In Prayer I Trust God Once Again

You have heard all those clichés before… You know, how God hears our prayers and answers them… how “all things work for good for those who love the Lord…” and so on. I used to believe them without giving them any more thought than just to quote those spiffy little sayings when ever they suited my purposes and helped me towards my own favor. But that changed…

There are certain points in life where those statements seem pretty absurd, not because they are untrue but because at certain moments of life, those unpleasant moments of deep suffering, and those sayings – as biblical as they are – seem very untrue.

Whether it is the death of someone deeply loved, a divorce, a serious illness, or a deeply imbedded emotional wound that makes you wish life would just end, whatever the case may be it seems hard to believe that God hears and answers prayer and is doing so in order that your life will turn out for the good. In my case, it seemed pretty hard to trust in God after having spent nine months praying for my unborn son only to watch him die three days after his birth.

Following my own experience of suffering was a period of 1-1½ years where I could no longer trust God, even though I had nowhere else to turn but to God. Yet I could not pray. What would I pray about? It seemed that God did not near my prayers for my son. And if he heard my prayers then he must not have answered those prayers. And if he answered those prayers (which led to my son’s death), then what good was prayer anyways if it brought me this much pain.

Do you understand the dilemma? Almost three years later I heard a person speaking on the subject of spiritual transformation. This person himself had suffered the death of a wife and a son during his lifetime. During the question and answer session, I asked him how we learn to pray again. His answer was Romans 8.26-27…

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (TNIV)

Scripture reminds us that God is working for us through the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in prayer. Therefore God knows what we need even if we do not know how to ask for it.

This was a turning point. Because I came to realize that I needed to trust that God had only my good in mind, even if I was unable to see how God was working for my good in the temporal moment. This is why Paul continued in his letter to the Romans saying…

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8.28, TNIV).

At that moment I learned that if I was ever to recover from the horror of loosing my son, I would need to trust in God even when I could not see or understand why. This is faith and it is truly a liberating moment of joy with God.

Eventually I began praying again. My prayer started out something like this: “Father God, I need you in my life but I do not know what to say or ask you for. I don’t know what to even pray for. However, I know that by your Spirit you are listening and that you know what my life needs so in your grace and mercy will answer my prayer? I trust you in your Son, Jesus. Amen!

I do not have all the answers to why bad things happen. I do not fully understand how God is involved in our life. This I do know… The Father sent his Son, Jesus into this world to redeem us through the cross and resurrection and has left us with the indwelling Holy Spirit as a promise of our eternal life until the Son comes again. Because I believe this, I must believe God is always working for my good – even when I am unable to see that work in the temporal moment. And so in prayer I trust God once again.

When God Sends Them Our Way

While attending seminary on a full-time basis, I also serve as a part-time associate minister in a small congregation which is an overwhelmingly congregation of elderly people. This church is your typical traditional Church of Christ. There is no big exciting ministries taking place and certainly there is no dazzling youth ministry going on (we don’t have any teenagers in attendance).

Well three weeks ago two teenage boys, one of whom lives two blocks from the church building, decided to walk over to our building and visit us for worship. Because I was leading songs that morning, I was not able to speak with them until after services were over. After talking with them, I honestly thought that they would never show up again. But wouldn’t you know it, this past Sunday morning they both showed up again for Sunday School, worship (the beginning of our Gospel Meeting), and then stayed for the potluck afterwards..

I and another associate minister who attends seminary with me were able to spend the class time with them, getting to know these boys a little better. They wanted to study the Bible. Now let me tell you, everything you have heard about a postmodern world view was true with them (as far as I could tell). When asked what they thought about God… they replied that he is like a superhero in the sky.

Now since I happen to be very interested in the subject of Christian ministry in a postmodern setting, I was not intimidated one bit by the fact that their world view and understanding of life carries a complete different set of assumptions then I was raised with. Of course, I realize that postmoderns learn much easier through experience than rational thought (which is neither good nor bad).

So I thought that it would be very nice to have a dynamic youth group (community) to which I could invite these two teenager into and let them see the transforming power of God at work among a community of “God-people, so that they could eventually see that all of this “Bible / Church” stuff has some merit to it – hoping that this would lead them to an embracing of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. But I don’t have this. All that I had was a library, the other associate minister, some Bibles, and some knowledge (feeble knowledge) to offer them. We started with Genesis and I tried to help them see the point of the creation narrative and why it meant something to the Israelites coming out of Egyptian captivity. And this rational discourse was intended to teach them that God created them to be his special people as well.

So I did not have the “ideal” environment for spiritual transformation among a couple of teenage postmodern minds. God still sent them our way and placed them before me so that they could begin to here and see the good news of God. No, I did not have the picture perfect situation to work with but I have learned something again. Discovering God is not dependent on whether I can engineer the perfect environment for spiritual transformation. Yes, if I had my choice it would be a different environment. But I did not have that luxury. Still, God sent them our way. I then can only do two things: 1) Plant the seed of Jesus Christ, and 2) trust God to water and increase that planted seed. I am still grateful for the opportunity to spend at least one morning with these two boys showing them where true life is found.

Who is God sending your way?

William Bennett and Others who don't Get it

Recently on his radio talk show, William Bennett made this comment in a discussion about the crime rate:

"I do know that it's true that if you wanted to reduce crime, you could -- if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down. That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down."

Because he called the idea of aborting every black baby “morally reprehensible,” he does not understand why his statement is still offensive to some people.

He does not get it!

Mr. Bennett, what you have done is singled out one particular race and essentially said that this race is solely responsible for crime, or at least the majority of crime, in our country. Further more, you seem to have forgotten the many African American citizens of this country who are not involved in criminal activity but rather are morally good standing people who contribute a worth of value to the betterment of community, both on the local and national level.

As we all know, crime seems to breed where poverty exists. And ANYONE who has ever spent time with any person, regardless of race, who lives in poverty, knows that some of the circumstances which contribute to their lifestyle of poverty were never in their control. Circumstances like where the community they were born into, the family they were born into (healthy vs. dysfunctional), the educational opportunities that were available to them (and anyone who is connected to the Memphis City Schools know that not every educational system is equally as good as another), and might we say that because racism is still a factor in the United States that being born a different race than white into a different environment than middle to upper class is a factor as well.

So Mr. Bennett, and to all the others who share your ridiculous opinion. Listen up: I spent two years, which is not much, working in a jail ministry. Most of the prisoners I spoke with were in jail for some reason that was related to drug addictions. Now I certainly believe that each one of those prisoners had committed a certain act(s) that justified their presence in the county jail. But how interesting it is to know how quickly society responds, and how much money the tax payers will pay in support of, when these adult men and women commit an illegal act and one that infringes on the rights of other. But where was society when these adult prisoners were children having no choice but to grow up in environments where abuse, neglect, negative influences (often drugs and alcohol), etc… were a normal way of life for them, teaching them such dysfunctional lifestyles?

So, if you want to curb the crime rate… Try investing yourself in the life of the children who are forced to grow up in these environments.

People often ask my wife why she continues to teach in an inner city school. She does so because she knows that often, though not always the case, she is possibly the one positive role model who will have an opportunity for influence on these children. She does so because she knows as a Christian, that God has blessed her so that she can bless the least of these.

Grieving with the Suffering

The other day I was in to pick up some family portrait pictures. The sales person was showing me the pictures we had made to make sure I thought they turned out fine (they did). She noticed in the picture that we had one child (our 8-month old daughter). But for some reason she asked me if that was the only child we had. Well it isn't and even though there is no easy way to tell someone that you have a son who died, I am not about to pretend that I don't have another child when I am asked about it. So I responded to her and simply said, "We have a son also." I did not really want to elaborate too much but she went on to ask how old he is. Well there is no way to answer that one without simply telling the truth. So I told her that our Son passed away when he was three days old.

As you can imagine, she was taken back a bit and you could tell she really did not know how to respond. BUT she responded any ways. She said, "I am sorry! Three days old? He mines well have not even been born."

Now I was taken back. My son, better off not even being born? NO WAY! I told her that I was glad to have the three days with Kenny that we did have and that I would never wish them away.

Thankfully, it has been over three years now since my wife and I lost our son Kenny. Because I am able to handle hearing the ridiculous comments, which I am sure are made with the intension of being comforting rather than malicious.

But this illustrates a point that I cannot emphasize enough. Our world is full of people who experience forms of suffering that go beyond another person's ability to imagine such pain. It does not necessarily need to be the death of a child. Suffering can exist in the form of divorce, death of any close friend or relative (especially spouses, children, and parents & siblings), being the victim of a violent crime and abuse, depression and other emotional disorders, being stricken with a horrible illness or injury, etc...

When we witness others suffering, we are often left without knowing what to say or what to do. That's OK! I have lost a father, a son, and now a younger brother. I still do not know what to say to people who have experienced the death of someone they love. When my son died, many people would say the famous nine words "I am sorry, I don't know what to say." That is enough, by being there and saying those nine words said more than they could ever say with any other words. Furthermore, being there and only being able to say those nine words does not do any more harm.

What those who are beginning to suffer do not need to hear, is little statements like the one mentioned at the beginning of this post that are intended to comfort but really pour salt on an open wound. What sufferers need - and Christians and Churches take notice of this - is people who will be there for them, allow the sufferer to grieve in their own way (so long as it is not harmful to them or someone else), allow the sufferer to grieve openly when they want to, someone who will do the mundane things that they cannot think about at the moment, and someone who will just listen to them. If you will listen then eventually God will provide you with something to say or do that is helpful and if you listen and do not judge or criticize your suffering friend, then they will give you the opportunity to help them.

One of the greatest gifts my friends at the Wednesday Night Bible Study house group ever gave me, was a place where my wife and I could grieve freely without judgment and a place where there was friends who would just sit back and listen.

I Struggle (Pt. 2)

Earlier tonight, just after my church’s Wednesday Evening Bible Study dismissed, a man entered are building. He had a fairly neat appearance but still somewhat disheveled, enough that I figured he was seeking some sort of benevolence help. My congregation is located along one of the busier streets in Memphis in a lower economic section of the city. I introduced myself and asked his name (I always try to speak to people like they are important and are a friend), and he said his name was Richard (if that was the truth). He said that his family was stuck in Jackson, MS and he needed enough gas to get him to Jackson and back (which is a three hour round trip). The church agreed that I would take the church credit card to the gas station and fill this man’s gas tank up for him.

While getting the credit card from the church office along with my friend, colleague, and mission partner, there was a commotion taking place. It turned out that this man, who called himself Richard, had stolen a purse from my friend’s wife in front of her children. Nobody was physically harmed, the man got away, and my friend’s wife was able to recover her purse and all of her belongings.

After the police came and finished filling out their investigative report, my family gathered with my friend’s family and another family and I led a prayer thanking God that there was no physical harm done to anyone, as such a scenario could have turned out much worse. We also prayed for Richard that he would be released from what ever evil presence captivated him so much that he was willing to commit a crime and endanger the lives of others for his own sake.

Sounds good, huh? But I was really dishonest. We are taught to pray for our enemies, to love our enemies, etc… That is what I wanted to do but in all honesty, when I was praying, I was hoping that Richard would be caught and would receive the full weight of the law. I was really wishing that I could have caught him so that I might be able to give him a little “old-school” justice. I was… You get the point!

And now as I have had some time to reflect, I wonder. I wonder why I did not see this coming. After all, he was a stranger. But I have been taught to welcome the stranger (i.e. Matt. 25.31-46). Well maybe I should not have been so trusting of this man. But I try not to judge people based on the present status but rather based on what they could be in Christ (i.e. 2 Cor. 5.16 – heck, that’s even part of my ministry philosophy). And while I struggle, I must not forget the very important thing – my actions, good or bad, affect more people than just myself.

So why am I ranting about this. Well, at my church I just finished preaching a series of sermons on how we should treat the poor, weak, disconnected, and needy individuals in our society, trying to encourage greater faith in ministering to those people who sometimes scare us middle-class white folks. The problem is that most of these people in our neighborhood also have personal demons and addictions that make them a possible danger to be around.

So I continue to struggle. I struggle to treat these people with grace, dignity, love, and genuine compassion despite what ever reasons I suspect may have played a role in forming their present lifestyle. I struggle because the life of Jesus tells me and calls me to welcome these people without reservation, but my experience (especially when it’s your friend’s wife who is the victim) tells me to be cautious and never trust.

And so I continue to struggle…

Katrina: Playing the blam game

I originally posted this breif thought as a response to another blog, see http://www.kendallball.net/archives/20050909/pointing-fingers/ I do not know what it is like to loose everything in a natural disaster, be displaced without a home, be separated from loved ones, and even be facing the reality that some of my loved ones have perished as a result of this tragedy… but I do know what it is like to suffer tragedy. I have buried a son and a younger brother within the last three years. At both furnerals, I heard people who wanted to speculate on the resonsibility for such tragedy (in my case the discussion was either God, incompetent Doctors, and people). I wish they all would SHUT UP! They are not helpful in the least way possible and they do not help me one bit in the process of living life “one step at a time” after such a tragedy.
My point: would those, from the right and left, who just want to speculate on whose to blame just keep your thoughts to your self because you are not helping anyone who is suffering. What has happened cannot be undone, and no matter how much blame can be placed upon one person or group, it will not change the past events one bit—nor will it help the survivors of Katrina go one living in the furture. After the rebuilding of their lives has become more of a tangible reality, then there will be an opportunity to discuss what went wrong and what needs to be improved for the future.

God, We Lament

Only a day since Hurricane Katrina has passed, we are now beginning to see the horrible destruction, the enormous loss of life, and the vast amount of suffering that many people will endure and be haunted by for a long, long time.

Most of us do not even know what it is like to endure a hurricane and the terrific damage such a disaster brings. But some of us, perhaps even most of us, know and understand what it is like to suffer, to be hurt in not only a physical manner but also emotionally and spiritually. There are no words to say that bring comfort to the loss of life, to the destruction brought upon all of the survivors, and to the many that have been left virtually homeless.

What we can do is voice our complaint to God just as Israel did. We can pour out our Lament to the God who has brought redemption in the past in hope and anticipation that he will once again bring redemption. Psalm 60 was a communal lament of Israel that not only chronicled their distress amidst the suffering but also the anticipation of hope. Israel’s enemy was the surrounding nations; our enemy is the death and destruction brought by the hurricane. So let us lament:

“You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry – now restore us! You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking. You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. God has spoken from his sanctuary; “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter. Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies? Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.”
– Psalm 60, TNIV

Hurricane Katrina

If you would like to read a good post about Hurricane Katrina, I found this post by Larry James to be worth the read and thought. See: http://www.larryjamesurbandaily.blogspot.com

I Struggle

I live in Memphis which has the highest percentage of poor people among the major urban dwellings of the United States. The neighborhood in which I live is not the worst in poverty but it certainly is not rich. You might describe it as a low, working-class economy. As a result it is not surprising to see occasionally people that society describes as a "transient-homeless-begging-bum." But I take serious (or at least try to) the second greatest command to love my neighbor as myself and I realize that even the beggars of the street are my neighbor.

So early this morning I went and filled my vehicle up with Gasoline and while I was at the gas station, I noticed this man who was walking up to everybody but seemed to be walking away from the people as fast as he approached them. I called out to the man and told him that he looked like he needed help or something, and then asked if I could help him. He said that his car was out of Gas and needed to get to Marion, AR (which is a suburb of Memphis across the river). I quickly thought “here we go again.” I wanted to know first whether he really was the driver of the car and asked for his name first and then if he would show me his driver’s license (not that I was not willing to help, but I also don’t like the idea of someone thinking that they can lie and try to con me in order to get money). His name was Carl! He then responded to me saying, that he was not looking for cash rather just asked if I could pay for $15 dollars of gas on my bank card (which I was using to pay for my own gas). I told him that I would, but that he had to pull his car up to the pump and let me pump the gas for him and so I did.

I think he legitimately needed help with some gas money, but I am not sure. Maybe he was just another “transient-homeless-begging-bum” that had a car and was using it to take advantage of someone else’s generosity. I don’t know but I know that often Jesus had people who came to him just for what he could do for them, not caring one bit about Jesus and occasionally I imagine they took advantage of Jesus’ generosity too. So since I take seriously (or again, at least try too) the call to follow Jesus and live my life like he lived his, I feel a burden to help such people when they ask.

I struggle however, in knowing how to help such people. There is not a week that goes by in which I do not meet someone in the store parking lot of gas station parking lot who needs a little help. It is almost like I have a neon light flashing above my head saying “ask me for help.” Many of these people really only want cash to fuel an unhealthy lifestyle (I refuse to give cash to anyone), but some of them will simply let me by them a sandwich (those kind you find in the gas-station coolers) and a soda-pop or cup of coffee. But I still struggle, because my wife and I live on a small budget since I am a full-time graduate student and we also have a daughter to take care of. Our money also needs to be used to pay bill, buy groceries, etc… So I struggle and the struggle continues on.

What bothers me is the fact that Carl had spoken to many other people and was simply turned away, without any of those people even taking the time to find out what sort of help he needed and whether or not they could help him. Why does that bother me so much? Because I live in Memphis, the city also dubbed as the “Belt Buckle of the Bible Belt.” I take it that this means many Memphians consider themselves to be Christian. I presume that I was not the only confessing Christian that Carl spoke to and that bothers me. It bothers me that many Confessing Christians teach say “don’t drink, don’t swear, don’t…” while at the same time they ignore their neighbor(s) need. It bothers me also, because there are plenty of times that I still ignore my neighbor(s) need, foolishly telling myself that I am to busy, that someone else will help them, that the individual is just looking for “drug money,” etc…

I wish Christians, I included, would stop thinking of the people less fortunate than us who approach us on the street as nothing more than a “transient-homeless-begging-bum.” We need to remind ourselves that God created them too and he still loves them too – as much as he loves us.

But I still struggle. So I invite you to post comments on how we as Christians can help those we meet on a daily basis with their needs. I invite you to post on how we can encourage each other to not become hard-hearted by the many people who will try to take advantage of our willingness to love our neighbor as our self.

I am Christian

I don’t want to be associated with the political left in the United States of America because it seems hell-bent on driving God from our culture, because it trivializes the value and rights of one human life for the rights of others producing thousands of aborted lives – not just life, but children – every year, because it wants to push the boundaries of morality so that every personal lust and indulgence is tolerated, and if that is not enough reason, take notice of the Hollywood ideology.

Most of the people who run in my circle agree with me that the left side is wrong. Yet it seems that at least some who associate in the same circle with me are able to see the error of the left but unable to recognize the error of the political right.

I don’t want to be associated with the political right in the United States of America because it seems hell-bent on viewing war and military violence as an acceptable solution to international trouble in any and all situations (while it is debatable whether Christians should be pacifistic, just-war means that violent military engagements should only be the last course), because it calls a preemptive military strike “justice” but seems less concerned about non-violent means to justice and talks little about bringing justice among the third world environments, because it selectively champions a capitalistic philosophy that allows the rich to get richer while the majority of the world suffers in utter poverty, because it blatantly blurs the distinction between Patriotic Americanism and Christianity so that one supposedly cannot be a Christian unless they champion the cause of traditional Americanism (“God bless America?” How about “God bless the World!”), because it believes in a very ethnocentric fashion that a democratic government is the only right form of government and the only government in which human freedom can endure (Jesus was always free and yet never lived in a country where a Jew had complete freedom), and if that is not enough reason, listen to the ideology of Pat Robertson and the other fundamentalist (need I say more).

So what am I to do? Here is a “novel” idea, I will be completely other and simply try to be a Christian. I will be a Christian theologically, morally, ethically, and politically, nothing more and nothing less – and I will not be silent in my faith.

Now I know that defining exactly what being a Christian means is highly debated. But maybe I can start by just trying to live my life here on earth like Jesus lived his life here on earth. No easy task! But I must try!

So I ask is it possible to hate and oppose all forms of godlessness, immorality, the unethical treatment of unborn children, violence (both foreign and abroad), materialism, the poverty and suffering of others – while loving and championing peace over violence, the value of all human life (born and unborn, racial and ethnic), the equality of all people, a moral and ethical valued society, the need for continued justice among the poverty and suffering societies, racial and ethnic, and the acknowledgment of one God who not only has created all living organisms but is also the only hope for a world where evil and suffering lurk in every corner?

Jesus did and now calls me too as well, so that is why I simple want to be Christian!

A High but Humble View of Baptism, Part 2

The Humble View
- - - -
In my last post I argued for a “high” view of water baptism (immersion) that essentially understands and practices baptism as a necessary process in receiving God’s free gift of salvation in Christ. For some who agree with me, there is a tendency to make baptism the platform for which a rendered judgment of “not-saved” and “not part of Christ’s church” is made upon all others who confess Christ but disagree with and/or do not practice my view of baptism. This means that in order to be a Christian, an individual must not only trust God and obey him to the best of their understanding but also must possess correct knowledge (epistemic certainty) concerning the doctrine of baptism Therefore I want to say a word about what I like to call a “humble” view of baptism.

Am I correct in my understanding of baptism? I think so! In fact, I not only think so but I also think that my understanding is based upon a sound, well reasoned, and coherent interpretation of scripture. If I am right, where does that leave those with a different theological understanding and practice? Are they still Christians or are they still facing God’s wrathful judgment?

I italicized the word “interpretation” in the above paragraph for a reason and that is because I must recognize that no matter how correct I believe I am it is still an interpretation of scripture. Since it is an interpretation, one among many others, I must be humble and admit that I still could be wrong. That’s right, I am a fallible thinker and I just might be wrong. What if I am wrong? I asked this question to a professor of mine one time and he replied that if I am wrong, then there will be more people in heaven with us (those of us who understand and practice baptism with correct knowledge). But wait a minute, if I am wrong and being a Christian requires correct knowledge about baptism, then I am the one who is lost because I am the one with incorrect knowledge.

But I am rejecting such a “modern” notion. Making correct knowledge of baptism the standard, means that I must place an awful amount of faith in my human ability to reason (do we need reminding that our human mind is prone to error?). Furthermore, that makes salvation more dependent upon the ability of the human mind than on God, who can save people who seek his grace despite their particular misunderstandings and ignorance. And I, for one, am one of those people full of much ignorance and many misunderstandings.

Perhaps this is why Luke was able to identify the people in Acts 19 who had not been baptized with the baptism in the name of Jesus (and therefore had not received the Holy Spirit) still as “disciples” and as “believers” (Luke’s code word for “Christian”). This is because they were still seeking God and submissive to the will of God inasmuch as they understood.

Does God command baptism? Absolutely, and it is never an option. But is God bound by his word in such a way that he can never change in light of historical developments that have become so engrained in the thinking of contemporary people? When people seek to please God through a practice and believe that their practice is correct even though it actually is wrong, can God still be accepting in spite of unknown error? To answer negatively not only binds God but it seems to make God a legalist. In the Old Testament, sinners we to seek forgiveness through the priest but Jesus broke that law and forgave a man so that everyone else would know that God has the right to forgive whomever he wants whenever he wants (Mark 2.1-12). It seems that we should be careful not to be deciding for God who exactly God can save and cannot save.

So getting back to the beginning, I believe God is active in transforming those who submit to him in baptism from a dead life to a living life in Christ. That I believe is a high view of baptism that takes seriously the practice as an important step in the path to eternal communion with God. Because that is what I believe scripture teaches, that is what I must practice and teach others to practice – the “high” view of baptism. But because I could be wrong, I want to practice the “humble” view of baptism, and not be judging other Christians who differ but instead embracing them as brother and sister in Christ and allow God to judge them. Besides, God will do a better job of judging than I could ever begin to do. Furthermore, it is hard enough for me to live out my own baptism on a daily basis without worrying about judging others.

A High but Humble View of Baptism, Part 1

The High View
- - - - Is it possible to believe that when scripture says water baptism (immersion) is “for the forgiveness of sins” and to “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2.38) that it actually means just that? I think so! That is why the Apostle Paul taught in Romans 6.3-7 that Christians are those who have been…

...baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death… [and] therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaved to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. (TNIV)

It seems like Paul was pretty explicit concerning baptism. Wow! Once a person believes that Jesus is the Christ, they must then follow Jesus to death and loose their life (to use the idea of Mark 8.34-35) so that God can raise them into the resurrected Jesus. Yes! And it is God who does the work, just as it was God who did the work (the causal agent) in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What is the human role? SUBMISSION to God’s will, submission to God being allowed to baptize the subject into Jesus Christ. That’s right, from God’s point of view we do not baptize rather we are the ones baptized. God is the active agent and we are the passive agents. And in baptism, God is actually, not symbolically, transforming the sinner from a fallen life controlled by sin to a new eternal life marked by the Holy Spirit and experienced now in part but will be experienced in whole when Christ Jesus returns to claim his church. Thus baptism is eschatological.

The strongest objection to the above is that this is a work oriented or human achieved salvation that denies the grace of God experienced only by faith. However, I see baptism as a gift of God’s grace. That is, God actually has given the sinner a road to life in Christ – but instead of the sinner traveling that road on their own, they must allow God to transport them. Therefore baptism is not only a gift of grace from God, but it also is an act of faith on the part of the sinner – so much so that we, who still live in a mortal body, will never know the outcome of our baptism fully until Christ returns and we experience eternal life in the full aspect. Only in the resurrection of Christ do we see the future, our future in Christ. But to presently live that future in Christ is to live by faith. Baptism only becomes a work of salvation when one thinks that salvation is deserved because we have been baptized or when we divorce the practice from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

God is calling on all who confess Jesus as the Christ, the crucified and resurrected Lord and Savior, to come and die in baptism and allow God to raise them up into an eternal life in Christ Jesus!

Holiness and Ministry

This was originally posted on another blog in response to a blog entry (see: www.griffithfamilymission.com).

If finding ourselves as Christians among those who are considered to be dysfunctional, poor, sinful, needy, etc..., means that we are defiling ourselves and not being holy, and then Jesus defiled himself and was not holy. However, I doubt that many Christians want to entertain such a thought. So then do we need to agree with other 'Christians' on matters of doctrine in order to serve in the name of Jesus Christ with them? If Jesus was willing to call twelve men to work alongside of him (and these twelve men hardly shared the same kingdom values of Jesus at that time), and then tell his disciples to back off the person(s) not belonging to Jesus' group who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus (Mk. 9.38-39), then we surely have it back words when we chastise or refuse to serve alongside of other imperfect people who serve in the name of Jesus.

Where does that leave holiness? When we refuse to minister to someone because of their beliefs, lifestyle, ethnic and racial background, economic position, etc..., and yet this is who Jesus ministered too and he was considered holy – I think any refusal to minister to such people speaks volumes about our holiness, our lack of!

The Common Eucharist

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, for which we Christians remember and celebrate in the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper, Communion), is the good news (also called “Gospel”) for all people. The good news is that in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, the kingdom of God has already come but it is not yet fully realized and will only be fully realized when Jesus returns placing all of the powers of the world under his feet. This is eschatology and thus in the Eucharist, we remember and celebrate an eschatological event. We remember and celebrate the Eucharist as it is in heaven and how it will be when the kingdom of God, for which we already belong too, is fully realized.

If the death, burial, and resurrection, was a non-discriminating event that sought to remove all worldly distinctions that exist between people (Rom. 1:16), then the moral/ethic of the Eucharist must also be non-discriminating as well (1 Cor. 11:26). Therefore as Christians celebrate the Eucharist the worldly distinctions such as rich and poor, educated and non-educated, male and female, racial and ethnic, American and non-American, etc… should cease! The moral/ethic of the Eucharist is not limited to only that moment when we “eat of the bread and drink of the cup” rather it goes with us as we share this common-communion throughout our daily lives.

There is a church which practices such a Eucharistic communion. We read about it in Acts 2:42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and miraculous signs done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day the continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their home and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (TNIV)

Is it any wonder why a church like this was such an incredible witness and missional group of people for the crucified but resurrected Jesus Christ?

A Glimpse of What Could Be

Well, I spent the first part of this week in the greater Detroit, Michigan area attending a sermon seminar. The seminar was very informing, as it focused on the Gospel of Mark and included presentations from both Academic Theologians and located Preaching ministers. Those attending the seminar came from three different countries, thirty-two different states (United States), and twelve different denominational fellowships.
All right! This only sounds interesting to you if you serve in some capacity of Christian ministry or pursue theological studies, and that is probably so. But the cool thing was the fact of the seminar not just being three days of learning but an event that was bathed in worship and fellowship.
We began with worship (prayer, singing songs or praise and faith, and hearing the Word of God be read and proclaimed), continued in worship, and ended in worship. Think about this, Christians (people who confessionally commit and submit their life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of the World) from twelve denominational fellowships (who are supposed to be divided and distinct from each other) coming together, all having in common one confessional commitment, to worship God and fellowship IN UNITY – as One people brought together by the power of the Holy Spirit. The testimony of God’s living and redeeming presence was powerfully witnessed by all who were there.
As great as this show of unity was, it still is but a dream because it occurred at a seminar and seems to have been left in the seminar. We all must return to our church congregations where Christians still operate divided from other Christians, divided over denominational fellowship loyalties rather than united in the shared confessional commitment and submission to Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior.
For now I experienced a glimpse of what could be. It was beautiful, moving, and encouraging. Maybe one day this unity will break the boundaries of the seminar walls and flow into the various Christian churches. Perhaps then our testimony to the crucified and risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ will be heard by all in our world as truth.
“…I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
— The words of Jesus, John17:20-21, TNIV