Having a God Perspective

I'm working on lesson plans for this fall, and as I'm working my way once again through the book of Romans, I came across a phrase by Paul that enlightened me on how we often ignore God's perspective on things. We like to tell God how things are supposed to be. Take the apostle Peter as an example: 1) Peter tells Jesus that crucifixion is NOT the way Jesus is going to die (even though it is God's plan all along); 2) Peter first rejects have Jesus wash his feet and then accepts only on the stipulation that Jesus wash his entire body (Jesus tells Peter that the whole body is not necessary--only the feet need to be washed); 3) A good while later (Book of Acts) Peter is on a rooftop praying when God shows Peter a sheet filled with many kinds of animals (clean and unclean by Mosaic Law, which Peter, being a good Jew, follows very strictly). God tells Peter to take and eat of the animals. Peter tells God that he won't eat from the unclean animals. (It takes 3 more times for Peter to understand that God's perspective is that there is not such thing as "unclean".)

So Peter had a difficult time understanding God's perspective on things. Don't we all. So following I hope you will find some encouragement on how we need to seek (and find) God's perspective on things because he has a better vantage point than we do.

Romans 4:17 - "[Abraham] is our father in the sight of God, in who he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were."

I have always enjoyed that last phrase as a definition of God, especially "calls things that are not as though they were." Regularly the phrase causes me to consider Jesus standing before the tomb of Lazarus. In front of an entire crowd who is convinced that Lazarus is dead, Jesus declares otherwise. Jesus does not say, "Lazarus come back from the dead." No, Jesus says "Lazarus, come forth," as if the man is already alive and simply needs to come downstairs for dinner.

But this time around I read the verse in context--the story of Abraham. This verse--penned by Paul but inspired by the Spirit--is God's version of Abraham's story! This is a verse about God's perspective on things.

1. "God who gives life to the dead" - Paul later mentions [v.19] that Abraham considered his body as good as dead, and yet he believed that God would give him a son. Thus God gives life to Abraham's dead body. But once Abraham has the promised child, Isaac, God commands Abraham to kill Isaac as a sacrifice. And why does Abraham go through with it? Many suggestions are made (not least of which by Kierkegaard, I believe) to this end: Abraham believed God could give life to the dead. And that's just what God does. The boy is as good as dead, Abraham has the knife raised, when God calls the child back to life by delivering him.

2. "calls things that are not as though they were." - How does Abraham's story begin?

God - "Abram, pack up your belongings and leave your family."

Abram - "And where shall I be going?" (a very human inquiry)

God - "To a place that I will show you."

Abram - "Can I get a map?" (a very manly inquiry)

God - "I will lead, you can follow."

Abram - "Does the place even exist?" (a very adult inquiry)

God - "Dude, I built the place with my own Word. Trust me."

Abraham leaves. Does he actually know the place exists? Has he seen it? No. But God, knowing that the place exists, calls things that (appear) to be not as though they are.

What else? Ah, yes. God comes to Abraham and says, "You will be the father of many nations." And Abraham is thinking, "Cool, but I don't have any children and my wife and I are beyond childbearing years." But again, God (in his totally different perspective) calls things that are not as though they were.

And, of course, there are plenty more examples. But this one verse, Romans 4:17, shows us God's perspective of Abraham's story.

So how are you doing on living a God perspective? I admit that on a day-to-day basis right now I'm not doing so well. Even I need reminders of who God is and what he can do. Perhaps I will look today for something that is, even though it seems like it is not supposed to be.

The Pirates of Christ (How's That for Being P.C.?!)

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I attended Bible study as usual. This particular week we were studying (within a larger portion of scripture) Mark 3:23-29. This is a parable that Jesus tells in response to the Pharisees accusing Jesus of being Beelzebub and driving out demons (which, when you actually read it or hear it is a completely illogical accusation).

Jesus tells this parable:

"How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin." (NIV)

I want to quote the middle line for you from the NASB version (which is what we used in our study) to give you a different "flavor" of Jesus' words.
"But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house."

Isn't that fascinating?! When Jesus speaks of the strong man, he is, of course, referring to Satan, who, many of us can attest, is a mighty strong opponent. But Jesus is speaking of robbing and plundering the property of Satan! Yes, that's right, Jesus is endorsing piracy!

"Wait a minute!" you say. "Jesus also tells us to not steal. Isn't that a commandment?"

Yes, it is a commandment. And no, Jesus isn't being literal. It is, after all, a parable. However, I do believe Jesus' choice of words should be heeded. Three things to focus on: 1) Satan is likened to a strong man; 2) the "strong man" (Satan) can be bound/tied up; 3) we are called to "plunder/rob" (fight valiantly) for the things Satan lays claim to.

Let us first establish what it is that Satan "owns," that is, the things that Jesus is robbing and plundering. In John 12:31, 14:30, & 16:11 Jesus speaks of Satan as the "prince of this world". When Jesus was tempted, the final temptation is for Jesus to worship Satan, and in return Satan would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. So is it the things of this world that Satan owns? Does Jesus want us to plunder Satan of money, cars, houses, status and other riches? I don't think so; that seems contrary to Jesus' own teachings to value Him above all other things. However, I do think the things of this world do need to be plunder, but we will get there.

In Ephesians 6:12, Paul instructs believers that "our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the...powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil...." This, then, is truly what Jesus is talking about. Satan has laid claim to souls. Any soul that does not love and treasure Christ is in the possession of Satan. Therefore this is the battle ground on which we fight. We wage war on Satan for the souls that do not yet know Christ. When Christ says that he "plunders" the things of Satan, he establishes the value of the human soul. It is treasure that is to be wanted, like valued objects in a house are the ones a thief comes for.

Now, to the binding of the strong man. No doubt about it, Satan seduces humans with all kinds of temptations. He is viciously conniving and deviously convincing when it comes to the appeal of evil. He does not show evil to be evil at all, but rather presents evil as the best option for us to choose. Many students that I teach at the Christian school have expressed their frustrations at how hard it is to live a Christian life. They know the truth that we are all imperfect and bound to make mistakes. The one thing I encourage them in (when I hear this conversation) is to not give up hope and not give up striving. Just because we are eventually going to trip up in sin is not excuse to not try in the first place.

But the fact that Jesus alludes to binding or tying up the strong man must bring us encouragement, and not just a small hint or sense of encouragement, but a full sword-bearing, sword-swinging encouragement. It is possible to bind Satan. James encouraged the first-century Christians (and us) by tell them the way to bind and tie up Satan. "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (4:7, NIV) Going back to the temptations of Jesus, we see that for every temptation Jesus responded with scripture. This, then, is how we bind and hog-tie Satan--hide away scripture in your heart and meditate upon it day and night. This is also how we will plunder the souls that Satan lays claim to. All scripture can be used to reveal the nature of God, confront the truth of sin (which Satan does not want the world to know is its prime problem), and lead people to the cross and love of Christ, the only Savior, to whom be glory forever, Amen!

So to sum up 1) Satan is to be taken seriously as a legitimate threat; 2) though Satan is strong, it is not an impossible fight when the Sword of the Spirit of Truth (the Word) is used; 3) souls are at stake--this battle is literally a matter of life and death eternal. Consider which ending you want for yourself and your loved ones. Then begin to hide God's Word away in your heart and follow Christ's commands to carry His teachings to the very ends of the earth (starting in your neighborhood, of course).