Thy Kingdom (Now)

Five "now" benedictory statements of the New Testament writers challenge the application of scriptural teachings in the reality of the present kingdom of Jesus Christ.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before His majesty with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, power, and authority before all time, now and forever."

 "Now may the God of peace who brought you again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever."

 "Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according tot eh command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith - to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ!"

 "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."

 "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all." Dallas Willard, author of The Divine Conspiracy, notes that "when Jesus directs us to pray, 'Thy kingdom come,' he does not mean we should pray for it to come into existence. Rather, we pray for it to take over all points in the personal, social, and political order where it is now excluded: 'On earth as it is in heaven.' With this prayer we are invoking it, as in faith we are acting it, into the real world of our daily existence."

 And so it is that the kingdom is presently revealed, to be fully revealed at His coming, and with great implications for the "now."

Ten Years

I was ten years old, in the fifth grade, and learning mathematics in a classroom on the outskirts of a small rural Midwestern town.

The assistant principal of the school entered the room and instructed my teacher to turn on the television to channel eight, the local NBC affiliate's station.

I was ten years old; I did not comprehend the complexity of the situation, but surely it was bad since my teacher began crying.

The mathematics lesson was over for the day, so was school.

My family attended the evening prayer service in the high school auditorium. Prayers were said and tears were shed.

I was ten years old.

I am twenty years old, a junior at an interdenominational Christian liberal arts university, and aspiring a successful business career.

The blessings and faithfulness of God, family and friends have been consistent. Life has not been without pain, but my tears are quickly replaced by joy.

I am twenty years old; my country has been engaged in war for ten years and my people have haphazardly demonized a religion.

The quest for understanding is far from over, so I seek the Lord's favor.

My community will gather to remember that day in the university auditorium.
Prayers will be said and tears will be shed.

I am twenty years old.

Character

Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from contributing friend, Brittany Sichting.

Character is much easier kept than recovered. - Thomas Paine

Character is said to be the mental and moral qualities distinctive to a certain individual. As Christians, our character is the innate representation of Christ in us. We are to strive for every quality that God has, to be the true sons and daughters that he created us to be. At times it seems Christian place being joyful, honest, encouraging, and being an example first in their daily walk. While these are all qualities to strive for, sometimes we overlook the simple aspects of character.

Being genuine in your daily walk is one of the most overlooked and over-used character qualities. We tend to lump it in with the other top qualities and expect ourselves to remember to be genuine. Having a strong character is being able to show that you have genuine intentions for every interaction you have.

One of the simplest and most beautiful opportunities to be genuine is in a friendship. In this, God is letting his children use the character the he put in them to match up with another person and share their walk of faith together. Can a person's character be defiled in that one interaction that shows a lack of genuineness? It puts this question into a reality when you think of our God sitting across from you and you begin to feel that He is not being genuine. You would doubt the character of God, and you may question the relationship that you have with Him.

What if God treated us all differently? You felt like you were in the hand of God, but upon that one interaction you feel like maybe you are not in a true friendship. Having genuine character is a necessity in everyday life. An individual has to impose that unto the friendships that they have right now in their own lives. We are all children of the person who has the utmost genuine character of all time. As sinners here on Earth, we should expect those genuine interactions on a daily basis.

Treat each other like you would if God were on the other end of the friendship. Tell friends how much you love them, go into specifics on what you enjoy about their character and have a genuine attitude in all that you do.

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are a popular topic of discussion among Evangelicals. Identifying, using and encouraging one another to contribute to the Body through spiritual gifts is often stressed and mandated. Paul certainly stressed the importance of diversity and intentionality in regards to spiritual gifts.

There is the danger that spiritual gifts can be diluted and misidentified as personality traits. However, there must be a higher way, for personality traits are of the flesh, inhibited by circumstance and ultimately death. Spiritual gifts on the other hand are of the Spirit, all united in perfection in the Body. Each member remains individually vital to the livelihood of the Body.

And so it is that there remains a distinction between spiritual gifts and personality traits. Ultimately as the Spirit dwells in us, our spiritual gifts become a part of our personhood while removing more and more of the flesh, which are our sinful natural tendencies.

Therefore, while remaining individually significant, we lose more of ourselves in order to gain Christ so that we may more fully be a part of the Body through the means of our spiritual gifts. The magnitude of importance cannot be fully realized until final perfection is achieved where the Body is fully united in the coming of Christ.

Here I Am, Lord

"Here I Am, Lord" is my favorite hymn, arranged by Dan Schutte, a Roman Catholic composer. The hymn was first made known to me growing up in a United Methodist church, but have heard it recently in an American Baptist and an Evangelical Covenant congregation.

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
my hand will save.

I who make the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. It is I Lord.
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, where you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people's pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. It is I Lord.
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, where you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide.
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. It is I Lord.
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, where you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

Interfaith Quoting

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I?" - First Century Palestinian rabbi Hillel

"To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition but because of it, is the heart of pluralism." - Eboo Patel

"[The dream of pluralism:] the idea of different communities retaining their uniqueness while relating in a way that recognizes they share universal values." - Eboo Patel

"Our challenge is to discover the ways in which we differ and learn to value the differences. Only then can we join with Krister Stendahl, Luterhan Bishop Emeritus, who asserts that if we truly live into our Christian calling we will experience 'more than tolerance, more than reluctant recognition of the actual pluralism that surrounds us relentlessly.' He goes on to say the Christian calling allows him to sing his song to Jesus 'with abandon...without speaking negatively about others." - Amanda Millay Hughes

"In order to be obedient to that commandment [to love one another as he has loved us], I understand myself to be required to participate in conversations in which I am not afforded the last word or the luxury of full agreement, compliance, or conversion.”-Amanda Millay Hughes

"Those of us who have been involved in interreligious dialogue know how exposure to people of other traditions deepens and challenges our understanding of our own traditions.”-Anantanand Rambachan

"We cannot ignore the fact that the United States is now the world’s most religiously diverse nation, and our teaching and learning here must be cognizant of the challenges of this fact. A college of the church seems to me to be a particularly appropriate place to identify and explore the many new questions that continue to be generated by our experience of religious diversity, and I welcome the opportunity to explore such issues…” -Anantanand Rambachan

The Shutdown

Today in Minnesota, DFL Governor Mark Dayton and Republican House Leaders continue to disagree about a state budget. Now, this is no family dining budget disagreement. It's not like choosing McDonald's versus Olive Garden. We're talking about $1.8 billion of disagreement.

Earlier this year, democratic legislators in Indiana and Wisconsin fled to Illinois to stall legislative proceedings, again, over disagreements. Even the federal government threatened a shutdown in early April when Congress and the Administration could not agree.

These sort of political quarrels happen quite frequently, but the media thrives on such occasions as if doomsday is coming (which ironically did come and go in May). Why does the media love this? Because it's a portrayal of elementary school.

When a state or the federal government threaten a shutdown due to budget disparities, the media provides transparency, which is occasionally useful. What we see, as a result, is a playground, usually called a capitol building, in which young (very old) children (legislators) are fighting over who gets to play with the kickball. They spend the whole recess time fighting over the ball and neither one gets to play.

What if they compromised to share the kickball? The common retort to such a proposal: "I can't compromise my ideology." However, contrary to popular belief, to compromise does not mean to abandon your beliefs and by some strange means inherit the beliefs of your 'enemies.' Rather, it means that you agree to disagree, to live in peace, to recognize the beliefs of others while steadfastly living your own beliefs and being humble enough to admit that you're not the Almighty Creator.

Quite frequently, in terms of one's religious beliefs, it is said that one must walk on egg shells when working and partnering with persons of other beliefs because you do not want to 'compromise' your beliefs (usually rooted in the fear; perhaps the fear that you may actually be converted?) However, human to human, we must compromise in order to live in peace, in order to achieve any sort of social progress.

The alternative is the recess showdown portrayed by Democrats and Republicans; nothing gets done and all of a sudden recess time is over and we're out of time to make a difference. The same is true of our short lives.

If a government shutdown teaches us anything, it teaches us that if we haphazardly cling to our identity titles, there is simply idleness. Perhaps if we lived our identities by practicing love, compassion and peace, not only would we pass budgets, but we'd change lives for eternity.

Compromise with others; steadfastly live your beliefs.

The Random Benefactor

Each day, billions of economic transactions occur through various mediums of exchange. One gains, while one loses, only to be gained and lost again. Along the way, however, a portion of each transaction is reserved, not to be spent and lost again. A constant give and take with a little savings, if you will.

Relationships are formed in much the same way as trust is imparted and experience binds. Relationships also differ from economic transactions, in that upon death, all is exhausted personally, that is, savings are obsolete. Thus, instead, relationships invest in the phenomenon of random benefaction.

Each man is a random benefactor, giving up a part of himself, which is invested in others during life. Such investment is added among other investments until a whole man is formed in demeanor, personality, and motivations. This is done under the assumption that no benefactor can take any investment with him upon death and thus all must be given humbly to another, sometimes randomly. That is, our actions and words may be imprinted unintentionally, and yet the benefaction has occurred.

Each day we are random benefactors to colleagues, family members, waitresses, store clerks, etc. We invest in others, though not always intentionally, and that investment creates, is shared and invested, and the cycle continues. Thankfully, the demonstration of love and knowledge of Christ, is an eternal investment.

Benefacting increasingly is less 'random' as death approaches. Since every day is one day closer to our demise, we learn from the dying that benefacting demands intentionality - to share investments with others humbly; to give all in order to gain Christ and to give all in order to love.

The Haunting

"I am haunted by humans."

If you've read The Book Thief you are familiar with this quote made by Death. Within the context of the literature, it is quite moving and a uniquely exhilarating and chilling conclusion. Outside of the context of the novel, there is also much to be said.

Human beings are of supreme creation, no doubt about that. Imagine what other species, if indeed granted the intellectual ability, must think of humans. Destructive, yet creatively industrious. Each unique, yet strangely related by genetics and personal characteristics.

Christians hold to the doctrine of being created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Though of no divinity, humans professing to Christ possess the divine Spirit. This too is a strangely haunting and yet beautiful aspect of personhood.

With the ability to do good, and the same ability to do evil, we too possess the capability of discovering beauty despite destruction and evil, holding to the notion that "something good must come even from bad."

I, too, am haunted by humans. I believe it to be in the same regard that I fear the Lord, with reverence, lack of omniscience, and perhaps most importantly, a desire to know more.

This fear, this haunting, while beautiful and yet sorely misunderstood, captivates my desire for knowledge. To discover not only why humans behave as they do, but to know the supreme Creator who being of perfect nature embraces love, and all that is good, despite a fallen state of being. How be it so that with one hand we praise and with the other we sin but to acknowledge the haunting nature of man, who knows both good and evil.

Tornado Beauty

The destructive and deadly tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri on May 22 has been labeled an EF-5 tornado, an indicator of one of the most energized and powerful weather phenomena ever recorded. Tornadoes by very nature are some of the most dangerous events of nature given lack of location predictability and the intensity of wind velocity.

Sunsets, rainstorms, meteor showers, and snowstorms are often regarded as beautiful acts within God's realm of nature. Tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes and floods are also a part of the creation.

This begs the question of whether such events, deadly or not, are consequences of the fall of man or if indeed even the most energized, powerful and dangerous acts of nature are a testament to the power, and even beauty, of the Creator, or a combination of the two.

This complex thought compels me to relish in what I know of the beauty of God, that the heavens and earth declare His majesty, and to trust that He wishes to redeem us from the pain and destruction of nature so we may one day solely dwell on its beauty.

Summer Reading List

Interfaith Research:

Acts of Faith - Patel (192)

Five Voices Five Faiths - Hughes (126)

Tea with Hezbollah - Dekker (256)

Reclaiming Beauty for the Good of the World - Dardess (280)

Religious Contemplation:

Heaven is for Real - Burpo (192)

A Severe Mercy - Vanauken (240)

Weight of Glory - Lewis (208)

Pilgrim's Progress - Bunyan (192)

Love Wins - Bell (224)

Entertainment:

The Book Thief - Zusak (576)

The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party - McCall Smith (224)

The Lost Symbol - Brown (528)

Sophomoric Musings

The culmination of sophomore year was realized today upon the last day of classes. Many lessons had been learned in preparation for future studies and careers. One lesson concerned bureaucracy.

Max Weber was one of the principle writers of the theory of bureaucracy, which was believed to create a formal system to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. Five principles, according to Weber, were required for the implementation of bureaucracy. Henri Fayol identified fourteen principles of bureaucratic management, including division of labor, centralization, discipline, and subordination of individual interests to the common interests. Norms, standard operating procedures, and rules are typical means by which such methodology is implemented.

Ironically, the very theory implemented to ensure efficiency and effectiveness has a connotation of the opposite. Quite frequently, the very norms and standard operating procedures meant to ensure effectiveness do so at the expense of efficiency. This is no profound statement for it has been experienced by all at the BMV, academia, and within the church.

Unlike the practices of the world, faith has no bureaucratic red tape. There are no standard operating procedures necessary to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. No procedures and rules are required for acceptance of the grace and love of the redeeming blood of Christ. Frequently though, since bureaucracy is a staple part of worldly lifestyle, man has tried to implement such practices in the name of religion in order to transform faith into comfortable, understandable human thought. Such transformation is in vain for faith requires a reliance on Christ and not the rules of man.

Many lessons over the past academic year have evolved into papers, exams and projects. Thankfully, beyond academic work, the lessons of the classroom can be transformed to teach us eternal lessons about the nature of the living of God.

The Gospel of...Works

Editor's Note: Part five of six in a series entitled "The Gospel of..."

Jesus says, "If you love me, you will obey my commands." This is a cause and effect relationship that cannot be reversed, for to obey commands without love for the commander is to not obey them at all. Thus, the faith of the believer because of the love for Christ, results in adherence to His commands, which manifests itself in the Spirit through good deeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

If man could earn eternal salvation through deeds, indeed no man would be worthy.

"...we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ," the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia.

And, true, faith without works is dead, for it is out of love for Christ and His commands that our works find meaning.

Thanks be to God that we are saved through His love and rejoice in this love through the fulfillment of His commandments and service to the ends of the earth in praise.

Interfaith Dialogue

Editor’s Note: This was written in response to World Religions Week held at Taylor University April 4-7, 2011. The article was published April 15, 2011 in The Echo of Taylor University.

The mission of Taylor University is to develop servant leaders marked with a passion to minister Christ's redemptive love and truth to a world in need.

The administration, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, and prayer warriors desire nothing more than, apart from knowing Christ, for the mission statement to be realized within the Taylor community and to the world at-large through the university's graduates.

To me, this mission statement is an addendum to Christ's commission to go to the ends of the earth proclaiming His greatness and lordship. However, Christ's commission and the mission of the university do not imply that these mandates are to be executed at the expense of love. Surely the greatest commandment is that we would love our neighbor as Christ has loved us.

How can we minister Christ's redemptive love and truth to Atheists, Buddhists, Baha'is, Hindus, Jews, Mormons and Muslims if we are too worried about being right that we feel we need to defend Christ, who has clearly already defended Himself, and we are not willing to discuss commonalities, partnerships, friendships, and interfaith love?

However, I have heard it said on this campus, "We should not encourage interfaith dialogue because we are right and (they) are wrong and such instances invite evilness and instability." Or, "I know what I need to know and it doesn't matter what they believe because they are wrong." Or, "(Their) religion is one of hate." (note: "They" probably believe Christianity is one of hate if they too only accept the atrocities committed in the name of religion, e.g., Westboro Baptist Church slander, the Christian Crusades, Salem Witch Hunts, forced conversion of Native Americans, etc.)

The way that Christ loved me was that he did not condemn me, but saved me. He did not say, "you are wrong; therefore believe in me because I am right." Rather He said, "Come here child, let me know you, love you and forgive you, and then you will know that I am the way, the truth, and the life." Undoubtedly my life could have ended without accepting that He is the way, the truth, and the life, but it was not at the expense of Him first loving me.

There is more to the administration of Christ's redemptive love and truth than conversion. While certainly as Christians we seek to make disciples as is mandated by the Lord, we cannot pass our Jewish, Muslim, Mormon neighbor on the side of the road without acknowledging their value more than a simple conversion opportunity. Are they not also fearfully and wonderfully made by Yahweh? Can we not learn from them and they from us simply because we are different? Can we not work together for common purposes even if we do not have all the same beliefs?

What does interfaith dialogue look like for Taylor University students and graduates? It does not mean we compromise our beliefs, concede to relativism or universalism, condemn, condone, or seek to convert others. Interfaith dialogue means we embrace and vocalize our beliefs as truth and share our differences through honest communication by building peaceful, committed and loving relationships with individuals of other faiths in order that we may learn from and be a witness, a representative, and a minister of Christ's redemptive love and truth to a world in need so that Christ and His Spirit may be heard and He may convict among people who may otherwise never lovingly hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

J.R. Kerr said in chapel, "The Church is unfortunately known by what it is against." Let's not be against interfaith dialogue. Let's be for the redemptive love and truth of Christ by ministering to and partnering in friendship and love with our Atheist, Buddhist, Baha'i, Hindu, Jewish, Mormon and Muslim neighbors.

The Gospel of...Emotions

Editor's Note: Part four of six in a series entitled "The Gospel of..."

"We cannot define our faith or God based on our circumstances." - Skye Jethani

Circumstances entice emotion. Faith compels discipleship. Faithfulness through discipleship cannot be limited to personal feelings.

When Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, he wrote that we are to "rejoice in the Lord always." Whether or not we sense or feel the Lord, we are to rejoice and trust His faithfulness.

The Gospel of Emotions compels us to believe that our emotions direct our faithfulness, but Christ convicts us to remain faithful in spite of our feelings.

"But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me." - Psalm 13:6

The Gospel of...Success

Editor's Note: Part three of six in a series entitled "The Gospel of..."

Society demands the best of the best, the successful, to earn extravagant salaries, to be well-known, to possess multiple collegiate degrees, to raise respectful and law-abiding children and to have the means by which to comfortably retire upon the coming of age.

The Church does no less to demand success. This takes the form of attendance quotas, attracting financial and political community contributors, and competing for missional clout.

A certain bomb utilized in Vietnam and Afghanistan was nicknamed the 'daisy cutter.' It was an extremely powerful bomb with widespread impact. Like a powerful bomb, society, and unintentionally the Church, have taught that an individual's worth is based on what one accomplishes.

Skye Jethani calls this fallacy the Daisy Cutter Doctrine, which is the illusion that our impact in the world defines our value.

Success, to no surprise, is not of any eternal value. The accomplishments of this world are merely transitory but not necessarily inconsequential. Personal value must first be defined.

As 1 John 3:1 states, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." We are created in the image of God for the purpose of worship through faith, hope and love. Our value is in this identity in Christ.

Therefore, personal successes and far-reaching impacts do not define one's value but are a result of one's value as an act of worship to the Creator. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ," Paul wrote to the church at Colossae.

Praise to the Lord who has redeemed us and now calls us His own that we need not rely on the Daisy Cutter Doctrine in order to have eternal worth!

The Gospel of...Words

Editor's Note: Part two of six in a series entitled "The Gospel of..."

The knowledge of the faith is nothing of the belief of the faith in practice, for it is of the mind of God to love, to forgive, to show mercy and to hope, for these things have no understandable explanation of knowledge.

Jesus frequently mentioned such an idea. The Pharisees knew the law, theology, and knowledge of God. Yet, Jesus continually condemned them saying to "beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:12)." Not that their knowledge was incorrect, but their understanding, application and practicality of their faith was worthless to the point that Jesus warned, "On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord'...then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you (Mt. 7:22-23).'"

It is not enough to believe with words, to have knowledge of the law, history and theology of God. Knowledge must be founded through faith in order to have a true understanding of the nature of God.

As the apostle Paul wrote, "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Words, knowledge and knowing the right answer mean nothing if not founded in faith and practice.

"Preach the Gospel - if necessary, use words," is a statement often attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi. This idea supposes that the actions of our life have more value than words. Undoubtedly this is true is a culture that does not value the sincerity of words amidst widespread hypocrisy and fallenness. However, this is not to excuse the need for verbal declarations of truth. Words have their place and it is important to possess the knowledge of God as it comes from faith in Him for "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

As Paul said, the two, knowledge (words) and faith, go together in the declaration of truth.

There are many scholars who have studied the knowledge of God and never believed. And many likewise who have studied the knowledge and become believers. The principle of the matter is that knowledge is enhanced through faith because the knowledge and understanding of God is made clearer day by day as He reveals His mercies and truth through daily faith and practice.

The Gospel of Words tells us to learn all we can in order to have the right answers and human understanding but the Gospel of Jesus Christ tells us to have faith and trust Him for all the answers and by doing so we will have greater understanding and insight to the knowledge of God.

The Gospel of...Hostility

Editor's Note: Part one of six in a series entitled "The Gospel of...".

Based on the presuppositions of beliefs and attitudes, how easy it is for man to say what he is against. This hostility of condemnation demonstrates a steadfast adherence to absolute truth, which is not to be diminished. However, this hostility is just that, hostility.

J.R. Kerr says it this way, "The Church is unfortunately known by what it stands against."

Put this way, someone who is not a part of the Church, when asked, will likely say:

"The Church is against homosexuality, premarital sex, the legalization of substances, embryonic stem cell research...."

Sadly, there will likely be no mention of what the Church is for.

To this statement, it is retorted, the Church is for truth. Undoubtedly, it is. However, truth is not a statement of what is the opposite of truth. Truth is a statement of truth.

Christ said, "I am the way the truth and the life." He did not say, "I am against the adulterous, legalistic, sacrificial practices of the pharisees." Although He was against such things and even said such things, He made known what He was for and by principle was against those things that contradicted what He was for. He came into the world, not to condemn it, but to save it.

Therefore, the Church must be known by what it is for and by principle what it is against, that is, sin, will be condemned by default as it stands for what it is for.

"Love one other: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

The Church stands for Jesus Christ, Him crucified, died, resurrected and reigning. It stands for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, forgiveness, mercy, equality, righteousness, grace and justice. It stands for the hope of redemption through Him and the glorious restoration of the world and its inhabitants.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is only hostile to sin and evilness because it first stands for the good, loving, glorious, holy, magnificent, power of God.

What if all people knew Christians by what they stood for?

"So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Calling

"What is your calling?"

"Where are you being led?"

"What do you want to do with that [namely some degree]?"

At some point in life's short existence, these are questions, or those like them, asked of almost every person, less individuals whose caste, family or other influence predetermine the answers to these questions.

Personally, these answers cannot be answered within the general context of their inquiry. However, there are certain answers to each of these questions shared among all followers of Christ:

"What is your calling?" To worship God.

"Where are you being led?" His eternal dwelling place.

"What do you want to do with that [namely some degree]?" Glorify Him.

Despite the divide of cultural, lifestyle and educational differences within the Church, that divide is eliminated with these questions because the answers are the same for all who call upon His name.

And so we live with our minds set on above, not concerned with the futility of the day.

Civil Unrest, Eternal Rest

Within recent months, peoples of the world have declared the inadequacies of failing governments. The unrest has permeated the minds and actions of the peoples of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Algeria, Sudan, Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Jordan and the list continues.

Continual monitoring of international news sources may lead to hopelessness, fear, uncertainty and pessimism as the nations of the world demand liberties, freedom and security. Domestically, political battles and corrupt businesses inspire crudity, lack of morality and selfishness.

As social, economic and political unrest ensues, the sun rises and sets. Although new challenges, new life and the end of life occur, each day is new and full of the promises made by the Creator.

Unrest only exists if rest exists. Believers of the Word know this to exist. Ultimate rest and citizenship is not bound to the unrest of this earth but united in eternity. Hope and certainty in Christ shall end civil unrest, and that is reason enough to take the streets to proclaim His faithfulness.

False Spring

In the Midwest, it is not uncommon to experience a false spring, a period of time during the winter months in which temperatures and weather conditions resemble spring. After this short period, temperatures plummet and snow ensues as winter resumes until spring actually begins. For most Midwesterners, this cyclical occurrence is met with excitement and then a reasonable let-down when winter continues.

Without carelessly analyzing God's reasoning for such events, it is plausible that parallels can be drawn between this meteorological phenomenon and humanity. As the natural seasons resemble a cycle, so too do our lives. Sometimes our spiritual lives are met with reviving life and then after a short, or perhaps extended period, are reacquainted with dreary complacency.

As winter continues in our life, we have two options: embrace the let-down and settle for complacency or live by faith with hope for the fulness of Christ to embark new life.

The past week has been a week of false spring throughout a large portion of the nation. We all live with the knowledge that spring will come, that life will be refreshed and renewed. May our actions, thoughts, and words resemble this truth as we live now with reviving life and hope for the coming day of eternal life fulfilled.

The Finale

There is a beginning and an end to all that is living and not living, aside from the Creator. This is not a profound statement or a revolutionary ideal; it is simply truth.

As a child, I knew that people were born and later they died. It is as simple as that. Of course, as humans, we inherently make it more intricate than the simple truth of that of which is born must also die. Thankfully, life and death are meant to be more than simple occurrences of biology; for if it is not to be more, then the span of time between the true extremes means nothing.

Within the past year, people who I have known and loved died. Before that, people who I knew and loved died. In the year to come and those that follow, people who I know and love will die. Indeed, I too will die.

Today, the eyes of a child are no longer present, albeit such simplicity has significance in death. Death is dramatic, exciting and liberating. Indeed the process to that simplistic state may be painful, grievous and horrific. But death is simple. It is the end of a complex existence after birth.

The reflection of the past with the promise of a hopeful eternality indeed is celebrated by what we call death. It is a beautiful, mournful and celebratory, and simple finale of biological life. The simplicity of death is a product of grace that the finale is indeed less complex than what led us to that state.

The Follower

During a solitary lunch one Sunday afternoon, I observed the actions of a family dining nearby. The father, a professor, his wife and his children, four boys and one girl, were contentedly finishing their meal as I sat down.

The boys, ages four to six with a set of twins, got up from the table and ascended the top of a small incline consisting of two steps. They repeatedly went to the top and jumped down, in perfect unison each time. After several jumps, the mother scolded the boys. They snickered and walked away.

The girl, perhaps age three, was observing the boys during their escapade. She climbed to the top of the steps just as her parents were leaving the table with the dishes. Completely unsupervised, the girl proceeds to jump. She falls on the first step. No tears, no attention. Instead, she stands, looks around to see if anyone saw her, presumably, and quickly massages her hind end. Then she repeats the aforementioned process for the second step.

Then the parents return and they are on their way. No one ever saw the girl; the parents were gone and the boys were busy being mischievous. Nonetheless, this three year old girl left lunch content with a smile that she had followed her brothers and succeeded where they had failed.

Of course, success is in the eye of the beholder, but being the follower does not mean you are not the leader, as this girl found out; it just means that you learn from the mistakes of the leader, follow them anyway, and become a humbled leader of your own.

The Opinion of Division

"The opposite of love is not hate; it is indifference." - Dr. Keith Phillips

In my family, there are many theological, sociological, economical and political views. The differences divide us in some areas, unite us in others and challenge us practically to move beyond idealistic concepts of thought to livable methods of application, whether or not there is agreement.

Division is a beautiful and crucial aspect of societal advancement. Likemindedness and communal beliefs are indeed vital for personal identity. However, shared thoughts rarely challenge anything beyond an egocentric world. It is in the difference of opinion where a challenge forces the abandonment, defense, strengthening or perseverance of opinion.

Fear undermines the lack of challenges sought. It is not a fear of competition, albeit it could be, but a fear of the non-egocentric reality that not all of creation views creation as the same reality.

The greatest danger of opinion is that dogma hinders meaningful conversation. These conversations, debates, challenges and disagreements do not find purpose through an egocentric idealism, but rather find beauty in the reality to understand the division of opinions, common ideologies and a unification through diversity.

Where there is diversity, there is also unity. In the Church we are united by the Lord, despite the differences that abound within and among us. In the world, we are united by humanity. If we are stuck in either without the consideration of another, we are doomed for we shall not grasp the beauty of all of creation and truly love our neighbors, our enemies and our own families.

Differences in opinion should not be penalized but rather explored to have an even greater appreciation for the diversity of creation, united in common threads and celebrated among likeminded friends.