The Material World

There is something that keeps striking my soul with shock waves, leading me into thoughts of solution to one of the biggest problems spiritual people face, materialism. My own participation in the realm of materialism is usually the thread that shames me enough to start me in a thought process on how do I keep myself grounded in matters that transcend time and space.

The material world is exactly as it is named, material, and as is the nature of materials, they corrode, breaking down into dust (even if some take longer than others). We often, at least I do, forget that our bodies will one day breakdown and turn into dust as well. It is this lack of temporal conscience that I make more of an identity with the material than the spiritual.

Now I know this subject is not earth shattering to most people, but how many of us think about the real implications of our materialism as we’re buying our quad-shot mochas or our double-toasted bagel with almond-honey cream cheese? Sure the twinge of indulgence may come over us to knock on our conscience, but after the first bite of the good stuff I must admit I don’t answer the door. I just seem to read the note left by my conscience after it leaves in the form of my pants getting tighter or my bank account being lighter.

Are you knocked off your feet with this profound thinking?

Let me get to the point. We live in a material world and we are material girls and boys we cannot help it, because everything we do impacts the material world because we are housed in a material body. So to say that the material is bad or sinful or useless is ridiculous. The problem is, as with most things, the extent of our consuming energy towards any given noun that makes us unbalanced and unhealthy people.

Still, it seems to me that the true death-knell to a spiritual life is materialism. I don’t know if you are different than me, but like I said before, I can usually rationalize or justify almost any action I take at the time I do it. Yet unfortunately it is the aftermath of my decisions that seem to bring me to my knees looking for answers. The question for you and I is this, are we looking for answers that will really solve this problem or ones that will conveniently mask over our pain to make us feel better?

I have often heard this spoken of some people, “they are too spiritual for earthly good.” Every time I hear this it is used in a negative sense, and every time I hear this it rubs me the wrong way. For one thing I have never seen anyone too “spiritual for earthly good”. Mostly I see the people who are being called that as being either naïve in the matters of business or lazy people who don’t want to work and want to leech off others while coming off as more spiritual than others. Indeed that is not spiritual.

However, I would like to meet someone who is really too spiritual for earthly good. What would they be like? Are we to earthly for spiritual good? Too often I think I am. Yet I am relieved that my spiritual good is not based on who I am.

This week I want to kick back and fourth the nature of spirituality and materialism.

Looking at Sodom

The other day I read in the Boulder Daily Camera that a guy was arrested for hitting a man soliciting signatures on Pearl Street for a movement advocating domestic partnerships.

Here is the headline “Man arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated attack”

The story goes on to say that the guy who hit the homosexual man did so after getting into a pushing match and walking away. He then returned 15 minutes later connecting a hook punch into the face of the gay man.

Now the question I asked was why? Why was this man’s anger so focused on hitting someone because they were gay? I doubt this happened simply because some guy was soliciting signatures, though it does make it hard walking down Pearl Street during election years.

In fact just the other night I was asked to sign the same petition while walking down Pearl. Immediately this story came to mind and I looked at the guy asking me to sign and I thought, “hmm, the proper response would not be hitting him.” So instead I said, “No thanks.” And moved on. However, I did get some remarks about not signing. I also noticed that in the immediate area of this solicitor were about five homosexual men just hanging out. Not together, but spread out, as if to pounce if any trouble started to happen. The whole thing was just kind of strange.

So why did I bring this up? Well, it is all about hate. I think every group of humans throughout the history of this world have hated some other group. Mel Gibson has been in the news recently also, the big deal is not his drunk driving it's his anti-Semitic slurs. The other reason is to ask this question, what does the Bible say about homosexuality?

So what are you thoughts? Are you thinking about Sodom? What was Sodom’s sin?

Hope to see you.

Left Behind? Yeah, I’ll Stay!

Here is yet another doozy of a topic. This week’s topic comes from a question I was asked by cb last week who contacted me through the web site. I found myself short of time to answer, but thought it would be a meaty topic for us on Thursday night. I will attempt the impossible, being brief while talking about eschatology, more commonly known as the rapture.

Before I go into the question lets do what I said in the title, “Etymology of Eschatology” or really the word "rapture" (eschatology just goes better with etymology). The word “rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapiemur”.

I Thess 4:17 Deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur [suddenly caught up] cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.

1 Thess 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

CB asked, “I read on your site that you don't see the Lord's return as soon.
I won't be able to come to Boulder, but..... a) I was wondering if you might be able to give a brief response as to why you believe that, or a website that I can visit explaining this view - and b) Is it good in God's eyes to pray for Christ's (really) soon return?”

Well, in a nutshell it is true I don’t believe Jesus will return soon as most people think of it as soon. I do think He will return, I do think it is very possible it could happen in my lifetime. Yet to say it could happen **poof** at any time is an uneducated opinion at best. Why? I thought you would ask that, and sorry to be so blunt, but pop-theology has done much damage in their quest to either fill their pockets or push their agenda of fear.

In my promise to keep this short I will point out a couple of things why I do not believe the “rapture” could happen at any given time.

1st - 2 Thess 2:1-4 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

2nd – This one is from my friend Steve who wrote this after researching this very topic. Click on the link to take you to his statement on I Thessalonians 4:15-18. Tell him what you think.

Link to Steve's Page

As for part B of the question, which I like very much (thanks for asking it CB!), well I want to ask one thing. Why do people want to pray for the Lord's soon return? Does life suck? Do people want others to suffer because Jesus' return would surely mean the wrath of God? Do people just want the presence of Jesus? Is the world just so bad that one feels that justice must come NOW! Look at the scripture below, Jesus is saying He is coming soon. Then there is a statement,"Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." The term "amen" is an agreement and the next word are what are being agreed upon, "Come, Lord Jesus."

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." - Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

As I read this it is impressed upon me that John has just had this revelation of all this heavy stuff. After Jesus tells John what is going to happen, I believe Jesus is reassuring John that He will be coming. John is saying after all this stuff he witnessed, "Come, Lord Jesus fulfill what you are revealing to me." I don't think he is saying this because life sucks, or that he wants people to suffer or that he wants to be in the Lord's presence any sooner than normal. Jesus says He is coming and John says cool do it.

Personally I don't care, my time on earth is what it will be. I don't pray "Lord come now." Well, that is not exactly true, I have prayed that prayer, but it was because my life really did suck and I wanted off this crazy third rock. However, I am now glad He didn't come and I have become a bigger person because of His delay. Read 1 Thess and 2 Thess a few times.

As always I want to hear from you regardless if you come on Thursday night or not. Please post your comments on my blog. I promise I won’t bite your head off. I just want to see what people think of this. Oopps, I went long.

Also link to this page on rapture just for a few other ideas.

How much does God know?

Last week I didn’t post my message on the web site, nor did I post it on my blog. In fact I didn’t even send an email to invite people over. I completely let everything go, and yet people came and we had a good discussion on the sovereignty of God. More specifically the subject was on whether or not God is "all knowing, all loving and all powerful". However, it was a big topic and one that has many sides to examine and, like usual, once we dove into the subject the more we found discrepancies. For this reason I would like to open up this discussion again, but on another facet of the sovereignty of God. But first I wanted to share some of what we talked about last week.

Some wanted to know if God is "all knowing, all loving and all powerful" how come certain things do happen and other things do not happen. If God is all knowing, how can we have free will? If God is all loving, how come people go to hell. If God is all powerful, why do bad things happen? My question was "where does it say God is any of these things"?

Concerning what God knows, here are a few verses, "… O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind".- Ezekiel 11:5 and "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’" -John 18:4 and “And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen..." - Acts 1:24 OK, but what were the circumstances to what these verses are referring to? Humans are expressing their thoughts on God on what He knows and sees. I did a quick reference on God calling Himself "all knowing" and I didn’t find anything except God saying that He sees all of our actions. I am not making doctrine, just stirring the pot. But, as far as all loving, it was the same story. Even, the famous "for God so loved the world…" does not indicate an all-loving God, only that He loved the world and made a way for people to re-connect with God. So what about "all powerful?" Hmm, pretty much the same thing. Please correct me on any of this as you see fit.

The point is, is that we make conclusions upon what we have read, what we hear others say and largely upon what tradition has taught us. The big thing here is don’t put words into God’s mouth, is what we basically noted. Yet at the same time God is powerful, is loving and knows a whole heck of a lot, especially when you read Job.

Moving on-

Ahh, so what is the discussion this week? I can’t believe I am going to start this discussion, but does God know who will and will not be with Him in heaven? It’s the old Arminian vs. Calvinism debate (free will vs. predestination).

And though I know this drives someone crazy when I say this but, "does it really matter?" We’ll see this Thursday Night.

Original Sin?!

Last week we got onto a rabbit trail of original sin. I had to stop the discussion for two reasons. First, only one person was enjoying it, well maybe two (me). Second, I can only watch people roll their eyes for so long. So, as I promised this person, this week we will rummage through the depths of original sin.

In my preparation I had to dust off some books I thought I would never crack again. In the back of my mind I could hear the voices of professors snickering, "I told you so, I told you so. I told you this was important." Now I am being tested as to whether or not my coffee-induced state bore any fruit in classes I had to take not want to take.

As it is with almost anyone who teaches there comes a time when even the things we think are elementary, only because of routine, and not due to its content, are challenged and we are forced once again to take another view of them. It is at this time that fresh eyes are needed to make what is ordinary become relevant. The topic of Original sin is just that for me this week. It is not just theological mumbo jumbo, it is center to a Christian faith. It does matter, even if the people who speak of sin the most get big popping vains, like to spit and yell. All I can say is that it wont happen here. We are a mild group who sack out on couches eating carrots and cookies.

So with this topic of original sin, are we all doomed to hell by one person, that person being Adam? Why is his sin our sin? That is, if you believe that we all come from Adam. How could one guy do so much damage? If original sin exists then can no one do any good? If sin is passed down through all people then Jesus, though born of a virgin, would still have sin right? Original sin or original blessing? Is sin just a wrong mind set? What if we adjust our thinking? What if I don't believe in sin, sure, bad things happen, but is it sin? Are we inherently good or inherently evil.

Does Your Faith Deliver?

Each week I get a “Barna” update and 7 out of 10 times I don’t have the time to read them. This week was no exception. Now you may think what I am about to say is a completely made-up story and I don’t care. It is a 100% true account. As I was just now sitting down to write this Thursday Night topic I was asking God what to talk about. I got, “Does your faith deliver?” I then thought of Barna so I went to his web site and read his update: “Half of Americans Say Faith Has “Greatly Transformed” Their Life.” Let me say, that was all I needed this week to hit this topic of faith.

As it usually is with Barna, he breaks each study into %’s and other classifications done by surveys. Then in his Barna way he seems to say that what people feel the given religious topic of the week is usually a complicated mess needing more clarification. Barna then explains why people answered the way they did, while at the same time making issue, especially with topics like this that the answer people give usually do not have a totally biblical reason behind the answer. The point? We often believe things easily that have no real substance, but because we “feel” or just “think” very strongly about an issue or belief we tend to put a lot of emotional currency into our beliefs making it very difficult to look objectively at why believe what we do.

How do I know if you do this, how do I know if I do this? You and I say things like, “I don’t know, I just believe it’s true,” or “I can’t explain why, it’s just what I believe.” Is there no TRUE compass? Our downfall as postmoderns is our lack of compass. We like the “what’s good for you is ok if you don’t hurt others” idea, but get very upset when our beliefs are challenged, especially when they seemingly do not hurt anyone else. Interestingly enough, I think this is our strength as postmoderns as well. Why? Because of this we are very willing to accept almost anyone who does not look, act or believe like we do. And that is a very good quality. It’s just that damned thing of TRUTH. What is truth? Ahhh, a question that brings this to mind.

John 18:37-38
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked.

Does your faith deliver? I don’t care what faith you are really, it is your business. But whatever you are how do you deal with the issue of “What is true or truth?”

To read the Barna article: http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=240

Being Hated

Have you ever been hated? Chances are that you probably have. And for those people, who say of someone else, “No one hates ‘so-and-so.’” Well, they too probably have been hated as well. I know for a fact that I have hated some of those people myself. I don’t like saying it, but it’s true.

I have a friend who thinks everyone hates him and he makes that statement at least every time we talk. I don’t think he’s aware of his statements, and I don’t think he’s aware of the damage that kind of thinking does to someone. It might have more to do with the business he’s in than anything else. Yet for every time he berates himself I tell him that I don’t hate him, and that he is selling himself short, despite his very rough exterior. He needs the reassurement that he is liked even if he thinks of himself as a badass.

For me when I say I hate something, I am making a statement of intense dislike that my very essence has considered and has passed judgement upon. When I say “I hate fish” it is a little different than saying “I hate John.” When I say I hate a person I am making a judgment on their very character and judging it to be one I dislike because of a personality flaw that flaws the whole of his existence.

Then I read this:

Luke 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Too many times we pass judgment on people too fast. Are you righteous? Have you hated? Do you think you do not hate because you fulfill a requirement to “do right” to a person who does “right” to you? What happens when someone does you wrong? I hope the rest of your week can experience this first hand.