Category Archives: Spiritual Life

SPECULATION IS FUN

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Speculation, rather than relying on God’s revelation, is the very real temptation for all of us.  It is fun to bend, twist, imagine, and come up with some new and sexy interpretation of Scripture.  Some things in the Bible do involve the struggle of careful interpretation.  Many other things are clear, but we just don’t like them.  So off we go speculating about other options.

Popular books on “spiritual warfare” contain a great deal of speculation.  Here are a few things I found in one such book:

*Demonic Transference
This is a popular belief among several contemporary writers on spiritual warfare. It is not the interpretation you find among the best modern or ancient commentators of Scripture. In fact, noted scholars of Christian missions say it owes more to paganism than Christianity. Here is what I wrote on it for an article I coauthored in the theological journal, Bibliotheca Sacra:
“Though the doctrine of generational transference is widely held, it lacks biblical support. In Ex. 20:4-5 the reference there to ‘visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations’ should be understood as a description of severe judgment in which an individual’s line is cut off, not a transference (demonic or otherwise) of particular sins to the next generation. Actually even the idea of judgment is overshadowed by the grace of God when this formula is repeated elsewhere. Ex. 34:6-7 and Deut. 7:9 demonstrate that God may bring judgment for three or four generations, but His covenant faithfulness extends for a thousand. This promise, coupled with the focus on individual responsibility in Ez. 18:18-22, seems incompatible with the idea of inherited demonic affliction.”

Also, note what is specifically said in the text “of those who hate me” which would not apply to a Christian, and note what is not said: mention of demons.

*Lots of speculation, little revelation
Throughout this book, the author makes many assertions, but gives little or no biblical support. He utilizes the “trust me, I know what I am talking about” approach. When he does cite Scripture as with the “14 spirits” his interpretation is truly unique…not the kind of thing you want anyone saying about the way you handle Scripture!

There are cruel speculations about demons being involved where women have struggles with barrenness, arthritis, etc. Living in a fallen world with a fallen body gets little (I don’t remember any in the book) credit for such challenges.

*The desire for victory makes people vulnerable to spiritual fads.
There is a strong attraction to these kinds of books among those who yearn for much greater victory over their past and present struggles. This vulnerability coupled with a superficial understanding of Christian theology makes for a lethal combination.

*It is not just the Devil!
Our struggle is clearly with demonic powers, but there is also the world and our own sinfulness. Charles Spurgeon said if you took away Satan’s attacks he would still have plenty to battle with his own sin. Paul understood this as well (I Tim. 1:15).

If one looks through the history of the church one will commonly find statements which underscore the ongoing problem of personal sin.  Here is John Owen, a Puritan. Owen believed in demons and their ability to discourage believers, but he also appreciated the condition of the human heart: “The man that understands the evil of his own heart, how vile it is, is the only useful, fruitful, and solid believing and obedient person.”

Could too much focus on demons actually be a subtle tactic of Satan’s to get us to believe our problems are mainly external?

*Body, soul, and spirit
Most popular teachers on the Christian life believe we are made up of three parts (=trichotomy), but a word study in the OT and NT reveals that the spirit and the soul are pretty much the same. The three part view is used as justification that we are perfect in our spirit, but fallen in our soul. The more we can realize “who we really are” the less our struggle with sin. Perseverance and struggling in the power of the Holy Spirit (emphases throughout the history of Christianity) tend to get little or no attention from writers of popular books on “spiritual warfare.”

*Citing lots of verses does not mean one is being biblical
Throughout this book we find verses slung out left and right with very little context or explanation.

WHO IS MORE COMPELLING: LBJ OR JESUS?

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A wonderful word and we will allow Jason Allen to go beyond our usually short and punchier posts.

When it comes to writing history, Robert Caro is a giant among men.  This past year, Caro released the fourth installment of his projected five-volume biography of the 36th president of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson. Caro has devoted nearly 40 years researching and writing The Years of Lyndon Johnson, and he does not appear to be letting up anytime soon.  Caro’s life ambition crystallized in his mid-thirties – to write the definitive biography of LBJ, a biography that would truly stand the test of time.  This goal has propelled Caro vocationally throughout the lion’s share of his life and now sustains him into his sunset years.

Caro’s The Years of Lyndon Johnson has served to percolate increased interest in the 36th president and to position its author as an internationally recognized biographer.  Yet, as interesting as Caro’s ever expanding biography of Johnson is, a public intrigue with Caro himself has also piqued.  Indeed, Caro is a fascinating figure; we might even say a cultural icon.

Caro is eccentrically devoted to his life’s work. His lifestyle and work ethic resemble a 21st century sweatshop, albeit civilized.  For decades he has slavishly worked seven days a week, rarely breaking his routine even for holidays.  He enjoys no professional help, no research assistant or transcriptionist.  Caro foregoes modern conveniences such as a personal computer, preferring to draft his manuscript in longhand.  He dresses in a suit every day, only to work in solitude in his Manhattan office.  Caro’s office is a Byzantine gamut, littered with copious notes, stacked files, marked books, and walls covered with charts and graphs.  Eyewitnesses testify that Caro’s work environment more resembles a war room than a writing den.

Caro’s life-long effort to unearth Johnson’s life in pedantic detail is impressive enough, but not altogether satisfying for the accomplished author.  Rather, Caro aspires to know the mind and heart of Johnson; not merely Johnson’s actions, but what propelled his actions.  Thus, Caro has coupled with his assiduous research a practice of imbibing Johnson’s way of life.  Over the years, Caro has relocated his family in order to spend extensive time in Texas, Washington and even Vietnam.  All of this has been in an effort to feel what Johnson felt, see what he saw, and know what he knew. Herein lies Caro’s genius.  He is driven by a desire not merely to master the facts of Johnson’s life, but to know the very essence of the man.

As followers of Christ, perhaps we can learn something about discipleship from Robert Caro.  When we weigh Caro’s devotion to Johnson in the scales of our pursuit of Christ, we may be found wanting.  Caro has settled for nothing less than a deep and personal knowledge of his subject, LBJ.  Too many Christians settle for a superficial knowledge of Christ that fosters a superficial commitment to Him.

But, we need not look to Caro to be chastened. We can simply look to the Apostle Paul, who aspired to know Jesus, writing, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… that I may know him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:8,10).

Our eccentric commitment may never be classified alongside Robert Caro’s in the world’s eyes, but knowing Jesus – and laboring to make him known – will prove unmatched in personal benefit and eternal consequence.

HT: www.jasonkallen.com, April 5, 2013

Allen’s post carries the title, “Robert Caro & the Pursuit of Knowing Christ.”
I changed the title to make sure more would read his terrific piece and not lose interest when they immediately saw a name which was unfamiliar.  Most know who LBJ is, few know of Caro…though the latter is a pretty remarkable fella!

WORN OUT BUT STILL TRUSTING GOD!

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The imagery mentioned in Ps. 119:83 is quite interesting.

“Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget God’s teachings.”

I dug around a bit as I was baffled by the picture the Psalmist paints.  It turns out that ancient people hung a wineskin inside a tent to absorb the smoke from the fire.  As you can imagine, this kind of use led to the wineskin becoming dry, brittle, and of little use.  This is the raw emotion of an honest believer who clings to God even when it seems insane. 

If you presently feel this way, know that you are in very good company.

 

 

WHAT COFFEE TAUGHT ME ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY…CLARIFIER

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Several of you voiced that there is much more to be said on the “What Coffee Taught Me About Homosexuality.”  I agree and will be doing more posts as the year unfolds.

I specifically chose to write shorter, punchier posts because I wanted all kinds of people, not just those predisposed to reading lengthy posts, to feel they could be involved in the conversation.

So stay tuned!

And this word count is less than one hundred!

LIVING EAST OF EDEN

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A few days ago I was in Boston enjoying the evening with a dear friend on the very street where the two explosions went off. 

Another graphic reminder that we indeed live east of Eden.

May God display His mercy and truth in tangible ways through the various caregivers in the area!

WHAT COFFEE TAUGHT ME ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

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I often say coffee is as big a part of my day as is the old morning shower.  That actually is not true.  Coffee is a bigger part of my daily routine than showering.  Sometimes I skip the shower.  No kidding.

Anyone who knows me knows I like a good, strong cup of coffee.  Because it is my number one drink of enjoyment, I periodically fast from it.  The longest fast was a year, but usually a week or so confirms the weakness of my flesh and the need for a deeper relationship with Christ.

For you, it may not be coffee, so ponder what that food or drink may be.  If you have fasted from it, you know what I mean by the weakness of the flesh.

Imagine now how tough it would be to give up entirely what seems so natural to you.  You are not supposed to give it up for a week, or month, or even a year, but a lifetime.

I don’t say this to condone homosexuality as I trust those reading this understand.

I do say it to develop greater compassion for those who face the incredibly difficult task of giving up what feels so right.

Do you fast, and if so, what have you learned about yourself?  More importantly, what did you learn about God?