A Fun Field of Presidential Candidates

A cursory examination of the field of presidential candidates for those who desire their own sort of ideological pure-bred can prove quite disappointing. At least on the Republican side, ideological heterodoxy seems to be the greatest common denominator amongst the candidates. National Review made the telling (and humorous) observation that between Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee, one finds one solid conservative--the former representing the fiscal end and the latter the social. Mitt Romney is a rather recent convert to conservatism and John McCain has always prided himself in being a political maverick. The most consistent conservative in the field is Fred Thompson, but he currently has about as much motivation as a high school student when distracted by Playstation 3.

Conservatives bemoan the lack of a new Reagan, but forget that controversy becomes a great refiner of sound principles. By most standards, the Republican Party finds itself in disarray and at times, outright failure. While many theories are set forth to explain the current pheonomenon, a case could be made for apathy caused by the uniformity of the majority being a causative factor. The current plurality of thought amongst Republican contenders may prove to be a godsend for conservative ideologues, as an authentic discussion of the issues must ensue. The Republican field has not been this exciting in years. All that remains lacking in this era of change is a Republican who doesn't fit the rich, old, white stereotype.

Oppressed by Social Norms

Many people blame the incredible number of divorces on some universal social faux-pas of some sort or another. The religious right ascribes the blame to a declining moral consciousness, neglect of absolute truth, the school taking the place of the family in moral instruction, and the high number of cohabitating couples. For the more traditional and pragmatic, the issue is reduced to foolish and impatient young adults acting impetuously. The more hardened and cynical would claim that people view relationships in too idealistic of a light, thus rendering the reality a pure disappointment and inevitable failure.

There are certainly a plethora of potential pitfalls for the contemporary relationship, but must the given social wisdom dictate how such relationships are to proceed? The plurality of opinions is itself a great argument against accepting such "social wisdom." Not only is social wisdom an eclectic set of diverse opinions masquerading as wisdom, but it is also ill-informed and destructive. Wisdom that speaks simply from the common grace elements of social science ignores the more substantial (and necessary) pool of revealed Truth. It can describe the effects of total depravity as "social disorders" and "disturbing trends," but not diagnose the true disorder: a broken, sinful world.

Nor can it prescribe any real solutions, as it neglects the true problem. Not only is the reality of sin neglected, but so is the pervasiveness of sin understood. Even well-intentioned advice that is not rooted in God's revealed Truth is a mixed-bag of common grace wisdom and sin-infected worldliness. While common wisdom might prove helpful, it can also be destructive. This type of wisdom might commend an order for relational growth (which may be helpful), or it might suggest that couples live together or "test the waters" with other individuals (which are both obviously horrible options).

All of these considerations should be an impetus for rethinking the contemporary bevy of various relational approaches. Sin should be acknowledged, its remedy in Christ sought out, with Spirit-wrought godliness as the grateful response. God's Word and prayer should guide relationships, as well as wisdom from mature, older Christians. Social wisdom should be supplemental and carefully scrutinized. Beyond all else, it is important to be more discerning when it comes to relationships--and it starts with a biblical worldview.

Ho Ho Home?

In a season marked by festive smiles and equally-bright trees, there exists an underlying darkness and depression. Behind every lit-up facade on a tree is the murky, shadowy expanse of intersecting branches, hidden behind pine needles. Likewise, behind most every smile is the knowledge that there are real problems that are often brushed aside by the Christmas season.

The Christmas season involves not only a brushing aside of those uglier aspects of one's family life and relationships, but also the perpetuation of those uglier aspects. That is why the caseloads of many psychiatrists and pastors goes up drastically during this time of year. Everybody is forced to view the hallmark ideal and present grotesque reality side-by-side and the contrast is pronounced.

While there are obviously many negative trends that have a malevolent impact of the typical family, there is a more subtle problem that must be addressed: unrealistic expectations. People expect the ideal home, but only get the painful counterfeit. Like in all areas of life, the family provides another example of a God-given institution horribly twisted by sin and its effects. This is true of every family, and when this fact is ignored or brushed-aside, the result is a counterfeit beauty--one that seeks to imitate the heavenly home but fails horribly in this effort. This result is natural, considering the reality of sin.

Instead of idealizing the home, we should affix our eyes to the true meaning of Christmas--a Savior who was born in our sinful home, that we might share in His perfect, heavenly world. He was born in the muck and mire of a manger, that we might know a day without tears. Instead of growing depressed over our counterfeit Christmastime beauty, we should yearn for the heavenly home that awaits the sin-stranded orphans of the world who follow Christ by faith.

Seminary Smiles

I think two things prompt men to pursue the pulpit more than anything else: a passion for God's Word and a passion for God's people. Thus, the absolute height of ecstasy for those called by God to the pulpit is found in the intersection of the passions: preaching. In preaching, God superimposes His messenger and effectively conquers hearts with His Word. Often, He uses the most wretched types for this office, that His glory might receive greater praise.

All this to say that I have finally gotten a consistent opportunity to exercise this most exciting of tasks on a consistent basis. At a meeting with leaders at New Life Korean Presbyterian Church this past Sunday, I was offered the part-time post of preacher and teacher for the remainder of my seminary tenure. Even with all of the added responsibilities, I could not turn down this wonderful offer. Upon my return from Christmas Break, I will have the opportunity to bring God's Word to bear upon His people week after week. May He equip me for the task!

The Prodigal

To be performed at Fourth Presbyterian Church on the evening of December 30th...
(chords muddled a bit in the copy/paste)

Intro: Final chords from “How Great Thou Art,” descent from Bb

Bb Ab Gb FmàF
I woke up last night in a ditch
Bb Ab Gb FmàF
with a giant lump on the side of my head.
Bb Ab Gb FmàF
And I can't remember a thing—
Bb Ab Gb FmàF
Oh wait! It's all come flooding back...

Eb Gm AbàBb
It was just a normal morning
Eb Gm AbàBb
when I looked down at the sweat on my hands.
Cm Bb
And then I looked straight at You and said
Ab GmàF
'Lord, look what I can do.'
Ab Bb Cm F
That's the day I turned away from You.
Ab Bb Eb
That's the day I turned away from You.


Transition: DàA (x2)




E D
You were born in a lowly manger—
A
a man like me.
E D A E
Yet You retained Your deity.
E D
And they all had such hope in You,
A Bm
but then You went and died.
FbàCb
You died. (x3)

Transition: BmàCbàFb/GbàEb/Fb (x2)

Bm
Were you there?
Cb
Did you hear?
Gb
It's true I swear—
Eb Bm
He has risen from the grave—
Cb Gb
bringing hope to you and me!
Bm
Look He's there—
Cb
He's in the air—
Gb
there's no despair!
Eb Bm
Our King's returning to His throne
Cb Gb
to take with Him His own.

Ab Bb Gb Db
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ab Bb Gb Db
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Why Worry Works

I am coming to terms with a problem facing many my age: future uncertainty. By "coming to terms," I am not implying that I am effectively managing the uncertainty, but recognizing its potency and seeking strength from the Lord in the meantime. Why is it that future uncertainty strikes the heart with an almost unparalleled sense of worry?



Much of it has to do with our fallen nature. In our continual craving to worship the created order (Rom. 1)--or rather, the created things that we pretend to order--we turn our future into an altar to ourselves. We spare no expense or present cost, that our future might be ordered by our hands as we so desire. Yet we continually find that our future, as all other things, seems to take on a shape that we had not intended. As tight as we try to take hold of it, it continually eludes our grasp. We cannot control it.



We not only are unable to take ahold of our future, but we are unable to know our future. This knowledge of our lack of knowledge brings our feeble reason to its knees. No amount of education ascertained or natural intelligence can steady us for our future. As the wise King Solomon continually notes in Ecclesiastes, the realities of the world often negate those efforts we make to control our lives--labor, indulgence, knowledge, etc. Sometimes the dumb and lazy become rulers while the witty and diligent become subjects. Our mind cannot sort this reality out, so we cry with Solomon that life is ultimately meaningless, or vanity.



But we hope. As Christians, we hope. We find that true knowledge is that which accepts our limited knowledge. True control acknowledges that we're not in control. For the nonbeliever, that thought brings terror and worry and the ensuing accumulation of wealth becomes but a buffer between man and reality. For the Christian, however, that thought turns worry into worship. Worry works...into worship. We do not tremble before the unknown, but tremble before the God we know--the God who speaks through His Word.



Thus, we carry in our hearts two truths that give us hope per Hebrews 12:2...



Christ is the Author of our faith...












and the Perfecter.

















What He has started, He will finish. If He gave us faith, He will refine us, and in that last day, perfect us.

A Brave Heart Until...

In the midst of a thousand and one tasks, I have dropped in on a few scenes from the movie, Braveheart, as it has played in our living room. Within a few moments of watching one of those scenes I remembered why I could never buy that movie...when I watched the burial of William Wallace's young bride. It breaks my heart every time I see it. Other movies have the same effect on me. The first time I watched Patch Adams, I turned it off midway through when the lead woman was killed.

These heartrending scenes remind what men are called to with the women they love (or will love--chin up, seminarians :)). We are told in Ephesians 5 that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves His Church. Men are not to be like Adam, who did not protect his wife from the serpent in the Garden, which thus led to her downfall.

The covenant of marriage is perhaps the greatest living, walking demonstration of the glory of God in a broken world suffering between the first and second coming of Christ. When men and women enter into this covenant and its stipulations (cf. Eph. 5), they are committing themselves to an imperfect living-out of the great love of Christ and His bride, the Church. When men sacrifice themselves for their wives, the world is given a blurry glimpse of our Lord. When women devote themselves to their husbands, the world is given a splintered view of a life devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder that in Scripture, non-believing husbands are shown to come to Christ because of devoted, Christian wives?

When God placed Eve alongside Adam in the Garden, the responsibility and privilege was given to man of all ages to care for his female counterpart. This is a responsibility and privilege that man must embrace! All people will suffer in this sin-shadowed world. Men must do their best to shelter women from the effects of evil and will not always succeed at this task. This is inevitable. What is unacceptable, however, is when Christian men become a party to the suffering experienced by the women they love. This is a sin against God's creation mandate and covenant command to reflect Christ.

Men, grow a pair and get out there and be men! Christ suffered a cross for the sin of mankind--the least we can do is go and suffer whatever sword threatens the women in our lives!