Clueless Faith in the Information Age

There's no doubt that Romans 8 is one of the most confident, thrilling chapters in the Bible. It begins with the promise that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. It climbs to the discovery that God works in all things to bring good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. And then it climaxes with the joyful realization that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God.

Working through all these ideas during my sermon preparation for Sunday, I've been captivated by one chord Paul strikes again and again in this lyrical confession of hope. The apostle assures us that although the present day is full of difficulties, this pain cannot touch the thrill we will experience when we one day realize the heavenly glory of God. Then he asserts (v22) "For we know that all creation has been groaning as in childbirth up to the present time." And that's just for starters:

• (v28) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose."
• (v38) "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future... or anything else is all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

When you look carefully at Paul's words, you begin to understand the source of his incredible courage and spiritual vitality. That is, he never seemed to struggle with that crisis of belief that people so often reference today. In fact, the things Paul believed were so clearly evidenced in the Word and confirmed in his experience, that they ultimately hardened into convictions. This amazing evangelist and theologian climbed the ladder of faith by reaching for rung after rung of truths he absolutely knew were certain and reliable.

Today's church conversations are often pitted with phrases like "Who can really know" or "We can't be sure." On better days, we tend to say "I hope..." or "I believe..." But how rarely we hear today's church crowds speaking of biblical truths and spiritual applications by saying, "I know this is true," or "I am absolutely convinced this is the case." God's Word has been delivered to us so that we can know things about God, but in our postmodern age, we are more inclined to wonder, or to live in uncertainty.

I think the issue here is that developing deep convictions requires a lot of thought. I must think about a biblical statement and compare it to similar statements in the Bible. I need to hold it up next to life and history and see how it applies. Then I have to ask the "so what" question: "So what if this is true? How would I need to respond?" Only then can I begin to speak about things I know. Paul must have spent a lot of sleepless nights in dungeons processing the statements of Scripture and weaving them into his thought life.

Tragically, today's pop culture discourages thinking. We are more eager to watch television and experience something. When we are alone at home or in the car, we play music to crowd out our own thoughts and ideas. We are most commonly asked to express how we feel, rather than what we are thinking. Even many of the most popular choruses that resound in worship today are centered on experiences and feelings about God rather than doctrines and convictions.

I know full well that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of Christ. But I am also convinced that many yearning people never find that divine embrace because they are too distracted to think about the things God wants us to know for sure. Just a thought.

The Currency of Heaven

You'd be surprised how many people email me with theological questions and personal problems. Some are signed, and others come anonymously through an online forum that refers questions to me. A couple of weeks ago, I received a really thoughtful inquiry. The writer raised an excellent question about the validity of faith, but he did it very respectfully. Here's the anonymous question:

"Hi. I apologize in advance as you may find this offensive. I don't wish to offend you but I have a serious issue with the way I think the Christian message has been portrayed and I was hoping that you could answer my concern.

"My issue is with the concept of heaven. It would be best illustrated with an example, so imagine three people. My apologies for such an extreme couple of examples but I think it illustrates the point better to have such extremes: Mr A is a very evil man. A serial killer or similar who never accepts God and as such on death is sent to hell. Mr B is also such an evil person. On his death bed he accepts God, and by my understanding his asking for forgiveness and acceptance of God means that he could go to heaven. Mr C is a good person. He does work for charity, helps others and acts in a kind, considerate manner. However he does not believe in God. Since quote "the only way to heaven is through me (i.e. Jesus)", he would also be condemned to hell.

"My issue is that a supposedly kind and loving God would treat Mr C the same way as Mr A, simply for not believing in him. This seems to me as vanity on God's part (please forgive me for saying so, but this is what I have the issue with), as it seems that God would ignore everything except whether He was worshipped. Please could you explain how my perception of God differs from the loving and caring God which I would like to know? Thanks."

Many of us have friends and co-workers who have expressed similar concerns over the years. With that in mind, I thought you might enjoy my response:

Dear Friend,

You've raised a good question. I'm happy to try and help you with some perspective here. Your problem is that you are comparing degrees of failure. That is, you are comparing serial killers with moral atheists. In terms of morality, there is no doubt that a charitable atheist is preferable to a serial killer. But morality is not the currency of Heaven.

Imagine three men who leap from a burning ship that is sinking 7 miles from the shoreline. The first man, an Olympic Swimmer, makes it 5 miles before drowning in exhaustion. The second man, an athletic type, covers 2 miles before he drowns. The third man, obese and out of shape, goes down 1/4 mile from the boat. Who swam farther is really not the relevant question. All of them were inadequate for the task and ultimately failed.

Scripture explains that the "sin" problem afflicting all human beings is not that we are immoral. It is that we have rejected the Creator God and are completely estranged from him. Hence, the solution is not morality but reconciliation. How can we be at peace with Him again?

God made the standard for reconcilation as simple as possible: faith in His Son, the Christ. If he'd set a financial standard, many would be unable to afford it. If the standard had been bloodline or accomplishments, many would find the bar much too high. But when God decreed that childlike faith, even the size of a mustard seed, will bring us peace with Him through Christ, he set a standard that any human being can fulfill. And in response to simple faith, God grants us all the righteousness we will ever need to live in his presence.

For the biblical promises that support these comments, you can read Romans 4-5. This is the basis for our confidence that God is not only just, but loving and merciful. I hope this helps you along in your journey to faith.

The Slow Road to Fast Relief

Newcomers to the area around the DC Beltway tell me that life seems much more hectic here. The only way to catch a break from the constant traffic jam is leave earlier and drive faster. The most obvious way to reduce a ten hour workday is to use a Blackberry or Smartphone during your commute and after you arrive at home. And there are so many other things people want to cram into their lives- shopping, working out at the gym, taking the family out for a fun evening- that nearly everyone seems to be constantly dashing from one commitment to another. And I suspect the same thing is true of many other cities and metro areas,

Last week after I returned from Zimbabwe with a heavy heart, Jonnel and I realized we needed to decelerate. We stopped by a restaurant we'd been wanting to visit, and settled in for a leisurely meal. The place was not crowded that evening, so the wait staff were especially accomodating. We looked at photos from Africa and I shared details from the last five years that I have never mentioned before. She got to ask questions she'd never asked before about friends whose names she's heard for years.

We spent nearly three hours there that evening. We enjoyed talking about our children, our family, our plans, and how great the food tasted. By the time we finished dessert, it's true that our waistlines were slightly larger. But that overlapping, shared area of our two lives was larger as well. And my heavy heart was much lighter.

The experience of slowing down was so refreshing that we tried it again last night. The evening was cold and rainy, and the television was wall-to-wall with election news. Living so close to DC, we live and breathe politics 24-7. For a change of pace, we lighted some candles, played some quiet jazz and experimented with a couple of new recipes. We ate slowly and talked about details of our day. Then we picked up our Bibles, put a phone call from my son on "speaker," and talked about the mysteries and truths of Romans 7. It's a powerful yet controversial passage, and we all came to agree on God's message to us. And I'll bet all of us remember that practical conversation for the rest of our lives. An unforgettable conversation is a rare treasure.

Industrial reports indicate that Americans are extremely productive. But research shows we are anxious, disconnected, and discontented. By contrast, in stricken Zimbabwe with no food and few consumer goods, my friends move more slowly but with a great deal of laughter and hope. In their vast need, they have discovered a luxury many "rich Americans" can no longer afford: the joy of the moment.

The heavenly father instructs us: "Be still and know that I am God." I confess that I need to do that more often.