We Are Called To Reason

Isaiah 1:18 reads: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."

God designed us to use reason to know and establish truth in our culture. And although we enter the 'house of salvation' only by active faith in the risen Christ, God does not require us to check our brains at the door.

   

Peter tells the church, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." We should be prepared to reason with people regarding the truth of our claims about Christ.

The Bereans were applauded for using scripture to determine that what Paul was preaching was true. Later, Paul used reason to present the gospel to the Greek culture on Mars Hill.

The Founders of the United States believed in reason as well. If everyone has freedom of speech and freedom of conscience, they believed we could discuss, debate, and give reasons for what we thought to be true. And they believed that truth would be discovered if we reasoned well.

This is why they established the "free exercise" of religion, even though they were almost exclusively from Christian denominations. They were confident that when people diligently seek religious truth and are free to reason, the truth will always be found.

However, over many years, the North American culture has abandoned the idea of knowable, absolute truth. Many believe absolute truth does not exist, and even if it does - it cannot be known. As a result we have lost the art of reasoning. The meanings of terms like proposition, argument, syllogism, fallacy, and dilemma are unknown to many adults, but years ago they were taught to elementary students.

When reasoning has been lost in a culture, we resort to physical, emotional, political, or economic force to achieve our desired goals. Consequently society suffers.

Zero tolerance laws have lead to silly situations where students have been suspended from school for bringing a plastic knife to cut a birthday cake. Why? Because adults refuse to do the difficult work of reasoning.

Apple has removed the app for the Manhattan Declaration from its iTunes store. The Manhattan Declaration uses reason to advance the belief that life is sacred, marriage is sacred, and religious freedom is worth fighting for. Apple calls it 'hate speech' and refuses to engage in or permit reasoned discussion.

Recently, legislators have done what many of us do when we face tough decisions - run. Could things have turned out differently if we had stayed and done the hard work of reasoning and wrestling with difficult decisions? Only if everyone was determined to find the truth.

When reason is suppressed or lost, tensions within a culture begin to rise and eventually boil over as we can see in nations around the world, and as we have witnessed in America in race riots and a Civil War.

When the church fails to reason, it can become legalistic with lists of "do's and don'ts" that ignore the truth and drive people further away from God.

But when reason is used as a compliment to faith we see significant advancements in society. Many of our great explorers pursued science because they believed that all truth was God's truth, and that it was knowable. After all, if there is no truth, or if it cannot be known - why pursue it?

Truth was pursued and reason was used to craft documents like the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution; documents that have protected freedom and established justice for individuals here and around the world.

If we value truth, believe that it is knowable, and are willing to do the hard work of reasoning together we can advance the Kingdom of God. We can contribute to our culture in positive ways. We can prevent untold sorrow and suffering.

Centuries ago scripture issued an invitation to people of faith from every generation: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.

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Who Will Save Us?

Courier-Times Christian Perspectives Article – April 4th, 2009

It was springtime in Israel and there was more excitement than normal. Passover was just around the corner. Each male Jew was making his springtime trek to Jerusalem, sometimes bringing his whole family. They would make another trip to Jerusalem in about seven weeks for Pentecost, and then once more in the fall for the Festival of Tabernacles. But this trip held more promise.

There was a charismatic figure, someone who was both a healer and an excellent teacher, who had been traveling the countryside for three years talking about a new form of government, the Kingdom of God, and how it was coming soon. This was welcome news to a people who were experiencing an economic burden, due mainly to their forced financial support of an occupying force from a far off country. The people were also oppressed by the terrorist tactics of Herod, a ruthless, heartless King who would do anything for power. News of this new Kingdom of God generated hope and excitement!

Now incredible reports circulated that this Teacher had brought someone back from the dead. Unbelievable, I know, but so many people witnessed it that it had to be true. The Teacher, the one who had been talking about the coming of the Kingdom of God, clearly had divine power. Perhaps he was the Messiah; the leader that would deliver his people.

A rumor spread through the group of travelers that, like them, the Teacher was also making his way to Jerusalem from the village of Bethany. A crowd gathered on the road that this teacher-healer would be taking in hopes of seeing him “up close”.

During these tri-annual trips to Jerusalem the people would sing Jewish traveling songs and wave branches from palm trees, myrtle trees, and willow trees. They would start by singing “Praise the Lord”. Then they would retell the story of their deliverance from Egypt with the song, “The Sea Looked And Fled”. These songs would be followed by “Not To Us, O Lord”, “I Love the Lord”, and “Praise the Lord, All You Nations.”

The last traveling song was “Give Thanks to the Lord”. Toward the end of this tune they spotted the Teacher, riding on a donkey, but they kept singing . . . “Hosanna! Blessed Is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

They knew in an instant that this was the Messiah. They threw their palm branches on the road for the donkey to walk on. Truly this man would be the one who would save them. That’s what hosanna means – Lord Save Us!

Suddenly minds were racing ahead to a picture-perfect future. This new government, the Kingdom of God, would save them. That’s what they had been waiting for! They could finally get rid of those wealth guzzling Romans! They could hunt down that terrorist leader, Herod, and bring justice to all who followed him!

Unfortunately they forgot the truths found in the songs they had been singing. “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. . . I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!”

Instead of taking refuge in God, they trusted in the apparent political power that came with the popularity of the Teacher. And in just five days their hopes would be dashed. They would reject the Teacher as their new King. They would return to their desperate lives, full of fear and despair.

Who would save them now?

Who will save us now? Over the centuries the people of God have, at times, forgotten what scripture says. From the beginning of recorded history the people of God have periodically forgotten the truths found in their songs.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness . . . Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. . . He is able, more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. . . He knows my name, He knows my every thought; He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call. . . Where could I go, but to the Lord?

During that last week before Jesus went to the cross, the God followers of the day began to place their faith in things other than God. They saw Jesus only as a man, and not as the Son of God. They began to think that man-made tools and man-made solutions could solve problems that were spiritual at their core.

Is it possible that we do the same thing today? Do we really believe that only government can save us? Or, only education can save us? Or, only cutting edge medicine can save us? Or, only money can save us?

Or is it possible that spiritual solutions are the only real solutions, because our problems are spiritual at their core?

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the day when we remember the Teacher as He made his way to Jerusalem for the last time. Will we see Him as the Son of God or simply as a popular teacher? Will we remember the truths found in scripture and in our songs, or will we search for salvation in man-made solutions? The choice is yours; choose well.

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Even Peyton Longs for Community

Christian Perspectives Article 08-26-06

I watched the Indianapolis Colts’ preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks last week and something that John Madden said caught my attention. He said that Peyton Manning said something that Madden hadn’t heard in twenty years. Peyton startled him by asking, “Do you know what I love about training camp?”

John Madden’s broadcasting partner interrupted with the play by play and then followed up. “Well, what was it?” Good question.

What could possibly be loveable about training camp? Is there anything appealing about two practices a day in 90 degree heat in Central Indiana in August? What could one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL like, let alone love, about training camp?

Peyton said, “I love the fact that we can’t get away from each other. Guys come by the room and hang out. We play cards. We’re together.” What Peyton Manning loves about training camp is community.

But Peyton’s not alone. Ask any kid what they like most about the summer and more often than not they will respond with something like this: “I loved camp with all my friends,” or “our family vacation together,” or “when our little league team won the championship together.” The highlights of people’s lives are the times when they experience togetherness.

What was so magical about the days following September 11, 2001? We had all experienced something together as a nation. What is so appealing about a honeymoon? It’s the time that two people can focus exclusively on their “togetherness.”

Have you ever spent a relaxing evening together with friends that you haven’t seen “in forever”? As the evening winds to an end, you look at each other and say, “We should do this again!” What did you want to do again? It was the experience of togetherness or community.

God created us for community. Many of us are deficient in experiencing community. We feel that there is something missing but we can’t quite put our finger on it. When it finally happens, often by accident, it takes us by surprise and overwhelms us. We don’t want to leave, and when we are forced to leave we are eager to reproduce the experience as soon as possible.

The writer of Hebrews says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing.” Why? Because we need to encourage one another. We need to love one another. We need to help one another. We need to bless one another. We need to challenge one another to do great things for the kingdom. We need to weep with one another. We need to party with one another. We simply need one another.

How good do you think the Colts would be if they refused to attend training camp with each other? They need to spend time with each other so that they can accomplish the job that they were assembled for – to win every game they play.

How good can the church possibly be if we refuse to spend time with one another? We need to spend time together so that we can accomplish the job that we were assembled for – to advance the Kingdom of God.

They probably didn’t know it, but Sunday Night Football touched on a profound truth that effects every person alive. We were made for community. We crave community. We are at our best when we live in community.

For Peyton and the Colts, the season is just around the corner. For the church, we are very likely in the second half of the most important game of the season. It’s time to get together and build community.