Resident Aliens: a survey.

This is a little summery of a book I just read. It will challenge you to the core. It will stoke your passion for Jesus and the Church, or it will make you stop and really think about who you are. Don't get discouraged... Christ has risen! Let us journey together in righteous fellowship!
In Resident Aliens, coauthors, Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Willimon make their case that preceding the early 1960’s, the American Church, in particular, has been naively living in the delusion that Christianity is relevant to culture: this thought is a direct result of Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 313. However, throughout Resident Aliens, Hauerwas and Willimon refute this terminal delusion by calling the Church out of its catastrophic Constantinian compromise and into a new way of life—back into the Biblical story of what it means to be a distinct people of God, an alien colony amid a foreign land. Exemplified through the Biblical lens of the Gospel—the supreme reality of God with his people—and grounded in the seismic implications for the Church, in Christ’s life, death and resurrection, it is Hauerwas and Willimon’s assertion for pastors and laity alike, to rethink and rediscover what it means to faithfully live out a socio-political alternative—the radically-free and exciting journey of Christianity—in a compelling contrast to a modern culture plagued with disbelief and self-promotion; in the ministerial hope of reconciling the world back to God through a unique witness—a colonial community of faith: the church.
In chapter one, Hauerwas and Willimon open up the book by describing a shift in popular American worldview from Christendom to post-Christendom. They exposed the delusion that America is a Christian culture, while giving the brief history of modernism from 313AD to 1989AD, the publishing year of this book. This delusion inaccurately shaped the politics and ethics of the church. However, they go on to proclaim that through living in subversive rejection to the-powers-that-be, the church experiences the true freedom of God with his people. By living a radically different story, it allows the church to ask correct theological questions for the present age in which it exists. The author’s point out that what was seen as the climax of modernity in Nazi Germany, modern theology failed to ask the right questions or stick to the truth. Therefore, exposing the church as an impotent piece of society without the ability to resist evil when it came to significant societal pressure to conform. The church is called into the heterogeneous tension of life in, but not of, the world. This is to be lived out throughout the adventurous gospel of Jesus.
Continuing in chapter two, the author’s proceed to explain that through baptism believers become part of a new polis—the church. They explain, that in fact, Christianity is less of a system of belief, but rather that the gospel is political. They explain that historically the church has taken different political agendas and tried to fit Christianity into the one that seemed to work best for the individual at the time. First, there were the “private,” or soul savers, and “public,” or social action, both operated out of Constantinian framework within the American system. Both were faulty. Secondly, they presented the ironic poster metaphor of a dove “of peace” flying away from a world of unbelief seeking justice. Rightfully, when the world is placed on anything but Christ, true peace and true justice are never unified. The author’s point out that the American system is flawed and fallen. The church has participated in three other church types: the activist (secularism: working towards a better society), the conversionist (individualism: seeks only personal change) and, the confessing (seeks to be the visible change it wishes to see in the world). It is through the politics of the cross that there is a visible people of God who are emboldened to live in victory over the powers.
Chapters three and four continue to proclaim the church as an adventurous journey. The author’s explain that, through baptism, the faithful in the church become part of a movement that is commitment to remember that in Christ incarnate, God is redeeming the world through his people. It is also in the Bible that the church is to make sense of God’s story with and for his people. This is what separates the church from the unbelieving word: the church has a narrative that transcends itself, while the world lacks any coherent story connect them to anything outside themselves. The authors give examples, such as in Deuteronomy 6:21-23, where Moses reminds Israel that they were in the land of Egypt, under the oppression of Pharaoh, but that God was faithful to fulfill his promise to, literally—through fire and cloud—bring them into the promised land. It is in this journey that transformation through ethics, namely the ethics of revolution, which occurs best through discipline. Revolutionary values, such as honesty, confrontation and character are also highly desired. However, the author’s continue in pointing out that only in Jesus do Christian ethics have meaning. Jesus through the Sermon on the Mount emphatically made this point. It is only his followers—the colony of resident aliens—who can see the merit in being called to an even higher ethic that what they had traditionally known. For the Christian, blessing comes out of the abnormal. This runs in contrast to the world. The Christian ethic then is a unifying movement to follow Jesus into a community of the end, to be a people who stand at odds, set apart, against the norms of the empire.
Chapter five makes know the significance of saints to the world. It is only in the act of being a colony in contrast to the world that the world can know who it is—a people in need of redemption. The author’s admit that it is only in the world existing in contention with the church, who is to live out a vulnerable, child-like love, that the world can see its ways are miss aligned and misdirected from the truth. This thought also translates to our rational, which, the author’s suggest comes out of our tradition. This rational is learned and is not an easy subject to grasp. It is a call into the seemingly insignificant, which ultimately has the most meaning. As the church continues to daily follow Jesus, practicing his ethics, the church has the opportunity to be a witness in the simplest way, but with the most impact. Such as the Southern Baptist preacher who faithfully served his congregation and community and on an opportune day, his words of remorse for his congregations’ lack of discipleship stood out in epic proportions.
In Chapter six, Hauerwas and Willimon, call the church to share in Christ work along side the pastors and clergy. As part of the baptismal transformation in to the church, laity as well as pastors are called to be theologians and preachers of the gospel, and to worship God through their service to the world. However, in the example of the young preacher at Gladys church, some of what is being taught must be unlearned and rethought. Or worse yet, some members of the church have become better cynics of the church than preachers. The ironies that the author’s present is that sometimes the best ministers are the loneliest: as exemplified in Jesus. However, God is with those ministers and when God is present uses his church to remind them they are not alone: as exemplified in the story of Tom and Nancy.
Finally, chapter seven integrates the vital component of integrity as the foundation for the empowerment of the church through provoking their imagination to the wonders of living out the adventure of church ministry. The author’s entice the church into the scandalous good news of Jesus, whose ministerial rational is so fantasist that it sustains pastoral ministry through the most dissatisfying times. They go onto explain that one does not need to leave America to find violence, corruption and pain. It is in some of America’s darkest corners—Philadelphia—that the kingdom of heaven is most easily seen. The gospel is essential in this dark corner. The author’s deftly unpack Ephesians 6:10-20; expressing its unmatched implication for how the church is to do life, fully equipped, ready to powerfully engage the-powers through the bold proclamation of the gospel. In this, they explain communal suffering as a part of the inevitable for the gospel’s truth. While this metaphor enables one for battle, it is not the aimlessly destructive battle of the modern nation’s atomic bomb, but rather a defensive alternative with the means to survive the perverted attacks of the enemy. Consequently, continuing God’s story, his disciples continue to move in power and truth. Continuing, the author’s revisit the polis of the church, being rooted in hope and truth. It is the responsibility of the seminary professor to accurately teach the pastor, the pastor must then boldly proclaim the gospel and faithfully administer the sacraments to the laity who is to find renewal and empowerment in this act.
Resident Aliens poses many implications for this for our life. From start to finish the author’s take the reader on a journey that is similarly as fast paced and exciting as the gospel of Mark. They draw the parallels of a politically charged gospel directly into the thick of this book, discussing Christian ethics and politics in words of truth and hope, honesty and integrity, boldness and action. In addition, they speak of following and knowing Jesus just as his first disciples did; in that one may know the truth and become ushered into a story that is bigger than self—as a piece of the community of faith, which began with the Word being spoken, was sustained through Calvary, and who will be consummated at return of Christ. This book is fantastically challenging in that it is deconstructing the lens in which one has traditionally viewed Jesus, the church and Christianity as a whole.
I am stoked to continue to learn what it means to be apart of this adventurous colony we are a part of as being the church. I know that this is only the beginning. As a christian I am bound to Christ and his church. I am apart of his story and I must make it a point to live as he lived. It is a challenge, but rewarding, there is freedom in being obedient to Christ. Let's walk together and figure it out!

Question of the Week: Is it possible for us to have absolute faith? What can, or better yet should, we do to help us come as close as humanly possible to absolute faith?

I think we can have absolute or certain-pure, unwavering- faith. By what faith is it only makes sense that when we display faith it is absolute. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Right their the author of Hebrews tells us that faith is being sure and certain. That sounds pretty absolute to me. However, I think there are definitely times where we can show lack of faith, or mistrust. This would be a time of not displaying faith. But fortunately the Bible tells us that even if we are faithless, G-d will remain faithful. WOW, how awesome is that?!
The only way I think that we can expound our faith is by knowing why you are who you are in Christ: You are His miracle, he has saved you and redeemed you!!! When we think about that, we should be living unashamedly faithful to our G-d and savior!

Lord, Help us to stand.

Moral Neutrality

My question, dear friends, is twofold: can to much of a morally neutral thing be eternally bad; and are there morally neutral things in your personal life that Christ is asking you to get rid of, or remove - things he just wants out, even though there is nothing evil about it?

Do we want to be "doing alright," or do we desire to have a deeper knowledge, love, hope - downright solid, relationship with Christ?

As I have thought about this whole morally neutral idea, I think of how much time I have spent not glorifying G-d through being a good steward of my time. I tend to get sucked into doing good things, but not necessarily the right things. For example, I have a test to study for, but I also have dinner with my family, and a prayer meeting with my brothers and sisters in Christ(the Church). I have many different statues: I know I am a student, and a son, and a part of the Church, and a Christian; but what comes first? Which one does G-d honor more? Or, does he not honor any one more than then next? Is he more concerned about how I approach these things? Another question I need to ask my self is this: what am I doing with the rest of my time? Am I spending a lot of time looking at videos on Youtube, listening to music, watching TV, blogging? Is the time I spend Making cakes, taking a shower, driving, combing my hair... are all things things morally neutral? I am sort of rambling and venting and truly questioning!!! In the gospels, Jesus tells people who approach him and want to know how to inter the Kingdom, or have eternal life, to sell all their possesions, give the money to the poor and follow him. He also tells his diciples when they go out to spread the good news in other cities to not take anything and to trust in G-d to provide for all their needs. Man, These are tough statements.
I think what I have been learning with Journey in reading through Matthew about doing things with the right heart-attitude is super important! I think that I need to begin to look at each situation, evaluate it and give thanks to our Father for where I am what I am doing and ask him to guide me, to open my heart-eyes to see how I can best serve him, where I am. For me personally, I do spend a lot of waisted time doing things that would take other people a lot less time. Maybe it is that I am just really slow at it, but I think I let myself become distracted, I give into the temptation of watching another Youtube video, I sit on Facebook and look at pictures of my friends for hours... Even now I think I don't have a good perspective on what is most important in my life. It is G-d, Who I need to be focused on, his will, his purpose. I think Colossians 3 really gets at what we should be living like: set our heart and minds on Christ; get rid of the our earthly nature; clothe our selves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; live at peace with everyone, and "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to G-d the Father through him (Col. 3:23)."; however, I don't think I live this way... therefore, I don't live fully for Christ.
I believe that when anything gets in the way of seeing G-d's salvation we loose out! I am convicted to get into the Living Word, to spend more time in self examination and in prayer... I try to do things on my own way to often... I miss out on the beauty of serving G-d when I do that!
I think we all need to be the most encouraging brothers we possibly can be!

May we all persevere in this: living fully in a deep love with Christ and each other!

Peace and Love in Christ!

Moral Neutrality... is there a middle ground?

This quote is taken from a Sermon by Matt Chandler. He raises a good point and I have some questions for you.

"The majority of us lack depth in Christ, not because of bad/wicked things but rather, morally neutral things - things that scripture wouldn't outright call sinful, but we just have so much of them [the morally neutral things] in our lives that we've kind of drown out the voice of G-d, drown out time to be with Him, drown out...[insert something you have drown out]. So we just busy ourselves with morally neutral things and then we think we're DOING ALRIGHT, because we're not doing BAD."

My question, dear friends, is twofold: can to much of a morally neutral thing be eternally bad; and are there morally neutral things in your personal life that Christ is asking you to get rid of, or remove - things he just wants out, even though there is nothing evil about it?

Do we want to be "doing alright," or do we desire to have a deeper knowledge, love, hope - downright solid, relationship with Christ?!

Peace, Grace and Love in Him who is worthy of all praise.

What Happens When Our Lives Collide with G-d's Word...

So this is the part of the story where Larry comes out and sings a silly song.... Wait, What?!

Ok well this Is what I have been mulling over for awhile: When our Lives collide with G-d's word? First What is G-d's word? Is it the bible? The spoken word of G-d? The truth of the written and spoken word? If these are true I would like to quote this: "Truth is not a set of rules to be mastered, but a is a man, Jesus Christ, to be known."

So I think when I look at it like this and then look at my life a few things can happen: First, through the Word grace is always extended! This being said, three things are now possible: one I accept his grace, I allow his beautifully life giving grace to "collide" with my heart and  I am moved by his grace and I intern extend his grace to others. Two, I reject his grace and the collision of his word hardens my heart, I am like Pharaoh, in the Old Testament when moses comes and extends G-d's grace by giving him a chance to let  his people go. But like Pharaoh, I take on the role of god (lower case because I am not G-d), and do things my own way... and as per usual I am rocked by his wrath, which is letting me do my own thing (Romans 1:18-32).

Thirdly, I can deceive my own self, read the word speak the word but not be changed by the word. Rev. 3:11 or 12. I become Luke warm and walk the fence... I am then "Spit from his mouth!" Which sucks! So I guess the last two are sort of the same but they Are different.

May we be moved by Grace! 

Open the eyes to my heart Lord, I want to see you!

A practical way My life has been moved is this: I have been struggling with fear of the dark and being out side and I have been seeking peace in this fear... more so freedom. And my mom showed me the verse in Psalm that says even the Darkness is like light to G-d... this is a hard thing to comprehend and I was still scared, wanting to trust G-d, (which was the heart issue, I didn't want to trust G-d!) but not seeing through the dark in to the fathers light. Then the other day my friend Pat showed me a picture that he had taken at three in the morning (when it was pitch dark!) The picture however showed full detail of the scenery!!! Green trees, A white barn, a black road... and I asked him how this was possible! he told me he left the shutter open for 4 minutes and let the light shine in... WOW! This was a G-d moment!!! I have been deceived that in the darkness Sight is not possible.... but I have been looking at it wrong! Light is there, G-d's pure good light! My "fallen" eyes just cannot seen what G-d has in store... My whole perception was changed! My trust in G-d renewed...(it is funny how often we fall, we don't trust in Jesus to never leave us nor forsake us...) Praise G-d for little moments like looking at a picture to see his plan and Word come alive!!!!

Be Blessed!

Peace and Love in Jesus Christ!

Of Bird's and Men...

I find myself speaking much and listening, dwelling, comprehending, processing, fully seeking to understand – to grasp the roots of what is being said. Many times I will read (see, hear of, partake of, view), this or that, and think to myself: “how interesting, or how odd, or how nice, or how beautiful, or how awful, etc. But rarely do I stop, sit and ponder – think back to my self, “self, why is this the way it is?! How did it come to be, and what is its true purpose? Where is it going, or what is it trying to accomplish? It looks beautiful, but what is its function? Was it created to do beautiful things? It looks odd, but is its whole purpose to make other things around it feel awkward or uneasy because of its oddity?

            Now there are two self-reflecting question I must stop and ask before I proceed. First, what caused my initial reaction and what is my reaction based on? And two sub-questions: Is it Natural or inherent, is it social, cultural, values, beliefs, primal? Is this a legitimate reaction? Secondly, if I had created this thing, (be it a bee a cow or the Eiffel Tower,) is this how I would react to it, or would I see it differently – what it truly is, and have a fuller understanding? Therefore, causing me to react in a more meaningful way?

            This now brings me to the thought of creation (and I am wondering about what else I am missing? Where am I not thinking through enough? What more could I say… I have this desire to be profound, to say things in a new way… but this is just pride sneaking in. Most of what is said has already been said before and I am not saying anything new… The beauty is that it is Christ alone who makes me anything, who makes me who I am, G-d who gives presidents and kings, rulers and authorities their positions – their wisdom. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made! Not that I should not seek to think more critically or Cleary, these are good things… but at the heart of everything is Jesus Christ and I want to make that clear. It is not mans knowledge.) and G-d and how he wired things – life, his workmanship, and I wonder if we (humanity) are missing something… say a better view? Here is an example: I look at creation and see a butterfly. It is big – the wings stretch out over my palm, and there are two dark rings on either wing and surrounding these spots are wonderfully, bright colors… which makes me smile. However, if I were a bug or a bird looking at the butterfly, I would not look at it in the same way. (And who’s to say what the best way to look at the a butterfly anyway!?). I also ponder that because we  (humanity) know the function of the butterfly (it’s role in the process of pollination), and we don’t instinctively want to eat butterflies like the bird might. It is easier for us to see beauty in the two dark spots on the butterfly wings. However, if I were again the bird I would view and perceive those two dots differently, and have a different reaction.

            Now G-d made use this way, and I can’t help but wonder if these were the initial functions (what I just described about humans and birds) of animals and humans before the Fall (Gen.3) and afterward, or if we have this limited view because we have all fallen short of the glory of G-d? (I can’t help but wander if I am missing something in respect to the butterfly that only G-d knows from where he is at, and because he crated it?) Also, can this be tied into human interaction as well? Or is that trying to hard?

            Well these are just a slew of crazy random thoughts… I hope you can wrestle through them with me?

As a good friend once told me, "blogging is more about whether to blog or to blog some more, not whether to blog or not to blog." So, in memory of his statement, I now officially commemorate the celebration herein of my very first blog!