The British

No matter what they are talking about, the British always sound so smart no matter how mundane the subject matter may be. Here is a great example which had me laughing out loud. Try to listen to as much as you can for it gets better the longer you listen.

Food never sounded so good.

Affliction -- The (Best) Case for Christ

2Cor 1.8-11

In this passage, Paul tells of a ‘great pressure, far beyond [his] ability to endure, so that [he] despaired even of life’ (2Cor 1.8). An interesting bit of trivia about this verse is that the Greek word Paul uses to describe his ‘despair’ is an exceedingly rare word, used only one other time in the New Testament (interestingly enough, also in 2Cor), and it speaks of an oppression or dire situation without escape or devoid of any chance of survival. Whatever happened to Paul during his ‘affliction in Asia’ was certainly a crisis of the highest order, one in which Paul did not think that he would survive. In other words, some serious stuff.

Paul goes on to talk about the power that rescued him from his dire situation is the same power of the resurrection – if God is powerful enough to conquer death, surely He can save you from whatever situation you find yourself in.

As significant as that fact is, what struck me in this passage was actually verse 11:

‘...as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.’

Paul suggests that in praying for him, the Corinthians were therefore able to share in his joy of deliverance. Said another way, the news of Paul’s deliverance, while certainly good news to Paul, was also a cause for celebration to the wider church audience at Corinth for they were able to see God’s faithfulness in action.

This verse just jumped out at me because I think that it illustrates a fundamental principle about humanity.

If I could write an axiom for human nature based upon this verse and the reality of what I’ve experienced in my own life, it would go something like this:

>>The evidence of God’s work in one’s life is the most powerful and effective apologetic for the existence of God.<<

Nowhere did I see the truth of this statement more acutely than during my time at Oxford. Oxford was a place filled with very smart people. If I could use a Scripture to summarize my feeling there it would be Prov 17.28:

‘Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.’

That was me. Whenever I was in a dinner or a meeting with a bunch of brilliant scientists or writers, I would just keep my mouth shut, then no one would know how stupid I was!

Seriously though, one of the great things about a place like Oxford is the opportunity you have to rub elbows and engage many of the world’s best thinkers. You live life with these people, are neighbors with them, and our kids would play together. One gets the opportunity to have a full curriculum of learning simply by going over to your neighbor’s house for dinner.

As much as I was impressed by the level of knowledge people displayed within their own respective fields of study, I was even more amazed at how much the chemists, physicists, and poets I knew were well-steeped in issues relating to faith, the Bible, and spirituality in general. Just about everyone I had encountered at Oxford was extremely well-read and conversant in all things spiritual, and as soon as they found out my field of study, they had surprisingly deep questions and touched on many important issues.

One profound thing that that experience taught me was how useless many of our ‘arguments’ for our positions are at times. I remember one particular evening when I had dinner with a professor of evolutionary biology and genetics, a colleague of the infamous Prof Richard Dawkins. Try talking to him about Creationism and the beginning of the world! I have read books on science and creation and how to argue holes in the theory of evolution and so on, but these are useless against someone like that -- like trying to fight a tank with a straw and spit balls.

One of the most important things I learned at Oxford was that there is no rebuttal for a changed life. There is always going to be someone smarter or more well-read then you, one who can argue or cajole better than you, and one who is more articulate and convincing with their logic. It is just fact.

Paul in 2Cor 1.11 reminded me of this fact. Paul told of his deliverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable circumstances, and this caused others to rejoice.

No matter how smart or well educated someone is, they still need God and deep down, they know it. When they see us and our changed life, the joy we exhibit through tough times, the love we show those in need, the conviction we have toward Truth, this is tremendously influential.

I spoke to chemist who at one time was an avowed atheist. He knew all the ‘proofs’ for the existence of God and so on, but when it came down to it, he watched the Christians at Oxford, and finally said, ‘I want what they have.’ He is now a professor of theology at Oxford and a very godly man.

There are two main points to come out of this. The first is that people are watching and they are deciding what to do about God by what you are doing on a daily basis. Your slick arguments won't do nearly as much as the display of your life lived radically for Christ will.

The other thing that is important is not to be afraid to tell your story. Like Paul, we all experience disappointments, challenges, and despair, ‘even to the point of death.’ (2Cor 1.8) Often we are embarrassed or afraid to share such experiences, but these are the very things that can be so effective in sharing the love of Christ. Paul was afflicted and God rescued him. This caused great joy to the Christians.

People are watching and listening more than you know.

Jessica is such a great example to me in this. I'm the one doing a doctorate in Biblical studies and always have my nose in a book. She is the one making banana bread for people just because, saying 'hello' and looking our waiter in the eyes when giving a sincere 'thank you,' and just talking to others about life.

I'll let you all guess which one of us made the bigger impact for Christ (hint: it had nothing to do with Hebrew).

Comfort - So What?

I have just loved our study on 2 Corinthians that Pastor Ray has been doing the over past number of weeks. This has been a book near and dear to my heart during the past year and one in which I’ve spent a lot of time in study and devotion. When I was first offered the Inreach position at Ambassador, one of the things I did as a part of seeking the Lord on His direction was to read through 2 Corinthians. I wish I could say that there was some super spiritual impetus behind this move, but in reality, it was the only book of the Bible in which I knew of the word ‘ambassador’ and so I thought I would give it a good read (see 2Cor 5.20). Now, as it did then, the Lord is using this book in a profound way in my own life. As such, I thought I might share some of these reflections with all of you.

2Cor 1.1-7

In the opening part of 2 Corinthians we learned of the nature of God’s involvement in affliction and suffering, viz., God comforts us in times of trouble not for own sakes exclusively, but rather so that we can in turn provide comfort to others.

One of the most profound questions that the Christian ever has to confront, and for that matter, the most profound question the Church has ever had to confront, is the relationship between a good God and the suffering of humanity. God may be good, but is He powerful enough to do anything about suffering? If He is, then why doesn’t He? Furthermore, if God is indeed powerful enough to do something about suffering and doesn’t, how does that make Him good?

What so amazes me about the Bible is how often  it touches upon the great questions of the faith but not always in a way that we would like it to! Such is the case in 2Cor 1.1-7. The question of the cause of or reason for suffering never comes up in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, instead Paul addresses the issue from an anthropological (related to man) rather than theological vista. This may frustrate those who ponder the deeper questions of life, yet provide a profound perspective missing from most discussions on suffering.

In so doing I feel that Paul is putting his finger directly onto something that so plagues the human condition. We tend to view everything through a ‘me focused’ or ‘man-centric’ lens while the Bible seems to always point in another direction. Our initial impulse when faced with suffering is to look in the mirror, while the Bible so often urges our eyes to go outward and upward, rather than inward.

When encountering affliction, our response is often ‘Why me?’ or ‘How am I going to get out of this mess?’ and our prayers are typically, ‘God relieve me of this discomfort.’

It is striking to witness Paul’s orientation toward suffering. Comfort is given by God not for our own sake and relief, but rather so that we can comfort others. What a radical concept. Many times, when discerning Biblical Truth, we arrive at a Truth, but then stop before the so what kicks in.

Some examples:

‘All Scripture is God-breathed,’ says 2 Tim 3.16, ‘so that the man of God may be adequately equipped for every good work.’

>  Scripture is indeed inspired, but for the purpose of inciting us toward good works.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. So that  you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12.2

>  Our non-conformity to the world is not so we can become separate little huddles of holiness. Our coming out from the world is for the purpose of knowing the mind of God.

So the point is this, when I am faced with affliction, I do indeed look to the ‘God of all comfort’ (2Cor 1.3) for help, and I am right in doing so because it is a wonderful thing that our God is loving and ready to comfort.

However, I too often stop there, I don’t get to the so what. God’s comfort is not given for my well-being, happiness, or security. It is so that I can and know how to comfort others. It should naturally follow that when I see someone in need, I comfort because I have been comforted.

I now need to think about my response to affliction in an entirely different way -- to stop worrying about the how and why of suffering but rather the so what.

Why a Blog?

My heart's desire as the pastor of Inreach at Ambassador Church is to help people fall deeper in love with God and His people by inciting a passionate love for the Scriptures and a lust for a life lived for more than this world.

C. S. Lewis once said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.

This is my hope and prayer for everyone at Ambassador -- that we all might view the world and our lives through a wholly Christian and Biblical lens -- independent of one's vocation, ethnicity, culture, political affiliation, marital status, bank account, or religious history. I desire that we all become thoroughly "Christian" in every nook and cranny of our lives.

My hope is that this blog will provide a tool to help in this desire as I share with you all how God is working in my own life, especially through the Scriptures of Pastor Ray's Sunday sermons as well as my various thoughts and reflections on a whole host of other issues. In addition to that, I will from time to time post various resources for download as well as links that I think may add to what is going on in the small group ministry at Ambassador.

As we all live extremely busy and varied lives, I invite you to interact with anything I've posted and in so doing create a virtual place on the web where our people can dialogue and grow deeper toward maturity in our walk with Christ.