Saturday, November 17, 2007

The War is Won

"what evils religion has inspired" -Lucretius in Meaning by Michael Polanyi and Harry Prosch

"but [the early Christians] announced and celebrated the victory of Jesus over evil as something that had already happened, something that related pretty directly to the real world, their world. There was still a mopping-up battle to be fought, but the real victory had been accomplished." -N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -1 John 4:3-5

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." -1 John 4:18

"Under the good intentions of well-meaning leaders, the church has fallen back on its heels in a defensive posture, seeking refuge in its own fortresses of buildings, programs, and "Christian" business, schools, and ministries. Trying to avoid the threat we were always meant to thwart, we have lost ground over and over again until at last we have nowhere left to go, surrounded by wickedness. We are now seen as an impotent and frightened group that hides from the world and the reality that faces us." Neil Cole, Organic Church

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." -Ephesians 6:12

Some in our churches seem to have forgotten that Christ has already conquered evil, he is already victorious. Yet if you listen to conservative/Christian talk radio and read the periodicals published by Focus on the Family and the like, you would believe that a "war on morality" or a "culture war" has been waged which we must step up to and fight, or else we may loose everything we as conservative Christians have gained. When I hear and read such things I wonder how we have forgotten that the war has already been won. As N.T. Wright pointed out the early Christians celebrated the victory of Jesus. And, we seem to have forgotten it completely and are trying to fight again a war that has already been won.

When Christ died and rose again the war was won, he defeated sin and death. He accomplished what no person could do, he won the ultimate war. But as Wright also points out, "[t]here [is] still a mopping-up battle to be fought." Even though Christ has won the war for us, there is still a mopping-up battle to be fought. Often after a war between countries has ended, battles break out in the middle of reconstruction process. This is true of the war Christ has won. There are still battles breaking out as we near the completion of the kingdom of God. Yet our battles are not against flesh and blood. We are not in a battle against, "the homosexual agenda," "the pro-choice movement," "the Democrats," "atheists," "fundamentalist Muslims," or any other group made up of humans. When we go to war against these people we are fighting against those who Christ died for. We are battling against flesh and blood and not against our true enemy.

Many Christians as Cole points out, have retreated to a defensive posture. They have built their fortresses in places like South Barrington, Colorado Springs, Lake Forrest and Boring. Speaking out to their communities from the inside of these fortresses while in large part ignoring the turmoil in the communities surrounding them. They spend millions on their enlarging their fortresses and little on the poor, imprisoned, and oppressed outside their walls. They fight a war of morality and forget to live a life of love.

There is no ideology, no political movement, no social group, no religion, nothing to fear. If it is love which drives out fear, love which compelled God to offer himself so that punishment might be avoided, and love which is how others will know we are followers of Christ, why do we so often turn to hate in the name of love. If we Christians had our way and homosexuality, and abortion were outlawed, the ten commandments were posted on every government building, creation was taught in all of our schools, crosses were allowed on government property, and we were able to ignore the "problems" facing our environment, would America or any country be a better place? Would freedom reign? Or, would freedom and liberty pass away? Would there be oppression and outcasting of those who did not agree with the "Christian agenda?" Would love cast out fear, or would hate be masked in fear?

I think that we ought to turn to Jesus as an example of how we ought to fight the mop-up battles. He loved the sexually immoral, religious fundamentalists, and religiously destitute who we try to outlaw. He did not hide in some fortress, he drove out sin and fear with love. We ought to be changing this world not through legislation, oppression and hatred, but with love. If we want to see the end of immorality in this world it is not going to happen through politics but through the perfect love of God. We need to stop fighting a war which has already been won and begin loving our neighbors.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Mary's Story

Gabriel came to me saying, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”

Who would have known my son would amaze and astonish us in the many ways he has. Who would have known the announcement made to me was only a glimpse of the things to come. Who would have known what was to come that spring day years later.

The weather that day was nothing spectacular a few white puffs scattered the bright blue sky left from a passing shower the week before. I could feel a brisk cool breeze and hear the birds which were chirping as if to celebrate the passing of winter. The air had the smell of morning dew mixed with fresh flowers. This was a beautiful day but for me at that moment it was horrifically dark. How could a mother enjoy such a day while heading to the tomb of her first son. A mother should not be anointing her son, it is her son that should be anointing his mother.
My son had done many unexpected things in his life. For instance the time when we left him at the temple as a young boy, we were all surprised to find him teaching at such a young age. He had no fear; I don’t believe he even knew we had left him. His compassion was shown at our neighbor's wedding when he helped them when they ran out of wine. Or the time when he fed so many people with only a few loaves of bread and some fish. He was always full of surprises. Walking to the tomb that day I could not be prepared for the surprise which was waiting us.
My heart was broken the day he went before Pilate for the second time. The first time he was released, I was sure this time that Pilate would have no reason to hold him. I never felt so distant from my people when they wanted Barabbas to be released in place of my son. How was I to relate to a group of people whom would let an innocent man go in place of a murderer? I can still hear the people chanting, “crucify him, crucify him, crucify him!” I wanted to make it all stop. I wanted my son to surprise us all again and escape in some miraculous way. I grew sick to my stomach when Pilate made his announcement, deciding to give the people what they wanted. My people had turned on me, who did I have to turn to.

When Friday came I was hopping my son would surprise us one more time and release himself. I could not believe after all the miracles he had performed that he would not perform a miracle to save himself. As he walked to the place of the skull I watched from a distance. I couldn't even recognize him as my son. He had been badly beat; his back was covered with dried blood glistening as the fresh blood was still slowly creeping out of his wounds. His forehead also had dried blood, which went came from his hairline and into his face. His face was swollen, discolored and distorted. And yet, he remained silent the whole way, not a word left his mouth. I could not hold the tears back my son was going to die and I could do nothing but watch. The next few hours were a blur. All I remember of them was it became dark and the ground shook before he breathed his last. Later that day the other women and I went to the tomb where my son lay. We prepared the spices and oils to put on the linens but we had to leave them until Sunday for the Sabbath drew near.

This Sunday morning was a morning I will never forget. The women and I returned to the tomb with the spices and oils we had prepared. As I said the weather was not unusual, the day had started like any other spring day. We all got up early to draw water and get everything in order that we might leave for the tomb. What we found when we arrived at the tomb was unexpected. I know I had seen my son do many wonderful things but there was no way I could ever dream of what happened that spring day.

We walked down the road to the tomb where the man named Joseph; a council member had laid him. We did not talk on the way to the tomb. The only sound was that of our sandals against the ground and the sound of the birds chirping. The walk was the longest of my life, it was not a long distance but it seemed like a hundred miles. I was not in a hurry to arrive at the tomb, I hoped if we kept walking I would not have to face the fact my son was dead. As we neared the tomb the suspense grew with each and every step. A tear fell from my eye as the fact my son had died was beginning to set in. I did not want to believe we were actually walking to the tomb to prepare the body of my son. In the eyes of the other women I could see almost as much pain as that which I was experiencing. I remembered the promise my Lord had given me before the birth of our son. How would he be great, how would he reign forever, how could my Lord let me down, how was my Lord going to fulfill these promises now that my son was dead. The smell of those oils and spices will always bring back the memories of the miracle, which would top all the other miracles of my son.

As we came with in seeing distance of the tomb the stone appeared to be rolled away. I wondered who rolled the stone away for I saw no soldiers standing outside the tomb. My wonder ended for the next thing I knew the stone was rolled away and we were entering the tomb. The air was dense and cool and it felt very heavy. My eyes took a while to adjust because it was so dark inside. When my eyes adjusted and I could see, I did not believe what I saw. Where my son had been laid was nothing but the cloth that had covered his head neatly folded and the linens in a pile separate form the cloth. I wanted to believe my son was not there and the whole thing was only a dream. As began to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming two men appeared in the tomb with us.

The men were dressed in shining garments, garments, which were familiar to a time in my past. As we bowed our faces the men began to speak. They asked why we were looking for the living among the dead. Then they told us the words, which would change the world for the rest of time. They told us he was not there but he had risen. They explained to us what Christ had meant when he told us he must be crucified and then rise again on the third day. The words they spoke were the words I longed to hear for three days. Christ has risen, he is no longer dead, he has conquered death, and death has no hold on him! The joy, which filled my heart that day, was a joy I had never experienced before in my life.

We left the tomb and ran to the Disciples of Christ. I felt I could run forever, I was filled with joy and energy. As we ran I could feel the wind blowing through my hair and hear my heart pounding. When we arrived to the place where the eleven were I could barely get the words out. I was out of breath and so excited it took all I had to get the words out. When I did, Peter jumped to his feet. I could see amazement in his eyes. He ran all the way to the tomb to see for himself that what we said was the truth.

It was later on that spring day I realized, when Jesus died on that cross I did not loose a son but gained a savior from that empty tomb.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

To Vote or Not to Vote

To vote or not to vote, that is the question which has been plaguing me these last few weeks. Many Christians feel that voting is something which we must do and others feel that it is something which we must not do. A friend of mine writes in his blog, (ttp://inhabitatiodei.wordpress.com) that he has ceased to vote because he thinks it doesn't make a difference and that whoever has the most power gets in anyways. Another friend sent me a web page which compares voting to treason against God (http://www.ekklesiaproject.org/content/view/135/9/). While recently on the Focus on the Family radio program, there was a person who made the statement, that the most spiritual thing a Christian can do is vote. While Dobson did not agree completely with this statement he did agree that voting was important for Christians. I personally have voted in every election possible since I registered to vote when I turned 18. However I have now had to reconsider whether or not I should be joining in this democratic ritual.

The conclusion I have now come to is that I will continue to vote. However I do not feel that voting is the most spiritual thing I can do, it is a political thing I do, not spiritual. While my spirituality may influence how I vote, it is a political act more than anything else. For pastors to pressure their congregates to vote is a down right atrocity. Voting is something I am free to do because I live in a democratic society which allows me to do so, it is also something which I am free to not do if I so feel inclined. To claim that one must vote because the Bible calls us to do so, is just down right ignorant and foolish.

So why is it that I will continue to vote? I will continue to vote because it is a way to be redeeming in this country. While my friend Halden (Inhabitatio Dei) does make a valid argument that any one persons vote is meaningless, I am not yet giving up on the very small hope that each person's vote is counted and counts. I can attempt to use my vote as one of many ways to extend the love of Christ. Although this must be done carefully. The way Christians vote for their morals can at times be more hate filled than loving. An example of this might be the homosexual marriage issue. While I believe that marriage should only be between one man an one woman, Christians voting on this issue has spoken hatred not love to the homosexual community. If you don't agree with me go ask one of your homosexual friends or go watch a movie like "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry." When Christians vote "on the behalf of God" they are in dangerous territory.

When I vote, I do so as an American who happens to be a Christian not as a Christian who happens to be an American. Before you get upset that I am putting America before God let me explain. I am first and foremost a Christian before anything else. However when I am voting I am not "doing God's work." Think about this possible situation: Many Christians would agree that it is God who puts people in positions of power. In 2008 it is possible that Hillary Clinton will be elected president of the United States of America. If this happens, those many Christians would have to agree that God has put her into this office. For many of those Christians this will put them in a difficult situation, for they would not have voted for her. Have they voted against God and God's anointed? I am sure that in past real elections many Christians have voted in a way to support who they believe God would have wanted in office and have found someone else filling the position. If voting is doing the work of God, God sucks at politics. When I vote I do it as an American. Yes, me being a Christian is going to influence how I vote but it is not an act of "doing the work of God." When I vote I am doing the work of an American citizen. This is not something which is done against my citizenship in heaven.

Now I must explain how voting can be redeeming, if it is not the work of God. When I vote I need to vote in the most loving way. This may mean not voting for a particular race or measure. This may mean voting against how most other Christians are voting. This cannot be explained in a neat and clean way, but it must be done. When Christians choose to vote, as I have done, our votes must show our love for neighbor as much as our love for God.

I Will No Longer Consume Church

In the past year I have spent a lot of time thinking about the consumer church. Mostly because a professor of mine has been working on a book and feeding his students chapters from it to give him feedback. The book recently released (Consuming Jesus by: Paul Louis Metzger). For those of you who are unfamiliar of the term "consumer church," I would like to propose a definition: A consumer church is a church which provides religious or pseudo-religious services in order to attract people to their location. In essence consumer churches are churches which are very much run like businesses. They look at their potential customers (church members) and target their programing (product) towards reaching those customers.

This post is not a cry to put an end to consumer churches, many people have already done that. I am here announcing that I will no longer consume church. As long as Christians including myself consume church, consumer churches will flourish. The blame of producing consumer churches does not go solely to those who run consumer churches, but also to me who consumes church. If I want to see consumer churches fade into history, I will need to resist the temptation to consume church.

The church I intern at has recently released its pastor and my internship advisor told me that this would be a great learning experience and that I should sit back and observe as much as possible without getting involved. I have realized that this advice is absolute crap. If I sit back and take in the suffering of a part of the body of Christ as "a great learning experience," I am becoming the worst type of consumer. I am consuming a product which is destroying those who are producing it. I cannot sit back and observe as a part of my family is ripped apart. I will not consume the church as it is being consumed.

As Christians we should not be consuming our churches. To put it in a way reminiscent of a great American president, ask not what your church can do for you, but ask what you can do for your church. The role of the Christian in the church is not to be a consumer but to be consumed. Consumed by our love for God, consumed by our love for our neighbor, consumed by the undying love of Christ.