Christianity Is a Straitjacket

I find this quite the funny statement. I believe that non-believers would like Christians more if Christianity WAS a straitjacket. So you become a Christian and upon your baptism or confirmation or testimony, you are bound, be it invisibly, to the Law of Moses and the Gospel of Jesus. A Christian loves everyone unconditionally regardless of their imperfections. And we become the last; uplifting everyone else we come into contact with first. Then we couldn’t be called hypocrites, huh?

But it’s not a straitjacket, is it. We still have freewill. We can do what is right and we can do what is wrong. Sometimes without thinking and sometimes intentionally.

No, I think the statement for this chapter would be more aptly called – “Christians want to put everyone else in a straitjacket”. It is our way or the highway. Christianity would seem to put a hamper on individuality. (The author takes the time to address the fact that individualism is a Western idea and is not a problem in other cultures.)

It is true, ideally, being a Christian requires that you put everyone else first. That you submit yourself to the service of others. God first, others second, you last. Being a Christian sometimes means that you cannot do what you want to do. But in a humanitarian point-of-view, is that such a bad thing?

I really want a Starbucks coffee. My drink of choice rings up at a whopping $5.05. It will give me that burst of caffeine to finish my errands, chauffeur my daughters, muddle through 6^th grade math, all with a smile on my face. I am happy for the 15 minutes it takes me to savor my drink. Meanwhile, that $5.05 could feed one starving child three meals a day for a little over a week through Feed My Starving Children. My little sacrifice of a luxury would mean the extended life of a child.

More importantly, I don’t think anyone really wants everyone else to individually determine truth for himself. We would have anarchy. A criminal’s best defense would be, “I was merely expressing my individualism”.

I don’t want to continue following that logic… It is a dark road with grey lines.

I rather share that I find ample opportunity to express my individual talents and skills through volunteering at my church, children’s school and in my community. My Spiritual gifts are Knowledge, Creative Communication and Craftsmanship. And there is no end to the possibilities to put them to good use – sometimes sacrificially and other times for my own joy. And I am blessed to be able to serve the children for they keep me childlike in my faith.

But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” Luke 18:16-17 (esv)

I loved my daughter’s memory verse for this morning. (Definitely a Christian using the Bible to support my beliefs.)

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20

How Could a Good God Allow Suffering?

I had such a hard time posting what I did yesterday. Perhaps because the statement, that yes, it is possible that there is only one true religion, was harsh. But that isn’t the real reason. The reason was pride. I felt hopelessly ineloquent and in sufficient. And I could have written a book yesterday, but it wouldn’t have been any more coherent. I’d still be clanging cymbals.

I realized something. No one is ever going to convince me that there is no God with an evolutionary explanation because I do not believe in Big Bang theory and the cosmic sludge. Alternately, I am never going to convince an atheist of the existence of God from my Creation World View. So when I start writing today, I have to begin with the beginning with a paradise, a man and a woman.

The author quotes a reporter writing “If God is God, he’s not good. If God is good, he’s not God. You can’t have it both ways, especially after the Indian Ocean catastrophe.” The reporter was speaking of the tsunami of December 2004. To reiterate, if God is a good god, he would not have allowed such a disaster to happen and thus he must not be an all-powerful god because it did occur. If God is powerful enough to stop disasters, but won’t, then he cannot be good.

There are two kinds of people. The kind who draw near to God when bad things happen and lean upon Him for comfort and support. And the kind who are angry at God and deny Him.

I say, it is not God’s fault that there is suffering in the world. It is ours. Even the natural disasters. You see, God made Adam and gave him a beautiful paradise. Adam didn’t have to work. God provided everything that Adam would need. Adam was lonely and God made every good creature and even let Adam name them. What a generous Father. I would have selfishly named them myself. God recognized that Adam needed something more – a partner – and made him Eve.

Both Adam and Eve had a very special relationship with their Heavenly Father. They walked with Him and talked with Him and loved Him. God gave everything including Himself to them in exchange for their obedience. Unlike today’s parents who have a list of rules for their children to follow, bedtime, healthy food, no light sockets, respect, listen; God had one rule – Don’t eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That’s it. They broke that one rule and disaster struck.

They were kicked out of the garden. Adam had to work for a living. Eve had to have childbearing pains. Their intimate relationship with God was cut off. He is perfect and will not tolerate wickedness.

As their progeny increased, so did the wickedness and God decided to end it all with the Great Flood. He decided to start anew with the only persons He found righteous – Noah and his family. I learned about the Hydroplate Theory a few years ago. This link is the best way I can share it with you. The class I took included explanations for dinosaurs and comets. It was amazing and enlightening. But the earth is still settling from the fall. It is still moaning for its Maker.

You see, the wickedness of the people that began with Adam and Eve’s first sin, was truly so great an act of rebellion against an all-good, all-powerful, all-perfect, all-loving God that it ruined everything. We have all been slowly dying ever since. It will only get worse.

And God is truly loving because from the beginning He made a provision. He would and did send His one and only Son to stand in our stead. God allowed His Son to suffer in our place. The Son, Jesus, bore the total abandonment of His Father so that we wouldn’t be abandoned – lost.

You might think suffering unfair. Jesus dying on my behalf is unfair. And Jesus died for every single God-forsaken one of us. And when Jesus comes again, it will all be made perfect again.

For those who love the idea of Jesus, but do not love the idea of God…

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. John 14:8-11 ESV

There Can’t Be Just One True Religion

Sure there can. There is only one answer for many things despite our best efforts to prove otherwise.

Here is the way I see it – yes, as a Christian by way of inheritance*. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (esv). Jesus didn’t say He was ONE of the ways or A way. He said THE way.

Jesus made provisions for all nations and not just one people. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20a. He didn’t come to establish a religion for a single culture. He came to save everyone.

Jesus commissioned more than one person and more than one type of person to spread His Good News. I recently read Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur. I devoured it. It shows how Jesus didn’t choose amazing men to follow Him. He picked ordinary, hopelessly flawed individuals – which gives me hope.

Jesus also chose Paul the Apostle who wrote: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul represented Jewish religious power and authority. He was a great speaker, unlike Peter. He was well-educated. He spent time on both sides, he persecuted the early Christians and he was persecuted.

These are the men Christ chose. And He also called people like me. Can I tell you the number of times I was not chosen to be on a team? Can I tell you the number of times that I was not accepted? Can I tell you the number of times it was pointed out to me that I didn’t belong, that I was a waste of space, that I was a loser? Or that I didn’t have the skills, talent, education, personality, character necessary. But Jesus chose me.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are. 1 Corinthians 1:25-28

Simplify. Jesus is the way. He chose His followers to spread His story to everyone else. We are Plan A. There is no Plan B. In some respects we have succeeded – Christianity is prolific. In many respects we have failed – inquisition, Holocaust. Heck, many people find Christians to be very UnChristian. Good grief. I agree.

But it is not about me, or us, or any of us. It is all about Jesus. And many self-described atheists like Jesus. If the Christ-followers, myself included, were more Christ-like, we would be a force to be reckoned with.

And this is what gets me – they like Jesus. They like what He stands for. They like what He preached. They like His style. They think He is a great preacher, teacher and prophet. But they also believe Him to be a liar. Contradictory in my opinion.

I realize that this rambling stream-of-consciousness. I realize that I’m not about to convince a skeptic with my Bible-based logic. But I am remembering how I got here and why I stay here. But if I am gonna stay here. I need to do a better job as a Christ-follower. I cannot complain about the state of things, if I am not willing to work for change.

We require oaths out of thirteen year-olds and are surprised when they are unable to keep them. What adult succeeds?

*I am a Christian and I am raising my children as Christian. My parents are Christian. Their parents were Christian. Their grandparents were Christian. We can trace our Christianity back many generations. I pray that we can watch our children and grandchildren pass our beliefs forward into the future.

“I find your lack of faith – disturbing.”

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller

Introduction – “I find your lack of faith – disturbing.” – Darth Vader 

I haven’t been here in a while. Not in a long while. Not since last September. I believe I burned out. I set out to do too much. I set a goal that was unrealistic. And I found it unbelievably easy to stop. And I got lazy. I sleep in in the morning, not that I am any less tired. I am exhausted. Emotionally exhausted. And no better. Probably worse. I lost faith. In a person? An idea? A place? Myself?  

Although I have thought about this place on occasion, today was the first day I had a desire to write something. That little nudge in my brain that I need to do it. That it might be helpful. And I figured I ought to write before that brief flash of desire disappeared. It might be fleeting, whether that is what I want or not. 

A friend posted a video of the author being interviewed about this book. I watched. The video had a link to a lecture he gave at a university. I followed. I was spellbound. I prepared chicken fingers and cleaned my kitchen while I mostly listened, but sometimes found myself watching. The laptop followed me room to room. Two hours passed, but I didn’t feel guilty. I wanted the book. 

That’s another thing entirely. I didn’t want to buy another book that would end up in my special Christian Non Fiction hideaway in my basement under a dresser. Or worse – in my trunk. They get passed around a little, but I just don’t have shelf space for them. But I played with the idea of downloading the book onto my laptop… Pre Kindle flirting? Gasp! 

But what happened… I started reading reviews. Hundreds of 5 star reviews. What is the point in that? I skipped to the 1 star reviews. That is the dirt! And there I found those pesky atheists having a field day. But  read and read and was thankful that I hadn’t dished out any money. The argument presented in the book has holes in it for the unbelieving crowd. Like I should have been surprised! 

But I was bored in Bible Class this morning. And deeply depressed and distressed and tears. There is more and more of that. And I checked the online catalog on my phone – and I had my “sign”. DPL owned the book. And now it is temporarily mine.

 I read the introduction first thing and I found most excellent advice for myself:

“I commend two processes to my readers. I urge skeptics to wrestle with the unexamined ‘blind faith’ on which skepticism is based, and to see how hard it is to justify those beliefs to those who do not share them. I also urge believers to wrestle with their personal and culture’s objections to the faith. At the end of each process, even if you remain the skeptic or believer you have been, you will hold your own position with both greater clarity and greater humility.”

What a terrific challenge! You see, I am surrounded by atheists and skeptics. And I tend to hold the same feelings as they do… those hypocritical Christians are the worst! (Myself included.) 

And I am also terribly ashamed to be considered backwards and unenlightened and stupid and stubborn. Okay, yes. But I can be brilliant. I am educated. Please, don’t lump me in with those Christians. Much like the author, I am looking for my “band of brothers and sisters”. Like-minded people who happen to be Christian and Cool. Hahaha. If there is  such a thing.

 “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24b (ESV)

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:6 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Truth

Okay, so now I’m a day late and the story is four days old. So very much happened today. I’ve been inundated with odd, strange, perplexing and am overwhelmed. I threw myself into “work” on Friday and made a delicious Indian spiced chickpea and fire roasted tomato soup. Seriously. Watered all of the plants. Finished the laundry including putting it away. Washed the dishes – twice – and put them away. I accomplished sooooo much. Just not much reading OR writing. Which leaves me feeling unfinished.  

But at the end of the day, I thanked the Lord for keeping me on task and completing more than I would normally require for myself. Including driving to the grocery store – thrice! I thanked Him because while I kept myself busy, my mind did not stray. As the current Sunday School song states, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” Am I turning a new leaf? 

The story: I’m a librarian. A children’s librarian. In library school you learn about the proper way to direct the “reference question.” Sometimes the patron knows exactly what they want, but are unable or unwilling to explain themselves. Sometimes the patron isn’t sure of what they want, and it’s the librarian’s job to help them discover it. Regardless, we have to dig for information so that we are able to supply the patron with the material they require. We certainly don’t want them to leave disappointed or empty-handed. 

So I overheard a reference assist. I couldn’t stop myself from listening… The adult male was asking for a series of books for which he didn’t have any of the pertinent information – exact title, author - that kind of stuff. The librarian, amazingly, found them with the aid of our online catalog. Unfortunately, the library didn’t own them, but we could request them from another library for him. 

The patron was very excited to request them and handed over his library card. Unfortunately, it was expired. To which he replied, he no longer lived in the city limits perhaps we should try his new card from a local library. Bingo! 

Except that he had already requested the books… according to the system – not the man. The librarian explained that we couldn’t make them come any quicker. He would just have to wait. 

Well, that was fine, he had just requested them that morning at his local library. He had just hoped that we had them and he could get them sooner. The librarian explained that he could get them sooner if he went to the library that owned them. He was more than willing. 

But only one library was public, the rest were school libraries. He could only get one that very day, but he better call ahead in case it was already pulled for him. It might go into transit in the meantime. He wouldn’t want to waste a trip. 

It occurred to me, listening, that if he just would have come out and spoke the truth from the get go, the whole conversation could have been reduced to a few simple clicks. Later the librarian pointed out to me that had he asked at his local library, they could have told him everything he needed to know without ever driving into town. 

Why do they make it so difficult? Patrons. Men. (lol). It’s like pulling teeth. What do they have to lose by withholding the truth? Lying really. And it all came out in the open in the end anyway. 

And then I recalled that I sometimes, often, operate in the same way. I avoid the truth. Why? I’m not precisely sure. Maybe because the truth doesn’t seem good enough. Why do I have to provide an excuse and often a made up one? Why does that seem better? 

How many hours do we waste because we refuse to be open, honest, vulnerable? Why do we speak the untruths? I think the guy was playing dumb. I don’t think that’s what I do. Either I try to be nice and polite and considerate. I don’t want to hurt anyone. Or I want to lend more weight, credence to my side of the story. 

Anyway. It was a funny story. To a librarian. But I ended up pointing four fingers back at myself even as I pointed one at him. 

It’s much too late to write. I’m tired and flushed. Right now I want to be romanced by God. I’m intrigued. I’m looking back at the times He sent me Love Messages and I didn’t recognize them for what they were. Now I want to ask for more and hope to see them… 

Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,
and the king will desire your beauty.

Since he is your lord, bow to him.
Psalm 45:10-11 (ESV) 

And there was my first! Thank you Lord Jesus.

Shaking off the old

Hey, I know. I’ve been missing in action. I could say I have been busy – which I am. I could say I have been sick – which I am. I could say I have been tired – again, which I am. These might all be factors, but they’re still not quite the truth.  

I completed my mission and while I am not finished – I won’t be finished until Jesus’ Second Coming – I’m not angry. It’s so very easy to vent. Page upon page of madness flows so very freely. And I’m not angry anymore. Frustrated and disappointed periodically, but not demonically raging. 

And I don’t want this to be about me and my “rightness”. I want to be authentic in such a way that others can join me. We can be vulnerable and wounded and supportive and nurturing. And encouraging. I am hopelessly flawed. We all are, but in different ways. I don’t want to have to hide it behind a façade. 

I read the blogs of others… and some are so “perfect” that I don’t believe them. I find them to feel fake. And others are so real that I always come away so very uplifted. And then there are the angry and lost ones. It scares me how very many people are angry and lost. I am not unique. But it makes me want to do better. To be encouraging and not enabling. 

You know, there is another reason why I haven’t been writing. I haven’t had a book. Not entirely true. I’ve had one, but I’ve been trying to make myself fit into a mold that really isn’t meant for me. I hate to quit. But I did. Pat on the back. A Co-worker mentioned Captivating by the Eldridges. The library had it, I grabbed it. And I haven’t been insanely anal about reading it. I read a chapter when I have a spare moment. But I find that I would like to continue. I keep gravitating to it. 

And what have I discovered? I’m not alone. I’m not the only one who always gets anxious when I go to meet someone. Even someone whom I consider a friend. I get nervous. I will drive around the block several times to avoid arriving early. I am so timid. I fear rejection or not being good enough. I feel so much better when I just say, I don’t know what I should do, so please direct me. As I get comfortable, I no longer need the direction. But I’m so afraid of doing something wrong. 

I feel no such compulsion when I’m writing. For some reason, I have no qualms about speaking my mind when I’m writing. I can open up mouth and insert foot with relish. But put me in front of people as “Alissa” and you can hear a pin drop. Laughing. 

I’d like to share a story with you. Tomorrow … Until then, 

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV)

Holy Discontent

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17

Step 2: Holy discontent with the status quo

“As long as we are content with the status quo, we will not discover God’s vision.”

“Vision often comes in times of desperation.”

Sometimes you read a book and certain words just ring true. You recognize yourself in them. Discontent. Dissatisfaction… Security in Sameness.

I just finished reading a book called Divergent by Veronica Roth. That’s the kind of book I enjoy. The kind of book when there is an enormous societal problem and the children become the revolutionaries – unwilling rebels in some cases. The underdog saves the world… The Son saves the world.

Have I said this before? I need something. Something BIG to knock us from our complacency. It’s frightening to ask for such a thing. In some cases, it’s really not appreciated. I get so excited to hear that another earthquake happened. There’s another hurricane on its way. Creation is groaning! I want the End Days. And that is a ridiculous thing to ask for because I’m not prepared. Ill-prepared.

I don’t know. I want to find vision. The book says I must prepare for it. I know what I think I need to jumpstart myself. And I’ve got all of these little bitty pieces that must fit together somehow.

What goes into my make-up. What thrills me. What sets my blood on fire. People talk about leaving their comfort zone. People suggest I try something different. What they don’t realize is that I want something drastically MORE so.

So do I write about it? Create my own little world. Or do I live it? Can I write what I want as a place to start?

I’ve always felt suffering was a part of being a Christ-Follower. But we hardly suffer. I suffer emotionally more from other believers than from n0n-believers. I see a lot of candy-coated suffering. I’d almost prefer a bullet.

When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.
Nehemiah 1:4a