From Straight-jacket to Freedom

In my young professional community we are working through Tim Keller’s The Reason for God by discussing the questions raised in his book through a Biblical perspective. This past week had some great discussion on a very hard question that I have thought about over the years. (As a side note, my Dad has read this book and has mentioned that this book is in his all-time top-5 books. His heart was stirred to at least a dozen sermons through the content of this book.)

Are Christianity and the Bible a straightjacket on freedom, individualism and truth?

Tim Keller is pastor of a church in Manhattan called Redeemer. Manhattan, and all of NYC, is the home of many forward-thinking and typically liberal young minds. Many have said that orthodox Christianity cannot find a home among such thinkers, because the Church is for the simple-minded Conservative unwilling to honestly think about the claims of Christianity vs. the claims of the rest of the world. However, Keller’s church is thriving in the midst of a skeptical and modern society, which is a great argument for the truth of Christ and the church being founded in almost every culture around the world. Christianity is not for one culture, language or people group, but is for the nations as spoken by God throughout the Scriptures. Keller has found a way to be founded in the truth of Scripture and God, yet being culturally relevant among the people of Manhattan. Being among this type of person has caused him to consider what appear to be some very difficult questions about the Christian faith and God. Keller has not shied away from hard questions though, and presents great arguments for the validity of our faith throughout his book and his preaching. However, my favorite thing about Keller thus far is his love for those he is discussing with. He never approaches anyone with a Truth-Stick to beat them into submission. He always approaches the questions with grace and truth. He never shies away from being a Christian or the truth of the Scriptures, but always come to the argument with love and much grace, which is very encouraging to me.

Many people see Christianity and thus the Bible (and other religions and their holy books for that matter) as a power play by some authority to get you to follow some set of rules, which limits freedom and individualism and culture and truth. First, it is important to answer some basic questions; what is freedom, what is truth, and what does Christianity say about both.

What is freedom?

                Some would say that America is a place of freedom, yet there are many rules that are present here. Rules of law, rules of cultural acceptance, rules of social interaction and many more exist even in the most ‘free’ places. Rules are inescapable, it is truly just a matter of what rules that you submit to. We discussed different meanings of freedom; some patriotic, some based on choices, and rebellious others founded in the absence of authority. The best that we discussed was founded in the truth of Scripture; freedom is the ability to enjoy life and all of its pursuits to the fullest in Jesus Christ, under no compulsion except to love God and others. Freedom is what gives us the capacity to love God and others. Freedom does not release us from the laws and rules of our country, religion or culture, but allows us to joyfully obey them in glad submission to the authorities set up by God the Father, the highest authority.

What is truth?

                Some people have issue with Christianity because our truth claims are exclusive of others truth claims. However, it makes complete sense that truth claims would exclude. If your definition of what is true is not exclusive of others truth claims, then your truth cannot be true. To quote the great Christian rapper LeCrae, ‘If my truth says that your truth is wrong, then who’s is really true?’ Jesus, when questioned in front of Pilate before his imminent death, said that His purpose of coming into the world was to bear witness to the Truth and only those who were of the Truth could hear his voice. Jesus was claiming to be Truth and God in this sentence, like He did many times elsewhere in the Scriptures. Truth, and thus absolute truth, is unavoidable because not everything is relative; there must be a Standard by which everything is measured. The claim of absolute truth is not narrow-minded nor the enemy of authentic personhood.

Christianity is the most socially adaptable of all the major religions, including atheism/agnosticism. Christianity has spread all over the world to countless peoples, while most of the major religions have stayed very centralized in the place of origin. If you look at Christianity around the world, there is no definable Christian culture that fits all the peoples. However, there is a very distinct Muslim culture, Buddhist culture, and Jewish culture, as defined by dress, traditions, language, etc. Christianity is adaptable because it is not about how we dress or the music we sing, but about love and worship for God in whatever form is relevant in that culture. Either way some would say that our Christian community is exclusive, but that argument is not founded on sound reason. (side note: Christianity has had forms that are very exclusive (race, gender, traditions, etc.) but this is not the message of the Bible nor of God throughout all of time.)

The essence of community is exclusive and can’t be completely inclusive. All groups have some set of moral truths they believe in, which are not inclusive. He uses a great example of a pastor saying that Homosexuality is OK in the eyes of God and the president of the local Gay, Lesbian and Transgender society saying that homosexuality is a sin. At some point both of these organizations (one typically cast as exclusive and the other cast as inclusive) will have to ask their leadership to step down, because they no longer fit in with the common beliefs held among that group. Somebody’s rules (of morality, actions, interaction, behavior, ethics, etc.) will reign within a people; it is just a matter of whose worldview will reign supreme.

So this begs the question; whose worldview will be held in highest esteem in our society?

Christianity seems to be limiting and constraining from outside appearances, but is in fact the most liberating and freeing worldview that exists. First, think about a love relationship. It seems that loving someone is very limiting, because you give up much of yourself in order to be in relationship with another human being. However, inside of that nurturing and caring relationship, there is more life than could be found outside of that relationship with more ‘freedom’. Constraining and limiting oneself to the right constraints and limits is more freeing than living haphazardly with no rules, morals or ethics. Second, think about a professional musician. He invariably limited himself by disciplining his body to the pursuit of becoming a great musician. Many times he chose to stay home to practice instead of ‘freely’ going out and enjoying himself. This seems to be limiting, but in fact was very freeing because he now can express his musical talents in a way that gives much more life and freedom than if he had chosen to just flail around and enjoy himself flippantly.

Christianity says that God limited Himself to create us and love us. He could have existed for all of eternity in the Trinity just enjoying Himself. He could have done whatever pleased Himself, but instead chose to create this rebellious people and then to become like us to save us. That is very limiting, but in fact shows great love. He chose to do this to show great love and to get great glory. Freedom in Christ is the ability to love others and to enjoy life to its fullest, which is found only in Christ Jesus. Christ has set us free to love Him and others.

Christianity is not limiting but freeing. We are free to live in the way we were designed to live. Since God created us, we ought to operate in the way that He created us to. No one would buy a car and then refuse to change the oil or refill it with gasoline, and if he did then the car would not be free but would be constrained. Just like the car was meant to operate according the owner’s manual, so we are meant to operate according to the Word of God. The Bible is not a hindrance to freedom, but in fact tells us of the way to live life more freely.

If we can’t see the God behind the rules, then we will never live in glad submission to His rules. If we can’t respect the maker of the rules, then we will never obey joyfully. If we refuse to acknowledge our inherent design, then we will never live in a way that we were created to do.

I am praying that we might not see the Bible or Christianity as a straightjacket, but as freedom to live.

This Present Calling

I was asked recently when I first felt called to missions. That question was a little complicated to answer for me.

There is a running joke in my family that when I am asked when I learned something that I will answer, “I’ve always known that!” Now, I do not earnestly believe that this statement is true, but in some sense it correctly portrays how I feel. When I learn something easily it is because I have had some sense that it was true even before it was ever explained to me. The best books and teachers are ones that more eloquently express what it is that I know deep within me. Those are the things that resonate with me. I learn best when I learn something that I have either seen to be true or have a sense that it is true even without seeing it. It sounds arrogant that I have always known something but sometimes that’s the best way for me to describe how I feel about a truth.

In response to the question about missions, I instinctively answered that I have always felt called to missions.

Now, this statement is not true at all, but it is hard to remember a time when I did not feel that way. I know that in reality this change came sometime during college for me when God changed my heart to love Him above all else. It happened when I first began to earnestly seek God through His Word. It is hard to remember a time when I did not desire to be sent with the gospel as my nametag and identity.

Our conversation went on to delve into the realities of missions and the gospel. If you have not picked up on it yet, I am somewhat idealistic about many things, including missions. In my arrogance I tend to idealize missions and the call to bring the gospel to those opposed to it. We got to talking about the need to be obedient in the present situation before God will call us to be obedient in a future situation. To be effective in another culture, we must first be effective in our own culture and life situation. If we want to be missionaries to the ends of the earth, we must first be missionaries at the beginning of the earth. Being a missionary is not a future endeavor, but a present calling no matter the circumstances. The words that were spoken to me were cutting and convicting, even invoking a little bit of anger. I did not want to admit that I was wrong, which is hard for me. I did not want to be teachable in that moment to the Spirit’s conviction. I wanted to rest in my arrogant notions about my effectiveness, talents and gifts. I wanted to stay convinced that hopping on a plane and changing my circumstances would change my heart. I wanted to not listen, but that was not even allowed in the moment.

That short little conversation stirred much thought in my mind and burden in my heart.

I was challenged to consider the missionary call on my present reality. If I continually am looking to a future situation to satisfy me, then I will not be obedient in the present day. If my focus is always on what may come to be, then I will not be effective or relevant in my current reality. I so desire the gospel to go the ends of the earth, but find it hard to see that happening through me even in Midland, Texas. I began to realize that the gospel must penetrate my heart first before it will ever penetrate those around me. I am praying that for my own life and for those around me, that the gospel would penetrate our hearts and bring us to our knees in dependence on Christ Jesus. I am praying that God would stir our hearts with a passion for His name and for the glorification of Christ in the gospel.

“The Lord conquered my unbelief, and I surrendered myself to God for this service. I told Him that all the responsibility as to issues and consequences must rest with Him; that as His servant, it was mine to obey and follow Him—His, to direct, to care for, and to guide me and those who might labor with me. Need I say that peace at once flowed into my burdened heart?” – J. Hudson Taylor

‘I believe we are all in danger of accumulating—it may be from thoughtlessness, or from pressure of occupation—things which would be useful to others, while not needed by ourselves, and the retention of which entails loss of blessing. If the whole resources of the Church of God were well utilized, how much more might be accomplished! How many poor might be fed and naked clothed, and to how many of those as yet unreached the Gospel might be carried!” – J. Hudson Taylor

Apostolic Passion

I have been doing some reading tonight for my Perspectives class. Recently I’ve gotten into a bad habit of just searching for the answers in the articles. But tonight was different. I actually read. It’s similar to the difference between listening and hearing. Tonight I actually read not just sounded out words in my head to form cognitive sentences. This one article entitled Apostolic Passion caught my attention.

I think about passion often. I hardly think of being apostolic. But the two ideas were meshed together and it really made a lot of sense.

Apostle – a sent one; a messenger

Passion – referring to how much you are willing to suffer to get something; a deep hunger that will be satisfied no matter the cost

Apostolic passion is a deliberate, intentional choice to live for the worship of Jesus in the nations. Apostolic passion has to do with being committed to the point of death to spreading His glory. It’s the quality of those who are on fire for Jesus, who dream of the whole earth being covered with the glory of the Lord.

Having an apostolic passion means you are dangerous. You are no longer seduced by getting and gaining but to spreading and proclaiming the glory of God in the nations. You live as a pilgrim, unattached to the cares of this world. You are not afraid of loss. You even dare to believe you may be given the privilege of dying to spread His fame on the earth. The Father’s passions have become your passions. You find your satisfaction and significance in Him. You believe He is with you always, to the end of life itself. You are sold out to God, and you live for the Lamb. Your greatest dream is that His name will be praised in languages never before heard in heaven. Your reward is the look of pure delight you anticipate seeing in His eyes when you lay at His feet the just reward of His suffering: the worship of the redeemed.

Where am I not willing to die to myself?

Am I willing to go, but pleased to stay?

Do I really long for the glory of God to spread to all the nations, starting with my home?

Do I have a passion for the glory of God to be revealed in the entire world?

Am I serving my own dreams of greatness?

Am I just waiting to do ‘the next thing’ that God tells me?

Am I an over-fed, under-motivated Christian hiding behind the excuse that God has not spoken to me?

Praying, ‘Lord be ruthless with me in revealing my selfish ambition and my lack of willingness to die to myself.’

Praying that God would continue to grow a sense of apostolic passion in me. I have seen it in me at points and I have seen it in my rearview mirror at other times. I am praying that this would fully describe my life one day - a man on a fiery mission to see God’s glory revealed in all the earth.

Praying that God would raise up an apostolic passion in those around me. I am tired of seeing us be half-hearted, distracted children in our pursuits. Grow us to be men and women who are changing the game.