December 10, 2012

Heaven is Not Our Home

By David D. Flowers

There has recently been a great deal of hype stirred up by those claiming to have had out-of-body experiences of heaven. Bookstore shelves are filling up with them, and all of the media outlets are reporting on them.

I don’t want to speculate on the claims made by the kid who met Jesus or the agnostic neurosurgeon who has confessed to having experienced another dimension of reality. Maybe they did experience these things for real, or maybe neurons were simply misfiring in their brain. I’ll let you decide.

It’s not that I’m entirely skeptical of these subjective claims. I believe in heaven as a present reality. I also believe that the apostle John experienced something of this heaven, as he records in Revelation 4-5. So, I do believe in that realm the Scripture calls heaven—God’s space.

What concerns me is that many Christians have made more of these contemporary claims than they ought. We’ve allowed folk religion to shape enough of our theology as it is. And this infatuation with heaven says we have a ways to go in understanding the Gospel and the biblical future God has planned for heaven and earth.

Is heaven is for real? Well, of course it is. It doesn’t appear that the NT church had any doubts about it. They clearly believed in the present reality of heaven, but they were far more interested in something greater.

What fascinated the early church—driving the entire Gospel mission—was the biblical hope that God would bring heaven to earth. The Messiah was to be the one to make this happen, at least to initiate it and complete it. The Kingdom of God is all about this marriage of heaven and earth.

It’s God’s idea of new creation.

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17

The creation of a “new heavens and a new earth” is a transformation of the former things. It is a world transfigured like unto the physical body of the Lord Jesus (Matt. 17:1-9). Think about it.

The resurrected body of Christ was of its own kind. There is continuity with the old body and there is discontinuity as well (Lk. 24: 13-35, 36-49; Jn. 20:1-18, 24-31; 21:1-14). The resurrected body of Christ is heaven intersecting with earth. Therefore, the resurrected Jesus is proof of what God plans to do with the spiritual and physical dimensions of reality.

In Rev. 21-22 we do not see believers flying off to a disembodied spiritual existence on the other side of the cosmos. No, we see heaven coming to earth. We see heaven, God’s realm, breaking through and fully consummating with the physical realm we call earth.

We must rid ourselves of this mantra that speaks of going to heaven when we die, as if we will have come to the end of our journey.

Heaven is indeed where the Lord is presently, but it is not our final home (Ps. 14:2; 20:6; 33:13; Ecc. 5:2; Is. 66:1; Dan. 2:44; 7:27; Rev. 11:15).

If anything, heaven is only a temporal dwelling for those awaiting the resurrection of the dead. Jesus said there are “many dwelling places” in his Father’s house (Jn 14:2). The Greek word for “dwelling places” used here, monai, has regularly been used to refer to a temporary stop on an extended journey. Don’t merge this verse with Rev 21.

Even when Christ was on the cross, he told the thief on his left that “today” he would be with him in “paradise” (Lk. 23:43). This too doesn’t speak of a final destination, but of a temporal garden of rest.

All of the saints, past and present, still await the return of the King and the establishment of heaven on earth (Heb. 11:13-16; Rev. 6:10-11).

God’s desire has always been to complete his good work in the created world upon which every human being has ever lived.

For the Jew, there was a firm belief that God would restore creation and fulfill his covenant with his people. The Lord of heaven and earth would finally merge the two into one unified reality.

This resurrected world is called the “New Jerusalem” and the “Holy City” (Rev. 21:2). This newly remade world is our final destination. It is the Kingdom of God fully realized. In Revelation 21:5, Christ says:

“Behold, I am making all things new!”

And it is Christ that has the authority to say such things, for he was the first to be resurrected and be clothed with the imperishable.

Our hope is in a future resurrected existence in the “new heavens and earth.” The finished work of Christ is not fully realized until God makes his home on this earth. This should be our great obsession.

It is on this earth that Jesus prayed, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). Heaven is indeed coming to earth. Jesus has called for its renewal and resurrection!

“Heaven, in the Bible, is not a future destiny but the other, hidden, dimension of our ordinary life—God’s dimension, if you like. God made heaven and earth; at the last he will remake both and join them together forever.” N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope, 19

Give some serious thought to N.T. Wright’s description of this future reality.

Does your language about the future reflect this biblical hope? How do you think the pop-culture confusion on this theological issue impacts the way in which we live out the Kingdom on the earth?

D.D. Flowers, 2012.

12 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Church, Culture, Theology

December 4, 2012

On Christian Cynicism

By David D. Flowers

If you were to look up cynicism in the dictionary (or Wikipedia), you will read that the contemporary form is characterized as a general distrust of people—a lack of faith in others because of their naiveté—resulting in a continual flow of ridicule and scorn.

This cynicism manifests itself out of frustration with persons, institutions, organizations, and authorities that have left her victims disillusioned and angry. Cynics feel cheated, robbed, lied to, and taken advantage of.

I have personally experienced this “jaded negativity” and the pitiful pit of cynical despair after having spent 7 years in ministry, and coming to terms with many ugly realities of organized Christianity.

When I finally realized that I had been raised in fundamentalism, served in fundamentalist churches, and that pop-culture Christianity in America was a thousand miles wide but about an inch deep… I was angry.

No, that’s an understatement.

I was bitterly frustrated to the point of giving up.

Reveling in Cynicism

Truth be told… I left fundamentalism, but reveled in cynicism for a time.

I must admit that there was something strangely comforting being able to criticize and scrutinize from the outside looking in on what was clearly wrong with the church. I was safe and guarded against more pain.

It protected me from being hurt again, but it also kept me from people—all those for whom Jesus died—including religious hypocrites.

I knew deep down that my cynicism was a sickness. And I wanted healing.

I saw the harmful effects of social networks forming online just for Christian cynics. I found folks declaring themselves “free” from religion, but they were mostly a bitter believer’s club throwing salt on open wounds.

Christian cynicism can completely immobilize followers of Jesus.

Cynicism can even keep the Christian from ever recovering again.

It’s true. If cynic-saints are not intentional about moving forward in Christ to a renewed place of life in the Kingdom, they will forfeit their inheritance.

Let’s be done with the reveling and embrace resurrection.

Trading Cynicism for Hopeful Realism

Do you know any Christian cynics? Are you a Christian cynic?

You need to know that healing can come if you keep your heart open to Christ and your feet moving in the direction of his love for you and others.

This doesn’t mean that you forget what you’ve learned, what’s been revealed to you by Christ, or the reality of the current state of affairs. It doesn’t mean that you set aside your doubts and uncertainty. It doesn’t mean you must compromise your convictions.

But it does mean that you allow the Lord to shine a light on the darkness that is overcoming the living hope of Christ within you, and that is keeping that hope from being fully expressed as resurrection life to others.

You cannot faithfully follow Christ and harbor bitterness toward any segment of the church. Imagining that certain groups or that organized Christianity is not the true church doesn’t justify this behavior.

Be loving, patient, kind, forgiving, and compassionate as Christ. There’s no room for cynicism in Christ. Give it up. It’s killing you. And it’s hurting the Body of Christ. You can’t effect change this way.

Let the Lord have your cynicism. Trade it in for hopeful realism.

What is hopeful realism? It’s Christ getting the last word on the matter. It’s reality being confronted by the Kingdom of God. It’s new life in the face of death. It allows us to see a world poised for resurrection.

Healing for the Cynic-Saint

In his book, Faith Without Illusions: Following Jesus as a Cynic-Saint (IVP 2011), Andrew Byers writes:

“We are in dire need for redeemed cynics to dress their wounds that they may rise up and flourish in the truths revealed to them for the health of the church and for the glory of God.” (p. 12)

I have reviewed Andy’s book and interviewed him here at the blog. His book offers a great help to those looking for a way out of their cynicism.

It’s not going to be easy, but if healing is going to come to the cynic-saint, he must take his hands out of the festering wound and let Jesus dress it with his loving kindness. He’s the great healer.

We need the keen insight and revitalized faith that redeemed cynics can bring to a struggling church. And we need it now more than ever.

Please don’t abandon the Lord’s work for self-absorbed cynicism or an idealistic pipedream for the church. Be intentional in rising above it.

Let the Lord reveal new possibilities to you. Allow him to show you his power and ability to resurrect the dead and dying parts of you, the church, and the world. Ask him. He will do it.

Remember that you are loved, you are missed, and you are needed.

Do you want to trade your cynicism in for a renewed hope and vision for Christ and his Kingdom? What intentional steps can you make today to embrace hopeful realism? Commit today to moving forward.

D.D. Flowers, 2012.

17 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Church

November 30, 2012

Blog News & Update 11/30/12

By David D. Flowers

Hello, blog readers and subscribers! I hope your week has been fruitful as you have been building for the Kingdom. November has been an eventful month, and December is certain to be full of many opportunities for prayer and working for God’s peace on the earth.

The following post is a monthly blog update. I have decided I will be posting a “Blog News & Update” at the end of every month.

Here’s a glance back and a look forward.

The Month of November

This month I have continued sharing my thoughts on rapture theology that first began in October with Rapture Theology: History & Influence. You can expect more on this topic in the days to come.

I also finished up an interview with pastor and theologian Greg Boyd. I really appreciate Greg taking time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions concerning his ministry and upcoming books.

You can expect a Q&A with Frank Viola on his new book Jesus: A Theography real soon. The book will make an excellent Christmas gift.

Did You Miss These?

I have had quite a few new subscribers over the last month. Regular readers know that I’ve been blogging on a regular basis for two months now. So, some of you may have missed a popular post during that time.

Did you miss any of these?

Reminder About Purpose

As I wrote in last month’s blog update, it is my desire that this blog would contribute to biblical academic dialogue, encourage humble Christ-followers, and challenge honest skeptics.

As a young academic and an aspiring Christian mystic, this blog is unashamedly a reflection of my pursuit of Christ in spirit, soul, and body—the realm of the intellect as well as spiritual imagination.

I have a passion to help bridge the gaps between faith & reason, mind & spirit, church & academy, science & theology, etc.

While I often post stuff to stimulate the intellect, you can also expect devotional writings and other practical posts. See the “Deeper Christian Life” section at the Archives page.

Primarily, this blog is dedicated to those who are loving Jesus with all of their heart, soul, strength, and mind. As Paul said, “… so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Col. 1:18).

Consider How You Can Share

I want this blog to be accessible and readable. You can help me do that by taking the time to “join the discussion” through commenting on posts and giving feedback below each blog post you’ve read.

As I continue my attempts at maintaing a blog that is deeply theological and at the same time relevant to the spiritual life of my readers, I would like to ask that you share your thoughts on posts that resonate with you.

I have many readers and subscribers who have never commented here at the blog. While I’m thankful for those that do comment regularly, it would be beneficial to everyone if more folks would take the time to share.

This is your opportunity to share your thoughts, your questions, and your concerns about the issues. I would love to hear from you.

Remember: When you do comment on the blog, try to keep it brief so as to foster discussion. You can “reply” to the post, or even respond directly to another person’s comment.

In the future, please consider the following ways of participating here at the blog: Comment on a post, “Like” the post, “Share” the post by clicking on a social network, or even kindly disagree with the post.

Just make sure you follow the blog Rules.

Final Month of 2012

As you all know, December can be a little hectic as the year winds down and Christmas approaches. I will be blogging regularly for most of the month, but you can expect a break the last week or so.

I plan to pick back up after New Years… assuming that the Mayan calendar is wrong and the world doesn’t end.  😉

Thanks for reading. I look forward to hearing from you.

D.D. Flowers, 2012.

10 Comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Blog Update

November 28, 2012

Theology Matters

By David D. Flowers

I actually had an elderly fundamentalist man once say to me, “All I need is my King James Bible and the Holy Spirit.”

When was the last time you ran into an evangelical who demeaned the study of theology? Maybe you have encountered a cynic-saint who believes that a large part of the problem with Christianity is with those who have studied formally in a bible college or seminary?

This sort of anti-intellectualism disregards the rich history of Christian thinkers, and it overlooks the deep spiritual benefits of loving Jesus with all of your mind—baptizing apathy and laziness in the name of faith.

We can’t afford to drive a wedge between the mind and the spirit. As believers in the Source of all wisdom and knowledge, we must do better.

“If we are going to be wise, spiritual people prepared to meet the crises of our age, we must be a studying, learning community that values the life of the mind.” J.P. Moreland

Knowledge doesn’t have to be dry and lifeless. The following video calls us to think about why doing theology really matters.

Have you noticed how some evangelicals have disconnected Christian belief from Spirit-filled living?  Consider what you can do today to love the Lord with all of your heart, soul, strength, and mind.

D.D. Flowers, 2012.

17 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Christianity, Church, Theology