When we talk about the Reformation, we generally refer to that period of history that began when Martin Luther posted a notice on the local church door (and it was not an advertisement for a rummage sale or pot-luck dinner). His list of 95 things wrong with the Catholic Church sparked a movement that forever changed the world spiritually, politically, and socially.
However, it is interesting the Luther himself would have never used the term “reformation” to refer to this movement. Instead, he used the term eschatologically, that is, that reformation refers to what will happen in the end times. For Luther, a reformation is what God will do when he creates a new heaven and a new earth.
For us today, a reformation occurs whenever it’s time to reform, or change something. We talk about reforming education, healthcare, and Wall Street as long as the change doesn’t cost us anything personally. Let’s fix it, but the improvements better make my life easier and richer.
True reformation should indeed bring about an improvement, but there will always be costs. Sacrifices must be made. Change is painful. Traditions and habits must be examined. Authorities and allegiances must be questioned.
And if it is your own life you are trying to “reform,” the authority you start with is you.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Blessed by the Light
Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers,
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
Coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
Who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:16-17
Have you ever been deceived into thinking that all you’ve been blessed with came from something, or someone, other than heaven?
You have a nice house (car, TV, family, career, health, whatever) because of creative financing, discipline, and hard work.
Of course, it’s from God, whom James describes as the Father of lights and the opposite of “shifting shadows.”
The things we tend to attribute our blessings to are more like those shifting shadows.
The “creative financing” that allowed so many to buy a house they can’t afford is like a shifting shadow. In fact, those “toxic” mortgages shifted so much that the last ones left holding them have had to go out of business. Now the US government will be left holding the bag (and you and I will have to pay for them, again and again.)
The discipline and self-control that you are so proud of can certainly shift. Ask anyone who has ever tried to stick to a diet, budget, or 12 step program. Shadows temporarily shift and self-control is temporarily darkened.
And even your ability to just work hard may someday be in jeopardy. Like the slow moving shadows at the end of the day, your ability to make everything work out your way will slowly set below the horizon.
No, our blessings come from the eternal source of a never changing light. It never burns out, never moves to another position, and never needs to be upgraded to a CFL.
Recognizing the source of your blessings makes you more humble and appreciative.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Been There, Done That
Jesus knew that Peter was going to have major hiccup on his journey of faith. Peter didn’t want to believe it, but Jesus knew it was going to happen, even before dawn.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32.
Notice that Jesus didn’t say he had prayed that Peter would be spared from Satan’s test, only that he wouldn’t fail. And of course, Peter did fail. It seems Jesus knew that he would so he gave Peter instructions what to do when he returned from this brief detour on his journey of faith, “strengthen your brothers.”
The New Century Version translates “Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me.”
Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, run away, then come back, and ultimately strengthen fellow believers. It seems as if Jesus had a plan for Peter’s failure and subsequent ministry.
No, Christ never wants us to fail, but when we do (of our own accord), he wants us to get back up and use that experience to help others. I’m sure Peter would later interact with other fireside chatters that might be tempted to swear and deny their relationship to Christ. The guilt and shame Peter felt from his experience undoubtedly made his encouragement to other believers even more convincing. I’m sure that many times Peter would retell the story about hearing the rooster welcoming a new day and realizing he had really messed up the old day. The hurt in his voice from having broken the heart of his savior would resonate with fellow future deniers of the faith.
Common ground makes ministry possible.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Toxic Residue
A French newspaper (Liberation) reported last week that some Mac Pros (a desktop computer) are releasing a toxic odor. Apparently a mixture of stuff like styrene and benzene that are used to coat the circuit boards put off an odor when heated. Once the chemicals are “burned in” (you use the computer) the toxic odor goes away.
One headline to this story was “Rotten Apples.”
We’ve all heard tales about people calling in to 24 hour technical support lines thinking their mouse was a footswitch or wanting to know what tool they should use to “hit any key.” So I wonder if there were any calls about “my computer smells?”
Some sins seem rather small and unnoticeable. However, like a bath of toxic chemicals coating a circuit board, they can create some problems when our life gets “heated up.” Their aromas quickly make their presence known, and can even make us sick.
And even when the toxins inside the computer are “burned in”, they are always still there. That’s why you shouldn’t just throw your PC or Mac into the nearest landfill. There’s a good part of it that will contaminate the ground.
And there’s a part of sin that will always be inside you. Years later, there will be toxic resins that you will carry to the grave. The consequences of sin can last a lifetime.
Sin stinks.
When you smell it, turn everything off, re-evaluate, and get rid of the toxins.
And depend on grace to help you handle the long-term effects.
One headline to this story was “Rotten Apples.”
We’ve all heard tales about people calling in to 24 hour technical support lines thinking their mouse was a footswitch or wanting to know what tool they should use to “hit any key.” So I wonder if there were any calls about “my computer smells?”
Some sins seem rather small and unnoticeable. However, like a bath of toxic chemicals coating a circuit board, they can create some problems when our life gets “heated up.” Their aromas quickly make their presence known, and can even make us sick.
And even when the toxins inside the computer are “burned in”, they are always still there. That’s why you shouldn’t just throw your PC or Mac into the nearest landfill. There’s a good part of it that will contaminate the ground.
And there’s a part of sin that will always be inside you. Years later, there will be toxic resins that you will carry to the grave. The consequences of sin can last a lifetime.
Sin stinks.
When you smell it, turn everything off, re-evaluate, and get rid of the toxins.
And depend on grace to help you handle the long-term effects.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Alone We Are Not
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
A very familiar passage, committed to memory decades ago, recently explained to me by something written over 300 years ago.
In re-reading Pilgrim’s Progress, the classic allegory by John Bunyan, I find the character named Christian traveling through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He is on a very narrow pathway that stretches for miles through this dark, dismal valley. On one side of the path is the pit where the blind lead the blind, “from which none have ever emerged.” On the other side of the path is a “filthy quagmire” that we fall into because of our lusts. He walks by the mouth of Hell and hears the screams of all kinds of demons and monsters. Needless to say, Christian is very scared.
But then he hears something up ahead, a voice repeating this phrase from the 23rd Psalm. It is comforting because it reminds him that someone else is on the path with him. He is not alone.
The only thing worse than being terrified is to be terrified and alone.
This passage promises us companionship when we need it most.
God will not desert us. He is always there. For some, he manifests his presence through loving parents who are willing to walk through the valley with us. For others, it is a spouse that vows to never leave you even in your darkest days. Sometimes it is a friend who has been through the valley before and can share a few tips on “death valley survival.”
And sometimes, when there doesn’t seem to by anybody around, we find the presence of God in a way that we can’t see or touch or explain. There is not another “body” around to hug and hold us, yet we feel hugged nonetheless. There is not a human voice to comfort us, yet we hear comfort spoken. There is not a physical person pointing the way, yet the way seems so obvious.
The companionship of the Spirit of God. That is the answer to our fears.
A very familiar passage, committed to memory decades ago, recently explained to me by something written over 300 years ago.
In re-reading Pilgrim’s Progress, the classic allegory by John Bunyan, I find the character named Christian traveling through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He is on a very narrow pathway that stretches for miles through this dark, dismal valley. On one side of the path is the pit where the blind lead the blind, “from which none have ever emerged.” On the other side of the path is a “filthy quagmire” that we fall into because of our lusts. He walks by the mouth of Hell and hears the screams of all kinds of demons and monsters. Needless to say, Christian is very scared.
But then he hears something up ahead, a voice repeating this phrase from the 23rd Psalm. It is comforting because it reminds him that someone else is on the path with him. He is not alone.
The only thing worse than being terrified is to be terrified and alone.
This passage promises us companionship when we need it most.
God will not desert us. He is always there. For some, he manifests his presence through loving parents who are willing to walk through the valley with us. For others, it is a spouse that vows to never leave you even in your darkest days. Sometimes it is a friend who has been through the valley before and can share a few tips on “death valley survival.”
And sometimes, when there doesn’t seem to by anybody around, we find the presence of God in a way that we can’t see or touch or explain. There is not another “body” around to hug and hold us, yet we feel hugged nonetheless. There is not a human voice to comfort us, yet we hear comfort spoken. There is not a physical person pointing the way, yet the way seems so obvious.
The companionship of the Spirit of God. That is the answer to our fears.
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