Stone Altar

Under the ‘old law’, sacrifices were made to the Lord for many different reasons. Some were offerings of joy or thanks, some were sin offerings, and others commemorated feasts. The animal was slaughtered and placed on the altar and didn’t much have a choice. Israel made these sacrifices regularly, but there are numerous (scores) of accounts in the Old Testament where the Bible states that the people fell away from the Lord and no longer knew Him or what he had done for Israel (Judges 2:10, 2 Kings 17:6-20). It is clear that the sacrifice was not the only effective part of the transaction then, there was also a heart/mind component; the memory of the Lord and the willingness to follow His ways.

Today, we are told to give our bodies as ‘living sacrifices’ to our God (Romans 12:1). This brings several new dimensions to an ancient ritual. First, a live sacrifice can leave the altar. Second, a live sacrifice is personally involved in the transaction, living it and feeling it. Finally, a living sacrifice lasts longer than the old, dead sacrifice.

Let’s examine these dimensions as we look at what is happening in our post, post-modern culture.

When we examine the pattern of sin (Adam’s, the Israelites, or in our lives) we see that there is a period of time where we attempt to walk with God, a time when we consider the pull of sin (temptation), then a time of ‘waffling’ where we begin to question God and His Word, and then we turn from Him and lean on our own wisdom, sinning in the process. Eve – in the garden – was first tempted, then she listened to the serpent’s words while doubting God, then she ‘saw’ that the food was good for ‘wisdom’ and then she ate. The Israelites repeated a cycle where they lived as a people ‘set apart’ for a time, following the will of the Lord, then they would watch their neighbors, marry their women, then would begin to worship their gods, turning from the one true God. Can you see this pattern in your life? I can certainly see it in mine.

Paul’s words in Romans 12:1 are written in such a way that I conclude from this that he is exhorting his listeners to continually offer themselves up to the Lord (First aorist ‘paristemi ‘). Each morning, give yourself to the Lord and each minute during they day, offer up praise and stay connected to the One giving you strength and bringing you closer into His image (as the smoke would rise from ancient sacrifices to heaven). This understanding certainly indicates that there are almost infinite opportunities for us to choose to worship our Lord (or not).

Offering ourselves to the Lord seems like such an obvious thing, filled with joy. Why then would we want to choose not to worship? James writes, “On the very rare occasion that you might be temporarily inconvenienced in a minor way…”, no, he writes, “..when you meet trials of various kinds” [emphasis mine]. This passage indicates that we will see trials as a result of being believers and worshiping our Lord. More than this, it sounds like we’ll be presented with a few different types to deal with!

“Trial” sounds uncomfortable, doesn’t it? It seems as though this is something we’d like to avoid, but being on an altar sounds uncomfortable as well, and we’re told to be there. The apostles rejoiced when they were punished because of The Name and considered it a blessing, even high praise, to be persecuted for being a Christ-follower (Acts 5:41, 1 Pet 4:13, Col 1:24, Phil 3:8). So, though uncomfortable, it sounds as though going through trials is part of being a Christian. There is also evidence to support that trials refine us and increase our faith (1 Pet 3:18, 1 Pet 4:1). Does this mean that we should be beatific and gloriously happy all the time? I don’t think so. People that act that way are put into small, padded rooms. It means that we know our ultimate destination and that we keep the faith through trials. It does not mean that we do not get “down” or despondent from time to time.

So, we’ve examined the reasons that we might want to leave the altar and the reasons why we ‘feel’ it so deeply, what about the idea of living it through our life as an example to others? St. Francis of Assisi said, “Wherever you go, preach Christ; and if necessary, use words”. How powerful an exhortation to live out our faith! Brennan Manning has said – quoted in a dc Talk song – “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today… is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.” While I remain unconvinced that this statement is theologically sound, it does speak to the idea that our lives can either lead others to the Lord, or lead them away into death.1 Pet 4:13 tells us that, in our suffering, God’s glory can be revealed. 1 Cor 12:26 reveals the idea that sharing suffering as a body of believers will strengthen everyone. 1 Tim 4:12 is a direct call to Timothy to set an example for the believers. It is clear that Scripture calls us to continue our living out of Christ’s Lordship in our lives (living sacrifice) both to edify the congregation of believers and to set an example that will draw those yet to be saved.

Finally, I’d like to circle back to the beginning of this post, to the idea that we question the validity of God’s Word, then believe our own understanding above the Word of the Lord, and then actively sin. Paul gave praise to the Bereans for testing his words, and we should study and verify the things we are being taught. This study and honest examination is not what I am calling out here. I am speaking about the tendency of human beings to doubt the word of the Lord because they view it to be incongruent with what they see here on earth. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord and not to lean on our own understanding. The combination of these two concepts leads me to the idea that – while we must study – we must also hold firm to the things that the Lord clearly says, and that we should not rationalize, and hem and haw on these clear tenets of the faith. We must come to conclusions about the things the Lord has said, and then live then out actively.

In the ‘neo-modern’ world of today we have moved past the post-modern approach that says not to judge other people’s beliefs. That is already bad enough, and anti-Scriptural, but we have moved into a neo-modern world that not only accepts everyone’s ideas but demands that we agree that all views are equally true! Beyond being ridiculous in a logical sense, this approach is exactly what the children of Israel believed as they slid into active sin, and they were judged for it. How much more harshly will it be with us when we have His Word to guide us?

Let us each remain on the altar, choosing it joyfully each morning and minute during the day, living out our lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord who saved us. No crawling off the altar!

Technorati Tags: altar, christian, example, god, heart, lifestyle, modern sacrifice, post-modern, sacrifice, sin

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.

-William Ernest Henley (British Poet, 1875)

Ah yes, the poem that Timothy McVeigh uttered as the execution drugs began flowing into his veins. Americans love this poem. Men love this poem. We grunt like Tim the Toolman Taylor at the dark overtones and the protagonists unquenchable spirit. We are gripped with emotion at the last two lines, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. “Invictus”, unconquered! Deep emotion, passion, and strength; good stuff.

Small problem though, it isn’t true.

We are no more than bit players in our fate, and – indeed – sometimes in our lives. Almost anyone can tell you a story that demonstrates, regardless the energy they’ve poured into a thing, that the endeavor failed or didn’t turn out they way they desired. It is a great thing to remain unbowed by circumstance, but understand, you are not the captain of your soul.

Firstly, you ‘are’ your soul and you don’t ‘own’ it. It was given to you at conception by God. In Genesis we read the account of Adam and his body being brought to life by the in-breathing of God. That soul creates human life and when you die, it goes back ‘somewhere’. (We can discuss the ‘somewheres’ in another post).

Secondly, the Bible explains that we can serve only one of two masters. We will love the one and hate the other, or vice versa. Those two masters are Satan and God. One of the two of them is the master of your soul if by master you mean something like, “That entity that determines influences on my thinking and being”.

Now, ‘fate’. I take this to mean the final disposition of my soul, not the meandering walk that we each take here on earth. Folks, we aren’t even in full control of the smallest things here on earth. Tend a garden, farm for a living, repair cars or computers, raise a teenager.. you find that we cannot control anything here. It’s like grasping water and gripping it harder and harder; the harder you grasp, the less you are holding on to. If we have this little control over corporeal things, what makes us think that we have any effect on our place in the afterlife!? The final disposition of our soul, our fate, is simple.. it is directly tied to the master of our soul while we are here.

So, what does God desire of us then? It is clear that the dark and foreboding terms of the poem draw us because we see this darkness on earth, but I think that God would like us to focus ever upward and bring some Light to the earth while we are here. As far as mindset goes, I think He wants us to be lion-hearted and full of courage, but He wants that courage to be placed in our knowledge that He is the Captain of our soul. I think that He wants us to remain humble (humilis) in the knowledge that we can do nothing of eternal significance without Him, and that we are part of a much greater Plan that He has for this planet. Micah 6:8 does a great job of outlining what God desires of us in terms of mindset and approach.

Don’t falter, be of courage, place your faith in Him, and walk among others with humility. Be conquered, by Christ. Humilis, not Invictus.

Technorati Tags: fate, god, humble, invictus, unconquered

You see, everything that happens here, either happens because God wants it to, or God allows it to happen and then uses it for His good. Just because we can’t seem to figure out how it could be “good for us” doesn’t mean it isn’t. God is frightfully wise compared to us.

Instead of looking at the death to which we are bound here, and then trying to draw some conclusions about what God might be like and what He might want, we must shed our view of this ‘reality’, realize that we are only strangers here, and read Scripture to get a view of what God desires and what God wants; regardless our condition here. Looking at what’s around us and drawing conclusions about God is much like a deep-sea dwelling creature believing that the entire world is covered with water, because his local area is. That creature’s view is understandably narrow, and so is ours. God has a frame of reference that is eternal and complete, and He’s given us a view into it through His word. Let’s investigate what God says about how to live and how to govern…

How Should we Live?
First, let’s look at how God asks us to live, individually, before looking at what God has to say about governance. Since we will be standing in front of the throne alone, answering for ourselves, and Christ saves us individually, it makes sense to look at our lives from an individual perspective.

Leviticus 19:18 and Mark 12: 29-31 both give us the “greatest commandment”, stating that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart and love our neighbor as ourselves. In our Western society, which has been recently built on ‘having things’ and ‘doing what I want’, it is almost unthinkable to set ourselves aside for anyone, let alone all of our fellow men.  For instance, 2 Cor 8:1 begins a section on how sacrificial giving is one way that we can tell we love someone. There are many examples and statements in the Bible about how to carry out this love for our neighbors, but – in summary – they all involve not doing anything to their detriment, being there when you are needed, and setting yourself aside for them. That last one really is the ‘gotcha’, isn’t it?

I feel a statement on the word “love” is needed here, as modern society didn’t stop when they redefined “freedom” as “doing what I want” and “independence” as “wanton selfishness is ok”, we’ve also redefined the word “love” to mean “a fluffy good feeling about anything anybody does and considering all actions and lifestyles equal”. Deut 7:7 talks about love being a ‘choosing’ of the people of Israel, and we know that the Lord tested them, punished them, challenged them, and changed them. Prov 8:17 talks about reciprocal love, that the Lord loves those who seek Him. Prov 13:24 is the infamous ‘rod and child’ verse that seems to indicate that love involves training and that this call for training is certainly higher than the call to allow children to live as they like. Hosea 9:15 talks about the Lord’s love ending as a result of His children hating His ways. Much of Proverbs and Isa 61:8 talk about recompense and punishment for wrong, even though the people in question are “loved”. We can love each other and still have ethical standards that we hold each other to. We can love each other and still recognize that there is a distinction between right and wrong. We can hold love for people in our hearts at all times, regardless their actions, because they have been made in the image of our Almighty God. We can actively love people in our effort to reach their hearts for the Lord, but do not blaspheme the Lord by saying that all actions are equal and that love is carte blanche’ acceptance of all activity on this earth. God states the opposite in His word, (see Romans 1:32) and we would do well to listen.

So, sounds to me like we’re saying that we should give of ourselves to others when they are in need and that we should consider others before we consider ourselves… sure sounds like socialism! Well, it doesn’t actually, but let’s continue with a look at what God says about government.

Government
First, God cautioned the children of Israel against having a form of government that set men above other men. In 1 Samuel 8:1-18 the Lord explains to Samuel, and then Samuel to the people, what will happen if they reject God as their leader and take a man instead. This seems to indicate to me that God wants us to seek Him as our leader, and that He knows that other men will ever be inferior to Him as a governing body. Kind of a, “I’ve given you the best plan, be careful what you ask for, I might give it to you”, from God Himself. ?Matt. 22:17–21? ?Luke 20:25?. ?Rom. 13:1–7?; ?Tit. 3:1?; and ?1 Pet. 2:13–17 all define our responsibilities to our earthly governments. Even though we do not – now – look directly to God for our government guidance, He is still in control of all and expects us to follow our government, until it conflicts with His law.

So, it seems as though God knows that the “best way” for us is to acknowledge Him as our ruler but that He knows we won’t always. He knows that we need earthly figures to rule over us, and He allows this, while keeping His hand over us. He holds us to their rule, until they ask us to do something that would go against His law. God has set up and torn down many forms of government. Ours isn’t the first, and it won’t be the last.

Legislation versus The Heart
This still leaves a major question, specifically, where socialism is concerned; should we legislate ‘giving’? What I mean is, it is clear from Scripture that we are to set ourselves aside for our brother (sister), and we are to help one another, but should our government force the issue?

In Luke 18:12 we see the tax collector that ‘willingly gives’ his tithe and crows about it. While it looks like he does it willingly, the Lord still does not hold this acceptable; why not? 2 Cor 9:7 seems to answer the question; we must give cheerfully what we have decided in our heart, NOT what we have been forced to do or what is compulsory… wow, wonder how that matches up with current federal tax ‘law’? As soon as we legislate ‘giving’, it is no longer pleasing to the Lord. (read it again, repeat)

Charity
The reason charity doesn’t work in this country – or on this planet at all – is because God has a way He wants it done, and we aren’t doing it that way. There are many things that we can surmise about why He wants it done that way, some theological and some practical. For instance, if I – personally – give something to you and enjoy doing it, you will see the love of the Lord in me as I give it. That’s a witness, and a powerful one. From a humanist perspective, if I – personally – give you something, you might be thankful and have some desire to repay me or to work your way out of your tough situation so that you can someday help another. As soon as a faceless giant that everyone hates anyhow – the government – performs these functions, there is no witness and there is no desire to grow. Again, it doesn’t matter if we can find ways to justify God’s plan, it is His plan and we are to act on it.

So, my conclusion is that socialism as a form of government is certainly not God-mandated and – in fact – it stands directly against the Biblical precept of us as “cheerful givers”. Not only was Christ not a socialist, He was God become man with the power to save you and me. He loved us all enough to die for us; will you listen to Him today?

Technorati Tags: charity, giving, god, obama, socialism, socialist