Busy Little Bee

Moving Forward

2012-01-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

The View

With the holidays survived and the New Year well on its way, the move to Littleton was a great success. Here are just a few pictures of the new place. I'm still working on the bedrooms but at least the living spaces are cozy. The apartments are in a great location. Everywhere we need to be is pretty much within a 3 mile radius. I like convenience.

Naomi started at her new school this week and is loving it. Declan will spend some time next week at his new daycare to get adjusted before my semester starts the following week. We thrive with routine so the next few weeks will just be about getting into the groove of things again. For someone who is typically resistant to change, I have surprised myself over the last several months. What I have discovered is that often change is necessary for growth and forward movement. Having weathered the brunt of the change I am now excited about the direction this path is taking us. That's all for now. Enjoy the pics!

Kitchen

Living room

The loft from above

The loft from below

Dining Room

The Great Divorce

2011-12-06T10:44:00.004-07:00

Yes, I borrowed the title from C. S. Lewis, and no this does not have anything to do with his book. Shortly after reading my last blog on Holy Tradition, I “skyped” with my parents about some of my observations. Mom was a little perturbed that we did not have many family traditions (perhaps more so that I had confessed this publically) and so we began to discuss why this lack of tradition existed. After about twenty minutes of conversation, mom blurted out, “It’s because we all came from broken homes, split by divorce.” That gave me pause and I thought long about it and its application to my analogy to Church tradition.

It is true. Divorce breaks tradition. It was true in the Great Schism at the turn of the last millennium when the East split fellowship with the West. It was true of the Reformation when the Protestants broke fellowship with the Catholics. It is true of family tradition and the home. It seems the more the Church splinters and fractures, the more tradition is lost over time. Having suffered through a divorce last year myself (yes, it’s taken me this long to actually admit and talk about it), I am more than familiar with the dynamics of this fragmentation.

I strived to maintain what semblance of family I could despite the change. Family counseling emphasized the importance of offering security to the children with comments such as, “We are still a family; we just look different now.” I think that was sound advice which helped me to overcome some of the humiliation and disappointment I felt. The natural tendency in a divorce is to eliminate all symbols of prior unity as they can invoke painful memories or to complicate matters by blaming each other for poor decision making. The blame game tears away at the security of the children and forces them to choose sides and allegiances.

The Church has been guilty of the same predilections. Certain traditions remind us of abuse, conflict or infidelity and we push against the tradition instead of the infraction. It is understandable. But is it productive or healthy? Traditions provide purpose and continuity which in turn offers a sense of belonging and security to those who take part.

In my last blog, I identified a particular Thanksgiving that made me feel security and belonging more than any other. In thinking more about that day I recalled several – shall we say unorthodox – details. We were with my father’s family. Both his mother and father had been divorced since my dad’s early childhood. I knew my grandmother and her husband well. I had met my grandfather and his wife on several occasions. I had never seen them in the same place. But what made this Thanksgiving so memorable was the fact that for some odd reason we were all together. I knew there was tension. I could feel it even at the young impressionable age of eight. The tension was a result of old wounds long buried. What made it bearable was the fact that we were there for a common purpose. We all contributed in some manner to the identity that was our family.

I am halfway through my degree program at Denver Seminary. I have never seen such diversity in beliefs and practices as I do in this place. Yet, in spite of our differences we learn to love one another, often forced to reconcile and work out our differences in an attitude of tolerance. But the one thing that surpasses all our differences is the fact that we are all present in One Name, being like-minded, and desiring to serve the Church and God’s people. The common purpose of this spiritual family to foster identity to our fellow believers in the body of Christ forces us to set aside our differences and celebrate traditions together.

There may be “irreconcilable differences” and relationships may be “irretrievably broken,” but the commonality of purpose to serve our God and His children bonds us together in a manner that can never be severed. Certain traditions may create tension or be uncomfortable, yet the attempt at unity serves the members in a way we may not be able to understand. As much as we hate to admit it, the disjunction of our brokenness is a cause of grief to the Holy Spirit who strives to bring us together in unity.

I observed my grandmother and grandfather as they tolerated one another that Thanksgiving twenty something years ago and I have cherished that day because they both sacrificed their pride and pain for a greater good. As I move forward with my life and attempt to provide stability and love to my children, I am convicted to sacrifice elements of my own pride and pain in order to meet their emotional needs and foster their identity in this family – no matter how broken it may be. I exhort the Church to do the same. There is much pain we have caused one another through our errors and fallen natures, but we are admonished in Scripture to strive for unity in light of diversity.

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:1-6

Holy Tradition

2011-11-22T12:30:00.001-07:00

Wherefore I write boldly to your love, which is worthy of God, and exhort you to have but one faith, and one preaching, and one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of the Lord Jesus Christ; and His blood which was shed for us is one; one loaf also is broken to all, and one cup is distributed among them all; there is but one altar for the whole Church, and one bishop, with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants. Since, also, there is but one unbegotten Being, God, even the Father; and one only-begotten Son, God, the Word and man; and one Comforter, the Spirit of truth; and also one preaching, and one faith, and one baptism; and one Church which the holy apostles established from one end of the earth to the other by the blood of Christ, and by their own sweat and toil; it behooves you also, therefore, as “a peculiar people, and a holy nation,” to perform all things with harmony in Christ.

St Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Philadelphians, 4.1

I saw Ignatius today. That is what I considered titling this blog when I wrote my first draft. Another option that occurred to me was, “How a Pentecostal girl turns Anglican.” Under the circumstances I figured that would draw more negative attention than convey the true essence of which I intended to write.

Thanksgiving approaches, and with it an entire season of celebration and the implementation of tradition. The concept of tradition carries a variety of connotations and emotions for people. I realized several years ago that I had few traditions with which to mark events in my life. This Thanksgiving I am reminded once more of the reality of this tendency. It is certainly not for lack of want. It is simply the byproduct of a mobile lifestyle. Growing up in a foreign culture on the mission field was not conducive to the installation of tradition. In fact, I recall rarely making a big deal of Thanksgiving since it was not a Brazilian holiday. We commemorated the occasion amongst our small community of fellow missionaries, but the season was not surrounded by the corporal atmosphere of nationalistic pride which characterizes its celebration in the United States.

Each year I listen to friends describe their plans and hopes for the holiday season, always including some form of tradition. “We all get together and play football” or “We eat this food” and “We meet at this place.” I recall at one point having family traditions. One year we came home to California on furlough and spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. I loved every minute of it. We gorged on a magnificent spread of food, ate more pumpkin pie than I care to admit, watched football, and my favorite – cribbage tournaments. I can still hear the rhythm of the count, 15-2, 15-4, a pair for 6 and nobs is 7! Everyone was involved; card tables abounded. The echoes of many of those voices have faded away. Grandparents have passed on, aunts and uncles drifted apart; cousins and siblings carry on their own lives and travel different paths. I long for the connection of tradition and the foundation and stability it profers, the esoteric link to the past and the lineage of generations. Certainly I do not loathe the familial solitude of my upbringing, but now as an adult, I recognize the validity and importance of tradition.

I believe the same can be said of the Holy Traditions of the Church. Tradition offers to us a unique understanding of our heritage in the Church and an inseverable link to centuries of existence. I grew up Pentecostal, Foursquare to be exact. We did not profess much tradition in the form of liturgy or prayer. We were a young denomination, comparatively speaking. Founded in the 1920’s by Aimee Semple McPherson, we were considered new and fresh – a Holy Spirit breathed movement of the 20^th century. We were one of many such denominations emerging during that era. We, along with many of our sister movements, brought a refreshing breeze to Christendom and to the Church. We were instruments of infusing power to a developing core. But as is the nature of many new traditions, we did not receive the acceptance of our family, nor did we strive to maintain ties to the established traditions that would foster the longevity of a 2000 year old influence in the world. Over time, we drifted apart.

This last year I have been exploring the Anglican Church. At first I kept my distance, observing her movements and patterns from afar. As time progressed and I slowly grew enamored with her mind and mannerisms, I felt comfortable getting closer. Many stereotypes dissolved in the wake of my exploration. Such notions as, liturgy is dead, the Spirit cannot move in this format, there is no sincerity in prayer, and the like plagued my uninformed perception of this tradition. What I witnessed left me truly astounded. There is charisma, and not just the docile, pleasant sort. There are prophecies. There are tongues and interpretations. There are words of wisdom and knowledge. There is faithfulness of the brethren, the miraculous, and healing – so much healing; and not just the physical kind. There is healing of minds and souls alike. I am amazed at the connection between my formative expressions of faith and those of this much older tradition, and I am fulfilled.

Sometimes I feel that my affinity for holistic thought is a curse. Some may not think it quite a curse, but it is indeed a curse when you posses an inclination to step back and see the interconnectivity in the body of Christ and the deep, profound impact the various expressions and tasks of the members perform for one another, all the while hostile and ignorant of each other’s similarity and unity. I see the Anglican tradition and her connectivity to the past, through liturgy, prayer, and longevity as the heart of Christendom. Yet what is the heart, without the lungs that give it renewed life? I see the Holiness and Pentecostal movements of the last two centuries as being the lungs of the body. We are so interdependent, yet strive for independence as we neglect the function we serve for one another.

As I gaze at the development of the Church over the centuries I cannot help but see a correlation derived from the development of human life. We begin so small, so seemingly insignificant, fighting for life, and cleaving to the womb for sustenance. The explosive nature of the early Church which defied all logic closely parallels the rapid cell division following conception. After this the brain and nervous system begin the journey to maturation. We see this process in the early and middle ages as philosophers and theologians flexed their intellectual capabilities in support of the life of the Church. The last phase in the development of fetal growth is that of the lungs as they prepare for aspiration. And aspire, we did. But as with all first aspirations of life, there was fear and initial outcry as we fought to explore this renewed air we did not understand. As we have moved through the course of the last century, we have adapted well to that air which we breathe – the very Holy Spirit and the gifts He imparts to us.

In writing this, I do not mean to discount other sects of the Christian faith. I only focus on these two as a means to depict their interworking effects on one another in the body. I am excited for the implications of this new phase of life in the Church. However, we must be cautious not to forget the road we have traveled and the men and women who have contributed to our development in the installation of these Holy Traditions we still possess today. Just as our holiday traditions give us stability and connectivity to past generations, so also does Holy Tradition provide the same in our family of believers. Often we do not even realize the absence of this connection until we are exposed to it or see it in the lives of others. I have experienced the artistry of tradition and relish its presence in my spiritual walk and the unity it forges with generations passed. The Eastern Orthodox Church has a beautiful articulation of the dimensions of time through which we transcend in tradition.

“It is an act that appears to be within time (and surely is so in the normal sense of the word) but is more truly an experience that has moved the believers outside time, into the continuous present, that dominion over time which the Lord’s presidency over his church’s worship effects and constitutes within history; thereby transcending it. To this extent, the generation of present believers is one with the generation of first believers. As we celebrate [Holy Traditions] in the 21^st century of the world’s history, a door opens, in an upper room in an inn within a village called Emmaus…When the faithful receive the mysteries, they have entered beyond time and space into a communion with the Lord of history, one which is the prelude and prefigurement of their future union in Paradise.” [1]

As we enter this season that abounds with tradition – the type of tradition that sets us apart, instills deep roots and foundational truths concerning our identity – may we also cherish deeply the Holy Traditions of the Church that unite us throughout the ages into one body. Through the expression of tradition may we transcend time to stand alongside our fathers in the faith, forever linked in the Spirit at the foot of the cross. Today I saw Ignatius, Theresa, Augustine, Gregory and a multitude of others who stood in God’s presence uttering similar sentiments in prayer:

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, even as thou and he are one; Grant that thy Church, being bound together in love and obedience to thee, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom thou didst send, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.[2]

O Almighty God, who by the Holy Spirit hast made us one with thy saints in heaven and on earth: Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may ever be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer, and may know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to thy power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who liveth and reigneth for ever and ever. Amen.[3]

[1] John Anthony McGuckin, The Orthodox Church, (Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing, Ltd, 2008).

[2] The Book of Common Prayer (New York: Seabury Press, 1979), 204.

[3] Ibid., 199.

Summer Update

2011-08-27T13:16:00.002-06:00

This morning I logged into FB to be greeted by a reminder of what I posted on this day in 2010. My status update was, “Orientation Day at Denver Seminary! Here we go!” I must say with complete satisfaction that I have finished my first year at Denver Seminary and survived. It was a difficult year; not academically, but personally. Of course the personal trials affected my academics, but I managed to stay afloat. I suffered through the loss of several relationships due to death, distance, deployment, and the like. These losses however, were not wasted.

I have long lacked the ability to process grief well, often opting for busyness or distraction over the discomfort of acknowledgment. This year was different. I have many close friends, family and mentors that helped me to process the disappointment and failures, mourning them while maintaining forward movement. I was shocked by the paralyzing effects of grief and greatly appreciative of the people in my life that demanded growth despite pain. The majority of disruption occurred shortly after the New Year. I spent my Lent season enmeshed in the book of Lamentations and remorsefully laid to rest, my sadness. My goal was to end this time of retrospection, and begin to move forward once more by Easter as a symbol of new beginnings. I made the transition somewhat awkwardly, but efficiently. The most difficult part was cultivating healthy characteristics of introversion. I am naturally an extrovert and gravitate to projecting and processing my emotions with others. This time I needed to take responsibility for my thoughts and feelings and process them for myself, albeit with guidance from trusted individuals close to me.

It is amazing the difference in the level of stress and anger when pain is processed well. The healing offered through the disciplines of stillness and silence led me to a greater understanding of the character of Christ as he frequently withdrew to be alone. I am convinced that his actions during these moments were due to the weight of grief that accompanies a fallen world. The comfort of the Spirit and mentorship of the Father were instrumental in his ability to confront the pain of this world. This has led me to a greater appreciation for the people God has placed in my life to offer comfort and mentoring as instruments of His grace. Lord knows, I am undeserving of such affection, and yet He freely gives it. The thought of that alone overwhelms me with gratitude.

By summer I was recovering well and taking steps to create additional networks and friends. This was greatly enriching in that I was able to not only receive healing, but also to minister out of my pain and experience. That aspect is truly redemptive of many misfortunes we may suffer in life. I am beginning to grasp God’s purposes accomplished through suffering and the path that is traveled from brokenness to wholeness. My course work for the summer entailed two Old Testament classes that spoke often of suffering and God’s intervention and redemption to repentant hearts. And so my summer was consumed with acknowledging and taking ownership of my failures and mistakes in life, repenting of them, and allowing God the pleasure of molding these circumstances for His purpose. Of course, He was already working these things out for His purposes so it was more a matter of perspective and submission on my part to His plan.

As my summer comes to a close I am pleased with what God has accomplished in my character over the course of the last year. My goal for this fall is to make some of the necessary transitions into increased responsibility for decision making in the areas of finance, occupation, and relationships. I am working through Townsend and Cloud’s Safe People to both become a safer person and invest in friendships with safe people.

The summer was not all hardship and heaviness. The children and I had a lot of fun taking advantage of the outdoors and staying active. Naomi has turned into quite the cyclist and is a great pace setter for my runs. Declan enjoys the rides in his stroller and gives me quite the workout, especially when we hit hills. They are quite the training team and have contributed greatly to my 5K race times this year. I am hoping to increase the physical challenge a bit this next year. I have a half marathon planned for January and am looking into starting some aquathlons. I love swimming and running, but am not a huge fan of cycling or else I would contemplate triathlons. (I have had a slight aversion to anything with two wheels after a motorcycle mishap 11 years ago. I’ll ride with Naomi and Declan at their pace, but that’s about it. Maybe I’ll work on that fear next year.)

I tried to work on a few decorating projects over the summer. I redecorated my entire bedroom and turned it into something of a reading conclave. It is a peaceful retreat where I look forward to comfortably reading more. I updated Naomi’s room with a few girly odds and ends, throw rugs, pillows, and pictures. Now that Declan has shown interest in themes I have updated his room to reflect his interests – Toy Story and a little bit of Cars. The next project on my list is remodeling the master bath – a daunting task. Some builder decided it was a bright idea to put carpet in the bathroom. Ugh! I have hated it for the last 7 years and am finally making plans to do something about it. After that I will tackle the front and back yard landscaping. I am definitely going to need help on that, since I have absolutely NO green thumb whatsoever.

Bedroom Project

My Reading Nook

A Trip to IKEA

My Little Library


Wall Art by Me (Clearly a novice)

I am very excited about my course load this upcoming semester. After fifteen years of wanting to learn Hebrew (ever since my trip to Israel), I am finally getting to do so. I had selected Hebrew as my desired language upon entering the Air Force, but they rarely assign you accordingly. I was assigned Russian while a friend of mine received Hebrew. She was greatly disappointed after finding out so I had offered at the time to trade with her (the AF allows this), but alas, after seeing my enthusiasm she decided to keep it. It has all worked out for the better. Now I will get to learn it anyway and have Russian to boot! I am looking forward to my Theology course. I spent last year knocking out the basic requirements of my degree program in Theology, but did not actually get to take a Theology class. I am also looking forward to a course in Teaching and Education since this is likely the path I will take when my degree program is complete. I can articulate my ideas well enough in writing, but when it comes to vocalizing a defense I am somewhat timid. I am looking forward to some increased confidence in this area, but am trying not to set my expectations too high. My remaining course is an exegesis of Romans. Fortunately I spent the summer already translating Romans so have a slight jump on the course and can focus more on the theological aspects of the book.

First Day of 3rd Grade

Naomi started third grade last week and absolutely loves it! I recall third grade being my favorite year as well. I really developed a love of math that year and Naomi has expressed similar affinities. She continues to love art and I try to encourage her to pursue that. She likes basketball and is getting pretty good at making shots. This year she also decided she wanted to try horseback riding so I am looking into that possibility. Naomi turns 9 in March, which is the recommended age for beginner snowboarders, so we will definitely be carving out some time to hit the slopes and get her going on that. She has great muscle definition and I am foreseeing will pick it up quickly and be a natural!

What a Character!

Declan loves, loves, loves singing and is starting to talk/sing nonstop. I don’t know when he finds time to breathe. I enjoy our little conversations and listening to his paragraphs of gibberish that are slowly beginning to take on some form of coherency. He loves his daycare/school and teachers. They are a great group of caretakers/educators and communicate very well with all the parents about the children’s developments and challenges. Declan is an avid climber and will climb on any and everything in sight. This of course means lots of tumbles and bruises – all part of being an adventurous little boy. I have stopped fretting over every fall and have embraced the fact that trips to Urgent Care are inevitable. At least we’re not on a first name basis.

I had hoped to include some positive news on the job front in this blog, but unfortunately that will need to wait for the next update. I am currently awaiting news on a contract bid I placed for a position as a Religious Education Coordinator for the Air Force. The contract has not yet been awarded and should be decided any day now. I try not to think about it too much or my stomach starts to tie up in knots. I continue to write in my spare time and published my first article titled “The Missions’ Apprentice” for Christ for the Nations’ (Dallas, TX) magazine. It was exciting to see my words in print and I look forward to future opportunities in publishing my work. School tends to absorb most of my writing effort and so I frequently update my blog with some of my papers. I have joined several theology networks and look forward to participating more actively with them as I write more in this area for school.

Well, that’s about it for news right now. I appreciate your prayers as I face many new challenges this year. Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog.

Blessings,

Debbie

Purification After Childbirth

2011-06-29T19:19:00.001-06:00


http://photobylisa.zenfolio.com/

Purification after childbirth is a levitical matter that has posed many problems for commentators and biblical scholars throughout the centuries. One can definitely see how social influences and limited knowledge has played a role in interpreting God’s intent for the parturient. While it is important to understand the context under which all generations have interpreted this function it is also vital that modern medicine and scientific advances not be disregarded as aids to interpretation. Due to the difficulty of accumulating data as it pertains to pregnancy and childbirth because of legal statutes that protect the sanctity of life, advances in this area are slow in development and as of yet not reflected in most Bible commentaries.

The looming issue, to which most commentators address first, is that of compatibility between the commands of Genesis 1:28 “to be fruitful and multiply” and the surrounding implications of uncleanliness associated with this function in Leviticus 12:1-8. As Lloyd Bailey notes, “unfitness for worship that results from the natural processes of childbirth and menstruation seems hardly fair!”[1] Bailey is quite correct if an understanding of the passage lies in the functions of reproduction alone.

At the time of the giving of the Law to the people of Israel, surrounding cultural context dictated much of the people’s interpretation. The creation of sexually polar spheres was characteristic of surrounding cultures of that day.[2] The men dealt with hunting and war while women dealt with birth. In these two areas alone there are similarities in the laws that governed these spheres. Numbers 31:19 outlines specific restrictions for men returning from battle so as to draw a clear boundary between the rigors of war and death and the everyday life of the people. Likewise, women combating the pain and toil of childbirth were also separated from society. In light of more recent developments in the studies of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and postpartum depression we can understand the need for recovery, reorientation and reintegration following these tasks. Outside of cultural norms and within the realm of theology we must also view the Law as mandates of God for the protection and in the best interests of His chosen people.

A second assumption given leeway to in light of surrounding cultures was that of demonic activity associated with the parturient and menstruant. Allen Ross combats this notion in his work on holiness and suggests that “the flow of blood did not imply demonic activity to the Israelite; it was a sign of possible death. Any loss of vaginal blood (or seed) meant a diminution of life. It was therefore incompatible with God, the source of life.”[3] Both parturition and menstruation can thus be seen in this light as indicators of death. While the child itself is a symbol and incarnation of joy and life, menstruation is a sign that no life is present in the body of a woman and the elements (placenta and lochia) of parturition mark the end of sustainment by the womb of woman. In the matter of menstruation, primate females differ from the majority of the animal kingdom in that the endometrial lining is not reabsorbed to replenish the following estrous cycle thereby marking the end or death of conceptual opportunity for the current cycle.[4] In like manner the bodily seminal secretions of men constitute uncleanliness as they are also evidence of unfulfilled life and therefore incompatible with the source of all life.

Early Church views of sexual activity heavily impacted interpretation of levitical law pertaining to parturition, but later on proved to be helpful in countering heretical concepts such as Mary’s “immaculate conception.” Origen associated sin therein with conception and birth itself while Augustine attached transmission of sin to the sexual act, which he stated, took place only outside of Eden. Catholic tradition, understanding well the implications of the blood and placenta, removed such presence from their birth accounts. Protestants later countered this notion with Mary’s observance of ritual cleansing sacrifices as evidence of a normal birth. However, this also absolves any accountability of sacrifice to the sin nature of the child birthed since Mary observed this ritual in spite of Jesus sinless nature.[5]

The association with a child’s sin nature was long the supposition associated with the sacrificial requirements following parturition. Some have suggested that iniquity was imputed on the woman for bringing a sinner into the world. Calvin believed that the existence of a depraved offspring in the womb created uncleanliness. This becomes illogical in light of similar sacrificial demands on the menstruant where a child is not present. This also poses a problem in light of the fact that Mary presented the same offering after giving birth to the sinless Son of God. Andrew Bonar suggests that the offering is for the cleansing of the woman’s sins.[6] This presents difficulty since no act leading up to parturition involves a sin. The order of offerings in Leviticus 12 also suggests that personal sin of the mother is not the issue.[7] The best and most logical understanding of the postpartum sacrifice is then in direct relation to the loss of blood and life-sustaining elements of the placenta rendering the woman “unholy” and therefore incompatible during the length of her courses with the source of all life.

Reprieve for the parturient has traditionally been interpreted patristically as a means for a man to avoid infection himself, but is refuted by modern medicine and the exact requirements in present day practice to postpartum procedures in order to prevent any damage to the mother’s reproductive system. The concern for abstinence for six weeks following childbirth is a safeguard for healing and restoration in the body of the mother. Sexual activity will potentially exacerbate any internal bleeding resulting in infection and possible death to the woman while posing no threat to the man. Such interpretation may also reflect some of the surrounding cultural superstitions associated with the fear of a bleeding woman and the concept of fluctuating power that accompanied menstrual and parturient bleeding. A better understanding of this practice however, is as a protection for women against male whims and impulses that would harm her body in its vulnerable and impaired state.[8]

The most puzzling aspect of all, which has long baffled commentators, involves the contents of Leviticus 12:5, and the demands for an additional time of separation following the birth of a female child. Bonar assumed the additional time was associated with the impurity of woman overall or a possible sanctifying element that accompanied the circumcision of a male child.[9] This of course, seems absurd in light of the fact that there is no additional sacrificial offering required for females over males and suggests that there is no difference in value based on the gender of the child. Additionally, the sacrifice and any obligatory and purifying elements are referred to in regards to the mother. It is difficult to say with all certainty why God designed postpartum rest in this fashion, but I believe science and medicine may eventually offer the answer to this confounding question.

Application

In a recent paper published by Oxford University Press, the theory was presented, tested, and published that maternal serum human chorionic gonadotrophin (MSHCG) is higher in women carrying a female fetus than in those carrying a male fetus. Male and female gonads differentially regulate placental gonadotrophin production and levels change in specific relation to the development of the fetal pituitary-gonadal system. The gender-related differences should therefore be attributed to differential expression of placental proteins by female compared to male fetuses.[10] Some women carrying female fetuses rendered hCG results almost twice that of women carrying male fetuses.

The implications of this discovery bear testimony to the level of stress and hormonal fluctuations a woman’s body undergoes and the greater taxation of these efforts in forming a female child. As such it seems logical that a longer period of rest would be necessary before a woman’s hormonal production returned to a healthy, whole and normal state. The presence of hCG in the mother’s body remains at an elevated level for at least six weeks after giving birth. Since the definition of a disease is that which creates an abnormal state or impairs wholeness, the production of hCG in a woman’s body, one of the key indicators of pregnancy and this abnormal state, would fall under the category of a disease.

This accommodates for the double portion of time allotted to the overall period for purification of eighty days to be observed by the mother of a female infant, but there is still the matter of the initial two weeks of separation in contrast to the one week allowed for a male child. During gestation the female fetus’ reproductive system has absorbed the pregnancy hormones of the mother and the female fetus responds to the hCG hormones by retaining an endometrial lining. Upon birth the female infant menstruates for one week where the endometrial lining sustained by the pregnancy hormones is shed in the absence of the mother’s hormones. Since the time of separation for a menstruant is two weeks this would explain the two weeks of separation before the female infant can join society whereas the male child joined society upon his initiation into the covenant on the eighth day following circumcision.

Many feminist considerations, while valiant in effort, pose a hindrance to women’s understandings and appreciations of their bodies and the functions of God’s design in them. Such attempts to absolve all differences between genders thus consternate some of the necessities of rest and healthy living. While man and woman were created equal and are viewed spiritually as equal in the eyes of God, our physiological differences possess purpose and cannot be ignored. What I may learn from this passage in Leviticus 12 is, first and foremost, that God had and always will have my best interests as a woman at heart. Secondly, I may know that my body physically and hormonally grieves all loss of life and I must validate that reality. Thirdly, I must not take offense to past interpretations no matter how harmful they may seem to me. The biblical scholar is dedicated to understanding the Scriptures in light of the information they have available at the time and one cannot fault the scholar for lack of scientific support. Ultimately, we are all products of the cultures and societies in which we are born.

[1] Lloyd R. Bailey, Leviticus (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1987). 74.

[2] Erhard S. Gerstenberger, Leviticus: a commentary (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996), 147.

[3] Allen P. Ross, Holiness to the Lord: A Guide to the Exposition of the Book of Leviticus, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 267.

[4] Strassmann, B. I., "The evolution of endometrial cycles and menstruation," The Quarterly Review of Biology 71, no 2 (June 1996): 181-220.

[5] Ephraim Radner, Leviticus (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2008). 120-134.

[6] Andrew A. Bonar, An Exposition of Leviticus (Grand Rapids, MI: Sovereign Grace Publishers, 1971), 99.

[7] Mark F. Rooker, Leviticus (Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2000), 184.

[8] Gerstenberger, Leviticus: a commentary, 152.

[9] Bonar, An Exposition of Leviticus, 99.

[10] Yuval Yaron, Ofer Lehavi, AVi Orr-Urtreger, Ilan Gull, Joseph B. Lessing, Ami Amit, “Maternal Serum HCG is higher in the presence of a female fetus as early as week 3 post-fertilization,” Oxford Journals 17, no. 2 (October, 2001): 485-89, http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/content/17/2/485.full (accessed June 20, 2011).

Creation in Salvation

2011-06-13T13:55:00.002-06:00

This summer I have been taking two Old Testament courses at Denver Seminary. One of them is titled Early Israel and its Wisdom Literature. During one of the lectures on Genesis 1 and the creation of the world the ideas in this blog came to me as I listened to Dr. Hess. I attempted to research other perspectives similar to what I came up with but could not find anything although I am sure it exists somewhere. If through the course of reading this you identify similar ideas please feel free to point me in that direction so I may read what others write on the matter. With that being said, here are a few ideas I came across in the process of “working out my salvation with fear and trembling.”

Creation of the World

1. Light from darkness – “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

2. Division of waters – “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.”

3. Land and water – “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear…Let the earth produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.”

4. Time / Sources of light – “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.”

5. Movement in the waters below and above – “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”

6. Movement on dry land – “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds…Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”

7. Rest – God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

Creation of the New Man

1. Light from darkness / Righteousness from sin – “Take care then, that the light in you is not darkness.” (Luke 11:35) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

2. Separating the waters / Recognizing Jesus – “He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, ‘Who can this be? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey Him!’” (Luke 8:25) Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask Him, and He would give you living water.’” (John 4:10) “Within these lay a large number of the sick – blind, lame, and paralyzed – waiting for the moving of the water…’Get up,’ Jesus told him, ‘pick up your mat and walk!’” (John 5:3-8) “If anyone is thirsty, he should come to Me and drink! The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” (John 7:37-38) “They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God.” (2 Pet. 3:5) “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life.” (Rev. 21:6)

3. Seed-bearing Fruit – “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.” (Luke 8:11) “So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.” (Matt. 7:20) “Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.” (John 15:4-5) “You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” (John 15:16) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23)

4. Sources of light / Eternal life “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of Gods’ glory in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6) “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.“ (Matt 5:14) “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Eph 5:8) “For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.” (1 Thess. 5:5)

5. Life in the Waters / Baptism – “Jesus answered, ‘I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) “to make her (church) holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He (Jesus) did this to present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.” (Eph 5:26-27) “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.” (Heb 10:22)

6. Infilling of the Holy Spirit / Movement based on the foundational truths of Scripture and creation of the new man “After Jesus was baptized, He went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And there came a voice from heaven: ‘This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him!’” (Matt. 3:16-17)

7. Rest / Inner peace, tranquility of the cross – “Therefore, while the promise to enter His rest remains, let us fear that none of you should miss it…Let us then make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:1-11)

Why I am a Calvinist

Humans did not choose to be created. God chose to create them in His image. If I apply this principle to the formation of the new man within me, then I must conclude that I had nothing to do with the selection to be a new man. God chose me and drew me to Himself. He began the process of forming me into the image of His Son and breathed His life into me. I cannot resist His call on my life and His will to create a new man within me.

“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” (Rom. 3:10-11) “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Eph 2:4-5)

Why I am an Arminian

The point at which God breathed life into Adam and released him into the garden to be fruitful and multiply was the point at which Adam obtained his free will. Adam possessed free will once God gave him his existence and life. Jesus, the second Adam, possessed free will. One squandered it; the other harnessed it and submitted it to the will of the Father. The point at which mankind lost free will was at the Fall. I must assume then that upon the creation of this new man within me, I once again am free and reobtain free will. Until the moment that Christ frees me and God breathes His life into me, I do not have free will. Once I am a partaker of eternal life, I have free will. The responsibility of that knowledge is overwhelming in and of itself as I now have the ability to choose between right and wrong whereas before I could only choose what was wrong, but accompanied with the knowledge of my Helper, the Holy Spirit, it is fathomable and manageable.

“I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever, but a son does remain forever. Therefore if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” (John 8:34-36) Paul teaches in Romans 6 that we have died with Christ and that we now live with Christ. This being so, we have died to sin and its claims and in Christ sin and death no longer rule over us. But Paul goes on in verse 16 to say that we do still chose to become slaves of sin. This implies free will.

Living Calminian

I am new at refining my theology, although I have been trying for a long time without knowing it. I cannot help myself. It is what I am wired to do. This does not mean I always get it right, but it does mean that my pursuit and heart are in the right place. Something seems amiss in my mind in regards to pure Calvinism, yet something rings true. The same applies to pure Arminianism. Until a few weeks ago I was not able to explain the relationship between the two and had heard quite often that they were irreconcilable. I cannot accept that. And so I arrive today at the juncture of grace and free will. First there is undeserved grace in my creation, and then there is absolute free will. Before Christ I was formless and void. Now, I am a new man and I am beautifully and wonderfully formed in the image of Christ. I am free; a new creation. What remains to be answered is what shall I do with my freedom?

Time Will Tell

2011-05-18T14:15:00.000-06:00

Finally! I finished up my spring semester at Denver Seminary last week and now I am, at last, writing the promised blog on Rob Bell’s visit to the school on April 8, 2011. This morning I reviewed my notes and again listened to my audio recording of the event. I ended up with four additional pages of notes, (oh joy!) but did you seriously expect any less from me? If you would like a bit of pretext before reading the following review you may read this blog and listen to the included audio of the event. For a “brief” (ha-ha) overview of my take on Bell’s book, Love Wins, see my previous blog.

In Rob Bell’s opening statements he articulates his personal reasons for appearing at Denver Seminary. Plainly speaking, Bell understands the power of presence and the impact and influence associated with physical presence. Physical presence is captivating and enthralling. The downfall of presence and a distortion of its true intent is manipulation. It is in light of these two polarities that I approach my analysis of Bell’s visit.

Equality on the playing field is how I would describe the initial address to the students at Denver Seminary. We were reminded of our fallen human state and that misguided pursuits of dreams are but foolishness. Sometimes we enter into ministry out of desperate attempt to gain a sense of love and to satisfy an inner desire to be needed. The quick pace of Bell’s speech did not allow for introspective analysis of personal motive to enter into a discerning spirit as he spoke. I imagine I was not the only person in the room who felt as if my endeavor at seminary to become better equipped in the Word was being stripped and demeaned on the spot. But I need not concern myself with that, because God loves me and love wins. What a relief! Perhaps there are some, of which I am not one, who come to seminary with self-righteous motives. I have never carried any disillusions of my fallibility and incompetence. But the tone of address carried with it an accusatory note that I did not discern as conviction. Feeling somewhat disarmed however, I ignored the slight and attempted to focus on content.

Dr. Wenig began the Q&A session with a reference to the methods and theology of Friedrich Schleiermacher, more prominently known as the “Father of Modern Liberal Theology.” Dr. Wenig asked Rob if he envisioned himself as a modern day Schleiermacher in his ministry to make the gospel more relevant to culture through the redefining of biblical terminology. Bell’s initial answer involved some interesting imagery. The question brought to his mind a wet piece of toast. I thought this odd since I have never had the privilege of eating a wet piece of toast. So what do I do? I went to the kitchen and made some toast. Then I soaked my piece of toast. The result was interesting. The crispy piece of bread did not simply lose its “oomph;” it cracked apart and essentially disintegrated in my hands. I guess the imagery was accurate because I believe this is exactly what happens to the substance of God’s Word when we attempt to redefine or infuse with meaning its original meaning and context. The realization and application of the gospel is a two way street. I begin in the present, where I am right now and I must travel to the gospel in its original context for realization of God’s Word. The journey to application describes the road back to the present with those realizations in hand. If I reverse the order my interpretation falls apart and disintegrates. Bell referenced Plantinga’s definition of sin as the “culpable disturbance of shalom” as a good example of the proper redefining of terms. But I would argue that the definition in and of itself means nothing if we do not firstly comprehend “shalom.” So my caution in this practice would be to make sure we do not use loaded terms in our definitions that have further potential to create distortion. (Read here for a working definition of peace to better understand phrases such as “culpable disturbance of shalom.”)

The second question dealt with Bell’s chapter on Heaven. Dr. Wenig stated that according to Scripture on end-times judgment, it did not appear that love wins. The question posed was whether or not he accurately understood Bell’s meaning of love in this context. Bell placed God’s desire to set all things right at the forefront of his answer. I find this aligns with Scripture and in particular with Jesus’ practice of restoration during his ministry here on earth. So what do we do with justice? This is of course one of those terms that may need a little philosophical pondering. Bell described the relationship between justice and mercy, likewise in his book (pg 39), as a type of tension filled dance. I concur with this analysis from a fallen perspective, but God in and of Himself is not characterized by tension. Tension is a characteristic of the encounter between good and evil. So to understand justice and mercy as they pertain to the character of God we must approach the matter differently.

When we dance with a partner (as would be the case between justice and mercy since they are two separate qualities), one person leads and one follows. The roles are equal in importance but different in function. In the dance between justice and mercy, justice leads and mercy follows. Without justice there can be no mercy. Think of a typical court case. There is justice, which usually entails a verdict and sentence. Only after this is there any exercise of mercy. So yes there is a dance between justice and mercy, but it is not an interpretive nonsensical display; it is orderly and precise. I think our misinterpretation of justice is that it involves the execution of a sentence devoid of mercy and this may be where Bell is headed but perhaps not able to articulate. Judgment means that the sentence for wrongdoing is set in place and into effect. Mercy means the removal of consequence through saving grace. The wage, consequence, and just result of my sin is death. But the merciful gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). Here is our dance and the circumstances that surround it – Jesus Christ - who both metes out justice and subsequently offers mercy and grace to those who believe in Him. There is no tension in this dance, but absolute order.

Bell goes on to refer to the fires of judgment as refining in nature. I can accept this definition, but we must go further and understand what fire refines. As far as I could find in my research the only context for the refining properties of fire pertains to metal (gold, silver, bronze, steel, etc.). These metals are analogous for the properties of divine qualities in the Word of God. Ephesians 6:11-17 defines these qualities for us: truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, and the Word of God. The fires of refinement only purify these elements of faith and without them one will dissolve into ash. If we do not have Christ in us, there is nothing to refine. Bell’s reference to divine life, as a “pilot light,” is problematic in its theological implications and I will not delve into this diversion right now as I am unsure about his meaning.

The third question posed to Bell by Dr. Wenig dealt with Jesus’ use of the word aion in Matthew. Bell redefines this word in his book as a “coming age” or indicative of the “intensity of an experience” in somewhat of a “lost track of time” sense, not a forever sense. Dr. Wenig invoked the work of several biblical scholars to support the traditional understanding of the word and framed the question so as to understand how Bell arrived at his conclusion of the interpreted meaning. Bell’s answer simply reiterated what was stated in the book as to the definition but fell short of adequately explaining “due process.”

The final question addressed the matter of salvation, the unsaved, and the extension of God’s grace after death. If there is an opportunity to repent after death then what drives any sense of urgency for the present? Bell answered by explaining his intent to balance between the tensions of urgency and possibility in the book. Bell spoke of the two extremes in dealing with the matter as either laissez faire or “extra crispy – you’re done.” I think both of those approaches fail to comprehend the complexity of God or understand His provision of grace. What we can be absolutely sure of is that God is just and He will mete out justice to all of us. God’s provision of grace and mercy that follows the outpouring of His wrath in justice culminates at the foot of the cross.

Bell’s overall approach to the topic was interesting since it leaves one with the sense of suspension and perpetual presence. Here is a question that has not been fully or adequately answered for two thousand years to which he writes a book in address, full of more questioning and no resolution. I understand the desire to find resolution through open dialogue and the profession of this intent through literary expression, but I did not receive this impression from the live event. I question the spirit behind a pursuit that lauds and thrives amidst so much tension or as Bell phrased it “the friction of the tension is part of the joy.” When asked who he intended as a target audience, Bell could identify no one in particular, but concerned himself more with the intrigue offered in the question. However as Scripture repeats over and over throughout the narrative, Jesus Christ is the mystery revealed in all its fullness. The distinguishing factor between heaven and hell, life and death, justice and mercy, is Jesus Christ.

In closing, Bell makes a statement that “there is what you believe and then there is how you believe it, and you can believe the right thing wrongly.” This is definitely true, but so is the adverse. You can believe the wrong thing, rightly. It is not all about the “what” or the “how;” it is about the “what” AND the “how” and “what” is pivotal to our practice of “how”. I opened my analysis with a reference to the power of presence. Rob Bell brings forward a fascinating new spin on an age-old question. The question propels forward on the power of his presence. He is an excellent pastor and relational human being and it shows. We are faced with two options. Either it is time to address the question with all sincerity and perseverance and for this reason Bell is an instrument in the hands of God to bring the matter to our attention, or he is serving his own desire to impact our generation for his own purpose. One will ring eternal… as in forever, and the other will pass away with this age. Only time will tell.

Soon, but not yet...

2011-04-25T10:46:00.000-06:00

I know I promised to write a review of Rob Bell's visit to Denver Seminary and I am posting this to assure you I will indeed write it. Two things prevent me from writing it right now. The first is the last minute slam of paper writing for the Spring semester. It does not go over well if I am blogging about the latest and greatest thing while handing in less than stellar products. The second reason I have postponed the review is an upcoming round table discussion on the content of Love Wins and Bell's visit to Denver Seminary. I would like to hear the input of others before publishing my thoughts here. The round table will take place on May 3rd so don't expect anything until at least after that. Thanks for your patience!

For Whom the Bell Tolls - Time Marches On...and On...

2011-03-27T00:04:00.004-06:00

Introduction

I read it, every word. Cover to cover I labored, thought through, and annotated all that came to mind. Rob Bell raised some interesting questions in his recent book, Love Wins. None of the questions are new and perhaps the fact that we, as a Church, have continuously brushed them off, led to the inevitable tackling of these troubling questions, no matter how inadequate the answers may have turned out to be, because of our ignorance.

Love Wins was not written for theologians, academics, or those devoted to biblical studies. The book was written for the suffering laity we frequently ignore because the “why” questions and the demand for empathy is too uncomfortable. I am guilty; I recognize that. I am a perpetual student. I bury my nose in books and study Scripture with a passion that often burns to the detriment of real life around me. But I do not offer up my shortcomings as an excuse for poor exegetical work. Just as I am called upon to develop more compassion for the world outside, so also are those motivated by compassion called upon to reach the world through sound theological solutions. As stuffy as that may sound, it is our responsibility as leaders. A proper balance between the thoughts of the heart and the sentiments of the soul is essential to our understanding of God’s will and purpose.

The format of the book makes it difficult to succinctly address all the issues raised and would take us on a multitude of rabbit trails were we to chase after each and every diversion. My attempts are not to counter what Rev. Bell writes, but to contribute to the discussion in light of what he has written. I will start where all good gospel stories start, with Jesus.

It has long been my opinion that the world is presented with a fragmented image of who Jesus is because the mirror in which the world glimpses Him is fractured. Division and chaos has long divided the Church. Sin plagues and distorts what the world is to see. Rev. Bell cites account after account displaying just this tragedy as sinful humans claiming to bear the image of Jesus, hurt and abuse others. But what we must not shy away from saying is this: there is only ONE Jesus. He is the light and in Him is no darkness. The transformation of the human soul is not instantaneous. The human soul grows and develops just like the life of a human embryo. There is a quickening of life, and then there is growth – years upon years, decades upon decades of growth until we reach a ripe and mature age. When we observe behaviors that are clearly sinful, we do not identify it as Jesus or label it as the wrong Jesus. It is NOT Jesus – plain and simple. If it does not look like Jesus, does not act like Jesus, and does not sound like Jesus, then it is not Jesus. The way we find out who Jesus is now, is by studying who He was then.[1]

So who is Jesus? Jesus is the Word of God in flesh. Scripture tells us “for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) This passage is referring to man who is made in the image of God. What we learn from this image-bearing truth is that through the Word of God (Jesus), the Heart of God (the Father), is made known to us. The word cannot be separated or severed from the heart, they are one. The word always reveals the heart and Jesus pronounced this purpose many times as he revealed the Father to us.

Another dimension of the Trinitarian relationship that Bell brings up in his first chapter that I would like to address is one of “verbs”. Verbs are important. Doing is important. But a verb never comes first and cannot subsist alone. A verb is nothing without a noun to give her purpose. And so to best understand the nature of doing, we must first understand the nature of being. The verbs – accepting, confessing, believing – do not come before the recognition of our identity as sinners and the identity of Jesus as savior.[2] These are nouns – sinner and savior. Now that we have our nouns set in place we may do. We may accept our savior. We may confess our sins. We may believe in Him. Paul and James balance exquisitely the relationship between being in faith and doing in faith. They are not contradicting one another, they are complementing one another. Together with their conglomeration of nouns and verbs they make complete sentences. What saves us, in the end, is the complete sentence. We recognize who we are, a sinner and we confess that. We recognize who Jesus is, our savior and we accept Him. There is the being of nouns, the doing of verbs and fulfillment of a sentence in living. That sounds oddly like a verse I recognize… “In Him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) And here is our Trinitarian picture: we live in Christ, we move in the Spirit and we have our being in the Father. Every transformation cited within the opening pages of Love Wins, in an attempt to discount any type of formatted sinner’s prayer, follows this recognition and action. Each individual realizes who they are, and who Jesus is. There is no magic order of words, but the sinner’s prayer should not be discounted because of this. It is recognition of who we are, who Jesus is, what he did and what we will do. If we take away any portion of being or doing we will never arrive at God’s purpose for our lives, which is living.

Heaven

An interesting question arises in Bell’s chapter on heaven. Is heaven here and now or somewhere sometime in the future? Theological developments have brought us far over the course of the last century in understanding the Kingdom of God as partially here in the now, and fully coming in the future. But in order to exist here partially it must also exist somewhere else fully or we have no comprehension of what it even means for something to partially exist. Our recognition of the Kingdom here is based on our recognition of the Kingdom somewhere else. Bell states that we must take the present seriously “because we have great confidence that God has not abandoned human history and is actively at work within it, taking it somewhere” and if we are still moving, as time is, then sometime as well. This is true. The question is where are we going? The answer of course is – heaven.

A misunderstanding of the concept of time presents a problem in the subsequent presentation of the Kingdom. History is a sequence of events through time. The only dimension of time that moves is the present. The past does not move; it does not retreat into the distance. The present travels along through history and distances us from past events. The future cannot be dragged into the present or approach us with any further haste than the pace traveled in the present. We progress through a sequence of events. Time is dependent on events. Our choices in this sequence of events, dictate what will happen as we travel through time. We are defined in being by our past, our origins, our parenthood. We are sustained, nurtured in the present through perpetual motion. We live for the future because we have a destination we desire to reach. I have been an avid runner for the past year and one truth I have realized is that the future, my finish line, only draws near as I move. It cannot come to me, I must travel to it. So, the point of all of this is the following: If heaven is our future then we will only reach it through perpetual motion forward through the present. We do not get the luxury of laissez faire and standing still in the present awaiting the approach of heaven. We learn from our Creator how best to live life and approach Him.

On the following point, Bell and I clearly agree. “If you believe that you’re going to leave and evacuate to somewhere else, then why do anything about this world?”[3] I believe this thought is grounded in some unhealthy fundamental eschatological developments, but it is incorrect. I do not believe we are leaving this earth to go somewhere else. Of course there is death and we do go somewhere else. We go to heaven to wait the time when heaven and earth meet and merge becoming a new creation. We progress through time based on events. If we do nothing, we progress nowhere, time progresses nowhere and we move no closer to heaven. Time is meaningless without events. Time and events are inseparable. If we desire to reach that time that only the Father knows then we must follow His events – His will here on earth. No events, no time. That is motivation enough to do the Father’s will each and every second we draw breath.

Bell brings up the Lord’s Prayer and the invocation of heaven on earth: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This is our hope. That one day we will see God’s will fully implemented on earth as it is in heaven, in essence bringing heaven and earth together into a new creation. One truth we claim as believers in Christ is that heaven and hell are incompatible. There is no cosmic battle between good and evil where evil is a necessary balance to good. Good does not require evil to exist. But where there is evil, good cannot fully reign. It is a process of transformation. We must assume then that the fact that heaven is not yet fully here is because hell is also partially here. And this brings us to hell.

Hell

We will begin hell with Bell’s summary of hell. “We need a loaded, volatile, adequately violent, dramatic serious word to describe the very real consequences we experience when we reject the good and true and beautiful life that God has for us.”[4] We need something to describe evil in the world and that word is “hell”. The problem with Bell’s solution is that the criteria for evaluating our definition of heaven is not the same as that used to evaluate our definition of hell. If we say that the partial reality of heaven here on earth, is dependent on a real place existent somewhere by which we derive our definition of heaven, then we must also say that the presence of hell on earth is dependent on a real place existent somewhere by which we derive our definition of hell. The presence of hell on earth is evidence that hell exists somewhere else.

So if heaven is in our future and is the place to which we are headed then where does that leave hell? The presence of hell is necessitated by the existence of sin. The consequence of sin is death. These three are inseparable – sin, death and hell. Before the propitiation of sin, hell was our future, as was death. Hell is where we were headed. A consequence is not for the purpose of correction.[5] A consequence is a result of an action whether it is good or bad. There are good consequences to good actions and we do not define these as corrective in nature.

The pivotal point in history that changed the course of the earth and mankind forever was the Cross. A loving and compassionate God makes a way for restoration where one is not deserved or merited. A gracious and merciful God orchestrates events in history to intersect and interject Himself into the present. A sacrificial and serving Savior pays for the sins of the world so that we need not suffer the consequences of death and hell, the natural cause and effect relationship that results from sin.

Death

It is easy to see how a fundamental misunderstanding of hell is possible in light of a misunderstanding of the concept of death. Death was never a part of the creation design. In the world that God created there was no death. Trees did not die. Leaves did not wither. Fruit did not fall.[6] The cycle of life and death simply did not exist. The reason that “leaves drop from the trees and the plants die”[7] is because death entered the world with sin. The purpose for creation taking on the restorative nature of dying to live is because it announced what would forever be the consequence of sin and what God Himself would need to undergo in order to redeem the world from sin. “A seed has to be buried in the ground before it can rise up from out of the earth as new life”[8] because this is what the seed of God would have to suffer in order to bring us new life.[9] The seed of God is the Word of God and the Word of God is Jesus Christ. The Cross is not just a metaphorical symbol, it is a physical reality.

Death continues to be a consequence of sin. There is no need to die to self if sin does not exist within oneself. We die because we sin. The world dies because sin continues to exist in the world. But as the Cross proved, we are incapable of eradicating sin from the world. This is a feat only God can accomplish. We are simply instruments, living vessels in His hands. We bring genuine restoration to the world because God lives in us. To suggest that God would create a world where death is essential to new life is to suggest a cruel and sadistic Creator. Death is essential to new life where sin exists. The death of sin is what begets new life. Nature simply attests to that fact because she must coexist with sin. We talk so much about saving the earth perhaps we ought to return to the reason why she is dying in the first place.

It is impossible to contemplate the Cross without dwelling on the magnitude and meaning of the blood. The blood cannot be minimized. Blood has always been paramount in our understanding of pain and suffering. Blood permeates the Scriptures, from the very first sacrifice to cover the sin of Adam and Eve, to the murderous cries of Abel’s blood as it seeped into the earth, to the grieving and suffering of every woman who ever lived to bring forth life, to the blood on the Cross, to the very pages of Revelation as the blood of the saints demands vengeance. Blood is part of who we are and has always cried out and attested to the suffering of mankind. It is not only relevant under an Old Testament sacrificial system; blood continues to speak out every day as testimony to the suffering of mankind. Every time blood spills, God hears its cry. What makes the blood of Christ so pivotal to the Christian faith is not only what it represents, but what that blood attested to. It attested to a sinless God that would humble Himself, becoming a man, and spilling out the very essence of His life for us. That blood cried louder in suffering than any other blood in the history of world. The anguish of God in that moment was so great, that the very foundations of the earth trembled at their core. That blood continues to cry out every time it confronts and covers sin, and God feels every ounce of pain and suffering. You ask how a loving and compassionate God can condemn mankind to eternal damnation, but I ask you, how could an innocent, sinless God go through that kind of suffering for me? Suffering does not please God. Life pleases God. The only way to bring life to mankind was through suffering.

What happened on the cross? God poured out His very life and blood for us. The Cross was about the end of the sacrificial system because no other blood would ever match the magnitude of that sacrifice again. The Cross was about the reconciliation of broken relationships under the blood of Jesus. The Cross was about a guilty defendant set free by the blood of Jesus. The Cross was about a battle won after the blood of Jesus proclaimed His innocence. The Cross is about the redemption of a lost world through the blood of Jesus. It is all about the blood. If you take away the blood, you take away any hope we have of avoiding eternal separation from God. The blood is not about the language of the day in 33 AD. If we suffer a loss in sensitivity towards the blood then perhaps that does not speak to the relevance of the blood, but instead to the callousness of our hearts.[10]

God’s Purpose

When we talk of Sin, we refer to those things which do not please God. If Sin does not please God then by logical conclusion we must assume that death does not please God. If death does not please God then hell does not please God. If none of these things please God then why do they exist? And furthermore, why would He come to take our sins upon himself, undergo death and travel to hell? The answer is life. Life is God’s purpose; life has always been God’s purpose. The mystery does not begin with God’s pleasure.[11] The mystery begins with God’s purpose. The fulfillment of God’s purpose is what produces God’s pleasure. The mystery of Christ is wrapped up in His role as the Son of God. He is the very life of God. Jesus is God. That is the mystery. One might think that does not sound all that mysterious, but it is quite the mystery when you realize that everything in the world is dying. How can eternal life possibly subsist in a place that is continually falling away and dying around it? There is your true mystery.

It is difficult to understand a purpose driven philosophy. We are such a pleasure driven culture. We rationalize all different forms of pleasure and secernate them from their purpose. God’s purpose is to bring us eternal life through Him. His pleasure lies in His power to accomplish this feat. Our philosophy tends to shape God as opposed to allowing God to shape our philosophy. When we live our lives grounded in pleasure we cannot comprehend a God who does not meet our immediate pleasure and who will sacrifice all that He has, even to the point of suffering on a cross, in order to fulfill a purpose. Our problem is not whether or not there is a hell. Our problem is that we do not understand and appreciate the price paid for our eternal life enough to care that at one time it was lost. We do not recognize what it means to be a sinner. Without the recognition of our state as sinners it is impossible to appreciate the presence of a God who would be our savior.

Judgment

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

There are three separate concepts in this passage. There is Death, Hades, and a lake of fire (Hell). Somehow in my mind I have always clumped the three together into one place but I have realized this may not be the case. The second thing is that Hades is not eternal, but that it too will pass away. The one place that we do not hear of an end to is the lake of fire. The lake of fire comes after judgment. Hades comes before judgment and is separate from Death. And so now I have questions of my own about Hades and Hell and my traditional understanding of what these places entail. I still believe that Hades is a place apart from earth. It is a location where those who have not placed themselves under the covering of the blood go, but it is not eternal. Revelation states that Death and Hades cough up the dead to stand in judgment. And then only after judgment, if not found in the Book of Life, does anyone go into the lake of fire which is eternal. I have many new questions now, but the one thing I cannot yet accept is the idea that all will choose reconciliation with God. John the Evangelist clearly sees that “anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Why would John say this if he did not in fact see someone thrown into the fires? I must assume from this that there will be some. As uncomfortable of a message as that may portray to the world, I cannot reconcile with the idea that none will suffer an eternity in the lake of fire (Hell), whatever that may entail.

Gospel

Rob Bell makes an important point in Love Wins. He expresses a genuine frustration over a gospel that propels itself on the wings of fear. I agree with this point and believe it should not be the message at the forefront of the gospel. Fire and Brimstone is not the Good News. We have something of genuine value to every living thing on earth. We present a message of life. We offer a hope in a future, free from pain and suffering. We bring to a dying world the promise of a place where sin and death no longer hold reign. What we are seeing played out in the controversy over the content of Love Wins is a battle of extremes. We have attempted to motivate the unsaved by tyrannical means of fear. This is abusive and coercive and does not propagate authentic change at the heart of the individual. It is a shame we resorted to such measures. But the answer is never to dampen the gospel or eliminate something as real as Hell. What has inadvertently occurred as a result of attempting to soften the blow of eternal punishment is also the devaluation of eternal life and the price paid so that we may have it.

[1] Rob Bell, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. (New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011), 7-9.

[2] Ibid., 11.

[3] Ibid., 46.

[4] Ibid., 93.

[5] Ibid., 88.

[6] Eze 47:12.

[7] Bell, 130.

[8] Ibid., 130.

[9] Luke 8:11.

[10] Bell, 127.

[11] Bell, 148.

How Christianity Changed the World

2011-03-21T11:29:00.003-06:00

A brief analysis of women, sexual morality, and the sanctity of human life based on the work of Alvin Schmidt in How Christianity Changed the World. This was an assignment in Church History this semester. All discourse is welcome since I raise some controversial points and would love to sharpen iron with others attempting to process similar concepts.

Introduction

It never ceases to amaze, how desperate the world’s efforts to diminish Christianity and its teachings. In How Christianity Changed the World, Alvin Schmidt researches and coherently presents a solid case for the vast influence Christianity has had in various areas and disciplines throughout history. From sexuality to science, literature to labor, education to economics, Schmidt weaves the teachings of Jesus through the fabric of the centuries.

The three areas that affect my ministry the most are: (1) The Sanctification of Human Life, (2) Christianity Elevates Sexual Morality, and (3) Women Receive Freedom and Dignity. Schmidt addresses these issues in the order they are listed, however my personal convictions dictate that the proper order is in the reverse. It is in this order that I will address the three topics beginning with women, followed by sexual morality, and ending with the sanctity of life.

Show what relevance Jesus’ view of women has for life among Christians today.

There is a fine line between oppression and objectification when it comes to women. Whereas the Jewish women were oppressed in role in one extreme, the Greco-Roman women were largely objectified as evidenced by practices such as temple prostitution and sexual immorality. Both are forms of slavery. The devaluation of women as equal to men diminishes their worth and ability to function as a whole and healthy individual. Women learn that their minds are neither trustworthy nor sufficient to exercise authority over her body. When the mind is removed from the process the emotions and body of an individual run rampant. Since this type of individual cannot function rationally in society, men find themselves intervening and stepping out of their individual spheres to exercise mental authority over processes that do not belong to them. When this occurs, the functions of women’s emotions and their bodies become subject to the whims of men. If women are asserted that they are indeed rational creatures and their minds are worthy of expression then they also learn to properly exercise authority over their own emotions and bodies.

Jesus discipled women as well as men and we see this in the instance of Jesus teaching Mary. Mary grasped Jesus’ purpose with such profundity that she was led to anoint him for his approaching burial. The matter of primary importance to Jesus was that he came to die and that his death would cover the sins of all mankind. Jesus’ purpose was about the cross, not about gender. We cannot champion masculinity at the expense of femininity; neither can we amplify femininity to diminish masculinity. Was Jesus a feminist? No, Jesus was a spiritual liberator of people.

Explain what relevance Jesus’ view of women has to radical feminism.

While Jesus clearly offered a discipleship of equals, there is no corresponding evidence that Jesus attempted to overthrow any earthly social system. Jesus did not abolish slavery neither did he abolish any patriarchal order. The freedom that Jesus offered is a spiritual freedom of the Spirit. The abolition of societal ills is an outworking of the spiritual freedom we have in Christ. If we believe in the words of Jesus that our desire is to see the kingdom of heaven instilled on earth then we must follow his example of freeing the oppressed and offering healing to the wounded. Jesus freed mankind spiritually and it is man’s obligation as steward of the earth to implement that same freedom in the physical realm by freeing men and women alike wherever oppression exists.

The usurpation of authority is a delicate matter, but one in which sensitivity is demanded of us as Christians. If the established order of a realm is patriarchal then that authority must be adhered to until release is offered. As with institutions such as the slave trade, biblical admonitions offer guidance in how to function as a believer under the oppressive situation. There is no doubt in the minds of many men and women that to this day women continue to live as oppressed both in the objectification of their sexuality and in the inequality and perception of their aptitude to function as highly as their male peers. The attempts of radical feminism while just in their existence and intent, qualify as a usurping of authority and because of this quality they cause more harm than good. The implementation of true change must occur at the heart of those who oppress. The laws of nature dictate that for every action there is an equal and opposing reaction. In light of this law it is easier to understand why the inception of feminism was closely followed by an astounding reaction in her objectification through areas such as pornography, birth control, abortion and the looming threat of infanticide. When the life giver steps forward to assume her place of equality, the enemy goes after her image and the life of her offspring.[1] The protection and affirmation of men as an accompaniment to this process is essential to the effective release of women into mental and spiritual equality.

Explain how today’s secular norm of “consenting adults” conflicts with what the early Christians believed and practiced in regard to sexual behavior.

Born from Jewish roots, Christianity placed a great amount of emphasis on sexual morality as did those who adhered to the Law prior to Christ. The early Judeo-Christian perspective of women and their equality as ministers in the Church greatly healed the sexuality of those who believed in Christ. A clear connection existed of a mutual respect between men and women and the ability not to abuse one another for personal sexual gratification. Principles such as submitting to one another and serving one another altered the marital relationship to one of greater fullness and intentionality.

The concept of “consenting adults” was not possible as we see it manifest today until the introduction of birth control to our society. Never before could sexual relations be severed from the act of procreation. With birth control came the idea that we were no longer required to produce fruit and that it need not be a part of the intimate sexual relationship. Jesus’ teachings and the practices of the early Church contradict this notion however. The idea that a believer would join together as one with Christ as His Bride and yet respectfully decline to bear the fruit of the Spirit because it was (a) poor timing, (b) difficult and uncomfortable to cultivate, or (c) an inhibition to one’s ability to pursue their own desires and goals, would be ludicrous. But this is a reality of our present day culture. Self gratification without the natural consequences of actions became the norm and gradually permeated the philosophy of many other disciplines. This should not be turned into a legalistic sanction dictating that all sexual activity is for reproduction, but it must be understood that all sexual activity has the design and intent to procreate of its own accord. The inception of birth control as a norm necessitated further measures to ensure that the joining of two as one did not result in any “inconvenience” to personal gratification and pleasure, thus, abortion.

Using the early Christians as examples, how might people today counter sexually deviant behavior?

With the removal of the procreation of life from the equation of man and woman joined together for a purpose, there are no longer any inhibitors to sexually deviant behaviors. Since we do not intend to procreate and it is merely an unfortunate consequence of our main pursuit, pleasure, then there is nothing that should dictate how we pursue that pleasure. Homosexuality, pedophilia, bestiality, and many other forms of sexually deviant behavior become logical since the only pursuit is self gratification. However, if we reintroduce the idea that God designed the sexual union between man and woman as a triune equation that includes the begetting of life then we counter all forms of sexually deviant behavior. Men cannot reproduce together, women cannot reproduce together, and children cannot reproduce before arriving at puberty.

The modern day Church shot herself in the foot by embracing the lure of birth control; we did not recognize the slippery slope we approached. What we have ended up with is marriages far more sexually abusive and demanding than ever before in history. Adultery and divorce tear unbridled through the Church. The impact of this “pleasure only” mentality seeps into our spirituality as we find we can no longer derive pleasure from bonding with our Creator and we must introduce various foreign stimulators to enhance and enjoy our worship. We must continually be entertained by fresh and new practices. Our fidelity to fellow believers is a mockery of faithfulness as we slink from congregation to congregation searching for the right feel and what best suits our own personal needs and theology. Self-gratification rules in place of servitude.

Explain what modern Christians can learn from their early Christian ancestors with regard to abortion today.

Schmidt identifies five categories under the mores of human life: (1) Infanticide, (2) Child Abandonment, (3) Abortion, (4) Human Sacrifices, and (5) Suicide.[2] The nature of these mores is progressive in intensity and does not begin with an initial devaluation of life, but an initial degradation of the conception of life – our sexuality – which follows the devaluation and a lack of genuine equality of women as part of the image of God. Abortion and the overall devaluation of human life is a natural consequence of a sexually sickened society. When we do not treasure the means by which we create life, we can no longer place value on the resulting life. The process begins with the view of women as objects. Jesus abolished this notion with his discipleship of equals and affirmation of women as worthy of his sacrifice and salvation. When men and women teach each other to love and care for their own sexuality as precious in the sight of God, we learn also the beauty of giving pleasure and serving others and we reap the joy of new life.

God creates all life with intent and purpose. If we are truly created in His image then we must take seriously our responsibility to intentionally create life as well. The key component of sexual immorality is the ability to view human beings as objects devoid of personhood and sentience. The result of such an outlook towards our fellow man will always be an insatiable need to kill life, whether it is in the womb or on the deathbed. When we forsake the Son, who is quite literally the divine representation of all life, we forsake our own reflection in His image as being worthy of life. The early Christians placed equal value on the life-givers (women), the life-giving process (sexual intercourse), and life itself. We would do well to refocus our efforts likewise.

Early Christianity stood for the sanctity of human life. Show how some of that sanctity is present in the world today.

Schmidt focuses a fair amount of effort on the topic of cremation. While a hope in bodily resurrection is identified as the driving force behind anti-cremation sentiments, the fear of preclusion on the basis of cremation seems illogical in light of the fact that God can form man from the dust of the earth. Disregard for the sanctity of life can be observed in other areas such as the entertainment industry and its obsession with violence and gore. While the mature mind is capable of compartmentalizing the real from unreal as we see through the vast usage of pornography, visual stimuli cannot differentiate between the two. Our minds may tell us that the violence is simulated but the windows to the soul cannot filter the information accordingly. This has a profound effect on younger minds incapable of governing the real and imaginary as it pertains to gaming and entertainment. To suggest that this is evidence of a complete lack of regard for sanctity of life does however fall short when we recognize the presence of a rating system. While it is a sad fact that such gruesome and licentious entertainment exists, a fragment of our morality remains in our ability to distinguish what is and what is not appropriate for certain age groups. No such distinction presented itself in the Roman-Greco culture and we have Christianity to thank for its presence today.[3]

A slow trickle in breakdown accompanied a demand for (as opposed to a release into) equality in the women’s rights movement and the induction of birth control as society realized fail-safes must be set in place for the inopportune spawning of life. The legalization of abortion in 1973 started the ball rolling and to this day we battle the progressive infiltration of death into more extreme areas of our life. On a daily basis we hear of occurrences of infanticide, child abandonment, and assisted suicide. Laws are continuously attacked as invasive to privacy if they guard the sanctity of life in any manner. To prevent an all out self imposed holocaust of death we must regress to the issue of women’s bestowed equality to counter this phenomenon. When genuine affirmation is conferred upon woman as equal in the image of God then the life-giver is no longer ashamed by the roles of her body in its ingrained sexuality, birthing capability, sustaining and nurturing functions. Because woman was not appropriately released into equality by men, forced instead to claw her way to the top, she abhors all that men impart to her, to include the very seed of life she is tasked to bear. Her focus, upon functional liberation, becomes one of intentionally creating life in contrast to the tendencies of our culture to affirm only her role of sexual gratification. Service to men becomes a byproduct of her desire to give life just as God’s desire to give us life through the sacrifice of His Son prompted Him to humble himself in service to mankind.

Conclusion

The broad scope of influence Christianity has had in all developments on earth is outlined and documented well in Schmidt’s work. The magnanimity of Christ’s impact in changing the world begs the question as to what will be the repercussions of present-day attempts to eradicate Christianity from the world. It has been my goal in this paper to identify how even the slightest of allowances contrary to God given structures such as authority, sexuality, and sanctity of life have consequences much greater than we could ever imagine. Altering the philosophy of the physical realm, ultimately impacts the spiritual realm as well. We alter our view of ecclesiastical authority and submission to the Word of God. We base our spiritual walk on what is pleasurable and tantalizing to our senses. We revel in the role of Christ’s Bride, but find ourselves devoid of the fruit and evidence of our union with God. In essence, we lose our witness to the world by rendering God’s Word impotent.

How Christianity Changed the World points out that many discoveries and creations were a result of an underlying faith in the God of the Universe. Pursuing truth in any field becomes a cumbersome task when we remove the source of all Truth from the equation. In modern day science, scientists often find themselves at a standstill in progression because of the need to circumvent any indicator of a Creator. A vast majority of literature and art has become mundane and cliché, devoid of inspiration and creativity, because we no longer recognize the Author of our faith. Liberty and justice parade around under the banner of Socialism due to the fact that we no longer require the wisdom offered by the Judge of the earth. Labor has developed into a bothersome nuisance to be avoided at all costs as a result of ignorance to a God that groans and labors to bring forth new life within us every day. Economies topple left and right as we veer into extremes far from the delicate balance between the freedom of capitalism and a God-issued command to care for a fellow man.

At this rate of decline it is a fair assumption that all meaningful developments will come to a standstill within a matter of a few centuries. If Christianity wishes to maintain the glory of her past and its influence on the world, she will need to reassess the areas in which she has conformed to the world. The city and culture we ultimately desire to bring forth here on earth descends from above; it does not rise from below.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Schmidt, Alvin J. How Christianity Changed the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. 2004.

[1] Rev 12:1-17

[2] Alvin J. Schmidt, How Christianity Changed the World. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004) 71.

[3] Ibid., 82.

Fruit of the Spirit - Patience

2011-02-21T10:11:00.001-07:00

The Greek word for patience is makrothymia. The literal translation of this word is longsuffering or slow of anger. The fruit of the Spirit, patience, follows peace. In the study of peace we concluded that a completion of covenant or faith and fulfillment in promises brings peace in our lives. This becomes an important element in exercising longsuffering. We are incapable of suffering for very long when we do not have hope or promises to cling to that sustain us. Trust in the promises of God and the belief that He will fulfill His Word in our lives empowers us with a sense of peace that enables us to exercise great patience and endurance through all circumstances. Peace comes from knowing that God's plans are complete, but patience (longsuffering) is how we handle the circumstances that arise during the fulfillment of God's plans.

Restraint, slow to anger, or long-pinioned are all word developments from the root of patience. We see Jesus exemplifying these characteristics during times of temptation and great suffering. Romans 5:3 states "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." Patience is a fruit that we obtain on a "need to know" basis. Patience can only be exercised in the presence of suffering. If we beseech for patience out of its season then we are in essence requesting suffering. We should not desire patience simply because it sounds like a holy prayer or attribute. We should desire patience because there is a real and present suffering that we must endure.

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Pet 3:9 This verse has hidden insight in its identification of the idea that God suffers as well. Since we are the direct recipients of his longsuffering then it is we (in our sin) who cause His suffering. We see this in the fall of man, throughout history, and at the foot of the very cross. The repentance of sin becomes the means by which we ease God's suffering while simultaneously allowing Him to eradicate those sins from our lives through His forgiveness.

Over the last two years I have undergone tremendous suffering of which I am still unable to voice in its fullness. My immediate desire was to respond in anger; to avenge my hurt by venting my wrath. The study of longsuffering convicted me to lay down my lust for revenge and give it over to God. In response God afforded me promises that helped me to overcome my pain and sustain me through it as I cultivated patience with the circumstances that tore my heart apart.

There is an inherent battle that is waged by the world against Christ. The very physical depiction of Christ's suffering on the cross is a graphic example of what happens spiritually in the daily battle against sin. Because Jesus Christ lives in those of us who profess to be believers in him there is a constant battle waged within us against the sin of this world. We struggle with it in every breath we take. The evil in this world is intent on killing Christ and because he lives in us the world attempts to kill our hope in Christ through the infliction of pain and suffering. It is of vital importance then, in order to obtain patience and endurance through suffering that we take hold of and cling to the promises God gives to us. If you find you are experiencing great suffering and feel the despair of a losing battle, spend some time with God in pursuit and petition for promises that will sustain you through it.

While we know the world persecutes us with a vengeance, the fact remains no matter what the fatal result of our suffering, we have hope in the resurrecting power of God. This week I experienced the emotional death of something very precious to me. I suffer. But in my suffering I know that in spite of this significant emotional event I have hope in the power of Christ's resurrection. I have the promise of new life, which without suffering would not have been possible. Thank you God for my new life. Even though I cannot see all the details and cannot know its fulfillment at this moment, I have faith that I will eventually see it and that eases my suffering.

We Interrupt This Presentation On Fruit For A Little... Christ and Culture

2011-02-12T08:06:00.002-07:00

This was an assignment in Church History last semester. It was a very difficult read due to the organization of material, but somehow I managed to wade through it and put it into a framework I could understand better. If you have the patience, feel free to suffer through it. It will make for a good transition into the fruit of the Spirit - Long-suffering.

INTRODUCTION

Richard Niebuhr defines culture as the “artificial, secondary environment which man superimposes on the natural. It comprises language, habits, ideas, beliefs, customs, social organization, inherited artifacts, technical processes, and values.”[1] To follow Niebuhr’s work comprehensively a definition of Christ must be attempted apart from culture so that proper attention can then be given to how Christ approaches culture. This leaves us with only the divine attributes of Christ to begin the definition since mankind and thereby Christ’s human nature through the Incarnation cannot be entirely separated from culture. The Nicene and Chalcedonian creeds identify the divine nature of Christ as fully God. Our understanding of Christ must then be that of fully God. We are faced with the pivotal truth and fact that Jesus Christ, fully God, entered the world through the Incarnation as fully man and therefore a cultural product himself as the Son of Man. As a man, Jesus Christ lived in, learned from, and ministered to culture. The “enduring question” that troubles us is how did Jesus interact with culture and how do we mimic his example in our endeavor for Christ-likeness.

The nature of culture plays out in our relationships with one another. In the beginning, as God formed Adam He rapidly concluded based on His own nature that it was not good for man to be alone. Upon the creation of Eve and the subsequent command to rule and replenish the earth, culture was formed. God saw the potential of culture and it was good. The problems we encounter with culture are due to the fall of man and the subsequent corruption of culture as a result of man’s corruption. In Christ and Culture Richard Niebuhr attempts to identify a variety of approaches to the struggle between the life of a Christian and civilization around us.

OVERVIEW

Niebuhr outlines five types of Christian interaction with culture as the following: (1) Christ against culture, (2) Christ of culture, (3) Christ above culture, (4) Christ transforming culture, and (5) Christ and culture in paradox. Despite Niebuhr’s endeavor to coherently lay out each view aside from bias, he still manages to favor one particular view. His overall conclusion however is that each believer must reach his own conclusion through careful study as a matter of obedience to Christ. Having reached my own conclusion on the matter, we will firstly summarize each viewpoint before stating any response.

Christ against culture is one of the extremes of the five fold view. This approach focuses on the necessity to deny of self, recognize the Lordship of Christ and his sole authority, and completely reject culture as a product of a sinful world. Culture is viewed as temporal and passing whereas Christ is eternal.[2] Niebuhr cites Tertullian and Tolstoy as prominent exemplifiers of this stance. Tertullian saw Christianity as a lifestyle very much separated from culture.[3] Most proponents of this view have a preoccupation with final judgment, issues of consequence, and a sharply distinguished perspective of truth. [4] Tertullian viewed Scripture as teaching “the avoidance of sin and fearsome preparation for the coming day of judgment.”[5]

Seventeen hundred years later, Tolstoy reiterates much of the same sentiment in his treatment of culture. For Tolstoy following Jesus Christ meant clear opposition to the institutions of culture.[6] Tolstoy took a stand against economic, military, intellectual, philosophical, artistic and scientific institutions, seeing them as meaningless to the overall ethos of life.[7] This perspective of withdrawal from culture has characterized many of the more ascetic groups throughout history such as the monastics, Quakers and other Protestant sects.[8]

The Christ of culture view swings to the opposite extreme than that of the separatists. These “cultural Christians” believe that Christ is the fulfillment and end goal of all culture. The accommodating nature of this view attempts to align the motives of Christ with that of culture’s accomplishments. Niebuhr invokes the examples of the early Gnostics and the medieval Abelard. The focal point of this outlook is on the horizontal relationships between mankind often to the detriment and loss of one’s vertical relationship with God. However the progress made in the area of social reform in light of this view is astounding and exemplary. Niebuhr refers to the work of Walter Rauschenbusch and his work on developing a theology for the social gospel.[9] Rauschenbusch viewed culture and his ideal of the social gospel as the progression of Christianity to “narrow the influence of old, mechanical views of inspiration.”[10]

There is much scriptural support from Jesus’ teaching and his use of parables that lends credibility to the effectiveness of using culture to spread the gospel. Jesus often crossed seemingly difficult and impossible cultural barriers to preach the gospel throughout all of Israel.[11] Culture is how we as humans relate and communicate with one another and it would be impossible to attempt to spread the gospel in a comprehensive manner without utilizing aspects of culture. Just as we are each affected by culture, this view of Christ sees him also as a product of culture. He was clearly Jewish, born and raised, and chose according to the will of the Father to begin God’s plan of redemption through the Jewish culture. Any attempt to dissociate Christ with Jewish culture attacks the core and history of Christianity at its roots in the Old Testament. While there are dangers to accepting every aspect and detail of culture without scrutiny, the repercussions of not understanding Christ from culture is a tendency towards an incomplete gospel. The relational and compassionate factor necessary between humans disappears which ultimately will also negate not only aspects of the Old Testament but much of New Testament teaching.

Christ above culture calls for a synthesis of Christ and culture. Since mankind was created by God to function within community and therefore as part of a culture then culture cannot be entirely bad. Obviously culture cannot be perfect through man’s efforts alone since we are now fallen but the synthesist believes that Christ is the Lord of culture and as such they function in unison. The synthesist seems capable of maintaining the core of the hypostatic union in a manner not possible for the accommodationist or the legalist.

The synthesist appreciates the efforts and intentions of mortal law and respects civil authorities as having been given status and power by God. Niebuhr cites Thomas Aquinas as a synthesist with his view that Jesus is King over both the temporal and the eternal. Thomas Aquinas’ vision of the appropriate relationship between church and state is better realized in its separation today. Since this was not a reality in Aquinas’ day it was difficult for him to visualize and in light of this Niebuhr identifies several negative pitfalls with the synthesist view in the framework of a joint church and state. The problem with integration of church and state for the synthesist is that power and allegiance will always be an issue. However, when the powers that be are separated they are allowed to function equally as partners without the inherent struggle which has characterized attempts to combine church and state throughout history. The words of Jesus offer support for this view as well as he clearly separates the concept of church and state in his admonition to render to the state what is theirs and to God what is His.[12]

The Christ and culture in paradox view recognizes the validity of the synthesist view but denies the reality of true cooperation between Christ and culture. Martin Luther best dealt with the paradox with his view of the fallen nature of man. While we are saved by grace and no longer under the law, the law is still a necessary element because sin persists. In Luther’s view, a true Christian is no longer in need of the law in the sense that it is no longer a burden to him through Christ. The believer willingly does what is right and therefore does not come into conflict with temporal authority.

The downside of this view of Christ and culture is a level of passivity towards temporal rule that inhibits the progressive nature of culture. The problem in spiritual matters becomes one of struggle between sin and grace. Since we cannot rid ourselves of our sin nature and God’s grace flows freely then what purpose is there in the cessation of sin? The paradox begins to strafe into the realm of dualism.

The final perspective Niebuhr identifies is Christ transforming culture. This view closely resembles the paradox view but differs in its understanding of the hopelessness of sin.[13] The conversionist does not hold that culture is irreparably lost but that Christ’s intent is to transform culture. This view matches the pattern of Christ’s ministry on earth. Jesus did not offer healing and restoration to those he came in contact with by sending them on to a better realm. Jesus provided wholeness to those he touched in the physical realm of the here and now.

Niebuhr cites Calvin and F. D. Maurice as exemplary figures of the conversionist view. Calvin’s hope in the resurrection of the body aided him in holding to a healthy view of the physical while still allowing him to reject the negatives in culture and accept the good that culture purports. Maurice’s view incorporated culture as a wealth of diversity centered on Christ. Once Christ has been placed at the center of culture a transformation begins. Maurice’s interpretation of the impact of God’s oneness on mankind resulted in a more or less utopian socialist stance. Maurice saw a plethora of sin in the church’s internal strife over the matter of doctrine itself, its result in divisiveness and the overall lack of unity. For Maurice, the unity of the body was key to the transformation of culture.

Niebuhr summarizes his analysis with the statement that his study is “unconcluded and inconclusive.”[14] It appears from Niebuhr’s writing that while he longs for an answer to the “enduring problem” he has accepted that one may never be found. Despite Niebuhr’s reluctance to articulate his own decisive response, he encourages the individual to wrestle with the question and make a decision reliant on faith but not independent of reason.[15]

RESPONSE

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift…and He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”[16] The example of Christ’s character and interaction with culture throughout the New Testament utilizes aspects of each view proposed by Niebuhr. It is my opinion that Christ has given to each person a task that incorporates how one must approach and deal with culture so as to make the body a complete and functioning unit that ministers in and to culture. Unfortunately over the course of the last century much abuse has occurred in the misunderstanding of Christ’s empowerment to the five-fold ministry. In light of this abuse, as is the case with any spiritual gift, we shy away from what we do not understand. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and as the Son of Man simultaneously fills the role of prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist and apostle.

Christ against culture conveys the passion of the prophet. The Old Testament is teeming with occurrences of the prophets countering culture. “Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.”[17] The prophet is countercultural, but intentionally so. It is the prophet’s task to observe and decry the errors of culture in order that the body of Christ may stay aligned with the Head.

The Christ of culture translates the passion of the pastor. Not to be confused with its loose application today to any leadership role within the Church, the pastor assumes the role of shepherd to a flock. The shepherd eats, lives, and sleeps among his sheep caring for and nurturing their needs. It is not uncommon to find the pastor buried waist deep in the muck and mire of culture simply to lift a despairing sheep from the snares and dangers of the world. The role of the pastor demands understanding, compassion and social grace to effectively carry out his task within the body of Christ. The pastor is inseparably immersed in culture.

Christ above culture relays the passion of the teacher. In his pursuit of research, study and the amassing of knowledge the teacher strives to compartmentalize all tidbits of information into patterned and categorized application. The teachers greatest motivation is to convey knowledge to the body of Christ in the most meaningful and comprehensive manner. The use of culture to instruct believers is pivotal to this function and was often employed by Jesus as he taught his disciples and the crowds of people who came to him through parables. The synthesizing of culture with the purposes of Christ is necessary for understanding how we are to live in this world without being corrupted by it.

The Christ and culture paradox best explains the passion of the apostle as a founder, builder, and exhorter of the faith. Put quite simply, life is messy and it is the task of the apostle to approach culture with a clear understanding of the problem of sin and evil in the world. The apostle understands that without Christ sin will never be eradicated and it is the work of Christ alone that can accomplish such a thing. The apostle, much as Paul did throughout the New Testament, evaluates culture at the most practical level, often condemning both the letter of the law and complete lawlessness and attempts to reconcile the harmful and life-denying extremes in order that the body of Christ may grow and mature. The apostle both prunes and waters so that the yielding of fruit may be at its best.

Finally, Christ transforming culture communicates the passion of the evangelist. Niebuhr aligned this view with the work of John the Evangelist as the interlocking and analogous function of spiritual and natural events.[18] The evangelist must believe with all his heart that he can be an instrument of transformation through the work of Christ and this belief becomes his driving force. The evangelist loves the Word of God with such fervor that he cannot help but preach the Good News from whatever pulpit he can muster. The evangelist proclaims the Kingdom of God both now and in the future. The evangelist infuses the body of Christ with hope for a better future, ever-focused on forward, progressive motion until we come into the presence and glory of God.

The Church throughout history swings through popular phases of the various viewpoints presented by Niebuhr in Christ and Culture. Only the first century as documented in the New Testament provides an adequate view all five approaches to culture working together to promote substantial and significant growth comparable to that of a spiritual explosion.[19] During the second and third centuries of the Church much attention was given to the view of Christ and culture in paradox as apostles and founding fathers in the faith strived to lay a foundation for the Church amidst persecution. Peppered throughout the early and middle age, the theme of Christ against culture can be observed as leaders sought to remain grounded in the faith in light of the continual onslaught of heresy.[20] Christ of culture can be seen in history repeatedly emerging in times where the legalistic tendencies of countercultural thought threatened to stifle the experiential life of the Spirit in the Church. The ages of enlightenment and reason beginning with Abelard in the high Middle Ages ushered in an era of Christ above culture as intellectuals, mathematicians, artists, and scientists attempted to amass information and correlate the rapid influx of knowledge with their faith.[21] The last two centuries have seen a shift to a view of Christ transforming culture as the prevalent and increasing expression of faith belonging to Evangelicals. Although perhaps not his intention, it seemed that Niebuhr also favored the transformation outlook.

Each perspective as outlined by Niebuhr has contributed to the character and growth of the Church today in some fashion. But none of these views is capable of sustaining the Church by itself and the intermittent dysfunction associated with Christianity through the course of history bears witness to this fact. Each task or view was appointed with a purpose and function in the body of Christ and is meant to be implemented in unison with the others. What Niebuhr inadvertently identified are the ministerial passions of the body of Christ belonging to those who are called by God to love and serve His people and to reach the world. The reason why Niebuhr could not come to a satisfactory conclusion on which view is most appropriate is because there is no single correct view. Each perspective is correct when used as designed to work as part of the body, relaying the passions of God’s heart towards the redemption of mankind. If we disqualify any one of these perspectives we maim the body of Christ and any impact on or integration with culture will be pathetically inadequate.

APPLICATION

I readily identified with the Niebuhr’s explanation of Christ above culture. As a spiritually gifted teacher I recognized the validity and necessity of this stance. After carefully studying each view, I was able to understand the importance of each one and its contribution to the body of Christ even though that may not be my motivating passion. Over the past few years I have been learning to appreciate other’s ministerial gifts as necessary to the functioning of my own. The mindset of one person designed to be the spiritual jack of all trades is hastily declining.

I may not be able to confront culture as the countercultural view is capable of doing, but I must validate those efforts as vital to the function of the body and take those admonitions seriously. I may not be able to crawl down into the trenches with the pastor of culture but I can learn to love his dedication and compassion for people and the social gospel. I take great delight in the role of the synthesist to find connections and meaning between the purposes of Christ and the function of culture. In fact, on closer analysis one might even conclude that I have exemplified my passion for harmony by addressing the “enduring problem” through the synthesis of the separate views in this very paper.

Niebuhr warns of the dangers of taking the view of Christ above culture to its limit and so I must be cautious to balance my perspective with the cultural aspect of others’ ministries. I must allow the prophet to identify the evil present in culture, the apostle to discern between the balance of law and grace, the pastor to love people despite their fallen and ugly state, and the transformational power of the evangelist to change people’s lives. My contribution to the process is to offer knowledge and wisdom gained through study to the complexities of culture that come into contact with the body of Christ. Niebuhr’s enigma of Christ and Culture offers an intriguing field of study to contemplate further.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Niebuhr, H. Richard. Christ and Culture. New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1951.

Rauschenbusch, Walter. A theology for the social gospel. New York: Abingdon Press, 1917.

Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language. 2^nd ed. Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1995.

[1] H. Richard Niebuhr, Christ and Culture, (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1951), 32.

[2] Ibid., 48.

[3] Ibid., 49.

[4] Ibid., 50.

[5] Ibid., 52.

[6] Ibid., 60.

[7] Ibid., 62.

[8] Ibid., 77.

[9] Ibid., 100.

[10] Walter Rauschenbusch, A Theology for the Social Gospel, (New York: Abingdon Press, 1917), 191.

[11] Jn 4:1-42 [NKJV].

[12] Matt 22:21.

[13] Niebuhr, 191.

[14] Ibid., 230.

[15] Ibid., 249.

[16] Eph 4:7-12.

[17] Jn 4:44.

[18] Niebuhr, 197.

[19] Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, 2^nd ed. (Dallas, TX: Word Publishing, 1995), 27.

[20] Ibid., 47.

[21] Ibid., 197.

Fruit of the Spirit - Peace

2011-01-19T13:36:00.000-07:00

The third fruit of the Spirit is Peace. Not to be confused with silence, quiet, or inactivity as we often use the word, (ie: “Hold your peace” or “Rest in Peace”) the word means harmony, tranquility, security, or prosperity. Peace in a very literal and physical sense can be vividly seen in the Old Testament as can its connection to the Old Covenant. Close adherence through obedience to the terms of the Old Covenant meant harmony, tranquility, security and prosperity for Israel.

The Hebrew word for Peace means “completeness.” This interpretation brings more significance to terms such as “Prince of Peace” or the “Peace of the Cross.” There is an element of wholeness and restoration that accompanies this word – Peace. As angels announced the presence of peace on earth to shepherds in the field, one may better understand the proclamation of God’s purposes coming to completion and fruition with the arrival of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The lack of spiritual peace throughout the Old Testament as evidenced by a continual need for rituals and practices to combat impurity is the setting on which Christ arrives. So much striving, pain, oppression, and brokenness have plagued the world since the Fall of Man and now, finally there is peace on earth. Wait… what? Clearly one may look around at the various wars, famines, death and destruction still prevalent in the world today and claim that peace has not arrived. And one would be correct. Perhaps I will step on some eschatological toes here but this is my blog so I am allowed to do so. The establishment of a covenant as we see in the Old Testament does not guarantee its immediate fulfillment. In fact from start to finish, the Old Covenant lasted roughly 2000 years (Abraham to Jesus). But Jesus did in fact fulfill the Old Covenant and with that fulfillment and completion he brought peace. There is also the matter of spiritual completion and wholeness we find through the cross.

The cross marked two covenantal milestones. The first feat was the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the second was the establishment of a New Covenant. Carrying our definition of peace into the New Covenant we can see that the elements of harmony, tranquility, security and prosperity are eternal qualities that hinge on our obedience to this New Covenant and its demand to believe in Jesus Christ. There is much parallel between the Old and New Covenants but that seems to be God’s pattern throughout the history of mankind. I would like to stop for one second and confront the issue of “prosperity” teaching. God does not ever promise us physical prosperity under the New Covenant, only eternal prosperity as our spiritual journey will not be barren, or devoid of fruit. We will be fruitful and multiply spiritually both in numbers and in personal growth and maturity. To promise physical or material prosperity (not to be confused with promises of meeting our needs) is to subject oneself to the terms of the old structure under a fulfilled covenant. We then profess that the Old Covenant is not in fact complete and in doing so negate the work of the cross. All that to say, please be cautious with prosperity teaching as the Kingdom of God is about bearing spiritual fruit not physical or monetary fruit. And please do not think I am knocking those who are financially blessed either. God blesses each of us according to His good will and purpose and in a matter that best suits His Kingdom and its advancement.

Returning to the matter of fulfilled covenant we see that there is freedom from the Law now that the Old Covenant has been fulfilled. The 2000 year journey from start to finish was fraught with times of prosperity and times of barrenness, times of justice, times of injustice, times of slavery and of freedom, times of immense wickedness and times of faithful adherence. What are we to learn from this? Firstly, that God’s timetable is not our timetable. Secondly, as we sit precariously close to the end of yet another 2000 year period of covenant, peace hinges on our faith and belief in promises. There is peace to be found in God’s promises whether we ever see their fulfillment or not. Abraham believed, but never saw and he found peace. Moses believed, but never saw and yet remained faithful and he too found peace. The prophets, in the face of great opposition believed and delivered the promises of God and they too found peace at the end of their suffering. There is great peace (eternal prosperity, tranquility, wholeness) available to those who would believe in God’s promises without seeing.

The fruit of the Spirit is often the object of much scrutiny and little legitimate practice. This is unfortunate, but a balance of both analysis and application should be our ultimate desire. I have looked at the fruit in several ways. One approach is to dissect the fruit into digestible (pun intended) triads. If we analyze this first group of three as a triadic grouping we see the culmination of Trinitarian effort in Love, Joy, and Peace - Love of the Father, Joy of the Spirit, and Peace of the Son. Peace falls into place as a natural progression from God’s love, to joy in His presence to the peace found through fulfillment of His promises. Patterns are essential to me for memorization so there is no secret formula I am trying to prescribe here; simply a means which better incorporates the fruit into my life. Speaking of memory techniques, have you ever noticed that the peace sign is three prongs that converge into one? If all else fails just remember that peace is at the end of the first triad. And so we arrive at the end of the first three fruit of the Spirit. I challenge you to love God more deeply so that you may experience His joy and that in His joy you may find the peace that comes through belief in His promises. I hope the journey thus far has not been overwhelming.

Upcoming fruit: Patience

Fruit of the Spirit - Joy

2011-01-09T10:59:00.001-07:00

The fruit of the Spirit, joy, perplexed me as I studied and analyzed its presence amongst the fruit. I rapidly came to the conclusion that I did not know much joy and this troubled me. If I am a believer in Christ, knowing God's love then I should naturally be a partaker of joy. That statement is correct, but I erred in understanding the forms that joy takes and what happens to this joy resulting from love in a world plagued by sin.

My study veered to an indirect approach as I noticed the precarious balance in an existent relationship between joy and sorrow. Joy is inseparably linked to love and explains why love must precede joy. Love creates a fork in the road that branches into either joy or sorrow. We do not get to choose which path it takes as the direction pivots on what has been done with our love and how it has been received and returned. What should disturb an individual more than sorrow is a lack of either joy or sorrow as a recipient of a relational offense. Rushing too quickly into a state of peace (the next fruit in the series) fails to validate the presence of joy and so we must not be too anxious to arrive at peace. I found that this was my main failure in experiencing joy; too often I hurried beyond the discomfort and demands of joy.

What is joy? Many images flash through the mind as one meditates on joy. I thought of an overly exuberant cheerleader, an enthusiastic worship leader or the inappropriate and annoying optimist. Is there something wrong with me that I cannot fabricate this level of excitement? Do I not have joy? I searched Scripture for words of joy to help me understand its meaning. Joy is frequently expressed through singing, dancing and shouting. I sing. I sing a great deal. Perhaps my mental images of joy were impeding my recognition of legitimate expressions of joy in my every day life. I sing often to my children. I dance frequently with them. My children are a source of joy for me. This led me to contemplate new life and its rendering of joy. How do we create new life around us? Naturally my children fall into this category, but we humans are creative in a multitude of other ways. We cook, we paint, we write, we design. When I write I feel joy. I may not be bouncing off the walls with excitement (at least outwardly), but I am creating works and bringing words to life as I pen them.

Sorrow comes when the things we create or the life we experience and love ends. A child cries as a sand castle washes away with the tide. A writer grieves when words are not valued and lose meaning through the destructive overuse of cliches. A widow stares at a blank canvas, lost in how to possibly paint a future, the use of color almost mocking the drabness of the present. A mother clutches the lifeless body of her infant close to her breast not wanting to release all the hopes and dreams invested in this once vibrant young life. A young man laments the passing of his mother and all that taught him the formation of life-giving beauty. One thing they all have in common is that they have loved, and they have loved deeply. While there is great risk in choosing to love and bear the first fruit of the Holy Spirit, there is never even the remotest possibility of arriving at joy if one does not love. The greater one's love, the greater the joy that ensues. However, there is also the risk of experiencing great sorrow. There is at least this amidst the sorrow; you may know that you have loved and that is the beginning of all fruit. Joy amidst sorrow. I have known sorrow. I continue to know sorrow, but I am comforted through these feelings. I do not want to know a life that is devoid of the risk of sorrow and therefore empty of love.

The joy in one's life becomes an indicator of the level that we love as does sorrow. We lament loss of life in its many shapes and forms. We grieve the loss of hopes, dreams, creations, relationships, all indicators of the presence of life. But what of spiritual sorrow? Do I profess joy in the face of spiritual discouragement and pain? Disingenuous expression smacks of hypocrisy. What is spiritual joy and sorrow? If physical joy and sorrow is a result of loss of life or the failure to realize its fulfillment then that which is spiritual may follow suit. Spiritual life, the birth of the spirit through the life of Jesus Christ, is cause for great rejoicing in heaven. It stands to reason then that spiritual sorrow would be the result of spiritual death or never realizing one's spiritual potential through Christ. This should grieve our spirits and cause great sorrow. If we are not grieved then perhaps we are not loving our fellow man as much as we ought to.

Our present day society and culture prides itself on the minimization of pain. We have an ache, we pop a pill. We hurt emotionally and we drink, self-medicate, or take an anti-depressant. We experience the discomfort and sorrow of labor and we hook up the IV's. None of these are wrong but often we are too quick to silence the symptoms without validating their existence and purpose. In the validation of their existence lies great joy. I have an ache, I have pushed myself to my physical limit, I gave it 100% and then some! I am hurt emotionally, I have loved deeply! I feel the pains of labor, I am bringing new life into the world! Joy hides in the unlikeliest of places. The next time you experience sorrow. take heart in that you have loved. And rejoice in the fact that one day we will be free to love, always knowing joy and never again experiencing sorrow.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev 21:4

Upcoming fruit: Peace

Fruit of the Spirit

2011-01-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION

After a year immersed in a study on the fruit of the Spirit, I can honestly say I am no closer to the perfection they exude than when I first began. Thus is the nature of the divine attributes of God and any attempt of the finite to traverse the infinite. What I did gain was a better understanding of what the fruit of the Spirit is and how to at least induce the birthing process in my life.

Throughout this intense study the most alarming observation I had was how painful it truly is to attempt to birth these nine fruits in a nature prone to sin and the desires of the flesh. My soul groaned with the pain and sorrow that plagues her origins as she fought to bring life to the seeds God planted. Frustration hounded my every endeavor to turn out the fruit. Contractions of resistance wracked me to my core. I cannot pinpoint the exact moment the realization came to me, it was a process. I realized that I was never intended to cultivate the fruit on my own. I have a partner, one who walks by my side, one who coaches my breath simultaneously whispering encouragement to my spirit, one who holds my hand and bears down with me, one who intimately knows the pain and grief of childbirth. The pain and sorrow at that point eased, the labor did not. Labor has always been part of the process; pain and sorrow came later. There is still pain - during the moments when my sin nature prevails and my spirit resists. But I push forward, delighting in the labor that characterizes my humanity as created in God’s image and recognizing the existent pain that is not part of His design.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

We decided to address the various fruit of the Spirit in the order of their appearance. As our study progressed the recognition of intentionality in order marked our perspective. We cannot know whether or not Paul realized this at the time of his writing or whether it was pure inspiration of the Spirit. I begin where we began - with love.

LOVE

Love is the firstborn of the fruit. Through the course of study it became increasingly apparent that each fruit of the Spirit is most clearly seen through the words and character of Jesus Christ. As the begotten Son of the Father through the power and work of the Holy Spirit it makes perfect sense then to see the fruit of the Spirit as analogous to the life of Christ.

In observation of the love Jesus spoke of and exemplified in every action, the very contemplation of bearing such a fruit is overwhelming. Would I sacrifice my life for others? Would I sacrifice my life for anyone??!! Do I follow the most basic commandment to love God with all my heart, soul and strength? (Deut. 6:5) An immediate conviction arose from the truth that loving others was impossible without first loving God. I may profess my love for another, I may pay homage by going through the motions, but sincere and genuine love can only be expressed out of a love that originates from above. In the words of John the Evangelist, “Love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) Awareness of God’s love for us becomes the initiator for the remaining fruit of the Spirit. John takes recognition of love a step further and does not allow us to stop at just loving God. The fruit is evidence of our relationship with God, so that if we do not have love for others our devotion to God is called into question. Bearing the very first of the fruits already appears a daunting and impossibly long process. And you would be right if it were a labor to be tackled alone, but it is not. The empowerment of the Spirit makes it possible.

As will be seen through the analysis of each fruit, the world is capable of mimicking and counterfeiting the fruit of the Spirit. It is the task of the believer in Christ to exercise wisdom in discerning the true fruit from that which merely looks like fruit. The manner in which we do this is to pursue knowledge of God as has been revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and through our relationship with Him. The more we know Christ the more we know true love. The world tells us that these specific words or those particular actions will show others that we love them, but if God is not at the very center of one’s affections it cannot truly be love. This is a hard truth, an uncomfortable truth - nay - a painful truth, but a truth nonetheless. The first step in cultivating the fruit of the Spirit, love, is to abide in God and in His love. I recommend reading carefully through 1 John (5 short chapters) for a better understanding of God’s love and its impact on our relationships with others. Much more can be said and will be said about love as it is an integral part of each subsequent fruit.

Upcoming fruit: Joy

I Need to Blog...

2011-01-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

...and so I am posting this meaningless picture so that I will be so annoyed that I am forced to update my blog sometime within the next week. We shall see if it works.

Thanksgiving Break!

2010-11-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for a brief rest from school and the rigors of my schedule this fall. We had a very fun Thanksgiving Day filled with lots of good eats. I have to say this year's turkey was my best yet. That recipe is definitely a keeper. The pumpkin cheesecake and frosted pumpkin cookies turned out great as well. Overall I label the day a complete success.

Thanksgiving evening I stole off to see a late night viewing of the new Harry Potter movie. They did a fantastic job with the effects and all. I am thinking of putting together a piece of work on the spiritual lessons that can be derived from the series so that children can witness to their friends in an understandable manner. The overarching theme for this movie was "Lies of the Enemy" and how he preys on our fears and insecurities when we isolate ourselves from loved ones. I know there is a lot of negative press in Christian circles about Harry Potter and its magical themes, but I think it is naive to think that we can hide our children from its effects. I simply choose to view them all and discuss in depth the principles and content with my children so that they can better understand the difference between right and wrong.

I just enjoyed a visit from my sister, Denise, who is stationed in Guam. We had a really GREAT time together. Naomi and Declan loved hanging out with Aunt Nissie. Denise and I spent some time shopping, went to view the King Tut exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, stuffed ourselves on Brazilian cuisine at Fogo de Chao, and enjoyed the family tradition of unabashedly belting out some karaoke. I did not want to say goodbye come Monday morning, but I am encouraged that she is halfway through her Guam assignment and will be back home in a year and a half. Having Denise visit reminded me of how much I miss living in a place with family around. I love Denver but I sorely miss family. I hope someday we can all live closer together or at least be able to visit one another more often. Family is a treasure.

School has been quite the experience this year. I started off with a lot of momentum and enthusiasm. I am relieved as it enabled me to plow through some of the paper deadlines with flying colors. It has, however, taken a toll on me and I have not been able to devote as much time as I would like to my home and family. I have decided to take a lighter load next semester and to benefit from the intercession classes as well. I will only be taking 3 classes next semester which will allow me to spend more time at home; six was a bit much with a one year old running around. I did it... but I did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. And if you know my passion for study, that is saying a LOT!

I am still running even though the weather has dropped below freezing. I simply bought more cold weather running gear and motivated myself with a new Garmin. I find that technology gadgets are a great motivator for any daunting task. I run about five miles a day, five days a week. I would probably run more but that means more time away from home and so I content myself with the 45 minutes of cardio.

We are contemplating selling the house and moving closer to school. The house needs a bit of work before that will be possible so I am working on projects as I can. We put in new energy saving windows this last year and did some painting. Still need some more painting and some features like sinks, carpet, and tiles updated. We are updating the front and back yard landscaping right now. I am not very handy so you can imagine how slow my pace is. Hopefully in about a year we'll have it all done. Wish me luck!

Teaching at church has been a great experience this last year. As part of a teaching team, I teach once a month on the particular topic we are addressing. This year we taught through the fruits of the Spirit, concentrating on each fruit for 4-6 weeks. It has been quite the eyeopener. I never realized how deficient I was in the various fruits or how essential each one is to the functioning of the whole. The fruits do not function as the gifts do, where I am endowed with one but perhaps not another. The fruit of the Spirit is a network of characteristics that are interdependent and must all be formed in each individual. The importance of the fruit is that they are the evidence of our faith and relationship with God. An interesting aspect I came to realize about the fruit is that they are impossible to display outside of relationship with other human beings. I can scream from the mountaintops about my kindness and patience but unless I engage in relationships with others my words can never become actual deed thereby bearing testimony to my relationship with Jesus Christ and they are useless. This Sunday is my last teaching on the fruit of temperance before we move on to a new series. I hope to be able to write up a brief summary of them all with what I have learned once we are finished. This is truly why I love teaching so much, I learn so much in preparation. I am thankful to God for this gift He has given me and I love serving others with it.

I could keep going but I need to get back to studying and writing. Three papers left before the end of the semester and then finals! The end of the tunnel is approaching... I see the light!

Nature Prepares for Winter's Respite...I Envy Her Approaching Rest

2010-10-23T10:34:00.003-06:00

The weather has finally cooled off in Colorado. Mornings are crisp and clean smelling and the colors of the season are striking in sharp contrasts of reds, yellows, browns, and greens. Every fall I feel this overwhelming urge to pack up and move to the mountains. I have realized of course the futility of doing so. If I move to the mountains I will no longer be able to see the mountains and so must content myself with admiring from afar.

Lots of changes are on the horizon. Declan is finally walking and now getting into everything. (He's trying to climb a stack of boxes in the kitchen as I write.) Words are taking on more form and are somewhat intelligible. "Thank you" is "deet-do" but that's about all I can make out so far. He loves animal crackers, mac and cheese, goldfish, and bananas. I am still trying to accustom to feeding a child who can eat pretty much anything he wants to; such a drastic change from the strict dietary regime we continuously follow with Naomi. Declan seems determined not to ween, which is becoming quite the taxation for me. Although last night he drank a fair amount of whole milk. That was a first for him - he usually takes a sip and then dribbles it down his chest, making a huge mess. I hate to get my hopes up, and I know I will miss the bonding moments with him but I think its time to nudge him forward a bit. I am determined not to be an enabler for him, making sure he matures sufficiently to succeed in life.

Naomi is loving 2nd grade. I am not enjoying it so much. This is the first year I have seriously contemplated homeschooling. I love all the opportunities for her to participate in extracurricular activities like choir, and drum line but feel she is suffering in academics. Hopefully this is an issue we can tactfully address in a parent/teacher conference. I do not want to hurt anyone's feelings but I do not think Naomi is being taught adequately at school. She keeps coming home with homework she has no idea how to complete. I am not one of those parents always siding with my child but I know what she is and is not capable of grasping and these things do not fall into that category. So if any teachers out there have some advice, I would love to hear it.

The holidays are approaching and schedules are filling up quick. Denise will be back from Guam for a few weeks and will have time to visit both Dawn (in VA) and me (in CO) while she is stateside. I cannot wait! I miss my little sis. It sounds like my parents are going to be here a fair amount of time through Thanksgiving and Christmas. I am looking forward to being able to spend some quality time with them before they head off to Brazil.

School is going well for me. I am learning so much in such a short period of time. I lament not being able to just sit and soak a lot of this in at a deeper level but realize the necessity of getting through the material. My favorite classes thus far are Church History and Apologetics. I have always enjoyed history and find it easy to absorb the information we study in class. Apologetics took me entirely by surprise. I love the thinking involved in formulating arguments. I am not however motivated by the quick battering wit of debate and so do not think I have a calling in that area but the research aspect of the discipline has great appeal. Greek is ... well it is Greek. All the languages I have learned so far are best tackled through speech. Since Koine Greek is a dead language I am finding it quite the challenge to remain motivated. Hermeneutics is also a bit dry yet I realize the necessity in it and have already identified several of my "bad habits" in interpretation. I love spiritual insight and having my 'aha' moments but there is not much appreciation for it when it comes to the assignments. It is, however, teaching me to stay on task and not become sidetracked on rabbit trails. Intercultural Ministry is proving to be much more involved than I anticipated. I figured since I was raised on the mission field the class would be somewhat routine. I am learning that much of my perception of missions is outdated and even slightly tainted with theological inconsistencies. I am shocked yet relieved that much of my disdain for missions has been a result of something wrong in my perception and not really anything faulty about it, in and of itself. I am looking forward to applying my new-found knowledge to missions tasks in the future. And last, but most assuredly not least, is Christian Formation (aka mentoring) which I am getting antsy about starting. I have chosen my mentors already and am working on deepening my relationships with those individuals and am really looking forward to gaining some ministerial clarity through the process.

I have a lot of new ideas for blogs but may not get to them until after midterms. I have requests so far for blogs on Meekness, Being Unequally Yoked, Gnosticism's Return, Women and Teaching, and a few others. If there is anything in particular you would like me to study and write on, please let me know and I will add it to the list. Please keep me in prayer as I struggle to maintain momentum in my many tasks this year.

Godless

2010-09-25T13:46:00.008-06:00

Last night I attended my first ever Atheist lecture at Metro State in downtown Denver. I was actually very excited to hear a “lead Atheist” express his beliefs, or as I would later learn, his lack of belief. It is very important to me to understand the points of view of others. If I cannot understand or at least make an attempt to grasp what they believe then I cannot “become all things to all men” and present the gospel in words that meet my audience where they are at. But I was sorely disappointed in the presentation and I think most intelligent Atheists would actually agree with me once I convey my reasons for that impression.

Let me begin with a brief introduction of the speaker. Dan Barker is the author of the book, Godless. Dan is an evangelical preacher turned Atheist and now makes it his mission to convert Christians from Christianity to Atheism. He has served as a pastor in several capacities in both the Friend’s and Assemblies of God denominations. He also writes music and has written several VBS and other children’s musicals under the pseudonym, Edwin Daniels. Dan has a degree in Religion with a minor in NT Greek from Azusa Pacific.

Dan began the lecture by describing the allure in Atheism being its abandon of hierarchical structure and contrasted it to the hierarchy presented in most religions. The religions of Islam, Judaism and Christianity were brought up at this point but that is the last heard of Islam and Judaism. The rest of the lecture focused only on Christianity and his opposition to those beliefs. In reference to his evangelical past, Dan conveyed his enjoyment of his Christian life as wonderful but that “being an Atheist is a lot more fun.” As Mr. Barker walked us through his Christian experience he continuously mocked the 2nd coming of Christ which left me with the impression that perhaps he had been caught up with some of the major Jesus Movements typical of the 60’s and 70’s, and dying out in the 80’s. The waning of that movement seemed to characterize the timing of the waning of Barker’s faith.

Dan invoked Scripture often but usually out of context and misquoted, ignoring other pivotal scriptures such as "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”(Mt 24:36) In an attempt to cast doubt on Jesus words “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened”(Mt 24:34) as a reference to a 2nd coming, Dan expressed legitimate frustration over every generations impression of living in the end times. However, I would like to interject that the word used for “fulfilled” here is not indicative of a completed action but a bringing into existence similar to that of setting a stage in preparation for a scene to play out. The implication of Jesus' words are then not of completion of events but of circumstances necessary to set a series of events in motion. Before that generation ceased, all events would be set in motion for the beginning of the scene titled “end times”.

Mr. Barker spoke of his intellectual awakening at the age of 30 as the beginning of his process to abandon his faith, giving scientific evidence of a full development of his frontal lobe as a support of the change. In other words, his faith was simple childishness and immaturity. I cannot disagree. I do in fact believe that his faith was childish and immature. But God is not unaware of such physiological developments in humans and in fact waited often to call His servants until they were at least 30 years of age. This pattern is repeated throughout Scripture. I happened to have experienced a similar awakening at the age of 30 but mine seemed to have the opposite effect. I felt the need to “work out my salvation” and intellectually understand why I believed certain truths. I realized at that point in time my extreme love for Theology which has resulted in my attending seminary and pursuing that passion. In articulating this intellectual awakening, Barker sounded angry at his blind faith and jaded by his ignorance. This is understandable. I felt the same way upon searching out my own faith. How could I believe such a thing without exploring it further? My exploration, however only served to strengthen my faith whereas his exploration seemed to have weakened his own faith. Oswald Chambers stated the following:

Initially we trust in our ignorance, calling it innocence, and next we trust our innocence, calling it purity. Then when we hear these strong statements from our Lord, we shrink back, saying, “But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart.” We resent what He reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust the penetration of His Word into my heart, or would I prefer to trust my own “innocent ignorance”?

While many of us may come to the faith out of a level of ignorance or innocence, God never expects us to remain at the state. The growth of one’s faith is very similar to the growth of an infant. We start out ignorant, but at some point in time, we must accept accountability for our actions and beliefs and grow and mature. But this did not happen for Mr. Barker. Instead of the natural progression of growth, he chose to abhor his ignorance and reject the faith completely. Barker referred to his ministry as a “stupid, infantile game.” He now views his state of mind as “intellectually mature” and superior to that of Christians. Here we arrive at the root of humanism - it is the love of one’s own mind as the end-all of faith. I admit to feeling prey to this belief all too often. When we gain intellectual ground it is easy to feel pride in those advances and forget that our minds are a very real reflection of an intellectual God. Instead of turning that pride to a state of humility to an all-knowing Creator, we stop short of that maturity and begin to worship our own intellect. It is natural to feel pride over the intellect, it is part of the image of God but it cannot end there; intellect must credit its source.

None of these issues get at the source of my frustration with the presentation and so now I turn to address that issue. Barker’s platform hinges on the Christian faith. Instead of presenting a set of beliefs and evidences, which is what I came to hear, he presented Atheism as an alternative to Christianity. I find this is a slap in the face of any intellectual advancement as I wanted to know why Atheism stands apart, alone, and superior to Christianity. Barker’s presentation felt parasitic in nature to Christianity, as if his “ministry” could not exist without it. I believe this is a betrayal to Atheism in general and I find it hard to believe a proponent such as Richard Dawkins would align himself with such a leech. The entire aura of the evening felt ‘evangelical’ in nature right down to the manner in which the event was advertised. He played on his past as an evangelical preacher to merit an audience; every expression of his belief had to be a response, counter, or mockery of the Christian faith; and even his upcoming book project is a humanist rebuttal of Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”.

My faith stands alone; I do not need Atheism to provide a platform for my faith and its expression. I believe this is the nature of truth. I also believe that this is the intent of Richard Dawkins work – that his Atheism can stand alone. So for this reason I cannot understand Mr. Dawkins support of Mr. Barker’s clear insubordination to the independence of Atheism. I found the entire evening fell far short of anything intellectual.
To make matters worse the Q&A portion revealed a multitude of inconsistencies with the lecture.

(1) Q: Why did you choose the truth of Atheism over the comfort of Christianity?
A: His response was in conflict to his opening statement that being an Atheist was simply much more fun than being a Christian. In his response he presented the decision as an absolute yes or no to Jesus (going back to the parasitic nature of his own version of Atheism – he needed Christ in order to even become an Atheist… how ironic.) To put it simply he stated that he “fell in love with his mind” and the Bible was anti-rational.

(2) Q: How do you respond to the accusation that you simply rush to the extremes of evangelical to atheist?
A: He is an evangelist no matter what he believes.

(3) Q: Should we all be conducting outreach – Atheistic Evangelism?
A: If it’s bad for us it’s bad for them (suggesting again that Atheism cannot stand alone and must feed and fuel itself off of Christian tactics.)

(4) Q: What is truth?
A: Truth is not a thing or morality; truth is the degree with which a statement corresponds to reality. The language of proposition must be supported by observation and evidence. Therefore Jesus cannot be truth (and yet another statement uses the foundation of Christianity for its existence).

(5) Q: Christian man came to the microphone at this point and apologized for the hatred Mr. Barker had experienced at the hand of the church and this was not indicative of the love of Jesus Christ.
A: Mr. Barker refused the apology and stated that the young man had no authority to speak for believers. (The demand for an apology carrying the weight of authority seems to be a direct contradiction to his support of the “freethinking” principle of no hierarchy. And yet here he demands the knee of some hierarchical structure to appease him. While I am on that note, how does one become a "lead Atheist" in a framework that recognizes no hierarchy?)

In summation, I felt cheated of the intellectual presentation I showed up to witness and felt more as if I had stumbled in on a locker-room pep talk for Atheists, lacking any substance but full of derision and fluff. My recommendation if you want to find material worthy of the title Atheist, is to look at Richard Dawkin’s work and not the intellectual freeloading of Dan Barker.

One Week Down

2010-09-03T11:14:00.004-06:00

I have officially finished my first week at Denver Seminary and it was a blast!!! Now if I can just get through the next 15 weeks in one piece I'll be set. I loved every class and was very impressed by the knowledge and character of each professor. I realized after this week that the commute isn't as bad as I thought it would be. (approximately 25 min.) My greatest concern going into this week was the workload, but after carefully going over all my syllabi I am confident that with continuous work every day I will be just fine. The other looming anxiety was for Declan. I have been home with him since he was born (11 months) and I was worried about how he would do with someone else watching him. He is doing great!! God is so good! He spends the mornings while I am at class at one of my friends' house. She has an 18 month old daughter and they play great together. It is absolutely amazing how God works out the little details for us when we are following His will for our lives. I have to keep this blog short so I can get back to my reading. I think I'll write my first philosophy paper on the ineffectiveness of using too many textbooks in one class (8!!!). Joking... they're all great reads; I'm just glad I love reading, otherwise the load would be intimidating. Thank you everyone that has been praying for me this week. Please continue to lift me up in prayer as I need endurance to run this race.

Goodbye Summer...

2010-08-24T11:21:00.004-06:00

Summer has always been my favorite season. I blame it on my upbringing in Brazil. I just love the sweltering heat. The approach of the end of summer loomed large this morning as Denver was blanketed in clouds and drizzle. We had a great summer though. This was Declan's first summer and he has been quite mobile. Naomi perfected her swimming which made our pool visits much more enjoyable. She was able to go on the big twisty slide, having met the prerequisite of swimming an entire link in the 'deep end'. I was so proud of her. Yesterday was Naomi's first day of second grade. I could tell when she got home that she absolutely loved her class and teacher. I hope I am able to help her maintain her love of school.

I have always loved school. I love to learn. I love to converse and dialogue with people. Amidst my slight anxiety, I am overwhelmed with excitement about starting school this Friday. Orientation Day at Denver Seminary is on Friday and my first official day of class is Monday. I feel like a child again... except I didn't get to buy new tennis shoes for PE. I'm going to try and make my old ones last until Spring since I run less in the winter.

I have several reasons for wanting to attend Denver Seminary which I haven't really mentioned to others yet but I feel I should write down. Hopefully when I look back at this I will be able to say that it met at least some of my expectations. I have wanted to pursue my Masters in Theology for quite some time now. If you had told me that ten years ago I'd have told you you're crazy. After all, I dropped out of Bible College 14 years ago, opting instead for a career in the Air Force. Funny how life sends you in circles sometimes. For a while I had been looking at various online degree programs since I am a stay-at-home mom and thought that would be the best option. But I soon realized, how much I would actually miss in studying and learning if I chose the less interactive course. And so I began to plan my life around physically attending class. I pondered moving to VA so I could study at Regent. I considered moving to CA to study at LIFE (I grew up in Foursquare and it is a denomination very close to my heart.) But I finally accepted the idea that God had placed me in Denver, and I was to be here for the next 4-5 years. So if I was to pursue a degree program it needed to be where He had me. That left me with Denver Seminary. Once I did some research and visited the campus I fell in love with it and its mission, not to mention being impressed by some of the highly reputable scholars that have come out of Denver Seminary.

At this year's Foursquare convention (I try to go whenever I can to spend time with family and see dearly loved friends) one of the speakers mentioned he wanted to see the denomination move forward in the area of ecumenical theological contribution. I thought my heart was going to burst when I heard those words. That is what I want to do! And so it is with this passion that I begin my sojourn into the pursuit of my MDiV and beyond. I know the road will be full of challenges, setbacks, revisions and the like, but I am excited to go through it all. I may not know the full extent of God's plan, but it is enough that I know He has a plan...and a hope, for my future. On that note... Goodbye Summer! Hello Fall!

My fall will definitely be interesting. Here's my list of classes:

Effective Biblical Interpretation
Engaging Early and Medieval Christianity
Introduction to New Testament Greek
Defending Christian Faith
Introduction to Christian Formation, Training and Mentoring
Introduction to Ministry in Intercultural Context

Pray for me!

Understanding Your Wife's Sexual Needs

2010-08-16T15:06:00.010-06:00

Physiological Design

As much as we would like to transcend the lines of gender with a sense of sameness in our definition of equality, the constraints of the physical realm do not allow us to do so. While we were designed to be equal that design will never absolve the differences between man and woman. And so somehow we must learn from and give to each other in light of our differences. I read a fair amount of writing on the topic of sexuality and for the most part within the Evangelical world there seems to be an overwhelming preoccupation with conveying the needs of male sexuality and sloughing off any real attempt to address the issue of woman’s sexuality and her needs. I believe most of this attitude is due to a misunderstanding that because a woman’s sex drive as defined by the production of testosterone is normally less than a man’s, that this means we have fewer sexual needs, but that is not so. Our needs are simply different. Since God created both of these needs within mankind and designed them to work as one then we need to make an attempt to do just that.

I would like to begin this explanation at a very base level to identify some of the physiological differences alone between male and female and how this impacts sexuality. The physical design of sexual intercourse in any species is for reproduction, to propagate the species. In this context alone we can see some of what separates male from female. Where the male can contribute to the reproductive process at any time, the female cannot and can only contribute once a month (for humans) within a very short window of opportunity. This alone affects our drives. While men may seem ready and willing at any and every occasion, women experience the fluctuation in hormones and extreme drive to reproduce only within this window. This does not include outside contributing factors but is based on hormonal drive alone.

Women undergo ovulation every month and at the end of the cycle, if fertilization has not occurred the body rids itself of the unused egg. This process involves an entirely different set of hormones and reactions than those involving reproduction. The hormonal state of the woman’s body at this point in time cries out in grief and a need for solitude as she pushes away from those around her and enters a stage of grief. All women experience this to varying degrees. While this does not signify a legitimate mental or emotional desire or need to bear children it is a physical reality of what the body alone is designed to do.

If upon entering the ovulation stage, fertilization does occur this creates an all new set of responses in the female body. For the first trimester (provided the fluctuations of hormones do not create too much sickness) the woman’s hormonal state is heightened at all levels. There is an increase in the woman’s sex drive at this point in time and lasts a fair amount into the second trimester. The development of the child’s gonads and which hormones are subsequently required for their maturity has an impact on the sexual drive of the woman. But for the most part, a woman’s body really starts to kick into overdrive at this point in time and begins to focus all effort (mental, emotional, and physical) into the development of the child. At this point in time you will also notice the external phenomenon known as ‘nesting’. ‘Nesting’ throws the woman into preparation mode and will refocus the drive from her hormones from husband to child.

Labor and delivery is the most physically intensive portion of the childbearing process. The female body works, and works very hard, undergoing excruciating pain sometimes to the detriment and loss of life, in order to give birth. But her labor and service to child does not end there. The physical demand on mind and body continue as the mother and infant form bonds and nurture one another. The nurturing process, mainly the breastfeeding, is highly demanding on a woman’s body and for some can completely deplete them of any desire or need for extra physical affections. Many women opt not to breastfeed their children for extensive periods of time because of the level of demand and strain it places on a woman’s body. (Each woman is different and so I am not advocating for or against that practice.) I personally experienced both extremes as I was not able to breastfeed my daughter due to special dietary needs but committed fully to breastfeed my son. And so I can speak to both extremes. In each situation breastfeeding had an impact on the sex drive. This is also evidenced by the fact that most women do not regain their reproductive cycle until at least a year into breastfeeding. So one may sufficiently deduce from this, that breastfeeding has a definite impact on the hormonal state, not to mention the sex drive of a woman.

By this time, a woman has just spent close to two years mentally, emotionally and physically focused entirely on the child and meeting his/her each and every need almost entirely with her body. The tremendous demands placed on our bodies necessitate rest. Please keep in mind that this entire time, throughout all the hormonal changes in the female body, the male body has remained unchanged as has his sex drive. Since my view of things incorporates not only the physiological aspects but also my faith, I defer to what Scripture has to say on the matter. It may say more than we realize.

What the Bible says (New Testament)

“In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Eph 5:28. I concur wholeheartedly with this verse but believe our understanding of it is skewed if we do not understand that the needs of a husband’s body are different from the needs of a wife’s body. So the key to practicing this verse is to know the needs of your wife’s body. If you can meet that need, then the law of cause and effect will (in theory) take care of your own need.

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to this wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am… but if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” 1 Cor. 7:3-8. As I said at the beginning of this article, the marital needs of the husband have been well articulated but the marital needs of the wife often go unexplored. This passage and in particular the first verse is often invoked with the misunderstanding that meeting the wife’s marital need means having sexual relations with her. While that may meet a level of need for her it does not meet the entirety of the design of her body.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” Romans 12:1 I believe this verse to be key in its expression of the ultimate goal of the body. So what we must ask is this: “Does the use of my wife’s body allow enough space for her to come before God and present herself as a living sacrifice or do I deplete her mentally, emotionally, and physically to the point that she has no spiritual fervor to offer God?” While we do indeed have obligations to one another as husband and wife, we also have an obligation to help each other in our spiritual walk with God. Often when applying any New Testament scripture we omit the context and history wrapped up in the cultural conditions best understood by studying the Old Testament. And so I return to the Old Testament before expounding further on the New Testament.

What the Bible says (Old Testament)

“To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16 What we may gather and infer from this phrasing is that pain and hard work has always been part of childbearing but that the fall of man led to an increase in this pain. What we may also understand is that one of the consequences of the fall was an unhealthy desire for man whether it is to please him, pursue his affirmation or attempt to wield more power than him. And lastly we may deduce that the man’s rule over woman instead of an equal balance in the meeting of minds and needs was a consequence of our disobedience. But in spite of the curses there is evidence that God greatly cared for and loved woman and went to great lengths to make provisions for her needs mentally, emotionally and physically.

One of the first occasions we see of God’s care over woman is in the story of Abraham and Sarah. When Abraham put Sarah at risk by placing her in a situation to sin against God, her own body, Abraham, and Abimelech, God intervened to protect her from having to bear that burden. (Gen 20:1-18). In Genesis chapter 38 God comes to the aid of Tamar as she fulfilled cultural tradition in an attempt to bear children and was abused and misused sexually by the men in her husband’s family. I bring these particular stories to the front because I believe it to be a common misconception that God does not care for the sexual needs of women and allows for husbands to treat them however they see fit in order to meet their own sexual needs. There are many more stories of God’s protection and defense over women despite the cultural tradition of their subservience and less than humane treatment.

When it comes to sexual provisions for women and understanding the female body’s need for rest we may find much on the topic in the Law given to Moses for the care of God’s people. “When a woman has her regular flow of blood, the impurity of her monthly period will last seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean till evening…When she is cleansed from her discharge she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean.” This provides an entirety of two weeks rest for the female body free of any sexual obligations or demands as the man is also unclean if he touches her during this time. In addition to this provision there are also the requirements involved with sexual secretions. “When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean…and he will be unclean till evening.” I bring this passage up because it allows us to understand the commitment and foreknowledge involved in planning out and being conscious of each other’s time and duties before having sexual relations. (Leviticus 15)

Please keep in mind that I am not citing these laws to suggest that we need to follow them in some way, or attempt to place some sort of legalistic aura around the sexual relationship. I am citing the laws so that we may gather insight on what God designed for healthy rest and sexual relations. So far in my study of the Law and its provisions I can find no case where God did not have the best interests of the people in mind or that in our present day we have not found scientific evidence to support. God’s requirement for Sabbath rest at least one in seven days is supported by medical professionals. God’s requirement for agricultural Sabbath is supported by farmers today and our practice of crop rotation. For evidence of what happens when we do not observe the rest of the land, one may simply study the dustbowl phenomenon of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. We over seeded the land, gave her no rest and she dried out, rose up against us and destroyed us. Sound familiar? Our intentions were good; we wanted more bang for our buck. But there were consequences to that.

Lastly, in direct support of medical advice today for the postpartum care of women, the Law suggests precisely what medical professionals suggest for the care of women and their children. “A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days…then the woman must wait thirty three days to be purified from her bleeding (twice as long for daughters).” (Leviticus 12) That is a total of 42 days (one extra day is incorporated for the eighth day of circumcision). That is six weeks, which is exactly the time frame doctors prescribe and at which point the woman is advised to undergo her postpartum checkup and is cleared for safe sexual activity. I believe the extra time constraints for daughters are to help and develop the bond between mother and daughter, which is more difficult to maintain than between mother and son. (But the Oedipus complex is an entirely different blog altogether – no married woman can deny the resiliency of the bond between mother and son which if not properly cut, can last well into adulthood whereas the bond between mother and daughter is a constant struggle throughout life).

My point in citing the various laws of the Old Testament, is that the admonitions of the New Testament were given in light of the provisions that people were accustomed to under the Law. Speaking plainly, it was simple practice to allow the female body two weeks of rest leaving the two remaining weeks available for sexual activity with her husband. While we are not 'under the law' we learn much of God's protection for His people by studying His ways. By observing some of the other laws on rest we see that there is factual scientific support for their benefit. God designed the female body to meet childbearing, nutritional, comfort, and sexual needs. But in order to meet all those needs, God also made provisions for her rest. Rest is essential to understanding and meeting a wife's sexual needs.

Cultural Handicaps

According to a recent series of articles published by Focus on the Family on Understanding the Husband’s Sexual Needs the following was stated: “No doubt, our sexually explicit culture plays into the prominence of sex on a man's mind. He can't open the newspaper, turn on the television, surf the Net, or walk into a mall without being reminded of sexual desire.” While this is a reality of our culture it is an assault to both male and female sexuality. I am sure we have all been exposed at one time or another to the schoolyard bully mentality where an individual transfers inappropriately, his struggles from work or home onto other individuals outside of his immediate circle of influence. While we understand his behavior and are sympathetic to his plight we also understand that his venue of venting is unhealthy and a violation of others’ boundaries. The same can be said of bringing outside sexual stimulation home, presenting it as a legitimate need meant to be met by the wife. It was not the wife’s flesh that created the stimulation therefore it is an unrealistic expectation that her body should meet the need.

While women cannot always discern the nature of stimulation beforehand we are innately acute at discerning the abuse of our bodies after the fact. The misappropriation of sexual stimulation will eventually generate resentment in a woman as her body is overtaxed by demands she is not hormonally capable of matching or meeting. We can meet the sexual need but we cannot match the enthusiasm desired of us often resulting in the “cold fish” syndrome. Too often this occurs within the Church accompanied by an invocation of Scripture pertaining to the wife meeting the husband’s sexual needs. But I propose this is a direct violation of God’s command to husband and wife to become and function as one flesh. So the question presents itself of how to go about creating a hormonal atmosphere conducive to meeting the male sex drive.

Mental, Emotional, and Physical Ties

While many biblical scholars agree that the cultural traditions of the first century had incredible impact on certain admonitions for husbands taking responsibility for the wife’s education, in our day and age we are educated outside of the home and men and women have access to the same levels of education. While I see this as a positive exemplification of equality it may remove a sense of need to “match minds” in the marital relationship and to mentally guide and sharpen one another. The impact this has on a woman’s sexuality is monumental as for many women gaining satisfaction during sexual intercourse is a battle won or lost on the mental level. It is quite the opposite for men, where his mental capacity is often won or lost at the sexual level.

The emotional realm is a much dreaded topic for men but let me appease your anxiety by saying that women do not expect men to match their emotions; women expect men to meet their emotions. Meeting the emotions is not an overwhelming task if men are firstly meeting a woman’s mind. Win her mind, and he will inevitably win her emotions or at the very least have a level of insight into her emotions. Once the emotions are tapped into we arrive at the physical responses felt by a woman.

Since the physical response of a woman is the primary complaint made by most men then this is the ultimate goal being pursued. A recent article in Parenting Magazine on The Power of Love explained the following in relation to the mother/child bond and the need to frequently kiss your baby: “Pathogens on a baby’s skin are carried from the mother’s lips into her system, and she produces made-to-order antibodies that boost his (the child’s) immunity.” The catch is, women do not produce the antibodies immediately but over the course of a few days our bodies have the correct formula created. I see no reason why the same could not be said of a woman’s body producing a hormonal response to the needs of her husband over time. Since one of the chief demands by men is that women take some sexual initiative then they must wait for our hormones to catch up with their physical need. Kiss your wives, hold your wives, provide the skin to skin contact that wives need to produce the physiological response over time without the immediate demand for sexual gratification and she will (in theory) be able to take the initiative the husband desires. Unfortunately our cultural placation to immediate gratification darkens the need to cultivate the sexual relationship in patience. But perhaps God’s design of our bodies was meant to teach us far more about life’s principles than we give Him credit for. After all, I cannot find or cite a single biblical principle that hinges on the practice of immediate gratification.

The Military Wife

Since being a military wife is a reality I am familiar with after being married to an active duty member for ten years, and also a present reality for many of the women I have had the privilege of networking with, I feel the need to address briefly the difference in her needs. Military wives are faced with the very real experience of long term separation during deployments. We count on the husband’s ability to refrain from sexual activity while apart from us. Sometimes these separations can last for years. When we are presented with articles and teachings portraying the physical needs of our husbands that must be met and cannot be foregone for any extensive period of time, we cringe and scoff. Our marital security depends on the strength, self-control, and integrity of his character while we are apart and his ability to deny those physical needs. For many men and women, the most effective means of exercising self control in one’s sexuality while separated is a mental, conscious severance of the sexual desires. Since we are not light switches that can turn on and off, this is a discipline that we develop over time and also takes time to recover from afterwards.

There are struggles associated with reinstating the sexual relationship upon a soldiers’ homecoming. War and separation change men and women. It is unrealistic to think that a husband and wife have not undergone changes while apart and will not need time to realign on both a mental and emotional level before being able to truly connect at the physical level. But there are also biblical provisions for this. “All of you who have killed anyone or touched anyone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives.” (Numbers 31:19) In essence, war has no place in the home and time is needed to wind down from the rigors of combat. Unfortunately, due to the media and levels of violence in our entertainment, this degree of separation between home life and war is worn thin in our society and often the brutal and aggressive tendencies are brought into the home as well as to the marriage bed. Fortunately the military is now taking more action in helping to prevent the aggressive carryover from war and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through periods of recovery before soldiers are sent home (yet another proof that God knows best when it comes to the mental, emotional and physical stability of His people).

Spiritual Lessons Derived from Female Sexuality

While women do indeed desire to meet their husband’s sexual needs it is impossible for us to meet them on his time table and on the basis of immediate gratification without jeopardizing our identity and femininity. Since this is the way God designed us then we must ask ourselves what we are to learn from this. In my role as a wife, I learn elements of kindness, goodness, gentleness, peace and love by meeting the needs of my husband even when I may not feel like it. In return, a husband can learn elements of patience, joy, self-control, and meekness through meeting his wife’s needs when he may not want to. Together we learn essential aspects of sacrifice and rest. We really do help each other to develop Christ-like virtues through our sexuality and its expression as God designed us.

Meeting of the Minds (Needs)

A woman’s body is created and designed to be able to meet the sexual needs of her husband in proportion to the amount of rest her body is allowed. Try sitting down with your wife and discussing what she needs for rest and what qualifies as rest for her. It may be something as small as sending her to the spa on occasion, giving her a massage, taking the kids out of the home for a day, helping with some random chores or something as big as taking a full blown vacation. Don’t take anything for granted. I used to assume that Sunday qualified as my day of rest until I realized that Sundays were anything but restful in an effort to get everyone ready and out the door for Church and preparing for school on Mondays. While I still enjoy the fellowship of Church on Sundays, my personal Sabbath is Saturday when I have no immediate obligations to meet and can truly just relax.

If your wife is not getting a day of rest each week where she is truly resting, then reorganize your schedules so that you are both getting a full day to yourselves. Talk often as needs change over time. While routine is good, it can be a marital killer when needs change and our schedules are not adjusted to reflect those changes.

Balancing the Sexual Desires

Jesus sums up all God’s commandments in this one statement, “Love God, and love others.” If we focus our efforts on our spouse and his or her needs instead of focusing on our own, we will find the true fulfillment Scripture promises when we live our lives based on God’s principles. I think the greatest breakdown in the area of sexuality happens when we assume that our partner’s needs should mirror our own. They never will.

This has been an incredibly difficult article for me to write and I truly wanted to give up at several points while writing. I do not know entirely why I felt so driven to pen this, but I hope it somehow provides insight for men into the intricacy that is their wife and a level of comfort to wives in that whatever your struggles may be, you are not alone. Keep in mind that I am only one woman amongst billions and therefore my insights and experience can never encompass the many diverse needs of all women.

The Complainer

2010-08-09T12:00:00.003-06:00

“Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Philippians 2:14

I find it rather ironic that I am writing a blog on this. But hopefully by addressing my concerns about the complainer, I will be able to differentiate in the mind of the reader the difference between constructive rebuke and outright impotent complaint.

I think it will be helpful to start off with a little word study on what 'complaining' really means in this context. The Greek word used in this verse is more specifically, ‘murmuring’. A murmur is one of three things: 1) a low, indistinct, continuous sound; 2) an indistinct, whispered, or confidential complaint; or 3) an abnormal sound, usually emanating from the heart that sometimes indicates a diseased condition. I am actually going to use all three definitions to better understand the meaning of this verse and the many implications behind this person we are going to refer to quite simply as ‘the complainer’.

The first portion of the definition, ‘a low, indistinct, continuous sound’, brings to mind an annoyance of some sort, whether it be a dripping faucet, a buzzing, or perhaps a quiet hiss of static. At any rate, what we can assume from these occurrences is that something is amiss and needs to be put right – a tightening of a valve, the riddance of a pest, or frequency adjustment. But oddly enough the actual adjustment needs to happen at the source of the complaint not at its recipient. If I am the hearer of these complaints, simply plugging my ears or leaving the room is not going to solve the situation, it simply prolongs the symptoms and in some cases can lend to catastrophic consequences. What I learn from this definition is that complaint all by itself is a sign that something is wrong at the source – with the one complaining.

The second definition, ‘an indistinct, whispered, or confidential complaint’ attacks the articulation and productivity of the complaint. One of the key components of communication is articulation. It is important to be able to convey a comprehensive concern to others if we ever expect a change to occur or action to be taken. The ‘whispered or confidential’ aspect of the definition, while having its place in seeking out counsel (counsel meaning you are procuring resolution and forward movement on an issue) does not have a place in the context of idle gossip. The difference between counsel and gossip is that counsel is meant to resolve issues whereas gossip is impotent and simply promotes discontentment and negativity.

The third definition, ‘an abnormal sound, usually emanating from the heart that sometimes indicates a diseased condition’ is the most profound of definitions when applied to the complainer. A murmur or complaint in this context can quite literally affect the entire performance of the body and incapacitate its growth, circulation, and effectiveness. Within the body of Christ this is a serious concern and one that should not be taken lightly.

There is an extreme difference between issuing a complaint and expressing a concern. A complaint has no fruitfulness, offers no solutions, creates discord and attacks the integrity of the body. An expressed concern, however, places expectations of change, offers progressive solutions, and promotes the well being and healthy functioning of the body.

I am exposed to complaints on a daily basis with my children. They have legitimate needs that must be met but often they cannot properly express those needs or articulate their concerns. My son, who is 10 months old resorts to fussing and crying. My daughter, who is 7 yrs old, is much better at expressing her needs and displaying healthy responses. My son’s needs are no less important than my daughter’s but his level of physical maturity inhibits him from properly conveying those needs to me in a manner that will generate immediate results. Much time and effort is wasted in an attempt to discern the appropriate need to meet. The same can be said of our spiritual maturity. When we complain, whimpering and whining about our present dissatisfaction without offering solutions, speaking coherently, or promoting the health of the body we display spiritual immaturity. Paul never meant to say that we must not express ourselves, our needs or our concerns. He was simply attacking the cowardice of impotent expression which manifests as complaints, leaving the believer devoid of growth which in turn stifles and plagues the body.

So the next time you think of issuing a complaint, try accompanying it with a productive solution, better articulation, and a sincere display of compassion for the well being of others. By doing this you will transform that complaint into a legitimate need worthy to be addressed and met; a need that when met will stimulate growth and flourish, creating fruitfulness and begetting life to everyone around.

Now I've seen it all...

2010-08-04T11:48:00.004-06:00

I just had to share these two pictures my sister sent me from a Target in Ohio. In light of my last post I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry... but I was amused nonetheless.

They're Edward and Jacob dolls (or action figures... whatever) from the Twilight Series.

Jacob and Esa...errr...Edward?

2010-07-17T14:56:00.007-06:00

“So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.” Genesis 25:27

I could not help but think of these apparent opposite brothers while watching the recent hit movies, The Twilight Saga: Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. It has taken me a while to completely analyze and understand the frenzy surrounding the extremes of Jacob and Edward, Bella’s two love interests in the series. But after careful thought and speculation I think I am finally able to comprehend what the allure is to women of all ages and walks of life.

Those who are unequivocally baffled by this craze are men, and rightly so; they sure didn’t see this coming. What could these two boys, not even yet men, possibly have to offer that so captivates young, middle aged, and old women alike? I would daresay, had I not done such extensive work on studying femininity, her image, and her patterns I may not have seen it either and been completely drawn into the debate of Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, mooning and fawning over the fantasy of my pick. But I’m not…at least not without understanding. So how did we arrive at the extreme of Jacob, the ferocious werewolf hunter, and Edward, the mild vegetarian vampire “tent dweller”?

Well, men… this may come as a shock, but they are beasts of your own making. You created them. How so you may ask? They are the extremes of masculinity demanded by the characteristics affirmed by men in women: the hot and heavy sensuous sex object and the unapproachable, untouchable ice princess. These extremes of femininity affirmed by men and not the image God created which is precariously balanced on His character and does not delve into these extremes, is what has demanded the imbalance in masculinity. In the beginning when God created male and female He made them dependent on one another for physical wholeness, definition, and fruitfulness as mankind. Because of the mystical interconnectivity between man and woman, what happens to woman inevitably affects what happens to man. Because of the unique role of men as initiators of the creative process, women cannot bring life to what you have not initiated or firstly given to her. And so it is for this reason that I lay the responsibility at your feet.

The ice princess filled with shame and loathing of her own femininity and sexuality, craves the raw and animalistic heat offered by Jacob. The sensuous sex object, reveling in and exploiting her own sexuality, desires the affirmation of her virtue and the cold emotionless and suppressed passion of Edward.

I define my view of femininity as created in God’s image from the characteristics of God’s Wisdom. While Wisdom is pure and submissive, she is also a mother. But the role of mother is impossible without the characteristics of sexuality somewhere along the line. An appropriate balance between the sexuality we possess and the modesty of purity is essential to purposefully creating life. In order to mar and upset this divinely reflected entity, the enemy must convince us to operate in extremes. The personification of these extremes is named, Folly. Quoting from my work, Made in Their Image (2008):

“Women have suffered an immense amount of shame associated with our sexuality. Throughout the Bible shame is always a degradation of glory or honor. “The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame” (Proverbs 3:35). We suffer shame when we lose sight of our glory. In today’s society we have reached a different attitude. We have thrown off our shame associated with our sexuality and embraced that sexuality. But because we did not perform this function with the image of God in mind we also threw off all respect, glory, and honor associated with our sexuality – the purity of it. Our faith does not allow us to embrace sexuality as the world has defined it for us and so we find ourselves pulled between the extremes of cessation in shame and sensation in vulgarity of our sexuality. This is how Folly functions. She works in the extremes of Wisdom, prowling around her character and looking for ways to distort her image. She does not care in which extreme she functions; she only cares that we do not realize the true intent, power, and divine reflection of our femininity.”

The greater the affirmations of women’s extremes become, the greater the demand for Edwards and Jacobs will also be. If a man’s intent is to affirm a woman’s sexuality with no regard for her holiness, he will need to become the unfeeling, undead Edward to combat the imbalance he has created. If a man desires the cold, emotionless and rigid stereotype of purity without affirmation of femininity’s need to bring forth life through her sexuality and the purity of that role, he must become Jacob to balance the extreme he has affirmed.

So to all my many male friends who have expressed their complete befuddlement of this trend, I say this: If you wish not to see the distortion and manipulation of your masculinity into these boys you simply do not want to be, then be cautious of how and what you affirm in women. If you choose to affirm the negative extremes of femininity around you, your divinely inspired confidence and humility will be warped into the grotesque disfigurement of Jacob’s arrogance and Edward’s cowardice, your divinely placed authority into the dominant viciousness of the alpha male and your command to serve femininity into the indecisive weakness of the impartial undead.

To all my dear female friends who are captivated by the idea of Edward or Jacob, use this knowledge to analyze your own femininity, what has or has not been affirmed, and what you are lacking to become uniquely balanced in God’s image.

And now, finally, the answer to the question you have all been awaiting: Which team am I supporting? Well… that is my own demon (no pun intended) to deal with.

Kindness in Action

2010-06-16T11:17:00.004-06:00

This Sunday was our Church’s introductory Sunday into the Fruit of the Spirit, Kindness. Niqui, my fellow teacher, and I put together a definitional teaching on the fruit and in the process I learned a good deal about kindness that was all new to me. One of the things I learned is that kindness is not a passive response to others; it is a very active and intentional effort to extend service and respond appropriately to others. While studying some of the aspects of ‘response to others’, I encountered one of my weaknesses, listening.

Listening is a difficult skill to cultivate for me. I oftentimes find myself thinking ahead and formulating my answer to others instead of honing in and hanging on every word they say. So this week I am actively seeking out ways in which to practice my listening skills, my kindness, towards others.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to observe a forum of discussion offered to my particular age group (20’s – 30’s) by our elders. I was overwhelmed with gratefulness for the manner in which the forum was conducted. We were actively being listened to and not debated on what our dreams, visions, aspirations, hopes, and even gripes were in the area of ministry. I felt this was an incredible demonstration and powerful example given to us by our elders in the area of kindness and I want to thank you so much for teaching me by example, the art of listening.

As is usually the case with all effective teaching, I am motivated to act on and reciprocate the kindness. And so I would like to take this opportunity to offer up this particular blog to actively listen to my elders express the dreams, hopes, expectations and even gripes they have for my generation, uninterrupted. You exercised incredible kindness and self control in listening to us and now I want to sit at your feet and listen to you. What kinds of things motivate you in your ministry? How can we best help you, serve you, and empower you? In our desire for increased leadership and responsibility how can we best incorporate you into that pursuit and not run over or push you aside in the process? The only rules to this discussion are you must be 40+ to comment and no fighting. Simply express. I want to know, experience, and understand where you are coming from.

I See You

2010-06-13T16:02:00.016-06:00

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

I finally watched the movie, Avatar, this week. At first I thought it was going to be a cheesy plot, brought solely to life by cool graphics, but about halfway through the movie I began to recognize some profound spiritual truths worked into the storyline. This always makes a movie worth watching for me because I am then able to use what I have learned to convey the gospel and God’s truths to others through a common interest or venue.

Throughout the course of the movie there was an underlying idea that all life is connected. In the past I have avoided this mentality in a pantheistic sense that the divine is in and through all things. While I do not believe that the divine is in everything I do believe that in the physical world, all life is connected. And likewise, in the spiritual realm, all divine life is connected. Our interconnectivity is not taken seriously when we fail to realize that every decision we make is going to impact others around us in some manner.

In Avatar, the earthly deity, Eywa (eerily close in pronunciation to Yahweh) can feel every disturbance in the life force of the planet she supports and she groans over and grieves these disturbances. Life of any kind is extremely important to the natives, the Na’vi. The Na’vi people have a phrase they use to honor and respect the life in every living being. (This phrase is also used as a greeting amongst some native American tribes.)

I see you.

I see you as a living being, as part of the ecosystem, as a life that affects me, and I respect that life even when we may be in conflict with each other. When I heard this phrase it struck a chord in my spirit. I thought of Christ who lives in those of us that are believers in Him. In Christ we live, and move and have our being. - Acts 17:28. As believers in Christ we are all interconnected in the Spirit and are bonded together.

All too often we forget our interconnectivity and we attempt to sever our bonds and ties. But if the impact of those severed ties avidly seen in the physical realm is so great then it stands to reason that the spiritual realm would function much the same way and the ties I sever with one brother or sister will ultimately have a cataclysmic effect on our spiritual ecosystem and is going to hurt the “body of Christ”. We may think that putting distance between us and those we have difficulty with will somehow lessen our discomfort and unpleasantness in the body but in all actuality even the slightest whisper of movement in one part of our world can have a tremendous effect on another part of the world. And so what we must do is strive (make every effort) with great love to hold together the bond of peace that the Spirit offers us through Christ.

When we sever these ties do we really, truly see Christ in our fellow believers? Does Jesus Christ in me, look at and recognize Jesus Christ in you? He should. Do I see others through the eyes of Christ? Christ in me, should look around at others and say…

I see you.

Even when we are at odds with one another, that is alright. I heard a sermon recently on the growth opportunities one may find in and through conflict. What I took away from that was this: There is going to be conflict; we are going to disagree. I may not agree with you but I see you, and honor, respect the life of Christ that is in you.

I see you.

When we refuse to see each other and honor the divine life that exists in each and every one of us who believe in Christ then we grieve and disturb the Holy Spirit who is attempting to bond us all in peace. My brothers and sisters, no matter what our differences are or where we experience conflict, I wish you to know that I see you. Christ that is in me recognizes Christ that is in you. You are an influential and important part of my spiritual ecosystem and I appreciate, respect and honor the life that is in you.

If we cannot look at one another and truly see through the eyes of Christ then there may be something wrong with our perspective. We ought to seek earnestly the ability to see others as Christ sees them. And so when I find myself devaluing or looking past others I will diligently pray for them and for the eyes of Christ until...

I see you.

Proprietary in the Kingdom?

2010-05-26T14:03:00.003-06:00

“…and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship…” Exodus 35:31

Repeatedly throughout the book of Exodus we see God endowing the children of Israel with wisdom, knowledge and understanding for all manner of craftsmanship, workmanship, and leadership. I do not imagine that following their grasp of situations they sat amongst themselves and debated patents or copyrights. The people fully understood that the knowledge they so recently found themselves privy to was entirely from God. We seem to have lost this ability over the last few thousand years.

I have wondered often if this pattern existed in the early church. Can you imagine Matthew, Mark, Luke and John suing each other over coming up with the same story? Well… no. We understand today that there was a purpose and reason for having the same story told from four different viewpoints. Is the same God that orchestrated those circumstances still in control of His Church? As I look over the history of the Church I see the same thing occurring over and over. Every time there is a great surge forward in the Church, it is a result of several contributors all moving in the Spirit and approaching the topic from different vantage points. The reformation was a prime example of this happening in history. We attribute much of the reformation to Martin Luther but there were many other emerging leaders of that time that were preaching a similar message independent of each other. Johannes Hus, John Wycliffe, and John Calvin among a few were all influencing voices of their time. They all condemned the practices of the existing Church and ushered in a message of grace. Although they all seemed to come from a different viewpoint you can clearly see in retrospect that the Spirit of God was moving in and through these men to reform the Church and bring her closer to God.

A more contemporary example is the movement in teaching and expounding on spiritual gifts and how they are to be used in the body of Christ. Some names that pop out at us from this movement are Charles Stanley, Brian Carraway, Bill Gothard, and many other names that are denomination specific. I am not condemning or espousing any particular view, just suggesting that perhaps there is something greater than just one man that God is trying to teach His Church so that we may learn and grow.

In a more personal example, I wrote a book in 2008 that I was a bit nervous about as I had not heard anyone else teach on this particular topic or viewpoint. I slowly and cautiously sought counsel and input on the information presented. One year later a friend forwarded me an audio clip of a woman teaching on the same topic. Not only was it the same topic but it seemed as if she had followed the same exact course of research that I had followed. I experienced several emotions at that time. One emotion was panic as the prideful side of me wanted to cling to what I thought was mine. But another was tremendous relief that I was not crazy or far-fetched in my conclusions. I realized at that point that I had no right to feel envy over her platform and that I should be praising God that truth was prevailing and coming forward to provide insight and healing to others.

In another personal example a few years ago my sister had been praying long and hard about the direction of women’s ministry in her church and district and had come up with what she felt was a truly Spirit-led model to follow. Not long after that someone else was recognized and praised for the exact model she had come with and I recall she was devastated over this development. I knew exactly how she felt but I also knew how to encourage her. There were two possible options for why this occurred. The first is that perhaps God was moving in a major way amongst the women of her denomination and had given the same plan to several different people to assure that it would be implemented. After all, do we not see that God has done this over and over throughout history? The second option is that the person knew she it was a model she had proposed and failed to give credit where credit was due. It happens… it is rude… but it happens and is usually just a result of professional ignorance and underdevelopment. Time and maturity usually cure this.

*On a side note, it really is important to recognize others for their contributions no matter what. It is a tremendously powerful way to exhort, encourage, and confirm to an individual the validity of their own spiritual maturity and development. We empower one another when we appropriately attribute credit to one another; we tear the body down when we do not.

And now we arrive at the motivation behind why I felt the need to write this particular blog. It had to do with a particular status update on my “not-so-healthy” pastime, Facebook. One man was giving an update on the exciting new and transformational things happening in his church. One of the readers commented that he was simply copying another man’s ministry model. Now I am not going to deduce anyone’s motives I am merely interpreting this in the manner with which it came across to me. I know both of these men and have seen them “do” ministry over the last 30 years. Both are fully capable of hearing from God and allowing His Spirit to work and move through them. Both men are also extremely mature in spiritual matters and courtesy and would never take credit for the others’ work without giving proper credit. So knowing both these men the way that I do, I must conclude that both are hearing the same message from God on what He desires for the next step of growth in His Church. Its application and implementation will take on many different forms because the men’s ministries and gifts are different. My assessment is that no one is copying anyone else’s ministry model; they are simply listening to the SAME God and following His direction. It is the role of the Spirit to bind and unite us together to serve as one body and we may have faith that He is indeed doing this. Ministry models do not belong to man... they belong to God. We are only conduits of His greater plan.

And so I end this post with some suggestions. 1) Give credit to one another, building each other up, when we discover and recognize truths. 2) Ask God what He is attempting to teach the Church on a grander scale when you notice a pattern in teaching and ministry. 3) Acknowledge that the true reward for listening to God and following His direction will ultimately be rewarded when we stand before His throne and He says to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” 4) And finally, we are a Church that is built on love and as such there is no place for pride and envy in a healthy Church. Let go of your personal proprietary concerns and celebrate the purposes of God expanding, growing and coming into fullness.

Priorities...

2010-05-01T10:04:00.003-06:00

Well folks... sorry I haven't been blogging lately. I have some pressing deadlines that are forcing me to place blogging on the back burner. I'm in the middle of a medical transcription course that I need to finish up in the next 2 or so months. As soon as I have finished the course I will be back at it with studying and blogging on the Word! I have also taken on more responsibilities with my church and am teaching again which is also a priority over my personal love of blogging. I do plan on posting some of the teaching eventually... when I find the time. Declan is keeping me busy too. He is almost mobile and I'm looking forward to spending my summer chasing him around.

In book news I have decided not to pursue publishing for now but would love to make it available to anyone who would like to read it. All input is welcome. I wrote it with women in mind and think it would be a fabulous tool for anyone counseling adult women or raising young women. It is also beneficial to men and in particular men in ministry as I believe it clarifies some important feminine characteristics of God and how those aspects of His character are not to be misused, abused, taken advantage of, or exploited. I believe it also fine tunes some perspectives on women in leadership and ministry. Email me or drop me an FB note and I will send it to you. I would love to bless you with it! By the way, if you have already read it feel free to comment or blurb on this post if you think it would benefit others.

I miss interacting with everyone via blogging and will be back soon!!

Forever Young

2010-03-17T11:00:00.002-06:00

This year I will be 33. I remember when I turned 30, it was a year full of reflection and introspection. That year was pivotal for me, as it is for so many others as well, in that I realized God was calling me to a new phase in life. One of the questions I asked God at the time was whether or not I was supposed to be doing this all along and had I missed a turn somewhere in life only to be redirected this way ten years later. His answer was twofold. Yes, this had been His plan for me all along. And no, I was to be doing this in His timing. That timing was not ten years ago nor would it be ten years from now. His timing was now. I thought that was odd as I’ve always been under the impression that a person’s ministry is something they’re called to in High School or College and then you plan your career accordingly. I never expected to actually be doing something in the area of ministry because my career started off differently and took me different places in life. Six years in the Air Force, followed by several years working for government contractors and I just assumed I would be doing that my entire life and that was God’s only plan for me.

As I came to an understanding of what I was to be doing, at least in the present, I encountered some confusion about God’s timing. You see, I qualify as part of a group known as “the emerging generation”. This group consists of adults ages 25-35. Everywhere I turn I see this term and the excitement that surrounds these people as they are poured into and molded into leaders and disciples. Where the confusion came was in the recognition of how long it would take for God to bring about what He was doing in me. What I saw Him doing in and through me would take several years to bring to fruition. I began to question God. “God, are you sure about this? Can you work any faster? I’m going to miss my window.” Wait… what? What window? Did I just tell God that I was unusable for His purposes outside of some worldly definition wrapped up in this term “emerging”?

Where on earth would I get such a ridiculous notion? That really began to irk me as I realized I had been thinking in immature terms as being part of some elite clique or sorority. How’s that for maturing and growing up? But I did succeed in tracking down my destructive train of thought. These thoughts had all flooded in when I faced the reality of turning 33 this year and in an almost panicked urgency felt the need to point out to God that He only had 2 years left to get me where He wanted me. Yikes! How foolish. But I do not think I am alone. There is a particular anticipation that accompanies the approach of an individuals 30’s. And rightly so. It is at this age that certain mental and physiological changes take place that bring a person into the fullness of adulthood. I believe this is the reason God always called people into positions of active ministry at the age of 30. Physically our brains are mature enough to take on the challenge. Sure we can receive a calling or anointing early on in life but the 30’s seemed to be the age of plans put into action. In fact, Jesus was also 30 when he “emerged” and visibly began his outreach and ministry. He was 33 when he died. But that was not the end of his life… nor was it technically the beginning. The Word of the ages who was with God in the beginning may have been physically 33 but it was just an age. The physical death and aging that permeates this world could not hold him and force him to do its bidding. While he may appear to be 33 yet to this day… he is older than all. Is this not the same Christ that lives in me and brings my spirit to life? It stands to reason then that the age of my spirit were one to see it in a physical sense would be 33. When I am 80, the spirit of Christ that is in me will still look 33. What then was I so worried about? Here is where the problem entered.

A few years ago a friend told me about a conference most of her younger ministry friends were invited to. When I asked her if she would be attending she told me that sadly she and her husband were not invited because they were over the 35 yr old age limit. I was shocked. Here they were at the same place in ministry as others, being cultivated and mentored for leadership but because they had initially followed other career paths, they were at a different stage physically than their peers. Yet the overall message was clear, “Sorry, you are too old to be in our clique.” And so a few years later I find myself trapped in the same box only this one I locked myself into. What I had failed to realize is that there are phases in every persons walk with God and as we prepare to enter each new stage we must “emerge” from the old. “Emerging” is about new beginnings.

Over the last two years I have watched my parents go from thinking they would retire soon to becoming reactivated as missionaries. The transformation was more than just employers. There was an actual physical impact I saw in and through them. The realization that God was not finished with them had a distinct rejuvenating effect on them. At one point I looked at my mother when she laughed and saw decades melt away. She was once again 30 something, filled with anticipation and hope as she prepared to transition to life in Brazil. I learned something new that day about what it meant to be “emerging”. I watched my mother “emerge” from a shell of resigned ending to a life of new beginnings. My mother and father, now in their 60’s were the definition of “emerging leaders”.

This year I have also watched my sister and brother-in-law, after 20+ years of service to their country as Navy Chaplains approach a new phase in life as they prepare to become civilians and begin pastoring. I saw the transformation happen in them as well. They went from a mental state of military retirement to one of new beginnings. I watched them “emerge” from their past careers into the dawning of a new day and new career.

And so today as I sit here and write, I am rejuvenated and encouraged as I realize that whatever age or phase of life you are in, it is always God’s plan that just around the corner is a brand new opportunity for you to “emerge”. My tasks right now may consist of caring for my house and feeding my children but the day will come when I will “emerge” to care for His house and feed His children. To confine the term of “emerging leaders” to a physical age group is just plain immature and elitist. Feel free to gore me for my views but if it is the task of the elderly to pour into the young then perhaps we should be asking in what manner we can reciprocate. I encourage you today, if you feel that you are past the age of usefulness to God and to His people, then snap out of it! You are destined to emerge! It is the nature of Christ and it is now your nature. God calls to us, “Come out, my people”. Emerge, live, and help others to live.

Why Forgive?

2010-03-16T10:52:00.003-06:00

2 Cor 2:7 “…you ought rather to forgive and comfort him lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.”

I have been thinking a lot over the last year about the concept of forgiveness. The more I thought on it and compared my understanding against scripture the more I realized I was not properly grasping the motivation and intent behind forgiveness. I had always assumed that forgiveness on my part was for myself; that I had to forgive so that I would feel better and be able to move past the offense. While this may be a byproduct of forgiveness it is not the proper intent behind the act of forgiveness. I would never say that God forgives me so that He can feel better about His situation and move on. Why does God forgive me and shouldn’t his reasons for forgiving also be my reasons for forgiving? We are told in Matthew that God’s forgiveness to us is proportional in some degree to our forgiveness of others. And so I must assume from that, that my forgiveness should bear similarities to the forgiveness of God. Why then does God forgive?

God forgives, not for Himself but so that I may be freed of my debt. I am never under the impression that I do not owe God the debt of my very life for what sin I have committed and that even that payment is not sufficient. But God does not hold that over my head. I do not deserve forgiveness and yet He gives it so that I can be free from the consequences of death. If God did not offer forgiveness through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus Christ then I would be trapped in a state of sin and guilt. And so God’s intent in forgiveness is to free me, whether I ever come to realize it or not.

I was plagued recently with the idea that perhaps forgiveness was not necessary on my part if the offending party did not know they had wronged me or would even admit to it. It sounded good to me and offered a level of comfort and justice. But as I analyzed God’s forgiveness I could not reconcile my thought with His actions. Whether or not a person chooses to accept God’s forgiveness does not change the fact that He has given it. God has given it in the hope that someday I will recognize my pathetic state and accept His offer to cancel my debt. So how does that impact my decision to forgive? I must forgive no matter what. It does not hinge on the acknowledgement of the offending party…at least for my part. Nor should I forgive out of some sense of self righteousness – “I forgave you, therefore I am the better person.” What kind of gross nonsense is that anyway?

Forgiveness is then for the benefit of others first and that should always be my motivation. If God forgives for the benefit of mankind and not His own then my motivation should be out of a greater love for my fellow man. Do I truly love others enough to set them free through the act of my forgiveness? Or do I begrudge them that freedom in hopes of elevating myself and enslaving them in a prison of guilt? At the end of all this there is indeed a benefit to myself but it should not be my primary motivation. The benefit to myself is a truly genuine and sincere relationship with others, free from the condemnation of sin and guilt... which by the way is exactly the same benefit God receives through the act of forgiveness to me. His primary objective however has always been His love for me and desire for my freedom. Out of that offering of forgiveness and my freedom, I am then able to enjoy a truly sincere relationship with my Creator.

We must then ask ourselves why are we forgiving or not forgiving others? Is our motivation self serving? “I am now the better person.” Or is it focused on the freedom of others? “Through my actions I will make him a better person”. I think this has been the hardest question for me this year as it has forced me to examine my heart and motives. Do I forgive so that others will look at me and think how great or merciful I am or do I forgive to free others? May we be true instruments of Christ; aiding in the setting free of our fellow man that we may not prolong his sorrow and that through the act of forgiveness we may enter into genuine relationships with one another.

The Straw That Broke The Tiger's Back

2010-03-10T10:25:00.004-07:00

When I initially began to draft up this blog I was rather irate. I have since calmed down and modified/toned down my upset a bit. But the governing issue remains the same: The status and treatment of women in this world greatly saddens me.

What angered me at first was the fact that Tiger Woods was issuing an apology to the public that consisted of a five page letter expressing apparent remorse. The first thought that came to mind was, “Did he bother to offer the same courtesy to his wife?” I do not know the answer to that question but something made me doubt it. During the course of the apology I was expecting to hear him not only apologize to the public but also to his wife AND the women he hurt throughout this entire ordeal. I assume most people do not have compassion for the “other” women but I do feel sadness for them. Regardless of the lifestyles that they lead, they are also victims of a society that even to this day places the majority of affirmation for women on their sexuality and little else. We find ourselves victim to this mentality and then aid in perpetuating the mistreatment of women in this manner because we cannot find validity by any other means. That saddens me.

Tiger did not wrong the public. He wronged first off, God. He wronged his wife. He wronged the other women. And he wronged himself. We did not need his remorse… they did. The element that incited most of my animosity was the reason Tiger gave for having strayed. He said it was due to his lack of devotion to his religion – Buddhism. I thought long and hard about that and have come to a conclusion that I am still processing in its entirety. The conclusion is this: you can tell a lot about a religion based on its underlying respect and treatment of women. So let’s have a look, shall we, at the treatment of women across the lines of religiosity.

The sex trade running rampant throughout the world is contributed to mostly by countries that pride themselves in Buddhist principles. Young girls and women of all ages are exploited and treated as objects to be used, abused, and discarded.
In countries that cling to the Hindu faith women are placed at the bottom of a caste system and treated as slaves and personal property.

In countries that are predominantly Islamic, women are treated worse than property and are allowed to be raped or killed by men who are displeased with them without consequences.

In countries that are Catholic, family is highly valued at the appearance level but women are instruments of status and pleasure. Men have their wives to give them the much coveted image of a family well in order but they keep their mistresses on the side as instruments of use and pleasure.

In mainstream evangelical Christianity women are treated slightly better but given no equality or voice. And while the practice of taking a mistress is not condoned at times the wife is treated as nothing but a means to sexual gratification which in all actuality makes us no better than a prostitute.

In many denominations of Christianity that have accepted, at least in appearance, the equality of women go too far in stripping the essential elements of femininity from women and transform them into an oddly deformed replica of masculinity. I believe the mentality is somewhere along the lines that gender must be erased to experience true equality.

In the United States where we pride ourselves on freedom of expression in areas of religion, our freedom of expression in our sexuality runs rampant. When I analyze these patterns I ask myself… does our treatment of women reflect on some level our view of spirituality? It would for all appearances sake seem so. If this is true then it would stand to reason that the true value of women as genuinely expressed by Christ, were it to truly be grasped and exemplified in its fullness would be earth shattering to our faith, expression and grasp of the Church and her true image as seen by God.

I have been accused of many things, one of them being a feminist. I say this honestly when I tell you I do not ever wish to rule over man… I wish to stand by his side and rule with him as God intended in the beginning without having to erase or hide my femininity in the process. But until the world’s objectification of women ceases, this will never transition from fantasy into reality. I love my fellow woman dearly. But I also love my fellow man dearly and I wish he could see me with the wonderment that exists in God’s perspective – not as a means to an end or merely an object or instrument of pleasure but as a beautiful reflection of the image of God. The transformation however, must begin with women. If we cannot respect ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us then men definitely never will. They say that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Let us then focus on the strengthening of each other instead of the weakening that characterizes and plagues our past. The monstrosity of objectification in its weakening of women inadvertently weakens men and the entirety of humanity.

All of this to say the following to Mr. Woods: I'm afraid that a return to your faith of Buddhism will not improve your view of women or your treatment of them... but God can. Of course Mr. Woods will probably never read this so what I have to say instead to my readers is this: Do you view femininity as a genuine reflection of part of the character of God? Is a negative view of women/femininity affecting your faith and relationship with God? What if we are missing something exquisitely beautiful and glorious about Him because of a dysfunction in our view of ourselves?

The Lost Symbol

2010-02-17T15:21:00.003-07:00

I recently finished reading Dan Brown’s book The Lost Symbol and thoroughly enjoyed the captivatingly woven tale. From a fictional perspective it was very intriguing. From a Christian perspective it was slightly off kilter but not too far gone so as to blatantly offend. Before I begin my evaluation of the book I would like to explain my view of the author. I find that in all themes Dan Brown chooses there is a legitimate issue being identified and a subsequent fictional tale surrounding this issue. I suppose, were Dan Brown to function in a spiritual gifting setting he would readily be identified as either a Teacher or Prophet. That’s how dead on his sensing of needs is. I do not, however, feel that Mr. Brown functions in this arena and so the solutions he arrives at fall short of biblical accuracy and encompass much broader solutions than simply those that align with Scripture. In my book, Made In Their Image, I go into much greater detail concerning the accuracy of his concept in The DaVinci Code. (Notice I say concept not factual or fabricated data presented…but you’ll have to read the book to understand *wink wink nudge nudge*.) With that being said I will begin.

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by man, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion, A Chief Cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’ …’The Stone which the builders rejected…a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’” I Peter 2:4-8.

The setting in The Lost Symbol is amidst the world of Freemasons. The underlying philosophy behind Freemasonry and its building concepts is not evil and can in fact be aligned with much of Scripture. The problem I have with Freemasonry as a belief system is its understanding of truth. Truth takes on many different forms in Freemasonry because it means something different to each man. This dabbles far too much into the area of “but every man did that which was right in his own eyes”. Judges 17:6 But the core beliefs of Freemasonry are not all that different from those of Christianity: brotherly love, salvation, morality, charity, faith, and relationship. But they lack a unifying element: the bond of the Spirit which is only available through Christ. So in essence what you have is many different faiths attempting to reconcile with one another and arrive at truth. As wonderful and peaceful as that sounds… it’s not possible. According to Scripture the only way, light, and truth is Christ and all else is darkness. Based on that one must question what kind of bond or yoke is created by aligning with other faiths. Paul says it best in II Corinthians 6:14 “…for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” The bond of brotherly love is not wrong… which is what Freemasons are striving for. But if you are attempting to bond with another outside of Christ then it won’t work as God intended. If I am living for Christ and trying to excel in life but others are attempting to bond with me out of darkness and have no light in them then they become parasitic leeches who will ultimately drain the light out of me.

The second main theme in the book is that of Noetic Science. Noetic Science deals with the study of the mind and its relationship with the divine intellect. The form it takes in the book is that of changing physical matter or circumstances with ones mind – “the power of focused conviction and intention.” Theoretically then, the more minds, the more power, and the more that can be accomplished. It sounds far fetched but it’s not really. Based on Jesus words in Matthew, “Where one or two are gathered together in My Name, I am in their midst” (Matthew 18:20) this is a very real concept. Christianity has been relying on the concept of Noetic Science for nearly 2000 years now (longer if you factor in the similar elements of Judaism). Jesus also said that “faith can move mountains” supporting the theory that one’s mind can change physical matter. One of my favorite quotes from the book concerning this concept is the following: “If thoughts affect the world, then we must be careful how we think.” Very profound… guard your thoughts, submitting each one to Christ.

Dan Brown uses several Scriptures throughout the book but unfortunately they are used out of context, which was annoying to the teacher in me. (ie: our bodies being the temple was twisted into an understanding that we are gods versus its true meaning that God lives in and through us.)

The most profound concept of all in the book was concerning the Word. Unfortunately this was misunderstood as well yet still accurately noted if you place it into the right context. The author failed to grasp the idea of Word become Flesh and attributed Word to spoken words of wisdom given by all famous prophets and further attributes the Word to the Bible, Koran, Torah, and Vedas. I rather like my own picture of what the Word made Flesh looks like. You remember in the movie Wizard of Oz when the good witch materializes out of particles of glitter? All these tiny little particles coalesce and come together to form the image of Glenda. Now try and apply that picture to the Word of God as Christ. The very words of God throughout the ages all travel through time gathering together until one day they simply burst forth as does all conception into the product of the Incarnation transforming what God thought and spoke into physical matter – Jesus Christ. The Word is not some conglomeration of letters on a page… but a very real person who always existed and was the very fruit and essence of God and became manifest here on earth in the person of Jesus.. The Lost Symbol or Word is not then just any book containing wisdom; it is Christ Himself. But what the author did get right was the fact that the Word is lost to us.

I have heard many complaints over the past decade or so concerning the ever evolving teaching of the Word. It never fails regardless of the age lived in that the Word begins to gradually transform into a twisted, manipulated understanding to fit whatever is “good in our own eyes”. With increasing frequency the Word tends to support whatever we wish instead of being what it was truly intended to be towards sin – “a stumbling block and a rock of offense.” Instead it begins to reconcile sin with itself which is impossible for Truth to do. We have lost the Word. It’s about time we start looking for Him again with a fresh and renewed vigor and passion. Now THAT would truly change our world.

The last thing I will mention as an important point was the statement of the author that the Ancient Mysteries are synonymous with the Word. While perhaps he may not have grasped what he wrote, since his understanding of the Word was confined to written sacred texts, that is the absolute truth right there. The Word is Christ. And as Paul so adequately penned in Ephesians chapter 3, the mystery is Christ. So the Ancient Mysteries are indeed the Word, who is Christ… not Buddha, or Mohammed, or Shiva… but Jesus Christ.

So all in all, I would definitely recommend The Lost Symbol due to its level of interest and captivating plot but knowing your Scripture is essential to avoid any deception that may lead you into error. If the author quotes a Scripture, make sure you research it and know its true intended meaning. Far too often these days I see teachers play on the ignorance of the masses. News Flash: We no longer live in the dark ages… work it out yourself. If you have a personal relationship with God then you have the capacity. I hope you can enjoy the book as much as I did. But if I catch wind of you taking on Masonic vows I will be sorely disappointed.

Mother Nature

2010-01-13T14:17:00.003-07:00

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply; replenish the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Genesis 1:28

Over the past decade I have watched with increasing interest the debate over the state of the earth and whether or not man is or is not to blame. I have finally decided to attempt to put into writing my thoughts on the earth and what mankind’s relationship with her entails.

First off there is the title, “Mother Nature” which I will address. I find the term in theory to be accurate biblically based on the following verse: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 Technically, while not giving the earth credit for creating us, we do issue from her substance and as such we hold a somewhat mystical tie to her. But this is the extent of what should have been her rule over us. In Genesis 1:28 we are told what is to be the order of relationship between mankind and earth. She is our domain and we are to replenish her. In close observance, the relationship between man and earth which God instituted is extremely sacred and intimate.

Let me put it into a different perspective. Think of the earth as our wife. We are to care for her, replenish her, love her, and bring her happiness. Any gardener can tell you that the more you attempt to beat your land into submission the less return you will get from it. There is much delicacy and tenderness in the art of gardening and harvesting from the earth. We cannot run around punching holes in her and stealing her resources without replacing what we have taken. It’s rather like a love bank. You cannot empty someone’s bank without attempting to refill it and expect to maintain the relationship. Such actions are selfish abuse. There is a saying, “Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned”. I am afraid the earth fits very well into this stereotype. When we misuse her, she reacts. She is angry and she is hurt. Now I do not attribute personality to the earth to in some way deify her but merely to emphasize the point that she is alive.

Over the last century science has served us well in discovering and proving some of the previously disregarded truths surrounding nature. We discovered that animals have emotions, feelings; that they experience pain. When we discovered and grasped this concept we fell into accountability to no longer mistreat the animal kingdom but to care for and nurture it. Today we are coming into an even starker realization that the earth too experiences pain and suffering. The question then comes into play of who is causing this pain. Now it would seem that some within the scientific community have, as of late, abused the trust of the public and propagated the issue of global warming. It is my opinion that there is no such thing as global warming but that there is such thing as the earth reacting to her mistreatment. I think (until science proves otherwise) that the extremes of “climate change” will continue with greater intensity until we cease to misuse the earth and her resources. But I do not think this is merely a matter confined to climate but is inclusive of all nature’s unleashed wrath: earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, etc. The more selfish our ambitions become, the greater our sin, the greater her anger.

God did not create the earth to die. When man fell in the Garden of Eden and died spiritually, he forever sealed the fate of the earth in his destiny to die. So at its source, man is indeed responsible for the death of the earth. But what does that mean for us? Do we continue to let the earth die? Did God continue on His course and simply allow man to die? No. He developed a plan to restore to us that which was lost. God’s entire pattern throughout Scripture appears to be one of bringing wholeness and restoration to that which is broken and lost; to mend broken relationships with Him and with others. If we are attempting to follow in His footsteps then should we also be finding ways to provide healing and restoration to the earth; to mend the relationship between man and earth? Based on the charge in Genesis to care for and replenish the earth it would seem that such actions would fall under our responsibility.

Another question I asked myself was whether or not the earth could feel. After studying a passage from Hosea I came to the conclusion that, at least based on Scripture, yes the earth can feel and express in some manner and that God hears and validates those expressions. “’It shall come to pass in that day, That I will answer,’ says the Lord; ‘I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth. The earth shall answer with grain, with new wine, and with oil; They shall answer Jezreel (God sows).’” Hosea 2:21-22 Logically, one cannot answer or respond to something inanimate therefore the earth and the heavens are animate and God hears them and answers and responds to them. This is a very profound relationship we see here and we have scientific evidence that such a relationship exists between heaven and earth. The more we pollute our air the greater impact we see on the earth. And to make matters even scarier… God sees it all and cares enough to respond about it! If you still doubt God’s degree of concern over the earth then examine the purpose behind the Sabbath. Jesus is pretty emphatic about the idea that the Sabbath was created for man. Well guess what… God gave the earth a Sabbath too. So He must care about the earth and her use/abuse. If you care to see the repercussions of using the earth without sabbatical provisions then all you have to do is look at the dustbowl phenomenon of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I must say, I am slightly embarrassed that the Church has not been on the forefront of the environmental movement. But I think I am beginning to understand how that happened and where we erred in judgment. The Church wasn’t always so indifferent to matters of nature. We took seriously our task to cultivate the land and be fruitful and multiply. But something began to happen in the world that closely accompanied a complimentary movement in the Church. It was the industrial age. The industrial age was one of the fastest growing surges in history but brought along with it severe damage to the earth and her resources. What accompanied this age was the inception of an internal Church movement known as fundamentalism. Now when I speak of fundamentalism I am not talking about the basis of our faith but of the fundamentals we began to embrace in matters of eschatology. Fundamentalism in this sense dictated that the earth would eventually see its end but that we, Christians, would not be here to see it; that we would escape all of that. Whether or not the outlook is correct is not the issue, it is the mindset the view plants in the believer. When environmental issues arise we think to ourselves, “Who cares… we’re outta here anyway when the end arrives. Why waste my time on saving the earth? God doesn’t care about the earth, He only cares about souls.” Well, according to Hosea that’s not true. God cares about the earth and He hears her plight. Taking that view into account I have another proposal which also comes from Scripture.

“There fore He said: ‘A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come’… And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned ten minas.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’…” Luke 19:12-27

The story continues on. I am sure most of us have read it. My point in citing this parable in particular is this: I see the earth as being a “talent” God gave to mankind. Whether or not we leave it before whatever destruction occurs is not the issue. The issue is, if you believe that God will in some manner provide, create, restore… whatever, a new earth, then will the measure of that new earth be determined by how faithful we were with the first “talent” God gave to us to care for? I’m not convinced He’s simply going to create a new world, look at what we did to the old one and say, “Here you go, guys. Have at this one”. But if we are intent on loving God and obeying His commands, we will take the very first command He gave to us much more sincerely, and attempt to do just that instead of adopting this attitude of escapism. I challenge you today to think about what part you can play in making this earth a better and safer place. Imagine the witness we could have to world if they saw how much we cared for others and their future by caring for the environment.

Dying to Self

2010-01-11T11:46:00.004-07:00

“But He said, ‘You cannot see My face: for no man shall see Me, and live.’” Exodus 33:20

In my previous blog I wrote about coming face to face with Christ and eliminating those things which prohibit us from seeing Him. I stumbled upon some interesting thoughts following that blog as I thought more deeply about what it means to be face to face with Christ.

Some of the misconceptions about God that I have come to embrace have to do with what it means to come face to face with God and what would happen to me if I did. I based my understanding of God’s face on the occurrence in Exodus where God tells Moses that he may not see the face of God or he will die. But then another passage came to mind from the New Testament that challenged my traditional understanding of this.

“If you had known Me; you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord show us the Father and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” John 14:7-9

So let me get this right: to come in contact with the face of Christ is to come in contact with the face of the Father. And yet I am not dead… or am I? And if I am not dead… then have I truly come into contact with the face of Christ? Will this death be physical or spiritual? What difference was there between the time of Moses and the time of Christ? Aha! There is the key. The difference is Christ. At the time of Moses there was no incarnate Christ yet and as such there could be no true life and no true redemption from sin. So to come into contact with God who can behold no sin would in essence snuff us out of existence. There was nothing to keep us alive. But after Christ there was life and something that could indeed survive coming face to face with God. Following this train of thought I am now able to come face to face with God through Christ. But does something still die? You bet! Again we turn to scripture.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4

In light of that passage, everything has changed… but nothing has changed. When we come face to face with God, we die. We must! We must die to self and live in Christ. Prior to the New Testament there was no life in Christ so to see God would demand the dying to self but offer no life in Christ. You would die if you came face to face with God.

Today, when there is sin in our lives we are faced with a choice. We may bring it before God, coming face to face with him, in which case we must then die to that sin and to ourselves and allow God to replace what has died with the life offered through the resurrection of Christ. If we attempt to come before God without Christ then we will truly die with no hope of life to follow.

The astounding and wonderful realization of this for me was that I may see the face of God. The terrifying, frightening aspect of this is that in order to do so, I must die to myself. Are you seeing God face to face? What have you died to today?