Storytime. Part 2.

I recently watched a movie where I finished it asking myself, “What in the world was that all about?”  I couldn’t figure out the plotline, point, or moral to the story.  It felt like a complete waste of 2 hours, but I just knew there had to be some storyline that I was missing. If there wasn’t, the  movie itself would be useless, meaningless, and consequently a failure. So, I rewatched the ending, watched the ‘extras’, and talked to a guy at work who has a degree in film studies. The sum total of this research brought me the realization of the absolutely artistic, yet subtle method the film makers used to tell a pretty terrific story.

So, I start this week asking, “Why does story exist?” Or I might ask the question this way, “How does story exist?”   The answer is fairly simple.  Story exists because life itself is story. That is, the reason, there are good novels, movies, and story-tellers is that they all flow from one major driving force behind them all: a universe guided and governed itself by one grand narrative… a Divine Drama.  The story of life and the universe is what makes all other stories even possible.  That is, all narratives that may be constituted as significant and meaningful are such because of a Grand Narrative standing behind them.

There are many reasons this is important of which we will continue to mull over in coming weeks.  But one that we may start off musing upon now is the reality that the very idea and possibilty of story presupposes that there is some overarching story behind life.  This speaks directly to a culture that desires many times to invalidate any “universal” narrative/story [aka 'truth claim'] for life by appealing to subjectivity.  However, without such, no other mini-story can ever be meaningful, useful, practical, enjoyable or worth the time of day to consider.

So “why/how” does story exist? Because God does.

We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood

I have been distinctly reminded in the last few weeks about the spiritual warfare that we as believers face. It can be easy to categorize circumstances as “life is rough”, or “these things happen” or, “this is a trial for my perseverance”… And while those may all be true sometimes, we cannot forget that Satan is active in his pursuit to stifle the Gospel. I believe that God is getting ready to do a great work here in Pittsburgh, and I believe that Satan is very aware of that as well. Many people who are with our church have faced very difficult circumstances this past year, some are currently facing times of trial.  So pray for us, pray for the Gospel to be spread in Pittsburgh like it has never seen before! Pray for our pastors. our leaders. our church members. our children…and let us not forget that we, through the power of Christ, have the power to defeat our enemy and the Gospel cannot and will not be stifled.

Ephesian 6:10-19 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.

Performing for God

We’ll come back to the topic of Story in upcoming weeks, but Sunday’s sermon by Pastor Adam was such a good reminder, that I felt is profitable to reflect a bit more on some of his words to us. 

Adam spoke of the incessant need and obligation we feel to “perform” for God so as to earn his favor. That is, we may know our efforts won’t constitute a place for us in heaven but we subconsciously begin to buy into the belief that our moral performance will gain God’s blessing, care, love, grace, and providential care over us in the daily affairs of life.  Guilt becomes overwhelming and the motivating factor when this begins to be our mindset.  We then attempt to overcome this guilt by “doing” the opposite of what is making us feel bad and ‘unworthy’ of God [in turn, 'feeling' better about ourselves] only to be be falling prey, all along, to a deeply deceptive god of self-righteousness.

The words of the following hymn were on my mind this morning as I woke up and were a great reminder to me to flood each day with meditation on the cross as the place of balm and refuge, not my own ability to out-perform myself. The Christian life is not a matter of “doing better” than I did yesterday, as if in competition against myself, but rather re-engaging the simple Gospel truths- that Christ lived the life I could never have lived and died the death I could never have died.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord. Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured- There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss; grace that is greater- yes, grace untold- points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Saved from What?

“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “Peace and Safety”, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  1Thessalonians 5:1-3

In light of our discussion yesterday ladies, I share this post from John Piper’s Taste and See.  How Willingly Do People Go To Hell?

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2009/4368_How_Willingly_Do_People_Go_to_Hell/

 

Here I Stand

Until November 1, you can download Martin Luther’s speech, Here I Stand, at no cost. The speech is read by Max McClean. I own the ESV Bible read by Max McClean, and I would recommend all of his material. Check out the web-site while you download one of the great speeches of the reformation.

Storytime

This week’s post is more of a survey and a request for discussion than any type of editorial or thought.  I would like to spend a few coming weeks discussing the importance of the concept of “story” as it comes to understanding life and the Scriptures.

I personally love a good story or a good movie plot.  I enjoy the interweaving of themes and foreshadowing that takes place in a good narrative.  As you encounter stories this week either in the news, a book, or in a movie, ask yourself a few of the questions below and then post your repsonses to any or all of them.  Your comments don’t need to be long at all, but the input and forethought will be very valuable to both you and me as we discuss this concept over the coming weeks.

-Why does “story” exist?

-What makes a story “good” and why it a good one almost universally compelling to humanity?

-What (or is there any?) is the signficance of story as it relates to the Scriptures?

-What (or is there any?) is the significance of story as it relates to life period (for Christians or non-Christians)?

To Whom the Kingdom Belongs

I recently read an excerpt that a friend posted from Elisabeth Elliot’s book Keep A Quiet Heart. It is great reminder of the importance of meekness in our Christian walk. I hope it is as encouraging to you as it was to me.

The world cannot fathom strength proceeding from weakness, gain proceeding from loss, or power from meekness.  Christians apprehend these truths very slowly, if at all, for we are strongly influenced by secular thinking.

Meekness is teachability. “The meek will he teach his way” (Psalm 25:9, KJV). It is the readiness to be shown, which includes the readiness to lay down my fixed notions, my objections and “what ifs” or “but what abouts,” my certainties about the rightness of what I have always done or thought or said. It is the child’s glad “Show me! Is this the way? Please help me.” We won’t make it into the kingdom without that childlikeness, that simple willingness to be taught and corrected and helped. “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21, ESV). Meekness is an explicitly spiritual quality, a fruit of the Spirit, learned, not inherited. It shows in the kind of attention we pay to one another, the tone of voice we use, the facial expression.

The message of the cross is foolishness to the world and to all whose thinking is still worldly. But “the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25, NIV). The meekness of Jesus was a force more irresistible than any force on earth. “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ,” wrote the great apostle, “I appeal to you…. Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:1, 3-4, NIV). The weapon of meekness counters all enmity, says author Dietrich Von Hildebrand, with the offer of an unshielded heart.

Isn’t this the simple explanation for our being so heavy-laden, so tired, so overburdened and confused and bitter? We drag around such prodigious loads of resentment and self-assertion. Shall we not rather accept at once the loving invitation: “Come to Me. Take My yoke. Learn of Me–I am gentle, meek, humble, lowly. I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-29 paraphrased).

How 2 Negatives Make a Positive

What do you get when you add together a late bus with an overturned produce truck?  Perfect timing.  This past week, the Pgh Momtourage ladies were meeting for their bi-weekly playdate but were hindered by a late bus and then an overturned produce truck that held up traffic.  The combined effect of this was a late arrival for the playdate.  However, as the ladies came over the hill into the park, there stood a photographer shooting photos for the Post-Gazette and they got a short interview. Then, the next day, up shows a massive picture of the ladies in the park with a short blurb about the group on the front page of the Local News section.  What had begun as several frustrating events that seemed to be impeding the ladies’ well-made plans resulted in more free publicity than that for which they could have ever asked.

While in the mathematics, two negatives do not add up to a positive, things function a bit differently in the events of life.  But how can negative things be for our good?  This is the question that races through our minds in the day-in and day-out aspects of life.  However, as humans, we intuitively know that life rarely functions in one successive movement of picture perfect scenario to picture perfect scenario.  This is why we say such things as “no pain, no gain.” There are numerous positive things in life that require great toil, stress, and pain to reach.  But it is more than merely accepting that we already “reason” this way. It is realizing that there is a sovereign and kind God behind all events.

In Genesis 50:20, as a response to his brothers selling him into slavery, Joseph states that “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”  But in case you’re wondering whether this is merely God “overriding” a bad event, Joseph has already stated back in Genesis 45:8, “So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”  When we speak of God turning bad into great good, we do not mean that God is somehow in a struggle against sin, where God somehow always “one-ups” evil and turns it into good.  If He is merely, a responder to the negative events of life and not somehow in control of them, we could never have any confidence that He will continue to “one-up” the event in the first place. 

Understanding the hand of God in life, as seen here in Genesis is crucial as we reach the NT and find that the most paradoxical event of all time looses all significance if God is merely a “responder” to bad things.  If God is merely in the business of cleaning up messes, then the gospel looses its power.  The death and resurrection of our Lord is not “plan B” in God’s kingdom, as a result of the Fall of man. Rather, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake” (1 Peter).  But here may be the most paradoxical piece of all- it was through God-ordained death that we have been given God-ordained life. The gospel has power and significance not only because of the perfect, God-man suffering on our behalf but also because of our Sovereign, Father God being the one behind it all.  Thus, all “grief” that becomes great “good” for us is itself a benefit flowing to us from the cross- the greatest story of great grief becoming our eternally great good. ["This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Acts 2:23]

Community Around Christ

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the community of believers.  I find that there is nothing more refreshing after a long week or difficult circumstance, than coming together with others from the body of Christ. Whether it’s Bible study, a community project or for just plain FUN, I am always encouraged!

Last week we had the pleasure of fellowship at Reilly’s Summer Seat Farm. We enjoyed a hay ride, finding the PERFECT pumpkin, roasting marshmallows, and a beautiful autumn day!

  

Your Everyday Christian

This week’s blog is a little different. Today we are not highlighting one of the pioneers of early missions, one of the fathers of the Reformation, or one of the ladies who burned so brightly for Christ. We are not traveling to China, Burma, or the Middle East. Our faithful one is not on the precipice of a theological battle, he is not risking his life for the sake of the gospel, and he is not rewriting the history of the church by his life and thought. No, today we go to Gainesville to the campus of the University of Florida. More specifically, our gaze rests on The Swamp (or University of Florida’s football stadium for those who are not up on their college football lingo). There we find Tim Tebow, star quarterback of the #1 ranked Florida Gators.

Tim Tebow is a 2-time national champion quarterback with a good shot at leading his team to a third title this year. As a sophomore, Tim Tebow won the Heisman trophy which is given to the most outstanding player in College football. However, it is none of these accomplishments that place him in this blog series with The Faithful. Tim Tebow has a great testimony for the sake of Jesus Christ. He has used his athletic giftedness and media platform as a means of making much of Christ and testifying to the Good News. Tebow’s witness for Christ is consistent and bold. It has brought interest, criticism, sarcasm, and admiration from the media and his fans everywhere. Tebow is simply a good football player who is a faithful follower and witness of Jesus Christ. His life actually reflects the phrase used so loosely by many – “All the glory belongs to God.”

Tim Tebow was raised in a Christian home by a family very involved in missionary work. He still spends his summers on short term mission trips, helping others and spreading the gospel. His role model is Danny Weurffel, a former Florida quarterback and Heisman winner, who also has a great testimony for Christ through his work in the New Orleans area with underprivileged children. I do not wish to raise Tebow up as a giant of the faith without flaws. He is not going to be in the same conversation with Martin Luther or David Livingston. I do, however, want to highlight the faithful testimony of a young man who demonstrates obedience to the Lordship of Christ and seems to truly value Christ above his own fame and success.

Here is a humorous and encouraging article from ESPN the Magazine about Tim Tebow. He is asked some tough questions and he answers them very well. I would encourage parents and children to take note – here is a good example of using your athleticism, or whatever talent you may have, for the glory of God.