Tag Archives: Gospel

Burger King Theology

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The “have it your way” meme has hit religion according to a recent article in USAToday. The quote that sums it all up is here:

“We are a designer society. We want everything customized to our personal needs — our clothing, our food, our education,” he says. Now it’s our religion.  … Barna laments, “People say, ‘I believe in God. I believe the Bible is a good book. And then I believe whatever I want.'”

Nadine Epstein, editor and publisher of Moment magazine is quoted:

It’s incredibly exciting. We live in an era where you pick and choose the part of the religion that makes sense to you. And you can connect through culture and history in a meaningful way without necessarily religiously practicing,”

I guess this should not be too surprising given our postmodern culture which is enamored with subjectivity and relative truth and which views Oprah as its spiritual adviser. Back in 2008, USA Today reported essentially the same thing:

Religion today in the USA is a salad bar where people heap on upbeat beliefs they like and often leave the veggies — like strict doctrines — behind.

Going on to add:

The impact of Oprah is seen throughout this survey. She uses the language of Bible and Christian traditions and yet includes other traditions to create a hodgepodge personalized faith.

How does Oprah view spirituality –  according to a USA Today article reporting on her appearance on the Piers Morgan show:

In Oprah-vision: We’re all good, we should not judge each other and morality is relative. This is no Jesus-centered, born into sin and in need of salvation God who both loves and judges.

Her message of hope is to believe in yourself, redeem yourself. Very popular but not very Christian.

In that same article a partial transcript reveals:

Oprah: There couldn’t possibly be only one way with millions of people in the world!

When asked how she reconciled her spiritual teachings with Christian beliefs, Oprah essentially replied – I have an open mind.

I reconciled it because I was able to open my mind about the absolute indescribable hugeness of that which we call God,” Oprah said. “I took God out of the box because I grew up in the Baptist church and there were rules and belief systems and doctrine.

“What I believe is that Jesus came to show us Christ-consciousness. Jesus came to show us the way of the heart … Jesus came to say ‘Look, I’m going to live in the human body and I’m going to show you how it’s done. These are some principles and some laws that you can use to live by to know that way’. . . Even as a Christian, I don’t believe that Jesus came to start Christianity.”

Unfortunately an open mind did not include and open Bible.

This “salad bar” view of religion has its supporters even in the evangelical realm. Rob Bell, author of Love Wins wrote in his previous best seller Velvet Elvis that Christianity was like a trampoline and doctrines were the springs.

The springs are statements and beliefs about our faith that help give words to the depth that we are experiencing in our jumping.

Offering up the possibility that the Trinity, virgin birth, and other holdings in Christianity could be questioned and even removed.

We don’t need all the springs to jump. While I understand and respect his view that we need to be able to question our beliefs. Test them and evaluate them. There is a fine line big difference between subjectively dropping springs we don’t like and changing springs based on logical reasoning and a study of the Scriptures.

I guess Solomon was right – there really is nothing new under the sun. This has played out before:

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 ;21:25)

Why is Oprah’s view of spirituality so popular and why does removing the springs we don’t like so popular? I think it is because it is “politically correct”, its “open to anything”, its warm and fuzzy and feeds the “have it your way” culture we live in.

What do you think truth should be based on?

[Continue reading: Where’s the Beef]

Anger Management

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Some of you may remember the Hulk TV series, that started with the flashing word “anger”. As the camera pulls back the word is shown to be the word “danger” and is the warning light on the Gamma Ray machine. It also featured the memorable quote from Dr. Banner – “don’t make me angry – you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry”…

The episode introduction would then end with the quest that Banner finds himself on – “finding a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him”. I guess I am showing some of my age but I enjoyed this show as a kid. However in the show is a powerful message that we are all like Dr. Banner, with a monster within us that can be unleashed when we too are angry or under stress. Driving 5 miles in 30 minutes knowing you have to go nearly 20 miles to make your class on time and you are likely to be late because you gave yourself only an hour to get there is certainly a time when we can start to show our inner Hulk.

However Solomon reminds us that:

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. (Prov 14:29)

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Prov 16:32)

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,  for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. (Eccles 7:9)

Examining Jonah we can learn a lot about anger and when we are angry we can learn a lot about ourselves. Continue reading →

The Burden

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Having read Challies blog entry on leading kids through devotionals I decided to revamp some things we had been doing with the kids give his idea a try. I created a series of daily journal pages for my daughter Lauren and together we are working through Pilgrim’s Progress. This is my first time reading this classic by John Bunyan. For those who are wondering Lauren what my daughter did to deserve such a fate as to wrestle with the Old English text, she is using a simplified version from Abeka.

In this post I wanted to share some things that struck me from our devotional a few days back as we got to the point in the story where Christian has reached the gate.

For those who have not read the book it is an allegory of the Christan life. The story focuses on a man named Christian who has the goal of removing his burden – a large pack upon his back – that weighs him down. In the first part of the story he is traveling to the wicket-gate that Evangelist has told him about. After a bit of journey he is able to reach the gate that bears the inscription “Knock and it shall be opened to you” (Matt 7:7;13-14). Christian heeds the advice and knocks on the door. After knocking he is greeted at the door by Goodwill who asks him what he wants.


Let’s drop into the conversation:

Christian: Here is a poor, burdened Sinner. I come from the City of Destruction, but am going to Mt. Zion that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would therefore, Sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in.

Goodwill: I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that he opened the gate.

As Christian enters through the gate the conversation continues. Goodwill asks if anyone has persuaded him not to travel to the gate:

Christian: Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back; but Pliable came with me a little way.

Goodwill: But why did he not come through?

Christian: We indeed came both together until we came to the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neighbour Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure farther. Wherefore, getting out again on that side next to his own house, he told me I should possess the brave country alone for him: so he went his way, and I came mine; he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.

Why did Pliable fail to reach the gate?

Looking back at his initial encounter with Christian we find him open to what he learns as it all seems reasonable. Pliable is even eager to reach the gate and heaven.

Christian:There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited; and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever.

…

Pliable: the hearing of this is enough to ravish one’s heart. But are these things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof?

Christian: The Lord, the governor of the country hath recorded that in this book, the substance of which is, if we truly be willing to have it, he will bestow it upon us freely.

Pliable: Well my good companion, glad I am to hear of these things; come on let us mend our pace.

Christian: I cannot go as fast as I would by reason of this burden that is on my back.

Why did Pliable fail to reach the gate?

It was not because Christian was a better person or a more courageous man.  The difference was that Pliable had no burden. Notice what Christian tells Goodwill:

Goodwill: But how is it that you came alone?

Christian: Because none of my neighbors saw their danger as I saw mine.

What is the burden? What is the danger?

Christian, unlike Pliable saw himself as a burdened Sinner destined for the wrath to come. He recognized that we are not some bio-chemical goo evolved from primal sludge that will vanish upon our death. He understood that there is a Creator God, Who is Almighty and Holy (Challies gives a good description in this blog post comparing holiness to gold). He knew that we are accountable to this righteous Judge to whom we owe a debt that is not repayable.

Pliable did not understand the danger he was in. Pliable is like the Pharisee that prays trusting that he is already ok with God (Luke 18:9-14) or the third example in the parable of the soils told by Jesus (Luke 8:4-15). The one where the seed (good news) falls on the rocky soil.

And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

Christian on the other hand is like the tax collector who recognizes his burden and prays:

God, be merciful to me, a sinner

Why did Christian reach the gate?

Without the burden, one is unlikely to seek the narrow gate and persevere as Christian.

Goodwill: Then said Goodwill, Alas poor man; is the celestial glory of so little esteem with him [Pliable], that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it?

Christian: Truly said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable, and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there is no betterment betwixt him and myself. It is true that he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal arguments of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

Notice the humility in the answer he give (Luke 18:14). Christian recognizes that it is not because he was more courageous or less of a sinner because he too has been led astray by the wisdom of the world and does not deserve to enter the gate anymore than Pliable. He just understood the big picture better and the burden he carried.

As I read and thought through this chapter three dangers for the Christian came to mind. The first is forgetting our burden that was taken from us, the second is thinking that we deserve heaven and others don’t, and the third is following worldly wisdom that contradicts God’s principles and promises.