College Graduate

I must say, it is weird to think that I am done with Lee. I have finished my school here, but it will be hard to leave. Lee has become a part of me. Friends have come and they have gone, and for a moment I wondered where the Lord was, but He has been faithful to remind me of His faithfulness. The reality is that he has sent me to Lee and Cleveland for a time and season, and the time and season is now up. This is good.

I have learned a lot of new things, met a lot of good people, and given my heart to this school unlike I ever have before, but if I know one thing I know that I have my eyes set on a city who's builder and maker is God, just like Abraham. In the same way that he packed up and left not knowing where he was going, I will too (Hebrews 11-12). I want my vision to be steady so that I am not like a reed shaken by the wind. I planning to go to IHOP-KC for a season right now and don't know much after that, although I am excited and expectant. Lee has given me a desire to incorporate sound theological doctrine, depth, and study into the body of Christ so that we may be rooted and established in His love. My official transcript will state,

Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies, with Minors in Biblical Languages and Spanish.

Who knows where this will take me, I simply hope that it will cause me to love Jesus well so that the Lamb may receive the reward of His sufferings.

As I leave Lee, I am thankful to say that I have very few (if any) regrets. In some way this is how the Lord uses the foolish things to shame the wise. I have spent the past three years studying Theology and sitting in a small room praying to a God that I don't see. It seems dumb, but I wouldn't have it any other way. My time at Lee and with the Prayer Room culminated in a Prayer Conference focused on Intimacy with Jesus in which 700 people pre-registered. Somehow the Lord has taken our weak efforts and attempts to bring prayer back to Lee and has made it a central focus of the campus. I am expectant to see what happens at Lee University and in Cleveland TN.

(Now that I have more time on my hands, look forward to more posts)

What does God think?

Obviously, it has been a while since I wrote a substantial blog and hopefully I will write an update post soon. But for now I want to write some thoughts which I have been entertaining and need a way out of my head. When I came to Lee University I was a little nervous about studying Theology as a major, but as I am finishing up my last year I have grown with a great appreciation for it. Not only that, but already during my break I found myself wanting to continue to read theology (despite the vast amount of complaining about reading I did during the semester). I've come to realize that Theology could be one of the most misunderstood disciplines and should not be seen as boring or unspiritual. Instead, its ultimate end should lead the reader into the Love of the Father and great fascination of who God is.

One of my favorite Contemporary Theologians is Jurgen Moltmann. He is a German theologian who was born in 1926 and was drafted to be a German Solider in WWII. I want to be clear, I do not agree with a lot of his theological stances, but I think he has presented a unique approach to theology which needs to be utilized. His first book was Theology of Hope which was published in 1967. This was not intended to be a Christian Eschatology, but instead present a foundation of hope for all theology (in 1996 he decided to develop this more and write a Christian Eschatology). Soon after Theology of Hope he wrote The Crucified God which was published in 1973, which is where I intend to focus this post.

He poses a question which directs the rest of his book asking, "What does the human cross of Christ mean for God?" It seems like since Christ has died the church has only sought to define the cross in relation to what it means to us and the freedom, salvation, and future we have in Christ. Without neglecting this foundation, could the cross actually mean something for God too? Moltmann explores the dimensions of this in a profound way suggesting that maybe God suffered the loss of his fatherhood in the death of His Son (Expect a post soon discussing more of Moltmann's theology of the cross, but for now, lets continue exploring what prayer means for God).

Recently, one of my favorite professors at Lee made a comment about the current Christian Charismatic understanding of Intercession and prayer. Without quoting him directly he basically compared the churches understanding of intercession as a works based faith and something we do in order for God to act. This is a completely false understanding of prayer because God is outside of every being and needs no one nor nothing to do what He pleases. While I agree with this, immediately a thought popped in my head similar to Moltmann's question with the cross, "What does the saints intercession/prayers mean for God?" While God clearly doesn't need these petitions, could it be that he has set his Kingdom up in such a way to have full bridal partnership in the place of prayer? Could this be similar to the way he used Moses and other leaders in the bible? Could the wedding really be God's ultimate goal?

While God clearly doesn't need us to accomplish His plans, He has invited us to partner with him as His bride. It's the same as in a marriage, while the man is the head and leader he does not do everything. As the Bride of Jesus we are alongside of Him serving Him, we are with him where he is (John 17:24). In His meekness he has given us the freedom to join and to pray His will into existence. For so long I equated meekness with humility until I read this definition by Josh Hawkins:

"Meekness is the restraint of power for the accomplishment of a higher cause. Though outwardly they may all seem similar, we must not confuse meekness with humility or weakness... when someone is meek, they possess power but restrain from using it for themselves. Instead, they operate in humility and use their power for a redemptive purpose... The glory of Jesus’ meekness is that every time He was presented with an opportunity to use His divine power to shield Himself from the full-brunt of the human experience, He did not. He continually used His power as God for the benefit of others. Not once did Jesus warm himself up on a cold night, subdue His hunger pains when He went without food, or silence the mouths of His accusers when lies were spoken about Him." Click Here to read more.

His decision to set up His Kingdom so believers partner with Him in Intercession to accomplish His purposes is His meekness. Clearly He could do whatever He desires in a moment, but instead he has set standards in place that even He Himself will not cross. Just as he used Moses to release the plagues on Pharaoh and to speak to the people of Israel. In the same way He wants to use our prayers to affect those people and places we pray for. This should transform the way we pray, and instead of begging God to do things we should pray knowing that he desires to answer the things we are praying for more than we do..

But then what? Is the end goal prayer? While prayer is a fantastic demonstration of bridal partnership it is only perfecting humility and meekness within us, so that one day we will be ready to marry the Lamb. We will be a pure and spotless bride. This present evil age will end in the return of Jesus, and those faithful followers will be gathered with Him and celebrate at the Marriage supper of the Lamb.


Thoughts?

Tertullian

Here is a little encouragement from Tertullian for the Morning. This is Chapter 3 of his writing called, "The Prescription Against Heretics." The Lord is long-suffering and gracious with us. Hope it encourages you as it did me.


Chapter III.-Weak People Fall an Easy Prey to Heresy, Which Derives Strength from the General Frailty of Mankind. Eminent Men Have Fallen from Faith; Saul, David, Solomon.the Constancy of Christ.

It is usual, indeed, with persons of a weaker character, to be so built up (in confidence) by certain individuals who are caught by heresy, as to topple over into ruin themselves. How comes it to pass, (they ask), that this woman or that man, who were the most faithful, the most prudent, and the most approved in the church, have gone over to the other side? Who that asks such a question does not in fact reply to it himself, to the effect that men whom heresies have been able to pervert ought never to have been esteemed prudent, or faithful, or approved? This again is, I suppose, an extraordinary thing, that one who has been approved should afterwards fall back? Saul, who was good beyond all others, is afterwards subverted by envy. David, a good man "after the Lord's own heart," is guilty afterwards of murder and adultery. Solomon, endowed by the Lord with all grace and wisdom, is led into idolatry, by women. For to the Son of God alone was it reserved to persevere to the last without sin. But what if a bishop, if a deacon, if a widow, if a virgin, if a doctor, if even a martyr, have fallen from the rule (of faith), will heresies on that account appear to possess the truth? Do we prove the faith by the persons, or the persons by the faith? No one is wise, no one is faithful, no one excels in dignity, but the Christian; and no one is a Christian but he who perseveres even to the end. You, as a man, know any other man from the outside appearance. You think as you see. And you see as far only as you have eyes. But says (the Scripture), "the eyes of the Lord are lofty." "Man looketh at the outward appearance, but God looketh at the heart." "The Lord (beholdeth and) knoweth them that are His; " and "the plant which (my heavenly Father) hath not planted, He rooteth up; " and "the first shall," as He shows, "be last; " and He carries "His fan in His hand to purge His threshing-floor." Let the chaff of a fickle faith fly off as much as it will at every blast of temptation, all the purer will be that heap of corn which shall be laid up in the garner of the Lord. Did not certain of the disciples turn back from the Lord Himself, When they were offended? Yet the rest did not therefore think that they must turn away from following Him, but because they knew that He was the Word of Life, and was come from God, they continued in His company to the very last, after He had gently inquired of them whether they also would go away. It is a comparatively small thing, that certain men, like Phygellus, and Hermogenes, and Philetus, and Hymenµus, deserted His apostle: the betrayer of Christ was himself one of the apostles. We are surprised at seeing His churches forsaken by some men, although the things which we suffer after the example of Christ Himself, show us to be Christians. "They went out from us," says (St. John, ) "but they were not of us. If they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us."

God is Love

I just finished doing a study on John's use of love and hate in 1 John which has tenderized my heart before the Lord. If your familiar with the text of 1 John, it is clear that he is adamant about communicating love to his audience. Not only that, it is also likely that he was writing in order to bring truth to the divinity of God's Son Jesus by coming against the antichrists that prevail in the world.

While doing some research I came across a quote that stopped me in my tracks. It says:

"[Based on his intention of Christology and significant statements about love, he] draws a genuine theological connection between them, rooted in the concept of the incarnation as the revelation of the God who is love." (Brackets added).

Jesus was born of a virgin and was a sinless man. He is 100% Man and 100% God, the God-Man. This is the purpose of John's first letter. He wants to center the doctrine of Christ around divinity and love. Jesus is God and God is love. These are both incredible statements that we will search out for all eternity.

John uses the simplest (and most repetitive) language to communicate the the most profound theological concepts. Our lives must center around this Man. Colossians 1 says that He is to take the preeminence in all that we do. He is the center of life, the Word that became flesh, the Savior and Redeemer, who is 100% Man.

Hope you enjoyed reading. I encourage you to read both 1 John and Colossians 1.

Faith

I was doing some reading and came across a fantastic quote by Jonathan Wesley that I thought would be good to blog. Check this out:

"Pride had already destroyed the very angels of God. It was likewise in great measure owing to this, when the tempter said, 'Ye shall be as gods' (gen 3:5), that Adam fell from his own steadfastness and brought sin and death into the world. It was therefore an instance of wisdom worthy of God to appoint such a condition of reconciliation for him and all his posterity as might effectually humble, might abase them to the dust. And such is faith. It is peculiarly fitted for this end, for he that cometh unto God by this faith must fix his eye singly on his own wickedness, on his guilt and helplessness, without having the least regard to any supposed good in himself, to any virtue or righteousness whatsoever. He must come as mere sinner, inwardly and outwardly, self-destroyed and self-condemned, bringing nothing to God but ungodliness only, pleading nothing of his own but sin and misery. Thus it is, and thus alone, when his "mouth is stopped," and he stands utterly 'guilty before God' that he can 'look unto Jesus,' as the whole and sole 'propitiation for his sins.'"

Wow. I want to be humble.