Is Forgiveness the Most Difficult Action in God's Kingdom?

Forgiveness: the pleasure of having the slate become clean after a nasty incident; Being forgiven wipes away so many ugly feelings, isolation and regret. Wow!

Forgiving others-often difficult! Forgiving our enemies?  "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you., that you may be sons and daughters of your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45) What do we do with these words? Are we to take them "literally"? Is this possible?

Today I'm watching the attempts of Kenyan authorities to learn what happened in Westgate Mall in Nairobi. Terrible signs of grief; unbearable shrieks of horror; a despicable crime: terror cutting the lives of 68 and injuring 175. Wow!

Several thousand miles to the east, at the same time, : At least 75 people were killed in a suicide bombing outside a church. This took place in Peshawar, Pakistan. Apparently, it's the worst attack on Christians, called, "a minority". Wow!

Can we hear of such events and find the word "forgiveness" coming into our minds, much less

finding the strength to actually follow the words of Jesus Christ?

 

My mind goes back several years to the death of three Christians in Eastern Turkey. Five young men under the age of 17 deliberately cultivated friendship with these believers. They said they wanted to "know about Christianity". However, the five capturing these Christian workers. Two were Turks and one German; they suffered torture and brutal deaths. The five young men were caught, arrested and a long legal process began.

 

While the court cases are still not completely finished in Turkey - the judicial approach - another kind of action, forgiveness, knocked down hatred and demolished many strongholds.

 

One of the widows, on the day of burial of her husband, said, "I live in your city. I buy bread at the stores where you buy bread for your children. My children go to the schools your children attend. This is my home. I am here to declare that I forgive those who murdered my husband." Very simple words, a very short message. But, a very deep reality: forgiveness:

 

Those words rocked the city of Malatya.

 

The impact across Turkey, for days afterwards, was one of utter unbelief. One of Turkey's most respected journalists wrote, "This action, by one missionary, accomplished more than a thousand missionaries preaching for a thousand years." The topic of forgiveness dominated personal conversations for days. "Why would a Christian widow forgive those who murdered her husband?

 

"For, though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Wow - Wow - Wow! (2 Cor.  10:3-5)

 

 

The Gospel According to Zaccheaus - Grace for Shame - Part 3

This is the third of three blog posts in which the story of Zacchaeus is viewed through the Scriptural concept of shame, an approach that is probably rarely understood in the West. Take with permission from Grace for Shame - The Forgotten Gospel by John A. Forrester, available through www.pastorsatticpress.com

"For Zacchaeus the verdict of his community no longer intimidates him. He senses, in Jesus, a greater verdict that overrides local convention. Jesus welcomes him into a new community and in so doing welcomes Zacchaeus back to himself. Remarkably, his first words are, "Behold, Lord" - (possibly the Hebrew hineni) - look at me! His shame is lifted. No more need to hide. He can stand before the Lord openly, boldly, in confidence.

And now we see how, for Zacchaeus, and for many like him, healing for guilt follows healing for shame. Zacchaeus needed ontological restoration before there could be ethical restoration. Now that Zacchaeus finds himself honored and respected, he can begin to think about honoring and respecting others. He is now neither shameful nor shameless. He inhabits the place of the honorable. In a moment of time his value system is radically realigned. No danger now of Zacchaeus seeking worth in wealth. He has found worth in the eyes of God. He immediately gives away half of his considerable possessions. Then, where he has cheated, he returns 400% (far beyond the 120% required in Leviticus 6:5). Jesus has restored personhood to Zacchaeus and in consequence Zacchaeus is no longer able to objectify (depersonalize) others. Jesus has returned Zacchaeus to himself and to others.

Here, for the sake of Zacchaeus and anyone else who will listen, Jesus pronounces the verdict of the Kingdom of God on this event.

And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (v. 9, 10)

What they have just witnessed, is salvation. A man was lost, lost to himself as well as others. But now he has been restored - he has been saved. For this Jesus came.

Zacchaeus thought he was seeking Jesus, but Jesus was first seeking him. Jesus came into this world looking for hidden, shamed people. He could not do this from heaven. He had to be Emmanuel. He had to be "God with us". He had to humble himself and become the "Son of Man" in order not to frighten away the Zacchaeuses of this world. Zaccheaus, in lifting his face to Jesus, proves himself to be a true son of Abraham, that great man of faith.

Note also the group orientation, salvation "to this house". There is a corporate quality to the New Testament salvation that makes independent westerners nervous, but not Jews! Before this encounter with Jesus the whole household has suffered from Zacchaeus' dishonorable behavior and thus shared in his shame. Likewise now the whole household shares in the considerable cost of restitution. But they also share in the salvation of Zacchaeus. They share in the re-honoring of Zacchaeus as his salvation is applied to them all."

The Gospel According to Zacchaeus - Grace for Shame - (2)

This is the second of three blog-posts on Zacchaeus, taken with permission from "Grace for Shame: The Forgotten Gospel" by John A. Forrester. The book is available through www.pastorsatticpress.com and I highly recommend it for ministry in today's world.

"We sense, too, that Zacchaeus climbed the tree not only to see but to be seen. Shame prompts hiding. It is when shamed people have the courage to expose themselves to the gaze of God that they discover the love of God. Then God's love is 'poured into our hearts' (Romans 5:5). Zacchaeus exposed himself in the tree, somehow knowing, trusting, that Jesus would not reject him. "He experiences the joy that accompanies every encounter between a depleted self and positive mirroring" (Pembrook, "Toward a Shame-Based Theology of Evangelism").

This is all to much for the crowd. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, 'He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.

The muttering is negative gossip. Here is widespread public disapproval of Jesus' actions. Luke wants the reader to feel the weight of Jesus' counter-cultural approach. We can almost hear the derision in their voices.

Remember that shame is contagious. The shame of Zacchaeus now attaches to Jesus. In staying in Zacchaeus' home Jesus is squandering his own honor within the honor-shame rules of the community. True, Jesus lives by other rules, he is demonstrating a radically different honor-shame construct, but he will pay a price in the local context. This is the journey to Jerusalem and the cross. "He who forgives those we denounce must surely die. And Jesus died." Margaret G. Alter, "Human Shame and the Hospitality of God" Dialog, 36 (1997), 269

Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."

Zacchaeus stood. There is a sense of solemnity and formality about this. It was fascinating for me to hear this passage preached by a Chinese brother. The shame-healing dynamics of this story were much more apparent to him, speaking out of his roots in a shame-oriented culture. He was especially taken by the verb "stood". Perhaps, for the first time, Zacchaeus stands tall. He stands in dignity.

(Continued in final part 3)

The Gospel According to Zacchaeus - Grace for Shame (1)

(The following excerpt is taken with permission from "Grace for Shame, The Forgotten Gospel" by John A. Forrester, pp188-)

At the cross Jesus bears shame for the human race. In the journey to the cross Christ is seen taking on himself the shame of others as he sets them free. He is demonstrating what it means to take up the cross daily - to bear daily the shame of others.

Jesus enters Jericho and is passing through. A man is there by the name of Zacchaeus. He is a chief tax collector and is wealthy. He wants to see who Jesus is, but being a short man he cannot because of the crowd. So he ruins ahead and climbs a sycamore-fig tree in order to see Jesus coming down the road.

Zacchaeus is a man ensnared in shame. As a Jewish tax collector, working for the Roman occupying forces, he is a social outcast, a reject. In fact he is a chief tax collector, a title that ironically only makes him less honorable (thus more shameful). His mother had named him Zaccaeus, a name that means "pure," or "righteous", but he has grown up a "sinner." His very name mocks him ("There goes Mr. Clean!")

In meeting Zaccaeus we are meeting a man who has squandered all of the deposit of honor he received at birth. In a world of honor and shame his credit rating is zero. His short physical stature is a metaphor for his diminished personhood He is one to be over-looked. Alongside other men he is inconsequential. Nevertheless, he has worked his way into the position of chief tax collector. If he has no respect, at least he has power. And he has money. In his accumulation of power and wealth he is attempting to make up the deficit in his depleted self. But the inner hunger remains.

Not only is Zaccaeus a shamed person but he is also shameless! He runs ahead. A mature man in a position of authority would not run in that society. It would be undignified and degrading. But Zaccaeus has no respect worth protection. Not only does he run, he also climbs a tree. A ridiculous little man perched like a bird on a branch, but who cares?

Here is the sham;e-healing presence of Jesus. He "overlooks" no one. He could have chuckled at the sight of the little man in the tree, but he shows deep respect. In using Zacchaeus' name, Jesus recognizes his "distinct subjectivity and personhood". Furthermore, Jesus "looked up" to Zaccaeus. This becomes a metaphor of Jesus' humility. He reveals himself to Zacchaeus as needy. Jesus needs a place to stay. Zacchaeus is given the dignity of helping out the famous Jesus in his time of need. He gets bragging rights. All of this, of course, is done very publicly. Just as shame is loss of public place, honor is gain of public place.

John Forrester's book, Grace for Shame: The Forgotten Gospel is essential reading for anyone who has a desire to reach across the barriers presented by newcomers to North America. People who grow up in an honor-shame based culture will generally not feel comfortable in a service where guilt-forgiveness is preached. This book is available through www.pastorsatticpress.com

Laodicea, Turkey - Church Restored, ready for you to worship there

The main street in Laodicea - Colossae was 10 miles away

Laodicea ! That rich city - amazing place - huge - possibly the largest ruins in Turkey.

Check out the baptistery in Laodicea that is 1,500 years old. The present city of Denizli (ancient Laodicea), is undertaking the reconstruction of the ancient city and it's well worth a visit if you go to Turkey. I've had the privilege of visiting there 20 times between 1995 and 2011. Each visit showed the amazing progress in the archaeological digs.

Soon you can go into this reconstructed Byzantine Church, built between 560-590 AD. The photos here (1 - 7) take you inside the building. Photos 7 - 10 show an ancient Byzantine Basilica Church, built on the ruins of a previous government building. Photos 11-17 show articles dating back 5-7,000 years.  (Click on the "Here" for the web site to see 17 photos from Laodicea- published this week in Hurriyet Daily News - Istanbul.)

Archaeologists reconstruct the Temple of Apollo

Oh, one more thing: My fifth novel on the Seven Churches of the Revelation is called "Rich Me!" and it takes place at the end of the First Century AD. (I hope to publish it a few years later.) It's a story that hangs on the previous four novels in a series of seven novels called The Agonizing Hallelujah.

The first novel in this series of seven novels is called "Through the Fire" - takes place in Pergamum, around the central figure of Antipas. I hope to publish it two years down the line.

I'm looking for half a dozen early readers and also for an artist for the front and back covers. The manuscript is edited, but now I hope to find a half a dozen people to give a critical read for the book.

Brazil's Evangelicals A Growing Force In Prayer, Politics

by Lourdes Garcia Navarro,

July 22, 2013 3:34 AM from NPR       

With Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro for a weeklong visit celebrating World Youth Day. Hundreds of thousands of Catholics have made the pilgrimage to see the Argentine-born pontiff, and he is expected to receive a rapturous welcome.

Still, Pope Francis's visit comes at a delicate time for the church in Brazil. Catholicism — the nation's main religion — is facing a huge challenge from evangelicals.

In advance of the pope's visit, evangelical Christians held a rival gathering at Sao Paulo's convention center. It was massive event, with more than 200 stalls scattered around and thousands of visitors over the past few days.

Christianity in Brazil is big business — not only are major superstar pastors represented at the convention, but businesses like Sony Music have booths as well. Brothers Lucas and Renault Lourenço have been singing together since they were in their teens, and together they are the Brazilian evangelical version of the boy band. Now in their early 20s — sporting matching faux hawks and wearing jeans — they came to reach out to their established fans and sell records to new ones.

"This fair attracts many people, even people who are not evangelicals, which is essential because that way people will know the gospel and so every day there will be even more of us evangelicals," Renault says. And, in fact, there are more every day. Recent polls show that evangelical Christianity is the fastest-growing sect in Brazil. According to the Pew Research Center, 22 percent of the Brazilian population identifies as evangelical Christian — up from 5 percent in 1970. Unfortunately for the Catholic Church, most of them switched from Roman Catholicism.

These days, only about 62 percent of people in Brazil say they are Catholic. In absolute numbers, however, this still makes Brazil the country with the most Catholics in the world. Natalia Andrande says events like this attract new followers, and she says that's her message to Pope Francis.
"This is a way of showing we are strong, that we are also the church," 15-year-old Andrande says. "It's a way of changing people's minds."

Evangelical groups, and there are many, have also translated their numbers into a growing political clout. While the Catholic clergy are prohibited from being in government, President Dilma Rousseff has an evangelical bishop as a Cabinet minister. Despite the pope's imminent visit, Rousseff prayed and reportedly sang with an evangelical group that recently came to lend her support. That's the reason analysts say that evangelical churches have grown so big and so fast: They reach out to people on many levels and are visible in politics. But they also have, for example, drive-through prayer centers for busy commuters or rehab centers for the dispossessed.

One small center is called Cristolandia, and it's located right in the center of what is known as "Crack-landia" in Sao Paulo. The congregants are mostly drug addicts and prostitutes. They come to get a free meal and, if they want, eventually treatment for their addictions at evangelical rehab centers located in the countryside. "I was a Catholic, but the church lost its sense of solidarity with the poor, with the drug addicts, with the prostitutes, the murderers and the thieves," says Cristolandia Pastor Humberto Machado. "The church closed its doors to these people." And that's why he says Catholicism has been losing favor.

This week Pope Francis will be visiting a shanty town in Rio. He is already being touted as the "slum pope," in reference to his focus on social justice and poverty. But it will take a lot to gain back some of the ceded ground. While there is only one church in the community he will be visiting, there are four Pentecostal temples.

Same-Sex Marriage is Still Wrong; And Its' Getting Wronger Every Day

Same-Sex Marriage Is Still Wrong; And It’s Getting Wronger Every Day

Written by: Rev. Dr. Ephraim Radner
Wednesday, July 17th, 2013
by Ephraim Radner,
 
The unexpectedly rapid civil acceptance of same-sex marriage in the West may lead one to imagine that the issue is somehow already settled.  Whatever doubts one may have had, they have been swept away by the overwhelming flood of changed public opinion.  Fait accompli.  Traditional Christians must simply step aside now.

Such a judgment would be a mistake. Indeed, far from the matter being settled, at least form a Christian perspective it has hardly been engaged, despite claims to the contrary by proponents of same-sex marriage. What we have had instead is a bait-and-switch set of tactics, first seeking civil and religious recognition and affirmation somehow of same-sex attractions, then pressing for ordinations, then blessings of unions. What comes next? The question of a “slippery slope” is hardly a fallacy here, for in this case we have a historical track-record of legal advocacy and movement that stands as quite rational “evidence” for the slope’s existence.

All the while, most discussions claimed that “marriage” was never nor could be ever the issue at stake. But here we are: changes to “marriage canons” and Prayer Books are now in the works. At this stage the advocates of change are merciful enough to suggest “conscience clauses” for those who disagree.

“Disagree” how, exactly? What happened? Was a carefully developed argument offered, studied, engaged consultatively across lines of commitment and ecclesial fellowship, and then adopted by a kind of consensual accord? Of course not! Failure to persuade on the part of same-sex advocates has simply been reinterpreted as “legitimate decision in the face of minority dissent”.

For the rest of the article go here

Does "Forgive your Enemies" go this far?

In Istanbul, Turkey, a huge historical Armenian building is being rented despite the ongoing trial.

The Sanasaryan Han in Istanbul’s Eminönü neighborhood, was won by Özgeylani Construction Company, despite the ongoing trial over the ownership of the building. The building is claimed by the Armenian Christians. Armenian Christians around the world claim that upwards of 1,500,000 of their people died in a "genocide" in 1915 when Turkish soldiers forced them out of the eastern most areas of the Ottoman Empire.

The Turkish government claims that the events happened during World War I, that the deaths were not a "genocide", and that "only" 315,000 Armenians died. Most recently, the Turkish government has begun handing back some of the 9,500 properties seized from Greek Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox Churches in 1974.

The issue I want to illustrate involves the ongoing struggle of being a member of the Kingdom of God, in which earthly loyalties and properties are temporary, and being a citizen of this world, in which human rights and justice are necessary and important. (This is one of the major themes of this blog.) This theme overlaps other situations: race relations, property rights, freedom to dress using religious symbols, freedom of expression, etc.

(From Hurriyet Daily News, July 20,) "The tender for renting the historical building, organized by the Directorate General of Foundations on July 18, was won by Özgeylani Construction Company, despite the ongoing trial over the ownership of the building.

"Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate claims that the han, which was donated to the patriarchate in 1881 by a Russian-Armenian Mıgırdiç Sansaryan, belongs to them as they have the documents to prove the donation. The Directorate General of Foundations, on the other hand, claims that the building did not fall under the jurisdiction of a law on the return of properties to community foundations that took effect in 2011 as it had been owned by a person.

"Şahin Gezer of Turkey’s Armenian Patriarchate Real Estate Commission told the Hürriyet Daily News that they had hoped until the last minute that the tender would be halted. Gezer said they would continue their legal action. "The Sanasaryan Han had an autonomous status when compared to the other Armenian foundations, Gezer said, adding that this was due to the fact that other foundations had churches and schools, whereas the han had been donated to the patriarchate by a natural person.

"Gezer said that the rent of the han should be equally distributed between Armenian schools and public schools without any discrimination, while adding that this was as an offer to the Directorate General of Foundations “as we are equal citizens.” "Commenting on the resolution on foundations, which entered into force two years ago, Gezer said more than 400 properties were returned but major problems were being faced. “For example, the returned space is accepted as a green area or is closed for housing, so even if it is returned you cannot use it,” said Gezer.

I  quoted  at length because most people don't know the legal issues faced by Christians in Turkey. it illustrates the tensions we have as followers of Jesus Christ. When we are told to "forgive our enemies, to love our enemies and to pray for our enemies", does that mean we abdicate the claims of our earthly citizenship? The Mennonites, in large measure, did that historically. They moved from place to place based on the need to avoid bloodshed and now are found in Canada, USA, Mexico, Paraguay and other nations.

How should Armenian believers act and think when faced with the Turkish government's use of tiny details in law to avoid handing over such a massive building, worth many millions of dollars in a prime real estate location? Of course, the Armenian Patriarcate will launch a law suite and it may go all the way to the European Court of Human Rights. Turkey is the champion loser of cases brought to the ECHR, and alongside Russia, is the champion of cases brought against its government.

There are countless cases like this, every year, brought against Christians in the Muslim countries. Usually the Christians lose the fight in the courts. What do you think the issues are in the hearts of Christians when faced with injustice? Let me know what you think!

The Recent World History of Christianity

The Recent World History of Christianity

http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/49480/

The history of Christianity is about cross boundaries, always becoming home in individual journeys and places. The Gospel is democratic in the extreme - tremendous changes are taking place - within the last 150 years. The African Christian population today is larger than the whole Christian population 150 years ago.

Click on the web site to see a 2 minute clip that will introduce a great topic.

Leave the web site on and you'll get an introduction to many other areas of study within the Christian faith.

Bono: David sang the blues and Jesus did some punk rock

(We are not used to hearing the superstars of the music world speak so candidly about their faith and how this forms the  foundation for their life and vision. Published in RNS Religion News Service on June 21, 2013)

    

(RNS) U2 frontman Bono exchanged Bible references and bantered about music, theology and evangelicals’ role in AIDS activism in a recent radio interview with Focus on the Family President Jim Daly.

Growing up in Ireland with a Protestant mother and a Catholic father, Bono imitated C.S. Lewis in “Mere Christianity,” where Lewis argued that Jesus was a lunatic, liar or Lord.

Show caption

Bono exchanged Bible references with Focus on the Family’s president Jim Daly as they bantered about music, theology and evangelicals’ role in AIDS activism in a recent radio interview. Photo by Lisa Cadman/courtesy of Focus on the Family

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“When people say ‘Good teacher,’ ‘Prophet,’ ‘Really nice guy,’ … this is not how Jesus thought of himself,” Bono said. “So, you’re left with a challenge in that, which is either Jesus was who he said he was or a complete and utter nut case.”

“And I believe that Jesus was, you know, the Son of God,” Bono said, according to a transcript provided to Religion News Service. “I understand that for some people and we need to … if I could be so bold, need to be really, really respectful to people who find that ridiculous.”


“First of all, David’s a musician so I’m gonna like him,” Bono said. “What’s so powerful about the Psalms are, as well as they’re being gospel and songs of praise, they are also the Blues. It’s very important for Christians to be honest with God, which often, you know, God is much more interested in who you are than who you want to be.”

As Bono praised David’s “honest language with God,” Daly noted that “sometimes it gets you into hot water with the more orthodox folks, because they see you as edgy, maybe too edgy at times.”
It’s a criticism that Bono’s used to hearing.

“You’ve gotta be very careful that grace and politeness do not merge into a banality of behavior, where we’re just nice, sort of ‘death by cupcake,’” Bono said. “Politeness is, you know, is a wonderful thing. Manners are in fact, really important thing. But remember, Jesus didn’t have many manners as we now know.”

Bono recalled the section in Luke 9 when Jesus told a man not to wait and bury his father but to follow Jesus immediately. Daly responded to Bono’s summary, “Seems cold-hearted.”
Bono replied, “No, seems punk rock to me. He could see right into that fellow’s heart. He knew he wasn’t coming and he was just, it was pretense. We’ve gotta be a bit more cutting edge, not look to the signs of righteousness. Look to the actions.”

Bono made an explicit connection between his faith and his work with the ONE Campaign, the humanitarian organization he founded to fight poverty and disease. “It’s very annoying following this person of Christ around, because he’s very demanding of your life,” he said while chuckling. “You don’t have to go to university and do a Ph.D. to understand this stuff. You just go to the person of Christ.”

Daly threw a C.S. Lewis quote at Bono: “When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that’s left in him. When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less.” Bono jokingly replied, “Yeah, that could turn up on the next U2 album, but I won’t give him or you any credit.”
In his work on HIV/AIDS, malaria, poverty and other areas, Bono noted the challenge of finding the right issue to take on.
“We have a pastor who said to us, ‘Stop asking God to bless what you’re doing, Bono.’ Which by the way, I constantly do. He said, ‘Find out what God is doing, ’cause it’s already blessed,’” Bono said. “And when you align yourself with God’s purpose as described in the Scriptures, something special happens to your life. You’re in alignment.”
Most of the 9 million HIV/AIDS victims who were saved are alive because of treatments funded by the U.S., Bono said. “I am here to thank the American people for that,” he said. “And I also want to thank the evangelical community for that, because it wouldn’t have happened without their leadership, because they like myself, pestered George Bush and the administration, who actually deserve praise for starting this out.”

He compared HIV/AIDS to biblical stories of leprosy.
“People don’t understand in that Scripture, the Samaritan was at odds with the ideology of the person he stopped on the road for. This is why we call it The ONE Campaign,” he said. “You and I can have many disagreements on many philosophical, theological things. But on this we know we can agree on.”

Daly said he expects potential blowback from Focus listeners who might see Bono as unorthodox.
“Does he use a bad word here and there? Yeah, probably. Does he have a Guinness every now and then? Yeah, probably,” Daly said. “When you look at it before the throne of God, I think (God will) say, ‘You saved so many children.’”

Daly said his predecessor James Dobson might not have done an interview with Bono, but Dobson did get blowback for having Dr. Laura Schlessinger on his program because she is Jewish. “Bono clearly accepts Jesus as Lord. I wasn’t prepared for his quickness in inserting Scripture into the dialogue,” Daly said of the artist who has been married to his wife, Ali Hewson, for decades. “I celebrate with them that they have four children and have been married 30 years. Not everyone in the Christian community can say that.”