Messy Grace in a Dangerous Minefield

Today’s prolific culture of homosexuality and same-sex marriage can be a very difficult minefield to navigate for those who profess to follow Jesus. People take sides, proclaiming hate for each other and there are numerous misunderstandings and misinformation. We need a compassionate, experienced guide to help us walk through this minefield without any further losses. This guide is Caleb Kaltenbach.

In his new book, Messy Grace, Kaltenbach invites followers of Jesus to “live in the tension of grace and truth” (14), a tension he models for us very well in this book. As a pastor and a Bible scholar, Kaltenbach has studied and wrestled with the Scripture and what it teaches regarding homosexuality. However, he does not use the Bible “as a weapon to bludgeon those who disagree” (8) as some Christians are apt to do. As someone who grew up in an LGBT home, Kaltenbach tempers his adherence to the truth of Scripture with a deep sense of empathy and a heartfelt need to extend grace to all.

He reminds us not to have an “us vs. them” mentality. We are ALL sinners and we are ALL in need of grace –something that many of us tend to forget. As recipients of grace, we are called to extend this same grace to others. This can be messy, hence the title of the book. Kaltenbach reminds us that “if Jesus calls us to be fishers of people and to get involved in the lives of others, we’re going to get messy. Why? Because the grace of God is bigger than any of us is willing to admit. People are messy. Sacrifice is messy. Talking about important issues is messy. Helping others is messy. Love is messy. And that’s all right. We can pursue people for Christ anyway” (35).

Messy Grace is not an abstract book of the theology of grace or of homosexuality. It is a very practical book filled with heartbreaking stories of how we have failed to reach those in the LGBT community and advice on how we can best relate to those who identify themselves as LGBT or to those who “come out” to us.

Today’s culture can be a dangerous minefield, but in Messy Grace, Caleb Kaltenbach shines the light of grace on this messy field. I would encourage all who seek to follow Jesus and to reach our culture to read this book when it comes out in October. You can pre-order Messy Grace here. 

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

It Won't Be Easy

Why are we as Christians more known for what we are against rather what we are for? It may sound the same on the surface, because if you stand for something, then by definition, you are against something else, but I think there is a big difference.

We are known in our culture for what we are against, and by extension, what we say that God is against: we are the ones who are against drinking…or dancing…or abortion…or same-sex marriage…or gays…or whatever. You may have seen signs at various protests, on the news, or in a quick Google search: “God hates fags,” “God hates America,” or “You’re going to hell.” The perception in our culture is that Christians hate those whose morals differ from ours and that we are against them.

We say that we follow Jesus, but are we following Him when we exhibit hateful attitudes towards people? Does God ever say that He hates people? He hates the worship of false gods (Deut 16:21-22; 12:31). He hates a variety of behaviors: “haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Prov 6:18-19). I do not see any passage that says God hates gays, or divorced people, or drunks, or anyone struggling with any number of sins and/or demons.

God loves all people and wants all of us “to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). He does want us to rid ourselves of a variety of evil behaviors (1 Pet 2:1; Col 3:8). These behaviors include “bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph 4:32). Some of these attitudes that we are to be rid of are some of the very things we are guilty of when we are exhibiting hateful attitudes towards others. In that same passage, we are also called to “be kind and compassionate” (Eph 4:32).

Do we have compassion for people like Jesus? He was often filled with compassion when He saw people with broken lives (Mark 6:34). Did He ever reach anyone by exhibiting a hateful attitude, by ostracizing them or berating them? Does He do reach us this way? Does He kick us aside when our behavior does not meet His expectations? Scripture says that “God’s kindness is intended to lead [us] to repentance” (Rom 2:4). We are happy to accept this kindness, but do we extend this kindness and grace to others? Is the phrase “hate the sin but love the sinner” something we live out or just something say?

Maybe the difference in how God treats sinners and how we treat them (and don’t forget that we are them!), is that God wants people who are caught in sin to come to Him, to repent, to become part of His family. Our concerns seem to gravitate more toward punishment and hoping “these people” get what they deserve. The fact is that we all deserve punishment and are in desperate need of grace. It seems that we just don’t seem to want certain people to experience grace. We can be for sinners, but against sin because of what it does to all of us.

I hope that someday Christians will be known for what we are for rather than what we are against, and that we will be seen as people who show love and compassion, who extend God’s kindness and patience to others rather than hatred and vengeance. Of course, this is not an easy path, but then Jesus never said following Him would be easy.

Justice for Exiles?

The Supreme Court of the United States passed a ruling yesterday that is very unpopular among Christians because it goes against Scripture and against our beliefs. There has already been much discussion on what our response to this ruling should be. Some Christians actually seem to be surprised by the court’s decision, but I don’t think we should be surprised at all. I am afraid that at times we have become much too comfortable here in America and we forget where our true citizenship lies (Phil 3:18-20).

The apostle Peter wrote that we (the church, followers of Jesus) are “foreigners and exiles” here (1 Pet 2:11). A foreigner (paroikous) is one who “dwells somewhere without national rights” (TDNT). That is diametrically opposed to our views here ---Americans are all about “our rights.” That’s how we got to this court decision in the first place! But according to Peter, Christians do not have national rights in any land on earth.

Think about exiles in a biblical context and when the Jews were hauled off into exile in Babylon (2 Kings 25:11, Esth 2:6, etc). While they were in exile, away from their home country, they did not expect the Babylonians to set up laws in that land that reflected the Israelites' beliefs, nor did they expect the Babylonians to outlaw all pagan gods and rule that all who lived in that land should live according to Yahweh’s commands and moral code. Why do we expect this to happen in America?

God’s instructions to His people while in exile were to “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters…Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jer 29:5-7). Do we pray for the peace and prosperity of this nation or just complain because our rights are being violated?

Peter gave us, as Christians, similar instructions as we live in exile in a land not our own. He does not tell us to try to change the laws of the land or to complain that the government does not reflect the teachings of Scripture. He does say that we are to “abstain from sinful desires, which war against you soul” (1 Pet 2:11). He also tells us to “live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God” (1 Pet 2:12).

When those in authority in this country or those within the LGBT community look at us, as followers of Christ, although they accuse us of doing wrong because we believe that marriage is one man and one woman, will they see our good deeds and glorify God? Will they see us living up to our beliefs on marriage? Will they see us praying for the peace and prosperity of this nation? 

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God." 

"Praise and Worship" and Psalm 95

The words "Praise and Worship" are linked together so much that I wonder if many people know there is a difference between the two. In our current church culture, this phrase generally refers to a musical genre or at least the musical portion of the Sunday morning gathering. We have advertisements of when "Show Time" is for a night of worship. 

Have you ever thought much about the two distinct words "praise" and "worship"? Why do you think they are usually linked in that order? (I have seen “Worship and Praise” on occasion, but not often.) I think the usual phrase is "Praise and Worship" for a reason, because that is the order in which these two things occur. 

Praise precedes worship. Until we praise God -that is, until we see and acknowledge how infinitely great He is, and until we are truly thankful for all He has done for us, we will not worship Him –that is, we will not bow before Him and serve Him.

Let's look at how both of these concepts appear in Psalm 95 (NIV):

           Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,

Let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come before Him with thanksgiving;

And extol Him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.

In His hands are the depths of the earth

And the mountain peaks belong to Him

The sea is His, for He made it.

And His hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture,

The flock under His care.

Today, if only you would hear His voice,

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,

where you ancestors tested Me;

they tried Me, thought they had seen what I did.

For forty years I was angry with that generation;

I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,

And they have not known my ways.’

So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’”

The first section begins with praise. We are invited to sing joyfully to the Lord, to shout triumphantly to the One who gives us victory. We are invited to come before Him and to thank Him for all He has done.

The second section tells us why we are to praise Him. He is greater than anyone or anything else. He is God. He is the King of all and the Creator of everything.

Once we acknowledge this and praise Him for who He is and what He has done for us, the third section invites us to worship Him. We are to bow down before Him in worship and to kneel in reverence and obedience before the God who cares for us and leads us.

I have often struggled with how the fourth section fit in. I always found it to be a rather abrupt change, but in looking at it again today, I see how it fits very well.

The first three sections are messages from the psalmist: 1) an invitation to praise God, 2) reasons we why should praise Him, and 3) an invitation to worship (bow before) Him. The fourth section is a message straight from God. It is a warning to us about what happens if we refuse to worship Him, when we don’t bow before Him, and when we do not obey Him and follow Him. It is a plea to remain in His care and not to be prideful, stubborn, and insistent on doing things our own way.

“Praise and Worship” is not a musical genre. "Worship" is not a concert; it is an attitude of humility, of obedience, of willingness to honor and submit to a being much greater than we are –to the King and Creator of the world. I do not want God to say that He is angry with this generation or to describe us as “a people whose hearts go astray…[and who] have not known [His] ways” (Ps 95:10) because we are confused on what worship really is.

Engage in praising our God. Recognize and acknowledge the greatness of our God. Sing, shout, and praise His holy name. Then make the conscience decision to worship Him -- to bow before Him and submit to Him in reverence, humility, and obedience.

Remember Me

As Americans, we have Memorial Day to help us remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom. As Christians, we have Communion to help us remember Jesus' sacrifice for our freedom. Memorial Day observances are often somber occasions because they are to honor those who have died in service to their country. Communion should be much more than a somber memorial for someone who has died. Recently, I have been reflecting on Jesus’ instructions when He instituted the Lord's Supper.

What it is, exactly, that we are to remember? Jesus said to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19 NIV). He says “remember me.” He does not specifically say “remember the cross,” “remember my sacrifice,” or “remember my death.” He says to remember me. We are to remember Jesus. While remembering Jesus certainly includes remembering His sacrificial death for our sake, could there be more involved in the phrase “remember me” than just “remember my death”?

To remember Jesus, perhaps we should remember who He is:

• The Lamb of God, who takes away our sins (John 1:29)
• The Son of God and our Great High Priest (Heb 4:14)
• The King of all Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 17:14; 19:16)
• Immanuel –God with us (Matt 1:21-23)
• The Ruler of all Creation (Rev 3:14)
• The One who is worthy of all honor and glory and praise (Rev 5:12)
• Our friend (John 15:13-15)
• Our Great Shepherd (Heb 13:20)
• The only way to the Father (John 14:6)
• The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Rev 21:6)

And we should remember what He did:

• He humbled Himself and became a human being, God in the flesh  (Phil 2:6-8)
• He stood up against every temptation and never sinned (Heb 4:15)
• He healed the blind, the lame, the diseased and afflicted, the deaf (Luke 7:22)
• He raised the dead (John 11:43-44)
• He walked on water (Matt 14:25)
• He miraculously provided for people out of His compassion (Matt 15:32ff)
• He reached out to sinners and loved them (Luke 5:31)
• He enabled us to have peace with God and gave us access to God’s grace (Rom 5:1)
• He showed us what love truly is by laying His life down for us (1 John 3:16)

Maybe we should remember what He said:

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
• “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23)
• “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
• “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)
• “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” (Matt 5:11)
• “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
• “Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

These are just a few of the things I thought of that might be included in Jesus’ instructions to “remember me.” What did I leave off that you would have included in such a list? This is definitely a much bigger list than what we tend to focus on during Communion, but then we serve a big God whose love for us is beyond comprehension. As my good friend Brandon Bradley says, “God is bigger than you know and better than you heard, and His grace is more than you can imagine.” So next time you celebrate the Lord’s Supper with your church family, remember that, while Memorial Day is a memoriam for fallen heroes, Communion is a joyous celebration of thanksgiving, and an opportunity to remember, and to remind each other as members of the family of God, who it is that we love and worship and serve.

I'm Waiting

I like to do things fast. I like to drive fast. I often find it difficult to stay under the posted speed limit on an open road, so cruise control helps keep me legal. I prefer to walk fast –no slowly strolling through the mall for me. If I have to be at mall, it’s because I’m on a specific mission. Let’s get where we’re going, get it done, and get out. I read fast. I type fast. And in spite of being from Texas where we’re supposed to talk in a slow drawl, I generally speak fast. Have you ever been on DiveBomb Alley, the huge swing at Six Flags that lets you fall at about 80 mph? Swinging fast is fabulous! You know one thing that it is impossible to do fast? Waiting.

I love that quick line in The Princess Bride when Vizzini exclaims, "I'm waiting!" It drives me crazy to have to wait. It might be waiting in traffic that is not moving at all; waiting in a doctor's office way past the time for my appointment; waiting for my tax refund when it should have arrived weeks ago; waiting on my computer while that irritating rainbow wheel spins incessantly; waiting for someone to return a phone call or an email; waiting to see where God is leading us next; waiting for healing, for provision, for deliverance, for a word from God --- we all have to wait for something. Maybe you are better at waiting than I am, but I suspect most of us have some degree of difficulty with waiting.

The Bible verse that I have been meditating on and reciting to myself lately is "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14 NIV). Sometimes we may feel like God is so slow in moving and that we have been waiting so long for Him to move, to speak, to heal, to bless, to deliver, to reveal…but “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you…” (2 Pet 3:9 NIV). Learning to wait…learning to be patient…learning to wait patiently is part of our being conformed to the character of our God. Some have to wait longer than others. Abraham waited a very long time, but he finally received what God had promised him “after waiting patiently” (Heb 6:15 NIV). It could be a long wait. It could require a great deal of patience.

So, whatever it is that you’re waiting for, take time today to be still, to be calm, to sit in the presence of Lord, and let's remind each other to “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”