The Rambling Disciple

What is your favorite way to describe God? Is there a particular name of God in scripture that you are drawn to? What images and pictures come to mind when you think of God? These are questions I don't think we ask often enough. We all have an image of God in our heads that we work with. It may not be a literal picture, though it might be, but ideas and concepts we tend to associate with who God is. Some of those images and associations may come from the Bible, but some may not. These things are influenced by our upbringing, Bible reading habits, personalities, relationships, culture, and more. The way we picture God has a dramatic impact on the way we live our lives. For example, if the primary idea you have of God is "Healer," when you hear or read that you are made in God's image you will likely feel called to heal, be it physical ailments or spiritual wounds. But, if your primary image of God is "Judge," that changes things. You very likely might tend to...

One of the most common questions I have heard in the context of Bible classes and small group discussions is "How does this apply to us?" Or it comes in a comment like "I think this applies to my life by..." Generally speaking, if a sermon or lesson is not obviously "applicable" then it isn't considered good. If the topic does not have something to say specifically about my life, struggles, situation, or context then it is of no use. Applicability is a double edged sword, in my opinion. We obviously want the lessons and sermons we hear in church or the devotional books we read at home to speak to our lives. Every time I teach or preach I want the people I am speaking to come away with something that helps them in their walk with Christ. I want to be "applicable." The double edge is that I think we too narrowly and selfishly use the term "applicable," hence my use of quotes. When someone complains that a lesson or sermon isn't ...

What is the primary way we use Scripture today? I think the answer, at least in our society, is private reading and study. The majority of our spiritual advice can be summed up in "study the Bible more." The moral of many sermons is simply that we don't read the Bible enough. I think that this is absolutely true, but I probably mean something a little different. While I obviously agree that we, in general, don't read the Bible enough individually that isn't actually my main gripe. I think we don't read the Bible enough out loud, in community, as a part of worship. This, I think, should be a central part of our gatherings every week. We should simply read the Bible out loud and listen together in community. How much is the Bible read aloud in your gathering? I'm talking specifically about just reading, not during sermons or classes. How often is the Bible simply read without someone commenting on or explaining it? Just the Scriptures read aloud for all to h...

I think that it is relatively safe to say that in many of our churches there is no real difference between the act of teaching and preaching. Sure, we tend to regard teaching as more interactive and preaching as less so, but otherwise they are pretty much the same. Whether someone is teaching or preaching they are typically trying to impart knowledge and encouragement. In essence what we have is just teaching in slightly different modes. Biblically speaking teaching and preaching are actually two different things. They are translated from two different Greek words that aren't even related to each other. Teaching comes from the word didasko  and preaching from the word kerygma . This tidbit of Greek should help us think about these two activities as different, even though in our culture preaching and teaching have become synonymous. So what's the difference between preaching and teaching? Well, teaching is about instruction and building up the knowledge of a student. This is whe...

I think that most of the time we all hate being uncertain. We like stability and the comfort of being sure that we want, believe, or profess to know is true and good. We want our relationships with our friends, family, and other loved ones to be well defined. It's uncomfortable to not know where you stand with someone you care about.  The same is true in matters of religion and faith. We like certainty, of being sure that we are on the right path or believing in the right thing. It makes us feel safe, secure, and stable when we are certain about the particulars of our faith. This is the great draw of fundamentalism and is the reason so many of the churches and Christian communities in our country could be identified as such. There is, however, a problem with certainty. Actually, there are multiple problems with it. The first is that when a community is absolutely certain about their particular interpretations, understandings, and practices it shuts down honest questioning and seeki...

As most people who read this probably know, I am currently back in school full time. No, they didn't find out that I secretly flunked the 6th grade and sent me back to junior high (though I'd still probably struggle with 6th grade math). I'm currently taking classes as prep to begin a PhD program next year at the Oblate School of Theology. My focus is on spirituality. Don't worry, this isn't some weird, hippy type of program. I'm studying spirituality in its academic sense, the experiences people have of God and how they relate to theology, the Bible, and living a Christian life. Every single one of us has had experiences of a religious sort, be they positive or negative. My goal is to understand how our experiences of God, both good and bad, impact our ability to do theology and be disciples.  For many people it is their experiences that are the primary governing factor in how they view life and faith. You can study the Bible on a particular point with someone ...

There is an ongoing discussion raging in many Christian circles concerning what to do with ministers, pastors, and other leaders who are accused of abuse, assault, and other harmful activities. The discussion is not about whether or not these individuals should be disciplined, everyone agrees that they should be, but rather what comes next. At what point does a leader who has been abusive in the past become eligible to lead again?  Some believe that those who have been proven to be predatory and abusive as leaders should be disqualified from church leadership for the rest of their lives. They should be forgiven, but what they did should not be forgotten. Others feel uncomfortable with this. They believe that Christianity is a religion of forgiveness and that it would be wrong to permanently bar someone from leadership if they have reformed. These leaders should be forgiven and their past sins blotted out. The tricky thing here is that both sides of this advocate for forgiveness tow...

How many Bible studies have you attended in your life? I can say that I've attended my fair share, both as teacher and as participant. There are few things in life that I love more than gathering together with a group and working through Scripture together. In particular I love it when there is a good, robust discussion about God or Christ or something that challenges us. Having primarily been the discussion leader the past several years, I can tell you that it can be tricky to come up with good questions that stimulate conversation. It's something that I've gotten significantly better at over the years, but it can still be a challenge. There is one question that I hear a lot of teachers or discussion leaders ask that for a long time I used to absolutely hate.  "What does this verse/passage mean to you?" My dislike of this question began while studying Bible at Harding. I was learning all about context, hermeneutical methods, and exegesis. We had it drilled into o...

Something I've noticed is that people will often assume what you believe about many things based solely upon what you believe about one thing. This is true about politics, entertainment, religion, and pretty much everything else. For example, I really enjoy Star Trek and therefore I've had family members and friends just assume I like other shows just because I like this one franchise. That's an example where it really doesn't matter, but this sort of thing happens a lot. If you indicate you agree with Democrats or Republicans on one, singular issue many people automatically jump the conclusion that you must buy into their whole platform. Instead of being willing to examine each and every issue separately we instead package our beliefs into bundles. We assume that if you agree with A then you must also agree with B and C while disagreeing with Y and Z. The same is true for matters of faith and theology. Part of what it means to be a Christian is the content of our belie...

Earlier today I stood in line at an office of the Texas Department of Public Safety to get a Texas driver's license. This particular office is actually a converted grocery store that they have turned into a facility that specifically deals with driver's licenses and the like. Unfortunately, while there I discovered that the birth certificate that I had was actually a copy and only the original would do.  Let's just say that I was incredibly annoyed by this. I had scheduled the appointment a week in advance, had gathered up all sorts of documents to prove my identity, I showed up early just like one is supposed to, and I find out that because one document isn't right I can't go ahead and take care of things. It was frustrating and a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy because I always dread dealing with government bureaucracy.  After I got home and stewed for a bit I realized that it wasn't that big of a deal. After all, I can just go to the courthouse and get anoth...

One could argue that idolatry is the root of all sin. The very act of placing something above God, even if that thing is very good and created by God, fundamentally disrupts the created order and causes harm. The worship of other gods is the first of the Ten Commandments for a reason as it is the foundation of the other.  In many ways I think that the ancient world was far smarter than we are. They looked at all the different aspects of life and assigned gods and goddesses to them for worship. They knew, while we often deny, that they were worshipping things like sex, money, power, violence, and so on. So, they named the deities and erected temples and altars in their honor. There was no pretense that they were doing anything different. We are just as idolatrous and pagan as the Romans, Canaanites, and Egyptians ever were. The big difference is that we refuse to acknowledge it. As a society in general we like to avoid "religious" trappings anywhere we find them. This is true ...

  This is the written version of my final sermon at the Church of Christ Northwest, preached on my last Sunday as youth minister there. It is formatted like a letter, specifically a New Testament letter.      To the Church of Christ Northwest in Peoria, Illinois, peace be upon you all. May our glorious God and Father pour out mercies unnumbered in your midst, may our Lord Christ Jesus’s faithfulness never leave you, and may the Holy Spirit’s presence flood your hearts and lives. May you continue to seek out the Triune God with fervor and love as you bring about the establishment of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.        I would encourage you, my brothers and sisters, on this final day of fellowship. While I rest assured that the bonds that tie us together are woven through eternity, as the One who has bound us together is eternal, and that I will see many of you again in this current age, now comes the end of a particular season. I sincerely pray to ...

A key motif throughout scripture is that of the wilderness. The Israelites, once freed from Egypt, head into the wilderness towards Sinai. When they refuse to trust in the faithfulness of God and believe in the bad reports of the unfaithful spies, they are led once again into the wilderness. David hides from Saul in the wilderness. In the prophets God often speaks of bringing his people back into the wilderness. Jesus goes into the wilderness immediately after his baptism. The church is described at times of being in the wilderness. At first glance the wilderness may seem like a bad place. There are no cities, no civilizations, and no resources. Everything out there from the wildlife to the weather is trying to kill you. If you go out alone you will not survive. Strangely, the Bible often talks of the wilderness fondly. In the prophets God yearns for the days when Israel wandered in the wilderness. For David and Elijah it is a place of safety from their enemies and in the time of the N...

Something I think we often neglect is having an ideal to strive towards. We get wrapped up in the very real limitations, problems, and troubles of our world and adopt a very pragmatic attitude towards life. We focus on what we can do and how to simply keep things from getting worse. We then often dismiss those who put forward an ideal as idealists or naïve. There is nothing wrong with being pragmatic. We need to be aware of the gifts God has given us and the resources we have been blessed with. We need to be humble enough to realize that we cannot do everything we want and can do nothing perfectly. It is good to realize that unbridled idealism is unrealistic and ultimately disappointing. However, pure pragmatism simply keeps one afloat. Without an ideal to strive towards, a standard to reach for, we don't grow. If there is no vision or goal we tend to be aimless. As Christians we are called both to be realistic in our dealings with the world and to strive for the ideal that is Chri...

"Non Nisse Te Domine." - Thomas Aquinas I have the above quote engraved on the bottom of a watch that my father gave me several years ago. It means "Nothing if not you, Lord." Thomas Aquinas, 13th century monk and one of the most influential theologians and philosophers in all of history, said this after having a vision of Jesus. Reportedly Christ appeared to him and said "You have written well of me, Thomas. What what you have as a reward?" "Non nisse te Domine," was the response. After that, even though Thomas had dedicated his life to writing theology and was in the middle of writing his massive Summa Theologia, Thomas stopped writing. He said it was because all he had written, tomes and tomes of brilliant work, were as straw compared to seeing the actual Lord. Whatever you may think about such a mystical event, I personally believe it happened but I understand the more skeptical among us, the response of Thomas is what matters. When asked for...

I was born and raised in the Churches of Christ. I went to college at a Church of Christ university. For the past seven years I have served as a minister at a Church of Christ. I know the lingo, the disputes, the divides, and the tendencies of this tradition extremely well. I have been inexorably shaped by this tradition in so many ways it is probably impossible to accurately quantify.  As we all have been in one form or another, I've been on a years long journey of reevaluating my faith and inheritance. Where am I now is quite different than where I was seven years ago when I first moved to Peoria. There are many areas where I no longer agree with what I grew up with and what is considered typical Church of Christ teaching. There are also many areas where I hold more strongly to what I grew up with, though the reasons are most likely completely different.  Overall I am far more orthodox than I was. I am more deeply rooted in the faith of the early Christians. I am more firmly...

I talk a lot on this blog about negative trends and problems that I see in the church. Sometimes I do it directly and other times it is by way of discussing something that I think is important that isn't being addressed much. At the moment it seems to me that a lot of Christian podcasts, news outlets, and other general commentators are doing a lot of work unveiling some of the deeply imbedded rot and sin infecting many churches and institutions.  Though a painful thing this is a necessary step in true healing and repentance. Sin and evil must be brought into the light, kicking and screaming if needed. However, all this negative attention can give the impression that the Church is collapsing and that there is nothing redeeming to be found. This simply isn't true. Here are a couple of trends in our culture and churches that I think are positive, cause for hope, and a sign that God is still at work. 1. Openness to Spirituality - One very positive thing I've been noticing in o...

Why are you a Christian? I wonder how many of us have been asked that question in our lives. I know I have. It took me by surprise when I received however many years ago. At the time I honestly didn't know how to answer. This was, in part, due to my being an introvert and liking time to process answers to questions but it was also due to the fact that at the time I'm not sure if I really knew. Having served in ministry coming upon seven years I've been able to interact with and better understand the reasons why different people identify as Christian. Some value the community and sense of family a local congregation brings. Others love the worship and singing. Still others see it more as a political statement than a faith commitment. Some want to go to heaven when they die, and others simply want to avoid hell. Years ago I think the reason I was a Christian was because I didn't know any other way of living. Church was just a part of what you did in life. I was told God w...

Today marks the beginning of Lent, a season of repentance, self reflection, and contemplation of the Cross of Christ. Traditionally this is a period marked by fasting, prayer, and confession of sins. I encourage everyone to use this time to think about the gravity of sin and our utter need for the grace of God. I want to share an ancient prayer of Alfred the Great, a king of England from the 800s. I hope it encourages you during this time of Lent. "Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all creatures, we pray for your great mercy, that you guide us towards you, for we cannot find our way. And guide us to your will, to the need of our soul,  for we cannot do it ourselves. And make our mind steadfast in your will and aware of our soul's need. Strengthen us against the temptations of the devil, and remove from us all lust and every unrighteousness, and shield us against our foes, seen and unseen. Teach us to do your will, that we may inwardly love you before all things with a pur...

It is OK to feel what you feel. Throughout our lives we all feel a veritable plethora of different emotions. Some we consider positive and others we consider negative. Generally speaking we cannot control what it is that we feel when certain situations come up. It just sort of happens. Still, I think all of us have experienced someone telling us what we should be feeling. "You should be excited!" or "You should be outraged!" or "You should be more sad about this." or something to a similar effect. Often times I believe that it is meant with the best of intentions, but rarely do I think those intentions are ever achieved. When we turn to Scripture, and especially the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, we see the full gambit of human emotion in all their messy glory. We see Job struggle with guilt, rage, grief, and emptiness as he debates with his friends over the events of his life. In the Psalms we can read laments of great sorrow, exultations of grea...

The Bible is a book. Think about that for a minute. One of the primary ways God chose to communicate to humanity was through a book. Think about just how many books there are in the world. We have entire stores dedicated to selling books and government departments whose sole job is preserving books. Almost every culture on the planet, in some form or another, has used books.  I think we often forget just how ordinary something like the Bible is. Is it inspired by God? Yes. Is it authoritative? Yes. Is it also a book? Yes. It amazes me more and more the more I think about it that God chose to communicate to us not by some miraculous arrangement of the stars or a telepathic message but rather through a book.  Just like any other book, the Bible was written by ordinary people in their specific cultures, languages, circumstances, genres, styles, and purposes. God chose this ordinary, mundane thing to communicate eternal truth of the most fantastic sort. God took the ordinary and t...

It's always incredible to me how things we do or read come back later to be of enormous blessing even when at the time it may not seem like it. There have been numerous times in my life where I've read a book on a certain theological topic only for it to become extremely relevant a few months later. There have been times where I read a passage of scripture in the morning only for it to become poignant and real by that afternoon due to what was happening around me.  A good example of this was the book Surprised By Hope  by N.T. Wright. I read this book in the summer of 2015, my very first summer here in Peoria. It's a book all about our hope as Christians and at how much more robust and surprising it is than simply "dying and going to heaven." It speaks a lot about the future resurrection and restoration of creation awaiting the faithful. Truly a good book that I encourage you to check out. I read the book and enjoyed it. It gave me a lot to think about on an intel...

Apologetics used to be a dirty word in my mind. The word literally means "to defend" and apologetics in a Christian context means to "defend and provide evidence for Christianity." How could that possibly be a dirty word? Shouldn't we all seek to give an account for the hope that we have? Well growing up my only real encounters with apologetics and apologists were really negative. Occasionally we would have a guest preacher who would share with us "reasons we can be confident in our faith," or something to that effect. Without fail every time this happened the presentation would be on defending Young Earth Creationism from "science."  This left a bad taste in my mouth because even at a young age I knew that the age of the earth wasn't what mattered most. I was meeting kids at school who didn't even believe that God existed, let alone cared about how old planet earth was. I went to school to hear people mocking Jesus openly, claiming h...

"He must have been ghastly to behold." That quote has stuck with me these last several weeks. I heard it when listening to a series of presentations on the Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge at a preacher's conference that was taped some years ago. These words struck me and I became somewhat transfixed by them. Jesus, while hanging upon the cross, must have been horrible to look at. He would have been a mangled man, barely recognizable as human. He would have been naked, covered in blood, and displayed in the fullness of shame for all to see. It would have been ghastly to behold. Yet that ghastly visage is the focal point of our faith and salvation. It is when we look upon the mangled man called Jesus that we see the fullness of divinity itself. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, in all it's shame and horror, is the fullest revelation of God there has ever been. On the cross we see the full love of God on display for all to see. On the cross we see the seriousness of sin i...

"Don't be a doormat!" That's a phrase I think many of us have heard throughout our lives. If not that specific idiom, then we've probably heard something that means the same thing. "Don't let people walk all over you!" "Don't be a push over!" These are all things we hear constantly and is the theme in many of our favorite movies (George McFly in Back to the Future, for example). Over the past several years I've started hearing this sentiment more and more in the context of Bible study. We'll be discussing something about love, grace, sin, or something else about how we should live and it feels like we inevitably end up at "Don't be a doormat!" Many of the books that are out there about leaving behind some admittedly harmful and abusive religious contexts are largely themed around this.  It comes up when discussing how we deal with our culture, deal with those we disagree with, and how we treat people in general. It...

Right now there is a trend of people, mostly but not exclusively younger people, who are rejecting the faith they were brought up in. This trend is usually called "deconstruction" because the people going through it are slowly but surely tearing down the constructs of their faith. This is not necessarily a bad thing. All of us need to "deconstruct" some of the false things we have been taught in order to get at a truer faith in God. Many end up rejecting God or Christianity entirely. What I find interesting is that most who have and are going through this process grew up in more conservative, fundamentalist backgrounds. Often these are places where conservative politics were interwoven with faith to such a degree that Republican politics and Christian discipleship are viewed as the same thing. The views on Scripture presented are often narrow, legalistic, and hostile to discussion. Take, for example, creation. Many fundamentalist churches teach Young Earth Creationi...