Into The Labyrinth – 02.It’s All Greek

Posted by Chris on March 26, 2012 under Front Page Posts, Sermons

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Our story begins with two kings.  Minos of the island of Crete and Aegeus of the city of Athens.  There are different accounts about the reason that these kings came into conflict.  Some say that Minos sent his son to Athens to participate in the pan-Hellenic games but his son was killed by his rivals.  As the host, Aegeus was responsible for the safety of all athletes.  The unjustified killing of the young man brought a burden down on Aegeus and Athens.  Minos demanded that Aegeus surrender the killers, but Aegeus could not.  Thus, Minos exacted his revenge on all of Athens.  To satisfy his wrath, he demanded that Aegeus send seven young men and seven young women to him each year (some sources say that it was every seven or fourteen years).

Minos would throw these Athenian youth into his own wicked game.  The fourteen youth, known as tributes, would enter into the Labyrinth – a great maze invented by the genius architect Daedelus.  Not only would the tributes get lost in the maze, but they would be destroyed by a monster kept in the Labyrinth , the Minotaur.  The Minotaur was a half human-half bull creature kept by Minos.  None of the young victims ever escaped the labyrinth.  No one ever survived the horrible minotaur.  Time after time, Aegeus and Athens continued to grieve as they would send their brightest and best as tributes to save their city.

Perhaps this old tale reminds some of you of a certain book that inspired a movie that opened this weekend, The Hunger Games.  The author of the book, Suzanne Collins, admits that she was inspired by the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.  Of course the similarity ends with the set up.  One criticism of the movie is that the horrific system of sacrifice continues with little justice.  But that’s only because there are two more movies to come.  The good ole Greeks don’t leave us hanging quite so long.  They very quickly give us a champion – a hero to end the horror.

He is named Theseus.  He turns out to be the son of Aegeus, who left a sword and armor beneath a rock near the home of the child’s mother.  When Theseus was strong enough to lift the rock he claimed his birthright and became a mighty hero whose fame spread to Athens.  Upon hearing of the horrific and unjust tribute given to Minos, Theseus presented himself to Aegeus and volunteered to go as a tribute to Crete.

When he arrived in Minos, Theseus won the heart of the king’s daughter Ariadne.  She persuaded Daedelus to help Theseus, so he gave Theseus a ball of twine to trace his path through the Labyrinth.

Being a hero, Theseus heads right into the heart of the maze and confronts the monster.  Though he is unarmed, Theseus beats the Minotaur to death his fists.  Next, he rescues all the captives and escapes the maze.  By risking himself, Theseus ends the threat of the Labyrinth and lifts the burden of Minos’ revenge on Athens.

The myth of Theseus, as well as the stories it has inspired such as The Hunger Games, points to virtues that speak to us.

1. Noble sacrifice is a heroic trait.  When one risks or sacrifices himself or herself for others who are weak or powerless, we recognize that as virtuous.
2. We should be stirred to grief and action in the face of injustice.  Both Theseus and The Hunger Games are calculated to upset us with a description of human sacrifices for the sake of revenge, bloodlust, and anger.  We are repulsed by the intent to destroy human life and prolong suffering to satisfy the power of the unjust.
3. Heroic deeds inspire others to be heroic.  He is the basis of heroes such as King Arthur and Superman.  Theseus inspires heroes that follow him.  His hero is Hercules – and he even saves Hercules’s life later in his career.  Theseus becomes a champion of the common man and he was the symbol for democracy in Athens.  The heroic qualities of the heroes of the Hunger Games find their root in Theseus.

Is There a Hero in The Gospel?

Stories of heroes appeal to us.  Every culture has stories about heroes that embody virtues and stand for what is right.  But what about the gospel?  Is there a place for a hero in the gospel?  A close reading of 1 Corinthians 15, among other texts, suggests that there is.  Christ triumphs over the powers of death to save others and to reclaim a broken and suffering world for his Father.

Without realizing it, the myth of Theseus and stories like the Hunger Games point toward the greater truth and virtue of the gospel.  It is as if stories of heroic sacrifice are like compass needles drawn to the magnetic north of Christ’s heroic sacrifice.  The gospel narrative resonates with heroic virtue.  For instance:

1. Sacrifice is a noble attribute that Jesus Christ embodies.  In Phil. 2:5-11, Paul calls it humility.  Christ surrenders himself to God and lowers himself for the sake of others.  His heroic actions are self-sacrifice and his triumph comes from God.
2. Heroes are saviors and rescuers.  Theseus saves captives.  Christ claims the words of the prophet Isaiah; the spirit of the Lord has empowered Christ as the one who will rescue captives and set them free. (Luke 4 and 1 Peter 3)
3. Christ’s heroism is rooted in the justice of God.  Our creator is the source of heroism and doing what is right for the sake of others.  Consider a text like Psalm 82; God champions the cause of the weak and the oppressed.  He calls his followers to be on his side.  God’s son embodies that call to do justice and leads us in that way.

Is Atonement a Game?

Every hero is tested by a challenge.  In all stories there is a system of injustice, a threat, or a fight that must take place.  What challenge could God or the son of God come across that would be a threat?  It is the ultimate threat to us all: the presence of evil and the corruption of sin that brings death to us all.  The problem is loaded with thorny dilemmas.  For, if the game of life is rigged, if the world as we know it is unjust, then who made it that way?  In the myths, the gods often set the rules unfairly.  However, that creates a true faith problem for us is we assume that God intends for the world to be the way it is.

If a sacrifice is demanded of Christ to satisfy justice or satisfy wrath, then whose wrath needs to be satisfied?  If we say God, then we may rightly begin to wonder what sort of God needs the sacrifice of his own son.  God should not be a bloodthirsty monster or an evil king.  That wouldn’t fit what we know about God.  Furthermore, if it takes the blood of Christ to redeem God, then what sort of God is he?

Some say that it is not God who is the problem; rather, it is Satan who has rigged the game.  He has taken us captive.  So God makes his son the bait on the hook that snares the devil.  But why play games with the devil?  If God is the greater power, then why doesn’t God just destroy Satan and save us all?

In our historical attempts to understand atonement we have developed theories to explain what happens.  If we are honest and not defensive, we recognize that many of the more popular theories leave us wondering why God does not take a stand and fight.  Why is God playing games with the devil?

But atonement is a multi-faceted reality and there are other ways of explaining what happens.  In fact, Scripture often indicates that Christ has indeed taken a stand and put up a fight.  These Scriptures also teach us that it is not God who needs to be redeemed or be satisfied – we do.  God is not playing a game against Satan; rather he is refusing to play Satan’s game although we have often jumped into it.

Quite often, the work of God to atone for the sins of humanity is compared to similar actions in the human arena.  The dominant view in our culture has been a legal comparison.  Christ is our advocate or he takes our place in the punishment we deserve.  There is truth to this, but one view or comparison can never explain the entire process.  In other words, the analogy is helpful but one cannot take it too far because it is just an analogy.

There are other analogies.  One of the lesser recognized though biblically based views is the view of Christ as triumphant hero.  In this understanding of atonement, Christ is never a victim.  He is not an unfortunate substitute or whipping boy for humanity.  Rather, he is disarming the powers of sin, arrogance, and self-righteousness by going to the cross.  Christ is fighting the good fight on God’s terms, not ours.

"Then the young hero (who was God almighty) Got ready, resolute and strong in heart. He climbed onto the lofty gallows-tree, Bold in the sight of many watching men, When He intended to redeem mankind." - Image courtesy of mrvisions.deviantart.com

This view is expressed creatively in a medieval poem, The Dream of the Rood.  The poem dates from an era when such a view was much more common that it is now.  The poet has a vision of the cross (called a rood)and  witnesses what Christ does.  Christ is not weak, but he is bold by going to the cross.  The cross was the ultimate expression of humankind’s oppressive power, but  Christ exposes humankind as unjust and cruel.  It isn’t God who needs adjusting through sacrifice; rather humanity needs to be more humane!  What is shared in the poem is expressed in Scripture:  “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15)

The strength of this view is that it reminds us that the system of sacrifice is not on-going.  Christ dismantles the injustice once and for all. (Hebrews 10:12-14).  By shaming us and startling us with this bold and fearless action, we may be forever changed as a people.

We are called to be heroic and stand with Christ.

1. Jesus does not participate in the games of sophisticated violence, revenge, and getting even.  Christ disarms our need to be more powerful and to “crucify” others in order to protect our own interests.
2. Christ shames the powers, the people, and the culture that self-righteously justifies our idolatry of power and comfort.  He shames our attempts to scape-goat others and yet call ourselves civilized.  Because Jesus will not fight back on our terms but instead trusts in God, we are exposed as the problem.  Jesus startles us out of our delusions of civility that tell us that the corrupt things we do are somehow acceptable and necessary.  We may try to wash our hands like Pilate, but the bloodstains remain.
3. We are called to leave the twisted labyrinths we have made and go out and join Jesus outside the city and its systems of power and self-justification (Hebrews  13:13)

This may seem like a lot to sacrifice, but what exactly are we trying to save?

Don’t Open That Box – 01.It’s All Greek

Posted by Chris on March 18, 2012 under Front Page Posts, Sermons, Uncategorized

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Must we really discuss mythology in church?  I don’t know if we must, but we probably should.  You see, the ancient myths of the Greeks never went away.  They took root in our western culture and have become the stories that we tell with gusto.

For example . . .

• Percy Jackson – Based squarely on Greek myth, this book rivaled Harry Potter in popularity and a movie was soon to follow
• Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins says that she was inspired by the Greek myth of Theseus and reality television.
• Wrath of the Titans – If you don’t have a book, just dust off the old tales and add in some great CGI!

"I Bring You Fire!"

Even the names of the old myths still evoke meaning.  Consider “Prometheus.”  His image was huge in the age of electricity and his statue was placed in Rockefeller Center in 1934.  Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo were our help in the space age.  These old stories haven’t gone away at all.

My goal in pointing this out is not for us to become a Christian Taliban and destroy anything that smacks of idolatry.  No, we need to understand the power of myth and when we are aware of it we might be able to discern when a myth points us to commonly accepted “truths” (which may be no truth at all) or when it points to the absolute truth.

Myth functions similarly to philosophy and faith.  It is a structure through which we explain ourselves and the world.  We can explain truth through story.  In actually, ancient myths may help us understand how we typically view the world and ourselves (for better or for worse).  Christian faith and the stories of the Bible give us the most truthful way to see ourselves and our world.  Ironically, it is because we do not understand this, that some are rejecting the Christian worldview as just another fairy tale or ancient myth. Read more of this article »

Knowing Christ-Part 9 “The Bread of Life and The True Vine”

Posted by Chris on March 15, 2012 under Front Page Posts, Sermons

Comments Before Serving the Bread:

We know Jesus through the images that he gave us (McGrath, Knowing Christ).  For instance, he tells us that he is the way, the truth, and the life.  He is not merely the guide but he is the way.  He is not merely a teacher of the truth, but he is the truth.  He is not simply a giver of life, but he is life.

Two images should come to mind as we gather at the

Lord’s Supper: Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life,” and also “I am the True Vine.”

At the Lord’s Supper, our living Lord asks us to “remember” him.  Not simply a remembrance of an historical event (which none of us experienced first hand), but a remembrance that pays attention to his nearness.  If we wish to know Christ, then “do this in remembrance of me” means “do this with some regard to my presence . . . do not overlook me or ignore my company.”  And so he instructs his disciples to regard the bread and the wine as his body and his blood.  What does this mean?  How do we do this? Read more of this article »

Knowing Christ – Part 8 “In Jesus’ Name”

Posted by Chris on March 6, 2012 under Front Page Posts, Sermons

Joy Worth the Risk – Psalm 126

Posted by Chris on December 11, 2011 under Front Page Posts, Sermons

It is good and right that we should take the time to celebrate the commitment of our new campus minister, Travis Campbell, and our commitment to him as a fellow servant.  It is good and right because when we do such things, we speak of ideas that are too often not spoken: joy, hope, promise, courage, sacrifice, commitment.

It is good and right for us to focus these grand notions on something tangible.  So that we can say with the Psalm – “The The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

It is good and right for us to name anything that the Lord has done.  It is good and right to admit to the hardships and sacrifices that paved the way to our joy.  It is good right to stir up our spirits and embolden one another, because our enemy is threatened when we develop the sort of passion to do God’s work despite the cost.

The enemy’s scheme is subtle . . . Read more of this article »

Lifting the Burden

Posted by David on February 6, 2011 under Bulletin Articles, Front Page Posts

And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were much afraid. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” Matthew 17:6, 7 (NASB)

Physical life is filled with burdens. The gift of living in this country removes some of them. However, as beneficial as living in this country is, those benefits do not remove our biggest burden. In fact, those benefits at best can only temporarily distract us from the biggest burden we all carry from time to time.

What is this burden? It is the burden of terrorizing fear. Accidents terrorize us! The passing of time terrorizes us! Serious sickness terrorizes us! Unexpected, uncontrollable forces terrorize us! The shocks of bad surprises terrorize us! Those do not begin to approach the terrors of personal phobias. Despite our claims, we all fear something.

In the above reading, Jesus took three disciples to the summit of “the mountain of transfiguration.” These men came face to face with (1) pure holiness–which always terrorizes people because we all have evil in us, (2) God’s power–which scares powerless humanity silly, and (3) Jesus’ identity–he was more than a man, more than just a righteous friend. To say he is God’s Son is one thing; to see it is quite another.

Peter, James and John’s reaction: In overwhelming fear, they fell on their faces — too scared to look.

Note Jesus’ response to their fear. He did NOT say, “I thought you were godly men!” or “Where is your courage?” or “What are you afraid of?” or “I am so disappointed in you men!” or “Can you lead others if you are terrorized by God’s presence?”

Instead, Jesus touched them, told me it was okay to get up, and encouraged them not to be afraid. Jesus understood their reaction, cared about them, and encouraged them. Jesus was not ashamed of them for being afraid. Instead he helped them in their weakness. Jesus lifted the burden of their fear! Jesus’ mission to you: to be your burden-lifter.

Never be ashamed of Jesus. He is never ashamed of you. Let him lift YOUR fears.

How Do I Seek Purity?

Posted by David on January 30, 2011 under Bulletin Articles, Front Page Posts

And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them, “Hear, and understand. Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” Matthew 15:10, 11 (NASB)

The Jewish approach to purity in the first century (and before) focused on the acts of the body. Thus, one was pure if the person did the right acts in the right way at the right time. For example, one person could actually hate another person, and remain pure if the hater treated the person he hated properly. Or, one person could deceive another and still be pure if the deceitful person deceived in the proper way.

In this concept of purity, what was inside a person did not matter if the person acted appropriately. What he actually felt, his motives, his reasoning behind his behavior, etc., were unimportant if he acted appropriately. As examples, his feelings for another man’s wife were not important if he acted properly toward the woman. Or, he may be greed-filled over another’s possessions, but it did not matter if the greed did not control his actions. Only one’s actions affected his religious purity.

Jesus’ teachings focused on what was within the person. That affected the person’s purity. Thus, Jesus emphasized one was not made pure by what he ate, but by his internal motives and emotions. The true origin of an evil act is an evil heart. A cup washed only on the outside is still dirty. A tomb looked outwardly beautiful, but it was inwardly vile. Purity involved the person’s inward thoughts as well as outward acts.

Peter had heard for so long the “outward” emphasis that he did not understand Jesus’ point. As an explanation, Jesus said this: “Are you still lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” Matthew 15:16-20 (NASB)

“To be pure, should I focus on the inside or the outside?” Both! May your actions always reflect your actual person! Righteousness results from righteous acts and motives!

When Godly People Do Satan’s Work

Posted by David on January 23, 2011 under Bulletin Articles, Front Page Posts

But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matthew 16:23

How can a God-focused person do Satan’s work? First, acknowledge such happens. Peter was a God-focused person. However, if Jesus called Peter Satan, at that moment in that act, Peter did Satan’s work. Second, note Peter did not know he did Satan’s work. He was certain he did God’s work! When Peter told Jesus, “This will never happen to you,” he affirmed a loyalty that furthered God’s objectives (he thought). Third, note Peter actually opposed God’s purposes when he was certain that he assured the accomplishment of God’s purposes. He was certain his affirmation of loyalty in this manner was encouraging!

The point is this: when a human confuses personal desires with God’s objectives, he/she will do Satan’s work believing he/she is doing God’s work. Exchanging human desires for God’s objectives is spiritually deadly! For example, was it good to be committed to Jesus’ continuing physical life? Peter thought so! What was God’s objective? Jesus’ humiliating death and glorious resurrection! What was Jesus’ physical desire? To live! Read Matthew 26:37-39.

Jesus did not want suffering, but he surrendered to God’s purposes. Did Peter’s affirmation of loyalty encourage Jesus’ surrender? No! So who was Peter helping—God’s purpose or Satan’s discouragement? Here Peter worked for Satan not God!

How did that happen? Peter wanted Jesus to be Israel’s physical king. He wanted first-century Israel to be an independent power in world politics. He wanted to serve in Jesus’ administration. None of that could happen if Jesus died!

God had something better in mind—a universal Savior who extended forgiveness to all! However, for that to be, Jesus had to die. What seemed good to Peter was disastrous to God’s purpose. Human desires were not God’s purpose! What made sense to Peter powerfully discouraged Jesus! Human desires destroyed God’s objective!

Do you surrender to God or try to manipulate God? Do your wants oppose God?

Who Is He?

Posted by David on December 12, 2010 under Bulletin Articles, Front Page Posts

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13 (NASB)

Some things demand to be explained! Jesus demanded to be explained! Everyone had an opinion about Jesus. Some thought he was an incredible man from God, and he did incredible things to help the hopeless. Some were amazed by his teachings and the way he presented them. Some were curious. Some saw him as opportunity to be exploited. Some thought he was dangerous. Some thought he was disastrous to Israel and must be destroyed. However, everybody in Israel thought something. He was not a nobody!

Thus he asked the twelve near Caesarea Philippi, “How do people explain me? Who do they say I am?” He knew people talked about him. He likely even knew who people thought he was. He certainly knew who he was. Then why did he ask the twelve what people were saying about him? Why? It was time for the twelve clearly to know who he was. It was time for them to understand the meaning of his identity.

They could learn quickly that he was God’s Christ. They would not understand for more than a month after his death what it meant for Jesus to be God’s Christ.

People always have an opinion about Jesus’ identity—including you! It is likely if you had no opinion, you would have no interest in reading this. Your opinion may be good, neutral, or bad. However, 2000 years after his death and resurrection, you likely have an opinion about Jesus’ identity.

What is your opinion? Was he a slick, polished deceiver? Was he a curiosity who captured his audience’s imagination? Was he someone who just happened to be born at the right place at the right time? Was he the imagined invention of others? Was he God’s son who actually defeated death and Satan?

For us, will earthly opinions about Jesus always be a matter of faith? Yes! Regardless of your conclusion, you believe. Christianity rests on the faith of the person.

In the resurrection, all will know who he is. The essential question: Who is he to you?

Even Jesus Got Tired!

Posted by David on December 5, 2010 under Bulletin Articles, Front Page Posts

Now when Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there in a boat, to a lonely place by Himself; and when the multitudes heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and felt compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:13, 14. (NASB)

There was a limit to Jesus’ physical endurance, and he honored that limit. (See Mark 1:35 and Luke 6:12.) Finding moments alone to renew himself must have been hard for Jesus! Demands on his physical strength and the stress he endured frequently had to be beyond measurement! Do you find it necessary to restore and refresh your energy when you have endured a period of difficulty? Does continual stress zap your energy? Since Jesus was flesh and blood just as you are, he reacted to pressures as do we.

Daily demands on Jesus were enormous! If you had the power to heal incurable sickness, can you imagine how many requests you would receive? If you could teach in the manner Jesus did, can you imagine how many people would follow? If you said, “No!” to someone who was counting on your help, can you imagine how the person would react? There was always just one more paralyzed person, just one more blind person, just one more lame person, etc., who needed help.

Some came to him for the wrong reason (John 6:15, 26). Some hated him and what he did and wished to discredit him (Mark 8:11). Some wished to do him harm (Mark 3:6; John 12:47-50). Jesus’ intent was to be God’s example of what to do and how to feel in everything. It was so demanding that there were times when Jesus could not go into populated areas—people expected too much (Mark 1:45)! Consider statements like Mark 2:1, 2; 3:20; Luke 4:42; and Luke 6:15, 16. Talk about living in a fish bowl!!! Jesus had no privacy! Someone always needed or wanted something!

Yet, even when he was tired, even when he genuinely needed to be alone, even when he dealt with stresses we have never known, he always cared about people. People—even his enemies (Matthew 22:15, 16)—knew he cared! One of the incredible things about Jesus was that he felt compassion for people, regardless of his needs.

Always remember he compassionately cares for you, too.