:: in.a.mirror.dimly ::

As the popularity of Jesus increased, so did the opposition of the Pharisees who set out to trap him and discredit his ministry. By resorting to a conflict over the observance of sacred traditions they thought they had a legitimate way to attack him.

Jesus disregarded the traditional practices of the Pharisees, opting instead to focus on the inner person and the problems that only God can fix. Anyone can wash a pot. God is not needed for that kind of religion.

For followers of Jesus there is an emphasis on the internally rooted sins such as pride, envy, lust, immorality, slander, and some of the more serious crimes such as murder. Physical regulations cannot stop these sins at their source in the heart, even if external rules can certainly do something to dam them up. In fact, the more the Pharisees moved away from the internal goals of the law, the more they missed out on the heart of God and the real power that can heal sin.

The Pharisees neglected the laws of God because they made their own doctrines on par with the law of God. Perhaps these laws began as well-meaning guides on the path to obedience, but over time they took on a power of their own and even threatened the greater commands from God. This passage is a reminder that we can associate our own traditions and practices too closely with real obedience to and love for God.

After so frustrating a confrontation, Jesus traveled to the Gentile region of Tyre and the Decapolis, respectively west and east of Jewish Galilee. While in Tyre Jesus tried to keep a low profile, but the news about him spread and a woman boldly sought him out in the home where he was staying.

We don’t know much about this woman. Did she have a husband or was she a widow? Did she come alone because no one else she knew believed in Jesus or wanted anything to do with this Jew? In addition, she didn’t bring her daughter with her, and we only read that she begged Jesus to drive out the demon, not that he should go with her to heal her daughter. What does this tell us about her faith?   

In one of the only times Jesus denied someone who wasn’t a religious leader testing him, Jesus told her that now was not the time for the Gentiles to enjoy God’s favor. That wasn’t to say that it couldn’t happen some day, but he told her that at the moment she was on the outside of God’s work.

The woman’s faith only grew stronger in the midst of this let down. She believed that the one who could feed thousands with bread surely had some crumbs to spare for her daughter. Unlike those who begged in other situations, this woman humbled herself and reasserted her belief that Jesus was not only willing but able to grant her request. When Jesus healed her daughter he showed that God honors faith wherever it may be found.

After leaving the Gentile region of Tyre, Jesus visited the Decapolis where people begged him to heal a deaf and mute man. People are still begging Jesus to heal. Evan after witnessing his miracles they struggle with doubt that he can do the same things for them.

Rather than show his miracle to the masses, Jesus pulled the man away to a private space and even commanded the healed man and the crowd to keep it a secret. However, they only spoke of him all the more because of their amazement at his mighty works.

Throughout the Gospels those starting from scratch, without religious expectations for Jesus, had a much easier time in accepting Jesus, while those with preconceived notions of a Messiah, religious practice, or theological perfection in  mind couldn’t see the big picture because of their obsession with the minor points of the law that had become inflated in importance. Perhaps the place to begin with Jesus is to first figure out his terms and to then sort out what matters from there.

Over the past six months or so we’ve been on a real journey of faith that I’ve pretty much kept under the radar on this blog. I don’t generally like to share too much from my personal life online, but I think I have a few lessons to share and stories to relate that will be an encouragement to others.

This will also explain why we now live in Connecticut.

About two years ago a friend of ours encouraged us to pursue graduate school for my wife Julie. We’d been talking about it for years, but we kept assuming that we should put it off. After a lot of thinking, planning, and testing, we decided to give it a shot. Last April Julie was accepted at the University of Connecticut to begin working her way toward a PhD in English Lit.

Consequently, we had to sell our house in Vermont, she had a lot of preparation to do, we had to find a place near Storrs, CT, and I needed to figure out a job. Over the following months we sensed that I should try writing and speaking full time, which meant we really needed an affordable place to live in Connecticut and to live on a tight budget. We also needed to downsize significantly by giving away or selling a lot of stuff.

When we decided to give grad school a try back in 2007, I began watching the real estate market very closely, planning to sell our house myself. How hard could it be in a small, fairly stable market such as Vermont? That was lesson one. There are times to save money and to be a do-it-yourself person, but not when your family’s financial future is hanging in the balance.

Over the three months I tried to sell our house myself I was not only humbled, but felt that I’d been foolish in putting us into a tight financial spot. I also put my own prospects of launching a freelance writing and speaking ministry in jeopardy. All of this was humbling for me beyond words.

The next blow came on the first day or our family vacation in late July just after leaving my day job. My next book deal fell to pieces in a matter of days. The publisher had changed directions significantly and we could no longer agree on the direction or details of the book after I had completed the first draft. So as I was launching my “freelance writing career,” one of the major sources of my pride, income, and security disappeared.

By the end of July, Julie and I wrapped up our jobs in Vermont, meaning our income suddenly stopped. We also signed on with a realtor. In early August we had to move to our apartment in Connecticut, meaning that we would soon have a rent and a mortgage to pay. The house needed to sell, and soon.

During the month of August we learned that a lot of people were looking at our house, but no offers were made despite the work of our incredible real estate agent. By early September I began to panic. We really needed an offer on the house. I knew we had priced it right, and the sheer number of viewings was evidence enough of that. Over Labor Day weekend I began to crack.

On the trip home from meeting family I prayed intensely over the sale of our house. “God, we need you to sell this house.”  While driving on a dark country road in Connecticut (yes, we have them here), God spoke in an almost audible voice, “Do you want me, or do you want me to solve your problems?”

I had to be honest. I wanted God to sell the house. I didn’t want God or to seek his Kingdom first. On the following day I struggled to write and ended up fretting about the house and our finances. Reminded of God’s word the previous evening, I left my desk and kneeled in the other room resolving just to worship God. After a few minutes of this, I remembered we had not one, but two reserves of money that I’d completely forgotten.

That gave us some breathing room. I’d never felt so cared for by God over the following month. Two weeks later we received an offer on the house and negotiated a price that I think was fair for both parties. The same buyers closed on the house yesterday. We are now free from that hefty mortgage payment.

We could have stuck it out longer, but back in June I picked the latest date I’d want to wait to sell the house: early November.

The process of selling our house has been trying, with lots of uncertainty. It hasn’t been easy. However, the lesson I learned that evening in September has stuck with me. Do I want God or for God to solve my problems? This has felt like boot camp in seeking first God’s Kingdom.

It has also helped me to see God’s provision in every detail of our lives here in Connecticut. Every accepted article, every friendship we make, and every wonderful place to hike is a blessing from God. We wouldn’t have ended up here without God’s provision at key moments.

I wish I had a pithy way to sum this crazy experience up. I feel like we were trying to figure out where God wanted us to go and to obey that leading. Following God’s lead has not be comfortable or easy, but it has been rewarding. I have experienced intimacy with God on a new level, have seen sin in my own heart challenged, and have learned to hold loosely to home, money, and status.

Everything really is on the table, but if we lose any or all of it, it is far more precious to have intimacy with God. I’m still digging deeper into the mystery of seeking first God’s Kingdom. It’s not an easy thing to do. However, as we pass through these trials and terrifying times we will find abundant life and joy in God and his provision.

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

What are the marks of weak faith?

One person’s faith gives great liberty in disputed matters, but the weak in faith place limitations on themselves.

They key is to avoid quarrels over disputed matters. Don’t condemn others whether they have more or less freedom.

In the case of acceptable food among the Romans there is no cause to judge one another because God has accepted both sides of the debate. Judgment of fellow believers is a mark of a lack of faith in God’s ability to make someone stand or fall. They have no place in judging God’s servants.

The standard set involves being convinced in one’s own mind about these matters, but to also hold back on judging others. We can expect to hit interpretive conflict when attempting to apply the principles of this passage to our doctrinal disputes today. Where do we draw the lines? I think we would quarrel over which matters are even worth quarreling over.

However, Paul reminds the Romans that they do not live for the approval of one another, but rather they live and die for God. Christ’s death and Resurrection established his Lordship over all humanity. If God acts in mercy, reigns as Lord, and is able to make his servants stand or fall, then there is no room to judge his servants.

When considering judgment and quarrels, it is important to ask whether the person being judged or challenged in an argument has anything to gain. In fact, does the judge or instigator derive the most “benefit” by justifying his/her own views or way of life?

Judgment has been reserved for God. The Romans are challenged to resolve to not put any obstacles in the way of a fellow believer since judgment and quarreling do not lead to peace or edification. Even those with freedom to eat anything should be willing to abstain out of love for those with weak faith. These peripheral matters do not promote righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. When promoting the growth of one another so that we are approved before God and others, the Romans will find that disputes often do little to help anyone.

When considering how to handle disputes, the direction of God and the peace of the Kingdom should lead all responses. That doesn’t open the door to heresy necessarily, but rather the goal is to build up others rather than picking them apart and condemning them.

They are free to hold opinions on disputed matters, but they are ultimately accountable to God and need only be approved by God in them. Their beliefs should be rooted in faith, believing that God is honored by their beliefs and practices. In fact, the practice of condemning others may be a sign that some need to justify themselves, to build up their convictions and ultimately their faith by pulling others into their systems of belief. Judging others and pushing them to accept other convictions on disputed matters shows a vestige of doubt and fear that one’s beliefs may be wrong unless everyone else accepts them.

However, if someone is not fully convinced on a matter before God, then there is a real possibility of sinning because his/her relationship before God is put into jeopardy with uncertainty interfering with the relationship. Faith is also the means by which the Romans are made right before God, and so departing from faith means reliance on other means for holiness and perhaps salvation.

For more on this topic, see my previous post: When We Should Not Debate Theology

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

Obedience to God is the foundation for all obedience to government, and so the order of allegiances is established here. Living in peace and obeying laws seems to be the focus—a balance where God comes first but law and order are still maintained. Rather than providing a blueprint for all Christian involvement in government, this passage addresses extremist who may use their allegiance to the Kingdom of God to justify revolt or the violation of laws.

We dare not take Paul’s command to submit to authorities as a tacit endorsement of all governments or all governmental policies. At the same time, Christians must wrestle with the necessity of obeying governmental authorities while committing to challenge injustice and immorality in their governments.

For the Romans, who are told to love one another with affection, honoring one another, they are once again reminded to love their neighbors as they would themselves. This seems to also satisfy the obedience required under the government, if not with all people.

Paul’s final reason for living in righteousness is the expectation of God’s coming salvation. Time is running out, so stay in step with God, living in his light rather than the darkness of evil deeds. Instead of letting their sinful natures control their minds, they are told to let Christ take control. he will lead them to righteousness and goodness.

Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ carries the sense of playing a role or assuming a part. Left to their own devices the Romans may leave debts outstanding, fail to love one another, or live in slavery to their immoral desires. In claiming their identity under the Lordship of Christ they are choosing to live in God’s light, which will soon come to define all of time and space. By putting on Christ they are claiming the resurrection power he has over sin as explained in Romans 6-8.

Whether in public or in Christian community the Romans should not let financial, relational, or sinful debts remain. They have a new identity in Christ. 

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

With a clear picture of salvation and God’s historic plan of redemption into the present in place, this letter moves into more practical matters, namely how to live holy lives as God’s people. It is good for the Romans to know they should count themselves dead to sin, alive to Christ, and empowered in the Holy Spirit, but what does this look like on a day to day basis?

The answer is a daily offering of themselves to God, becoming living sacrifices that are surrendered to God but still able to live obedient, holy lives. This is a difficult matter, as it’s easy to make pleasing one’s self the primary goal of each day. However, Paul reminds his readers that Christ has done as much for them and that such a commitment will allow God to renew their minds. This will lead to the kind of holy lives that he says they should be living. In addition, God will make his will known to them.

The result of this will be holy living where the believers can use their gifts in service to others. Even with these gifts in use, the Romans are reminded not to judge themselves according to their usefulness or magnificence of their gifts. Their measure for themselves is directly tied to their faith.

This strikes me as a good check on whether believers are seeking first God’s Kingdom and offering themselves to God daily for direction. Faith is the means by which such steps are taken, believing that God can direct and empower his people to live in holiness and obedience.

With these things in mind, Paul adds on a series of commands and pleas for right living among the believers in Rome. They are called to a counterintuitive and countercultural lifestyle of self-sacrifice and love that is simply not possible for those who have failed to offer themselves to God as helpless, God-dependent sacrifices. The power of self interest must be laid down before God in order to love neighbors, provide for them, and to meet enemies with prayers and blessings.

Continuing my meditations on the book of Romans…

The true badge of God’s people is faith. Though the Jews in Paul’s audience may have thought that circumcision took on this identifying mark, Paul tells the story of Abraham and his faith to drive home God’s inclusion of all people on the basis of faith. Because of his faith Abraham was declared righteous before circumcision even entered the picture.

In one swift exegetical swoop, Paul has removed a major barrier between Jew and Gentile. However, in creating a common ground in faith, the law is not discarded. In fact, by trusting in the death and resurrection of Christ, Paul’s readers are able to uphold the law through God’s power.

God emerges from this as both just and upholding the law, but also as a merciful savior who saves us on the basis of faith. From start to finish, God receives the glory for our salvation and subsequent holiness. There is no room for boasting to be sure.

Even when facing the odds against God’s promise for offspring, Abraham’s faith became stronger and he gave glory to God. He trusted that a larger obstacle meant a greater miracle and greater acclaim from God. It is important to note here that Abraham trusted in a promise of God, rather than simply trusting God would do something Abraham wanted.

Hearing God’s promise is the first step. Trusting in it is the second, even if circumstances stack up against us.

In the case of salvation we have promises throughout scripture that God can and will save us on the basis of our faith in his redeeming acts. We may face our sin daily, but so long as we trust in a God who can raise the dead and call life into being, we can trust in his power to save us and to make us part of his family.

When we live by faith we bring glory to God. 

Tolerance for the trivial wanes when you’re going through a rough time. It helps you sort through what’s important and what is not important. As someone who struggles with anxiety, I tend to make many trivial matters important. As a follower of Jesus I need to continually work on sorting through what’s of ultimate consequence.

A pastor I know once experienced the loss of a child to miscarriage. He was down. Who could blame him? Someone called, not knowing what had happened, and asked how he was doing. “It’s been a rough day,” he replied. The caller proceeded to say, “You’re day can’t be any worse than mine…” and then shared the details of a day that the pastor characterized as, “Not a bad day.”

We’re not going through anything all that bad in comparison to this pastor, but we have a lot of pressure and stress in our lives right now that we’re trying to work through with an impending move and the daily struggle to try selling our house. I’m REALLY tired of people saying to me, “Oh, this is a terrible time to sell.”

As if I’m not aware of that. Sheesh.

We have time. Our situation really isn’t dire, but there’s that ongoing pressure of just trying to get this house sold. It can’t go on forever, and it’s going to be a pain continuing to sell it when we move down to Connecticut in August. And so the tension and pressure increases.

Meanwhile my worn little Bible reminds me to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that I shouldn’t worry about such trivial things as food and lodging. Seek God and he’ll provide it for you. However, God also has this knack for taking care of business at the last second.

Think about the Israelites at the Red Sea with the Egyptians bearing down on them.

That has been God’s pattern in our lives and also in the lives of others. He delivers eventually, but man it’s hard not to sweat it out. This has radically changed my understanding of faithfulness or living by faith day to day.

Faith is this: jumping off the cliff not knowing what’s below or how you’ll survive, but trusting that God has a net, a bird, a plane, a pool of water, or just something, anything to catch you, to make things alright. Faith means seeking out God’s purpose for you each day, seeking to live a holy life, and not letting anything else hinder that.

As a follower of Jesus I believe the just shall live by faith. I have confessed with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord.

Faith matters.

And that leads us to what we have faith in. If NT Wright’s assessment of the Gospel (see What Saint Paul Really Said: Was Paul of Tarsus the Real Founder of Christianity?) message is correct, then the Gospel hinges on the Lordship of Jesus Christ. James reminds us that no one can proclaim Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit of God. Wrapped up in this idea of believing in the Lordship of Christ is the Gospel story of incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and eventual return.

So we believe we are just because we live by faith.

We have faith in the Lordship of Jesus.

And then we face the challenge of putting our money where our mouth is. In short, I’m referring to the letter by James that proclaims faith is ineffective and useless, incapable of saving us if we don’t back it up by living out what we believe.

This leads us to the question, “What are the implications of the Lordship of Jesus to our everyday lives?” Surely we want our faith to be effective, alive, and genuine, and so this Lordship issue is quite pressing for us. If I truly believe that Jesus is Lord over everything—that every area of my life must be surrendered to him and the new life of his Kingdom—then I am called to a new way of living, of assigning worth, of working toward justice beyond my own needs, and of connecting with the life in God’s Spirit.

I’m processing this, and to be frank it’s a tad uncomfortable. How I spend my time, money, and influence are some departments in my life where Jesus wants to bring his Kingdom. The question that remains, “Will I partner with him?”

I’ve had a growing reading list of books these days that I’m trying to plow through. Each meets a different interest or need, so I thought I’d share some reviews according to my categories.

For the Blog

David Sanford’s latest book, If God Disappears, confronts nine ways our faith can be wrecked and then offers nine of his own faith builders. The book is packed with anecdotes and stories that show Sanford is no stranger himself to suffering and difficult times, if not deep doubt and despair. He’s walked through the valleys dealt with in this book, and so he is never lacking in compassion and empathy as he unravels a wide variety of scenarios where faith may take a hit.

The narrative has a nice movement from story to teaching and then back to story, and his own reflections are particularly powerful. I haven’t quite finished it yet, so I hope to blog on it again once I wrap it up, but for an accessible read that deals with the weighty matters of doubt, losing faith, and finding it again, Sanford’s book is a solid buy. If you have a skeptic or someone going through some doubts, I highly recommend this book as a Christmas present.

On one other note, the design itself is excellent. Salt River is an imprint of Tyndale, and they’ve been putting out some great books with a clean, minimalist design for their compact hard backs. This means the books are affordable, sturdy, and attractive. With the changes coming to the book industry, I suspect these will be the kind of books readers will want in the future when the more affordable kinds of paperbacks will be replaced with digital formats.

Pleasure Reading/Learning to Write Better

Stephen King advises would-be writers to read, read, read. As someone who wants to try making a living as a writer, this means I’m always looking for a good writer to not only read for pleasure, but to learn from. A.J. Jacobs’ book The Year of Living Biblically fits that bill nicely.

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