What I Think About Evolution

I'm not really a big fan of Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, but he has a small editorial piece in today's New York Times that captures perfectly the thoughtful Christian's perspective on evolution. You may have to register to the Times to read it, but it's free and it's a good read.

Augustine, a famous Christian thinker of 1500 years ago, once said "Credo ut intelligum" (I believe so I can understand). Brownback uses that principle to highlight the relationship between faith and reason. Basically, both work together to lead us to Truth. His comment that faith "seeks to purify reason so that we might be able to see more clearly, not less," is right on the money.

Brownback doesn't go into detail about what he precisely believes. This is appropriate, and he would probably tell you (as I would, too) that I don't know for certain and that I'm still learning. That is humility with regard to the mysteries of God. But he is careful to say about what kind of things we must take definite stands on. He is careful to say that he believes God created and sustains our natural order, and that humans are His masterpiece. In his final few lines, he says:

"Man was not an accident and reflects an image and likeness unique in the created order. Those aspects of evolutionary theory compatible with this truth are a welcome addition to human knowledge. Aspects of these theories that undermine this truth, however, should be firmly rejected as an atheistic theology posing as science."

Jesus' anger

Two good quotes about the confusion we often experience about anger when we read the Bible.

"Hey, God gets angry. Jesus gets angry. And 'in your anger, do not sin' is from the Letters, so that assumes that sometimes we can get angry but it's not sin! But Jesus tells us not to be angry in Matthew 5:21!"

Well, here are two excellent quotes to give us God's perspective on this.

The first is from Max Lucado, from his book In The Grip Of Grace. Pam Owens pointed it out and it's true:

"Many don't understand God's anger because they confuse the wrath of God with the wrath of man. The two have little in common. Human anger is typically self-driven and prone to explosions of temper and violent deeds. We get ticked off because we've been overlooked, neglected, or cheated. This is anger of man. It is not, however, the anger of God.
God doesn't get angry because He doesn't get His way. He gets angry because disobedience always results in self-destruction. What kind of father sits by and watches his child hurt himself?"

Another one is from Dallas Willard, who I've quoted in these past two sermons. It's from his magnum opus, The Divine Conspiracy:

"Although [Jesus] certainly let his condemnation fall upon self-righteous and deeply corrupted leaders (Matt. 23; Luke 11:29-54), we never see it in other contexts. And we can trust him to express it appropriately toward such people, though we ourselves could rarely if ever do so. Anger and condemnation, like vengeance, are safely left to God. We must beware of believing that it is okay for us to condemn as long as we are condemning the right things. It is not so simple as all that. I can trust Jesus to go into the temple and drive out those who were profiting from religion, beating them with a rope. I cannot trust myself to do so." (pages 220-221)

There will only very RARELY be any occasion where it is appropriate for you to lash out or hold anger. Give it to God, let Him take care of it.

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' " (Romans 12:19)

Books that promote a healthy, Christian sexuality

As someone has so aptly put it, "The world treats sexuality as if using a Stradivarius violin to pound in nails" (I think it was a fellow Amazon.com reviewer).

Here are some great "down to earth" books I highly recommend in appreciating God's gift to you - your sexuality - and learning how to use it to best glorify Him, the giver of every "good and perfect gift" (James 1:17 -- and that verse occurs in James 1, where James deals with the issue of temptation).

1. Sex Is Not The Problem (Lust Is). Another book by Joshua Harris, who wrote I Kissed Dating Goodbye. This one comes with very high recommendations, and Harris is a big fan of John Piper and C.J. Mahaney (and I think those guys get it right much more often than not).

2. Every Young Man's Battle. And not just "young men"! From all I have heard, this book is better than the original, Every Man's Battle, by the same authors. I have combed through this and recommend it very strongly. The authors are frank with men about thought life, media, and masturbation, but let's face it, in this arena, frankness helps. All the same, I don't know if I would give it to anyone under 14. But at that age, or older, this book is probably going to be a big help. I have not read it, but Every Young Woman's Battle is probably good too.

3. Sex, Romance, and the Glory of God: What Every Christian Husband Needs to Know. Well, the title says it all. This is a short book; you probably could get through it in a week's worth of reading in bed for 10 - 15 minutes. If you're married, I highly recommend it. Mahaney has a God-centric perspective, which is so helpful... guys, it's not about what we want!

4. Intended for Pleasure. I higly recommend this. Every married couple can profit from this on your shelf, particularly if you're having difficulty relating sexually.

May God Bless You

Safeguard your heart and mind

This is essentially the point of Matthew 5:27-28.

Let's look at sexuality from God's perspective. He wanted to create a powerful, intense union between a man and a woman (marriage) after the pattern of the relationship between His Son and His Church. This union needed to be more than just the male and female body copulating -- after all, that's all animals really have. And it IS so much more, or should be, just read Genesis 2. It is a relational, spiritual union between two hearts. Song of Solomon is incredibly erotic, but its power comes from its foundation -- the intense love between the man and the woman has as its foundation an unconditional, covenant love (look at Song of Solomon 8:6-7).

To have this kind of love is so much more than body. It is a love that demands loyalty of the heart, and a passion of the mind. The intensely devoted and passionate sexuality that God wants all married people to have means it is exclusive -- one man, one woman, no others.

Imagining sex with others, "erotic" fantasy relationships with fantasy men or fantasy women, is betraying your spouse, rebellion against a loving God, and cheating yourself horribly. There are only two places it can go: a dead end of frustration (because our spouse won't match up to our foolish fantasy person or situation), selfishness, and misery (because now we're saying God is not good)... OR it ends up in actual adultery -- which puts the body where the brain and the heart have already gone and breaks the bond between man and wife, often beyond repair.

How utterly sad.

Jesus really does know what's best for us. He knows well God's plan for wonderful sexuality between man and woman. He tells all who want to live as Citizens of Heaven to "lock up" their hearts and minds, with regard to sex. Give the keys to your spouse, and to God.

This is the way a disciple lives -- thanking God for his goodness, and having the faith in His goodness that leads to faithfulness.

Why We Make "Every Effort" Against Sin...

On Sunday, I mentioned how the Sermon on the Mount is best thought of NOT as a new set of laws, but as a "vision trip" to God's Kingdom, so that we can truly be "the light of the world" that Jesus says we are (Matthew 5:14).

I regret we did not explore this concept even more. I wish I had spent even more time commending the beauty of the heart that is "tuned to God".

Why? Because setting our hearts on God's "zone of authority" (or what we call the Kingdom of God) is THE motivation for choosing the path of discipleship. "Your Kingdom come; your will be done" we pray in the Lord's Prayer, and if we really, REALLY want that -- then it is THAT desire that is the right motive for why "work and love and sing and pray", as Christian singer Rich Mullins so poetically put it (the song "My One Thing").

Why oh why should we do what really HURTS and remove our "right eye" or "right hand" as Jesus tells us to in Matthew 5:29,30. Why oh WHY do such radical spiritual surgery? If we fight against lust and greed in our hearts to that painful extent it will not last if we are just trying to fill a "law" and our hearts are not in it.

But our heart has to want what God wants - because it is GOOD - because we have been compelled by a vision of God's goodness - or because we "trust and obey", knowing He is Good.

Consider Dallas Willard's words - as he finishes his explanation of the passage against lust (Matthew 5:27-30) that we looked at last Sunday:

"The goodness of the kingdom heart... is the positive love of God and of those around us that fills it and crowds out the many forms of evil. From that goodness come deeds and respect and purity that characterize a sexuality as it was meant by God to be." (The Divine Conspiracy, p. 168, HarperCollins).

More on this, this week...

Eliminating the Sins of Craving by Wanting... MORE

In these weeks, we have been looking at how God can overcome selfish desire, because He offers so much more. Particularly, we have been looking at how Greed makes people slaves, but how He offers freedom - even to give sacrificially. Last week, we looked how Indulgence (or Gluttony) makes people addicts, but how He offers true satisfaction. This week, we will look at how Lust consumes and alienates people, but how God offers communion and community.

These are the sins of appetite. Our normal needs to acquire those things we need daily, to enjoy those things, and to experience intimacy -- these needs God created us with get warped by the lies from the Enemy and so common in our world's thinking and advertising into the sin traps of Greed, Gluttony, and Lust. And so we crave - to such an unhealthy extent that they become "little gods" that we worship. Our "wanting, wanting, wanting" (as Eugene Peterson puts it) takes us away from God - and He is the Only One who can offer TRUE fulfillment.

Well, what's the answer? How can we get control of our sin-influenced appetites? How can we be the master of our cravings?

I know we talked about this Sunday, but I want to reinforce what I see God saying to us from the pages of the Bible. Remember, He loves us - He wants the best, the very best, for us.

So, again, HOW can we get control of our crazy craving, craving, craving?

1. Well, the world says, "Why bother? Give in! Go on, you deserve it!! Come on, it can't hurt. You want it, go ahead. Obey your thirst! Feed your crave! Get the best in fashion! You want it, go get it! That's the drive of progress!"

We have already seen where this goes: to destruction. The Bible is clear that "giving in" to our wanting, over and over again, makes us slaves to money and addicts to our appetites. This is not the way to LIFE.

2. What if we eliminate desire? Many philosophers over the centuries have claimed that this is the way to true fulfillment, or more accurately, enlightenment or awareness. Some say Buddhism and Stoicism essentially teach this.

Does it work? If we don't want, maybe then we can be happy?

I don't think it works. When God says in Genesis 2, "it is not good for man to be alone", He recognizes that this human He has created has a need - in fact, I believe the Scriptures teach that man has several key emotional needs. And all of those needs can be fulfilled in a passionate pursuit of God Himself, together with other followers of Jesus. "You will seek me and find me when you seek with all your heart," says God (Jeremiah 29:13).

Remember, Jesus doesn't just say "Deny yourself". He says "Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me" (Mark 8:34, paraphrase). When we follow Him, when we seek Him, He gives us the wonder and joy of closeness with God. And then adds everything else!

3. Which leads to what is God's way. Check out these Bible verses:

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33, NIV)

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4, NIV)

Jesus, quoting Moses, tells us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as much as ourself? Why? So we could turn into bored and boring people? He wants to give us so much wonder and joy we can't possibly imagine it! But we MUST put Him first - first in our day, first in our home, our job, our play.

He has so much for us! We usually don't want "the good stuff" enough.

Jo and Lisa both love this quote from C.S. Lewis, and I quote it here, because it speaks to the typical situation of our heart:

"Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

When we want Him, and really seek Him as our delight, the other craves fall away to their proper place, and He takes care of us. He really does. The more we seek Him, the more we will KNOW that HE IS GOOD.