Debating Science is a Waste of Time - Do This Instead

Last month in Ukraine, Orthodox priests stood between soldiers armed with guns and protesters holding Molotov cocktails, boldly praying - and begging - for peace. They took a stand in freezing weather with weapons pointed at them and publicly asked God for help, because they believe it is that important to find peaceful resolution. (They're risking their lives even though the government has threatened to ban these kinds of prayers.) Read about it here - the pictures are amazing.

Meanwhile, Christians in the United States were preparing to take center stage in a conflict of their own. Before a world-wide audience, the church was prepared to wrestle with a truly important issue:

"Exactly how old is the earth?"

The debate had the impact I expected. When faced with opposition to our convictions, it's human nature to dig our heels in and stubbornly stick to our agenda. No one changes their minds after this sort of verbal sparring - they only find more reasons to fight. Debates always make people less open to new ideas, and debating religion does not help the skeptic to understand our beliefs.

Meanwhile, there are people in your town who don't have food. There are clothes in your closet that you never wear and families a few blocks away who could use them. Times are rough on a lot of folks, and finding hope is never easy when bills can't be paid. Not to mention, the trials of everyday life make it hard to believe in a loving God.

The church is equipped to help with these problems. We can feed and clothe our neighbors while we remind them of God's grace. We can be a sympathetic ear for the person who has been laid off or a family for the lonely child who has no parents. Our music and preaching can help someone remember why they believed in God, in the first place. We can bring hope.

Or, we can argue about the age of the planet.

I'm not just talking about the well-known debates, because this is a problem that happens in small ways, too. Social media is drowning in religion vs. science arguments that never accomplish anything. I realize that some people use science to criticize the faith, but don't respond to those attacks with angry words. Turn the other cheek, ignore the haters, and don't respond with insults. Every ounce of energy and resources you spend squabbling over scientific scruples should be redirected toward helping your community.

Get out there and show people that Christianity isn't about pointless debates, but a love that comes from God and the hope of what is to come.

Christian Music is Still Important

We poke fun at the Christian music industry around here, sometimes. Rightly so - it's terrible. The music we call "Christian" is made up of boring songs that try to make people cry before the end of the bridge, but then everything's OK at the end. And the music is awful; tuning into Christian radio stations always makes me wonder if the songs are intended to be sitcom theme songs from the 80s.

Of course, like we said before, this is probably just an outcropping of the problems we see all over the music industry. (Which is why I only listen to the local jazz station when I'm in my car.) But the very idea of "Christian music" has become unpopular in Christian circles. This is partly because of the terrible music that it spawns, but also because it's an approach to songwriting that has no place outside of the church. Why bother singing about God if the only people who will hear you already believe?

But I think Christian music is still important. Where would I be without the wonderful songs of Rich Mullins, reminding me that the natural beauty of the world reflects God's love? Who else would put the ancient text of the Apostle's Creed into a Celtic-inspired song featuring a mountain dulcimer? (I'm talking about the songs "The Color Green," and "Creed." Look them up if you don't know them. Please.)

People like Bebo Norman and Andrew Peterson have written songs that I never fail to remember throughout my life, even though they would have little meaning to anyone outside of the church. The meditative sounds of Fernando Ortega always help me to calm down and remember what is important when I'm upset.

But the entire music industry is not what it used to be, and when it began to tumble the Christian labels were the first casualties. The best musicians in the Christian music industry stopped receiving contracts (because they were not the most profitable) and only the most generic groups stuck around. Of course, the same thing happened in the mainstream music industry, and you'll notice that major labels no longer sign groups like Collective Soul or The Counting Crows. Dance party pop music always sells the best, so that's what they make room for.

It's common to criticize Christian artists for "living in a bubble" and not having relevance to anyone who doesn't go to Sunday School, but there is always a place for ministering to other Believers. If we don't make room for someone like Rich Mullins then we will miss out on the encouragement and teaching that good Christian music can bring us.

The Power of God's Names

This past summer I had the chance to be a part of a live studio audience for the filming of a 6-week biblestudy. It was Tony Evans. So it was awesome.

I don't know how well-known Dr. Evans is outside the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but he is hands down one of the greatest preachers of the turn of the century. It's a long century with a long list of incredible preachers, and we're just barely out of it, but I'd even be willing to say that Tony Evans is one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century.

Anyway... like I said, I had the privilege of being a part of his most recent series, The Power of God's Names, which has just been released, and I cannot recommend it enough. In the trailer below, you'll get a glimpse of Evans's passion and energy; what is trickier to capture in a 59-second promo is the way Dr. Evans digs into the layers of the Bible, helps unpack it with fresh, down-to-earth metaphors, and you see things you hadn't seen before.

Now, it might just be wishful thinking on my part, but I thought just maybe, there might be a few small group leaders out there among our regular readers. Maybe even a few ministers, pastors, Bible teachers... You can get the DVD Leader Kit cheaper here than on Amazon.

For those of you, like me, who don't lead any such groups, and therefore don't have church cash to spend on expensive leadership kits, the book is also available.

Check it out. If you like it, recommend it to your small group leader. You won't regret it. (Until your small group leader asks you for more recommendations because this one was so great... better start doing your homework now...)

Oh! And if you see me in the audience, give me a shout out!!

A Call For Justice?

To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

Love vs. Justice?

The above is a Jesus quote.  It's in Luke.  Even though I've heard these words numerous times, I read through this the other day thinking, "This isn't how I remember this quote."  It sounds Jesus-y, so I guess it didn't just now jump into my Bible.  

While taking time to ponder the passage I, of course, checked Facebook. I viewed many of my friends, many of them Christians, calling for action. Someone is giving them a hard time.  Someone slapped them in the face with their new policies, thoughts or opinions. They are offended.  Someone needs to do something!

There's a time and a place for justice.  There's a time and place to love our enemies.  Which is now?

For the full passage/context go here: Luke 6

Verses quoted are Luke 26-38. Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.