Category: Belief

Belief

The Chaos of God

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I wrote this about 5 years ago on an airplane…  It came to mind again after reading God behaving badly and because of an upcoming airplane trip where I got to meet a virtual friend face to face!!!

From 30,000 feet above the earth, I cannot help but notice the human need for order.  Roads extend in every direction.  Houses neatly line neighborhood streets.  Fields are partitioned into angled squares.  Everything made by human hands stands out from the world around it, distinguished by its carefully plotted construction and development.

Yet in the midst of this human-created order, I am struck by the seeming chaos of the God-created nature surrounding it.  Roads stretch for miles in perfectly straight lines while rivers twist and wind and curve.  Buildings sit at 90-degree angles to each other while mountains ascend and descend without prediction.  Cornfields boast straight rows of neatly planted crops while forests sprawl in every direction the wind blows.  Seashores cradle the curves of land while swimming pools sharply square off backyards.

Here in this airplane, I find myself attempting to create some of this order within my own heart.  I am returning to my hometown because a lifelong friend’s father has just died.  His death was neither neat nor ordered.  The intricate order of the medical world could not conquer the chaos of his body.  He suffered greatly.  He left a young wife with three children.  They were like my own family, and I returned for a moment to weep and share at least one of these chaotic days with them.  The questions surge.  Why a fatherless child?  Why such deep disappointment?  Why more chaos?

As I grasp for answers to my questions, I notice that up here in the clouds, chaos looks different than it does down there.  As humans, we create neat replication after neat replication.  Houses.  Roads.  Swimming pools.  Cornfields.  They have straight lines, neat angles, and smooth surfaces.  To be considered valuable, they must not be broken, or have holes, or be damaged in any way.  We mass produce them, then use them to help tame the chaos around us.  In a word, we choose to call these replications “order”.

Long before our own replications, God created us.  Along with us, he made his own replications.  Winding rivers.  Jagged mountains.  Shadowy forests.  Raging winds.  Endless seas.  They have crooked lines, uneven angles, bumpy surfaces.  To be considered valuable, they were simply created.  They live through brokenness, holes, and severe damage.  Sometimes they die, but are always recreated anew.  In a word, God chose to call His replications “good”.

Indeed, human creations pale in comparison to His, and if we ourselves tried to apply His rules of creation to our own, we would most likely end up calling it “chaos”.  We don’t necessarily see it as such when we look at a tree or mountain, but all of the elements lie right in front of us.  We easily recognize that nature’s chaos is capable of creating immeasurable beauty.  Why, then, is it so difficult to see the possibility of the beauty of the chaos in our own lives?

So seems life today.  God’s rules of order starkly contrast with my understanding of them.  What I perceive as chaos, He purposes to be order.  A life cut short is also the opening of a closed heart.  Deep disappointment is also hope in growth.  A father dying is also a child returning home.

With our straight roads and cookie cutter neighborhoods, we have subtly fooled ourselves to believe that “human-order” itself can straighten out the chaos.  And yet, as the depth of human need rages, nature reminds us minutely that our understanding of order is all messed up.  It reminds us that power is completely out of our hands and that our sole job is to experience the creativity of the chaos, not straighten out the lines.

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Belief, Books, Culture & Race

BOOK REVIEW: God behaving badly: Is the God of the Old Testament angry, sexist and racist?

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While I’m deeply grateful to have had spiritual influences in my life who encouraged me to wrestle with tough questions of faith, I’ve still encountered plenty of voices along the way who have preferred to silence them.  Avoiding difficult questions about the Bible seems to be a sad reality of evangelical Christianity these days, and I’m often drawn to those willing to walk this path (see sidebars).  So clearly, when I saw David Lamb’s new book, God behaving badly: Is the God of the Old Testament angry, sexist, and racist?, I was intrigued.

The book’s chapters cover the following topics:

  • Angry or loving?
  • Sexist or affirming?
  • Racist or hospitable?
  • Violent or peaceful?
  • Legalistic or gracious?
  • Rigid or flexible?
  • Distant or near?

With clarity, candidness, and humor, Old Testament (OT) theologian David Lamb makes his case that while Yahweh’s actions often sound angry, sexist, or violent to modern day ears, we must first consider the context of Yahweh’s actions and the overarching narrative of the OT before assuming we know His true motives. Continue reading “BOOK REVIEW: God behaving badly: Is the God of the Old Testament angry, sexist and racist?” →

Belief, Restoration & Reconciliation

The Crippled Beggar (Acts 3)

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ironically,
your warped body begged by day
at a gate called Beautiful –
something you were not. 
 
most people at the courts
looked through you –
never at,
for fear of ruining the Gate’s name.
but they looked –
the disciples of One
to whom “beautiful” meant
more than straight anklebones.
 
and then you
walked,
skipped,
leapt,
twirled,
danced,
and probably cried
at the beauty
of moving
for the
very
first
time
in your life.
 
Belief, Spiritual Formation

Prayer to protect the church

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O God, you are the fountain of all truth; we ask you to protect your church from all false teaching.

Protect the Church from all teaching and preaching which would destroy men’s faith; from all that removes the old foundations without putting anything in their place; from all that confuses the simple, that perplexes the seeker, that bewilders the way-faring man.

And yet at the same time protect the church from the failure to face new truth; from devotion to words and ideas which the passing of years has rendered unintelligible; from all intellectual cowardice and from all mental lethargy and sloth.

O God, send to your Church teachers, whose minds are wise with wisdom; whose hearts are warm with love; whose lips are eloquent with truth.

Send to your Church teachers whose desire is to build and not to destroy; who are adventurous with the wise, and yet gentle with the simple; who strenuously exercise the intellect, and yet remember that the heart has reasons of its own.

Give to your Church preachers and teachers who can make known the Lord Christ to others because they know him themselves;  and give to your Church hearers, who, being freed from prejudice, will follow truth as the blind long for light. 

This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

From Prayers for the Christian Year by William Barclay

Belief, Families, Children & Marriage

Thinking through interfaith marriage: a piece in the puzzle

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In the world of intercultural relationships, the dynamics of interfaith marriage is a commonly examined issue.  Many have written[i] about how they work these relationships out in their lives and I respect their efforts to forge ahead together.  It’s a bit easier to find explanations of why people marry across faith than why they don’t.  Because I believe deeply that it’s important to consider many sides when making significant decisions, I thought I’d share more about why this was not my choice.  Please know that my intent is NOT to condemn those who make the decision to marry across faith, but to provide a voice in the conversation for those contemplating interfaith marriage.

So, why did I not marry across faith?  Here are some primary reasons:

Our faith is an integral part of our lives. By faith, I don’t mean a vague concept about trust in goodness or hope in mankind.  I mean a specific faith embodied by a specific set of beliefs – for us, Christian ones as found in the Bible.  We can’t separate who we are from what we believe – it affects every part of our lives from how we spend money to we raise children and beyond.  Successful marriage requires a certain measure of unity, and it would be difficult for us to have this unity without sharing the same faith.

Our faith roots us in a common denominator outside of ourselves. Let’s face it:  at some point, romantic love wears off and marriage grows hard.  I don’t believe it has to stay gloom and doom once the lovey-dovey stuff subsides, but when we have hit tough times, we’ve clung to a shared hope in a reality outside of our own situation.  This reality keeps us rooted enough to not be blown over by every storm that comes our way.   As much as I hate to admit it, our love alone is not strong enough to withstand some of the winds that have blown between us.

Our faith gives us a shared ethic to (attempt to) follow. Little decisions stem from bigger philosophies, and bigger philosophies stem from fundamental perceptions of the world.  While there’s a wide variety of perspectives within our faith (people can interpret scripture in very different ways), it’s not as wide as across religions. Even when we fail to follow our own ethic, we still have a similar place to return to reorient ourselves and continue on.

What’s your take?  If you’ve married across faith, can you speak to what has helped you make it work over the long haul?  If you’ve married within your faith, how has this worked for you?  I’d love to see some honest dialogue here, but please refrain from bashing/dismissing/disrespectful language.  While I recognize the sensitivity of this topic, I do believe it needs to be discussed without snarkiness for the sake of those in the decision making process (plus mean words make me feel bad).

Belief, Miscellany

Beautiful art from the Bible

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I’ve recently stumbled upon the painting of Chinese Artist He Qi and am captivated.  Colorful and cubist, he paints with a fresh view of both old and new testament stories.


The Adoration of the Magi

Continue reading “Beautiful art from the Bible” →

Belief

A Christmas wish

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As I reflect on Christmas this year, it is clear that we are in a RICH yet BUSY (hence the lack of postings here) season of life – walking the dog, writing lectures, transporting kids, attending conferences, unpiling the house, grading papers… some days we love it, some days we nearly collapse from it. We do not lack for joy or angst, satisfaction or longing, rest or exhaustion. The paradox of it all astounds me at times!

At times we feel a lot like the shepherds in the field when “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9), while in others we identify more closely to Mary who “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19). Perhaps that’s one of my favorite parts of this season – the simple reminder that God’s greatest gifts to us don’t always show up where or how we expect to see them, that He resides in the meek and lowly moments just as deeply as the glorious and joy-filled ones.

For whatever these days bring you, I wish you, simply, the presence of our Lord in this season.  May you have a blessed, meaningful holiday.

(image from The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.  A highly recommended resource from our house!!!)

Belief

Top-shelf Christians

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I found this article a long time ago which nearly describes my faith experience to a T.  As I was re-hashing some things with God this morning, I was again reaffirmed by this wise man’s story and thought I’d share:

I received an email from someone puzzled about the grief I experienced when I gave up on God. This person felt liberated when she left Christianity.

I understand how some would feel that way. Many of you only know Christianity from bad books, TV preachers, and the people who watch them. If that were all I knew of Christianity I would celebrate my liberation from it all the days of my life.

But I was exposed early to the real stuff – Top Shelf Christianity – Deep and Old Christianity. This kind is practiced by people who work until they stink and take life in great draughts. Their hands are as rough as their hides, and they DO their faith in secret, hiding their good works in obedience to Christ. They know how to love and be loved in return. Their laughter is loud and has its roots in joy.

These Christians don’t want your money and they don’t advertise. You will only find them if you MUST find them. These are the ones who took me to Mexico as a boy and showed me pain and joy. They hid nothing from me.

I was also blessed by being exposed to the right kind of Christian thinkers. C.S Lewis and his friend J.R.R. Tolkein. Frederick Buechner, Carlyle Marney, and Thomas Merton. Will Campbell who wrote “Brother to a Dragonfly” and Eberhard Arnold. Frederick Dale Bruner and Martin Luther King Jr.

You did understand there was more to this than religious TV and the drivel they sell in those awful Christian bookstores, right? After all, Christianity didn’t sustain itself for twenty centuries by shitting Hallmark cards before a live studio audience. Continue reading “Top-shelf Christians” →

Belief

What the world needs now…

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We have a comedian and a philosopher in our house. The comedian usually makes the posts. This time, the philosopher (our six year old daughter) takes the cake…

My husband occasionally writes notes on our white board. My newly literate daughter has recently taken to responding to these notes. Today, my husband wrote, “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love.”

My daughter’s response?  “What the world needs is god.”

🙂

Belief

Intriguing perspectives on women’s ministry

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I have a hard time with many approaches to women’s ministries I’ve come across over the years.  It seems that they are often rooted in tea parties, knitting, and garden clubs.  Those things are fine and all, just not particularly my ‘cup of tea’ (no pun intended).  Here are a few perspectives on ways women can minister mercy to each other that I resonate deeply with:

Colour Sisterhood is in intriguing women’s ministry of Hillsong Church.  “The Sisterhood seeks to champion the cause of the orphan child and widow, to come alongside women (near and far) who are facing challenge, and it ultimately seeks to influence nations with the goodness and answers that are to be found in God.”

Discovering God’s Heart for Suffering Women:  A 40-day prayer pilgrimage. Prayer guide from Linwood House Ministries.

30 Days of prayer for the Voiceless:  Addressing global issues of gender-based injustice.  Prayer guide from YWAM.

Living a Purpose-full Life by Jan Johnson.  (Hate the title/cover, LOVE the book & the author)

Growing compassionate kids:  Helping kids see beyond their backyard by Jan Johnson.

I’d love to hear about more resources and organizations like these – please share what you know from around the world!

Belief, Culture & Race

Racially accurate communion tables

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So six year old my daughter is very sensitive to race and often asks many questions about skin color, why she’s the only brown kid, why no one else is from Sri Lanka, why she’s the only one who has to eat curry, etc.  (My son, on the other hand, has yet to figure out anything beyond race cars and fire trucks…)

This summer, we were processing some of her feelings about race while we were in Sri Lanka, and my daughter asked, “But mama, why is everyone in America white?  Why am I the only one with brown skin?”  (disclaimer:  I *know* not everyone in America is white – please refrain from pointing this out…  however, where we live there are very few non-white people, so it feels like this to my daughter). Wanting to help clarify my daughter’s understanding, I responded, “Well, honey, not everyone is white – there’s __ and __ and __. And everyone you see here is brown, right?”

She was too distracted to acknowledge my right-ness.  “No, mama,” she said.  “EVERYONE is white – and I’m not.  Even Jesus is white!”

Well, she might as well have stuck a knife through my heart.  Those blasted colonialist publishers who had to go and make Jesus look just like them – they were fully responsible for my child feeling on the outs.  I collected myself and told her that actually, Jesus isn’t white, and that the people who painted the pictures of Him got a little too focused on themselves and didn’t pay attention to what Jesus really looked like.  “He probably looked much more like you, hon,” I told her, hoping to soothe her angst.

“Really?”  She was now listening to me, and seemed a bit relieved.  We finished our conversation and the topic seemed resolved for quite some time – until we took communion several months later.

I’d told her she couldn’t take communion because she wasn’t old enough to fully understand what it meant.  She was mad because she loves grape juice.  (I was mad because I prefer wine for communion, but that’s a story for another day).  The ride home from church entailed a detailed explanation of the components of and symbolism behind communion.  Later that week, communion came up in conversation.  I asked my daughter if she remembered what the grape juice represented.

“I know, mama. The grape juice is Jesus’ blood, and the bread is his – his – his – ”

“Body,” I completed the sentence for her.

“Yeah, that’s it!  His body,” she seemed satisfied that the whole ritual was straight in her head. “But mama, there’s still something I don’t understand.”

“Ok, what is it?”

“Well, mama, if the bread represents Jesus’ body, then why do we use white bread?”

*Sigh*

As Kathy Khang says, “I need a manual for this.”

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Belief, Restoration & Reconciliation

Interfaith dialogue – Eboo Patel

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interfaith-muralThis is an excellent lecture by Eboo Patel, a committed Muslim, speaking to evangelical Christians at the Q conference in NYC about necessity of interfaith dialogue and collaboration.  It’s very thought-provoking.  I was primarily captured by his challenge for Muslims and Christians to interact on the common value for humanity that they share as the basis for establishing peace.  What thoughts do you have about his lecture?

Belief, Restoration & Reconciliation

BOOK REVIEW: The Next Evangelicalism by Soong Chan Rah

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(Disclaimer: this is kind of a book review. Plenty of other people have written nice summaries and critiques. My thoughts here are probably more accurately labeled a book response.)

When I first heard Rah speak on the predominately white Christian college campus where I teach, a black friend leaned over and whispered, “He’s not actually saying that out loud, is he? I mean, we all know what he’s saying is the truth, but is he really allowed to say it – here?”

Her sentiments were confirmed when many of the students began squirming in their seats, uncomfortable at the sentiments regarding the colonialist role of White people in missions that Rah was expressing.I felt a bit mixed – relief at finally hearing this perspective expressed articulately and boldly in a public forum where the people who need to hear are present (not just preaching to the choir), and fear for how majority people would respond when faced with such difficult truths about themselves and their history.

I’ve been mucking through this race business for awhile now, and it’s just not easy stuff. Because of the lack of diversity where we live, my husband and I deal with race struggles on a daily basis – sometimes boldly, sometimes blindly. Because of this, I’m deeply indebted to Soong-Chan Rah for offering some leadership and bold thoughts for the blind moments we encounter as we work through our own cross-cultural relationship.

Perhaps the most challenging thing for me in The Next Evangelicalism is Rah’s premise that white people must submit themselves to the leadership of minorities if they are to be truly effective ministers of the gospel. While I am completely on board with this perspective, I found it challenging in some very practical ways as our family spent the time in Sri Lanka this summer. This trip, I particularly noticed the heat/humidity in Sri Lanka and found myself desperately longing for air conditioning. As my husband and I continued to toss around thoughts about how we might one day relocate to Sri Lanka, I found myself dreading this hot reality. “Couldn’t we just have one room of air conditioning?” I pleaded with my husband. “I don’t think I could really do this without air conditioning.”

Now, my husband is no beast (he’s actually quite a teddy J), but his response was simple: “No. It’s way too expensive. Only the wealthiest of the wealthy run air conditioning.” In my sulking, Rah’s words came back to me, “Submit yourself to them.They know what’s best here – not you,” I heard behind his words. Just because you’re white doesn’t mean it’s ok to live exorbitantly in the developing world – even if it doesn’t seem exorbitant to you.

Yikes.

This still feels a bit harsh to me, and yet also a bit true (uncomfortably so). What does that mean for the rest of how I might live? I mean – what about comfy shoes, quality make-up, a car? It’s a bit much for me to go there, and yet Rah is the first leader I’ve encountered in the evangelical world to poke at (or, perhaps more accurately rip the façade right off) this inflexible side of myself. So even though I’m still sulking/sweating a little, I also feel deeply indebted to him for his honesty with me. Like broccoli, I’m not sure I like it yet, but I suspect it’s good for me.

All of this being said, I LOVED this book and strongly recommend it to the entire church. I’ll be passing my copy to along to as many as possible. Well written, supported, and organized, Rah presents a strong base for his premise that global Christianity should not be defined by the White Western church, and that the White Western church also has a great deal to learn from our brothers and sisters who don’t carry the imperialistic baggage that we can’t even see. Rah writes boldly about the difficult reality that many are hoping we’ll be able to ignore, and for this reason, I look forward to hearing more from him.

(My one beef: Great subtitle/bad title.This whole “The Next name-your-ism” thing is going a bit too far…)

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Belief, Books

Book Review: Finding the Flow: A guide for leading small groups and gatherings

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flow_cover2So this book really doesn’t have much to do with cross-cultural relationships, but I’ve found it quite helpful on general relationships, particularly those often times awkward ones forged in small groups.  I’m not a huge fan of them, although I do love the general concept of intentionally getting to know people through regular conversation about meaningful topics.  The problem I’ve found is that this rarely happens, at least in the small groups in which I’ve participated.

Finding the Flow addresses this reality and offers some very practical guidance on how to forge meaningful relationships through small groups.  I especially appreciate how the authors encourage a strong knowledge of one’s self in relation to the group, as well as understanding of group dynamics and conflict.  Each chapter has discussion questions and “Do This” exercises sprinkled throughout which are thoughtful, not cheesey.  There are also tons of resources at the end of the book to utilize in small group situations.

While I detest Christian how-to books, I do appreciate clear, concise analysis on concrete yet realistic ways to tackle tough issues.  This book certainly does that with wisdom, clarity, and honesty.  Check out the book’s website for more information and resources.

Belief, Books, Women

BOOK: 30 Days of Prayer for the Voiceless

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Guide to prayer addressing global issues of gender-based injustice.  I just started this this morning, and it is powerful and very difficult to read…  It goes through issues such as abortion, child prositution, domestic violence, eating disorders, female laborers, incest, and pornagraphy.  (Like I said, difficult to read!)