Life In The Gray

No matter how great the start, religion will always gravitate toward black and white thinking simply because it’s the easiest kind of thinking there is, and let’s face it, humans are lazy. Especially when it comes to thinking.

Black and white thinking’s end game is always “Us right, them wrong. Us good, them bad.” Once that’s settled, we can make some snacks and enjoy the game.

The only problem is that Jesus shattered this paradigm with every moment on this earth—with every step into the territory of “the wrong and the bad.” The gray places and the gray people drew Jesus like nothing and nobody else. Because, frankly, the black and white people have no need of Jesus. They’ve got it all figured out. 

To associate with sinners was, well, sinful. To spend time with prostitutes only showed your bad character and moral depravity. To love on tax collectors (who were notorious cheats in that time) was unthinkable. To touch the unclean made you unclean. This was rock solid gospel truth.

Until.

Until Jesus redefined gospel truth. Until Jesus declared that the Good News wasn’t just for the established church with their black and white thinking—it was for those in the gray too.

He pulled a tax collector into his inner circle.

He gave his time and caring to prostitutes and adulterers.

He touched lepers.

He went into the homes of notorious sinners and shared a meal. 

There was a special place in his heart for the outcast because he himself was considered an outcast by some (the reluctant marriage of Mary and Joseph was probably not a complete secret) and in league with Satan by others. 

No one had more right to black and white thinking, but Jesus lived in the gray, shaping the world in a way that only love can.

So who are today’s outcasts—who are those that black and white religion condemns as lazy, as vile, as perverted, as a bad influence, as unclean?

The poor.

The homeless.

The addict.

Immigrants.

Minorities.

Those who identify as LGBTQ.

Drag Queens.

Feminists.

The woman pursuing an abortion.

Black and white thinking looks at a perceived problem group from afar and tries to control it through laws, shame, and cruelty. It’s a one-size-fits-all punch with a boxing glove that sends people scurrying away from God’s Kingdom.

Diving into the gray means meeting the needs of individuals with love, caring, and finesse, drawing them to the heart of God where for all people, sanctification occurs.

Because what black and white people don’t realize is that they’re gray too.

The Armor of God

Has any passage been more preached than this one in the sixth chapter of Ephesians? Has any exhortation been more frequently given to believers to "suit up" to defeat the devil based on these verses? And yet, this "putting on" isn't as simplistic or easy as it sounds. There is a depth to this picture that is easily overlooked, and a discipline that nobody wants to talk about.

But before we get into that, let's look at the armor itself.

The first thing Paul mentions is the belt of truth. He jumps to the middle of the costume. Most would start at the head and go down or the feet and go up, but Paul starts in the center. Why? Because truth is the central and most important piece of who we are as Christians. If we are not bearers of truth, our pants fall down, and our lies and hypocrisy are exposed. We've seen that a lot among supposed Christian leaders in the past few years, and it hasn't been pretty.

Every other piece of the armor is strengthened or weakened by the strength of the belt--by the purity of the truth we wrap ourselves in. This is of course Spiritual truth, but it is also real, physical truth. Because our Spiritual truth is often given credence by the world to the degree we are also grounded in physical truth. (Physical truth and Spiritual truth both have their roots in God. Physical truth, such as the basic laws of science, are merely the outward manifestations--the seen, as opposed to the unseen.)

This belt of truth--whether it is a thin ribbon or a thick, wide piece of leather--affects everything up to the helmet and down to the shoes.

The next piece that Paul discusses is the breastplate of righteousness, which has no functionality whatsoever without truth. We only feel confident to stand before God and enter into his throne room with boldness if we have knowledge of the truth of Jesus' righteous, sinless life, and that he is now our intermediary. This complete truth strengthens this piece of armor we receive upon accepting the work Jesus did on the cross. It's this breastplate that guards our hearts from the accusations of the enemy.

Paul then leaps down to the "feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." In my book, Ephesians: The Plan, The Purpose, and The Power, I discussed why I believed that, based on the rest of this letter, the "peace" here is that which contributes to unity in the Church. The equipment Paul chose to represent that is shoes because the Church "moves," and we either move in step with the Spirit in unity or serpentine all over the place in chaos. Truth, therefore, is essential--the truth that God desires us to live in unity and the truth of who Jesus is. If you don't know Jesus--who he is and what he did while on the earth, you have no way to know what he's doing now and you're likely to run after another "commander" with a loud voice. You won't hear the Spirit when it whispers, "this is the way." A unified force moves as one in the same direction, listening to only one voice.

Paul then says to "take up the shield of faith." This is an instrument directly fueled by the truth belt. Faith has to be based on something or it will fall flat in a battle. The Christian's faith is built on the truth of who God the Father and God the Son are--their character and how they operate. A faith shield built out of anything other than truth will let those flaming arrows right through.

The next piece of equipment that Paul tells us to take with us is the helmet of salvation. Your knowledge of God's saving grace through Jesus' work on the cross lifts us out of the good works mentality that would have us striving toward our own salvation. So truth, again, is essential. Those without the truth of grace are not only exposed to the lies and accusations of the enemy and side-tracked by earning their own salvation, they will lack the confidence to ever pick up the sword.

The only offensive weapon listed is the sword of the Spirit, which Paul says is the word of God. The Greek word for "word" here is rhema, which is the spoken word. It isn't graphē, the written word--a word Paul has used elsewhere to mean the scriptures. Paul isn't talking necessarily about defeating the enemy by throwing a bunch of Bible verses at him, although it could be, if that is what God says to do. The point is that we defeat the enemy with the insights given by God for the moment. That requires being tuned in. Learning to hear God accurately isn't usually accomplished overnight, and you will never hear accurately without the knowledge of the truth of who he is.

The belt of truth holds the whole armor together.

So what are the practicalities of putting all this on? Is it more than a ritualistic declaration or mental spiritual practice?

If it truly relies on truth, then yes.

Proverbs 4:7 says, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding." This is another way to say, run after the truth. "Seek and you shall find," Jesus said. David said, "Your word is a light to my path." Only truth can illuminate--that which is false fogs the issues and brings confusion.

Studying and meditating on our triune God builds up our truth belt, and that in turn, strengthens every other part of our armor. With truth as its plating, the shield also grows thicker with use. Every exercise of faith adds another layer. With truth as the sword's hilt, God's voice and purpose become clearer, the sword becomes easier to wield, and you become more deadly to the enemy's schemes.

Paul's illustration is really a picture of who we are and who we can be when we are rooted in the truth of God and how he works. Because of Jesus, we are saved and declared righteous. With Jesus as our commander, we can be a unified force who cuts down the enemy with a timely word.

We all have armor, but it's thickness, impenetrability, and effectiveness is determined by us and the time we put into gaining understanding, walking out our faith, and listening to his voice.

On The Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-33

The men heading to Emmaus were discussing all that had transpired in Jerusalem during Passover, but more than that, they knew details. They call Jesus a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. They hoped he would redeem Israel. They knew about "the third day." They even knew about the women who went to the tomb and found it empty--about the vision of angels and what they said. I don't think it's a stretch to assume that these men had been followers of Jesus. Maybe they had even entered the city with him triumphantly just a week before.

And now they were leaving it all behind.

They weren't hanging with the other disciples. They were sad. Disappointed. They had experienced Jesus being powerful--that meant miracles---and they had heard him explain what would happen to him and what to expect on the third day. And what's more, if the women were to be believed, it did happen, AND YET, they were leaving with faces that were downcast. WHY?

Jesus tells them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!"

Jesus really gives these two a double whammy insult. The Greek word for fool is anoētos, meaning unintelligent. The Greek word for heart, kardia, means the seat of intellect or the mind, calling them slow in the intelligence department. And rightly so. These men were given everything we modern followers long for: experiencing Jesus in the flesh with his powerful words and miracles. It wasn't a leap of faith to believe. It was rational and smart to follow a man like Jesus, and they saw the proof of it every day. Leaving behind what they KNEW because of what they DIDN'T YET KNOW was indeed foolish.

But look at the grace of Jesus. He had an appointment to meet up with His followers in Jerusalem, but two of them were heading down the road. Jesus knows what this means. This leaving is permanent. And HE TAKES OFF AFTER THEM! Not only that, He takes the time to explain everything to them beginning with "Moses and the Prophets." This was a teaching of epic proportions that lasted probably most of their seven mile walk.

Then he gives them another opportunity to go on their merry way. This is the test. After having their intellect sharpened, will they still walk away? They passed the test by asking him to come to their house. And their reward was the revelation of Jesus himself, which in turn sent them running back to Jerusalem. Back to the believers. Back to the mission.

Okay, now is the time for our own revelations. At some point in our lives we have been or we will be the men on the road to Emmaus. We will question that which we knew beyond a doubt only three days ago. And we will distance ourselves from the very people who might help us get our perspective--from others waiting for the end of the story. And Jesus in his great mercy will come after us. He might hit us upside the head and call us dolts, but then he will take the time to show us what's missing in our reasoning.

This word might come in a vision straight from Jesus. It might come from a friend or a minister or a podcast. It might come from somewhere and someone you least expect--just a guy on the road. But He WILL come for you. 

Then it's up to you.

Rejecting the discipline and the instruction keeps us walking down that same road.

A road without the glory of Jesus.

A road in the dark.

Accepting the reprimand and listening to reason puts us back in the game.

Back into fellowship, faith, and purpose.

I know where I'd rather be.

Just For The Record

What I Believe

God the Father, God, the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

Miracles happen, even as I wait for them to show up more often in my life.

Toilets and closets should be closed when not it use.

Animal heads do not belong on walls; nor should one have a picture taken with an animal you've killed. It shows a lack of respect for the life you've just taken. Anyone who kills any animal for sport simply can't be my friend.

Real fur looks better on animals than people.

Cats are amazing; dogs are tolerable; elephants are incredible.

Chocolate is a gift from heaven.

Earbuds are of the devil.

Sauer Kraut came straight from the bowels of hell.

Vaccinations are safe for most people; the medical community isn't in a conspiracy to kill us.

GMOs are not frankenfood.

Organic is overrated.

Essential oils are not miracle cures.

Massaging your feet will not cure all your body's ills.

A "cleanse" to remove toxins is unnecessary; that's why you have a liver.

The Republican party has become the new Pharisees with a side order of neo-naziism.

Patriotism is not a Biblical concept and should never be twisted up with Christianity.

The flag and the National Anthem are not sacred. If you consider them sacred, you have two idols.

Evolution was God's means of creation, and no, that doesn't disagree with the Bible.

Abortion is a tragedy, but I have no right to tell a woman wanting an abortion not to, since I do not have the resources to help pay for that baby to be born, let alone help her raise that child to school age.

No one should be both anti-choice and anti-contraceptives.

There are as many lazy rich folks as poor folks.

Our government's system for providing for those with chronic illness is a complete joke.

The Bible is "God inspired," not God dictated. Not every word came straight from God's mouth. Paul said scripture was "useful for instruction," not absolutely essential for instruction. If it were straight from the mouth of God, I'm pretty sure it would be described as more than "useful." And Paul wasn't talking about his own letters; he was talking about the Law and the Prophets.

The baker should have baked the cake for the gay couple -- Mercy triumphs over judgment.

You can't understand the creation account in Genesis without looking at ancient Egyptian beliefs--that's where Moses grew up.

Faith shouldn't be opposed to intelligence and vice versa.

America has a triune God: sports, guns, and money.

When someone asks me to give, I give. I don't judge them. I hand them some cash. Unless they're smoking... I can't support that.

John Calvin will have some splaining to do in heaven.

One person, and one person only goes through a yellow light.

Christians who support Trump have made a pact with the devil--an unholy alliance that will bite them in the butt.

Obama was a Christian and somehow the Church couldn't see it; Trump is of the devil, and somehow, the Church can't see it. One might conclude some blindness is an issue. And racism.

There's nothing quite as soothing as a cat's purr.

That baby in your arms will never love you as much as you love them. That's just life.

Israel is no more special to God than any other country on the planet; Christians became the new Israel clear back in 33 A.D.

More guns doesn't equal safety.

Separating the sheep from the goats is all about "did you care for the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the imprisoned?" Funny how all the "big sins" are missing from the list.

I've owned both sheep and goats; they are goofy creatures.

Logic, the scientific method, and debate should be mandatory learning in schools. So should art.

"His ways are higher than our ways" is all about mercy, not mystery.

I don't care who you are--everyone deserves steak and shrimp now and then.

Selfishness is why marriages fail.

Clutter makes me crazy.

Art and sewing are about the destination; writing, about the journey.

Trees are evidence that God loves us.

Jesus said, "The love of money is the root of all evil," and "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven," but most don't believe him.

There's no such thing as a self-made man; no man is an island.

Pot is not worse than alcohol.

If you are not a native American, and you are anti-immigration, I assume you'll be taking yourself back to the country of your ancestors asap.

There is a reason that Jesus often warned about hypocrisy; it destroys the Church's credibility.

Becoming another character on stage is a rush like no other.

I've never felt more accepted than in the Theatre Dept. at Sterling College.

The love of a good man makes life a pleasure; his kiss is on my list.

I never dreamed that 57 years could go so fast. We truly are just dust in the wind. Make the most of your time. Create, hope, love.

Get in it.

Last year, there was a women's march of historic proportions, but most of my Christian friends were not there. You viewed it as of "the Jezebel Spirit" and therefore, wouldn't be caught dead there. You looked down your noses at what you saw as a "gathering of the darkness" and looked forward to a time when "the light" would have their own march on Washington that would surely change everything.

While you were shaking your head over "women going down a wrong path," you shook out your knowledge of Jesus spending his time with "sinners and tax collectors" --Jesus spending time with "women gone wrong." You forgot how he derided the religious leaders of the day for thinking themselves above it all.

And what you refused to recognize was that the march was a joining of humanity against hate, against division, against the destruction of the planet. It was a joining together with "the least of these" who were terrified of losing their insurance, terrified by the nods to white supremacy, misogyny, and homophobia. You should have been there as Christ's representative to bring hope and peace to the terrified. Instead, you were content with Fox News commentary spinning it into something you could cheerfully condemn.

Yes, there were loud-mouths who were just as full of hate as what they were standing against, but that was just a small part of the march. If you had been there, you would have seen that.

So I'm challenging my Christian sisters to a new view this year--to look at the marchers not as "Jezebels" but as a mixture of people--men and women--who are hoping for peace, the same as you. They are not people to deride or shake your head at. They are not people to even pray for or try to save.

They are people to love.

Christians are called to be "in the world, but not of it." You've got the "not of it" down. Now, get in it.

Sack Cloth and Ashes

No, Hillary wasn't worse.

No, abortion is not a bigger issue than taking care of the living.

No, Trump was not put in the while house by God.

No, he does not have any kind of heavenly "anointing."

No, it wasn't difficult to tell that he was a fraud and a con man.

No, the Republican Party is NOT the party of family values, or any values at all, really.

No, patriotism does not equal Christianity.

No, America (or today's Israel) is no more a "chosen nation" than Turkmenistan.

No, the flag and the national anthem are not sacred.

No, trickle down economics doesn't work.

No, the swamp can't be drained by installing Wall Street insiders and bankers.

No, climate change is not a hoax.

No, America has not been made great again.

America has been shown for what it is

petty

fearful

hateful

full of greed

Christians voted for this mess, and only Christians can fix it.

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14

Most Christians read this thinking they are "standing in the gap" for the wickedness of the world when they pray, but that is not what it says. God was calling out the wickedness of his people.

Supporting a wicked man is wickedness.

And Trump is wicked.

The fruit of his life is lies, fraud, sexual assault, cheating his workers, cheating his wives. He has connections to mobsters and Russians and money launderers, and he admires the despots of the world more than democratic leaders.

Don't tell me we can't judge his heart. His heart is plain to see.

And it's time that Christians owned what they have done by installing this man as President over America.

And it's time for some major repentance.

Be stiff necked no more, Church.

Humility in prayer is the requirement for this unholy alliance.

Before it's too late.

Another Lesson From My Son

Years ago, we were having a bit of puzzle mania at my house. Over the course of several days, every single kid puzzle we owned was put together on our basement floor.

On one of those days, my four-year-old was talking while he was working on a puzzle of Lassie with puppies. "Don't worry, little puppies," he was saying, "I'm putting you together. And you will love me because I'm making you." He paused a moment as he put a few more pieces together. Then he said in a low voice, "I am God."

I sucked in a breath, expecting lightning to strike, but then I realized that he had grasped what so many older and wiser people never do: The creation will love the creator simply because he made them and gave them form.

This is the basics of relating to the Father. Without that simple appreciation, we can never move on to anything closer.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

There have been many times in my life when giving thanks seemed all but impossible, but even in those times, this truth remains: I will be grateful to the Creator who made me, simply because he did.