The gift is not yet opened

The salvation Christ brings is a gift to sinners--"thank God for his indescribable gift." Eventually, the analogy breaks down. One difference between the gift of salvation and Christmas gifts is that they are fairly irrelevant until we open them, and then we immediately see the full extend of what they are.

The New Testament describes salvation-- not exclusively, but many, many times-- as a future event. Thus, to receive Christ is like receiving a gift and not like receiving a gift. We do not see the full extent of his gift, in fact, we don't even see a tiny fraction: "for who hopes for what he sees?" In the meantime, our hope grows not by shaking boxes and wondering what lies beneath colored paper, but in learning to believed in words and promises that God has given. The gift of God comes wrapped in promises; promises that are both radical and true, promises given not to fuel the anticipation of curiosity and anticipation, but the holy anticipation of hope, joy, and love.

Merry Christmas!

Thankfulness is praise

In browsing Dr. Pao’s book on thankfulness, I found a helpful perspective on thankfulness. He begins with a few observations of what thanksgiving is not:

1. “Thanksgiving is not offered because of the reception of a certain gift on the part of the author.”
2. “Thanksgiving in Paul is reserved for God and not human beings.”
3. Thanksgiving is not offered for just past acts, and future acts as well.

These observations set the course for the main point of the chapter. At its core, thanksgiving in the New Testament “affirms the supremacy of God the Creator and the might acts he has done on our behalf.” Thanksgiving is worship.

So to say “thanks” to God, but to deny him worship is like buying an engagement ring for a girl you never intend to marry.

This does not make thankfulness simplistic—as if “being thankful is just the same as worship.” Rather, it makes it richer and more joy-inducing because of how this is so different than the way human thankfulness works. When my roommate takes out the trash, I should thank him- but not with praise and worship! However, every time our eyes are opened to see a new perspective on the good things God has done for us, they can always lead us to worship because they always point to an even greater value of God himself.

Hebrews 2:9-10

"It was fitting"
Strange words to utter
From the mouth of God
Scholars stutter
"strange words indeed”
and writing, proceed
their commentaries

God’s word made fit
Unfittable things
Unstained majesty
Nailed up, and spit
Bedecked
and wrecked
the majesty
To infinite degree
Horrific travesty

What makes some stutter
Makes other sing
or leap, or weep, with deep
Joy, transforming

For what was fitting
For him
Is fitting
For his brothers
And sisters
Flesh and blood
Who find themselves
Bedecked
With spit

Because that travesty
Was not the floor
But the door
That exploded
To majesty
Reloaded

Far better than before.

Hebrews 1:1-3

Who could have guessed such delivery?
Of theology-a deity’s word and mystery
In cave and straw and then masonry
(or carpentry?) thirty years of sun and sweat
Straightened limbs, lepers clean, the silhouette
Of prophets’ hope alive, fulfilled and then
He wrote more, a cross and nails his pen
Blood the ink, the pages stitched with power
That raised him from death’s cruelest hour


When all time’s critics stand and plead
“You hid yourself -- no signs to read”


Then He’ll say when all is done
“It is not so: I spoke by a Son!”

Responding to Generosity

Today I returned from the Kern Scholar Retreat. Traditionally, this was the time that we as students were introduced to the Bob and Pat Kern, who made our seminary education possible. Unfortunately, for us they were no able to attend.

But how to say thank you? Sitting in our sessions, hearing all the things the Kern Foundation had done and is planning on doing for us, was moving. I realized then that the best way we will say thank you is not with words but with our life. Sitting there, it made me long to strive harder for the great goal before us-- to be good pastors: loving, preaching, caring, planning and all with a joyful sobriety that comes that we are clay vessels, carrying a great treasure and called for a great purpose.

Gender Talks

My experience has been that talking about gender is delicate, dangerous, and confusing in our day. Here are some talks trying to get at "What is a Woman" that I found helpful. They are from a one-day conference at my home church.

Five Aspects of a Woman

(Don't mind the long intro to the first talk)

Those who take a complementarian stand on the nature of the gender question come in all levels of quality and insight. We all should remember that to embrace a doctrinal position does not equal seeing the depth of its richness or theological profundity (indeed, it never does!). Here is a quality complementarian with insight, that I think are worth listening for those on either side of the debate.

Become a Future Citizen

Summer at last is over, and the mental, organizational, and schedule gears are grinding and churning as the crank back up to semester speed.

A thought from yesterday’s sermon:

Jesus’ authority through his word is doing in the “inner man,” the soul, the “deep structures” of a person what his earthly ministry to did to sickness, storms, and demonic possessions.

The Sermon on the Mount ends with the crowds “amazed at his teaching” because he had authority. This authority was not just that he spoke in an authoritative voice, but that he spoke as the King over the hearts and lives of all people.


Then he proves this authority:

• He heals a leper who says to him, “if you are willing…”
• He heals the centurion’s servant with a word, marveling at how the centurion recognizes his authority
• He rebukes the wind and waves, leaving the disciples astounded, “who is this man that even the wind and waves obey him?”
  

What is the common denominator to his authority? In every case, Jesus is showing glimpses of the New Creation. The healed sick are roadway signs of what is coming down the road in the future when there will "be no more sickness". The sea is calmed to give a foretaste of everlasting rest. And what is happening in nature – the turning a chaotic storm to glassy serenity—and sickness—the turning writhing pain to humble rejoicing—is also happening whenever disciples submit to the authority of his word in the Sermon on the Mount and obey it.

When we obey we are not just following rules and regulations of Jesus. We are becoming a new creation.

And if you have ever seen Christians who model the Sermon on the Mount, you get a glimpse of the wonder that creation holds.