Believe it all

Just recently I was asked for the appropriate response to a person who does not believe in a literal hell. This person suggested, like many others, that the “hell” of scripture is merely a metaphor for separation from God. My answer a the time was that this belief comes from a low view of Scripture that gives little authority to the Bible as the infallible Word of God.

Upon further reflection, I wish to expound upon that with more depth. As I pondered this situation last night (while mowing the lawn) it became clear to me that a belief in heaven requires no more or less faith or imagination than a belief in a literal hell. The only difference is that heaven is a pleasing thought while the other is terrifying. I went on to deduce that belief in heaven and not hell comes from a distorted view of the human condition and a limited view of God and his inspired word. Thus, to accept belief in heaven and reject belief in hell is to apply only the portion of scripture which seems agreeable and to reject that which is not pleasing as “metaphor” or even human error.

Obviously, this view is not in accordance with scripture. This belief is as John Broadus said of the argument for Postmortem salvation, “this doctrine did not arise from ambiguity in the Bible, but from a nineteenth century humanist concept of fair play.” This concept of fair play suggests that a “good God” would send no one to hell. However, the concept of fair play has nothing to do with the goodness of God. The pre-requisite understanding of the above position is that people do not deserve hell; but the fact of the matter is that people do deserve hell because of the sin in their life.

Unfortunately, this position has found its greatest adherents in the church among the members of predominantly liberal mainline denominations. It should sadden all in the Christian world that many of these denominations are of the reformed tradition. The reformers held a high view of God, His word, and of the depravity of mankind. Liberal theology in the form of the rejection of biblical inspiration and infallibility has led many down the dark path of demise.

God’s word is truth. That truth is to be the standard by which all of humanity is measured. By elevating secular ideas to the level of truth in opposition to the word of God, the world, and liberal theology has made God, the Creator, subservient to the ideas and observations of man, the creation.

Be A Man

The Bible mandates a certain style of leadership and structure in the family to maintain order. Happy homes exist in structured environments and structure is found easiest and most completely within God’s specific design for marriage and the family. The husband is the leader of the family and with that position comes great responsibility for the overall health of the family.

The husband is ultimately responsible for an unhappy home until he assumes his proper role which provides love, protection, and stability. I believe it is wrong to point blame at any other member of the family until the husband (and or father) is acting and performing in his proper role. Ephesians 5:22-28 and verse 33 say:

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
NASU

It seems that in some way the responsibility of the wife to submit to her husband is dependent upon his sacrificial love and leadership. The church submitted to Christ after he gave himself for her. The respect and submission of a wife for her husband will follow almost naturally for a man who loves his wife as Christ loved (and continues to love) the church. In the last verse Paul commands first that the husband love the wife and then (maybe in response?) he commands that the wife respect her husband.

If indeed my interpretation and understanding of these verses is true, then I believe it not only strengthens the position of the woman in the home by reminding us that submission comes not through force or compellation of the husband, but rather through obedience to God’s word in a relationship where the man gives himself as a sacrifice for the good of his wife. Christ did not beat the church into submission, rather Christ died for his church so that we could in turn submit graciously to the one who was willing to die in our stead. Imagine how much wives would freely give to their husbands if men’s actions convinced the world and their spouses that they were willing to give anything, even their own lives, just to save their wives.

The responsibility for submission in the home does not rest first on the shoulders of the wife. Rather, the responsibility is greatest upon the shoulders of the husband who is called to love his wife in such a way as to earn her respect. Godly relationships do not demand submission; it develops as a natural relationship between husband and wife when the man is willing to accept the great and heavy responsibility laid upon him by the design of God as the leader of the household. In turn, the gratitude of the wife is made evident in her overflow of support for her husband. This support shows itself in her desire to please and satisfy the one who has given all to maintain her safety and to prove his love. The Bible calls this support submission, but rest assured that biblical submission is nothing less or more than evidence of things unseen. We may never see the wind blow, but we know it blows when the leaves move in its breeze. In the same way, love can never be seen, but the world knows it is present in a godly relationship demonstrated by the sacrificial love of a godly husband and the submissive love of a godly wife.

Men, step up to the plate and love your wife!

Helping Kids Make Wise Choices

I began youth ministry at the ripe old age of nineteen. I had just finished my freshman year of college when I went to work as a summer youth minister at my home church in South Carolina. Needless to say, student ministry brings a wide range of challenges of its own, but at nineteen years old, those challenges are very different. I will never forget standing in my driveway that summer speaking to a mother who stopped by to talk with me about her sixteen year old daughter. “Craig,” she pleaded, “just tell me what I should do with her.” I was awestruck; a mom in her mid-thirties was asking me, a nineteen year old kid, to tell her how to raise her daughter who was only 3 years younger than me. It was at this very moment, early in my ministry that I understood one thing very well; parents do not think they understand their kids.

As I look back at that moment, I think the question that mom was actually asking was, “Craig, how can I be sure that she makes the right decisions?” That situation revolved around a relationship with a boy, but relationships aren’t the only area where parents struggle to help their teens make wise choices. Obviously adolescence opens doors to all sorts of temptations and struggles with peer pressure and acceptance, so what are the things that parents can do to help their students make choices that will affect them now and in the future in a positive manner? I believe there are a few things that are necessary, some of which you might not guess, that will help you encourage your student to make wise choices.

Before I discuss the things that you can do as a parent, there is one thing that I must say. Parents too often disregard the impact they have on their children. “Craig,” I often hear parents saying, “I don’t know what to do, she just will not listen to me.” Parents, take heart, your children hear and retain more of what you say and do than you would ever believe. Your kids will never tell you how much they hear and heed what you say, but know that when you are not around they are talking about what you have said. I am always amazed at just how much kids need their parents approval deep down inside of them whether they want to admit it or not. So, parents, that means that you need to be sure that no matter how things seem to be going, you continue to parent, you continue to love, lead, guide, encourage, admonish, punish, and reward regardless of the response that you get from your students. Proverbs exhorts us to raise children up in the way that they should go so that when they are old the will not depart from it. Below is a list of some specific things you can do to help your kids make wise choices.

1. Eat Supper Together- If you want your kids to make wise choices, spend time with them daily. Time around the table opens conversation among family members where parents can know what children are doing and students can learn by hearing how mom and dad deal with conflict on a daily basis at work. According to studies cited by Miriam Weinstein in her book The Surprising Power of Family Meals (Steer Forth Press, 2005), children and teens who enjoy dinner with their families five or more nights a week were 32% likelier never to have tried cigarettes, 45% likelier to have never tried alcohol, and 24% likelier never to have smoked marijuana. "Those who eat lots of family dinners are almost twice as likely to get A's in school as their classmates who rarely eat as a family," Weinstein adds. The family meal is a pre-emptive strike against bad decisions in adolescence.

2. Ask Questions- Teens are famous for wanting their parents to leave them alone, but parents, if you want to aid your students in making wise choices, check up on them. Remember parents, you were once a teenager yourself thinking the same way your teen now thinks, so ask questions to hold your students accountable.

3. Spend Time With Them- I know that you may not be that cool, but go to their baseball games or band competitions. Teenagers want to know that they matter to their parents and you show that you care most by the time you spend with your kids.

4. Discipline- Your students need to know that you love them through discipline. Discipline is accomplished in many ways; the type is not the necessity. The act of discipline, however, is a requirement of parenthood. Discipline shows students first that you love them and second that there are boundaries in life and punishment for exceeding those boundaries.

5. Go To Church With Your Kids- I put this last, but it should probably have been first. Parents drag them kicking and screaming if you must, but get them to church and get yourself their too. The church is God’s vehicle for making himself known in this world. Regular church attendance and an active relationship with Christ is an assumption for all who seek to be advised by this article because it is a precursor to a healthy family.

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Cowboy Up!

In a recent article in The Tie (Southern Seminary’s Magazine) entitled Pop Christianity and Pop Culture on Mars Hill, Russell Moore, Dean of the School of Theology addresses some issues confronting the church of America today as it engages American culture. Citing two groups of “evangelicals” which he labels as “Off-Brand Evangelicals” and “’South Park’ Evangelicals” Moore points to the weaknesses in the ways that popular culture is being addressed by the church today.

The “Off-Brand Evangelicals” are those Moore classifies as the money making branch of American evangelicalism. This group, according to Moore, seeks to “listen to trends within pop culture and to reproduce them in Christian dialect for use within the evangelical subculture.” Quoting directly from GQ Magazine, Moore remarks that much of Christian music is like the “perfume dispensers they used to have in pharmacies—‘if you like Drakkar Noir, you’ll love Sexy Musk?’…Well, Christian rock works like that.” (No doubt, these guys have been listening to much of the same Christian “music” I have heard in recent years.)

In his next category, “’South Park’ Evangelicals,” Moore makes mention of the emerging church as the poster child for a Christian culture who snubs its nose at Christian pop culture to “bask in whatever Hollywood and Manhattan churn out, looking for ‘signs of redemption therein.’” Citing this group, Moore says that they seek to know pop culture, using it as a medium through which common grace can be communicated and for a point of reference in developing a common cultural dialect with unbelievers. He seems to view “’South Park’ Evangelicals” as those who seek to not merely relate to pop culture, but to embrace pop culture in an attempt to mold their Christian understanding and identity into it. If you need a specific example to give skin to this concept, I am sure that Don Miller would fall into Moore’s “South Park” category.

Moore goes on in the article to address several issues relating to engaging pop culture in light of Acts 17. I agree wholeheartedly with Moore’s exposition of the message on Mars Hill as it relates to the particular issue of engaging pop culture. Moore points correctly to the fact that Paul did not go to Mars Hill to engage the culture, rather he was invited to Mars Hill because he spoke of things that seemed strange to those within his hearing. Once in the Areopagus, Paul did work to contextualize his message to his hearers, but not in a way that made the gospel fit the culture, but rather in a way that showed his audience that the gospel stood contrary to their culture. Paul’s understanding of the Athenian culture enabled him to speak with intelligence about their customs and in doing so enabled Paul to contrast their beliefs with the truth of Christ.

I wonder, however, why Moore, and others who address the issues raised by the emerging church, does not cite Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians concerning their use of Scripture and methods of sharing the gospel. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:2, “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” Christ encountered culture daily, but we see clearly in the Scripture that Christ’s role in culture was one of redeemer. He may have been seen talking with a woman of loose morals, but Christ spoke with her about the sin in her life and her need of a Savior. It is true that Christ ate with tax collectors, but Christ also reprimanded them and condemned dishonest practices. Through Christ, these people were changed. Indeed Christ loved those steeped in the culture of his time, but he loved them enough to exhort them to better living.

Much of the background in the emergent church has to do with those who are disenchanted for whatever reason with the traditional church. Their dissatisfaction has led them, not to seek reformation in the church, but to embrace culture with a slightly Christian spin. I ask, does the emergent church truly speak the “open statement of the word of Truth?” Moreover, are the “Off-Brand Evangelicals” speaking the truth of God’s word without tampering practicing cunning?

I say today that culture must be addressed. As Christians we are called to live in this world, but to be reminded always that we are citizens of a heavenly realm. We are citizens of Christ’s Kingdom. As such, we do not renounce popular culture. We enjoy movies and television and good books. We place value on relationships built through every day interactions at the coffee shop or the gas station. Christians can and should enjoy music, secular and spiritual alike. But, as we live in the culture, we must be always engaging our culture with the Truth of God’s Word.

Sure, we can derive a Christian theme from almost any movie. As a matter of fact, given loose enough hermeneutics, Monday night wrestling could probably be a lesson in sin and redemption, but will it be a message true to the gospel or would it be an underhanded or disgraceful attempt at making the sinful spiritual? Paula Cole asked the question several years ago, Where Have All The Cowboys Gone? In the days before Brokeback Mountain, John Wayne was the quintessential all American cowboy, a man who spoke his mind and stood for something. Maybe a Christian cowboy wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I’ll admit, it would be nice to find an evangelical engaging culture with the honest truth of the gospel that was not afraid to stand for the Truth though it ran counter to the entire flow of popular mores. John Wayne could and would take on an entire army with a six shooter. I wonder if there are Christians today committed enough to the cause of Christ and the salvation of our society who would stand up in the midst of the army of pop culture, outnumbered many times over, and be willing to proclaim God’s truth that brings redemption from this world and reconciliation to the Father? Cowboy up!

Be Still

I sat on a wooden dock jutting out into a large cove on Lake Marion at sunset one evening. The frogs were singing, fish were jumping, and birds were feeding. It was a glorious site to behold an awe-inspiring moment for all five senses to take in. A buddy with me just looked up and said, “Surely this must mean what God was talking about when he said, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’” I quickly agreed and we took an extra moment to take it all in before leaving the small jon boat that we tied next to the dock for an early morning adventure.

Reflecting on that evening, I am reminded of the many times that I have sat quietly beholding the beauty of God’s glorious creation. Many times I have sat alone watching the sun break through the darkness of a winter morning shimmering in frosty grass and dissolving away the morning fog in awe-struck wonder. No less exciting was watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean with my two best friends. On these and many other occasions, I too have though, “Wow, be still and know that God is God.” Nature speaks of His wonder in the quiet moments of life that we can never understand until we have experienced it.

However, upon a closer reading of Psalm 46, I believe that I have interpreted that verse a little too loosely. There is absolutely value in being reminded by God’s Word to enjoy his creation and give him praise for it. But, that was not the intended purpose of the Psalmist. Psalm 46 does not speak of a tranquil lake or a beautiful sunset. Psalm 46 speaks of violence, turmoil, confusion, and panic.

“Be still and know that I am God,” was not a suggestion for someone spending a lazy day on the lake or an observance of a visitor to the ocean for the first time. “Be Still,” was the command of God to his people during times of great terror. The Psalmist speaks of natural disasters and war and even of the earth “melting away.” Without a doubt, during times like this, the last thought for a logical person is to be still. During times of great peril, work is needed and busyness is a must. But God says, “Be still and watch me work.”

I believe that the command to “Be still” is relevant for Americans today. The American culture is one that stresses ownership and material gain. We fear that the Jones’s may have a bigger house or a better car. We are concerned that we may not get the boat we have always wanted or that our kids might, heaven forbid, have to buy clothes from a sale rack. And so, we work to fix it by working longer hours for more pay. We sacrifice family time in the name of our families. We neglect time with God and in his church because “I’ve got to keep my job.”

I read recently that the average drive for many workers commuting into cities is 90 to 120 minutes each way every day. In an attempt to find “the good life” Americans have begun to sacrifice their lives on the alter of success. The command to “Be still and know that I am God” must be heeded by Christians today. Though it runs contrary to cultural conventional wisdom, God commands that we take the time to step back and watch him work.

Psalm 46 is not about God’s glory in his creation. Psalm 46 is a song about God’s sovereign control over creation and his protective hand upon his people. Verses 1 and 2 claim that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.” God is in control of all things, and God is protecting his people. It is for this reason that God commands, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Though the earth falls down around us, God reminds us who is in control. In times of struggle, God is a present help. We need not fear this world, and in the end the amount of success we enjoy here will be of little consequence. As we stand before God at judgment, I doubt he will ask how many cars we owned or how many square footage our house was. However, he may ask how much time we spent showing God to our children and loving our wives as Christ loved the church. God is in total control and his word in Psalm 46:10 commands that we stop and recognize God’s hand at work in creation protecting his people and bringing glory to his name.

Everyone Else Is Writing About It....

I have no desire to add to the hype surrounding Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, but I do feel that we have a responsibility as the church to address the issues that Brown raises in his book. The release of the movie version this month will open many more eyes to the intrigue and mystery of the novel along with the heresy and falsehood about Christ and the Christian church contained therein. I am preparing now for a series of sermons on the issues raised in The Da Vinci Code because I believe that we as Christians have a responsibility to defend the faith.

In 2 Timothy chapters two and three, Paul reminds Timothy to rightly handle the Word of God and that the Word of God is useful for teaching, rebuking, and correcting. We too must work to rightly handle God’s Word, and in the face of questions that aim right at the very heart of our faith, it is essential that we stand ready to defend the faith with correct handling and understanding of God’s Word. On his website, Dan Brown goes so far as to allude to Christianity as a “legend familiar to all of us.” This is yet one more example of this secular world opposing our Lord and questioning the validity of his church and his teachings.

I encourage you to pick up one of the many books that can be found in Christian bookstores today that deal with the untruths and misconceptions about the Christian faith and the history of the Christian church that Brown alludes to in his book. Further, we should all be reminded that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction, not one of fact. I am appalled at some of the ludicrous claims that are made in this book, but I do see the book and the movie as great opportunities for us to share our faith. The questions that will be raised by unbelievers will give us opportunity to combat false doctrine with the Truth of God’s Word. I challenge you to prepare yourself for the questions and to remember Paul’s words, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God’s great plans can never be spoiled by man’s schemes; I am excited to see how God will work through this event.

What About Lazarus?

Serious Bible study is not easy. As a matter of fact, serious study of the Bible is hard work and is not always fun, but it is always rewarding. It was pointed out to me just a few days ago that without in-depth study and understanding we will never correctly understand the author’s intended meaning to his original hearers. Simply looking for what the Bible means to me is never enough, we must always seek to understand the intended meaning of any passage and that understanding requires work and diligence.

As I discuss below the intended meaning of Colossians 1:18, please know that it was only through study and the teaching of others who have put in the time to understand the mindset of the first century Jewish community that I was able to come to this understanding and conclusion. I thank those who are willing to correct me and do the work of training me that have helped me to value the work of true, in-depth biblical scholarship.

A few weeks ago I caused some questions to be raised in preaching Colossians chapter one. In verse 18, Paul says that Christ is the “firstborn from the dead.” “How”, it was asked, “could Christ be the first since we know of others who were raised from the dead by Christ?” This is a very good question that requires a slightly in-depth answer. After all, we are aware of several instances of Christ raising people from the dead. Lazarus, for example, was raised after being in the tomb for four days just prior to Jesus’ final Passover and crucifixion. How then, could the Apostle Paul speak of Christ as being “firstborn from the dead?”

The answer lies in a proper understanding of Christ’s resurrection and in the resuscitation of others from the dead and in distinguishing between the events. This understanding can only be found in a proper definition of resurrection as understood by the first century Jewish community. According to N.T. Wright, resurrection for the first century Jew carried with it more than just raising from the dead. Resurrection was a sign of the welcoming of God’s messiah and the ending of the Jewish exile by the Roman government. The person who was truly resurrected was not resurrected to die, but was indeed resurrected to life everlasting. In other words, after tasting death once, resurrection would give assurance that death would never be experienced again.

In the case of Lazarus and the others that were raised from the dead in the New Testament by Christ or by the disciples, death would be experienced again. We know that Lazarus, though having been raised from the dead, did die again. The same is true of Jairus’ daughter and all others. In essence, the “raising” was very similar to resuscitation. Any man or woman brought back to life through CPR will die and be laid in the grave some day, so too were Lazarus and the others, all would taste death again.

Christ, on the other hand, was not merely raised from the dead. Christ was resurrected. The term resurrection is qualitatively different than that of raising or resuscitating from the dead. Christ was resurrected never to die again. In that sense, Christ was absolutely the firstborn from the dead. Christ was not merely raised to life; he was born into a different kind of life.

Having been conceived by the virgin, Christ’s first birth was out of the womb of his mother Mary. Having been crucified and laid in the grave, however, Christ’s new birth was to a new, glorified life. Christ was born this time not of the womb of his mother, but was born out of the womb of the grave. The grave gave birth to Christ who, having experienced death once will never die again. Christ’s resurrection was into eternity, not merely into a few more years on this earth.

Christ was the first born from the dead because he was the first to be birthed through the labor and contractions of the grave. The womb simply will not hold the infant past a certain point. Once the child has reached its proper state, the contractions begin and the baby must be released from the mother. A fully developed child is out of place in the womb. The mother simply cannot continue to carry the child past a certain point.

Similarly, only more gloriously, the grave could only contain Christ to a certain point. Christ’s death brought about the forgiveness of sins and broke the curse of sin. “Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned,” is the message of Romans 5:12. However, the curse of sin that was brought through one man has been broken by one man who bore the sins of the world in his sinless death. The curse of death was simply not applicable to the one man who had never sinned. The grave could not hold the sinless one because he was not under the curse. Death could never spread to the one who had never sinned.

Go Figure

I have to admit a little secret, I really enjoy reading Ann Coulter’s work. Her wit and often satire of the political scene and popular media culture make me smile, but beyond that, she is usually dead on with her opinions. In her most recent column, she mentions the hype surrounding the Duke University lacrosse team rape case, as well as the Natalie Holloway disappearance and the case of the young woman who was brutally murdered in New York City earlier this year. Though the Duke case is still up in the air, it is obvious in the two other cases that something terrible happened. But, could any of this have been avoided, and what are the issues surrounding these cases that the media is not willing to address?

Ms. Coulter correctly points out that though kidnapping, rape, murder, and false accusations are never justified, and those who commit such acts should pay the severe consequences, the criminals are not to blame for the unwise behavior of the victims that put them into compromising situations. Coulter points out:

“However the Duke lacrosse rape case turns out, one lesson that absolutely will not be learned is this: You can severely reduce your chances of having a false accusation of rape leveled against you if you don't hire strange women to come to your house and take their clothes off for money. Also, you can severely reduce your chances of being raped if you do not go to strange men's houses and take your clothes off for money. (Does anyone else detect a common thread here?) And if you are a girl in Aruba or New York City, among the best ways to avoid being the victim of a horrible crime is to not get drunk in public or go off in a car with men you just met.”

Further she adds, “Everyone makes mistakes, especially young people, but the outpouring of support for the victims and their families is obscuring what ought to be a flashing neon warning for potential future victims.” Unfortunately, in our society of “rights” and “freedom” the media is not willing to stand up and warn against the dangers of bad judgment calls, because by doing so there is the fear that we will in some way be questioning the rights of these young people who were merely exercising their freedom. (On a side not, it is worthy to point out here that just because you can do something, does not mean it is always a good idea to do it.)

I am not justifying the tragic end to these situations, but we must point out that if compromising situations had been avoided, the tragedy might have been evaded as well. In each of these cases, the young people were engaged in behavior that not long ago “would have been recognized as vulgar — whether or not anyone ended up dead, raped or falsely accused of rape. But in a nation of people in constant terror of being perceived as "judgmental," I'm not sure most people do recognize that anymore.”

Coulter, not usually the theologian, goes on to point out that just because we have been involved at some point in an act of wrong, that we in turn cannot warn or criticize those who do the same thing. The old “boys will be boys” argument, only now applied across the board. The well meaning mother may comment, “Well, lots of people do stupid things, I know I have, who am I to judge?” Coulter points to the likes of Rev. Franklin Graham, and the apostle Paul as examples of men who have turned from their mistakes to lead others away from the same path they once followed.

Coulter says that only in cases of morality are people held accountable for their failures and deemed hypocrites for attempting to keep others from following the path they once trod. I once touched a hot iron and it burned me, but no one calls me a hypocrite for warning others not to do the same thing.

Near the close of her article, the author writes “But we're all rotten sinners, incapable of redemption on our own.” This does not mean, however, that in our sin and inability we should leave others to mess up their own lives without warning or correction.

Christ has paid our debt on the cross; his wounds have given us healing. As Christians, we must recognize that morality is an issue worth addressing. Regardless of what we may have done in our lives, we have the responsibility to model morality and character and to caution others of the dangers of living only to please themselves in disobedience to Christ. The tragedy of rape and murder should never be made light of, but the warning signs need to flash loud and clear.

True freedom is not the ability to live as you want to live. True freedom is to live in Christ, free from the burden of sin. The freedom found in Christ frees us to live, not as our sinful nature desires, but instead to live the way we were created to exist. True freedom is life in Christ.

Wimpy Eye for the Barbarian Guy

In his 2004 article, “Wimps and Barbarians: The Sons of Murphy Brown,” Terrence O. Moore discusses the implications, both current and future, of a society that devalues manhood and elevates male roles that are far removed from historical understandings of proper manhood. By categorizing much of today’s American male culture into two extreme categories, “barbarians and wimps,” Moore shows that true and proper masculinity is found in Aristotle’s “golden mean” rather than the extremes of the male psyche. Of these extremes Moore comments, “one suffers from an excess of manliness…the other from a lack of manliness.” The male found in a mature state of manhood is one who values, among other things, honor, ambition, virtue and justice. Manhood, by Moore’s definition is a “sustained act of character.”

Much is to be gained from Moore’s article, but most importantly is the simple message he brings about the necessity of correct masculinity in our society. Society elites of our culture tend to not only tolerate those who exist within the extremes of manliness, that is the barbarians and the wimps, but to elevate them to a higher standard than those men who choose to value virtuous qualities. Moore points to the elevation of barbaric activity promoted by pop culture in rap, heavy metal, and professional wrestling. In each of these venues, barbaric activity that elevates violent and physical attributes of manliness while devaluing women is glorified. On the flipside of the coin, wimps are praised on television. Men are the butt of jokes and are dependent upon the women in their lives to make decisions and deal with their feelings. The elevation of women in our society has been beneficial (at least in some ways) for females in our education system and society as a whole, but “what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.”

The promotion of wimps and barbarians in American culture through education, pop culture, and major media outlets has disabled the ability of the American male to perform in a proper state of manhood without ridicule. Men who choose to be “men” by standing up for their beliefs, providing for and protecting their families, and refusing to bow to the dictates of radical feminism are called chauvinistic and closed minded. Men who send their wives to the work force and stay home to coddle the children are praised. Even more radically, our major media outlets have recently (this was not in the article) rewarded and praised a rap artist for writing about the difficulties of being a pimp. The state of manhood is dire in our society. Moore’s article is a wake up call for men across our land to stand up and be counted as leaders with virtue and integrity.

Standing Ovation

An excerpt from my journal….

I truly believe that Christian discipleship is a task requiring study and work. However, sometimes I may expect too much, I just don’t know. Should I applaud even the smallest advancement in devotion or understanding, or should I demand more?

One thing is sure, if I should expect more, I must work to express my expectations with an attitude of applause. Even the smallest advancement is worthy of praise, but the experienced (not necessarily mature yet) Christian must not be left to crawl when he or she should be walking or running. I must work to coach in different ways. Everyone does not respond in the same way; therefore, I must work to approach people differently. My tone must speak of encouragement and praise rather than frustration. The fact that a person is making some attempt at growing in their faith, even if not a satisfactory one, is reason to applaud. After all, applause will often spur one on to greater victories than all of the “boos” in the world.

Maybe this will benefit someone else.

God's Greatness

I have made it my goal to read through the entire Bible over the course of the next year. Having just finished Genesis, a few things have really jumped out at me. For instance, the greatenss and glory of God when compared with human finitude in this first book of Moses. In reading about the patriarchs, we often focus on the immoral lives of the characters in the narrative and question God's blessings upon them. Truthfully, however, I believe that in doing so, we tend to limit God. We attempt to confine God's purposes to the actions of men and women. We ask why God would bless Abraham after so many moral failures. However, we do not speak of God's majest and sovereingty in being able to accomplish his purposes in spite of the disobedience of the patriarchs. God is sovereign regardless of the actions of his people. God is greater than everything, even sin.

God's blessing does not fall on people because of their disobedience. Scritpure speaks of God's blessing remaining with people in spite of their disobedience (It should be noted here that my definition of blessing in this sense is more in line with the understanding of "giving" a blessing in the Old Testament. By "blessing" I am not referring necessarily to material possessions, but rather to the purpose and task to which one is called. For example, God blessed Abraham by choosing him as the vehicle through which the Jewish people would be formed.) Why would God do that? Because his blessing is a responsibility. God blesses people so that his will can be accomplished. God's will was accomplished in Genesis in spite of the disobedience of the people chronicled in this narrative. In fact, God has been accomplishing his purposes since the beginning of creation in spite of the frailty and failures of human beings.

We limit God too often to our own abilities. Our prayers are not even as they should be. We elevate sin and remove God's glory. Jesus' model prayer begins with praise and glory given to God, but often we begin our prayers with repentence. We must realize that the sin in our lives does not now and will not ever take precidence over the glory of God. God is greater than sin and works in spite of our failures; we must honor him for that. Sin is an offence to God only because of God's majesty, thus even the sin of our lives speaks of God's glory. THerefore, any mention of sin--through prayer, repentance, personal testimony, etc...--must inevitably focus on God's greatness. To do otherwise is to limit God's majesty and elevate the importance of the sin in our lives.

Many people are credited with great testimonies because of the horribly sinful lifestyle they once lived. The testimony of the Christian, however, is never a word of what they have done. The testimony of the Christian must always be a word of what God has done in spite of everything that a lost sinner did to mess up God's plans.

Take The TIme

For all of the work that has been done on leadership in recent years, you would almost think that there is nothing else that could be said. However, I am beginning to realize that one of the most important leadership principles that we can adopt was put into place by Jesus and later by the disciples and Paul nearly two thousand years ago.

I couldn't help but wonder recently why Jesus never wrote a book. To our knowledge, we have no writings of Jesus, but why? Then it occurred to me, Jesus had no need to write down his teachings onto paper, Jesus wrote His teachings on the hearts of His disciples. Jesus used a living medium to transmit his message to the world. Books and paper and email are valuable resources that we have in the modern age, but they will never be as valuable unless what is written inside of them is lived out in someone's life.

Jesus' ministry was a discipling ministry. He taught, not merely by preaching and writing, but by living with His disciples. The apostles knew how to live as Christians, not because Jesus had left them written instructions, but because he had lived before them. The model prayer is given to the disciples at the request of one of their number.

"Lord, teach us to pray" was the request. Jesus must have been elated when the disciples showed these glimpses of their future greatness. The disciples had seen Jesus in prayer and wanted what he had. Jesus lived before them, and a motley crew of men were changed from ordinary to extraordinary because of the time they spent with their master.

Teaching in this manner requires tons of time, but the results speak for themselves. How many of us are willing to put in the time to live the Christian life before and with others rather than merely tell them how to behave. The apostle Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 4:16, "Imitate me." Paul understood that teaching and letters could do only so much. Paul was willing to submit himself to the microscopic scrutiny that would come along with being a mentor, but in doing so he changed the world. Paul did not merely tell people how to be a Christian, he lived as a Christian and people followed his lead.

Who are you spending time with today to change our world tomorrow?

Where are you going?

This morning as I was praying, I told God that I felt like I was swimming in the Ocean. I am swimming strong, really making time, but I am not sure if I'm swimming to Africa, the United States, or even Europe. I don't really have any trouble swimming, but I just need some new direction.

Have you ever felt that way? If you have you are not alone, but God's Word gives some instruction in this area. In Proverbs 29:18, we are told that "without vision, the people run wild." You know, you do not have to be a Christian or a rocket scientist to know that this is true. Just spend some time with a group of people. If you do not give them direction, there is a good chance that they will get nowhere. It is also true of our personal lives, if you set out with no plans for a day, there's a good chance you will get nothing done.

I think God desires that we live lives with His vision in mind. God's vision might not always be exactly what we expect. As a matter of fact, Paul was surprised to learn that God's vision for ministry would send him into Macedonia. But God's placement of Paul led to Paul's great ministry. Seek God's vision in your life, and then stick to it. You can be certain that if God is for you no man (or woman) can effectively stand against you.

Protect Yourself

I have been doing a lot with the dangers of the internet lately. I have not mentioned the dangers of pornography on the internet, but I wanted to say a quick word of caution regarding this very issue. It has been said by at least one prominent pastor that pornography will reek havoc on our society and in our churches to a greater degree than we have seen in drugs or alcohol. Realizing that we are all sinners, we are all susceptible to the temptations of this lifestyle on the internet. Accountability is essential in this important area, and I want to encourage everyone to look into an accountability system that guards your use of the internet. There are many software manufacturers who have produced products to give accountability in internet use.

One website to visit concerning this important issue is www.xxxchurch.com. I do not agree with everything that is published on this site (I think the guys go a bit over the top sometimes), but it is a great resource for anyone struggling with pornography addictions and for anyone who hopes to never have this battle. They also offer a free accountability software download. The best offense is a good defense and that is especially true with pornography. The better you protect yourself from porn, the better chance you have at becoming or remaining victorious in the battle.

The Fight Over Intelligent Design Rages On

A California school district is being sued over the decision by trustees to offer a four week elective course in philosophy that explores the debate over Intelligent Design. According to a story in The New York Times, a group of eleven parents and lawyers from Americans United for Separation of Church and State are suing the small district in a rural area north of LA because the teacher is advocating intelligent design and "young earth theory" and is not examining it in a neutral way alongside evolutionism.

I find it amazing that an elective class can draw such attention. I suppose that opponents of ID may have a wobbly leg to stand on by fighting to keep the teachings out of the science class based on the ruling by an activist judge in Pennsylvania last month. Because of his ruling, courts may be able to claim presidence even if they cannot prove a constitutional ban on the teaching in a required science class. I suppose that if the argument is that religious beliefs should not be forced upon a student, then that argument can be made. However, to suggest that a class taken by students as an option forces a belief is absurd. After all, if a student does not wish to be involved in a class that questions evolution and ID in a philosophical and perhaps historical way, then the student simply should not sign up.

Fundamentalists have been ridiculed for far too long. I believe that these far left activists are much more radical against anything that might be viewed as Christian than fundies are against things that could be viewed as non-Christian. We are told as moral advocates that if we do not like what we see on TV, turn it off. If we do not want our childrent to hear or see, then keep them away. Well, if those opposed to ID do not desire their children to be enlightened to a different understanding of creation, then they should keep them in ignorance by not allowing them to be enrolled in such elective classes. This is a parenting issue, not a legal issue. Christians and logical human beings must stand up against these ridiculous lawsuits and make our voices heard.

Harry Potter

For the first time, I watched a Harry Potter movie the other day. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was broadcast on cable and my wife and I sat down and watched it. I have to say that I really did enjoy the movie, it was a wonderful trip into the world of fantasy. It is a shame to me that Harry Potter could not have the same theological undertones as are found in The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of The Rings, considering the similarities between the three works. However, noting that the Potter series is not the least bit theological, I would encourage prudence. As I have encouraged when asked about Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code, Christians, as well as all logical people, must draw a line between fantasy (or fiction) and reality. When encountering a fictional book or movie, we must always remember that it is just that, fiction.

The Dangers of the Internet

My last post, more than a week ago, concerned the dangers posed to students by virtual communities. Following a recent New York Times Article, Through His Webcam, A Boy Joins a Sordid Online World, more attention has been given to the dangerous virtual world in which teenagers are increasingly involved. The in-depth story tracks the history of Justin Berry, a young man who was seduced into the world of online child pornography at the age of thirteen by adult men who viewed him from his bedroom through a webcam. Justin is now a federal witness in a child pornography investigation, but for five years he was an online entrepreneur dealing in pornographic video and pictures of himself. His online life was profitable to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the five year span, but his secret life led to drug use, sexual abuse, and even exploitation by his estranged father.

This article in the Times is a must read for parents of teenagers. Through the internet and a webcam, pedophiles made their way right into Justin Berry's bedroom. Parents must be ever aware of the activities of their children on the internet, not to invade the privacy of their students, but to protect their children from the harm of this evil world.

MySpace or Everybody's Space?

According to a recent BusinessWeek cover story, memebership at MySpace.com has nearly quadrupled since January of 2005 vaulting it to a total membership of more than 40 million. Many of those 40 million members are teenagers who are discovering a cyber world where they are the boss of their own "space."

For those of you not familiare with MySpace.com, it is a website where members can easily create their very own webpage filled with information all about themselves. The concept behind MySpace is wonderful and seems plenty innocent. However, the dangers of these virtual hangouts are becoming increasingly evident. In a cyber world where teenagers are in control, the information being shared on these webpages is often nothing short of shocking. These virtual hangouts have become places where teenagers can live out alternative lifestyles void of traditional social interaction and parental supervision. Teen webpages are often filled with personal information, photos (sometimes revealing or in poor taste), and even contact information.

In light of the plethra of personal information that teens are broadcasting to the world, some are suggesting that their "space" should be private and restricted from their parents. As absurd as it seems, some are questioning the validity of parents perusing their teens public webpages as an invasion of privacy and are comparing this to sneaking into a child's room and reading from a personal diary. However, I have a difficult time making the connection between a private diary tucked under a pillow or in a drawer and a webpage published on the worldwide web for all the world to see, it seems contradictory to classify a public domain as a private document.

Personal webpages are an amazing tool and are definitely a growing fad right now. The internet is shaping an entire generation and is giving teens access to social interaction that was previously unheard of. As a matter of fact, the internet makes this very blog possible. However, for all of the good that can be accomplished through the internet, parents are not relieved of the responsibility of raising their children and training them in all righteousness. Contrary to what popular media may suggest, parents not only have the right to browse the public webpages of their children, they have the God-given responsibility to protect them in all facets of life, virtual and realized. The internet presents a challenge for parents, but the challenge is one that must be met.

C.S. Lewis

I am very excited about the upcoming release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. In preparation for the movie, much has been said about the man behind the book, C.S. Lewis. The December 12 edition of U.S. News & World Report carries an article entitled God's Storyteller offering a quick glimpse into the life of Clive Staples Lewis. Being a fan of everything that I have ever read of Lewis, I am excited to see the press that his work is getting. I am also, however, excited to see the attention that the man behind the many books is getting.

Though many question whether The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe is indeed a Christian allegory, no one can question the amazing journey of Lewis' life that brought him from being (in his own words) a "blaspheming athiest," to one of the most well known Christian apologists of the Twentieth Century. Neither can anyone question the conviction of Lewis' heart as we read his heartfeltwork. I hope that many will see the movie based on Lewis' children's classic, but even more I hope that many will be affected by the gospel in the same way that C.S. Lewis was many years ago.