How is your faith?

“How is your faith?” That’s THE pressing question on Paul’s mind as he waits to get word about his dear Christian friends in Thessalonica. Acts records his first visit there (17:1-10)—a short stay in which Paul taught from the Scriptures and summoned the people to entrust their lives to Jesus, the crucified and risen Messiah. Several people were persuaded (both Jews and Gentiles, 17:4) and embraced Christ in faith, and thus was born the church at Thessalonica.

But trouble struck this young body of believers quickly: within weeks of arriving, Paul was forced to leave town. He then proclaimed the Gospel in the next town (Berea), only to be tracked down there by his aggressive Thessalonian opponents. So he sailed 200-plus miles south to Athens, leaving the infant Thessalonian church behind. These were new believers and they were facing intense pressure from the Gospel’s enemies. Paul knew they could be in great spiritual danger.

Eventually he sent Timothy back to check up on them (1 Thess 3:2). Notice that when he did this, the aim was NOT to find out if the persecution has lightened up and the believers were safe and comfortable. No, the key concern was the status of their faith: were they still trusting and resting in the Lord Jesus Christ? Look at 3:1-10: Paul sent Timothy “to strengthen and encourage you in your faith” (3:2); “I sent Timothy to find out about your faith” (3:5); thankfully, Timothy “has brought good news about your faith and love” (3:6); “Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith” (3:7); “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith” (3:10).

This is the issue that matters. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you have a great family or wonderful friends or athletic ability or skill to succeed as a doctor or politician or nuclear scientist. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you’re popular or beautiful or strong or smart, or if your church has big numbers and attractive programs: heart-reliance on Christ is what matters.

Are you trusting Jesus today for saving grace and the sure hope of eternal life? Are you relying on him for reconciliation with the Father and adoption into his forever family? What do you “need” to be content in this universe? Is it enough to know Jesus and rest in his sovereign care? Will you still depend on him and look to him for peace that passes understanding and true meaning in life even when enemies of the Gospel mock and exclude and threaten and assault you? Paul eventually got good news: the faith of the Thessalonians was alive and strong! “How is your faith?”

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DeYoung reviews McLaren's new book

I'm sure we'll hear more about Brian McLaren's recent book (A New Kind of Christianity) in due course, as reactions to his views and writings abound. The recent review of McLaren's book by Kevin DeYoung (click here) raises pointed and profound questions. It's worth reading carefully.

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God's Love and Human Suffering

In a recent sermon on God’s compassion (Jan. 31, on Luke 15:11-32), I noted that there was an elephant in the room: “How can we speak of a loving God in the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake?” This question arises in many honest hearts—I’m guessing we’ve all struggled with it. It’s also a question that has lunged into popular atten­tion in surges in the past (e.g., after the 2004 Tsunami, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, etc.).

Just to be clear, we’re not asking about suffering that results from sin, such as trafficking, terror, or murder. Natural disasters don’t stem from God-defying impulses in the human heart. (And yet, even with sin-based suffering, questions about God’s permission and intentions arise—but that’s another discussion.)

Can we reconcile the love of God with harrowing affliction due to earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods—and let’s add diseases like small pox and cancer? Please see my posts, Haiti Earthquake and In the Wake of Disaster, for some intro­ductory thoughts to provide a biblical framework even as we voice sincere questions.

In his article, “A Fault Is Not a Sin,” atheist Christopher Hitchens says it’s idiotic to blame anything other than geology for the Haitian quake. But of course, what else can he say from where he stands: if God is excluded from one’s vision of reality, all is material and temporal, and we live and move in a meaningless abyss. End of conversation.

On the other hand, if one means to consider seriously the interpretation of reality presented in the Bible, one has to reckon with a God who’s able to intervene within his created order and, for example, prevent natural disasters. God isn’t helpless; he’s no mere bystander looking on as nature takes a chaotic course. The Lord is active within creation and history.

In Christ God demonstrated his power over nature (e.g., calming storms, walking on water, multiplying food, raising the dead). The Bible teaches that God is powerful—all-powerful—and that his might is exercised within the sphere of this-world, this-life experience. He parted the sea (Exod 14), toppled the walls of Jericho (Josh 6), protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Dan 3), and so on. And of course, the grand miracle of all time was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. With God, all things are possible (Matt 19:26; Luke 1:37). “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen 18:14; cf. Jer 32:17). So we won’t solve our problem by denying the power of God: he is able to do anything and everything that he chooses to do: the Lord does whatever he pleases (Ps 115:3).

The Bible also insists that God is a God of love: He is love (1 John 4:8), and in all things he works for the good of his people (Rom 8:28). God loves “the world” and in Christ he reaches out with open arms of com­passion (John 3:16). In the cross God demonstrates breathtaking love for undeserving sinners (Rom 5:8): there is no greater love than Christ’s (John 15:13).

The keys to comprehending God’s love, however, are two: 1) He does not promise and is not obliged to show his love by giving humans pleasant or even tolerable earthly circumstances. In fact, the Lord has all eternity in which to enact and express his love toward his people. Suffering here and now is no sign of the absence of God’s love.

2) There’s more to God’s character than love—he is love, yes; but he’s also just and holy, and in his white hot moral purity he abhors sin. Both love and holiness are true: sin must be punished (holiness), yet God makes a way for Another to take our guilt upon his shoulders (love).

Let’s step back: a huge turn in the plot of God’s story takes place in Genesis 3: sin enters an otherwise perfect world. With sin came inter­personal strife, physical toil and bodily death (3:16-19), and all humanity was plunged into calamity along with Adam and Eve. And more: notice how the curse brought serious damage upon creation itself (thorns and thistles, 3:18). So in some sense, nature itself was twisted and damaged by sin. In Romans 8 Paul describes how creation itself now “groans,” awaiting the final reversal of sin’s destructive effects (8:22). Nature’s convulsions fall in this category: they signal the terrible destructive effect of sin in the realm of God’s creation.

Let me clarify: I’m not saying we can identify each instance of suffering due to natural disasters as a direct punishment deserved by the specific person(s) who undergo such suffering. John 9:1-3 proves otherwise: there’s no simple blame-line to link all suffering back to a person’s sins. So too in Luke 13:4-5: when the tower at Siloam fell (due to an earth­quake?) and killed eighteen people, was it because they were worse sinners than other people? Jesus says NO. And yet, he urges onlookers to repent: let the sudden snuffing out of others’ lives move you to turn from sin and trust in Christ and thus be ready to meet your Maker.

It’s also true that our loving God often weaves searing hardship into the fabric of our ultimate good (e.g., Heb 12:5-11; 2 Cor 1:3-11; Gen 50:20). Paul pleaded for relief from a “thorn in the flesh,” but in time he realized his healing wouldn’t be for the best (2 Cor 12:7-10). Still, living with an affliction isn’t the same as being struck dead. The suddenness in which death can strike is used by God to warn us not to be presumptuous about the future or assume all will be well (Jas 4:13-17; Luke 13:1-5). The door of opportunity to repent and be saved is not held open forever (2 Pet 3:8-9).

But what about the children, even babies, tragically killed in Haiti? How does God love them? If being allowed to live at least an average earthly lifespan is the measure of God’s love, then love fails. But isn’t God free to show his love in the age to come, beyond this fleeting, temporal existence? The Bible doesn’t say a great deal about the eternal state of those who die in infancy, but a solid bib­lical case is made that they enter into glory with Christ. See, for example, messages and studies on this topic by Charles Spurgeon, Al Mohler, Sam Storms, and Desiring God Ministries.

In the end, then, I urge you to look around at this troubled world, imitate the Savior's heart of compassion for the lost (Matt 9:36), look up to the Master of All Things and echo Genesis 18:25, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

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In the Wake of Disaster

The world is reeling in the aftermath of Tuesday’s devastating earth­quake in Haiti. The Wall Street Journal is comparing it with the 2004 Christmas tsunami that had a six-digit death toll. These are sobering days.

Many people may be wondering how to make sense of such grievous misery. How would God have us look at this? How are we to understand a world in which such seemingly random, dread­fully severe suffering strikes as it does? Let me offer a few ideas:

1. “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). Resist the impulse to accuse God of wrong, and instead cover your mouth. “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away” (Job 1:21). Does the pot have a right to find fault with the Potter (Rom 9:20)? The Lord does not answer to us: we answer to Him.

2. “The Lord reigns” (Pss 96:10; 99:1; 115:3), even now—as always.

3. God does not always disclose his purposes to us. Some questions remain unanswered in this life. The Lord has all eternity to put things right, and he does what he does in his own good time.

4. Seek answers in God’s Word. Don’t let the panic of the moment propel you away from the only Source of Truth that can provide a solid footing in this world’s swamp of sorrow. Read Job 1-2 and 38-41; Luke 13:1-9; John 9:1-5; Prov 1:7; Luke 8:25; Pss 104:32; 147:15-18; Amos 3:6; Isaiah 45:7. Among other things, the Word teaches that even when Satan is instrumental in human suffering, God is not caught off-guard or held hostage by the Enemy: afflic­tion is permitted purposefully, and one purpose is to humble hearts and drive us to our knees in repentance (Luke 13:3). Disasters are a wake up call to a world snoozing in the dreamland of earthly pleasures: life is short, insecure, and dangerous; seize the moment (while it lasts) and run to Christ for mercy and eternal life.

5. Weep with those who weep (Rom 12:15). Love your neighbors (Luke 10:25-37), including those in Haiti. As one step to take, consider donating to Food for the Hungry.

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Haiti Earthquake

I just re-read several articles John Piper has written on how to think about natural disasters and resulting human suffering. Very helpful. Very sobering. The Word of God has much to say to help us get our bearings amidst life's quaking.

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Read the Bible in Two Years

I just began again with a two-year Bible reading plan. I don't know about you, but I really benefit from the structure of a plan/schedule for regular Bible reading. Otherwise I end up wandering and fizzling out. Here's a two-year schedule I developed: click here.
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The Tiger Woods Drama

Of all the adjectives used to describe the Tiger Woods mess, maybe the most apt is simply “sad.” Sad all around—for Tiger and Elin and their children, for their families and friends and his fans. For everyone.

But notice what the media isn’t saying. They’re not claiming it really doesn’t matter if married men fool around. They’re not saying Tiger’s reputation has to do entirely with his golf skills while his “personal life” is no one else’s business. They’re not suggesting we’ll all still cheer at his fist-pumping victories and buy Nike and Buick (etc.) just the same.

In fact, today’s media is oozing with morality: we as a people know—deep down we know this—that those who cheat on their spouses commit a grave offense. It’s not a question open for debate; no one’s out there arguing Tiger should really just feel free to set up a harem. The subtext of this whole frenzy is our world’s blaring cry that marriage matters, fidelity to your wife matters; wedding vows are profound and breaking them is dead wrong. Period.

How do people know this? Because God built us to respect his design for marriage: “What God has joined together, let no one separate” (Matt 19:6). He’s wired people to know that the marriage covenant is sacred. If you’re married, you and your beloved both said “I do.” But it wasn’t the two of you who formed the union, nor was it the minister who officiated. “What GOD has joined together…” At a deep level, people know this.

So on this gray day of dismay and disillusionment in which a “hero” has fallen (more accurately: when we’ve found out a hero had fallen), don’t miss the cloud’s silver lining: God’s image within us shines through!

Allow me to caution followers of Christ about how to respond to this debacle. 1) Don’t hate Tiger for his perverse hypocrisy—hate isn’t Jesus’ way (Matt 5:43-44). 2) Don’t congratulate yourself because you’ve done better (read Matt 5:27-30 and Luke 18:9-14). 3) Don’t say “Boys will be boys” and shrug it all off (but then again, above we’ve noted that we just can’t bring ourselves to do this). 4) Don’t say you can’t believe he was so stupid (Satan is very devious and he deftly lures otherwise intelligent people into sin and its misery; resisting sin isn’t just about brains).

Instead: 1) PRAY for Tiger and his family—to meet Christ, find mercy, and get a life! 2) Realize your vulnerability (“There but for the grace of God go I”; and see 1 John 1:8; James 4:7-8). 3) Make sure you’ve got Christian support and consistent accountability to help you say no to Satan’s seductive lies. 4) "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Eph 6:11).

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God's Work for His People

Isaiah 64:4 teaches us that God “works for those who wait for him.” The wrong way to understand this phrase is to envision God as our employee. We have accepted his application to come serve our cause and advance our purposes. He is our subordinate who scurries around and answers to us. We assess his performance and review his effec­tiveness in the role of worker: does he measure up, do we keep him on the payroll? We determine whether he deserves praise and reward for his on-the-job achievements.

The right way to interpret this expression is to realize that God is the one who has infinite power, skill and wisdom, and he is prepared to apply his efforts for our good. We lack the necessary strength and discernment to run our own lives (or others’ lives), or even to survive in the end. All we are capable of doing, in com­parison to the grand competence of God, is to “wait” for him—to give up our efforts, throw up our hands, recognize our weakness, and cast our lives upon his all-sufficient, gracious care.

So God works for us not as an employee we order around, but as our Great Physician: he examines our souls, diagnoses the terminal disease of pervasive sin, and prescribes treatment through the gift of cleansing of our sin stains (Isa 1:18) and justification by taking our guilt upon himself (2 Cor 5:21). In fact, the omniscient Doctor acts with such brilliant ingenuity that he orchestrates all of life’s circumstances for the good of his people (Rom 8:28—of course, he does this in his time and in his way).

Back to Isaiah 64:4. Who has ever heard of such a God—one “who works for those who wait for him”? It’s unprecedented. The gods of Isaiah’s peers and of many worshippers today (i.e., “gods” like wealth or beauty or power, or any other notions of deity that contradict Scripture) expect people to work for them; devotees are to serve and strive to get gain from their gods. But the true God demands that we NOT work, and instead wait for him: rest, trust, depend. Humble faith honors our all-sufficient Lord. We don’t approach him with gifts in hand to help his cause: we come with empty hands. “Waiting” is his gift to you this Christmas.

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God's Amazing Creation!

The fall colors have reminded me afresh this year of God's wonderfully wild imagination (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). What a lavish exhibition of creativity! Take these translucent Red Oak leaves for example (click photo for larger image)...

"Going to church"

When people imagine “going to church,” many think of gathering with others as observers. They see musicians and teachers, witness a presentation, hear a sermon or reading or song—they observe and receive. When these things take place, people are mostly passive, and they fall into an audience mindset—that is, they become spectators.

This tendency runs deep in our contemporary American psyche: we’re very “at home” being spectators. And further, we expect to be well entertained, bolting quickly if our wishes aren’t met. With TV, we switch channels in a flash if we lose interest. With the internet, we surf hastily from one link to another. With movies and music books and the news, same thing: if it doesn’t “hit the spot,” away with it! Even conscientious believers who desperately want to resist the entertainment mindset when it comes to church life find its lure to be powerful and its presence pervasive—and insidious.

Allow me to propose an entirely different vision of what it means to be the church: God’s people are a team. We’re like a football team on which every player makes a key contribution. Each member has a unique role that’s essential in the pursuit of victory. A sure win can be blown by one distracted kicker or one careless cornerback. As active participants rather than passive spectators, all players make vital contributions. By contrast, a player who just wants to sit back, drink Gatorade, and watch the game is a player soon sent to the locker room. Here’s the point: the people of any given local church are a team, and the “players” come together as active participant worshippers - greeters - counselors - teachers - helpers (etc.).

The “team” mindset is right because it’s like the body analogy: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Cor 12:27). Think anatomy: who ever heard of a heart that just observes? Others body parts would object, “Get pumping or we’re done for!” Who ever imagined lungs that just sit back and watch the show? It would be catastrophic. So too, in the body of Christ we all need to work together. For the honor of Christ our Head, and for the thriving of his church fellowship, the active outworking of each believer’s gifts through prayerful caring and sharing is essential.

To be continued.

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The church is...

Lately I've been reflecting with my church family about what it really means to be the church. This seems to be necessary--and urgent--because we're so prone to take our cues for Christian community from the surrounding culture. We look at organizations, institutions, clubs, interest groups, etc., and we assume the church must fit in somehow. But the similarities are on the surface; at a deep level there are profound differences. Ultimately, the church is stunningly unique. Let's get a closer look.

A reporter asked people on the street what came to mind when they heard the word “church.” Answers included: prayer, irrelevant, meetings, religion, politics, good people, Jesus, cross, idols, quiet, buildings, boring, sing­ing hymns, sermons, values that don’t apply anymore, religion is responsible for conflict in the world, steeple, time consuming, for old people, rules.

There’s a fascinating mixture of truth and error in these replies. Frankly, there’s a lot of confusion in society and even among those of us who are “church goers” about what it really means to be the church of Jesus Christ. And much is at stake in how we see and portray the church in our day. Unless we’re vigilant, we will get swept up in distorted ideas along with their wrong-headed expectations. And if that happens, it’ll mean great harm to the body and to neighbors we want to love and serve.

Many people use sharp words to describe the church because they’ve had the proverbial “bad experience”: the church is “full of hypocrites,” or judgmental, or it “tries to force religion down people’s throats.” Again, despite the inflammatory exaggeration, there’s a grain of truth in such charges: some churches and some believers have been flagrantly two-faced or shrill or domineering. What’s more, all churches and all believers have, to some extent, been guilty of such faults. That’s because the church is a fellow­ship of sinners: every local congregation is made up 100% of imperfect Christians. In light of this, it’s not surprising there are those “bad experiences”—haven’t we all had a bad experience? And caused a bad experience?

The crucial thing about following Jesus together is NOT becoming perfect (that’ll have to wait for heaven), but responding to our imperfections with humility and grace. That’s the way that the Gospel can shine forth through a broken people, a fellowship of sinners—in how we forgive, how we embrace one another despite annoying traits and past disappointments, and how we love one another “warts and all.” “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).

To be continued.

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Vision and Vista

So much talk in the church about "vision" has to do with practical plans and measurable goals that we can lose sight of this crucial underlying question: just what is it we lay our eyes on as we look forward? Vision as an exercise of faith-driven imagination is vital in the lives of God's people, but just what is it that authentic faith in Christ envisions? What is the object of our attention and energy and passion when Christian vision is operating?

Even though we might list many wonderful tangible outcomes which we trust the Lord to bring about (I'm thinking of everything from mended relationships to ministry funding to new ventures launched to people getting saved), the main vista the Bible calls us to envision--the ultimate object of our heart's and mind's attention--is the Lord God himself. We need to see God! And in fact, to go further, if the soul is not drawn to and moved by "gazing upon the Lord," all other tangible outcomes of vision setting will be hollow. The vertical must be alive and well, or the horizontal will lack life and eventually fizzle.

Hear the Word of God summoning his people to look up into his glorious face:

“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he shows us his mercy” (Ps 123:1-2).

“Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’” (Isa 40:9).

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Ps 121:1-2).

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple” (Ps 27:4).

“My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare” (Ps 25:15).

“But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge…” (Ps 141:8).

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor 3:18).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every­thing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:1-2).

“Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always” (Ps 105:4).

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In good times and hard times

In trying times, as in the best of times, the Lord beckons us to rely on him in every way—that is, to walk by faith. After all, he pro­vides the bounty and health and laughter we enjoy on the pleasant days, but he also brings us through the dark valleys to help us grow deep in trust and humility. What do we have that isn’t from God and isn’t maneuvered by God for our good (1 Cor 4:7; Rom 8:28)? The Lord is a loving Father who seeks what’s best for his children (Matt 7:11; Heb 12:3-11).

So when the hard times hit (is it economic tribulation, relationship demise, health decline, or something else?), be ready to cling to Christ. And likewise, when prosperous times strike, be ready to rely on the Lord and don’t let comfort become your god.

Psalm 62, from a time when David faced intense adversity, can help us in this venture of courageous faith:

• Don’t let trials distort your picture of God. The Lord remains our “rock” and “fortress” and “refuge” (vv 2, 6, 7, 8).
• Don’t lose sight of the fact that the Lord alone is the source of our ultimate deliverance and rest (v 2, 5-7).
• Determine (praying for God’s help) to “trust in Him at all times” (v 8) and not just on sunny days. Expect to face hard­ship and plan now to keep holding on to the Father’s hand.
• Don’t fall for the temptation to rely on your money or skills or work ethic or any other earthly benefit: “though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them” (v 10). Be alert here: with any degree of wealth comes an insidious lure to rely on that prosperity and take credit for it.
• Don’t lose track of the exquisite balance of love and strength within the character of God (vv 11-12). So when circum­stances are grueling, remember that the Father still loves you and still is able to weave all things together for good.

My soul finds rest in God alone;

My salvation comes from him (Psalm 62:1).

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Taking stock at summer's end

As we venture into September, here are some of this past summer’s headlines: health care reform, Ted Kennedy, Taliban, Farrah Fawcett, Afghanistan elections, suicide bombings, Swine Flu, Cash for Clunkers, District 9, cool-then-steamy weather, President Obama, Pedro Martinez, Michael Vick, Michael Jackson, release of Lockerbie bomber, American Idol, unemploy­ment, California bankrupt, Usain Bolt, Serena Williams, Tour de France, Lyme Disease, Gaddafi, Susan Boyle, Tiger Woods, Transformers, Caster Semenya, Roger Federer, L. A. wildfires, Harry Potter…

My guess is that for many of us these things have been on our minds, grabbing our attention. And amidst the flurry of all such things current-immediate-relevant-newsworthy, I’d also guess that many of us have been seeking to keep God’s Word and our hope in Christ vividly before us. But it’s a battle. The battle is to keep from thinking that all those flashy headlines really matter in the end, and to guard and feed our affections for Jesus Christ.

The Enemy works hard to undermine your faith in at least two ways: by frontal assault to destroy belief in the Lord, or by a round-about attack that makes stars and trends and sports and fashion and self-image and all kinds of fleeting things appear so meaningful that Christ seems kind of like a distant shadow, like something beige. If you pour your heart’s passion into temporal pleasures (i.e., ones that don’t center on God or last eternally), you’ll ruin any appetite for ultimate joy in the Lord.

Here at the end of the summer 2009, what is it you long for? What’s your passion? What moves you? Despite all the “stuff” clamoring for your attention, I urge you to turn your mind and heart to Christ, to spend time (alone, and with loved ones) focusing on the wonder of the Lord through his Word, and to fan the flames of our sure hope in the future return of Jesus. After all, remember that he’s coming back precisely for those who eagerly await his appearing! “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb 9:28). Look to Christ!

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