I was watching Glenn Beck last night. I never watch him, but I could not get one of the boys to join me in a game of Call and Duty. He had David Barton, a historian on the show talking about the faith of the founding fathers. Below is an article about how in the beginning of our history church was held at the Capitol Building. That's right, our founding fathers, early presidents attended church in the Capitol.
2000 people attended church in the Capitol (one of the first mega churches). Yet now, we interpret separation of church and state quite differently than what was intended.
Read the article and tell me what you think.
WallBuilders - Issues and Articles - Church in the U.S. Capitol
Posted using ShareThis
Friday, April 9, 2010
"Move" John 3:22-36
Have you ever been riding up a crowded escalator and the person in front of you stops as if there is no one behind them. When we had season tickets to the Cavs a couple years ago I had to ride the escalator up to the second level. It never failed. With people on every step on the way up someone would stop right at the top with 200 people getting ready to be pushed right up their back. Eventually you would hear several people saying "Move!" (I was always one of them.)
The person would turn around, look at everyone as if to say, "What's your problem?"
John the Baptist did not have to be told to "move." He knew exactly who was behind him. He knew that the time had come for him to "move" out of the way so people could see Jesus.
He said this, "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
We need to "move" out of the way and have the same attitude as JB. We need to "move" so Jesus can become greater and we take a lesser place. As followers of Jesus if we do not move out of the way people may never see and know Jesus.
We need to stop putting our own desires first and learn to seek first the kingdom of God. It becomes less about style and preference. It becomes all about Jesus. His desires become our desires and we live out our faith authentically.
Have you been getting in the way of people seeing Jesus? Are you standing in the way of people who are trying to move toward Jesus? If you answer yes to these questions then let me say something to you: MOOOOOVE!
The person would turn around, look at everyone as if to say, "What's your problem?"
John the Baptist did not have to be told to "move." He knew exactly who was behind him. He knew that the time had come for him to "move" out of the way so people could see Jesus.
He said this, "He (Jesus) must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30).
We need to "move" out of the way and have the same attitude as JB. We need to "move" so Jesus can become greater and we take a lesser place. As followers of Jesus if we do not move out of the way people may never see and know Jesus.
We need to stop putting our own desires first and learn to seek first the kingdom of God. It becomes less about style and preference. It becomes all about Jesus. His desires become our desires and we live out our faith authentically.
Have you been getting in the way of people seeing Jesus? Are you standing in the way of people who are trying to move toward Jesus? If you answer yes to these questions then let me say something to you: MOOOOOVE!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
"Born" John 3:1-21
There are three days I will never forget. The births of Eli, Cole and Seth each have their own story, but the result was the same--"New Life." I cried when I held them for the first time. I was overwhelmed with the miracle of life I got to witness. Seriously, for nine months they had been growing in the womb and now I am holding them in my arms. Wow!
This passage in John is about being "Born" again. A religious leader by the name of Nicodemus approaches Jesus. He is told, "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." How can this be Nicodemus asks? How can a person enter into his mothers womb for a second time?
Then Jesus said, "no one can enter into the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit." Nicodemus was still confused, but he shouldn't be. Within Judaism there was a practice for Gentiles who would convert to Judaism. They would be baptized (immersed) to become ceremonially clean. Converts to Judaism were said to become "as newborn children."
Nicodemus should have gotten what Jesus was saying. Maybe he missed it because in his mind there would not be a need for a Jewish person to go through such a ritual. This was one of the things that the religious leaders questioned when they saw so many Jews going to the desert to be baptized by John the baptist.
I had the opportunity to baptize a single father about a week ago. He brought his four children. They sat in the front seats of the worship center as we went up to the baptistery. Before his baptism we were standing in the water together and his six year old began to ask questions. She wanted to know why he was doing this. He explained to her that he wanted to start a "new life." A life devoted to following God.
She then asked him why he changed clothes. He said, "Because God does not want to see me naked." You know he's right. When Adam and Eve hid in the garden, they hid because they were ashamed of their nakedness. When we sin our weaknesses are exposed. When we are naked--everything is exposed and it is not pretty.
After God explained the consequences to Adam and Eve, that they would experience death and then he kicked them out of the garden he did something else. He made clothes for them to cover up their nakedness. He did something about the shame they were experiencing. He showed grace and mercy which gave them new life.
He has done the same for us. We stand exposed before God as unrighteous, but he provided new life through Jesus. Through Jesus' sacrifice, our sins were paid for so we can have new life. Paul says in Romans 6 about baptism: "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4).
I will never forget two other days. The day my two oldest boys decided they wanted to have "new life." Each has it's own story, one was baptized at church during a service, the other was baptized in the Alantic Ocean while on vacation. Both were born again. Again I had tears in my eyes because they both made the decision on their own that they need Jesus to cover their nakedness. They both decided to be united with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection which is what they need most to have life.
This is the point Jesuse was trying to get across to Nicodemus. The story is still the same for us today.
This passage in John is about being "Born" again. A religious leader by the name of Nicodemus approaches Jesus. He is told, "no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." How can this be Nicodemus asks? How can a person enter into his mothers womb for a second time?
Then Jesus said, "no one can enter into the kingdom of God unless he is born of the water and the Spirit." Nicodemus was still confused, but he shouldn't be. Within Judaism there was a practice for Gentiles who would convert to Judaism. They would be baptized (immersed) to become ceremonially clean. Converts to Judaism were said to become "as newborn children."
Nicodemus should have gotten what Jesus was saying. Maybe he missed it because in his mind there would not be a need for a Jewish person to go through such a ritual. This was one of the things that the religious leaders questioned when they saw so many Jews going to the desert to be baptized by John the baptist.
I had the opportunity to baptize a single father about a week ago. He brought his four children. They sat in the front seats of the worship center as we went up to the baptistery. Before his baptism we were standing in the water together and his six year old began to ask questions. She wanted to know why he was doing this. He explained to her that he wanted to start a "new life." A life devoted to following God.
She then asked him why he changed clothes. He said, "Because God does not want to see me naked." You know he's right. When Adam and Eve hid in the garden, they hid because they were ashamed of their nakedness. When we sin our weaknesses are exposed. When we are naked--everything is exposed and it is not pretty.
After God explained the consequences to Adam and Eve, that they would experience death and then he kicked them out of the garden he did something else. He made clothes for them to cover up their nakedness. He did something about the shame they were experiencing. He showed grace and mercy which gave them new life.
He has done the same for us. We stand exposed before God as unrighteous, but he provided new life through Jesus. Through Jesus' sacrifice, our sins were paid for so we can have new life. Paul says in Romans 6 about baptism: "Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life" (Romans 6:3-4).
I will never forget two other days. The day my two oldest boys decided they wanted to have "new life." Each has it's own story, one was baptized at church during a service, the other was baptized in the Alantic Ocean while on vacation. Both were born again. Again I had tears in my eyes because they both made the decision on their own that they need Jesus to cover their nakedness. They both decided to be united with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection which is what they need most to have life.
This is the point Jesuse was trying to get across to Nicodemus. The story is still the same for us today.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
"Temple" John 2:12-25
Jesus walked into the temple, the most magnificent building in his time. It was the place people came to worship and have access to God. It was divided in different courts. There was a place where only the priest could go. There was a court for Jewish men, a court for Jewish women, a court for Nazarites, a court for lepers and a court for Gentiles who had converted to Judaism.
The court of the Gentiles was just outside of the temple building. When Jesus came to the temple the Gentile court had been turned into a marketplace. It was loud. You could hear bartering going on. You could hear coins being passed back and forth. There was the sound of livestock bellowing as they were being sold for sacrifice. It just was not the best place to have to worship.
Then there were the inflated prices being offered for those who had come to the temple without an animal to be sacrificed. It was a crazy scene and Jesus made it a little crazier. Jesus made a whip out of cords and began driving the animals out of the temple area. Then he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. It was quite the scene.
He said, "How dare you turn my Father's house into a marketplace!"
The problem was not as much the selling, the problem was how the Jewish leaders looked down on the worship of the Gentiles. They looked at the Gentiles as if their worship of God was of lesser importance than the worship of the Jews. Their was an arrogance that existed within the temple area. It was so segregated that it it gave the appearance that depending on who you were your worship was of greater value.
It still exists today, not just within Judaism, but within Christianity. There are times people will say, "The church just is not very friendly." Maybe that is not exactly what is meant. Maybe what people sense or feel is this arrogance that we are more spiritual than someone who has not been here as long. There is a spiritual posturing that goes one within. I think it is mostly subconscious, although I am sure sometimes it is deliberate. But that does not make it right.
As followers of Jesus we need to practice humility. We need not think to highly of ourselves. We are all sinners saved by God's grace through Jesus.
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance to the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3
The court of the Gentiles was just outside of the temple building. When Jesus came to the temple the Gentile court had been turned into a marketplace. It was loud. You could hear bartering going on. You could hear coins being passed back and forth. There was the sound of livestock bellowing as they were being sold for sacrifice. It just was not the best place to have to worship.
Then there were the inflated prices being offered for those who had come to the temple without an animal to be sacrificed. It was a crazy scene and Jesus made it a little crazier. Jesus made a whip out of cords and began driving the animals out of the temple area. Then he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. It was quite the scene.
He said, "How dare you turn my Father's house into a marketplace!"
The problem was not as much the selling, the problem was how the Jewish leaders looked down on the worship of the Gentiles. They looked at the Gentiles as if their worship of God was of lesser importance than the worship of the Jews. Their was an arrogance that existed within the temple area. It was so segregated that it it gave the appearance that depending on who you were your worship was of greater value.
It still exists today, not just within Judaism, but within Christianity. There are times people will say, "The church just is not very friendly." Maybe that is not exactly what is meant. Maybe what people sense or feel is this arrogance that we are more spiritual than someone who has not been here as long. There is a spiritual posturing that goes one within. I think it is mostly subconscious, although I am sure sometimes it is deliberate. But that does not make it right.
As followers of Jesus we need to practice humility. We need not think to highly of ourselves. We are all sinners saved by God's grace through Jesus.
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance to the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
"Spring Holiday"
Davenport, Iowa made the decision this week to officially change "Good Friday" to "Spring Holiday" (Read Article here). The Davenport Civil Rights Commission recommended the name to be changed. Seriously, don't they have better things to do other than attack Christianity?
Think about it, a lot of the holidays we have in our country are motivated by Christianity. Don't they understand it is a paid day off? Look if you seriously do not want to celebrate Good Friday that's fine, then go to work. And when there is a Christmas bonus, give it back. I did think it is funny that the unions were upset because their contracts give them "Good Friday" off, but not "Spring Holiday." The sad thing is this would be the first thing many Christians would think of also.
Enough with the Political Correctness already. The more we try to become politically correct the more ridiculous we look. How can anybody take the civil rights commission seriously anymore? And what about the anti-religious movement that does not believe in God? You want to come off as intelligent and in touch with culture yet you lack creativity and logic.
I know you look at the Westboro Baptist Church as the example of how bad Christians are, but they are as anti-Jesus as you. I read "God is Not Great" by Hitchens and have to agree with the premise of the book--in the name of religion many horrible things have been done throughout the history of the world. It was in fact religion that brought about the crucifixion of Jesus and why we are even having this discussion about Good Friday. But Jesus did not come to start a religion, he came to show us the best way to live as followers of God.
At least if you are going to attack Christianity at every turn come up with a viable option. "Spring Holiday?" There were a lot of creative juices flowing when you came up with that alternative. And even if you are going to use that name, why wouldn't it be on the first day of spring? I guess I shouldn't expect a lot though, it is the same movement that came up with the logical argument of the "Spaghetti Monster' and the "orbiting teapot" to prove God does not exist.
I am not trying to make you believe in God. I want you to believe in God, but I am not trying to force you to believe nor do I think I can. All I ask is for you to be considerate to my beliefs and the beliefs of billions of others. So to all who read this--enjoy Good Friday and pause to remember this is the day Jesus paid your penalty of sin so that when this world comes to an end, just as he was resurrected to live forever, you can live forever with Him!
Think about it, a lot of the holidays we have in our country are motivated by Christianity. Don't they understand it is a paid day off? Look if you seriously do not want to celebrate Good Friday that's fine, then go to work. And when there is a Christmas bonus, give it back. I did think it is funny that the unions were upset because their contracts give them "Good Friday" off, but not "Spring Holiday." The sad thing is this would be the first thing many Christians would think of also.
Enough with the Political Correctness already. The more we try to become politically correct the more ridiculous we look. How can anybody take the civil rights commission seriously anymore? And what about the anti-religious movement that does not believe in God? You want to come off as intelligent and in touch with culture yet you lack creativity and logic.
I know you look at the Westboro Baptist Church as the example of how bad Christians are, but they are as anti-Jesus as you. I read "God is Not Great" by Hitchens and have to agree with the premise of the book--in the name of religion many horrible things have been done throughout the history of the world. It was in fact religion that brought about the crucifixion of Jesus and why we are even having this discussion about Good Friday. But Jesus did not come to start a religion, he came to show us the best way to live as followers of God.
At least if you are going to attack Christianity at every turn come up with a viable option. "Spring Holiday?" There were a lot of creative juices flowing when you came up with that alternative. And even if you are going to use that name, why wouldn't it be on the first day of spring? I guess I shouldn't expect a lot though, it is the same movement that came up with the logical argument of the "Spaghetti Monster' and the "orbiting teapot" to prove God does not exist.
I am not trying to make you believe in God. I want you to believe in God, but I am not trying to force you to believe nor do I think I can. All I ask is for you to be considerate to my beliefs and the beliefs of billions of others. So to all who read this--enjoy Good Friday and pause to remember this is the day Jesus paid your penalty of sin so that when this world comes to an end, just as he was resurrected to live forever, you can live forever with Him!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
"Mother" John 2:1-11
There was never a doubt in my mind that my mother was proud of me and always wanted me to do well. When I played football in high school she sat in the same place and watched the game intently hoping that I would do well. I am pretty sure she never really understood the game completely because she never watched football on T.V. with dad and me. So she probably cheered for the wrong things sometimes.
"Holding, number 63 for Salem," the announcer would say.
"Yeah, Scott, that's my boy," mom would say.
It is in those moments if I were there I would say, "Mommmmmm!"
She probably said things like, "Doesn't he really look cute in his outfit."
First it is a uniform not an outfit. Second football players do not want to look cute they want to look tough and intimidating.
She loved watching me play, even if she may not have completely understood the game. My senior year when she was sick, I brought home the films so she could watch my games. She died on a Thursday morning, Tuesday evening she was watching the film until she got to tired.
I am fortunate to have a mother that was easy to respect and honor. I know it is difficult for some. But as a follower of Jesus we have to find a way to live by the
5th command in the 10 commandments. "Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land of the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). As a follower of Jesus we need to learn to live by all the teachings of God.
Jesus, even though he was God, had to fulfill the law perfectly. He was not exempt from the very law he created. In John 2, he is at a wedding feast. They run out of wine for the feast. It was going to be a moment of embarrassment for the groom. Mary, Jesus' mother goes to him telling her son they don't have any more wine (some speculate this may be a relatives wedding because of Mary's concern for the groom).
Jesus said to her, "Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come." It is almost like he is saying, "Mommmmmm!" as he roles his eyes. He gives us a glimpse of his divinity by saying "his time had not yet come." But his human side comes out as he lives by the 5th command and honors his mothers wishes.
Like any proud mother who wants to give praise to her son she begins to tell the servants to do whatever Jesus tells you to do. Like any good son Jesus gives them directions and he turns water into wine, saving the day just like his mother knew he could.
Mary may not have completely understood the mission her son had come to accomplish, but she was proud of him and knew he had the ability to take care of the problem at the wedding feast.
So what does this mean for us? Jesus came to teach us how to live as followers of God. Being a follower of God means we obey what he teaches us to do in scripture. Obedience to God always takes precedent over whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Obeying God's commands will make what we are trying to accomlish easier. Jesus came for a greater mission and purpose than changing water to wine. Yet when his mother involved him, he honored her request.
Our problem is that we have a tendency to rationalize why we should not follow a certain teaching. Jesus had a good excuse here to rationalize why he should not get involved, but he didn't. Why do we think we get a pass when Jesus doesn't?
John says this was Jesus' first miracle in Galilee and it revealed his glory and his disciples put his trust in him. See,obedience to God's teaching actually helped Jesus in his mission.
If we trust him, we will live like him in every way.
"Holding, number 63 for Salem," the announcer would say.
"Yeah, Scott, that's my boy," mom would say.
It is in those moments if I were there I would say, "Mommmmmm!"
She probably said things like, "Doesn't he really look cute in his outfit."
First it is a uniform not an outfit. Second football players do not want to look cute they want to look tough and intimidating.
She loved watching me play, even if she may not have completely understood the game. My senior year when she was sick, I brought home the films so she could watch my games. She died on a Thursday morning, Tuesday evening she was watching the film until she got to tired.
I am fortunate to have a mother that was easy to respect and honor. I know it is difficult for some. But as a follower of Jesus we have to find a way to live by the
5th command in the 10 commandments. "Honor your father and mother so that you may live long in the land of the Lord your God is giving you" (Exodus 20:12). As a follower of Jesus we need to learn to live by all the teachings of God.
Jesus, even though he was God, had to fulfill the law perfectly. He was not exempt from the very law he created. In John 2, he is at a wedding feast. They run out of wine for the feast. It was going to be a moment of embarrassment for the groom. Mary, Jesus' mother goes to him telling her son they don't have any more wine (some speculate this may be a relatives wedding because of Mary's concern for the groom).
Jesus said to her, "Why do you involve me? My time has not yet come." It is almost like he is saying, "Mommmmmm!" as he roles his eyes. He gives us a glimpse of his divinity by saying "his time had not yet come." But his human side comes out as he lives by the 5th command and honors his mothers wishes.
Like any proud mother who wants to give praise to her son she begins to tell the servants to do whatever Jesus tells you to do. Like any good son Jesus gives them directions and he turns water into wine, saving the day just like his mother knew he could.
Mary may not have completely understood the mission her son had come to accomplish, but she was proud of him and knew he had the ability to take care of the problem at the wedding feast.
So what does this mean for us? Jesus came to teach us how to live as followers of God. Being a follower of God means we obey what he teaches us to do in scripture. Obedience to God always takes precedent over whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. Obeying God's commands will make what we are trying to accomlish easier. Jesus came for a greater mission and purpose than changing water to wine. Yet when his mother involved him, he honored her request.
Our problem is that we have a tendency to rationalize why we should not follow a certain teaching. Jesus had a good excuse here to rationalize why he should not get involved, but he didn't. Why do we think we get a pass when Jesus doesn't?
John says this was Jesus' first miracle in Galilee and it revealed his glory and his disciples put his trust in him. See,obedience to God's teaching actually helped Jesus in his mission.
If we trust him, we will live like him in every way.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Rabbi
I have gotten behind on posting lately. I am going to catch up on the series in John I have been doing. As I have been studying for this series I am learning so much about the difference between Jesus and the religious culture. Living like Jesus is counter to the religious culture not only in his day, but also today. While it is hard to live like Jesus because of the criticism from the religious culture, it is more appealing to those who are true followers and to the unchurched world. I would describe striving to live like Jesus as freeing, exciting and refreshing.
In John 1:35-51 we have Jesus calling some men to become his disciples. In Rob Bell's book, "Velvet Elvis," he describes how Rabbi's would look for the best of the best young men to become their disciples. A young man may apply to a Rabbi by saying to a rabbi, "I want to become one of your disciples."
The rabbi would then begin the interview the young man to find out if he was capable of becoming like the Rabbi in every way. Once the Rabbi decided a young man was worthy to be one of his disciples he would simply say, "Follow me." From that day forward that young man would walk behind that Rabbi learning how to be exactly like the rabbi.
This has great significance for Christians today. Jesus has asked all of us to follow him and to become one of his disciples. We need to study diligently the life and ways of Jesus and then live like him. It is not a religion, but a way to live as true worshippers of God. Living like Jesus is counter cultural to the religious community, it always has been and always will be.
Religion happens when we stop focusing on living like Jesus. When we stop focusing on Jesus we begin to focus on ourselves. We live by the law or rules and regulations created by man. We (our religion) becomes greater and Jesus becomes less.
Look either we are going to follow THE RABBI or we are going to do something else. Who or what are you following?
In John 1:35-51 we have Jesus calling some men to become his disciples. In Rob Bell's book, "Velvet Elvis," he describes how Rabbi's would look for the best of the best young men to become their disciples. A young man may apply to a Rabbi by saying to a rabbi, "I want to become one of your disciples."
The rabbi would then begin the interview the young man to find out if he was capable of becoming like the Rabbi in every way. Once the Rabbi decided a young man was worthy to be one of his disciples he would simply say, "Follow me." From that day forward that young man would walk behind that Rabbi learning how to be exactly like the rabbi.
This has great significance for Christians today. Jesus has asked all of us to follow him and to become one of his disciples. We need to study diligently the life and ways of Jesus and then live like him. It is not a religion, but a way to live as true worshippers of God. Living like Jesus is counter cultural to the religious community, it always has been and always will be.
Religion happens when we stop focusing on living like Jesus. When we stop focusing on Jesus we begin to focus on ourselves. We live by the law or rules and regulations created by man. We (our religion) becomes greater and Jesus becomes less.
Look either we are going to follow THE RABBI or we are going to do something else. Who or what are you following?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)