Helpless in a Good Way

The group that meets at our house on Thursday nights is going through the book "The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus" by John Cross.  Its a great overview of the Bible's message, and a book I would highly recommend to anyone, from long time Christians to those unfamiliar or even hostile to the Bible.  This past week, the author touched on a foundational principle that really impacted me, he outlined the difference between a "sinner" and a "helpless sinner".  

This impacted me personally because I have often taught others the Biblical truth that everyone has a knowledge of right and wrong.  The Bible teaches that because we are all created in the image of God this knowledge of His law is "written on our hearts" (Romans 2:14 - 15).  From the primitive tribesman in the deep jungle to the most sophisticated and educated men and women in our urban centers, everyone you meet has this internal "check", everyone has a sense of moral guilt.  

What I realized though through this author is that I have been making a fundamental error in my thinking, and in my presentation of this Biblical truth to others.  I have failed to make a distinction between a "sinner" and a "helpless sinner".  

Here's what I mean:  In all my travels I have never met a person who is unwilling to admit that they are a violator of God's law, what the Bible would call a "sinner".  Any of us, when we are honest, realize that we have fallen short even of the standard towards which our own conscience would call us.  

But heres the catch: those who are "just" sinners have options, don't they?  They can try harder.  They can plead ignorance.  They can claim that they are a victim of circumstances beyond their control. Or, as is often the case, they can simply adjust the law of God to something more manageable and do their best to squelch the resulting protest from their voice of conscience.  

The religious people in Jesus day had done just that with the law of God.  They had made it all about externals.  Something they might even have the potential to achieve, or at the very least something they could do better than the next guy.  

The helpless sinner, on the other hand, has no options.  The helpless sinner remembers the terrifying words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew chapters 5  verse 21 - 48) that clarify for us that the law of God is not primarily about externals... it is instead about the issues of motive and thought and desire.  Jesus explains that murder is really about hatred, and adultery is really about lust... whether you do the deed or not is secondary, because the act is only an expression of the sin that has already taken root in the heart.  

So simply realizing I am sinner is not enough.  From that position rationalization comes too easily.  Its only when I see the vast, eternal gulf between the righteous requirements of a Holy God and my own self-centered motives that I begin to appreciate my desperate state.  Its only when I am willing to examine the darkness of my thought-life in the light of God's  perfect commandments that my true position becomes clear.  

When I grasp this truth, then I move from a sinner to a helpless sinner.  Its only then that I am truly ready to receive the message of God's rescue provided through His only Son.  Its only then that the beauty of God's grace dawns on a desperate heart.  Its only then that my voice and my prayers can truly rise in worship towards a merciful and loving and magnificent God.

Thinking about Self

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am fascinated by the concept of "worldview".  There are a lot of different opinions about the idea (read the wikipedia article) but the most simple explanation is that a worldview is our way of looking at the world.  Its a filter or a lens through which we evaluate everything we see, hear, and otherwise experience. 

People who study this stuff say that our worldview is formed and influenced by many different factors; the culture we live in, our experience within the family, our education, exposure to various forms of religion, art, and entertainment etc.  All of this comes together to create our understanding of the world and our place in it.

Recently I listened to a talk by Lou Huesmann in which he addressed the concept of personal identity, which in my opinion is a subset of worldview.  Of course, there are quite a few ideas among thinkers about the nature of personal identity (as you can read here) but I am primarily interested in how our concept of our own identity impacts and informs our overall worldview.   

Think about it... how would you describe yourself?  And how does that understanding affect how you think and plan and interact with others and respond to the various circumstances of your life?  What possibilities are within your grasp, according to your understanding?  What kind of things are not available to you, because of who you are?  All kinds of things affect this... your view of gender, age, race, education, physical beauty, and social status contribute profoundly to your self-concept.

Even more significantly, your belief in whose you are will dramatically affect your understanding of your place in the world.  Do you see yourself as existentially meaningless, the product of millions of years of random mutations, a highly developed animal currently at the top of the food chain?  Or do you see yourself as one with an eternal soul, created in the image of God, and reflecting (albeit in an imperfect sense) something of His character and glory?  Its easy to see that you will come to very different conclusions about life and purpose and ultimate meaning depending on where you land on this fundamental issue.

I want to continue to process these thoughts and perhaps post a more pragmatic article in the future, but for now I just wanted to share these thoughts in the hope that they might not only stimulate your thinking but also help you engage others in discussions about truth, and how our method of processing truth is often controlled by issues such as worldview and identity, issues that often lurk below the surface.  More to come on this subject!

Evil is Everyone's Problem

As a Christian, and especially as a Pastor, I have often been asked to explain the existence of evil.  Although it comes in many forms, the basic question goes something like this:  "If a loving God exists, how can He allow evil?".  Its a legitimate question and one that deserves a sincere answer, especially in light of the overwhelming presence of evil and suffering (see my previous blog on this subject).

Interestingly though, the difficulty in dealing with evil is not exclusive to Christianity.  Have you ever thought of that before?  I can just as easily turn to the questioner and ask them a similar question... how would they explain the presence of "good" and "evil" (however they would define it) according to their particular worldview?

I was thinking about this recently when I read the following paragraphs from A Holy Rebellion by Thomas Ice and Robert Dean, Jr.  (I've modified their words a bit for this context).  As you consider the author's position I would challenge you to consider your own beliefs about good and evil, and how you might engage your neighbor or family member in discussion the next time the subject comes up.

Here goes: 

"When confronted with the existence of evil, there are only four possible responses:  denial, relativism, existentialism, or the reality of sin.

First, some would deny that evil exists at all.  This is reflected in Greek philosophy, some eastern religions, and most mind-science religions (such as Christian Science).  Sometimes these systems of thought claim to be dualistic and recognize some form of evil, but since reality for them is "one", if consistent they must deny the ultimate existence of real evil.  According to this view what we encounter in everyday life is simply an illusion; it is not real.  Pain and suffering are merely illusions; ultimate reality exists on a much higher plane.

Second, some would simply deny morality, claiming that evil is a natural part of reality.  For example, the evolutionist has no ultimate basis for morality, no ultimate basis for distinguishing between good and evil.  T. H. Huxley, a noted evolutionist, clearly recognized this when he wrote: 

 'The thief and the murderer follow nature just as much as the philanthropist.  Cosmic evolution may teach us how the good and evil tendencies of man have come about but, in itself it is incompetent to furnish any... reason why what we call 'good' is preferable to what we call 'evil'...'

Third, some simply resign themselves and accept this tension as part of the absurdity of life.  This is the answer of modern existentialism, which says that since life is basically absurd there are no rational explanations of anything, including good and evil, so just enjoy it as best you can.

In contrast to these attempts to resolve the problem of evil on the basis of human wisdom, the Bible teaches through supernatural revelation that evil is neither an illusion nor natural.  God's original creation was holy and perfect and devoid of evil.  Evil in the universe is a direct consequence of sin... both sin in the angelic realm (Lucifer) and in the created order, through Adam and Eve."

What do you think?  Do you buy the authors assertion that these are the only four possible solutions for the problem of evil?  Or would you propose another?  And where do your own convictions lie?  Which explanation seems most credible to you?  I'd be interested to read your comments...

I'm not sure this is what Paul meant...

In his letter to the Church at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul wrote: 

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."  Ephesians 2:4 - 7

From that phrase in verse 7 has come the popular title for believers, labeling us a "trophy of His grace".  For example, the  KJV Bible Commentary notes that "God delights to show great grace to great sinners. God will display the trophies of His grace throughout the endless ages of eternity. Saints will be concrete demonstrations of the overflowing wealth of His grace." 

What a beautiful example of the love and mercy of our God.  

So, with all that in mind I was a bit horrified to come across an example this week of people who have decided to use this phrase in a slightly different context.... check out this website.  

I thought it was a joke at first, some pagan choosing to mock the Bible and Christians by using a well known phrase in a ridiculous way.  But, alas, it was not supposed to be funny.  Maybe there is a cultural thing going on here that I am not understanding, and I am not questioning the faith of those involved... but really, can Christians expect non-believers to take us or the Bible seriously when we do things like this?  

Sigh...

Mowing the lawn and Making Disciples

I love to mow the lawn.  Its not just the fact that I have a really cool mower, which I do, but I find a strange satisfaction in doing at least one thing each week that has a starting and an ending. 

When  I am done, for at least a few minutes, before the giant pepper tree in the middle of my yard sheds a new carpet of tiny leaves and red berries, I can stand back, survey my tiny kingdom, and all is in order.

My son would probably say this is evidence of the need to exercise power inherent in my capitalist system of dominance and control.  Thats easy for him to say of course because he lives in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle and, judging by our recent July visit, people in his neighborhood take pride in the fact that they have no lawn at all, just a scruffy patch of dirt with a few pitiful weeds still hanging on after the annual Pacific Northwest Monsoon Season, which generally occurs from September - June. 

But beyond compulsion, how does mowing the lawn find a place in my life as a follower of Jesus Christ?  We all have these mundane chores don't we?  Washing dishes.  Laundry.  Cleaning french fries out of the seat track on the floor of the minivan.  Grocery shopping.  Things that need to be done, the regular everyday tasks of the suburban life.   

Simultaneously, as a Christian I live with the reality of my commissioning, I live under the awesome privilege of the command of my King, to "go into all the world and make disciples of every nation" (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16; Luke ; John 20:28; Acts 1:8).  So even though I need to be about mowing the lawn, I must do so within the context of a much larger mission, that of making disciples.  How do those two things go together?

Heres a thought:  Couldn't I, as I mow the lawn, reflect on things that cultivate in me a greater appreciation for the creativity, power, and common grace of God?  Things like the beauty of trees and plants and grass, the significance and pleasure of work, and the provision of God represented by my home.

And wouldn't that time of reflection cause me to grow in my admiration, wonder, and gratitude towards God?  And wouldn't that create an increased passion for the greatness of God which would then find expression in my interactions with others and in the prioritization of my time?

In other words, since our lives reflect our passions, if I cultivate an appreciation for the Glory of God in the ordinary, then my speech and my activities and my manner of living will naturally flow into obedience in the extraordinary. 

Thats how I can mow the lawn and make disciples.

Reflections on Suffering

This past weekend marked the one year anniversary of the sudden death of a friend and Christian brother from our small fellowship.  The day after his death, I preached a message called "Three Essentials of Suffering Well" from 1 Corinthians 1:1-7.  I have been thinking about that event and the message not only because of the anniversary but also because of my recent experience as I walked with a friend and his family through a time of severe suffering due to the tragic death of his wife and their mom/mother-in-law (see this previous post).

In that message last year I noted three points that Paul shares regarding suffering.  The first, from verse 4, was that suffering well means realizing that it is inevitable.  This truth was brought into sharp focus during the past two weeks, as I interacted with several people in the midst of deep sorrow who were asking the question "why?" 

In fact, after the memorial service one person asked me point blank:  "If a non-Christian was to ask you why something this difficult happened to a committed Christian family, what would you say?"

What do we say, as Christians, when confronted with the reality of severe suffering?  And how do we help others understand what the Bible has to say about that kind of difficulty, and the universal reality that we all suffer, believers and non-believers alike?

For my part, in response to this person's sincere question I simply expanded on the idea of inevitability.  We are always surprised by suffering, aren't we?  When tragedy strikes it always seems as if something unusual and avoidable and out of the ordinary is happening.  Even though we read every day about earthquakes and tsunamis and accidents and cancer and AIDS and suicide and crime, when suffering strikes close to home we are shocked and caught off guard.  Somehow, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, we go about our lives under the illusion that nothing bad will ever happen.  But then it does... and in an instant the fantasy is stripped away.

The Bible makes it clear:  We live in a sin-cursed world.  From the first chapters of Genesis God declares that as a result of man's disobedience the entire created order is placed under the burden of sin.  Paul says that creation "groans", looking for that day of redemption when all things will be made new, when all of creation will come under the righteous reign of King Jesus and man will be restored to the garden.

Until then, natural disasters and war and sickness and mental illness and relational strife and death are the inevitable experience for those living in a world under the judgment of God and in the control of the wicked one.

However, despite this reality and as a result of His manifold and overflowing grace, God still gives us glimpses of how things were meant to be, and how they will one day be in all their fullness.  We revel in the beauty of a sunset, we bask in the glow of relational love, we rejoice in the inspiration of music, we find meaning and purpose in accomplishment and learning, we enjoy the pleasures of good food and drink.

These good things are meant to be signposts in a dreary land, pointing to a greater reality beyond this life.  These gifts from God are meant to wet our appetite, to awaken hope, and to develop faith.

How do I respond when a non-Christian asks me about suffering, especially the suffering of the saints?  I tell them plainly... as citizens of this earthly kingdom, we do experience suffering along with our fellow human beings... but as citizens of a heavenly Kingdom, we suffer with hope in a world yet to come.  Then I invite them to consider how they too might come into this Kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ.  

Coincidence? Hmmmm...

My daughter-in-law loves "friend in common" coincidences.  Its where you randomly meet someone that happens to know someone you already know etc.  She blogged about it recently and shared the idea that if you are a good person that likes to have good people around you then you will find your way to others like you.

Well, I am pretty sure I am not that good of a person but I did just have an amazing "friend in common" experience and it left me thinking about a larger force at work beyond mere coincidence.  This is kind of long so hang in there:

- I was in Orlando, Florida, for a Global Church Ministries board meeting.  I sat next to a guy at a breakfast that was just beginning some work in the African country of Burundi.  He shared with me about his work and I made some comments that apparently he found helpful.

- Over the next few months we corresponded several times about his project, resulting in an invitation for me to join him in Burundi this coming December.

- About the same time, I was invited to have coffee with the author of the book, "When Helping Hurts".  During our conversation this author, who is from Georgia, "randomly" mentions some friends from North Carolina who just returned from a trip to Burundi.  With my newfound interest in that country, I ask him to help make introductions, which he does.

- Soon I am in contact with Drew Harding, founder of Senai Global, a non-profit community development organization working in several African countries.  Drew in turn recommends that I meet his friend, Michael Spraggins, who is about to launch a community health project in Burundi that may be of interest to the sponsor of my trip.  Michael lives in Orlando, Florida (you can see where this is going...)

- So I get in contact with Michael, read his very impressive materials, and forward them on to my friend who, as it turns out, HAS JUST RECENTLY MET Michael and his partner.

So because of my association with a guy from Orlando I went through the author of a book I was reading who lives in Georgia to meet a guy from Tanzania living in North Carolina who introduces me to his friend living in Orlando who has already met the guy who invited me to Burundi in the first place and who may be able to partner with us to provide services to the poor.

I guess that could be a coincidence.  But it could also be something else if I am understanding Proverbs 16:9 correctly...