Category Archives: Uncategorized

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Sadness and faith

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I’ve been getting email updates from my former pastor, but current colleague and friend, about a little boy who had been suffering for a while with cancer and now has gone home to be with the Lord. I hated getting these updates, because it was almost always bad news in regards to his health. It brought on sadness, and would regularly almost bring me to tears. That’s not easy to do unless I’m going through a period of depression and watching a sad movie while separated from family. 
Parents shouldn’t have to bury their kids. They just shouldn’t.
Sometimes life seems to ordered. It really does. For instance, when you by chance happen to run into someone across the country who lives right next door, or when you know that if X didn’t happen, then Y wouldn’t have. Or when you’re trying to make it under the garage door before they made sensors and it lands on your head instead of your neck (that happened to me in elementary school). And you thank God for being in control. There are times when God feels so in control. A number of times. And I give my “approval” (of course he doesn’t need it) or at least thanksgiving-but probably the former is more accurate.
And there are other times, like this, when God’s goodness and His power don’t seem to square with what’s happening in the world. Those times become harder when its you, or your church family, and now it is you who find yourself now in the middle of a “Job-ean” storm. 
This is not a treatise on how or even why you should trust God in the midst of such uncertainty. This is simply my reflection, and what I have to do, so that I don’t fall into Eeyore mode.
How do we know that God is out there or that He cares in the midst of this? Well, there are of course evidences of a zillion little things happening which indicate He is with us. But of course there are “indicators” to the contrary (though of course it does fit into the overall bible story of Creation-Fall-Redemption-Consummation) like children dying, and babies being born with heart defects to parents who love Him dearly.
Well, there are two options as I see it. Either the biblical view of God as both Sovereign and Good is true, or it is not. I either embrace the world as God sees it, or I can embrace some of the “indicators” to the contrary. Two options. Either way, the choice involves a faith commitment; it is not only about evidence or “indicators,” as helpful as they have been for me.
I may not get a vote, but as a child of God, I have a voice. Sometimes that voice is to cry out, “Why Lord?” But I’m crying out to Someone. Someone who cares. Some who has experienced premature death. Someone who will return one day. That sounds crazy. But it is really no less crazy than being angry at no one, or even having a legitimate reason to be angry. That’s where atheism begins to NOT make sense to me.

My faith commitment isn’t as “crazy” as Soren Kierkegaard may have put it. There are indicators. But indicators make no sense without first trusting in the One who indicates His presence in His world. 

I’m sad for this family and this loss. I pray that they can see a Savior who cried when His friend died (John 11). I pray that they can also see a Savior who welcomes His child home with loving arms. Both are true and real in this hard to understand, fallen but redeemable world. 

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Parenting class

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I’m pretty excited about our new parenting class we’re offering at Redeemer. Finding the right material can be hard sometimes when there are several different options from which to choose. But after re-examining and skimming (I’d already read and enjoyed it before) Gospel Centered Family by Tim Chester and Ed Moll, and getting confirmation from a trusted leader, I knew we had made the right decision. Then, the next day, Gospel Centered Family goes on sale for 60% off! I really knew we had made the right decision.  You can also get it from the Good Book Company (one of my new favorite publishers) for the same price.
This book practically challenges parents to foster a gospel centered environment in the home, but it also has a section directing parents to consider their missional responsibility as well. Some books neglect that part of it, but I was glad to see Chester and Moll wed the inward and outward component of family ministry in their short book. Again, it is very short, with short chapters and scripture passages, making it to read with a friend or a group.
But another reason I’m excited about the class has nothing to do with the content-though the content from day one will reinforce this timely truth. We’re running the parent class alongside our existing Sunday School classes. Not only is this designed to give folks another incentive to take advantage of this 36 week discipleship tool (Sunday School), but it helps us reinforce that parents have the primary responsibility in discipling their children.
Sunday School, nursery program (we start teaching at 2!), children’s church, youth group, bible clubs, assist parents; they don’t replace them. I think we’re teaching that not just with our words, but in our structure. Am I being anal? Neurotic? Possibly, but sometimes well meaning churches may have a particular vision, but their structures may actually preclude that vision from being accomplished. 
 
These programs are of valuable assistance, and we’ve been praying for increased participation. I guess I just don’t understand folks who don’t want any assistance in discipling their children: Amy and I teach Connar everyday formally and informally, but we need the help of Sunday School teachers and will relish the help one day from a youth group.

At the same time, parents have the privilege, responsibility, command, and often difficulty (that’s whey do this stuff in community-we need it) of teaching their kids the gospel and its application to all of life. So running a parenting class alongside the children’s Sunday School class retierates that the church equips parents to be the primary though not single or solitary, disciplers of their children.

Once a week Sunday School is great, particularly for 36 weeks out of the year. We see a difference in those kids who’ve gone through the studies for years and those who haven’t. But I would bet that much of that difference is the result of godly parents who recognize, welcome, and relish the assistance, yet have also made family discipleship a 24-7 lifestyle instead of a program or a bible study.

Most folks probably fall into the “outsourcing” mode when it comes to discipling their children and the assistance has become the totality of their children’s discipleship. We’re hoping to hit that issue head on this Fall. Looking forward to what may happen.

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Terrell Pryor, Re-Punishment, and the Cross

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Ohio State standout QB Terrell Pryor who “withdrew” from the school was declared eligible for the NFL supplemental draft. The question of whether or not he was eligible stemmed from the fact that he had been under a 5 game suspension for some shenanigans like selling Big 10 merchandise and the like. He hadn’t been kicked off of the team but “quietly” withdrew preceding what could have been quite an ugly scene.
In order to qualify for the supplemental draft, a player must show that his status has changed — such as being declared academically ineligible by his school — after the NFL’s regular college draft has been held.
His eligibility for the NFL draft came with a caveat: he would be suspended for the first 5 games of the NFL. He and his agent had this to say about the suspension:
“The five games we happily agreed to, voluntarily,” Rosenhaus said. “The alternative wasn’t very attractive. We’re grateful for the chance.” 
Now it sure beats the alternative of not being drafted and having to get an actual job, like basketball star Delonte West looking to Home Depot for employment (due to the NBA lockout).
Some NFL players have wisely pondered how far back the NFL can punish future NFL players for sins committed in college.

“I don’t understand,” said Buffalo Bills safety George Wilson, an NFLPA representative. “My question is, with this Miami probe, are those players who took those gifts, are those guys — guys that violated NCAA regulations — are they subject to his discipline as well? Is it retroactive? This opens up a big can of worms.

Since I’m not an NFL player, or college football player for that matter, I could really care less about the precedent it sets-though I do see the point. But I am a pastor and so want to offer a take from my pastoral vantage point.
Is the NFL punishing someone who has already been punished? Had Terrell Pryor already served his punishment? Perhaps yes and no. He hadn’t served his 5 game suspension but instead quit. But he quit, because of his 5 game suspension. Regardless, lets just say some sort of punishment happened. If so, then the NFL re-punished Pryor. 
That matters very little to most of us. But what is more consequential is the notion that God re-punishes His children, after already punishing the sins of His people on the cross of Christ. Either Christ bore the punishment for sins and there is no longer any punishment needed or allowed, or there is sin left that we need to be punished by God and others. 
Christ exhausted the punishment for all sins of all believers, so we need not be fearful of God’s wrath upon us. We shouldn’t self flagellate (not really sure how anyone would think this is a good idea), but most Christians find ways much more subtle like moping, feeling guilty, reading more of the bible or praying longer. Nor should we use the cross as an example of our restorative discipline practices like spanking, time-outs, or church discipline. For instance, saying things like, “Jesus went to the cross because God hates sin so much, so I need to spank you so you can know that God hates sin,” is, well, detestable, demeaning, and discounts the person and work of Jesus.
ESV 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
ESV 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, 

The work of the cross is complete and erases fear of re-punishment for the believer. So don’t re-punish yourself, re-punish others, or think God needs to re-punish you in any sort of punitive manner that satisfies your debt of sin or compares the act of discipline to the cross.

Unknown's avatar

The irony, I think, of Fantasy Football

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Football started back last week and that has me happy. I’m glad the yahoos that are football players and owners finally realized that they both needed each other to make money. But one thing I’m also excited about is fantasy football. 
I find an incredible irony in fantasy football. Football is the consummate team sport, for no one player can carry the team. The running back, regardless of his talent, needs an offensive line in front of him. The quarterback needs the offensive line, and needs some quality receivers if he (or rather his team) is to succeed. The same thing goes with the defense.
Yet fantasy football is about individual stats (with the exception of a “team defense”). That’s the point. It highlights the individual so much so, that some “fantasy folks” (real folks, just a bit too much into fantasy football) could care NOTHING about an actual team. All they follow are individuals and their stats. Now there is nothing inherently wrong with this-in fact it can be helpful when the team you care about stinks. It is just ironic how this team sport has denigrated into such an individualistic endeavor.
I don’t think fantasy football (or fantasy anything) could have developed in the East. It certainly couldn’t have developed 50 years ago, regardless of the lack of technology. For better or worse, we in America quickly reduce things to the lowest common denominator: the self as opposed to the family or community or nation.
And still, fantasy football, further adding irony to the mix with its attention to individual stats, CAN end up fostering community. Of course there are those who spend hours and hours on fantasy football, getting lost into the cyberspace transactions of players. They probably need to get a life or a job or work harder at both.
But because men often need a “reason” to get together, fantasy football can become that reason. This year we are hosting a draft party together, as opposed to the on-line draft fiasco of last season where some folks couldn’t log in and so flooded my inbox. This will give folks who don’t know each other, or don’t know each other as well, an opportunity to get together. And at the end of the season, when the winner will get something from the losers, we’ll have another chance.
During the season, menfolk who didn’t know each other now have an opportunity (a “reason”) to interact with one another. Youth now have an opportunity to further build relationships with adults they are “playing” that week.

In the end, fantasy football, which reflects ardent individualism, can actually lead to community. Ironic? I think so. Or maybe the whole process of redeeming the culture is itself an ironic process, as we move from from one’s intention to Another’s intention…

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Justification by faith or convictions?

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One of the things I neglected to mention in my last sermon, probably due to the awkward pause caused by my temporary thought vacuum, was how easily well intending folks can fall into the trap Paul warns against in Phil 3:1-6. For Paul its not “Who let the dogs out,” but “Don’t let them in!” These “dogs,” the “mutilators” of the flesh are trying to convince folks to place confidence in their good works in order to gain more favor with God and be a real part of God’s community.
But who are dogs which we should watch out for today? All kinds of parenting models or books on varieties of topics pop up from time to time and gain quite a following. Some can be quite terrible. Some can be OK, others great, but even good stuff can become divisive very quickly because we are so prone to need some sort of justification before God and others. I think that’s really the issue. You need Jesus, but you also need to school, or parent or think, or look like us. That’s why we tend to very fiercely at times propagandize our convictions. Some churches have been so infiltrated with “dogs” that they become a ________ friendly church. Ultimately something either good or bad (doesn’t really matter) has become another source of justification. Folks are justified before each other, aka, considered true committed Christians, when they follow a certain model of parenting, schooling, politics, etc…
So its not that folks are necessarily trusting in this stuff to save them from Hell, but they are trusting in this stuff to make God and others like them more. In other words, to “get in good” with God and us, here’s how you can belong. If you don’t think like us, we’ll make you feel marginalized with our little jabs, inside jokes, or celebration of how well our political, parental, schooling, worship models work.
Fellowship is granted and maintained based upon whether or not the other Christian shares the same convictions. Or fellowship is sought solely based upon shared convictions. But fellowship can also be granted by folks in the church based upon what they DON’T believe in. Sometimes we’re hesitant to grant the right hand of fellowship to folks who DO believe in something the majority of folks in the church DON’T believe. While some churches say, “You must believe in this model to be a part of us,” others may say or act like “You must not believe in this model if you want to fit in here.”
I think Paul is arguing that this behavior can’t exist alongside of justification by faith. Justification by faith reminds us that God justifies us before Himself. But now that we’re justified before God through faith in Christ alone, are we left to justify ourselves before others by our works, or convictions? Nope, justification is a one size fits all thing. It’s redeemable before God and the church. 
Heresies certainly cause much needed church splits; there can be a time to divide. Personality, improper peacemaking, and worship differences cause more. But I think even more church divisions, and denominations as a whole, have sprung from people trying to justify themselves before God and others by their convictions. Jesus’ work is easily marginalized if we’re not super careful.
Unknown's avatar

I got by with a little help from my friends

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Two Sundays ago I preached a sermon called “I get by with a little help from my friends.” I focused in on how much Paul, Ephaphroditus, Timothy, and the Philippians really needed each other. Today its no different; we still do need one another. And I didn’t mean to, but God actually used me to illustrate that point during this Sunday’s sermon “Who Let the Dog’s Out? (I’ve been trying to stick with song titles, though I’ve obviously varied the genre of music!).
I literally only “got by” with a little help from my friends. Since we meet in a movie theater, I heard some rumbling. I paused and said, “Is that from another theater or is it thundering outside?” Then I completely forgot where I was. Completely. So much so that I couldn’t go back to my notes (I really wasn’t following them anyway). I couldn’t move forward or backwards. My brain completely shut down. It’s a lonely feeling up there when you have no words to say. Lonely and scary for sure.
As much as I tried to get to the next point of application, I basically had nothing. So I asked my dear friend running the power point, “Mark, where was I?” He had nothing too. Finally, a woman yelled out, you said, “If we know more, we rejoice more!”
Then I was back up and running. I finished without much of a problem. I can’t describe to you the elation of her answer to my question.
I learned a few things:
1.) If my ADD wins, then I lose. I can’t respond to outside stimuli. And I have a history of it. Once during a beach wedding, I stopped the homily and said, “Oh cool, there’s a shark!” But I picked back up and didn’t miss a beat. I learned my lesson this time.
2.) People paying attention to the preached Word is not just important for them, its important for the preacher. But I hope to never have to “need” them to pay that much attention in the future.

3.) It was embarrassing for sure. But from what people talked about afterwards, I think the Word was preached clearly, illustrated effectively, and applied personally. I think Jesus exalted Himself, while at the same time humbling this preacher. Sometimes he does that to us, doesn’t He? Sometimes he likes to make Himself look good even at the expense of not allowing us to look so good. In other words, just what John the Baptist prayed, “He must increase but I must decrease.” I should not be bummed when God answers that prayer by increasing Himself but decreasing myself.  Though I didn’t pray that specifically, I nevertheless I’m glad God will always do “His thing.”

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Are you more mature than an 8 year old? I’m not

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I came across this article about a shark attack in NC and had to read it, as I do any time I see anything having to do with sharks. And since Shark Week will begin this Sunday I found it even more apropos. 
A little girl is attacked by a shark and deals with blood loss on the beach. But as she’s laying there, completely aware that she will need medical attention, she remembers something equally important, probably passed down to her by her parents: 
“She said, ‘Dad, can we say a prayer?'” Jordan Mangum told the station. “We said a prayer for her on the beach. Her faith and stoicism was a marvel to us.”

How cool is that? As parents, as pastors, as mentors, if we can get across one thing when tragedy strikes, this would be it: pray.
Even though it would be foolish not to go to the emergency room, it would be likewise foolish not to pray. Emergency medicine, like any sort of medicine, is no sure thing. I’ve watched enough Shark Week’s to know that shark attack victims do die on the beach, on the way to, or even in the hospital. The doctor alone is not enough. We’re ultimately in God’s hands, so it’s foolish not to pray and thus  neglect either of these “life-lines.”
Of course as I write this I feel convicted about foolishly not praying with (of course I prayed for) my dear friend who blew out his knee in a softball collision with 2nd base. With folks crowding around, and some pretending to actually know what they were doing when they clearly didn’t, I foolishly let them do their “work” and carry him off the field. I did end up praying briefly with him while on the bench, but my heart was more tuned in to getting him to the doctor.
 
I’m definitely not more mature at some levels then this lovely 8 year old. Faith like a child is a beautiful thing.
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What’s a communist government to do?

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This is a continuation of the last post, attempting to deal with the question: Should the Chinese government do all that it can to regulate the Church? I mean, does the state have/should have a legitimate fear of these house churches?
I think you could answer the question, both yes and no.
Yes-The government “should” have a legitimate fear with what’s going on. When the apostle Paul writes that Jesus is Lord, he is saying that Cesar is not Lord. There is an order of allegiance. Jesus becomes our ultimate King and we are called to obey Him rather than any man when those two commands intersect (though I think those two intersect probably less frequently than we like to admit here in the States). So if a communist state demands total allegiance, no matter what, then I guess that could/should create cause for concern.
In addition, because Christians have an ultimate allegiance to their Savior Jesus, they may have to abstain or speak up against certain practices of the state. For instance, if the state recommends an abortion to reduce over-population, then I could see the state having some legitimate concern. Early Christians made others look bad, and even an official named Pliny the Younger complained about them taking care of THEIR poor as well as those inside the church. So a healthy church can make the government look heartless, if not foolish.
No-Jesus also demands our ultimate allegiance, even more so than allegiance to family: suburbanites have a very hard time with this. But just as honoring Jesus before our families is actually the best for our families (they don’t become idols that way), so is honoring Jesus even before the government. When it comes to honoring the government officials (Rom 13, I Peter 2:13-14,17) , we really don’t get a vote. It’s a command. So in that sense, the government should do everything to stay out of the way of the church. Healthy Christians make good citizens.
I Peter even challenges Christians not to repay evil with evil, particularly at the government level. Ideally the government will then take notice and recognize the folly of their hatred for the church.
1 Peter 2:15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people
When the government is wrong, it seems Christians are to prove the government wrong by their good deeds and obedience as opposed to revolt. So again, no, they shouldn’t stop the church’s from flourishing.
 
In the end, should our neighborhoods, communities, and governments be “better off” with healthy reproducing churches? From my vantage point, yes, and I guess it probably depends upon what “better off” looks like. But ultimately I think the government reaction to the gospel will mirror the individual non-believer’s response to the gospel. They will have reason to love us if we love them in such a way as we’re called to. Yet they will have reason to hate us, because they first hated Jesus for his “arrogant” claim that only He can save.

The best answers often involve a little yes and no.

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Role of Examples and Sticking it to the Man

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I came across this video and article regarding the Chinese church and government crackdown the other day and just had a chance to watch it today (office internet precludes any video’s b/c it take about as long as a heat wave to move). We have no idea what it is like to worship under the religious limitations of a place like China. Now we don’t need to feel guilt for that; we don’t live in China. Yet, without feeling guilty, we can still can learn from our brothers and sisters in the faith, just as Paul claimed the Thessalonians provided a great example for others as they heard about such faith.
“I Thess 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.”
Here are some of my takes after seeing this short video from CNN.
1.) Examples are great. I believe we need examples. I need to see what it looks like for folks to radically live out their faith because they are enamored with their Savior, loving Him more than their lives, so much so that they don’t shrink back even at death. I need to see what Jesus could do in me if I believed the gospel more than I do now. But it is a precious love of their Savior (or more theologically accurate an understanding of their Savior’s precious love for them), not them trying be tougher, more radical, or follow an example better than the apathetic world around them which creates extreme faith. Simply put, because of Jesus’ love for them, they will conquer even the government. Much like my favorite line in Gladiator, “Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the Emperor of Rome.” Or you could also go with Revelation 12:11, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Examples are great as long as they don’t collapse to the lowest common denominator: Be Bold like the Chinese.
2.) Inside of most of us, I think, there is a tendency to want to defy the government and, “stick it to The Man.” There is a residue of our sinful flesh which desires autonomous freedom. But there is also part of our the redeemed heart which wants to obey its new master, friend, savior Jesus, even more than the government. And that part is from the Spirit. 
Sometimes I think we like the verse in Acts “We must obey God rather than men,” because it excites us to be free from government authority. It excites me to have this freedom, on this rare occasion, to stick it to the man. Of course getting beat up and tortured seem a lot less exciting. Now the time may come-though I tend to doubt it-when the government will intervene and regulate worship on a widespread manner. But we’re not there yet. So we probably shouldn’t live as though we’re allowed to stick it to the man by griping and disrespecting leaders whom we should be praying for (I admit I do very little of the latter) with God’s blessing. And I would do well, and probably others, to recognize our longing for such a time may be more centered around “sticking it to the man” than really loving and honoring Jesus more than Caesar.
3.) Should the Chinese government be concerned about these unregulated churches? Is there really a threat to communism? Are these churches really subversive? In other words, from a pragmatic point of view, SHOULD the Chinese government do all it can to stop the spread of the gospel? It makes it easier for me to be gracious toward an opponent if I can understand his/her worldview and how the gospel or my actions would be perceived by him/her. If they have a logical point, like not letting us do a bible club at a government subsidized apartment complex, I get that. I’m less frustrated by that. Anyhow, I’ll try to deal with this one tomorrow….