God and Guns (part 2)

What does the Bible tell us about guns?  This is the second part of my study.  Part one dealt with the role of government to use the sword (or by extension, gun) in warfare, as well as in administering justice and protecting the innocent. But what about disciples of Jesus personally.  Does the Bible tell us if and how we should use guns? I have discovered, we can not separate the use of guns form the greater issues of peace and violence.

When it comes to guns and violence, the most important consideration is love. Now by love, I don't mean gushy sentimentalism and disregard for real life problems like murder and hate.  I am not some hippy, dancing around with my eyes closed to the world at large.  True love is not blind.  It is not passive. True love "always protects," (1 Cor 13:7). If I love my wife and kids, would I not kill in order to protect them? This is in fact exactly what God does for those he loves. God said to Israel, "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life." (Isaiah 43:4). God's love for Israel is so intense, he would kill for them. He would kill for you too.

Biblical love does not preclude violence.  Biblical love does preclude most of the reasons we use violence.  Love "is not self-seeking." (1 Cor 13:5). The old "eye for an eye" rational is not compatible with love. Jesus set a new standard for nonviolence, or rather non-retaliation. Not only are we to love our neighbor, but Jesus told us, "love your enemies and do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27). If someone takes our shirt, Jesus tells us to give him our coat as well (Matt 5:40) I do not see Jesus justifying killing someone for our own protection, or to protect any of our "things."

So what does the Bible actually say about having a weapon like a gun? It is interesting to keep in mind that Jesus once told his disciples to buy swords. On the night before Jesus died, he was talking about how things will be different after he is no longer with them, how they will be on their own.  Then he said, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword , sell your cloak and buy one. (Luke 22:36)  Many scholars have pointed out that this sword, was really more of a large knife. It  was used for slaughtering animals more than self defense, although, it could be used for both. I believe Jesus main point was this: be prepared. Jesus was telling his disciples that they will be responsible for their own well-being on their next assignment.

When Peter actually drew one of the swords in an apparent act of defending Jesus, Jesus rebuked him. "'Put your sword back in it's place,' Jesus said, 'For all who draw the sword die by the sword.'" (Matthew 26:52) Then he added, "Shall I not drink the cup my Father has given me?" Jesus possessed a power far greater than a sword or a gun. Had he wielded it, he could have wiped the soldiers that arrested him into oblivion -eternally. We can not ignore the power Jesus refused to use. The way of Jesus is a way of suffering not fighting. Rather than fight for their rights, Jesus instructed his disciples to humbly "take up the cross."  Not only did Jesus willingly suffer when he could have defended himself, but he gave his followers and example to, "follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21). This Peter who drew the sword, would one day willingly lay down his life as a messenger of Jesus.

I can see Peter
putting away his sword
He won't fight no more
Love has come

So now comes the conclusion, where I am supposed to sum up, and by extension take a side in this rigorous debate. I can not see a strong biblical argument against owning a gun.  I certainly have no desire to take away someone's hunting rifle, nor can I say there is never a time to use the gun against another person. But I can say that guns are not the end, they are a tool that may be necessary in the present age, soon to become obsolete. I can say that the heart of everyone who has been transformed by Jesus does not rejoice in weapons or violence. God's Spirit leads us to long for the day when,

‎They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.  (Isaiah 2:4)

God and Guns (part 1)

It seems that in the wake of the Newtown, CT school shooting, everyone is chiming in on the gun thing. I have seen a number of very passionate and strongly worded posts in the last few of weeks both in favor of and against gun control. I've sen some very enlightening writing form both sides of the issue, and a of of biased, inflammatory writing from both sides as well. It looks like this is the next big dividing issue we are facing in America.  A lot of Christians fall on either side of the debate.  My study is not intended to be exhaustive of all arguments, but simply to answer the question, "Does the Bible have anything to say about guns?"  Part one will deal with the government's role in using and regulating weapons according to Scripture.  Part two will deal with the follower of Jesus in particular, and what the Bible has to tell that person about the use of weapons and violence.

Guns are not specifically mentioned in any of the Scriptures, not even the Apocrypha. According to Wikipedia, the first functional handgun was made in Pistoia Italy in 1540. But hate certainly existed in Jesus' time. People carried weapons and people killed others. Jesus pointed out that murder is merely acting out on hate.  The two are the same to him (Matt 5:21-22) Guns did not create hate. Guns only speed up the rate at which we can act out that hate, and the volume of people our hate can effect.

In the Old Testament, there are countless examples of people using weapons in military campaigns. God provided military victory for his chosen people Israel that involved them killing their enemies. God commanded the Israelite to use warfare on several occasions. The Isrealites were commanded to be courageous in their fight against the Canaanites (Joshua 10:25).  Clearly, killing another human being is not always wrong, and in some cases may be the just thing to do

David is an interesting study on the use of violence. David, the man after God's own heart, was commended for his faith in fighting Goliath and killing him (1 Sam 17, Heb 11:32). But the same David who killed Goliath without a thought to defend his nation and the honor of God, refused to kill Saul in order to save his own life and achieve his rightful place as king. David was also rewarded for his restraint, in letting God perform justice on David's behalf (1 Sam 24:19-20). Interesting.

The New Testament also says some things about the government and military. Some soldiers asked John the Baptist what they should do. John did not say give up soldiering because they might kill someone and that would be sin.  He told them not to extort money or accuse people falsely (Luke 3:14),  in other words, to be honest soldiers. He saw nothing inherently sinful about bearing the sword (or gun) of justice in the name of a government.

The New Testament also tells us that Government is established by God (Rom 13:1).  This is easy to forget in a democracy.  We feel we are somehow responsible for the government - that it is answerable to us.  Perhaps it is on a large scale, but it is not answerable to you and me personally. The Bible tells us the opposite, that we are each answerable to the government.  The primary role of government is to bring justice and peace, especially justice to those who are unable to defend themselves. This is done with the sword of punishment to those who would do wrong (Romans 13:4).  

If it is the government's job to protect the innocent and promote peace and justice, what measures may it take to do so? The question moves from a moral issue of inalienable rights and government authority to one of expedience. God gave the government a job to do. How might the government best perform its God-given duty?

The Bible is full of principles and mandates, but is often surprisingly sparse on the details.  It is up to those who govern to determine how to best bring justice and peace. They must decide what to do about weapons in the hands of their citizenry and determine what limits are reasonable. The Bible does not guarantee a freedom to carry weapons, nor does it oppose carrying them. There are a number of popular philosophies about weapons, based on various aspects of humanly wisdom. All of them have merit, but all are limited in their ability to combat the real issues of hate and violence.

Ultimately, a government can not make people stop hating and killing each other. A different kind of kingdom will put an end to violence and war. It is the members of that kingdom that I will try to address in the next installment.

In the meantime, I hope this moves dialog forward.  I have left my personal feelings about guns out of this, because I want us to engage God through His Word, and see where He leads us.  Did any of these scriptures move you?  Did any of them clarify our own thoughts on the subject.  Are there any other scriptues that you have thought of that shed light on the issues of guns and gun control?

Peace is Better

I am not a pacifist. I do believe violence has a place in certain situations. If someone attacks my family, I would use violence to defend them. A government's primary responsibility is to defend and protect it's citizens, especially those who can not defend themselves. This often requires the sword (or gun) of the law (see Romans 13:1-5)

But if given the choice, I would have to say peace is better than war. Even more, peace is better than nonpeace. I know it sounds so basic, but the world is saying peace will never happen.  Every time we make a breakthrough, hate rears it's ugly head again.  Murder and hate seem to be on the rise. Revenge is the way of people and nations. Every time someone or some group is persecuted, they turn around and become the next generation of persecutors toward others. But something deep within us longs for real and lasting peace. We long for a world where neighbors of different religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds live together in harmony.  It is not a fanciful whim, it is a glimpse of what we were created to be, God's holy image stamped in our subconscious.

When Jesus came to the earth, he set a framework for a world without violence. He called it the "kingdom." The kingdom, is not governed by "rights", as in "I have a right to compensations because someone hurt me."  The kingdom is not governed by revenge, or honor, or guilt and punishment, the way the kingdoms of the world are governed. Rather the rule of this kingdom is grace, love, and mercy. Citizens of the kingdom are told to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. They are told to forgive, because they have been forgiven. The cycle of violence and revenge is broken.

Recently I have been touched by some people that still think peace is possible. Check out israelovesiran.com  and watch the video. They are also on facebook. I don't know if these few voices will make any difference in the grand scheme of things. I don't know if they can impact elections or keep bombs from falling. But I know this: wherever the Kingdom advances, peace advances. When I hear the stories of people advancing peace, something awakens in my soul, something that reflects the image of God. And at that moment, I do not hope, but I know that one day there will be a final and lasting peace on earth.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

5 Ways Christians Waste Their Time

We waste out time in lots of ways. I am not advocating that we need to be busybodies, never stopping to rest. The ways we waste our time are often things that seem quite industrious. The problem is that  these busy, industrious activities have no eternal value. We can not follow Jesus seven days a week if we are not ready to brutally examine every aspect of our lives ad hold it up to the light of Jesus as he is revealed in the Gospel.  If you feel convicted or even irritated, take comfort in the fact that I am equally convicted and irritated by these words.  I struggle daily with wasting my time on these things as well.  Let's walk together.

1. Fighting fire with politics

Oh, the plagues of our modern era: abortion, gay marriage, high tax rates on the rich.  If only we could go back to those days when Christian values ruled the land.  Like in Puritan Massachusetts in the 17th century.  You know, when we hung witches and those suspected of witchery.  When we put people in stocks for missing church and outlawed Christmas.  They good old days.

Where did we get the idea that God's kingdom could be brought about by governmental power?  Jesus didn't infiltrate Jewish or Roman government 2000 years ago. He never tried to take it over to impose his will on them.  He could have, Satan even offered him ruler-ship of the kingdoms of the world and Jesus flatly rejected it.  He ushered a different kind of kingdom, one not bound to the rules of human politics.  This kingdom like a tiny mustard seeds grows out of weakness, and takes root in brokenness.

Somewhere we lost our way.  We started aligning ourselves with politicians that do not share our value for the kingdom of God.  They have used Christians to advance their own earthly agendas by promising to end abortion and gay marriage, and restore "family" values.  Meanwhile they have infiltrated us, getting Christians to support greed, violence, and idolatry masked as free-market economics and patriotism.

I am not saying abortion is alright.  I think in a century, people are going to look back on abortion the way we look at slavery today.  How could so many people accept such a barbaric practice and inhumane treatment of other human beings?  At least I hope it goes like that.  But, supposedly pro-life Republicans have held the office of president for 20 of the last 32 years.  Abortion is just as legal now as is was then.  Earthly politics is not the answer to our problems.  Jesus is the answer.

Politics creates a new set of enemies.  Instead of battling the principalities and powers of darkenss in the unseen realms, the  forces behind evils like abortion, we are battling children of God whose opinions differ from ours.  All we do is further alienate these people from the community of believers and keep them away from Jesus.

2. Trying to be trendy/relevant/hip or whatever the vogue word for it is

This is not a critique on style of dress, or even musical and artistic choices.  Be as hip or not hip as you want.  Wear what makes you comfortable and listen to music you like. It really doesn't matter in the eternal scope of things.  This is a critique on the deliberate efforts of those in Christians to 'reach-out' to the in-crowd by imitating them.  Rather  than look at what a God-starved world needs, we have tried to pursue what it likes.  In the process we become as fake and phony as the pop-culture the hipsters are attempting to distance themselves from.  They are not impressed with out hipster style and lingo.  People, regardless of their trendiness or hipness want to see genuine followers of Jesus actually following Jesus.

3. Trying to build a community

As churches grow, they get more and more impersonal.  People see each other on Sunday morning and that's about it.  No one knows anyone else.  Everyone is afraid to make the first move.  Mega-churches have developed an array of strategies  to make community happen.  Small home groups are the first tactic.  Put a bunch of random people together in a small group and the'll be forced to talk.  Sometimes it works.  Then there is segmenting.  Put people around those just like themselves so they have something in common to talk about.  So we divide people by age, genders, marital status, child status, occupation, addiction, hobby, musical style, and ice cream flavor.  Somehow community still doesn't happen.  Various programs, dinners, fun-nights are contrived to pull people together.  But people feel more distant and impersonal than ever.

Community is like serenity   The harder you pursue it, the farther away it gets.  Community does not come from trying to make it happen.  It won't happen in a program or a fellowship dinner, or a contrived small-group gathering.  Community comes from our common purpose, our common work together.  Community is often born out of adversity.  We have all suffered together; we have all pulled through.  Community comes when we lay aside ourselves and sacrifice for others.  All of these programs fall short because we can't make people actually love each other in the sacrificial Christ-like way.  I'm pretty sure that if we focus on  following Jesus, we will be drawn to those who are following him too.  If we love like Jesus, people will be drawn to us and our community will happen.

3. Consuming media like we need it

"Simplicity is freedom" says Christian spiritual guru, Richard Foster.  We have bought into the lie that freedom is an abundance of choices.  In reality, the more choices we have, the more enslaved we become to consumption. That is why retailers like to give so many choices to you. They know you will want to try them all, and six or seven of them will stick.

I see Christians who, like the rest of society, spend hours a day watching TV, playing video games, keeping up with the social media, and consuming media like they need it. They consume media, because they are "free" to chose it.  We spend thousands a year on the equipment and content we consume on it.  We can't imagine our lives without all this stuff, this barrage of noise from all directions.  We are enslaved to media.  In the process, we've forgotten how to think and dream, how to analyze what is happening around us and in us. We have forgotten how to listen to God.

I am not saying we should never watch another TV show or listen to music.  But we have gone so far from moderation, we don't even know what it is anymore. I've known a few people who unplug.  They don't do Iphones or Netflix, Cable TV or XBox. Not only do they save a lot of money, but they live. I think they live a lot more than I do.

5. Worrying About Things

"Don't worry about what you will eat or drink, or what you will wear," says Jewish spiritual guru, Jesus. So much of my time is consumed with just that.  The more I have, the more I have to worry about.  The guy with the junky car never worries about it getting stolen. Cheap plastic dishes don't get broken as easily as fine china. Don't even get me started about debt and the load of worries car loans, credit card bills and mortgages cause.

I am not saying it is a sin to have stuff.  I am saying it is a sin to worry about stuff. It's a lot more tempting to worry about stuff when I have it.

God has blessed me and my family with poverty. We are not truly impoverished, although I'm sure I have been considered below the federal poverty line for much of my adult life. We have always had enough.  We had a roof over our heads and food and clothes and usually a car to drive. We never had much to fall back on. Sorry, Dave Ramsey, but we've never had 3-6 months salary saved away in an emergency fund like you suggest. In spite of a lot of turmoil and changing jobs and transition periods, we have always been taken care of. You can chalk that up to some great people helping us at some key times, and we are very thankful for those people. But ultimately we chalk it up to God.  Not counting funds people gave to an organization we were associated with, we have given away more than we have received in those years.   How is that even possible?  It's the growing wealth of generosity, God's capitalism at work.  The more you give, the more you have to give.

God has shown us that he will always provide. We are learning to stop worrying about things so much, and trying to worry more about seeing His kingdom advance on earth. He takes care of all the other stuff.

I'll Pray for You, Maybe

How many times have I made the promise, "I'll pray for you about that."   In our culture it is considered a basic courtesy to those in need.  My secular friends will say something like, "you are in my thoughts today."  But Christians are expected to say, "you are in my prayers."    We throw it around like "please" and "thank-you." It is no more than a social courtesy.

After I make a promise to pray, one of two things usually happens.  Sometimes I make the promise and just forget.  I never think of the person or their situation again until I see them.  Then I feel guilty for not praying for them and their distressful situation.   Truth be told, I am often too wrapped up in my own life to think about others' needs.  In other cases I remember their request and make a quick cursory prayer, not really believing anything will happen, but reassuring myself that I have met my obligation.

I know a few people that tell others they will pray and mean it.  They actually struggle with the burdens of friend and stranger alike.  They are the ones that come back later and ask how God has been working in the situation.  I really want to be like them, but, I am just not there yet.

Don't get me wrong, I do pray.  And in addition to my other conversations with the Father, I pray for the needs of others.  If something or someone is really weighing on my mind, I will take it to God in passionate supplication.  At those moments I expect God to do something about my prayer.  But, to be honest,  this is doesn't happen nearly as often as I'd like.   

Following Jesus means praying.  Jesus was all about praying.  He did it alone(Matt 14:23), he did it with his disciples(John 17).  He  prayed when he was happy (Luke 10:21), and when he was distressed almost to the point of giving up (Luke 22:42).   Jesus spent a lot of his time explaining how to pray.  He said we should be persistent because God wants to answer our prayers (Luke 18:1-6).  He even said to ask for anything in his name and it will be done (John 16:24-28).

Prayer is power.  Not in itself.  A lot of people pray and nothing happens.  But praying to our loving Father in the name of Jesus, under his authority, that is something else.  If we really recognized the power that is released when we take our requests to God in the name of Jesus, we would pray a lot more, and promise to pray a lot less.  We would not flippantly tell people that we will ask God to do whatever they desire.  What if they are asking for something that will hurt them or others?  Jesus healed sick people, but he didn't heal everyone who was sick. I am still not sure why he healed some of those he did and why he didn't heal some of those he didn't.  Until I figure it our, I am a little more hesitant to just start praying that every sick person I know or have heard of is healed.  Praying in Jesus' name is a responsibility of the utmost importance.  He asks us to represent him on earth.  He gives us the authority to do so.  That is humbling.

So if you come to me and ask me to pray for you, maybe I will and maybe I won't.  If I do, it is because I believe I am following in the footsteps of Jesus to complete his work, to advance his kingdom.   It is because I have decided to take your burden, on myself and wrestle with God on your behalf.  If I don't feel God compelling my heart to pray for your need, I might just say, "you are in my thoughts," or if possible, I will just do something to help you.  Rather than pray for your will to be done, I may pray that you will come to accept the situation God has put you in and that you will grow as a person out of your suffering.

Prayer is too powerful to be a social courtesy.   Please don't mistake my intentions.  I am not trying to be a jerk by not praying for you.  I am trying to pray for you in a way that really matters.  It's not that I am trying to pray less.  I am trying to pray more.  But more importantly, I am trying to pray more like Jesus.

Black Friday-Golden Rule

I don't do Black Friday.  It's not a moral choice, but a practical one.  For a guy who isn't too crazy about shopping anyway, getting up at 4 am, standing in lines, dealing with crazy traffic, all to get a deal?  No thanks!  But I have to admit, I am tempted by some of the deals coming out Thursday evening this year.

For millions of Americans, Black Friday has become a staple.  And it is quickly becoming Black Thursday night as well.  People go crazy for a deal.  Things, whether to satisfy their own lust, or to lavish on others in exchange for love have become the centerpiece of the holiday season.  I will not go into how commercial idolatry is destroying Christmas, that will be a rant for another day.  But I am concerned about how commercial idolatry is ruining Thanksgiving, and ruining people all throughout the year.

Think about it for a minute.  For stores to open at 8 pm on Thanksgiving Day, how early do you think people have to be there, stocking shelves and preparing displays for the massive sales to begin?  It doesn't take a mathematician to  figure out that a number of people in retail are spending most of their Thanksgiving Holiday at work.  The trend is to open earlier and earlier.  In a few years, it will probably be a holiday tradition to go hit the stores in the early afternoon on Thanksgiving while your food settles. 

The thing that keeps coming to my mind is Matthew 7:12.  "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (NIV)  This simple teaching is so broad, so all consuming,  that I am often overwhelmed when I try and think of how to live it out.  I am so far from actually obeying this rule in every part of my life, that I just don't know where to start.  So let's start with shopping.  I am going to try and live out the golden rule in my holiday shopping this year.  Do you want to join me?  Here is what we are going to do.

Before we go out to get that awesome deal at 8pm on Thanksgiving, we ask ourselves;  "Would I want to have to work at a retail establishment on Thanksgiving?"  If the answer is "no" then we stay home.  When we go out on Friday (or any other day during the tumultuous holiday shopping season), and there is a long line and the cashier seems to be going too slow and we're frustrated because we are about to miss the deal at the next store, we ask ourselves, "If I were this cashier how would I want to be treated?"  Then we do whatever it is we were thinking.  Like the rest of us, cashiers like to be acknowledged as a human.  They like smiles and words of affirmation.  Although most are not allowed to accept gifts or tips, we can find ways to show our appreciation.

What about the other shoppers?  How might they want to be treated?  We could start by not acting annoyed at them when they are holding up a line.  Maybe if we see someone with a large load, we could offer to help them carry it.  We could take people's carts back for them in the parking lot, especially the elderly and people with small kids.  Maybe we could slow things down a bit too.  If we just give ourselves a little extra time when we go out, we won't be too rushed to offer courtesy and help to others.

This is a work in progress, not an exhaustive list. What other ways can we live out the Golden Rule during the holiday season?

Why I'm Not, Not an Evangelical

 

The label "Evangelical" has fallen into disrepute in recent years and probably for good reasons.  Ironically, it is evangelicals who often show it the most contempt.  From what I've heard, "evangelical" used to mean a person who took the Bible seriously, tried to do what Jesus says to do, and thought everyone should follow Jesus.  In the 19th century evangelicals were the champions of social causes like ending slavery and child labor, and giving women equal rights.  Nowadays, "evangelical" implies a host of other things - someone who likes guns, hates gays, votes Republican, and wants to bring prayer back to school (as if it ever left).  Evangelical culture has developed a product line full of books, music, movies, clothes, and all the other things that entice the commercially driven and insulate them from the influence of the "world."  Most of all, being evangelical implies being conservative, that is, having the orientation that things used to be much better (in America), during some long forgotten epic (the 1950s), and the best thing we can do is reverse the clock and return to those simple days (of racial segregation, misogyny, and the cold war ).

I find myself stuck in the middle.  When it comes down to it, I do believe the Bible, as it was originally given, was inspired by God, and should be taken seriously.  I also believe the Bible's teachings alone hold the answers to our greatest personal and societal problems.  I want everyone to follow Jesus.  I see something unique about those who do follow Jesus, that God has done something in them that differentiates them from every other person in the world. I believe any  life after this one is only guaranteed to those who know Jesus.   That level of exclusivity would lead many to label me an evangelical. So, maybe I am.  But on the other hand, I don't fit the cultural mold of an evangelical.  I don't always vote the way evangelicals do (and I don't put all that much stock in voting).  I believe following Jesus leads me to compassion for the poor, placing the needs of others above my own economic interest. I believe following Jesus leads me to pursue peace for all people, everywhere.  I reject the American dream, as it is sold to us, and I reject the idea that I can share my loyalty to the kingdom of God with any earthly nation, even America.  I prefer to get input ( books, news, the arts) from a variety of viewpoints, even from those I don't agree with.  If I say, "I'm not evangelical," I risk people thinking I don't believe certain things I believe, things we may hold in common.  If I say, "I am evangelical," I risk people believing certain things about my behavior and lifestyle that are just not true about me.

Is it possible to just not take a side?  What if we left the labels at home and just lived what we believed and let that speak for itself?  Maybe we could actually come to the table and talk sensibly about the issues we disagree on if we weren't so caught up in labeling each other. When I write, I usually avoid these loaded terms.  We mostly use these terms to sound smart around others, but they have the unintended consequence of putting people in a box, a rigid stereotype that they can't escape.  I don't like being put in a box, and I try not to box others in either.  I try to just explain things in the simplest terms, regardless of my audience.  I find people respond well to that.  So for now I am not an evangelical, and I'm not, not an evangelical either.  I'm just me.  Get to know me; we might have something in common.