Evil



I never thought I'd be writing on evil at Christmas time. But I also never dreamed that a nightmare like the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy could ever take place.

Ironically, such evil is also found in the Christmas story.

"When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more."

- Matthew 2:16-18

This is the world Christ was born into.

It was a dangerous world, a fragile world, a world where Herod was king. Herod was known for his brutality and for letting nothing stand in the way of his desire for power; so much so that he killed one of his wives and two of his sons when he felt they were plotting against him. Jesus was born into a world where Herod was king.

This is the world in which we live.

It's a world where sometimes unspeakable evil happens. Rabbi Harold Kushner once wrote that what makes something truly evil is,  "it prevents people from believing in God's goodness"  (When Bad Things Happen to Good People, p. 53).

This is the world Christ came to redeem.

This is world he came to save. This is the world he came to love. This is the world that needs his light. And this is the world he will return to to transform.

Evil will not have the last word. God will. Love will. Christ will.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never put it out. This is at the heart of Christmas.

Prayer: Help us to cling to faith and hope, O God, even in the face of evil. In the name of our crucified and risen Savior. Amen.



The Wise Men warm Joseph & Mary to flee Herod.



(The thoughts above are taken largely from a message by the late Dr. James I. McCord, former president of Princeton Theological Seminary.)

Extra Credit:

A Prayer for the Sandy Hook Tragedy
By the Rev. James Martin, SJ - Jesuit priest

Where were you, God?

We are crushed with grief, God.
We cannot bear to think of so many people killed.
We cannot bear to think of children being killed.
It is unthinkable to us, the worst tragedy.    Children.

Where were you, God? How could you let this happen?
Why is your world like this? We are sad and angry and confused.

But God, we know that you know what it means to have a child die.
For your Son died a violent death.

And we know that your Son understands grief.
For he wept bitterly when his friend Lazarus died.
And he was moved with compassion when he saw suffering.
His heart broke like our hearts do. He cried like we do today.

We know too that your Son raised Lazarus from the dead.
And that you raised your own murdered Son from the grave,
As a sign of the eternal life you have planned for us.
The life into which you now place the victims, whom you loved. And love.

We know that you understand our terrible anguish.
You accept our bitterness and our confusion too.
And we know that your Son is beside us, weeping with us.

We know that you are still with us God, in the darkness.
In our compassion for the families and friends of the victims.
In the love that moves us to care for one another.
In the anger that drives us to strive to put an end to violence,
As your Son tried to do in his time with us.

Most of all, eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon them.

You said, "Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Comfort them, Loving God.
Comfort every grieving parent, every scared and confused child, every first responder.
Teach us your ways, and lead us toward your everlasting light, that light that always shines and that the darkness can never put out.  Amen.



"I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.
 I believe in love, even when I don't feel it.
 I believe in God, even when there is silence."
 -Words scratched on the walls of a cellar in Cologne, Germany by a Jew hiding from Nazi persecution.

Advent

I have a friend who does all his Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. He says he finds the challenge exhilarating. While I can appreciate the adrenaline rush, I prefer to plan ahead. I'm not fanatical about it but I start thinking about gifts before Thanksgiving. I spread out my Christmas preparations over 4 - 6 weeks. I like it that way.

I think it's best to prepare spiritually for Christmas in the same way. It's too big of an event to just get started on Christmas Eve. That's why we have Advent. Advent means "coming" or "arrival." It's the season that helps us prepare for the advent of our Lord, both his first and second comings. Advent is the first season in the church year. It begins on the 4th Sunday prior to Christmas.

Advent is a season of prayer and reflection, of time of pondering like Mary. We focus more on our relationship with God. Often a devotional guide is a part. We light candles on the Advent wreath at church and maybe even at home. We reflect on the gifts that Christ brings to us - hope, peace, joy and love. We wait and prepare for the Light of Christ is be born in us anew.

Prayer: Help me to spiritually prepare for Christmas. Amen.

Extra Credit

The Advent Wreath is a German/Lutheran tradition that goes back to the 16 Century. It may have even been used in pre-Christian times as a pre-winter symbol of hope - as the days grew shorter another candle would be lit. The wreath, of course, is in the shape of a circle, a symbol of eternity. It's made or covered with evergreens, a symbol of God's faithfulness to us (ever-green). Candles are lighted on the four Sundays prior to Christmas, with the Christ candle lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to celebrate the gift of Christ, the Light of the World.

Thanksgiving

 

"If the only prayer you ever pray is 'Thank You,' that would suffice."

- Meister Eckharrt, 1260-1328

 

Prayer:

Gracious and Loving God,

Thank You.

Amen.

"It's just not normal, Rich," he said emphatically. "Homosexuality is not normal."  To which I replied, "Of course it's not normal to you, my friend - you're not gay!"

I know of a large family made up of several sons. Two of those sons happen to be gay. Both of them are faith-filled committed Christians. One believes it's best to remain celibate. The other does not.

Here's a thought: maybe we should let gay folks decide for themselves, and the rest of us should just mind our own business.

As a Christian and lover of the Bible, however, I can't ignore what it says. Yet when I read the Old Testament passages on the subject (Gen. 19:5, Lev. 18:22 & 20:13) I can't help but be reminded that these same books instruct men to shun menstruating women, and avoid pork (and all animals with a cloven hoof) as well as shellfish. At the same time these books allow for slavery and polygamy. So it shouldn't surprise me that the ancient Israelites (3500 years ago) weren't up-to-date on everything.

The Apostle Paul mentions the issue (perhaps) in three passages (Rom. 1:26-27, I Cor. 6:9 & I Tim. 1:9-10). But here's the thing - Paul never knew Jim & Billy, two friends of mine who've been together for over 25 years. Listen to what the late Harvard Chaplain, Rev. Peter Gomes says:

"The homosexuality Paul would have known and to which he makes reference in his letter, particularly to the Romans, has to do with pederasty and male prostitution, and he particularly condemns those heterosexual men and women who assume homosexual practices . . . All Paul knew of homosexuality was the debauched pagan expression of it . . . . 'Sodomite' as we now know, refers almost exclusively to a male prostitute, and is not a Pauline synonym for 'homosexual,' as we understand that term."

So St. Paul is not condemning Jim & Billy! He's condemning very pagan and immoral practices (heterosexual men visiting male prostitutes in pagan temples. Yikes. I'd like to speak out against that as well.)

Prayer: Gracious and Holy God, thank you for your love for all people. Forgive your church for not always welcoming all people. Teach us all to love as you love. Amen.




         

Heilsgeschichte

There are some words you just never forget. "Heilsgeschichte" is one of them. It's German for,  "salvation history."  It's pronounced, "Hiles-ga-schick-ta." Trust me. Heilsgeschichte is something Biblical scholars and theologians notice in the scriptures.

In the Old Testament it's the redemptive history of God and the Jews. In the New Testament it's the savings acts of Jesus Christ.

Scholars believe that this is the first and therefore the oldest telling of the sacred history:

 "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.  When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land
flowing with milk and honey."       - Deut. 26:5-9

The Jews also sang their holy history. Psalms 44, 68, 78, 105, 106, 114 all retell the sacred story.  The story of Jesus' life, death, resurrection and return is the heilsgeschichte of the New Testament. We retell it at every communion service.

Sacred history culminates in the Return of Christ. The idea of heilsgeschichte is in direct contrast to the ancient Greek view that history is meaningless. The biblical view is that God is working in human history, and that history is heading somewhere - to the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Prayer. God of the ages, give me the faith to believe in sacred history, that life is not meaningless and that history will culminate in You.  Amen.

Hell

We were having a discussion one night at youth group about heaven and hell. I love talking about big issues with others, especially teens, because sometimes they say the most insightful things. That night a young man named Jordan said it best: "I believe in hell. I just don't think it's a very big place."

Some folks seem to think of it as just the opposite, which is quite a sad outlook if you really think about it. Brian McLaren once challenged this view with an analogy that goes something like this: If folks are being tortured in your basement, how much of a party can you really have upstairs in your living room?

I believe the point of heaven and hell is that this world matters. How we live matters. What we do with what God has given us matters.

Here's a thought: The point about heaven and hell is not the afterlife but this life. It's to motivate us for this life here and now!

Prayer: Loving and Gracious God, help me to live this day as a Citizen of Heaven. In Your Name. Amen.

Extra credit 

Somewhere in his writings C.S. Lewis wonders aloud if hell is eternal. Maybe it's a temporary place until something essential is learned?

Maybe in the end, it's as author Rob Bell suggests, "Love Wins." This view is called "Christian Universalism." It's the belief that Jesus Christ is indeed the Savior of the world and that everyone is saved because of him, regardless if they believe in him or not. His love and grace will have the last word. "As all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ" (I Cor. 15:21-22)

Let me give the last word at the moment however to Brian McLaren:

"It's none of your business who does and does not go to hell. It is your business to be warned by it and to run, not walk, in the opposite direction! It is your business to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, to love your neighbor as yourself, to have confidence in Jesus Christ and live as Jesus lived. Let the imagery of hell remind you that life is serious business, that there are real consequences to how we live and believe, that justice and injustice ultimately matter more than most of what people worry about. Now stop speculating about hell and start living for heaven!"

From A New Kind of Christian, p. 126

Heaven

Twila was always a very calm, even keel person. Nevertheless I asked her, "Are you afraid, Twila? Are you afraid of dying?" The doctors said she only had a few weeks. "No," she replied instantly; "I did it once before and it was absolutely beautiful."

From all that I've read and heard the accounts are all the same. Those who have died and come back say it's amazing on the other side, so much so that they don't want to return.

It is proof?  No.   It is evidence?  Yes.

I believe in Heaven because Jesus taught that we have a home with God after our life here is complete (John 14:1-3). I believe in Heaven because I believe that Christ's victory over the grave is a shared victory. It's shared with us.

But I also believe in Heaven because of logic and experience. I experience the love of God here and now in this life. So to me it logically follows that the eternal God's relationship with me (and you!) will not end when we take our last breath.

Former Princeton Theological Seminary President Dr. Thomas Gillespie once put it this way:

By raising Jesus from the dead, God gives us a 'sneak preview' of our own destiny. The risen Christ declares, 'Because I live, you will live also.' That is where our faith begins. And in this faith our hope is grounded.

Yet, contrary to popular opinion, faith is not blind. Faith believes in eternal life, not merely because it is written in the Bible. Faith believes in eternal life, not merely because it is taught by the Church. But rather, faith believes in eternal life because it is experienced now in this life. Faith believes because it knows.

Here's a thought: Heaven is perfectly consistent with the love of God.

Prayer: Thank You, Gracious God, that your love is eternal and therefore so is my life in you. In the Name of the Risen Lord.  Amen.

Extra Credit:

Martin Copenhaver is a U.C.C. pastor and author. He once wrote this about eternal life.

"God cannot be indifferent about our destiny any more than a mother can forget the name of her own child. To believe in eternal life, then, is not to believe in something in addition to believing in God. To believe in eternal life is to believe in this kind of loving God. There is another way to put it. If we believe in God--a God of justice rather than a God of indifference, a God who fulfills rather than taunts, a God who loves rather than torments--then eternal life is simply too good not to be true."

World Religions - The Salvation Question

When I was a teenager in church we called it the "Pygmy Question."  It went like this: "What about the Pygmies in Africa? Will they be saved?"

What about folks deeply committed to religions other than Christianity?

And what about those who've never heard?

CNN's Larry King brought up the issue one night to Evangelist Billy Graham. Rev. Graham gave an answer that surprised me - "I believe people will be judged on the merits of their own religion." With all due respect, that's pretty good for a Baptist! Then Billy went on to say, "But ultimately we all get to heaven because of the Cross and Resurrection of Christ." I believe that, even if I can't logically wrap my brain around it.

"Christ died for our sins, once and for all, in order to bring us to God.   
                                            - I Peter 3:18

My favorite answer to the Salvation Question, however, comes from Christian author, Brian McLaren. When asked the "What about other religions?" question, McLaren responds, "How the heck should I know? And furthermore, it's not my problem. It's God's."

Amen.

Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, I trust in your love for all people, and I trust in the love that I experience through the grace of Jesus Christ. Receive my thanks and my love this day and always. Amen.



Extra Credit

One passage that comes up a lot with this issue is John 14, Jesus' words to the disciples at the Last Supper:

"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."     - John 14:7

It seems pretty straightforward and clear. However one thing the commentaries point out is that Jesus was speaking to his own followers at the culmination of his ministry with them. He's saying, "The way to know God as I've been teaching you - as a personal, loving parent - is by following my ways and my truth. That's your sure way to know God as Abba."

Christ is the Christian Way; He is the Christian Truth, He is the Christian Life in the Spirit. There are other ways, but the Christian way is through Christ.

Christians & Other Religions

I'm beginning a series of teachings this Sunday, October 14 entitled, "Bridges to the Great Religions of the World." So this topic has been on my mind a lot.

It goes without saying that we live in a multicultural world. Many of us live in a multicultural neighborhood. You probably work with someone or encounter someone in your daily life who is part of another religion.

So how do committed Christians interact with folks of other religions?

Can we be fully committed Christ-Followers and still affirm the spiritual journey of others?

Of course, we can.

There are a number of ways up the mountain to God. And no religion has a monopoly on spiritual truth. Not even ours. In fact one of the first things we have to do is get rid of our "Superiority Complex" when it comes to religion. It's pretty hard to truly learn from others if our basic approach and attitude is, "My religion's better, but still, please tell me about yours."

Below is something I found on saltproject.org, a very creative forward-thinking site. I think this says a lot.

Prayer: God of all humanity, give us the humility, the openness and the curiosity to learn from those who look at You and at life very differently. In the Name of Christ our Lord, Amen.

Extra Credit: Coexist?

I'm sure you've seen this bumper sticker:

It's a fine bumper sticker. But here's my question:

Coexist?      Is that the best we can do?

Grace

It happens every mission trip. The resident is appreciative of the work being done by 5 kids and an adult for a solid week. Houses get painted. Porches get repaired or replaced. Windows get caulked. Lives get touched. Hearts get blessed.

It usually happens midweek as the home owner becomes more and more comfortable with the experience. It's then that they ask,

"Hey, how much do you kids get paid for all this work?"

"We don't get paid anything," they reply. "We have to pay to come on these trips, and we have to raise money all year long to come."

It's a moment of grace. Pure grace.

C.S. Lewis said that grace is Christianity's chief contribution to the study of God.

St. Paul taught us that it's "by grace that we are saved" (Ephesians 2:5).

Grace is a free gift. Theologically it's the free gift of God's love. Unmerited. Unearned. Unlimited. It can't be earned. Therefore it can never be lost, because we didn't earn it in the first place. God simply loves us. Period.

Questions:

How have you experienced grace in your life?

How have you experienced God's grace in your life?

Prayer: Thank You, Loving God, for the gift of your acceptance, your favor and your love. Thank you for showering us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Thank you for the gift of salvation and the gift of your unconditional love. Amen.


Extra Credit

John Newton's "Amazing Grace"

It's perhaps the most beloved hymn of all time; yet it can be a little disconcerting calling ourselves "wretches."

Amazing Grace how sweat the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found
Twas blind but now I see.

This might help. The composer, John Newton, led a rather wretched life for a number of years. He was a sailor as a young man and became involved in the slave trade. He himself was captured and enslaved. Eventually he became a strong convert to Christianity and a  prominent supporter of the abolition of slavery.

In an influential pamphlet, "Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade," Newton described the horrific conditions of the slave ships and apologized for "a confession, which ... comes too late ... It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders."

It was Newton's deep awareness of his own sinfulness that led him to pen
such a tribute to God's Grace.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear.
The hour I first believed.

John Newton 1725 - 1807

Understanding the Old Testament

The Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament is the story of a People & their God. But it's also the story of a People & their Land. Therefore one of the quickest ways to understand the history and storyline of the Old Testament is to look at a map . . . or maybe a few maps.

Act I   Abraham & Sarah begin the story.    (2000 BC)

The red line below traces Abraham & Sarah's trip from Ur to the Holy Land. In Genesis 12 God calls them to leave their homeland and go to a new land where God promises to make them a great nation. They started walking . . . . and the rest is history, the history of the Israelites.

Notice that they started in modern day Kuwait and then journeyed through Iraq, down through Syria and Lebanon and then into Israel, the Promised Land.

Act II   Patriarchs & Matriarchs

Generation #1: Abraham & Sarah settle in the Promised Land, called Canaan & Palastine in ancient times.
Generation #2: Isaac & Rebekkah give birth to Jacob & Esau
Generation #3: Jacob & Rachel & Leah & 2 servants have 12 Sons.
Their families become the 12 Tribes of Israel


Act III    Jacob's Family relocates to Egypt

Joseph (Jacob's favorite son) is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers (think "Joseph & His Technicolor Dreamcoat") and he ends up in Egypt. When a famine hits Canaan the family goes to Egypt where Joseph takes care of them. They settle in northern Egypt, in Goshen. There they prosper for 200 years. But then they are enslaved for the next 200 years.

Act IV   The Exodus      (around 1450 BC)

Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt (miracle of the Red Sea). They camp at the Mt. Sinai State Park for a year, as Moses is instructed by God upon the mountain. They then journey through the wilderness for 39 years and end up on the plains of Moab, in modern day Jordan. Moses dies there.


Act V   Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land

Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Then a series of "Judges" (military rulers, including Deborah) leads the nation.
But the Israelites want a king just like all the other nations.


Act VI   United Kingdom - Saul, David, Solomon      (1000 BC)



Israel is about the size of New Jersey, but without Newark.

Saul was a troubled king.
David was a flawed but great king, writing about half of the psalms.
Solomon was said to be the wisest man who ever lived. Israel's a great power.


Act VII   Civil War - The Nation Divided after Solomon's Reign

The Northern Kingdom is called Israel (includes Sea of Galilee).
The Southern Kindgom is called Judah (includes Jerusalem).


Act IIX   Defeat & Exile - Babylonian Captivity

The Northern Kingdom falls to the Assyrians, 734-721 BC.
The Southern Kingdom falls to the Babylonians, 586 BC.
Notice that they're almost back where Abraham & Sarah started from - Ur!


Act IX    The Return of the Exiles

538 BC 1st group returns under Zerubbabel
458 BC 2nd group returns under Ezra
432 BC Last group returns under Nehemiah
Jerusalm rebuilt.


That's the history, geography and story of the Old Testament. It's a story Christians need to know. For as Paul wrote:

These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.   - I Corinthians 10:11

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for your faithfulness to the Israelites and to us. Make us a faith-filled people who know you, follow you and make your goodness known to others; for we like the Israelites have been "blessed to be a blessing." Amen.

Are the Gospel Documents Reliable?

Question: Are the Gospel Documents Reliable?

10 Reasons to Say "Yes"

1. The Rabbinical Method of Teaching was thorough and intense.  Jewish Rabbis made their disciples memorize their teachings verbatim.  An emphasis was placed on understanding what they had memorized.

2. Eyewitnesses were still living as the documents were being written and circulated.  They would have strongly objected to false material.

3. The willingness of the disciples to undergo persecution and martyrdom shows their belief in the truthfulness of what they were reporting.

4. The writers of the NT resisted the temptation to change embarrassing statements.  This shows their commitment to accuracy.

    Mark 9:1    "some will not pass away before the Kingdom comes in power."

    Matthew 1  This genealogy is not correct.  Someone could have corrected it.

5. They preserved words they could not begin to understand.  Jesus' treatment of women & children was not comprehended by the early church, yet they recorded his words.

Ex. Jesus said we must become like a child. Paul says don't be like little children. Ancient culture ignored children as unimportant.

6. They preserved things that at the time of writing were no longer applicable to the early church.

Ex. Question about the Temple Tax - Matt. 17:24

Ex. Jesus' instruction the disciples not to go to the Gentiles - Matt. 10:5

7. The writers could have written answers into the mouth of Jesus to problems they were facing in the early church.  But they did not.

8. The Gospel writers could have written some of Paul's memorable sayings back into the words of Jesus.  But they did not.

9. On the job training. During his time with them Jesus, "sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick" (Luke 9:2). What were they teaching? His material, his Good News. Teaching it to others helped the disciples thoroughly learn Christ's teachings.

10. Jesus' Teaching Methods made it easy to remember what he said. He utilized:

Picturesque speech - a spec & log in eye
Puns - Petros & Petra, Peter & Rock
Proverbs - "Judge not, lest you too be judged"
Poetry - Luke 6:27-28, Mark 8:35, Luke 17:26
Parables - the most striking feature of his teaching

All of the above would assist the disciples in remembering his teachings, especially when you consider that Jesus repeated himself on a number of occasions.  Repetition promotes retention.

The material above comes from several lectures given by Dr. Bruce M. Metzger,
Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Chair of
the Committee of Translators for the RSV and NRSV Bibles.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the faith and faithfulness of those who recorded and preserved your teachings for us. Amen.

The Gospels

A new literary genre.

There are of course four gospels in the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke & John -  four accounts of the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. The gospels are a unique literary genre - part biography, part spiritual treatise, preserving the teachings of Christ for us.

Question: The Gospels writers spend about a third of their writing on the events of just one week in Jesus' life - Holy Week. What point are they most likely making?


The Synoptics + John

Matthew, Mark and Luke are called the "synoptic" gospels because they "see together" a lot of the same things. Mark was apparently written first, for almost all of his material is found in Matthew and Luke. John's gospel was probably written last, as he shares completely different teachings from Christ. 92% of John's material is unique to his gospel. Most notably, John records the "I am" statements - "I am . . . . the Bread of Life . . . the Light of the World . . . the Good Shepherd . . . the Gate for the Sheep . . . the Resurrection and the Life . . . the Way, the Truth & the Life, and
. . . the True Vine."


One Good News, Four Distinct Views

Matthew wrote his gospel for a Jewish audience, stressing that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

Mark wrote his gospel most likely for a Roman audience, showing Jesus to be the obedient servant of God.

Luke wrote his gospel for a Gentile audience, for a Greek culture, showing Jesus to be Perfect Man and a Savior for all.

John wrote his gospel for Jews & Gentiles, showing Jesus to be the Son of God.

Question: Why is it helpful to have more than one account of the life of Christ?


The Purpose of the Gospels

Two gospel writers tell us why they recorded what they did:

Luke 1:1-4
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

John 20:30-31
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Questions:
Luke says he was writing so folks might know the truth. How convinced are you regarding the truthfulness of what he's recorded? (if you're not very certain the next entry should help). 
John says he writes so that we might have a new kind of life, one that is found in relationship with God through Christ. How have you experienced this new life?

Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for the gospels. Inspire me to read them, believe them and most of all live them with the New Life you offer from above. In Your Name. Amen.


Extra Credit:

The traditional symbols for the gospel writers are:

Matthew - A Winged Man (Jesus is the Messiah come from God)
Mark - A Lion (symbol of courage and royalty)

Luke - An Ox or Bull (sacrifice, service, strength)

John - The Eagle  (a symbol of the sky, the highest view of Christ)


The wings on each symbolize divine inspiration.

Gospel

What's in a word? In this case, a lot.

Mark begins his account of the life of Christ with these words:

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  - Mark 1:1

The word, "gospel," means "good news." It's not just any good news. It's the good news of Jesus Christ - his life, his teachings, his sacrifice, his resurrection and his ongoing presence in the world and in our lives. This message is good news for the world and good news for each of us. So if the gospel we proclaim is not truly good, wonderful news, then we've misunderstood its essence.

Question:  In what way is the gospel of Christ good news for the world today? In what way is the gospel of Christ good news for you today?

Prayer: Lord, help me understand the beauty of the gospel. Help me to marvel at your sacrificial love and to live out this good news with joy and gratitude. Amen.

God

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) spent 7 years writing his theological masterpiece, "Summa Theologica."  It was his attempt to present the entire breath of Christian theology in a systematic format. On December 6, 1273 Thomas was celebrating Mass when he heard Christ speak to him. Christ asked him what he desired. Thomas replied "Only you, Lord. Only you." Following this exchange Thomas had an intense, supernatural experience with God. It was so profound that he refused to go back to work on his masterpiece. When his assistant Reginald of Piperno begged him to return to his writing, Thomas replied,  "Reginald, I cannot, because all that I have written seems like straw to me." Thomas Aquinas left his sum of all theology incomplete and unfinished. He died 3 months later.

I share this story because I think it captures an important issue when it comes to the study of God, theology.  The issue is our words fall short, and yet we must use them. The issue is our finite minds will never fully understand the Infinite One, and yet we're driven to try. The issue is God is knowable but not completely. God is revealed and yet concealed, And most profoundly, God transcends human reason and human comprehension, and yet God was incarnated in human form.

Question: If we'll never fully understand the mystery of God this side of
heaven, why even try?

Two thoughts . . .

First, there is much we can know about the Infinite One. The Bible is filled with descriptions of God from mere mortals like us who encountered Divinity along the way. Here are just a few of the descriptions found in the scriptures: Mighty One, Faithful, Living, Eternal, Holy, Righteous, Rock, Redeemer, Savior, Almighty, Fortress, Judge, Strength, Justice, Truth, Compassionate, Forgiving, Love, Abba, Mother, Healer.

And secondly, Jesus Christ has made known the character of God. This is the centerpiece of Christian theology. "Christ is the image of the invisible God."  (Colossians 1:15). He's God's Word (Message) to us made flesh (John 1:14).

Prayer: What do we desire, O God? Only You, Lord. Only You. Give us hearts
to know you, minds to understand your ways, and spirits filled and guided
by your Spirit. Amen.

The First Amendment

Here's what it says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the  press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government  for a redress of grievances."

The First Amendment contains two clauses concerning the freedom of religion. The Establishment Clause states that the "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion." The Free Exercise Clause adds, "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." This amendment rejected the European model of a state religion.

When the amendment was ratified in 1791 it applied only to the federal government and its laws. States were still free to do as they wished. In fact, Massachusetts was officially a Congregational state until 1833. One of the churches I served was built using tax payer dollars. In colonial days all the residents of the village were taxed to pay for a new Congregational church. Those were the good ole days!

Shortly after Thomas Jefferson was elected president, Baptists from Connecticut asked him to declare a national day of fasting in order to help the country heal from a bitterly fought presidential campaign. Jefferson disagreed, feeling that the First Amendment established a "wall of separation" between church and state. Others presidents, government officials and courts have seen it differently through the years (see below). A few days after September 11, 2001 President Bush called for Americans to assemble in their houses of worship for noontime prayer for the nation. Most churches were packed.

Question: what are the advantages of a wall of separation between church and state? What are the disadvantages?

Question: Was the First Amendment meant to keep the church out of the state or the state out of the church? Or both?

Prayer: Holy God, thank you for the freedom to worship you in many and various ways. Inspire us to be a nation of worshippers. In your Name. Amen.

Extra Credit: Teaching About Religion

Question: What is the difference between teaching religion confessionally vs teaching about religion objectively?

Answer: the former is unconstitutional. The latter is not.

On a number of occasions the United States Supreme Court has affirmed that it is constitutional to teach about religion in the public schools.

Justice Robert Jackson in McCollum v. Board of Education (1948) wrote, "Music without sacred music, architecture minus the cathedral, or painting without the scriptural themes would be eccentric and incomplete, even from a secular point of view . . . Certainly a course in English literature that omitted the Bible and other powerful uses of our mother tongue for religious ends would be pretty barren."

Justice Thomas Clark in Abington v. Schempp (1963) wrote: "It might well be said that one's education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization."

Justice Lewis Powell in Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) wrote, "Courses in comparative religion of course are customary and constitutionally appropriate."

Amen.

(The information in the "Extra Credit" section comes from Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy, pp. 128-129.)

Evangelicals & Fundamentalists

The terms are often used interchangeably. But is there a difference between a Fundamentalist and an Evangelical?

The answer is yes.

Both groups frequently use a number of common terms (born again, saved and the lost, to name a few). And both groups stress evangelism, conversion, conviction, being public about one's faith, knowing the Bible and personal salvation through the atonement of the Cross of Christ.

But there are some differences.

Fundamentalists take a literal approach to every story in the Bible. Evangelicals are sometimes open to other interpretations, such as viewing some of the Old Testament stories as parables.

Fundamentalist reject evolution. Evangelicals vary on the subject.

Fundamentalists believe that the Bible is inerrant - perfect and without error on all subjects, including history and science. Evangelicals tend to use such words as "inspired" and "authoritative," meaning that the Bible is reliable and trustworthy in matters of faith and practice.

To Fundamentalists "mission" work is often primarily about spreading the faith.
Evangelicals tend to view it as ministering to the poor, sharing the faith in word and deed.

Fundamentalist are part of the Religious Right, conservative in their social and political views. Many Evangelicals lean that way but not all. In fact, there is an "Evangelical Left," folks with standard theological views but liberal socially and politically. As far as I know there are no left-wing Fundamentalists!

Fundamentalists tend to stick to themselves, often refusing to fellowship with those who are not doctrinally pure in their eyes. Evangelicals are more open and ecumenical.

And one more thing . . . Evangelicals tend to view the rest of us as in God's Kingdom and heaven-bound. Most Fundamentalists believe we're going down.

Question: What can we learn from our Evangelical and Fundamentalist friends?

Prayer: Loving God, help us to keep an open mind and learn from the diversity within your church. Amen.


Rev. Billy Graham





Tim Tebow

P.S. Given my own centrist theological perspective (don't we all think  we're the moderate ones?), it was difficult to write this entry. I always want to be respectful of those whose views are different than mine. But sometimes in teaching one must point out the differences. The goal is always to disagree respectfully. I hope I have done so.


Extra Credit:

The term "evangelical" comes from the Greek word, euangelion, which means, "good news." While the word is often used today as a noun and pronounced with a long "e," the same word in theological studies is pronounced with a short "e" and used to refer to theology that is Christ-centered, which by definition most Christian theology is! The Lutheran Church in the U.S. changed their name a few years ago to, "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America." Most Lutherans are not Evangelicals as described above. It was however their way of saying, "Our central message is the Good News of Christ." In this way, most Christian churches are "evangelical" - with a short "e" instead of a long one.

Got it?



Sojourners Magazine - The Evangelical Left



Faith

In the history of Christianity, both in the biblical record as well as throughout church history, the word "faith" has had two basic meanings.

One meaning has to do with beliefs, accepting the basic tenants of Christianity. These tenants include such things as the character and nature of God (loving, holy, just, covenant-making, etc.), our main doctrines about God, such as the Trinity, as well as our beliefs about the person and work of Christ (the incarnation, the atonement of the Cross, his resurrection and his promised return). To accept the Christian faith is to choose to believe these truths about God and Jesus Christ.

The other meaning of faith has to do with trust, as in, "Keep the Faith." Faith is trusting in the goodness and graciousness of God, in spite of one's circumstances.

Here's a thought: these two meanings belong together. To be a Christian is not simply to intellectually accept all the right doctrines. It's to personally trust in the goodness of God and the benefits of Christ. Faith takes God seriously and responds to God's graciousness with gratitude, commitment and discipleship.

Prayer: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief. Increase my faith and trust in You. For You are trustworthy, and your graciousness and promises are extended to me. Thank You, Precious Savior. In your Name. Amen.

Extra Credit: Great verses on Faith

Not surprisingly, some of the most wonderful passages in the Bible are
about faith.

Matthew 9:2
Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. "

Mark 10:52
And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road

Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be of courage; be strong.

2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Titus 1:2
a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

James 2:17
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

1 Peter 1:7
These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:21
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 5:9
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 John 5:4
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.

The Ethics of Christ

One aspect of Christianity that we have to come to grips with is this: the ethics of Christ are not normal. They are often countercultural and sometimes even against common sense. But the gospel writers faithfully recorded his most challenging
teachings . . . . for us.

For instance . . .

But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
- Matthew 5:39-42

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
- Matthew 5:43-44

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
- Matthew 5:27-28

Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times."
- Matthew 18:21-23

Here's a thought: Being a Christian is really, really hard. The sooner we realize this, the better.

Prayer: Gracious and Loving Savior, help me to realize the high calling of your ways. Forgive my failures and stretch me into being the kind of disciple you're calling me to be. I can only do these things with your help. Amen.

The Devil

Question: Who in the Hell is the Devil?

That's not cursing. It's an honest question.

The great Christian writer C.S. Lewis once wrote this:

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight."

St. Paul once put it this way:

"For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."   - Ephesians 6:12

The Bible speaks of Satan (meaning, the "Adversary") and the Devil (the "Slanderer," the "Accuser") as the personification of evil. The prophet Isaiah wrote of a fallen angel who pridefully rebelled against God and continues the rebellion on planet earth. (The name "Lucifer" means "Day Star" or "Son of the Morning.")

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut
down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High." - Isaiah 14:12-14

Question: What is the point about personifying evil?

My answer: I think it's this: Evil's got our number. In the same way that God is personal and knows us by name, so does the Tempter. He (do we need to say He/She now? or It?) knows our weaknesses and goes after them. Evil isn't just haphazardly floating around the universe causing trouble now and then. Evil is like what AA says about addiction, "cunning, baffling and powerful."

Prayer: Eternal and Loving God, help us to understand dangers of sin and evil in our world, and help us to stay focused on you that we may resist. In the strong and precious Name of Christ our Savior. Amen.


Extra Credit - Other Passages to Consider:

Jude 6 The Devil lead other angels away from God.
And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great Day.

Ezekiel 28:13-17
13You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, carnelian, chrysolite, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; and worked in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. 14With an anointed cherub as guardian I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the stones of fire. 15You were blameless in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you. 16In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and the guardian cherub drove you out from among the stones of fire. 17Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.

James 4:7 Resist the Devil and he will flee from you.

Revelation 20:10 Satan's defeat
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Bourges Cathedral - Last Judgement Window

The Devil is mentioned more times than we realize in the Bible. Here are some of the descriptive titles utilized.

serpent - Gen. 3:14, Rev. 12:9, 20:2

tempter - Matt. 4:3, I Thess. 3:5

enemy - Matt. 13:25, 39

evil one - Matt. 13:19, I John 2:13-14
prince of demons - Mark 3:22

father of lies - John 8:44

murderer - John 8:44

roaring lion - I Peter 5:8

deceiver - Rev. 12:9

dragon - Rev. 12:7, 9, 20:2