The Real Jesus

In an earlier blog, "Test of Time" we took a look at Downhere's song "The Real Jesus." The song contains the line "Jesus sparked a controversy." It's a legitimate claim, in truth it is beyond doubt. With it he has sparked a world-shattering legacy. He was the archetype for a new brand of heroism. Epochal among epics. A giant. Out of everyone's league, still on everyone's level. Wars, depictions on film and stage, governments, genocides, novels, poems, paintings, sculptures, magazines, companies, songs, schools, theories all have bore his name. Some undoubtedly with his blessing, others out of line. He's been summoned upon in nearly every U.S. court session, presidential innauguration, and sporting event. He presides weekly over the largest gathering of anyone anywhere for any reason in church. He has made his way into every single aspect of our lives. He meets many before every meal and many more before the lights are dimmed down for slumber. He is responsible for the biggest sensation in celebrations in Christmas. The emblem of the cross is popular jewelry for the believer and unbeliever alike. He is on T-shirts he is on ball caps he is on wallets and watches. He is in our vernacular. He is everywhere and still for many we find it so hard to talk about him.

I for one can talk about Jesus Christ all day long. But before you type-cast me as a bible-thumping mugwump allow me to explain how I'm not all that statement cracked me up to be. I find it easy to argue about the contraversy He's stirred. Talk to me about evolution and I can explode into a pro-creation tirade. Give me your worldwide mythologies and I would love to give you truth in its stead. Give me excuses for immorality and and I will feed you scripture in a spoon of reason. That's for the unbeliever. For the believer I am just as bad. Let's talk about predestination, age of accountability, was Jesus a pacifist? Forget who He was and what He did. Forget creation, just speculate as to whether it was seven days humanly speaking or if it was God's 1,000 year day?* Why do I rant and rave in the debate but when it comes to my true purpose of day to day, lifestyle worship I stutter and lack justice? I believe it is noble to defend the law and holy name of Jesus Christ but how immaturely I attempt it. My defense should be grounded in faith in Him and obedience to His commandments and practice of His love. Back to that line. That glorious line that fires me up for the battle of words and truth. "Jesus sparked a controversy." Sure He did. I know that. But what about the succeding line. "...Jesus known for His mercy, gave the blind man sight...Jesus loves the children, holds the lambs, Jesus prays a lot, Jesus has distinguishing marks on his hands..." That's where it's at. Mercy and Grace and Love. That is the real Jesus.

*"...God's thousand year day" comes from Psalm 90:4
To read "Test of Time": http://theclassicmc.blogspot.com/2010/01/test-of-time.html
To listen to "The Real Jesus: http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#The%20Real%20Jesus%20downhere

Sit Down

As one number of everyone's favourite Brando-Sinatra musicals sings "Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, you're rockin' the boat!" It isn't too illogical a request to make considering we are all in the same boat. One standing above the rest can throw the balance.

If you've read the gospels you'll notice that Christ handles every sin he encounters with easy grace and scarce anger. That is except for hypocrisy. Hypocrisy entails a dishonesty that chafes like sand. In Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel he paints a picture of the church. He says:

The pious fellowship permits no one to be sinners. So everyone must conceal his sins from himself and from their fellowship. We dare not be sinners.

The church has fast been accumulating the barnacles of a bad rep to its pious planked hull. Possibly because we have forgotten the truth of Morton Kelsey's correction, "The Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners."

We do not go to parade or flaunt. We go to heal. True too, after your renewal, it is acceptable to pass from hospital to gymnasium, in hopes of spiritual brawn. However, you must resist the reflex to flex and flaunt your alleged gains. Lording over the diligent rowers will only propel them to despair. The truth is we are all unclean. Were it we could bring ourselves to admit it.

Casting Crowns asserts there disapproval of "rocking the boat" in their song "Stained Glass Masquerade" asking listeners,

Are we happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain, but if the invitation's open, to every heart that has been broken, maybe then we close the curtain, on our stained glass masquerade.

Their is forgiveness and love in the confessional to Christ, but there is freedom and fellowship in the testimony to our brothers and sisters. I am not all pessimist in blogging you know. Chances are high that there are plenty in your church that would be happy to listen, forgive, and accept you. Could it be that those that are so repulsed by the mention of sin are so because it has taken or is taking a toll in their life?

The problem with churches is they are full of people and people are full of flaws. The great thing about churches should be that everyone is willing to machete the vines and brush until the oasis is reached and in some places this is the case. Where it is not. Sit down!

Question...The New Morality

I do not mean to imply with the title that one of the most central and greatest truths of all time is now dated and therefore be classed into 'old' and 'new.' Not at all. However, the perspectives and mindsets are reeling. I am really bad about giving out absolutes. I am often called upon to grudgingly admit that I just don't know. Well now I do it with unclenched fists. My question: What is morality? We all seem to know that it is what will hold everything together. The Christian faith bases it on the Word of God, the Bible. I feel like the world has come to view it as, if it doesn't hurt anyone then it isn't wrong. Well that seems like a pretty solid definition. A definition that no doubt politically correct thinkers would applaude with a smug look. But one that Christians may have a hard time tangibly justifying. They will realize that there are a few 'no-nos' that they may not quite have an explanation for as to "how it hurts." While it strains in explanation, it cries "duh" in sense. If an omniscient God says it's wrong it is wrong. But we are all over reason these days. Fact trumps belief in interplanetary eyes. So this blog is centered on feedback. My question is not a thesis for me to answer. It is for you.

What is morality?

Well Spent Laughter...Wise Man (Men) IV

Life lessons from dad are treasured things. More treasured than even the gold dust uncovered in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" which happens to be the movie in view when one of the earliest remembered pieces of fatherly advice was given. With Humphrey Bogart already dead we see the remaining prospectors losing their fortune in gold to the wind and sands of the desert. They begin laughing in hysteria. My inquisitive older brother questioned my old man as to why they were laughing. This was a crisis after all! My dad said something profound almost, "Well, you can either laugh or cry." We understood. When bad things happen, it is good to take it with a laugh. Much later we have almost the same conversation about espionage sitcom Get Smart. This time it is me reminding him. "We should all try and be like Maxwell Smart" says I as Max jokes about his apartment's explosion. My dad, ever a critic of his stupidity raises more than one eyebrow. I go on to explain the lesson he taught me much before "it is good to take our crises in life with a little laugh." He agreed.

When I was in Ecuador, each morning at breakfast one of the adult leaders would share a sort of daily devotional. On our last morning in Sucua a good man began to share a little of his life's story. He told of some very tragic and difficult times. This was not the expected imparture from our normally jovial friend. After little thought however, it only enhanced his sincere joy. He was the product of a calloused life and what was left was an ever evident appreciation for the beauty in laughter. Adding to my admiration it was also clear as to his motives in spreading his tickled feelings.

A world without laughter is a sick envisionment. We thrive off laughter. While my claim still stands it can be wasted (http://theclassicmc.blogspot.com/2009/10/wasted-laughter.html) laughter is not something to be kept under lock and key. Spend it where you can, find joy in trivial things. Laugh.

Quote Commentary 14...Paul W. Bryant

The same things win that always won, you just have a different bunch of excuses if you lose

Paul W. Bryant

Best known as the University of Alabama's winningest football coach amassing six national titles and thirteen conference championships. He is a hero among sports fans everywhere.

I revisit the Quote Commentary in part, I suppose due to a little guilt over not having a blog oding the Crimson Tide's thirteenth national championship, and in part still that I've been hankering to do a new quote for quite some time now. Paramount among my range of reason, however, is the thick meaning that backs this simple statement.

Human beings just might be out to reform perfection. Though it is true that "the times are a' changin'" their is a control to this vast experiment called life. God is that control. It is written as I'm sure you've heard "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). And if we have that to fall back on there is a lot of security. Don't mistake that security or that comfort with ignorance. Despite that security many refuse to accept the truth. They test out many different paths that they assume will lead them to a victory. With our salvation and time on earth at stake, is it really worth experimenting with the skinning of cats? I think not! People are tangled up in all the ropes, ladders, and stairways that will allegedly get them to the top. They assert that "While this may work for you, this is more suited to my abilities or tastes." It is wrong. Defineably wrong. What has been winning will continue to win. Jesus Christ, "Love thy neigbor," kindness, righteousness, and love. It isn't picking out a car, a suit of clothes, or a spouse. In the end you can say "this is the reason this failed, not because I didn't do things the right way," but you will be wrong. All the excuses in the world won't make it right. Life is war. A twisted game of sorts. A business. It has definitive objectives. How you play the game is up to you, and it will determine how things turn out.