Why 'In Jesus Name'?: The Rationale for a Mediator

Some folks question the need for a mediator between themselves and God. They wonder why they should pray 'in Jesus name' and why they would need some go-between to broker their relationship with God. The fact is, every relationship needs a mediator in order for there to be any meaningful communication.

There needs to be two things present for real communication to exist, 1. A medium of communication  2. A standard of communication.

Everyone communicates using a language of some sort: sign language, body language, French, German, English etc. By far the best means of communication is some language made up of words. It's no accident that John 1 describes Jesus as the Word become flesh. Jesus is God's language.

If you wish to communicate with a French speaker (as an English speaker) either you have to learn French or she must learn English (or you find an interpreter who speaks both languages). With God, however, you must speak his language in order to communicate with him. And that language is taught and exemplified through Jesus.

Now the standard. 1 John 3: 16 says, 'This is how we know what love: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.' We might like to think that love comes naturally. But there is hardly anything we do that isn't learned or taught from speech and walking upright to socially acceptable behaviour and relationships.  The tragic cases of feral children prove that there are a great many things we must learn in life, and one of those things is how to love. Suffice it to say, our world has many ideas of what love is and while an accurate definition of love is hard to find, the practice of an accurate definition is even harder to find. So Jesus came to show us how by being love itself.

One might react to this idea with a, 'But that's a ridiculously high standard! Who can live up it?'. Yes, it is a high standard 'laying down' one's life, but perhaps our general standard of love is also just very, very low.

Even as individuals we have our own personal standards for relationships and communication therein. We won't tolerate certain kinds of behaviour from others and despise being spoken to in a certain tone (condescending or demanding perhaps?), and may even choose to avoid usage of certain words in our speech. God is no different - he won't tolerate lies, for example. If we are to use The Bible as our standard and God 'speaks love' and 'God is love', then God's language is patience, forgiveness, gentleness, joy, mercy, gratitude, faith, hope and other virtues.

Praying 'in Jesus name' may have more to do with depending on his example, sacrifice and guidance in speaking/being the language of God rather than some legal  formality at the end of our prayers.

Outer Space & The Final Frontier

So scientists discovered a massive ring around Saturn recently. Made up of dust particles invisible to the naked eye, the ring is so large it would take '1 billion earths to fill it'. That's big. The significance of the discovery varies depending on who you ask. Some scientists are excited - sick uninsured people  or the homeless couldn't care less or may not even even know.

Still, everything has its place and indeed much of the effort to study space has led to inventions and developments that help us in day to day life on Earth. Like fireproof materials or satellite communication among other things. However, a debate around the importance of this discovery has begun, what with the many problems we face on terra firma like war, economic collapse, natural disasters and nuclear proliferation to name a few.

While there is no doubt that many answers to a better life on earth lie somewhere out beyond the blue, the answers derived thereof can solve only so much. They may help us to be healthier, greener, more efficient users of energy and make earth a better place to live - and that will surely have a positive sociological effect. One is heavily influenced by ones environment after all.

But the final frontier that is far from conquered is not the vastness of space, but the depth (or shallowness) of the human heart. It is from this mysterious place that the world of humanity comes into being, and from this place that our most serious problems and most powerful solutions arise. We may find an answer to famine and malnutrition, but will that cure selfishness? We may find the solution to clean and green energy - but will that rid the world of greed? Indeed, vices such as selfishness and greed are often the root causes of issues like deforestation, pollution, war and racial prejudice, a painful marriage or a lonely soul .

We must and should strive to build a better world around us, but it is in vain if we aren't building a better world in us. Science may make us healthier and smarter, but it doesn't have the power to make us kinder, happier, more peace loving or forgiving. We know that people can shine their brightest in the midst of poverty and hunger. And can plumb the depths of depravity in comfort and plenty. What would we be if we strove to perfect our hearts along with our minds?

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

Who's Who? The Voice of God or Man Pt 2

Sorting out where messages come from - God or Man - can be hard. Made harder still when you add anger, resentment, pride or bitterness.

Having a great talk with a thoughtful and spiritual friend of mine made a difference, not just because he gave me helpful advice but pointed me to God rather than himself or other men. He reminded me that where there is man, there will be disagreement and divergence and yes, sometimes sin.

In truth when we set our hearts to find answers we can learn from a rock, a fool or even a wise friend. Good students can make almost anyone look like a wise teacher. We can learn what not to do from a fool. But wise teachers and good students make for a happy lesson - a happy life.

Sometimes we stop at the question, not expecting or perhaps wanting, an answer - being angry or distracted is enough. When we are sifting through the doctrines, voices and opinions it's so easy to forget what - or who - this hulabaloo is all about.

I realize that when God isn't my focus I can begin to resent men for their intrusion, perspective or unsolicited advice. But even if they aren't being sincere or are just pushy or legalistic, if my goal is God I won't add to the confusion. I might not be able to solve it - but I can walk away without joining it.

Who's Who? The Voice of God or Man

Have you ever felt like everyone else seems certain about God's will except you? Not his expressed will through the Word, like 'give to the poor' or 'pray for your enemies', but the one that is discovered, or sometimes invented, like where you should live or whether you should take this or that job.

I've always been both baffled by and slightly envious of those who seem to know exactly what God's will is for their lives. Baffled because I wonder what makes them so sure - envious because I can't relate.

I used to wonder such things, but now I think God doesn't spend his time telling us what to wear, where to live and where to work - I think he leaves it up to us. As long as we are righteous and serving him - anything goes. I do think that some occupations, living situations and even dress habits might get us into more trouble than others, and can invite sin to come knocking. Either someone else's or our own. But otherwise than determining what is wise or foolish, good or better we can easily begin to think that God wants to make all our decisions for us. But that is far too easy.

Some folks seem to think that at every point in life (whatever measurement you use to determine a 'point' in life) God has a specific plan that you must discover. If we follow the Bible, we could wrongly conclude this - but he often worked around choices and through people. When Lot chose the plain - Abram by default chose the mountain. It could have gone either way, as much as we can say it was Lot's laziness that made him choose the plain (and hence Sodom and Gomorrah).

Certainly Jesus' life was more pre-determined than ours will ever be, but even if we choose to become 'slaves of righteousness' we don't become slaves of fate. At least, I don't think so. It is a fast track to bitterness handing your dreams or goals to an extremely realistic god lookalike that is essentially our own imagination.

This becomes particularly annoying when someone else is completely convinced of what God's plan is for you. That's where things get tricky. It becomes more annoying when they get angry at you for not seeing how their idea is directly from God himself (aka them). We often, and perhaps too frequently, get God mixed up with ourselves or someone else - depending on who can shout the loudest.

Sorting out the many voices in your head can be an exhausting task and I wish you luck with it. After all I've only added on more voice to contend with. But if it helps, God is a very good listener.

I Think Therefore I...Freak Out? Faith & the Mind

 ³⁴"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

                                                                          Luke 21: 34-36

About 40 million people in the US are affected by anxiety disorders - that's about a third of the population. Such disorders are linked to things like substance abuse, depression or other illnesses or behavioural dysfunction. 

When Jesus spoke these words he almost sounds like a qualified psychotherapist, counsellor or doctor. Certainly the National Institute of Mental Health seems to concur with his recommendation to stay away from negative thoughts and habits (like substance abuse). His warning, 'that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap' sounds so much like Generalized Anxiety Disorder or panic attacks. I think Jesus was well aware of how we function as spiritual, emotional and psychological beings.

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) go through the day filled with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about health issues, money, family problems, or difficulties at work. Sometimes just the thought of getting through the day produces anxiety.

It has long been my belief that Jesus teachings are holistic and in no way arbitrary. They are not random rites taught just for ceremony and tradition. Rather, Jesus came to heal the whole man, from the inside out in a very practical, real world way. Matthew's record of the 'do not worry' lesson elaborates on the danger of anxiety, and the cure thereof.

Paul also offers a practical approach to our mental health in Philippians 4 :

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This 'peace of God' is no accident and neither is Jesus' claim that his 'yoke is easy and his burden is light'. After all some of our heaviest burdens are not the ones we carry on our backs, but the ones we carry on our hearts.

Psalm 139 - 2 Sides to the Divine

Psalm 139 is a beautiful ode to both God and mankind. It pulses with appreciation for the beauty of man (as a created and evolved being), the wonder of nature, and the majesty of an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and loving God.

I see two distinct sections to this Psalm, bisecting its 24 verses very nicely indeed. Let's look at verses 1-13,

¹ O LORD, you have searched me
       and you know me.

 ² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 ³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 ⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

              ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
                  too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?

 ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

 ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 ¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"

 ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 

This is an observation of the relationship we all have with God, whether we like it or not. It is not based on choice, desire or even intent, it is the 'default setting' for the Divine/human relationship. God knows our past, present, future, thoughts, desires and geographical position. We can hide nothing from him and cannot escape his knowledge or influence. We can do nothing without his will allowing it to be so, whether we are aware of it or not (though the psalmist clearly is). Now the second half,

 ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made,  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

 ¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 ¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

 ¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!

 ¹⁸ Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

 ¹⁹ If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
       Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

 ²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
       your adversaries misuse your name.

 ²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
       and abhor those who rise up against you?

 ²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
       I count them my enemies.

 ²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
       test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 ²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
       and lead me in the way everlasting.

Verses 13-24 get personal. This is the chosen or optional Divine/human relationship. Here the language moves from observation to appreciation and worship. The psalmist acknowledges and indeed rejoices in God's role in man's unique design. The psalmist values his own complexity, and wishes for an exchange of knowledge between himself and the Divine. 

The writer volunteers his thoughts, emotions and attitudes for examination and not only embraces God's omniscience, but treasures Divine thought as well. So much so that his search for God reveals the immeasurable magnitude and depth of the Divine Mind. The psalmist's passion leads him to an emotional expression of disdain for those whom disdain God, and he ends with a verbalization of his desire to have his inner self changed to be more like the  divine mind of which he is in awe.

This beautiful Psalm is a powerful illustration of the kind of walk God wishes to have with each of us. Even though he may know all, he wishes for us to willingly offer our friendship (thoughts, feelings, aspirations etc.) and to desire his. It is one thing to be 'found out' and another to confess, as the case may be. God doesn't want a one-sided affair. One of the most notable implications in this Psalm is that man is worth being known by God. That God is worthy of our knowledge is obvious in this discourse, but too often men see themselves as worthless when it is apparent God doesn't share the sentiment. 

Surely there are more gems to be found in this Psalm. Please feel free to share the ones you have found.

Jesus Wasn't A Christian

CS Lewis, renowned Christian apologist, one time atheist, charts his journey to faith in Suprised by Joy with characteristic rationality and dispassionate, amazingly self-aware observation. It is a book I highly recommend for believers and non-believers alike only because it shows that faith is not based only on, well faith, it is also based on reason, philiosophy, objectivity, appreciation of beauty and intellectual reflection & curiosity. That said the aformentioned are not usually associated with faith, rather irrationality, emotionalism, subjectivity, zeal minus knowledge and an avoidance of inquiry and practical interpretation.

Christianity is often portrayed through the filter of Western thought. The Roman Catholic version of the faith, though on the wane, has been the predominant representation and experience for many. Its history of ceremony, pedophilia, politicization of God and religion have contributed to giving faith a bad name as have the many sexual and financial scandals, ravingly angry and judgemental sermons, closed-minded and under-informed proselytes and racism and prejudice associated with various denominations throughout Christendom.

But when you think about it, what did Jesus call what he taught? Did he call it 'Christianity' or 'Judaism'? Jesus never gave a name to what he taught - he just taught and lived his teaching, and his teaching was very practical and easily understood. Today, we often teach that we should obey 'because the Bible says so' but we place less emphasis on why the Bible says what it does and the inherent common sense in the teaching.

My own personal experience saw my Church (and myself in many ways) move from teaching people to be disciples to telling them to be the same. There is a massive difference between teaching and telling. One encourages inquiry, thought, explanation, research, engagment. The other only requires obedience. Close mouthed and closed minded obedience. But this is often the way of any organization. What often begins as a community of independent but like-minded individuals, for the sake of administration and as a result of a growing divergence on some issues, becomes a homogenous group controlled by a few opinon leaders. The control begins out of a sincere desire to see people be righteous. But when one sees the danger of free choice - and that free choice can and does lead to very bad choices - then one wants to intervene for the 'sake of the flock' and tell the sheep what is best for them. First on a communal level then on a more personal level.

Jesus forced no one to listen to or obey his teaching. The choice was up to the audience - if they chose to be an audience. But he did point out that every action has a consequence; temporal and eternal (the rich fool, the rich man and Lazarus, the Prodigal Son). But if we focus wrongly on the the eternal we can easily forget that all we have are our minds and bodies right now. We experience life in no other way and in no other place but on earth 'in the now', as Cesar Milan likes to say.

That Jesus didn't name his teaching gives it a universality that Christianity takes away from it. It becomes a religion rather than life itself. As Christians we can even defend the position of Jesus as if it belongs to us rather than to the reality of the Universe itself - which is what I believe it to be. As a result, righteousness is wherever it is found. It does not belong to me or religion, it belongs to God - and God '... is over all and through all and in all'. 

I am not suggesting that God is therefore accessible through any path in any way of a person's choosing. Jesus clearly demonstrated his Godly qualities and taught that these Godly qualities are the way to true life. How could forgiveness not be beneficial, liberating and unifying in its effect? This is not to say it is easy, but you get my point. 

We can take Jesus teachings and claim them as our own, as if we ourselves created them and exclude others by our privileged knowledge. That others by nature come to the same conclusions as Biblical text is no surprise to me - John concluded that 'God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.', many have proclaimd the power of love from many platforms because we all have, I believe, an innate understanding of it. Solomon attested that 'God made mankind upright...' and 'He has also set eternity in the hearts of men', our search for Him is no accident nor is our desire to be righteous in any cultural context or religion. That expression and 'programming' isn't always carried out in the best of ways - but that occurs when we begin to create God in our image  claiming Him rather than allowing Him to claim us.

I do believe that Jesus is the living Word of God. But I also believe that Word to be more far-reaching than religion and Christianity paints it. CS Lewis' illustration of the Bible as a map is poignant. He asserted that the Bible is no more God than a map of a nation is the nation itself. There is an obvious difference. One is representative the other is the thing represented. We shouldn't mistake one for the other. One is the exposition and the other is the experience. Doubtless, one cannot navigate a strange country without directions - and directions can ensure a clear pathway once read correctly. But a map does not tell you where an accident is going to happen or if someone is waiting behind a buiding to rob you. That you have to prepare for yourself. And preparation necessitates character - indeed the unwritten things are what build character and bring life to the theory.

It is important to remember that we look at all of Christianity and its Judaic history after the fact. It can be easy to see many of the resolutions of conflict and judgments of God as prescriptive. However, the participants themselves never had our knowledge of outcomes and we forget that the faith itself was evolutionary, especially during Paul's time as he literally wrote the book on our faith through his letters. At one time the Bible was non-existant, but God himself and faith in him were living and active. 

What teachings, did Abraham and Enoch follow those many years ago? What was it that Jesus came to do the many years after these men? One thing is for certain, Jesus had a problem with what man did to God's law and the contravention then has been repeated many times since. The codification of God's teaching is, to some extent unavoidable, but the canonization of man's teaching is avoidable and must be avoided. It may mean frequently stepping back to consider the value we place on our necessary contextual laws versus the heart of God himself. It would be dangerous to stop thinking because one holds that the Bible does all our thinking for us - but equally dangerous to assume that we must 're-write' the Bible and hence mold God according to our immediate needs and biases.

In the end I have decided that the following rules should and must be followed in order to please God from the heart and without error:.....gotcha! ;O)