Walking the Razor's Edge Between Truth and Love

The UK Daily Mail reported today that "A religious liberty law firm has taken up a US Marine's appeal case after she was prosecuted for refusing to remove a Bible verse taped to her computer.  At the time of the incident in May 2013, she was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina when she taped the slightly altered Bible verse in three different places that read: 'No weapons formed against me shall prosper,' according to Fox News.  Sterling, who is now unemployed and searching for a job, was given a reduction in rank from lance corporal to private, as well as a bad conduct discharge."  Unfortunately, in a nation whose first amendment supposedly enshrines the free exercise of religion, this type of story is becoming increasingly commonplace.  Take for example this story from April 26 by Todd Starnes of Fox News: "The owners of an Oregon bakery learned Friday that there is a severe price to pay for following their Christian faith.  A judge for the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) recommended a lesbian couple should receive $135,000 in damages for their emotional suffering after Sweet Cakes by Melissa refused to make them a wedding cake.  As a result - Aaron and Melissa Klein could lose everything they own — including their home."  These are just two glaring examples, but they typify the kinds of assault on the religious freedoms of Christians in the United States that are the precursor to full-blown religious persecution.

No one who claims the name of Christ should be the least bit surprised by the current state of affairs in our country.  Jesus speaks about persecution in a very matter-of-fact manner, indicating that it is a natural by-product of following him: "God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers (Matthew 5:11)."  The Apostle Paul reaffirms the universality of Christian persecution in 2 Timothy 3:12: "Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."  The Apostle Peter echoes Paul when he writes to the believers enduring the terrible persecution of the Roman Emperor Nero: "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12)."

Thus, if persecution is to be expected, how should we react as believers? Particularly, how should we react as believers who live in a constitutional republic wherein government derives its power from the consent of the governed and the governed are guaranteed the free exercise of religion as a matter of federal law?  Herein is where the believer must walk the razor's edge between a response of love and a response of standing boldly for religious liberty.  As Christians we must always treat others the way that Christ did: with unconditional love, grace and mercy.  However, we must also remember that while Christ always interacted with sinners in a kind and gracious manner, he never failed to confront them with their sin.  Christ confronted the Samaritan woman at the well with her marital infidelity.  Christ did not condemn the woman caught in adultery but her urged her to "Go and sin no more (John 8:11)."  Also, lest we forget, Jesus demonstrated righteous indignation when he overturned the tables of the money changers and drove them out of the Temple with a scathing rebuke: "The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves! (Matthew 21:12)”  Too often, we as believers single out individual sins and individual sinners and lambast them in a manner which makes us look bad and Christ look worse.  However, if we fail to confront people with their sin as Jesus did, then we also fail to present them with the entirety of the Gospel.  Indeed, one cannot understand the Good News unless one first understands the bad news: that we are sinners hopelessly separated from a holy God unless we accept Christ's sacrificial death on the cross on our behalf!  Thus, while we must preach the Gospel, we must also realize that it is the Gospel itself which causes us to be persecuted because it is offensive to the world: "So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense (1 Corinthians 1:23)."

Just as we should not cease to share the Gospel, we would be remiss if we did not boldly speak out in defense of religious liberty.  We are blessed and privileged to live in a nation where we have the freedom to worship God without government interference.  However, we must always remember that privilege is only one side of a double sided coin whose opposite is responsibility.  The Bible speaks at length of stewardship, and thus, it is incumbent upon us to preserve the religious freedom which God has bestowed upon us.  Some people have told me that they refrain from such battles because when other believers speak out about some of today's hot button issues, such abortion or the battle over the legal definition of marriage, that they are shrill and and strident.  This adversarial tone ultimately turns people away from Christ and does very little to further the cause that is being championed.  I wholly agree that while the Gospel is offensive, God's people should not be.  On the other hand, just because some people aren't playing the game by the rules doesn't mean we should give up on the game altogether.  Our religious freedom allows us to worship openly, rear our children according to God's word without government interference, preach the gospel to our neighbors and support missions around the world!  The secular progressive Left in this country will not stop in its effort to cow Christians into submission to its worldly agenda.  As I noted with my opening examples, this is just a small taste of the battle that rages daily in this country.  Thus, we must speak the truth in love and with humility, but we must also fight to preserve the founding ideals that have made this country a beacon to immigrants from around the globe and the greatest missionary sending nation in history.  We must safeguard the precious and extremely rare religious freedom that is not enjoyed by the great majority of humanity, for once it has been revoked, it may never return. It is hard to walk the razor's edge, but with God's grace it can be done.

Jesus Christ the Original Superman!

It's a great time to be a comic book nerd!  What once was solely the province of the local comic shop or the convention hall full of individuals cosplaying as their favorite superhero has become culturally en vogue.  Superhero and comic book properties are dominating popular culture in a way that seemed unthinkable only a few years ago.  This summer the multiplexes will be dominated by Avengers Age of Ultron, as well as the upcoming Marvel Studio's Ant-Man and a reboot of the Fantastic Four.  Meanwhile, 2016 promises to be a veritable cornucopia of superhero cine-magic with no less than seven comic book properties coming to the silver screen including: Batman vs. Superman, Captain America: Civil War (AKA Avengers 2.5), and the third installment in the latest X-Men trilogy: X-men: Apocalypse.  This is to say nothing of comics' takeover of TV with the CW piling up ratings with both Arrow and The Flash as well as the upcoming spin-off DC's Legends of Tomorrow.  At the same time, Netflix has garnered critical and fan acclaim with the recent release of the first season of  Daredevil, Fox has shown us what Gotham was like when Bruce Wayne was just a wee, angry young lad, and even Play Station has gotten in on the action with their adaptation of the lesser known property Powers.  I write all of this not to demonstrate my knowledge of all things nerdy, but to pose a larger question: what is it about these brightly clad superheroes performing selfless deeds of derring-do that has so captured the American zeitgeist?  While I will in no way pretend to be an expert on matters of large scale sociological import, I will offer this simple explanation: I believe that the current cultural fascination with superheroes speaks to a deeper felt need that people have.  In an increasingly troubled, chaotic and uncertain world, people are crying out for an all-powerful, selfless savior to come to their rescue.  In short, the modern day superhero is pointing to none other than Jesus Christ the original Superman!

 

In order to see how Jesus is the archetype for the modern superhero, we must ask: what is a superhero?  Typically, the comic book superhero is a being of immense power and/or skill who uses their gifts to help those who cannot help themselves.  We are all too familiar with the maxim: "absolute power corrupts absolutely."  It is increasingly true in our day those in power use their power and influence not for the betterment of their fellow citizens, but rather for their own personal gain.  I believe this is why the idea of the superhero has become increasingly popular in American culture.  It is precisely because we have so few genuine heroes to spark the modern imagination that the superhero has become lionized.  Reality TV stars, celebrity debutantes, corrupt captains of industry and self-serving politicians have replaced people of actual virtue and character.  Furthermore, most modern "heroes" in both literature and film are far too dark, gritty and conflicted to serve as real sources of inspiration.  Superheroes, on the other hand, offer us men and women dressed in unambiguous primary colored garb, possessed of immense power, who use this power to save complete strangers without asking for recompense.  Moreover, they remain uncorrupted by the tremendous power they possess.  This is not to say that there are not dark and gritty heroes and antiheroes in the world of comics.  Obviously, Christopher Nolan's dark vision of Batman was wildly successful. However, typically, when one thinks of comic book heroes, characters like Superman and Captain America spring to mind; paragons that typify the ideal of virtuous, self-effacing heroism.

Jesus Christ, as revealed in the narrative of the New Testament, is the archetype for this type of selfless hero who sacrifices everything to save the world.  Jesus revealed to a religious leader named Nicodemus in John 3:17 that this was his entire purpose in coming to the world: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him."  Moreover, Phillipians 2:6-8 makes it clear that Jesus demonstrated extraordinary meekness by restraining his power so that he might save all of mankind: "...who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.  He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross!"  Indeed, Christ declared that in God's kingdom, greatness is demonstrated through heroically self-sacrificial service: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. It must not be this way among you!  Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Now, to some of you, this may sound a bit absurd and like a gigantic case of spiritual overreach.  However, I can prove that in modern superhero and genre fiction, heroic self-sacrifice is almost always presented with obvious Christological symbolism.  Here's Brandon Routh's Superman from Superman Returns falling to Earth in crucifixion position after saving the planet from a rogue continent filled with Kryptonite:
 

More recently, here is Henry Cavill's Clark Kent mulling over his soon-to-be heroic destiny in Man of Steel.  Notice that behind him is a stained glass window replete with an image of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane mere hours before facing the cross: 


Later in Man of Steel, in case the first image was too subtle, after Superman's father knowingly tells him, "You can save  them...you can save them all," Cavill's Superman takes a page from Routh:
  

Let's be honest, Superman is basically space Jesus with a cape!  And while it took Superman almost an entire year to come back from the dead in the comics during the 90's, Jesus did it 2,000 years earlier and in only 72 hours!  In all seriousness, though, if you have never really considered or taken seriously the claims of Christ, it's not too late.  Jesus unambiguously states in John 14:6 that he and he alone can save us from sin and from death: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."  While this claim is exclusive and offensive to many, Christ's call is not made from an arrogant place of power, but rather from a heroic heart of humility and grace: "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).'"  As for those of us who already claim the name of Christ and have received the salvation he freely offers, it is incumbent upon us to proclaim his message to a world that is desperately searching for a hero.  But we should not be inviting people to look heavenward and proclaim, "It'sa  bird...it's a plane...it's Superman!"  Rather, we must carry the gospel of Christ because "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)."

The Desperately Needed Gift of Discipline

My wife forwarded me a post from Facebook that caught my attention because it spoke to something of great interest to me as both a professional educator and as a member of my local church’s children’s ministry.  The post is by Marilyn Wedge Ph.D. and is entitled: “Why French Kids Don’t have ADHD: French children don’t need medications to control their behavior.”  In the article Dr. Wedge cites this absolutely staggering statistic: “In the United States, at least 9 percent of school-aged children have been diagnosed with ADHD, and are taking pharmaceutical medications. In France, the percentage of kids diagnosed and medicated for ADHD is less than .5 percent.”  She asks how the “epidemic” of ADHD seems to have bypassed the entire country of France while it holds our own in its heavily medicated iron fist?  Then, she answers this query most saliently:

"And then, of course, there are the vastly different philosophies of child-rearing in the U.S. and France. These divergent philosophies could account for why French children are generally better-behaved than their American counterparts…French parents have a different philosphy of discipline. Consistently enforced limits, in the French view, make children feel safe and secure. Clear limits, they believe, actually make a child feel happier and safer—something that is congruent with my own experience as both a therapist and a parent. Finally, French parents believe that hearing the word 'no' rescues children from the 'tyranny of their own desires.' And spanking, when used judiciously, is not considered child abuse in France."

    

As someone who has observed and mediated the behavior of children professionally for over a decade it often seems that poor behavior among children and lack of discipline have become increasingly commonplace.  Sadly, this is just as true among believers as it is among those who do not claim to know and follow Christ.  While the causes for this phenomenon are no doubt varied and complex, I think it is largely attributable to a cultural sea change wherein discipline is seen as something that is necessarily negative and spanking is all but verboten!  Clearly defined limits with consistently applied consequences for transgressions of those limits is seen as passé and overly authoritarian.  This “antiquated” style of discipline has been replaced with parent-child parity where parental authority has been eroded to the point of non-existence.  Thus, parents engage in endless negotiations with their children akin to the haggling that takes place at the local flea market.  To do anything less than be persistently positive and offer children endless alternatives rather than simply saying “No!” is seen as an emotionally scarring trauma upon a child’s delicate self-esteem.

This clash is perfectly captured in the movie Parental Guidance, starring Billy Crystal.  Crystal’s character, Artie Decker, is watching his grandchildren and is on the verge of spanking his incessantly misbehaving grandson, in front of an audience no less, when he exclaims in utter frustration: “I'm sorry! I can't take this anymore! This whole ‘teachable moments’ of protecting their self-esteem and nobody gets punished and every game ends in a tie! All I hear is ‘Use your words. Use your words,’ but the word they never use with the kids is ‘No!’”

This begs the question: what is Biblical discipline and what does it look like in practicality?  Obviously, this is a topic far too broad to be the subject of a single blog post.  However, allow me to offer a few points on discipline that are firmly rooted in Scripture.  The Holman Bible Dictionary defines discipline this way:

Discipline comes from a Latin word “disco” which means to learn or get to know, a direct kind of acquaintance with something or someone. Discipline refers to the process by which one learns a way of life. A disciple was like an apprentice who was learning a trade or craft from a master. Such learning required a relationship between the master who knew the way of life (discipline) and a learner (a disciple). Within this relationship, the master led a learner through a process (the discipline) until the learner could imitate or live like the master.

Thus, discipline is not a punitive form of retribution against a child, but rather a positive tool to help them learn the correct way to live.  Indeed, Scripture makes this quite clear: “My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you… My child, do not despise discipline from the Lord, and do not loathe his rebuke.  For the Lord disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights (Proverbs 3:1-2, 11-12).” 

Moreover, while our culture tends to view discipline negatively or even as a form of abuse, especially corporal punishment, the Bible makes it clear that the withholding of discipline is far more negative.  “Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him (Proverbs 13:24).”  Proverbs 23:13 even speaks of discipline as a positive benefit which a parent should not fail to give their child, like food or clothing: “Don't fail to discipline your children. They won't die if you spank them.”  Discipline is like the handrails on the stairs of life that keep us from falling and injuring ourselves.  Discipline is like the rails that keep a train on the right track and keep it from a terrible derailment.  Discipline, as the French would say, saves us from the “tyranny of [our] own desires."  The boundaries provided by discipline allow us to enjoy all that they contain without venturing out into the thorns, brambles and ditches of poor choices and over indulgence of self.  Thus, I have finally found something else that I agree with the French about, in addition to the French fry and the Statue of Liberty.  So you’ll pardon my French as I proclaim: “Vive la discipline!” 

An Introduction or First Things First...

I’ll be the first to admit that writing a blog that purports to offer advice or even a hint of hard scrabbled wisdom seems, at first glance, to be presumptuous.  After all, I have no credentials as a pastor or a psychologist.  I have no lofty scholarly perch that would afford me instant credibility.  What I do have is eleven years of experience as a professional educator, several years working in children’s ministry at my local church and a couple of years of experience working abroad as a missionary.  More importantly, I have God’s word and the infinite wisdom which it offers.  All of that is to say that in writing this blog, it is my utmost desire to help others apply God’s Word to their life.  However, I do so with great trepidation and humility.  I want to accomplish the purpose of Ephesians 4:15: to “…speak the truth in love,” so that believers will grow “…in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.”  Indeed, I want to “think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).”

This leads inexorably to a question: What topics will be the particular subject matter of this blog?  As the title of this blog would suggest, I want to leave the subject matter open ended so as to allow for addressing any topic that might arise.  Also, the title of this blog is taken from 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, which says: “for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.”  Thus, I simply want to acknowledge that culture is the ocean in which we all swim and just as a fish cannot help but be wet, so too, we as Christians are often saturated by the malign influences and arguments of our overwhelmingly secular culture.  Knowing that I too fall prey to these influences just as we all do from time to time, this blog is simply a humble attempt to speak the truth in love so that believers may be edified and encouraged and live in accordance with the wisdom and authority of God’s word.