Click this link to read the unedited interview: http://frankviola.org/2012/01/23/ntwright
Who Do You Love?
I heard a couple of things recently that made me think. I know that can be dangerous, and it sometimes gets me in trouble, but I thought anyway. The first was a statement by an individual that he wasn’t indebted to anyone. The second was a Facebook post to the effect that if you want a world where true love is possible, you must allow each person to freely choose who to love. While I can understand the sentiment behind both statements, I believe that they are anti-thetical to the way a follower of Jesus should see things.
The statement about not being in debt to anyone is directly contradicted by Paul’s admonition in Romans 13:8 to owe nothing to anyone except love. Alan Knox has a good post on this here. As those who are loved by the Father and indwelt by his Spirit, we do have one debt. We owe love to our fellow believers, our brothers and sisters.
In Alan’s post, he states that, “I can’t choose who to love.” That leads me to the second statement. As followers of the one who gave his life for us, we have only one choice, to love. Anything else is disobedience to our Master. In John 15, Jesus tells us that his command is to love each other as he has loved us. Since our Savior’s love led him to lay down his life for us, we are to do the same for our brothers and sisters. Doesn’t sound like freely choosing who to love, does it? Jesus also states that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor. He then goes on to state that our neighbor is anyone who we come in contact with. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes the whole idea of love to the extreme when he tells us to even love our enemies! Sounds to me like he leaves us with no choice. In John 13:35, Jesus says that the world will know that we belong to him because of our love.
There is entirely too much pain and suffering in this world, much of it caused by a lack of love. Unfortunately, this is also true among those who claim to follow the King who founded his kingdom on sacrificial love. Those who are not followers of Jesus know that we are supposed to be different. Many of them also know that the main thing that is supposed to distinguish us is love. Is it any wonder they look at the church and feel that we have nothing to offer them?
Brothers and sisters, we have a debt. It is to love. We have no choice. We are to love everyone who crosses our path. Anything else is blatant disobedience to our Lord and Master.
World Vision Wednesday
As the 2012 primary elections continue and the general election draws closer, one of the issues to think about is where the different candidates stand on global poverty. This is an issue that involves a number of others that are being hotly debated. To find out more check this out.
1 Corinthians 13 for the Elections
This is a repost from November, 2008. As we get deeper into the campaign season it seems as if those who call themselves Christians are even more divided this year than four years ago.
If I speak with a silver tongue and can sway hundreds, but have not love,
I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all polls,
and if I have a faith that can move political mountains, but have not love,
I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the national committee
and surrender my time to run a phone bank, but have not love,
I gain nothing.
Love is patient with those of the other party.
It is not jealous of opponent’s fund raising,
it does not boast of its candidate, it is not proud.
It does not rudely argue political points, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered when others disagree, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in negative campaigns
but rejoices in the truth.
It always protects the reputation of Christ, always trusts God is in control,
always hopes for the best, always perseveres in living as a disciple of Jesus.
Love never fails. But where there are campaign promises,
they will be broken;
where there are silver tongued orators,
they will be stilled;
where there is knowledge of how to govern,
it will pass away.
For we have partial knowledge and we govern with that knowledge,
but when the True King comes, imperfect government will disappear.
When I was a partisan, I talked like a partisan,
I thought like a partisan,I reasoned like a partisan.
When I recognized who the True King is,
I put partisan ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection;
then we shall see face to face.
Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain:
faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.
Re-post: The Lord is My Shepherd
The silly (political) season is heating up. I remembered this post that I wrote some time back.
I came across something cool the other day. It has to do with a slightly different angle on Psalm 23. One way of looking at the phrase “The Lord is my shepherd” – evidently in the times that this was written the kings and rulers of different empires presented themselves as the “shepherd” of their people who would take care of all of their needs (not unlike politicians today, who try to convince voters by making all sorts of promises). So the Psalmist is saying, “the Lord is my shepherd”, not any earthly ruler. I like that way of looking at it. It doesn’t take away all of the other facets of God being our shepherd, it just adds to it.
So to all those out there who are hoping on human rulers, whether Democrat, Libertarian, or Republican, liberal, conservative, or moderate – The Lord, the creator of all things, the ruler over all – He is my shepherd. He is the one who will meet all my needs. I put my trust in Him, not in person or party.
A Sestina for Christmas
Another replay:
It’s the time of year we call Christmas
A time we spend with friends and family
It’s a time for us to worship
We worship a baby
Who was born in a stable
But do we worship the King?
The child who came was born a King
Do we just see a baby?
Who do we worship?
During the time we spend with family
In this season of Christmas
Who do we see in the stable?
It was strange there in the stable
Not the usual place for the birth of a King
But there was the baby
His mother welcomed him to the family
We call this Christmas
Who do we worship?
There is only one worthy of worship
He lay in a stable
Surrounded by his family
At Christmas
We too often forget the King
And focus on the baby
It is wondrous that he was a baby
Born in a humble stable
So we celebrate at Christmas
Who do we worship?
A King?
Or an infant in a human family?
Yes, part of a human family
Born a baby
In a stable
He is more. He is King
He is worthy of worship
At Christmas
As we celebrate Christmas, surrounded by family
Remember that we worship much more than a baby
Born in a stable. We worship the King!
Merry Christmas!
Prayer for the Third Week of Advent
Father, as we wait in anticipation for the return of our King, help us to not sit passively by, but to rejoice in the great privilege you have given us to join you in your mission of reconciling the world to yourself. As we await the final culmination of your Kingdom, help us to be about bringing that Kingdom to bear in every part of our day-to-day. Amen
Prayer for the Second Week of Advent
Lord Jesus, we live in a world that has lost hope, that runs after things, relationships, and so much more in a vain attempt to fill the emptiness. Help us to stay out of that rat race, and remind us that our hope is in you. In the midst of the stuff of life, remind us that you are making all things new and that you will one day finish the job. Thank you for what you have already done in us. Thank you for calling us to join in your mission of restoring your creation. Thank you for the privilege of bearing the hope of your Kingdom to those around us. Amen.
Join the Revolution!
This is from a pastor in an institutional church who gets it. It’s definitely well worth the read.
Wade Burleson: The Church Is Changing – A Reformation of the Church Based on the Truth of Scripture
Good News From the Church Front
I know I tend to be a bit critical of the American church and what I see as a turning away from what Jesus intended. It’s not all bad, though. I would be the first to admit that God can use anyone, even churches that I could never be a part of. Here is a good example of followers of Jesus in churches, one traditional and one more contemporary, doing what our Savior commanded us to do.
I praise God for his people who are willing to show love to others, no matter what we may disagree on.