This morning, a friend sent me a text with a picture of the bible. It was somewhere in Matthew and I decided to do something I have never done on Christmas before. Read about the birth of Jesus.
For those of you who read my posts, you probably know by now I'm not such a great writer and you probably know by now, I'm not a preacher and don't know the bible so well. In fact, real preachers tend to despise me because I am pretty open about my short comings and most churches have a reputation they need to uphold. In short, I am often rejected by churches. I tend to sit somewhere in the middle where the world tends to think I am a "Goodie 2 Shoes" and feels apologetic in my presence. And the church goers tend to think I'm a rebellious bad boy who needs to repent, and quickly at that. There is truth to both sides. I say, show grace to those who think you are a "Goodie 2 Shoes" and truth to those who think you need to repent, while all along, think they are better than you.
So my blog posts are really about worship and sharing my love of God with others. Matthew 1:1-17 reads
1 This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud,
15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.
17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.
Why is it important to know the geneology of Jesus? Well, because if you know Jesus came from a long line of adulterers and murderers and slanderers and coveters, then you will know that out of generations of sinners, from such humble beginnings comes the greatest King who ever lived. It isn't just that Jesus came from generations of sinners. It is that, this was the only way Jesus could come. In your life, perhaps you have lived seasons of sinfulness. Perhaps, you believe that there is no way Jesus could ever live in you because of who you are are perhaps what you have done. But I am here to tell you, that is the only way he could be birthed in you. Until you realize your own depravity, you will never have a reason to rely fully on the grace of God.
Matthew 2:16 reads "When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi."
When Jesus comes, if we reject Him or turn from Him, it is then that great depravity overtakes us. Great destruction comes. But, more surprisingly, when we accept Him, this Great Physician performs a miraculous pruning. Matthew 3:10 reads "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."
Our new life feels like a tremendous destruction of everything we have ever known. But God only cuts at the roots. He does not destroy. He leaves the roots so that something new may grow. The baby is not thrown out with the bath water.
In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist continues, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
While water purifies, fire consumes. And from the ashes, new life begins. And just like a child struggles for 18 years, to become an adult, our new faith will face many challenges. As such, Matthew 4:1-11 explains these challenges as Jesus is immediately taken into the wilderness following His baptism. The three temptations explain how the devil will twist our God given desires to serve his purpose. They also demonstrate exactly what James 4:7 means by "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Again, Jesus shows us that only from the darkness can his light emerge. Only those who have been tempted can preach. Only those who have fallen or struggled in particular areas can comfort and help save those who have fallen in the same areas, without coming from a place of judgement or condemnation. Only they can truly understand that the kingdom of heaven is closer than we think.
16 "the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Truly, the kingdom of heaven lives here on Earth. Truly, Jesus may live in us. And Jesus has told us how that looks. Matthew 5:3-10 reads,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus goes on to blow us away with how "anger in our heart" is likened to murder and "lust" is likened to adultery. He blows us away with guidance on how to have compassion. What do we do when our loved ones sin greatly? He reminds us three times to humble ourselves.
Matthew 5:34-37 reminds us how simple we are: "34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
We cannot promise to never commit murder or never commit adultery. I would never do that you might think. But it would only be your sinful pride that would suggest such a thing. Truly, it is only by the grace of God that you might be protected by Him in such a way that temptation from the devil would never overcome you, in such a way that you might perform such sins. All we can ask is that He continue to shower us with such grace so that we may be able to obey Him. With this compassion, we might extend grace towards those who sin.
Matthew 6:9-13 reads:
9 This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Again, we are told only to ask for our daily bread. I know in my life, as soon as I promise to never do something again, sinful pride boils up within me and the devil overtakes me. It is only through humility that I can ask God for my daily bread so that I might not sin. There is nothing done by another human being that I might be able to avoid without God's grace. Even the sins to which my heart is most disgusted by. I can only thank God for blessing me with such disgust and protecting me from such sins.
Proverbs 30:8-9 expands on how God blesses us with our daily bread and how this blessing is the only means by which we may avoid our sinful nature.
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
The third lesson in humility comes from Matthew 7:3-5 and again emphasizes that we can only lift up others and comfort others when we realize the short comings that we see in them are small compared to the short comings we have within ourselves. This is the only vantage point from which we may offer grace. Every other place of correction bestows condemnation, shame and guilt.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
From humble beginnings, to rebirth to an inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. A glorious story.
...
<SI> Scott Izu, PhD
Copyright December 2015
Friday, December 25, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
The Story of a Man
As man begins his journey, he is built with a desire to explore his world. In his explorations, he gains knowledge and his eyes are opened to ways of the world around him. However, this knowledge is not necessarily equivalent to truth. In fact, to the extent that the knowledge contains false premises, the knowledge will actually lead to captivity.
Take for instance, the saying that, "curiosity killed the cat." This is another way of saying that curiosity leads to knowledge which leads to captivity. This is written in our DNA and begins with the story of Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3 reads: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” and "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."
So the story of a man begins with this fall. But what might this fall look like in today's times?
Well, for example, sex might be seen as eating the forbidden fruit. In the sexual sense, the female body might be represented by the tree of life, while the male body represented by the serpent. Through taking this forbidden fruit, a couple might conceive children.
Through parenting, a couple would inevitably gain knowledge of the world. In fact, many of life's lessons simply cannot be learned without having children. However, this knowledge also comes with the curse of being captivity: to provide, protect and pave the way for the such young ones.
In our world, there are many forbidden fruits. And for many people, they simply do not know they are partaking of the forbidden fruit.
Proverbs 14:12 reads along the lines of "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." with Proverbs 16:25 reiterating.
So the story of a man always includes this initial fall. This death.
When, we experience this pain first hand, we naturally search for things of this world to soothe our pain. Something to bring back control into our corner. Something which will comfort us in our pain. And what we grasp is man made.
So the story of a man also includes him placing his hope in man made comforters known as idols. Unfortunately, these idols come with a curse.
Deuteronomy 4:27-18 reads a curse for those who pursue their idols, "The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell."
Psalm 115:4-8 reads: "But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." and Psalm 135:15-18 reiterates the same concept.
What are examples of such idols?
Well, I have heard that marriage can be one of the loneliest places. Feeling disconnected could be a sign that you adore your ideals of a romantic partner, perfect husband or loving father more than you love your spouse. Not letting go of these idols will surely lead to disconnection and loneliness.
I have also heard people say that a person has never felt so alone as being in the middle of a crowded room. Putting on a false mask so that no one knows you are imperfect, vulnerable and dependent, ie human, can also come from refusing to let go personal ideals. Expectations and disappointments in others can couple with this false bravado to kill two birds with one stone. That is, one can simultaneously kill both sides of the intimacy coin. The definition of intimacy being, "To know and be known." The result. Disconnection and loneliness.
After a man falls, he tries to save himself. The result. Complete and utter disaster. He is a like a temple, that is torn down, then built up, then torn down, then built up. Various seasons of life will represent the inner war. A war over his body, the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:19-22 reads, "19 But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’"
Rebuilding a temple may seem like a seven year imprisonment or a life long journey. However, once a man makes a decision to change, the light at the end of the tunnel is not far off. The decision only needs to be made once while a life time is needed to manage that decision.
2 Chronicles 19:35-36 reads, "So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. 36 Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly."
So what does the rebuilding of a man actually look like? What if false hope has been placed in many different idols, as is often the case?
Daniel 2:31-45 reads, "31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”"
And this is how it will be with you. You will have golden idols, with super strong holds on your life. You will have iron idols and clay idols. When you make the decision to attack these idols, the spirit of God will reunite with you, live within you. When you are touched, a war within you will begin. But over time, each stronghold will be crushed. It will be like the very foundation of you has been altered. Something so powerful that you cannot deny. Tired and weary at times, feeling your struggle against this battle, you will want to quit. You will have seasons where you will run back to your idols of comfort and control. But fear not, for "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." as Philippians 1:6 reads.
At times you will be frustrated because you will not be able to defeat your strongholds. You will give up because you do not understand the reason for your struggle. Our God is a relational God. He does not give you your struggle so you can overcome it. He gives you your struggle so that you will seek Him.
When you seek Him, he will bless you with truth. Knowledge is easily gained while truth is difficult to find and only comes from the Father. John 8:32 describes, "32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
So the story of a man ends with redemption. Only when redeemed and free, can a man finally obey.
John 14:15-23 reads, "15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”"
So how do knowledge, captivity and truth relate to one another?
Knowledge is like education. It is like the law. It is empty and misguiding. If we went over the theory of walking and how hard it is, we might convince a baby that walking is simply impossible. If we went over the theory of business and explained that 90% of businesses fail, we might convince people to ignore their God given destinies. However, behind each failure is a lesson. Behind each failure is growth. If you go into business to succeed, you might as well not pursue your dreams. If you go into business, to grow, you will be successful. The truth, the spirit, set us free from the law. As you battle, you do not battle to win, you battle to grow. You have already won, you just don't know it. Now, it is about growing into that victory.
...
<SI> Scott Izu, PhD
Copyright December 2015
Take for instance, the saying that, "curiosity killed the cat." This is another way of saying that curiosity leads to knowledge which leads to captivity. This is written in our DNA and begins with the story of Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3 reads: “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” and "Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."
So the story of a man begins with this fall. But what might this fall look like in today's times?
Well, for example, sex might be seen as eating the forbidden fruit. In the sexual sense, the female body might be represented by the tree of life, while the male body represented by the serpent. Through taking this forbidden fruit, a couple might conceive children.
Through parenting, a couple would inevitably gain knowledge of the world. In fact, many of life's lessons simply cannot be learned without having children. However, this knowledge also comes with the curse of being captivity: to provide, protect and pave the way for the such young ones.
In our world, there are many forbidden fruits. And for many people, they simply do not know they are partaking of the forbidden fruit.
Proverbs 14:12 reads along the lines of "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." with Proverbs 16:25 reiterating.
So the story of a man always includes this initial fall. This death.
When, we experience this pain first hand, we naturally search for things of this world to soothe our pain. Something to bring back control into our corner. Something which will comfort us in our pain. And what we grasp is man made.
So the story of a man also includes him placing his hope in man made comforters known as idols. Unfortunately, these idols come with a curse.
Deuteronomy 4:27-18 reads a curse for those who pursue their idols, "The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell."
Psalm 115:4-8 reads: "But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. 8 Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them." and Psalm 135:15-18 reiterates the same concept.
What are examples of such idols?
Well, I have heard that marriage can be one of the loneliest places. Feeling disconnected could be a sign that you adore your ideals of a romantic partner, perfect husband or loving father more than you love your spouse. Not letting go of these idols will surely lead to disconnection and loneliness.
I have also heard people say that a person has never felt so alone as being in the middle of a crowded room. Putting on a false mask so that no one knows you are imperfect, vulnerable and dependent, ie human, can also come from refusing to let go personal ideals. Expectations and disappointments in others can couple with this false bravado to kill two birds with one stone. That is, one can simultaneously kill both sides of the intimacy coin. The definition of intimacy being, "To know and be known." The result. Disconnection and loneliness.
After a man falls, he tries to save himself. The result. Complete and utter disaster. He is a like a temple, that is torn down, then built up, then torn down, then built up. Various seasons of life will represent the inner war. A war over his body, the temple.
2 Chronicles 7:19-22 reads, "19 But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’"
Rebuilding a temple may seem like a seven year imprisonment or a life long journey. However, once a man makes a decision to change, the light at the end of the tunnel is not far off. The decision only needs to be made once while a life time is needed to manage that decision.
2 Chronicles 19:35-36 reads, "So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. 36 Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly."
So what does the rebuilding of a man actually look like? What if false hope has been placed in many different idols, as is often the case?
Daniel 2:31-45 reads, "31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”"
And this is how it will be with you. You will have golden idols, with super strong holds on your life. You will have iron idols and clay idols. When you make the decision to attack these idols, the spirit of God will reunite with you, live within you. When you are touched, a war within you will begin. But over time, each stronghold will be crushed. It will be like the very foundation of you has been altered. Something so powerful that you cannot deny. Tired and weary at times, feeling your struggle against this battle, you will want to quit. You will have seasons where you will run back to your idols of comfort and control. But fear not, for "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." as Philippians 1:6 reads.
At times you will be frustrated because you will not be able to defeat your strongholds. You will give up because you do not understand the reason for your struggle. Our God is a relational God. He does not give you your struggle so you can overcome it. He gives you your struggle so that you will seek Him.
When you seek Him, he will bless you with truth. Knowledge is easily gained while truth is difficult to find and only comes from the Father. John 8:32 describes, "32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
So the story of a man ends with redemption. Only when redeemed and free, can a man finally obey.
John 14:15-23 reads, "15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”"
So how do knowledge, captivity and truth relate to one another?
Knowledge is like education. It is like the law. It is empty and misguiding. If we went over the theory of walking and how hard it is, we might convince a baby that walking is simply impossible. If we went over the theory of business and explained that 90% of businesses fail, we might convince people to ignore their God given destinies. However, behind each failure is a lesson. Behind each failure is growth. If you go into business to succeed, you might as well not pursue your dreams. If you go into business, to grow, you will be successful. The truth, the spirit, set us free from the law. As you battle, you do not battle to win, you battle to grow. You have already won, you just don't know it. Now, it is about growing into that victory.
...
<SI> Scott Izu, PhD
Copyright December 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
A Tale of Isla Piedra
This morning a friend going through a difficult time in life asked me to ponder for a bit and then share a bible verse that spoke to me.
Currently, I am in Puerto Rico. Looking through the past few days I have hiked the gorgeous La Mina Falls of the El Yunque Rainforest hearing the echoes of the Coqui frogs. I have kayaked the bioluminescence of Fajardo as well as Mosquito Bay. I have snorkelled with schools of tropical fishes and manueverd around jellyfish the size of bread plates. Eaten Chillo Frito in the Pinones region served with the classic Puerto Rican plantain dish known as Mofongo. And yes, went through the guided tour of the caves of Rio Camuy. But I will save those stories for another time. Today, a new tale was born...
As I hiked from Pinky's in Condado, where I ate their delicious Mallorca sandwhich, finally tasting this delightful soft Puerto Rican bread roll, I started out toward La Playa de Isla Verde (aka Isla Verde) where I planned to swim out to the actual Isla Verde and back.
I started thinking about preachers and their impact in my life and one particular preacher whom I asked for help, exposing some of my weaknesses and he turned me down. For a while I felt hurt and disappointed until one day I realized that he had never experienced the full grace of God. We cannot comfort others until we have been comforted. We cannot extend grace until we realize how much grace we have been given. And most of all, we cannot love until we have been loved. As my mind continued to search, my feet continued the trek.
As I walked through the playas or beaches of Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde, I stopped to inquire about the swim from a few locals. Always a good thing to do.
It turned out when I asked about Isla Verde, she thought I was talking about Isla Piedra which is much further, about one kilometer or .6 miles off the coast. It also turned out her brother, works at the local Super Foods and swims there on a daily basis. She gave me a phone number in case I wanted to stop by his store.
At this point, I was already pumped. Excited, I continued on my way. When I got to the place where I would take off, I discretely hid my things under some bushes and headed into the water with my snorkeling gear, swim trunks and water shoes. Nicely lathered up with sun tan lotion of course.
As I headed out to the island, I realized that the island was a lot further than I thought. With the waves pushing me up and down, back and forth, I felt stagnant. I would spend a lot of time just conserving energy and floating for a while or treading water.
About one fourth of the way in, negative thoughts started to creep in my head and I almost decided to give up and turn back. I was well past the buoys, which complimented the warning signs that stated anyone who swam past the buoys was doing so at their own personal risk. And here I was with no life jacket, floating around in the ocean.
Then, the verse hit me. Faith like a mustard seed will move mountains. I have read this a thousand times but for some reason I was going to relearn what this verse meant today.
I am reading this book right now by Jeff Olson called the slight edge. It talks about how little pebbles tossed in over and over and over throughout a long period of time have a way of making a dramatic effect.
Marriages just do not go south. They turn sour based on tiny microscopic decisions made over and over on a daily basis. To reverse the tide, no matter what the circumstance, it takes having the willingness to decide to throw that little tiny microscopic pebble.
Finances work the same way. Sometimes you do not feel like you are going forward but little do you know, you are not falling behind which is huge. And the waves would draw back and I would push and push and even though I was not going forward, I knew I was not getting drawn back. Which meant, I would have the chance to move forward twice as much as I normally would on the rise of the next wave.
So I decided to turn off that negative channel and throw the pebble. The tiny microscopic stroke. One, two... thirty... Rest. And I could not even see the island most of the time. I tried using the clouds. I tried treading for several minutes as I looked around at the big blue, completely disoriented, choking on water as the waves corrupted my breathing from the snorkelling gear. For the tenth time, I yanked off the mouth piece gasping for air.
Then, there it was a glimpse. One, two... thirty... Rest. Half way in, I was blessed to have hit a coral reef. Protection. Relaxing. Should I go back? Faith like a mustard seed. I threw out my arms alternating between breast stroke and free style. I threw out the little pebble. The slight edge. I had faith. But faith without works is dead. So I threw out again. One... Two... Thirty... Rest... My little insignificant mustard seed.
Half way between the last coral reef and Isla Piedra which was now much easier to see, I hit more coral reef. Now I knew it would be much easier to rest on Isla Piedra then to swim back.
Over and over, I repeated my cycle. One... Two... Thirty... Rest... My small insignificant cycle. It did nothing, or at least nothing I could see.
When the island was only twenty yards away, I eased up, knowing I would soon be safe. That if I needed, I could stay there or flag down a boat. Saftey. I slowly made my way to the rock. Feeling the waves, becoming in tune, picking the right time so I would not get smacked into the rocks. I pulled myself up.
Extatic, elated, I yelled out a big Japanese Kiai, channeling my energy into the air.
Then, rest. This small island of rock, with no one else on it was a great time for prayer and meditation. And God gets all of me. He gets my questions, my gratitude, my anger. And I tell Him, He is great and that this journey, this swim, this is everything I have, everything I am capable of and yet, it is miniscule when compared to the Earth's 12,756 kilometers of diameter and the Milky Way's 950,000,000,000,000,000 kilometers of diameter. This Isla Piedra, one measly kilometer off the coast and I am exhausted. And I am excited and ready to go back and God puts on my heart to rest. He lets me know the right amount of time has passed by a boat slowly disappearing over the horizon. Okay, God, I will wait.
And as I sit there resting, meditating, praying, huge waves come crashing in and I am scared. I want to leave the island. But though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And when we follow what God puts on our heart, it is then that the dangers of life come crashing in. And we fear. Just keep your eyes on me, He says.
And slowly, the boat disappears, maybe giving me a good half hour to hour of rest.
As I head out, I know keeping a big hotel in sight will be much easier than trying to tread water and wait for a wave high enough to lift me up to see tiny Isla Piedra. I am Ann Voskamp Eucharisteo thankful.
My cycle continues. The little pebbles thrown onto the scale over and over and over, which can eventually tilt the scale to outweigh the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building of years of contempt and resentment building up. Or the Empire State Building of hundreds of thousands of dollars racked up in debt.
Such power. Take wise to the ant. The power of the little things repeated over and over. No matter how deep your hole. And here I was, tired and in a small hole myself.
I head out the stretch with emptiness leaving the protection of the coral. I continue my cycle. Within minutes, I look down and see a two foot reef shark!
It is swimming to the right side of me, below me about ten feet. Thank you God for giving me rest.
And everytime I freak out, I lose sight of it as I gasp for air. But there is no way I am taking off my snorkelling mask. My thoughts go into panic mode.
Where is it? Stay calm. Maybe it left. There it is. Keep moving, its just a water dog. You will not want to rest so keep the strokes short and smooth.
He swims with me for a while. Sometimes to my right, sometimes to my left. My thoughts continue.
He must smell the blood from my cut legs. As long as he is there, within clear view, maybe I can rest. Get big! If he approaches grab his gills. Where is the hotel? There it is. Where is the shark? His bite will probably not be lethal. I feel like fainting. Keep him in sight. Must keep moving.
As I continue swimming, each stroke, miniscule, meaningless, I keep going. Faith like a mustard seed. While scared out of my wits, I realized how cool it is to swim with a shark! As long as I do not die! Or get biten!
The journey must have been twenty minutes. Then finally! Saving Nemo reef protection. Still about .3 miles from shore, I get rest in the reef. Floating, watching the reef shark swim around. I could have stayed there all day. Beautiful fish swimming beneath me. Safely at a distance from the shark!
But being exhausted, I took enough time floating to rest and then headed back toward shore. As I swam over the reef, which varied from five to fifteen feet deep, the shark seemed to have disappeared. While I hoped that was the case, I was not going to bank on it.
Hyper alert and read to make the final trek, I continued. Free style. One... Two... Thirty... Rest... And again.
This part of the journey was nice and smooth. I could see the hotel easily and after a few cycles, I could see the hotel getting closer and closer. With no shark as a threat, my resting periods were a little longer.
After cycling through over and over and over, I finally, I hit the buoys. Yes! It was like being twenty yards from Isla Piedra except these buoys were probably fifty yards out.
My thoughts continued. The final stretch. I am not going to die! What was I thinking?
I took my time on this last stretch, resting in thirty to one minutes in between cycles. And finally, the last insignificant stroke. Land!
I slipped entering the shore from the waves crashing onto the rocky edges of the beach. Then, as I walked over dry land, I coughed out some of the water I had been swallowing, gagging and hacking. Walking into the shade, I felt dizzy but I hade made it.
All of my belongings were left hidden and untouched, fortunately. Or this tale may have continued...
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
...
<SI> Scott Izu, PhD
© October 2015
Currently, I am in Puerto Rico. Looking through the past few days I have hiked the gorgeous La Mina Falls of the El Yunque Rainforest hearing the echoes of the Coqui frogs. I have kayaked the bioluminescence of Fajardo as well as Mosquito Bay. I have snorkelled with schools of tropical fishes and manueverd around jellyfish the size of bread plates. Eaten Chillo Frito in the Pinones region served with the classic Puerto Rican plantain dish known as Mofongo. And yes, went through the guided tour of the caves of Rio Camuy. But I will save those stories for another time. Today, a new tale was born...
As I hiked from Pinky's in Condado, where I ate their delicious Mallorca sandwhich, finally tasting this delightful soft Puerto Rican bread roll, I started out toward La Playa de Isla Verde (aka Isla Verde) where I planned to swim out to the actual Isla Verde and back.
I started thinking about preachers and their impact in my life and one particular preacher whom I asked for help, exposing some of my weaknesses and he turned me down. For a while I felt hurt and disappointed until one day I realized that he had never experienced the full grace of God. We cannot comfort others until we have been comforted. We cannot extend grace until we realize how much grace we have been given. And most of all, we cannot love until we have been loved. As my mind continued to search, my feet continued the trek.
As I walked through the playas or beaches of Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde, I stopped to inquire about the swim from a few locals. Always a good thing to do.
It turned out when I asked about Isla Verde, she thought I was talking about Isla Piedra which is much further, about one kilometer or .6 miles off the coast. It also turned out her brother, works at the local Super Foods and swims there on a daily basis. She gave me a phone number in case I wanted to stop by his store.
At this point, I was already pumped. Excited, I continued on my way. When I got to the place where I would take off, I discretely hid my things under some bushes and headed into the water with my snorkeling gear, swim trunks and water shoes. Nicely lathered up with sun tan lotion of course.
As I headed out to the island, I realized that the island was a lot further than I thought. With the waves pushing me up and down, back and forth, I felt stagnant. I would spend a lot of time just conserving energy and floating for a while or treading water.
About one fourth of the way in, negative thoughts started to creep in my head and I almost decided to give up and turn back. I was well past the buoys, which complimented the warning signs that stated anyone who swam past the buoys was doing so at their own personal risk. And here I was with no life jacket, floating around in the ocean.
Then, the verse hit me. Faith like a mustard seed will move mountains. I have read this a thousand times but for some reason I was going to relearn what this verse meant today.
I am reading this book right now by Jeff Olson called the slight edge. It talks about how little pebbles tossed in over and over and over throughout a long period of time have a way of making a dramatic effect.
Marriages just do not go south. They turn sour based on tiny microscopic decisions made over and over on a daily basis. To reverse the tide, no matter what the circumstance, it takes having the willingness to decide to throw that little tiny microscopic pebble.
Finances work the same way. Sometimes you do not feel like you are going forward but little do you know, you are not falling behind which is huge. And the waves would draw back and I would push and push and even though I was not going forward, I knew I was not getting drawn back. Which meant, I would have the chance to move forward twice as much as I normally would on the rise of the next wave.
So I decided to turn off that negative channel and throw the pebble. The tiny microscopic stroke. One, two... thirty... Rest. And I could not even see the island most of the time. I tried using the clouds. I tried treading for several minutes as I looked around at the big blue, completely disoriented, choking on water as the waves corrupted my breathing from the snorkelling gear. For the tenth time, I yanked off the mouth piece gasping for air.
Then, there it was a glimpse. One, two... thirty... Rest. Half way in, I was blessed to have hit a coral reef. Protection. Relaxing. Should I go back? Faith like a mustard seed. I threw out my arms alternating between breast stroke and free style. I threw out the little pebble. The slight edge. I had faith. But faith without works is dead. So I threw out again. One... Two... Thirty... Rest... My little insignificant mustard seed.
Half way between the last coral reef and Isla Piedra which was now much easier to see, I hit more coral reef. Now I knew it would be much easier to rest on Isla Piedra then to swim back.
Over and over, I repeated my cycle. One... Two... Thirty... Rest... My small insignificant cycle. It did nothing, or at least nothing I could see.
When the island was only twenty yards away, I eased up, knowing I would soon be safe. That if I needed, I could stay there or flag down a boat. Saftey. I slowly made my way to the rock. Feeling the waves, becoming in tune, picking the right time so I would not get smacked into the rocks. I pulled myself up.
Extatic, elated, I yelled out a big Japanese Kiai, channeling my energy into the air.
Then, rest. This small island of rock, with no one else on it was a great time for prayer and meditation. And God gets all of me. He gets my questions, my gratitude, my anger. And I tell Him, He is great and that this journey, this swim, this is everything I have, everything I am capable of and yet, it is miniscule when compared to the Earth's 12,756 kilometers of diameter and the Milky Way's 950,000,000,000,000,000 kilometers of diameter. This Isla Piedra, one measly kilometer off the coast and I am exhausted. And I am excited and ready to go back and God puts on my heart to rest. He lets me know the right amount of time has passed by a boat slowly disappearing over the horizon. Okay, God, I will wait.
And as I sit there resting, meditating, praying, huge waves come crashing in and I am scared. I want to leave the island. But though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. And when we follow what God puts on our heart, it is then that the dangers of life come crashing in. And we fear. Just keep your eyes on me, He says.
And slowly, the boat disappears, maybe giving me a good half hour to hour of rest.
As I head out, I know keeping a big hotel in sight will be much easier than trying to tread water and wait for a wave high enough to lift me up to see tiny Isla Piedra. I am Ann Voskamp Eucharisteo thankful.
My cycle continues. The little pebbles thrown onto the scale over and over and over, which can eventually tilt the scale to outweigh the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building of years of contempt and resentment building up. Or the Empire State Building of hundreds of thousands of dollars racked up in debt.
Such power. Take wise to the ant. The power of the little things repeated over and over. No matter how deep your hole. And here I was, tired and in a small hole myself.
I head out the stretch with emptiness leaving the protection of the coral. I continue my cycle. Within minutes, I look down and see a two foot reef shark!
It is swimming to the right side of me, below me about ten feet. Thank you God for giving me rest.
And everytime I freak out, I lose sight of it as I gasp for air. But there is no way I am taking off my snorkelling mask. My thoughts go into panic mode.
Where is it? Stay calm. Maybe it left. There it is. Keep moving, its just a water dog. You will not want to rest so keep the strokes short and smooth.
He swims with me for a while. Sometimes to my right, sometimes to my left. My thoughts continue.
He must smell the blood from my cut legs. As long as he is there, within clear view, maybe I can rest. Get big! If he approaches grab his gills. Where is the hotel? There it is. Where is the shark? His bite will probably not be lethal. I feel like fainting. Keep him in sight. Must keep moving.
As I continue swimming, each stroke, miniscule, meaningless, I keep going. Faith like a mustard seed. While scared out of my wits, I realized how cool it is to swim with a shark! As long as I do not die! Or get biten!
The journey must have been twenty minutes. Then finally! Saving Nemo reef protection. Still about .3 miles from shore, I get rest in the reef. Floating, watching the reef shark swim around. I could have stayed there all day. Beautiful fish swimming beneath me. Safely at a distance from the shark!
But being exhausted, I took enough time floating to rest and then headed back toward shore. As I swam over the reef, which varied from five to fifteen feet deep, the shark seemed to have disappeared. While I hoped that was the case, I was not going to bank on it.
Hyper alert and read to make the final trek, I continued. Free style. One... Two... Thirty... Rest... And again.
This part of the journey was nice and smooth. I could see the hotel easily and after a few cycles, I could see the hotel getting closer and closer. With no shark as a threat, my resting periods were a little longer.
After cycling through over and over and over, I finally, I hit the buoys. Yes! It was like being twenty yards from Isla Piedra except these buoys were probably fifty yards out.
My thoughts continued. The final stretch. I am not going to die! What was I thinking?
I took my time on this last stretch, resting in thirty to one minutes in between cycles. And finally, the last insignificant stroke. Land!
I slipped entering the shore from the waves crashing onto the rocky edges of the beach. Then, as I walked over dry land, I coughed out some of the water I had been swallowing, gagging and hacking. Walking into the shade, I felt dizzy but I hade made it.
All of my belongings were left hidden and untouched, fortunately. Or this tale may have continued...
Matthew 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
...
<SI> Scott Izu, PhD
© October 2015
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Homosexuality and the Bible
1 Corinthians 6:1-12 states,
"1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Verses 9 and 10 are often used to explain to people that homosexuality is a sin. The legalistic view is that if you endulge in homosexual behaviors, then you will not go to heaven.
I am going to go against the grain here and say that I don't believe PMS (pornography, masturbation, sex outside of marriage), drunkenness, drug abuse and greed (not tithing 10%) are sins. I know, this may seem shocking and most people would stop hearing my viewpoint right about now. Deep felt emotions surrounding life traumas and personal injuries will jump up so loud, my little voice will simply be drowned out.
Exodus 20 1-21 states,
1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
I believe this simple list of ten sins is comprehensive. Now, my definition of sin is this: "Any action which distorts the relationship with God and other people." Love is "Any action which perfects the relationship with God and other people."
At this point, you might say, "Well, wait a minute. First you say, these things are not sins. Then, you give a definition which I could argue, these are sins." Keep reading.
Even ignoring the fact that alcohol, lust, greed, etc can be idolatrous, I take the stance that given this list alone, according to Ecclesiastes 7:19,
"Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."
Judging my personal life by the ten commandments alone, I can fill endless chalkboards of personal sins that I have committed. Beyond the ten commandments, many personal actions that I have taken have been the grounds for frustration in my personal relationships. According to Paul, there is no way I would ever inherit the kingdom of God.
An inheritance comes from good standing. From doing the right things from the perspective of the person who is passing on the inheritance. Can we really be in good standing with God? Can we ever be worthy of all the things He has blessed us with? I don't feel worthy.
Is it possible that inheriting the kingdom of God is different from going to heaven? On the flip side, is it possible that being cast out into outer darkness is different from going to hell?
Mathew 8:5-13 mentions being cast out when a Centurion comes to Jesus believing his servant will be healed from paralysis and suffering. Could it be that being cast out represents a paralysis and suffering in our life where faith in Jesus may restore us?
Mathew 13:36-43 mentions the end of an age where there will be a weeping and gnashing of teeth as the kingdom is cleansed by the Son of Man of everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Could it be that our bodies are the kingdom where Jesus wishes to reside and He will take hold within us, cleansing us from the inside out and we will feel the pain and weight of our sin as we become purified?
Mathew 22:1-14 mentions a man being cast out with his hands and feet bound after he was discovered at a Wedding Banquet after choosing not to wear the ceremonial garments he was given. Could it be that God specifically chooses to bind the people He loves who know of His gifts but have refused them? Could it be that He patiently waits for their hearts to change so they may embrace His gifts?
Matthew 24:36-51 speaks of a master entrusting his possessions to his servant and returning at an unknown time discipline him, assigning him a place among hypocrites with a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Could it be that our bodies have been purchased by Jesus and he will come to purify us? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is like the wind, that we have no clue where it comes from, but at any moment it may overtake us?
Mathew 25:14-30 speaks of a master who gives gold to his servants only to return after a journey to find that one servant has hidden his gold for fear of wasting it. Again, the master casts the servant outside. Could it be that God is the actually mastermind behind all of our successes and when we waste our time, money, talents and other resources, He will take them away from us for a season? Could it be that this season of hardship is ultimately a gift so that we may embrace using these resources in the future and realize where they come from?
Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of the prodigal son. It talks about the rebellious younger brother, who is outside but makes a miraculous return. It ends with the father meeting the arrogant older brother outside, pleading with him to change his heart.
I believe being cast out is much different than a physical death. Binding hands and feet are different than cutting them off. Being paralyzed is different than an amputation. Our dream, struggle, victory is the beauty of life. Our life is meant to be a glorious restoration, in the midst of pain and brokenness.
Ephesians 2 1-10 states
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So, in conclusion, I cannot look at homosexuality as a sin. I cannot be the judge, because as soon as I begin to try, I undoubtedly become blind to my sins. And when I become blind to my own sins, I forgot how glorious His gift is. It is the weight of my own sins and the tremendous debt I would have to carry that make His gift so glorious.
I know I will not inherit the kingdom of God. My works stack up to His standards like the tower of Babel stacks up to the stars in the galaxy. No, my only saving grace is His saving grace. My only ticket to heaven is a token of love.
"1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people? 2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers! 7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Verses 9 and 10 are often used to explain to people that homosexuality is a sin. The legalistic view is that if you endulge in homosexual behaviors, then you will not go to heaven.
I am going to go against the grain here and say that I don't believe PMS (pornography, masturbation, sex outside of marriage), drunkenness, drug abuse and greed (not tithing 10%) are sins. I know, this may seem shocking and most people would stop hearing my viewpoint right about now. Deep felt emotions surrounding life traumas and personal injuries will jump up so loud, my little voice will simply be drowned out.
Exodus 20 1-21 states,
1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
I believe this simple list of ten sins is comprehensive. Now, my definition of sin is this: "Any action which distorts the relationship with God and other people." Love is "Any action which perfects the relationship with God and other people."
At this point, you might say, "Well, wait a minute. First you say, these things are not sins. Then, you give a definition which I could argue, these are sins." Keep reading.
Even ignoring the fact that alcohol, lust, greed, etc can be idolatrous, I take the stance that given this list alone, according to Ecclesiastes 7:19,
"Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins."
Judging my personal life by the ten commandments alone, I can fill endless chalkboards of personal sins that I have committed. Beyond the ten commandments, many personal actions that I have taken have been the grounds for frustration in my personal relationships. According to Paul, there is no way I would ever inherit the kingdom of God.
An inheritance comes from good standing. From doing the right things from the perspective of the person who is passing on the inheritance. Can we really be in good standing with God? Can we ever be worthy of all the things He has blessed us with? I don't feel worthy.
Is it possible that inheriting the kingdom of God is different from going to heaven? On the flip side, is it possible that being cast out into outer darkness is different from going to hell?
Mathew 8:5-13 mentions being cast out when a Centurion comes to Jesus believing his servant will be healed from paralysis and suffering. Could it be that being cast out represents a paralysis and suffering in our life where faith in Jesus may restore us?
Mathew 13:36-43 mentions the end of an age where there will be a weeping and gnashing of teeth as the kingdom is cleansed by the Son of Man of everything that causes sin and all who do evil. Could it be that our bodies are the kingdom where Jesus wishes to reside and He will take hold within us, cleansing us from the inside out and we will feel the pain and weight of our sin as we become purified?
Mathew 22:1-14 mentions a man being cast out with his hands and feet bound after he was discovered at a Wedding Banquet after choosing not to wear the ceremonial garments he was given. Could it be that God specifically chooses to bind the people He loves who know of His gifts but have refused them? Could it be that He patiently waits for their hearts to change so they may embrace His gifts?
Matthew 24:36-51 speaks of a master entrusting his possessions to his servant and returning at an unknown time discipline him, assigning him a place among hypocrites with a weeping and gnashing of teeth. Could it be that our bodies have been purchased by Jesus and he will come to purify us? Could it be that the Holy Spirit is like the wind, that we have no clue where it comes from, but at any moment it may overtake us?
Mathew 25:14-30 speaks of a master who gives gold to his servants only to return after a journey to find that one servant has hidden his gold for fear of wasting it. Again, the master casts the servant outside. Could it be that God is the actually mastermind behind all of our successes and when we waste our time, money, talents and other resources, He will take them away from us for a season? Could it be that this season of hardship is ultimately a gift so that we may embrace using these resources in the future and realize where they come from?
Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of the prodigal son. It talks about the rebellious younger brother, who is outside but makes a miraculous return. It ends with the father meeting the arrogant older brother outside, pleading with him to change his heart.
I believe being cast out is much different than a physical death. Binding hands and feet are different than cutting them off. Being paralyzed is different than an amputation. Our dream, struggle, victory is the beauty of life. Our life is meant to be a glorious restoration, in the midst of pain and brokenness.
Ephesians 2 1-10 states
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
So, in conclusion, I cannot look at homosexuality as a sin. I cannot be the judge, because as soon as I begin to try, I undoubtedly become blind to my sins. And when I become blind to my own sins, I forgot how glorious His gift is. It is the weight of my own sins and the tremendous debt I would have to carry that make His gift so glorious.
I know I will not inherit the kingdom of God. My works stack up to His standards like the tower of Babel stacks up to the stars in the galaxy. No, my only saving grace is His saving grace. My only ticket to heaven is a token of love.
Monday, April 13, 2015
The Experience of Eternal Life
John 3:1-21 states
1. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Nicodemus comes searching in the night for answers. And Jesus reveals to him, the very thing that scares him the most. It would expose him as a fraud. He has lived in the world around him pretending to be an expert in religion. He has probably preached to and converted a thousand souls. He has obtained through years of dedication his stature amongst his peers and his community.
Yet, Jesus tells him that he knows nothing of the truth. He knows nothing of what he claims to be an expert. Jesus ends laying out to Nicodemus that he has an option to bring everything into the light.
The world would say that stature and power give life.
But here, Jesus shows that eternal life begins when we expose our true selves. When the iron sharpens the iron of our souls. When the loving father casts us out to be disciplined, because we have been chosen for a purpose. When our reputations built by our own hands, are willingly sacrificed, so that our character can be let free to grow in strength. When despite being in the midst of a lion's den we are not devoured. When we face our greatest fear and lose everything we have worked so tirelessly to build, only to start over in the light. For it is when we are reborn, children of the light, that Jesus says to us to come forth to him. "Make way for the children", Jesus calls, as he begins to battle on your behalf. And that is the moment, when we look to him, that the poison that has entangled us loses its power. And only then, can we truly experience life.
1. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Nicodemus comes searching in the night for answers. And Jesus reveals to him, the very thing that scares him the most. It would expose him as a fraud. He has lived in the world around him pretending to be an expert in religion. He has probably preached to and converted a thousand souls. He has obtained through years of dedication his stature amongst his peers and his community.
Yet, Jesus tells him that he knows nothing of the truth. He knows nothing of what he claims to be an expert. Jesus ends laying out to Nicodemus that he has an option to bring everything into the light.
The world would say that stature and power give life.
But here, Jesus shows that eternal life begins when we expose our true selves. When the iron sharpens the iron of our souls. When the loving father casts us out to be disciplined, because we have been chosen for a purpose. When our reputations built by our own hands, are willingly sacrificed, so that our character can be let free to grow in strength. When despite being in the midst of a lion's den we are not devoured. When we face our greatest fear and lose everything we have worked so tirelessly to build, only to start over in the light. For it is when we are reborn, children of the light, that Jesus says to us to come forth to him. "Make way for the children", Jesus calls, as he begins to battle on your behalf. And that is the moment, when we look to him, that the poison that has entangled us loses its power. And only then, can we truly experience life.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
From Where Does the Wind Come?
I love exploring our known world. The more we explore, the more marvelous it becomes. The more we look, the more we realize there is so much we haven't seen. What was shown to us right before our eyes, we haven't seen. What was told to us right within ear shot, we haven't heard.
Take for instance, the tower of Babylon, described in Genesis 11:4-9.
4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel--because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
A tower to reach the heavens. Man did the best he could, to build a tower to the heavens and he didn't even leave the Earth. He fell infinitely short!
Louie Giglio stated, "Scientists say our solar system is the size of a quarter and our milky way is the size of the north america continent!"
And today. What do we see today? We can clone sheep. We can artificially inseminate. We have cars that can drive from Northern California to Southern California by themselves!
But our chemical detection is no where near what our tongue is capable of. Our image detection is no where near what our eyes are capable of. The best pitch detection algorithms don't even come close to what the human ear is capable of. I could go on and on about how absolutely fascinating creation is. But I will end with this point: the neural networks of our time, might play checkers or chess, but they are like a tower of Bablyon in the known universe compared to what the human brain is capable of.
Will our artificial intelligence ever come close to the Mozarts and Beethovens? Our Einsteins and Newtons? Our Shakespeares and our Henry David Thoreaus?
All of creation points back to how glorious our God is. We are built to explore to discover and let us continue! But in each miraculous discovery, let us marvel at the beauty held within. And even more so, let us use the physical to point to the unseen emotional and spiritual implications.
And what of Einstein? I once watched a movie where scientists, with all of their theorems and intelligence, filled chalkboards describing the physics of our world. Einstein walked into the room, erased it all and wrote "E=mc2". Likewise, all of the religious leaders would debate over how to be the most holy, the most pure. And Jesus would come along, erase all the laws and rules and debates, giving us two things to focus on.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
We can plant a seed in the ground, but we still rely on God to allow the seed to grow. We may be able to artificially inseminate but we still rely on the power of God to create the miracle of life.
Our logic, while it has its place, cannot describe what our emotions and spirit tell us. Our science, while it has its place, changes year after year. The Earth was once flat according to scientific truth. The Earth was once the center of our solar system according to scientific truth. There was once nine planets in our solar system according to scientific truth. Science contains information about what we have discovered, hence it is limited to what we have discovered. A computer cannot retain its state. A teacher cannot teach a student what he does not have himself.
John 3:1-21 states this:
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going." This is phenomenal. I love it. The Clay Math Institute has a set of seven problems, all of which if solved, yield a reward of a million dollars. One of these is the Navier-Stokes equations. If you can figure out the fluid dynamics behind wind, you can not only save lives by predicting turbulence that has historically caused many airplane crashes, but you could make a million dollars in the process. But alas, our science is a mere tower of Babylon compared to the miraculous wonder of nature. All of our science and all of the brilliant minds across the planet still cannot explain where the wind comes from or where it is going.
I was meditating on this concept of wind as I listened to the sounds of a delicate stream. It gave me a new gratitude for the wind. For without the wind, blowing a cool breeze across my skin, I might have been scorched by the heat of the sun.
Take for instance, the tower of Babylon, described in Genesis 11:4-9.
4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel--because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
A tower to reach the heavens. Man did the best he could, to build a tower to the heavens and he didn't even leave the Earth. He fell infinitely short!
Louie Giglio stated, "Scientists say our solar system is the size of a quarter and our milky way is the size of the north america continent!"
And today. What do we see today? We can clone sheep. We can artificially inseminate. We have cars that can drive from Northern California to Southern California by themselves!
But our chemical detection is no where near what our tongue is capable of. Our image detection is no where near what our eyes are capable of. The best pitch detection algorithms don't even come close to what the human ear is capable of. I could go on and on about how absolutely fascinating creation is. But I will end with this point: the neural networks of our time, might play checkers or chess, but they are like a tower of Bablyon in the known universe compared to what the human brain is capable of.
Will our artificial intelligence ever come close to the Mozarts and Beethovens? Our Einsteins and Newtons? Our Shakespeares and our Henry David Thoreaus?
All of creation points back to how glorious our God is. We are built to explore to discover and let us continue! But in each miraculous discovery, let us marvel at the beauty held within. And even more so, let us use the physical to point to the unseen emotional and spiritual implications.
We strive for perfection and yet, we fall infinitely short! All of our work and efforts, yet we rely on God's grace daily, hourly, by the second.
And what of Einstein? I once watched a movie where scientists, with all of their theorems and intelligence, filled chalkboards describing the physics of our world. Einstein walked into the room, erased it all and wrote "E=mc2". Likewise, all of the religious leaders would debate over how to be the most holy, the most pure. And Jesus would come along, erase all the laws and rules and debates, giving us two things to focus on.
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
We can plant a seed in the ground, but we still rely on God to allow the seed to grow. We may be able to artificially inseminate but we still rely on the power of God to create the miracle of life.
Our logic, while it has its place, cannot describe what our emotions and spirit tell us. Our science, while it has its place, changes year after year. The Earth was once flat according to scientific truth. The Earth was once the center of our solar system according to scientific truth. There was once nine planets in our solar system according to scientific truth. Science contains information about what we have discovered, hence it is limited to what we have discovered. A computer cannot retain its state. A teacher cannot teach a student what he does not have himself.
John 3:1-21 states this:
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going." This is phenomenal. I love it. The Clay Math Institute has a set of seven problems, all of which if solved, yield a reward of a million dollars. One of these is the Navier-Stokes equations. If you can figure out the fluid dynamics behind wind, you can not only save lives by predicting turbulence that has historically caused many airplane crashes, but you could make a million dollars in the process. But alas, our science is a mere tower of Babylon compared to the miraculous wonder of nature. All of our science and all of the brilliant minds across the planet still cannot explain where the wind comes from or where it is going.
I was meditating on this concept of wind as I listened to the sounds of a delicate stream. It gave me a new gratitude for the wind. For without the wind, blowing a cool breeze across my skin, I might have been scorched by the heat of the sun.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
From Conformity to Transformation
Today, I am going to talk about transformation. How does it occur?
Let's start with one of my favorite parables from the bible, the parable of the lost son.
Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The first question when reading this is: Who are you? The younger brother or the older brother? I laugh when I hear people say, "Yup, I have a brother who is prodigal." or "I know someone like that."
The story of the prodigal son is fascinating. If you look at the context, Jesus is appearing to explain to the Pharisees why he is hanging out with such sinners as prostitutes and tax collectors.
He has built a continuum of three parables, one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin and then this one about the lost son. From the continuum, he makes it very clear that the return of something lost is extremely valuable.
But there is something quite different from how the lost son returns when compared to how the lost coin and lost sheep return. Unlike the sheep and coin, the lost son makes a choice to return. It says something very powerful about free will. It says something very powerful about how God is such a loving father that he will allow us to choose our path, sacrificing everything and still loving us unconditionally despite our choices.
Now, perhaps you have said, "I am the older brother. Yes, I have sinned. I do have a friend who is prodigal and as a Christian, I need to be less judgmental. I don't want to be legalistic like the Pharisees." If this is you, you have missed the boat. You are just at the starting line of Christianity.
Consider Luke 18:10-14.
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
or Romans 3:23 which says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
If you look back at the parable, you will find that the older brother is waiting outside while a celebration is occurring inside. Where does the parable end? Remarkably, leaves the older brother outside, left with a choice! To stay outside or join the celebration. Jesus is not explaining to the Pharisees that saving the sinners is valuable, he is explaining to the Pharisees that they are waiting outside and have a choice laid before them.
A good friend of mine once told me, "The hardest thing for a man to do is to be truthful to himself about who he is." And the truth is, we are all sinners, wading around in our own pig slop.
That same friend also told me, "The first step to change is realizing where you are. If you don't know where you are, you won't be able to get to where you want to go."
So the process of change goes like this: 1) Being blind to sin, 2) Discovering your sin, 3) Choosing to rely on the Father.
Let's start with one of my favorite parables from the bible, the parable of the lost son.
Luke 15:11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
The first question when reading this is: Who are you? The younger brother or the older brother? I laugh when I hear people say, "Yup, I have a brother who is prodigal." or "I know someone like that."
The story of the prodigal son is fascinating. If you look at the context, Jesus is appearing to explain to the Pharisees why he is hanging out with such sinners as prostitutes and tax collectors.
He has built a continuum of three parables, one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin and then this one about the lost son. From the continuum, he makes it very clear that the return of something lost is extremely valuable.
But there is something quite different from how the lost son returns when compared to how the lost coin and lost sheep return. Unlike the sheep and coin, the lost son makes a choice to return. It says something very powerful about free will. It says something very powerful about how God is such a loving father that he will allow us to choose our path, sacrificing everything and still loving us unconditionally despite our choices.
Now, perhaps you have said, "I am the older brother. Yes, I have sinned. I do have a friend who is prodigal and as a Christian, I need to be less judgmental. I don't want to be legalistic like the Pharisees." If this is you, you have missed the boat. You are just at the starting line of Christianity.
Consider Luke 18:10-14.
10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
or Romans 3:23 which says, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
If you look back at the parable, you will find that the older brother is waiting outside while a celebration is occurring inside. Where does the parable end? Remarkably, leaves the older brother outside, left with a choice! To stay outside or join the celebration. Jesus is not explaining to the Pharisees that saving the sinners is valuable, he is explaining to the Pharisees that they are waiting outside and have a choice laid before them.
A good friend of mine once told me, "The hardest thing for a man to do is to be truthful to himself about who he is." And the truth is, we are all sinners, wading around in our own pig slop.
That same friend also told me, "The first step to change is realizing where you are. If you don't know where you are, you won't be able to get to where you want to go."
So the process of change goes like this: 1) Being blind to sin, 2) Discovering your sin, 3) Choosing to rely on the Father.
So, who are we, the older brother, the younger brother, the Pharisee or the sinner? Some people will say, "I am such a sinner, I know I am prodigal and I rely on the Lord everyday to give me grace." This is a great attitude. There is however, a subtle message portrayed that somehow, you are a better Christian because you are aware of how much a sinner you are. Somehow, there is a sense of pride of knowing more or being more aware.
Consider Proverbs 14:12 which states "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death."
So I offer this answer; you are both the older brother and the younger brother. You are both the Pharisee and the sinner. And the only way for you to realize the true nature of your sin is for God to reveal it to you. In other words, at any given point in time, we may be dealing with the sinful nature that we are aware of as well as the sinful nature we are blind to.
Understanding this, you may choose to obey. You may choose to conform. And blessings will reign upon you, but will you be transformed? How do you really know if you have been transformed?
Transformation is the first miracle you will experience as a Christian. Christianity boils down to one statement: "If Christ can die and raise himself from the dead, then he too can raise me from the dead."
John 2:1-11 outlines how transformation takes place.
2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.c He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
If we want Jesus to transform us, we must be empty water jars. For some people, they feel a void, deep down, it seems impossible to fill. If you don't feel it, you may be covering it up with something else or somehow avoiding it. But if you do feel it, I am telling you, that is the starting point.
We remain empty waiting for Jesus to fill us, then he overfills us to the brim so that we are overflowing with living water. Finally, in the third step, he transforms us. And the fruit of that transformation tastes sweeter than anything we have ever tasted before.
You may be saying to yourself, "So I have been filled. I know what you are talking about. But I am still not convinced it was God." So how do we know, we know, we know we have been transformed? Consider John 5:1-19.
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" 7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." 11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "
12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
For 38 years this man laid suffering. For 38 years! He had hoped and prayed and asked God for a miracle. Then, he found Jesus.
He tried to boss Jesus around, he tried to tell Jesus how to solve the problem, he tried to teach Jesus. But Jesus left him with a choice. He called him out across the water. And instantly, by faith alone the man was healed.
And when he went to the ones who should have understood, who should have related. When he went to the spiritual leaders, all they saw was sin. The man had just been healed after 38 years of waiting. After 38 years of not being able to walk! And their response was that he should not be carrying his mat on Sundays!
You will know you have been transformed, when an undeniable miracle occurs in your life. Do not be surprised when you explain what has happened and people seem to be blind to it. Do not be surprised when they seem to focus on something entirely different than what is so clear to you. Do not be surprised when you try to point Jesus out to them and they cannot find him.
This is God's way of telling you that your transformation was real. That he loves you enough to share this intimate moment with you and you alone. And out of excitement, you may try to share with your loved ones or the religious leaders and they may be blind to it. God will use your story, so be patient. Rather than cast your pearls before swine, choose to save the best wine for last by using discernment. You will know when the right timing is. And when you share, have this on your heart: "Whoever has ears, let them hear."
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Daily Thoughts
What is done in the dark cannot be hid in the light.
The first step to freedom fighting is to win your own freedom.
The hardest thing about marriage is that it is a spotlight on your own weaknesses.
The reason we have the physical experience as a child of not recognizing our own physical growth is so that we may have faith that our spirit is growing even when it doesn't feel like it.
The fact that we are imperfect is not a reason to give up on our ideals, goals and dreams but a sign that we need God and others to help us strive to be the best we can as well as an opportunity for faith that they will fill the gaps when we fall short.
God does not expect perfection but he does expect growth.
It is only through our brokennes that we may be used.
When we have exhausted our resources to obtain perfection, we are left empty so that he may first fill us and then transform us.
While most storytellers lead with their best story, the story of our transformation serves best when it lies in secrecy patiently waiting for the opportune time to reveal itself.
The first step to freedom fighting is to win your own freedom.
The hardest thing about marriage is that it is a spotlight on your own weaknesses.
The reason we have the physical experience as a child of not recognizing our own physical growth is so that we may have faith that our spirit is growing even when it doesn't feel like it.
The fact that we are imperfect is not a reason to give up on our ideals, goals and dreams but a sign that we need God and others to help us strive to be the best we can as well as an opportunity for faith that they will fill the gaps when we fall short.
God does not expect perfection but he does expect growth.
It is only through our brokennes that we may be used.
When we have exhausted our resources to obtain perfection, we are left empty so that he may first fill us and then transform us.
While most storytellers lead with their best story, the story of our transformation serves best when it lies in secrecy patiently waiting for the opportune time to reveal itself.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Who is Brave Enough to Sacrifice Their Son?
I used to hear stories of Abraham and Isaac. It seemed so crazy to me at the time. How could a father go to kill his own son? I used to sit in church and think, it was ludicrous. In my mind, family came first. Family always comes first.
It wasn't until years later that my son was born. My son changed my life from the moment he entered this world. I wanted to be a good provider for him. I gave up my dreams of dancing and decided to get serious about finishing my education. Each year he got older, I worried that somehow I wasn't prepared to raise him, so I would push myself to learn and grow. And when, he hit his teen years, I opened the door of hell, went back in time and faced my greatest fears, just so I would make sure the hurt and pain I felt, never would be reigned upon him. I would be the father I never had. I would build the relationship with him I never had.
So, after hearing the story for the billionth time, I laughed to myself, silently. I thought about how much my son meant to me. And I was honest with God. I said, "I am sorry, God, I will never be able to do that for you." Just then, he whispered back, "I know. But that's exactly what I did for you."
That felt so amazing to know this was the type of love God had for me. But at the same time, I always felt sad that I wouldn't ever be able to have the courage to sacrifice my son. To demonstrate that same love. I just knew I would never have it in me. Or did I?
Later, I would realize there was more to the story. Abraham had another son. Ishmael. He was the son, born from his maid. God had promised Abraham that his name would live on through a great nation. And when Abraham's wife grew old, Abraham took matters into his own hands. He followed a plan birthed in the mind of his wife Sarah and had Ishmael. The funny thing is, God delivered on his promise. God delivered Isaac.
So, what happened with Abraham's son? The son that came from his own planning. His lack of trust in God. It brought turmoil to his home. Eventually, Ishmael and the maid had to go.
Every man has one major struggle. It could be sex, drugs, alcohol. One major struggle. It is man taking control. Numbing the pain. Delivering comfort. Providing control, freedom, happiness, power, fame, relationship. Not in God's time, but in man's time. And what happens? Eventually God delivers the comfort, the love, the peace, the grace. He delivers. He always does. But the fruit from man's choice has already grown weeds. And eventually, man must make the decision to sacrifice his son. His baby. The sex that thrills. The drugs that blow the mind. The alcohol that offers comfort. And I whisper, "Yes, God, I will sacrifice my son for you." I just didn't understand.
And the two sons cannot live in the same household. And they both seem good. They both feel good. But you must live in the one son, as it is part of you. "The way seems right in your eyes, but it leads to destruction." You must live in the son that is good (or seems good), and say to the other son, "You must increase and I must decrease."
It wasn't until years later that my son was born. My son changed my life from the moment he entered this world. I wanted to be a good provider for him. I gave up my dreams of dancing and decided to get serious about finishing my education. Each year he got older, I worried that somehow I wasn't prepared to raise him, so I would push myself to learn and grow. And when, he hit his teen years, I opened the door of hell, went back in time and faced my greatest fears, just so I would make sure the hurt and pain I felt, never would be reigned upon him. I would be the father I never had. I would build the relationship with him I never had.
So, after hearing the story for the billionth time, I laughed to myself, silently. I thought about how much my son meant to me. And I was honest with God. I said, "I am sorry, God, I will never be able to do that for you." Just then, he whispered back, "I know. But that's exactly what I did for you."
That felt so amazing to know this was the type of love God had for me. But at the same time, I always felt sad that I wouldn't ever be able to have the courage to sacrifice my son. To demonstrate that same love. I just knew I would never have it in me. Or did I?
Later, I would realize there was more to the story. Abraham had another son. Ishmael. He was the son, born from his maid. God had promised Abraham that his name would live on through a great nation. And when Abraham's wife grew old, Abraham took matters into his own hands. He followed a plan birthed in the mind of his wife Sarah and had Ishmael. The funny thing is, God delivered on his promise. God delivered Isaac.
So, what happened with Abraham's son? The son that came from his own planning. His lack of trust in God. It brought turmoil to his home. Eventually, Ishmael and the maid had to go.
Every man has one major struggle. It could be sex, drugs, alcohol. One major struggle. It is man taking control. Numbing the pain. Delivering comfort. Providing control, freedom, happiness, power, fame, relationship. Not in God's time, but in man's time. And what happens? Eventually God delivers the comfort, the love, the peace, the grace. He delivers. He always does. But the fruit from man's choice has already grown weeds. And eventually, man must make the decision to sacrifice his son. His baby. The sex that thrills. The drugs that blow the mind. The alcohol that offers comfort. And I whisper, "Yes, God, I will sacrifice my son for you." I just didn't understand.
And the two sons cannot live in the same household. And they both seem good. They both feel good. But you must live in the one son, as it is part of you. "The way seems right in your eyes, but it leads to destruction." You must live in the son that is good (or seems good), and say to the other son, "You must increase and I must decrease."
Monday, January 5, 2015
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Children read this passage and they think the moral of the story is that they should be kind to others. They should help others in need. However, a deeper insight into this parable is that each and every one of us being the broken, battered, ready for dead person on the side of the road. And whether we see it or not, Jesus, the Good Samaritan takes us in, cares for us, provides for us and heals us.
Why do we see ourselves as the Good Samaritan?
We do this to protect ourselves. I mean, I volunteer at homeless shelters, I donate to churches, I help young aspiring students advance their careers. I must be a good person right? What standards do you follow that lay out the defense of your goodness? Is it your religious standards? Or perhaps you are above religion and satisfy another set of laws? How does your inner child prove its goodness?
What is wrong with the view that we are the Good Samaritan?
As long as we see ourselves as the Good Samaritan, sinful pride boils up within us. We must prove to ourselves that we are good. Part of this inner child's defense includes comparison. We must prove that we don't do drugs, or have affairs, or steal, or judge others or horde money. Inevitably, the person who sees themselves as the Good Samaritan believes they are better than others. One symptom is that they become judgmental. They cannot see how people could make the decisions they make, because they are blind to their own terrible decisions.
Why are we blind to our own sin?
Proverbs 14 12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Hitler believed he was a good person. He believed he was cleansing the Earth of an inperfect blood line. Al Capone believed he was a good person. He believed he made a place for his Italian citizens and provided services that were needed to enjoy life.
I used to worry about telling people what I really believed. In some cases, certain epiphanies in my life, I almost wished I could unlearn them. Life used to be so simple, until I stumbled upon certain truths. But the more I learn about communication, the more I realize I don't have to worry about expressing my ideas. You can describe color to a color blind person for weeks and they still won't quite understand color. They say, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
In my life, I remember hearing several things over and over and over again. And then, BAM! I was hit with an epiphany. Sometimes it would take weeks, other times months, other times over twenty years. How could I have missed it? Why isn't God's truth easier to find? What am I missing today, that five years from now I will look back and wonder, why I didn't see it?
Which truth in my own life, out of self preservation and I failing to see?
What is the benefit of seeing our sinful nature?
Proverbs 30 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
When we know nothing good lives within us, we are free from the shame associated with our actions. Fear of shame is completely selfish. If I am shamed, how does that hurt people who don't even know me? You might even see shame as a great burden. Why would I not want to be shamed by others so they can feel good about themselves for not having done what I have done. When we have this humility, we are allowed to accept others' sins, because we know it is only by God's grace that we have not done the same. We allow the true source of love to come into our lives. It is only when we are eternally loved that we have the capability to avoid sin. It is only when we are not poverty stricken in love that we do not steal from false sources of love. It is only when we daily perceive our complete and utter brokenness that we avoid the snare of feeling rich in love so we do not take glory for ourselves, in our own pride, hence forgetting the Lord.
Does knowing we are broken sinners and God's restoration for our lives gives us full right to sin?
Galatians 6 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Not particularly. If we knew the truth of God's plans for our lives, we would never sin. If we knew the lies laid in front of us, which cause sin to rise up within us, we would never follow sin's counsel. While we are forgiven, we still have consequences to our sin.
Even for those who see themselves as needing a Savior, can you see your own brokenness, daily? Can you accept that each and every day, you are completely battered and in need of His love? Will you allow your inner child to submit to feeling that powerless?
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Children read this passage and they think the moral of the story is that they should be kind to others. They should help others in need. However, a deeper insight into this parable is that each and every one of us being the broken, battered, ready for dead person on the side of the road. And whether we see it or not, Jesus, the Good Samaritan takes us in, cares for us, provides for us and heals us.
Why do we see ourselves as the Good Samaritan?
We do this to protect ourselves. I mean, I volunteer at homeless shelters, I donate to churches, I help young aspiring students advance their careers. I must be a good person right? What standards do you follow that lay out the defense of your goodness? Is it your religious standards? Or perhaps you are above religion and satisfy another set of laws? How does your inner child prove its goodness?
What is wrong with the view that we are the Good Samaritan?
As long as we see ourselves as the Good Samaritan, sinful pride boils up within us. We must prove to ourselves that we are good. Part of this inner child's defense includes comparison. We must prove that we don't do drugs, or have affairs, or steal, or judge others or horde money. Inevitably, the person who sees themselves as the Good Samaritan believes they are better than others. One symptom is that they become judgmental. They cannot see how people could make the decisions they make, because they are blind to their own terrible decisions.
Why are we blind to our own sin?
Proverbs 14 12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Hitler believed he was a good person. He believed he was cleansing the Earth of an inperfect blood line. Al Capone believed he was a good person. He believed he made a place for his Italian citizens and provided services that were needed to enjoy life.
I used to worry about telling people what I really believed. In some cases, certain epiphanies in my life, I almost wished I could unlearn them. Life used to be so simple, until I stumbled upon certain truths. But the more I learn about communication, the more I realize I don't have to worry about expressing my ideas. You can describe color to a color blind person for weeks and they still won't quite understand color. They say, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
In my life, I remember hearing several things over and over and over again. And then, BAM! I was hit with an epiphany. Sometimes it would take weeks, other times months, other times over twenty years. How could I have missed it? Why isn't God's truth easier to find? What am I missing today, that five years from now I will look back and wonder, why I didn't see it?
Which truth in my own life, out of self preservation and I failing to see?
What is the benefit of seeing our sinful nature?
Proverbs 30 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
When we know nothing good lives within us, we are free from the shame associated with our actions. Fear of shame is completely selfish. If I am shamed, how does that hurt people who don't even know me? You might even see shame as a great burden. Why would I not want to be shamed by others so they can feel good about themselves for not having done what I have done. When we have this humility, we are allowed to accept others' sins, because we know it is only by God's grace that we have not done the same. We allow the true source of love to come into our lives. It is only when we are eternally loved that we have the capability to avoid sin. It is only when we are not poverty stricken in love that we do not steal from false sources of love. It is only when we daily perceive our complete and utter brokenness that we avoid the snare of feeling rich in love so we do not take glory for ourselves, in our own pride, hence forgetting the Lord.
Does knowing we are broken sinners and God's restoration for our lives gives us full right to sin?
Galatians 6 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Not particularly. If we knew the truth of God's plans for our lives, we would never sin. If we knew the lies laid in front of us, which cause sin to rise up within us, we would never follow sin's counsel. While we are forgiven, we still have consequences to our sin.
Even for those who see themselves as needing a Savior, can you see your own brokenness, daily? Can you accept that each and every day, you are completely battered and in need of His love? Will you allow your inner child to submit to feeling that powerless?
Saturday, January 3, 2015
3 Ways For You to be Innovative Even if You Don't Think of Yourself as Creative
1. We now live in the information age, where it seems everyone, everywhere is creating something new. More people on the planet have access to more information than ever before. With organizations like Khan Academy and Standford, promoting online education, people are capable of learning at much faster rates. Even this blog post is a sign that anyone anywhere can now create for the world to see. "You no longer have to create something new, there is already enough creation as it is. You can now add a new perspective to relate existing creations."
For instance, Aristotle came up with the four temperaments thousands of years ago: choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic and melancholy. We see these same redundant temperaments in a myriad of other personality tests: BANK (Action, Nurturing, Blueprint, Knowledge), DISC (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, Compliance), STAR (Action, Relationships, Stability/Structure, Theory/Technical), Workology (General, Cheerleader, Mediator, Number Cruncher).
Rather than re-creating that wheel, why not tie it into other theories. For example, to resolve conflict you might Compete (Fight), Collaborate, Accomodate or Avoid (Flight). In the middle of these is compromise. Do you see how conflict resolution is related to personality type? Likewise, Gary Chapman has a book called the "Five Love Languages" in which he introduces ways of expressing and receiving love: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, Acts of Service and Gifts. Another great book, by Gary Smalley, is "The DNA of Relationships", in which he introduces core fears people have. We could tie these two books together and make hypothesis. For instance, if someone was abandoned as a child, perhaps their greatest fear would be abandonment. This would probably lead to a need to spend quality time with people to confirm they are loved. You could begin to tie in fears with love languages and even possibly relate those to personality types. Do you see how fun this could get? And that is just relating three books! How much more information is out there? 2. "You don't have to be good at everything, you can recruit people who are good at everything." According to Jim Collins, who wrote, "From Good, to Great", the best leaders in the world, find a cause or mission and recruit people towards that cause.
If you are great at detail and follow through, why not partner with someone who can't get their bearings but is constantly coming up with new ideas. If you can help them see one of their dreams to fruition, your collaboration will be innovative.
3. "There is something that you can do that no one else in the world can do." Many people spend to much time focusing on their weaknesses. Take this as a rule of thumb: Spend 80 percent of the time developing your strengths. That will keep you accelerating. Spend 20 percent of your time developing your weaknesses. That will keep you from being slowed down.
I had a good friend of mine tell me about his son who in middle school competed nationally as a runner. Apparently, at the national level, there is much more interest in tri-atheletes. So my friends son learned how to swim. He was an amazing runner, a pretty good biker and a terrible swimmer. He would place in the twenties because his swim time was so slow. What he ended up doing was spending a little bit of time to get his swim time up to average. This minor change caused him to jump from placing in the twenties to within the top five!
Do what you love. Do what you were meant to do. Just spend some time once in a while checking your blind spots to make sure they aren't preventing you from achieving your full potential.
When you focus on your strengths, and focus on becoming the best in the world, you will naturally seem innovative and creative, simply because you stand in a class of your own.
This post was reposted from http://finlit.biz/business/3-ways-for-you-to-be-innovative-even-if-you-dont-think-of-yourself-as-creative/, originally written on July 11th, 2014.
Friday, January 2, 2015
The Law and Sin
Hypothesis: The only sins we can commit are listed in the ten commandments.
Exodus 20 1 And God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
I believe this list is complete and there is no need to include other potential sins such as masturbation or drunkenness. But I believe that those areas serve as guard rails to protect you from the sins above. For instance, lust can become an idol, adulterous or covetous. Drunkenness can lead to lack of judgement, which may lead to several of these sins.
I believe that not a single person living today can say that they have followed even these ten laws flawlessly. I would go as far to say that most people break one of these laws on a daily basis. If you believe you follow these daily, perhaps you suffer from pride, somehow crediting yourself for your choices and righteousness, in which case, I might argue you have made yourself a God, with no need for God himself. Truly, it is God in you that allows you to be lawful.
John Wooden, teaches his basketball players just to not lie, cheat or steal. Even with this limited list, I doubt many people can say they haven't lied, cheated or stolen.
I also believe that anyone is capable of breaking any of the ten commandments above. It is not because of our good nature that we don't break each commandment. It is only because of God's grace that we don't break each one.
First of all, God does not place us in a situation where we are powerless to avoid the sin. For example, suppose you were locked in a dungeon and given no food. Then, someone else's food was placed before you every hour and all you had to do was simply steal some to survive. Imagine no one would know except you. Could you really avoid stealing?
Second of all, God blesses us with our unique strengths so that we are less susceptible to certain sins. Have you ever wondered why the prodigal son never stole the pig's slop?
Hypothesis: Without knowledge of the law, people would never break the law.
Hypothesis: The key to following the law comes from looking beyond the law.
Matthew 36 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? 37 Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Romans 7 goes on to pose the question, "Is the law sinful?" In other words, if knowledge of the law causes us to break the law because we are sinners, wouldn't that mean we shouldn't teach the law? It says the law is useful to understand right from wrong, but it is not the key to following the law.
Many religions today focus on a laundry list of dos and don'ts. Our cities and states are filled with record breaking numbers of laws. Has creating more laws to cover every possible scenario been the key to making sure people follow the laws?
Mark 12:30-31, John 15:9-17 and Luke 10:27 also mention these two commandments.
So, image the speeding example. Have you noticed that when we perceive a threat, such as a rainy day or deer on the side of the road, that people will drive well below the speed limit. This is because people are focusing on staying safe, the spirit of the law.
Take pornography and the false sense of intimacy it promises in a fantasy land. Rather than focusing on the dos and don'ts, I have found much more ground gained when I focus on how I can strengthen my relationship with God or others.
Other Verses
Deuteronomy 6 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 20 In the future, when your son asks you, 'What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?' 21 tell him: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.'
Romans 3 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 7 7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now 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. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Matthew 5 21 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Exodus 20 1 And God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 You shall have no other gods before me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 You shall not murder. 14 You shall not commit adultery. 15 You shall not steal. 16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
I believe this list is complete and there is no need to include other potential sins such as masturbation or drunkenness. But I believe that those areas serve as guard rails to protect you from the sins above. For instance, lust can become an idol, adulterous or covetous. Drunkenness can lead to lack of judgement, which may lead to several of these sins.
I believe that not a single person living today can say that they have followed even these ten laws flawlessly. I would go as far to say that most people break one of these laws on a daily basis. If you believe you follow these daily, perhaps you suffer from pride, somehow crediting yourself for your choices and righteousness, in which case, I might argue you have made yourself a God, with no need for God himself. Truly, it is God in you that allows you to be lawful.
John Wooden, teaches his basketball players just to not lie, cheat or steal. Even with this limited list, I doubt many people can say they haven't lied, cheated or stolen.
I also believe that anyone is capable of breaking any of the ten commandments above. It is not because of our good nature that we don't break each commandment. It is only because of God's grace that we don't break each one.
First of all, God does not place us in a situation where we are powerless to avoid the sin. For example, suppose you were locked in a dungeon and given no food. Then, someone else's food was placed before you every hour and all you had to do was simply steal some to survive. Imagine no one would know except you. Could you really avoid stealing?
Second of all, God blesses us with our unique strengths so that we are less susceptible to certain sins. Have you ever wondered why the prodigal son never stole the pig's slop?
Hypothesis: Without knowledge of the law, people would never break the law.
Romans 7 1 Do you not know, brothers and sisters—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives? 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law that binds her to him. 3 So then, if she has sexual relations with another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. 4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
Some people might argue that even if people were not taught right from wrong, that they would still unintentionally sin. I don't believe this.
As a social experiment, if you have children, you might test this theory. You might develop new rules in the house such as "No pinching each other's pink finger", "No placing your shoes on top of each other", etc. You might develop ten house rules that your kids would never break. Then, teach them these rules everyday for a single month. And see if they break these rules.
Encouraging words like "Don't spill" or "Don't drop this" might actually trigger a young child to do just that.
Social scientists might say that people get what they focus on, whether positive or negative. Some might say that neural pathways are reinforced over and over, until the inevitable happens.
Have you ever wondered why Adam and Eve never committed any of the sins listed under the ten commandments? They were given one law to not eat from the fruit of the Tree of Life. That is the one the eventually was broken.
Have you ever wondered why people who worry about failing tests tend to be terrible test takers?
As an example, take speeding. When the speed limit sign was posted on the freeway, does it surprise you that more people began driving past the posted speed limit? Imagine the ones who wanted to follow this law. They would drive as close to the speed limit as possible without driving over it. Inevitably, they would eventually drive over the speed limit.
Personally, pornography has always been a struggle for me, because I find the female body to be captivating. As long as I told myself it was wrong to look at pornographic images, I would find myself inevitably destined to look. As long as this was a law in my mind, I would find myself doing anything and everything up to but not technically, not exactly looking at pornographic images. I would walk as close to this law as I could without falling over it. Then, inevitably, one day I would fall over.
Hypothesis: The key to following the law comes from looking beyond the law.
Matthew 36 Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? 37 Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Romans 7 goes on to pose the question, "Is the law sinful?" In other words, if knowledge of the law causes us to break the law because we are sinners, wouldn't that mean we shouldn't teach the law? It says the law is useful to understand right from wrong, but it is not the key to following the law.
Many religions today focus on a laundry list of dos and don'ts. Our cities and states are filled with record breaking numbers of laws. Has creating more laws to cover every possible scenario been the key to making sure people follow the laws?
Mark 12:30-31, John 15:9-17 and Luke 10:27 also mention these two commandments.
So, image the speeding example. Have you noticed that when we perceive a threat, such as a rainy day or deer on the side of the road, that people will drive well below the speed limit. This is because people are focusing on staying safe, the spirit of the law.
Take pornography and the false sense of intimacy it promises in a fantasy land. Rather than focusing on the dos and don'ts, I have found much more ground gained when I focus on how I can strengthen my relationship with God or others.
Other Verses
Deuteronomy 6 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 20 In the future, when your son asks you, 'What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?' 21 tell him: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.'
Romans 3 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 7 7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.' 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now 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. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
Matthew 5 21 You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. 33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. 38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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