It happened over coffee..............

I have a regular group of people that I meet with every Monday morning over coffee. We discuss everything. Politics, religion, sports, current events, and even farming. We have decided that there is no taboo subject. Well, at least it used to be that way. Something happened this week that is at the same time disturbing and indicative of our society. And, lest you think I am pointing fingers, I want you to know that I have been guilty of the very thing I am calling out.

We were teasing around about nationalities. I, being the only Norwegian heritage person at the table, said that the greatest Norwegian joke I had heard happened last week when the Nobel Peace Committee awarded President Obama the Peace Prize. I suppose a hand-grenade would have had less impact than that simple phrase.

I was lambasted, chastised, and shouted down. Any attempt on my part to enter the debate was met with louder opposition until I just exited the conversation. I turned my attention to another of our party and changed the subject, but the tirade continued.

All this leads me to the point of this post. What happened to civility? Joe Wilson calls out the President of the United States and I hear some conservatives say it was a good thing (I disagree). I express my opinion about an award and I get shouted down without a chance to defend my position. What has happened to civility? I am not saying we need to engage controversial topics with a lack of passion or zeal, but we need to be polite. No name calling, no shouting. Just because I disagree with a certain committee's choice does not mean I am a "hater".

I have been guilty of the same when I was defending the unborn. I didn't listen to the other side. I just got louder. And louder. And louder. I don't think this is pleasing to our Lord. Paul said, "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." (Colossians 4:6, NASB) It is not gracious to shout the opposition down. It is not gracious to refuse to listen with respect. Not respect for the position, but respect for the person.

I wish I could say this was limited to conversations with unbelievers, but I have also seen it at denominational meetings. It is one thing to disagree, it is another thing entirely to beat down someone who has been created Imago Dei (in the image of God). Let me issue a challenge to those who call Jesus Christ Lord. Let's lead by example. Let's restore civility to conversation. Let's make sure our conversations are "seasoned with grace."

I'm a slacker, but I finally have something to say

So much has happened in the months since I last posted. I really don't know what to say about all that. If you know me, you know it has been a very challenging (yeah, that's the word we are supposed to use, not difficult, draining, exhausting, debilitating, depressing, etc.). Let me just say I hope God is done giving me opportunities for growth for a little while. I don't know how much more growth I can handle. (And, yes, I know God is the one who determines how much I can handle, not me.)

But that is not why I chose to post today. I chose to post about something that I am already tired of and not looking forward to in the next 10 months or so. I think the word for it is "Race 08". And really, I only have questions at this point with no answers. Questions like, why do we have to choose the next president in January when the Constitution clearly states that the general election is to be held in November? Why have some evangelical leaders decided that protection of the unborn (while very worthy) is the only cause we are to be concerned about? What about the war on terrorism? What about our downward spiraling economy? What about our upward rocketing energy prices? What about the rising costs for our farmers? What about feeding the poor? What about caring for the downtrodden?

The easy answer to the last two is that evangelicals should be doing those within their churches. We should not be expecting the government to do it for us. But certain evangelical leaders have decided that we should go along with a candidate's stance on everything else as long as they are pro-life and can win the election. I have a problem with that. What if they are pro-life, but anti-Christian? Think it can't happen? What if they are pro-life and anti-right to bear arms? Life is important and innocent life must be protected, but it is not the only fish in the barrel of our country. We need a candidate who can address ALL of our concerns, not just a pet few. Oh well, I guess I have rosey glasses.

I will study the candidates. I will make an informed decision, but not until the primary here and ultimately in November. Selling me with sound bites will not work. The candidates need to write position papers on many of the pressing needs of our nation. Will it happen? I doubt it. So, I'll have to do the work of discernment by watching and reading everything they say. Difficult as it will be (and the biased press certainly doesn't help), I am committed to making an informed choice.

Now, if we could just find some good news to report instead of polls about who might get elected...

Why does it always boil down to pride?

In preparing for some teaching times, I have repeatedly come upon the problem of pride. I have defined it as the need to win. For instance, if I get in a disagreement with someone and get to the place where I feel like I have to win, I am battling pride. Now, there are times when we have to stand up and say what's right is right and what isn't right is wrong. But the Bible is not clear on every area of life (i.e., what color toothbrush should I buy next?). And when I get into the debate, am I more about winning or sharpening a brother's (or sister's) knowledge of the Sword? I'll be honest. Sometimes both are true at the same time.

But what really gets my goat is when someone declares that they have the only correct interpretation for EVERY Bible passage. Inevitably, I hear this when someone wants to bring an accusation against me. They know the proper context of the Bible and it applies only to me (or my family). Some passages are just plain simple to understand. You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13). Ok, I don't think we can disagree on what that means. But others are open to interpretation.

How about: He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (1 Timothy 3:4). What does managing a household "well "look like? And what exactly does "under control with all dignity" look like? I'm sure that each of us has a picture of what we think those terms mean. And I am equally sure that there are not many of those pictures that look exactly the same. Could it be that Paul intended that Scripture to be applied by a particular person to a particular person? Timothy was a young pastor and this epistle is written as a sort of guideline to him. It is absolutely useful for every person that claims Jesus as Lord. But what do we do when we don't agree on the interpretation?

We have 2 options.

Option 1)We can undermine one another and fight to prove that we are right and anyone else is wrong. That is the prideful way. We will be insisting on winning the argument. And it will cause division in the church when we pick things like that to harp on. Then we have to go to Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you have learned, and turn away from them. Our Lord Jesus did not want fights in His bride, the church. He didn't want us to be so busy "purifying the church" that we never witnessed to the world. But pride often rules the day and we get our feelings hurt. Then we can think of no "graceful" way out of the divided mess we are in, so we bail out.

or Option 2) I think there should be more talking and less blaming in the church. I think there should be more work to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. (Romans 16:19b) And I think we could accomplish it easier if we took to heart Ephesians 4:1-16:

• Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

May God richly bless you as you seek His will and His face.