The Lord built the earth by wisdom. He built the heavens by understanding. By what He knows, the seas were broken up and water falls from the sky. My son, do not allow them to leave your eyes. Keep perfect wisdom and careful thinking. (Proverbs 3:19-21)
An acquaintance recently posted the following comment on Facebook: "Don't pray in my school and I won't think in your church." What I find most fascinating about this comment is the assumption on the part of its author that "thinking" is an alien concept to church-goers, an activity incompatible with the church. This assumption reminds me of one of my college professors, who unapologetically claimed that Christians are shallow thinkers. Apparently we are all high on the so-called opiate of the masses, oblivious to logic and fact.
This is one Christ-follower who begs to differ.
Most everyone is familiar with the famous quote from Rene Descartes, "I think; therefore I am." In other words, human existence as we know it depends on the ability to think at some level. Because I'm thinking, I'm alive. Sooner or later, though, most of us get around to thinking about why we're thinking in the first place. We think about why we're here and exist at all. We think about what our purpose is, about where we're going, and about what this life means. We think about the good things and the bad, and wonder why those things happen when and in the manner they do. Hopefully, we get around to discovering the answer to all those ponderings: God.
So, if God is the answer, if He is the key to life, then how do we go about discovering the logic behind the answer? The instruction manual, of course! I suspect my Facebook acquaintance might consider the Bible to be nothing more than a novel filled with fanciful stories to be read from when bored and quickly returned to the shelf to resume collecting dust. What he and many others fail to understand is that the Bible is a treasure-trove of history, science, symbolism, and love. There are intricate wonders in the Bible so magnificant in their complexity and wisdom that they defy any and all attempts to rebut them. God's Word has consistently stood both the test of time and the test of...well...testing.
How has Christianity managed to thrive, despite routine attempts to undermine and destroy it? I doubt the answer is that millions of mindless saps have managed to convince millions more mindless saps to believe in a lie. I don't know about you, but I don't want to just blindly follow some random theory about the origin and purpose of life. I want to know exactly why I believe what I believe! I believe because there is historical evidence that Jesus lived and died on earth as the Son of God, that He rose from the dead, and that He ascended to heaven. More importantly, I believe because the Holy Spirit lives in me - powerful, irrefutable proof and all the evidence I'll ever need. Yes, God touched my heart and He touches it anew each day. But make no mistake, I would not believe in Jesus Christ if I did not think He was the Way, the Truth and the Life.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He told Thomas, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Christians are far from shallow thinkers. Following Christ in this fallen world takes faith, but it's a faith based in fact. If you ask me, that's pretty smart. That's using your head.
I think; therefore I am. I think because of I AM. I am because of Him. He is Life.
Class dismissed.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Now What?
Then
he said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me.”
(Luke 9:23)
Within this past week, we’ve transitioned from Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the sorrow of His arrest, scourging and crucifixion to the joy of His resurrection. That’s a lot to think about, consider and experience in one week’s time. Today, folks have gone back to their normal routines, or perhaps taken some time off in accordance with spring break schedules. The plastic eggs have been emptied of their candy and stored away. Next Sunday, the pews in most churches won’t be quite as full as they were just a day ago.
In other words, Easter is over…now what?
Let’s imagine for a moment what it would be like if each day of the year was Good Friday and Easter Sunday wrapped into one. What would that feel like? How would we behave? How much of our time would be spent on worship, in prayer, in studying Scripture, in serving others, in giving? How often would God enter our thoughts? Would we be more or less likely to get stressed out from our daily chores and obligations? Would we feel inspired to reach out to others, or would we feel like retreating back into our own little worlds? Would we feel further from God or closer to Him?
Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead once, which was all that was required. Our salvation is secured by accepting and proclaiming Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But as Christ-followers, we are called to take up our crosses daily. This means that death of some kind is required on a daily basis. For me, pride, selfishness and occasional spite (among many other sins) are frequent flyers on my daily cross. My salvation may have been secured the day I accepted Christ, but I’m need of a Savior on a daily basis. This means every day must be Good Friday.
In addition to telling us to take up our crosses daily, Jesus adds, “and follow me.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not too keen on following the dead. Not to sound crass, but the dead don’t say much and they certainly don’t do much. If dying on the cross for our sins was the end of Jesus’ purpose, then there would be no point in taking up our crosses daily – we’d be walking around aimlessly, continually lugging those heavy things around with no relief or purpose in sight. That’s no way to live. Following Christ means that after laying our sins at the cross, we are ready and willing to go where God wants us to go, and to do what He would have us do. That is most certainly a daily process for me. We can only follow what is alive and in motion, as Jesus is in each of us. So, every day must also be Easter Sunday.
Christ died and rose once for all of us, for all time. Let us accept the invitation, the challenge and the privilege to take up our crosses and follow Him – today, tomorrow, and always.
Within this past week, we’ve transitioned from Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the sorrow of His arrest, scourging and crucifixion to the joy of His resurrection. That’s a lot to think about, consider and experience in one week’s time. Today, folks have gone back to their normal routines, or perhaps taken some time off in accordance with spring break schedules. The plastic eggs have been emptied of their candy and stored away. Next Sunday, the pews in most churches won’t be quite as full as they were just a day ago.
In other words, Easter is over…now what?
Let’s imagine for a moment what it would be like if each day of the year was Good Friday and Easter Sunday wrapped into one. What would that feel like? How would we behave? How much of our time would be spent on worship, in prayer, in studying Scripture, in serving others, in giving? How often would God enter our thoughts? Would we be more or less likely to get stressed out from our daily chores and obligations? Would we feel inspired to reach out to others, or would we feel like retreating back into our own little worlds? Would we feel further from God or closer to Him?
Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead once, which was all that was required. Our salvation is secured by accepting and proclaiming Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But as Christ-followers, we are called to take up our crosses daily. This means that death of some kind is required on a daily basis. For me, pride, selfishness and occasional spite (among many other sins) are frequent flyers on my daily cross. My salvation may have been secured the day I accepted Christ, but I’m need of a Savior on a daily basis. This means every day must be Good Friday.
In addition to telling us to take up our crosses daily, Jesus adds, “and follow me.” I don’t know about you, but I’m not too keen on following the dead. Not to sound crass, but the dead don’t say much and they certainly don’t do much. If dying on the cross for our sins was the end of Jesus’ purpose, then there would be no point in taking up our crosses daily – we’d be walking around aimlessly, continually lugging those heavy things around with no relief or purpose in sight. That’s no way to live. Following Christ means that after laying our sins at the cross, we are ready and willing to go where God wants us to go, and to do what He would have us do. That is most certainly a daily process for me. We can only follow what is alive and in motion, as Jesus is in each of us. So, every day must also be Easter Sunday.
Christ died and rose once for all of us, for all time. Let us accept the invitation, the challenge and the privilege to take up our crosses and follow Him – today, tomorrow, and always.
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