Ultimate Reality

Years ago, I was in complete rebellion towards God. I spent several years in college consumed with parties, drugs and alcohol. At first these experiences were surreal and it felt as though I had escaped into another reality altogether. After a while it moved from what felt like a movie experience to a sort of super-reality. I felt as though I had been given a different perspective on life from the old one. Everything I saw was washed in newness as though I was a child again, seeing the world through fresh eyes where every experience was different and exciting.

For a time this continued and I even began to feel as though I had been shown some perspective on reality that was better than what I could normally see sober. I rationalized that being high was a way of stripping away the guise and seeing the world for what it truly was. I believed that I had been enlightened to the truth of the universe like never before.

Unfortunately this perspective became ordinary, and cold. What was once new and exciting had become little more than a shift in my vantage point on life. I was not witnessing some new reality through a heightened awareness, but the same old thing, only from a slightly different angle. As time wore on the similarities between the two perspectives became much more apparent. My new beautiful landscape had become dingy and grey, and for the first time it felt as though reality was staring back at me reflecting the real truth of what I had become.

In a twist of irony, just when I thought I had discovered some hidden truth in the world around me, reality dealt me a crushing defeat. Nothing was magical, nothing was different, nothing about the world had changed, and I was left with the sobering reality that there was no substance, no party, and no frivolous relationship that could change the world around me.

Enter Christ...

Through the glorious victory over sin in Christ Jesus, I now realize that ultimate reality is in knowing Christ, and serving Him. Jesus has shown me that there is a reality beyond that which I can see with my eyes, and feel with my hands. He has shown me that truth resides in the knowledge of a Holy God who became flesh that we might have triumph over the worldly lusts of the flesh. He is truth and His word is the only reality that matters. Christ is our rock of existence, and in the end all that will ever matter to us is our relationship with Him.

Through salvation in Christ Jesus we do not simply have some new perspective on reality, but reality itself, viewed from all angles simultaneously, beyond personal experience, across space and time to the heart of God in all His Glory forever. Amen.

The Most Important Thing

In keeping with the same theme of trials, and enduring those trials, James uses some figurative language to highlight that which is truly important in life.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: (Jam. 1:9)

Why? This seems like a bit of a strange thing to say given the type of person James is speaking of here. During this period of time most Jews had fallen into economic hardship. Poverty to western culture may not seem terrible given all that governments do to help out, but the Roman empire had no such social programs. Life was more akin to the poverty that is found in parts of Asia and Africa. So why does James tell these Christians to rejoice despite their suffering? Because they are already rich.

They are rich because they have the precious life of Christ within them. You see there is not a single person living who, when presented with eternity in hell, would not give up all their earthly possessions for one more day of life. As Christians we are wealthy beyond measure because despite our economic position here on Earth we will one day be part of the Glory that awaits us in Heaven. No matter how poor our health is during life, we will be given perfect bodies with which to worship our creator for eternity.

Sometimes it is easy to let social and economic hardship lead us into thoughts of depression and despair. However, we ought to rejoice because God has taken away those comforts that can be deceiving (Mat. 13:22), causing us to blend in with the world rather than stand out. The suffering that brings us closer to dependence on God is our wealth (1 Pet. 1:7). Sometimes we do not know that God is all we need, until He is all we have.

Territorial Spirits

I don't have much time to post this week but I wanted to shoot a question out there and get some feedback. The book of Daniel speaks of the "Prince of Persian" resisting the angel that was to bring a message to Daniel...and this apparently continued until Michael the Archangel stepped in.

Recently in my Cross-Cultural Missions class we have been discussing territorial Spirits governing regions or areas on the Earth. We do know that there is a supernatural evil governmental structure often refered to by Paul as "principalities and powers."

My question is, "How much weight to we give to these things as we consider our war...that is, our war with sin?"

I don't want to talk things too far, yet I don't want to be ignorant or arrogant either by downplaying their significance. Here is my final thought, " there seems to be much more emphasis placed on the sin within us sometimes called the "flesh" by Paul and how we need to violently battle with it"; compared to the teaching on Spiritual warfare or even dem0ns.

Scalise

Three Kinds of Men

C.S. Lewis has a little 2 page article which is not very well distributed, but is, I believe, one of his most important works. The article is called "Three Kinds of Men." You see, here in England, there is a popular evangelistic program called "Two Kinds of People." And the thrust of the evangelistic encounter is this: You go up to a non-Christian and say Listen. There are only two ways to live. You can live man's way - always trying to be good enough, always seeking after acceptance, always being led around by your sin, and always looking after me, me, me. Then the evangelist will say something like, You can either live like that - man's way, or you can live God's way. If you live God's way your life will suddenly have purpose; you will be truly selfless; you will be heirs of the kingdom, etc. (You can find an example of this argument here.)

I am not just criticizing the British on this point, American Christians, while maybe not having the formal program, use this same argument. In fact, I would argue that underneath and behind nearly all the preaching done in America (even by solid orthodox churches) lies this assumption and thrust. And, of course, there is nothing on the surface wrong with saying there are two kinds of people in the world. There are. You are either a Christian or you are not one. You either have a Biblical worldview or you don't. But Tim Keller (and Lewis through Keller) has been very helpful to me on this point. He argues that when we preach and do evangelism instead of presenting "two kinds of people" we present "three kinds of men." What are the three kinds?

Tertullian, an early church Father, said, "Just a Christ was crucified between two thieves, so this doctrine of justification is ever crucified between two opposite errors. These thieves that Tertullian is speaking of are hedonism (or relativism) and moralism (or legalism). So here you have it:

1. Moralism / "Religiosity" is the view that you are acceptable to God (and everyone else) as long as you are good enough. You see moralists in orthodox churches all the time. Moralists view God as holy and just, and this will lead them to feel completely inferior (because they can't live up) or completely superior (because they do a better job a keeping the rules than others do). Moralists are very religious and very involved in Church, but they have never experienced the joy of the Gospel
2. Antinomianism / Relativism is the view that it doesn't matter if you keep the rules. They just want to be tolerant of other people. Everyone, they say, needs to determine right and wrong for themselves. Relativists wouldn't frequent conservative evangelical churches - they would go to more liberal churches. God accepts just because He is welcoming and loves everybody. Not because he demanded justice for sin which was paid through Jesus.
   
3. Thirdly, there is Gospel. The Christian worldview is neither conservative nor liberal on the typical political spectrum. Instead it is radically conservative and radically liberal at the same time! The Gospel tells us that God is so holy that nothing short from complete payment of sins and perfect righteousness of Christ can satisfy. God is more conservative than the moralists god who can be satisfied by "trying hard." And at the same time, the Gospel tells us that God is so loving that we - even now - received Jesus' perfect righteousness and are beautiful, perfectly accepted in God's eyes. So God is more liberal that the liberal's God because it cost our God something to love us. It cost him his son, death, the depths of hell.
   

So you see, there are indeed three kinds of men. And it is important to talk about all three. If non-Christians here us talking about two kinds of men they assume we want them to become "religious" moral people. Even if we say, "Jesus did it so you don't have to," they are going to hear, "Stop sinning and be moral like me," or, "stop voting democrat and start voting republican," and that's simply not the Gospel. Our God is radically conservative and radically liberal. Let's celebrate him as such!

God's Grace > Your Sin

In James we have a wonderful promise of wisdom from God if we simply ask for it.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (Jam. 1:5)

The Bible is full of God's promises. There are promises of wrath against unbelieving disobedience (Deut. 11:16-17), and there are promises of great blessing for those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:28). The amazing thing about the latter group of promises is that they are not based on personal merit or works (Eph. 2:8-9). Unfortunately it is easy to forget this. James goes on to define what a true request is in the verses following.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (Jam. 1:6-8)

I used to think that these verses referred to someone who was so self absorbed that they only wanted wisdom from God in order to help them get ahead in life. It is true that these verses encompass that type of person; one who is vain and cares more about what God can give them, then what they can do to glorify God. However, there is another type of person here who is equally as self absorbed. I refer to the person who asks without believing that God can fulfil His promise because of their sin. I refer to what I have only just now realized that I have become.

It can be a great temptation of ours to focus on our own sin and wretchedness, and assume that God's grace is not sufficient to cover our transgressions. It is true that our sin is great, but it is also irrelevant. It is true that we are undeserving of God's grace and mercy, but equally as irrelevant. This is a sin of self-righteousness under the guise of humility.

My sin cannot, and will not ever outweigh the infinite Grace that was poured out on Calvary the day that Jesus was crucified. If I have truly been born again, then the price for the promises of God have already been paid for and I have but to ask faithfully to recieve them (John 16:24). Even times of chastisement from God for disobedience are a promise of blessing to Christians (Heb. 12:3-17).

Father God, grant us the wisdom to see you as we should see you. Do not allow us to regard our own hand mightier than yours, or our sin greater than your Grace. Create in us a single mind in our walk with you, focusing on the greatest promise of all that was secured for us by your son Jesus Christ.

Compromise And Cowardice, A Confession...

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14)

I am a coward! I say this because I know it in my heart to be true. I have faltered in my walk with Christ. For some time now my outward appearance, and my actions have been "moral", but my spiritual life has been pathetic. I have compromised the sacredness of the glorious gift of my salvation by giving my time and attention over to worldly pursuits. The time I have spent in the Word is shameful, and I spend most of my prayer life apologizing to God for my lack of spiritual leadership in the home.

I started with that particular verse because it reminds me of my cowardice to admit my sins. I know I have faced some difficult times emotionally, but at the end of the day I have only myself to blame for my lackadaisical attitude towards Christ. I have spent months disgusted with myself because of this behavior, and I have cried out to God for help. However, I have been lazy, obstinate, and disobedient in my response to His Holy Spirit.

I have been so lazy that I didn't post last week, or this week. I am a coward because rather than expose myself to my trusted friends, I simply chose to avoid the situation. I started this Blog because I wanted it to be about accountability and integrity, but I am a hypocrite. I write now to confess my sins before the group that I might ask their forgiveness in the matter, and that I might receive their prayers.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

Pray that I would put away worldly, meaningless distractions. Pray that I would be unashamed in my Biblical studies (2 Tim 2:15). Pray that I would become the spiritual leader of my family that I am called to by God (Eph 5). Pray that I would allow the Spirit of Christ to consume me in all aspects of my life.

A Gospel Hermeneutic

Scalise raises an interesting question, and it is important that we deal with it in order to really understand the Gospel which I promised I would begin writing on. When we ask ourselves the question how do we understand Scripture our best bet is to look to see how Jesus uses Scripture. When we look to the Gospels, we see that:

1. When Jesus reads the Bible he presupposes Scripture as being God's very words (Jn 5:37-40, Mt 19:4-5, Jn 10:34-35)
2. When Jesus reads the Bible he speaks of it being all about himself (Lk 24:44-45, Jn 5:39-46).
   

This last statement about Jesus is the most remarkable to me. He says, "If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me." How can Jesus say that Moses wrote of him? Jesus makes the amazing claim that everything - I mean everything in the Bible is about him.

As we approach Scripture, the question now becomes not is Scripture all literal or is it all metaphorical, spiritual, symbolic, etc. (For Scripture take on all those different forms at different times.) The question is now what does this tell me about Jesus. What is the telos (purpose) of the text? This is important, because if you believe the Bible is only to be interpreted as literal, you will read a narrative like David and Goliath and say that the point of the story is that we, like David, should summons up enough faith and courage to fight the giants in our lives. The story becomes a story about me.

However, if we read David and Goliath and ask, "Why did the Holy Spirit have this account preserved in the Bible?" then, taking what Jesus told us (that all Scripture is telling us something about him and our salvation through him) we can see that David was just a forefather of Jesus. You see, when we put the David story into the Bible story - the big story - we notice some amazing similarities:

• Like David, Jesus came to his task weak, not strong
• Like David, Jesus fought in the place of his people to bring about their victory.
• Like David, Jesus saves his people by grace, giving them a victory that they didn't raise a finger to earn for themselves.
• But unlike David, Jesus did all of this not merely at the risk of his life, but at the cost of his life.
• And unlike David, Jesus delivers us not just from the giant of our physical captivity, but from the giant of sin and death itself.
  

The story of David and Goliath is primarily about Jesus and my salvation through him. And it is to the degree that I grasp and rejoice that Jesus fought the real giants for me - giants of sin death, law is the degree to which I will be able to fight the small giants in life - gaints of suffering, depression, failure, criticism, etc.)

Ed Clowney says is best:

There are great stories in the Bible...but it is possible to know Bible stories, yet miss the Bible story. The Bible has a story line. It traces an unfolding drama. The story follows the history of Israel, but it does not begin there, nor does it contain what you would expect in a national history... If we forget the story line...we cut the heart out of the Bible. Sunday school stories are then told as tamer versions of the Sunday comics, where Samson substitutes for Superman. David...becomes a Hebrew version of Jack the Giant Killer. No, David is... the Lord's anointed... God chose David as a king after his own heart in order to prepare the way for David's great Son, our Deliverer and Champion...