The Ten Commandments.  Those three words have been the source of humor, anger, consternation and questions.  Of course, if there is a God, He must have the right to tell us what to do.  But is that what this part of the Bible is really about?  Or could it be that we have misunderstood God’s intent?

The first thing to understand is that a command in most languages, including both English and Hebrew (the original language of the Old Testament), is given in what is called the imperative voice.  In English we usually omit the second person pronoun (you) and put an exclamation point at the end: Don’t do that!  But in the original the ten “sayings” are not in the imperative voice.  Rather, they are in the indicative, the voice of simple statement.  And, they are in the future tense.  What does this mean?  Just that what God is doing here is much more than just giving commands to the human race.  Rather, he is describing what the good life looks like to those who choose to enter into relationship with Him.  You see, God knows that telling people what to do is just a way to make them want to do the opposite.  The Apostle Paul understood this when he said that the law just raised the desire to do what it forbade.  But I believe that what God was really doing in Exodus chapter 20 was telling His people how to live if they wanted all of the blessings that life in relationship with Him brought.

You see, God knows that our natural desires are not always for our benefit.  So He gave to Moses ten areas where people have a particular tendency to mess up, beginning with their relationship with God and continuing with their relationships with each other.  Now, I won’t go over each commandment in this blog, but when you look at it that way, you can see just how important these sayings are.  Let me give just one example.  God begins by telling us that those who enter in relationship with Him do not worship any other Gods.  Why?  Well, for two very basic reasons.  First, because you are in relationship with Him – why would you worship any other God?  Wouldn’t that have a tendency to break relationship with Him?  But much more important than that is the simple fact that there are no other gods!  To spend time trying to relate to a non-existent god is the very definition of a waste of time!  And if you can’t see that, then you don’t know God!  And so you don’t have a relationship with Him.  So, the saying doesn’t apply to you yet – you need to meet the one true God who sent His own Son to live and die for you before you are ready for this or any of the other sayings.

I challenge you, then, with that in mind, to revisit the “ten commandments,” and see if they don’t begin to make a whole lot more sense!

 

Pastor Ken

New Outreaches

We are so excited here at WVCC. In the last two weeks we have added two ministries to our church, both to groups that we have not previously had the opportunity to help hear the good news of God’s love in Jesus Christ. The first is a partnership with the Ezekiel Network, an organization that trains Christians to reach out to their Jewish friends and neighbors. I know that there are those who question Christians trying to “convert” Jews, but that is not what we are trying to do, and it reflects a basic misunderstanding of what Christianity is. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Given that the Jews have been looking for their Messiah for over two millennia, the good news that God has already sent him, and that he has the answers to the questions of life is good news indeed! And we are excited to be a part of reaching out to our separated brothers and sisters.
The other new group is an outreach to Armenians of Iranian background. We are sponsoring a new outreach in the Glendale area that just got a jump start this past Sunday night. Many of those in this new ministry have suffered for their faith in Iran. In fact the Pastor was jailed and held in solitary confinement in Iran and his brother was martyred there a few years ago.
With the addition of these two new groups WVCC is now partnering to reach out to four distinct ethnic or language groups in our area – beside the two mentioned above we also have an Assyrian congregation and a Spanish-speaking congregation. Some of the best services we have had in recent years have been joint services with all of our groups, complete with translation into their languages. What a taste of heaven we have had! And how much greater it is going to be when we have our next joint service in a couple of months and include these two new groups! Keep an eye out for the date, and join us if you can! You might as well get some practice for heaven now!
Pastor Ken

Why doesn’t God answer all of our prayers?
When it comes to prayer, people have been all over the map when trying to explain why some prayers are answered and some are not. There is probably not a person who has prayed more than once who cannot say that they didn’t get everything they asked for when they prayed. Why is that?
Well, the first answer is that not everyone who prays has put their trust in the God of the Bible as revealed in Jesus Christ. And, a complete reading of the Bible makes it clear that God listens to those who have placed their trust in Him. The same cannot be said of those who have not done so. Now, that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t answer prayer for “pre-Christians.” But what promises there are are only made to Christians in the New Testament.
Another reason that the New Testament itself gives is that sometimes our motives are less than proper. At one point we are told that we “ask amiss,” that we might have things only for our own selves. As any parent knows, indulging every whim of someone is a way to destroy their lives, not build them up – and God loves each of us too much to spoil us.
But we all know that there are still many prayers that are selfless and prayed by devout Christians that go unanswered. Why is that? Well, maybe one reason is that to do so would undermine God’s best will for not only us, but for all humanity. What I mean is this: If God answered every prayer clearly and promptly whenever a Christian asked, then we would have to ask ourselves if we are serving God for the rewards or for the joy of knowing him. God seems to think that having a close personal relationship with you and me is worth more than anything else – even the life of His Son. If God was willing to give the life of His own Son for us, why would we expect that he would undermine the relationship that He has enabled through that sacrifice by satisfying every whim of creatures who, even at their best, take each other and him for granted. The fact is that answers to prayer are very hard to prove. For every study that seems to suggest that answers can be quantified, there are dozens of others that show the exact opposite. And perhaps that is for the best. I want my children to love me for who I am, not what I give them. I suspect God feels the same way.
Shalom!
Pastor Ken

Global Warming?

Our church has just gone on line with our new Solar Electric Generating system, and the reactions have been interesting. I hate to admit it, but I have had a couple of Pastors who have made comments about the “conspiracy” to convince us of supposed “non-existent” global warming, and asking if that was why we were doing this. So let me address this whole question of global warming.
First, let me say that I completely understand those who have doubts about the subject. I am old enough to remember when we were being told in the 1970s that we were in the middle of a “global cooling” that threatened to bring on another Ice Age. And, the question of global warming has been used as a political tool by both parties in our country, as well as being a sort of “orthodoxy” that many feel they can disagree with only at their peril. None of this affects whether or not global warming is a reality, but it certainly makes it hard for those not in the scientific community to know. So what are we to do? Is there a “Christian” response to all of this? I believe there is.
I believe that our response to this possible crisis can be informed by two scriptural principles. The first is that, in Genesis chapters 1-3 we are told that God has made humanity “stewards” of this creation. And, as the Bible says, Stewards are to be “found faithful” above all else (1 Corinthians 4:2). In other words, when someone is entrusted with something that belongs to someone else, they have a responsibility to do their very best to make sure that it stays in good shape. And, whether you believe in global warming or not, no one can deny that we have done a pretty poor job of keeping our environment clean. This world is not ours! It is God’s. And we are responsible to Him for how we use and treat it. So, the first reason I am so firmly committed to taking good care of this creation is because I am a steward appointed by God to do so, at least the part I have any control over.
The second principle comes from the teaching of Jesus that it is not even what we do that determines our responsibility, but our state of mind. You may remember that Jesus said that even looking at someone with lust is the first step to adultery and just hating someone is the first step to murder. How does this apply to the question of global warming? Just this: if I believe that global warming might be happening, then if I don’t do what I can to stop it, I am guilty of intentionally causing it. It is what happens in my mind that determines my responsibility.
Taken together, I must do what I can to make a difference. So, have we installed our PV panels because we have fallen prey to the global warming conspiracy? I guess in a sense we have. My position as a steward of God’s creation along with my responsibility for my intentions means that I have no other choice. Besides, they look cool!
Pastor Ken

Easy or Good?

As I sit at my desk writing this blog, the jackhammers are going outside for the final phase for installing the Solar Electric system here at West Valley Christian Center, the Three Crosses Church. It represents the culmination of a long term project to “go green,” minimizing our carbon footprint. We are excited about the fact that we will be “coming on line” in a matter of days.

One thing that has impressed me greatly in the process has been the way that the foreman has handled the project. We have had a number of building projects around the church here, and I oversaw the construction of a new church at my last pastorate, and I have never seen anyone so committed to getting the details right. He has made sure that everything is done properly.

This got me thinking that one of the gifts that we give back to God is our worship in our work. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.” How refreshing it is to see someone who actually lives that way. It has been a powerful reminder to me to do the same. Have a great day!

Pastor Ken

Today or Tomorrow?

Christianity has been accused from time to time of being a “pie in the sky in the sweet bye and bye” religion. Or as others have put it, “so heavenly minded that it is no earthly good.” The focus on heaven and eternity is understandable from one perspective. After all, if we are really eternal creatures, then this life is but a blip on the radar screen. In fact, one could argue that the only important purpose in this life would be to secure the best position for eternity, and nothing else would matter. And yet….

And yet, this life is the only one we actually know about by experience. Yes, I know that there is a place for faith. But this is still the only life we know anything about in our personal experience. And that makes it a valid question to ask if preparing for the next life means we give up something in this life.

Of course, the answer to that question is:”Yes!” But that doesn’t really tell us anything, does it? I mean, every decision we make to do something entails not doing something else. The real question is, will we be less happy or fulfilled in this life if we focus on the life to come. And I am confident in answering that question, “No!”

This blog is not the place to go into detail on what we gain and what we lose to live for God and the life to come. That is a subject for a life of study. But I can say that, after having been a Christian for 37 years, I am confident that my life has been happier than I ever expected, and that the main reason is that I have chosen to do what God has said in the Bible. I have no hesitation in recommending the lifestyle outlined in the Bible to any and everyone. It leads to a life that not only avoids many of the major pitfalls of life, but has a positive effect for happiness. And if you aren’t sure that is true, well then call me at my office any time and I would love to talk to you about it.

But there is one more thing. In addition to real joy and happiness in this life, I also have the assurance that my life has eternal consequences. Oh yeah, and I get to be with God forever, too. Not a bad deal!

Pastor Ken

Going Green

This coming Tuesday Advanced Solar Electric will begin the installation of West Valley Christian Center’s new solar generating system. When complete, it will consist of around 150 solar panels generating just over 36 Kilowatts of electricity a day. This should be sufficient to provide about 80% of our electrical needs, thus reducing our carbon footprint by a like amount. And, since that electricity will be generated during the highest usage portion of the day, actually producing a surplus during that time, it will help to put off or even make unnecessary additional generating capacity using methods which pollute.

Why are we doing this? There are actually a couple of reasons, but the most important is that it allows our church to do something tangible to be good stewards of this planet our God has given us. We take seriously our responsibility before God and our fellow humans to begin reversing the damage we have done to our home.

In the coming months and years we intend on exploring other ways to lessen our negative impact on this world. I remember as a Boy Scout the admonition we always received when we were preparing to leave our campsites: leave it in better condition than you found it when you came. We want to do the same for this planet.

Pastor Ken

Can't we all just get along?

So this past week a new movie was released – Expelled, a documentary by Ben Stein. And the response has been interesting to watch, and instructive as well.

The heart of Mr. Stein’s documentary is the recent tendency in some circles to discriminate against people in the scientific community who entertain the idea of Intelligent Design (ID). Intelligent Design is the suggestion that there are things in this universe that point to an intelligent designer rather than blind Darwinian evolution. In the movie, Mr. Stein points to several scientists who have either lost their jobs or their funding immediately after suggesting that more research into the possibility of ID having occurred.

I do not necessarily agree with the tack that the movie takes in making its case – the juxtapositions between people who disagree with ID and pictures of Hitler or Stalin remind me more of Michael Moore than Ken Burns. But, when the movie is done, Mr. Stein has done a pretty good job of showing that there does seem to be an attempt to silence those who are even willing to entertain the possibility of ID, at least in some circles.

But perhaps the most interesting response to this movie was the review posted on MSNBC.com (read it at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24239755/). In spite of the fact that the movie deals with ID and not creationism, the very first paragraph sets the movie up as defending creationism! And, in a display of the very intolerance decried by liberals today, the reviewer proceeds to call both the movie and Mr. Stein, “stupid,” a word sure to inspire intelligent discussion of the topic!

I, for one, would like to suggest that we would all be better served by a discussion of the facts rather than calling each other names. And that goes for both sides – I have been even more appalled by the name calling that has come from some in the church; after all, we should know better. There is a discussion to be had here, and in many other areas of what some have called the “culture wars.” Wouldn’t it be nice if we could actually discuss it as rational adults? Or, as has been said by many others, can’t we “disagree without being disagreeable?” Just a thought.

The Right to be Free

Freedom. Pro-Choice. Equal rights.
These are the terms our society embraces. Clearly we have freedom living in a democratic-republic. Still, freedom comes with responsibility and exceptions. One might say that person has free speech, but that freedom ceases when it jeopardizes the safety and well being of others in the pursuit of their own rights. For example, when someone exercises their free speech in a crowded theater by yelling fire when there is no fire; at that point, the person is criminally responsible for the panic and injuries resulting from the stampede.
Our freedoms do have limitations. I often wonder why abortion isn’t treated the same way as the illustration above. It is already considered—legally—double-homicide when an unborn baby is killed as a result of murder against the pregnant mother, and most scientists acknowledge the humanity of the unborn, despite arguments of viability, cognition, and such. It would seem that we have a moral double standard here. Hmmm!
My point in this blog is actually not to argue against abortion, or any other issue I might bring up, based on a legal or constitutional platform. Rather, I want to beg a rather important question: Are some of the freedoms our culture espouses to actually right? Regardless of having these freedoms (real or perceived), are they correct?
With all the rhetoric of freedom and equality and tolerance out there right now, the practitioners of what might be seen as morally questionable behavior by Christianity and other faiths or worldviews, seem to be preoccupied with the securing a place at the table over and above considering if such views are actually moral.
In a postmodern and often relativistic society, moral correctness has become an individual choice, subject only to the whims and notions of a person’s worldview, regardless of how that worldview is informed. I suspect that much of this subjectivism is fed by hedonism: Does it feel right or good?
Ah! Feelings… Perhaps emotion plays a bigger role in the issue than anything else. For example, homosexuality is a hot button issue. There are some who claim a bio-chemical cause to homosexuality, and maybe there is. It still doesn’t answer whether it’s right or not. The claimants might argue that it feels fight, or that they’ve always felt different & attracted to the opposite sex; therefore, it must by natural or as God designed it. This reasoning is based mostly on emotion and not on Scripture (though there are those who attempt to translate Scripture to support their views on homosexuality and other sins) or science.
So, we have a culture that promotes freedom based on emotional decision making and not the deeper truths of correctness. What would happen if people’s questioning and investigations led them to ask not what feels good, sounds good, or makes sense subjectively, and started asking “what is right?”.
Now, I must confess that my goal is not to target the big ticket sins that many Christians often do, like homosexuality and abortion, but these are perhaps the two biggest and best examples for my point. Rather, my goal is declare that the question of moral correctness is also relevant to each one of us on a personal scale as well. Look at me for example… I love food and am made fat for it. I am a confessed glutton. I have abused a good and natural gift of God and an essential freedom. I am just as culpable for my sin as anyone else, despite the media notoriety.
Sin is rooted in pride and self-autonomy to begin with, so it’s actually not surprising that people would substantiate their sins by leaning on emotion, feelings, or limited information. My goal is not to target the well known or the little sins of any one person or group. Rather, I simply hope to encourage everyone to consider not the freedom you have to do or choose things, but whether those things are objectively right, regardless of what it is. Blessings.
-Pastor Paddy

A Quick Thought on Atheist Attacks on Christianity

In my last blog I promoted a book by Lee Strobel that provides a well developed apologetic for Christians, especially in light of recent atheistic counter-claims to orthodox Christianity. This blog is a brief continuation on that theme.
In his book, The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins says, “Faith is one of the world’s great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate… Religion is capable of driving people to such dangerous folly that faith seems to me to qualify as a kind of mental illness.”
Wow! Faith is a mental illness and religion is a danger!
Now, we must define the terms here. You and I might define faith and religion separately. The Bible never said that Christians “live by religion”. But Dawkins obviously equates the two, whereas we would perhaps define religion as set of practices or a platform for faith expression. But faith itself is a deeper belief whereby we place our full confidence, despite the known and unknown. Dawkins himself is making a faith statement when he says that religion and faith are world evils. Apparently, he really believes this and so he is placing his full confidence in his worldview.
I believe that Dawkins’ real problem is with religion and religious structure, and not with “having faith”. Religious organizations, like any human system, will find avenues for corruption, so long as humans remain human. Unfortunately, when a few bad apples enter the religious basket, the whole lot seems to spoil for many people on the outside.
Let me argue then that the root of the problem is not religion (or faith) but fallen human tendencies, which unfortunately use religion as the platform for sin expression. And, the fallen ideologies that Dawkins sees as a function of faith and religion (rather than a disease to these), are not isolated to faith. In fact, many of the world’s most atrocious systems and philosophies have been secular, not religious. Was Carl Marx a devout religious man? Were the communist dictators he inspired men of faith? No. And what of Hitler, Pol Pot, and many others? Religion is not the issue… Sin will find expression in any human system.
Dawkins fails to recognize that it was Christians who risked their lives to care for people during the plagues of Europe. It is—even today—the Christian missionary who risks life and limb to bring the grace and goodness of God, often through acts of compassion, in the darkest parts of the planet. These acts of mercy and care are unarguably not evil, dangerous, or of impaired mental faculty.
So, have faith. You can rest assured that your faith is not an evil, and is only a danger to darkness. God bless.
-Pastor Paddy

Is there an eternal soul?

A recent editorial in the LA Times by a mathematician claimed that modern science has proven beyond any real doubt that there is nothing eternal inherent within humans – no eternal soul. Of course, the first question that should arise for all of us is whether science is even equipped to tell us if we have an eternal soul. But let me suggest that the answer to that question really doesn’t matter. In fact, I suspect that he is correct. And if he is, then the choice for the human race is quite simple and quite stark. You see, most of the other religious alternatives, other than the monotheist religions and atheism, depend on an independent existence of the human soul, in order that they might migrate to the next life. But Judaism and Christianity in particular reject this concept. Rather they tell us that humans were created by God as a part of this universe. That should lead us to expect that we would be prey to the same second law of thermodynamics as anything else – and that would mean that eternity is no more possible for us than it is for this universe. But the Bible doesn’t stop there. Rather, we are told that it is God Himself, who exists outside of this universe and is therefore not subject to its laws, who will bring us back to life again. Now the Bible doesn’t say how He is going to do that – and I suspect that if it did we wouldn’t understand it anyway. For my money, Dr. John Polkinghorne may have the best answer, but the real point is that God is the one who will accomplish our resurrection. But is that more than just a hollow promise? It might be except for one thing – Easter! God raised Jesus from the dead with a new body but the same person. And He is going to do the same for you and I. Or as the Bible says, Jesus is the “firstfruits” of the resurrection from the dead. So, this Easter when the preacher says, “The Lord, He is risen,” you can give back the traditional response with a new sense of joy: “He is risen indeed!” And perhaps, under your breath, you can also repeat, “And so, too, will I be!” Happy Easter!

Pastor Ken

Why?

So it’s been awhile since I posted. I was out of town acting as a coach for a seminar for church planters. What a challenge! Not being a coach, but just seeing the commitment of those individuals and couples who were going to go into communities to bring the good news of God’s love, most of them with no salaries at all.

All of this has me asking myself what is going on in the US. I mean, at a time when Christianity is widely perceived as good news in most of the developing world, why is it that it seems to be dying in Europe and barely holding its own in the US? Oh, I know the typical explanations. Probably the most popular is that the increase of scientific knowledge has left fewer and fewer places for God to live. We no longer have need of an external power in a world where so much is explainable in natural terms. But somehow, that seems hollow to me. I mean, sure, we have been able to identify many of the natural processes in our world, but that is like saying that because I understand how my car runs – from the internal combustion process to the method of manufacture, that it is all naturally occurring and has always been here in one form or another. The fact is that this cosmos is a contingent existent – cause and effect are the order of the day throughout. Science has been able to follow the chain of causation back to just a few moments after it all got started to a thing called the “big bang.” Now, all of this is old news – but what it seems to say to me is that everything came from somewhere else. There must be some kind of uncaused thing or being that got the whole thing started.

Of course, none of this means that there is a God, let alone that Christianity is true. But that brings me to the thing that I just cannot get past – the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As an historian, as well as a person who deals with people all the time, it is inconceivable to me that multiple people would have insisted that they had seen Jesus crucified, buried and then alive again when they were faced with torture and death unless it was true. I know that there were similar claims for others, but never were those making the claim faced with the kind of torture and death that the first generation of Christian leadership was. And yet, that first generation, and all subsequent ones, have all insisted that Jesus really rose from the dead and is alive to this day, and that faith in him makes a genuine difference in one’s life.

So what is going on? Some think that it is the unwillingness of people to give up their lifestyles – something they think would be required if they become Christians. Others say that the real deficit is in church attendance, not faith. I suspect that the latter is true. So why? Why do people not want to attend church anymore? I would love to hear from anyone who thinks they have an answer. In the meantime, keep the faith!

Thoughts on "Super Tuesday"

It is popular to complain that politics are dirty, that politicians are liars and that voting is a waste of time. Then, every once in a while, there comes an election where one or more candidates strikes a chord in the hearts and minds of a great number of voters and we see the kind of turnout we did yesterday. And yet, inevitably, the reality of competing interests reins in whoever is elected and less is accomplished than many thought and hoped would be. And so, a new round of disquiet and discouragement about politics sets in and people drop out of the “system.”

What does any of this have to do with being a Christian? Well, first, we have to understand just what the Bible says about government and our relationship to it. It comes as no surprise that democracy as we currently practice it in 21st century America has nothing in common with the kind of government Jesus and the disciples knew and lived under when the New Testament was being written. Ditto for Moses, David, and Isaiah in the Old Testament. Does that mean that the Bible has nothing to say to us? Hardly.

First, we have the principle from scripture that teaches us that government is a God-given concept. Of course, that doesn’t mean that every government is godly, any more than saying that creating humans was God’s idea and therefore every person is godly. Most scholars point to Genesis 9:6 where God says to Noah that, from that time forward, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed,” as the first indication that God intends for humanity to institute sufficient structures to insure justice. Human government is a natural outgrowth of this concept.

In the New Testament we have a much clearer exposition of the role of Christians in relation to government. Peter expressed this most fully in 1 Peter 2:13-17 (NIV) 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. In this passage we are clearly told that we submit to the governing authorities. Why? So that we might show that Christians can also be good citizens and because it is “proper.” Note also the reference to freedom in verse 16 – this is particularly important for we who live in our current society.

So what is our Christian responsibility in the electoral process? It seems to me that first we have a responsibility to do what we can to make it work. In our system we are in the dual position of being both government and governed. In this regard verses thirteen and fourteen above shed the most light on how to do this. The requirement to obey government except when it would mean violating God’s law is the first thing we learn. We are to “submit … to every authority.” That this does not mean in every circumstance is clear from the fact that the same Peter who tells us to do this also challenged the Sanhedrin when he was commanded to cease and desist from preaching Jesus – he not only challenged their authority to command what God had forbidden, but he answered his own challenge by going out and preaching. But the principle remains: we are to submit to the authorities. But notice also that Peter tells us also what the responsibility of those who govern is, as well: “to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right.” In other words, since in our American democracy those who govern are answerable to the people who elect them, we are required to hold those who govern responsible for doing the right thing! If I refuse to do my part, then I am abrogating my responsibility before God. What does that mean? That taking part in the electoral process is my responsibility before God.

This is why I have voted in every election I could, no matter where I was in the United States, since I was old enough to do so. And, it is also what has informed my standards for candidates. My bottom line is whether the policies of those running for office are likely to do the most good for the most people – whether they promote justice, including social justice. And it is why I cannot in good conscience ever cast a ballot for someone who is in favor of taking the lives of innocent human beings before they are even born, or of allowing others to do so. Are there nuances to that broad statement? Of course – but that is for another time. The point is, I cannot fulfill my responsibility before God as a citizen of the United States unless I vote – even if I have to hold my nose sometimes when I do! So vote in November, regardless of whether your candidate gets the nomination. It is the “Christian” thing to do!

Pastor Ken

Right and Wrong

Movies are a great way to listen to what we are saying to ourselves as a culture. They can also reveal the underlying assumptions we all share. I am thinking particularly about one of the best movies I have seen in recent times: The Great Debaters with Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker, both excellent actors at the top of their game. My purpose here is not to review the movie itself – I will leave that to others who are much better qualified. Rather, I was thinking about what it reveals about the assumptions we all share. In this case there is a sense of what constitutes right and wrong. It is hard to watch the lynch scene without getting downright angry and thinking that there really is no justification for that kind of thing, regardless of how those who did the lynching were raised or what their worldview is.

The problem is that this concept of absolute right and wrong, at least about some things – a concept I completely agree with – is at odds with another thing we have been teaching in our culture for the past fifty years or so. I am speaking of moral relativism – that some things are more or less right or wrong depending on the context. What is wrong for me might be right for you and vice versa. That this is true about some things is beyond question – a good example might be dietary practices. To be honest, I am not looking forward to eating bug! I know that there are many types of insects that are very healthful and are even reputed to be tasty. I have a feeling that this knowledge will remain theoretical on my part!

But isn’t that just the problem? When we relegate moral values to the same category as taste, then any reason to claim that something is right or wrong is nothing more than an expression of our personal taste – and that is subject to change and cannot be gainsaid. Now I know that there are those who would have us believe that morals are indeed a matter of taste which any culture is allowed to enforce. But do any of us seriously believe that? Because, when all is said and done, all we are really saying is that “might makes right;” that the majority can and even has a right to enforce their own standards. But we don’t really believe that, do we? Because it is certain that the majority in that part of Texas in the 1930s portrayed in the movie thought that they were right. Nonetheless, they weren’t.

What is the alternative? That there is someone behind all of this that we see and sense who built into the fabric of the universe in general and into you and me in particular a sure knowledge of right and wrong. But be careful – that can lead to all kinds of concepts that we might not like – like the fact that we might be answerable to that same person for our actions. That is all well and good for Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot, but you and me? Hmm….

Blessings Everywhere

Recently we started up our feeding ministry again. It has been a
personal blessing to me doing this every week. To be honest, it has
humbled me. Every time I think I don't have what I need, or I need
more, or cant afford what I WANT I am humbled when I walk into the
fellowship hall every Saturday. Here is a group of people that don't
have, and I'm complaining of what I don't need. Debbie, the lady from
the World Wide Church of God, who heads up the pantry was approached
by one of the gentlemen that comes every week and he asked her what
they could do to give back to us for what we do for them. She told
him to pray that the pantry would be replenished so there is always
more to give. He didn't wait to pray later (like how many of us would
have), this guy made his friends stand up and grab hands and they all
prayed right then and there. What humbled Debbie and I both at that
moment was not only that they didn't hesitate to pray, but that they
prayed for those who were in worse shape then they were.

There is a Hispanic fellow that comes every week. For the sake of
privacy I will call him Juan. Juan is a wonderful guy. He doesn't
speak very much English, but we have a wonderful time in fellowship
anyway. Juan is an example of how much the ministry we are providing
is appreciated. Juan is there every week with a smile and hug and if
you're a lady, a kiss on the cheek. He is the first to get up and
help us try to clean up and has actually become our trash man. Before
he leaves every week he makes sure our trash cans are emptied and
taken to the dumpster. This is a way he is able to show he
appreciates what we do for him every week...and that is a blessing to
me as well.

So, here's to feeding the body and spirit (both theirs and ours)!

~Melanie Pace

From the brain of Paddy Pace

I just finished reading Lee Strobel’s newest book, The Case for the Real Jesus, which proved to be a very faith affirming book for me personally. But, as I was reading this book, which addressed some of the more recent objections to Christianity & the character of Jesus that have surfaced in the popular media, I couldn’t help but feel that our precious faith is at a critical juncture in Western culture. Lately, many anti-Christian atheists have been coming out of the woodwork to espouse their own literary works denying God and faith; or as in the case with Bart Ehrman, a recognized biblical scholar who not more than two years ago published his Misquoting Jesus, many of Christianity’s critics are questioning the authenticity of our faith by attacking the historicity of the Bible and of Christianity itself.
It would seem that Christianity is being attacked quite ferociously on all sides. At a point in history where the evidences to support Christianity and the Bible’s trustworthiness are more abundant than those supporting of any other faith or literature, more and more people are beginning to follow the trends of atheism, agnosticism, and pseudo-Christian Gnostic teaching. It is not by accident that these anti-Christian scholars and authors (not all are worthy of the title “scholar”) are becoming so influential. Without an ethically grounded worldview, as is found in our faith, there is licensure for a hedonistic approach to life. Without the otherly focus of Christianity, people are free to interpret and apply their own moral constructs, which are highly relativistic and subjective. In doing so, people are free and encouraged toward irresponsibility. I don’t know about you, but if I am the end-all to what’s right and wrong in my life, having seen my selfish tendencies, then I am even more frightened for this world.
I recommend Lee Strobel’s book, but not simply as a good faith-based read. He does an excellent job at presenting a clear and logical defense for Christianity. The evidences for our faith, as enumerated in the book, are astounding and encouraging. So, read this book, but read it in a way that it’ll become a tool for your own personal apologetic. If you haven’t encountered anyone following these current overt anti-Christian dogmas yet, you likely will soon. This, to me, is an obvious frontal assault in the dimension of spiritual warfare. Something’s on the horizon and you have been summoned to join arms. May peace be with you and God bless.

~Patrick Pace

From the desk of PK

So, I don't know how many have seen Will Smith's "I Am Legend." It is first of all a good movie and Will Smith does a great job in a very tough role - he carries the entire movie almost by himself. But did you notice just how Christian the concepts are? One person who has to give up everything, even his family, to do what only he and no one else could do to try to save humanity. In the end he has to give his life so that the salvation that can only come from his blood can save humanity. Wow! What I am wondering is - is it because this is such a universal theme that it works so well? Could it be that God has built into the fabric of our shared humanity the recognition that what ails us cannot be be cured by ourselves? And that the price to be paid might include the very life of someone who is himself no stranger to sacrifice? Just the random thoughts of someone who can't seem to turn off his brain. God bless!

~Pastor Ken

This is a test, this is only a test...

Hi, and welcome to WVCC's new blog. You'll be seeing a variety of things come across these pages contributed by a variety of people, but you be sure that it'll always be different! So let me introduce myself and little bit about what this blog is for.

My name is Brienne - I work part time as an administrative assistant to the Pastoral Staff here at WVCC (West Valley Christian Center) - the church with the Three Crosses (we're on the corner of Topanga and Nordhoff... where you see *ahem* three big crosses...). I handle a lot of the media outlets for the church (like our live weekly newscast and the video output for our services, as well as various layout/design stuff). In the "regular" world, I'm also a photographer -- I'm sort of a visual type person (can you tell?).

This blog is a relatively new concept for our church and we're very excited to get it off the ground. This is a place where, hopefully, you'll get to learn a little more about us - the people at WVCC, what's happening, how we think, and why any of this stuff even matters. Some of our contributors to this blog are our Pastoral Staff members (who will be introduced a little later) and some blog posts will be contributed by our members. We love to hear YOUR thoughts, so please PLEASE feel free to comment here, or email us at wvccinfo@gmail.com . You can also call our offices at 818-882-8177.

Thanks for stopping by - don't forget to check back regularly.