DWYL Chapter 8: Busy busy busy!!!!

     This chapter struck a bit of a painful note for me personally.  As we talked about balancing ministry and missions with business and life, I felt convicted once more about something that has been tugging at me for some time.  I'm not really involved in any church here in Enid, so the opportunities for service are few and far between.  I recently tried to join a missions trip, but my parents vetoed it on the grounds that I wasn't ready.  I feel the pressure to serve and to minister to people, but my life seems to be full of too many closed doors, and too few open ones.  
     You see, being military (everything comes back to that point, doesn't it?), and moving a TON, I have never been solidly involved long-time in any church or mission.  I was as involved as I could be at our church in DC, but since we lived 45 minutes away, it was hard to stay consistent.  As I've grown older, my responsibilities at home have increased, and with the advent of my life as an independent driver, my family's reliance on me will only increase.  Plus, I'm getting a job this summer that cuts out my hours from 8-5.  Now, I'm not complaining or giving excuses here.  This is just my life, my basic schedule, and though I've felt the call to give my time and energy in service, I just never have an opportunity that fits in my schedule! 
     For a while, I've felt bad about this.  Everyone tells me how amazing this service project was, or how awesome a time they had on that missions trip, and I know it!  I've had that same feeling serving before, and I want that in my life.  I know that faith without works is dead, and that our actions towards others reflects our love for Christ.  As we read the chapter, I felt more and more convicted, until finally I reached the point where I asked myself, "What am I doing wrong?".  According to John Piper, nothing. 
     This hit me right between the eyes.  According to Piper, service to God does not have to consist of all-time ministry; our daily lives can be missions work!  I can be a light to the lost in things as ordinary as school, softball, work, piano lessons.  I can make a difference for the Lord in even things that seem as small as those.  This is a radical concept for me.  I'm a perfectionist, everyone knows.  I want to do BIG things that people notice!  Little changes don't stand out to me very much.  But in this chapter, I saw that even the little things can make a big difference for Christ's kingdom.  Working for Him and glorifying Him in our work, like the beaver, is as much a witness as our testimony.  Now, I'm still going to try to get more involved in active ministry, but at the same time, I need to remind myself that my actions every day are a testimony, and that if I dedicate any service for His glory, it can be used like missions.  This to me is a comforting and relieving thought.

Lord Save Us From....Politics?

     Ok, I'll admit, I'm a bit of a politics-junky.  I watch O'Reilley, argue with TV debates, and will happily give my opinion on any current events issue you can think of that has more than one side.  I suppose that's part of wanting to be a journalist; the nuances of politics intrigue me!  The way they affect our nation and the world, the way people talk, or argue, about them, and especially how I view politics and what I can do to affect them.  Sure, I can't do much to change the nation as a sophomore, but who knows?  In the future the media will still be important like it is today-one good article could change a person's, or persons', views!
     What fascinated me about this video was how the secular world views American Christians and their politics.  I especially like what one person said, "Democracy is untidy and emotional."  Was he ever right! Just turn on the news at any time today, and you'll hear something nasty about our government's policies, even though democracy is supposed to be the pinnacle of human government!   The video quoted a favorite saying of mine from the British WWII Prime Minister Winston Churchill: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."  The meaning of this statement is astounding.  What Churchill is asserting is that man cannot come up with a perfect government, and that our emotion-torn democracy is the best we can do!  Believe it or not, this is not a new idea.  The ancient philosopher Socrates once outlined the degredation of human governments.  He starts with an aristocratic government, or, a government ruled by the highest members of society, such as the nobles.  Socrates says that that will fail because the common man will want control, not just the nobility.  So, the military takes over and the society is now timocratic, meaning a government by soldiers and militaristic men.  But of course, the nobles feel left out after a while, so they compromise, and become oligarchic: a government comprised of both wealthy common men and nobility.  However, an oligarchy has only a few leading members hwho decide everything for the nation, so the people begin to get cranky.  They revolt, and establish a democracy, which we know as government "by the people, from the people, for the people".  Everyone gets a vote, and the government does what the people say.  Great setup, right?  Socrates says, "Wrong."  See if this sounds familiar: the people begin to get seperated in their views, and factions arise.  They all want what they want, and they want it now.  People argue over which type of person should hold the highest office based on their political views.  Then, they complain that the government is getting oppresive, pushing laws like, for example, more taxes, more military, healthcare; things like that. The people want FREEDOM, not big government.  So, they hold a few tea parties, shoot a few congressmen, and eventually overthrow the government.  In its place, Socrates says, a tyranny will arise.  The people wanted freedom?  They got it.  So much so, that they cannot control it, and the nation is in chaos.  All it takes is for one person to step up, promising to take care of it all, and BAM!  Insta-dictator.  
    Here's what fascinates me: Socrates placed democracy as the second-worst form of government there is, and that the inevitable end of democracy is in tyranny.  Why?  Because, as our founding fathers knew, man is SINFUL, and cannot build a perfect government alone.  Perhaps that's why people see Christians as such a threat to government.  We know that man is sinful, and that only God can administer just rule to guide a nation.  Our attempts at pulling our government towards that ideal scare some people, I think.  People don't like being told they are basically evil.  They like it less when we say that a nation of imperfect people makes an imperfect government.  They don't want our problems to be based on their own sinfulness.  It must be some one else's fault, right? 
     The video quoted people saying that Jesus wouldn't really care about politics.  I especially like what one man said: "He'd be all groovy with it."  I disagree.  I believe God cares a good deal about politics and government.  Before Christ's birth, the known world was conquered by Alexander the Great, creating one of the largest empires ever.  When Alexander died, he left his empire to crumble beneath squabbling mini-kingdoms.  Rome took over what Alexander had left, establishing a united, peaceful empire for Christ to be born in.  One nation, one language: the perfect place to spread the Gospel for the first time.  God clearly orchestrated the politics of ancient Rome to ensure a good start for the Gospel.  And I believe God cares about our current politics as well.  Despite the negative turns our government has been making, God has always had His hands on America, and I believe He will keep them on us for a long time yet.  

Jesus Camp Review

When talking with some of my classmates after watching this movie, I was told that I should've seen the first half of the movie; apparently, it was harder to believe than even the second half.  However, even with what little I did see, I think I understand the movie and how it's trying to portray Christian Evangelicals. 

I wrote down a number of things that bothered me about this film.  First, the second half of the movie began with the little boy, Levi, preparing a sermon.  I have mixed feelings on this.  If God has given him the passion and ability for public speaking, more power to him!  Just, not yet.  As a child, he has neither the knowledge nor the authority to preach effectively.  He doesn't know enough about the Bible to give instruction to other believers, and he doesn't possess the God-given authority to preach in the church.  Now, if he was acting simply as a motivator for kids his age, that's fine.  Going beyond that into actual instruction, however, is a leap too far for a boy his age. 

Next, the thing that was emphazised to me over and over was the violence of this camp's evangelism.  Never once can I recall them mentioning the love of God; only ever His wrath for sinners and the unrepentent.  The femal leader of this camp calls the kids to "make war" on the world, referencing prophecies from Paul as support.  (Aside: Paul wasn't a prophet, and he never said that preaching the gospel was like going to war.)  During the sermon on abortion, the speaker gets the kids chanting "righteous judges" as the man holds up a display of miniature babies meant to represent unborn life.  Again, children do not have the authority to act as or to call themselves judges.  And frankly, neither do the adults of the camp.  Jesus tells us to remove the plank in our own eye before removing the speck in our neighbors.  The mere fact that these people call themselves "righteous" shows that they don't have the right to be "judges". 

Finally, the cuts to the radio host were perhaps the most blatant attempt at negatively portraying the camp. Although the harsh views the radio host presents may be more condemning than the filmers really believe, the host's discussions offer insight into what main-stream media thinks about Christian evangelicals, and especially how camps like this one affect that stereotype.  The host's name is Mike Papantonio, a lawyer and co-host of Ring of Fire, a nationally-syndicated weekly talk show.  In short, he tells other people his opinion on issues in the nation today.  His role in Jesus Camp is obvious: display the media's views and slander Christian evangelism.  Some of his statements are particularly harsh: he calls the camp a "fundamentalist movement interfering with American's freedom to learn," and says the kids are being trained as "child soldiers for the Republican party," a thinly veiled reference to the brutally indoctrinated child soldiers fighting in the African bushlands today.  Papantonio says that, "God has a very special place for people who mess with children," as if he would know, despite his proclaimed distast for modern Christians and their "rights" (see the Wikipedia article on Mike Papantonio).  Throughout the interview, he emphasizes the separation of church and state, a controversial issue that is easily twisted to act against Christians.  His final blow is this: "Christianity is a witch's brew!"  That pretty much speaks for itself.  Papantonio is convinced that conservative Christians have slowly been taking over America, transforming politics and religion for their own purposes.  This view nearly captures the theme of the whole film: overly zealous Christians are brainwashing children to raise a generation of literal "Jesus freaks" to eventually gain control of the government.

Don't Waste Your Life Assignment Questions

Galations 6:14: "Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."  This is a confusing verse at first glance, but when we compare it to the Gospel message, it begins to make sense.  Boasting only in the cross means that we find our pride and fulfillment in the work of Christ, not in anything we do ourselves.  God's power is greater than we are; boasting in the cross means we are relying on that power, instead of our own.  To me now, that means giving up my stress and fears to find courage in God's power.  Lately I've been dealing with a lot of stressful and difficult things; it's hard to stay positive and focused.  If I tried to stay calm by my own power, I would surely fail.  Instead, I have given my fears to God, and now, I can boast in HIS power when thing turn out well. 

I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
-Galatians 2:20
At first, this verse seems to be talking about one single person.  However, mid-way in the verse, the "I" changes.  The first "I" is the sinful man who has died to his sin by finding his life in Christ.  This means that the man has given up a life of sin, and has accepted Christ and is trying to live according to Christ's standards.  That old "I" is dead; the old has gone, the new has come.  Christ is now the source of this man's life and purpose.  Next, Paul specifies what kind of life by saying "in the flesh".  By this, he means physical existence, sinful as it is.  The very next "I", however, is living in Christ by faith, trying to remove themselves from their sinful flesh and following God's laws.  When we accept Christ, we are a new creation, born again.  The person we were is dead; but we are newly alive in Christ.

Assignment #10: Glee Review: You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.

     I will say this now and stick by it: I have absolutely nothing against stupid shows.  I think many things that have no point are absolutely hilarious (see Bugs Bunny for reference).  However, thus far, Glee is not one of them. 
     Allow me to explain.
     I have two wonderful, amazing, spectacular friends named Katie and Regan.  They are Gleeks, which means that not only do they habitually discuss new Glee episodes before school, they also burst randomly into song in the hallways and squeal "GLEE!!" whenever the show is mentioned.  I do love them for it.  But I've never liked High School Musical, and the closest I get to absolutely loving a musical is Mary Poppins.  So, a TV show dedicated entirely to a Glee club that likewise bursts randomly into song (perfectly rehearsed and on-key, may I add) and consists of a gay, a few air-heads, one or two overly promiscuous girls, and a boy whose far too touchy for his own good, frankly doesn't appeal to me.  I like even less their presumptuous allegations on Christianity. 
     The line that stuck out to me most came from the main character of the episode, the gay.  He argues that there is no God by saying, "I don't believe in a God.  Why should I?  First He makes me gay, and then has all His followers going around saying it's something I chose.  Who would choose to be mocked and ridiculed every day?  Now He's taking away my Dad.  If there is a God, He has to hate me."  This is all said in a tear-filled, mournful way that would wring pity from a drill sergeant.  Upon examination, however, the statement is filled with fallacies and half-truths.  First off, the reasons he lists are irrelevant to why some one should believe in God.  Sure, they may be struggles for him, but those reasons in and of themselves are not evidence enough to discount God.  Second, homosexuality is sin.  Just type it into any Bible search engine to find tons of references condemning it. Being gay or lesbian is a choice, albeit perhaps an unconscious one.  "Male and female He created them" and "your [woman's] desire shall be for your husband" are both evidence within the creation account that God does not make people gay or lesbian.  Third and finally, Christ chose to be mocked and ridiculed, and many Christians all over the world in every circumstance undergo the same treatment for their religion's sake. 
     I could repeat several more lines from this episode that riled me up more than a little bit.  Our culture, more often than not, is ignorant about the real theology and reasons behind Christianity, and they twist this ignorance into assumptions and condemnations that should never have existed.  Every anti-religion argument in this episode had something logically wrong with it, but the sad thing is, most people are too desensitized, disinterested, or flat out lazy and stubborn to discover the truth.  It gives so much more meaning and purpose to our mission as followers of Christ: "How can they believe if they have not heard?"

Assignment #9: Walk the Aisle: A Sight Not To Be Forgotten

     Most of us have, few of us haven't, but all of us have wanted to at one point or another: to go camping.  You know, out-doorsy, back-woodsy, all-dirty and no-sudsy tent-and-campfire-camping.  I love it.  My family usually takes our kayaks too, so we get the whole range of experiences, from wild animals, to flying tents to an invasion of freshwater jellyfish (ask later if you must).  But if I had to say which was the most influential camp experience for me, it would definitely not fall into this category.  No, as awesome as it is, Falls Creek's focus is not on enjoying the great outdoors.  I learned this in a gentle, but moving way.
     This past year was my first at Falls Creek.  I had gone with some trepidation and more intimidation, and not a little hesitation.  In short, I had no idea what to expect.  Everyone had said it was incredible, and fun, and memorable, and awesome, and, and, and, and!  But what was I going to find there that would affect me? 
     I had my answer on the very first night.  We'd gone to Tabernacle for our first sermon, and I thought it was very good.  I especially loved the worship (that's always been a favorite of mine from church camps).  And of course, it being a Baptist camp, there was an altar call at the end of the service.  Nothing big or unusual, just your run-of-the-mill "God loves you, come meet Him" altar call.  It's what happened next that I don't think I'll ever forget. 
     A few seconds passed without anything happening.  Then, about a dozen people filed down to the stage; then, a dozen more.  And in a matter of minutes, floods of students were half-running down the aisles to the front, eager to recieve Christ.  I could not believe it!  Hundreds, hundreds of kids just like me were so eager, so willing, so ready for Christ, that they overcame each of their own obstacles and joined the massive throng that formed.  For nearly ten minutes, the flow didn't stop.  The aisles were so packed, movement was pratically impossible!  And it just kept going. I remember I stood there with my hands over my mouth and tears in my eyes watching this harvest.  I could not even express my amazement and joy.  And right there and then, I knew that Falls Creek was a place of mighty power and purpose for God, and that I was a part of something wonderful there.  (As a side note, the bell tolled 191 times the next morning, once for each heart that now belongs to God.)
     In short, I completely support the altar call.  Calvinist as I am, I believe that we too have responsibility in the salvation process to make our hearts open and willing to God, and that He won't come to us if we don't first come to Him.  This tradition, though controversial in some aspects, I know has profound power, and I've seen it change so many hearts.  It's truly amazing what God can do with just one word: Come.

Assignment #8: Excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount: Pax Vobiscum, amici boni et beati mei!

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   ¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
     I thought we could start today with a little linguistic education.  As part of a classical education, my mom has taught my brother and I Latin for the past five years.  Although I'm a little rusty, I thought I'd share a few tidbits with you about what is commonly called the "mother tongue".  My above greeting was a common one for monks and holy men during the centuries after the fall of Rome.  Latin was the language of the Church then, though few outside the Church knew it at all.  "Pax vobiscum" means "peace be with you", "amici" is "friends", "boni" is "good", "et" is "and", "mei" is "my", and "beati" is the one I want to focus on.  It's the plural form of the adjective "blessed", the singular form being "beatus". 
     From our studies in Matthew 5-7, you should recognize the above passage as the Beatitudes.  Now, with your new knowledge of Latin, what does this title mean?  Litterally, it means "the blesseds".  Looking at the passage, that translation makes sense.  On first glance, Christ is listing all the rewards that faithful believers will receive if they endure through each of the mentioned trials.  On second glance, however, this famous passage outlines vital spiritual processes: redemption and sanctification. 
     The first four verses outline the redemption process.  First, Christ blesses the poor in spirit.  This represents the sinners, the ones who are dead in spirit and longing to be full of something else.  Next, He blesses the mourners.  These are those sinners who are saddened by their sin, and realize that it is wrong.  Next are the meek.  "Meek" is an adjective for "humble"; thus, Christ is blessing those who humble themselves before Him and ask for forgiveness. Finally, Christ blesses those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those that ask Christ to fill them with His righteousness; He says that they will be filled.    
      The next three verses show the aspects of Christianity a new believer should follow first.  First, be merciful.  Christ tells us that even though we have new life without sin, we can't condemn those who don't.  Second, be pure in heart.  You have a new life without sin, so keep it that way to the best of your ability.  Finally, be peacemakers.  When you see sin, confront it peacefully and gently, as Christ would. 
     Lastly, verses 10-12 relate to the most challenging aspect of Christianity: persecution.  Christ says that those who are persecuted on His account are blessed, because it shows that they are living out their faith.  Showing Christ in our lives will result in persecution, no matter what.  Christ tells us to rejoice in it, to show Him even more through our perseverance, patience, and faith in times of trial.
     The Beatitudes are a comforting passage.  They remind us of the eternal rewards that await us for our faith, and they show us how we should live our lives as Christ lived His.  If we do this, we will be "beati"-blessed.