LOVING EVIL?

Who was Fred Winters and why does he deserve getting a full blog entry from me?

This morning (Sunday) during the 8:15 worship service at his 1200-member church, First Baptist Church of Maryville, IL, Fred Winters, the well-loved pastor stood to preach when a 27-year-old gunman armed with a .45 calibre pistol burst into the church sanctuary and shot five times, three of which the pastor was able to deflect with his Bible shattering into the air like confetti, but his leather-bound Bible didn't work well as a shield, he stumbled and fell. The gunman's pistol jammed so he took a knife from his pocket and ran towards the platform but two members of the church tackled. Illinois Police is still trying to investigate the motive for the shooting.

Pastor Fred Winters died leaving behind a wife and two young daughters.

Some weeks ago, a gunman came and open fired in a Unitarian Church in Tennessee. While just last month I think, a man shot himself in front of the cross inside the world-renown Crystal Cathedral.

Evil seems to have made a bit of a comeback; into the common parlance of pundits discussing events like 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing and the Columbine school massacre.

Through much of the 20th century, western culture tended towards a scientific hypothesis of human behavior, relying on biological, sociological and medical models to describe the human moral situation. But a few things have seemed to defy sterile scientific categories, like the holocaust, for instance. Evil could still be used in reference to that horror, but most other sorts of human fallenness were assigned to social or medical categories.

Do you believe in evil? is a question directed to me from time to time. My answer goes something like this: “Well, if by ‘believing in’ you mean, ‘believe it exists, that it is a something’, my answer is, yes.” It was C. S. Lewis, writing at the time of the Second World War, who said the first agenda of Satan is to convince us he does not exist. We demur about the personification of some sort of demonic essence, but the larger issue, that of the reality of evil, which was Lewis’ fundamental point, is actually not up for debate from the normative Christian perspective.

When Jesus began his public ministry he’s challenged by this noisy man who says, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” Its an initiation of sorts; Jesus is set to contend with the world’s corrupting powers and principalities. Jesus will stand over and against all that opposes God’s graceful intentions. Love will be his counterintuitive means of engagement.

Friends, here’s what I’ve been thinking about this week. I want to be part of a church in which the family members are on a journey of discovering the real stakes in living moral, grace-filled lives. People who have made a sincere claim to work against the evil powers of this world, humbly starting with the content of their own lives. Loving the evil powers within and around with the strength of the Lord, and until it loses it power and control over myself and yours and change it by His grace.

We live in serious times that require a serious response from people who are yearning to grow up regardless of their age. I want to continue to evolve spiritually and personally, gaining in my capacity to stand firm with Christ confronting the powers and principalities aligned against life and love, powers that coercively work on my soul and blind my eyes from seeing the actual truth of my situation.

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Readings:

- Yahoonews

- CNN News

- Stephen Bauman, Deliver us from Evil, CCUMC-NYC

- M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, Simon and Schuster, 1983, p. 11.

THINGS CHANGE, SOME SHOULDN'T

A couple of years ago, D. James Kennedy, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale died.

After a long and tedious search for a new Senior Pastor, a couple of weeks ago the church voted to call the Rev. Tullian Tchividjian (cha-vid-yan), the thirty-six-year-old grandson of famed evangelist, the Rev Billy Graham. Tchividjian initially did not want to leave his thriving 5-year-old 700-strong, New City Church and become pastor of 50-year-old Coral Ridge's 3000 members- which on its 80's heyday reached more than 10,000 members. But Coral Ridge wanted him so badly that it suggested the Gen-X pastor to look into a possible merger.

Tchividjian, preaching.

the Coral Ridge sanctuary which was dedicated in 1974 by the Rev. Billy Graham

Tchividjian's leadership now brings the two churches of different "worlds" to a time of confluence. Traditional/Contemporary, Ancient/Modern, old and new.

Tchividjian is cautious about discussing any changes he might make at the helm of Coral Ridge. However, he said the Coral Ridge leaders had asked him to bring the “vision” he instilled at New City Church, a vision of “revival and renewal for all of South Florida.” New City is also known for blending traditional beliefs with modern methods, mixing hymns and contemporary Christian songs.

The minister said he also values a collegial church culture, “where the elders, the staff and the deacons are all friends, not just fellow workers. They should all be pulling on the same side of the rope.”

Tchividjian said he shares Coral Ridge's longtime values of “passionate preaching” and “robust theological commitment.” But he added that his selection as pastor shows the larger, older church remains flexible.

This news now brings to mind a transition that's about to begin to bud! My church's Senior Pastor has been mentioning in his preaching since about three years ago that "the Lord willing" he will retire from his post as Senior Pastor of GCF in mid-2010. Between now and then, the Lord is preparing the man that will lead GCF to greater heights. When that man comes, things will change, yet there will always be things- mostly principles that should remain. Those principles are what keep the church the church.

The vision that has been set before is grand but that’s what visions are – they are always bigger than what our eyes can see or we can achieve on our own. The church will be a very different place in the years beyond. Some of us will be gone on for one reason or another. Others will be added. Babies will be born. Converts will be baptized. Staff will change. Life will happen.

The church will do many wonderful things through Christ's Spirit. Lives will be transformed as we are being transformed. There may be times when we as a congregation may be shaken by doubt and fear; differences of opinion and sheer fatigue. But those will be the times we need to remember that we are building a house on Rock.

On Christ the solid Rock we stand – all other ground is sinking sand.

BORN LOSER

Sometimes he opens the door for people every Sunday at the 9&11AM worship services. Sometimes he greets people at the foot of the escalator handing worship folders. He is a Swiss gentleman named, Markus Loser! When I first met him seven years ago, I nearly laughed at the sound of his last name, Loser! He comes to church with his family and some of his usher friends would say, "The Losers are here!"

I used to dislike my last name, Las since it does not make any sense. My classmates have better-sounding Spanish names like delos Reyes (of the kings), delos Santos (of the saints), delas Armas (of the weapons), etc. In addition to that, I grew up among missionaries families like the Bakers, the Merritts, the Wellses, the Hooges, the Lyons, the Schotts, and a more funny last name, the Kilpatricks. My dad used to say, "I'll be late for dinner, I'm going to Kilpatrick" and the whole family will burst into laughter! But my last name, even in Spanish does not make sense. Las as we know is the definite feminine article the in Spanish. So my name can be literally translated as Jonathan The. The what?

Family history has it that when my great, great grandfather of Chinese descent was asked to "buy" a name that would make him a Filipino citizen he bought the name las Armas from a trader of gunpowder and ammunition. He was a poor speller, he didn't know to write Armas so he got stuck with Las.

I have since college appreciated my name for its uniqueness-- feeling that I am the only boy in this world named Jonathan Las; until I found a couple of men on Facebook both named Jonathan Las-- one caucasian, the other black! At any rate, Las is still a unique surname. I always say, "I will never be first because I will always be Las."

Anyway, going back, I figured, it's better to be born a Las than be born a Loser. Then of course, who would forget the name of the late Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin? Or one of the Philippines' great Senator whose legal name is Joker? My friend Heidi from Canada told me of a family in her home church, the Virgins. Sam, a friend from Pennsylvania knows a family named Hiney. And with that somewhat humorous play of words and names, I figured, in a more serious sense, the importance of one's name.

Over the weekend I watched the film, the Crucible.

John Proctor says: "...Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! ....How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!"

I'm actually reading through the Bible and now in the book of Numbers where some of the most difficult names to pronounce are found, and yet I couldn't help but think of how important these names are much less their amazing meanings. These are people, who in God's sovereignty, chosen for their names to appear in the Scriptures regardless of what they've done or who they were. This is something of astounding reality- the fact is, we will carry to eternity the name we have been given- upon which we have no choice. This means our lives are not the sum of all our choices, thank God. There are things in our lives that are beyond our choice or control.

Regardless of where you are in your life today, regardless of what decisions you face or what challenges or joys or questions or vulnerabilities or crises capture your heart and mind, be assured that whatever happens, God knows your name and you are held in His surpassing love. He continues to give us everything we need, grace and nourishment and strength to face every moment with love and without fear. The choice has been made on our behalf – God continues to prepare the feast and Jesus Christ is calling your name to join the celebration. The only decision left is whether you’ll really respond when He calls your name. And you'll officially remain a loser when you say "no."

THE OTHER SIDE OF HEARTBREAK

My Friday dinners have thus far turned into ministry time with budding pastors! Over the last several months, at least, I would leave the office Friday evening at 7 and meet up with these budding pastors.

I love human dynamics-- relationships, romance, emotions, spirituality, etc. From last night's dinner, two different but related emotions showed up and it's fascinating for a third person observer like me to hear stories about what they're going through, and how I am able to relate with them and somehow say "been there, done that." In a way, it becomes for me what may be a faint picture of Hebrews 12:1-- becoming a part of "a great cloud of witnesses" cheering on people who are going through some of the stuff I and many others have been through.

One of the many things that characterize a Bible college student's life- or any Christian for that matter- is heartbreak.

There is something to the claim that our true character is formed in the face of adversity or heartbreak.

It was in Bible college when I reached some of the most excruciating breaking points in my life. It was difficult to see God's hands at work in my life during those breaking points.

So I read, adversity comes to us early. As babes we emerge from our mother’s womb into a cold, bright, unknown world. Later we are left to sleep alone in our crib (and honestly I’m not sure for whom that experience is more traumatic - the screaming child who feels abandoned and afraid. Then the toy breaks, and so on. Before you know it you’re in high school experience different kinds of rejection, and let’s face it - that’s just never a good scenario. Then we don’t get into our first choice college; the love of our life marries someone else; we get sick; someone we love dies. Building character, that's the other side of heartbreak. [1]

And we shouldn’t make light of heartaches, for every ache feels fatal regardless of whether it is or not. A broken toy hurts a child just as much as a break up hurts a young adult. A broken heart at any age means that the center of life is shattered, or at least that’s how it feels at the time. But experience teaches us that we are far more resilient than we might initially believe.

Then the process of comprehension and acceptance kicks in, often leading to another painful truth. We are who we are not because of what life has thrown our way; rather, we are who we are by the various decisions we made: this job, that relationship, this conversation, that choice, that girl, that man, etc. If we had made opposite decisions, or even just different decisions, we would have ended up a different person. We are who are because of what we’ve chosen, and often our choices have led to heartbreak. But heartbreak has a potentially positive effect. By the grace of God we can accept heartbreak as a window into our soul, and as the opportunity to expand our life possibilities - the chance to engage different gifts and different challenges in a different manner than before. [2]

As believers, we cannot help but realize and accept that God is over-all sovereign. Nothing happens to us that is a surprise to Him. He knows. On the other side of heartbreak is that God intends for us to wait on Him and be given new strength- soar with wings as eagles, to run and not be weary, to walk and to toil, broken for sure, but not defeated, not faint, not weary.

Where are you broken? Where are you feeling defeated or faint or weary or afraid? Friends, today an invitation is being extended - an invitation to let Jesus heal you. Today you are invited to let Jesus silence your demons, heal your wounded-ness, and give you back a life that is broken and yet whole. That is the promise, and although it will look different for each one of us, the promise is the same. Will you trust that? Will you be strong and vulnerable enough to open yourself to the possibility of being made whole?

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1 The Rev. JavierViera, CCNYC 020809

2 Excerpted from James A. Harnish, FaithMatters: Great Gifts from Difficult Times, January 22, 2009.

YOU CHANGED MY LIFE (NOT A REVIEW)

Just a quick note before I head to my class.

Last night after the midweek service, I went and saw a Tagalog movie and felt very "high schoolly" again! Although the story revolved around two young adults, the giddiness it generates is quite teenie! Throughout the original Filipino movie-loving-young adult-filled cinema, there was palpable excitement with the many sighs and "eeeeks" and "ahhh".

It was a fun and funny movie, aside of course from the fact that the main female character in the flick goes to GCF regularly-- when she's not very busy, either in our Tagalog Worship or the English Vespers-- and although, I really haven't had the chance to meet with her other than shake her hand as well as her family members' no longer than two minutes she still is a part of our worshipping community. I don't get star-struck when I see celebrities, I guess that's a gift, but it sure feels great to see a movie in which someone I also see in church plays a major role! But I wish I could invite her to sing in our worship services once in a while.

Although I am not a huge fan of Tagalog movies- and that doesn't mean I am not patriotic enough; I'm just picky, I guess- it's something I would endorse for people to watch. It's clean enough with a lot of good strong messages on family values, hard-work, and purity, with lots of humorous cliches and witty quips!

OK, so I'm off to teach....ciao!