Blind Faith (No. 9, 2008)

A child’s vantage point often can be instructive. Adults

may tend to over-complicate situations, over-think solutions, and thus

overlook what is immediately evident in a child’s wondrous blend of

rational humility and certainty.

My cousin, a school teacher in the Mississippi Delta, sent

me the following essay. Children’s Bible in a Nutshell is

claimed to be a book report on the whole Bible, written by a child:

In the beginning, which occurred near the start,

there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, “The

Lord thy God is one,” but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, “Give me a light!” and someone did. Then God made the

world.

He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were

naked, but they weren’t embarrassed because mirrors hadn’t been

invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so

they were driven from the Garden of Eden. Not sure what they were

driven in though, because they didn’t have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his

brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people

died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or

something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who

was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a

large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some

other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain

check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob

was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his

birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph

who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real

name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and

away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh’s

people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them

His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don’t lie, cheat, smoke,

dance, or covet your neighbor’s stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one

more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses’ best helpers was Joshua who was the

first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and

the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by

killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had

about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but

that doesn’t sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league

prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and

then barfed upon the shore. There were also some minor league prophets,

but I guess we don’t have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament.

Jesus is the star of the New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a

barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn, too, because my mom is always

saying to me, “Close the door! Were you born in a barn?” It would be

nice to say, “Yes!”)

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with

sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans. Jesus also had twelve

opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that

they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards

and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Republicans and

all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot

didn’t stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands

instead.

Any way’s, Jesus died for our sins, then came

back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of

the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of

Revolution.

The puns are too rich for me to believe that a child is

truly the author of the Bible summary. Although the events and

characters of the Bible may be difficult for a child to master, even a

child can understand that “Jesus died for our sins, then came back to

life again.” Honest, genuine, simple childlike faith continues through

all ages to be the solid foundation for every follower of Jesus.

Jesus, himself, taught that pure childlike faith is

necessary for even the most educated adults to serve God authentically.

When his followers were entangled with highly critical religious

leaders regarding access to the Kingdom of God, ” Jesus called for the

children, saying, ‘Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them,

because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these

children. {17} I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God

as if you were a child, or you will never enter it.’” (Luke 18:16-17

NCV) As criticism of Jesus grew more severe in the months leading up

to his final Passover and crucifixion, children continued to respond to

his love and grace, and to sing his praises. About four months prior

to Jesus’ crucifixion, he attended the Feast of Tabernacles in

Jerusalem. The children’s simple faith and exuberant acceptance of

Jesus as he taught in the Temple was not shared by many influential

adults: ” When the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing

miracles Jesus performed and the children shouting in the temple

courtyard, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were irritated. (Matthew

21:15 GWT)

By the time Passover arrived, irritation had calcified into

outright rejection and a firm plot by the religious leaders to kill

Jesus. They were blinded by pretentious pride in their own education.

They fumed at his teaching: ” The Jewish leaders were surprised when

they heard Jesus. ‘How does he know so much when he hasn’t studied

everything we’ve studied?’ they asked.” (John 7:15 NLT) Enraged by

Jesus’ acceptance by ordinary, simple people, they sent guards to seize

him, but the guards returned without Jesus. The religious leaders

persisted in their rejection of Jesus and their condemnation of the

simple faith of the people. They berated the guards: “‘Have you been

led astray, too?’ the Pharisees mocked. {48} ‘Is there a single one of

us rulers or Pharisees who believes in him? {49} These ignorant crowds

do, but what do they know about it? A curse on them anyway!’” (John

7:47-49 NLT) The inability of the religious leaders to get beyond

their self-assumed rational superiority and sophistication to accept

Jesus’ simple offer of love and grace led to their decision to crucify

him.

But Jesus, himself, said that the starting point for a

saving relationship with him is simple, childlike faith. Following

Jesus does not require any advanced theological training, or a

specified IQ score, or advanced cognitive process. Just as a child may

get the fine distinctions of a story a little mangled, but still have

vital trust and relationship with someone who loves her, adults who

follow Jesus do so genuinely out of simple trust and faith, not some

esoteric knowledge. Certainly, growing up into greater knowledge and

clearer understanding is anticipated for our faith, just as much as it

is for a child’s experience of the world. Starting with simple,

childlike faith, we are to grow up into increasing Christlikeness: ”

God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—

like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the

source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His

very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will

grow up healthy in God, robust in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16, The

Message)

As Easter approaches, with remembrance of Jesus’ crucifixion

looming, are you mired in rationalized roadblocks to your relationship

with Christ? Do you sometimes feel that you have an inadequate mastery

of the facts of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the Bible in general to

have vibrant faith? You may, indeed, have much left to learn, even if

you can do better than the child’s summary of the Bible. What you can

do, though, is to cultivate simple, humble, childlike trust in Jesus.

It’s what he expects from you.

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

Blind Faith – No. 8, 2008

Blind Faith – A Weekly Devotional – No. 8, 2008

Blind Faith – A Weekly Devotional

Severe Weather Awareness Week has been observed this week in Alabama. A project of the National Weather Service, the special focus seeks to prepare communities for severe weather outbreaks. Individuals and groups in the community are encouraged to make a plan to follow in case of severe weather emergencies. Alabama is among the first each year to conduct the awareness week, with most states following in March and April.

Whether the topic is severe weather or a normal day’s climatological outlook, weather is a ubiquitous subject. The conversation opener, “How about this weather we’ve been having!” is a cliche` precisely because everyone uses it countless times daily. Local TV stations boast that they report the weather every ten minutes during their morning news shows. Weather, of course, touches every person’s life. We all live and move in the atmosphere that is warm or cold, sunny or rainy, sometimes icy and sometimes parched – the weather.

Something so universal as weather serves as a constant reminder of the God who made weather and all else. Paul noted the natural pointers to God in the first paragraphs of the book of Romans: ” From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature.” (Romans 1:20 NLT) The dynamic variations of weather can help us to think of God’s majesty and power, as well as his care and gentle caress.

As often happens, this path of thought brings a song of the 60’s back to my mind. One of the first “new songs” emerging in the decade of my youth that survived and has become a standard in many church hymnals is My Lord Is Near Me All the Time. The poetry is simple, but resounds with the assurance that is expressed in the title, and is affirmed to close each verse:

In the lightning flash across the sky his mighty power I see
And I know if he can reign on high, his light can shine on me.
I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, and felt it in the rain.
My Lord is near me all the time, my Lord is near me all the time.

When the thunder shakes the mighty hills and trembles every tree
Then I know a God so great and strong can surely harbor me.
I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, and felt it in the rain.
My Lord is near me all the time, my Lord is near me all the time.

When refreshing showers cool the earth and sweep across the sea
Then his rainbow shines within my heart, his nearness comforts me.
I’ve seen it in the lightning, heard it in the thunder, and felt it in the rain.
My Lord is near me all the time, my Lord is near me all the time.
(Barbara F. Gaultney, 1960)

God’s grace is as far-reaching as the weather. No matter what the conditions we encounter in life, God is as near as the rain, or sunshine, or the rolling thunder to demonstrate his love for us.

A recording of My Lord Is Near Me All the Time is available to play on your MP3 player at the following website:

http://www.adnawpublishing.org/html/music.html

The page features CD’s by Wanda Obermeier and Frank King. The first CD, Obedience (2003), includes My Lord Is Near Me All the Time as Track 8. Scroll down to the title and click on the MP3 link to play the song. The arrangement treats the melody in a somewhat unusual way, but the beauty of the lyrics sparkles.

I find great comfort in hearing or singing My Lord Is Near Me All the Time. Paul emphasized the idea in his earliest preaching. In a notable sermon in the Areopagus in Athens, Paul assured his audience, ” God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us: {28} ‘We live in him. We walk in him. We are in him.’” (Acts 17:27-28a NCV) God encompasses us as intimately as we are surrounded by the weather. All we have to do is to speak quietly in order for God to relate with us, because he is always so close. As David knew and sang, ” The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18 NRSV)

God’s nearness, inextricably combined with his omnipotence and unfathomable grace, offers us sublime comfort in any distress. Eugene Peterson brings that assurance to life in his setting of the Psalms:

Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you.
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;
if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.
(Psalm 34:17-19 The Message)

Not only is this idea expressed by David and others who have experienced the transforming, life-giving immanence of God, but God speaks directly about his nearness and his desire to have us make the short reach to connect with him. God assured us through the prophet Isaiah, ” Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you…. Seek God while he’s here to be found, pray to him while he’s close at hand. Let the wicked abandon their way of life and the evil their way of thinking. Let them come back to God, who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness.” (Isaiah 55:3-4, 6-7, The Message) Whatever situations I may face, God himself promises, “My Lord is near me all the time.”

Everytime you hear a weather report this week, let your thoughts center upon God’s presence, his closeness to you. Share the joy of your sunshiny, successful, triumphant day with God, who is right there with you! In the inclement days of defeat, depression, and drab loneliness, pour your soul out to God, who is with you every step of the way. Even more ubiquitous than the weather, God is near you all the time.

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

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DNA Encoded for Lent

Blind Faith
Weekly Devotional for February 7, 2008

Super Bowl 2008 provided confirmation that Manning DNA carries dominant genes for football supremacy. St. Archie, the patriarch of the Manning dynasty, and all three of his sons exhibit the same genetic qualities for outstanding football performance. Archie Manning’s coach for 2 years with the hapless New Orleans Saints, Hank Stram, called his Pro Bowl star and Ole Miss college legend “a franchise player – without a franchise.” Although Archie Manning never played in an NFL playoff game, his scrambling prowess at quarterback earned him high praise. Back-to-back selections as MVP’s of the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2008 demonstrate the quality of the gene pool for sons Peyton and Eli. Archie’s oldest son, Cooper, appeared to be headed for greatness as a wide receiver at Ole Miss, until a spinal condition ended his football career. However, Cooper has produced a daughter and two sons, the next generation of test cases for the Manning football genetic heritage.
Understanding how strongly desirable traits are passed from generation to generation was first systematically described in a manner still current in genetics in the mid-19th century by Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian monk. Previously, scientists, notably Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, maintained that traits acquired and strengthened by parents were passed on to their children. Further developments in genetics after Mendel’s work with pea plants has demonstrated that most acquired characteristics are not easily inherited. A child is born with some characteristics, and others must be gained anew by the child. The fascinating science of genetics (from the Greek genno: to be born) invites animated debates over the role of nature or nurture in producing outstanding qualities in any individual.
When we are born again as followers of Jesus, some traits seem to be almost genetic, while others appear to be acquired. Baptist Christians exhibit several desirable spiritual genetic strains. Insistence upon “sola gratia, sola fide, sola Christus, sola Scriptura, soli Deo gloria” – by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, according to Scripture alone, for the glory of God alone – as the means of our relationship with God are strongly dominant traits inherited from 16th century Protestant Reformers. Other strong traits encoded in Baptist DNA are soul competency (that each person stands accountable to God alone, not to any other authority, in matters of conscience and faith), the priesthood of the believer, religious liberty, the separation of church and state, the autonomy of the local church, and cooperative missions. All of these traits were nurtured by the fathers and mothers of my life of following Jesus. Some other important characteristics – forms of worship, church organizational structure, involvement in social and political issues, church architecture, and a host of others – are acquired by each believer, and are not necessarily passed from generation to generation.
A recessive spiritual gene possessed by many Christians, but not by many Baptists, may be observance of the Christian calendar. Small vestiges of this useful trait sometimes appear. We recognize Advent, a time to prepare for celebrating Jesus’ birth as God’s gift of salvation. We know to look for Easter, at least as a signal to change from winter to spring wardrobes. Holy Week, leading from Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper and Jesus’ arrest and trial on Maundy Thursday, to his crucifixion on Good Friday, and culminating with his resurrection on Easter Sunday, is more evident in many believers’ worship lives. Unfortunately, not as many exhibit characteristics of preparation for Easter with observance of Lent. This one still needs to be acquired and nurtured into succeeding generations.
Wednesday of this week was the first of 46 days of Lent. Sundays are excluded from the count in the significant period of 40 days derived from many Bible stories. When Lent became standardized in the 4th century, Sundays were regarded as feast days, and days already dedicated to awareness of God. The 40 other days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday are set aside as a time to reflect upon Jesus’ profound demonstration of love in his sacrificial death for our sin. Some people deprive themselves of a daily pleasure as a reminder – however trite – of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice. Other people seek to focus their attention on God’s grace and our aching need by adding an act of spiritual reflection, Bible reading, or ministry to their daily routines. Either way, many believers find Lent to be a significant time of drawing closer to Jesus through penitent prayer for forgiveness and a greater desire to walk in step with him, though the way inexorably leads to Calvary. The purpose of Lent is to heighten our awareness of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin, so that we will grow in our service and praise to God every day throughout the life into which we have been born anew by his grace.
An increased awareness of how we are to imitate Jesus through sacrificial living is consistent with New Testament faith. Paul’s words are a pervasive admonition to practice self-sacrifice in devotion to Jesus: ” I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 NNAS) Lent offers an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to God’s complete disposal of our lives, the outcome for any sacrifice. By yielding completely to God, we can be transformed from our mundane sinful lives in the world into faithful sons and daughters who are empowered for abundant life through Christ. Continuing to practice sacrificial living, spurred by our observance of sacrificial living during Lent, Will result in behavior that is observable by others as our witness for Christ: ” Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him. {16} Don’t forget to do good things for others and to share what you have with them. These are the kinds of sacrifices that please God.” (Hebrews 13:15-16 GWT) Again, Lent gives an opportunity to focus for 40 days on living sacrificially before God and others, but is really a training regimen for developing consistency of that characteristic. We are to become rock-solid in following Jesus’ example of sacrificing ourselves so that others can experience God’s grace: ” you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5 NIV)
Lent, itself, may be an acquired characteristic for followers of Jesus. The practices of Lent, however – penitent meditation, acts of devotion, and identification with Jesus’ sacrifice – are strongly desirable traits. God desires for them to be found in all of his children. Both by the nature of relationship with God and by the nurture of the worshipping community promoting Lent, we can enhance our performance of praise and service to God.
What might you do without for the days of Lent – something you will really miss – to remind you of Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin? What can you add to your daily routine as a reminder to acknowledge your dependence upon God’s grace and your call to serve and praise him? How will your preparation for celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and the new life it offers you let others know about God’s grace? Will you acquire Lent as an authentic way to draw closer to Christ?
St. Archie … New Orleans … Mardis Gras … Lent… See how it all fits?
J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

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Blind Faith
Weekly Devotional for February 14, 2008

Public prayer is part of almost every meeting associated with church, and often is offered in other community gatherings. Anyone who has attended many meetings can easily identify categories of prayers – invocation, benediction, offertory, prayer for beginning a meeting, etc. – by the vocabulary and structure of the particular prayer. In all likelihood, the familiarity of the form numbs many hearers into momentary mental freefall, rather than into true participation in the prayer.
I recently read an article quoting a widely-read Christian author and pastor who commented on phrases he found overused in public prayers. He told an audience of 600 pastors that if he heard one more prayer asking God to “lead, guide, and direct” us, he thought he’d vomit! My response to that phrase is not nearly so caustic, although “lead, guide, and direct” has often made me wince. I have wondered about what I call the Roget’s Thesaurus common approach to prayer. As the noted pastor opined, can’t we simply ask God to lead us? Why do we so often pray, lead, guide, and direct?”
On second thought, when was I appointed to critique prayers offered by other people? Rather than scoffing at the verbiage used by someone leading public prayer, my role is to join them in praying to God. The prayer that is spoken aloud is a prompt for me to engage my own heart and mind in conversation with God.
I have decided to let the familiar phrase, “lead, guide, and direct,” serve as a reminder of the marvelous and essential ways God lets us know how to live and how to follow Jesus more faithfully. Each petition, for God to “lead, guide, and direct” us actually does provide subtly different but important perspectives on our dependence upon God.

LEAD – I am dependent upon “seeing-eye deacons” and others literally to lead me by the hand, especially to go anywhere that is potentially a dangerous trek. My sight is zero, while a sighted person leading me can clearly see the path we are to travel. God has promised to lead us in such a step-by-step manner, even describing us as blind and in need of his careful leading. Promising through Isaiah to send his Suffering Servant to redeem his people, God says, “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles…. {16} I will lead the blind on unfamiliar roads. I will lead them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light in front of them. I will make rough places smooth. These are the things I will do for them, and I will never abandon them.” (Isaiah 42:6, 16 GWT) God promises that, ” I … lead you along straight paths. {12} When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” (Proverbs 4:11b-12 NIV) God knows the way that is best and most fulfilling for our lives, and desires to lead us along that path, hand-in-hand. His careful leading is familiar from Psalm 23: ” He leads me beside still waters; {3} he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2b-3 NRSV) Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd, who leads us into abundant life because of intimate relationship with him. (See John 10:1-10.)

GUIDE – Recently we toured the Gettysburg historic battlefield. A guide drove our car, since he knew the way to encounter all the important sights. Along the way, he pointed out details and told us all about Gettysburg, helping us to learn the significance of the battle fought there. Not only did he show us the way, he taught us and filled us with deeper insight and appreciation for that hallowed story.
Even though we know the story of God’s redemption of his people throughout history and the story of his grace bestowed upon us in Jesus Christ, we still need a guide to help us grow in understanding of how to live according to God’s way. We are very similar to the Ethiopian official who understood enough to go to Jerusalem to worship God, who read the Bible for himself, but still needing someone to guide us into deeper relationship with God. He voiced what may be our plea for a guide: ” Philip ran to the carriage and could hear the official reading the prophet Isaiah out loud. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you’re reading?” {31} The official answered, “How can I understand unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to sit with him in his carriage…. {35} Then Philip spoke. Starting with that passage, Philip told the official the Good News about Jesus.” (Acts 8:30-31, 35 GWT) God guides us into better understanding of his grace through teachers and other followers of Jesus who are our companions on our journey through life. But God’s guidance far transcends what other people have to offer us. Jesus assured his followers that the Holy Spirit would be their constant guide: When the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into the full truth. He won’t speak on his own. He will speak what he hears and will tell you about things to come. {14} He will give me glory, because he will tell you what I say.” (John 16:13-14 GWT) A prayer for God to guide us is a petition for us to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit reveals to us as we seek to become more like Christ.

DIRECT – When traveling, we have the freedom to take any route we may choose. Having clear directions to our destination does not interfere with the freedom to enjoy excursions along the way, but the directions help to keep the path and the destination in mind. The best directions are personalized, beginning with one’s unique location and accounting for the particular situations each traveler might face.
God is eager to give us directions that are more reliable than our own free-lance attempts at finding our way through life. The general principle is clearly stated: ” Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. {6} Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT) Jesus gave directions to the way for those who respond to his call to follow him: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. {14} “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 The Sermon on the Mount, along with Jesus’ other words, and the teachings of Paul, James, Peter, and others in the New Testament offer turn-by-turn directions for daily living as followers of Jesus.
Do you pay attention to what is being said in public prayers? Do they strike you as mere formalities for opening or closing a meeting, or do you enter into conversation with God as the spoken prayer is said? Do you become mired in clichés and habitually repeated phrases in prayer, or do you look for genuine expression of the miracle of communication with God in prayer? Next time you hear someone leading a prayer aloud in public, listen . . . and join the speaker in conversation with God.

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

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