dalebest

Washing Bin Laden's Feet

Look at the picture above. What kinds of feeling does it stir inside you?

Far be it from me to pass judgment on the man seated in the middle. Bin Laden has done a lot of horrible things and I do believe society has an obligation to hold him accountable. But would Jesus wash his feet? I think he would. I believe Jesus would show him a Calvary-like love. Not only do I think he would. But I know he did.

Before you call me a heretic, hear me out.

Last week, I finished listening to the "Cross & the Sword" sermon series Greg Boyd preached at Woodland Hills Church back in 2004. (The sermon series was so controversial, 20% of his congregation packed his bags and left.)

In the sermon series, he makes a marked distinction between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. The Kingdom of God, lived out in a genuine way, is filled with service and love for others - a "power-under" philosophy. Jesus modeled this in several ways: enduring the temptation to given all the kingdoms of this world, washing the feet of the ones who would deny and betray Him, giving His life and loving still the one who would end up killing him. The kingdoms of the world, quite the opposite, are filled with a "power-over" philosophy which Evil uses to steal, kill, and destroy that which God made good and beautiful.

Greg also explains that in the history of the world, whenever the Church hijacks a nations, deems it "Christian," and uses civil religion to "power over" people their way of life, well, things aren't so peaceful. (I believe I witnessed a few of these in my old school KJV-only, fundamental, independent Baptist days.)

In the USA, many Christians believe our country and the Kingdom of God go hand in hand - that America is a "Christian nation" ... a theocracy of sorts where civil religion is supposed to permeate every facet of our lives. The pledge under God. His name on our money. Exodus 22 displayed in public. How ironic is it that this kind of civil religion was exactly the same thing pilgrims came to America from Europe to escape ... a culture where "Christians" said "you have to do it this way" or else?

On any weekend close to Independence Day or Memorial Day, it's not uncommon to see churches all over the country esteem and celebrate American patriotism. Several years ago, it's was this kind of celebration where Greg Boyd witnessed a video montage of three crosses overlayed with American fighters jet and the American flag. He recalls vividly how livid he felt to see image of killing machines intertwined with symbols of peace and sacrifice.

Now I love the USA. The freedoms afforded to me came with many braves soldiers who paid the ultimate price. I try to live my life not taking that for granted. As noble as military service is made out to be, when Jesus tells me to love my enemy to the point of laying down my life for them, I have to take that seriously.

The next questions beg to be asked:

• If the Scriptures say our fight isn't against flesh and blood, what constitutes our "Christian nation" killing for the sake of an earthly freedom that was never promised to us by God?
• And if you were a Christian living in any other country besides the US, would God favor your country above any other the way the American Christian culture largely thinks God favors America?

I propose an alternative way to live. One that Jesus proposed.

Let's embrace the words of Jesus for all He intended them to be. Let's follow Jesus' actions even when you don't think it's the logical or "right" way.

Jesus showed Calvary-love to me giving His life. He did the same for you. And George W. Bush. And Barack Obama. And Osama Bin Laden. And Indianapolis Colts fans. And everyone else. I'm glad it's not up to me do decide what happens to them when they leave this life.

One thing that is up to me is the kind of love I show to them ... the kind that powers under, and serves, and washes the feet of the kinds of people the kingdoms of the world call unlovable and evil.

(The painting above was done by Lars Justinen of Justinen Creative Group for Heavenly Sanctuary. I think it's beautiful.)

For further reading, read Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd or Jesus For President by Shane Claiborne.

Taking Risks

(ht: don miller)

A Christmas Song That's Aptly Titled

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs of all-time ... aptly titled Christmas Song ... by Dave Matthews.

Romans 7

From the Message:

But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?

The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.

The Antithesis of Psalm 23

The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest
It makes me lie down only when exhausted
It leads me to deep depression
It hounds my soul
It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity’s sake
Even though I run frantically from task to task
I will never get it done
For my “ideal” is with me
Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me
They demand performance from me
beyond the limits of my schedule.
They annoint my head with migraines.
My in-basket overflows
Surely fatigue and time pressure shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration forever

Marcia K. Hornok

Psalm 111

This Scripture was shared last night in my small group Bible study and I wanted to pass it on. We were talking about the Glory of God and how far-reaching it is. Somehow His glory seems to work into every good and right thing that comes from us.

Whether it's Lauren, who just got a special ed teaching position in Ivanhoe and can't wait to pour into these kids...
or Brad and Shellie, who just experienced seeing an ultrasound picture of their first child for the first time...
or Georgina and Victor, who just moved away from L.A. and away from family ... but already feel at home in community with people they haven't even known for 2 months.

...the Glory of God is all around us ... working through us ... in us. Life can't get any better.

<blockquote>Praise the Lord!
I will thank the Lord with all my heart
      as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
      All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.
      His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works.
      How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who fear him;
      he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people
      by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good,
      and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true,
      to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people.
      He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
      What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
      All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Praise him forever!</blockquote>

Forrest Jenan at Neighborhood Church - Apocalyptic Fascinations: Part Two

• 5:17 PM: We want to tackle Matthew 24.
• 5:18 PM: Matthew 21 ... Jesus goes into the temple and gets angry. This is an enacted parable. Jesus shows up in the Gospel, in the first century. Jesus is a prophet in the same sense as Isaiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
• 5:19 PM: Enacted parables are making points with your actions.
• 5:19 PM: Jesus is declaring the temple is bankrupt. That's it's system is no longer needed.
• 5:20 PM: Jesus is forgiving sin away from the temple sacirficial system ... which is a big thing.
• 5:21 PM: Matthew 22 ... Jesus starts telling weird stories. He's talking about food. He's ripping down social boundaries.
• 5:22 PM: Upper class eat with lower class. Men eat with women. Jesus is shattering these social boundaries.
• 5:23 PM: Matthew 23 ... it's full of woes. He pronounced judgement on the religious leaders.
• 5:24 PM: He judges first the institution and then the leaders. He spends a lot of time judging the religious establishment ... and not a lot of time judging those in the margins. Those on the fringes
• 5:27 PM: "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
• 5:28 PM: There's a chapter break right here at the end of Matthew 23 ... and that's sad.
• 5:29 PM: Matthew 24 ... Jesus then begins to talk about the temple. And the disciples are confused.
• 5:31 PM: Let's talk about how Jesus answers the disciples question.
• 5:32 PM: Jesus is clear about "this generation" not passing until something happens.
• 5:33 PM: At Jesus' trial, they ask him if he's the Christ, the Son of God.
• 5:34 PM: Because Jesus' message is "Repent, for the Kingdom is near."
• 5:35 PM: Jesus lays the groundwork for his trial all throughout the book of Matthew.
• 5:36 PM: Matthew 10 ... He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
• 5:37 PM: For most of us, in our 21st century context, going out to save souls is the idea.
• 5:38 PM: If you read it like that, you're reading it wrong. You're reading it like a 21st century person rather than if you were in the 1st century.
• 5:39 PM: Jesus is not talking about individual souls ... he's talking about national crisis.
• 5:39 PM: Change your trajectory or a pagan nation will come in and destroy you.
• 5:42 PM: If your mission was to go out and to proclaim a kingdom different then Herod or Caesar, then someone's gonna sit up and notice.
• 5:43 PM: This has nothing to do with the universe ... and everything to do with the disciples.
• 5:44 PM: He told the disciples that the Son of Man would come before they would finish.
• 5:46 PM: The disciples, at the beginning of Matthew 24, asked about the "end of the age" ... not the "end of the world."
• 5:47 PM: A first century Jew's interpretation of personal salvation wasn't of a personal bliss called "heaven."
• 5:48 PM: Jews wanted Eden ... a return to peace and shalom.
• 5:50 PM: I wonder how we should read then the rest of Matthew 24.
• 5:53 PM: How we think about the end relates to the way we live today.
• 6:06 PM: I want you to think. I want us to think. I want us to read scriptures Biblically. I want us to leave changed. Our message to the world is one of beauty and hope and passion. It's not always gonna be like this. My God made a promise and he will fulfill it.

Promised For You And For Me

Sitting here eating lunch and this moved me to the core. I wanted to share with you.

Jesus Is An Elephant?

Sell Everything Christians

Shaun wrote a brilliant post about the commands of Jesus. Great thoughts to think about this Easter weekend.

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A third of Americans now label themselves “born again Christian.” The term comes from a story in the bible in which Jesus tells a religious leader named Nicodemus that he must be “born again” in order to see the kingdom of God.

American Christians in the sixties - some say as early as the fifties - began labeling themselves “born again” believing it was impossible to be a true Christ follower and not be born again - spiritually reborn.

But being born again is not the only thing Jesus said his followers must be.

For example, one day a man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” and Jesus answered, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

How come a third of Americans don’t label themselves “sell everything” Christians?  How come being “born again” is a prerequisite but selling everything to help the poor is extremist?

Are some commands of Jesus not as important as others?
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Well said, Shaun.

American Christians in the sixties - some say as early as the fifties - began labeling themselves “born again” believing it was impossible to be a true Christ follower and not be born again - spiritually reborn.

But being born again is not the only thing Jesus said his followers must be.

For example, one day a man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” and Jesus answered, “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

How come a third of Americans don’t label themselves “sell everything” Christians?  How come being “born again” is a prerequisite but selling everything to help the poor is extremist?

Are some commands of Jesus not as important as others?
---

Well said, Shaun.