Chapter 11, Religion and the Gospel

We are looking at the second half of Tim Keller's book, The Reason for God. And in the second half, Keller moves from answering objections to pointing to clues, reasons to believe in Jesus Christ. One of the main clues in coming to God is an understanding of the differences between religion and Christianity. Tim Keller uses and entire chapter to differentiate the two. One of the key verses is John 14:6, where Jesus claims to be the way, not a way. Other religions claim to show the way, Jesus claimed to be the way. In its most simple form, it comes down to this: religion is salvation through moral effort and Christianity is salvation through grace. Most of us “get” religion. It is the idea that you must do enough good to either approach God or enter into heaven. Many think of it as a moral balance scale—do enough good to outweigh the bad. That appeals to us, for it allows the individual to be his or her own savior. Do enough and bingo, you win God’s approval. The problem of course is how much is enough, and can anyone really do it. I read the story, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, this summer, partly as a result of hearing Keller talk about it in a different context. But he brings up the story this chapter as well. Dr. Jekyll realizes that he has both good and bad aspects. He tries to figure out a way to separate the two, so that Jekyll can do the good he wants to do. Mr. Hyde is one result, a horrible, evil, violent man. Hyde doesn’t mind being bad, but Jekyll gets scared of ‘him’ when he commits a murder. So he vows to never take the dividing potion again and to do good to others (to make up for his bad). He pulls it off for several months. While sitting in a park, reflecting on the good he was doing, patting himself on the back as it were, he changes back to Mr. Hyde (without taking any potion). Right when he was congratulating himself for doing good, evil overwhelms him. Christianity understands this. Everybody knows that those who do wickedness deserve wrath. What most of us forget is that when we try to live such good lives that we don’t need Jesus, there is a badness within that is far worse than any other. It is the evil of the Pharisees, who prided themselves in doing right and pleasing God. But Jesus continually pointed out their failure and showed them for what they really are, impotent to save themselves. Anyone who thinks she is good enough or can work well enough is in trouble. People like this quickly become judgmental of others (who do not do enough good) or arrogant (they might not do the ‘right kind’ of good) and are like ‘whitewashed tombs’. Christianity says ‘that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me.” The result is ‘deep humility and deep confidence.’ Because of Jesus, I don’t have to protect or promote myself to God and others. I am just a sinner saved by grace. Really! And because of Jesus, I have nothing to prove so I don’t have to fear what others think of me. If God loves me I really am okay. The other way to talk about the difference between religion and Christianity is to consider the difference in motivation within the heart. The person trying to impress God does his good deeds and expects blessing. The Christian has received blessing and then does good out of joyful gratitude.

Identity and Idolatry

Since I am heading back into the school year with children returning to class on Monday, August 18, I thought I would post the content of a telling footnote from Tim Keller's book, The Reason for God. This footnote focuses on the weaknesses and problems a person can develop if they seek to build their identity on something or someone other than the Lord God. In reality such an attempt is sheer idolatry, since it replaces God with something else. One of the ways you can use this extended footnote is to not only see how some of the ramifications are working their way out in your life, but also by asking yourself if you would really be happy if the main identity item was missing or malformed in your life. Are you satisfied with Jesus? Is Jesus enough? Look at this footnote and check yourself out... From Chapter 10, "The Problem of Sin" "Various ‘god-substitutes’ and the particular kinds of brokenness and damage that each one can bring into a life. "If you center you life and identity on your spouse or partner, you will be emotionally dependent, jealous, and controlling. The other person’s problems will be overwhelming to you. "If you center your life and identity on your family and children, you will try to live your life through your children until they resent you or have no self of their own. At worst, you may abuse them when they displease you. "If you center your life and identity on your work and career, you will be a driven workaholic and a boring, shallow person. At worst you will lose family and friends and, if your career goes poorly, develop deep depression. "If you center your life and identity on money and possessions, you’ll be eaten up by worry or jealousy about money. You’ll be willing to do unethical things to maintain your lifestyle, which will eventually blow up your life. " If you center your life and identity on pleasure, gratification, and comfort, you will find yourself getting addicted to something. You will become chained to the ‘escape strategies’ by which you avoid the hardness of life. " If you center your life and identity on relationships and approval, you will be constantly overly hurt by criticism and thus always losing friends. You will fear confronting others and therefore be a useless friend. "If you center your life and identity on a ‘noble cause,’ you will divide the world into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and demonize your opponents. Ironically, you will be controlled by your enemies. Without them, you have no purpose. "If you center your life and identity on religion and morality, you will, if you are living up to your moral standards, be proud, self-righteous, and cruel. If you don’t live up to your standards, your guilt will be utterly devastating."

Songs from the Old West

On Summit Day we celebrated climbing to the top of the mountain. Week One all 29 of us made it up to the top of Uncompaghre. Week Two, 24 of 27 made it to the top of Mt. Handies. It was so much fun that we had to celebrate...and what better way than a song. There really are two variations to this song, one for Uncompaghre and the other for Old Man Handies....(to the tune of "Oh Susanah") Oh I come from Kansas City With my gear all in a pack I come to climb me up a hill I surely will come back Uncompaghre, you ain’t too tall for me Well I come out west some hills to climb And pretty sights to see. I drove so long I went to sleep And when I woke again I looked outside and said it’s flat Where do those hills begin. Uncompaghre, you ain’t too tall for me Well I come out west some hills to climb And pretty sights to see The hike we went on the first day Bout did me in you know My knees were sore, my back it ached And then there were my toes Uncompaghre, you ain’t too tall for me Well I come out west some hills to climb And pretty sights to see. As we went up the air got thin It was so hard to breathe We took a break and we sat down I thought to take my ease. Then someone said it’s not too far I think I see the top I said I’ll wait here for the car I need an ice cold pop Cause GORP and candy and snacks are getting old and if I go much farther on I’m sure that I’ll get cold. They drug me on I made it up I glad I got up here The views are great, the friends are good The Lord has calmed my fears Old Uncompaghre, you ain’t too tall for me Well I come out west some hills to climb And pretty sights to see One more task, I’ll bet your tired Of more than just this song The ride back home it can’t be far I sure it won’t take long Old Uncompaghre, you ain’t too tall for me Well I come out west some hills to climb And pretty sights to see Way to go guys! Uncompaghre was distinctive, ...but Handies had incredible wildflowers! More photos on my photobucket page. Click on the link in the right hand column.

Getting Ready for 7th Grade

As a teacher, that is. I have presets of some of Darth's best lines and a synthesizer that changes my voice, "What do you mean that you didn't do your homework?" Let the fun, I mean learning, begin.

Back Home Again--family email

Well I got home last night and have had an entire day back and am still tired. I don’t know why. Over the past 12 days I rode or drove on two 810 mile trips (14-15 hours). The highlight on the way out was lunch and supper at Subway (in two different towns)! In between the bookend drive days, I climbed more than 17000 vertical feet and hiked almost 50 miles. Some of it had a really heavy pack on my back—I would need to pack less and lighter to do it again. I summitted two new mountains to bring my 14ers total to 7 (out of 54). I failed on the way up to Challenger Point—not a physical bonk, but an emotional one. The main mountain the first trip was Uncompaghre. Here is a photo from first light after sunrise when we had just got on the trail. It’s over 4 miles away and 3000 vertical feet up.

Here is a better picture showing what an amazing peak it really is. We hiked through the meadow, around to the left, up to a ridge and then back to the edge of the cliff bands on the left side of the picture. There we had to scramble about 200 vertical feet up through a little gully and then 300 more vertical feet to the top.

Here is a picture of Levi and me at the top! (or close to is, because he must be standing uphill from me!) It was a great trip and I hope to get an entire photo album on photobucket soon. There were 29 guys in the first trip and all of them made it to the top of Uncompaghre. The second trip had 27 guys and all but 3 summitted. There was a case of altitude sickness that stopped one man about 500 feet short of the summit and so two others took him down a ways and stayed with him.

I have again realized how great a privilege it is to climb some of these mountains. The experience is exhilarating, we had lots of fun, and we focused on the reality that God is enough for us. I got to teach and focused on Jesus being the help for the deepest part of our hearts, as being the one who can help us keep our bearings when life gets difficult, and as the great Friend who helps us keep company with others on our path through life.

grace