Thursday, September 24, 2009

Relax! The Pressure's OFF!

The Bible never ceases to amaze me. I was reading the Book of Hebrews - where it says "After he (Jesus) had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (Hebrews 1:3). Hebrews is a book about a Priest named Jesus Christ whom - the Book claims - is infinitely greater than any human priest.

Under the Old Covenant Law, the ancient Hebrew priests would serve God in the temple by daily offering sacrifices to Yahweh on behalf of the sinful people. On one particular day each year - the Day of Atonement - the High Priest would sacrifice an unblemished lamb to cover the sins of the entire nation of Israel. When you study the details and practices of the ancient Jewish temple, you will notice that there exist no chairs in the line up of temple furniture.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the priests are always pictured as active - their daily shifts filled with constant work to be done - and no break room to be found on the premises! Not exactly "kosher" by modern labor standards (pun intended), but an important reality. "Why is that important?" you ask? Because of the contrast between that OLD reality and the NEW reality pictured in Jesus Christ.

Just prior to breathing His last on the cross, Jesus reportedly cried out "It is finished" and He physically died. The Book of Hebrews expands on the meaning of that finished work by stating that Jesus "sat down" at God's right hand. This is an incredibly big deal - and one of the major reasons I believe Christianity to be in a class by itself. While other faiths demand a constant focus on righting one's own wrongs (whether it be through penance, karma, observance of the 5 pillars, following the Law, etc.), Jesus alone claims that the work is over and done with.

By "sitting down" after His sacrificial death on the cross - Jesus is making a very clear statement: There is no more work left to be done in terms of pleasing God! If the Bible is true (and I believe it is) then those who trust Christ alone rather than their own self-perceived efforts are already, permanently and irreversibly pleasing to God. The ultimate "High Priest" has ended His work. Christ provided the "once for all" sacrifice that offers a permanently clean state to everyone who asks for it by simply trusting Jesus. This assurance does not come by earning it through good works on the front side - nor proving it through good works on the back side (as many well-intentioned Christians erroneously believe).

This means that as a follower of Jesus - I am free to live for Him without the pressure of mistaking God for a cosmic bill-collector getting ready to fine me for every late or incomplete payment of my debt! The debt has been paid in full! The Judge is completely satisfied. And yet - probably 90% of Christians I meet do not live with this assurance. I would be interested in YOUR thoughts pertaining to these claims.....feel free to comment - and thanks for reading!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Good Life: The Way to UP is DOWN...

The Good Life. What does THAT mean? From politics to religion to everyday living - there seems to be no shortage of opinion. The American Dream claims to offer "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." And there's no question in my mind that I am thankful for that American ideal. But is there more to the so called "good life" than whatever individuals make of it? Is there a common "higher order" designed by a "Higher Power" which leads to greater fulfillment than the pursuit of a nice house, well-behaved kids and a retirement plan?

I think there is. And beginning this Sunday at Valley Church in Vacaville - we are going to embark on a journey of discovery. Whether you are a believer or not, we all agree that Jesus made some incredible claims. Among them, Jesus introduced a world view which He said was "not of this world" - a way of experiencing life that is totally upside-down from a culturally defined understanding of success and fulfillment. In this upside-down paradigm, Jesus claimed that the happiest people in the world are the "poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who are humble, those who make peace, etc." Does this make any sense? In a brand new 8-week series beginning this Sunday, we will explore the answer to that question...

If you are sick and tired of the path to insanity you've been on - trying the same stuff over and over while vainly expecting a different result - I invite you to join us this Sunday morning. Come explore whether Jesus' path to fulfillment makes sense. Our brand new service times are 9AM (main service AND new traditional video venue running simultaneously) and 11AM (main service with student church for Jr. and Sr. High). Children's programs are available during all services. Hope to see you there - and I welcome your comments in relation to this blog! :)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Off the Deep End? Evaluating the "Miracles" of a Growing Movement...

I believe in miracles. Let's just get that out in the open. To believe in an all-powerful God who speaks the cosmos into existence is to also believe in a God who can heal diseases, redeem circumstances and supernaturally deliver people. I believe in a gracious, wonderful, compassionate, miracle-working God. Period.

That being said - I am concerned with certain claims being made in a growing movement within Evangelical Christianity related to supposed signs and wonders of a most bizarre sort. The concerns that I am about to raise in this blog may upset you. They may frustrate you. They may infuriate you. But they need to be asked.

One other point of clarification: As an interdenominationally-minded pastor who appreciates and affirms the diversity we enjoy among Christian denominations and movements, I am committed to striving for unity in both the local and universal Body of Christ. I am not known to be a nit-picker with regard to secondary doctrinal differences. I was raised charismatic, educated at a Baptist college, and currently serve in a Heinz-57 denomination known as the Evangelical Free Church of America. I tell you all of this to support the fact that the concerns being expressed are not those of a bitter, narrow-minded critic looking to pick a fight.

My concerns are rooted in the multitude of conversations I have had with individuals who claim that God is - in an effort to manifest His glory - up to certain "miracles" of the most bizarre nature. Among them:

1) "Gold dust" falling out of the air during various indoor worship gatherings

2) Ordinary fillings in poeple's teeth being replaced by solid gold ones

3) Oil (representative of the Holy Spirit) saturating walls in homes & churches

4) Diamonds and other precious gems mysteriously "appearing" in people's beds and sofas (yes, you heard that correctly)

In case you're in doubt, check out this video generated by some associated with an internationally popular movement in Northern California which promulgates these claims:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBWQCyEbbLQ

In fairness, the credit for these so-called "miracles" is usually given to God by their proponents. The human "instruments" from which these miracles flow are often identified as "Apostles" - people through whom God works to manifest these alleged signs and wonders as evidence of the glory of His emerging Kingdom.

While I personally do not believe that Apostles exist today in the same sense as they existed in the New Testament era (one clear reason being that true Apostles were limited to those who personally "saw" the risen Christ with their own eyes - see Acts 1:2-3, 22; 4:33; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:7-9), this is not my major point of contention. I have never sought to be divisive with a fellow pastor or believer who thinks that Apostles exist in the present day. My issue runs a lot deeper than that. My issue has to do with how these so-called miracles square with the very character of God revealed in Jesus.

Am I supposed to believe that a God who allows children to die daily (by the tens of thousands) from malnutrition and preventable disease is somehow trying to convince the world of His glory by making diamonds appear in the beds of white, middle-class Americans? Should I watch unintelligable home-video-quality clips of supposed "rain" pouring down inside of state-of-the-art worship centers with the best video technology available - and believe that this actually happened but was unfortunately only caught on a home video camera? It almost sounds like that ever-elusive Big Foot or UFO sighting that - in spite of our technologically-advanced age - nobody has ever been able to get a clear photo of!

I don't mean to be sarcastic here. I want to see the glory of God manifest throughout the earth as badly as anyone. I want to see the principles and values of Christ's Kingdom lived out through His Church in ever-increasing ways. But I tend to find God's glory manifest in ways which actually mirror the character of Christ rather than contradict it. Among them:

1) Through the mother who fights valiantly to beat the cancer that is threatening to take her away from her husband and children - and yet never curses God in the fight.

2) Through the 10 year old orphan I met in Rwanda who bravely raises his 2-year old sister in the wake of his parents' losing battle with AIDS.

3) Through the evangelist who - rather than going on TV begging for more money - sells all he has and gives it to the poor.

4) Through the student who resists the lure of viewing a college education as a means to material wealth and instead sees it as a way to serve God and humanity.

Is God the kind of God who is so frivolous that He would plant diamonds in the shag of a carpet in a middle class American home? Would he really turn ordinary fillings into gold while seemingly ignoring the cries of the orphaned 10-year old striving for enough daily sustenance to keep himself and his little sister alive? If so, I'm not sure I want to worship that kind of God.

Do I believe God is a miracle-working God? Absolutely. But I need some Biblical, tangible and socially redeeming reasons to believe that unverifiable, undocumented so-called "signs and wonders" like those I described earlier have anything to do with the character or mission of the God I do believe in. I'm a follower of Jesus - not a snake-oil salesmen. I believe God is good whether He chooses to GIVE or TAKE AWAY. The fact that a stubborn heart like mine can submit to that is probably the greatest miracle of all. What do YOU have to say? I'd be interested in YOUR opinion...

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Adequately Inadequate? My Journey as a Pastor...

This weekend at Valley Church, I will be formally installed as the church's second Lead Pastor in its 30-plus year history. The thought of such simultaneous honor and responsibility makes me tremble inside, quite frankly. For years I have struggled internally with feelings of unworthiness related to God's calling on my life as a pastor. I don't always feel "spiritual" enough to be a leader of God's people. I sometimes struggle with comparison games between myself and other Christian leaders who I think are more "deserving" or "worthy" than me.

Have you ever felt a nagging sense of insecurity or self-criticism that wouldn't easily go away? Do you ever struggle with perfectionism - feeling like you barely measure up to your own standards, much less what you presume are God's? Some would say that this mind set is a sign of humility - but I'm not so sure. I believe and embrace the fact that God has called me to live at a high standard as an example of Jesus to others. When I fail, it is reasonable that the Holy Spirit would convict me to strive for better. But at the end of the day - I understand that it is GRACE alone by which I stand.

When I came to Jesus, I was a mess. That's why I came to Him in the first place. I recognized my sinfulness and knew I needed a Savior. Then when He called me to ministry, a part of me felt like God must have had the wrong guy. But here I am, 14 years later and more grateful than ever that He has preserved me thus far. Jesus told Paul that His grace was sufficient - and that God's power was made perfect through Paul's weakness. While I strive to follow Jesus in the daily pursuit of love, integrity and peace - I realize that even the little bit of good I might have to offer is because of His grace. I haven't been called to serve Him because I am in any sense "worthy". I have been called because He delights in using underdogs, strugglers and doubters to accomplish the work of His upside-down Kingdom where the first shall be last and the outsiders are invited to feast at the table.

Hopefully, my deep sense of inadequacy will enable me to bring that grace more fully into the lives of those who need God's transforming power. I am definitely a work in progress - and I'm grateful that my Wounded Healer has chosen me to be a wounded healer in the lives of others. To God be the glory, great things He has done...

Friday, September 4, 2009

God: Our Judge, Jury, Prosecutor...AND Defense Attorney?

I was recently selected to perform my civic duty by serving as a juror. After hearing the case entirely, we engaged in several hours of deliberations as a jury. The most crucial part of weighing the evidence is keeping focused only on the facts and the law - without allowing personal prejudice, emotion or compassion to influence the decision.

In our case, we issued a "guilty" verdict in spite of obvious personal sympathy for the defendant. On the jury were parents, pastors, nurses, professional counselors and a diversity of others who wished we could simply wring this young man's neck for his foolish decisions, and then give him another chance. But that wasn't an option. Our job was to decide his guilt or innocence based on the law. And there was ample evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

That got me thinking about God's role as the judge of humanity. Clearly, even a cursory glance at the Scriptures affirms that humanity is guilty before God for our collective and individual sin. Yet, because of God's relentless compassion toward the guilty party (human beings), He enacted a plan whereby his passionate love AND perfect justice could be carried out at the same time without diminishing or compromising either.

The crucifixion of Jesus is the precise moment in human history when God's wrath against sin and injustice was fully satisfied through Christ receiving the just punishment as our Substitute. This was a mission to which the eternal Son of God voluntarily submitted so that the compassion and forgiveness of God could be freely offered to the whole world - and the guilty could be pardoned through faith in Christ's vicarious death and resurrection.

Some theologians have rightly referred to this transaction as "The Great Exchange" - our guilt for Christ's innocence. And what a deal it is! Imagine if the man our jury found guilty were to hear the following words from the judge at his sentencing: "Young man, you deserve a just sentence for your crime - but my own son has offered to serve your sentence in your place so that you can go free. Your crime will be placed on his record instead of yours, and you will bear none of the consequences." In essence, this is the offer God extends to humanity. He says, "If you want the pardon, it's yours! You've simply got to believe that my offer is real and that I will accept my own son's sacrificial act as full payment for the crimes YOU committed."

That is faith - pure and simple. Trusting in Christ as the only acceptable alternative to paying your own debt. Why do so many people reject this overwhelmingly great offer? There are many reasons - the chief among them being that humanity by nature loves darkness rather than light. But what about you? Have you received the message of the Gospel by faith - or are you still stumbling to light the path toward God with your own flame? Please feel free to comment on your own spiritual journey in response to these thoughts...

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The President in the Classroom: Inspiring or Indoctrinating?

From various reports I have been reading and hearing, our President's Education Secretary has written a letter to school administrators nationwide asking them to participate in the airing of a speech given by President Obama and directed to all children from K-6th grades. As far as I can tell, the gist of the speech will be aimed at encouraging children to stay in school and pursue education as one of the top priorities in their lives. That sounds fair enough in and of itself. One aspect of the nationwide event concerns me, however.

According to online articles I read from both FOX and CNN, the President is asking teachers to also participate in a lesson plan surrounding the event, part of which would include children writing themselves a letter articulating what they can do to help President Obama. If this is true, does anyone besides me feel as though this is a bit creepy, if not un-American? Is it the job of ANY president - regardless of which party they represent - to attempt to assert this level of influence over young children?

I had the privilege of traveling to Cuba for a church-planting and humanitarian relief trip in 2002. One of the most memorable moments was when we visited the platform in Havana where Fidel Castro delivers his famous propoganda speeches. As I stood behind that pulpit, I was overwhelmed by a sense of awe as I got a firsthand feel for just how many onlookers the area could host. In our hotel rooms, our television choices were either a government-owned sports channel or a government-run news channel with constant political indoctrination. Churches were required by law to register with the government - after which they would be assigned an informant to moniter the religious and political views of the pastors and congregants. This, of course, is what forced the massive underground church movement in which we were participating.

I am not suggesting that our President's attempt to connect with school children on a massive scale is anything approaching the kind of radicalism of Cuba. I only raise the concern to ask: "Where do we draw the line?" Would it have been appropriate for President Bush to send a nationwide message to school children followed by a project related to how those kids could "help the president"? Something tells me that such an effort would have ruffled more than a few feathers. This raises as series of additional questions every lover of the free world should (in my opinion) be asking:

1) Why in the first 264 days of an American Presidency have there been 111 televised speeches, town hall meetings and press conferences - more than most Presidents deliver during an entire term of office?

2) How do we tell the difference between an inspirational, revolutionary leader (such as Martin Luther King, Jr.) and an egomaniacal self-promoter with a Messiah syndrome (such as we see in many world leaders today)?

3) Should freedom-loving Americans consider removing their children from school on the day of the President's speech - not because they disagree with the content of the speech itself, but with the concept of a president using the elementary classroom as a pulpit?

I would be interested in what you think! Are my questions absurd? Is there any real need for concern here? Does this say anything about where America is heading for better or for worse? I'd like to know YOUR thoughts. Nobody's here to fight or condemn, so let's have a friendly discussion...