Fervent Searchers

Is it possible to be spiritually fervent and searching, to be both a believer as well as a listener, and to honor the truth of one’s own convictions as well as the mystery of the convictions of others? I believe it is. However, humility is essential if we are to live in this way. We’ve all seen that there exists a certainty (i.e. a ‘fundamentalism’) that leads to arrogance and a lack of compassion for others. Let’s have none of this. Faith must be graced with humility. Only humility allows us to love those with whom we disagree, thereby keeping our hearts open toward them. When we embrace humility, we actually make the world a safer place for others. (Buyer, beware! Living this way can make life more dangerous for ourselves- which may be why we rarely see ‘fervent searchers’, ‘believing listeners’, and those who are able to honor both their own convictions as well as those of others).

Grief Observed

This has been a year of 'grief observed'. Rebecca's brother died a year ago. My sister Cindy passed away last August. Rebecca's father just last month. These three people have been greatly loved. It has been difficult to let them go.

In The Awakened Heart, author Gerald May writes: "Love is present whenever we experience loneliness, loss, [and] grief.... We may say such feelings of bereavement come from an absence of love, but in fact they are signs of our loving; they express how much we care. We grieve according to how much of ourselves we have already given; we yearn according to how much we would give, if only we could."

Disembodied Concepts or Reciprocal Love?

The great A.W. Tozer once wrote: "The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God.” We need to be careful that our doctrines and systematic theologies don't con us into thinking we are genuinely connecting with the Living God. It is easy in these days to embrace a form of Christian faith that is devoted less to the experience of God than to abstractions about God. Quaker author Parker Palmer asks a great question in his Let Your Life Shine: "How did so many disembodied concepts emerge from a tradition whose central commitment is to 'the Word become flesh'?"

The aim of spending time in God's Word is not that we might have a relationship with our Bibles or become masters of theology (disembodied concepts- abstractions about God), but that we might truly encounter God himself in a relationship of reciprocal love (his love, of course, far out distancing, overpowering, and strengthening ours). 

John Piper's Public Announcement

John Piper’s ministry has influenced me a good deal over the years. I studied under John back in 1977 when he taught at the college I attended. John was just as fiery and passionate back in those days as he is now at 64 years of age. Maybe you’ve heard of John's public announcement that he is taking an eight month leave of absence to attend to his soul. Well, John has been applauded for taking this action from just about every corner of the Evangelical world. One friend of mine said: "This man restores my faith in pastors. Imagine that, a pastor admitting his sin."

I’d like to say something about this- something very few have said at this point. Quite frankly, I don’t understand why John felt the need to share this decision in the manner he did.  Leaders often take sabbaticals- and usually for the purpose of doing soul work: making adjustments due to pride; working on their marriage; repositioning for the future.  There is a reason that Jesus said: “When you fast, do it in secret.”

No one can question that John is a lover of truth (at least his brand of truth). However, I’ve been concerned about his forcefulness as of late. Most recently, I've noted John’s personal attacks on certain emergent leaders (even making innuendos about knowledge he has of unexposed immorality in their lives), homosexuals in his city (remember the bit about the Minneapolis tornado and the Lutherans?), and the manner of his sparing with Bishop N. T. Wright. Hopefully, a little break will help bring back a little tenderness not only to John’s marriage, but to his public voice as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkGq5A4QEjg

http://minnesotaindependent.com/42379/minneapolis-pastor-tornado-was-a-warning-to-lutherans-on-gay-inclusion

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xFzdeyK4Zw

What Sort of Old Guy Do I Want To Be?

When I was a young man, an older pastor said to me: "Scott, don't think too highly of what you'll be able to accomplish in life. The world will likely be worse off by the time you leave this planet." 


I loved that man so I trusted him and embraced his pessimism (also becoming a Calvinist). Now, at 52 years of age (probably about the age he was when he shared his counsel), I'm no longer certain the pastor gave such good advice. I agree, we ought not to 'think too highly of ourselves' (even Paul says that). Still, we ought to at least be trying to change the world (as well as enjoying the earthly life we've been given). Additionally, I no longer agree that the world is worse off today than it was when I was a younger man. I'd say it is just different (and that's okay). 


Now, I am the old guy (and not quite as Calvinistic as I once was). What sort of old guy am I? I know what I'd like to be- the sort of old guy that inspires youth to embrace the future with hope and work passionately to bring loving changes. 


To all my younger friends: "Go ahead: embrace the future with hope; make a loving mark wherever you can; and, enjoy the difference that's coming tomorrow. It won't be any better, won't be an worse- just different."