To Grow In Grace

Most Christians generally assume grace is one large, static payment you pull from to cover our spiritual death and sin.

Honestly, I generally think of grace this way. I’m a sinner. God hands me this unchanging payment of grace. I’m moved by this grace, repent, confess, and believe in Jesus.

And that’s it.

However, the phrase to “grow in grace” recently struck me. I would venture to assume most Christians don’t think of grace as something you can grow into.

I certainly didn’t.

Dallas Willard writes: “When we understand that grace (charis) is gift (charisma), we then see that to grow in grace is to grow in what is given to us of God and by God.”

All too often, we witness Christians largely unaffected by the cross and by the Gospel. As mentioned in several other posts, Christians are by and large vastly similar in action and life to not-yet Christians. The Gospel ~ The CROSS ~ has to mean so much more than one big grace payment that leaves us generally unchanged.

Instead, like me, let’s understand grace as something you can grow in.

How?

“The disciplines are then, in the clearest sense, a means to that grace and also to those gifts.”

“A discipline for the spiritual life is…nothing but an activity undertaken to bring us into more effective cooperation with Christ and his Kingdom.”

Protestantism developed in a negative reaction to works-based righteousness. Thus, since the Reformation, most mainline Protestant churches still possess an “allergy” to any talk of growth, discipline, or even discipleship.

Today, picture the end of your life (or heck, even five years from now). We’ve been given the incredible gift of grace. Are you going to hide it and let it remain stagnant? Or are you going to train yourself, discipline yourself to grow in grace?

It’s God’s gift to you. What are you going to do to grow it?

But I’m Just Human…

When talking about grace, I find it impossible to not talk about works as well.

As Martin Luther wrote: “Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it. Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures. The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith. Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace. Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!”

In previous posts, I reflected on the theology of glory versus the theology of the cross. Before moving on, I want to be clear I do not equate works with a theology of glory or grace with a theology of the cross – but there are some similarities.

A theology of glory will focus more intently on what an individual can do to find their soul’s glorious destiny. It will firmly establish that their will is in control, and thus it makes perfect sense to simply “try harder, think more positively, or work harder” to improve your current life condition.

A theology of the cross, however, focuses singularly on the suffering of Christ on the cross, how that story enters our story, and how we look intently on the cross and embrace the common suffering with Christ. We don’t try to answer the why, we simply commune with Christ on the cross of suffering, recognizing our attempts to “satisfy” will only be ill-fated on our own.

Thus, onto a discussion of works and faith. Most evangelicals agree on the Gospel message: We are sinners and thus saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. This is the GOOD GOOD FREAKING NEWS! Ya baby! God graciously saves us (even though we don’t deserve it). The Holy Spirit compels us to admit we are sinners and repent of our sinful desires to save ourselves. He initiates faith inside of us (and subsequently becomes the only “requirement” fulfilled of salvation). And we get a piece of all of this because of what Jesus accomplished through his life, crucifixion, and resurrection.

However, as Luther duly points out, we can’t any more talk about faith without talking about works. As Dallas Willard writes, “It’s a familiar story. ‘We’re only human,’ we say, and ‘to err is human…’ Jesus could not have imposed anything that hard upon us. And beside, we’re in a period of grace – we are saved by grace, not by anything we do.” But see, as Willard concludes, this is not a sufficient answer. Instead, “all our reasoning cannot, however, remove the thought that Jesus calls us to follow him – to follow him now…”

The theology of the cross establishes there must be a sufficient death to self before there is any hope of a resurrection and recognition of the grace of God. In essence, it begins with God. It ends with God. In between, how are we to hope for a life lived resembling Christ?

Theologically, there are wide-ranging ideas about what it means to resemble and live like Christ. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I do know like any successful athlete, we must not simply hope to respond and play well at game-time without discipline and practice. As John Wesley noted, “The soul and body makes a man; the Spirit and discipline make a Christian.”

In the Lutheran world along with other mainline, liberal Protestant churches, we tend to emphasize grace too often. I know this seems impossible because the grace of God is the most incredible message of Scripture. However, without an equal dosage of spiritual discipline, discipleship, practices to following Jesus, and works, we can’t possibly be complete followers of Christ. If we simply listen all day about how we are saved, saved, saved by grace without any kind of discussion about how Jesus calls us to FOLLOW him no matter the cost, we’ll simply become couch potatoes listening to our parents tell us how we’re going to become professional athletes by sitting on the couch.

To fully embrace the theology of the cross, we must look at the cross as a mirror and see the futility in doing things our way. The cross reflects our inability to fulfill the deeper longings on our own.

Instead, the reflection of the cross should compel and propel us to pursuing a life of spiritual discipline. “His commands are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). If we want the easy yoke of Christ, we must give our total selves to a disciplined following of Christ in the totality of our lives.

Are you compelled and propelled by the cross to follow the way of Christ?

Do you gaze upon the cross and see the reflection of your life lived in futility on your own accord or in the way of Christ?

My desire, in 2010, is to grow in Christlikeness. I can’t do it on my own. I need the power of the Holy Spirit. I need the cross. I need to remember that growth only comes by the grace of God. But I’m going to work from the inside-out. I’m going to engage in centuries old spiritual disciplines and practice. I don’t think my soul is destined for glory, but my soul is destined to be infused with the image of Christ. But it will take discipline, practice and preparation.

What do you think?

It’s a LOVE HAITI thing.

On February 13th, the CLC Emerging Generations department is putting on a Haiti Support Vigil called “It’s a LOVE HAITI thing.”

More than anything, we will be lifting our voices in prayer and worship to God, groaning and mourning for Haiti. It will be a time of intimate worship and prayer. We are praying for people to be taken through the gamut of emotions. Our love of God despite the losses; our worship of God and for his glory to be displayed in the midst of suffering; our cry out to God in pain for the 111,000 lives lost; our call to action as followers of Christ; asking the question, why didn’t we help Haiti (one of the poorest nations in the world) before the earthquake?; and the hope that remains despite the tragedy. We will also be collecting shoes for Souls4Soles, money directed towards World Vision, and selling T-Shirts (It’s a LOVE HAITI thing.) with proceeds going to Compassion.

It is often asked how churches should respond in the midst of crises such as these. Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill, witnessed Haiti first hand: Read here.

They followed up with a powerful post by Pastor Jamie Munson of Mars Hill. Please read here.

In my conclusion, if churches and Christians are on the frontlines of battle in response to tragedies such as this Haitians earthquake, we’re not taking the call of Jesus very seriously. If churches aren’t weeping at the images and chomping at the bit to help in any capacity through financial donation, prayer, or physical assistance, I’m guessing that church isn’t taking the commands of Jesus very seriously.

Let me tell you this: The non-Christians of the world are responding mightily. It’s long been assessed that Christians don’t differ much in terms of love from non-Christians. This is silly, when you think about it! Jesus, no matter if you are a Christian or not, is considered the most loving human being to ever walk this earth. As Christians, we are to be known by our love. Period. Are we? Is your church? Are you known by your love in this crisis?

This situation has struck a unique chord inside of me. I just finished reading “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan for a second time in preparation for a book study. He asks this haunting question (that was asked of him in college): What are you doing in your life right now that requires faith?

In other words, what am I doing in response to Haiti that requires a complete trust in God? Why are we so content to give “just enough?” Or why are we satisfied to do just a little?

What about a drastic, inhuman, God-centered, faithful response to this tragedy?

(By the way, I’m preaching to myself as much as any reader. I’m not innocent, trust me).

It’s time to live a life of radical faith.

Respond to this tragedy by attending It’s a Love Haiti thing. It’s not much, but it’s what the youth of CLC are attempting to offer. A chance to worship God. A chance to pray. A chance to respond to this crisis through financial support, worship, prayer, and meditation.

It’s time to come together as a united voice and tell God we love Him no matter what is happening, that we can’t wait to see His glory displayed,  and in turn, move to action as followers of Jesus Christ.

Positive Thinking Doesn’t Equal Glory

The theology of glory, as mentioned in yesterday’s post, is largely built on the assumption that everyone is destined for a glory road. If we just try hard enough; if we just think positively; if we believe we can – we will reach the glory road.

This trend in the Christian world is disgustingly non-Christian.

I don’t see Jesus ever rallying up the troops with a pep talk entitled: “If you think you can, you can!” Or, “How to think and grow rich.”

Mitch Horowitz, author of Occult America, does a superb job of outlining how the esoteric, spiritualist, New Age, occult movements of America came into play.

This mind-power mysticism is a part, but not all, of what it means to believe in a theology of glory. However, it is interesting to note how these interact with each other. For one, mind-power mysticism (the belief that we can just think harder, try harder, believe more) is solely built on the idea we are all destined for white-picket fences, ponies, sweet cars, and prosperity. However, this is clearly not reminiscent of the theology of the cross.

I believe this mind-power mysticism, positive thinking, “marshmallow” theology is not only taking over as the dominant philosophical thinking in the world today, but is also permeating the Christian, American Church as well.

This is what causes “ultimate despair.”

Personally (and I’m going to get real personal here), I struggle every single day with the fact that my reality doesn’t match my hopes and dreams.

What I mean is, I am sad – when I know I shouldn’t be. I’m bored – when I shouldn’t be. I’m angry – when I shouldn’t be. I’m feeling down – when I shouldn’t be. I’m always thirsting for more. I’m usually hungering for more.

On my own strength, I can’t learn to quench the thirst in my soul. Knowledge doesn’t fill it. Reading doesn’t fill it. Great times with Emily doesn’t fill it. Nothing in this world ever truly fills it.

Furthermore, if I just think more positively, I don’t feel better. If I become more optimistic, I don’t find satisfaction.

The truth is, there is one and only one thing/person that could ever truly fill my soul: Jesus Christ.

Even though I’ve accepted this and believe it with everything I am, why does this not feel like a reality to me very often? Why do I struggle to feel satisfaction?

I don’t know for sure, to be honest.

What I do know is this: The answer is not found in thinking more positively or becoming more optimistic. My soul isn’t destined for some glory road. I can’t just try harder or work harder. Heck, I work hard enough!

All I can do is simply look to the cross, recognize how my story intersects with the story of Christ, and embrace it as Christ embraces me.

What do you think?

Glory v. the Cross

I just finished Gerhard Forde’s On Being a Theologian of the Cross based on the recommendation from a few friends and Mark Driscoll’s blog recommendation on five books every youth pastor should read.

Forde’s book is a reflection on Martin Luther’s Heidleberg Disputation. Essentially, Forde expands on Luther’s idea that there are two theologies one can land on: A theology of glory or a theology of the cross. This was an incredibly challenging book because I find myself naturally drifting to a theology of glory all the time! I guess I’m a fallen creature, huh?

What is a theology of glory? It’s essentially a belief that the soul is destined to return to glory. People are simply exiled souls and if they make the necessary reparations and purge themselves of whatever is in the way, they’ll return to glory.

In the glory theology, people are always seeking to understand. They are always looking through the cross to see what’s on the other side. They attempt to answer Jesus’ final question: Why has God forsaken him/me?

Glory theology believes the will is in control. Therefore, people can essentially exert themselves just enough through positive thinking or optimistic belief to reach glory. Forde hammers, and rightfully so, a lot of the New Age and pop psychology “marshmallow” theology expressed by Joel Osteen, emergent folks who don’t want to talk about the cross, and “power of positive thinking” type theology (i.e., The Secret). As Luther understands, “Superficial optimism breeds ultimate despair.”

The point Forde makes about glory theology is that we are constantly preaching about how life is going to get better, especially if you just think positively. This crappy theology ultimately leads to MORE despair because how do you explain that to someone in Haiti? Did they just need to think more positively? The answer to elude ultimate despair is to embrace the cross. There is no other hope, no other way.

Theology of the cross, on the other hand, admits addiction to sin and addiction to our selves. We can’t answer Jesus’ final question; we can only die with him. We can only enter INTO the cross story and crucify ourselves with him. More clearly, Jesus enters into our story by what he suffered on the cross. Jesus enters US through this story…It’s never about what we’re doing.

Instead, it’s all God. A person who understands the theology of the cross understands that we must call a spade a spade, and say what a thing is. Therefore, we don’t pepper people with marshmallow sermons on positive thinking and optimism. We don’t sugarcoat suffering and sin because it’s not about our glory anyways.

The cross (suffering) isn’t transparent; it’s like a mirror. Once we embrace our ultimate despair and die to any hope found in ourselves, only then can we see the hope of the resurrection. To understand the theology of the cross is to truly fear God. Fear of God means letting God simply be God (Why Haiti? We don’t know! All we can know is that we are supposed to, out of what Jesus has done to us, enter into suffering with people).

In conclusion, this challenge from Francis Chan ties perfect into what Luther and Forde are trying to explain. In a theology of glory, we are always trying to explain the invisible qualities of God. Why did this happen to me? What can I do? How can I reach glory once again? Instead, we must embrace the theology of the cross which claims that we don’t know nor should we care. Jesus suffered. So do we. We embrace this very nature which Jesus embraced.

So the question is, according to Francis Chan, is: “Are we in love with God or just His stuff?”

If God doesn’t move you back to financial security, will you still love Him?

If you don’t get that job you wanted, will you still love Him?

If your soul doesn’t return to the glory Americans are promised (prosperity and long life), will you still love God?

Darkness = Absence of Light

Darkness = Absence of Light

After Yeshua was crucified, the gospels portray an interesting string of events leading to Yeshua’s resurrection. I realized that I never asked the question why it was Joseph of Arimathea who asked to bury Yeshua’s body. Joseph of Arimathea, who supposedly was a respected Orthodox Jew (some believe he was a member of the Sanhedrin) came forward to the Romans and requested to collect the body of Yeshua. Because Joseph appears only now, many presume he has been a secret believer in order to avoid rejection or at least persecution from the Rabbinical elite (Let the reader understand my respect for the Rabbinical community nonetheless). But why was it Joseph who came forward? Why not one of his disciples, a male member of His earthly family, or another follower? Surely, these were his mishpahah (his family), so why weren’t they there?

There is no simple answer. But it does raise the question: What constitutes a friend? What constitutes a student or a believer? Yeshua fortold his resurrection; his talmidim (disciples, students) knew this. Yet, they were not there. Did they give up hope? Were they too distraught to show up? If the disciples truly believed that He would be raised in three days, wouldn’t they be there at the tomb waiting all day? They should be having a mega-party! Yet, only the women come.

This conundrum takes my consciousness in multiple directions. How could his disciples – men who gave up their entire livelihood to follow Yeshua – simply doubt and mourn enough to forget Yeshua’s promises? Surely, a follower must possess some amount of zealousness to drop his nets and follow a Rabbi. I think about how Joseph of Arimathea, in faith, boldly came to bury Yeshua in his Garden Tomb, but is the fact that he believed in secret actually good in the eyes of the Lord? Are we called to be secret believers? Or are we called to be exactly what God asks us to be regardless of the consequences? (I believe the latter).

When the women saw the angel of the Lord in place of Yeshua, who was risen and is still risen, the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are searching for Yeshua, who was crucified. He is not here because he has been raised – just as he said!” (Matthew 28: 5-6, CJB). Note that the angel, first, speaks directly to the women and not to the Romans (quite funny and telling). The angel is, in effect, explaining to them that they have the wrong idea if they want to discover their Messiah in the areas of the dead. Our Messiah is the God of the living.

In summary, our belief in Yeshua, the God of Israel, should be complete. Our faith will require us to stay the course until the very end. God is looking for depth of quality in our faith – not quantity. Our story will be about how we exercised our faith with the circumstances God bestowed upon us on earth. Thus, if we live in secret, how can we be a true light to those who do not believe? The definition of darkness is absence of light. Bring a piece of light into a dark room and the entire place – every square inch of it – will be illuminated. Often, the path of a believer will run through darkness, which means that the believer must expect to see nothing but darkness around them. In those moments, they must remember that they are the ones who have been called to bring light into darkness. They must rest upon their faith. A soul re-directed to Yeshua is like saving the world. Shalom.

– John Sharpe

When People Hurt…

I’m (John A.) reading Columbine by Dave Cullen.

It’s a truly fascinating examination of the horrific event that occurred at Columbine High School over a decade ago. Cullen does a marvelous job of wading through the myths, theories, and gets right to the heart of the event. I’ll post more on it later.

For now, as a person who works with youth, I’m struck by this journal entry by Dylan Klebold (one of the two shooters at Columbine). This came about two years before he began that fateful day on April 20, 1999.

“Thinking of suicide gives me hope that I’ll be in my place where I go after this life – that I’ll finally not be at war w. myself, the world, the universe – my mind, body, everywhere, everything at PEACE – me – my soul (existence).”

How many people write – consciously or subconsciously – similar thoughts every…single…day?

How many people truly believe that suicide is the best way out?

How many people are hurting so badly that they will do whatever it takes to ESCAPE?

With all these people hurting, I believe, how can we possibly begin to help them?

I certainly don’t have definite answers.

The CLC Emerging Generations Resurgence ministry is beginning a series on “To Save a Life.” It’s based on the movie, set to be released January 22. I haven’t seen it, but I wrote up a fourteen day manual on depression, suicide, and addiction to provide some guidance throughout this journey.

In my experience, there are large percentages of kids who are as lonely and hurting as Dylan Klebold. They are dying for people to understand them without an agenda, without definite answers.

The tragedy at Columbine created a heartfelt and genuine religious response. I was fascinated as Cullen recounted all the “answers” various members of the clergy provided around Denver.

Some believed it was the work of Satan.

Others saw it as just a physical act of hate.

The late Reverend Jerry Falwell, a so-called “Christian” leader, issued a media alert saying: “Two filthy fags slaughtered 13 people at Columbine High.” (Two things: This is a horribly un-Christian and disgustingly hateful thing to say, and Dylan and Eric were not homosexuals).

Others saw it an opportunistic time to get people to convert to Jesus. In one prayer vigil, a silly little Youth Pastor decided he would make an altar call to the 800 students present. No one went forward.

When people are hurting and tragedy strikes, Christians often want to play the role of God. We want to be able to provide definite answers. We want to say: “Hey, I know exactly how you can be healed and why you are hurting.”

Here’s what I believe: There are certainly some essential definites when it comes to joining the road to healing. God (the right understanding of) is one of these definites.

However, by and large, we are called not to provide answers to those hurting, lonely, suicidal, and depressed.

Instead, we are called to say something similar to what Pastor Marxhausen, a Lutheran pastor who performed Dylan’s funeral, said: “I have no idea how you are going to heal. But God still wants to reach out to you and will always reach out to you in some way.” All the while, we’ll be right beside you, willing to join you in the road of suffering.

Instead of seeking answers with those hurting in your life, simply be present with them. Point them to the road to healing, but don’t arrogantly claim to possess all the answers.

When people hurt, be present with them. Know, carry, and engage their stories. Join them on the road to suffering.

Let them know there is a God who has suffered through the work of Jesus and is willing to suffer even more with them.

TrustQuotient

Much of life is decided and lived by how much trust we possess.

Growing up, you trust your parents to provide food, shelter, and basic needs. You make decisions based on how much you trust your parents to provide these essentials.

You trust the American Dream. You trust that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness will work to your benefit.

Clearly, you trusted the Economy to continue growing. More than likely, like I did, you bought into this idea that there was no end to this exponential growth the market and housing economies were experiencing. Simply, you trusted it would just…keep…growing.

You probably trust the “system” to work out for your benefit. Go to school. Earn a job. Find a spouse. Buy a home.

This decade alone has crushed general trust. 9/11, recessions, market crashes, wars, Enron, WorldCom, Bernie Madoff, housing bubbles…And this is just a start.

We soon find in life that trust is easily broken, fragile at best, and generally, an illusion.

Your TrustQuotient has been crushed. It is probably zero or negative. (Your TrustQuotient are your hopes/beliefs about what things should be divided by reality. When hopes/beliefs are high and your reality is low — thus, good — your TrustQuotient is high. When hopes/beliefs drop and your reality is high — thus, bad — your TrustQuotient is low. I totally made this word up…).

When reality is caving in around us and our hopes and beliefs about the way things should be are disseminating, what are we to do? When you’re TrustQuotient is dimming, where do you turn?

God has opened my eyes to three examples in answer to this question recently:

1. A Truthful and Trustworthy God

Martin Luther, in Freedom of a Christian, writes: “There is no other honor equal to the estimate of truthfulness and righteousness with which we honor him whom we trust.” One of the three greatest benefits of FAITH, according to Luther, is that we can put our TRUST in the absolute TRUTHFULNESS of who God is according to Scripture.

“What greater rebellion against God, what greater wickedness, what greater contempt of God is there than not believing his promise? For what is this but to make God a liar or to doubt that he is truthful?”

As our TrustQuotient is crushed, the question remains: In whom or what do you put your trust? Is it in the world, the American Dream, the economy, or your job? Or is it in the God of the Universe who says He will take care of those who love Him and works for the good in all things?

Put your trust and faith where Luther did: “Faith is a living and unshakeable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that one would die a thousand deaths for it.”

2. God is Big

I’m taking a stab at reading through the Historical Bible in a year. On my way through Genesis, I came across a verse I’d never noticed before. YHWH has promised Sarah a son through Abraham, despite being way too old for babies. She responds by chuckling at the absurdity. The Lord says to Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh?…Is ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?!” (Gen 18:13-14).

Is anything too hard for God?

Do you truly TRUST that God is working for the good in all things?

Do you truly believe that the GOD who is BIGGER than the multiples of universes is actually concerned about our very tiny lives?

3. God is Small

In the typical Hebraic worldview, God is never questioned. He has you RIGHT where He wants you. According to a few of my Jewish friends, God is NEVER questioned or doubted.

Although our Western Christian worldview encourages doubt and wailing at our Creator God as if he is messing up somehow, a traditional Jewish understanding is that God is not to be questioned.

He is big. Certainly.

But what makes him small is that He’s in control. You need to do your part, but there isn’t anything that is happening “accidentally.”

Personally, I put my trust in a God who is big enough to understand the movements and dividing of reality against our hopes and dreams. This God is also small enough to want you to be exactly where you should be.

I carry a quote on my dashboard that reads: “God wants you to get where He wants you to go more than you want to get where you want to go.”

Today, I trust in a God who is completely trustworthy and truthful.

I trust in a God who doesn’t encounter any situation that is TOO HARD for Him.

I trust in a God who is not to be doubted, for He…is…in…CONTROL!

Where is your TrustQuotient at today?

Up in the Air: A Life Lived Without Parentheses

Emily and I recently saw Up In the Air, a Jason Reitman (most notably directed Juno, one of my personal favorites) penned and directed film. Although our intentions that night were to see Avatar, I was thoroughly not disappointed by the results of this film.

First, the dialogue was phenomenal. George Clooney, as Ryan Bingham, was phenomenal. I usually think of Clooney starring in action, fast-paced fun moves (such as the Ocean movies) or in goofy roles (O Brother Where Art Thou / Men Who Stare At Goats). However, the quirky, realistic drama role fit him perfectly. His co-stars of Vera Farmiga (as love interest Alex) and Anna Kendrick (as co-worker Natalie) were a superb fit. The only disappointment was that there weren’t more scenes with Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover)!

More importantly, I enjoy movies whether they are seriously entertain or stir something inside of me. I am rarely more angry after spending 2 hours watching a pitiful film.

Up In the Air portrays the life of Ryan Bingham. Ryan is a businessman who flies 270 days a year. He is hired by companies to let go of and fire people, then provide them materials for a “life transition.”

He is the epitome of self-centered living. His life is all about his airline miles (seeking to reach 10 million miles), his bonus cards at hotels and car rentals, and airline travel.

Alex, a woman he meets while on the road, appears to fit symmetrically with Ryan. She is the woman version of Ryan. They develop a romantic interest and Ryan begins to wonder if life might be better with two (rather than one).

Natalie, a recent graduate of Cornell, has received attention from the boss of their company to revamp the company. She has created a video conference program that allows clients to get fired via video conference rather than in person. She is forced to travel with Ryan in order to learn the ropes.

Enough of the summary. Go see it.

What makes this film “well-done” is the way it surveyed themes without making it obvious which way was more “appropriate” or not. It gave space to the viewer to choose what was “right” and what was “wrong.” It opened doors without trying to show the obvious way to close it.

With that being said, here are the four stirrings this movie created for me:

1. The Parentheses and The Escape

It’s no spoiler by now: Ryan and Alex develop a romantic, sexual relationship. Ryan begins to fall for her, believing she was single. Up til this point, he had zero interest in marriage or kids (more on that later). So, Alex has thrown a serious wrench in his life machine. As he walks off stage giving his “backpack” talk (where life is better with an empty backpack), he heads to her home in Chicago (DON’T READ ON IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED!).

When he shows up, he finds her with a family and a husband.

Shattered.

She calls and asks what he was doing. That was her real life, she said. He is just a PARENTHESES and an ESCAPE from real life.

She doesn’t apologize for this being the case and in fact, tells him to call her if he wants to see her again.

Here’s the issue: Life is more fragmented and segmented than ever before. We live in an era that allows (celebrates? Endorses?) multiple lives and segmentation. Integrity is not a virtue any longer. To be Johnny Party Animal, Johnny Church Goer, Johnny Devil Worshipper, and Johnny Sweet Child to all kinds of different people without a blink of an eye is not only done, but wholly accepted.

Taste a little of this. Taste a little of that. Be a little of this. Be a little of that. It’s all good – as long as you follow your “heart.”

Need an escape from “real life?” Then just go GET IT. Apologies are heeded only after being caught (see Tiger Woods, Senator John Ensign).

Integrity needs to be re-valued on all levels of life. In a world dominated by celebrity views and media, we get all kinds of quacky beliefs and statements about “doing what you want” and “following your heart” – no matter the cost! It used to be that the cost of a “parentheses” was too high to consider. Now, the “parentheses” is sought after!

2010 dream? No more “escapes.” No more parentheses for everyone. Live lives of integrity.

2. Idealism v. Realism

On one hand, we witness the passion and “idealism” of young Natalie. She is full of vigor, intelligence, and passion. At one point, her boyfriend breaks up with her and she is devastated. As she discusses her life desires with Alex and Ryan, they begin to tell her eventually she’ll “grow up” and hope for just the basics.

Actually, she tells them, “I don’t want to settle.”

Eventually, she quits her job because she doesn’t want to settle.

Here’s the dynamic at play. There’s the passion and dreams of a young, recent graduate, and the hard realistic life views of Alex and Ryan. What’s more desirable?

On a quick side note, as I was discussing my year with my friend Evan, he told me of how he was going to either react or overreact, but just not underreact in 2010. I really liked this, because we are both passionate people who are driven by challenge and reaction. To underreact is to simply lose before you play.

In 2009, I slowly slipped to underreaction. Why? When I reacted or over reacted (my natural state), I was either treated with a mocking pat-on-the-back as if I were a young, “idealistic” child or burned by people who hurt me.

The point is this: Passion and the desire to not settle is not an unworthy dream. Ryan and Alex are just under reacting. They’ve decided if they don’t have expectations, then they can’t be hurt. They refuse to get off the sidelines and into the game any longer. They’ve relegated themselves to the bench. If you don’t play, you can’t lose, they reason.

For me? I want expectations. I don’t want to settle. I want to react or over react. I would rather get burned or mocked REACTING IDEALISTICALLY then to sit back and settle into a dull life lacking expectations in the name of REALISM.

I believe Jesus wants us to experience life and life to the full. This is done IN THE GAME and not losing our hopes, our dreams, our desires, and our longings for something more.

3. The Goods (and the pursuit thereof)

I hurt for Ryan. When he finally decided to go for Alex and leave his selfish life and empty pursuits behind, he thought it’d all be well. He finally gathered the courage to step out. Instead, he got burned.

Life doesn’t have to be that way. True, we’ll step out and get burned, but that doesn’t mean when chasing The Goods we will always get burned.

4. Married v. Single Life

Again, credit to Evan for this thought, but especially in Christian circles, marriage is made an idol. Most of the time in movies, relationships are the goal and the gold at the end of the rainbow.

In other words, marriage = good. Single = bad.

I know I go against most popular Christian views in this regards, but marriage is not the ULTIMATE in life.

Yes, it is incredible. There is something deeply spiritual about two becoming one. I love my wife more than anything in this world. I wouldn’t trade being married for anything in this life.

However, we’ve made an idol out of marriage.

Ryan doesn’t want to get married. He doesn’t want kids. What’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing.

I appreciated the way this film portrayed both lives as equal. Alex isn’t living the dream because she’s married with kids (in fact, she’s having an affair!). Ryan isn’t living the dream because he’s single, but he seems content with life enough.

Conclusion: I’m a big goals guy. Therefore, I love New Year’s Resolutions. However, I’ve had difficulty settling on some this year. I recently read Donald Miller’s post about Resolutions. That, combined with this movie, I’ve settled on some.

My narrative resolutions of 2010:

* A life without parentheses or escapes or even desires for one. It would be a life of deep integrity.

* I will celebrate my passionate “idealism” and refuse to give into the bench warming views of realism.

* Support people on their chase of “The Goods” through the development of a Healing Ministry at The Garage.

* Provide support for marriages and prevention of divorces. I will work to create more opportunities for current marriages to grow. Divorce is an epidemic.

There is much more at work in this film than I analyzed in this post. These are just a few of the stirrings this film created in me. I hope you go see it and let me know your thoughts!

Gifts to God in the New Year

The end of the year is a wonderful opportunity to assess our life and relationship with God. There are some good things to consider as we all celebrate Christmas and New Years.

Great portions of the Western world exchange gifts on December 25. Children bask with their new toys, families congregate for festive dinner delights and, here in America, capitalism grinds to a halt for about 24 hours. But let us consider also, friends, what our gift to God will be this year as well. I propose two gifts: Obedience and Integrity.

The Gift of Obedience: Obedience to God defies our human desires and strengthens our will to act. When we obey God, there is a natural gift exchange. God composed the notion of obedience with a built-in benefit. This exchange is freedom. It revolutionizes our entire way of living from a life of bondage to a life of freedom. An unwise person will evaluate obedience to God as a loss of personal control and will deny himself/herself the opportunity. A wise person will see past the loss of personal control and recognize that true wisdom and love are on the other side. They will obey and walk with God. In exchange, God will grant them spiritual freedom that surpasses the greatness of anything they have ever known in this world.

Let us consider this notion of obedience as we contemplate 2010. Are we ready to give up our dreams in order to follow Him? If He speaks to us in prayer, have we prepared our hearts to drop our nets and do what He says? Let us remember that our entire world – from our own vantage point as well as how it actually is – exists for the opportunity to serve Him in obedience.

For most believers, obeying God is initially tough and mentally taxing. Such a process would make sense because the first step of anything in life is generally the toughest. When we begin to obey God in any kind of capacity, therein lies the enemy who awaits to deceive us. But the presence of the Enemy should only serve as a reminder that we believe in the true living God. It should also serve as motivation to proceed ahead in His name, for His purpose, despite the consequences and initial discomfort.

God made our life purpose very, very simple. Follow Me. The response is a yes or a no. Oh, it really isn’t that complicated. Those that hesitate are like humans deciding to keep swimming in big, big river in class-5 rapids (the most dangerous level possible for river rafting) instead of getting right back into that raft. Just get into the raft – it is going to save your life. Hesitate and the river will consume you fast. In other words, the river of life will consume your heart. You may not possess the will to swim back to the raft later on.

Obedience to God is immediate. There is no half-way when He calls us to obey. We either do or we do not. For those of us who struggle, let us look past discomfort or uncertainty. Let’s give God a gift of obedience because true freedom in Him is the result.

The Gift of Integrity: Perhaps another gift to God might be in order: Integrity. How many times do we forsake our integrity every single day? How many of us create dual lives and personalities (for example, a different you at work, a different you at home, a different you at a baseball game)? We have to ask ourselves, “Why do we do this? Why do we have to forsake who we really are in order to conform to our surroundings?”

Spiritually, Jesus is non-conformist. In other words, he understood his calling and remained wholly dedicated and obedient to God the Father despite the consequences. He kept his integrity within Torah & Talmudic Rabbinical society. He followed Torah and lived Torah, but He did not heed to all of the Talmud. His integrity even grew stronger as he bled on the cross. His integrity was glorified when he rose again in three days. And it continues to be justified today, almost 2,000 years after he departed from the disciples.

Jesus functions upon his integrity – he did not alter any element of his being in order to “be cool” with his disciples or to “be accepted” by the Judeans, Romans or Samaritans. He did not alter anything. Jesus, as an aspect of God the Father, was the most real and authentic being on the planet.

I propose that we all think quite intently about the notion of integrity this year. Integrity is no small trait. Without integrity, how can your spiritual soul come alive? Without integrity, do you believe God will call you to live for Him? Without integrity, we die a slow spiritual death. Let us remember to hold tight to our soul the creed and spirit of Jesus, never forsaking His name for the benefit of ourselves or even our loved ones. Jesus is the rock. The rock becomes sand when it loses its integrity.

~ John Sharpe