Feathers and Toes

I was recently watching an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and there was a character on the show that did not like Raymond. It ate him up inside to the point where he had to go talk to this guy. He approached the guy, but he denied his disdain. Raymond would not let it drop, and finally the guy admitted that he did not like Raymond. Raymond then defended himself by telling him what a great guy he is if only he had a chance to show it.

I am the same way. I am a people pleaser. I hate it when people do not like me, and I rarely dislike other people. If I know that someone has a problem with me, I feel the need to defend myself. This is a problem, because it causes me to live in fear.

Jesus said, “I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of GOD in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only GOD?” Good question.

So, whom am I trying to please? Do I avoid ruffling feathers and stepping on toes in order to avoid conflict with people in my sphere of influence, or do I seek to please GOD? It sounds like such a simple question, but the answer is not always so easy to follow through.

Lord, give me strength to please you without the fear of what others might think about me.

What's Important?

I am currently reading a book called UnChristian by David Kinnaman, where he talks about the more common negative perceptions that people have about Christianity like being hypocritical, judgmental, anti-homosexual, out of touch, and so on. He spends a chapter on each view, and I am currently on the chapter about hypocrisy. I wanted to share some of my thoughts, because I think there are some good things to learn from the research done through this book and through the barna group.

The Barna Group conducted a survey where they asked adult Christians (those that are committed to a life of following the teachings of Christ) to list the priorities of the Christian faith. The most popular response had to do with lifestyle such as being good, doing the right thing, not sinning, and the like. Lifestyle was higher on the list than discipleship, learning about the Bible and Christ, evangelism, worship, relationships, serving others, and pretty much everything else.

Christians believe that the main reason people are not followers of Christ is because they cannot handle the rigorous standards of following Christ. Research shows, however, that about a quarter of young people that do not follow Christ are concerned with Christianity limiting their lifestyle. In fact, the main reasons that people say they are not Christian are they never thought about it, they are not interested in spirituality, they are committed to another faith, or they are repelled by Christians.

The crazy thing that Kinnaman discovered is that young people are not overly bothered by Christians being hypocritical as many of us might think. Hypocricy is everywhere, so we have come to expect it in all areas of our lives. Why would Christianity be any different? The problem is not that we are hypocrites, and we are hypocrites. The problem, I think, is that we put too much emphasis on the rules and regulations and the things that we do or don’t do. If people think that Christianity is solely based on being a good person, doesn’t it make sense that there is a sense of disappointment in what they see in the representatives?

Christ is of the utmost importance of Christianity. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? What about putting the emphasis on our need for Christ in our lives? Kinnaman says, “Our passion for Jesus should result in God-honoring, moral lifestyles, not the other way around.” Our lifestyles are important, but we cannot change ourselves. It is the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us that results in our behavioral changes.

The Debate

I guess this is kind of Part 2 to my previous blog about relationships. I hope I do not sound too negative towards the people in my story, but my prayer is that we will remember that “no one has ever seen GOD; but if we love one another, GOD lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:12)

I do not remember the exact year in school, but I think it was seventh or eighth grade. A small debate had erupted before class, as they did on most days, between a couple of hard-headed youth (myself included). The topic for the day? Salvation. In our youth, we were sure that we were right about most topics of discussion, so theology was no exception. I was a Catholic from the North while my counterpart was a conservative evangelical from the South that would have felt victorious in the debate if he could have baptized me through full immersion right then and there. Instead, he settled for telling me that I was going to Hell, because my belief system did not fully match his. Wow.

Now, I do not want to share this story to show how wrong this other kid was, because I was just as involved in the debate as he. I was also just as judgmental towards him as he was to me. I am just saddened by the fact that several years later I am seeing the same "conversation" happening among people well older than seventh graders. How did we get to the point where we felt the need to fight with others to get them to believe in what we believe? Maybe a better question to ask: Do we really think that verbally fighting with others is the best way to invite others to investigate a possible relationship with Jesus? Are you kidding me?

It was my Junior(ish) year in college when I decided to really take my faith in God seriously. My dear friend and mentor, Mike, had described it as putting on my walking shoes. I had always believed in God, and I had heard and believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but I had not attempted to live out my faith up to this point in my life. I went to church for the most part, but I had not gone in 3 or 4 years. I tried to read the Bible at times, but I mostly found it boring and difficult to relate.

So why did I decide to “put on my walking shoes” and allow God to transform me? It was because of relationships. It was late night conversations with roommates who were genuinely concerned for my life, here and now. It was people that had truly befriended me, because we shared common interest and enjoyed spending time together. Spiritual conversations came out of already established foundations of companionship. It was not because of people that were only concerned with converting me as if I was a trophy to be won.

As GOD loves us, let that love flow through us in such a way that all people can see the Father.

Easy “Christianity”

My wife and I were recently sitting in our living room with the new campus minister at Murray State University and his soon-to-be wife when we heard a knock at the door. I jumped up and ran to the door to find two people standing on the porch with some door knocking paraphernalia. The older lady with a clipboard inquired as to whether or not she could ask me a few questions to which I agreed. The first couple of inquiries were demographic questions, but they led to more personal questions.

“Do you attend a church?”

“Yes.”

“How often do you attend a worship service? A. Once a week; B. Once a month; C. Once a year”

“Multiple times a week. I am a full time minister.”

(Ironically enough, after I answered this question, the front door began to close on me. I had invited them into the house, but they ignored my gesture to begin the questions, so I had been standing in the doorway. Our front door is black, and the sun had been beating down on it for hours at this point. When it closed, it burned my leg and caught me off guard. Typically, I do not swear, but my initial reaction was to let loose from the pain. Thank GOD I only screamed.)

“Do you know if you are saved?”

I fought my temptation to engage her in a conversation as to what it means to be saved in order to get back with our friends and just answered with a simple “yes.”

She continued to read from the clipboard without making eye contact until there were no more questions. After she had finished, she handed me a piece of paper with the “steps of salvation” to read at a later time and then the two left to head to another house in my neighborhood.

They knew nothing about me other than where I lived, the fact that I am a vocational minister, and that I can sometimes keep from swearing when I am confronted with unexpected pain.

Is this what we have reduced Christianity to? I do not mean to pick on this group of people trying to share their faith the best they know how, but why have we made it so impersonal? Sharing the good news of the resurrected Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is meant to be done through relational conversation…notice I said through a conversation and not a monologue.

I have to be honest. If I ever receive an impersonal tract or brochure to read on my own time concerning GOD, it makes me angry and a little sick. In my experience, people are willing to talk about GOD. In fact, people are open to talk about Jesus. According to a survey from Lifeway, 73% of 20-29 year olds consider themselves spiritual and want to learn more about “GOD or a highly supreme being,” and 89% said they would be open to a conversation about Christianity. It is the people that represent Christ that are not as popular, though.

Back in my college days, I did an informal survey where I asked other students on campus two simple questions. What do you think about Jesus? What do you think about Christians? In response to the first question, people’s eyes would light up, and they would say nothing but positive things about Christ. “He loves people. He cares for people no matter who they are. He is a peacemaker.” When they described Christians, their mannerisms changed. “They are judgmental. They are hypocrites. They hate homosexuals.”

I believe people want to know Christ. Why wouldn’t they? He is amazing! He is all the things that those students described Him to be during the survey and so much more. John tells us in 1 John that people see God through us and our love for one another. The world needs to meet Christ, but it has to happen through personal relationships. That means Christianity is not going to be easy. In fact, it will be messy.

Two Roads Diverged into a Yellow Wood…

Choices. We are faced with choices every day. Do I hit the snooze button one more time? Should I call in sick to work? Can we afford this vacation?

We are constantly making decisions about these options whether they are as simple as sleeping in or as complex as moving to a different country. About ten years ago, I was hit with a big choice of whether or not to change colleges and move to a different city.

I was about half way through my first year at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and I did not like the direction that my life was heading. I spent a lot of time partying and not a lot of time studying or going to class. I was also going in the opposite direction of God, and I knew that I needed to make some changes. I started praying that God would give me some other options, and he brought me to Murfreesboro, TN and more specifically Middle Tennessee State University. Now that I was in a new place, I had another big decision to make in my life. With this new beginning, was I going to continue on the same path of living my life, or was I going to choose a new path? I decided to choose a new path.

Towards the end of the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible, Moses is speaking to the Israelites right before he tells them that Joshua, not himself, will be the one to lead them into the land promised to them. He died not too long after speaking these words to the people. Listen to what he says:

“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

So as we go about our day-to-day choices and come to forks in the road, let us choose the path of life. It might be the road less travelled and more difficult to follow, but choosing life and blessings over death and curses will make all the difference.

Please, bow your head to pray

Why is it that we stand and place our hands on our hearts when we pledge our allegiance to a flag or pose in a similar way to verbally sing an anthem about our country, but we quietly sit and bow our heads when we speak to our living God?

I know that this question alone will really turn people off to what I have to say, but I do not want to attack the country that I am from. I am proud to be from a place that offers freedom and privileges that I might not receive in other locations. In fact, this blog entry has nothing to do with patriotism but with our posture toward God.

I really enjoy watching hockey, and I have been a Detroit Red Wings fan for my whole life. They were put out of the playoffs this postseason, but I have still been watching some of the other games. Recently, I found myself watching the Montreal v. Pittsburgh game while I read my book, but I was so distracted by the game that I postponed my reading. I could have turned it off, but I was too excited to stop watching. The crowd was insane! It was being played in Montreal, and they are fantastic hockey fanatics. I found myself rooting for the Canadians and could barely contain myself when they scored their goals (much like when I am watching my Wings). I physically jumped up out of my seat when they scored and did some fist pumping in the air. This is my reaction when I watch a hockey game. My body positioning reflects my inner emotions. Now back to my prayer posture.

I am not saying that praying while sitting with your head bowed is bad. In fact, I think it does show a position of humility. What about when I am praising God for being so good? I should be jumping out of my seat as I do in a hockey game. What about when I am frustrated and crying out to Him? I should be on my knees or on my face verbally crying out to Him. Instead, we typically have the same posture for all sorts of prayers. Sitting in silence with our heads bowed.

Sitting is a posture of prayer found only one time in the Bible (2 Samuel 7:18), and was really not prevalent until pews entered into the church during the Middle Ages. Standing with hands raised, kneeling, or lying facedown were more common ways of praying. I desire to seek after God with all of my being and that includes my posture. Let us humble ourselves enough in our prayers and worship to God to express our love and other emotions with our body language.

He is Risen.....and so are we

What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to His followers? Why is it important? Is it important?

For most of my life, Easter has had importance, but it has not been the most important holiday. In reality, it has been sort of second-rate to Christmas. At Christmas, I would get lots of cools stuff. The big guy in the red suit would bring whatever I asked him for and leave it under our tree (like the electronic truck that had claws that came out of the tires). On top of that, I would be out of school for 2-4 weeks. That was not the case for Easter. The huge tree with all of the gifts was replaced with a basket with candy and maybe a present or two, and we would usually only get an extra day off for school because of Good Friday. Now that I am grown up and have made a bigger commitment to follow Christ, how do I feel about Easter?

I think Easter is very important. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 that if the resurrection never happened then our faith is useless. If Christ did not rise from the dead then the Son of God is dead. I know, however, that Christ did rise from the grave and He has defeated death. This is great news, but it doesn’t end there. The resurrection has present and future meaning for us, as well. Let’s look at what the resurrection means for us today.

In Romans 6:4, Paul says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Through our baptism, we have been put to death of our old self and raised to a new life in the same way that Christ was raised from the grave! That is great news! Christ gives us new life through our own resurrection in baptism. This baptism is not a one-time event, but we are constantly being renewed and redeemed in Christ. Through this new life, we are given a glimpse of the Kingdom of God, but this Kingdom will one day be more fully revealed.

Most of my life, I thought that heaven was a place that my soul would float around on clouds with angels. This is not the final destination that the Bible shows us, however. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that the dead will rise imperishable. We will be physically resurrected, and there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21).

Easter is good news! It does not just mean that Jesus was raised from the dead, but it also means that God is constantly redeeming and raising His creation to new life. Christianity is not about following rules to get to a certain place when we die, but it is about a loving God that desires to give us a full life. Easter reminds us of this fact.

I'm putting on the love of the Lord

I am a new blogger, so I have been trying to think of something great that I could share with the world. I will start off by sharing a little about myself. I am a 29-year-old campus minister in the Nashville, TN area, and I am a Christian. I realize that when I use the word “Christian,” it can mean a lot of things to a lot of people, so I will try to clarify that a little more. To some, the word “Christian” might be used to describe a person that is judgmental (which I do not think that I am) or hypocritical (which I can often be). To some, the word “Christian” might automatically put me in the Republican category (which I do not claim to be). Still others might hear the word “Christian” and cringe at the sound of it because of bad personal experiences or negative images represented in the media (e.g., Fred Phelps, Steven Anderson, etc.). For those of you that might have a negative connotation of the word, I will try to describe myself in a different way.

When I was in college, I fell in love with the God that had been pursuing me for a long time. God opened my eyes to a life full of love and meaning through Jesus the Christ. If that sounds too religious, I am sorry. I really just mean to say that I was shown the real Jesus, and I have tried to seek after Him and His Way of life ever since. All that being said, I think I will start off by sharing some thoughts about love.

Recently on my Facebook status, I simply put the word love. I really did not have any motivation other than the fact that I had just been thinking of that word for several weeks. As a result, I had several comments…more so than usual. Some were funny, some were serious, and several just wanted to let everyone know that they liked the word. I just wanted to share it, because I think there is not enough going around.

As a person who is striving to become like Christ, how important is love? It is everything. Everything that I stand for should be about love. Paul says that the entire law is summed up in one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Galatians 5:14). Jesus tells an expert of the law to love God with everything and love his neighbors as himself, and he will inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-28). He also says that people will recognize His disciples by our love for one another (John 13:35). John says that God’s love is made complete in us when we love each other (1 John 4:12).

It is one thing to read about love and say that we love one another, but it is an entirely different thing to put it into practice. Notice that the passages above involve action. Jesus does not say that people recognize His followers based on the fact that we say we love others. The love is made known through our actions. It is simple to say but difficult to do.

I pray that as God’s followers, we strive to love people. Instead of looking at others with judgmental attitudes and condemnation, let us love as Christ calls us to love.