Christmas: A real event in space-time

Yes, I admit it. What a geeky title for a blog post. Bear with me a little though, if you will.

There is a Christmas song I heard on the radio the other day. I've known it for most of my life, and I've even sung it as part of a choir. It is a beautiful sentiment, and makes its point powerfully. Its name is Some Children See Him.

Yes, it is a beautiful song. Here is one of the best renditions ever, recorded by James Taylor:



The main point of the song is a good one. The gospel is intended for all people everywhere. At the time when Jesus lived on the earth, many of his fellow Jews felt that the Messiah was coming exclusively for them. So many parables, so many actions, so many teachings were designed to show that he had come for the whole world - Jew and Gentile. The gospel, the Kingdom, was for the nations. The message was there throughout he Hebrew Scriptures, from Adam, to Abraham, to Moses, to Isaiah. But they just didn't get it. After his resurrection, Jesus said to go into ALL the world. Reaching out to all people, of all races, with all skin colors.

And we in the Western church can be just as stubborn as the people of 1st century Palestine. So much of our Christianity is centered in what's good for us. We see a lily-white Jesus who wants to make all people more like us. We may not say it, but it creeps into our subconscious so easily. And I think that is what the song is speaking to.

But to me there is one thing we have to watch out for as we sing these lyrics. The objective is good, but the execution may be flawed. You see, one of the biggest dangers to faith today is the idea that truth is relative. "That may be true for you, but it's not for me." The word of the day is "tolerance," and it's clear that as a society we are defining it as total acceptance of everyone's belief's as equally true.

This is contrary to both Biblical revelation and common sense. Either your car is red or it's not. We can';t say with a serious face, "That car is red to me, but if you believe it's blue I'm sure that's equally true."

And now back to the geeky title of this post. God entered the world in the person of Jesus, born as a baby. The miracle of the incarnation: the Word became flesh. The creator of space-time entered his creation at a specific time in a specific place.

And with specific skin.

So yes, children all over the world may see Jesus as being like them. And that's great....as long as they are also taught that he was actually one person with one body and one skin tone. He is not a concept, a spirit, a symbol. We must not spiritualize his coming. He was, and is, a person.

The song gets this right: It is likely that most of our depictions have been wrong. He was Jewish and therefore probably had darker skin that most of our paintings. But he had one skin color. He was really in the flesh. We don't know what it was. But we know it was real.

A picky point? Maybe. But I just worry that when we de-emphasize the humanity of Jesus, we lose the truth of the incarnation. The real God of the universe became a real person with real human characteristics based on real human DNA.

Maybe the fact that for almost all of humanity (all but Jewish) he is a different ethnicity from us means this: we don't have a corner on his nature. He's not our Jesus - he's everyone's Jesus. And he came to save people from every corner of the earth.

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scrolls and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Revelation 5:9)

Hallelujah!

The diversion

It was a trying time in the history of our country. One like no other.

I remember when I was middle school (or, as we called it then, junior high school) and I heard about Watergate. Are you too young to have experienced it? If so, surely you studied it in history classes. Over the course of about two years, we went from a back page story about a simple hotel burglary to a full-blown conspiracy that infected the top levels of our government. There were Congressional hearings. Special prosecutors. Resignations left and right. And finally, in an unprecedented scene, the President of the United States admitted his role and resigned.

Here's the thing about that period from June 17, 1972 to August 9, 1974: Our government could not focus on anything else. Every white house briefing was dominated by Watergate questions. No matter how much officials would try to talk about the economy or national security, the questions came back to Watergate. No other topics could compete.
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This is the dilemma we see in the little book of Jude, the next to last book of the Bible. It's a short letter, only 25 verses. When we think of the New Testament, the gospel, and Jesus, we think of love mercy and grace. And like other New Testament writers, Jude really wanted to focus on those things. But alas, the church was facing its own little Watergate...and it had to be addressed.

Beloved, even though I was very anxious to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were destined for condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

  - Jude 3-4, ESV; emphasis mine

See what I mean? He really wanted to write an upbeat letter. But there were things that needed to be said. Things that were corrupting the good. Two things in particular:

• The idea that grace allows people to do whatever they want, turning it into a license for sexual immorality, and 
• The idea that Jesus was just a good teacher, one way among many to God.

It's right there in the passage. This passage from the New Testament, which so many want to turn into a one note song: "Judge not."

The gospel is a wonderful thing, the best news ever. All of us who follow Jesus want to spend all out time proclaiming the love, mercy and grace that God has shown us through the cross. But there comes a time when we have to contend for the faith. So let me ask: do these two poisons sound familiar to you? Are they not the essence of some of the biggest hot buttons in our country right now?

The book of Jude reminds us that there are times that call for a firm response. Love is not waving cheerfully to our friends as they head toward a cliff. Jude says that sometimes love means having to take a stand. As he says in verses 22-23a: "Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire."

Friends, you do not know how much I wish we could just talk about the gospel. But the metaphorical reporters keep asking about Watergate. So we've got to tell the truth.

That's love...which is so much greater than tolerance.

Which leads Jude back to where he wanted to go...

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25, ESV)

What color IS it?

You knew this was coming. Didn't you? There's no way I could watch something go viral like The Dress and not comment. You probably would have sent out a search party to see if I was alive.

It blew up Twitter. All over Instagram and Facebook. And it even made it into an informal poll at staff meeting today in the office.

So what color is it?

It's amazing; at staff meeting we were all looking at the same version of it (and there has been a lot of photoshopping, hasn't there?). And we were almost evenly divided - Team White and Gold vs, Team Blue and Black.

So what color is it?

It's a fascinating study in human nature, the science of the brain, and nature of the public space. But to me the most important thing about the whole discussion is this:

There IS an answer. Regardless of how I see it or you see it, there is an objective answer.

A pastor I follow on Twitter made an observation that I thought was telling. The Dress tells us more about ourselves than it does about color. Here was his tweet:

"Whatever the dress looks like to you, is the color of the dress." A terrible and false answer from the relativist.
— Dean Inserra (@deaninserra) February 27, 2015

Yep. As a society we have come to look at truth like this. Whatever is true for you, well that's your truth. What's true for me is my truth.

Whether it's the color of a dress, the nature of the universe, or the historicity of the Resurrection, objective truth exists. There is an answer. Regardless of how the dress looks to me - or you - it has a color. An objective color.

And likewise, either something happened or it didn't. It can't be true for me and false for you. It's either true or false.

I think this is one reason The Dress was on everybody's tongue today - as my niece said, it was all anyone was talking about. Some of us want to be reassured that we can determine our own truth. Others are annoyed because they want to know the real color and get it over with.

Oh......

Blue and black.

I'm out.

Rejoicing and mourning…at the same time?

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)

A simple instruction, one that even makes sense. We probably would know it was a good thing even it it weren't in the Bible. In context, Paul is describing what it's like to have you mind renewed. To think like God thinks.

And so we see that God does this. When you're happy, God is happy with you. He is having a party in heaven about your promotion...your son's wedding…that awesome date you had last night. When you're sad, God is right there with you. He feels the pain when you lose a loved one…when you get chewed out by your boss…when that girl breaks your heart.

At any given moment, millions of people are rejoicing and millions others are mourning. And God feels it all. At the same time.

How can that be? How can he be happy and sad at the same time?

This is just one of the things about God that we can't fathom. He is infinite and incomprehensible. The only way we can know anything about him is that he has chosen to reveal himself. But that doesn't mean we can understand it all.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29) 

You know, if we can't even understand how God can be happy for you and sad for me at the same time, is it any wonder that we can't understand creation? Or how the infinite God can be clothed in human form? Or how the death and resurrection of Jesus can atone for our sins and bring us into a right relationship with him?

No, we can't understand it all. Not even close. But we can look at Jesus and see what God is like. He has chosen to reveal himself and I am grateful.


 Have you experienced the joy of God coming along side you in your joy? Have you experienced his presence in your grief? 

Do you feel like you have to understand everything you believe? How can that be, if your mind is finite?

Truth and grace

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness

And wonders of his love,

And wonders of his love,

And wonders, wonders of his love.

- Joy to the World (Isaac Watts)

We sang this great song at church today, one of my favorite songs of the season. I wrote about it in this space last year. But as we sang this verse, it hit me how much we need its message today.\

Truth and grace. Jesus came into the world to bring us both (John 1:14), and as the Word made flesh, he brought them in perfect balance. If we are to be followers of his, both are vital. But oh, how hard it is to keep them in balance.

Some of us - those who have been hurt by words where truth was proclaimed without any grace - want everyone just to shut up about truth, especially unpopular truth.

Others - those who see the truth being watered down by the new tolerance (all views are equal) - long to remind everyone at every opportunity that there is objective truth that does not change with the wind of popular opinion.

All of us need to go back to Jesus. All of us need to ask him to restore our balance. To season our proclamation of truth with a healthy dose of grace. Or to fortify grace with the rock of truth.

As Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:15, "…(S)peaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in very respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ."

Both. Truth and grace. Joy to the world!

A subtle lie

I came across this on Instagram this evening:

Now, first off, please try to ignore the fact that I follow Melissa Joan Hart on Instagram. She's a Bama fan, ok? Ok.

Now, with that over with, take a close look at the expression in the picture:

Whatever makes you feel bad, leave it.
Whatever makes you smile, keep it.

Yes, this is what the world definitely wants us to believe. It's all about our feelings. The greatest good in life is happiness. I should do whatever is best for me.

What a contrast with what Jesus taught. He told us that whoever would lose his life would save it. He said to expect suffering, and to rejoice in it. He called his followers to be willing to give up everything, including their very lives, for the sake of the kingdom of God. More of Jesus, less of me.

So forget my feelings and what makes me feel good. I would restate the meme like this:

Whatever magnifies me and my ego, leave it.
Whatever magnifies the Creator of the universe, keep it.

Sorry, Melissa. Roll Tide anyway.

Just a quick thought

I was reading from the gospels tonight and I came across a statement from Jesus. One I've known pretty much all my life.

I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. (Luke 12:50-52, NIV)

How easy it is to turn Jesus into a meek, mild advocate for the Rodney King philosophy ("Can't we all just get along?").

But that was not his intent at all. He stirred up the authorities. He made the religious leaders furious. He told his followers that if they stuck with him, they would be hated and abused, and should rejoice about it.

No. If peace refers to the absence of conflict and blind acceptance of everybody's beliefs because "all that matters is love," he did not come to bring peace. He came to bring a sword. He came to bring a radical way of living that would make the darkness tremble. He came to bring a Kingdom that would overthrow the kingdoms of men.

Yes, God is love. We are to love our neighbors, and even our enemies. But love is not synonymous with capitulation. Sometimes the loving thing to do is to stand for truth, share the truth, and confront those who need to be confronted.

That is the sword Jesus brought. The sword of truth. How we answer the question, "Who is Jesus?" will divide people. It just will. Those who insist that he is the one and only King of the universe and the only way to the Father will be accused of being insensitive, intolerant, and maybe even bigoted.

And that's okay - it's what he intended.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, NIV)

Amen.

Rant

OK, I'm tired of something...and fortunately for me, I have a blog. So I can get it off my chest. Here goes...

I am tired of "change the subject" arguments when it comes to controversial debates about truth. You know what I mean. You make a statement about a controversial issue such as violence in media, abortion, or God's standards for sexual purity and you get this: "How can you waste your time worrying about that when there is oppression and poverty in the world? Get your priorities straight."

Here's a news flash: It's possible to care about BOTH! God created us human beings with a remarkable capacity of multitasking. And we can multitask obedience to God as well. I can work for social justice, rebuilding the lives of the poor, caring for widows and orphans AND proclaim God's standard for marriage, respect for life, the all-sufficiency of Jesus' death and resurrection and many other issues. All at the same time. Shocking, I know.

Really, this shouldn't surprise us. All through the Hebrew Scriptures (aka, the Old Testament) God told his people to care for the alien, the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the oppressed. And he also told them to tear down idols, worship him only, be sexually pure, tithe, and respect life. They were expected to do it all.

When Israel was taken into captivity, there was tremendous pressure on Daniel and his friends to conform to the new culture.  But just because there was a new government, God hadn't changed. They said in effect, like Martin Luther did centuries later, "Here I stand. I can do no other, so help me God."

Imagine if you came home and your wife asked whether you had picked up milk at the grocery store. "No, honey, but how can you care about that? There is oppression in the world - focus on that rather than me taking care of my family." Would that fly? I don't think so. And it doesn't with God either.

Listen to Jesus:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the the law - justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. (Matthew 23:23, NIV, emphasis mine)

Yes, those things are important. As Christ-followers we must invest our time, effort, and resources in reaching out to those who are downtrodden. It's the right thing to do. But we also must reverence the one true God and resist efforts to change our beliefs to fit our culture. The two positions are not mutually exclusive.

So say you disagree with me. Let's have a spirited debate. But let's not change the subject when we do. Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are critical. And so is a right view of God. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Life of Pi: What is truth?

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

I just finished watching the movie Life of Pi. Beautiful story with amazing cinematography, and very powerfully told. I enjoyed the journey every step of the way. If you are looking for a story that inspires the imagination, you will certainly enjoy it.

But it is also a story told with an obvious point in mind - a point with a meaning that goes to the heart of one of the biggest questions facing us today. The question: What is truth? Is there any such thing as absolute truth? Or is it just a matter of preference?

 It's not a new question. We can see it being asked by Pilate in John's account of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. Jesus states that he was born to testify to the truth, and that everyone on the side of truth listens to him. Pilate simply asks, "What is truth?" (John 18:37-38)

Indeed...what is truth?

It's pretty clear to me after watching the movie that the answer of author Yann Martel and director Ang Lee is, "Whatever works for you."

(Last warning: Here's where plot spoilers are!)

In the opening moments of the movie, Pi prefaces his shipwreck story by talking about his journey to learn about multiple world religions. He is a "Catholic Hindu" and also follows pieces of Islam. He picks and chooses the parts of it that he likes.

Then he tells the story. Most of the movie is a fantastic tale involving a tiger that became his friend, miraculous rescues from adversity that could only be the hand of God, a carnivorous island with thousands of meerkats, and a tearful parting from the tiger who saved his life. Then, because the insurance adjusters say that can't put a story like that in their report, he tells another story of heartache and strife that seems very real as he is telling it.

So the key moment comes after both stories have been told, when the man is who wants to write a book about him points out the parallels in the two stories. Pi agrees, points out the basic facts that both stories explain, and comments that nobody can prove which story is true. Then...

Pi: "So which story do you prefer?"
Writer: "The one with the tiger; that's the better story."
Pi: "Thank you. And so it goes with God."

And a knowing smile comes to the writer's face.

And at that moment, we encounter the biggest lie of our time: the lie that there is no such thing as objective truth.

I remember writing about this before. But it is so important! Here it the crux of the matter: Something is either true or it isn't. It is not just a matter of which story we prefer. It is, which one is true? Either Jesus rose bodily from the grave or he didn't. Either he is the unique Son of God come to fulfill the prophecies that a Messiah would be King of the world, or he isn't. Either he demands our full allegience or he doesn't. We can't just pick and choose parts we like for our own unique a la carte faith. Well, actually we can and we do, don't we? But that doesn't make it true.

Now, I could be wrong about Jesus and his mission. About his establishing the Kingdom of God through his death and bodily resurrection. About his ultimate authority over the universe. But - and this is my only point here - I am either right or wrong. It is not possible that I am right and nonbelievers are too.

On this point even, I am either right about objective truth, or I am wrong. If you think I'm wrong, then you've just agreed with me that there is a true answer.
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So enjoy the movie - I did. Let its theme stir thoughts about God and faith and your story. But I beg you not to fall into the trap of believing that truth is just a matter of what we prefer. Contemplate with Pilate, What is truth? And realize that there really is an answer.