Up In Arms

As a follow up post to my recent "Armed and Dangerous" Pondering, I feel led to clarify some things. Please bear with me as I ponder further...

What sparked my thoughts about all of the posts on facebook that are "pro guns" and "pro our right to bear arms" is not the lawfulness behind these posts. That is not what I bring into examination. As I said before, I do believe that we humans have a right to own guns, to own them and even to shoot them if we feel the need to defend our homes, or our families. I stated that I do not feel that personally, I could use a gun to kill another human being, or even an animal for that matter. But I am not such a pacifist that I can't see the need for weaponry and force to sometimes be used. I respect the Police, Sheriffs, and others who have chosen to put themselves in harm's way in order for my safety. I also respect anyone who is currently, or has ever been in the military. I know many amazing men who served in the military in different wars, none of whom would share their stories of killing and warfare in a bragging sense. In fact, just the opposite it seems. They did what they felt they had to do, but certainly did not enjoy it. This is not the issue, or the thought that I am pondering.

There was a clip on SNL recently which caught my attention. It was titled "DJesus Unrobed" and is a horrible parody about Jesus' return and His ultimate revenge on mankind. He is shooting us and cutting us to pieces, and it is utterly ridiculous and blasphemous, but as I watched I couldn't help but think that maybe we have had a hand in this wrong thinking...that quite possibly we have misrepresented our Lord to a world who so desperately need Him.

The Christian community has been sending out a message that seems to me (and most likely to anyone outside of our community) to be fear based, and violence promoting. And while I understand the passion behind these posts and comments, I only desire to cause us to take a moment and examine our message. God looks at our hearts. He is also revealed through us, and through our choices and lifestyles which reflect our hearts and ultimately His.

On the one hand, we are in an intense battle with the spirit of the world, and against the killing of babies in their mother's wombs. But on the other, we continue to lift up guns and weapons and anger as the answer to everything else. Is that truly our answer? While we continue to curse our government, and hold up weapons as the solution to the evils that seem to be taking over the world, I wonder if we are losing the power of Jesus in our message? It just seems that through our double message, we might be in danger of sounding a bit hypocritical.

The truth is, our answer came to earth in the form of a man. His life and death brought in a whole new way of thinking, of dealing with the world, and a whole new radical way of living. The testimony of Jesus is a testimony of grace and love, and therein lies the greatest power of all. So instead of being all up in arms, let's lift up our arms to the One who is truly our only Salvation...and lift Him up before others. For we know where our help comes from. And He said that through us, He would be made known.

Armed and Dangerous

There has been a lot of talk among we Christians lately, (especially on social media) about our right to bear arms. (I guess one could say we are breaking out the big guns.) Now mind you, I am a person who has been accused of being uncaring and even slightly stupid because I don't see the point of bashing our President on social media. Because I choose to pray for him, and speak blessings over him, it is assumed that I have my head in the sand over any and all political issues. I find this somewhat amusing. In my desire to live by Jesus' example, I am judged by most of my Christian associates.

Which brings me to the gun issue. Daily, there are numerous posts showing a big gun, or a pile of guns, or someone carrying a gun. While I don't read all of them, there seems to be a barrage of fearful and angry posts making the point that we have rights, as American citizens, to bear arms. And while I do believe that is true, I wonder where Jesus is in all of our ranting?

I remember an incident where one of Jesus' compadres tried to defend Him by cutting off the ear of a guard who had come to arrest Jesus. Jesus said to him "Put your sword back. People who live by the sword die by the sword." Wait, that seemed the right thing to do at the time, didn't it? Defending the Lord and all. But Jesus quickly picked up the ear, replaced it (awkward moment) and went on to His death.

I also recall something that our Savior taught in the book of Matthew, "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Wow. So what is He saying here? That even if someone evil or threatening comes at you to do you harm, you should allow it, and just turn the other cheek? What about my right to bear arms and shoot the son of a...well, you get my point.

It seems to me as I read the red letters, the very words of Jesus, that he was all about operating out of a new Kingdom (as He put it)...He came to show us a new way of life, and a new way of dealing with life. He reminded us that we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Which is one of the reasons He was so controversial that they wanted Him killed.

I read a cool story recently. Some ladies were having a party, and an evil man busted in to do harm and rob them. The host of the party told him to back off, in the Name of Jesus. Then the rest of the gals began to chant "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..." and the bad guy left, imagine that! You might say that those ladies were armed and dangerous!

When we look at Jesus' arrest, we see how Pilate left it up to the people whom he should release...Jesus, a gentle and loving Teacher; or Barabbas, an active, militant, Jewish leader against the Roman occupiers. And their choice seems an interesting one. It's like they were offered two types of revolutions: a revolution of power that was easily visible, a revolution that would conquer their enemies with violence, in a way they could understand; or a revolution of healing, a revolution of love, a revolution that brought the kingdom of God to earth in a mystical, transcendental, yet no less real way. We know the rest of the story. We know the choice that they made. After all, who wants a gentle revolution in times of war? 

I pray that if ever confronted with danger or evil, I will choose to call on the Name of Jesus, the Name above all other Names, and trust Him with the outcome. Let's face it, could I even shoot someone if given the opportunity? Could I live with myself if I did? 

Maybe the bottom line is, are we driven by fear? Is it a fear of death which motivates us? Or are we guided by Love? Do we truly believe that even death has no sting for those of us who are in Christ Jesus?

I don't carry a gun. But I'm packing heat, alright. The fulness of God dwells within me! I choose Love!  And therefore, I am...armed and dangerous.

No Pop-up Ads, Please!

I recently got an I-phone. I am probably one of the last people to join the I-phone club. And even so, I only got last year's model and not the new one. Hey, these things take time...

One of the things I enjoy on my new phone is the free games. I particularly love playing "Words With Friends" even though it often challenges these friendships when my opponent gets all of the great words right on top of the triple word tiles, (you know who you are), but my game rage issue is not the point of this post.

I notice that certain games on my I-phone are "free" but then when I actually download the game and begin to enjoy it, I am inundated with numerous pop-up ads. The ads are frustrating enough, but then some of them proceed to get stuck on my screen, and no amount of clicking on "continue" or the X seems to work, so I have to turn my phone off, and turn it back on, to eliminate the intruder.

Today I was thinking how often times Christianity seems to be littered with intrusive pop-up ads. What I mean is, we receive God's amazing and totally free gift of grace through his son Jesus. We are so delighted to have this new free gift! But just as we begin to "play" in this wonderful new Kingdom we have entered into, here comes those darned pop-up ads...you know the ones...pushing you to buy into something after you have already received all that you wanted for free! Every time I hear a preacher talk about our need to do something in order to truly be forgiven or healed or break a curse or whatever the current to-do trend is, (usually in order to sell their latest book), I feel the same frustration that I feel while playing Words With Friends.

If this is truly free, (which it is!!) then why are there so many annoying distractions vying for my attention? I guess the only way to get out of it when we are stuck in a pop-up ad is to turn it off, wherever "it" is coming from, and reboot ourselves with a good dose of Jesus. Aaah, I feel better already!!