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Spiritual Lessons from the Lion King

September 3, 2015 by bjcorbin

We live in an interesting era, where most people don’t struggle with the idea of a spiritual realm, or even the existence of spirits; but where many (including a significant number of professing “Christians”) struggle to accept the notion of a literal devil, or the existence of hell.  For the first 30+ years of my life I was essentially blind and numb to spiritual things, but all of that changed when I had a very real encounter with the Holy Spirit of God.  That singular moment changed the trajectory of my life by making God real to me in a way that He hadn’t been before; but it also opened my eyes to the invisible realm, which includes demons, and demonic activity.  I’ve had curious people ask me about such things, and I like to use the “Lion King” as an example of how it works.

 

Simba represents each of us, while Mufasa represents all three persons of God.  He is Simba’s father, who gives his life to save him, and whose spirit guides him.  His rules were meant to protect his children, but Simba chooses to go his own way.  Scar represents the enemy of our souls, whose real intention is to steal, kill, and destroy.  In the presence of the genuine King, Scar is powerless, but after Mufasa’s death, his accusations drive Simba from his father’s kingdom (the Pride Lands), and cause him to forfeit his rights as an heir to the throne.  Just as Satan has demons to do his work, Scar has his pack of Hyenas to do his bidding. 

 

As long as Simba was willing to live the “hakuna matata” (no worries in Swahili) lifestyle with Timon and Pumbaa, he posed little threat to Scar, and was largely left alone.  Of course, he had to live in a very demeaning way for a lion; eating bugs and the like; but his friends made it bearable.  That was until Nala shows up, and reminds him of where he came from, and that his family is suffering at the hands (or paws) of Scar and his sidekicks.  But even though Simba wants to help, the voice of the accuser again causes him to doubt himself.  Though Rafiki plays the role of a prophet, it is eventually the voice of his father that is able to remind Simba of who he is, and of what his destiny was meant to be.  With the word of his father burning within his heart, Scar becomes powerless to stop Simba from taking his rightful place as the heir to the throne.

 

Like Simba, we have all gone on own way, and the accuser of the brethren has a lot to say about it.  If we believe in what he is saying, we will forfeit our rightful place in our Father’s kingdom.  If we choose to take the “hakuna matata” approach to the problem, we will live well beneath the level we were created for, and never find our way back to our homeland.  We all desperately need to have the same revelation that Simba had, which is that we are loved, forgiven, meant to dwell in our Father’s kingdom, and created to be an heir to His throne.  Our identities need to become rooted in that revelation, and it needs to propel us into the battle against the illegitimate authority of our enemy.  The scripture tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, “but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph. 6:12)”.  If we are really worried about the direction our country is headed, I would suggest that this is the battle we need to be engaging in.

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Thought for the Day – Helpdesk

August 9, 2015 by bjcorbin

Microsoft Helpdesk:  “This is the Microsoft Helpdesk, can I help you?”

 

Computer User:  “I sure hope so.  I just bought one of your computers last week, and now it’s not working for me.”

 

Helpdesk:  “Can you describe how it’s not working?”

 

User:  “Well, when I first hooked it up, it was fast and did everything I asked it to do.  But every day since then it seemed to get slower, and all of these things kept popping up on the screen.   Now I can’t seem to get anything to work.”

 

Helpdesk:  “Can you tell me what kind of anti-virus program you’re using?”

 

User:  “I’m not using any anti-virus program.  It’s a brand new computer, it shouldn’t have any viruses on it.  The salesman did try to sell me some sort of expensive software package, but I didn’t fall for that.”

 

Helpdesk:  (After a silent pause) “So how did you handle those things that kept popping onto the screen?”

 

User:  “I clicked on them, and if they looked suspicious, I deleted them.”

 

If you know anything about computers, and the internet, the scenario described above probably made you cringe.  In this day and age, you can hardly afford to connect anything to the internet without some form of protection, and everyone knows that you shouldn’t just click on “pop-ups” or e-mails from unknown addresses.  There are all sorts of things floating around cyberspace that can, and will, do harm to your system.  And most people try to be prudent about what they let into their domains.

 

Unfortunately, I’m not so sure that we exercise that same diligence with our thought life.  Like the internet, our minds can be crammed full of information, stimuli, ideas, experiences, opinions, memories…, which all have the potential to move us intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and ultimately into some sort of action.  The power of our thoughts cannot be overstated.  The most heinous acts in human history began as a thought or idea in someone’s mind.  I recently read a story about a teenager who murdered a little girl in his neighborhood; and when he was questioned about his motive, he stated, “I just wanted to know what it would feel like to kill someone”.  I would suggest that this thought was like a pop-up, that just needed to be deleted upon arrival.  Instead, he decided to open it, and it eventually became a life altering reality.  While this example may seem extreme, I’ve watched “Christian” families destroyed by thoughts as simple as, “I wonder what my life would be like if I hadn’t married my spouse”, or “When is it my turn to have some fun?”

 

The Bible warns us to take every thought captive, and make it subject to Christ.  And it also says that we should test everything by the Holy Spirit.  Like a firewall, and anti-virus software, these principles are meant to protect our operating systems, so that we can be available for the eternal work of God’s Kingdom.  While we don’t always have control over what might pop-up on our screens, we have ultimate responsibility for what we choose to click on, and open.

 

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Thought for the Day – Choosing Life

August 5, 2015 by bjcorbin

Early on in scripture we learn that God sets before us, “life and death, blessings and curses.”  And even though it may seem like an obvious choice, He encourages us to “choose life”.  I would suppose that some might wonder who in the world would choose death/curses over life/blessings, but as we read the balance of scripture, I sense that most of us unwittingly do it almost every day.

 

The book of Proverbs tells us that there is a way that seems right to a man, and that it ultimately leads to death.”  If we accept that as truth, we’re saying that living life by our own sense of what’s right is essentially choosing the way of death.  In the gospels we learn that Jesus is the way, the truth and the “life”, and that He came that we might have “life”, and have it to the full.  From this, we can derive that choosing life equates to following Jesus and His ways.  And while that may bring on a big sigh of relief from those who count themselves as “Christian”, I would submit that there is a world of difference between believing in Jesus, and following Him and His ways.

 

The reality check here is that scripture tells us, “small is the gate, and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  In the end, we must choose to take that narrow road in order to choose life.

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Thought for the Day – Riding the Bull

August 4, 2015 by bjcorbin

Most people are familiar with the “Serenity Prayer”, which goes something like, “Lord give me the strength to change the things I can change; the patience to live with the things I cannot; and the wisdom to know the difference between the two.”  And while this is not directly from the scripture, I have found it to be a very worthwhile approach.  Years ago, when I was wrestling with something that I could not change, the Lord said, “You’re trying to ride a bull.”  And while I certainly felt beat up by my circumstance, I wasn’t really sure exactly what He meant.  After some time of meditation, the Lord added, “I never created a bull to be ridden; a man came up with that idea.”  That image has remained vivid for me ever since.  Now, when I try to wrap my arms (and emotions, and energy…) around something that is not mine to control, I see myself on that bull, and I try to quickly let go.

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Who Do You Say That I Am?

July 30, 2015 by bjcorbin

As Christians, and Christianity, increasingly fall out of favor within the popular culture, I’ve noticed a growing reluctance to use either of those terms.  More often, you’ll hear such people described as, “religious” or “spiritual” or maybe even as “people of faith”.  Within the church community (a.k.a. the faith community), you’ll frequently hear the word “believers” used.  And while all of those terms can be functional to some degree, none of them is singularly adequate to describe what a true follower of Jesus Christ is meant to be.  Though I can’t deny that the meaning of the word, “Christian” has become progressively more difficult to define, these substitute terms manage to introduce even more ambiguity into the conversation.

 

It all starts with what you believe.  And any person who believes that there is a god (or a higher power) could rightfully be classified as a “believer”.  This would include other major religious groups, such as Muslims and Jews.  When these, or any other, beliefs become transcendent, we commonly refer to them as faith.  Thus, being a “person of faith” simply means that an individual fervently believes is something (e.g. a Humanist has faith in the basic goodness of man).

 

Whatever we choose to believe about God, and His purposes, forms the basis of our theology; and how we choose to respond in light of that theology becomes the foundation of our religion and religious practice.  Major religions generally derive their doctrine from ancient writings such as the Torah, the Quran, and the Bible; while varying interpretations of those texts further splinter those groups into even smaller assemblies (e.g. sects, denominations…).  While having a theology of any kind will normally result in some sort of religious response, people can, and do, practice religion that is not specifically related to God (e.g. nature worshipers).  Thus, being “religious” isn’t as indicative as we might think.

 

Similarly, being spiritual is little more than demonstrating an awareness of the spiritual realm, which can be, and often is, disconnected from God or religion.  In fact, as our culture has veered further from the practice of orthodox religion, it’s fascination with spiritual things has only seemed to grow.  Palm Readers and Wiccans can accurately be described as “spiritual”.

 

My interest in discussing these things is not to settle on what we need to call ourselves, it is to come to a clearer understanding of who were are meant to be.  My concern is that our acceptance of these monikers can subtly distort our sense of purpose and identity.  As much as these particular terms fail to encompass that personage, each one can be an element of the character.

 

We are definitely called to be “believers”, but that must extend beyond simply believing that there is a God.  Within the Christian paradigm, this term refers to one who believes that Jesus was the Son of God, who became a man, and who died for our sins.  Through the gospels, we are introduced to Jesus, and we learn of God’s plan to reconcile man to Himself, and to become an active part of our daily lives.  If we choose to accept His invitation, and to put our trust in Him, we become “people of faith”.

 

But the scripture also tells us that unless our faith spurs us to action, it is a dead thing.  So genuine faith requires a response to God and to His purposes; and that response is generally viewed as religious activity or religion.  And while acting on our faith is essential, we must understand that our religion is not sacred, it is our connection to God that is sacred.  Our religion is only valuable to the extent that it enhances that relationship.  Jesus warned His followers that not everyone involved in religious activity would enter the Kingdom of heaven, and His strongest rebukes were aimed at the religious people of His day.  We were never meant to simply pursue righteousness, because only Jesus lived a truly righteous life.  He fulfilled those requirements, and we are supposed to be pursuing Him.

 

He explained to His disciples that His sheep know His voice; that they listen, and they follow.  To that end, He gave us the gift of His Holy Spirit, to guide and empower us on the journey.  Interacting with His Spirit requires us to tap into the “spiritual” part of our being, and opens the door for a genuine and dynamic relationship with the Living God.  This relationship is not only meant to transform our lives, it is ultimately meant to transform us.

 

Despite the beauty and perfection of this plan, which literally pushed open the gates of heaven, the scripture tells us that “few find it”.  Our human nature causes us to stop short, and to rationalize that our religious activity will be good enough to ensure our spot in heaven.  But even if that were true, the general lack of transformation in our lives, and in our character, thwarts God’s plan for His children to become “salt and light” to a lost and dying world.  The scripture tells us that “creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” and considering the spiritual condition of our world, I’ve no doubt that is true.  So maybe, instead of spending time lamenting the advancing darkness, or beating our chests about our dwindling status within the culture, we should be focused on growing beyond our identity as “religious” people, “spiritual” people, or “people of faith”, and stepping into our role as “sons of God”.

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Thought for the Day – Smug Religious Attitudes

July 27, 2015 by bjcorbin

It’s easy to convince yourself that you are holy when you live your life inside the protective walls of a monastery; or to judge a fellow disciple for sinking in the waves, while you sit comfortably in the back of the boat. A reservist may think that serving a couple of weeks a year qualifies them as a warrior, but it does not compare with manning the frontlines on a daily basis.

Nothing stirred Jesus’ ire more than a smug religious attitude, and I find myself feeling the same way.  It reminds me of something Mahatma Gandhi said, “Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians – you are not like him.” Jesus said that people would be able to distinguish His followers by the way they love each other. Until we get that right, we shouldn’t expect to have much impact on a lost world.

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Raising a “Born Leader”

July 23, 2015 by bjcorbin

At a very young age, my son Patrick was a take charge kind of guy, and I used to joke that even though he was a “born leader”, there didn’t seem to be anyone willing to follow a five year old.  While that line was good for an occasional chuckle, it actually encapsulates a very real issue for those birthed with a calling to leadership.  I believe that God equips us with the gifts and abilities needed to fulfill His divine purposes in our lives; and I don’t believe that they just magically appear when we need them.  I sense they exist within us (often times in seed form) from the time we are born, and that they must be nurtured and cultivated along the way.  If this is accurate, it may be more fitting to say, “born to be a leader”, as it acknowledges that one must grow into such a role.  Even after the prophet declared that David would one day be king, no one bowed down to him.  In fact, he was sent back out to the fields to tend the sheep (for years).  Similarly, recognizing this calling in the lives of our children doesn’t mean that we should put them in charge of the nursery, or even let them pick out their own clothes.

 

While the idea that our kids could one day become “leaders of men” may sound glamorous, raising a child with classic leadership traits (e.g. fearless, proactive, outspoken, stubborn, independent…) can be a challenging endeavor.  Such a child is generally classified as “strong-willed”, which some view as an affliction, or even a defect.  I remember being told that I needed to “break” my son’s will/spirit while he was still young, but the Lord strongly impressed upon me that this was not His desire.  He showed me that He’d put these qualities within the boy for a reason, and that I needed to help him to develop into the man he was created to be.  Again, that sort of thing sounds good on paper, but how do you do it?

 

As I prayed, I sensed that the first step was to teach Patrick to recognize, and yield to “legitimate” authority.  The scripture teaches us that fear (i.e. awe, reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  It is the recognition that there is a power greater than ourselves, and that we are subject to it.  No matter what position of leadership he might be destined for, learning to submit to those with genuine authority is an essential trait.  Leaders who miss this step in their development generally become tyrants.

 

Another important concept was the proper application of the strength that God has given him.  Helping him to understand that this power wasn’t meant to simply get him what he wants, but that it is intended to be a resource for God to protect and serve the children He loves.  Ultimately, authentic leadership isn’t as much about controlling people, as it is about serving them.  Leaders who fail to grasp this principle are likely to become bullies.

 

As we’ve travelled further along this path, I’ve sensed that the first charge for any emerging leader is to lead by example.  For how can someone be trusted with the governance of others, when they are unable to govern themselves.  In fact, good leaders often attain their position by simply walking with integrity, and finding that people have fallen in line behind them.  While this organic emergence into a position of leadership is ideal, it isn’t always possible.  But how a leader steps into that role is a critical factor.  Those who seize power/control rarely hold onto it for very long, and are far more likely to have it ripped from their hands.  Installation into a leadership position is best facilitated by those who possess legitimate authority over that position, or by the consensus of those who would be subject to it (e.g. electing a Union President or team Captain).

 

As time has gone on, I’ve come to recognize leadership qualities in all of our kids, and to understand that they are all called to lead in one capacity or another.  At the very least, they will need to lead their families.  As such, these principles apply to them as well.  And while I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, I would offer the following condensed list to anyone trying to raise a “born leader”.

 

Raising a “Born Leader”

 

  • Don’t attempt to break their will/spirit, endeavor to mold it
  • Teach them to recognize and yield to legitimate authority
  • Teach them not to use their strength to oppress or abuse, but to protect and serve
  • Teach them that they must first lead by example before they can expect an actual leadership position
  • Teach them that positions of leadership are best when they are given, and not seized

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Thought for the Day – Conflict of Interest

July 13, 2015 by bjcorbin

Our struggle with God is often rooted in the fact that we’re seeking a change in circumstance, while He’s after a change of heart.

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A Response to the Changing Times

July 9, 2015 by bjcorbin

As a young person I had little regard for history, but the longer I live, the more I understand the concept that “there is nothing new under the sun”.  Even though a circumstance may seem unprecedented within our own experience, it has surely been faced by someone, at some other point in time.  This principle became even clearer to me, a few years ago, as I read about the life and times of the German Pastor/Theologian, “Dietrich Bonhoeffer”; who was executed by the Nazis, just days before the end of World War II.

 

This gruesome ending stood in stark contrast to Bonhoeffer’s earliest days, which seemed almost idyllic.  Born into a prosperous Christian family, he was proud of his German heritage, and unashamed of his faith.  As a young man, his love of country and his devotion to the church didn’t seem to be in conflict, but the world around him was quietly changing.  In the early1930s, he studied in the United States, and when asked about the caustic rhetoric of emerging party leader, “Adolph Hitler”, Dietrich expressed utter confidence that his beloved nation and it’s countrymen would never allow such a man to come to power.  Much to his dismay, Hitler was appointed Chancellor just a few years later, and rose to prominence based largely on an improving economy, and the idea that he was restoring Germany to it’s former grandeur.  Bonhoeffer’s disillusionment continued as the Third Reich came into power, and the people seemingly turned a blind eye to their abuse of authority.

 

For the first time in his life, he felt as though his country and his faith were at odds, and that he had to choose a side.  But even that proved difficult, as the majority of national church leaders decided to submit to the demands of the Nazi regime.  Bonhoeffer quickly found that he’d not only become an outcast within this new society, but that he’d also become an outcast within the church he’d grown up and been ordained in.  Against this chaotic backdrop, he contended to walk out his faith in a legitimate way, and decades later, his words, his life, and even his death, continue to inspire fellow pilgrims.  As I read his story, I couldn’t help but see the parallels to my own journey.

 

Like him, I was born into a secure Christian family, within a country that I have always loved.  Like him, I grew up with confidence that America would never abandon the core principles upon which it was founded, or completely turn its back on its Judeo-Christian heritage.  Like him, I’ve found that my faith is consistently coming into conflict with the emerging society, and that increasingly I cannot endorse what is now being deemed as acceptable.  Like him, I have been appalled to watch the response of mainstream religion to this crisis, and am concerned about the growing government involvement in the day to day lives of the people.  Like him, I now find myself on the fringe of the culture, and of the religion from whence I came.

 

At this point, it’s hard to say what lies ahead.  Certainly, our situation doesn’t look as bleak, or seem as threatening as Nazi Germany.  But things are changing fast, and seem to be picking up momentum.  I’m not really sure who “we” (i.e. our collective national character) are anymore, so it’s impossible to know what “we” are capable of.  There is no doubt that such things are far beyond my control, so ultimately it comes down to a personal decision; a decision about how to respond to this new reality.

 

Like Pastor Bonhoeffer, I find myself contending with the spirits that fuel the culture, so as to walk out my faith in authentic way.  The compulsion to raise my voice isn’t as strong as my desire to hear the voice of my Father more clearly.  My heart is not to rebel against this illegitimate authority, but to submit to the genuine authority of the Lord.  His Spirit reminds me that my sense of truth and reality cannot be derived by what is “seen”, but must be rooted in what is “unseen”.  Now, more than ever, we must have the mind of Christ, the heart of the Father, and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Here are a few thoughts from Bonhoeffer’s journey:

 

“Politics are not the task of a Christian.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

“If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

“The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Thought for the Day – Birthing an Ishmael

June 17, 2015 by bjcorbin

I have often referred to the emerging generation as the “Drive-thru Generation”, in recognition of their steady refusal to endure anything that isn’t quick and easy.  But in many ways, we older folks are no different.  Just because we can remember a time when we had to warm-up leftovers on the stove, or to find a pay phone, doesn’t mean that we’d be willing to do that today.  In fact, we are the ones who are principally responsible for cultivating this expectation of convenience within the lives of our children.  As human beings, we tend to want what we want, and we want it now.  And to be honest, we’re perfectly willing to sacrifice nutritional value to get it.

 

Unfortunately, this paradigm often spills over into our spiritual lives as well.  We can say that we are committed to following God’s principles, or maybe even the leading of His Spirit, but we regularly find ourselves unwilling to submit to His process or timetable.  Like the prodigal son, we can legitimately claim to be an heir, but we are unwilling to wait for our inheritance.  In Charismatic circles, we often try to masquerade this impatience as “faith”, by boldly declaring our desired outcome as being attained; but like a baseball player trying to hit an off-speed pitch, we’re way out in front and swinging too hard.  We like to think of it as calling on the promises of God (as though we need to hold God’s feet to the fire in order to get Him to live up to His word), but the reality is that for everything there is a season, and we’re not in control of how a season unfolds.  When “name it & claim it” doesn’t work, we may decide to take matters into our own hands, but in such instances we run the very real risk of giving birth to an Ishmael (i.e. something illegitimate, distracting, troublesome, heartbreaking, chaotic…).  Like Abraham and Sarah, we can try to rationalize that we just want to see God’s promises fulfilled, but our real struggle is rooted in the fact that we’re just not willing to wait on the Lord.

 

If Jesus, the perfect Son of God, was not willing to do “anything” until He saw His Father do it first, how can we expect to proceed differently?

 

(Note:  See Genesis 16 & 17 for an account of Ishmael).

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