It is rarely a good day when Christians make headlines. It may be that I never find the ones about Christians doing good, but it seems we have given our peers a pretty bad taste in their mouth. In the end, I can't blame them. The Crusades were absolutely devastating to countries like Turkey, and the pain still resonates deeply. It's not hard to grasp why some people see religion as anti-peace. At surface level, the Coexist movement is pretty endearing. Imagine a tolerant society where we all respect each other and their beliefs; a society where we live in peace.
I'll be honest that I don't truly understand the God in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament. I don't know if that He truly changed. Don't misunderstand, the God of the Old Testament is often seen as intolerant and destructive rather than the protector of His people. I struggle with the notion that God has changed. I mean, He is God and all. I may be naive to think that God doesn't change, but the Bible is rich of texts where we have pleaded with God and been answered. I don't know why the contrast occurs, at least in my mind, but I am reminded of God's passion for the Jews. He was their deliverer, their savior, their Lord God. The Bible tells an incredible story of God pursuing the hearts of His people, even if it involved war and conquering. Imagine the fear in their enemies' hearts! To hear tale after tale of the Jews sweeping through Judea and the rumors of how great their God is.
I don't know the Bible well enough to determine why Jesus seems so much more peaceful and forgiving than God, but I see the similarities in heart. God was saving his people (Exodus 6:6-8) because He loved them. Jesus became sin for us so that we may all be redeemed by God's Grace. I think we get it wrong because we try so adamantly to defend our faith that we become combative. Our lack of faith makes us so uncomfortable that we choose to fight than acknowledge that we don't know the answers. I can't prove God to anyone, but God has proven his existence to me, and that testimony is the only one that I can give. It's not about outsmarting someone and finding the flaws in their lack of faith, but I think it is about love. It's what Jesus did, and it worked out well. It worked out so well people died for Him, and it is by those apostles deaths that we continue to have the gospel spread today. Jesus' love was so strong and true that it was worth dying for. It was worth suffering for. Even Paul confessed that if this whole following-Christ-thing doesn't work out that he should be the most pitied man on Earth (my paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 15:19).
When I get to the heart of Christ, it is hard for me to relate to his death. I know not love like that. It is very uncomfortable for me to think about what I would die for. What really moves me about Jesus is that He washed my feet. It's not something I've ever done for someone, but it is a symbol. It represents that when we are at our filthiest, Christ is still there. Isn't that what true romance is? I guarantee my wife wants me to love her like that. Through strokes, Parkinson's or cancer my wife desires me to still love her at her lowest point. I want the same. Love like that is powerful, it moves the soul to the point of tears virtually every time (i.e. The Notebook). That is the love that Christ has for us. Despite being the Son of God, He got on his knees and cleaned the dirtiest part of my body.
What if we loved like that? What if we washed people's feet instead of bombing Planned Parenthood clinics? Instead of protesting the funerals of soldiers? Instead of marching against gay & lesbian rights? Instead of burning the Quran?
Whose feet would you wash?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
More undignified than this
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:9-11
Stephanie and I have been praying deeply for guidance in regards to our future over the past few weeks. I had job interviews January 20th, and picked multiple areas that would include Stephanie's graduate school options as well as back-up options. Steph had an interview at the Medical College of Georgia on Feb. 18 and we were waiting to hear back from other programs throughout that time as well. I began to create for myself a house of cards so that I could be prepared for whatever news we received. I had back-up options for back-up options; I was playing a game of chess with the world. I was playing with God.
I was earnest in prayer, but I never took into consideration what the prayer meant. We have been speaking often of prayer at our home group over the past few weeks, and I learned that even in praying faithfully, I can show large amounts of disbelief. My prayers over the past weeks have been that I would have the guidance to make the right decision once the time comes, and that God would reveal his plans to me. I would later discover that I was merely praying for peace to accept bad news. I wasn't praying for what I wanted, which is how Christ directs us to pray.
On Wednesday, this week during home group, we spoke again over prayer, and I confessed that I had been unfaithful while I prayed. While they laid hands over us for God's grace in our lives, I never followed suit. I was comfortable living in God's peace. I was afraid to tap into the depths of God's sovereignty to ask that He grant our desire to end up in Georgia. That Wednesday night I decided to be bold once again in God, to ask, seek, and knock on God's door. I prayed again Thursday morning and throughout the day. I prayed while I was at the gym, and on the road home.
The crazy thing is, I felt that letter to decide our fate had already arrived. I just sensed that it was lying on our kitchen table, waiting to be opened. I wasn't wrong. When I arrived home, Steph was holding an envelope in her hands and her eyes were glazed over in an emotion I couldn't place.
Now, I have walked with God for awhile, and I am continually in awe of His grace. Nothing shakes my soul quite like Him. I am reminded of the story of David when he brings the ark back to Jerusalem, and becomes "undignified" in the presence of his people because his joy is so great (2 Samuel 6). No matter how comfortable I can get in God's peace, there is always room to lose composure and to let my soul blossom.
The truth of the matter is that God hears (Habbakuk 1-2), and that our God is good. For God to answer my prayers it took merely 24 hours. After weeks of praying for his guidance, I have no decision to make. There are no forks in the road, no paths not taken. The way of Christ is the narrow road I chose long ago, but its depth will take me a lifetime to discover and understand. However, at this time I rest easy in Christ as I am confident in his goodness.
As for that letter? It began, "Congratulations! We are happy to welcome you to..."
Stephanie and I have been praying deeply for guidance in regards to our future over the past few weeks. I had job interviews January 20th, and picked multiple areas that would include Stephanie's graduate school options as well as back-up options. Steph had an interview at the Medical College of Georgia on Feb. 18 and we were waiting to hear back from other programs throughout that time as well. I began to create for myself a house of cards so that I could be prepared for whatever news we received. I had back-up options for back-up options; I was playing a game of chess with the world. I was playing with God.
I was earnest in prayer, but I never took into consideration what the prayer meant. We have been speaking often of prayer at our home group over the past few weeks, and I learned that even in praying faithfully, I can show large amounts of disbelief. My prayers over the past weeks have been that I would have the guidance to make the right decision once the time comes, and that God would reveal his plans to me. I would later discover that I was merely praying for peace to accept bad news. I wasn't praying for what I wanted, which is how Christ directs us to pray.
On Wednesday, this week during home group, we spoke again over prayer, and I confessed that I had been unfaithful while I prayed. While they laid hands over us for God's grace in our lives, I never followed suit. I was comfortable living in God's peace. I was afraid to tap into the depths of God's sovereignty to ask that He grant our desire to end up in Georgia. That Wednesday night I decided to be bold once again in God, to ask, seek, and knock on God's door. I prayed again Thursday morning and throughout the day. I prayed while I was at the gym, and on the road home.
The crazy thing is, I felt that letter to decide our fate had already arrived. I just sensed that it was lying on our kitchen table, waiting to be opened. I wasn't wrong. When I arrived home, Steph was holding an envelope in her hands and her eyes were glazed over in an emotion I couldn't place.
Now, I have walked with God for awhile, and I am continually in awe of His grace. Nothing shakes my soul quite like Him. I am reminded of the story of David when he brings the ark back to Jerusalem, and becomes "undignified" in the presence of his people because his joy is so great (2 Samuel 6). No matter how comfortable I can get in God's peace, there is always room to lose composure and to let my soul blossom.
The truth of the matter is that God hears (Habbakuk 1-2), and that our God is good. For God to answer my prayers it took merely 24 hours. After weeks of praying for his guidance, I have no decision to make. There are no forks in the road, no paths not taken. The way of Christ is the narrow road I chose long ago, but its depth will take me a lifetime to discover and understand. However, at this time I rest easy in Christ as I am confident in his goodness.
As for that letter? It began, "Congratulations! We are happy to welcome you to..."
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Imagine
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it" Matthew 13:44-46
These two verses have really struck a chord with me lately. I've been reading Desiring God by John Piper, and his chapter on Suffering is very challenging. In America, it feels hard to truly suffer for Christ. At least at first glance. Upon second glance, it may be very easy to suffer here. Our comfort with explicit content and sexuality has translated into its adoption into common nature. We ignore it, or even blindly support it. I would say that I struggle by choosing a life opposite of that. I don't drink heavily, though I might want to. I don't have a life of hedonism built on egotism, womanizing, or surrounding myself with reminders of my own wealth; though I might want to. Rather, my hedonism is in Christ; I find my joy in His Glory. And for that I suffer.
I fight the urges to spoil myself with what is so pleasantly advertised, yet the struggle persists.The reflection on these verses help me keep it all in perspective. I've heard the adage "You don't see a hearse being followed by a carriage carrying gold," but how often do I allow that to disturb me? What we gain on Earth we will lose.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" - Jim Elliot
Jesus chose to suffer for the glory of the Father. And I challenge that we should as well. Imagine a world where all Christians sold all we had to gain the treasure that we have found. Would we still have poverty? Would fathers still abandon families if there is no greener grass than on the grass we stand? Consider the resources a population as large as the body of Christ could attain, and could use to meet the needs of others.
We are often so short-sighted in scope. How many churches only reinvest in themselves? After all, only Christians give to the church, "let society give to society." Oh, but what of faith! Let Christ sustain the church, and allow the church to try and alleviate the pain of man.
Our might is in the Glory of the Son. We are naught but trees who have forgotten what waters our roots. Only by the rays of Christ will we ever grow fruit. Only by the blood of Jesus...
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