Misc.

(5) Sermon at The Way of Life Community Church

Me and J.D.

Our point person throughout the trip was a pastor by the name of J.D. Landis. J.D. came to Mobile from Pennsylvania in the 60’s with his wife two weeks after they had just been married to serve in the Mennonite Volunteer Service. On Sunday, I was given the opportunity to give a sermon at The Way of Life Community Church in Mobile, AL, which is the church at which J.D. pastors. I spoke on Luke 18:9-14 and the call for Christians to be humble people. I don’t know about you, but I don’t get many chances to guest speak and so I really enjoy it. No one called me a “heretic” or walked out on me so I guess the people enjoyed it too (which could mean it wasn’t really that good).

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Tattoo

Have you ever had a debate with someone over what the Bible says? Well, I have. It isn’t always pleasant, but, often, it can be beneficial for you (and sometimes, for both parties). One instance in my own life was with my grandfather (who has now passed away) over the dreaded issue of (duh, duh, dum)…tattoos. I truly found nothing wrong with Christians having tattoos, and I was pretty confident about it. My grandfather on the other hand did not agree. In fact, he found out about a previous discussion I had with my dad about tattoos, and, at an after-church lunch one day, he handed me a 3×5 card with a verse from Leviticus, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the LORD” (19:28 NLT). I thanked him and responded that this verse is from Leviticus, and, unless we were expected to keep the ceremonial laws, then I would have to disregard it. We went back and forth for some time, but, eventually, we agreed to disagree.

Now, I don’t have tattoos. It’s not that I don’t want one or think they are “evil.” It’s just that I’d rather feed my family. My brother does have tattoos; perhaps, one day I will join him (and, Jon, if you are reading this, you’re welcome for fighting those battles with Mom and Grandpop :)). However, I thought about this conversation with my grandfather, particularly, after his death. It just didn’t do it for me to say, “Well…that’s the Old Testament. Disregard it.” Somehow, I think I remember the Church deciding that such things were heretical. So, how would I approach something like this in the future?

The Last Word (2005)

Voila! Enter N.T. Wright’s The Last Word and his five-act hermeneutic. The five-acts are as follows: creation, fall, Israel, Jesus, and the church. We are currently living in the fifth act “the church” (In case you were wondering, this is not dispensationalism). There are several things to highlight about this:

• NTW explains,

This act began with Easter and Pentecost; its opening scenes are the apostolic period itself; its charter text is the New Testament; its goal, its intended final scene, is sketched clearly in such passages as Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 15, and Revelation 21-22. The key point of the whole model, which forms the heart of the multi-layered view of how “the authority of scripture” actually works, runs as follows: Those who live in this fifth act have an ambiguous relationship with the four previous acts, not because they are being disloyal to them but precisely because they are being loyal to them as part of the story (p. 122).

• He continues, “We must act in the appropriate manner for this moment in the story; this will be in direct continuity with the previous acts (we are not free to jump suddenly to another narrative, a different play altogether)” (p. 123; emphasis original).
• This leads us to a state of “improvisation” within Act 5. Creativity is allowed, but we are acting within the play. For instance, if one was improvising within a Shakespearean play, he or she would not add spaceships to the play. They simply don’t work within that framework.
• What about tradition? Wright correctly explains that tradition is a “grid” on how to interpret Scripture (p. 118). There are scenes that have gone before us in Act 5. If we are to jump in now, we must take into account what has already happened in our Act. To disregard tradition is like me saying, “I don’t care who my grandfather was or where my parents lived most of my life. They don’t make me who I am. I am me.” And then I go about acting as if these things never existed or don’t influence my behavior. Such is certainly not true and is absurd (as at most a psychologist could tell you or at least my Philly accent gives it away that my history makes me who I am today).

So, back to the issue at hand — what do you say to the Christian who thinks tattoos are evil? Perhaps you consider the Act in which Leviticus was written (i.e., Israel), then look at Act 4 with Jesus, and then Act 5 with the apostles and so forth; and then you conclude that tattoos are a matter of Christian freedom–just like wearing a shirt made of two cloths. I know it takes some time to explain how this works to someone, but it might be time that we give people a better framework on how to interpret Scripture. For instance, I don’t know how one can believe in the “prosperity gospel” if he or she reads the Prophets or the Gospels (or church history for that matter). That’s like spaceships in a Shakespearean play!

As I stated yesterday, I don’t agree with Wright on everything in this book, but, overall, I believe this is how the authority of Scripture works, like a story, like a five-act play. It is a guiding principle. It leads us to better understand who God is and what his mission for us is, as well. In the end, Wright’s The Last Word encourages us to read Scripture, wrestle with it, and allow it to guide us each and every day. Score 8 out of 10.

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Wright, N.T. (2005). The last word: beyond the Bible wars to a new understanding of the authority of Scripture. Harper: San Francisco.

Buy: Amazon.com

[As I speak with many college students, I feel like many of them are going crazy because they have jam-packed schedules. And it made me think of a post I wrote November 22, 2008. I think it is extremely relevant for my own life right now, too].

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

-Exodus 20v8-11 TNIV

I think the idea of “sabbath” (or rest) has been lost on many of us, Christians (particularly, in America). We ultimately have fallen into the idea that we (the Church) need to be best, fastest, quickest, coolest, most exciting people because otherwise the world will look elsewhere. I think this is somewhat true, and there is great benefit in attempting to attract the “un-churched” (for lack of a better term). However, in our attempts to be these things, we have inevitably lost sight of the beauty of sabbath, the beauty of rest.

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The following is a theme-study I did for a class at Biblical Seminary on the New Testament term parousia:

Jesus’ disciples pose an interesting question to Jesus, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming [parousia], and of the end of the age” (Mt. 24:3 NAS)? Jesus speaks of his parousia as a monumental event. He states, “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man be” (v. 27), and “will be just like the days of Noah…they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming [parousia] of the Son of Man be” (vv. 37, 39).

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St. Patrick

Lorica

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

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Source of poem here.

I was searching for a video for my presentation for one of my classes, and I ran across this. This is still one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen:

Can I Get a Witness?

For one of my classes at Biblical Seminary, I was asked to summarize Brian Blount’s Can I Get a Witness? Reading Revelation through African American Culture. The following is a chapter-by-chapter summary ending with my thoughts on a very good book.

Chapter 1: “The Revelation of Culture”: Brian Blount suggests that any interpretive schemes seeking objectivity are pointless since in the end “all readings are politically situated” (p. 12). Instead, one should admit his or her cultural standpoint and read the text through his or her cultural lens. The reader should seek “what Revelation means for us” (p. 5). With this being said, the most appropriate method is that of cultural studies. Blount suggests that culture is simply the sharing of experience (p.8), and all interpretations have “meaning potential.” If this is the case, biblical interpretation takes into account various opinions and participates in the “construction of meaning” (p. 22), specifically valuing the conclusions of “previously marginalized contemporary communities” (p. 25). This does not allow for a subjective, “anything goes” interpretive style, but it simply suggests that “the case is always open” (p. 35).

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^6-8Then I heard the sound of massed choirs, the sound of a mighty cataract, the sound of strong thunder:

Hallelujah!
The Master reigns,
our God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Let us celebrate, let us rejoice,
let us give him the glory!
The Marriage of the Lamb has come;
his Wife has made herself ready.
She was given a bridal gown
of bright and shining linen.
The linen is the righteousness of the saints. (Revelation 19:7, The Message)

This past weekend I was privileged to be the “best man” in my brother Jonathan’s wedding. As you may know, the best man is attributed the duty of a “best man speech.” I have given one in the past, and I was pretty sure I knew what I wanted to say. But, as the ceremony proceeded, I began to think differently. My brother decided to write his own vow to my sister-in-law (to-be) Katie. Often, I’m not a fan of written vows, but Jon’s was really good. He pledged himself to her, and, as he read his pledge, his emotions began to express themselves through none-other-than metaphor.

Metaphor often expresses which we so desire to express, but we can’t do so “literally.” And I find it incredibly beautiful that, when Scripture decides to express it’s emotion of the joyous coming-together of Christ and his Church, it uses none-other-than the metaphor of marriage.

So, I shared that with my brother and his bride.

Isn’t it beautiful? Christ is being united with his Church (!), and the only way the writers of Scripture can express this is through the language of bride and bridegroom.

I believe that our human marriages are no less than a signpost to the marriage of Christ and his Church. So, when you and I witness a marriage between two humans, we are in turn seeing the beauty of Christ the bridegroom being united to the Church his bride. We get a glimpse of the future. We see heaven come to earth. Therefore, let’s not take the spectacle of the marriage ceremony lightly. Let it be a reminder to us. May we see heaven come and meet earth in none-other-than two lowly beings sharing vows, rings, and a kiss in this brilliant metaphor.

Maybe I’m just old school, but I feel that church decisions should be left up to the church’s leadership.

I know a number of occasions where a church’s leadership has become power hungry and does not desire what is best for the community but for itself (let’s be honest, you know them, too). However, I know an equal or greater number of occasions where church leadership has made better decisions in the short term and long term that I, personally, would have (let’s be honest, you know these situations, too). If you stick around a church long enough, you will see a mix of both, but, if we truly believe that God has called our leaders to their places of leadership, shouldn’t we trust them?

Have you ever heard of a situation like this? — church people: “God has called this pastor to our church.” Then, about a year later, the pastor makes one decision that the people don’t like…church people: ”Pastor, God has called us to let you go because he wants to do more with you elsewhere but not here.” — it’s a ludicrous situation! We would all say that the church over-reacted, but we often treat our church leadership the same way, don’t we?

We must trust our church leadership, even when we disagree. A local church must be willing to listen to its congregants, but, as soon as it comes to “decision time,” the church leadership must make the best decision based upon those voices. If you think the church’s carpet should be red (and you have “everyone” on your side), and the leadership goes with blue carpet, trust that they listened, and they made the right decision. And let’s be sincere, if the leadership makes a poor decision, they will go “down with the ship,” and most congregants will have moved on by then because they have the luxury to leave. However, if it’s a great decision and one that brings life to the church, most of the dissenters will never say anything in gratitude.

The problem is that many of us believe we have the “right” to make decisions in our church. That’s a nice idea, and it most certainly is a nice American idea; but, in reality, it’s well…not realistic, and it’s not very fruitful. When we start to think of a church as “our” church, we’ve run into a huge problem, which needs to address.

I’m not saying this will be easy so “no sweat,” but it’s not your church, or my church; it’s Christ’s church. Many will say, “Well, Evan, you don’t know! It’s easy for you because now you are a ‘church leader.’” See, I’ve been on both sides of the coin. I’ve been burned by church leadership, and I’ve been a church leader. I’ve had my salary cut from the church budget, and I’ve been one of the decision-makers for someone else’s income. I’ve been told I’m too young and immature to understand (and perhaps, I was), and I’ve had to tell people that, too. I’ve seen the church as my church, and it’s not healthy. Why? As I said, it’s Christ’s church.

So, I say brothers and sisters; let’s refrain from back-biting or gossiping about our church leadership and their decisions. But let’s trust them, and support them. Let’s submit to them as they submit to the Lord.

Thomas Turner from EverydayLiturgy.com will be guest blogging for me while I’m on vacation this week. Thomas brings a world of great thoughts for the church and especially its mission. Enjoy! I’m off to the Outer Banks!