Jason's Blog

Below is stirring quotation from John Stuart Mill’s (1806–1873) On Liberty that he wrote in 1869.  I hope you will really think about it.  I think he describes a rather sober but all-too-real picture of the way life really is.

“All Christians believe:

• that the blessed are the poor and humble, and those who are ill-used by the world;
• that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven;
• that they should judge not, lest they be judged;
• that they should swear not at all;
• that they should love their neighbor as themselves,
• that if one take their cloak they should give him their coat also;
• that they should take no thought for the morrow;
• that if they would be perfect, they should sell all that they have and give it to the poor.

They are not insincere when they say they believe all these things.  They do believe them, as people believe what they have always lauded and never discussed.  But in the sense of that living belief that regulates conduct, they believe these doctrines just up to the point to which it is usual to act upon them.

The doctrines in their integrity are serviceable to pelt adversaries with; and it is understood that they are to be put forward (when possible) as the reasons for whatever people do that they think laudable. But any one who reminded them that the maxims require an infinity of things which they never even think of doing, would gain nothing but to be classed among those very unpopular characters who affect to be better than other people.

The doctrines have no hold on ordinary believers—are not a power in their minds. They have an habitual respect for the sound of them, but no feeling which spreads from the words to the things signified, and forces the mind to take them in, and make them conform to the formula. Whenever conduct is concerned, they look round for Mr. A and B to direct them how far to go in obeying Christ.”

I once heard a story of proposed a book title that was immediately rejected by a Christian Publishing House– Christianity, As If Jesus Really Mattered. They thought it was too edgy and perhaps a book by this title would be over the top. However, the plain reality is that we often fail to apply the plain facts of Scripture to our everyday circumstances. As Mill suggests above – Christian truth is not a power in our minds.

This weekend I would invite you to read the gospel of Matthew and look for average ways that you can think about what is taught. Turn your mind toward God and expect God to challenge you of the real places in your life where you can be more like Jesus.

Stories really matter.  I think Darryl Tippens puts this well:

“A good story affects our values, identity, and minds in ways that a list of bare facts never can.  One could say that it is the storytellers in any culture who have the greatest influence on the direction of a a culture, not the legislators, government leaders, or scholars” (Pilgrim Heart: The Way of Jesus in Everyday Life (Leafwood, 2006):  179).

This comment explains, of course, why television and movie producers have such power—as well as the Internet in all of its varied content.

What are the false stories that we hear today?  I think James Bryan Smith makes brilliant observations on these throughout Good and Beautiful Life.  I only wish that these false narratives had been compiled as a list by the editors!  I had to cull them out one by one.

False Ideas About God

• God is good, you are bad, try harder.
• God is an angry judge and He would send us to hell; except His son Jesus stepped in and took the punishment for us.
• God is not trustworthy.  He does not have our best interests at heart.
• God might not even care about sin at all.

False Ideas About Human Nature

• If you do well you will be blessed if you sin, you will be punished.
• You are only as valuable as what you produce.
• We change by our willpower.
• We work our way to God.
• Strength is found in domination and control.
• I am a sinner and can never change.
• Being overcomitted and busy is normal and to be expected.

Do all of these seem like false ideas to you?  Many of them are very popular.

I am back now from a week of travel. I learned a lot, was reminded of a ton of things that I all too quickly forget, and reconnected with some friends from around the country.

I’ve gathered up these ideas from listening to  B. B. Taylor -

Don’t listen to  stories that are too shallow.  They make life into less than it really is.

Let the Bible tell you what stories are most important.

Any story that I will take to make  my story must

1. Honor people not like me.
2. Let me argue with it.
3. Level with me about the cost of love.

The Bible tells us a story like this– where Jesus comes to honor, serve, wrestle, and ultimately love those who would follow him to death. After everything else, there is new life.

Today, I had the chance to hear Dallas Willard speak. He has such great insight. Here is the thought that I’d like to share with you– “people come to the kingdom of God through exile.”

When everything else falls apart, when our little kingdoms are ruined and lost, it is then that we can die and God’s life can live in us.

Unfortunately, most of us live like kings– making all our decisions based on what is best for us. We can be servants only when we have resolved that the only kingdom that matter is God’s. When his kingdom is before us, we can serve others fully and joyfully.