James Cameron... on second thought

The Jerusalem Post reports on April 11, 2007 in its online edition that the experts James Cameron cited in his "Lost Tomb of Jesus" film are backtracking quickly. Mr. Cameron appears to have... eh... interpreted their findings in a way these experts now find uncomfortable. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152766396&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull.

First, the statistical expert, Professor Andrey Feuerverger (related to Farfhegnugen?) did not actually say there was a 600 to 1 chance that the tomb was not that of Jesus and his family. Rather, he merely claimed that there was a 600 to 1 chance that such a cluster of names would appear together "under given assumptions". Israeli archeologists note that the names of Jesus and his family were common in those times. I know that right here in Milwaukee there are a couple of pages of Godfreys in the phonebook. Wouldn't surprise me if there were several Marys and Josephs back then . . .

Second, Shimon Gibson, one of the archaeologists who excavated the tomb in question, Talpiot, says, "Personally, I'm skeptical this is the tomb of Jesus and I made this very point to the filmmakers." Oops...

Third, Prof. Hank Moore Cross, who was quoted in the film as saying he had no real doubt that one of the ossuaries read "Jesus son of Joseph" also communicated to the film team by email that he doubted this was Jesus' tomb, because of how common the names of Jesus and his family were. He said, "You know the saying: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

Fourth, Dr. Carney Matheson, the DNA scientist quoted in the film saying that the two individuals found were likely husband and wife, later said "the only conclusions we made were that these two sets were not maternally related. To me it sounds like absolutely nothing."

It's absolutely amazing to me that such claims come only to be completely debunked within a relatively short span of time. Christianity is refutable: show that the resurrection didn't happen, and the whole structure comes tumbling down. Unfortunately, the resurrection is a cornerstone well-attested and not easily moved. Truth is truth, even if it points in the direction of the supernatural. Good news for those of us who believe.

the Virginia Tech massacre

The problem is not the need for more gun control! Granted, the world is a better place without most college students toting firearms. Yet the real problem is the fraying of our moral fabric and the corrosive influence of Hollywood, video games, and just plain selfishness. Regarding Hollywood and video games, is it any wonder that kids growing up shooting hundreds of people a day in a virtual setting might decide to make it real? Regarding selfishness, what if more people would have stepped in when they saw this young man in trouble? We are not just isolated individuals: we are a community of souls who need one another. God grant us healing, mercy and wisdom.

goodness and lovingkindness

Klee, "Tunisian Garden"

Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 29, 2007
Psalm 23

This was the first passage of Scripture I learned as a little boy. It's wonderful to come back to it to take inventory of my soul. When I couldn't hang on to anything else, the words of this Psalm saved me more than once. I remember reading this passage to a friend who was in deep psychological trouble, and remember it calming him remarkably.

Today what strikes me is the promise of v. 6: "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life." How I long to leave goodness and love in my wake. To know that I can in the grace of Christ and the power of the Spirit is of tremendous encouragement. Even amidst difficulty, confusion, and pain, I smile in this.

The events of the last two days at Virginia Tech point to the truth of the gospel as expressed in this Psalm. Violence and death may follow some, but we fear no evil, because in the candlelight of a community prayer vigil we find our shepherd with us still.

doing good and helping the poor

Repin, "The Volga Boatman"

Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 29, 2007
Acts 9:36-43

Apart from the fact that Peter resurrected her from the dead, what strikes me about this passage is who Dorcas was: someone "who was always doing good and helping the poor." So many of us have our focus only on our careers: we want to be known as someone "who had an important management job". Is this really a worthy calling? Who will care once you retire? I can name the current CEO of my company and with effort can recall the name of the former CEO. Yet rather than being a CEO, I would much rather be counted in the company of Dorcas. No wonder Peter made a special trip to bring her back for a second round of joyful service.

I feel great joy when I think about the good we were able to do as missionaries in Siberia, and the good we are continuing to try to do there while now living stateside. I feel great joy when I think about taking my sons out two Saturdays ago for Scouting for Food, and being part of a record gathering of food for the hungry.

I often feel that I'm not doing enough good or doing very much to help the poor. I could do more, and by God's grace, I will. Yet in reflecting on what I have done, I can see that it's not that hard to do something, and in this I rejoice. Might all of us have the joy of doing something good this week, and helping even one among the poor.

Michelle Witmer, grief, and Iraq

This isn't a post on a particular passage, which is my normal practice, but rather a post to remember Michelle Witmer, the first female National Guard soldier killed in combat in the National Guard's 368-year history. Michelle's dad, John Witmer, has a wonderful blog called John's Journal in which he reflects on his own and his family's loss of Michelle. I encourage you to read it as a way to bless John and as a way to help process any grief you might be experiencing in your own life: http://www.johnwjournal.blogspot.com.

Our family has been through significant grief over the last few years due to a very painful ministry situation four years ago and then the death of my father last year. At the same time, we see God continuing to turn our grief into joy and greater maturity, even as John describes in his journal.

In God's providence, God has brought our two families together. Lori Witmer, Michelle's Mom, is now my wife Heather's personal trainer. Michelle's brother, Mark Witmer, will be traveling with us back to Siberia this summer to help us continue our ministry there and nurture his own interest in Russian language and culture.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans for welfare, and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope."
- Jeremiah 29:11

A note on the Iraq war seems needed here, too. At the time the decision was being made to invade Iraq, I personally questioned whether establishing democracy in Iraq was a realistic goal. However, given the tremendous cost to our country, especially for families like the Witmers, what responsibility do we now have to them and to the people of Iraq and the entire Middle East? I believe we have a responsibility to persevere and to seek victory. We have a responsibility to listen to the families of our fallen and to listen to the soldiers on the ground as we continue to work this problem. We also have a responsibility to confront the fascism of militant Islam. May God grant our nation courage, wisdom, and self-respect.

Throwing money at the problem isn't an answer. Pretending reality is better than it is isn't an answer either. Abandoning Iraq is an answer, but a bad one. If Michelle were here, how would she counsel us?

reading Revelation

Cano, "Image of St. John", 1635

Year C - Second Sunday of Easter, April 15, 2007
Revelation 1:4-8

How did the author of Revelation, John, intend this book to be read? As Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart point out in their wonderful _How to Read the Bible Book by Book_, there are two key things to keep in mind.

First, take seriously John's own description of this book: "the words of this prophecy" (v. 3). What John means is that everything he is writing is to be viewed in terms of fulfillment of the Old Testament.

Second, appreciate the nature and purpose of apocalyptic literature. Apocalyptic literature is primary fantasy: something like what can only be conveyed in a contemporary comic book. There are fantastic images, but the point of the images is not to be found so much in the little details, but rather in the whole picture as a composite. The composite is meant to say something about what is ultimately real, and what connects the present with the future.

As the _New Bible Commentary_ (IVP) points out, there have traditionally been four approachеs to interpreting this book:

• the Preterist approach: the book applies solely to the events of the author's own day
• the Futurist approach: the book applies only to the last generation of history
• the Historical approach: the book is meant to outline the ages between Christ's first coming and second coming
• the Symbolic approach: the book is meant only to paint general pictures without specific prophetic application to given points in time

Yet just as no one would read Old Testament prophecy by forcing it exclusively into one of these approaches, neither should one force the book of Revelation into such a straightjacket.
Keeping all of this in mind, what then might we take away from Rev. 1:4-8? Maybe that it is in Jesus that our Father has begun to put right all that is wrong with us and our world. This is some very good news. We are not chance products of random purposelessness, but a kingdom of priests living in service to the Alpha and Omega who was, and is, and is to come. Hallelujah!

a life of what?

Kandinsky, "Improvisation 7"

Second Sunday of Easter (April 15, 2007) Psalm 150

When I read a Psalm like this I’m tempted to say to myself dismissively, “Yes, yes, yes, praise the Lord… I know…. Trumpet, harp, lyre, and tambourine, strings, and flute. Praise praise praise… can we get on to the sermon now?”

Yet to think this way is to miss the profound opportunity presented here. What if someone looked at your life, and had to complete this sentence: “This person lives a life of ________________.” What would go in the blank?

Contemporary culture offers words like this: self-fulfillment, comfort, personal peace, affluence, or even quiet desparation. The gospel fills the blank with a very different word: PRAISE. This person lives a life of praise.

We are designed to praise our Creator in all we think, say, and do. We will only find ourselves as we begin living for Him: “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Cor. 5:15).

What might a life of praise look like for you? How would your priorities change? How would your thoughts and attitudes change? How would your family life change? How would your approach to your work change? Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

don't hold back

Rubens, "Daniel in the Lion's Den"

Second Sunday of Easter (April 15, 2007)
Acts 5:27-32

An angel springs Peter and company from jail, and says to them, "Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the full message of this new life." These early Christian leaders did just this, to the point that the Jewish leadership, the Sanhedrin, the first century equivalent of the American Supreme Court, said, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching."

Christianity is just what the angel said: a message of new life that is meant to penetrate the very social fabric of a city. I ask myself concerning my own city, "Are we doing this as a church here in Milwaukee?" More pointedly, am I doing this myself in my own sphere of influence? Well... it wouldn't be appropriate to stand up in the company cafeteria and start teaching. Yet I am teaching a group of believers for the next four Thursdays starting this Thursday on "Being the Church in the World". How could we fill our little area of downtown Milwaukee with our teaching? I think I'll put this to the group Thursday and see what we think up.

We're so timid. We're so hapless when it comes to challenging the strongholds of tolerance and privacy. Why is it that the one thing our culture cannot tolerate is people of conviction? How can a "message of new life" possibly remain only a private matter?

The Islamists look at this with disgust. For them, the world is a whole, and is made whole by submission to Islam. For us, the world is also whole, yet made such not by forced submission, but rather by the love of self-sacrice, forgiveness, and reconciliation anchored in the Divine Creator's own love and righteousness.

This passage strains at the bonds of our capitulation, imploring us, "Don't hold back." How will you answer for the sphere of influence which God has entrusted to you?

For a great example of what this might look like see today's Breakpoint Commentary by Chuck Colson: http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=6353.

Jesus is Risen . . . it's TRUE

Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859 - 1937), "The Two Disciples at the Tomb", c. 1906
The Art Institute of Chicago
Reproduction Permission: http://www.artic.edu/aic/copyright.html

Easter Sunday (April 8, 2007)
1 Cor. 15:19-28

Does it really matter if Christ is risen from the dead? The Apostle Paul thought so: "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."

Isn't the realm of faith something that really can't be challenged and is therefore best kept private? Again, not for Paul. He lived in a world in which everything would eventually be subjected to Christ, even death itself. The resurrection proved this could happen, and would happen. His faith therefore made very public claims, and he put his very life on the line to proclaim and defend those claims.

Paul challenged the world: produce Christ's body, and I'll renounce all of this. Now, maybe James Cameron has finally succeeded where others over 2,000 years have failed. However, early returns indicate that the weight of the evidence is with Christ rather than with Mr. Cameron (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595238,00.html).

Christ is not a coping mechanism. Rather, he is hope that one day all that is wrong with us and with the world will be put right. He is also the path along which our lives can flourish. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!