If I Could Just Answer This Question

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

The below paragraph is excerpted and modified from my prayer journal this morning. If you’re dropping in for the first time, this will make more sense when taken with previous entries. To provide minimal background, I am legally blind, my wife has Multiple Sclerosis. We attend a church that is designed to serve people with disabilities and we have founded our own organization to build more congregations that facilitate participation in ministry by everyone regardless of disability.

I can only do what I can with what I know, but I still can’t shake the idea that we should be bringing healing, not excuses and ways to make the best of life as it is. I know God uses evil for good, but should we then embrace the evil for the good He will do with it? If we ask that question with the word sin in it, few would ascent to it. Sickness or disability isn’t sin, but it’s still bad. Though we may thank God for using the bad for good, should we be thankful for the bad? It doesn’t compute for me.

I’ll keep doing what seems to be before me, but I can’t help wondering if we’re missing God’s best. I hesitate to even post this. I’ve wrestled with this question in my own life almost as long as I can remember. I was raised with all the scriptures. I don’t need to hear them again from self righteous children who have never had to live with these questions. Yet I write in the spirit of openness, desperately seeking an answer that makes everything fit together. Maybe I must wait until the Holy Spirit Himself chooses to enlighten me, and that might not be While I remain on the earth.

My Pet Program

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

I’ve heard it said that everyone believes in cutting government programs until you get to the one they like. Now here’s my confession. I’ve got one too. I’ve been an avid reader as long as I can remember. For me, reading generally means listening to a book that someone else has read aloud onto a recording. The source for most of those recordings has been the National Library Service’s Talking Book Program. First the books came on vinyl, then cassette, and now finally they are moving to digital media. I even read a Braille book or two on the way, mostly at the insistence of teachers who lacked the ability to conceive that one might comprehend just as well a book listened to. I’m not sure that the process of getting the information through one’s fingers is all that much like the visual process they thought to force me to emulate, but they meant well. I would point out that the books I read by their compulsion are just about the only ones I read that way. Whatever shortcomings my education may have had, I think it’s safe to say that literacy and vocabulary were not among them. Spelling, ok, you have me there. J

I’m digressing from the point. The availability of all those recorded books largely contributed to my development. I can’t imagine life without the benefit of that resource and would find it hard to say that it should be denied to others. However, I double checked, and I do not see any constitutional authority of Congress to create and maintain libraries. They are a time honored feature of civilized society and of great value to the general betterment of them. I do not say that we should defund and close down libraries, but I find myself wondering what things might be like if governmental agents hadn’t entered the market for books.

I tend to think that government distorts this market just as it does everything else it touches. The library byes one book and lends it to numberless patrons who will not need to purchase their own copy in order to enjoy it. Can that statement be extended to the specialized services for those with reading disabilities? Granted, we are a small niche, but my experience suggests the market might have done a better job sooner without government competition.

Here’s why.  My library usage has fallen precipitously over the last few years. The reason for that is namely audible.com. NLS is only in the past couple of years rolling out a digital book program, but Audible preceded it by nearly a decade. Audible discovered a market for digital audio books and did it better. I was thrilled to be able to get books as soon as audio versions were published and read them without resort to a bulky cassette player and the need to wait for the postal service. The library may still win on selection, but I wonder if that will last. How much sooner might this have happened if blind people were a part of the general market instead of receiving the same thing for free.

P.S.  I wrote this in 2009.  It’s 2015 now and technology has progressed further.  It is now possible to read just about anything and it’s not even necessary to have someone record it.  That’s still a nicer way to hear a book than to have a computer read it, but we’re no longer dependent on narrators.  If a book comes out today and I want it, I can go to Amazon, Barns and Noble, or Google Books and buy it.  Apps on my phone will read it to me.  Yes, I think a little arm twisting may have hastened the process along.  I’m not sure how I feel about that, but that’s a topic for another blog post.  We’re here, and I do still wonder if it might have been sooner.  Not that I’m complaining.  If we were given the choice most of us would not choose to be blind, but we are blessed to live at this time in history.  There has never been so much available to us.

Notable Quote

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

“”Not only is there a need for release from sin and self righteousness; many who are bound as well by supernatural experience need release also.  Due to curiosity and the prospect of pleasant sensations, Christians gladly welcome these supernatural phenomena, not recognizing that these merely puff up their pride without producing any real or lasting result in terms of a holy and righteous life or spiritual work.”  – Watchman Nee from The Spiritual Man.

Reimagining Church

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

I should point out first of all that this is not a proper book review. To be true to my word to the person who commented on my opinion of Pagan Christianity By Frank Viola and George Barna, I read the follow-up book, Reimagining Church. If I am to do the book justice, I need to carefully study all the scripture references it contains and see if they really back up what Mr. Viola is saying. What I’m writing down today are just first impressions. I’m intrigued enough to go back at some point and do that research, because much of what he says makes sense to me.

I’ve also waited too long to comment on what I’ve read, so that all I am left with are impressions that largely preceded the book and that it only strengthened. So why write? I don’t have a good answer for that, except that it’s on my list of things to do and I like doing it.

I’ve gone to church all my life. I’ve spent time in several types of services. I’ve been Baptist, Pentecostal, Assembly of God, and Charismatic. I’ve visited a Catholic service and even a synagogue. One thing is common to them all. They all engage in a set of ritual processes that vary little from week to week. They all put people in front of the congregation who conduct them through the rituals. The people may participate only to the extent they are permitted. They are all different in many ways, but I have not been to one yet where I didn’t eventually begin to wonder, “Why am I here?”

I’m sitting on a bench or chair for one to two hours while we go through the same motions each time we come. In some churches I may stand for a while. Some people may even dance around a bit or run up to the front for a little emotional stimulation if the venue permits such things. Occasionally if people get real excited the preacher might give up his sermon slot to let it continue, but most of the time I am not convinced that anything more than that occurred. It’s not that I think it can’t. I’ve seen God work in those situations. I’ve received ministry in those settings. Any time God’s truth is spoken He can use it. Any time He is truly worshiped He will respond.

I am coming to think there’s a better way, and yes, the book encouraged me in this thinking. The traditional church setting, whatever flavor you like, cannot provide for the needs of the people efficiently. Churches have recognized this. The small group movement has been one of the best answers to the problem, and I am not sold on the idea that small groups within a traditional church can’t still be an effective way to deal with it.

That still leaves some good questions unanswered. If the best ministry occurs in the small group setting, do we need the large corporate meeting? They can be enjoyable, and there are many gifted teachers out there with much good to say. It would be a shame to limit their reach, but what of the resources it takes to maintain them? How much of a typical congregation’s budget must go to maintain a large meeting facility? Would not that money be better spent addressing the needs of the poor, funding missionaries, etc?

Yesterday Linda and I attended our first public gathering in support of Mission Accessible, the non-profit she has just founded to promote the spread of disability related ministry. It was a small group, some of whom were in open opposition to some of Christianity’s core beliefs. Yet as the discussion progressed I felt that we achieved in that gathering something rarely managed in a traditional church setting. Each person got the opportunity to share, and some felt comfortable enough to reveal aspects of their lives we had not known before and that I feel fairly certain would never have come out in church. That meeting had within it the seeds of a real “organic” church experience. Because we did not set out to do this and had no real plans other than to get to know one another and investigate the possibilities, I would not characterize it as a church meeting, but who says it needs to be? In future I would be more purposeful in orienting the group toward the pursuit of Yahweh, but I was excited by the potential. Honestly I am a little frightened by the prospect of trying to build something on our little group. We don’t seem to have the foundation we need, but there is still and will always be opportunity to add more. That’s what we’re about.

After saying that I feel I may need to reassure some of the folks who may read this. We’re committed to Bartimaeus Baptist Temple. We believe that its ministry (our ministry) is vital and have the greatest respect for our pastor and church family. We love you and will be there until God makes it clear to all of us that it’s time to move on. It would not surprise me if that time never comes. We will operate within the framework and authority of the church. We will also be seeking the Lord for what else He may call us to do, and I highly doubt that it will look much at all like a church as most long-time Christians know it. It will be the first of many. Most will meet in some facility or other, not because we need the buildings to be a church, but because the people we mean to serve need an accessible place to meet. Most homes won’t qualify. We will go to where they are and bring them if they can come. If they can’t come we will meet them where they are. It is our vision not simply to minister to people with disabilities, but through them. Our message is that all, whether disabled or not, are created with a purpose in His kingdom. We exist to provide the opportunity for love, fellowship, and purpose in a segment of the population often overlooked or marginalized. This is how I reimagine church.

Quote for the Day

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

“What do Obama and God have in common? Neither has a birth certificate. How do they differ? God does not think he’s Obama. And there’s another difference between God and Obama, and that is that liberals love Obama. We have some more differences for you here between President Obama and God. God asks for only 10 percent of your money. God gives you freedom to live your life as you choose. God’s plan to save us is actually written down for people to read.” –radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh

Courtesy of The Patriot Post

Black

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

Black clouds gather on the horizon. A sea named Hope is now called Despair. Thunder rumbles, signaling the impending doom of a heart attack.

Black, the depths of the sea, with nothing but the creatures of myth for company. There is no light; no life; no hope of rescue. None can find me, for I did not wish to be found.

Black as the back of an eyelid; light little more than an idea dimly perceived. Dare to open the eye and see the truth, or be blinded by its light and see no more forever. Sleep seems sweet but brings no comfort; only the dark demons of the black who would that I wake no more.

Black as the hole in space where gravity crushes light itself. Therein calls the promise of oblivion, burning with the unseen fires of Hell.

A Mega Problem

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

I usually don’t take anything from the newspaper or the alphabet press very seriously, but an article from the Dallas Morning News interested me because of the things I’ve been reading lately and my own experience. The study found megachurch-goers to be younger and less active

For all the wonderful things that big churches are able to do, they do not seem to be able to provide what the people really need.  This is not necessarily for lack of trying.  The environment works against them, because it’s an easy place for congregants to hide in plain sight.  Nothing will be required of them because no one knows who they are.  They can enjoy a slick presentation, feel good about doing their Christian duty for the week, and leave unchanged.

Music Notes

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

I didn’t write last week because I didn’t feel well and I had a sermon to prepare. This week I’ve gotten a little tired of slogging through the bad news, so I thought today I’d try to find something lighter to write about.

Shortly after joining Facebook last year I found the Living Social application. Being a book and music lover I took to it right away and started adding my collection. Both the book and music collections now reflect just a small fraction of what I own, have read, or have listened to, but I enjoy sharing as I find new things.

The thing that got me thinking about this topic was that they want you to rate each album. That makes sense, but I then began to wonder who listens to complete albums anymore. I suppose a lot do, but in the age of MP3, that number has to be falling. Even if I by a CD, the first thing I do with it is load it to my computer. I listen through the album one time, rating and categorizing as I go. After that, I may never hear the album from start to finish again.

I think it is entirely possible that I bought my last CD a few months ago. I used BMG for nearly twelve years, but the service they provided is now replaced with a new one and I don’t like its terms. My last few purchases have been MP3 only from Amazon. I refuse to buy anything with DRM. It’s not that I intend to share with the world. I simply see no reason to tolerate restrictions on how and where I can play a song. Now with DRM free downloads readily available, my last reason to own CDs is gone. I have redundant backups of my MP3 collection.

I still buy whole albums for the most part. I only cherry pick old stuff where I already know what I like and what I don’t. Sometimes good songs take a while to be seen for what they are, so I buy the whole thing in hopes that beyond my first impressions lay hidden gems.

Are people who download their music buying whole albums? If so, are they listening to them that way? I don’t. I have thousands of titles mixed according to my preference of the moment. So when Living Social asks me to rate an album, I have no idea unless it’s one I’ve had for a long time and particularly like. Even so it may have been years since I listened through it on a CD player. I think a song based model that could tap into one’s personal library to pick up titles and ratings would be a better system for the way music lovers are interacting with their collections today.

On the other hand, maybe I make a false assumption that other people are processing music the same way I do. Do you still think in albums?

So Who Did It?

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

This year I’ve been using Bible Gateway’s chronological reading plan.  It attempts to organize the text by the order in which things happened.  So today I read 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 back to back and found something interesting.

2 Sam 24:1 Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”

1 Ch 21:1 Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.

I have not done sufficient study to understand why David should have known better, but what interests me more about these passages is the contrasting sources of his motivation.  I am reminded of Job’s story, and the question arises, does it matter who did it?  I don’t think I can count the number of times I’ve heard “God would not…”  “God would not make someone sick.”  “God would not cause calamity in a person’s life.”  “God would not…supply your own ending.”  Does the Bible itself not say “Let no one say when he is tempted, ” I am being tempted by God“; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (James 1:13)

So what is happening here, and what does it mean?  Does it mean anything to say that God won’t do this or that when He is limited only by His own choice?  Many people will say, “God allows it.”  That bit of semantics permits us to keep the image we have of who we thing God should be untarnished.

We are made in His image.  He is not made in ours.  He will not conform to our ideas of right and wrong.  He defines what love is.  He is truth.  He is sovereign.  I don’t understand Him.  I question and sometimes dare to challenge Him, but I also place my hope in Him.  I put my trust in Him because there is no other who cannot fail.  He may disappoint me for a season when He doesn’t do what I think he should, but I know in those times that I am the one who has failed.  I rejoice in His amazing mercy and grace that I can be restored to Him and live to know Him better.

However we process these two accounts, one thing seems clear to me.  David made his choice.  That choice resulted in consequences not only for him but for the entire nation.  It wasn’t the first time.  David’s sin with Bathsheba planted the seeds of his kingdom’s division.  God does allow us our choices.  Neither the fact that we make those choices nor the fact that we were predestined through the act of creation by an omniscient God diminish the seemingly contradictory realities of His sovereignty and our free will.

Seek Reconciliation, Not Retribution

The Lion's Roar Posted on by

I don’t have anything new to say today, so I will share something old. I wrote this for use in a small group I was in a few years ago. I’m going to be sharing it in church today. If you’ve been to the BBT site within the week you may have already seen it. I have adapted the text below for the actual sermon today, but I still feel I’m missing something, so maybe this is God’s way of getting me to find it.

Matthew 18:15-17 is often quoted as the proper procedure for dealing with someone who wrongs us. This is an appropriate use of the passage. However, reading it in context adds a great deal of depth to Jesus’ words. Everything in chapter eighteen fits together. That helps explain why these verses were written. After all, doesn’t Paul say in 1 Corinthians 13:5 that love does not take into account a wrong suffered? Why would this seemingly contradictory procedure be explained by Jesus Himself?

Now would be a good time to read Matthew 18.

Beginning in verse 1, Jesus’ disciples ask him who will be greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. A similar account in Mark chapter nine suggests that they may have just been arguing about which of them would be greatest. Their intent was self-serving. This sets the stage for the remainder of chapter eighteen, which drives our attention toward putting the welfare of the least among us ahead of our own. Even in the case of one who sins against us, our approach is to be redemptive. We are to give every opportunity to the one who is sinning to repent. Excommunication is the last resort, reserved for those unwilling to repent. Furthermore, we are instructed that we must forgive. Beginning in verse 22, Jesus illustrates the dyer consequences of unforgiveness.

Jesus expounds upon His message from several angles, beginning with the example of a small child. The child exemplifies faith, trust, humility, and vulnerability. Without that child-like faith and trust in our Heavenly Father, we cannot know Him. We must recognize His lordship and come to Him as children to a loving father (v. 3-4.)

Jesus places great value on this tender and trusting heart. He promises a strong judgment to anyone who causes damage to that special relationship (v. 5-7.) It is interesting that this is the context in which we find the often-quoted verses concerning the cutting off of offending body parts. Is it possible that there is a deeper meaning here related to the body of Christ? Perhaps god will not even spare members of His own who turn and cause the week to stumble. There is also a judgment for a body that will not cut off those offending members (v. 8-9.)

It is important to remember that the theme of this chapter is redemptive in nature. Following the difficult words in verses five through nine, Jesus again expresses how important the Father’s children are to Him (v. 10.) “… their angels always see the face of My Father …” The theme continues with the illustration of the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep to go find the one that is lost. He rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that had not gone astray (v. 11-14.)

Now, we come to the verses we set out to explore. Note that verse fifteen begins with “moreover.” This is not a filler word, inserted by translators to improve English readability. Jesus is still speaking, and is still on the same subject. That is the context in which we should read these verses. Remember that this teaching began when the disciples wanted to know who was greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells them that they must be like children, and then explains the value of children to the Father and the judgment for causing them to stumble. One might ask why verse fifteen is attached to this teaching. Jesus obviously intended for us to consider this passage in light of what He has just said. When we come to our brother who has sinned against us, we are to keep in mind that Jesus came to “save that which was lost.” The purpose of confronting him is not to right the wrong done to you, but to restore your brother to a right relationship with Jesus and the body (“…you have won your brother.” V. 15) It is not for your benefit that you seek his repentance, but for his.

By bringing one or two witnesses, we confirm that there is a problem. There is another good reason for bringing in additional witnesses. By so doing, you may convince him that he needs to repent. On the other hand, you may discover that the real problem is you. Choose your witnesses carefully. Be willing to accept that you may be the one who needs to repent. These witnesses provide another layer of protection for the one who is accused. They may help him to repent, or they may protect him from being needlessly wounded, or caused to stumble.

In verse seventeen, the matter is not in doubt, and it has come before the church. We see again the opportunity for repentance given. This is not a crusade to destroy the guilty. It is a rescue mission, with every available means of salvation extended to the fallen brother. Why, then, are we finally told, “let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector?” Jesus is speaking to Jews, for whom these groups of people were not to be associated with.

There is a punishment involved. Read I Corinthians 5:1-6 and I Timothy 1:19-20. Note that in these passages the end is still redemptive. The protection of the rest of the body must be considered. See also Revelations 2:18-23. The one who will not repent of his sin may cause others to fall away. This is the man we are not to permit in our midst. In I Corinthians chapter 5, Paul speaks against the toleration of flagrant sin in the church.

When I read verses eighteen through twenty, I hear, “Wait! Don’t give up on him yet! Your prayers have power. If you will pray together in unity, your requests will be granted. You will yet have your brother back!” There is no indication of a break between verses seventeen and eighteen. He is still on the same subject.

There may have been some time between twenty and twenty-one. However, it appears that Peter is asking a question based on the teaching Jesus had just completed. This indicates that Peter understood that forgiveness was a key component of the lesson. In the remainder of the chapter, Jesus drives home His point with the story of the king who forgave his servant a large debt, which he could not possibly repay. He then went out and found a fellow servant who owed him a relatively small amount and threw him into prison until the debt could be repaid. This angered the king. The first servant was sentenced to torture until he could repay the debt. At this sentencing, it was really too late. He could not repay the debt, so it was a life sentence. When Jesus later died on the cross, he paid for our sins. When we asked Him, He forgave us everything, and gave us eternal life. He has told us that we cannot have His forgiveness unless we are willing to forgive one another.

Around the verses so often cited as a way to deal with sin in the church or a way to deal with a personal conflict is a pattern of redemption. Jesus came to save the sinner. We have all been forgiven much and must come to Him in the faith and humility of a child. We are to put others, even those who have wronged us, ahead of ourselves. Our goals are always to be forgiveness and reconciliation. This is what Jesus modeled for us (Rom 5:8.)