If I were someone who wanted to put an obstacle in the way of the life with God of millions of Christians around the globe, I don't think I would work particularly hard at sewing seeds of doubt about Jesus' divinity or his humanity. I don't think I would work too hard at stirring up debates about the Bible nor try to add more heat to the fire of the usual controversies that surround it. I don't think I would try to get people to work too hard to earn God's love and operate as if when they do good things, God's love for them would increase. I don't think I'd try to stir up people's passions for the things that destroy them (the good ol' "deadly sins").
No, I think–if my goal were to stagnate the life with God of not just one person, but multitudes––I’d go with something more subtle. It would be something that could suck the life out of people while simultaneously appearing completely socially acceptable even among groups of committed Christians. Rather than working to get Christians to renounce life with God, I think I'd work to get them to embrace something that could keep them from ever making any progress in it.
Read MoreThe summer movie season is already upon us. I heard a movie critic say Hollywood is starting summer earlier in order to prolong the huge box office profits. What this largely looks like is loud, big-budget superhero and sci-fi blockbusters. Captain America and Spiderman are already out, and more Avengers, X-Men, and Transformers will be visiting soon. Interspersed among these will be the quieter, some would say deeper films.
A key difference between the blockbusters and the deeper films is whether or not they stay with us. So called “high art” typically has us wrestling with its meaning long after our initial exposure to it. These are the movies that get to us, that we’re still wrestling with the next day or next week or for the rest of our lives. On the contrary, lower or pop art is typically good for a couple hours of blow-em-up escapism and then we’re done with it.
Mark’s telling of Jesus’ resurrection is art of the highest order.
Read MoreThe newest retreat in our series with the Spiritual Formation Center of First United Methodist Church of Midland, Texas will be a surprising look at three central Christian beliefs: grace, salvation, and faith. The retreat experience will allow you to reframe these beliefs in your mind and experience their reality in a restful, helpful, and enjoyable context.
Please contact Daniel Harris with any questions.
Read MoreI must admit that as my turn to write something for the SalvationLife blog approached there was a bit of nervousness and uncertainty about what to say. Most who will read this blog will have no idea who John Grant is, or why they should even read what he may have to say. I am excited about Daniel’s vision for SalvationLife, and am equally excited and honored in being asked to be a part of it. But still the question lingers: who is John Grant, and why listen?
It seems to me that is one of the questions that lingered in those days between the resurrection and Pentecost. Those early disciples must have wondered about their collective identity. Just who were they in light of what had just taken place? Things were different. The nascent church—meeting in secrecy, shrouded with fear, uncertain, unsure—knew things had changed, but what did it mean? I think that is one of the main questions answered on Pentecost: the question of ecclesial identity. Pentecost introduced the church not only to the world, but to itself.
Read MoreGood Friday this year would have been my dad's 70th birthday. I had noticed that ahead of time on the calendar, and was aware of it, but I didn’t really think it would be a big deal to me. While he was alive, my father made the least fuss about birthdays of anyone I’ve ever known, so making a big deal about his birthday in the few years since his death has always seemed a bit unfitting.
One of the things I’ve learned about losing someone you love is that you never can predict what the things will be that will pop up and make you suddenly miss them intensely (like I wrote about a while back as I almost lost it over a Spam sandwich). On the morning of Good Friday, I woke up fine, expecting to give a good deal of my thoughts to the day’s stories about Jesus, but it didn’t take long for one of those kinds of surprises to catch me and leave me also spending a lot of the remainder of the day thinking about my dad.
It happened when I first saw my two-year-old daughter that morning. Dad never got to meet her, but one week before he died, we were able to tell him that my wife was pregnant. He would have loved this little girl like crazy, and she would have soaked his love in and then returned every bit of it in a way that only she can do.
She’s in a stage now where anything that we call a “special day” is a major event to be exhilarated about, and then if we use the word, “party,” she’s likely to blow an adrenaline circuit. She’s always looking for any excuse to put on her tutu and eat cake or candy, and the special days and parties are obvious opportunities to do such things. So, when I saw her that morning, what we would have been doing if her granddad had still been here instantly flashed before my mind. She would have worn her favorite pink tutu, opened the door at his house, run to him with pigtails bouncing and given him a happy birthday hug and kiss, giving a big grin to my dad and all of us with her incomparable laugh.
Read MoreAn odd thing about Jesus is that, every time he seems to be faced with temptation to give up on the Father’s plan that has him dying for the world’s sins, Jesus then overcomes the temptation with extra resolve. We’ve seen this throughout Lent. Right at the beginning of his ministry, he goes into the wilderness for the sole purpose of subjecting himself to temptation by no less than Satan himself. He comes out toughened and confirmed and ready for work.
Later, when Jesus begins to share with his disciples that he is going to have to die, Peter tempts Jesus by telling him that this isn’t the Father’s will. This really gets to Jesus, and Jesus responds by rebuking Peter (and Satan, who seems to be behind it all). Then, for good measure, Jesus says, “In fact, not only do I have to die, but anyone who wants to walk with me has to take up their cross and get in line!” Resolve!
Just a few days before the end, Jesus is standing among all the worshipers at the Temple, and he seems to be struggling. He tells everyone that his hour has come, and then he prays, “I don’t know what to say. Father, save me from this hour.” And then, the resolve, “No! It is for this reason I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Every time the chips are down, Jesus goes all in.
Read MoreI just started co-teaching a class on the spiritual disciplines using Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth as our guide. In writing about the discipline of meditation Foster suggests that “Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word.” Of course this hearing God’s voice and obeying his word applies to all of the disciplines, and also suggests a very healthy way in which we are to follow Christ and live our lives for Him.
Living in a constant state of meditation on the life of Christ is hard to do, but is a reasonable and obtainable life I believe those who follow Christ are called to practice and live out. I am not an expert, and my experiences of listening to the still small voice of God and being obedient need to be improved upon, but I am challenged to live my life in this manner while learning as I grow.
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