Tag: God

Allgemein, Reflection on the Word

God‘s wisdom – my comfort

Bibs

If you have ever read the book of Job, I wonder what stuck with you.
Maybe it’s the manner in which Job deals with immense, sudden grief, or how his friends attempt to offer reason and wisdom – or maybe, how all of it seems to be happening on the backdrop of a curious scene that takes place in heaven between Satan (the accuser) and God.

I’ve often wondered what I am supposed to get out of this book from the Old Testament. Especially the finally appearance of God and his challenging Job has always left me puzzled: Is God reprimanding Job? Is this simply putting Job in his place? And what does that mean for me?
You may gather that for years the end of the book of Job left me with a slightly daunting picture a God whose response felt less like comfort and more like intimidation.  
As it is, I found myself once again reading through Job’s lament and his friends’ frustrations and seemingly incomplete wisdom. This time, however, I decided to see wether some background knowledge might help me gain a better understanding of the story.

The Bible Project has this short videos on the different books of the Bible, and they have often helped me place the things I was reading into a broader context – historical, cultural, and even in terms of traditions of translations. They also offer videos on specific themes, characters, words, and concepts found throughout Scripture.
Regarding the book of Job, they have two main video clips: one that explores the book itself – its central ideas and structure – and another that places the book of job in conversation with the other two other books of „wisdom“, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
I will share the former with you, as it opened my eyes to the question I had been missing: Is God just?

Suddenly, my own efforts to discern God’s justice and His ways become liberatingly foolish. The final scene, in which God takes the stage and confronts Job with the intricacy of His creation, evoked a very different emotion than it had before. Like Job, all I could find within myself was a sense of deep humility and awe. There is no way I can even begin to fathom all that God perceives, knows and orchestrates every moment of every day. And while knowledge has always seemed to offer me comfort or sense of security, the sudden revelation of my profound lack of understanding came with a deep peace.
A liberation from the need to reason and figure out why and how things come about – what may be and what may not. A joyful lifting of hands in surrender, deeply content in the realization that I indeed lack the means to pass any judgment on the happenings around me, and instead reflecting on how awesome and almighty my God is.

My God how marvelous are your ways.
We are in awe with your works, your intricate design
Knowing that we only have a glimps of the vastness of all you made.
May we rest in your wisdom, rest in your almighty power
And contend ourselves in looking to you.
Where our reason ends, freedom begins.
I may never know, never understand but this I trust,
You know, you are involved and you are sovereign forever.
You love me and consider me.
So, let me lie down and remember in all of life’s trials – you are God.
Thank you.

Allgemein, Reflection on Faith

Reflections on the heart of Christianity

Bibs

“At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push into conscious awareness of His Presence.” – A. W. Tozer

A thought-provoking book I’d like to recommend: A. W. Tozer’s “The Pursuit of God”. What is more, it’s the reason I am sitting here, sipping some ginger tea on a rainy Sunday, desperate to share some thoughts.

Tozer devotes his words to remind the fellow believer about the core of the Christian faith and to reprimand the heart that has lost its fire. A heart that has become content with ‘right opinions’ (doctrine) and void of an intimate and personal experience:

“tasting of the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts” – A. W. Tozer

It is a book devoted to the panting Spirit that longs to push through the ‘veil’ and find there God Himself. Seeking Him for no other reason than to enjoy His Presence.

I read his words with a mix of deep yearning and conviction. Desperate to see and taste the Presence of God and simultaneously convicted of the many times I have missed His heart, having pursued the gifts rather than the giver. Habitually bringing God a list of my needs during my times of prayer, rather than consciously entering into the ‘holy of holies’ eager to find Him. Trying to get some direction or ‘right opinion’ from His word, while neglecting to cherish His word as a revelation of Himself.
Allowing the business and distractions of life to take precedent and missing out on the restoring and refreshing communion with God.

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.” – A. W. Tozer

I know I am not alone in this. It’s a heart issue that has manifested itself in many ways – some less subtle than others.

There is a term I have come across just a few weeks ago called “moralistic therapeutic deism”. It’s a term that was introduced in 2005 in a book titled “Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers”.1 In short, it is a prevalent believe that has reduced God to some mix of therapist, moral teacher and personal butler with the goal of being happy and living a moral life in order to get into heaven.

In contrast stands the Gospel as found in scripture:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” – John 3:16

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

Or as the Westminster short Catechism states:

Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Oh what bliss, to approach God as a redeemed child ready to enjoy His very self.

Where are those with burning hearts for God Himself?
Where are those children of God that can testify to His Goodness and Majesty manifested in their lives and make others hungry for more?
And what kind of Gospel are we sharing with others?

I pray that we may return to our first love, to the pursuit of God Himself.
To the place were His love may compel us to enter into His presence with confidence and assurance. That we, as children, may enjoy Him and He may again be our truest treasure and delight.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
[…]
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

Hymn: Be thou my vision

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moralistic_therapeutic_deism ↩︎
Allgemein

The straight, narrow, and… hard

Bibs

Every once and while there will be a verse I stumble over during a morning devotional only to have it show up again during the day or week in some other shape or form.
Sometimes it will be something encouraging, sometimes an answer or clarification, and sometimes a nagging feeling.

The latter of which leads me to my blog. Mostly I write here to share some neat insight I had and because I hope to encourage others. This time, however, I write wondering if others out there find themselves asking similar questions and wrestling with Jesus’ statements as I am.  

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” – Matthew 7:13-14

Quick context: These verses are part of the famous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus starts his sermon with the “Beatitudes”, a set of spiritual attributes he calls blessed and that lay the groundwork for the outward expressions which he teaches about later. Near the end of his sermon is where we find these verses, nicely fitted in between the Golden Rule (do to others as you’d have them do to you) and the fruit that reveals a good or bad tree.

Every time I come back to Jesus’ sermon on the mount I find something convicting or challenging.
This time, however, instead of an area of life that I feel needs adjustment or repentance, these verses pierced a bit closer to the core.

  • Am I walking the narrow way? Is it hard?
  • Have I chosen an easier compromise?
  • Only a fewfind it? Why only a few? And am I one of those?

Yes, Jesus offers grace, peace, rest and victory. Absolutely!
But, he also mentions over and over again the hardships, the cross, the persecution, and the challenges a follower will face. Now, life has its general ups and downs but the hardships Jesus mentioned here are the result of following him. So while those naturally-occurring “downs” certainly seem to be part of a faith-building process, my question is this:

  • Am I experiencing hardships due to my following after him?
    Am I following hard after him if I find myself facing little to no opposition?
  • Has it cost me anything to follow him? (Luke 14:27-28)
    Am I walking the straight and narrow path, or how much have I become a friend of this world (James 4:4)?

Jesus is clear that anyone who will follow him will be as light in darkness (Matthew 5:14). In other words, they will unquestionably stand out.
The persecution and hardships come, because people hate light. As Jesus said:

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” – John 3:19

The prophets, Jesus himself, and his desciples all endured hardship because their life irritated others. A reightous life will irritate those who walk in sin.
I know this to be true, remembering a time in my life when a friend’s “light” was incredibly irritating to me. And it wasn’t that my friend pointed out my sin to me or anything like that, rather their righteous way of living was so convicting it was truly irritating. However, once I had dealt with my sin, repented and turned back to God, and no longer was stuck in a defense mode, I found her light to be a delightful blessing.

So, how bright is my light?

What about you?

Ps. I mentioned in the beginning that the verses showed up again in another shape or form. In my case it was the movie “The Pilgrim’s Progress”. A low budget production, that still managed  to provoke a lot of reflection and reverence for the price of following after Christ.

Reflection on Life

Creation Tales of Today and the Lies They Tell

Bibs

An Essay

Introduction

The Big Bang Theory[1] and Darwin’s Theory of Evolution[2] both have proponents and critics in the scientific world today. Critics argue based on fossil findings or complexities that beg for an intelligent design rather than pure chance and natural selection[3]. Recently this theory of intelligent design has gotten attention, with scientists like Stephen Meyer bringing forth scientific evidence that point to an intelligent force behind the created universe[4]. While these efforts take a step towards theism, they do not acknowledge the Christian God or Christ Jesus as the author of life.

So I’d like to take a different angle in this short essay. Rather than approaching these theories from a scientific perspective, as intelligent design attempts to do, I will look at the lies that surface beneath the narrative of these theories, the effects on our lives if we believe them, and contrast them with the truth that I believe we find in God’s word.

No creator – Mere physics

The Big Bang Theory tells the story of a universe whose formation is the result of the laws of physics that by chance brought about the universe we can behold today. This includes us humans too. No supernatural force, no creator, mere physics. If chance is the governing principle behind our very existence, what deeper purpose do we have than to live today and die tomorrow? Being born blind, in poverty, or in an abusive home is just simply unlucky.

A person with a comparatively privileged starting point may have a stronger inclination to accept this narrative than a person with an “unlucky” starting point.  The latter may wonder about the “why” and pursue to find meaning while the former may be comfortable to rest on their privileges.

If we believe that all is born out of a series of “lucky chances”, what holds us accountable for the choices we make in life? The laws of physics that supposedly govern the creation process do not regulate human interaction. With no “higher force” there is no absolute morality, meaning that right and wrong are relative and subject to change. And if we agree on the premise that human reasoning is fallible, then so is their perception of what is right, wrong, and good.

Scripture provides a different narrative:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genisis 1:1

“By wisdom the LORD founded the earth;
by understanding he created the heavens.” – Proverbs 3:19

In the beginning God.
A creator with a purpose, a will, and a plan.
All that is seen, and unseen is created out of “ex nihilo” – out of nothing.
Ironically, the very skies the Big Bang theory looks to for proof are the ones pointing to God:

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”
– Psalm 19:1

If there is a wilful directed act of creation, everything receives a purpose.
No longer can the “privileged” person rest on his lot in life without wondering what his response should be while the “unlucky” person is encouraged that there is more to his circumstances than meets the eye.  God has given his creation a blue print for life and clarity as to what is right and wrong – absolute morality. There is no question about purpose or what may be good and true.

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8

Purpose is at the heart of what drives people. If we believe the lie that the heavens are merely a witness to observable physical principles and void of a creator, subject to chance and continuous change, there is no stability or accountability.

Not created – Evolved

Charles Darwin’s Theory claims that humans are a product of evolution and natural selection. What makes us humans different from other animals are evolved traits and the cognitive abilities that come with them. Based on these differences we carry a notion of superior worth, having evolved more favourably. We can see this mentality manifested in unequal rights that are found across species, genders, and ethnicities.

And herein lies the issue. If what makes us superior or have more worth is tied to a favourable natural selection, how does this shape my understanding of identity and other humans?  Is a person with a higher IQ or stronger physique worth more than a human born with a weaker build or more limited cognitive abilities? And where does this leave humans born with a disability? We may treat people, even subconsciously, based on our discernment of their worth and dignity. One person with more “favourable” traits may much enjoy their standing and this idea of natural selection and evolution while another may wrestle with their self-worth.

Believing that this sense of superiority that we claim over other species is tied to evolutionary processes, leaves people with an identity rooted in their superior standing (“being the fittest”) among others. A worth that is dependent on comparison and triggers competition.  

The Bible roots the worth and dignity of a person in the creator’s design.

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.”  – Genesis 1:26-27

Created in the image of God – imago dei. The Bible is clear on the source of a person’s worth by linking it back to the will of the one who created them. There is no difference between men and woman in respect to their worth and divinely granted authority over the rest of creation. God makes it clear, that humans are a purposeful design and set apart from the beginning.

Rather than a sense of superiority, scripture encourages humility and wonder in view of our creation and relation to one another and God:

“ As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”
 – Psalm 103:13-14
“For you created my inmost being;  you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:13-14

Where we derive our identity from shapes how we relate to others and the world around us. Where is the sense of superiority or self-belittling, when we understand that we are purposefully created, set apart with an inherit unchanging worth, and far inferior to the one who created us? Rather than comparing ourselves to others and competing for more worth, there is a freedom in discovering our identity and worth in the creator God.

Last thoughts

While intelligent design can offer competing scientific evidence and arguments challenging the two theories addressed in this essay, they do not offer answers to questions that arise regarding the larger narrative of life. Questions that move beyond a scientific understanding to our perception of self, others, the world, and this “intelligent designer”:

  • What is my purpose? / Why was I created?
  • How does this creator “force” relate to me?
  • What is my place in this creation?
  • Who am I?

Intelligent design and other theories end where faith begins and searches for answer to these existential questions. Scripture offers the same answer it did 2000 years ago:

“For in him (Christ Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” – Colossians 1:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” – John 17:3

[1] “The Big Bang Theory is a scientific definition of the origin of the universe that is widely accepted. This theory says that our universe began as a singularity. A point of extremely high temperature and infinite density and has been expanding ever since.” What is the Big Bang Theory? How did our universe begin? – Astronomy Explained

[2] “Charles Darwin was a British naturalist who proposed the theory of biological evolution by natural selection. Darwin defined evolution as “descent with modification,” the idea that species change over time, give rise to new species, and share a common ancestor.” Darwin, evolution, & natural selection (article) | Khan Academy

[3] Darwin’s Top 10 Arguments Against His Own Theory | Evolution News

[4] Where Darwinism Breaks Down | Discovery Institute

Reflection on Life

New, Exciting, just not this…

Bibs

Getting to the root of feeling stuck and waiting
on God’s “bigger” and “better”

Have you ever felt stuck. I mean really stuck in life. The kind where all around you there seems to be this beautiful momentum but your life is just on hold or at most a slow progression in some unknown space. Maybe you have just come out of some momentum of your own but now there just seems to be that same old routine and that initial fire for purpose has dimmed down to a quiet ember. And apart from the occasional encounter with someone or an inspirational message here and there it really doesn’t seem like your life is moving in the purposeful or epic direction you had hoped for.

Should any of this hit home, let me assure you, that you are in good company my friend. I would like to describe myself generously as a visionary. I am not the greatest at executing plans but man can I dream up an epic adventure. Hanging on to so many words and dreams that spoke into my life I have spent much time longing for that purpose, that mind-blowing adventure to commence. Now, of course I have had inspiring and purpose-driven seasons in life. Times where I have witnessed God move in crazy and exciting ways. But every one of those “take offs” was followed by a crash-landing back to daily life.
From spiritual high to spiritual low.

One look at scripture and you will see that this is not something that seems to be highly unusual. Some of the passages and stories in God’s word happen to include lengthy seasons of desert – literally. This is not to say that some of my own loss of momentum in life hadn’t been on account of my own error, but God’s design for our life with him does seem to include a desert every now and again. It’s in those desert places where the nitty-gritty character-shaping workout often takes place. Where God seems quiet, and your best efforts seem to be but hot air.

I wish I could tell you a bullet proof way of getting out of that place, a way to kick-start that epic-God-given-purpose you have been waiting for. Maybe something that you read today gives you that kick – great! – if not, allow me to at least give you a fresh perspective today. I want to share with you a bitter-sweet truth that I am currently processing. Most likely a truth you have heard before – but reminders never hurt. 

Last Thursday evening my small group met to exchange their thoughts concerning previous Sunday’s message “heavenly ambition”. Prompted by one of the guys in the group, we all shared what we believe to be our “heavenly” ambition. And as I was listening, I reflected on my own “Paul-sized” ambitions; being a missionary and visiting all our partnering churches, helping with youth programs in less fortunate countries, being a known teacher/speaker around the globe, leading and discipling youth and young women and so on… when all of a sudden God interrupted my dreaming with a question:

How can you get so excited about a ministry in another country but feel contempt about the place I placed you in right now? Why do you feel a love for the youth in Armenia, but lack that same passion for the youth in your neighbourhood?

Ouch.
Allow me to elaborate…
I had been serving in the youth ministry in my church but lately had just not seen a lot of momentum anymore. As a teacher at a local school my hope for a revival among students and teachers had slowly faded. And my prayers for the people around me had been largely replaced with prayers for my day to day worries and challenges. I had become increasingly discouraged. And with growing discouragement my commitment and passion had begun to fade and my desire and hopes for some “bigger” and “better” purpose had begun to consume my daily dreaming.

And this is where God met me. Right where I was at, with a simple but profound question.

The simple truth, my friend, is that God had called me to serve just where I was at and had no intention of giving me a “new” assignment just because my passion for his initial calling was growing dim. He had given me a vision for my youth at church, at school and for the people around me and this had not changed but my efforts surely had.

And while others in my small-Groupe finished sharing their take on “heavenly” ambition the round came to a close with some final reflections from the guy who had prompted us in the first place:

It seems that we often get lost in desiring some ambition that someone else may be walking in – ambition that seems so much more exciting and glorious than the one we feel called to. And when you add all the noise of social-media-comparison on top of that you find yourself in a fog unable to see where you should be going. Each of us has a unique calling and like the analogy of the body being made up of many parts (1.Corinthians 12:12-27) the ambitions God has for us may certainly not be the same as that of someone else. Furthermore, our ambitions are to serve the body (the church of Christ) as one and therefor are crucial to those around us. So, us desiring and dreaming about someone else’s ambition will confuse us and, in that space, we will fail to walk in the purposes of God for our lives and those around us.”

There it is. Simple and sweet and maybe a bit bitter.
I don’t doubt for a second that God is keenly interested in taking you onto an amazing adventure and using you most mightily for his kingdom purpose in this lifetime on earth. However, his word also reminds us that God is looking for those faithful stewards.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” – Luke 16:10

This is God’s kingdom principle. The most epic stories in the bible are testimony to this principle. Allow me to remind you of some:

  • David anointed to become king, first spent years tending to his family’s sheep and protecting them and leading an outcast army in the desert before being placed as king to protect and lead the people of Israel.
  • Joseph had only a dream to hold on, while serving faithfully and with integrity as a slave for years before being put in charge as second over the Egyptian empire.
  • Job had no glimpse of God’s working for 37 chapters as he wrestled through loss and despair yet finding a place to worship God regardless of it all. And then also was raised up and walked into God’s blessings for his life.

And these are but a few of so many lives governed by this principle. Now, I do hope that your journey will not include years of deserts, but it is in those times that God has equipped those he called. So, take heart and ignite that passion for the purposes set before you today. Be it praying for that person God had placed on your heart, serving in kids church, sharing Christ’s love with your grumpy co-worker, or encouraging that stranger you walk past every so often. I believe God is looking for obedient and faithful people. Yes, a people who desire and dream big-kingdom dreams, but also those who will humble themselves where God placed them.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
– 1 Peter 5:6

This then is my prayer for you. That you may take courage from God’s word and the testimony of those who have walked before you in God’s purposes. I pray that the Holy Spirit may remind you of the places God has called you and equipped you to serve today. That you may experience his favour in those places and his grace in the desert places. That you may clothe yourselves in joy and contentment as Paul “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance” (Philippians 4:11) and throw off all discouragement and discontent.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)