Our Dwelling Place in all generations

2005-05-09T10:20:00.000-04:00

With all patient endurance

So I was and am still looking forward to this Saturday, when the third men's Bible study session for this year gets underway. The previous two meetings have been great, but they were sparsely attended. So I was looking forward to more guys being committed to come, because I strongly believe in the need, especially in our church, for the men to study to Word, pray, and fellowship with one another, and to encourage each other and help each other to lead the church both by example and administratively, as God has called us to do.

Well, anyone, Sunday my pastor announces that the meeting has been shifted from its scheduled 10 o'clock meeting time to 8:30, to accomodate a few guys who have to work Saturdays. Initially, I was quite annoyed at this, but I'm less so today. While I hope some compromise can be worked out between the two "extremes" of 10 and 8:30 for future meetings, certainly my temporary annoyance is a little sacrifice worth yielding for the good of my fellow brothers in Christ, especially the one(s) who have been unable to attend previously due to work commitments they can't escape.

I hope the same can be said of the rest of the men who planned to attend but are annoyed by the earlier hour. It's high time we learn to suck it up and soldier on when things don't always suit our convenience. After all, Jesus told us to walk the extra mile, not to quit at a kilometer.

2005-04-26T12:07:00.000-04:00

The Jesus Creed

So I came across "The Jesus Creed" on the website of "emergent" theologian and DC metro area pastor Brian McLaren.

It's interesting and inspiring, and worthy of consideration for evangelicals, but I'm not sure it would be a good creed to recite weekly as part of worship services, at least not as powerful and encompassing of Christian doctrine as say the Apostles Creed (appended later in the post).

We have confidence in Jesus Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed. And even raised the dead. He cast out evil powers and Confronted corrupt leaders. He cleansed the temple. He favored the poor. He turned water into wine, Walked on water, calmed storms. He died for the sins of the world, Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father, Sent the Holy Spirit. We have confidence in Jesus Who taught in word and example, Sign and wonder. He preached parables of the kingdom of God On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes, At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns, By day and by night. He taught the way of love for God and neighbor, For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien. We have confidence in Jesus, Who called disciples, led them, Gave them new names and new purpose And sent them out to preach good news. He washed their feet as a servant. He walked with them, ate with them, Called them friends, Rebuked them, encouraged them, Promised to leave and then return, And promised to be with them always. He taught them to pray. He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places, Fasted and faced agonizing temptations, Wept in a garden, And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.” He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept. We have confidence in Jesus, So we follow him, learn his ways, Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example. We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him, As a branch in a vine. We have not seen him, but we love him. His words are to us words of life eternal, And to know him is to know the true and living God. We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus. Amen.

Poetic and worshipful, but I'm not sure the average believer, or the average "seeker" would really "get" from reciting and meditating upon this creed a few central notions of Christian doctrine: that man cannot save himself from sin and God's judgment and he needs the grace of God made available by Christ on the cross; that Christ not only historically had a ministry, but his ministry, his birth, his life, his death were all fulfillment of Messianic prophecy; and that Christ is coming again to the earth soon to bring eternal judgment and to establish a new heaven and new earth.

Essentially, the Jesus Creed can, I would think, easily be mistaken as a laundry list of good deeds done by a historically great man, not as the prophetically fulfilled ministry of the Scripture-promised Messiah. As such, confessing this creed is a lot easier to do for an individual who has not been broken by his/her sin and realized their complete and utter dependence on the grace of God alone for salvation. To help along that notion would be the gravest disservice a church body or an evangelical can render a person in need of Christ. True, to do so may be a stumbling block to many, but Scripture has foretold of Christ as a stumbling block to the unbelieving. But Jesus never massaged his message in hopes to maximize his following.

True, we shouldn't loudly and arrogantly bellow fire and brimstone sermons all the time, but if and when we compromise the essential hard truths of the Gospel in an aim to soften the blow and coax a confession of Christ eventually by those we are evangelizing, we are not following the biblical model for bringing people to Christ.

As a "creed," McLaren's formulation is not the most comprehensive recital of Christian faith, and I suppose it is possible that it might not have been his intention. As a work of poetry which emphasizes the compassion and love of Christ in His earthly ministry and his training and equiping the Church to the same end, it achieves its goal. But for my money, were I to recite a creed in formal public worship, and/or as a template for explaining the Christian faith, I'd stick to the Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

2005-03-20T17:03:00.000-05:00

Seekers, saints, and eccelsiastical food fights

Something I've been wrestling with lately is the tension between the mission of the evangelical church to reap in the harvest of lost souls and the evangelical church preaching to the converts it already has. This tension is often played out in ecclesiastical food fights between churches which are pretty cut-and-dried in their style and liturgy and those who are trying to be hip, postmodern, edgy, or whatever else they wish to be in order to make church cool to the lost and reel them in.

While there are some flagrant abuses of the "seeker-friendly" model which eschew orthodox Christianity and biblical accountability, I think the proper approach non-"seeker-friendly/seeker-oriented" churches should have to our brothers and sisters in Christ is one of caution and skepticism, but of respect and circumspection before we roundly issue condemnation. In short, we should only lash out against a "seeker-friendly" church when it is in gross violation of orthodoxy or when it so persistently waters down the holiness and reverence of God that it cuts against its own witness to the glory, holiness, and mercy of God but bringning God low and exalting man at His expense.

I've been thinking along these lines today due to two things: controversy over Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Life specifically and his approach to shepherding his church in general, and a reference my pastor made in a sermon today to "seeker-friendly" churches in Baltimore being a danger to spiritual growth.

If my pastor envisions a church unmoored from historic, orthodox Christianity or worshipful reverence of God, then yes, I agree with him in general. I must politely disagree or withhold judgment on specific instances where names might be named until I could examine the evidence for myself.

As for Pastor Warren's book, I haven't read it. To you, the reader, the best service I could render would be to evaluate it by myself prayerfully and then to offer criticism of it, constructively and in the spirit of Christian unity, of course.

I can't make a solid commitment to reading his book, but I will withhold harsh judgment or ebullient praise or any mixture of the two til I have read it, considered it, and am comfortable enough to offer my views in light of Scripture and the book's adherence or departure from it.

2005-02-08T16:48:00.000-05:00

Tradition, liturgy, and Christian worship

I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

I was raised in a very non-traditional, evangelical charismatic background. Contemporary worship, relatively infrequent partaking of Communion, and stem-winder sermons. And I used to pretty much swear by this formula and find ridiculous the notion of spiritual maturity in any other setting.

But over time the Lord has been showing me instead of not look at the particular trappings of a given worship service, but the quality of the liturgy and preaching as judged by fidelity to Scripture, and by the worshipful unity of the congregation to glory and wonder in God in the beauty of holiness.

For instance, I recently attended a friend's Episcopal parish. Granted, I don't agree with all the doctrines or socio-political stands of the larger Episcopal church, but the service I attended was quite lovely, and I felt I was able to worship God and join together in declaring a common faith in the risen Lord.

The service, oddly enough included an infant baptism, that of my friend's nephew. That's, in fact, why I attended, to witness the baptism. I still don't agree per se with the practice of padobaptism, although I tolerate it in liturgy insofar as it is a prophetic act of worship to pray for the future personal acceptance of Christ of that baptized infant. And I, in my capacity there, at least, was praying and worshipfully hoping for that. And I will continue to do so.

2005-01-03T13:56:00.000-05:00

Devoutness or superstition?

Actor Bud Cort, who played the "bond company stooge" in the funny (but somewhat disappointingly dull) Wes Anderson flick, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.

Raised as a "very strict Catholic," Cort attended Mass every Sunday (as he usually does) to pray for good health during the shoot. While in Italy, he bought all sorts of religious jewelry -- "as protection to get me through the goddamn movie," he says with a laugh. "You should see what I'm wearing now. I'm wearing a cross, I'm wearing a jade Buddha, I'm wearing a Mother Teresa from the beatification, I'm wearing a Padre Pio. What else have I got here? I'm wearing the blessed Virgin, I'm wearing St. Christopher."

It's a shame Cort puts his faith in the wearing of amulets rather than in Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior. Granted, I can't read the guy's spiritual life or the condition of his heart with absolute omniscent certainty, but it seems that Mr. Cort is living by silly superstition rather than a firm, unwavering reliance on the Rock upon which his Church was founded on: Jesus Christ.

I pray that Cort's faith is expanded, refined, and enriched in 2005 as he learns to trust in Jesus Christ for everything and casts aside the medallions and trinkets which testify to doubt, not to abiding faith in the eternal, immortal Son of God.

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2005-01-02T23:39:00.000-05:00

Blogged prayers for the New Year

During 2005 I hope to post prayers which I am simultaneously praying and blogging to the worship and glory of God. I'm doing it to glorify the Lord and to invite Him to inspire my worship and my prayer life.

I can't promise as to the frequency or infrequency of the posts, but my hope is to give glory to God and to give you the reader something to help you in your faith.

Holy Lord, I worship and adore you
For all that You are, were, and ever will be
The same yesterday, today, and forever
The Alpha and Omega
Author and Finisher of my faith

I thank you for all the blessings of the year past
The lessons learned, the opponents vanquished, the trials you've sustained me through
The sins you've forgiven, the mercies you've rendered
New each morn, and yet ordained from before the foundation of the world

You know the future like a book
All my days were written long before I was born because
You alone Lord see all of time and eternity
You are greater than both and rule over them both
May I never think anything impossible for you but always think everything
Impossible for me, so that I won't lean unto my own understanding
But seek your infinitely wise counsel

Help me this new year to never cease to wonder at your power, your mercy, your justice, and your love
Help me to grow in your wisdom and understanding
Help me to be more compassionate towards the lost
The wounded, the dying, the afflicted, tortured and imprisoned
Headed towards destruction without you as Savior
Help me to be a light, to be a guide to you
The Light of the world

Thank you Father for the lessons you will teach me through your Word
And by your Holy Spirit this year
Thank you for the lives you've put in my path to shape and affect for time and eternity
Thank you for the destiny to which you are calling me in through your Son Jesus Christ

In your Son's holy name I pray, Amen.

2004-03-11T10:43:00.000-05:00

Planned Parenthood's High Priest

[story]

Okay, so he's Methodist, and they have ministers, not priests.

I'm not holding my breath for the United Methodist Church to chastise this guy.

I'm just glad my grandmother isn't here to see this crap going on in the church in which she was so active and in which she raised my dad and aunts.

Back in my grandmother's day, the Methodist Church was a church which proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation in His Name. It was a church based on a desire to win souls to Christ and teach them the Truth. I still have fond memories of a summer I stayed with her for a while for vacation Bible school.

Now, sadly, most of the UM church hierarchy has forsaken the Truth for lies, has assented to evil and called it good, and called good, evil.

I don't know what most parishioners or the pastor at my grandmother's church, St. Paul's United Methodist (in Cambridge, Maryland) think about this, or even if most of them will even hear about this through the mainstream media. I'm going to call the church office later to find out. I pray I'll hear an answer that encourages me, as I have family members who still attend there, whom I love dearly, and hate to see subjected to the teaching of a church which forsakes the Truth for a lie, and calls evil good.

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2004-03-06T17:03:00.000-05:00

I saw the Passion last night...

...and I'm still in awe of the powerful and prophetic impact of the movie.

There's no way you can see an anti-Semitic message in the movie, unless you predetermine in your heart and mind to find offense by it, the evidence to the contrary notwithstanding.

The sheer brutality of both hateful and sadistic Jewish temple guards and Roman soldiers, along with the wicked schemes of a sect of Pharisees, led by the High Priest Caiaphas, and the morally relativist and cowardly Pilate, illustrate that the evil directed against Jesus of Nazareth was from both Jew and Gentile. And yet the humanity and acts of compassion of dissenting members of the Sanhedrin and everyday Jewish citizens of Jerusalem, as well as Pilate's wife, show that both Jew and Gentile could have compassion on Jesus and recognize his holiness and innocence.

Additionally, Gibson's use of flashback was masterful in communicating that the Jews can not be charged and accursed specifically with deicide. As Jesus is ascending the hill Golgotha on his way to be nailed to the cross, there is a flashback to Jesus proclaiming that "no man takes my life from me, I give it up freely, for this is my command from the Father." Coming back from this reverie, we see the face of Caiaphas, the high priest who schemed to bring Jesus up on charges of blasphemy. The message is clear: while sinful acts of man had a role in the crucifixion of Christ, no man in particular "killed" Jesus, but Jesus willingly took the burden of sin and death on himself to redeem men from their sins.

There are minor editorial and directorial changes I would have done to the film, and I think exiting the movie, most long-term born again Christians will have similar thoughts. But overall, it was a powerful film which illustrates that Christ was not just some moral philosopher or martyred prophet in history, but that he was the Son of God made flesh, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God who would take on himself the sins of the world, in order to redeem men from their depravity and reconcile them to God.

And even if you dispute religious and theological implications of the Passion and the Gospel on which it is based and inspired, you can't deny Gibson's artistic capabilities, and the powerful human emotions of love, sorrow, loss, motherhood, greed, depression, redemption, and even joy that the film at times evokes.

If you see any movie this year, see this one. And for the Christians reading this, see it and search the Scriptures and use it to sharpen your witness to your non-Christian friends about the love of our Lord.

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2004-02-26T17:39:00.000-05:00

Spare us Maureen Dowd, for you know not what you write

Seriously. Beginning your screed of a column today with "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," is so trite and predictable, not to mention blasphemous, that it hardly belongs in a college newspaper, let along the allegedly most-respected broadsheet in the country.

Op-Ed Columnist: Stations of the Crass">[see column]

I could go on for a paragraph by paragraph critique but I probably shouldn't waste my time on it.

But I will say this, in light of Jesus's words in Matthew 5:11-12, both Mel Gibson and President Bush should feel really really blessed today:

"Blessed are you when {people} insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Amen.

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2004-02-25T17:10:00.000-05:00

The two most intelligent reviews of The Passion of the Christ

That I have read thus far, anyway.

I haven't yet seen the film but intend to perhaps next week.

Andrew Coffin of World Magazine and Phil Kloer in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

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2003-12-28T02:24:00.000-05:00

Pablum that passes for preaching at the [Episcopal] National Cathedral

This as posted by Rod Dreher of the Dallas Morning News editorial board to "The Corner" blog for National Review Online followed by my commentary on the matter:

ADVENTURES IN LIBERAL RELIGION [Rod Dreher]
The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, the Episcopal Bishop of the nation's capital and Dean of National Cathedral, delivered a real lulu of a Christmas sermon this year. Excerpt:

And what was God thinking... when the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to reveal the Law to Moses? And what was God thinking... when the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to reveal the sacred Quran to the prophet Muhammad? And what was God thinking... when the Angel Gabriel was sent by God to reveal the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

It will come as news to many Christians that an Anglican bishop believes that the Islamic revelation was true, not false, as Christianity teaches implicitly. Nevertheless, a Michigan lawyer friend suggests that Bp. Chane has opened up a new and exciting area for exploring ecumenism/syncretism. Now, the Episcopalians of Washington can have a gay wedding in the church, and push a wall over on the two grooms at the reception.
Posted at 08:29 PM

Absolutely ludicrous.

Jesus claimed he was the Way, the Truth, and the Life; that "no man" comes to the Father but by Him (see John 14:6). He also said that those who were ashamed of Him and His teaching would receive His shame and denial before His Father on the Day of Judgment (Mark 8:38, Luke 9:26).

Chane purportedly accepts Christ, his teachings, and His integrity, right? But yet Chane THEN insists that God the Father sent Gabriel to reveal a DIFFERENT revelation to Muhammad. A different "gospel", a different conception of God and His relationship to man. And thus was born a different faith which eschews Christ's divinity.

So, logically, Chane must be insisting that God is an author of confusion (which the Bible explicitly denies, see I Corinthians 14:33), and that God is a liar (again, the Bible repeatedly denies this and in fact Isaiah 53 and the Apostle Peter in I Peter 2:22 speaks of Christ: "Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth").

Clearly to Rev. Chane, God must be a liar, if the bishop in fact feels that He sent Jesus to proclaim salvation only through Himself and then a few hundred years later sends an angel to tell an Arab gentleman a completely contradictory revelation which negates the free grace of God and the divinity of Christ (Muslims see Christ ONLY as a prophet, NOT as the Son of God) and calls for man to save himself by adherence to the "Five Pillars" of worshipping Allah.

Certainly Rev. Chane committed heresy from the pulpit and quite possibly crossed the line and blasphemed God, though very indirectly and probably unintentionally, in his PC nod to Islam.

Take heed, Rev. Chane, the advice of James, the apostle and brother of Jesus: "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." (James 3:1, NKJV)

[NB: the Greek employed for judgment (or "condemnation") in the original text is "krima"
which means thus:

1) a decree, judgments

2) judgment

a) condemnation of wrong, the decision (whether severe or mild) which one passes on the faults of others

b) in a forensic sense

1) the sentence of a judge

2) the punishment with which one is sentenced

3) condemnatory sentence, penal judgment, sentence

3) a matter to be judicially decided, a lawsuit, a case in court

SOURCE: blueletterbible.org]

Bishop Chane, these are admonitions you should prayerfully heed as we enter into a new Year of Our Lord in 2004.

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2003-11-04T14:04:00.000-05:00

Test message

I'm not sure how much I'll post to this. Just posting a test message.