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Next Generation Greed

September 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Greed Is Not A Good Substitute for God

Remember the movie Wall Street? “The point is ladies and gentlemen that greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” – Gordon Gekko. This quote is one of the few I can remember from the scores of movies I have seen over the years. Guess What? After all these years a sequel is soon to be released. Why? To tickle the fancy of the latent feelings that exist associated with next generation greed. Yes, that deadly sin has not passed with the aging of the boomers.
Elizabeth Suggs writes in the Dallas Morning News (Sept 23, 2010) in her article,“How Millennials Measure Greed” that, “This generation knows greed very well, We just know it in a different form.” The immortality symbols are no longer financial but things like trips to exotic places, knock out facebook albums, and the ability to do unique things. There is an emerging trend of association greed in which one’s value is enhanced by relational association with whomever (e.g., having met Usher or Lady Gaga, etc.)

Jesus had a way of getting right to the crux of the matter. In Luke 12:15 Jesus made a very simple truth a personal warning for His disciples, Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” NIV. The very best way to avoid the greed trap is to live life as if everything belongs to God. What a neat idea! In fact, I would propose that premise is by God’s design objective reality, whether we realize it, or embrace it, or not. For those among the post boomer generation let me ask, What is your best suggestion to avoid next generation greed?

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A Movement Once More

September 26, 2010 By 1 Comment

The statement really made me pause and reflect, “You are the most highly educated and well trained disciples of Jesus Christ that have ever walked the face of the earth.” The author of this challenging declaration was Dr. Tom Albin of the Upper Room who was addressing a group of UM clergy from North Georgia a few days back.

If Dr. Albin is right then why is it our impact seems anemic in comparison to the move of God over the ages, especially in the Wesleyan heritage? Seems like we institutionalized (inadvertently) the church in 1968 and we have been in decline ever since. The paradox is the thousands of Methodist clergy and laity I know that are devoted and inspired by the Holy Spirit to the great cause of the gospel of Christ and Colossians 1:27-28. Where is the fire? Why are we trying so hard without corporate effect?

The ultimate question that comes to mind is can we become a movement once more and how? Heard hundreds of suggestions over the years but all seem too complicated to really carry out or come with the expectations that someone else will play instigator. Let’s strike a match of simplicity and just pray. A specific time, every day, without presenting a grocery list to God; just pray that God would move and we would join God en masse and that Methodism would be a movement once again. Your thoughts?

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Love is All We Need

September 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Is that really true? Love is all we need? C.S. Lewis wrote in his masterful work, The Four Loves, that there are four distinctly different greek words used to describe what we have compressed in the English language into the most powerful four letter word ever, love. Friendship is a form of love (philia), as is affection (storge). Then there is the romance, passion, and fire of (eros) which infers being in love but appears to me to be more in tune with what happens to us feeling wise in the moment. Finally, there is agape – unconditional love -  that is devoid of manipulation and cannot be earned or bargained for as a commodity. It is the very character of God and is God’s gift to us both to receive and to understand in the life of Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. John 13:34 is written in red letters to you and me as a command, “Love one another”. Inferred, just like I have loved you!

What a great and loving God we serve! So, in light of this let me ask you a spiritual question, “how is your love life?” your love life in Jesus.

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A Burning Issue

September 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Why Is the Cross Different?

In 24 hours we will no doubt remember the whole plethora of emotions of the attack on our country and our faith labelled 9/11. 9 years later let’s not forget that reprehensible act and of our responsibility to be willing to literally fight for the freedom we enjoy, and especially for our freedom in Christ.

The news of the day is indescribable. American pastors threatening to burn the Quran which Muslims deem holy. Word of Christian persecution in Gaza City where a church is desecrated and Bibles and prayers books burned by Muslim extremists. Maybe more perplexing is an article in yesterday’s Drudge Report detailing a May 2009 incident where Bibles written for Afghanis in their native tongue arrived at American military posts and were subsequently trashed and then burned rather than returned for redistribution all in the name of non-offense.

The cross of Christ is in and of itself offensive. It declares a doctrine of atonement not found in any of the other world religions. Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace but a sword…”(Matthew 10:34, NIV). Of course Jesus also said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.” I am always perplexed by those who suggest that Jesus really didn’t mean what He said in that passage? I simply think Jesus meant precisely what He stated.

There have been times and season in human history where being a Christian was the same as being a target for destruction and persecution. It seems that may be the season ahead. I am for a controlled burn; no wait, make that an uncontrolled burn. Not of Bibles nor of Quran’s nor anything other written thing; I pray for hearts on fire burning with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit for Jesus Christ and mission and ministry to a very hostile and hurting world. But to be on fire with a passion to love and redeem brings a very confronting question, Is Christ worth dying for?

Be strong and courageous! No weapon formed against you will prosper! These are God’s promises for those who are in Him and living for His purpose even in the painful separation of bone from marrow. God give strength and courage!

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Moral Therapeutic Deism

September 5, 2010 By 4 Comments

The Earth Is the Lord's...

What do you think is the number one most popular religion in America? I’ll give you a hint: it’s not Christianity. It’s also not Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, or the Home Shopping Network.

According to Christian Smith, a sociologist at Notre Dame, the primary expression of faith in our day–at least for young adults–is what he calls “Moral Therapeutic Deism.”(from John Ortberg’s Blogspot)
This religion is characterized by five beliefs:

  • There is a God who created earth and watches over it
  • God wants people to be nice, fair and good (as it taught in the Bible and most other religions)
  • The central goal of life is to be happy and feel good about yourself
  • God doesn’t need to be involved in your life except when there’s a problem that needs Celestial Performance Enhancement
  • Good people go to heaven when they die.

This is a religion that is far more about comfort, individualism and conformity that it is about meaning, calling, and sacrifice. What makes it particularly challenging is that it is not offered through a new MTD movement or denomination. It is actually catching on and being practiced in churches where we leaders think of ourselves as historically Christian.

It cannot sustain a life.
It cannot build a community.
It cannot call people to take up a cross.
We want something more.
One other piece of bad news has to do with where young adults learn MTD.
I’ll give you a hint. It’s mostly from older adults.

So what’s the point? The point is that without the authority of Scripture serving as a theological foundation for a biblical worldview there is no Christian Apologetic. Yes, the religion is spiritual and self serving but not in any way faithful to Christian Orthodoxy. Thus, the result is very predictable: the natural place to migrate when there is no scriptural basis for moral ethical authority nor any form of Christology is Moral Deism.

Prayer: God keep us focused on you and the Christ of the Cross and the empty tomb. Let us model and teach the value of your life giving Scriptures and help us learn and teach critical thinking in Science, Ethics, AND the Christian Faith. In the name of Christ, Amen.

What does your Christology look like these days?

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