...a work in progress

Repent

2008-12-16T13:39:00.004-06:00

I've thought a little about this in the last month or so. I don't write this from a perspective of full understanding or conviction, but more as something to be thought-provoking and (hopefully) discussion inducing.

Perhaps the first thing we need to do is lay a foundation of understanding as to what the word 'repent' means scripturally. Repent is often explained as being a word that means to turn around 180 degrees, change direction, turn from something to something else. (The KJV also translates as 'repent' words that imply a feeling of mental and/or emotional remorse or anguish--this is not what I'm talking about)

The word 'repent,' in my experience is often expressed negatively. By that I do not so much mean that people talk about it being a bad thing to experience, but that it is something that is presented from an "or else" standpoint, Ala 'turn or burn.' Every weekend there are people standing on the busy, bar-laden street in my town with signs saying just that. There are also many days were a certain "preacher" comes to the campus on which I labor to share this same message in very loud and obnoxious manner. And, so, this is perhaps at the heart of what I want to discuss.

John the Baptist came with a message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (NIV - Matt 3:2) Then, after John was imprisoned, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the same message (Matt 4:17). Mark 1 puts Jesus words it this way: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." (NASB)

Is the phrase "the kingdom of heaven is near (or 'at hand')" a threat? I don't think it is. When Jesus says "repent and believe in the gospel" in Mark 1, remember that the word 'gospel' means 'good news'--this also does not sound like a threat.

It seems to me that the only manner in which repentance seems to be talked about in American Christendom is through spouting threats on God's behalf--why is this? I'm not saying this is true in every circumstance, but I can recall when even people that I know have a solid Biblical foundation (yes, I am implying that the aforementioned "preacher" and sign-bearers do not present Christ from a truly Biblical perspective), have preached repentance strictly from a 'turn or burn' perspective.

When I think about the Jewish population to whom John and Jesus were making this declaration and call to repentance, I am lead to consider that these were a people who probably desired to be part of this 'kingdom of heaven'. Now, I don't believe they all knew what exactly the 'kingdom of heaven' was (and do we?--yet another discussion), especially considering the political situation the Jews were in at the time. Nonetheless, being part of this 'kingdom of heaven,' I think, was something that sounded appealing to those who heard the message.

So, why is it important how repentance is preached? Maybe it doesn't, but my thought is that it probably does. I believe it has an effect on how people view and approach God. It is a difference in motivation--am I turning to God because of the gospel (motivation: good news of Christ), or am I turning away from things that I am afraid will send me to Hell (motivation: fear of consequence)? Is there a difference?

I understand this can lead to a lot of different discussions, so I'm trying to ask my question without myself leading it any one direction, and without making this post any longer. :)

Quest for a hippo

2007-03-29T10:48:00.000-06:00

I've been gone for a while, so, if you noticed, I apologize. I'm back now...for a while.

I want to let you in on a blog recently started by a friend of mine who is planning a trip to Mozambique. There's some good stuff on there and you will appreciate it I'm sure. Here's the url: quest4ahippo.blogspot.com/

Idol meat and the evil of christian rock music.

2007-02-26T01:59:00.000-06:00

Recently I studied and taught on the second part of 1 Corinthians 6 (v 12-20)--the "everything is permissible" passage. There are many interesting situations we find ourselves in when trying to live a Godly life. Go too far one way and we become so liberal that there is no difference between us and the world, go too far the other way and we can become legalistic to a Pharisaical degree. The middle ground is the hardest place to be.

I just wasted the last hour looking at a website that I consider to be a bit on the "legalistic" side. (I don't remember how I got there...I googled something and this page looked interesting) The first page of the site that I looked at had to do with exposing the "evils" of "christian rock". First, I must give credit to the author who said something to the effect that he didn't think that most of the christian rock artists were purposefully going against God (but they were nonetheless), and that most of them were saved. I was okay with this statement (at least he wasn't condemning them to hell)--the rest, not so much. The site declared any "rock music" (I'm not really sure how they define "rock") as being of Satan & there were personal attacks on several artists in the Christian market (Point of Grace, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, etc). The author took time to point out articles and interviews that he felt showed the artist's spiritual inconsistencies, and he somehow managed to find satanic symbols strewn throughout the cover and liner art of every artist in the CCM market.

Basically, I got somewhat frustrated. Some of the points the author made about the faults of the Christian recording industry were true--it's no more perfect or less corrupt than the secular industry, and it should be (though most of the christian labels are run by secular corporations now). But I found his stance to be inconsistent when he didn't go into depth about the hypocrisy in the southern gospel industry (which there is plenty to be found--especially if you go back in history to southern gospel's heyday).

From my standpoint, one of the first things that discredits anyone's claims to speak the truth, is to see them fail to apply the "truth" in a consistent manner. If you struggle with the idea of rock music being okay, rest assured that there is nothing in scripture that speaks specifically about the evil of any genre of music. However, if you're still not comfortable w/ it, don't listen to it--but don't judge those that do.

Romans 14:3 "The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him" (NIV)
Romans 14:14 "As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. " (NIV)

If you fail to see the application of these verses in regards to rock music, consider this. The issue Romans speaks of is the eating of meat sacrificed to idols. Paul says that God is okay with someone who wants to consume the meat that had been sacrificed to idols (he warns against not making your brother stumble, but says that eating the meat is not inherantly bad). If you look at rock music from the view of those who say it is "the devils music"...well, it was the devil's meat.

1 Corinthians 10:29-31 "For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for? So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (NIV)

I would be interested to know if the author of this article celebrated Christmas, as it is a pagan holiday (it was Christianized around 4AD by christians in Rome. They decided to celebrate Jesus birth to coincide with a pagan celebration so they could party, too--okay maybe that's stretching it a little, but nonetheless). I would also be interested in knowing if this individual sings hymns in church to the tune of old drinking songs.

Hmmm...well, now you know why I have a blog, it keeps me from writing less-than-loving notes to people I disagree with. For everything that I could point out that's wrong about someone else, there's probably 10 things they could point out in me. It's a good thing we have a God who is good enough to work in things like patience and forgiveness into his plan-cause I need it.

Good Music

2007-01-28T21:03:00.000-06:00

I thought I would let you (whoever happens to stumble upon this page) in on a few good CDs that I've recently aquired.

1. MeWithoutYou - "Brother, Sister" This is an amazing cd. I listened to their first cd...well a few songs...when it first came out, then put it back on the shelf. Later I happened to catch them live on a Tooth & Nail tour--and they were incredible. Every since I've been a fan. I must tell you, though, this one didn't immediately jump out at me. But when I sat and read the lyrics sheet along with Aaron "singing"...it was a great time of worship for me. Really. It's not worship music, but the truths just hit me in the right place. Beautiful poetry, check it out.

2. Jars of Clay - "Good Monsters" I had this one setting on the shelf for...well...I got it free as a pre-release, so it was before September of 2006. Basically, Jars have always been just okay (in my opinion), I've never been a big fan, so I didn't even listen to it until today. Now, I really like it. If I were to compare it to their previous work, it would be like comparing the Beatles "Sgt. Peppers" to their "Hard Days Night". It doesn't sound like their old stuff, though the best part of the Jars sound is still there, just enough for you to maybe know it's them if you listen hard enough. It's good.

Why a work in progress?

2007-01-17T12:31:00.000-06:00

I've thought about blogging for some time. Actually, I did have a blog once, but it didn't last very long.

The problem is this: anytime that I might have an opinion different than that opinion which some might think I am supposed to have, it creates problems. Also, I might say something stupid that I regret later.

It's the same reason I don't have fish on my car (some of you know what I'm saying).

So, since I am stepping out and allowing anyone in the world to judge me, my thoughts and actions by whatever stupidity I choose to post, I thought I should let you know:

I'm a work in progress.

I might be wrong, and I might change my mind--In fact, I hope I am wrong. If I'm right about everything now, then I've got nowhere to go--So on my journey towards perfection, I hope that anyone who reads this blog will take time to recoginze that they too are a work in progress, and we should compare notes.

Phillipians 3:12-14