How many men long to be like William Wallace since the appearance of the movie Braveheart? Millions, I imagine. But how many will be? So clear in his thinking, so resolute to the end, so pure in his motives, so grounded in suffering and loss, so strong and able to handle himself, and driven by one thing: freedom for Scotland that purified all else. How many?
How many would want to be like Robert the Bruce after the movie came out? Not many, I imagine. But the chances of each of us becoming like Robert the Bruce is much greater. Robert the Bruce as portrayed in the movie compromised, and betrayed, and failed, and was drawn to the passion of William like a moth to a flame. And came to realize the source of his compromise, and 2 facedness, and lack of passion, and chose to turn away before it was too late. He declared to his father, his beguiler: "I will never be on the wrong side again." His father only knew compromise and rhetoric and survival as a means to get his goal. In William, Robert began to see another way, a purer and higher way, the way of passion, and pure motive, and living with no compromise. It took looking into the eyes of William as he betrayed him for Robert to realize he was wrong, his father's way was wrong (at least in the move version; we have no reason to believe historically that this betrayal actually occurred). And so he turned from that way. But his father did not and it led to William's death, but also made the man who historically did become the King of Scotland and defeated England in battle.
Now the real history is unclear, but the truths told in this story called Braveheart are beautiful. It is why this is my favorite movie of all time. And I have realized I can like Robert the Bruce. It's not too late to live without compromise and follow those before me who have blazed a hard path.
So whether we come to an uncompromising life the short painful way (which might require something that stirs us deeply as did William's great losses: his parents and brother and his wife, and seeing what a cruel king really did and lived by), which for many of us we will probably not see, or if we get there the long way by finally realizing we are full of compromise and rhetoric and playing games while people of real passion are following God's call NOW and suffering for it, &/or accomplishing great things in His name, it does not matter. We are where we are in life. And if you or I see now that God's great call on us to be a light and to be His uncompromising people is what is really going on, and the seeking of peace with a world that will never give it to us and it would not matter if it did because we would have lost our soul on the way anyway is how we have been actually living, then let us follow Robert the Bruce and say, "I will never be on the wrong side again."
a blog of thoughts on life and faith by K T Mat
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Why the world generally won't listen to Americans
Suffering, pain, tragedy: Americans avoid these like the plague, unless of course you can fit it into a great movie or situation comedy. We really want instant fixes to all types of problems, including long-term deeply ingrained problems. We are such a young country and act so naive and young and brash, like teenagers who fear no pain and see no threat and think death will never come.
For the rest of the world and our influence upon them, how can they listen to an American who quotes a thought or offers a platitude that is supposed to help when the American has often never experienced anything close to the level of pain they have? Much of the world has suffered wars for hundreds of years and longer, racial hatreds that span possibly millenia, have seen the ravages of disease like the bubonic plague, potato famine, and Africa's present experience of AIDS which is much worse than what America has suffered on that front. Religious hatred and even the cultural makeup of some societies leads to immediate rejection and loss on the part of peoples (think of the lower castes in India). These things have shaped much of the world in a deep and powerful way. But in America, we are young and have missed much of this; in general, (not all cases) this is the American problem.
In movies, I generally hate bullies who push their way around. In "Training Day," Denzel Washington's character played a bad cop trying to turn another good cop to the dark side. He failed, and it made the movie so sweet. This theme is repeated often in movies because humans love to see the underdog come back and win. When it happens in real life like the 1980 American Olympic Hockey team? It solidifies a nation. Well, you know what, to the rest of the world, or much of it, America is a bully, who has always gotten what we wanted and put our boot down on those who tried to stop us. Whether we like it or not many people percieve us this way. And that part of America is bad, and I do not support it. That is the part that has not suffered and cannot relate to or have anything to say to the rest of the world.
There is another part of America that the world will listen to, however. The part that is fighting in two world wars on other's lands that freed or helped in those wars, and that cost us lives. The part of us that has gone through slavery and almost tore us apart as a nation, and the continuing racial tensions and problems that exist here. The part of us that has seen freedom's for women, and children, and all races promoted and enforced. These parts are something the world will listen to.
But anytime the ugly, stupid, know-it-all and push-their-weight-around American, whether Christian or not, shows up, it spells doom for any real constructive help occurring or continuing. So when a team of people goes somewhere in the world from America and offers help and assistance where it is needed and especially asked for, the true nature of Christ shines. But when the group of people from America goes out to set those people in another country straight, a problem exists before anyone even steps into the other country. American Christian, you have not suffered enough to have much to say. Stick to the scripture and to serving needs and you will be okay, but do NOT tell the other person how to live life or change their ways; you do not know enough.
The problem is, I have caricatured the two positions as either / or. And they are not. People are on a gradient from servant to bully and all positions in between. But we must weed ourselves of prideful and know-it-all attitudes, wherever they show up. If you have suffered personally, then you may have an opportunity to share personally. And I am not saying American Christians should stop trying to help. But go as servants and offer cool water, the word of God, and a knowledge of Jesus. I am just afraid we don't have a lot more to offer, and until we realize this we will keep being our own worst enemy.
Anytime we offer the love of the Spirit of Christ, we have offered what the world needs. Anytime we offer the presence of Jesus, we have offered what a human needs. Anytime we offer to love and serve and give and help in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we offer what the world really longs for and needs. Anytime we offer other stuff, American or not, we offer a vial of poison that will kill and cripple the hurting people we go to. Offer Christ. He is enough, and He is the end of what people need.
If you want a sense of real suffering, subscribe to this link, and check out the present news:
http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=48021.0&dlv_id=63861
For the rest of the world and our influence upon them, how can they listen to an American who quotes a thought or offers a platitude that is supposed to help when the American has often never experienced anything close to the level of pain they have? Much of the world has suffered wars for hundreds of years and longer, racial hatreds that span possibly millenia, have seen the ravages of disease like the bubonic plague, potato famine, and Africa's present experience of AIDS which is much worse than what America has suffered on that front. Religious hatred and even the cultural makeup of some societies leads to immediate rejection and loss on the part of peoples (think of the lower castes in India). These things have shaped much of the world in a deep and powerful way. But in America, we are young and have missed much of this; in general, (not all cases) this is the American problem.
In movies, I generally hate bullies who push their way around. In "Training Day," Denzel Washington's character played a bad cop trying to turn another good cop to the dark side. He failed, and it made the movie so sweet. This theme is repeated often in movies because humans love to see the underdog come back and win. When it happens in real life like the 1980 American Olympic Hockey team? It solidifies a nation. Well, you know what, to the rest of the world, or much of it, America is a bully, who has always gotten what we wanted and put our boot down on those who tried to stop us. Whether we like it or not many people percieve us this way. And that part of America is bad, and I do not support it. That is the part that has not suffered and cannot relate to or have anything to say to the rest of the world.
There is another part of America that the world will listen to, however. The part that is fighting in two world wars on other's lands that freed or helped in those wars, and that cost us lives. The part of us that has gone through slavery and almost tore us apart as a nation, and the continuing racial tensions and problems that exist here. The part of us that has seen freedom's for women, and children, and all races promoted and enforced. These parts are something the world will listen to.
But anytime the ugly, stupid, know-it-all and push-their-weight-around American, whether Christian or not, shows up, it spells doom for any real constructive help occurring or continuing. So when a team of people goes somewhere in the world from America and offers help and assistance where it is needed and especially asked for, the true nature of Christ shines. But when the group of people from America goes out to set those people in another country straight, a problem exists before anyone even steps into the other country. American Christian, you have not suffered enough to have much to say. Stick to the scripture and to serving needs and you will be okay, but do NOT tell the other person how to live life or change their ways; you do not know enough.
The problem is, I have caricatured the two positions as either / or. And they are not. People are on a gradient from servant to bully and all positions in between. But we must weed ourselves of prideful and know-it-all attitudes, wherever they show up. If you have suffered personally, then you may have an opportunity to share personally. And I am not saying American Christians should stop trying to help. But go as servants and offer cool water, the word of God, and a knowledge of Jesus. I am just afraid we don't have a lot more to offer, and until we realize this we will keep being our own worst enemy.
Anytime we offer the love of the Spirit of Christ, we have offered what the world needs. Anytime we offer the presence of Jesus, we have offered what a human needs. Anytime we offer to love and serve and give and help in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we offer what the world really longs for and needs. Anytime we offer other stuff, American or not, we offer a vial of poison that will kill and cripple the hurting people we go to. Offer Christ. He is enough, and He is the end of what people need.
If you want a sense of real suffering, subscribe to this link, and check out the present news:
http://members.opendoorsusa.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=48021.0&dlv_id=63861
Sunday, July 25, 2010
How crazy rich and wealthy we Americans are
It is so easy to simply compare yourself to the people next door, or who you go to school with, and think that you are not that wealthy. Certainly we are not rich, are we?? Go to this website and plug in your family's yearly income and then give that richness a second thought. Compared to the world, I guarantee you that you are really wealthy. http://www.globalrichlist.com/
Part of the problem we have developed here is the notion that we need or should have all that we do, and that that is normal. It is not normal, compared to the rest of the world. Not at all. Having 20 shirts, and 20 pants and 2 cars and a cell phone means you are rich. Probably most of the people of the world do not have a car. Most do not have a cell phone, or probably more than a few pair of pants.
The issue is not one of "let's become poor", but of "what do I do with all this wealth?" Will we spend it on ourselves? Or give a tiny bit away? Or what?
Food for thought.
Part of the problem we have developed here is the notion that we need or should have all that we do, and that that is normal. It is not normal, compared to the rest of the world. Not at all. Having 20 shirts, and 20 pants and 2 cars and a cell phone means you are rich. Probably most of the people of the world do not have a car. Most do not have a cell phone, or probably more than a few pair of pants.
The issue is not one of "let's become poor", but of "what do I do with all this wealth?" Will we spend it on ourselves? Or give a tiny bit away? Or what?
Food for thought.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
dead men do bleed
There is an old story that goes something like this: A man was seeing his psychiatrist believing he was already dead. The shrink did everything he could think of to help the man realize he was not dead. Nothing was working. So he told the man that dead people don't bleed, which the man seemed to accept. So the doctor took out a needle and poked the man who thought he was dead so that he started bleeding. After the crazy guy got over the pain of the sting, the doctor asked him what he thought now about his being dead. To which the man replied, "Well, I'll be, dead men do bleed after all."
Last night I watched two very intelligent men have a debate about the topics raised in the book, "The God Delusion." I highly recommend watching the full debate if you are a thinking person. One of the debaters was Richard Dawkins, a well known atheist and scientist. The other was a modern day CS Lewis or GK Chesterton named John Lennox. He is a mathematics Professor at Oxford and a very good thinker, and a Christian. The debate was very good.
But one of the amazing things about Dawkins, and to be expected perhaps from an intelligent person who takes his position as an atheist, is how he will bend and fit almost every argument to his position. He is clearly convinced of what he believes, and seeks to turn almost every argument by a Christian to his position, as again what one would expect of an intelligent atheist who is unwilling to bend. And that is my point; he is so unwilling to bend that he has painted himself into a logically lost position and does not see it. Even for all of his brains. He doesn't even seem to see that he has a worldview because to him what he believes seems so natural and right. But he does have one.
He even asks who created the creator in his book, which to me is a childish question, not because it is stupid, but because it is one that only very simple or young people might ask and for which the answer that God is uncreated and eternal seems overwhelmingly satisfying. And young people with Christian parents learn very early on. Also satisfying in that God is the only "thing" uncreated in the universe, and while that is mysterious, it is not illogical or impossible. But Dawkins seems unable to get his mind around this idea. Amazingly, while he will accept the idea of multiple universes existing and of some anthropic principle that says since we are here then the universe had to be such that it is to give rise to us, he won't accept an eternal being who created this place and us, etc. How is his idea better? To him it has something to do with because it explains something, rather than introducing a non-explainable being or answer (i.e., God). Huh?? I think he is simply desperate to replace God so he invents any naturalistic (meaning does not need a Supreme being) explanation. I have also heard him say in another debate or discussion, he might accept the idea of aliens putting us here originally. And this is better than God? Or different somehow? Wow.
He proves so clearly this verse: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
2 Corinthians 4: 4
Richard Dawkins is one of many atheists today who claim that: "Well, I guess dead men do bleed."
See this link to watch the full debate and draw your own conclusions about what I am saying: http://fixed-point.org/index.php/video/35-full-length/164-the-dawkins-lennox-debate
Last night I watched two very intelligent men have a debate about the topics raised in the book, "The God Delusion." I highly recommend watching the full debate if you are a thinking person. One of the debaters was Richard Dawkins, a well known atheist and scientist. The other was a modern day CS Lewis or GK Chesterton named John Lennox. He is a mathematics Professor at Oxford and a very good thinker, and a Christian. The debate was very good.
But one of the amazing things about Dawkins, and to be expected perhaps from an intelligent person who takes his position as an atheist, is how he will bend and fit almost every argument to his position. He is clearly convinced of what he believes, and seeks to turn almost every argument by a Christian to his position, as again what one would expect of an intelligent atheist who is unwilling to bend. And that is my point; he is so unwilling to bend that he has painted himself into a logically lost position and does not see it. Even for all of his brains. He doesn't even seem to see that he has a worldview because to him what he believes seems so natural and right. But he does have one.
He even asks who created the creator in his book, which to me is a childish question, not because it is stupid, but because it is one that only very simple or young people might ask and for which the answer that God is uncreated and eternal seems overwhelmingly satisfying. And young people with Christian parents learn very early on. Also satisfying in that God is the only "thing" uncreated in the universe, and while that is mysterious, it is not illogical or impossible. But Dawkins seems unable to get his mind around this idea. Amazingly, while he will accept the idea of multiple universes existing and of some anthropic principle that says since we are here then the universe had to be such that it is to give rise to us, he won't accept an eternal being who created this place and us, etc. How is his idea better? To him it has something to do with because it explains something, rather than introducing a non-explainable being or answer (i.e., God). Huh?? I think he is simply desperate to replace God so he invents any naturalistic (meaning does not need a Supreme being) explanation. I have also heard him say in another debate or discussion, he might accept the idea of aliens putting us here originally. And this is better than God? Or different somehow? Wow.
He proves so clearly this verse: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
2 Corinthians 4: 4
Richard Dawkins is one of many atheists today who claim that: "Well, I guess dead men do bleed."
See this link to watch the full debate and draw your own conclusions about what I am saying: http://fixed-point.org/index.php/video/35-full-length/164-the-dawkins-lennox-debate
Friday, July 23, 2010
idols and blind spots
I am an American citizen. So the idols we have here are different than what other places in the world have based on what we have experienced as a nation, and what has happened here. We have incredible wealth, so we worship wealth and create idea barriers to anything that would threaten those idols. And I am not just talking about "the world." Christians have the same idols. And for us what it leads to is blind spots where we are unable to see the ideas we support and how they are off base. I have always felt bad or slightly guilty when I have let people know of financial needs I have; I am not sure if that is because I was part of an organization for a couple years that discouraged telling people our needs, but focused on telling God only. This is strange; all my needs that are "spiritual" I can tell people; if I or my granny are sick I can tell people; if my neighbor is seeking God I can have people pray or if I am experiencing spiritual attack I can ask for prayer. BUT, if I cannot pay my bills I feel guilty telling people?? Or am not supposed to?? This is because we are supposed to be self reliant and hard working in the west and not bother others with our monetary needs; the idol is rearing its ugly head. And the reality is that monetary issues for me are a huge issue; they affect my relationship with God much more than physical needs ever have; but they are off limits for needs and letting other know purposes. This is wrong; needs are needs are needs, God knows and cares about all of them, and so should the people of God.
I wonder how many of the Christians I know have ever experienced real poverty. It is so easy to quote a verse here and there and not enter into close fellowship with or draw near to people who are suffering poverty. I think the idol of wealth in the west blinds us and warps us and causes us not to see what we should on this issue, nor to respond well when others have real need. In his book "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger", Ron Sider questions how many churches really practice koinonia, or real fellowship: "I am thoroughly convinced, however, that the overwhelming majority of Western churches no longer understand or experience biblical koinonia to any significant degree. As mentioned earlier, the essence of Christian community is unconditional accountability to and unlimited liability for our sisters and brothers in the body of Christ. That means that our time, our money and our very selves are available to the brothers and sisters." (p193, 1977) For many years I have not wanted to listen to Sider and considered him really over board. But that was because I was blinded to this area by the idol of wealth. From my experiences he is correct. I have only been part of one organization that practiced any of this kind of fellowship, and it was because we were all depending on God to meet our monthly needs as we ministered to others needs.
Well , here is my step of faith: I want to experience real fellowship and closeness with other Christians. I am willing to open up about my finances and life to others who would do the same, and who were willing to take the journey together and not judge each other. Any takers?
I wonder how many of the Christians I know have ever experienced real poverty. It is so easy to quote a verse here and there and not enter into close fellowship with or draw near to people who are suffering poverty. I think the idol of wealth in the west blinds us and warps us and causes us not to see what we should on this issue, nor to respond well when others have real need. In his book "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger", Ron Sider questions how many churches really practice koinonia, or real fellowship: "I am thoroughly convinced, however, that the overwhelming majority of Western churches no longer understand or experience biblical koinonia to any significant degree. As mentioned earlier, the essence of Christian community is unconditional accountability to and unlimited liability for our sisters and brothers in the body of Christ. That means that our time, our money and our very selves are available to the brothers and sisters." (p193, 1977) For many years I have not wanted to listen to Sider and considered him really over board. But that was because I was blinded to this area by the idol of wealth. From my experiences he is correct. I have only been part of one organization that practiced any of this kind of fellowship, and it was because we were all depending on God to meet our monthly needs as we ministered to others needs.
Well , here is my step of faith: I want to experience real fellowship and closeness with other Christians. I am willing to open up about my finances and life to others who would do the same, and who were willing to take the journey together and not judge each other. Any takers?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
ad hominem
Wow. It's not often you get called a moron by an atheistic chemical determinist. But that happened to me tonight. I was interacting and responding to a comment stream on the Richard Dawkins Foundation, who is a well known evolutionist and atheist, and had been explaining in short version of what I think are some evidences for God. And then this person who goes by the handle of Tyler Durden, from the movie "fight club," tried to point out why he thought my arguments or I was wrong. In the process he attacked me over and over again, personally. In this last response he said, "You, sir, are a moron." And did not answer my responses to him.
When someone reaches a level of attacking you, or you are tempted to do it to someone else because you don't like what they are saying, it shows you probably have run out of good arguments for your position. Or you just are falling into bad argumentation. This type of illogical argument is called ad hominem. It means "to the man" and involves attacking the person as though that would prove their argument is wrong. If a person is a known liar and the issue involves an eyewitness account of something and this person is a witness, their truth telling problem is relevant. Most of the rest of the time, it isn't in terms of ideas people discuss. What is relevant is the ideas or truth or evidence a person brings to the table, not whether they have 1 degree in college and you have 3. Or they went to Oxford and you are from lowly Alabama, Or Illinois, etc. But that was exactly how this person attacked me, saying he refused to talk to me anymore until I got an education. The reality was he hated my position about the existence of God, and therefore saw me as a moron. But I and he are not the issue, and he should have stuck to the topic.
So don't go ad hominem when you disagree with someone, it's logical fallacy and just out of place. Stick to why you think something or don't think something, and demand the other person do it too. And if they go ad hominem on you, call them on it and point out it is irrelevant.
When someone reaches a level of attacking you, or you are tempted to do it to someone else because you don't like what they are saying, it shows you probably have run out of good arguments for your position. Or you just are falling into bad argumentation. This type of illogical argument is called ad hominem. It means "to the man" and involves attacking the person as though that would prove their argument is wrong. If a person is a known liar and the issue involves an eyewitness account of something and this person is a witness, their truth telling problem is relevant. Most of the rest of the time, it isn't in terms of ideas people discuss. What is relevant is the ideas or truth or evidence a person brings to the table, not whether they have 1 degree in college and you have 3. Or they went to Oxford and you are from lowly Alabama, Or Illinois, etc. But that was exactly how this person attacked me, saying he refused to talk to me anymore until I got an education. The reality was he hated my position about the existence of God, and therefore saw me as a moron. But I and he are not the issue, and he should have stuck to the topic.
So don't go ad hominem when you disagree with someone, it's logical fallacy and just out of place. Stick to why you think something or don't think something, and demand the other person do it too. And if they go ad hominem on you, call them on it and point out it is irrelevant.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
all the best parts even better
I was watching "Man on Fire" last night which is a story of a man who has reached a place of terrible guilt and despair and loneliness in his life and tries to take his life only to have the bullet fail. He is also an alcoholic, using the booze to drown his pain. In the midst of this he is offered and takes a job as a bodyguard and driver for a wealthy Mexican family who have a little girl, Pita. She is played by Dakota Fanning, who is brilliant in the role. In the midst of his duties, Pita brings a smile back to the face of Keasey (played by Denzel Washington) and makes him feel alive and loved again. Then she is kidnapped. And (MOVIE WARNING: END TO BE GIVEN!!!) it seems at one point she must have been killed. Creasey goes for justice on all those involved. Then he finds after his rampage, she is alive and he has gotten close enough to the one responsible (taking his brother) that the villain is willing to trade the girl for his brother's and Creasey's life. Creasey agrees. And it is the most honorable and beautiful trade one can imagine, almost.
Creasey's willingness to give his life for Pita is truly moving, but I think that what this touches in me and makes me cry, God always does even better than the best stories. And that is why this touches me. I want to see a great hero give his life honorably to save someone he loves deeply. I want to be that man, and I realize I would do this for my children. Gladly. It would be an honor. And that is exactly was Jesus has done for me. He gave himself for me. He was taken, willingly, and went to die for me. So I could go home. and live. And everything this movie touches in me I should realize is what God should touch down deep, and let him do it.
I think when we see great stories that move us, something is being touched in us that God has probably somewhere done even better. And wants us to know in Him, and allow Him to be close to us.
Disclaimer: the movie "Man on Fire" is quite violent. Creasey is truly enraged at the taking of Pita. And he spares no mercy. You may want to avoid that part of the movie. Nevertheless, if you are the kind of person that is offended by this then I suggest you read Psalm 18:1-19. God does the same thing. He is more like Creasey than Creasey. Creasey wanted revenge (and justice) and God will have His vengeance and true justice will be done, and He will part the heavens and come down amidst thunderbolts and the routing of His enemies (and ours). Why? Because in our distress we call to the Lord, and He saves us from our enemies. Any view we have of a passive God who is distant and unconcerned is simply wrong. And further why? And this is incredible, "he rescued me because he delighted in me." v 19. If we think that movies like "Taken" or "Man on Fire" are too violent, I suggest we do not have a grasp of the wildness of the love of God. And what ends God will go to to rescue us, His beloved children. If you have had children then you and I have some sense of the love God has for us when we think of our children being taken by disease, or evil men, or... The only difference is, and we find this hard, is that God's timing is not ours. But I wonder how much He is waiting for us to truly call and cry out to Him, and stop turning to false gods and fake answers. He wants us to want Him, and then I think we will begin to see how He is better than all the things that have moved us.
Creasey's willingness to give his life for Pita is truly moving, but I think that what this touches in me and makes me cry, God always does even better than the best stories. And that is why this touches me. I want to see a great hero give his life honorably to save someone he loves deeply. I want to be that man, and I realize I would do this for my children. Gladly. It would be an honor. And that is exactly was Jesus has done for me. He gave himself for me. He was taken, willingly, and went to die for me. So I could go home. and live. And everything this movie touches in me I should realize is what God should touch down deep, and let him do it.
I think when we see great stories that move us, something is being touched in us that God has probably somewhere done even better. And wants us to know in Him, and allow Him to be close to us.
Disclaimer: the movie "Man on Fire" is quite violent. Creasey is truly enraged at the taking of Pita. And he spares no mercy. You may want to avoid that part of the movie. Nevertheless, if you are the kind of person that is offended by this then I suggest you read Psalm 18:1-19. God does the same thing. He is more like Creasey than Creasey. Creasey wanted revenge (and justice) and God will have His vengeance and true justice will be done, and He will part the heavens and come down amidst thunderbolts and the routing of His enemies (and ours). Why? Because in our distress we call to the Lord, and He saves us from our enemies. Any view we have of a passive God who is distant and unconcerned is simply wrong. And further why? And this is incredible, "he rescued me because he delighted in me." v 19. If we think that movies like "Taken" or "Man on Fire" are too violent, I suggest we do not have a grasp of the wildness of the love of God. And what ends God will go to to rescue us, His beloved children. If you have had children then you and I have some sense of the love God has for us when we think of our children being taken by disease, or evil men, or... The only difference is, and we find this hard, is that God's timing is not ours. But I wonder how much He is waiting for us to truly call and cry out to Him, and stop turning to false gods and fake answers. He wants us to want Him, and then I think we will begin to see how He is better than all the things that have moved us.
Monday, July 12, 2010
control freaks and micromanagers
People who are control freaks REALLY bug me. Micromanagers bother me, but especially control freaks REALLY bother me. Most of my adult life has seen a few micromanagers, but honestly not too many. They are insecure and sort of control freaks. But real control freaks who have to be in charge and it is about them, yikes. Those kind of people will make me walk the other way. They are a type of bully I will not tolerate very long. I would rather go hungry and sleep on sawdust than tolerate dealing for very long with a control freak. CF's are a combination of arrogance, pomposity, stupidity, and power that is about as ugly as most people can get. Coldly evil people are far worse, but for most people getting to the control freak stage is probably as far as they will go. Coaches, parents, bosses, managers can all be CF's and trying to rule their underlings lives. When coaches do it it drains all beauty from the game being played because the players are robots simply carrying out the master's plan. When parents do it it is ugly because the parents are trying in their arrogance to remake the child to be like them; it ain't pretty. All of it limits what can be achieved and discovered and lived to the shortcomings and small stature of the CF. When you see true greatness somewhere, someone surpassed those before him or her, and that person was given the freedom by someone to soar way beyond where they were. Thank God for people like that who let others go and do great things.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Reaching for something higher
I just watched Invictus, the story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team winning the world cup of rugby. It is amazing how a man with aspirations of doing something great can inspire others to truly do something beyond themselves. I have seen the opposite by a coach blinded by ambition for his family that kept him from enabling his team to achieve anything of greatness, he had small goals that entailed pushing forward only his family, and in the end it kept his team from achieving anything of significance, and injuring at least some of those he denied reward to for the sake of his own goals. Great vision for uniting and healing a country torn apart by racial hatred vs small vision for personal and family gain; one led to men rising beyond their abilities and to inspiring great leadership on that South African rugby team. One led to frustrating losses at the end of many seasons while other teams consistently performed well, and to injury emotionally to at least some of those being led.
We must be led by high aspirations, by ideas and goals beyond ourselves, or our lives will diminish to the size of our small and empty thoughts, and we will hurt and not help those around us. Paul the apostle of Jesus thought of himself as the greatest of sinners, but he was being led by Jesus to pursue great things, the bringing of the message of forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life to people who had never heard. Paul's greatness was not achieved because of personal ambition for small minded ideas, but because Jesus gave him a vision to do something truly great, and then empowered him to do so. And Paul wrote much of the New Testament of the Bible that has helped millions and perhaps billions to find peace with God.
So are you content to sit and reach for no goal, and lead an empty and small life? You were made to do much greater. Go and do it with God's guidance and help.
We must be led by high aspirations, by ideas and goals beyond ourselves, or our lives will diminish to the size of our small and empty thoughts, and we will hurt and not help those around us. Paul the apostle of Jesus thought of himself as the greatest of sinners, but he was being led by Jesus to pursue great things, the bringing of the message of forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life to people who had never heard. Paul's greatness was not achieved because of personal ambition for small minded ideas, but because Jesus gave him a vision to do something truly great, and then empowered him to do so. And Paul wrote much of the New Testament of the Bible that has helped millions and perhaps billions to find peace with God.
So are you content to sit and reach for no goal, and lead an empty and small life? You were made to do much greater. Go and do it with God's guidance and help.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Religio bullies
In my experience, religio bullies are the most hurtful. They are the Pharisees. They are the Christian know-it -alls. They are the "my way is always right and if you don't get in line you have a bad heart" people. They are the "whitewashed tombs" and "vipers" of Jesus time; they are the Christians with their nose in the air looking down on sinners and people not like them, looking down on or rejecting the people who go against their cultural taboos from smoking, to tattoos, to piercings, to metal music, to anything they have already deemed bad (not because scripture declares it so, but because their tradition, their upbringing, their own tastes declare it so). These people have a hard time separating their traditions from scripture. And it is easy for them to twist scripture to make sure it agrees with their traditions.
The reason this can take a type of bullying is because it is done by people in position of religious and Christian authority which Christians are commanded to submit to. Ouch. And those who use this position to make others conform to their traditions and preferences are, in fact, bullying those they are leading. They are not convincing them, and winning them, to their viewpoint. They threaten them with their position ("how dare you challenge me, I am your (elder, pastor, teacher, principal, ...)) and if they do not submit they penalize them in some way. Now this is difficult because there are legitimate times Christians need to discipline those under them, but these are for CLEAR violations of scripture like sexual immorality, drunkenness, divorce, lying, etc. They are not for areas that are grey. Romans 14 says we are not to pass judgement against others on "disputable matters." We need to make up our own minds, but leave others in God's hands. The problem is that for the religio bullies, there are probably very few disputable matters because in their pride, they think they are correct on all or many issues and so others should follow their perspective.
I think these are the most hurtful because these type of bullies will be held responsible for many people going to hell. It will be blood on their hands because they will have hardened many people to the gospel and to a possibility to knowing Jesus as their Savior. People who are seeking or who are close to seeking God are in a delicate position. They may be very confused about what is right and wrong, about how to know God, about what matters in life. If seekers like this are "out there", most Christians will seem to be more understanding (most real Christians who have a heart that has been touched by grace). But when this type of person in among Christians (at a church, in a "Christian" school), the religio bullies in those places do not know what to do with them. And they can often alienate them and not give them the patience and respect and time to ask hard questions and find answers. I have been around Christians who have done these very things. It is extremely ugly.
We who have found the grace of God MUST stand up to the religio bully. It is what Jesus did in standing up to the Pharisees, for instance, when they were trying to forbid Him from healing on the sabbath. The man with the withered hand got healed because Jesus cared about him, but Jesus was furious with the Pharisees because in the garb of their religious faith they could not have cared less about the man, they cared about their rules. So for those of us in positions of leadership among Christians, we must use our position VERY carefully to lead others in faith, and to find His grace, and we must be careful NOT to use this position to get our way or push our private agenda. There are people we are leading who need grace, and patience, and help to draw near to Christ, and if we do not extend it, Jesus will judge us, and it won't be pretty. Because while we may fail to stand up to ourselves as bullies, and to the religio bullies among us, Jesus will NOT fail to stand up to them and put them in their place.
One of the difficult things in standing up to the religio bully is that it may seem like they are taking the high road with their stand on some issues. Those who are ascetic or who deny certain cultural things might seem more righteous. So it becomes hard to resist them. And those who do can be labelled or viewed as soft or weak. Jesus was considered a friend of sinners, and to the religious crowd, this was a put down. But we must learn to see through the issue to what really matters AND what the scriptures really teach. If the scriptures are not clear on the issue, then we cannot be rigid about requiring that everyone take our position on it. And we need to stand up to those who would try to impose their take on the issue as what is right for everyone. We must allow freedom where it exists. And we must stand up to the bullies that want to impose their non-scriptural based rules on others.
The reason this can take a type of bullying is because it is done by people in position of religious and Christian authority which Christians are commanded to submit to. Ouch. And those who use this position to make others conform to their traditions and preferences are, in fact, bullying those they are leading. They are not convincing them, and winning them, to their viewpoint. They threaten them with their position ("how dare you challenge me, I am your (elder, pastor, teacher, principal, ...)) and if they do not submit they penalize them in some way. Now this is difficult because there are legitimate times Christians need to discipline those under them, but these are for CLEAR violations of scripture like sexual immorality, drunkenness, divorce, lying, etc. They are not for areas that are grey. Romans 14 says we are not to pass judgement against others on "disputable matters." We need to make up our own minds, but leave others in God's hands. The problem is that for the religio bullies, there are probably very few disputable matters because in their pride, they think they are correct on all or many issues and so others should follow their perspective.
I think these are the most hurtful because these type of bullies will be held responsible for many people going to hell. It will be blood on their hands because they will have hardened many people to the gospel and to a possibility to knowing Jesus as their Savior. People who are seeking or who are close to seeking God are in a delicate position. They may be very confused about what is right and wrong, about how to know God, about what matters in life. If seekers like this are "out there", most Christians will seem to be more understanding (most real Christians who have a heart that has been touched by grace). But when this type of person in among Christians (at a church, in a "Christian" school), the religio bullies in those places do not know what to do with them. And they can often alienate them and not give them the patience and respect and time to ask hard questions and find answers. I have been around Christians who have done these very things. It is extremely ugly.
We who have found the grace of God MUST stand up to the religio bully. It is what Jesus did in standing up to the Pharisees, for instance, when they were trying to forbid Him from healing on the sabbath. The man with the withered hand got healed because Jesus cared about him, but Jesus was furious with the Pharisees because in the garb of their religious faith they could not have cared less about the man, they cared about their rules. So for those of us in positions of leadership among Christians, we must use our position VERY carefully to lead others in faith, and to find His grace, and we must be careful NOT to use this position to get our way or push our private agenda. There are people we are leading who need grace, and patience, and help to draw near to Christ, and if we do not extend it, Jesus will judge us, and it won't be pretty. Because while we may fail to stand up to ourselves as bullies, and to the religio bullies among us, Jesus will NOT fail to stand up to them and put them in their place.
One of the difficult things in standing up to the religio bully is that it may seem like they are taking the high road with their stand on some issues. Those who are ascetic or who deny certain cultural things might seem more righteous. So it becomes hard to resist them. And those who do can be labelled or viewed as soft or weak. Jesus was considered a friend of sinners, and to the religious crowd, this was a put down. But we must learn to see through the issue to what really matters AND what the scriptures really teach. If the scriptures are not clear on the issue, then we cannot be rigid about requiring that everyone take our position on it. And we need to stand up to those who would try to impose their take on the issue as what is right for everyone. We must allow freedom where it exists. And we must stand up to the bullies that want to impose their non-scriptural based rules on others.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)