Ours is a Specific Faith

Driving in the car the other day I was channel surfing through the radio, when I stopped on what sounded like the tail end of a prayer.  I paused to listen, and then my little info thing on the radio popped  up and identified the program as being Deepak Chopra, presumably in the midst of a daily radio show he hosts or something.  Fairly certain at this point that what I had heard was not any prayer I was interested in, I still decided to listen to see if there would be some explanation as to what the context was of the "prayer".  None came, and instead his next guest came on.  I don't know who the guest was, or really why he was on the show.  Chopra identified (and the guest identified himself) as a Sufi, from a religious standpoint.  Sufism is sort of a mystical, ascetic sect within Islam.  To be honest I can't specifically tell you what Sufism is all about as a religion/faith.  The larger point I want to get at is that Chopra asked this man what the Sufi believe, and he couldn't really say either.  The answer he gave was a serious of generic cliches and platitudes with a kind of universal sound to them that had me thinking pretty much everybody on the planet was a Sufi based on this definition.
     I think there were a couple of things going on in this conversation that stood out to me.  For one, I am fairly certain the individual was trying to couch his answer in such a way as to be unoffensive to anyone listening, and to try and make it sound attractive and simple.  That is part of what bothered me, the deliberate effort to conceal and confuse that upon which he believes his eternity depends.  The other part that bothered me is the fact that even as he purposely tried to be vague, it was also clear that there was not a specific god, object, or belief system to which he could point as being central to his faith.
     That struck me: as a Christian I believe in Jesus. Someday I will see Him, touch Him, kneel in His presence.  I will put my hands in those scars mankind has left on His body, reminded of the fact that this One was sent by His Father to die for me.  It is only by faith in Him that I am saved; it is that simple.  That is what it means to be a Christian, to recognize that we are sinners in need of a Savior, that this is not of works lest any should boast.  Those are just a few of the specific principles that define what it is to be a Christian.  If they are confusing, then they are confusing.  If they are offensive, then they are offensive.
     I believe the existence of my very soul rests on that faith, on that Christ.  I had better understand exactly what it is I believe about Him considering what is at stake.  Considering what is at stake, I had better be able to tell someone who asks exactly what it is I believe and why.  To water that down is to condemn them to hell as if I had never said anything.  I guess that is probably part of the Sufi's problem; I don't know if he even believes in hell (and I have a feeling Deepak Chopra doesn't).

     The challenge that conversation left me with is this: Be joyful in the fact that ours is a specific faith, in a particular God, Father of a unique Son, the relationship of which is animated by THE Holy Spirit.  Be able to speak, in no uncertain terms, to the facts of that belief.  Be unashamed how that comes across; why seek common ground with those whose sands are sinking?

View from the Deck

For the past few weeks, just about everyday, I have found myself drawn to sit out on the back deck of my house.  There is not a particularly majestic view from back there (I have posted a couple of pictures below):

And really the view thing is kind of a non-issue, because I don't really come out to sit back there until after dark anyway.  In this particular season, it has become my favorite place to sit and talk with God.  The weather is at a comfortable place where it's not still a million degrees at night with nasty humidity, and yet it's also not cold and bitter so as to be unpleasant.  It is quiet and peaceful, the house far enough from busy streets that the main sounds are wind in the trees, bugs in the bushes, and that's about it.  Especially at night, there is a pretty clear view of the stars in the sky.  It is a location that lends quite a bit of perspective.  Nothing around me is in a constant state of motion; everything is pretty much quietly being.  The stars (of which there are quite a few, in case anyone hasn't  had the chance to really look at them in a while) are varying degrees of brightness, fixed in space at untold distance from where I am.  Deafeningly loud, and yet eerily silent everything about my surroundings says, "it's really not all about you", and I need to be reminded of that these days.  In my tendency to wonder what I am supposed to be doing, how things are affecting me, what I ought to be working on or worrying about, the view from the deck yields quite a different perspective, and lends itself to some neat conversations with my Lord.  Not that He doesn't tell me what I am supposed to be doing, etc., but certainly in conversing He reminds me it really is all about HIM.  I find I get more rest and rejuvenation from 20 minutes in the dark outside than 8 solid hours in my bed--and certainly a lot more wisdom!  Even as I write this, part of me really can't wait 'til the sun goes down.

Truth, not Custom

     I guess this means I am becoming a seminary nerd, but if so that's all right I suppose.  I came across a quote which I think is absolutely profound and fantastic in the midst of my Intro to Church History I homework.  It is a quote from Tertullian (the same guy that wrote the beautiful letter pertaining to Christian marriage), and it is very applicable to today's world.  The quote is this:


But our Christ hath surnamed Himself Truth, not Custom.


  Concise and simple, yet FULL of meaning, and not easy to wrap one's head around.  Tertullian wrote this in the context of what he was seeing in terms of the early church beginning to compromise and make concessions to the culture.  I won't get into the specifics of all of what he was referring to (both because those specific concessions are not necessarily relevant to understanding that quote, and also because I don't have anywhere near the expertise to comment intelligently on their finer points anyway!), but the context alone and his reason for making that statement are relevant to the world today, the church, the individual believer.  
     There is a tension that I think all believers experience at some point between faithfully living up to the original message of Christ, and seeking to be contemporary in doing that.  I know from experience I have found it difficult sometimes to reconcile the two, to clearly see whether taking a particular action is in fact faithful to the gospel, or a concession to what is traditionally acceptable.  To this struggle I am now reminded that our Christ is Truth, not Custom.  His message today is what it was 2,000 years ago, His standard holiness. Period.  Not holiness, with 21st century exceptions.  That is not to say the task is easy, or that Truth always equates to "hard".  It is just a sobering reminder that we should first look to Christ and His Word for wisdom, not culture or even church tradition.  

Christian Marriage

In doing some reading for seminary, I came across what is probably one of the most beautiful, succinct descriptions of marriage I think I have ever read.  It is a portion of a letter  from early church historian Tertullian to his wife, and it is awesome.  I will probably comment on it at greater length in the future, but it speaks pretty clearly for itself:

How shall we ever be able adequately to describe the happiness of that marriage which the Church arranges, the Sacrifice strengthens, upon which the blessing sets a seal, at which angels are present as witnesses, and to which the Father gives His consent? For not even on earth do children marry properly and legally without their fathers' permission.

How beautiful, then, the marriage of two Christians, two who are one in hope, one in desire, one in the way of life they follow, one in the religion they practice. They are as brother and sister, both servants of the same Master. Nothing divides them, either in flesh or in spirit. They are, in very truth, two in one flesh; and where there is but one flesh there is also but one spirit. They pray together, they worship together, they fast together; instructing one another, encouraging one another, strengthening one another. Side by side they visit God's church and partake of God's Banquet; side by side they face difficulties and persecution, share their consolations. They have no secrets from one another; they never shun each other's company; they never bring sorrow to each other's hearts. Unembarrassed they visit the sick and assist the needy. They give alms without anxiety; they attend the Sacrifice without difficulty; they perform their daily exercises of piety without hindrance. They need not be furtive about making the Sign of the Cross, nor timorous in greeting the brethren, nor silent in asking a blessing of God. Psalms and hymns they sing to one another, striving to see which one of them will chant more beautifully the praises of their Lord. Hearing and seeing this, Christ rejoices. To such as these He gives His peace. Where there are two together, there also He is present; and where He is, there evil is not.

These, then, are the thoughts which the Apostle in that brief expression of his has left for our consideration. Recall them to your mind, if ever there should be need to do so. Use them to strengthen yourself against the bad example which certain women give you. In no other way than this are Christians permitted to marry -- and, even if they were, it would not be the prudent thing to do.