Every person that has been, is now, and will be in the future is made in God's image, albeit a very imperfect or corrupt (to degrade with unsound principles or moral values) image we have become because of sin ( I will write more about sin, it seems like a good place to serve as a reminder that the Bible says that, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Many Christians seemingly forget this truth. We all should have the mentality of, "But for the grace of God, go I").
Because all have been created by God we all share certain attributes of God Himself. For instance all human have been given the ability to choose to: laugh or cry, create or destroy, give or take, heal or injure, as well as the intellect to create art, music, buildings, to tell stories (fiction and non-fiction), we can look out to the far reaches of space, and inside of ourselves.
One of the more endearing qualities we have been given is that, like God we are highly relational. The poet/pastor Donne wrote in the poem For Whom the Bell Tolls, "No man is an island unto himself, entire and complete". We are highly relational creatures because God is highly relational. We have a God given need to develop relationships with people that we call our families, and choose to develop relationships with other people we call friends, co-workers, community members (this is one of the best times to live because we can have friends from all over the world and write to them via email or Facebook, and even see and talk to them because of Skype).
Twenty newborn infants were housed in a special facility. They had
caregivers who would go in to feed them, bathe them and change their
diapers, but they would do nothing else. The caregivers had been
instructed not to look at or touch the babies more than was necessary,
and they never spoke to them. All their physical needs were attended to
scrupulously, however. The environment was kept sterile; the babies were
never ill.
The experiment was halted after four months. At least half of the babies
had died at that point, at least two more died even after being rescued
and brought into a more normal environment. There was no physiological
cause for the babies' deaths; they were all physically very healthy.
Before each baby died, there was a period where they would stop
verbalizing and trying to engage their caregivers, and just stop moving,
never cry or change expression. Death would follow shortly. The babies
who had "given up" before being rescued died in the same manner, even
though they had been removed from the experimental conditions.
The experiments were recorded by the monk Salimbene di Adam in his Chronicles, who wrote that Frederick [II]
bade "foster-mothers and nurses to suckle and bathe and wash the
children, but in no ways to prattle or speak with them; for he would
have learnt whether they would speak the Hebrew language (which had been
the first), or Greek, or Latin, or Arabic, or perchance the tongue of
their parents of whom they had been born. But he laboured in vain, for the children could not live without clappings of the hands, and gestures, and gladness of countenance, and blandishments."
We are all are in relational trouble with God. Without Jesus' sacrifice the relationship between God and us would be in a similar deadly position. And even if you know Him as savior if the relationship doesn't go much further your life will not be the "abundant life" Jesus wants for you.
In the end it's all about relationships.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
"Let Us Make Man in Our Image..." What is Your View of People?
In our world human beings are viewed in 3 general ways. The first is how the western world likes to categorize people as seen through the eyes of race, sexuality, (gay, straight, transgender, bi-sexual), income, (rich, middle income, poor), politics, (Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libertarian, liberal, conservative), religion, (Christian, Catholic, Wiccan, Hindu, Muslim, New-Age, Buddhist, Spiritual, Non-Spiritual, Pagan), gender, (male, female. In truth the world has tried for years to convince us there is no difference), issues, (race, abortion, income redistribution, earth lovers/haters, animal rights, for/against gay rights/homosexual marriage, as I am writing this today in N.C. there is a public vote to decide if the residents want to legalize homosexual marriage), "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" (no it is not because God has made only beautiful people and creation, but more on that later, fat, slim, athletic, clumsy, healthy, sick, smart, dumb). People are also seen as a means to an end, a cosmic mistake, consumers, generalities not individuals.
Lest you think that the world has cornered the market on generalizing people you would be mistaken. Often times Christians can be just as wrong as the rest of the world. Christians have a tendency to have a "us vs. them" mentality. There are the sinners, (wicked, immoral, liars, baby killers, Marxists, socialists, gay, addicts, free loaders, rapists, murderers, abusers, illegal immigrants, deserving God's wrath, liberal, tree huggers).
Lest you think that the world has cornered the market on generalizing people you would be mistaken. Often times Christians can be just as wrong as the rest of the world. Christians have a tendency to have a "us vs. them" mentality. There are the sinners, (wicked, immoral, liars, baby killers, Marxists, socialists, gay, addicts, free loaders, rapists, murderers, abusers, illegal immigrants, deserving God's wrath, liberal, tree huggers).
In his book, Christ Among Dragons, Pastor James White makes this point:
"Many Christians view those outside of the faith as needing to go to hell. They are the bad guys, the enemy; we refer to them as "pagans, secular humanists, liberals", and worse. Our relationship seems intensely adversarial in nature. It's the pro-family, Christian radio listening, fish-sticker wearing, big Bible carrying types versus the left-leaning, evolution-believing, gay marriage supporting, Harry Potter-reading pagans."
And then there is God's view of people; lost sheep that need a savior and shepherd, (see John 10, the Good Shepherd Discourse). People are viewed as: "Fearfully and wonderfully made, (Psalm 139), "For God so loved the world (and therefore every one in it) that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will gain eternal life. (John 3:16), "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,(Galatians 3:28), God forbids favoritism of any kind, (James 2:1-4), "From every tribe, every nation, every tongue" will be in the new Heavens and Earth, (Revelation 5:9, 7:9, 14).
Because God has made every single human being that has ever lived in His image there are certain implications for those of us who call themselves a Christian.
Next week I will go into what being made in God's image means.
Friday, April 20, 2012
"Let Us Make Man in Our Image..."
If you have seen my Facebook profile page you will see under the "people I admire", question I put out the names of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaffer, and Philip Yancey. Though each of these were born and died (except for Yancey as he is very much alive) years apart from another (Bonhoeffer and Lewis are closest in birthdays but not in death. Bonhoeffer died in 1945, Lewis died in 1963. In fact Lewis died on the same day as the Kennedy was assassinated, Schaeffer died in 1984, and as mentioned Yancey is still alive) There are many reasons I admire these particular man. All of them were/are Bible believing and God growing Christians and it showed in everything that they did/are doing. All of them were/are writers.All of them were at some point in their lives chastised by the Church (except for Lewis. His main opposition came from his fellow professors. However, Lewis in fact did not really like going to church. He especially disliked singing hymns!). I am not sure Yancey has spent much of his life ministering to children, but the others at one time or another spent a considerable amount of time with youth and children. Bonhoeffer actually believed that if you couldn't explain the Gospel to children and youth you probably would have trouble explaining it to anyone else. During WW 2 Lewis and his brother had a small group of children live with them during the bombing raids in London. He had a soft heart for a Downs Syndrome girl, and it was another little girl that sparked his writing the Chronicle of Narnia series. Shaeffer and his wife Edith started a children's Bible study material that is still used today.
The one thing that to me is so admirable in each of their lives is that believed that all people were made in God's image and because of that all people are worthy of dignity. I think that is something that Christians have struggled with since the beginning of the Church. The ancient nation of Israel struggled with it too. It can be difficult seeing your enemies, or people that dislike you for really no good reason to see them as someone that is made in God's likeness. But we seemingly have a very hard time loving people that are not Christians.
There are many that are frightened by the secular world and withdraw from it. Some just don't want to have much contact with others that do not believe in God like they do. In churches all over the U.S. we hear sermons or Sunday schools about "Godless people of the Democratic party and those that support them". Christian parents would never allow their kids go to a secular college or university because the faculty and many of the students are heathens. We just don't ever want to be tainted with the title of, "friend of sinners".
It is a sad irony that that was one of the titles that the Jewish religious leaders gave to Jesus. Of course it was not a complement. It was meant to demean and embarrass Jesus. It didn't as Jesus did not stop His ministry to "those nasty, Godless sinners!".
I am getting a little long here so I will be writing more about this sometime next week. So until then have a good one!
The one thing that to me is so admirable in each of their lives is that believed that all people were made in God's image and because of that all people are worthy of dignity. I think that is something that Christians have struggled with since the beginning of the Church. The ancient nation of Israel struggled with it too. It can be difficult seeing your enemies, or people that dislike you for really no good reason to see them as someone that is made in God's likeness. But we seemingly have a very hard time loving people that are not Christians.
There are many that are frightened by the secular world and withdraw from it. Some just don't want to have much contact with others that do not believe in God like they do. In churches all over the U.S. we hear sermons or Sunday schools about "Godless people of the Democratic party and those that support them". Christian parents would never allow their kids go to a secular college or university because the faculty and many of the students are heathens. We just don't ever want to be tainted with the title of, "friend of sinners".
It is a sad irony that that was one of the titles that the Jewish religious leaders gave to Jesus. Of course it was not a complement. It was meant to demean and embarrass Jesus. It didn't as Jesus did not stop His ministry to "those nasty, Godless sinners!".
I am getting a little long here so I will be writing more about this sometime next week. So until then have a good one!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Battle for Souls & Eternity
Today we find ourselves in a war. It is a war that encompasses all the Earth and reaches into Heaven above and Hell below. It is a war that you won't see on TV. You won't read about it in Time, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, or any other newspaper or magazine. You won't hear about it on the radio talk shows of the day. This war is the longest war in human history, but you won't find it in any history book. This war is not even talked about much in our churches. But it is out there.
The moment you were born you were drafted. Today you are a soldier whether you know it or not. There are only two sides in this war. As people we have chosen which side we are on. As soldiers we fight for its cause.
Every day we see the toll it has taken on the Earth. We see it in our world through the eyes of dying children of the Sudan. We see it in the human abuses in China and Cuba. We see it in the murders in the streets of Mexico. We see it in the sex slave trade of woman, girls, and boys in India and the Orient. We see it in the deserts of the Middle East. And we see it here in the United States of America. Or do we?
We see it, but I'm not sure we recognize it. Instead we like to call it the "culture war". We wring our hands and shake our heads when confronted with the possibility of "Under God" taken out of the pledge, or the 10 Commandments taken out of public buildings. We murmur and wonder in disbelief about gay marriage and gay pastors. We stand in lines to protest and shout at others about the abortion debate. We wonder if our children are being educated or brainwashed. We look in disgust at drug addicts and prostitutes. We cry for revenge and justice for a serial killer. Yes my friends we are in a war.
This is a spiritual war. In Ephesians 6:12 the Apostle Paul wrote, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This war is over the souls of moms and dads, sisters and brothers, and other members of our families. This war is over the souls of the people we work with and play with. And this war is over the souls will go for eternity.
The moment you were born you were drafted. Today you are a soldier whether you know it or not. There are only two sides in this war. As people we have chosen which side we are on. As soldiers we fight for its cause.
Every day we see the toll it has taken on the Earth. We see it in our world through the eyes of dying children of the Sudan. We see it in the human abuses in China and Cuba. We see it in the murders in the streets of Mexico. We see it in the sex slave trade of woman, girls, and boys in India and the Orient. We see it in the deserts of the Middle East. And we see it here in the United States of America. Or do we?
We see it, but I'm not sure we recognize it. Instead we like to call it the "culture war". We wring our hands and shake our heads when confronted with the possibility of "Under God" taken out of the pledge, or the 10 Commandments taken out of public buildings. We murmur and wonder in disbelief about gay marriage and gay pastors. We stand in lines to protest and shout at others about the abortion debate. We wonder if our children are being educated or brainwashed. We look in disgust at drug addicts and prostitutes. We cry for revenge and justice for a serial killer. Yes my friends we are in a war.
This is a spiritual war. In Ephesians 6:12 the Apostle Paul wrote, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This war is over the souls of moms and dads, sisters and brothers, and other members of our families. This war is over the souls of the people we work with and play with. And this war is over the souls will go for eternity.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Obeying Jesus Out of Love
For many people the idea of becoming a Christian means that they would have to obey a lot of rules designed to put the brakes on all the fun life can dish out. In fact, when one truly understands who Jesus is and what He has done for us it is hard to understand sometimes why we continue to do the sinful things we do.
The greatest motivating factor in wanting to do the right thing, living a life that is known for good behavior if you will, is because of a loving, intimate relationship with someone. It's not because behavior associated with drunkenness, rebellion, drug addiction, pornography, etc. is illegal, immoral, or even the negative consequences of such behavior bring on. Instead it's because we don't want to disappoint someone, we don't want to break the heart of someone who genuinely loves us.
I would not have an affair because I would break my wife's heart. She loves me with all she has, with all her life. Why would I want to betray that?
But let us say that my wife, parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, or people I refer to as friends don't really love me? Where does that leave me? If no one cares for me and loves me than why should I care about any consequences of my negative behavior?
Because God cares and loves me no matter what I do (of course God accepts you for who you are, but loves you too much to let you stay that way). For those who know Him, know the lengths of which He has taken to show how deep His love for me is, why would I ever want to disappoint Him and break His heart? Jesus said, "If you love me, obey what I have taught you." In the light of Easter that doesn't sound like too much to ask for.
The greatest motivating factor in wanting to do the right thing, living a life that is known for good behavior if you will, is because of a loving, intimate relationship with someone. It's not because behavior associated with drunkenness, rebellion, drug addiction, pornography, etc. is illegal, immoral, or even the negative consequences of such behavior bring on. Instead it's because we don't want to disappoint someone, we don't want to break the heart of someone who genuinely loves us.
I would not have an affair because I would break my wife's heart. She loves me with all she has, with all her life. Why would I want to betray that?
But let us say that my wife, parents, teachers, coaches, pastors, or people I refer to as friends don't really love me? Where does that leave me? If no one cares for me and loves me than why should I care about any consequences of my negative behavior?
Because God cares and loves me no matter what I do (of course God accepts you for who you are, but loves you too much to let you stay that way). For those who know Him, know the lengths of which He has taken to show how deep His love for me is, why would I ever want to disappoint Him and break His heart? Jesus said, "If you love me, obey what I have taught you." In the light of Easter that doesn't sound like too much to ask for.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Encouragement to Keep Going
It is 10:05 a.m. this morning and I am sitting in a room with a bunch a 9th grade choir students. I am a substitute teacher, an adult with a pulse. That is what is needed and so here I am.
This is not my first substitute teaching opportunity. I have had many in the last couple of months. The money is pretty good and I don't have to extend a lot of energy, especially today as I am subing for only two hours.
I am looking at the clock and it's now 10:31 a.m. This is good for now class is half over. The students are nice and respectful for the most part, but I am a sub. There really is nothing to do except sit and make sure that no one is killing anyone else. I am thinking this is so boring and questioning is this what my life has become? Sitting in a high school choir class with nothing to do except babysit? Wow! What a life.
The class is now almost over and the student leader comes and asks if I will tell the other students that they need to pick up and put away their choir folders. She asks me because she doesn't think her peers will listen to her. So I ask them to pick up after themselves and generally speaking they do. The bells rings and I have one hour to go!
The bell tolls again and it is time for 4th period. The students shuffle in and stand in their appointed positions on the platform risers and after a little jostling, messing around, and some instructions the piano in the room stirs to life and the voices of this choir rise as one as they start practicing a song they will perform at a competition later in the spring.
I am sitting there in my chair enjoying myself. They are singing a song from Brahms and it has something to do with rising your voices to the Lord who sits on high (this by-the-way is in a secular high school).
They continue and all I can think is what a wonderful example of God loving me. Is being a substitute teacher a great job? Not really. Is it exciting. No, again I say no. Will I get rich? (Laugh with me). But as I am sitting there listening to the words I can't help but be thankful that God helps me to keep going.
I was blessed by God today and it wouldn't have happened if I had turned down the opportunity to sub today.
This is not my first substitute teaching opportunity. I have had many in the last couple of months. The money is pretty good and I don't have to extend a lot of energy, especially today as I am subing for only two hours.
I am looking at the clock and it's now 10:31 a.m. This is good for now class is half over. The students are nice and respectful for the most part, but I am a sub. There really is nothing to do except sit and make sure that no one is killing anyone else. I am thinking this is so boring and questioning is this what my life has become? Sitting in a high school choir class with nothing to do except babysit? Wow! What a life.
The class is now almost over and the student leader comes and asks if I will tell the other students that they need to pick up and put away their choir folders. She asks me because she doesn't think her peers will listen to her. So I ask them to pick up after themselves and generally speaking they do. The bells rings and I have one hour to go!
The bell tolls again and it is time for 4th period. The students shuffle in and stand in their appointed positions on the platform risers and after a little jostling, messing around, and some instructions the piano in the room stirs to life and the voices of this choir rise as one as they start practicing a song they will perform at a competition later in the spring.
I am sitting there in my chair enjoying myself. They are singing a song from Brahms and it has something to do with rising your voices to the Lord who sits on high (this by-the-way is in a secular high school).
They continue and all I can think is what a wonderful example of God loving me. Is being a substitute teacher a great job? Not really. Is it exciting. No, again I say no. Will I get rich? (Laugh with me). But as I am sitting there listening to the words I can't help but be thankful that God helps me to keep going.
I was blessed by God today and it wouldn't have happened if I had turned down the opportunity to sub today.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Who Do You Fear?
A couple of weeks ago me and two friends were talking and one of them brought up that it was a little weird to have cameras all over the church grounds the he goes to. He also said that when you enter the building you have to sign in at the front desk and get a visitors pass. On top of those things the school part of the building now has large fences that are always locked. All of these things that his church has done are for security reasons.
We live in an era of school, church, and university shootings. Because of this organizations spend a great deal of money to try and make sure that a shooting doesn't happen to them. We lived in Denver when the Columbine shootings took place. We had friends that were there that day, and had some girls from the school over to our apartment to make ribbons. Our eldest son was in kindergarten that day and the whole school that he attended was on lock down the whole day. We know first hand how tragic these things can be. And yet I wonder if the church should be different from other organizations when it comes to taking various security measures.
In Matthew 10:28 Jesus is speaking to his disciples as they are being sent out to preach and He says, "Don't fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell." Jesus knew that he was sending His disciples into areas and to people that would be hostile to them because of what they were going to be preaching. Jesus was encouring them by saying in effect get your priorities in order: don't fear people becuse they can only do so much, but God can do much more.
We no longer live in the fear of God. The website Foundations for Freedom defines the fear of God as, ..."that awesome reverence of the Lord deriving from being sensitive to His glorious, holy, and majestic Person resulting in respect and obedience." I am not sure how many Christians have a proper fear of God and one of the ways it shows is by the way we try to make ourselves feel secure. We spend an enormous amount of money and time on home security, car security, airport security, and now church security. I do believe that this shows that we are more fearful of people and what they might do to us, than of who God is.
I am not suggesting that we post signs on the roads that go past our churches or homes that say, "Come on in and kill us", but isn't it time that we draw a line in the sand and witness to the people of our communities that we will not be fearful of someone who walks in with a gun and kills our bodies? The fact of the matter is if this happens we get to go to Heaven sooner than what we thought we might.
Why do we seemingly cling to this world so much? We who are Christians, who believe in the birth, perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, have an eternal home in Heaven. We have a God that loves us and will never leave us high and dry. He forgives us of our sin, He has given us a planet that we can enjoy and a universe we can explore. He provides us with water, food, clothes, and the air we breath. He has provided salvation and a Heavenly home for us. What do we have to fear?
Oliver Cromwell said, "I've learned that when you fear God, you do not have any man to fear." The community of Amish believers in Pennsylvania that were tragically made the target of a man that went on a shooting rampage a couple of years ago is the best example of Cromwell's quote. They have taken no measures to make themselves feel more secure because they fear the Lord not people. The surrounding community and many other people outside of the community don't understand this. The Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania are being wittnesses to Cromwell's quote and Jesus' words. It's probably not easy for many of them, but they live without the security measures that we put too much faith in and the world has taken notice. We have a lot to learn from them.
We live in an era of school, church, and university shootings. Because of this organizations spend a great deal of money to try and make sure that a shooting doesn't happen to them. We lived in Denver when the Columbine shootings took place. We had friends that were there that day, and had some girls from the school over to our apartment to make ribbons. Our eldest son was in kindergarten that day and the whole school that he attended was on lock down the whole day. We know first hand how tragic these things can be. And yet I wonder if the church should be different from other organizations when it comes to taking various security measures.
In Matthew 10:28 Jesus is speaking to his disciples as they are being sent out to preach and He says, "Don't fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell." Jesus knew that he was sending His disciples into areas and to people that would be hostile to them because of what they were going to be preaching. Jesus was encouring them by saying in effect get your priorities in order: don't fear people becuse they can only do so much, but God can do much more.
We no longer live in the fear of God. The website Foundations for Freedom defines the fear of God as, ..."that awesome reverence of the Lord deriving from being sensitive to His glorious, holy, and majestic Person resulting in respect and obedience." I am not sure how many Christians have a proper fear of God and one of the ways it shows is by the way we try to make ourselves feel secure. We spend an enormous amount of money and time on home security, car security, airport security, and now church security. I do believe that this shows that we are more fearful of people and what they might do to us, than of who God is.
I am not suggesting that we post signs on the roads that go past our churches or homes that say, "Come on in and kill us", but isn't it time that we draw a line in the sand and witness to the people of our communities that we will not be fearful of someone who walks in with a gun and kills our bodies? The fact of the matter is if this happens we get to go to Heaven sooner than what we thought we might.
Why do we seemingly cling to this world so much? We who are Christians, who believe in the birth, perfect life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, have an eternal home in Heaven. We have a God that loves us and will never leave us high and dry. He forgives us of our sin, He has given us a planet that we can enjoy and a universe we can explore. He provides us with water, food, clothes, and the air we breath. He has provided salvation and a Heavenly home for us. What do we have to fear?
Oliver Cromwell said, "I've learned that when you fear God, you do not have any man to fear." The community of Amish believers in Pennsylvania that were tragically made the target of a man that went on a shooting rampage a couple of years ago is the best example of Cromwell's quote. They have taken no measures to make themselves feel more secure because they fear the Lord not people. The surrounding community and many other people outside of the community don't understand this. The Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania are being wittnesses to Cromwell's quote and Jesus' words. It's probably not easy for many of them, but they live without the security measures that we put too much faith in and the world has taken notice. We have a lot to learn from them.
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