The War

"sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

- Genesis 4:7

There is a war going on in my life right now. It is the war to know, to be aware. It is a war to understand the things of this world. It is a war to play a role in the free society that I exist in. It is a war to take the gospel to the front lines of the issues that exist in the culture that I live in. There have been so many obstacles in this war, including myself. It has been much easier to stand aside than to walk up to the front lines and stand waiting to get mowed down. So in the spirit of this war, a few questions have been germinating in my mind. What is my role in this world? Spiritual leaders, warriors of the faith, where have you gone?

Please understand, my frustrations are not pointed at any specific individuals necessarily, but rather in a system of thought, be it apathy or fear of the unknown, that I feel permeates the minds of an unfortunate majority. This idea comes out of some conversations that I have had lately with some people that I call "conversational deflectionists." That is, it seems as if they are always getting out of a hard conversation using any means possible. This is discouraging to me, because the conversations that I have with them are vital in preparation for the battle. At times, these conversations have brought me to a place of anger and frustration at those who have gone before me. They chalk it up to "same song, different verse." That's not good enough for me. I feel that it is statements like that which continue to promote apathy in my generation. I understand that war, politics, our current tax system, and the rest of the political society that we live in are not very fun things to talk about at times. I can also understand how it would be hard to perceive them as spiritual matters. However, if we choose to live in this free society, then we had better gird up to fight for what is right.

"I've come to the conclusion that roughly fifty percent of the adults in this country are simply too ignorant and functionally incompetent to be living in a free society"

- Neal Boortz

So to address my first question. What is my role in this world? To become educated. To understand as best that I can the way of the world and play the role that God has given me to influence it for the Kingdom. That is who I want to be and what I feel called to. I want to become a spiritual warrior and fight for that which I know to be true. I want to be a disciple, trained and prepared by those who have gone before me. So, men and women of the faith...rise up.

This leads me to my second question. Where have the spiritual leaders and warriors gone? Are you there? If you are, why is it that so many of you choose to not engage in the culture and society that we live in? There are people who are looking to you to fight. There are people looking to you as an example. Teach us the ways of the world, not that we might follow in them, but that we might learn how to live for the gospel in them. Teach us how to discern the voice of the Spirit on these matters which bombard our culture in the most manipulative of ways.

Achilles was a mighty warrior. He could not be struck down. He was the greatest fighter in his army. They would not go to battle without him. There were times when Achilles would stay behind with his mistresses because he didn't feel it was his war to fight. The lives of many men were lost because of his choice to not fight. That is how I see you sometimes, men of the faith. Not willing to fight. To tired. To afraid. Or maybe it's just not your battle. At the same time, lives are being lost. Mine is one of them.

Again, this is not a generalization. However, it is a charge to those living in apathy, whatever form it takes. Step outside for a moment and smell the possibility of something different. Play the role that you are called to as free citizens. Teach those around you.

As the scripture at the edge of this blog says, I see the sin crouching at my door, and I choose to master it, not hide from it and allow it to pass on to someone else.

Truth from a Heretic

What is right? What is wrong?

The answers to these two questions set the motion and direction for a large portion of the life that I live. I also feel that I am not alone in saying that there are many other humans out there who would agree with the idea that there is such a thing as inerrant right, and an inerrant wrong, that make up inerrant truth. The key word in the previous sentance is "humans." When we mate our humanity with what we believe is the inerrant truth, what is conceived is relative truth. When the inerrant truth enters our mind and is maintenanced by the tools and trinkets of our heart - our perspective, ideas, culture, and filters that are built by our experience - we create what turns out to be relative truth.

In the small amount of time that these thoughts have been rolling around in my brain I have come to realize the difficulty that this can create in relationships if it is allowed to. There is a mighty collision that can occur when two people with different perceptions of inerrant truth come together. Note that the inerrant truth that exists in the universe is what it is. Yet two people meet with their own humanistic manipulations of that exact truth based on their own unique experiences. This precise coordinate is where relational friction is created (I am not speaking to all relational difficulty, only that which relates to this specific context).

My hope and point in all of this is that the realization of what is created (when my humanity, smitten by the fall, comes in contact with inerrant truth) would be something to be used to the benifit of the relationships that I now have. Realizing the possibility of this idea being fact positions me to give grace abundantly. It positions me to realize that we all speak out of our own experiences that have created a filter in our minds that everything we read, see, and hear travels through. It reminds me that the perspectives that different individuals have or create based on the truth are valid because of their experience and how it relates to truth. It reminds me that we are on a journey together to find the truth that is buried in the depths of our hearts, and not rest until it is taken out of the grave we placed it in.

So by this idea I am encouraged. I want to give the same grace to others that God gives to me when I take the truth that he has spoken and turn it into heresy. May you as well give grace abundantly as the Lord has first given a never-ceasing grace to you, as you stumble and make your way through the journey and adventure to discover truth. And if the life of Christ dwells in the deepest parts of your soul, giving it life, may you move in the power that he so immensly supplies.

We journey together.

Superman Returns in Messiah Form

"You will be different. Sometimes, you'll feel like an outcast, but you will never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes as your life will be seen through mine. A son becomes the Father, and the Father becomes the son."

- Superman

I watched Superman Returns today, and until today I never had thought that Superman and Jesus had anything in common. But now I am aware. These words were the words to Superman from his Father that he later gave to his son. It was as if I was listening to the voice of Jesus as Superman spoke these words. When I heard this, a picture came into my mind of God sending Jesus to come down to earth and live amongst the broken, fully being human, and fully being God. I saw a picture of the Father speaking these words to his son, Jesus. Read the quote in that context. Then I heard Jesus speak them to me. As I heard this charge I became proud. The significance in this for me was sonship. Today I have clearly seen myself as a son of God.

In Ephesians 1:4-6, it says, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."

Today I rejoice in this. I will be different. Although I feel like an outcast, I will never be alone. I will make the Fathers strength my own. In our unity I will become more like him. And I will be with him in the "Fortress of Solitude" in my mind, and in my heart. I will meet him there.

This is what it meant for me. For references, watch the movie.