When the Facade Crumbles

Prelude: I never thought I would use my blog to post something like this. However, I still hold out the hope that I will keep the “social” in social media. Just so you know, I am not aligned with a political party. I believe in God, that the Bible is His written word to us, that Jesus is the Living Word, and that we are created to bring Him glory.

I have been watching, off and on, different reports of the “protests” taking place in our nation’s capital today (January 6, 2021). This time it is not those we would label as flaming liberals, anarchists, communists, socialists, terrorists, etc. This time it is in the guise of those who would otherwise call themselves conservatives, patriots, law abiding, and, in many cases, Christians. It raises many questions such as: Why do I see more Trump flags than American flags?; Why are a law-and-order president’s supporters showing or, at the very least, allowing such disregard for law and order?; How long will it be before I hear this despicable behavior being blamed on the other side?; and, honestly now, why are people behaving in such a way that we can’t even watch “The Price Is Right” because all the major networks are focused on this embarrassment?

The gospels of Matthew and Luke record Jesus saying that a tree is known by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33 and Luke 6:44) In other words, you can hang a sign on an apple tree that says “Orange Tree” but it will still produce apples. Whatever label they may give themselves (and it does vary depending on the individual event and participants), thugs are thugs. The end does not justify the means. It never has and it never will. The facade will eventually crumble.

I also watched president elect, Joe Biden, speak during this crisis. In all honesty, I believe he was not only saying what needed to be said but he has begun to lead the nation, two weeks before his inauguration, while the current president addressed the lawlessness via a weak tweet. I am looking forward to seeing our future president’s actions match his remarks about protecting democracy.

A word of moderation: Representative MarkWayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, has shared that those committing violence do not represent the majority of the people who are pretesting and that those committing violence should be prosecuted. Agreed. Along the same lines, in the ekklesia, the body of Christ, we are charged to “purge the evil from among you.” (1 Corinthians 5:13) Even though we do not ask for them to cause problems, we are responsible for policing our membership and ridding ourselves of the frauds. The same should hold for groups who raise a voice and present themselves in force. You need to be accountable for those in your midst. From the protestors in Seattle to those in Washington DC, call the evil ones out. Make sure everyone knows they are not a part of you. Distance yourselves from them.

A sentence about my observation of the network news media: During the past four years, especially the past few months, news “reporting” has unashamedly surrendered its facade to personal commentary, opinion, and negative name calling and labeling.

Finally, true followers of Christ reflect the life of Christ in their own spirits, attitudes, communications, and actions. Jesus lived in a time when His people were oppressed by Rome and their own leaders, both civil and religious. Jesus never took part in, condoned, or encouraged rebellion against authorities. He addressed the wrongs but never lost His focus on pointing people to His Father and glorifying Him. 

“One nation, under God”? Not today. Not in our capitol. Not in their hearts.

Sometimes People Leave

(It is probably "bad form" to air a grievance or complain about a problem while it is happening. I am happy to say that is not the case here. It is simply on my mind.)

It happens. People leave churches.

Earlier in my ministry, I talked another staff member out of resigning in anger. Frankly, his anger was justified and his staying only made matters worse. (Note: A disgruntled staff member does not engender goodwill in a congregation.) Following his eventual and inevitable departure, an older deacon, we will call him “Fernando Verde”, shared that he learned many years before that it is best to let someone go without trying to talk them out of it.

Since that day, I have followed that advice. The following is my policy, thanks to “Fernando”:

If/when someone leaves/resigns/quits or announces they will, I do not try to talk them out of it.

1. If you have been in prayer about it and believe God is leading you to do it, I would be working against God if I tried to talk you out of it.

2. If it is a decision you have come to on your own but without being convicted or convinced that it is God’s will, it would not be good for you to be persuaded by me if you are not persuaded by God.

Exception: I will try to talk you out of it if God clearly directs me to do it. (This has not yet happened.)

Thoughts—

It is not on me or about me. Your choices/decisions are yours. You need to own them. If you are truly following God, Hallelujah! Move on in joy! If you are following your own direction, you need to take the steps necessary to get back on course, i.e. admit it, ask forgiveness, accept forgiveness, do what can and should be done to fix it where possible, and humbly start again. And, yes, if you are following your own direction and do not believe you need to take those steps, it is better for the fellowship of our congregation if you move on.

When God Isn't Enough

Christians, followers of Christ, believers, children of God… We know who we are. We are born again, saved, redeemed, reconciled to God, forgiven, predestined for Heaven, and the recipients of eternal life. Not only that, we have “Heaven on Earth” as the Holy Spirit lives within us. He is all we need. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

We are very capable of telling others how much our relationship with God means to us and that He is our “very present help in times of trouble.” They may be slaves of the world but our treasures are in Heaven. Their hope is in material gain or power but our hope is in Him who carries us through every trial and tribulation.

Until God isn’t enough.

And that seems to be the case more and more. I have a lot of friends (hundreds on Facebook alone) and many, if not most, are card carrying Christians. Yet, in increasing quantities, the testimony I read in posts is this: When life gets you down, when the stress of the work day has piled high, when you need to unload and catch a moment of peace… (this is where the title comes into play) …you don’t go to God in prayer or sit in a quiet place reading His Word. No, in times like this, God clearly isn’t enough, or at least He isn’t preferred. So don’t bend your knees, just bend your elbow. Don’t find a encouraging word in the Bible, just follow an enticing recipe that uses enough alcohol. Hallelujah?

I know the Bible says don't get drunk but it doesn't prohibit drinking a little wine. I know Jesus performed His first public miracle by turning water into wine. But nowhere does it even slightly suggest that we should use alcohol or any other substance to relieve our stress, calm our fears, forget our worries, or anything else He wants to in us.

But perhaps that’s just me. You're sure Jesus understands and is perfectly okay with it, right? So, I’ll let Him have the last word.

"So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16)

Decisive or Divisive… or Both?

While preparing to preach a sermon from 1 Corinthians 4:20, I read the following commentary on vv.14-21. It is copied with the citation at the bottom. I think it is safe to say that the second paragraph — "Before we trace…" — would make an "interesting" discussion starter in a group representing various denominations.
____________________________

7. Fathers and children (4:14–21)

In verse 14 Paul seems to recognize that he has been verging on sarcasm in the previous paragraph, and he pulls himself up by assuring the Corinthians that he is not trying to make you ashamed, not in any wrong way. He is not averse to arousing in them a proper sense of shame,21 but here he emphasizes that he is speaking as a father to his beloved children (14).

  Before we trace the way in which Paul sees himself as a father to the Christians at Corinth, it is necessary to stress that he does not see it as an authority-position, let alone as one invested with status. He would have known the words of Jesus himself: ‘Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven … He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.’22 The way the title ‘Father’ is given to, and accepted by, the ordained ministers of certain denominations flies in the face of this teaching. Indeed, many other sections of the church often manifest a paternalistic, over-dominant style of leadership, even if they do not use the title ‘Father’. The folk-religion which lies behind this is not nearly so serious as the unbiblical theology which gave rise to and still endorses such an understanding of status and authority in the church. This false teaching is arguably the strongest barrier to the growth and health of the church in our day. It affects church unity, evangelism, worship, lay ministry, the ministry of women, theological training. Indeed, virtually every aspect of the mission of God’s church is hampered, so long as this anti-Christian view of leadership in the church is perpetuated.

Positively, Paul sees himself as father to the Christians at Corinth (and particularly to Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, verse 17) in the sense that he proclaimed the gospel to them and was, therefore, responsible on a human level for their faith in Christ. Like any father, and because children always copy their father, he has striven to set them an example in daily life of the behaviour expected of Christians; I urge you, then, be imitators of me (16). Timothy’s task was to remind them of Paul’s ways in Christ (17). This consistent example was number one priority for Paul wherever he went (as I teach them everywhere in every church, 17). It underlines the vital importance of exemplary behaviour in the daily lives of all called to leadership in the church. The Corinthians had not seen Jesus in the flesh: they had no Bible; but they had seen Paul (cf. 11:1). Many others had pointed the way to Christ,23 but he was the first to come all the way to them with the gospel: I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel (15).

It is, then, as their father that Paul now promises to come to them. When the father has been absent from his family for some time, he wants to come home with love in a spirit of gentleness (21), not with a rod. Many of those in Corinth whom he had brought to faith in Christ were now behaving in an arrogant and boastful way, writing off him and his ministry and causing great trouble and division in the church. Paul’s fatherly heart was deeply hurt by this behaviour and something of that pain can be gauged by his comments elsewhere: ‘My little children, with whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you!’24

Children often make loud claims in a boastful way: it is a reflection of their immaturity. There is a lot of talk, and not very much power to put the big words into action. So Paul ends these two chapters in the same mood as he began—with a strong (and strongly-felt) plea to the Corinthians to stop boasting and to grow up: the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power (20). He does not often use this phrase the kingdom of God, so common in the Synoptic Gospels; but, when he does, it always refers to fundamentals. He does not ever explain its meaning; he accepted it as the heart of the gospel—and proclaimed it day by day.25

David Prior, The Message of 1 Corinthians, The Bible Speaks Today; ed. John R. W. Stott; Accordance electronic ed. (Downers Grove.: InterVarsity Press, 1985), 67-69.

Almost a Nickel

If memory serves correctly (it still does once in a while), I have already posted my two cents worth regarding the current political melee. Since this is an additional comment on that subject, I figure I am up to "almost a nickel."

I have read or listened to many who are saying, in essence, that the only valid choice a biblical Christian has in this election is to vote for Trump. It is, at its bare bones, the insistence that no candidate is perfect but Trump will not do as much harm as Clinton so we are spiritually obligated to vote for him. The arguers of this stance even toss in scriptures, albeit none that specifically address the requirement to vote for the "lesser of two evils." However, they do postulate that their opinion is the authoritative word on the matter.

So, in an attempt to offer some balance, here are some scriptures to chew on ("meditate on" if that sounds more spiritual), beginning with three from Romans 14 (I am using different translations in an attempt to gain at least a measure of the criticism Rick Warren regularly receives.):

Romans 14:1 "Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions." (GNT)
Romans 14:4 "What right do you have to criticize someone else's servants? Only their Lord can decide if they are doing right, and the Lord will make sure that they do right." (CEV)
Romans 14:23 "Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." (ESV)
1 Corinthians 3:18-20 "Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool—that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, 'He exposes the chicanery of the chic. the Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls." (MSG)
1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (NIV)
2 Timothy 2:4 "As Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army." (TLB)

What it boils down to, for me anyway, is this: I am seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit who convicts and convinces us of what is pleasing to God and I believe there are a lot of people trespassing on His territory.

P.S. Please, do not assume you know for whom I am or am not voting. This was not about the candidates at all but rather those who assume they are God's 2016 Presidential Election prophets.

Growing Pains

I do not like pain. Really. I do not like it. But they say pain serves a purpose: Pain tells us when something is wrong. Pain also occurs when drastic steps have been taken to fix something that was wrong. Everyone who has ever gone through major surgery understands this.

You face double the pain when the two come together and that is bound to happen for anyone seeking to live a Christlike life. First, there is the pain of identifying something specifically wrong with your life in spirit, thought, and/or deed. Sometimes the error is so deeply engrained that it is a tangible part of what defines you. Next is the pain that comes with making a clear, meaningful, and permanent correction. Then, and only then, healing and recovery can occur.

Here is an example in down-to-earth terms: 

1. We love God and we love our country.

2. No matter how many good people immigrate into our country, some bad ones slip in, too, and it only takes a few of the bad guys to do a lot of damage (witness 9-11-01).

3. A conflict arises (or should) when we seek to be Christlike but desire to "protect" our country by turning away immigrants because some might do us harm (rather than recognizing where our real safety lies as revealed in 2 Chronicles 7:14).

4. You have to make a decision to be totally Christlike or seek a worldly solution to national security. 

It isn't pretty but it is true. Denial only cancels the hope of change and healing.

Final note: I am not a fan of the modern Episcopal Church. But I do have respect for a recent stand they have taken and thank Tom Wiles* for sharing it. You can read it here.

*Tom Wiles is Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. We were also roommates our Senior year at Oklahoma Baptist University. I had the great privilege of having his mother-in-law, Marilyn Bryant, as pianist when I served in my first staff position out of college at First Baptist Church, Lindsay, OK.

Victory Through Humility, Prayer, and Repentance

“The only way to stop this evil and protect Christians is to defeat it – militarily.”

The statement was about ISIS. The writer is a person representing a non-profit religious organization presenting itself as an advocate for Christian evangelism.

Contrast his claim with God’s statement in 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

It appears God disagrees with this “advocate”. God’s "only way" focuses on humility, prayer, and repentance of His people. To do otherwise is to take/wear His name in vain.

I have unsubscribed from this advocate’s mailing list. It has the appearance of godliness but has denied its power.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

P.S. If you want to know the name of the person and the group, email me and I will give it to you. I may even save the email and forward it to you (but maybe not).

The Self-Labeled Christian

I just read an article (linked on a Facebook post) titled, "Four Reasons–From A Christian Perspective–Why Kim Davis Is 100% Wrong".

It should have been titled, "Four Reasons–From Someone Who Labels Himself A Christian–Why Kim Davis Is 100% Wrong."

Each one of his four reasons was from a human/worldly perspective and, therefore, were weak. The closest it came to referencing God's word was: "The Bible actually says nothing whatsoever about same-sex marriage." Does any faithful follower of Jesus Christ actually buy that? By that "logic", so many horrible things must be perfectly fine because the Bible "says nothing whatsoever about" them from the author's perspective. He then goes on to do what has become more and more popular among Christians: Talk trash about Christians in general (and usually the church), especially if they differ from him. I should have known better since the subheading of his blog is "Jesus, Politics & Bathroom Humor." That is not a misquote, either. So a Christian finds that bathroom humor is a proper thing to put out there for the world as a part of following after Christ. After all, nowhere in the Bible does it use the phrase "bathroom humor" so it must be okay. And we all know what a political activist Jesus was.

So, down to the matter at hand: The self-labeled Christian. To be clear, this is referring to our habit (or need?) to verbally or in writing give ourselves the label. There are probably some scholars who can tell us when this began. Although I am not able to pin a date on it, we can be reasonable certain it did not occur until "Christian" was no longer a term of derision and it even enjoyed a degree of acceptance outside the ecclesia. But when the label was created, it was done so by others who observed the lives of Christ followers in Antioch and decided they were all acting (or at least trying to act) like Jesus. Looking at Acts 11:26, they were simply called "disciples" (learner/pupil) until it was too obvious whose pupil they were.

Have parts of God's church ignored its Cornerstone so much and for so long that we have created a new and commonly accepted definition and identify of "Christian"? In truth, I have known less than a handful of people who, because of their actions, were labeled "Christians" by those outside the church. It is always my goal to live so that people see Christ in me and call me by that identity. It is also a goal to not take His name in vain as in the article I just read. I would rather be like Peter and John in Acts 4:13 – "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus."

If you were arrested for being a Christian,

Would there be enough evidence to help convict you?

If they took you in front of a panel of judges,

Could they find a staunch witness to help convict you.

Or would they find somebody who's seen you in the shadows,

But they couldn't repeat all the naked truth they know?

Would the prosecution have the evidence to hang you,

Or would the Master suffer by your show?

If they put you in prison for being a Christian,

Would they have enough evidence to help confine you?

If they gave you a chance to obtain your freedom,

Would you stand your faith or would you deny him?

Would you cop a plea just to save your earthly body,

And let Satan win the soul Jesus bought to save?

Would the prince of darkness win you for his gallows,

Would the Judgement Day see God send you away?

Gary S. Paxton, Evidence, 1977 (hear it here)