Radical Love

Our pastor, Eric, was preaching on reconciliation between believers in church. It was interesting as he was preaching from Matt 18:15-22 where it is instructing on how to deal with fellow believers who sin against you.

It says how if even when you take a member before the church they still refuse to see their sin, then you are to treat them as a pagan and a tax collector.

Now, lots of churches interpret this as you are to shun them and kick them out of the church.

However, as Pastor Eric pointed out (and I was writing on my notepad right before he said it) Jesus hung out with pagans and tax collectors! What we are called to do is show RADICAL LOVE! That love that holds no grudges, doesn't count wrongs, and forgives and forgives and loves. (Now, this doesn't mean you put yourself at stupid risk. You wouldn't say, let a drug addict have open access to your money, that's just dumb.)

It ties in with the book I mentioned in my last post, on how living the kingdom of God is all about showing crazy radical love the world doesn't understand! Heck, most CHRISTIANS don't understand it! Its why we are looked upon as being so hateful and hypocritical! We don't love the very ones we are called to show Christ's love too. Namely, those that don't know him! (And each other of course!)

Now, this is something I struggle with. It really is. But, I figure since I at least realize it is a struggle for me, that's a step ahead of the curve. Right?

Power Over/Power Under

Reading a good book right now called "The Myth of Christian Nation" by Dr. Gregory Boyd. The premise is how pursuit of political power, on both sides, right and left though it was written in response to the massive evangelical outpouring to electing Bush for the 2nd time, is destroying the Church in America.

Its a good read so far. He has focused much of his discussion on what Jesus preached, the Kingdom of God. Jesus focused an imense amount of his ministry on the Kingdom of God and what it is like living the kingdom life. It is a life built out of humility and love.

When Christians begin to believe that temporal political power is necessary to forward God's kingdom, they have lost sight of the Kingdom of God. God's kingdom is not one of "power over" but of "power under." We live under the political system, and when we get focused on a competition, that we must "win" to see God's work go forward, we aren't living the Kingdom life. We aren't living a life of love as Jesus lived.

Boyd is not saying Christians should abstain from the political process though he understands if you do. He is saying that the massive amount of faith the Church is putting on people to fix things instead of God to change hearts and lives is disturbing.

I look forward to getting farther along in this engrossing book.

Illogical Theology

I'm sure some would argue all theology is illogical, and some things of the Christian faith are paradoxes and mysteries. Its part of what keeps God, God, and us, us.

Now, on the way to work today I heard an NPR piece dealing with the Quiverfull Movement. It was an interesting piece on a group that lives by the idea that God in his sovereignty knows when a family has enough kids. So, things like birth control are not only not used, but there are articles on the site detailing all the various issues with birth control.

Ok, all this is fine and dandy. It doesn't really bother me much even if I don't necessarily feel the same way.

Then it gets to the kicker. Interviewing a woman who had I believe 6 children of her own and 35 grandchildren she got into the rather disturbing part of the (bad) theology going along with this otherwise fairly innocuous movement.

She said the idea is to have large families to raise up as Christian's to reclaim the nation for God. Because if Christian's don't procreate and do this eventually "Biblical Christianity" (interesting term in itself) will be washed away. She pointed to Islam and how many Islamic families are larger than Western counterparts.

Ok, I have an issue here with bad theology. Aside from the misconception of Christians' needing temporal power to do God's work, a sovereign God who knows what's best for your family cannot keep worship of Him alive without our help?

Oh, don't get me wrong. I am 100% behind raising your children in a Godly manner. Just please, please, don't get sucked into the whole "God's Army" idea. This is not a contest. God does not NEED you to have 8 kids to keep the faith alive. If you believe that is His will for you is to have 8 kids, that is great. But please don't get this misguided idea that you NEED to do this because otherwise "Biblical Christianity" is going to get overwhelmed.

God works in many many ways. If He is Sovereign enough to get you lots of kids, He is sovereign enough to keep the faith alive.

Also, do not confuse living for God and working for God with gaining temporal power and passing laws. Please. Jesus never once sought political power. Political power isn't inherently bad, it is just not a way to change hearts for God.