Theology

This semester at Sac State I have the privilege of creating and teaching a class on Theology. The aim of the class is to give an overview of the character and nature of God. And such a subject brings up a lot of questions.

Theology (from the Gk: theologia, θεολογία,) is the study of God. It's a pretty big subject. But a cool thing about Theology is that one of its foundational principles is that God is knowable. He can be studied and interacted with. This may seem obvious but how wonderful this is given the alternative, that God is distant and unknowable. Unlike Deism Christianity believes that God is not some far distant creator who made the universe like a clock and is now watching it wind down. We can know God. We can be in relationship with God. God is near and discoverable. This is our hope, the fact that God has made Himself knowable to us.

In Jeremiah 29:12-14 the LORD declares "When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me." What glorious news is this!

Financial Martyrdom

This post is inspired by some profound words of Renee Hammond, and Curt Harlow's big screen TV

As someone who's income is based upon support given by a team of individuals, it is really easy to feel that part of the Call into ministry includes carrying the cross eternal poverty and financial martyrdom. Simply put to be in ministry means you will be poor.

Always.

But this is not true and it's not biblical. Full time vocational ministry is a worth-while career, and it is worth being paid to do. Paul wrote to Timothy, a young pastor, that "the scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves to be paid'" (1Tim 5:18) quoting from Deuteronomy 25:4 and Jesus' teaching in Luke 10:7. Jesus lived and funded his ministry on support (Luke 8:3). Paul lived on support, and only did tent making when the people were too immature (new) in their faith to properly support him. (1 Cor 9:1-14)

As ministers we should not live or work with this thrifty, cut-corners, cheap poverty mentality. We are not called to be poor. We are called to be good stewards with our resources, but that call is for all followers of Christ. James writes that those who teach will be judged harsher (James 3:1) but is in regards to how we are viewed by others, and does not mean ministers should be poor, but that they should set a good example in how to wisely spend money. A poverty mentality is not beneficial to God's call on our lives.

Honestly we have this concept of ministers being financial martyrs not based on scripture, but our own uneasiness with money and our belief in the American Dream. I have found that our hesitancy is rooted in our insecurity of humbling ourselves and asking others for help; of being dependent on others rather than being autonomous and self-sufficient. But as much as America may preach that message, when we examine God's word He says the exact opposite. Even in the OT (Old Testament) the priests and Levites lived off of the sacrifices of the people offered to the Lord.

So while everything in my flesh tries to discourage and resist, I choose to live on support, to provide for my family on support, and not to be poor.

Group Genetics

Back at the beginning of March the students in DCF's sister group at Woodland Community College, WCF, hosted their first outreach on campus. On March 3rd we gathered by the Library and gave out about 50 free slices of pizza as a way to bless the WCC community. It was a hit! Once people realized that we were seriously giving away pizza they gladly received.

What is funny is that free pizza was how WCF began. Back in August when Will and I were founding the group we started by giving away free pizza as a way to meet people and introduce ourselves to the WCC community. We met several of our students that way and it was great. Six months later when we were brainstorming for our March outreach the only idea that came up, and was brought up by several students, was free pizza.

It seems that free pizza has become a part of the WCF DNA, part of who the group is, what the group does. A precedent has been set, something good to be aware of.

This setting of a precedent, this genetics of a group can also be seen within Protestant denominations.

For example the conditions of the Catholic Church that Luther, Calvin, and other great reformers were reacting to still has effects upon these Reformed denominations. At the time of the Reformation the Catholic Church was causing some abuse and distortion of the Gospel to which the Reformers reacted against.

Also though there was great reason for the Protestant Reformation, there are some deleterious genetics born from such actions. Protestantism with all of its benefits started as a reaction to what they did not approve of. Though much of the Reformers' disapproval was based upon solid biblical truth, it introduced the precedent of reactionism into Protestantism. Ever wonder why there are so many Protestant denominations today while there is still only one Catholic Church? (there is variation within Catholicism as within any group that size, but unlike Protestantism it seems to be without the cost of unity) Protestantism started by breaking away from the establishment, and it has continued to splinter.

So it seems that there are many significant precedents and a lot of group genetics established whenever a group forms. The founders and pioneers can have a greater impact upon the entirety of the group than one would initially think, introducing group DNA or thoughts and precedents that carry on afterward.

A convicting litmus test

One of the most troubling and challenging quotes I have read, an idea that gnawed at me (for my benefit) and from time to time haunts me still(again for my benefit) is a quote from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity

This excerpt comes from the chapter titled "The Great Sin" and the discussion of pride:

"the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others" (p. 121)

"if you want to find out how proud you are the easiest way is to ask yourself, 'How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronise me, or show off?" (p. 122)

It is very easy for me, and my pride, to assure myself that I am a humble enough person. But a time when pride can be uncovered, when it cannot help keep itself concealed in our hearts and minds is when it comes into conflict with another's pride. Our pride is no longer hidden, it is rearing its ugly head, but often we are too enthralled with the desires of our pride to take a step back and see our pride for what it is.

The test is to see how much I am bothered by others' pride. If I am bothered by another's selfishness I can safely say it is because of my own. While it is possible to dislike pride out of righteousness, for me to credit that as my reason would simply be yet another expression of my pride. No, I am better off to note how often and how much other's pride bothers me, and use that as a gauge of my own pride. Most of the time I get ruffled by another's selfishness it's not because the situation actually warrants such feelings, but that my pride feels threatened.

I encourage you to take note of when and where you find yourself bothered by pride, and to evaluate your reasoning. You may find it intriguing and humbling to discover how much our pride is alive and well within us.

As with all things the conviction of sin is not meant to be an end, for us to wallow in, but to spur us back to Jesus who has made a way and washes us clean. If you discover, as I have with myself, that your pride is far healthier than you imagined, do not despair, do not seek (out of human pride) to fix yourself, but instead turn to Jesus who is transforming and sanctifying his bride. Amen

Conquering Strategy

A common yet effective strategy for governing a conquered people is to change their names. It has always been the victor who writes history; re-write the history of a conquered people, their names, and they lose their identity. It is interesting how much our names tell us about our identity. Giving a new name is giving a new identity. This has been practiced throughout history by numerous conquerors. A defeated nation becomes a new province under a name of your choosing to aid in demoralizing and controlling the defeated people.

This practice is illustrated during the exile in Babylon with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Nebuchadnezzar renamed them Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respectively Daniel 1:7. (it is interesting to note that of the four only Daniel continues to be called by his Hebrew name).

We have all given into this practice of renaming as well. We were created perfect and have fallen into sin and brokenness. We have forgotten who we are. We allowed the world, satan, the past, and our friends to define who we are. We are a conquered people.

But a savior has come to free us, indeed salvation is come. Jesus, who created us (John 1:3), who knows our true names, identities, and purposes has come to liberate us and call us back to the identities that we have forgotten. Victorious Jesus has conquered the world to restore and rename all of Creation. As the victor Jesus has come to give us back our names.

But his victory on earth is not yet fully realized. And we continue to forget who we are and what God is calling us to (ex. 1 Tim 4:14). We keep falling back into our old identities, who the world, the past, our friends, and the enemy say we are. Truly it is God alone, Creator of all, who knows our true identity. He knows us best. His is the true reality, not blurred by the lies and the conquest of the enemy over Humanity. Turn back to God, to Jesus, and to who you truly are and were created to be. Let us walk this journey together, and remind each other of who we are when we forget.