One More Blog on Paul Young's Book

 I have been spending some time writing about Paul Young’s book: ‘lies we believe about GOD.’

What I am hoping is that these blog spark an interest in you and you read the book.  Today I will briefly introduce you to three more ‘lies’ that have created a huge amount of attention through the years.

One is: “God does not summit.”  This chapter poses an interesting question:  “Do you think the Golden Rule applies to God?  It was a simple question with profound implications.  Does God treat others the way God want to be treated?” (p.46)

The question came up at a conference, Young and a friend attended, which had invited a discussion between Christian, Muslims, Israelis and Palestinians.  Religious folks who don’t necessarily agree on much.

The conference was to focus on how “the spirit of Jesus might cross all boundaries — ethnic, racial, political, etc. —and call us to something greater and grander than our divisions and disputes.”  (p.45)

You’ll have to read the book for yourself to fine out the answer.

The second “lie” is: “God is a Christian.”

I’ll just give you one paragraph:

“So is God a Christian?  If you are asking if God is about separation and treats people of different denominations, faiths, and ways of thinking as outsiders until they pray a special prayer to “get In”……then of course not.  If you are asking does God relate too all of us as beloved insiders who are completely ignorant and miserable, does God love us and incessantly find ways to lead us to discover Jesus as our only way, truth, and life…then of course.” (p.55)

The third, and one of my favorites is: “God bless my politics.”

We spend a lot of time in the United States diligently trying to remove ‘state’ from ‘faith.’  We don’t think it is proper to mix politics with religion.

In my truth, it is impossible to eliminate anything — anything — from the faith we live by.  Anyone who really knows me knows that I strongly believe that any and all of our living involve our faith.

Young writes: 

“Political identities do not originate in God.  God is not about separation and division, not about building walls and excluding, not about domination and power….(p.102)  

….. an unrelenting tension that exists between the kingdom God, which has no political alliance or agenda, and the kingdoms of this world  (which are always founded in bloodshed).  Left-wing policies express the same blindness  and lust for power and control as do right-wing policies.  If we are so bold as to identify ourselves with the kingdom of God, which is supposed to be an alternative to the kingdoms of this world, then everything about what we do and why we do it must change, including all of our allegiance…..

Government is not instituted by or originated by God.  We built it…..(p 103)

You see, if we are adamant about preaching, teaching and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then there is no way to avoid politics.  

Think about it.

This has been fun getting back into faith discussions in this blog.  I lost my inspiration for a while; and am now trying to resurface.

It is my hope that some of you will join me by writing your own thoughts and opinions where comments are invited.

"God Loves Us, But He Doesn't Like Us"

Paul Young's book, 'lies we believe about God,' pokes at an issue that has long been a fascination for me.  The difference between ‘love’ and ‘like’. 

In my mind there is a huge difference between liking someone and loving them.  You can love a person, but not like the way they may speak or act — or the way they think for that matter. 

We in the church throw around the word love like it is just an ordinary concept. Something we all just naturally understand.  When in fact it has a depth of richness that we totally miss the truth of.

Like is much easier to feel and define.

In Paul Young’s book he devotes a chapter on:  “God loves us, but doesn’t like us.”

He was asked to visit a women’s prison to talk about his book, The Shack.  Apparently the women at this prison had been gathered together by a common interest in the Shack's message about God.  

So he is given one hour to speak with these women.  It is a touching story of how protective-tough-skinned individuals drop their facade of personal protection.

At the end to the session Young did some book sighing;

“A woman stands waiting, her body tense with emotion.  When I simply take her in my arms, it is as if I set off a charge that lets a dam burst.  She sobs uncontrollably for minutes.  I whisper that it is okay, I have other shirts, that I have her and she is safe.  I can’t comprehend all the misery and humanity that is flooding through this one small touch, but it is real ands visceral and wrenching. 

Finally, she stops the heaving enough to find some words.

“Do you really think,’ she whispered in a short burst, “that Papa is fond of me?” 

And there is the question.  This tender human being is entrusting me with this monumental question." (p.25-26)

That woman’s question is the deepest of wonders in the history of humanity.

It is probably the number one wonder of even the most faithful of believers.

If I am not mistaken the ones, reading this blog, have probably asked the same question as that woman in that prison.

With all I have done that is wrong and unkind in my life; how is it that the God of love can even be fond of me?  Because God certainly doesn’t approve or like my actions.

To believe in a God that loves us despite our thoughts, actions and behavior,  just doesn’t make sense to the human mind.

And yet it remains true.  

                                  God is a loving and forgiving God. 

                                      A God that remembers our sins no more.

31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant ……³³But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31)

"God Is In Control." Really?

 Here is one of the “lies” that Paul Young writes about:

“God is in control.”

Is God in control of our lives, our world?

In one way or another I have thought, and used words to that effect, from time to time.  This is not uncommon thinking within the faith community.

Through the years I have often wondered, as I watch news shows or read the news, if God is actually “in control,” and if so then why is the world such a mess.

Honestly, have asked myself more than once: Can God take control of anythings or anyone?   

And my answer always comes to: absolutely.  But does He?

I do believe that God can create good out of evil.  Job and Joseph both felt that as well.  

I do believe that God can be -- and is -- present for us when we  experience unpleasantness or awful.

I also believe that God does not force faithfulness and/or obedience.

I do believe this all-powerful and mighty God allows for choice.

I also do-not believe that God causes bad, evil or awful.

So then If God is not in control, in charge, then who is?

All honest-- real -- thoughts and question.

Young writes:

“Does God have a wonderful plan for our lives?  

Does God sit and draw up a perfect will for you and me on some cosmic drafting table, a perfect plan that requires a perfect response? 

Is God then left to react to our stupidity or deafness or blindness  or inability, as we constantly violate perfection through our own presumption?

What if this is about a God who has greater respect for you than for “the plan?”

What if there is no “plan” for your life but rather a relationship in which God constantly invites us to co-create, respectfully submitting to the choices we bring to the table?

And what if this God who is Love, will never be satisfied until only that which is of Love’s kind remains in us?” (p. 39)

“Wisdom allow things to grow and unfold.”(p. 41)

It is a great little chapter — a great little book.

More another day.

Does Our Behavior Separate us from God?

 I am presently reading a little book written by Paul Young. The title is ‘lies we believe about GOD.’

No that is not a misprint.  The only word in title that is capitalized is GOD.

Young writes many of the things we have grown to believe, about this amazing God, that possibly come from slanted information.

It is a great little book for those who have grown up with the limited view of a God of wrath and judgement.

In my growing up years I didn’t hear much about the Old testament’s understanding of  God.  I grew up hearing about Jesus and how he lived among real-life-humans who were flawed and often misguided.

I found myself, at a very young age, fascinated by how Jesus responded to Jewish traditions, rituals and "rules."

Jesus was fairly hard on those who judged others; and who were non-inclusive.  

Well, actually I didn’t think in those terms as a child.  I just know Jesus was very accepting of the "little guy."

One of the ‘lies’ Young writes about is:  “Sin separates us from God.”

It is an interesting discussion that basically conclude with Paul's statement in Romans 8: 

³⁸For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

More and more in our society, and maybe others, it is clear that people often feel that they are "unworthy" -- not good enough --  to be loved by God.  

Young's little book would be helpful for those who feel less than acceptable to God. 

In future blogs I may address more of Youngs writings.

In the mean time check out what you think God is like -- loving and gracious or a mean parent. 

Light God's Light Shine Through You and Me

Yesterday I was privileged to preach at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tipton, Iowa.   

It was Transfiguration Sunday and the readings were, indirectly referring to a process very intimate  and personal to all of us.  

An invitation of the Spirit, that can transform us from the inside out. 

Elijah said to Elisha “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.”

And Elisha said: “Please let me inherit a double share of your Spirit.”  ( 2Kings 2)

Elisha wanted what he saw in Elijah’s life — what made Elijah strong and faithful to God.

He wanted to be a leader like Elijah.

He wanted what it was that made Elijah who Elijah was.

He wanted a double share of what drove Elijah to be a God driven human being who listened first to God. 

Our Gospel moves us along in this Spirit journey with the familiar Transfiguration story; when Jesus physical body becomes dazzling white -- whiter than bleach. (Mk.9)

Now in my imagination that same process, of transforming power, that revealed Jesus’ holiness to Peter, James and John on that mountain; was the same power, the same Spirit, that Elisha saw in Elijah.

It was the same transforming power that filled Abraham.

The same power that caused Moses’ face to shine with a blinding glow as he came down the mountain after talking to God.

That same transforming power lives and breathes within you and me.

Another similarity between all these historical leaders, and you and me, is God’s promise:

                              “I will be with you, 

                                 I will go with you, 

                                   I will not leave you, 

                                     I will speak through you, 

                                       I will be your strength, 

                                         I will be your courage, 

                                            I will be your wisdom.

A truly extraordinarily complete promise.

What we can clearly comprehend about Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus is a change — shift — something new, something different -- from what was before -- took hold of their lives.

Except for Elisha, none of these men asked for this life change.  

It was simply given to them like it or not. 

And they went, and they did, for God.  With God’s Spirit as their source of wisdom and strength.

It is extremely important, I think, not to let this sometimes-all-to-subtle-point slip by us.  

That is, the point that this profound change — this alteration — that took place in their live, their goals, their attitudes and their priorities were because of what God gave.  That is what God put into them.  And they virtually became something, or someone, else.  

They became something ‘other’ then they were before.  Before God’s intentional intervention in their lives.

By the way, the same kind of transformation took place within Jesus’ disciples on the day of Pentecost.  And those who hid in fear of the Jews on Easter night; were no longer afraid.

With this transforming Spirit, we witness in all of these men,  we can begin to get a glimpse — just a glimpse— of what God is ready and very willing to be and to do in you and me.  

“We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extra ordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”  (2Cor. 4)

The containers, our bodies, where God’s Spirit resides, are like common earthenware.  Every pot has its flaws.  Every pot is fragile and breakable.

You know, it does seem amazing to me that God give this treasure to limited, sinful, breakable, common, ordinary folks like: Abraham, Moses, Elijah, the disciples, you and me.

It is even more amazing the God actually makes us partners in showing, and sharing, this precious treasure.

And, this is where we get thrown off course; because it becomes quite obvious that God doesn’t expect his children to be “perfect.”           

                                                                     

Thats really good news for me.

All God really wants is our willingness — thats all.  The treasure is ours.  We all received it at our Baptism as God’s Spirit invades our tiny bodies.  

And as we grow, and know more about God, as we live out our live, we hopefully learn to share the wealth of God’s loving grace — the treasure — with others.

It is such a simple thing really.  It may sound daunting and even impossible, maybe even scary.  But I am here to tell you it is not.  

Actually we don’t even need to say a word. 

And like Elisha, people just see it in us.  They watch how we speak to others, how we treat others. They watch our facial expression and listen to tone our voices and the language we use.  And they know if we practice what we claim to believe.

At this critical time in our world — our nation — it is more important than ever for us to bring the gift of God’s promise.

The precious truth, of God’s never failing presence, in our live and in our world.

So important to those who are trying to make some kind of sense out of the chaos.  They are searching for some solution -- some new possibilities -- for ourselves and our country to hold on to.

They are looking for a REAL GOD in the messed up situations in the 21st century.

We can best do that by being demonstrations of how, through all of us, God is indeed active in the chaos.

They need, need, to see our faith and our trust in God by letting folks know that we hold on to God's faithfulness at all cost.

⁵For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in are hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the Glory of god in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4).

May the light of HIs love shine through the darkness with you and I.