Author: Fred Shope

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Son Screen? Really?

On the bus route that I drive this summer, I pass a church that sometimes has interesting messages on their sign out front. The current message reads, “Son screen prevents sin burn.” Really? Comparing the Son of God to junk that people put on their skin so they can spend time in the sun? Not only is the message degrading to our Savior, it’s just plain cheesy.

The other problem with the message is that it seems to be denying the existence and effects of sin in the life of the believer. That evidently is a popular way of thinking and preaching these days. I have read and heard that because of God’s grace in Jesus, we are no longer under the law, therefore there is no sin for those who are in God’s grace. The reasoning goes that since sin is the breaking of law, and we are no longer under law, there is no law for us to break. No sin. The biggest problem I see is that this is contrary to the entire context of the New Testament. We are not under the Law of Moses and all that went along with it. That law can never make us right with God. No regulations or human effort can make God be pleased with us. That only comes through God’s grace in Jesus’ blood shed on the cross.

But, we are under law. *gasp* We are under the law of love. Jesus said that the greatest commandments were to love God with everything we are, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Those cover everything. I believe Jesus took the command to love our neighbor a step further when he told us to love each other as he loved us. That means laying down our lives for others. Now, we keep the commands to love because God has loved us and not to try and earn his favor, but because we are not perfect and there is still the presence of sin in us, we sometimes fail. Anything we do or say that does not show love to God or to those around us is a violation of the law of love, and is sin. This sin does not change our relationship to our Father, although it may cause us to feel distant for a time. The violations of the command to love others can and do burn. They burn those we are in close relationship with and they burn those who are looking at those of us who say we are following Jesus. They also burn our own consciences, at least they should. Jesus said that the world would know we are his by our love for one another. When we fail to love, the world has good reason to wonder if it’s really worth it to give it all up to follow Christ. That burns the cause of the Kingdom.

We are all guilty of burning others with a lack of love. I know I am. Even though we belong to the Son, sin still rears it’s ugly head from time-to-time. May we grow in our love for God and for those around us.

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Weekend Wanderings

Today is Father’s Day. I think of those without fathers and I pray for God to make himself real as your true Father. I think of the single moms out there who have to do many of the things a father is supposed to do, and I pray for strength and grace to fulfill a difficult task. I think of the single dads who also have a hard job to do and I pray for strength and grace for you as well. I think of fathers and I pray that our Father would keep us mindful of the awesome privilege we have and give us the grace to reflect his image as we serve our children. Happy Father’s Day to all of you.

I’m behind in my blog reading, so here is just a sampling of the good stuff out there:

Eric Carpenter on unity.
Frank Viola talks about destiny.
Brant Hansen on guilt.
Simon Jenkins on Facebook piety (HT: Jake Belder).
My blues name is Hollerin’ Liver Davis (HT: iMonk).

Good question from J.R. Miller.
Coming home.
God the (ultimate) Father.
Letting go.
Silent sentinels.

Scot McKnight with some research on shoes.
Arthur Sido on the wounded.
Jeff Dunn takes another look at God.
Nate Pruitt writes about the life “with.”
Alan Knox on church.

Free XXX Christian porn!
Repent, and believe..and…
The hammer and the life raft.
Jesus, the stronger man.
Jesus love me, this I know…

Have a blessed week!

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Dead, Yet Alive

Those of you who have read this blog over the past three or four months know that one of the topics I wrote a fair amount on was death. Death to self, dying for others. Those posts came out of some recent experiences, and as I was thinking about them the other day, I was concerned that I may have come across as a bit morose. Over the last couple of months, I have learned a few things. Believe it or not, I am still very much a work in progress and am continually learning.

The biggest thing that I am learning is the difference between what so many of us see as living, and what Scripture tells us about life. Many people (Christians included) see life as all about getting as much stuff as you can. That stuff can be money and possessions, or career satisfaction and success. It can be friends and followers, or family. It can be any number of things. The prosperity gospel preachers tell us that if we just have faith, God will give us a life filled with health and wealth, and devoid of problems. Some preachers preach that if we just love everyone, our lives will be filled with friends. Many evangelicals preach that if we follow a number of steps (based on the Bible of course) we will have great marriages, successful children, and a joyous life. Even those who look on horrified at all those things teach that if we keep all the rules our life will be wonderful.

In John 10:10, Jesus states that he came so we could have an abundant life. There are many places in Scripture where a life of following Jesus is presented as the ultimate way to live. Jesus says in Luke 17:33 that those who lose their lives for his sake will find life. In Luke 18, Jesus states that those who give up family, etc. to follow him will receive those things back, and then some. Jesus does call us to come and die. He also says that dying is the way to real, abundant life. The problem comes when we expect that abundant life to include lots of friends, success in our endeavors, good health, enough money to do anything we want, or anything else we think will make us happy. We are like those described by C.S. Lewis in Weight of Glory, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”  

We tend to see life in terms of what we can see and touch, when the life Jesus offers us rises far above the mundane things of this life. We are far too easily pleased. We set our sights on things that will pass away and miss the eternal pleasures the Father has for us right now. I wonder how many of those who believe God is in the business of giving them whatever they want believe that they will have those things in the new heavens and new earth. I hope none of us really believe that the things of this earth are the things that count. We do act like it many times.

As Christ calls us to die, let us remember that he also calls us to live. Live in him.  

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Weekend Wanderings

School is out and summer vacation has officially started. At least in some places. Some of the districts will be in for another week. Now that June is here, the weather has cooled off a bit here in the sunny South. I’ve heard that other parts of the country are experiencing cooler temperatures as well.

Here are some of the best of the past week:

Michael Bird on the same-sex marriage debate (HT: Jake Belder).
Assent and belief.
Ross Gale on God’s calling.
How the genius thinks.

Smile?
Kansas Bob has some ideas for elevator riders.
A missional moment with Jesus.
Doing the math.

Is Anabaptism the answer? Arthur Sido says no.
Women in early Christianity.
Alan Knox on community and community.
Nate Pruitt on faith and family secrets.

Good post from Dan Allen.
Never kill a question.
Good one from Eric Carpenter.
The 14 most popular pilgrimage sites, none of which are in this country.

Be careful about which sunscreen you use.
Trust and love…now what?
“Bible codes” just seem to never go away (HT: iMonk).
The fog.

That God kind of love.
This is good.
A parable.
Not one jot or tittle.

Since this is Sunday, I will wish you a blessed week.

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World Vision Wednesday

The creation of the nation of South Sudan has not ended the violence in that part of the world. Many of humanitarian organizations have left the town of Bentui, near the border of Sudan and South Sudan. World Vision is one of those organizations that have moved away, although the humanitarian efforts continue. For more, go here.

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Weekend Wanderings

This has been an interesting week here in the sunny South. The temperatures have climbed up and are pretty much where we expect them to be. It is Memorial Day weekend, and many of the churches around here will be honoring those who served and died for this nation. While I am extremely grateful for all those who gave their lives for our country, I do think some go overboard when they take a time which is supposed to be focused on Christ, and focus on men, especially when the sacrifice those folks made is lifted up to the same level as Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. That being said, I do believe we should honor those who died for our political freedom, just not in a gathering for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.

Here are the links:

Pray in the disarray.
A proverb from Mike Erich.
Preaching the Gospel to unbelievers is bad?
Alan Knox on the church.
Should tithing count as charitable giving?

Todd Hiestand on this broken and beautiful world.
If Christ is Lord, everything matters.
iMonk asks a good question.
Doubting Thomas or Honest Tom?
Fill in the blank…

Kansas Bob on exalting and humbling.
Church vs. Jesus.
Frank Viola on Calvinists and Arminians.
Getting to the bottom of it.
Arthur Sido on church membership and widows.

Scripture as a mirror.
Pam Hogeweide on the art of relationship.
How much more is enough?
“But” out of God’s love.
The righteous mind.

Have a fantastic Memorial Day, and a blessed week!

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How God Became King 2

In How God Became King, N.T. Wright states that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the inauguration of the kingdom, that “The cross serves the goal of the kingdom. just as the kingdom is accomplished by Jesus’ victory on the cross.” Jesus’ victory was accomplished by taking the worst the kingdoms of this world (symbolized by Rome) and the one behind those kingdoms (Satan) could throw at him, and coming out the other side, having conquered death and hell. The establishment of this kingdom was not what everyone expected. It was a kingdom based on sacrificial love, rather than a kingdom like all the other kingdoms.

Wright goes on to state that Jesus followers saw themselves as participating in Jesus’ kingdom through their suffering. Jesus was very clear that following him meant suffering. We here in the West seem to have forgotten that. One one side are “Job’s friends,” who see any suffering as a result of some sin in the individual’s life. On the other side are those who see all suffering as coming from Satan, so all we have to do is have enough faith to “speak” the suffering away, in effect pretending the suffering doesn’t exist. Of course, if you don’t have enough faith to speak the trouble away, then it is your fault just as it is on the other end of the spectrum. I believe both ends of the spectrum miss the boat.

I was having a short on-line discussion with a friend the other day about an article I had read about a theology of suffering. The article stated that we need to teach that God doesn’t always heal, but that he is always present with us in our suffering. My friend made the comment that it can be as damaging to believe in a God who is present but doesn’t heal as it is to have a God who can heal but lets us suffer because of our lack of faith. I agree with that. This is where the idea of suffering as the means by which God’s kingdom comes to earth changes a lot of our thinking and practice. If we suffer, and the kingdom advances through our suffering, then we can say with Paul, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5) 


Paul also stated that he wanted to know Christ, to know the power of his resurrection. We have no problem wanting that as well. But then Paul goes on to say that he wanted to participate in Christ’s sufferings, becoming like him in his death. We have a hard time getting hold of that. But if the suffering of the followers of Jesus advances his kingdom, then we shouldn’t see it as a result of our sin or an attack of Satan (although those may be contributing factors), but rather see it as something that will bring glory to our King and good to his kingdom.



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World Vision Wednesday

One year ago, a tornado devastated the city of Joplin, Missouri. Today, the citizens of Joplin are continuing to rebuild both their homes and their lives. Through World Vision has been on the ground helping the effort in Joplin as well as at other sites across the United States. For a first person account of the devastation and information on how you can help in future disasters, check this out.

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My Week

The past seven days have been pretty busy. There were the usual work related goings-on, family happenings, etc. There were more significant things that happened as well. One of the events was life changing, and the other was different.

Our son was married this past weekend. We held the rehearsal and dinner at the local camp where we work. There was barbecue, baked beans, cole slaw, and cobbler. It was a busy day, setting up and taking down, driving to pick up the meat, and cooking. Everyone had a good time. The wedding was Sunday. Josh and Alicia were married in the evening in an old dairy barn that has been converted into a venue for different events. Jan and I went there to help decorate in the afternoon, and back for the ceremony. It was a beautiful time. The food at the reception was delicious, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

We spent Monday recovering and visiting with relatives who came in for the wedding. Tuesday found me home with a bad head cold. Wednesday morning, I received a phone call from the pastor of the church we have been gathering with, telling me that a young woman in the church had passed away that morning. The church was going to gather that night to share a meal, to sing some hymns, to share memories, and to pray and encourage one another. It was an interesting experience, because I had never been part of a church gathering for that purpose. I’d been to funerals, taken dinner to grieving families, and stood around and talked at viewings. This was the first time I had been at a gathering of a church like that. It was…well, it was like a family gathering. It was like the brothers and sisters, uncles and cousins, had gathered to comfort each other and pay their respects to their departed loved one. As I thought about it later, it hit me. This is what church is supposed to be. We are family! We have the same Father, the same older Brother. We are brothers and sisters. So why wouldn’t we gather as a family when something like this happens? So many Christians say that they are family with other Christians, but the reality is far different (maybe it’s because there are so many dysfunctional examples out there).

The gathering Wednesday night was family. The gathering I had with a brother in Christ at a local pub the next night was also family. We met for dinner and a couple of pints, and spent the next few hours sharing our lives and encouraging each other. Again, that’s what family does. That’s what church is. It doesn’t have to be in a particular building, at a particular time, on a particular day. It is wherever and whenever the children of God get together to encourage each other and share the Father’s love.

I think we may have found our family.