Love Drives Out Fear!

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love (1 John 4:18).

A term I hear often these days is the politics of fear.

Politicians often utilizes fear as a prime motivator to garner support and votes, whether it is fear of the economy collapsing, fear of external threats to our safety, fear of the demise of the American way of life, and the list goes on and on.

Fear is one heck of a motivator my friends. 

But isn’t it interesting that the most frequently used warning in the Bible is: 

“Fear not!” 

Someone has actually counted the number of times this warning appears in the Bible and the number totals 365. 

I find it interesting that in spite of these repeated Biblical warnings against fear many Americans are eaten up with it today: They fear terrorists or when the next terrorist attack will occur, they fear being gunned down by some deranged person, they fear our country being overrun by drug running illegals, they fear our American way of life will be threatened in some way, and again the list goes on and on.

So what do we normally do in order to compensate for our fears (real or imagined)?

Well we beef up security by shielding ourselves from the rest of the world; we stock our gun cabinets with weapons and sufficient ammunition, we depend on hawkish politicians who promise to build a wall to protect us from the raping drug crazed Mexicans fleeing across our borders, we turn to our own tribe and turn our backs on those unlike us, and we resort to all the worldly security measures we think will protect us.

I actually understand why those living without hope can be so fearful.

But I have great difficulty understanding how any Christian, especially a pastor, whose life is grounded in the hope and security of Jesus Christ, can live with such mind boggling fear. I was appalled and shocked by the words of the pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Pastor Robert Jeffress: 

“When I’m looking for a leader who is going to fight ISIS and keep this nation secure, I don’t want some weak and mild leader who’s going to turn the other cheek, I’ve said that I want the meanest toughest SOB I can find to protect this nation.”

These words move way beyond legitimate concern towards utter fear. But this is the kind of fear that has permeated American society at least since 9/11.

On the morning of 9/11 I was driving to a meeting when an elder in my church called me to ask if I had heard what had happened. She then said something that I have never forgotten. She said:

 “America will never be the same after today!”

I’m afraid she was right. Many Americans have been living in dreadful fear for the past sixteen years. 

In fact, the most compelling narrative in America today is the narrative of fear. The surrogates of fear are the news media, politicians, and yes even certain members of the clergy. Fear has gripped the American heart and many have succumbed to the hollow promises of politicians who promise to protect us all. 

Truth is: We’ve been duped.

The Christian is reminded repeatedly in the Bible not to allow fear to control us. The Scriptures are crystal clear in reminding us:

“There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear.”

This is something the world will never understand: God’s antidote to fear is love. Not just any kind of love, but rather the special brand of love called agape—the kind of love that is self-sacrificing and redemptive.

The kind of love that was able to overcome fear and be led innocently to a Roman execution.

So do a reality check the next time you hear some politician (or any person for that matter) attempt to exploit you by the use of fear to earn your support and vote. Ask yourself: “Is this person driven by the love (agape) of God embedded in his or her heart or is fear itself the prime driver.”

I close with the words of the author of 2 Timothy:

“For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Here’s a love driven narrative we all can live with my friends. 

"I Pledge Allegiance to . . . "

For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works” (Luke 4:6-7).

This second temptation of Jesus is one of the most alluring and powerful temptations any Christian or Christian leader will ever experience. The temptation to receive and wield power by political means has been a thorn in the church’s side, at least since the time of Constantine (4th Century CE). 

The not so subtle meaning behind this second temptation is the call to worship nationalism and patriotism instead of the God revealed by Jesus Christ. The sad effects of such an allegiance have been disastrously numerous throughout history. The cost of such an allegiance is the loss of our true Christian identity as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

The lure to power is intoxicating and awfully tempting for many Christian leaders who yearn for personal and professional validation. The benefits of such a relationship may appear worthwhile to the average Christian, but the demands placed upon us by the State, as followers of Christ, are enormously difficult and calls into question our allegiance to Christ and his kingdom.

This was Jesus’s big temptation!

But the important thing to know is that Jesus resisted the temptation. In effect, Jesus said “No!” to the lure of political power. He knew he had a better strategy for living and it simply did not match the goals of any kingdom no matter how powerful or wealthy that kingdom was; no matter how great a military it had (Rome's was one of the best of its time). 

He resisted the powerful urge to entangle the mechanisms and mission of his Father’s Kingdom with the kingdoms of this world (including modern Democratic governments).

This is a difficult thing for many Christians to hear today. Being an American and being a Christian mean the same thing to many Christians. There are so many Christians, in fact, who sincerely believe that America was founded as a Christian nation, and remains so even today. This belief is pervasive and powerful, yet it is erroneous.

Since the 1980s, at least, there is this perception that it is possible for Christians to take over the government and legislate morality and Christian values, thus creating an American theocracy (sort of like Iran but with a different named god). We may thank the Moral Majority for such a misguided ambition and perhaps even Franklin Graham and Pat Robertson for perpetuating it today.

Much of Evangelical Christianity, as well as many Mainline denominations, support the belief that Christianity and the State make great bedfellows. It is not uncommon to see the American flag prominently displayed alongside the Christian flag in the sanctuaries of many of these churches; not surprisingly this does not create any theological dissonance for those sitting in the pews. 

Even more tragic is the practice of many pastors involving themselves in political elections by encouraging their congregations to support one political party over the other or vote for one particular candidate. Some even pass out voter guides to help prepare their congregants for election day.

Not only does this mixture of Christianity and politics violate the intentions of the Founding Fathers (who knew firsthand the dangers of State controlled religion) but it also stands in opposition to the heart of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Nothing good will ever come of this marriage I am afraid, but there is hope.

I sense a moving of the Holy Spirit that is nudging many Christian leaders in a Gospel affirming direction. I have noticed for sometime now a shifting of the American-Christian paradigm that has dominated the landscape for sometime. Something is in the air. A new Reformation? Who knows but something is happening for sure. 

Young Christian authors and pastors alike are sounding the alarm of the dangers of mixing our Christian faith with partisan politics. They are warning us that the only winner in this relationship will be the State, as the Church will be reduced to being a puppet for the political apparatus and (mis) adventures of our nation (including her wars).

In fact, I would suggest that one of the reasons (and there are many) for the continued decline of Christianity in America may have a lot to do with the loss of our unique identity as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

I believe we are headed for a reset regarding the role of Christianity in America today. Indeed, unless we shift the State-Christianity paradigm away from such a cozy relationship Christianity will continue to be used and pushed into irrelevancy. 

This is a difficult message to hear I know. But is it worth losing our credibility, our  integrity, as well as our identity in order to reap the benefits of living in such a close relationship with the political powers of our nation in hopes of making them more Christian (like us). 

Quite frankly it is impossible to change a political culture that has already changed us.

Jesus refused this temptation to be drawn into such an intimate relationship with the kingdoms of his world. He flatly refused to become a supporter or a surrogate of the political agendas of the kingdoms of his day. 

He understood the importance of pledging his allegiance and energy to God’s kingdom and to no other. He refused the lure of the Empire in spite of its promised benefits. 

He resisted the temptation to advance his kingdom by political means.

He remained loyal to the Kingdom of God and to no other. 

It is not surprising then that the Christians of the first three centuries followed Jesus’s footsteps in this regard. 

Will we follow in Christ’s footsteps as well? 

For What It's Worth : How to Debate the Gun Issue

For What It's Worth : How to Debate the Gun Issue: There is a belief among Christians that we are in this world but are not of this world. It is firmly grounded in our Scriptures.  ...

How to Debate the Gun Issue

There is a belief among Christians that we are in this world but are not of this world. It is firmly grounded in our Scriptures.

 Check out John 17:14-15 and Romans 12:1-2.

Growing up in the Evangelical tradition I was taught that not being of this world meant not consuming alcohol, not using tobacco products, not dancing, not playing Bingo (gambling) at the local carnival, and not dining in restaurants that served alcohol. The list was longer but you get the point.

The lines between being in the world and not of the world seemed pretty clear to me—or so I thought.

But then life happens in broader and more complex ways. Black and white approaches to complex issues begin turning grey and the lines that once clearly separated my being in the world from my being of the world began to blur.

This past week our country experienced another tragic domestic terrorist attack (do we call it that?) in which some 58 (maybe more) innocent people died and countless others were wounded by a gunman using automatic weapons to create his field of fire. 

Let there be no doubt abut it: This senseless act was Evil personified.

As usual the Social Media was aglow with the same old tired debates and inflammatory rhetoric between gun/Second Amendment advocates and those pushing for gun laws reform.

Folks will continue debating as they have in the past and chances are nothing will be accomplished other than the usual societal reset as it anticipates the next senseless massacre— and make no mistake about it, it will happen. It’s not a matter of if but when and how many innocent people will be injured or killed.

“Should we Christians engage our world in this debate?” which is the way of asking: “Should we take sides?” 

Perhaps we should ask: “How are we to engage our world in this debate?”

“How shall we frame the issue in compliance with the Gospel?” would be an even better question.

In his letter to the Roman Christians Paul offers a clue to how we might engage our world:

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect” (italics mine).

Should Christians engage the world by participating in the so-called gun debate? 

Absolutely,  but with transformed thinking rather than conformed thinking. Conformed thinking is the way the world thinks. Transformed thinking is the by-product of the Gospel.

The values that frame this debate must find their origin in the Gospel rather than in the world. Participating in endless debates based on the world’s logic (or political affiliation) gets us nowhere and creates a pervasive sense of hopelessness. (not to mention it angers a lot of people). 

For the Christian, using arguments that are based on the world’s systemic logic is fruitless and leads one down dead end street. This is why I have never successfully won a debate over the gun issue by using confirmed thinking as my platform for debate.

But when I rely on transformed thinking to frame my argument I may not convince the one with whom I’m debating but I am witnessing to the non-violent peace loving Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

When the Apostle Peter cut off the Roman guard’s ear with his sword Jesus quickly reprimanded him for using violence even if it was meant to be in defense of his Lord (Peter was operating according to conformed thinking: the good-guy-with-a-gun logic). 

Jesus on the other hand provided the transformed approach to such violence: 

“Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

The operative Gospel principle behind Jesus’ words to Peter is non-violent resistance (a principle found in several places throughout the New Testament). This does not make sense to the world but it should make sense to the Christian mind. 

So what I hear Paul saying is this: 

We can allow the world to frame our debates and opinions based on conformed thinking or we can allow the Gospel to frame our engagement with the world. 

This is why I consider debating the gun issue with conformed thinking as an exercise in futility—a waste of time. Conformed thinking is certainly of this world. Transformed thinking comes from an entirely different Source: Jesus Christ. Christians ought too understand this distinction. 

America loves its guns and in the words of pastor Brian Zahnd will “deserve the hell it gets” for such idolatry.

Let’s hope Brian is wrong but if this issue is not framed with transformed thinking then I suspect he may be right.

Time will tell.

Limping Into Forgiveness

Forgiveness is messy business.

Don’t let anyone tell you that extending or receiving forgiveness is easy. How can it be? Forgiveness takes place within the context of broken and messy human lives. 

But equally as difficult is to seek forgiveness from one you have wronged or caused harm. The following story illustrates this truth for us.

There were two brothers (twins) whose lives separated because of a combination of bad parenting, poor life decisions, deception and lying, and the usual sibling rivalry that so many experience. 

Esau was the first born and therefore inherited certain rights and privileges according to ancient Near Eastern traditions. Jacob, being the second born, was excluded from the expected paternal blessing reserved for his older brother. This was a big deal in that ancient culture (check out the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15).

Both brothers were very different: Esau was the rugged outdoorsman and hunter (probably athletic as well) while Jacob was more creative and loved to stay close to home. One was a father’s boy and the other a mama’s boy. 

This is never a healthy family dynamic but in this case it eventually led to a painful schism between the two brothers. My sense is that the entire family was at least borderline dysfunctional when it came to rearing their children. 

Jacob, with his mother’s help, deceived Isaac (the father) and stole Esau’s elder son birthright, which was bad juju back in that time and place. Esau was furious. 

So Jacob fled to another country to avoid his brother’s vengeful wrath.

With the passing of time however the human heart should soften a bit and the intensity of old family feuds should dim.

This is true of Jacob as he apparently sensed the need to reconcile with his  brother Esau.

So Jacob headed for home in hopes of receiving forgiveness from his brother Esau.

Along the way Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:22-32). It was a life-changing experience. All night long Jacob wrestled with the Holy One. In the morning two things happened as the result of this all night WrestleMania: 

Jacob incurred a broken hip resulting in a lifelong limp. He also received a new name, Israel which appropriately means, “to wrestle with God”.

Biblical scholars are not real clear as to the meaning of this all night wrestling match between Jacob and God but there is a significant lesson to be learned from the incident:

Jacob had to limp his way into forgiveness.

To seek forgiveness one must take ownership and responsibility for his or her part in the broken and injured relationship.

Jacob’s lifelong limp was the tell tale evidence of a life dominated by lies and deception.

Such behavior as lying and deception always costs something. There is always a price to pay for the way we unjustly treat or talk about others, especially those close to us. 

It is costly to do unjust harm to another human being. 

Yet we all do it to one degree or another. We are human of course and our relationships are spiced with messiness.

So when we feel the need to seek forgiveness from an injured friend, or a co-worker, or a neighbor, or a spouse, or even a family member we will then have to limp into that forgiveness with a broken heart. 

There is of course a good chance that forgiveness will not be given. But we must take that risk and limp nonetheless.

No one comes to forgiveness with a clean slate, I don’t care who you are. Jacob knew what he had done. He wrestled with God because he had yet to find peace with himself or with his brother. He knew deep down that he had stolen something quite valuable from his brother. He knew that his lying and deception had finally caught up with him—it always does. 

Fortunately Esau forgave Jacob. He embraced him and kissed him as was custom for males to do in the ancient Middle East. 

Yes, forgiveness is messy but is so necessary to heal our broken relationships.

Living in Two Americas

It was never easy being a Hebrew prophet. Once we let go of the notion that the main task of the Biblical prophets was to predict the future (i.e., the End Times) or the coming of Jesus (the first time), we will then begin to appreciate them for their main mission: 

To remind Israel of her covenant relationship with Yahweh with a keen focus on justice and peace.

This was no easy task and certainly required an enormously high degree of courage to withstand the criticism of the citizenry and the vitriol of the political elites. Men like Amos, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Hosea were not feeble and meek preachers, but rather men animated by the Spirit of Yahweh to speak truth to power. 

Today we need such prophets in America, more now than ever. We need brave souls, men and women alike, to remind us that we aren't quite the “City on a Hill” we think we are.

Author Suzy Hansen does just that by reminding us of a hard truth in a recent article published in the Washington Post:

The Pakistani novelist Kamila Shamsie once observed that there are “two Americas” — one at home and one abroad. The first is the America of Hollywood, work-in-progress democracy, civil rights movements and Ellis Island. The second is the America of coups and occupations, military dictators and CIA plots, economic meddling and contempt for foreign cultures. The rest of the world knows both Americas. But as Shamsie has written, Americans don’t seem aware of the second one at all (italics added).

It’s this first America that I love and is mostly admired by all those living outside our borders. Yet it is the second America that many Americans can’t see and non-Americans living abroad do see and dislike, and perhaps for good reason.

In fact, Suzy Hansen lives and works in Istanbul and certainly has a clearer perspective of what this second America really looks like to those living outside the borders of the “City on a Hill.”

The Hebrew prophets spoke truth to power and many were persecuted for being so honestly forthcoming. They interpreted the signs of the times rather than merely predicting the future. They were deemed unpatriotic and haters of their country. Some suffered extreme hardship for speaking truth to power (e.g., Jeremiah). 

Such modern day prophets as the Russian Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the American Martin Luther King, Jr., the South African Nelson Mandela, and many others understood the dangers of speaking truth to power and each paid a horrible price. 

Both Jesus and John the Baptist spoke truth to power and it did not end well for them. It rarely does for prophets, both ancient and modern.

I love America and because I love her I do not hesitate to critique her whenever I believe it is appropriate to do so. I believe anyone who truly loves America would do the same thing. I’m not talking about mindless complaining or partisan bickering, but rather a hope filled critique whose primary goal is to speak truth to power.

Jesus did warn us however: 

“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.”

Like all other nations America is deeply flawed. She falls way short of perfection.  She has skeletons hidden deep in her closet; skeletons that need to be exposed to the light of day. 

These are not easy words to hear. History may offend but it doesn’t lie. I well remember the first time I became aware of my country’s dark underbelly and once the proverbial toothpaste is out of the tube it is impossible to put it back. Once you see it you can’t unsee it.

Kamila Shamsie reminds us of what we Americans fail to see and are simply unable to critique in healthy ways.

Yes I love the first America as anyone should. I love the first America of generosity and open hospitality. I love the first America of freedom of expression. I love the America that the Statue of Liberty invites all to experience. I love the first America of apple pie, baseball, 4th of July celebrations, and the rich tapestry of so much cultural diversity.

I love the first America of medical and scientific innovation. I love the first America in which the ideal is liberty and justice for all, even though we are still working on that wonderful vision.

Yet I am not fond of the second America; the one that is often hidden and not allowed to be seen in public; the one that Americans have such a difficult time seeing, let alone acknowledging. 

I wonder, if the Hebrew prophet Amos were alive today would he speak truth to power? Would he call out the second America and force her to expose herself to an unaware citizenry? Would he challenge the first America to empty ther dirty laundry of the second America in order to promote justice and peace for all?

I happen to think that he would do just that and he probably would be labeled unAmerican and unpatriotic.

The Gospel and Race!

I would like to offer a brief word on the subject of racism in America. Now I have attempted to do this before and failed miserably. I failed because I attempted to discuss racism within the already divisive political environment of today.

In the words of author Michael Eric Dyson, “I was trying to make the message fit the form, when it was the form itself that was the problem.” If I was going to be at least marginally successful in this discussion on American racism I needed to shift my argument from Political/Philosophical platform to Faith/Theological platform. 

So let’s ask ourselves some tough questions:

What would racism look like if it were to bump up against the message of the Gospel?

What could we presume Jesus would say about White Supremacy, Neo-Nazis and other hate groups if he were living today?

What should be my position on the issue of racism as a Christian rather than just an American?

These are not easy questions but deserve an honest answer. In summary the answer to all three questions is:

Racism is antithetical to the Christian faith . . . period! 

By antithetical I mean by its very nature racism is incompatible with the core values of the Gospel. Racism is more of a human issue than a tribal one; more of a theological/moral issue than a political/philosophical one, although there are political implications involved when it is measured against the Christian Gospel. 

Again, in the words of Dyson, my goal in this short essay is to “bear witness to the truth I see and the reality I know” as the result Christ’s claim on my life.

The core teachings of Jesus, as well as other sources within the Christian tradition, have informed me and helped shape my views on such things as racial equality, economic and justice issues, honoring history without idolizing it, and respecting the point of view of those who are not like me (e.g., African Americans or Hispanics or Asians, or even Muslims).

These values provide me a solid framework from which to personally critique and evaluate my own views on racism. 

When I debate the issues of racism from a political, philosophical or even historical perspective I feel like a mouse on a spinning wheel running hopelessly nowhere. When I mix in the ignorance of others, along with my own acknowledged ignorance of the history of racism in this country, I realize just how limiting my views on race can be.

So here are some foundational Christian values that have shaped my views on racism:

God created every human being in his wonderful image. I cannot dismiss another human being solely based on social status, skin color, economic status or religious affiliation, or nationality. I cannot diminish the value of another human being simply because that person is from another tribe or religion or whose skin color isn’t white. I must remind myself that we share something incredibly valuable with one another: We all are wonderfully made in God’s image (Psalm 139:14).

God loves the whole world, not just my particular tribe or nation. I haven’t the authority to suspend God’s love for everyone simply because they look different from me or because they may be an enemy of my nation. I cannot not love those I am told aren't worthy of my love. 

Jesus valued those whom the mainstreamers in his society devalued: women, prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, the poor, Samaritans, those of other tribes, etc. There were sharp boundaries erected by the Jewish authorities (religious leaders) between themselves and others not like them. The Parable of the Good Samaritan is not as much about being nice to your neighbor (as it is often understood) but rather about how to be a good neighbor to those on the other side of those humanly constructed boundaries, to those unlike ourselves, to our natural enemies.

Jesus didn’t blame the poor for being lazy but rather he reached out to them with compassion and understanding and in so doing extended to them the respect and dignity the Gospel affords them. He certainly did not judge them nor their poverty according to flawed human justice. He actually delivered “Good News” to them (Luke 4: 18).

So that there would be no misunderstanding or equivocation, he told us that the poor would always be with us. So it’s an issue of how to treat them rather than dismiss them as being of no real value.

There is indeed much more to my Christian faith than these few points. But they are enough to provide me a solid foundation or a framework to engage anyone on the topic of racism in America. 

The Gospel is my starting point. 

This is my platform. 

Others may use guns and hurtful slogans to push their views onto others; others may misuse the cross as a symbol for white supremacy or even Nazi ideology, but I prefer to use the symbol of the cross for what it was intended to be: 

The revelation of God’s self-giving love for the whole world—which includes everyone!