11 The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
14 He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."
15 The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." from 1 Kings 19
What a story!! It is amazing how quickly we forget the faithfulness of God that we have SEEN and EXPERIENCED in the past. Like Elijah, the minute trouble comes, we forget everything we have seen and experienced and take off running for our lives...ready to hide in a cave. Our cave may be alcohol. It may be withdrawal. It may be self-doubt or self-loathing. Why is it that we can't seem to live fully and daily out of a real trust in God. Hasn't he "proven it o'er and o'er."
Sunday we discussed the wilderness of big decisions and how we often flee from God in those times of choosing. We ask for other people's opinions, we research and we wring our hands, but we rarely ever turn to God. What stories do you have to share about God's work in the big decisions you've made in life. Have you ever turned a big decision over to Him? What happened?
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Into the Wild
The Temptation of Jesus
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’"
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:1-13
On Sunday, the first worship service of Lent, we talked about Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. My focus was on how he faced temptation AND how his wilderness experiences should be a source of strength and hope for us. Having been through the wilderness...having been abandoned by friends...having been scourged and crucified, Jesus endured wilderness experiences that were worse than anything we face. He know what it means to suffer, and He knows what it means to survive AND triumph.
How have times of suffering in your
life affected your faith?
Have they made it stronger?
Have they caused you to question the
existence of God or the providence of God?
1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’"
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:1-13
On Sunday, the first worship service of Lent, we talked about Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. My focus was on how he faced temptation AND how his wilderness experiences should be a source of strength and hope for us. Having been through the wilderness...having been abandoned by friends...having been scourged and crucified, Jesus endured wilderness experiences that were worse than anything we face. He know what it means to suffer, and He knows what it means to survive AND triumph.
How have times of suffering in your
life affected your faith?
Have they made it stronger?
Have they caused you to question the
existence of God or the providence of God?
Monday, February 4, 2008
EVOLUTION and the Question of Faith Versus Science
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you. John 16:12-15
On Sunday, we discussed evolution and the perceived conflict between science and religion. In preparing for the sermon, I studied this text from John and an article in Time magazine that presents a debate between Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins. While each of these men are renowned scientists, one is a Christian, and one is vehemently opposed to Christianity. Here is a link to that article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1555132,00.html
In sharing my thoughts on evolution, science and faith, I made several key points:
First, to speak with any intergrity requires each of us to acknowledge the debt we owe to science and the trust we put into science each day. When we crank the car, when we go to the hospital, when we watch TV and when we fly, we rely on science. It is a part of the fabric of our lives. In addition, I think it is a misguided to posit any type of conspiracy in the scientific community. The scientific community is as diverse and fragmented as the culture at large. Within it, there is more competition than cooperation due to the amount of $$ that may follow any given breakthrough. Thus, "science" is not out to accomplish anything other than to understand the material & mechanics of the world around us. (and to monetize those findings whenever possible--usually to fund further research)
Second, while science seeks to answer the "what" and "how" of creation, i.e., what things are made of and how they work, faith is focused on the "who" and "why" of life. Who are we? What, if any, purpose do we have? Who created us? Why are we here? These are questions uniquely unsuited to scientific inquiry. These are metaphysical (or spiritual) questions that the scientific method is ill-equipped to explore. Perhaps then science and faith are perfect companions, each exploring a part of the human existence that the other cannot.
Third, I think there is no reason to see Darwin's theory of natural selection, the basis of evolution theory, as an alternative explanation to the Genesis narrative. Perhaps Genesis explains the "who" and "why" of creation, while science, a gift from God, explores the question of "how" He did it. Maybe God has given us science as a tool to help us know Him better...to deepen our awe at His handiwork. Perhaps, through science, God is "leading us into all truth." I believe that science is His gift to us--His tool freely offered for our use in exploring and appreciating creation.
With regards to the six days of creation referenced in Genesis, I think we have to acknowledge that the "time stamps" in Genesis are somewhat suspect. People are said to live for 150 years or more in a era when the average life span was probably in the mid-thirties. Besides, who would think that an eternal God would measure time as we do in increments of 24 hour days. While certainly possible, that seems unlikely to me.
In the final analysis, I think God could have created in any way He chose. He could have done it instantly. He could have done it over millions of years. I personally think it was over a long period of time as science suggests. If that is the case, our creation mirrors our salvation. It begins with a bang when we accept Christ and continues in a halting yet upward trajectory as we grow in grace and righteousness through the work of the Spirit in us. There is some real symmetry there, huh? We may have been created in the same way--with a God- generated bang followed by a long but halting development as each species naturally selected for stronger and more adaptive traits. To my mind, only an amazing God could create living things that were designed to naturally become stronger, faster & smarter. Beautiful. Then, He comes along and offers that same gift of development and transformation to the minds and souls of His sentient creations. Gorgeous.
Wherever you fall on the evolution question, lets all covenant as one body in Christ to respect each other's views and to declare unto the world that what unites us, i.e., the Lordship of Christ, is so much greater than the things we may disagree on! That is the best witness of all. Moreoveor, I think we can all agree that God has given us an amazing creation to behold, enjoy and protect!
On Sunday, we discussed evolution and the perceived conflict between science and religion. In preparing for the sermon, I studied this text from John and an article in Time magazine that presents a debate between Richard Dawkins and Francis Collins. While each of these men are renowned scientists, one is a Christian, and one is vehemently opposed to Christianity. Here is a link to that article: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1555132,00.html
In sharing my thoughts on evolution, science and faith, I made several key points:
First, to speak with any intergrity requires each of us to acknowledge the debt we owe to science and the trust we put into science each day. When we crank the car, when we go to the hospital, when we watch TV and when we fly, we rely on science. It is a part of the fabric of our lives. In addition, I think it is a misguided to posit any type of conspiracy in the scientific community. The scientific community is as diverse and fragmented as the culture at large. Within it, there is more competition than cooperation due to the amount of $$ that may follow any given breakthrough. Thus, "science" is not out to accomplish anything other than to understand the material & mechanics of the world around us. (and to monetize those findings whenever possible--usually to fund further research)
Second, while science seeks to answer the "what" and "how" of creation, i.e., what things are made of and how they work, faith is focused on the "who" and "why" of life. Who are we? What, if any, purpose do we have? Who created us? Why are we here? These are questions uniquely unsuited to scientific inquiry. These are metaphysical (or spiritual) questions that the scientific method is ill-equipped to explore. Perhaps then science and faith are perfect companions, each exploring a part of the human existence that the other cannot.
Third, I think there is no reason to see Darwin's theory of natural selection, the basis of evolution theory, as an alternative explanation to the Genesis narrative. Perhaps Genesis explains the "who" and "why" of creation, while science, a gift from God, explores the question of "how" He did it. Maybe God has given us science as a tool to help us know Him better...to deepen our awe at His handiwork. Perhaps, through science, God is "leading us into all truth." I believe that science is His gift to us--His tool freely offered for our use in exploring and appreciating creation.
With regards to the six days of creation referenced in Genesis, I think we have to acknowledge that the "time stamps" in Genesis are somewhat suspect. People are said to live for 150 years or more in a era when the average life span was probably in the mid-thirties. Besides, who would think that an eternal God would measure time as we do in increments of 24 hour days. While certainly possible, that seems unlikely to me.
In the final analysis, I think God could have created in any way He chose. He could have done it instantly. He could have done it over millions of years. I personally think it was over a long period of time as science suggests. If that is the case, our creation mirrors our salvation. It begins with a bang when we accept Christ and continues in a halting yet upward trajectory as we grow in grace and righteousness through the work of the Spirit in us. There is some real symmetry there, huh? We may have been created in the same way--with a God- generated bang followed by a long but halting development as each species naturally selected for stronger and more adaptive traits. To my mind, only an amazing God could create living things that were designed to naturally become stronger, faster & smarter. Beautiful. Then, He comes along and offers that same gift of development and transformation to the minds and souls of His sentient creations. Gorgeous.
Wherever you fall on the evolution question, lets all covenant as one body in Christ to respect each other's views and to declare unto the world that what unites us, i.e., the Lordship of Christ, is so much greater than the things we may disagree on! That is the best witness of all. Moreoveor, I think we can all agree that God has given us an amazing creation to behold, enjoy and protect!
Monday, January 28, 2008
My Church vs. Your Church
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6
Sunday's sermon examined how we think about and respond to the differences among Christian denominations. While I certainly feel that what unites Christians is bigger and more important than what divides us, there is no avoiding the fact that there is tremendous diversity within Christianity. In fact, we have brothers and sisters in Christ whose practice of Christianity, at times, may seem disturbing, irrational or laughable to us. I can assure you, the feeling is mutual! They look at our practices with equal scepticism and disbelief often wondering how we could possibly consider worshipping as we do!! As my good friend and mentor, Reverend Michael Stewart, once said, "People who think they know everything really annoy those of us who do!"
I guess part of the human condition is the tendency to feel as if you have "seen the light" when it comes to something as personal as spirituality. We all enter the fray of life where discussions happen, planned and unplanned, operating under an often unrecognized personal preference for our own beliefs and the experiences that shaped them. Sadly, for them, most people we meet have not had the sacred and precious experiences that revealed to us the "truth" about the controversial issues of our time. They were too busy having their own sacred and precious experiences...you know, the ones that revealed a different "truth" to them!
An awareness of this paradox is a crucial part a maturing spiritual life. It is humbling, (Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.) and allows us to begin to engage others empathetically, keeping in mind that they have as much chance of being right as we do! Moreover, it is incumbent on us to respond in a way that reflects the sacrificial & foot-washing love of our servant Savior. Indeed, as the famous hymn goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love." For some reason it doesn't mention that they'll know we are Christians by how smart and self-assured we are.
Rather than fighting other members of our Christian family and/or dwelling on what is wrong with them or what we don't like about them, maybe we should try something that mature people learn in marriages and extended families.
1.) Understand that we all have shortcomings and weaknesses. For your sake, you should be able to list a number of your own flaws. Really knowing yourself (and taking time to reflect on your weaknesses) is a good way to begin being merciful to others.
2.) Accept that other members of the family, like you, have weaknesses and problems.
3.) For their happiness and your own, try to spend what time you have with them focusing on the good in them. (obviously this prescription doesn't apply to an abusive situation)
4.) Enjoy a deepening appreciation of them and a growing joy as you begin to live a more thankful and praise-oriented life!
The reality is that our church (Christianity) has many members...a family. Each denomination is a part of that family. I suppose the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are the aged parents. We protestant denominations are the children and grandchildren, i.e., equal members of the same family. Could it be that the diversity within our faith is, at this point in history, God's plan? Obviously, I can't say for certain. I do know we are able to reach more people this way. Different bait do catch different fish AND more fish. Moreover, each denomination's particular passion or focus serves to hold the other churches accountable to a valid part of discipleship. For example, the Baptist churches and the Church of Christ seem to revere the Word of God like no other groups. As another example, the Catholic and Anglican churches honor the sacraments like no other. Maybe we can think of the church universal using Paul's metaphor of the body. We all need one another to accomplish the goal.
What do you think?
Ever had a particularly nasty religious discussion with someone?
How do you think we should relate to other Christian groups? Why?
Sunday's sermon examined how we think about and respond to the differences among Christian denominations. While I certainly feel that what unites Christians is bigger and more important than what divides us, there is no avoiding the fact that there is tremendous diversity within Christianity. In fact, we have brothers and sisters in Christ whose practice of Christianity, at times, may seem disturbing, irrational or laughable to us. I can assure you, the feeling is mutual! They look at our practices with equal scepticism and disbelief often wondering how we could possibly consider worshipping as we do!! As my good friend and mentor, Reverend Michael Stewart, once said, "People who think they know everything really annoy those of us who do!"
I guess part of the human condition is the tendency to feel as if you have "seen the light" when it comes to something as personal as spirituality. We all enter the fray of life where discussions happen, planned and unplanned, operating under an often unrecognized personal preference for our own beliefs and the experiences that shaped them. Sadly, for them, most people we meet have not had the sacred and precious experiences that revealed to us the "truth" about the controversial issues of our time. They were too busy having their own sacred and precious experiences...you know, the ones that revealed a different "truth" to them!
An awareness of this paradox is a crucial part a maturing spiritual life. It is humbling, (Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.) and allows us to begin to engage others empathetically, keeping in mind that they have as much chance of being right as we do! Moreover, it is incumbent on us to respond in a way that reflects the sacrificial & foot-washing love of our servant Savior. Indeed, as the famous hymn goes, "They will know we are Christians by our love." For some reason it doesn't mention that they'll know we are Christians by how smart and self-assured we are.
Rather than fighting other members of our Christian family and/or dwelling on what is wrong with them or what we don't like about them, maybe we should try something that mature people learn in marriages and extended families.
1.) Understand that we all have shortcomings and weaknesses. For your sake, you should be able to list a number of your own flaws. Really knowing yourself (and taking time to reflect on your weaknesses) is a good way to begin being merciful to others.
2.) Accept that other members of the family, like you, have weaknesses and problems.
3.) For their happiness and your own, try to spend what time you have with them focusing on the good in them. (obviously this prescription doesn't apply to an abusive situation)
4.) Enjoy a deepening appreciation of them and a growing joy as you begin to live a more thankful and praise-oriented life!
The reality is that our church (Christianity) has many members...a family. Each denomination is a part of that family. I suppose the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are the aged parents. We protestant denominations are the children and grandchildren, i.e., equal members of the same family. Could it be that the diversity within our faith is, at this point in history, God's plan? Obviously, I can't say for certain. I do know we are able to reach more people this way. Different bait do catch different fish AND more fish. Moreover, each denomination's particular passion or focus serves to hold the other churches accountable to a valid part of discipleship. For example, the Baptist churches and the Church of Christ seem to revere the Word of God like no other groups. As another example, the Catholic and Anglican churches honor the sacraments like no other. Maybe we can think of the church universal using Paul's metaphor of the body. We all need one another to accomplish the goal.
What do you think?
Ever had a particularly nasty religious discussion with someone?
How do you think we should relate to other Christian groups? Why?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Navigating by the Golden Compass
This Sunday's message was inspired by a series of books written by Phillip Pullman. The series is called, His Dark Materials. The first book in the trilogy, The Golden Compass, has been made into a movie spawning a lot of controversy regarding the author's atheism and motives in writing a story that would be both attractive to kids and very negative toward the church and Christianity.
How should Christians respond to perceived attacks from atheists and/or other elements of popular culture? What should our disposition be toward critiques that come from outside Christendom? What should be the tenor of our response.
In my sermon, I argued that our disposition toward outside critiques should not hostile or suspicious. It seems to me that such a disposition only communicates an anxiety about the possible truth of the critique itself. If we truly believe that our faith is centered on the Creator God, why should we be reactionary or anxious about attacks be they from without or within. On some deep level do we fear that our God is a theoretical balloon that might be popped by the right question? What do we have to fear?
Rather than taking a fearful or hostile pose towards critique or attack, I submit that the people of the living God should fear nothing. As such, we should be able to calmly hear this input, taking it as a learning opportunity. Perhaps we can see in it the ways we have failed and misrepresented God. Maybe, just maybe, God can even use people who see themselves as His foes as tools for correcting and purifying the faith He has inspired and created. Maybe they are a gift to us. Maybe they are even sacramental in an sense, i.e., a means of God's salvific grace in the world. If God brings the rain to pour and the sun to shine on the wicked and the godly (He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45), why would he not also seek to use those inside and outside the church for His purposes. Don't we believe that no one is beyond the reach of His grace?
I welcome Pullman's book, in principle, and look forward to hearing your response Sunday's sermon and this post.
wg
How should Christians respond to perceived attacks from atheists and/or other elements of popular culture? What should our disposition be toward critiques that come from outside Christendom? What should be the tenor of our response.
In my sermon, I argued that our disposition toward outside critiques should not hostile or suspicious. It seems to me that such a disposition only communicates an anxiety about the possible truth of the critique itself. If we truly believe that our faith is centered on the Creator God, why should we be reactionary or anxious about attacks be they from without or within. On some deep level do we fear that our God is a theoretical balloon that might be popped by the right question? What do we have to fear?
Rather than taking a fearful or hostile pose towards critique or attack, I submit that the people of the living God should fear nothing. As such, we should be able to calmly hear this input, taking it as a learning opportunity. Perhaps we can see in it the ways we have failed and misrepresented God. Maybe, just maybe, God can even use people who see themselves as His foes as tools for correcting and purifying the faith He has inspired and created. Maybe they are a gift to us. Maybe they are even sacramental in an sense, i.e., a means of God's salvific grace in the world. If God brings the rain to pour and the sun to shine on the wicked and the godly (He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45), why would he not also seek to use those inside and outside the church for His purposes. Don't we believe that no one is beyond the reach of His grace?
I welcome Pullman's book, in principle, and look forward to hearing your response Sunday's sermon and this post.
wg
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