Manger, Cross, and Empty Tomb

The manger, cross, and empty tomb are problematic to non-believers. Those who wished Jesus hadn't lived are intellectually dishonest if they say he didn't. Reality and history were the opposition's problem from the very beginning. The politicians and leaders of Jesus' day could not deny their own eyes, nor could they silence the many who witnessed Jesus' unexplainable life.

The manger, cross, and empty tomb are actually anchored in history. These Christian symbols are part of an actual story told by many witnesses--friendly and otherwise. Believers can be dismissed as fanatics, but doubters, unbelievers, and outright enemies corroborate the historical narrative. Herod tried to eliminate a prophesied child rival, the child king became a man and was crucified, and the crucified child king left an empty tomb.

It's in the history books: Some sort of remarkable man lived such a controversial and misunderstood life that he divided time--BC and AD. Believers take Jesus' life and claims on faith. The faithful are often quick to say faith does not require reason, but it is singularly significant our faith has historical roots.

At the very least, history suggests something irregular happened in the train of human events in Jerusalem around 30-35 AD. C.S. Lewis says we (humanity) witnessed an absolutely raving lunatic or someone who appeared to observers to act as the Son of God.

Here, I stop. It is pointless to argue with non-believers and unnecessary to convince believers. My point today, a week or so before Christmas 2011, is how wonderful and marvelous it is to ponder the manger, cross, and empty tomb. How appropriate it is to celebrate Advent and the coming of God as a Man of Sorrows, Savior of my soul.

Prayer - I get it

I can't pray worth shucks. I've tried and tried and haven't given up. But with my track record, I'd suggest one think twice before asking me to pray. People have met their maker and otherwise had the wheels fall off their trucks while I'm praying.

Many years ago I volunteered to pray for an older gentleman in a small church in Texas. His reply has stuck with me, "Couldn't hurt and you could use the practice."

The heart of my problem is that I've read about prayer, answers, miracles, and known some remarkable pray-ers. I understand about prayers of profession, confession, adoration, intercession, and intervention. I understand one should pray believing in the unseen. I understand prayer is conforming to God's will and that prayers are empowered by the Holy Spirit. I understand if I had faith the size of a mustard seed a mountain could be moved. I understand "when two or more are gathered in His name," "ask and it shall be given,"  "ask anything in my name," "the prayer of the righteous" and more.

I get it. I HAVE seen some near miraculous things. I once prayed for some much needed money and mysteriously got some. I may have been in the presence of angles. I've prayed for my children and they are all still here. I've had just enough glimpses of the Holy to keep me at it.

But I don't really get it. I suppose I'd keep praying if I struck out every time. Couldn't hurt and I still need the practice.

I've prayed and fasted. I've trusted the Spirit for healing and deliverance. I've prayed for children to love and serve God. I've prayed when I didn't know how to pray, like in Romans 8. I've uttered and meditated on the Lord's Prayer at night and while driving to work. I've tried to teach others to learn to pray. I'm pretty sure I'm talking to the Spirit at night before falling asleep.

I've prayed hard and long for some really important things and I've been disappointed more than once or twice. I pray for my children's faith at least 4 times a day and have been for over 30 years.

I'm coming up empty more often than not. I was SO SURE the Spirit was going to heal someone a while back after I talked with the Spirit into the wee hours of the morning on his behalf. So much so I was thoroughly convinced it was as good as done and I said, "Thanks." I told others about my  conviction a bad situation was going to work out.

My friend passed away. Just like my father, years ago. Just like my best friend in high school. Just like others I've known and lost.

But I still pray. Another friend DID survive a really critical illness, so....

Not much of a chance of prayer vanity here. If something great happens, it's probably not me!

I'm an ineffective pray-er. I'm sure I must be missing a key ingredient. I suppose. Feel free to comment here. After 55 years, well, 50, years of practice I'm pretty much a failure at intercessory prayer. Though I'm a bit better than average at confessing. I think.

I pray to not suffer, then I do. I pray for patience, then trials come. I pray for healing, then someone dies. I pray for faith, then someone disbelieves. I pray for harmony, then get rebellion. I pray for peace, and get war. I pray for a child's faith, then they turn away. I pray to lose weight, then find another pound.

What's up with this?

Some of it is certainly me. Especially the weight one--I lost 50 pounds this year--fell of the roof and broke my back.

Maybe prayer isn't at all about getting anything. Maybe prayer is sitting in God's living room by a warm fire while the rain falls outside. Prayer doesn't change the weather, but changes how one views the weather.

Maybe there's something good in suffering and I'm getting a double-, or even triple-, blessing....  I'm not kidding. Maybe God has shared suffering with me. Might I be special to Him in this way?  Not because I do it so well (I don't) but because Jesus did it so much and so well. Suffering provides a glimpse of the Father most miss. The Father who hurts and cares but doesn't interfere. The Father who had high hopes and plans for Hitler and Stalin, but things didn't work out.

Opps, I've just lost the Calvinists.

Anyway, if God awaits our falling in love with Him, he can, but can't meddle with our will. Love can't happen without volition. So I think God loves and waits for His children to get it. He doesn't have to wait, but He does. Sometimes in suffering and tears. I bet there are days he would say forget your confessing, praising, glorifying, and praying. Show THAT ONE I love him and have wonderful plans for him if he'll only come!

He's given me the opportunity to share His sadness and suffering. So, I continue to pray, we sit in His living room and pass tissues. I still don't get it. It's good though. We smile as we weep because we have each other's back during a sad time.

That's a good thing, right?

In the presence of my enemies...

Ever noticed how Jesus did most of his miracles in front of his enemies?

Most people who are out to make a name for themselves gather together a bunch of "yes" people who agree with whatever their leader says. American politics works this way.

Jesus did just the opposite. He'd gather an audience of enemies (religious leaders who knew the Law and the Prophets) and put on a show. They couldn't stand his audacity--being so messianic.

He'd heal a blind man and then the religious leaders would quiz the man and his parents and witnesses to try to find a reason to discredit Jesus. At the end of the interview there was a blind man who could see, or a lame guy who could walk, or a dead man who was alive.

I'd like to see an American president go before his enemies and do works of such pure, personal goodness the opposition would have to concede something impressive had transpired. It wouldn't be that difficult, but it doesn't appear in the news very often.

I'm not talking about passing legislation or photo ops. I'm talking about personal, consistent hands-on service to others. Not theoretically, or institutionally, but personally. Jimmy Carter's Habitat work and other services impress me--and I'm a Republican, mostly.

Jesus did this sort of thing all the time--right before his opposition. They were speechless, clueless witnesses. They knew the prophecies, but couldn't put the pieces together. How could a reader of Isaiah's "suffering servant" passage watch Jesus and miss the striking similarities? How could they discount his warnings regarding the fall of Jerusalem?

In the end, Jesus' miraculous story was validated by his enemies, not his friends. That says something remarkable to me.

Sure, the Apostles were on board, but an insider's credibility is suspect. When an enemy watches something unbelievable and tries to explain it, their motives may not be great, but they are pure (antipathy). What the Jesus Legacy has that other religions don't is witnesses outside the circle of faith. These witnesses had nothing to gain and much to lose.

So, it seems Jesus' strongest historical witnesses were not believers, but unbelievers.

Jesus' lives because those who wished he hadn't couldn't prove he didn't.

What if...

What if Cornelius mentioned in the Gospels is the same Cornelius in Acts? Remember Cornelius? He was a centurion who came to Jesus and asked for his servant be healed. Cornelius, the centurion (commander of 100 Roman soldiers), said he was a man who followed commands and that if Jesus would just give the command, his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed at his faith, saying he'd seen nothing like it anywhere.

What if Cornelius was stationed in Jerusalem and under the command of Pilate?

What if his 100 soldiers were in charge of locking up the thieves and Jesus? What if he overheard their jailhouse conversations? What if he watched the whole thing--the crown of thorns, the beating, and everything else?

What if he grabbed Peter and asked, "Weren't you one of his followers?" And Peter said, "No! I don't know him!" BUT their eyes locked, then Peter quickly looked away--because Cornelius had seen Peter when he sought out Jesus to heal his servant.

What if Cornelius was just a soldier doing his job? Executing a rebel and catching a fisherman lying through his teeth. A centurion follows orders.

What if he was at Golgotha and watched it all, then said out loud, "Surely, this is the Son of God"?

What if he became sick of the whole mess and retired to Macedonia to try to forget it all? How he betrayed and crucified the Son of God--the very man whom he trusted to hire his servant.

What if Cornelius prayed and prayed to God to be delivered from his pain and guilt. What if he asked God to forgive him and send him a sign?

What if one morning there's a knock at the door and who should it be but the lying fisherman!

What if they stood and stared in disbelief? Both knowing the other's story.

What if they wept together? Two men needing to confess to someone who could understand.

What if Peter sat with Cornelius and explained his "unclean food" dream, how terrible he felt about his own betrayal, and the saving grace of Jesus?

What if Peter and Cornelius became brothers forever?

What if?

A Post-Modern, Post-Protestant Nation

The ascendance of science over faith in the 1500s reshaped Christianity dramatically. Modern Christianity is often ridiculed and criticized in 21st Century culture as missing the point in terms of community and grace. Yet, let’s be truthful, no war has ever been fought for authentic Christian faith. The Crusades, War of Roses, Hundred Years War, and others were certainly “religious” wars, but none were waged on Christ’s principles. Kings and politicians wage war for temporal reasons, yet they rally the masses with, “God is with us!” That withstanding, few unbelievers care! They are not listening to our excuses. Historically, Christians are guilty of failing to be Christ-like in the proper time and place.

As Bob Dylan sang, “The times, they are a-changin’.” Baby Boomers and their parents are children of the Enlightenment—believing in science, cause-and-effect, and answers. Boomers expected more money, more square footage, nicer cars, better answers, and more more. I’m pretty sure a Boomer coined the phrase, “Too much is never enough.” Post-moderns are not so sure about the things Boomers take for granted. Generation X-ers and Millennials are not expecting better jobs, bigger houses, stable marriages, or fairytale endings.

Will ministry in this century be different from ministry in the last? There are significant differences between last century (moderns) and the present (post-moderns):

1. Religion. Moderns tend to think all-or-none; they might say, “We [Christians] have the answers. They [Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, etc.] don’t.” Post-moderns are multicultural and exposed to the truth-claims of world religions. Thus, they tend to be syncretists—seeing related themes and teachings across religions. Post-moderns seek inclusion and respect for all. “All truth is God’s truth no matter where you find it.” The post-modern would think, “We [Christians] have a complete revelation. They [Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, etc.] have a partial revelation.” Sharing Christ’s distinctiveness and the role of repentance in a multi-cultural context may be evangelism’s most difficult challenge.

2. The Bible. Moderns think of the Bible as historical, literal, and authoritative (infallible and inerrant). Post-moderns think of the Bible as allegorical, linguistically transcendent (each translation yields unique, culturally insightful truths), and dynamic (Spirit-customized message for every reader). All-or-none truth-claims are illogical to today’s seekers.

3. Who is lost? Moderns describe non-believers as “lost”. Post-moderns think God has become lost. Nuances are important. Domination language (winning, converting, and conquering) and derogatory terminology (heathen, pagan, lost, sinner, etc.) repel post-moderns.

4. Doctrine. Modern evangelical faith is Protestant—biblical authority challenging individuals to change the Roman Catholic Church (and its denominational descendants). Post-modern evangelicals want to reconnect with authentic Christian traditions—they want to renew threads of truth connecting them to the ancient church. Creeds, Sacraments, and writings of the Church Fathers provide historical and spiritual proximity to the early church.

5. Community. Community may be THE most significant aspect of post-modern Christians. Today’s ministers travel with Christians and non-Christians together on life’s journey. Modernity valued dynamic leadership—bold, figurehead sorts of leaders with all the answers. Post-moderns see a level playing field occupied by a community of equals—they expect fellowship and companionship with ministers.

6. Mistakes. Moderns tend to be defensive, are loyal, ask no questions, and support party-line-type-people. Post-moderns are comfortable with apologies, questions, diversity, and multiple perspectives and nuanced answers. They do not expect simple answers to complex questions—they may not even expect answers!

7. Evangelism. Moderns come to church to “accept Jesus” and to learn proper doctrine. The old model is 1. Public profession, 2. Fellowship, and 3. Growth. The new model is 1. Fellowship, 2. Growth, and 3. Public profession. Post-moderns join a faith community for fellowship and to explore and discover how faith works. Non-believers are welcome to join the community’s journey.

8. Ministry. Moderns support ministry through institutions staffed by professionals. Post-moderns advocate personal involvement and trust lay ministers. Post-moderns value community service—especially to the less fortunate. The lines between professional and laity are blurry. Some post-moderns might distrust professionals, suggesting they are naïve and out-of-touch with reality.

9. Teaching. Moderns prefer graded Sunday Schools, worship services, and programs. Post-moderns prefer small groups of people like themselves exploring spiritual formation.

10. Worship. Moderns like “worship services” and tend to be spectators—the leaders perform and members (and God?) watch. Post-moderns like worship experiences—fellowship, Communion, and dialogue.

11. Tomorrow. Moderns are often concerned about the next life—heaven or hell—the faith dividend. Post-moderns are concerned about this life—what is God doing right now? How can we walk in the Kingdom of God on Earth? If we live well, now, the future will take care of itself.

12. Conversion. Modern evangelicals preach salvation (a heavenly reward) by grace, but often appear to support salvation by works. Salvation is transactional; justice must be done. Post-moderns preach living by grace (survival in a cruel world) and practice authenticity (flawed believers trying to be pure and Christ-like). Repentance yields forgiveness (acceptance), today grace is sufficient, and Jesus answers all questions of divine justice. Grace is not about where you are going, but where you are.