Who Is Jesus?

Discipleship Defined

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The Apologetic of Francis Schaeffer: Still Very Much Needed

Here is audio from the Francis Schaeffer: A Mind and Heart for God conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on Nov. 7-8, 2008.

This particular address from Jerram Barrs focuses on the apologetics of Francis Schaeffer. I found the message quite engaging, even as I have begun reading through Schaeffer's complete 21 works recently.

Schaeffer has much to teach us still about engaging our modern culture as intelligent, compassionate, stalwart Christians. This message is one such glimpse of the man and his ministry. May it challenge, equip, and spur you on in living and providing witness for the Kingdom.

A Christian Response to Homosexuality (And For That Matter, All Sin)

This is a text version of a teaching originally given to church members at Normandale Baptist Church during the Pastors' Bible Study on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009.
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The issue of homosexuality has become perhaps the most divisive since the contentions that led to America's Civil War. But the fight today is taking place on the political front instead of the backcountry battlefields. It is the pressing issue of our time and our response will define the evangelical church from this point on. Battle lines are being drawn, especially in light of November's passing of Proposition 8 in California, and every body of Christian believers will be forced to make a choice if they have not already.

Though it breaks my heart to write this, I believe the fighting will only increase. The incredible division in our country between those who would celebrate homosexuality and gay marriage as acceptable and those who would oppose it on grounds of biblical authority is only to chasm more. So what are we as the church of Jesus Christ going to do? How will we respond in an intelligent, loving Christian manner to those in the culture living a homosexual lifestyle or arguing for gay marriage?

The favorite proof text of some Christians and many gay rights activists is Leviticus 18:22:You shall not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. Christians with little biblical knowledge (far too many, I fear) like this passage because they see it as a quick and easy quote against homosexual behavior. Proponents of gay marriage also favor the passage because it is surrounded by commands to refrain from eating pigs (11:7) and shell fish (such as shrimp, or catfish; 11:10). As was featured in the fairly recent "Proposition 8 Musical" online, gay activists think the Bible lists a lot of mandates from God for which Christians no longer argue. At first glance this argument makes Christians look unintelligent and hypocritical. Christians who can only quote one seemingly obscure passage of the OT don't do much in practice to refute this.

The Leviticus passage is near the end of a section that builds up to the crux of the book's argument and demand from God: "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (19:2). God as Creator has the right to make such a demand, but man, despite his best efforts, cannot attain such righteousness on his own. That's the thrust of Leviticus. Holiness is to encompass ALL of one's life and living, every sphere of a person's existence. These were to be rituals of grace to the ancient Israelites; each one a picture of God's character and requirements. But again, no matter the effort, no man can attain this holiness on his own because we are all of us trapped in rebellion against God. We need a Savior because just following moral mandates will not purify a person to stand in the presence of almighty God.

Romans 1:18-27 is a text far too many Christians 'forget' in the discussion about homosexuality, either by ignorance or fear. But a Christian response will argue the truth in urgent love, because a refusal to warn one of coming consequences or imminent danger is unloving. So, even though this was as difficult for Paul to deliver as it is for us today, this passage of Scripture is a not-to-be-delayed warning. To all of us.

The passage IS us. All of us. Sin, whether it be homosexuality or greed or gossip, is an act of unbelief. Mankind has a guilty knowledge of God meant to keep him on the moral up-and-up, but the Romans passage paints the tragic portrait of the consequence of rejecting God: one becomes "futile in their thinking" and their hearts become "darkened." When this happens, a human being begins to go further and further into perversion, even rejecting one's very base biological insticts instilled in us by the Creator.

Homosexuality, just as much as bowing down before a bronzed bull, is idolatry. All sin is idolatry according to Romans: "Claiming to be wise, they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" (1:22-23). Paul argues that homosexuality is the prime example of this, as the homosexual act is itself a worship of an image as much like oneself as is possible to find. It is a literal exchange of the image of God in us for the image of a mortal man. This is "worshipping the creature rather than the Creator" (1:25).

The height of this rejection of God is that "women exchanged natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." Hard words. It is difficult to come into the contact with the truth that a man reaps what he sows. This "due penalty" of rejecting God is an increasingly empty, sad, dependent, obsessed, and in some way, abusive lifestyle. Perhaps not at first. Maybe not even for a long time. But inevitably and irrevocably unless Christ comes to redeem the man or woman consumed by homosexuality. This desperation birthed in sin and cultivated by continued refusal of God leads to hatred.

The angry picketing and, in some cases, violent attacks on religious persons and organizations in the wake of the passing of Proposition 8 is an indicator of the fervency the gay movement has to discredit and destroy the voice of the religious right. The greatest threat to full societal acceptance of homosexuality is not a political, racial, or educational group, but conservative Christianity. This is why is it imperative Christians have an intelligent, cogent response in the face of continuing attacks in the form of psychology, equality, legality, morality, and even theology. The country's intellectual elite have had great success in marginalizing a Christian response largely due to a lack of intelligent Christians stepping up to the plate. We must have our hearts readied and our minds sharpened to engage the culture with the loving and life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

The only way to begin this process is to ourselves turn to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and realize that each and every one of us has the potential to be such a sinner; if not a practitioner of homosexuality, then something just as awful. "...neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (6:9-10).

If that list of rejections against God doesn't appear to indict you, then see v. 11: AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (emphasis mine).

Let me repeat: if you are reading this, you have all the potential to fall into homosexuality, or greed, or drunkenness as the next guy. There exists more of a propensity toward homosexuality in some than in others, true. Same with alcoholism. Or pedophilia. But a propensity or disposition toward any of these does not make it morally acceptable. As far as sexual sin goes, realize that none of you past the age of puberty is sexually pure. You've either given your body away outside of marriage, lusted after another person, or acted upon a lustful feeling through porn or masturbation. So don't think too highly of yourselves, "for such were some of you." We are none of us sexually pure. Or completely holy. Nor can we become so outside ourselves.

This truth has to humble us and spur us to share Jesus Christ all the more. We who have been "washed...sanctified...justified" by Christ must have the love and broken heart He had when encountering and confronting sinners, be they homosexuals, swindlers, or just plain unlovable people.

No one's race, gender, or sexual "preference" should be their identity. We ultimately fall into two classifications: those who will spend eternity suffering because we continually rejected God and those saved by nothing of themselves but by the grace and love of Jesus Christ. I rejoice to identify only with Christ and His suffering, I glory in His resurrection from the dead. And because of this I am moved because of His forgiveness of my moral impurities. He rights my wrong relationship with God and readies me to minister intelligently and lovingly. This must be our attitude when ministering to those identifying themselves in word and practice as homosexuals. We minister as the formerly hopeless who now have a Great Hope to share. It is only in Christ that we will ever experience true unity with one another and be healed and made made holy.

Community

My wife last night reminded me of what a cornerstone community is in my life and living. Distinguishing the shadows cast by those closest to us are the best way to illuminate a life. Here are few reflections from this realization:

My first acknowledgement of community came at the lack of it I felt in junior high and high school. Somewhere in there I decided to start asking God to send me some people. It didn’t have to be an extensive assembly; it was probably better if it wasn’t. I just wanted some fellows who shared my values and my conviction for Christ. The brothers I instinctively knew I was supposed to have around me weren’t there. So I prayed long and hard for them. And waited.

Then came college and Brothers Under Christ, a national Christian fraternity whose chapter at the University of Oklahoma had just taken off. It was purely providence to landed alongside these men and spent 4 years of my life praying together, playing together, comforting, sharpening, and protecting each other; constantly pointing one another to Jesus Christ, our King who is unashamed to call us His brothers. It was with these men who taught me how to learn, lead, disciple, and love my brothers deeply.

Coming to seminary, being an adult, moving on... community didn’t’ come along as easily. And then I walked into Normandale Baptist Church one November and found spiritual family in a room full of short-term strangers. They’ve since grafted me in and granted me the privilege of serving them in leadership.

And then there’s my wife, Jenny, who teaches me more about my God, myself, and my fellow mortals than I could ever learn alone. She is my constant companion and community.

I don’t mean to be overly sentimental about this, but it’s true. These people are family. And this truth of community and its influence on the course of my journey waves like a banner over my calling and ministry.  I hope to encourage and engender community and discipleship in those God allows me to touch. 

Blue Lanterns Arrive Just in Time

DC Comics and writer Geoff Johns have delivered a super group for we melancholy/INFJ superhero fans. 

The Blue Lantern Corps was introduced a few months ago in the pages of Green Lantern, but

 this past week we got a real fleshing out of these guys and their purpose in GL # 36. 

The Blue Lanterns differ from the other Lantern corps in many ways. Whereas Green Lanterns draw from their willpower, Red Lanterns from their rage, Sinestro Corps (Yellow) from fear, and several others that operate along the same lines (Orange - avarice, Indigo - compassion, Sapphire - love, and the coming dreaded Black Lanterns -death); Blue Lanterns draw their power from that which is considered most powerful: hope. And the ongoing saga of the Lantern Corps forshadows the Blue Lanterns will play an integral role in the approaching War of Light. 

The other corps recruit their members by arbitrarily allowing the rings to seek out individuals that have the right stuff for each corps. The Blue Lanterns (like all great melancholys) take the personal approach and recruit one-by-one. These aliens from all different space sectors undergo three days of training and are then offered membership as a Blue Lantern if they so decide. 

 

Geoff Johns again displays his remarkable insight into myriad aspects of the human condition by focusing on the development of the Blue Lanterns as the INFJs of the universe. He gathers, slowly but surely, a group of individuals whose hope is great and who have the ability to channel that hope and use it to inspire others. 

The Blue Lanterns aren't the flashiest corps, and much in part to the absence of true understanding and grasp of hope in the universe, their numbers are small. But they serve an important function as their rings can heal wounds, neutralize the corruptive effects of the Red Lantern rings, and recharge a green power ring to twice its maximum power level. The blue rings are quite unique because, unlike the other power rings that draw from the willpower aspects of the wearer, they act on the psychosis of the individual targeted by the Blue Lantern.  

So thank you Geoff  for creating a corps to which we melancholys can really relate!

(end of geek-out post) 

"On Knowing Ourselves" - Thomas a' Kempis

Let's just call this one a "guest post."

Since one of the focuses of "Am I Blue" is to encourage and edify others in personal introspection and spiritual development and discipleship, this posting of a particular section of Thomas a' Kempis' The Imitation of Christ seemed quite appropriate.


--On Knowing Ourselves--

We may not overtrust too much in ourselves, for we often lack grace and understanding. There is little light in us, and even this we easily lose through carelessness. Moreover, we often do not realize how blind we are. We often do evil, and we do worse in excusing ourselves. Sometimes we are moved by passion, and mistake it for zeal. we rebuke small faults in others, but overlook greater faults in ourselves. We are too quick to resent and feel what we suffer from others, but fail to consider how much others suffer from us. Whoever considers his own defects fully and honestly will find not reason to judge others harshly.

The spiritual man puts the care of his soul before all else; and whoever diligently attends his own affairs is ready to keep silence about others. You will never become interior and devout unless you refrain from your criticism of other, and pay attention to yourself. If you are wholly intent on God and yourself, you will be little affected by anything outside this. Where are you when you fail to attend yourself? And when you have occupied yoruself in countless affairs, what have you gained, if you have neglected your soul? If you really desire true peace and union with God, attend to yourself, and set aside all else.

Keep yourself free from all worldly entanglement, and you will make good progress; but if you set great value on any worldly things, it will prove a great obstacle. Let nothing be great, pleasant or desirable to you save God alone, and whatever comes of God. Regard as empty comfort all things that derive from creatures. The soul that loves God regards as worthless al things other than God. God alone is eternal and immeasurable, filling all things; He alone is the true comfort of the soul and joy of the heart.

Are Animals People Too?

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have inundated the holiday airwaves with new ads featuring the music and persona of Sarah McLachlan. These seem to run each commercial break (often during the course of just one program) on major networks over the recent holiday season and into this new year. McLachlan's "Angel" or the sacred "Silent Night" plays over images of cute dogs and cats, making the commercial akin in spirit to those of organizations that help underprivileged or starving children.

While animal cruelty is a moral atrocity and a matter that should be dealt with seriously, these commercials are over the top. Simply by choice of music (especially "Silent Night"), the argument is made, however emotionally, that there is a spiritual tone in their plea to save these animals who have been left on the streets to die or have experienced abuse becuase their owners were inconvenienced or grew tired of them.

Might I interject and say there is an entire population of human beings who are being killed, not just left on the street, because they are considered an incovenience. I considered unborn children as I listened to the lyrics of Silent Night: "round yon virgin/mother and child/holy infant so tender and mild" played over images of dogs and cats! Does this make sense to anyone? How have we elevated animals to such lofty heights and yet kill unborn human beings so easily? The ad makes use of music meant to honor Christ's birth and majesty to further the idea of animal equality, however so subtle.

The commercial itself is really a tragic signal to me that two groups have now merged: the extreme left animal activists and the sympathetic animal lover. The message in this ad appeals to both. And its presentation and underlying message compliment much more radical attempts in recent years to give more and more rights to animals. Consider Britain's proposed "Animal Welfare Bill" of 2006, granting pets...oh, sorry, how un-PC of me...granting "companion animals" some of the very rights given to human beings.

It really says something about a culture when they continually devalue human life and dignity while simultaneously elevating the "rights" of animals. The recent ad by the ASPCA does highlight the very real and relavent problem of animal cruelty, but perhaps more critically, its delivery and tone show us that the radical animal rights movement is gaining ground.