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Arrogance & the End of the World

May 23, 2011 in Jesus, Life, Religion with 0 Comments

Late Great Planet Earth

While the Judgment Day talk of the past few weeks had some worried and provided comedic fodder for others, one good thing it did was open the door to a few good conversations about what the Bible really says concerning the end of the world. Two things I realized due to those discussions are, I no longer know what I believe when it comes to the end times, the rapture, the tribulation, etc., and, to be blunt, I don’t care. Not that it is wrong to study eschatology; I may actually take a break from my normal Bible reading plan for awhile and study what the scriptures have to say concerning the end times, just so I can know WHAT I believe and WHY I believe it.

And that is really the source of this post. For years I was taught a very specific view concerning the end times, and much like Harold Camping’s followers, I simply took what I was taught as gospel truth. I didn’t ask questions, I didn’t search the scriptures for myself – I simply believed. And because the teaching was consistent with what other churches in our denomination taught, I never heard conflicting teachings until I was in my late teens, and by that point, I’d heard what I believed so many times that I would instantly reject differing eschatological views, regardless of how much scripture a person had to back their claims.

And that is NEVER a good thing.

So while I intend to dive more deeply into this subject for personal reasons, the reality is, it doesn’t bother me that at this point in my life I have no clarity in my eschatological beliefs. And, not to be rude, but I don’t really care what you believe concerning the end times, and there are three reasons for that.

  1. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. When it comes to Christians, we can debate and argue and discuss, but those conversations are not going to change scripture. Sure, they might change your view of scripture, but scripture itself will remain unchanged, so whatever is going to happen is going to happen regardless of your beliefs. And as for those who aren’t Christians – our pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, premillennialist, amillennialist, postmillennialist arguments DON’T HELP THEM ONE BIT. They need Jesus, not a confusing rash of eschatological theories.
  2. Forget the end times beliefs for a second – we aren’t even guaranteed our next breath! Proverbs 16:6 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” James 4:13-14 says, “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” I had a conversation with a friend who was buying into all the 2012 B.S. and he told me his New Year’s Resolution for 2012 was going to be to “…get right with God, just in case anything does happen.” I had to ask, “But what if you’re driving to the grocery store tomorrow and get T-boned by a drunk driver and die?”
  3. I’m sick of the I can’t wait to get off this rock mentality exhibited by many Christians. While it doesn’t apply to every eschatological view, it definitely fits the dominant ones. Rob Bell is definitely correct in his assertion that our eschatology shapes our ethics. I’ve heard Revelation 22:20 quoted hundreds, maybe even thousands of times, and almost always by Christians using it as a prayer for Jesus to rapture them off this planet, because they would rather leave this earth than allow God to use them to redeem and restore it. It’s as if they don’t even consider the possibility that maybe John was asking Jesus to come and make things right. God is still in the restoration business, right? We’re supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus, or was that just some catchy jingle to make people feel warm and fuzzy?

Fearing the End of the World

May 21, 2011 in Jesus, Life, Religion with 0 Comments

may-21-2011

Below is an excellent essay written and read by Matthew Paul Turner. Considering today is May 21, I thought it was worth sharing. Also, keep in mind something MPT shared on his blog last week: if Christ does not return today, while our first thoughts tomorrow will be to poke fun at the May 21st supporters, remember, we’re not so different. We’ve all been misled, maybe even brainwashed, at one time or another. I’ve yet to meet anyone who has never been wrong. Tomorrow, the May 21st supporters will have to come to terms with that. Some will believe whatever excuses Harold Camping (the leader of this hoax) feeds them, but many will realize Camping was wrong, and it’s what they do in that realization that I’m concerned about. Will they rebuke Camping and his teachings, and search scripture for themselves, or will the realization that Camping was wrong cause them to turn and run from the Church, and even God?

Click here if you can’t see the video.

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

April 20, 2011 in Church, Community, Jesus, Religion with 3 Comments

The past few weeks have been filled with distractions, most of which concerned looking for a new job, which is not a bad thing. I love working at F.Y.E., but the truth is, it doesn’t pay much, the hours are scarce and it’s a dying model. Thankfully, I received and accepted a full time job offer in Ruston.

But that’s not what this post is about.

I realized, that for the past few weeks, I’d put off reading a few books that I should have finished by now, two of which I’m going to review here on the blog. So today I once again picked up Love Wins, by Rob Bell, and while reading I came across a statement that rocked me to my core. Now, I’m only in chapter two, so I haven’t hit any of the really controversial stuff yet, but I felt like I needed to share this quote because it articulates a belief I’ve held for a few years now, but much more succinctly than I ever could.

Our eschatology shapes our ethics.

I grew up in a system of beliefs that centers on the hope of getting off this rock, which, as Bell points out, is contrary to the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13):

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

I’m not saying there won’t be a rapture.
I’m not saying we won’t leave this earth one day.
I’m still wrestling with my own thoughts and beliefs when it comes to the end of days.

What I am saying, or asking, is why are some of us so obsessed with getting away from this world? Why are we not praying the way Jesus did; “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Maybe because it’s easier to dream about a future where there is no crime, no poverty, no homelessness, no injustice, no greed, no sin, than it is to actually do something about it today.

Our eschatology shapes our ethics.

In My Place

April 20, 2011 in Arts & Entertainment, Jesus with 0 Comments

GoodFriday_Easter_Desktops

In case you haven’t been paying attention, it’s Passion Week (the week leading up to Easter Sunday). Last Sunday was Palm Sunday – the day Christians celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, tomorrow is Maundy Thursday – the day we celebrate The Last Supper, Friday is Good Friday – commemorating the crucifixion and death of Christ, and Sunday is Easter – the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection.

Coincidentally (or not), The Village Church released their latest worship album last month and the track In My Place fully encapsulates the story of Christ’s crucifixion and death, so I felt it would be appropriate to share the lyrics and a video in which Michael Bleecker (worship pastor @ The Village Church) explains the story behind the song and demonstrates how to play it.

In my place, He stood condemned
He Who knew no sin became sin for us
That we might become His righteousness

Bearing all my sin and shame
The punishment and blame
He conquered the grave
That we might become the heirs of grace

In my place, Jesus died
The spotless Lamb laid down His life
The wrath of God was satisfied
In my place, Jesus died

Nail pierced hands, bleeding side
His body bruised; my God crucified
A crown of thorns, dying cries
His flesh was torn; my God crucified

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

And they will know us by……

April 7, 2011 in Culture, Jesus, Religion with 3 Comments

love-philly

what we wear?

what we listen to?

what we watch?

who our friends are?

 

It’s nearly 4:00 AM as I write this. No matter what I do to try and change my sleeping habits, lately, I find myself most comfortable as a night owl. Anyways, I was flipping through channels and came across a pastor who said something that made my ears perk up a bit:

America needs change, and in order to change America, we have to change culture first. We need a Christian culture! The problem is, we’ve got so many Christians trying to blend in with their existing cultures, that you can’t tell who’s a Christian and who isn’t. We’re supposed to be different, peculiar. We’re salt and light, that city on a hill which can’t be hidden.

Hmmm…… I’m no Bobby Flay, but last time I checked, the purpose of salt is to enhance the food in which it is used. No salt, and the flavors are rather bland, blending together in a seamless, cardboard-like taste. Use too much and the dish becomes offensive and inedible. In other words, salt is supposed to blend in with the other ingredients and change the dish from the inside out. Much like salt, light, when used properly, is one of man’s greatest tools. The sun lights our days, and the moon our nights. Artificial lights allow us to see regardless of the time of day or the conditions outside, and if all else fails, we’ve got fire. But like salt, when there is too much light, it becomes offensive; hence inventions such as sun visors, baseball caps, sunglasses and tinted windows.

If there is one thing we, as Christians, can learn from the past 60 years of Christianity, it’s that rejecting the culture of the world and creating our own sub-culture has done nothing but separate and alienate us from the very people we are called to reach (Matthew 28:18-20). I’m not saying that it’s wrong to have Christian music, Christian movies, Christian fiction or Christian schools. Nor am I saying you shouldn’t avoid certain things – I’d bet we’ve all become a bit desensitized by the rampant and unnecessary use of sex and violence in entertainment. Even PG movies have a little bit of both. But the way we run from culture and hide in our Christian bubble, thinking sin can’t get to us in there, is ridiculous. It’s akin to the little kid that takes his ball and runs home because he didn’t get his way. All it does is further separate us from sinners, and whether you like it or not, the gospel isn’t going to preach itself.

So to finish up where the title begins, the world won’t know us because of what we wear, or what we listen to, or what we watch, or who we hang out with, because all those things are outward. I can change my shirt almost as quickly as I can change the channel on the TV. Christ said that all people will know we are His disciples by our love (John 13:34-35).

In All Things We Need Love

January 22, 2011 in Church, Jesus, Religion with 2 Comments

John-Press-01

There’s been a bit of a buzz on the interwebs this week thanks to a statement made by John MacArthur in a recent interview. You can listen to the whole interview here, but this is the statement I’m addressing:

You know, there’s a new book on church planting written by a guy named Darrin Patrick and it says if you want to be an effective church planter, develop your own theology.

You know when I read that I just almost fell off the chair. What? I mean, can you think of anything worse than to have some guy develop his own theology? This is ultimate niche marketing. Develop your own style, your own wardrobe, and then your own theology.

HT: Steve McCoy

Before I begin, I need to disclose a few things. First, I am a fan of Darrin Patrick, and have been for a few years now. I regularly listen to his podcast from The Journey Church and have read his book Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission. Second, I greatly admire John MacArthur. The man has been in ministry for decades, written numerous books and done great work for the kingdom of God, and all before I was even born. And he isn’t showing signs of slowing down. In other words, MacArthur is a true student of scripture. He’s probably forgotten more about scripture than I’ll ever learn.

That being said, here is the passage MacArthur was commenting on:

One of the common errors of young men who surrender to ministry is to simply adopt the model of a church that they have experienced or idolized. A similar mistake is to blindly accept the ministry philosophy and practice of a ministry hero. The man who is experiencing head confirmation is thoughtful about his own philosophy of ministry, his own ministry style, his own theological beliefs, his own unique gifts, abilities, and desires. In short, there is uniqueness to the way he wants to do ministry.

- from page 37 of Church Planter: The Man, The Message, The Mission

Now, I don’t think MacArthur is “picking on” Patrick, or being a “meany”, as some have actually written. Nor do I need to defend Darrin Patrick. I believe he is fully capable of doing that on his own, and to his credit, he has responded to MacArthur’s scrutiny graciously and lovingly, even offering to meet with John MacArthur, in an effort to get to know him, and be mentored and coached by him (note: MacArthur himself is not on Twitter. @Phil_Johnson_ is the executive director of John MacArthur’s ministry, Grace to You). But I have read Church Planter, so I’m not just some blogger “jumping on the bandwagon”. I’ve read the book, I know what it says, and I know what I got out of it, so here’s my two cents: when reading the passage MacArthur referenced, it seems to me Patrick is saying, “Don’t take having Biblically accurate theology for granted. Don’t simply rest on the laurels of church heroes and what they believed and taught; search out the scriptures for yourself, so that YOU KNOW WHAT YOU believe, not just what those who came before you believed.” If you continue reading, immediately following the passage MacArthur referenced, Patrick writes:

Unlike many young men who know much about what they are against and little about what they are for, the man who is experiencing head confirmation thinks through very carefully and deliberately, What am I for with my life and ministry? What are my specific burdens for the church? How can I best serve the church in these areas?

When the two passages are combined (as they appear in the book) it is very apparent to me Darrin Patrick is commenting on the current state of church culture, where many Christians base their beliefs not upon scripture, but instead upon what they’re taught by their pastor. In my own personal experience, this leads to two things: Christians who, as Patrick wrote, “…know much about what they are against and little about what they are for”, and Christians who are more than willing to share their beliefs with others, but when asked where in the Bible those beliefs come from, they don’t have an answer. I know this because I used to be like this. I had no problem sharing my beliefs with others, but when asked “why” I believed “this”, instead of “that”, most of the time all I could ever say was, “Because my pastor said so.” I don’t believe Patrick was saying to eschew the teachings of church fathers and theological heavyweights of the past – again, I believe he was saying to compare those teachings against scripture, see whether or not they align and KNOW WHY YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE; not because Martin Luther or John Calvin or John MacArthur or even Darrin Patrick taught it, but because SCRIPTURE SAYS IT.

With that out of the way, there is a quote that has been bouncing around in my head ever since first hearing about all this. It is also one of my favorite quotes:

In the essentials we need unity, in the non-essentials we need freedom; but in all things we need love.
- Rupertus Meldenius

Just to make sure no one misunderstands, Biblically accurate theology is essential to the Church. Without it, we’re nothing but a cluster……, well, you know. But I want people to remember the last part of that quote – “in all things we need love.” Regardless of where you stand on this debate/discussion, follow the lead of both John MacArthur and Darrin Patrick and show grace and love when chiming in with your two cents.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

bill_maher

I’m taking a little after-lunch break and decided to put together tomorrow’s se7en post, but this week in the blogosphere has been rather slow. So instead, I’m sharing a video from Bill Maher. I’m not much of a fan, but I have to admit, he does put things into perspective. After having worked my first retail Christmas season in a few years, I must say, he isn’t too far off the mark. Jesus has taken a back seat to consumerism, at least in Western culture. So watch the video and remember why we celebrate Christmas. It’s not about how much we can get, but instead, how much we’ve been given.

HT: Jesus Needs New PR

Bono, On Christmas

December 24, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

bono

The idea that God, if there is a force of logic and love in the universe, that it would seek to explain itself is amazing enough. That it would seek to explain itself and describe itself by becoming a child born in straw poverty, in shit and straw… a child… I just thought: “Wow!” Just the poetry… unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable. There it was. I was sitting there, and it’s not that it hadn’t struck me before, but tears came streaming down my face, and I saw the genius of this, utter genius of picking a particular point in time and deciding to turn on this.

I featured that quote two years ago, but I felt it needed restating. Regardless of your opinions about Bono, as far as I’m concerned, that quote is still one of the best gospel presentations I’ve ever read, and it really puts into perspective what this time of year is all about.

Christmas Clarity, Part 3

December 11, 2010 in Jesus, Religion with 0 Comments

Santa-Claus-christmas-2736333-1280-1024

Christmas is only two weeks away, so this week I’ve featured a couple posts hoping to clear up what is myth and what is reality when it comes to Christmas traditions. You can read the other two posts by clicking here (part 1) and here (part 2). So, last, but not least, two final questions. The first: Did Santa Claus really exist?

Well…… it depends on your idea of Santa. If we’re talking about the jolly, fat man in a bright, red suit who lives at the North Pole with Mrs. Claus, flying reindeer and a bunch of elves who spend all year making toys…… that’s a relatively modern, American creation. But the inspiration at the center of those myths actually did live. Saint Nicholas of Myra lived in the fourth century A.D. and was the Bishop of Myra. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving and thus became the model for Santa Claus. The name “Santa Claus” comes from the Dutch “Sinterklaas”, which is a truncation of “Sint Nicolaas” (Saint Nicholas). The Dutch were also the first to give him a flowing, white beard. “Sinterklaas” serves as the name of both the figure and the holiday named after him. Traditionally, Sinterklaas (the holiday) is celebrated on Saint Nicholas’ Eve (December 5). The Dutch brought Sinterklaas to America, and in 1809, Washington Irving Americanized “Sinterklaas” into “Santa Claus”. In 1821, the book A New-Year’s Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve was published and featured Old Santeclaus, an anonymous poem describing an old man on a reindeer sleigh, bringing presents to children. Two years later, in 1823, A Visit from Saint Nicholas was published. We know it better as The Night Before Christmas. Many of Santa Claus’ more familiar attributes, such as riding in a sleigh that lands on the roof, entering through the chimney, and having a bag full of toys, were established in this poem. Additionally, the reindeer were also named in The Night Before Christmas.

Over the following years, the image of Santa began to evolve into that of a large, heavyset man who lives at the North Pole. Thomas Nast is attributed with much of that evolution, as an illustration of his that appeared in Harper’s Weekly in 1863 was the first to put all the attributes together in one picture. Nast was also the first artist to depict Santa wearing red and white (up to that time Santa wore a variety of colors). But the Santa Claus we’ve come to know and love was cemented by Haddon Sundblom’s depiction of him for The Coca-Cola Company’s Christmas advertising in the 1930′s. His image (at least in the West) has remained the same ever since. So, was Santa Claus real? You could definitely argue he was based upon a real, historical figure. But aside from the gift-giving, most of the legend is just that – legend.

Now onto the final question: what’s the big deal about “Xmas”?

The answer I’ve heard all my life is, “Because it leaves ‘Christ’ out of ‘Christmas’.” But is it really true? By saying “Xmas”, are we really leaving Christ out of Christmas? For years I assumed so. I mean, surely that many people wouldn’t be fooled into believing something false? That’s what I thought until last week, when Tammy, over at In Progress, blogged about this very topic and basically lifted the veil from my eyes. Of course, I did a little fact checking, just to make sure she was right, but everything turned out in her favor. So here it is: The “-mas” part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for “mass”, while the “X” comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as “Christ”.

In other words, “X” is a Greek abbreviation for the word “Christ”.

The Oxford English Dictionary has cited usages of “X-” for “Christ-” as early as 1485, and the usage of “Xtianity” for “Christianity” from 1634. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of English Usage, most of the evidence for these words comes from “educated Englishmen who knew their Greek”.

There you have it. “Xmas” is not “x-ing Christ out of Christmas”, as many have argued. It actually keeps Christ in Christmas.

Christmas Clarity, Part 2

December 9, 2010 in Jesus, Religion with 0 Comments

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Tuesday, I began a series of posts looking at the origins of some of our favorite Christmas traditions. Today, I’m going to cover a rather controversial one, and that is the date of Christmas itself – why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25?

I’ve actually met many people, Christian and non-Christian alike, who really believe we celebrate Christmas on December 25 because that’s when Jesus was born, yet there is no proof to support that belief. The first recorded celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25 was in Rome, in the year 354, according to Chronography 354. However, beginning in the eighteenth century, many scholars began to argue against that date, largely due to Luke’s account (Luke 2:8) stating that shepherds were in the field tending their flocks at the time of Jesus’ birth, that he was born either in the spring, summer or autumn. That logic would make sense in a western climate; but Jesus was born in Bethlehem – the Middle East, which has been known to have a mild climate even in December. So, while it is possible Jesus was born on December 25, we don’t know for certain, and the Bible doesn’t give us a date. But that still leaves us with the question of, why December 25? While there is a bit of uncertainty surrounding the answer, the answer itself is certain: that’s the date the Church chose. Some, such as Isaac Newton, argue that the date of Christmas was selected to correspond with the winter solstice, which the Romans called Bruma and celebrated on December 25. Others have argued that December 25 was selected to correspond with the Roman solar holiday Dies Natalis Solis Invicti. Still, others argue for the belief that creation began on the date of the spring equinox (March 25) and that Jesus had to have been born nine months (December 25) after this celebratory date. And others propose that it was selected to correspond with the Roman festival of Saturnalia.

However, to be blunt – the date of Jesus’ birth is of little importance. What is important is that Jesus was born. And while we should celebrate him daily, it is a good thing to choose one day for all Christians around the world to lay aside their differences and distractions, and celebrate that God came down to Earth in human form to reveal himself to us and ultimately, to redeem us.

Personally, I believe that as Pagans converted to Christianity, they brought along some of their former practices, which did not conflict with the Bible. It could even be an example of the early Christians living out the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and “becoming all things to all people, that by all means they might save some.” I could definitely see Paul telling a former Pagan, “I heard you used to throw some big parties for Saturn around this time of year. Who said you have to give up the party? It’s not the celebration that is wrong, it’s the what that you’re celebrating that is wrong. Why not celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25?” And there you have an example of redeeming a tradition. Our practice of exchanging gifts actually supports this, as it aligns more with the Saturnalian practice of gift giving than anything else. Now I know many people will argue that we exchange gifts because the wise men in Matthew chapter 2 presented gifts to Jesus. But from a historical perspective, it was actually very common for royalty and the wealthy to present newborn royalty with gifts, as a way of showing respect. And Matthew 2:2 states the wise men believe Jesus to be King of the Jews. Additionally, the practice of Christmas gift giving was actually banned by the Catholic Church during the middle ages, as it was believed to have Pagan origins. They later lifted the ban because of it’s association with Saint Nicholas (i.e. Santa Claus, whom I’ll get to in a bit), as well as Matthew chapter 2 and the wise men. So while you could stretch Matthew chapter 2 to cover the exchanging of gifts, it’s more likely that it’s a Christian inclusion of a harmless Pagan tradition.

Saturday, I’ll wrap up this series of posts by covering two Christmas topics: is Santa Claus real, and what’s the big deal with “Xmas”?

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