Author: Bob

Although having grown up in Tucson, AZ, I’m an upper Midwestern guy at heart having spent most of my adult life in Minnesota. I recently entered the "Buick stage" of life and have migrated to Florida. This blog is an attempt to explain the deconstruction of my Christian faith and better understand what I perceive as the discordant aspects of Christianity. Things which make life more enjoyable include rough-housing with the grandkids, strong black coffee, charcoal grilling, cutting wood on a table saw, playing chess, a good orthopedic surgeon and an occasional IPA. Please feel free to poke around and comment as you wish. I welcome cordial discussion and the insights of others with a different perspective and understanding.

The Will of God According to Wall Drug

Anyone traveling through the upper midwest surely knows of a certain drugstore in Wall, SD. After all, it’s next to impossible to miss the billboards. I happened to be in the area and thought it would be fun to visit what has to be one of the all-time great tourist spots. The Wall Drug facility is immense and thankfully there are store maps conveniently located at each entrance. There’s a short summary of Wall Drug’s history in the brochure that includes the following statements:

Our families agreed that we should all pray about the decision (for Ted & Dorothy Hustead to buy a small drug store in Wall, SD in 1931).
We asked God’s guidance.
In the end everyone felt that it was God’s will for us to go to Wall.
But now that Dorothy and I were all alone here (in Wall, SD), we wondered if we’d heard God right.

Did God have a plan for this young pharmacist related to a location in Wall, SD? Was it God’s will for Wall Drug to prosper during the middle 1930s when so many people and businesses were struggling through the Great Depression? If so, then is it reasonable to believe that God picks and chooses which businesses will thrive and which ones will fail? If that is so, is it reasonable for one to believe that it is God’s will for many people to suffer financially because God has decreed this current recession?

I personally don’t think so as I don’t believe God is in the business of picking and choosing winners and losers – for eternal salvation, a business adventure, one’s health, or any number of other things. Could it be that it frustrates (or even angers) God when, as per the Wall Drug founders, people act out their faith based on “feelings” and then when circumstances change or situations become difficult, people question their faith?

Spring in Minnesota – a glimpse into the meaning of Easter

Although the winters are long and cold up here in Minnesota, I do enjoy the four seasons and there is no time so pleasant as the end of winter and the early breaking out of spring. There are buds on the trees trying to see the light of day. Sunlight is lasting longer into the evening and temperatures are doing their best to get and stay above the 50 degree mark. The last vestige of snow is gone except for those deep shaded areas. The ground is gray with the remains of last years foliage and it is at this point I can only imagine how beautiful it will all be in another month or so. For me, spring is a time for hope. It is a time to reflect back on some difficult times and look ahead to a new beginning, a new season as it were. The old has past away and a fresh newness has arrived. Perhaps this ties in with Easter. Jesus was dead, cold, and gray while he lay in that tomb. And tomorrow He arises in the bright radiant freshness of new life reaching out His arms drawing us in to the warmth of His love. Two old hymns come to mind; The Old Rugged Cross and Just As I Am. I’ve never really thought these songs had a commonality until I started thinking about spring and the meaning of Easter. Jesus died on that cross and we have to bring ourselves, just as we are, to Him who is on that cross in order to take on the new life He has promised.

Show’n-off our new grandson

Please allow me to post a picture of our new grandson Jedidiah John Martin – born 2.1.09. All the usual suspects (mother, father, & child) are doing just fine. The new grandma (my wife) can’t wait until we travel to Nashville to meet the little tyke. The new grandpa (me) is dealing with issues of denial – I can’t believe that I’m now a grandfather! And more than that, I can’t believe that I’m married to a grandmother!!!

Grandpa, is there any difference between Calvinism & Arminianism?

Laying On More Hands or Laying Off More Staff

My bride recently agreed to her company’s separation package. Her future layoff along with my tenuous employment is causing some contemplation about our family’s economic situation. There’s general agreement that this nation, along with much of the world, is in a recession. One question in my mind: are Christians protected from depressed economic conditions? In our own little sphere, giving is down at our church and my sense is that this is partly due to a number of unemployed members. Last August I wrote in my post, “Laying on Hands or Laying off Staff”, that our church’s board of elders had to make a decision to lay off a staff member. This, to me, wasn’t a “God’s will” issue. Rather, through analysis, collective wisdom, reflection, (as exhibited by Paul – see below), the board determined a best course of action given the circumstances. Now, several months later, worsening economic circumstances requires additional cuts in staff in addition to implementing a salary freeze.

I read a 12/23/08 article in the WSJ in which Mark Holbrook, president of the Evangelical Christian Credit Union in Brea, CA stated, “We are seeing more (financial) stress in churches than we have in modern history.” He goes on to discuss how churches everywhere are experiencing financial difficulties and that church foreclosures are increasing. What’s the lesson here? Perhaps things such as faulty data, poor planning, declining attendance, higher utility expenses, etc, can alter a church’s financial situation – just as it would for an individual, business, or a corporation. To that end, our church’s current economic health is certainly affected by higher mortgage payments that came about from a decision a couple of years ago to expand the size of the church building. Right or wrong, good, bad, or indifferent, the intent for the building addition was to better meet the requirements of existing ministries and incorporate space for additional youth and adult ministry opportunities. At the time, giving and other financial indicators seemed to support the expansion. A congregational vote approved the additional debt.

I’m not trying to argue whether debt is a good or bad thing. Rather, I’m trying to understand what, if anything is God’s role when financial decisions are made within a body of believers. Looking back, some decisions made were probably better than other decisions. Nevertheless, we often we make decisions with the best of intentions but with incomplete information and/or an inability to realize the impact current decisions can have on future events.

Paul had to make decisions – lots of them. I wonder if he got every decision “right”? From my reading of scripture, it’s the rare occurrence when Paul received direct guidance from God. Below is a brief overview of some criteria Paul used when he made decisions:

Phil 2:25 (I think it’s a good idea)

1 Cor 16:3-4 (If it seems the right thing to do)

Acts 6:1-7 (We need to do something about this)

Acts 15:24-29 (People got together, debated, decided, and acted)

The conclusion I draw is that God allows us to make decisions and to experience what I consider the natural occurring consequence (be it good or bad) of those decisions. In my opinion, then, Christians aren’t immune from the negative aspects of changing circumstances, poor decision making or a worsening economy. Put another way, I don’t think it’s God who brings about difficulties that naturally arise from the negative aspects of changing circumstances.

The Will of God in 28 Easy Steps

I often sense Christians want God’s will regarding some decision they need to make. The Bible is replete with passages on how we are to live. Yet, there are no passages on how to:

· Interpret circumstances

· Determine if something is a closed door or a test

· Choose among equal options

Romans chapter 12, which is entitled “Christian Living” in my NIV Study Bible, is one passage where God tells us His will for how we should live our lives. It seems to me that if we concentrate on that which God has told us, because of His grace, we need not worry about “missing the center” of His will.

1) Rom 12:1 Offer your body as a living sacrifice to God

2) Rom 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

3) Rom 12:3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought

4) Rom 12:6 Use your gift(s)

5) Rom 12:9 Love with sincerity

6) Rom 12:9 Hate what is evil

7) Rom 12:9 Cling to what is good

8) Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another

9) Rom 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal

10) Rom 12:11 Keep your spiritual fervor

11) Rom 12:12 Be joyful in hope

12) Rom 12:12 Be patient in affliction

13) Rom 12:12 Be faithful in prayer

14) Rom 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need

15) Rom 12:13 Practice hospitality

16) Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you

17) Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice

18) Rom 12:15 Mourn with those who mourn

19) Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another

20) Rom 12:16 Do not be proud

21) Rom 12:16 Be willing to associate with people of low position

22) Rom 12:16 Do not be conceited

23) Rom 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil

24) Rom 12:17 Be careful to do what is right

25) Rom 12:18 Live at peace with everyone

26) Rom 12:19 Do not take revenge

27) Rom 12:20 Do good to your enemies

28) Rom 12:21 Overcome evil with good

Yes, I’ve been delinquent. It’s time to get going again!

It’s been over four months since I’ve posted anything on this blog. Most of the reason for not writing, I believe, has to do with being somewhat “burned out”. Readers of this blog know that my dear friend Colleen and I were going back and forth on a whole host of issues (over several posts and many comments) more or less centered around the sovereignty of God and what some of that entails within the life of the believer. Even though I haven’t written anything, I have collected bits of information, statements, in addition to my own thoughts with the intent of writing. Perhaps I’ll get around to posting on some of those things. Still, I feel like I’m coming out of a “faith depression”. Through all of the studying and writing over the past many months, it was my hope that I would better understand (1) who God is and (2) the nature of a relationship I have to my heavenly father through faith. To date I don’t think I’ve succeeded in that endeavor and for some time now I think I’ve been feeling bad about that. I appreciate the freedom I have in this blog to explore aspects of my faith that indeed trouble me. I especially appreciate those who respond with a kind word or even a pointed challenge. I look forward to getting this blog started up again and, with a bit of excitement, fear and trepidation (okay, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement); we’ll see where things end up.

Biblical Translation Castigation

Granted, this post isn’t addressing the main emphasis of this blog. Still, a good title or phrase certainly catches my attention. As such, when Jose commented in my “Sovereign Election – More Than Salvation?” post about “NIV perversion”, I was immediately interested. Before going further, let me state that my preference for the NIV isn’t based upon any eschatological analysis. On the contrary, it’s probably more of a “herd mentality” given that many pastors and knowledgeable believers I know like and use the NIV. If the NIV translation is good enough for them, then it’s good enough for me.

Jose prefers the King James Version and offers the following sites as to why:

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/NIV/why.htm

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Bible/new_international_perversion.htm

On a personal note, I find these sites to be devoid of the love and compassion that I see exhibited in Jesus (as I read in the NIV). Rather these sites remind me of people who walk around carrying signs saying repent or you will spend eternity in Hell. I don’t doubt the truth of their message. However, I think there are better ways to communicate that truth.

In response, Jose, the preface of the NIV Bible I use (copyright 1989) states, “The New International Version is a completely new translation of the Holy Bible made by over a hundred scholars working directly from the best available Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts.” Perhaps I’m being naïve and foolish, but I’m trusting that the hundred-plus scholars who put the NIV translation together did so with a sharp understanding of the original manuscripts and a keen awareness regarding the nuance of language. Simply put, I believe the NIV team put forth a credible effort to make the NIV translation of the original manuscripts and texts into English as accurate as possible.

In my own “linguistic” experience – working with janitors to PhDs where I’m employed, being married for thirty years and having survived three teenagers, I know that English words sometimes have different meanings for different people. It seems to me, therefore, that we’ll always end up with translation problems because of variances in translators understanding of the structure of the original languages (i.e. Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic) the historical context and implied meaning of the words used, in addition to the nuance of English word definitions.

To that end, the author of one site I found – http://www.dyeager.org/articles/bibletranslations.php indicates that his preferred translation is the NKJV. However, he also states that, “We need to understand that all translations have problems and that no translation is 100% perfect” (emphasis mine). As such, Jose, some of the concerns raised regarding the NIV in the two listed web sites appear to have some validity. However, I findeth not necessary to leaveth mine NIV and clingeth to thou’st KJV.

For whom shall I vote?

Tom Minnery wrote an article in the Sept 2008 issue of Focus on the Family’s monthly magazine entitled “How Do I Choose?” in which he lays out six issues to consider before voting in the November elections including:

Separate principles from policies.

Does the candidate have a Christian world-view?

Political parties matter.

Isn’t the lesser of two evils still evil?

What if all choices are bad?

What if I don’t know the candidates?

What is not present in Mr. Minnery’s article is any mention about having “peace” or otherwise praying to God for guidance with regard to a particular candidate. My NIV Topical Bible references Ecc 1:13, 17 & 7:25 with regard to acquiring wisdom through research and education. To that end, we have important decisions to make in November regarding our elected officials and it’s up to us to chose wisely.

Laying on hands or laying off staff

A recent letter from our church’s Board of Elders confirms my sense that although many Christians seek God’s will regarding a decision; in reality, most Christians work through decision making the old-fashioned way – thinking about options, considering the facts before them, and then making a decision. The letter states, “After evaluating recent giving patterns to the General Fund, the Board of Elders has determined (emphasis mine) that we must take a decisive step toward “right sizing” our current staffing numbers.” The Board of Elders appears to have given this decision its due consideration regarding laying-off a staff member regarding:

Analysis – “After evaluating recent giving patterns”

Collective wisdom – “After much prayer and discussion”

Decision – “We must take a decisive step”

Reflection – “This was not an easy decision”

Decision-making is often difficult and stressful. We often have incomplete information and may not always realize the impact decisions have on one’s self or others. Certainly, some decisions made can be better than other decisions but the more I think about it, the more I think God allows us to freely make decisions. My sense, as I read Paul’s letters, is that direct guidance from God was the exception and not the rule. Consider:

Phil 2:25 (I think it’s a good idea)

1 Cor 16:3-4 (If it seems the right thing to do)

Acts 6:1-7 (We need to do something about this)

Acts 15:24-29 (People got together, debated, decided, and acted)

To that end, I don’t believe God routinely directs the decisions we make today. In addition, it seems that so long as any decision made does not violate any of God’s moral laws, then any decision we make can bring about honor and glory to God.

The Will of God; A Taxing Situation?

It’s not my intention to delve into politics with this post and anyone reading my bio will sense who is my preferred presidential candidate. That said, I came across an article by Ben Smith in which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to presidential candidate Barack Obama as “a leader that God has blessed us with at this time.” It’s awkward (to me) when people of faith talk in such a manner. However, when politicians exude religious overtones, I sense we’ve reached a new theological realm relating to the will of God. But I’m not sure just what that realm is. Still, I would be curious to know how and when Ms. Pelosi realized that God had blessed this country with Barack Obama? And, how does Ms. Pelosi know that God hasn’t blessed this country with George Bush for these last eight years?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Obama_I_will_win.html