The Central Theme

Christ died on the Cross, in our place, as requested by the Father, setting us free from the eternal curse that we brought upon ourselves, as an expression of His love, then overcame death by raising Himself from the grave, conquering Satan and sin, proving His deity and holiness so that we might believe. This must remain central in our hearts and cannot be forsaken or replaced with any other notion. Minimizing this truth is to mock the central theme of the gospel.

Lady GaGa, Sexuality, Christ...

It's no secret that Lady GaGa has made it to the spotlight of our culture. Unfortunately, she's also made it to the spotlight in the eyes of kids and teens, too. Her tunes are edgy and her beats are catchy. She's actually not a bad performance artist. Like so many other "icons", though, she lacks in many areas. Because of her willingness to push so many limits in so many areas she has attracted the attention of so many people. Maybe its her willingness to wear scimpy outfits that attracts young men to her, or maybe it's her provocative song lyrics. Either way, she's won the idolization of testosterone pumping males thus beginning the domino effect. Girls treasure so much the way they are viewed by guys. When a guy adores a scandulous, provocative, bi-sexual pop star young women take notice. Could Lady GaGa's living example be considered trendy? Let's hope not. The last thing needed in this world is another person living completely contrary to God's word while simultaneously being exalted. Her 4 number-1 hits this year are a sad demonstration of the worship she's been granted - the same worship that should belong to Christ. I feel that sexuality and spirituality (particularly Christianity) are very closely linked. Consider sections of scripture like these: 1 Cor 6:18 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body" and Eph 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality". The Bible indeed has much to say concerning sexuality, much more than can be discussed in this discussion. It's sad and sometimes even sick to hear about the life styles lived by people like this. The message they preach is a message filled with unholy principles that needs to be countered. It can be. Our job as Christians isn't condemning anyone whose life or words fail to honor God (mine doesn't always). Instead our job is to educate ourselves, with God's Word, and make ourselves aware of the Truth. We then need to exhaust ourselves with trying to live in that Truth. Of course we don't earn extra credit by living "right", we've already aced the exam through God's Grace. We strive to live Holy in order to honor God and exemplify His ways to everyone, especially those outside the faith. Christ gave Himself on the Cross for everyone, not just us "Christians". If we live loud enough and bold enough His message can overcome.

Grace, The Gospel, and Luther

The Luther Rose. This symbol is commonly found in Lutheran churches. As I've been studying the life of Martin Luther and his contribution to the Church I was introduced to the symbolism behind this image. The Yellow Circle surrounding the blue represents the eternal life of all believers. The blue space was Luther's color for eternity spent in Heaven with The Christ. (Sidenote: Heaven is not so much a place but a reality that we will never be physically absent from the Christ). A Christian, because of their redemption, should live with eternal joy, thus the White Rose. The red Heart shows the new life that a person possesses through Christ. And last, but certainly not least, the black Cross. The Cross in the center, thus showing that is central to the faith. Apart from the Cross, everything else represented would not be possible. The new life, the joy, and eternity in Heaven are all dependent on the Cross. Why is it black? To represent the sin that Christ took upon himself to bring the world to the Father. Christ accepted the curse of the Cross as an eternal act of love for us. He did this so that we would become new, joyous creatures elated to live with Him forever. The centrality of the Gospel is Christ and His supreme act of grace demonstrated on the Cross. It is this same grace that restores all of us. I pray that I will daily live in the grace afforded me through the Cross.

Reach

Today as I read Romans I was reminded how marvelous a thing it is to be found in God's grace. It's difficult (if not impossible) to comprehend how God can look upon us with favor, mercy, compassion, love. It is only by GRACE that we can call ourselves sons and daughters of the King. I am thankful that our Father saw fit to reach down into this world and into my life for I know that it is impossible for me to reach Him by any other means. I am thankful that through the Cross God reached to me, a depraved sinner, and saw fit to bring me into a right relationship with Himself. I am thankful that Christ, who was and is God, seeing my desperate need, reached out His arms and completely ended my cursed state. I am thankful that one day Christ will again reach out to me and call me home with Him. Thank You for reaching me.

My Own Screwtape Letter

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to write my own Screwtape Letter. If you are familiar with C.S. Lewis' work The Screwtape Letters then this will ring a bell with you:

My Own Screwtape Letter

My Dear Wormwood,
I commend you for your persistent efforts. Our fellow is showing signs of stubbornness to our attacks, but I trust that through continued pressure he will soon be upon the breaking point, making a decision that will cause shame and separation from his King. Keep in mind that you can not afford to be too aggressive in the measures you choose to take. Instead choose attacks of a more subtle, prolonged nature that will prove most beneficial for seasons to come. Of course, you should always be ready to charge without caution, having studied our victim knowing when he is most vulnerable.

It appears that your increased work of complacency is providing adequate dividends. Our subject is most unaware of the dangers that accompany a tolerating attitude. Through my centuries of experience I have seen many extraordinary men and women crumble with decay as a result of their mediocrity. We know full well, dear Wormwood, their King desires for our patient to experience continued growth and renewal – we must not allow that to happen. Continue your work of whispering in his ear that he has achieved much in the spiritual realm, he will believe it. His satisfaction with current circumstances will allow us to usher in laziness and apathy. We may not possess much influence, if any, over one who is passionate, but much can be done in the life of the complacent.

Similarly, Wormwood, I approve of your crucial timing with the firing of our victim’s lust triggers. You are wise to note that in the company of others our person resists valiantly against our efforts to reacquaint him with his lustful passions. Fortunately for us, few of our Enemies followers truly believe in the power and strength they can harness through sincere fellowship. Therefore be encouraged to persevere in your efforts. When he is alone remind him of the pleasures he will experience through his fantasy world. Coax him down the long, lonely path of selfishness, pleasure, and pride. In the darkness of night he will be most susceptible to your schemes – turn your suggestive whispers to bold commands. You must show some resiliency here, Wormwood, for he will initially put up a bold fight for he knows firsthand how he should behave, but keep in mind the power of perseverance. The longer he is isolated the more prone he is cave in under the pressure.

Lastly, and perhaps of utmost importance when he caves be ready to suffocate with shame. Our fellow is highly prone to wallow in humiliation and guilt. How I desire for all stay in their cages of shame, for there they find no capacity for reconciliation. Howl over our patient and echo words of worthlessness. You know full well the magnitude such words can have over one who has reached their breaking point. Smother out any signs of confession or repentance – we have no hold over the reconciled. Fight with every ounce of energy to defeat our person with a feeling worthlessness. Above all he must never be reminded of the price that was paid for his life, for there he finds the power of humility and grace.

Your affectionate uncle
Screwtape

I would encourage you to write your own version of a Screwtape Letter. It's an eye opening exercise that is designed to help you understand your personal struggles with obedience to Christ. Let me know how it goes!

If you are interested in getting your own copy of The Screwtape Letters then check out this link: http://www.amazon.com/Screwtape-Letters-C-S-Lewis/dp/0060652934

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doeor of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly...who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never known neither victory nor defeat."

-Teddy Roosevelt

Christ was an arena man. I believe He understood this way of life long before dear Mr. Roosevelt uttered the above words. Christ was indeed a man of great enthusiasm, great devotion, and He certainly spent Himself in the worthiest of causes. He lived a risky life and put it all on the line. His motivation was of the purest form and His achievement would be the greatest ever in history. His achievement, though, was not His own - He refused for it to be. Instead, this arena man decided to extend His most glorious achievement completely to us. An act of grace for which I am eternally thankful.

May I now embrace life with the exact same attitude He possessed. May I now enter the arena with an unwaivering focus. May I now pursue goals that only He could accomplish through me. May I now risk everything for His name's sake. May I now be filled with the purest motivation. May I now humbly share in the victory Christ has achieved for me and live life to its fullest.

Never, Ever Forsaken

At times I am utterly without words. As I gather information about another shooting not far from my home in southern Georiga my eyes swell and the my emotions run wild. What would cause a man to kill his mother, an 18-month old baby, and numerous others? How can people become so violent and relentless?

Michael McLendon killed 11 people (including himself) on Tuesday, March 12.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-03-12-ala-shootings_N.htm

It confuses me and breaks my heart - partly for the families of the deceased, the community, the friends - and partly for Michael. The investigators have yet to find a motive and doubt that they will. I am no psychologist or personality profiler, but I would wager that Michael McLendon had reached a point of hopelessness. A life without hope will take desperate measures. My last message was in response to the murder of a church pastor, husband, and father who was shot in cold blood while standing in the pulpit of his church of more than 20 years. I am also aware that there has been a school shooting in Germany just this week.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/4980428/Germany-school-shootings-Massacre-survivor-thought-it-was-a-prank.html

A confused, hopeless boy, Tim Kretschmer, entered his high school armed and prepared for murder. After killing 9 students and 3 teachers he fled killing more civilians on his spree. Finally, just like shooter Michael McLendon, he took his own life. He was 17. Once more I grieve for the school, the community, and the family members affected by this awful event - but also grieve for Tim. How awful he must interpret his life in order to even think of something so breathtaking.

Again, I am not qualified to even hypothesize as to the reasons these two people resorted to such extreme measures. But part of me wants to say that they lived lives with no hope. Some German investigators have claimed that 17-year old Tim was simply taking out his frustrations on women as a result of not having any luck with girls (of course this is not verified). Either way, I feel in my heart that if these fellows possessed the supernatural love and hope of our Savior these events would have been avoided.

I am thankful that regardless of all the evil actions of this world I have hope in my Jesus. I know that if I were to wake one day without my car, my home, my health, my family, my wife, my church, my friends, my country or anything else...I can bank on Him. He will never leave me or forsake me.

I think of Christ word's on the Cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Many claim that Christ was forsaken by God the Father - I believe that this is perhaps one of the biggest blunders in modern Christian thought. God is omnipresent, omnibenevolent, omnipotent, omniscient, faithful, and true to His word. Just as He told Moses and Joshua that He would never leave or forsake them He tells us (Hebrews 13:5, Joshua 1:5, and Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8). Why would He claim such acts of loyalty only to set a contrary example with His own Son? I don't believe He would. I believe, rather, that Jesus was pointing us back to God's faithfulness when He uttered those words on the Cross. Psalm 22 is an incredible example of what it means to count on God even when it seems that all hope is lost. I am thankful that even when Christ was dying for my sins He realized that His Father "has not hidden His face from Him" and "listened to His cry for help" (Psalm 22:24). And I am thankful that He promises to be there for me.

When the world seems to be falling apart I can count on my God to hold me till the end.

I am never forsaken.