Pursuing the Common Good
September 25, 2008 | 2 Comments
Joe,
Well, it’s about time I get blogging, right? I received an email this afternoon that I thought was ‘blogworthy’. Here’s the letter I received:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
In May of this year, I was approached by a student who expressed interest in starting a Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered/Straight Student Alliance; the student asked if I would be interested in advising the group. I agreed, and, along with SAC counselor (name removed), have been working to make this a reality. At tomorrow night’s Board of Education meeting, we will formally request permission from the Board to establish this group.
This group would serve as a support system, social gathering point, service organization, and informational touchstone for students of all backgrounds, orientations, and affectional affiliations. The purpose here is dual: to create a safe, tolerant space for people in, around, and allied with the GLBT community, and to promote tolerance at (a High School). This will be a strictly extra-curricular activity — no one need participate if they do not want to. But the idea is to serve a group of kids who have traditionally been bullied, intimidated, hurt, or worse, ignored altogether.
If you do not support the existence of this group, thank you for taking the time and consideration to read this email. If you do support a GLBT/Straight Alliance, your support at tomorrow night’s Board meeting will be greatly appreciated. District Administration needs to know that teachers and support professionals are available to encourage kids, are eager to promote tolerance, and want to create a safe space for ALL who inhabit this building.
The meeting will take place Thursday, September 25, at 7:30 pm at the Administration Building. I hope you will join the effort.
Thanks for your time,
(Name Removed)
As I read it I thought to myself, ‘How ought a Christian respond to this?’ My initial thought was the same as the person who forwarded me the email: Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! In other words, I thought, ‘What a sad state this world is in, that the public schools would seek to establish organizations to defend and support those who have willfully rejected God and His Word.’ That was my immediate reaction, but shortly thereafter I was convicted, and am actually thinking this organization might be a good thing for a Christian to be a part of.
Now hear me out on this. I am NOT suggesting that a person’s sexual orientation is purely a matter of personal preference and that we therefore should not judge the sexual conduct of others by our own standards of morality. Clearly God’s Word communicates that homosexuality is sin, and we should not be afraid to humbly and lovingly say that, no matter what the legal or social consequences may be.
Nevertheless, I think a Christian could in good conscience be part of such an organization, and here’s why. The stated purpose of this organization is not to make a verdict on whether homosexuality is right or wrong in God’s eyes. It may have been organized on that premise, but that is not the purpose of the organization. The purpose is, according to the letter, to create a safe, tolerant place for gays, lesbians etc, where they can escape the common responses to homosexuality of bullying, intimidation, physical and verbal abuse.
I may be wrong, but shouldn’t this be a Christian cause? It is not purely a matter of sexual ethics; it is a matter of justice. To physically or verbally abuse a person because of their sexual orientation is, I believe, unjust, and therefore is something that Christians ought to oppose. In Jeremiah 29 God tells the Jewish exiles in Babylon to seek the welfare — the peace and prosperity — of that wicked, godless city. In other words, they were to seek the good of those whose beliefs were opposed to their own. Surely a school without (or with less) violence, intimidation, etc, is a good thing. That’s why I am feeling like a Christian’s participation in such an organization could bear great fruit for the gospel.
Of course, any Christian would want to make clear that their support of justice and tolerance should not be mistaken for an affirmation that there is nothing wrong with homosexuality. And making that qualification might get you kicked right out of the meeting, and with some aggression! But that would only show that the organizers are not capable of doing themselves what they are calling others to do (that is, be tolerant toward those who don’t think like you).
Should a Christian be allowed to participate in such an organization, I think it could lead to wonderful opportunities to spread the Gospel. For our model is One who came to earth and and gave His life for people whose practices were an abomination to Him. As homosexuals (and their faculty advisors) see worshipers of Jesus seeking their physical good, they may become more receptive to hearing what we have to say about their deeper, spiritual needs. And no matter how they respond, we will have displayed the glory of the God-man who came and got Himself dirty in this sin-stained world (without HImself ever sinning), and loved the outcasts and rejects of society.
It seems to me that my second response is more biblical than my first one, which essentially was, ‘Man is the dominant thinking of this world headed to hell!’ Actually, I suppose both responses are biblical aren’t they? In fact I think holding both responses evenly would be an embodiment of what it means to be in the world, but not of the world.
Now someone has to have a comment about this (if you’ve made it this far in the post)! So let me know what you think about all this.
Larry
Update: This post originally included names of a few faculty members of a particular school. I realize that it was inappropriate for me to have posted those names, as it could have led to inappropriate attitudes/comments about the people in question. Please forgive me for my lack of foresight in that area.
Happy 31st Lar
September 25, 2008 | 1 Comment
Well Lar, I used to think that 31 was old, until I began to creep increasingly close to it. A few years and I will be there.
As I usually do on this day each year, I give thanks for you my friend. I wish I could take you to Hoss’s to celebrate, but Lord willing, there will be another time for that. I can hear the song now….“Have a Hoss’s happy birthday….” Yea, I know you are singing it now and tasting that great Hospitality Bar. Didn’t they usually come out with a brownie or something like that rather than cake? Either way, I obviously digress.
Yet we had some great times at Hoss’s didn’t we? Thinking of those times, would we have ever imagined how the Lord has guided our steps over the years? I am thankful He has seen fit to make us sanctifying instruments in one another’s lives. I count it a privilege to walk through life with you brother. And to blog, of course.
My prayer for you is that you would continue to mature in the knowledge of His will, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of Him, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and word and increasing in the knowledge of His Person. May you be filled with His Spirit, so that you might faithfully reflect the goodness and glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He who saved you is faithful. He will surely do it.
Thanks for walking with the Lord, Lar. And leading those under you in the same. I count it a privilege to call you my good friend and brother in the Lord. Happy 31st Birthday. May the Lord bless me by giving you many more!
Seeking Him with you,
Joe
The Prosperity of the Wicked
September 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
In The Art of Divine Contentment, Thomas Watson comments on the temptation to become discontent when faced with the prosperity of the wicked. His second argument against such discontentment reads,
“To see the wicked flourish is matter rather of pity than envy; it is all the heaven they must have; ‘woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation’ (Luke 6:24). Hence it was that David made it his solemn prayer, ‘deliver me from the wicked, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure (Psalm 17:15). The world (I believe) are David’s litany; from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, ‘good Lord, deliver me.’
When the wicked have eaten of their dainty dishes, there comes in a sad reckoning which will spoil all. The world is first musical and then tragical; if you would have a man fry and blaze in hell, let him have enough of the fat of the earth. O remember, for every sand of mercy that runs out of the wicked, God puts a drop of wrath into his vial!…
So I say, do you envy the wicked? alas their prosperity is like Haman’s banquet before execution. If a man were to be hanged, would one envy to see him walk to the gallows through pleasant fields and fine galleries, or to see him go up the ladder in clothes of gold? The wicked may flourish in their bravery a while; but when they flourish as the grass, ‘ it is, that they shall be destroyed for ever; (Psalm 92:7), the proud grass shall be mown down. Whatever a sinner enjoys, he hath a curse with it, (Mal. 2:2) and shall we envy? What if poisoned bread be given the dogs? The long furrows in the backs of the godly have a seed of blessing in them, when the table of the wicked becomes a snare, and their honour their halter.”
Strong words, huh? But good words. Encouraging and convicting words actually. It leads me to wonder how many preachers out there are speaking like this? Such boldness is needed…at least once in a while.
Thankful for strong words,
Joe
Laminin
September 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
I’m pretty sure you (and maybe some of our other readers) received this video by email last week, but I thought I would post it here for those who haven’t seen it.
In this video, Louie Giglio gives a wonderful portrait of the wisdom and greatness of God in His designing of the human body. What is laminin? Check out the video and find out!
High Calling
September 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
Have you seen this site? Highcalling.com
If so, any thoughts?
Joe
Soul Searching
September 22, 2008 | 1 Comment
Lar,
I am presently reading a book called The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson. During the section I read this morning, he spoke at length about the way in which discontent can easily can a place in the death of children and the loss of goods. The words I read were humbling words, in large part because there were so plain and so right, particularly regarding the death of one’s child.
It pains me to even think about losing one my children. Indeed, it scares me, for it forces me to ask myself whether or not I really want to know what I know. Do I really want to know by experience all that adhere to intellectually regarding the promises of God and the comfort and security found in Christ?
In short, what kind of grip do I have upon God’s good gifts? Do I delight in them more than I do the Lord Himself? If the Lord took away one that I hold so dear, how would I be exposed? Indeed, do I even want (really, deep down) to be exposed, even as I remember the blessing that is promised to be found there?
Time and time again in Scripture, we see that clarity of thought and feeling comes only when we are brought low. Let us ask ourselves then: do we really want to see clearly or simply preserve a nice comfortable life?
Tough questions to be sure. But tough questions are usually good ones to ask.
Humbled by difficult questions,
Joe
Behind the Scenes
September 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
If you have a minute, check out 2 Samuel 17. You can read through the first half of the chapter (through verse 14) quite quick.
Essentially, what happens is this: After Absalom has taken over Jerusalem (and pushed David out of it), David’s friend Hushai defeats the wise counsel of Ahithophel, whose counsel, if followed, would have destroyed David. We are told in the previous chapter that Ahithophel’s counsel was esteemed like the word of God in that day (by both David and Absalom). Yet in this instance, Hushai is listened to rather than Ahithophel. Verse 14 gives the ‘behind the scenes’ explanation as to why.
“For the Lord had ordained (the margin reading is commanded) to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom.”
Such a short and simple statement, but the implications are profound. I encourage each of us to take a few moments to note a few realities revealed about the Lord and to, in turn, marvel. We are wise to let statements such as these shock us as they ought…shock us, that is, into thinking and feeling rightly!
Marveling at His greatness with you,
Joe
Futility
September 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
It’s been very humbling this week to prepare a message for Sunday morning on sin and judgment. One of the things that I want to draw attention to is that God’s judgment is not only future, but present, through the presence of death, the futility and bondage of the whole natural creation, and the degradation of human behavior.
I saw this photo on CNN’s website, and couldn’t help but think of Romans 8: “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
What a picture of futility. The owners of this house had a home of theirs destroyed by Hurricane Rita in 2005, and now house is the lone one left standing in their section of Gilchrist, Texas.
It was a sad reminder that the whole creation is groaning, in bondage…but mercifully, redemption is coming!
Celebrating God’s ‘Common’ Grace
September 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Joe,
I thought this was a great post from John Piper marvelling at God’s grace in the re-construction of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis, which collapsed a little over a year ago.
Defining the Gospel
September 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment
One of these days I hope to actually write a blog post with some of my own thinking. But for now, here is a post from the 9 Marks blog answering the question ‘What is the Gospel?‘ I thought it was a very helpful answer to a question that is being much talked about in evangelical circles.
The Feel of America
September 15, 2008 | 1 Comment
Lar,
I was in Germany last week and for a few days stayed right near a shopping mall. Naturally I spent some time there, but I realized I enjoyed it not so much for the shopping opportunity as much as the feel of America I was able to get there. A few questions:
What does that say about us as Americans?
Could it be that many of the countries of the world are finding unity in consumerism?
Of course, there were many other things I enjoyed about my trip to Germany, but that was one thing that stood out. For at home I am not very at home in a mall. Yet overseas, I often find a mall a comforting place, because it reminds me of home. I would rather this not be the case!
Thankful for rest in Jesus,
Joe
Clear Indications of Depravity
September 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
I turned on Sportscenter today for a few minutes (through Slingbox) and was able to hear 2 minutes more about Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens. Besides the simple fact that the media needs to let this one go, I was struck by a statement made by Owens. Essentially, he said, “It wasn’t my fault.”
Now that probably doesn’t come as any surprise to anyone familiar with Owens, but what he said should serve as a good wake up call to us all, for we are all prone to state the very same thing when faced with a difficult situation. In our marriages, with our children, at our work, etc. I would encourage each of us to ask ourselves the question today: In the past week, where have I failed to take responsibility for something(s) I am (or was) responsible for?
If you can’t think of something (or 10 things for that matter), either you are Jesus or do not know yourself as well as you should.
Let us beware of looking down at Owens for such a statement. Instead, let us be diligent to make sure that we take responsibility for all that we are responsible for. And that is probably a whole lot more than we presently know.
Seeking to know myself better (however uncomfortable that may be),
Joe
Lost in a Good Book
September 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Lar,
I hope to write a bit more in response to the link you directed us to yesterday. For now, I will say that I love that quote and am motivated to get and read the book. Great stuff….
Anyhow, as you can see in the right-hand column, I am currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I really enjoyed the movie, but the book (as to be expected) is much better. Whoever said that a picture is worth a thousand words must not have been a good reader or writer. As I am on a road trip, I have had the pleasure of getting ‘lost’ in this classic story. And it has certainly been a pleasure.
I say all that to make yet another recommendation (it’s recommendation week, I suppose). Pick 1-3 classic books to read each year (depending upon your reading schedule). And choose to read them at a time when you can really engage in the story (vacation maybe…). It is a God-given pleasure.
Thankful for good books,
Joe
Discussion Starter
September 10, 2008 | 6 Comments
Joe,
If we can’t stir up at least a couple of comments on this quote, I’m not sure what will.
Give it a read and let me know what you think. The comments from JT’s blog are, as you would expect, diverse. I’d be interested to hear where other readers weigh in on these matters.
Larry
Life Without Internet
September 9, 2008 | 2 Comments
Lar,
As you know, we have been here in Turkey for about 3 and 1/2 weeks and still don’t have Internet (though I find access elsewhere, my time there is limited). We are looking forward to getting it soon, Lord willing.
This time without it in the home has caused me to see how much unnecessary Internet activity I engage in. I am maybe online for about 10 minutes or so a day (if that). And I am perfectly find with it. Actually, I am happier with it that way. I have read more, talked more, played more, lived more. I miss things for sure (particularly being able to connect with others back home), but there is s plenty I don’t miss at all.
This leads me to a question for all of us: If your time online were limited to 10 minutes per day, what would you do with it?
(For the sake of exercise, assume you use Mail or Microsoft Outlook for your email and don’t have to use the time online to write emails.)
And if you are really bold, I would encourage you to actually try it for a week or two. Limit yourself to 10 minutes per day of Internet activity and find out what you really value about the Internet. Figure out what you miss (and don’t miss). Take notes while you are at it. It’s a great exercise.
Now I just need to make sure I apply the lessons when I get online once again. That will be the tough part for sure.
Joe
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