Something to Think About...

Was challenged by an African pastor this past week (not deliberately on his part, but merely by the testimony of his life) that in American Christianity we cannot hope to be preaching the entire Gospel if we do not make clear that demons and Satan are real enemies that are quite cunning in their actions toward humanity.


Of course I knew this, or at least I thought I did, until I encountered this man's stunning and robust theology and practical experience in this field.  Now I'm leaning toward the mindset that we are more darkened in our understanding than I previously thought.

It is my conviction that we should always move toward preaching "the whole counsel of God" and I think perhaps I have shied away from this topic more than I should have-especially when I consider that there was a significant portion of Jesus' ministry dedicated to deliverance.  To be clear: I have preached on this topic and even testified about it, but it has perhaps been too rare a thing for me, especially in a society that is arguably more demonized than it's ever been before.

I am not saying I'm ready to start focusing on this topic (I think any distraction from Jesus as THE POINT of it all would be a BAD idea) or that I'm going to be the guy who says there's a demon lurking under every bush.

I am saying that I am going to have to think and pray into this topic some more because I need a more well rounded theology here and a more striking/penetrating way to communicate this topic while avoiding the pitfalls of ignoring it and of sensationalizing it.  We (us Americans) are about as bad in this area (or worse) than we are in our understanding of the judgments of God.

Our Rest a Stone

"Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep." -Genesis 28:11

Jacob's Dream, by Gustav Dore

Jacob was traveling to a land he'd never been to before and stopped to get a wink of sleep.  What followed was him getting a stone to rest his head on and a terrific encounter with God (in a dream) that changed his life for the next 20 plus years.  (Note: Jacob didn't convert here, he just began a greater faith journey.  Read this post for more on that story).

That stone of course, was a type (or symbol) that prefigured (i.e foreshadowed) the coming Messiah.  (We know this because Christ is referred to as "the Stone" in other prophetic pictures, and Messiah means "Anointed One."  Jacob literally anoints his "sleep stone" after he has the dream; see v. 18).

Anywho, here's the point: As we sojourn through this world, God calls us to rest on that offensive stumbling Stone known as Christ (Isaiah 8:14, 1 Peter 2:8, Romans 9:32).  And He is terribly offensive!  He will create custom-tailored offenses, just for you, in order to offend out of you everything that does not belong to Himself.  The offense is so great that many people often choose to stop following Him after awhile simply because they cannot bear to deal with Him.  Only those who are sober to the reality that there's nowhere else to go stick around (see John 6:66-68).

To rest on Him, therefore, will be most uncomfortable, as it would for anyone sleeping on a rock, and yet, it will be the only rest that is actually life-giving.  Whatever the fitful repose we have on that Stone now, things will be different for us as we learn to cease striving in our own ways, our own comforts and strengths, etc.  Our rest in Christ will eventually be sweeter, truer and better than the kind of sleep we became accustomed to when going our own way.  That kind of sleep actually puts us into a sleep of stupor-of terrible spiritual dullness where we are unaware of Him and what is real, what is moral, what is just and what is Truth.  Pilate was in such a sleep when he looked Christ who is the Truth (John 14:6) in the face and asked Him "What is truth?" (John 18:38).

It has been said that the best night of sleep Jacob ever got was the night that he slept on that Stone.  So rest on the Stone, but just as the old hymn, Nearer My God to Thee says, "My rest a Stone" remember that your rest is a Stone!!!   Do not expect to be comfortable, for He will press you to the breaking point till you no longer rely on yourself but on Him (2 Cor 1:9).  Expect to be alive and have rich encounters with Him that changes not only your own life, but the lives of those all around you for generations to come as a result of your trusting in Him.

Abundance and Abasement

Sometimes God calls us to go through deserts and trials to grow, but don't think that you won't one day reap with shouts of joy what you sowed in tears-and I don't mean only in Heaven-this is why King David clearly says he would "see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living."

Through trials and tribulations we enter the Kingdom (Acts 14:22) and grow in Christ, but don't think they are the only thing that are necessary for your growth in Christ.  He is all that is necessary, whether in trial or abundance.  He is INFINITE in love, and standing faultless before Christ in Heaven one day we will STILL be growing in that love without borders throughout all of eternity each and every day we are there.  So under perfect circumstances and in abundance of life we are also able to grow in love.  Zeal for God is not lessoned by standing in His Presence, but increased.  It's about Him, not the trial.  You can discover Him in abundance and abasement (Phil 4:12).  The trial is not essential; so don't own your pain, make it your friend and don't abide in it any longer than is necessary to endure for discipline's sake (Hebrews 12:11) and seek the release and promise of Christ over your life.  

If we are loved in the abundant seasons and receive what He has for us that is so far beyond what we can believe or stand or comprehend, what do we do then?  Who but God is up to the task of expanding our hearts to widely receive with matching capacities the boundless love He lavishes upon us?   And this is not too much for us to abide in as Christians.  To even receive Christ in the first place we had to be willing to have the love of God lavished on us, that we might be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1).  So just continue as you started in that love that exceeds perfection.  Say "yes" to His outpoured love over your life.  Come into alignment with the outrageous ways He's trying to love on you.  Dare to allow yourself to be loved, and where you falter, pray for strength to agree with God's thoughts over you.  Reject "rejection" as the Word being spoken over you now is complete acceptance in Christ through His outpoured Blood which qualifies you to stand unwavering in His Eternal Presence starting right now (Ephesians 1:3).

Wide Awake-Burn for You

Just wanted to share this.  Below is a little video that I made really just for fun (and as a way to hopefully honor my friends) with video generators and titles in Final Cut Pro X.  The song is an original by an awesome band called Wide Awake.  

It has been a great privilege of mine to do ministry alongside these folks for the past several years.  

P.S. This song was written when the lead singer was just 14 years old, and at the time of this performance she was just 16.  The average age of those performing in this recording is just 17 1/2!

The Genius of George Orwell...

Not too long ago I read 1984 by George Orwell, and the book was just scary prophetic.  At first I read it thinking, "wow, that's really good" but at some point I turned a page and thought, "okay, this is just too right on, and this isn't funny anymore!"

Quite profoundly, Orwell was looking at trends in 1948 and making predictions about the future.  Watching government control grow through the degradation of individuals and their individual freedom in his own time, Orwell understood the mechanisms a control state would have in place to oppress its people with impunity.

Cover for 1984

One of the most frightening of these mechanisms in 1984 was the party slogan "Freedom is Slavery."  At first I was confused as to how people actually applied this in our society today (the other two slogans, "War is Peace" and "Ignorance is Strength" aren't too hard to understand how they apply), but what this slogan is saying is actually cunning as all get-out.

It says to the masses, "Instead of being truly free, you people are merely free to be enslaved.  Whatever it is that enslaves you, wherever you find a lack of self-control within yourself, you are now free to give yourself over to that lack of self-control and/or to whatever else it is that binds you.  You are now free to be a slave to that thing that holds you back from becoming a truly powerful person."

Once I understood this slogan in Orwell's world, I saw it everywhere in mine.  This is now a battle cry in our society.  Basically people are finding themselves enslaved to all sorts of bad habits, lifestyles or character faults.  Rather than say, "I want to be free and will do anything to be free from this oppression in my life" people are saying things like "I want to be free to be a slave or at least live like one.  Leave me alone and give me the freedom to not have to change or bear any responsibility for doing so."

In so doing they are declaring in unwitting fashion "Freedom is Slavery" right along with Orwell's dystopia.

Thoughts on the Last Supper

Da Vinci's Last Supper was painted on the wall of the refectory (cafeteria) of the Holy Mary of Grace church in Milan, Italy.  Everyday when the monks gathered, they saw this painting and were reminded of the real Last Supper.  

There are so many wonderful things to meditate on in Communion services, but this wonderful piece of art showcases the moment where Christ told His disciples that one of them would betray Him.  Of all the truths to choose to think upon during Communion, this is the one Da Vinci's genius chose to depict.   

There was a traitor at the Last Supper, even with King of Glory Himself being present. 

I want close communion with God, to enjoy the freedom of relationship with Him that He purchased for me, and I'm glad to be reminded of that and feed on that joy when I celebrate Communion services. 

But Da Vinci has taught me that it's also good to remember that Christ chooses to dine with even the evil, traitorous ones that are in His life (don't we all have them?).  I should go and do likewise with others, AND be willing to let God love on me in all the places where my heart still wants to rebel against Him. 

Furthermore, let it be a backstop to my heart to know the judgment of God: that even though I sit and dine with Him today and receive His mercy, I must continue to choose His mercy and forgiveness and not my own self-righteousness as the way to salvation.  

A Little Study on Isaiah 1

No Bible Thumping Here:

This post is going to have a lot to do with the Judgment of God.  Let me begin by saying, I'm no Bible-thumper, and I don't like to emphasize this particular topic over God's mercy and His love.  That's because I just don't believe that the best way to motivate people is to tell them, "God will judge you."  The "fire and brimstone" preaching, in my opinion, usually only turns people away from God.  

However, I do think that from time to time, the simple awareness of God's Judgment, when it's happening/when it's not happening, and an understanding of His motivation behind His judgments is extremely helpful.  To that end, I'm writing this post, but with the disclaimer that you really need a book on this subject to even begin to adequately explain it.  

How Judgment Works:

Throughout the Bible, whenever God judges, you see several things in play: 

1. His judgments are always aimed at bringing His people back to Him.  It's never arbitrary or separated from His love.  It's like a parent who disciplines His children-though this example is of limited use because judgments are on a much more massive scale than spanking a child.

2. God always gradually steps up judgment.  He does not obliterate people groups in an instant because of a sinful act-that's always the last resort.  He steps up His judgments as people continually refuse to turn back to Him. 

3. This is always after He has reached out in love toward people repeatedly and after He has shown mercy and patience.  He always sends warning messages, either through signs and wonders or through prophets that speak a message of warning.  These messages are not always obvious to those who hear them (if you are hard of hearing, you won't hear what is obvious), but God warns clearly nevertheless.  

Isaiah 1 is a great example of some of these things in action:

"Where should I strike you next, as you persist in rebelling?  The whole head is sick, the whole heart diseased.  From the sole of the foot to the head there is nothing healthy, only wounds, bruises and festering sores that haven't been dressed or bandaged or softened with oil.  Your land is desolate, your cities are burned to the ground; foreigners devour your land in your presence; it's as desolate as if overwhelmed by floods."  -Isaiah 1:5-7

Here, God is in the midst of seeking to turn His people back, but they have repeatedly refused to repent.  He is now desperate ("Where should I strike you next...?") as any concerned parent would be with a child that is refusing to stop acting wickedly in spite of consistent discipline.

Judgment Starts with the House of God

Dore's Last Judgment

When God starts judging, Scripture says that He begins, not ends with His people (see 1 Peter 4:17).  Israel and His Church by extension, are the first to be judged because they should know better.

Continuing in Isaiah 1, God demonstrates His feelings toward hypocrisy.  If the actions His people take outside of the temple/church are not consistent with what they do inside then God doesn't really care too much for the so-called worship services of His people toward Him.  Not caring is actually a bit of an understatement-He actually says that He ceases to enjoy them!

"New moons, Sabbaths, calling convocations-I can't stand evil together with your meetings!  Everything in me hates your [religious] festivals; they are a burden to me-I'm tired of putting up with them.  

When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won't be listening; because your hands are covered with blood.

Wash yourselves clean!  Get your evil deeds out of my sight!  Stop doing evil, learn to do good!" 
-Isaiah 1:13b-16a.  

Angry God Face!

These passages can seem a little bleak, but even in the midst of this passage (there are many other passages to back up this point too) we see that God is willing to be patient with a people that are trying to go in another direction when we see Him say, "learn" to do good.

It does take time to learn and develop the practice of doing good, especially when evil has been handed down to us from previous generations.  Thankfully God knows this and is more than willing to work with us.  Additional parts of this same chapter (see Isaiah 1:18-20) drive this point home.

Conclusion:

I think it's really important for the church to study the Judgment of God so that we know when we are being judged and how we can respond to it properly.  In such cases I believe we will be pushed into taking action that will bring new relevance and power to our worship services as well as revival in our personal lives.