So, Where Are We?

I have spent these last weeks looking at some difficult passages of scripture. Let me summarize some thoughts after looking at these passages.

* Genesis 4 -- The story of Cain & Abel. The Hebrew word Timshel. Meaning MAYBE. It MAY BE that you will make a good choice, Cain, but it MAY NOT. And remember, sin is crouching at your door.

* Philippians 1/2 -- You should have the SAME mind as Christ Jesus -- who EMPTIED Himself and became obedient, even to death ON A CROSS. Oh, and work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

* Ephesians 2 -- Salvation is GRACE. PERIOD. YOU DID NOT EARN THIS. You were ALL dead in your sins when Christ saved you. Yet you also are God's POIEMA, or masterpiece of craftsmanship.

* I Corinthians 5/6 -- So, there is this guy. Part of your community. Doing bad stuff. Seriously bad stuff. You have allowed him to continue in that. Even encouraged it, because we are all 'free'. NO. Drive him out. Root and branch. I MEAN IT. GONE. And about that whole taking other believers to court thing? NO. If you do, you have already lost. WHY NOT SUFFER WRONG? WHY NOT RATHER BE DEFRAUDED?

* II Timothy 4 -- Do what I have taught you. Forget that you are young, because when folks are not doing what God wants them to do (and he provides an EXHAUSTIVE list), then I want you to REPROVE...REBUKE and EXHORT them. But do so with complete patience. Now that is a new twist on Church leadership. Totalitarian authority combined with TOTAL patience. Hmmm....

* Galatians 5/6 -- So don't allow FORMS of religion, such as CIRCUMCISION, to become more important than GOD. DON'T do these things, such as...anger, rivalry, dissension, envy, drunkenness. But RATHER be FILLED with the Spirit and its fruit...peace, joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness. For when we make the FORM more important than the FUNCTION, we REMOVE THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS.

* Finally, Acts 15 -- where there is a problem about believers being circumcised. And as hard as it is for us to realize today, the word of the Apostle Paul could not carry the day. So Paul and Barnabas are sent to Jerusalem, where they lay their case before Peter and the other Disciples. At the end of an extended period of debate, James, whichever James this is, stands up and renders his 'judgment'. No sexual immorality, no blood, no food sacrificed to idols. But what about the rest of the Torah? NO COMMENT. And this seemed good to everyone, so they sent letters to the Churches...WHAT? Where are the rest of the laws and commands? Why does James get to render judgment? Why aren't Peter or Paul or even Barnabas elected to this job?

So, as we segue back into Romans, it is with this backdrop:

1. There clearly are things we should do and some we shouldn't. (Galatians 5 & I Cor. 5)

2. While this is set against a backdrop of grace (Ephesians 2) and a sense of humility modeled upon Christ (Philippians 2) -- there is still a strong sense that we should step in when folks are out of line (I Corinthians 5 & II Timothy 4).

3. And why do you think you should be relieved from suffering? Why would you not think it better to suffer for Christ? (I Corinthians 6)

4. Because at the end of the day, man apparently has a consistent problem with holding up a particular pattern of worship as being more important than the worship itself. Whether that problem stems from circumcision (Acts 15 & Galatians 5) or clapping or instrumental music, the tide of the Church seems to constantly deposit us on this same beach. And how do we choose who gets to make the final choice, or be the one who rebukes us back on the right path? How do we choose between Peter, Paul and James? Because TIMSHEL is still in place, and it MAY BE that we make the right choice, but even if we don't, sin is still crouching at our door. So, Goebel Music, where is the PATTERN for us to behold?

The Eucatastrophe

Eucatastrophe is a term coined by JRR Tolkien which refers to the sudden turn of events at the end of a story which result in the lead character's well-being. He formed the word by affixing the Greek prefix eu, meaning good, to catastrophe, the word traditionally used in classically-inspired literary criticism to refer to the "unraveling" or conclusion of a drama's plot. It is a surprise, and a joyous surprise at that. I can think of no word that better sums up my experience with this House Church. Born from the most difficult period of my life, I had no idea what to expect. Yet when Greg, Cyndi, Anne and I decided to go be with Crystal Jones at the passing of her father, Natalie, DeeDee, Amy Foster and Bill / Donna all pitched in to help get the kids to / from school. This retreat will focus on the joy that can be found in community, as we celebrate today and look to the future. I hope that everyone will come and join us for a wonderful weekend! Click the graphic to enlarge the poster and print it if you didn't get one of the copies on card stock!

Sunday Morning

What is the role of pastor / teacher? Elder? Mature Christians within the body? Further, how do we handle it when someone does something that clearly is against what God wants for our lives? When that thing is called sin? How can we call one another into accountability without wagging a finger of judgment? How can we live humbly within our community so that if someone does question us we will respond in a way that God would approve of? We will look at II Timothy 4 and Paul's comments to the young preacher Timothy, his 'son in the faith'.

Randy Harris Audio

This year at the ACU Summit (that artist formerly known as the Lectureship), Jonathan, Amanda and I took in a most amazing three day class taught by one of the foremost thinkers and orators of our movement, Dr. Randy Harris. Dr. Harris is decidedly monk-like, perpetually single and dresses in black (head-to-toe) every day. But the monastic lifestyle which he pursues each Summer seems to give him abundant time to think critically and hopefully about the kingdom of God. The class was entitled Cruciformity, and took place in three parts. The first two days were very good, leading to the crowning jewel, which took place on Wednesday! Here they are for your edification...they will be available soon as a free download on Itunes...

Click the Title to go to the audio...or right click it to download the audio file...

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

All Things Are Lawful...

Well, between Robotics Competition, The PS 150 Benefit Concert I emceed for tonight and the Rangers going to the World Series, it has been quite a day. And we are continuing through a list of scriptures I gave you a couple of weeks ago.

All that being said, however, I did want to briefly comment on the scripture for tomorrow. We will follow up our study of Ephesians 2, and the emphasis Paul places there on the power and necessity of grace by looking at I Corinthians 5/6...where Paul tells the Corinthians most strongly to avoid tempting things, and to realize that we are free, and all things are lawful...but many of them are still not helpful.

How do we balance this sense of gracious living with the reality that God still has expectations for our lives, and he still wants us to avoid living in certain ways? It is almost midnight, so I am not going to try and comment further...but we will pick up there in the AM...see you then!

Thoughts on Grace

I found an article that I thought was particularly good on the concept of grace. Click HERE to access the article. I think it is such a hard concept to grasp that we have received unmerited favor from a Holy God, and then trying to decide what our response to that Grace should be...confidence -- humility -- power -- thankfulness? How can you be confident in your status with God while maintaining a healthy understanding of what the book of Isaiah tells us about the difference between God and us...

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

If you haven't done so already, make sure you read the blog article below for the passages we will be studying tomorrow...and enjoy the rainfall!

How can we keep this thing between the lines?

It is difficult to read the words penned by Isaac Watts in the hymn, 'Alas and Did My Savior Bleed' that Christ died 'for such a worm as I', and not begin to feel really badly about yourself. It is ironic that posturing ourselves in a correct relationship with a Holy, Almighty God puts us in a place that may make it difficult to remember that God also sent his one and only Son to die on our behalf.

We need to balance the reality that we are sinful, fallen beings who have been called to a life of freedom through slavery to Christ with the entire canon of scripture. For instance in Hebrews ch. 5 the author, in telling us about our great high priest, Jesus Christ, says that because of Him we may '....with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.'

Paul tells the Ephesian believers that they are God's 'Poiemá', his one-of-a-kind masterpiece(s). His workmanship, like that of a master carver. So even though we aren't God, we ARE made in His image, intended to reflect His glory to those around us.

So, as we continue our study, let's look at the length and breadth of scripture...Sunday we looked at the following verses:

• Genesis 4
• Matthew 5
• Philippians 2
• James 1

This Sunday we will cover all or part of the following verses:

• I Corinthians 5/6
• Galatians 5
• Ephesians 2
• I Peter 2
• John 8
• II Timothy 4

DeeDee wrote a song recently that seems to hold these 'opposing' views of us, both wretched and desperately loved in a song entitled 'You Don't See Me As I Am'. I was particularly moved by this verse / chorus combination:

On the outside I impress

On the inside, I'm a wreck, a mess

They can't see past this mask

They can't see that deep inside I'm dying

Inside I'm crying

Worthless, spent and sick of trying

Hoping no one sees me as I am

But, YOU don't see me as I am

Filthy, stained and so unworthy

Undeserving of your Love

You don't see me as I am.

Beautiful, Dee...and I will close with these words by Lady Julian of Norwich, with an addendum by Madeleine L'Engle:

'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well (no matter what).'