Perspectives on Methodism

An excerpt from ethics on Methodism:

A Methodist is free from revengeful passions, envy, malice, and wrath. Wesley sees a Methodist as one who avoids these negative attitudes and behavior. The other side of a Methodist is to do the will of God, that is, to present one’s body as a living sacrifice. In fact, everything that a Methodist does seeks to embody the will of the Master. Holy conduct is at the very heart of ethics, but in reality it exceeds morality by seeking to glorify God. The language of virtue has been employed throughout this module, but there is a sense in which his theology of conduct is less about virtue than the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Walking worthy of the vocation to which we have been called is a spiritual journey manifest in holy conduct.

I like the connection between living a certain way by precluding things from your life, and also seeking to do the will of God at the same time. It seems like following one of these trails would lead to the other, but not quite. If you do the will of God, you will be free from potential negative attitudes and behavior. Having positive attitudes and behavior does not necessarily mean you are doing the will of God. I think the distinction needs to be first and foremost to do the will of God. When one seeks to do the will of God, he is able to focus on positive and healthy ways of living, and he is more focused to follow in the direction God wants him to take.

Don't Passover the Passover

Tonight at youth group, we took a little bit of time to look at the Passover festival (the first day of Passover is next Tuesday). For your information, it is the time when God literally "Passed Over" the houses of the Israelites, sparing the lives of their first born sons. Those who did not have the door painted in the blood of a lamb/goat lost their first born son. It is amazing how such a catastrophic event had to take place before Israel was granted its freedom from Egyptian bondage. In Exodus 12, the Israelites leave Egypt, the men alone totaling 600,000. If this is a population captive to a higher power in another nation, how many of Egypt's citizens died as a result of the Passover events?

I think the thing that amazes me is the Power of God to free his people from captivity. He freed the Israelites from the physical captivity of slavery to the Egyptians, and he frees me from the spiritual captivity of my sin. God is so good indeed!

Renewal into the image of God

Here is a quote from one of the lessons that really spoke to me:

"One way to think of the relationship between justification and Christian perfection is to talk about the three dimensions of salvation: pardon (salvation begun), holiness (salvation continued) and heaven (salvation finished).

Another way of putting this is deliverance immediately from the penalty of sin, progressively from the plague of sin, and eschatologically from the very presence of sin (Randy Maddox, Responsible Grace). "

I like this focus of justification because it goes beyond the common creed of a hell insurance policy. Christian perfection in a sense entails that you will go beyond exemption from the consequences of sin; it entails that you consistently grow and move away from sin in your personal life.

I have to admit I have a hard time with the "once saved, always saved" argument. I use this example a lot in my small group discussion times... I am a rodeo clown. I've never been in a rodeo. I don't own any clown costumes. I don't have a barrel or suspenders, or a funny little car or a miniature cannon. Matter of fact, I don't even go to the rodeo at all. Am I a rodeo clown because I say I am, or do the thoughts and actions of my life reflect my rodeo clowness? Christian perfection entails living out life by progressively moving away from sin, being set apart. It's not a binder just in case you die. It completely changes the way you live your life.

Modern Ethics... Postmodern?

I just finished the session on Modern Ethics, which leads into the water of postmodernism.

I honestly don't know exactly where I stand in regards to the modern vs. postmodern discussion. The main tenet I have at issue with postmodernity are described very well by Gerard Reed, known as epistemological skepticism and ethical relativism:

"We cannot know "truth" regarding objective reality, the Postmodernists say, so we "construct" it in either individual or social ways; we cannot know what's universally right and wrong, so we determine, on a subjective level, how we or one group choose to behave."

I have a really hard time with these concepts, mostly because of the mass amount of relativity that it involves. It really begs the question, if there is no knowledge or morality beyond an individual or groups subjectivity, then what is the point of trying to live a life on arbitrary standards, or laws? What is the point and purpose of believing or following some way of life, when it is all a matter of relativity? What does this relativity say about morality? For me, it basically says I can do whatever I want as long as I don't infringe on the individual subjectivity of another persons life. As Jack Johnson puts it: "It's all relative, even when you don't understand." For an individual's life to be guided by his or her own volition, his or her own subjective reasoning, with nothing else to base it off of seems like a scary proposition to me. I am interested to further my knowledge on these ideas.

Rockin' the Medieval Ethics

Out of the foundations that our modern ethical systems are based on, I find the most conceptual currency with the work of the Medieval ethicist, specifically Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas is one of the forefathers of ethical theories; his main argument flows from a concept of a "natural law" that exists that all humanity is supposed to follow.

I can remember learning about Aquinas in my introduction to philosophy course in my first year of college... six years ago. (A lot of people go to college for six years.... yeah, they're called Doctors). My professor was very critical of Aquinas, not because of the virtues and consequences of his etichal system, but that it was a religious-based ethical system. Philosophers, for the most part, don't believe in God. I have been told that most who go into the philosophy of religion course at Boise State University come out not believing anything at all. I was reintroduced to Aquinas and his concepts in my environmental ethics course last summer. I was pleased to find that my new professor didn't care if I believed in God, he was more concerned about an ethical theory that takes account for the environment. I argued that the Natural Law of Aquinas did in fact take into account the environment.

I think the thing that encourages me the most is that in our modern day, even with its criticisms, Aquinas is still discussed in the halls of public universities for his contributions to modern ethics. For that alone, I am pleased.

Jesus Freaks

Over the last several months, I have added to my devotional time the Jesus Freaks book by DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs. In my time reading this book, it has really challenged me to look beyond the freedoms of religion that I take for granted. People didn't just die for their beliefs; people were ruthlessly tortured before they died for their beliefs. I sit in the lap of luxury, with a home above my head, not ever having to worry about someone coming in and taking my life for what I believe in. I am so thankful for the freedoms I have living in this country, and I encourage any reader of this blog (all 3 and a half of you) to take some time out of your day and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Crashing Computers and Church Election Dinners

I had intended to post another entry in last night, knowing it had been some time since I had last posted. My blog is border line irregular, so I need to step my game up and bring some regularity, like fiber one bars and the yogurt that makes you go to the bathroom.

Needless to say, my computer is acting up, and I was not able to post last night.

This blog is intended to aid and support my studies in ministry; I have found that it is also a place for me to talk about those who support me in my studies of ministry.

Today was the annual church election dinner. The youth have put the meal on for about the last five years, and the proceeds for the dinner go to the youth department. The meal insures that more people stay for the meeting; you can't have elections and voting on an empty stomach.

We used to have a local restaurant help us cater the meal; last year we made frozen lasagna... and it didn't get done in time. Let me just say we had a microwave scramble to get all the food ready in time.

This year, I had a new plan for cooking frozen lasagnas... but then my wife volunteered to cook real lasagnas... real lasagnas... for 120 people... 13 total. And Caesar salad... for 120 people.
My wife and her friend Angela spent several hours yesterday preparing the lasagnas, just the two of them. Then, she coordinated the youth this morning to prepare the salad and the entire meal set up. I facilitated table set up and tried my best to support her, but in all truth she ran the show.

The meal was absolutely perfect. I could not have asked for a better meal, and I believe it was the most efficient, best put together church meal I have ever been a part of. I owe it all to my wife, who on her own volition took on a task that I myself would not be man enough to do. She is such a strong supporter of me, and the ministry that I am doing. I truly feel like she is my partner in serving the Lord, and I am indebted to her in more ways than I can ever describe or know.

So Andrea, I want to say clearly and explicitly, thank you for you help. I could not do this work or live this life without you.

Wealth and Money in the World

I have a bit of rant dialogue for this particular post. It is in regards to football, particularly the National Football League. I have to say that I am a major football fan. But sometimes I hear stories that make me scratch my head a little bit, and wonder why I like the sport so much. For example, the Oakland Raiders, who haven't been relevant in several years, just released a receiver by the name of Javon Walker. According to Profootballtalk.com, He was signed to play in the 2008 season for six year contract worth $55 million. Between 2008 and 2009, Javon caught a whopping 15 passes, and was subsequently cut. Based on that information, and the salary he has received for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Javon made $933,000 for each catch he made. It makes me wonder about priorities in our system.

In line with what is ethical, I think back to the way the early church viewed their income and wealth:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

What would our society be like if we took the example of the early church, and contributed not for our own benefits and desires, but as each one of us had needs? It is a simple design that I think has some benefits that could be reemphasized by church bodies.

Patristic Ethics

I am very interested in the Ethical formulations of early Church leaders during the Patristic period of Church history. I think the thing that I find most interesting about them is the fact that they set the foundations for what the church would be built on during a time of great persecution. Many of these men were killed for what they believed, yet the worked with their lives on the line to formulate and characterize what it meant to live as a Christian in their time and how to live an upstanding and moral life. We are indebted to the efforts of these early church leaders.

Restoration on a long day

What a day today... I spent about 8 hours standing in a building full of rugged outdoorsmen... who didn't want to buy anything from me. Not a thing. Literally, all we sold was a $10 cleaning kit for a filter. Talk about a drainer to my ego and to my energy! Thankfully, I can come back to the word of God, found in the book of Isaiah (40:28-31):

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

It is good to know that I can be restored not by own power, but the power of God. Even in my great amount of youth, it is easy to get dragged down and worn out. It is the everlasting God who is the one that restores my strength. I have to rely on him.

An awesome night in youth ministry

I had the wonderful opportunity to lead youth ministry last night. Instead of speaking the whole time, I asked each kid in the youth group to find their favorite scripture passage. Then I went around the circle, and each kid read their passage and told me why it was their favorite passage. It was incredibly eye opening to see the wonderful hearts and minds of these young people. God has such great things in store for these young people, as long they are willing to let the power of God move in their lives. I am so excited about the opportunity I have to work with them.