Save Yourself!

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” -Luke 23:35-39

Three distinct movements. Three different sets of people. Three different mocking accusations. One angry command. One gracious response.

He was who they said he was
The rulers "scoffed."
The soldiers "mocked."
The criminal "railed."

The venom poured out in every word that was spoken. They hissed as they accused him, challenging all that was said about him and all that he had done. They threw the titles out there, wholeheartedly believing that he was not who they said he was.

"If he is the Christ of God, His Chosen One..."
"If you are the King of the Jews..."
"Are you not the Christ?"

Come on, Jesus, if you are who we say you are, then prove it!

"He saved others
let him save himself.
Save yourself!
save yourself
and us."

They knew he wouldn't do it. They knew he couldn't do it. They thought they knew why. They thought it was because he wasn't who they said he was. But their "why" was wrong. He was exactly who they said he was. And more.

We try to save ourselves, but can't
How much are we like the rulers, the soldiers, the criminals? Probably a lot more than we are willing to admit. How often do we hurl up thoughts and prayers that are based on our notion of who Jesus is, a notion that is mixed with both truth and lie. We might get the phrases right, some of the theological foundation may be correct, but as we shout our words to God, they come off as accusations. We cry out "prove yourself to me!" I have had countless conversations with non-believers about this very thing. It boils down to God not doing what they want him to do. They then conclude that he does not exist. The doubting, unbelieving heart wants Jesus to come down off the Cross. And if he did, however miraculous an event it would have been, he would not have been who they said he was. The Christ had to suffer and die (Lk 24:26, 46; Acts 3:8; 17:3).

In our doubts and unbelief we do not want Jesus to be God. We want to be gods. We want to be like him. We want the power to save ourselves. We want to prove that we are worthy of the greatest titles of the world--even if it's our own little world.

"Best dad ever."
"World's greatest preacher."
"Entertainer of the century."
"Most humble person on the face of the earth."
"Savior of the world."

We desperately try to save ourselves, but can't.

He could have saved himself, but didn't try
He was exactly who they said he was. He had the power to save others and he did. He had the power to save himself and he didn't. I am blown away by this. The thought is not profound, but Jesus' action, or rather inaction, is. By his unwillingness to save himself, I am saved. To put it positively, by his willingness to die, I am alive. The criminal's words echo through my head: "Save yourself and us." Little did he know that if Jesus had, all would be destroyed. Jesus proved himself to be exactly who they said he was not by succumbing to their spiteful commands, but by remaining silent, fulfilling the will of His Father.

He could have saved himself, but didn't try. Now, by his grace, I don't have to either.

By His Grace.

I Thought I Was Past That Sin

I have heard often from friends and those I've discipled these words uttered in deep disappointment--"I thought I was past that sin." After being told this time and time again, and even after me saying this to myself and to God, I've come to realize that no matter how mature I've grown in Christ I'm never too far from the most disgusting and most "basic" of sins. John Bunyan would agree, as he has been credited with saying "There is enough evil in my best prayer to damn the whole world."

Regardless of how mature or sanctified I may become, the sins I committed as a child in the faith are still a threat to me. I cannot think of any place in Scripture where it says something to the effect of "you are beyond that particular sin." With a sinful nature present in this flesh any sin is possible at any time. Yes, we are exhorted to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called (Eph. 4:1). Elsewhere Paul writes similarly saying we are "to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord" (Col 1:10).

But these texts and others that call for Christian maturity are written, in one sense, because there's always the potential not to walk in that manner. Furthermore, if there is anything to the idea of walking in the light of Christ, moving closer toward him as I mature, I just become even more aware of how deeply corrupted I truly am. One of the greatest lessons I have learned from those much older than me in the faith is this very truth. So one mark of Christian maturity is how sensitive we are to our sinful nature and potential to sin. Mature Christians recognize that dependence on Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the strongest temptations are of utmost necessity. Mature Christians never say, "I am past that sin." Mature Christians say, "Sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for me." Thus I can know clearly that

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. -1 Cor. 10:13

As I read the passage, the verse before this confirms what is meant by never being "past a sin."

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

The point is clear here as Paul writes of the Israelites drinking from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and Rock was Christ (v. 4). Yet even in the wilderness, after God had rescued them from Egypt, witnessing all the plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, they desired evil (v. 6). They were idolaters and engaged in sexual immorality (vv. 7-8). Judgment came--23,000 fell in a single day (v. 8). God had done so much for them in their rescue, yet they were not beyond any kind of sin. In some way they drank of Christ, but still engaged in all types of horrific sin! They were beyond nothing. These words, written for our instruction (v. 11) remind me that I too am beyond nothing. The command is clear:

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. -1 Cor. 10:14

It is all idolatry--the gluttony, the sloth, the lust, the pride--all idolatry, maybe of other gods, but certainly of self. We idolize humanity. We have sought to redefine all aspects of life ever since the Fall when we were overcome by temptation and redefined God's only command. Since then nothing is off limits--entertainment, money, eating, sex, love, hate, etc--all to exalt us to the level of deity. All to say, "I am past that sin."

We must ask ourselves how we are walking each day. Are we seeking to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called, the calling that knows the depth of depravity, yet also the grace of God? Or are we walking in a manner worthy of puffed pride saying "I am past that sin" only soon to be defeated by it, where in our defeat we are left devastated and perplexed, saying "I thought I was past that sin?"

By His Grace.

Without Love, You're Nothing

We're approaching Valentine's Day quickly. Gents, I hope you have everything planned out and are ready to pull the trigger when Sunday runs up on you like a desperate car salesman. With the holiday's approach one word is being tossed around a lot more than normally--love.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 13 yesterday, a passage quoted so often in weddings, even for people who don't believe in Jesus. The part that gets quoted isn't necessarily the whole chapter, just particularly vv. 4-8, the so-called "romantic" section that offers up truly one of the best definitions of love we know. yet the first three verses are so important for context because there in them Paul writes about what happens in the absence of love.

In 13:1 Paul says that if we can speak known languages ("tongues of men") or even unknown, mysterious languages ("tongues of angels"), but are without love, we are in essence a loud gong, a clanging cymbal. We are a bunch of noise with no substance.

For 13:2 Paul moves to prophetic power, immense knowledge, and great faith. These are very desirable for many, but without love, as Paul says we are nothing.

Finally in 13:3, Paul mentions sacrifice, first of possessions ("give away all I have") and then of self ("give my body to be burned"). Again, for the third time, Paul says that even in these, without love, we gain nothing.

All are challenging in their own right, but the third "list" gets to me the most because we live in a time where social action is so praised. For this generation, humanitarian aid and self-sacrifice are considered virtuous not only within the church, but by our culture at-large. Non-profits continue to grow, being eco-friendly is cool, doing benefit concerts are import to get the money from regular ol' folk to help support disaster relieve in Haiti. We are now expected in some sense to "give away all I have." The Onion, "America's Finest News Source," highlights this well in their article "Massive Earthquake Reveals Entire Island Civilization Called 'Haiti'." The title itself gets the point across well.

The question is: Do we do these things out of some sort of pressure, whether from the media, society, or even the church or are they done out of love? Are they done out of the love we know comes from God because he first loved us (1 John 4:19)? Without love, even our greatest sacrifices of time, talents, treasures and even self are like dust.

John Piper in Let the Nations Be Glad provides great perspective on a definition of love that expands whatever notion we have in that love is "helping people toward God."

I have to ask this question as we plant a church in Chicago. Do I love the people of Chicago? Do I love the faces that stare off into oblivion as I walk down the street? Do I love the man who doesn't wish to say anything else to me except, "Can I get some money?" Do I love the Amanda and Roberto who live in my apartment building? Those in my neighborhood association? Do I love any of them in a way that is helping them toward God.

Are your thoughts, words, and deeds done in love? We must ask this continually as God's people. Paul sums it up well for us and I pray we take it to heart on this day, on Valentine's Day, and every day we walk with Jesus on this earth:

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love -1 Cor. 16:13-14

I'm Blown Away...And You Will Be Too!

This story starts off like my morning did -- mudane with a mixture of awe and frustration. I'm running on two hours sleep right now after finishing my last big paper of the semester. I was staying at my friend Russell's house out in Arlington Heights and I was running late to campus. The awe came from seeing the snow actually settle on the ground & in the trees for the first time this year. Beautiful. However, it was quickly met with frustration as I was backed up in traffic as I merged onto a major road. We were at a dead stop for the most part, but there was enough space for a car in the lane left of me to enter my lane just in front of me. I let out a loud "Uuuuuuuggghhhh" as the car came in, not so much upset with them as with the painful reality that I was gonna be extremely late to class and consequently in dropping of my paper. I texted my a friend in class to let him know I was in a dead halt with the hope that he would tell the professor, who would ultimately be sympathetic to my situation, right?

Well about thirty seconds after texting him I see a Toyota 4-Runner to my right trying to pull into traffic from a side street that was perpendicular to us. But the lady driving wasn't slowing down; in fact it looked like she was gonna try to cut to her right, go offroad, and avoid everyone altogether. That didn't work. Instead her 4-Runner barreled right into the Toyota Avalon directly in front of me -- the car I had just let in! First words out of my mouth: "OH SNAP!"

Here's where the story gets creepy, weird and beyond coincidence. Let me remind you that I am on my way to campus to drop off a paper on how the God of all things is a Trinity -- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, yet all one at the same time.

I pull up in front of them, figuring that I could be a witness to the whole thing. The lady on the passenger side of the wrecked Avalon, all shaken up approaches me as I tell her that I'll be a witness to everything. She proceeds to tell me that she and her husband are on their way to her sister's funeral. In that moment my heart dropped for them.

Next, her husband, a Middle Eastern man about my height, comes up to me as we're trying to figure out how to call 911 from a cell phone (Note to readers: "911" doesn't work on cells; *999 is what you call for an emergency. I didn't know that. I think it makes little sense). He was calm and collected, but amazed. He began to tell me how right before the lady crashed into them he was trying to console his wife by explaining to her how God is in complete control and that he can let anything happen at any moment, including them getting hit by another car in traffic. He said that no more than five seconds later the woman ran into them!

His wife is on the phone and I come to find out that her sister was only 48. She was a doctor of some kind and died of cancer. He said they couldn't get to it in time. At this point are standing at the other woman's car, writing up a statement we can all sign since no emergency vehicles would come at this time for this type of accidnent. The lady asks me where I was heading. "I'm heading to school, ma'am." The man asked what I studied. "I study theology." They both were like, "theology!?!" as if this wasn't weird enough.

I noticed the lady shaking heavily, shifting between composure and crying. I offer my coat. I think she was in shock because this was capping off a difficult morning for her already. She has a headdress on. She's covering up her bald head. She herself has cancer. She was actually on her way to chemotherapy before she hit the Avalon. Yeah, the Avalon driven by a man taking his wife to her sister's funeral. Her sister who died of cancer.

In the midst of all this, the man finds to begin conversation with me about God. He tells me that he's Muslim and actually a direct descendant of Muhammad. At some point I tell him that I'm actually driving to school to drop off a paper on how God is Trinity. We could have gotten into some interesting discussions in that moment, which he really wanted to pursue. I didn't. I went to my car to get my cards, of which, interestingly, I only had two left. I felt it best to let his wife grieve and let them get to the funeral, so I gave him a card to contact me. The other one I gave to the lady as she drove off to her chemotherapy appointment, knowing somewhat the pain and confusion she has in her life right now. She took it and with a soft, perplexed voice said, "you study theology, eh?" I tried to say compassionately, "yes, call me anytime."

I then got in my car, drove off, blown away at what just happened.

To recap. I'm late dropping off a paper on the Trinity. I let a car in front of me that proceeds to get hit by a lady. The car in front of me has a devout Muslim man and his wife whose sister just died of cancer. The woman who should have hit me, hit them instead as she is on her way to chemotherapy because she herself has cancer. The Muslim man in the midst of all this wants to talk to me about God and how he's not Triune, even though he knew I just finished an extensive paper on it less than five hours before. All this in a matter of 20 minutes.

I was silent in my car. I didn't know what to do. Eventually I was like "Holy Crap!!! Did that just happen???" I began to pray because I didn't know what else to do. I can't make up a story like that (someone might be able to, but not me). I can't chalk it up to chance or coincidence, though I know many would want to. I still have yet to flesh it out any life lessons personally as the story is still fresh and nearly unbelievable. However, I do hope they both call me at some point. It just seems like that was not an end, but a beginning.

Finally, to top it all off I arrived to class just as they finished, ready to tell everyone and turn in my paper. When I got there I found out the topic of our last lecture: God's providence.

By His Grace.

Humans Being Appreciated As Human Beings Day

So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them. -Gen 1:27

Man is the glory and garbage of the universe. -Blaise Pascal

I want to see a humans being appreciated as human beings day. I fully appreciate individuals who walk down the streets with the heads held high acknowledging the existence of other human beings with a head nod, a smile, or a simple "hey". Understandably, people in conversation may be enthralled with each other as they stroll, but we have substituted real human interaction with screens that play blaring music, send e-mails, check news and sports scores, or simply just glow as we mindlessly tap them in an attempt to avoid all other life forms around us.

My words are brief here for now, but I have given quite a bit of thought to this ever since I was in college. During that time Jesus took hold of me and I began to see the world differently. Much like when Copernicus discovered that everything doesn't revolve around the earth, but the sun, while in college I began to see that the world does not revolve around us, but God's Son. Put more bluntly, people are not here for me and to serve my purposes. The same goes for you. We all exist - whether we comply or not - to serve Jesus and His purposes; beautifully, He actually came and modeled for us how it should all be done.

This is partly comedic, partly serious. This will be fleshed out over the coming weeks, months, and years - first in my life, but then in print as I hope to see a revolution occur in our lives, one that opens up our eyes to see how the little, momentary, almost effortless acts of merely being human can spark change in the lives of those around us.

By His Grace.

I Don't Believe In A Place Called "China"

I am testing out some thoughts I have which result from a conversation I had today:
________________________

I've never been to China. I've never been anywhere closer than thousands of miles away from China. However I have read words about the country and its history; I have seen pictures of the landmass we have labeled China; I have seen videos and artifacts that claim to be from China; I have met people from this place, all of whom speak a different language than me. Although I have never been to China, I am fairly confident that the area with this name exists.

But does China's existence depend on either my knowledge or experience of it?

Has China existed throughout history, even when people didn't have access to the same kind of evidence I have now? What if I never lived in China or met anyone who has lived there, Chinese or any other ethnicity? What if I never met a Chinese person? What if I have never seen a video or an artifact from there? Would it still exist? What about never seeing pictures or a map? What about never reading a word about China?

Is the existence of China--or anything for that matter--predicated on my knowledge of it, whether that knowledge be intellectual, experiential, or both?

Given what we do know, what if I were to go to someone stranded on a desert island and try to convince him or her that China existed, but all I could use were my own words? Would that person be justified in rejecting my claim that China existed?
_________________________

These are a few of the many questions I have as I wrestle through this idea of existence. I would really love to know what you think. I will engage in any comments posted only if I have more questions, but I will stray from pushing any sort of personal agenda. Feel the freedom to write whatever you want, even if derogatory. I will only be slightly offended.

Pour Out Your Wretched Heart Before God and See What He Does!

How often do you want to hide from God?
How often are you angry with God, even though you claim you don't even believe in Him?
How much do you want to just yell at the top of your lungs at God, but only because you want to be a "good" person, you don't do it?
How often do you want to tell God you love Him?

Trust is solely dependent upon the reliability of the object of that trust. Can I trust a monkey to survive in the trees of the jungle if I put him there? Of course, because in that realm of life he is trustworthy. But can I trust in that same monkey to rescue to world from the current economic crisis we're facing? Yeah, I could try, but if I was serious in doing so and kept trying, I'd be wrapped up in a nice white jacket and thrown into a pretty room with padded, white walls.

What about God? Can I trust God at all times, which includes by implication in all places with all circumstances? Couple this with an exhortation to pour out my heart to him, a heart that often mistrusts, rebels, hates, spites, scorns, what do I see? I am confronted with the only reality that there is such sweet freedom in the God of my refuge! It's my heart that lead me to want to hide from God (Gen. 3:7-8), is deceitful beyond comprehension (Jer. 17:9), spewing forth all kinds of evils (Matt. 15:19-20). Yet I am challenged--commanded--to pour my heart out before him in all its brokenness, anger, hurt, and doubt. Who is this God I am called to trust? Will he not turn his back on me if I pour out this wretched heart before him?

I must conclude that I trust in God because he is not a monkey, though I know some want to caricature him in that light. Rather, he is the One who revealed just how trustworthy he is when he took on flesh and entered into this mess of a sinful world and loved his people. Who is more worthy of my or your trust than Christ who, knowing my heart even as I feebly attempt to hide (Jn. 2:24-25), loved me and gave himself up for me (Gal 2:20)? Jesus Christ is truly my refuge in times when I feel I can go anywhere or do anything and in times when I am absolutely lost and confused. What immense freedom there is knowing this dark heart can be pried open and laid bare before the Living God of all creation only to be treated with the utmost care and love by the blood of the Lamb, restored to its rightful purpose by his Holy Spirit.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge to us.
-Ps. 62:8

Today you might be hurting. You might be angry with God. You might feel dirty and unable to look to God. Your heart might not be able to trust him. But I ask that you fix your eyes at what Jesus accomplished in the past on the Cross and by his resurrection to change your life in the present so that you may be with him forever in the future. He wants you to pour your heart out before him--no matter what condition it is in--turning from it all, trusting in him, and seeking refuge in his freeing love.

By His Grace.

Chicago, The Lovely City?

You'll see it lovely. I never will. But it will be lovely."
       -Daniel Burnham on the roof of the Reliance Building looking out over the city of Chicago

Exactly 100 years ago today.

These words were spoken by the great architect of Chicago whose impact on America still ripples today, thanks largely to his success in directing the World's Fair of 1893.

I just finished reading The Devil in the White City and these words show up near the end of an amazing book as the author, Erik Larson, provides the falling effects of the pivotal characters in his novel and in history. Though in the epilogue, the words to me serve as a prologue to the 100 years since they were uttered. In fact, I believe they perpetuate one of Larson's major goals of the book as he himself states that

Beneath the gore and smoke and loam, this book is about the evanescence of life, and why some men choose to fill their brief allotment of time engaging the impossible, others in the manufacture of sorrow. In the end it is a story of the ineluctable conflict between good and evil, daylight and darkness, the White City and the Black.

Last night I got to experience this lovely city while at the Taste of Chicago. In the heart of Grant Park, with the magnificent skyline surrounding me, I gathered with a group of friends to watch 4th of July fireworks bursting forth from the harbor. The small group I chilled with was one among hundreds of thousands of people resurrecting a faint remembrance of President Obama floated in the cool night air--the last time this many people were gathered there. This time people did not stop in harmonious awe for the historical election, yet the influence of exploding fire was mesmerizing for most of us. Afterward we had the freedom to prance on Michigan Ave.--which was designed by Burnham--without the hinderance of blasted cars or buses. Save some times where crowds prematurely started running at the sound of a pop, some ganja scents in the air, and some sirens for emergency--all of which are inevitable at something of this magnitude--the evening matched the loveliness Burnham dreamed of.

However, as I read Burnham's words myself I couldn't help feeling twinges of pain, knowing that for however lovely Chicago really is, for the moments that it seems to shine as brightly as the White City, the deep corruption, hyper-segregation, widespread violence, and profuse death still roar from the streets like a lion defending his territory. The Black City was not destroyed by the force of the World's Fair; instead it thrived as evidenced by Dr. H. H. Holmes, America's first mass murder. The roots of a glorious, yet dark, past have allowed Chicago to grow massively, but the growth--masked in many ways as a beautiful city--cannot hide how troubled it truly is.

As with the bid for the World's Fair, Chicago is now at center stage for the 2016 Olympics as the heavy favorite. The city will have much time to prepare, unlike Burnham and Co., but the process I'm sure will be eerily similar. Buildings and parks will be created for the event alone; jobs will be created only to be lost; money will be spent, but more will be made; stars will be born and their fame will carry them. Yet in the darkness, the true city will scurry about like a rat without being thought of or bothered. The figurative cliché may ring true: You could get away with murder.

I can't help but agree with Burnham in so many ways. I'm just beginning to learn how lovely Chicago really is. However I'm also learning that the problem is that it's just too easy to say it's lovely from a rooftop and much harder when staring The Black City right in the face.

Nothing Like Sex With No String Attached, Right?

One day I was driving to a meeting west of Chicago. My fingers fumbled through the radio stations I listen to, one being NPR. Brenda Wilson was at the beginning of her piece entitled, Sex Without Intimacy: No Dating, No Relationships. She begins with the basic reality facing our society today:

The hookup — that meeting and mating ritual that started among high school and college students — is becoming a trend among young people who have entered the workaday world. For the many who are delaying the responsibilities of marriage and child-rearing, hooking up has virtually replaced dating.

This shouldn't be too surprising seeing as how many of us were brought up in small social enclaves that encouraged this, not by our parents of course, but in those late night "sleepovers," free summer days with no supervision, or studying, which was the great excuse for "going over to Johns for a party to get completely wasted and hookup with a wall because I'm so blitzed."

Yeah, hooking up has always had a loose definition as far as I know, especially when hearing of my friend's latest hookup, which could be anything from a long night to a long stare, a real girl or a fake story. One girl in the report mentioned that, "For me, it's been anytime that I was attracted to a guy and we spent the night together. It has been sex; it has just been some sort of light making out. That's the beautiful thing about the phrase. Whatever happened is hooking up."

As I have heard of studies done on young people taking longer and longer to move out of their homes (this is prevalent in Italy), this seems like another way where people are postponing responsibility and commitment. As Wilson writes, "Marriage is often the last thing on the minds of young people leaving college today." The average age of marriage for both men and women is higher, where the gap in between college and that time is not filled with dating, but with hooking up. I find it to be a paradoxical combination of frightened independence and heightened individualism--basically I don't want responsibility for anyone but myself and I don't want to be committed to anyone that's going to hinder that.

Wilson draws out powerfully the result of this hookup era, citing words from one of her interviews.

Today, Wilkerson says people hook up via the Internet and text messaging.

"What that means is that you have contact with many, many more people, but each of those relationships takes up a little bit less of your life. That fragmentation of the social world creates a lot of loneliness."

Fragmentation is the key word. The relationships take up just enough of your life for you to get what you want out of them and that's it. I believe this feeds into our highly self-protective culture where everything needs to be safe and in so many ways hooking up is a lot safer than love. Why? Because love is vulnerable. Love is intimate.

This is the note that Wilson ends her article on: What do we do with intimacy?

Hooking up started before the Internet and social networks, but the technology is extending the lifestyle way beyond the campus. Deborah Roffman says no one is offering this generation guidance on how to manage what is essentially a new stage in life.

The dilemma for this generation is how to learn about intimacy, she says: "How am I going to have a series of relationships that are going to be healthy for me and others, and going to prepare me" for settling down with one person?

The dilemma for this generation is how to learn about intimacy. This coupled with the striking suggestion that "no one is offering this generation guidance" is the resounding call to the Church. To be frank, for all our talk about the "close, personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have we neglected modeling what true intimacy looks like? Are we just like those in the hook-up culture who seek to get exactly what we want out of the Church, which is just enough to feel gratified for the moment, but never really engages the heart and soul? The hookup culture is akin to our walking in late to church and leaving early to remain unnoticed and uninvolved. The hookup culture is akin to our sitting in front of our Bibles for 10 minutes, almost mindlessly reading, just so we can tell our friends later that day, "Yeah, I read my Bible today," as if it were your conquest for the day. The hookup culture is akin to being in the sea of faces at church or in a bible study, having a lot of relationships, but never really being known or discipled.

We must ask: Is the Church in America the best model of intimacy for a culture that is longing to experience it?

Fact is much is lost in the hookup culture, but it is just one of countless realities in our lives that contribute to who we are as Americans, or better yet human beings. We want to be the pampered rulers of our own, individual kingdoms. For us it's earplugs for our ears only, screens for our eyes only, and as this story points out, hookups for our pleasure only. But we are designed for so much more. If the Bible is true, the first point is that our God is a deeply intimate God, first within Himself as a Trinity, and then with us, as we are created in His image. Intimacy with our God is characterized by "love" and "abiding" in Him.

God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him (1 Jn 4:16).

We can only abide in him as we recognize that our shallow pursuits of hooking up leave us empty--pleasure with no joy, gratification with no gratitude, relationship with no intimacy. We are shells of who we are meant to be.

I am sure the definition of intimacy here differs from Brenda Wilson and Deborah Roffman and yours, but I would argue that it is the correct definition and is what we all truly desire. God has modeled it for us, showing that intimacy is found in self-sacrificing love:

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins. (1 Jn 4:9-10)

We are human. There are always strings attached, even if we, like the puppet, don't know that they are. They can be toyed around with by the puppet masters of this world or they can serve as a reminder and a call to true intimacy where we could be attached to the only One who truly can provide it.

Rough Reflection: Andrew=Sinner Saved By Grace

I am sinful. Sin is a serious--gravely serious--matter. Recall that Paul wrote of himself near the end of his life that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Tim. 1:15). The immediate observation is that the words for himself are in the present tense; Paul continued to see himself as the "chief of sinners." Yet he writes in that same passage about God's grace coming to him. Paul received Christ's mercy (vv. 12-17). Credit is given where credit is due--Paul as a sinner, Christ as his Savior.

This is tough because we don't have much recorded about Paul's regular struggles. We see repentance at his encounter w/ Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and there may be one other instance in Romans 7, but besides that there really is no recording of Paul's "sins." However, Paul did not see himself as the foremost sinner merely because of past sins, nor was it because he was struggling with blatantly sinning, taking his salvation for granted and living some kind of outlandish lifestyle in complete opposition to God though claiming to be a Christian.

I believe Paul saw in his heart utter corruption beyond self-repair. He knew only Jesus could restore him, that Jesus was, is, and forever will be the only human being to ever walk the earth who was capable of changing his heart and all our hearts. Paul saw his life as an example of God's power, writing, "I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life" (v. 16).

What Paul knew, I must know. Like Paul, I do not lose my identity while I am on this earth. I am the one created in the image of God, who, marred by sin in every way, is known as "a sinner." This truth is coupled with the glorious reality that my identity is also completely wrapped up in Christ's life-saving, merciful, perfectly gracious work to where I am also one who is "saved by grace." So here and now, in every day that I walk on this earth, I am a person whose identity is found in sin, but more so in salvation from that sin because of Christ.

I am Andrew, a sinner saved by grace.

A Prayer For Panting

As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
-Psalm 42:1-2

Two things I am convicted by as of late. The first is that the God I believe in is the living God. Admittedly this is sadly easy to forget when learning a dead language and when reading a bunch of dead guys' books. Easy still more when in constant conversation about concepts and ideas that truly are lifeless apart from the Person of God. Thanks be to Him that His Word is living and active (Heb. 4:12), which so beautifully leads me to repent and remember that my God is not dead--never was, never will be. He is the living God and God of the living (Lk 20:38).

Secondly I am convicted about my longing for God, my desperation for Him. I pray to be like the deer whose very life depends on the water. I pray to be like the author, who seemed to understand his immense need for God. I see how God is not like stagnant, murky waters, but is like fresh, flowing waters. He is not a God that I should just settle for and hope that I might live; He is the God Who is deeply desirable in Whom I know I do live! I pray for eternal panting of the neediest kind.

I understand that some of these words may make no sense to some people who read this. The categories I use may seem confusing. "Why even long for God at all like this?" you might ask. Well trust me, there are times, many times, where I ask the same question. Sometimes it just doesn't mean much. Sometimes they are just words on a piece of paper. But reality hurts wonderfully when I am smacked in the face with the power of Jesus Christ.

I am reminded of something many people call the gospel--the truth that this God actually entered into the world He created, the world that had turned away from Him, and He walked completely innocently among us all. He taught, he preached, he healed, he loved, he challenged, he rebuked. He called people out; he got angry at stubborn, arrogant people; he ate with the fringe shadows of culture. Eventually he gave himself over to the people who hated him. He allowed himself to be mocked, abused, beaten, laughed at, only to then be nailed to a cross and be put to death gruesomely.

Yet in that he conquered our rebellion, our hatred, our selfishness--my numbness and deadness--and rose from the dead to prove once and for all that he truly is God, the living God. His words resound today as he said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die" (Jn 11:25-26). He is calling everyone now to turn to him, to turn from death to life because we can only have life in him who lives forever.

I hope I have made myself more clear. Life is at stake.

By His Grace.

I Am A Sophomore

There have always been literate ignoramuses who have read too widely and not well. The Greeks had a name for such a mixture of learning and folly which might be applied to the bookish but poorly read of all ages. They are all sophomores.”
-Mortimer Adler, How to Read a Book, p. 12

I really think I can fall into this--a dangerous trap indeed. Thus I have started reading the book quoted above in hopes to change that.

Come alongside me as I seek to change.
Don't be a literate ignoramus.
Don't be a silly sophomore.

By His Grace.

How Do You Respond To People Who Are Rude?

During my morning drive I usually listen to Greek vocabulary (insert nerd comments here) or I keep the radio off all together. However, when I started the car talk radio was blaring as yesterday I must have been belting out lyrics to the latest Top 40 hits. The topic caught my attention right away so I decided to listen on. The folk on the radio (I don't even know the station to be honest) were talking about how they respond when people are rude to them. I found it intriguing on several levels:

• They spoke of doing kind acts where people don't respond in kindness. For example, a guy who desires to be "chivalrous" actually holding the door open for a lady, yet when she passes through she doesn't say anything. Was her lack of a "thank you" rude? How would you respond gents? Should we expect kindness in return for kind actions done to us?


• At the check-out counter. They were gave the example of actually trying to interact with the person who is checking out our groceries or clothes or whatever, but the person has no desire to talk. I encounter this quite frequently in the city. Should I expect a person who sees countless people come through the line, many of whom themselves are rude, to be kind to me if I am kind? How should I respond if they don't say a word, don't even look at me, tell me my total, give me my change, and move on to the next customer?


• A guy shared a story of a woman in a Corvette flicking him off in traffic. This man at 6'4", 220 lbs said that he got out of his car, walked over to hers, and proceeded to spit on her driver's side window as a way of telling her that she shouldn't be rude like that...awesome. Is that the right thing to do, to respond to rudeness with an equally rude or even greater rude action?

There were several other examples given, but I found it interesting that many of them on the radio, and I would include myself in this, have this high expectation that if I am kind to you that you actually owe me kindness in return, that in fact it is your responsibility as a human being to be kind back to me. If you aren't kind to me then you have violated my right to receive kindness from you and therefore I can in turn be rude to you and show you that you should have been kind. Is that how I think? Is that how you think?

Well, they shared one response that I found cutting in various ways. When asking for response from listeners, they mentioned that someone texted in a response to rude people. What was it? "Jesus loves you" of course. The DJs then said, "Dang!!! That's a good one. That one hurts."

By His Grace.

Free From God's Wrath, Firmly Rooted in His Favor: Reflections

I understand that if you tried reading this, you may have fallen off at some point. The paragraphs are long and I may not be a strong enough writer to keep your attention for that long. Totally understandable. But here I conclude with my reflections on this biblical doctrine that has a profound affect not only on my life, but on the entire world.

If we're honest with ourselves, we can't ignore it. We can try and suppress it as much as we want--we think we are succeeding in that--but it stares us all right in the face. The bloodied body of Christ on the Cross has had a deeply profound affect on every corner of the globe, impacting every life that has ever entered or will ever enter this world. He reigned gloriously as King from the Cross when he died and continues to reign over us all as our risen Lord.

Here are my reflections.
________________________

The doctrine of propitiation carries with it enormous practical implications. For one, it is very personal to me as I struggle with feeling accepted by others and by God. To know that out of love God sent his Son, Jesus “to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10) and that “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20b) is extremely assuring in the midst of this constant battle. A consistent gratitude for this reality allows me to experience God’s unsurpassing grace and extend it to others.

Secondly, the doctrine of propitiation presupposes God’s wrath of all man because of our sin, thus I am not only grateful for Christ’s sacrifice for me, but I am motivated to evangelize those who do not know Jesus because God’s wrath still remains on them (John 3:36). However morbid the warning may be, the promise is all the more amazing because it is wrapped up in God’s love, grace, and mercy all found in Christ on the Cross. Propitiation tells us that we do not need to work hard for God’s acceptance or to appease his wrath because Jesus has accomplished it all! This is beautiful news to those like me, always striving to be accepted by someone, whether it be parents, a significant other, a superior at work or God himself.

Thirdly, the doctrine of propitiation should not be minimized by any means. In the introduction, I alluded to an ongoing debate over the so-called controversy surrounding Christ’s propitiatory sacrifice where some see it more as expiatory. The Bible leaves no room for this substitution of terms because it robs the very clear attribute of God’s wrath and his hatred of sin, of which he does not merely wipe clean, but actually satisfies throughout Scripture (see Isa 5:25; Jer 6:11ff). We are by nature children of wrath, dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1-3) so knowing that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin on our behalf that we might be called the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21), he also became on the cross the vessel of God’s wrath that we are supposed to be (Rom 9:22). This only intensifies the exquisite harmony of Scripture and the complete, sacrificial love of God found in his redemptive story, allowing not just for sins to be dismissed as expiation suggests; propitiation instead addresses sin, its weight, and its punishment all in Christ’s death on the Cross, fulfilling his own words, that he came to give his life and be a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

Therefore, from a systematic theological perspective, we as lay Christians, pastors, and theologians, must seek to defend humbly the key doctrine of propitiation against those who attack it in the name of love because its bearing on our personal lives, our worldviews, our ministry, and most importantly our view of God is too great to ignore, for as A.W. Tozer once wrote, “Low views of God destroy the gospel for all who hold them.” In doing so my hope is that we all will grow to know God’s love even more greatly that we in turn can share Christ’s magnificent propitiatory sacrifice with the world out of joy and gratitude for what he accomplished, and ultimately glorify him with fervent worship forever as favored saints in his kingdom.

By His Grace.

It's Late

It's 1:15 am here to be more precise and I'm just finishing up work for the night. I've been getting hundreds of e-mails and wall posts and messages all asking why my blogging has basically ceased. This is a post for all you avid readers who are deeply concerned and desperate (but I think I exaggerated a bit earlier in the number of pleas for posts...)

Life has been a little hectic these days, more so than I think I ever really experienced since I graduated from college. I've written papeses galor, learned more Greek than I thought possible, and have read mad crazy texts on biblical theology and church history, while also studying for a final dealing with theology & culture, spending time in Oxford, MS for Thanksgiving, working in Admissions, and taking some time to watch the Gators dominate college football. Blogging, sadly, has been placed on the backburner. But some things have gone down:

1. Jeremiah 10 has caused me to reflect more on idolatry in my life and this world. The essence of idolatry isn't necessarily the physically crafted, little-g gods, but anything that is a god in your life who receives attention, adoration, commitment, and worship more than The God. If you have a Bible, read the chapter and spend some time meditating for your own life asking the question, "Honestly, what does replace Jesus in my life?" For some, you have spent your whole lives living in idolatry, worshiping grades, money, sex, "having fun," "being a good person," etc. Success is a big thing for me, which stems from a fear of failure, which contrasts the fear of God. It's vicious, but I am thankful for the blood of Christ who has redeemed of such fleeting desires. When I see the idolatry, I pray, by His Spirit, that I repent and turn to Him who is the only One worthy.


2. I am so pumped about The Line. This is the church plant I have mentioned before that I will be involved in come January. I am part of the core team and I got to hang out with Aaron (the lead planter), his wife Kayla, his sister Amie, and a girl named Zoe who lives in the city. For now we's small, but we are trusting God to transform the city of Chicago north, south, east, and west with all that Christ is, has done, and continues to do in this world! If you are interested in hearing more about this from me, feel free to hit me up, especially if you're in the Chicagoland area.


3. The song that has most of my attention these days, outside of the entire Sufjan Stevens Christmas collection, is Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald with Let's Call the Whole Thing Off. "For we know we need each other so we better call the calling off off"...classic. Check out that sweet JAM when you get a chance.

Hopefully more later.

By His Grace.

Prophets of our Time

The prophets of our time have stolen the words of God,
distorting them to form
the doctrines for a world that desires
to have its ears tickled with
deceit and lies.

By His Grace.

God's Gracious Healing

"I have seen his ways, but I will heal him." -Isaiah 57:18

Much like in the days of Isaiah as he preached judgment against Israel and Judah who continually turned against the Lord, we live in a nation whose heart is far from Him. To say we are a Christian nation is tomfoolery if you ask me. We are dependent on the latest trends and fashions, find our comfort in countless hours of television and movies, spend money we do not have, seek happiness in the wrong places, try to find satisfaction in "casual" sexual relationships, think joy comes in drunkenness and drugs, and are somehow convinced that possessions provide meaning. Bottom line is we are a horrifically idolatrous people. God has seen our ways.

But He will heal us.

How powerful and beautiful this grace that God gives! He knows my disgusting, perverted ways, yet He has healed me through Christ. This is the matchless love of God! Could it be that all the healings Christ performed while walking on this fallen earth embody just this? The healings point not just to a restoration of blindness, deafness, or sickness--mere physical and superficial things--but to a complete restoration in relationship to God through what Jesus Christ accomplished in His life, death, burial, and resurrection. This eternal healing in Christ points to a time when God "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore" (Revelation 21:4).

God knows my ways. He knows your ways. He knows our nation's ways. But He will heal us by His grace freely given through His Son. May we all repent and draw near to God, Our Healer.

By His Grace.

Lesson From A Crying Child

I made a little girl cry yesterday. To be honest I'm not quite sure what I did. She was sitting in a friend's lap; she was staring at me. I thought she wanted to play a game. I hid behind the water cooler, trying the classic "Hide 'N Seek" knowing it's a surefire winner. The cute little blonde girl turned her face away so I thought I was somewhat successful. I didn't know that she would then turn her face back toward me as tears began to well up in her eyes. In an instant her cuteness turned to horror as she began to belt out loud wails like a coyote howling at the moon.

However, the dagger that was in my heart was twisted and shoved deeper by her mother when she said, "She's never done anything like this before."

I got back to the office (I work in Admissions) and shared the story with co-workers. One of them was surprised, sharing in my shock, because she was under the assumption that I am pretty good with kids. I would like to think that is true about me, but then again, with children, I never know. I said, "Well I'm a pretty polarizing person. You either really like me, or you really hate me." Another co-worker chimed in with a question: "Are you like that with adults too?"

Here's where the lesson comes in. My answer was, "I don't know." The reason is found in the beautiful innocence of the child who is probably still screaming as I type this. In that moment I knew exactly where I stood with that little girl. I was trying to play an innocent game and though she was afraid of me, she was not scared to let me know how she really felt. Children are good with this in other areas as well. They don't gossip. Little three year-old Billy doesn't talk to his buddies in pre-school about Bobby's bad breath; Billy just blurts out, "Bobby! Yowr bref stinks!"

I said that I don't know where I stand with adults because most of the time adults lack the child-like innocence of forthright speech (or action in the case of the bawling baby). We have the inglorious tendency to laugh with those we laugh at later on that day with friends. Grown up Billy won't tell co-worker Bobby his breath stinks, but he will tell Mike and Tom and Jenny and Tammy. They will all agree with him and start making jokes, all the while Billy thinks he's cool with them all. An older little blond girl isn't going to cry when she sees me (at least I hope not), but she will tell her mom and friends how scary I am with my hairy face (it's Octobeard so the facial hair is a little thick these days).

Somewhere along the way we lose the innocent forthrightness of being a child. We call it being polite. Instead we gossip or play down situations to be less of something than they really are. Rarely these days do people share how they truly feel about one another for the sake of each other. It can be something as small as hygiene. More importantly it can be about reconciliation and sanctification.

Maybe we don't have to shriek like that little girl, but I think we should all take a lesson from her and countless children who let us know how they feel about us nearly every moment we are around them. Then we might see what being adults actually means.

By His Grace.

The Collapse Of The Consumer

So hot off the presses is this startling article of truth revealing that the U.S. is facing its worst recession in 26 years. For some reason this line jumped out at me:

The focus of concern is shifting from the markets – although these remain dangerously stressed – to the wider economy, where the consumer finally appears to be cracking.

This is a great cause of concern for this nation because the economy heavily depends on consumer confidence. The article continues, stating:

Consumers, who account for 72 per cent of the US economy, are pulling back amid a brutal tightening of credit conditions on everything from car loans to credit cards and home equity lines.

I can understand how this would cause great fear, but I started to think about my own situation. I am personally not facing the penny pinch, mainly because I am single and live on a shoe-string budget. I'd like to think I am somewhat responsible with my finances as I seek to be a good steward of what God has given me, but there is always my thoughts began to wander further and I came to this question--

Does it concern anyone at all that we as Americans are mostly defined by the term "consumer" to begin with?

I know consumer is an economic term applied to a capitalist market. It just so happens also to manage in the dumbing down of persons to predictable, persuadable rats in the grand lab of advertising and marketing, much like the numbers assigned to prisoners or students at institutions of "higher education."

I do not think it helps at all that we are repeatedly told that the heart of the so-called American Dream lies in our ability to consume and consume and consume as if this is somehow what is meant by "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." Is it really true that the free market depends on our slavery to consumption?

Does the word "consumer" really reflect the values of today's American society? My fear is that the answer to this question is yes, which is why we are in this predicament. But I want to be proven wrong. Please prove me wrong. Is there a better word we can use to describe us as Americans?

By His Grace.

Gospel Numbness

On Tuesday last week, with the combination of preaching and class, I think I heard the word "gospel" well over 100 times. Everybody who has been down my path says one of the difficulties with seminary is the numbness to all things spiritual; tonight in fact one of my friends talked about his "spiritual insensitivity." In the short period of time I've spent in seminary, days like last Tuesday where words that carry eternal weight are tossed around like a football on gameday have been frequent and promise to be so over the course of the next three or four years.

Does this mean I will inevitably become numb to the gospel myself? Will the word and others like it turn into any other word like "and" or "the"--so common and seemingly insignificant?

Not necessarily. Not if I recognize that numbness occurs solely because of sin--that I could be indifferent in hearing the word once or a thousand times, that my eyes can glaze over Scripture, reading paragraphs in a daze only to turn the page never knowing what I just read, that my ears could be deaf to the sound of salvific words being spoken through a beautifully Spirit-filled preacher, that I could sing of Christ's love as unworshipfully as singing Coldplay's latest hit.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love.

A lethargy exists within my flesh that does not delight in words, thoughts, prayers, or meditations on the being of God. Sadly, Christianity can easily become a culture, whether in church or the classroom, that actually feeds this lethargy instead of destroying it.

Yet in the recognition of this lethargy and numbness is the light of God's Spirit that leads to repentance. It is here that the sound of gospel words cause my heart to palpitate, that thoughts of Christ's love bring a bright smile to my face, that prayers are lifted up in great trust of the God who can fulfill them, that meditations on His being cause immense joy.

It is here, regardless of however many times I may hear the word, "gospel" that it never loses its purpose or its power.

Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.

By His Grace.