Church Fathers

During my devotions this morning, I was reading through the Sermon on the Mount and I came across this verse,

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

...for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

My mind immediately went to the church fathers, for whom sacrificed their lives so that we might have the faith and doctrine we have today. 

Back in May I was packing up my books, but after I put my boxes down in storage one book showed up late, so I had to pack it in my bags for Florida. Getting to know the Church Fathers by Bryan M. Litfin. A book I read for CWC1, a book my professor for the class actually wrote. I “read” that book for a class amidst many other reading assignments during fall semester. I use quotations because I read it, but I never truly let it soak it, I read it for words and not for context. And now I deeply regret every book I have read that way. 

So I pulled out that book this morning and began reading about Ignatius of Antioch - a man who fought for faith of the heart and head among mystical heretics and legalistic heretics. He died being torn to pieces in the Colosseum, and some might consider that a defeat, but here is what Dr. Litfin has to say about Ignatius’ death:

“The crowd there that day would have viewed the spectacle as a crushing defeat of this meek man’s Christian religion. But Ignatius understood his death to be a shout of victory. Today a Christian cross stands in the Colosseum of Rome with a plaque that reads, ‘The amphitheater, once consecrate to triumphs, entertainments, and the impious worship of pagan gods, is now dedicated to the sufferings of the martyrs, purified from impious superstitions.’ Ignatius of Antioch bolstered the true teaching of Christianity against his opponents by laying down his life as a witness for the name of Jesus.”

How many times have I looked at what the world calls a defeat, and also given it that estimate. There is no defeat when you are fighting the battle for the gospel - there is no defeat in pursuing God’s will. What may seem like a defeat to us, is just another link in the chain of God’s plan. Ignatius of Antioch had no idea that his martyrdom (among many other of the early Christians) would form a chain of perseverance in the face of opposition. To stand for the truth of God’s word; even in the face of death. 

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17

To be glorified with Christ means that we are to suffer with Him as well. Ignatius understood this and he was more than willing to lay down his life because he understood the purpose of his suffering.

Paul continues to say “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (vs. 18)

There is a greater story going on here, as Christians we belong to a much bigger church than the one we go to on Sunday mornings. We belong to a church who’s history and doctrine is written in the blood of the church fathers who came before us and sacrificed their lives preserving God’s truth. 

Here are some of Ignatius’ own words in his last letters before the Colosseum:

“Oh how good it is to be like the sun now setting on this world - for that means I will soon rise up into the presence of God!”

“I don’t want to merely call myself a Christian - I want to back it up when it counts. For if I can back up my words, then I will be worthy of the name of Christian. I will be known as a man of faith even when the world can’t see me anymore.”

Cycles of Change

      It seems my major life changes happen in cycles of 1 year. Two years ago I received my acceptance letter to Spokane, one year ago I opened my acceptance letter to Chicago, and this past Spring I opened a letter from Residence Life saying I had been accepted as a Resident Assistant. 

      My mom and I were talking about her hermeneutics class, she had just done a narrative analysis on Genesis 22; the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. She explained to me (which I already knew) that the story (for our eyes) was not so much about the sacrifice but more importantly trust, specifically trust in God about what we  were sacrificing. Abraham went along with the process of sacrificing Isaac because he believed and knew that God was good, and God’s actions would not betray that characteristic. Therefore, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham believed and trusted that God would make this good. 

      Two years ago, I expected Chicago, but the Lord gave me Spokane. I was hurt and confused - what did this curve ball mean to all the plans and dreams I had in my head? Was I supposed to go? It’s in WASHINGTON! What could possibly be in Washington state for me? But I knew God had a plan, so I trusted Him. I graduated high school, packed up my bags and moved out to Washington. 

      One year ago, I was looking at a possible RA position in Spokane, but before I went into my interview I received my letter of acceptance to Chicago. I had applied to there and desired to go, but soon heard about a need for RA’s and was highly recommended, so I decided to pursue that as well. I held two equally amazing options in my hands. So I choose Chicago, said no to the RA position, even though I really wanted that, because I knew that something big would happen in Chicago. So I left everything I knew, my second home, a big opportunity; and completely started over. Again. 

      This past Spring, I stood outside CPO and opened my letter from Res Life - I was accepted. My move to Chicago couldn’t have been any better. 10 West was truly an amazing floor and most of my dear friends lived there as well. Now it was time to say goodbye to 10 West, hello to 4 North and the opportunity to be their RA. 

      After Abraham is stopped by the Angel of the Lord, he sacrifices a Ram and calls the mountain “The LORD will Provide.” 

“...as it i said to this day, ‘On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.” Genesis 22:14

Two years ago, I sacrificed everything for Spokane - and the Lord provided. 

One year ago, I sacrificed Spokane for Chicago - and the Lord provided.

This Spring, I sacrificed 10 West for 4 North and a huge responsibility - and I will trust God for provision.

      It’s breath-taking how we can look back on our lives and see God’s continued faithfulness. It gives me the hope to carry on. When I find myself in situations similar to the past, He gives me grace to see beyond this moment. Grace to know that He is still God, and He is still enthrone as high King, and He is always faithful. Yet, we are always faithful to forget this, may we continually remember His provisions and His faithfulness. May we continue to press on, knowing and trusting that He will always be good to our lives. May we continue to pursue Him, as He equally and even more intently pursues us. 

Sharpening our senses

      I’m reading this amazing book by Mark Buchanan called The Rest of God: Restoring your Sabbath by Restoring your Soul. The chapter I just finished reading talked about playing.

      He writes, “I grew up in a home with no religious influences, so I have no inkling about how those who ran these Sabbatarian homes thought. But my guess is that they were beholden to the grimmest form of utilitarianism (usefulness). My guess is that they figured since we spend six days in unbroken usefulness, we should spend one in unbroken restfulness. My guess is that rest was the only alternative they could imagine to work. But what about play?”

      I think sometimes we idolize rest so much that we forget how nice play is. Adults tend to lose our playfulness and get caught up in the swirl of ‘to do lists’ and we forget how refreshing it is to just waste time. To not have a schedule or a deadlines, no rushing about from one thing to the next. We forget how restful it is to play hard, to do what we love and waste time doing it. When we stop enslaving ourself to chronos and enjoy kairos (read earlier blog to understand those greek words). 

      “That’s just it: we were both glad to be alive. A day like that puts that in you. And more: it makes you feel alive, alive in every joint and marrow, alive inside and out. In everything - the food you eat, the people you meet, the trees around you, the conversations you have - in everything, a day like that sharpens your sense. It makes you thankful and amazed. It makes the taste and smell and color and texture of everything intensely vibrant. It heightens the meaning of every last little thing. It’s that you tasted life and came back for more. It’s that you did something for no reason other than the sheer pleasure of doing it.” 

      The beauty of play is that it makes you feel alive, every sense in your body is on fire. I’ve had moments like this in my life, and they come in many different ways. 

      I went cliff-diving a couple of years ago and faced my fears of falling from heights. That moment when your feet leave the safe and solid ground and you’re suspended in the air, your stomach has no where to rest. And then you hit the water. You plunge ten or twenty feet into deep, cold, refreshing water. It surrounds you for a couple of seconds, enveloping you in its refreshing grip. Then you kick off the bottom, break surface and gasp for air - there are few things more exhilarating. 

      I learned to snowboard back in Washington, it’s hard and it’s long hours spent falling on your face or your butt. But it’s fantastic. You learn to seamlessly glide down a gigantic mountain while taking in the breathtaking view of the scenery bellow. You curve left, curve right, and repeat all the way down. There is a rhythm to it, like riding a bike; and when you get that rhythm just right, it becomes as easy as breathing. 

      “But play is also subversive. It hints at a world beyond us. It carries a rumor of eternity, new from a kingdom where Chronos and utility are no more welcome than death and Hades and the ancient serpent. When we play, we nudge the border of forever.”

      It’s said that laughter is the best medicine. And it is; for those of us sick with utilitarianism, or coughing up schedules, or allergic to deadlines. We need to play more, to play harder, to laugh and enjoy life. To experience life to it’s fullest and sharpen our senses of this beautiful world God created for us. Enjoy His creation and play, nudge eternity. And maybe when we’re done we’ll be less tired, less hungry, less thirsty. And maybe we’ll be able to see God more clearly, to hear His voice more often, to bask in His glory more accurately. 

Here and There

It was a strange sensation: me being here and him being there.

I sat on my parents bed, on the phone with my father who was sitting in Moody’s plaza. It was a mix of emotions, jealousy and excitement. I love Chicago and Moody, and so does he. But luckily I still live there, but he doesn’t. So it was his chance to go back, attend Pastor’s conference, and enjoy the city and the campus again. He slept in Culby for the first time since he graduated, ate in the SDR and sat in Torrey Gray. He ate Giordonos Pizza, Garrets popcorn, rode the ‘L’, sat in the plaza on a sunny day, played racquetball with my friends, sat and listened to Dr. Nyquist preach, bought Joe’s coffee, and lived in the city, even if it was brief.

He flew in Friday morning and I came home from work that night - The first thing he says to me is this, “I miss Chicago already.” And sadly I know that feeling all too well. “Yah, me too.”

And it got me thinking about why I love Moody so much, here is number one:

As I sit here, it’s a warm, dry evening in Florida. The sun is setting, and a warm breeze is blowing - I keep the weather, but I change my setting - I move it to Chicago, Moody, the plaza.

On a night like this, I would be sitting in the plaza enjoying time with my friends. We would decide to go somewhere, most likely to get a frozen treat of some type. 

The conversation would be fluid, it would be in depth, intimate and yet casual. We would talk about our day, but in a way where we point out the details knowing that only we would understand and connect with each other’s thought process. 

We would laugh about some crazy story - and not laugh out of pity - laughing because we know it’s funny, because we can see it all playing out in our heads as if we were really there, laughing because we know “of course that would happen to you.” Laughing because it reminds us of more stories and jokes of past memories. 

We would point out how the sun hits the buildings just right and how we love Chicago. We mention a verse that we read that day, or a worship song that we just can’t seem to get out of our heads. We expound on the verse or lyric, dig deep, we see the hidden truth and theology and we let it soak in. We dissect the truth and let it invade our minds and our hearts. We let God’s truth change us, and we share it with each other. 

The conversation is sweet and refreshing - it’s like a deep plunge into a sky blue pool in the middle of summer’s heat. 

The fellowship I share with my friends at Moody is like no other, because I believe that the Holy Spirit within us is fellowshipping when we fellowship. The very reason that our time together is so fulfilling and joyful is because each piece of Christ within us is connecting and sharpening each other. In those moments the body of God is walking, talking and growing together. In those moments, iron is sharpening iron. In our laughter, hugs, and tears God is being glorified, the body is being unified, and the Spirit is at work. 

This is the first reason that I love Moody Bible Institute.

Oh thank you Lord for colleges like Moody, for friends like mine, and for a God like You.