The Manna February 2012 by Maranatha, Inc.

M REVENGE

the Manna | February 2012

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the Manna | February 2012

Columns

18 | Just Revenge

07 | Signals 09 | On the Air 12 | Go Out

21 | Praying For Revenge,

Stay in Touch

Is retaliation ever justified?

With Love Giving our hurts to God.

Features 14 | Intended For Good Looking differently at our circumstances.

16 | Odd Getting Even Life isn’t fair!

22 | Light In The Dark

Does the Church have a fading focus?

24 | Reflecting His Glory What the mirror really says about us.

26 | Is Christianity Just a Crutch? We are all broken.

27 | I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry We’ve all been there.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

the Manna | A Publication of Maranatha, Inc. Editor-In-Chief: Debbie Byrd Creative Director: Joe Willey Contributing Writers: Phil Bohaker, Keyanna Butts, Josh Millwood, Brittney Switala, Brent Timmons and Karen Tull Media Client Liaisons: Janet Beckett, Randall Stapleton

Frequently Asked Questions Who We Are The Manna is published by Maranatha, Inc., a Christcentered ministry called to proclaim the Good News of faith and life in Jesus Christ through various forms of media, as God directs, until He returns. “Maranatha” (mer-a-nath´-a) is an Aramaic word found in I Corinthians 16:22. It is translated, “Our Lord, come!” Joy! 102.5 WOLC is also part of Maranatha, Inc. Its call letters stand for “Watch, Our Lord Cometh.” Maranatha!

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Statement of Faith We Believe… that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept; that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that the only hope for man is to believe in Jesus Christ, the virgin-born Son of God, who died to take upon Himself the punishment for the sin of mankind, and who rose from the dead so that by receiving Him as Savior and Lord, man is redeemed by His blood; that Jesus Christ in person will return to Earth in power and glory; that the Holy Spirit indwells those who have received Christ, for the purpose of enabling them to live righteous and godly lives; and that the Church is the Body of Christ and is comprised of all those who, through belief in Christ, have been spiritually regenerated by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The twin mission of the Church is worldwide evangelization, and nurture and discipline of Christians.

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Signals Revenge “I want to tell what really happened... then they’ll get theirs!” Get their what? Who seriously cares? When we think like that, we are really only trying to soothe our own troubled souls. Someone wronged us in a very real way, or maybe only in some slight way. Maybe it resulted in a life change that seemed unfair. Maybe it was all for the best. Maybe we deserved it. Maybe we didn’t. But who seriously cares? With a few significant exceptions, no one other than oneself and God. Oh, there are those rare occasions when a family member, say a child, has been horribly wronged—let’s say kidnapped and molested—and a parent seeks revenge. And, from a human perspective, each of us can understand that. It’s even understood that kind of revenge has consequences that one might actually be willing to pay (both in the spiritual sense and the practical sense)—just to see retribution. But, generally, the wrongs we experience are simply not all that important to anyone else. Chuck Swindoll, in his Wisdom for the Way, points us to Proverbs 11:18-19, “He who sows righteousness gets a true reward. He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life.” He explains that “whether a personal or a public matter, we quickly reveal whether we possess a servant’s heart in how we respond to those who have offended us. And it isn’t enough simply

to say, ‘Well, okay, you’re forgiven, but don’t expect me to forget it!’ That means that we’ve erected a monument in spite in our mind, and that isn’t really forgiveness at all. Servants must be big people. Big enough to go on, remembering the right and forgetting the wrong. Like the age-old saying, ‘Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble...’” He goes on to say, “True servants, when demonstrating genuine love, don’t keep score.” Swindoll points to Webster’s definition of forget: “to lose the remembrance of…to treat with inattention or disregard… to disregard intentionally: OVERLOOK: to cease remembering or noticing…to fail to become mindful at the proper time.” When you really think about it, to not be mindful of someone, to pay them no heed whatsoever, to simply dismiss them and the manner of how they wronged you as not worthy of your time and energy—to let God handle it His way—isn’t that really the best revenge of all? Debbie Byrd is General Manager of Maranatha, Inc., a ministry that includes Joy! 102.5 and the Manna.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

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On the Air God Wins Just a couple of weeks ago, we added a new song by Todd Agnew to our Joy! 102.5 playlist. The song is called “God Undefeatable.” How incredible that those two words in the title say it all! Todd Agnew recently shared with us the background behind the song: I first met the song “God Undefeatable” at an Easter service at my church in Austin, Texas. Normally, my church has multiple services at multiple campuses, but this Easter service we all got to meet together in a basketball arena where the Texas Longhorns usually play. As we were focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus, I began to realize that there really isn’t anything in this world that is undefeatable. The greatest boxer that has ever lived finally lost at some point in time. A great sports team—a dynasty even—only lasts for a little while. The great

nations of our history have come and gone. There’s not anything that truly is undefeatable except for our God—who chose to send his Son to die on a cross to once and for all win the war against sin and death. He is our God and He truly is undefeatable! Listen this month for this new song, along with a variety of others that consistently encourage and, most importantly, lift up Jesus Christ. Rodney Baylous is Program Director of Joy! 102.5. Visit www.wolc.org.

Listen Now! Check out our Program Guide at wolc.org

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

E W

Go Out

It’s A Big World

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Intended For Good By Karen Tull

ne of my favorite movies is the 2002 version of The Count of Monte Cristo, based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas. The story centers around a merchant sailor named Edmond Dantès who, although he is poor and uneducated, is on top of the world in his own way. Not only has he recently been promoted on the ship, the beautiful woman he loves has just agreed to marry him. Life couldn’t be better. But not everyone is excited for Dantès, particularly his best friend, a wealthy aristocrat who is secretly jealous of his newfound good fortune. And so, he decides to conspire with several others to have Dantès wrongfully imprisoned for treason, and he then marries his friend’s fiancée soon after. While incarcerated, Dantès forms a close bond with an old priest who lives in the adjoining cell. Over many years, the priest teaches Dantès everything from economics and literature to philosophy and sword combat. Before the man dies, he also shares with Dantès the location of a large hidden treasure, should he ever escape. And escape he does. Let the payback begin! Once in possession of freedom and fortune, Dantès allows his hatred for his wrongdoers to take over. He channels all of his intelligence and riches into reinventing himself as a Count and studying every move of his betrayers. Eventually, through many clever and elaborate schemes, he hedges them in and ultimately brings about their ruin. What I always find puzzling about the movie is the image displayed at the very end. Right before the credits roll, we see a final shot of the words a prisoner had engraved in the cell wall where Dantès was incarcerated: God Will Give Me Justice. Sure, that statement would be a nice way to cap off the story, except for, of course, the whole part where Dantès takes matters into his own hands and basically kills everyone. More than its having anything to do with God, the story really is about a man on a personal mission to exact his own brand of justice, come what may. While purely fictional, it does provide an interesting parallel to a similar account recorded in Scripture, about a man who was betrayed by those closest to him, stripped of his freedom, and then ultimately elevated to a position of power, where he had the ability to take his revenge. But Joseph, a man of God, handled his situation very differently. Joseph was the favorite son among his 12 brothers. In fact, he was so loved by his father, Jacob, that a special robe was given to him. This doesn’t foster the friendliest relations between Joseph and his siblings. Filled with hatred, they sell their brother to slave traders and conceal their deed from their father.

But Joseph, who is taken to Egypt and bought by an Egyptian officer, finds favor with the Lord and also with the officer, and eventually becomes administrator over the entire household. Soon after, however, Joseph is imprisoned after being wrongfully accused by the officer’s wife. But, as always, the Lord was with Joseph, and he is successful even while incarcerated, from managing the prison affairs to interpreting the dreams of two imprisoned palace officials. Years later, when word gets to Pharaoh of Joseph’s talent for explaining dreams, he is brought from prison into the palace and made governor over all of Egypt. In time, a severe famine overtakes all the land—everywhere except for Egypt. Desperate for food, Joseph’s brothers journey to Egypt to purchase grain. The man with whom they have to do business? Joseph. At last, here is his moment! Joseph is finally in a position to retaliate. His brothers are completely at his mercy—it could not have been scripted any better. What should he do? Perhaps he could have them executed right on the spot. Maybe he could throw them in prison to rot away forever. Or, he could just deny them food and let them starve. But Joseph doesn’t do any of those things. After putting his brothers through a series of character tests, he reveals his true identity and then lavishes upon them grace and mercy. “But Joseph replied, ‘Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people’” (Genesis 50:19-20 NLT). Two similar stories—two entirely different choices. One man cannot see beyond his rage and personal need for revenge, while the other chooses to look beyond the evil done to him and acknowledge God’s sovereignty behind it all. Though his suffering was deep, Joseph entrusted it to God to develop in him wisdom and integrity. And, above all, he understood that only God is justified in dispensing punishment. There’s no doubt: It hurts to be wronged. We can be deliberately snubbed, maligned by gossip, robbed, cheated, physically attacked, and the list goes on. There are endless ways people can harm us. True, we have the free will to go after them in the same way or worse. Revenge, as they say, is sweet. But it is not God’s way, nor is it how He has dealt with us in spite of our sin against Him. Instead, He has poured out His mercy by offering forgiveness through Jesus Christ. And, with His help, we, like Joseph, can learn to look past our pain and ask, “How is God going to use this for good?”

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

Odd Getting Even

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ife is simply not fair. It’s a terrible truth about reality. It’s a quality of life issue introduced after Adam and Eve first sinned. The most frustrating part is there is this innate sense of justice built into the human heart that simply cannot be satisfied because life just isn’t fair. We know it should be. We sense it should be. It used to be in the Garden of Eden. But it is not fair any more. The reason life isn’t fair is because there is right and there is wrong. As soon as that choice is presented, everyone goes in different direction. Like a lot of people, I like to be right. I like to point out when I’m right. And I especially like to point out when you are wrong. We all hold strong opinions about what is right and wrong and then we fight each other when we disagree. On a small scale, this is an argument around the dinner table. On a grand scale; war. In a perfect world there is no Enemy and therefore no enemies. What does a world free from right and wrong look like? We’ll find out once Christ returns. Will the Kingdom of God be like Eden, again? Honestly, I hope clothes are still around. Being naked outside freaks me out. Until then, Jesus left us with what we need to know in order to traverse a world of enemies, or people who think our right is actually wrong. Frustratingly, Jesus’ guidebook is not a collection of the best ways to fight back. That’s what I would have hoped for if I’d been a Jew awaiting the Messiah. I would imagine my Savior to be a fierce, all powerful master of the world who would swoop in and shoot lightning bolts of fury through all who dare stand before Him! But instead we got Jesus - a homely carpenter from Podunk, Galilee. No revenge,

just a man who said to be angry is like murder and to turn the other cheek when someone hits you. Sweet vindication is apparently something for which we are going to have to wait. God’s Justice is coming. Read Revelation and be amazed by the carnage! It is chapter after chapter of visions about those who reject the Lamb of God getting slaughtered, starved, burned, smashed and totally annihilated. It’s truly horrifying, but completely right because it is God’s justice. My issue is that what I often want over my enemies is not justice, but revenge. I want them to feel bad like they made me feel bad. I want them to suffer as I’ve suffered. In truth, I want to lay down some punishment. But that is not my job. Many times in God’s Word we are warned to stay out of the “dishing it out” business. Jesus exemplifies how we are to show grace. In fact He warns that we will be judged by how we judge others – so don’t judge! But God understands the human heart. He gets that we need to know our hurts will be vindicated. The Psalms are filled with David’s pleas for justice against his enemies. Some of them are very intense, to say the least. And David was a man after God’s own heart. God wants Justice, but is patient enough to offer Grace. Philippians 1:28 says “Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself.” Paul is reminding the Philippians that God’s got their back. They may crave revenge, but ultimately Justice will reign and it will be way worse than anything we can dish out under our own power.

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once made the mistake of watching the movie Waiting to Exhale with a male friend. The 1995 box office hit starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett chronicles the life of four best friends and their turbulent relationships with men. The drama-filled film is loaded with themes of adultery, abuse, and betrayal. The movie reaches its climax when one of the four main characters, Bernadine, is told by her husband that he is leaving her for another woman and then tries to prevent a decent divorce settlement. After years of being faithful to an unfaithful man, Bernadine reaches her breaking point. She empties her husband’s closet of designer clothes and expensive merchandise into the back of a car, douses his belongings with gasoline, and then sets it all on fire. As she walks away from the burning car, the look on her face is one of victory and strength. “You go, girl!” I exclaimed. Immediate©2010:HealthSouth:441521

ly, the movie paused. My friend looked at me shocked and amazed. “So you condone revenge?” he asked. I had never considered Bernadine’s actions as one of vengeance, but rather justice. After all the turmoil her husband puts her through, he deserves some consequence for his behavior. It may not have been the “right” thing to do, but it was definitely fair, and she was justified. Unable to fully put my concept of “justified revenge” into words, I simply replied with a shrug. But is there really such a thing as revenge being just? For many, especially Christians, the initial response would be “no,” it is never okay to commit an act of revenge. However, in our society, revenge and justice often overlap. The terrorist attacks on 9-11 and the government’s decision to go to war with Iraq is a perfect example. Many Christians and non-Christians alike felt retaliation was

Just Revenge By Keyanna Butts

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Business Returns & Individual Returns (443) 736-7523 not only justified, but necessary in order to maintain the integrity and reputation of our nation. Psychologically, we’ve been brainwashed to believe that revenge shows people what our personal boundaries are and prevents them from overstepping them. It becomes a form of self-defense. That is why we often hear people say he or she got what they deserved. And isn’t getting what you deserve the definition of justice? The problem is this: Just because you can justify your revenge, it does not make vengeance right. The Bible teaches us the right way to act when we’ve been wronged: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:38-39 KJV). This pacifistic defense strategy is hard

to embrace. It’s a natural instinct to want those who have hurt us to be punished, because it reestablishes balance and fairness in our life. Spiritually speaking, however, it is not our job to punish: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19). There is no greater peace, relief, and empowerment than knowing that the most high, all-powerful God, has our back. That is why, as Christians, our only duty to those who have wronged us is to love them and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). God will handle the rest. These principles nullify any personal desire and/or justification for revenge. When the movie ended, my friend asked the question again, “Do you condone revenge?” “Only in movies,” I replied.

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Praying for Revenge, With Love By Brittney Switala

evenge looks like a third-grade schoolgirl passing a note to her new BFF about her ex-friend. It’s the bullied kid looking up bomb-making recipes. Sometimes it’s even the employee who feels he was wrongly passed over, digging up dirt about the company’s new “darling.” I don’t usually think of vengeance as something associated with grown-ups living Christianly. Sure, we may gripe and complain when life isn’t fair. We may add that wrongdoer to the prayer list, let it simmer in the pit of our stomachs and leave it at that. In the back of our minds there are thoughts of revenge not acted upon, but out of civility, that’s where it ends. Many of us are familiar with Romans 2:19, which reads, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.” God will avenge. Does that mean that during my ladies prayer group it is good and right to petition God to go forth and do His part against the person who hurt me? I’ve never seen that in practice, but there is biblical precedent. I can honestly say there are names that come to mind immediately when I think about seeking big-time revenge. I can see faces frozen in time…a white-haired man who abused a family member, a sassy brunette who teased me in school, and a rail-thin man who deeply frightened me. It has been somewhat cleansing for me to find out that negative things have happened in their lives without my involvement. At the same time, I must say I’ve struggled with feelings of guilt. It just feels wrong to be happy that “they’re getting theirs!” In the Psalms, we can read how David struggled with the same thing. Psalm 3:7 says, “Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.” Wow, that’s some pretty vivid imagery. At the same time, David himself walked away from the sleeping body of King Saul who had actively sought to kill him with armies and even with his own bow and arrow. For one of the people on my “revenge list,” I can see that God physically took care of the revenge. When the serial abus-

er was caught by the authorities, he chose to take his own life. He had been a friend of the family and I had prayed for him to come to Christ. That would have been wonderful; however, the Lord chose eternal punishment instead. I had prayed for justice and God answered that prayer with His holy revenge. In the other two cases, I can see my need to actively let go and increase in love. I’ve learned the gal who bullied me in school is in a revolving door of relationships. The man who scared me is now on medication. I have “forgiven” them and yet reminders of how they’ve hurt me take my memory back to unsavory places. I have to tell myself I have chosen to forgive them and leave that bitterness in my past. For most of us, there are those two or three people that we’d consider the “biggies” who’ve hurt us to the core. Still, in everyday life, we have plenty of people we verbally avenge in the heat of the moment: a “frenemy” in the next cubicle, the supermom that shows you up in front of your kids, and even the husband who won’t put his tools away—again. We enjoy having these people around when the relationships are advantageous, but when they aren’t, we often seek their harm. Our true character comes out in these everyday situations because we are often unwilling to define our outbursts as hate-filled revenge. Scripture says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-47). Praying that I can love my enemies and that God will strike my enemy with His perfect revenge… there is such an obvious tension between the two. I must test my own heart and see if hatred leads or if love is the force behind my words to the Heavenly Father. wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

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here was once a story told about a rocky coastline beleaguered constantly by winds and rough seas. Many a ship had crashed there while trying to navigate the violent storms. The residents in the area decided to hold a meeting to come up with a solution. Eventually, they determined that a lighthouse should be built to warn and guide sailors from their doom. And so, a magnificent lighthouse was indeed erected and, for years, many people were saved from a treacherous demise. As time passed, the committee in charge of maintaining the lighthouse was recognized for its humanitarian accomplishments. Parties were held to celebrate their success, and it became very popular to be a member of such a distinguished organization. The emphasis, however, slowly switched from managing the lighthouse to being occupied with more social and political endeavors.

It wasn’t long before the people stopped giving thought to life-saving. Gradually, the lighthouse went completely untended and grew dark, losing its power due to lack of upkeep. Lives were once again being thrown upon the rocks, but the concern was no longer there among the people, as their attention had been diverted to other things. Does this sound familiar? In a similar way, many churches today have lost their focus. The marquee outside the building may have a clever saying posted on it. The bulletin may boast a long rundown of upcoming events, from dinners and festivals, to soup kitchens and yard sales. But a closer look may find hearts hardened toward the lost. In fact, perhaps many among them are lost themselves, convinced of their own goodness based on their devotion to church activities. And what information is being proclaimed from the pulpit? Today, the “I’m okay and you’re okay” feel-good messages are

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Light in the Dark By Karen Tull

in abundance. Naturally, we are going to clamor to hear that God loves us and we’re special and He wants us to have an amazing life. While all of that is true, it is not the full picture. It omits the reminder that we are depraved sinners before God and utterly deserving of Hell. Not many of us would like to wake up early on a Sunday morning to go hear this: “Honestly, there isn’t a shred of decency in any of you—you’re that bad!” It’s not a fun thought, but it’s the truth (Romans 3:10). Were it not for Jesus Christ providing a way out, we would all be entirely hopeless. And while redemption has been made available, we still sin and that sin is disgusting before God. In the end, He is far more concerned with our holiness than our happiness. Pastor and author Charles Spurgeon once said, “That very church which the world likes best is sure to be that which God abhors.” Indeed, God has strong words in Scripture for the

churches that have turned away: “‘But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love Me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches’” (Revelation 2:4-5 NLT). The church—not the meeting place but the people who belong to the Lord—is to be the light in a dark world. The decision of where to worship is a huge one, requiring time, discernment, and direction. Does this particular church body have a passion for reaching souls for Christ, or a passion for social prominence? Does it help us realize self-fulfilling dreams, or realize ways we need to be more like Christ?

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Reflecting His Glory By Steve Miller

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nless you are in a funhouse, mirrors never lie. Like a loyal friend, a mirror looks you directly in the face and tells you exactly what it sees. Sometimes it is good, sometimes it is not so good—but a mirror always tells the truth. The Apostle Paul uses the image of a mirror in 2 Corinthians to describe the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Both covenants act as a mirror, yet in a stunning contrast, each provides its own unique reflection. Consider, then, the contrasting glories of each covenant using Paul’s illustration. When Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai, the glory of that revelation caused the skin of his face to shine. But instead of inviting the sons of Israel to behold this marvelous sight, Moses did a strange thing…he wore a veil to cover his face. The Old Testament offers no clear explanation for this act, but Paul gives us the reason: “so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away” (2 Corinthians 3:13). Moses understood that the glory of the Law was fading and he wore the veil so the people would not look; so they would not stare; so they would not fix their eyes on the Old Covenant. It does, however, make me wonder: What would have happened if Moses had not covered his face? What would the people have seen if they had stared intently? And more importantly, in our present case: If the Law were a mirror and we stood before it and stared,

what would our true reflection look like? The answer to this is sobering for us to consider but nonetheless true—the Law would show us who we really are in the flesh. It would be a reflection of our true selves: unholy, defiled, wicked, corrupted sinners. What a dreadful sight this would be for us to behold! But according to Paul, this is the effective ministry of the Old Covenant, “a ministry of condemnation” (2 Corinthians 3:9), because all the Law can ever do is condemn men as sinners. The Law was never designed to make a sinful man holy. It has no power to do such a thing. Instead, the Old Covenant acts as a mirror and faithfully does what mirrors are created to do—simply reflect the true image of those who stand before it. By contrast, there is something strange about the New Covenant mirror of which Paul speaks. It bears a reflection vastly different from the Old Covenant mirror. It is wonderfully unique and exceedingly glorious to behold: “But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 3:18). The purpose of standing before any mirror is to discover what we look like, how we appear. But the New Covenant mirror that Paul describes is unlike any other mirror that has ever existed. Instead of seeing ourselves in this mirror, we look and see the glory of the Lord in the face of Christ: “But we do see Him…crowned with glory and honor” (Hebrews 2:9). What an amazing mirror we find in the New Covenant! We do not see ourselves at all…but we do see Jesus. And this becomes the great secret of living the Christian life under the New Covenant—it is ever looking unto Jesus. It is seeing Him for who He truly is and keeping our eyes fixed upon the Christ we behold. It is then that we begin to understand the paradox nature of the New Covenant mirror: that it is, in fact, a reverse mirror! We behold…we look…we stare…but instead of it reflecting us, we reflect it! We actually become the mirror as we behold Christ and begin to reflect His image to those around us: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Every believer has been given this more excellent covenant and ministry. The only thing required is that we stare and stare intently at Jesus, because the more we see Him, the more we become like Him. We become the mirror and all that is left to do is what all mirrors are created to do— simply reflect the image that we see.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

Is Christianity Just a Crutch?

ÂŠStockbyte

by Simon Wenham

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n Mere Apologetics, Alister McGrath points out that “one of the most familiar criticisms of Christianity is that it offers consolation to life’s losers.” Believers are often caricatured as being somewhat weak and naïve—the kind of people who need their faith as a “crutch” just to get them through life. In new atheist literature, this depiction is often contrasted with the image of a hardier intellectual atheist who has no need for such infantile, yet comforting, nonsense. This type of portrayal may resonate with some, but does it really make sense? Firstly, it is helpful to define what we mean by a “crutch.” In a medical setting, the word obviously means an implement used by people for support when they are injured. The analogy implies, therefore, that those who need one are somehow deficient or wounded. In a sense, it is fairly obvious that the most vulnerable might need support, but as the agnostic John Humphrys points out, “Don’t we all? Some use booze rather than the Bible.” As this suggests, it is not so much a question of whether you have one, but it is more of a question of what your particular crutch is. This is an important point to make, as people rely on all kinds of things for their comfort or selfesteem, ranging from material possessions, money, food, and aesthetics to cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, and sex. Rather than being viewed as signs of weakness, many of these are even considered to be relatively normal in society, provided they don’t turn into the more destructive behavior associated with strong addiction. Nevertheless, many of these only offer a short-term release from the struggles of life and they sometimes only cover up deeper problems that a person might be suffering from. To suggest, therefore, that atheists are somehow stronger than believers is to deny the darker side of humanity, which is only too apparent if we look at the world around us. As McGrath explains: “[I]f you have a broken leg, you need a crutch. If you’re ill you need medicine. That’s just the way things are. The Christian understanding of human nature is that we are damaged, wounded and disabled by sin. That’s just the way things are.” Moreover, Augustine of Hippo compared the church to a hospital, because it is full of wounded and ill people in the process of being healed. As is the case with any illness, this treatment cannot begin, however, until someone has admitted they are sick or need help. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that religious belief does have an advantageous effect on both mental and physical health. Andrew Sims, former President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, writes that a “huge volume of research” confirms this, making it “one of the best-kept secrets in psychiatry and medicine generally.” In a culture that often seems to exalt health, well-being, and happiness above other things, this would seem to render religious belief very appealing both to the weak and the strong in society.

Many believers testify to the transformative effect that becoming a Christian has had on their lives and this can include being delivered from some of the crutches they had previously relied upon. Yet, the idea that coming to faith is somehow either liberating or empowering is, of course, anathema to many people. Christopher Hitchens, for example, speaks of the totalitarian nature of Christianity that keeps its followers in a state of constant subservience. G. K. Chesterton saw it differently, however, as he suggested that the “dignity of man” and the “smallness of man” was held in perfect tension, allowing people to have a strong sense of self-worth without becoming big-headed. Yet God clearly offers much more than this. In 1 Corinthians 12:9 it says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The idea of strength flowing from human powerlessness may seem counter-intuitive in today’s risk-averse culture, but as Simon Guillebaud points out, “Paradoxically, our waving the white flag of submission to God’s right over our lives is the key that unlocks the gate to many future victories in his name.” Nevertheless, as C. S. Lewis observed, people will still choose to cling on to their crutches, even though something much better is being offered to them: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” It can be helpful, therefore, to reflect on what we really rely upon in our own lives and what impact this has upon us. As the blogger and former atheist, Daniel Rodgers, reminds us, we do not want to miss out on the fullness of life that God offers all of us, whether we think we need it or not: “The truth of the matter is that Jesus never offered a crutch, only a cross; it wasn’t a call to be a better person with high self-esteem or a plan to help us scrape through our existence. It was a call to acknowledge that the forgiveness we all seek is to be found in him by following him onto the cross... It’s because Christianity is true that it has something to offer every person in every circumstance, regardless of their background or intellectual capabilities.” Simon Wenham is research coordinator for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Europe. Is Christianity Just a Crutch? by Simon Wenham, A Slice of Infinity, No. 2640, orignally printed January 19, 2012 (www.rzim.org). Used by permission of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

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I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry By B.A. Timmons

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ing to propagate our species. We may find a mate, but that will not necessarily bring an end to our loneliness. We were created to have our loneliness satisfied by God Himself. It was only after I had just about decided that I could live alone and trust God to make me content in that state, that He brought along my wife. And she, no—He, dealt a blow to my loneliness. Hear that lonesome whippoorwill He sounds too blue to fly The midnight train is whining low I’m so lonesome I could cry I’ve never seen a night so long When time goes crawling by The moon just went behind the clouds To hide its face and cry Did you ever see a robin weep When leaves began to die? Like me he’s lost the will to live I’m so lonesome I could cry The silence of a falling star Lights up a purple sky And as I wonder where you are I’m so lonesome I could cry

was very young when I saw the movie Your Cheatin’ Heart. It came out in 1964 and depicted the life of Hank Williams, Sr. My parents owned the movie soundtrack, which created a confusion my young mind could not get straight. On the album cover was a picture of the actor who portrayed Williams in the movie, so I assumed Hank looked like George Hamilton. The songs on the soundtrack were sung by Hank Williams, Jr., who actually did sound much like his father. So, the true identity of Hank Williams was a blur for me. This is no condemnation of my parents, but in hindsight, a 6-year-old kid probably had no business listening to Hank Sr. or Hank Jr. sing “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” It is terribly troubling, maybe the saddest of all sad songs—not just in the words, but the tone. Yet, it was immensely popular, perhaps because it speaks to one of the most common of all human conditions: loneliness. In this song, Hank’s loneliness is apparently due to being separated from the woman he loves (“…and as I wonder where you are...”). It would seem that men, by design (or if you are a Darwinist, by instinct), seek to quiet loneliness with a mate. My own years of loneliness were the worst from the day I first began to crave a spouse until the day the Lord gave me one. Loneliness would come and go, depending on the status of that quest.I think the Lord held off on giving me a mate until He was able to teach me a vital lesson. Contrary to what may seem logical, loneliness is not meant to be satisfied by a spouse. We are not ordinary creatures seeking to satisfy an instinctual crav-

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Give Us Rest (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys]): David Crowder Band Some book series end with a massive volume that gets turned into two separate movies. That’s what the final 2-disc album from the David Crowder Band feels like. Give Us Rest is cinematic in its sweeping themes. Early tracks “Oh Great God/Give Us Rest” and “Come Find Me” feel like a whispered prayer from a dream. Half-way through the first 20 songs (there are 34 total), the music begins to get more aggressive. It’s a familiar Crowder blend of electronica, rock, and folk. By the end of the first disc, your emotions are spent and your ears are a bit swollen from the sheer largeness of it all. Then comes part 2—the beginning of the end. Each sweet worship song has that fierce complexity the band is famous for, but also the familiarity of a worship chorus you imagine singing with hundreds of others in corporate worship. The song “Oh My God” feels like the song that the band has been trying to write for ten years. The final few tracks venture all the way back to Crowder’s Texas church roots. The final goodbye is a sampling of old church hymns. Quite simply, it’s a love note. The entire volume is a cheeky farewell that leaves you hoping for the inevitable reunion. Purchase it now: http://www.amazon.com/Give-Us-RestDavid-Crowder/dp/B006DICWHW/ref=ntt_mus_ep_ dpi_1/188-3587608-5867119

Love Songs: Nat King Cole Valentine’s Day evokes various reactions in people. On one end of the spectrum are the sentimental individuals who enjoy huge, calligraphy-laden greeting cards, bombastic flower bouquets, and heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. At the opposite end are those who write the day off as a money-making scheme and declare with clenched teeth that Hallmark will not dictate to them when to show affection. (Perhaps these two groups could be labeled “Women” and “Men.”) And then there are people whose romantic struggles cause them to loathe the day, and they spend each February 14th in a major funk and wishing for a few minutes alone with Cupid in a long, dark alley. Regardless of what group you find yourself in, this soothing compilation of songs is sure to please. One of the most cherished vocalists of all time sings some of the finest lyrics ever written. The orchestrations, heavy with strings and piano, might literally make you inhale and exhale deeply with eyes closed—the music is that beautiful. It transports you back to a simpler, more innocent time—before e-mails, texts, The Bachelor, eHarmony, and the Kardashians—when romance meant a handwritten love letter or poem, holding hands, and stealing a kiss. Life can be crazy these days, but when Nat King Cole is singing “Stardust,” everything just seems a little more right with the world. These reviews are provided by Maranatha, Inc. staff and contributing writers.

wolc.org | readthemanna.org | February 2012

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