Being Christ to Others

"Part of our calling as Christian educators is to prepare our students to think through a wide variety of issues they will face while in college and after graduation. This visit showed students that there are real people dealing with the issues we hear about in the national press – and that these issues are complex and require deep, critical thinking to understand and to respond to as Christians." Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost, ACU.

This is a quote by Dr. VanRheenen after Soulforce visited the campus of ACU. Soulforce is a group dedicated to "freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance." Although the group from Soulforce and the folks at ACU disagreed about most things, it is imperative to note that they were treated with a Christ-like spirit of love.

What a great witness to those who visited ACU. This is a lesson we all can learn from. What would our churches be like if we made an effort to treat all people with dignity, respect, and most importantly the love of Christ? Even when we had disagreements about their actions, lifestyle, language, doctrine, etc. We don't have to approve of the behavior, but we can love them.

Way to go ACU for leading in the way of Christ. Would you let Soulforce visit your church?

It never changes!

I have been paying close attention to how I read scripture lately. Knowing I read it with a biased to my upbringing and heritage, I have been trying to read it fresh and new. This is sparked by the entries on Mike Cope's blog about the Bible over the past few days. I have been reading every version I can get my hands on. It is very interesting to lay them side by side and see how others are biased in their approach too.

I have been leafing through a big "table Bible" that belonged to Kerry's grandmother. She passed away about two years ago. Our house is now full of wonderful things from her house that are a constant reminder of how much we all loved her. She was a woman of God. This Bible was printed in 1948. In the introduction there is a page called "Facts about the Bible." Below is a portion of it:

This Book Contains:

The mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, doom of sinners, and happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the Christian's charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be open at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, reward the greatest labor, and condemns all who trifle with its holy contents.

I believe that God has used this as a way for the legacy of Grandmother to be carried to the next generation. I know one of her greatest wishes was that those in her family respect and follow God's word. The statements above are as true today as they were in 1948. God's word never changes.

Speaking where the Bible speaks

All I can say is...I don't really know what to say. I was one of those who spent childhood memorizing scripture. Very glad now that I did that. It's amazing how much I remember. However, it wasn't until later in life (after college) that I really started to understand what it was that I had memorized. Through a number of friendships with those much wiser in scripture than me and tons of reading and studying, I am still learning to understand what was memorized.

Then I go and read two posts by Mike Cope called The BIBLE. What great insight into how we read the Bible. I have read each post at least twice and each time I have seen something fresh that I missed the first time. I am now going back to read them again. Hopefully I see something new, not only in his post, but also in my Bible.

Jim Gardner from Marble Falls, TX sent me (and alot of others) a series of sermons on Galatians. Now I am able to read Galatians somewhat from Jim's perspective. It brings me a greater appreciation for the fact that I read the Bible through a "biased lense." And that is a not bad thing, it is just reality. But seeing it from someone else's "bias" is extremely helpful. Thanks Jim.

I can only hope that I continue to grow in my knowledge and understanding of God's word. A good friend, Steve Fox, said that the Bible is the only book ever written that the more you read the more you realize there is so much that you do not know.

Thank you, God, for your word. Help me to use it as you would have me to.