Once upon a time there was a super-power that exercised its military might over most of the civilized world. It provided detailed infrastructure, maintained the peace, and provided substantial freedoms for its citizens. Even though it did not abide by a strict, bible-based morality, it had its own sense of fairness and justice, and was willing to use imprisonment and torture to keep the peace and make its point.
One day a man came along inviting people to change their allegiance from this empire based on force to his new empire based on love.
The powers-that-be laughed it off until the movement began to gain steam and affected the position and power of those in influential positions (especially the conservative and liberal religious types who sought either an alliance or to discredit him). Extremist groups tried to link themselves with this new “king”, but he wouldn’t allow it. Isolationists looked to see if he was one of them, but he was far too public for them.
When confronted with the question of paying taxes to the current empire, rather than arguing against taxation, this “king” demonstrated his position by happily paying his share. His later supporters would further clarify this position, stating that the governmental authorities should be obeyed, taxes and “tribute” should be paid, and that this was all in keeping with this new “kingdom of love” somehow.
His later supporters also made it clear that they were first and foremost citizens of this “kingdom of love” and that their role in the empire was to be ambassadors sent with messages from their king for peace and harmony. They were also to encourage citizens of the empire to switch allegiances because of the better way of life found in the new kingdom.
The empire rejected the idea of allegiance to anything other than itself; that was tantamount to treason, and was punishable by harassment, imprisonment, torture, and even death. Public verbal affirmations were required (similar to “Heil Hitler” in recent times).
Supporters of the kingdom, however, encouraged its citizens to only verbally affirm their king’s right to allegiance. They were grateful for certain freedoms and peace within the empire, but they realized where those freedoms ultimately came from (and it wasn’t from the empire).
The citizens of the kingdom realized they were dependent upon their king and interdependent upon each other. Independence was not a thing to be celebrated, nor was rebellion against the empire. Love, mutual submission and respect, mercy, truth, and goodness were their hallmarks, and they stuck with this even when the empire finally grew tired of their growing numbers and began slandering, imprisoning, and killing them. But they were willing to endure these trials because they knew that one day their king’s wishes would be done in every empire and kingdom, and that his better sense of justice would ultimately overcome.
Citizens of the kingdom of love: UNITE.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Cafes & Festivals & Theaters, oh my!
After 10 years, BYB is shifting our focus. It's actually been a long time coming, but sometimes you don't notice things like that until they are upon you or past.
We've been functioning primarily inside what is sometimes called the "Christian Ghetto" - and we'd gotten pretty good at it for a local/regional group. But it's gotten to the point where it felt like we were "preaching to the choir" and in some ways stagnating as artists, musicians, etc. We plan to stop playing churches and focus on making music appropriate for cafes, festivals, theaters, etc.
While we still think there is some value to making music for the purpose of helping people worship God, there is also a glut of great music out there (and some not so great). Inspiration is a funny thing, so I try to never say never, but at this point we're moving on with no plans to return.
The concept that has been capturing our hearts and minds over the last two years, though, has been the over-arching story of the scripture: the devastating impact of man's attempt to be God and the restoring, healing impact of God becoming man. It's the contrast of two kings and two kingdoms - the empire of earth vs. the kingdom of heaven. Fear of death vs. the hope of resurrection. Darkness vs. light.
The goals and principles of these two kingdoms are polar opposites, and they have played out through all of human history. We're intrigued by the tension of the two, by the results of following either way, and the impact that can have on a home, a community, a nation, and the planet.
Just look at the current economic crises - the causes and effects, the possible responses. There's probably enough there for a whole album (so far we only have one new song, but it begins the discussion at least).
All of life comes under this tension - empire of man vs. kingdom of heaven. The good news that Jesus brought included a study of this very tension, and his recommendations for how to respond to injustice, anger, sensuality, oppression, poverty, religiosity, condemnation, and more. We plan to explore these things from both sides in the coming months, years, and albums.
We think that the notion of any form of Christian religion as primarily a "get out of hell free card" or a "we're right and everyone else is wrong club" is absurd and contrary to the teachings of Jesus (the smartest teacher who ever walked the planet). His focus was on changing/transforming our character to heal and restore the world. And the ones who hated his teachings most were the religious, rich, and powerful.
We suspect that some of the religious types out there won't understand or agree with our shift in focus, but we're beyond caring. We see that the kingdom really is the pearl of great price (just like some famous teacher once expounded). And it's stuff like that that inspires, invigorates, and propels us as artists. We hope you join us on our journey. :)
We've been functioning primarily inside what is sometimes called the "Christian Ghetto" - and we'd gotten pretty good at it for a local/regional group. But it's gotten to the point where it felt like we were "preaching to the choir" and in some ways stagnating as artists, musicians, etc. We plan to stop playing churches and focus on making music appropriate for cafes, festivals, theaters, etc.
While we still think there is some value to making music for the purpose of helping people worship God, there is also a glut of great music out there (and some not so great). Inspiration is a funny thing, so I try to never say never, but at this point we're moving on with no plans to return.
The concept that has been capturing our hearts and minds over the last two years, though, has been the over-arching story of the scripture: the devastating impact of man's attempt to be God and the restoring, healing impact of God becoming man. It's the contrast of two kings and two kingdoms - the empire of earth vs. the kingdom of heaven. Fear of death vs. the hope of resurrection. Darkness vs. light.
The goals and principles of these two kingdoms are polar opposites, and they have played out through all of human history. We're intrigued by the tension of the two, by the results of following either way, and the impact that can have on a home, a community, a nation, and the planet.
Just look at the current economic crises - the causes and effects, the possible responses. There's probably enough there for a whole album (so far we only have one new song, but it begins the discussion at least).
All of life comes under this tension - empire of man vs. kingdom of heaven. The good news that Jesus brought included a study of this very tension, and his recommendations for how to respond to injustice, anger, sensuality, oppression, poverty, religiosity, condemnation, and more. We plan to explore these things from both sides in the coming months, years, and albums.
We think that the notion of any form of Christian religion as primarily a "get out of hell free card" or a "we're right and everyone else is wrong club" is absurd and contrary to the teachings of Jesus (the smartest teacher who ever walked the planet). His focus was on changing/transforming our character to heal and restore the world. And the ones who hated his teachings most were the religious, rich, and powerful.
We suspect that some of the religious types out there won't understand or agree with our shift in focus, but we're beyond caring. We see that the kingdom really is the pearl of great price (just like some famous teacher once expounded). And it's stuff like that that inspires, invigorates, and propels us as artists. We hope you join us on our journey. :)
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Commencement 2009
Our daughter Hannah Joy was one of 37 graduates in the 2009 CHEM Graduation Ceremonies. Each family provides a brief charge (or "blessing") and then hands the diploma to the graduate. It was pretty moving ceremony (but also pretty long - Joyce and I have a few ideas to chop out about an hour from it!). Anyway, since our surname is so late alphabetically and there were no Zalewskis or Zyzyks, Hannah was the last to receive her diploma. Here is the text from my charge to her:
Hannah Joy... we love you, and we’re very proud of you. Having you and being able to homeschool you was a dream for us... that turned into a quite an adventure. We’ve loved it. However, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! Along the way we learned that all great things require:
• Significant risk – and the enemy will fiercely attack with thoughts of fear and failure. But remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear.
• Desperate faith – where the resources you lack can only be supplied by God himself. Trust Him.
• Hard work – God won’t do it all for you, you have to be diligent with what you can do. Just do it.
• Personal sacrifice – you show what you truly value by what you’re willing to give up for it. May you sacrifice for the best things.
If you choose this path of risk, faith, work, and sacrifice, trials are guaranteed… but so is great joy as God provides and proves himself to be your God, not merely the God of your parents.
And don’t forget: knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. As you go to college to acquire the knowledge you need for your calling, may you primarily be known for your love for God and for others.
Your future is very bright. We named you Hannah, which means "grace". Hannah Joy. May you always live up to your name. We love you.
Hannah Joy... we love you, and we’re very proud of you. Having you and being able to homeschool you was a dream for us... that turned into a quite an adventure. We’ve loved it. However, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into! Along the way we learned that all great things require:
• Significant risk – and the enemy will fiercely attack with thoughts of fear and failure. But remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear.
• Desperate faith – where the resources you lack can only be supplied by God himself. Trust Him.
• Hard work – God won’t do it all for you, you have to be diligent with what you can do. Just do it.
• Personal sacrifice – you show what you truly value by what you’re willing to give up for it. May you sacrifice for the best things.
If you choose this path of risk, faith, work, and sacrifice, trials are guaranteed… but so is great joy as God provides and proves himself to be your God, not merely the God of your parents.
And don’t forget: knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. As you go to college to acquire the knowledge you need for your calling, may you primarily be known for your love for God and for others.
Your future is very bright. We named you Hannah, which means "grace". Hannah Joy. May you always live up to your name. We love you.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Yet another inner revolution (aka "Get out of the bedroom!")
A few months ago we visited Oak Pointe Church in Wixom or Novi (not sure which) two Sundays in a row. The first Sunday the pastor said it's not only important to know what your gifts ARE, but also what they are good FOR in relation to the kingdom of God. I had already begun musing on such things that morning prior to church, so it was a confirmation and a timely word for me. He also talked about how God doesn't want our words of praise if we're not living praiseworthy lives. In other words, don't tell me you love me when you're not acting like it.
That was a beginning of sorts of yet another inner revolution. I've been doing the worship leading thing for about 12 years now. It seemed like I kind of "had it down", but what I didn't realize was that I was stagnating as a musician and as an artist. I've been so busy in the spiritual bedroom telling God how much I love him that I rarely left to go show him how much in the great big scary world outside.
Alongside these thoughts has been the growing awareness that the gospel evangelicalism has been preaching for decades (if not longer) has a comparative donut hole to the entire donut. It's been a micro-focus on a single facet of the diamond, without celebrating and offering the WHOLE diamond to the world. We've been selling a spiritual fire insurance as though it's the main thing that was on Jesus' mind as he instructed thousands at a time. We've been wrong.
The gospel is much richer, much fuller, with much further-reaching here-and-now implications than merely getting into heaven and out of hell when you die. It is the good news that brings shalom to our selves, our homes, our communities, our world - if only we would believe it and do it. I'm finding the teachings of Jesus more and more compelling, practical, relevant, and different than I was led to believe in the religious institutions of my past. His methods would get him kicked out of most churches if his acquaintances didn't first. This is someone and something worth investing the rest of my life in. But that means change - what he called "dying to self".
I'm tired of merely helping people tell God they love him and then watch them go off and misrepresent what he's really about. I'm tired of the pride and power and posing that goes on in safe little moral church buildings. I'm compelled to follow a brave, humble, loving Jesus as he reaches out to those outside the synagogue, outside the church, outside safe, polite society.
Now that we have begun the next leg of this risky, scary journey, God has begun giving the voice, the message, the songs again. He's been leveraging the relationships developed over the last few years as the foundation for a new thing that he is doing through us. We want to connect, to love, to empathize with the real life problems out there, and hopefully gain the trust and opportunity to share how the way of Jesus applies to each and every problem we could face - but not in some arrogant, condescending, close-minded way. We want to foster understanding on both sides (unlike the screaming polemics you see on talking head political shows).
If you're the praying kind, please pray that God will use us in the lives of needy people to provide love, hope, direction, and support. Pray that the songs keep coming, and that they are helpful and excellent in quality. Thanks!
That was a beginning of sorts of yet another inner revolution. I've been doing the worship leading thing for about 12 years now. It seemed like I kind of "had it down", but what I didn't realize was that I was stagnating as a musician and as an artist. I've been so busy in the spiritual bedroom telling God how much I love him that I rarely left to go show him how much in the great big scary world outside.
Alongside these thoughts has been the growing awareness that the gospel evangelicalism has been preaching for decades (if not longer) has a comparative donut hole to the entire donut. It's been a micro-focus on a single facet of the diamond, without celebrating and offering the WHOLE diamond to the world. We've been selling a spiritual fire insurance as though it's the main thing that was on Jesus' mind as he instructed thousands at a time. We've been wrong.
The gospel is much richer, much fuller, with much further-reaching here-and-now implications than merely getting into heaven and out of hell when you die. It is the good news that brings shalom to our selves, our homes, our communities, our world - if only we would believe it and do it. I'm finding the teachings of Jesus more and more compelling, practical, relevant, and different than I was led to believe in the religious institutions of my past. His methods would get him kicked out of most churches if his acquaintances didn't first. This is someone and something worth investing the rest of my life in. But that means change - what he called "dying to self".
I'm tired of merely helping people tell God they love him and then watch them go off and misrepresent what he's really about. I'm tired of the pride and power and posing that goes on in safe little moral church buildings. I'm compelled to follow a brave, humble, loving Jesus as he reaches out to those outside the synagogue, outside the church, outside safe, polite society.
Now that we have begun the next leg of this risky, scary journey, God has begun giving the voice, the message, the songs again. He's been leveraging the relationships developed over the last few years as the foundation for a new thing that he is doing through us. We want to connect, to love, to empathize with the real life problems out there, and hopefully gain the trust and opportunity to share how the way of Jesus applies to each and every problem we could face - but not in some arrogant, condescending, close-minded way. We want to foster understanding on both sides (unlike the screaming polemics you see on talking head political shows).
If you're the praying kind, please pray that God will use us in the lives of needy people to provide love, hope, direction, and support. Pray that the songs keep coming, and that they are helpful and excellent in quality. Thanks!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
2007 Beliefs
A few years back I decided to try to put into my own words what I thought about God, the Bible, Jesus, etc. I felt it was important to separate what is revealed by God from what we deduce, experience, and document as history. I suspect I'll need to revisit this every few years, because even now I would word things differently, emphasize things that are not even included here, and de-emphasize other items or eliminate them entirely. But, for what it's worth, here's what it was...
God exists; creation implies a powerful Creator, and the intricate design in creation reveals much about him. God speaks; throughout history he has communicated with the hearts of individuals, and guided them to write these communications, history, ethical teachings, collected wisdom, poetry, songs, etc. in their own language and style.
These writings were collected into what we now call “The Bible”. People who love God generally agree which writings were truly from God, and carefully copied/translated them for thousands of years. Those who agree the Bible is from God trust its accuracy, submit to its authority, practice its teachings, and believe its revelations.
One revelation is that we’re all fundamentally a hopeless mess. This goes back to the first man, continues with our children, and distances us from God. He still loves us, but we’re unable to rightly love him and others. We simply fall short. We are naturally selfish, and any apparent generosity is tainted with ulterior motives.
People across history agree that thoughts and actions generally have consequences; this is widely known as “karma” – you get what’s coming to you. The revelations also agree: those who don’t love God rightly don’t enjoy his presence and blessings, and tend to suffer appropriate consequences for their thoughts and actions.
Another revelation is that God showed us his perfect love by becoming a man named Jesus of Nazareth. He loved through his words and actions, and paid the consequences for, not himself, but everyone else by being publicly executed on a cross. He demonstrated a “grace” that worked outside the law of karma.
God even revealed thousands of years ago that one would accomplish all that Jesus did. The writers referred to this person as the one “anointed” (chosen) by God. The Hebrew word for this is “moshiach” (Messiah); the Greek word is “christos” (Christ). That’s why he is commonly known as “Jesus the Christ”, or simply “Jesus Christ”.
History records that Jesus came back to life after three days in the grave, taught his friends over a period of forty days, and then ascended up to heaven. His friends banded together as an extended family called “the church”, and spread the good news that a new way of living in freedom and love was available to all.
For those who believe that this good news is true and commit their lives to it, they are set free to enter into a loving relationship with Jesus/God, with all their consequences paid in full by him. They become new people inside. As they live out this faith God changes them, patiently teaching them to truly love. He no longer holds their failings against them, since they are a “work in progress”. He calls them “children” and “friends”.
Over time, God’s friends realize more and more how involved God is with them. The Bible reveals that God’s Holy Spirit is actively working in his people so they become increasingly more like Jesus in word and action. People often refer to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit as the Three-in-one, or the Trinity. Trying to fully understand this is like trying to comprehend the universe, predestination, or anything thing else infinite; our finite brains aren’t made for it.
The Bible reveals that God provides special gifts and talents to all of his friends so that they can help each other in unique, inter-connected ways. So, one benefit of a local “church” community is that each person can practice their abilities for the benefit of everyone else. They work together and grow together as grateful friends of God.
God’s work continues in this world and in the lives of his friends. He revealed that his love is so endless he will provide his friends with new, eternal bodies at death. Death isn’t something for them to fear; instead, it’s a portal to a life even more exciting that the one they experience with him here and now. In the meantime, his friends have much living, loving, and growing to do as they partner with him to make this good news known to the world.
God exists; creation implies a powerful Creator, and the intricate design in creation reveals much about him. God speaks; throughout history he has communicated with the hearts of individuals, and guided them to write these communications, history, ethical teachings, collected wisdom, poetry, songs, etc. in their own language and style.
These writings were collected into what we now call “The Bible”. People who love God generally agree which writings were truly from God, and carefully copied/translated them for thousands of years. Those who agree the Bible is from God trust its accuracy, submit to its authority, practice its teachings, and believe its revelations.
One revelation is that we’re all fundamentally a hopeless mess. This goes back to the first man, continues with our children, and distances us from God. He still loves us, but we’re unable to rightly love him and others. We simply fall short. We are naturally selfish, and any apparent generosity is tainted with ulterior motives.
People across history agree that thoughts and actions generally have consequences; this is widely known as “karma” – you get what’s coming to you. The revelations also agree: those who don’t love God rightly don’t enjoy his presence and blessings, and tend to suffer appropriate consequences for their thoughts and actions.
Another revelation is that God showed us his perfect love by becoming a man named Jesus of Nazareth. He loved through his words and actions, and paid the consequences for, not himself, but everyone else by being publicly executed on a cross. He demonstrated a “grace” that worked outside the law of karma.
God even revealed thousands of years ago that one would accomplish all that Jesus did. The writers referred to this person as the one “anointed” (chosen) by God. The Hebrew word for this is “moshiach” (Messiah); the Greek word is “christos” (Christ). That’s why he is commonly known as “Jesus the Christ”, or simply “Jesus Christ”.
History records that Jesus came back to life after three days in the grave, taught his friends over a period of forty days, and then ascended up to heaven. His friends banded together as an extended family called “the church”, and spread the good news that a new way of living in freedom and love was available to all.
For those who believe that this good news is true and commit their lives to it, they are set free to enter into a loving relationship with Jesus/God, with all their consequences paid in full by him. They become new people inside. As they live out this faith God changes them, patiently teaching them to truly love. He no longer holds their failings against them, since they are a “work in progress”. He calls them “children” and “friends”.
Over time, God’s friends realize more and more how involved God is with them. The Bible reveals that God’s Holy Spirit is actively working in his people so they become increasingly more like Jesus in word and action. People often refer to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit as the Three-in-one, or the Trinity. Trying to fully understand this is like trying to comprehend the universe, predestination, or anything thing else infinite; our finite brains aren’t made for it.
The Bible reveals that God provides special gifts and talents to all of his friends so that they can help each other in unique, inter-connected ways. So, one benefit of a local “church” community is that each person can practice their abilities for the benefit of everyone else. They work together and grow together as grateful friends of God.
God’s work continues in this world and in the lives of his friends. He revealed that his love is so endless he will provide his friends with new, eternal bodies at death. Death isn’t something for them to fear; instead, it’s a portal to a life even more exciting that the one they experience with him here and now. In the meantime, his friends have much living, loving, and growing to do as they partner with him to make this good news known to the world.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Quick Fix
"...life is complex, and the idea that you can break it down or fix it in a few steps is rather silly. The truth is there are a million steps, and we don't even know what the steps are, and worse, at any given moment we may not be willing or even able to take them; and still worse, they are different for you and me and they are always changing. I have come to believe the sooner we find this truth beautiful, the sooner we will fall in love with the God who keeps shaking things up, keeps changing the path, keeps rocking the boat to test our faith in Him, teaching us to not rely on easy answers, bullet points, magic mantras, or genies in lamps, but rather in His guidance, His existence, His mercy, and His love."
- Donald Miller, "Searching for God Knows What"
This quote reminds me of a song I wrote close to 20 years ago and that we're putting on our new CD (to be released in March 2009):
Quick Fix
c.11/18/1990 by Bob Young
When I skinned my knee Momma made me feel better
but the wound still needed time to heal
When Betty broke my heart you know I wanted to die
somehow I survived that long ordeal
Heartache to heartache I grew strong
learning to take whatever comes along
and now I don't want a quick fix,
I don't need a quick fix.
I went to Sunday School, I heard the Golden Rule
from folks who fought over chairs and padded pews
When my friend got fired he made their prayer list
but they kept their cash - he didn't share their views
I grew disillusioned but I held on
`cause there's no confusion between right and wrong
(I think that's wrong)
but I don't want a quick fix,
I don't need a quick fix.
No, no - I don't want a quick fix -
Mister, you can keep your quick fix!
Some talk of pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye
Well, I believe in a place called Heaven
No tears, no fears, no sin, no dyin'
but in the meantime I've got to keep on livin'
through laughter and sorrow, sun and rain
sharing the Savior's great love and pain
I don't want a quick fix,
No, no - I don't need a quick fix.
Hey, hey - I don't want a quick fix -
Mister, you can keep your quick fix!
It turns out that I also put it into a beat poem (all you first edition owners of "The Big", please raise your hand...):
Nix
c.3/17/1989 by Bob Young
The ecstatic fanatic
is an addict
for the hot quick fix,
but what sticks through shocks
is nix (or not a lot, at least).
They feast on yeast,
they lick the bowl,
and in the end
they lose the life
and the control
they pained and strained
and racked their brains
and sweated and fretted
and dreamed and schemed
and tried and died
to hold on to.
Nix on the quick fix.
I wonder if I've actually learned this lesson yet? Or maybe it's one of those lessons that keeps coming back around again and again to pry yet one more grasping finger off the hold of my life. In any case, God is relentless and will settle for nothing less than my complete trust in His way, His goodness, and His timing. Nix on the quick fix.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Born Again Again
He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin’ home to a place he’d never been before.
He left yesterday behind him,
You might say he was born again,
You might say he found a key for every door.
John Denver
“Rocky Mountain High”
For me it was the autumn of my 46th year. It was a culmination of decades of learning and unlearning, a new beginning of sorts. A portal was opened to a new dimension of living, like walking into an ordinary wardrobe, clawing past the fur coats, and finding myself in Narnia. Shivering in the Narnian winter, clueless, alone, afraid, yet very much alive and very much full of wonder.
I was only part way through Rob Bell’s book “Velvet Elvis” when this shift started and this doorway opened before me. So much of what I had been taught for decades, entire schools and systems of biblical understanding, were being shown for the inadequate, inaccurate, man-made things they were. And it all resonated deep within my heart – what I was reading was making so much more sense than the empty explanations I had heard all my life. It clicked with reality.
It started with simple things like “binding” and “loosing”. Rob discussed how scripture by its very nature had to be interpreted (something the rabbis knew for quite a long time). Some rabbis had very strict interpretations for passages in the Torah, while other rabbis were more lenient in how to apply it. In the end, however, the goal was to actually DO what the scriptures commanded, and the question was how.
When a rabbi forbid an activity, he was said to “bind” it; when he allowed the activity, he “loosed” it. The collection of the rabbi’s interpretations of what is “bound” and what is “loosed” in scripture was called the rabbi’s “yoke”. For anyone familiar with the book of Matthew in the New Testament, bells should start going off in your head, because the rabbi Jesus used these very terms with his apprentices. He talked about how his “yoke” was easy, and later told his apprentices that they had the power to “bind” and “loose” (which they exercised in the book of Acts).
In some mysterious way, the apostles’ interpretation of scripture (which at that time consisted of Genesis to Malachi) had authority on earth AND in heaven. They partnered with God to determine what is allowed and what is not allowed. And if you look at their determinations in Acts, there were only a few things they bothered to “bind” or “loose” (though these days there are many who love to bind).
Anyway, that simple explanation from a Jewish historical context was mind-blowing to me. It made me wonder what else I had been taught wrongly simply because my teachers did not know (for one reason or another) the actual context of the passage, what the terms really meant to the speakers and hearers. Rob included a number of concepts that he had learned from Ray Vander Laan, Dallas Willard, and other teachers – many that I had been exposed to for years – and brought out new perspectives and angles I had never heard before. I felt ashamed and excited, dumb and enlightened at the same time.
But the most devastating blow to my old way of thinking came as he gently addressed a common, glaring error in interpretation that is one of the key stops along the old “Romans Road”. I originally memorized the verse in the King James Version, and it went like this:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved.”
Romans 10:9
The English Standard Version of the scriptures translates that passage as follows:
"… if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.”
Which, of course, meant that if I ask Jesus into my heart (perhaps confessing that I’m a sinner), and believe deep down inside that He as second person of the Trinity died for my sins and rose again, I have done a transaction that guarantees me an afterlife in heaven and an escape from the lake of fire. Right?
But does it really mean that? Is that what the text really says?
When Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Rome, he was writing to a group of individuals who lived in the capital city of the civilized world. The military headquarters was there. The emperor was there… and he was considered to be a god. One of the requirements of Rome’s citizens was to honor him in ways that we’ve seen in the 20th century; where in Nazi Germany the people were required to shout with outstretched arm “Heil Hitler”, in Paul’s day Roman citizens were required to say “Caesar is Lord!” (whether you bought the whole emperor-god thing or not). If you wanted to survive, you said it.
Paul encouraged the followers of Jesus to participate in a dangerous and subversive activity – to go against the grain (at the risk of punishment or death) and say that Jesus, not Caesar, is the ruler. In other letters Paul reminds his readers that we are citizens of the kingdom of Heaven, not of the Roman Empire (though Paul gladly used his Roman citizenship to his advantage when appropriate). And the further you study the anti-Roman implications in Paul’s writings, the more you understand the subversive nature of his teachings and how he encouraged such a counter-cultural stand for God’s kingdom.
And what does the word “saved” mean in the context of Romans 10:9 if it doesn’t mean saved from hell and guaranteed access into an afterlife of bliss? Pretty much what it means in many other places in scripture when we use the synonyms “delivered”, “rescued”, and “protected”. Scan the Old Testament and you will see that over and over God delighted to rescue his people from danger. It’s the big story that his people get to gratefully recount to others – the various ways God came through for them in their time of need. Paul appears to be telling his readers don’t worry about taking a counter-cultural stand for Jesus as the king who rules over Caesar because Jesus will rescue them one way or another (either in this life so they can share their story, or they will be resurrected one day just like Him).
Wow. So what else have I gotten wrong? What else did my teachers not know, did not interpret (binding or loosing) correctly and accurately? And if it’s not about securing a good spot in the afterlife, what IS it about? For that, I had to go back to the teachings of Jesus himself…
Studying Jesus’ teachings led me back to the writings of Dallas Willard and his landmark book “The Divine Conspiracy”. Though I’ve read it twice before, I had completely missed the implications; perhaps I wasn’t ready yet. But as he discussed the failure of “gospel of sin management” to really foster Christ-likeness and as he expanded on the brilliance of Jesus’ teachings that we call “the sermon on the mount”, my eyes were opened and my heart humbled and my spirit was shaken by the possibilities.
And that led me to others who have been influenced by his writings, including Scot McKnight, Rick McKinley, and Brian McLaren. It also led me back to John Eldredge who was an influence on me several years ago as his writings prepared me to live authentically and stop being a “poser”, in spite of the resistance. And that led me back to the songwriters I’ve come to love for their honesty and integrity…
Don’t forget to bring kindness
Don’t forget to say "thanks!"
Don’t forget to spend your love
Honey, you will not break the bank
Don’t forget to bring some empathy
For the saints and the sinners
Don’t forget to bring encouragement
Yeah, we’re all just beginners.
Bill Mallonee
“Bank”
That’s me – just another beginner, just another humbled, desperate soul trying to follow the way of Jesus. I hesitate to even call myself a Christian anymore because the term is so over-used that it can mean just about anything, which in the end indicates that it means nothing. And if it is supposed to mean “Christ-like” or “little Christ”, well, that ain’t me. But I’m trying…
Honesty is a hard attribute to find
When we all want to seem like
we've got it all figured out
Well let me be the first to say that I
don't have a clue
I don't have all the answers
ain't gonna' pretend like I do
Just trying to find my way
trying to find my way the best that I know how
Jason Wade / Lifehouse
“Trying”
It’s a world filled with doubts and questions. But I guess I’m not afraid of that anymore, because the God who created all of this and who has rescued (saved!) me time and time again – well, he’s not afraid of the questions either. And questions are exactly what inquisitive children are supposed to bring to their father. And it’s not that I don’t look forward to an afterlife with him – I do – but more importantly I look forward to his presence in my here and now every single day as I see his wishes become my reality. And I think puts me in a better position to be humble, perhaps like a child, as I seek to follow him in faith.
- Bob Young (3/12/2008)
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