failing to eagerly wait

I'm not sure if it's because I'm mostly a pessimist, but I have really been dropping the ball on eagerly waiting for the redemption of both the world and the New Jerusalem and my own redemption.

"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:45-51 NIV)

Part of eagerly waiting for the appointed promise is to "give them their food at the proper time...". I take that to mean that we are to constantly be serving and encouraging fellow servants (other believers) as well as non-believers. We are to be in a constant mindset with the gospel on the tip of our tongue...always sharing it in word and deed.

After all, Paul writes that "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed." Romans 8:19. The specific 'creation' word in the Greek that Paul uses, ktisis, is taken to mean a "creature" of creation, as in Gentiles, non-believers.

Now that's interesting. Even non-believers are eagerly waiting for the redemption. Which I think makes perfect sense. Non-believers, whether they like it or not, admit it or not, I believe were originally created in the image of God to worship Him and reflect His glory. And when that doesn't happen, something is off and not right ("subjected to frustration"...Romans 8:20).

The point is, as believers in Christ, we have the vision and promise of Revelation 21, the New Jerusalem.

For living out my present faith, I would do good to more eagerly anticipate Christ's return and actually try to believe in His promise and listen to His words.

Wisdom difference

One of America's most celebrated writers is William Faulkner. In his novels, he used multiple lenses of understanding, or points of view of different characters, in not necessarily chronological order, to weave together a unique and meaningful story. Movies such as Crash, and Amores Perros pursue a similar framework...multiple points of view and understandings interweave and connect to showcase a unique story.

I was thinking about how this is similar to the wisdom of the world vs. the wisdom of God.

The wisdom of God is unique and often antagonizes, or opposes the way the world might do something. Things thought in the heart of God are considered foolish or silly when those same things are considered through the world's wisdom glasses.

As a believer of Jesus who is God's only Son, and with a desire and attempting to follow Christ, I think it's important for believers to distinguish clearly these differences and pursue, in our lives, the wisdom of Heaven.

This is going to be hard and invite all sorts of doubt and ridicule. But remember, that's coming from a wisdom of the world perspective.

So which one do I bow down to and confess my allegiance to...here are some lines, just like Faulkner's novels or those movies, that weave through Scripture at different points at time, but still uniformly point to the wisdom of God being greater and higher:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
(Proverbs 3:5-8 NIV)

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 11: 33-36)

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
(1 Corinthians 1:18-25)

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
(2 Corinthians 10:3)

In this battle between the wisdom of God and the way of the world, let us wage war with the weapons of God's wisdom, the Spirit of Truth...His wisdom is far superior and far greater!

the deficit view, not the way Christ sees it

I posted not too long ago about wondering how Christ sees things, and wanting vision more like Him. That post is here.

Well, I think I might understand a bit better how He does NOT see things.

We were studying some aspects of education, and there was the realization that policy makers first "identify problems," and then craft their solution accordingly to "fix that problem." In essence, it is a deficit view. You come at something realizing it's broken, needs fixing, and then proceed from there.

I was reading in Hebrews, and the context is where the text talks about the New Covenant. Not one of laws and regulations, but one of Christ, who paid for all sins by His suffering on the cross. The verse that hit me was

"The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus..."(Hebrews 9:15-19 NIV)

"I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds..."

It's as if the Truth is on every one of our hearts and minds already. Sinners around the earth already have Truth engraved in them, whether they like it or not, or acknowledge it or not.

I think God sees in us deeply and most clearly the Truth He has written in our hearts. Some of that may be obscured sometimes by our flesh and evil acts (Romans 7)...but Jesus sees the beauty of His laws and Truth in us.

Getting at understanding this, I think it's a model for us to look at and love others. Christ's compassion on us is that Truth is already on our hearts. He affords us the immeasurable and amazing grace to "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

teach me to see like You Jesus...

there's a fairly well-played song on Christian radio these days that has the chorus:

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Yeah
Yeah
yeah
yeah

Now it's kind of a pop-ish song, but that's not the point. I've though a lot about this idea of really trying to "put on" Christ-like vision apart from this song. Do I read the Bible more? Do I pray more? Do I serve others more? Do I deny the comforts of this American lifestyle and life with poor or neglected people? I think the lyrics reinforce really well the idea of wanting to see like Jesus in the world we live in.

I simply don't see the world as Jesus does. But I really want to!

Seeing one way or another way, how you interpret the world, makes a big difference in the way your motivations and subsequent behavior takes shape. Just put on those 3-D glasses or the goggles that they use to show what a drunk person sees, and you get this idea very quickly.

To me though, it's deeper than just surface level vision. My mind so often thinks about what is "efficient" or "effective" or "optimal." This comes from a wordly perspective, and I realize, it often doesn't coincide with the way of the King and His vision for His Kingdom on earth.

Here's a perfect example:

I know a very faithful missionary family in Argentina. The father is very real, genuine, and is one of the most faithful servants I have ever met. They minister intentionally to a specific group of people in Buenos Aires, one of the most difficult people groups to share Christ with, in my opinion. I'm not going to write which people group that is, for reasons regarding their safety and confidentiality.

My point is, the family is great, and they are led by an incredibly faithful man. I know this. In my mind and my heart, I know this and believe this fully.

Yet, I sometimes question, in my mind, their ministry. I have such thoughts as "well, jeez, they get paid a normal year's salary through the contributions of so many churches" "...they have some "successes" to show for their work, but really not that many." "They are semi-accountable to their donors, but not wholly and fully transparent." "They could be doing anything really, living off the good graces and good intentions of others." (again, as I stated before, they are a really genuine and no funny business is going on). "Wouldn't their time and effort be best spent in other areas with other people groups, where more chances for "success" in sharing Christ could take place?"

So let me say, I hate these thoughts that I have. But I have them. I think I'm nifty and crafty that I can see inefficiencies and the way things can be improved...my mind often thinks about such things.

Never mind that I overlook their sacrifice of being in a foreign country, away from many comforts of friends and family, to intentionally share the Gospel with a group of people who are often so quick to reject their message.

In all reality, this just really reveals the depth of my selfishness, and what I'm talking about in this post...that I really don't see like Jesus sees the world.

Peter tells us the underlying sentiment of God's heart: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)

Isn't it fitting that Peter is the one who writes this verse, even after his staunch promise to never deny Jesus, and then outright denying Him 3 times? Peter lived out fully this sentiment of God's heart.

Romans 3:23 speaks truth in reminding us that we're all broken. Sin is the culprit of our brokenness, and no matter who we are in the world, we can't escape this fact. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (NASB)

Jesus has an amazing ability to see through our self-protections, piled up walls, defense mechanisms to deal with the world, to see the heart of our brokenness. He sees the problem crystal clearly AND the solution. I believe He desperately wants broken hearts to return to Him as soon as possible.

He is the perfect solution, and sees perfectly how events and His followers are going to work under His name to help heal those broken hearts and turn them back to Him, while delighting in the glory of this process.

I can't even give an answer of what Jesus' version of a solution really looks like, since I so frequently think of solving problems in worldly terms...and again, I don't see like Him.

But I think it's really great that He sees in a unique way, that's different from the worldly vision which I so frequently see things...and I want more of that eyesight. His eyesight.

Lord Jesus, please help me to see more like You...

we're different, yes. But Jesus remains unchanging.

This past week, spending time again in a foreign country, going to church, worship events, or spending time in fellowship with non-US believers, I was reminded of something important.

The body of Christ in its most authentic sense really knows no national, cultural, ethnic or racial boundaries. Jesus is the center and reason for our salvation. We (around the world "we") all have this to celebrate!

Yes, differences exist. Yes, different groups and individuals within the worldwide church differ on worship styles, worship songs, theological teachings and emphases. The diversity of these elements, I think, brings great pleasure to God. The fact that believers at Church Y in Nashville, TN worship through style such and such while at the same time Church X in Buenos Aires worship differently through style so and so -- God really digs that!

Differences can go too far to where they cross the line of appropriate and pleasing worship to God. But in the differences, I don't think they should be considered wrong by one group or another.

"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:12-13 NIV)

In the end, we are going to unite before the throne to worship and celebrate the great gift of grace we find in Christ, and Christ alone.

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

McCain or Obama?

Obama or McCain?

Today is July 4th, celebrating our nation's birthday. It was a nation founded with God very much in mind, and I don't think it's a far stretch to say that God has abundantly blessed us throughout our history and even today. In fact, I'll just be bold and say God has been more than good to our country and has granted us favor in so much. Our leaders are an important part of who we are and where we are going as a country.

The news is full of the Presidential election. Which, by the way, happens in NOVEMBER. I'm all for electing the right leader, but does it need to go on this long, really? Anyways, that's not my point. My point for this blog entry is that it is clear that there are many factions and sides out there, many people arguing different points of views and that theirs is the best because of this or that. People get so worked up, are so passionate about this candidate or that candidate, that it almost becomes like it is McCain or Obama who is going to "save" this nation. This is evidenced by how people speak when the conversation turns to politics. Just listen to their tone or volume of voice, people DO care about this. People should be passionate about who their leaders are, it is a very important matter.

But where is our trust in God in this matter?

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1-7 NIV)

I want to highlight:
for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God...For he is God's servant to do you good.

We have a choice, without a doubt, to vote for one of these men as our next President. It's an important decision, and in a lot of ways, I think our opportunity to vote, to have that freedom, is a very tangible, earthly reflection of God wanting our lives to be of free will.

In our political conversations, when we get passionate, how often do we reference God that He is going to institute the right leader come November 2008? How passionate and zealous are we that our faith and recognition of power is found in the Living Lord, Jesus, and not a Democratic or Republican candidate? Is our trust being put in the hope for a qualified President with years of experience or buckets of charisma and ideas who will do what he is promising to do once in office, or do we trust a God who has seen many Presidential elections before and has been around longer than politics?

It's an important choice, no question. Come November, I'll vote for the man who I perceive to be most after God's own heart. In the mean time, I'm going to remind myself who it is that sets leaders into place and takes them down, and try to be more faithful to Him.