Saints!

So, I just got done watching Boondock Saints for the "I don't know how many times". What a great movie with great action, acting, a great story line, and terrible theology. The theology in that movie is awful, yet I think we might be able to learn something from it. I do not condone the murder of anyone, nor the attempt to play God as the characters in the movie have done, but is there something to be said for Christians today acting in response to injustice? No, we are not supposed to go out and try and kill all of the bad guys, that would be just as bad as what the bad guys did, but we are supposed to do something. I don't think that everyone is called to go out and do something, but there are people who are called, and if you are called I pray that you embrace what God has called you to do. For instance the International Justice Mission and Invisible Children are just two examples of what it means and looks like for Christians to go out and fight for injustice. The key here is not to fight for injustice for the sake of justice, but to fight for injustice for the sake of Christ. To be able to give people freedom from bondage not only from the principalities and powers of this world, but also to fight for their eternal freedom, which is in Jesus Christ. I find it so important not to just go out and preach the word, but to fight against the terrible things in this world and the injustices happening to people. We must go beyond the walls of the church and even our country and fight for justice in the name of Christ, have the honor of doing God's work and giving those who are captive, maybe just a taste of what the Holy City will one day be like. A place where there is no injustice, a place where all who suffer will one day be vindicated, a place where we can bow before the One who has sacrificed everything to save all those who proclaim His name. I give much respect and props to those ladies and gentlment who have the guts, courage, and faith to fight for others and there vindication here one earth. These people are our modern day Saints. The people who go out and fight for justice on the streets, who have inner city minsitries, who sacrifice all for the sake of the cross. And those who leave our country in pursuit of rescuing young women from the sex trade and who seek to liberate those who are captive. It is so great to see what these people are doing and to see a glimpse of what true redemption and vindication will be like for those who have suffered and those who will one day be honored for their obedience and their fight for injustice in the name of Christ. Redemption, grace, reconciliation, and vindication through Christ and the Cross, this is what the Holy City is about.

what it means to be a husband

So, lately I have been thinking about how I can be a better husband to my wife Megan, and what exactly it means to be a good husband. I haven't quite figured it out. The bible tells us to love our wives as Christ loves the Church. How on earth am I supposed to do that when I am super pissed off and mad at my wife? I am still trying to figure this all out. I know that in spite of my anger I need to love my wife as Christ loves the Church. I have been thinking even more about the homily that was given by Adam Neder (Professor of Theology at Whitworth University) at my wedding. Adam talked about how Jesus doesn't compromise. He doesn't settle for half ass, it's all or nothing. Adam related this to marriage. It's not about compromising it's about sacrificing for each other, laying down your pride and maybe even your life for your spouse. This is really hard to do. It's hard to sacrifice yourself for the sake of someone else, even if you love them dearly. We are selfish creatures, no offense, but especially men. We are prideful beings and we don't lay down our pride very well. We are worried more about sports, beer, sex, and food, than the well being of the ones we love. I know that is stereotypical and a bit of an exaggeration, but it is true to an extent. I don't know if I will ever figure this out (I am pretty sure I won't)! Don't get me wrong I love beer, sports, food, and sex, but my wife is more important on a whole different level. I am just trying to find out how to show her that she is that important, and love her so that she know that she is that important. I think my whole life and marriage will consist of me trying to figure out how to sacrifice for my wife and to love my wife as Christ loves the Church. I hope that any married males reading this would strive for the same things.

Andrew Esqueda

Who am I?

Who am I? Is a question that everyone asks themselves at one point or another. We ask this question to find out what we were meant to do, what we were meant to be in this world? I think this is a good question to ask, but I also think that people can go overboard. Instead of finding out who they want to be, they find out what/who everyone else wants them to be or what they can be what makes them unique. I honestly believe that we were all created for purposes. We all have purpose and belonging, I think the problem is that many of us aren't satisfied with who we are. We decide that we need to dress different, we decide that we need to be skinnier, we decide that we need to be another gender, we decide that we need alcohol. Why is it that we, as humans, cannot be content with the things that God has given us. I am often not content in my life, and then I have to ask myself am I more worried about serving myself or God and others? I understand people get frustrated with themselves and are unhappy, and I am very guilty of this, but I wonder what we can do to change this in society? What can Christians do to engage society in a way that they can show the love and grace of Christ? I think it is very important that Christians engage in culture to be examples, to be friends, to be kind to those who struggle with the question of who am I? This goes for Christians and non-Christians alike. We all struggle with who we are. For Christians we must struggle for who we are in Christ. It is so important we root ourselves in Christ and not in culture, that we find out who we are in Christ and not in culture. I took a class this semester on Perspective on Christ and Culture and these are just some of the thoughts that have been flowing through my head over the last couple months.

America+Jesus=American Patriot's Bible=SAD!

So, the other day I was surfing the web and I came across a great blog called "faith-theology". It's a great blog that I have started to follow. On this blog was a link to another blog in which there was a title that said "the worst bible ever". This was intriguing to me so I clicked on the link and I checked it out. What was before my eyes was unbelievable, frightening, and saddening. The blog was about a book review done by Greg Boyd author of "Myth of A Christian Nation" (a prominent pastor/theologian/philosopher). The book review was on a bible called the "American Patriots Bible". I could not believe it when I saw it. Why would anyone make a bible like this. What on earth does Jesus Christ have to do with American Patriotism. Jesus Christ has engagement with American Culture as He also does with the other culture's of this world, but American Patriotism is a nationalistic American creation, not something from God. Greg Boyd wrote an excellent review and asked some very important questions about this bible. The bible glorified Constantinian violence, there were patriotic pictures at the beginning of each book of the bible, and worst of all the commentary dared to somewhat parallel soldiers giving their lives for America with Jesus giving his life for the salvation of the world. As Richard Niebuhr would say this is a "Christ of Culture" perspective taken by this bible. This is a grave problem that must be addressed. First off what does Jesus have to do with American Patriotism? The answer to that is absolutely nothing. Not only was Jesus against patriotism and the politics of the time in the bible, but he also took a non-violent approach, and approach of humbleness is what won on the cross not one of violence. Second, what does America have to offer Jesus that other countries and peoples don't? The answer to that is nothing. We are not a Christian nation, nor a Christian world. Jesus came to save all humanity not only America and other powerful countries. Thirdly, When Christ and culture become synonomous, we should all be rightfully worried. This is a view held by Paul Tillich and others, but by no means is this idea found in scripture. When Christ and culture become synonomous there is no serparation. Christ is culture and culture is Christ. The things of God are widdled down to what ever culture wants them to be and our view of Jesus and scripture becomes a subjective one. Scripture is turned into the Constitution and Jesus is turned into General Macarthur. Not only do scripture and Jesus get widdled down to what ever we want them to be, but they also change with the times and with culture. We must have a view of God everlasting and scripture inspired. Post-modernism scares me very much with the attempt to make Jesus appeal to the times and to turn scripture into a hand book for social justice. We must have more of an eternal view of scripture and Jesus. There can be no revelation in America, for if there was there would be another grace than that which was accomplished and given through Jesus on the cross. The "American Patirot's Bible" is a sad view of what America is turning Christianity and even worse, what Christianity is turning America into. America is turning Christianity into whatever it wants it to be, and Christianity is turning America into Christianity. The act of synonymity between Christianity and America results in blurred lines and a watered down view of scripture. The root of Christianity is Jesus on the Cross and the redemption we have through the underserved grace given to us. Unfortunately it seems as though the root of Christianity is moving from the cross to American's sacrifice for their country. What are we coming to when Christian's are taking an emphasis from the cross and putting on the actions of fallen humanity? This is frustrating! I pray that Christians would realize the significance of the cross and stop trying to get around it. Why are people not satisfied with the sacrifice and grace of Jesus Christ? Don't get me wrong I love our country and I fully appreciate the sacrifice of our soldiers, but nothing is greater than the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. This is Christianity; Jesus on the Cross!

It's been a while!

So, it has beena while since my fist post. I have been extremely busy with school and life in general. It's an interesting time in life. I'm newly married to my great wife Megan, I am a graduate student, I am living in a new city, and I am broke as a joke. I find my self having to come to grips with my arrogance. As a male you always feel that you need to be the bread winner the one supporting your family. I have come to a point in life where i can't do that, that's not to say that I don't want to. And I don't fully agree with that paradigm as well. Regardless, I hae had to humble myself and realize that I can do nothing apart from Christ. There is nothing I can do except pray and trust that God will provide, and He has in many ways. We often think that we can do everything on our own rather than giving our burdens and hardships up to God. Everytime I try and do this I fail or I get burnt out. So, long story short my wife and I are in a hard time in life and are trying our best to give our lives up to Christ and to trust in Him. This is just a short blurb of what I am thinking and I promiss I will write more soon.

Andrew Esqueda
M.A Biblical and Theological Studies
Fuller Theological Seminary