Either/Or

 Jesus doesn't speak or act in a way that doesn't call for response on our part. His claims to be the fulfillment of all history and the embodiment of the Presence of God demand that we either accept them as true and then commit ourselves to his rule and ways in our lives, or we reject his claims and dismiss him as a delusional but at best a well-intentioned charlatan. There is no room to admire him as a just a wise religious teacher. So, either we can escort him to the periphery of our lives and consider him an interesting curiosity -- or we must make our lives entirely about him and seek to follow him as our Lord and Savior.

More Than A Myth

 The story of the Israelites in Egypt and their deliverance by God from slavery is the foundational narrative for both Judaism and Christianity. The Exodus account gives us our understanding of who God is and God's work of redemption. Jesus uses it as the framework for his teaching, his identity as God's Son, and it informs us in how we are to understand his sacrifice for us on the Cross. As the apostle Paul declares, "For Christ, our Passover lamb. has been sacrificed." Therefore, it is important for our faith that this story be based in actual historical events. Many scholars (and misinformed followers of these scholars) dispute there being any historical basis at all. It is my contention, along with many others of impeccable credibility, that there is solid archeological evidence for the biblical narrative. It is a terrific truth and not a tall tale!

Honoring The Emperor --- God's Way

Christians always have had to consider how best to relate to the authorities in their society. Regardless of whether the government is democratic or dictatorial, ruled by a king or by popular consensus, there has been the question of how much a follower of Jesus should be supportive or subversive and when to be which. This precisely is the issue being addressed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. In the heart of a great but oppressive empire, the new believers in Rome were figuring out what it means to be a follower of Jesus being ruled by pagan (and at times even anti-Christian) governmental officials. Paul urges the believers to trust that even pagan rulers were part of God's "gift" of government, to be the best of all citizens, and to apply the power of God's love to their involvement in the institutions of society.

Designed For Destiny

Creation is one of the greatest affirmations of our value and worth as individuals. God's purpose in creating all things is to give us life that shows his nature of love. In the light of the stars and the wonder of our world we can see the signs of God's providence and care for each and every individual human being who has ever lived and will live. So we are not simply random accidents in the chance happenings of an aimless universe. Rather we are intended by God to exist and to live our lives in the purpose God designed for us in God's mind even before the beginning of the world.

All Existence Is Relative --- To The Triune God!

God is dynamic and relational because God is within himself a community of three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Yet God is not three beings. modes, partners, or expressions, God is one being and each of the three persons is fully God. This understanding of God tends to bend our minds a bit. That is because it is not an idea thought up by some religious philosophers, but rather it is a reality we discover because of Jesus. God the Son comes to us in the man Jesus, and through our relationship with him we come to know the Father and the Spirit. This is why Christianity is relational before it is religious, because our understanding of God is all "relative" to our experience of Jesus as completely divine as the Son of God and as completely human as Jesus of Nazareth.

Looks like it's been awhile. Maybe I ought to post something, so here it is.

 Amazing Generosity

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Christmas is a great celebration of God’s generosity! Jesus as the “Word made flesh” freely enters into the messiness of human existence in order to immerse us in God’s grace – God’s favor – that is, God’s generosity! Our lives now can be filled with hope, peace, joy, and love because Christ Jesus was willing to be born in humble circumstances, reveal in his life the goodness of the Father, suffer mistreatment, and then die for us on the cross. That is the incredible generosity of God poured into our lives and overflowing like a renewing river into the wilderness of this tormented and tormenting world.

We who experience God and God’s goodness are called to share freely with others not only the Good News of God becoming human like us, but to be generous with ourselves and others. This means supporting people as they face difficult struggles, encouraging others in living to their fullest, and, of course, being patient and forgiving to those who have wronged us. This in no way means excusing sinfulness in ourselves and others, for God also is holy and will judge all evil. But it does mean that we always are ready to point people to the Christ who knows the weaknesses we all wrestle with, and that in Christ God always is eager to restore and heal anyone who will turn to God and receive God’s amazing grace – for God is a generous God.

So this Christmas season, take a moment every know and then to think about how generous God is to us – how blessed it is to live each day knowing firsthand the goodness of God in Christ Jesus. Let’s not take such a hope filled truth for granted, as we share freely with others the generosity we have received. After all, this is the reason we give gifts at Christmas. It is a reflection of the greatest gift given to all who will receive it – Emmanuel – God with us!

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  John 1:12

  

In Christ’s Peace!

 

The City on the Hill

As we celebrate the founding of our country this month, we are reminded of the great potential for the United States to be the "city on a hill.” This biblical phrase has been used by many over the years to indicate the special opportunity God has given our country – to be a shining light of freedom and hope. America has at different times dared to approach this call of God like no other nation in the history of the world. At other times, we have fallen far short. What is abundantly clear, though, is that America is at its best when its people clearly and humbly submit themselves to God through its governance, institutions, families, and individuals. We miss the mark the most when we fail to give God the credit and honor for all the blessings we enjoy.

Currently we hear much discussion about racial injustice in our society. It is true that our founders had a divinely offered opportunity after we had thrown off the yoke of English tyranny. They as much as any up until their time knew the value and worth of every human individual in the sight of an Almighty and merciful God. Yet they blinked when facing the issue of slavery. What if they had applied the full force of the "self-evident" truths, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." What could have been!

Still, the glory of our country is founded on these truths of being made in God’s image and being given rights by God alone. These truths are in the fabric of our laws, and they have guided us in our development as a nation. The Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement have triumphed over our earlier failings, and have shown that we are willing to do the difficult work of living up to these principles inspired by our Creator. Many have given their lives for these principles, and we all enjoy the benefits of their sacrifice.

This Independence Day 2021 we are again poised as a nation to choose to fulfill God's great call for our country by humbly pointing to God as the One who gives us what we have, makes us who we are, and guides us to what we can be. There are voices that point us away from our Creator, claim that we are on our own, call us to fight each other for power, and that our destiny is no more special or unique than any other people or nation. This is fatalistic thinking and denies God’s call for us as a people.

Instead, let us think of what can be! Think of the opportunity we have again to follow God's call and become a shining beacon of hope and promise for all through this world.
God’s promise to Solomon and ancient Israel is still good guidance for us today.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (II Chronicles 7:14)

All the challenges and difficulties we are facing today as a people are actually great opportunities to show how God is working out our founding principles of freedom and equality guaranteed by our Creator. If we will acknowledge God as the source for our freedom and the Giver of our rights and look to God in the living of our lives, we can be a model for all the world as a nation that is blessed and guided by God. We can still be that shining "city on a hill" for all to see!