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.