The Sermon Series for October is called, "Living From Abundance". There are two ways to attitudinally approach who we are and what we have as people.
One approach is to live from the perspective of scarcity. From scarcity, we will feel that we can never have or be enough. There's the sense of dissatisfaction that permeates just about everything we do. "If only" are words that saturate our feelings and sometimes our conversations. Living from scarcity doesn't allow us a perspective for life in which we feel that we can or ever will make a difference or be content with ourselves.
Living from scarcity also means that we feel that we have nothing to share (being generous) or to give (being sacrificial). If we would do so, we might run short. And, while its counter to our thought processes, this really couldn't be further from the truth.
To live from scarcity means that there is a dark cloud covering over our lives and any hope we might have is simply portrayed in fanciful story and fairytales. And, of course, these dreams really never come true.
The alternative approach to life is to "Live from Abundance". Here we realize that we have and are more than we think. And, while this can be perceived as arrogant thinking, its not. It comes because we have a contentedness with ourselves because we are living what we are believing. We live what we believe as Jesus expressed it to us.
To live from abundance means that we are realizing that it is true that God has a destiny for us and we are actively, creatively, and positively helping it to unfold. We stand on God's promises, cultivate a forthright spiritual life and truly love each breath that we take. We are finding pleasure in all things of life and how we are entitled by God to participate, even in the very small things.
To live from abundance means that we realize that we are enough and have enough. In fact, to truly live from abundance means that we have more than enough to share and even to sacrifice for God and each other. We can and do make a difference in our part of creation. We bring smiles to people's faces, joy to their hearts, and peace to their troubles. We truly are human expressions of God in the world, much the same as was Jesus.
God does something outstanding for all those who will commit themselves to living abundantly. He brings blessings. Sometimes they are readily apparent. Sometimes they come in unexpected ways and times. Sometimes they come wrapped in challenges that spur us on. But they always come to those willing to live from abundance and share life with others.
In the sermon series, you'll meet or be reacquainted with members of New Life Church who are taking abundant living seriously. And, while each story has not reached yet its climax, there are great things happening to them, for them, and because of them along the journey.
In week one, we'll meet some folks who abundantly gave of themselves through the prison ministry experiences of our worship band. The next week will have two of our couples sharing how it is they have come to share their lives and their finances for God at New Life. The third week we welcome a pastor whose life, leadership, and congregation has been influenced by New Life's abundant living. The fourth week folks who work with our youth and children at New Life will talk about abundant living as they creatively impact the lives of both the young and the young at heart.
All this leads to November 2, our Celebration Sunday, where we'll make or reaffirm our commitments to abundant living through our gifts to God through New Life. It will be another celebration of how we can respond to the wonder of the God who sent His Son, Jesus, that we might "have life and have it abundantly".
We are people of abundance! God bless you!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
#1 Question: Discovering Life's Purpose
When I asked the question, "if you had 15 minutes alone with God, what would you ask?", the number one response was that folks would ask, "how do I discover the purpose for my life?"
So, on Sunday last, I attempted to give at least a direction into how this can happen. First, however, know that we are developing a course of study as part of our "Kingdom Keys Classes" that can take what I'm about to write much further, especially with regard to our experience. The class is called "Envision" and happens beginning in mid-September for 10 weeks each Sunday evening - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sign up at the church, phone the church office at 223-9337, or sign up online at www.newlifelc.com.
It makes sense that questions of purpose and destiny should happen at a church like New Life. I look to remind us all that God had something in mind about us when God first breathed our names and we became more than a thought. We became a reality. It is ours, through our experiences and faith development, to discover what God's intentions were and still are. That's pretty much what happens over the times of our lives. Life moves, evolves, and we become.
We are given opportunities throughout our lives for self-discovery through all of our many experiences. And, though it might not be as simple as moving from point A to point B. It might be about moving from point A and through the varieties of decisions that we make across a spectrum of challenges and joyous experiences that finally brings us to significance; each one of us a bit different from the other.
I like to believe that life is good. In fact, we were created through a profound act of goodness. And, our disposition from the very beginning was good. As we're living our lives filled with this perspective, we can believe that we are living well-lived lives. There are good times and bad times, but as we celebrate and integrate, our lives are being formed into something profound. Our value is being forged and we are finding our place. Living well-lived lives is important and too many are not living as fully as we are capable of living. Living abuntantly, as Jesus would have us live, is not living a life where everything is fanciful and fairytales. Living abundantly is living creatively, passionately, proudly, boldly and with courage. In living abundantly is the pathway to self-discovery and God's intentions for us.
I've come to believe that there are three kinds of people. The first kind does live abundantly and they are the "winners" of the world. I don't mean winners in that they have the Midas Touch and everything turns to gold. Actually, no one really possesses this gift even though so many look to have it or pretend that they do. Winners work hard at life and they make life happen. They give life to others as well and that's probably their dominant feature. It's not what they get that brings them vitality. Its really what they are able and empowered to give... to others, to God, to life itself. Winners are from 10-15% of the people.
The second kind of people that I'm aware of are the "Whiners". They make up from 70-80% of the people of the world. Really they do. (And, while each person possesses each of the three characteristics all of the time, one seems to dominate one's soul as they process their lives.) Whiners are the ones who can always see the downside of everything and are more than willing to express their discontent, dissatisfaction, and disappointments. They make the effort to bring a focus to themselves so that people are sensitive to their needs and want to help. Their common features are either their personal failures or pains, their disappointment with others, and that they have little hope or joy. In fact, what pleases Whiners the most is when people are focused on them. And, in fact, not only do they find pleasure here, they also find purpose.
The third kind of people in the world make up again about 10-15% of the people. They are the folks who deliberately sabbotage others, who inflict pain and torture in other folks lives, and have no hope. In fact, they want no hope. They hurt so bad that they can only bring pain into the lives of those who are around them, even those who love them. In the most recent Batman movie, "The Dark Knight", there's a scene where Alfred tells Bruce Wayne about the Joker. He says that there are people who just want to see the world burn (a paraphrase). The Joker is the absolute extreme of this kind of person. I call these kinds of person, "Weiners!" They hurt so much that pleasure for them can only be derived from experiencing and sharing their pain; even intentionally bringing it upon others as well with a response of "who me?"
Winners live life well and purpose naturally unfolds before them. They might not even recognize purpose for what it is because they are so consumed with the process of living. It is only upon the time of reflection that they can say that this is their purpose. Live, laugh, and love! Give it away and be a winner!
If we want to find our purpose and be a Winner, the first thing to acknowledge is that life, despite anything and everything is "good"; especially as it is being well-lived. Celebrate fully the joys and learn from the challenges, going full force into them and we will find our purposes. Life is Good!!
Next, it's important to connect intimately with the One who gives life. This is God. Connect by asking what God needs from me and my particular gift mix. Be patience with the question for the answer will come. Wonder aloud, "what excites God about me?" Then ask others as well. "What excites you about me?" Listen to their answers. Anticipate that they are honest and real. Integrate the responses into your life. Then, listen for God as well. It comes through our prayer, devotion, study, and worship time.
We teach the Spirituality course in our Kingdom Keys classes. To learn to listen to and for God, take this class. And, if you want to more particularly focus on your value and purpose, take my new class, "Envision".
Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, helps us go to another place as well. He lifts up Paul's words that its important to imitate God if we are to discover our purposes. What would our lives be like if we intentionally allowed Jesus to live through us? What would our lives look like if Jesus was living our life for us? (Dallas Willard asked this question.)
Paul writes: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
Also: "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." - Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)
To find our purpose we must find God within ourselves and depend on that spiritual energy. And, we don't have to become professional religious folks, nuns, or monks into to do this. Nor will this be the result. The result is that we find ourselves and our purpose. Faith isn't so much about believing in Jesus as it is behaving like Jesus.
Emulating Jesus empowers us to see ourselves for who we are and move into this realm of the sacred. Soon we are no longer emulating. We just are. And, it feels right "to be".
So, on Sunday last, I attempted to give at least a direction into how this can happen. First, however, know that we are developing a course of study as part of our "Kingdom Keys Classes" that can take what I'm about to write much further, especially with regard to our experience. The class is called "Envision" and happens beginning in mid-September for 10 weeks each Sunday evening - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sign up at the church, phone the church office at 223-9337, or sign up online at www.newlifelc.com.
It makes sense that questions of purpose and destiny should happen at a church like New Life. I look to remind us all that God had something in mind about us when God first breathed our names and we became more than a thought. We became a reality. It is ours, through our experiences and faith development, to discover what God's intentions were and still are. That's pretty much what happens over the times of our lives. Life moves, evolves, and we become.
We are given opportunities throughout our lives for self-discovery through all of our many experiences. And, though it might not be as simple as moving from point A to point B. It might be about moving from point A and through the varieties of decisions that we make across a spectrum of challenges and joyous experiences that finally brings us to significance; each one of us a bit different from the other.
I like to believe that life is good. In fact, we were created through a profound act of goodness. And, our disposition from the very beginning was good. As we're living our lives filled with this perspective, we can believe that we are living well-lived lives. There are good times and bad times, but as we celebrate and integrate, our lives are being formed into something profound. Our value is being forged and we are finding our place. Living well-lived lives is important and too many are not living as fully as we are capable of living. Living abuntantly, as Jesus would have us live, is not living a life where everything is fanciful and fairytales. Living abundantly is living creatively, passionately, proudly, boldly and with courage. In living abundantly is the pathway to self-discovery and God's intentions for us.
I've come to believe that there are three kinds of people. The first kind does live abundantly and they are the "winners" of the world. I don't mean winners in that they have the Midas Touch and everything turns to gold. Actually, no one really possesses this gift even though so many look to have it or pretend that they do. Winners work hard at life and they make life happen. They give life to others as well and that's probably their dominant feature. It's not what they get that brings them vitality. Its really what they are able and empowered to give... to others, to God, to life itself. Winners are from 10-15% of the people.
The second kind of people that I'm aware of are the "Whiners". They make up from 70-80% of the people of the world. Really they do. (And, while each person possesses each of the three characteristics all of the time, one seems to dominate one's soul as they process their lives.) Whiners are the ones who can always see the downside of everything and are more than willing to express their discontent, dissatisfaction, and disappointments. They make the effort to bring a focus to themselves so that people are sensitive to their needs and want to help. Their common features are either their personal failures or pains, their disappointment with others, and that they have little hope or joy. In fact, what pleases Whiners the most is when people are focused on them. And, in fact, not only do they find pleasure here, they also find purpose.
The third kind of people in the world make up again about 10-15% of the people. They are the folks who deliberately sabbotage others, who inflict pain and torture in other folks lives, and have no hope. In fact, they want no hope. They hurt so bad that they can only bring pain into the lives of those who are around them, even those who love them. In the most recent Batman movie, "The Dark Knight", there's a scene where Alfred tells Bruce Wayne about the Joker. He says that there are people who just want to see the world burn (a paraphrase). The Joker is the absolute extreme of this kind of person. I call these kinds of person, "Weiners!" They hurt so much that pleasure for them can only be derived from experiencing and sharing their pain; even intentionally bringing it upon others as well with a response of "who me?"
Winners live life well and purpose naturally unfolds before them. They might not even recognize purpose for what it is because they are so consumed with the process of living. It is only upon the time of reflection that they can say that this is their purpose. Live, laugh, and love! Give it away and be a winner!
If we want to find our purpose and be a Winner, the first thing to acknowledge is that life, despite anything and everything is "good"; especially as it is being well-lived. Celebrate fully the joys and learn from the challenges, going full force into them and we will find our purposes. Life is Good!!
Next, it's important to connect intimately with the One who gives life. This is God. Connect by asking what God needs from me and my particular gift mix. Be patience with the question for the answer will come. Wonder aloud, "what excites God about me?" Then ask others as well. "What excites you about me?" Listen to their answers. Anticipate that they are honest and real. Integrate the responses into your life. Then, listen for God as well. It comes through our prayer, devotion, study, and worship time.
We teach the Spirituality course in our Kingdom Keys classes. To learn to listen to and for God, take this class. And, if you want to more particularly focus on your value and purpose, take my new class, "Envision".
Rick Warren, in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, helps us go to another place as well. He lifts up Paul's words that its important to imitate God if we are to discover our purposes. What would our lives be like if we intentionally allowed Jesus to live through us? What would our lives look like if Jesus was living our life for us? (Dallas Willard asked this question.)
Paul writes: "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
Also: "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." - Ephesians 4:24 (NIV)
To find our purpose we must find God within ourselves and depend on that spiritual energy. And, we don't have to become professional religious folks, nuns, or monks into to do this. Nor will this be the result. The result is that we find ourselves and our purpose. Faith isn't so much about believing in Jesus as it is behaving like Jesus.
Emulating Jesus empowers us to see ourselves for who we are and move into this realm of the sacred. Soon we are no longer emulating. We just are. And, it feels right "to be".
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Problem of Evil
When I first thought about the question, "what would you like to ask of God if you had 15 minutes alone with Him?, I didn't think this sermon series would be the challenge that it is. But, its a good challenge and I'm appreciating it and the conversations that I've had as a result.
We've already laid the groundwork for the conversation about "the problem of evil." Previously, we considered God's nature and the nature of productive faith. Without that conversation, attempting to respond to the question folks have would be almost impossible. We need a common framework from which to talk even though it might not be a framework that we know well.
"Why do bad things happen?" There are many responses that have been given over the centuries. In fact, there is an entire theological field of study dedicated to the cause. It's called, "Theodicy". It asks the question, "how do we reconcile a benevolent God to the fact that there is so much evil in the world?" This question obviously comes from a place of pain.
Some of the responses have been, whether right wrong, good or bad, whether they work for us sometimes or all of the time or not at all:
1) It's simply God's will. Either God is has nothing better to do than to plague people with troubles or God put the world in motion and causually sits back to watch what happens.
2) Bad things happen to bad people, whether we think we're good or not. So what did we do wrong to warrant such an experience?
3) God wants us to learn something so these events are produced by and through us. A noble thought, but some will ask, "when will I have learned enough?" It might also be the case that there is something to be learned, but perhaps after the fact of the trouble.
4) Some will also say, "that's life! Get used to it." While it can sound pretty futile, there is some sense of validity as well. Bad things do happen even despite our best efforts to the contrary.
5) There are some who believe that it all balances out in the end... the ying, the yang. And the truth here might be that we spend much more time in our woes than we do in the celebrations of the good things of the lives that we have.
5) Some believe in reincarnation. "My woes are the results of failures in a previous life." It's a simple system and works in theory. But, Christians don't typically believe in reincarnation. Ours is a religion that celebrates resurrection once and for all time.
6) How about the famous line from the comedian, Flip Wilson, "the devil made me do it!" There are many in the Christian community that see every woe as having been brought about by the devil. It's a good theory in that we can then all abdicate our responsibilities. I don't mean to say that there isn't a force contrary to the will and wonder of God. There no doubt is, but can it be used as the excuse for every failure and failing? And, what makes us think that we're so special that the devil is interested in wreaking havoc in our lives?
These are relatively easy answers that might or might not work for us. They are not answers, however, that really have worked for me in recent years. There has got to be something more to it all. And, though an answer that I come up with might not be better than any of the above, at this time and in many experiences what follows better works for me and for others. Perhaps it can work for you as well or at least some portion of it. One day, we can ask God the question directly... or, maybe then it really won't matter. We'll have already discovered the points of reconciliation.
John Polkinghorne in his writings as both a scientist and a theologian puts forth thoughts about two different kinds of evil in this world. One he calls moral evil and the other is natural evil. I'll make an attempt to give some credibility to his thought for us.
Polkinghorne writes that "moral evil" is a result of human choice. People can and do choose to make decisions that either hurt themselves or others or both. We won't go into the "whys" of people in this regard at this time. But our choices can bring about bad things as well as good things.
I like the thought that being "made in the image and likeness of God" is about conscience, values, valuing, and a freedom of expression and choice. We are different than all the other animals of the world in this regard who respond, more often than not, with their set of instincts. We have instincts, but a whole lot more. Having the capacity for choice is part of our basic human nature.
Sometimes we make bad choices that impact others and ourselves. Sometimes we think we are making good choices which unfortunately turn out in the end to be bad. Sometimes we intentionally make choices out of our pain or insecurities in order to intentionally bring evil into lives.
We have the freedom to do so. We can choose. We are human. It's human nature to be able to make choices, conscious and unconscious. Sometimes they are bad choices. They can damage relationships, our health, and our futures among many other things. And we then, unfortunately, suffer the consequences.
The cool thing for me is that there is a way that God provides so that the decisions we make can most always be the good and right ones, even the ones that God would not only have us do, but perhaps God would do himself if God were a human. It's about spiritual journey and growth that's beyond simply living on the earth and taking up space. Jesus is the one provided so that we can learn about making the best decisions as we follow (emulate) his life. He was about love, celebration, and self-sacrifice. His focus was from and for God's Kingdom, a reality that he saw permeating what we call our world.
I don't believe that Jesus is a trite answer to the question of reconciling a benevolent God with the bad things that can happen in the world. I believe that following Jesus ("living the life that Jesus would live if he were us" -from Dallas Willard) is critical to having a significant, meaningful, and good (not bad) life. He shows us about making decisions and even how to move beyond the bad decisions that we've made or others have made for and because of us. It's called "repentance" which is just another word for recognizing a mistake, confessing it, and doing our best to make it right and not do it again. "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" Jesus said in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark.
We have the capacity for choice between good and bad. As we emulate the life of Jesus, the option for bad choices diminishes with time, understanding, and desire.
Polkinghorne also suggests that there is "natural evil". These events generally happen in such a way that they are beyond immediate human control. He reflects on two basic avenues: disease and natural disasters.
I'll reflect more on natural disasters here because the response shared above and in the following paragraphs can also both deal with the incidence of disease.
When hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans a few years back, we all watched the devastation on TV (some even packed up to head south to help out - God bless those who were able). A question arose then in the mind of a young boy in our congregation who asked his mom, "Why did God let this happen?" It was a great question! And, one that is difficult to readily explain to an eight or nine year old.
Could it be that all that God has created (I refer here to the first chapter of Genesis, especially verses 26 and following) has a natural state of being. Animals have their instincts as they respond to what's happening around them. Plant life has its natural way of evolving as well... deciduous trees "know" that in the fall their leaves will change color and eventually fall to the ground only to have bright green leaves take their place when the spring warmth comes.
Even our planet might be described as having a nature or a way of being or living. Could it be that the earth really lives and is not simply the third rock from the sun. She has a circulatory system, the oceans, which are vital and necessary to the sustanence of the planet. She also has a respiratory system and breaths the freshness of the atmosphere with all of its systems. Even a skeletal system of plates under the ground and oceans which are in constant motion. And, perhaps even the tornados, fires, hurricanes, and floods are natural ways that the earth takes care of itself.
If we should ask God, "why so much suffering from the hurricane that just hit the beach with 100 mph winds", why wouldn't God simply say, "why did you build your house their when you know hurricanes are bound to happen? It's the way the world works." Why would we build in the mountains of California when we know that fires and landslides are the norm? Why would we live in tornado alley and not expect to be impacted by natural disasters? Could it be that it is the nature of the world to cleanse and purify itself through natural processes and some of these processes are violent by nature?
Maybe God allows these things to happen simply because it is part of God's natural created order and it's not a question of intervention to stop nature from being itself. Even human beings have the freedom to be the nature that we really are. And while this might sound rather simplistic, it does provide a framework for further conversation.
Perhaps the question isn't really "why" something like this can happen. Perhaps the question of a journeying and growing person of faith is "what are we going to do now that his has happened?" It is always a great thing when people respond and help others in their times of need. It is a response of discipleship.
We are all part of a bigger, natural created order. We can choose to enhance it or hurt it. But, we are not really given the tools to tame it and make it become a slave to us. Instead the created order is to serve us in all of its wild and wonderful processes and beauty.
In Genesis, human beings were made stewards (caretakers) of the earth and it's nature. Even more fun perhaps is that we get to also participate in its creativity and creative processes. When the seemingly bad of nature is experienced, nature is without negative intention. It is just doing what it does in the process of creation, evolution, and expression.
As stewards, we have the opportunity for choice which brings us back to morality. How are our choices positively or negatively impacting the living planet we call earth? How are our choices impacting the natural processes of the planet? As disciples of Jesus, how are we so enhancing our spiritual lives (the next great adventure) in such a way that the choices we make are empowering God's Kingdom reality in our lives and times? New Life Church offers many opportunities to come to know ourselves as Christ Jesus knows us with all of the creative and redemptive potential available to us.
We've already laid the groundwork for the conversation about "the problem of evil." Previously, we considered God's nature and the nature of productive faith. Without that conversation, attempting to respond to the question folks have would be almost impossible. We need a common framework from which to talk even though it might not be a framework that we know well.
"Why do bad things happen?" There are many responses that have been given over the centuries. In fact, there is an entire theological field of study dedicated to the cause. It's called, "Theodicy". It asks the question, "how do we reconcile a benevolent God to the fact that there is so much evil in the world?" This question obviously comes from a place of pain.
Some of the responses have been, whether right wrong, good or bad, whether they work for us sometimes or all of the time or not at all:
1) It's simply God's will. Either God is has nothing better to do than to plague people with troubles or God put the world in motion and causually sits back to watch what happens.
2) Bad things happen to bad people, whether we think we're good or not. So what did we do wrong to warrant such an experience?
3) God wants us to learn something so these events are produced by and through us. A noble thought, but some will ask, "when will I have learned enough?" It might also be the case that there is something to be learned, but perhaps after the fact of the trouble.
4) Some will also say, "that's life! Get used to it." While it can sound pretty futile, there is some sense of validity as well. Bad things do happen even despite our best efforts to the contrary.
5) There are some who believe that it all balances out in the end... the ying, the yang. And the truth here might be that we spend much more time in our woes than we do in the celebrations of the good things of the lives that we have.
5) Some believe in reincarnation. "My woes are the results of failures in a previous life." It's a simple system and works in theory. But, Christians don't typically believe in reincarnation. Ours is a religion that celebrates resurrection once and for all time.
6) How about the famous line from the comedian, Flip Wilson, "the devil made me do it!" There are many in the Christian community that see every woe as having been brought about by the devil. It's a good theory in that we can then all abdicate our responsibilities. I don't mean to say that there isn't a force contrary to the will and wonder of God. There no doubt is, but can it be used as the excuse for every failure and failing? And, what makes us think that we're so special that the devil is interested in wreaking havoc in our lives?
These are relatively easy answers that might or might not work for us. They are not answers, however, that really have worked for me in recent years. There has got to be something more to it all. And, though an answer that I come up with might not be better than any of the above, at this time and in many experiences what follows better works for me and for others. Perhaps it can work for you as well or at least some portion of it. One day, we can ask God the question directly... or, maybe then it really won't matter. We'll have already discovered the points of reconciliation.
John Polkinghorne in his writings as both a scientist and a theologian puts forth thoughts about two different kinds of evil in this world. One he calls moral evil and the other is natural evil. I'll make an attempt to give some credibility to his thought for us.
Polkinghorne writes that "moral evil" is a result of human choice. People can and do choose to make decisions that either hurt themselves or others or both. We won't go into the "whys" of people in this regard at this time. But our choices can bring about bad things as well as good things.
I like the thought that being "made in the image and likeness of God" is about conscience, values, valuing, and a freedom of expression and choice. We are different than all the other animals of the world in this regard who respond, more often than not, with their set of instincts. We have instincts, but a whole lot more. Having the capacity for choice is part of our basic human nature.
Sometimes we make bad choices that impact others and ourselves. Sometimes we think we are making good choices which unfortunately turn out in the end to be bad. Sometimes we intentionally make choices out of our pain or insecurities in order to intentionally bring evil into lives.
We have the freedom to do so. We can choose. We are human. It's human nature to be able to make choices, conscious and unconscious. Sometimes they are bad choices. They can damage relationships, our health, and our futures among many other things. And we then, unfortunately, suffer the consequences.
The cool thing for me is that there is a way that God provides so that the decisions we make can most always be the good and right ones, even the ones that God would not only have us do, but perhaps God would do himself if God were a human. It's about spiritual journey and growth that's beyond simply living on the earth and taking up space. Jesus is the one provided so that we can learn about making the best decisions as we follow (emulate) his life. He was about love, celebration, and self-sacrifice. His focus was from and for God's Kingdom, a reality that he saw permeating what we call our world.
I don't believe that Jesus is a trite answer to the question of reconciling a benevolent God with the bad things that can happen in the world. I believe that following Jesus ("living the life that Jesus would live if he were us" -from Dallas Willard) is critical to having a significant, meaningful, and good (not bad) life. He shows us about making decisions and even how to move beyond the bad decisions that we've made or others have made for and because of us. It's called "repentance" which is just another word for recognizing a mistake, confessing it, and doing our best to make it right and not do it again. "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" Jesus said in the first chapter of the gospel of Mark.
We have the capacity for choice between good and bad. As we emulate the life of Jesus, the option for bad choices diminishes with time, understanding, and desire.
Polkinghorne also suggests that there is "natural evil". These events generally happen in such a way that they are beyond immediate human control. He reflects on two basic avenues: disease and natural disasters.
I'll reflect more on natural disasters here because the response shared above and in the following paragraphs can also both deal with the incidence of disease.
When hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans a few years back, we all watched the devastation on TV (some even packed up to head south to help out - God bless those who were able). A question arose then in the mind of a young boy in our congregation who asked his mom, "Why did God let this happen?" It was a great question! And, one that is difficult to readily explain to an eight or nine year old.
Could it be that all that God has created (I refer here to the first chapter of Genesis, especially verses 26 and following) has a natural state of being. Animals have their instincts as they respond to what's happening around them. Plant life has its natural way of evolving as well... deciduous trees "know" that in the fall their leaves will change color and eventually fall to the ground only to have bright green leaves take their place when the spring warmth comes.
Even our planet might be described as having a nature or a way of being or living. Could it be that the earth really lives and is not simply the third rock from the sun. She has a circulatory system, the oceans, which are vital and necessary to the sustanence of the planet. She also has a respiratory system and breaths the freshness of the atmosphere with all of its systems. Even a skeletal system of plates under the ground and oceans which are in constant motion. And, perhaps even the tornados, fires, hurricanes, and floods are natural ways that the earth takes care of itself.
If we should ask God, "why so much suffering from the hurricane that just hit the beach with 100 mph winds", why wouldn't God simply say, "why did you build your house their when you know hurricanes are bound to happen? It's the way the world works." Why would we build in the mountains of California when we know that fires and landslides are the norm? Why would we live in tornado alley and not expect to be impacted by natural disasters? Could it be that it is the nature of the world to cleanse and purify itself through natural processes and some of these processes are violent by nature?
Maybe God allows these things to happen simply because it is part of God's natural created order and it's not a question of intervention to stop nature from being itself. Even human beings have the freedom to be the nature that we really are. And while this might sound rather simplistic, it does provide a framework for further conversation.
Perhaps the question isn't really "why" something like this can happen. Perhaps the question of a journeying and growing person of faith is "what are we going to do now that his has happened?" It is always a great thing when people respond and help others in their times of need. It is a response of discipleship.
We are all part of a bigger, natural created order. We can choose to enhance it or hurt it. But, we are not really given the tools to tame it and make it become a slave to us. Instead the created order is to serve us in all of its wild and wonderful processes and beauty.
In Genesis, human beings were made stewards (caretakers) of the earth and it's nature. Even more fun perhaps is that we get to also participate in its creativity and creative processes. When the seemingly bad of nature is experienced, nature is without negative intention. It is just doing what it does in the process of creation, evolution, and expression.
As stewards, we have the opportunity for choice which brings us back to morality. How are our choices positively or negatively impacting the living planet we call earth? How are our choices impacting the natural processes of the planet? As disciples of Jesus, how are we so enhancing our spiritual lives (the next great adventure) in such a way that the choices we make are empowering God's Kingdom reality in our lives and times? New Life Church offers many opportunities to come to know ourselves as Christ Jesus knows us with all of the creative and redemptive potential available to us.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Tough Questions for God: The Nature of Faith
This has been the toughest sermon series to prepare for that I can ever recall. Why? Because I do know how personal the questions are. "Where is God in my suffering?" "Why do bad things happen?" "Why me?" They are questions that have been asked since the dawn of time. And, what has come as answers to the questions has had a mixed review.
Sometimes, people give easy, all too simple answers like: "It must be God's Will." "Maybe you did something bad to warrant this experience." "God's testing you." "What is to be learned from this experience." I think we sometimes answer the questions like this just because it's easy. We don't want to think about it anymore, wishing all bad things would just go away. Yet, there has to be something more. These are both easy and bad answers.
This week, based upon the sermon I gave on August 10, I'll talk briefly about the nature of faith and how it works with the challenges we have in our lives.
It was 1942. A 15 year old boy was standing with a group of men holding his new hunting rifle close to his chest. It was a gift his father had given him as a sign of his emerging manhood. The young man was listening to the men’s talk, their stories, their laughter, knowing that one day, he, too, would have his stories to tell. He could only imagine now what they might be. And, dream he did.
The time had come for the annual fall deer hunt when men gathered to be men; and boys came along to become men. There was pride at having been invited into that glorious fraternity; to be welcomed; to learn, not simply to hunt, but to relate to what he was feeling inside himself At 15, he was just beginning to feel a profound masculine energy building from within… testosterone at its finest. Taking deep breaths of the cool mornings autume air, he was breathing in the power of manhood. He could feel it.
Then, without a warning, a single rifle shot rang out from across the farm field until a few days ago populated with golden cornstalks and bright yellow corn. Immediately, a ricochet and the 15 year old fell to the ground, holding his face and bleeding from his eyes. In an instant, the boy's world was covered with a dark canopy. His father went to him and held him, as they raced to the hospital.
An eternity passed before they arrived where the doctors could work their magic to restore what had been taken. But, fast upon regaining consciousness, the boy wondered if he really had awakened or was he still dreaming? A word was spoken which confirmed everyone’s fear. From now on, there would only be memories of a world filled with color and action and energy where he could run and play and feel vital again.
He was blind. A most precious gift taken from the boy in an instant.
As he lay there in recovery, there was no end to the questioning in his mind… “Why? Why me? Why now? Why not someone else? Why anyone at all? Why God?”
That man, as some of you know, was my father. More about his story comes later.
So, why do bad things happen... to good people, to innocent people, to anyone at all? Does God allow it to happen? Are there really reasons for such events? Or, are any reasons we profess merely expressions of our uncertainty as we try to ease our anxiety?
Some of the questions that came a few weeks back when I asked folks what they might ask God if they had five minutes alone with him: Why do the innocent suffer? Why are some born to misery? Why infertility? Why cancer? Why illness? Why do some families seem to get hit harder than others? Why does God allow murder, incest, war, injustice and suffering? Why does God seem to test people's faith by having bad things happen to them? Why are there hurricanes and tornados and floods that destroy people's properties and lives? Why? They're questions that have been asked since creation's dawn with few satisfying answers. So, what do we do with them? How does a person of faith respond?
What I'd like to suggest is that as we unpack the nature of faith, we might come to some more refreshing conclusions. Or, at least we might come to some better reflection and conversation that helps us better deal with the sting of uncertainty and simple answers.
And, though there are many ways to understand faith, what works for me is to see faith as our response to God; sometimes good faith and sometimes not so good. Faith at its best brings profound intimacy with God and a life that is worth or while, even despite challenging circumstances. Faith is a response directly to God through prayer, devotion, worship, etc. Faith is also a response to God as we seek to "love our neighbors as ourselves", bringing God's goodness to the people around us.
I've also come to conclude that there are dimensions to faith; two in particular. The first is a "simple faith." By this I don't mean simplistic faith for simple people. It's just a beginning for faith. Things are taken for face value without much thinking about them. "I believe that there is a God" is a faith statement for simple faith. "I want to make a connection with God so that I know my life means something" is another statement. It's a beginning because the nature of faith is to so connect with God that God is soon considered to be intimately a part of who we are. I call this "sanctifying faith" because, in this process of getting closer to God, not only do we experience holiness from God, we experience the holiness of God working out His plan through us. And, we feel OK about it. And when sanctifying faith is coming more and more into maturity, the tough times are recognized as an important part of faith life.
Simple faith bargains with God. "If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." It is a bargaining/bartering kind of faith. "I will become a monk if you save me from the uncertainty of what lies ahead." It's foxhole faith at its best. And, there's nothing wrong with this kind of faith as we can recognize it is only the beginning of a significance with God. Simple faith looks for God to keep His part of the bargain. Simple faith seems a relationship with God as a "cause and effect" kind of deal. "If I'm good, you'll certainly be good to me; won't you God?" We do get challenged when bad things happen with simple faith. Some get angry at God. Some get frustrated with themselves and their failures. Some simply turn away from God.
Sanctifying faith isn't satisfied or encouraged by "cause and effect" answers to tough questions. It also isn't satisfied with "it's God's will" for an answer. There's got to be something more. In some sense, its like the difference between Neutonian Physics and Quantum Theory. There's something more going on that what seems to be the case on the surface. Sometimes the simple answers just don't seem to work. We can sense and feel that there is something more to God and to ourselves.
Santifying faith says, "I want the desires and intentions of God, no matter what they are, might feel like, or the consequences because I know that I will become sanctified (more myself, more who God intends for me to be, even more holy) through the process. I know that I will be empowered through them. I will become more alive and vital as well." Sanctifying faith is total abandonment of self to God. God is at the center of my life instead of anything else that a person might deem most important. It's not easy. But, its generally the case that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. But, everything worthwhile is worth working for and through.
And, though sanctifying faith doesn't necessarily welcome the tough times, somehow there is a transformation of self (maturity) that happens through them. The question asked from a perspective of sanctifying faith is not, "why did this happen?" The question of sanctification is, "what am I going to do with this experience?"
Perhaps its the tough times that can drive us to God rather than away. Perhaps they can help us to see that we are richer and more vital than we might have imagined. Perhaps they will even help us see all things through the eyes of God, whose suffering is documented from a cross.
God doesn't abandon us in our challenges. In fact, God is right there being challenged with us, feeling the pain we feel, crying the tears, screaming the shouts, and even rocking Himself into our sleep. And, it is sanctifying faith that recognizes, welcomes, and depends on God's presence in all things but especially when we know that we are into something beyond our abilities.
I cannot begin to understand what my father went through in those hours following a rifle slug ripping through his eyes. I just know that ten months later he was on his way to a school for the blind in Minnesota where he spent nine months studying as any high school student might.
There was an exception, however. When my grand father went to pick him up in June, he asked my dad about his experience. My dad simply responded that he's not going back there. Meaning no disrespect to anyone else, he simply said, "everyone there thinks they're blind."
He went on to graduate from his public high school with honors. He started to successful businesses and, with my mother, ran them side by side. He raised two children and loved one particular woman for over 50 years. He loves guns and bullets. He is a survivor and leaves a legacy. I have to suggest that Jesus' response to the crowds about whose fault it was that a man was born blind, his or his parents, was kind of a precursor to the life of my father: ... it was so that the work of God might be displayed..."
And just perhaps the tough times that come can bring about the same kinds of miracles for everyone as well as they are sanctified in faith.
Next week, we'll look at some of the specifics of the bad things that happen.
Sometimes, people give easy, all too simple answers like: "It must be God's Will." "Maybe you did something bad to warrant this experience." "God's testing you." "What is to be learned from this experience." I think we sometimes answer the questions like this just because it's easy. We don't want to think about it anymore, wishing all bad things would just go away. Yet, there has to be something more. These are both easy and bad answers.
This week, based upon the sermon I gave on August 10, I'll talk briefly about the nature of faith and how it works with the challenges we have in our lives.
It was 1942. A 15 year old boy was standing with a group of men holding his new hunting rifle close to his chest. It was a gift his father had given him as a sign of his emerging manhood. The young man was listening to the men’s talk, their stories, their laughter, knowing that one day, he, too, would have his stories to tell. He could only imagine now what they might be. And, dream he did.
The time had come for the annual fall deer hunt when men gathered to be men; and boys came along to become men. There was pride at having been invited into that glorious fraternity; to be welcomed; to learn, not simply to hunt, but to relate to what he was feeling inside himself At 15, he was just beginning to feel a profound masculine energy building from within… testosterone at its finest. Taking deep breaths of the cool mornings autume air, he was breathing in the power of manhood. He could feel it.
Then, without a warning, a single rifle shot rang out from across the farm field until a few days ago populated with golden cornstalks and bright yellow corn. Immediately, a ricochet and the 15 year old fell to the ground, holding his face and bleeding from his eyes. In an instant, the boy's world was covered with a dark canopy. His father went to him and held him, as they raced to the hospital.
An eternity passed before they arrived where the doctors could work their magic to restore what had been taken. But, fast upon regaining consciousness, the boy wondered if he really had awakened or was he still dreaming? A word was spoken which confirmed everyone’s fear. From now on, there would only be memories of a world filled with color and action and energy where he could run and play and feel vital again.
He was blind. A most precious gift taken from the boy in an instant.
As he lay there in recovery, there was no end to the questioning in his mind… “Why? Why me? Why now? Why not someone else? Why anyone at all? Why God?”
That man, as some of you know, was my father. More about his story comes later.
So, why do bad things happen... to good people, to innocent people, to anyone at all? Does God allow it to happen? Are there really reasons for such events? Or, are any reasons we profess merely expressions of our uncertainty as we try to ease our anxiety?
Some of the questions that came a few weeks back when I asked folks what they might ask God if they had five minutes alone with him: Why do the innocent suffer? Why are some born to misery? Why infertility? Why cancer? Why illness? Why do some families seem to get hit harder than others? Why does God allow murder, incest, war, injustice and suffering? Why does God seem to test people's faith by having bad things happen to them? Why are there hurricanes and tornados and floods that destroy people's properties and lives? Why? They're questions that have been asked since creation's dawn with few satisfying answers. So, what do we do with them? How does a person of faith respond?
What I'd like to suggest is that as we unpack the nature of faith, we might come to some more refreshing conclusions. Or, at least we might come to some better reflection and conversation that helps us better deal with the sting of uncertainty and simple answers.
And, though there are many ways to understand faith, what works for me is to see faith as our response to God; sometimes good faith and sometimes not so good. Faith at its best brings profound intimacy with God and a life that is worth or while, even despite challenging circumstances. Faith is a response directly to God through prayer, devotion, worship, etc. Faith is also a response to God as we seek to "love our neighbors as ourselves", bringing God's goodness to the people around us.
I've also come to conclude that there are dimensions to faith; two in particular. The first is a "simple faith." By this I don't mean simplistic faith for simple people. It's just a beginning for faith. Things are taken for face value without much thinking about them. "I believe that there is a God" is a faith statement for simple faith. "I want to make a connection with God so that I know my life means something" is another statement. It's a beginning because the nature of faith is to so connect with God that God is soon considered to be intimately a part of who we are. I call this "sanctifying faith" because, in this process of getting closer to God, not only do we experience holiness from God, we experience the holiness of God working out His plan through us. And, we feel OK about it. And when sanctifying faith is coming more and more into maturity, the tough times are recognized as an important part of faith life.
Simple faith bargains with God. "If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." It is a bargaining/bartering kind of faith. "I will become a monk if you save me from the uncertainty of what lies ahead." It's foxhole faith at its best. And, there's nothing wrong with this kind of faith as we can recognize it is only the beginning of a significance with God. Simple faith looks for God to keep His part of the bargain. Simple faith seems a relationship with God as a "cause and effect" kind of deal. "If I'm good, you'll certainly be good to me; won't you God?" We do get challenged when bad things happen with simple faith. Some get angry at God. Some get frustrated with themselves and their failures. Some simply turn away from God.
Sanctifying faith isn't satisfied or encouraged by "cause and effect" answers to tough questions. It also isn't satisfied with "it's God's will" for an answer. There's got to be something more. In some sense, its like the difference between Neutonian Physics and Quantum Theory. There's something more going on that what seems to be the case on the surface. Sometimes the simple answers just don't seem to work. We can sense and feel that there is something more to God and to ourselves.
Santifying faith says, "I want the desires and intentions of God, no matter what they are, might feel like, or the consequences because I know that I will become sanctified (more myself, more who God intends for me to be, even more holy) through the process. I know that I will be empowered through them. I will become more alive and vital as well." Sanctifying faith is total abandonment of self to God. God is at the center of my life instead of anything else that a person might deem most important. It's not easy. But, its generally the case that nothing worthwhile is ever easy. But, everything worthwhile is worth working for and through.
And, though sanctifying faith doesn't necessarily welcome the tough times, somehow there is a transformation of self (maturity) that happens through them. The question asked from a perspective of sanctifying faith is not, "why did this happen?" The question of sanctification is, "what am I going to do with this experience?"
Perhaps its the tough times that can drive us to God rather than away. Perhaps they can help us to see that we are richer and more vital than we might have imagined. Perhaps they will even help us see all things through the eyes of God, whose suffering is documented from a cross.
God doesn't abandon us in our challenges. In fact, God is right there being challenged with us, feeling the pain we feel, crying the tears, screaming the shouts, and even rocking Himself into our sleep. And, it is sanctifying faith that recognizes, welcomes, and depends on God's presence in all things but especially when we know that we are into something beyond our abilities.
I cannot begin to understand what my father went through in those hours following a rifle slug ripping through his eyes. I just know that ten months later he was on his way to a school for the blind in Minnesota where he spent nine months studying as any high school student might.
There was an exception, however. When my grand father went to pick him up in June, he asked my dad about his experience. My dad simply responded that he's not going back there. Meaning no disrespect to anyone else, he simply said, "everyone there thinks they're blind."
He went on to graduate from his public high school with honors. He started to successful businesses and, with my mother, ran them side by side. He raised two children and loved one particular woman for over 50 years. He loves guns and bullets. He is a survivor and leaves a legacy. I have to suggest that Jesus' response to the crowds about whose fault it was that a man was born blind, his or his parents, was kind of a precursor to the life of my father: ... it was so that the work of God might be displayed..."
And just perhaps the tough times that come can bring about the same kinds of miracles for everyone as well as they are sanctified in faith.
Next week, we'll look at some of the specifics of the bad things that happen.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Tough Questions for God - Part One
It's been and interesting process thinking about how we might pursue questions that we might have for God in my current sermon series, "Tough Questions for God". We all have questions. We've probably even asked them of God time and again. Perhaps, we've even shouted them out many times, hoping that some answer might come that would be, at least, satisfactory.
Many of us have even searched the Bible for answers to our personal questions. Some of the time, we even find some kind of answer. But, we wonder, "does the Bible really effectively deal with all of our questions and concerns?" Is it an answer book that God put together and if we search and study, we'll be amazed at the answers we find?
We've even perhaps chatted with a friend or family member about our deep questions of life and the challenges that life presents. Many are quick to give their perspectives, even with regard to how they see God in the process. Yet, are we to assume that they really understand and that their perspective has come because they have experienced the same things as we have? Consider Job and his friends from the Old Testament.
And what about the Pastor? Doesn't he or she have all the answers? Or, does what they have merely reflect their personal faith systems which again might not have much to say to us, no matter how much theological prowess they have? In my times of insecurity, I wonder whether or not I really have that much to say that might be influential or helpful for anyone else, especially with regard to tough questions that I might not understand any better than the next person.
Yet, I am delighting right now in the challenge of the series. I'm not looking to necessarily give the proper answers from the perspective of God, although I know many are looking for this. I think sometimes the best we can do is to engage in a dialogue and learn more about ourselves and others and therefore God as well. Answers come in this faith process. So, engage we will do.
On last Sunday of July, the question was asked, "if you could have five minutes alone with God, what question would you ask?" There were hundreds of questions that we passed on to me so that I could develop the sermon series. On August 10, the sermon will be about "why are there bad things that happen?" Some asked, "why do bad things happen to good people?" Others asked about natural disasters. Some of the questions were from very personal stories as well.
In the meantime, on August 3, I decided that if we are going to have a meaningful, straightforward conversation, it would be good to stand on some common ground about God and God's nature. So, in 20-25 minutes I hoped to unpack some thoughts about the nature of God. That's no small feat, considering that volumes have been written on the subject. But, I know that if we can come to a common understanding as to the way God operates, then our conversation can effectively proceed into some possible answers. That was my assumption, knowing full well that there might be some who might not particularly like some of my assumptions, beliefs, notions, and understandings of God, although quite Biblical and theological, in my humble opinion (minor attempt at humor here).
We discussed terms like omniscience, omnipresence, & omnipotence. Although descriptive, not very exciting. We looked at other terms as well - holy, spirit, etc. We even looked at relational understandings of God as Father, Great Physician, King, and Lord.
I even gave some description to some conceptions of God that some have that are not so flattering to the divine creator of the universe (who if he designed the world and all the beauty therein, must be even more awe inspiring that His handiwork). The thought of a great-grandfather God sitting on his cloud supported throne, lightening flashing with the brilliance of Chrysalis and with angel wings afluttering and chorus a crooning really has little appeal to me personally, but in some inspiring moments I can be there too. Yet, to ponder God, in this inspiring state, being somewhat sadistic because of His boredom and needed therefore to torment us with thing evil is repulsive. I cannot imagine God looking to zap the suspecting or unsuspecting with major trials and tribulations for His pleasure or for our learning. It's just too shallow an understanding for me. Yet, I do know that there are those who believe this to be true, based on their experience, but would rarely, if ever, say that its so.
Equally as deplorable for me is to imagine God being a great Santa Claus person checking His list to see who's naughty or nice in an effort to determine who gets the rocket ride to the heavens or the elevator shaft to hellfire. Surely the Book of Life is more than a tally of things done good and things done bad. Isn't it more about the potential we have because of the creative goodness of God? Isn't it more about chapters unfolding that are written not so much by God, but by ourselves through our experiences and our perpetual walk with God? And, won't it be a delight to be able to go back some time from now, in the great by and by, or even before, to reread the adventures we've taken, the challenges overcome, the failures and what we've made from them (or not) and the people we've known, loved, hated, empowered, enriched and enjoyed. Now that's the book of life! That's the stuff that movies are made of!!
The image that I really resonate with concerning the nature of God is the one the Psalmist was getting at as he wrote of the understanding of his experiences with the 23rd Psalm (somewhere in the middle of the Bible). More that anything, it's about God's presence being with us in all things, even in the valley of the shadow of death, in the presence of my enemies, and when times get really tough. I have a sense that we know this about God. He is present in all things, at all times, and in all places. But, so often we think of that presence and see God bringing the bad things upon us as opposed to walking with us and giving us the energy to be conquerors.
I also alluded to Jesus not only recognizing God's being with us, but also seeing God as within us as He referred to in the gospel of St. Luke. God's with us and within us in all things pleasant and un-. For me, that's reassuring and I depend on that knowledge and promise to be true, especially when I'm asking the tough questions of God.
Some characteristics of God that seem apparent to me, although they're not often talked about, are God's sense of humor and playfulness, God's incomprehensibility, and God's unpredictability or randomness. To get at any questions of God, even the tough ones, it's important to acknowledge these traits too.
My hope is that we will stand on some foundational principles about God as we approach answers to tough questions. God is not always, if ever, as we think God is or want God to be. We must always be ready to be surprised. It's the surprises that will most help us find answers to the tough questions; not the creeds, not the dogmas, not the piety, not the right answers.
So here we go!!
Many of us have even searched the Bible for answers to our personal questions. Some of the time, we even find some kind of answer. But, we wonder, "does the Bible really effectively deal with all of our questions and concerns?" Is it an answer book that God put together and if we search and study, we'll be amazed at the answers we find?
We've even perhaps chatted with a friend or family member about our deep questions of life and the challenges that life presents. Many are quick to give their perspectives, even with regard to how they see God in the process. Yet, are we to assume that they really understand and that their perspective has come because they have experienced the same things as we have? Consider Job and his friends from the Old Testament.
And what about the Pastor? Doesn't he or she have all the answers? Or, does what they have merely reflect their personal faith systems which again might not have much to say to us, no matter how much theological prowess they have? In my times of insecurity, I wonder whether or not I really have that much to say that might be influential or helpful for anyone else, especially with regard to tough questions that I might not understand any better than the next person.
Yet, I am delighting right now in the challenge of the series. I'm not looking to necessarily give the proper answers from the perspective of God, although I know many are looking for this. I think sometimes the best we can do is to engage in a dialogue and learn more about ourselves and others and therefore God as well. Answers come in this faith process. So, engage we will do.
On last Sunday of July, the question was asked, "if you could have five minutes alone with God, what question would you ask?" There were hundreds of questions that we passed on to me so that I could develop the sermon series. On August 10, the sermon will be about "why are there bad things that happen?" Some asked, "why do bad things happen to good people?" Others asked about natural disasters. Some of the questions were from very personal stories as well.
In the meantime, on August 3, I decided that if we are going to have a meaningful, straightforward conversation, it would be good to stand on some common ground about God and God's nature. So, in 20-25 minutes I hoped to unpack some thoughts about the nature of God. That's no small feat, considering that volumes have been written on the subject. But, I know that if we can come to a common understanding as to the way God operates, then our conversation can effectively proceed into some possible answers. That was my assumption, knowing full well that there might be some who might not particularly like some of my assumptions, beliefs, notions, and understandings of God, although quite Biblical and theological, in my humble opinion (minor attempt at humor here).
We discussed terms like omniscience, omnipresence, & omnipotence. Although descriptive, not very exciting. We looked at other terms as well - holy, spirit, etc. We even looked at relational understandings of God as Father, Great Physician, King, and Lord.
I even gave some description to some conceptions of God that some have that are not so flattering to the divine creator of the universe (who if he designed the world and all the beauty therein, must be even more awe inspiring that His handiwork). The thought of a great-grandfather God sitting on his cloud supported throne, lightening flashing with the brilliance of Chrysalis and with angel wings afluttering and chorus a crooning really has little appeal to me personally, but in some inspiring moments I can be there too. Yet, to ponder God, in this inspiring state, being somewhat sadistic because of His boredom and needed therefore to torment us with thing evil is repulsive. I cannot imagine God looking to zap the suspecting or unsuspecting with major trials and tribulations for His pleasure or for our learning. It's just too shallow an understanding for me. Yet, I do know that there are those who believe this to be true, based on their experience, but would rarely, if ever, say that its so.
Equally as deplorable for me is to imagine God being a great Santa Claus person checking His list to see who's naughty or nice in an effort to determine who gets the rocket ride to the heavens or the elevator shaft to hellfire. Surely the Book of Life is more than a tally of things done good and things done bad. Isn't it more about the potential we have because of the creative goodness of God? Isn't it more about chapters unfolding that are written not so much by God, but by ourselves through our experiences and our perpetual walk with God? And, won't it be a delight to be able to go back some time from now, in the great by and by, or even before, to reread the adventures we've taken, the challenges overcome, the failures and what we've made from them (or not) and the people we've known, loved, hated, empowered, enriched and enjoyed. Now that's the book of life! That's the stuff that movies are made of!!
The image that I really resonate with concerning the nature of God is the one the Psalmist was getting at as he wrote of the understanding of his experiences with the 23rd Psalm (somewhere in the middle of the Bible). More that anything, it's about God's presence being with us in all things, even in the valley of the shadow of death, in the presence of my enemies, and when times get really tough. I have a sense that we know this about God. He is present in all things, at all times, and in all places. But, so often we think of that presence and see God bringing the bad things upon us as opposed to walking with us and giving us the energy to be conquerors.
I also alluded to Jesus not only recognizing God's being with us, but also seeing God as within us as He referred to in the gospel of St. Luke. God's with us and within us in all things pleasant and un-. For me, that's reassuring and I depend on that knowledge and promise to be true, especially when I'm asking the tough questions of God.
Some characteristics of God that seem apparent to me, although they're not often talked about, are God's sense of humor and playfulness, God's incomprehensibility, and God's unpredictability or randomness. To get at any questions of God, even the tough ones, it's important to acknowledge these traits too.
My hope is that we will stand on some foundational principles about God as we approach answers to tough questions. God is not always, if ever, as we think God is or want God to be. We must always be ready to be surprised. It's the surprises that will most help us find answers to the tough questions; not the creeds, not the dogmas, not the piety, not the right answers.
So here we go!!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
What Happens At New Life Stays At New Life - Not!
It's been a treat for me to serve God as the pastor of New Life Church for these past eleven years. Not only have I witnessed the spiritual growth and vitality of so many people, I've also felt more and more of my own personal connection to God as well.
And, as it is for the most of us, there are high and low points along that journey for me as well. I've always found that it is from the valleys or the low points that my faith, my character, and my sense of resolve grow all the more vital and intense. Mind you, I don't ever like the low points, but I've decided if they are going to happen, I'm not going to let them overwhelm me if at all possible. Instead, I look for what I can learn from them. What am I being taught? What will I do with what's happening and the wisdom it is producing? I've also seen many of you who gather to honor God and put into practice the tools it takes to connect with God benefit from the low times as well.
The cool thing is that in the low times, there is a community that walks beside us and helps us along the way. We are never alone. And, its in this community (New Life) that is the tangible expression of Jesus' words, "I am with you always..." We need these tangible expressions. We are this tangible expressions as well.
There are also the joyous and wondrous times that happen to all of us. Much of the time, they happen as we've come to a renewed life through the challenges. At the same time, many of those incredible times just happen because we've prepared ourselves for them. We anticipate that God is working in and through us. We feel it. We enjoy it. We love it. But, the most important part of it all is that we share it.
What happens at New Life is not intended to stay at New Life. Jesus asks, actually commands, his followers to share the news of His presence in our lives and to invite others as well.
Invitations can be made in the most wondrous of times to come and praise and thank God for who we are and what we have. But, maybe even the most sigificant times of sharing our faith lives is through the challenging times that we're working and walking through.
Invite your friends to an encounter of God. Invite them to your homes. Invite them to your church community so that they, too, can know the richness of God that we are all coming to know.
And, as it is for the most of us, there are high and low points along that journey for me as well. I've always found that it is from the valleys or the low points that my faith, my character, and my sense of resolve grow all the more vital and intense. Mind you, I don't ever like the low points, but I've decided if they are going to happen, I'm not going to let them overwhelm me if at all possible. Instead, I look for what I can learn from them. What am I being taught? What will I do with what's happening and the wisdom it is producing? I've also seen many of you who gather to honor God and put into practice the tools it takes to connect with God benefit from the low times as well.
The cool thing is that in the low times, there is a community that walks beside us and helps us along the way. We are never alone. And, its in this community (New Life) that is the tangible expression of Jesus' words, "I am with you always..." We need these tangible expressions. We are this tangible expressions as well.
There are also the joyous and wondrous times that happen to all of us. Much of the time, they happen as we've come to a renewed life through the challenges. At the same time, many of those incredible times just happen because we've prepared ourselves for them. We anticipate that God is working in and through us. We feel it. We enjoy it. We love it. But, the most important part of it all is that we share it.
What happens at New Life is not intended to stay at New Life. Jesus asks, actually commands, his followers to share the news of His presence in our lives and to invite others as well.
Invitations can be made in the most wondrous of times to come and praise and thank God for who we are and what we have. But, maybe even the most sigificant times of sharing our faith lives is through the challenging times that we're working and walking through.
Invite your friends to an encounter of God. Invite them to your homes. Invite them to your church community so that they, too, can know the richness of God that we are all coming to know.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Re-creation for New Life
We're being re-created! It's true! God is re-creating each of us. We know this as we grow and mature physically and emotionally. But, we also know this as we grow and mature spiritually as well. We are being re-created. In a most true sense, that is the focus of the vision that God has for us at New Life Church, being re-created.
There was a man who came to Jesus and asked about what it is to be more profoundly aware of God in your life. His name was Nicodemus. Jesus responded, "you must be born from above." What this meant to Jesus is that Nicodemus could become more and more aware of himself as an integral part of God's purposes in this world. It means to be able to see things through the eyes of God. It means to be involved in the re-creative process that God has given to the world. It means following Jesus and proceeding as he did.
When we can see with new eyes, the eyes of God, we see everything differently... ourselves, others, circumstances, etc. And, we are more able to see how we fit into the big picture of God's grand design.
As we pray, we are being re-created. As we worship, we are being re-created. As we respond to the needs of another, it is we who are being re-created. When we see that who we are and what we have is important and put our assets to use beyond our self-interest, we are being re-created.
Re-creation is profound. And, New Life Church is a place to become re-created not only in the image and likeness of God, as the Bible reads, but re-created in the purposes of God.
Come to New Life Church. Invest yourself. Be re-created. And, know the wonder and power of God living through you. It can happen to anyone.
There was a man who came to Jesus and asked about what it is to be more profoundly aware of God in your life. His name was Nicodemus. Jesus responded, "you must be born from above." What this meant to Jesus is that Nicodemus could become more and more aware of himself as an integral part of God's purposes in this world. It means to be able to see things through the eyes of God. It means to be involved in the re-creative process that God has given to the world. It means following Jesus and proceeding as he did.
When we can see with new eyes, the eyes of God, we see everything differently... ourselves, others, circumstances, etc. And, we are more able to see how we fit into the big picture of God's grand design.
As we pray, we are being re-created. As we worship, we are being re-created. As we respond to the needs of another, it is we who are being re-created. When we see that who we are and what we have is important and put our assets to use beyond our self-interest, we are being re-created.
Re-creation is profound. And, New Life Church is a place to become re-created not only in the image and likeness of God, as the Bible reads, but re-created in the purposes of God.
Come to New Life Church. Invest yourself. Be re-created. And, know the wonder and power of God living through you. It can happen to anyone.
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