RETHINKING THE CULTURE WARS

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NIV)

                Suanne and I have been reading “In the Land of Blue Burkas” by Kate McCord. In this book, Kate describes her life as a foreign woman in Afghanistan. As a believer in Christ and a non-Muslim, she stood in stark contrast to her neighbors and the people she was working with. She quickly recognized that there were “rules” for how a person, especially a woman, was to conduct themselves in public. She chose to respect the “rules” without assimilating the cultural baggage that went along with the rules. She was able, at times, to tactfully challenge the rules from her perspective as a Christian and a foreigner. This was, at times, both accepted and rejected. She constantly had to walk a fine line between offending her Afghan friends and neighbors and being true to her Christian convictions. I have been challenged by her courage to live counter-culturally in a hostile environment.

                As a follower of Jesus, I find myself more and more living in a hostile environment; an environment that no longer respects my faith. I have read much about the culture wars as depicted in evangelical circles. I understand the need to stand up for the truth and to defend the Gospel. Yet, sadly, the outcome has often been a greater divide. As a nation, we have become more and more polarized. Instead of being a positive voice guiding our culture, the church is viewed as a negative voice that must be silenced. We in the church have been told that the culture wars are over, and we lost. What I have read in “In the Land of Blue Burkas” has given me hope that maybe that is not the case. Maybe, we just need to rethink the way we are approaching the culture around us.

                The Apostle Paul lived in a hostile environment. The early church was opposed by both the Jews and the Romans. Christians lived on the margins of society with no political or economic power. Yet, they changed their world for the better by living godly, counter-cultural lives.

                If anyone understood the culture wars it was Paul. He had played the game from both sides. As Paul looked for ways to advance the Gospel, he chose what we might call the middle path. He adapted his behavior to the culture he was in up to a point. He adjusted to some outward characteristics of the culture in order to gain access and the right to speak truth into the culture. At no time did he compromise the Gospel or down play sin. Yet he was willing to adapt in appropriate ways in order to get close enough to people to speak into their lives. Look at how he describes his strategy in 1 Corinthians.

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NIV)

                If I may read between the lines, I think Paul is saying that he showed respect for the customs and culture of other people in order that he may have a positive influence in their lives. His goal was not to change the culture, but to win as many people as possible to Jesus. He knew that the only way a culture is changed is by people changing at a fundamental level. Indeed, once a person had crossed the line of faith, Paul instructed them on what it means to live as a follower of Jesus; what it is to live in a new culture.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

                But Paul did not expect non-believers to live as believers. He did not insist that they conform to his culture before they had come to faith in Jesus. He never condoned sinful activities, but he understood that non-believers are in slavery to sin. His mission was to set them free.

                Because Christianity has been, up to recently, the dominant religious context in America, which set the moral standards for the entire culture, we have expected everyone, believers and non-believers alike, to live as followers of Christ. That ship has sailed. The vestiges of a “Christian Culture” in America have faded into ancient history. More and more we are heading back into the world of Paul and the early church. In our pluralistic society, Christianity is only one of many options to choose from. We can choose to take the militant approach, such is the case in Islamic countries, and try to force everyone to conform to our way of life. Or, we can take the path that Paul took and work to change the culture from the inside out, one life at a time.

                Jesus has called us to be light in a dark world. Like a city on a hill, we are to draw people to Jesus. Like a lighthouse or a street lamp, we are to light the way for others. We are to live the kind of lives that are attractive and inviting to those around us. We are not commissioned to judge others, but to invite them into a better way. Jesus calls us to live truly counter-cultural lives.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)

                Paul fleshed out what Jesus was teaching in his letter to the Romans.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

                The way we conduct ourselves in our world matters. We can either build walls that separate us from the people around us or we can build bridges to those people. We can choose to fight the prevailing culture with angry words and actions, or we can transform the culture through loving words and actions.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 2:12 (NIV)

 

                

WHERE IS YOUR SECURITY?

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

                I have been listening to a Bible Project podcast about the city. In the Bible, in the majority of cases, the city is cast in a negative light. It is a place where people seek to establish their own security independent of God. The definition of a city in the Old Testament is a walled dwelling place. People put up walls to protect themselves from danger. Although God had promised to protect humans, they decided to protect themselves, instead of depending upon God. We are still building walls to protect ourselves and give ourselves a sense of security.

                Our walls may not be physical, but they are very real. We all naturally look for something to give us a sense of security. For some people it is their physical and mental abilities. For some it is their financial status. For others it is their social status. For many it is their family or community. A sense of security is a natural human desire. No one wants to feel insecure. We all need a rock to stand on.

                When our “rock” is shaken our life is thrown into turmoil. At first, we may just have an uneasy feeling or an increased concern. We will often take steps to regain our footing. If our finances have become shaky, we will tighten our belt. If our physical or mental abilities begin to wane, we might take measures to increase our strength or improve our memory. If our efforts don’t bring quick results, we may slip into panic mode. Like a drowning person, we start to grasp at anything to regain our sense of security.

                The Psalmist points us to the underlying thing we seek to make us feel secure; power. In allegorical fashion, he contrasts placing our trust in chariots and horses, an image of strength and power, with putting our trust in the Lord. No matter what the obvious thing is that we trust in for our security, it all boils down to a sense of power and control. When we have enough money, or are physically strong, or have the right relationships, we feel like our life in under control. That feeling is what gives us a sense of security. But there is a problem. Everything that we trust in here on earth is temporary. It will all fail us at some point. Our money may run out, our health will deteriorate, our relationships will fail. It is not that these things are bad, they are just inadequate to truly give us a lasting security. There is only one place to find genuine security and that is in the Lord.

                Paul touches on our desire for security in his second letter to the Corinthians. He talks in realistic terms about our situation in this world. Our lives are fragile, but when we place of trust in Christ, we are given an internal strength that makes up for our weakness. Paul says that in our humanity we are like clay jars, which are fragile and easily broken. But when Christ takes us residence in our lives, we find genuine security.  

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NIV)

                Paul is a realist. He knows that as long as we are in this world the things we put our trust in will fail us. Our world is fragile and easily broken. Being a follower of Christ does not change that reality. What it does change is that because of the power of Christ we can endure and even thrive. Our security is not in something external to us, but in something internal and something eternal; the power of Christ.

                Paul goes on to express his sense of ultimate security. No matter what life threw at him, he was able to face the challenge because he was not doing it in his own strength. He saw the challenges of life as a temporary proving ground for his faith.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

                There are many things in the world that can give us a temporary sense of security. When they are in the right place in our life, they serve a good purpose. But when we put all our trust in them, they will fail us. Jesus offers us real security that cannot be taken away. No matter what our material circumstances may be, we are secure in God’s love and care.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

  

NO LONGER OUTCASTS

 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:10 (NIV)

               The other night we watched the movie “Babe”, the story of Babe Ruth, the famous baseball player. Babe was a great baseball player, but lived a sad life. He was abandoned by his parents and placed into a home for wayward boys. Baseball became his ticket out. All of his life his greatest desire was to belong, to fit in, to be accepted. In some ways, Babe never grew up; he remained a small, frightened boy encased in a man’s body. Although he had great success as a baseball player, his life was filled with heartache.

               Babe Ruth’s story could be multiplied thousands of times over. Many people spend their entire lives trying to be accepted, trying to fit in. They may look successful on the outside, but they are hollow on the inside. They may project an image of power and ability, yet still be frightened and insecure on the inside. Many people live their whole life without ever finding their place. They live as outsiders, longingly looking in through a window that separates them from the belonging their desire.

               In Ephesians 2, Paul expounds on the condition that all of humanity finds itself when they are separated from God. Those who live in rebellion against God are truly outsiders and outcasts. Paul describes their situation in several ways. They are without a savior, separated from Christ. Most people are looking for a savior of some kind. They are looking for something or someone that can give their life meaning and purpose. But everything that the world offers falls short of the goal; they leave a person feeling unsatisfied and longing for more.

               Paul also said that a person separated from Christ is excluded from the blessings of God. God had chosen the people of Israel to be the vehicle through which the entire world would be blessed. God’s covenant relationship with Israel guaranteed the blessing that God promised. But when a person rejects Christ, they also have forfeited the blessings of God. Many people today want God’s blessings, but they don’t want God to interfere with their life. That stance will always keep a person on the outside.

               Paul went on to say that a person who has rejected Christ is without hope in the world. Hope is an essential quality for a person to thrive in life. Without hope a person will emotionally shrivel up and die. People today put their hope in politics, in economics, in experiences, but they all fail to provide the kind of hope that will weather the storms of life.

               Finally Paul states that a person who has rejected Christ is without God. Every person on the face of the earth has a God consciousness. It is a kind of void that must be filled. In order to fill that void, people chase after all kinds of gods. Some of these gods are religious and many are not. They all share one thing; they are not big enough to fill the void.

               Without Christ, we all remain outcasts and outsiders. We were created to live in relationship with God. When we try to live as if God does not exist or does not have a place in our lives, we isolate ourselves. Even though we might “fit in” to the society around us, we never truly find fulfillment and satisfaction. Instead, we continue to chase after an illusive dream of some ideal life. It is only in humble submission to Christ that we can find what we are really looking for; what we were created for.

               Paul tells us that when we put our faith in Christ we become transformed.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) The transformation that comes from putting our faith in Christ changes our status and moves us from being outcasts to being embraced and loved by God. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-20 (NIV) Through Christ we become part of an international, global, eternal family. Not only are we accepted, but we are guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom that can never be taken away from us. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

               All of Babe Ruth’s life he wanted to have a family. He tried to fill that void through a failed marriage. He tried to fill that void through baseball and his teammates. He tried to fill that void through his fans. But in the end all of those things failed him. He never truly felt like he belonged. He never found what he was looking for.

               When we put our faith in Christ we can stop looking. Our basic need to belong, to be loved, to have a place in a family are fulfilled. When we put our faith in Christ we become children of God. When we place our trust in Jesus we can begin to experience the breadth and width and depth of the love of God. In Christ, we are outcasts no longer.

1 John 3:1 (NIV)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?

 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

                When I was growing up, I didn’t like myself. I was skinny, I had red hair and freckles, and I had a light complexion, which kept me out of the sun. I also lacked self-confidence. I was shy and timid, afraid to get involved out of a fear of failure. My parents were always supportive and encouraging. There were others that encouraged me as well. What held me back was how I saw myself. I had a poor self-image.

                There are many people in our world who have inflated images of themselves. The mantra, “you can be whatever you want to be”, has fueled the fire of many driven, type A people. But at the other end of the spectrum is a significant number of people who have a less than positive view of themselves. Maybe they have been told that they will never amount to anything, and have believed it. Maybe they just lack self-confidence, like I did. Or maybe they have some perceived defect that holds them back. Whatever the cause, a negative self-image is just as bad as an overinflated ego.

                In Romans 12, Paul warns us against having too high of an estimation of ourselves. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3 (NIV) From my experience, having too low of an estimation of yourself is just as bad. What Paul is calling for is a realistic understanding of who God created us to be; to embrace our true identity, which can only be discovered in relationship with Christ.

                In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talked about the body of Christ. He makes the point that everyone of us who are a part of the body are valuable and needed. Each one of us has a part to play and a place to fit in. There are no insignificant parts of Christ’s body.

                Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, if we are in Christ, we are God’s workmanship. The word workmanship can also be translated masterpiece. A masterpiece is not mediocre, it is amazing. A true masterpiece can take your breath away. A true masterpiece invites you in and engages your spirit. A true masterpiece stands out from the crowd.

                When my children were in elementary school, I volunteered to go into their classroom once a month and teach masterpiece art. Each year I was given a curriculum that focused on a particular style of art. Over the years we studied landscape art, formal portraits, still life art, and American western art. The paintings that we studied were not all the same, but they were all created by a master. The different styles of art were not measured against other styles, but explored for themselves. But what made each one of the pieces we looked at important was who created them.

                The Bible is very clear that we are not cookie cutter, mass-produced knock-offs of some masterpiece. We are, each one, an original masterpiece. And what makes us significant is not the style of our life or our part in the body of Christ, but it is God’s signature on our lives. As Paul says, when we place our faith in Christ we are clothed in Christ. He places his signature on our lives.

                Part of being one of God’s masterpieces is that God has created each one of us with purpose and for a purpose. Fredrick Remington sought to capture the intrigue of the Old West. Paul Cezanne is famous for both his still life paintings and his landscapes. Rembrandt and Van Gogh are known for their amazing portrait paintings. Each master focused on a specific aspect of art and zeroed in on it until they drew near to perfection.

                As a masterpiece of God, each of us has a different focus on a different part of what it means to be God’s representative in the world. God has uniquely gifted each one of us to accomplish the good works that he has designed for us to do. He wants us to embrace our role and fulfill it with energy.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

                But we should never forget that what gives our life meaning and purpose is God. He is the source of our beauty. He is the creator of our person. And He is working through us to present His masterpieces to the world. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

                When we view ourselves by the world’s standards, it is easy to become discouraged. Satan loves to sow the seeds of insecurity and doubt in our minds. But when we fix out eyes on the master, we can begin to become all that He created us to be.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

 

 

A REAL EYE-OPENER

 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened … Ephesians 1:18 (NIV)

                I was recently “enlightened” about a word that I thought I knew what it meant. The word is “apocalypse”. I have always thought of apocalypse as referring to the end times. Whenever I heard someone talking about apocalyptic literature, it was always about the end of the world. I assumed the apocalypse was synonymous with words like disaster, doom, destruction. It was a word that I was not very comfortable with.

                During a class on the book of Ephesians, the professor raised the issue of our understanding of the word apocalypse, to which the students gave similar answers to what I have written above. Then he calmly told us that we had gotten it wrong. The word literally means to uncover, as in pulling back a blanket to reveal what is beneath it. Figuratively it means to reveal a truth that has been hidden from sight.

                Paul uses the word apocalypse in his prayer for the Ephesians. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17 (NIV) The word translated revelation in English is the Greek word apocalypsus, apocalypse. Paul was asking God to open the eyes of the Ephesians to be able to see what they could not see before.

                There are several incidences in the New Testament that illustrate what Paul is asking for. In Luke 24, we read about the discouraged and defeated disciples taking a long walk on their way to Emmaus. Jesus joins them incognito. Then after they sat down to share a meal with him it says, “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” Luke 24:31 (NIV) They had an apocalypse.

                Later in that same chapter, Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room. They are confused and struggle to take in what is happening. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. Luke 24:37 (NIV) The in verse 45 it says, “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45 (NIV) They had an apocalypse.

                In Acts, Paul recounts his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. A bright light shown around him and he saw Jesus. Paul had been waiting for the Messiah to be revealed, but he was blind to the truth about who Jesus was. Then his eyes were opened and he understood. He had an apocalypse.

                When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he prayed that God would open their eyes so that they could see the full extent of what it means to be in Christ. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV) Although those words were written to a specific group of people a long time ago, they still apply to us today. We need to have our eyes opened so that we can see the realities of what it means to be “in Christ”.

                In a world where hope is rapidly disappearing, we have an eternal hope that can not be taken from us. Our hope is not in our circumstances, but in the one who died for us and rose to new life so that we can have new life.

                In a world where the gap between the haves and the have nots continues to widen, we have a secure inheritance, kept for us in heaven, that can never spoil, perish or fade away. No amount of inflation can diminish our inheritance in Christ.

                In a world were so many people feel powerless, we have to very power that raised Jesus from the dead at work in us. As Paul has said, we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.

                Satan has blinded the eyes of the world so they cannot see the glory of God. Even as followers of Jesus, we can have our spiritual sight clouded by the schemes of the evil one. We need an ongoing apocalypse of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. We need daily to have our eyes opened to the new life we have In Christ.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:4-9 (NIV)

 

WHAT IS YOUR IMAGE OF JESUS?

 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Colossians 1:15 (NIV)

               I like to read mystery stories. Not the spooky kind that has ghosts and zombies, but the kind that has a mystery to be solved, like a murder or a lost item, and a detective who has to solve the case. I currently have three mystery series that I am reading through. One takes place in the 1800’s, one takes place around 1919-21, and the third is modern. Each series has a main character who is the “hero” of the story. Each of these characters lives in a different time period. Two live in England and one lives in Quebec, Canada. In addition to the main character there are secondary characters that continue from book to book.

               In each of these series, the author has given the reader a basic description of the main characters. From these basic descriptions I have formed a mental image of each of the characters. My image is vague and incomplete, but it has grown and matured with each new story. Now, if the author were to make their story into a movie, they would cast a person who they feel best portrays the character they have created. I can guarantee that that person will not be the image I have in my head. I’m sure that in most cases, I would be disappointed with how the movie depicts these characters that I have come to know and admire.

               If you grew up in the church, you probably have an image in your head of Jesus. It has most likely been shaped by children’s Bible stories and artists’ depictions of Jesus. Most of them portray Jesus as rather European with long, light colored hair. If you did not grow up in the church, you too will have an image in your mind about who Jesus is, although it will probably be very different from the standard “church” image. In our modern age, many different groups have created an image of Jesus that fits into their agenda. Surprisingly for a blatantly non-religious world, everyone seems to want to enlist Jesus for their cause.

               Interestingly, the Bible never gives us a physical description of Jesus. The closest the Bible comes to describing Jesus’ physical appearance is found in Isaiah 53:2.  He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. All that we know for sure is that Jesus was Jewish and grew up in Palestine. Therefore, most of our “church” images of Jesus are probably wrong. Instead of giving us a physical description of Jesus, the Bible gives us an image of Jesus’ character and demeanor.

               One of the dangers we face in putting together our image of Jesus is that we are prone to impose our current culture and values onto the picture. In other words, we tend to create a Jesus in our own image. If we are going to get an accurate image of Jesus, we need to set aside our preconceived ideas and look carefully at what the Bible really says.

               When we look at the biblical account of Jesus’ life, as recorded in the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of contrasts. He is depicted as having great compassion but also one who demanded justice. Jesus invited the little children to come to him and he blessed them. He reached out his hand and healed the leper, the lame, the blind, and the sick. He also violently cleared the Temple, possibly twice; once at the beginning of his ministry as recorded by John and once at the end of his ministry as recorded by the synoptic Gospels. Jesus held people to a high standard, yet was quick to forgive. Jesus openly engaged with “sinners” and openly rebuked the religious elite. Jesus grew up in Nazareth and was trained as a carpenter. Yet he was well-versed in the Hebrew Scriptures and amazed even his enemies with his insight and wisdom. Jesus demonstrated his power over death by resurrecting Lazarus from the grave, yet he allowed himself to be nailed to a cross and to die an agonizing death. Jesus had the authority to confound both the people and the religious authorities of his day, yet at his own trial he refused to defend himself. As he himself stated, he had the authority to call down legions of angels to protect him, yet he chose to be arrested and mistreated.

               Many people today want to reduce Jesus to the embodiment of some kind of sentimental love, like an indulgent grandparent who grants every wish for their grandchildren. That image is far from accurate. Jesus was hard on sin and gentle with sinners. Jesus refused to be a legalist, yet he perfectly upheld the law. Jesus faithfully engaged in worship, yet he refused to conform to the religious systems of his day. Jesus was the most complex person who has ever walked the earth. All of our attempts to pigeonhole him into a particular mold will fall. We cannot put Jesus in a box. He will not allow us to.

               The most important thing to understand about Jesus is not that he was the perfect man, but that he was the incarnation of God in human form. Jesus said, I and the Father are one. It was that statement that nailed him to a cross. It was the one image that people refused to even entertain. Many people still do. Yet the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is the very author and sustainer of all that we know and experience. He is the creator of all things, and he chose to enter his creation in bodily form in order to restore what was twisted and broken by sin.

              

Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

 

WHAT IS YOUR OPERATING SYSTEM?

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

                Every computer, large and small, has an operating system. The computer that I am using has a Windows system. That system sets the parameters for what I can do with my computer. It allows me to run certain programs, but not others that are incompatible with Windows. The operating system is the brain of the computer; sorting out information and putting it into meaning order.

                The Bible tells us that we all live our lives under one of two operating systems. One of these systems can be likened to an Apple system, which is a closed system with well-defined boundaries. The other can be likened to an Android system, which has many different variations. The “Android” system is referred to in the Bible as “the world” or “the flesh”. This system has many variations, but all of them stand in opposition to the other system. The Bible refers to the other system as “in Christ”.

                Living under the world’s operating system is the natural state of every person. We are born with this system hardwired into our soul. Simply, this system operates as if God is not a part of the equation. This system opens the door for sin to control our lives. It runs in the background, like every operating system, so that we are unaware of its activity. The engine or power behind this system is human power. It is the desire to live for ourselves in whatever way we think fitting. For many people, the outcome is to live according to some standard of moral and ethical conduct. These are good people who believe in their own goodness. For some, this system leads them down a darker path. They reject the moral and ethical values of others and instead choose to live totally for themselves. These people believe in their own power. There is an entire spectrum of variations with the world’s operating system, which seem on the surface to be distinct, separate pathways. But those who live by these variations have one thing in common. Whether they recognize it or not they are living in rebellion against God and his rule and reign in their lives.

                Living in Christ is a radically different operating system. First, it begins with total surrender to God. As Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9:23-25 (NIV) This goes against our natural instinct to be our own boss. Total surrender is the exact opposite of the world’s operating system. It is a major stumbling block to so many people. But total surrender is the only way to install a new operating system in our lives.

                Why would we want to do this? The old system seems to work fine, even though there are periodic glitches in the system. Jesus made it clear that the world’s operating system is flawed. In fact, it has built-in malware, which has the purpose of luring a person in and then destroying them. Jesus put it in terms of two pathways in life that a person can choose to follow.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

                Whatever system we choose to follow, it has an end built in. Each system is leading us somewhere. The question is where? Paul clarifies the end game for each of the systems. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV)

                Jesus came into the world to repair the operating system of humanity. When God created humanity, the operating system was perfect. But when sin entered the world it corrupted that system and sent it heading in a different direction. Jesus came to restore the original operating system. When a person puts their trust in Jesus, he wipes their hard drive clean and installs a new operating system that changes the way a person lives their life. As Paul has said, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

                This new operating system is not something we can create by our own efforts; it is gift from God that He implants in our hearts. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) Once this new system is in place, it changes how a person views life, the world, and those around them. It gives a person a whole new perspective that incorporates the reality of God’s presence and work in their life. As a person learns how to use this new system, it transforms them and radically changes the course of their life. At first, learning a new system seems hard, but the more a person invests in it, the more they experience its benefits. Paul puts it this way. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

                Everyone has an operating system in their life. One system offers all the pleasures of the world, but in the end leads to death. The other system offers a life of discipline under the control of Christ, which leads to life and life eternal. Which system would you like to control your life?

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 (NIV)