Our Theological Roof

I had no idea how much work it would take to replace the old, crumbling roof on our one-hundred-year-old house.  Soon after we moved in, my wife and I began to notice small areas of soft wood, where the water could sneak through and cause damage to the ceiling and surrounding dry wall.  This was disturbing, but not uncommon in old homes I'm afraid.  Water finds a way.  If there is a weak spot anywhere in your house, chances are good that Mother Nature has begun working on that area in some way.  This is the natural way of things - if you don't fix it in the beginning, you will certainly have to fix it later.  The only problem with waiting is that it can get larger, cost more to fix, and probably take longer.  All things considered, we knew it was time for a new roof.  

After a month of sawing, cutting, sheeting, and hard labor, the team of roofers that we hired were finally done.  Cleanup was minimal due to the conscientious manner in which the workers toiled. Our home no longer leaks during Spring storms.  This raises a certain analogy in my mind as it relates to Scripture and the human search for truth.  I don't believe it is too much of a stretch to consider a pedagogy in which a new roof can be viewed in a similar way to theology.  Certainly the directional metaphor applies:  we look up to God in heaven, and we also look up to the roof on a house.  It is the topmost section of a home.  In fact, if we cannot stop our roof from leaking and letting in rain and snow, eventually everything else in that building will be at risk. 

But what if you and I don't take the time to cover ourselves in solid theology?  What if the outside, brackish lukewarm water has found its way into a weak roof?  I am sorry to say, it is possible to become accustomed to placing buckets under the ceiling at various parts of the home to catch leaks.  We can even become comfortable doing that. 

The Apostle Simon Peter from the Bible was really good at providing a reality check for the early Christian church.  There were no leaky theologies on his watch.  He gave this warning to the early Christ followers in 2 Peter 1:16, "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." There isn't much wiggle room here.  You see, the early church often had problems with letting in occult-like beliefs and bad ideology just like we do today.  We are surrounded by divisive teaching in the twenty-first century.  People don't know what to believe anymore, and I can't say that I blame them. 

Peter saw this back then, and I'm certain modern pastors see it today.  It may be time for us to replace our theological roof.  The only problem is there are too many “contractors” to choose from.  It is a confusing landscape out there.  It begs the question: how do we gird up our theology to be both accurate and strong?  How do we stop the leaking roof in a way that will last for generations to come and provide for our children?  How do we know what is spiritually true?

Fortunately Peter answers this question in the same breath.  In 2 Peter 1:19 he says, "We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."   In other words, he was reminding the church to hold fast to their original teaching as given to them by Jesus.  Do not fall prey to the latest, most interesting (yet aberrant) teaching that may be floating around at the time.  

So how does the modern believer begin the task of replacing his or her roof?  We must search out the completely reliable message Peter was talking about.  We must pray, seek after God, read the Bible, and attend church.  These things can work together to keep us focused and attentive to the things that God is telling us.  Omit just one of these four things, and the tendency exists to backslide into picking and choosing what we feel like believing in.  In effect, creating our own version of what is right and what is wrong. 

By the way, cleaning up ruined dry wall and picking up drip buckets isn't always easy.  It involves rooting out the damage already done by the brackish water.  Likewise, strengthening our theology can be just as difficult.  It's always easier to rest on what we have already learned (good or bad), and simply accept the status quo.  God however, requires us to dig a bit deeper.  He desires for us to challenge ourselves against what Jesus says in the Bible.   To come to grips with the fact that Jesus really is the way, and that God really can transform lives.   

As I mentioned earlier, my builder friends did a great job on our roof.  It will last for years and years to come.  I believe it will allow us to weather all manner of rain and wind.  The process itself was difficult - I watched them work every day and I saw firsthand what it took.  It was often windy and cold, and at times the weather itself even seemed to purposely thwart their efforts.  Still they pressed on.  A good roof is worth the trouble I suppose.  So is good theology.  How is your own spiritual roof doing?  Any leaks that need patched? 

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Prioritizing God

I would like to begin by referencing a famous story about Jesus healing a paralyzed man.  Mark 2:1-5 says, "A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven."  

Now what struck me about this piece of Scripture immediately, was the fact that the four men who carried around this debilitated person stopped at nothing to get their friend to see Jesus.  There was seemingly little or no thought of their own well-being, only a singular desire to bring this man face to face with the Son of God.

It struck me right away how a good portion of people in our country today will act the same way and with the same vigor ... but for very different reasons.  Consider for example, how much trouble the average sports fan would go to in order to get tickets to see the big game.  Or the amount of money someone might pay to make sure they end up at just the right concert by their favorite band.  To many of us, entertainment and popular culture is king.

But these four men - whoever they were - demonstrated this type of devotion toward something much more worthy.  Something pure and good, not tarnished by idol worship or misplaced adoration.  They had their sights set on God straight away.

The second thing I took from this Scripture was the fact that they really did show an amazing faith.  Remember verse 5 says that Jesus noticed this fact as well.  These men did whatever it took to get to God, which meant going as far as cutting a hole in the roof.  They realized that if they could simply meet Jesus, he would do the rest. The specifics didn't matter - they were going to get their friend as close to Christ as possible.  

In fact, you will also note that this act of faith was rewarded immediately.  Jesus looked at the paralytic and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  But some might say that this wasn't the same as a physical healing.  After all, to walk again is really what they were after probably, right?  The next few verses in fact, talk about how Jesus healed the man's legs as well.  But the Gospel of Mark makes certain that we know the physical healing wasn't the most important thing.  It followed only after the washing away of the man's spiritual sins.  First Jesus attended to the man's soul, and then his body after that.

So what do we do with this lesson today?  Whatever it takes to get closer to your Creator.  Rush toward God; prioritize Him.  We know from other parables such as the prodigal son and the lost sheep, that God the Father will take us back immediately if we have strayed.  He will allow us back into His good graces, even after we have allowed other things to become more important to us than they should be.  He takes us back after welcoming other things into our hearts (when God should have been the rightful occupant). 

What matters really - what mattered to the four people lowering their friend through a thatch hut roof - is that nothing was going to get in the way of a face to face meeting with Jesus.  If you are at home with God already, then revel in that joy.  You are lucky indeed.  If you are not, then sometimes turning around immediately and heading the opposite direction is the fastest way home.   Rush home toward the God that will take you back, no matter how long it has been.

 

 

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When Jesus Comes in Glory

One universal trait of the Christian convert is a belief that sometime in the future, Jesus will come back.  If you read through just about any book of the Bible, his return is either discussed directly, or foreshadowed figuratively.  Jesus himself talks about his second advent with his followers on several occasions. 

 

The parable of the ten virgins is one such occasion.  This account takes place in Matthew chapter 25.  The first thirteen versus describe a story about a wedding ceremony, and the ancient Jewish tradition of the bridegroom leaving his own house to meet his future wife.  After the ceremony and festivities have completed, tradition has it that the groom would then walk back to his own home with his new wife, being followed by the bridal party.  In this parable, the ten virgins represent the party.

It was customary to bring torches with you to light the path, because the procession usually took place at night.  There were no streetlamps two-thousand years ago it would seem.  Jesus then tells us that five of the virgins were wise and brought plenty of extra oil to keep their lamps lit.  The other five, however, were foolish and brought only enough oil for a short period of time.  

Scripture says that because the bridegroom was delayed in starting the processional, half the bridal party had dark torches.  These foolish ones then pleaded with the wise followers who still had oil.  But they were told to go back to the store and buy oil for themselves.  Matthew 25:10 says, "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.  The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.  And the door was shut.  Later the others also came.  'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!'  But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.'"

The lesson here is simple:  when Jesus comes back at the end of time in his glory, we need to be ready to go.  The church needs to be prepared, the individual Christian needs to be born again, and everyone needs to have plenty of oil (the Spirit dwelling in them).  

It is worthy to note also, that we humans will not always be able to tell who has enough oil, and who doesn't.  From our limited vantage point, they can often look the same.  Matthew 13:24-30 addresses this and talks about what it's like to plant a field with good seed.  The farmer does his part, but eventually, once the wheat begins to grow, weeds come up alongside the harvest.  We see this in our own gardens and fields today.

When asked about how the field was planted, the farmer responds by telling us that an enemy snuck in and sowed weeds among the wheat.  Matthew 13:28-29 says, "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'  'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.'"

I believe the parable of the weeds acts to buttress the notion that you and I won't know (and cannot judge) who among us will be allowed into the wedding feast when Jesus returns.  We certainly hope that it is us, but the truth of the matter is that Jesus is the final judge.  He is the bridegroom in the parable, and he makes the final call to come in or not.  The door is then shut for good.  

I want to be part of the bridal party and the evening procession.  I will carry enough oil with me to go the distance, even if the bridegroom takes his time.  My heart belongs to God, and He directs my steps.  I hope the same for all of you.  I want to be called up to the wedding banquet, and if the door is sealed shut, then I want to be on the inside when it happens.  

Use this time that we have been given to seek earnestly after a loving God, to accept the free gift of salvation offered through Jesus, and repent of your sin.  God can and will extend forgiveness and grace.  Keep the lamps clean and the oil ready.  And when the bridegroom does return, it will be natural to follow him into the banquet.

 

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