Saints in a Sick Society

"Can one who goes the way of the Cross sit in the seat of Pilate when it falls vacant?"

                                                                                ~ Leslie Newbigin




The above quote is actually asking an age old question which every true Christian must ask themselves.
"How far are you, as a member of the Body of Christ, willing to work with the world which oftentimes opposes you and your beliefs?"


It's a deep question, but a relevant question.

The truth of the matter is that the Church as a whole will never fully reject or accept the culture in which we live.

We cannot; for, it is impossible, regardless of where we might live in the world.

Scripture indicates that the individual Christian is ultimately a citizen of Heaven.
While this is true, it must also be acknowledged that we have dual citizenship; we may belong to Heaven but at this time, we reside on planet Earth.


There is a universal moral law which is to govern us spiritually and it effects our practice in life ethically and religiously.
At the same time, we live in the world and in its societies; societies which seem to be growing sicker by the day.
And while we are in the world, we are to obey the world's physical laws of the land; that is, until we cannot morally or consciously do so.


To top it all off, Scripture gives us no clear guidance on the matter; nor does history.


Kings David and Solomon virtually combined what we would call 'Church & State;' the government of their time was interwoven with their personal faith; the rest of society was expected to follow suit.
Yet, the Prophet Elijah vehemently opposed King Ahab, who was a descendent and successor to both David and Solomon.
And while Elijah condemned Ahab for his practices and faced the wrath of his wife Jezebel, the Prophet Obadiah was in his court, virtually running it, while he was silently and secretly sheltering other true prophets from the persecution of the crown.


Isaiah was the court prophet in Hezekiah's reign; yet, Daniel was a government bureaucrat, serving in high offices in two pagan governments.
Is there any doubt both men served God and fulfilled His will?


Church history is just as muddled.
John Calvin sought to make Geneva a Protestant Christian 'haven;' yet, in his ruling, exact laws were enacted which governed how many dishes to be used at a meal, the length of a woman's hair and executed those caught in adultery.
Others have sought the solitude of desert monasteries, remaining as hermits, or rejecting society altogether and abandoning it.

Let me ask you - who was right?
Was Martin Luther correct in opposing the Church/State alliance of the German states or was the Lutheran Church correct in supporting and identifying with the Nazi regime?




Again, there are no clear answers where moral injustice or absolute wrongs do not exist.
Maybe the answer lies somewhere in the middle with our own leading of God's Spirit and the common sense He gave us.


As Christians, we will and should, reject some parts of our culture/society; such as acceptable reasons for murder, rampant or legal prostitution and tyrannical or excessively oppressive governments.
But we will also accept other parts of our society, such as the infrastructure (Paul used Rome's to spread the Gospel throughout the Empire), its transportation and its institutions.
And these should be used, specifically - for the benefit of the faith.


While we will accept or reject some parts of culture, Christians will also use some aspects to our own benefit, like the arts. Beethoven and Mozart both wrote music for the Church; today, where a missionary would be executed, their music speaks of God's truth in closed lands.
Not only will we accept/reject/use various parts of culture or society; Christians will also invent our own and inject them into society to advance humanity. This has happened through soup kitchens, clothing banks and adoption services for unwed mothers.


Yet, the question remains as to how the Christian rightly fits into modern society, while retaining our faith, which seems so ancient and outdated to the modern world.
It can be difficult, especially when many in modern culture view Christians as people who are 'right-wingers,' wanting to tell everybody else how they ought to be living.


It must be remembered, Jesus sent people out; He didn't hunker down with them hoping God would come and rescue the faithful.
But to accomplish the same purpose of Christ, Christians must act and display the virtues of Christ in living flesh through our actions, not through government or authoritarian means.


In the United States, the current year is an election year.
Even now, local politicians are courting the Evangelical Christian vote; one misconception has been that the Christian is faced with the choice between political right and left. In reality, the Christian should only face one choice, that between right and wrong.

It should also be noted that evangelical involvement with politics is a recent phenomenon; yet, it isn't an unheard of action.
In centuries past, when the Church pressed into the political realm, it caused a backlash for generations to come against the Church itself.
As evidence, one must only look to Europe's empty cathedrals and know that the vacancy was caused by a Church holding a tight grip on the people through the authority of the local governments.


The Evangelical Christian involvement in politics in the United States was caused by being left out of the process or ignored in the early part of the twentieth century.
Policies and governmental directions were taken which were contrary to their values.
Yet, what is happening now within the Church is the same thing that happened to Europe; a backlash.


The truth is that the more the Church has gotten into politics and have become more and more vocal, the more negatively it is seen by the public whom we should be seeking to reach.
In reality, the Body of Christ's involvement has caused the Good News of God to be obscured in favor of temporary advancement in the world.


Friend, we are to seek to persuade; not coerce.


Still, America's Bible Belt is also her Safety Belt.


So, how are we to fit into modern society?
The same way Jesus Christ told His followers to fit into their society.
We are to listen to His words in the Sermon on the Mount, and then go among the people and live the Beatitudes.


It really is that simple.


Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Seeking Common Ground

"People react to fear, not love; they don't teach that in Sunday School, but it's true."

                                                                              ~ President Richard M. Nixon

There is a lot of truth in the above quote by the late-President Nixon; many do react in fear rather than love.

Yet, it is the overarching love of God for His Creation which compels each person within the Church, to actually BE the Church instead of simply attending a Church.


Rather than the Ten Commandments, which are part of God's perfect Law, Jesus preached the ideal to His followers in what we now call, 'The Sermon on the Mount.'
As He spoke, Jesus Himself gave extremely high standards for us to follow.


Have you ever committed adultery? No.
But that is not the standard anymore; instead, have you lusted in your heart?
Probably.


Have you ever murdered anyone? No.
But have you hated?
Most likely.


Unattainable?
Only by human standards, in God's grace all things are indeed possible to overcome.


A prostitute. A thief. A man considered a murderer. A follower who commits treason.
These were Jesus' original followers; yet, there was one thing each of them had which caused their lives to be transformed.
There is one thing which is the common ground among them all, although they came from different walks of life.
That one thing is God's Grace.


Sadly, many of Jesus' followers today take the extreme opposite approach and have great difficulty in trying to communicate grace to those who need it.
Some churches lower the ideal given by Jesus; accommodating the culture with a downgrade of values based on the ever-evolving social and cultural norms.
To do so, cheapens grace; for, when you tolerate all things, there is no standard.

Still others go to the extreme opposite, seemingly and practically barring grace.
In this case, faith becomes a religion of 'do's' and 'don'ts;' as a result, those who are in the most need of grace are turned away unwelcomed and empty-handed.


Seriously?
How in the world does a Christian fail in seeking to give the same grace we have received?
Simple.
We become interested in our own Kingdoms rather than the Kingdom of God.


In American Churches, especially among Evangelical circles, there is a constant call toward the culture to 'try' to get society to return to a more 'spiritual' time in our heritage.
I often wonder exactly what time they are referring to; is it the 1950's? Might it be the Victorian Age or antebellum South?
Or could it be as far back as the Puritans, where civil law and religious doctrine blended?


The truth is that American pastors are not the same as the prophets who proclaimed God's message in Jerusalem so long ago.
No, we are to be dispensers of grace which light the way to the One who gives grace.


Instead of preaching to those of their failure in morality, indifference toward Truth and ethical errors like the Prophets of old once did; the Body of Christ should reflect more the approach of the Apostle Paul on Mars Hill.
We live in a society that is not only post-modern, but also post-Christian; as a result, there is a divide between the believer's understanding and that of a person engulfed within the culture.
Therefore, Paul's approach in our time would work; he simply looked for Common Ground and then once established, made the proclamation that there was One God who bridges the gap between society's understanding and the Christian's understanding.


Don't misunderstand, there are definitely times when a Christian MUST confront wrong in society and culture; but these must be true wrongs, not preferences we believe is wrong simply because it effects us in an adverse way.
When the Christian does this, we as the Church, can certainly bring clarity to moral and ethical issues; but only if we truly live what we say we believe.


There have been times when the Church has embraced fully the trends in culture; only to our own detriment.

Francis Galton

An Englishman, Sir Francis Galton was a cousin to the infamous Charles Darwin; he applied his

cousins evolutionary principles to humanity through social philosophy.
In the course of his work, he set forth the idea that by removing, 'inferior' or 'defective' humans from the gene pool, the survival would only be of the fittest and a greater humanity would emerge.


Sound familiar?


This same argument is now used by abortionists to justify 'eliminating', 'unwanted' children before they are born.
But this isn't a new idea to our generation.


The result in Galton's time was that everybody from scientists to politicians supported the movement.
No less than the esteemed Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt thought this was a splendid idea to inflict upon society.
Yet, no one could ever state who would determine what it meant to be 'inferior' or 'defective' other than society-at-large; which simply translates into 'government' or worse, those financially supporting those in government.


And what began to happen was that 'Fitter Families' began to appear at State Fairs across the nation; these put on display families, but only those with 'desirable' traits.
Again, who is qualified to determine that which is desirable as opposed to 'undesirable?'


Soon, state legislatures across the South began to forbid interracial marriages.
Others began to enact legislation that forbid the marriage of those considered 'undesirable,' such as, 'morons,' 'idiots,' and 'retarded' persons.
Then, when taken further, the next step was to begin to enact legislation which required the sterilization of criminals, of unwed mothers and the mentally ill.
Some countries even began the sterilization or even 'eliminate' altogether those considered to be part of 'degenerate' groups, such as the poor, homosexuals, gypsies and promiscuous women.


The formal name of this idea for humanity was called Eugenics.
As you can trace the lineage above, one can see the slippery slope involved; yet, one took Eugenics to its logical conclusion.
His name was Adolph Hitler, and had the support of Germany's State Church.


You see, when the Church begins to mesh or support ideas or policies which clearly run counter to Biblical morality and ethics, only moral confusion results.


The appeal of the Church in our time is to seek Common Ground with those who do not share our faith, our morality or our belief.
What one believes about humanity, matters; this is the key theological issue, for it is THE issue of the Gospel.


Does one forfeit their right to live because they are born differently?
In other words, by birth is it OK for society to determine your end; whether you are a baby or elderly?
No, of course not.


The dignity of a human life is our common ground; which is purely a Christian ideal - all life matters.


In the past, Churches have railed against homosexuals.
The result is that homosexuals were vilified, turned away and segregated from the rest of 'normal' people. All the Church did was further alienate and hurt human beings who were already disowned, disavowed, alienated and hurting.
While Biblically, homosexuality is a sin; it is no more or no less a sin than any other sexual sin given to us in Scripture - which means, the person who engages in this is in just as much need of God's grace as any other person.


As Christians, we cannot receive God's grace and redemption for our sin and then refuse to demonstrate God's grace to a person who sins differently than we do.

In the past, there were churches who vilified races who were of a different race than the congregation.
This has been true throughout the history of the church; black, white, Hispanic, Asian...etc. We tend to worship and want to worship with those who are like us, mostly like our skin color rather than the importance being on our theological beliefs.
One has even said that the most segregated time in the week is on Sunday morning between 10:00 AM and Noon.


I believe that this is still true.


One of the greatest times I ever had as a minister was standing in front of a 'Gospel' congregation while deployed overseas.
You see, though nobody would ever admit it, 'Gospel' is a code word for 'black'.
Honestly, it was one of the most fulfilling, spiritually-charged, loving congregations I have ever ministered within; if I ever had the opportunity, I would jump at the chance to do so again.
But I digress.


The point of it all is whether we are different races or engage in different sins, the one Common Ground issue with society and culture is the dignity and value of human life.
The Apostles recognized this because Jesus demonstrated it in His time on earth; as a result, the Early Church and first generation of Christians embraced the Gospel mandate of 'all tribes, tongues, people and nations.'
Only then can the Common Factor among us within the Church be God's grace.


On second thought, maybe the doom & gloom preachers of our modern era are right; maybe we do need to proclaim that society and the Church needs to return to a time of yesteryear.
But instead of it being the 1950's, or the Victorian Age; the Body of Christ needs to set its clock back 2,000 years, to the first century, and embrace the Gospel mission of the Early Church.


Until next time, go win one for the good guys.

Why Do We Exist?

"What can it profit a man to gain the whole world and come to his property with a gastric ulcer, a blown prostrate and bifocals?"

                                                                           ~ John Steinbeck in Cannery Row




A non-believer, scientist-type, once asked the question all people, Christians, atheists, Muslims, Catholics, Jews, everybody - asks in their life:
"Why do we bother to exist?"


That's a good question.
A question worth asking and an answer worth repeating.


If you believe life extends beyond what is experienced on Earth, the answer to the question changes everything in how you live now.


The question is actually, 'Is this life, the one you are living right now, is this the goal of your existence?'


Jesus didn't think so.
But Culture does, at least, until normal, everyday culture is interrupted.


For those who are in High School right now, the nation has always been at war; they have never truly known what it is like to live in a country who's military is at peace.
When I was younger, our lives were interrupted from time to time by school shootings; Columbine, Jonesboro, etc.
Today, Sandy Hook was the most recent; but teenagers have also heard of a madman in Colorado who stood in a movie theatre and began shooting. They have seen images of the Islamic State on television, or worse - the internet, as they proclaimed Jihad and executed pilots by burning them to death, rape women in opposition villages and, most recently, entered a church service and murdered a priest in France.


Yet, in those times, whether it was the mid-90's or today; whether it is cancer, a death of a loved one, or another terrorist attack in Europe - I find it amazing as to how silent culture quickly becomes.


Culture, in those times, atheists in particular, fall silent.
When the September 11, 2001 attacks occurred on American soil, I watched as did millions of others, as the very government leaders who sought to remove 'religion' from public life in their youth, stood on the Capitol steps to sing 'God Bless America' and pray.
In their graying years in that moment, they were searching for answers; gathering then in a Cathedral to hear 'America's Pastor,' Billy Graham speak of the tragedy and point onlookers to the Cross of Christ.


Yes, society, culture and many times, ourselves - we fall silent when tragedy strikes because we are faced with the undeniable truth that if we are truly left to ourselves in this world, there is no hope to offer.
It is hopeless when people who are struggling try to make sense of situations that just don't make sense.


Of all mammals, only mankind knows that we are going to die.
We know our lives will come to an end; and we do everything we possibly can to hide that fact from our minds, as we try to prevent it at all costs.


When death comes, or disease, or terror - humanity as a whole has an outrage over it; the senselessness that we can't explain away.
This proves to any person with an open mind that we are not merely animals; for, by example, if a hunter kills a deer in the woods who has been standing with several other deer, when the shot rings forth and it falls - the other deer may not move at all.
But if they do run away, some will return out of curiosity, wondering what that noise was that they heard; all the while forgetting the impending danger.


Christ alone brings man to terms with death in such a way that He will offer an explanation.
And in His explanation, He provides hope for the future.


What we learn is simple - death is not the end at all, but a beginning; it is the beginning of an eternity we cannot yet grasp.
This and this alone provides hope to the struggling and troubled soul.


The idea that every person has an absolute value is purely a Christian thought.
One will not find this in the theological processes of traditional Judaism; for, only some are deemed to be part of the 'chosen race.'
This will not be found in the great thinkers of Islam; for, some will die to propagate their faith, or even kill those who fail to convert.


Intrinsic value of every human being, regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, gender, wealth or whatever stigma you may place on them - ALL PEOPLE have value before God and man.
The reason is because every human is an 'image bearer;' holding the image of God within themselves for all eternity in their very make-up.


Opposed to culture, there is a very different set of qualification which make one fit or 'rich' within the Kingdom Christ spoke of while He was on earth.


Jesus chose those who were considered the least in their culture; societal rejects such as a woman who had been married 5 times and living with another when she met Him.
People who stole from their own countrymen under the guise of being an official tax collector.
Men who were plagued with leprosy and could never come to worship at the temple; yet, they were touched, healed and worshipped alongside the chosen disciples.


The men and women received by Jesus are the same men and women we are to receive among us today; though we often forget He sought those who were considered undesirable.
Remember, it was the religious elite who crucified Him; and after knowing many who have considered themselves 'religious,' I can honestly understand why Jesus preferred the prostitutes and sinners.


It is because they were real.


They came with no preconceived notions or thoughts about Him.
All they knew is that He was different and He had received them where they were at in life; as such, every Christian should do the same.


And that, my dear reader, is why we exist.
We exist that we may glorify God and enjoy Him forever.


It is the difference between living life, and embracing life with a joyful future ahead.
As such, what better way to glorify Him in this life than to seek out those whom the world has rejected, but God has flung open the doors of heaven to receive into the Kingdom?


Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Faith & Reason

"You were born without purpose, you live without meaning; living is its own meaning. When you die, you are extinguished. From being you will be transformed to non-being."

                                                                                  ~ Ingmar Bergman

That may be the saddest quote I have ever read.

I. Bergman

Ingmar Bergman was a fantastic director; he was involved with more than 60 films.
But of all the things he got right in life, he got the biggest thing very, very wrong.

There is more to life than simply existing.

Bergman had determined for himself, for whatever reason, that Science, and not the Faith, was right.
His work evidenced his heart → pain, betrayal, faith or the lack thereof, illness and death; his heart was darkened by life.

Perhaps it was safer for him to believe in nothing rather than to struggle with the difficult questions of life and faith.

I have a dear friend; a person whom I believe is just wonderful.
She is intelligent, competent, strong, witty, compassionate, caring, intuitive and perceptive.
Truly, I admire this woman.

Yet, when it comes to the question of faith; we are light years apart.

Either Science is right or Faith is right; either there is a God who governs life or we are living life ad hoc and at random.
Either there is no purpose to life or there is a grand purpose we cannot fully grasp.
Either there is a morality to life and the world or everything is moral and acceptable, including the most heinous crimes against humanity itself.

The point is that no matter how much I admire my friend or how much I think of her, one of us has to be wrong.
It is impossible for us both to be right.

For centuries, Science has attempted to answer one question: 'How.'
Sometimes, science is accurate; but not always.
The reason is because science falls short of answering the greater question, which is, 'For what purpose...'
The real dilemma of life is not figuring out how we arrived where we are; but rather, it is determining for what purpose we are here at this moment in history.

When we begin to ask, 'for what purpose,' it must always come back to a standard of some type.
And if there is a universal standard, then there must be Someone who has previously set that standard.

My own ability, mind or thought cannot be the standard.
Millions have come before me in the human race and I live with millions on the planet now; yet, somehow, there is a basic standard of morality.
For example, all people know it is wrong to murder (with the exception of sociopaths who do understand it is wrong, they just don't care). But how did we know this?
Therefore, it cannot be my own standard, for there are others with the same standard and it did not originate with any of us.

Nature cannot be the standard; for, nature is cruel - far more cruel than the human race. In fact, Adolph Hitler justified his acts against Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals by citing the cruelty of nature.
For example, Mallard Ducks will isolate a duck of another breed, gang rape it and then murder it if they are not stopped. Male Chipmunks will eat their own children.

Why would these animals do this?
Well, simple - if nature is our guiding principle, then life is all about the individual; to propagate and survive.
And survival means eliminating the competition.

But why do we cringe with the above examples?
We cringe because within us, something set within our own souls knows this isn't right and is not how things are supposed to be in the world.

Something MUST give us our rights; for we know not all beliefs and systems are indeed equal.
A pedophile who routinely harms children IS NOT equal in his morality or right practice when compared to the firefighter who routinely rescues homes and people from the flame.

The question then becomes, why is one set of values greater than another?
Without a Creator, without a First Cause, all natural rights we inherit by birth, all human rights obtained through our existence in a decent society...all of them are absolutely pointless.
All points of view are equally valid, all moral systems are on equal footing, the Christian and Jihadist are both speaking equal ideals whether it is grace or murder because without a First Cause, without a Creator - all things are indeed equal.

Peter Singer

The Humanist, bioethicist Peter Singer, has argued that a chimpanzee's life should be valued over what he terms, 'defective' human children.
Millions adhere to Singer's philosophical beliefs; thousands flock to hear him speak on various subjects or debate modern Christian theologians.
The New Yorker even once called him the 'most influential living philosopher.'

But my question for Singer is quite simple: Who gives anyone the right to determine which human life is 'defective?'

Eighteen minutes out of every hour will be commercials on television; it is quite bothersome if you are watching anything live. This is where DVRs come in very handy.
This massive onslaught of commercialism has let to an overwhelming consumer economy; the ultimate result being riots on Black Friday.

An athlete who is able to catch a ball will earn more money than several hundred of my home state's teachers, police officers and ministers...combined.

When a person returns from a Third-World Country into our society, even if you are an American, there is a culture-shock endured.
Upon my return from the desert several years ago, it seemed our 'advanced' society was less 'real' and very, very shallow.
It still seems that way.

Each of these things show how off-balanced the morality of our world truly is today; it sets before us a horrible image.
But what do these things speak of us?
What do they reveal?

Thomas Aquinas, a theologian of yesteryear, suggested a person who lacks true spiritual joy will settle for something far inferior - pleasures offered by the world.
Or by alcohol
Or by a lover
Or by drugs
Or by work
Or by materialism....

Pascal

Another man, Blaise Pascal, stated that every person has a God-shaped hole in their hearts; indeed.
This is why so many attempt to fill their lives with the things listed above, concluding those who cling to faith have simply fooled themselves into believing that which cannot be true by science or reason.

As imperfect as I may be, I do know the truth in an ancient question:
"What profit it a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?"

For we go to 'the top', we succeed in life, we master our lives by finding its Master, by losing our life in something or someone else.

And His name is Jesus.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

Quite Witness

Here's a unique idea for many Christians: 
Maybe the best way to convey our values to the culture at large is NOT to talk about our values and it is certainly NOT to try and legislate our values.
Instead, maybe we ought to live our values and see what happens.

Isn't that the entire purpose of the Beatitudes? 
And personally, I'd rather have a person living the Beatitudes instead of trying to legislate the Ten Commandments.

                             Gospel of  Matthew 5:3-10

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."


I mean seriously, anybody who would live these principles wouldn't need to legislate anything. 
They wouldn't even need to say too much; people would be able to see the grace of the Lord through them.

Christians have long been criticized for trying to force their way and their values onto the larger, secular society.
And there is some truth in this...much to our own misfortune.

In recent years, prior to the evangelical crusade into the Republican Party, evangelical Christians were viewed in a very positive light.
During the 1980's, this changed as Christians became associated with 'Anti-Everything...' and certainly not the people on earth who sought to help the hurting and extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.

But in yesteryear, Christians didn't always do so well with secular society either; this isn't a modern phenomenon.

Yet, there was always a glimmer of hope; a remnant of the faithful who tried to reach the culture right where they lived.
They did it without judgment, without guilt and without hurting anyone; all the while giving a glorious witness to Christ through their God-given talents.

Maybe, just maybe, modern Christians could learn something from those who quietly witnessed to the world in past ages.
Many of them, are still witnessing to the world today and few realize it.

Personally, my favorite composer is Ludwig Van Beethoven; he was gifted beyond what we can imagine. 

As a Pastor Jack side note - Beethoven's 9th Symphony was written by the musician while being completely deaf. He never heard a note of what he wrote, except in his head and heart; but that was enough to bless the world with the Masterpiece we know today.
But I digress.

Beethoven went through a very religious devotion later in life; he wrote the music for the hymn we know as 'Ode to Joy' or 'Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.'
But Beethoven wrote only two full-length masses for the use of the Church; but he believed one, Missa Solemnis, was the greatest work he ever produced.

Most do not realize it, but the creeds and statements of faith which were produced by the ancient orthodox councils of the Body of Christ are now repeated in the works of the classical masters.
Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn, brought the beauty of God's gift to them to the Body of Christ.
And today, their works, symphonies and sonatas can be heard each night, being preformed by modern artists, in every major city in the world.

This would include closed countries where the Gospel preacher would NEVER have a chance of reaching anyone for Jesus Christ.
And yet, the Classical Masters still minister to the hearts of millions, everyday.

Simply put, they used their gifts and the Gospel still sounds forth today in places where a typical minister would be executed.
In short, God has given us, through them, Sacred Music.

And what of other artists?
Raphael, Michelangelo, or Leonardo da Vinci (at right)?
What of their greatest works?

Well, their greatest works hang in the Louvre in Paris and other museums around the globe; these works are typically of Biblical scenes or the Gospel story.
Their works still minister to us today; the brush stroke of the past still touches the heart of man in this age.

If this were not true of both the musicians and artists, then why is it that the Taliban or ISIS will enter an area and destroy all images and forbid all music?
Well, it's because through the medium of the creative arts, God has been able to transform hearts and lives to Himself.

Sadly, many Christians are only one-sided animals.

I bet you know the side - the verbal witnessing, the hell-fire threat, the scolding because of the life somebody didn't live or a mistake somebody committed; the judgmental attitude.
Yeah, you know it - probably because you have endured it like many of us have. We are a sacred club...those damaged by the Church; those hurt by the very Body which is to bring healing to the wounded.
Instead, we tend to shoot our own and then boast of our purity.

But again, instead of imposing our values and beliefs - what's wrong with living them and ministering in alternative ways, like music.
In the past, Southern Gospel tried this...in copying old-style country music; but it just wasn't believable and many performers became know on the singing circuit for their immoral lifestyles.

Today, Contemporary Christian music is popular, and has, in some cases, taken the approach of putting the ancient creeds to music - but again, the vast majority fail at winning an audience outside Christian circles.
The reason is because unlike the Classical Masters, modern artists want to sell albums, so they do interviews. 
The problem with this is that it is soon revealed that they know very little of the meaning behind the theology they claim to hold and sing about.
Again, in many cases, it just isn't believable.

Other than these examples, Christians, especially those with a strong theology, have abandoned the creative and liberal arts because, quite frankly, those who 'create' are often the same people who are 'liberal.'

At one time, I was in the creative arts while pursuing a degree in the liberal arts; yet, my faith nor solid foundation never wavered because it was built on the Rock of Ages.
It seems to be an unrealistic fear of many Christians; associate with those different than yourself and you will become corrupted - that's only true if your faith is NOT well founded.

Sadly, as the culture tilts away from the faith of our fathers, so too does the Christian from using their personal gifts as a quiet, yet lasting, witness.
But we should know, from history, as the Masters still impact society - some of them 500 years later, we can employ our gifts and effect those hundreds of years from now.

The problem with this idea is the fact that Christians don't really like 'artsy' types; although many would NEVER admit it.
You see, artsy types are many times, hippie types.
But I would argue, 'so what?'

Yes, it is true that those in the creative and liberal arts look different, act different and sometimes, they even smell different.
But that doesn't mean it is better or worse; it just means that they are different than what we are right now.

May I remind the reader that the American church lost an entire generation in the 1960's because the Church would not pursue the 'different' counter-culture taking place at the height of the Vietnam War.

May I also remind you that I am a product of the next generation who followed the love-fest of the Flower Children? 
And as a member of Generation X, the Church lost millions of us as well because once they realized their mistake with those who once shouted 'Flower Power'; they paid little attention to the latch-key kids of the 1980's.

And do you know where they are now?
Neither do I, but most of them aren't in Church, and neither are their children who are the Millennials. 

What those of the past needed, and what my generation needs today...what every generation needs most - it is grace.
Very few will ever hear me preach; fewer will ever read the words I have written.
But millions upon millions will know we are different because of what we do with the gifts we have been given - in the arts, in music, and through the grace we are to give the world.

And if you don't know where to start, begin by dispensing the grace you've received from God to others.
If you don't know how to do that - then begin by trying to live the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ.

Your actions will not be forgotten.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.

The Right Perspective

'The World is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think.'

                                                                                             ~ Horace Walpole

With this being a Presidential election year, which may turn out to be the most bloody, mud-slinging election in my lifetime, there are some things which need to be mentioned.

First, God is on His throne.
This will be true regardless of who becomes the next President of the United States.

Secondly, for the Christian, we serve a Risen King; His name is Jesus.
We owe only to Caesar what is his; but to Christ, we owe our very lives and eternity.

Having said that, let's put a few things in perspective; most importantly is the role of the Christian and our belief in the world today and how we should act.

You know, I doubt any liberal in the 1960's would have pulled Martin Luther King, Jr. aside and said, 'Dr. King, the South has a different culture and way about it; you have no right to impose your values or Northern customs on them. You need to leave them alone.'

Now, I'm sure thousands of people said something similar, but I doubt any liberal from that era would have uttered those words.
The truth of the matter is that within us, we know from birth there is a 'right' and a 'wrong.'
Yet, one of our troubling features is that sometimes we are too weak to stand for that which we know is right; at other times, we become more concerned with politics, with our own comfort or with peer pressure than we are on doing that which is 'right.'

Few would disagree that slavery is wrong; child abuse is wrong; as is pedophilia, to prey on the poor or to violently discriminate against those of a different color or sexual orientation.
But how do we know these things are wrong?

One might think it is instinct; perhaps, but then where does that 'instinct' originate?

Interestingly enough, the slave trade ended among Western nations because of Christian activism.
Child abandonment and infanticide has nearly disappeared mostly due to orphanages in the past era (before government & Masonic homes) because Christians knew there was a need and they acted on it as they were moved to do so. As I type these words, there are literally millions of children being protected, fed, educated and cared for by Christians in orphanages all around the globe.

The poor were taken care of by the Church as well, and this continues today through soup kitchens, expected work responsibilities and temporary places to live.
And who led the way in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's? 
It was Christians who could no longer abide with the fierce hatred of racism.

Today, some believe that the Judeo-Christian Ethic should no longer influence society; an archaic ethic from a by-gone era.
Right and wrong should therefore be based on how an individual feels.

Really? 
Sounds good, but read the above paragraph concerning a liberal and Dr. King.

You see, if human beings were only products of our genetic makeup and our environments, there would be no absolute morality.
Nothing would be or even could be determined as right or wrong because the decision would be reliant upon the subjectivity of the individual.

By caring for the sick, the elderly, the poor, the weak → in compassion a human being has decided to forgo the idea of eliminating them from society, thereby strengthening humanity's gene pool.
Therefore, if the disciples of Darwin are correct and we are descendants of evolution, we are damaging our own species survival because we have had compassion and empathy for another member of the species.

Yet, instead of being prompted for species survival, we are moved in compassion to help.
If we are products of nature, where did that compassion originate?

One called this, 'Darwin's Dilemma' because it makes no sense in a practical, evolutionary theory kind of way.
Darwinists often argue that humans have a 'selfish gene,' so that everything we do is done out of pure selfishness.

But then the question would be, 'If that is true, why then do humans so often choose to behave unselfishly?'

In our time, feminists and now our legal system in America defends the act of abortion.
Historically, society dealt with unwanted children through abandonment in the streets or forests, which basically led to infanticide (which is why Christians began to build and staff orphanages).
But today, if a teen abandons a newborn in a trash can, as we have heard in news stories, we are appalled and demand prosecution.

But why?
What right to we have to expect punishment for something that has historically taken place?
What is the difference between then and now?

We become indignant at the mistreatment of the elderly, or when we hear a toddler was pushed out an apartment window, or if we learn that a child was kidnapped and sodomized.
Twenty years ago, many of us sat horrified in front of our televisions as we learned of a woman named Susan Smith who drown her own children.

But, on what grounds are we indignant and appalled?

If we are products of nature alone, if morality and truth are self-determined or a by-product of the evolutionary scheme - why does any of it matter?

In other words, what made Nazi Germany evil and the American invasion right?

What is it within us that tells us these things are wrong?
What is it that allows us to become emotionally repelled by these acts?
If it was only a by-product of nature, then every person's idea of wrong would be different; yet, we know there are standards built within us from birth - rape, murder, theft - we know these are wrong.
But how and why?

As yet another political year begins to ramp up in full force, the United States has many, many issues; but at the root of them all is the issue of what right and wrong actually means.
Truthfully, the American society is sinking over the issue of right and wrong; which has to be the most basic issue of any society of any era.

Honestly, this is nothing less than a moral crisis.

In the past, it was the Church, the Christian body in the United States, who gave the nation its national conscience.
Quite possibly, the nation could be faltering on this one, most basic issue because we as the Church have stumbled ourselves and failed in actually living what we believe. 
When the Body of Christ lacks moral clarity, we also lack moral authority; without both, the Church has no right to guide the conscience of others for ours is conflicted.

In the old days of the Church, back before there were mega-church conferences, electronic ministries, comparing numbers in the pews or distributing funds based on 'investment return' rather than prayerful determination - in those days, Christians were known for the 'Good News'.

As you began this reading, it may have surprised you to learn that it was Christians, who not by fighting a bloody revolution or through violence, ended slavery among Western nations. 
Men such as William Wilberforce in Britain was just one who gave his life in a dedication to ending that horrid practice.
It may have intrigued you to learn of the orphanages, or the outreach to the poor with shelter and food and clothes; and there is even more that the Body of Christ did for those rejected or forgotten by society - think of homosexuals, prisoners and widows.

Have you ever wondered why so many people see Christians as barriers instead of the people who share to others the 'Good News' of God?
There was a time when people had a favorable view of Christians; not so much today, if George Barna's statistics are to be believed.

There may be many, but I know one reason is because we as Christians have gotten into the habit of ignoring important issues of the people and of faith, while focusing on things that will never matter in eternity.
Like politics.  Like the size of my congregation. Like who is doing what next door. 
And the list could go on and on and on...

Unfortunately, this has led to Christians being labeled as anti-EVERYTHING, intolerant and against the world, instead of being viewed as people who can bring God's grace to the world.

Just think, imagine how differently the world would view Christians if we had and would now focus on our own failings.

You know, ministers DO NOT have everything figured out.
We struggle with the same temptations and desires as everybody else.
Like all Christians, if we would speak of our own failings and our own need of forgiveness, mercy and grace instead of society's - I truly believe a time of true revival would break forth.

When Jesus was on Earth, He gave little attention to the faults and failures of the surrounding culture; and it abounded.
In the first century, there were vicious Gladiator Games, common infanticide, the sanctity of marriage was a joke and government approval of pedophilia and slavery from Rome was the norm.

Interestingly enough, Jesus said nothing of these things.
Later, when the Apostles lived in the same society and was charged with bringing forth the message of God, they did not say much concerning the culture either.
When the Corinthian Church was reported to have accepted an incestuous relationship within their midst, the Apostle Paul went berserk; yet, he made it clear that the Christian was not to judge society by the standards given to us by Christ.

You see, as Christians, if you truly want to reform society - then focus on the log in your own eye. 
Our energy for keeping standards of morality is to be kept in house; we are to correct ourselves and give to one another the grace which God has given to us through His Son.
And it is that grace which will win the world.

Today, there are huge debates raging over homosexuality, transgender issues, sex-change operations being thrust to the forefront by Bruce Jenner and company, and a host of other issues revolving around once-taboo subjects within human sexuality.
Among Christians and society as a whole, these issues are hard to navigate.

Please don't misunderstand, I know what Scripture says concerning these issues; without question, Scripture is a 'Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my Path,' which I trust on every issue as the inerrant, infallible Word of God.
But what I don't understand is how these issues of sexuality have become 'the sin' Christians seek to focus upon and condemn with the greatest fervency.

I'm not sure how it has happened, but I do know that focusing on these issues of sexuality, which are complicated and difficult and easily misunderstood, have allowed many Christians to ignore their own need for grace.
And trust me, I know a lot of Christians; every one of them needs God's grace every day of their lives - including myself at the forefront. 

Another thing I have learned about human sexuality and Christians is this, high-toned pronouncements against same-sex lovers may help fundraising, but it truly undermines the Gospel of Grace and destroys the very nature of the love by which Jesus said His people would be known by others in the world.

No Christian should ever be thought of as 'self-righteous;' for, we are the exact opposite.

Yet, not one person falls below God's high standard so far as to be totally beyond His reach; the reason is because we are caught with His safety net of grace.

Until next time, win one for the good guys.