I Might Be Crazy, At Least, If That Word Meant Anything

Look. Our nation is driving itself to insanity. The whole nation as a whole is about to get on the crazy train and take a one way ticket to Loonyville.


Secularism and Relativism are charlatans, touting promises that it cannot deliver on. To be clear, it's not that Secularism and Relativism won't deliver--fail to deliver--it is entirely impossible for them to deliver on their promises.


They are unable to provide you enlightenment. They reject objectivity and violate every Law of Reason upon which they MUST build their case of relativism.


They are unable to provide you freedom. Freedom is not the absence of authority and rules. People have a so-called "free will," but the consummation of that ability is not the freedom to choose anything. The pinnacle of the exercise of free will is exercise of it within the dominion of an authority.


It is intentionally throwing out the only thing that makes life coherent. No matter how much lobby money one throws at it, humans will never be able to redefine truth--truth exists absolutely, unchangingly, un-inventible, transculturally, exclusively, and cares nothing for anyone's opinion or beliefs or attitudes toward it.

The Struggle is Real . . . So is the Answer.

Scripture: Luke 22:45-46 "When [Jesus] rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow. then he said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

Observations:
There are several observations I see in this passage. Prayer is indispensable. Prayer protects. The apostles and Jesus were united in heart ache. Prayer is supreme. Sorrow is dangerous. All these concepts are buried in the passage of Luke 22:31-46.

Luke describes an emotional roller coaster in Chapter 22. The excitement that any Jew would experience during preparation for the Passover was overshadowed by Jesus' affirmation that he would be rejected by the people. The joy of the Passover meal, which was based on God's salvation from the Egyptian captivity, was covered by the looming betrayal of one of Jesus' disciples--betrayal that Jesus knew would lead to his own death. John's description of this time period shows a closeness--an intimacy--with strands of fear and uncertainty woven into it. To make matters worse, Jesus (seemingly) changes his peace-loving tactics and says they should arm themselves for protection . . . more pending danger? We can see the sadness was overwhelming for the disciples, for Jesus, for all of them.

It is this context that Jesus uses to teach on the perils of the soul and the protection of prayer.

Twice Jesus warns them to pray. But why? He said, "so you don't fall into temptation." Wait. What? "Jesus, we're hurting. We're afraid. We're saddened to even think of you leaving and now you're even telling us you're going to die! We've given up everything to be with you; if you're gone, we have nothing--no where to go. And we love you. Why are you disregarding our pain with preaching on sin?"

Why, indeed?

Emotional distress and pain will come to all. And it's dangerous, Jesus says. The truth is in my sorrow often I'm tempted to abandon God. We've experienced time and time again that it's an opportunity to turn to a thousand things that promise to satisfy and comfort us, but, alas, satisfaction and comfort are the very things God desires to give us and, in fact, are the things that he alone can actually give. He is also the guard rail to keep us from careening over the cliff of selfishness into-self-pity. When I'm reminded I'm not in control of things--and consequently, that I can't truly protect what I hold dear--abandoning God is ultimately a sure path to a spiraling descent into mental suicide.


So, we should pray.

Imagine the deep gash I would inflict on my wife if in my pain I ran to another woman instead of her. That would be insanity. It is the same with God. He has jealousy over his children and his relationship with them. The question here usually is, "How is that okay?" But's it's not just "okay"; truly, it's a good thing! After all, he is the greatest good in the universe--the greatest comfort--the greatest satisfaction. If anything else becomes the salve for our wounds or the source of our joy, we are in fact settling for something far, far, far less good, comforting, or satisfying.

Finally, prayer is the dam stopping the flood of sins (and, indeed, they are sins) that result in making something else god or striving to control it all (trying to be God). So, it's not just a matter of exchanging the greatest Good for a lesser satisfaction. No, as Jesus warned, failing to seek God in our pain, loneliness, fear, or disappointment (or even all joys and happiness and successes) will cause us to sin each and every time. How can I say that so confidently? Doesn't that require an unsubstantiated judgment on everyone? I do not think so simply because it is in and of itself a sin--the sin of idolatry that replaces God with something we think will better meet our needs. If the first step of replacing God is a sin, then necessarily, without immediate repentance and returning to God, walking down that road will only lead us into more sin.


Application:
So, pray. Pray when we hurt. Pray when sorrow seems to be our most loyal friend. Pray when disappointment grips you like a jacked up wrestler. Pray when doubt trips you in full sprint. Pray when fear gathers an army to assault your dreams.

Why pray? Because God is stronger than all these emotions. Pray because God knows, feels, and understands your turmoil. Pray because God is a good Father who wants to hold you in his arms until the thundering storm fades into the distance. And pray because God is the the only one that can actually do anything about your "enemies."

Begin today--set a daily appointment. Make time on your schedule to thank him, ask him for help, pour out your heart to him, LISTEN to him, and tell him what he means to you. That last bit may seem pointless if in fact he already knows, but here is a thing we do not always realize--always our pleasure in a beautiful sunset of our favorite song is incomplete until we praise it--speak of it--tell someone about it. It is the same with praising God; our joy in him must be expressed if our joy is to be full.

Prayer: . . .

Take Me To Your Leader

Scripture: Luke 20:1-8 "One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, 'Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.' He answered them, 'I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?' And they discussed it with one another, saying, 'If we say, "From heaven," he will say, "Why did you not believe him?" But if we say, "From man," all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.' So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'"

Observation:
The religious leaders of the day challenged Jesus’ authority. How did they go about it? They did so by their own claim to authority. We know from other passages in the gospels that the pharisees were greedy and unjust and selfishly motivated. It makes sense that they would feel so threatened by a man who calls them out and brings repudiation to their position. Thus, in fear of losing power they demand an answer from Jesus. In ignorance, they sought to enslave the God they purported to serve. Jesus refused them that authority. They, by their question, implied he to be lower than them. They demanded an answer and Jesus replied by reaffirming his independence and preeminence.

Furthermore, it is not just to those that ask sinfully that Jesus withholds the resolution to some requests. He often does not answer the cancer patient, the barren mother, the orphaned child, and the abandoned spouse just as he did with the pharisees. What is the difference then? Jesus responses are categorically different based strictly on our heart's approach to the throne. Psalm 18:27 says, "For you will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks." And so it is.

Application:
Guard my heart from arrogance. Jesus is the authority over all things, so when I seek an answer, guard my heart from a wrong expectation just as the clay cannot demand an answer from the potter.

He will not answer all questions, but he will be wholly faithful, loving, and patient as I struggle through that which I don’t understand.

Prayer:

Love is the Fulfillment of the Law

This was a three-part post a while back (here, here, and here). I reread it and decided it needed updating due to what I've grown to learn since then. Here it is updated in one post (disclaimer: not a comprehensive treatment of the subject).

Part I

There are several places in the Bible that describe love as the pinnacle of good works. Jesus taught that first and second place finishers in the “Commandment Olympics” are loving God (gold medal) and loving others as ourselves (winner of the silver). He emphasized it by saying that on those two things “hang” the whole Israelite Law and the Prophets.

Love is the consummation.

One of those men that were closest to Jesus wrote “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (1 John 3:14). John continued by writing, “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment” just two verses later.

Love is the commandment.

Another very influential Christian in the first century, Paul, instructed quite frankly – owe no one anything but to love! (Romans 13:8) Paul also authored what is likely the most famous description of love ever penned in the first letter to the Christians in the Roman city of Corinth. There he exclaimed that love is greater than hope and greater than faith. He even went so far as to say that all religious knowledge and miraculous gifts will pass away from existence eventually... but not love.

Love is preeminent.

Paul, who wrote a majority of the letters in the New Testament, grasped a view of love that surpassed any other framework that humanity had beheld before. Love could (and should) be incorporated into every act, every relationship, every work, every thought, every word and every plan that occurs (1 Cor. 10:31).

Love is indispensable.

Undeniably, love is a definer; according to John it is the definer of a true Christian. John must have gained that perspective from Jesus, who, after all, also said that people who did not have faith in Jesus would recognize believers simply by how they love one another.

All of this is wonderful. We as humans crave and need and seek after and treasure love. To find that the love of God is accessible to us is the greatest news ever written by pen or spoken by lips. That He expects us to love those around us in like manner is the healing balm of all the world’s wounds.

God is love.

Part II

I mentioned yesterday that the Bible, in the letter from Paul to the Corinthian Christians, describes a view of love that surpassed any other framework that humanity had held for it before. That’s a bold statement to make. It is also an accurate statement. The love that the Bible describes stands separated from merely emotion and affection, though it essentially envelops those things.

The phrase that I’ve titled these blog posts with, “Love is the fulfillment of the law,” is quoted from the thirteenth chapter of the letter to the Romans, tenth verse. It echoes Jesus words that all the Hebrew Law and Prophets hang on the two commandments to love God and love people. Yesterday I discussed key concepts of love (as described by the Bible, which is my test for truth). However, we cannot correctly understand this verses (and many other verses) without getting Paul’s view of the Law as well.

The Law is not a regret to God.

In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Galatia, he says that, “if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law” (Galatians 3:20). This is an extremely important fact. The Law is not non-binding on a Christian because it is archaic or worthless or unnecessary. Paul here emphatically rejects any negative view of the Law. In the Romans letter he wrote the Law is “good and holy and just” (Romans 7:12)! Paul has a high view of the Law!

The Law did not fail its purpose.

Going back to Galatian’s Chapter 3, Paul says, “if there had been a law given which could have given life…” and with that appears to be explaining that the Law was inadequate in helping; however, that is not so. What Paul is saying is that no law could have brought us life (speaking here of “eternal life”). Why not? Is it because a set of rules can never express the requirements necessary for attaining that reward? No! Paul says “truly righteousness would have been by the law”! Again, Paul has a high view of the Law. He knows that God gave a perfect Law (which is how David describes it in Psalms 19).

So, why couldn’t the Law bring about the hope of eternal life? Paul answers that question in the Romans letter. There in the beginning of Chapter 8 Paul clearly and frankly states, “for what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh….” The Law is not the problem for us. We are the problem for the Law. Our inability to actually perform the Law – to live 100% within its guidelines – is the issue.

The Law still served and still serves its purposes.

How then should we think about the law? Going back to Galatians 3 God gives us the answer: “before faith came we were kept under guard by the law” and “the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ” (verses 23 and 24). The first part describes us as kept under guard. What is that about? That simply means that it is a good thing for someone to try to live the Law out (or rather the intent of the Law) because the result will be less sin in our lives. To put it another way, it is a hedge that clearly displays moral boundaries.

The other concept was that of the “tutor”. The tutor teaches. What does the Law teach? It teaches that we are unable to fulfill it. It teaches that we, every person everywhere that ever lived, cannot measure up to God’s standard for perfection – the standard that He sets in Himself. It teaches that we need God to do something else for us if anyone is going avoid punishment for our failure to meet the Law’s requirements. The tutor teaches us about a need for a Savior.

God was not surprised the giving of the Law didn’t solve the world’s problems, because His intentions for the Law was for it to show us we’re incapable of earning eternal life or His approval by keeping the Law. In other words, any moral law that God prescribes serves two purposes: (1) clearly describes how people ought to live and (2) makes us aware that we will always violate any moral law God gives us (in fact we even violate every moral law we make up for ourselves). Thus, all the world becomes guilty before God and all the world has only two choices. Either we individually pay the penalty being law-breakers (eternal punishment) or someone else pay the penalty for our sins thereby making us both free of the penalty of death and creating an avenue for us to enter into God’s presence in the next life.

The Law is good.

Part III

At this point, by exploring only a few verses, most of which are derived from just two or three letters in the New Testament (and by that I mean to say the other 63 or 64 books of the Bible also support the previous conclusions extensively, but they are succinctly captured in the above mentioned verses), we’ve established two main conclusions:

1.     Love is the key attribute which ought to characterize a Christian’s life. The root from which this truth grows and on which it is established is the fact that love is part of God’s character.

2.     The Law is “good and holy and just.” It was designed with specific purposes in mind (which it has fulfilled) and it will benefit us if we do it, because the law is an extension of God character. The things in the Law are “good and holy and just” not because they are laws established by God (as is the case with the local, state, and federal governments) but because they encapsulate in our temporal existence things God would do (thus, when God became a person He did fulfill the requirements of the Law – see Romans 8:3, 4).

So here we are back to the original issue. How do these two essentials converge? We know the statement “love is the fulfillment of the law” is true, but what I’ve found many a Christian confused about is why that statement of Paul’s is even true?!

This is how this works: Love and the Law both are extensions of God’s character. True love and true holy acts are only judged “true” if they pass the litmus test of truth – God and His character. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the Law because anything that God would do (the Law, though I am not saying the Law is comprehensively what God would do) is ultimately also loving. To put it another way, if I do the things in the Law I will also be loving others (there is obviously a danger contained in this, but more on that later). The converse is also true: if I love others, as God would love them, I will naturally do the things prescribed by God in the Law.

A conclusion, somewhat: So many times I have heard believers loosely quote the song “love is all we need.” While we cannot deny those words in themselves, a Christian must reject any concept of love that does not define itself and confine itself to the fulfillment of the law! Love does not require approval. Love does not demand tolerance. Love does not necessitate conflict-avoidance. After all, within the Law God prescribed do’s and do not’s. Love is serving everyone we meet, but only if it is in his or her best interest and if it brings glory to God. Love means accepting and respecting those around us, but does not mean we capitulate or compromise with the moral protections in the Law.

Today’s study has been somewhat barren of Scripture as I worked through an understanding of Scripture that is both a responsible and a cohesive interpretation of God’s word. At this point now, though, we are able to rightly understand our key verse: “… love is the fulfillment of the law” because now we can correctly appreciate and apply the first half of the verse!

Romans 13:10 in its entirety reads, “Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Why does love fulfill the law? Answer: actions, if they can be categorically listed as “loving” are harmless toward others and that is precisely what God is driving toward in giving us the Law. In it, He is telling us how we ought to live in order to not harm our friends, family and others around us.

At this point someone may object that I am reading my opinions or religious upbringing into these verse. That’s an important concern. I am confident that I am not doing that, however, because of the context – the verses that come before and after Romans 13:10 – confirm it:

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Notice what God says through Paul in verse eight – “he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Paul’s justification for saying we should “owe” love to others is because love will fulfill the Law. Now we can make the same substitution that Paul makes and shorten this passage some for clarity.

“Owe no one anything except to […] fulfilled the law [toward them]. And remember that it is easy to apply the law if you judge all of your actions by the commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Christians must get beyond the compulsion or tendency to minimalize the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus and the first generation of Christians likely only had those Scriptures and they were sufficient at that time to spread the gospel by testifying of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection. They were the foundation for everything written in the New Testament.

What does that mean for us? This is where we return to the “danger” I mentioned above. We know that the New Testament writers warned all believers (repeatedly!) not to attempt to attain or maintain salvation through efforts to live according to the Law. On the other hand, they also commended believers to do the precepts on which the Law was founded; in other words, Christians were commanded to apply the underlying purpose for which God gave each law (a concept requiring extensive study). Consequently, for a Christian today to apply the Law doesn’t mean we apply the specific laws themselves (don’t shave, put a fence around our roof, etc.), but rather seek out the Why behind them and apply that to our daily lives!

Christian, be encouraged. Some today want to disregard the Old Testament, but Jesus said that the Old Testament books tell us about, point us to, Jesus! Though the Old Testament has specific function within God’s redemptive purposes and must be viewed in light of the new covenant through Jesus, it is not outdated. The Law is not the result of the efforts of some Hebrew men to control a society. Nor is it a black spot on the history of Judaism and Christianity. The Law was received from God. We err when we dismiss the Law as though it was accidently breathed out by God. We err when we pursue acceptability before God by the Law. These are extremes we must avoid. We also err when we fail to define love the way God defines love, and we err when we let the world tell us what love should look like, especially when God already so clearly has.

Be "That Guy"

Soap Dentures?

Scripture: Luke 17:15-16 "Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus 'feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan."

Observation: The Samaritan (there may have been other Samaritans among the lepers, but this one came back) returned to Jesus because he recognized Jesus' lordship. As far as the story describes they were all healed and very likely all responded in faith. Jesus, however, says in verse 19, "Your faith has made you well."

What was significant about this man's faith that separated him from the others? The answer, which verifies my conjecture about this man's recognition of Jesus' deity, comes in verse 18, where Jesus says, "Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" The truth is that the other nine did give glory to God. They did it at the temple just as Jesus commanded. What does Jesus mean then? I think that this "foreigner" came to Jesus himself. He saw Jesus for who he truly is rather than just a healer. He saw Jesus as greater than the priest, greater than the temple; Jesus was worth of the praise and worship. Incredibly, Jesus took his praise, which according to Jesus fulfilled th Law's requirement to show himself to the priest: "Arise, go your way . . ." (vs. 19)

Application: Jesus is the new covenant. He has finished the requirements of the Law. I cannot, and should not try to, earn God's approval. First, it never was nor ever will be possible for me to get anywhere near heaven or God by doing or being good or good enough. According to the one setting the standard (God) only perfection is "good enough" and, frankly, we've all blown that 1,000,000 times over already.

Second, to even attempt to be good enough is an offense to Jesus of the most grotesque kind. Why is that? We all know the offense of someone's attempts to repay us for a gift. The offense only grows as the cost of the gift climbs--and that "cost" doesn't does not alway indicate financial burden. How can anyone price the cost to Jesus that my forgiveness required of him? Jesus not only freely died in my place, but he also lived in my place. His entire 33 years, every day of them, were for me . . . for us. What a scandal it is when we--I--purpose to repay him with Sunday morning service attendance, or a tithe, or prayer, reading the Bible, volunteering at a non-profit or youth group.

But even more than that, Satan and our own blind thinking would have us thinking God doesn't view us in love. We erroneously believe that God puts up with us so long as we tow the line. We fail to see that he desperately and passionately loves us! We forget that God pursued us first! He didn't do that just to turn around and require some slavish effort. No! God bought us and brought us into a life of freedom.

He's not glaring at us with arms crossed! His arms are wide open waiting for us to notice that he is running to us and wants us to run to him. Application? Run to Jesus!

Prayer: . . .