A few years ago, a pastor was invested as the new rector at Christ Church Charlottesville. Paul Zahl's sermon topic at the investiture--"Just Give Up." During the sermon, PZ said that, if he had any advice to give to Paul Walker as the new rector, it would be to "give up." You could hear nervous titters of laughter from the congregation. If these words shocked me, someone who's listened to PZ for years, I can't imagine what the poor congregants were thinking. 'Just give up' doesn't sound like any Christian admonition or advice that I've heard before.
Yet, this is what Jesus was trying to convince the Pharisees to do. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it clear that we can't keep the Law. He analogized hate to murder, lust to adultery, and said that we are called to be "perfect as our father in heaven is perfect." Jesus did the same thing in His parables. Not one of us would act like the Good Samaritan--becoming unclean to help an enemy, then providing over-abundantly for him. Like the Rich Young Ruler, not one of us would sell everything and give it to the poor. So, if Jesus is trying to convince us to give up, what implications does this have for our Christian life? Can we finally law down our merit-badge list of things that Christians do? If we lay that down, are we called to do anything?
This morning, Debbie and I were discussing that life is not random. Last Sunday, our SS teacher was teaching about sovereignty, and I asked him if he had ever seen the movie 'Signs.' Yes, he had and he said: "Ellis, the longer I live the more I realize that life is not random." Not to spoil the movie, but God uses weakness, quirkiness, and even death for redemptive purposes. Shymalan (acting in his own movie) says: "It's as if it was meant to be," when he's asked about a tragic event in the movie.
Debbie and I were discussing how, if we just acknowledge that life is non-random, we see God working everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. Last week, our cleaning guy was coming, and Debbie told him not to clean our son's room since he left it in a mess. Debbie and I were discussing how to deal with this--take his car, ground him. Our intentions were actually good. We wanted to prepare him to live by himself at college. We hadn't decided what to do. We had discussed this with our son before, but he didn't think that cleaning his room mattered. That nite, we were watching 'Raising Hope' with him. 'Raising Hope' can be inappropriate at times, but the love that the characters have for one another, and the humor that they share with one another, is simply amazing.
In this episode, the father and grandparents of Hope, a 2 year old, were debating about whether to spank her to deal with the 'terrible 2s.' The discussion turned to whether the grandparents had spanked their son, Hope's father. They claimed that they did, but it turned out that they hadn't. "No wonder he never learned to keep his room clean." "No wonder he's still living at home with his parents." Our son then understood why we wanted him to clean his room. It came from an outside source. It is so difficult for teenagers to hear or receive any advice from their parents. Keeping your room clean obviously isn't that big of a deal, but lack of self-control can bleed over into other aspects of your life.
Obviously, this a mundane example, but God lives in every aspect of our lives, mundane or otherwise.
Debbie recalled a Candid Camera episode where the flowers on the table were rigged to move. Rather than trying to figure out what was going on, or marveling at the moving flowers, the people got up and moved to another table. Debbie recalls being saddened that the folks were ignoring the wonder in their lives. Debbie then said: "How can we ignore the wonder of Jesus in our lives?"
Which brings me to sanctification. Per Jesus, we are called to 'just give up,' and look for God's actions in our mundane lives--the entry of God's kingdom into this world. It can't help but gladden our hearts. It can't help but cause us to be thankful. With thankful hearts, we can love our difficult families. With thankful hearts, we can face difficulties such as sickness, job loss, and death. With thankful hearts, we can even forgive ourselves, and then others.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Saturday, November 8, 2014
The Purpose of Life And Of God's Curses
The purpose of life is to reduce the "Kramer"--Paul Zahl ("PZ"). Kramer is PZ's parlance for generational sin. I think it's a take on "karma." In any event, for someone who is completely opposed (and rightfully so) to ever telling us to do anything, PZ actually says to do something in this life. That thing is to act courageously in those instances where generational sin may be broken or reduced.
PZ goes further and acknowledges that generational sin can't be reduced without the intervention of God. PZ says that God is graciously constructing a path for us which, even though it has many seemingly unrelated twists and turn, can eventually bring about changes in generational sin. He then goes to the point of view that we all experience at death--has there been any meaning to my life? Yes, if there has been a break or reduction in generational sin.
If God is loving, then the curse of generational sin is loving. This is where I probably go one step beyond Zahl. It is the generational sin which brings us to a point of impasse such that we cry out to God: "Uncle. I give up." This has happened profoundly in my relationship with Debbie.
I've written before that God's curses in the Garden were loving. God cursed work so that men wouldn't make it their god. God cursed childbirth so that women wouldn't make children their god. It wasn't until this morning that I finally understood God's curse of women's desire and man's control or leadership. This arose out of Debbie's comments about this verse.
"Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Gen. 3:16.
Women often have unrealistic desires and expectations towards their husbands. In our present age, this leads to divorce.
Men attempt to control or rule over their wives. When they can't, in our present age, this leads to divorce.
As I've written before, if you don't experience a profound change in your marriage, it won't last. According to PZ, it's only through the work of God that this profound change can happen.
If, when a woman learns that her husband will never meet her expectations for provision and intimacy, she says: "I give up--over to you God," then the marriage may be saved.
If, when a husband realizes that he can never rule his wife, he says: "I give up--over to you God," then the marriage can be saved.
It's only through surrender to something outside us (as per Alcoholics Anonymous) that we have hope for change.
But, we're only open to change when we have exhausted every last ounce of energy, strength, and conviction in trying to obtain from our spouse what we need from God--unconditional love.
As a wife releases her husband from her expectation of intimacy, he will become more intimate.
As a husband releases his wife from his efforts at control, she will seek his guidance.
That's the way that God works. He brings us to the end of ourselves, through curses which are passed down from generation to generation, only to then provide a way out.
PZ goes further and acknowledges that generational sin can't be reduced without the intervention of God. PZ says that God is graciously constructing a path for us which, even though it has many seemingly unrelated twists and turn, can eventually bring about changes in generational sin. He then goes to the point of view that we all experience at death--has there been any meaning to my life? Yes, if there has been a break or reduction in generational sin.
If God is loving, then the curse of generational sin is loving. This is where I probably go one step beyond Zahl. It is the generational sin which brings us to a point of impasse such that we cry out to God: "Uncle. I give up." This has happened profoundly in my relationship with Debbie.
I've written before that God's curses in the Garden were loving. God cursed work so that men wouldn't make it their god. God cursed childbirth so that women wouldn't make children their god. It wasn't until this morning that I finally understood God's curse of women's desire and man's control or leadership. This arose out of Debbie's comments about this verse.
"Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." Gen. 3:16.
Women often have unrealistic desires and expectations towards their husbands. In our present age, this leads to divorce.
Men attempt to control or rule over their wives. When they can't, in our present age, this leads to divorce.
As I've written before, if you don't experience a profound change in your marriage, it won't last. According to PZ, it's only through the work of God that this profound change can happen.
If, when a woman learns that her husband will never meet her expectations for provision and intimacy, she says: "I give up--over to you God," then the marriage may be saved.
If, when a husband realizes that he can never rule his wife, he says: "I give up--over to you God," then the marriage can be saved.
It's only through surrender to something outside us (as per Alcoholics Anonymous) that we have hope for change.
But, we're only open to change when we have exhausted every last ounce of energy, strength, and conviction in trying to obtain from our spouse what we need from God--unconditional love.
As a wife releases her husband from her expectation of intimacy, he will become more intimate.
As a husband releases his wife from his efforts at control, she will seek his guidance.
That's the way that God works. He brings us to the end of ourselves, through curses which are passed down from generation to generation, only to then provide a way out.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Wes Anderson's Rushmore--A Panoply of Grace
SPOILER ALERT: IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN "RUSHMORE," THIS WILL SPOIL IT FOR YOUR, OR MAYBE ENHANCE IT.
My daughter's fiancée is a huge fan of Wes Anderson, so we've been having a Wes Anderson film festival at our house. My favorite was Grand Budapest, per my prior post, but now it's Rushmore.
As Debbie said: Max Fischer is going to be okay-- at age 15, he understands grace and forgiveness.
Max Fischer is the 15 year old protagonist who goes from controlling his world for his own benefit to forgiving others for their benefit. In terms of control, Max is Mr. Everything at school. He is involved in every extra-curricular activity going, but doesn't pay that much attention to his grades. Max appears sure of himself, so sure of himself that he expects that he will obtain his love interest--his beautiful young teacher. Max seems to be grabbing adulthood by the tail as he becomes friends with a wealthy father of two of his obnoxious classmates (Herman). Max seem to be a man of the world--a young man who seems perfectly at home at a wealthy boarding school.
But then cracks begin to show. We learn that Max's father is a barber, not a neurosurgeon as he has told Herman. Of course, Max's teacher rejects him. In fact, she begins seeing Herman--a deep betrayal of Max by both of them. We see Max hounded by the school bully. Max drops out of school and begins working in his father's barber shop. But the bad things aren't only done to Max, he also does bad things. None of us are innocent. Max hurts his young protege' by telling others something untrue about the young man's mother. Max's world is crumbling.
How does Max respond? He is no longer in control of what others think of him, or of his future. He is at the mercy of the world or God or karma.
Max responds with unadulterated grace. Max puts on a play that he has scripted and directs. In doing so, he sets up Herman with his teacher by inviting them both to the play--after their relationship has fallen on the rocks. He rejoins the two in a relationship that cut him to the quick. His play is set in Vietnam--Herman served in Vietnam. Max even gives his arch enemy, the school bully, a starring role. He responds by telling Max that he's always wanted to be in one of his plays. We never know what lies behind other's harmful actions towards us--sometimes they feel wounded by us or jealous of us, or just want to be accepted. Max apologizes to his young protege' who forgives Max for telling other students that his mother gave Max a hand-job. Wes Anderson gets forgiveness. But he doesn't stop there.
During the last few moments of Rushmore, we hear the refrain played over and over again from
The Who "mini-opera:" "A Quick One While He's Away." Pete Townsend sings over and over: "You are forgiven"--the last two minutes of the 9 minute song. In the video, Pete ends the song by announcing to the crowd: "you're all forgiven." The forgiveness in The Who mini-opera, like the forgiveness in Rushmore, is simply breathtaking. In The Who's song, the husband was away for "nigh on a year," so she takes up with Ivor the bus driver. Then, her husband returns and forgives her--simply forgives her. This is the story out of which springs the two minutes of constant refrains of "you are forgiven."
Lasty, on a more personal note, Max tells Herman that his father is a neurosurgeon. Later, after Max's downturn, he invites Herman to the barber shop for a haircut by his father. At the play, he is introducing his father to everyone--as a barber.
My own father was a small-town Baptist preacher, who spent his last 15 years of work as chaplain at Partlow. Sadly, I was embarrassed that he was a chaplain and not a worldly success with a big church. Now that I have a 180 degree different view of Jesus, I'm so proud of my father. My father loved the residents at Partlow, and they loved him. One of my daughter's good friends in school had Downs Syndrome, so there is some heritage at work there.
God bless Wes Anderson for bringing us this poignant look at the only true change agent in the world--forgiveness--which is synonymous with grace.
My daughter's fiancée is a huge fan of Wes Anderson, so we've been having a Wes Anderson film festival at our house. My favorite was Grand Budapest, per my prior post, but now it's Rushmore.
As Debbie said: Max Fischer is going to be okay-- at age 15, he understands grace and forgiveness.
Max Fischer is the 15 year old protagonist who goes from controlling his world for his own benefit to forgiving others for their benefit. In terms of control, Max is Mr. Everything at school. He is involved in every extra-curricular activity going, but doesn't pay that much attention to his grades. Max appears sure of himself, so sure of himself that he expects that he will obtain his love interest--his beautiful young teacher. Max seems to be grabbing adulthood by the tail as he becomes friends with a wealthy father of two of his obnoxious classmates (Herman). Max seem to be a man of the world--a young man who seems perfectly at home at a wealthy boarding school.
But then cracks begin to show. We learn that Max's father is a barber, not a neurosurgeon as he has told Herman. Of course, Max's teacher rejects him. In fact, she begins seeing Herman--a deep betrayal of Max by both of them. We see Max hounded by the school bully. Max drops out of school and begins working in his father's barber shop. But the bad things aren't only done to Max, he also does bad things. None of us are innocent. Max hurts his young protege' by telling others something untrue about the young man's mother. Max's world is crumbling.
How does Max respond? He is no longer in control of what others think of him, or of his future. He is at the mercy of the world or God or karma.
Max responds with unadulterated grace. Max puts on a play that he has scripted and directs. In doing so, he sets up Herman with his teacher by inviting them both to the play--after their relationship has fallen on the rocks. He rejoins the two in a relationship that cut him to the quick. His play is set in Vietnam--Herman served in Vietnam. Max even gives his arch enemy, the school bully, a starring role. He responds by telling Max that he's always wanted to be in one of his plays. We never know what lies behind other's harmful actions towards us--sometimes they feel wounded by us or jealous of us, or just want to be accepted. Max apologizes to his young protege' who forgives Max for telling other students that his mother gave Max a hand-job. Wes Anderson gets forgiveness. But he doesn't stop there.
During the last few moments of Rushmore, we hear the refrain played over and over again from
The Who "mini-opera:" "A Quick One While He's Away." Pete Townsend sings over and over: "You are forgiven"--the last two minutes of the 9 minute song. In the video, Pete ends the song by announcing to the crowd: "you're all forgiven." The forgiveness in The Who mini-opera, like the forgiveness in Rushmore, is simply breathtaking. In The Who's song, the husband was away for "nigh on a year," so she takes up with Ivor the bus driver. Then, her husband returns and forgives her--simply forgives her. This is the story out of which springs the two minutes of constant refrains of "you are forgiven."
Lasty, on a more personal note, Max tells Herman that his father is a neurosurgeon. Later, after Max's downturn, he invites Herman to the barber shop for a haircut by his father. At the play, he is introducing his father to everyone--as a barber.
My own father was a small-town Baptist preacher, who spent his last 15 years of work as chaplain at Partlow. Sadly, I was embarrassed that he was a chaplain and not a worldly success with a big church. Now that I have a 180 degree different view of Jesus, I'm so proud of my father. My father loved the residents at Partlow, and they loved him. One of my daughter's good friends in school had Downs Syndrome, so there is some heritage at work there.
God bless Wes Anderson for bringing us this poignant look at the only true change agent in the world--forgiveness--which is synonymous with grace.
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