The Case for Kingdom Theology (Part 4)

The Case for Kingdom Theology (Part 4)  -OR- Kingdom Eschatology

So then, if we accept the premise that the gospel does need a kingdom centered definition, the implications are that a kingdom centered gospel also includes a triumphant view with regard to the restoration of the rule and reign of God. What do I mean by that? 

So much of popular theology today is centered around defeat. The demise of Western culture creates a tendency in western Christians to put their cultural narrative over the biblical one. Add to that the American Church's huge impact on global Christianity (money, publishing, seminaries, missionaries, etc) and those concerns not only dominate western theology but they tend to redefine everyone’s view of the world, prophecy and any other eschatological concerns too. The end result of the Western church  losing ground in society becomes the driving premise in global eschatology that the church of Jesus Christ must essentially be defeated by the world in order for Jesus to return. In contrast, the Bible teaches that there are two kingdoms in conflict (and its not the USA vs. the devil) and that the kingdom of God is triumphant, overcoming the kingdom of darkness, so that the gates of hell are unable to prevail. The prophecies of Daniel tell us that the kingdom of Christ will fill the earth and crush the feet of the kingdoms of this world and that God will establish his rule and reign forever. Even now, in contrast to this defeatist eschatology, the global church is advancing all over the face of the earth (with the exception of the West) yet Christians keep declaring defeat because of the ground lost in the West. The truth is that the Kingdom of God is much more than the Western Church! In fact, the rule and reign of God is even bigger than just the church. Still, the point is that the church is growing in the majority world by leaps and bounds, even as it losing ground in the USA. As well, kingdom values like: human rights, justice, mercy, the sanctity of human life, loving our neighbor, the brotherhood of humanity, and even equality are all becoming more common among the nations. This is not some “Pollyanna” naive worldview, despots are not becoming benefactors. On the other hand, countries who once had terrible human rights records like China, Russia, Romania, South Africa, and others are engaged in the discussion of human rights, and the International Olympic Committee will not allow a country to host the Olympics if they are not making any effort to do what is right. These are advances! The point is that the Kingdom of God  is advancing and that the rule and reign of God is being revealed even to those who deny it.

Moving toward a more triumphant eschatology is NOT promoting Dominion theology or Christian Re-constructionism or even Kingdom Now theology. The church cannot make the kingdom come, but neither should it hide it's heads in the sands of reality, injustice, or the failures of society. It does not mean adopting the expectant humanistic eschatology of the late nineteenth century that saw the advances in science as the arrival of the kingdom. This is not advocating that we can bring the kingdom of God about, or that we will clean up the whole earth before Jesus’ return to vanquish his enemies. It is the celebration of the inauguration of the kingdom in Jesus. It is seeing the win, when there is a win to celebrate, as a triumph over evil, over temptation, over disease, sickness, and demons. And when there is a loss, that the people of God do not surrender to defeat, but pray all the more earnestly, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

This is important, because in contrast there is the dispensational eschatology of LaHaye and Lindsey, whose narratives essentially teach us that the church is the fallout (result) of the Jews rejecting Jesus as messiah.  It is a doctrine that says, Jesus failed. Subsequently, it teaches that Jesus went to the cross to save the gentiles, and that one day he will return and then the Jews will know that Jesus really is the messiah, but until then the church is fighting a battle against evil that cannot be won, in a heroic effort to save a few, while the majority go to hell. Then when it looks as though all has been lost, Jesus comes back, vanquishes his enemies, rubs there nose in their sin, and rescues the very few, and of course the Jews, and declares himself the winner, despite having lost the vast majority of people to sin and death. 
Is it really enough for God to be proven right? If that was so then he would not have needed to go any further than the garden. In contrast to these relatively recent eschatological views, John 3.16 says, God so loved the world, that he sent his Son, and the picture of Revelation 19 is one of triumph, of myriads of believers from every tongue, tribe and nation worshipping him who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Then in Revelation 20 Satan is bound so that he can no longer deceive the nations. Once released he does not triumph! He is again defeated swiftly. Gog and Magog are not the dreadful events of the Left Behind novels but an exclamation point of defeat again. Followed quickly by the final judgment. It does not take a neatly worked out eschatology to know that God wins; that the triumph is not secret! Satan is not just beaten back but utterly defeated, destroyed, humiliated not only by the cross, but again, and again on the world stage. 

Likewise, Jesus' parables on the kingdom continually illustrate the idea of the church advancing over the face of the earth, taking ground not through wars or by force, but advancing through the subversive acts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. It is through subversive activity like loving your neighbor as yourself, self-sacrifice, generosity, and the like. These are not pacifist acts of acquiescence but the radical confrontation between kingdoms. This is taking kingdom authority over the violence that has been perpetrated against the kingdom of God. 

In Colossians 2.15 it says that the cross was triumph, disarming and making a public spectacle of  the powers and authorities that opposed his kingdom. Why then persist in a theology of defeat, doubting God, emotionally surrendering, forming social ghettos in the social media, television and music, making poor imitations of everything in the world. The goal here isn’t to offend but stop the bleed. When do we see the goodness of the world, and give credit to the work of God in the world? What if we give God credit even if he does that good work through those who are not Christians? Doesn’t the Bible tell us again and again, that people like Pharaoh, King Darius, and even traveling Samaritans do what is right? Doesn't Jesus celebrate their good works? Can't it be celebrated by the people of God giving credit to Yahweh God who is God of all creation (Psalm 24.1, 1 Corinthians 10.26) not just that which is redeemed? 
Look at the parables, the vision is one of the kingdom of God filling the earth, defeating nations (Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome). Add to that list nations not that have disappeared from the world stage after becoming a threat to Christianity like the Suleiman’s Ottoman Empire, Hitler’s Nazi Germany, Stalin’s U.S.S.R., Mao’s P.R.C. Christianity has outlived them all and withstood the attempts of each of those nations to stomp it out.  At the dawn of the twenty-first century Christianity not only regained ground in each of those regions, but has over-taken much of the continent of Africa and continues to spread among almost every nation in the world, only loosing ground in the West. Given the evidence of Christianity’s expansion into nations once hostile to Christianity, there is every reason to believe that it will retake even the West in time. That does not mean that earthly governments will all become Christian, but it does means that the Kingdom of God and the church will be present and healthy among every people group and nation. 

With that in mind, a triumphant ‘hermeneutic' or principle ought to yield an eschatology that is throughly biblical, historically valid, presently viable, and expectant of the future. It should exalt Jesus as King of kings, and Lord of lords, it should expect his final vanquishing of his enemies, and give reason for every knee to bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. It should not glorify man, except to the extent that God does, and it should substantiate the entire witness of the Bible, not confound it.  To that point what eschatology does all that? Here is hoping that a kingdom centered eschatology will yield that ideal.          

Advent 2011: Week Four, Peace on Earth

I remember being in first grade, my family had just moved back to El Paso, Texas from Vancouver, BC Canada and I was playing outside with my neighbors when my Mom put some small cereal box cutout in the window with scotch tape. There were ornaments, and manger personalities. I stopped playing and pointed to my Mormon neighbors, and I was excited by the colorful window dressings. Then a long banner that was made to look like a red ribbon with gold letters. It red, “Peace on Earth, Good will to men.” I remember how it hit me. My thoughts about it did not penetrate my neighbors. It was just Christmas stuff, but I went in and spoke to my Mom. I asked her, what that meant and I got the usual answers, its peace because Jesus came, its peace because we can go to heaven now or (my personal warm fuzzy) its peace because he was a baby sleeping in a manger. At seven I knew that none of that made much sense. It was warm and sentimental but it did not fit, why would the birth of Jesus mean peace for humankind. The Little Drummer Boy implies that it was the radiant presence of the child that made everyone feel at peace. I still wondered why would Jesus’ birth mean peace for humanity?

Every year we hear Linus quote the KJV of the passage, to tell us of the night that Jesus was born. That Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem for a government census, and that while they were there she went into labor, and gave birth to a son, and had to lay the child in a manger because they had no place to stay but a stable. At that very moment, shepherds in the field saw a group of angles praising God, who then announced the birth of the Christ child to them and invited them to come and see that it was true, but in the KJV account there is a misnomer, “peace on earth goodwill toward men.” Let’s look at the verse afresh, along with Luke’s entire account of the birth of Christ:

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2.1-21)

In Romans 5.1-11, and again in Ephesians 2.14-18 the thought is expressed that since the fall of Adam in the garden humanity has not been at peace with God. From that moment on, sin separated humanity from God. It was not just because they ate fruit, and not just because they disobeyed a rule, but because the betrayal was an attempted to overthrow God as King of kings and Lord of lords. The serpent’s temptation was, “You will be like God.” Actually, Adam and Eve were already like God, but the serpent sowed distrust, and doubt in us toward God. He implied that God was withholding something from them that was better than what they had now. “Eat and you will be your own God,” was the implied message he was selling. Furthermore Adam’s decision was not out of deception, Eve it says was deceived, but Adam’s sin was the greater sin because he knew what he was doing, and he committed a treasonous act against God willfully. Romans chapter seven squarely places the blame on Adam, not Eve. From that time onward humankind has lived as an enemy of God. However, through Christ, mankind can choose to return to God. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is the peace accord between humankind and God. When we surrender to the Prince of Peace, the terms of surrender are, let God be God, and put your heart, your will, your strength, your possessions under his control, and in return he will give eternal life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. That is the message of Jesus’ birth.

When you pull back all the sentimental imagery of the manger and Christmas, it is about the birth of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This is about dominion, the change of the global order, and life and death. That is why King Herod sent out soldiers to murder every child under the age of two when he found out about the Christ child being born. That is why the three Magi came from the east in the first place. (More about them on Christmas Eve), but the coming of Jesus Christ was a powerful watershed event, the clash of kingdoms, and it was ultimately the reestablishment of the Kingdom of God on earth under the leadership of the Prince of Peace, who reconciled humanity to God, and gave the gentle terms of surrender. For those who surrender to God’s goodwill there is peace.

The central question for us today is, are we surrendered to Jesus Christ? Are we at war or at peace with God? This promise of peace is not a gift of warm-fuzzy peaceful feelings, or inner tranquility; this is the peace that comes to those who are no longer struggling to be god of their own life. This is the peace of not being the enemy of God. This is the peace, of knowing that when judgment comes, that according to the terms of surrender you will not be tried for high treason. Because one day, Philippians 2.9-11 tells us, the whole world will be subdued, and every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I believe that is why we read that the ordinary Joes, and the humble parents of Jesus, were the first to receive this good news. The three magi don’t come until almost two years later. That first night it was Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds along with a few animals. Not because God is opposed to either wealth or power, he has both. If however, we are honest, there are few poor people in the world who believe them selves to be invincible, or in charge, or self-sufficient. It is easier for those who are poor or powerless to accept the gospel of Peace, the terms of surrender to Jesus are much more palatable than the terms of surrender that have been shoved down their throats repeatedly by the harsh realities of life, by government, and everything else that they perceive as oppressing them.

For those with power and wealth, the terms of surrender are the same, but as Proverbs 10 & 18 point out many perceive their wealth or power as a strong tower, as a shield, as impenetrable. Many with wealth or power perceive themselves as not in need of rescue. They do not see the need for surrender. Its not that God opposes people because of wealth or power, but that God opposes those who are proud. Often the rich and powerful are never humble enough to surrender. As lords, as kings, of their own destiny, there is nothing more difficult for a king to do then become the vassal of another king.

There is a scene in the movie Brave Heart, where a group of British lords is coming out to greet the Scottish King and nobility. So oppressed are the Scotts that the British King no longer comes to greet the King of Scotland, he just sends an English lord to receive the annual payment and pledge of loyalty to avoid destruction. At that point the English lord makes sport of the Scottish King and tells the other lords in his company that they will watch a King kiss their behinds. To their surprise the Scotts rebel, and a war begins, but the attitude of both in the movie reflects the lack of humility of Kings and Lords everywhere, and the general refusal of those in power to surrender their power, even if its costs them everything. The famous missionary, Jim Elliot, once said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." The inverse is also true, if you fight to keep what you cannot take with you, rather than surrender to gain what you cannot loose, that makes you a great fool.

Thinking about those ordinary Joes working the late shift that night, those shepherds, (despite Christmas lore), were the low men on the social ladder. Working all night, watching a bunch of stupid stinking sheep, their own lives potentially in danger for a bunch of cattle. As ordinary as they were, they got to see the glory of God, they got to see angels, and they saw the Christ child. Likewise, when you and I humble ourselves, when we surrender to the kingdom of God, we too can see the glory of God displayed. We get to see God work, not because we are powerful, rich, or something special in our own right, but because we have recognized that we are not. We have seen our need for God, we have humbled ourselves, let God be God, let God be King and Lord of our lives, and in that process we too get to experience the works of God.

Have you ever wondered why people see greater miracles in Africa, or Latin America or China? I believe that it has to do with oppression. The people in those places are so crushed by oppression that without God they have no hope. Therefore they are completely dependent on God. Especially if following God has come at a price of social exclusion or some kind of additional oppression by worldly rulers and authorities. I would submit to us that Advent is a time for us to renew our commitment, to review the terms of surrender. It is a time of putting God in charge, of believing that God’s governance is better than our own, and of believing that just as God sent angles, and demonstrated his love for those humble shepherds and Jesus’ earthly parents, that God also desires to show his glory to us who surrender themselves today, as we await his soon return.

To go back to my childhood question, peace on earth is something that belongs to those who have surrendered to God’s will. Making peace with God is the way for us to prepare not only for Christmas, but also for Jesus’ imminent return.

Advent 2011: Week Three, Joy to the World

The third week of Advent is about joy. The third Sunday is also known as John the Baptist Sunday in the Christian church calendar, because it was John who came as the one to prepare hearts for Christ. It is recorded in John 3.22-36 that John said his joy was made complete as the friend of the bridegroom, because he had kept the bride safe and prepared the way so that the groom could claim his bride. John’s role was finished and now the bridegroom must become the focus, John must decrease as Jesus increased. That he said would result in all who believe being given the Spirit without measure, and eternal life. For this reason, no Advent season would be complete without John the Baptist. In Luke 1.39-80 it says,

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace."

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

When a child comes into the world it is always joyful, but in that first encounter between Mary and Elizabeth, both with child, there is a supernatural joy shared by these two women. In any other set of circumstances these two women in first century Palestine might be less than cheerful. Mary is under suspicion of adultery or at least fornication. Elizabeth is old, and her pregnancy could be dangerous, but these two women are filled with joy because they are carrying the hope of the world, the prophet who will announce the Messiah, and the Messiah himself.

We know that for Mary it was not easy, because her husband to be, Joseph, questioned her fidelity, and did not except her explanation of her pregnancy until an Angel of the Lord spoke to him. We can infer that neighbors still sat in judgment unconvinced. Then before long she had to journey to Jerusalem and to Bethlehem, a long difficult journey, even if you are not pregnant. Within two years they will have to flee for their lives to Egypt. Yet often we forget that when these Bible personalities entreat us to live lives filled with joy that they did not live pampered or unfettered lives. Instead they entreat us to live in joy in spite of circumstances. Like the circumstances of a teen mom whose character has been impugned, or like Paul, writing us about joy from prison where he would soon loose his life.

In contrast, happiness, is the temporary feeling created by chance occurrence. The root word, hap means chance; luck; occur by chance. It is also the root of happen, happenstance, haphazard, and hapless. Words that we generally associate with chaos and pain. Joy is a state of blessedness. It is a decision to recognize what is good regardless of happenstance. So when the Bible tells us about people of old having joy, it is not some carefree flippant attitude in the midst of crises, nor a sheltered existence, but it is the recognition that regardless of life’s events there is something to be glad about. In this case, their joy is that a Savior is to be born, Christ the Lord. Joy to the World the Lord is come, let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room, as heaven and nature sing, Joy to the World. When Isaac Watts penned those words to that famous carol he was himself under scrutiny for his non-conformist views. Yet he too knew the joy of the Lord in the midst of his circumstances, in much the same way Mary burst into song after greeting Elizabeth.

Mary sang and she was joyful because God chose her, a girl of humble means, to bear the Son of God. Even though at the moment life was hard she noted that one day, in retrospect, they would call her the most blessed of women. In Catholic, Orthodox and other old order churches Mary is esteemed, while sometimes in Protestant churches the fear that she will be worshipped is so strong that they give her no honor at all. Nonetheless, Mary knows that in-spite of her circumstances that God has blessed her, and ultimately the world around her, despite those difficult and trying events. Mary knew that God did not impunge her character; only people did that.

Have you ever considered that God is doing something marvelous a midst our difficult and trying events? I am convinced that God never wastes a hurt. No matter who or what inflicts it, God will use it in our lives to bless us, grow us, and shape us.

The theme of her second verse was that this child would level the playing fields. Remember the words of Isaiah that John the Baptist, the voice of one calling in the wilderness, would make straight and level the path of the Lord, every valley filled, every high place made low. Our God levels the playing field of life, by making it possible that everyone can come to him regardless of life station.

Then Mary ends with the reminder that I have tried to capture all through this Advent season. God helped Israel, he remembered them with mercy, just as he promised to Abraham, and the descendants of Abraham (even those of us who are children of Abraham by faith). God was faithful, and kept his word, so there is much to be joyful about. We should have confidence that he will do it again. The whole world should be filled with joy. Therefore every heart ought to prepare him room.

That was the mission of John the Baptist from birth. Elizabeth’s friends and neighbors were amazed that God would give her a child in her old age. They thought that was the blessing. Then on the eighth day after his birth, preparing to circumcise him, they asked his name. “John” she said. The priest and those involved wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah, but Zechariah, scribbled out, “His name is John.” When he did, the Lord opened his mouth, and Zechariah prophesied what John the Baptist, his son, would him self proclaim in thirty years. Zechariah had been mute since the angle told him his wife was with child and he doubted, now suddenly he can speak. God has loosened his tongue, and the neighbors were freaked out, the priests were in an uproar. Everyone asked, “Who is this child that was conceived in old age, that his father could not speak until he had faith, and that his circumcision comes amidst prophetic words?”

Zechariah said, this child is the prophet of the Most High sent to prepare the way of the Lord. He will proclaim, salvation, forgiveness, and the tender mercies of God. He will give light to those in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guide them in the path of peace. He will prepare room in every heart for the coming Messiah. He will level the paths, and he did.

Then in chapter three it records that he took aim at the self-righteous and called them a brood of vipers, and that he told them that they could not rest on their lineage, but that God could raise up children of Abraham from anywhere he wanted to. When the people asked what should they do, he spoke he told them to make room in their hearts for their neighbor who had nothing. He told them to make room in their hearts for others by not taking advantage of their authority. He told them, even King Herod, to stop living immoral lives. He leveled the paths from King to Peasant. Regardless of their station in life he told them to prepare room for God in their hearts by treating everyone as though they are made in the image of God, because, in the words of 1 John 3 from last week, you cannot love God and hate your neighbor. Likewise you cannot be joyful in all circumstances if you let circumstances dictate your responses to life. Preparing him room means bringing justice to those who have none, living holy, asking for forgiveness, and seeking knowledge of God.

The message is still the same. In the midst of Advent or any other time of year. Preparing him room, making room for God in our lives includes resisting the pressure to give in to circumstances over what is right. It means that doing right does not depend on anyone but you. Damn the outcome! Damn the circumstances! Do what is right . . . In Matthew 11.12 it says, “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” The NIV says it best, “the kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing.”

Coming to Christ is easy, living it out is hard. Having joy in spite of circumstances, doing the right thing, preparing him room by doing right by others? This is the real spirit of Advent, it is the spirit of Christ, and Christmas. Because Christmas is about more than presents under a tree or jingle bells. One more present will not bring joy to the world, but a joyful believer, living out the mission of Christ, will level the paths, make straight the way, and bring hope and love to a world without any of the above.

Here the words of John the Baptist.

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

This Advent are you preparing the way of the Lord in your heart? Are you acting justly? Do you extend mercy? Has the plight of the those who are in humble circumstances touched you? What about joy? Are you choosing joy, or are you wallowing in your circumstances? What about the circumstances that you let control your responses to others? Have you let others steal your joy, thus inadvertently making them god over your life? As you celebrate this Christmas season, prepare the way of the Lord in your life and the lives of others by choosing joy rather than yielding to circumstances.

Advent 2011: Week Two, Because God Loves

We generally celebrate Christmas with gift giving but often it is out of compulsion (e.g. they gave us something, family relations, etc.) rather than love. Too often our giving is marked but what we feel we must do, rather than genuine love for the receiver of our gift. This attitude is in contrast to God’s actions that first Christmas when he sent his Son. It was not out of obligation to the Law, nor any necessity, that God felt compelled God to send Jesus. The Father could have left us to die for our sins, and it would have been just and right to do so, but because of his great love for us, he sent his Son.

One of the most famous passages on this aspect of God’s love is in 1 John 4. The Apostle tells us that God is defined as love and that the manifestation of his love was God sending his son Jesus into the world to save us, which parallels an even more famous verse (John 3.16), which tells us that God’s motivation for sending Jesus was love rather than condemnation. In 1 John the Apostle says that the overflow of our love for God ought to result in loving one another in this same manner as Jesus, by us laying our lives down for one another. He also says that genuine love for God will result in our obedience of God, overcoming our circumstances, and in overcoming the world. That is victorious living! Not that God would take us out of the world, but that we would live Christlike lives in the midst of it. Take a look at this passage:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (ESV)

As you read in this text, God is defined by love, of course he is also defined in the Bible (in other texts) as just, as merciful, as righteous, as victorious, as holy, and as the beginning and the end. There is no single adjective that can describe God, he is all of these things at one time, all the time. Which is impossible for us to get our heads around.

Nonetheless, in this text, the Apostle focuses in on love as God’s motive for sending Jesus; it is a powerful statement. Across the ideological scope of world religions, none has defined their god’s motivation for interacting with humanity as being because of love. In many circles, lust was a motivation, but not a sacrificial love. In fact, sacrifice in most world religions is on the burden of the worshipper, to bring a suitable offering that could appease the anger of the god(s). In the Christian faith, our call to sacrifice is not about costly gold, silver, or some kind of costly gift given to an idol or deity, but through imitation of Jesus, laying our lives down for others, an imitation of God’s love for us, but never as an act to appease God. Paying Jesus’ actions forward like showing mercy and kindness we then become love too.

The good news this advent week, is that in Christ, we have been given the Spirit of God when we confess Jesus as the Son of God, and thus the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a new kind of life. A life that is free and not motivated by fear, which has to do with punishment. Instead, real Christianity is motivated to share and to show the same kind of love with others. This is why the Apostle then points out a contradiction he sees in the lives of some who claim to walk with God. How can you love God and hate your brother? A common misunderstanding in this passage is that if you do not show love to others that God will not love you, but that is not what this says. Neither does this passage does teach that you show God love by loving your brother. Instead this passage is like the “warning light” on your dashboard. If the tank is empty you cannot keep driving. If there is no oil in the car it will stop running. If the brake light is on eventually you cannot stop. Likewise, if you do not love your brother, than you do not love God. Its not that God is preventing you, it’s a warning light, your lack of love for others is telling you that you do not really love God either, no matter how much you go to church, no matter how much money you give, no matter how faithful you are at coming to church events. If you do not love your brother your warning light on the dashboard of your life is saying, there is a problem with your faith, it is running on empty, and because you don’t love God.

It would be a mistake to read the Apostle as condemning the readers, rather understand that John is alerting them to their condition. The same is true in my message now, nothing concerns me more, nothing gets my attention quicker, than when the red light on my emotional dashboard goes off warning me that I have treated my wife, my children, or my brother or sister in Christ with less than love. I don’t mean I was simply cranky. I don’t mean that I had a bad day. I don’t mean that I joked around too rough. I mean, when I act intentionally without love toward other human beings, it tells me that I do not love God.

A few years ago, I had a person in my life that was pushing my buttons, mistreating me, and speaking evil of me, and making “light of me” to others. I was particularly disturbed because it was an old friend who I trusted implicitly. I was crushed by this person’s actions. Over a course of a year, the repeated action began to wreck havoc on me, my family, and on my performance as a pastor. I started out hurt, but I became angry, and when that person was struggling ill, I eventually refused to pray for the person. Eventually I became so bitter that I felt joy when this person was unable to function because of affliction, and I suddenly realized that my idiot light was not just blinking, it was going off like a siren trying to call me back from the spiritual melt-down. In that moment I realized my prayer life had dried up, that my heart was cold, and that I was skeptical of every believer and every church. I was in danger, far from God, and in that moment, I asked God for forgiveness and prayed for my friend, and started my journey back to God who never stopped loving me. The Apostle tells us, “You cannot love God whom you cannot see if you do not love your brother whom you can see.” When hate gets in your heart it crowds out God. Its not that God stops loving you, it’s that there is no room in your heart to love God if you hate your brother.

Likewise, if we do not like God’s ways, but prefer the ways of the world, that is an indication that we do not love God either. This message was written 2,000 years ago to the churches in Asia Minor, but there is no more pertinent message to the modern church. Often we have propagated the faith like we are selling big screen TVs. Many have bought into the gospel only superficially so as to escape the flames of hell, but have no love for God, God’s people, or God’s ways. This superficial faith comes to loathe the very works of God as burdensome he warns his readers, and that is another warning light on our spiritual dashboard. If every time you read that an attitude, action, or behavior is out of bounds, you find yourself angry, irritated or frustrated with God, the church, and his people, that is a good indication that you do not love God. Again, it is not that God is rejecting you, or rejecting your love, it’s the idiot light on your personal dashboard telling you, something is wrong. It is time to evaluate your relationship with God. Why does God make you mad?

In contrast, when I am in love, or feel love for another, it is my great desire to do what pleases them, even if it makes me stand out. In fact, that is one of the early signs of being smitten. Its true not just of romantic love, but in familial relationships also. Pleasing my parents, pleasing my children, pleasing my closest friends. It is my love for them that motivates me to behave differently. Even to the point of standing out from those around me. As Christmas is upon us I can think of no greater example than all that we go through to communicate to our loved ones how much we love them than travel, expenses, and time spent demonstrating how we feel. So then it should be no surprise to us that how we feel about God’s way, his church, and his people, tells us if we love God like he loves us.

That first Christmas God gave us the gift of Jesus. He gave us the best he had to give, he gave us his Son, Jesus, so that we could be with him forever. If love was enough motivation for God to send his Son to die for us, how much more likely is it that God will send his Son to bring us all home? Advent is the season of preparing our hearts for Jesus’ return, his second and final coming. Advent is about renewing our confidence in Jesus’ return on the anniversary of his first coming by revisiting the messianic promises, God’s motivations, and God’s past actions, so that our hearts maybe renewed with confidence that Jesus will come again.

Advent 2011: Week One, Renewing Hope

This past Sunday was the beginning of Advent. Advent is the time in the church calendar that covers the four Sundays before Christmas. Typically a church will light four purple candles, one each Sunday until all four are lit. Then on Christmas a fifth white candle is lit. The four purple candles remind us of Christ’s majesty, the white candle speaks of his purity and holiness. In some traditions the third candle is pink for joy. While joy is the theme of week three, not all churches use a pink candle. This is an old tradition that goes back to the practice of the Pope giving out flowers on the third week in a very solemn Advent feast.

The purpose of Advent is prepare the church both for Christmas, and to renew our hope in the second coming of Messiah. Just as Israel waited patiently for Messiah which culminated in Jesus’ birth, so now the church awaits Christ second coming. While Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, Advent is a reminder that God fulfilled his promise to send Messiah, and we can be assured that God keeps his word and that he will send his Son again, just as promised.

For this reason the Advent celebration begins with Hope. Proverbs 13.12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” The greatest difference between hope in pagan worldly sense, and hope in Biblical perspective is perspective. For most, hope has always meant a desire that stands almost in opposition to the prevailing expectation; it is a wish for something better in spite of circumstances. Whereas Biblical hope is the time of waiting for what was promised. It is not in spite of circumstances, but patient confidence in God who promised. Biblical hope is expectancy in the face of circumstances, worldly hope is longing for a different outcome because of circumstances.

In Isaiah 9.1-7 we read one of the most famous prophecies about the first coming of Messiah, which speaks of Messiah as not only a deliverer of Israel, but also as the light of hope to the nations, to those who are in darkness. That the Messiah will break the staff and yoke of every oppressor, bringing justice to those oppressed. It promises that he shall come as a child, but even from birth all authority will be his, and he will establish his kingdom, and his rule will be extended to every people, and the passion of God, the same zeal that would send Jesus to begin with would also establish his kingdom. It is that kingdom rule that we now benefit from, our salvation, and it is that kingdom in fullness that we await now, when every knee will bow, and every rule and ruler will be subdued by his righteous rule. That is our hope. Our hope is built on Jesus’ blood and righteousness, and the evidence that God keeps his word is Jesus Christ.

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (ESV)

The concept of salvation has been lost to most of the church in our day, traded for mental assent and religious sentiment; it has lost its power. For those early hearers the idea of salvation was being plucked from circumstances, delivered form an enemy, and certain peril. When Israel first heard of salvation it was under the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, as they awaited a deliverer. It meant that they would be rescued from a life of slavery, it meant escaping with their lives. For those first listening to Isaiah, those words, “No gloom for those in anguish,” was not just about escaping a prison of the mind, but the Israelites need to escape eminent danger. In this passage in Isaiah, Israel is in decline, and Assyria is breathing down their neck with threats, ready to devour them. They need saving. They are in anguish. They are in their darkest hour. And to them Isaiah speaks of a time when there will be no more gloom, a time when from Galilee by the sea, that those who are in darkness would see a great light.

The imagery of light in the darkness is generally one of hope, but what is interesting is that Galilee is the gateway to the nations. The invasion of Assyria would have come down from the north and through Galilee. To us, this side Messiah’s first coming, the picture of Galilee of the nations, has other significance, because of Jesus’ ministry in that countryside. For us Galilee is the place where people of other ethnic backgrounds would see the light in the darkness.

The promise for those in anguish that in the coming of Messiah they would be freed from impending gloom was a ray of hope in the darkness of their hour. For us, it is a reminder that God delivers.

The second promise was that the government would be on his shoulders. For those Israelites it was a commentary on the injustice of their own government, it was a commentary on their rejection of God as their king, and the threat of (Gentile) Assyrian rule. A Wonderful Counselor, one who fights for justice. That he is not just a god like the gods of the nations but Mighty God, one who is actually able to deliver from the oppressor. To a people surrounded by gods, and with an enemy like Assyria who spoke of Yahweh being unwilling to deliver them, Mighty God was the promise of being an able and willing deliverer. Everlasting Father one who does not leave or disappoint, who is present. And Prince of Peace, not just the conqueror who brings peace but he is the champion and sustainer of peace. Then he ends with the romantic ideal of every Israelite, God will establish the righteous rule of David, but this time it will not fade with a spoiled heir. This righteous ruler will sit upon his throne forever, doing what is right and just. And how would he accomplish all of this, by the zeal of Yahweh of Hosts. God put his name on the line, his character was the guarantee that he would deliver as promised.

In as much as God sent his Son, we too can have confidence. Our hope is not wishful thinking but trust that God will bring the ultimate fulfillment of this passage to pass. Already God established Jesus’ rule, his reign over those whose hope is in him, how likely then is it that our hope will not disappoint us?

As we participate in Advent, this first week, our goal is to renew our hope. Remember the words of 2 Peter 3.9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (ESV) I pray that as you meditate on the messianic promises of old that your hope in Christ return will be renewed this Advent season.