All You Need Is Love...
"For God so LOVED the WORLD that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
I'm sitting in one of my most frequented places on the planet...my local Starbucks after a pretty long couple of days. I'm on my second Americano today which can only mean that my heart is working overtime due to the amount of caffeine and that I am exhausted enough to have felt that a second Americano was necessary. Amidst the craziness of the past couple of days I have found myself thinking about - LOVE.
I just received a CD that is a compilation of four great musical artists and on the front cover, is the word "LOVE". The main track on the CD is "All You Need Is Love". A pretty famous song but also a statement of great truth. But the question that is running through my mind is what do I do with the love I have been given or received? What kind of love is this? Romantic? Brotherly? Godly?
My first thought and belief is that if I could grasp God's love for me and would in turn love God, then both the way I love romantically or in relationship with my "brothers and sisters" would be more complete and more appropriately understood. With this as my main idea it would only make sense to explore what kind of love is this Godly kind of love? What does it mean? What does it look like?
On Sunday, I had a student say that they didn't believe that love existed outside of the love that he knew and experienced within his family. The kind of love, he explained, that was based upon a deep connection, that, when tested due to negative action, still existed because they were family. This got me thinking. Although I disagreed that love didn't exist outside of this relationship, it sparked the thought process about connection, as he called it, within family and Godly love (love in its greatest form).
Using this familial form of love as a picture of what Godly love looks and functions like I was led to think about how that translates to the whole world. After all, the Gospel of John states that God so loved the WORLD. If I claim to love God and Jesus has commanded me to love others as well, should I not also love this way? What does that look like? What did Jesus teach about love?
If familial love is about connection and loving those within your family even when they disappoint you, hurt you, curse you, betray you; and if this kind of love is a great picture of what Godly, unconditional love looks like then there is a statement made by Jesus that blows my mind and in turn, based upon another teaching of Jesus, challenges me to the core.
First, Jesus statement on the cross could be seen as a commentary on family and the Kingdom of God. Jesus, while dying on the cross, looks down to one of his disciples and to his mother, Mary, who is standing at the foot of the cross weeping and broken. The Gospel of John describes this moment saying: "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother'. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."
Is it possible that in this moment Jesus is teaching something about what it truly means to love when you are part of the Kingdom of God? Is it possible that Jesus was teaching that in the Kingdom of God it isn't about shared DNA or chromosomes that makes one related or family, but rather, we are to see everyone as family? It's as though Jesus is exploding the boundaries and understanding of family by shifting the paradigm from DNA and chromosomes to each human being because they all share the Divine imprint from the very beginning of time. Furthermore, if Jesus was to see each person through the lens that everyone was to be loved unconditionally, as evidenced by His death on the cross, shouldn't we too live with this kind of love seeing each person as our brother or sister regardless of shared DNA or not?
This thought stretches my mind, however, this thought challenges the very core of the practice of my life when Jesus teaches us the following.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven...If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)
If Jesus explodes our view of family by extending it to all, and this familial love is a paradigm for what Godly love is, AND Jesus is telling us to LOVE our ENEMIES, is it possible that Jesus is saying that we are to treat our ENEMIES as we would our FAMILY with absolute unconditional love? How about perfect STRANGERS?
This absolutely blows my mind.
If we loved this way how would that change the way we view the conflict in Iraq? How would this impact the way we view and interact with the homeless man who asks us for our loose change? How would this impact the way that we interact with our boss or coworker? What if we no longer saw people as enemies or strangers, acquaintances or even friends, rather we saw them as FAMILY?
I've heard people say that only God can love this way. I would have ask, then why would Jesus teach us what he has? Perhaps it's because Jesus believes we can and it is the only natural response of a life that claims to love God.
If "all we need is love", it may do us some good to change the way in which we view love - not emotion, affection, or a chemical reaction of the brain but instead the deeply rooted connection and spiritual discipline that finds it's origin in the God whose very nature is LOVE.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
iJesus - The Personalization of Jesus
"We have shrunk Jesus to the size where He can save our soul but now don't believe He can change the world." - Anonymous
So here it goes...confession time. In the world that is absolutely obsessed with technology, including myself, I have to admit that I am just not that cool. I DON'T OWN AN IPOD. I know, I know...where have I been? The ironic thing in all of this is that almost all of the music that I own is found upon ITunes on my PC...which is another issue for me. I am a PC but must admit that I would like a Mac. At this point some of you are wondering why you even began reading or should be at all interested in this...I promise I have a point.
I desire to own an IPod and a Mac. I desire to have the newest IPhone but must also admit that I'm not willing to change cell phone providers. I confess all of this to reveal a problem in my own life - personal convenience.
As I was reading the Gospel of John again today I came upon the end of chapter one and read through chapter 2 and found myself with a couple of thoughts and some questions.
At the end of chapter 1 we meet Nathanael, a Jewish man who would become a disciple of Jesus. Nathanael was skeptical of Jesus at first when he learned that Jesus was from the town of Nazareth, even to the point of asking the famous question or more so a bold statement: "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" (v. 46) It is after Jesus tells Nathanael of his, Nathanael's, previous whereabouts, that Nathanael believes. Jesus says to Nathanael after this moment: "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." (v.50)
In chapter 2, we are introduced to Jesus first public miracle according to John - the turning of water into wine. When I read this account it made me laugh. The whole story begins with, in my opinion, a pretty humorous exchange between Jesus and his mother. They are at a wedding reception when they run out of wine. I can only guess that one of two things were in play. Either there were many people at the party and the Wedding Planner should be fired or they had plenty of wine and plenty of people drinking it. In either case, the wine was gone and the party was not over. In steps Mary. She tells Jesus of the issue at hand and Jesus responds with the statement: "Woman, with all due respect, why do you involve me?" Mary's response turning to the servants: "Do whatever he tells you." In other words, Jesus, you're still my son and this is not a conversation and you WILL do what I ask you to. Jesus does. Look at Jesus being such an obedient child.
After the miracle takes place and everyone is astounded that the best wine is being served at the end of the party, there is a statement that is deeply related to my main point here. John 2:11 says this: "What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him."
Just as Nathanael who believed after Jesus' statement of his previous whereabouts and this miracle at the wedding of the year, those who see the miracles of Jesus choose to believe.
Although I do believe that early century Jews had a more communal faith it is fairly obvious that there is still something in the hearts of human individuals that has not changed throughout history - we still want life to be about fulfilling our personal desires.
John MacArthur says: "The true gospel is a call to self denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment." As I was reading this Gospel and spending time reflecting upon how this impacts or should impact my life as a disciple of Jesus, I came to ask the following question that pertains to the initial quote above by Anonymous. Have we so personalized the Gospel of Jesus Christ, more specifically the person of Jesus, for my own benefit to the detriment of the true nature of the Gospel and it's mission to bring the Kingdom of God to earth, here and now?
In a society convinced of its need for greater modern and convenient technological conveniences, we have produced IPods, laptops, microwaves, hot pockets and drive thru windows. Is it possible that we have allowed this mentality of instant personal gratification to tarnish the true nature of the Gospel by making Jesus so personal at the expense of the call to impact and change the world around us? Do I believe in Jesus because it benefits me or because I see that Jesus calls me to a different way of life that can change the world by using someone as finite and fallible as myself? Is Jesus like my IPod, comfort and entertainment at the push of a button?
I believe that although Jesus desires and knows us personally, Jesus does not exist for my own personal fullfillment. It was not His mission to fulfill my life in such a way that can be reduced to material wealth, educational prowess, positional authority, and/or technological advancement for the sake of efficiency.
What I find to be amazing about the Gospel is that although I may find fulfillment through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, fulfillment comes not through the miracle of water into wine, healing of disease or lack of discomfort; rather, fulfillment comes through the indwelling and gift of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, what amazes me is, in my fulfillment in the indwelling of God Himself, it moves me to look out into the faces and eyes of others. It is one of the paradoxes of the kingdom. As I am fulfilled personally it moves me to love others through communal thought and activity.
Perhaps it is time to enter into the mission of Jesus to redeem and restore all of creation back to its Creator and to return the IJesus model back to the manufacturer.
"This whole gospel is truly good news for the poor, and it is the foundation for a social revolution that has the power to change the world. And if this was Jesus' mission, it is also the mission of all who claim to follow Him. It is my mission, it is your mission, and it is the mission of the Church." (Richard Stearns, The Hole In Our Gospel)
"We have shrunk Jesus to the size where He can save our soul but now don't believe He can change the world." - Anonymous
So here it goes...confession time. In the world that is absolutely obsessed with technology, including myself, I have to admit that I am just not that cool. I DON'T OWN AN IPOD. I know, I know...where have I been? The ironic thing in all of this is that almost all of the music that I own is found upon ITunes on my PC...which is another issue for me. I am a PC but must admit that I would like a Mac. At this point some of you are wondering why you even began reading or should be at all interested in this...I promise I have a point.
I desire to own an IPod and a Mac. I desire to have the newest IPhone but must also admit that I'm not willing to change cell phone providers. I confess all of this to reveal a problem in my own life - personal convenience.
As I was reading the Gospel of John again today I came upon the end of chapter one and read through chapter 2 and found myself with a couple of thoughts and some questions.
At the end of chapter 1 we meet Nathanael, a Jewish man who would become a disciple of Jesus. Nathanael was skeptical of Jesus at first when he learned that Jesus was from the town of Nazareth, even to the point of asking the famous question or more so a bold statement: "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" (v. 46) It is after Jesus tells Nathanael of his, Nathanael's, previous whereabouts, that Nathanael believes. Jesus says to Nathanael after this moment: "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." (v.50)
In chapter 2, we are introduced to Jesus first public miracle according to John - the turning of water into wine. When I read this account it made me laugh. The whole story begins with, in my opinion, a pretty humorous exchange between Jesus and his mother. They are at a wedding reception when they run out of wine. I can only guess that one of two things were in play. Either there were many people at the party and the Wedding Planner should be fired or they had plenty of wine and plenty of people drinking it. In either case, the wine was gone and the party was not over. In steps Mary. She tells Jesus of the issue at hand and Jesus responds with the statement: "Woman, with all due respect, why do you involve me?" Mary's response turning to the servants: "Do whatever he tells you." In other words, Jesus, you're still my son and this is not a conversation and you WILL do what I ask you to. Jesus does. Look at Jesus being such an obedient child.
After the miracle takes place and everyone is astounded that the best wine is being served at the end of the party, there is a statement that is deeply related to my main point here. John 2:11 says this: "What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples put their faith in him."
Just as Nathanael who believed after Jesus' statement of his previous whereabouts and this miracle at the wedding of the year, those who see the miracles of Jesus choose to believe.
Although I do believe that early century Jews had a more communal faith it is fairly obvious that there is still something in the hearts of human individuals that has not changed throughout history - we still want life to be about fulfilling our personal desires.
John MacArthur says: "The true gospel is a call to self denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment." As I was reading this Gospel and spending time reflecting upon how this impacts or should impact my life as a disciple of Jesus, I came to ask the following question that pertains to the initial quote above by Anonymous. Have we so personalized the Gospel of Jesus Christ, more specifically the person of Jesus, for my own benefit to the detriment of the true nature of the Gospel and it's mission to bring the Kingdom of God to earth, here and now?
In a society convinced of its need for greater modern and convenient technological conveniences, we have produced IPods, laptops, microwaves, hot pockets and drive thru windows. Is it possible that we have allowed this mentality of instant personal gratification to tarnish the true nature of the Gospel by making Jesus so personal at the expense of the call to impact and change the world around us? Do I believe in Jesus because it benefits me or because I see that Jesus calls me to a different way of life that can change the world by using someone as finite and fallible as myself? Is Jesus like my IPod, comfort and entertainment at the push of a button?
I believe that although Jesus desires and knows us personally, Jesus does not exist for my own personal fullfillment. It was not His mission to fulfill my life in such a way that can be reduced to material wealth, educational prowess, positional authority, and/or technological advancement for the sake of efficiency.
What I find to be amazing about the Gospel is that although I may find fulfillment through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, fulfillment comes not through the miracle of water into wine, healing of disease or lack of discomfort; rather, fulfillment comes through the indwelling and gift of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, what amazes me is, in my fulfillment in the indwelling of God Himself, it moves me to look out into the faces and eyes of others. It is one of the paradoxes of the kingdom. As I am fulfilled personally it moves me to love others through communal thought and activity.
Perhaps it is time to enter into the mission of Jesus to redeem and restore all of creation back to its Creator and to return the IJesus model back to the manufacturer.
"This whole gospel is truly good news for the poor, and it is the foundation for a social revolution that has the power to change the world. And if this was Jesus' mission, it is also the mission of all who claim to follow Him. It is my mission, it is your mission, and it is the mission of the Church." (Richard Stearns, The Hole In Our Gospel)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Back to the Blogosphere!
It has been almost three years since my last post on this blog but I thought it about time that I begin pouring out my heart and thoughts for the glory of God.
God has been doing some amazing things in my life over the past few weeks. I can't really begin to get into all the details for that would be boring and take up too much time for those who would choose to read this blog. However, as I reflect on the past few weeks I can sum up what is deep within my heart and soul...that something that burns deep within you and can't remain silent...I want to be so in love and filled with the presence of God in the Holy Spirit that my life looks absolutely insane to the rest of the world!
I have always been a reader and have come to grips with my "geekdom" as I like to call it. But recently it's as though I have been reading a new book almost every week. Part of my reading has been the Bible but I have found that it is easy to find myself reading other books other than scripture. However, as obvious as this may be, when desiring to not only believe but to live out the Kingdom of God, it is necessary to read the Gospels. Now that all of you have been absolutely blown away by such truth (note my sarcasm)...today I decided to sit and begin reading through the Gospels again. Recently I started reading more sections of John and so I decided to begin with the Gospel of John.
Becoming More Like John the Baptizer
Today as I was reading the Gospel of John I was challenged by the picture of John the Baptizer (Baptist). There's just something about the character and nature of John that struck deep into my soul. For some of us we know that John was the cousin of the Jesus of Nazareth. We may know some of the characteristics of John the Baptist that made him look quite crazy and insane to...camel hair clothing, while eating wild honey and bugs (Bear Grills isn't the only one!). Although I have visions at times of looking that crazy for the sake of God there is something more that stuck out to me about John - it truly was all about Jesus and not about him!
John 1:6-8 says: "There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was NOT the light; he came only as a witness to the light." (NIV, emphasis mine)
Although I fully believe as Jesus preached in his "Sermon on the Mount" that we are to be "salt and light", I also fully believe that in John we see that it is not about us being the source of light ourselves. Rather, we are to point to the source of all light and His name is Jesus (John 1:4). A crude metaphor may be a flashlight and realizing that we are not the batteries or the bulb that produces the light. No, instead we are the metal casing, that without the infilling of the power and the source would be nothing but scrap. It is only when we are filled with the power and presence of the true light that our fragile, finite human selves can be that which God intended - to be salt and light; witnesses to the amazing work of God in Jesus Christ!
When approached by Jewish leaders, John was asked outright whether he was the Messiah and freely confessed he was NOT (John 1:20). It is a common conversation, I have found among pastors and Christian leaders, concerning a kind of "Savior" complex. A complex in which the pastor or Christian leader feels some temptation or unreasonable expectation to be the savior of their people and the problems of the world. I believe we should take much more of the position of John the Baptist who said of himself: "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness. 'Make straight the way for the Lord'" (John 1:23).
Allow me to clarify. I do not believe that our job is to open our mouths wide about the Gospel and Good News of Jesus Christ; the power of redemption and salvation by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus - and simply leave it at words. Instead I truly believe that it is our only truly faithful response to the work of Jesus and His teachings to be about bringing the Kingdom of God here and now...to this earth at this time. However, simultaneously, it must be the point of our lives and words to point to the true Savior and the true Messiah; the true Light and His name is Jesus.
Are we supposed to proclaim the Gospel through words or actions? The answer is...YES! It's not either/or - it is both/and.
My prayer is that as I desire to draw nearer and nearer to Jesus Christ and be more and more transformed into the image of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, that I would always remember that I am not the source of the light but rather have the opportunity to point others to the true source of that light - Jesus.
May we have the attitude and heart of John the Baptizer pointing to Jesus proclaiming Him as Savior and Messiah with the dawning of the Kingdom of God here, now and in the life to come!
It has been almost three years since my last post on this blog but I thought it about time that I begin pouring out my heart and thoughts for the glory of God.
God has been doing some amazing things in my life over the past few weeks. I can't really begin to get into all the details for that would be boring and take up too much time for those who would choose to read this blog. However, as I reflect on the past few weeks I can sum up what is deep within my heart and soul...that something that burns deep within you and can't remain silent...I want to be so in love and filled with the presence of God in the Holy Spirit that my life looks absolutely insane to the rest of the world!
I have always been a reader and have come to grips with my "geekdom" as I like to call it. But recently it's as though I have been reading a new book almost every week. Part of my reading has been the Bible but I have found that it is easy to find myself reading other books other than scripture. However, as obvious as this may be, when desiring to not only believe but to live out the Kingdom of God, it is necessary to read the Gospels. Now that all of you have been absolutely blown away by such truth (note my sarcasm)...today I decided to sit and begin reading through the Gospels again. Recently I started reading more sections of John and so I decided to begin with the Gospel of John.
Becoming More Like John the Baptizer
Today as I was reading the Gospel of John I was challenged by the picture of John the Baptizer (Baptist). There's just something about the character and nature of John that struck deep into my soul. For some of us we know that John was the cousin of the Jesus of Nazareth. We may know some of the characteristics of John the Baptist that made him look quite crazy and insane to...camel hair clothing, while eating wild honey and bugs (Bear Grills isn't the only one!). Although I have visions at times of looking that crazy for the sake of God there is something more that stuck out to me about John - it truly was all about Jesus and not about him!
John 1:6-8 says: "There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was NOT the light; he came only as a witness to the light." (NIV, emphasis mine)
Although I fully believe as Jesus preached in his "Sermon on the Mount" that we are to be "salt and light", I also fully believe that in John we see that it is not about us being the source of light ourselves. Rather, we are to point to the source of all light and His name is Jesus (John 1:4). A crude metaphor may be a flashlight and realizing that we are not the batteries or the bulb that produces the light. No, instead we are the metal casing, that without the infilling of the power and the source would be nothing but scrap. It is only when we are filled with the power and presence of the true light that our fragile, finite human selves can be that which God intended - to be salt and light; witnesses to the amazing work of God in Jesus Christ!
When approached by Jewish leaders, John was asked outright whether he was the Messiah and freely confessed he was NOT (John 1:20). It is a common conversation, I have found among pastors and Christian leaders, concerning a kind of "Savior" complex. A complex in which the pastor or Christian leader feels some temptation or unreasonable expectation to be the savior of their people and the problems of the world. I believe we should take much more of the position of John the Baptist who said of himself: "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness. 'Make straight the way for the Lord'" (John 1:23).
Allow me to clarify. I do not believe that our job is to open our mouths wide about the Gospel and Good News of Jesus Christ; the power of redemption and salvation by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus - and simply leave it at words. Instead I truly believe that it is our only truly faithful response to the work of Jesus and His teachings to be about bringing the Kingdom of God here and now...to this earth at this time. However, simultaneously, it must be the point of our lives and words to point to the true Savior and the true Messiah; the true Light and His name is Jesus.
Are we supposed to proclaim the Gospel through words or actions? The answer is...YES! It's not either/or - it is both/and.
My prayer is that as I desire to draw nearer and nearer to Jesus Christ and be more and more transformed into the image of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, that I would always remember that I am not the source of the light but rather have the opportunity to point others to the true source of that light - Jesus.
May we have the attitude and heart of John the Baptizer pointing to Jesus proclaiming Him as Savior and Messiah with the dawning of the Kingdom of God here, now and in the life to come!
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