Author: Wick

So I have a confession. I’m reading the “graphic novel” (comic book) “The Watchmen”. Mainly because I love super-hero’s, and the story seemed to pull me in. I know, the movie is rated R, and even the book itself has all sorts of cussing/situations in it, and I’m probably horrible for even telling the truth that I’m reading it…..but there it is.

The sometimes inappropriate story comes at a very appropriate time. Lent.

Murder. Rape. Child pornography. Hate. Violence. Selfishness. Lust. Greed. The list could go on and on. Humanity as a whole is filled with so many horrible things. The book continues to ask the question, “what makes them worth saving?”. What redeeming qualities are there, if any, about the mess of human existence? What makes a life worth living, in a time where so much suffering and pain exist?

I’ve not finished the book. But I don’t think it hits the mark for what many of us would consider the “why” to the questions above. It gets deep, and talks about the miracles (on a quantum level, even) that make such chaos worthwhile. It definitely raises the question for the reader, however.

We all have had similar moments of realization I’m sure. You’re standing in the middle of a carnival downtown, or a greedy Wal-mart scene on “Black Friday”, or an obnoxious parent at a kids sporting event, or even just seeing the conditions in other countries while we worry about how much gas costs by the cent. How screwed up are humanities priorities?

I’m thankful for a God who looks at all that we’ve chosen to become, and continues to be broken with love for us. Who has already begun, and continues to work towards, drawing all back into a covenant relationship with Him. Who has initiated His Kingdom right here in our midst, and calls us to join in proclaiming it with our very lives/being. Emphasis again – I’m thankful for a God who LOVES US. (I wanted to use all sorts of adverbs there, but couldn’t pick the right one. Suffice it to say, there are many phenomenal ways that we are loved.)

As we recognize our humanity, even the aspects that make us shiver, may we be filled with the heart of God for His children. May we admit/confess that we are all just as fallen, and in need of His Spirit’s work in our lives…

So I finally finished reading “The Shack”. I’ve blogged twice before about it, and felt like I owed one last “hurrah”. Seriously. This book needs to be read. But it is also a dangerous book.

Dangerous in the same way that “Fireproof“, any other Christian movie/book/product, or even the metaphor of “asking Jesus into your heart” can be dangerous. It would be very easy for us to throw this at someone as a “fix”, or a “medicine” for suffering/pain/etc. To think that any of these things “fixes” anyone, or brings completion to a life that needs God, is all too tempting for a culture of gratification.

The book is not perfect…but it is a great book. Very well written. Yeah it’s cheesy at times. But acceptably so, in my book. Beautiful images and well-thought-out words/pictures of God and humanity. It offers healing by pointing to God and His Spirit. Great themes of forgiveness, and how exactly God may work in some regards.

But it is not medicine. It is not a cure. It is a book. Lives need Jesus Christ. We need genuine community with each other towards the Kingdom, and given life by His Spirit. I believe God can use this book in awesome ways in the lives of individuals, and in communities. But I also believe this book could be misused just as easily.

May we find ourselves caught up in loving others towards God…and may visible/experiential acts of worship such as this become more and more available as He continues to reveal Himself….thanks to the author/his conspirators for making it available to the public.

Talking with my wife the other day, I realized another reason I enjoy the season of Lent. It is the emphasis on the physical. Beginning with Ash Wednesday, and throughout the 40 days (minus miniature celebrations of Easter on Sundays) we remind ourselves of our physical existence. I’m grateful for the mentors/teachers/pastors I have that have revealed God’s love for the physical world to me.

I grew up with the line of thinking that these bodies are mere “soul holders”. That unfortunately, our souls are trapped/carried around in these physical robots (remember Krang from TMNT?) until they finally fall apart to the extent that our soul is finally released.

Thankfully that’s not the case. Sure these physical bodies get old. They age, wither, and fall to various elements/diseases, and ultimately breathe their last. But even with that, we see signs throughout scripture, and I have come to believe these bodies are somehow intricately and beautifully connected to the body that is to come. The “new creation” body. (1 Corinthians 15) And even apart from that, God Himself came as Jesus, and lived/died in a human body, redeeming it in so many ways.

Yes, there are many places where it talks about the “flesh” as it relates to evil. But the word refers more to a “carnality” than to a general physical being. When God talks about our bodies, and when Jesus related physically to others – there is a sense that these bodies are very sacred and precious things to God.

Maybe that’s why I like hockey so much…even if I can’t play it. There is a sense of joy that I see on players faces when they skate smoothly down the ice, toying with the puck around other players, and ultimately either scoring a goal, getting crunched into a wall, or checked by another player who’s enjoying the game just as much. It’s a very physical game. I’d like to think that, given eternity in the new creation, I might enjoy such a moment myself. For now…dreams.