Saturday, May 31, 2003
Eraser
Watching the movie “Eraser”, I’m fascinated with this thought that Christ is our Eraser, erasing us from the world of sin, to live without the danger of condemnation, giving us a new life to live. “You have just been erased!”
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Law of the Spirit
Once it was asked, “Do we need to obey the Law at all?” (speaking of the Hebrew Law and Torah commonly referred to as the Old Testament of the Bible.) To which I responded:
Isn’t it more correctly asked, ‘Which law do we need to obey?’
“Which law were you thinking that we ‘need’ to obey?”
The “Law” of obedience through faith in Christ. Also known as the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:2). They always need some law to obey, so I figure we give them one that’s based in scripture.
There are two types of laws, the first law, like human laws, is a set of rules that MUST be followed or else a consequence must be faced in punishment. As long as there is someone to enforce it, of course. The second type of law, is a natural condition that exists by nature of God’s creation. Adherence is natural, simply by being a part of this creation; gravity, motion, even the functions of our bodies can be considered to be part of the natural law. If we don’t breathe, we die of asphyxiation (lack of oxygen and overabundance of CO2). The first Law was like the first type of law. The second law is what I mean by quoting Paul from Romans. The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, is a “natural” condition for us because we have been recreated (new creation, raised in Christ, etc.). We adhere to it simply by being part of Christ. Our belief in Him is like our breathing in this world, normal and necessary for life.
Now, when we try to readhere to the Law, it’s like trying to swim under water in this new world. You inhale a deep breath of grace and dive down into the murky waters of religion. You strain and strain to keep yourself under the water because you can’t pop up on top until you’re worthy. You finally rise to the top, gasping for breath, upset at yourself for not being good enough to make it. Your getting a breath again, is like reaffirming that grace has saved you. My question is, “Why do we dive down again?”
I’m done trying to swim under the water. I might get a mask and snorkel and stick my head in now and again, but I think I’ll stay on the surface. Maybe I’ll take a walk on the shore. I hear there’s some really neat people on the dry land and some great food. Maybe I’ll get some of that fruit from the Tree of Life.
If I have to talk to anyone about obedience to a law, it’s going to be one that is, to me, like breathing. Imagine how many people are floating on the surface, unconscious but alive from simply trying to swim underwater too much.
(this post in no way expresses the author’s true opinion of water sports of any kind. :) )
Isn’t it more correctly asked, ‘Which law do we need to obey?’
“Which law were you thinking that we ‘need’ to obey?”
The “Law” of obedience through faith in Christ. Also known as the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:2). They always need some law to obey, so I figure we give them one that’s based in scripture.
There are two types of laws, the first law, like human laws, is a set of rules that MUST be followed or else a consequence must be faced in punishment. As long as there is someone to enforce it, of course. The second type of law, is a natural condition that exists by nature of God’s creation. Adherence is natural, simply by being a part of this creation; gravity, motion, even the functions of our bodies can be considered to be part of the natural law. If we don’t breathe, we die of asphyxiation (lack of oxygen and overabundance of CO2). The first Law was like the first type of law. The second law is what I mean by quoting Paul from Romans. The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, is a “natural” condition for us because we have been recreated (new creation, raised in Christ, etc.). We adhere to it simply by being part of Christ. Our belief in Him is like our breathing in this world, normal and necessary for life.
Now, when we try to readhere to the Law, it’s like trying to swim under water in this new world. You inhale a deep breath of grace and dive down into the murky waters of religion. You strain and strain to keep yourself under the water because you can’t pop up on top until you’re worthy. You finally rise to the top, gasping for breath, upset at yourself for not being good enough to make it. Your getting a breath again, is like reaffirming that grace has saved you. My question is, “Why do we dive down again?”
I’m done trying to swim under the water. I might get a mask and snorkel and stick my head in now and again, but I think I’ll stay on the surface. Maybe I’ll take a walk on the shore. I hear there’s some really neat people on the dry land and some great food. Maybe I’ll get some of that fruit from the Tree of Life.
If I have to talk to anyone about obedience to a law, it’s going to be one that is, to me, like breathing. Imagine how many people are floating on the surface, unconscious but alive from simply trying to swim underwater too much.
(this post in no way expresses the author’s true opinion of water sports of any kind. :) )
Monday, May 26, 2003
Freedom vs. the Symbols
I had to travel down to North Carolina to drop my wife’s grandfather off at my sister-in-law’s house after he had spent a week or so visiting with us. While I’m there, I take the opportunity to visit the Festival of Flight airshow at Pope AFB. I’m an aviation buff and a pilot, so this kind of thing goes really well with my personality. And the key performers this year, for the Memorial Day weekend airshow, are the US Air Force Thunderbirds. While we’re watching the performance, with several thousand other people, I can’t help but notice, as do several other visitors, this gentleman in the bleachers nearby.
He’s probably in his late forties, early fifties, has had quite a few of the beverages from the beer stands, and is totally enjoying this demonstration flight by the Thunderbirds. He is hollering his approval at each maneuver. As the several-tonned weapon-chariots-turned-toys turn carbon-based fuel into speed and loud noise, this gentleman is cheering them on, chasing their afterburner-induced roars with fists raised in exultation and pumping them in victory. And as the music changes, from rhythmic and exciting to pensive and patriotic, I watch this man stumble through the words.
These were symbols to him, symbols of his freedom as an American. I know this freedom is not defined by the symbols, by the planes, the Armed Forces, the flag, the Anthem, or the songs, but that doesn’t change the meaning of these symbols for that man. I would never seek to strip the man of his symbols, but I would also never accept that man’s demand that I pledge allegiance to the flag, that I sing the Anthem, that I revere my fellow members of the Armed Forces in order to prove my love for my country or its freedoms, to him. Nor would I allow that man to demand it of any other.
The demand is the very antithesis of freedom.
He’s probably in his late forties, early fifties, has had quite a few of the beverages from the beer stands, and is totally enjoying this demonstration flight by the Thunderbirds. He is hollering his approval at each maneuver. As the several-tonned weapon-chariots-turned-toys turn carbon-based fuel into speed and loud noise, this gentleman is cheering them on, chasing their afterburner-induced roars with fists raised in exultation and pumping them in victory. And as the music changes, from rhythmic and exciting to pensive and patriotic, I watch this man stumble through the words.
These were symbols to him, symbols of his freedom as an American. I know this freedom is not defined by the symbols, by the planes, the Armed Forces, the flag, the Anthem, or the songs, but that doesn’t change the meaning of these symbols for that man. I would never seek to strip the man of his symbols, but I would also never accept that man’s demand that I pledge allegiance to the flag, that I sing the Anthem, that I revere my fellow members of the Armed Forces in order to prove my love for my country or its freedoms, to him. Nor would I allow that man to demand it of any other.
The demand is the very antithesis of freedom.
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Life is a Circus
Took my wife and kids to the circus Saturday. It was a very small, three-ring setup, sponsored by the Shriners. We saw the Wild Animal trainer, there was a single clown, one elephant, an acrobatic troupe (no trapeze , though), a high-wire act, a hula hoop “juggler”, a family of trained dog handlers, and a husband and wife crossbow act (replacing the classic knife-throwing acts?). One of the interesting things to watch was how the action would move from ring to ring and while your attention was drawn to one, what you wouldn’t see were the “roadies” (or whatever they’re called in circuses) setting up the next act in one of the other rings.
And then of course, was the whole act of making things out to be more difficult than they really were. Sure, if you think about one man alone in a cage with 6-7 tigers, that might seem a bit dangerous. But when you consider that this is the man who has probably raised them since they were kittens, the man responsible for feeding them, all of a sudden it loses its mystique and sense of impending danger. Now, of course, my children didn’t notice at all. They are more intrigued with the more mundane aspects of, “How does he get those tigers to do what he wants.” And perhaps somewhere in their little heads, the gears are whirring away to figure out just exactly how they can get Mom and Dad to get a tiger cub for a pet.
My new job as a safety professional also gave me some interesting perspective on the circus. Each act DOES have some risk inherent with it. But the acts are constructed, planned, and rehearsed to the point where the risk is controlled extremely well, all the while presenting to the audience that there is every possibility that an accident could happen this very day. The tightrope troupe, for instance. I’m pretty sure, although the acting was very good, that several “missteps” were actually planned in order to draw the crowd’s attention more fully.
And then of course, was the whole act of making things out to be more difficult than they really were. Sure, if you think about one man alone in a cage with 6-7 tigers, that might seem a bit dangerous. But when you consider that this is the man who has probably raised them since they were kittens, the man responsible for feeding them, all of a sudden it loses its mystique and sense of impending danger. Now, of course, my children didn’t notice at all. They are more intrigued with the more mundane aspects of, “How does he get those tigers to do what he wants.” And perhaps somewhere in their little heads, the gears are whirring away to figure out just exactly how they can get Mom and Dad to get a tiger cub for a pet.
My new job as a safety professional also gave me some interesting perspective on the circus. Each act DOES have some risk inherent with it. But the acts are constructed, planned, and rehearsed to the point where the risk is controlled extremely well, all the while presenting to the audience that there is every possibility that an accident could happen this very day. The tightrope troupe, for instance. I’m pretty sure, although the acting was very good, that several “missteps” were actually planned in order to draw the crowd’s attention more fully.
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks.
We get so stuck in this rut of Law, with all the comparing, with all the judging. How could we ever possibly work our way out of something that we are continually working our way INTO! Our own judgment of others condemns us to those same people because we claim that our salvation is by grace, and yet we deny them that same grace and use it to pretend that we’re better somehow. Isn’t that the same old trick that I’ve been doing forever?
I don’t need a new trick….I need a new dog!
I don’t need a new trick….I need a new dog!
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Love is a Choice?
Everyday, I hear the references to choice. My dear friend Mickey, says that we constantly have choices to make, whether we love other people or not. I can understand that point of view. Love has its expression in both actions and words, but love itself is not the actions or the words. Some say that love is a commitment, and I suppose that this is yet another expression of love. But, by itself, commitment cannot fully express all that is love is.
God is love. And everything He has done has been a continual expression of Himself. We are creations of love, creatures designed to be a reflection of His nature and to bask in, and dwell in it. Love is more than a choice and more than a commitment and more than a feeling. It is the expression of God through His creation that creates a wholeness out of parts. Two or more are unified into one body. The expression of love creates a joining, a touch, a direct link into the person of God. Action, choice, commitment, and words are merely methods to the madness of God creating wholeness and oneness in the world!
God is love. And everything He has done has been a continual expression of Himself. We are creations of love, creatures designed to be a reflection of His nature and to bask in, and dwell in it. Love is more than a choice and more than a commitment and more than a feeling. It is the expression of God through His creation that creates a wholeness out of parts. Two or more are unified into one body. The expression of love creates a joining, a touch, a direct link into the person of God. Action, choice, commitment, and words are merely methods to the madness of God creating wholeness and oneness in the world!
Thursday, May 15, 2003
The Fight Against Evil
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.—Ephesians 6:12, NIVOh yeah? Really? If it is, then why do we keep attacking and threatening those to whom this message of grace was intended? Why do we continually battle against those who disagree with us, and those whom we look down upon as being “evil” and “worldly”?
“There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
What a condemning, stuck up attitude that says, because I am not THAT person in their situation, I’m better than them. Don’t think that I’m talking in religious terms only, these problems go deeper than mere religion into the whole of humanity.
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
The Legalism of Grace
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. —Galatians 5:1, NIVAt times I think we misunderstand what exactly this freedom is. This freedom is freedom from sin. It can’t touch us anymore, we will no longer be seen as sinners, we will no longer fall under its clutches because God refuses to let us be separated from Him anymore. You can still screw up, you can still make mistakes, but things that are lawful to you can no longer be construed as sin and be used as shackles to bind you.
That is the reality, but if we imagine that a thing is sinful, Paul says, that to us, it remains a sin and it will continue to corrupt the way we view ourselves and others, apart from the true reality of who we really are that has been given to us in Jesus Christ. And this is the danger of the legality of “Grace”, when the failure to say the right things or when we do things that have been redefined as “legalistic”, becomes sin to us.
No, grace was never meant to merely recreate another mindset on what is and isn’t sin, grace was meant to take the focus off of sin and place the focus on Jesus and God. God says, “Forget all that pretending that you’re better than you really are and come spend time with me because I AM going to make you better than you are!”
Saturday, May 10, 2003
Hypocritical, Self-Righteous SOB!!!
Who is the self-righteous SOB? Me. Yeah, I think I’m so good compared to everyone else. Sometimes the illusion continues in face of the stark reality that other people are better than me at something. And always the truth is right there in front of my face, just daring me to realize and see it.
For instance, driving in my car. I’m a really good driver and I pride myself upon my knowledge of the rules of the road. What does that do for me? Makes it really easy for me to see when the OTHER guy is not quite following the rules. Somehow, though, I seem to be almost totally blinded to my own failures to follow the rules. For instance, I speed, as a common practice, to make up for one of my other shortcomings, a failure to plan. Yet, I am so willing to overlook my own breaking of the rules in order to yell at a fellow driver whom I observe breaking the rules. What a hypocrite I am!
Luckily, our qualification to continue to drive isn’t decided by how well we obey all of the rules of the road (there ARE exceptions), much in the same way that God doesn’t decide to love us by how well we obey religious rules and regulations (there are NO exceptions). The understanding of the rules usually helps us to see violations, but doesn’t necessarily help us color inside the lines. Always we will find ourselves concerned with where the boundaries are and attempting to not cross them. Usually, those who think they’re always coloring inside the lines are too busy pointing out the mistakes of others who aren’t. But we are not identified by our mistakes, it’s the world that looks at it that way, not God.
For instance, driving in my car. I’m a really good driver and I pride myself upon my knowledge of the rules of the road. What does that do for me? Makes it really easy for me to see when the OTHER guy is not quite following the rules. Somehow, though, I seem to be almost totally blinded to my own failures to follow the rules. For instance, I speed, as a common practice, to make up for one of my other shortcomings, a failure to plan. Yet, I am so willing to overlook my own breaking of the rules in order to yell at a fellow driver whom I observe breaking the rules. What a hypocrite I am!
Luckily, our qualification to continue to drive isn’t decided by how well we obey all of the rules of the road (there ARE exceptions), much in the same way that God doesn’t decide to love us by how well we obey religious rules and regulations (there are NO exceptions). The understanding of the rules usually helps us to see violations, but doesn’t necessarily help us color inside the lines. Always we will find ourselves concerned with where the boundaries are and attempting to not cross them. Usually, those who think they’re always coloring inside the lines are too busy pointing out the mistakes of others who aren’t. But we are not identified by our mistakes, it’s the world that looks at it that way, not God.
Friday, May 9, 2003
Nothing New.
I really wish I had something witty, inspiring, inciteful and refreshing to share with you all, but I don’t. Life keeps moving on and people keep doing the things that people do, good and bad. I’m really thankful in moments like this when I’m searching for the “thing” that will set me apart as different and special from everyone else, that the one thing that really does make me special has nothing at all to do with me. God’s love is what makes me special. Not better than you or anyone else, because that same unconditional, unrestricted love is what God has for all of us. So, I can’t end up being “better” but I can start seeing just how special you really are! Hey, just now, as I’m looking at you, I can see that you’re really worth loving too!!! That’s so cool!
Wednesday, May 7, 2003
Behavior Modification
If you listen to some people the whole point of religion is to make sure you know how to act the “right” way. Now, I’m with the next guy that says we should all treat each other with kindness, love, and respect, so what gives religion the corner on behavior as proof that they are in favor with God. I’m in the Army. We have values and standards too, and who is to say that the guys that totally portray those values haven’t gotten it more right than the churches?
The problem I see is that the goal no longer becomes getting people acquainted with God but rather a program that strictly regulates how to behave and who to associate with. I mean, if God has cleansed us from all of our sins, how do we get ourselves “dirty” again? And that’s what churches have seemingly become consumed with, how to teach everyone not to get dirty again. I don’t get it, I thought that’s what Jesus died for. Well, evidently that point is up for debate among the denominations, which brings me to my other podium pounding problem. If Christians are so filled with love for one another and the rest of the world, why can’t they agree? They not only fight against the rest of the world to prove how right they are, they fight amongst each other to prove who is the rightest of the right. I’m sure someone will be along shortly to prove just how wrong I am about all of this. Of course, then I’ll be right.
I had said:
I’ve always suspected He was doing it all on His own. You know, freelancing without consulting us, or asking our permission. He’s just out there winning hearts over to His way of unconditional love and He’s doing it without our help. Now, there’s a novel concept…a gospel of faith without works so that NO MAN can brag about how what he did made God owe him.
Sounds almost scriptural doesn’t it?
The problem I see is that the goal no longer becomes getting people acquainted with God but rather a program that strictly regulates how to behave and who to associate with. I mean, if God has cleansed us from all of our sins, how do we get ourselves “dirty” again? And that’s what churches have seemingly become consumed with, how to teach everyone not to get dirty again. I don’t get it, I thought that’s what Jesus died for. Well, evidently that point is up for debate among the denominations, which brings me to my other podium pounding problem. If Christians are so filled with love for one another and the rest of the world, why can’t they agree? They not only fight against the rest of the world to prove how right they are, they fight amongst each other to prove who is the rightest of the right. I’m sure someone will be along shortly to prove just how wrong I am about all of this. Of course, then I’ll be right.
I had said:
“Now, I’m with the next guy that says we should all treat each other with kindness, love, and respect, so what gives religion the corner on behavior as proof that they are in favor with God. I’m in the Army. We have values and standards too, and who is to say that the guys that totally portray those values haven’t gotten it more right than the churches?Continuing that thought, isn’t it odd that this type of disciplined behavior can be replicated by people who are ‘without the truth’? After all, if the Army can do it, what claim do christians have to some supernatural assistance to behave that way? I think that the answer lies beyond us humans. That the Truth is out there and the Truth is getting around. The Truth is being witnessed of, testified about, and look around, not a single missionary or pastor or nary a christian to take the credit for leading these people along some path of “correct behavior”. Do you think that maybe God isn’t waiting on us, self-important humans, to get the word out about Himself?
The problem I see is that the goal no longer becomes getting people acquainted with God but rather a program that strictly regulates how to behave and who to associate with.”
I’ve always suspected He was doing it all on His own. You know, freelancing without consulting us, or asking our permission. He’s just out there winning hearts over to His way of unconditional love and He’s doing it without our help. Now, there’s a novel concept…a gospel of faith without works so that NO MAN can brag about how what he did made God owe him.
Sounds almost scriptural doesn’t it?
BREAKING THE LAW, BREAKING THE LAW!
The Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus [Rom 8:1] condemns you to eternal life!
When I was first considering this, I was thinking that I could somehow describe our liberation in Jesus Christ by pitting one set of laws against another. But, all you get when you pit law against law is…yep, you guessed it; law. So, why does the miraculous exchange between sinner and Savior, the transformation from sinner to saint, bear the same description of the holy tool used to condemn us? Who knows? Perhaps it is similar to our laws of the land, which are never actually erased or stricken from the books but instead are altered and amended by later statutes used to correct and redress errors. The Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution outlawed alcohol in the United States during the period we call Prohibition. Yet, when it came time to remove the penalties of that law, it wasn’t removed as an amendment, it was changed; repealed by the Twenty-first Amendment. In the same way, Jesus has amended, by the legislation of His death and resurrection, the Law of Moses & the Ten Commandments, that instead of punishment we should be awarded eternal life, His life, as a token of His mercy and evidence of His grace.
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