June 10, 2016 From the Shelbyville, KY Sentinel-News, Column Two from the Series on Belief and Unbelief

Note - I write a column for the Shelbyville, Kentucky newspaper, the Sentinel-News, every other Friday.  On June 3rd, the Sentinel began publication of a series of columns about belief and unbelief, written by myself and a member of our community, who is an atheist.  I thought it would be an interesting conversation and I appreciate the Sentinel-News and my co-author for participating.  For the privacy of the other person I am not including their name in the columns as I publish them each week on this site.  Even though the person has publicly agreed to have them published in the Sentinel-News, I am not assuming they want their columns or name published on this site.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else – C. S. Lewis

Why do people believe what they believe?  The answer to that question is not as simple as one might think.

I included the quote by C. S. Lewis at the top of this column because his words are more than a declaration of his foundational belief about life; they bear testimony to the fact that every person has a lens through which they view the world and everything that happens in life. That lens is a powerful force that shapes and determines the manner in which we come to understand and perceive the nature of reality itself.

It is the understanding that we all see the world through a particular lens that we must use as a starting point in the conversation about belief. This lens, through which we view all things, comes to us through our environment and our experiences. I understand and view life in a particular way, for instance, because of the time period and part of the country in which I was raised. Coming of age in the 60s and 70s, when there was a greater sense of hope and optimism in our country, was a factor in bringing me to see the world through a more positive and optimistic lens. Those who come of age in our present world context, presumably, might be more likely to have a pessimistic view of life and the world. The point is, all of us have many influences and experiences that shape the lens of our lives and that lens comes to us early in life and generally without our awareness.

As we age, and move into greater self-awareness, we also become more aware of the lens through which we see life, and we sometimes make a more conscious decision to alter that lens, and this is what I would call the action of choosing a narrative by which we live. A narrative is different from a lens. A lens comes to us by our environment, our social and historical context, our experiences, and many other factors, making it more of an unconscious state of being. A narrative, in contrast, is a way of looking at life that is very much a conscious decision. A lens, in contrast to a narrative, would be the faith that we inherit from our family, while a narrative is the choice we make at some point in life about what we will do with that faith, such as whether we continue to accept it as is, adapt it, or reject it.

This leads us to what is, in my opinion, one of the great fallacies of atheism, which is that one becomes somehow – almost magically – more objective and rational when one chooses the narrative of disbelief, as contrasted to the perceived unobjectivity and irrationality of belief. Changing the narrative by which we live, such as from belief to unbelief, does not make one more objective; it simply provides a different lens through which we see the world. Unbelief, however much it might claim, does not necessarily make one more rational; it simply replaces one lens with another, so that one then sees life and the world through a different set of assumptions and suppositions.

It is for this reason that I would reject the idea that anyone is a so-called free thinker, a term often favored by those operating out of the narrative of unbelief. Because we are all shaped by environment and experiences, it is simply not possible that anyone is able to think freely of their influences. The truth is that even when one changes the narrative by which he lives his life it means he is merely trading one intellectual framework for another; there is no inherent guarantee of objectivity or freedom from intellectual bias. Coming to this realization allows us to understand how one particular point of view might seem so perfectly reasonable, obvious, and true to one person and yet totally unreasonable, unclear, and false to someone else. Free-thinking, then, is an oxymoron, as every belief occurs within a context, and our own beliefs are shaped and molded in ways of which we are unaware.  My faith may be an integral part of my life because that was the way I was raised, and the same can be said of unbelief.

Do I believe in God because I made a totally rational choice? Not really. Does an atheist reject belief in God because he makes a totally rational choice? Not really. It is more accurate, I believe, to say that we do not make a rational choice so much as we try to rationalize the choice we have made. If I had been born in another place or time my decision might have been different. Am I a Christian because of my culture and my family? Certainly that has played a role in shaping my beliefs. Would I be a Muslim had I been raised in the Middle East? Would I be an atheist had I been raised in China? There is, of course, no way to know for sure, and most people would protest that they would have made the same set of choices about belief regardless of their place of origin, but I believe it is certain that our choices and our thinking processes do not happen in a vacuum, so let us put aside this irrational idea that we are always dealing in rationality.

We all wear glasses whose lenses are tinted by a particular perspective, and anyone who denies this fact of human existence is either poorly informed or willfully ignorant. It matters not how “rational” one purports to be; the reality is that as human beings we have built-in biases, which are ingrained in us in ways we do not always recognize or understand; and our supposed “rationality” can in no way free us from those biases.  All we do, really, is change one set of lenses – or biases – for another. At least that’s what I believe.

June 3, 2016 From the Shelbyville, KY Sentinel-News, Column One in the Series on Belief and Unbelief

Note - I write a column for the Shelbyville, Kentucky newspaper, the Sentinel-News, every other Friday.  On June 3rd, the Sentinel began publication of a series of columns about belief and unbelief, written by myself and a member of our community, who is an atheist.  I thought it would be an interesting conversation and I appreciate the Sentinel-News and my co-author for participating.  For the privacy of the other person I am not including their name in the columns as I publish them each week on this site.  Even though the person has publicly agreed to have them published in the Sentinel-News, I am not assuming they want their columns or name published on this site.

It would be quite the understatement to say that we live in a time of great division. As a society, we live along clearly demarcated lines of politics, race, income, education, and other differentiating features. In recent years we have witnessed the rise of another area of division, one that touches on some of the most fundamental questions of our humanity – the division between belief and unbelief.

This column marks the first in a series of joint columns presented on the topic of belief and unbelief, and the growing division between these two perspectives. About a year ago, I queried Todd Martin, editor of the Sentinel-News, about the possibility of a series of columns on this topic, by two writers, each of whom would come at the topic from very different perspectives. I appreciate very much that Mr. Martin was both accepting and accommodating of the idea and was generous in offering space in the paper. With his approval, I then approached...and asked that...serve as the author of the columns to be written from the side of unbelief. ...is well-known to the readers of the Sentinel-News, both for ... letters to the editor and My Word columns that appear from time to time in the newspaper. My reason for asking ... to take part in this endeavor originates from an association we shared in 2006, when we were both selected as Forum Fellows with the Courier-Journal newspaper. As part of a group of about two dozen, ... and I were also placed in a smaller group of three people, and it was in that capacity that we began to share conversations about our very different beliefs, and in the years since then we have continued the conversation about our respective beliefs.

After publication of this introductory column, ... and I will follow with columns, published simultaneously, on four topics – 1. The nature of belief. 2. The relationship between church and state. 3. Common objections to both belief and unbelief, and 4. The relationship between science and faith. Neither ... nor I will see the other’s columns until they are published in the paper and, after the appearance of these four columns, we will each write a final one, offering a response to what the other has written. This type of approach, it seemed to me, would make our writing more of a discussion than a debate. Our society could use, I believe, more discussions and fewer debates.

My hope, through the weeks these columns are presented, is to bridge the wide gap that often exists between believers and unbelievers. Though we are all aware that discussing religion – or the lack thereof – can be a contentious topic, it is becoming ever more critical that we learn to speak across this divide and endeavor to understand one another’s perspectives. In doing so, my hope is that we can transcend the common, and sometimes offensive, stereotypes, which far too often dictate the conversations.

Both sides of this discussion remind me, at times, of an old joke about a politician who had written in the margin of his speech:  weak point; be sure to pound podium hard and speak loudly. From both sides of the belief/unbelief continuum we hear a good deal of pompous pontifications – which might play well to their respective choirs – but offer little in terms of careful consideration and thoughtful insight. Too often, there is an abundance of arrogance careening back and forth in the debate about God’s existence, religion, and the attendant topics. I do not like the ridicule and dismissiveness that too often come from both sides, as neither of these attitudes constitutes a real or persuasive argument but serves merely as proof that a meaningful argument is lacking. Comparing, for instance, the belief in God with a belief in Santa Claus seems, I’m sure, like a powerful statement to rebut belief, but strikes me as shallow and uninformed about the true nature of belief and faith. Likewise, slogans such as I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist ignores the fact that there are some points that ought to be carefully considered from the unbelieving end of the spectrum. Honest, genuine critique I can respect, such as it exists.  In its place is, too often, ridicule, as if that is all that can make a point, or because discussion and respectful debate fail to have the desired effect.

As a person of faith, I consider it critical to seek to understand other viewpoints, especially those very different from mine, and atheism is a perspective a long way from my own. As ... and I present our points of view, I believe the entire discussion of belief and unbelief, and all of its related issues, comes down to one primary question – does God exist? That question is not determined by which side has the strongest argument, the best catchphrases, the greatest reasoning, or any other factor. The entire question rests upon whether or not God exists, and his existence is not predicated upon how strongly we believe, or disbelieve; it rests upon whether or not God’s existence is true, and every other question about faith, religion, and belief flows from that one question. It matters not how much I believe – or how much someone else disbelieves; it only matters what is true. God either exists, or He does not.

As the readers, you will agree or disagree or believe we make a valid or invalid point based most likely not on what we write, but upon what you already believe. No one among us is absolutely objective, no matter how much we believe our perspective might make us so. I certainly hope that we hear from you, the readers, over the course of this discussion, and that you are brought to think about what you believe.

May 29, 2016 The Abundant Life: Hope

Last Sunday we began a three-message series called The Abudant Life, taken from John 10:10, where Jesus says I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (NASV).  The series forms around the foundational values of the Christian faith – faith, hope, and love.

Today we will consider hope, which is a fitting topic for Memorial Day, I believe.  If you have visited Washington, DC, you have most likely visited some of the memorials erected to those we honor on Memorial Day. It was a very moving experience for me to visit the Vietnam War Memorial, and to search for a name of a childhood friend.  To scan across the incredible number of names etched into the granite is very powerful.

It is right to honor those who have passed on and for us, as well, to think about our future resurrection.  To have certainty about resurrection is possible because of the gift of hope.  As we consider hope this mornng, we will turn to a Scripture text that comes from a time early in the history of the church.

Not long after Pentecost, in the earliest pages of the book of Acts, Peter and John were walking to the temple for afternoon prayers when they encountered a man who was crippled from birth.  Each day someone would help the man get to his spot at one of the temple gates in order for him to beg for some assistance from those who entered the temple.

Listen as Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, tells the story –

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.

2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.

3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.

4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!”

5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.

8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

How many times in the course of a day, a week, a month, or a year do we begin a sentence with the words I hope…?  This morning, I’ll offer a few points that begin with hope.

Hope is foundational to life

At funerals I sometimes offer the quote that we can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope.  Hope provides a promise that we have the possibility of overcoming some of the most difficult circumstances and problems that life brings our way, and, at the end of life and all of its struggles, we transition to a new life where God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old  order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).  I love the image of that passage of Scripture, which offers the picture of a parent, kneeling down beside their child to wipe away their tears after suffering an injury.

Peter and John did something that most people do not do when asked for money – most people look away, avoiding eye contact with the person who asks.  It’s easier to refuse a request for help when you aren’t looking at a person, I presume, but Luke (the writer of Acts) makes the point to say that both Peter and John looked straight at him (verse 4).

The man, I imagine, was hopeful that they would give him some money, and was probably disappointed with their initial response.  Peter said I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!  Whatever gift the man was expecting, healing was certainly not it.  Overjoyed, Luke says the man followed Peter and John into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God (verse 8).  Those who were in the temple that day were amazed to see this man healed, and the dramatic moment was one among many that helped to spur the rapid growth of the church.

The man who was healed by Peter had most certainly given up hope that his life could change in any meaningful way.  Living in a time period when health care was very limited, even to those with the financial means to afford it, meant that any medical solution was beyond the boundaries of even the wildest of hopes, so it is easy to understand his joyous reaction.  Never in his wildest dreams could he have conceived that he would walk.

Peter was one who often gave hope to others, not just the man who was healed in this passage.  In I Peter 1:3-9 he writes, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 

As we depend upon hope, we can instill hope in others.

The positioning of the man who receives healing is significant.  He is outside of the temple, and once healed, he is able to walk into the temple on his own.  It’s great that he was healed, and it’s wonderful that he was made whole, but we should not forget that many people walked by him as he sat at that gate every day.  He was literally on the doorstep of the church, begging for a bit of help, which, if it came at all, came a few small coins at a time.

Need comes right to the doorstep of the church.  We don’t have to go looking for need; it is always at our feet and at our doorstep.  It is always in front of us, we are always surrounded by need.

I assume there is also some symbolism in the fact that he only came into the temple once he was healed.  I fear that some people believe they must become whole in some way before coming to church.  There is a misnomer among some people that they are not good enough or that their lives are not together enough.  I have heard many people, throughout my years of ministry, say they will come to church when they get their lives together or when they solve all of their problems.  Nothing could be further from the truth!

But we must also remember that not all beggars appear to be beggars.  Some beggars work in corner offices on the top floor of office buildings.  Some beggars wear $1,000 suits.  Some beggars live in beautiful, expensive subdivisions.  In one way or another, we are all beggars, in need of God’s grace and, certainly, his hope.

The treasure of the gospel is the hope we are offered.  Peter and John might not have had any silver or gold, but they certainly had a great treasure as they offered hope.

There is also a contagious quality to hope.  The people in the temple, seeing that the man had been healed, were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him (verse 10).  There was a sense among the people of the possibility of their own hopes being realized.

Hope is the foundation of faith.

One of the reasons why faith, hope, and love are grouped together is because they are building blocks for each other, and are tied together in inextricable ways.

An interesting aspect of the digital age is the ability to connect to people from around the world.  I recently became linked to someone in Kenya, and he invited me to read some things he had written, and I want to read a portion of one of his writings to you this morning.  It is part of a longer piece, and in the portion I’ll read is some of his description about his upbringing, which was very impoverished –

Poverty is nothing to wish for; it’s vexing, afflicting, desperate and (an) unpleasant state and without great passion, the zeal to succeed and lofty ambitions, it may shatter dreams.

Poverty is an anathema; an oppressive ruler with (an) iron fist: It’s stressful and energy-sapping like drudgery. It’s as difficult as it sounds.

However, I’m grateful for my pain and suffering because there is nothing that has helped me to understand the fleeting beauty of life more than these. They also inspired in me the wonderful zeal for knowledge that I have and the call to uplift others.

I remain devoted and this makes me impregnable to the vicissitudes of life. My faith and firm Belief in GOD will never be shipwrecked.

https://shemhope.wordpress.com/

What a declaration of hope! Praise God for the hope he offers!  Declare hope in your life today!  

May 22, 2016 The Abundant Life: Faith

Today I begin a three-message series called The Abundant Life.  Taken from John 10:10, where Jesus says I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (NASV).  It will form around what I refer to as the foundational values of the Christian faith – faith, hope, and love.  I wear a bracelet on my wrist that has a Celtic Trinity symbol.  It is important to me for three reasons – because I like to have a physical representation of faith, because of the symbol of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirt – but also because it reminds me of the three values of which I will speak in this series, faith, hope, and love.  Following that series I’ll offer one called Faith for Life, where we’ll look at faith in the different stages of life.

Part of the reason for presenting this series is to counter what is often called the prosperity gospel.  The prosperity gospel offers the idea that the purpose of God is to bless his followers, primarily with wealth and prosperity.  You can find a lot of examples of this type of theology on TV, and probably the best-known representative is Joel Osteen.  I don’t mention him to be critical because in many ways I like Joel, but I think he misunderstands that he’s inserting a Calvinistic Protestant Work Ethic into Jesus’ words about the abundant life.  I do not believe that wealth and prosperity are what Jesus referred to when he said he came that we might have an abundant life.  To me, when Jesus speaks of the abundant life he is talking more about the intangibles of being one of his followers than he is offering a path to riches, and many of his faithful, committed followers living in very difficult conditions would question why they haven’t become prosperous or wealthy.  The values of faith, hope, and love, I believe, are the primary ingredients of an abundant life, and those values will form the topics of the three messages in this series.

Our Scripture text for our first message contains a story with a fascinating declaration.  A father brought his son to the disciples, seeking healing from a spirit that had taken possession of the young man.  The disciples, unable to  provide healing, found themselves surrounded by a large crowd, and in that crowd were some teachers of the law, who instigated an argument.  It was a chaotic scene, and it was into the midst of that chaos that Jesus entered.  Showing a measure of frustration, Jesus declares O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!  Before Jesus heals the young man his father makes his fascinating declaration – I do believe; help my unbelief.

Follow along as I read Matthew 9:14-24 –

14 When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.

15 Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.

16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?” 17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;

18 and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”

19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”

20 They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth.

21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.

22 It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”

24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”

1.  Doubt is neither the enemy of faith nor is it incompatible with faith.

After the passing of Mother Teresa, a book was published of some of her correspondance, some of which revealed her sense of an absence of God’s presence in her life.  Christopher Hitchens, the atheist writer who passed away in 2011, seized on this as an excuse to be critical of her and went so far as to declare her a fraud and an atheist because she exhibited doubt.  Hitchens totally misunderstood her statements about doubt, giving unfortunate credence to the mischaracterization that faith must always be absolute and unwavering.  That is not true, and in this passage the father of the boy that Jesus heals proves it.

I do believe; help my unbelief.  What an amazing declaration the father makes.  Does that sound like a contradiction to you?  How can one declare their belief while simutaneously asking for help to overcome their disbelief?  Can doubt and faith coexist in one person?

Yes.

There are plenty of people who would make the claim that faith must be absolute, that is, there can be no measure of doubt involved, but I think that is erroneous.  Faith and doubt live in all of us, to some measure, and rather than demonstrating any weakness I believe it is actually a sign of a strong and mature faith.  It is not wrong to live with questions about God and our faith.  It is in our questions that we wrestle with some of the great questions of life, and it is the struggle to grapple with those questions that brings an extra measure of strength to our faith.  Asking questions and struggling with our faith actually creates a stronger and more durable faith, I believe.

I have questions and at times have faced doubt.  Sometimes I feel faith very emotionally and with an unwavering confidence.  Sometimes I don’t feel it so I tell myself don’t worry about not feeling it.  Faith is a feeling, sometimes, but faith is more accurately defined by a commitment one makes to the truth that God is the Creator of all and we are called to live for him, regardless of how we feel at any particular moment. 

2.  If you ever doubt, if you ever question your faith, or if you ever waver in your faith, know that you are in good company.

You are not weird or wrong if you have doubt.  You are not losing your faith if you have dout.  You are, in fact, in very good company.  There are great examples in the Scriptures of characters who struggled with doubt.  

Do you remember the story when Jesus invited Peter out of the boat to walking to him on the water?  (Matthew 14:22-33 – 22 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”). 

Do you remember the story of the prophet Elijah, feeling abandoned?  (I Kings 19:4-14 – 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.  9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”)

Do you remember the story of Jacob wrestling through the night with God (Genesis 32:22-32 – 22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”  “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”  29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”  But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

It is a fascinating and mysterious story, and part of the point, I think, is the struggle that Jacob has with his faith and with God.  After Jacob struggles through the night with God, God touches the hip of Jacob, knocking it out of joint and causing him to limp.  Jacob is forever marked, and changed, by his struggle with God.

And then there is Jesus on the cross asking God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).  It’s rather unnerving to read that verse, isn’t it?

The form of our struggle with God, and with our faith, is different from those characters, but most everyone, at some point in time, has some type of struggle with their faith.  When you face a time of doubt and struggle, do not despair.  Out of that time will come a deeper and more mature faith.

3.  Faith carries us through the chaos of life.

I am so grateful to live in such peaceful, easy, calm times, when people love one another, when the public discourse is so polite, and the world is completely wonderful (please not that this is said with a sense of sarcasm!).

Life is chaotic and often feels like the situation in this morning’s text – angry crowds, questions, fears, worries about our families, and so many other difficult matters.  All that chaos makes us feel as though we’re in a rickety boat, with waves crashing over and water filling the boat, threatening to sink or swamp it.

In the midst of the chaos Jesus speaks to the father, and as he speaks you can sense a great measure of calm, which the father certainly needed.  After all, is there anything more unnerving than seeing your child suffer?  Jesus begins to talk to the father – how long has this been happening to him?  And the father, in his response, says, if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us! 

And then Jesus said to him, somewhat incredulously, I think, “if You can?”  All things are possible to him who believes.  And the crowd, I imagine, begins to become quiet and to be still, and it’s because Jesus has shown up. In the midst of the chaos, Jesus is the one who brings a sense of peace.

I’ll confess that I don’t know what it means that Jesus says all things are possible to him who believes, because we have all felt as though our believe has fallen short.  Who among us has not prayed mightily for someone to be healed, but healing did not come?  Who among us did not enlist others to pray, but healing still did not come?  Who among us felt as though we had the faith and belief, but it was still not enough?  I don’t know why some are healed and others are not.  I don’t know why some prayers seem to receive the desired answer, while others do not.  But I will say this – I’m content just knowing Jesus shows up.  I don’t expect, or even ask for, an answer to every question or a solution to every problem.  I just want to know he is there.  At this point in my life I don’t expect that everything I ask of God will be granted, and I’m not bothered if it is not.  I would like for life to be easy and perfect, but I realize it will never be, and that’s okay.  I’m content to know that Jesus shows up, and that he will walk with me through the chaos of life.

And that’s faith, and it’s enough.

May 15, 2016 Voices of Faith: In the Political Arena

As we conclude our series of message, Voices of Faith, this morning we come to Voices of Faith:  In the Political Arena.

I am so weary of the present campaign season, as you probably are as well, so let’s talk politics.  And religion.  Who doesn’t want to talk about these things, especially in church!

I know.  This might be a bad idea.  Each topic, in and of itself can be very contentious, and the intermingling of religion and politics is an especially volatile area, but it is also a topic that needs some level of discussion.  I imagine that all of us feel not only uneasy, but sometimes quite ill at ease with some of the political goings on in our country. Regardless of your political persuasion – whether you are a conservative, liberal, or moderate –there is enough going on at our juncture in history to unsettle us all.

So I thought I would jump in with revealing my position on one of the most contentious issues for people in my generation.  It is a question that has not only caused conflict in many offices and workplaces, but has divided families and ended friendships.  I do not hesitate to jump into that contentious question this morning, and here is my opinion – I prefer the Sammy Hagar version of Van Halen over the David Lee Roth version (this is my small attempt to bring a bit of levity into a difficult conversation).  I want to assure you that is as partisan as I will get this morning, and I want you to know that I enter into this topic with a measure of trepidation and that I take great care in what I have to say.  If I were sitting amongst a congregation, if I had worked hard at my job all week, if I got up early, if I had driven to church and taken me seat, the last topic I’d want to hear from a minister is how they believe I should vote or what my political opinions ought to be.

I am not here to tell you how to vote or what your politics should be.  If you read my column in the Sentinel-News you know that I am often very specific about my politics opinions, in that space, but far less so in my preaching, which is very much my intention.  You are free to read or ignore what I write in the paper, but worship is different.  It is not my purpose to pedal my personal political agenda in a worship service, because I don’t want to offer the impression that I am speaking for the congregation on such matters and because I don’t want to create a partisan atmosphere in our worship services.

If you would like to ask me about my political beliefs and opinions I will answer those questions – outside of the worship services – but in the worship service I am not going to tell you what I think you should believe.  You don’t need me telling you what to believe, but I am more than willing to sit down with you and help you, in any way you might desire, as you formulate your own opinions.

The topic of this message covers such a huge swath of matters to consider, and I will only be able to give very cursory coverage, so understand that I have to leave out many points and may leave a lot of questions unanswered.  I know that what I have to say may generate more questions than answers, but I do offer these thoughts in the spirit of helping you to come to your own conclusions regarding the way in which you think about and act upon both your faith and your personal politics.

There are many Scripture texts from which to choose on this topic.  Paul writes about our relationship with government in Romans 13:1-7, and Jesus spoke on a couple of occasions to the question of paying taxes (Matthew 17:24-27 and Matthew 22:15-22).  Throughout the book of Acts we find the apostles were often in conflict with the governing authorities, and often imprisoned because of that conflict.  But I chose the passage in Matthew 4:1-11, that tells of the temptation of Jesus while he was in the wilderness, after his baptism.  The second temptation presented to Jesus is one that touches on politics and earthly power, which Jesus very explicitly rejected.

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:  “‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

This morning, I will offer a summation of a few things I believe to be important when we consider the topic of faith in the political arena, and I will begin with a few comments about an oft-misunderstood concept, and that is the idea of –

1.  The separation of church and state.

You are probably aware that this phrase does not appear in any of our founding documents, but was first mentioned by Thomas Jefferson in a letter, dated January 1, 1802, to a group of Baptists in Danbury, Virginia.

The separation of church and state in no way prohibits religion from having a presence in the public square.  In our present age, we sometimes hear people express their belief that religion is to remain solely in the private domain and is constitutionally forbidden from any expression in the public square.  Nothing could be further from the truth, and I am amazed how often I hear that belief expressed, especially by people who should know better.  It makes me wonder if people still read history books, or if they have read the Constitution.  If they were taught in school that faith has no place in the public square or in the political sphere, perhaps they should ask for their money back on their education! 

What our Constitution prohibits is the establishment of state churches, any interference of government in religious affairs or in the workings of congregations, or the use of government to further sectarian religion.  In short, the state is not to dictate on matters of religion, and neither is religion to dictate their faith through the power and reach of government.

When Jesus faced his second temptation, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” (verses 8-9).  Setting aside the fact that, for the devil, those kingdoms were not his to offer, Jesus still had to settle the question of whether or not he would be a political messiah, using political means to establish his kingdom, or to stay true to his calling of ushering in the kingdom of God rather than seeking after an earthly throne.  This is what we call a Faustian bargain, that is, a deal with the devil.  It is so tempting to use the powers of government to further a religious and spiritual agenda, but that is a path fraught with a great many dangers, and one that Jesus was not willing to take.  Jesus rebuffed at every turn the temptation to use politics to advance the agenda of God’s kingdom and he led his disciples to see that the kingdom of God is far beyond the narrow boundaries of earthly politics.

But in our culture the lines can sometimes get blurry.  During the course of my ministry, I have been asked many times to pray at public events, some of which are political in nature.  I still pray, when asked, at public events, but I have decided to no longer pray at events sponsored by elected officials, political candidates, or for government gatherings.  I made that decision after arriving at the sense that, on more than one occasion, I had been used for political purposes and I don’t want to be in that position ever again.  I do not want to do anything that gives even the impression that the Christian faith is aligned with a particular political party, political candidate, or political ideology.  There are many people of deep and abiding faith who are members of all political parties and followers of all manner of candidates, and I am grieved when I hear people say you can’t be a… (Republican, Democrat, Independent – you can fill in the blank) and be a Christian.

2.  I believe that all people are created equal by God and endowed with the same rights, the same worth, and the same inherent dignity.

That is a statement of faith.  If we live in a random universe it is impossible to make the claim of anything inherent in who we are as people.  As people of faith, as followers of Jesus, we recognize that all people are given the same standing, worth, and value as any other person.

I hope that I am open and accepting of people, and if I am it’s probably a trait that I inherited from my mom.  My friends were always accepted at our house – no matter who they were – as long as they followed a few of my mom’s basic rules, and one was to treat others with respect and kindness.  If you could not follow that rule, she would send you home, and I witnessed several of my friends over the years sent packing by my mom.

We are not all born equal.  Some people are born into life with great advantages of wealth and privilege and some with great disadvantages, in the midst of poverty and with much of life stacked against them, but we are all created equal by God, and one of the reasons why politics are very important is because political attitudes and decisions greatly affect the lives of people.  There are too many examples of ways in which our government has not always treated people equally, in spite of the fact that every person is deserving and worthy of equal treatment.

My writing, my thinking, and my preaching are all based in my belief that God has created all people equal.  In Matthew 5:45 Jesus reminds us that (God) causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If God has created us equal we ought to treat everyone equally, and sometimes, unfortunately, our government does not do so, and when this happens we ought to advocate on behalf of those who are mistreated.  And, not to be a broken record, as I have noted this before, but this is the area in which Jesus was most often criticized, because he had no hesitation in his embrace of people, whoever they were.

3.  My allegiance, and yours, is, ultimately, to God, not man.

I find it very interesting that, while Paul writes that we are to be submissive to those in authority (Romans 13:1-7, Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.  6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor) there were many times when he did not follow his own instructions.  Paul was often in conflict with the governing authorities, he was sometimes jailed because of that conflict, and he eventually lost his life because of that conflict.  The apostles also found themselves in conflict with the governing authorities.  They were told on one occasion to stop preaching but, immediately upon release, went right back to their preaching (Acts 4:18-20, 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”).

I am grateful to be an American, but my allegiance is not limited to political or national boundaries or the interests of our government.  I find my ultimate allegiance in being a follower of Jesus, and sometimes that allows me to affirm what our nation and our government does and sometimes it puts me in conflict with our government and our nation.

But ultimately, I answer to God, not to anyone in an elected office.  And for that reason I don’t fully identify with any political party or ideology, because God doesn’t see Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or any other party.  God doesn’t see American, British, Chinese, French, Mexican, or any other nationality.  God doesn’t see national borders or language barriers.  I believe that God sees only his children, and if that is what God sees, that is what I am called to see as well.  And that is where I will stand, always.