Kevin's Blog

The Decline and Fall of Christian America

2009-04-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Last month the cover article of Newsweek was titled "The Decline and Fall of Christian America." It cited recent polls which indicate that the number of professing Christians is on the rapid decline. In less than 20 years the number of those who profess to have no religious affiliation has doubled from 8 to 15 percent. From a Christian perspective, this may not be all bad news. Such a sharp decline is at least as much reflective of a growing sense that it is socially acceptable to be an unbeliever as it is that true believers are abandoning their faith. This, I think, is a good thing. For quite some time in America it has been, and still is in much of our country, socially advantageous to identify oneself as a Christian. As such, the church has always been filled with those who simply "go to church" because that's what you're supposed to do. Such "Christians" are quintessentially nominal--in name only. But being a true follower of Jesus means nothing less than reorienting the entirety of one's life around the reality of his lordship over all of creation. As such, if the church is losing the nominal, we might see it as a welcome foreshadowing of God's separation of the wheat and the tares. Moreover, nothing is more damaging to evangelistic efforts than those who acknowledge Jesus with their lips but deny Him with their lifestyles. My prayer is of course that those who have left the church will return, but now not as those seeking social status but as those who genuinely desire to seek God.

Unfortunately, I doubt the decline is due simply to the loss of the nominal. But the picture of Christianity that Newsweek paints leads me to suspect one central reason as to why many true seekers have turned away from the faith--they simply don't understand what Christianity is really about. This is not surprising. The uniqueness of Christianity is so counter-intuitive that historically its essence has often been distorted. Many people say that all religions are the same--and based on the picture of Christianity painted in this article--I would agree. But simply put, you can sum up the difference between Christianity and all other religions as Tim Keller does. Religion says, "I obey, therefore I am accepted." But authentic Christianity says "I am accepted, therefore I obey." These two statements are polar opposites. It is Christianity's uniqueness that reveals how it is that all religions except for Christianity really are essentially the same and directly contradict the Christian worldview. However, it is our human nature to resort to the religious worldview and so historically Christianity itself has often had a tendency to lose its flavor and become like every other religion. The Christianity portrayed in Newsweek would certainly be guilty of this. The article's author, Jon Meacham, shows that he too has bought in to this misconception in this summary statement:

"Roughly put, the Christian narrative is the story of humankind as chronicled in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament—the drama of creation, fall and redemption. The orthodox tend to try to live their lives in accordance with the general behavioral principles of the Bible (or at least the principles they find there of which they approve) and anticipate the ultimate judgment of God—a judgment that could well determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or in hell."

Meacham starts off his summary right on target. Christianity is fundamentally about creation, fall, and redemption. But his further analysis betrays a complete misunderstanding of this. Creation, fall, redemption is not about "trying to live their lives in accordance with the general behavioral principles of the Bible." This is exactly the kind of moralism that is at the heart of mere religion. But creation, fall, and redemption is about what God has done precisely because we have failed to live in accordance with the aforementioned biblical principles. As God brings about redemption, his followers do in fact begin to follow these principles, but it isn't by one's own efforts but by the power of God working in the life of the believer. One adheres to biblical principles not because they have to in order to be accepted by God but because they are already accepted and are empowered by God to live in such a way---a way that is in fact the best way to live. And here's where the rubber meets the road. Christians should not depend on the government to enforce morality but on the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the redeemed. Forcing a person to act like a Christian no more makes them a Christian than throwing them in the ocean makes them a fish. I agree with Charles Finney who says as quoted in the article that "the great business of the church is to reform the world—to put away every kind of sin" but we must be very careful with his conclusion that Christians are "bound to exert their influence to secure a legislation that is in accordance with the law of God." I do not wish to delve into the complex issue of how a Christian is to live in a democracy, but suffice it to say that true Christian reform is accomplished when God writes the law not on stone tablets but on the heart. A nation that relies on the government to enforce biblical principles is not a Christian nation but a religious one, and those who look to the government in this manner misunderstand the primary means by which redemption is to take place. If those who have turned away from Christianity have done so because they understand it as it is portrayed by Newsweek--primarily about enforcing a moral way of life--they have put the cart before the horse and rejected not Christianity but religion.

Play It Twice And Call It Jazz

2009-04-14T02:07:00.000-07:00

"Play it twice and call it jazz" is an expression for how to make a wrong note sound like it was intentional. It's a joke that us non-jazzers find amusing because of our musical insecurities. It has been said of poetry and of music that you must know the rules before you can break them. The greatest poets sometimes use poor grammar, punctuation or speling. :) They bend the rules in order to create a beauty not possible within the confines of proper structure.

One of the problems with much of Christianity today is that we are too worried about playing a wrong note or misspelling a word. When we make rules that say Christians shouldn't watch R-rated movies, go to bars, drink alcohol, listen to "secular" music, or have tattoos, we are playing music in such a way as to be certain that we don't play a wrong note. We are sticking to the 3 chords that make up "Christian" music (ok, maybe it's 5, sometimes we get creative and throw in a 2 or a 6 chord but the 3 pretty much warms the bench.) Such a parallel between the simple state of Christian music and Christian living is perhaps telling.

This is not to say that simple music or simple living cannot be beautiful. To the contrary some, if not most, of the greatest works of art are the most simple (and there is some great "Christian" music.) Similarly, I have many friends who follow the Christian "rules" to a T and whose living writes a song of simple beauty before God. Many of us could learn a lesson or two about getting back to the basics. But forcing all musicians into the same mold is what makes cookie cutter CCM. Not only does it result in a plethora of bad art, but even what is truly beautiful only connects with those who like the same cookies. Similarly, if Christianity is to reach an increasingly diverse society, we must be willing to take the risk of using what the Apostle Paul calls Christian freedom in our living as well as our music.

This is not to suggest that we are to be governed by no rules at all. For the poet such an approach results in gibberish, for the musician in noise, and for the Christian in unholy living. As Paul says, we are not to use our freedom to indulge the sinful nature, but to serve one another in love. (Gal 5:13) But we must not be afraid of wrong notes. The simple truth of "Amazing Grace" reminds us that we get a second take. Moreover, it might not be wrong at all. It might be jazz.

Why, God?

2009-04-08T15:48:00.001-07:00

"My God My God, Why have you forsaken me?" As we close in on Good Friday it is comforting to know that even Jesus felt abandoned. Have you ever had a day when you've been all around people, even people you know and love, and yet you still feel alone? That's been me today. God doesn't promise me that I won't feel this way-- but at least he's been there Himself.

Saturday

2009-04-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

If you have the chance. Take Saturday and do nothing. It's one day of the year when it can be good to reflect upon what it would be like if Jesus had not risen from the Dead. Imagine how the disciples must have been feeling-- that everything they'd put their hope in had been a farce. That they were, as Paul would suggest later in imagining the same thing, to be pitied the most of all people.

Basketball With Jesus

2009-04-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

I didn't get to go play basketball yesterday. The other guys at church forgot about me and scheduled it when I was busy. Actually, I think it was intentional. They are all afraid of me. But in reality, I'm glad I didn't go. I haven't played in a long time and if I'd played I would have been that guy. You know the guy I'm talking about. The guy who shakes his head every time he misses a shot. The guy who wants everyone to believe that he's better than the way he's playing. "It's been a while." "Boy am I rusty." "My allergies are kicking in." "Is that rim regulation?" You know the excuses. But I think it's a microcosm of what we are all trying to do in life. We are all trying to show everybody that we are better than what it looks like. Isn't that what self pity is? When we walk around moping about how bad we are, aren't we really just trying to convince everyone (including ourselves) that we are better than we really are? That's why I'm thankful that Jesus calls me out on this every time I read the Bible. It's frustrating. Reading the Bible is a little like if your friend turned to you in the middle of the game and said, "why are you shaking your head? You've never been able to make that shot." I think that's why we shy away from Jesus, he calls us out. But then he says the most amazing thing. "It's ok. Really, it's ok. It's ok that you can't make a layup to save your soul (everything's always so spiritual with Jesus). Come follow me and I'll show you how. But it's going to start with you realizing how bad you really are."

Love Your Enemies Do Your Laundry

2009-03-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

The other day I hadn't done laundry in a while and found myself in a pinch. So I went to the store and bought a package of underwear. I wonder if that is reflective of a general American attitude? Rather than take the time to work with what you already have (washing clothes for instance) it's much easier to just get a new one. In relationships, rather than working through things, it's easier to get a new one. Rather than making your job work, it's easier to get a new one. But when Jesus says that we are called to love our enemies I think he means that when conflict arises with our friends we should work it out rather than cutting ties and looking for new ones. Which I guess also means that I should have just done my laundry.

Worship With Wooten

2009-03-24T12:04:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to worship God tonight. I know, it seems strange. Worship God on a Tuesday? Who does that? Is there a special event at church? No. Is Chris Tomlin coming to town? No. Is there a Rick Warren special on ABC? No. So what's going on? Victor Wooten is coming to Rams Head Onstage at 7pm tonight and I'm expecting him to draw me into the presence of God. Is Wooten a Christian? I have no idea. But he, like everyone, was created in the image of God and when he plays bass it shows. When building the Temple, which was of course designed for the sole purpose of Worshiping Yahweh, King Solomon hired workers from the city of Tyre who themselves did not profess faith in Israel's God. (1 Kings 5) Yet because of their skill he knew that their work would bring glory to God. If I were making a worship album and Victor was available to play on it I'd hire him in a second!!
So if you can worship God at Rams Head why go to church at all? Because my weekly time in corporate worship and study of the Scriptures helps me keep my thinking straight concerning the full scope of who and what He and His plan is and allows me to more fully appreciate and worship Him at a concert or wherever I am. The beauty of music alone is powerful and can do much to lift one's spirits. But as the handmaiden of theology (to steal from Luther) music can truly heal the soul. As Wooten lays down some fat grooves tonight I will enter into the presence of God through the door of God's beauty. From there I will be reminded of His other attributes--His love, that he cares about me and is committed to me; HIs patience, that his love continues even when I don't return the sentiment; His omniscience and wisdom, that He knows my situation and how to best love me; His sovereignty, He has the power to do it; and His grace, that He will do it no matter the cost.

SOTM 26: Chip Off The Old Block

2008-12-18T06:46:00.000-08:00

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies[b] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

-Mt. 5:43-48

I'm a chip off the old block. As I grow older I notice more and more how much I'm like my father. We are both fashion-challenged. My dad plays tennis in a long sleeve button down shirt tucked into blue elastic shorts (pulled up way too high) with black socks and white shoes. I was ordered to wear only what was purchased for me when I played in a band for Christian youth conferences. Dad and I are both snobs about our music and beverage choices. Nothing makes for more exciting dinner conversation than a little political banter or a discussion of the Civil War. It drives the rest of our family crazy during the holidays, but we sure have a lot of fun. I don't try to be like my dad. I just am.

Similarly if we are to be like our heavenly Father it won't come simply by trying to be like him. This is good news because otherwise this passage of scripture could lead us into an endless cycle of trying and failing. Jesus tells us to perfect. We must take this passage in its biblical context. We were in fact created to be perfect like our heavenly Father. (Gen. 1) But sin has infected every area of our lives and tarnished the image in which we were created. Colossians teaches us that Jesus is the "image of the invisible God." (1:15) Through uniting ourselves to Christ in relationship we are reconciled to God. We become "new creations" (2 Cor 5:17). Our old image is restored and we become "perfect in Christ." (Col 1:28). We are seen as perfect in the sight of God even while Christ works out that perfection slowly, wonderfully, and often painfully in our lives. (Hebrews 10:14) But as this process grows and we mature we are able to act more and more like our heavenly Father.

If I suffered from some kind of mental illness I might stop acting like my dad. I might start dressing better. I might start liking lite beer. But medical treatment could repair the damage and I could go back to being a chip off the old block. Similarly, our relationship with Christ helps restore us to how we were originally created--to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.

SOTM 25: Headed Somewhere

2008-12-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'[a] 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

-Mat. 5:38-42

"Joe Versus The Volcano" is one of the greatest movies of all time. Joe (Tom Hanks) works in a basement office with bad lighting selling catalogues for prosthetic testicles. There's a little bit of Joe in all of us-- life seems to be headed nowhere. Everything we do feels like we are spinning our wheels. A spirituality of timeless truths only reinforces the dead-endness of life. Escapist spiritualities--those which provide a means to get out of the vicious circle of nothingness, fail to ring true because they force us to accept the notion that this world is really nothing but a big waste of time. But Jesus offers us a picture of a world that is neither to be reluctantly accepted nor to be escaped from. This is a world that is headed somewhere. It has its hiccups for sure, but God's plan will prevail. In this passage we see that God's plan for his cosmos is one of progression--from the barbaric to the civilized to the heavenly. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" is an Old Testament teaching designed for a time when a world of tribal warfare was constantly fueled by escalating demands for revenge. The punishment should match the crime and put an end to it. This lies at the center of civilized justice. But with Jesus we see this to be but a first step toward the true end--a world that operates with peaceful harmony not when we demand equal treatment but when, like Jesus does himself, we treat even our enemies as our superiors. Jesus invites us to enter into this world even while we expectantly wait for him to fully bring it to fruition.

SOTM 24: Murderous Elder

2008-12-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

--Matthew 5:33-37

I heard a story about an elder of a church who was having an affair. In order to avoid the scandal and maintain his upstanding religious and moral reputation he murdered his wife. He hoped to do so in a way that would stage his innocence. The Pharisees understood that some oaths were more binding than others. If you swore by the temple this was not binding but if you swore by the gold of the temple it was. But Jesus is teaching us that all things are his. All things reflect his beauty and glory. In other words, acts done in secret are no different than those done in public. He sees it all. If a tree falls in the forest and no one else is around, it makes a sound after all. And in case anyone's confused, it's wrong to murder your wife even if no one finds out.
The story of our murderous elder illustrates well for us the powerful effects of legalism. He rightfully assumed that knowledge of his affair would be a crushing blow to his reputation. Jesus would not challenge this. In the previous passage Jesus highlights the severity of divorce and adultery. But then he goes on to the heart of the matter. Those of you, he says, who have stayed faithful in marriage must not think you're good to go. The issue, even with marriage, is of integrity. Your "yes" should be "yes" and your "no" be "no" with regards to faithfulness and adultery respectively. But your "yes" should be "yes" and your "no" be "no" in all areas of life. To draw a wedge so deeply between the commitment of marital faithfulness and all other commitments encourages a lack of integrity that ultimately undermines marital faithfulness itself.

SOTM 23: Middle School Science

2008-11-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

Matthew 5:33-37

33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

I think many of us didn't fully pay attention in our middle school science class. Copernicus said that the earth revolves around the sun, he didn't say it revolves around me. There is an important benchmark of human development that used to be reached around the age of 1 or 2 and now for many of us never really happens. We still think that if we can't see something it doesn't exist. If I can't make it to the wedding, the wedding doesn't really take place. So it doesn't matter that I volunteered to pick up the tuxes. Maybe we need to retake middle school science.

SOTM 22: Interrogation Room

2008-10-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'[a] 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

Matthew 5:31-32

We all know that sinking feeling when into the room walks that certain someone that we are convinced would be a better fit for our honey. It sticks with us all day, we can't get it out of our mind. We usually keep it to ourselves but sometimes we reach a breaking point. We are sitting on the couch cozied up with our honey and all of a sudden we turn the nice romantic warmth of our apartment into an interrogation room. "you totally like ______ don't you?" We blurt out. "Do you think _____ is a better match for you?" Now imagine if your honey's response was "I don't know." I don't imagine that would go over real well. What we want is for our honey to place us side by side with ______ and then tear them apart while singing our praises.

But I actually think that "I don't know, I don't think about anyone but you" is the better and more comforting answer. Because the other kind of answer requires us to do a comparison. It requires that we actually think in a "check-them-out sort of way" about ______. Even if we win the comparison game this time, there is that looming doubt about the next time, or the next. What keeps a relationship going isn't superior compatibility but single-mindedness. At the end of the day, I don't think I need to know that I am the best suited for my honey, just that I am the only one she thinks about.

SOTM 21: Divorce a Tragedy?

2008-10-29T06:09:00.000-07:00

31"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'[a] 32But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

-Mt. 5:31-33

The tragedy of divorce is that it is the result of a failure to find that for which we all are most longing. We have no greater desire than for true friendship and intimacy. But more and more people today are foregoing even the pursuit of marriage or only give it a half-hearted attempt at best. I think we are just chicken. Fear of failure, fear of getting hurt holds us back. Maybe that intimacy we all crave is possible but it's so rare. It doesn't seem worth the risk. We take what could be extremely beautiful and water it down in casual relationships. We fear that in its purest form it might be too hot and we might get burned. So we live bland, safe, mediocre lives. Divorce isn't a big deal because we don't let marriage become a big deal. If we did, divorce would be tragic. And we don't want to put ourselves in the position of that ever becoming a possibility.

Dream Big

2008-10-24T04:42:00.001-07:00

Rev. 1:5b

-"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,"

Do we really believe that sin is our problem?--That life will really be better off if we walk free from it? We dream about the future--where we'd like to be 10 years from now. We dream big of promotions, starting a business, boats and sound systems, weddings, holidays with the family, traveling to Italy or Israel or Istanbul (you'll have to ask me about that one). But how often do we dream about walking free from sin? How often do we look ahead to 10 years from now and imagine ourselves walking with victory over the pride that hinders our relationships at work, the selfishness that kills our marriages, the envy and lust that eat away at us from the inside out? This verse tells us these chains that rob us of God's joy are ones from which we've been set free. Why do we not dream more about the working out of this freedom?

Note: I haven't abandoned the Sermon on the Mount its just. . .A.D.D.

"Fireproof" Review

2008-10-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

When it comes to art, I'm picky. God is as much honored by artistically sensitive expression as he is by the content being expressed. Oftentimes "Christian" art, in an attempt to make sure that the "point" is clearly communicated, runs recklessly over the crucial artistic element of subtlety. "Fireproof" is certainly guilty of being overly didactic. It's almost like there was a list of principles the director was checking off, making sure he got them all in no matter how cheesy and George Lucasesque it forced the dialogue to be. As a result, there were moments when the characters embodied the very inauthenticity that nonChristians are so critical of in real life. Subtlety is part and parcel not only of good art but also of authentic living. When we fail to acknowledge this in our lives and the lives of others, we come across as disingenuous.

However, I'll come right out and admit that I bawled my eyes out. Fireproof will be criticized for being overly simplistic. And to a certain degree this criticism is warranted. But at the end of the day the central message it was trying to communicate, the central message of Christianity, really is very simple. That the fullness of life (and the key to a successful marriage) is found in the paradox that whoever wants to be first must be last and the servant of all--that we are able to love because God first loved us-- is not merely the kind of substance that can grip you for 2 hours in the theater, but the kind that should absolutely change your life. "Fireproof" drives this home. If you and your date are just looking to be entertained or be familiar with what they'll be talking about at the Oscars, there are definitely better options than "Fireproof." (Though it definitely kept my attention and had many good moments.) But if you want to help ensure that you and your date will even be going out 10 years from now, I suggest you see this movie.

SOTM 20: Black, White, and Gray

2008-10-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[a] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

Mt. 5:27-30

(part 4)

The problem with rules and regulations is that they are at once both the lifeblood of a stable society and also the heart of Pharisaical legalism. Some rules are simply pragmatic. I flew to California last week. I was given a airline ticket that assigned me to a specific boarding group and was asked to board accordingly. That's a good rule. We'd need rules like that even if we weren't a bunch of sinners. It just makes things run smoothly. Churches also have to establish policies. For example, my church had to make sure that I really was a Christian before hiring me as a pastor. In fact, not only do I need to be a Christian, but not a "nominal one." The challenge of course, is that true religion is religion of the heart, which can't be assessed through a series of simple litmus tests. Ultimately, only God knows if I've really declared him as Lord. Not even my family, closest friends, or fiancee, can know with certainty. But decisions have to be made, pastors have to be hired, etc. So we are forced to come up with easy and quick ways of guestimating who's in and who's out. It's unavoidable. But we must only draw these lines when WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. The problem with much of religion is that the easy thing to do is to set up a complete system of litmus tests so that we can easily organize our chaotic world. This is what the Pharisees did. They figured that as long as they followed their system of rules, they would know that they were OK. But again Jesus tells us that at once it is both much more complicated than that and also much simpler. It is complicated because the complex combination of a heart that is constantly changing as forces of good and evil weigh in on it, along with the fact that the state of one's heart will manifest itself differently depending on the individual's personality and cultural background, make it difficult for us to assess anyone's spiritual condition with precision or certainty. Yet at the same time Jesus makes it clear to us that actually it's all very simple. Nobody "has it down." Every single one of us, whether we sport a Bertrand Russell or WWJD bumper sticker is (by virtue of the fact that we've all lusted in the heart) in desperate need of the grace of God. Jesus' religion of the heart shows that virtually everything else is gray and ultimately beside his very black-and-white central point.

SOTM 19: The Christian Lifestyle Tension

2008-10-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

SOTM 18: Seriousness of Sin

2008-10-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[a] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

Matthew 5:27-30
(Part 2)

Many people reject Christianity because they think it is irrelevant. Whenever someone comes to believe something, it never happens in a vacuum. Usually, you come to believe something not only because you have found its tenets ring true but also because you identify socially and culturally with others who believe the same thing. This is why those who grew up on Metallica have such a problem identifying with a religion where people get together and sing with hymnals and an organ. So it's important for us to all assess what is central and unchanging to Christianity and what is merely a cultural expression of an unchanging truth. The call to worship God is unchanging--the use of hymnals and organs can come or go.
Mariners is going to start a Saturday service with the specific goal of reaching a different segment of our culture. So there will be elements of the service that will be different from other churches and even from our own Sunday morning services.
But this passage identifies something that simply doesn't change--the seriousness of sin. Come January, when we launch our new service, I might try to be as cool and hip as possible (which will take some work)--maybe I'll go to the mall and see what the mannequins at The Gap are wearing (I think The Gap is still cool, at least it was when "Friends" was popular). But what will not change is the message that Sin is serious business. This message will undoubtedly not be received well by some. We don't like being told that there is anything we shouldn't do. But to stand offended at the thought that our lifestyle habits should be guided by moral principles is as ridiculous as being offended that certain eating habits affect our health. Who gets mad at God for the fact that eating McDonalds makes you fat? Jesus is giving us a similar warning in this passage. An undisciplined thought life can rob you of the joy God intends for you and destroy relationships. I think one reason Jesus uses the example of lust to discuss the seriousness of sin is because its subtle deception can instantly blow up into devastating actions. If you eat McDonalds daily you will slowly but surely get fat. People will see it happen at every stage right before their eyes. If you allow your thought life to impinge upon your daily life it may go unnoticed until it blows up in adultery. No "small" sin can so quickly lead to actions of devastating proportion as can lust. So Jesus uses it to highlight the seriousness of sin. Just as keeping a body healthy physically requires disciplined daily attention, so does the soul require a constant awareness of how it is being exercised.

SOTM 17: Sex

2008-10-02T06:56:00.000-07:00

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'[a] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Mt. 5:27-30.

I have a non-Christian friend who really likes church. He likes the people, he likes the music, he likes the messages. He might even say he NEEDS church. The problem is that it seems to him like God doesn't want him to have any fun. He likes the freedom to get hammered, do this, do that, and sleep with whomever. And his objection seems quite reasonable. Not only does Jesus not want us sleeping around, he doesn't even want us looking around! Many couples, though recognizing the negative impact sleeping around would have on their marriage, see little wrong with a look here, a look there, maybe even a video or a magazine. "Boys will be boys," says a friend of mine whose husband likes pornography.

But consider this for a moment. What if it's totally the opposite? What if rather than trying to stop you from having fun God wants you to have the most fun having sex you could possibly imagine? Read Song of Solomon. There are some passages that I'd literally feel embarrassed to quote in this blog. That's right--I'm censoring the Bible. It might be too much for your virgin ears. God created sex. And so he knows how you can get the most out of it. And here's how: sex is inextricably connected with commitment. In fact, the whole ordeal-- making out, cuddling, etc. will never be as much fun as it's supposed to be if it's just about having fun. It's all about commitment. This is why the question "How far is too far?" is not the right question. The question is "are you committed?" I don't mean sort of committed. I mean--COMMITTED. If there is any question in your mind that this might not be forever--it won't be nearly as much fun as it could be--and is supposed to be. This is why even looking lustfully at a woman to whom you are not committed is unhealthy. God doesn't want you to settle for a lesser fun than you are supposed to have.

So don't tell me God doesn't want you to have fun. If you're married, break out Song of Solomon and have some fun. Put down your Cosmo article and take a sex tip from the one who invented it: Sex + Commitment = FUN!!!

SOTM 16: Shame vs. Guilt

2008-09-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

-Matt 5:21-23. . .again

As a pastor, I'm watched very carefully. In fact sometimes I wonder if people are spying on me. Every time I see a van in the parking lot outside my condo complex I lower my voice and duck down behind the couch hoping to avoid detection by the highly sophisticated cameras and microphones that I'm sure are pointed my way. OK, not really. In fact I've taken the very opposite approach. In an effort to show that I have nothing to hide, I don't have blinds on any of the windows in my living room. OK, that's not really true either. Well, it's sort of true. I don't have blinds in my living room, but it isn't out of an act of disclosure. I just haven't gotten around to putting any up. Anyway, In many respects I'm thankful for the added accountability. Knowing that moral failure will cost me not only my reputation but also my job gives me an extra incentive to keep my act together.

But Jesus would would not be happy with this perspective.

The fundamental difference between religion and the teachings of Jesus is that religion motivates through shame but Jesus motivates through guilt. I think I probably need to unpack and qualify that. We must understand the difference between shame and guilt. We experience shame when we feel like we've let other people down. We experience guilt when we feel like we've let God down. Though religion may talk a lot about God, in the end I believe what truly motivates "religious" people is the fear of letting others down. They fear that their reputation will be tarnished. This was the problem of the Pharisees. Jesus is drawing a distinction between fear of judgment at the hands of the civil authorities and fear of judgment at the hands of God. Jesus is saying, "Are you more worried about what other people think of you than what God thinks?" If you are, then you can play the game of hide and seek, ducking down behind the couch and putting up blinds so that others don't know what's going on. But you've forgotten that this whole deal is about God. And no matter how hard you try to isolate yourself--God sees what really matters. HE sees what's going on your heart.

And this should really scare us. This is what Jesus means when he says that our righteousness much surpass that of the Pharisees. It must be a righteousness of the heart. It must be a righteousness before God, not before people. Like I said, this should really scare us. Each one of us should recognize that we stand guilty before God. Only then will we truly see that we are really hanging by a thread. Only then will we see day after day our need for the grace of God.

So, like I said, I'm thankful that I'm being watched. It helps set boundaries. But the minute I start wanting to act a certain way in order to please others rather than to please God is the minute I shouldn't be a pastor. I do want to be a good person. But not so that I'll look good to others. I want a be a good person because doing the right thing is where the fullness of life is found, and because God loves me even I don't.

SOTM 15: Reconciling Relationships

2008-07-18T05:37:00.000-07:00

SOTM 14: Christians the New Pharisees?

2008-07-16T04:34:00.000-07:00

"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."

-Mt. 5:20

Jesus could be pretty harsh sometimes. He was no pushover and he wasn't there to tickle people's ears by telling them what they wanted to hear. But when Jesus laid down the smack it was almost always towards his own people--his fellow Jewish religious types. Jesus says that to enter into the Kingdom of heaven our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. Jesus isn't raising the bar from the Old Testament Law, he's trying to get us back on track. Later on Jesus reveals what he means by the righteousness of the Pharisees. He calls them white-washed tombs. He says that their righteousness was only on the outside which is really not righteousness at all. In other words they were hypocrites.

Sadly, the way Jesus viewed the Pharisees is not much different from how our world often views Christians. And I wish I could say they are unjustified but the evidence is conclusive. In virtually every area of behavior that Christians claim to be against, there is virtually no difference between us and everyone else--domestic abuse, viewing pornography, consulting mediums or psychics, lying, revenge, use of illegal drugs. . . the list goes on (see below). Yet at the same time we outshine everyone else in the number of Bibles we own and number of religious services we attend. Let's face it, by-and-large, Christians are the new Pharisees.

As I discussed in the last post, the problem with much of Christianity is that we think, and we come across as thinking, that following rules is what it is all about. The irony here is that the more we think that's what it's about the worse we are at actually doing it! The answer is not to try harder but daily to confess our sins before the one who came to fulfill the law--that through a genuinely growing relationship with Him we might be transformed into the kinds of people who actually do follow the rules.

See "unChristian" by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons (p. 47)

SOTM 13: Our Breath Stinks

2008-07-14T11:20:00.000-07:00

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

Mt. 5:17

Years ago a friend of mine asked me how my love life was doing. I got really excited because I knew that he knew that we both knew that I had no love life. So I thought maybe this was a clever way of starting in on how he knew about someone who liked me. "Not much going on" I said. "Why?" "Because your breath reeks," he responded. Ouch! One of the 15 books I'm currently reading (I can't stay focused on one book for very long) is about why people don't like Christians. Yeah, that's right. A lot of people don't like us. And it basically feels like the book is telling us that our breath stinks. People don't like us because we aren't very pleasant to be around. The books lists specific things that are often associated with evangelical culture that our society finds so unpleasant. The central theme is clear--we are viewed as being too negative. We are known for what we are AGAINST rather than what we are FOR. This, unfortunately, is what Phariseeism is all about. The problem with the Pharisees wasn't that they wanted to follow a bunch of rules (though some of them were a little wacky) but that it appeared that that's what it was all about. There are many things that we should be against, but if that is what we are known for, then we aren't coming across as much different than the very people with whom the one we claim to follow found himself in so much opposition. This is why verse 17 is so important. In fact, I do not think I'm overstating the case to say that this verse is the key to understanding every other verse in the Bible. In other words, as you read about Moses and the burning bush, David and Goliath, sacrificing pigeons, unclean bodily discharges (it's really in there!! See Leviticus 15:2), etc., the key to understanding it all is to see how it fits into the overall story of Jesus and his fulfillment of the story of the people of Israel. In a similar passage Jesus scorns the Pharisees for missing this point. "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40). We need to be absolutely clear, not first and foremost about what we are against, but about what we are for: Jesus. It is through Him and by Him that the law is and can be fulfilled in our lives.

SOTM 12: Don't Ever Give Up?

2008-07-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 5:17-21

If hell was your worse nightmare, then hell for me would be a graduation ceremony. I went to one recently where I had to listen to 4 different commencement addresses in a row. And it didn't seem that public speaking ability was one of the criteria for selection. What were they about? I brought a book. Anyway, I heard once about a speaker who stood up and before people like me had even gotten through the first paragraph of our read, he was done. He stood up and all he said was, "Don't ever, ever, ever, ever give up." And then he sat down. Honestly, that might be one of the best commencement addresses I've ever heard of. It's exactly what we need to hear as we move from the safe, dependable library to the frightening, chaotic world of real life. But it's a good thing that Jesus didn't say the same thing-- though v. 20 sure sounds like it. There are some things in life that we are good at, and some things that we aren't, and being good just isn't one of them. I'm 5'7 and no more than 125 pounds. When I was growing up if I'd told my parents I wanted to be a linebacker I think the stupidest think they could have told me is to never give up. Such advice would have left me in a lot of pain. It's the same thing when we try to be good people. We just aren't any good at it. This is really a bummer because Jesus tells us here that the fullness of life he desires for us both now and in eternity is inextricably linked with who we are as people. But the good news is found verse 17-- Jesus came to fulfill the law. What we can't do, Jesus came to do for us and through us.

SOTM 11: Enlightenment

2008-07-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

I would love to own an Olson Acoustic guitar, a beach house in Hawaii, and travel to Europe a couple of times a year. Maybe you would too. Very few people can really have whatever they want. But one of the great facts of life is that as fun as luxury is, the things in life that make life worth living--friends, relationships, health—-are all, more or less, equally accessible to all.

I would also love to be brilliant. Don’t get me wrong, I think I’m pretty smart. But I’m not brilliant--you know, C.S. Lewis brilliant. Mozart, Einstein, Weird Al brilliant. I’m just not. The Enlightenment era has tried to tell me that my deficiency in intelligence is really a great detriment. Only the wise men and scholars REALLY know what’s going on. And for those of us who can’t hang, well too bad. But Jesus tells us that true wisdom is accessible to all. The true “enlightenment” occurs when his followers reveal the goodness of our heavenly Father through their loving behavior.