Coexist?

This “Coexist” bumper sticker really caught my attention the other day; it so perfectly depicts the belief that there are many ways to God, called pluralism. But as I considered the ambiguity of pluralism, I wonder if it is not a stepping stone to a secular society that despises religious reference or affiliation.

The Pew Research Center says one in five Americans is thoroughly secularized, with no religious affiliation at all. Last year when I wrote about the movie “Life of Pi,” I claimed that the essence of the film's philosophy was captured in the words of Pi’s father who challenged the pluralistic beliefs of his son, saying, “believing in everything is the same thing as not believing anything at all.”

Previously, I saw that pluralism is really polytheism. Now I’m seeing it is a precursor to a secular society, based on humanism. No wonder Jesus asked, “Will I find faith on the earth when I return?” (Luke 18:8)

‘Selfie’—Word of the Year; “Braggie” not far Behind

A “selfie” is a self-portrait photograph, typically taken with a hand-held digital camera or camera phone held at arm's length, and then posted to one's social networks. Significantly, it is Oxford Dictionaries' “word of the year,” the word, they believe, that best reflects the mood of the times.

As a ‘what’s-happening-in-our-culture’ person, I took note of this otherwise innocuous event. The word selfie powerfully (and unashamedly) expresses our culture's obsession with self-promoting social media. And while “selfie” is the word of this year, a new popular term (and practice) is close behind—'braggie,' an image posted to social networks designed purely to show off or make friends jealous.

Being consumed with one's self-image is not new; but it has found a new avenue of expression. Are we not all latent selfies and braggies at heart? Social media is only unveiling the things hidden in the heart of mankind. If selfie reflects the mood of the times, maybe Oxford's choice is a cultural wake-up call.

How do you Rest on “Labor-Day?”

There is a time to stop working, and rest.  We love our days off.  But Jesus speaks of a different “work” and a different “rest.”  The work from which we need permanent rest is that of self-reliance, self-promotion, self-protection—is  this not the work that wears us out? This is the “work” that Jesus spoke of when He said, “Come unto Me all you who are weary and heavy-burdened, and you will find rest…come and learn [how to rest] from Me… for My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:29-30).

One of the meanings of a yoke is a harness you put on an ox to make its work easier and more effective.  When we are yoked with Jesus, our “work” is not only bearable, but pleasant.  I have learned when my work feels too hard, it is because I am not properly yoked with Jesus, not relying on Him, but on my intellect, my ideas and methods: my "self." I think Labor Day is a good day to examine ourselves, and ask, “Are we are finding God’s rest?”

The Voice of a New Generation: Please Love Me

Anyone born after 1995 is part of the newly labeled Generation Z. Never knowing life without instant connectivity, they were born Face-booking, texting, and tweeting—all tools to get people to “pay attention to me!” But early studies are showing these technologies are not satisfying the desire for connectedness. According to a recent George Barna survey, a major shift in the past decade is how Americans see themselves in relation to others. Ten years ago, one of 10 Americans self-identified as lonely. Today, that number has doubled.

Paul warned in the end times “people shall be lovers of their own selves” (2 Tim. 3:2). I’ve always thought this meant unabashed narcissism.  But now, I'm wondering if, in the end times, people will need greater affirmation and approval to validate insecure self-perceptions. Thus, the Facebook posting, texting and tweeting are not shouting “Look at me” as much as “Please love me.” Millennials and ‘Z's’ are the future. What does this cry for attention and love portend? Might it be a greater willingness to embrace anyone or anything that promises to fill the vacuum? And if not Jesus, then what?

Why is Deepak Chopra Agreeing with Joel Osteen?

Joel Osteen was on Soledad O’Brien’s CNN show last week, promoting his book, “I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak over Your Life.” The interview was particularly remarkable because Osteen appeared with Deepak Chopra, New Age author of “The Third Jesus” and the “Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga.”

Osteen explained to Soledad, “The theme of this book is simple: You’ve got to send your words out in the direction you want your life to go.” When O’Brien asked if he really believed that speaking declarations out loud can make them come true, Osteen assured her it does. But the really startling thing was that Deepak Chopra (who radiates the spirit of anti-Christ) agreed with Osteen, who beamed with pleasure at the former's affirmation. They were a virtual “mutual admiration society” of two.

Dr. Albert Mohler says, “The appearance of Osteen and Chopra together was a priceless demonstration that the New Thought/Positive Thinking philosophy that drives them both can be grafted onto either Christianity or Eastern religion. In the end, it all sounds the same.” Unfortunately, millions of Biblically-illiterate Christians will be taken in by Joel’s book, thinking that their POSITIVE “words” will effect changes that only the POWERFUL “Word” of God can (Heb. 4:12). I think Joel’s new book should come with a warning: “Let no one deceive you with empty words” (Eph. 5:6).

Let us Build a New Tower

Resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. It is a gift of God to help us cope with hard things in life. But it can also be an instrument of self-supremacy—the “I can do anything” attitude that was birthed in the Garden of Eden—“you shall be like God.”

From Genesis to Revelation, "Babylon" is used to denote the strength and resiliency of man—its first mention, the Tower of Babel. Ever since, men have built towers to display their strength. After the fall of the World Trade towers on 911, it seemed Americans were brought to their knees and humbled—churches were full of scared people. But within weeks, resilience returned. And national leaders said, “We will build a new tower!” Thus a new Word Trade tower (the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere) will be completed in 2013, reaching a symbolic 1,776 feet—referring to the year America declared its independence.

Isaiah describes Israel’s resilience after tragedy: “The people say in their proud, lofty hearts, ‘The bricks are fallen down, but come, let us hew stones and cut down trees and build for ourselves a tower’” (9:8–10). We American Christians must be especially leery of how the spirit of resilience affects us. We can forget that our trials are meant to make us more dependent on God.  Because Paul understood this, he boasted in his weakness (1 Co. 12:19). But the resilient American spirit hates weakness, and says, “let us build a new tower.”

Don’t Believe in Your Self!

At the 24-Hour Fitness where I exercise every day, there are signs on every wall—‘Believe in Yourself.’ I look at them and think ‘they must be crazy!’ Anyone foolish enough to believe in himself is setting himself up for disappointment! To believe in yourself is to believe in your “self.” And Jesus says any follower of His must deny his self (Mark 8:34). Believing in your self is a sin of the greatest measure—it is the sin of independence. And being disappointed in yourself means to have believed in yourself!

“Self” belief is rooted in humanism—the belief that you can do anything. And humanism’s path ends in the despair of perfectionism: subjectively defined, self-imposed standards where you set unattainable goals—and always falling short.

Have you been trying to ‘believe in yourself?’ But falling short? You can never be free from performance and consequent disappointment until you accept that you are imperfect and unworthy! (I know how counter-culture that sounds!) But only those who truly understand their unworthiness and ensuing need for God’s grace will be free from disappointment. Knowing they can never be ‘good enough,’ their confidence is “Christ in me, the HOPE of glory” (Col. 1:27)—the divine remedy to humanism and perfectionism where we exchange our ‘goodness’ (a euphemism for self-righteousness!) for HIS perfection. The next time you feel disappointed in yourself, be quick to confess it as the sin of believing in yourself.