The Best Christmas Present

At the risk of sounding utterly cliché, I wanted to write about my daughter's first Christmas and what a joy she is to my wife and me. Presents under the tree are always fun, especially because our family lives on a Dave Ramsey budget that doesn't usually allow for unnecessary extravagances each month. Christmas is when we stock up on entertainment and goodies for the year. We don't have cable, either, so a brand-new season of a favorite t.v. show is received with much gratitude. As fun as these presents are, my daughter, Lydia, is the best gift I could ever receive. To see her smile is a joy that stays with me throughout the day. To see her crawl and make new discoveries fills me with pleasure. Whether she's banging on a pot or pan, grabbing at a yet-to-be-opened Christmas gift, or chewing on a toy block, she's a wonder to behold.

Throughout the year, there are so many things that we can complain and squabble about. It's refreshing to look at a baby and be reminded of simplicity and grace. That's really what this season is about, right? A baby who came and changed everything, just like any new baby does to its parents. Nothing's the same anymore. Everything a parent does now revolves around that child and his or her schedule. A baby requires lots of love and attention. Some changes that a baby causes are hard: long, sleep-deprived nights, fussy mealtimes, constant attention and care. A baby is supposed to change our lives. Sometimes those changes are difficult to adjust to, but the reward is ultimately a lifetime of love. Whether a parent or not, it's nice to remember how a baby is supposed to pervade our life and change us from within.

Beautiful, Fleeting Moments

My daughter, Lydia, is almost eight months old. What a ride it's been. For those who are parents, you'll relate well to what I'm writing. For those who aren't parents, maybe this will provide you some insight to what might lay ahead in your life. I'm discovering that with a child come many, many beautiful, fleeting moments — and they're all very special to behold.

Beautiful, fleeting moments — those moments that are a snapshot of a time in their first year — fly by so quickly that you have to document almost everything. That's why parents take a zillion photos of their baby. That's why every parent has a "baby book." That's probably why I'm writing this blog. These beautiful, little moments come and go so quickly and we want them to hang around a little while longer. For example, I remember not too long ago when my daughter could barely sit up, and I would place her on my chest as I lay on the bed. Fast-forward just a mere three to four weeks and she's on the brink of crawling. Now when she sits on my chest, she's moving all over the place, wanting to crawl right off of me. I miss the days when she sat contently on my chest. Where did those days run off to?

I look at pictures of my daughter from just two to three months ago. She hardly resembles the growing, animated little girl that I see every day. Just three months ago my wife and I couldn't have imagined getting through a single day without the help of Lydia's pacifiers. Now her own fingers do the trick quite nicely and the pacies have been retired to a drawer full of clothes that she's also quickly outgrowing. Right now Lydia babbles all day long and it's adorable. I know I'll miss those babbles in a few months when they slowly become words. One of the most special moments between my daughter and I has been when I'm able to place her in a baby carrier that straps over my shoulders. She's able to rest against my chest while still exploring the world around her. I use this carrier most often in the grocery store and have enjoyed carrying her this way for months. Sadly, Lydia is getting heavier by the week and I'm sensing the nearing cessation of this great baby-bonding accessory.

Each moment of her first year has been something very special. I've enjoyed seeing her grow from a tiny infant who hardly opened her eyes to a cute, little baby who wants to play all day long. It just never ceases to amaze me how quickly these little moments come and then how quickly they leave, only to make room for the next beautiful moment. Each of these stages are unique and so very precious, and though I love each new one, I can't help but miss the moment that just passed.

Sinful Saints

There are a couple of good blogs that I follow. Only a couple, because the Internet is so full of voices, and those voices all start to sound like noise after a while. One good blog that I've recently discovered is called Sarcastic Lutheran: the cranky spirituality of a postmodern Gal. The blog's name is catchy enough in itself. However, the content is also really thoughtful and intriguing. It's written by a self-proclaimed "outlaw preacher," draped in tattoos and a love for God. She is the mission developer for House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado. The name of the church is true enough, and this pastor seems to understand God's grace in a very down-to-earth, just-because-I-preach-doesn't-mean-I'm-perfect manner. To get a clearer picture of this church's heartbeat, check out the poster below.



















Poster design by Jim Smelser

One of this "gal's" recent blogs caught my attention. It's called "A Confession." She writes:

I am uncomfortable with a whole lot of Christianity. But the thing is, I'm Christian (note I didn't say "a" Christian...as that, to me, plays into the whole Western individualism gone amuck in the church thing ....another example of which is the "personal" lord and savior bit...you know — "personal trainer", "personal shopper", "personal assistant" and "personal lord and savior")
Here's why I'm struggling with this right now. There is an emerging women's gathering in Portland that I'm considering attending. This is a huge step for me — to be willing to step outside my tribe a bit. So I poked around on the web looking for information about the event. I found a list of the organizers and looked at the home page from one of their churches. It looked amazing with lots of street kids and crazy dreadlocked pastors, but on their "about us" page the first thing was that "we believe the Bible is inerrant and totally true", which made me want to never stop slapping them.

What's odd is that I find myself nodding and smiling as I read this preacher's blog. Within a sentence or two, she summarizes what many postmodern Christians feel. We are a sinful bunch, trying to find the balance between logic, reason and faith. We believe in scientific evidence, yet are still drawn to God. We have seen lost hope and unanswered prayers, yet still pray to our Father in Heaven. We recognize our sin, yet continue to crawl back to the Lord. Why do we do this?

These are some of the hardest issues that Christians struggle with today. We believe in the Bible, but aren't sure that it's inerrant or infallible. Authoritative? Sure. Inspired? Definitely. We just aren't sure how to reconcile the contradictions and verses that don't seem to apply to our lives today. But you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. There's much to love and to gain in this Holy book. So we push forward, striving to learn more about this loving and confusing God that we serve.

The ironic and inspiring thing is, despite all the scientific evidence and convincing arguments against God that fill bookshelves and saturate Internet bandwidth, we sinful saints still press on, seeking God every day. This is amazing and profound to me. It gives me hope and energizes my spirit. You don't have to have all the answers to be Christian. You can have serious doubts and still be Christian. God's arms are open to all: the saints and especially the sinners. This is the astonishing message of grace.

All of this should come as a relief to many. We have a Father in Heaven who loves us completely. We can love him back...and also be mad at him. We can love him and be confused by his ways. Thankfully, in the end, this phrase holds true: There's nothing we can do to earn God's love — and there's nothing we can do to unearn it.

Click here to view the Outlaw Preacher's blog.

Facebook's Often-Overlooked Accountability Factor

As I've recently been browsing the pages of my friends on Facebook, a particular theme has surfaced: Facebook, though unintentionally, promotes accountability.

I really don't believe this is intentional. Facebook, Myspace, Blogger, Twitter and other social networking sites promote individuality and creative expression, but accountability? C'mon. Facebook's the place where you can create an image for yourself. You can list music, quotes and books to define your personality. You can put your best face on, at least in the photographs you choose to post. Witty status updates? Post as many as you can think up. Facebook's like a high-school yearbook page that you can dress up any way you like.

So how does Facebook promote any type of accountability?

I've noticed that my pastor is on Facebook. So is my insurance agent. So are school teachers. And business owners. Even my mom is on Facebook. It's in their profiles that they've carefully edited what information and photos they post. And this makes sense. In a week's time you can have twenty new friends on Facebook. It can take over your life, really. I've seen people that update their Facebook status almost hourly. In this out-of-control, addictive environment (which I play along with), it can be easy to forget who your audience is. We have to be careful what we share online. I work in the field of ministry, so I better be careful as to what photos and information I post. The next time I run across a YouTube video of that profanity-laced Dr. Dre song that I liked in high school, I'll have to think twice before embedding it on my Facebook wall. And that's exactly how Facebook promotes accountability.

We love to share fun information and pictures with our family and friends through Facebook. Though in doing so, we also subconsciously make careful decisions as to what information and pictures we choose to share. We have to put on our best face, just in case our second-grade school teacher looks at our Facebook page. It's kind of fun to think about. We want to have a page that shows our true colors, but Facebook also causes us to examine those colors, just in case they're a little inappropriate. What an ironic quandary Facebook has become.

Still, this accountability issue is a good thing. We should always be aware of what we say and what things we're associated with. I'm just thinking we didn't expect Facebook to become a cyber-mom watching over us.

Erring On The Side Of Grace

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Annual Churchwide Assembly met in Minneapolis the week of August 17-23, 2009. One of the most stirring and controversial topics that was discussed and taken to vote was the ordination of gay and lesbian Christians.

During the week, the ELCA's voting members adopted, after much debate, proposals to direct changes in the ELCA's ministry policies, making it possible for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA associates in ministry, clergy, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.

While the language used is certainly a lot of hard-to-decipher church jargon, it's a huge decision that has the potential to split the Lutheran Church.

Of course the arguments for and against this change in policy are numerous. Some say it's clear that homosexuality is a sin, according to the Bible. Therefore, churches that ordain gays and lesbians are, in a sense, condoning sin. Others will say that the big picture of the Gospel is acceptance and respect for one another. Still others will point out that Jesus spoke out against divorce, yet churches allow divorced persons to serve as clergy.

As a Lutheran, I take an ironic stance on the subject. Bill Maher, in his recent documentary, Religulous, stated that he, when it came to belief in God, was on the side of, "I don't know." He found it very troubling that so many Christians hold a without-a-doubt certainty in regards to God and the afterlife. Though he's an atheist and I'm a Christian, I very much agree with his viewpoint. I believe in God, but I very much don't know where to place my feet on controversial religious issues.

And I'm perfectly okay with that.

We are all fooling ourselves if we believe that everyone we worship with on Sunday mornings has the same views as us. We all interpret Scripture differently and that's a good thing. That's the beauty of the Bible. In his epistles, Paul says multiple times to live in harmony with one another. We can worship side by side, regardless of our differing viewpoints.

Some will undoubtedly say that Scripture gives clear instructions on the type of person that can preside over a church. This is true, but is the apostle Paul's list exhaustive? After all, Paul writes that "the overseer must be...the husband of but one wife." Does this mean that single men (or women) are disqualified? There are many ways to examine the subject. At times I wonder if we take guidelines that Paul gave in the New Testament and turn them into inflexible laws. Jesus respected the law, but didn't want it to cause people to stumble and miss the point of God's love.

While some will choose to leave the Evangelical branch of the Lutheran Church, I hope that they will think further into the implication of such a decision. For instance, all believers identify themselves as "Christians." Still, all "Christians" will interpret the Bible differently and live out their life in ways that can contradict Christ's teachings. Do we then, therefore, break away from this group known as "Christians"? Of course not. We hold on. We stay the course. Just because some Lutherans believe in the ordination of homosexuals doesn't mean that all Lutherans have to agree to this. That's why the decision included a term called bound conscience. Reverend Dr. Timothy Wengert described bound conscience to the 2009 ELCA Assembly in this way:

"Respect for the bound conscience does not mean that one can simply declare one’s conscience to be bound to a particular interpretation of Scripture, and then make everybody else deal with it. Respecting bound conscience is not a form of selfishness or an excuse to sin. Instead, it means that the very people who hold different, opposing viewpoints on a particular moral issue based upon their understanding of Scripture, tradition and reason must recognize the bound conscience of the other, of their neighbor who disagrees with them, and then work in such ways as not to cause that other person to reject the faith and fellowship in Word and Sacrament."

Again, I don't know where I stand. My typical modus operandi in these situations is to err on the side of grace. We are all sinners, yet Christ died for us. We're all bastards, yet Christ loves us. This love is bigger than we can imagine. In trying to obey the Bible's teachings, we sometimes get entangled in the law and forget to simply love one another. Who is right and who is wrong? A better question might be, "am I showing love by my attitudes and actions or are my actions not showing love?"

We Want Spirituality, Just Not Too Much Of It

I'm going to a rock concert this month with my brother. Creed has reunited and I'd kick myself if I miss them this time around. Creed has me thinking about spirituality and the role it plays in music. As with most of my blogs, I should give some background explanation.

As a band, Creed has always explored themes of spirituality in their music. They've been praised and criticized for this. They were sometimes labeled a Christian rock band due to the fact that all of their albums focus on questions of faith, Christianity and eternity(1). I find this curious and intriguing.

Did people love Creed because of their Christian leanings or simply because they were a great rock band? I'd like to think a little of both. Their singles that had the most success, Higher, My Sacrifice, What's This Life For, My Own Prison, With Arms Wide Open and One Last Breath all contain allusions to Christian theology. Is this a coincidence?

Here's where I'm going with all of this: Now that Creed has reunited, will their upcoming album, titled Full Circle, contain the same spiritual allusions that brought them previous success? More importantly, if this album doesn't contain any spiritual content, will it be as successful as the other albums?

People seem to be drawn to spirituality...just not too much of it. There's this invisible line in secular music where, if God and Jesus are mentioned too much, it doesn't fly. Yet musicians that ponder the supernatural and the spiritual tend to be commercially successful. I use Creed as the most prominent example. Alanis Morissette, Garth Brooks, Tupac Shakur and Natasha Bedingfield are other artists that come to mind.

So what does all of this mean? I'm not quite sure. It could mean that spiritual issues should be dealt in small doses if they're to have a substantial impact. Spirituality and theology are complex subjects. Too much tends to fall on deaf ears. Maybe I'm just looking way too deep into this topic. Still, it intrigues me and I can't wait to hear what Creed has to say on their upcoming release.

(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creed_(band)

Thumb-sucking Our Way To Contentment

For some time now, I've found many compelling spiritual metaphors in the day-to-day stuff of life. Today one of these metaphors came in the form of thumb-sucking — finger-sucking, really. My little baby girl has discovered that her fingers can be used to pacify her need for milk. This has been amazing to see. My wife and I didn't teach her this tactic. She learned it all on her own and it fascinates me because it's one of her first real discoveries. It's also a bit ironic. You see, she really wants a bottle of milk, but ends up settling for her fingers, at least momentarily. What's really humorous is that she sometimes will prefer her fingers, even when the bottle is right at her mouth.

I guess we're all a little like that.

Just like my daughter has a deep need for her bottle of milk, we all have deeply-rooted needs — things like purpose, affection, community, and contentment. That's why it's so spiritually befitting to see my daughter choose her fingers over a bottle of milk. She really, really wants the milk, but has found a mediocre substitute in her fingers. Her impatience for the milk, whether it's being warmed up or right in front of her, parallels the impatience of most adults. We want fulfillment...and we want it now. If we'll just wait for the milk, God will provide. But we choose instead the mediocre substitutes of life — high-definition this and widescreen that. We find our contentment in the short-term highs, whether it's buying something we really don't need or finding our identity in our career. I fall victim to this pseudo-contentment just as much as the next guy. That's why it seemed so profound to watch as my daughter chose her fingers over the real deal. I believe that the truly meaningful stuff of life is found not in stores, but in the less-obvious places. It's sometimes hard to think of a good discussion with a friend or a walk with your spouse as a path toward contentment. Yet there it is. It's right at our fingertips and we go out and thumb-suck our way to contentment with something else. Poetic conviction has never been so clear.

Here's to choosing milk over our fingers.

The Temptation Of Atheism

While I love research and statistics, most of my blogs are based more on my perceptions of the world. I read books that have done the statistical legwork and it usually just affirms what I suspected anyway. Once again, this blog is simply my perception of the world around me — how I see things. In a sense, it's truth to me. You may or may not find it truthful to you. That's the reality of life. All I have is my perception of truth. That's all any of us have, really.

My latest read has been, Letter To A Christian Nation, by Sam Harris. Harris, like Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens, is in a class that's been called The New Atheists. These gentlemen all wrote books, many on bestseller lists, that attack and denounce religion. Their arguments include asking thought-provoking questions such as why a loving God would kill children and why so much abuse and violence occurs due to religious beliefs. Sam Harris's book intrigued me. He made a great number of valid points and arguments against Christianity. Atheism has never looked so tempting.

It would be easy to be an atheist. Ah, to live in the land where logic reigns. To live in a place where what is seen is what is true. We could still have morals, but we wouldn't have to deal with all of those pesky Bible verses that contradict one another and are so utterly confusing. Sarcasm aside, I can only see two real cons against the whole proposition — accountability and motivation.

I work in the ministry field — some days for better, some for worse. Today was a better. I saw the validity in what I do. I saw another reason for belief in the unseen God that I follow. As a coworker and I were on our way to help a local resident with a chore, I felt a lack of motivation for the task. It was a busy day and I had more important things to do — at least I thought so. The resident we were to help is a widow and my coworker happened to point that out, in reference to Jesus's teaching about caring for the widows and the orphans. And like an uppercut to the jaw, the reality of her statement hit me. "Yeah, that is our job," I thought. Even as a Christian who works in the field of ministry, I was having trouble following the commands that I'm supposed to model.

Later this question arose: If I, as a Christian, struggle to do good things in this world, how would I ever do those good things as an atheist? I'm not suggesting that atheists are immoral people who don't care about helping others. I'm just stating that, without the accountability of my faith, I would have a hell of a hard time finding the motivation to help people in need.

At the end of the day, how do I come to terms with the enticing logic of atheism and the beautiful absurdity of faith? Some days the historical evidence and apologetics of Christianity prove to be enough. Some days I struggle as the logic and reason of atheism grabs at my will. In the end, it comes down to who I want to be. And, ultimately, faith is the helping hand I need toward that destination.

Missing The Point

My mom always had an apt saying. She'd say, "Pick your battles." This mainly applied to my brother receiving a punishment much less harsh than I would have received for an identical misbehavior. But she was a tired mother and knew that some arguments just weren't worth picking. Better to have a peaceful household than one filled with anger and bitterness, even if it meant being a little lenient on the rules.

This principle shouldn't be lost on Christians. Sometimes we need to carefully "pick our battles." At times I wonder if we get so caught up in the rules that we miss the point of it all. In his book, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers, Dan Merchant said, "The thing that's particularly troubling to me is that when we engage with people we may not agree with, we seem to forget the essentials, love one another." Well put. And while most Christians are guilty of gravitating to Bible verses that fit our mindset, we can't deny the essentials. Be compassionate and humble. Live in harmony with one another. Be sympathetic. Don't judge each other. Love others deeply. These themes are repeated over and over again throughout Scripture. Many teachings in the Bible are a bit hazy and have multiple interpretations — these principles are clear.

We know the essentials; the hard part is living them out. It's sometimes easier to condemn than to show grace.

•••••••••••••••

So how do we have an open mind and an open heart while still standing firm in our beliefs?

I believe there is a balance. We can show love and acceptance to a person by simply acknowledging that we don't have all of the answers. Some issues are black-and-white and we feel very confident in our position. Others, however, aren't so clear and we need to embrace a humble spirit when discussing these issues with others. It's easy to argue someone down. However, is that really the right approach? Phillip Yancey once said, "No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument." We must hold love for one another higher than anything else. That's what the Bible teaches and simply put: it just feels like the right thing to do. We can disagree on homosexuality, stem-cell research, church doctrine, politics, whatever. However, if these issues divide us, we've failed. We've missed the point. The point is to love, above all else. We should look to live in harmony with others, even when we don't see eye to eye. We really can agree to disagree. Or disagree to agree. However you view it, it's better than being divided.


One definition of reconciliation is to "win over to friendliness." That seems a worthwhile goal for Christians. We're not going to draw anybody to our side if the discussion becomes a debate. Civil and respectful dialogue can go a long way. When we find ourselves wanting to impose our viewpoint, let's remember that adults are stubborn. We're not likely to change anyone's mindset, anyway. Leave that up to the Holy Spirit.

The Mother That I Can Only Hope To Be

It's 4:22 a.m. Yep, that's twenty-two minutes past four in the morning. Not long ago I only theoretically knew this time of day existed. I was never up this early to prove it. Yet as I sit here typing, my wife is one room away, feeding our new daughter. That simple act is the spark that triggered this blog. Let me start by saying that I'm a Christian. My wife is also a Christian. While I'm aware that term has many negative connotations surrounding it these days, to us being a Christian means living a life of service, loving people, and accepting God's grace when we fail at the first two. The interesting thing that I've found to be true is that my wife, now as a new mother, embodies Christ far better than I could ever hope to.

Let me provide a quick explanation.

My wife, being a new mother, has now inherited certain duties, whether she wants them or not. She is called to take care of our little girl no matter how she's feeling, what time of day it is, or what else is going on in her life. Our daughter's needs come first, period. The sacrifice that this requires is astounding to me. It's a job she excels at, much more than I do. In comparison to a mother, being a father is relatively easy. On any given night you might hear me say, "Honey, do you need me to get you a glass of water while you're feeding the baby? Okay, here you go. I'm going back to bed now." My problem is sleep, or the lack of it to be more specific. Sleep is one of our most fundamental needs. Without it, we aren't going to be productive for very long. In the middle of the night, when my wife and I have to get up to take care of our baby, I'm about as coherent as a zombie in a George Romero flick. My wife does a bit better. The truly inspiring thing is that she does it every night, without wavering. She pops out of bed and unhesitatingly meets our daughter's needs. She will be up with our little girl for an hour, sometimes longer, in the middle of the night. I'm only up a small portion of that time in a pitiful attempt to show my support.

This type of sacrifice and love for another human being is the true essence of being a follower of Christ. Moms everywhere embody it better than most men I've met. While this isn't meant to be a which-gender-is-better illustration or anything, my point is that when it comes to truly living a Christ-like example, mothers epitomize it.

I use the example of a mother caring for her child as an example because it truly exemplifies the type of selfless life Jesus calls us to. In the past, I've tried to live out my faith in a number of ways — mission trips, homeless ministries, soup kitchens, service at the church — but these things were all on my timetable. I chose when I would serve (and at which activity). While at times I was out of my comfort zone, I wasn't in the desert for forty days by any stretch. Mothers, though, have to constantly surrender themselves with a newborn. I see this most when my wife sits in her rocking chair at three in the morning, nursing our daughter. I can hardly stay awake, but she fights through to meet our daughter's needs. I am truly inspired by that.

To all the mothers out there who continually put their childrens' needs first, you're due much praise. As honored as I feel to be the father of a precious little girl, my wife is the one who deserves the glory. She serves not only as a model mother, but also a shining example of what a Christian should be.

The Missing Field Guide For Evangelism, Part 3

A SATIRICAL LOOK AT HOW WE DO THIS THING CALLED "CHURCH"
On his Web site, BeyondRelevance.com, Richard Reising, a church marketing consultant, has posted a great video. It's had over 220,000 views on YouTube since November of 2008. The video is called "What If Starbucks Marketed Like A Church? A Parable." While it's satire at its best, it's also hard for Christians to watch because of its dead-on, albeit unappealing, representation of the church. Before you continue to read, take just a few minutes and watch.



DISSECTING THE VIDEO
For me, watching this video was like looking at myself in the mirror and hating how my hair looks. I know I can fix it, but it's going to take a lot of gel. One YouTube viewer even commented, "heres the reason why i HATE church lol." Hard words. Yet the church needs to hear them. The point of this video was to highlight the disconnect between how churches do things and the people they're trying to reach. I don't think this video is trying to purport that churches should be like a coffeehouse. It takes viewing the church in a different scenario to realize how unique our challenges are.

I have enjoyed breaking down this video and analyzing its purpose. In doing so, I have to admit that while many will watch it and agree that the church sometimes tries too hard in its efforts, many more will watch the video and call it foolish drivel. Therein lies the problem. Once again, we aren't all going to agree on the best ways to reach those outside the church. Though we're called not to conform to the patterns of this world*, we should attempt to "be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity*." (Rom. 12:4; Col. 4:5) Even this verse from Colossians could be interpreted several ways. Being "wise in the way you act toward outsiders" could mean that you Bible-thump them into a fearful acceptance of God's Word or it could also mean that you attempt to relate on their level, being aware of their church background (or lack of one). I'm gonna pick the latter.

Babies need milk, not food. This metaphor applies to young Christians and those outside the church, too. We cannot expect those without a thorough religious background to understand words and concepts like salvation, redemption, consecration, sanctification, and all the other "tions" that we like to use. My hope and prayer is that we all can keep this in mind as we move forward. Churches have much to offer the world. We have the love of God. We just need to move out of the way and let God show himself through us. Many times we think we have it all figured out. Well, the breaking news of the day is that we don't. Let's meet people where they are and just try to accept them there.

QUOTES TO CONSIDER
"No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument." Phillip Yancey

"You can tell you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott

"If we're delivering a message that the people of America don't want to hear, so be it. As long as we're not delivering it in a way that they won't listen in the first place." Sen. Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania 1994-2006

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it with religious conviction." Blaise Pascal

"As editor of the largest newspaper in West Virginia, I scan hundreds of reports daily and I am amazed by the frequency with which religion causes people to kill each other. It is a nearly universal pattern, undercutting the common assumption that religion makes people kind and tolerant." James Haught

"Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge." John Wesley

"If it weren't for Christians, I'd be a Christian." Mahatma Ghandi

"There's no greater role model in my view than Jesus Christ. It's just a shame that most of the people who follow him and call themselves Christians act nothing like him." Bill Maher

"Attack me, I do this myself, but attack me rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lies. If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side!" Leo Tolstoy

"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged." Jesus

FINAL THOUGHTS
We've been tossed by the waves and are (almost) hopelessly stuck at sea. It's time to turn our boat around. I tend to believe that most people accept God because of his promises of forgiveness and grace, and that's the message we most need to convey. But again, that's just my opinion.

"...love your enemies...If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that." Jesus, Matt. 5:44,47

The Missing Field Guide For Evangelism, Part 2

For the past 10 to 20 years, national church attendance has hovered around 40%. I'm not sure if that's a big deal or not. If Christians feel that what we do every Sunday is worth believing in, then it probably should be a big deal. What if a new poll reported that only 40% of Americans take baths? Pretty gross, right? We'd wince at that statistic because most people believe that bathing is necessary to good health. I guess with church-attendance statistics, we've grown a bit numb and many even take the 'to-each-his-own' perspective.

So church attendance isn't looking all that great. Now comes the obvious question: what can we do about it?

As a worker in the church, I have to consider statistics such as these. It makes my job hard, though. How am I supposed to help our local church grow when attendance is down all over the nation? As tempting as it might be, we can't simply stay with the attendance numbers that we're at. That's ignoring Jesus's mandate to "go and make disciples."

Are people not interested in spirituality anymore? No, people are still very interested in spirituality.

Are people distrusting of organized religion? Hmmm...

I believe that organized religion has a black cloud over its head. This cloud isn't going away anytime soon, either. Because of our disjointed methods of evangelism, we've represented our God in some negative ways over the years. There is no consistency. One church will say that homosexuals aren't welcome and another will allow homosexuals to preach from their pulpit. Who's right? Could they both be right somehow? One church allows women to preach, another doesn't. Again, who's right? The world watches us and shakes its head in confusion. Where did we go wrong?

There are plenty of books available that offer suggestions to break this negative evangelism cycle. No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come-As-You-Are Culture in the Church by John Burke, They Like Jesus But Not The Church by Dan Kimball, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers by Dan Merchant and UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity ... and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons are all great books addressing the negative stereotypes surrounding the church. But again, these books aren't 'Gospel.' They're just opinions and interpretations. Some will accept these evangelism methods, some won't. And we're back to square one.

Still, it's a topic important enough to discuss and seek out ways to break through the negative perceptions held against us by many outside the church.

I'll end this entry in the series with a quote from George Barna, whose company studies nationwide church participation. Mr. Barna addresses the challenges that Christians face in bringing the unchurched into our places of worship. He writes, "The numbers consistently point out that those who live without a regular face-to-face faith connection tend to be relatively isolated from the mainstream of society, tend to be non-committal in institutional and personal relationships, and typically revel in their independence. Attempting to get them involved in the life of a church is a real challenge. The best chance of getting them to a church is when someone they know and trust invites them, offers to accompany them, and there is reason to believe that the church event will address one of the issues or needs they are struggling with at that moment." As the church, we've got a challenge before us.

The Missing Field Guide For Evangelism, Part 1

As I finished the book, They Like Jesus But Not The Church, by a pretty hip pastor named Dan Kimball, I realized I might have found the cause of a problem that's been occurring in the church for years. Let me start with the problem: we live in a post-Christian culture where there is a substantial dropout rate of younger people in churches and also a lack of people from emerging generations coming in. So now that we've identified the problem, why does it occur?

I believe this problem occurs because we have no field guide telling us how to share our beliefs. There's no bible instructing us how to teach the Bible. There's no official manual for evangelism. While there are plenty of books out there to help us with these things, who's methods are right? Everybody's got their own opinion and many have the validity of a chatroom posting. 'Just do what Jesus did' is a cop-out. We don't have the faith to move mountains or multiply bread and fish. Also, there are so many points in Scripture that 'good Christians' feel are necessary to bestow, finding an effective way to share one's faith has become much like a high-school science experiment.

Does it have to be this complicated?

Because most Christians have their own interpretation of what the Bible means when it says something controversial, we need to examine how to sludge past the divisive issues to show the heart of God. Dan Merchant is one guy who found a unique way to do this. In his book and documentary, Lord, Save Us From Your Followers -- Why Is The Gospel Of Love Dividing America?, the author and film-maker followed an idea birthed from Don Miller and Tony Kriz (of Blue Like Jazz fame). Dan set up a confessional booth at the Gay Pride Northwest festivities in Portland. Here's the catch – Dan was the one doing the confessing. After inviting a festival attendee to enter his booth, he would confess his mistakes as a Christian. Dan apologized for the way he and other Christians have treated homosexuals in the past. He tried to heal deep wounds between homosexuals and the church. Dan explained his motivation like this:

I desperately wanted to undo the perception of Christians and of God that many of the people I was about to meet undoubtedly would hold. I wanted to beg people to listen to me: "We've been showing it wrong. Don't judge Jesus on my lame-o example. You've heard that part of the Bible where Jesus said, 'he who is without sin cast the first stone'? I think that part is important."

Dan Merchant's words resonate deeply with me. My motivation for this blog series is summed up in the quote above. I desperately want people to know that Christians aren't all hypocrites who think they're better than everybody else. More importantly, I want people to know that Jesus wasn't like that, either.

This three-part blog series will attempt to further the ever-evolving discussion of evangelism in a post-Christian culture. This is not meant to simply be one man's opinion. It's meant to be a discussion. And like any good discussion, it will involve talking and listening.

Placebo Faith

In my job I get to see and hear many examples of faith displayed in various ways. It has helped me to realize what true faith is. True faith is the kind you have when that's all that's left. You can have a college education or no education; you can be snooty rich or dirt poor; drive a Lexus or walk barefoot — true faith is measured by desperation. How desperate for God are you?

This topic has been on my mind as I hear stories that reflect true, sincere faith. When a spouse is ill or has an ongoing disability, and doctors aren't able to provide the answers that you would like, faith might be all you have left. This could be described as placebo faith. Faith that's simply a crutch. While faith in a higher power can surely be viewed that way, maybe it shouldn't be. If you've never been desperate, it's easy to look at Christian believers as uneducated fools who trust their God because they don't understand science and medicine. That may be true, but when science, medicine, logic, friends, and family cannot provide the help you're needing, that's where faith thrives. Without a broken spirit, it's unlikely that you'll understand true faith, faith that's definitely not a placebo.

If you are in a dire, desperate situation, you really can do only one of two things. You can pray or you can do nothing. When you pray from a desperate heart, you've found true faith. When you feel as if you can't fix this problem by yourself, you've found it. When you are so exhausted from fears and worries and you decide to hand the situation over to God, you've found it. This kind of faith allows you to see your situation differently. It changes your perspective. It heals you in ways you wouldn't expect.

True faith can't be placebo faith. That's not really faith, now is it?

The Power Of Advertising Vs. The Standards Of Religion

Note: This blog was originally posted as Billboards Around Indy on May 29, 2007.

I've been doing a photo study on a series of new billboards around Indianapolis. A national church organization is advertising with messages such as, "Jesus said some are born gay," and, "Jesus affirmed a gay couple," all with Scripture to back up their claims.

Here are some of the billboard graphics:



























The point of this blog is not to say whether I agree or disagree with their interpretation of Scripture. While admitting that this advertising campaign will offend many Christians, I want to make the point that, as a Christian, I'm not offended.

Thrown offguard? Sure.

Intrigued? Definitely.

Supportive? Yes.

I'm actually glad to see a billboard that challenges our common beliefs and engages our minds. Congratulations to this church. While most religious ads are predictable and sometimes cliché, this church causes drivers to do a doubletake and then want to grab their Bible to look up the advertised verses. Even their slogan, "Would Jesus Discriminate?," dares Christians to reexamine their perceptions of him.

The documentation on their Web site is very thought-provoking. They brought Bible verses that appear to support homosexuality to the front of my mind. Whether I agree or disagree, it certainly caused me to admit that there are differing viewpoints on the matter, and both sides can interpret Scripture to support their beliefs. One thing's for sure — Jesus would certainly welcome anyone with faith in him, regardless of their past or where they're coming from.

If anything, this campaign is advertising at its best. I work in advertising, so I pay attention to such things. The messages on these billboards (there's about 5 different ones), poke at the hearts of believers, intentionally or unintentionally. They anger some people and make some want to cheer. That's what advertising is supposed to do. It gets complex, though, when the topic advertised is a hot-button religious issue. Below is some evidence of the strong opposition generated from this campaign.















It's sad to see hate coming from people who are called to love their neighbors as themselves. The church's job is to extend open arms to everyone, regardless of their background. To this church, I again say congratulations. Though you may never read this blog, this believer has seen your message and applauds your efforts.

Thoughts On Free Will...

This blog was originally posted June 4, 2007.

In an interview a few years ago, actor/comedian Tim Allen discussed his thoughts on free will. He basically said that it's hard to understand why God gives us free will as a gift, then punishes us when we don't choose him. Is that really free will? I find this point-of-view very interesting. Allen has a good point. Why would God give us free will, and then have certain expectations of what decisions we choose.

Then today as I was on a plane ride home to Indianapolis, I was reading a book called Flashbang by Mark Steele. Steele made a comparison between humans and a pet bird that he had owned as a child. His pet bird longed for freedom from its cage. Then the one time it got loose and out of the house, it came back. It had experienced freedom, then realized the comfortable protection of the cage was more appealing. Interesting. Steele went on to write that human beings, though longing for true freedom, also need that "cage," that comfortable protection. In short, we need parameters.

While I agree with Tim Allen's point-of-view, I also whole-heartedly agree with Mark Steele's.

So where does this leave me and my opinion?

I believe we can't handle total freedom responsibly. I believe God didn't want to create mindless robots, so we have the freedom to choose him or not. I still get confused in the details of free will, but that's okay. I'll never have it all figured out.

I'll close with a quote by a rapper who goes by the moniker Sintax the Terrific.
"Savior set himself at a distance to tease our nature / Not to overcome our will or frustrate our labor / But instead to set us free to chase his heart or flee his favor"

Eats With Sinners

Note: This blog was originally posted July 21, 2007 on MySpace.

Committed to Christ, but walking the line
between the sacred and the secular.

This is where I'd like to be in my faith walk. This is where I try to be.

But should I even try to walk this line?

This week, I'd like to use a made-up term called an Everlast Christian. I recently rediscovered the song "What It's Like" by Everlast, former frontman of hip-hop group House of Pain. The song is a bluesy rap about life's harsh situations and how people can so easily point the finger of condemnation against their fellow man. While I'm not attempting to analyze Everlast's beliefs, I do admire his overall message and the way he transmits it to the public. He uses profanity and poetry to get his point across:
----------
"We've all seen the man at the liquor store beggin' for your change
The hair on his face is dirty, dreadlocked and full of mange
He asks the man for what he could spare with shame in his eyes
Get a job you f****n slob is all he replied
God forbid you ever had to walk a mile in his shoes
'Cause then you really might know what it's like to sing the blues"
----------
The Everlast Christian knows that to relate to a person who isn't a Christian, he must speak to them where they are at. At times, he must break the stereotypes of what a Christian is in order to make a bold point. That may mean using profanity. That may mean taking a friend to a bar to talk over some beers. The Everlast Christian does what Jesus did — eats with sinners.

I find myself drawn to the characteristic of Jesus that ate with sinners. To me it says that I follow a Savior who met people where they were in their life and wasn't holier-than-thou when he was with them. He ate with them, spoke truth to them, and was a friend to them. While he did condemn people's actions at times, he loved more. It's funny; even in his condemnation of people's actions, he broke down Christian stereotypes. It's kind of weird to picture Jesus angrily flipping over tables at the temple, isn't it?

While I want to be totally committed to Christ, I don't want to ever think of myself as less of a sinner than anyone else. Sometimes my sins remind me that I'm human and need God just as much as the next guy. That doesn't justify sin, but I do like being reminded that I'm no better than anyone else.

So how do I place myself on the same level as everyone else, while continually trying to be a better person? How do I try to sin less, while still realizing that there's always sin in my life? These are my current thoughts and questions. I'm sure I don't have it figured out yet.

A Porn Debate?

Note: This blog was originally posted August 11, 2007.

This past week I attended an unusual event. The title of this blog is probably the reason you're reading this, right? For a long time, I've been against pornography. It's not that I don't think a woman's body is beautiful. I'm just against objectifying women. With that said, there are 2 young pastors that share my feelings. They founded an anti-pornography Web site a couple of years ago, XXXchurch.com. These pastors aren't out to censor the porn industry. Nor are they against our freedom of speech. They just believe, as I do, that pornography is very addictive and can cause intimacy problems in relationships. Just as Alcoholics Anonymous is there for those struggling with alcohol abuse and nicotine patches are available for those attempting to quit smoking, XXXchurch.com is their ministry devoted to helping those who are wanting to give up pornography.

One of XXXchurch.com's founding partners is a pastor named Craig Gross. He is currently on the final leg of a 7-city tour with well-known porn star Ron Jeremy. The tour, called "The Great Porn Debate," is hitting some big cities in the mid-West and East coast. I went to their Indianapolis stop this past week and was extremely impressed with their debate. The concept was very intriguing to me: a pastor in a friendly debate with a porn star. What kind of crazy idea is that?! Let me ask a better question. What's the best approach to reaching your target audience: preaching against pornography in a church or hosting a debate with a porn star in big-city clubs and theatres? I think Craig's approach was a fantastic idea.

In this blog, I don't want to go into all the arguments made and statistics quoted. XXXchurch.com can do much of that. I would like to state some of my reactions and feelings about the event. First, I supported points made by both Ron Jeremy and Craig Gross. Ron Jeremy, a very well-educated man in his own right, defended the porn industry with many articles and well-documented statistics. Craig Gross defended his cause with many statistics and, maybe more importantly, testimonies from people negatively-affected by pornography. One great aspect to the debate was that Craig and Ron are friends. This wasn't an enraged, argumentative debate. This was 2 grown men having a grown-up, mild-tempered debate about the pornography industry and its effects on people. They are traveling on the same tour bus. They share some of the same ideas and beliefs. They just live different lifestyles.

In my opinion, this is the right way for Christians to make positive changes in the world. Show others love and try to understand others' viewpoints, even if you disagree with them. I wholeheartedly support what XXXchurch.com is doing. It is a light in a very, very dark part of our society. XXXchurch.com is addressing a very big problem for many—Christians, agnostics and atheists. It is an avenue of help and hope to those who feel trapped by an addiction to porn.

I'll close with a quote from the debate that has really stuck with me. Craig Gross said that Ron Jeremy and the porn industry welcomed him more than the church would probably welcome Ron Jeremy. I'd like to think that wasn't true, but in most cases, it probably is.

Hard Questions

Note: This blog was origninally posted November 20, 2007 on MySpace.

In this week's blog, I'd like to take you on a quick journey. It's a journey that goes from the wide, open fields of doubt and skepticism to the narrow path of belief and acceptance. To start this journey, I'd like to share a thought that occurred to me yesterday. Why do Christians tend to acknowledge God's presence when something good occurs, but blame outside circumstances when something bad occurs? An example might be helpful here. Let's say that we pray for God to keep us safe as we drive during the upcoming holiday. If we were then to hear about an accident that occurred over the holidays on the news, we might tend to not blame God, but the conditions that surround the accident. "The driver must have been driving too fast." Do we believe that God protects some and doesn't protect others? Don't accidents occur even to those who pray for safe travels? We all make driving mistakes; what role does God's grace play? Another example might be cancer. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, most Christians wouldn't blame God for that person's cancer. However, when that same person survives their bout with the disease, most Christians would praise God for his hand of healing in the person's life. Does God cause cancer, or does he only heal it?

So why throw out a prayer for protection? Why believe that God is really looking out for us? These are the type of hard questions that people often ask. I don't have the answers to these questions. In thinking about these queries, I quietly ask myself why I believe in God when things aren't fair or logical in the world. I then remember the story of the widow who gave a couple copper coins, almost worthless, to the temple treasury. Jesus was impressed with her giving, not because of the amount that she gave, but because she gave everything she had to live on. Do you hear truth in that? What about the verse that tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves? The golden rule? Loving those who hate you? Because of the truth I hear in these verses, I want to believe in God. The hard questions are always going to be there. Sometimes they trip me and I fall in the open field of doubt. Then I'm reminded of the truth I've read in the Bible, and I stand up again to continue my journey on the narrow path.

It's easy to choose disbelief. There's plenty of messed-up crap in the world to make us question the presence of God. Do you ask hard questions? Do you want to find some truth in this life? Do you care? I serve a God who can handle all the questions I could ever throw at him. I may not find all of my answers, but that's not surprising. In the shadow of God, I'm about as large and intelligent as a grain of sand.

Thoughts On Urban Crime...

Note: This blog was originally posted January 4, 2008 on MySpace.

It seems at least two to three mornings a week, as I watch the morning news, I hear a report about a shooting or a robbery. Thankfully, not all of these shootings are fatal. As the city has just ushered in a new mayor whose top priority in his new position is to fight crime, I have been thinking about my city's crime problem. You see, every evening as I leave work, I drive through many neighborhoods that could be categorized as rough or bad parts of town. I know what a bad neighborhood looks like: side streets with a few too many potholes, houses in disrepair, young men and women walking the streets late at night. There are areas of the city that just seem to stay drug-infested and crime-ridden. My brother-in-law and I have wondered from time to time, "How do you clean-up a bad area of a city?" Police certainly cannot patrol the streets every hour on the hour. Jails are over-crowded as it is. Guns are easy to buy. Parents are not always home to enforce the discipline that could prevent criminal leanings. Clearly, the problems outweigh the solutions.

So what are some solutions? Are there any? Stricter law enforcement? Curfews? Neighborhood watches? These things exist, yet crime continues strong.

Suggestions, Not Solutions
I do not have a solution. What I have is a suggestion—a suggestion that I would like to send to the city's new mayor. It seems all of us have ideas and some of them just might help social systems that need improvement. In my neighborhood, we have a homeowner's association. Many modern neighborhoods require the establishment of them. A homeowner's association's purpose is to keep a neighborhood a safe and respectable place to live. The thought is that safer neighborhoods equal a place where people want to live.

Could this idea be applied to older neighborhoods, neighborhoods that have a reputation for crime?

My suggestion is that cities require mandatory homeowner's association meetings, facilitated every month by a police officer. It would be irrational to suggest that residents be forced to attend these meetings. I do believe, if offered, residents would choose to attend. These meetings would allow residents to discuss problems in their neighborhoods, from crime to upkeep of sidewalks to speeding issues in residential areas. In turn, more residents are watching for crime and alerting one another and the police about suspicious activity. I recently heard an ad council radio spot featuring McGruff the Crime Dog. He said one of the easiest ways to prevent neighborhood crime is to get to know your neighbors. These meetings might create a sense of community among residents. Community, that is, a feeling of belonging, might weaken crime in a neighborhood. Safer neighborhoods would raise property values and attract new tenants, further weakening crime's hold on an area. Mandatory homeowner's associations would be no small task. It would require zoning and funding. More police officers on the streets also require more funding. Research always requires much funding, but if it's important to a society, it happens, sometimes regardless of the cost.

Would this idea curb the problem of crime? No. Would it weaken crime? It's worth a fighting chance.

Speaking Louder Than A Facebook Status

Web logs. Facebook statuses. Twitter updates. Text messages. In today's world of super-connectivity and constant 'status' updates, it's easy to use these online forums as a platform for our opinions. This is both good and bad. Facebook, MySpace and other sites give us a means to influence our peers. But does this really do any good? Will this blog even penetrate the ingrained mindsets of its readers? Do these avenues of communication really make a difference?

Most of us are very hyper-connected, so much so that we barely have time to fully read a blog or lengthy email, much less let its words soak into our conscious. We are a very busy society. If anything has a chance to grab our attention, it has to be quick and catchy. So why do we spend so much of our time and energy notifying the world of our every thought and activity? Probably because it's a fun way to share community in this digital era.

If our opinions really matter, what's the best outlet for them? Is it Facebook? Writing a blog? A post on a Web site? We need to think beyond the boundaries of the Internet. Over half of human communication is nonverbal—and most of us know that actions speak louder than words.

In my free-time, I spend more than my fair share writing thoughts and opinions online. It's a great way to share my views. Yet it's also led me to this point, where I'm questioning the validity of those efforts. If we have something to say, and if it's truly important, then let's say it. Blogging is great, but don't let it be a substitute for action. If we have the time to write our Web logs and Facebook notes, then we should have the time to write a letter to our senators.

This all may sound as if I'm wary of technology and its influence in our lives. Not so. There are great opportunities for the truth to abound. Nowadays, the moment someone starts to report something false, there are twenty other people on the Internet within minutes setting the record straight. I am hesitant to believe, though, that the Internet and social networking sites are the most powerful ways to create the influence we seem to crave. I want to follow doers, not sayers. Inspirational words don't mean squat to me if there isn't action backing it up.

Can we change the world? I think so. But it'll take more than a Facebook status update.

Evil On My Mind

Somehow evil has found a way to stick itself in my mind. Blame my recent reading material, I guess. I've been researching apologetics for a series of lessons that I'm teaching. Apologetics is defined as the defense of one's beliefs and this research has called my own into question. For the past decade, I've held a tight grip on my Christian faith. Sometimes I'm not quite sure why, either. Recently I've been reading so many articles and hearing so many stories that could cause me to question my faith. Evil has a way of doing that. It usually pushes people away from God. In fact, the problem of pain is the single biggest obstacle for spiritual seekers. Public-opinion pollster George Barna once conducted a survey that found the top question people would want to ask God was, "Why is there pain and suffering in the world?" In my opinion, these two issues are so closely related to evil that they could be brothers.

To be fair, pain and suffering can do us much good. Sometimes suffering produces in us endurance. Although, the pain I'm talking about is the undeserved and grossly unjust suffering that exists in this world.

I've been to India. I've been up close to those that end up in National Geographic pages. I've read the numbers over and over. 14 million orphaned by AIDS in Africa. 1.9 million street children in Mexico City (over 240,000 of those are abandoned). 1 in every 3 Afghan women experience physical, psychological or sexual violence. An estimated 2.4 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking and forced prostitution. I don't even know how to fathom these statistics.

Most of the readers of this blog don't know how to fathom it, either. That's why we don't know how to help or where to start. I've learned throwing money at these problems is NOT the answer. When you give your money away, you are enabling a lifestyle where people expect handouts. It's like the old adage: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. Charity removes the initiative for people to go and do for themselves.

So what's the answer and where am I going with all of this?

Well, there is no single or easy answer. Many factors contribute to the problem of suffering and evil in this world. Poverty, lack of education, corrupt government and a spiritual emptiness plague many parts of the world. These are some of the main causes of the evils we hear about in the news every day. Over half of world's population, which is 3 billion people, lives on less than two dollars a day. That's a statistic worth repeating: Over half of the world's population lives on less than two dollars a day. There is an extreme imbalance here. Can we fix this problem? Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church, has suggested an initiative called The P.E.A.C.E. Plan, which enables churches worldwide to become a global distribution network, providing evangelism, education and health care. This makes sense because there are churches within walking distance almost anywhere in the world, whereas medical facilities are many times a one- to two-day walk. But what good is a plan like this if evil has ridden us of faith? Where is God, who's supposed to look out for "the least of these?" Should we just aim to be global do-gooders, without acknowledging a spiritual connection to it all?

These statistics and issues challenge faith, for sure. They're hope-killers, ripping to shreds any faith that we might have in a greater good. When I hear these statistics, I hear evil. When I read the stories of brothel girls, I read evil. When I see photos of dying children, I see evil. But for me, evil doesn't kill my faith. It actually acts as a spark. Evil, despite its best attempts, ignites my faith. You see, I believe that God is most needed where evil has set up its camp. If I accept that something is evil, it means that I acknowledge that there must be a moral 'good.' Ah, there's my spiritual connection. I choose to be on good's side and to fight injustice when and where I am able—and I am able. Most of us are. We must be honest, though—we cannot rid this world of evil. Still, that doesn't mean we should lay down and let it run all over us.

I will continue to read about evil, day after day, year after year. Somedays I will be numb to it, as many of us have become. It's hard not to numb our ears to its sound. Thankfully, God has used evil as an ignitor for my faith. Now I have to start doing something about it—something other than sending a check.

Tell Me Again, Why Do I Go To Church?

It seems to me that we're a very skeptical society. This thought came to the front of my mind this week as I sat in a midweek Bible study at my church. We were discussing the popular book, The Shack, while relating its story of redemption to other facets of the Christian faith. One member of the group commented on a discussion he had with a missionary friend. This missionary friend told him that other cultures tend to see more miracles that we do in America. The missionary told him that the culture he's working in has seen almost every one of Jesus's miracles occur within the people there. They reported blind persons gaining vision, among other miracles.

Astonishing. Can you believe that? If you can't, then I'm glad you're reading this.

It's hard not to be skeptical. We're so used to our comfortable lives here that we probably lack the desperation for God and for healing that is prevalent in those who live in third-world countries. Most of us don't have many huge crises. If we get sick, we just take some medication. If we need food, we just go to the store and buy it. Now there still are instances in our country where we can find that desperation, such as in cases of a terminal illness, but for the most part, it's just not seen here.

So where does that leave us? And tell me again, why do I go to church?

I think we're all hungry for truth and for a purpose to our lives. I guess that's why we go to church. Do we think about that, though, as we sing songs and recite prayers on Sunday mornings? This is why many think religion has lost its relevance. Maybe they're right. We're just not very desperate for God. We've found fulfillment in other creature comforts and going to church tends to be more of a habitual thing, like brushing your teeth or going to the grocery store. My hope is that we can all start viewing church and our journey with God as something more like going to the gym. Just as with exercise, our journey with God is a slow, ongoing process that must be continually practiced in order to reap its rewards.

It's hard to see our need for faith when church seems so monotonous and repetitive. Although, we don't seem to mind repetitive actions when it comes to lifting weights and working out. That's because we know that exercise has to be ongoing and if we keep on the path, our bodies will show the results. It helps me to keep these types of things in mind as I go to church each week. I go to church not to be entertained, but as a life discipline. I need to be reminded that I need God. I need to receive forgiveness and I need to continually learn how to forgive. I hope we all get fed up with doing things our way and develop a hunger to do things differently. We need to be desperate for that.

The "Sinner's Prayer" And Other Tricks Of The Trade

It seems that most of my blogs center on an issue that generally bothers me. It's not that I'm a negative person. Of course, I complain too much, just like the next guy. It's my hope that someone out in cyberspace will click on my Facebook page or on this Blogger page and happen to be inspired by one of my writings. That's mainly why I write. I hope to share some knowledge that I've gained in the hopes of breaking false mindsets. With that said, I'm going to write about the "sinner's prayer," as it's commonly referred to by many evangelicals.

There are words within the Christian community that I don't really connect with — evangelism, revival, righteous, fellowship, and, yes, sinner's prayer. I feel that these words have taken on a life of their own. They once meant something special, even holy, but have become entangled in negative stereotypes much like an old, abandoned house wrapped in ivy and overgrowth. It's much like the word 'adult.' The word adult has become so associated with pornography, i.e. 'adult bookstore,' that it holds little footing as to its true meaning. While sad, it's true and we must move on.

I was recently reading a booklet sent to our church. The booklet was about common marital dilemmas and how to gain a biblical view of marriage. It was a good booklet and I found much truth in its pages. Then I got to the last page. It was a page dedicated to God's love and how one can enter into a relationship with him. No problem yet. As I continued to read, though, I felt something that I've felt before — concerned. I read the part about praying the "sinner's prayer" and felt concerned that some might read this text and believe that a relationship with God hinges on praying specific words. This sinner's prayer outlined a sample prayer that one could say to accept God into their life. Also used was the often-quoted verse from Romans 10:9, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved." They actually capitalized the 'H' in him, a creative liberty not found in the Bible. While this verse is very true, using it solely ignores many other verses regarding salvation.

Let's take a quick look at a few of the other Bible verses that describe salvation. To be honest, I'm not sure that the word 'salvation' is even used in most of these verses. The first and most obvious is John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I added the emphasis there to show that belief is the only requirement for eternal life — no words, no actions, just belief. There's also Mark 16:16, which tells some of Jesus's first words after his resurrection, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This time Jesus adds baptism as a means of salvation. There's John 14:6, in which Jesus describes himself as the way and the truth and the life. One of my favorites is a scene in the book of Acts, where, after a violent earthquake, a prison guard was about to stab himself because he thought his prisoners had escaped while under his watch. When he found Paul and Silas still sitting in their cell, he fell trembling before them, and asked what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household." So it seems there isn't one exact formula for salvation. But these verses do show a common theme — belief.

Salvation is an astounding notion. It's especially amazing if it's understood properly. This is the foundation for this blog and my concern. I don't want anyone believing that salvation has to look a certain way. For some, a sinner's prayer is how they came to know God personally. That's great. But for many, many others, coming to faith is a slow, ugly, unsteady process in which we sluggishly let our guard down and finally believe that God is real. I think it's rarely an instantaneous event where your inhibitions suddenly fall away. Again, that does happen. But for most, even after they come to faith, doubts and fears tend to creep back in.

I would be hesitant to order a set of these aforementioned booklets. I just don't want people to feel that God requires more than their belief in him. A certain prayer or a deep understanding of salvation isn't needed here. God knows hearts and he's an expert in his field.

Here's an online column from Dare2Share Ministries founder Greg Stier on this topic:
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20101215/3-things-not-to-say-when-sharing-your-faith/