Lothlorien & Mordor

Are the blessings of our relative wealth and security truly blessings? Have our American lives made us into Christians who expect that following Christ will take us only and always through the Forest of Lothlorien, with all its verdant beauty and comforts?

Or, are we still willing to follow, in self-denying obedience, his Providence if takes us sometimes into Mordor, the land of fire and trial? Do we part company with him at those times when the Black Gate comes into view?

Frodo Baggins’ strength was made perfect in his weakness; he was determined to follow and complete the quest, regardless of the personal cost. Can we strive to complete the quest Christ has given us, wherever it takes us, for his sake?

The Religion of Kings

If then I had to face only the Sermon on the Mount and my own interpretation of it, I should not hesitate to say, 'Oh, yes, I am a Christian.' . . . But negatively I can tell you that much of what passes as Christianity is a negation of the Sermon on the Mount . . . And please mark my words, I am not speaking of the present moment of the Christian conduct. I am speaking of the Christian belief, of Christianity as it is understood in the West. . . . Christianity became disfigured when it went to the West. It became the religion of kings.

-Gandhi, 1927

Biochemistry

Modern science is trying to understand the human mind- What does it mean to think? to believe? to act? Some scientists are erroneously coming to the conclusion that all of these things are nothing more than the results of the chemical and electrical reactions that take place in the human brain.

Consider this. If a person's thoughts, beliefs, and actions are controlled by nothing more than automatic chemical processes in the brain, then one set of beliefs cannot be better than another. One person's pattern of thoughts and actions cannot be considered preferable to another person's pattern of thoughts and actions.

Being merely physical characteristics, we do not say that one eye or hair color is better than another. Similarly, we will soon be saying that one pattern of human beliefs or actions cannot be better than another, as they are mere physical characteristics. Because to prefer one person's physical characteristics to another person's characteristics is prejudice, and prejudice results from intolerance and insensitivity.

So how long will we continue to hold people responsible for immoral or criminal behavior? How long will it be before those who have been accused of serious crimes will assert that "It wasn't me that did it, it wasn't my fault, the chemical processes in my brain are responsible, not me."

Will there be responsibility for decisions and actions? Will there be "criminals"? Will there be "crimes"(other than "intolerance")?

The obvious error in this is that every person is more than the sum of his or her parts, more than our biochemistry. We, each of us, is a soul, given by God- that is what makes the difference. Heaven help us if we forget this.

Each of You

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification (1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV).

It was so good to hear testimonies Sunday. There’s something qualitatively different about Christians from different backgrounds sharing and contributing and having their voices heard. It is such an encouragement to them and to all of us. Some may think, “I don’t have anything to say” or “I don’t know the right words.” But everyone who knows Christ, everyone who has shared in the Spirit, does indeed have something to say- something very important to say. A simple and sincere testimony by a brother or sister with a tender heart toward God can be a very effective in the lives of others. Is not God’s power made perfect in our weaknesses?

Magic & Pasta

"Life is a combination of magic and pasta."

-Fellini

Vehicles

Brother Rick, Also, I have a thought or two about your idea for the men's gathering on Nov 18. Your idea to emphasize the primary importance of Christ (and therefore the secondary importance of House Church practice and many other things) is valid and needed, based on my limited experience.

In fact, I was thinking earlier this morning that the House Church as vehicle (not destination) metaphor is helpful- and it perhaps could be expanded to include the idea that when things other than Christ are emphasized above Christ, the vehicle will remain in neutral and there will be no forward motion (no growth).

Another thing that keeps the vehicle in neutral (the vehicle may have an impressive appearance, but it does not provide transportation toward the goal) is when brothers and sisters do not have a teachable spirit. This is a problem, in my opinion.

Interestingly, I sense that the folks at Cambridge for the most part are teachable, but in my exposure to HC, most fellowships are not like the one in C. There is too often a "I have the answers and I have the correct doctrine and I have the correct ecclesiology" attitude- and often a rigidity about details of church practice that outweighs the importance of the particular detail(s). This attitude can be overt or masked, to some extent.

You may share these thoughts when you meet on Nov. 18 if you wish- with or without my name- it doesn't matter to me.

I don't know yet if I will attend, but I do appreciate the invitation. I'll read Finny's essay and get back to you.

I love you in Christ, brother and I greatly respect you and your walk and your humble service to the Lord.

cs

Can't Sleep

It's 1:49AM and I should be deep into snoozeland, but I'm wide awake. I got up and read in the book of Hebrews and did some email. Now I'm going to empty my head, so to speak, and get some thoughts down. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with my mind racing if I haven't had enough down time in the evening to unwind.

After work I went to a planning meeting for Purpose Driven Life Celebration Sunday, got home around 7:30, had some supper (a hot dog with kraut, beans, corn, and cold tea), looked over the New London Day, got ready for bed, read a few pages in a devotional commentary on Hebrews, and went to sleep around 10. Maybe I should have stayed up a little longer to unwind more. Playing the guitar relaxes me, but I didn't do that tonight.

I particularly enjoy Bach and Mozart. Bach has such rich harmonies and counterpoint and sounds great on the classical guitar. Mozart's harmonies are simpler but the melodies are so logical and beautiful (an odd combination when you think about it) that he is a joy to play, although Mozart sounds better on a piano than a guitar. I'd love to play now, but it wouldn't help the rest of the household get beauty sleep, would it?

The meeting at church seemed to go OK, even though lots of folks were not in attendance so we didn't have a whole lot of input. But we did generate some ideas. The packaged program is pretty good and a lot of thought has gone into it- but it's just way too much to accomplish in 40 days (which is of course a great number, biblically speaking).

But I wonder if the same material spread over 60-80 days wouldn't be more beneficial for most people. Most folks just can't process that much new material and information in such a short time (it's easier for those who have a framework of basic New Testament thinking)- just my perspective, for what its worth.