How is God using the USA?

"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' (Romans 9:17)

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1)

On my 3 hour drive back home from seeing family over Thanksgiving I listened to an old Matt Chandler sermon on government and institutions. (Listen to sermon here: Government and Institutions) He was going through Romans 9 and Romans 13:1-7, and discussing the way in which God uses governments. This led to me reflecting on these passages in Romans, and I thought I would share my thoughts with you.

All governments, even the bad ones, have been instituted by God. Yes, this includes Pol Pot, Hitler, Saddam, and countless other evil men. Consider Romans 9:17- "...For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' " Pharaoh was a horrible ruler. He's the same ruler that ordered all Hebrew males be killed. He was also the ruler that kept God's people as slaves and used them to build idolatrous monuments to his greatness. Yet we see in Romans that God raised up Pharaoh, and that the authority he had was from God. We don't always know why God allows certain rulers to rise in power, but we can be sure that it will ultimately glorify the name of God, and be used to His glory. One small glimpse we get into how God can use even evil governments is in the case of Rome. By no means was Rome a God-fearing empire, yet Romans 13 tells us that the Roman government was instituted by God. Consider this: Because of the Roman empire, there was a widespread peace that the world had perhaps never seen. This peace allowed the establishment of larger and larger cities where cultural advancements flourished. Rome's cultural influence was felt in previously unreachable areas, in large part due to the development of roads. It was these roads, and this safety, developed by the sinful, evil empire of Rome, that allowed the gospel to spread throughout the world.

It's amazing that when we step back from our immediate human perspective and attempt to see things from an eternal Divine perspective we catch a glimpse of how God uses the power of government for the advancement of His kingdom.

This leads me to the question that titles this post: "How is God using the USA?" Similar to Rome, the United States is the most powerful nation in the world. Also similar to Rome is our influence on culture.I recently read an article that talks about the influence the American military has had on Iraq. Thanks to our military presence, the Iraqi youth will be bumpin Biggie and Tupac for years to come! (http://news.yahoo.com/us-military-legacy-rubs-off-iraqi-youth-165333231.html) Sometimes this cultural influence is more profound, such as the desire for freedom that led to the Berlin wall being torn down. America has been used by God, there is no question about that. But we are not a Christian nation. And we never will be. Being used by God should not be what constitutes a Christian nation, otherwise we could just as easily say that the Roman empire, and the Egyptian kingdom were "Christian" nations. Yet we know that God is using the USA. If he used Egypt to showcase his glory, provision, and power to the Jewish people, and he used the Roman empire to secure His plan of salvation, and further the spread of the gospel, how might he be using the U.S.?

I believe one way God intends to use the U.S., is through the very thing we are so afraid to give up; our finances. We are the richest nation on earth. We have the technological and financial means to advance the gospel throughout all of the world. When I say "gospel" I don't just mean preaching about Jesus, although of course that is included. I am also talking about what I'll call gospel-kingdom advancements such as adoption. Most Americans are in the unique place globally of having the means to adopt children that would otherwise have no concept of love, protection, or grace. What an amazing opportunity to showcase the heart of our Father God through the process of adoption! Additionally, we have the ability for gospel-kingdom advancements in other areas as well, but too often our real god gets in the way. Just look at what has made the headlines in the news over the last several weeks. Arguments about contracts in the NBA, the occupy Wall Street movement, and of course there was the recent Black Friday debacles, where people literally ran over, shot, and pepper sprayed their fellow human beings all in an effort to gain more stuff. Money is the American God, but like all idols money is a good thing that nationally we have made an ultimate thing. I think our false "god" provides a glimpse into how the true God is using the United States.

Our wealth is unprecedented as a nation. But will we see money as, to quote Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll, "god" or "gift"? How is God using the USA? Of course we cannot know for sure how he is ultimately using this country or how he will use the legacy of this nation to glorify his name, but I would submit to you, that God is after our money. I believe this is one way that God is going to, and is using the U.S. at this time in history for the advancement of the gospel and the furtherance of His kingdom. Which kingdom do you bow to? "You cannot serve both God and money" (Luke 16:13). As a nation, I wonder what repentance of our false god would look like? Regardless of whether or not we individually and collectively repent of our idolization of our pocketbooks we can be sure of one thing: God's name will be glorified. The only question for me, is whether it will be through our repentance or our destruction. Soli Deo Gloria.

Random

Occasionally, when I'm reading, my brain wants to stop concentrating. The most recent form this has taken is for my brain to begin pondering random questions most of which I am sure are utterly pointless. However, once in a while I am actually pleasantly surprised by the randomness and it develops into somewhat of a conversation piece with co-workers and friends. Sometimes it causes us to think more deeply about scripture, and sometimes they're just setups for fun debate. I thought I would post a few of these random thoughts that go through my head for your enjoyment. Let me know which ones you thought were particularly interesting. If you think of any thoughts or questions that would fit this form please feel free to add them to the comment stream.

1.) Why did Jesus say "Father forgive them..."? Did this make them forgiven? Also the rest of that quote is "...FOR (emphasis mine) they know not what they do." Is their ignorance connected to the reason they should be forgiven?

2.) Were Adam and Eve saved before they fell? (No sin nature, perfect harmony with God) If so, would that constitute "losing" one's salvation?

3.) Sin existed before the fall of Adam and Eve. (Lucifer's rebellion) Satan was given some degree of authority over the earth or at the very least was already existing there... 1.) When in the Biblical timeline was he cast out? (Prior to the creation of Man? Animals? Must have been after the earth was created because God declared everything on the earth "good". 2.) Would not Satan's prior sin and exile to earth indicate earth was already "cursed" to some degree? Might the garden have been protected in some way from the cursed earth?

4.) Why do we pray over a meal, but not usually over a single drink? (Starbucks for example)

5.) Does sin (the curse) only effect the earth? If it effects the whole universe doesn't that exclude the possibility of extra-terrestrial life? If other objects or beings in the solar system are not cursed, why should they ever die?

6.) Jesus could not/cannot sin, angels cannot currently sin, human beings in heaven cannot sin; why then do we think that "free will" is a necessary component of loving God? (1 Cor 15:52)

7.) Was Jesus inerrant (did not err) or was he infallible (could not err)?

8.) Did/do angels die in battle with demons. Where would they go when they die?

9.) Why does Paul say Jesus is our only intercessor yet the Holy Spirit is also given this title (1 Timothy 2:5)

10.) Why did Jesus need to "prepare a place" for us in heaven when heaven already existed?

11.) Why did Jesus have to be conceived of by the Holy Spirit? Couldn't he have conceived himself?

12.) Adam and Eve didn't have a sinful nature yet they sinned. Do we necessarily need to have a sinful nature to sin?

13.) Jesus had to learn perfection!? What does this tell us about his early life? Did he have to learn to be a good speaker, kind, humorous?; Did he at one point make mistakes as a carpenter? (Hebrews 5:8-9)

14.) Little kids can be possesed!? Couldn't this be an argument for sinful nature from birth? (Matt 15:22, 9:17-27)

15.) Why does Jesus spit on the handicapped to heal them? (Mark 7:32-35, Mark 8:22-25, John 9:1-7)

16.) Why did Jesus tell people not to say what he had done? (Matt 8:1-4) Why did he not allow demons to testify to who he was? (Mark 1:34) Why did he not allow his disciples to share that he was the Messiah? (Matt 16:20)

17.) Talk about redemption and God choosing the wicked! Joseph would seem the likely pick for the lineage of Jesus yet it is his murderous jerk older brother Judah that receives this blessing!

18.) Jesus was given a pep talk by an angel in the garden. That's amazing to think about. (Luke 22:43)

19.) Who are the offspring of Satan? (Gen 3:15)

20.) If Jesus was indeed virgin born, why didn't Mary immediately recognize him as God? Such as when her and Jesus' brothers came out to seize him because they thought him out of his mind. (Mark 3:20-21)

Hope you found these as thought provoking as I did! Thanks for reading.

Triangles

In my graduate studies I have become very interested in the therapeutic concepts of immeshment, fusion, triangles, and differentiation as it relates to God and to the church. These concepts describe different patterns of human interaction within relationships. Of particualr interest to me is the concept of the therapeutic triangle. The therapeutic triangle describes a pattern of interaction where one member of a family or a relationship will join with another member to secure a position of power. A triangle also enables the two members that comprise the base of the traingle to mask their feelings or thoughts through each other instead of dealing with their emotions and thoughts themselves. I am curious about whether or not we trianlgle our pastors in an attempt to mask our feelings or thoughts about God or even worse to filter God's response to us. In what ways does this take the responsibility away from us and leave it in the lap of the pastor? Are we enmeshed with God? What would being differentiated look like?

People of the Book

One of the great things about attending a private institution is the school's acknowledgement of the spiritual component in human beings. I am not talking about Christianity necessarily, I am simply talking about seeing human beings as dualistic beings. I think that some people have chosen to label and direct their spirituality in a particular way, usually toward a religion that accommodates their social and ethical beliefs. If there is an underlying spiritual nature to every human being than there is a modicum of truth in the way every person tries to experience it. I think this also explains why talking with people of different religions can help shed new light on the way you choose to practice your spirituality. For me Buddhism was insightful because of their focus on meditation and silence. This is a component that I believe would be deeply rewarding if I could learn to effectively incorporate it into my spirituality. I was recently able to meet with an Imam of a local Muslim community center, and ask him questions about Muslim spirituality. They Muslim Imam said that Islam respects Christians and Jews becasue of their belief in the Bible or the Torah. Muslims believe that these scriptures were revealed by God through men, but they believe Muhammad recieved the Koran directly from God. Their belief that both the Torah and the New Testament hold Divine revelation has led them to call Jews and Christians, "people of the Book." Their religious beliefs are not that much different from Judaism or Christianity. The main difference between their beliefs and Christianity is their belief in Jesus as a prophet not as the son of God. They believe there can be only one God, and on this point they agree with the Jews. This is one of the main reasons the Jews rejected Jesus; they believed He was claiming divinity, and was thus guilty of blasphemy. Islam's main contention with the Jews is over the birth right promised to the descendants of Abraham. Muslims believe that the Hebrew scriptures were changed, and that the true descendants of God's promise to Abraham are the Muslims. Most of the arguments between Jews and Muslims are not over their theological beliefs, they are over land issues connected to each religion's sincere belief that they are the rightful heirs to the land promised by God. The Imam believes that when Jews and Muslims are not arguing about their descent, and when Christians are not stuck either mediating or judging, all three religions actually have a lot in common. I was impressed with the community's attitude toward people of other faiths, and I left with a greater sense of what it meant to be a practicing Muslim in America. Dialogue between these three similar religions could be both fruitful and informative if there was a mutual respect for each other as "people of the book."

Is God sexist?

This question first appeared in my head when I was a young impressionable Sunday school attendee, but it eventually faded into the recesses of my mind without ever being completely quelled. I wonder how many women are forced to either ignore this question or simply come to a point of limited comfort with the explanations given by their church leadership. My feeling would also be that for many women this issue is central to their willingness to pursue the Christian faith. I do not believe that God is sexist because I do not believe God is a particular sex. One of the themes of my psychology of religion class has been the idea of metaphor in the scriptures. Metaphor in scripture allows us to see God as father instead of God is father. The emphasis becomes on the way we relate to the being of God not on the physical sex of God. The easy part of a discussion about sexism in Christianity is on the physicality of God, the more difficult discussion centers around the way Christianity has actually practiced responsible gender equality. Of any Biblical author Paul is the most criticized for his writings about women and their role in society and religion, yet a more careful examination of Paul's writing shows us that they were often directed at a specific church in a particular culture. Paul's view of men and women can be understood in the broader context of how they reflected the image of Christ. Consider the imagery used in Genesis to depict the creation of woman. Genesis depicts woman as having been created from the side of Adam. In Hebrew this is a statement that shows the equality of men and women. The side was seen as the exact middle of the body, thus giving credence to a woman's equal right to be seen as a being created in the image of God. What is interesting about the Genesis account is that it depicts men and women as essentially the same being. Thus when a man and women become united sexually they are recommitting themselves to the imagery of being of one flesh. The Bible uses this same imagery to describe Christ's relation to the church. How does this imagery fit with the traditional view in fundamental Christianity of women as meek, subservient, assistants to their husbands? If we are of the same body, than is it not more appropriate to see our roles as males and females as a mere expression of the function we hold within the larger body of Christ? A different way of saying it would be that the role of a husband or a wife is of equal importance, because they are both serving a function within the body of Christ. This is where I think Christians have misunderstood the duty of a husband to their wife, and of a wife to their husband. Instead of seeing themselves as part of the same body they have begun to see themselves as separate individuals, with one part of the body being of greater importance. By Paul telling women to submit to their husbands, and by telling husbands to love their wives, he is really stating the need to honor each other as one flesh. Now I understand that I probably lost some people in this lengthy examination of gender in scripture, and that it is nowhere near an exhaustive explanation of all the instances of perceived sexism in the scriptures. I simply hope that it will serve as a catalyst for a more in depth examination of perceived sexism in the scriptures, and within the practices of Christianity. For others I hope it will become a different way of viewing their role as either a husband or wife. There is so much more that could be said about this subject, but it will be contingent upon the responses of others. I appreciate you taking the time to read this rant, and I hope that it will in some way spark a conversation whether that be with me or someone else. Please feel free to direct your comments toward the progression of the discussion or as a critique/agreement of what was written. Thank you again for taking the time to read this, I honestly value all of your thoughts and opinions.

Other Religions

So I had the opportunity to attend a Buddhist temple yesterday, and I gotta say the experience was absolutely amazing. I've spent a good chunk of my life learning about my own religion as well as the religions of others, but I have never had the opportunity to experience a religion by engaging in practice with those to whom it is sacred. At the temple we were introduced to some meditation techniques used by Buddhists. It was surprisingly difficult to quiet my mind for the minimal 25 minutes the monk encouraged us to meditate. The monk asked us how we could possibly think we have control over our bodies or our minds when we are not even able to tell our mind to be quiet for more than 5 minutes. This process led me to contemplate the ways certain Buddhist practices could be used to heighten my spiritual development. Many Christians object to meditation, but I suspect it is due to misconceptions about the way it is practiced or what the desired outcome of it is. Meditation in Buddhism is about detoxifiying the mind. The practice is used to gain control over your body and your mind, and by doing this reach a state of enlightenment. In Christianity I believe meditation can be used much in the same way. The scriptures tell us the importance of meditating on the 'ways' of the Lord. In the scriptures it is through meditation that the Psalmist finds themself able to center on the precepts of God. Buddhism is able to teach its adherents control over their mind and bodies in a way that most Christians would find themseves lacking. Buddhism also seems to strive for a balance in all that they do. When I visited the temple there were statues of spirits that represented opposing paths of life. The spirit of war stood across from the spirit representing music and joy. The idea of balance is something I believe mainstream Christianity would do well to learn from. A balanced Christian would understand that the tensions between our beliefs and those from a different religious worldview can lead to a greater understanding of one another, and in the long run do much more to further Christian values than religious fundamentalism. I am absolutely not saying that Christianity and Buddhism are compatible. One of the essential ideas of Buddhism is that there is no God. Therefore one of the basic concepts of Christianity is denied. Buddhism's essential belief is that we are able to save ourselves through an understanding of certain truths. This is directly incompatible with the Christian worldview that teaches we are incapable of saving ourselves; it is through Jesus we find ultimate truth, and the forgiveness of sins. The danger in Christianity is to relegate ourselves only to the spiritual traditions we are most familiar with. By doing this we limit the ways in which we experience the presence of God. It is my sincere belief that the only limitations found in our experience of God are the limitations we place on ourselves.

Scriptural references to meditation

Psalms 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalms 77:12 I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Psalms 119:15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

So I've spent all night working on creating this blog page, and now I'm too tired to write anything of substance. Bah! Oh well, at least I get to commemorate my first blog on Easter Sunday. Easter is one of those few holidays that I actually take the time to visualize what it means to be a Christian. To my dismay, protestant churches are generally lacking in the iconography that would assist me in picturing the events remembered at Easter. As a result, I have decided to post some iconography here. My plan is to look at the meaning signified by the icons, and remember the death and resurrection of my Lord. I hope everyone has a good Easter, and that they get to spend the time with people they love. Cheers.