"Taken" and the Gospel

I just watched "Taken" the story of a former spy who rescues his daughter who has been kidnapped into sex slavery. The movie itself is good, but nothing you haven't seen before. The theme of the father rescuing the daughter is nonetheless very powerful. I can't help but look to the Gospel as the source of this theme (if unknown or unadmitted by the movie's makers). The parallels are numerous: the father who warns his children or the consequences of rebellion but goes unheard, the father who spares nothing (even himself) to bring his child back, the sense of relief and safety knowing that the father has saved the day.

We all long for a father who makes everything right or, more generally, a force in our lives to come in a fix the disasters we create in our lives. Those who are in Christ, those who trust in Jesus as their Savior simply recognize and embrace the greatest rescue story ever. Despite our open rebellion against His ways God pursues us and fights to draw us near. He doesn't fail to bring to Himself His children, those who he has known since before the foundation of the world. We do nothing to help Him, we simply fall into His arms in the release of faith when we understand His patience and mercy - His grace - in rescuing us.

This is the greatest story ever and it's more than a myth. Even though the world rebells against it, this is the story the whole world ultimately wants to tell and the song every heart longs to sing. This is the cosmic drama that is real and can change our present and eternity. Are you written into the script?

Worship

I am reading through the chapter on worship from Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. Systematic theology is supposed to be dry, but a couple of quotes have struck me as anything but:

"(T)he deepest joy of love is the joy of bringing delight to the heart of the one you love."

As I learn more about life and relationships, this sounds like great and true advice, but this quote is about worship. The thought of being able to bring delight to the God if the universe through my simple worship is amazing.

And,

"This is the reality of new covenant worship: it actually is worship in the presence of God, though we do not now see him with our physical eyes, nor do we see the angels gathered around his throne or the spirits of believers who have gone before and are now worshipping in God's presence. But it is all there, and it is all real, more real and more permanent than the physical creation that we see around us, which will someday be destroyed in the final judgement."

Pray for Iran

I have been closely following the events surrounding last week's presidential election in Iran. It seems clear now that the election was a fraud - results were reported within a few hours in an election with (reportedly) 80% turnout, extended polling hours, and exclusively hand-marked paper ballots. It is simply impossible to turn around actual results that quickly under those circumstances.

The whole situation makes me think a lot about my time in Turkey. The video and pictures (now limited by government restrictions) reminded me of the people and cityscapes of Turkey. The political divide reflected in the division between Ahmadinejad's and Mousavi's supporters is similar in Turkey as well. On the right are middle-class, conservative (but not radical) Muslims (just like the support base of the Turkish AK Party). On the left are the young, secular, sometimes upper class and wealthy. While it seems that Mousavi probably won the election, don't underestimate the support that middle class conservatives could put behind Ahmadinejad.

Seeing the video of the streets filled with people crying out for freedom makes something rise up in my heart. It is so right for these people to seek justice and truth. The repression and lies that they live under are so wrong. That people are shot in the street for exposing a lie is the basest kind of wickedness. Certainly, people don't have to be Muslims to engage in this kind of sin, but I think Islam equips the tyrants in Iran with a weapon that is hard to oppose in their culture.

Hearing about the events in Iran also makes me think of the Iranian friends I had in Turkey. Two students in particular, one a nominal Muslim trying to enter university in Turkey. His father, a doctor in Iran, supported him, his mother, and his sister and their relatively free lives in Turkey. A bit of a playboy, he told me stories of underground drinking parties in Iran and cursed the conservative government's restrictions of freedom. I was invited to an "iftar" (the daily feast at sundown during Ramadan that breaks the day's fast) at the apartment he and his mother lived in. We ate the meal according to Islamic tradition while across the room sat a liquor cabinet well stocked with Western alcohol. I think his family is representative of the Shah's Iran.

The other, a true refugee, was in Turkey trying to earn a spot in university in Belgium where his uncle lives. He had rejected Islam and was open-minded spiritually. He blamed Islam for destroying true Persian culture. Hateful towards the the government, he feared being forced to return to Iran where he would have to serve in the military of a government that he hated.

In Turkey I also met Iranian Christians living as refugees in Turkey, often on their way to Europe or the US. I pray for the thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of Christians underground in Iran. The Gospel has gone forth even under the Islamic Republic (Jesus did say His Church is unstoppable - Matt. 16:18) I've heard stories of what God is doing, from people who know, that give me goosebumps.

Pray that these events will lead to greater religious freedom. Pray that the government would be further exposed and hearts turned toward true hope in Jesus. Pray with me that God would sovereignly bring justice and freedom from the chaos.

"The Kingdom of Couches" Review

   I recently read The Kingdom of Couches by Will Walker and his band of contributing authors.  The tagline is "Fighting for Communal faith in an Individual Age".  I think the argument is pretty solid.  The book follows Walker's own personal journey (i.e. faith crisis) and discovery of a community-focused Christian life that he argues is more authentic, more transforming, and more real.  One of Walker's key points is that individualized faith inevitably becomes a faith of achievement and knowledge, not transformation and practice.

   I think Walker's point in the first few chapters is that most of us settle for a cheap, shallow, disconnected, achievement-based, and easy (relatively) form of Christianity because it allows us to be successful in our eyes and the eyes of others and provides all the comfort of the world in Christianized form.  Consequentially,  our spiritual funks, frustrating lack of growth, and "dry times" with the Lord are in some way our just reward for the  shell of a life with Jesus that we live.  

   In contrast, Walker offers a picture of life with Jesus and other believers where there is more genuine repentance as we are authentic with others, pridefully seek the approval of others less but experience more grace and transformation, and see the deep longing of our heart for connection met in the ways God intended instead of through our personal idols and addictions.

    In Walker's words, "It's not that there is a prioritized list of Christian practices and I am attempting to reshuffle the order, stacking community on top of evangelism, prayer, and theology.  What I am saying is that community is the context, the container if you will, for all of it, giving proper balance and correction, motivation, and encouragement for every activity."

   The writers are also brutally honest, exposing the idols that I (at least) cling to and admitting to the attitudes and motives that  few of us with ever will claim as our own.

    The book is especially interesting to me because at the time of writing Walker was a Campus Crusade staff member and all of his contributors have done campus ministry with CCC at one time.  The book carries the familiar tone of a staff guy, but offers a healthy challenge to our assumptions of what is best in ministry.  As a staff member with CCC soon (prayerfully) to return to ministry on campus, I was really challenged to consider whether the things I have done with students I have lead in the past were pointing them to a communal, interdependent, and authentic faith or just towards meeting  external expectations.  Do I model this in my life?  Am I dependent on a model or set of steps for spiritual growth in myself and others, or do I trust the Holy Spirit to work through Word and community to produce transformation?

    One of the things I appreciate most about the books is how Walker sparks a healthy discussion  without "quarreling about words" (2 Timothy).  He is direct but charitable in regards to things he finds uphelpful and doesn't fall off the other side of the horse by arguing blindly for his position.

  In the coming weeks I hope to write more about what I've been learning about Christian community.  

    

The Gospel and "Seven Pounds"

************** SPOILER WARNING.  I've tried not to reveal too much, and its not that hard to guess the ending, but you are warned. ******************  

   Last night I watched Seven Pounds starring Will Smith.  Overall a good movie.  An intriguing story where the actors say a lot without a lot of words.  As I chewed on the story, my mind went straight to comparisons with the Gospel.  I think Seven Pounds represents the American pop-gospel of good works.  Will Smith's character is responsible for a horrible tragedy and tries to free his guilty conscience through great personal sacrifice.  He is haunted by what he has done and is driven on his mission to make up for what he has done.  The film presents this pursuit as noble but ultimately tragic.  I guess this is at some level better than promoting selfish debauchery, but how sad it is if people walk away from seeing this movie thinking that this kind of "making things right" is meaningful and true.  

   How different this is from the Gospel of Jesus which is grace to all.  We each carry a record rebellion against a completely benevolent King, we've selfishly run away from a perfectly loving Father, and each of us has a thousand shameful moments and disgusting attitudes.  

   But, in Christ, we are free from the drive to pay our debt.  Jesus died in our place as our substitute and paid our price in full.  We are free from the drive to justify ourselves before God, before others, before ourselves.  The hundreds of ways we seek to build ourselves up in the eyes of others are meaningless.  The internal defense mechanisms we employ to make enable us to live with ourselves are not needed because we can claim the righteousness of Christ. 

    When we truly embrace freedom in the Gospel, the "I ought. . .", "I should. . .", and "I've been meaning to. . ." of good works fades away into "I can" and "I want to".  Under the law of self-justification we end up in-grown,  depleted, and dead.  The Law is death to those who try to justify themselves by it (Rom. 8:2).  Will Smith's character ends up relationally isolated from everyone meaningful in his life.  He fears the last moments of his life because he wonders if it is enough to make things right, to make his life meaningful. Under grace we end up alive, living beyond ourselves by faith, and confident in hope.

   Crazy, but true.  So counter-intuitive, but so foundational.

   If only I really lived this way.

   If only I could live free from the battle to justify ourselves and free to love others by faith.  When I don't have to build up and cling to myself, my reputation, our idols, I am finally free to give myself to others.  I make my functional Gospel Jesus + my good works.  This makes me feel good because I get some of the credit for my success in good works.

   Lord, give us grace to be transformed in this way.  Spirit, remind us of who we are in Christ.   O that we were free in You.

Election 08

So, the election is over :)  Congratulations Mr. Obama.

While I don't particularly care what color our president's skin is, I think having our first minority president is a nice milestone.

Things I look forward to in the Obama administration:

1) A chief executive and head of state that I, and the world, can take really seriously.  It makes me feel better about my country.  Sorry George, it hasn't really happened for a while now.  You never really did grow into the job. 

2) Every problem that has been the Republicans' is now the Democrats' problem.  They can bear the burden of being the majority and the Republican party can reform and reshape so as to be effective in  two or four years.  Strong leaders and innovative thinkers won't have to toe the line with the president and can actually do their jobs and think for themselves a little bit.  The few years are crucial for the development of the new conservative brand.  It will interesting to see who emerges as the new leader.

Negatives I foresee with the Obama administration:

1)  Quick withdrawal from Iraq and the destabilization of the Middle East.  If the US leaves Iraq before the country is stabilized and unified it seems likely that the Kurds with push for independence agitating Turkey, Iran, and Syria.  Plus, central and southern Iraq could completely fall apart.  But, for all of Barack's talk, I doubt he will be able to put together his withdrawal.  As soon as all the consequences become more clear he won't want the destabilization of the Middle East as part of his legacy.  The weight of the Iraq war will feel different to Obama when he's in the Oval office.  If you voted for Obama because you think he will bring a quick end to the Iraq war I think you will be disappointed.  

2) A massive leftward swing in policy as the one-party rule gives the Democrats free-reign.  How non-partisan will an Obama presidency be if he doesn't need the Republicans for anything?  It could be like the 1930s and 1960s.  If you voted for Obama because you think he will govern from the center, I think you will be disappointed. 

3)  While I don't buy the fear mongering about Obama by some on the right, I think he represents a radical swing in worldview.  He could be our first post-modern president.  He could bring some freshness to the presidency, but watch out for everything that comes with it.

My hope is not in a politician or a party.  I'm not losing any sleep over this, I hope you're not either.

The Enormity of God

I was in Isaiah this morning (40:12-17):

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span,

enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and hills in a balance?  

Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?  

Whom did he consult, and who made him understand?  

Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?  

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.  

Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.  

All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness."

Reading this sent me in two directions: 

First, it renewed my sense of awe at who God is.  I often reduce God to the confines of my life and my problems (even though His nature and Word point in the opposite direction).  We did not create God, He created us.  We are nothing compared to Him, but in His great love and to magnify His beautiful grace, He came to us and makes much of us in the way He loves us and involves Himself in every detail of our lives.  This is a great encouragement to me as I raise support.

Second, this reminds me of a vital transformation in my heart that took place about 5 years ago.  When I began to get a "world Christian" perspective God became so much bigger in my heart and mind.  When I only thought of Him as God of my comfortable, white American, middle-class world He didn't seem that big.  However, as I caught a glimpse of Him as God of all nations, of all peoples, cultures and languages in their great diversity He looked huge.  I remember picturing this during a time of worship: Jesus kind of hovering over the whole earth from a space-like perspective, knowing every detail of every joy and sorrow in every corner of the earth, sovereignly ruling over it all.

I guess I should get over myself and really open my eyes to the beauty of His grace.