say what?
I hate religion. No, seriously. I hate religion.And that hatred is completely biblical. Jesus reserved his harshest words for the religious, for the full-time ministers, for the theologians, for the rabbis, the teachers and preachers of the day, because Jesus hates religion. And if he hates religion, then I do as well.
Ok, obviously I'm not saying I hate Christianity. I love this life that God has called me to live, and many of the traditions and things that God has taught his people throughout time has been continually passed down and renewed and reused as the Spirit of God leads. What I am saying, however, is that I hate when those traditions and ways become the focus of ministry or of our Christian lives and not the God that initiated them in the first place.
A couple things about religion that really get to me:
1. Holier than thou:
One thing I dislike is when we take the religious language of the day, and instead of using it to praise and give glory to God, we instead use it to make ourselves look better. To make ourselves look more holy, more esteemed, and more righteous in our own skin than we actually are. The Pharisees were really good at this, and Jesus had no problem calling them out on it (Matthew 15:8-9). Jesus called them "white washed tombs," dead inside, but so lavish, so beautiful on the outside. But it's no different today. We sit there with our easily crafted language, that we've picked up from days and months and years of sitting in a congregation, and we use it to create a wall of deception. It's that person sitting infront of you that when everyone else shares about their brokenness, their struggles, their challenges, and what God is speaking to them deep in their spirit, instead of opening themselves up as well, opts to either turn to one of two approaches (i'm gonna use football terms):
1) the hail mary (no pun intended) - this is a play at the end of a game where the losing team seeks to throw the ball as far as possible, in the hopes that someone on their team will catch the ball. Usually the ball gets knocked down, and they end up losing the game. The same thing happens when people get caught being religious - They go for the long-shot, pretty much an impossibility - they use this time of sharing as an opportunity to talk about they haven't had a struggle or that there is nothing that God is challenging them in (impossible), and then they go for the 70 yard bomb by telling everyone else how they can do better, which essentially is saying "you can be like me," not "God's making you more like Him."
2) the flea flicker/misdirection play - a classic, this is when the team with the ball confuses the other team by passing the ball off multiple times to other players, with the hopes of leaving the person who actually has the ball wide open to score a touchdown. Same thing happens when religious people get all holier than thou: they go to the tried-and-true misdirection play. You had asked them how they were doing, they respond with how their friends are doing. You ask them if they've been reading their Bible, they respond with how the guy at the McDonalds cut them off in line, and how they really need to forgive them. So frustrating and angry-making (yes, I made up a word).
2. This Jesus thing is a 9 to 5.
I think this one is the most infuriating. It's one thing to try and cover up. But the worst thing about religion is that it takes the grace of our God and reduces it to nothing. It takes Christ, who sacrificed Himself on the cross of Calvary, humbling himself taking on the form of a servant (Phil 2:6-7), it takes his amazing, unconditional love and turns it to a works-based, I must-do-this better, I must-do-more of this and less-of-this life. THE CROSS IS COMPLETE. Jesus died not to cover just one sin, but all. All means all.
I don't think I can convey how infuriating this is, so watch this clip. I think the same burden is upon Driscoll:
sticks and stones break bones, but..
Quick note: So yesterday when I woke up, I had the bright idea to just throw on a white-T, jeans, and.......... a hounds-tooth scarf. A black and white one.Apparently hounds-tooth scarves are only "in" with the Islamic-extremist crowd, because I spent most of the day fielding questions and comments such as: "Is that Islamic?" "What country did you get that in? The Middle East?" and my all-time favorite - "Taliban. You. Taliban." Note to self: unless I want to be known as the 1st Muslim-extremist-Afghan-terrorist to attend an international Christian seminary, I guess I should leave the hounds-tooth at home. I'd hate for my shouts for the "fire of God" and for an "explosion" of revival to sound off alarms.
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Now that the humor is out of the way, haha... on to a more serious topic. God has been speaking to me a lot lately about the importance of preaching.
(I'm going to use an example here to protect the anonymity of those involved)
Check this out: Let's say you are the chairman of the Awesome Party (a political party). You believe in bringing about the prosperity and continued reign of America on the Earth, but you believe that it can only happen a particular way. For you, there's only one way for America to become prosperous and that is the way that you hold onto. That is what you believe. No other way but this particular way.
Every week you have your local party meeting, and each week you invite great "Awesomer" speakers to come in and encourage those in your party. They come, share about their experiences, how great it is to be an Awesomer, and how America can be changed, if people only know about how great the Awesome party truly is. This meeting is an amazing time, that really solidifies the political base, encourages future leaders, and rallies the troops around your common, Awesome cause.
Now let's say there is another party out there, that we will call "the opposition." No matter what they say or do, deep down, their goals are to subvert and destroy all of your efforts to make America prosperous. They would even steep so low at times to call themselves "Awesomers" just so that they can align themselves with your party, so that they will have greater strategic placement in order to destroy your party.
The Opposition knows that you have this weekly meeting, and they know that if they could just find a way to get into these meetings they would have a great means of planting seeds of deception. Suddenly, a door opens up. The Awesome party has been waning in publicity, and is in dire need of fresh faces to come in and make the Awesome party known to a wider base. While the Awesome party leaders and yourself would usually be very strict in terms of the ideological and political background of your weekly party speakers, your desperation to make Awesome even more awesome has made you a little desperate. The Opposition party realizes that this is their moment, and so they send one of their more flashier members, under the guise of being a newly-converted Awesomer.
You, being the party leader, meet this covert-Opposition party member and they mention how they would like to speak at your weekly meeting. You have some reservations about having this person speaking at your weekly meeting, due to the fact that your weekly meetings are vitally important to the health of your organization, but you let it slide because, well, you need the publicity. I mean, it's not that he may have any past tendencies or sympathies with the Opposition party. Or that he may actually be still a party member. He's a public figure! He's well known! Come on! And it won't hurt too much, right? It's just one weekly meeting, yet you get the benefit of having this big-name-new Awesomer come and speak. Win, win...right?
Or is it?
Replace Awesomer with Christian, or Christianity. Replace Opposition with Mormon, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, whatever, you choose. Replace weekly meeting with church service. Doesn't sound so harmless now, does it?
Now think: This actually happened.
While I cannot give specifics, I must say this: preaching in and of itself is a holy matter. We are to approach speaking the Word of our God with fear and trembling, and it's not something that we can just cavalierly allow anyone to do. Especially when those people may not even be Christian! We can hide or try and stay politically correct by saying "only God knows that for sure," but no - that's not the case at all. It's not only God knows. We have been given a certain level of discernment to separate the sheep from the wolves, and the wheat from the tares. Effective leaders (whether you are a pastor, lay leader, seminary professor or otherwise) must be able to exercise the proper discernment in order to protect the sheep.
In this case the "party leader" failed because they placed title and prestige over the sanctity and health of their organization, and in doing so put the entire group in danger. That is what we do when we willingly allow the wolves in without discernment.
And not just that, but preaching is a holy task, if I must say it again. I cannot stand and preach about the word of God like it is just another story. No -- it is the actual story and testimony of the work and the Word of the Almighty God, and that time of preaching has been put there by God to be set apart and set above just any other public speaking.
God told Jeremiah (1:9-10): "Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."
God viewed the work that Jeremiah did, proclaiming the word and judgment of God to be a task that He himself had appointed him for, and a task that Jeremiah was given the words for. When a preacher stands on the pulpit, he is in a place both spiritually and positionally of great authority, as someone speaking with the exact words of God in his mouth. That cannot be taken lightly.
--- So how should you, the party leader, respond?
Shun the "new-Awesomer"?
Apologize for the mistake you made in bringing the Awesomer in?
Or act like nothing happened?
--- Comment below. I'm interested to hear your views.
foolishness.
Hilarious. Every single twitter feed, facebook status, or blog in the past two days has centered around KanYe's actions at the MTV Video Music Awards. And all I have to say is this: Wow. This is the biggest news of the current hour? An interruption in a meaningless awards show? The enemy's done a great job of distracting us, eh?
John himself said "for the world and it's desires will pass away," and this latest "event" just continually reveals the fallen, distracted, self-absorbed state of the world. I don't really care either way about KanYe, he's a talented individual, but of course, he has his obvious faults. But I think really one has to look past the man, past the perceived slight, to see what speaks louder than a man with a mic: We've all been deceived, consumed by a celebrity syndrome. A tabloid culture of pop, pomp, and circumstances that have absolutely no real meaning, other than to lead us further and further away from the truth. The way, the truth, and the life.
Isaiah 26 says "your name and your renown are the desire of my heart." Jesus has placed in each one of us a desire for His name and renown to be expanded and made known across this earth, but sin has twisted it and changed the focus from the Savior to self, from the Creator to creation, and from Christ to kanYe. Therefore, what has become "natural" for this world is not a fixation on the God of all creation, the God whose appearance is like that of inapproachable light and of blazing fire, but on ourselves. I mean, it's an easy digression when you think about the fact that we're made in His image, yet He is unseen and we are seen. Sin has brought us to a lowly place, where we look at our form as the best form. And that's how we're attracted to worship other people. Especially those who are talented, good looking, and prosperous.
God has made us to be people attracted to glory. The problem is, we have ascribed glory to people instead of God, and now we've exchanged it for something that does not profit (Jer. 2:11). We feast on MTV, TMZ, Perez Hilton, and other fodder and we expect those things not just to entertain us, but also to teach us. We expect the Brad Pitts, the KanYes, and the pop stars of society to be the model citizens, because when you give glory to something, you expect something in return. We give adoration and glory to celebrities and then we expect them to act like the gods we have made them to be, when in reality they cannot save, they cannot lead, they cannot provide, and they cannot hold the weight to which we have placed on them. Eventually it consumes and destroys these people, and us, in our Pharisaic, high-and-mighty states then just move on to the next teen pop star, the next big thing, the next talented individual that we can glorify, idolize, and then destroy when their character faults cannot hold the responsibility and glory we've given them.
The things we desire only reveal our destination. The things that we deem worthy in the temporal declare what we deem worthy in the spiritual. We were made to worship, made to give glory, but not unto the celebrities and high figures here on Earth, but instead the God of heaven and Earth, the uncreated one, the Rock eternal, the one of splendor and majesty, wrapped in light as if it were a garment.... He's got more going for Him than any celebrity in Hollywood or elsewhere.
Isaiah 42:8 - I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.
Exodus 20:3-6 - You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
We have to wake up out of this celebrity syndrome... out of this meaningless fixation, and become enraptured with the one worthy of it.
Instead of wasting hours and emotions on MTV.
how do you pray?
A hilarious post from Stuff Christians Like about prayer. What's your score? Post it in the comments box here. haha
#301. The prayer grunt of affirmation. (The prayer score guide)
Shared via AddThis
#301. The prayer grunt of affirmation. (The prayer score guide)
Shared via AddThis
I love sports. I love Jesus. Totally compatible.
Spending tonight just chillin with the fellas. It's funny how when the fellas all get together that time usually ends up doing one of two things: playing sports (literally), playing sports (virtually), watching sports, or talking about sports.
I know it annoys the heck out of sisters everywhere. Especially the video game part.
But let me intervene, and intercede for the brethren through whom thou may disliketh when playing sportseth (see how better it already sounds when I go with the King James Version-esque speech?):
Sports are biblical. Or at least for us, it's all about Jesus. Here's some reasons that I can come up with (along with help from my friend Jon) as to why we all should appreciate our appreciation for sports:
1. Sports teach us important Biblical principles.
Ever seen Friday Night Lights? Ever heard of Boobie Miles? If you know Boobie Miles, you know that sports are completely biblical.
Friday Night Lights chronicles the story of Permian High in Odessa, Texas, as they look to win the state football championship.
The story of Boobie Miles teaches us almost everything Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount, minus the part about adultery (but I'm fairly certain Boobie, as he walked around Permian High as the star runningback, probably wasn't the most pure of individuals). Boobie was anointed as the savior of the Permian High team, and he was given all these talents. He could run out the backfield, he had speed, looks, flash.. the total package. He had tried to store up all that he could, and then all of a sudden (just like in the Parable of the Rich Fool, Luke 12:13-21) BAM! He blows up his knee, tears his ACL, and his career is completely over. Just like the rich fool, all that he had stored up for himself was taken away. The lesson? Don't be like Boobie Miles. Share those talents.
2. It makes us more like Jesus. Literally.
I don't know if you know this or not, but Jesus was buff. He used to throw 60 kg tables like they were paperweights. And that's not when He's actually trying to bench press. Jesus was a carpenter. But not like Bob Vila.
More like Arnold. No really. Check out Arnold on that page.
Now imagine him with a beard.
Not really a pushover, ya feel me? Now, for all those who have been hating on our fixation with sports, just know that without sports, where would be the motivation for us to get like that? It would be non-existent. I know without that desire to dunk on the brothers at church, and do celebrations like this after a touchdown, why would I work out?
All those push-ups and sit-ups not only strengthen our core so we can make quicker moves on the field, but it also helps us to be better intercessors when we're on our knees crying out for so long. I mean, why do you think the disciples kept falling asleep right before it was time for Jesus to go? It was because their abs were not up to par. Not so with us, nuh unh.
3. Sports help us evangelize.
All that talk about spreading the Gospel? Sports help us get our minds right to tackle the pagan world. I mean, where do you think such sayings as "It's game time" and "Let's get ready to rumble" come from when we talk about speaking to the lost? It's obvious, it comes from sports.
As guys, when we start playing sports, it's totally a Kingdom mode. We just finished playing Fifa 2009, and it was the best description of the Kingdom I can think of. The kingdom of light (my team) versus the kingdom of darkness (everyone else). And of course, the good side prevailed. Taking enemy territory is the same thing as marching down the field, down 5 points, needing a touchdown to win, with the MVP starting at QB. Except the MVP is Jesus.
Looking like Arnold and faster than a gazelle. Unbeatable.
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These are just 3 reasons I came up with right now in the past 5 minutes. But I could write a whole book on this topic. My point is this: Sports are all about Jesus. Every guy should like sports, and every girl should support him in this endeavor. I mean you'll get a buff dude with principles. What's the problem with that?
the blueprint
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So this past week the Blueprint 3 was released in the States (and essentially YouTube) and every other major media outlet. I missed the leak and so I had to wait just like everyone else to hear what was coming in this next installment from Jay-Z.
Yes, that's right. Jay-z. The guy who calls himself "Hov".
I struggle a lot with Jay-z. I've heard him called everything from "the best rapper of all time" to "demonic." I know that a grown man who walks around calling himself Jehovah is either 1) influenced by a spirit not from God or 2) is about to turn some h2o into chardonnay with the quickness. And since Jay-z to my knowledge has not opened up for himself a "choice wine" distillery, I'm guessing that he's not ushering in a second coming. A tad disappointed, I'll admit.
But he has in the past made some good music. Some entertaining music that at times has kept my head nodding at a respectable 94 beats per minute. But the problem is the pagan part. Great music, mad pagan.
So that brings up the question: How do Christians handle people like Jay-z (uber talented musicians who aren't moving by the spirit of God)? Do I grab signs and picket his house because he calls himself "Hov" and blasphemes every time he rhymes? Do I buy his music on iTunes and just make the claim "I don't listen to the lyrics" (a cover-up for the person who secretly sings the chorus when no ones watching)?
Or do I pray for him?
A spirit-filled Jay-z would give the Christian rap game a boost, that's for sure. But really, how do we reconcile Jay-z with Jesus? Do we completely turn our backs on the things that we see in the world, the music we used to listen to, the clothes we used to wear, the way we used to speak... in favor of what seems more "Christian"? I mean I like Hillsong...but I can't listen to them 24/7. And while I dig Chris Tomlin... it's just not happening that I hear him every moment of the day. And really it's not a worship issue, but rather a cultural one. I'm not used to hearing a guitar riff every second of the day as much as I am used to a banging 808 and snare, going at a pace only fit for struttin'.
Asking about Jay-z isn't really asking about whether or not Christ calls us to give up Jay's music (which He may be), but instead trying to get at the root level. Is it about the music, or the hip-hop culture behind it? Is it about the music, or the fashion, speech, and lifestyle that the music can at times both encourage and portray?
Really what I'm asking is:
Is hip-hop culture Christian?
Can I wear baggy jeans, a chain and aviators on a Sunday?
Or what about on the pulpit?
What would you think about my faith if I did?
why flyer than?
The whole nature of blogging nowadays has provided a medium to talk about a lot more than just "how your day went," but rather for people to take a look at life in a more personal, interesting way. Heck, I usually go to blogs for all my movie and music reviews, and even lately, hilarious observations about my own faith (check out Stuff Christians Like : http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com).
Flyer Than Angels I'm hoping will be a place where it won't just be about me, a 24-year-old, intern pastor living in South Korea (http://newphiladelphiachurch.com), but more a little bit of everything: sports, pop culture, music, politics, struggles, triumphs, and of course Jesus. More Jesus than anything else.
So yeah, why Flyer Than? we'll it just so happens I rap in my part time. Yes, I am one of those full-time ministers, pastors, speakers still trying to keep it cool by dabbling in what the young kids (wait... I am young!) are doin. I even drop slang in my sermons. Gotta "keep it hood."
But yeah, anyways, it came from a song I wrote called true love:
"exhale felt like a 10 on the richter scale/
love spell I inhaled/i was in jail/
sin had pinned me in hell/til He prevailed/
and now I'm flyer than angels/"
and that's what Jesus has done. Made us flyer than angels. Eph.2:6 says we are "seated with him in heavenly places," even. We sit with Him and rule and reign.
That's a good place to be.
Word.
