No Chains on Me…

Been going through Malachi of late as part of a study that stems from the Crazy Love book. This is a book that has been kinda scary of late. And here’s why.

First of all, take some time to read through Malachi. Its a short book, only 5 chapters long. Pay special attention to the condemnation God pronounces on the people of Israel and the priesthood at the time. He’s scolding them, incredibly sternly, because of their lack of worship, lack of respect, lack of obedience to Him. He says that he would rather have nothing from them, rather than half-hearted, leftover gifts from his people.

Now, one could say, that was God’s judgement on a people under the law, even quoting: “There is now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus” from Romans 8:1. Now, I’d think that verse is true… The problem I have with it is knowing what it means to be in Christ Jesus. Francis Chan put it well when referring to the parable of the different kinds of soil. He says: “Do not assume you are the good soil.” Thats a scary thought… What’s more, one of the most frightening passages I’ve ever read is the one in Matt 25:31-46 (sorry, I don’t have time to edit out all the extra stuff):

31^(A) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,^(B)then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32Before him^(C) will be gathered^(D) all the nations, and^(E) he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates^(F) the sheep from the goats. 33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34Then^(G) the King will say to^(H) those on his right, ‘Come, you^(I) who are blessed by my Father,^(J) inherit^(K) the kingdom^(L) prepared for you^(M) from the foundation of the world. 35For^(N) I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you^(O) gave me drink,^(P) I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36^(Q) I was naked and you clothed me,^(R) I was sick and you^(S)visited me,^(T) I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’40And^(U) the King will answer them,^(V) ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these^(W) my brothers,^[a] you did it to me.’

41“Then he will say to those on his left,^(X) ‘Depart from me, you^(Y) cursed, into^(Z)the eternal fire prepared for^(AA) the devil and his angels. 42For^(AB) I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’44Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these,^(AC) you did not do it to me.’ 46And these will go away^(AD) into eternal punishment, but the righteous^(AE) into eternal life.”

God says there are those who claim him as savior, perhaps even “confess Jesus as Lord” but in the end, he still turns them away… What is the difference between the two? And this is what makes me curious about the whole divine tension of faith and works. Romans has much to say about salvation by grace. But sprinkled in are verses like 2:6 “He will render to each one according to his works.” Best read in context of course, but verses like that are still there without saying anything about how one believes. I’m not sure what the mix is between these verses. And yes, I still think salvation is a gift of God, that it isn’t something we earn. But somehow, it also seems to hang upon how we live in regard to the God we claim as Lord… God has no tolerance, it seems, for those in half-hearted kingdom living. He asks for all or nothing, kinda like he did from the lukewarm church of Laodicea, saying middle ground was not an option.

Tying it back to Malachi, we have been called “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). So we are charged with up-keeping the same purpose that the old priesthood held. That, I think, is this: to honor and keep the Lord’s name pure. To serve the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Otherwise, I wonder if the same judgement that fell upon the priesthood of old will not fall upon us as well. More thoughts on this later…

…that I had to put to picture. Hope you can read it here. If not, click on it and check out the bigger version.

My top picks based on my last.FM profile:

Sounds about right. This doesn’t count my mp3 player listening unfortunately, just my Mac iTunes listening

I rarely wax poetic. I try to avoid it when I can. And so, there is thus an explanation for the more artsy tone my last post (read it first). And I’m explaining it here because there was more to say than I felt could be said in the manner I was speaking.

The post comes out of two things, the first is, probably somewhat obviously, my own struggles with singleness. I actually have enjoyed being single again. There has been a lot of freedom in it to think over much the Lord has been doing around me and with me. It has given me a little more of an ear for Him, and a desire to pursue Him more. Yet there are times it still sucks Alas, one can’t have both worlds. Knowing what a relationship can be like, and then leaving it behind can be really hard sometimes, thinking back over previous relationship (yes, singular) and other attempted ones. They were wonderful, terrible, beautiful and messy things. I wouldn’t erase any of the experiences. Probably wouldn’t want to have any of those particular ones over again, thanks. And yet would love to start anew, hopefully (though doubtfully) having learned from the past. And no, this is not my: “Hey ladies, I’m single and desperate and a graduating senior” manifesto. Just my thoughts. I think God could have me do either. And I know I would be happy with both, although perhaps I’ll always be curious about the other side of whichever He leads me to in the end. I don’t think there’s some “right” person for me, necessarily. I don’t think everyone has their “one right person for you.” On the whole, I don’t give a damn about the whole mess. What happens happens, (a newer philosophy of mine) and whatever that is, it will be for the greatest glory of God. I pray I don’t miss it by focusing on anything else in my purposes.

But I said there were two reasons for the post. The second was unexpected, but very interesting. I spent some time in “the basement of the internet” on Sunday: the IRC #atheism and #philosophy channels (for those not geek-speak fluent, look up IRC or “Internet Relay Chat”). I spent time in discussion about love with a couple of atheists, a catholic somebody, and a Buddhist (and countless other random interjectors). The best parts of the conversation came from the atheists, who came from the view of love being anti-instinct, anti-evolutionary, that it somehow takes a desire to overcome our self-preservation instinct to look out for others, a not entirely revolutionary thought (James 2) but entirely fascinating to hear from them and subsequently discuss at length. We got into the idea of love usually being motivated by still-selfish motives, that “what goes around comes around.” I took it for a bit to Caputo’s definition of love/hospitality, speaking that true expression of either must be detached from any notion of repayment for it to be genuine. We got into love being the care for one’s interests held in a group or community, how that can often times cost others for the sake of a group (touching somewhat on corporatism). The Buddhist was chanting loudly in the back that love is chemicals in the brain and bloodstream, and the atheists told him that nobody actually cares about that fact except biologists (which I thought was interesting…). We flowed to family care, and the love that occurs between families as instinctual and how does that play into the love-pushes-one-outside-of-evolutionary-patterns issue. Absolutely incredible food for thought.

Somehow, this and other parallel conversations flowed into the issue of suffering, God’s role in it, which tied into love. The topic freewill came along to play, and the whole thing turned into an incredible 3 hours very well spent intellectually and I hope for the kingdom of God as well, as many in the group said they enjoyed the conversation and had much to think over. Perhaps seeds I will never see develop. Who knows but God. The internet is a wild place…(someone laughably commented during this conversation: “wow, God bashing. you guys are going out on a philosophical limb today!” I didn’t actually see much “God bashing”God-debating, yes, but overall, a fairly respectable, even-handed group. But it was a great comment)

So all that kinda combined into my thoughts here. The moral? Human interaction is incredibly stimulating. Love is something unimaginably complex and wonderful. God made it and, in fact, is named by it. Thus, God is beyond our wildest imagination. And I’m content to leave all that there. Have Peace and Joy in Him, people! Much Love: the Lukas.

Its about this time of year, everybody gets married. Or well, a lot of people do. Some get engaged (especially the seniors!) and begin preparing for marriage. Others are just beginning relationships. Some pick them up again after absences or forks in the road. A few are long down the trail of planning for the future of pursuing someone. Others have break downs and break ups. The falling in love, and the fallout that follows. Long distances strain things. For others, it brings them closer together. The up and down ride of two people learning to love never ends.

And then there’s me. Set in a class apart. Certainly not alone in this place, and yet, it gets lonely sometimes. Its a strange thing, to watch the joys and pains of others: Thanking God to be free from the trials that pull at those connected to some “significant other,” while still feeling the chill of being one on the outside looking in at the warmth within. Its a strange thing…

Its not that I’m discontent, anxious, or pining the days away. No. Time apart and unattached teaches one the value and beauty of singleness. It gives one a freedom of mind; a carefree, laid-back state of being; time that is spent to ones own desires on what, or whomever one pleases. A wonderful, undistracted and undivided mind.

And yet, its a strange thing: It is not as wonderful as it might seem without someone to share it with - the strange, mystical connection between two people that grows as mutual experiences entwines the two together. The experiences seem richer, the memories more vivid, the time more valued. What a strange thing!

Its no small wonder God created, knowing the pain and hurt it would cause himself and the world. And yet, what a wonderful thing to love and be loved; to share such a thing as love, there is nothing so thrilling, dangerous, painfully risky, yet fulfilling as the act of love! Is it really a wonder God created? Such a strange thing, this love thing. Yet here it is, pushing us beyond evolutionary, self-preservationist instincts.

Where does it come from, what is its source? It is not born within us. It does not have a natural habitat among mortals. It is far too wonderful and magnificent for that! What wondrous love is this, the hymnodist aptly sings. What a wonderful thing, that the One called Love has chosen to pour this gift out, through himself, to the world. Not simply in the gift of affection of one sinful being for another, but supremely in the Holy embracing the unholy: The mingling of the two, in inequality, has not defiled, but rather purified. And now, Love springs forth eternal.

Such a strange thing, that, even though such a love is to be had, there remains in me a desire for another, lesser love. What is it in us that desires something below the love of a God? Perhaps it is the desire for tangible expression of the emotions felt; the lessons learned as children. Perhaps we know there is more, there is better; but what are we to do when we cannot see what we believe is there? It is a strange thing.

But here I am, and here I stay. I can do no other until my Lord, the Creator, Gifter, rather, the very personification of Love says otherwise. And I will be content with Him. May this be a gift to you, O Lover of my soul.

I love you.

From an excellent article entitled: “From Church to ‘Rhizone’: Reconfiguring Theological Education for the Postmodern Era” by Carl Raschke

It has been said too often that we are now in a post-Christian world. A better phrasing would be apost-churched world. Ironically, that may be what Christ really had in mind when he enunciated what has come to be called The Great Commission. Jesus said “go and make disciples of all nations,” not “go find a good location to start churches.” The difference is not all that subtle. As disciple-making disciples we need to be gearing our theological studies toward becoming makeover artists in redesigning our Father’s house, not plodding toward one day becoming junior partners in the management of his firm.

The article comes as part of the latest series on the Mars Hill grad school: The Other Journal blog, one which has a lot of really insightful stuff on how to reach the culture today and which I have oft mentioned and quoted here.

The article speaks of how education in general (though specifically focusing on theological education, seminary and the like) is in need of radical overhauling due to a shift in culture. As the culture’s perception of knowledge has changed and become more diversified and yet more able to globally communicate that diversity, there is a different mindset that will be addressed by those in education as well as everyday life. Remaining in the trench of what we have done to communicate knowledge, leaves us outside in the cold if we refuse to mold to a wildly different culture. Knowledge transfer can take place at an incredibly fast pace due to the ways in which technology has allowed it to move globally almost instantly. Education, or the receiving of knowledge happens practically unconsciously. Thus, the means in which we attempt, both to learn, as well as too teach, must adapt.

This has led to a brand-new approach to how ministry and ministry-minded education is formed and carried out.

“Revolutionaries,” [pollster George Barna] notes by way of generalization, “have no use for churches that play religious games, whether those games are worship services that drone on without the presence of God or ministry programs that bear no spiritual fruit. Revolutionaries eschew ministries that compromise or soft sell our sinful nature to expand organizational turf.”⁵ Barna’s emphasis is personal integrity and Christian commitment in the midst of all the consumer-driven wants and demands on our life. But it also implies a new organizational metaphor that does not refer to any specific organization. “Every Revolutionary I have interviewed,” Barna writes, “described a network of Christians to whom he or she relates regularly and a portfolio of spiritual activities which he or she engages in on a regular basis. This schedule of relationships and ministry efforts is the Revolutionary equivalent of traditional congregational life.”

It is fascinating to see a church beginning to become a more interconnected, global entity, to see how believers all over the world can now connect to one another and fellowship as a body miles apart, yet very present with one another. Raschke speaks of the church as no longer something that is connected to a building, or even an organization. Raschke points out that:

The word church derives directly from the Greekkyriou, a genitive possessive form which means literally “that which is the Lord’s.” So what we call the church is simply the manner in which Christ is using the different occasions and our affiliations to reshape the world in accordance with his eschatological purpose and to conform our own both scattered and interconnected lives to his image.

This is a incredibly opportunity-rich age for the church, not that it hasn’t always been. But as the world is now connected to one another in ways never dreamed possible, there are many opportunities to be taken. If we are to thrive in an interconnected era, our education system must teach men and women how to connect with and participate in a more globally accessible body of Christ to reach a globally accessible mission field.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7489296.stm

I hear stories like this, things the world is doing to help those in very desperate situations and succeeding (to a degree) and I think the body of Christ can and is doing much on the same scale as this, not something that will be as globally recognized as the UN or as in the news as things like Mission Sanitation. I think it would be incredible if groups of young Christian entrepreneurial college kids could start something to bring hope, life, dignity to those around the world who have nothing. I think there are a bunch of people already doing this among groups like Kiva, World Hope Intl. I dunno how one would start something like this… I’ve been interesting in working some job that would provide enough for me, those around and those I might be able to help worldwide, but what if combined, a few people could do more? could reach more? Is anyone interested??

But then, I’m just a young’n full of crazy ideas…

For those of you who read my blog and have never watched any of the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conferences, they are absolutely amazing. There is a lot of really inspiring ideas given and talked about at them regarding a lot of scientific, social, global issues and the video from many of these conferences is online! If you have a chance, I watched an interesting one (well, several actually but here’s one for now) about new ways of constructing and living in cities. An interesting one to me for sure.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jaime_lerner_sings_of_the_city.html

Somewhere on the intarwebs…

Obama asks Americans to step up, volunteer Continuing to press the themes of values, faith and patriotism, Sen. Barack Obama exhorted Americans on Wednesday to volunteer for public service, pledging to dramatically expand opportunities for those accepting his challenge.

JAE C. HONG / AP
In Colorado Springs, Colo., Wednesday, Sen. Barack Obama said he’d expand public-service opportunities if elected president.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Continuing to press the themes of values, faith and patriotism, Sen. Barack Obama exhorted Americans on Wednesday to volunteer for public service, pledging to dramatically expand opportunities for those accepting his challenge.

On a campaign swing that included visits to military bases, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee sought to emphasize his own love of country.

“Loving your country shouldn’t just mean watching fireworks on the Fourth of July,” he told a small audience at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. “Loving your country must mean accepting your responsibility to do your part to change it.”

Throughout the week, Obama has been striving to win over voters in Republican areas, defending his patriotism in Independence, Mo., on Monday and pledging to expand federal aid to religious social-service groups in rural Ohio on Tuesday. He will speak about veterans in Fargo, N.D., today, then will highlight the theme of family Friday as he celebrates Independence Day in Butte, Mont., with his wife and two daughters. [From Politics | Obama asks Americans to step up, volunteer | Seattle Times Newspaper]