Attempts at Honesty

Reflections on the interplay of the Bible and Culture

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Amusing ourselves to death

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Amusing ourselves to deathIn his book, Amusing ourselves to death, Neil Postman argues that our entertainment culture has undermined our ability to reason and gain understanding. We have “smart” televisions and internet connected devices that can deliver movies, video clips and music around the clock.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with entertainment or diversion in moderation, in excess, as Postman argues, it can become an unhealthy addiction.

What brought this to mind is a proverb I read this morning:

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” (Proverbs 4:7, ESV)

Knowing facts is valuable, but it is important to understand how those facts work together. We cannot correctly prescribe a solution to the mess we see around us unless we understand how and why it got to be a mess in the first place. Scripture speaks to this and challenges us to participate in God’s reclamation of the world he created. We are called to make disciples. It is through the church that God has reformed cultures and brought personal reformation.

The danger for the church in the 21st Century is that we can substitute “Christian” entertainment and become just as diverted as the surrounding culture. We have immediate and continuous access to sermons, worship music and Christian movies. We are in danger of becoming “Christian” couch potatoes or entertainment junkies. As Postman warns, we can be amusing ourselves to death with clean entertainment.

How then can we tell if entertainment is in excess? I believe the writer of Hebrews gives us a clue:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” (Hebrews 10:24, ESV)

For example, I greatly enjoyed the movie Amazing Grace which presents the struggle of William Wilberforce against slavery. But if viewing that movie does not challenge me to be aware of the injustices in my own culture and work toward righting them, then it has become merely a diversion.

We can treat the Bible in the same way. If I do my “devotions” and read the prescribed passage every morning but do not allow Scripture to influence my behavior, then my reading has become merely a diversion and not the life-changing exercise that it should be.

The writer of Proverbs challenges us to think and not merely consume.

When your church becomes cultish

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When your church becomes cultishOne of the identifying marks of a cult is that the leader will demonize any person who leaves the group.

Even the best of churches cannot meet all the needs of everyone coming through the doors. There is room for diversity within the body of Christ and there is nothing inherently wrong with choosing a church based on preferences like style of preaching or style of worship.

I attend a great church but some people visit and determine that it is not the right church for them for a variety of reasons. I’m OK with that and I know that the leadership of my church is OK with that also.

Some attend a particular church for a while and get plugged into various aspects of church life only to find out that the church does not fit what they want in a church. Or, sometimes, the needs of a family change and another church may be better suited to minister to that family in their new stage in life. People leave churches for various legitimate reasons.

But, if the leader or leadership speaks ill of people who leave, then that church is becoming cultish no matter how orthodox the teaching and worship might be. No church leader or denomination has a monopoly on the truth. We all have equal access to Scripture and the Holy Spirit.

When a leader behaves in a way that indicates that those who left the church were wrong for doing so, then those that remain should seriously question whether that is a leader God would have them follow. To stay in that environment so that you can avoid the criticism if you leave is only delaying the inevitable.

When the leader is behaving in a manor contrary to the example we have in Jesus, then that leader disqualifies himself from leadership. It would be instructive at this point to review the qualifications that the Apostle Paul gives for an elder (or pastor).

“An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” (1 Timothy 3:2–7, NASB)

I would draw your attention to the command to not be pugnacious. In other words, the leader should not be looking for a fight. He should not fight with those who stay and he certainly should not fight with those who leave.

I am reminded of how Jesus dealt with Judas. Jesus knew that Judas was the one who would betray him, yet he did not treat Judas differently than the other disciples. Notice that when Jesus announced his upcoming betrayal, none of the disciples had a clue as to who it might be (John 13:25).

If you are a leader who is dealing with people who have left your church, wish them well. If you are tempted to criticize them, bite your tongue.

If you are in a church where there is pressure to stay, do not stay to avoid criticism. Stay only if that is where Jesus is calling you to worship and minister. My experience is that in such an environment, you will not have the freedom to minister as God would have you to do. But, you have to make the determination for yourself as to whether you stay or go.

What we need versus what we want

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NeedThe paralyzed man had no trouble understanding that he needed healing. Without the ability to walk, he could not earn a living or live a normal life. As a paralytic, his only means of supporting himself was as a beggar.

The text of Luke 5:18-25 does not indicate if the paralyzed man initiated the movement toward Jesus or if one of his friends came up with the idea. But, having heard of a healer named Jesus, four of his friends carried the man to Jesus so that he could be cured of his affliction.

The curious thing about this familiar Sunday School story is that when the man comes before Jesus for healing, Jesus does not directly address his paralysis. Jesus speaks to the man about his sin. What the man thought he needed was not his ultimate need. He wanted physical healing but Jesus addressed a deeper need, that for reconciliation with God.

Perhaps this gives us a clue as to why some of our prayers are not answered in the way would like. What I think I need may not be what God knows I really need. Jesus speaks to the desire of God to give us what we need when he says:

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9–11, ESV)

As Jesus reveals to us the character of God, we can know that when we ask for a snake but need a fish, the fish is what we get. Like the paralytic man, God will deal with us at our ultimate point of need.

One of the disturbing trends in the American church is the practice of speaking to the “felt needs” of those who come to the church. This is done to draw in those who otherwise would not think of attending church. The disturbing part is that in some, the preaching does not go beyond addressing those felt needs.

The story of the paralytic reminds us of the danger of ministering only to the perceived needs of people. The greater concern than a healthy marriage is a right relationship with God. There is nothing inherently wrong with a sermon series on raising healthy children but we do not need well adjusted children who do not understand that they are sinners in need of regeneration.

Paul told the Corinthians that his only goal was to present Jesus Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Without the Cross, there is no forgiveness of sin. Without the preaching of the Cross, we will not meet the ultimate need of the people who come to our church.

The best news is that God is concerned about all our needs. Jesus did heal the man of his paralysis. God uses our “felt needs” to bring us to the point where he can address our deepest need.

I am reminded of something that I’ve heard Ravi Zacharias say on multiple occasions:

Jesus did not come to make bad people good,
He came to make dead people live.

No man, Lord – Reflections on John 8

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This is a guest post by Michael Andrzejewski who serves the Lord in Portugal and whose biographical information appears below.

Hand on Stone - John 8

With so much disdain, they shoved her down before him, the one that they called Master in public, but the Threat, in private. They hated him more than her. They hated him more than what they caught her doing.

They had just dragged her away, hastily ripping the two lovers apart from each other. From that first moment when they burst in, fear and remorse engulfed her.

Nothing made sense. She wanted to explain. What were they going to do with her lover? Why wasn’t he being taken too? She fought hard to put her thoughts in order. Where were they taking her?

Wave after wave of regret crashed down upon her fragile soul.

Still indecent and disheveled they threw her down at his feet and spat the words. At him.

Master, we caught her. We walked right in on her cheating. She’s supposed to be stoned. What do you think we should do? (John 8:4-5)

She dare not speak, but within, she begged for mercy. She longed to be forgiven. She longed to be free.

She never considered the consequences when the flirting began. She never thought about the other lives that would be ruined. All she saw was her lover’s attention.

The desire for immediate satisfaction shouted down all caution about what might happen if they were caught.

The law says that she’s got to be put to death. Judge her. Tell us what do.

Silence. Slow and deliberate. He knelt, ignoring them. He wanted to know about her. In her eyes he saw fear and pain. Sorrow. Shame.

Through the tears, she noticed him writing something in the dirt, as they insisted…

Should we stone her? Should we?

Accusers are always persistent, but Mercy is patient. Long-suffering.

Finally, he rose, looked at the mob and spoke.

He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. (John 8:7)

He was ready to answer. He was ready to give them his mind about the matter, but he asked one thing first: let all of those without sin rare back and let her have it. Then he would answer.

The leader, the oldest and wisest of the group, looked at Jesus, looked at the ground and opened his hand to let the jagged stone fall to the dust. He couldn’t. He knew that his heart was just as filthy.

The memory of our own sins should be a sufficient deterrent against judgment of others.

If it’s not, we better start remembering before we start casting stones. If it’s not, we should begin to question our understanding of grace. If it’s not, we should begin to question our understanding of forgiveness.

So, he turned and walked off. His conscience cutting far deeper than any stone possibly could.

But his conscience didn’t bring him to grace. Rather than bring him to the Lord, it stopped short.

Man’s conscience is able to convict of sin. But it’s not able to transform him into the image of Christ. Neither is it able to liberate him from the present or future power of sin. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, the conviction of conscience is incomplete.

The thud of rocks falling to the ground grew louder as the mob grew smaller and smaller until the last one, the youngest among them, finally let go of his anger and walked away in shame.

There she remained, alone with the man that had just saved her life. Before she could thank him, the question came.

Where did they all go? Did not at least one of them condemn you?
No man, Lord.
Neither do I. Go and sin no more. (John 8:10-11)

When there is no condemnation of sin, there is the presence of a command to live a holy life.

By mercy, the Lord spared her life. Through grace, he gave her a new one.

“Thank you, Lord for not condemning me when for so long I deserved it. Thank you, Lord for giving me a new life in You. Thank you for power to walk in that new life with You. I praise you today because I know that my life is no longer defined by sin, but by your grace and your love for me. Thank you for becoming my sin on the cross, even when you knew no sin. Let me ever remember that I have no condemnation in you. Help me to ever walk after Your Spirit. Amen.”

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