Heaven: for lack of better options

As a pastor, I've been dealing with a lot of death lately.  It seems like one of those things that comes in bunches.  And understandably, when death comes, people start asking lots of questions.

The conversation I have most frequently is with people wanting certainty regarding death, which makes sense as uncertainty is the foundation for fear.  Everyone wants to make sure that they have their top priority for the afterlife locked in.  They want to make sure they've got their reservations right... (double Queen, pet-friendly, jacuzzi suite please).  And the concern I hear could be most easily summarized as this: 

"The most important thing for me in the afterlife is to be in heaven with God and not in hell."

(Now sometime, I might get into my theology regarding heaven and hell, what I believe Jesus was trying to communicate, and issues such as whether people will literally be on fire for the rest of eternity.  But right now, I just want to think about what's going on inside of us as we seek such resolution.)

I've rarely met people who truly desire to live life with God in the present who are concerned about what's going to happen when they die.  The concern comes when people realize that God isn't very high on the priority list in this life.

Which makes me ask...
Why is it that our highest priority after we die is to live with God, but it's not often the highest priority before we die, when we are living?

Is our desire really for life with God?  or against an unpleasant alternative?

Do people really only desire heaven (and life with God) in the afterlife due to a lack of better options?

If there was a third option, would people choose it?  Heaven, hell, or the land in between, like earth is now where God's goodness is only partially seen?  

And if we're only choosing heaven for lack of better options, is that really choosing heaven?

And the church encourages this strange thinking.  For anyone to suggest that hell is not a great big ball of fire, that burns people for all of eternity, many in the church throw out this protest, "Stop!  If you water down hell, you'll lead people away from heaven!"

Here I have to take a stand.  I believe that God and his goodness is worth pursuing.  Not because it's better than the only other alternative, but because IT IS GOOD!

If there was no hell, heaven would still be worth pursuing!

Even with other choices in life, heaven is still worth pursuing!

And that, it seems, is what makes up belief in God.  Not that we believe he is powerful enough to save us from the flames, but that he is GOOD ENOUGH to PURSUE, even given an infinite number of other options.

A true desire for the heaven (and life with God) of the afterlife will be accompanied by a desire for the heaven (and life with God) in the present life...

...not just choosing heaven for lack of better options.

Books that have shaped me

I'm not someone that reads a ton, unfortunately, but I have definitely been influenced by some of the great books I've read. Often the advice I give or the perspective I share comes out of a worldview that has been shaped by these books. There are many others that have been formative for me as well, but these are the books I quote, recommend, or at least reference in my head on a (seemingly) daily basis.  So, if you want to really understand where I'm coming from (not that you would), here's some books to help:

1) Bridges out of Poverty (Ruby Payne)

• This book has been a life-saver in presenting a framework to understand the poor.  Hidden rules, roles, communication...there is so much in this book.  Also, the companion book "What every church member needs to know about poverty" is great.

2)  Switch (Chip and Dan Heath)

• Recommended by my friend Joel Boehner, this leadership book, dealing with enacting change, is the MOST HELPFUL book I have EVER read.  You will hear me reference the analogies in this book from now until I can no longer speak, or remember what an elephant is.  I seriously believe every pastor and leader in any capacity needs to read this book, and every other person would probably enjoy it as well.

3)  Love is an Orientation (Andrew Marin)

• I put off reading this book, because I thought I would already know where the author was going (and likely agree).  After several people encouraged me to read, I jumped in.  The author deals with encouraging the church to raise our conversation with the gay community.  Beyond that issue, Marin presents a picture of living life in a way that matches with what Christianity says it believes about the identity of people, our interactions with each other, and the nature of the work of God in the lives of people.  It impacts the conversation with the GLBT community, but taught me so much more as well.  If you're from the world of traditional evangelical Christianity like me, please read this book.

4)  Myth of a Christian Nation (Greg Boyd)

• This is another book I put off, assuming I already knew where the author was going and sensed an agenda behind it.  I was wrong.  Don't get me wrong, Boyd does address all of the inconsistencies of a civil religion, but within a bigger perspective.  He asks what God's Kingdom come to earth looks like.  This "Kingdom" perspective has shaped me greatly.

5)  Jesus Wants to Save Christians (Rob Bell)

• Unlike many of Bell's books, this one spends the first two-thirds pouring through the story woven through the Old Testament.  The picture Rob draws out from the story becomes the nitty-gritty research for the perspective presented in "Myth of a Christian Nation" listed above.  This is another book that looks at God's Kingdom on earth.  Additionally it asks some really pointed questions about Christians and whether or not we really reflect the values of the Kingdom.  This is another must read.

6)  Justified (NT Wright)

• This is a deep, theology one.  It took forever to read and even longer to process.  I don't know that I agree with all of Wright's conclusions, but I love that he desires to look at the Biblical text through the eyes of the original authors and audience.  His view of scriptural interpretation is what most impacted me.  I don't recommend it unless you like the really deep ones, in which case, you should definitely check this one out.

Have you read any of these?  Any questions about them?

*NOTE*  I know this will be mirrored into Facebook, but I'm staying away from that crazy place until late April, so please leave any comments on my blog:  ryanyazel.blogspot.com.  Thanks!

Rob Bell's "Love Wins"

I read the book (which already puts me in rare company for people giving opinions on it). 

Perhaps my biggest thoughts upon completing the book have to do with other issues than what was in the book itself.  Here's a couple:

1)  Orthodoxy

It's amazing the amount of anger that Rob Bell has drawn from the evangelical Christian community with this book.  People who consider themselves leaders in the evangelical Christian community have been launching angry rhetoric against Rob and the book since even before the book was released!  The biggest claim thrown out is that Rob Bell is a "heretic" for making claims that don't fit with "orthodoxy."

For those of you unfamiliar with the term, orthodoxy refers to the way the Church has traditionally understood God and scripture through the years.

Here's the funny part to me: these cries of "heretic" and "unorthodoxy" come from the Evangelical protestant community whose heroes were "unorthodox heretics".  You see, back in the day the Church was just the Catholic church until along came some guys who said, "I'm not sure if the church has gotten things right all these years, let's go back to scripture and make sure."  And sure enough, the early Reformers came to some conclusions that quite differed from the Catholic church.  They came to different conclusions than Church tradition...they were "unorthodox" (and as such excommunicated from the Church).

These Reformers have become the heroes of the Protestant Church.  Churches name themselves after Calvin, Luther, and Wesley...all men who strayed from orthodoxy to go back and look at scripture with fresh eyes.  And now their unorthodox positions are the standard for orthodoxy.  Ironic, isn't it?

And now Bell does no different.  He attempts to look at the scriptures (in this case regarding heaven, hell, justice and love, and, yes, he covers them all), not through the lens of what Luther, Wesley, and Calvin thought about them, but through the lens of what Jesus, Paul, and the other biblical authors might have been trying to say in their context.  And he's being labeled as unorthodox.

And it begs the question:  Is unorthodox always a bad thing?

Do we think the church got it wrong for fifteen and a half centuries until a handful of Reformers righted the ship to the one true way God meant things to be?  And that they didn't miss anything?  Even though they lived just outside of the dark ages and had little access to sources that shed cultural light on the context in which the Biblical authors lived?  Even though they didn't have access to documents like the Dead Sea Scrolls and other historical documents that have shaped our ability to accurately translate ancient Greek and Hebrew?  

People will no doubt read this book just to find out if Rob Bell contradicts orthodoxy.  The problem with finding out if someone is orthodox or not is the assumption that orthodoxy is necessarily correct. I don't care as much about whether or not Rob agrees with Calvin, Luther, and Wesley as I do with whether or not he agrees with what the Biblical authors were trying to say. Those may or may not always be the same thing.

2) Correct vs. Beneficial

There are also many who will read this book who are just trying to find juicy quotes where they think Rob is incorrect. In the process, they would likely miss out on the parts that are still beneficial.

Whether you agree with 100% or 0% of this book, I believe it to be profoundly beneficial. Before Bell suggests responses to these difficult issues, he raises difficult questions--and these are questions the world is asking!

It saddens me that so many inside the church brush away the questions of the skeptics as illegitimate. If we are ever to truly love our neighbors, we must first understand the questions they are asking to be legitimate.  

In school, I was taught, "perception is always true." If someone says, "i feel unloved by you," then that is true, whether you were intending to or not. We need to be aware of this.

As such, I hope that people can be discerning thinkers in all areas of their learning and pursuit of God. Bell says in this book that, "he's just trying to add to the discussion," not set the new standard for theology. Take that for what it is. See the benefit, even when you may disagree with some of the conclusions.

Conclusion

I haven't said much about the book yet, but I really liked it. I'm thankful that he voiced many questions that challenge us to continue to think and pray through the message of the gospel. I don't know that I agree with everything, but I'm pretty sure no biblical interpreter (including myself) has gotten everything "right". Either way, I recommend you read this book and think, pray, and discuss in your church communities--not to see if Bell agrees with the reformers, but to see what truth and benefit might be present in this book.

(SIMPLE REQUEST: I realize that this note will get sucked into Facebook from my blog. However, I am not using Facebook until late April. If you feel like asking questions, commenting, or discussing this, I would prefer that take place on my blog (ryanyazel.blogspot.com) so that I can participate :)

Two Sides

Every situation has multiple sides.

God has allowed me to share life with people as a pastor for almost 7 years now and this is perhaps the biggest lesson I've learned and biggest change in my heart.

Here are some lessons that I have learned as a result:

1)  When you see strength, look for the weakness.

• There are so many times I run forward thinking that I see nothing but green grass ahead, only to be surprised by the amount of mud I encounter.  You see a person, full of great qualities and you think, "This is perfect!  We'll conquer the world together in no time!"  Whatever those qualities are-- charismatic leadership, boldness, courage, stunning good looks, intelligence--they almost lure you to forget that people are human.  But things that are seen as strengths often stand out because they are out of balance.  As they say, a jack-of-all-trades is a master of none.  Accordingly, the masterful strengths carry with them a corresponding weakness (e.g. my ability to talk and teach brings with it a tendency to talk too much, listen too little, and teach where it hasn't been invited).  Learn to expect it...not to be cynical, but to be prepared with understanding when the weaknesses present themselves.

2)  When you see a weakness, embrace the strength in it.

• It's amazing to me how many conversations I have had with people about their weaknesses, only to have them describe to me the very things I love about them!  My wife Robin, for example, often mourns her inability to take charge in a group or speak out publicly, but her behind-the-scenes meekness and humility is exactly what makes her approachable and drives her empathy for others on the fringe.   Similarly, I often find myself complaining about a quality in someone, where I benefit from that quality in other contexts.  For instance, I know someone who is a bit too close at times--they make me nervous.  They often show passion and zeal that I really don't know how to handle.  However, that passion for others, including me, also plays out in the form of fierce loyalty and intense support that I appreciate so much it times of trial.  

3)  When it seems like a people problem...it's often a preparation problem.

• I love the Fundamental Attribution Error.  It explains that when problems occur in our lives we attribute it to our circumstances, though when they occur in others we attribute them to that person's poor internal character (he brought it on himself)...and it's called an "error" for a reason.  I have learned that most of the problems I see in people take place not because people are bad or stupid, but because they are unprepared to deal with the situation they are in.  Instead of criticizing, and looking around for new people, help prepare those around you for the circumstances they face!

4)  ...the other times, it's usually a communication problem.

• serving as a mediator, as my position often entails, it's strange hearing two sides of the story in separate settings.  Almost without fail, each side misrepresents the other and I find myself thinking, "really?  you think that's the problem?!"  There are so many ways misunderstanding creeps in.  Words mean different things to different people, people place varying values on certain priorities--the expectations we envision likely look different for the same goal.  The point is, when it looks like someone just doesn't get it, good ongoing communication can usually right the ship.

All in all, I've learned that life is much more complicated than it ever seems at first.  So take a deep breath, withhold judgment, get the bigger picture, and understand that everything is a process.

I guess this is why my grandpa listens so well.

Mind Your Business

The Junior High girls soccer team I coach had a big rivalry game last week.  Our team was the defending champs, facing the team that has played us for the championship the past 3 years.

We pulled up to the field of the opposing team and saw them practicing on the field, getting ready for the game.  By the time we had exited the bus, gathered our equipment and made our way out to the field, they were gone!  Nowhere to be found.  As the girls set their belongings down beside the field, we discovered what happened to the other team.

With a roar, they came running out of the school toward the field screaming and waving their arms (Braveheart Style).  They then proceeded to try to intimidate our girls in every way possible throughout the 1 hour warm-up period:  screaming chants, lining up single-file with arms crossed at mid-field while staring down our team, and leaving the field 2 more times to re-enter with more screaming.

The girls on my team didn't know how to respond.  "What are they doing?"  "Why are they acting so crazy?"  "Coach, they're really pumped up, we've got to do something!!"  Panic was setting in.  The intimidation was working.

The way I saw it, we had 2 choices:  Respond in kind, or keep doing things the way that's helped us be successful.

And so I begged our girls:  "Mind your business.  Ignore them.  Just be yourself and do the things that got you here.  If you change to respond to them, then you won't be playing your kind of soccer."

This greatly parallels the experience of the Christ-follower.  We are given a formula for success:  the imitation of Christ (1 Cor 11:1).  As long as we continue in the imitation of Christ (loving our neighbor, sharing the good news of God's grace, embracing those who are weak) we will always be on the right track, regardless of the changing circumstances around us.

Recently, I have had several conversations with other Christians and received email forwards that aim to alert Christianity to the dangers of the movement of Islam.  They point out the fundamentalists who push for jihad and talk about how Islam desires to take over our country.  The implication is that we should be aware, alert, and afraid, so that we can fight against the coming "enemy".

But what is the point of this?  Does this skeptical/judgmental vigilance of "the other team" really help me to be more effective in my imitation of Christ?  Does suspecting my Muslim neighbor might really have faith-based political motives help me to love him or others better?

Or does it cause me to adjust my game?  Do I change my pursuit of faithful living to adjust for the new worries that surround me?  Does it cause me to judge my neighbor at the expense of loving them?  Does it cause us to pursue effectiveness at the expense of faithfulness?

Jesus was once asked if the Jewish people should pay taxes to the godless Caesar.  Jesus took the coin bearing Caesar's image and responded, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God (Luke 20:20-25)."  Translated, "focus on your purpose with God, and don't pick fights that don't need to be picked."

We don't need to worry about Caesar...or the Muslims...or even the (dun dun dun....) anti-Christ.

We should take a loving stand for the way of Jesus and his priorities whether or not there exists anyone who feels differently.

We should "play our game" effectively, regardless of what "the other teams" are doing.

We should mind our own business.

I Lied: an open letter to Kali

Dear Kali,

I lied to you.

I told you that everything was going to be ok…that daddy would always take care of you…

…and that monsters weren’t real.

We came back from our trip and I tried to put you to bed, but you remembered the monster you saw before we left. The one in your window, that looked like a frog.

I argued that you didn’t REALLY see any monsters—that they were just cartoons like Dora and the Cookie Monster.

But you argued better. You HAD seen something. Something dark. Something scary. Something MORE THAN A TALE.

Ok, maybe you didn’t. But maybe you did.

After all, it’s real. Evil is real. Danger is real. Death is real.

And whether or not you were facing it now, you will. WE ALL DO.

Sometimes we just try to ignore it. Drown it out. Distract ourselves. Run from it. Pretend it’s not happening.

But there is a war going on. A spiritual war. Between good and evil. And we are in the midst of it.

It’s not enough to live life as though it’s fiction. The same Bible that presents the truth that frees us shares this story of urgency.

But I’ve tried to sweep it under the rug…to only talk about life as though everything comes up roses--hoping that somehow, by positive thinking or just ignorance, good would naturally prevail.

But at some point, I have to look you kids in the eyes …me knowing the truth, you knowing the truth, and actually talk about the truth.

So here’s the truth, for when you’re old enough to understand:

1. There are monsters, both human and spiritual and they will try to hurt you.
2. Bad things will happen to you, and it will always break my heart
3. I cannot guarantee that I will always be here for you, no matter how much I want to be.
4. As long as I’m alive, I will love and comfort you and continue to introduce you to the One who CAN guarantee that He will never leave you or forget you.
5. With God on your side, though evil comes, you never need to be afraid.

Thanks for the wakeup call, Kali. We need to prepare for the storm.

Love,

Daddy

Ephesians 6:12-13

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Matthew 28:20

…” And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The Worst Day of their Lives

Day 6575 is the worst day of their lives. It is the day the Church in America turns on them.

It's not intentional...the Church doesn't even know it's doing it...but it happens nonetheless.

It is the day where helpless children become villainous adults.

Day 6575...also known as the 18th birthday.

You see, the Church in America has a passion for helping kids in need...kids who experience poverty and all that goes with it. We hurt for the children whose parents don't care. We cry out for the abused, the rejected, the forgotten. As Christians, we develop programs to take them in and show them love.

When they misbehave--say something inappropriate, break something carelessly, disobey our requests...we understand, because after all, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT.

They're just poor children who can't help that they've been born to lazy, undisciplined, barbaric parents (or so the story goes...). Those poor, unfortunate children...

Until Day 6575.

At that point those children, whose vices were previously so understood and justified, become adults and, as such, the object of wrath for the Evangelical Right.

Far too often, I hear "Christians" spew political venom aimed at the adults in poverty who are a "drag on our precious economy." They are attacked for taking health care and taxpayer money all without contributing their fair share. They are accused of having the same opportunities as everyone else, but merely choosing not to take advantage of them...likely because they are selfish, lazy, and (of course) Democrats.

Day 6574: "You poor kids with no one to love and teach you!"

Day 6575: "You lazy adults need to get your act together or suffer the consequences!"

What a difference a day makes.

To all my neighbors about to turn 18... may we never forget who you are.