The Day I Was Taught How To Love

Some stories are meant to be told; while others are not even worth our memory. His name was Hal. He was a very cordial man. He loved to chat the morning away with the other regulars in the coffee house. Hal was a quick witted gentleman, carrying enough sayings up his sleeve to fill a conversation. He always knew how to put a smile on someone’s face. I do not recall a time when Hal ever lost his own smile – even while waiting out the morning rush for his regular decaf cup of coffee.

            Hal’s morning routine was as ritualistic as a priest rising early in the morning for prayer. Every morning I would show up to work at 7am and there Hal was walking the streets of the parking lot. It was quite the peculiar scene to witness this eighty year old man slowly make his way around the entire parking lot as the sun greeted the day. What an odd thing to do, I thought. As each morning passed, I began to take notice of Hal reaching to the ground on numerous occasions to pick up a coin here and there. I initially gave a little chuckle making the conclusion that he used the change he gathered each day to save for his morning coffee. However, that was not the case. Hal never used change to pay for his morning coffee. Still my question was left unanswered – why does Hal scavenge the parking lot for spare change?

            A few months passed by and my question was never answered. Instead, I received news that my beloved morning regular in the coffee house had passed away.  This event was terribly saddening. Subsequently, I was reminded of this unanswered question of mine. Why was it that Hal spent the mornings in the freezing cold weather meandering about the parking lot in search for spare change? I had to find out.

            The next morning I stopped a good friend of Hal’s, named Betty, and I asked her. “Betty, why was it that Hal spent every morning walking the parking lot in search for spare change?”

She greeted me with a very warm smile. After giving a little chuckle, she proceeded to answer me.

“I’m glad that you would ask such a question,” she said. “After all, it is quite the odd scene to witness a well-to-do retired gentleman scavenging a parking lot for change. Why do you suppose he carried about in search for spare change?” Betty asked.

“Well, I just assumed he collected the change to pay for his morning cup of Joe,” I answered with a grin.

After returning my grin, Betty proceeded to answer this bewildering question.

Betty responded, “Every morning Hal walked the parking lot to collect all the coins he could find and placed them in a jar when he would go home. At the end of every year, Hal would take all of the change he had collected throughout the months and treat his wife to a nice dinner for their anniversary.”

            As I gazed across the counter at Betty, my eyes were brought to tears. Suddenly, I felt like I knew my old friend Hal in a greater light. I was overwhelmed at the realization that Hal spent each morning of his life choosing to think about his wife as he went about saving every penny he could find. At that moment, Hal taught me the greatest lesson a man could learn. Every morning, choose to love your wife – even if it takes the discipline and oddity of walking about a store parking lot picking up spare change here and there. 

"I Hate the Church"

                “I hate the church.”  As many are becoming aware, there is a Christian sub-culture that fundamentally proclaims this harsh notion. Further, they are choosing to rebel against the church by living out their faith independently. This sub-culture has stirred up a conversation that must not be quickly jettisoned as ignorant speech. Why does this Christian sub-group acknowledge the church with such callous protest? Is the church truly deserving of such brutal criticism?

            As a post-modern, I will be the first to admit that we are a generation of rebels. We see ourselves as revolutionaries in a world that is poisoned by its delusions. Give us something to take a stand for, and we will be there at the vanguard. More often than not, the majority of us have no clue as to how we latched onto these rebellious notions. Nonetheless, this is who we are; we are a generation who find their identity as revolutionaries, or as our parents see it - defiant children. Yes, we are not even taken seriously. However, can we blame you? After all, does not our disposition spit in the face of our elders? It seems that we have all become deaf to one another, while shouting are criticisms back at one another. I’ll be the first to admit – we are fools.

            For those of us that decree, “I hate the church,” we have ignorantly left God out of the equation. After all, it is his church right? Yes, the church is filled with broken people trying to follow a perfect God. Is it not inevitable for there to be something in it to loathe? Perhaps we have become too quick to judge. Do we truly believe that the church is too broken and detestable that God is not at work? If this is the case, our GOD is too small. A God this small is not worth believing in. God is far too great and magnificent for me to place any limitations on him. The living God is continuously at work no matter how pathetic our attempts are to follow him. He knows we are human. He did create us! There will always be a need for grace on this earth we have been given. And we must be willing to accept it. Can we possibly know who God is and how he is working in the world to its entirety? I’d say let’s just shut our mouths, hopefully we have some humility to accept that God’s plans are greater than we could possibly conceive. 

            Now to those that remain satisfied with the church in its current state, will you not listen to your inheritor’s plea? Do not turn your back on us! At the core of this rebellion is a sentiment of genuine concern. At the very least we need to be thankful to have a generation that cares deeply enough to say something. I will choose to believe our God will heal these deaf ears of mine, and I pray the same to you. For, we are in desperate need of one another. We are together “the church,” wherever we are. Choose not to believe in a God that continues to cause disunity. This is our doing, not his.

²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²² I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

²⁴ “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

²⁵ “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶ I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

John 17:20-26

Let us reflect on our Lord’s prayer upon us. Pray for one another. 

Are We Sucker's for Hope?

If I were to break down the human mind, as I have come to know, I must admit that the desire to hope, in this or that, whether corporeal or ethereal, rests innately at the core of the psyche.  The absence of hope in the human psyche belongs to the distressing clutch of depression.  Or, perhaps, even it is the very hope we once had, in something or someone, that left us abandoned to the devastating hauntings of depression.  Even so, as we would soon discover, found deep at the roots, within the entrapment of depression, still remains an alluring desire to find hope. Nevertheless, hope subsists within the psyche, even when we wish not to know of hope.  Where does this desire to hope come from?  Why does hope play such a pivotal role in the satisfaction of the heart? Most imperatively, is there anything worth placing our hope in that will not leave us in the end deprived?

If we were to examine the nuanced reasoning behind our every motive and course of action, it is my conclusion that we would inevitably find subtle hints of hope embedded in even the simplest of decisions. We hope for success. We hope for acceptance.  We hope for rewards.  We hope for contentment. We hope for victory. We hope to survive.

Now, to what we put our hope in; that is precisely what makes or breaks us.  Again, as I said before, even in the simplest of things, we put our hope.  For instance, I am a fanatic of the MLB team, the Seattle Mariners.  I, unfortunately for my sake, put my hope in the desire for them to win.  Now, if any of my readers know of the Seattle Mariners, they know that it is not often that they win a ball game. I have found that when I watch their games religiously, day to day, I cannot help but feel some form of depression.  You see, I invested my time into knowing the team all too well: the players, their strengths and weaknesses, and the opponents of the day.  Consciously, I knew there was minimal hope for them to win.  However, I invested so much of my time into the team, so I still managed to conjure up a hope for them to succeed in their endeavors.  Pathetic, I know.  Nonetheless, this is the predicament of the human psyche. We are compelled to hope; and whether we like it or not, our hope will soon rest in something or someone.

            More prominently, we are all victim to placing our hope into future goals, achievements and career paths.  At an early age, we are taught to reach for the stars; anything is possible if you put your mind to it!  Without realizing it, we are being subconsciously conditioned by those who have preceded us in their successes and failures.  Those that have failed hope to witness their youth succeed in what they could not. Coincidently, those who have managed “success” hope for their youth to find success in a more satisfying form.  How so?  Because their hope of success has been accomplished, they now know not what to hope for.  Nevertheless, they lose their hope, because they have been led astray by the very thing that intends to satisfy a longing heart. Hope.  Although vestiges of hope will again subsist within the psyche, it will be perpetually left unsatisfied, due to the conditioned hope of things worldly[1]. 

C.S. Lewis once said, “Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise”.

            Now, to where does this desire for hope originate from?  Well, it seems as though material things leave us dissatisfied with ourselves and life itself, so would it not make since that something eternal is the answer?  Intriguingly, within the very definition of hope lies the concept of things eternal, long lasting.  In answering things eternal, I have found that the Christian hope for reconciliation and redemption provides the satisfaction the heart longs for. Therefore, the desire to hope originates from being created in the image of God.  In creating the world, God knew the course His created order would take in the fall, yet His hope in the knowledge of His plan of redemption and reconciliation brought Him great joy in His creation.

            If this knowledge of truth in the hope of things to come satisfies the creator of the universe, would it not make since that it would satisfy us, being created in His image? 

For it is said, “Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again, to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)

In referring back to the imagery that Lewis presents, he immediately reminds me of the story of the Women at the Well. In this story Jesus is asking a Samaritan woman for a drink of water from a well, while proceeding to tell her of his life giving truth.

In response to the woman, Jesus says this, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”.

“A Spring of water within me!” “And I will never be thirsty again!” Sounds incredible! I suppose it would be ridiculous of her to not be the slightest bit intrigued by this whimsical proposition. A spring of water flowing within?  To never have to thirst again? I don’t know about you, but I’m sold.  I want to taste of this spring! Where can I find it?

            ^“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on thegrace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1Peter 1:13)

            You see, this is a parable Jesus is extending to the woman.  By drinking water from the well, she experiences spurts of satisfaction and quenched thirst.  However, she is never truly satisfied, because, in time, she has to again make that long trek out to the well for more water that will only again quench her thirst for a short while.  Now, Jesus says, “place your hope in me” and you will never be thirsty again. In other words, you will find joy in His grace. 

            Now, this does not mean that suddenly life becomes “peaches and roses”. No, we are human. Let’s accept this. We are broken. We cannot live out the grace of God in His Kingdom in its completeness, nor find perfection in ourselves.  To expect such a thing would be missing the gospel message. However, the gospel does tell us that there will come a day that everything is restored, redeemed and brought back to life. Now this, this is worth placing your hope in.  For I am convinced that to put your hope His grace and the knowledge of His Kingdom at hand will never leave you thirsty.  I have found joy.

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[1] 1 Corinthians 15:19, Romans 8:24-25

Homosexuality and the Church

A good friend recently asked me, “Why do homosexuals hate Christians so much?”, and further, “Why do they play victim every time I try to express my own opinion?”

            In response I inquired, “Well, do you feel any hostility towards homosexuals?”

            “No, not really”, he said. “However, I do grow in hostility towards them, because of the way that I am treated as ignorant and judgmental. He then proceeded, “If I am treated like shit for my beliefs as a Christian by homosexuals, why should I even care to try and understand homosexuality?”

            “Hmm, I suppose I could understand your sentiments.” I responded. “However, let’s think of this in the reverse.  What is the history with homosexuality and the Church?” In saying this I mean, what is the historical Christian discourse with homosexuality?”

            “Well, I know biblically it’s wrong” he quickly retorted. “Nevertheless, the Church really hasn’t been the greatest friend to homosexuals. It seems that Christians have been quick to marginalize them.”

            I nodded in agreement. “Yes, I agree that we haven’t been the greatest neighbors to homosexuals have we?”

 

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40

            It was this conversation that moved me to reflect more deeply upon the struggle between homosexuality and the Church today.  The Church’s hatred and judgmental actions of the past and present have become a terrible stigma to the name of Jesus Christ.  How saddening is it that we, as believers of Jesus Christ, have turned His name into a person who hates and despises. Jesus was once asked, “Which is the greatest commandment?” And his response, in paraphrase, “Love God, and secondly, love your neighbor as yourself”.  As Christians, what are we going to say to the all-mighty God on judgment day when He asks if we kept His commandments?

 “Well God, I loved you with everything I had and I loved the neighbors that I got along with.”

I have a feeling God’s response will be a little something like this:  “Seriously? The ones you got along with? Do you really think that you loved me by loving those that you got along with?  My Son told you, ‘Whatever you did not do for one of the least of these[1], you did not do for me.’[2]

Ouch! What would we say to that? Perhaps, “Oh, I’m sorry God. I missed that part. I must have skipped right over it.”

God might say something like, “No, clearly you never knew Me, because if you truly knew me, you would have loved the least of these. Step back, I never knew you.”

*

How can God be so cruel?  No, I think the right question would be, how could we have allowed our hearts to grow so far from Him?

The Christian doctrine of transformation directly understands that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the hearts of those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  If this is truth, would not our actions reveal the love and grace of our loving savior, Jesus Christ?[3] Even further, is it reasonable to say that the Holy Spirit has indwelled in our hearts, if our actions do not reflect God’s peace and love?  Or is it possible that we have denied the Holy Spirit entirely, because what Jesus calls us to do is simply too uncomfortable?[4] 

Why is it that Christians often believe they can pick and choose which passages of scripture they will abide by, while jettisoning other passages that may be uncomfortable for them? Is this truly the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ? No, in the words of the President of World Vision, Richard Stearns, “There is a hole in our gospel”.[5]  Jesus did not say, “Take or leave the things I say, as long as you believe in me”.  He said more clearly, “Die to yourself and pick up your cross daily to follow me.”[6]  I love Paul’s reflections in his letter to the Church at Galatia; you can truly see that he has internalized what Jesus had taught, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”[7]  What?!  “No longer do I live, but Jesus lives in me.”  Have we, as Christians, truly internalized this?  If we have, it better reveal itself in the way that we love one another and our neighbors.  If not, unfortunately, we are no better off than the demons.

“Love God and Love others”

*

            In reference to the turmoil still brewing to this day in the Holy Land., Jostein Gaarder remarks, “Down here, Cain and Abel have not finished killing one another.”[8]  Whether or not this statement resonates well with you, some may find it provocative and disturbing in ways; however, it carries a significant underlying message that is remarkably profound.

            Now, stepping away from biblical theology for the time being, without disregard, let’s unpack the psychological development taking place between people who are homosexual and people in the Church. In mentioning Gaarder’s remark in reference to the turmoil in the Holy Land, I intend to draw a parallel with the Church’s relationship with homosexuals.  Let me explain. 

In the aftermath of the World War II, the Jews felt the need to retreat back to the land of their ancestors.  I could not begin to fathom the amount of pain and struggle that they had undergone. The psychological trauma the Jews had experienced in the course of the war inevitably affected their course of action, as they proceeded onward to the land of their fathers. When they arrived, we find that historically the Jews used militant force to seize many villages that surrounded Israel, while aggressively marginalizing the Palestinians that inhabited the land at the time.  The question naturally would be asked, why would the Jews act with militant force in such a way, when they had just experienced a similar act of violence?  Well, they were in the post-traumatic state of feeling threatened. In the course of feeling threatened, the Jews felt the need to act out in violence to find their safe haven, and the Palestinians became the victims without further reason.[9]  A brief summary, however, I hope eye-opening.

Now, jumping back to my conversation with a friend about homosexual’s hostility towards Christians, we can look at it in a different light. The animosity he experienced from homosexuals was merely a reaction based off the historical, and sadly modern, notion that homosexuals are merely sinners and hell-bound.  Well, frankly, I’d be pretty stand-offish too.  I can’t blame them.  Who wants to be judged by their neighbor? That does not seem loving, and even further, it is the complete opposite of the grace Jesus preached.

It seems that now we have a choice, as Christians.  The ball is back in our court.  If we, as Christians begin to be treated poorly due to these labeled preconceived notions, do we choose to hate back?  If so, this would be yet another great error for those who desire to love as Christ loved.  Further, this cycle of hate will only continue to war against God’s Kingdom.  We now have the opportunity to love, while extending grace to those who do not necessarily agree with us.  Again, this love does not have conditions. It is unconditional.  We, as Christians, love and extend grace, because we are called by our loving Savior to do so.  If we cannot live out this in our lives, we are failing the message that Jesus came to preach. After all, it is not I who came to judge, it is God who will be the great judge.  It is not I that convicts, but the Holy Spirit that will convict.  So, if indeed homosexual acts are sinful, that is up to those who partake and our Holy God.  In the same way, I will have to stand before a Holy God in account for the great many of sins that I have blindingly committed day to day.  I pray and know that our God’s grace is not limited by my blindness, because I am, indeed, human.  We have all fallen short. It is by the grace of God we are redeemed. I thank God every day for that grace and hope to share it with every listening ear. 

I challenge you, to go, and while going love every person God puts in your path.  Allow God to speak through that love.  Although you will be tempted, do not feel the need to fill the world with useless words, only speak when necessary, and do so in love. 

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[1] In considering the “least of these”, it seems that Jesus speaks considering all of mankind, not a select few that pity you, but even those that may be uncomfortable to love.

[2] Matthew 25:31-46, The Sheep and the Goats

[3] James 2:14-26, Faith and Deeds

[4] Mark 3:23-29

[5] Stearns, Richard. “The Hole in Our Gospel”

[6] Luke 9:23

[7] Galatians 2:20

[8] Gaarder, Jostein. “Sophie’s World”

[9] For further reading see; “The Lemon Tree” and “Blood Brothers”

The Hand of God

In the summer of 2002, my father became paralyzed in a tragic surfing accident.  My brother and I were 11 years old at the time. I remember not knowing what to think.  I was angry at God. I was confused and terrified.  As I continued on through the aftermath of the accident, I learned how to strategically compartmentalize these emotions, so I no longer had to wrestle with them day in and day out.  It numbed the pain.

            Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there.  Throughout the years God has continually been speaking His truth to me through the tragedy of the accident.  Recently, a friend whom many of you know, one of the protégés, Katie Juranek was healed from arthritis pain that she had experienced for the past 5 years. Naturally, in the course of witnessing the healing power of the Holy Spirit I began to question God in terms of my father’s accident. Why Katie, and not my father? 

            As I was worshiping one night with the High School students at Summit, God’s Spirit moved me to tears and revealed His truth to me.  Do you not realize my hand at work?  I called my father and mother that night to share what God had revealed to me.

My father answered the phone. After pushing through many tears, I managed to share what was on my heart:

 Dad, I know this accident has not been the most fun for you.  But I tell you this; God has used your accident to transform the lives of Jon and I.  In witnessing you continue to seek the Lord, we couldn’t help but do the same. And because of this, people are being healed.  Not a healing in the physical, but a deeper healing, people are being healed as they come to know the Truth that sets them free.  People are coming to know the Joy that only comes in the name of Jesus.  How much greater is this testimony, that because you have allowed God to work through the course of this tragedy, people are coming to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. People are set free. People have been healed.  

On the other line, my father and mother were filled with joy.  In response, my father said, son, if I could go back to the day of my accident, I wouldn’t change a thing.  I would do it all over again. To now have seen what God has done through this tragedy, speaks of much greater things than to be able to get up out of this wheelchair and walk.  

Predestination and Free Will

Predestination and Free Will

            In recent years, the topic of predestination and free will has weighed heavy on my heart. I have watched families and friends that I love rise in dispute and frustration, while not accepting one another’s theological disposition. I have witnessed the Church suffer immensely, due to this continuously disputed topic in theology. Needless to say, my heart is broken, as I witness theology tearing apart the Church.  Was not theology intended to build up the Church? Jesus prayed in John 17 that we, the Church, may be one, just as the Father and the Son are one, and that we may be one in Them.

            I was raised in a home that tended to communicate the faith through a theology that promoted free will; however, it was never explicitly conveyed to me in such a way.  The Church I was raised in also promoted a free will interpretation of the faith.  As I continued on to study theology at the university level, again, I discovered a theology presented through a lens in support of free will. In my freshmen year of college, I discovered that my home church was going through a division.  Regrettably, this was due to a disagreement between the doctrines of predestination and free will.  My youth pastor, who had intended on stepping into the lead pastor role of the church, discovered that his theology did not align with what the church had been established with.  As the church body began to split between the two persuasions, the church divided, while many families and friends allowed themselves to be left angered with one another. 

            During this time, I decided to take a journey of discovery and discernment of the two persuasions.  After all, I came to the realization that I was easily convinced by both Calvin’s and Armenian’s arguments.  As I read copious books and articles, ranging from Hyper Conservative Calvinism to very Liberal Armenianism, again, I found myself jumping back and forth from persuasion to persuasion. This aggravated me.  I could not be convinced. 

            I will begin with a brief interpretation of Calvinism. “TULIP”, Calvin’s systematic attempt to unpack Predestination forms what could be easily understood as a very logical and reason based disposition[1].  He claims that we are totally deprived, which basically means we do not have the ability to choose God; therefore, we have been Unconditionally Elected, or simply, we have been chosen by God to enter Salvation.  In following, sense we have been chosen, there is Limited Atonement, which means Jesus really only had to die for those that God had chosen. Fourthly, those that have been chosen experience an Irresistible Grace through the Holy Spirit, which cannot of course be denied, because it speaks truth to a otherwise broken soul; therefore, there is a Perseverance of the Saints, which means that once an individual is saved, he/she will remain saved, there is no walking away from the faith.

            Logically, it makes sense right? And, whether you choose to believe so, or not, this argument can be easily backed by scripture. However, in the same, my heart does not rest well in this knowledge.  Jesus only died for those who were “CHOSEN” by God?  Seriously? Do you really expect me to believe in a God that would create people, with the knowledge, that He was writing their death sentence to eternity?  Even further, that He has the audacity to choose who gets to spend eternity in paradise? I mean come on, seriously? This is a pretty sad God that the Bible seems to promote. In all honesty, this “god” has no worth to me. He is merely a God reduced to theological persuasion. However, coincidently, we can hear the Calvinists screaming back at us, “But you just don’t understand, because you are deprived.  Is it not simply beautiful that while all mankind has been convicted of the death sentence, God decided to reach down and save the few.”  Interesting point, but as much as I appreciate your logic, there still remains an unsettling tone that does not capture the God of the Bible.

            Moving along to the persuasion of Free Will, we find another well thought out and reason based argument that seems to convey truth[2].  Armenian begins by asserting that we are indeed deprived, yet this does not prevent us from the power to choose Divine Grace, we have the Free Will to do so.  In so having the free will to choose grace, there is in part a Conditional Election that takes place, which implies that God does not have his hands in choosing those who are saved and not saved, salvation is left for us to choose, and it is readily available to us.  Therefore, there is Universal Atonement.  Jesus was sent to the earth to die for all of humanity, to pay for the sins of all, so that whosoever chooses to believe in Him would have everlasting life with the Father in Heaven.  With this knowledge, it would make sense that grace is resistible, meaning that we have the free will to choose grace or not to.  Lastly, Armenian’s theology would conclude with the point that we can indeed Fall from Grace, or that we can, if we so desire, choose to walk away from the grace that he/she once knew.

            Of course! Here is the logic that I was waiting for! Again, I find myself throwing two thumbs up, as my mind is logically persuaded in this well-delivered argument.  Is this not a beautiful picture? Jesus died for all of humanity. We all have the choice to accept His truth, so that we may have eternal life with the Father. This is truly, “good news”. However, where is God in all of it?  Did God merely, plan out an opportunity for us to know Him, while stepping back to watch?  While if we decide to choose Him, than He will step into the picture? So, you’re telling me that the God of the Universe, whom sent His Son to die on the cross out of His unconditional love for us, has decided to now sit and watch us choose salvation? This does not sit well with me. In my state of fallen depravity, as I have come to realize, how can I choose to serve the Holy and Living God on my own accord?  Wait, I have to leave everything to follow you God? Everything? Well, as great as that sounds God, I think I’ll take a rain check. I’m not interested. Right now, I have all this other stuff to manage.

              Again, whether you choose to agree, or not, this argument can very well be solidified by the backing of scripture. Nonetheless, I am again left dissatisfied as I continue to wrestle with this theological persuasion of how God works out Salvation.  I regret that this theology may also be convicted of the same crime: reducing God to the powers of persuasion. 

It is not my hope to adequately articulate how God works out salvation in this broken world.  However, I do know that He does, and it is good.  As I continued to wrestle with these two theological agendas I find myself more and more uncomfortable with either persuasion. Each lack what the other gives. Even further, each of the two arguments have withheld the test of scripture throughout history, which is precisely why the two theologies still remain in discussion today.   Tell me, do I need to settle on one side or the other? Shall I create my own theology to disprove the rest? No, and no.  Again, I would only allow my mind to be hypnotized by the power of persuasion. We should not hope to reduce the Living God to the confines of human discourse and persuasion.  It is not my intent to completely discredit logic, but while logic may be a helpful tool, it cannot conjure a sufficient definition of the God who spoke the world into existence.   

            For the sake of communicating the gospel and to engage in healthy theological discussion, I proceed further in expressing where I have come to rest in the knowledge of how God works out Salvation.  If I may provide for you a disclaimer, that in so doing, I humbly regret, that in some way or form, I reduce the Living God to a form of persuasion.

However, I hope to emphasize the mystery of How God is at work in the world.

            I believe there is middle ground here.  As both sides become easily polarized, while coincidently, being strongly rooted in scripture; it only makes sense that both contain within themselves some form of truth. After all, who am I to say that I have obtained the knowledge to adequately articulate who God is?  I am not willing to do that.  I do not have a word or phrase that will provide any logical argument that will suit our craving to know, because God is in Himself, and is a mystery. I chose the term mystery, so that I may humbly admit that I do not know how the God of the universe works out the entirety of Salvation.  However, I know that He does.  He did send His Son to die on the cross for humanity, which means that Salvation is made available, but apart from that knowledge God is mysteriously working in the world that HE spoke into existence.

Further Reflections I have encountered…

Disclaimer: I do not promote that I have discovered the truth in the problem that these two arguments present.  I, also, do not believe that such an answer is made readily available if we hope to rely upon logic, reason and persuasion. I merely proceed forth acknowledging the mystery of how God works, while hoping to evoke concepts of truth that may aid our understanding in the desire to know who and how God works.

God created time[3].  In fact, He spoke the concept into being.  Therefore, God remains outside of time. If God were to be bound within the constraints of time, subsequently, God would be limited to the mere historical knowledge attainable by man.  In Jeremiah 1:5, God expresses that even before Jeremiah was born, He knew him and set him apart as a prophet. If the God of the Universe was bound by time, how does He come up with a statement like this?  If we understand the scriptures to be the infallible Word of God, subsequently, we must admit that God remains outside of time[4].  Therefore, as we commit to God being outside of time, withholding knowledge of the future, the terminology of “set apart, chosen, ordained, and called” must be reinterpreted through this lens.

It is not my intent to strip words of their definitions; however, it is my hope that we do not allow our concept of God to be limited by language. Language was intended to be a tool used to communicate. However, language does not have the ability, nor the capacity within itself to adequately define an object, thought, or emotion. It is merely an aid to our understanding and desire to communicate. Think for a second.  Is it possible for another individual to capture a thought/idea that has originated within your own mind? Through the usage of language as a tool, an individual has the ability to grasp a form of that thought/idea; however, the thought/idea becomes fragmented through language, because it loses your emotion, motive and desire for it. Nevertheless, language can often distract our ability to comprehend, more than it might perhaps aid.

The language of being “Chosen and Set Apart” speaks a beautiful truth.  It carries the emphasis that God has laid claim on His people, He is dedicated and passionate for His people, and He cares not only for the entirety of His people, but for each individual. How incredible is that?  To worship the living God in the knowledge of being Chosen is a beautiful and wonderful thing, and humbling at that.  

It has become increasingly evident that I am, in fact, deprived, while unable to work out my own Salvation.  Paul claimed to the Church at Phillipi, “For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose”.  According to Paul, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures, the realization of the ability to even desire to do His good purpose comes directly from Him, in His Spirit, through the power of His Son. Again, how magnificent is it that God continues to work among us, so that we may carry out His good purpose.

In coincidence to the realization of God directly working in our lives, while carrying out our salvation for His good purpose, it is necessary that we do not forget the gift of free will that has been bestowed upon mankind. In the wonder and beauty of His magnificent creation, God decided that His creation would not be complete without gifting man with the will to choose. Unfortunately, the outcome of this didn’t turn out so well, as Adam and Eve decided to choose against God’s will[5]. However, providentially, God had a plan.  In God’s omniscience, He knew the course that His creation would take.  Subsequently, He provided the answer that would reunite mankind with Him, as we have come to know in His Son[6]. 

Are we predetermined by God if we will be saved? In some form, or way, in accordance to scripture it seems as though we are.  How God “determines” remains a mystery to me.  Has mankind been handed the gift of free will? Yes, indeed we have, as we have seen beginning in the Garden of Eden, and further carried out throughout Salvation History.  It seems as though a paradox has arisen. Is this unsettling to me? In some ways, yes, but I must admit that this is due to my humanity.  I am subject to the craving of knowledge through reason and logic.  However, God defines Himself.  As the theologian N.T. writes confesses, “The Gospel, is a power that has been let loose in the world, and cannot be reduced to any form of persuasion, or conviction of the messenger”.[7]  Therefore, even through my desire to know how God works, I must find rest in the mystery of His salvation. I fear that if I do not accept His mystery, I will inevitably reduce the living God to systematic and logic-filled theology[8].

Have you ever stopped to wonder about the disciple’s journey to faith?  In Mark 1:17-20, we find that Simon, Andrew and James had an immediate reaction to the call of Jesus to follow Him.  Jesus said, “Come, follow me”, and they went!  What?!  So a man named Jesus walks by, (and while they may have had some knowledge of who Jesus was, this was never mentioned) and he decides asks these men to follow Him? I’m sorry, but if some random guy, or even, a supposed miracle worker walks by and says, “Follow me”, I’d definitely have a few questions to ask him. So, why did they simply abandon everything? They walked away from their livelihood, their family and their inheritance. Seriously? Are they insane? They must have been.  Or, perhaps, maybe there is something else going on here. Maybe a “power has been let loose” (Holy Spirit) and they had no other choice but to follow Jesus. For some odd reason to them, it just made sense.

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[1] Scripture references for Predestination:

Job 14:1-5, Psalm 65:4, Psalm 130:13, Proverbs 16:33, Isaiah 14:24-26, Isaiah 46:8-9, Luke 22:20, Acts 2:22, Acts 4:27, Acts 13:48, Roms 8:28, Ephesians 1:1-14, Ephesians 2:10

[2] Scripture references for Free Will:

Proverbs 12:24, Joshua 24:15, Luke 13:3, John 3:16, John, 7:17, John 8:24, John 8:32,  Acts 2:38, Romans 13:2, Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Thessalonians  1:8

[3] Genesis 1:1-5

[4] Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139, Colossians 1:15-17, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 1:2, Revelation 20, Revelation 21

[5] Genesis 3:1-7

[6] John 1:1-18, Colossians 1:15-20, Old Testament Prophecies of the coming of the Messiah

[7] N.T. Wright, Commentary on Colossians

[8] It is not my intent to discredit logic, reason and systematic based theology. However, I do hope to emphasize that these are merely tools to obtain knowledge, so they hold great significance as we seek to know God. Nevertheless, if we begin to rely entirely upon these tools to define the Creator, Himself, we are at a loss. The tools of a carpenter cannot build the carpenter, himself.