In The Name Of Love

                Marting Luther King Jr. once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”  It is that thought that echoes in my mind as I think about the ever famous chapter 13 in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church, the letter of 1 Corinthians- the chapter commonly referred to as “The Love Chapter”; arguably one of the most famous passages in Scriptures.  As Adolf Harnack once said, it is “the greatest, strongest, deepest thing Paul ever wrote”.  So please, for a moment, entertain my thoughts as I discuss this most critical piece of literature.

In our life, in our culture, in the history there can be no doubt of a certain struggle that has plagued humanity since the dawn of time.  It is the never-ending war with hate.  There are many different theories as to why this is, even amongst the greatest minds of theology.  And while we can argue over whether it is total depravity, some outside influence of an evil force, or the environment in which we are raised- there is no arguing the fact that hate has had a predominant hand in all of the human tragedies caused by the hand of another.  Hate has been more deadly than all plagues known to man; and yet, rather than fight for a cure, we dive more deeply into it. 

My friends, this ought not to be.  When we all see that sin that causes so much death enveloping us like a poisonous fog, the answer is not to continue breathing in the toxin; rather, we should flee it to the only cure known to man, the only solution to bring us from this chasm- Love. 

But instead of love, we find ourselves pitted against each other over petty things.  We instead turn to exalting things about ourselves that, without love, are completely irrelevant.  We think ourselves holy in the exercise of our spirituality, talents and gifts; yet in the absence of love, and therefore, in the absence of God Himself- who looks away from our self-glorifying works.  We believe ourselves to be something wonderful; yet when lacking love, we are just an empty shell.

It is for this very reason that we find Paul addressing the Corinthian Church on matters of love.  They had fallen into the trap of the Pharisee, seeing the great and marvelous actions at their own hand; listening to their own muttered prayers and supposed speaking in tongues of angels; holding themselves upon a pedestal above others.  When one felt he was “blessed” with a gift, he would look down upon another whom he felt was less blessed, not as righteous as he.  They would boast in their gifts while ignoring the glaring issue that all they did was vacant of love for God and love for others.

This was the background for chapter 13.  In 12, Paul first addressed the use of gifts and the reality that what you do outwardly is not a sign of how great you are within; in fact, he writes, that each person with their unique gift was imperative to the work of Christ and to the church as a whole.  He concludes by saying, “But earnestly desire the greater gifts- And I show you a still more excellent way.”  (12:31)

And what is that most excellent way?  Paul makes it abundantly clear: Love.  He begins 13 with three very direct statements concerning works and gifts: “If I speak with tongues of men and angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

This is the first and most basic understanding of love.  Righteousness is not being able to do wonderful things.  Look at some of the things that Paul points out- “If I can speak with tongues of men and angels”- does it really matter if I have the most eloquent of speech?  Does it matter if I can hold the attention of thousands, if I can speak with the proverbial golden tongue if love is devoid of my speech? No; for without love, I am in the end only muttering useless sounds that are unintelligible to the soul.  He goes on to state that having all knowledge, having understanding of mysteries, gifts of prophecy or great faith- are useless knowledge and useless faith without love.  In fact he very directly says having these gifts without love reduces him to nothing!  And he wraps up this section by saying that though he make great sacrifice in his life, if not done in love, it profits him absolutely nothing.  So then, the question must be asked- if these things practiced on their own merit are useless, what then is love?  If love is the key, what is it?  And of greater importance, what impact can love- when understood in it’s true concept- have on this world of hate in which we live?

We are most fortunate that Paul must have anticipated this question to be asked for centuries to come.  He takes the remaining time in chapter 13 to help us have complete understanding of this most sacred word.  He breaks it down as such: 7 examples of what love is, and 8 examples of what love is not.  While this explanation is helpful to us, it also served a secondary purpose.  As John Calvin stated, “I have also no doubt that he designed indirectly to reprove the Corinthians, by setting before them a contrast, in which they might recognize, by way of contraries, their own vices.”

So let us first take a look at the 8 things Paul identifies as the opposite of love:  1. Not jealous 2. Does not brag 3. Is not arrogant 4. Does not act unbecomingly 5. Does not seek its own 6. Is not provoked 7. Does not take account of wrong 8. Does not rejoice in unrighteousness.  Some of these should be pretty self explanatory; however, let us take a brief moment to look a little deeper.

The first, that love lacks jealousy, speaks to the reality that you cannot look at what another has and covet it.  How can you love that person if you cannot take your mind off what they own?  If you feel that what God has gifted them belongs more rightfully to you, then you are exalting yourself above them.  In a more intimate relationship, jealousy can look different- behaving as a territorial primate, demanding to control their every move.  This also does not show forth love, for in a figurative sense, you have caged them and attempt to control their freedom.  This is not something love would do.

In the same respect, love does not brag and is not arrogant, nor does it seek its own.  These three go together, as they both- once again- involve exalting self.  As long as you are your main focus in the relationship, love will be absent.  For how can you attend to the need of another if you are constantly looking out for your own?  How can you love a person whom you constantly belittle or degrade, either through word or action?

Love does not act unbecomingly, Calvin again refers to this as acting ostentatious- which means a vulgar display intended to impress or attract notice.  Once again, this is an action solely on yourself.  Perhaps once again, Paul may have been thinking about relationships in the Body of Christ, as the Corinthians were struggling with spiritually vulgar actions meant to draw attention to themselves…  But I digress.

Finally, love does not take account of wrong, is not easily provoked and does not rejoice in unrighteousness…  I think the main overall thought is, that once again, love puts our feelings aside for the greater good of the relationship.  Rather than focus on the negative, love lets go for the sake of peace.  My feelings are sacrificed for the sake of love, expecting nothing in return.

Paul counters with a good description of what love is.  After very vividly painting that love of self is the opposite of love for others, he shows us clearly the lesson we must learn if we are to survive, not only as a culture, but as the Body of Christ.  Love is patient, love is kind- when we deal with others, our compassion must shine through! Love rejoices in truth- for even though truth may hurt, lies and deception are much more destructive.  Love bears and endures all things- right or wrong, good or bad, love will carry the burden through to the end- as our wedding vows say, til death do us part.  Love believes all things, love hopes all things…  Paul is essentially writing that no matter how dark, love never gives up.  It presses forth, holding fast to hope above all.

Paul then ends the section by stating that love never fails.  This is why Paul said it is a much more excellent way.  Because every other gift given, whether tongues or healing or prophecy- these things are not eternal.  These things will fade.  These things will come to an end.  Material possessions and gifts will blow away like the wind.  But love- love is eternal. Love can never fail.  Love never ceases.  Love never ends.

The gifts that the Corinthians seem so enamored with, are likened unto things needed for our spiritual immaturity.  They are the gifts of spiritual children.  We see the mysteries of God through a dim glass, but when they have fallen away, and only love is left behind- when we enter eternity with no need of tongues and prophecies- then we will see clearly.  Then we will have reached our full spiritual maturity.  It is what we should strive for.  It is what should be our motivation.  It should be the one action (for love is not a feeling, but a verb) that we stress more than any other when dealing with our brothers and sisters in Christ- and with the lost. 

Love is, the more excellent way.

Hamster Wheel Theology

"I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."  Psalm 119:11...  Have you ever sat down and just absorbed that verse?  Put all of your own thoughts aside, sitting somewhere, maybe laying in bed at night, just absorbing what David meant... 

I have met so many Christians- including myself- that have said something along the lines of, oh if only I could overcome this sin, I promise Lord to do better next time, etc. etc. etc.  It seems that too often we get caught like a hamster in his stupid wheel, spinning and spinning it, running with all our might to escape it, yet never going anywhere.  The next step, we say, will free us from our bondage.  When it doesn't and we get worn out, we stop for a breather and say to ourselves "I will no longer be in this place, I will be free", only to pick the pace right back up in our little hamster wheel.

Running, running, running.  Spinning, spinning, spinning.  Going nowhere fast.  Our never ending quest to outrun what we cannot.

The truth is that we cannot escape our little hamster wheel on our own.  They say that if you do not learn from history you are doomed to repeat it...  And sadly, we will keep repeating it.  The same spokes of the wheel repeatedly passing under our feet.  Because too often we do not learn. 

This brings me back to Psalm 119:11.  David, ironically, gives us the key to escape our spinning world.  "I have hidden Your Word in my heart"... 

How do you hide the Word in your heart?  By reading it.  No, not just merely scanning over a few verses a day.  Rather, we must READ it.  Absorb it.  Meditate on it.  Study it.  David hid the Word in His heart because it was God's Word, and God's Word is life changing.  When we absorb His Word it penetrates the very darkest depths of our soul, and changes us from the inside out, in ways we could never comprehend or accomplish ourselves. 

I am not meaning picking and choosing either.  I have seen too many people take a verse here or a verse there and build theology from it.  But we must guard against that temptation.  What David was referring to was not a verse by verse theological argument- he didn't write "I have hidden chapter 10 vs. 2 in my heart" but rather, Thy Word. 

Are you stuck in a hamster wheel of repetitious stupidity and sin?  My friend, now is the time to step out of it, step away from the norm of the world, step away from the self help advice and replace it all with His Word, in your heart.  It's that simple.  When you fill up on the Word, when you absorb it, when you hide it in your heart- He will change you. 

Step out of the wheel.  You are not a hamster, after all...

When Calvin Met the Arminians at Subway

Sitting here in Subway, I cannot help but think about the reality that eons ago it was predetermined that I would be sitting here in this Subway, typing away on my laptop…  The fact that every detail was predestined, even down to the Dr. Pepper I am sipping on, and the muscle cramp starting to form in my leg, given to me by a very uncomfortable wooden chair that was predestined to be made, sold, and placed in this very Subway…  The two men sitting across the restaurant from me, munching their sandwiches, obviously have no idea that their visit was pre-planned; the man asking for Provolone cheese on his deli delight just doesn’t get that he is not really choosing to have it- it is just an involuntary part of the course of his life, a life that he makes no real decisions but instead is carefully guided, step by step, by the hand of God.

On the flip side, I cannot help but think about the reality that eons ago God decided that He would not interfere, not one iota(as my parents would say), in the path of my life that has landed me at this Subway, typing away on my laptop…  The fact that every detail is completely of my choosing, completely a result of my own hand, especially down to the Dr. pepper I am sipping on because I chose on my own to fill my cup from the fountain; even the muscle cramp starting to form in my leg is completely from my own will, because I decided that I would sit in this wooden chair that has been strategically placed before me as yet one more option in the whole cosmic scheme of things…  The two men munching their sandwiches across the restaurant from me are not here by Divine appointment, but rather complete coincidence, sitting here completely as the result of a spur of the moment decision they made with no outside help…  And the man with the cheese?  He will have it on his deli delight if he wants it and NO ONE will take that right from him!

OK, OK…  So those are both extreme examples of the never ending debate of calvanism, arminianism, and all the junk that falls somewhere in the middle…  I must admit, that most people on both sides are not nearly as, shall we say, fanatical as I have just portrayed them to be…  But then, that isn’t exactly my point in what I am about to say anyway. 

Here is the deal; while I may have overdramatized the thought processes of those who boil down their theology to the name of some Biblical scholarly scholar from “eons” ago(or as I would state, some dead guy), I did not overdramatize the fact that there is a clear distinction, a clear difference, between them.  Now I am not talking about the kind of difference that leads one man to choose coke and another pepsi; but rather, it is a distinction that too many times leads to division.

Understand, I have been thinking on this subject for a little over a year now.  I have friends who, as the old saying goes, are on both sides of the aisle.  And as I have thought about this very fascinating discussion of whether or not God predestines people to Heaven and Hell, I have also been observing the people who ascribe to both sides of the coin(myself included).  I watch how they behave, how they live out their faith, and their attitude towards those who believe differently on this subject.  NOW wait a minute- before any of my friends get upset with me- no, I wasn’t just observing you.  I was also taking notes on so many others I know, and reviewing notes from people I have known in my past.

I have also read on the subject, even plodding through my Biblical commentaries written by Mr. John Calvin, as well as some of his other writings. Even more importantly, I have read the scriptures…  After all, what better place to find out about a subject than from the Word right?

And I have come to my conclusion…  Which is the point of my musing on this subject tonight…  I think that the best way to explain my thoughts on this is to take you back one more time to Subway, looking at the scene from what I believe may be Christ’s perspective(based on what I have read in the Bible)…

Sitting here in Subway, I am stunned at the thought that a stinking wretch like me could be in the presence of God even here, as I type away on my laptop.  It is made possible only and completely because of never ending Grace and Mercy shown to me by the love of Christ, and His sacrifice.  The Dr. Pepper I am sipping on reminds me of His provision(even if it is unhealthy); the cramp that is starting to form in my leg reminds me of the hope that one day I will be in a place where there will be no more pain and sorrow.  The two men munching on their sandwiches remind me of the fact that He cares enough to provide for their needs whether they know Him or not, and a reminder that He has commanded us to take the Gospel to every creature- the Gospel that the Creator of the universe wants to break bread with even them, if they would believe on the Gospel and be saved…  The man choosing provolone for his sandwich?  What decisions has he made that brought him to this point in his life?  What pain and sorrow, what guilt and brokenness does he carry, and who- if anyone- has offered him the One thing that will cause him to never hunger again- the entrance to a land flowing with milk and honey?

In short, I guess what I am saying is that while it is an interesting discussion, and that we should be getting in scripture and asking God for wisdom on this- and all doctrine; we  must NOT in the process loose sight of the goal!  God did not say to take our understanding of doctrines and theologies to all the world- rather, He commanded that we take the GOSPEL to all nations.  The Gospel is much simpler than the doctrine of predestination, I think.  It is simply this- that we are born sinners, hopelessly lost, enemies of God, worthy of His wrath, on a path for eternal damnation with no chance of reconciliation to God- except for this; that God showed his love for us in this, that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us- That He so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes on Him- that whoever confesses with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God has raised Him from the dead- shall be saved!

Now in case you are wondering why I am addressing this- because too often we let this doctrine divide us.  A Body united, so it goes… but too often we are a Body divided.  I guess you could say I wonder how much more of an impact we Christians could have if we concentrated on working together to spread the Gospel instead of fighting each other!  Let’s get something straight- not one single person has been or ever will be saved because they believed in Calvanism; not one soul has been rescued from the fires of hell because they chose to believe in Arminianism; and no one has experienced the saving Grace of God by experiencing an adherence to the middle ground… 

So here I am, sitting here in Subway, thinking about these different doctrinal stances that I have pondered for the past year, finally ready to state where I stand: I do not align myself with Calvanism; nor do I align myself with Arminianism; and I cede the middle ground to others to whom it means far more than I.  My position is a position of realization that, at the end of the day, it is the belief in Christ that matters, a trusting of His Word even when it challenges what I am comfortable with, and a love for my brothers and sisters in Christ that is deeper than any division and greater than any devisive spirit that really matters.  Now enough with the discussion, let’s focus on following Christ, and letting Him use us to change the