I am a reluctant activist. I'd much rather hole up in my room and pray for change than actually take any actions to see it come to pass, especially if that action = confrontation. But as I have mentioned in other posts, God won't let me. (An English major aside: how did we get won't from will not? And does anybody ever say Cannot you? We say, "can't you" all the time, so why not "cannot you"? Sorry, back to the point). And now neither will my son.
It started out innocently enough. We were reading a book about Puerto Rico. Among other things it mentioned how Puerto Ricans can vote in the primary, but not the national presidential election. So, we talked about the difference between the two. Which led to talking about the candidates. Which led Toby to ask me who I am going to vote for. Which led me to say, "I don't know yet, because I agree with the candidates on some issues and not on others." Which led Toby to ask, "What issues?" I gave him some examples, one of which was abortion. Which led him to ask (repeatedly) "Why don't we write them a letter?"
Sigh. I hate writing politicians. But Toby's logic prevailed and so I let him write a letter. He decided to write a letter to the mayor of our city about his recent decision to allow an abortion clinic in. He wrote a two sentence letter complete with an illustration to emphasize his point. We have yet to hear back from the Mayor.
But God has used Toby, and often uses Toby to get at my apathy, my cynicism. I drag my feet when it comes to being more proactive in politics and other areas because I do not think it will make a difference. But then I am confronted by Toby and God with, "why not try?"
In Brian McLaren's book Everything Must Change he relates a story about two women who helped to build a school. He says something that I need to take to heart, "As this mother and daughter told me their story . . . I realized that the simple action of one family, not a big NGO, not a huge government program, but a simple family project of neighborliness and humanity -- illustrated the kind of subversive faith and action that can stop the suicide machine and build, in its place, a better world." (McLaren p.279)
Cannot you see it? You, me, we can change the world. The Kingdom of God is here, Jesus is with us. "If God is with us, who can be against us?"
Friday, March 28, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Stupid Faith
As I was flipping through the channels last night I came across Larry King interviewing Lewis Black. Larry asked Lewis about his reaction to the comments made by Rev. Wright. One of the things that Lewis said in his reply was that he thought there were equally insane things being said in other churches, like the earth was created in six days. I found myself agreeing with him. From the prospective of most people saying the earth was created, let alone in six days, sounds insane. In fact a lot of what Christ taught sounds insane.
I do not like that. I like sounding sane and rational. I like being thought of as intelligent and reasonable. I have tried to "reason away" some of what Jesus said, "He didn't really mean..." but God's words have a way of burrowing into my heart and refusing to die no matter how I try to ignore them. So, I find myself believing insane things like the earth being created in six days.
Worse I find myself confronting war veterans with "Jesus told us to love our enemies" (have I mentioned I hate confrontation?), businessmen with, "Jesus does not like how some companies treat their employees." These teachings do not make sense. They leave us vulnerable, unsure, unsafe. Not in control (have I mentioned how I love being in control? I've only been drunk once in my life. I never got drunk again because I did not like being out of control).
They leave us right where God wants us, reliant on him. I barely have enough in me to love my friends, let alone my enemies. I like chocolate as much as the next guy and buy things without regard as to where they came from or who slaved to make them. I am perfectly content to plot revenge, to hold onto bitterness, to not forgive. It feels good.
But then there's Jesus. Standing there with that knowing look on his face. Suddenly I am reminded of something he said. That little crumb of a word starts irritating my heart. I try to ignore it, but it itches, it hurts. I try to scratch it away, but it just gets bigger and bigger and bigger, until I cannot ignore it any longer and I find myself capitulating to it. To Him.
One of my heroes, Eberhard Arnold, said, "To hear and read the words of Jesus is dangerous". He was right. Hearing Jesus words, actually hearing them and grasping the implications, is dangerous. It makes you believe and do stupid things.You might believe that God still speaks today. You might believe that he still answers prayer, that he still does miracles. You might find your friends and family saying, "He is out of his mind". You might believe that you should give up your life of wealth and privilege to live amongst the poor. You might believe people should not be made slaves and try to free them. You might believe killing your enemy will only plant the seeds of more hatred and violence. You might find yourself changing the world.
Stupid faith.
I do not like that. I like sounding sane and rational. I like being thought of as intelligent and reasonable. I have tried to "reason away" some of what Jesus said, "He didn't really mean..." but God's words have a way of burrowing into my heart and refusing to die no matter how I try to ignore them. So, I find myself believing insane things like the earth being created in six days.
Worse I find myself confronting war veterans with "Jesus told us to love our enemies" (have I mentioned I hate confrontation?), businessmen with, "Jesus does not like how some companies treat their employees." These teachings do not make sense. They leave us vulnerable, unsure, unsafe. Not in control (have I mentioned how I love being in control? I've only been drunk once in my life. I never got drunk again because I did not like being out of control).
They leave us right where God wants us, reliant on him. I barely have enough in me to love my friends, let alone my enemies. I like chocolate as much as the next guy and buy things without regard as to where they came from or who slaved to make them. I am perfectly content to plot revenge, to hold onto bitterness, to not forgive. It feels good.
But then there's Jesus. Standing there with that knowing look on his face. Suddenly I am reminded of something he said. That little crumb of a word starts irritating my heart. I try to ignore it, but it itches, it hurts. I try to scratch it away, but it just gets bigger and bigger and bigger, until I cannot ignore it any longer and I find myself capitulating to it. To Him.
One of my heroes, Eberhard Arnold, said, "To hear and read the words of Jesus is dangerous". He was right. Hearing Jesus words, actually hearing them and grasping the implications, is dangerous. It makes you believe and do stupid things.You might believe that God still speaks today. You might believe that he still answers prayer, that he still does miracles. You might find your friends and family saying, "He is out of his mind". You might believe that you should give up your life of wealth and privilege to live amongst the poor. You might believe people should not be made slaves and try to free them. You might believe killing your enemy will only plant the seeds of more hatred and violence. You might find yourself changing the world.
Stupid faith.
Monday, March 17, 2008
New Ben Stein Movie and Thoughts on Science
I just saw a trailer for a documentary Ben Stein Expelled. The movie looks at the way scientist who question Darwinism are treated. It looks like it should be good, and hopefully it will get people thinking.
Imagine what could be accomplished if, instead of trying to throw God out of science, scientists in every field were tuned into what God was willing to show them about their area of study. Look at the accomplishments of one such man, George Washington Carver. He is quoted as saying, "When I was young, I said to God, God, tell me the mystery of the universe. But God answered, that knowledge is for me alone. So I said, God, tell me the mystery of the peanut. Then God said, well, George, that's more nearly your size."
He went on to discover 300 uses for the peanut, 118 from sweet potatoes, and several other discoveries from other plants. His work and research continues to influence work in botany today.
What might happen if scientists asked God similar questions today about renewable fuel or cures for diseases? Instead it seems some are more concerned with keeping God out of science because allowing him in would go against the theories they hold. This seems contrary to the very nature of what it means to be a scientist. One of the reasons science is important and exciting is because it encourages us to look closely at the world and think and rethink about what we see. If we start censoring this based on what someone concludes from looking, eventually we may stop looking and discovering.
Imagine what could be accomplished if, instead of trying to throw God out of science, scientists in every field were tuned into what God was willing to show them about their area of study. Look at the accomplishments of one such man, George Washington Carver. He is quoted as saying, "When I was young, I said to God, God, tell me the mystery of the universe. But God answered, that knowledge is for me alone. So I said, God, tell me the mystery of the peanut. Then God said, well, George, that's more nearly your size."
He went on to discover 300 uses for the peanut, 118 from sweet potatoes, and several other discoveries from other plants. His work and research continues to influence work in botany today.
What might happen if scientists asked God similar questions today about renewable fuel or cures for diseases? Instead it seems some are more concerned with keeping God out of science because allowing him in would go against the theories they hold. This seems contrary to the very nature of what it means to be a scientist. One of the reasons science is important and exciting is because it encourages us to look closely at the world and think and rethink about what we see. If we start censoring this based on what someone concludes from looking, eventually we may stop looking and discovering.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Expand Your Vocabulary; Change the World
Logophiles have a fun new way to help give rice to the poor. FreeRice.com donates rice to the needy around the world with every vocabulary question you get correct. My current high score is 42, but I'm working on reaching 50. What level can you get to? Click on the bowl of rice and find out. (see the sidebar).
Speaking of the sidebar, there is a new banner there that says "know love act". Clicking this will take you to blood:water mission. This organization works to "tangibly reduce the impact of the African HIV/AIDS pandemic, to promote clean blood and clean water in Africa, and to build equitable, sustainable and personal community links." Click on the link, learn more about them; hey maybe even donate some money.
Speaking of the sidebar, there is a new banner there that says "know love act". Clicking this will take you to blood:water mission. This organization works to "tangibly reduce the impact of the African HIV/AIDS pandemic, to promote clean blood and clean water in Africa, and to build equitable, sustainable and personal community links." Click on the link, learn more about them; hey maybe even donate some money.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Miracle God
I want to feel you like ‘lectricity
coursing through my body–
Half eyes whole,
tainted blood clean.
My mere wishes twisted into faith,
Or divine dictation scribbled onto my soul?
I’ve stumbled down this road before,
Circling my doubt, tripping on uncertainty,
Never knowing if I
squeeze just one more ounce of faith out–
will you be
coursing through my body like lightning?
Mute man singing,
Lame man running.
Is it me or America that you hate?
Leaving longing faithless, leaving prayers tattered.
Maybe if I were a better man,
Maybe if we had more faith,
Maybe if I prayed more,
Maybe if we sang longer, louder, stronger
Maybe then you’d be shivering down our spines,
Leaving our wheel chairs to dance alone.
Barren woman weaning,
Dead man leaping.
Does your silence mean you’re angry?
Or do your miracles fade in the light of our TV screens?
Should I head for Africa or Asia or Argentina
To feel you like the sea thundering through me,
To see you growing hands like magician’s scarves?
(I can’t afford the airfare)
Are our needs less tantalizing, are our dead less tragic?
Are their prayers more potent, are their pleas more pleasing?
Are there things we need to change so you will
Heal lame bodies,
cure cancerous souls?
Or are we those you’ve destined to always be grabbing,
but never reaching the goal?
I want to give up, to go back to not believing,
But even more
I want to feel you like ‘lectricity,
Coursing through my body,
To see you flood America with miracles
Like when you walked in Galilee,
Deaf man hearing,
blind man seeing,
diseased man dancing,
possessed man praising.
dead man raising,
You moving through me.
coursing through my body–
Half eyes whole,
tainted blood clean.
My mere wishes twisted into faith,
Or divine dictation scribbled onto my soul?
I’ve stumbled down this road before,
Circling my doubt, tripping on uncertainty,
Never knowing if I
squeeze just one more ounce of faith out–
will you be
coursing through my body like lightning?
Mute man singing,
Lame man running.
Is it me or America that you hate?
Leaving longing faithless, leaving prayers tattered.
Maybe if I were a better man,
Maybe if we had more faith,
Maybe if I prayed more,
Maybe if we sang longer, louder, stronger
Maybe then you’d be shivering down our spines,
Leaving our wheel chairs to dance alone.
Barren woman weaning,
Dead man leaping.
Does your silence mean you’re angry?
Or do your miracles fade in the light of our TV screens?
Should I head for Africa or Asia or Argentina
To feel you like the sea thundering through me,
To see you growing hands like magician’s scarves?
(I can’t afford the airfare)
Are our needs less tantalizing, are our dead less tragic?
Are their prayers more potent, are their pleas more pleasing?
Are there things we need to change so you will
Heal lame bodies,
cure cancerous souls?
Or are we those you’ve destined to always be grabbing,
but never reaching the goal?
I want to give up, to go back to not believing,
But even more
I want to feel you like ‘lectricity,
Coursing through my body,
To see you flood America with miracles
Like when you walked in Galilee,
Deaf man hearing,
blind man seeing,
diseased man dancing,
possessed man praising.
dead man raising,
You moving through me.
The Longing
Your terrifying joy enraptures me with longing.
I need the hush of holiness exploding in me,
quieting my silence with your thundering song–
“Jesus” whispered like a butterfly’s wing
storming through my desert heart,
wetting, drenching, deluging all my tears
into diamonds of honest praise.
Read my name from the palm of your hand.
Or let me crouch there tracing holiness with my finger,
Drunk from the glorious sobriety of it all
I could fade into the lines of your finger,
Or be swept away with the angels in praise.
Walk over my skin, like the hills of Galilee,
my body heavy with your holiness.
Or camp in the cave of my heart and fade into its crevices,
Cracking my contempt into gratefulness.
I want to be washed away in the silence of your majesty
To be a wave in the endless sea of your praise,
To evaporate into you.
I need the hush of holiness exploding in me,
quieting my silence with your thundering song–
“Jesus” whispered like a butterfly’s wing
storming through my desert heart,
wetting, drenching, deluging all my tears
into diamonds of honest praise.
Read my name from the palm of your hand.
Or let me crouch there tracing holiness with my finger,
Drunk from the glorious sobriety of it all
I could fade into the lines of your finger,
Or be swept away with the angels in praise.
Walk over my skin, like the hills of Galilee,
my body heavy with your holiness.
Or camp in the cave of my heart and fade into its crevices,
Cracking my contempt into gratefulness.
I want to be washed away in the silence of your majesty
To be a wave in the endless sea of your praise,
To evaporate into you.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Stricken By God?
A new book, Stricken By God? edited by Brad Jersak looks at the crucifixion and and challenges the typical western understanding of what was happening. For those looking for a book review, you won't find it here since I have not read the book. (I've promised myself that I am not starting another book until I have finished reading all the others I am reading: Dear Birth Mother, Everything Must Change, Dreaming With God, The Shack, Home Learning Year by Year, and Renegade's Magic). I have seen an interview with Mr. Jersak that piqued my curiosity. This led me to do a search where I found some interesting blogs about the Eastern Orthodox view point. (You can see them here, here, here, here and here).
I am still very much in the studying, learning, and questioning phase of contemplating this issue. For those of you who did not click the links to read or watch what this other idea of the atonement is about I will try to sum it up. Basically the western view is that Christ had to die to take the punishment for our sins. God's justice would not allow him to just forgive us, someone had to take the punishment. When Christ took that sin upon himself God had to look away because he cannot look at sin. The Eastern Orthodox view (really, read the stuff I've linked, they explain it better) is that Christ death was a part of the redemption of humankind. Jesus died to ransom us from the devil. Jesus' blood had to be shed so that we could unite with him (by drinking his blood, eating his body). This is very basic, but I think I have the general idea correct.
My main, "but what about..." is Romans 5:9-10 "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" If anyone knows how the Eastern church would see this verse, I'd be happy to hear it.
I think the reason I find this so fascinating is that the Eastern Orthodox view point is so alien to me. Suddenly I'm seeing verses I thought I knew in a new light. That is exciting to me. I love it when God says, "Look at this, bet you did not notice that before!" The journey of grappling with unfamiliar ideas is tantalizing enough for me to overcome my fears of falling into "error" and allow God to draw me closer through the journey.
I want to encourage you to join the journey. Take time to read about what Christ did for you. Read view points from a different tradition or denomination than yours. Ask God to guide you in the journey and give you a deeper understanding of who he is.
I am still very much in the studying, learning, and questioning phase of contemplating this issue. For those of you who did not click the links to read or watch what this other idea of the atonement is about I will try to sum it up. Basically the western view is that Christ had to die to take the punishment for our sins. God's justice would not allow him to just forgive us, someone had to take the punishment. When Christ took that sin upon himself God had to look away because he cannot look at sin. The Eastern Orthodox view (really, read the stuff I've linked, they explain it better) is that Christ death was a part of the redemption of humankind. Jesus died to ransom us from the devil. Jesus' blood had to be shed so that we could unite with him (by drinking his blood, eating his body). This is very basic, but I think I have the general idea correct.
My main, "but what about..." is Romans 5:9-10 "Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" If anyone knows how the Eastern church would see this verse, I'd be happy to hear it.
I think the reason I find this so fascinating is that the Eastern Orthodox view point is so alien to me. Suddenly I'm seeing verses I thought I knew in a new light. That is exciting to me. I love it when God says, "Look at this, bet you did not notice that before!" The journey of grappling with unfamiliar ideas is tantalizing enough for me to overcome my fears of falling into "error" and allow God to draw me closer through the journey.
I want to encourage you to join the journey. Take time to read about what Christ did for you. Read view points from a different tradition or denomination than yours. Ask God to guide you in the journey and give you a deeper understanding of who he is.
The Hardest Questions Result In the Best Answers
Today my six year-old said to me, "Ya know sometimes I wonder if God is real. I mean how do I know the Bible is true, I wasn't there,"? I think that if he had asked me this a few years ago I would have immediately launched into reasons to believe. But I did not. Maybe it's because I've gotten used to saying, "I don't know" to his constant questions (usually about science. Thank God his aunt is a chemist!). Or maybe its because I'm in a season of questioning too (Thanks in a large part to Brad Jersak's new book Stricken By God). Whatever the reason I found these scary words coming out of my mouth, "Why don't you ask God to show you he is real?"
Scary for me because of all the what ifs that go through every parents head. "What if he stops believing in God? What if he asks for something so outrageous and God doesn't answer? or what if God does? What if he becomes convinced that another religion is true?" Scary because with those words I gave up control of my son's belief. Without really meaning to, I gave it up to God. He is the one who has to show himself real to Toby. Toby is the one who has to respond. God is the one who has to keep him.
Scary, because with those words my trust in God is put to the test. Do I trust him enough to take Toby on the journey of faith, wherever it may lead? No matter how scary it looks to me? Or how close it skirts to the edge of unbelief?
Years ago some friends and I spent time studying the Bible. We called ourselves "the heresy boys" because we looked at issues that are often (some rightly so) considered heretical. We studied the Bible to seriously look at issues like reincarnation and whether or not hell is transitory. We did not always come to the same conclusions, but, at least for me, the questions led to a closer more secure walk with God.
God is not afraid of the hard questions. He does not shy away from, "If you are loving how can you allow rape, murder, disease?" or "Or why did you call for genocide in the Old Testament?" Or "Where were you when . . ." These questions are scary to us because we are afraid of what the answer might be. What if God doesn't answer? So, we don't ask, or we do and supply a trite answer. But I think God wants us to ask. Not so he can answer all our questions, but so that he can reveal himself to us. He is not afraid of where these questions may lead us, because he is able to keep us. Not only is he able, he is faithful to do so.
Scary for me because of all the what ifs that go through every parents head. "What if he stops believing in God? What if he asks for something so outrageous and God doesn't answer? or what if God does? What if he becomes convinced that another religion is true?" Scary because with those words I gave up control of my son's belief. Without really meaning to, I gave it up to God. He is the one who has to show himself real to Toby. Toby is the one who has to respond. God is the one who has to keep him.
Scary, because with those words my trust in God is put to the test. Do I trust him enough to take Toby on the journey of faith, wherever it may lead? No matter how scary it looks to me? Or how close it skirts to the edge of unbelief?
Years ago some friends and I spent time studying the Bible. We called ourselves "the heresy boys" because we looked at issues that are often (some rightly so) considered heretical. We studied the Bible to seriously look at issues like reincarnation and whether or not hell is transitory. We did not always come to the same conclusions, but, at least for me, the questions led to a closer more secure walk with God.
God is not afraid of the hard questions. He does not shy away from, "If you are loving how can you allow rape, murder, disease?" or "Or why did you call for genocide in the Old Testament?" Or "Where were you when . . ." These questions are scary to us because we are afraid of what the answer might be. What if God doesn't answer? So, we don't ask, or we do and supply a trite answer. But I think God wants us to ask. Not so he can answer all our questions, but so that he can reveal himself to us. He is not afraid of where these questions may lead us, because he is able to keep us. Not only is he able, he is faithful to do so.
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