In the Roman Catholic Church, both the tradition of the church and the scriptures carry equal weight. In other words, the traditions of the church are as sacred as the words of scripture. In the early 1500's Martin Luther taught that the source of authority is "sola scriptura" (scripture alone). The reformation championed that phrase in the subsequent years.
Today evangelical churches still profess to hold to the concept of "sola scriptura". While the evangelicals declare that they are differant from the Roman Catholics when it comes to the sacredness of church tradition, their actions indicate otherwise. I am becoming more convinced that even though there has been almost 500 years of declaration that they stand on, evangelicals hold the same beliefs as the Roman Catholics. If you do not believe me, dare to challenge any of their extra-biblical beliefs.
Let me illustrate. Bev and I had a conversation with a group of leaders recently. During the conversation we were asked about where we attend church. Since we do not attend church, the answer was simple - we don't. Their consternation was almost amusing. I then asked if I could stretch their theology a bit. My question to them was "where in scripture do you find that we are to go to church". After a bit of fumbling, one person responded with the scripture in Hebrews encouraging us to not forsake gathering together. I replied that we do gather together with other believers to be encouraged. We just don't go to church on Sunday morning. While it was a good conversation, their discomfort with "sola scriptura" was obvious.
Why do evangelicals associate going to church with spirituality? It is because they believe that the traditions of the church are equal to scripture. To question "going to church" (which isn't even a biblical concept) is seen as questioning God Himself. Our church tradition has so affected us that despite our claims of sola scriptura, our actions show that we really believe otherwise.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Saturday, May 14, 2011
share the wealth 2
My parents come from rather humble beginnings. While they were successful business/farm owners they did not start with a lot of resources. As my dad says - I started from scratch and it wasn't even itchy where I scratched. His father and his only brother were killed in a farm accident when dad was only six years old. My mom grew up a middle child in a family of fourteen children. Both parents talk about eating off the land when growing up; lots of fried potatoes and stewed tomatoes along with whatever vegetables and fruits were in season. When they butchered an animal, the entire animal was utilized in some manner.
When my dad was 35, he took the plunge and purchased a farm. He borrowed the money for the down payment and the owner financed the rest. I can remember times when money was in short supply. My mom raised chickens to sell as well as vegetables. The early weeks of July were raspberry picking time. Her and I picked gallons of wild raspberries to sell every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning during raspberry season.
As I reflect on their humble beginnings, two things come to mind for which I am very grateful; gifts that they gave to me. First, I never heard them complain about needing to work hard, about it being unfair that dad did not inherit his home farm. They never talked about the difficulty of life. What they did talk about was their thankfulness for what they had. My dad speaks highly of the people who believed enough in him to help make his dreams possible. There was no bitterness in them toward the poverty from which they came; just a deep sense of gratefulness for what they had.
The second gift has to do with an attitude as well. Both of my parents had a willingness to do whatever it took to realize their dreams. Obstacles were meant to be overcome, not hindrances to which one would yield. They understood that the realization of dreams required personal sacrifice.
Both attitudes, thankfulness and a willingness to do whatever it takes, are sorely lacking in society and the church. Far too frequently people adopt a victim's attitude. They continually feel bitter about their presumed lack of opportunity, complaining about their circumstances. They blame other people for the perceived injustices against them. Obstacles rule their world. They never live in God's mandate to Adam and Eve to subdue the earth. Instead they are subdued by their own circustances.
In their sixty years of marriage, my parents have moved from poverty to a place of financial stability. The attitudes of thankfulness and their willingness to "do whatever it takes" were largely responsible for the transformation. Their example is a tremendous gift to me!
When my dad was 35, he took the plunge and purchased a farm. He borrowed the money for the down payment and the owner financed the rest. I can remember times when money was in short supply. My mom raised chickens to sell as well as vegetables. The early weeks of July were raspberry picking time. Her and I picked gallons of wild raspberries to sell every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning during raspberry season.
As I reflect on their humble beginnings, two things come to mind for which I am very grateful; gifts that they gave to me. First, I never heard them complain about needing to work hard, about it being unfair that dad did not inherit his home farm. They never talked about the difficulty of life. What they did talk about was their thankfulness for what they had. My dad speaks highly of the people who believed enough in him to help make his dreams possible. There was no bitterness in them toward the poverty from which they came; just a deep sense of gratefulness for what they had.
The second gift has to do with an attitude as well. Both of my parents had a willingness to do whatever it took to realize their dreams. Obstacles were meant to be overcome, not hindrances to which one would yield. They understood that the realization of dreams required personal sacrifice.
Both attitudes, thankfulness and a willingness to do whatever it takes, are sorely lacking in society and the church. Far too frequently people adopt a victim's attitude. They continually feel bitter about their presumed lack of opportunity, complaining about their circumstances. They blame other people for the perceived injustices against them. Obstacles rule their world. They never live in God's mandate to Adam and Eve to subdue the earth. Instead they are subdued by their own circustances.
In their sixty years of marriage, my parents have moved from poverty to a place of financial stability. The attitudes of thankfulness and their willingness to "do whatever it takes" were largely responsible for the transformation. Their example is a tremendous gift to me!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
sharing the wealth
Last post I shared about being wealthy, not from the perspective of money and possessions but from the perspective of the intangible things that contribute to my well being. The inheritance that I received from my parents while I was growing up is of value beyond measure. Last weekend when we were in NY together, I became more aware of some of those things and how they have affected me.
One aspect of that inheritance has to do with the way I view life. Somehow, my parents communicated to me the truth that "the world does not revolve around me". In other words, I grew up being very aware of the larger picture of life. While I always knew that God created me to be uniquely me, I was also very aware that I was part of a larger picture. In other words, my life was meant to live in harmony with others.
So often I see people who seem to think that the world revolves around them. Unfortunately, this attitude is as prevelant in Christians as it is in the rest of society. If anyone ought to know that life is not about me and my desires, it out to be Christians. The pattern of Jesus highlights a life lived with the realization that there is a cause beyond the preservation of self.
Self-centered people never achieve greatness in any way. Their impact on society is minimal. They are frequently victims, always suffering some injustice done to them. They are self-absorbed, rarely noticing other people. Their self-absorbtion causes them to use and abuse people. "Big picture" perspective eludes them since their focus is limited to their own puny existence.
The way of Jesus is one of serving, of pouring out one's life for the benefit of others. The way of Jesus enables one to discern the big picture and how we fit into God's work harmoniously. It is the way of harmony, life, and fruitfulness.
I thank God that my parents gave me the gift of being "others aware".
One aspect of that inheritance has to do with the way I view life. Somehow, my parents communicated to me the truth that "the world does not revolve around me". In other words, I grew up being very aware of the larger picture of life. While I always knew that God created me to be uniquely me, I was also very aware that I was part of a larger picture. In other words, my life was meant to live in harmony with others.
So often I see people who seem to think that the world revolves around them. Unfortunately, this attitude is as prevelant in Christians as it is in the rest of society. If anyone ought to know that life is not about me and my desires, it out to be Christians. The pattern of Jesus highlights a life lived with the realization that there is a cause beyond the preservation of self.
Self-centered people never achieve greatness in any way. Their impact on society is minimal. They are frequently victims, always suffering some injustice done to them. They are self-absorbed, rarely noticing other people. Their self-absorbtion causes them to use and abuse people. "Big picture" perspective eludes them since their focus is limited to their own puny existence.
The way of Jesus is one of serving, of pouring out one's life for the benefit of others. The way of Jesus enables one to discern the big picture and how we fit into God's work harmoniously. It is the way of harmony, life, and fruitfulness.
I thank God that my parents gave me the gift of being "others aware".
Monday, May 2, 2011
I'm wealthy
Bev and I spent this past weekend in NY at the cabin with my family. We had a great several days. My parents are both in their 80's and I think that everyone there had a sense of gratefulness that both parents could be there.
We ate together, a lot of really good food. We drank lots of coffee. We enjoyed the warm sunshine together, marvelling at the beauty of nature. But most of all we talked a lot. We both told and heard stories, stories of my parents romance more than 60 years ago, stories of childhood memories. We talked about dreams, life, and love. We sang hymns together. Before our Sunday morning brunch we joined in praise by singing the Doxology. Something about the weekend touched our hearts deeply and the words of the song were sung with passion and gusto. There was a lot of laughter, there were tears that flowed as we spoke of heart issues.
In many ways the weekend was a celebration of our heritage, a celebration about from where we have come.
On the way home yesterday, I remarked to Bev that I truly am a wealthy man. When I embrace my heritage and the stories that helped shape me, a true sense of prosperity emerges. It is not a wealth that can be measured in an amount of money, it transcends money and possesions. The greatest enjoyment from wealth occurs when it is shared. In the coming days/weeks, I will share some of my wealth from the weekend.
We ate together, a lot of really good food. We drank lots of coffee. We enjoyed the warm sunshine together, marvelling at the beauty of nature. But most of all we talked a lot. We both told and heard stories, stories of my parents romance more than 60 years ago, stories of childhood memories. We talked about dreams, life, and love. We sang hymns together. Before our Sunday morning brunch we joined in praise by singing the Doxology. Something about the weekend touched our hearts deeply and the words of the song were sung with passion and gusto. There was a lot of laughter, there were tears that flowed as we spoke of heart issues.
In many ways the weekend was a celebration of our heritage, a celebration about from where we have come.
On the way home yesterday, I remarked to Bev that I truly am a wealthy man. When I embrace my heritage and the stories that helped shape me, a true sense of prosperity emerges. It is not a wealth that can be measured in an amount of money, it transcends money and possesions. The greatest enjoyment from wealth occurs when it is shared. In the coming days/weeks, I will share some of my wealth from the weekend.
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