There is a verse that I have always considered a harsh enigma where Jesus says, "If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father in heaven." (Matt 10:33) This statement is right next to the pronouncement of the "unforgivable sin", and ranks right up there with it in provoking uneasy self questioning and uncertainty. What christian of fervent hope does not fear, that in weakness or persecution, they will not become like Peter and deny any knowledge or acquaintance with their Lord? That fear, when caught in physical extremity, they might succumb to cowardice?
Commendable though it may be to always be alert for opportunities to be a witness for the gospel, I don't believe that Christ is saying we need be legalistic about every word that comes out of our mouths. After all, oppostion is only an excuse to let the light shine in the dark, and we don't lose our relationship with our Lord when in uncertainty or doubt. Instead, an idea of what this denial is, is hinted at where Jesus tells of the sheep and the goats. Do you remember how some who say "We did it all in Your name!" are rebuffed? "I never knew you!" Christ responds.
They did it in His name? A name is the truth of who someone is. Titles are a part of this. "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." (Phil 2:9,10) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Christ is "Mighty God" in Isaiah and "my Lord and my God" to Thomas the formerly doubting disciple. If you get the picture that Jesus is God in the flesh, with no others who could even hope to approach that position, then you understand the main part of my thinking.
Anyone who defines the identity of Christ Jesus differently is unacquainted with the genuine Lord. Attaching His name to whatever we happen to worship does not give the idol His identity, even if we call it by the same name. This is what denial of Christ means. Creating a christ in our own image with characteristics that fill our own desires is preaching another gospel. Paul said that anyone who did this is cursed, (Gal 1:8,9) because our salvation is dependent on who Christ is. "The essence of sin is substituting man for God, while the essence of salvation is subsituting God for man."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Salamander Grace
A signal sentinal of stone guards the center of the house, it's heart of fire reaching out to all the inhabitants with a living warmth.It freely bestows its glowing light on house residents. This closeknit communty of family is astonished and amazed by a flash of color emerging from the flames. A salamander, elemental of fire, is a reflection of the red and orange jewel tones of the flames. Merely human eyes observe and wonder at the mystery of a creature which lives in flame and is of flame. The creature represents the incomprehensable. The captive audience would love to emmulate the beauty and aquire the wisdom that dwells in the heart of the flame.
Just so is the christian that emerges from his fellowship with the Savior, our Rock with a heart of molten passion. Our souls reflect the jewel-like clarity of His character. We are bound, in mute wonder, to the unrelenting joy which is the immutable radiance of His being. Do others glimpse through us the unceasing glory of He through whom we "live and move and have our being?"
Or have we left ourselves out in the cold, without the knowing of the warmth of His acceptance? Do we squabble in the dark because our eyes refuse to see the light shining in front of us? Can we tell when our own passions, that we lay claim to as the most important virtues of our lives, are nothing more than "sentimental rot", and unruled by the eternal flame who is our Savior?
Friday, October 2, 2009
More Than This!
Here comes the question. It's the one capping off all of the most intermidable of sermons. You can recite the words before you hear them. You've already tuned them out because you've made your decision and you feel that the question no longer applies to you. "If you died tonight, do you know where you would spend eternity?" That's it. There it is, the end of the story.
"But wait, there's more!" What if the gospel is more than just a "get out of jail free card"? What if it is more than just the pass to get you through those pearly gates? What if it is the chance to change what you can only see as an ending, to a beginning that stretches into eternity on a cosmic scale? The book's ending can be changed. You can "rewrite an ending that fits", so that He is the start of the best part of the story.
If, without Jesus, man is no more than a project sabotaged, to be thrown on the scrap heap, how much more is a life in Him a new beginning that will see no end? Each and every weakness, surrendered to His keeping, every painful circumstance we decide to face with His praises, each conscious sacrifice done to glorify Him, becomes a permanent part of our destiny with Him. Because of what He has done, and in His name, we can choose to bring new life to wherever we are at right now. In Jesus, we can opt out of the ending of our story.
"But wait, there's more!" What if the gospel is more than just a "get out of jail free card"? What if it is more than just the pass to get you through those pearly gates? What if it is the chance to change what you can only see as an ending, to a beginning that stretches into eternity on a cosmic scale? The book's ending can be changed. You can "rewrite an ending that fits", so that He is the start of the best part of the story.
If, without Jesus, man is no more than a project sabotaged, to be thrown on the scrap heap, how much more is a life in Him a new beginning that will see no end? Each and every weakness, surrendered to His keeping, every painful circumstance we decide to face with His praises, each conscious sacrifice done to glorify Him, becomes a permanent part of our destiny with Him. Because of what He has done, and in His name, we can choose to bring new life to wherever we are at right now. In Jesus, we can opt out of the ending of our story.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Destination: Destiny
Our physical senses and therefore the material world, constitute only a fraction of our existence. Many concepts exist which do not repond to newtonian physics, and are not bound to a corporeal form. Transcendent values of morality, self sacrifice, and love clearly demonstrate that man is not meant to "live by bread alone", (Matt 4:4) but in the power and provision of the Lord. Man is not, ultimately, to be tied to the confines of a universe made of matter. At present, we "see through a glass darkly", (1 Cor. 13:12) having our senses bombarded by this world composed of matter, and distracted from that which will endure forever.
The reality of our destiny as the servants of Glory for the Most High King is only thinly veiled over. "It does not yet appear what we shall be", but "we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is".(1 John 3:2) Forever priests of the King of Kings, our body will be unshackled from the corruption of pain and death. We shall rejoice forever in the strength of our fellowship with Him. In His authority, we will transend the limits of mere flesh. May He hasten that day.
For now, our every word and action,in Him, is pregnant with God's purpose and meaning. In His Spirit, we administer joy and peace. Each moment of time is embued with repercussions that echo through eternity. Burdened with such a great weight of His glory, do we not "do more than just exist"?
Finding Identity as.......
In submission
I become
not less
but more.
Prostrated,
I am
exalted.
Created as
a conduit of:
Your mercy
Your compassion
Your love.
In humility
I find
my calling.
Limned in light
Your radiance
shines out.
Effective now,
Your servant!
The reality of our destiny as the servants of Glory for the Most High King is only thinly veiled over. "It does not yet appear what we shall be", but "we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is".(1 John 3:2) Forever priests of the King of Kings, our body will be unshackled from the corruption of pain and death. We shall rejoice forever in the strength of our fellowship with Him. In His authority, we will transend the limits of mere flesh. May He hasten that day.
For now, our every word and action,in Him, is pregnant with God's purpose and meaning. In His Spirit, we administer joy and peace. Each moment of time is embued with repercussions that echo through eternity. Burdened with such a great weight of His glory, do we not "do more than just exist"?
Finding Identity as.......
In submission
I become
not less
but more.
Prostrated,
I am
exalted.
Created as
a conduit of:
Your mercy
Your compassion
Your love.
In humility
I find
my calling.
Limned in light
Your radiance
shines out.
Effective now,
Your servant!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Alternatives to Reality
The Lord our God has blessed us exeedingly. His grace and mercy are unsurpassed, both in heaven and earth. The masterful subtlety of His leadership, or in other words, His perfect timing and provision, inspire amazement and awe. He, Himself, put aside all the priviledges of divinity, so as to not just show us the way, but to become The Way, so He could support us with His great strength. All of His efforts are motivated by His depthless love. The Master is discerning towards us so as to ever increase our love for Him. He knows that love forced is love lost, so He has given us the freedom to choose.
Those who know and understand, know that there is only the one game in town. There is no other way. There is no other God. There is no other end but what He decrees. It it but foolishness to choose any other but Him, the One who is all in all. It strains the limits of credulity as to how anyone could do otherwise. God lets them blaze their own path to eternity, knowing that they seek only to have their own way. Their ears and hearts are closed to all but themselves, unless some trauma should dislodge them from their complacency. In their hearts, they design and live in a make believe world.
There are various manifestations that evidence this attempted escape from reality. People display their lack of obedience to God in multiple ways. The most ubiquitous method used in western culture is an identification with science. God is left out of modern science so as to put a "safe" distance between us and Him. Some take it even further by twisting science to deny God's existence, making instead, science the recipient of their faith. There are those who make religion itself the object of their worship. The focus is on rules of behavior, while expecting God to accept these "great" sacrifices. There is no comprehension that God's standard's are far higher than can be attained by a humanity without Him. The most honest escapist is that one who pursues his own personal pleasure, while acknowledging that his weakness is his refusal to give up his sin. The here and now is made more important than the forever.
All avoiders of reality out there misunderstand and are blinded to God's true nature. In order for them to feel that they maintain some semblence of control over what they feel is theirs, they turn away from what is far greater and much more glorious than they could ever imagine.
Those who know and understand, know that there is only the one game in town. There is no other way. There is no other God. There is no other end but what He decrees. It it but foolishness to choose any other but Him, the One who is all in all. It strains the limits of credulity as to how anyone could do otherwise. God lets them blaze their own path to eternity, knowing that they seek only to have their own way. Their ears and hearts are closed to all but themselves, unless some trauma should dislodge them from their complacency. In their hearts, they design and live in a make believe world.
There are various manifestations that evidence this attempted escape from reality. People display their lack of obedience to God in multiple ways. The most ubiquitous method used in western culture is an identification with science. God is left out of modern science so as to put a "safe" distance between us and Him. Some take it even further by twisting science to deny God's existence, making instead, science the recipient of their faith. There are those who make religion itself the object of their worship. The focus is on rules of behavior, while expecting God to accept these "great" sacrifices. There is no comprehension that God's standard's are far higher than can be attained by a humanity without Him. The most honest escapist is that one who pursues his own personal pleasure, while acknowledging that his weakness is his refusal to give up his sin. The here and now is made more important than the forever.
All avoiders of reality out there misunderstand and are blinded to God's true nature. In order for them to feel that they maintain some semblence of control over what they feel is theirs, they turn away from what is far greater and much more glorious than they could ever imagine.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
A Strong Delusion
Our subject this week is the admonition to "never stop learning!" It is indeed invigorating and liberating to acquire knowledge which enlarges our understanding and aids us in wise choices. Knowledge and understanding enrich our lives, providing encouragement and edification. However, discernment should compel us to question whether all "facts" are created equal. Must we accept all the theories and conclusions presented to us under the mantra of "science"? "If we do it in the name of science, will we be justified in the end?"
There is a pervasive bias entrenched in the collective reasoning of our society. This prejudice leaves us stranded in the finite physical universe, blind and crippled, bereft of our anchor of meaning. In the void, we are sans the supportive connections which shield us from self destruction. What is labeled "freedom" is in reality the absence of hope. Psuedoscience offers us the gift of no god in our universe, a cosmic abortion of mankind in the face of the father who loves us and wants us.
This is the premise underlying any official position of the scientific establishment. Any hypothesis formulated which includes a god, must, in their thinking, be disallowed. They want no divinity intruding on their poverty stricken kingdom. The chaos underlying the implicit order apparent in the cosmos, and the complex language written into our very genes, does not suffice to persuade them. How is it that the discipline of science, started under the auspices of the church in the western world, is confused with those who refuse to consider all legitimate possibilities? Excluding the consideration of God's existence is the apex of irrationality. No matter how many layers of physical existence they uncover, no matter how far they travel in an unending journey, these delusional will be "ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim 3:7)
There is a pervasive bias entrenched in the collective reasoning of our society. This prejudice leaves us stranded in the finite physical universe, blind and crippled, bereft of our anchor of meaning. In the void, we are sans the supportive connections which shield us from self destruction. What is labeled "freedom" is in reality the absence of hope. Psuedoscience offers us the gift of no god in our universe, a cosmic abortion of mankind in the face of the father who loves us and wants us.
This is the premise underlying any official position of the scientific establishment. Any hypothesis formulated which includes a god, must, in their thinking, be disallowed. They want no divinity intruding on their poverty stricken kingdom. The chaos underlying the implicit order apparent in the cosmos, and the complex language written into our very genes, does not suffice to persuade them. How is it that the discipline of science, started under the auspices of the church in the western world, is confused with those who refuse to consider all legitimate possibilities? Excluding the consideration of God's existence is the apex of irrationality. No matter how many layers of physical existence they uncover, no matter how far they travel in an unending journey, these delusional will be "ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim 3:7)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Letter to a Skeptic
When you state your objections to Christianity, they are organized in such a way that it is obvious that you assume that it's concepts originate in myth. You also pointed out that I state my "opinions" as if they are fact. It seems that we each have our worldviews built on disparate foundations. You have faith in yours, based on a science of material naturalism, and I have mine, based on openminded science that accounts for other possiblilities, and my personal experiences.
Thank you for your willingness to discuss this issue of the ages. Well you may imagine that this type of dialog is what I live for. The Bible says to always be ready to give the reasons for the hope that you have(1 Peter 3:15). The Bible also tells us to study(2 Tim 2:15). Consequently, I have spent my life in study.
As you can see from the above, the life of a christian should be built on knowledge and reason. Conversion must be based on the evidence. That is where faith and belief begin, placed solidly on top of that foundation of the proveable and that reputation for truth and integrity ( Examples: http://www.aish.com/jw/j/48961251.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/12/archaeologists-and-quest-for-sheba-goldmines).
Now, as to your questions, which are of a more philosophical / theological nature.
You asked why does christianity base it's recruitment efforts on fear? I disagree with the first assumption in the question. Christ's efforts on mankind's behalf were based on His great love for us. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He has provided us with an easy, no effort escape through simple belief in Him, that requires no work of our own. He has not sought to terrorize us, but to comfort us in the middle of the pain resulting from our own error. How is this fearmongering? He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
If someone put on watch for the military failed to warn a city's inhabitants of an approaching enemy army, so that they could not escape, wouldn't he be failing to show love and compassion to his fellow citizens? If he warned them as he should would he be guilty of fearmongering? "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." (Ezekiel 3:18) It is love and undying concern which motivate His recruitment efforts!
Now to address your resistance to the very idea of hell, I might not be able to be so comforting. Some christians try to change the basic meaning of what hell is by telling themselves, contrary to what the Bible says, that it simply means "destruction", or in other words, ceasing to exist. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. He said it is that fire which shall not be quenched (Mark 9:44).
Consider, instead, the only possible alternative to hell. Is it better for God's creation to be held hostage by evil? Where the most violent, bloodthirsty, and selfish would rule forever? The most gentle, compassionate, and giving people would be fodder for the flames of their wars, left to suffer injustice and humilation.
I think I would rather not live in that universe. Instead, I want to inherit the wonder of having the last vestige of pain and death removed from my sight and memory, left only to gaze on true love forever. "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen 18:25)
Thank you for your willingness to discuss this issue of the ages. Well you may imagine that this type of dialog is what I live for. The Bible says to always be ready to give the reasons for the hope that you have(1 Peter 3:15). The Bible also tells us to study(2 Tim 2:15). Consequently, I have spent my life in study.
As you can see from the above, the life of a christian should be built on knowledge and reason. Conversion must be based on the evidence. That is where faith and belief begin, placed solidly on top of that foundation of the proveable and that reputation for truth and integrity ( Examples: http://www.aish.com/jw/j/48961251.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/feb/12/archaeologists-and-quest-for-sheba-goldmines).
Now, as to your questions, which are of a more philosophical / theological nature.
You asked why does christianity base it's recruitment efforts on fear? I disagree with the first assumption in the question. Christ's efforts on mankind's behalf were based on His great love for us. "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). He has provided us with an easy, no effort escape through simple belief in Him, that requires no work of our own. He has not sought to terrorize us, but to comfort us in the middle of the pain resulting from our own error. How is this fearmongering? He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
If someone put on watch for the military failed to warn a city's inhabitants of an approaching enemy army, so that they could not escape, wouldn't he be failing to show love and compassion to his fellow citizens? If he warned them as he should would he be guilty of fearmongering? "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." (Ezekiel 3:18) It is love and undying concern which motivate His recruitment efforts!
Now to address your resistance to the very idea of hell, I might not be able to be so comforting. Some christians try to change the basic meaning of what hell is by telling themselves, contrary to what the Bible says, that it simply means "destruction", or in other words, ceasing to exist. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. He said it is that fire which shall not be quenched (Mark 9:44).
Consider, instead, the only possible alternative to hell. Is it better for God's creation to be held hostage by evil? Where the most violent, bloodthirsty, and selfish would rule forever? The most gentle, compassionate, and giving people would be fodder for the flames of their wars, left to suffer injustice and humilation.
I think I would rather not live in that universe. Instead, I want to inherit the wonder of having the last vestige of pain and death removed from my sight and memory, left only to gaze on true love forever. "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen 18:25)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)