Wholly Other

OK, I have taken a month away from pontificating to reflect on where we have come since starting this journey. It has been an interesting month. When you think “sabbatical,” you generally think of a time of peaceful reflection. Well, this month has been anything but that. It has seen our family come under increased attack, especially spiritually. And while that is not a pleasant experience, it is an encouragement. No, I’m not some kind of sick, spiritual masochist. I have just come to understand spiritual warfare better and to expect that increased persecution comes any time you are at a crucial point in doing something significant.

Well, I’ve written a lot on what I view as “wrong” with our theology, especially concerning the gospel. Once again, this is not because people set out to jack-up the gospel. It’s like the proverbial frog in a pot of water. Surely, you have heard this analogy before. (“No, I haven’t, and stop calling me Shirley.” – Airplane flashback moment.) Well, it is said that a frog dropped in boiling water will immediately realize the threat and leap out. However, a frog dropped in tepid water over a flame will happily stay in the pot until he is boiled to death. This is what happens in culture. In a theological sense, we call it syncretism. Syncretism is where the values and methods of the culture infiltrate the theology of the Church. In some cases it takes the form of an over-emphasis of certain aspects of doctrine to the detriment of others and a corruption of the whole. In other cases, it involves an actual change in a doctrine because it has become unpalatable within the contemporary cultural milieu.

The problem we have is that we begin to believe that our faith is our own construct. Right now, the liberals are screaming “YES!” and the conservatives are screaming “NEVER!” But regardless of those leanings, this happens, yes, even in “conservative” churches. Part of the reason is found in our sinful nature; we want to find meaning in life with ourselves at the center rather than God.  The other part is found in the Incarnation. God became God-man in order to advance His plan for the redemption of Creation and, in Him doing so, we found opportunity, not to find our identity in Him, but to define Him and His purposes through us. So there are things that are unreasonable about Him and His plans because they are unreasonable to us.

Europe is nearly a century “ahead” of us in history. If we want to see our future, we should look at the present in Europe. And to understand our present, we can look to their past. Nearly a century ago in the midst of intensive syncretism, the prophetic voice of a theologian named Karl Barth (pronounced “bart”) cried out into the consuming darkness that God is “Wholly Other.” Barth’s perspective (though I wouldn’t agree with all his theology) was one which allowed the paradoxes within the faith to be celebrated rather than rationalized away. He argued that in the rationalization of God, we make Him like us rather than allowing Him to be who He truly is, as different from us as anything can be.

So, as we attempt to move forward from here, we must have as our mindset that His ways are not our ways. He is Wholly Other. He alone has the right to Decree concerning all of Creation, including us. And when the enemy creeps in with his lies and even attacks, he is to be resisted in the Lord. What is at stake? The glory of God in us. If you still want to make it about you, then it’s your eternal soul that is in peril.

Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:6-9

Out of Lo Debar

A couple Sundays ago, I had the privilege and honor of filling the pulpit for a friend and brother in the Lord. Many of you asked for a link to this message, so here it is. I wish it was a video file, but I think I was descriptive enough so you can get the picture in your mind. I'm praying that this message will continue to be used by our Lord. Please take from it what is meant for you and pass it along to others who need to hear. And, once again, thank you for your encouragement and love. s     Out of Lo Debar
.

Why It's a Big Deal

So why am I making such a big deal about all of this? “Aren’t you splitting hairs or maybe just emphasizing a part of the Gospel that others don’t?” Fair questions. Let’s look at what we get if we stick with the jacked-up Gospel.

Relativism: If I’m a person who has done “bad things,” the easy out is relativistic thinking. “Well, I do more good than bad so that makes me good so I should get Heaven.” Or, “I do more good than she does so I’m probably OK.” If God isn’t the True King, then this might be right. If He doesn’t have the right and obligation to punish sedition in the Kingdom, then being “mostly good” or “better than most” is good enough, right?

Self-Righteousness: If we are all in a struggle to do what’s right and not what’s wrong, it creates a dynamic where we are constantly comparing our deeds to others.’ We feel justified when we do better than others, especially with “public” sins that can’t be hidden from the community. And we feel failure when we aren’t doing as well as those around us. And, rest assured, they will let you know when you are not living up to their standards for behavior. Have you seen judgmental people in Christ’s Church? I hope you’re honest enough to answer “Yes!” to that question, because the Church is filled with judgmental attitudes and words. If you can’t see it, just ask any non-Christian if he thinks we are judgmental. You won’t like the response, but maybe we need to shut up long enough to listen. And being judgmental is the fruit of self-righteousness.

Bondage: The jacked-up Gospel makes our life all about sin. Discipleship becomes the never-ending battle to overcome our “badness.” Becoming like Christ means becoming sinless since that’s how He was. Because of the judgmental atmosphere in the Church, we hide sin and break fellowship, precisely the opposite of what we are commanded to do. We put on our best face and try to fool everyone into believing we have it all together. Even heading to church on Sunday morning is a nightmare as we make sure our family “looks right” to everyone else. “Can the kids just behave for an hour?!?!” Ultimately, we become obsessed with our sin. We struggle against it, battle it, confess it, hide it, overlook it, deny it…. worship it! We become trapped in our sin, enslaved to it. Our sins become our master.

Self-Centeredness: The Gospel being peddled has “me” at the center. “I have a sin problem, I will spend eternity being uncomfortable, I can’t fix my problem, I need to receive God’s free gift of salvation in Christ, and then I’ll get a SWEET eternity.” And if the Gospel is all about me, then church is all about me and my life is all about me. I had better get what I want and like from church. If things don’t go the way I like, I will punish the church by withholding money or service or leave for another church if it gets really bad. The opportunities at the church have to suit me or I won’t participate. “Don’t you dare change service times, music style, programs, personalities, temperature, carpet color, (and the list goes on and on)!” In life, your money, talent, and time are yours. Your kids are a reflection of your value so they had better be on best behavior so others will know how wonderful you are. And if your marriage isn’t going well, it’s better for both of you and even the kids if you just split up. And the best that Christianity has to offer you is the opportunity to be the best little you that you can be. After all, there’s nothing more important than your happiness.

Jacked-up Gospel = Jacked-up Disciples

I need to take another step back before we try to move forward. We have to understand “sin” before we can understand the Gospel and Discipleship. And this is where the Church, especially here in America, is faltering.

I was listening to a preacher the other day and he was explaining our need for a Savior. He was talking about the “bad things” we do that deserve God’s “righteous wrath.” His presentation went something like this: “God is holy and pure and He can’t tolerate anything or anyone in His presence who isn’t also. And you and I have done bad things. That makes us bad people. Even if you have done a whole bunch of good things, they can’t erase the bad things that you have done so you deserve to be judged and sent to Hell. That’s why you need a Savior!” Is that a Gospel presentation which you have heard before? I have heard it dozens of times. The problem is: That’s just wrong.

Please don’t misunderstand me. There’s some truth in that presentation. God is certainly holy and pure (I would prefer the word “righteous”). But, if God can’t be in the presence of anyone “bad,” then how does He have conversations with folks in the Bible? Think about Moses on Mt. Sinai being told to remove his sandals – but not himself – because the place was holy (Exodus 3:5). None of us would say that Moses the murderer was “pure.” How about Satan standing in God’s presence and challenging Him concerning Job (Job 1:6-12).

And as far as the “good” things we do outweighing the “bad” things, Isaiah 64:6 tells us that “all” our righteous deeds are “filthy rags” before the Lord because we ourselves are unrighteous. Why do I hammer on this point? Because a jacked-up Gospel leads to jacked-up thinking and jacked-up Discipleship.

You see, Jesus is the One we should be looking to for an understanding of the Gospel, not a televangelist or pastor or even Peter and Paul. The Disciples’ understanding of the Gospel and their subsequent communication of it are indeed very important, but the One who knows best is the Person who actually is the Gospel. And Jesus did not come into the world proclaiming the 4 Spiritual Laws. In fact, time and time again, the gospels refer to Him proclaiming the “Gospel of the Kingdom” (Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14; Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43, 8:1). Look at two more examples:

Luke 16:16  “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the Kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.” This is Jesus’ synopsis of redemptive history. He says that up to the time of John the Baptizer, the Law and the Prophets were proclaimed. Later in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus would explain to two disciples on the road to Emmaus that the proclamation of the Law and the Prophets was about Him: He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses (the Law) and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

Acts 8:12  But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Notice that Philip is continuing the ministry of Jesus, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the person of Jesus.

The message of the Bible is not about how God is demanding that we “be good enough,” not for salvation and not for sanctification. The message of the Bible, from beginning to end, is about a Creator God who is actively involved throughout history bringing His Creation under His sovereign rule by means of the work of Himself in the person of Jesus. We don’t have the authority to speak of “good” and “bad” things apart from the reign of the King. There are those who throw themselves at His feet in subjection and those who are in active rebellion against Him. That is what “sin” is, sedition against the King. We do not have the authority to tell Him that, because we were loyal most of the time, He should or must pardon our treasonous activities. The King alone holds the power over life and death. All of Creation is His. There is nothing which exists that doesn’t fall under His authority. But He, in His love and mercy, has offered His grace to those who would receive it and pledge their undying devotion to Him.

More to follow…..

.

Mission or Discipleship?

Have you taken the week to think about this question? Which is the Purpose of the Church, Missions or Discipleship? This is a question which, though probably not uttered much, is definitely at the heart of much of the differences in the local churches around you. Some believe that the message of the Gospel of forgiveness of sins is not going out enough, that the world is filled with lost, dying people who will enter an eternity of judgment if the Gospel is not proclaimed to all peoples. Their ministries emphasize local and global missions and their preaching is about Jesus as Glorious Savior. Then there are those who believe that there are too many people who have “received the Gospel” but have remained spiritual babies and have not been discipled in the faith. While they probably support Mission work globally, the emphasis of their ministry is on Bible teaching, through the pulpit and in Sunday School (by whatever name – SS, ABF, Discipleship Classes, Small Groups). Which of these emphases seems right to you? Your opinion is probably based more on your story than on the Word….

For those who have spent any time in the Church, it’s clear that Evangelism and Discipleship are radically different:

Evangelism is all about you being a sinner and deserving God’s punishment for your bad deeds. You can’t save yourself because nothing you could do “right” can erase the stuff you’ve done “wrong.” You need a Savior, and His name is Jesus. You just have to “receive” Him (or “repent and receive”) and you will have forgiveness of sins and will get a SWEET eternity! Is that pretty much what’s familiar to you? Maybe there is a class (Discipleship) on Evangelism where you learn how to “share the Good News” by handing out tracts, or sharing your testimony, or inviting people to church or your home for a Gospel presentation. 

Discipleship is about “becoming like Christ,” which generally is taken to mean becoming sin-free. It’s about listening to solid biblical preaching and teaching that “feeds you meat instead of babies’ milk.” There are classes and Bible studies. Maybe you get into Small Groups and study and discuss the Word in your homes. There are Disciplines that you practice, like Fasting, Tithing, Serving, Prayer, and Giving. And the purpose of all of this (and a laundry list of other things) is to remove sin from your life and to make you holy and pure like Jesus. Fair, if not generous, appraisal of what we have?

Well, if that’s what we have, if that’s the way it’s supposed to be, then there SHOULD be a war waged over which is the purpose of the Church. Without Evangelism, there could be no Discipleship, though lots of churches are trying to do just that, create holiness in people who have never given themselves to Christ. But if Evangelism is as described above, we would never fulfill the Great Commission to “make disciples” since we would only ever make “converts.” This problem is no secret. The seminary I attended made me take a class called “Evangelism and Follow-up,” acknowledging that it’s not enough to get someone to just pray a prayer. We know there has to be something more. “If not, we’d never get enough money to pay our salaries or enough volunteers to staff our programs!”

But what if everything that we have been taught about Evangelism and Discipleship and everything we have experienced in our churches is just a little off (to be generous and not say “wrong”)?

Why Discipleship?

So, let’s just start with the question: Why Discipleship? It seems like an unnecessary question to most in the Church. However, if Discipleship isn’t happening in our churches across America, it’s probably the place we need to start. I make no apologies for starting there. If you start in the wrong place, you are surely going to arrive at the wrong destination. When the Green Bay Packers were on a 10-year losing streak and at the bottom of the league, Vince Lombardi (yeah, the guy the trophy is named after) came in with vision, inspiration, and strategy but quickly determined he’d have to take the players back to the basics for any of that to produce results. He gathered the team, held up a ball, and uttered the now-famous words, “This is a football…” Once they were clear on the fundamentals of the game, then the team was ready for vision, inspiration, and strategy. And the results are part of Hall of Fame history.

The simple answer to our question is: It’s the purpose of the Church! Right now, my Reformed brothers are screaming “Foul!” because the Westminster Confession states that the chief end of man, and by extension the Church, is to glorify God. Point conceded. However, that is dangerously vague; it doesn’t give us marching orders. The Church glorifies God by fulfilling its purpose, to make disciples. And my Purpose Driven brothers are crying out, “But there are 5 purposes.” I honestly wish there was a different word being used. “Purpose” is your reason for existing. While I believe that the PD model is not only valid, but useful for maintaining a holistic, well-rounded, “healthy” church, I also believe that it allows for individual churches and individuals to compartmentalize and re-prioritize.

Why do I say that Discipleship is the purpose of the Church? Because of the Great Commission. Do you know what I’m talking about? Do you know where it is? If you said Matthew 28, you get half credit (because we like to treat Discipleship as though it’s school and there will be an exam at the end – but that is a post for another day). Let’s look at the Great Commission as it appears in Scripture:

Matthew 28:18 -20  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Mark 16:15-16  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Luke 24:45-48  Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.”

John 20:21  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (This is one we will come back to….)

Acts 1:8  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Maybe you don’t get half credit but 20% credit, since the Great Commission is found five times in Scripture. You see, The Great Commission, Christ’s instructions to the Church concerning what she is to be doing until He returns, is about Discipleship. It is by fulfilling this purpose in the manner in which He commands that the Church glorifies God. And the whole (Church) is the product of the parts (the faithful). This is not something that someone can opt out of or delegate to “professionals.” This is the calling of everyone who has called upon the name of the Lord.

Do I hear moaning? Do I hear complaints that I have made the case with those verses for the mission of the Church being Missions/Evangelism and not Discipleship? That’s the next post….

What Does the LORD Want Explored?

So, after taking such a long break from blogging, the question was: So, what do I start with? It's not that I have nothing on my mind. For any of you who know me, it should be clear that the problem is exactly the opposite. I have TOO MUCH on my mind. A much bigger problem for me is focusing in on a single topic and sticking with it - rather than chasing down rabbit trails.

So, as I was praying about what I should blog, a discipleship partner made a suggestion. The irony in the circumstances is that what he suggested wasn't even on my radar. For the past 5 years, since leaving SoCal and moving to Lanco, I have been obsessed with Ecclesiology, the theology of the Church, what and how she is to be and do. There was and is so much brokenness in this area (I'm sure not just this area), that it consumed me. Why can't the Church be all the Lord wants her to be?

But this brother in the Lord, another abused and wounded saint, pointed me in a new direction. It was during a mini-rant on Discipleship that he politely interrupted me saying, "That may be the third time you have said that same thing to me about Discipleship and I have never heard it before from anyone else. I think you should blog about that!" Honestly, I thought, "But I'm interested in sharing what is wrong with the Church!" Then it began to dawn on me, like a wave washing over me: The reason the Church is so messed up is because it's full of people, including its leaders, who have never been discipled.

I confess that I had been so focused on what is wrong in the Church that I missed all of the clues around me as to the REASON. And when I say "clues" I don't mean items which must be deciphered and which will lead you to the answer. It was the actual answer being plainly repeated to me over and over again. From the church member who said no one was interested in teaching her about Christianity, to the brand new pastor who was bitter because no one in his church had ever discipled him. From the seeker fumbling through her brand-new Bible desperately trying to find John while the teacher droned on unwaveringly about the church's position on Eternal Security to the three-decade Christian who said that he learned more from me in 32 months of Discipleship than in all his previous years combined. The REASON was right there before my eyes and ears all along. Discipleship isn't happening in most churches in the US.

Before you accuse me of being this wounded, jaded man who makes up things to complain about, you need to know that this is the same conclusion that most contemporary surveys of the US Church have come to. The most well-known is the Willow Creek Reveal study. The sad fact is out there from many sources - We are not discipling the folks who call themselves "Christian."

I will endeavor to unpack this problem over the next MANY blog posts. In taking on this challenge, I will start by saying that I don't have all the "right answers." What you will get is my perspective, the perspective of an APE (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist), informed by Scripture and my observations of and experience with many churches over a decade and a half of ministry. I also have as my guide the Living Spirit of God, Someone with Whom I am in intimate fellowship. And I submit all that I write and say to the communion of the faith, to the True Church, those who have genuine relationship with the Lord, who seek to walk in His ways and to glorify Him in all that they do as they "keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). As a reminder to myself and as an example to you, I insert a section of Anselm's Proslogion in his attempt to prove the existence of God. May it encourage all of us as to what can be if we earnestly seek faithfulness.

I have come to you as a poor man to a rich one, as a poor wretch to a merciful giver. May I not return empty and rejected! And if "I sigh before I eat" (Job 3:4), once I have sighed give me something to eat. Lord, turned in (incurvatus) as I am I can only look down, so raise me up so that I can look up. "My iniquities heaped on my head" cover me over and weigh me down "like a heavy load" (Ps. 37:5). Dig me out and set me free before "the pit" created by them "shuts its jaws over me" (Ps. 67:16). Let me see your light, even if I see it from afar or from the depths. Teach me to seek you, and reveal yourself to this seeker. For I cannot seek you unless you teach me how, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you, and desire you in seeking you. Let me find you in loving you and love you in finding you.
I acknowledge, Lord, and I give thanks that you have created in me this your image, so that I can remember you, think about you and love you. But it is so worn away by sins, so smudged over by the smoke of sins, that it cannot do what it was created to do unless you renew and reform it. I do not even try, Lord, to rise up to your heights, because my intellect does not measure up to that task; but I do want to understand in some small measure your truth, which my heart believes in and loved. Nor do I seek to understand so that I can believe, but rather I believe so that I can understand. For I believe this too, that "unless I believe I shall not understand" (Isa. 7:9).

Amen & amen...

Safe to Get Back in the Water

Well, I took quite a while off blogging. I did this for a couple reasons. First, folks were reading into my posts about specific circumstances despite the fact that I talk about general issues. While I can't stop that (and hope that people actually take biblical principles and measure their specific circumstances against those standards), I thought it best to lay low until the dust could settle. But also, there was an individual who was obsessed with my blog, checking it 3x each week. This behavior lasted for months after I suspended posting. It seems that he/she hasn't returned in quite a while now, so perhaps it's safe to get back in the blogging swing. My hope is that this space will help you to think deeply about our calling as Christ's representatives in the world, that deep reflection will lead to conviction, repentance and change if warranted, and that the Kingdom of God would expand in influence in your corner of this world.

Grace and Peace in Christ Jesus!
s

What about Saturday?

So, yesterday was Good Friday and tomorrow is Easter Sunday, but today is Saturday. What do you do with that?

Catholic tradition calls it Holy Saturday, the day that Christ’s body lay in the tomb. The Eastern tradition calls today The Great Sabbath because it’s the day that Jesus rested from His finished work on the cross. But both of those focus on God lying in state, if you will. And I have been reflecting on the disciples on that first Saturday.

Scripture is silent about Saturday, but I think it’s easy enough to know what was happening based upon Friday and Sunday. We know that on Sunday the disciples were together and they were not at the tomb. But why weren’t they standing outside that tomb waiting for Jesus to come out? He had told them several times that He would rise on the third day. Yet, they were not there. But they hadn’t scattered; they were together on Easter morning. Think about Friday. John tells us who was at the cross:

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

Where are the disciples? Only John is mentioned being there. Well, think back to when Jesus was arrested and taken before the authorities. Peter followed along, trying not to be noticed. But he was recognized and confronted about being part of the Jesus following. Folks, this was a very real threat. Jesus had been arrested as a traitor. Anyone associated with Him could likewise be executed. That’s why Peter denied Christ three times; he was trying to stay alive. And that’s where all of Christ’s Apostles are until Easter morning, hiding out in fear of death.

Stay with me. Isn’t that where each one of us is following Good Friday? Without the Resurrection of Easter morning, don’t we have a dead savior? If Christ wasn’t raised on Easter, there is no hope. Nothing He said or did, even who He was, is true. And if He is not God, we have no hope.

Look at it another way. Did Jesus die for your sins, receiving the punishment that was rightly due you? I hope you answered “Yes!” But, if He wasn’t raised from the dead, He could not and cannot save you. That’s not a philosophical argument; it’s what Scripture says:

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19

You see, living in Holy Saturday is hopeless. But many a Christian professes a crucified Savior, but misses the power and life of the Resurrection. They are perpetually living the fear and uncertainty of Saturday. So, reflect today on the hopelessness of crucified hope. Reflect on the fear that grips the desperate, hopefully just for this day. For tomorrow brings a new day, a GLORIOUS DAY…

Good(?) Friday

I had thought of lots of things that I could write on this Good Friday, 2012. But I'm not sure that there's anything worth adding to what the Scriptures have already said. So, today, on this Good Friday observance, I will post something for Sean. You see, Sean thinks the Bible was written to support the stories of the disciples, so that they could have power and recognition. But this is an odd story to write. It's not the story I would write. I would not create a weak god. He would not suffer. He would demonstrate power, not servitude.

But my god would whimper before this God. This God was not created by clever tricksters of the first century. This God revealed His coming to men, more than 500 years before He came, weak like an infant. Read Eugene Peterson's translation of Isaiah's prophecy of the death of Jesus. This is not the story that men would write. Therefore, it is infinitely more glorious. Read it and reflect. Easter is coming, full of light and hope and life. But let today be Good Friday. Let it be our darkest day so that His light may shine all the brighter. S

Isaiah 53 - The Message Paraphrase
Who believes what we've heard and seen? Who would have thought God's saving power would look like this?
The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
on him, on him.

He was beaten, he was tortured,
but he didn't say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he'd never hurt a soul
or said one word that wasn't true.

Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones,"
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Wrong Prescription

What sort of lenses are you wearing? You know. We put on sunglasses with dark lenses because we are sensitive to bright light or to people peering into our eyes. Or we put on prescription lenses because we have imperfect eyesight and we wish to see more clearly. If you wear glasses, most are light enough these days that you don't even realize they are there.

Years ago, when I got my first pair of corrective lenses, I thought it would be cool to get prescription sunglasses. My hope was to be able to see clearly while enjoying my active outdoors lifestyle. The lenses I got had a purple tint to them. They were great for seeing in bright light conditions, especially on the ski slopes. After a short time, I didn't even realize that I was seeing the world in shades of purple. It looked normal to me. Fast-forward 10 years and I was told that the purple tint of my glasses was highly addictive and had created extreme photosensitivity in my eyes. My body, in order to protect itself, was developing a protective coating on my eyes which would eventually blind me. And all of this was happening without my knowledge, just because I had put on a pair of sunglasses, a very wrong pair.

So, what lenses are you wearing? I'm not necessarily talking about your physical eyes right now. I'd like to focus your attention on the eyes of your heart. We all have lenses through which we perceive the world. Our lenses are the result of our life's journey, what we've been taught, what we've seen modeled, or what we've experienced, both painful and wonderful. Our lenses are so much a part of us that we don't even know they exist. But we all have them and they alter reality to create our perception of what really is.

This is a conversation that I have had in the church for years and am just starting to have at the Vo-Tech where I'm teaching. You see, we slide into a mode where we deal with people and situations from our prejudices, conclusions that we have drawn before investigating the facts. It leads teachers and administrators to deal with teens using a template intended for all. It discounts the circumstances that have preceded today and dehumanizes the person. Schools generally run from ministering to the whole person, falling back on "teaching" content and referring problem cases for discipline and correction. Amazing teachers are the ones who enter the mess of the person to find out who they really are and why they are struggling so they can truly educate the whole person.

Today in church I was reminded of a video that I had intended to post months ago but I had lost the thought (my ADD got the better of me). But this video (below) out of Fellowship Church addresses the issue of how we see the world around us. Watch it and then let's have an honest discussion about how inconvenient it is to truly see people. Let's talk about our calling as Followers of the Inconvenienced God. And let's pray for one another that the Living Spirit of God would give us, not only eyes to see but, a heart like His, one which compels us in the name of Christ, Love, and all which is holy and sacred to enter the mess of the world with the full power of the Gospel of Grace.

So Far From God

This weekend, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day as a nation. The irony is that in Ireland, they watch news reports about our celebrations which include corned beef & cabbage, green beer (usually way too much beer), parades filled with people dressed like leprechauns, and even rivers dyed green. And they wonder why we would celebrate one of their Holy Days with such foolishness.

You see, St. Patrick was an amazing missionary who brought the Christian faith to their island nation. And he was responsible for planting a church and a movement that was characterized by a profound understanding of the sent-ness of God’s people. The gospel for the Celts wasn’t so much about saving individuals, although that was certainly part of it. It was a powerful gospel which transformed lives, families, and communities. More than that, it broke down dividing walls between tribes, giving an island filled with tribal conflict a unifying identity in Christ. And the message, fueled by the Spirit of God, swept throughout the land and captured hearts all to the praise and glory of God.

Then there’s our celebration. Christ has no place in American St. Patrick’s Day. Some creative missional pockets are trying to restore the holiness of the day, but they are the extreme minority. Churches try to ignore or even condemn the holiday. And we miss a huge opportunity to remember faithfulness and to challenge God’s people.

And what does evangelism look like in America? Well, I took a picture of a sign at our local gas station. It’s below. Click on it to get a larger image if you have a hard time making out the object I have pointed out. The sign is advertizing gas station sandwiches. Yummy! But some well-meaning but misguided saint has put a tract on the sign. The message? I’m not sure. “Come inside and get a lousy, but cheap sandwich. And while you choke it down, read this literature that will probably make you nauseous if you are far from Christ.” And the person who put it there has annoyed a merchant in the community, provided a few laughs at the local pub, but feels like he has done his part to be a witness of the gospel in a broken world. It’s a good thing that it’s the Spirit that saves people and not us. But I’m sure that we’re called to a whole lot more than this.

Understanding Connection

OK, so I don't normally put "secular" stuff into my blog, but a friend sent me this video. He uses it in a seminar he does on finding healing in ministry. The video is rather long, but the gal is reasonably entertaining, so I hope you watch it thru to the end. Her topic is interesting, but her personal journey is fascinating. Yes, there's lots of pop psych stuff, but don't miss the point of her presentation. She's discussing the link between vulnerability and authentic connection. And she claims that connection is the thing we need and seek in life. Folks, that's biblical. And she provides insight into the reason we don't connect. Guess what. It looks a lot like trying to be God. So, watch the video and think about why we have a hard time connecting with one another and even with God. Then, let's talk...

Jacked-Up Faith

Have you ever noticed how messed up our understanding of Scripture is? I have been visiting a lot of church websites and realized that it’s found even among staff. Often, sites have brief bios for staff, sometimes even favorite Scripture verses. Let’s use one of those that seems to recur consistently, Jeremiah 29:11,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Doesn’t that sound wonderfully encouraging? God has plans for your life and they are plans you will like a whole lot. He loves you so much that He will make you healthy and successful. Wow! You’re something special!

Maybe you know that this verse comes from a message to Judah while they are in captivity in Babylon. That’s a step in the right direction. But that should cause you to ask yourself whether or not the “promises” of 29:11 even apply to you or to your current circumstances.

Let’s pretend for a moment that they do. I don’t think they do, clearly from the context, but I believe that they reveal something of the character and will of God, so there is some relevance. Isn’t it funny that we only list v.11 as one we find important? Look at some additional Scripture from that passage,

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:4-7

Oh my. Did you catch v.7? Seek the peace and prosperity of the city, Babylon! Pray to the Lord concerning it. And how should you pray? That He would judge your oppressors? That He would make them Jews (or Christians)? Nope! Pray for the prosperity of the city. Because then, and only then, will you prosper.

The context of Jeremiah 29:11 is missional instruction to God’s people, how they are to behave while they are in pagan captivity. This verse should be understood in light of the covenant faithfulness of God. He is sovereignly working out a plan for the redemption of all peoples. Those who are His, He uses to expand His Kingdom influence. Even when they have gone astray and followed godless leaders, He will not destroy them, because He is faithful. Yes, they will suffer discipline for blindly, even selfishly following leaders who tickled their ears. But His sovereign plan advances, even in Babylon. And once they have been punished, He will restore them to their mission in the land, the mission which they had abandoned in favor of selfish idolatry.

So, when we are taught that Jeremiah 29:11 all about God’s guarantee of goodies and comfort, when we believe that the gospel is about us rather than about His glory, aren’t we really committing the same sin that landed Judah in Babylon? The next time you are told and tempted to believe that God wants you to be wealthy and comfortable, take another look at the life Jesus lived. See if you can find prosperity. Is there a lot of physical comfort, especially toward the climax of His story? Then, let His words resonate deep in your soul,

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." John 20:21

This Close, Yet Miles Away

Today is the day before the Lenten season begins for Christians. Last year at this time, I also blogged about Lent and called those who wanted to build Christian discipline in their life to engage in a study of 1 Peter and following a corresponding Disciplines Guide that I created. Those who truly wanted to grow in their faith took advantage of the opportunity and participated in that exercise or in one of their own choosing. And they experienced various degrees of success, as would be expected. That’s because Disciplines do not create holiness in our lives, but rather give us opportunities to reprioritize in order to allow the Lord to transform our heart and mind. Or else, they just make us miserable.

And that’s the problem with religion. The Lenten season has been viewed by pre- and post-Christians alike as the climax of the religious life, denial and misery. Rather than concentrating on what the season offers us, we focus on the process and what it prohibits. You can’t blame pre-Christians for this; we have created this perception ourselves. They are simply observing us. And to make matters worse, we created a celebration before the season, the party before the world ends, Mardi Gras.

Today is Mardi Gras (French for “Fat Tuesday”). It is a day to party like it’s the end of the world, since the next day, Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, surely is the end of living life according to our selfishness. And the world loves a party, especially one where all social conventions are overturned and flesh is king. Secret: The church loves it too.

Fat Tuesday was our creation, not theirs. But we sit back on our “blessed assurance” and direct chubby fingers pronouncing judgment toward them. The truth is: Fat Tuesday is a better reflection of the condition of Christ’s Church than of the lost world. We have gotten fat. Our faith is about us. The gospel is about us. Our Sunday morning religious expressions are about us. It’s all about us. God should bless us because we are so wonderful, and He should torture everyone else so that we can really appreciate how much better we are than they. Lost is our mission. Lost is following after our Suffering Servant. Lost is offering yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

The church has become fat on its reliance upon doctrinal knowledge to be its salvation. Jesus didn’t come to give us Bible studies. We have become fat on our traditions that create divisions in the church that Christ gave His blood to create. Jesus didn’t come to give us denominations. We have become fat and lazy, like Eli (1 Samuel 1-4), trusting that we are the chosen people of God while we mock Him with our religious activities. Jesus didn’t come to enslave us to rules and to make us miserable.

So, how do we recover from Fat Christianity? Well, it starts with right theology. It starts with taking another look at the God who became man in order to show us both Who He is and how we must become. Our faith has a focus, Christ, and an expression, the world. You see, Jesus didn’t come to give us a comfortable, prosperous life, but that doesn’t make us miserable because He is our treasure. But He did come to give us joy abundant. After all, it was He Who said, “The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10).

So, shape up, Church. Fatties have no place in the Kingdom of God.

Back to the Basics to Figure Out What's Wrong

Have you ever had the pleasure (or pain) that accompanies setting Mission, Vision, and Values for an organization? I have done this many times, both for churches and for businesses. For those of you who don’t know anything about these terms, let me briefly explain:

Mission: Mission answers the big “Why?” question. “Why do we exist?” It’s sometimes called “purpose,” especially outside the church. If you’re a business, it might state something about your product or service. While your mission will never change, you might express it in different ways during different seasons thru clever, catchy slogans. But slogans should never be confused with your mission. Mission is your reason for existing; slogans are to help people remember your mission so they will stay on track. For the church, our mission comes from the Great Commission.

Vision: Vision is often confused with mission, but it is very different. While your mission answers the “Why?” question, vision answers the “What if?” question. “If we successfully accomplish our mission, what will be different?” Vision is the level where you motivate people toward partnering with you in your mission. And casting vision is not the same as setting goals. Vision should be qualitative, not quantitative. And vision should be recast periodically. Vision changes to reflect the times.

Values: Core values answer the “How?” question. “How will we function (what will the characteristics of our organization be) as we accomplish our mission?” While churches do a fairly consistent job of identifying values, their values are not culture-creating. “The Bible” should not be a core value. I know, that sounds heretical because we do value the Bible. But a better core value, one which reflects our value of the Bible, might be “Obedience.” See what I mean? If not, read on and then let’s talk….

Let’s take a look at our mission. The Great Commission is found in several places in the Scriptures (Mark 16:16-18; Luke 24:46-48; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8) but most widely recognized in Matthew 28:18-20:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Some drop v.18, but that may be part of the problem we are having being faithful. Right before commissioning His church, Jesus establishes His absolute authority in this act. This is not a proclamation to be ignored. The word we translate “go” sounds like an imperative command, but is actually an attendant circumstance participle, better translated “while you are going…” to indicate that this has very little to do with mission trips and everything to do with living a missional life. I won’t go into “all nations” with all its implications except to say that it means “everyone.” And we are told that we are to make disciples. There is our imperative command: “Make disciples!” Notice, it doesn’t say to sponsor events or attract a crowd or preach. But it does tell us what discipleship is about.

We are to immerse them (baptizing) into the Name. This speaks of something other than getting someone wet. We baptize as a symbol of our commitment to the discipleship journey. Sadly, most of our churches have retained the symbol, but lost the substance. The Name is the very identity of our God. It’s not a word, like your name or mine. It is who He is. And we are to help people to become fully immersed in God. The word we transliterate “baptize” was used of ships that were sunk at sea, consumed by the waters. It was also used of cloth that was being immersed into a dye only to emerge changed to take on its appearance. This is why we exist, to immerse one another in our Lord. But don’t miss the next part. As they say, “Proof is in the pudding” and our pudding has the flavor of obedience. Disciples of the Lord obey. Isn’t that obvious, since He has already established His absolute authority?

Is that what the church looks like? Or have we exchanged symbol for substance? Have we redefined the mission of the church and in the process lost our way? Perhaps we have ignored the goal, obedience. And in doing all of that, haven’t we in essence told Jesus that He is not Lord of the church, but we are.

Ask yourself which is more important, orthodoxy (right doctrine) or orthopraxy (right actions). Don’t hear me wrongly. I believe that our doctrinal beliefs have to be as accurate as our Fall-corrupted minds can handle. And actions that do not flow from faith in God are useless. But the Sovereign Lord says “Obey” not systematize and divide over secondary or even tertiary concepts. It’s a relationship. It’s relational. It’s obedience.

Spectators

So, last night was the Super Bowl and we had a pretty full house for the event. Honestly, most of us weren't really that into the game. It was more about wanting to cheer AGAINST the Patriots. But it was a great time of food with friends, mostly old and some new.

But how many of our churches look like our Game Day Party? They consist of an event on Sunday where we get together with a bunch of likeminded people we have known for years. We watch the game being played by other people (missionaries, clergy, staff) and occasionally loudly complain about poor officiating. Commercial breaks are welcome and are sometimes the parts that are more interesting than the actual show. And we get to cheer for the good guys and boo the bad guys, trusting in the end that we are aligned with the winning team. And of course, there’s going to be a big celebration party when we win, one where we’ll act as though we were actually participating in the battle that waged on the field.

But there’s something funny about football that is unlike church. Afterward, you generally see more guys (and gals) go out, inspired by the show, and pick up a football and play. Maybe it’s just a dad playing catch with his kid. Maybe it’s a 4v4 game in the street. Maybe a bunch of folks form a league. And in that, maybe the NFL is doing a better job of making disciples than the Church of Jesus Christ. After the game, there are countless youngsters who dream of being the game’s MVP and leading their team to victory. And many if not most will try. And, truth be told, most will really enjoy just getting out there and being part of something thrilling and competitive where their unique talents make them contributors to something bigger than themselves. At the end of the “day” they will generally look back on the experience and be glad that they were part of the game.

But the church, not so much.

Corrupted and Clueless

So, what’s the biggest problem in Christ’s church today? Well, let’s talk specifically about the church in America (frankly, because the Chinese church is a beautiful example of faithfulness right now). We, on the other hand, suffer from heart disease.

Our problem is that we have fallen into a trap that is as old as the story. The problem with the people of God has always been our desire to follow after the gods of the world (read: “culture”). Let’s take a look at what Christ would probably say to the church in America:

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm-- neither hot nor cold-- I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelation 3:14-22

Let’s take a little time/space to break this down. Laodicea was a jewel in the Roman Empire. It was a wealthy hub of commerce in Asia Minor, known for banking and wealth, medicine (especially an eye salve), and clothing (particularly a glossy black wool that was valued by the very rich). But this jewel had a flaw, namely that it had no water and had to import this crucial commodity. Its neighbors, Colossae and Hierapolis were regionally renowned for their cool and hot waters, respectively. The cool pure waters of Colossae were a refreshing and life-giving substance, while the hot springs of Hierapolis were used medicinally to cure almost any ailment. But then there was Laodicea which used a Roman aqueduct to bring mineral-laden hot spring water to a thirsty city. By the time it arrived, it still had its sulfury stench and had only cooled enough to be tepid. There was nothing pleasant about the water of Laodicea which generally made you want to wretch.

This was their cultural setting, and unfortunately the church was being corrupted by its context. Jesus’ words are not for the godless, but for the ones who claim to be His children. And He introduces Himself as “the Amen” (a reference to absolute truth), “the faithful and true witness” (the very thing that His children are called to be in the culture), and “the ruler of God’s creation” (just in case they thought obedience was optional). According to Him, they have no refreshing, life-giving value, not for Christ, but for the community. Neither do they offer restorative, healing benefits. They are foul and repugnant, like the water. Furthermore, they have clothed themselves in the ways of wealth and opulence rather than in the white garments of righteousness. And while they claim to “see” by the help of cultural innovation, they are really blind. To what are they blind? To the fact that Jesus is not in their midst! He says, “You are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” and “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

Now, take a look at the church in America; take a look at your own church. Does it reflect the culture of America more than it does the Kingdom of God? Maybe you don’t even know the difference, you’re that blind. Laodicea means “people’s rights”; it was their culture and it’s the American way. Ask yourself if you are serving the Lord and His Kingdom or if you (individually and collectively) are serving yourselves.

First and foremost, is your congregation a faithful and true witness in the community? Are you known for your cool refreshing waters or your medicinal springs? Or, has the god of this age set up his throne in your hearts? Has Christ left and you don’t even realize it?

Let’s make it very simple. What is your church like thru the week? If you’re thinking about a building, Jesus is knocking. If all of your activities are on Sunday (and Wednesday), Jesus is knocking. If you’re more concerned with the Sunday schedule or type of music than if lives are being transformed, Jesus is knocking. If your small group or Sunday school class never gets shoulder-to-shoulder with non-Christians, Jesus is knocking.

And maybe you’ll think this is good news, but He won’t knock forever. Repent!

Terror or Thrill?

So, for nearly a year now, my family has been living out our faith under circumstances that were never part of our plans. Truth be told, I don’t think that I would ever have even considered this experience as something to strive for. Yet, like countless others, we find ourselves in a season that God has provided that is far from pleasant. OK, it’s been downright painful and difficult.

But isn’t that the story that we see over and over again in the Scriptures? There’s a different story that we sometimes inadvertently tell (some intentionally) that says that giving yourself to the Lord will result in health, wealth, and prosperity. But that’s not the story of the Scriptures. Rather, we see people going thru all sorts of hardships. Some because they have created the circumstances, some because of the actions of others, and some unclear. But the story of the Bible is that God knows, cares, and is near. That’s the promise. He is also able to change it, but that’s not promised. Only that He knows, cares, and is near. And that is sufficient.

The key in the midst of this is to maintain the perspective of faith. Faith is trusting in the Lord. So, we have a choice. We can either be filled with anxiety, fear, even absolute terror, or we can choose to be prepared to see God’s presence in the midst of danger. Whichever we choose is an indicator of our faith. Now, please don’t hear me wrongly. I’m not saying that people with strong faith don’t feel fear or pain. Those are natural, understandable first responses. It’s following that response from the flesh that the inner person is made known. Because the Lord’s people rejoice in all circumstances, not because of the situation but because of who He is.

There’s a video clip that I saw in church on Sunday that captures this idea. It’s a commercial that has very little to do with the product being promoted. But it’s great to see these two responses to the same threatening circumstances. Enjoy the video, but notice the condition of the man. Maybe watch it a couple times so you really get it. Then ask yourself which you are.


Don’t you love the comment from the pig? “Pure adrenaline!”

We have a choice. It’s a choice of faith. In what or whom are we placing our hope? Are we just clutching the harness in terror, trying desperately just to survive? Or, are we enjoying the thrill of the ride, knowing that ultimately it is the Lord who holds us up if we have truly put our trust in Him… WHEEEEEE

Desperately Broken

Over the last several months, in addition to serving the poor in our community, my small group has been taking another look at Jesus in the Gospels. Now some of you are probably saying to yourself, “What does he mean by ‘another look’? Is this some progressive theology creeping in to corrupt Christianity?” That’s a fair question, but, if you’re one of the ones asking it, then you’re probably part of the reason that we are looking at Jesus of Scriptures again.

You see, the creeping that you need to be careful of is not so much that of liberalism, but legalism. Liberal theology is very easy to spot and usually attacks the divinity of Christ or the reliability of the Bible. But legalism, accompanied by his twin, self-righteousness, are insidious creatures that slither in undetected. I personally believe that they are given opportunity by an over-emphasis on the writings of Paul, giving him priority over the Jesus revealed in the Gospels. This is a result of our western perspective coupled with modernistic thinking; we prefer epistolary argumentation of facts over narratives. “We don’t have time for children’s stories! Cut to the chase! Just give us the facts (or rules) and we’ll be good to go!” And in this process, we lose sight of what the Bible is. It becomes a rulebook and a way for us to examine God, even manipulate Him. Yet, the mid-eastern perspective is that you allow God, thru His Word, to examine and transform you. But that’s a post for a different day…

So, we were studying this passage together:

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Mark 7:24-30

Within the context, this is one of two encounters with Gentiles where Jesus is trying unsuccessfully to remain hidden. And they follow after a passage where Jesus slams the Jewish religious leaders for holding to the traditions of men rather than following after God. This is called juxtaposition, putting two things close together so you can see the similarity, or in this case, the contrast.

Now, when we read this passage, we get stuck. We can’t figure out why Jesus was so mean to this woman who simply wants to find relief for her demon-possessed daughter. “Why would Jesus call her a dog?” We try to soften it by saying, “Oh, the Greek word Jesus used is for a sweet little puppy, not a mangy wild dog.” But a dog is a dog, and to be called such is insulting in that culture. So, what’s going on here?

Well, Jesus is making a point. The Messiah is being rejected by the religious leaders of the day because He doesn’t conform to their traditions. Jesus is demonstrating His power and authority to them but they refuse to see. Yet, the Gentiles are earnestly seeking God; He can’t manage to hide from them! It is the Jewish perspective that says this woman is a dog. In addition to being a woman, she’s Phoenician. If you’re unclear about how the Jews viewed the people of Tyre and Sidon, take a look at Isaiah 23 and Ezekiel 36-38. The Phoenicians were arrogant merchant people who starved Israel while they grew wealthy. But here is a Phoenician woman saying to God Himself, “I don’t need the best that You are giving, Lord. I am willing to lick the filthy ground to receive that which Your Chosen people carelessly discard.”

Have you got the picture now? Jesus is this amazing treasure to be sought after and cherished. And before you start acting like a Pharisee and think this passage speaks to “pagans,” take a long look in the mirror and tell me if you like what you see. How do we treat Jesus day-in and day-out? Behold the picture of desperation and abject humility found in this “proud, arrogant Phoenician.” Any if we’re brutally honest for a moment, aren’t we more like the Pharisees who are so committed to their religious traditions that we prevent people from finding the Lord, starting with ourselves.

I love the comparison here. You have the religious leaders who are demanding that God conform to their expectations. Though they were commissioned to be a light to the nations, they did their best to extinguish the Light. And then there’s the godless heathen who is willing to break all of the rules in order to get the tiniest bit of grace from God. He cannot be hidden from her desperate heart. And you just know that, like her counterpart in vv. 31-37, she proclaimed the glory of God found in Jesus to all of her neighbors.

So, what does your faith look like?