God Came Near

How do you see God?

According to a recent study released by researchers at Baylor University, Americans have four different views of God. Approximately 28% of Americans view God as “authoritative,” meaning that God will punish evildoers and hold us accountable for our actions, both in the hereafter and also in our present lives. 22% of Americans see God as benevolent, wanting to bless their lives and for them to bless others in return. 21% see God as critical, arguing that God will set all things right at the end of time; those who are poor will be made rich, the righteous will be rewarded, etc. God doesn’t intervene much in this world, but he keeps account and delivers justice in the next. Finally, 24% see God as distant and detached; he set the world in motion, yet he has very little to do with it since.

So, how do you understand God? How do you see and perceive God’s actions? Is God authoritative, benevolent, critical, or distant?

I think it is ok to argue that God is a combination of some of the above. Sometimes God is authoritative, and we are held accountable in our own lifetimes for our actions. We bear the burden of the consequences of our sins. God is also critical; sometimes good people suffer while evil people prosper, and justice won’t be fully realized until the end of time. God is benevolent, calling us to make a difference for his Kingdom here on earth. We are called to continue Christ’s good works here in the world, to make a difference in the lives of people.

However, I don’t think we can argue that God is detached. Sometimes he might FEEL distant, but the truth of the matter is that God came near. God didn’t just set the world in motion like a cosmic science project. He is intimately involved with our world. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us…” “For while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly…” The Bible is the story of God’s interaction with our world. God cares, and so God came near.

Hungry? Why Wait?

“Hungry? Why wait?”

The Snickers ad campaign proclaims to the “hungry” masses of our world that there is no need to hunger and no need to delay our gratification. If you are even remotely hungry, grab a Snickers. You shouldn’t have to deprive yourself.

Sadly, we don’t know what real hunger is. Few, if any, of us ever have to go to bed hungry. We have enough food not only to sustain ourselves but to gorge ourselves. Really, our hunger pains are simply “You know, I haven’t had any food in three hours” pains. Few of us know what it means to truly need food.

The writer of Ecclesiastes puts it this way: “All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied” (Eccl. 6:7). In his time of temptation by the Devil, Jesus hasn’t eaten for forty days. The Devil tempts Jesus to make the stones turn into bread and fulfill his own needs. Jesus answers, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Mt. 4:4).

Too often we try to fill our own hunger, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, with food that doesn’t satisfy. We often try to fill gaps in our life with stopgaps, something to simply get us through. The hunger always returns, the pain always resurfaces, and the longing is never filled. We need something to fill us up, something more than a spiritual Snickers bar.

As Jesus is talking to his disciples he delivers this message: “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn. 6:35).

Hungry? Why wait? Grab ahold of Jesus, who will fill all your needs.

Taylor Mali, "Speak with Conviction"

Be careful little tongue what you speak...

I am a pretty sweet, mild-mannered guy, but I also have a temper. It rarely rears its ugly head, but when it does it isn't pretty... It's the Irish blood in me. It really only comes out for three reasons:
(1) Driving (and trust me, it often happens when I am driving)
(2) Stupid people (in many different aspects of life; we aren't just talking mental acumen, but rather people who don't think before they speak, people who prejudge others, those who think that people who disagree with them are instantly wrong without listening to their point of view, etc)
(3) Injustice

Sadly, I have a hard time controlling my temper when those things occur. Now, being angry about injustice isn't a bad thing, but I do need to watch my temper. I often think or say some mean things about people, things I probably wouldn't say if they were right in front of me.

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees who disagreed with him and his ministry in Matthew 12, and he says these words:
"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Ouch! Those words cut to the heart of my problem. Is my temper part of the "bad" that is inside of me? How will I account for some of the things I have carelessly said?

Now, I know that this isn't meant to be universal; Jesus is talking to the Pharisees and about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the evil words they have spoken about him. BUT... listen to what James says in James 3:
"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be..."

Ouch! Once again, James cuts to the heart of my problem. I cannot proclaim God with my lips and then say mean things about the driver in front of me. I cannot worship God with my mouth and also think mean things about those I disagree with in my heart.

Taming the tongue is an impossible feat! Who, then, can be saved? Without God, nothing is possible, but with God, even the impossible is made possible.

So, LORD, tame my tongue. Help me to think before I speak, and forgive me when I don't. help me to check my temper and be positive, and forgive me when I fall short.

A Modern Parable

One day Jesus was seated quietly in the marketplace when he is approached by a young marketing executive from a large advertising firm.

The young man struck up a conversation with Jesus: "I've always admired you and your work," the young man told Jesus. He talked about his character, his power, his rants against the religious establishment, his miracles, and his works of social justice. "I've always admired your stance on women's roles in society. I love your work with the poor and the disadvantaged. And that thing you did with the lepers, and the man born blind! That was amazing? How did you do that!?!? I love your teachings, and the way you stick it to the Pharisees! And raising Jairus' daughter, Lazarus, and that widow's son from the dead? Priceless! You do good work!"

"Umm, thank you," Jesus replies hesitantly.

"But," the executive continued, "I think you are missing a golden opportunity to market yourself better! I mean, all this talk about denying yourself and taking up your cross? The world rejecting you? Pain and loss for your followers? All of that talk is bad for business! You know you would get a lot more attention if you would make your message user friendly! Health and wealth, that kind of thing."

"Besides," the young man rushed on, not allowing Jesus time to interject; he was on a roll! "Besides... there's a lot of marketing potential here! Bracelets and books, jewelry and music, programs and seminars... We could make a gold mine on this Christian Living thing. It is its own market! We could market Christianity to the masses! Christianity for the single life, Christianity for better marriages, the Christian way of raising our children. 40 Days to a Better You. your Best Life Right Here Right Now. The Christian Secrets of Business Success... We could even turn around the whole meaning of the cross and make them out of gold, put them on a chain, and make them a sort of status symbol or a brand!"

"Think of it," he continued, "just think of all the possibilities! Church would be like a great mixture of Kiwanis and Country Club! Beautiful buildings on every corner, shining the light of Christian prosperity to a lost and dying world! A place for hurting people to look at and realize just how bad their lives are! Maybe by seeing our beautiful churches they will turn back to God and leave their lives of sin. Think about it... Church will be a great place for people to try out their A game. It will be a place where they act better than they do throughout the week! It is calling them to a higher standard of life and living. While you are here, you WILL blend in! Our pastors and ministers will be put on pedestals and held up as role models, even if they are a little broken or rough around the edges in private."

"Jesus, just think about the possibilities! Think about the power and prestige that will go with being a Christian! We can use our faith to punish those who disagree. We can pour billions into political interest groups and parachurch political organizations. We can start our own radio stations, For Us and By Us, and create our own TV networks. We can make our own films and movies, create our own little subculture. Think of all of the possibilities! Just imagine what could happen with a little marketing savvy and initiative!"

"So, let's make this Christianity thing a little easier to follow. Can we boil it down into a pithy saying or some trite comment people can remember? Can we make church and ministry about us so that it will attract more people? I think we are sitting on a gold mine here, Jesus. What do you think?"

So, what do you think Jesus would say? What Would Jesus Do? (Yes, all puns intended!)

Maybe Jesus would answer...
"One thing you lack. Go and sell all you own, all you treasure, give away your heart's greatest desire, and then come and follow me."

OR, "Seek first HIS Kingdom and HIS righteousness..."

OR, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe."

OR, "How difficult it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

Or maybe just, "GET BEHIND ME, SATAN!"

What is the heart of the Gospel? Is it health and wealth? Is it success? Is it corporate driven Christianity? Is it about making money with catchy gimmicks, having the biggest church, or the prettiest building? Is it about programs and ministries, youth groups and coffee shops, marriage seminars and Christian movies?

A wise minister once told me, "Whatever you win them with you win them to..." I think it is true. Over time, as Christianity become more polished and marketed, we began to ignore some of Jesus' teachings. Oh, we like the stuff about heaven, but we often ignore things like "Blessed are the poor... Woe to those who are rich..." We live in favor of Jesus' miracles, but ignore Jesus' calling to true discipleship and cross-bearing. It leads non-Christians to despise marketed Christianity, and called Ghandi to say, "I like Christ, but I don't like Christians! I would be a Christian, if it weren't for Christians..."

What kind of Christianity are you bought into? Does it change who you are, or just gloss over your rough edges? Do you look good on the outside with all of the t-shirts buttons and jewelry but are dead or dying inside, or are you truly being transformed? Christianity is not about gimmicks, programs, or marketing initiatives, building programs or church growth.

Instead, Christianity is about following Christ, God in the flesh, who died for you but had the audacity to not stay dead! It is death, burial, and resurrection, and our following Christ in death, burial, and resurrection through baptism.

Christianity is meant for more than cheap tricks and failed gimmicks. Let us never take the easy road of corporate marketing. Instead, let's take up our crosses and begin to follow him, wherever he leads.

Literary Masterpieces

The Bulwer-Lytton award has been handed out by San Diego State University for the worst opening lines to fake novels submitted each year. Here are some of my favorites:

Through the verdant plains of North Umbria walked Waylon Ogglethorpe and, as he walked, the clouds whispered his name, the birds of the air sang his praises, and the beasts of the fields from smallest to greatest said, "There goes the most noble among men" -- in other words, a typical stroll for a schizophrenic ventriloquist with delusions of grandeur.
- Tom Wallace

Detective Pierson mentally reviewed the group of suspects milling around the recent crime scene-two young siblings eating gingerbread, a young girl in a red hoodie, a beautiful girl with narcolepsy, and seven little people with the profession of miners-then gave his statement of "It's a grim tale" to the press.
- Shannon Gray

Towards the dragon's lair the fellowship marched -- a noble human prince, a fair elf, a surly dwarf, and a disheveled copyright attorney who was frantically trying to find a way to differentiate this story from "Lord of the Rings."
- Andrew Manoske

On a fine summer morning during the days of the Puritans, the prison door in the small New England town of B----n opened to release a convicted adulteress, the Scarlet Letter A embroidered on her dress, along with the Scarlet Letters B through J, a veritable McGuffey's Reader of Scarlet Letters, one for each little tyke waiting for her at the gate.
- Joseph Aspler

Their relationship hit a bump in the road, not the low, graceful kind of bump, reminiscent of a child's choo choo train-themed roller coaster, rather the kind of tall, narrow speed-bump that, if a school bus ran over it, would cause even a fat kid to fly up and bang his head on the ceiling.
- Michael Reade

She walked into my office wearing a body that would make a man write bad checks, but in this paperless age you would first have to obtain her ABA Routing Transit Number and Account Number and then disable your own Overdraft Protection in order to do so.
- Steve Lynch

The wood nymph fairies blissfully pranced in the morning light past the glistening dewdrops on the meadow thistles by the Old Mill, ignorant of the daily slaughter that occurred just behind its lichen-encrusted walls, twin 20-ton mill stones savagely ripping apart the husks of wheat seed, gleefully smearing the starchy entrails across their dower granite faces in unspeakable botanical horror and carnage – but that’s not our story; ours is about fairies!
- Rick Cheeseman

If only they'd finish the actual books...

Larry King is retiring...

After more than 25 years, 50,000 interviews, and the same shirt with suspenders, Larry King will be calling it quits sometime this fall.

I was recently reading an interview with Larry King, found here: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/29/larry.king.steps.down/index.html?hpt=C2

In it, Larry is asked who he would most like to interview: "God," he said. Larry King is Jewish, by the way. He shared his first and most important question: "And my first question would be, 'Do you have a son? Because there's a lot riding on the answer.'"