Spiritual Formation and Building Zigguruts

"Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves. . ." Genesis 11:4. Why do we attempt to ascend into the heavens when it is He who descended to us? Why do we try to find him in hidden places when He reveals himself openly through the preached word and the sacraments? It is most often through the ordinary rather than the extraordinary that we find Him. With ordinary water we are baptized, with ordinary bread and wine we do partake of the Lord's supper, and by ordinary men we are delivered the word.

That's God with a small "g"

Tony Compolo has been taking a well deserved theological beating in the reformed blogosphere by the likes of Al Mohler and others based on his recent article "Katrina: Not God's Wrath -- or His Will." Am I supposed to find comfort in this? I just hope that Tony's god is big enough to forgive sins. As Jesus said in the fifth Chapter of Luke, "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?"

"Acts of God"

Well, it has started again. The world is trying to reconcile how a "loving God" could allow such a horrible natural disaster befall America. It just doesn't seem to fit into the modern evangelical's Tigger Theology (See previous Pooh post). Accordingly, there seems to be two (2) primary reactions. There are those that are convinced it was the wrath of God being poured out onto the wicked and adulterous city of New Orleans. I even read one article today that hinted Katrina's timing, just a few days prior to the city's annual gay festival, was more than a coincidence. You have to ask yourself then, why hasn't Las Vegas been leveled by a meteorite? What about Bangkok or, for that matter, why is my house still standing? On the other hand, there are those who say, "see, this is evidence that there is no God at all, or at the very least he is an evil and sadistic God." These folks seem to forget that this is the same God who has held back billions of gallons of seawater every other day since the time of Noah. The providence of God is often difficult, if not impossible, to discern when such horrid disasters befall us. May God have mercy on these poor people and let those who believe look to the promises of God for their comfort -- He has and will redeem His people and one day restore shalom to the earth. "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20.