Media Exposure, Addiction from Barna

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One of the latter conclusions is this: media exposure has become America’s most widespread and serious addiction.

via Media Exposure, Addiction.

Read the whole article.  It’s an interesting take on our media saturated age.  One one hand, I wonder if its simply a new age.  Before books became widespread, folks were largely illiterate.  Ever since we’ve had some folks who prefer not to read, some folks in the middle and the bookworms–people with a voracious appetite for reading.  Yet, I’ve never heard a bookworm referred to as an addict.  Of course, like media, not all forms of books are edifying–and some folks love forms of books that a Christian might label problematic (think: romance novels, erotica, etc).  So, perhaps future generations will see our modern media age as another societal transformation which enabled more folks to become more informed.

On the other hand, silence and solitude are indispensible in the spiritual life of the Christian.  Christ set this example for us, as He regularly took time to be alone.  During these times we find Christ praying.  Likewise, the Christian ought to spend time alone with Him in prayer and quiet reflection.  Not only does this help us to hear Him, prayerful reflection upon His word helps us to internalize Christ’s teaching so it becomes a part of us.  Also, that quiet time digs a deeper well of peace in the Christian soul, enabling us to face the frustrations of life with a Christlike mindset.

Why not unplug the TV, Wii and Computer for awhile, sit down with the Bible and pray, read–even discuss it with your family?

What is the best way to witness to someone who doesn’t believe the Bible?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Your question is becoming more and more relevant.  As our society moves beyond our Christian heritage, you will find fewer Biblically literate folks.  However, that doesn’t mean Scripture has no place in witnessing.  Scripture tells us that the Word of God is living and active—and its power doesn’t rely upon the faith of the hearer.  So please use Scripture to witness, but consider using it in the context of your faith story.

In John 9 Jesus heals a blind man.  The Pharisees, trying to trap Jesus, ask this man to testify that Jesus is a sinner.  His response is a model of personal witness.  He responds, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,” (John 9:27, ESV).  The main thrust of his witness was simple:  Christ changed me.

Of course people need to hear what God has said, but they also need to know it makes a difference.  In sharing with others, share why and how you came to believe in Christ and the difference He makes.  Help them see that your faith is more than pie-in-the-sky, don’t-go-to-Hell kind of stuff.  Let them see that your faith changes how you live, and leads to a more abundant, peace filled life.

Ask The Pastor runs weekly in the Beecher Herald.

Why should a Christian study doctrine?

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At the link, below, you’ll find N.T. Wright talking about Hell.  It’s a great example of why Christians ought to take seriously the need to know what we believe and why we believe it.  Fr Wright makes the point that Hell, as we conceive it, was a middle ages invention.  Yet, Chrysostom wrote:

This is no trivial subject of inquiry that we propose, but rather it concerns things most urgent, and about which many inquire:  namely, whether hell fire has any end.  For that is has no end Christ indeed declared when he said, “Their fire shall not be quenched, and their worm shall not die.”

Clearly Chrysostom is teaching that Hell is 1) Real, 2) Eternal, 3) Involves some sort of fire (which, I believe, he took as God’s Wrath).  Now, you might ask, “When did this Chrysostom guy live?”  To which, I would respond, “Around 347-407 AD.”

Hmmm.  That doesn’t sound like a middle ages invention to me.

Ur Video: NT Wright on Hell | Out of Ur | Conversations for Ministry Leaders.

Obsession

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So, it occurs to me that we are an obsessive people.  I mean, we obsess over everything.  We obsess over celebrities.  One look at the Supermarket checkout confirms our celebrity obsession.  Listening to talk radio or watching cable news confirms that some of us obsess over politics.  A trip to the bookstore tells us how many obsess over weight-loss.  The spread of plastic surgery and little used gym memberships illuminate an obsession with physique and looks.  We obsess over money, career, relationships, power and pleasure.  We obsess over our children–their education, their sports and even their owies.  It seems that all of us have something we obsess over.

Yet, there is one obsession we don’t have. There is one we ought obsess over, yet we pay it lip service.  That One is Christ.  “Work our your salvation with fear and trembling,” Paul wrote to the Philippians.  It seems we have Biblical warrant for a Christ-obsession.  In fact, I suggest the Christian should be more obsessed with the Lord, Jesus Christ, than with any of the other ‘obsessions’ of life.  When my weight, job, politics, money or whatever is taking up more of life and  mental energy than Christ, I think that is a problem.

Seriously, how many Christians spend more time concerned with work than with Christ?  How many spend more time worried about losing a few pounds than they do about gaining some righteousness?  How many spend more time focused upon what some celebrity is doing or wearing than they do over what Jesus did?

I wonder what it might look like if Christians rejected the obsessions of our world and embraced 1 obsession–the Kingdom of God and His righteousness?  I imagine we’d see an explosion in distinctly Christian behavior, and perhaps more outsiders would understand their need for Jesus.

Christ, Suffering & Punishment

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As a Pastor, I’m often confronted with Christians who wonder if God is punishing them.  Sickness, or unemployment or other difficulties and tragedies make them wonder.  They often ask, “Why me?,” and wonder what God is trying to teach them.  While books are written on such subjects, I generally answer with three key points.

First, there is ‘no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,’ (Romans 8:1).  If they are a follower of Jesus Christ they need not fear that God is attacking or punishing them for some mistake they’ve made.  To illustrate, we look at 2 Corinthians 12 together.  There we read of Paul’s thorn, given by God to keep Paul dependant upon the Lord.  This wasn’t as a punishment, but as a tool to help Paul and glorify Christ.  As the Lord says, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”

So, tragedy, suffering or difficulty is not alien to the Christian life.  Like everyone else, we experience hardship.  Yet, we can safely say that these experiences are not God’s wrath against us, nor are they a cosmic punishment.

Second, we turn to Hebrews 12.  Here, we find that God, like a father, disciplines His children.  Of course someone will say, “But I though you said we aren’t punished!”  To which I would reply, “Punishment and discipline aren’t necessarily the same thing.”  Punishment is retribution, it is paying for a crime.  Discipline is training, seeking to improve the targeted person.

Now, the Hebrews 12 passage compares God’s disciplines to a father’s.  This comparison ought to give us great comfort.  This is doubly true if we’re wondering, “what did I do?” or, “what lesson am I supposed to learn?”  You see, when I discipline one of my children, I never hide what they’ve done wrong.  I also do not make them guess.  I explain very clearly what they’ve done wrong, so that they can learn and grow.

God does the same.  If He intends the circumstances of my life to teach me some lesson, then I don’t think He will let me miss it.  To do so would be like spanking a child without explanation.  The child is hurt and confused—and learns nothing.

Finally, we turn to 1 Peter 1:3-9.  Here Peter encourages Christians in persecution by reminding them that persecution refines their faith.  While persecution may not be our hardship, all suffering can produce a similar effect in us.  When faced with suffering we either turn from God or to Him.  When we turn to Him, casting our anxiety upon Him, we learn to love God more and this life less.  Over time, that develops a heart which treasures the things of God.  Romans 5:3-5 explains how enduring suffering develops character and hope.  So even when life seems endlessly frustrating, when sickness or tragedy hits, even when we cannot see why—we can know it will develop our faith.

Why does God allow suffering like we’ve seen in Haiti?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Through out history theologians and pastors have tried to answer such questions.  Evil and suffering are very hard to synthesize with belief in a loving God.  I don’t pretend to have the answers, but let me share some key thoughts.

First, God is a loving, powerful God but not just a loving, powerful God.  He is also wise, all-knowing, holy, righteous, just and wrathful.  Any adequate answer about suffering must deal with all of God’s attributes, not just one.  For example, while preventing all suffering from happening might seem loving, it might also violate other aspects of God’s character.

Second, because God is all-knowing, He sees not just the immediate suffering, but how that suffering connects to every other event—past and future.  Jonathan Edwards’ perspective is quite helpful in this regard.  He suggests that God sees through a microscope and a macroscope.  In the microscope God sees each event individually.  In this regard He rightly hates suffering.  In the macroscope God sees each event as it connects to all other events.  In this way, He may be inclined to allow that which He hates, because of outcomes we can never fathom.

Ultimately our response to tragedies like Haiti’s comes down to trust.  Can we trust God enough to say, “While I may never understand, I trust God’s reasoning in allowing this tragedy.”  Having trusted His reasoning, we are then free to respond with His love.

Freedom of Speech

~ brandon ~ 1 Comment

In America we enjoy free speech.  We can voice our opinions, religious, political, etc, without fear of government reprisal or censorship.  This is a great blessing, for sure.  Of course, we must also, then, be prepared to be offended.  If free speech means anything, it means people get to say unpopular things.  After all, it’s not really free speech if they can only say what I agree with.

Thus, I find it somewhat curious that those who hold pornography to be protected speech are up in arms over the upcoming Focus on the Family Superbowl ad.  This ad, which appears to be the Tim Tebow’s mom recounting her decision to not abort him, has raised the hackles of many pro-abortion groups, such as the National Organization for Women.  Many are attacking CBS for even allowing the ad to air–despite the fact Focus on the Family is paying for the ad, just like Miller or Budweiser or anyone else.

In this case, NOW specifically states:

Make no mistake about this ad: it’s offensive to women.

I’m not a woman, but I don’t think its offensive to women–just to some women.  But, even if it is offensive to every woman alive, does that mean CBS’ decision to air it is ‘revolting?’  Or, is CBS exercising their right to do business with whom they please, while Focus is exercising their right to free speech?

Sometimes I think they don’t want free speech for all, but just for them.

Washington Times – Tebows pro-life ad set for Super Bowl.