Jesus intentionally killed legalism. He touched unclean people. He hung out with tax collectors and sinners. He talked to women and even let them touch Him. He worked on the Sabbath. He fought for justice and compassion over position and religious power. He directly and openly challenged the pride of the Pharisees. They killed Him.
He knew this would happen. The scripture says that it was because of the joy set before Him that he endured the cross. He bore our real sin and made us clean. Had He never intended to do so, He never would have been born. He never would have healed so many, poured His life into 12 close friends, nor would He have fought so hard for our freedom. The legalists may have inadvertently killed Legalism, but Jesus did it intentionally.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Addressing Legalism (Part V): The Legalists Inadvertently Killed Legalism
Jesus was His own person. The Teachers of the Law hated it. They couldn’t stand for a construction worker from Galilee to speak with such confidence about God’s ways. What they really hated was that He never asked them for permission to do so. He simply did it. In the end, they hated Him so much that they killed Him.
Funny thing is that by killing Jesus, they killed their own cause. Following His death and resurrection, Jesus’ followers proclaimed that Jesus had rescued them from their own sin, that He loved them, and that this is why He died for them. Therefore, in following Jesus they didn’t have to try to live up to the crazy standards that the Teachers of the the Law tried to weigh them down with. They were free. Legalism was dead. In killing Jesus, the legalists inadvertently killed legalism.
Funny thing is that by killing Jesus, they killed their own cause. Following His death and resurrection, Jesus’ followers proclaimed that Jesus had rescued them from their own sin, that He loved them, and that this is why He died for them. Therefore, in following Jesus they didn’t have to try to live up to the crazy standards that the Teachers of the the Law tried to weigh them down with. They were free. Legalism was dead. In killing Jesus, the legalists inadvertently killed legalism.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Addressing Legalism (Part IV): My Own Demonizing
When I see someone do a good thing, my first thought (unfortunately) is to evaluate the source. Who are they? Where do they come from? What is their belief system?
If the person is my political opposite, then a flavor of resentment tries to stir up in my soul. I have this small, twisted belief that if someone, who opposes me in a particular worldview, could do something noble, courageous, compassionate, or graceful then maybe my worldview might be wrong. Many of us have felt this twisted flavor of resentment to one degree or another. The more obsessive the person, the stronger the resentment. Rush Limbough or Hillary Clinton could save millions of children from starvation, but the other side of the camp would feel uneasy about it. They’re tax collectors, sinners, prostitutes, Samaritans, or Gentiles. They can’t possibly do something good in God’s eyes.
As followers of Christ, we should never worry about this. Although our default is to reject God, we are also very capable of doing noble and compassionate things. The human person is sacred. Even those who blow God off are capable of such great deeds because they are made in the image of God (Keller). When someone who is politically, religiously, or socially opposite from us does something wonderful, we should commend it as wonderful. It is in God’s eyes.
If the person is my political opposite, then a flavor of resentment tries to stir up in my soul. I have this small, twisted belief that if someone, who opposes me in a particular worldview, could do something noble, courageous, compassionate, or graceful then maybe my worldview might be wrong. Many of us have felt this twisted flavor of resentment to one degree or another. The more obsessive the person, the stronger the resentment. Rush Limbough or Hillary Clinton could save millions of children from starvation, but the other side of the camp would feel uneasy about it. They’re tax collectors, sinners, prostitutes, Samaritans, or Gentiles. They can’t possibly do something good in God’s eyes.
As followers of Christ, we should never worry about this. Although our default is to reject God, we are also very capable of doing noble and compassionate things. The human person is sacred. Even those who blow God off are capable of such great deeds because they are made in the image of God (Keller). When someone who is politically, religiously, or socially opposite from us does something wonderful, we should commend it as wonderful. It is in God’s eyes.
Addressing Legalism (Part III): Turning Healing into a Bad Thing
The Pharisees didn’t like Jesus because He healed someone’s hand on the Sabbath* (Mark 3).
My Western ears think this is ludicrous. The reasoning goes like this: Healing someone of a sickness is a good thing to do in most circumstances. Jesus healed people. Therefore, Jesus did a good thing. A further argument might go like this: Anyone who does a good thing shouldn’t be condemned unless it hurts another person or persons without any warrant for doing so. Jesus did a good thing and didn’t hurt anyone without warrant. Therefore, He shouldn’t be condemned by anyone. Emotionally, most Western minds think how in the world could I be upset with someone who instantly healed a man’s hand? We might further think anyone who heals a person simply with his words is probably a good person.
Their Eastern ears understood the problem. This has to do with world views. The Middle Eastern mindset is used to dealing more with the supernatural. Supernatural events, such as a physical healing, don’t necessarily translate into thinking he is probably a good person, because he healed that guy’s hand. Bad people can work supernatural miracles as well from a Middle Eastern mindset.
The Pharisees thought Jesus was a bad person for the following reasons. They saw Jesus healing people all over the place. In fact, what they saw was a tired man. The biblical accounts seem to suggest that there were times when Jesus had to get away from it all. Crowds almost suffocated him, at times. He would get into a boat and cross the lake. The crowds would run around to the other side to catch up with Him. Our Western minds might think why would healing people with His words, cause Jesus to be tired? Jesus was tired however, because of the long days he spent with people constantly beckoning His time and resources. I’m sure He was a tired man.
The Pharisees saw Jesus working on the Sabbath and probably saw He was tired. In their worldview, anyone who exerts oneself on the Sabbath isn’t a good person because he is violating the Law of God through working on the holy Sabbath day of rest. Because they believed that both good and bad people could work supernatural miracles, their logical conclusion was that Jesus was sinning against God (even though it was an amazing miracle) and should be stopped. Their line of thinking was: If someone works on the Sabbath, then they should be condemned because they are violating the Law of God. Jesus was working on the Sabbath. They thought He should be condemned. Elsewhere, the biblical account is more specific and it says that they thought he was doing these supernatural things under the authority of the Prince of Demons.
Legalists (such as the Pharisees, extreme right-wing Republicans, extreme left-wing Democrats, and arrogant people in general) are prone to demonizing those who do good works. It is the only way they can make a good work into an evil thing. They challenge the source.
Jesus’ response: “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. So, [I, Jesus am] Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2). He put the focus back on God's glory and His love for His people through the gift of the Sabbath. This opposes a focus on maintaining the Law through keeping the Sabbath at all costs, even healing someone.
*[The Sabbath is the gift of a holy day of rest each week that God has given human beings for their benefit and His glory.]
My Western ears think this is ludicrous. The reasoning goes like this: Healing someone of a sickness is a good thing to do in most circumstances. Jesus healed people. Therefore, Jesus did a good thing. A further argument might go like this: Anyone who does a good thing shouldn’t be condemned unless it hurts another person or persons without any warrant for doing so. Jesus did a good thing and didn’t hurt anyone without warrant. Therefore, He shouldn’t be condemned by anyone. Emotionally, most Western minds think how in the world could I be upset with someone who instantly healed a man’s hand? We might further think anyone who heals a person simply with his words is probably a good person.
Their Eastern ears understood the problem. This has to do with world views. The Middle Eastern mindset is used to dealing more with the supernatural. Supernatural events, such as a physical healing, don’t necessarily translate into thinking he is probably a good person, because he healed that guy’s hand. Bad people can work supernatural miracles as well from a Middle Eastern mindset.
The Pharisees thought Jesus was a bad person for the following reasons. They saw Jesus healing people all over the place. In fact, what they saw was a tired man. The biblical accounts seem to suggest that there were times when Jesus had to get away from it all. Crowds almost suffocated him, at times. He would get into a boat and cross the lake. The crowds would run around to the other side to catch up with Him. Our Western minds might think why would healing people with His words, cause Jesus to be tired? Jesus was tired however, because of the long days he spent with people constantly beckoning His time and resources. I’m sure He was a tired man.
The Pharisees saw Jesus working on the Sabbath and probably saw He was tired. In their worldview, anyone who exerts oneself on the Sabbath isn’t a good person because he is violating the Law of God through working on the holy Sabbath day of rest. Because they believed that both good and bad people could work supernatural miracles, their logical conclusion was that Jesus was sinning against God (even though it was an amazing miracle) and should be stopped. Their line of thinking was: If someone works on the Sabbath, then they should be condemned because they are violating the Law of God. Jesus was working on the Sabbath. They thought He should be condemned. Elsewhere, the biblical account is more specific and it says that they thought he was doing these supernatural things under the authority of the Prince of Demons.
Legalists (such as the Pharisees, extreme right-wing Republicans, extreme left-wing Democrats, and arrogant people in general) are prone to demonizing those who do good works. It is the only way they can make a good work into an evil thing. They challenge the source.
Jesus’ response: “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. So, [I, Jesus am] Lord even of the Sabbath” (Mark 2). He put the focus back on God's glory and His love for His people through the gift of the Sabbath. This opposes a focus on maintaining the Law through keeping the Sabbath at all costs, even healing someone.
*[The Sabbath is the gift of a holy day of rest each week that God has given human beings for their benefit and His glory.]
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Addressing Legalism (Part II)
Many people try to forge new paths in their lives, but when they do people ask them, “Why do you have to forge a new path? What’s wrong with the status quo?” Legalism says you can’t forge your own, new path. You have to follow our rules, it says. Grace says otherwise.
A long time ago, some people asked Jesus a question. They said, “John’s students and the Pharisees fast. Why don’t your students do the same?” Jesus gave them an answer, but quickly moved on to the real point. He said, “If you pour new wine into old wineskins, then those old wineskins will break. It doesn’t work. New wine has to be poured into new wineskins. They won’t break.” Sometimes, people have to break out and create their own new practices (new wine in new wineskins), contrary to the status quo, even if there isn’t anything wrong with the status quo (for example, John’s students still did fast, like the Pharisees). However, Jesus told his students they didn’t have to fast. Jesus was saying that he has given us permission to pour new wine into new wineskins. (We don't have to adopt the practices of others, even if they question us.)
Here are some examples:
In 1946, Mother Teresa received what she called “the call within the call.” She had a heart for the destitute in India. She left her convent and lived among the poor out of her own sense of autonomy and began her hospice work in 1948. In 1950, she went to the Vatican and received permission to start a new Catholic order. Today the order has 4,000 nuns who work in orphanages, hospices, and other care centers around the world.
Mother Teresa poured new wine into new wineskins. Was there anything wrong with the status quo? Not necessarily. But, Mother Teresa had to become her own person, the one God had created her to be. Do you see that she started first and asked the Pope for permission later?
Tim Keller (a pastor from Manhattan) describes a perfect example of pouring new wine into new wineskins through the marriage relationship. When two people marry, they bring each other’s upbringing with them. Keller describes how he and his wife ran into a problem about changing diapers. In Keller’s childhood, his dad didn’t change the diapers. I think his dad did other things (maybe washing dishes for instance) that his mom didn’t do. So, their idea of sharing was to divide up responsibilities rather than to share each of them. In his wife’s childhood, contrary to Keller’s parents, I believe they tended to share all responsibilities rather than dividing them up. This means they both washed dishes and changed diapers.
One day, Keller’s wife asked him to change the baby’s diaper. Keller said he didn’t plan on changing diapers at all and they got into an argument. In a situation like this one, many of us get into a “right vs. wrong” mentality. This is defective thinking. The reality is that Keller and his wife had to pour new wine into new wineskins. They had to exercise new practices in their new household. They had to be their own married couple, instead of thinking that marriage is reduced simply to what their parents used to do. They had to come up with their own unique set of practices in washing dishes and changing diapers. They had to become their own persons.
In the 70s and 80s, many people left their historic Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches. They set sail towards new horizons and founded grassroots churches which later became their own denominations. Vineyard and Calvary are notable examples.
I’m sure many people in the historic denominations asked them, “Why do you have to leave? What’s wrong with the status quo? Why do you have to do things differently?” In some cases, they needed to leave because the historic denomination was not theologically grounded, but in other situations, they needed to become their own persons and exercise themselves as their own newly formed congregations. In a sense, they were corporately becoming adults and taking responsibility for the consequences that came with doing so.
Are there things in your life that you want to say yes to or no to, but you’re afraid? You want to tell your boss that you won’t take the extra work. You want to play golf instead of serving food at the soup kitchen this week. You want to try out that new house church. You want to leave a dysfunctional relationship. You want to try out that big dream. You want to leave something lucrative and become a school teacher. You want to start a new ministry. A million voices call your name from every direction. Voices from the past. Opinions of others. False responsibilities that aren’t really yours. This is defective thinking. I’m not saying to be careless.** Weigh in the options of advice from others. The status quo is often a good choice, just make sure it's your choice and not because you're feeling pressured to do so. If you want to, start a new charity in India, create your own new marriage practices, or start a new church structure like Vineyard or Calvary. Jesus has given you permission to pour new wine into new wineskins, if that is the course you would like to take.
[**Some people aren’t psychologically healthy and need a time of healing before they make major decisions. It might be that joining a support group or meeting with a counselor might actually be the big decision they have to make. Their dysfunctional friends might ask them why they even need to take such drastic measures. Why change the status quo? In the end however, a good support group or counselor is only helping them to become more and more autonomous. Through their support the individual will feel empowered to pour new wine into new wineskins when it is the right time. ]
A long time ago, some people asked Jesus a question. They said, “John’s students and the Pharisees fast. Why don’t your students do the same?” Jesus gave them an answer, but quickly moved on to the real point. He said, “If you pour new wine into old wineskins, then those old wineskins will break. It doesn’t work. New wine has to be poured into new wineskins. They won’t break.” Sometimes, people have to break out and create their own new practices (new wine in new wineskins), contrary to the status quo, even if there isn’t anything wrong with the status quo (for example, John’s students still did fast, like the Pharisees). However, Jesus told his students they didn’t have to fast. Jesus was saying that he has given us permission to pour new wine into new wineskins. (We don't have to adopt the practices of others, even if they question us.)
Here are some examples:
In 1946, Mother Teresa received what she called “the call within the call.” She had a heart for the destitute in India. She left her convent and lived among the poor out of her own sense of autonomy and began her hospice work in 1948. In 1950, she went to the Vatican and received permission to start a new Catholic order. Today the order has 4,000 nuns who work in orphanages, hospices, and other care centers around the world.
Mother Teresa poured new wine into new wineskins. Was there anything wrong with the status quo? Not necessarily. But, Mother Teresa had to become her own person, the one God had created her to be. Do you see that she started first and asked the Pope for permission later?
Tim Keller (a pastor from Manhattan) describes a perfect example of pouring new wine into new wineskins through the marriage relationship. When two people marry, they bring each other’s upbringing with them. Keller describes how he and his wife ran into a problem about changing diapers. In Keller’s childhood, his dad didn’t change the diapers. I think his dad did other things (maybe washing dishes for instance) that his mom didn’t do. So, their idea of sharing was to divide up responsibilities rather than to share each of them. In his wife’s childhood, contrary to Keller’s parents, I believe they tended to share all responsibilities rather than dividing them up. This means they both washed dishes and changed diapers.
One day, Keller’s wife asked him to change the baby’s diaper. Keller said he didn’t plan on changing diapers at all and they got into an argument. In a situation like this one, many of us get into a “right vs. wrong” mentality. This is defective thinking. The reality is that Keller and his wife had to pour new wine into new wineskins. They had to exercise new practices in their new household. They had to be their own married couple, instead of thinking that marriage is reduced simply to what their parents used to do. They had to come up with their own unique set of practices in washing dishes and changing diapers. They had to become their own persons.
In the 70s and 80s, many people left their historic Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist churches. They set sail towards new horizons and founded grassroots churches which later became their own denominations. Vineyard and Calvary are notable examples.
I’m sure many people in the historic denominations asked them, “Why do you have to leave? What’s wrong with the status quo? Why do you have to do things differently?” In some cases, they needed to leave because the historic denomination was not theologically grounded, but in other situations, they needed to become their own persons and exercise themselves as their own newly formed congregations. In a sense, they were corporately becoming adults and taking responsibility for the consequences that came with doing so.
Are there things in your life that you want to say yes to or no to, but you’re afraid? You want to tell your boss that you won’t take the extra work. You want to play golf instead of serving food at the soup kitchen this week. You want to try out that new house church. You want to leave a dysfunctional relationship. You want to try out that big dream. You want to leave something lucrative and become a school teacher. You want to start a new ministry. A million voices call your name from every direction. Voices from the past. Opinions of others. False responsibilities that aren’t really yours. This is defective thinking. I’m not saying to be careless.** Weigh in the options of advice from others. The status quo is often a good choice, just make sure it's your choice and not because you're feeling pressured to do so. If you want to, start a new charity in India, create your own new marriage practices, or start a new church structure like Vineyard or Calvary. Jesus has given you permission to pour new wine into new wineskins, if that is the course you would like to take.
[**Some people aren’t psychologically healthy and need a time of healing before they make major decisions. It might be that joining a support group or meeting with a counselor might actually be the big decision they have to make. Their dysfunctional friends might ask them why they even need to take such drastic measures. Why change the status quo? In the end however, a good support group or counselor is only helping them to become more and more autonomous. Through their support the individual will feel empowered to pour new wine into new wineskins when it is the right time. ]
Sunday, January 11, 2009
The Silver Lining in the Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) used to bother me because there's no way I can ever live the way Jesus tells us to live. Now, when I read Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, I choose to be happy because these are the things He's willingly saved me from.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Priorities (Part II)
I don't want to cleanse people from their sin. I want to spend time with them as God cleanses them.
Priorities
I don't want to be cleansed from my sin. I want to spend time with God while he cleanses me.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Pig-Pen and Cleanliness
Charles Schulz introduced Pig-Pen as a Peanuts cartoon strip character in 1954. Pig-Pen was the dirtiest kid on the block. A cloud of dust followed him everywhere. A Gallop poll in the year 2000 determined Pig-Pen to be the America’s most lovable Peanuts character. The country loved Him despite his uncleanliness.
Switching gears, let’s talk about the Middle Eastern concept of cleanliness. In Middle Eastern culture, the need to get clean before going to God in prayer is very necessary. Jewish and Muslim traditions require that people abstain from eating pork, abstain from drinking alcohol (for Muslims), dress in certain ways and cut their hair in certain ways (certain Jewish traditions), and they must wash themselves ceremonially before they can enter their center of worship (Muslims). A woman who is in her period cannot enter the Mosque because she is unclean.
The Western, Christian believer is in a similar situation. There are certain cleanliness rules they adhere to as well. Certain extreme traditions (Catholics and certain types of Protestants) require members of the congregation to confess their sins before a priest or pastor before they can take communion. Just like the Muslim and Jewish tradition, this is how many feel they become clean before entering God’s presence. Among evangelicals, lust is the big uncleanliness “no-no”. Millions of teenagers and college students go to youth groups every week and feel ashamed for their sin. They feel like they can’t enter God’s presence if they mentally lusted, made out with a guy or girl the night before, or even had sex. Their youth leaders reinforce their shame by harping on the need to “be pure” and “honor God”. The reality is that most of these youth pastors struggle with the same things themselves and are two-faced. This is outright legalism.
Jesus tells us in John 15:3 that we are already clean because of the word He has spoken to us. I need to check the Greek, but in English the word “already” tells us the action has already taken place. “It is finished.” He tells us in John 20:30. He has already atoned for us. We are already clean. We don’t have to keep trying to wash ourselves clean through our rituals and ceremonies, whether Middle Eastern or Western.
America has more grace for Pig-Pen than it has for human beings. They love him. They think he is lovable. The reality is we all wish we could be like Pig-Pen. We wish we could expose ourselves and that others would accept us. Praise the Lord, there are some groups of people like this where people are growing spiritually through grace. You can find those groups of people, if you try.
With God, we can be like Pig-Pen. We can walk right into His presence with all of our evil deeds exposed. He says to us, “Pig-Pen I’m glad you’re here. You don’t need to be ashamed. The very fact that you are here and that I’m talking with you is what has made you clean. When you came to see Me up on the cross, you saw that I was weak, grief stricken, unclean, and even forsaken by My Father for the sin I bore. It was your sin Pig-Pen. I bore all of it for you and you shouldn’t feel ashamed because I wanted to do this for you. I wanted to make you clean and you are clean because you are here and I have told you so. You don't have to make up for what I've done for you. On the outside, you look dirty (and you are--that’s why they call you Pig-Pen:) but on the inside, where I live inside you, you are the cleanest little guy around. And, that little mustard seed of faith you have will grow and blossom. When you aren’t looking, that is when you might notice that some of the outside has gotten a little cleaner as well. But, don’t worry so much about this.”
Jesus says, “The last shall be first.” In the year 2000, America followed suit and voted Pig-Pen, the least presentable one, their favorite Peanuts cartoon character. In God’s eyes you’re His favorite cartoon character. Walk into His presence. His words of grace makes you clean.
Switching gears, let’s talk about the Middle Eastern concept of cleanliness. In Middle Eastern culture, the need to get clean before going to God in prayer is very necessary. Jewish and Muslim traditions require that people abstain from eating pork, abstain from drinking alcohol (for Muslims), dress in certain ways and cut their hair in certain ways (certain Jewish traditions), and they must wash themselves ceremonially before they can enter their center of worship (Muslims). A woman who is in her period cannot enter the Mosque because she is unclean.
The Western, Christian believer is in a similar situation. There are certain cleanliness rules they adhere to as well. Certain extreme traditions (Catholics and certain types of Protestants) require members of the congregation to confess their sins before a priest or pastor before they can take communion. Just like the Muslim and Jewish tradition, this is how many feel they become clean before entering God’s presence. Among evangelicals, lust is the big uncleanliness “no-no”. Millions of teenagers and college students go to youth groups every week and feel ashamed for their sin. They feel like they can’t enter God’s presence if they mentally lusted, made out with a guy or girl the night before, or even had sex. Their youth leaders reinforce their shame by harping on the need to “be pure” and “honor God”. The reality is that most of these youth pastors struggle with the same things themselves and are two-faced. This is outright legalism.
Jesus tells us in John 15:3 that we are already clean because of the word He has spoken to us. I need to check the Greek, but in English the word “already” tells us the action has already taken place. “It is finished.” He tells us in John 20:30. He has already atoned for us. We are already clean. We don’t have to keep trying to wash ourselves clean through our rituals and ceremonies, whether Middle Eastern or Western.
America has more grace for Pig-Pen than it has for human beings. They love him. They think he is lovable. The reality is we all wish we could be like Pig-Pen. We wish we could expose ourselves and that others would accept us. Praise the Lord, there are some groups of people like this where people are growing spiritually through grace. You can find those groups of people, if you try.
With God, we can be like Pig-Pen. We can walk right into His presence with all of our evil deeds exposed. He says to us, “Pig-Pen I’m glad you’re here. You don’t need to be ashamed. The very fact that you are here and that I’m talking with you is what has made you clean. When you came to see Me up on the cross, you saw that I was weak, grief stricken, unclean, and even forsaken by My Father for the sin I bore. It was your sin Pig-Pen. I bore all of it for you and you shouldn’t feel ashamed because I wanted to do this for you. I wanted to make you clean and you are clean because you are here and I have told you so. You don't have to make up for what I've done for you. On the outside, you look dirty (and you are--that’s why they call you Pig-Pen:) but on the inside, where I live inside you, you are the cleanest little guy around. And, that little mustard seed of faith you have will grow and blossom. When you aren’t looking, that is when you might notice that some of the outside has gotten a little cleaner as well. But, don’t worry so much about this.”
Jesus says, “The last shall be first.” In the year 2000, America followed suit and voted Pig-Pen, the least presentable one, their favorite Peanuts cartoon character. In God’s eyes you’re His favorite cartoon character. Walk into His presence. His words of grace makes you clean.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)