Q- What kind of God would demand that a person offer their son as a burnt offering?
A- The only one.
What kind of God is this?
Prison Bars…
I used to correspond through the mail with an inmate named Lowell. I don’t know if I’ve ever encountered a more biblically literate person. Perhaps this was because he had come to know his desperate need for God and was given plenty of time to find him in solitary confinement. As a former member of a white supremacist prison gang, he had been placed in solitary for violent acts (I don’t know what) against blacks in the prison. Of course this was just the last in a long list of crimes committed by this relatively young man.
As his story unfolded through our year or so of correspondence, the most shocking revelation dawned on me – Lowell and I were not all that different. Had I encountered the same life circumstances which he had, I probably would have ended up in the same place. My heart reflected the selfishness, malice, and prejudice which landed Lowell in solitary. Conversely, he demonstrated genuine remorse and a desire for redemption. The last vestiges of my childish notion that humanity can be divided into “good guys” and “bad guys” melted as I figuratively gazed into the mirror of Lowell’s heart.
As a human being at the bottom of society’s dumpster, Lowell sits upon an anthropological dilemma. Should Lowell not have to “pay” for what he did? If so, who determines when the debt is paid? If not, what of his victims? During our correspondence, Lowell petitioned to be released from solitary after he had spent a year there. He was denied. The prospect of another year cut off from human contact in the name of justice nearly destroyed this man who had made so many positive changes.
So, how can we maintain the worth of an individual yet decry his evil deeds? Is such a thing even possible? The answer is yes and no. Humans will never solve this dilemma because we are incapable of separating the essence of a person from their behavior. We will never have instrumentation that precise. God, however, does have an implement which can do the job. The cross of Christ in one moment categorically condemns human evil (including mine and Lowell’s) and unequivocally declares human worth. From the cross, God in voice clear and loud declares, “I hate your murder, theft, prejudice, selfishness, and lust and I love you more than words can say.”
Lowell is probably still in prison but Lowell has found a freedom while incarcerated that he never had before. Lowell continues to suffer the consequences of his past actions but he is not defined by them. God’s scalpel, the cross has removed the sin which was entangled around the heart of a man created after the divine image. Praise God for the wonderful, horrible, crucial cross!
Man of Sorrow {Guest Post}
Another amazing, Bible-inspired poem from Zane Gilley, which I trust will focus your thoughts on the gospel of Christ this Good Friday.
Man of Sorrow The Son of God was born on earth to die, To rule not over sinful world below. The Son of Man is lifted up on high. The zealots lusted Rome to occupy; But Jesus knew his blood would freely flow The Son of God was born on earth to die. Peter, James, and John, saw with weary eye Jesus speaking in clouds with face aglow. The Son of Man is lifted up on high. The masses followed, their king to glorify. Singing ‘Hosanna!’, yet they did not know The Son of God was born on earth to die. He suffered greatly giving no outcry. With bleeding twisted thorns on broken brow, The Son of Man is lifted up on high. He sacrificed, our sins to purify. He spilt his blood and did to heaven go. The Son of God was born on earth to die. The Son of Man is lifted up on high.Dancing with an Elephant
I’m reading the book, When Helping Hurts by Fikkert and Corbett. The authors work with a non-profit organization called “The Chalmers Center” whose purpose is to alleviate poverty around the world. I highly recommend this book. It has really opened my eyes to the good intentions which are so often blown through ignorance. One prevalent example of well-intentioned waste among Christians is short term mission trips. Consider the following from the book:
For example, missions expert Miriam Adeney relates a story told to her by an African Christian friend: Elephant and Mouse were best friends. One day Elephant said, “Mouse, let’s have a party!” Animals gathered from far and near. They ate. They drank. They sang. And they danced. And nobody celebrated more and danced harder than Elephant. After the party was over, Elephant exclaimed, “Mouse, did you ever go to a better party? What a blast!” But Mouse did not answer. “Mouse, where are you?” Elephant called. He looked around for his friend, and then shrank back in horror. There at Elephant’s feet lay Mouse. His little body was ground into the dirt. He had been smashed by the big feet of his exuberant friend, Elephant. “Sometimes, that is what it is like to do mission with you Americans,” the African storyteller commented. “It is like dancing with an Elephant.” When Helping Hurts, Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett (Kindle 2315-2320)
Due to our considerable advantages, Christians in the west can easily develop a “god complex” when it comes to helping the disadvantaged. Our inflated sense of significance can cause untold harm to the people we hope to “save.” Short term mission trips can do some good, but most believers in the west just don’t know how to dance gently. If you have a heart for the poor, and I hope that you do, please read this book.
Mixed Motives and Methadone
I just read a blog from an atheist who took exception with street preachers who hung out in the pub district and offered aid to the revelers there. He made some great points. One of his problems with these folks was that they did good out of mixed motives. They offered physical assistance to people in crisis but they also wanted to spread the gospel. So my question is, “What’s wrong with that?”
Consider a non-profit organization whose goal is to help heroine addicts. They open a methadone clinic hoping to attract addicts seeking relief from withdrawals. At the clinic they also offer rehab services. Should we fault them for having mixed motives?
As believers in Christ, we believe that humanity suffers from one problem, sin. That disease manifests itself through a myriad of symptoms. Whether we’re addressing symptoms or offering a cure the mission and the motive remain the same.
Out of the way and into The Way
God seems to talk to me while I’m in the shower. That’s probably too much information but it’s true and the detail is important to my story. Today, he reminded me that living for him is something which he does. Walking in The Way means getting out of the way and letting the Son of God walk the earth in our shoes. The watershed moment in my life occurred when Colossians 1:27 dawned on my consciousness. Here is the NIV rendition of that verse: “To them (beings on the spiritual plane) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The message resident in that verse forever shifted my perspective and expectations. This morning, God reminded me of it.
When I got to the office today, I realized that I had not changed over my superfluous desktop calendar. After ripping off last week at the perforation and placing it back on my desk, I looked and read the verse at the bottom: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Be blessed today. God through his grace has not only taken your past in hand, he also will handle your present and your future. Praise him!
One Rule
When discussing morality and ethics, atheists are wont to say that they are actually more moral than theists because they do what is right because it is right, not out of fear of punishment or hope for a reward. While I will grant that higher morality transcends personal interest, I take exception with anyone, atheist or Christian, who depicts Christian morality in terms of rules enforced through threat or bribe.
The New Testament presents but one rule to govern the lives of Christ’s constituents. The various biblical writers express it in different ways. Here is my favorite expression of the one rule:
“Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.” (Galatians 6:15-16 NIV)
The problem with the “right for the sake of right” ethical formula is that it requires every adherent to be “right.” Sadly, we’re not all right. Many of us are very broken. Sitting here right now I can’t think of anyone who has done wrong because it is wrong. That being the case, how on earth could we ever expect that humans would ever on a large scale do what is right because it is right?
Since we can’t count on others to do right, we’ll need to limit human behaviors through laws enforced by duly appointed officials. Which means that people will do right because they fear punishment. On an interpersonal level, we’ll need social norms and societal approval or censure to bring people into conformity. In other words, humans will do what is acceptable in order to be accepted and not rejected – in order to gain reward or avoid punishment.
Who can deny that these forces inhibit genuine individual liberty? Given this complex set of incentives, who can claim high morality? I submit that only genuine Christians are truly free and therefore truly moral. They have been remade in the image of God demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ. In Christ ,doing and being have become one. We have become whole. Our behavior is driven by our inner life. When human laws or expectation coincide with right we transcend those motives. When they conflict, we defy them. Followers of Christ observe the one rule, “the new creation.”
Psalm 2 {Guest Post}
It’s my privilege to post another “Christian” poem by my favorite “post-Christian” poet, Zane Gilley. Thanks for your contribution, Zane. Beautiful work.
Psalm II Why do the heathens fill themselves with rage And the peoples imagine things in vain? The monarchs of the world themselves engage And rulers counsel and bring forth a plan Against Almighty Jehovah on high And the one he has annointed, saying, “Let us break these bands we are restrained by, And these cords away from us let us fling.” The One enthroned in the heavens will laugh, Jehovah God shall have them to deride. Then he will speak unto them with his wrath With his fury, they shall be terrified. “I have placed upon the holy mountain Of Zion my king, the Anointed One.” I proclaim the words of Jehovah One That he has gracefully made known to me, “Thou hast now become my beloved son Even this day I have begotten thee. Ask it of me, and I shall answer thee Give thee thy inheritance, the heathen And the farthest lands across the wide sea To thee, begotten, for thine possession. With your rod of iron broken are they, And dashed into pieces like pottery.” Now, O kings learn this lesson of wisdom You rulers of the earth are warned of him. Serve the Annointed One with holy fear With much trembing kiss meekly his feet dear, Lest he be enraged, you’ll die in his path, For quickly kindled is his divine wrath. Blessed are all that will Take refuge in him still.Holigram
Richard scowled at the framed poster displayed on an easel at the entrance to the gift store. “What a sham!” he nearly shouted.
Startled by Richard’s outburst, a passerby named Peter asked, “What is?”
“This poster, it’s an utter sham!” Richard replied. “These big gift store chains think they can dupe the public into buying overpriced junk by making ridiculous claims for their merchandise. I mean, look at this thing; it’s just a mess of recurring jagged lines in shades of blue and they want $30 for it. It’s not even original art. It’s a poster for crying out loud! I’m a realist and if I buy a poster, I want it to actually look like something. I have a framed poster of the fjords of Norway that’s gorgeous and I only paid $15 for that one. What are they trying to pull?”
“Well,” Peter began, “the caption at the bottom says, ‘Stalkers of the Deep.’ Perhaps all that blue and wavy lines is supposed to represent water or something.”
“Oh boy, I guess there really is one born every minute!” retorted Richard. “It can’t be water, the lines are jagged, not wavy, and the patterns repeat at specific intervals. Besides, even if it is supposed to be water, why would someone pay $30 for a print of a bad abstract of water when they could get an actual photo of the ocean for $15?”
Peter, now feeling a bit patronized and quite a bit curious said, “Alright then, if it bothers you so much, why don’t you just confront the manager of the store? Maybe he can explain what makes this poster so special. There must be some reason they think it’s worth that much.”
“Puh, go in there? I don’t think so.” responded Richard in disdain. “I don’t need their cock and bull explanation. I’ve got two eyes and I can see what’s going on. Besides, that little flunky in there won’t be able to do anything about it anyway. I’m going to blog about it to warn others against these big conglomerates and the way they manipulate the public.”
Peter stood for a second looking at Richard and then at the store. He said, “Well, now I’m curious, so I’m going to ask.”
“Suit yourself.” Spat Richard as Peter entered the store.
Moments later Peter returned holding a piece of paper.
“What’s that?” Richard asked suspiciously.
“It’s a leaflet about the poster. It says it’s a 3-D sea life scene which was generated by a computer.”
“Really?” Richard quipped. “How gullible do they think we are? 3-D? Maybe I’m nuts but it looks pretty 2-D to me. And sea life…where? Show me! It’s not there. I have eyes, you know.”
“I don’t see it either.” Peter admitted. “The leaflet says you have to look at it the right way and that sometimes it takes a long time before some people can see it.”
Grabbing his head, Richard yelled, “Now they’re blaming me because I can’t see it! Well isn’t that convenient! I suppose they’re selling a beautiful suit inside which only the wisest people can see. Can’t you see what they’re doing? You can’t win with these people!”
“I don’t know,” replied Peter, “this is a reputable company and the people inside seem nice enough. Maybe it’s like when you see a dragon in the clouds or your rug looks like an angry face. I’m sure they are sincere.”
Crossing his arms and turning from the poster, Richard responded flatly, “That’s up to you. Feel free to join the impressionable hoard. I’ll go the way of reason and common sense. Let me ask you just one more question: Would you put that thing on your wall?”
“Well, no.” Peter answered sheepishly.
Richard began, “Okay, then, I rest my ca_”
“Oh, wow!” A voice from behind Richard interrupted him in his moment of triumph. He spun around to see a young woman looking at the poster and pointing.
“Look at those sharks! It’s like they’re coming right at me. How much is this poster, $30? What a steal! I’m so putting this up in my room!” the young woman exclaimed. With that, she took the poster inside and bought it.
As she walked out of the store with the poster under arm, Peter called out, “Did you really see all of that in that poster?”
“Of course.” the girl replied, “Didn’t you?”
“Uh, yeah, it was great.” was Peter’s tentative response.
Richard muttered under his breath, “Delusional. So sad.”
Psalm 1 {Guest Post}
A new friend, Zane Gilley, who now ironically is an atheist has sent me a couple of poetic adaptations of the Psalms which it is my pleasure to post here at the savant spot. Enjoy!
Psalm I
Blessed be the man who doeth these things three:
Walketh not in the ungodly counsel,
Standeth not in the way of sinner’s feet,
Sitteth not in the seat of the scornful.
But he places his devoted delight
In the holiest laws of Jehovah.
He, all through the day and throughout the night,
Reverently meditates on the law.
He is like a tree planted by rivers
Of the liquid life giving sustenance.
He beareth fruit in season and offers
Lasting shade for those who under him chance.
Whatever he sets forth to do prospers
Giving the life of his neighbors enhance.
With the ungodly these things are not so,
For they are likened unto the dry chaff
That the winnowing wind that God dost blow
Carries away from the godly with wrath.
Therefore these men ungodly shall not stand
During the final day of God’s judging,
Nor shall these unholy ones have a hand
In holy righteous saints’ congregating.
For the mind of Jehovah Almighty
Knoweth the blessed way of the righteous,
But the accursed way of the ungodly
Will with gnashing of teeth ever perish.