What Do You Expect This Sunday?

A woman named Mary went to a grave site early one morning. She wanted to see the temporary burial site of a dear friend. Her friend had been executed for a capital crime. Mary's friend's body had been stored in an available space for a time while everyone had a couple of days off because of a religious holiday. Reports vary regarding what Mary expected to do there. Some say she went there that morning with a couple of other women; other's think maybe she was alone. A couple of people said she went there to offer help in getting her friend's body ready for a permanent burial. Maybe she just went there to cry for a while.

In any event, Mary expected certain things. She expected that she'd need help if she wanted to see her friend's body one last time. She expected she'd have to cower to get help, especially from any men that might be there. (Mary had something of a bad reputation according to some people.) She expected that good people are often forgotten in spite of the good they do. And she expected that dead people stay dead. And after they die, life just plods on as usual.

Nothing that Mary expected happened that morning.

If you've already decided that Easter 2010 will be pretty much like Easter 2009, whether you make your way to some place of worship or just spend the day helping kids find chocolate eggs, then you really haven't done Easter. Sorry. If, however, you are one of the few who approach this Sunday with the realization that everything you expected is about to be turned upside down, then you will be closer to Mary's experience and the impact of the resurrection day than you know.

Jesus Died and Rose to make us Bored and Tired?

When I started this blog, 224 posts ago, I said it was for people who see faith as an adventure. I realize that many people believe adventure has nothing to do with faith. Rather, they see faith as a kind of dependability and predictability; a safe port when life becomes a raging sea. I get that, and I respect it. Certainly faith has an anchoring dimension.

However, I believe that faith as a safe haven alone risks becoming lifeless, routine, and stale. I believe we have within us a natural desire for adventure, the unknown, or a journey that has something that will take our breath away. I know people who will pay money to be terrified and thrilled by some kind of virtual-terror ride at a Six Flags park, yet who would not be motivated to attend a church worship service for free. I know folks who will stand in a football stadium for three hours in the freezing rain to watch their favorite team, yet a drizzle will keep them away from the nearest Christian place of worship. Why is that? I don't think it has much to do with believing or not believing, being "saved" or being a "pagan," or anything having to do with the beliefs of those who claim to be Jesus-followers. I think it has more to do with a hunger for excitement, for some level of risk that will challenge us, for joining with others in an adventure that has purpose.

I'm finally reading John Eldredge's 2001 book, Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul. Eldredge has observed many different Christian congregations with many different brand names. He notes that he sees many churches filled with nice guys, but guys who seem...well, frankly - bored. He also observes churches filled with woman who work hard in the church, and should be admired for that. However, most of them seem, frankly, tired. Eldredge says that someone outside the faith might look at most worshippers in churches and conclude that Jesus died and rose again to make us bored and tired. If that's the case, no wonder most denominations are declining.

This is the week before Easter Sunday. It should be anything but boring and tiring. This is about the greatest of adventures...a man who willingly wades into the environment that will make him face greater pain than he can imagine in the insane hope that there is something more powerful on the other side. We who say we follow Jesus must stop trying to domesticate this event and we must let it be the run-wild adventure it is.

Rapids ahead. Think we'll make it through? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Health Care Reform

Contrary to what both sides of the aisle in Washington claim, health care reform in the United States is not a simple "either/or" matter. It's complex, as evidenced by the bill itself, which is so impossibly long that virtually no one has read it. The right wing has legitimate concerns about an increasingly powerful and over-bearing role played by the Federal government. How did we feel when the government tried to take over rail transportation? How do we feel about the management and operation of the Postal Service or the Internal Revenue Service, or anything else the government runs? However, the right wing makes a false presumption; that the free market process will govern itself and create health care opportunities. A free market does not guarantee a level playing field. For us it has guaranteed a market "middle-man" (HMO's, etc.). The free market has allowed a situation in which insurance companies and other economic interests are making health-care decisions, rather than physicians, hospitals, and patients.

The left wing has noted rightly the disparities that exist. However, I really don't see any plan other than the old, tired, liberal tax-and-spend approach. The solution needs to be deeper than "throw made-up money at it!" It's a systemic matter, the needs of which far outstretch just another government mandate. Frankly, I'm tired of watching the childish back-and-forth in congress. I see better, more respectful human behavior in the first grade classes our daughter teaches. (The two party is a dinosaur, in my opinion, anyway. What this country needs is a new, genuine populist movement, but that's a subject for another post.)

Anyway, I remember from history classes that at one time in this country health care for those who could not provide it was offered by faith-based groups. For example, the nationally renowned research facility, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis began as a Methodist mission. Maybe part of the problem is that we of the faith community have abdicated part of our responsibility and calling. Jesus, the one whom many of us follow, said something about, "As you did it to the least of these..."

For what it's worth (which is next to nothing), my thoughts on health care reform. Next post: Did Jesus die on a cross just to make us nice?!? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Original Sin - Last Word

So what about children in talking about this concept of "original sin"? That's a good question. How could anybody look at a newborn child and think of anything "sinful" being associated with such an innocent creature? We were recently blessed with newborn twin grandsons. I don't look at these two little boys and think anything about "original sin."

Someone once described original sin as being born without an immunity to a disease with which we will ultimately be afflicted. Such a condition doesn't make a person innately "bad" as much as it makes a person susceptible in some inevitable way.

My wife and I thought about our granddaughters, 3 1/2 years old and fifteen months old. Both are sweet creatures, filled with love and testimonies to the goodness of God. At some point both girls have been taught about things they are not to do...mess with the buttons on the TV or computer, touch something hot, climb on to something dangerous, etc. Inevitably they both have defied such directions, knowing fully that they are doing so. I know all the explanations of self-differentiation, boundary testing, and so on. Still, at some level and to varying degrees, something bubbles up in the best of children that pushes them to do even what they know is not in their best interest to do. Where does this, "all the rules are determined by me," phenomenon surface in the humans species in ways that it does not in other creatures of the earth? Some would say that if this does not define original sin, it at least points us in its direction. What begins as reaching for a forbidden knob with a sly look toward one's parents just gets more sophisticated as we age. It can become self-centeredness or it can become altruism which masks a secret addiction to praise. It can become violent, or it can become a controlling approach to relationships. It can become apathy, bigotry, deceit, duplicity or despair. None of us, not even the "best" of us, fully escape it in one form or another. Rescue can only come from beyond.

That's my thought. What's yours? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Original Sin Continued

Take a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle. At the top of the line write "God," however and whatever you imagine God to be. At the bottom write the name of the worst, most evil person of whom you know in human history...Adolf Hitler, Pol Pot, Osama bin Laden...whoever would represent that to you. On that continuum, with God at the top of the line and human evil personified at the bottom, where would you put a serial killer or a child molester? Probably close to the bottom. Where would you put Tiger Woods? That depends on how you view the disclosure of Tiger's personal indiscretions. Probably not as low as the serial killer or child molester, but maybe not in the top half. Where would you put yourself? Many people would put themselves around halfway between or a little above. Where would you put someone of demonstrated Christian faith, like evangelist Billy Graham, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, or Rick Warren who wrote The Purpose Driven Life? Many might put any of them closer to the top, though not at the top of the line. Those very Jesus-followers would say that there is a huge gap between them and where God is. So even the most faithful followers would say there is still a gap between where they are and where God is, on a continuum representing God at one end and evil at the other.

Original sin is a way of trying to describe that gap, and the realization that even the very best of us can't close that gap. Only the One at the top can do that. Followers of Jesus believe that's what Jesus did and does.

How does that strike you? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Original Sin?

Recently someone said to me that she was uncomfortable with the idea of original sin. Now there's a phrase you don't hear much in everyday conversation. Seminary students and church pastors may throw it at each other, and if you attend a Christian worship service you might hear it mentioned once in a while. In general, original sin is meaningless pair of words to most people in North American cultures.

Without getting into detail, original sin is a way of explaining or describing why we are the way we are. Some people of faith believe that human beings are evil, inherently. Just because we are born homo sapien, we are creatures who seek constantly that which is self-serving to us and destructive to others. If that's the case, how do you explain selfless people such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta? Other faithful people claim that human beings are inherently good, even reflecting the image of God. All we need to do to overcome evil and destruction is just to be better people. If that's the case, why do our best efforts at Utopian existence always collapse into conflict and devastation?

For me, neither of the previous explanations suffice. The upcoming metaphor breaks down quickly, but the overall concept helps me. We are like creatures who are created good, but who have some kind of deficiency within us, which we have brought upon ourselves, which we do not have the power to overcome. For example, just by being born human we are susceptible, among other things, to polio. No amount of good deeds, good behavior, good intentions, or good feelings will overcome this inability. Without outside intervention, polio could get us. We need someone with power and skills beyond us to get us the vaccine. Similarly, just by being born human we are susceptible, inevitably, to all that would separate us from the One who made us, who loves us, and who have a plan for our lives. We cannot overcome that gap on our own. No amount of good deeds, good behavior, good intentions, and good feelings will do. It will take an intervention from beyond.

That's one weak attempt at describing original sin. In my next post (probably Tuesday) I will show you a simple exercise that will do a better job of demonstrating it. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Ruthless Trust

When our daughter was nine years old, we found out quite suddenly that we had to move to a new location, and we had to be relocated in two weeks. She was devastated by the news, and flew into a hysterical, tear-filled rage. "Why are you doing this to me?!?" "I don't want to leave my friends! I don't want to go to a new school!" "This is ruining my life! I don't understand why we have to go!" No explanation of the nature of my work would help her. As far as she was concerned, the worst had happened, and there was no viable explanation for it.

Maybe you've had experience like that...I don't mean moving suddenly, necessarily; rather any situation that hit you like the worst possible scenario, and no reasonable explanation was available. You were faithful to a relationship, and still you got burned. You were loyal to a good cause, and you got shunned. You were dedicated and diligent, and still you failed.

Whatever you believe or don't believe about the man called Jesus of Nazareth, he faced the worst. He was betrayed by one of his own. Those who claimed loyalty to him abandoned him. One who said he would be Jesus' best friend forever ended up saying, "Jesus? I don't know any stinking Jesus!" He was humiliated and beaten, and eventually executed. All the while he spoke about and tried to practice trust in the outcome. A favorite author of mine, Brennan Manning calls this "ruthless trust." It is trust that refuses to be dissuaded by the slithering voices and forces around it; trust that holds firm in spite of every impulse to abandon it.

I guess somewhere in our family's transition years ago, our daughter found some reason to trust the pathway, in spite of her loss and grief. We lived 12 years in our new location. Our daughter made friends she has kept for life. She graduated from high school there. She has returned to this town to live and work there. She met her husband there. They've had their three children there. Sometimes ruthless trust works out, it seems.

What's the source for that kind of trust? Think about that. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Who Has Your Back?

If you saw the popular film Forrest Gump many years ago, you'll remember the scene in which Forrest is serving in Vietnam, and his platoon comes under sudden sniper fire. "Lieutenant Dan" orders the unit to fall back immediately, as many GI's drop by Viet Cong fire. Being a prolific runner, Forrest makes it to a clearing and helicopter landing zone before anyone else. He then realizes his friend Bubba isn't with him. Forrest then races back into the jungle looking for his buddy. En route he finds several fellow soldiers on the ground and wounded. One by one he hoists them on his back and runs them to safety. Included among those rescued is their leader, Lieutenant Dan, who orders Gump to stay put and not run back into enemy fire. Nevertheless, Forrest takes off running, shouting, "I got to save Bubba!!" He does find Bubba and carries him to safety, only to have Bubba die in his arms.

When you come under fire in life, who would do that for you? Who has your back when the world around you delivers its worst? Who would be the one who would make sure you don't die alone? For whom would you race into the jungle, with bullets whizzing by all around you?

Some say that the one called Jesus made the ultimate rescue run under fire. They say he did it for each of us. According to the story, it cost him his life. In my observation people don't become followers of Jesus because of doctrines, church styles, the preaching skills of church leaders, music, etc. All of that stuff matters, but it's not the deal-maker or deal-breaker. Lives change because people experience what Jesus did in other people. They meet folks who have their back, and who would run into the jungle under fire for them, no matter what.

Who has your back? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Is It Worth It?

Many of us come to points of life wherein we wonder, "Is it worth it?" Athletes drive themselves to exhaustion to accomplish goals that few will realize, wondering if it is worth it all. People in vocations that serve other people give of the best of caring hearts, only to get kicked in the teeth and discouraged over and over again. Folks trying to exercise and lose weight try to make all kinds of lifestyle changes, only to lose a pound or two. Parents do all they can to shape their children's character and values, and the kids still wander down dangerous paths. Students try to get their ACT scores up to a number that will impress good colleges, they take the test over and over, and the score doesn't budge. Is it worth it?

The man known as Jesus of Nazareth had a goal in his life. It was not a goal for his personal benefit. It was a goal that would change the destiny of all humanity. Consider some of the things he had to face to get the task accomplished. He had to work his way out of the constrictions of a lower class hometown. He had to survive a forty day period in a barren desert region. When he went back to visit his hometown, they threw him out. Some people were threatened by him everywhere he went. One of his best friends betrayed him. He was arrested on trumped up charged. He was beaten and whipped within and inch of his life. At the moment of his execution, everyone but his mother and a couple of his closest friends abandoned him. Surely along the way he wondered, "Is it worth it?"

Yet with every barrier and discouragement in his way, including his own grisly death, Jesus aimed at his goal anyway. He did so even if it would make no difference to anyone. What would drive a person to do such a think. Think about that. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.