hard to do what is right, and yet can't acknowledge when they (we) screw up. If we did acknowledge this, we could clearly speak volumes about one of our most important doctrines...grace. Instead the world only knows a hypocritical, judgemental, Republican, white, upper-middle class, Jesus that would rather just sip on a latte from Starbuck's than love people in an effort to touch their immortal souls. When we do actually decide to engage someone about their faith, some of us are too busy thinking of responses, judging their views, classifying their theological frameworks, to actually marvel at the beauty found inside a fellow child of God. If we did this, would our hearts not burn like the disciples that spoke with Jesus on the road to Emmaus? Would we not be consumed by a zeal to show people that Jesus, this God man thing Lord, wants to invite them into not just a relationship, but a friendship of unlimited porportions? Instead my friends, I believe we have become complacent. Satan has convinced some that the church and Christ are irrelevant. That...is crap!!!!! In our world, with our problems, Jesus has never been more relevant. From serving in the Sudan to the way you talk to the McDonald's cashier, you and I can actually be used by God to have an eternal impact for his kingdom. The problem that concerns me most, do we possess the constitution, the spiritual gumption, the love of God to go as far, preach as hard, love as passionately as a country boy carpenter that altered the very face of the world. Thoughts anyone?

Blasphemy Challenge www.blasphemeychallenge.com

So, I was told to go to this website by a friend, and guess what I found? A bunch of people in varying ages denying the existence of the Holy Spirit and God. In essence they are making fun of the unforgiveable sin. Certain things are said like "I freed myself from religion" or "its reasonable not to believe in God". To be quite honest, I found this whole idea rather scary. It does show how pop culture can dictate the reason of our youth. Watch the videos and give me some thoughts. Overall, I found the whole thing disturbing.

The Offering of Christianity to Current Culture

As I sat in Seminary class the other night, I suddenly had a question that popped or pooped itself into my mind. If Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, and having some sort of religious affiliation including atheism is becoming so popular, then what do these other religions and philosophies offer people that Christianity does not? I mean...to be quite honest, one of my largest and over-arching reasons for believing in Christ, notably not necessarily Americanized Christianity, is that the message of the gospel is so transcedentally different than any other gospel ever presented. Whether its Islam, Buddhism, or being your own personal God, not one of those systems is based on the idea that we must die to self in order to love God and our neighbor. Sure, these relgions have great morals, and to be quite honest, probably act more Christian than Christians, but they are rooted in systems of self-interest. I think perhaps that the reason that these other religions are so popular is because they do not force us to really come to terms with the ugly beast of humanity's terrible capacity to sin. Yes, these other religions call for morality, but merely calling for morality is not the fundamental problem. Humanity is flawed and broken. What we must do is not merely force these peoples of other religions to hear us, we must show them a Christ in us that means what he says. We have to take Scripture truth and more than talk about it, more than preach, more than be convicted by it, we must live by it. And if we don't, then we face the problem that the churches in Revelation face, we have cooled off in a world that desperately needs a hot radical purpose. That's what we as society want, but we damn people to hell if we do not provide them will the real answer.Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.Luke 9:22-24