Ambiguity isn’t something that I readily accept. I desire clarity in most areas of my life. I don’t simply want an approximation of my bank balance; I want online updates with line-by-line descriptions. I’m not satisfied with a general diagnosis of an illness; I want scans, percentages, and a strategic plan for recovery. And as an evangelical, I surely don’t want to hear that God’s word is unclear or confusing; I want to fit all Scripture into my neatly designed theology. However, this semester of courses has helped me to remember that God and his Word are not always as understandable as I would like. I’m learning that if I want to think theologically, I need to be willing to accept ambiguity. That statement frightens me. In saying that, I fear that I’ve joined the ranks of liberals and the theologically immature. But if I were to be honest with myself, I know that that’s not the case. Accepting ambiguity is not a sign of liberalism or weakness. Accepting ambiguity is simply necessary.

Such ambiguity was demonstrated during a class discussion of Habakkuk 2:4: “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith” (ESV). Though this is a verse that I’m fairly familiar with, I was challenged to consider a new perspective during our class. The tension exists in the interpretation of the second half of this verse. Depending on the manner in which the text is translated, there are varying ways in which it can be understood including:

1. but the righteous shall live by his faith.
2. but the righteous shall live by his faithfulness
3. but the righteous shall live by my faith
4. but the righteous shall live by my faithfulness

They don’t seem very different, but their dissimilarities are notable. I’ve always understood the text as describing the faith of an individual. A man who lives in righteousness is one who lives by faith in God. There’s nothing wrong in interpreting the verse in this manner; we are taught throughout the Scriptures that faith is essential to righteous living. Yet in class I was confronted with a different viewpoint on this verse. Could it be that the subject of the word faith is actually YHWH? Maybe the verse isn’t pointing to the faith of an individual, but rather the faithfulness of God in the life of an individual. The Septuagint (the Greek version of the Jewish Scriptures) also seems to translate this verse as pointing to YHWH’s faith (or faithfulness) as opposed to an individual’s: “…but the just shall live by my faith” (LXX). So which is it? How do we understand this verse?

I’m actually still unclear.

So where does this leave me? Does this serve as fuel for the unbeliever’s argument? It shouldn’t. Does this mean that God or his Word cannot be trusted? Absolutely not. Is this showing us that our faith is flawed? Not at all. Instead, it is a reminder to me that I must be willing to accept uncertainty in my study of theology. You see, God has sufficiently provided me with everything that I need for faith and living. He has graciously revealed himself to us through Christ Jesus. The Scriptures don’t allow confusion concerning the essential doctrines of our faith (i.e. God is Triune, Jesus is fully God and fully man, salvation is by grace and through faith in Jesus alone, etc). But at the same time, I need to remember that everything will not sort precisely onto a chart. I will not be able to know or explain all things.

But instead of responding in fear to this realization, I need to respond in awe of the incomprehensible God who has graciously revealed himself to us. He is omniscient and I am not. I must be accepting of that.

Life is busy. My plate is overflowing with stuff. Good stuff. Bad stuff. Easy stuff. Hard stuff. Nonetheless stuff. Today was an especially tiring day. My mind is racing at 1000 m.p.h. about all the things that I need to get done, the people I need to contact, the things I can’t forget, etc. In the midst of today’s chaos I felt the need to consider: am I being intentional about living?

What am I working towards?

Is everything on my plate good?

How am I spending my time?

Am I focusing on the things that matter?

It’s really easy to get into a routine of doing stuff. I’ve spent so much of my life being busy. But how much of my life has been spent being intentional?

I found this video on Jayson John’s blog. I’ve watched it about a dozen times so far. It brings to mind some verses from Scriptures:

(2 Corinthians 3:18) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 

(Romans 5:8) But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

(Mark 2:15) Many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.

(John 8:11) Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.

(Mark 8:34-36) If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

(Philippians 1:27) Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

(Galatians 2:20) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Our Jesus has saved us and continues to save us; actively transforming you and me from the inside-out.

“I am a proud non-reader of books. I like to get information from doing stuff like actually talking to people and living real life.” (Kanye West)

Kanye West is an entertainer. Entertainers love attention. They say and do things that bring fame to themselves.

People love to be entertained. People love giving entertainers attention. We like to make people famous even when they say and do ridiculous things.

In fact, we love entertainers so much that we are willing to financially provide for such people. For example, Kanye “Non-reader” West writes a 52-page book (remember: he just likes to write books, not read them) on nothing and he will sell thousands of copies. Why? Because there are other “non-readers” in this world that love to be entertained and will pay for entertainers to keep entertaining them.

Am I bitter? Yes. Am I wrong in being bitter? Yes. Is Kanye still an idiot? Absolutely.

How do we explain through the use of words something that has no equivalent? Think about it. God is absolutely unique. He has no equivalent. There is no one like Him. And yet we attempt to know who He is through the use of words. It’s like trying to describe an iPhone to a tribal person. Where do you begin? Now before you throw stones at me for being a heretic, hear me out. I believe that God is both incomprehensible and knowable. He is incomprehensible because God is infinite and our finite minds cannot know everything about Him. Yet He is also knowable because though we are not capable of knowing everything about Him, He has graciously made Himself known to us.

One way in which He has revealed Himself to us is through the Scriptures. But here’s what we must ask: can any one word or phrase express His essential nature? In other words, can God be defined? If we say yes, we would have to agree that we can only use the things that we know in order to define Him. But since God is absolutely different than all else, can anything in this world fully define God. Chew on that for a minute.

Here’s the good news. Though we cannot fully understand God, He has given us the means to know Him through the use of imagery that we can relate to. So though God is actually not a rock, the metaphor of a rock tells us something about the character of God. And even though God isn’t actually a shepherd, we better understand our relationship to God in understanding the role and purpose of a shepherd. Jesus as King doesn’t totally describe His being, but it teaches me about the God whom we serve.

So why do I mention this? It’s because I believe that I have done far too little work in studying the metaphors used in the Scriptures concerning God. And why is this important? Well, if all Scripture is God-breathed, then the use of these particular images must be intentional and important. God intends to reveal something about Himself through the words that He has intentionally chosen. But have I done the work of meditating on such imagery?

I hope to spend some time in the next few months dissecting the various metaphors that are used in the Bible to describe God. Though none of these metaphors can be used on its own to define God, each works to provide me with a deeper perspective of the one true God. I hope to share my thoughts and findings with you in the months to come. (And dare I encourage you to do the same?)

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. (Romans 8:11)

This is one of those truths that I often forget. You would think the fact that God dwells in me wouldn’t be easily forgotten. But I do. And my life suffers when I do. Here are some of the ways that I struggle when I’m slow to remember this truth:

1) I rely on myself. I trust in self-help methods in trying to deal with sin on my own.

2) I attribute success to myself. I undeservingly give myself credit for something I didn’t (and couldn’t) do apart from Him.

3) I judge others. I look down at others who struggle with sin and wonder “why can’t they get themselves together?”

4) I underestimate my sin. I convince myself that my sin isn’t so bad or that it isn’t really offensive to God.

5) I pity myself. I wrongly wonder “why God allows this to happen to someone good like me!”

Father, help me to remember that you have given me the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Counselor to convict me of sin, to lead me to repentance, and to trust in the righteousness given to me through Jesus. God help me.

I’m going to attempt to do something that I’ve never done before on this blog… ask for feedback. In keeping with my last post concerning the power of music in our lives, I’m going to ask you to read the lyrics from Bob Dylan’s song “Slow Train” and tell me what you think it’s saying. It may be interesting to read more about the background of the album, Slow Train Coming, before analyzing the song. Anyway, those who listen to Dylan know that he’s a musical genius, and his gift is definitely seen through this song. Enjoy and let’s hear what you think… (I hope I get at least one response. )

Slow Train by Bob Dylan

Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted
Can’t help but wonder what’s happenin’ to my companions,
Are they lost or are they found, have they counted the cost it’ll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they’re gonna have to abandon?
There’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

I had a woman down in Alabama,
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic,
She said, “Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out,
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic.”
There’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

All that foreign oil controlling American soil,
Look around you, it’s just bound to make you embarrassed.
Sheiks walkin’ around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings,
Deciding America’s future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

Man’s ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don’t apply no more,
You can’t rely no more to be standin’ around waitin’
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin’ over in his grave,
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters,
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency,
All non-believers and men stealers talkin’ in the name of religion
And there’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it.
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions,
They talk about a life of brotherly love, show me someone who knows how to
live it. There’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talkin’ boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothin’ I could do to stop it,
I don’t care about economy, I don’t care about astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets,
There’s a slow, slow train comin’ up around the bend.

Music is wonderfully powerful. 

Some songs inspire people to war while others can put a baby to sleep. And though we may sometimes say “I don’t listen to the lyrics, I just like the beat…”, I think we underestimate the influence that songs have in our lives. Songs are constantly being used to teach us, shape us, challenge us, and distract us. It can cause us to develop worldviews or lead us to tear them apart. Songs are filled with messages that either need to be embraced or rejected.

So if what we’re saying is true, then we must examine what we’re listening to. What are these songs saying to us? Here are excerpts of lyrics from a few of the top 10 songs (according to Billboard magazine) for this week. What are these songs teaching us to think/believe/do? Believe me, I’m not secretly telling you to stop listening to the radio or to burn your ipod. I’m just asking us to stop and think about what these songs are saying…

Run This Town Tonight by Jay-Z/Rihanna/Kanye West

I bought my whole family whips, no volvo’s
Next time I’m in Church please no photos,
Police escorts, everybody passports,
This the life that everybody ask for
This the fast life, we are on a crash course
What you think I rap for, to push a ****ing Rav 4?

3 by Brittany Spears

Are – you in, livin’ in sin is the new thing (yeah)
Are – you in, I am countin’! What we do is innocent
Just for fun and nothin’ meant
If you don’t like the company
Let’s just do it you and me
You and me,or three, or four – On the floor.

Down by Jay Sean

So baby don’t worry, you are my only,
You won’t be lonely, even if the sky is falling down,
You’ll be my only, no need to worry,
Baby are you down down down down down.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind… (Romans 12:2)

Why do I continue to allow the world dictate the way that I think, feel, and act? Why have I convinced myself that success is measured by my fame, impact, or following. Why am I slow to forgive, seeking revenge rather than grace? Why am I captivated by the struggles of this world -murder, poverty, corruption- and yet not feel the need to respond. Why do I tell myself that God gauges my righteousness through my deeds?

Why?

I am convinced that these things are a reflection of my unbelief. When God tells me that my identity is defined by Him and that my worth is found in Him, I am not convinced. When I am reminded that I must forgive as He has forgiven me, I think of reasons as to why my situation is an exception. When God instructs me to infiltrate this broken world with the gospel so that it may be redeemed, I cling to the comforts of conformity. When I read that righteousness is graciously imputed to those who believe, I find it too easy.   

Unbelief. I hesitate to believe what God has said. I’d rather continue in skepticism than take hold of truth. My mind needs to be constantly renewed. My sinful nature needs to be continually redeemed. I am not inclined to believe. Understanding and acceptance of truth is supernatural. God must illuminate, convict, and cause repentance. Conformity is human, transformation is divine.

God, help me to not love the world and conform to its ways.  Renew my mind so that I may discern your will – your good and acceptable and perfect will.

So we do not lose heart.Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV)

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can feel myself getting older. I get sleepy way too early. I have to squint to read signs while driving on 95. And let’s not talk about my receding hairline… that was a lost cause since the age of 19. My outer self is truly wasting away. I mean sure there are things that I can do to help slow these processes down, but I’m ultimately just prolonging the inevitable.

Now I know that Paul wasn’t referring to ”getting old” in this verse. But it reminds me that, as Christians, our outer and inner selves are headed in the opposite direction. What’s amazing is that while you and I are breaking down on the exterior with each new day, our inner self is constantly being renewed. In other words, a 90 year old believer, with his wrinkled skin, years of hardship, and issues with sin, is currently experiencing his spiritual peak. Each new day should be a part of a progressive movement in becoming more like Jesus. Our spiritual lives should be a lot better today than it was six months ago. But how is this accomplished? Is it simply the result of trying harder or resolving “to be a better person”? Far from it…

Our inner self is renewed each day when we utterly depend on Jesus to accomplish such work. Day by day, the Spirit of God is working in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). I am convinced that God’s Spirit doesn’t just sit idly waiting for us to initiate change. He is constantly convicting, challenging, and enabling us to be more like Jesus. Thank God that he doesn’t ask us to renew ourselves. We would be screwed. My inside would just end up looking like my outside… wasting away.  

So what does this mean? As Christians, you and I should be experiencing “our best life now.” That’s not the promise of riches, health, happiness, or a lack of hardship that Mr. Osteen talks about. It’s the guarantee that God, who forever dwells within us as believers, has begun this work of salvation and will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

So how is God renewing you today?