"God-told-me" Lady

It’s been an absolutely insane last two weeks of life… For a minute there I thought I’d already fallen victim to the impluse-blog-creation monster.  But things have started to settle down and I thought I’d share a recent thought:

My neighbor was having a garage sale last Saturday and it happened to work out well for me.  While doing yardwork I noticed the flow of traffic and realized I could easily walk my old grill over for them to sell.  Perfect!  “I can take a break from this incinerating heat AND make some money on the side!”  As I approached my neighbor, I noticed that a well-dressed lady wearing a large hat and even larger purse was very excited about something and was sharing with everyone present. As her Jesus-fish-bracelet dangled with every hand gesture, I heard, “The other day God told me what it will take for this heat to go away!  He said, if people would just repent, I’ll take the heat away. Mmmm Hmmm- that’s what He said.”  I wanted to listen… and laugh.  I wanted to discern… and dismiss.  I just stood there and observed…. Thinking, “okay lady…:”

·         So, exactly how many people have to repent before the heat ends?

·         Could there really be evil people or other beings (aliens!) living on the sun?  Is that why it’s so hot there?  

·         Why does the mid-west need to repent so much?  What about New York City, San Francisco, or Las Vegas? Or other places all over the world?

·         Didn’t people need to “repent” before this heat wave started?

·         Will it remain 14 trillion degrees here perpetually until people repent?  No winter?

·         What else to God “tell” you?

·         By the way, could you please ask Him when my house is going to sell?

We’ve all met them.  You know.  Someone who says “God told them…” Then they continue to express whatever amazing divine message has been transmitted to them.  Honestly, it’s a little awkward for me.  Because I DO believe God is real.  And I DO believe God speaks.  But don’t people use “God told me” to excuse things we all know God would never endorse?  And what about competing claims about what God has “said?” Like the girl I know that God “told” was going to marry a certain guy… only it didn’t appear God had “told” him the same thing!  What about things that seem possible?  After all, many people claim to have “experienced” God.  This experience got me to thinking… because “how God speaks” is more than a topic for joking sarcasm- it’s serious. Eternally serious. Here are some things to consider:

·         God speaks through his creation and our conscience (also called “general revelation”).  The grandness of the cosmos.  The universality of moral law. These are things generally revealed to all people about God.  Romans 1:19-21 and Psalm 19:1-6 speak to the existence and glory of God as revealed in His creation. 

·         God also speaks through His Word (called “special revelation”).  While general revelation speaks to the God who “is,” special revelation speaks to the God who “saves.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 explains that God’s Word is inspired and is useful.  2 Peter 1:16-21 explains that God has spoken through His Word, as recorded by Spirit-empowered authors.  In fact, this text reveals that human experience and “interpretation” must be compared to his objective, written Word. I find it amazing that the last half of Psalm 19 also points to special revelation through God’s Word.  Obviously much more could be written here (and has elsewhere) about the reliability of the Bible, but my intent is not to go nuts writing a book- this is a blog.

·         Ultimately God has spoken to us in the person of Jesus Christ, His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1-14).  If we want to know what God is like, what He thinks, feels, believes, does, and claims, we need to look no further than Jesus.

So, I’m suspicious of anyone who claims to have a unique, special “word” from God.  If the truth claim is already revealed in nature, or is confirmed in the Bible either generally or specifically, there is no need for a uniquely special “word.”  If the truth-claim is not supported by His creation, His Word, or Jesus, then I simply dismiss it as a voice competing against God’s, or about something that’s just not that important. 

(Sigh) Oh, well.  I guess I’ll have to wait on the aliens question…

Are You Better Than Jesus? (part 3 of 3)

3.  Am I willing to become uncomfortable as I follow Jesus? 

Let’s face it.  American Christianity doesn’t really push us to be uncomfortable.  It’s pretty easy to be a “Christian” in our culture.  You can even be a pretty popular Christian… one with cool hair, clothes, and cars, fancy buildings, book deals, speaking gigs, and large followings, budgets, and income.  Yes, the media may marginalize Christians from time to time but it is often still more advantageous than not to be a Christian. 

In Matthew 8:18-22 some would-be disciples excitedly came up to Jesus.  He was healing crowds!  He was feeding multitudes!  He was… a rock star!  

Someone crank up the hype-machine!  "Crowd disciple" #1 (a religious "fan" who happened to be a scribe) gushes to Jesus that he'll follow him anywhere!  ...That is until Jesus challenged his zeal by reminding hyped-up guy that he (Jesus) was actually homeless. Maybe being a disciple won’t be as hip, cool, popular, and easy as he thought.  Oops!  Maybe I don’t want to be a “follower.” You mean I'll have to follow you when it's not comfortable and cool?  Sorry, I’ll take home over no home!  Notice, Jesus wasn’t asking him to be “willing” to be uncomfortable.  After all, couldn’t we all deceive ourselves with that?  Sure, Jesus… if I ever “had” to… Jesus was actually reminding him that the present reality might not be as glittery and glamorous as Crowd Disciple #1 thought.

I've been thinking... Would I follow Jesus if it wasn't easy or cool... even accepting discomfort or difficulty?  Would you?  How have you experienced this or seen it done?  If not, are you better than Jesus?

Another hype-machine victim (aka "Crowd Disciple" #2) felt he needed to first handle some important family business before obeying Jesus' call to follow.  Last I checked, burying relatives is pretty important.  The same account from Luke 9:60 reveals that Jesus seemed to call Crowd Disciple #2 to preach.  Before growing alarmed at Jesus’ response to "let the dead bury the dead," one must note that his father was likely not dead yet (I’m seeing visions from Monty Python and the Holy Grail).  Had his father truly just breathed his last, this man wouldn’t have been present.  More likely he wanted to assist his ailing father before he died. He wanted to follow Jesus, just not now.  Jesus reminded him that there are two kingdoms- one on earth and one in heaven.  The spiritually “dead” on earth needed the message of “life” desperately.  His call was to preach.  Plenty of others would tend to his family.  The call was urgent.  Present .  Now.

I've been thinking... what in my life needs to be immediately set aside in order for me to more faithfully follow Jesus?  What about you? How have you experienced this or seen it done?  If not, are you better than Jesus?

Are you better than Jesus? (Part 2 of 3)

Lately I've been reading through the gospels and I've noticed just how much Jesus contrasts what it looks like to live as a disciple from what we think of as "normal." I've also been challenged with how often he says things like "a slave is not above his master" when describing what being a true disciple looks like. It's as if he actually says we as followers must "follow" his example!

Part 2 of my recent thoughts and questions about this...

2.  Am I hated by people who embrace the worldly mindset of opposing God?  Am I persecuted? 

I’m not saying we should look for ways to make waves.  Rather, as we live as disciples, the natural disconnect in values, priorities, and lifestyle from those who don’t cherish Christ will often take care of that.  In John 17:14-16, Jesus said the world hated the disciples because they actually lived as if they had another citizenship, allegiance, and focus.   Interestingly, in John 15:18-20 and Matthew 10:24-25, Jesus again mentions that a “slave is not greater than his/her master.” (There’s that phrase again!  See Part 1).  He talks as if suffering and slander is a done deal.  Expected.  Automatic.  Disciples will be persecuted by those who oppose God. 

Christians are easy targets these days.  Hated for protests, political stances, boycotts, and bubble-living.  Some proudly boast of the “hate” and “persecution” they endure.  But many times their suffering is not because of Jesus… it’s because of them.  Certainly there is a time and a place to “take stands” but I’ve found that those times in my life are usually not planned.  They just happen.  And more often than not lead to conversation, not conflict.  (Interestingly, 1 Peter 3:15-16 notes another group of people that do not attack, but ask about our faith and are open to dialogue).

When I think “persecution” I often think of physical pain.  Blood.  Agony.  Possibly torture and even murder.  It certainly happens to believers all over the world (check out www.persecution.com).  In the US, “persecution” and “hate” may be manifested differently.  In high school I was not “invited” from time to time.  As a college athlete, I once got my head shaved for not doing a keg stand.  As an adult (especially in a ministry role), I’ll occasionally get stereotyped or treated like “a preacher” (whatever that means).  At times it amuses (and saddens) me when I’m having a great conversation with someone until they find out I’m in “ministry.” Then everything changes.  It’s like I have terminal cancer, am an ex-con, or recovering addict.  They either don’t know what to say or end up saying weird things.  But I’ve thought a lot lately about persecution and what that should look like for me.  Honestly, as an American Christian who lives in the Bible-belt I’m not sure.  What do you think? How have you experienced this or seen it done?

Does my life reveal areas where my love for Jesus (not attention) leads to my being treated with aversion, detest, strong dislike, or disfavor ?  The Greek word for “hate” is where we get the root for “misery.”  Does anyone cause you misery because of your faith?  If not, are you better than Jesus?

Are you better than Jesus?

Part 1 (of 3)

1.  Do I serve others in humbling, dirty ways?  

Imagine getting on hands and knees to scrub feet… dirty… smelly… and covered with slippery sweat, mangled hair, and crusty hangnails.  These days washing feet doesn’t seem like big deal- after all, we have hoses.  But in Jesus’ day few jobs were worse.  After doing just that, Jesus, in John 13:14-16, reminds Peter that disciples are disciples precisely by doing and imitating what their teacher does (in this case, Jesus). 

So, what should this kind of humbling, dirty service look like for us?  What do you think?  How have you experienced this or seen it done?  I’m interested in your thoughts because I don’t want to live as though I’m better than Jesus.

To not serve in humbling, dirty ways is like telling Jesus we are better than Him. Disciples humbly serve, non-disciples do not.  Just as a messenger can take no liberty to change the message of the sender (vs. 16), neither should we “say” with our actions “I’m just not a servant.”  Jesus noted that a slave isn’t greater than his Lord/Master. 

Jesus Himself humbly served undeserving people.  Are you better than Jesus?

Starting Out

Well, this is it.  Yes, I started a blog.  I know.  I'm late to the game... and actually, wondered whether I even have time for this.  In fact, in a world filled with a million talking heads offering their opinions, and a society that values self-promotion and polorizing people, I wasn't sure that adding one more blog to the blogosphere would benefit anyone.

In fact, in the past year I've become much more aware of my insignificance in the whole scheme of things.  Not in a depressing sort of way... just a "reality" sort of way.  So, why blog?  First, I hope to use this as an outlet for my thoughts and observations.  Second, I want to be faithful to contribute to the beautiful tapestry made up of billions in our world by engaging in online conversation.  I hope that as insignificant people interacting in some, small insignificant way, we can actually make significant impacts in each others' lives by "hearing," , understanding, and challenging one another.  Third, I hope to meaningfully engage people on a spiritual level.  I think stewardship is more than a money and time thing, and actually includes our heart, soul, mind, and strength (sounds familiar)!

I'm no genius, I just hope to make a difference... and pray that those who read this blog will likewise make a difference in my own life.  I'm not a half-hearted person and honestly don't know how to do something just partially.   I've seen those blogs that contain such infrequent posts I wonder what the point is. I really hope this doesn't fade into idea-oblivion. We'll see.