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April 27, 2011

Is Rob Bell Going to Hell?

Posted by JeremyJK under Christianity, Church, Culture, Hell, Judgment, Salvation, Scripture, sin
[2] Comments 

Rob Bell, a 41 year old senior pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan is all over the media now…more so than he has been in the past.  Have you seen or heard him?  My experience with Rob Bell actually began some years ago in an adult Bible study class one Sunday afternoon.  Bell does a series of short films, theologically related, called Nooma videos.  These videos are usually quite charismatic, theatrical, dramatic, high-tech, and either moving or informative.  That Sunday during class we watched one of those films.  I can’t say I remember the topic but I remember the images.  To be honest–I liked it and it did have an effect on me at that moment. 

Then some years later, a friend I work with gave me a video of him preaching.  I can’t say that I loved it, but I remember thinking, “Boy this guy is going to reach a  lot of young people.”  I have seen his face and sermons pop up around the web here and there, but I never payed too much attention.  Yet I have to say, I think the name of his church is cool…but I am not sure the world get’s it’s meaning.  He does have a 7,000 member church however, so he has gotten someone’s attention.

Recently, it seems, that the attention he is getting has picked up a lot of steam.  A couple of days ago my sister asked me if I heard of Rob Bell.  She said that she heard that he is preaching that there is NO hell.  The name sounded familiar but I was more focused on what she said he was preaching.  I wasn’t surprised, it is not the first time I have heard such teaching.  An ex-charismatic preacher/singer named Carlton Pearson broke off some years ago and started preaching the same theology…NO HELL! 

Then my curiosity really peaked on Monday when I was walking down the magazine aisle at a local grocery store and saw TIME magazine with an image of hell that looked like a sketch done in the form of Albrecht Durer one of my favorite artists.  The title on the front said, “Rob Bell: Does Hell Really Exist?”  I picked it up, read the article, and could empathize with the points the journalist was trying to make for Bell.  Even though I didn’t agree with many points, I know it has been an issue for millenia in the Church.  I was also able to connect all of the dots going back almost a decade of who Rob Bell is and the church he pastors.

When I got home I went on the web and did some more research.  What I found was mostly very harsh reactions from the Church.  People were criticizing Bell saying things like, “He’s going to hell!” to “That’s what a theology degree from Fuller will get you.”  Then I came across some interviews he did.  One interview in particular stood out to me and that was Martin Bashir interviewing Bell.  It was obvious that Bashir was pretty heated over the topic.  Apparently, Bell just released his newest book, “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived.”  Bashir gave Bell his perspective of the book and it was not pretty.  In fact, Bell barely got a word in to talk about his book. 

Then I went to my seminary class and it actually came up in conversation before class with the professor.  He said a student from one of his undergrad classes let him borrow it.  The professor did not seem pleased with the book and basically thought Bell is a heretic and perhaps even a pagan.  Apparently, the conversation arose agian during our break in the lounge.  I was downstairs however and missed it.  But one of the students in my class came down and told me that it had come up and she was arguiing with the professor about the book.  She said to me, “I could have really used you up there Jeremy to help me out.”  “Are you sure?”  I thought to myself.  “I believe in judgment, hell, and eternal punishment.  But I also believe in God’s unconditonal love, and I do think it will win in the end.  But what does that mean?”  I thought further.

Bell claims that the reason he wrote the book, the motivation behind it was, that someone basically told him that Ghandhi was in hell.  This claim sent Bell on a contemplative roller coaster trying to determine if God really would send someone like Ghandhi to hell.  What about the woman who was abused sexually, physically, and verbally by her evangelist father?  What kind of emotional damage would something like that do to cause a wall between her and Jesus? 

I asked my fellow seminarian if she actually read Bell’s book and she said she had.  She said that he actually states he believes in hell and that people will go there.  She added that Bell is just unsure if live is our last chance to decide our eternal destiny.  He wonders if God’s love will give people another chance to decide when they die and experience him.  He raises questions that the Church has pondered for years but has remedied with speculative answers that do not necessarily have answers in scripture.  Now this was a different perspective that was not coming out in what I had researched or watched on interviews.  Most interviews didn’t even give Bell a chance to make his case, they just labeled him a heretic.

So this is what I have concluded.  1. I prejudged the book and Bell before I actually read it and gave him a chance to speak for himself.  So before I say anything else I am going to read it and I will blog my thoughts; 2. I wonder how many of his accusers have actually read his book.  Did Bashir read it or did he have some of his assistants read it and then fill him in? 3. Why is the Church always on a heretic hunt looking for witches to burn at the stake?  4. One thing is for sure, Bell has gotten a lot of people to have this discussion again and revisited our views and believes…and there is never anything wrong with that.  In fact, when you think you have it all figured out, and your theology is in perfect order…you are in a bad spot!

 

April 20, 2011

The Music the World Cannot Hear

Posted by JeremyJK under Christianity, Church, Culture, Faith, Jesus, Just Life, Meditations, New Atheism, Reason, Revelation, Salvation, Science, Scripture
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“… and those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.” –Nietsche (I am indebted to my sister for reminding me of this quote.  I must add I am aware of Nietsche’s philosophies and the irony of using him as a quote for my article.  The irony here though is…I don’t think Nietsche could hear the music either).

                How do we Christians stand against the attacks of the world, particular the reason of the “New Athiests?”  They say our God is not real and doesn’t exist.  To that I say, “We are dancing to music they just can’t hear.” If they could only experience the power of the over whelming love our hearts experience when he touches us with his gentle hands.  If they could only experience the perfect peace we have amidst the worst storms of life.  If they could only experience the impregnable joy we have when we have no reason to laugh or rejoice.  If they could only experience the belonging to a community of believers when we have every reason to feel alone.  If they could only experience the closeness we feel to a father, friend, companion, shepherd, and king when we are in the presence of the God they can’t see. 

                 What do we say to those who can not hear the music we are dancing to?  What do we say to those who have not felt the touch of the Master’s hand?  What do we say to those who have become so calloused toward the idea of God?  What do we say to those who have not experienced the power that we have experienced?  It’s that experience of God that has caused us to entrust ourselves to him; that experience that has allowed us to know that there is a God who loves us in a way that no outsider could possibly understand with all their human faculties; that experience that has evolved into a relationship that is deeper and more real than any relationship we have ever had or will ever know in this life or the next?  I don’t know what to say sometimes, except “Come. Come. Come and meet the Lord I have come to know and love; this new life; this joy; this peace; this deep, deep love.  Hear the music.  Hear the music and dance!”

 The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift (Revelation 22:17 NRSV).

 

April 19, 2011

The Power of Testimony: What the Critics and Atheists Can’t Take Away!

Posted by JeremyJK under Bible, Christianity, Church, Culture, Ecclesiology, Faith, Gospel Of John, Jesus, New Atheism, Reason, Science, Scripture, Spiritual Formation, Teachings of Jesus
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Let me start by saying this, “YOUR TESTIMONY AS A BELIEVER IS THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL OF EVANGELISM YOU HAVE IN YOUR ARSENAL.”   Piggy backing off of my previous article, it is apparent that the world is filled with Christopher Hitchenses.  That is, our faith as Christian believers is being challenged on a daily basis.  I have watched several of Hitchens’ debates against many Christians and people of various faith backgrounds.  He has debated theologians, scholars, authors, ministers, social activists etc.  As I have mentioned, overall, I think they have all lost the debates to Hitchens for various reasons.  Yet in the midst of all of these debates there was one debater, and one single moment that seemed silent but POWERFUL. 

During the debate between Marvin Olasky and Hitchens, Olasky says to Hitchens (my paraphrase), “I don’t know what teaching you have absorbed over the years that has made you believe the way you do.  But whatever the reason…I pity you.”  Olasky went on to say, “There is something that you and I have in common.  We were both married and then divorced.  In my first marriage, I was an atheist and did not know how to be a husband.  I was a bad husband.  It only lasted two years.  Then I got remarried but this time as a Christian.  Christianity taught me how to be a husband and a father.  I have been married for thirty years.”  WOW!

If you watch Hitchens, his demeanor changes and he seems taken back.  He even says something to the effect of, “Well said” to Olasky.  It may be the first time I have seen Hitchens like that.  Why do you think?  I think it’s because Olasky used, and maybe not purposefully, the most powerful element of Christianity we have.  EXPERIENCE!  No one can refute your testimony.  No one can dismiss your witness.  No one can reject your experience.  Why?  Because it is your proof that it is real, that something is going on here that no outsider can convince you with all their logic, reason, and rhetoric otherwise. 

What Olasky was saying was that he has experienced the power of the Gospel in his life and not even Hitchens in all of his brilliance can take that away.  Hitchens, I think, knows this too.  The Gospel has the power to change and transform lives and it has done exactly that.  Hitchens can’t convince the ex-drug dealer or alcoholic who came to Christ and was delivered that there is no power in the Gospel.  In fact, I know some of those people.  I have heard their stories how the impossible was made possible because they had an encounter with Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

I work with a man who I knew as no more than an alcoholic bum.  God got a hold of him and flipped him upside down and then right side up. He went through a traumatic divorce during all of this and I thought for sure he would go back to drinking.  Yet the power of God that changed his life, identity, and desires stuck with him and he is still living strong for the Lord.  That’s an experienced reality of the power of God in someone’s life.  No one is going to tell that man there is no God and that Christianity is a flop.  I think he might just laugh at such a remark.

I am reminded of John 9.  I trust you have a Bible to look it up…if not you must be viewing this from a computer so you can search that passage on an online Bible.  If you need a Bible, email me and I will get one to you.  Okay back to John 9.  This is the passage where Jesus, rather sanitarily spits on some dirt and makes mud balls.  He smothers the mud onto some blind guy’s eyes and tells the man to go wash the germy mud off.  The man does and could see.  He was healed miraculously!  The Pharisees get their robes all in a bunch and get mad about the healing.  After much interrogation of both the blind man and his parents the blind man says one of the most profound things in scripture.  The Pharisees accuse Jesus of being a sinner and try to undermine him.  The blind man responds, “I don’t know if he is a sinner, but one thing I do know—I was blind but now I see.”  Wow that is awesome!!! 

The man was blind from birth.  Jesus heals him.  The Pharisees pout and have a hissy fit about it.  Who is really blind in this narrative?  Who?  Right…the religious leaders who should have known better.   These leaders were the intelligencia of their day.  You know…the guys who knew it all and were well studied in matters on many subjects.  But their whining and reasonable arguments did not matter a hill of beans to the blind man who could finally see.  HE COULD SEE!  Nobody was going to take that away from him…NOBODY! 

This is my argument against those who want to align themselves against the God of the Bible and Jesus Christ: all the bells and whistles of reason and logic don’t hold a match to what we have personally experienced as Christians.  I have so many testimonies I don’t know where to begin.  I know people who have so many testimonies it would take weeks to cover.  So while we sit around holding debates and theorizing about the God of the Bible and the reality of the risen Savior Jesus Christ being real or not—there are people all over the world experiencing his power NOW.  If you don’t believe me I will point you in the direction of many folks that are in the midst of it and seeing it move like wild fire across countries like China and Sudan.

For those of you who haven’t experienced it I say this…get out of your dead and dried up churches into a church that actually expects God to move and live.  If you haven’t been to church find one that expects God to be real and to move in their midst.  If you walk into a church that hands you a bulletin of how the service is going to go…walk back out… because they have obviously structured and choreographed God right out of the service. 

This may rub some of my Christian brothers and sisters the wrong way but listen.  There is a world that is hungry for the reality of God in this decaying world and they are depending on you to proof it to them.  Stop playing church for goodness sakes and start calling out for the fire of God to fall on you.  You don’t want to?  Then slowly wait for the day when your old church doors and windows are boarded up and ICHABOD is plastered across them. 

God is moving and waiting for YOU to jump in!  Throw off the chains of this culture that are holding you down!  Stop protecting your reputations and securities and get embarrassed for God!  Let him interrupt your controlled life and infuse it with the power of his Holy Spirit.  Does that make you feel uncomfortable?  Right…it’s suppose to. God wants to invade your life and fill it with his presence.  But you have to let him in.  Whatever is holding you back needs to be submitted.  Yuck, not that word again.  SUBMIT and YIELD yourself to God…I promise, you won’t regret it.

As you embrace him he will give you an experience, testimony, and reality that no one can ever take away. 

Blessings!

 

April 18, 2011

Christopher Hitchens vs. the Christian Church

Posted by JeremyJK under Christianity, Culture, Faith, New Atheism, Reason, Science, Uncategorized
[3] Comments 

Perhaps one the most fascinating people of our time in my opinion is Christopher Hitchens.  Hitchens is a well educated journalist who attended Oxford.  There is so much more to say about his unique life than I am willing to take the time here.  However, he is an outstanding debater on sundry subjects and is both witty and bold.

Hitchens describe himself as an antitheist instead of an atheist.  In many of his debates against religion he describes an antitheist as someone who does not believe in God but also is relieved that such a tyrannical god does not exist.  Hitchens calls upon Reason and Logic as his tools of truth and wields them against all of his religious opponents. 

Hitchens however does not hide away in a corner.  Instead he is very willing to debate any and all religious devotees who would like to step into the rhetorical ring with him.  Several well known ministers, theologians, and authors of various faith traditions have taken on the challenge.  Since I am a Christian I am mostly concerned with his debates with fellow-believers.  He has debated Douglas Wilson, Alister McGrath, Marvin Olasky, and even Al Sharpton (that one was hilarious and embarassing). 

Here’s the problem though.  Out of all we have offered him…in my opinion he has won every debate.  He is not only brilliant but he is unapologetically bold.  I find that many very intelligent Christians simply become intimidated and back down.  Now each one comes at him from a different angle.  I must say if they would actually sit down and pull all their thoughts together they may fare better. 

Olasky came at him from the approach of personal experience and attacked Hitchens’ generalizations.  McGrath, also a graduate from Oxford and a brilliant man came at him from the fields of science, philosophy, and theology.  In my opinion McGrath has done the best.  Wilson started out will but ran out of steam.  He came from the field of logic, philosophy and theology.  Al Sharpton…well ugh…yeah.

So I wonder, is there any Christian out there who could at least stay on equal playing field with Hitchens?  Where are our G.K. Chestertons?  Where is our witty version of Hitchens?  He is indeed a words-smith and if you don’t agree with him he is at least VERY entertaining to watch.  As a Christian I am intrigued by this man.  I would love to spend a day with him or write his biography.  He has given me reason for many sleepless nights of pondering my faith.

I just wonder though…is there anyone who can counter this guy?  The Church needs to step up their game on him.  Either way I will be writing more on this in the future and the New Atheism as it is being called.  But I would like to hear your thoughts.

 

April 16, 2011

Chime In #2: Should Christian Couples Live Together Before Marriage?

Posted by JeremyJK under Chime Ins, Christianity, Culture, Just Life, Question of the Day
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Obviously our culture has changed over the past two decades regarding moving in with each other before marriage.  Usually the reason given by couples is that they want to make sure they are compatible living together before they tie the knot.  It is sort of like test driving a car.  You want to get a feel for what you are getting into before you make a long term committment.  That is a pretty shallow example but the mind set is the same.

So the question is, just because the culture is doing it should Christian couples move in together before they say “I do”?

 

April 15, 2011

Hello! Am I Invisible?: Ending the Plague of Invisible People

Posted by JeremyJK under Christianity, Church, Culture, Jesus, Just Life, Teachings of Jesus
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When I am not being a student in seminary, a husband, and a father to two little ones; I am plugging away in retail for income.  Wouldn’t it be nice if they actually paid me to go to school…not happening.  Anyhow, I work at a job where it is required that I, along with all of the other employees, wear a uniform.  So naturally, I stand out as an employee.  I notice that because I am an employee I am also a free punching bag.  That is to say, because I am working, people feel they have the right to treat you however they want because they are the customer and you are working for them. 

Now I don’t want to lump everyone into the same category.  There are some very friendly and respectful people and therefore customers, but the power of negativity can seem stronger than the positive experiences I have with most people. 

Yet there is one feature about humans that I have noted a lot over the past (12) years of working with the public.  People treat me and each other as though “the other” is invisible.  Often I will be working and someone will almost plow into me and not even acknowledge my existence.  It is so strange to me to treat another human-being that way.  Now this obviously doesn’t just happen at work.  If you are human and reading this (I would be impressed if you’re not) than you have experienced this.  It happens in the mall, the market place, on the road, wherever you encounter humans. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there.  This attitude has found a way into the Church.  One doesn’t even have to go to a mega-church to experience this phenomena.  On the contrary, watch how many people will greet a visitor off the street in a small church.  Have you ever gone to a Church event, sat next to someone in the pew for an hour or more, then get up without ever engaging that person in some way.  I have…and shame on me. 

Maybe I’ve given that cool head nod that guys do…or offer up an empty “how are you?”  hoping that they will just respond with the same style of answer. 

 ”Good and you?” 

“Oh great, thanks.” Phew what a relief.

I have been in some churches where the atmosphere is so cold and unwelcoming, that it makes a day waiting downtown at the Hall of Justice to maybe get picked for the jury seem like a family reunion.  We treat…and are treated by others as though the “other” is invisible.  Do we notice the faces of the people passing us by or standing next to us on a subway or bus stop?  Do we think about them being a real person with a real life with a real family that loves them and thinks they are important?  Do we consider them being created in the image of God?  I am guilty of not…most of the time.  But I am getting better. 

This line of thinking makes me appreciate Jesus saying, “Let the children come to me.”  That is such a powerful statement of only six words.  You see in Jesus day and in his culture…children were basically invisible.  Why the children the disciples thought?  They are nobodies.  But not to Jesus.  To Jesus EVERYBODY is a real person that needs to be loved and treated like a person.  Jesus was countering the culture that ignored the “lesser.”  But Jesus came to the “lesser.”  He ate with the sinners and publicans.  He hung out with the prostitute and widow.  All of those people who were on the fringe of society, mattered to Jesus.  Most people like to talk about the wealthy wise men that came to Jesus during the nativity…but what about the shepherds, who were nobodies too in their culture.  A great announcement and heralding came to them first. 

No one is invisible to Jesus in the Gospels…NO ONE.  Why do we think we can treat people otherwise? 

I encourage us to rebel against this culture of egocentrism.  Let’s rebel against falling into the mode of only greeting those who smile at us.  Let them all come…and shut no one out.  Maybe they ignore us because they have been ignored by others and have therefore adopted the horrible status quo.  NO WAY! Rebel against this!  Be counter-cultural!

 

April 15, 2011

Mr. God Goes To Washington: Frustrated With Politics-Part 1

Posted by JeremyJK under Christianity, Church, Culture, Kingdom of God, Money, Politics, Scripture, Teachings of Jesus
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For the past ten years of my life my ideologies and worldview have gone through quite the paradigm shift.  I feel like a different man in so many ways.  There are a number of events in my life that contributed to those shifts—some I am proud of, others…not so much.  Yet the ones I am not proud of were also very constructive (or de-constructive) in the process of making me the man I am now.  The events I am most proud of are my marriage and the birth of my daughter and son.   By NO means do I think I have it all together nor have I arrived; as many of my posts and self-critiques show.  However, I feel and sense God’s hand in my life fashioning me like the clay in the potter’s hands (Jeremiah 18).  I am less selfish and more interested and concerned with others and their welfare (Phil. 2).  Each day I feel I am taking on more of Christ.  And I like that because I love who he is and what he is about.

One of those paradigm shifts has actually been in politics.  I will not get into it too much right now but will share a few details.  I was raised conservative by two loving parents who meant well and had good intentions.  I listened to Rush Limbaugh often and later picked up Glenn Beck and even Michael Savage.  I would listen to these men religiously.  When I watched the news, it had to be FOXNEWS.  I think you know where I am going.  I agreed with the constant drum beat and mantra of capitalism, trust the free market, big business, wealthy entrepaneurs, twinkle down economics, tax cuts for the rich, poor people in the ghetto are just lazy unproductive plebes and if they really wanted to be free from poverty they should just get out and get a job etc.

Now I know I am going to tick off some people reading this but come on…something is off here when you put it in juxtaposition with scripture.  When you compare that mindset with the OT prophets the messages don’t mesh.  When you listen to the words of Jesus and see him in action…it doesn’t jive.  Why?  Because Jesus believed in a “Kingdom Economy” where the poor were taken care of and helped.  What about the poor?  Much of the Church has forgotten these invisible people and has adopted the nonsense that the Right has been trying to sell us. 

At the same time the Left are no angels either.  They want to help the poor (maybe) but they would just rather keep God out of the picture.  Where the Right likes to use God as though he is a Right-wing, capitalistic, 21st Century, Mid-Western American with a pin on his  right lapel of an elephant that says, “Vote for Freedom”; the left is embarrassed by God and might offend their lobbyist who think that the idea of gods are out-dated and naïve.  You know the attitude—“only uneducated yuppies from the back woods of Arkansas believe in that Jesus Christ guy.” Let’s not forget to mention how they demonize each other.

For the Right it’s trusting the Market; for the Left its trusting bigger government.  HELLO!  Do you trust either?  I don’t think so.  Trusting the Market brought us the Great Depression and this wonderful recession that we are still in no matter how much D.C. tries to convince us it’s going away.  Remember all of those headlines in the newspapers some months ago?  When we trust the Market we are robbed by the greedy tycoons who set the system up for YOU to fail.  Ever notice when you get in debt it takes a miracle to escape.  Why?  I don’t know…fees and extra charges maybe. 

“Bigger Government anybody?”

 “Oh yes please!”

“Uh no thanks actually, I am stuffed on big government.”

So what is the answer? 

MR. GOD CAN YOU PLEASE COME TO WASHINGTON!?!

Let’s stop there for now because I am tired of complaining about this…for now.  Thoughts thus far?  Where are you with politics in America?  Any Paradigm shifts in your life?  What’s the solution?

 

April 13, 2011

Chime In: Should Christians Watch ‘R’ Rated Movies?

Posted by JeremyJK under Apostle Paul, Christianity, Church, Culture, Just Life, Question of the Day, Scripture, Spiritual Formation
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So this is how I want you to think about it.  We know that in many of the cities Paul visited and established churches there were theaters of entertainment.  In these Hellenistic cultures entertainment was everywhere…like our culture.  If they had ratings on the theatrical dramas they acted out in these theaters in Paul’s day, would he have gone to ‘R’ rated ones and would he have encouraged his churches to do the same?  Secondly, how does your understanding of that impact your opinion if Christians should go to ‘R’ rated movies now.  Let’s have fun with this one!

 

April 6, 2011

Sacrifice for Service: Following Christ in a Prosperity Gospel Society

Posted by JeremyJK under Apostle Peter, Christianity, Culture, Gospel Of John, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Prosperity Gospel, Salvation, Scripture, Teachings of Jesus, Violence
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In a day when the so-called “prosperity gospel” seems to be growing in popularity, there are many passages in the Bible that are becoming unpopular.  On the one hand we may be aware of Jesus’ invitation to everyone to “follow me.”  On the other hand, we are not preaching enough about what this may cost us or what it all entails.  You see, scripture does not hold back on conveying the reality of following Christ.  It communicates to those who may consider discipleship that it is not all a bed of roses. 

Now don’t get me wrong, there is much to be attracted to and life in many ways will be better.  Yet it may not be the kind of improvement the world may expect.  Jesus does say that he came to give us life and life “more abundant” (John 10:10).  The Greek word for abundant is perrison in this passage and communicates a superlative.  That is, he came to give us a life that will be best, a life that will be full, a life that will be awesome.  Unfortunately, many have turned this term into a mainly financial word.  However, it is best thought of as an equivalent of zoen aionion, “eternal life.”  Eternal life is one of John’s main themes (John 3:15, 16; 5:39; 6:54, 68; 10:28; 12:25; 17:2,3; 1 John 1:2; 2:25; 3:15; 5:11,13, 20).

Yet the reality is that with this great blessing of salvation and eternal life there is sacrifice.  There is a price to pay; there is a cost for following Jesus.  It is a sacrifice that is different for all of us.  For the rich young ruler it was his wealth and for others it is all that they possess (Luke 18:18-30; 14:33).  For many disciples it was leaving behind house and family (Luke 18:28-29).  For others it is not being able to do those things that seem like the right thing to do; duties that we regard as sacred and things that we must do.  For one man it was burying his father (Matt. 8:18-22).  In that culture to not bury a body was a dishonor to the body and the children who did not bury it (Deut. 28:25-26).  Everyone was supposed to bury their parents because of the command to honor one’s parents (Exod. 20:12).

Then there are those that are called to possibly make the ultimate sacrifice—their lives.  Every time this is brought up in conversation it never goes over very well.  I believe this is partially due to the prosperity gospel we have been infected with in America.  It is a belief that all will go well for you as a disciple if you just do the right things.  However, scripture does not speak to this as being a promise.  On the contrary, we are guaranteed that things may get pretty rough because we are Christians and the world hates our message because they hate God; which brings me to John 21:15-19.

Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.  Each time Peter becomes a little more frustrated and says, “Yes I love you.”  Each time Peter responds Jesus says, “boskeh ta arnia mou,” that is, “feed my lambs/sheep.”  Here Jesus equates loving him with feeding his lambs.  It is clear from scripture that his “lambs” are his disciples.  If Peter truly loves Jesus then he will feed Jesus’ disciples. 

However, through some imagery Jesus speaks to the fact that Peter would be martyred: “But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”  This enigmatic statement is clarified for the reader by the parenthetical statement that Jesus was speaking about the death Peter would suffer to glorify God.  As if the shock value is not strong enough here, Jesus then adds, “Follow me.”  Peter did follow Jesus. In fact, early church tradition says that Peter was crucified in Rome on an upside down cross with his hands outstretched on the cross.   

This is not a passage that you will hear in a prosperity gospel church.  If you do, it will greatly be watered down and twisted.  Yet it is obvious that Jesus is inviting Peter to feed his disciples and that such a commitment will end in a violent death.  So the question must be asked.  Am I willing to follow Christ?  Am I willing to follow and be obedient to a calling that may end in a violent death?   What if that death somehow glorifies God?  Will you?  Will I, take up my cross and follow Christ?

 

February 9, 2011

Christians Are Not To Be Violent People

Posted by JeremyJK under Articles, Christianity, Culture, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Revelation, Scripture, Teachings of Jesus, Violence
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In the past week I have had several conversations with Christians about violence, particularly our involvement with it.  There are three possible scenarios that seem to surface during these conversations.  They are: self-defense, war, and capital punishment.  One of the conversations I had was with a friend of mine who I had already known is by no means a pacifist.  If anything he is the complete opposite.  So when he defends his position I am not surprised with the rhetoric he uses.  However, the second conversation was in the middle of a seminary class with a professor of mine.  As we discussed the Sinaitic Covenant and therefore the Law, I couldn’t help but wonder what he thought about all the death and violence God demands of his people. 

In Exod. 21:15 for instance, it says “Whoever strikes father or mother shall be put to death.”  Now this law is followed by several more such commands.  It seems to me that this is not “an eye for an eye or tooth for tooth.”  This seems a bit too extreme.  Now my professor, to my surprise, is also by no means a pacifist and proudly claimed so in class.  In fact, I should set him and my buddy up for coffee so they can talk about their blood-lust.  Okay maybe that’s extreme but I can’t help but wonder why they are so proud of their stance on violence.

Let me summarize my professor’s argument.  In short, he said that the laws had the clause of death so that the people understood that obedience to God was a matter of life and death.  Secondly, he said that we could only sit and theorize about our role in violence as Christians because of those who went on before us and died for our freedom to do so.  Third, he has a hard time buying questions about violence in the bible when we live in a country that is so far removed from threats of violence but also watches violent movies and plays violent video games.  Fourth, he attempted to point out that Jesus was only one person of the trinity but also tried to point out how Jesus was not a pacifist.  His example of this was Jesus reaction to the tower of Siloam falling on people and killing them (Luke 13:4).

Here’s my response to such arguments which I shared in part with him during the class but also afterwards.  To the first point, I understand his thought about communicating the seriousness of obedience as a matter of life and death.  However, if God wants to punish and poor out wrath why doesn’t he do it himself instead of having those of us whom he has also commanded not to kill do it?  Why do we have to do the dirty work?  Maybe he figured this part out by the time he got to the invasions of Israel (722 B.C.) and of Judah (587 B.C.).  Instead of using the faithful remnant to exact judgment he used exterior forces such as the Assyrians and Babylonians.  I understand God’s sovereign right to punish the disobedient but as Christians are we still that tool of death?

To the second point, I told the professor that his answer sound s too America.  Although he uses this answer to honor those men who “sacrificed”, it doesn’t give us permission as Christians the right to partake in war and kill.  Is this how we are to spread the kingdom of God—by warfare?  I think our love affair with democracy muddies the water of our responsibility as Christians.  We are to be radically counter-cultural and just because our democratic government beats the war drum it doesn’t mean that it is God’s will for us to get in line.  If Jesus was so concerned about freedom and liberty from the world’s perspective, then why didn’t he lead a revolt against Rome?  I will tell you.  He didn’t lead a rebellion because he came to teach us that the answer to the oppression in the world is not to launch a war against evil by the means of carnal weapons against enemies of flesh and blood.  For Jesus, the kingdom of God was spread by living counter-culturally.  That means, doing the opposite of what the world expects, like “turn the other cheek.”  May I also add, “vengence is mine, I will repay (Romans 12:19; Heb. 10:30)”?

To the third point, playing Mortal Combat or Call of Duty is a tad bit different than actually picking up a stone and whipping it at the head of a woman who may or may not have been wrongly accused of adultery.  “Cast the first stone”?

Fourth, I think a person looking for the violence of Jesus is far more hard-pressed for evidence than the pacifist.  Though Jesus believed in the judgment of God, he by no means, anywhere, encouraged his disciples to partake in violence.  Even when you come to the violence in Revelation, it is only the two-prophets that will exact any sort of wrath (Rev. 11:5).  Yet this passage is so enigmatic that it is neither an explicit or implicit encouragement to do violence.  No, we are commanded to pray for or enemies and overcome evil with good (Matt. 5:43-48; Romans 12:21).

It may come as a shock, but I am not a pacifist, yet.  However, I am tired of Christians being so cold and arrogant to proudly say “can you tell I am not a pacifist” without a hint of humility or concern in their voice.  If I ever have to kill a man for threatening my family, I will do it reluctantly and with fear and trembling.  I would also be remorseful and grieved for the rest of my life over the matter.  If we are ever pressed into a situation of violence, I pray it will be with the utmost hesitancy as Dietrich Bonhoeffer was when he chose to resist Hitler.  Yet the responsible Christian must note, he resisted after deep contemplation and even then resisted with utmost humility.  There may be situations where we need to act quickly without the time to think.  However, the Christian should live a life of much contemplation in these areas so that our actions are not mindless.  Have the mind of Christ I pray.

 

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