We all got it coming...

Self examination is never easy and seldom fun. Invariably in the dark watches of the night, we start to think about all that we are not. And worse yet, all we could have been. Depending on one's view of the world, of how things come together and relate to each other, the conclusions a person can come to can lead to dispair either way.

On one hand, I could do no different. I am predestined to make the decisions that I have made due to the inexorable cycle of stimulus/response...every action and reaction linked together since I was able to make conscious decisions...like some math problem with an interminable number of steps that plods onward till I breath my last.

Or, I am entirely responsible for the decisions that have shapped my fate.

I think the truth, as in most things like this, can be tricky to explain.

I read Acts 1:17 today and it says "Judas was one of us, chosen to share in the ministry with us."
Remember, at the Last Supper, when Jesus says "One of you will betray me" (Matt. 26:21) no one jumps up and starts pointing to Judas yelling "I KNEW IT!!!" The Apostles are even recorded as asking "Lord, is it me?" (Matt 26:22) The Bible doesn't say that all the Apostles except Judas healed the sick and cast out demons (Matt 10:8). We can probably safely assume that Judas fit right in with the rest of the Apostles. He was chosen to share in the ministry with them by Jesus.

But did Judas have a choice? And if he didn't, what does that say about the choices we make everyday? The Bible says that Jesus is the "Lamb of God slain from the creation of the world" (Rev. 13:8) and if God has salvation wrapped up before the world is even created, before man has even fallen, then it is a safe bet that He is not going to leave that whole plan in the hands of Judas unless He knows what is going to happen (and He does).

God has perfect knowledge--past, present, future--and the aspect of that present knowledge assures us that Judas was chosen because Jesus knew He would need someone to betray Him unto the death prescribed for Him in the Scriptures. Jesus knew that Judas would perform exactly as needed, that he would make the neccessary combination of freewill decisions to bring Him to His arrest in Gethsemane. So then, Judas (and thus all of us) have freewill. But God knows what decisions we will make, how we will respond to the stimulus we are confronted with. This is how the Bible can say that He has made all things, even the wicked for the day of doom (Proverbs 16:4). God's foreknowledge of our freewill decisions does not nullify our responsibility for the decisions we make, nor does it make God responsible for the evil in the world.

Apart from humanity having the capacity for choosing between good and evil, the possibility for us to have true relationship with both God and each other is nil. Thus, your worldview and belief about the nature of humanity (created or accident of evolution) will affect every facet of how you live. If you believe humanity to be highly evolved animals, then there is no basis for any law other than the law of nature: the fittest, most adaptable organisms survive and all others die off.

Most people do not want to live this way. Modern, secular man prefers to shield himself with the protections of Judeo-Christian culture (Law, Justice, Human Rights) while denying the God who inspired it. He wants an account (Creation by evolution) without accountability (The God of the Bible).

There's a line at the end of Clint Eastwood's western "Unforgiven" when after killing the two cowboys who maimed a prostitute, one traumatized young assassin says to his veteran partner "Well, I guess they had it coming" to which the older assassin replies "We all got it coming, kid."

This life is like that. We've all got it coming. But the freewill that brought that wrath upon us also can deliver our salvation. We can choose to follow Jesus or we can do things our own way and hope for the best...but the wrath of God is coming. Only the blood of Christ can save us.

The Living Dead...

There is a concept in Africa (I forget where) in that the dead who have died in the lifetime of someone who is still alive live on in that person's memories. They are the "Living Dead", the dead who are part of living memory. For example, soon the generation that lived through the Holocaust will pass on and the people they knew personally who died in it will pass from being the living dead to being the old dead, the dead that are known only by the written word and pictures. No living person remembers them personally...

This is why the Church must change. Now, the Church is the "Living Dead" in the mind of Post Modern Culture: something "dead" but still talked about by a generation of believers that remembers it by going through the rituals of it weekly. The Church is dead to Post Moderns the same way silent movies, radio theatre, Zeppelins, and gas lamps are dead to 21st century people: antiques of an earlier time that, while still around, really have no place in a technological, scientific age.

A simple fact must be accepted: most people are not Christian. We are no longer a "Judeo-Christian" Nation. Thus, the old way of doing things must change. We must establish, from the Scriptures, how to reach this new culture. How to keep the essentials (God loves us, Jesus is the only way to Heaven, the Bible is the Word of God, The Holy Spirit is with us) while communicating that in a way this generation will understand. Whether they embrace it or not is their choice and the work of the Holy Spirit unto salvation.

To not do this is to allow the Church to finally become the "Old Dead" when this generation of believers dies off: obscurred, irrelevant, and forgotten, Easter and Christmas becoming "Spring Break" and "Winter Holiday" forevermore.

We should instead live out the words of the Apostle Paul:

"Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. To the Jew, I became like a Jew to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1Cor 9:19-23)


Mike

Things I wish someone had told me when I was 18...

Just a random list...some require commentary, some stand on their own. All of this is given in the context of a 38 year old me talking to an 18 year old me...

--Go straight to college right out of high school, and finish in 4 years. Get a good all purpose degree like business, history, or english.

This sounds obvious but for a lower middle class kid like myself it wasn't. I had no commitment, no plan, no sense of what the future would require of me, of what it would take to be successful in life, which brings me to my next point...

--If you had any idea how hard life really is, you would get serious and prepare now.

Seriously, I know some people are born with a silver spoon stragically placed within their person. But for the rest of us, using the energy, enthusiasm and fearless overconfidence of youth to accomplish the needed preprations for adult life is essential. Life (unless you come from a rich family and you don't) is far harder than you have been led to believe.

--It is ok to work a job you hate for a time as long as it is a means to an end and not a career.

--Most girls are not sex crazed maniacs who are having sex with every guy except you.

--A girl who might not go out with you because of the car your drive isn't worth your trouble.

--Long distance relationships never (99.9%) work out. So leave that girl from Oct. 1993 alone.

--It is easier to stay out of people's business than it is to get out of people's business.

--Pay attention to people, really listen when they talk. Ask good questions. Care.

--You will meet all kinds of people in life. Sadly, many will perform down to common stereotypes associated with their race, socio-economic class or culture. The L.A. Riots that will come in 1992 will do much to perpetuate this. However, this is no excuse for racism or bigotry. Using common sense and treating ALL people with genuine respect is the best way to live life and will allow you to make friendships with all kinds of people in life.

--Read books that challenge you. Start with the Bible (New Testament), then read books on history and philosophy. Try to read at least one new book a month.

--Travel. Seriously, don't be a pansy. Get out there and see the world. That road trip to Canada that you will want to take with your friend Chelo in a few years...do it! You are living at home, rent free with no kids and no "real" job. Travel during the summer when you are not in school. Remember the previous point about common sense and respect and you will be fine.

--Humility. It is a concept that doesn't even occur to you at this point in life. But as you read about Jesus and see His model of strength and humility, you will see that a real man does not need to go around bragging about himself or his conquests. A real man is humble and grateful to God for all he has been blessed with. A real man is patient with those who are not humble and tries to model humility.

--Don't be afraid to fight if there is no other choice. And don't be afraid to strike first if you are cornered with no other options. Trying to play catch-up in a fight after you have been punched in the nose and/or the eyes is almost impossible. Have confidence. "Violence of action" is the key. Fight violent, fight dirty and fight till the other guy is down and done. All of this falls in the context of common sense, respect and humility. Those three will keep you out of most situations where violence is the last and only option.

--It is possible to have friends who are girls but you, being a man, will usually end up wanting to have sex with them. If you want a girlfriend, then have a girlfriend, but don't lead girls along by being intimate with them. Respect them and their bodies.

--Also, if you like a girl, then man up and tell her. Life isn't an afterschool special or a Foreigner song. If you "wanna know what love is" then speak up. The Bible says that a open rejection is better than a hidden love (Proverbs 27:5). The Bible is full of good stuff like that, as you will see.

--When you get a girlfriend, don't go nuts and get all physical. Sex is great but so is nuclear power and you don't need to be splitting the atom up in your bedroom either. Both sex and nuclear power are meant to be used in the proper way: Sex in marriage, nuclear power in a safe confined setting (hey, kinda sounds like marriage!).

--Speaking of marriage, if you meet a good girl with good values who shares your core beliefs, is good looking and smart with a good sense of humor, likes your friends and family, has a work ethic, is kind and loves kids, has a vision for her life and what she wants to do with it, is humble and self-sacrificing and loves YOU...put a ring on her finger, marry her and love her for the rest of her life because she is a miracle from God.

--Lastly, get right with God. Jesus is the only way any of us get to Heaven. Read John 3:16, John 14:6 and start going to church with your sisters over in Ontario. You are going to go there eventually. God will bless you coming to faith sooner than later.

This list will continue to grow as I think of more stuff I wish I had been told when I was young...

Bridezillas, Hen pecked guys, and the Word of God...

While chatting with a friend of mine, the topic of marriage came up in the context of a recent viewing of "Bridezillas". Her characterization of the show was as follows: "I just watched 2 episodes of 'Bridezillas.' A more accurate name would be, 'Men Without Balls Who Have Chosen to Be Abused by Women with Severe Personality Disorders." I guess the name 'Bridezillas' was just shorter." My take on the whole thing is simply this: Basically, society does not want any depictions in the media of strong men who are also loving husbands and fathers, because such men are too consistent with a traditional biblical view of manhood. A traditional biblical view of manhood by definition requires women to embrace a traditional biblical view of womanhood, and for both men and women to accept a biblical view of marriage and parenthood.

This view requires men to love their wives like Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25), which is sacrifically. It also requires women to submit to the leadership of their husbands (Ephesians 5:22). This is all Bible, not my opinion.

Thus, if the media (powered by "The Prince of the Power of the Air" one of the titles of Satan (Ephesians 2:2), and I think air includes airwaves) can portray men in reality settings as incompetent and weak or belligerent and abusive, what woman is going to want to submit to that? Likewise, if women are protrayed as domineering shrews or insatiable sex machines, what guy is going to want to lay down his life for that?

Satan is playing chess, not checkers but we need to share Christ and be faithful "in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." (2 Corinthians 2:11)

Haiti and the Judgment of God

Despite whatever problems gnaw and tear at my life, certain events always seem to come along and put things into perspective. The earthquake in Haiti is one. No matter what I am enduring, at least I am alive, my family is alive, we have a place to live, food to eat and are relatively safe and healthy. Our problems are the problems of rich Americans who live in the greatest country to ever exist in the history of humanity, at its technological and democratic apex.

So to look upon the hellish plight of the Haitian people is to have one's faith come into question. At least one's polite, surface level faith. On the surface, we say that God treats everyone equal, that he does not play favorites, etc etc. That runs contrary to what the Bible teaches.

The thing to remember is that even though Jesus fufills the requirements of God's Law in being the only acceptable sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10) there is no sacrifice, no covering for those who do not accept Christ's sacrifice for their own lives. The atonement is there but has no salvic power for those who reject it or those who want to bring Jesus alongside whatever other gods they may have in their lives. The world and all in it who are not followers of Christ are still under the Law, but with no ability to make their own sacrifices to cover their sins. Further, if we as American Christians continue to parrot 2 Chronicles 7:14 as our rallying verse for revival in our land:

"...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

we must also conceed an unpleasant truth we see at work in the real world around us: God judges nations for their wickedness despite the presence of born-again, Bible believing Christians who have been praying for revival amongst the population. Look at the Nation of Israel throughout the Old Testament. They continually went through cycles of rebellion, reproach, repentence and restoration until they finally experienced the Diaspora after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD. This was despite the presence of a faithful remnant of believers in the one true God.

My denomination, The Church of the Nazarene, a conservative group of believers with churches all over the world was having its annual District Assembly in Haiti when the Earthquake struck. The Nazarene Church has 555 churches in that tiny country with over 120,000 members. Many churches are destroyed and many members are dead. The presence of all these Christians did not prevent the earthquake. God still judges nations despite the presence of Christians.

This is due to His plans and perspective being eternal, holy and perfect. We, as sinful humans, cannot understand the ways of a Holy, Perfect God. Best example I can think of now is that with the benefit of 70 years, we can look back and see how the Holocaust and the slaughter of the Jews lead to the foundation of the Nation of Israel in 1948. It is unlikely that the UN would have allowed the creation of a Jewish state without the incredible weight of what the Jewish people had just endured pressuring them. Thus, just as in the crucifixion, God used suffering and death to bring about a resurection, just as His word promised (Isaiah 66:8 and Ezekiel 37).

2Corinthians 4:4 refers to Satan as the "god of this world" and the Book of Job tells us that Satan opperates with the freedom to do almost as he wishes here on Earth, restrained only by the prayers of the saints and explicit will of God (such as God telling Satan that he can harm Job but not kill him). Aside from those two restrictions, Satan has free reign, for a time. Combining that with a creation that has been corrupted by the Fall and the inheirant sinful nature of humanity leaves us looking at the Haiti earthquake through new eyes. One can read the Old Testament and see God continually judging the nations around Israel for their sins and judging Israel for their sin. One can read Revelation and see that God is going to judge the whole of creation in the end. Continually we are shown that judgment is God's "strange work" (Isaiah 28:21)

We are forced to conceed that God still judges nations for their sin, despite the presence of a faithful remnant. In the light of that, what fresh hell awaits our once great land, where the cause of Christ is slowly being outlawed and subjected to persecution? I can only reflect back on the prophetic words of Thomas Jefferson:

"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."

--Mike

P.S. : In my research for this I found a good article by Calvary Chapel Pastor Brian Broderson of a similar topic with a much more uplifting tone. You can find it here: http://www.calvarymagazine.org/Pastor_Brian/Pastor_Brian_23.pdf

Qua sum Ego iens? (Where am I going?)

I am rapidly reaching the point where I will officially not care and will begin to act like Jesus. I am so wounded right now by knowledge that has just come my way that I kinda actually have the slightest inkling of how Jesus must feel when I sin. I feel like I am "playing church" like kids "play house": it is a model of the real thing, but nothing like the real thing. Maybe it is my arrogance that prompts this thought, but if I could stop "playing church", then maybe I could have a real impact on the young people around me, maybe faith in Christ and a relationship with God could be a real thing in their lives.

Or, is it as my friend, the too wise for his years Luke Kim says: have we given them just enough Jesus to innoculate them against Him? Young people raised in the church hear all the verses about forgiveness, mercy, the love of God. Young people who come as guests with their friends hear these verses as well. All those verses that ran through my own head when I was 20-something and sinning: Romans 8:38-39, 1John 1:9, Psalm 51...

Of course, as with all Pastors, I need to make sure that all the planks are removed from my eyes before I go about trying to remove the specks, splinters, 2x4's and giant sequoias from the eyes of those around me (Luke 6:42). I know I am a sinner, and this desire to see revival and renewal does not come from a position of self-righteousness, but rather one of exhaustion and wearyness at watching the consequences of sin play out in the lives of young people, tired of seeing the rebellion and regret of teens and 20-somethings.

I am praying that God will use me to reach out and change the lives of young people in this new year. That the Holy Spirit will go before me and open the eyes and hearts of that generation that they may be receptive to the Gospel and that it will do more than innoculate them...something has to give. I can't go on like this. I feel like God is crushing me under this burden. Change must happen. Where am I going, Lord?