The more you know…(da da da da)

Did you know that “unicorns” are mentioned nine times in the KJV Bible? (modern 1611 version…I have one) 

 

Numbers 23:22, 24:3, Deuteronomy 33:17, Job 39:9, 29, Psalm 22:21, 29:6, 92:10, and Isaiah 34:7. 

Atonement theories

As I think about the different “atonement” theories that are out there, I started to think about things that I had never thought about before. I don’t mean to ruffle any feathers or anything, I’m just thinking out loud, so here goes.

Humans always say things like “someone has to pay!” We loathe the idea that something can be free or that actions can have no consequences. It is in our sin nature that everything in our world has to be fair. 

This in and of itself makes me think that our theories on the “penal substitution” of Jesus Christ are important because of what they do to our psyche.  I might just be a heretic here, but think about this for a second… someone standing before God and having to answer for the offenses that they have committed against Him. Then God looks and him and says, “I forgive you”. 

These words, “I forgive you” are some of the hardest things to say in our entire extended vocabulary. The reason is simply because we don’t think people should be forgiven unless someone has paid for what they have done first. Then, and only then, can they be forgiven (but not without a little “what have we learned?”  from the offended party). 

I feel as though an eternal God, with the ability to do anything, could have easily forgiven us without having to “pay” for anything. After all, He is God right? Has He created a system where everything must be fair and balanced, and now even HE must work within it? Has he created a cosmic “Fox news channel”?

I personally don’t believe so, and heres why. 

God has always had amazing ways to reveal Himself to us. Doesn’t it seam odd to anyone that he gave us a book? Seriously… a book! Books are things that we write. We also make movies and albums and various other forms of media. God chose to use something that we understand, and that fits perfectly within our world… a book. Paper and ink… to carry on a cosmic message about the fate of mankind. Couldn’t he have used something a little bit more… well… cosmic? A book?!!?

The message of God is always communicated to us so that we can grasp it “as a child”. In the world of humanity, things MUST be fair, or we don’t understand how they can go on… thats why we like the idea of “God the Father” (he’s not really a father, its a metaphor), and even the phrase He (He’s not even really a “he”…now is he?)

Sometimes, I almost feel as though God said “the only way that mankind (in their fallen state) will grasp my forgiveness, is if I show them that it’s okay… that it is paid for! How else will they understand my grace? How else will they understand that they can come to me? How else can they ever feel justified even entering my presence? They will feel unworthy (which we are). They will feel that my favor is unattainable (which it is… we cannot attain what is freely given). I will do anything to tell them that my forgiveness is free, I will even die on a cross!”

So wether I sound like a heretic or not (which we all are on many levels), I must ask the question (and that’s all it is, a question)… does the atonement look the same from God’s point of view? While we see a  “payment for sins” does God see “persuasion of forgiveness” (or “convincing of grace” or “communication of love”…I can’t come up with the words to describe whats going on in my head, but maybe you can understand)?

Or do I just need to shut up and “get it”?

…

I just got an email that says that “a LARGE pulpit with the C&MA logo on it is available for anyone who might be interested”.

I must say, it does sound tempting!

Everyone, cut it out.

Okay, so in the last year, I have had about 10-15 people mention the exact same quote by an author that they have never read, never researched, and cannot even site where the quote comes from that they are so enamoured with telling everyone about so that they can be warned of apparent ”wolves in sheeps clothing”.  I get emails about it, I attend sermons where preachers are quoting it, blah blah blah… and I had another person today quote it to me. So I wanted to blog about it once and for all, so that I can just start emailing links to people when I get nasty emails.

 

The Author in question is none other than the infamous Brian McLaren (about whom I WOULD consider myself qualified to talk about having read all of his books and met and listened to him preach in person about 3 weeks ago).  And the quote in question goes a little something like this “…it sounds like divine child abuse…” this comment was made regarding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Now, if you’ll look at the quote, you will see little dots (…) do you know what the dots mean? It means that the entire quote is not there, and some of the (presumably) unnecessary words have been omitted for “easy consumption” (a very dangerous phrase in and of itself, always leading to propaganda for the purpose of swaying peoples minds). 

 If you don’t know where this phrase comes from, lets look at it together shall we? It comes from a book of his by the title of “The Story We Find Ourselves In”. And it is found on page 102.Now, if you are not familiar with Brians “New Kind of Christian” trilogy, let me fill you in a little. It’s called “creative non-fiction”. In other words, it’s written in story form. Fictional characters drive the plot line and are having deep theological discussion that emulates much of what you will hear in coffee shops near christian campuses all over america today. On page 102, there is a conversation going on between a character name “Kerry” and another named “Neo”. It is the character “Kerry” who is talking about the atonement when she says this paragraph:

“I know that’s supposed to mean something to me, and I suppose I can see it, but it raises so many questions. . . . For starters, if God wants to forgive us, why doesn’t he just do it? How does punishing an innocent person make things better? That just sounds like one more injustice in the cosmic equation. It sounds like divine child abuse” 

Nowhere in this book is this idea actually promoted or even addressed. And most of the conversations in this book were obviously modeled after actually theological dialogue that has taken place in the last half century.

 The paragraph I just quoted in particular, is obviously modeled after a statement in a book by the author/kingdom-theologian Steve Chalke in his book “The Lost Message of Jesus”, in which he refers to the substitutionary atonement as “cosmic child abuse”.Mr Chalke is an advocate of the “Christus-Victor” theology of atonement as opposed the the idea widely accepted in the US known as “Penal-Substitution”. (Surprise, people in america predominately have different views of the scriptures than the rest of the world… welcome to the global conversation about God, start paying attention!). Most peoples theology comes from where they were raised, not from their actual biblical study. And most peoples view of many of the current theological authors really depends on who got to them first. If they just picked up a book and read it, they will probably be blessed by it. But,  if they were given a list of people who were considered heretics by someone they know, they will probably never read or understand the postmodern culture (which they are living in wether they want to or not). And views on Brian Mclaren, Rob Bell, NT Wright (who is far from new), and many other current thinkers of our generation are usually predetermined and never actually challenged from a fair viewpoint.  

I grow very weary with people questioning the ideas of people whom they have never read, and do not even know enough about them to rightfully make an accurate assumption. I guess this is what happens when we rely on our forefathers to sift through theology for us and tell us what the scriptures say. Seriously, what did Martin Luther have that we don’t have today? The truth is that we have SO MUCH more useful tools for understanding scriptures, yet most people will never go any deeper than what has already been laid out for us. 

We seem to have forgotten that our forefathers studied the scriptures and came into their theological beliefs because that is how they worship the Lord. And what do we do? We say “Thanks for doing all the work for us!” and we just drink the juice. I have to assume that our fathers would be furious with us that we have taken them at their word and have not challenged a thing that they have written.We have stopped studying, deconstructing, dissecting, poking and prodding and these are the exact things that brought about the reformation!

At what point do we stop insulting our previous generations of theologians by patronizing every word that they have written. Most of them wrote rebellious ideas that were considered “dangerous” and “liberal” in their day, but are now considered to be the very fundamentals of Orthodoxy.If you disagree, disagree for a reason. Not because your dad told you this, or your pastor told you that, or your proffessor told you to “stear clear of them”. Read the books, and state what you disagree with and why. Don’t let others do it for you (I know that’s the western way to do things, but easy isn’t always right!).

Sorry for the rant. I’m done.  

Grace and Peace

By Preson Phillips

Oh my soul, has come to be an instrument of hope,

My Lord, has made me useful

Come now child, Lay your burdens down

and trade for rest Your debt. And be made well.

God of Light shine down,

I am overwhelmed,

 

Grace and Peace

To the weary soul who’s heart is full of holes

Grace and Peace

To the fatherless and widow we declare

Grace and Peace

To the prodigal who’s traded love for gold

Grace and peace

From a God who’s yoke is easy and His load is light

Oh my Lord, I am set me apart, please let me not be still

Find me in your will,

Take myself, I offer up this empty cup,

let it be filled with your life 

I cannot be still

I cannot be still

 

Grace and Peace

To the weary soul who’s heart is full of holes

Grace and Peace

To the fatherless and widow we declare

Grace and Peace

To the prodigal who’s traded love for gold

Grace and peace

From a God who’s yoke is easy and His load is light

 

I was hopeless,You led with light

I was lifeless you gave me life

I was drowning you cast a line

I was useless, now I’m alive in you!

Larry Norman R.I.P.

LARRY NORMAN 4/8/47 - 2/24/08Larry Norman died yesterday, this was posted on his website by his brother. He left a great legend behind.

 

Hello everybody. Our friend and my wonderful brother Larry passed away at 2:45 Sunday morning. Kristin and I were with him, holding his hands and sitting in bed with him when his heart finally slowed to a stop. We spent this past week laughing, singing, and praying with him, and all the while he had us taking notes on new song ideas and instructions on how to continue his ministry and art.  Several of his friends got to come and visit with him in the last couple of weeks and were a great source of help and friendship to Larry. Ray Sievers, Derek Robertson, Mike Makinster, Tim and Christine Gilman, Matt and Becky Simmons, Kerry Hopkins, Allen Fleming and a few more. Thank you guys. Larry appreciated your visits very much. And he greatly appreciated the thoughts, wishes, support and prayers that came from all of you Solid Rock friends on a daily basis. Thank you for being part of his small circle of friends over the years. Yesterday afternoon he knew he was going to go home to God very soon and he dictated the following message to you while his friend Allen Fleming typed these words into Larry’s computer:

“I feel like a prize in a box of cracker jacks with God’s hand reaching down to pick me up. I have been under medical care for months. My wounds are getting bigger. I have trouble breathing. I am ready to fly home. My brother Charles is right, I won’t be here much longer. I can’t do anything about it. My heart is too weak. I want to say goodbye to everyone. In the past you have generously supported me with prayer and finance and we will probably still need financial help. My plan is to be buried in a simple pine box with some flowers inside. But still it will be costly because of funeral arrangement, transportation to the gravesite, entombment, coordination, legal papers etc. However money is not really what I need, I want to say I love you.  I’d like to push back the darkness with my bravest effort. There will be a funeral posted here on the website, in case some of you want to attend. We are not sure of the date when I will die. Goodbye, farewell, we will meet again. Goodbye, farewell, we’ll meet again
Somewhere beyond the sky.
I pray that you will stay with God
Goodbye, my friends, goodbye. Larry”

 Thank you to all of you who were so nice to my brother over the years. Kristin and I will post funeral information in the next day or two. Right now we’re not able to function very well, but the whole family is here… our mother Margaret, our sisters Nancy and Kristy, Mike Norman and his new wife Tiffany, and Silver. We miss him beyond words. Thank you for everything. Peace to you all in Christ, Charles Norman

The Wine Maker

By: [Tommy] Preson Phillips

 

Of the souls that have been justified

Who’s dark clouds have been opened up wide 

Blessed beyond measure

There is none quite as thankful as I

To eat from your table

Living water and bread satisfy.

If I had seen what great tarnish was rendered

By my actions and selfish ambitions, 

Would I have changed? 

I was brittle and crumbling like pottery

I was useless and broken and bare

But your living water

Made me moldable useful and fare

The hands of the potter

Bearing love with with the scars that he bears

If I could be made a great vessel of clay

Round and beautiful, a worthy display,

Would you fill me?

Oh, I was the grape on the vine and you picked me

I was crushed by the weight of your law

But you gave me purpose, 

as you press me under your feet,

Yes… you sought to change me, 

Yes… you knew of the prize I would be!

Now am the wine, and you are the wine glass,

I am the coveted work of your hand,

And father you hold me, And without you Lord, I would be spilled.

I’d be ruined and wasted, but you carry me proudly and still.

If I had known where this story was heading 

If I could see the great work to unfold,

Would I have fought? 

Would I have struggled?

Would I’ve surrendered?

Or would I have run?

Would I’ve found Jesus?

Would I know pleasure?

Would I know purpose at all?

Remembering my Grandfather

My Grandfathers name was Preson P Phillips Jr. He was a professor at Tennessee Temple University for many many years, and a Presbyterian minister for a while, he is now buried at a national cemetery in Durham. I was excited today to find that a blogger mentioned him, and named him as their favorite professor. I love to hear stuff like that. Anyways, the link is right here. Thanks Brian, for remembering my grandfather.

Al Qaeda, apparently, supports the emergent church…

This was the best read I have found in months. Apparently, Frank Pastore thinks that the emergent church is undermining the security of “uh-mer-ih-cuh”.  You can read his post here!   I could have sworn this was a joke, but it’s not. I knew all of this “love your enemies” stuff would kill us all, that’s what you get for following Jesus. (yes… it’s satire). 

A Sustainable Faith

  

My Worship band and I will be playing at the Sustainable faith conference this weekend.It’s being put on by the local emergent cohorts and emergent village.

All the money is going to support the ministry of Bruce Wright and his homeless ministry (the Refuge). He is a great guy who blessed my life growing up and now attends my church. The speakers are going to be amazing, allot of local friends and national writers will be their, giving their views on faith, community and sustainability.

Please come out, if you don’t know anyone, contact me and we can go together.