Sunday, December 24, 2006

"Church of Tough Love"

From a front page article in the National Post by Joseph Brean:

"New polling numbers suggest Canadians are open to religion, but disenchanted with or even ignorant of the current offerings. Contrary to common wisdom, Canadians are not becoming more secular...Faith and spiritual longing are as widespread as ever. It is only church attendance that is down."

"With a flimsy and changing message, the (liberal churches) are less able to attract new members or retain old ones. Modernizing reforms might get good headlines, but in the long run, no one seeks shelter under a tree that bends with the wind."

"They (liberal churches) may be in danger of becoming cults of positive thinking, with too many questions and not enough answers, too much social justice and not enough personal morality, too much humanity and not enough God."

The conclusion of the article is that spiritual interest is alive and well but the church is not well positioned to capitalize on it. While the more conservative churches are affirmed in this article as having the more winning formula it seems to me that the church today, whether conservative or liberal, is a mere place holder in the story of God's action in the world. The story of God and his work is largely bookmarked, on hold, while the fields are ripe for harvest. Anyone interested in the pursuit of God is not likely to find much help in the church. There is however a thriving spiritual enterprise which is taking place at the level of the individual, of informal fellowship, and through the medium of the internet and print. There are thirsty people who are pursuing that thirst wherever the living water can be found.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

"... rooted and established in love ..."

Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

This one sentence is packed full of hope, and healing, and wholeness. The first thing that we note is that, in life, we are "rooted and established." We are not like those who are "without hope and without God in the world" (2:12). We are not detached from any ultimate meaning. We are not an accident of nature. We have a place in the Universe. Our existence means something.

Paul is clear about the nature of the grounds of our being. We are not about bare existence but about love. Love is always personal by definition. If we are grounded in love then we are grounded in a loving person, God. The roots of our life go down into a bedrock of love and from this we are able to draw up into ourselves continually the love of God. The whole context of our life provides for our need to be loved and cared for.

Paul prays that we will "know this love that surpasses knowledge." It is clear that Paul has two different kinds of knowing in mind. One type of knowing allows us to enter into this love, the other leaves us floundering. Both types of knowing are honored in the Bible. The knowing of the mind and the knowing of the spirit are both encouraged. The knowing that Paul prays for us to excel in with respect to the love of God is one of a deep inner experience and contact that is more immediate than thought. This is not to say that this kind of knowledge is irrational but that it is relational. While words and thoughts fail in trying to grasp the love of Christ there is a deep, personal, and relational level at which we may experience his love. In this way the mind filled with thoughts of God's love only begins to know what the spirit "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" already knows.

I am more than a brain and a body. I have feelings, needs, hungers, desires, motivations, longings, drives, hopes, and aspirations. I hurt, get wounded, experience healing, and taste freedom. Being filled or satisfied is not something that the mind can do for us all by itself. There must be an acknowledgment that we are in a living relationship with God and that our deepest needs are fed out of that relationship. This is why we practice prayer, meditation, and worship in addition to rational reflection and cognitive thought.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

"... he may strengthen you with power ..."

Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

The question of the nature and use of power is an intriguing one. This is an important issue in the church and in the world. In the world much of political practice and theory is about distribution of power. Marxism, Communism, Democracy, and other political experiments explore the locus of power and wealth amongst people and how these resources are shared. We are constantly exposed to issues involving the powerless, abuse of power, distribution of power, military power, economic power, as well as philosophies of personal empowerment.

What is the role of power in the Christian life? What can we expect from the working of God's power in the individual, in the church, and in society? In this prayer, in particular, what is the anticipated result of being strengthened with power?

There are three specific passages in this letter that refer to the power of God as it is made available to people. The first reference also occurs in the context of a prayer:

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know ... his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church..." (Ephesians 1:18-22).

A couple of observations on this passage:

1. God is drawing an analogy between the power that he exercised in us and the power that he exercised in the resurrection, ascension, and reign of Jesus. The power exerted is comparable. This is an astounding statement especially in light of the detail with which he elaborates on the working of his power in Christ.

2. The comparison is so unexpected that it requires an act of grace to open our eyes to see it ("that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know").

Now, what is it that God has accomplished in us that required so much power and that is analogous to the resurrection of Jesus?

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient ... But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions ... and God raised us with Christ and seated us with him..." (Eph. 2: 1-2,5-6)

In short:
"You were dead ... but ... God ... made us alive."

As a Christian you are a person in whose being a truly mighty power has been at work. You were captive to another power ("the ruler of the kingdom of the air") to such an extent that you were dead and gone. How is it that you are now alive in Christ? "It is by grace you have been saved" (2:8). You were liberated from a powerful oppressor (merry Christmas!) and now live in freedom in Jesus. This is Christian power.

In the prayer in Ephesians 3 we have the same story in other words. The aim of the exercise of God's power is "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." This requires another kind of death and resurrection:

"I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

It takes the working of a mighty power to put an end to the whole of the old context in which I lived apart from Christ and to bring about the living out of the life of Christ in the context of my life in him.

Only after understanding all these things about the working of God's power in us are we ready for the admonition of Ephesians 6:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms ... " (Eph. 6:10ff).

God's resurrection power has not only brought us out of conflict but has brought us into conflict. We now live in a context where we are compelled to dress in battle gear every day, one power standing against another. The battle is intensely personal in that it is not good against evil but the living personal God against a rebellious personality of his own creation (Satan, the fallen angel). It is a personal battle that has Christian soldiers standing against rulers, authorities, and evil beings who comprise companies of spiritual forces. The outcome has never been in question but the process is one designed to test loyalties and to prove historically the all powerful authority and limitless glory of our God.

Monday, December 18, 2006

"... that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith ..."

Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

If the riches of God are intended, above all else, to strengthen the inner being, here is how it is done. God comes into the closest possible proximity to us when Jesus enters our lives. The way in which he is able to "dwell" in our hearts is a mystery that has not been explained to us. Jesus makes himself present within us and reveals to us the nature of God as personal, loving, holy, and powerful. This is nothing like "the force" of Star Wars fame. This is the person of Jesus and there is no dark side of him that empowers evil as readily as it empowers good. Jesus is present in us as a person and as a source of relationship that removes the sense of the universe as being empty and hostile. It is in Jesus that we are reconciled to God and through whom we find hope in the world.

All this comes about "through faith." Faith is about apprehending what cannot be physically grasped, about seeing what is invisible. Faith is a special gift of sight into the world of God.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see... By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." (Heb. 11:1,3)

Faith is not wish, but being sure. Faith is not 'hope so' but 'hope' in the form of a deep inner certainty. Faith is not irrational but is understanding. Faith is rooted in the existence of God, in his revelation, in the communication of truth by His Spirit, and is made available to us on the basis of Jesus' work of redemption at the cross. It is when we come to believe in Him that he enters into this special relationship with us and comes to "dwell in our hearts."

"They will call him Immanuel - which means, 'God with us'."

Saturday, December 16, 2006

"... strengthen you ... in your inner being ..."

Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being..."

In this passage and throughout this letter the riches of God are applied directly to "the inner being" or "the heart." These passages do not provide a recipe for material prosperity or even for physical well being. Certainly there are a multitude of references to God's interest in our material and physical condition. God loves and cares for his whole creation, both physical and spiritual. Notwithstanding this fact, it is not material deprivation or physical disability that most deeply threatens us. It is the emptiness of the "inner being" that cries the loudest. Our most glaring pain is our inner pain where we experience abandonment, feeling unloved, uncared for, unappreciated, and hopeless. Mighty resources are required to sustain the human spirit, which lives in a world that is under judgment, that is cursed, and that waits and is longing for a complete redemption.

The "glorious riches" of God are aimed at "strengthening you ... in your inner being." Paul recognizes this when he makes it the heart of his prayer for the Ephesian believers. Yet, when we pray, it is so often the physical and material that we cry out for, which only shows that we really don't know our own needs or God's character very well. If all we see is the physical and material we are only looking at the surface of our need. To call on God to help us deal with how our life context is pressing on our "inner being" is to begin to move more deeply into the wells of his "glorious riches." Through this prayer we begin to "taste and see that the Lord is good." Through this prayer our heart may become awash in love, acceptance, meaning, and hope. This is one of those things that does not come to us unasked: "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with your whole heart."

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

"...out of his glorious riches..."

Continuing to Read Ephesians 3:14-21

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you..."

The first three chapters of this letter provide the theological foundation for the practical admonitions of the last three chapters. This is a common practice in Paul's letters. This phrase, "his glorious riches" and others like it, that speak of the abundance of God's resources, is one of a multitude of such phrases that occur in the first three chapters. Consider the rest of the collection:

"blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (1:3)

"his glorious grace ... freely given" (1:6)

"in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (1:7)

"that he lavished on us" (1:8)

"the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints" (1:18)

"his incomparably great power toward us who believe" (1:19)

"his great love for us" (2:4)

"God, who is rich in mercy" (2:4)

"the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us" (2:7)

"love that surpasses knowledge" (3:19)

"him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (3:20)

His riches are matched only by his generosity towards us. What a theme to meditate on at this time of the year. The nature of these riches is as interesting as their abundance. This will be discussed as we move further into Paul's prayer. In the meantime it is very edifying and uplifting to think of the tremendous resources that have been made available to us.

Monday, December 11, 2006

"...his whole family in heaven and on earth..."

Reading Ephesians 1:14-21

Paul's description of the family which is derived from the Father God presents us with two interesting challenges, the first having to do with the limits of the family and the second with its scope. The family of God is not coterminus with the whole of the human race, some are included and some are excluded. This is clear from the description of the family and how it came into being, given in the prologue. The family are those who, on the one hand, have been redeemed and forgiven through the blood of Jesus, who have been chosen and adopted out of the pool of humanity. The family, on the other hand, are those who have heard the gospel and believed (Grace extended and received). This limited definition of the family presents an apologetic challenge to the concept of a God whose love is presented in this letter as being unfathomable. It forces us to ask questions about the nature of God, of sin, of human nature, and of the history of the fall and redemption. For whatever reason God has not found a way by which every member of the human family has been adopted into his special family. In this realization we are forced to face some fundamental truths about God and about ourselves.

The second challenge that arises from Paul's description of this family has to do with its scope and inclusiveness. Paul envisions here the "whole family in heaven and on earth." He is interested in the Ephesians because they are a part of this one, unified (in the Father), family. I say this presents a challenge and that is because of the extremely fractured nature of the family on earth. It is not just an apologetic challenge that requires us to explain our brokenness in the light of the character of God and of our call to love one another, but it is a practical challenge to the living out of our faith in relationship to the whole people of God. If I am a Baptist what do I do with the multitude of other brands of Baptists that I have been pleased to distinguish myself from? If I am Reformed what do I do with the Arminians? If I am a cessationist what do I do with the Pentecostals and Charismatics? If I am a Catholic how do I view the Protestants and the Orthodox? Can I, at the very least, like Paul, kneel before the Father on behalf of these other brothers and sisters? When I read in the newspaper about the troubles of some Catholic diocese, within the leadership of the Greek Orthodox church, or with some prominent evangelical, is there a thought to pray or do I wash my hands of them as if they were from some other family, safely removed from me and my circle? Is my church or denomination such a fortress that its walls keep out even those whom God considers family?

If we have trouble loving the church, what hope is there that we will ever love the world?

Saturday, December 09, 2006

"For this reason I kneel before the Father..."

Reading Ephesians 1:14-21

Spiritual ergonomics. The best posture for a healthy spiritual life is the posture of submission and surrender before God. The word that is used for kneel here is a word that means 'to bend.' It speaks of flexibility as opposed to the 'stiff neck.' Kneeling before God is a recognition of who is really in control in this world. All thought of demand is laid aside. It is not that Paul thinks of God as the cruel task master who must be appeased. Quite the contrary he prays that the Ephesians would come to know the unbelievable dimensions of the love of God. The bending of the knee in this prayer brings together the twin facts that the most loving being that anyone could contemplate is nothing less than the God of the universe. In kneeling we accept that only our loving and powerful God knows whether a greater good is achieved by granting or by denying or be delaying our request.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

"For this reason..."

Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray..."

The paragraph begins with what linguists refer to as a "boundary feature." This is a phrase that is repeated and that marks off important sections of the argument or that advances the argument in some way. The phrase "for this reason" first occurs in 1:15 immediately after the prologue and is repeated at 3:1 and again here. It is very easy to forget the reason why we do what we do - even the very important things that we do for God and others. Inevitably everything degenerates to being about me. Paul is a good example of someone who always keeps his best reasons before him. What is Paul's reason for kneeling before God and praying for the believers in Ephesus and all the churches he is responsible for? Following the chain of "for this reason" statements backwards we come to the prologue of the letter where Paul lays out the fundamental concepts behind all that he does in ministry.

The reason lies in Paul's understanding that before God ever created the world and the universe he envisioned a special people who would be the object of his love and who would be devoted to him. This people would become a historical reality in Jesus ("in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" 1:7) and through him we would be loved, blessed, chosen, adopted, and forgiven.

This is the motivator, this is the reason, that Paul expends himself on this special people. His prayers, his witness, and his labor are a response to his understanding that the whole heart of God is invested in this family and its fortunes.

What motivates you?

Monday, December 04, 2006

The Lord is righteous in all his ways...

Reading Psalm 145:17-21

"The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever."

This is personal testimony. This is not academic theology or abstract thinking about what God must be like. This is not wishful thinking or spiritual dreaming. David is describing what he has experienced of God. The testimony is personal and the application is personal: "My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord." The longer we live in this conscious relationship with God the more we know of Him and the more thankful we are to have found him.

God ensures that his children feel his righteousness ( in his resistance to sin and the empty wasteland that we experience when we reject his moral law); that we know his love (in the joy and peace he gives as we turn to him); that we sense his nearness (in that assurance of being accompanied on our journey); that our desires are fulfilled (in learning over and over again that he knows better than we do what we need and what our longings are ultimately aimed at); that he hears our cry (that our prayers are not swallowed up by the vastness of the sky above us but find a home in his heart). It is our experience that "the Lord watches over all who love him." Those who love God, who express that love to God through worship and obedience, know the love of God - love is its own reward.

God is multidimensional and he addresses all realities and for this reason David also says: "but all the wicked he will destroy." He is no impotent grandfather of the universe who simply lets everything pass by unnoticed.

"Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever."

Saturday, December 02, 2006

The Word and the World

Reading Psalm 145:14-16

"The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand and satisfy the desires
of every living thing."

He upholds, he lifts up, he gives, he opens his hand, he satisfies - He is not a God who just sits by, passively watching to see whether we will sink or swim. He enters into the fabric of our daily lives and takes action on our behalf. We can call on him, count on him and hope in him.

In making these statements in the context of his worship David practices one of the most important tools of faith: Affirmation. By verbally affirming the Word of God, by affirming the truth about God and about how he cares for us the Psalmist gains courage, strength, and confidence. The opposite is also true. If we affirm the negative in our lives, if we affirm our anger or bitterness, if we affirm our disappointments and hurts we will lose strength, become victims and live in emptiness. But when we affirm God and His Word we become full of Him and full of His qualities and attributes. The choice is ours.

The Psalmist shows that God works with us in the context of the broken world. He does not take us out of it (that awaits a future event) but he accompanies us through it and offers practical help to deal with it. God does not prevent us from falling but upholds us, he does not insulate us from becoming bowed down but he lifts us up, he does not keep us from feeling the pangs of hunger but he feeds us, he does not prevent us from feeling the deep needs of life, but he opens his hand and satisfies us.

"The eyes of all look to you."