The reality of things is that there is much evil in the world. This is nothing new really. A quick look to our history textbooks, and I'm going to guesstimate that 75% of the content deals with some sort of evil. History textbooks don't tend to report the good happy times. They report wars and revolutions and crisises.
Evil is both wide and deep. Evil occurs in every nation, city, household, and the depth of evil can be seen in multiple situations. Just look at any news media, tv or internet news. Our senses are infiltrated with knowledge of evil again, and again, and again.
I'm kind of wondering why news outlets like to stick to reporting mostly evil things and events. It's not all bad, but the majority of focus is spent reporting on child molestors, murders, rapes, wars, fires, sicknesses, depressions, relationships gone bad (personal and business ones), greed...the list goes on and on and on.
A possible answer to that question might be that it's probably related to another evil - greed...those news "suppliers" want to make a profit and the best way to do that is ratchet up the stories that portray evil and abuse and heartbreak.
Why is it that evil continues to "get us"? Why do we continue to pay attention to the high volume of it that's out there. Yes, there's a lot of it out there, but why haven't news "suppliers" changed the substance of what they report? We continue to pay attention to evil, time and time again, I think for one principal reason.
Deep down, in the intricate fabric of every human being, we know that hearing or seeing or experiencing evil -- there's something wrong with that. It makes our ears perk up and our eyes grow wider when we read of evil or hear about it. The inner places of our hearts recognize that's not the way it should be, and so we pay attention to evil event A because we are intrigued as to why something went wrong where it shouldn't have.
Over the past couple of adys, I've been struck by how much evil is in our world. I think we often de-sensitize ourselves to the volume and intensity of evil in our world, probably so we can continue functioning as human beings without being overwhelmed...but I've been somewhat undoing the de-sensitizing, and it's really awful to try and grasp the magnitude of evil in our world (I know I really am not coming close).
In the face of understanding evil a bit more, I'm so thankful I can trust a promise from Jesus the Great Savior: "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB)
2.24.2009
a good heart check
So last week, I started to see lots of fliers up for a documentary showing put on by the Gay and Lesbian group here at Vanderbilt. The documentary was "For the Bible Tells Me So" and looks at what the Bible says about homosexuality. The film showcases intense evangelists screaming at the top of their lungs and calling gay people "an abomination" and that they passionately deserve the wrath of hell for their homosexual sins. In the end, the documentary takes the view that the Bible permits homosexuality.
I believe firmly, and I think the evidence is overwhelming, that Scripture clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and is not part of what God would deem holy or righteous for His people.
Based on this belief, and the overwhelming sense that our culture continues to grow in the acceptance of homosexuality, I was gearing up for attending the showing, thinking of all sorts of intelligent arguments in my head that I could use to showcase that the Bible does not teach acceptance of homosexuality for the discussion time that would follow. I was firm in my belief that I would do this in a manner starkly different than the preachers shown on the film and the traditional behavior of the church -- loudly and angrily condemning homosexuality. I kept telling myself, and really believed, that I would really seek to be more like Jesus in trying to deliver all these good arguments that I had thought up in my head. In a gentle manner, not condemning.
Well, Thursday came around, and right before the showing was to begin, I decided not to go. I really felt convicted that I wasn't in the right Spirit. A heart check examination clearly revealed to me that it wasn't in a state to humbly love and serve. I was in a frame of mind to "intelligently argue"...which in the end is just like the angry yelling preachers condemning homosexuality.
I was motivated for God's righteousness for the wrong reasons. I wanted to use what I thought were good rhetorical skills and angles of argument to defeat this pervasive cultural belief.
Rather than being like Jesus, seeking to be humble, wanting to go with a Spirit of self-sacrificial love, I was proud and arrogant. Which is just like the rest of the world, and starkly different from Jesus and what He offered (and the way He offered it).
The Apostle James really gets at this in James 4:1-12. I was certainly "double-minded" and where he writes "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble," this was certainly true in this case.
While I still firmly believe that homosexuality is not part of how God wants His people to live, and while I passionately desire the righteousness of God to break down the chains of bondage in our present day society, it's not going to happen with proud, double-minded hearts that seek their own way and forget Christ's perfect example of love.
I believe firmly, and I think the evidence is overwhelming, that Scripture clearly states that homosexuality is a sin and is not part of what God would deem holy or righteous for His people.
Based on this belief, and the overwhelming sense that our culture continues to grow in the acceptance of homosexuality, I was gearing up for attending the showing, thinking of all sorts of intelligent arguments in my head that I could use to showcase that the Bible does not teach acceptance of homosexuality for the discussion time that would follow. I was firm in my belief that I would do this in a manner starkly different than the preachers shown on the film and the traditional behavior of the church -- loudly and angrily condemning homosexuality. I kept telling myself, and really believed, that I would really seek to be more like Jesus in trying to deliver all these good arguments that I had thought up in my head. In a gentle manner, not condemning.
Well, Thursday came around, and right before the showing was to begin, I decided not to go. I really felt convicted that I wasn't in the right Spirit. A heart check examination clearly revealed to me that it wasn't in a state to humbly love and serve. I was in a frame of mind to "intelligently argue"...which in the end is just like the angry yelling preachers condemning homosexuality.
I was motivated for God's righteousness for the wrong reasons. I wanted to use what I thought were good rhetorical skills and angles of argument to defeat this pervasive cultural belief.
Rather than being like Jesus, seeking to be humble, wanting to go with a Spirit of self-sacrificial love, I was proud and arrogant. Which is just like the rest of the world, and starkly different from Jesus and what He offered (and the way He offered it).
The Apostle James really gets at this in James 4:1-12. I was certainly "double-minded" and where he writes "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble," this was certainly true in this case.
While I still firmly believe that homosexuality is not part of how God wants His people to live, and while I passionately desire the righteousness of God to break down the chains of bondage in our present day society, it's not going to happen with proud, double-minded hearts that seek their own way and forget Christ's perfect example of love.
2.21.2009
vulnerability leads to intimacy
I think most people would agree that intimacy is a great thing. Intimacy in relationships that is, above all things, pure and uncorrupted is a deep desire of hearts.
Most of all, our hearts want to be most intimate with Jesus. I believe all hearts are like this. They were created that way. It's only natural for them to be inclined to gravitate towards their founder, and best lover, Jesus.
I think it's just that some hearts have recognized this fact and have responded, either deciding to accept and pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus, and some have responded negatively...for selfish reasons, or possibly haven't responded yet because the enemy has blocked or constrained the joy and pure vision of Jesus from some hearts.
Whatever the case may be, I want to make the point that I think vulnerability leads to intimacy. **Let me caution that by immediately saying that vulnerability is risky too, and can lead to severe pain and hurt, when vulnerability is taken advantage of or abused.
Maybe a more clear expression is that vulnerability when led by the Holy Spirit leads to intimacy, which again, I'm pretty sure most people, deep down, are going to recognize is a great thing.
Think about instances where vulnerability occurs. When someone gets up to share their real and honest testimony, to share different joys and pains, they are opening a wider window into their hearts. They are being vulnerable in many ways, and it's not often easy to share a personal testimony. Yet, I can think of numerous examples where I have benefited greatly from a brother or sister sharing a testimony. I also certainly observe that the gathered body of believers who experiences that testimony seems to genuinely increase the closeness or togetherness of their relationships to each other. The body of believers becomes more intimate when Spirit led vulnerability takes place.
I also think of an example of a guy and a girl going down towards the road of marriage. That process certainly involves vulnerability, and something so intense and important as a process leading towards the holy covenant of marriage I'm thinking definitely is going to have a lot of the Holy Spirit involved. In terms of human relationships, I can't think of anything more intimate than a husband and wife. The intimacy doesn't just happen--it's something that grows after genuine vulnerability happens in each person (whether they like it or not).
Saving the best for last...the greatest instance of where I think vulnerability leads to intimacy was where I started this post. This verse also reminds us to follow the example (of being vulnerable).
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)
Jesus, finding himself in the glory of Heaven, in the security of sitting next to God the Father...desired to be more intimate with the hearts of those He had so lovingly created...hearts that had fallen away and been led adrift by sin. Our greatest example of pure vulnerability led by the Spirit was Jesus himself. If the picture of a man beaten and bloody, half-naked, with arms wide open nailed to a cross can't serve as a textbook definition of vulnerability, then nothing can.
And Jesus' gift of salvation to an individual heart, if that is not THE definition of what intimacy really is, then intimacy should be struck from being allowed to be a word.
And so...I think it's true. Vulnerability leads to intimacy. Especially when the Holy Spirit has a heavy hand in the vulnerability part.
Most of all, our hearts want to be most intimate with Jesus. I believe all hearts are like this. They were created that way. It's only natural for them to be inclined to gravitate towards their founder, and best lover, Jesus.
I think it's just that some hearts have recognized this fact and have responded, either deciding to accept and pursue an intimate relationship with Jesus, and some have responded negatively...for selfish reasons, or possibly haven't responded yet because the enemy has blocked or constrained the joy and pure vision of Jesus from some hearts.
Whatever the case may be, I want to make the point that I think vulnerability leads to intimacy. **Let me caution that by immediately saying that vulnerability is risky too, and can lead to severe pain and hurt, when vulnerability is taken advantage of or abused.
Maybe a more clear expression is that vulnerability when led by the Holy Spirit leads to intimacy, which again, I'm pretty sure most people, deep down, are going to recognize is a great thing.
Think about instances where vulnerability occurs. When someone gets up to share their real and honest testimony, to share different joys and pains, they are opening a wider window into their hearts. They are being vulnerable in many ways, and it's not often easy to share a personal testimony. Yet, I can think of numerous examples where I have benefited greatly from a brother or sister sharing a testimony. I also certainly observe that the gathered body of believers who experiences that testimony seems to genuinely increase the closeness or togetherness of their relationships to each other. The body of believers becomes more intimate when Spirit led vulnerability takes place.
I also think of an example of a guy and a girl going down towards the road of marriage. That process certainly involves vulnerability, and something so intense and important as a process leading towards the holy covenant of marriage I'm thinking definitely is going to have a lot of the Holy Spirit involved. In terms of human relationships, I can't think of anything more intimate than a husband and wife. The intimacy doesn't just happen--it's something that grows after genuine vulnerability happens in each person (whether they like it or not).
Saving the best for last...the greatest instance of where I think vulnerability leads to intimacy was where I started this post. This verse also reminds us to follow the example (of being vulnerable).
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)
Jesus, finding himself in the glory of Heaven, in the security of sitting next to God the Father...desired to be more intimate with the hearts of those He had so lovingly created...hearts that had fallen away and been led adrift by sin. Our greatest example of pure vulnerability led by the Spirit was Jesus himself. If the picture of a man beaten and bloody, half-naked, with arms wide open nailed to a cross can't serve as a textbook definition of vulnerability, then nothing can.
And Jesus' gift of salvation to an individual heart, if that is not THE definition of what intimacy really is, then intimacy should be struck from being allowed to be a word.
And so...I think it's true. Vulnerability leads to intimacy. Especially when the Holy Spirit has a heavy hand in the vulnerability part.
2.14.2009
Jesus greater than Hallmark
So today is Valentine's Day.
I'm just going to offer that our culture really gets us to think about, and then expect a great Hallmark card, a wonderful flower arrangement, or some elaborately conceived romantic dinner.
Don't get me wrong, all those things can be great. But in thinking about these things or focusing on them, we miss something much much greater. Something that doesn't even compare in fact.
Today, it would be horrible to not even think for a few minutes and reflect on Christ's great act of love. Leaving the glory of heaven to come and suffer on the cross. To heal us and redeem us.
No Hallmark card, flowers, romantic dinners WILL EVER, not even come 1,000,000,000,000,000 light years anywhere close to Christ's love offering:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)
I'm just going to offer that our culture really gets us to think about, and then expect a great Hallmark card, a wonderful flower arrangement, or some elaborately conceived romantic dinner.
Don't get me wrong, all those things can be great. But in thinking about these things or focusing on them, we miss something much much greater. Something that doesn't even compare in fact.
Today, it would be horrible to not even think for a few minutes and reflect on Christ's great act of love. Leaving the glory of heaven to come and suffer on the cross. To heal us and redeem us.
No Hallmark card, flowers, romantic dinners WILL EVER, not even come 1,000,000,000,000,000 light years anywhere close to Christ's love offering:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 NIV)
2.12.2009
the missing men
So as I sit up and survey the demographics in the body of Christian believers today, there seems to be a noticeable imbalance.
Where are all the men who love Jesus?
Sure there are some. For the most part, however, at church, in campus fellowship groups, church home groups...I see mostly women. It was like this in Argentina too. I'm guesstimating 70% women to 30% men. Maybe it's not that high, and maybe I'm wrong about this "armchair" observation, but if it's true, why would so many men be missing?
I got to thinking about this after reading in 2 Samuel more and more about King David and narratives about his life. I'm not trying to go Wild at Heart in this post, but I think there is something to be said about how the general teaching of truth is conveyed and the picture of Jesus that is disseminated from churches today in modern day America.
Life for Bible believing, Jesus believing men is watered down. I don't think many men, either outside the church or inside it see Jesus as a fierce warrior King.
I think men, more than women (I'm basing this judgement on limited experience of not having been a woman)...men more than women take their behavior cues from men around them. They often try to embody those who are stronger, wiser, more athletic, more talented...etc, more to a degree than women do. I'm not sure why, but I think it's true.
If that's the case, we need to start publishing King David stories and exploits in Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. King David was a warrior. He fought God's battles, and was regularly involved in some sort of serious conflict (like fleeing from his rogue king son). When he wasn't in some sort of armed conflict, David was worshipping God. Passionately.
The thing that struck me was how David fell into sin. Things that were culturally way off limits. Like murder. Or adultery. David committed these acts, and suffered for his misdeeds, but continued to come back to the glory and mighty holiness of God. I was amazed at the resiliency of David to quickly come back to and want to seek the glory of God. When he realized he had sinned, he owned up to it quickly and didn't try to hide his reputation or put off an image like he had it all together.
I think this is an example worth looking at and trying to embody (minus the murder, coveting, and adultery of course). This would be a starting place.
I think men of this generation should look at King David and his life stories as a man after God's own heart who was passionately in love with Jesus. David's love towards the Lord didn't make him a fairy or any less macho or any less intelligent...he did avoid trying to look cool and collected. King David never would have ended up on the cover of GQ magazine.
Where are all the men who love Jesus?
Sure there are some. For the most part, however, at church, in campus fellowship groups, church home groups...I see mostly women. It was like this in Argentina too. I'm guesstimating 70% women to 30% men. Maybe it's not that high, and maybe I'm wrong about this "armchair" observation, but if it's true, why would so many men be missing?
I got to thinking about this after reading in 2 Samuel more and more about King David and narratives about his life. I'm not trying to go Wild at Heart in this post, but I think there is something to be said about how the general teaching of truth is conveyed and the picture of Jesus that is disseminated from churches today in modern day America.
Life for Bible believing, Jesus believing men is watered down. I don't think many men, either outside the church or inside it see Jesus as a fierce warrior King.
I think men, more than women (I'm basing this judgement on limited experience of not having been a woman)...men more than women take their behavior cues from men around them. They often try to embody those who are stronger, wiser, more athletic, more talented...etc, more to a degree than women do. I'm not sure why, but I think it's true.
If that's the case, we need to start publishing King David stories and exploits in Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. King David was a warrior. He fought God's battles, and was regularly involved in some sort of serious conflict (like fleeing from his rogue king son). When he wasn't in some sort of armed conflict, David was worshipping God. Passionately.
The thing that struck me was how David fell into sin. Things that were culturally way off limits. Like murder. Or adultery. David committed these acts, and suffered for his misdeeds, but continued to come back to the glory and mighty holiness of God. I was amazed at the resiliency of David to quickly come back to and want to seek the glory of God. When he realized he had sinned, he owned up to it quickly and didn't try to hide his reputation or put off an image like he had it all together.
I think this is an example worth looking at and trying to embody (minus the murder, coveting, and adultery of course). This would be a starting place.
I think men of this generation should look at King David and his life stories as a man after God's own heart who was passionately in love with Jesus. David's love towards the Lord didn't make him a fairy or any less macho or any less intelligent...he did avoid trying to look cool and collected. King David never would have ended up on the cover of GQ magazine.
2.04.2009
seeing more clearly...
Over the past couple of weeks, I feel like my "spiritual vision" has been improving. I've been seeing more clearly...
This is both good and bad.
Bad because I'm seeing more and more how corrupt and wretched I really am. My sinful and selfish ways are often earthly and unspiritual. I often run on the wisdom of the world, rather than relying on the pure wisdom that comes down from heaven. The thing that has become extremely clear is the envy and selfish ambition wrapped up inside me.
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13-18 NIV)
The good part of all of this is that in seeing the sin and wretchedness, it is more abundantly clear day after day how great is God's faithfulness, and how His grace is really more than enough; it's everything! There have been so many good things that have come up and happened in my life in these past two weeks. So I'm writing this more as a testament to God's faithfulness even in the midst of a corrupt and sinful one.
Psalm 89:1-18 captures God's faithfulness of what I'm talking about.
Great is your faithfulness Oh God!....
This is both good and bad.
Bad because I'm seeing more and more how corrupt and wretched I really am. My sinful and selfish ways are often earthly and unspiritual. I often run on the wisdom of the world, rather than relying on the pure wisdom that comes down from heaven. The thing that has become extremely clear is the envy and selfish ambition wrapped up inside me.
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13-18 NIV)
The good part of all of this is that in seeing the sin and wretchedness, it is more abundantly clear day after day how great is God's faithfulness, and how His grace is really more than enough; it's everything! There have been so many good things that have come up and happened in my life in these past two weeks. So I'm writing this more as a testament to God's faithfulness even in the midst of a corrupt and sinful one.
Psalm 89:1-18 captures God's faithfulness of what I'm talking about.
Great is your faithfulness Oh God!....
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