Christianity is Radical

“In the fullness of Time… Christ came.” Galatians 4:4 

When we think of the early Christian period we think of persecution.  What we also know of the Roman world at that time is that it prided itself on the fact that all religions would be tolerated. This was one of the hallmarks of the Roman Period. Marcus Aurelius (2nd C. emperor of Rome) wrote philosophical treatises on the nature of religious toleration. Yet, it was during his reign that Justin Martyr wrote his apologies for the Christian faith. If religion was so tolerated why were Christians singled out and persecuted? The persecutions were fierce, disruptive and consuming throughout the provinces.  If every other religion was acceptable why was this one faith found to be unacceptable and a threat to the Empire?  Christianity posed a world and life view that was completely alien to that of Rome, and they had never seen any thing like it.  It was not power seeking, material seeking, or pleasure seeking.  Christianity taught that we were to treat all people alike; Greek or Jew, slave or free, even women and wives were to be honored.  It was an all consuming alternate way of looking at reality! As a result, it was perceived as a threat to the whole Roman system, and quite accurately so. 

Christ burst upon the scene of Rome, and in His short lifetime He offered a genuine alternative to anything the world had ever known.   He alone was to be worshipped, not the Emperor.  The Roman Emperor had the control of more and more people by portraying himself a deity, the saviour of the people.  

The very name of Jesus suggested His purpose, “He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Not the Emperor, or the Statist mentality of Rome.  The "people of the way"  knew that Jesus alone was Lord.  They would be peaceable, respectful, pay their taxes, etc, but don't ask them to call Caesar Lord.  

These Christians kept upsetting the Roman apple cart.  They treated people like equals, they didn't treat their wives and their children like property to bought, sold or killed at the discretion of the father of the family, they rescued newborn babies off the killing walls, they wouldn't buy certain things, and they would not participate in the pagan money making schemes of their fellow citizens.  Trouble in River City!  

All of this flew in the face of Rome’s belief in the supremacy of the state and the primacy of the emperor!

Essentially the Gospel was saying that the state will eventually bend its knee to this Lord, to His authority.  All false deities eventually, do not want to share their power.  Christ taught this when the Pharisees were trying to trap him in Mt. 22:15-22.  

"Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians.  'Teacher,' they said, 'we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'  But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, 'You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?  Show me the coin used for paying the tax.'  They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, 'Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?'  'Caesar's,' they replied.  Then he said to them,  'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.'  When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.'"

This means therefore, "In all your rendering to Caesar, render to Jesus the full honor of the absolute authority that he has over Caesar. Therefore, Jesus is demanding absolute allegiance to himself and his ownership and authority. They (the authorities) are warranted because the subordinate authorities in the world, like Caesar, are owing to God’s authority.  It is legitimate, but not absolute."  (John Piper)  

It is simply a call for Caesar who bends his knee to no man, to bend his knee to a sovereign greater than He. This was Radical.   God is soverign, He allowed Caesar to be where he was, the early Christians were to honor those officials over them, and were to know that God has a plan through it all.  In the end, though, 

"there is only one Lord, and He does not share power." (Gandalf, Lord of the Rings)

We may be called on sooner than we think to watch this same dilemma play out in our lives, in this culture, in our day.  For Christianity is still radical.

And in the fullness of time, He will come again...............Lynn

To Love Like You Love

I love so imperfectly.  

Not like you do.

You somehow expose my faults, 

my sins and I become better.  

You see right through me-

all the manipulations, the false guilt, the distrust, the apathy, the pride 

and You heal me with Your quiet rebuke.  

How I wish I could love like You do.

Yours is an active love.  One that knows just how to pursue me.  

Sometimes with pain that pierces my bones. 

Sometimes with a soft loving whisper that also penetrates my heart and my soul.  

Oh to love like you do.

To know just what the beloved needs.  

To go beyond the wants and see the exact longings of my beloved and to give what is best for them and glorious for You.  

Oh Wise lover-Oh all encompassing, to love like You do.  

Not unconditionally, You put on conditions, 

You just know the right conditions to place on me,                

and then You give the grace to live out those conditions.  

Love that is ever reaching.  

Like fingers of fog that sink in to my very being to capture my heart.  

You are the perfect lover. 

 Oh to love like you do.  

What's on Your Nightstand?

I just found a new site for book lovers through Holli at Homeschooling in the Heartland.  It is called 5 Minutes for Books  and once a month she has a "What's on Your Nightstand?" post.  It looks so fun.  I just don't know if I have the memory to post once a month on a consistent happening, but I am willing to try.  

I have a stack of books about two feet high laying right now on my floor next to my nightstand.  Most of the ones that are easy and light reading do not stay there for long.  It is the ones that are thick, and sometimes daunting that stay on the floor for so long.  They are books that I really, really want to read, but I just cannot get through them quickly.  Most of them are non-fiction or historical in nature, novels can so often be zipped through.  

Yesterday I made out a list for my computer in order to concentrate more on these books than on the fiction that I have been reading as of late.  

Here is the list that is on my floor which stands for my nightstand. Check out the blog to see if you would like to participate as well.  

1.  The Expositor's Bible Commentary

2.  The Black Book of Communism

3.  Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell

4.  Real Christianity by William Wilberforce

5.  Revolutions in Worldviews Ed. by Andrew Hoffecker

6.  The Heritage Guide to the Constitution

7.  The Doctrine of the Christian Life by John Frame

8.  From Age to Age by Keith Mathison

9.  Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin

10.  The Stalin Archives

I hope to be reading for eternity...........................Lynn

Leave it to Darrell

Please zip over to Cayenne Lemonade which is on my blog roll and read my friend Darrell's post called "TwoFacedBook."  I do not have a face book account, but I "resemble" this post in many ways.  Leave it to Darrell to make truth as plain as the nose on your face, or egg if that is the case as well.  

Being convicted till He comes..................Lynn

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall?

How do you think you are doing in the love department?  When I begin to complain about those around me, whether family, friends, or just about anyone, I know that I must go one step deeper and look into my own heart to find the answers to my dilemmas about love.  Maybe I don't like the way someone is treating me; I feel marginalized, less than a person, or my ideas discounted.  I have learned, ever so painfully, it is a call to look into my own heart and see how I am treating others, or how not to treat others.  If I look below the hurt and examine myself, I usually find that I have often treated people the same way.  Self-centeredness rears its ugly head not just in those around me, but is rooted in my own heart.  It also shows itself at times when I am being "good."  What are my true motives for being "nice?"  Is it truly for the glory of God, or is it grounded in the fact that I want to be loved, respected, or seen as "spiritual?"  

Christ's love for us is radically different from my selfish, sinful ways.  It is grounded in true sacrifice.  Love, true love, is and should be also.  This is a far cry from the way that I love most of the time.  How much do I really sacrifice in loving my husband or my children?  Oh yea, I give up my nap in the afternoon to go to Karen's soccer games.  I do the laundry for my husband so that he can be about your business.  I serve my family, don't I?  Christ gave up His life, He bled and died for me.  That is true sacrifice.  Those things that I do for those around me, does it involve giving up of self?  Now I am not saying being a door mat, not having boundaries, or giving up yourself so that only a shell remains.  Been there done that too.  I learned through being a "shell" that it was born out of selfish motives also.  Our only motive should be for Christ and His Glory.  Sometimes that means taking stands, always being who Christ made you to be, being a lover in one instance and a fighter in another.  It must be grounded in Christ's glory, and lived out through His Spirit.

Reading in Real Christianity by William Willberforce this morning, he makes some wonderful observations of human nature.  On page 118ff:

"So before truth and reason, natural benevolences are bad magistrates, parents and friends.  For they are defective in those very qualities that these relationships in life require.  Thus defective, they are not free from selfishness.  For if we trace such deficiencies to their true source, we will find it chiefly arises from an unwillingness to submit to a painful effort.  (Genuine good, however will command sacrifice!)  Or the disposition arises from the fear of losing the regard in which others hold them and the good opinion they want to receive."

"Such weak benevolence, not rooted in the true religion, is of a sickly and short-lived nature.  It lacks that hardy and vigorous temperament one needs to put up with injury or that one need even to survive the rude shocks of which this world forever exposes one.  It is only Christian love that is of the character that 'suffereth long and is kind,' that is 'not easily provoked,' and that 'beareth all things and endureth all things' (I Corinthians 13).  

"Review the whole of life from the spirit of youth with its flush of confidence and youthful, ardent hopes to the frustrated pursuits and disappointed hopes of advancing life.  A little personal experience of the selfishness of mankind has dampened out the generous warmth and kind affections we first felt.  The prompt awareness and unsuspecting simplicity of our earlier years have been reproved."

"As it is with natural benevolence, so it is with so called useful lives.  Again their intrinsic worth is apt to be greatly overrated.  They result from a natural busyness and activity that loves to get on and move.  It loves, too, to receive credit for it."

"If, however, you are conscious that you are naturally rough and austere; or that disappointments have soured you or prosperity puffed you up; or from whatever cause you have bad temper, roughness of manners, or harshness of language-do not despair.  Remember, Scripture promises the divine agency to 'take away the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh' (Ezekiel 11:19).  Pray then, earnestly and perseveringly that the blessed aid of divine grace may operate effectively in your behalf."

We will only effect change in those around us by first changing ourselves.  Prayer + Humility is the answer to all that grieves us.  

Learning the hard way till He comes..............................Lynn

Who Are You?

Who are You? 

I listened to Max Mclean reading Revelation on my walk yesterday. It is a  very difficult book to understand and even harder to grasp.  Who are You?  Who is this Lord of Glory?  I know You, but Revelation reads like a Sci-fi novel. I can only wonder at who You are, really.  I have no doubts, no fears that You are not, but in my attempts to know You even better, I seem to know You less, in that You are so multifaceted, my mind cannot even come close.  

 

You are throned above, the true King of All. You are the only rightful ruler. 

"here before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne." (Revelation 4)

You alone have made us. We are your creatures. Why is it that justice seems so far off?

" You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you."  (Psalm 5:4)  "But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you, with you the wicked cannot dwell." (Psalm 5:10,11)

 When will it be time to Judge? I can only say that because I fear no judgment, because of what Christ did for me, I never have to fear. Which brings me to my previous question, who are You? Who are You that You would send Your Son to die in my stead? You are a mystery to me. You know all about me and yet You love me. You give me no choice, but to give You all the glory, honor and praise.
Why are You veiled in mystery? Is it that my mind cannot fathom who You are? You don’t even try to reveal all.  Or is there a very part of You that is mystery?  Do You want and long to be pursued by Your creatures?  Is it that You want to be a mystery, just as a woman wants her man to be intrigued by her and try to figure her out?  

I chase You, I run to You, I keep on even when You are silent.  When the clouds of Heaven have blocked my sight.  I know You are there.  I know that You love me, You pursue me into greater trust, deeper faith, and true worship that is grounded in knowing and glorifying You, because You alone are worthy. 

I bow down, I awe, I reverently fall before Your throne.   Great mystery, that has revealed what my mind can fathom, because You want to be known.  How can I ever love You enough.  

"and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things."  Ephesians 3:8-10 

"the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints."  Colossians 1:25-27 

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ."  Colossians 2:1-3 

"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory."  1 Timothy 3

"But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished."  Revelation 10:6-8 

Who is this King of Glory that persues me with his love
And haunts me with each hearing of His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder of forgiveness that I need
Who is this King of Glory who offers it to me


His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, the King of my heart
The King of glory

Who is this King of Glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the graceous King of kings
the Lord of Earth and Heaven, the Creator of all things
Who is this King of Glory, He's everything to me

Third Day

Even So, Come Quickly, Lord Jesus.......................Lynn

Anybody Want to Go?

Raleigh Tea Party, NC Tea Party, March 21, 2009, New American Tea Party, Raleigh NC, NC State Capitol, Downtown Raleigh, Government bailouts, North Carolinians for the Preservation of the Constitution

To protest the Obama Administrations Wild Economic and Tax Policies groups of average Americans have been getting together to show their common outrage.  This Saturday you can show yours on the steps of the State Capitol Building in Raleigh.  Cannot wait to at least make my presence known!  

Article from Fox News:

Taxpayers Strike Back With 'Tea Parties'

Monday, March 16, 2009 

By Bret Baier

Police in Cincinnati say at least 4,000 people showed up Sunday for a grassroots protest of wasteful government spending in general, and President Obama's stimulus package and budget in particular.

It was one of many tea party protests around the country — inspired by the Revolutionary War era Boston Tea Party protesting British taxation. Protesters had signs reading "Give us liberty, not debt" and "Where's my bailout?"

One report states there are more than 150 tea parties scheduled across the nation in the upcoming months. The events so far have been largely ignored by the mainstream media, but several blogs are tracking them.

Noel Sheppard, associate editor for the conservative NewsBusters.org writes on the coverage so far: "Compare that to how these networks practically fell all over themselves to report war protests after the public's opinion changed concerning Iraq in late 2003."

To Follow up, here are some of Ronaldo Maximus Reagan's great sayings, oh how I miss him.  These were sent to me via email from my dear friend Cheryl.  

'Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose.'

'The most terrifying words in the English language are:
I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'

'The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant;
it's just that they know so much that isn't so.'

'Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because
the U.S. was too strong.'

'I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.'

'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.'

'Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.'

'The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is
a government program.'

'It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession.
I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.'

'Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.'

'Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed, there are many rewards; if you disgrace yourself, you can always write a book.'

'No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.'

'If we ever forget that we're one nation under God,
then we will be a nation gone under.'

Woo-Hoo

For those of you that know me well this will not come to a surprise at all.  I am thrilled at where we are staying tonight.  We are spending the night at a Hampton Inn in Cape Girardeau, MO, Woo-Hoo.  This is the birth place of one of my heros, Rush Limbaugh.  I wish we had time to explore, but we can't.  Mo, Bekah, and Ken and I are on our way to Bolivar, TN to see our very dear friends.  I cannot wait to see them and their precious children.  Ready or not here we come!  

Tough Loss

The Covenant Lady Scots fought hard, but in the end they just couldn't pull it off against the ladies of Northwestern U.  It was a very tough loss.  The girls were all very sad afterwards, more because it was the last game they would all play together this season.  They have all been gotten very close.  Liz Martin and Natalie Gulayas are the two seniors on the squad, and will be greatly missed.  It was an emotional night.  Their Northwestern opponents were gracious throughout, and Covenant will get strong to fight another day.  

We leave today and begin the long trek out of the frozen tundra to the sunny South!  

Thanks for all your prayers.  God is Good.  

PS  The house we really wanted in Charlotte has come through!!  

more of the games

Today is the big day.  We went to the Convention Center where the games are being held, and watched the Parade of the teams, and one game.  The teams sponsors also fed us all dinner, sat with us, gave gifts to the girls, and joined them in the parade.  The whole community of Sioux City seems to really get into the 32 teams that come for this National Tournament.  Each team has a sponsor or two, they are assigned an elementary school to cheer them on.  The entire elementary school comes to the game!  It is amazing.  

God is good.  Pray for the girls.  They really want this game.  Liz Martin, the Lady Scots top scorer, is the top scorer at these games!  She was third in the nation, and the other 2 girls did not make the tournament.  Big pressure.  These are great girls that love the Lord, and love each other.  I got so many hugs yesterday.  Thanks a head of time for your prayers.  

Pray for Karen.  She had a terrible day at school yesterday.  It is terrible to be so far away when your children are hurting.  I love you Karen.  

Article in the Southern Pines Pilot about Margaret:

Locals to Participate In March Madness

BY CHARLIE BERGMANN: SPECIAL TO THE PILOT

Covenant College's Margaret Cross and Cornell's Adam Wire will soon be up to their elbows in March Madness.  Cross was one of this area's most deadly three-point shooters in recent years before graduating from The O'Neal School last May. She earned all-conference honors in both basketball and soccer four times as a Falcon.

The 5-foot-6 guard has recently been one of three freshmen starters for the Mt. Lookout, Ga. college. Although the Scots finished fifth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference during the regular season, they won three games in three days to capture the conference tournament.

That gave them a berth in the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa. They take an eight-game winning streak and 20-12 record into next Thursday's first round game against defending national champion, Northwestern College of Iowa. 

Cross contributed 10 points in the Scots' first round conference tournament victory over Union College.
In the championship game win over Tennessee Wesleyan, Covenant had a two-point lead with six minutes left in the game when Cross drained a three from the corner. That basket ignited a spurt that stretched the final margin to 78-66.

Sioux City, Iowa

I am sitting here looking out at blowing winds and snow.  Just north of where we are in Sioux City, IA they are having a full blown blizzard.  Here we have just gotten wild winds and some snow.  You can't really tell how much snow because the wind blows it away constantly.  It is a very different snow than I am used to in the south.  When we arrived at the hotel, at about 5 pm, it was 19 degrees.  Right now it is 13 degrees and feels like it is 3 degrees.  That is why I am sitting in the hotel room and Ken and Bekah are shopping at the mall.  I think Ken just wanted to walk around after 21 hours in the car!  

Margaret plays their in first game Thursday.  They will play the #6 team in the nation, tough.  They can do it, they will have to work hard.  To be here is a big deal, and is a wonderful opportunity.  We are so thankful to the Lord for making it possible for us to come and watch the girls play.  Some Moms bake cookies when their children go to a big game or go on a trip, some Moms are the PTA president, or the team Mom.  Not me.  I wrote a devotional for them.  

We will have much fun here, grateful to the Father for families, and our family in particular.  

Mo and her Basketball Buddies

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

I am trying to learn how to use Adobe Photoshop.  All I can say is it is not easy.  I have almost torn my hair out a couple of times this session.  I will practice a bit tomorrow as well.  I am still waiting.  I seem to be waiting on quite a bit lately.  Mostly, I sure would like my sanctification to hurry up......

Fear, Freedom, and Future

Habakkuk 1:1-5

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help

and you will not hear?

Or cry to you "Violence!"

And you will not save? 

3 Why do you make me see iniquity,

and why do you idly look at wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

strife and contention arise. 

4 So the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

so justice goes forth perverted. 

5 "Look among the nations, and see;

wonder and be astounded.

For I am doing a work in your days

that you would not believe if told. 

Since the beginning of the founding of our nation, God has clearly been at work in this great land. From the Pilgrims to the Constitution, to the great godly men and women that have made this country a true City Shinning on a Hill. God has used this free society and raised up a remnant to take the Gospel forth all over the world. His great love has used America and Americans to carry His good news around the globe. We know this to be true, but we do not know that the next phase has to be the same freedom that we have enjoyed in the past. The purposes for our freedom have been from His sovereign hand. His ways are not our ways. Habakkuk in this passage honestly thought that He knew the will of God. He, being a righteous man, looked around at the violence, the apathy of his people, the perverted justice, and the lack of freedom for God’s people. There is nothing new under the sun.
Being followers of Jesus and knowing right from wrong, sometimes we can look around at the exact same happenings in our country and think that God has forgotten us, or has somehow gotten off of His throne and justice has been thrown out the window. We are uncomfortable, so we tell ourselves that we deserve the freedom that has preceded us, God raised up this country for His great and marvelous purposes, and He will restore, otherwise, my freedom will slowly be eroded; my lifestyle will not be what it has been and what I have gotten accustomed to. We are arrogant peoples, and we live among arrogant people. Habakkuk thought he knew the will of God, but….God tells him in verse five, look around Habakkuk, I am working and I am working out all things for the good of my remnant people and those that have yet to come to me.  A friend reminded me yesterday that God is concerned, intent, devoted, committed to, and more interested in His Glory than I am.  And His Glory is what we will see.