A friend sent me a New York Times article about a Gay Advocacy group that is boycotting Chick-Fil-A for providing sandwiches at a marriage seminar in Pennsylvania. I wish I could share the link with you, but the website is demanding that I login; unfortunately, I don't have an account with the Grey Lady so I can't share the article. I'm not even sure how I was able to read it in the first place...
I have a few thoughts about this. First of all, in America, Chick-Fil-A has a right to distribute sandwiches however it chooses. Secondly, any group has a right to boycott any business because of its business practices. These are wonderful rights that we possess as Americans, and I wouldn't want to give those up.
That said, boycotts are generally a bad idea. Christians know this as well as anyone. We've learned the hard way that boycotts often do nothing but draw more attention to the entity being boycotted. In fact, most boycotts make the boycotters look shrill, angry, and outright ridiculous. In this instance, we have a wonderful quote from a boycotter: "Eating Chick-Fil-A is eating anti-gay." That doesn't even make grammatical sense. But grammar is often the second thing to go when you organize a boycott (reason being the first).
My thought for this particular Gay Advocacy group is this: You look ridiculous. You sound shrill. This is not a fight worth picking. You're making a caricature of your cause, and if you follow this path of knee-jerk boycotts, you will turn people off to your message. See also, fundamentalist Christianity. I mean, do you really want your message to be: "Beware the evil evangelical Christians and their delicious, delicious chicken sandwiches"? Oh, by the way, thanks for reminding me that Chick-Fil-A makes delicious, delicious chicken sandwiches, because I'm really hungry.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
No Excuses
We're good at giving excuses. Whether it's the cliche, "The dog ate my homework," or the more creative, "I have a psychosomatic impairment that literally prevents me from hearing the audio frequency on which your voice travels," we know how to get out of stuff.
The book of Jeremiah opens with God telling this priest named Jeremiah that he has been ordained from before time began to be a prophet to the nations. Comfortable with his position as a small-town priest, Jeremiah immediately tries to dissuade God by offering up two excuses of his own. Here's the exchange:
Here comes the Maker of the Universe to this young priest, telling him, "I knew you before you were even conceived; since before time began I set you apart as a prophet." And how does Jeremiah respond? He says, "But I don't know how to speak, and I'm way too young to be a prophet." God paints this massive, cosmic picture of calling Jeremiah to be a prophet, and Jeremiah offers two excuses as to why God must be mistaken: I don't have the ability, and I don't have the experience.
It's funny how God responded. He didn't say, "Oh Jeremiah, c'mon, you're an excellent speaker. And you've got plenty of experience to do this job. Stop being so modest, you silly goose." No, God simply says, "Don't say, 'I'm too young.'" He doesn't coddle Jeremiah; he commissions him. "Don't give me any excuses, Jeremiah. You're going to go to the people I send you to, and you're going to speak the words I give you."
God doesn't accept our excuses. Jeremiah lacked the ability and experience to be a prophet, but that didn't stop God's plan for him. Don't let your excuses short circuit God's call on your life. If he's called you to something for which you feel unqualified, then he either made a mistake (which he didn't) or he will make you qualified in some unexpected way.
This is how God qualified Jeremiah for the prophetic office: "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." The simple truth is that Jeremiah wasn't qualified to fulfill God's call on his life, and neither are you. The only thing that makes God's task possible is his presence with you. If you're succeeding based on your ability and experience, then you're not dreaming God's dream or answering his call for your life. God's call on your life will be so far beyond your ability that it will demand his presence to accomplish.
Don't settle for anything less than God's most difficult task for you. Be aware of your limitations, but don't let those be an excuse to run and hide from his commissioning of you. Lean into him. If he has called you, then he will be with you.
The book of Jeremiah opens with God telling this priest named Jeremiah that he has been ordained from before time began to be a prophet to the nations. Comfortable with his position as a small-town priest, Jeremiah immediately tries to dissuade God by offering up two excuses of his own. Here's the exchange:
The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
"Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young."
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord.
Here comes the Maker of the Universe to this young priest, telling him, "I knew you before you were even conceived; since before time began I set you apart as a prophet." And how does Jeremiah respond? He says, "But I don't know how to speak, and I'm way too young to be a prophet." God paints this massive, cosmic picture of calling Jeremiah to be a prophet, and Jeremiah offers two excuses as to why God must be mistaken: I don't have the ability, and I don't have the experience.
It's funny how God responded. He didn't say, "Oh Jeremiah, c'mon, you're an excellent speaker. And you've got plenty of experience to do this job. Stop being so modest, you silly goose." No, God simply says, "Don't say, 'I'm too young.'" He doesn't coddle Jeremiah; he commissions him. "Don't give me any excuses, Jeremiah. You're going to go to the people I send you to, and you're going to speak the words I give you."
God doesn't accept our excuses. Jeremiah lacked the ability and experience to be a prophet, but that didn't stop God's plan for him. Don't let your excuses short circuit God's call on your life. If he's called you to something for which you feel unqualified, then he either made a mistake (which he didn't) or he will make you qualified in some unexpected way.
This is how God qualified Jeremiah for the prophetic office: "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you." The simple truth is that Jeremiah wasn't qualified to fulfill God's call on his life, and neither are you. The only thing that makes God's task possible is his presence with you. If you're succeeding based on your ability and experience, then you're not dreaming God's dream or answering his call for your life. God's call on your life will be so far beyond your ability that it will demand his presence to accomplish.
Don't settle for anything less than God's most difficult task for you. Be aware of your limitations, but don't let those be an excuse to run and hide from his commissioning of you. Lean into him. If he has called you, then he will be with you.
Monday, January 24, 2011
26 For Your 26th!
Today is my wife's birthday! She's 26 today, and to honor her, I want to write 26 things that I love about her. So Breena, this is for you.
1. You love Jesus very, very much.
2. You love each of our kids with a ferocious agape love, and you don't show any favoritism between them.
3. You love me very much, and I can never doubt this.
4. You teach our kids about how much God loves them.
5. You have a compassionate heart for people who are going through hard times.
6. You're generous with your time and money.
7. You work very hard at making your 31 business very successful.
8. You are unconditionally supportive of what God has called me to do.
9. You prioritize our family and desperately want to raise our kids well.
10. You speak life into the hearts of others.
11. You have an amazing sense of humor and make me laugh at the most random times.
12. You yield to God and learn what he wants to teach you in any given circumstance.
13. You respect the authority of God's Word.
14. You're freaking smoking hot!
15. You laugh at the same things I laugh at, though sometimes you don't like to admit it.
16. You are fiercely committed to our marriage.
17. You love your friends and don't give up on people quickly.
18. You're a great cook.
19. You're a servant leader.
20. You are so relational--sometimes I just stand back amazed at how much people love and trust you.
21. You figured out how to drive in Boston. (No small feat.)
22. You press through your issues and seek the healing of God's presence in your deep heart.
23. You're a helluva lot smarter than you've ever been given credit for.
24. You work hard at being kind to me when I'm sick, even though I'm a difficult patient.
25. You lay down your life for your family and friends.
26. You make me want to grow in character, integrity, humility, and love.
You made this list very easy to write. I love you, Breena. Happy 26th birthday!
1. You love Jesus very, very much.
2. You love each of our kids with a ferocious agape love, and you don't show any favoritism between them.
3. You love me very much, and I can never doubt this.
4. You teach our kids about how much God loves them.
5. You have a compassionate heart for people who are going through hard times.
6. You're generous with your time and money.
7. You work very hard at making your 31 business very successful.
8. You are unconditionally supportive of what God has called me to do.
9. You prioritize our family and desperately want to raise our kids well.
10. You speak life into the hearts of others.
11. You have an amazing sense of humor and make me laugh at the most random times.
12. You yield to God and learn what he wants to teach you in any given circumstance.
13. You respect the authority of God's Word.
14. You're freaking smoking hot!
15. You laugh at the same things I laugh at, though sometimes you don't like to admit it.
16. You are fiercely committed to our marriage.
17. You love your friends and don't give up on people quickly.
18. You're a great cook.
19. You're a servant leader.
20. You are so relational--sometimes I just stand back amazed at how much people love and trust you.
21. You figured out how to drive in Boston. (No small feat.)
22. You press through your issues and seek the healing of God's presence in your deep heart.
23. You're a helluva lot smarter than you've ever been given credit for.
24. You work hard at being kind to me when I'm sick, even though I'm a difficult patient.
25. You lay down your life for your family and friends.
26. You make me want to grow in character, integrity, humility, and love.
You made this list very easy to write. I love you, Breena. Happy 26th birthday!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Being Sick
For the third time this winter, I'm sick. These things happen more often when you have kids, and with three of them who always seem to have something wrong between them, I've been sick more this cold & flu season than any other I can remember.
I don't do well when I get sick. My body gets overwhelmed. I get cranky. I convince myself that some day God will vindicate me by revealing to all mankind that no human has ever experienced more pain than Andy Holt when he gets sick. In short, this is me:
This, of course, puts a great deal of stress on my wife. So I've tried to take a closer look at what happens to me when I get sick so that I can make life better for her.
What being sick reveals about my character is that I'm a pretty selfish person. I also become absorbed in my own trials and circumstances and am unable to empathize with others. What troubles me about this is how this reflects my true character--character that will be revealed not simply by being sick, but by trials and difficult circumstances of all kinds.
I don't do well when I get sick. My body gets overwhelmed. I get cranky. I convince myself that some day God will vindicate me by revealing to all mankind that no human has ever experienced more pain than Andy Holt when he gets sick. In short, this is me:
This, of course, puts a great deal of stress on my wife. So I've tried to take a closer look at what happens to me when I get sick so that I can make life better for her.
What being sick reveals about my character is that I'm a pretty selfish person. I also become absorbed in my own trials and circumstances and am unable to empathize with others. What troubles me about this is how this reflects my true character--character that will be revealed not simply by being sick, but by trials and difficult circumstances of all kinds.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
More Than A Message
The gospel is not just a message, it is a world re-creating event that continues to live on in the community of Jesus' friends.
That thought struck me while I was praying for...something...the other day. Many of us, including myself, tend to think about the gospel as just a message, something along the lines of, "Jesus died for my sins so that I can go to heaven when I die." While that statement is true, it doesn't really do justice to the gospel.
The gospel is more than words; it's something that happened. The gospel is the atoning death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus. That's an event, a thing that really happened in history. But this event was so powerful and world-shattering that its effects can still be felt today, thousands of years and thousands of miles from where it occurred.
The death and resurrection of Jesus live on in the community of his friends because that event transforms us; in fact, we live it out each day. Every day we die to our old sinful patterns of thought and behavior, and every die we rise again to new life in Jesus.
The gospel was and is an event that re-creates the world, and it starts in the community of those who call themselves friends and followers of Jesus. More to the point, the gospel is an event that re-creates you. Paul called the gospel "the power of God for salvation." I don't know about you, but I need to be saved and re-created every day.
This is what the gospel says to us: 1) All my sins--past, present, and future--have been forgiven by God through the death of Jesus; and 2) Jesus rose again from the dead by the power of God, the same power that is now at work in me through the Holy Spirit. God has forgiven you through the blood of Jesus. God has given you resurrection power through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. God has given you everything you need to be re-created, to be the person that, deep in your heart, you truly want to be.
In Christ, you are not who you used to be. By the power of the Spirit, you can become the person God is re-creating you to be. Live the gospel today.
That thought struck me while I was praying for...something...the other day. Many of us, including myself, tend to think about the gospel as just a message, something along the lines of, "Jesus died for my sins so that I can go to heaven when I die." While that statement is true, it doesn't really do justice to the gospel.
The gospel is more than words; it's something that happened. The gospel is the atoning death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus. That's an event, a thing that really happened in history. But this event was so powerful and world-shattering that its effects can still be felt today, thousands of years and thousands of miles from where it occurred.
The death and resurrection of Jesus live on in the community of his friends because that event transforms us; in fact, we live it out each day. Every day we die to our old sinful patterns of thought and behavior, and every die we rise again to new life in Jesus.
The gospel was and is an event that re-creates the world, and it starts in the community of those who call themselves friends and followers of Jesus. More to the point, the gospel is an event that re-creates you. Paul called the gospel "the power of God for salvation." I don't know about you, but I need to be saved and re-created every day.
This is what the gospel says to us: 1) All my sins--past, present, and future--have been forgiven by God through the death of Jesus; and 2) Jesus rose again from the dead by the power of God, the same power that is now at work in me through the Holy Spirit. God has forgiven you through the blood of Jesus. God has given you resurrection power through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. God has given you everything you need to be re-created, to be the person that, deep in your heart, you truly want to be.
In Christ, you are not who you used to be. By the power of the Spirit, you can become the person God is re-creating you to be. Live the gospel today.
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