Author: Tim Ehrhardt

I'm just a common ordinary pastor, chaplain, father, grandfather, and dog owner who loves the smell of a genuine leather Bible and the aroma of its message. I'm on a quest to track down the best Bibles, how to best read and use them, and to discover the encouragement inside.

Living in the Present

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog1 Comment

living in the present

“You are worried and distracted by many things.” (Luke 10:41)

This statement may have been said by Jesus two-thousand years ago, but there is probably no better sentence that perfectly encapsulates today’s modern society and individual angst.  It’s almost as if we have a collective case of ADHD and cannot focus on the present moment.  I’m a time-oriented kind of guy.  Whenever I get into the mode of obsessing over the clock, my wife starts calling me “Left Brain.”  I can get so caught up in what is going to happen next, and how the future is going to shake-out, that I get worried and distracted.  Such a fascination with minutes and seconds only brings a real inability to live in the present.  There is no good end to living in the future because I just fret over what will or could happen.  I end up with the left brain compulsion to plan, strategize, and connive over every possible contingency that could ever happen.  Just so you know:  I’m not fun to be around when I get into my extreme left brain mode.

But that’s not the end of it.  If I get my left pea brain out of tomorrow, then I reflexively boomerang to the past.  I lie in bed and dig into my past like a determined archaeologist, trying to find lost words and ruminating over conversations that could have gone better.  I utter expletives about myself that I would never dream of saying to another person.  I play judge and jury, hanging both myself and the dolts who I let wrap me up like an Egyptian mummy.  That kind of stuff only erodes and ruins the soul.

One of the telltale signs that a person is living in either the past or the future is that they incessantly misinterpret and misread the present.  Adverse circumstances become personal crises, instead of an opportunity to become a better and stronger person.  Suffering gets billed as an evil to be fixed, instead of a chance to use it to improve the lives of others.  Other political or religious viewpoints get vilified because I, after all, don’t need to change, instead of me being the one in need of rethinking my presuppositions.  Football players kneeling is an offense to the country, instead of a wake-up call to the daily misfortunes of others different from me.  Faith is all about expunging my past and giving me future heaven, instead of a real relationship with God in Christ which is meant to grow, develop, and morph into a concern for living in the present moment.

Yes, we are a society worried and distracted by all of our insecurities, financial investments, cultural hegemony, and personal agendas.  We are so busy doing things important to us that we miss the present opportunity to connect meaningfully with the Jesus who loves being with us.  Instead of enjoying the moment with God, we, like Martha of old, want some help from Mary and some recognition for all the good busy work we have initiated.  Martha misread the situation of Mary sitting at Christ’s feet and, in essence, blurted-out:  “Jesus! Don’t you give a damn that I’m in here working for you while that slacker Mary is kneeling!?” (Luke 10:38-42).

Perhaps it sounds counterintuitive that in sitting down we become active, and that in being active we become distracted.  It only seems paradoxical because of our obsession with both the past and the future.  Today, maybe even right now, Jesus wants you to be with him.  The grand spiritual discovery of life with God is that, by making Jesus the center and focus of our lives in the present moment, our past and our future comes into proper perspective.  What we do begins to have real purpose and meaning, more than just trying to get by to the weekend, and more than only lamenting the past.  Time becomes our ally and simply a tool to accomplish the will of God in the present moment, rather than a hard taskmaster exerting it’s dominion over us.

It has always intrigued me that Jesus accomplished so much in three short years of his life on earth.  I have scoured the gospels trying to find a Jesus rushing to the future or regretting the past, but he never went that way.  He was always in the moment, fully engaged and fully present to the people around him.  And it all came from his own relationship with the Father, which he completely centered his life around.  Not once did Jesus get the label “Lord Left Brain.”

Violence

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality BlogLeave a comment

man-yelling

Those who have worked with abused spouses and with domestic disturbances know that long before the physical battering ever occurs there exists a history of verbal abuse.  Verbal violence always precedes physical violence.  Whether it is domestic violence, the stereotypical bar fight, wars between nations, or mass murder, it all begins with words.  This is not an original thought on my part.  Jesus got to the heart of violence in his Sermon on the Mount.

“You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, ‘Don’t murder, and all who murder will be in danger of judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment.  If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council.  And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

This kind of language might seem somewhat over-the-top from Jesus.  After all, it could be argued, this is just a bit of name calling; I have a right to be angry and let those #*%!’s know about it!  But here’s the deal:  Whenever we resort to altering a person’s identity by not calling him/her by their actual name, then we make a significant change in how we view them.  By using words like “moron” and “airhead” (the literal meanings of the words condemned by Jesus) then people become monsters and something other than people.  Like the conquistadores justifying genocide toward “savages” we go after our gold agenda by whatever means necessary.  We can’t justify the murder of people, but we sure can wipe out idiots and fools and those who are not civilized and enlightened like we are.  There is no conscience if there are no people involved.  Murder results from objectifying others, which begins with the hate speech of name calling.  Actual physical homicide is committed after first verbally decapitating others, whether to their face, or not.

Now as soon as I say this it ought to become clear that the current use of words by many people surrounding the mass shooting in Las Vegas needs to change.  I have seen the “f” word thrown around more than ever, with less than kind responses between differing views of gun control.  Whenever we resort to name calling we actually become complicit in murder.  It is far too easy to get sucked into the wide vortex of using violent words toward others, not realizing that it is a one way road to murder, to hell.  The narrow path, instead, involves something different.

Jesus doesn’t just identify where murder begins, he also gives the solution as to what to do about it:

“Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go.  First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23)

Atrocities begin with words, and end in carnage.  The feeling of moral and religious superiority over others only exacerbates the situation.  Before it gets to the point of physical violence, we can stop the progression through sincere reconciliation.  That takes a willingness to engage in civil discussion, real dialogue, and genuine listening.  If we do not create avenues to authentic relationship that eschews name calling and hardened opinions of others, we are no better than the people we vilify.

So, how will you use your words today?  Do you have the humility to admit when your speech is hateful?  What will you do to forge bonds of connection?

Biblical Anachronism

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old typewriter

Yes, I know I just used a big word:  anachronism.  The word simply means trying to fit something from the past into the present, or vice versa.  For example, chances are that submitting a job resume that was produced on a 1940 Cyrillic Royal typewriter probably will not land you a position in a Fortune 500 company.  That would be anachronistic. When it comes to applying the Bible to our lives, we may unknowingly settle for anachronistic readings of Holy Scripture.  That is, rather than trying to understand the Bible’s stories, characters, and teachings on its own terms, too many individuals dislodge Scripture from its historical moorings in order to make it relevant for today.  As a result, with the aim of trying to personally apply the Bible to present day problems, whole portions of God’s Word are ignored and never read.  If God intended for us to approach the Bible this way, he would have given us scripture memory packs from heaven.  It’s almost as if some folks believe that all we need do is simply read and memorize an isolated verse of the Bible, and be blessed.

The Bible is very much a collection of books that are immediately helpful for every believer in God for every age.  Yet, when we only approach the text of Scripture in order to be instantly relevant and useful, we actually undermine the integrity and history of God’s Word.  The Bible is not a random collection of verses to be ransacked by present-minded people for the sole purpose of finding personal fulfillment and inspiration to get through the day.  The Bible is an unfolding drama of redemption that moves its way through history with people tied to their particular time and place.  So, an evangelical anachronism asks present day questions of the biblical text before ever answering the crucial questions that the text itself raises for us.

To be able to see the characters of the Bible in their own time, surrounded by their own historical context, to be attentive to both their wisdom and their blindness; to recognize the extent to which they were caught up in situations beyond their control that demanded faith; and, to realize that they themselves were on a journey of knowing God – to know all this about the past and to be able to relate to it without any anachronistic distortion to our present realities – is what it means to have a biblical sense.  Yes, Holy Scripture is relevant and applicable to our present day situations.  But unless we gain a certain biblical sense about the Bible itself, we will only get a twisted understanding of how to use it for our life and ministry today.  What this means in making sense of particular Bible verses is that we must first understand the shape and flow and overarching argument of the biblical writer so that we can begin to develop a working understanding of that verse.

reading the bible

Some may mistakenly think that what I am advocating is that only the learned trained minister or theologian can make sense of the Bible.  No, instead what I am advocating is that we become eminently familiar with God’s Holy Word.  There is no substitute for actually reading the Bible for oneself, over and over and over again.  And we need to read through whole sections and books of the Bible – more than once.  If we are to have a solid biblical sense of the Bible, we will need to completely immerse ourselves in its contents daily.  The spiritual practice of plain old Bible reading needs to top the list of things we do on a regular routine basis.  We are to swim in God’s revelation to us, to plunge in headlong and come out dripping with his grace and truth.  If we are too busy for this most basic of spiritual disciplines, then we need to change and discover anew the forgiveness of Jesus Christ contained in, well, the Bible.

Don’t settle for anachronistic approaches to the Holy Bible.  Take it on its own terms and enjoy discovering its depth and richness.  Then you will truly know what it is to be blessed.

Responding to Suicide

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bereavement

September is National Suicide Prevention Month.  World Suicide Prevention Day is always on September 10.  Its purpose is to remember those who have been affected by suicide, to raise awareness of the problem, and to focus efforts on prevention.  This is more than a worthy effort; it is much needed.  Most people have been touched in some way by the suicide of an acquaintance, co-worker, friend, or family member.  Today I want to focus a few thoughts on those left behind, on those who desperately need some sort of solace to their deep lament.

The following is a funeral message I gave a few years ago, remembering the life of a young woman who took her life.  In Betty’s case (I have changed her name) she had chronic health issues and endured multiple agonizing surgeries.  When faced with the prospect of yet another surgery, she had enough.  She left behind a loving and supportive family who, as you might imagine, was wracked with incredible grief.  Here were, in part, my words to them:

“If God is for us, who is against us? He didn’t spare his own Son but gave him up for us all….  Who will separate us from Christ’s love?  Will we be separated by trouble, or distress, or harassment, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord:  not death, or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.” (Romans 8:31-32, 35, 38-39, CEB)

We are here today because of love – of love for Betty, and of God’s love for her and God’s love for all of us.  It is because of love that we hurt so deeply.  Death separates us, and because of death there is the feeling that a part of you is amputated.  But the good news of the Christian scriptures is that death cannot separate us from God’s love.

Our confidence and assurance of faith and our ultimate destiny lies not in our actions, but in God’s purposes and actions in Christ.  Nothing means nothing – not one thing can separate us from God’s love.  The grace of God trumps everything, and because of Christ’s redemption through his cross, Betty belongs to God.

The nature of the Christian life is not a perfectly straight line of upward progression at all times, but is much more a three steps forward, two steps backward journey of faith and development.  Those of you who knew Betty can attest to her wonderful times of sensitivity and growth, but also times of dark depression and difficulty with life and relationships.  The truth about all of us is that in our strengths, there is also weakness.  Betty was artistic, poetic, sensitive, fun-loving and compassionate.  Yet, along with the wonderful expressions of deep and profound thought and faith, was also the hurting and haunting of depression and despondency, of introspection and struggle.

Yet, when all is said and done, life is really not about us, our strengths and weaknesses, our highs and lows, our confidence or doubt – life is about the power, the person, and the work of Jesus Christ, who in his death and resurrection, has taken care of all our sins – past, present, and future.  God’s holy love has been forever satisfied in the cross of Christ.  The declaration of the Apostle John in his first epistle, chapter 4 and verse 10 is true: This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Betty’s sins are covered, not based in any work or doing of her own, but by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

The tragedy of Betty’s death is something we cannot explain or fully understand.  Broken hearts are not healed by explanations – they are healed by the love and grace of God.  Jesus Christ died and rose again so that you and I might receive God’s forgiveness, and experience God’s love – a love that seeks after us, saves us, keeps us no matter the circumstances, and unites us together.  And I am confident that this love and grace from God is exactly what Betty wants you to know today.