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| MUCH ADO ABOUT...Recently, the NY Times published an article regarding a letter signed by Bert Waggoner regarding an evangelical position on Israel and the Palestinian state. Thanks to Otwo for stimulating us, and getting this lively discussion started. For your perusal, I have included the hyperlink to the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/us/29evangelical.html?ex=1188273600&en=545f0271a4041d76&ei=5070 I realized in responding to the post, I had too long a response for the comments screen. I thoroughly enjoy difficult discussions, as they keep the old brain cells functioning. Personally, I think the historical Evangelical attitude comes more from the "I will bless him who blesses Israel" thinking, than rampant dispensationalism. My personal eschatalogical belief system represents some of the biggest theological changes in my life: while the world fights-out pre-trib, post-trib, a-trib, I have become "I'm-not-so-sure-it-really-matters-trib." In conjunction, my personal experience has led me to develop an attitude explained by the simple statement, “That which John Hagee pans, will probably sound good to me.” But, to the suggestion of some that we “learn” more about Islam, I raise caution. I do not see a place for this learning outside an historical understanding to proffer intelligent evangelizing discussions. The example being Allah is not really the same as Yahweh, as many Christians wrongly believe. He is the incarnation of the pre-Islamic pagan moon gods Nanna, Suen, and/or Asimbabbar. I merely point to my dear friend Kevin as an example. While he found Jesus and left Islam, a man of his intelligence would have never been moved by mere historical and fundamentalist evangelism, and the techniques thereof (and believe me, he experienced them all). This learning/teaching role is the responsibility of moderate Muslims. These should be explaining and distancing themselves from their more radical, murderous brethren. In this, they would mimic exactly what this Evangelical coalition’s letter has attempted to do: separate us from them. The silence from said Muslims, heretofore, has been deafening. | | |
| IT AIN'T WORTH SHIT
Character. What does it count for? What does saying “no” get you? What does standing up for your principles get you? What does defending your values get you? What does being a person full of character get you? There is but one who cares. In the deepest recesses of our heart, we may know in reality there is but one that matters. Unfortunately, for those mighty, but tired strugglers out there, that is just not quite enough. How do I answer my son? How do I encourage the inconsolable? How do I salve deep wounds? How do I honor the dishonored? How do I reconcile injustice? How do I continue to regurgitate the old “your reward is in heaven” line? How do I continue to withhold my complete disdain for parents, teachers, and coaches who do not enforce or reward value, virtue, and character? I am so angry at an entire world that continuously downplays …the virtue of virtue, …the value of value …the character of character …the righteousness of righteousness Politicians prove to me everyday, character doesn’t matter. Religious leaders prove to me everyday, spirit doesn’t matter. Society proves to me everyday, standards don’t matter. Educators prove to me everyday, integrity doesn’t matter. Parents prove to me everyday, limits don’t matter. Don’t do it. Really. Why Not? Answer me! Really, WHY NOT?!?! Truly, everyone really DOES do it? Why not? In a world full of demands for reward… …work …movies …music …charity What is the worth of the reward for character? …for nobility? …for chivalry? …for morality? …for Christianity? Not what is the reward itself, but rather, what is it worth? Unfortunately, it ain’t worth shit. | | |
| FRIGGIN' TAGSOkay, I loath this kind of stuff; if you didn't know that, you should have guessed that about me by now. Juvenile, wasteful, irritating, controlling, and manipulative. But, because I'm a team player, I will go along (and, because I am going to see to it others are going to suffer right along with me). Soooo, now that I'm finished bitching like an an angry old woman... I would like to add a weird fact about tx_eggman: he doesn't know how to count to six (6). The Rules: Each player of this game starts with the six (6) weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog post of their own six (6) things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose six (6) people to be tagged and list their names. My Weird Facts: 1. I don't like being told what to do. 2. I officiated the Texas High School Football Championship 2 years ago. 3. I played trumpet in High School and College, and Fletch Wiley was my hero. 4. I am a self-confessed arachnophobe 5. I was Minister of Music in an Assembly of God church for 3 years. 6. I didn't kiss my wife before we were married. Fine. So, those who will suffer this with me are: chuck_u_farley, find_me_anytime, bbk111, cuddlycaldwell, aallen2, and kenhanning. | | |
| WHAT SUCKS?Consider shame. How do you respond to it? Ask yourself. I am certain you may struggle answering. You may even struggle defining. I’ll bet you even struggle with realizing how often you are exposed to it. So, let us start by understanding it. Many friends have heard my illustration of the Shame vs. Guilt Paradigm©. The basis for the struggle, I believe to be in the inherent misappropriation of these two emotions. As a result, our struggle becomes defined by the identified need for a paradigm shift. It is all about the "S" words: Guilt = Standards; Shame = Self. Guilt is an emotion accessed by the Holy Spirit to point us toward the "better way;" so, He emphasizes standards. Shame is an emotion accessed by the enemy to point us toward personal "ugliness;" so, he emphasizes self. Examples for your consideration: Guilt looks in the mirror and says, "I would look and feel better if I lost a little weight." Shame looks in the same mirror and says, "You fat, ugly, piece of shit!"
Want a quick lesson from the popular class Discernment 101? If the emotion of guilt is elicited, it could be the Holy Spirit; if it’s shame, it definitely isn’t the Holy Spirit. This is why those of us seeking to be full of grace and truth, follow an attitude of evangelism that embraces a “don’t-clean-the-fish-before-you-catch-‘em” mind-set. I don’t want to be “A Graceless Mess;” I want the freedom to look someone in the eye and say, “I don’t care what you think, who you are, what you did. Just embrace intimacy with Jesus, and He will let you know.” This is, after all, the Holy Spirit’s job…Right? No. Unfortunately, many in Christendom see it as their job. Others often define themselves as the authoritative shame police. So, maybe you now understand shame; but, what about how you experience it? I don’t respond very well to it. Maybe I am too sensitive to it? Simple acts of impugned shame twist my bowels through one of three forms of offensive impaction: 1. The Passive /Aggressive Offensive: I thought you were a Christian? Could you do better next time? Now, now, now!, Oh My!, or Well! Why don't you ask the Lord what He thinks?
2. The Self-Directed Offensive: I am so embarrassed! I can't believe I did that! What is wrong with me?!?! Even some of my dear Xanga friends lament, castigate, and apologize for not posting. (Where does that shame come from?)
3. The Direct Offensive: - You are an embarrassment!
- You'll go to hell!
- You should ___________ (fill in the blank)
- And of course the proverbial "You should be ashamed!"
Do you see how impugned shame is merely the lance upon which someone attempts to skewer us? These javelin throwers are more insidious than the privately self-loathing put-down artist who knows no way to interact with others outside of exploiting notable imperfections. These “impalers” present themselves, whited sepulchers, holy and blameless, counsel against the foul odor of man…the messengers of God! On the outside, very nice! On the inside, rotting corpses. Matthew 23:27 When impugned with shame, my first response is ignore it: the angry, honking driver on the road (not interested in “flipping them off”); the raised eyebrow (not interested in slapping them); the head slowly shaking disapprovingly side to side (not interested in laughing out loud at them); the holier-than-thou relative’s contemptuous whispers (not interested in publicly exposing their short-comings). Now mind you, I do respond to many of these when alone in the shower, driving isolated in the car, or marching authoritatively about an empty house. I engage in some pretty fabulous imaginary diatribes, wherein each of these pike-wielders ends up a puddle on the floor at my feet! But, if I did do these things, I would be the same shame. I would become what I detest. Them. It. Isaiah 61:7 And, who could talk of shame and not invoke the English Language itself? With apologies to all you etymologists out there, the simple word embarrassed carries the metaphorical, albeit light-hearted, view of nakedness as a source of shame: em-barr-assed. Or, how about those powerful words first introduced to many of us by our parents, teachers, or preachers: Would. Could. Should. Place these words in the conditional continuous tense, and one ends up with hope lost. They become the incalculable “you-screwed-up-and-you-can’t-recover,” or the indefatigable “it’s-gone-forever-and-you-can’t-get-it-back:” Would have. Could have. Should have. Joel 2:25-27 Take it back! Replace your shame with confidence! No, no, no, not self-confidence; though, I am quite certain it needs a jolt about now. Confidence in Him. Can He save you? Can He forgive? Can He restore? Come on my dear friends, it’s a yes or no question. He either can, or He can’t. He either will, or He won’t. The power of the cross of Christ is a non-negotiable. You either live by it, or you live by the law. Worship the law, die. Worship Jesus, live. Your choice… Romans 10:4 Romans 9:33 Jesus points us to the standard of law without impugning our “self” with it; therein, He “fulfills” it. The law is powerful, undeniable. It gives that certain modicum of security one finds with any known. But, it does not give life. The Cross brings life. It brings life. It speaks life. It encourages life. It is life. I say, “Death to death!” Shame sucks. | | |
| WHAT A GRACELESS MESS...Do you not find it amazing that so many struggle so hard with so entrenched stereotypes of God? Why so insistent on seeing Him angry? Why so convinced He is exclusively vengeful? Why so desparately commited to punishment? Why so provacative the view He is out to get me? I watch and listen in awe as we cling to so vehemently established views emphasized by the hypercritical, condemnatory attitudes of some from mine own heritage. I have heard those same people say, "Why, brother, you are just too focused on grace," or, "All you talk about is grace," even, "I never hear about sin anymore." My heavens, I think, hear, live, breath, eat sin every moment of my waking life! The enemy painfully reminds me daily of my short-comings and spiritual bankruptcy! The Holy Spirit lovingly reminds me daily of His standards. I don't need help remembering, I need help forgetting:
...forgetting that I am not defined by the crap the enemy emblazons on my chest,
...forgetting Jesus is not as interested in my failing as in my presence,
...forgetting I do not have to be afraid of God anymore,
...forgetting to forget (hmmmm, who else does that? --Isaiah 43:25) Even musical Christian heritage leaves us reeling under the concussion of this dirty bomb:
"The all seeing eye is watching you..."
"...Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?" I am grateful for much in my heritage: music, Bible training, and holy living; but, I have changed in grace (hence, the name of my site). I am not grateful for the punitive spirit of condemnation to which I was exposed, and implicitly blessed, by leadership. I am not grateful for learning to feel, "I am lower than the breast of the proverbial sperm whale which drags the bottom of the deepest, darkest ocean." I am now commited to making a difference in people's perceptions. Re-perceive my friends. And, lighten up. Otherwise, you may hear someone say... What a graceless mess. | | |
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