Tag Archives: Christianity

A Rising Evil? A Boiling Pot?

by journeymantom
Pinback, circa 1960

Life in the "Innocent" Age: Does it seem bland to you? Image via Wikipedia

Does anyone else feel like the level of evil is rising? I don’t mean just the number of bad things happening, but the number of just plain evil things? We don’t compare to Nazi Germany, Communist countries, or Totalitarian regimes, but is evil becoming the norm?

Some indicators are in the answers you may have to the following questions (keep track of your answers):

  • 1. Are some behaviors considered normal today which a previous generation considered shameful, heinous, or evil?
  • 2. Do you implicitly trust strangers on first meeting or feel guarded and on alert?
  • 3. Do you wonder if someone might burst into your house at night to murder or steal?
  • 4. Do you always, and I mean always, lock your cars no matter where you park?
  • 5. Have you witnessed torture, blood spewing from bodies, or dead bodies inside of wrecked cars after an accident on TV recently?
  • 6. Have you had thoughts that law enforcement officials cannot be trusted?
  • 7. Do shows like “My Three Sons”, “Leave It to Beaver,” or the old “Hawaii Five-0” seem bland and non-entertaining?
  • 8. Are you horrified by the news of a man who is accused of unspeakable sex acts against 23 young children, but not by 74 soccer fans murdered in cold blood at an Egyptian soccer match?
  • 9. Do you know more about the sex life of your favorite celebrity than their religious beliefs?
  • 10. Have you or a family member picked up a hitchhiker in the past five years?

The times have changed! How many of these were “Yes”? At what level is the American “EQ” (Evil Quotient)?

Here’s my rash generalization: As the liberal notion that sexual freedom and “choice” promotes greater societal freedom, and the artistic notion that shock value equates to creativity, our EQ rises. Morality gets more chinks in its armor .

C. S. Lewis speaks of morality as “directions for running the human machine (in Mere Christianity).” He tells the story of a little boy who is asked what God is like. The boy says, “The sort of person who is always snooping round to see if anyone is enjoying himself and then trying to stop it.” Americans may feel the same way. God and morality squash personal freedom and happiness.

But is this true?

Lewis compares morality to a fleet of ships. The ships need rules to keep from crashing into each other, and what happens inside each ship, boilers and gears, matters, too. Morality is about fair play, kindness, and “tidying up or harmonising the things inside each individual.” It does no good, Lewis says, to clean up graft [bribery/corruption] or bullying because bullies and twisted people, “will always find a way of carrying on the old game in the new system. You cannot make good men by law: and without good men you cannot have a good society.”

I agree with Lewis who says that Jesus told us to “be as harmless as doves” and “as wise as serpents.” He wants a child’s heart, but a grown-up’s head. Evil is a direct result of the moral lid coming off the human boiling pot. Grown-ups know to keep a lid on things or the kitchen might blow up.

Christians,

  1. Stay morally bound to God’s ways!
  2. Try hard without feeling condemned if we fail, but try.
  3. Know where the lines are, but don’t judge either.

 

 

We help the most by knowing we can freely repent, have freedom from guilt, and acknowledge God is at work to keep us between the lines, and ultimately, to keep the lid on humanity’s boiling EQ brew.

An Aversion to Labeling Sin: Pastor Smith

by journeymantom
The title page to the 1611 first edition of th...

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?”

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Imitate Me!

by journeymantom

1 Corinthians11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

English: Saint paul arrested

Image via Wikipedia

Is Paul that exceptional? Is he a little puffed up? Isn’t he blasphemous? Can any of us say, “Imitate Me!”?

1 Corinthians 11:1 is preceded by these words: “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” Paul is connectional. He’s asking others to think the same: to look out for others; to think how our actions affect others all the time; and specifically, he’s thinking of others in the church. 

It’s easy to pick on churches and church people, but I’m going to do it anyway. We attended a church function recently, a dinner, at another church. For thirty minutes we sat eating without anyone coming to sit with us. How odd! This is what I experience in restaurants and theaters. We avoid connection with others in those places. Were we seen as threats or stand-off-ish? One thing is sure: no one tried to get to know us, to invite us back, or to find out what good could be done in our lives that night.

One of my biggest frustrations is watching people do the opposite of Paul’s example: “For I am seeking my own good and not the good of many.” Parents often join a church like they enroll their children in soccer or other sports: for the encouragement of their child’s development. The attitude is: “We take from this coach, this sport, and these interactions.” No, the interactions must be “for the good of many.” An investment must be made in others to get the God-changes in us and our children.

The primary result of the good Paul wants is “that they may be saved. The “they” are those outside the church at Corinth. He wants the behavior of a group of Christians to reflect into the outside world. We look out for the good of each other within the community. We are active in creating solid relationships. We show faithfulness to each other. We think “lifetime” rather than “as-long-as.” Outsiders stand up and take notice!

We are not a restaurant or theater, Wal-Mart or Target. We are a community which demands faithfulness in order to prove to the world we are different from the world. All the moralistic campaigns to change bad behaviors or evil actions “out there” make far less impact than a faithful body of believers loving each other with faithful, stable relationships.

Paul, even though not present in Corinth, says he is a living example of faithfulness to people, an active demonstration of connected-ness to other believers. We have only thirteen of his letters from his short ministry. Every letter has loving references to people with whom he has never lost connection. He’s an example we need to follow! Read Romans 16 or other letters where he lists the people he loves and who bring him coats, books, prayer, and partnership in ministry.

Is your desire faithfulness or “as-long-as-ness”?

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Men With Benefits

by journeymantom
DSCF0382

Image by Dinur via Flickr

Real men don’t eat Quiche.

Real men sleep around.

Real men love ___?____ (NASCAR, NFL, NBA, FISHING, HUNTING, FIXING CARS, BEER, All of the Above)

Real men wear the pants in the family.

Real men aren’t worth a horses patoot.

I’ve heard all these stereotypes. Some men fit these stereotypes. I’m growing concerned that higher percentages of men than ever fit only these categories! We’re losing more and more men to ash heap lifestyles (Lamentations 4:5). 

In Russia after WWII the Soviets had a solution to the death of 22 million men during the war. They gave the remaining men license to travel from house to house impregnating women. The state then provided and protected the women with children. Men got what they wanted, sex, but lost the honor and ability to be men. The divorce rate is about 60% in Russian. More than 50% of Russian men are alcoholics. A man’s life expectancy is about 55 years. Women vastly outnumber men in the workplace.

My impression is that the U. S. is not far behind. A host of articles lately articulates the decay of male competence. Men can’t make commitments, but they can make babies! More women are in the workforce than men! We just breached the 40% mark for single moms.  Almost every movie and TV show has men willingly submitting to a seductress in his manly “glory.”

I say all this to state the church needs to continue to delineate the traits of manliness. Unfortunately, women outnumber men in most churches. Men have great difficulties going to church.

Seven years ago I read, “Why Men Hate Going to Church.” Church is like sitting in a classroom looking out at the kids playing during recess. Church is so clean and prissy with candles, curtains, flower arrangements, and people in robes singing in choirs. Church has long-winded orations. Flashing screens and babes in bras and bikinis usually don’t appear in church. Men are told to refrain from sexual immorality. So, men think, “How boring?”

I think the real question isn’t about boring or sports, but about intensity and gusto! Men hear so often they have to settle down and quit acting like little boys have energy and get told to “Settle down!” “Iron John” by Robert Bly uses a German fable about a wild man subdued by townsfolk as a metaphor for boys growing into maturity. We think boys need caging, but really boys need gusto, games, and grand feats of strength. Church is all too often about sitting still and letting others do all the work.

Is there a way to combine gusto with Church, NASCAR and praise, energy with teaching? Can we show passion without prissiness? Can we let go of the idea that Sunday morning is the only place we get discipled. Can we get guys together to. fish, use hammers, or watch football, then, we can spend an hour or two in intense Bible study or listen to teaching because it makes sense! In the context of padded pews and sitting still, Gruffy the Bear-man, drifts off to the mind-wilderness awfully quickly! It’s time to make church more manly or we’ll lose more of our men.

Check out the latest initiative from “Man in the Mirror,” here, and try their questionnaire below:

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