Labelmakers

These are some headlines I’ve been following in our state newspapers recently:

The football coach at one of our state universities wants to hire a chaplain for the team. A petition has been signed by several of the faculty of the school that challenges this hiring. While this position would be privately funded, some consider the presence of a chaplain—a Christian—inappropriate.[1]

Also, the “InnerChange Freedom Initiative,” a Christian-based prison treatment program operating at the Newton, IA Correction Facility is probably going to be discontinued. Statistics have shown that this program has reduced cases of prison violence and, more importantly, increased the percentages of former prisoners being successfully integrated into society as productive citizens. The program has been declared unconstitutional in court, claiming a conflict between the separation of church and state. While that ruling is still under appeal, our state government has passed a bill that removes funding from the program.[2]

When news like this is published, like me, you mourn the hostility and resistance to the Christian faith in the public life. Many find it easy to dismiss Christians as all being “right-wing” or “fundamentalist,” using those words as a label that when applied, makes the attempt to disqualify those people as too biased, too ignorant, too judgmental, or too…whatever criticism applies to a particular situation.

It makes my head and my heart hurt when others feel they can explain my faith away by giving it a label. Believers in Jesus Christ are more than labels. We have beliefs we hold as important—guided by God’s Word to hold. We have families, friendships, and communities we value and want to keep. By nature we want to have an environment that supports our beliefs and the relationships we hold to be important. Protecting those interests should be an understandable response, to do less would mean that whatever faith we profess doesn’t have enough value for us to defend it.

All that said, often many who claim faith in Christ have earned criticism. All too often, because of our sinfulness, we fail to reflect the will of the Creator. We can be hot-tempered, selfish, mean, sharp-tongued, judgmental, inconsistent, etc. The word, “hypocrite,” flies frequently and far too accurately toward us. We’re sinners. It’s too easy to forget that we’ve been called to a higher standard.

Scripture says that there will always be challenges to our faith—even persecution. Yet the Bible also holds us to a standard of faithfulness that calls through whatever challenges we have. There are many examples of this throughout the Bible. Since we are reading through Ephesians at this time, may we be challenged by considering these words from Ephesians 4:1-6:

“…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

A person who lives these words ends label making and starts label breaking.

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[1] “ISU President Wants Input from Council” The DesMoines Register & Tribune, May 30, 2007

[2] “Religious Prison Program in Doubt” The DesMoines Register & Tribune, June 1, 2007

a loner

Just a quick note....

Just thinking about the murders at Virginia Tech. One thing I realize is how the English language cannot begin to explain what went on at that campus. The press is using words like "tragedy," "rampage," and "massacre." Those words even fall short when thinking about the fact that 32 of the 33 people who died began that day without a hint that it would be their last.

Another thing, and this bothers me, the press is busy labeling the student who committed the murders as a "loner." As if this somehow provides an explanation. I guess it is our nature to try to make sense out of what appears to be senseless. For me, right now, I am content with senseless. I don't want to have an explanation that provides a reason for someone to end so many lives.

Book Fast

The local pizza place has special menu for Lent. This is a curiosity for me that I will have to see (and maybe sample) for myself. As I have seen in practiced, Christians, most often those in the Roman Catholic faith, observe the fast by refraining from eating meat on Fridays. Interestingly, fish have been excluded from being categorized as “meat.” Therefore, this is why it is so common to see the local organizations sponsoring a fish fry or fish dinners during this season.

“What are you giving up for Lent?” More and more, that question is being asked by Christians from a variety of traditions. The discipline of fasting is applied to a certain aspect of daily life, not necessarily being food. Some turn the television or the radio off for the six weeks of Lent. I have heard of others abstaining from sweets or desserts. Lauren Winner, in her memoir, “Girl Meets God,” gave up books.

For some of us, giving up books doesn’t seem like a sacrifice. However, to Winner, reading is a central part of her life. By her count at that time in her life, she owned almost three thousand books, all crammed in her graduate student apartment. Just for comparison, I took a quick estimate of the books in my own study. By my count, I own one fifth of the books that Winner had, and many of the books on my shelf are in the “yet to read” category. Giving up reading is a sacrifice for Lauren Winner.

Winner talks about how she started her fast from reading nobly, proud that this was something that she could do. Later, temptation crept in. In her words, she “cheated.”

“I grab the book and I dig in. I read all night. I feel like the dieter, long deprived of anything tasty, who decides to devour a gallon of Breyer’s in one sitting.” (127)

For Winner, she learned that reading was an escape, as she says, “an always cure” to bring relief from whatever event or issue was troubling her. Without that escape she found herself spending more time in prayer. Giving something up for Lent led her to give more time to God.

As I think about this passage, I think of some words of Jesus that challenge me. First, I ask myself, what do I hold on to so tightly that it keeps me from following Christ? Matthew 8:18-22 comes to mind, especially the last two verses. Under the heading, “The Cost of Following Jesus,” one disciple pledges to follow Jesus, but only after he has buried his father. Jesus counters with these words, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

I also think of Matthew 6:16-18, which contains Jesus’ admonition on how to fast. To paraphrase, Jesus says to keep the fact that you are fasting to yourself. Fasting isn’t something you do to show others how “religious” you are. Fasting is something that you do for God.

From Lenten pizza, to giving up something for Lent, to Jesus’ words, let me close with a couple of thoughts to tie things together. Fasting or “giving something up for Lent” can be a worthwhile exercise. It helps us identify the things we give priority to that have little to do with the nurturing of our faith. The question we should ask ourselves when considering a Lenten fast of one type or another is, “What would we be slow to give up when we apply Jesus’ words, “Follow me,” to our own lives?

Finally, if some of us do decide to “give something up for Lent,” it must not be used as a badge to reveal a superior spirituality. Winner’s fast from books encouraged her to prayer. What would a fast do for us? More time in prayer and devotions with God? An increased sensitivity to loving those around us? During this season of Lent, may we consider our willingness to leave all behind and to follow Jesus.

Swamped

Kid's programs, sermons to write, weddings to officiate, and too many distractions. Like the sunset out my window... More to write later...

Piles of books

Some people binge on chocolate. I binge on books... I have a pile on my desk right now that I purchased this weekend at a conference. They're staring at me right now. Don't get me wrong, they're good books, if books can be intrinsically good, that is. They're books I should read. But they are going to haunt me for a while--sitting there, just waiting for me to read them. Time to stop writing and get reading. No calories, at least.

New Orleans

So, I've just finished reading and watching the goings on in New Orleans. I have been shocked by the looting occurring and I am disgusted by it. I am not talking about those who have to steal to obtain food, water, clothing or necessary medicine, but I speak of the many pictures of people walking around with boxes of electronics or shopping carts full of stuff not necessary for survival.

It speaks of the depravity of humanity. It speaks of the discrepancy between the "haves" and "have nots" in our culture. It speaks of our need for a Savior.

I have to preach about grace and forgiveness this week. In the light of the crimes I have read and seen this past week, it will be tough. Grace and justice--it is hard to match those together. I pray that these people get relief soon and the authorities get things under control.

Here we go...

I am officially a blogger. Tune in while I find out more about the goings on about how this works.