Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Did God actually say . . . ?

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ripe red apple with green leaf isolated on white From the first, our rebellion against God has taken the form of questioning the wisdom of His statements and prohibitions.

We see this today as popular atheists are lining up to ridicule God and the Bible. To do so requires that the atheist sets himself up as the authority as to what is right and proper. Sound familiar? This is exactly what happened in Genesis 3. Adam had the choice between listening to his wife or believing God. He chose the former and we’ve been choosing badly ever since.

Recently I saw two blog posts, one by Doug Geivett and the other by Chad Missildine, about Christians behaving like atheists. If I am honest (or attempting to be), I will admit that at times I choose my own way over God’s and in that moment, I am a functional atheist. I do not always act as if I believe that God is always with me. I do not always act as though God is the most important relationship in my life. I sometimes act as if I am the final authority and can stand in judgment of God and his word.

The point of this is that before we go on a verbal seek and destroy mission against atheists, we should look inside and see that the “did God say?” virus is still in our system and will not be completely eradicated until we are with Jesus. This reflection should put is in a better position to present truth in a loving way. It is easier to be loving when we realize that the atheist is living out what we would be without the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

The first atheist to conquer is the one in the mirror.

Scary Love

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Scary LoveI recently saw a pair of Tweets by @GAfamily with the hashtags #scary and #love. (For those of you who are not into Twitter, using hashtags is a way of identifying key words so that someone searching on that word will find it) It struck me that these are two words that I would not have put together. Scary love.

Today I began reading Genesis for an assignment for our church’s ministry training class. It strikes me that God created us in spite of the fact that He knew that beginning with Adam, we would choose badly and rebel. To me this is the epitome of scary love. It is scary because it is so selfless. It is scary because the love that would create in spite of the certainty of rebellion is a love that is consumed by its object with no expectation of benefit in return.

In our human interactions, we do not give or receive completely selfless love. Consciously or subconsciously when we experience love or the approximation of love, we are wondering what’s in it for the other. This feels normal because it is a universal experience.

Along comes a man named Jesus a little over 2,000 years ago who breaks normality and opens up the possibility of experiencing selfless love in a human interaction. Jesus’ selfless love proved to be a blessing to those who recognized their need for love and a curse to those who didn’t.

So why is this so scary? It is scary in part because we don’t understand selfless love. Another possible reason is because, in our pride, we are unwilling to come to grips with the depth of our unlovliness.

When I reflect upon the selfless love of Jesus, when I read the gospels and see what he did and said, I am confronted with the festering recesses of my heart that are yet to be cleansed and healed. This self revelation is scary and many run from it. Yet, to be confronted by this revelation is the most loving thing that a loving God can do.

May we embrace this Scary Love and be cleansed and motivated by him.

Corrective Cultural Lens

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cultural lens I had the opportunity to listen to a podcast of an interview with Mark Eckel while driving to my first appointment this morning. You can find this podcast and other information about Mark Eckel by clicking on this link.

Of the many good things that Mark said, I was struck by one in particular. He mentioned in passing that Scripture is a lens by which we can view the world. I like that word picture.

As a result of the entry of sin into the world, we are out of harmony with God, our world, our fellow humans and ourselves. This brings about a skewed view of the world. We do not have the correct perspective to see things correctly. We need a corrective lens to see clearly. We have such a lens in Scripture.

It is as I interact with Scripture that I begin to see things clearly. Through the Bible, God reveals himself to me and as that relationship deepens, he uses Scripture to teach me about myself and my world. By increasing my understanding of Scripture, I am increasing true knowledge of myself and the world around me.

Without my eyeglasses, I cannot read what is on the computer screen as I write. Without Scripture, I cannot understand myself or my culture. I thank God and acknowledge my dependence upon both.

Cue Johnny Nash singing “I can see clearly now . . . .”

When art becomes idolatry

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Michelangelo's_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned_editA visit to just about any of the churches in Rome will allow the visitor to see brilliant works of art. Much time and money has been invested in statuary, paintings, mosaics, and marble decor among other artistic delights. There are representations of Biblical scenes and people; there are also statues of former church leaders and saints.

It seems to me that one aspect of being made in the image of God is that man was created to create. When we create, we are following in the footsteps of our creator. There is something good about creation, whether it is God’s creation ex nihilo, or if it is a work of art, literature or music produced by man.

Creativity is a form of worship. We ascribe worth by imitating the one we worship. I believe that this is true even when the artist does not acknowledge his dependence on his Creator God. By giving vent to his artistic skills, the artist is displaying that which was given him by his Creator.

Christians, who have been gifted in the arts, have the opportunity (obligation?) to use their artistic talents as an expression of worship. The Church should be providing a forum for those gifts to be used for worship. I think that the Roman church has gotten this part right.

From my recent visit to Rome, however, I need to offer a caution. While visiting the churches, I witnessed people venerating statues and paintings. I saw one man kissing the hands of a statue of a saint. Candles could be purchased and burned in front of many of these pieces of art, which I suppose to be some form of veneration. Much of what I observed seems misguided at best and idolatrous at worst.

How is a balance to be maintained? How can we appreciate the art and the artist without moving toward idolatry? Perhaps the answer lies in an understanding that all of the art, no matter how permanent it appears now, will one day all be consumed (see 2 Peter 3:10-11). While good art should be valued as such, it does not have ultimate value, it will not be carried into eternity.

Perhaps this gives us a clue as to the means of valuing art. Should we ascribe value to art by whether it encourages us to holiness and right living? After all, it is human beings alone that pass from this temporal existence into eternity.

What are your thoughts? How do we value art and avoid the danger of idolatry? Is there a difference between religious art and “secular” art?

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