I hope you remembered to buy her something nice this year. And no, she doesn’t want a box of chocolates.
While liberals are getting all lovey-dovey over Mother Earth, hard core conservatives are doing their very best to expose this green fraud of a day! I’ve seen conservative Christian even use biblical justification for why we SHOULDN’T practice conservation and celebrate Earth Day. The Bible DOES say, after all, “Heaven and earth shall pass away…” (Matthew 24:35) and God DOES command us to have dominion over the earth, not to be tree-hugging pansies.
These are great examples of misusing the Bible to suit your own purposes. It’s called “proof-texting,” finding a few verses (almost always out of context) to PROVE whatever point you already believe.
Except the Bible doesn’t give the thumbs up to destroying the earth for the sake of humanity. In fact, there is biblical justification for playing an active role in conservation.
In the creation account, humanity is tasked with overseeing God’s creation – to fill the earth and subdue it and to have dominion over the animals. This is not carte blanche to run amuck and destroy things. Whose creation is it?
GOD’S!
Humanity is merely tasked to be the managers and stewards of God’s creation. King David once wrote:
The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and a those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters (Psalm 24:1-2)
If Christians were to take seriously the idea that God created the world and has put us in place as managers of HIS property, shouldn’t that impact how we care for the environment?
Christians should be LEADING THE CHARGE when it comes to conservation. Earth Day shouldn’t be something we see Christians arguing against – Earth Day should be a celebration of the creative God who set this world into motion and entrusted humanity to care for it!
So here’s to you, Earth, and the God who created you.
May we do right by God and his creation.
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I welcome all discussion, just keep it civil and polite. If this post resonates with you in any way, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, or email!
So Tim Tebow is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. Tim is one of those players that causes a lot of controversy in America. And the controversy isn’t because of bad behavior off the field like so many other football players. He hasn’t beat his child or his girlfriend. Hasn’t been arrested for anything. No drunken bar brawls.
He’s just flagrantly Christian.
This little fact has set football fans against each other. Non-Christian football fans seem fed up with Tebow’s holiness (the clean-cut, wholesome, praying on the field young man). Many Christian football fans seem bent on declaring the Lord’s favor upon Tebow’s football career BECAUSE Tim is a Christian.
I’m not a Tebow hater. I think he’s an incredible guy. I like who he is as a human. His Christian behavior and attitude seems authentic and not just a façade. But I don’t think he’s blessed as a football player because of his faith. I don’t think God really has a vested interest in football.
So Christians: keep in mind, an athlete’s success probably has very little to do with the hand of God. Non-Christians: give Tebow a break. He’s the kind of guy that would thank God for anything, on or off the field. It’s just who is as a person of faith.
He lives out the words of Colossians 3:17 ~
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This is the way we should all be living – no matter what our job is. We can be football players, school teachers, plumbers, or anything else. Live life for Jesus, giving thanks to God.
Will people scoff at us? Probably. Non-believers don’t get it.
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I welcome all discussion, just keep it civil and polite. If this post resonates with you in any way, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, or email!
Look up any single word in a dozen dictionaries and you may find a dozen varying definitions. The other day I saw someone on social media calling Christians bigots.
It made me want to look up the word to see the variations. While you will find definitions that fit the way liberals use the term against Christians, dictionary.com had this:
big-ot [big-uh t]
noun
1. a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.
In some sense, then, I believe that Christians SHOULD be bigoted.
Yes, we need to be utterly intolerant to a different creed, belief, or opinion. In Acts 4:12 we see the Apostle Peter preaching:
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Peter is merely reflecting the words of Jesus in John 3:18:
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
There is no room for allowing other creeds to coexist along side of the Christian creed. Jesus is not A way to God.
Jesus is THE way to God.
So yes, call me a bigot. I won’t waver in my belief that the Christian way is right and any other way is wrong.
Where Christians and non-Christians get confused, though, is understanding that we can treat people well in spite of religious differences. I can believe that my way is the only way and still treat people decently. A difference of beliefs does not necessitate anger and animosity towards those who differ.
Liberals tend to see this as a cop out. I’ve been told if Christians really treated people decently we’d allow people to believe what they want to believe (ironically, they are refusing to allow me to believe what I want to believe).
Conservatives tend to see this as a sell-out. If we hold firm to our beliefs then we will separate from the world around us and shun evil. This is why so many Christians are up in arms about selling wedding supplies to gay couples. This is why Christian doctors are refusing to treat infants of gay couples.
I will be blunt: THIS IS NOT TREATING PEOPLE WELL!
We can disagree theologically and still be decent human beings. So I will do my best to treat people well.
But don’t ask me to cave on my belief about salvation just because you feel excluded. 🙂
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I welcome all discussion, just keep it civil and polite. If this post resonates with you in any way, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, or email!
The Queen of Hearts is quite a memorable character in literature. She’s prone to rage and has one punishment for any offense: death.
The death penalty is again being hotly debated due to the pending execution of death row inmate Kelly Gissendaner. Gissendaner was found guilty of plotting her husband’s murder. While incarcerated, her supporters state Gissendaner has turned her life around and is a pastoral presence in the prison. They are seeking clemency.
Christians, meanwhile, are back to debating the merit and justification of the death penalty. Let’s note from the outset that there is no monolithic Christian perspective on this issue. Some adamantly believe the death penalty is wrong while others (just as adamantly) proclaim that the death penalty is biblically justified.
One’s position on the death penalty is not an indicator of piety or faithful Christian discipleship.
I looking at the issue from a biblical perspective we run into a big problem: the Bible is not a guide for running a democratic republic. Let’s break it down a bit.
The Old Testament
Death penalty proponents point to passages in the Old Testament that call for death as the penalty for certain offenses. It’s true – we can’t deny that the Law did indeed embrace for the death penalty. Just a couple quick examples:
He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. (Exodus 21:12)
If a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die. (Exodus 21:14)
But here’s the thing – the Old Testament was designed to govern the ancient theocracy that was Israel. It was not a political guide for all time. We cannot say, “The Old Testament endorses the death penalty so we should as well.” It’s not that simple. We don’t live in that society and are not governed by those rules. The Old Testament might demonstrate principles that certain crimes are worthy of death, but we cannot bring in ancient theocratic law to rule a modern democratic republic.
The New Testament
In the New Testament we see a strange reversal – Jesus seems to take the understanding of Old Testament retribution and turn it on its head. One of the most striking examples is John 8, where a woman who, by Old Testament law, deserved death, receives a pardon from Jesus. Grace and forgiveness take the place of judgment and condemnation.
But the New Testament makes no claim to represent political power – in fact, quite the opposite. The New Testament tells believers how to behave on a personal level no matter what the government might do. The New Testament does not address how to run a government. The whole penal system, while necessary to an ordered and civilized society, is never really addressed in the New Testament (although the NT does reference authorities being put in place by God to punish evil-doers).
So where does that leave us? We can see principles for righteous judgment and punishment. We can see principles for forgiveness and leniency. But we have to be honest and say that there is no direct guidance for how to run a penal system in a democratic republic.
That being said, we need to approach the topic with sensitivity to how God leads and directs us without belittling people who disagree. Good Christians might favor the death penalty. Equally good Christians might oppose it. And some Christians might vacillate between the two positions in the course of their lives.
Life is more complicated than simple black and white dichotomies.
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How about you – do you or don’t you support the death penalty? What is your reasoning for your position?
I welcome all discussion, just keep it civil and polite. If this post resonates with you in any way, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, or email!
It seems a huge amount of people were vehemently arguing over whether this dress was blue and black or white and gold.
It made headline news and drew scientific explanations as to why people were seeing different colors.
Oh, yeah – and my friend Bill died.
There’s no other way to describe him than to say he was grand. I met him when I moved to town almost four years ago. He was one of the most senior seniors in the church – a Veteran of World War II. His time in the Army was an immediate bond with this Army Reserve Chaplain and, even though he had been out for decades, the military never got out of him. He would salute me every time he saw me in uniform. He was incredibly active with our local chapter of the VFW honor guard, which meant he and I did several funerals together in uniform. One Memorial Day he was tasked with dropping a wreath in the local lake during the Memorial Day Celebration in honor of the fallen. He was a man of deep patriotism.
Bill was an avid carver and whittler. He was always working on projects and had who knows how many little pieces stashed away. He delighted in giving away various whittled creations. Over the years my family received several whittled Christmas Tree ornaments. He also made me a wall hanging of the cross and a cut-wood version of The Last Supper that I kept above my office door.
Though he didn’t play, Bill was an avid supporter of the church softball team. If the weather permitted and he knew about the game, he was always there. He brought bubblegum for the whole team – the Bazooka Joe gum that you can only chew for 90 seconds before it gets hard and you risk chipping a tooth.
Bill had hearing aids that had to be cranked up for him to hear, but he was faithfully in worship every week. Every once in a while Bill would comment about the volume but it wasn’t a complaint – just a comment. Drums and guitars didn’t seem to bother him. I remember one Sunday I preached a little longer than usual. That usually irks some people. As I was saying goodbye to people at the door, Bill came through the line. I apologized for running a little late and he said, “Sorry?! Why are you sorry?!” (most everything Bill said was sort of half-yelled, probably because of his hearing loss) I said, “Well, I know some people get upset about running late.”
Bill’s response: “So what?! Say what you gotta say!”
He was always encouraging and helpful – doing whatever he could to support every ministry of the church (yes, even the kids ministry!). My wife just talked with him a few days ago, and now he’s gone. My heart is heavy and the world is a worse place losing men like Bill.
But please, let’s keep going on and on arguing about a dress.
There are things in life that matter and things that really couldn’t be less important. People matter. Eternity matters. I’m reminded of the simple prayer that Jesus taught his disciples:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
(Matthew 6:9-13 ESV)
We worship God.
We embrace His kingdom and His will.
We ask for His sustenance and provision.
We pursue reconciliation with others and with God.
We seek His continued help and deliverance.
That’s it! That’s the only prayer Jesus taught, but it shows us where our focus should be.
There is an eternal perspective that we are missing when we get caught up in ridiculous stories and arguments about colors of dresses. I don’t think Bill would have care one whit about the color of a dress. I KNOW Jesus wouldn’t have cared. Jesus had that long-range perspective – a focus on what really mattered.
The death of friends and family usually makes us take stock of our own lives. What matters? Who matters?
The Dress doesn’t matter to me. I can’t even bring myself to read through an entire article about it. Bill mattered.
Today my prayer is that we can shake ourselves free from the inane things that plague our every day and begin to live lives that matter.
Like millions of other people around the world, last night my wife and I watched the 87th Academy Awards. For the most part, the show was pretty routine. But one of the elements that DID stand out was Lady Gaga’s “The Sound of Music” medley.
Quite simply – it was phenomenal.
I saw a lot of Christians on social media talking about how much they loved it. Not just liked it – they LOVED it. But it’s not just because you have to love The Sound of Music in order to be a good Christian (that’s a given).
The real reason for Christianity’s overwhelming exclamation of affection for Gaga’s performance was aesthetically driven. Let’s be honest – there are probably a good many conservative Christians who don’t really listen to Lady Gaga but only know her from photographs and media coverage.
And, once again, let’s be honest – Lady Gaga’s image has been notoriously odd (perhaps even disturbing?).
But last night the world was treated to something different: a very presentable Lady Gaga singing beloved songs.
The end result is that many people stopped looking at the exterior and finally listened to the woman’s vocal talent.
It reminds me of a story in the Old Testament when the prophet Samuel is looking to anoint the future king of Israel. As he’s judging the sons of Jesse, he picks potential kings based on how they look. God has to remind him:
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
In our lives we judge a lot of things by how we perceive them with our eyes. But the way we see things isn’t necessarily the way God sees things. I’m not just talking about people – this can include situations in life. When we are quick to judge and to hold onto those judgments, we miss out on what is happening on the inside.
So take a step back from your evaluations. Re-evaluate if you have to. Look at the deeper qualities in people, in life. Try to see things from a divine perspective and find the value within that is covered up by mere appearances.
Imagine a husband and wife having a fight. The wife, with a legitimate complaint, says, “I can’t believe you did ___________!” The husband has two choices. He can a) address the issue face up to the complaint or b) distract from the current issue by saying, “Yeah, but you did the same kind of thing to me last year!”
The second response is called deflecting. It’s avoiding dealing with the current issue by pointing fingers at the past. This is what is happening in the religiopolitical conversation taking place between Islam and Christianity. While people are bringing up valid concerns about the behavior of global Islam, it is merely deflecting to say, “Yes, but Christians behaved atrociously a thousand years ago in the Crusades.”
There is an appropriate time and place to address historical Christian behavior (and, for the most part, contemporary Christian leaders have apologized for historical Christian violence). Still, one should not bring up those issues to deflect or diminish the original complaint.
In our world today there is a valid concern about Islamic violence globally against Christians AND non-Christians. (non-violent Muslim-Americans do not negate the violent acts carried out daily by Muslims in other nations).
From a biblical point of view, we are called to pray for those who persecute us. We are called to do good for those who would do us harm. There is an incredible notion that we love even the people who loathe us. In the conversation about Islam we too often lose sight of this ethic. I believe it is possible to love and pray for those who would do us harm while still speaking the truth.
And the truth is, it is not the Church that has people fearing for life and limb. For the last thousand years that role has been taken up by global Islam.
We can drop the angry rhetoric. I don’t think it’s loving or Christ-like. We don’t have to hurl insults at Muslims. We ought be keeping ourselves in check and asking, “How can I speak truth about the world while still maintaining a loving outlook towards everyone?”
I’ve had moments of anger and frustration as I’ve read, talked to, and dealt with racist idiots from every background. Today’s breaking point stemmed from the announcement that the Grand Jury would not be indicting police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of Eric Garner, a man who died as the result of being choked by the officer.
What makes this incident so poignant is that the entire thing was caught on video. Unlike the Ferguson incident, Pantaleo vs. Garner is not a case where we have only the survivor’s version to be corroborated or repudiated by the coroner’s report. It is intense, so if you aren’t keen on such content, you can skip the video.
Everyone can clearly see Officer Pantaleo choking Mr. Garner. It’s indisputable. It BOGGLESmy mind that the grand jury would not indict. Many others are blown away. Those of us who are shocked and, yes, I’ll say it, outraged, by the behavior of the grand jury are crying out for justice. It is not just that a law enforcement officer can break departmental guidelines (the NYPD banned the chokehold in 1993 – NY cops have had over 20 years to learn this lesson) but that the officer’s behavior that led to the death of the civilian does not carry criminal punishment.
I confess, I am not a lawyer.
I have, however, seen every single episode of Law & Order (yes, all 20 seasons). That pretty much makes me an expert in all things New York and the criminal justice system (if I have to tell you I’m not serious you just need to close this right now – right now – don’t even read another word).
No, I’m no lawyer, but I’m an intelligent human. I know some big words like manslaughter and negligence. Even criminals in the middle of a felony can be charged with felony murder if someone dies in the commission of their felony – even when the death was not intentional. Since Mr. Garner died as the direct result of Officer Pantaleo’s actions, it seems just that the man responsible ought to suffer consequences.
Yes, this is a justice issue.
That means it OUGHT to be a Christian issue.
It took me all of 10 seconds to run a search in the Bible (ESV) and see that the word justice appears 138 times.
Genesis 18:19 ~ For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.
— How do you keep the way of the Lord? By doing righteousness and justice.
and
Exodus 23:6 ~ You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit.
— Everyone gets equal justice, regardless of wealth or status.
and
Deuteronomy 16:19 ~ You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.
— Justice is meted out with equality without favoritism.
and
Psalm 82:3 ~ Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
— The underdog and disenfranchised has a God-given right to justice.
and
Matthew 23:23 ~ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
— Showy religion is no good without justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Are you getting the picture? God cares about justice. We should care about justice.
But then come the rebuttals:
– “The Grand Jury decision stands – you should accept it and move on” (I was actually told this today).
This is foolishness. Grand juries are made up of fallible humans. They don’t speak with divine authority. They are not the end-all of the justice system. No matter how hard we try, there is always something in us that skews how we see things. We approach all of life with an interpretive lens. The difficult thing in moving past racial tensions is to learn to see others through their own lenses rather than our own.
If a system has flaws and errors it is our obligation to speak up and to fix those errors, not to sit back and let injustice rule the day and try to “move on.”
– This is only an issue because of race-baiters who want a “war on whites.”
This is not foolishness. This is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. Eric Garner didn’t need to die. Eric Garner shouldn’t have died. The fact that he died and that the criminally negligent perpetrator is not being charged is an abortion of justice, the kind of justice God repeatedly calls us to pursue.
This is not a race issue. This is a humanity issue. It should not have mattered what ethnic groups were involved. It should not matter what YOUR ethnic background is. This story should stir us all.
This is not a race issue. This is a humanity issue.
What saddens me about white America’s response (yes, I’m going to make a broad, sweeping generalization) is that, rather than listening to the outcry of the Black community and those who stand in solidarity, many are trying to deflect. Deflecting is an argumentation technique where a person who feels attacked/criticized tries to steer the conversation in another direction RATHER than addressing the issue at hand. We do it all the time. My wife and I do it to each other. We now call each other on it. She’ll tell me, “You’re deflecting. Can we talk about what I’m saying?”
White America is deflecting. Rather than listening we throw up statistics and bluster, “Well, why don’t you make a fuss about black-on-black crime?” or “What about the little white boy that was killed by three evil brown-skinned thugs?”
That’s deflecting.
Instead of addressing the issue at hand we try to make it about other issues.
Stop it.
From a biblical point of view, Jesus addresses it best when he tells us that we ought to treat other people the way that we would like to be treated.
It’s that little thing we sometimes call THE GOLDEN RULE. If I want people to hear me and care about injustice being done to me, I should listen and care about injustice done to others. Stop looking at the issue through a persecuted white lens and start to see that sometimes injustice actually DOES happen to minorities. Imagine that!
In all of my legal expertise I have no idea where things will go from here. In my reading of the Bible I can tell you that we need to change our lenses and treat others the way we want to be treated.
We need to be people that pursue justice – for every race.
Do me a favor and share this post, would you? This is a message that everyone needs to hear.
It’s not often you get to see a Bible story play out in real life. But one just did!
I just read a story about a wedding in Saudi Arabia that was arranged by the bride and groom’s parents. They had never laid eyes on each other until after the ceremony.
When the bride lifted her veil, the groom said:
You are not the one I had imagined. I am sorry, but I divorce you.
Pretty crazy, right?!?
There’s a story in the Bible that is just like this. It’s the story of Jacob wanting to marry Rachel but being surprised when he was stuck with Leah.
So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my time is completed. I want to sleep with her.” So Laban invited all the men of the place to a feast. That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave. When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?”
The difference here is that Jacob does the honorable thing to his wife and does not divorce her, even though he was tricked into marrying her. The Saudi husband had no such notions of honor and said, “I’m outta here!”
There is something to be said about people who stick to our word and follow through with our obligations. Our world is more and more becoming a “throw-away” world where we discard the things that displease us no matter what the consequences. Our focus is more on what makes us happy rather than doing the right thing.
I hope you never get tricked into marrying the wrong person. Chances are you’ll never find yourself in this specific situation.
Still – wherever you find yourself – don’t give in to the throw-away culture. Be a person of honor. Do what you say you’re going to do.
Do the right thing, even if it’s not the thing you wanted to do.
Actually, I don’t hate gays. At least I didn’t think so.
Until I watched the news.
They told me that I really do hate gays after all. If you follow the news at all you might have seen that gay marriage bans have been upheld in four states.
Before the decision people took to the streets with signs and banners and flooded social media with the slogan “No H8” (no hate)
It seems that I hate because I differ in my ideas. I hate because I’m trying to “legislate morality.”
Here’s the kicker, though – we ALL try to legislate morality. All legislature is based on someone’s morality. The real question comes down to, “Whose morality is going to rule the day?”
I prefer mine. You prefer yours. It doesn’t mean I hate those who differ any more than those who differ hate me. Are we not allowed to disagree and seek to pursue our morality and to govern according to it without name calling and denigration? One of the wonders of a democratic republic is that we as citizens have a voice in determining the kind of country we want. You want yours. I want mine. So we peacefully work to bring it about. That doesn’t make me a hater.
As a Christian I will vote for the measures and ideas I believe align with my morality and values. I would expect the same from liberal Christians and non-Christians. We cannot label opposition as hate. When the time comes that America moves completely away from my morality and values (and I have no doubt that day will come) I won’t accuse you of hate just because you voted contrary to my beliefs. That’s what being in a democratic republic is all about.
For you readers who are conservative Christians, some of you need to simmer down. It’s okay to vote your beliefs without becoming angry and mean towards those who disagree. Jesus always loved on people who were “sinners.” He called people to change and to live new lives, but he was never rude or hateful towards them.
For you more liberal types, please stop labeling us as haters when we vote our consciences.
We can love and act in loving ways while still seeking to legislate our values. Disagreement does NOT = hate.
And in case you didn’t really hear me – I don’t hate gays.
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I welcome all discussion, just keep it civil and polite. If this post resonates with you in any way, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, or email!
Tim is one of those players that causes a lot of controversy in America. And the controversy isn’t because of bad behavior off the field like so many other football players. He hasn’t beat his child or his girlfriend. Hasn’t been arrested for anything. No drunken bar brawls.
So Christians: keep in mind, an athlete’s success probably has very little to do with the hand of God. Non-Christians: give Tebow a break. He’s the kind of guy that would thank God for anything, on or off the field. It’s just who is as a person of faith.
The other day I saw someone on social media calling Christians bigots.
If we hold firm to our beliefs then we will separate from the world around us and shun evil. This is why so many Christians are up in arms about selling wedding supplies to gay couples. This is why Christian doctors are refusing to treat infants of gay couples.
We ought be keeping ourselves in check and asking, “How can I speak truth about the world while still maintaining a loving outlook towards everyone?”
Chris Linzey 