New Series On Jesus' Words

I'm learning to chase my ideas as they come, instead of arguing to myself why they wouldn't work. I heard a woman the other day giving a speech in San Francisco and she said something I will never forget, that if we knew someone who talked to us the way we talk to ourselves, we would never let them be our friend. I guess it's a mixture of what I want and of what I want to want, if that makes sense.
For now, words are still the best way I know how to express these ideas (however poorly that may be at times). If I could write music I imagine my thoughts would sound like this. Or maybe that's just what I hope they would sound like.

Sanity: Existence

Jesus answers big questions with small answers.

When the crowd of thousands came before him hungry and tired and the disciples asked for his guidance, his answer was a small boy’s lunch. When the world was set to be destroyed, Noah survived by building a boat. When people broke their backs trying to follow the law, Christ said there really is only two that matter.

It is so easy for us to get lost and troubled before the bigness of life’s problems. It is so natural to desire the bigger picture, even if that bigger picture is destined to scare you into submission. We dream big dreams, build big cities and set enormous goals. And that is all good.

But isn’t it ironic that some of the smallest creatures in existence strive for bigness; and the biggest thing that is, which is God, loves to work in smallness. Of course the opposites are true, but that shouldn’t surprise us because that is exactly what should be happening. Small things should work in small ways and big things in big ways. Yet God flips that, like he does with so many other things, and delicately lays before us a work of art that our eyes attempt to fully survey.

Sanity

Sanity - Keeping your mind on God and your feet on Earth

In my study of Scripture I constantly come back to the battle between now vs then and the here vs there. The now and here represents the earth, people, social dilemmas, problems within time and possible solutions brought about by the means of men. The then and there signifies the spiritual, the life to come, God’s realm and from that God’s timing and purpose within visible problems and solutions. We are supposed to keep our mind on God, on “the things above” and live in such a way that reflects His sovereignty. But at the same time we are fully immersed in the flesh and operate within the constraints of time. Our feet are firmly planted on the ground and our hands can only reach so far.

Flirting With Apostasy

Acting Christian and being Christ's are worlds apart in purpose, in action, in effect.

I occasionally think about what my life would look like if I were not a Christian. What would be my aspirations be, what would my friends look like, what would I be dedicated to? On a more personal level, what would my relationships look like, what would my morality look like? And most frightening of all, would I be sane? These are all very real, very deep questions and along with them I am drawn to consider how I would answer them in light of the faith which I do possess. Since I am a Christian, are my aspirations, friends and relationships reflections of that fact? Is the content and direction of my life coherent with a Biblical confession of faith?

Afterward I question the line between those two answers. Does having faith necessarily transform any such category, or am I merely adhering to a preconception of what Christians do in such a scenario? In truth I ask if I would be a better person if I were not a Christian. To most believers this doesn’t make sense at all – the answers clearly stands as a no. Why is that? Because of their idea of non-believers or specific interactions with them? As far as my limited experience with ethics goes, the difference is not nearly as distinct as the average Bible-belt resident would argue. 

This idea drives at questions I do not intend to answer, such as what is moral and can there be morality apart from God. However, the question I do want to raise is what actions in my life are clearly present because of my faith and which are absent; and more importantly should they be? Should I defend any decision on the basis of “I’m a Christian and that’s what Christian’s do (or don’t do)?”  

At the root lies two truths: I am human and I belong to Christ. They both illuminate my identity, but not necessarily in different ways and not immediately in opposing ways, as I believe some take for granted (myself included). Being Christian does not unmake our humanity, if anything it encourages it. Perhaps we can blame Paul and his use of the term “flesh” to embody the evil in humanity; or our misunderstanding of his meaning. But Christ didn’t think so. His incarnation was proof of that fact and his actions on earth rarely “followed the rules” and yet he fulfilled the law.

My salvation is in the hands of God and my leaving is as impossible as his abandoning. But maybe there are some things I do need to abandon or take up, things which might make my Christianity look less Christian but glorify God more honestly.

Just some thoughts partly inspired by Bonhoeffer. I'm sure they'll make better sense one day.