room for doubt

How do we respond to a former Protestant pastor leaving his position of leadership to travel the country spreading his new atheistic message of skepticism and disbelief?

Bitterness? It's inclusion as a news story is clearly meant to send the message that people are finding hope and meaning outside of religion, particularly Christianity.

Sorrow? It's hard to imagine the pain and betrayal running through the congregation he abruptly abandoned.

Elation? The church does not want or need a guy like this leading anyways.

Hard truth? While we do not know the true status of this man's heart (or the others like him), the reality is he was never in Christ in the way the Bible depicts.

Anger? It's not enough for the individual to leave, he feels it is necessary to make a cause out of it portraying people like himself as victims of Christianity's abuse.

While all of these are warranted and justifiable to a degree, what if we embrace a level of sympathy for individuals such as these? Sympathy?

By sympathy I am not suggesting we ignore the blatant sin, rebellion, and arrogance on display. This man was a leader of God's people and as such will be judged accordingly for his conduct (James 3:1). Therefore, we should be moved to pray for him and call him to repentance because no one is too far from the grace of God through Christ.

But by sympathy, I look at the areas where this former leader doubted, wrestled, and finally submitted to his doubts. Hell. Unanswered prayer. Suffering. How many of us have never entertained doubts regarding any one of (if not all) of these difficult issues? I will admit that there are times when the reality of hell seems cruel and excessive. Prayers which seem to go unanswered do challenge my trust in God's goodness and faithfulness. The immense suffering running rampant in our broken world, while explainable because of our sin, is not always easy to reconcile with a sovereign, loving, and merciful God.

Unfortunately for these individuals, the church is not a place where they feel welcomed to wrestle with these doubts. That is an indictment on the individual, the church, and/or both parties. In some cases, our own pride prevents us from sharing our doubts with our brothers and sisters. We think we have to understand everything perfectly in order to feel accepted. In other cases, the culture of a church does not allow for such doubts to arise. Immediately, church discipline is called for and the "rebel" is dealt with swiftly and quietly, or they are simply told to work it out on their own through prayer and study (which are good, but void of the involvement of God's people). Or, as is probably most often the case, there is a combination of the two. Pride in the form of the fear of looking weak and a self-righteous church culture create the perfect mix for conceding to doubt.

Doubt is not the fate of God's people. Faith is not a mask hiding our own self-deception and salvation is not found in disbelief (which this man suggests in a quote from the article). Yes, God's thoughts and ways are far above our own, and we will never understand everything we desire. Faith is required. But along with faith, God gives wisdom to those who ask. We find it through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. We have no bearing on the first two.

But as God's people, let us be a place where doubters (including ourselves) can come and share without the fear of ridicule and condemnation. And let us be a place where grace and compassion are poured out, wisdom is found, and victory in Christ is displayed.

do justice

In general, to "do justice" means to live in a way that generates a strong community where human beings can flourish. Specifically, however, to "do justice" means to go to places where the fabric of shalom has broken down, where the weaker members of societies are falling through the fabric, and to repair it...The only way to reweave and strengthen the fabric is by weaving yourself into it. ~Tim Keller, Generous Justice


I've confessed many times over my lack of knowledge in the world of politics, finances, and the economy. The latter I simply do not have much background in, while the former I honestly cannot stand. But I can get my hands around the ideas of the above quote, particularly weaving myself into the broken fabrics of society.

Human tendency is to do the exact opposite. We see the things that are broken, view them as beyond repair, and avoid them at all costs. I am as guilty of this as anyone. But engaging in the biblical call to "do justice" means acting against human nature. It means investing (time, money, energy, self, etc.) into those places where justice is withheld. It involves entering into those places where brokenness abounds, whether the brokenness is brought upon by individual foolishness or ongoing injustice.

(I've discussed with many about only needing to help those who consistently put forth the effort and desire to help themselves. While getting people to take responsibility for their actions and to work for their betterment is right and biblical, doesn't the gospel show us how God helped those who were exactly the opposite? What if Christ only came for those who were helping themselves in their spiritual bankruptcy? What if He only brought those who were actively seeking the Father to the Father? We would all still be in our state of sin and objects of God's wrath.)

I do not live in a city. I am close to one, and I should find ways to combat against the abundance of injustices (poor, marginalized, sick, weak, etc.) running through it. However, there are also plenty of examples of the broken-down fabrics in my small-town community. Am I weaving myself into it or trying to remain unstained by it? Am I willing to turn my head to the gross injustices in my community or ready to follow Christ?

For Christ was the ultimate instance of God's identification with the poor. He not only became one of the actually poor and marginalized, he stood in the place of all those of us in spiritual poverty and bankruptcy (Matthew 5:3) and paid our debt.


And this is where justice finds its root and foundation. Not in some lofty, philosophical ideal, but in the God who Himself is just and righteous. We actively pursue justice and war against injustice because we serve a God who is just and in the person of Jesus Christ faced every injustice imaginable for our sake.

blameless

blameless (adj) free of blame or guilt; innocent (of wrongdoing)

Take away the less suffix, and the word would better describe me. Replace it with a ful, and we are looking at a winner.

Blame is impossible to escape. Over the course of any given day, I am worthy of it. Some of the things are moral errors, while others are less serious. Either way, I accrue blame daily. And there is nothing I can do about it. I can accept, avoid, or ignore it, but never truly rid myself of it. It always stands before me destroying any and all footing I have to stand on.

Which is why the gospel of Jesus Christ is not only amazing, but absolutely necessary.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him Colossians 1:21-22

The reality of my blame is my reality. It will always stand before me. It will always accuse me. It stains everything I have and will ever do. But only if I stand apart from Christ.

Christ has not only saved me from my rebellion and sin. He has not only delivered me from the domain of darkness. He has not only welcomed me into the family of God. He has made me blameless. Each and every time I go before the Father, I am blameless in His sight because of Christ. It is as if I never committed a sin. The blame I could never rid myself of has been taken away for me. In Christ, I am perfect before the Father.

That which is impossible has been made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

body shot

The church as a whole remains imperfect.

Local bodies are equally imperfect.

And yet, Christ has seen fit for His church to be the means by which His gospel continually goes forth and the Kingdom of God advances. Even with her flaws, Christ works in and through His church to accomplish His perfect purposes.

On Sunday morning, I was reminded of the beauty contained within the Christ's bride. On my way out, I was pulled aside by a dear sister whom I have grown to admire just in the last year. She wanted to talk about something involving a project the two of us were involved in last month. When that short conversation ended she grabbed my hand, held onto it, and asked "how are you?"

I include the part about grabbing my hand, because it was critical for my response. Normally, I would do what everyone else does and offer a disengaged "fine" or some other phrase to simply keep everyone moving along. But her subtle move made that altogether impossible. Throwing in her ability to accurately read people, and it is safe to say I was doomed.

And so I shared with her how last week was a surprisingly refreshing week. God faithfully provided working hours to me each and every day. But more importantly, my soul was finding nourishment. I explained to her how seminary makes it extremely easy to minimize God to a subject of academic study. When this happens, everything becomes dry. The Bible is a textbook, prayer is a means of assessment, and fellowship is sacrificed. I told her that was the constant wrestling match over the past year. Some weeks were good, while others were famine and drought. I shared how God was faithfully wooing me unto Himself through the very things I had previously abandoned. His Word was satisfying. Prayer was rich. Fellowship sweet. Even with such a blessed week, Saturday and Sunday morning seemed wasteland-like once again. The match I was (and am) in was not finished. It had only moved on to the next round.

All the while I was sharing this my dear sister listened, rubbed my hand, and displayed her love for me. When I finished she had no advice or "Christianese" cliches to offer me. It turned out she offered no counsel whatsoever. She simply said "thank you for sharing," gave me a hug, and became excited in knowing how she could specifically be praying for me. Then she went into some things she was wrestling with so that I could know how to uphold her before the throne of grace.

That exchange was what I needed most yesterday morning. God showed me how much His people are going to play an active role in my refreshment and renewal over the next few months. Time in His Word and communing with Him will be vital, but so will engaging with His people around me. And that is what the church is for. I could have kept to myself when she asked, but (thankfully) the Spirit moved me to share. As a result, I received exactly what I needed AND a vivid picture of the beauty of God's people when they engage with one another as God's people.