Healthcare & Abortion – a life debate
As Pelosi tries to “quick snap” her healthcare plan through, there is massive debate on the language of her bill and the ambition of those around her to make sure that at least one healthcare “option” provides for coverage for abortions. Read some of the NY Times article HERE.
Laws are all about precedent. The more precedent established, the greater the possibility of going further with a law. The recent “Hate Crimes” legislation could bear that out. The bill’s language is careful to say what it protects as far as free speech related to religious convictions, but Obama did go on to say that in America we should be “free to live and love as we see fit.” Laws and social systems are designed by God to protect and provide order (Rom.13:1-7), NOT to allow for every individual to live life as they see fit. Is this not a slippery slope?
Obama has already established his defense for gay and lesbian rights, “I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an ally and a champion and a president who fights with you and for you.” To “champion” this behavior? The ambition is to promote LGBT issues as race issues. It’s not a race issue, it’s a sinful lifestyle choice on (biblical) par with adultery, thieves, and idolaters (1 Cor.6:9-11).
Laurie Rubiner, VP of Planned Parenthood, has said this, “Abortion should not be treated any differently from any other medical benefit or procedure,” in defense of including stronger language for abortion provision in Pelosi’s (and others) healthcare bills. That makes sense. Just like the LGBT issues being likened to race, abortion is likened to just any other medical procedure. So, if you don’t want your baby, you can feel about that fetus the same way you feel about a tumor or cancer. The baby is just an illness. These people don’t even go so far as to say that breast implants, botox, or other cosmetically optional procedures should be provided for, but taking the life of a child? No problem.
Look, I’ve tried to make clear again and again that we are to battle on gospel grounds as believers and the local church. There is a socially redemptive element to the gospel as well. I have to be honest and tell you that I’m weary of those who overlook such watershed issues in defense and support of the “greater” good as they see it. I have often read that invading Iraq (or any “other” country), and the subsequent loss of life, is tantamount to abortion — killing the innocent. But decisions for war are much more complex and debatable. Is there anything debatable about abortion, at least to the Christian? Let’s not lose sight of these things.
It will be illegal at some point (if the Lord tarries) to preach against homosexuality. I’m thankful we’re in Leviticus NOW and not 10 years from now! But the truth is, the local church must wake up to sin altogether. As vile as gay and lesbian practices are, they are no different than adultery and deserve the same treatment. It is sin, and sin leads to death every time. So, we need to be more resolute NOT to tolerate certain views while SIMULTANEOUSLY raising our awareness of sin and its consequence.
This is not partisan. Truth is, I hate corruption in government on either side of the “aisle.” But I also want to clearly stand in defense of the innocent and the protection of civil order. I will pray for those I oppose, but I will also oppose them with civility. The local church in America has really allowed our condition as much as any. Our hope has never been in the politicalization of religion, but in the gospel itself. The Religious Right has done much good, but also harmed many longer-term causes due to the attitudes and approaches of many in their ranks.
If the western church was more consistent, less hypocritical, in living out the tenets of the gospel in daily life, then we would not need a “category” in the political realm. We would just have those who either live out their Christianity, or at the least live out Judeo-Christian principles (as many of our founding fathers did who did not claim Christianity). God used them to guard society, protecting the innocent, promoting order. You don’t have to be a Christian to be a great politician. But from where I sit, if you promote (or “champion”) things that God so clearly opposes, then there is NO WAY to be a blessing to a people from a political standpoint.
Our hope lies in the gospel, which produces REAL LIFE change. Read HERE.
So, my rant/charge comes to a close. My encouragement is to be consistent in your lifestyle and your doctrine. That would include your beliefs politically. You don’t have to have a label (or a party affiliation), but you do have to make choices.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:2-6
New Blog….
I’m blogging right now for the sake of blogging and just felt guilty for not blogging for a while. Blogging will resume shortly. I am excited that this blog has the greatest amount of “per word” uses of variations of the word “blog” of any blog I’ve ever posted in my relatively short history of blogdom.
Bloggingly yours,
Pastor Mike
Happy Reformation Day!
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the chapel door at Wittenberg. Though much had already been in progress for the Reformation by this time, this date usually marks the beginning of the greater movement of the Protestant Reformation.
Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther
on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
by Dr. Martin Luther (1517)
Published in:
Works of Martin Luther:
Adolph Spaeth, L.D. Reed, Henry Eyster Jacobs, et Al., Trans. & Eds.
(Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Company, 1915), Vol.1, pp. 29-38
_______________
Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.
In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.
3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.
4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God’s remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory.
11. This changing of the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory is quite evidently one of the tares that were sown while the bishops slept.
12. In former times the canonical penalties were imposed not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties; they are already dead to canonical rules, and have a right to be released from them.
14. The imperfect health [of soul], that is to say, the imperfect love, of the dying brings with it, of necessity, great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater is the fear.
15. This fear and horror is sufficient of itself alone (to say nothing of other things) to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ as do despair, almost-despair, and the assurance of safety.
17. With souls in purgatory it seems necessary that horror should grow less and love increase.
18. It seems unproved, either by reason or Scripture, that they are outside the state of merit, that is to say, of increasing love.
19. Again, it seems unproved that they, or at least that all of them, are certain or assured of their own blessedness, though we may be quite certain of it.
20. Therefore by “full remission of all penalties” the pope means not actually “of all,” but only of those imposed by himself.
21. Therefore those preachers of indulgences are in error, who say that by the pope’s indulgences a man is freed from every penalty, and saved;
22. Whereas he remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to the canons, they would have had to pay in this life.
23. If it is at all possible to grant to any one the remission of all penalties whatsoever, it is certain that this remission can be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to the very fewest.
24. It must needs be, therefore, that the greater part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and highsounding promise of release from penalty.
25. The power which the pope has, in a general way, over purgatory, is just like the power which any bishop or curate has, in a special way, within his own diocese or parish.
26. The pope does well when he grants remission to souls [in purgatory], not by the power of the keys (which he does not possess), but by way of intercession.
27. They preach man who say that so soon as the penny jingles into the money-box, the soul flies out [of purgatory].
28. It is certain that when the penny jingles into the money-box, gain and avarice can be increased, but the result of the intercession of the Church is in the power of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all the souls in purgatory wish to be bought out of it, as in the legend of Sts. Severinus and Paschal.
30. No one is sure that his own contrition is sincere; much less that he has attained full remission.
31. Rare as is the man that is truly penitent, so rare is also the man who truly buys indulgences, i.e., such men are most rare.
32. They will be condemned eternally, together with their teachers, who believe themselves sure of their salvation because they have letters of pardon.
33. Men must be on their guard against those who say that the pope’s pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to Him;
34. For these “graces of pardon” concern only the penalties of sacramental satisfaction, and these are appointed by man.
35. They preach no Christian doctrine who teach that contrition is not necessary in those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessionalia.
36. Every truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without letters of pardon.
37. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has part in all the blessings of Christ and the Church; and this is granted him by God, even without letters of pardon.
38. Nevertheless, the remission and participation [in the blessings of the Church] which are granted by the pope are in no way to be despised, for they are, as I have said, the declaration of divine remission.
39. It is most difficult, even for the very keenest theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the abundance of pardons and [the need of] true contrition.
40. True contrition seeks and loves penalties, but liberal pardons only relax penalties and cause them to be hated, or at least, furnish an occasion [for hating them].
41. Apostolic pardons are to be preached with caution, lest the people may falsely think them preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend the buying of pardons to be compared in any way to works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better work than buying pardons;
44. Because love grows by works of love, and man becomes better; but by pardons man does not grow better, only more free from penalty.
45. 45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a man in need, and passes him by, and gives [his money] for pardons, purchases not the indulgences of the pope, but the indignation of God.
46. Christians are to be taught that unless they have more than they need, they are bound to keep back what is necessary for their own families, and by no means to squander it on pardons.
47. Christians are to be taught that the buying of pardons is a matter of free will, and not of commandment.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting pardons, needs, and therefore desires, their devout prayer for him more than the money they bring.
49. Christians are to be taught that the pope’s pardons are useful, if they do not put their trust in them; but altogether harmful, if through them they lose their fear of God.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the pardon-preachers, he would rather that St. Peter’s church should go to ashes, than that it should be built up with the skin, flesh and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that it would be the pope’s wish, as it is his duty, to give of his own money to very many of those from whom certain hawkers of pardons cajole money, even though the church of St. Peter might have to be sold.
52. The assurance of salvation by letters of pardon is vain, even though the commissary, nay, even though the pope himself, were to stake his soul upon it.
53. They are enemies of Christ and of the pope, who bid the Word of God be altogether silent in some Churches, in order that pardons may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or a longer time is spent on pardons than on this Word.
55. It must be the intention of the pope that if pardons, which are a very small thing, are celebrated with one bell, with single processions and ceremonies, then the Gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The “treasures of the Church,” out of which the pope. grants indulgences, are not sufficiently named or known among the people of Christ.
57. That they are not temporal treasures is certainly evident, for many of the vendors do not pour out such treasures so easily, but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the Saints, for even without the pope, these always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outward man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the treasures of the Church were the Church’s poor, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without rashness we say that the keys of the Church, given by Christ’s merit, are that treasure;
61. For it is clear that for the remission of penalties and of reserved cases, the power of the pope is of itself sufficient.
62. The true treasure of the Church is the Most Holy Gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last.
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the Gospel are nets with which they formerly were wont to fish for men of riches.
66. The treasures of the indulgences are nets with which they now fish for the riches of men.
67. The indulgences which the preachers cry as the “greatest graces” are known to be truly such, in so far as they promote gain.
68. Yet they are in truth the very smallest graces compared with the grace of God and the piety of the Cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of apostolic pardons, with all reverence.
70. But still more are they bound to strain all their eyes and attend with all their ears, lest these men preach their own dreams instead of the commission of the pope.
71. He who speaks against the truth of apostolic pardons, let him be anathema and accursed!
72. But he who guards against the lust and license of the pardon-preachers, let him be blessed!
73. The pope justly thunders against those who, by any art, contrive the injury of the traffic in pardons.
74. But much more does he intend to thunder against those who use the pretext of pardons to contrive the injury of holy love and truth.
75. To think the papal pardons so great that they could absolve a man even if he had committed an impossible sin and violated the Mother of God — this is madness.
76. We say, on the contrary, that the papal pardons are not able to remove the very least of venial sins, so far as its guilt is concerned.
77. It is said that even St. Peter, if he were now Pope, could not bestow greater graces; this is blasphemy against St. Peter and against the pope.
78. We say, on the contrary, that even the present pope, and any pope at all, has greater graces at his disposal; to wit, the Gospel, powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written in I. Corinthians xii.
79. To say that the cross, emblazoned with the papal arms, which is set up [by the preachers of indulgences], is of equal worth with the Cross of Christ, is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates and theologians who allow such talk to be spread among the people, will have an account to render.
81. This unbridled preaching of pardons makes it no easy matter, even for learned men, to rescue the reverence due to the pope from slander, or even from the shrewd questionings of the laity.
82. To wit: — “Why does not the pope empty purgatory, for the sake of holy love and of the dire need of the souls that are there, if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a Church? The former reasons would be most just; the latter is most trivial.”
83. Again: — “Why are mortuary and anniversary masses for the dead continued, and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded on their behalf, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?”
84. Again: — “What is this new piety of God and the pope, that for money they allow a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God, and do not rather, because of that pious and beloved soul’s own need, free it for pure love’s sake?”
85. Again: — “Why are the penitential canons long since in actual fact and through disuse abrogated and dead, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences, as though they were still alive and in force?”
86. Again: — “Why does not the pope, whose wealth is to-day greater than the riches of the richest, build just this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of poor believers?”
87. Again: — “What is it that the pope remits, and what participation does he grant to those who, by perfect contrition, have a right to full remission and participation?”
88. Again: — “What greater blessing could come to the Church than if the pope were to do a hundred times a day what he now does once, and bestow on every believer these remissions and participations?”
89. “Since the pope, by his pardons, seeks the salvation of souls rather than money, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons granted heretofore, since these have equal efficacy?”
90. To repress these arguments and scruples of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the Church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, pardons were preached according to the spirit and mind of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved; nay, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, “Peace, peace,” and there is no peace!
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, “Cross, cross,” and there is no cross!
94. Christians are to be exhorted that they be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hell;
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven rather through many tribulations, than through the assurance of peace.
My way of “killing” the planet…
Sorry for the title… still reeling from Hobson’s article.
Ruth Michelle Lumpkin entered the world on Thursday, October 29th at approximately 4:45am after 36.5 weeks in the God-designed safety bubble called the womb (Psalm 139). She was 7lbs / 20.5 inches. As far as we can tell, she looks like all the other girls did…just beautiful.
Our due date was November 20th, with a scheduled C-section of November 12th. God desired to start the number of her days a bit earlier. We arrived at the hospital around 1:45am or so. After some initial examination, everything was “go” for a C-section. Jan and I read Psalm 29, 89 and 139 together. We prayed and then they wheeled her out.
I then put on this get up…
Not 15 minutes later, I was asked to go back with Jan (same routine we’d done before…this was just quicker). Now, we didn’t find out the sex of the baby, so we had the added excitement of “finding out.” The doctors and nurses were great to let me “identify” the little human.
After what seems like a few Greco-Roman wrestling moves by doctors performed on my wife’s abdomen, they say, “Dad, you want to know what you have?” I stood up, looked for a good while (doctors know to keep that umbilical cord out of the way — daddy’s eyes get fuzzy in that setting), and told Jan, “We have a Ruth.”
After an initial wipedown, but before her bath, this is what I saw…
We had some good time together from here. I just stood and stared at her in the nursery, while waiting for Jan to come out of recovery (how anxious wives who have C-sections must be to wait). After we were in a room for a short time, Ruth was brought in to nurse. She did great!
Well, to just continue the “life” with a larger (than norm) family, I had 3 doctor appointments to get the other 3 girls to by 9am. Poor Lydia had to have 4 immunization shots. She handled them like a trooper!
We got back to the hospital and had the family all together…
All was well. At least until Lydia came down with a stomach virus and a high fever…
After the day ended, I was left at home to care for Lydia and leave Jan and Ruth with the very capable and kind hands of those at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.
It was a huge, long (often surreal) day of sleeplessness, joy, reality, illness, fatigue… I’ll choose the “joy” part. A day when you’d love to focus on the new baby demanded teamwork by a husband and wife, most often not together, to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the family overall. All the while, we texted and called to stay connected just between us.
Joy is not always pretty, but it is always beautiful!
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:11-14
Fewer Babies for a Better Planet?
We knew this kind of thinking was out there, but now it’s in our own NWA backyard. You may not be able to read the entire article by Art Hobson in the Times (have to be a registered user), but here is a LINK. I’m posting it below until I can get clarity on copyright issues:
—————————–
Jan, my blessed bride, would not let me submit my first written response. She is a wonderful help-mate in my life and ministry!!! Here is my initial response that is to be published sometime later this week (limit is 500 words for the paper):
In response to Art Hobson’s “A good place to start” article, I’d like to suggest a better place to start for Hobson in saving the planet – stop wasting dead-tree paper with such foolish things. By his logic, we should just go ahead and turn the planet over to Muslims because they have a birthrate of 6 whereas our Western birthrate is already around 2 (as Hobson proposes as our goal). Nothing against Muslims here, they just have an apparent stronger love for family and, consequently, an apparent hate for this planet.
It doesn’t surprise me that someone who shows such disdain for God would hate the things He loves. Hobson loves the planet more than family, right? Is it much more complex than that? The equation is simple: Love kids = hate the environment. Oh, wait… I can love a certain number of kids. So, I’ll just ask Willow Creek to keep the child we’re going to have in 2 weeks (Lord willing). As well, I need to “place” our 2 year old, because we will soon have 4 kids (though I’m certain her “emissions” are still much more than the older kids combined!!!) – all for the sake of the planet!?
Psalm 127:3-5 (ESV), “3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. 5 Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.”
Psalm 14:1 (ESV), “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.”
Does this article by Hobson not strike you as vile, corrupt, abominable? When will he propose that we just go ahead and abort children to meet his magic environmental number? Is this language not the natural next step (or at least a few steps away)? Could Hobson even speak like he does if abortion were not so widely accepted? We live in a culture that sees kids as something (much) less than a blessing from God Himself.
While I find this offensive and ridiculous, I do believe that this kind of thinking is more prevalent in our society and government than ever before. We have never spent more money protecting planet while simultaneously protecting a woman’s right to kill an unborn child. Guarding the future of the planet while destroying its future inhabitants? Does that seem lucid? My solution is an earth-hating one: Have as many kids as you can and want to, and train them in the ways of the Lord.
Luke 9:25 (ESV), “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?”
Even if it’s the whole world itself, if a man loses his soul (apart from Christ), what indeed has he gained?
Monday AM Musings…
Wow, this has been a stretch for the past week and it continues this week! After last Sunday’s Chicago Marathon I came back to several meetings, family in town, and a birthday party for Anna, which consisted of hiking in Devil’s Den with four 8&9 year old girls — whew! To then prep for Leviticus 3 on Saturday while trying to NOT watch the Razorbacks (refs, missed passes, penalties…arghh – hey, I said I TRIED not to watch)!
I’m not complaining, it’s just a crazy stretch right now. Jan’s been under the weather and we’re 3 weeks away from meeting Lumpy #4. I’m still doing some editing on my dissertation, but should still be on schedule for a December graduation. Certainly pray for us.
However, I’m tempted to blow off so much of this overwhelmed feeling because there are people out there seriously hurting. I’m thinking of folks like Sid Robinson who has had to undergo a bone marrow transplant this past weekend; Linda Lilly who continues to battle cancer; the Burns family in the loss of a grandfather; and many others. God is present, NOT silent, and has made every provision for life and godliness in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Cor.12:9).
Let us help each other remember that God is always good (by His standards) and chooses to be glorified from every single angle, whether blessing or suffering, rested or weary, relaxed or busy. Hebrews 10:24-25 comes to mind here…“24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
When things get tough, it’s easy to recluse. But we need to be a community where we run to be with each other at the times we need to be stirred up to love and good deeds. Certainly there are times when we need some time away to focus on our families and prayer. I’ve just been so encouraged to see so much of the body caring for each other. We’re going to continue to figure out how to be very simple as a church, yet fully engaged in each other’s lives. It seems we’re getting closer all the time. I see it when people hang out after The Gathering or after Sunday worship just to catch up, visit and even counsel one another. It is good.
Well, off to another crazy week. Several meetings lined up already — a bunch in the evenings. Opportunities to serve my family and the UBC family are many. Prayerfully we’ll complete the proposal for the 2010 budget. Hopefully I can send my next final copy of my doctoral paper…finally. Perhaps I’ll figure out a way to preach on a chapter and a half’s worth of “sin offerings.” I just need to stay focused on each moment, being totally there (mentally, spiritually) in each situation. There’s a bit of Ecclesiastes 3 at this point in my life…work is good and from God.
Oh yeah, I think I’ll go ahead and start training for the next marathon…why not.
Have a blessed week!
Thoughts from a Pastor / Runner
I really like running. Some people just loathe it to no end, but I’m not that guy. I’ve always had running in my blood. From believing “Zips” (or some other new shoes from the late 70’s) would make me faster, to running my first mile race in middle school in just over 5 minutes, I’ve enjoyed running. I got away from it for years at a time, but I’m just a happier guy when it’s built into my life.
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
I like the images that running provokes for my spiritual life. I’m pursuing a prize, a goal. It’s not a matter of being “first,” rather finishing well. Now, I don’t have self-control in all things at all times, but I want it. Running gives me a living and breathing illustration of this, whether food, stretching or sleeping, I’ve got to keep in mind how it’s going to affect my body. This reminds me that my life is not segmented. I cannot separate my physical life from my spiritual life. Epicureans did that. Gnostics did that. They were categorically heretical! Too often, Christians, including Christian leaders, become divided and segmented in how they view themselves spiritually. God, help us love you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength!
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:7-8
Bodily training is of some value. Running marathons is a bit (a lot) obsessive. There’s caution here. I want any physical training I do to provoke me to a “how much more” kind of thinking spiritually. I should train my life for godliness more than anything else. One should be part of the other, but it never equates. I didn’t memorize the amount of Scripture I’d hoped to during my last marathon training. My quiet times did not increase as I’d hoped. But there was something about learning to pray and worship on my feet yet again. And it causes me to want more…be more.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Running won’t last forever, and neither will this life. I ran about the same time as my last marathon 8 years ago. That sounds great, but I’ve not forgotten that I’m 40 now (halfway to 80 as Anna likes to remind me). My body reminds me that it’s not going to last. However, the above passage makes plain that what should always happen is my “inner man” being renewed on a regular basis. No, I don’t think that the soreness of running a marathon compares to the persecution faced in the early church. I’m speaking strictly of the reminder / encouragement that no matter what society tells you; no matter what products you buy, life will end and you won’t get younger. Remembering that we have an eternity to face is healthy and wise!
So, while God gives me the “legs” I’ll run. I hope and pray that my focus will increasingly be toward Him in every way as I train. I pray that my praying will be for the blessed body of Christ @ UBC who I’m privileged to serve. My ambition in running (and reflecting on running) for UBC is NOT to make the congregation more physically fit. Here’s my hope…
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:1-2
Marathon update
I will write more later, but because so many have prayed for me and been so supportive during this crazy stretch of life, I wanted to just update you all.
I completed the Chicago Marathon today in 3:37 and some change. It was in the ballpark of my goal, so I was pleased.
I do appreciate all the support. I’m not sure what it says about me that I would willing add such a venture to finishing a doctorate and Jan’s pregnancy, but I am glad I did.
I had a great time with one of our new deacons, Jesse Gray, and just had great joy unplugging from things for a few days.
My family has been amazing during this stretch. I’m so very blessed and thank God for His mercies!
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