Are you more just than God?

In our Bible-reading, my wife and I read three psalms each week in order to be in the Psalms all year. So, at the end of three weeks, we've finished the first nine psalms. There are too many benefits to always reading the Psalms to list here, but one of them is that you start to pick up on themes. What was David consistently praying about? How did he pray? What are the images of God that he keeps coming back to over and over again. I don't think biblical worship ended at Psalm 150, but I do believe this helps us orient ourselves with God's desire for our worship.

One theme that I've noticed over and over again in the Psalms is that David is a man consumed with God: his causes and his glory. He loves his God more than he loves himself--even more than he loves other men! Sometimes I wonder if we haven't subconsciously inverted the greatest two commandments. It seems to me that's why so many Christians struggle with the problem of evil, or the concept of eternal punishment, or God's righteousness which involves him working all things to his own glory.

We don't see how that is God loving us or others, so we can't get by it. And we have Scripture to back us up: God is love, after all, and merciful and gracious. And we're commanded to love our neigbour as ourself, so we struggle with this tension in God.

The problem, as I've said, is that we invert the commandments. The first commandment is to love God. Above all else. That means that I love all that he loves. That means that I love to see his causes and his purposes accomplished. That means that I love to see his righteousness displayed. I love what he determines is best.

In short, it means I trust him. When he declares that he is doing something, I know that it must be good because he is good. When God says he will condemn the unjust and unbelieving, I rejoice, because that is his purpose and it is good. Because of his righteousness, he has said this will be, and that it will be to his glory.

I may not understand, but I trust... because I love him. To eternally lament over those lost to judgment is to mourn over something God has deemed righteous; my heart would not be in line with his eternal purposes. To secretly hope that God will do something other than what he has revealed in his word is to think that I am somehow more just than God and my desires are more righteous than his. That is not loving God first. That's loving me and my fellow man before God.

Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail;
Let the nations be judged before you!
Put them in fear, O LORD!
Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Allen "Breaks the Back" of Emergent Morality

Gay activist Chad Allen, star of "The End of the Spear" (soon-to-be-released) was on Larry King Live the other night with Al Mohler and others. The topic of discussion was "gay love" (as brought up by the film "Brokeback Mountain") and "gay marriage" (in the United States). Mohler was fantastic, as always, and very biblically-centred.

But it wasn't him that caught my attention. It was Chad Allen.

And it wasn't because Mr Allen is a brilliant man or a wonderful orator or anything like that. He didn't have anything particularly insightful to say that hasn't been said before. But what struck me this time was his profession of faith--what that faith looks like, how it is defined, and how it effects his morality.

Here are some excerpts from the transcript:

• My parents, they had a hard time. We're friends again, we have a wonderful family relationship. But I have to say, if they're going to speak about absolute transcendent truth, I need to tell you, I know absolute transcendent truth.
  
  I have a deep relationship with God and my understanding. It's very powerful, and it's taken its own shape and form. And I am very much at peace in the knowledge that in my heart God created this beautiful expression of my love.
  
  Listen, Larry, we are going to be different, we're going to disagree on the details of this and we probably always will.

• [I judge how it's right for me to live my life...] By the standard that I judge all of my actions. These days I judge all of my actions by my relationship with God of my understanding. It is a deep-founded, faith-based belief in God based upon the work that I've done growing up as a Catholic boy and then reaching out to Buddhism philosophy, to Hindu philosophy, to Native American beliefs and finally as I got through my course with addiction and alcoholism and finding a higher power that worked for me.
  
  You know, I had to sit down with that same God today and say, "Do you want me to go on this show? Do you want me to speak the things that are in my heart? And if not, I'm happy not to go. Do you want me to make this movie?" It's the same God that I go to for every decision.

Here's the question that I kept coming back to, over and over again: How would the emergent movement respond to this man, while remaining faithful to the Bible's standards for morals and marriage?

He has had a genuine experience. He claims his grasp of absolute truth is real. His faith is existential. He talks to "God" and knows what "God" wants him to do.

Somehow the emergent church which was designed to speak so well to our culture has unwittingly left itself unarmed when it comes to morality. This is why, I can only hope, that the end of emergent will be sooner rather than later, because it can not work pragmatically, which exposes its faulty theological and epistemological roots.

[HT: Challies.com]

Frame's Generous Orthodoxy

There is considerable overlap between McLaren’s concerns and mine. I too would like to see less doctrinal wrangling in the church and more love. Like McLaren, I think it’s important to learn from traditions other than our own (43-67) and in controversy to be both more winsome to those who disagree with us and harder on ourselves. I like McLaren’s way of putting it, that in theological dialogue we have the unfortunate tendency to compare our opponents’ worst with our best (136, 140). And I have argued, like McLaren (105-114), for a missional concept of the church...

So begins John Frame's review of Brian McLaren's Generous Orthodoxy. You can read the rest of it here.

Commentary on the State of the American Church

The Church Report's 50 Most Influential Christians in America

Some quick analysis for whatever commentary it's worth... here are some quick counts from this list of most influential "Christians" in America:

From para-church ministries: 26
Associated with mega-churches: 17
Actual pastors: 16 (out of 50 most influential!!!)
Charismatic (health & wealth): 10
Career in politics: 5
From emergent circles: 5
Women leaders: 5
From the Graham family: 3
Medical / psychiatric doctors: 3
Cardinals: 1
Popes: 1
Presidents of the United States: 1

What does all that say about the state of "the world's largest evangelical bastion"??


[HT: Between Two Worlds and Ruminations by the Lake]

Christians and Their Cars

You are what you drive?

... because Bradley asked for it ...

Here's how to tell the type of Christian you meet, by the car they drive. (Obviously this is completely in jest... my poor attempt at humour.)

The official car of Emergent. This one was a no-brainer. Maybe it's because of the whole enviro-friendly thing, or maybe it's the anti-western / north-american mentality. Either way, those emerging types do like their echoes.

The official car of the middle-class, conservative church family. Okay, okay, so it's not technically even a car. But if you're going to haul around those 2.3 children from your middle-class home to soccer practice, the Montana is a must.

The official van of the Dutch / Christian Reformed. Because when your children number a baker's dozen, there just really aren't that many options.

The official car of the seminary student. Students in beat-up, old cars. How cliché.

I tried to think of more, but that's all I could come up with off the top of my head. Any more suggestions?

More on the Authentic Church

Check out Paul W. Martin's "Weighing in the Word" this week for followup to my recent post on the authentic church.

Only because I couldn't refrain...

Normally I leave the political blogging up to people like my friends Shameer, tomgee, or Ian, who know what they're talking about. Tonight I couldn't resist, though. Paul Martin (not to be confused with Paul W. Martin) is a dangerous, dangerous man.

While watching the leaders' debate tonight, one issue that stuck out to me in particular was the issue of the charter and the notwithstanding clause. Now, come down wherever you will on the issue of whether or not marriage is a "right" that can be defined by anyone, the notwithstanding clause is of fundamental importance when it comes to our democracy. The ones making the decisions on the legislation and governance of this country must be elected officials in order for there to be any semblence of accountability (not that we've had that recently either though).

If the final decision on issues of morality lies always in the hands of appointed judges and courts rather than elected officials, what hope is there for the people to ever change their country? All other issues aside, I think it is absolutely essential to vote Conservative this election, if for no other reason than to protect the ability of the people to determine the morals and standards that our country should be ruled by. To vote in the Liberals again is to chart a very dangerous course for our country's future.

If we, as Christians, don't demand accountability for the moral decisions of our leadership... who do we think will??

"The Authentic Church"

Kerux has been preaching a new-year's mini-series on "the Authentic Church" from Acts 2.42-47 (you can hear this morning's sermon--#2 in the series--here). This has been particularly insightful in light of so much of the debate spurred on by those of emergent persuasion on what counts as "authenticity."


The Authentic Christian Church is one which is characterised by:

1. Devotion to doctrine.
2. Devotion to fellowship.
3. Devotion to the Lord's Supper.
4. Devotion to prayer.
5. Devotion to personal spirituality.
6. Devotion to evangelism.

While there were several points that struck me during the messages, there was one thing that I couldn't get away from: The church is people.

If the church is to be authentic, the people must be authentic. The church can only be as devoted to anything as the people that make up the church are. That's why so many churches today are Program-Driven® and inauthentic.

The program drums up some sense of purpose ("let's do this together"). People go at it like kids with their toys on Christmas morning. The problem is, of course, that the excitement was in the program, not in the gospel itself. And when the week after Boxing Day comes, the Christmas toys are just as boring as last year's... and so off to a new church they go, always looking for the next big evangelical fad.

So... emergent people are sick of inauthenticity? No more than me. And to be honest, I think they sound rather arrogant when they go around boasting about how they are the ones sick of inauthenticity.

But the answer is not experience-driven church. The answer is to become an authentic Christian, who is devoted to all these things, so that I can influence others around me. As they become devoted to these things, the gospel spreads. Then what have you got? Without even knowing it, you've got an "authentic church": rooted in delight in God, to the glory of God.

Way too pumped!

Well, Reese Roper, probably my favourite still-living lyricist, is still making music. Now, this is not news to anyone at all in touch with the Christian "pop-culture," I suppose, who probably already knew this. But it was news to me because I live in Canada and I don't usually shop in Christian bookstores.

Anyhow, I've listened to the stuff... awesome, as usual from Reese, thought not quite braveSaintSaturn standards. The new band is called "Roper" and their website is here. Their bio is fascinating. Really.

There's Something Wrong with Everything...

And that's the premise of Ecclesiastes. In this life, in this world, there is nothing that is not flawed. Everything is screwed up... everything falls short. Nothing can satisfy.

What is crooked cannot be made straight,
and what is lacking cannot be counted.

It's no surprise, then, when the Preacher comes to the realization that bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people (8.14 for example). So... believe it or not, the "problem of evil" is not some new philosophical proof against the existence of God... it's been around for a while.

But that begs the question... is it really a problem at all? Given the choice to do good, I've done evil. Over and over again throughout my whole life. So have you. So has everyone. When you live in a world where 6-7 billion people are choosing to do evil, why should it be a surprise to anyone when bad things happen? If God really is good and he really is just and he really is all-powerful, it's a wonder anything good happens to anyone at all.

The fact that nothing is perfect, yet the longing for perfection is present in every person should tell us that we were made for something other than what we see. The fact that we who choose evil still long for something good should tell us we were made for something else. The simple fact that we know things aren't the way they should be should tell us that we were made for something more.

I believe in the Holy Trinity--Part 5

Rom 11.33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

"For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?"
"Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?"

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Col 3.15-20
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Helpful Resource

Having Dr Haykin as a professor this semester has had me reading ancient church documents I never knew existed. One resource that has been incredibly helpful to me has be the Christian Classics Ethereal Library. Until this semester, I never knew this site existed, but now I visit it quite regularly. Just check out this page for a listing of some of the classics that they've got available for you to read online.

I know some people aren't too big on reading stuff online, but personally, I prefer reading online to buying everything I have to read. Especially when you consider that a little volume like Augustine's Against the Pelagians IV can run upwards of $50 in our bookstore.

Anyway, I thought this was useful, so I'm passing it along for whatever it's worth. Enjoy!

Augustine on Friendship

Since Augustine has been consuming much of my thought lately, I thought I'd let him consume my blog as well. Augustine was a man who was never alone, but always surrounded by friends. Why? It wasn't by accident. Friendship helped Augustine to worship and live for and ultimately enjoy God better. Here are some of the concluding thoughts from a recent paper I wrote on Augustine's theology of friendship.

This community of companions (“all my friends and relations” ) that travelled with Augustine was altogether with one heart pursuing God and challenging each other to pursue him as well. This is effective friendship, since “a man will not imitate any but his friends.” Augustine sees this in the very creation, where each was made according to its own kind; so it is friendship, that each of us will become like our friends. In this way friends can spur each other on to a more godly life. This was the desperate hope and goal of friendship for Augustine: “My soul, tell this to the souls that you love. Let them weep in this valley of tears, and so take them with you to God. For if, as you speak, the flame of charity burns in you, it is by his Spirit that you tell them this.”

Yet perhaps the most profound element of friendship in Augustine’s thought is the idea that in friendship, one will fulfil the twofold commandment. Augustine here adapts Cicero’s definition of friendship, which involved simply doing what is best for the other person, in a reciprocal relationship. “If God is seen as the highest good towards which everything must be directed and if all love must focus on God before all else for it to be truly Christian, friendship among Christians gains a new perspective.” For Augustine then, you are loving God and loving another as yourself by helping him to love God, which is his greatest good, which in turn he will do for you, as this is your greatest wish for yourself as well. Friendship for friendship’s sake—even friendship for the other person’s sake—is no longer in view at all in Augustine’s thought.

This friendship which is centred entirely on God and his goodness benefits all involved by helping them to gain a clearer vision of him. “Sage has observed that the anima una ‘est pour S.Augustin, à partir de 407, l’énigme et le miroir par excellence où il nous est donné dès ici-bas à comprendre, comme nous le pouvons, le mystère de Dieu’.” To Augustine, the most valuable friend in the world is the one who can best reveal God to him and push him to pursue God. In short, “Augustine thinks of friendship as beginning, continuing and ending in God—friendship is participation in the life of God.”

Augustine on Delighting in God in his Creation

From the Confessions, Book IV, chapter 12.

If the things of the world delight you, praise God for them but turn your love away from them and give it to their Maker, so that in the things that please you you may not displease him. If your delight is in souls, love them in God, because they too are frail and stand firm only when they cling to him. If they do not, they go their own way and are lost. Love them, then, in him and draw as many with you to him as you can. Tell them, 'He is the one we should love. He made the world and he stays close to it.' For when he made the world he did not go away and leave it. By him it was created and in him it exists. Where we taste the truth, God is there. He is in our very inmost hearts, but our hearts have strayed from him. Think well on it, unbelieving hearts (Is 46.8) and cling to him who made you. Stand with him and you shall not fall; rest in him and peace shall be yours. What snags and pitfalls lie before you? Where do your steps lead you? The good things which you love are all from God, but they are good and sweet only as long as they are used to do his will. They will rightly turn bitter if God is spurned and the things that come from him are wrongly loved.

You can read the Confessions online for free here.

I believe in the Holy Trinity--Part 4

In the spirit of the Christmas, and in the footsteps of kerux's post, I thought it might be nice to post a Christmas hymn I found in an old Presbyterian hymnal that I have not seen elsewhere.

The words are written by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413AD). You can ask Dr. Haykin who he is, because I have no idea.

Either way, this is a great hymn in the Trinitarian tradition. Either way, I think it is important to realize that when we celebrate the coming of Christ, we celebrate the incarnation of God himself, and that it is a work and a revelation of the entire Trinity, and we should be all the more in awe of the whole Godhead, not just focusing on Christ alone.

"We beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father."

Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore.

This is He Whom heav'n taught singers
Sang of old with one accord,
Whom the scriptures of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long-expected;
Let creaition praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
All dominions, bow before Him,
And extol our God and King;
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore.

Thee let age and Thee let mahood,
Thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens,
With glad voices answering;
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And their heart its music bring,
Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn, and chant, and high thanksgiving,
And unwearied praises be,
Honour, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore.