Make the Right First Step

Blind Faith (No. 26, 2008)

A casual observation of a condition in our backyard turned into a project that consumed 3 or 4 of the last several days. Our house is nestled onto a sharply sloping hillside. The good news is that our walk-out basement provides excellent severe weather shelter, and it stays cool during the sweltering summer days. The bad news is that stepping from our patio into the backyard always presented a precipitous challenge, with unsure footing. Other access points require a long walk around a mammoth gingko tree, or skirting the stairs up to the deck. A path down the slope, leading more directly to open space in the yard and to the pear trees called for some action.

A solution attempted by my wife was laying several 18-inch concrete pavers on the slope. While the pavers offered firm footing, their steep angle was not much improvement over the bare ground. Talk show warnings about “slippery slopes” took on actual relevance! So, we observed, we really ought to level the pavers, to make a sure-enough set of steps from the patio to the yard. And thus, the excavation began!

Building a set of steps drew my theological imagination into play almost immediately. Just the notion of steps started my sound track for the work. With each shovel of rocky soil dug, I kept hearing the worship chorus, Step by Step:

Oh God, You are my God, And I will ever praise You.
I will seek You in the morning, And I will learn to walk in Your ways.
And step by step You’ll lead me, And I will follow You all of my days.
(step by Step, Beaker, 1991)

After awhile, my free-association on steps subsided, and I began to search for deeper spiritual analogies for the work.

I gave some thought to similarities between removing the dirt that I was shoveling away to reveal productive terraces for each step, the way all kinds of sin must be shoveled out of our lives for us to become the productive persons God intends us to be. That metaphor broke down almost immediately, though. I knew that excavating the area for the steps depended entirely on my sweat-drenched effort. Clearing sin (attitudes and actions that damage my relationship with God, other people, and my authentic self) from my life, however, is beyond my capability. No matter how hard I try, my effort just will not get rid of sin. Only God’s grace can do that (see Romans 7: 15-25).

Digging from the bottom step toward the top, I thought about ascending progress in our lives dedicated to following Jesus. Hebrews (one of my favorite New Testament books) does caution us (see Hebrews 6:1-2) to get on with maturing as believers, not remaining only on the bottom level of understanding repentance and faith, although these are crucially important. Other than doing the work of going up the hill, I just couldn’t get any metaphors of Christian maturation to gel. Extra attention required to remove stubborn rocks and concrete spurred some notions of struggling to break pernicious habits, but I felt I was slipping too far into allegory, rather than developing a useful image.

When we started to set the first step, the metaphor began to fall into shape. We spent a considerable amount of time and energy investigating the position, support, and importance of the first step for all the others. Every other step would be measured by its relationship with this first placed one. If this step proved to be not level, out of square, or not on a firm foundation, then the entire set of steps would be a disaster. Everything depended on laying the right, solid foundation. Here was an experience in a known area – building steps – that could help to explain and to understand another experience – living by faith in Christ. This is the true purpose of metaphorical language.

In order to live as God intends for us to live, the only sure foundation is Jesus Christ. We can investigate all the philosophies offered by every race and tribe of humankind. We can strive to reason our own answers to the great mysteries of existence. In the end, all such work on our part is merely site preparation. The apostle Paul was an expert in the Jewish religion, a scholar educated in the finest schools, a leader with sterling credentials, and a citizen of the highest order. He worked hard at every task he undertook, both as a zealous prosecutor defending Jewish identity, and as a missionary for Christ. Yet, his arduous work was only site preparation. Paul describes the situation well: ” You are … God’s building. {10} By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. {11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:9b-11 NIV) Paul is pleased with the work he has done well, but he recognizes that the crucial element for building followers of Jesus is Jesus Christ, himself. Every determinative measurement of the Christian life is taken from Christ. Paul returns to the metaphor in another letter: ” you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, {20} built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. {21} In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; {22} in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” Ephesians 2:19b-22 NRSV) We are being built into the marvelous dwelling God has planned, we do not just emerge onsite fully constructed. God has provided master builders (and many apprentices) to work alongside him, according to the plan, and always taking the measure of their work from Jesus, the Cornerstone. How the finished project turns out depends on how faithful to the foundation – Jesus – we remain.

I was very pleased with the garden steps we built. Not bad for a blind retired guy and a non-builder co-laborer! What God can make of us is much more amazing. If we set out to build a life by our own design, no matter how hard we try, we can’t remove the sin problem, nor can we get the right starting point to make everything fit together correctly. But as God’s building, set on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, we become the place where God lives. That is high commendation for the quality of the construction project!

What is the foundation from which you take measurements for your life? Do you pay careful attention to make sure you are beginning with Jesus, rather than with your own work? Does each step rest upon Jesus, as you scale the slippery slopes of life? As you walk up a set of steps outside somewhere, recall the importance of what underlies and supports them, and remember to refer back to Jesus as your first step. Then grow your own metaphor of living as a follower of Jesus!

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

Spiritual IQ vs. Performance

Blind Faith (No. 25, 2008)

IQ tests and skills tests don’t always give parallel results.

IQ (intelligence quotient) is a measure of intellectual capability, the

ability to comprehend, conceptualize, and reason. But innate ability

or capacity for doing something does not necessarily equate with

performance. Skill testing may find that a person with an

exceptionally high IQ might perform at only average levels – or even

less. Some people with high IQ scores may require remedial help or

special attention to bring their performance up to the level of their

ability. Conversely, someone with moderate IQ scores, but who

possesses determination and a concerted work ethic, might perform well

beyond expectations based on their IQ scores, alone.

A case in point was one of my high school friends. John (the

name has been changed to protect the innocent!) knocked the top out of

any standardized tests he took. His ACT and SAT scores had prestigious

colleges from across the country inviting him to apply for admission,

many of them promising sizeable scholarships. None of John’s friends

was surprised at the offers – although we knew something the colleges

didn’t. Even though John was an intellectual superstar, he just didn’t

have much “walking-around sense.” Little of his vast store of

knowledge seemed to connect naturally with real, everyday life. He was

the world’s easiest target for practical jokes. Physical, mechanical

tasks (whose underlying facts, concepts, and formulas he knew backwards

and forwards) he consistently bungled. But John resolved not to be

just an “egghead.” He kept involved in all kinds of school, church,

and community activities. He analyzed any difficulties he encountered,

handling them with humor, self deprecation, and a genuine desire to use

the best of his intellectual ability to bring his performance up to the

level he desired in doing practical tasks, just as he excelled in

academics. John was a cheerful, warm, kind friend and a full

contributor to the good student life in our high school.

Perhaps we should devise some tests to measure our “spiritual

IQ” and to assess our performance level at living the Christian life.

Many of the people I know in both the community and through the church,

I am sure, would knock the top out of the tests for knowledge of the

Bible, spiritual understanding, and capabilities for ministry based on

God’s grace gifts. But are we performing at levels commensurate with

the abilities God has given us? Do we need remedial work in some areas

of service to Christ? Do we have the determination and commitment to

Christ to make up for the areas in which we may not have an abundance

of apparent resources, but where we have concerted aspirations to get

God’s work done?

The apostle Paul, in a very familiar New Testament passage,

displays keen insight into the discrepancy between our God-given

abilities and the practice of Christian living: ” I may speak in the

languages of humans and of angels…. I may have the gift to speak what

God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all

knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains…. I may

even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned [as a

martyr]. But if I don’t have love, none of these things will help me.”

(1 Corinthians 13:1-3 GWT) Of course, the love he mentions as the

decisive catalyst between any ability or capacity we might possess and

the performance of practical living for Christ is God’s active,

determined, hard-working love that never gives up. Paul catalogs an

extraordinary range of gifts and abilities. If someone scored near the

top of the scale in these categories, their spiritual IQ certainly

would be off the charts. But Paul indicates that being a “Brainiac,”

even in theology, ethics, and other spiritual disciplines does not get

God’s daily tasks done. The essential factor is the active practice of

God’s defining characteristic, love. The rest of 1 Corinthians 13

spells out the pragmatic evidence of God’s kind of love in action in

our lives. The good news is that God gives us both the gifts and

abilities for Christian living and the power and determination to put

it into practice. As Paul says in another letter, ” Yes, God is

working in you to help you want to do what pleases him. Then he gives

you the power to do it.” (Philippians 2:13 ICB)

The pressing question for us is, will we be egghead

Christians, or will we commit ourselves to achievements above our

abilities by the action of God’s love through us? Make an assessment

of your spiritual IQ. Has God given you opportunities to study the

Bible, understanding of spiritual matters, and gifts that equip you for

ministering in Jesus’ name? Now, evaluate your performance as a

follower of Jesus. How well do you translate your knowledge and gifts

into actually loving another person, or telling someone about God’s

love and grace? Do you have areas or subjects in your Christian life

that could use some remedial work or tutoring, or where you just need

to apply yourself more in order for your spiritual IQ to be matched by

your daily practice of Christian faith? God gives every one of us

abilities and gifts in ample measure to get his work done, but if we

don’t connect our knowledge of the Bible and our capabilities for

ministry with practical involvement as the hands of Christ, then we are

just a bunch of spiritual eggheads. Don’t be an “Egghead for Jesus.”

Genuinely love someone – as God loves them – today.

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

Qualities of a Loving Father

Blind Faith (No. 24, 2008)

Sunday is my day! Mine, and about 63 million other fathers in

the U.S., that is. Father’s Day is marked every third Sunday in June.

From the beginning of the observance, Father’s Day has been a time to

give thanks for the good gifts of love, support, and time given by

attentive fathers. Father’s Day is an opportunity to share our too-

seldom expressed appreciation for them and to honor them for the solid

foundations they have given us. Unfortunately, not all fathers fulfill

their responsibilities honorably and too many have abandoned

relationships with the children who desperately crave their love and

positive formative example.

Changing profiles of contemporary families and egalitarian

sentiments lead some people to extend Father’s Day recognition to

anyone who serves as a positive father figure in someone’s life. The

Volunteer Center in our county included 2 men who have no children and

1 woman in their nominees for this year’s “Father of the Year” awards!

Each of them has given self-sacrificially of their time, encouragement,

and love to children whose natural fathers have failed to do so. In

many cases, surrogates are called upon to fill the father figure void

children and young adults must face. Single moms, big brothers,

uncles, and other willing and giving mentors do deserve recognition for

standing in as father figures. But everyone still harbors a deep need

for a truly gracious, caring father.

In the best cases, both fathers and children desire a

relationship that has strength and stamina grown from the unconditional

love they share. Each looks for the best qualities of the other and

celebrates when they blossom and flourish. A story often told in

Father’s Day sermons captures the point well. One night a father

overheard his son pray, “Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy

is.” Later that night, the Father prayed, “Dear God, Make me the kind

of man my son wants me to be.” Both father and child were on the right

track for shaping their relationship.

When I think about my own father, and about my responsibilities

as a father and now grandfather, my thoughts are drawn to Psalm 103.

God is depicted in the psalm as a loving father, and the attributes of

such a father are powerfully detailed. Just as Proverbs 31 is cited as

an epitomized profile of a godly woman, the qualities cataloged in

Psalm 103 are what every father should emulate:

The Lord shows mercy and is kind. He does not become

angry quickly, and he has great love.
{9} He will not always scold us. He will not be angry forever.
{10} He has not punished us as our sins should be punished. He has not

repaid us for the evil we have done.
{11} As high as the sky is above the earth, so great is his love

for those who respect him.
{12} He has taken our sins away from us as far as the east is

from west.
{13} The Lord has mercy on those who fear him, as a father has

mercy on his children.
{14} He knows how we were made. He remembers that we are dust….
{17} But the Lord’s love for those who fear him continues forever and

ever. And his goodness continues to their grandchildren
{18} and to those who keep his agreement and who remember to obey

his orders.
(Psalm 103:8-14, 17-18 International Children’s Bible)

Everyone whose father displays these qualities is marvelously

blessed, and should express thanksgiving and love for the one who gave

them this gift. Every father or grandfather should evaluate his

relationship with his children by these standards, humbly confessing

shortcomings or abrogations of this responsibility. Everyone –

fathers, grandfathers, men without children, single mothers, any male

or female father figure – should aspire to conform their actions to the

qualities learned from God, our Heavenly Father. Any adult sharing the

love, grace, and understanding shown us by our Heavenly Father can have

life-changing influence on a child.

A treacherous trap we stumble into much too frequently is to

think that we can demonstrate the qualities of a loving father entirely

on our own terms, whenever we feel like it. None of us ever knows

fully the significance of our actions for the persons with whom we

share our lives. A footnote from the lives of a very successful father

and son underscores the importance of consistent practice of the

virtues we want to pass along to others. Charles Francis Adams,, son

of President John Quincy Adams, and U.S. Ambassador to England during

the Civil War, kept a diary. One day he entered: “Went fishing with my

son today–a day wasted.” His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary. On

that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: “Went fishing with my

father–the most wonderful day of my life!” What we write off as

wasted time may be such a treasure for someone in your life, and your

conduct may leave an indelible impression on their character. It is a

sobering thought for all fathers and every father figure.

So, Sunday is Father’s Day. Pick out a nice greeting card.

Get him a fitting gift card, or shirt, or electronic gadget, or book,

or whatever suits your father )or father figure) as a token of your

love. Honor your loving father by expressing as clearly as possible

your appreciation for the life, love, and lessons you have received.

Fathers, reflect humbly on your presence and example with your

families, and recommit to your responsibilities for modeling God’s

grace to your children and grandchildren. Everyone, especially where

fathers have forfeited their godly roles, find ways to be a godly

father figure to a child in need of lavish love. Demonstrate the

attributes of God, our Heavenly Father, found in Psalm 103 to someone

today.

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.

Thirst-Quenching Water

Blind Faith (No. 23, 2008)

If you haven’t been drinking your 8 glasses of water per day,

you finally can relax. This month’s medical-reports-to-debunk-

everything-you-previously-thought deal with just how much water your

body needs each day. Several reviews of medical studies have found

little or no benefit from drinking the oft-heralded 8 glasses of water

per day. And additives to your water – vitamins, minerals, herbs,

fiber (yes, some bottled waters claim to provide dietary fiber!) – were

found to have negligible effects on health. Their effect on the

pocketbook, however, appears to be considerably adverse. A consensus

seems to be emerging among medical researchers, physicians, and

nutritionists on hydration: drink when you are thirsty.

Summertime may bring activities that produce thirstiness. Any

exercise in the hot summer temperatures increases the need for

hydration. Perspiration (or glistening, for Southern belles out there)

creates the need to replenish the body’s water supply. A bit of good

news from the recent medical reports is that iced tea, or lemonade, or

coffee, or any liquid in quantity will do the job of hydration. Just

watch out about consuming too many empty calories in juices or sweet

drinks. In short, working up a thirst is a good thing, and thirst is

the best signal for you to drink a refreshing glass of water, lemonade,

iced tea, or whatever works for you.

Thirst is such a universal experience that its use in the Bible

to describe our need for God is no surprise. One of the most familiar

expressions, often sung in a contemporary worship chorus, is found in

the opening of Psalm 42: ” As a deer thirsts for streams of water, so I

thirst for you, God. {2} I thirst for the living God. When can I go to

meet with him?” (Psalm 42:1-2 NCV) The prophetic answer is that God’s

Servant comes seeking us, rather than requiring us to search for him,

and he comes with an invitation to satisfy our thirst: The LORD says,

‘All you who are thirsty, come and drink. Those of you who do not have

money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and

without cost.’” (Isaiah 55:1a NCV) The Lord goes on to question why

people persist in wasting their money on things that can not and do not

satisfy their true spiritual thirst, just as people today continue to

squander amazing sums on drinkable crazes that do nothing for them.

Jesus’ conversation with a thirsty woman at Jacob’s Well also

used her physical thirst to get at her more pressing parched spirit.

Clearly, she needed to drink deeply from what Jesus had to offer her:

“Jesus replied to her, ‘If you only knew what God’s gift is and who is

asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would

have given you living water.’ {11} The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you

don’t have anything to use to get water, and the well is deep. So where

are you going to get this living water?’ … {13} Jesus answered her,

‘Everyone who drinks this water will become thirsty again. {14} But

those who drink the water that I will give them will never become

thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them

a spring that gushes up to eternal life.’” (John 4:10-11, 13-14 GWT)

Later, Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem, where one

of the central rituals involved carrying jars of water to the Temple in

commemoration of God providing water from the rock during the Exodus

from Egypt. Jesus applied our bodies’ perpetual need for physical

water and God’s provision of it to himself as the source of the much

more essential Living Water: ” On the last day of the festival, the

great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone

who is thirsty come to me, {38} and let the one who believes in me

drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall

flow rivers of living water.”‘” (John 7:37-38 NRSV) In both cases,

Jesus indicated that his gift of Living Water (Jesus, himself) comes in

a supply that never ends. We might say today that we do not need to

carry a “Jesus water bottle” to avoid bouts of spiritual dryness, for

we remain constantly connected to the water main through faithful

relationship with Jesus.

Working up a good thirst with physical exercise and activity

we know to be beneficial for our bodies. Increasing our desire for

Living Water, too, enhances our spiritual vitality. Jesus included his

commendation for such exercise in the Beatitudes: “You’re blessed when

you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the

best meal you’ll ever eat.” (Matthew 5:6, The Message) When we

continually desire and continually drink in the Living Water, our

spiritual health, stamina, and quality of life are greatly improved.

One of the last words in the Bible explains the reason for the

improvement: ” The One on the throne said to me, ‘It is finished. I am

the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give free

water from the spring of the water of life to anyone who is thirsty.

{7} Those who win the victory will receive this, and I will be their

God, and they will be my children.’” (Revelation 21:6-7 NCV) That

should be motivation enough to drink as deeply as possible at this

fountain.

Next time you reach for a refreshing glass of iced tea, or

lemonade, or a bottle of water, think of how good it feels to drink it

in. Remember that keeping hydrated is important for maintaining

health. Reflect on your greatest spiritual thirst. How have you been

trying to satisfy your need? Only the Living Water can satisfy your

thirsty soul. Jesus continually invites you to his fountain. Drink

up!

J. Edward Culpepper, Ph.D.