Support Each Other in Christ

I want to begin today with the story of two figures from the Old Testament.  2 Kings tells the tale of two men with very similar names.  The first individual is named Elijah, and is an important prophet of God.  Some of you might remember that he was one of the few people to be taken directly to heaven without experiencing physical death; but more on that later.  The second figure is named Elisha (with an "sh"), and was a follower and disciple of the first man.  They went together everywhere, and Elijah was probably very accustomed to turning around and seeing his counterpart right there in the midst.  

A key element of this story is that it focuses on the notion that people on a Christian walk are often faced with difficult choices.  Our faith can require that we make uncomfortable sacrifices for what we believe.  Take a look at the last three years for example, and try to remember all of the decisions that you made regarding the contentious presidential election and the worldwide pandemic.  How many choices were made out of fear and anxiety versus a place of trust in God?

2 Kings 2 opens with this statement: "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel."  But Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."  So they went down to Bethel."   We see here that Elijah's disciple refused to leave him, even when asked to do so by his master.  This trope is mentioned no less than three times in 2 Kings.  There is even a point when the two men arrive in a town where an entire company of other prophets tells Elisha that soon God will take his master from him up to heaven.  His response is as follows: "Yes I know, but do not speak of it!"

Time and time again, we see this repeating example of Elisha refusing to listen or accept what is going to happen.  Now doubtless some have preached a sermon about these two people and presented this behavior as endearing.  'Look, he is refusing to leave his master's side' they might say.  But I want to take a different approach.  It seems to me, that Elisha would have been better served to obey his teacher, and to listen to the other prophets.  In this manner, I think he would have better supported God's call by staying behind and strengthening his home church.  But instead, Elisha allowed his fear and anxiety to come first and ignored Elijah's command to stay home.    

In fact, I believe that this refusal to listen displayed a marked lack of trust in God's overall plan.  And this very place is where we find ourselves so often today.  Can we get our own ego and preferences out of the way long enough to let God work?  Are we upholding preference or purpose, when it comes to our local church?  Are we listening to our own opinion only, or do we let "other prophets" speak wisdom into our lives?  

Stubborness will get you only so far.  At some point, we need to actually trust God and follow His will for ourselves and our families.  Mind you no one likes to be corrected, and even less so when God has to step in and provide drastic (or public) correction.  

So the question becomes 'how do we support each other as Christians, so as to follow God's wisdom and not just our own opinion?'  How do we become a respectful Jesus follower who listens to our leader and master, instead of propagating a stubborn indifference.  

Every pastor and church leader has at least one story of a difficult congregant who simply wouldn't budge.  Maybe they complained about the direction of the church, or the way the administrative board spends money.  Perhaps they didn't listen to the pastor's leadership or wouldn't come under submission to his vision and mission.  Whatever the problem is, I think it's an example of Elijah and Elisha.  Well meaning as we often are, sometimes we just need to listen and follow.

What are some practical ways that we can support each other in Christ by listening to God?  Let's look as some Scriptures.  Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Furthermore, Galatians 5:13 says, "You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love."  

When was the last time you served one another in love, without an ulterior motive?  It's a matter of choosing God's purpose over and above our own preference.  This takes a lifetime of sanctification and repentance.  The never ending job of beating down our own ego, while lifting up God's plan for a community or a church is serious business - and precious few have mastered it.  

When we lack trust in God's providence, we tend to stop listening.  We stop listening to His still, small voice, and we can stop listening to other Christians around us who are just trying to help keep us between the rails.  Elijah the prophet learned to listen to God, and his reward was to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind - never having to taste the sting of mortality.  It's better to listen I think.  

If you aren't a good spiritual listener, don't take it personally.  We all struggle with pride and strong opinions.  Sometimes in fact, we even couch our own opinions by backing them with Scripture out of context.  A great many false prophets and bad teachers have used the Bible as a weapon instead of a shield.  But the main point here I believe, is that by listening to God and His people, we can become more supportive of the Christian walk in general.  We can learn to support each other when making difficult decisions based on faith and trust.  We learn to obey our master's authority.  

Take a moment now and think about the Christians in your life who have made a difference.  Some may be pastors, deacons, or church leaders.  Maybe some are simply prayer warriors - destined to lift others up in spiritual grace.  But whoever they are, I'm betting they listen to God and follow what He says on a regular basis.  It all goes smoother when we listen.  

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Reflecting on Christmas 2023

It's hard to believe that the holidays are once again upon us.  As I write this, we are only two weeks away from Christmas 2023.  It doesn't rain or snow much anymore in S.E. Iowa, so it may in fact be fifty degrees and sunny on December 25th.  Such an odd pairing of Spring-like weather and the Advent season.  So I have taken to reflecting on what changes and events have transpired over the course of this last year, and how Christmas this time looks a little different than past holidays.  This article is merely a reflection of my own personal opinions, and it isn't meant to be necessarily anything else.  Just some things that I have noticed as a Christian man and pastor, which stand out in my mind.

The first is that our culture and society is in desperate need of a savior, perhaps now more than ever.  People are sad, angry, anxious, and often scared.  Everything they used to know and trust is changing.  The Bible forecasted this  of course; the apostle Paul talks about it in his letters to the various churches two-thousand years ago.  He says there will be false teachers and false teaching in the last days, and that our religion and faith would be tested.  For example, as of this moment in time, the Satanic Temple of Des Moines has fashioned an idol of their dark lord and placed it in the capitol building next to the Christmas tree.  As the old saying goes: "The times, they are-a-changing."  Turn on any television show or streaming service and you will see a constant diet of sex, violence, and bold challenges to Christianity.  They don't even try to hide it anymore.

I believe this pervasive fear and blasphemy has led to a bevvy of mental health disorders as well.  According to the National Institutes of Health and Sciences, almost one in four people in the United States now suffer from some type of anxiety disorder.  Things such as GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), depression, and other maladies run wild in our culture; and are often under reported or undiagnosed.  If you think I'm overexaggerating, step into any public school  classroom in America, and spend a couple hours with the students and the teacher.  My heart goes out to all of them.  

Another thing I have noticed is a direct assault on the Christian God Himself.  In many government institutions for example, all public expressions are allowed except items directly related to the cross or Jesus Christ.  In fact, our Lord and Savior's name has become one of America's favorite slang curse words.  Hostility is often shown to churches and the people in them, resulting in backlash behavior and political/religious strife.  People are choosing sides more frequently, and the safe position of "neutral" isn't acceptable anymore.  It seems as though you must profess some type of stance on something (hopefully we are standing for God).  But often people don't.  

I recall one instance in particular when I was participating in an organizational audit, and the facilitator came into the room to look things over.  She noticed some posters on the walls - everything from safety diagrams to photos of staff.  On one of the walls there were several posters displaying Christian themes - a crucifix and portions of the Christian creeds.  The facilitator quickly tore down these posters and threw them in the garbage can.  She left everything else up on the wall.  A symptom of a larger problem ... the new practice of tolerance without actually being tolerant.  

But I am grateful in many ways that God has seen fit to preserve America for another year.  We ebb and flow, move and breathe under His mantle of forgiveness and love.  Forgiveness, because some of His children are building false idols in capitol buildings and tearing down religious posters.  And love, by continuing to put up with it, and allowing us to live in relative peace as opposed to war here on our own soil.  I pray about these things quite often.  How long, I wonder, will a benevolent God put up with people worshipping created things but not the Creator Himself?  For one more year I guess.  

There are still small acts of joy in the world that hold promise for me.  A mother's love for her children, strong Christian pastors and leaders upholding the Word of God in the Bible, and families getting together over robust dinner tables on December 25th to pray and eat together.  

At our own church, we are hosting a community meal open to all who wish to find food and fellowship on Christmas Day at the rec center.  This is the brainchild of one of our wise Elders and leaders.  Things like this stand out today.  Spreading love like currency, but without expecting anything in return.  Simply to serve God and His people.  

The holidays are stressful each year; let us at least admit to that.  Spending money we don't always have to please people we care about is often no laughing matter.  Not to mention preparing the food, traveling, and making small talk during family events.  But at its heart, we are also blessed to be able to buy gifts, prepare food, and make small talk.  It mirrors the Last Supper in many ways I think.  Jesus looked around the upper room at his followers, knowing that his crucifixion was soon to come.  One last moment of peace and tranquility.  

This is the sacrificial love that Christmas was based on.  The baby in the manger two-thousand years ago born to a virgin.  And it has nothing to do with shopping at Walmart or spending money online.  But rather, to worship and remember that the reason we celebrate these things at all is because God first celebrated His relationship with us.  Even when we were still sinners separated from Him, and then even now, when people sometimes forget why they come together in the first place.  We get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday machine itself.  In light of God's sacrifice on our behalf, we can rejoice, for God is here with us (Emmanuel).    

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