Merry Christmas: Celebrating the Birth of Jesus with Family

Hello there.  I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday so far.  Can you believe it's only 10 days until Christmas?  I was scarcely aware that it was December until about a week ago.  Though I spent the beginning of the month with a rather intense strain of the flu.  I'm pretty much recovered now though.  I'd like to do some teaching on the book of Revelation soon hopefully, but not today.  It's an extremely complicated book and often misinterpreted.  I'd hate to add more misinterpretation to the mix by approaching it casually, so perhaps I'll have to wait until I have time to really dig into for months and months before teaching it. 

Everyone seems to be in a better mood as Christmas approaches.  It's been extremely cold here in Wisconsin, right now it's about -5 F.  Being outside hurts, so it's best to remain indoors.  It's hard being cooped up inside, but the temperature rose to around 20 F so I was able to take my dog Bella to the dog park and walk a few miles.  The fall semester at Liberty University ended on the 13th of December.  The Spring semester doesn't start until January 13th so I finally have some time for personal reading.  I enjoy the text books for the classes immensely, but I have a growing stack of books that I really have been looking forward to read.  Recently I was shopping with my sister at a consignment store and found a literal treasure trove of religious books, mostly Lutheran, and I could've stood there all day going through them.  I settled on buying about twenty books, and I got some awesome ones.  The first two I've been reading are "A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis, on his struggle after losing his wife and "The Passion of Jesus Christ" by John Piper, which is fifty reasons for the crucifixion of Christ put together by Piper. I also listened to an audiobook by Susan Cain called "Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World that can't stop Talking."  That was a revolutionary read for me, it really gave me permission in a lot of key areas to be at peace with preferring to spend a lot of time alone, writing.

So, Christmas, wow.  What a controversy!  Thanksgiving is becoming "Turkey Day" because "thanksgiving" must sound too bible-ish.  And now people can't say "Merry Christmas" anymore, it's "Happy Holidays."  The atheist world strikes back.  It's a push and pull thing over the history of mankind.  And sometimes it's important to put out a call to the Christians across the nation to "take to mind" certain troubling trends, and kind of "call to arms" on certain issues.  But I'm not going to tell you that this is such a huge surprise that Christmas is under attack, or that it's such a disgrace that Christmas has become a consumer buying frenzy.  Because we know that, and we can expect more of the same in the future.  So this is not a "call to arms" or a "call to despair" as a sermon I once heard stated.  And it's not a call to defeat either.  "Oh it's hopeless, here it comes, its rolling over us."  No it's not that either.  I'm calling us to acceptance of those things we cannot change at this moment.

Nothing happens in God's world by mistake.  We must understand this fully.  Absolutely nothing happens by mistake on this planet.  All is under God's control.

1 Peter 4:12 (NIV) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

I worry when Christians spend too much time dwelling on the problems.  Unfortunately we can become defeated as a result.  Put all that energy spent complaining toward being the solution to the problem.  Be the solution.  Be a shining light, telling people about Jesus Christ.  And ironically this is where we find the message for today.

On or around Christmas, December 25th this year most of us will be with family and extended family.  What a perfect time to tell them about Jesus Christ.  What a perfect time to share some good news!

Uh oh, that sounds tough though!  It could be rather unpleasant!

“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”  - C.S. Lewis

Being a Christian is living outside the comfort zone generally.  It's pretty tough.  But as Francis Chan says, it's those moments when we take chances and get outside our comfort zone in evangelism that we see the power of the Holy Spirit working.  

Well that's all well and good, the desire to do it and wanting to do it and even trying to bring it up with the family, but what about the family and what about common objections?

Let's have a look at some of those issues.  So you start talking about the wonderful life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Instant controversy right?

  

That pothead cousin of yours, Andy the atheist hipster smirks and replies, "Man Christmas is just stupid.  Silly Christians, it's a pagan holiday.  Paganism got mixed into Christianity when it first started and now it's all corrupted.  The council of Nicea rewrote the Bible dude, Jesus is a fraud."

Here's how we can respond: "You know Andy that's a great point, some of the traditions of the Christmas holiday do have their roots in pagan holidays.  In 313 AD Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity for the first time in the empire, after some of the most brutal persecutions of Christians.  But most of the culture was pagan including the holidays.  Christians knew this, and also knew they had to engage the culture, become all things to all people.  So to help convert pagans, Christian activities were held on the same days as pagan ones.  Slowly but surely many were converted.  Thankfully, these rituals and holidays are entirely superficial.  Christians don't worship the holiday tree or praise the sun on Sundays.  We take what was originally used for evil, paganism, and turn it to serve and honor Jesus Christ.  As far as the council of Nicea, which took place in 325 AD, the council was not called to rewrite the Bible or throw out certain books, it was mainly called to deal with a controversy in the religious body of the time called Arianism.  The canon of Bible books had been generally agreed upon by then, and was simply officially recognized at the council of Nicea.  It's also important to note that the church leaders at the council had survived the persecutions as "professors" of the faith before courts and councils of the Roman empire.  Many of them wore the marks of their devotion to the true faith."

So now Andy has his answer.  But maybe that's not the end of it.  Next jaded Uncle Jerry the former Catholic has something to say.  "You know I think organized religion has lead to more death and destruction than anything else in the world today."

"You know uncle Jerry, I just don't know exactly what people are referring to when they talk about the horrors of organized religion, at least when applied to Christianity.  Islam is scary, absolutely.  But Christianity?  Maybe the crusades carried out in response to the call of Pope Urban II.  But it's important to note that the eastern Roman empire had been invaded and conquered by the Arab Muslims.  Urban II was responding as a leader to an invasion.  Obviously though it was a mistake as Christians are to love their enemies and turn the other cheek.  But I can think of things that have lead to much more death and destruction than organized religion.  How about World War II and the Nazis?  Here you have an army of atheists operating on the philosophies of the atheist writer Nietzsche.  Six million people were killed in the holocaust not by organized religion, but by organized atheism.  In the end, it's a fallacy of logic to condemn Christianity based on the actions of a few of it's followers.  Man is flawed, God is perfect."

 He'll love that.  Still there are other objections.  Aunt Edna the enthusiastic spiritualist can't get on board with the Bible.  She doesn't like the Bible because there is so much "judgment" and "condemnation" in it.  She thinks everyone should love one another and if humanity could just discover love and light and compassion and spiritual interconnectedness, everything would fall right into place.

"Auntie Edna, first thing to remember is that when we believe on Jesus Christ and are saved by his gift we no longer receive any condemnation or judgment.  Love and light is great!  But there are also hard truths to face in the world.  And the facts on the ground are clear on an empirical level: humanity when put together on a planet is not able to live in peace with love and light and compassion.  Those are wonderful principles and great morals.  Sadly, simply ignoring the problem of evil does not make it go away.  Humanity is wicked, and that's a very hard truth.  But when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we start to learn how to love and have compassion.  I know it's a hard truth that there is judgment and condemnation, but hun.. if right and wrong are important, and to me they are, there has to be consequences for causing trouble and hurting others.  It's easy to hide our own mistakes, addictions and failings and talk about love and light and vague spirituality.  But in the end what is the truth?  Jesus Christ is the truth of this.  And I want to live by the truth."

Then give her a Bible and offer to sit down with her and study it.  Immediately after you say this however, opinionated Uncle Ollie has something to say: "The truth?  Come on man, are you serious with all this?  It's just some old book.  The opiate for the masses.  Who knows if Jesus even really ever existed?  What does it have to do with paying my bills and taking care of my family and working my job?  Seriously, you've gotta be kidding with this religious crap."

"Religion has been used in the past to quell people and keep them under control, but not Christianity.  Maybe it has been applied in that way in some cases, but the Bible tells a very different story.  And if it were just a fantasy to explain away death, invented by the early Christians, why wouldn't they invent something better?  Like everyone goes to heaven no matter what?  But instead we're all sinners, we need a savior, this world is controlled by the enemy of God, etc.  The fact is a man named Jesus Christ existed and there is more than sufficient historical evidence for that fact.  If you want to toss that out, you'll have to toss out the rest of human history too.  I understand you're a proof and seeing is believing kind of guy Ollie.  So I'd like to recommend you take a look at some books.  One is called "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel and the other is called "The Language of God" by Francis Collins.  There is a great documentary called Evolution vs. God I'd like you to see as well.  And Ollie I'd have to say the Bible and Jesus Christ are extremely relevant to your everyday life.  Paying bills? The Bible has plenty of financial advice.  Taking care of your family?  Raise them up in the church, and hopefully you'll see them make responsible decisions.  Working your job?  Well, as a Christian I work for what is ahead of me.  I work for eternity.  Ollie, we only have 80 or 90 years on this planet.  What about the rest of eternity?"

The rest of eternity is a long time.  I think so anyway.  I don't want to see my family members living defeated and confused about God.  I don't want to see them die unsaved and be forever separated from God.  That thought horrifies me.  I want them with me.  This connection with God through Jesus Christ is so wonderful I just have to give it away.  I want so desperately for everyone to have it.  That's why I dropped everything I was doing with my life (which wasn't much) and got into ministry when Jesus Christ saved me from my disaster and my sins.
 

16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me. -Psalm 18:16-19 (NIV)

 Christmas is a wonderful time of year.  The Lord God Almighty loves us, so he sent his son into the world to save us.  When we have faith in his son, God delights in us.  And we delight in him.  Immanuel, God with us, he came and lived with us.  God came.  He saw us in the midst of our disaster.  He was not willing for us to be lost, so he came.  We're celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.  The birth of our savior, the birth by the Holy Spirit, Immanuel "God with us."  The primary purpose of the holiday is honoring our Savior, celebrating his birth.  I'm going to make my December 25th about Jesus Christ, and my happiness and gratitude at his life and ministry.  

I hope you will too.  And I hope you'll talk to your family about Jesus Christ.  You don't have to make a speech in front of the whole family, but gift a few Bibles.  Or a copy of the movie the Gospel of John.  Be creative.  Lead a prayer with the family before the meal.  Pray for them if you're just too nervous to say a word to anyone.  Anything.  Just fight for the salvation of your family.  Let it not be said we did nothing.  This is the front line of the spiritual conflict, and we can get outside ourselves, either by diving in the water or by slowly getting in.  Either way, let's get into this fight.  Let's share the gospel and see people saved as a result.

I'm sure we'll get to sit down and talk again before Christmas, but all the same, Merry Christmas and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.  I'm honored, and humbled, may Jesus Christ be the center of your life today, forever, and always!

The Heavens Declare // Photos from Hubble

19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above^[a] proclaims his handiwork.
² Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
³ There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
⁴ Their voice^[b] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
⁶ Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

We're exposed to so much CGI, artwork, action motion pictures, sci fi epic movies, sometimes we forget there is a real universe out there.  I'd rather see it with my own eyes, but here we go, real photos of the actual universe.  Beautiful.  Let's hope we aren't too desensitized from the media.  Words like "glory", "eternal", "power", "majesty" and the phrase "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty" really start to come into focus...

Source: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/

Gazing at the images from the Hubble telescope and for the first time, really breaking past the mind-washing that it all "came together by chance" and realizing inwardly.. God made this, all of this, the images seemed to come to life, glow, and my heart knew a new kind of reverence and awe. I love you Father.

Biblical Authority: Where does authority come from?

The Bible claims to contain the written word of God transmitted through His revelation to humanity, communicated (inspired) through the thoughts and ideas of human writers. 

2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV) states, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 

The Bible claims within it's pages to be breathed out by God himself. The Bible's authority comes from God himself in his communication of timeless truth. The message in the Bible stands out from all other books ever written in that it's words provide a link to the supernatural, and the result is transformed lives.

There are many reasons to believe the Bible is in fact the truthful word of a supernatural creator. The Bible is highly accurate historically, when compared to events cited in outside sources. The Bible has sold the most copies of any book ever written. It's also important to note that every human being on the planet seems unable to find fulfillment in purely human endeavors. This seems to suggest that we are created with eternity in our hearts, and need a connection to a loving higher power to satisfy us and help us find our ultimate purpose. The best evidence for the Bible is probably in the perfect life of Jesus Christ. His words cut through the most obstinate lies, and communicate the perfect lifestyle for all humans to follow.

The Bible was written by normal people of various occupations and lifestyles, but it is also the perfect word of God. 2 Peter 1:21 (ESV) states, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Inspiration means that the Holy Spirit works through divinely chosen individuals to communicate God's truth accurately. 

There is no flaw in that process, no possibility for the human to make a mistake, so what's written is considered utterly truthful and authoritative. There are no flaws in the Bible. It is correct historically, geographically, and scientifically. The Bible itself teaches that it is inerrant (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus Christ viewed the Bible as without flaw (John 10:35 ESV). The Old Testament prophets indicated they were communicating God's truth (Exodus 4:14-16). The Bible has always been considered accurate until recent times, historically the church has regarded it as inerrant. If the Holy Spirit does communicate without flaw the truth of God to divinely chosen human writers, then it must be inspired as well as inerrant.

Since the Bible is true and without flaw, then I need to accept God's authority over my life. I don't recognize the Bible's authority over my life, that would be bibliolatry. I do recognize God as sovereign, my personal Father. It's not by his law or even by his written word that I'm able to follow his commands. It's by the reception of his son Jesus Christ as savior, that I then undergo a transformative process through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I learn of God through the Bible. It effectively transmits a perfect message, but my Father is the only authority. There is no way for me to obey even some of his commands without the Holy Spirit. It is impossible for me to live eternally without Jesus Christ. I seek to grow everyday on this Christian journey, and instead of doing it alone, I constantly pray to my Father for support and guidance.

The Cross of Christ Jesus & Reflecting the Savior

One of the fundamental truths of Christianity is that there is a God and I'm not it.  And I imagine that's an underlying truth as to why so many can't stand it.  They can't hear it, but they can, and they hate themselves for knowing it and they hate you likewise for saying it.  They will try to shut you up.  They will try to get you angry.  They want you so mad that you're afraid to bring it up again.  Keep bringing it up, but only if you can do so lovingly.  If you can't, start journaling and start praying for the people you're upset with, and when you pray for them, pray for two weeks straight, that they have everything you want in life.  Then your resentments will disappear. 

Let's be lights, reflecting the son. 

Be a light wherever you stand and whenever you stand.  Whether in mental hospital or chat room, school or steak house.  Be an example of truth, kindness, and justice.  Be a reflection of the Savior.

One can never escape the very essence of Christianity, which is Christ Jesus, and the ultimate love he showed on the cross.  Many can become lost in other areas of the faith, which are worth exploring and knowing, but the heart of Christianity, the heart of the faith, is the life Jesus lived and death Jesus gave for his people, all of his people.

Is my heart filled with reverence every time I speak the name of Jesus Christ? 

That is one of the solid goals here.  We've got to understand just what Christ Jesus did on the cross, on mount calvary, two thousand years ago.  We have to understand the debt that was payed, if we're to reflect the Savior in the world today.  It's by that understanding and the impact it has on our hearts, that we begin to understand what true love is. 

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

I believe we learn to love after we receive the Savior, and begin a process of transformation.  We've all been hurt by the cruelty of this world.  We've all suffered at the hands of untrustworthy people.  That's ok.  They were not worthy of our trust or our love, but Christ Jesus is worthy of both.  Maybe a lot of us can't understand what was done at Calvary because we've locked our hearts away.  I know I did.  But the love we show for our heavenly Father will be returned a thousand fold.  It will not be betrayed or torn asunder.  We can offer that love, and by making a commitment to God he can teach us how to love again.

That's what is happening in my life.  I'm being taught how to love.  And of everything I might say about it, among all those thoughts, there is one penetrating truth: it is a good thing.  When I pass the commitment to my Father, and grant him reign over my life and input on all my decisions... well, life gets a lot easier.  It's not that life gets materially prosperous, but it is that no matter what happens I am eternally secure in my salvation.  And whenever I face a perplexing baffling situation in my life where I just don't know which way to turn, which way to go, I'm truthfully not as terrified as I would be without God.  Because I learn to get on my knees at that moment and give the situation to him.  So of course life is better with Christ Jesus, with the Father in charge.  And I would even say it gets easier, not in duty or undergoing persecution, but in the fact that I don't take it all on alone anymore, I take it on with the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE beside me.  That's how personal my God is.  

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
― C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis provides a brilliant metaphor in that statement.  The sun in our solar system is what allows us to see, even at night.  I didn't have any clue how to know a thing before I accepted Jesus Christ.  I had some vague ideas, some theories, but in the end it was all bull.  But when I became a Christian, it was by the transforming of my mind that I soon began to see the clear truth of things in the world.  Before then I had no frame of reference.  I didn't know the world was created.  I didn't know all hinged on my connection to God.  But now I do know, and experience continues to teach me that I see the truth now, like never before.  

“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.”
― Martin Luther

It's so simple, it's haunting.  Where I see simplicity, yet infinite truth, I see the hand of God at work in the world.  The Bible is full of that.  A single verse can be examined and endless pages could be written on the meaning and truth within it.  I love the Bible.  For me it is the ultimate communication of God's authority and truth.  Finally, a book that I can test all things to, and discover whether they are truthful or not.

We need that in the world today.  We need a measuring stick for our actions.  We need something to test against.  It's just like how science needs immutable laws that govern interactions in the known universe.  Without those laws there would be no order, no measurable truth to examine and expand upon.

But the Bible misinterpreted?  Oh, that's no fun.  In the classic book The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, there is a scene where "Christian" the main character is journeying along toward salvation, when a man stops him and suggests he try morality as a way to salvation.  And he then goes off the path, and attempts to climb Mt Sinai.  The symbolism is rich as Christian tries to climb the mountain where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.  That's what happens a lot of the time, especially in Catholic and Lutheran churches.  They try to climb Mt Sinai.  They try to follow the ten commandments to the letter.  But the Bible says we are no longer under the law. 

Galatians 3:25-26 (NLT) says "And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.  For you are all children^[a] of God through faith in Christ Jesus."  I don't know about you.. but to me, that seems very clear!  If man could have been made right by strictly following the law, there would have been no need for Christ Jesus.  No man can be expected to follow the law to the letter when they lack Christ within.  It's an impossible climb.  It is not a journey any man or woman can make.  The law taught us that.  Which is why we receive Christ Jesus within ourselves, and by that reception and the transformation that occurs after, we then are made good by God over time.

C.S. Lewis put it very well when he said: “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”

Can I understand the kind of love it takes for my God to redeem forever someone who earnestly does not deserve such a thing?  I quite literally did not deserve any such thing.  I was a criminal and a liar, and most completely afflicted with the deadly human ailment called selfishness.  Bill Wilson called selfishness a plague on mankind.  And we are all afflicted.  All but Christ Jesus. 

For one to come about in the world, and live a life, 33 years and more without wronging people...  Without being self absorbed...  Without cheating, without lying, without causing pain to others...  Without acting as a fool...  Without spitting in the face of God...  He lived such a life of perfection.  What did he receive for this perfection of life, this incredible, unheard of act of living a flawless life, never seen ever before or ever since in all the history of man, not ONCE?  What did he receive, being tempted in all ways that every human is, and not falling to any such temptation?  He was conspired against.  He was pushed before authorities and condemned as a criminal.  He was beaten and whipped mercilessly.  He was publicly humiliated.  He was nailed to a cross, and left to hang there until dead.  And more than that, he died and was disconnected from God, bearing the weight of all of our sins.  Every time I made a mistake, or will make a mistake in which I harm others or myself, that is one more sin Jesus had to endure in his being on the cross. 

And what did Jesus Christ say as he was on the cross, slowly dying?  He prayed, "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing."(Luke 23:34 NIV)

And then as he bore the sins, and was punished for my sins, your sins, all sins, for all time, he cried out words that haunt my very being when I hear them in my mind, when I see them in print, he cried out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  (Matthew  27:46 NIV)

What happened at that moment to Christ Jesus?  It has been debated.  But I doubt it can even be imagined.  And for that, he is my Lord and Savior.  He is worthy of my praise, he is perfect.

His LOVE is perfect.
His LIFE was perfect.
His FORGIVENESS utterly perfect.
His JUSTICE perfect.

In all ways to me, he exemplifies what DIVINITY means.

There is no other religion on the planet that approaches the uniqueness and divine character of Christ Jesus.  Once sufficiently meditated upon there is a single conclusion:  Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Immanuel, God with us, in person.  He is the historical and factual messiah.  He in fact lived and died, and rose again.  Such a personal God, to come to Earth personally to save his people... such a perfect life lived... such a perfect sacrifice... and such a divine character.  If I were not a Christian, but examining the faiths, I imagine I would look at the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and say THAT, is what a divine life looks like. 

Every time I meditate on that life, my own ability to love grows.  My own ability to receive love grows.  And I grow in admiration for my Savior.  I grow in loyalty to my God.  I grow in my transformation to be a picture of Christ Jesus in the modern world.

That is the goal.  This is the mission.  Let us live it.  Let us remind ourselves when we speak the name of Christ Jesus, of the depth and meaning within his character and within his sacrifice.  And let us remember the wonderful Good News: Christ Jesus lives!  He rose on the third day in fulfillment of scripture!  And he works in our lives individually, everyday!

I don't go into the brutal details of the death of Jesus to inspire guilt, but to inspire awe in your heart and mind for such an offering.  The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as well as our reception of that kind of forgiveness is a cause for celebration.  

In the history of the Christian church, the very first services in the 1st century were held in homes.  They would read scripture, and what struck me was that the first Christians, when they held services, held them as celebrations!  Not drudgeries or rebuking sessions, but celebrations of the salvation received through Christ Jesus, and the wonderful hope of the coming Kingdom of God! (Source: The Story of Christianity by Justo L. Gonzalez, p. 107).

I'd like to close with Romans 5:1-8 from the New International Version of the Bible.  If you're reading this as a non-believer, skeptic, or agnostic, this bit of scripture really explains what it means to be a Christian.  And if after reading you'd like to turn your life over to the universal God of all things, it's very simple and doesn't require any robes or long drawn our ceremonies.  Simply drop to your knees, wherever you happen to be, and pray to God.  Outloud, or in your mind, "Father, I acknowledge I need you in my life, I believe Christ Jesus died on the cross in payment for my many failures.  I accept Christ Jesus as my personal Savior.  Father, I give my life to you, to do with what you would.  Please, use me to your glory in the world.  In Jesus name, Amen."

Romans 5:1-8 (NIV)

5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

⁶ You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

The Council of Nicea: What was it all about?

The Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed

The situation leading up to the events of the Council of Nicea really came about as a shift in the politics of the church took place. Constantine experienced a dream that lead to a victory in battle and he then converted to Christianity, in 312 AD. In 313 Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which legalized Christianity in the eastern empire(it was already legal in the western empire). This changed a dynamic within the church. There had always been intense theological debates over various issues regarding interpretation of scripture, but those issues had always been resolved within the church. With Constantine taking power and having a vested interest in the politics of the church, the government now began to be involved in resolving theological disputes. The concern of the church under constant persecution in the past centuries had always been to survive, now with Christianity legalized across the entire empire, they could focus more attention on growth and theological issues.

There was a controversy developing between Arius a popular prsybeter, and Alexander, bishop of Alexandria. Arius believed that Jesus Christ was created by God and had issue with Jesus Christ being the same as God. Arius believed Jesus Christ to be a sort of creature created by God. Then the world was created through Jesus Christ. Obviously the labeling of Jesus Christ as a creature upset many in the developing church. Alexander held the view that the word was co-eternal with God. Arius was of the view that before anything else existed, the word was created by God. The controversy grew more and more intense between Arius and Alexander. Then Alexander as bishop of Alexandria condemned Arius's teachings and removed him from his position. Arius didn't accept this, and called on the people to support him and also contacted friends from seminary in Antioch who now held positions of prominence in the church. 

There were popular demonstrations, marches, and protests in the streets of Alexandria. Arius's powerful friends wrote letters indicating that Arius was correct and it was bishop Alexander who was teaching false doctrine. This controversy eventually threatened to divide the church in the eastern half of the empire.

Constantine had been busy defeating Licinius, but he then sent Bishop Hosius of Cordoba to try and deal with the dispute. Hosius was unable to reconcile the apposing groups debating the issue. Constantine then took a step he had been planning for sometime, by calling a grand universal council (the first ecumenical council). It would be a gathering of Bishops from across the entire empire, meeting in Nicea to discuss basic policies of the church and to resolve the dispute between Arius and Alexander. This council is now referred to as the Council of Nicea. 

There were approximately 300 bishops in attendance. Most of the bishops present were from the eastern half of the empire. There were also some bishops from the western half. In many ways it was the perfect time for a council of Godly men to get together and make tough decisions. According to White (2009), "When it began on June 19, 325, the fires of persecution had barely cooled. The Roman Empire had been unsuccessful in its attempt to wipe out the Christian faith. Fourteen years had elapsed since the final persecutions under the Emperor Galerius had ended. Many of the men who made up the Council of Nicea bore on their bodies the scars of persecution. They had been willing to suffer for the name of Christ." This is a strong defense for the council of Nicea that is often ignored by new agers and critics.

The council was divided into three groups. The first group was represented by Arius who was present at the command of Constantine. With him were some of his supporters, of note, two Egyptian bishops, and Eusebius of Nicomedia. This was the group that believed Jesus and God were not co-eternal, but that God created Jesus before creating the world. The second group believed the Arian view threatened the foundation of Christianity, led by Alexander of Alexandria and supported by Athanasius of Alexandria. The third group, probably only 3 or 4 people held a position somewhat similar to patripassianism. They believed God the Father personally experienced the passion. But for the most part, most of the bishops at the council were not members of any of these groups. 

Alexander of Alexandria won out, and the few Arians who refused to sign the creed of the council were declared heretics and thrown out.

The final creed agreed upon by the council was signed by all but two bishops of the over 300 members, an incredible achievement for such a council.  The Nicene Creed was developed as a concise summary of the Christian faith, particularly dealing with the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The creed reads as follows:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten (γεννηθέντα), not made, being of one substance (ὁμοούσιον, consubstantialem) with the Father. By whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth. Who for us men and for our salvation came down [from heaven] and was incarnate and was made man. He suffered and the third day he rose again, and ascended into heaven. And he shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead. And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost. And whosoever shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not (ἤν ποτε ὅτε οὐκ ἦν), or that before he was begotten he was not, or that he was made of things that were not, or that he is of a different substance or essence [from the Father] or that he is a creature, or subject to change or conversion51—all that so say, the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes them.

NOTES:

Galvao-Sobrinho, Carlos R. "Chapter 26 Embodied Theologies: Christian Identity and Violence in Alexandria in the Early Arian Controversy." In Violence in late antiquity: perceptions and practices, 321-331. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2006.

Hardenbrook, V. Rev. Fr. Thaddaeus . "Emperor Constantine the Great (306–337)." JCPS 3, no. 1 (2008). http://journal.orthodoxtheologicalschool.org/Hardenbrook_Constantine.html (accessed November 10, 2013).

NIV Bible. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2000.

Perry, Matt. "Athanasius and his Influence at the Council of Nicaea." Quodlibet Journal 5, no. 2-3 (2003). http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/perry-athanasius.shtml(accessed November 10, 2013).

White, James R.. "What Really Happened at Nicea?." Christian Research Institute DN206 (2009). http://www.equip.org/articles/what-really-happened-at-nicea/ (accessed November 10, 2013).

Meaninglessness and the embodiment of Meaning

¹⁵ Then I said to myself,

“The fate of the fool will overtake me also.
    What then do I gain by being wise?”
I said to myself,
    “This too is meaningless.”

16 For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered;
the days have already come when both have been forgotten.
Like the fool, the wise too must die!

17 So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. ¹⁸ I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. ¹⁹ And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. ²⁰ So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. ²¹ For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. ²² What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? ²³ All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless.

What is worthy to do under the sun my friends?  Are my activities more worthy, now that Jesus Christ has come into the world? As Abraham was justified through faith, so was Solomon.  And those he shared that message with had a good, and this was a right and true thing to be done.  But then still he claims all his toils to be meaningless. This is a very important book, as it explores the ends of all intentions and goals on the Earth.  They are all equally meaningless.  

I was leaving a Bible studying early, because I was quite upset and I wasn't entirely sure why.  It may have had something to do with my car being broken down a few miles away.  It may have had something to do with my inability to pay any sort of theoretical, yet highly probable bill that would result from the incident.  But I don't think so.  But anyway, my friend came and picked me up.  And I turned to him, as we sped away into the night in his white BMW, "Kyle, I was thinking. That both before, during, and into the future after my disaster one sentence could be added after every single thing I've done, written or said: This too was meaningless."

I had felt greatly uncomfortable during the Bible study and chose to leave.  I had found the socializing meaningless, as I often do.  I had found all the conjecture on the Bible and God equally meaningless.  Not that these things in themselves were meaningless, but that the drivel about them was meaningless.  I came outside where a middle aged man was fixing a cover over his boat.  He came over and told me stories of drinking, and chaos, and injuring his back.  I laughed, and felt a certain comradery with him, as I had been there.  But once again, it felt quite meaningless.  

I had been considering the fact that it wasn't them at all, or the topic, but that it was me.  And that my overpowering sense of meaninglessness was indeed, a personal problem, and not the problem of any other.  I hadn't considered it to be the fault of anyone there or of God, or any other.  It was of my own making.

There is great toil in this human life, to often very slim result.  This is a fallen world.  Those Christians who think everything is fine, have been led astray by mass media, news, and consumerism.  Most certainly everything is not fine.  Or was that once again only within my mind?  Perhaps everything was and is just fine, since the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This sacrifice is more than sufficient.  

I remember in my many intellectual discussions with random individuals and college students, I was sometimes told that they considered the death of Jesus Christ on a cross seemingly highly insufficient for the payment of all the sins of mankind.  If I had known then what I know now, I would have disagreed. I would have asked them if they had ever died on a cross.  I would also ask them if they understood the kind of cruelty and pain involved in such a barbaric process.  It was and probably still is the most inconceivably painful method of execution imaginable.  

Add to this crucifixion several important details.  The first detail to add is that Jesus Christ was executed having done absolutely nothing wrong, over the span of his entire life.  He was completely without flaw or error in his entire life.  This is unheard of, as much as we as humans like to pretend we're such decent people.  We most certainly fall far short of perfection, and I might even add, fall short of decency all together.   

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) lays out the most important detail of the crucifixion when considering the redemption of man kind and it says this: "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed."

On the cross Jesus Christ gathered of all the sins of man kind, from the beginning of time, and into the future, to the very end of time, to the last sin every single person would commit on the face of the Earth.  He took that into his body and felt it.  He felt the disconnection from God.  This is what Jesus feared when he became greatly troubled the night before his crucifixion.  I cannot even postulate as to what the full implications of taking into his being all the sins of man kind for all time.  I cannot even say what it might feel like, and what kind of actual sacrificial penalty was bestowed as far as pain.  

But it gives us a good clue as to our own sins and the sufficiency of the sacrifice made by Jesus.  Once for all time the scriptures say this was done. If we sin in the future, we must repent quickly, lest we do as it says in Hebrews, nail Jesus to the cross again, despite being a Christian. We are growing toward holiness and maturity. This is a beautiful process.

Hebrews 10:14 (NIV) For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

There is a process of growth and change going on within the heart of every Christian.  From all things the heart flows.  God doesn't need to change anything else.  Our heart determines the rest.  What does the Bible mean by heart?  It means our intentions and motives.  It looks to the very basis of why we do what we do!  If I help my neighbor by mowing his lawn, the act in and of itself is not a motive or intention.  Why did I do it?  God looks to my intentions and motives for this act.  Suppose I did it because I believe it's what a good Christian ought to do?  Is that at the core the motive or intention?  Probably not.  What underneath being a good Christian is my actual motive?  Do I desperately desire heaven?  Or do I desperately desire to make my Father, God, happy?  Are those good and true motives?  And if I did do it for my Father, did I also do it with joy in my heart?  Or was I resentful at my Father, considering him a cruel taskmaster in my life?   

I pray and ask God to exam my heart and change it fundamentally.  That is the core of the process of change going in seeking a lifestyle of peace.  And this is why I say, being a Christian and having peace requires a lifestyle change.  And a continued lifestyle of growth.  Attaining a loving heart doesn't happen by itself.  

And now, once again I wonder at the power of God.  I began this piece with the topic of meaninglessness.  And as I wrote I earnestly wanted to know what was not meaningless.  God has answered that question.  Was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross meaningless?  It was not.  And it may be the only earthly event that was not meaningless, but so infused with meaning, it made up for all the rest of the sin, destruction, war, disaster, famine, and meaninglessness all put together.  And God points to the process we are in as Christians, and points this out to me clearly.  

He asks me, "Is this too meaningless?"

And I reply, "I now see, it is of great meaning and substance."

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the literal infusion of meaning in my life, and in all of our lives.  And God's changing of my heart through Christ's work, is the application of that meaning in my daily life.  

Problems, Prayer, and Healing

As I was driving home from a recovery group, I suddenly pulled over my car and wrote this in a notebook on my front seat: The world around me has given me every reason imaginable to be utterly and completely skeptical. I have been given every reason under the sun to trust nothing and no one. My family collapsed around me, I have been scammed, abused, tricked, lied to, conned by people and politicians alike, I've been raped, beaten, and abused emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I felt very, very justified to believe in nothing and trust in nothing. But when I was brought so low I had nothing else period, I called out to an old recollection, a childhood myth named Jesus Christ. And the consciousness of that reality came to me as I saw my entire life transformed.

That was today.  But a few days ago I was thinking that I am the perfect person to be writing this blog.  Why?  Because I have more problems, issues, addictions, and troubles that I can count.  I started this blog at the beginning of my conversion, shortly after my baptism.  Why is that a perfect situation?  Because I share on here, every problem I face along the way, and every solution that God puts in front of me.  And I can share that.  I have very little to offer you on my own, but if I can ask God to speak through me on these, then hopefully some truth can get through.  

It was like he was preparing me.  Because ever since I was a kid I was utterly obsessed with writing.  I literally wrote all the time, about everything.  I explored and wrote in every style from prose to novels.  I worked as a journalist for six years, studied creative writing in college, and self published six books.  Rather vigorous preparation, but I enjoyed every minute of the writing.  I enjoy it today too.  So thank you Father.  And thank you for being here :)

 I don't know where that thought came from exactly, when I was driving home today.  I had just come from a very powerful group get together, with some close friends and comrades in the battle for the hearts and minds of God's people.  I was driving back home listening to sermons.  And naturally as always my head was spinning thoughts and ideas, reflecting on the path behind me, incorporating knowledge of God found through scripture and interpretations of scripture.  I was pondering why it took me so long to come to the realization of God, or more to the point, to call out for help to a higher power.  I was also pondering the relation of the failure of the United States churches to stay relevant to the cultural shifts going on in the country.  North America is the only continent where Christianity is not growing, but in fact declining.  I was pondering all of this, and boom, the idea of skepticism and my own inability to trust came into my head.  At that moment I pulled over to the side of the road, where an old man was mowing his lawn and started writing.  

I digress, as I was saying... I have more issues than most I'm sure.  And as I pray for answers, God puts them in my path.  I asked God to help me intellectualize my faith, boom, I was watching live stream for Liberty University (the college I attend) and a speech made at spring graduation last year popped up.  I watched it, and started watching as many talks as I could.  God answers prayers, and sometimes sooner than I would think.

I recall the process I would go through before I had the prayer option in front of me.  I would get a problem, and I wouldn't know the solution.  I was depressed, but I didn't know why.  And I would just think and think and think myself into utter confusion.  Was it my childhood?  Was it recent events?  Was it because I was single?  Was it because I missed my family?  If so how do I work on it?  Where is the healing?  And on and on and on.  Getting nowhere, eventually feeling this deep, ugly dread in my gut...  And I would give up.  I just can't figure it out.  And I'd go on, feeling a new sense of doom, as well as the depression.

Now, when I have a shuttering problem I immediately take a course of action that surprises me with it's effectiveness every time.  I pray.  In fact my old thought process sometimes wins out over me and it spins in my head.  And then suddenly I realize, oh yes Justin, you need to pray.  And as I talk to God about it, usually sitting on the steps in my front yard, watching the trees and the sky, I start to feel that relief.  I have a power in my life that I can take the confusion to.  And he sorts it out for me.  He puts the answer in my path.  I don't have to feel misery when I don't know.  

My favorite time to pray is at night.  I'll go outside and let my dog wander around the front yard.  And I'll stand on my front porch with my hands folded and look up at the stars.  They are so bright out here in the country.  It's true what scripture says, the heavens declare the glory of the Lord.  I'm filled with a sense of awe as I stare upward, coming to realize just how big my Father is.  Try it sometime!  

Unfortunately winter is coming up soon here, so I'll have to throw on a jacket and hat before I go out.  Won't be able to stand there in my pajamas anymore!  Haha. But really, there is no image here.  People can't stand that fake preacher mask, and they can smell it a mile away.  Why try to fake something?  Why fail to dig deep into my past?  Why fail to disclose?  Because I'm going to scare off some traditionalist Christians?  I can live with that.  I'm writing this to present Jesus Christ to everyday people and to declare his work in my life, not to project an image of myself as something I'm not. Start loving the lost, and you'll see some powerful growth.  

If you know intimately my failings, and how deep they go, and that Christ's love was enough for a messed up person like me; then you know Christ's love is more than enough for you!  

I'm working on a variety of issues within myself at this moment.  After entering recovery and getting clean and working out some issues from my past, well, it's not even close to done.  I have issues with codependency, intimacy, depression, anxiety, sleep, and so on and so forth.  So I prayed on some of those things.  God put some books on my lap, and I'm halfway through the first one so far.  It's called "Pain and Pretending" by Rich Buhler.  It's really all about coming to terms with your past.  It goes to the roots of issues in the present, by reaching back into childhood.  It combines therapy techniques with Christian methods of healing to bring in the best techniques for healing.  As I was reading the first twenty-five pages I started to tear up.  And I could feel healing taking place.  That's powerful to me. 

Later on in the book I read something that made me tear up again.  It said something to the effect of.. Many people who endured childhood abuse block out entire periods of their childhood.  Many assume it's normal to not remember huge chunks of your childhood.  But it indicates severe trauma and abuse.  And as I thought to myself, and thought back, I realized I hardly remembered my elementary school years, or anything before that, or much of my junior high or senior high experiences.  That's when I teared up.

And people can draw a lot of judgments from me disclosing that.  But it doesn't matter to me what those people think.  What matters to me, is that a few people will read this and think to themselves.. you know, I have some of the same issues.  Maybe there are solutions out there.  And they'll start researching, praying, reading books, and healing.  One person having some healing from my words, is more important to me than a thousand who laugh and smirk, and judge.  

I thought I'd close with a page from one of my daily meditation books called "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.  I highly recommend it, if you're looking for a quality morning meditation book.  It translates scripture as if Jesus were talking directly to you!  Check it out:

September 27th

RELAX IN MY EVERLASTING ARMS.  Your weakness is an opportunity to grow strong in awareness of My Almighty Presence.  When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there.  Look to Me and My sufficiency; rejoice in My radiant riches that are abundantly available to help you.

Go gently through this day, leaning on Me and enjoying My presence.  Thank Me for your neediness, which is building trust-bonds between us.  If you look back on your journey thus far, you can see that days of extreme weakness have been some of your most precious times.  Memories of these days are richly interwoven with golden strands of My intimate presence. 

Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 27:13-14
-excerpt from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.