This has quickly become one of my least favorite phrases in all the land. As I "tweeted" yesterday, this phrase is moving up there with amen, hallelujah and WWJD (and not in a good way). This is by no means a way for me to move away from the Bible. There are plenty of sectors of life that are taking care of that for me. Instead, it's more of a plea. In changing the small group format with the students, we have begun to engage in more of a discussion format. As we discuss more, we begin to see the HUGE gaps that are present in the Christian mind. Most of us (key emphasis on us) have no idea where anything we believe is supported in Scripture. Not only that, but we can't support most of what we believe with Scripture. It's beginning to become common to hear the words "somewhere in the Bible it says", when in reality it doesn't say that in the Bible at all. This all comes to a head in light of the discussion we had on Sunday Morning. One of the students submitted this question, so as a group we walked through it :

"If God is against murder, then how do Christians justify war?"

(Know that in my heart, my intent isn't to slam any military organization. This coming from a son who dad is one bad dude in the US Army) Our priliminary response is "Easy." However, as a group we began to ask ourselves the question, is that an American response or a Christian word. We uses phrases like "better to bomb than be bombed", "we have to 'deal' with our enemies", "they're out to destroy us, so we need to destroy them", when in reality NONE of those ideas are supported by Jesus! As an American, my heart can begin to sway that way. I have no desires to be attacked. I think in order to prevent, you have to be active. HOWEVER, as a Christian man, I don't find that be a part of my understanding of how God works. I don't think God would ask of His people to eliminate their enemies. I remember something about loving. I don't think God has a retalitation mindset. Something about turning the other cheek and malking an extra mile. As you think of your understanding of war, ask yourself, is your understanding American or can you support Biblically? As you begin to ask those sorts of questions, you find all of us are in the business of religious regurgitation and are simply resounding the same sound we have heard. I'm in the business of reimaging the world and seeing what Jesus would think about all of this. I think if we step back and have an introspective look, He's imagining it differently than we are.
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Now playing: Copeland - Do You Hear What I Hear