Time...

Time... something I have been thinking about today.  That is not to say that I haven't thought about it in the past, but it's been on my mind today. Specifically, the use of time in relation to Kingdom Living. This is not something that I have figured out, but it forces me to work it out when I try to articulate my thoughts. With that said, this will not be a well-crafted paper, rather a string of  unedited thoughts and questions... and hopefully some answers at the end.

The way people use their time is significant.  Christian or not, people's use of time says a lot about them.  I know easy lines can't be drawn, but is it true that our use of time portrays our priorities?

Those who play video games all the time find their games important. 
Those who love to shop find "things" to be important. (specifically those that love to buy)
Those who are workaholics find their work/job/money to be most important.

Those are generalizations, I know.   Does what we spend the most time on reflect what we find to be most important?  Does what we say is most important "outweigh" what our actions portray to be the most important to us, or the other way around?

To begin, let's take sleeping and eating out of the equation.  Those are a necessity to life.  Most people could probably use more sleep and less food, but that is another discussion.

It seems to me (from my experience), that most people rank God, family, friends, church, career in their top priorities.  Aside from career, most people do not spend the majority of their time focused on any of these said priorities.  I understand that our jobs often require more time than we have free...but let's talk about free time.

I don't feel like doing a lot of research or providing sources, but just a google search, a common number is that in 2010 Americans averaged 34 hours of TV a week (full-time job?).  What does that say about what they find important?  Well, that could say a lot of things, but most of them are inward focused - satisfying some need/desire within themselves...

But wait...people don't usually put their own happiness on their list of most important things...

To be honest, this has been bothering me because over the last couple days I have watched a lot of Netflix (I do this occasionally).  But then I feel like I wasted the day...what was accomplished?  I use the fact that I am taking care of a (almost) 1 year old as an excuse to have the tv on on all and not get much done...

So, if my time truly reflected what was most important to me I would spend the most time "with" God, then my family, then the church (which is also my job/career).  Practically speaking, keeping God as the first priority does not mean I have to be spending my time "for God" as a separate activity from my family or the church.  God desires a wholesome family, and being a good husband and dad pleases God.  Being faithful in my calling to ministry pleases God.

I am getting tired of all of this rambling...let's try to get to the point... so what am I trying to say? Let me try to make a list of quasi-conclusions:

1. If God really is most important - then spend time with God! Spend alone time with God.  It is so easy to neglect prayer and study in the busyness of the day - but it is essential!  Prayer and God's Word are the lifeblood of the believer!  I am not saying we need to spend every moment of "free" time that we have doing these things, but we need to make sure we ARE doing them.  and for me: I need to do them more!

2. Kingdom living means living as members of the Kingdom of God rather than the kingdoms of this world.  That means the things that are important to God are important to us (and the things of this world like "stuff," money, and worldly success are not).  Even with my time that is not spent "alone" with God, I can have God as my first priority.  I can do things that directly or indirectly "further" the Kingdom.  This might look like blogging (sharing my journeys), raising awareness and support for social causes, volunteering time, etc etc.

3.  Grow.  Feed your mind.  If you are going to spend hours in front of a screen, feed your brain something useful.  Learn something (I am thinking Kingdom-minded here).  Or read... learn something.  Become inspired. Another part of growing may be in a physical sense.  Do things that are healthy for your body :).  And if you can, while you do them, listen/watch something edifying rather than entertaining.

4. Consider the way you spend your time.  What does it say about you?  If you made a list of what was most important and a list of how you spend your time, how would they match up?  My point is: be intentional.

The Kingdom of Heaven is... part 2

As promised, the second paper I wrote entitled "The Kingdom of Heaven is..."  This paper was written in May.  Again, I have included the assignment description

Assignment: Students will submit a 500-600 word paper, "The Kingdom of Heaven is..." This should be a succinct articulation of the student's concept of the meaning of the kingdom. This is not a research paper. Rather, it is a reflection of the student's current understanding of the kingdom.

Response:

            The Kingdom of Heaven is still difficult for me to explain, though I think I have a better understanding than I did at the outset of this class.  I do not know that my understanding is clear enough to preach it or explain to someone else.  I am always reminded of the old adage “If it’s foggy to you, it’s muddy to them.”  In other words, if it is always even less clear to the person (people) you are talking to than it is to you.

            What I do know is that the Kingdom of Heaven is not just something in the future.  Nor is it some separate realm existing in a “parallel dimension” (that is the way one of my teens described it).  Though the fullness of the Kingdom will not be realized until Christ’s second coming, the Kingdom of Heaven is also a present reality. This part I understand clearly, and can communicate clearly.

            I had my teens do a little Bible study on all of the parables and teachings in Matthew on the Kingdom of Heaven.  What really made the present-future reality of the Kingdom obvious to one of my students was Matthew 13: 47- 50.  Though the Kingdom of Heaven now includes everyone (the net that contains both good and bad fish), at the end it will only include the Christians (good fish).  When this student made this connection it solidified this concept for the entire group.

            This understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven makes it obvious why it is important to proclaim the gospel and “evangelize.”  We want there to be as many “good fish” as possible when Christ comes again.  My students understood that clearly.  What I have a hard time communicating to them is the implications that it has on social justice.

            Social justice, surprisingly (not really, I just forgot that I did not know what it meant when I was there age) was a new concept for my teens.  That is a big hurdle to jump over with the already new understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven.  I know that our acts of compassion have eternal implications for the Kingdom, but explaining that part, both the theology and the practice of it is where things get foggy and harder to communicate. Explaining how “loving your neighbor” means taking care of “the least of these,” and that these are THE GOSPEL just as much as salvation – this is where communication breaks down.

            I realize that communicating my understanding of the Kingdom forces me to understand it better.  What was foggy the first time will be clearer the next time, for both me and the listeners.  I know that this is a personal reflection paper on the Kingdom of Heaven, and that I have sort of hi-jacked it and made it something else, but bear with me.  I semi-recently heard a staff pastor, in reference to a theology conference, say “I don’t do that theoretical stuff.” (There are so many things to say about this…) A correct understanding of the Kingdom of Heaven is not just to have the best “theory.” It has nothing to do with theory! Our theology of the Kingdom informs our way of life!  It has direct implications on our own relationship with God as well as our relationships with others.

            Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven as a present-future kingdom has two main implications (these are simplistic, I know).  The future aspect (understanding that the Kingdom will be manifest at the coming of Christ) calls us to personal holiness.  We want to live a life that pleases God and “make it” into the Kingdom.  It also calls us to evangelism, trying to get as many people in by the end as we can.  Recognizing the present reality of the Kingdom calls us to social holiness – a love for others, especially the “least of these.” This social holiness requires us to do more than make converts, but to love and serve others as well. Though scripture clearly outlines both of these, it seems that Christians today often neglect social holiness because “that is not the way to heaven.”  What we do for others in the present, however, does have an eternal impact on the Kingdom of God.

Concerning the "inerrancy" of scripture

American Christianity, generally speaking, does not hold to the traditional view of scripture as affirmed throughout Christian history.   For most, they believe that either the Bible is completely true, or it is not true at all.  Either it is absolutely correct in every statement, or there is no point in believing it.

I have also heard many atheists use arguments that "prove" parts of the Bible "wrong" and come to the conclusion that God is not real based on insignificant issues.

I fully agree with the report linked to below, that "this misguided concept of detailed ‘inerrancy’

diverts attention to unprofitable debates about unimportant details" (9)

This is an important discussion, since that is NOT the Wesleyan perspective.

My brother recently posted a brief discussion on the topic, concerning the report of the Scriptural Study Committee commissioned by the General Assembly.  His discussion can be found here  (second half of the article), with some clarifications made here.

The really good stuff, however, can be found in the actual report, which you can read here.

I highly recommend reading the full report on the Nazarene understanding of the authority of the Bible and what we mean by "inerrancy"

I know, I'm not really saying much...but read the report!