Our Guns & Our Salvation

When the shooting in Colorado happened I wrote an article on the importance of honest and reasonable discussion when we talk about gun control and our relationship with firearms. (especially assault weapons). This time I want to address a line of thinking I've seen in those I call brothers and sisters in Christ that I find is very damaging.

One thing that breaks my heart is to see people approach evil action with a philosophy that says "fight fire with fire" or "tit for tat." That's an old way of doing things, a pre-Christ sense of legalistic justice that doesn't give us fulness of life. There is a mentality in many of us that sees our own strength and power as a true salvation. We think our weapons will save us and make this a better world. We think that the answer is more guns. If only we had more firepower, then we'd be safe, we'd have peace and protection (we see the U.S. as a nation holding this belief simply by looking at our budget).

I'm not going to sit here and say that pacifism is the only way to follow Christ faithfully, but I will say that anytime we allow ourselves to put our trust in anything outside of and above Jesus then we commit idolatry and cease to follow Christ faithfully. When we think we need to save ourselves from evil we build a house on poor foundation that won't make it through the storms. We only find destruction on that foundation. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once stated, "To believe the promise of Jesus that his followers shall possess the earth, and at the same time to face our enemies unarmed and defenseless, preferring to incur injustice rather than to do wrong ourselves, is indeed a narrow way."

Whether that's the narrow way of Christ or not is debatable but one thing is certain, it's definitely a narrow way.  If we are living in fear without our weapons by our side, hidden in our console, and in our purses then we don't have a full faith in Christ's Lordship, promises, justice, coming judgment, or resurrection and we have too heavy a reliance upon the weapons of the flesh. We may be convinced of the old law or our pagan ideologies. 

I'm not saying to give up your guns. I'm not saying guns are evil. I'm not against fighting evil or protecting yourself and others with force. I'm simply talking about dependance and obsessive loyalty to weapons that we don't truly need if we know the truth of Jesus Christ who loves enemies and lays down his life for them. If we have a God who can deliver his people from severe violence through nonviolent means if it be his will then we never need to have any reliance upon weapons. We have only have need to be reliant upon God when it comes to salvation.

If we are convinced in our mind and heart that the only thing that stops a "bad guy" with a gun is a "good guy" with a gun then we are truly deceived by Satan's lies that aggression and violence is our true deliverer. The myth of redemptive violence is solidified within our hearts at that point and we need to repent from it. The fact is that the only thing that stops a bad guy is a good guy and the only good guy that has ever lived is Jesus Christ of Nazareth and he let the bad guys kill him with their weapons... and then he forgave them and showed them by defeating death and the sin of their violent ways that the peace he brings is theirs should they desire it. He has the victory and it doesn't always look like skin staying intact.  That's a hard concept for us. It's not an easy pill to swallow because it sounds upside down. Yet, that's the gospel. Christ died and rose that we may share in his death and resurrection. He promised we'll suffer if we live the life he lived. 1 Peter reminds of that loving conduct may very well end in massacre.  

Can someone who isn't a mass murderer stop a mass murderer with a gun? Yes. Does that mean that killing a killer makes someone a praiseworthy good guy? No. It makes them a killer because they killed. Does that make them a bad guy? No. It makes them a human being who lives by the gun. That doesn't nullify someone's intentions either. People kill other people for what look like good intentions all the time. Whether they are right or wrong is God's decision. I'm not going to pretend that violence doesn't stop possible future violence, but it certainly doesn't stop violence all together, rather it perpetuates it. That's an unavoidable fact. But back to the point...

I will say that those who live by the gun will die by the gun. Those who trust in the horse, chariot, and bow (or tank, nuke, and drone) shall find their trust to be wasted for God alone is our strength and salvation. So pack your heat if you like but if you find that you're too afraid or uncomfortable to be without it then know that you have an idol on your hip, in your purse, in the closet, in the console. Know that, at that point, your god is the gun and it owns you. At that point you need to repent and change your ways because you don't believe in the words of our scriptures. 

Psalm 44:4-8 - "You are my King, O God ordain salvation for Jacob! Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. In God we have boasted continually and we will give thanks to your name forever."

The very sad fact is that many of us in the United States have allowed our guns to be idols. Too many of us cling to our weapons more fiercely than our prayers and scriptures. Instead of having a hope in Christ we've replaced it with a fear in death and reliance on man-made inventions that can make easier the killing process. We think we need guns in the way we need water, food, shelter, and oxygen. We think it'd be wrong and evil to not have them. We couldn't bear to live without these contraptions. Some of us feel that way. That's not okay. 

This isn't a call to total nonviolence. This is a call to look within ourselves and ask what we truly find our rescue in, what we trust, and what we think we need. It's a call to rely upon Jesus and nothing less. If we find that we're worshipping our guns then it's a call to leave the gun and cling to Christ Jesus who dies for us when all we wanted to do was kill him.

May we adopt mentalities that are based upon truth and faith in Christ. May the Spirit help us discern what the balance looks like as we seek justice in a dark world as ambassadors of God's light. May we be the salt of the earth, enriching it, and doing it according to the way of the heavenly kingdom, whatever that looks like. May we be healers and love one another so that Christ is revealed through our love for each other.

The Music of My 2012

Last year I posted about the albums that helped me through a difficult year. 2012 has been remarkably different from 2011 but I can't help but want to share the art that has affected me this year. A lot of the music this year joined me in my triumphs and some has helped me through the pains. In no particular order these are the albums that have had a big impact on my past year.

The Heist by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: This has perhaps been the most powerful album I've come across in a long time. The video for the song Wing$ was a brilliant attack against materialism. Macklemore is unafraid to rap about the things you aren't supposed to rap about in the hip-hop world. While I don't agree with everything he says or the way he says it, I respect his boldness, honesty, courage, and artistic integrity. This album makes me want to keep fighting against the evils I see in this world, to be a better Christian, and to get back on my feet when I fail at both. This album is worth buying and might be my favorite hip-hop album of all time (sorry Kanye).

Gravity by Lecrae: This is one of those albums that just continually brings me back to Christ. The music, flow, lyrics, etc. are all very impressive and the message is uncompromisingly evangelistic while not being corny. It makes me realize that I don't need to listen to albums like the one listed below because there are people in this world who make music I can enjoy and be edified by at the same time, without compromise. This album makes me want to be uncompromisingly bold. Admittedly, I've avoided Lecrae for a long time now due to so many Christians singing his praises and due to having poor experiences with "Christian" hip-hop. However, after hearing this album I immediately went and obtained 2 of his other albums and the albums of some guys in his cohort. 

Camp by Childish Gambino: A lot of people don't know that Troy from Community (on NBC) is also a hip-hop artist. Well, this is one of his newer albums and it's free along with all his music. He's vulgar but he might be making some of the best music in the U.S. right now and he's giving it away. Throughout the album he has lyrics discussing the issue of being black but not black enough for black culture while not being white enough for white culture. In many ways he doesn't fit in anywhere he finds himself. That was something that touched my heart. Like Kanye West, he's one of those artists that has some ugly words with beautiful sound and the muddiness of it intrigues me. Also, his music videos are super impressive. Once I got over the fact that this serious rap artist was the hilarious and goofy character on one of my favorite TV comedies I was able to really appreciate the album. However, I find myself unable to listen to much of the time these days due to the amount of vulgarity.

Some Nights by Fun.: This should be album of the year. Hands down, this is one of the most impressive albums I have encountered. I've loved Fun since before they existed because I adored the Format (who I was introduced to in my college years) and this is just a beautiful album. I didn't know I had been waiting for this album until I heard it. It's creative, dramatic, and unlike any other album I've ever listened to. It's full of passion and was an album I was able to yell out in the car. Before I had the words memorized it had me mesmerized.  It gave me something beautiful during some difficult times. I bonded to a deeper degree with a good friend over this album as well and in that regard it was a great service to me. 

Hymns I, II, III, IV, B-Sides, RE:Hymns Re-Imagined, Lullabies by Page CXVI: I lost a friend this year. It was incredibly sad and came at a rough time. As I drove home after hearing the news I listened to Hymns IV and wept like crazy as the truth of the words reminded me of God's beautiful and loving truths. When I wasn't listening to hip-hop in 2012 I was listening to these albums. The hymns kept me centered. When I need calming it is this music that gets me there. Page CXVI is inventive with the way they re-imagine the way to present classic hymns and I appreciate their artistic spirit and commitment to traditional songs that have been such a huge blessing through time. I will buy every album they ever make.

CTRL by Derek Webb: I didn't listen to this album as much as most of the ones listed above but it challenged me to rethink my relationship with technology in some pretty major ways. Actually, this album came out during a time in which I was seriously re-examining my relationship with technology so the timing was incredibly strange. I wasn't sure how I felt about the album at first but it grew on me because of it's impact. It made me think about my personal health and mortality. This album hit my introspective tendencies in a way Webb always does. It's also an album that brings calmness and relaxation for me but never ceases to leave me without worthwhile thoughts spinning through my mind first.

There was a lot of great music in my ears this year but these are the most frequently listened to albums and the ones my mind immediately thinks of when looking back at 2012. I hate to admit it but the honorable mention goes to the debut album by One Direction. I can't lie, it's incredibly catchy and has a youthful and fun spirit about it. Sure, it's shallow and silly but it's just too poppy to not love.

Thoughts on the Newtown Connecticut Shooting

When I heard about the horrific tragedy in Newtown Connecticut this morning I instantly observed the great darkness and evil in this world and began to mourn for the children, teachers, families, and everyone connected to the shooting. To be sure, this was a huge evil. The shooter committed a horrendously despicable crime. To be sure, the loss is severe and heart-wrenchingly abominable. Below are my initial thoughts taken from my twitter feed.

• In a world of child murders #wearewaiting for the Prince of Peace who will show us how to be reconciled to one another.

• Many will rejoice in 1 man's death in an effort to overcome the pain of 26 others dying at his hands. I pray mercy on him, a sinner like me.

• We must speak the ugly truth about sinners but never lose compassion for them otherwise we forget our own salvation.

• I pray that men and women turn they eyes and place their hope upon Jesus and not more weapons. Only one truly saves and it's not what kills.

• What kills is not what saves. Any saving it seems to do is temporary and compromised. Satan comes to kill and destroy, let's not copy him.

• We need a Saviour to lead us into shalom/peace. #wearewaiting. We seek the child who will redeem us and replace our violence with patience.

• I want just punishment for the criminal while also wanting their freedom from imprisonment to guilt and slavery to sin.

• I'm horrified. I'm not surprised. More than anything I am hopeful because I see a coming judgment, resurrection, and refining of all things.

• The moment we choose to ignore the killer in mourning is the moment we choose the same master he did by embracing hate & pushing aside love.

• God never frees us from forgiving others but instead frees us TO forgive all others. Because we are forgiven we can/must forgive.

• Where is God in all of this? He is in the chaos, bringing new creation, rebuilding what our sin has torn down. He is in the mourning hearts.

I think it is incredibly important for us to mourn with those who mourn,. It's important to be troubled by the evil. It's important to be in awe of the tragedy, of the crime, of the sickness of the man who committed the atrocious acts. It's important to desire true justice.

Many of these things naturally come to us. We very easily gasp at the evil and scratch our heads at the sickness. It's not too difficult for any of us to want this wrong to be made right somehow.

What is truly difficult is forgiveness, patience, hope, and love for the enemy. To be good to those who do evil, even after their death, is difficult.

I don't want to give too much time and attention to the evildoer and make it seem as though he deserves any negative consequences or reactions, because that's simply ridiculous, but I do want be a voice that calls us to do what's easy in love and also what is hard in love. 

I want us to be a people who mourn the loss of innocent lives and the pain it caused. I also want us to be a people who mourn the lost opportunity for a sick and deceived sinner to find reconciliation with God and humanity (and the devastation of his evil acts in the process).

We are called to be a people of reconciliation. We are called to be perfect in love and forgiveness like our Father who "...makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45b). We must learn forgiveness "for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15).

Therefore, as we mourn the terrible losses of today's tragedy, let us seek to mourn perfectly and fully, remembering the great tragedy that sin and evil's darkness is heavily upon this world and ruining us all and we all need to be saved from it and to lead one another into the love of Christ (as we find it) which rescues every single sinner and victim, making them brothers and sisters in harmony where pain is no more. 

Revelation 21:3-5: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'"

In this season of Advent, we can very easily see how good the news is that God has come to dwell with us through Jesus Christ and that this prophecy is in the process of becoming the full reality for all creation.  As it is not yet full, so we are waiting...

Let's live in hope for what is to come and remind one another of that hope so that we may find our way to healing. May God shed his peace on us all, especially those who suffer this day. May he grant us the grace to love well as we seek to heal the hurting and move forward into a better tomorrow. May we allow his Spirit to lead the way.

Politics Is Not Enough

I'm currently reading a book entitled Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey. It's a fantastic read. In the Introduction there is a one page section which I enjoyed reading and wanted to share. She entitled it Politics Is Not Enough. Pearcy writes,

"The reason a worldview is so compelling today is that we are still emerging from the fundamentalist era of the early twentieth century. Up until that time, evangelicals had enjoyed a position of cultural dominance in America. But after the Scopes trial and the rise of theological modernism, religious conservatives turned in on themselves: They circled the wagons, developed a fortress mentality, and championed 'separatism' as a positive strategy. Then, in the 1940s and 50s, a movement began that aimed at breaking out of the fortress. Calling themselves neo-evangelicals, this group argues that we are called not to escape the surrounding culture but to engage it. They sought to construct a redemptive vision that would embrace not only individuals but al social structures and institutions. 

Yet many evangelicals lacked the conceptual tools needed for the task, which has seriously limited their success. For example, in recent decades man Christians have responded to the moral and social decline in American society by embracing political activism. Believers are running for office in growing numbers; churches are organizing voter registration; public policy groups are proliferating scored of Christian publications and radio programs offer commentary on public affairs. This heightened activism has yielded good results in many areas of public life, yet the impact remains far less than most had hoped. Why? Because evangelicals often put all their eggs in one basket: They leaped into political activism as the quickest, surest way to make a difference in the public arena - failing to realize that politics tend to reflect culture, not the other way around. 

Nothing illustrates evangeicals' infatuation with politics more clearly than a story related by a Christian lawyer. Considering whether to take a job in the nation's capital, he consulted with the leader of a Washington-area ministry, who told him, 'You can either stay where you are and keep practicing law, or you can come to Washington and change the culture.' The implication was that the only way to effect cultural change was through national politics/ Today, battle-weary political warriors have grown more realistic about the limits of that strategy. We have learned that 'politics is downstream from culture, not the other way around,' says Bill Wichterman, policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. 'Real change has to start with the culture. All we can do on Capitol Hill is try to find ways government can nurture healthy cultural trends.' 

On a similar note, a member of Congress once told me, 'I got involved in politics after the 1973 abortion decision because I thought that was the fastest route to moral reform. Well, we've won some legislative victories, but we've lost the culture.' The most effective work, he had come to realize, is done by ordinary Christians fulfilling God's calling to reform culture within their local spheres of influence - their families, churches, schools, neighborhoods, work-places, professional organizations, and civic institutions. In order to effect lasting change, the congressman concluded, 'we need to develop a Christian worldview.'" [emphasis mine]

That final paragraph is the best part. I agree with Pearcey and the folks she quotes in this passage. I believe the best type of transformation comes through grass roots work. Day to day, interaction by interaction. In being transformed people, made more and more into the likeness of Christ by his Spirit, we witness to Christ and introduce the world around us to the truth, the way, to Jesus by our upstanding conduct and preaching. In turn, light breaks through the darkness, unveiling injustice and sin, creating opportunity for confession, repentance, reconciliation, and prosperity.

When we depend upon the political leaders of this nation to bring about true change we end up fooling ourselves and getting less than we petitioned for. Sure, they can bring about some changes, but the type of change Christians are concerned with comes through Christ and his Holy Spirit. Through pray and humble servant love we live out the kingdom of heaven here on earth and see the will of our Father establishing itself among the various elements and beings of creation. We can be a part of the political sphere but we can not depend upon it or place our hope in it or the men and women who make the wheels of the government go round.

If we're going to put our eggs in one basket let's put it in the basket of Jesus Christ. If we're going to carry several baskets, lets make sure we view them for what they are. Let's learn the truth and embrace our reality. Let's change the world by letting God change us and work through us as living sacrifices.

Side note: If you live in the Vancouver Washington area and you want to read this book with other people and discuss it week to week then there is an avenue for that called Theology Pub. We meet at Brickhouse Bar and Grill every Monday at 7:30pm. We'd love for you to join us.

The Saint of Soldiers

Today, in the United States, it is Veteran's Day. It is a day which honors the men and women who have been faithful participants in the military of the nation. Interestingly (though probably not coincidentally), this day on the Church calendar is one that also remembers and honors a military participant. 

Today is the day of St. Martin of Tours.

Born a pagan (in what is now Hungary) only a few years after the conversion of Emperor Constantine, he was the son of a military veteran who had been a senior officer in the Roman military. Martin was named after Mars, the god of war. At the age of 15 he became a soldier to be thrown into the "holy wars" of the empire, following in his father's footsteps. 

On a rigid cold day, Martin was at the city gates of Amiens (modern-day France) and saw a beggar shivering. Since he was on duty he was only girded with his weapons and military garb. As his heart was overwhelmed with compassion for the beggar he cut his cape into two pieces with his sword and wrapped the garment around the beggar to warm him up. The people laughed at the soldier for his now distasteful appearance (can you imagine walking around with half a cape) while others felt shame for their lack of desire to help the poor man.

Later that night, while sleeping,  Martin saw Jesus wrapped in the cape he had given to the beggar. The Saviour said to the soldier, "Martin, still a catechumen, has covered me with his garment." When Martin turned 18 he was baptized as a Christian and began to live more like a monk than a soldier despite continuing at his military post. 

At the age of 23 he refused a war bonus and told his commanding officer, "I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ. Give the bounty to those who are going to fight. But I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight." In this protest Martin echoed the early church father Tertullian who stated, "The Lord, in disarming Peter, subsequently unbelted every soldier." Shortly after this, but not without difficulties, Martin of Tours was discharged from his military position.

St. Martin of Tours is often referred to as the first conscientious objector to war. It's interesting that he was a soldier before his objection to such activity. For Martin, part of his conversion consisted of laying down his arms and pursuing Christ's kingdom (over Constantine's) by loving the poor and healing the sick. He always viewed himself a soldier but there came a time when he enlisted in the military of Christ his King and that conflicted with his allegiance to Constantine and his activity in the Roman military. 

What I love about this saint is that he lives out the prophecy we see in Isaiah 2:4 which states, "...they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." Joel 3:9-10 has similar words which apply beautifully to this saint when it is written, "Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, 'I am a warrior.'"

Martin, always a warrior, beat his sword into a plowshare and spear into a pruning hook by ripping his uniform into a blanket for the suffering beggar. He took what was meant to show status for the warrior and made it a warm cloth for the low in status and weak. The event is poetic to say the least. 

After he left the military the soldier for Christ became an exorcist and a true monk in Milan and later on a small island. He established the first French monastery. A decade later he traveled to Tours to heal a sick man and became the bishop of the people there. Along with Ambrose, Martin stood against the killing of heretics and against the Emperor having a say in similar Church matters. He did his best to work with those he disagreed with, even on matters as large as killing heretics. He saw the gray in life.

At the end of his life, prior to passing away, he prayed "Lord, if your people still need me, I do not refuse the work. Your will be done." Like Paul, he wanted to serve others before being with Christ. He always followed the orders of his Commander-in-Chief Jesus. May we all be able to pray such wonderful words and take care of the poor and hurting around us. May we see ourselves as enlisted in the military of the Kingdom of God, serving others in humble love as our act of war against evil.