Tag Archives: Culture

Finding a Better Exit Strategy

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It’s a staircase and it stands out for all the wrong reasons.

Staircases are meant to connect us from one level to another. They offer access to new places and people.  Almost every staircase I’ve ever seen made perfect sense to me. Except this one.

It is an ornate cement staircase leading to a lovely old church, but that’s not what bothers me. It is the fact that its first step is on the side of the highway!

I’ve traveled by this staircase at least a hundred times over 10 years and never once have I seen a car parked let alone a soul walking up those stairs. Yet drive 500 yards down the road and you come to an off-ramp that used all the time.

What’s the point? Are you spending all of your time, effort and treasure building a staircase for God while right down the road the world has built an off ramp?

More importantly are you helping people take the right exit? I’ve rarely met a Christian who is genuinely disinterested in helping lost people find a relationship with God. Yet I regularly meet Christians who are busy building staircases on the side of the highway. They are frustrated that the church is not singing enough hymns…or rock songs. They’re adamantly defending one translation of scripture over another. They are genuinely mad that not enough emphasis is being put on teaching the book of Revelation. But the truth is these issues have become their little carpentry projects.

Sometimes we can fall victim to believing that the issues we are close to are the very thing that will reach masses of lost people when in reality they’re not. The issues are important, but they are not really relevant to lost people. When we start believing these issues to be more life and death than they really are they can turn into our own personal crusade. Given enough time they become yet another unused staircase littering the side of the highway.

Instead of building these staircases, let’s be careful to be about truly reaching out. Are you on the side of the highway looking for those who have broken down? Are you combing the off ramps for the spiritually disoriented? This is Jesus heart for the world. As I close today I want Jesus to speak to our hearts. Listen to his words from Matthew 23: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”

Community Questions:

What are some effective ways God has given you to reach lost people in your setting?

Why are we so attached to our staircases?

Has anyone ever seen the staircase I’m talking about? What state is it in?

“LENT”ing Go

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Jesus death on the cross was a world changing event by every account. Yet to bring about this change took an enormous toll of Jesus. It cost him all he had. Easter is fast approaching. For many of us this means buying new outfits for the kids, gearing up for all the visitors at church and planning the post service family get together. Yet many of us, in our rush to prepare our family for Easter, forget to prepare our heart. Easter is just another day on the calendar, another line on the to do list.

This year make Easter more.

One way to make Easter more meaningful is by participating in what is called LENT. For forty days leading up to Easter people remember what Jesus gave up in order to secure salvation. Particularly LENT remembers the 40 day fast Jesus took before starting ministry (Luke 4). People remember Jesus fast by fasting themselves. For most, LENT is a season of modest self-denial. Giving something up to help remember what Jesus gave up; to prepare their heart for the Easter celebration. Instead of getting caught up in the ceremony of LENT let me give you a few ideas to prepare your heart during the season of lent.

Have a Media Free Family Weekend

A startling NY Times article last year pointed out those under the age of 20 listen to or watch 7 1/2 hours of media a day. This means that between the ipod, internet, tv and video games amost 25% of the day is eaten up with digital noise. What would you do with an extra 7 hours a day? Why not find out. As a family decide to give up all media for one weekend starting on a Friday night. Instead of being doleful fill your weekend with some activities that will help prepare you for your celebration of Easter. Read the Easter story in the Bible as a family. Take a nature walk early on Saturday morning and talk about what it would have been like to meet up with Jesus in the garden after he had been crucified. Spend a few minutes in prayer as a family thanking God for sending Jesus Christ His son. You’ll be surprised how much time you’ll have if you only un plug for the weekend.

Can the Coffee

One common way many practice LENT is by giving up a certain kind of food but let’s get really personal. Mom and Dad, try giving up your daily Starbucks ration for one week. Instead of getting your fix, fix your eyes on Christ by replacing your morning coffee time with a 5 minute Easter devotional. There are plenty of small devotional books to be found online or at your local Christian book store.

You may have another great idea but let me challenge you to do something to prepare your heart. Let’s make sure we don’t show up on Easter morning with fancy clothes and shabby hearts. Instead, let’s work as hard at preparing our heart as we do everything else.

Community Questions:

Have you ever observed LENT? If so what did you do? How was it meaningful for you?

If you try one of the two suggestions above share with us how your experience went.

Politics, Revolution and War (or Now That I Have Your Attention) Part 3

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A recent article on an online news source read: “A second day of U.S. air strikes on Libyan positions came amid deepening anxieties among coalition partners about the means and objectives of the effort there1.” War has been a constant presence in our world over the past several years. Yet the debate over war has been present as well. Is this war just or unjust; is any war just or unjust? Just this past weekend I drove by a “peace rally”. Ironically it was held at the same place a “pro-military” rally was held a few weeks earlier. The presence and threat of war in our world today should force Christians to seriously contemplate the issue from a Biblical perspective.

Historically Christians have come to various conclusions concerning what the Bible has to say about war. Yet at the outset let me say that this topic is deeply connected to the issue of politics and revolution. Without a firm understanding of the Biblical role of Government it is difficult for one to come to any conclusions about war. Furthermore if if difficult to act on one’s beliefs without a good understanding of the ways in which society can seek to change public opinion and legislation concerning war. (I encourage you to read my two previous posts for insights into these areas).

Christian Positions on War:

1. Pacifism.

While pacifism has several forms the basic idea is that it takes literally the passages, particularly within the New Testament, that prohibit killing. This, proponents argue, leads them to be against war. Pacifism displays itself as a refusal to serve in the armed services and a refusal to support the armed services. Romans 12:17,21 factors strongly in their perspective: “Do not overcome evil with evil but overcome evil with good”. For the pacifist, violence only begets violence and is counter to the commands of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5 and elsewhere.

2. Non-Resistance

Other Christians have come to embrace the Non-Resistance concept. Believing that obedience to God and Government should be sought as much as possible these individuals seek to live in conformity to both. They value life and, like the Pacifist, believe it is wrong to kill yet they also understand the inevitability of war in a fallen world. These individuals therefore will serve in the military in non-combatant roles. They may serves as Chaplains, medics, doctors, or office workers. All in all their hope is to obey God and government in the midst of a fallen world.

3. Just War

Finally some Christians believe that war, at times, can be just and therefore a viable option for Christians. These individuals take seriously the role of Government in the New Testament and look to Old Testament books like Joshua and Judges to find certain criteria that would make a war just. There are several indiciators that make a war just according to the Just War advocate. These indicators are: just intent, last resort, formal declaration, limited objectives, proportionality of good vs. evil and non-combatant immunity. If all of these indicators are present, the just war advocate would argue that war is moral in the eyes of God.

Moving forward:

As Christians it is imperative that we pray, study the Word of God, and come to hold convictions in regard to war. We live in a society that allows us to impact the perspective of war by participating in Government through ways in which we have already discussed in parts 1 and 2 of this series. War, just or unjust, is horrible, on this all Christians should agree. The more we can do as followers of Jesus Christ to avoid the brutal devastation that is involved in war the better. Further we need to make sure that during times of war we as Christians are doing all that we can to limit human suffering. We need to help offer valuable solutions and participate in the ongoing discussion that seeks peace. Further out convictions should be the seeds of our actions.

If the only reason we hold convictions about war is so that we can debate others Christians we’ve missed the point. To a certain extent this is good, but not so if it causes us to miss a world full of suffering the exists around us. God does call us to engage our minds, it’s true, but He calls us to engage our hands, feet and heart as well. Given our global reality today how can you mobilize your hands and feet to help the thousands of refugees fleeing war torn countries? Have you ever empathized with the twenty something who is serving in a war torn country because he joined the National Guard to pay for college? What about those who have lost sons and daughters in recent battles near or far?

We may enjoy peace in our country today but peace always has a price. While you engage your mind and spirit in asking God to guide your understanding of war ask the Father to engage the rest of your faculties as well. People all over the world are hurting right now because of war and we need to offer them the hope of Jesus Christ.

Community Questions:

Having looked at the options, which position do you believe is most in line with Scripture and why (please no hobby horsing)?

How are you making helping those impacted by war around you right now?

Politics, Revolution and War (or Now That I Have Your Attention) Part 2

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The last few months has brought the word revolution to the world stage. Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Iran are just a few of the places that are dealing with this issue. But it hits much closer to home. There have been many acts of civil disobedience and protest in the state of Wisconsin over the past several weeks and in other states as well. This global forecast should make Christians stop and consider what the Bible has to say about civil disobedience and whether or not revolution is ever justified.

First, let’s recall that God has ordained government and that it was created to serve God’s purposes. (Politics, Revolution and War Par 1). Theologically speaking, this is very important because it gives inherent purpose to government and helps Christians understand their relationship to government. Further it is important to understand that a government can accomplish the purposes of God without being Christian.

With this understanding let’s look at the ways in which members of society have historically confronted their government with grievances.

1. Influence of Public Opinion and Public Legislation.

At any given time in any society there is a segment of the populace that is estranged from government. They see differently on the issues and seek to make changes in public opinion and law. In a normal functioning society this should be sought and is healthy. It ensures there is public debate and that the will of the people is taken in by those who are leading in government. For Christians who see government beginning to stand in conflict with its God ordained purpose influence should be immediately asserted. In his book Choosing the Good author Dennis Hollinger offers 9 forms of Christian influence that can be utilized by the follower of Christ. Some of these include: lobbying, Christian embodiment and Christian relief. Let me be frank, if a Christian has not exhausted every means to influence the public opinion and legislation, they have no business moving toward more extreme ways to change the action of government. Influencing our society is an important part of being salt and light within the world.

2. Civil Disobedience

Disobedience to the laws of government happens regularly and for a variety of reasons.  The key to Civil Disobedience is both the reason and the motive. John Davis defines civil disobedience as: ” “a public, nonviolent, and conscientious act contrary to law, usually done with the intent to bring about a change in the policies or laws of the government.” Let this be a guide for many of us who are trying to understand the recent acts of civil disobedience around our very own country. The question to whether civil disobedience is called for is two fold. First, is government acting to such an extent that the it is neglecting it’s God given purposes. Second, is government neglecting it’s God given purposes to such an extent that lawful forms of influence to public opinion and legislation will prolong suffering or allow for more wickedness. There are several examples of God approved civil disobedience. The best example is that of the Jewish Mid-Wives in Egypt who refused to kill male Jewish babies (Exodus 1:15-22). Something all Christians should consider is the results of civil disobedience. What is one trying to effect. Furthermore examples from Scripture should challenge us to consider what issues are of most concern before God’s eyes. Put differently, are we willing to die for issues with which God is only slightly concerned. Put even more bluntly, do we cry for justice in the same areas God does even when those areas don’t impact our personal everyday living?

3. Revolution

Again we turn to Davis for a working definition. Revolution can be defined as “an attempt to make a radical change in the system of government via the infringement of prevailing constitutional arrangements and the use of force.” What makes this different from war is that there is not outside “aggressor” but rather government itself that is seen as the enemy of the people. Fully discussing this particular topic is beyond the scope of a single blog post but let’s hit a few big ideas. Strong arguments can be made against revolution on the part of Christians from scripture. (Romans 13:2, 1 Peter 2:13). That being said there is debate on the issue as some see a support for “justifiable revolution” within scripture (Daniel 6:22, Judges 2:15, Luke 1:52). This is an issue that one should wrestle with but hopefully never have to act upon. In my opinion the Christian must significantly wrestle with not only his relationship toward God and government but also with what God calls the Christian to in regard to the 6th command (Thou shall not kill) as well as  war. Revolution is never a pretty thing and should never be entered into lightly. As a Christian how does the Word of God help you understand the revolutions that are going on around the world right now? Furthermore in our day and age of Globalization are their ways you can rightly fight for the oppressed through legitimate means such as the exerting of influence. You may well be able to head off revolution if you would only spend the right amount of time influencing for the good of others. Something to consider.

This has been a very long post, but I hope you’ve stuck with me for this issue is important. We must constantly submit the issues of our day to the Word of God and only then ask: how then should I live.

Community Questions:

Here are a few suggested sources if you are interested in digging deeper on this or any of the other subjects discussed in this series:

Davis, John. Evangelical Ethics. 3rd Edition. Philipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2004.

Hollinger, Dennis. Choosing the Good; Christian Ethics in a Complex World. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2002.

This is certainly a complex issues and would love to hear your thoughts and questions: Feel free to respond.

Politics, Revolution and War. (or..Now that I have Your Attention Part 1)

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I want to spend a few weeks pressing your mind on several hot button issues that have (even more so than usual) come to the forefront in our society. They are: Politics, Revolution and War. More specifically I want to challenge you all to come at each of these emotionally charged issues with a specifically Christian perspective.

So..let’s get at it shall we.

Part 1: Politics

It is no doubt that Politics is a charged topic for many Christians. Yet I have also observed what I consider to be a disturbing pattern. For most the issue of politics usually begins with two words: Democrat and Republican. Many Christians, failing to get beyond these labels, fall comfortably victim to party lines and pull that lever in the voting booth no matter the choice. Furthermore they find a certain pleasure in debating (that’s putting it nicely) with other Christians who fall into the opposite camp about their inability to critically think about the issues. (Does this sound like you or someone you know?)

Yet stop right now and ask yourself the following questions:

If we do not know what the Word of God says about the issue of politics we cannot serve God well in the arena of government. I believe God desires His children to be more than good party adherents. Here are a few points to reflect on that will hopefully get the conversation started in the right direction.

1. The Bible tells us one of the primary roles of government is the protection of justice for all its citizens. (Psalm 72:12-15)

As you choose who and what to vote for consider what impact it will have on those who have no voice, the inability to speak for themselves, or are currently being oppressed within our own society. This will not make every issue immediately black and white but it will put us on the right line of discussion and debate with others.

2. The Bible tells us one of the primary roles of government is the judgment of wickedness in it’s society. (Romans 13:3-4)

How will that particular measure or sanction impact the necessary practice of checking evil within our society? Will it hinder the punishment of evil? Can it embolden some to act wickedly? Who is the sole arbiter of what is and is not good? Does something have to be classified as criminal to be wicked? These are important questions that should guide or decision making.

3. The Bible tells us submission to government coupled with the personal responsibility to do good is a Godly pursuit.   ( 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Do I speak well of those who I did not vote for? Am I contributing to the silence of the foolish or to the general babble of the foolish with my words and actions? How can I disagree with my elected officials in a God honoring way? (We will talk more on this subject in the weeks to come). Is it possible that the one that we did not vote for was God’s choice and that the individual we voted for was not God’s choice? If so, how should we respond when our candidate is not elected?

I hope I have raised some good things for thought and discussion. I would love for you to throw your ideas into the ring. Primarily, let us be Christians who allow the Word of God to guide all areas of our life…even politics. I think we will all be surprised what God has to say on the topic if we just took a breath and let Him talk for awhile.

Community Questions:

1. Is there a balance between justice and personal responbility? (The Nanny State vs. Individual Responsibility)

2. Given what the Bible has to say about government should there be a separation between Church and State as exists today? If you could change this concept in our society how would you?