a brief reflection on the week...

For those that are familiar with the Christian calendar, this week is Holy Week. It is the week that we commemorate the Passion... the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Right now, I am studying for a mid-term exam for my class on Acts and the Pauline Epistles and even as I type this I am listening to a lecture on Paul's letter to the Romans and this passage just jumped out at me in relationship to this week.

14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Romans 7:14-25 (NIV)

Now, I understand this is not a traditional Passion Scripture, but it strikes me as so profound how deep our need for Christ's sacrifice. I really echo what Paul says here... as I am sure we all do. In my heart of hearts, I know what is right, I know the good path, but I just can't do it. Even my best individual effort is tainted. The fact is I am corrupt in my nature. Paul quotes earlier in Romans 3 that we are all sinners, all short of God's glory, all in desperate need, but the need has been filled in Christ. We have been justified, sanctified, changed, moved, transformed by something outside of ourselves... something divine, but it took a death so that our sinful nature might also be put to death. Then and only then are we able to do what is right. Unfortunately, most people never understand that need fully, or else they see the problem but not the solution: Christ.

This isn't as light-hearted a post as you are used to here, but it is important for all of us to understand the depth of our need so that we can grab hold of the liberty, and freedom, and joy, and glory of Easter. It's not just about the bunny rabbit and those great Cadbury Eggs, it's about trading in the slavery of sin and death and fault for the joy of service to God.

The bottom line is that we don't have a choice whether we have a god or not. Even atheists serve something, but it is a matter of what kind of god we'll worship. Dylan said it best,

You're gonna have to serve somebody,
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

Holy Week gives us the option... not whether we serve or not, because we will serve something... but whom or what we will serve. Without the Passion of Christ, without the history of this week, we would be lost. But the good news is that Christ did walk the road to the cross and allowed himself to die and then was raised so we might have the opportunity for eternal life.

know when to say when...

So, as I type this I am sitting in Panera Bread in Orlando, FL trying to get some studying done, doing some research online, enjoying a Hazelnut coffee and one of their egg/sausage soufflé things, when I am totally overwhelmed by the smell of perfume. Not a little perfume, I mean it is like one of those mall kiosks is planted right behind me and suddenly I'm having trouble breathing and concentrating and it is looking hopeless. What do I do? Say something... No... get up and leave... what about my egg/sausage soufflé thingy? I can't leave that. Then I stop. What possesses a person to put on that much perfume? I love cologne, personally. But I am always fearful that I put on too much or not enough. So I ask Julie what she thinks... she's very honest about that sort thing, which I appreciate... so why does this woman feel the need to clear the area with her chosen scent?

It got me thinking about too much of a good thing, and the old beer commercial adage to "know when to say when"... to what does that apply and are there situations where we can just throw that out? Obviously you can have on too much perfume or cologne, you can drink too much, you can stay up too late, eat too much, spend too much time exercising or conversely spend too much time relaxing. The funny thing about the "too much" principle is that usually when you go over the limit with those things the opposite effect of the desired result occurs. Let's take this poor woman sitting behind me as an example. Perfume is used to make a person smell better and to be somewhat more attractive to people. However, the opposite has happened. It's not pleasant... in fact... it hurts.

From a spiritual standpoint we can get into a bit of trouble. Because a lot of people will say, "You can never volunteer too much, you can never give too much, you can never work too hard for the Lord..." It's true we are called to give, we are called to work, we are called to sacrifice, but can there be too much. The Bible also makes it clear that husbands are to be devoted to their wives, and parents to their children (Ephesians 5-6). In that case can we work too hard or give too much? Absolutely. We are called to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) but does that mean we need to shut ourselves off from the world and sit in silence and prayer? Some monks practice that very thing. Should we? Of course not, and that is not even what it means to pray continually. The point is that God calls to live a life that is wholly devoted to Him, which means that in all areas we must balance our actions to glorify Him. When your service to a ministry hinders your ability to be a good parent or spouse then you're not glorifying God, you're just working too hard. When your prayer life is prayer alone and doesn't prompt you to service then you're not acting in a godly way. When you fail to study the Scriptures because you are so devoted to working with kids you're not truly fulfilling what God has called you to be. Now don't get me wrong... we should give, and serve, pray, we should do all those things but in proper proportion... not all at once, and not to the neglect of the other things.

The key is balance... right, Daniel San?

much too much...

Wow...so I am all for choices and innovation, but I am a little over the whole, "how many different flavors can you fit into a bottle of soda" movement of the last several years. Yes, I know way back in the day a "soda jerk" could put just about whatever flavor you wanted into a soda, but that was back when mixing soda was an art form, and you had your local guy that would mix it exactly how you wanted it. Now, it just sounds ridiculous on commercials to hear something like "Diet Chocolate Cherry Vanilla Dr. Whatever now with a splash of Lime". I mean seriously...seriously. I was going to call out a particular brand of soda, but when walk down the aisle at the local Publix I realize every company is in on this thing. The fact is if you want a chocolate, cherry, vanilla, lime-flavored drink the last thing you ought to do is buy a pre-farbricated drink that tells you that's what is in it because in the end you can't taste any of it. You ought to grab some chocalte and pour it in your favorite can of carbonated beverage. Or get some vanilla concentrate or actual cherries. Get what you want and throw it in there.

One of the big problems I see in churches today is that we try to say everything to everybody all the time and it just gets confusing. I'm guilty of this too. I try to say things in such a way that everyone will understand. I try to tie in the entire Bible into every lesson I teach. I try to tell people about the healing nature of Christ and how He convicts of sin in the same breath. Now, its good and right to teach the whole Bible. It's fitting to talk about the love and the justice of God. But we, as Christians, can't say it all in every moment that we say it.

My boy Paul was brilliant with this...

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. (NLT)

Paul did say it all, but just not all at once, and he always presented the gospel differently to different people. The same gospel different ways of presenting it. Compare how he talks to the Jews in Acts 13:16-41 and what he does with the Greeks in Acts 17:16-31. I mean he's brilliant at saying exactly what needs to be said how it needs to be said to whom it needs to be said. It's precise. It's powerful. It makes sense to those listening.

When children are 3 or 4 years old we tell them, "Don't ever cross street alone." When they are teenagers we tell them "Be careful crossing the street." When they become adults we don't say anything, though we think, "I hope they are safe." Has the message changed? The words may have but the message hasn't. The bottomline is "be safe no matter what" but a 3 or 4 year old doesn't think the same way as a teenager or and a teenager doesn't think the same way as a full grown adult. Paul understood that when it comes to understanding the message of Christ people get it differently.

The question is: are our churches becoming "Diet Chocolate Cherry Vanilla Dr. Soda with Lime" churches? Or do we know how to communicate the great Good News to all people in unique ways?

smacked by reality...

I was driving by a little lake near my neighborhood the other day when I look over and see one of the craziest things I have ever seen...in real life. A bird just hits the water full force and then pops out less than a second later with a fish in its mouth! It literally flew head first into this lake/retention pond thing to catch a fish! Now, remember I'm driving...so when I see this bird hit the water I nearly wreck because I'm like, "What the heck! Did I just see a bird have a stroke?!!" Of course, I knew birds like this existed. I mean I watch my share of the Discovery Chanel and Animal Planet, so I know things like that are out there, but come on! I've never actually seen that before in reality. I have seen flying fish (also kinda crazy) I have swam with manatees in the Banana River (again, crazy) but this was a first for me. It has seriously altered my view of that little lake and the birds that fly over it.

Right now, my small group is looking at the life of Paul, and this story got me thinking about how his view of God radically changed. In Acts 8 Paul (called Saul at that point) is pretty intent on arresting and killing everyone having to do with Christianity (called the Way in this chapter). In Phillippians 3 he describes himself at this point in his life...

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. (NIV)

But then he walks down the road to Damascus and BOOM! flash of light and voice from heaven calling his name...It's Jesus, and he is ticked. "Why are you persecuting me?" (Acts 9:4) And then Jesus tells Paul (Saul) to go and spread the good news to those who had not heard it.

Now, the thing about Paul is that he knew all about God before this incident. He knew the Old Testament (the Law, the Prophets, etc) he had heard of Abraham having visions of God, Jacob wrestling the Lord at Peniel, Moses and the burning bush, Daniel, and Isaiah, and on and on and on... all having encounters with the God, the Creator of the universe...but it is not until Paul has one of those moments himself that he understands who God really is.

Often, we want that. We want to see for ourselves. We want the burning bush, the Damascus road, the flaming tongues of fire, but we don't think we get it. Or do we? Romans 1:20 says it like this...

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. (NLT)

So when I see the world I can see the glory, the power, the care of God. Now not in its fullness, but enough to know he is there. The problem is that we really don't live in a world where seeing is believing. We live in a world where seeing is a matter of opinion, and facts are debated. We get complacent and forget all the things that God has done and is doing for us. We forget that we have been smacked in the face with the reality that God really is great.

Because God who he says he is, and because it is pretty obvious, then our response should be just like Paul's later in Philippians 3...

7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (NIV)

What is your response?