More Thoughts on Faith

I’m still pondering a couple things on faith theme again today. One item is just because a person believes something or has faith in something doesn’t mean that it is true. By the same token, just because you choose not to believe something doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Our faith or belief really has no bearing on truth. Truth is true regardless of how one feels or believes or perceives. To preface truth with words like “your” or “my” is meaningless. You may observe something from a different perspective or have a life experience on which you base a belief that is far different from my own. But that doesn’t change the truth. If truth was not something solid and unchanging how could we have a foundation for faith in anything?

Another thought is something James writes about. Faith alone is worthless. It requires action. I could easily say how much I believe parachuting is safe and would be fun. But am I willing to step through the door of an airplane as it soars above the ground? Or how about an example a little closer to home. I know and believe that spending time reading my Bible and praying daily is one of the most important things I can do. But do my actions reflect that? Who is king of my late nights, Leno, Letterman or The Lord of Lords?

I have faith that God will make sure my needs and those of my family are taken care of. But does my giving reflect that? As long as I’m on money here, is there somebody out there who can tell me where the line is between faithful stewardship and reckless irresponsibility? Sure I want to become more generous. I love giving. But I’m also in charge of making sure I am wise in how I provide for my family. We are a fairly frugal family. So it’s not like I’m feeling guilty about how we do use our money. But I read stories about people like the widow in 1 Kings 17 who just had enough for a last meal for her son and herself. Then Elijah asked her to bring him food first. She did and her oil and flour never ran out. Do I have that kind of faith? Could I give away my last meal? I’ve got enough for countless meals right now. Is that meaning my jar of oil is full because I've been faithful with what little I have, or is God providing me with opportunities to give the oil He's put in my jar away, or both?

Boy, this trying to live acting on what you believe sure can be complex.

How Much Faith

I’ve been thinking about faith lately and about just how one “lives by faith.” I’ve been struck by one very interesting observation. It doesn’t matter who you are. Whether we want to admit it or not, we all live by faith. I’m not just talking about a little bit of faith. Almost everything we do involves a good deal of faith.

As I drove to work this morning I had to have faith that the drivers around me were going to stay in their lanes or honor their red light when I had a green one. I had to have faith when I entered the elevator that it would indeed take me up five floors without plunging downward. I have faith that the unseen, unknown builders of this place knew what they were doing and that they constructed this mass of brick and steel in a way that enables it to withstand the wind and rain. From simple things like flipping on a light switch to eating the food brought to me in a restaurant requires faith in countless people and chains of circumstances beyond my control.

With all this faith in men for which we don’t give a second thought, why do we find it so hard to have faith in God? As Christians we all believe in the sinful nature of fallen man. We know apart from the saving grace of Jesus their hearts are evil. Yet we find it so easy to have faith in them for so many things. The miner who pulled the ore from the earth used to make you car is much less worthy of our faith than The One who put the ore in the earth. The engineer who studied the physics to gauge the stresses this building can withstand knows nothing compared to The One who commands the winds, waves and all forces of nature with His words.

I’m not advocating that we stop having all this faith. But when we see all the ways in which we have faith in other people or things we should be prompted to trust God and place so much more faith in Him. Buildings crumble, people have auto accidents, but He is unfailing.

House Keeping in a Cluttered Mind - closet #4

Today I’m just going to let the meandering stream of things I’ve been thinking about flow through to this keyboard. They are mostly thoughts about what a genuine follower of Jesus is like or how upside down this world is compared to what God calls us to live like.

My oldest child will be entering high school in the fall. I think she is a very bright, insightful and mature young lady. In this world we seem to see maturity as becoming more independent and being able to do things or make choices on our own. But spiritual maturity seems to be completely opposite of that. The more mature I become in my walk with Christ, the more dependent I become on Him in all aspects of my life.

The system of this world tells us to look at ourselves and compare that to others. That is how we can tell how poorly or how well we are doing in any area, whether it is material wealth, health, or our spiritual condition. Material wealth is so temporary and unreliable. We are all going to die in the end so we all share the same health condition. The reality is we have only one Right Standard to which we should be compared. And we all, ALL fall well short of that mark.

And when we look at others, as this world seems to think we should, we are completely within our “rights” to point out the sins and be critical of others if our situation in that area relative to theirs is “better.” And we also think if we aren’t doing as well as them we are deserving of their grace rather than their condemnation. But the way we ought to live is by being most critical of our own sins and recognizing we are most deserving of God’s judgement. And when we look at other we should extend grace and love because that is what Christ has done for us.

“Look out for number one!” So often we pick the wrong “number one” to look out for. In this world, number one is usually ourself. The widow, the orphan, the poverty stricken, those in the mist of sorrow, the lonely, the broken, the sick, the unbeautiful, those who can offer us nothing of material value; these are the apple of His eye, the jewels of creation, the ones created in His image just like us. When we are looking out for them, the least of these, we are looking out for Him, the one and only Number One.

The bar is set so very high. It is an impossible standard to attain. That is if I am trying to do it myself. But I have help. His Spirit leads and guides me. His Word teaches me how to let Him live in and through me. And His grace takes my hand and lifts me up when I stumble on the path.

House Keeping in a Cluttered Mind - closet #3

Somebody whom I greatly respect was talking about a book by William P. Young titled “The Shack.” It is a fictional work. This book has received some great reviews. But I’ve read some who think this book represents a subtle deception promoting counterfeit Christianity and a skewed view of God. Some of the critics have been downright nasty. Since I’m only about half way through the book I’m not ready to make my own final assessment. I will say again though, this book is fiction so chill out a little.

However, this “controversy” got me thinking about when and how we should be critical of others or the things they do. Now I’m not one of those folks who thinks we shouldn’t judge. Clearly we are to judge as long as we are using the right standard. We do need to hold our brothers and sisters accountable when they are in error or have strayed from walking uprightly or when they mislead others. But when a person such as the author of “The Shack” shakes things up a bit by going against convention, is that such a bad thing? I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t read the book. But if you have, you’ll probably know what a few of these radical things are.

Isn’t the problem here that so many people are so illiterate when it comes to the Bible that they are easily led away? And if we were all in The Word and had The Word in us we would quickly be able to discern a lie from the Truth. Is it so threatening to read something that really makes us think? Thinking isn’t a sin. We do, in so many ways, put God in a box. That box is often shaped more like what and whom we wish God were or what we’ve been told. We are too proud to admit that God is beyond our comprehension or too arrogant, assuming we know enough so there are only a few blanks to fill in to complete the picture.

The theology in this book may not be entirely on track. But does that mean I can’t learn something from it? Several years ago I went to an awful movie, “White Men Can’t Jump.” It was crude and foul and not very good. But I learned a spiritual lesson in spite of all that. One of the basketball players was always trying to look so good and smooth. He had the bling and right clothes. The other one looked like a slob, a bum. The slob made a statement to the other that went something like; “You would rather look good than play good. I’d rather look bad and play good.” Isn’t that the problem with so many Christians? They want to look good on the outside. But inside they’ve got no game. I’d rather make sure I’m “playing good” and really right inside than worry about the external things others are going to judge. Now I know those who are critics of “The Shack” would be even more critical of “White Men Can’t Jump.” But despite how “good” or “bad” this book is somebody who is mature and has a discerning heart will be able to uncover quite a few nuggets to ponder and explore in Scripture.

Well, I’ve got to go. After reading through this I completely went in a different direction than I expected. There’s always another posting…

Housekeeping in a Cluttered Mind - closet #2

Contented Restlessness

Con-tent: Satisfied with things as they are.
Rest-less: Marked by a lack of quiet, repose, or rest.

Three words, three singular, tiny question words sit atop my "Prayer Request" page in my journal. What? Where? When?

I know that almost all of our lives from adolescence till death are spent trying to figure out answers to these kinds of questions. Where do I fit in? What is my purpose? But of late these three question words seemed a bit more focused than just you more general life-quests.

What does God want me to be doing in my vocation, in His church? Or what does He desire to do with and through and in my life? What does a life of surrender to Him really look like?

Where am I being called to do this unrevealed what? Is it right where I am? (Please don’t say it’s with pre-teens!) Or is it someplace else on the globe?

When? When will I have an answer? When will I know for certain that His voice is the one I’m hearing? When is the right time to do or not do anything?

For about two years I have been quite restless within as I ponder and explore these questions. But recently I decided to expend much less energy on trying to see very far over the horizon and just let His lamp light my path one step at a time. It has brought me to a place of what I call "contented restlessness." By nature I like to plan for a journey making sure I know exactly where I’m going and what turns or route changes need to be made in order to get to my destination.

Did you catch that? I just said "my destination." It’s quite a struggle at times to turn over the wheel and just go along for the ride to His destination for me. Even though I know I can trust His driving, there are times of uneasiness. But I’m learning to just roll down the window on the passenger side and be content to enjoy the scenery and fellowship along the way.

Housekeeping in a Cluttered Mind - closet #1

Well, first I'll put a few stipulations out here, okay? Then I'll get on with it. This is my first attempt at a blog so I really have no idea what I'm doing. Also, I don't always spell or grammar check so please grant m a little grace in that area. Finally, I am an extremely flawed individual, quite far from perfect. Although I'm old enough to have a good deal of life experience, I'd also like to think I'm wise enough to realize I am not always right and can still be taught a few things. Feel free to share insights or comments on my postings. Obviously agreement and encouragement are alway welcome. But I also invite you to gently blast me full-bore if I'm way off the mark. You sharpen me and I'll sharpen you as we press onward in the journey.

I guess, at least to start off, this blog will be more of an aid in helping me sort out the millions of things that run through my mind. It gets pretty cluttered in there with so much I'd like to take time to ponder. But being a husband, dad, employee, child, active church member... leaves little time for real reflection. Then of course you throw in the culture of constant entertainment where an entire evening can be wasted on worrying about what's going to happen to this fictional TV charachter or that, or who will get booted off "Idol." How easily distracted we are. Make sure you thank God for His patience with us. Who among us would be content, say in our marriages, with the "left-overs" we offer Him?

Gee, I'm already seeing that I'm going to get myself in a lot of troule in this blog. I don't think there's a Fifth Ammendment here to protect me from self incrimination.