If In The Event

If in the event
You find a bent that's sent
That causes a dent in your facade
Recall the fact that you don't have it all figured out jack
That you might just lack the capability to freely wheel and deal
Your way out of the between this rock and this hard place
Trace the space of unknowns
Face a world unbeknownst to thee
A scary world unfurled
The curtain pulled aside
Behind it lies reality untold
Behold unfolded before your very eyes the very life you've refused to see
A battery of uncontrollable things
A menagerie of undirected scenes
A treasury of unfulfilled dreams
But don't you see
That's how it be
The boulevard of destiny
Meanders into eternity
And we...we must believe that the shattered splintered pieces that are our souls
Find solace in the One who holds us together
For whether or not we ever get our plaguing questions answered
It is nothing like the beleaguering cancer of never believing
Faith helps the path be straight even if the strait is filled with fog
God walks on the water holding our hand every step of the way
That is to say that come what may
Even in the between of this rock and this hard place
We have a face to seek, to trust with this day
Never again will the curtain reveal a play we didn't pay to see
But an operatic masterpiece directed by the gentle grace of our Almighty

I Want To Be the Redeemed Thief on the Cross

I've spent many years learning so much about God and other things, to really know nothing.  Let me explain.  This means that I know that my knowledge in comparison to God's vast unsearchable knowledge and wisdom overwhelmingly pales in comparison to His.  Is this a given?  (no)  Is this an understood, subconscious knowledge (no) or is it something we cannot begin to fully grasp because our own pride gets in the way? (I believe yes)   If I could, I'd be the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He believed and had faith in the God-man dying along side him without any distinct knowledge of doctrine or theology that has been proffered in the last 2000 years.  There is no information as to whether he was Jewish or not.  My guess is that he was because non-Roman citizens were usually the only ones crucified.  If he was Jewish, then it is possible he was somewhat or very familiar with his Scriptures (OT) and had an understanding of the Messiah figure that would come.  Perhaps he even had heard Jesus teach on occasion in around Jerusalem and was familiar with him.  This is really reading between the lines so I will not continue.  The fact remains that he asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom and Jesus said the man would be in paradise with him that day!  The thief didn't squabble over inerrancy or predestination or the many other fights that have split the church over two millenia.  He understood who Jesus was and asked Jesus to "remember him."  Straight to the point and without much flare or fanfare, the man believed and made a statement of faith. This in direct opposition to the other robber who had a misunderstanding of Christ's purpose on the earth and openly blaspheming Jesus, mocked him as so many others had.   The other criminal knew he was being justly punished, knew Jesus was innocent of any wrong doing and yet had faith in Jesus to be saved.  He knew he was a sinner in need of the merciful gift of grace God gives to those who have faith.  There was no catechism or recorded (in the Gospels) prior teaching to the man (although, as said before, he may have heard Jesus teach prior to seeing him that day at Golgotha.).  Salvation comes through faith and faith alone in the resurrected Christ Jesus! Thanks be to God!!  There is no saved by faith and you must believe all this doctrine and theology.  No no no!  One can be saved without fully understanding all of God's attributes, without fully understanding His revelation (indeed we may never fully grasp it), and without fully understanding or agreeing on every Evangelical Belief out there.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not knocking the Reformed/Evangelical belief systems.  I am Reformed in my thinking but I am unwilling to agree with some Christians, who wrongly impress upon their brothers and sisters, that in order to be a "True" Christian a believer must agree with everything a local congregation or hierarchical governing body  proposes as doctrine.  Daniel B. Wallace describes this conundrum best HERE (about halfway down the page) and with 4 simple questions:

1. What doctrines are essential for the life of the church?

2. What doctrines are important for the health of the church?

3. What doctrines are distinctives that are necessary for the practice of the local church?

4. What doctrines belong to the speculative realm or should never divide the church?

Practical Implications of John 14:6 and 14:15

14:6 - Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
v.15 - “If you love me, you will obey my commandments."

On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus makes this, now famous, statement.  He is the Way.  He is the Truth.  He is the Life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through him.  This is essentially the cornerstone statement Peter and John make in their trial before the priests when they say (Acts 4:11-12)  Specifically it is said in v. 12, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”  The practical implication of these verses is no other belief/faith system i.e. Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, etc. in which one can be saved.  Jesus' way is truth that leads to life.  If Jesus is the embodiment of truth and life, then there is no other way to know truth and life except through him.  This does not necessarily exclude all truth found outside the Bible, nor does it exclude those people who do not know Jesus to not have the ability to discover truth claims outside the Bible. "How is this possible?" one might ask.  The truth being spoken of in John 14 Constable explains, "Jesus is the way to God because He is the truth from God and the life from God. He is the truth because He embodies God’s supreme revelation (1:18; 5:19; 8:29), and He is the life because He contains and imparts divine life (1:4; 5:26; 11:25; cf. 1 John 5:20)."  This Truth is the gospel and not some truth like that of gum losing its flavor (even Stride) when and if chewed long enough.  However, outside the absolutes of the Bible, truth in the world seems to have many gray areas even the one I mentioned above.  For example, a company could come out with a gum that will never lose flavor, or perhaps there are people whose taste buds are far better at tasting and their gum never loses taste at least in their judgment of the matter. 

Another implication of v. 6 is the assured animosity of such a claim when made to those who do not believe Jesus' and Christians' declaration of it.  The depth at which people have gone to dismiss Jesus' declaration is evident in Lee Strobel's Case books, at least on an intellectual level.  On an emotional level, to some, this declaration reeks of unfairness, arrogance and naivete.  These responses require great care on the part of Christians on how they relay such a message of good news.  The corner preacher may reach a few because if one casts a large enough net, one is bound to catch something.  But how effective is this?  One may point to Billy Graham and his crusades.  He cast a wide net and caught many!  Billy Graham was no corner preacher.  His efforts from beginning to end built on each other, making his popularity rise.  Not only this, even the reluctant people who came wanted to be there to listen him.  Whether they believed what he said or not is irrelevant.  The saddest part is we, as Christians, cannot rely on the Billy Grahams of the world, we cannot rely on the religious tract handout, and the bluntness of our message alone.  Jesus always, ALWAYS, had context when he spoke.