It's great how Jesus asks rhetorical questions to cut straight to issues that really matter. He asks a few of them in Mark 8, and they're quite poignant for the current reality of my life. His questions are good are-you-living-the-gospel reality checks.
Here's one:
He sighed deeply and said, "Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it." (Mark 8:12)
(notice Jesus sighed deeply before he said that, as if to communicate...you guys still really don't get it!!) I think a great number of Christians are always looking for a "neon sign" that points us to God's will. In life, we want signs or dreams or messages to tell us which big decisions to make that will properly line up with walking and serving God.
If we think about this for a second, this line of thinking is not really in the heart of God. He gives us an example and His word in Christ to know what His heart deeply cares about. God gives us freedom in our life to decide how to go about fulfilling that gospel magnetism with professed allegiance to Christ.
In this passage in Mark, Jesus just fed about 4,000 MEN the text says (more when adding women and children present)...so maybe about 10,000 people with 7 (SEVEN) loaves of bread. Jesus did this just after his disciples confessed their lack of faith "But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?"
Their problem is the same one I encounter when it comes to gospel living. I proudly depend on myself, my faculties, my abilities when it comes to trying to live out the gospel.
The same thing happens with Peter later in Mark 8 (8:31-33).
Hence, it's fitting that Mark 8 closes with:
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
notice Jesus said this to the crowd AND the disciples. He wants this to be public knowledge.
He's telling us to get rid of ourselves and our pride. Forget the ways of the world. It's empty tired and broken. Pursuing its rewards is empty and full of despair.
Jesus is challenging us to live a life marked by free gospel living that is based on an everlasting devotion to His name, depending on His power and not ours.
12.22.2009
11.17.2009
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.
"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.
11.15.2009
can love be understood?
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
I've been thinking a bit lately about love, and what that looks like in our media driven, for-profit day and age. Culture tries to splotter love all over the place, and I think people get de-sensitized to what love really is, at its core.
First, remember that love is something we don't understand well as humans -- that's why it goes in the abstract noun category. But certainly, love is demonstrated or exemplified by certain acts. It's hard to identify love without some sort of concrete, physical, can-be-seen act.
Well, this verse tells us that love comes from God, and that God is love. Can we understand God? I don't think God is abstract, but He's too intense, too vast, too full to understand fully by us and our feeble minds, in my opinion. So if we can't understand God, we can't understand love.
Certainly, love was showcased by the concrete, physical in-the-flesh act of Jesus on the cross. It was a manifestation, or the playing out of love, God's love...but that still leaves us a little in the dark on an absolute definition of love.
There's something else unique that I'm figuring out about love. Acts of love are not earned nor deserved. They result from grace. This is true for my human relationships. The most memorable things I remember about acts of love on me or to me are not done to earn anything back from me -- there is a genuine heart to love me because of the person I just happen to be.
Appreciating someone for them just being them and the way they are. Love doesn't try and instruct or tell, it simply celebrates.
Jesus did the necessary thing to fully celebrate each and every one of His. And driving it was grace -- not anything that Jesus expected to earn or deserve back from the people He saved.
In light of this, I think it frees us up to love in our human relationships like He did -- with freedom, no fear of condemnation, not thinking we have or deserve something in return -- we can simply celebrate.
I've been thinking a bit lately about love, and what that looks like in our media driven, for-profit day and age. Culture tries to splotter love all over the place, and I think people get de-sensitized to what love really is, at its core.
First, remember that love is something we don't understand well as humans -- that's why it goes in the abstract noun category. But certainly, love is demonstrated or exemplified by certain acts. It's hard to identify love without some sort of concrete, physical, can-be-seen act.
Well, this verse tells us that love comes from God, and that God is love. Can we understand God? I don't think God is abstract, but He's too intense, too vast, too full to understand fully by us and our feeble minds, in my opinion. So if we can't understand God, we can't understand love.
Certainly, love was showcased by the concrete, physical in-the-flesh act of Jesus on the cross. It was a manifestation, or the playing out of love, God's love...but that still leaves us a little in the dark on an absolute definition of love.
There's something else unique that I'm figuring out about love. Acts of love are not earned nor deserved. They result from grace. This is true for my human relationships. The most memorable things I remember about acts of love on me or to me are not done to earn anything back from me -- there is a genuine heart to love me because of the person I just happen to be.
Appreciating someone for them just being them and the way they are. Love doesn't try and instruct or tell, it simply celebrates.
Jesus did the necessary thing to fully celebrate each and every one of His. And driving it was grace -- not anything that Jesus expected to earn or deserve back from the people He saved.
In light of this, I think it frees us up to love in our human relationships like He did -- with freedom, no fear of condemnation, not thinking we have or deserve something in return -- we can simply celebrate.
11.02.2009
the example of Mary
Unfortunately, Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been deified by certain lines of the Catholic church. In lines that have not deified Mary, she is thought to have always been a virgin (please explain James and John), and is revered close to, if not more than Jesus.
In some ways, I think Protestant churches and Protestant theology have rebuked Mary a little too much in response to Catholic views towards Mary, by virtually never talking about her example or how faithful a woman she was to the Lord. She submitted faithfully and steadfastly to God's plan for her life, and I think that should be celebrated.
She is a great example of faith to consider, but not the reason for our faith. Jesus alone (includes the Holy Spirit and the Father) is the reason for our faith.
Consider her worship song:
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
(Luke 1:46-55 NIV)
In some ways, I think Protestant churches and Protestant theology have rebuked Mary a little too much in response to Catholic views towards Mary, by virtually never talking about her example or how faithful a woman she was to the Lord. She submitted faithfully and steadfastly to God's plan for her life, and I think that should be celebrated.
She is a great example of faith to consider, but not the reason for our faith. Jesus alone (includes the Holy Spirit and the Father) is the reason for our faith.
Consider her worship song:
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
(Luke 1:46-55 NIV)
10.29.2009
the beginning too!!
I tend so often to view and live out a faith that sees Christ as the end of all things.
Like Paul says in Romans 10:4, Christ in many ways tends to be the end goal. The end goal of worship, of trying to honor, of trying to live like and live for, of trying not to sin against...
I seem to so easily forget that Jesus is the beginning too!!
And I know that in my mind (John 1), but not in the way I live my life out.
I should do a better job at believing Jesus, for He very plainly says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13).
That's crazy to me, because dare I say, Jesus encourages that we can and we will do greater things than He did while He was here on earth.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:12-14 NIV)
Now, I need to be clear. We're not nor I am not as an individual going to save the world from their sin...and I doubt that I'll be resurrected to this physical life again, it could happen, I believe I'll be resurrected in Christ, but not back to the earth as I knew it. And Christ is very clear. Apart from Him, we're toast in our ability to do anything. It is only through Him can we do "greater" things than He did.
A distinction is necessary: I think we'll be able to do greater things than Jesus in the "what" but not in the "how" He did them.
Take any of Christ's examples. The miracle of feeding 5,000 people. It's going to be difficult to replicate just creating bread out of nothing, but we can grow wheat, bake it, and then distribute it to hungry mouths...it'll take time, but we can feed thousands of people. Even raising Lazarus from the dead dare I say. Modern science and doctors can do amazing things nowadays, to bring people "back" from death...but we'll never do it like Jesus did by just saying "Lazarus, come out!"
I don't often tend to look at Jesus as an "enabler" but I think that is what Scripture is telling me. Again, my perspective is often that Christ is the end of the law, the end goal in worship, the end goal in all I try to do...but I think Scripture is trying to convince me that He's much more than that.
He's the beginning of all things that are on God's heart. Sharing the truth of the gospel. Feeding starving people. Serving the poor. Healing the sick. Comforting the broken-hearted. Dissipating hate. Reconciling lost relationships.
It can only be done 1. because of Jesus and 2. with dependence upon Him.
Jesus, help me always remember You are the beginning, the starting point of all things too!!
Like Paul says in Romans 10:4, Christ in many ways tends to be the end goal. The end goal of worship, of trying to honor, of trying to live like and live for, of trying not to sin against...
I seem to so easily forget that Jesus is the beginning too!!
And I know that in my mind (John 1), but not in the way I live my life out.
I should do a better job at believing Jesus, for He very plainly says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13).
That's crazy to me, because dare I say, Jesus encourages that we can and we will do greater things than He did while He was here on earth.
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:12-14 NIV)
Now, I need to be clear. We're not nor I am not as an individual going to save the world from their sin...and I doubt that I'll be resurrected to this physical life again, it could happen, I believe I'll be resurrected in Christ, but not back to the earth as I knew it. And Christ is very clear. Apart from Him, we're toast in our ability to do anything. It is only through Him can we do "greater" things than He did.
A distinction is necessary: I think we'll be able to do greater things than Jesus in the "what" but not in the "how" He did them.
Take any of Christ's examples. The miracle of feeding 5,000 people. It's going to be difficult to replicate just creating bread out of nothing, but we can grow wheat, bake it, and then distribute it to hungry mouths...it'll take time, but we can feed thousands of people. Even raising Lazarus from the dead dare I say. Modern science and doctors can do amazing things nowadays, to bring people "back" from death...but we'll never do it like Jesus did by just saying "Lazarus, come out!"
I don't often tend to look at Jesus as an "enabler" but I think that is what Scripture is telling me. Again, my perspective is often that Christ is the end of the law, the end goal in worship, the end goal in all I try to do...but I think Scripture is trying to convince me that He's much more than that.
He's the beginning of all things that are on God's heart. Sharing the truth of the gospel. Feeding starving people. Serving the poor. Healing the sick. Comforting the broken-hearted. Dissipating hate. Reconciling lost relationships.
It can only be done 1. because of Jesus and 2. with dependence upon Him.
Jesus, help me always remember You are the beginning, the starting point of all things too!!
10.25.2009
the difference in generations
Generational differences exist, both in identity and action.
I think this is clear when anyone considers their parents and/or grandparents. Their lives revolve around certain activities, behaviors, and habits that are more common to their own generation than they are to a particular family. Take facebook as an example. Take playing bridge as an example. Take wearing white New Balance walking shoes.
It got me thinking, what does my generation have to offer the world? And my generation here in the US, how is it distinct from my parent's generation?
And I considered this amidst the context of this passage in Matthew:
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
I think Jesus' response in this passage is so unique:
"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."
I think Jesus would have said this with an exasperated, almost frustrated tone. It seems all that the people wanted were surface level things, important, but surface level...to be fed...to be healed...to have comfort. Very plainly, Jesus then proceeds to tell them that they needed more faith, to consider something bigger than the surface level things they were wrestling with common to their current generational identity.
I consider that my parent's generation brought a great deal of prosperity to America. The sheer demographic number coupled with their work ethic helped usher in large economic gains for the country as a whole. Honestly, I don't forsee that staying the case, I think America's standard of living in economic terms will fall or flatline and not improve. The point is, my parent's generation seems to have, as part of their identity, earned prosperity, and thus, an accumulated status of wealth.
As proof of this, consider how many parents helped finance their kids college education (of my generation). Probably a great number more than their parents who could or could not help with their college education.
Each parent always wants to give their children more than their parents were able to give them.
I think that applies largely to a whole generation. And so what is my generation's gift to our children going to be?
I was thinking about that this weekend when I saw my best friend's baby boy, happy as ever to be dancing around with his dad, mom, and me in the room.
Well, I think it is going to be hard to give our children the kind of prosperity that our parents were able to give us. Remembering this passage in Matthew, I think we can give our children something maybe better than prosperity and comfort through having enough money.
May they grow and develop a sense of faith in Christ, modeled by their parents (us), that is bigger than a mustard seed, so that they will actually move mountains and bring Christ's kingdom here to earth.
I think this is clear when anyone considers their parents and/or grandparents. Their lives revolve around certain activities, behaviors, and habits that are more common to their own generation than they are to a particular family. Take facebook as an example. Take playing bridge as an example. Take wearing white New Balance walking shoes.
It got me thinking, what does my generation have to offer the world? And my generation here in the US, how is it distinct from my parent's generation?
And I considered this amidst the context of this passage in Matthew:
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. (Matthew 17:14-23 NIV)
I think Jesus' response in this passage is so unique:
"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me."
I think Jesus would have said this with an exasperated, almost frustrated tone. It seems all that the people wanted were surface level things, important, but surface level...to be fed...to be healed...to have comfort. Very plainly, Jesus then proceeds to tell them that they needed more faith, to consider something bigger than the surface level things they were wrestling with common to their current generational identity.
I consider that my parent's generation brought a great deal of prosperity to America. The sheer demographic number coupled with their work ethic helped usher in large economic gains for the country as a whole. Honestly, I don't forsee that staying the case, I think America's standard of living in economic terms will fall or flatline and not improve. The point is, my parent's generation seems to have, as part of their identity, earned prosperity, and thus, an accumulated status of wealth.
As proof of this, consider how many parents helped finance their kids college education (of my generation). Probably a great number more than their parents who could or could not help with their college education.
Each parent always wants to give their children more than their parents were able to give them.
I think that applies largely to a whole generation. And so what is my generation's gift to our children going to be?
I was thinking about that this weekend when I saw my best friend's baby boy, happy as ever to be dancing around with his dad, mom, and me in the room.
Well, I think it is going to be hard to give our children the kind of prosperity that our parents were able to give us. Remembering this passage in Matthew, I think we can give our children something maybe better than prosperity and comfort through having enough money.
May they grow and develop a sense of faith in Christ, modeled by their parents (us), that is bigger than a mustard seed, so that they will actually move mountains and bring Christ's kingdom here to earth.
10.19.2009
James and judgment
I admit that I struggle, and struggle often, with judgment.
James was doing a good job of kicking my butt this morning in regards to judging others.
It's something that I need to be kicked in the teeth on, it's something that's not good at all.
The most convicting part:
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12 ESV)
Basically, I am playing God when I judge others. I set myself up on a throne to determine who and who is not worthy of mercy, grace and compassion.
Jesus was very clear about judging others. (Matthew 7:1-6)
How dare I judge. How dare I even remotely try to act or take duties reserved for God. How dare I do something that Jesus explicitly said "do not..."
I'm thankful for James 2:12-13 that encourages me to be quick to be merciful, rather than quick to judge:
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
I'm also thankful for the real people in my life who model that. My girlfriend and one of my roommates in particular, are modeling and teaching me, although I am stubborn and slow to learn, how mercy over judgment is such a better way to treat others and love your neighbor. I don't consider that they're perfect at it, but they offer such a fresh example that points in the right direction of mercy triumphing over judgment.
They apparently have been listening to what James has to say about judgment.
James was doing a good job of kicking my butt this morning in regards to judging others.
It's something that I need to be kicked in the teeth on, it's something that's not good at all.
The most convicting part:
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12 ESV)
Basically, I am playing God when I judge others. I set myself up on a throne to determine who and who is not worthy of mercy, grace and compassion.
Jesus was very clear about judging others. (Matthew 7:1-6)
How dare I judge. How dare I even remotely try to act or take duties reserved for God. How dare I do something that Jesus explicitly said "do not..."
I'm thankful for James 2:12-13 that encourages me to be quick to be merciful, rather than quick to judge:
So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
I'm also thankful for the real people in my life who model that. My girlfriend and one of my roommates in particular, are modeling and teaching me, although I am stubborn and slow to learn, how mercy over judgment is such a better way to treat others and love your neighbor. I don't consider that they're perfect at it, but they offer such a fresh example that points in the right direction of mercy triumphing over judgment.
They apparently have been listening to what James has to say about judgment.
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