Mirror Image

11.30.13

Romans 2.2 2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. (ESV)

Recently, a friend of mine asked me to write down why I read the Bible – he said he was going to use it as an illustration in a sermon series he was presenting. (I need to get that done!) So, as I read today, I came across the above and it rang a bell: GONG!!! this is why I read the Bible: so I’ll stop judging people by what I think they are and how they act: like books according to their cover.

I don’t know how many times I need hear Paul’s words to the Romans and to my heart: stop picking on people and assuming I know who they are, and how they are, and why they are, and what they are! Dammit Paul, have you learned nothing in all your years as a “believer”!!!???

I’m tired of believing I have options of whether or not I reflect the life of Christ within me. I’m tired of being judgmental and critical of others who don’t fit my mental perception of acceptability. And judgment doesn’t always mean negative; I can be just as judgmental in a positive way as well – Jesus said we’ll know them by their fruits but there are certain ones I give a pass to because they meet my abysmally fickle standards of what’s right and what’s not.

For at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things…good, bad, or indifferent. Judging others is just a mirror image of myself.

I don’t have options in Christ save to do what is acceptable to Him. If I persist in judging others (which according to Paul means I do so at the peril of condemning myself because I do the same things) I am setting myself up for a rude awakening and an even ruder future: “So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (Romans 2.3) Hmmm…

My job is not to judge, assess, or write off any other person for any reason – my job is to love them. Period. There is a universe of distance between love and judgment. That doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, or do as they do, but it does mean that I possibly may be the only person in their life that ever represents the equity of Heaven in my dealings with them. Heaven is equitable to those who love Jesus. Heaven is equitable to those who love rather than judge.

Can I be honest here? I struggle with this. I’ve built a lifetime of thinking the way I do and saying the things I say, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for change. I’m reminded again today that change is what the Lord is all about and why He chose us to do His work in telling those we love (whether we like them or not) about Him – He’s their only hope…ours as well.

Father, I pray for the heavy hand of conviction in these days. I pray for the smack of guilt, remorse and holy sorrow for the things that pour out of my yammer. I ask for help and thank You for the Greatest Help of all, Your Spirit in my heart leading me to that place of relentless love and obedience to Your commands – through Jesus, Amen.

One and the Same

11.28.13

1 Thessalonians 1.2-3 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Thanksgiving Day is of course, the last hope of sanity before the beginning of the Christmas Buying Season (US). So, today, according to American cultural custom, we’re to load up on food, watch some football on TV and be somewhat thankful for all the stuff we can think of that we’re to be thankful for: wives, children, grand-children, jobs, cars, girlfriends, boyfriends, insurance, possession, positions, food, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Thanksgiving Day is the annual American cultural reminder to be thankful (compared to the other 364 in which we’re somewhat ungrateful.)

An old saint once said, “…If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness and all perfection, he must tell you to make it a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you.” Many are thankful today for the ‘good’ things in their lives. I wonder how thankful they are for the ‘bad’ things in their lives.

I’ve been smacked around lately (I blame it on my culture and Facebook) for my lack of thanksgiving in general: it is not my normal routine to be oft thankful for very much of what happens in my daily life. I pretty much just bump along the bottom feeling fairly fine.

However, there is a weight and a duty and a lifestyle beckoning that says: I am not in charge of anything in life except my attitude and my gratitude. Whatever God “does” in my life is His doing in wisdom and infinite love, so that I may attain to the culture in Heaven where earthly things don’t matter; where the only thing that matters is eternal fellowship with God (in all of His expressions) forever.

You see, God is in charge of my life; the whole thang ding. God is in charge of my moments – He has planned and executed them all in order that I may be completely free from the all cultures of earth and readied for the only culture of eternity. And the key to that freedom is thankfulness in all things at all times. In which I am very much in arrears …

Paul thanked God for the believers in Thessalonica because of this: their work of faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. Their lives weren’t built around anything else. Mine shouldn’t be either. They did all this despite severe persecution and hardship – God orchestrated their every moment so they would be eternally free of whatever on earth was trying to rob them of Him. And, I too am to thank God for all of the good, the bad, and the ugly in my life because in God’s book, they are all one and the same.

My Father, I am thankful for it all today, but may I not forget to be more thankful tomorrow and the next and the next and the next until that day I am readied for Heaven’s culture, and fellowship in Your presence forever – Amen.

Of Sheep and Goats

11.26.13

Matthew 25.32 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (ESV)

Jesus used examples from everyday life to help make His point: we call them parables; Jesus simply used them to help us understand what He was saying. In Matthew 25 Jesus used the parable of sheep and goats to illustrate what things would be like, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.” (V. 31) The Lord will separate all people into two groups like a shepherd would separate goats from sheep.

Goats are interesting creatures: they are intensely curious, will eat just about anything, and will climb up on things like rocks, small buildings, cars, and occasionally the right kind of tree. Goats do not clump in flocks like sheep do but rather they spread out and kinda go it on their own. Goats will charge when threatened; male and female alike grow horns. Goats tend to be separate and, not so much selfish, but certainly independent.

Sheep on the other hand hang together in flocks. Where there are natural predators, sheep clump together which offers protection and some defense. Sheep are docile, easily led, and need direction to pasture and water. The rams grow horns but the ewes never do. Sheep basically do what they are led to do; it’s their nature.

Jesus made the comparison of sheep and goats, not to give us a lesson on animal behavior, but to illustrate human behavior. The sheep are favored while the goats are not. Naturally, sheep are easier to care for than goats. Sheep are more dependent, while goats tend to be more independent. Humans are not separated by breed, but by the heart. The “sheep” Jesus favors are the ones who hang together and look out for one another and do what He tells them to do. The “goats” go it alone, and much like the animal, the goat, tend to be self-determined. Jesus’ listeners all knew the difference between sheep and goats.

When I examine my life; my comings and goings, my doings and sayings, I see more goat-ish behavior than sheep-ish. I tend to be more cynical rather than forgiving and optimistic. I tend to be more analytical and critical than blind to the faults of others. I tend to believe one gets what one deserves (except when the one is me and then I tend to whine that I’m being picked on).

Jesus looks at the heart and looks at the kind of people we are. He looks at how we spend our time and how we treat others. He hears what we say and hears our thoughts. He knows whether or not we’re repositories of His love.

Jesus, if ever I wanted to be sheep-ish – despite all of my goat-ish tendencies – it’s today. If ever I wanted to hear those words, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’, I want to hear them today. I ask You for a change in my life, and for me to accept that change by faith that You’ve done what You do: make darkness turn into light, make what’s dead come to life, and turn goats into sheep because of Your great love. Help me today, my Lord and my God. Amen.

Dependence for All Things

11.24.13

Matthew 17.26-27 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” (ESV)

This is a curious story in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life: the two-drachma tax, or the Temple Tax. Funny, Jesus didn’t have a penny. It seems from Luke’s account there were several women who supported Jesus ministry out of their means (see Luke 8.3). But Jesus didn’t have a dime – or a drachma, or a shekel, or any other means of paying this annual tax assessed against the Jewish population for the care and upkeep of the Temple. But, you know what, Father-God doesn’t have limits and Jesus knew that. I need to know that too.

Peter was concerned because I think Peter wondered about the tax. (I find it also funny that the Tax-man, Matthew, was the only one of the four gospel authors to bring up this story…) So furrowed brow and all, Peter comes to Jesus to ask Him about the tax and before Peter even opens his mouth Jesus asks him, “So, whadaya think Pete, from whom do kings of the earth take taxes; their sons or from others?” And Peter says, “Others.”

But Jesus wouldn’t let Peter’s next question even get to the surface: “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” Jesus was teaching Peter about two things: First, pick the fights you can win; and second, don’t go out of your way to offend.

The other thing Jesus was teaching Peter here in this narrative is: Peter, don’t forget to depend on God for all things. That’s what I need to learn.

I have a big mission coming up in June and I need the funds to get there. I need shots; I need a passport; I need money to provide for my daily needs. I need the money to cover two weeks of work from which I will be unpaid and absent while on my mission. Paul, don’t forget to depend on God for all things.

I needed this reminder today that God provides all for His children and I am counting on Him for the complete amount to go on my trip. Jesus is my Example: “Peter, go down to the lake and cast a hook. Take the first fish that comes up and when you go to get the hook out of the critter’s mouth you’ll find enough for both of us. Peter, I don’t have a job, but I do have My Father and He knows what we need – depend on Him like I do.”

Father, thank You! Thank You for the money for this mission trip, and for my absence from work, and for all the other things I need each and every day. I trust in You. Amen.

Taking Care of Today Today

11.20.13

Matthew 6.34 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Jesus (ESV)

If you hang around me for very long (some just can’t stomach it, I know) you’ll find I take a shine to what is affectionately known as the Serenity Prayer. If you’re not familiar with the prayer you might recognize the first stanza:

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

For years I knew the first part of the prayer and then during a time of great personal difficulty, I became familiar with the second stanza:

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.

I especially like the part that says: living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time. And so, when I read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, as it is affectionately known, I hear the Lord saying: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.” (V. 6.25) And I read this and I think about how often I spend energy (and time) doing exactly what He counsels me not to do: be anxious. Sigh. I need to learn to live differently: one day at a time; each moment as it comes.

We’re taught as a society to have plans and to prosper and to think about tomorrow and to plant and to build and to accumulate and, and, and... We’re not taught to live one day at a time and enjoy the moments. We’re too busy thinking about the next move. And Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” In other words, Paul, you got enough to think about for today, let alone worrying about tomorrow (which by the way, never comes: it’s always only ever right now.)

It’s hard to unlearn all I’ve been taught about life and culture, and, and, and... But there is a longing in me to learn to let go, and let God. (Cliché, I know) I think Jesus teaches in me in the Sermon on the Mount, to concentrate on today and let God take care of tomorrow whenever it decides to show up. And the prayer powerfully echoes: living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time.

And so, today, I echo in the prayer what Jesus teaches me on the mount: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living only in this day because it is all I really have, and trusting You moment by moment ,finding Your presence in those moments. Thank You Lord! Amen.

What It’s all About

**To my readers: I hesitated posting this for two reasons: 1. I confess I continually live misunderstanding the love of Christ; and 2. our lives would be so much different if we did understand what love does for us in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus is wooing our hearts by showing us all He's done for us already and we don't have to add to it at all - we just need to accept it. I struggle with the acceptance part. I hope this helps you and I hope your lives are overcome by the love and providence of Christ.

11.16.13

2 Corinthians 5.10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (ESV)

How I live will be judged. How I live will be examined. How I live will be rewarded. We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. How I live will be, in time, given what is due, whether good or evil. Consider me stopped in my tracks.

Jesus doesn’t expect me to perform – if He expected that it would be all about the Law, or a law, or a set of rules, or a list of actions. But with Jesus, it is all about relationship and love for one another: Him loving me, and me loving Him by doing what He directs me to do. My love is proved for Him by my doing what He says. No obligation. No coercion. Just humility that what He says is best and I don’t have to perform in doing it; I just do it.

In appearing before Jesus there shouldn’t be a dread – unless, of course, I have something to dread. But if I have something to dread then maybe I’m not living in love with Jesus. Maybe I’m trying to live a double-life. Maybe I’m not as truly in love with Him, as He is with me. I should be looking forward to my appearance before Him. If I’m not, either I don’t have an understanding of what that appearing is all about or I’m attempting to harbor something inside believing He can’t see it and I can continue to do whatever I do. It sounds like insanity to me.

I know as I sit here today and think about it, I’m to expect to receive what is due me for whatever I’ve done in the body, whether good or evil. Paul tells me that in 2 Corinthians 5. And Paul, bless his heart, isn’t talking about law. He would’ve rather been dragged down a dirt road naked before he went back into the bondage of legalism. Paul reminds us all that our lives will one day be examined to see what they were really made of, and what they really accomplished in and through Jesus Christ.

So, that brings me to today. That brings me to a place where I have to come running to Jesus for all the crap I’ve pulled this week and say to Him:

Lord, forgive me and help me. Break those bonds in me; or help me to realize fully they’ve already been broken and I’m just fooling myself by insisting they’re still real. May I see and live, by faith, the freedom that is mine in You, and may I live the free life I have in You. Not free to serve myself and live according to my agenda, but free in You to live as You wisely and lovingly direct my every move. Help me to live in real faith. Help me to live in real love. And help me to give up the horrid things I hold so precious and dear that hold me back from all of You. Amen.

Wrestling with Leviathan

11.15.13

Job 41.8 8 Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again! – God (ESV)

In life there are myriad opportunities to screw up. It’s just true that we learn through trial and error – these two are our best teachers.

In Job 41 the Lord speaks to Job about Leviathan. Although most scholars are not sure exactly what Leviathan is, it’s pretty clear from the narrative that he is big, and mean, and has absolutely no regard for humans. And so God explains to Job, “grab ahold of him big boy and you’ll find out quickly what a real battle is all about – you’ll be smarter next time!”

In other words: Job there are things in this life that are beyond you and the only way you’ll figure it out is if you try to tackle them – you’ll quickly find out just how small and limited you are. And then for emphasis God adds: …like your trying to tackle Me. Trying to tackle God is a fool’s errand. Trying to figure Him out and put Him in our little box is just plain stupid.

But folks (like you and me and everyone else) try to do it all the time. The only way to figure out just how frightening Leviathan is is when his gaping maw closes in on you, and your blood-curdling screams for mercy fall on deaf ears. I don’t think God is that merciless but I do think He allows us to get into situations where the only thing that will save us – THE ONLY THING – is our blood-curdling screams for mercy.

That is the lesson of trial and error. We might think we can handle God until we find ourselves in a place where only His mercy and our screams for it will help. Job was dressed down by God for trying to claim he had an understanding of God. What Job lacked was respect for God. Job had lowered God to his level and then tried (albeit intellectually) to tame the Wild Beast. (Yes, I just called my God and Father the Wild Beast; it’s what I deserve for trying to bring Him down to my level and cram Him into my cardboard box to contain Him. Foolish man!)

As I am wont to say, there are four kinds of people on this earth: those who know and know it; those who don’t know and know it; those who know and don’t know it; and those who don’t know and don’t know it. I find myself in category four often times and it takes my stupidly grabbing ahold of Leviathan’s tail to remind me I don’t know and didn’t know it.

God wants you and me to know that we know. Our hearts are so perverted and twisted and broken that at times the only way to know just how bad we are is to slam into a brick wall at high speed. God doesn’t desire we slam into the wall but He also doesn’t want us to go through life not knowing we don’t know. The Answer to every human problem and issue, and the grand-daddy of them all: our fallenness, is God. Period. And He’s pretty good at providing Leviathans to help us know that we know – after all, He made Leviathan.

Papa, Wild Beast that You are, help Your servant and child to know it and know that I know it. I cannot make it through these days without You and help me – whatever it takes to get it! Thank You for the Leviathan’s in my life but thank You more for mercy and in Your mercy may I find humility, and grace, and salvation from the stupid things I do – Amen.

Decently and in Order

11.13.13

1 Corinthians 14.39-40 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order. (ESV)

I am a Pentecostal. I’m probably more a reluctant Pentecostal than anything else. I struggle with verse 39 (above) but am all over verse 40. I’ve been down the conservative evangelical paths (theologically speaking) and have moved into the camp of the less conservative and more liberal in expression (that’s how I’d classify Pentecostals).

I’ve been told that speaking in tongues is an evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Not sure I’m gonna go there. I’ve been told that speaking in tongues enhances evangelism and the sharing of the Gospel. Not sure I’m gonna go there either. (I think what enhances evangelism is spending time with Jesus and allowing His life to shine through mine. I think what enhances people’s lives is reading God’s word, not to teach it, but to live it.)

I do know this: all things should be done (in the church and in life) with decency and in order. I’m not splitting hairs over decently and decency. I’m not trying to control the Holy Spirit either. Paul emphasized prophesy but made room for tongues. But I think he was maybe saying: always do what you do for the right reason at the right time.

1 Corinthians is a difficult letter because Paul deals with difficult issues. And there seems to me to be a cloud of mystery hanging over much of what he deals with in chapters 12 and 14. But just when I think he’s gonna drive the bus off the cliff he says: So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order. And here (or there) I remain a reluctant, but committed, Pentecostal – tongues and all.

Our faith can be distinctive in style – that’s probably what separates us the most because it really isn’t our beliefs. No, not everyone is going to buy into my perspective on tongues but I probably won’t buy into their solemn, somber, long-faced expression of faith either. I’m not criticizing their expression, I’m just not comfortable in a church gathering where that is the norm. (Nor am I going to be comfortable where the announcements are shared in tongues.) Our unique expressions of our common faith are what make us who we are. Past that, we’re pretty much all the same.

Now then, I’m not going to go to the head-honchos of my denomination and tell them what I think and where I think they’re wrong (according to me). I am going to celebrate the life of Jesus in me with my fellow parishioners and love them decently and in order. I think that’s about the best I can do. I’m not going to read my Bible so I can pound them over the head with what I read, but that I may live out the truth in front of them that I may in whatever way enhance their lives for Jesus. It’s about the most and the least I can do decently and in order.

Father, it isn’t my perspective that’s important it’s enhancing people’s lives for the Kingdom that matters. My local church our the larger denomination may have their distinctives and quirks, but they are no reason for leading a one man parade down a dead-end street. Help me today to enhance people’s lives decently and in order that what I do and say may adorn the truth that you are God and You love us all dearly. Amen.

Outward or Perceptible

11.12.13

1 Corinthians 12.7 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (ESV)

I’m not sure I know what your spiritual gift is; that really doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you and I conduct ourselves with the understanding that to each (one of us) is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. When we gather for church, as we connect in small group; as we serve our brothers and sisters, it is to be with the understanding that in each of us is a manifestation (an outward or perceptible indication) of the presence of the Holy Spirit for the common good. That is serious business.

Life together in the Church is to be about the Lord Jesus as He shares His life with us, through each other. We don’t go to church to get educated, although that is a part of it. We don’t gather as a church to get fixed, although that is a part of it. We get together to use the gifts and calling we each have to build the church up together for its common good. My presence in Church isn’t about me, it’s about you, and building up the church together with you. It’s serious business.

Life together as a Church is life together as God’s holy people and our love for each other and our use of our God-given gifts together so that everyone benefits.

When you go to church, do you feel that way?

Church is serious business. Not frowny or stern, but serious. It’s serious in a very important way: the common good of all who come. We don’t go to movies for the common good. We don’t go to football games for the common good. But often there is more camaraderie at movies and sporting events than church because we think church is all about focusing on our weaknesses rather than our strengths. Church isn’t about entertainment (at least it isn’t supposed to be) it’s about the common good – yours, mine, and everyone else’s. It’s serious business.

If church is anything other than the common good with all of us exercising our God-given gifts then we’ve missed the point of why we come together in the first place. Church is about a much bigger point than us-against-them; than me and my petty little issues. Church is about my fellowship with the Spirit of God and how that affects you when we come together – and how I affected by you when we gather as God’s children. That’s why they call it affection.

I feel like I’ve just been doused with a bucket of ice-cold water. I am fully awake and fully convicted that I’ve allowed my attitude toward church to be something less serious than the common good. It is time to take church seriously and to allow the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to shine through me as I gather with my church-family for the common good.

Papa, You love Your kids and have called us all to see each other in the light of true care, loving concern, and visible affection. May the gifts You’ve given me shine through and reveal an outward or perceptible indication of Your presence in me for the common good of those I recognize and care for as my family of believers – amen.

The Exercise of Grace

11.11.13

1 Corinthians 10.31-33; 11.1 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

11.1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (ESV)

I often cringe as I read the Corinthian letters because the humanness of the believers shines through, and it ain’t very pretty. Despite all we say about church, it’s full of people and where there are people there is humanness. I wonder what Paul might address in a letter to my church?

Church and gatherings of believers ought to be for the exercise of grace and where and when we get to honor one another for our respective relationship to the Master. Church ought not to be where we keep score. One read through Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth shows how much they kept score with one another and how much they failed in love because of such activity. Church is to be where we learn how to identify with one another and where we learn to capitalize on each other’s gifting and strengths, and flow in grace and love when we bump into another’s weaknesses. If God is the focus, all these things pale in comparison anyway.

I think verse 11.1 sums it all up very nicely: Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. I don’t think there are too many of us who could or would make that bold of a statement. But that is exactly what we’re supposed to be doing. I think we should spend far more time rejoicing that we are together and present than wondering why someone is even present in the first place. That only happens as we imitate Jesus. The more we imitate Him, the less likely we are to irritate each other.

If I spend my week doing all to the glory of God, then my weekly brief period of time spent with those who share faith with me ought to be a time for finding joy in the exercise of our mutual faith together: I don’t really care why you’re here; I’m just glad that you’re here! And our faith in Jesus Christ is built up together, and the exercise of our faith is used together, and our growth in the imitation of Christ is celebrated together.

I’m throwing away my score cards – I never should’ve kept them in the first place but I’ve learned over the years, to my shame, to do so. They’re going in the trash…

Papa, give me the serenity to accept people for who they are and that I cannot control them – only You get to do that. I ask for courage to imitate Jesus and to give grace to people because they need it, and I’m going to make sure they get it at least from me. And I ask for wisdom to remember why I am a believer in the first place: it’s because You made that happen; no one else gave me that. May I learn, to try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved as I imitate the Lord Jesus. Father, I’m glad You don’t keep score… Amen.

Help for the Journey

11.10.13

1 Corinthians 7.8-9 8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (ESV)

I think most people have a burning question: Okay, in the light of that, now what do I do!? Life isn’t easy and sometimes big issues make us seek for answers but not all answers are that easy. Sometimes the answers to our burning questions are as complicated as the conundrum in which we find ourselves.

The Corinthians had written to Paul to find some answers to things that were, in their minds, everyday issues but not maybe specifically addressed by Paul or other preachers in those days. In 1 Corinthians 7 they were concerned with marriage and what might be considered the right thing to do about marriage, do it, or remain single.

In his writings, Paul hints that sexual immorality might’ve been a big deal in Corinth, and history echoes that to be the case. To be called a Corinthian in those days was something less than flattering because of the absolute debauchery of the then Corinthian culture – socially, Corinth was pretty messed up...

So, to plant a church in such a culture might’ve made the locals ask some questions about how to live the believer’s life in the midst of such depravity and debauchery. And the Corinthian believers did just that: Paul, how do we handle…??? The issue for me isn’t what they asked about; the issue is about being open and approachable to those in our congregations who have burning issues over the things of life and how to handle them in the light of truth and the Gospel.

The other day a younger man texted me on Facebook and asked me about prayer in a group of people – what do you say; how do you say it??? Obviously he’d been thinking about it and wanted to know: how do I handle myself in a group of people and I’m asked to pray about something? I invited him out to coffee and we talked about it and I told him how I handle myself in similar situations. I think he appreciated what I said. We talked peer to peer.

There are those issues that just cannot be handled whilst sitting in church listening to the pastor preach: Yeah, I hear you pastor, but how about…??? We need to have avenues for conversation about spiritual life and how it intersects with everyday stuff.

The calling for me in such instances is to be observant, open, approachable, and honest – the questioner needs to know, and may be uncomfortable in how to ask, or if to ask. They need to get their questions answered.

Papa, help me to serve my fellow man by being observant, open, approachable, and honest as they deal with the questions they have about life and You. Help me to know that the way I respond to them may make the difference in how they think about You and how they feel about church. May I serve them with graciousness, humor, and the wisdom I’ve gleaned over the years; but more than any of that, may I help them along their journey – Amen. 

Choosing

11.08.13

1 Corinthians 1.27-29 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

If there is only one thing I believe about God it is this: He doesn’t do as we want Him to; God does what He does.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and upon the earth God created man to have unending and unbroken fellowship and friendship with him. But in the process man arrogantly chose to go his own way and from that way comes every form of humanism, pride, ambition, and selfishness. And from that way came the insanity of humans believing they could out-god God.

And it is to this global, this racial, this cultural mindset that man must face the truth: God does what God does and He does so without checking in with man first. And with man’s collective wisdom, culture, and history comes mankind’s belief in himself. So God chooses, apart from vindictiveness and petty selfishness, to bring this global, racial, humanistic mindset to the place where it has to admit, God is God and man is not.

Whereas man chooses what he thinks things ought to be and lives accordingly, God chooses the foolish to embarrass the wise. God chooses the weak to shame the strong. And God chooses the low and despised to show the high and haughty what is really important. God uses what mankind thinks is trash to accomplish His eternal plan; and man’s agenda ain’t that important, no matter what he thinks and says about it.

God chooses what He does and how He does because He is God and our puffed-up view of ourselves is empty and vain. Like a child who grows up and says he’s not going to live like his parents – he’s going to do it right – so is man to God. But God lovingly, patiently, chooses things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are. Mankind, in his own mind, no matter what he thinks of himself, ain’t that hot.

My values must reflect His – I must, like God, choose the things of this world that are despised and thought little of; things like love, compassion, sacrifice, humility, and selflessness. I don’t do this to show that I am special or better, but that I believe that God has always, always, always had something far greater in store for those who would choose Him rather than the vainglory of the world.

Papa, I believe in You. I respect that You choose what You choose and use what You use to bring men to that place where they quit loving themselves and their systems, and bow the knee to Your existence, Your presence, and Your Kingdom where the foolish are wise, the weak are strong and the despised are valued; where service means more than being served, and where it is more blessed to give than to receive. Father, I believe in You! Amen.

11.05.13

Galatians 2.15-16 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (ESV)

It’s no wonder Paul was so hated by the Jews, he slammed their precious law by saying, “…by works of the law no one will be justified.” That was some statement.

By Jesus’ time the Law had become a weapon to control people under the guise of being something religious. As long as one followed the rules, one kept himself safe from the consequences of breaking the rules. So, in reality life became about consequences and how to avoid them. At one time the apostle Paul believed this nonsense. You have to admit, it looks pretty attractive as well – even the uncool can be (at least thought) cool if they can vaunt their performance under the law. It becomes a jockeying for position and a weapon to fight back with… all dressed up in pretty religious packaging.

What made it worse for the Jews was how they trumped the God-card: We have the Law God gave us! (Our weapon is better than your weapon because ours came from God and He didn’t give you one!) It was a sick society based upon a sick set of rules forcing a sick style of life that focused only on one’s performance and not upon their heart.

And Paul called it for what it was: crap! And boy, did they hate him for it.

I don’t mean to wax so cynical this early in the day but religion is a tough gig. Religion forces us to focus on us all the while reassuring us it’s for a good cause: Just keep your nose clean and you’ll be accepted by what you do, not who you are.

Paul said if we’re looking for justification, we need look no further than Jesus Christ – it’s about relationship. There is no need for rules, weaponry or control; there’s only need for love. And love and relationship must never cease to be verbs because if they become nouns we’re right back in religion. What warped and twisted people we are!

My cause today (if I have to have one) is to love Jesus and hang out with Him. His response to me is simply: Paul, if you believe Me and trust Me your life will be fulfilled beyond your wildest dreams! It’s called justification by faith and my faith is not in my ability to perform, but in my ability to believe – and that isn’t even of myself; it’s from Him who gave me the gift of belief. Such a deal!

Brother, You have called me to believe and I ask You for help today to do just that. I pray that Your life radiate from mine, and that Your presence reassure me it isn’t about my performance but Your love. Help me to build relationships with others based upon my relationship with You. I trust You in that; the weight is off! Amen!

A Worldview of God

11.03.13

Job 25.5-6 5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes; 6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” (ESV)

Every Thursday, with few exceptions, I get together with a group of men for coffee and conversation. I call it “Boy’s Club”. (The problem with what I call it is when the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church – a lovely lady named Katie – shows up.) But in my mind I still call it Boy’s Club. I’ve done this since January of 2006.

Our group is comprised of church leaders from our community and there are Baptists, Nazarenes, Pentecostals, Foursquare, and Christian; and, well, me. (I think they feel sorry for me…) The conversation usually covers a wide range of theological topics including Ducks or Beavers football, hunting, fishing, and cattle ranching (the guy who moderates the group has been a rancher for the last five decades so there is usually the obligatory cow story…)

We usually conversationally wend around to talking about God and the Church. (Most in the group pastor a local church.) This Thursday past we talked about having a low view of God and a high view of self. And we compared that tohaving  a high view of God and a low view of self. And then I read Bildad: “…how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!” Thanks Bil…

Bildad’s problem was he didn’t have a real view of God or man. Actually I think he had a perverted view of both. What was hidden from Bildad was a thing called relationship; and it’s obvious to me that Bildad had a weird relationship with God. Bildad personifies the relationship many people have with God. For one thing they always call Him God and rarely ever call Him Father; and never, Daddy.

It’s hard for us to call Deity Daddy – it somehow makes us very uncomfortable. But that is Who He is: Abba (Daddy). Our religious nature in us never lets us let down our guard and see God for who He really is: the Dad of all mankind; and our Daddy. There is something offensive in that to the religious who don’t want to get any closer to Gawd than is permissible, and so walls of defense (and authority) are built to keep Him safely at a distance. Ask those who suffer where (and how) they find comfort in a distant God.

Bildad had a religious view of God and therefore felt he was safe. But Bildad didn’t know how much God loved him and how much God wanted to share life with him – that thought would’ve rocked Bildad’s world-view. He was too busy being a maggot. (Or at least calling himself one.)

Daddy, I admit it is even uncomfortable to me but I am going to force myself to have a real-view of You rather than a worldview of You. I admit there’ve been times in my life where maggot might’ve described me, but You have come in and helped me through all that. Help me now to draw closer to You and to see You for who You really are, my Daddy, that I may glorify You and enjoy You forever. As weird as it looks and feels and sounds, You’ve called me son and I thank You for that! Amen.

Monkey See Monkey Do

11.02.13

Mark 12.38-40 38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (ESV)

I don’t know about you, but this short little observation by Jesus always makes me think negatively about religious leaders. Now, before I completely tip the tub out with that, let me say I seem to think that way because I often read the Scripture with the completely wrong understanding. It isn’t just religious leaders who practice hypocrisy; it’s all of us to some degree or another.

I love the quote my friend Jim Stephens posted on Facebook recently: Church is like Halloween; it’s where we all dress up and pretend to be someone different. You don’t have to be a religious leader to be a hypocrite but woe to the one who is…

Jesus appeared to be saying there is a condemnation for hypocrisy, but there is a greater condemnation for hypocrisy as an abuse of leadership. Leaders, like it or not, have influence; what they do causes others to want to do the same thing. Monkey see, monkey do. Jesus wasn’t putting a hierarchy on hypocrisy but He was warning them (and us) to be careful how we live because they/we influence others whether we’re (officially) leaders or not. Leadership is to be a careful, thoughtful, understanding, and serious business. When a leader takes a short-cut, just watch, it ain’t too long before his led do the same.

When my leadership becomes my club for control, or my costume for glory then I’m abusing my leadership. When I preach accountability but don’t practice being accountable then I’m abusing my leadership. When I get all dressed up and pretend to be someone else, I’m abusing my leadership. Others may not even see it, but I’m abusing my leadership.

What Jesus, I think, is looking for, is honesty. I think the Lord seeks friends who will be honest before Him and honest toward others. I think He modeled honesty before mankind and asks that we do the same. But in the process we need to be careful that our honesty doesn’t become a noun – honesty has to be a verb in our relationship with God and with man.

Any time I make whatever I do about keeping rules and trying to avoid a greater condemnation I convert whatever that is into hypocrisy; it’s self-fulfilling. I’m learning how to be a verb rather than a noun. I’m learning (albeit the hard way) that what I perceive to be a religious life is mostly a façade to hide behind and that is hypocrisy in the worst degree.

Lord Jesus, my Brother, may my life be like Yours, a Verb and not a noun. May I see hypocrisy in me for what it is and kill it by being Your honest friend, not hiding by keeping the rules. Help me Lord! Amen.

Where My Help Comes From

A Song of Ascents.

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

    From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

    he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;

    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

    he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep

    your going out and your coming in

    from this time forth and forevermore. (ESV)

It’s either true or it’s not. I’m going with true.

Daddy, please break my linear view (and approach) of You, Your Kingdom, the Gospel, and the world around me. There are many who would read this and say, “If only…” I’ve said, “If only…” No more. You are my God and my Father and I am Your child. Jesus is my Brother and the Holy Spirit my Guide. Bring me anew into Your realm this day and may the light of Your Life shine through me – amen.