Posts Tagged ‘Christianity’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Who Is In Charge

July 7, 2010

You’ve decided to start a new organization. You have a vision of what you want to accomplish. You have been teaching about the vision. So then you recruit some associates to help you in the ministry. You know at some point you will be leaving, so you need a succession plan. But you have a unique vision of how an organization should be run. So you have a number of  vice presidents. Then two people approach you and want to be appointed senior vice presidents. But that violates the vision. It needs some explaning.

Jesus had just such a problem. He had been teaching a radically new way of relating to God–and doing it outside the structure of the established organization. He recruited some “vice presidents.” Then James and John approached him and asked to be SVPs (in Mark they did it, in other Gospel accounts their mother was the culprit).

That created two problems. One–they didn’t understand yet (but they would shortly) the new vision of leadership and mission. Two–it creates dissension among the small group where each thought of themselves as special.

This story comes at the end of the section where Jesus is teaching his followers. The next section chronicles his confrontation with the authorities. So, one of his last instructions is on how to be a leader. A Christ follower approaches leadership as a servant. You are not to aspire to leadership in order to have the best place at the table and to have worshipful servants. You are to be the servant–teacher, too, but servant of all. You think of others first.

Try it. It’s not easy.

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Leadership | Leave a Comment »

I’m All In

July 2, 2010

I guess there’s a phrase in modern poker where you bet all your money–“I’m All In.” When the rich man came to Jesus and said he had followed all the laws but still didn’t have assurance of eternal life, essentially Jesus told him, “You have to be All In.” Being a rule follower wasn’t enough, your whole life–including your money and possessions–need to be dedicated to God.

When he went away sad, Jesus told his followers that it was hard for a rich man to be saved. Not impossible, but hard. The followers were astounded. “Who can be saved?” they asked. Now surely Mark knew what he was doing when he placed this story immediately after the story of blessing children. First Jesus says that we should bless children (in an age where they didn’t dote on them) and be like them in order to inherit eternal life. Then he says that it’s almost impossible for rich people–the most honored people in society–to have eternal life.

No wonder his closest followers, those chosen to be leaders after Jesus left, took so long to figure all this out. They were continually hit with these teachings that overturned their attitudes, expectations and view of society. I’m betting that the same holds true today. We still worship being rich and most people think that being rich is a sign of God’s blessing. That’s not true. Just like being poor is automatically a sign of blessing. No, it’s all an individual thing. When you look at another person, you don’t evaluate external things. Do they seem to be living with God?

How about you? Are you caught in external things? Merely following rules without thought? Looking up to the wrong people? Or, are you trying to live each minute with God?

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

Roadblocks on the way to Life

June 29, 2010

A wealthy man approaches Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks if he has kept the laws. “Yes, ever since I was a child,” replies the man. The man here acknowledges that following the law (see all my previous posts about rule-following) does not give him assurance of eternal life.  Jesus sees that. He loves him.

So what is the roadblock in the way of the man from the assurance of Life? Jesus sees the symptoms. This man cannot live a life with God because his wealth occupies too great a part of his life. He needs to focus first on God. Remember Jesus’ two “commandments.” First love God, then love other humans. It’s very simple, but very hard to do. For this man, there was a roadblock to living with God. He needed to put God first, his wealth second. He could not do that.

This passage is often rationalized these days. We in the West are wealthy beyond the dreams of ancient (and not so ancient) people. We know from other stories in the Bible that mere wealth is not the stumbling block. But having wealth–many things, money, possessions–can occupy too much of our time and attention. We need to remember where our attention needs to be.

Now, I’m preaching in that last paragraph. But, I’m a very busy person. I’m trying to build a business. Traveling much (today, it’s Dallas, last week Detroit, before that Phoenix, before that Los Angeles…). When I have much to do, it’s hard to remember my time with God at the beginning of the day. I’m sure that it’s similar for many. We have much to do, livings to earn, money to invest, shopping for more things to do. And so on. The real question is how do we make an appointment for ourselves to be quiet, alone with God, focus on eternal things?

This man? He couldn’t. He went away sad. Outsiders would think he’s perfect from the way he lives his life. But inside, he just can’t open a space to live with God. How about me? How about you?

Tags:, ,
Posted in Christianity, Living, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Get in the flow of the Spirit

June 26, 2010

People seem to like lists. And lists of rules. You probably grew up with them–after all that’s much of what school is about. Teachers make up rules. Students follow them. Teachers have a list of things students must learn, students follow them. We’ve probably all lived through this experience.

Think of the organizational problem confronting Moses when he led the Hebrews from Egypt. I don’t know how many people there were, but surely the size of a medium sized city today. They had no organization, maybe just some informal leaders from their days in Egypt. They were in a hostile land. They had to organize both civilly (judges, police, ward leaders, and so on) and religiously. After all this situation came about because these people were all descendants of Abraham. They belonged to the same tribe and were supposed to be following the God of Abraham. I suppose that even after all the years in Egypt, they still had tribal identity. No mention is made of priestly leadership, or if there were religious traditions handed down.

Moses was spiritual and talked with God. And God talked to Moses. And Moses listened. But what about the rest of the people? They were afraid to talk with God. Moses scared them because he talked with God. So, God gave Moses a list of rules beginning with the Ten Commandments to guide the people. No doubt God would have preferred that everyone talk with Him, but they were afraid.

We have stories of ancient people. But the stories seem modern as they describe humans. We still have people who talk with God and people who need rules. Trouble is there just can’t be a law that covers every little situation that you might run across. If there were, there would be so many that you couldn’t remember them anyway. Then, laws need lawyers to interpret them. And as you all remember from school, laws also separate people into groups according to which laws you break–or the kind of people that don’t break laws (at least not publicly). Comparison breeds the idea that some are better than others. I can point to someone else and compare.

But Jesus didn’t do that. He said we should live in relationship to God and then in relationship with others. The relationship with others is determined by our relationship with God. You don’t need a list of rules if your behavior is guided by the Spirit. When you are living with God, you just go with the flow of the Spirit and do the right thing. When something interferes with that flow (sin), then you can tell it. Those are the times you feel guilty or ashamed of the way you act.

So, get with the flow of the Spirit. Break the tyranny of rules. Jesus sets you free to live with God without worry.

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

It’s about relationship not rules

June 25, 2010

What’s legal? I’m a soccer referee and an instructor of the Laws of the Game. Once I was asked to give a presentation on the game and it’s laws to a high school team and their parents. It was a new program, and no one knew very much about the game other than you ran around and kicked a ball. As I explained fouls, they asked, “How far can I go before it’s a foul?” In other words, “What can I get away with?”

The Pharisees (lawyers, experts in the law), asked Jesus, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” There are two aspects to this question. First, they were like the advisory board of a graduate student which asks the student many questions to see if the student knows the material. Second, they wanted to know, “What can we get away with?”

Jesus replied that you should not get a divorce. That Moses only set up the law that made divorce legal because people were not open to living with God (I’m paraphrasing, of course, the text says “hearts were hardened). He’s calling them out as people who think they don’t need God. Once upon a time, God spoke to Moses. From Moses descended a tradition that tried to make a law or rule that covered every aspect of your life. And if you followed those rules to the letter, then you were living a Godly life. And, if by chance–or planning, you were able to come out better for yourself, then so much the better.

When I teach this passage to people even today with certain personal tendencies to like rules, they immediately say that Jesus promulgated a new rule. You can’t divorce–period. But they forget, Jesus didn’t come to set rules. He said that. There are really only two–you are to love God and love your neighbor. These are relationship rules.

Let’s go back to what he said the reason for the rule was–the people’s hearts were hard. They couldn’t live in relationship with God. They were like small children still being trained by the father. Jesus brought an adult message. Grow up. Develop a deep relationship with God. Then develop a God-like behavior and attitude toward other people. If you have such a relationship, you don’t need the rules. You’ll do what’s right naturally.

I’m sure Jesus would love the woman who is being physically abused by her husband. If he were present, he’d heal the husband of the devils within him that drive him to be abusive. Otherwise, if she needs to escape to protect herself and her children, I can’t believe that Jesus would condemn her. Or for the man whose wife runs away. But in the ways of this world (almost globally, not just in the US) where marriage is selfish and not a committed relationship–I’m sure Jesus weeps over that rejection of God.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

Where to focus

June 21, 2010

I used to have to pass running tests to maintain my grades and certifications as a soccer referee. First you ran a distance within a certain time limit, then you ran sprints. It sort of simulated how well you could run at the end of a match. Since I really don’t like distance running (even the short 1.5 miles of the standard test), I think about how to do the run. Every morning when I face the 3.5 miles at the park, I can’t think about the end. I have to think about one step at a time. Otherwise I wear myself out. Sprints, on the other hand, especially the shorter 40 or 50 meter ones, entail focus on the finish line. I just start as quickly as possible and try to keep going faster until the end. 200 meters is about where I can see the goal but emphasize the stride.

Putting this is the context of patience (and perhaps adding perseverance–the ability to keep going even when you’re tired), sometimes life is like the distance run. You know there is a goal ahead, but you need to focus on a day at a time. The Buddhists have a phrase, “Wherever I go, there I am.” Jesus also said to not be worried about the past or the future. Just live in the moment. And be there in the moment.

Jesus tried to teach us–don’t be burdened down worrying about all the rules of the Pharisees (and the modern pharisees who surround us). Just live each moment in the Spirit. You’ll know what to do. Things will be taken care of. The things of the future you worry about don’t happen. Or, if they do, they are not what you were afraid of. That’s because you just live in the moment with God in you and leading you. And that’s all you need.

Just take one step at a time in the direction of your goal.

Tags:, ,
Posted in Christianity, Living, Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Why do we villify people

February 1, 2010

I’ve been thinking on this subject for many weeks when I ran across this blog from marketer Seth Godin. The bitterness of the local school levy was filled with high emotion, low fact and much, much vilification (making the opponents out to be villains). People are not necessarily evil just because they disagree with you. After several defeats, it finally passed last November–by one vote. It is almost three months after the election and people still are writing letters to the editor about the rich people in their luxurious homes foisting off higher taxes on the poor and elderly. Some even argue against their own economic well being. (One of the most vocal opponents to the levy is a rental unit owner. If the levy never passed, the schools would face massive cuts to state minimum standards, reducing to a very low number people looking to move here, reducing property values, therefore reducing the potential customer base for his rentals and the value of his wealth in real estate. Oh, if life were only logical.)

Godin ponders this psychology in his blog The False Solace of Vilification. Here is a sample:

A flood hits a town and innocent people die and buildings are destroyed. The widows and bereaved families take it out on the insurance adjuster or government official who has come to help.

The economic downturn hits a town hard and some residents attack, quite personally, the hard-working school board members who had nothing to do with the bad news and in fact represent one of the best ways to ultimately recover.

In each case, the person being hated on is precisely the person who can do the most to help. And yet sometimes, we can’t help ourselves. It takes significant emotional maturity to separate the event from the people in proximity to the event, and any marketer or organization that deals with the public needs to embrace the fact that just because you’re close to where the bad thing happened doesn’t mean it’s your fault.

Emotional maturity. Something I’ve been trying to attain for a very long time. Just when I think I’ve achieved balance, something happens and I explode. Fortunately that’s only once every other year or so anymore. But I’m sure we all need to strive for it. I once was in a training session for managers where the instructor put up one of those famous 2×2 matrices. The two axes were good/poor feel for people and good/poor emotional maturity. Research was done which showed that positive reviews of managers by “subordinates” centered around emotional maturity regardless of “feel for people.”

The next time you’re delayed at the airport because of bad weather, don’t take it out on the gate agent. That person has no control and sometimes knows less than you. However, that person can be your best friend in finding another flight. I’ve seen where one didn’t help the person in front of me who had launched a tirade. But I stepped up with a smile and said something like “tough day, isn’t it?” She got me on another flight, and I got home at a reasonable time. My goal–be that way in all my dealings with people.

The more I study the Bible and writings by ancient philosophers (and some more modern ones such as Emerson), the more I realize that the real message is about how to live. What will you do tomorrow when you first meet someone? How will you act? What will you do when you get up? What will you say? How will you act? Will you “live with God” or will you drift along with your emotions?

It’s a journey we’re on. It’s tough. Live with God to get the most out of it.

Tags:, ,
Posted in Christianity, Living | 1 Comment »

Believe in Christmas

December 21, 2009

Spent last week trying to get the January issue of my magazine out (my paying day job). Finished up Friday afternoon late after pounding out about 5,000 words including a 3,500 word feature article that day. Of course, I had hours of research and interviews done before I started writing. The fact that it was Christmas season (Advent to you traditionalists 😉 really never sank in. Now I’m in planning and catch up mode again. And I can let Christmas sink in.

But…do you find this a sort of contradictory time? How were you brought up? Lots of gifts from Santa? For most of us it isn’t a “church” day where you gather with your faith family and worship. So it’s more of a good time with/for kids who open (probably way too many) gifts. I’m not grinch, but I think this has gotten way too overboard. It’s too hard to remember what we’re celebrating.

My wife got out all her Christmas-themed dishes, plates, mugs and the like a couple of weeks ago. Today, as is my custom, I brewed a cup of French Roast coffee, and sat down in my study to read from my current spiritual book (“The Cloud of Unknowing”). Then I looked at the mug–no, really looked. It said “Believe..in Christmas.” The picture on the mug–no you guessed wrong–was of Santa. Wait a minute. Just what are we believing?

Without going into the meaning of “belief”, let’s just look at the sentiment. If I believe in a God who seeks us out (prevenient grace that I was just discussing) and who got perturbed enough with those who were especially called to recognize that and develop a relationship and who then took extraordinary measures to really seek us out, then what I’m trying to “believe” about Christmas is that I need to also seek out this Jesus so that I can have that eternal relationship.

I’m giving you a gift because I love (agape) you. In so doing, I’m trying to reflect the love (agape) of God. In fact, it is only through love that we can know God. I just heard this morning that the people of the Willow Creek Church in South Barrington, IL gave 10,700 coats to a drive to keep poor kids warm this winter. That’s an agape gift. If I also give a gift to my wife, children and grandchildren in the spirit of agape, then that’s great. If I just feel some strange need to be loved or appreciated by giving lots of stuff, then there’s a problem.

Believe in Christmas? No, I know Christmas. And I hope all my gifts have nothing to do with making me feel better or make me feel greater, but that they all just reflect God’s love.

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

When God Speaks

December 15, 2009

I last talked about prevenient grace relative to a discussion of the first chapter of Ephesians and the theories of predestination. So, the question occurred to me–when did I first feel God’s presence around me calling me to him? I think I’ve had that awareness ever since I could think. Even when I sin, I have had an awareness of God–and the disapproval of what I’m doing or thinking.

I asked this question in a small group and received an answer that for many awareness of the nearness of God didn’t happen until well into adulthood. Although I’ve had some big experiences of God, I never had that “salvation experience” that evangelists try to get you to experience. Many, on the other hand, seem to have no awareness of God. They just sort of travel blindly through life until one day they get smacked. Then they see the God that’s been calling them since before they were born.

I’ve been thinking about this experience of the awareness of God calling for several weeks. Sometimes you just don’t get it consciously. I have a friend in Brazil with whose husband I bet a bottle of wine on the outcome of a soccer match between the US and Brazil. We lost. Then I discovered it’s hard to send a bottle of wine internationally. I got busy and quit searching. Then I got the urge (hmm) to search again, and I found a company that sends gift baskets to just about any country. I’m a trusting soul (sort of), and ordered a basket with the bottle of red wine over the Internet, gave them my credit card number (a big act of faith) and hoped. Then I received a message yesterday from my friend. The basket arrived just as she was at a very low point in the Christmas season. It made her day. What a blessing.

Think that was God talking to me? Wonder what He’s saying now that I haven’t yet responded to? What about you?

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity, Living | Leave a Comment »

Prevenient Grace

November 16, 2009

I’m still studying Ephesians, but business has taken me to China and then California during the past three weeks plus I had to get a magazine out (my paying job). While traveling, I have continued my studies and thinking.

While talking about what Paul’s saying in this letter, I skipped over Chapter 1 where he discusses “predestination.” Of course, he is not discussing John Calvin’s theory–he didn’t know Calvin. But the thought still is–why is it sometimes Paul talks of freedom and decision and other times he talks of being picked by God (predestined)?

Finally a memory of one of the talks during an Emmaus Walk popped up–the discussion of “prevenient grace.” The question that always comes up is “if God picked us to be saved before we were ever born, then what does it matter what we do with our lives.” When I studied the Puritans many years ago, I was taught that they got around that thorny issue by telling people that they should all behave as if they were saved so that no one would know. Today, it seems that we all behave as if we are not saved and then just trust that God will have picked us.

Another way to look at the situation is more like asking and responding. God’s grace is extended to you before you were ever born. It’s prevenient–pre-existing. God is always there, surrounding you, enveloping you in his Spirit. However, you have to respond. It’s as if someone asks you to a party, but you can’t celebrate with them unless you acknowledge the request and then say Yes. God is there, right now, and if you say yes, then you open yourself up to the gifts of God.

Of course, it’s not over yet. You must still grow in your relationship with God. That’s sort of what Paul’s talking about in the rest of Ephesians. How do you come to imitate God (what a disciple does in relation to his/her master). How you relate to others (husband/wife, parent children, master/slave–today’s terms probably employer/employee). How you fight the spirits of darkness. Every day you must “work out your salvation in fear and trembling,” but it all starts when you acknowledge that God is there before you asking you to come to relationship. That’s sort of what Paul’s saying in the beginning of the letter. God’s there. He “picked” you (actually, he picked everyone in the beginning). You just need to acknowledge and respond–then live with him.

Tags:,
Posted in Christianity | Leave a Comment »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »