Wisdom in a Crappy World

Cover of Knowing God

I listened to J. I. Packer‘s Knowing God tonight as I ran. The following excerpt reinforced the teaching on Ecclesiastes I’ve experienced these past few months, and how poignant His wisdom is for today.

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Packer, J. I. Knowing God. Inter Varsity Press, 1973. Pages 95-96

Chapter 10: God’s Wisdom and Ours

Section IV: Ecclesiastes (Boldface Print Is Mine)

…But once you conclude that there really is no rhyme or reason in things, what profit—value, gain, point, purpose—can you find henceforth in any sort of constructive endeavor? (1:3; 2:11, 22; 3:9; 5:16). If life is senseless, then it is valueless; and in that case, what use is it working to create things, to build a business, to make money, even to seek wisdom—for none of this can do you any obvious good (2:15 f., 22 f.: 5:11); it will only make you an object of envy (4:4); you can’t take any of it with you (2: 18ff.; 4:8; 5:15 f.); and what you leave behind will probably be mismanaged after you have gone (2:19). What point is there, then, in sweating and toiling at anything? Must not all man’s work be judged ‘vanity (emptiness, frustration) and a striving after wind’ (1:14 RV)? —activity that we cannot justify as being either significant in itself or worthwhile to us? It is to this pessimistic conclusion, says the preacher, that optimistic expectations of finding the divine purpose of everything will ultimately lead you (cf. 1:17f.). And of course he is right. For the world we live in is in fact the sort of place that he has described. The God who rules it hides Himself. Rarely does this world look as if a beneficent Providence were running it. Rarely does it appear that there is a rational power behind it all. Often what is worthless survives, while what is valuable perishes. Be realistic, says the preacher; face these facts; see life as it is. You will have no true wisdom till you do.

Signal Box at Bangor Railway Station, Wales. Image via Wikipedia

Many of us need this admonition. For not only are we caught up with the ‘York-signal-box’ conception, or misconception, of what wisdom is; we feel that, for the honour of God (and also, though we do not say this, for the sake of our own reputation as spiritual Christians), it is necessary for us to claim that we are, so to speak, already in the signal-box, here and now enjoying inside information as to the why and wherefore of God’s doings. This comforting pretense becomes part of us: we feel sure that God has enabled us to understand all His ways with us and our circle thus the reason for anything that may happen to us in the future. And then something very painful and quite inexplicable comes along, and our cheerful illusion of being in God’s secret councils is shattered. Our pride is wounded; we feel that God has slighted us; and unless at this pint we repent, and humble ourselves very thoroughly for our former presumption, and our whole subsequent spiritual life may be blighted.

…. But what, in that case, is wisdom? … Leave to God its [life's] issues; let Him measure its ultimate worth; your part is to use all the good sense and enterprise at your command in exploiting the opportunities that lie before you (11:1-6)…We can trust Him and rejoice in Him, even when we cannot discern His path…Such, then, is the wisdom with which God makes us wise.

Failed Lesson for Controlling the Economy: Nudge-a-Meter Needed

Belarusian Coat of Arms (Image via Wikipedia)

Belarus, the last stronghold of Soviet styled economics proves the utter failure of trying to control an economy. Inflation has doubled prices this year, and dropped wages in half, too, for a double whammy. The government owns 70% of Belarusian businesses, and politicians most of the other 30%.(Read more here.)

The lesson here is: We can’t control the economy. We can nudge it, but the economy has animal kingdom tendencies. It eats the weak and naturally selects for one breed over another. Government ownership and doles eventually fail. A good economy rewards creativity and hard work.

On the other hand can we give the economy Darwinian Evolutionary power? Do we submit to the strongest and fittest mentality with little empathy for the weak or the poor? What controls and regulations inspire creativity and an individual’s desire to work hard? We have seen the failed attempts of “Occupy” protestors because they offered no solutions. Churches no longer play the role of providing for the poor or the homeless. The government continues to prove its ability to give a safety net and more, so do we really want to overthrow the government and our capitalism because of some obvious flaws? Overthrow only works once every thousand years!

A German movie, “The Wave,” plays with this idea. A High School teacher assigns his class an experiment to make up a new form of government. They make up all the rules as they go along. All old rules don’t apply unless the group decides. Within a day, the new system begins to break down. By day three, anger and tragedy bring reality home. The students need rules, authority and a real government. Humans left alone produce tyranny and chaos.

Paul said as much in Romans 12 and 13. The government is ordained by God, even bad governments. Even Belarusian dictatorships. Even capitalistic or Darwinian systems. However, Paul also speaks to this issue in Ephesians 6. He states clearly we don’t fight against flesh and blood but against the principalities, powers, and rulers of this world. These powers set themselves up and over human life and freedom. They destroy us. They oppress. They suffocate and constrict human potential.

However, Belarusians and Americans still produce vast numbers of creative and powerful human expressions. Though stifled in Belarus, the arts and religious expression continue to grow. Here, some anarchists work to overthrow our system as if all is evil when in reality, the governmental machine is more like an aircraft carrier than a kayak due to the bulk of humanity (100,000,000 more Americans in 35 years!), and the complex task of governing so many people.
We have to trust that God works in every system. People have a God-given drive to overturn oppression and moral wrongs. A good government is less about control, and more about nudging. If only we had a “Nudge-a-meter” to help decide who is the best nudger in the next election!

Related articles

• It is now illegal to access any foreign website in the Republic of Belarus (thenextweb.com)
• Censorship: Belarus Makes Certain Web Behaviors Illegal (mashable.com)
• Iron digi-curtain: Belarus nationalises internet (go.theregister.com)
• Belarus Has Outlawed Browsing Foreign Websites (forbes.com)
• Lukashenko calls Russia and EU partners, seeks help (rt.com)

Current Events Thoughtfully Discussed

Finally, an intellectual and relevant, non-hype broadcast using scholars and published works. I highly recommend listening to the podcasts called, “Thinking in Public.” Dr. Albert Mohler interviews professors and researchers with stimulating and relevant thinking. And there are NO COMMERCIALS.

As Christians walk through an increasingly chaotic and antagonistic world, we need a voice helping us think through tough issues. C. S. Lewis tackled similar issues of his day. His radio broadcasts during WWII and the bombing of London created a hope and purpose which countered the British intelligentsia’s skepticism about the war, the existence of God and moral law. The incredible number of replies requesting Lewis’s shows to continue surprised the BBC. His hopeful, Christian pragmatism coined phrases such as this: “History isn’t just a story of bad people doing bad things, but good people trying to do good things with something always going wrong.” The same virtues C. S. Lewis espoused, courage, justice, honesty, and charity continue to be virtues a conservative, evangelical intellectual named Albert Mohler promotes.

I occasionally listen to NPR’s hour-long talk shows including, Diane Rehm, Talk of the Nation, and Fresh Air, and Car Talk.  Except for Car Talk, each program brings an interesting person to the interview, but rarely is a Christian perspective given air-time. The conversation is interesting, but offers little, if any, helpful life application. I know this is an air-brushed generalization, but interviewing broken people who have no answers to avoid the same misery is typical of NPR. 

Because Dr. Mohler offers solutions or “advice” after each interview, he may seem judgmental, but he’s even-handed, non-judgmental, and appropriate without holding back where he’s coming from. He’s well read (seven or more newspapers before 7:00 a.m. daily!), a theologian, a professor, and a popular speaker. He’s a conservative, but moves freely in many circles (St. Meinrad Seminary, and the Gospel Coalition, for example).

His legacy as President at Southern Seminary (my Alma Mater) saw a complete faculty turnover in his first few years due to a resistance to conservative and evangelical scholarship. I don’t know all the ins and outs of these decisions, but most of my professors were great teachers. I understand that they played around the edges to give us a larger perspective, and some seemed to linger there too long creating a nagging doubt rather than an amazement at the scriptures.

Instead of listening to NPR, Rhianna, or Jay-Z while exercising or driving, download the podcasts of “Thinking in Public” and enjoy a world-expanding experience.

Related articles

• Al Mohler on NPR talking about the historicity of Adam (justaftersunrise.wordpress.com)
• The Goodness of God and the Reality of Evil by Dr. Albert Mohler (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)
• Mohler Appointed Schaeffer Chair at World Journalism Institute (prweb.com)
• Dr. Albert Mohler on 9/11 and Truth Telling (rodiagnusdei.wordpress.com)

An Aversion to Labeling Sin: Pastor Smith

Image via Wikipedia

Pastor Smith and Robert, the young man struggling with his sexuality, met again in Pastor Smith’s office. Robert came about fifteen minutes late in basketball shorts, a sweaty t-shirt, and new Air Jordan’s. He said, “Sorry about being late. I got into a three-on-three game at State’s gym. Sorry about stinking, too.”

“Don’t worry, Robert. It’s good to see you. I’ve had a few good games in my life, too. I’m glad you’re here.”

As Robert put a towel under his sweaty shorts he said, “I’ve thought a lot about our talk a couple weeks ago. I really don’t know why I’m so afraid of going to church. I guess I was programmed that way by my parents. They never went, and they only said how dumb and hypocritical church made you. You’re different, though.”

“I’m not much different than most of the Christians I know, Robert, but thank you for the compliment. It wasn’t Rodney King who started the phrase, “Can We All Just Get Along.” Jesus and the Apostle Paul said something like that 2,000 years ago!”

“That’s funny. I’m not sure if all Christians think that way, though.”

Pastor Smith leaned forward in his chair. “I think most Christians forget a fundamental doctrine of Christianity. We are all sinners, Robert. We get to feeling morally superior over other people all the time. In the 1500’s the Reformers had a phrase, ‘Total Depravity.’ to explain how we don’t have the ability to do much, if anything, perfectly. ”

“But Pastor Smith. That’s what I’ve been saying. Christianity is negative and rude. It labels people. “Good people.” “Bad People.” “Sinner.” “Saint.” “Homosexual or heterosexual.” How can you talk about someone else’s sin when you’ve got sin, too?

“Robert, the Bible doesn’t just condemn sin, but gives the answer to everyone’s inability to live perfectly in a chaotic world. In fact, I think that most people think they don’t sin, including Christians. I had an old Christian tell me once that most days he didn’t sin at all! He couldn’t remember the last time he had sinned. His only problem was that he couldn’t see his pride and indifference to any possible negative effect he had on people in his life.”

“But the Bible constantly talks about sin, doesn’t it?”

“Yes and No. In the Old Testament for every sin or list of sins mentioned, God restates his desire for relationship. He always shows people how he wants to forgive sin, from animal sacrifices to giving His Son as a substitute for our sin.”

“God didn’t say much about homosexuality, though!”

“That’s a good point. He doesn’t except for a few laws against it in Leviticus, which, I might add, are constantly questioned by my friends who do not believe homosexuality is a sin, and three places in the New Testament. Did you know that?”

“Not really, but I did hear some friends talk about how the Bible was twisted by homo-phobic translators, and a few of the translators were gay or lesbian. Wasn’t King James queer?”

“There is some evidence he was effeminate and possibly had male lovers, but his translators didn’t hold back any forceful translations against homosexual behavior, including Leviticus, even though King James used his power to get a translation favorable to his politics. Most modern translators understand that Jewish sexual behavior outside of marriage was due to cultural pressure, not because God allowed it. David had at least six wives. Abraham had a child with his wife’s servant. In the Promised land, the Israelites married Moabite women which God condemned, but we have no record of any man or woman lying with another of the same sex. It just wasn’t part of their mentality. Many wives? Yes. Same sex? As the King James Version says, ‘Abomination.’ I know this sounds hard, but that’s the cultural understanding of the context of the Bible. And it’s the same for the New Testament.”

“I think I’m done here. You’re just as prejudiced as anyone I’ve met.”

“You are welcome to go Robert, but one thing I must say. I’ve made a promise to be your friend, and even, to love you no matter what you do or say. You need to know that. I know we may differ, but if it’s love and acceptance you want, you’ve got it! Remember, I do the same for all my members, but it doesn’t stop me from talking about  sin and God’s tool he has for helping us become what he wants. If only I could help you see that God isn’t condemning because he’s hateful or prejudiced. I think this is the hardest part of the whole Christian doctrine to see, but it’s fundamental to hearing about God’s love, too.”

“Well, I’ll stick around for one more talk, but I don’t get it. I’m happy where I am, and so are most of my friends.”

“Robert, thank you! My goal is to talk freely with you, and if we can talk freely together, then we can see the most powerful of all the Christian beliefs. What time is good to meet next week?”

Related articles

• Come as you are (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
• Scripture and Homosexuality: Romans (six11.wordpress.com)
• Why Is Homosexuality Singled Out? (reneamac.com)
• Homosexuality (conservapedia.com)

30 Speeding Tickets, Favoritism and What “Occupy” Needs Now

I’ve been stopped by the police almost thirty times since I was sixteen resulting in four speeding tickets. One was dismissed. I think some of the stops in my younger years were simple profiling because of my age, time of night, or out-of-state license plates.

A Traffic Camera caught me with its white, hot strobe-flash last fall, and Rhonda, clever wit that she is, said, “There goes a hundred dollars!” Of course, I have a great alibi for why I went through a red light, but it couldn’t disprove the two pictures and a video proving my stupidity.

Rich, my good friend and former roommate, was a police officer. He taught me to help the officer by taking out my driver’s license, registration, and insurance car, then place my hands on the dash before he/she comes up to my window. Say, “Officer,” or “Sir/Madam.” He said to turn on my dome light at night so the officer can see everything inside the car. I do all of these to increase the odds of not getting a ticket.

90% of people in jail say they don’t deserve their sentence. In some ways, they are right! I deserved tickets but haven’t got many. I had some advantages.

• They didn’t have a roommate who taught them the right things to say when the officer approaches.
• I don’t look like a criminal (usually), nor do I talk like one.
• My car carries no contraband.
• I had a good upbringing by educated parents who modeled healthy, Christian values.

Is this what the Occupy mobs rail against? They rail against favoritism, privilege, and upbringing? Against the feeling that because of parents or lifestyle the system weighs in against them? That the system is rigged? In some ways, yes!

What’s amazing to me isn’t my stupidity or the many times the police caught me. I’m amazed at how many times they HAVEN’T stopped or ticketed. The selective enforcement of rules is heavily in my favor! Not only have I experienced Grace and Forgiveness, but all out favoritism. Why?

When the judge dismissed my ticket a few years ago, he asked me if I was a police officer. When I said, “No, your honor,” he immediately asked, “You’re a minister, aren’t you?”

“Yes, you’re honor.”

“You’re Presbyterian, I’ll bet.” I was amazed.

“How did you know?”

He said, “You talk like one.”

Raised by healthy, Christ-like Christians has it benefits.

However, more is at work. Police officers act as judge and jury on the spot. They show me leniency. They could ruin my life or my reputation if they wanted to. I could have lost my license or had exorbitant insurance costs.

I feel favored, blessed, but not invincible. I watch my speed. I use my turn signals. I don’t like seeing the flashing lights in my rear view mirror.

The Occupy mobs receive favor today. Their voice is heard. However, destroying the system isn’t the answer. I think the answer lies in those parents of mine who modeled healthy, Christ-like values. Until the mob believes the good news of the gospel they will act and sound like those 90% in prison who insist its someone else’s fault.

What Education, Experience, Hurdles Are Needed to Become a Professional Pastoral Counselor?

I explained on Saturday to a recent graduate of a Seminary what she would need to do to become an AAPC (American Association of Pastoral Counselors) Certified Pastoral Counselor. She said emphatically it was too much work, and would take too long. Here’s the list of things to carry out to be a Certified Pastoral Counselor.

CPC Application Checklist

1. Submit a completed 23 page application

2. Religious Endorsing Body  Endorsement Form

3. Local faith community letter from governing body or representative

4. Pastoral Identity statement (1,000 words)

5. Service in Ministry Statement (3 year summary)

6. All college, seminary official transcripts

7. CPE Supervisor’s evaluations or letter of verification (400 hours of interaction)

8. CPE Equivalency Application if needed

9. Supervision hours breakdown between individual, (60 hrs. minimum) Continuous Case Conference (35 hrs.), and Interdisciplinary Case Conference (30 hrs.)

10. Three Supervisor’s evaluations

11. If non-AAPC supervisor submit copy of Committee’s approval

12. Current Supervisor’s information or non-AAPC approval form

13. A Work sample (audio/video or case study using Appendix A guidelines of the Certification Committee Operational Manual)

14. A statement of the theological/spiritual dynamics of the work sample using the guidelines of the Certification Committee Operational Manual

15. A plan for completing the Fellow requirements  (signed by Supervisor, too)

16. Three supervisors for completing the Fellow requirements

17. AAPC involvement statement

18. 375 hours of counseling. 125 hours of consultation with a supervisor.

19. $175.00

20. Meet with the certification committee for an interview.

21. An M.Div. from an approved seminary (90+ graduate hours) or current professional counseling license

Needless to say, I’m not finished, either. I’m close. I’m waiting for approval all of my supervisors, the CPE Equivalency form I submitted two years ago, and the last interview. To gather all the documents, write the papers, and contact all the official offices I estimate I’ve spent about 40 hours working on the application process.

When will it all be done? I’m thankful for patience from all those who have worked me through the process, and to quit now would be just plain stupid. Now I know why there are so few Pastoral Counselors.

Rubbing Shoulders Hurts But Helps

Eph. 4:13 …until we all reach unity in the faith

and in the knowledge of the Son of God

and become mature,

attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4 and 5 is all about living one’s life among other believers.

In order to capture the essence of “the faith”, a person must rub shoulders with others in the community. Rubbing shoulders with people eventually hurts! Stiff handshakes at a greeting time in church or pleasant hospitality occasionally with other church people doesn’t cut the mustard.

Frank Viola in “Re-imagining Church” says that people have very little chance of “attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” in our churches. He believes church easily becomes a stiff, top down, sterile environment. I tend to agree!

To curb the disastrous problems we bring to our “rubbing shoulders” in community, in Ephesians 4 and 5, Paul gives the best advice about keeping community alive and flourishing. We can follow the outline of his thoughts here:

Vv 7-13 Everyone has gifts to use so use them.

Vv 14-32 Speak the truth, love each other, and be considerate of others (no anger, stealing, harsh words, lying, bitterness, fist fighting, etc.)

In Chapter 5 Paul spends an inordinate amount words railing against sexual immorality.  In my years as a teacher, pastor, and counselor, I have never seen any behavior more devastating than sex used wrongly.

He spends an even more words describing a healthy marriage. Again, the damage a bad marriage can do to two people is unquestionably disastrous for the people, and disastrous for the community. No where would Paul ever consider civil unions or same-sex marriage as legitimate. They would be equally divisive to a community.

Real church is building relationships, plain and simple. Paul commands us to get connected to the body. In the body, we learn about and worship the Risen Christ. Seekers or visitors witness the presence of the Risen Christ and real Christians who exhibit attributes of Christ.

Yet, Viola, and my experience, too, tells me that community is very, very difficult to find. Our front forward, hierarchical, and building-centric system creates superficiality, and Americans like to extend themselves less than ever into church communities. How could we love one another when we rarely rub shoulders with each other? How can we use gifts if only a few are allowed to use them? How can we open our communities to more friendship building?

You can read Viola’s Book on starting and sustaining a different kind of community FREE in Google Books at this link here. I value your comments!

Say to that Mountain!

The hard part for unbelievers to swallow is something called “faith.”

1. Religious people (that is, people who believe they can beat back their sin or pray harder to get better) follow rules.
2. Spiritual people follow emotions, that is, they need a warm, fuzzy feeling to confirm their experience.
3. Faith people follow God.

Paul speaks to the spiritual people in Romans 1, the religious people in Romans 2, and then describes the Faith people in Romans 4. Romans 3 is all about why nobody gets it right without faith (aka: we all SIN).

Paul describes faith using Abraham as an example. Faith is about believing with the odds stacked against believing. When Abraham was old God told him that his old wife would have a baby in nine months. Abraham chuckled at the thought. Yet, he got right to work! Nine months later, Isaac was born. Isaac means “laughter.” To an old man and old woman, every time they talked about their son, they heard, “laughter”. That’s a reminder of faith.

Faith laughs when religion shakes in fear or sweats in labor. Faith chuckles when spiritualists can’t “feel it” right then. I think I’m moving beyond both of those. I really like faith. Faith relaxes its grip on worry. Things don’t have to be fixed now. I can trust that God will  bring what God wants when God designs the time. And I believe he’s working now in the future.

Thus, when a worry woke me up in the night this week, I spoke out loud to it. “Worrisome thing, be cast into the sea, in Jesus Name.” I didn’t feel the splash. I didn’t feel any better, really. But by faith that thing ran away, cast itself into the sea, disappeared. And it really, really did.

Jesus talked and walked faith. If we try to think and act like Jesus, we will feel miserable. We can’t be Jesus. There is only one of Him. That “What Would Jesus Do” is a good motto, but makes me think running faster to catch up with Jesus is the answer to problems.

What I CAN do is to believe that the future looks better, fuller, richer, happier, and hopeful because, just like Jesus, I can walk by Faith in a real God, a loving God, proven by the cross and Resurrection of Christ. How do I know things will work out? I don’t! I believe. I put my faith in what God has said, and who God is. Thus, I can say to mountains that rise up, that black out the future, “Mountain thing, in Jesus Name, I have faith in God’s power so throw yourself into the sea!” I keep on walking into the future, and that mountain thing is now a God thing.

That Marbled Past

When Marbles didn’t pay money

but playing them paid off 

with boys who collected those darn little things

and knew their names as if

they were genus, species, and evolutionary trees.

When holes with heels were dug

in rounded indents

like space ships

and smoothed without a care for dirt 

under the nails.

When girls would watch the boys

with bags of shineys, cat’s eyes, steelies,

Peerie boulders, and tiger’s paws,

as if they drove a Lamborghini.

When time was wasted

-but not really-

perfecting a shot 

from ten feet out

without the thought that one day

this would be the shot that won 

the World’s Fame or 

a million dollar bonus.

We did it for fun.

We felt the earth, the sand, the skill.

We knew life, death, defeat, giddy-victory.

That familiar clunck

in the hole didn’t cost $81 dollars with a cart.

 

Greatest Interview Advice

Over the last year I’ve had a few highly competitive interviews, but not until a month ago did I find a website that really helped coach me through an interview.  It prepared me to ANTICIPATE ALL THE QUESTIONS. It REALLY helped. I wrote down possible questions and answered them, memorized the answers, and found myself much calmer and better able to spit out my strengths without sounding pompous.

Here is the website. I thought you’d get a kick out of its name.

http://www.businessballs.com/interviews.htm#samples

Here are TEN KILLER TIPS to going to an interview well prepared.

1. 99% of all interviewers ask you to name your strengths and weaknesses: State your strengths and give tangible proof: awards, achievements, performance reviews, dollars saved, speed, IQ, efficiency, productivity rates, etc. They will ask about your weaknesses so turn them into something like this:

• I’m always learning trying to find new ways of doing things which can take some time at first and is frustrating
• Project overload: I’m used to long hours and staying so focused so that I can lost track of time.
• I’ve not wanted to be management in my current company since it didn’t require x,y, z for me, but I’ve got management skills in other areas of my life such as m, n, o.
• I didn’t get my degree because I was working in a fulfilling, high paying job that had great advancement and responsibility.

2. Another top interviewer’s question: What are the three most important roles/skills you think this employee will need? In other words, do you really know what this job is all about?

3. Know your motivation for getting hired by this company now: Know exactly why you are interviewing now (aka, leaving the current job) and exactly why you want to work for this company (you’ve done research on the company and you really like…)

4. Another favorite question: The Difficulties. Know how you will answer the questions about difficult people, difficult time requirements, difficult economic downturns and difficult jobs you might be asked to perform.

5. Know what in areas are your expertise and why (again with tangible proof)

6. Salary and Wages: Know the answer to “How much do you expect to make?” Check out the businessballs site which answers this for you.

7. If you are not a life time learner start now! Make sure you can say honestly, “I am willing to learn and get more education!” Prove it with ways you have kept learning. Jobs today demand constant learning and adaptability.

8. Here’s one that will help you tremendously:  have three of your closest friends answer these questions for you AFTER you have written the answers yourself. Incorporate some of their answers and memorize them.

9. OVERDRESS. Do not wear jeans even if it is a fast food restaurant. Wear sport coat and tie, guys! It’s worth the couple hundred dollars investment to get the job. Women need to look professional and confident. Think “I’m smart and industrious,” not “I’m well-dressed and stylish.”

10. Finally, and I can’t believe I have to say this, but please take a shower, brush your teeth, have a breath mint right before you go in, and wear deodorant.

Employers must be more selective than ever so prove that you will give them what they need!