God's Wisdom Through Parables

Anyone who reads the Bible has come to know the parables of Christ.  These are basically short stories, designed to draw people in using common everyday scenarios so that people can understand the Kingdom of Heaven.  Now this is no small feat, and Jesus was probably quite weary after trying to explain to his disciples what God the Father says and does.  I imagine it would be a lot like a college professor trying to explain neuroscience to a farm animal.  Our finite, little minds can only understand so much when it comes to the things of God.

We get little bursts of wisdom here and there, so that we can get the gist of what the Lord wants us to know.  Story telling is an ancient, and wonderful way of imparting generational knowledge.  Not everyone is good at it, but most anyone enjoys listening and getting drawn into a good story.  As such, parables have a way of disarming us so that we can let our guard down - at least long enough to be convicted by the Holy Spirit.  They are much more effective than pulling us aside and pointing out our sins directly.  Parables act as a buffer between ourselves and the raw, unabashed truth of God's Word.  

Our adult Sunday School class at church is beginning a study on parables just this week.  I believe it will be extremely beneficial to break down and study not only what Jesus told his followers, but what Moses and the other prophets recounted in the Old Testament.  Parables exist in both places in the Bible, and provide us with a rich understanding about the culture in which they were told.  

There are a handful of topics that exist when it comes to the more modern parables of Christ.  Jesus often recounts stories about salvation for example.  Imagine trying to explain to first century people, how the God of Jacob and Abraham decided to work through Jesus to make atonement for the sins of the world!  A technical step by step explanation simply won't do; so Jesus used stories instead.

Many of his parables involved agricultural metaphors.  C.S. Lewis once stated that Christianity can be thought of as a 'dying and rising' religion.  The seed goes down dead into the ground, but rises later in the season with enough sun and rain.  And so it is with Christ's resurrection on the cross as well.  He died, then rose again three days later.  It is hard to miss this connection to nature and farming.

Another common type of parable discussed judgement.  Jesus would often outline the danger or consequences of doing something adjacent to the will of God.  Take for instance the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16.  We are told that since the rich man never stopped to help the poor beggar Lazarus during his time on Earth, he would live in torment in the afterlife.  The lesson was clear - help those in need whenever possible.  

We so often learn best when we can equate something we understand from our daily lives into the story itself.  When I first began filling the pulpit as a guest preacher, my struggle was using too many facts and Scripture passages at the same time.  When I go back and read some of my older sermons, I actually feel bad for the congregation at the time!  I had too many touch-points, and not enough story telling.  It probably sounded like I was reading a text book or Biblical commentary.  

Since then, I have strived to make a change in that regard.  What most people care about is a good story.  Many of the most effective preachers today will weave the Scriptures into a cohesive personal story on Sunday morning.  Following this example set for us by Jesus yields dividends over time.  Once I made the switch from regurgitating facts and axioms over to Scriptural storytelling, things got better quickly.

I believe that we should be studying the parables in the same manner today.  Our challenge of course, is that we are reading two-thousand year old stories with 21st century eyes.  This forces us to spend time researching what the parables actually mean, how they connect to other passages in the Bible, and what life was like back then.  If we neglect this important contextual step, it becomes tempting to skew the meaning in favor of modern fads or norms.  Remember that Jesus was neither Republican or Democrat, He was a Jewish teacher and God's son.  Once we remember this, his stories begin to take on a different tone.

One thing remains clear to me: we need God's spiritual training and stories just as much now as we did then.  Times change, but the human heart does not.  We still often gravitate toward the flesh and toward sin.  We are subject to pride and lust.  We sometimes rebel and resist a Holy God.  He knows this, so He left us a group of stories that we can read as many times as we need to.  It wouldn't hurt to commit them to our hearts while we are at it.

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Let God's Light Shine

Let me begin by saying that I do not believe Christianity is a silent faith.  God wants us to talk about Him with other people and show the world that Jesus has changed us.  Changed us in ways that rub off on others.  Changed us in ways that we could not accomplish on our own steam.  Indeed, the Bible isn't just another self-help book, like some fad diet where we need to just try really hard to focus our will power, and then we might lose some weight.  No, it is much more than that.  It is a religion that does something, that moves inside of us in a way that translates out from the overflow in our hearts to those around us. 

With this idea firmly in view, I want to discuss two Scriptures today.  The first comes to us as part of the famous Sermon on the Mount section of the Gospel of Matthew.  Chapter 5, verses 14-16 says, "You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put  it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Similarly, in Luke 11:33, we get the curious statement: "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light."

I believe that it can be plainly said, that the light of this world we inhabit comes from Jesus Christ.  But what about the darkness?  What about all of the sin that transpires on our planet every day?  This is a more difficult question to think about.

In order for sin to exist and thrive, it must be kept in the dark.  You may have noticed in your own life, that keeping secrets is a great way to build up animosity.  Nothing deflates trust between two people more than finding out that you have been lied to, or that someone withheld information from you longer than they should have.  It makes it that much harder to trust again.

The catch, however, comes from the fact that in order to purge ourselves of sin and begin our journey down the path of righteousness - we must bring that thing we regret into the light.  Evil cannot stand or survive in the light, much less the light of Christ.  In this glow, there is only room for confession, repentance, and healing.  Secret keeping goes out the window.  You will note that in this way, the light of Jesus will edge out sin (both yours and mine).   It's painful at first - I'm not saying it isn't - but ultimately it is the only way to permanently kick a bad habit.  There is something about illumination and confession that resets the spirit I think.

In this same way, I am imploring the reader not to hide away your faith.  Resist the urge to shelve away your personal belief system into the darkness. If we look at the sentence immediately preceding Matthew 5:14, it says "You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot."

The Bible tells us to be salt and light.  Allow your faith to shine.  Don't treat your religion as a forty-hour-per-week job, where you act one way at the office and another way at home.  Christianity asks more than that from us (and we should be grateful for that I think).  Otherwise, it would be just another social club or mundane organization.  

Jesus is ultimately the judge, and we must be careful also that we don't become arrogant in our spiritual assessment of others.  Someone's eternal salvation isn't secured by what we think of them, but rather by whether or not they are born again.  That is the light of God.  So often it is human nature to forget that fact, I think. 

As I said a moment ago; Christianity is not a silent faith.  It is too important for that.  If you are loved by God, and you love God back, then good luck containing the light that abides inside of you!  It will spill out.  If others don't see this light, then it's time to take stock and examine your walk with God.  Don't keep the things that God has done in your life quiet.  And if you boast about it, then boast for His glory, not your own.  For it is Jesus that saves each of us, and who lights the flame which can never be extinguished.

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The Resurrection of Christ

The literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith.  It doesn't matter which denomination or slant you derive your Biblical understanding from, Easter Sunday is a big deal.  It is perhaps, the biggest deal.  In my humble opinion, it is even more important than Christmas and Good Friday.  It is the key to understanding how we fit into God's overarching view of salvation, eschatology, and theology.  The resurrection of Christ is like God's approval stamp on the life and ministry of His son.  It's akin to the angels in Heaven announcing through a megaphone: "God has come into the world, and you need to listen to Him!"  

If we think back and imagine other historical events that shaped history, it's easy to see how timelines can overlap and build upon each other.  Take for example, the invention of the printing press in the Middle Ages.  This incredible machine was responsible for reproducing the Bible for others to read and pass down through the generations.  Today, this amazing book has been translated into roughly 736 languages across the globe.  Imagine the impact this has had on faith conversions and evangelism.  Regular everyday people can now read the Bible for themselves, without depending on a bishop or cardinal to interpret the Scriptures for them.  It revolutionized our faith.

In the same way, Easter Sunday is our annual reminder that Jesus came to Earth, spread the Gospel message, and then died and was resurrected to save us from our sins.  There is much less fanfare in our country over Easter than for the Christmas shopping holiday, but the resurrection is no less important.  If it hadn't happened, churches would have nothing to talk about.  They would be more like social meetups or country clubs.  

1 Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  And dead in our sins we would be, if it wasn't for our Lord and Savior.  

John Wesley (founder of the Methodist faith) once said that he feared someday the church would end up mimicking the appearance of spiritual fortitude, but without any real power behind it.  Some have argued that this is where many lukewarm churches are today.  Great music, entertaining liturgy, but not much of a Gospel message.  Churches that don't preach Christ crucified are in this boat I think.  And it's a comfortable boat: a lot like a cruise ship - sailing through an ocean of lukewarm water.  But it never actually reaches a spiritual port or destination.

The captain makes sure never to pilot the vessel into dangerous choppy water, so the passengers don't know what fighting for their faith looks like.  Just an endless voyage in a comfortable floating bubble, guided by human beings and politics instead of the Holy Spirit.  For boats (and churches) like this, Easter Sunday means just dinner with the family and maybe watching some sports on television afterwards.  Maybe some good praise band music at church if they are lucky (if they attend service at all).  

But for Christ centered churches, the resurrection drives and motivates them.  It's like Superbowl Sunday for the faith.  The sermon is important, and the music exists to help drive home the Gospel message and assist us in worshipping the Creator.  These churches are repeating the megaphone message from the angels: "Wake up world, and acknowledge the King of Kings!"  

So if you attend church on Easter Sunday, remember the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, so that we could have eternal life.  Ruminate on the notion that Christ removed the sin barrier stopping us from reconciling with a Holy and just Lord.  And then, by all means, go home and enjoy dinner with the family and some television afterwards.  There may even be an egg hunt; but not before you praised and worshipped God for the empty tomb.  That is what really matters. 

 

 

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From God's Perspective

I have noticed one very curious thing when it comes to listening and observing other people.  Namely, that we often like to put things into categories.  This need to label or name something comes naturally I suppose, as we tend to do it all the time.  God told the first man (Adam) to name all of the animals in the book of Genesis, and we have been classifying and categorizing things ever since. 

I believe that this tendency to categorize things escalates when that thing is either scary or unfamiliar.  I have heard it said that "if you can name it, you can tame it."  There is probably some truth to that.  Once we can safely explain something, then we know what to expect.  And once we know what to expect - we can put that thing (whatever it is) into the corresponding box.  

But are we able to do this with everything?  What about when it comes to spiritual matters?  Many who have come before us have tried - no doubt very diligently - to place Christianity in a box.  To classify it as just another belief system, and file it away on a shelf somewhere next to Islam and Buddhism maybe.  But can we really put God in a box and make Him predictable?  It’s a matter of perspective I think. 

The God of the Bible often surprises us, I think.  In fact, if we look at one of my favorite stories from the Old Testament, we see just how effective He is at turning the tables on people. The Biblical story in 1 Samuel, chapter 16 talks about how God used Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel.  As the story goes, Samuel visited Jesse and asked him to bring out all of his sons, such that the Lord might choose a new successor to the throne.  God proceeds to reject each of the young men that Jesse brings out.  Once this process was finished, Samuel asks him if there are any more children.  Jesse then sheepishly volunteers his youngest son.  He was embarrassed of him, but he did as Samuel commanded anyway and paraded him out in front of everyone. 

Here is what 1 Samuel 16:11-12 says, "So he asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?'  'There is still the youngest,' Jesse answered.  'He is tending the sheep.'  Samuel said, 'Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.'  So he sent for him and had him brought in.  He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.  Then the Lord said, 'Rise and anoint him; this is the one.'"

You see, God wasn't interested in those for whom the rest of the world looks upon as fit for duty.  His supernatural perspective was very different.  He wanted young David, a simple servant boy tending sheep.  We know how history unfolds from there.  David goes on to defeat Goliath, outsmart King Saul, and become the new king of Israel. Were some surprised by this outcome I wonder?  You bet they were, and probably so was David himself.

Author and scholar N.T. Wright says in his best-selling book ‘Surprised by Hope’ that "Our God is a God of surprises."  And I believe he means exactly what he writes - that God will often surpass our limited expectations of Him in favor of performing that one last miracle, granting a prayer, or in the case of Jesus ... healing marginalized people that no one else seems to care about (Mark 1:40-45).  

All of these things are examples of His mercy and grace when it comes to humanity.  God fits neatly into a box about as well as a square peg in a round hole.  He is sovereign, makes up His own mind, and acts in accordance with prophetic Scripture to surprise and astonish us again and again.  If you asked the average Jewish person back in first century Palestine what he thought about the Messiah, he would tell you that God was going to send a powerful king with a large army to vindicate and restore the Jewish nation.  He would not (at least prior to the arrival of Jesus), tell you that the coming savior would be born in a manger somewhere in Bethlehem, to a poor carpenter, with no power or worldly status to speak of.  

What would my favorite author and Christian scholar C.S. Lewis think of all this, I sometimes think to myself.  If only he were alive today, I might just ask him.  There is a piece of dialogue from Lewis' book 'The Chronicles of Narnia' where the fictional character Aslan the lion talks with some of the children who have stayed by his side for the duration of the novel.  In the book you see, Aslan is a representation of Jesus; a lion both strong and wise.  Once finished with his conversation, he leaves the children wondering what his next move will be.  They are then counseled by one of the other characters who tells them to remember that Aslan is good, but he is not a tame.

I cannot think of a better way to discuss the God of the Bible.  He is good and He is just, but he is not "safe."  To categorize Him as such would be to cheapen what He really is.  He is loving and righteous, but He is not a tame lion.  Our God it would seem, is full of surprises.  His perspective is wholly different than ours a lot of the time, and I suspect that is a good thing. 

 

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Our Theological Roof

I had no idea how much work it would take to replace the old, crumbling roof on our one-hundred-year-old house.  Soon after we moved in, my wife and I began to notice small areas of soft wood, where the water could sneak through and cause damage to the ceiling and surrounding dry wall.  This was disturbing, but not uncommon in old homes I'm afraid.  Water finds a way.  If there is a weak spot anywhere in your house, chances are good that Mother Nature has begun working on that area in some way.  This is the natural way of things - if you don't fix it in the beginning, you will certainly have to fix it later.  The only problem with waiting is that it can get larger, cost more to fix, and probably take longer.  All things considered, we knew it was time for a new roof.  

After a month of sawing, cutting, sheeting, and hard labor, the team of roofers that we hired were finally done.  Cleanup was minimal due to the conscientious manner in which the workers toiled. Our home no longer leaks during Spring storms.  This raises a certain analogy in my mind as it relates to Scripture and the human search for truth.  I don't believe it is too much of a stretch to consider a pedagogy in which a new roof can be viewed in a similar way to theology.  Certainly the directional metaphor applies:  we look up to God in heaven, and we also look up to the roof on a house.  It is the topmost section of a home.  In fact, if we cannot stop our roof from leaking and letting in rain and snow, eventually everything else in that building will be at risk. 

But what if you and I don't take the time to cover ourselves in solid theology?  What if the outside, brackish lukewarm water has found its way into a weak roof?  I am sorry to say, it is possible to become accustomed to placing buckets under the ceiling at various parts of the home to catch leaks.  We can even become comfortable doing that. 

The Apostle Simon Peter from the Bible was really good at providing a reality check for the early Christian church.  There were no leaky theologies on his watch.  He gave this warning to the early Christ followers in 2 Peter 1:16, "For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." There isn't much wiggle room here.  You see, the early church often had problems with letting in occult-like beliefs and bad ideology just like we do today.  We are surrounded by divisive teaching in the twenty-first century.  People don't know what to believe anymore, and I can't say that I blame them. 

Peter saw this back then, and I'm certain modern pastors see it today.  It may be time for us to replace our theological roof.  The only problem is there are too many “contractors” to choose from.  It is a confusing landscape out there.  It begs the question: how do we gird up our theology to be both accurate and strong?  How do we stop the leaking roof in a way that will last for generations to come and provide for our children?  How do we know what is spiritually true?

Fortunately Peter answers this question in the same breath.  In 2 Peter 1:19 he says, "We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."   In other words, he was reminding the church to hold fast to their original teaching as given to them by Jesus.  Do not fall prey to the latest, most interesting (yet aberrant) teaching that may be floating around at the time.  

So how does the modern believer begin the task of replacing his or her roof?  We must search out the completely reliable message Peter was talking about.  We must pray, seek after God, read the Bible, and attend church.  These things can work together to keep us focused and attentive to the things that God is telling us.  Omit just one of these four things, and the tendency exists to backslide into picking and choosing what we feel like believing in.  In effect, creating our own version of what is right and what is wrong. 

By the way, cleaning up ruined dry wall and picking up drip buckets isn't always easy.  It involves rooting out the damage already done by the brackish water.  Likewise, strengthening our theology can be just as difficult.  It's always easier to rest on what we have already learned (good or bad), and simply accept the status quo.  God however, requires us to dig a bit deeper.  He desires for us to challenge ourselves against what Jesus says in the Bible.   To come to grips with the fact that Jesus really is the way, and that God really can transform lives.   

As I mentioned earlier, my builder friends did a great job on our roof.  It will last for years and years to come.  I believe it will allow us to weather all manner of rain and wind.  The process itself was difficult - I watched them work every day and I saw firsthand what it took.  It was often windy and cold, and at times the weather itself even seemed to purposely thwart their efforts.  Still they pressed on.  A good roof is worth the trouble I suppose.  So is good theology.  How is your own spiritual roof doing?  Any leaks that need patched? 

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Prioritizing God

I would like to begin by referencing a famous story about Jesus healing a paralyzed man.  Mark 2:1-5 says, "A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven."  

Now what struck me about this piece of Scripture immediately, was the fact that the four men who carried around this debilitated person stopped at nothing to get their friend to see Jesus.  There was seemingly little or no thought of their own well-being, only a singular desire to bring this man face to face with the Son of God.

It struck me right away how a good portion of people in our country today will act the same way and with the same vigor ... but for very different reasons.  Consider for example, how much trouble the average sports fan would go to in order to get tickets to see the big game.  Or the amount of money someone might pay to make sure they end up at just the right concert by their favorite band.  To many of us, entertainment and popular culture is king.

But these four men - whoever they were - demonstrated this type of devotion toward something much more worthy.  Something pure and good, not tarnished by idol worship or misplaced adoration.  They had their sights set on God straight away.

The second thing I took from this Scripture was the fact that they really did show an amazing faith.  Remember verse 5 says that Jesus noticed this fact as well.  These men did whatever it took to get to God, which meant going as far as cutting a hole in the roof.  They realized that if they could simply meet Jesus, he would do the rest. The specifics didn't matter - they were going to get their friend as close to Christ as possible.  

In fact, you will also note that this act of faith was rewarded immediately.  Jesus looked at the paralytic and said, "Son, your sins are forgiven."  But some might say that this wasn't the same as a physical healing.  After all, to walk again is really what they were after probably, right?  The next few verses in fact, talk about how Jesus healed the man's legs as well.  But the Gospel of Mark makes certain that we know the physical healing wasn't the most important thing.  It followed only after the washing away of the man's spiritual sins.  First Jesus attended to the man's soul, and then his body after that.

So what do we do with this lesson today?  Whatever it takes to get closer to your Creator.  Rush toward God; prioritize Him.  We know from other parables such as the prodigal son and the lost sheep, that God the Father will take us back immediately if we have strayed.  He will allow us back into His good graces, even after we have allowed other things to become more important to us than they should be.  He takes us back after welcoming other things into our hearts (when God should have been the rightful occupant). 

What matters really - what mattered to the four people lowering their friend through a thatch hut roof - is that nothing was going to get in the way of a face to face meeting with Jesus.  If you are at home with God already, then revel in that joy.  You are lucky indeed.  If you are not, then sometimes turning around immediately and heading the opposite direction is the fastest way home.   Rush home toward the God that will take you back, no matter how long it has been.

 

 

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When Jesus Comes in Glory

One universal trait of the Christian convert is a belief that sometime in the future, Jesus will come back.  If you read through just about any book of the Bible, his return is either discussed directly, or foreshadowed figuratively.  Jesus himself talks about his second advent with his followers on several occasions. 

 

The parable of the ten virgins is one such occasion.  This account takes place in Matthew chapter 25.  The first thirteen versus describe a story about a wedding ceremony, and the ancient Jewish tradition of the bridegroom leaving his own house to meet his future wife.  After the ceremony and festivities have completed, tradition has it that the groom would then walk back to his own home with his new wife, being followed by the bridal party.  In this parable, the ten virgins represent the party.

It was customary to bring torches with you to light the path, because the procession usually took place at night.  There were no streetlamps two-thousand years ago it would seem.  Jesus then tells us that five of the virgins were wise and brought plenty of extra oil to keep their lamps lit.  The other five, however, were foolish and brought only enough oil for a short period of time.  

Scripture says that because the bridegroom was delayed in starting the processional, half the bridal party had dark torches.  These foolish ones then pleaded with the wise followers who still had oil.  But they were told to go back to the store and buy oil for themselves.  Matthew 25:10 says, "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.  The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.  And the door was shut.  Later the others also came.  'Lord, Lord,' they said, 'open the door for us!'  But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I don't know you.'"

The lesson here is simple:  when Jesus comes back at the end of time in his glory, we need to be ready to go.  The church needs to be prepared, the individual Christian needs to be born again, and everyone needs to have plenty of oil (the Spirit dwelling in them).  

It is worthy to note also, that we humans will not always be able to tell who has enough oil, and who doesn't.  From our limited vantage point, they can often look the same.  Matthew 13:24-30 addresses this and talks about what it's like to plant a field with good seed.  The farmer does his part, but eventually, once the wheat begins to grow, weeds come up alongside the harvest.  We see this in our own gardens and fields today.

When asked about how the field was planted, the farmer responds by telling us that an enemy snuck in and sowed weeds among the wheat.  Matthew 13:28-29 says, "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'  'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.'"

I believe the parable of the weeds acts to buttress the notion that you and I won't know (and cannot judge) who among us will be allowed into the wedding feast when Jesus returns.  We certainly hope that it is us, but the truth of the matter is that Jesus is the final judge.  He is the bridegroom in the parable, and he makes the final call to come in or not.  The door is then shut for good.  

I want to be part of the bridal party and the evening procession.  I will carry enough oil with me to go the distance, even if the bridegroom takes his time.  My heart belongs to God, and He directs my steps.  I hope the same for all of you.  I want to be called up to the wedding banquet, and if the door is sealed shut, then I want to be on the inside when it happens.  

Use this time that we have been given to seek earnestly after a loving God, to accept the free gift of salvation offered through Jesus, and repent of your sin.  God can and will extend forgiveness and grace.  Keep the lamps clean and the oil ready.  And when the bridegroom does return, it will be natural to follow him into the banquet.

 

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God's Call on Our Lives

I can think of no greater defender of the Gospel message than the apostle Paul.  Prior to his radical conversion on the road to Damascus, Saul (as he was originally named) was on the forefront of the attack on Christ followers.  He was a Pharisee of the worst kind; both self-righteous and cruel.  As we know from later accounts however, Paul was forever changed by his encounter with the real Jesus.  And from that point forward, his life would never be the same again.  

Paul was no stranger to suffering and difficulty.  Often times he would find himself in chains or in prison, all to the glory of God.  On multiple occasions, he ended up defending Gospel truth by way of debate or exegesis.  In chapter 25 of the book of Acts, Paul even finds himself before a Roman procurator, attempting to defend himself against charges brought from the local Jewish ruling party.

In this peculiar moment, the apostle throws himself at the mercy of the court.  He knows that being a Roman citizen grants him certain rights and privileges, so he decides to use that fact to acquire a meeting with Caesar himself.  A bold move for someone in chains, with half of the nation against him.  But Paul is nothing if not bold.

This begs the question for us today: to whom can we appeal as a true authority for our own lives?  Who can you and I go to in order to be certain we are treated fairly and with care one hundred percent of the time?  If there is a God up there, then is it true to say that He is the only god (or the one true god)?

Keep in mind that for many people in our country today, the God of the Bible isn't their go-to authority. In truth, many don't hold the words of the Bible in any authority whatsoever, and I believe the symptoms of this are everywhere.  Scripture says that as time goes on, people will become more unruly, and the love of most will grow cold (Matthew 24:12).

During times like this, I believe it truly behooves us to seek out someone or something that we can rely on as a singular truth in all circumstances.  Something in our lives that we can count on to help guide our ship into calmer waters when the storms are raging.  Our own modern-day version of Caesar. 

Let's look for a moment at the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18-20.  It says, "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Many will look at this passage and take from it the idea that followers of Christ are to go out into the world, and baptize people to make disciples.  This is absolutely correct, by the way.  But focus for a moment on the first sentence - it says 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'  This is quite a statement.  If we are to believe this (and I think we surely can, or Jesus wouldn't have said it), then it sets up the son of God as the one true authority over all things.

This means that not only does God command the Earth and the Universe around it, but that He has a calling on our lives as well.  We are not completely "free agents."  There are certain moral duties and obligations that we are called to live by.  Now you will note, that if someone or something calls us to behave a certain way, it also follows that it should be a two-way street I think.  Not necessarily that this being must also follow our desires, but rather that we can put our trust in Him.  This is our reciprocation.  God is our superior; our authority figure.  The one we can call on in times of difficulty, as well as times of great flourishing.

One more question remains, however.  Do we really believe this?  Can we throw ourselves on the mercy of the court like Paul when he called out to Caesar?  Will we allow God to be our superior?  It's an important question.  The outcome of our answer may just enable us to relax and lean into a loving God.

I invite you to lean in.  Take the leap of faith, and read through the Gospels again.  Take away from the Great Commission not only the concept that we must evangelize, but also the idea that we are helping convert people based on a real authority.  Not a power that comes from an earthly king or president, but from the throne of Zion and the Prince of Peace Himself.  God is no mere client king.    

 

 

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Spiritual Pride Syndrome

The longer I live on this planet, the more convinced I am that spiritual pride is one of the most prevalent sins.  It occurs in churches, among leaders, in the workplace, and in the home.  No venue is exempt from it.  I have often heard the following phrase applied when discussing our current culture of political correctness: 'I'm offended that you're offended.'  It's a snarky way of throwing whatever issue may be at hand, back at the person who feels slighted.  

One symptom for this type of pride comes in the form of what I like to call the "How Dare You" syndrome.  For example, if someone of a humble nature gets corrected by someone else, they may take a while to mull it over and think about it.  Maybe they did do something wrong.  But someone a bit more prideful might react to the same admonishment by thinking how dare you correct me?  How dare you disagree with me?  I'm offended now, so I will walk away angry and defensive.  

Think back honestly for a moment.  How many arguments have started this way?  How many family members or acquaintances hold grudges for years and years because something similar happened?  Maybe it was an insult at a family reunion, or perhaps someone spoke out of turn one day during a phone call.  Whatever the specifics, you get the idea.  And these situations can pop up at work just as easily.  I once remember a situation where two people refused to speak directly with each other, so the other employees had to deliver hand-written notes back and forth between them.  This is a true story (and these were adults)!

We recall the awkward prayer of the Pharisee (religious leader) from Luke 18:11 that deals with pride.  Scripture says, "The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector.'"

Keep in mind that tax collectors were frowned upon during Jesus' day, even more so than the IRS today.  Essentially, this person who was supposed to be a spiritual teacher and leader on behalf of God, saw himself as better than other people.  He was thanking God that he wasn't lowly like those 'other sinners.' 

This sounds silly when I point it out, and surely we realize that the Pharisee was really the one sinning in that story.  But this same prideful mindset is alive and well today; people just tend to hide it a little better.  Until eventually it rears its ugly head. 

And when we discuss things like spiritual pride, we eventually come to the paradox as it pertains to this next symptom.  Proud people will not only become offended easily, but they will also often indulge in the fallacy that they are right, while everyone else is wrong.  Sometimes we may very well be in the right, but there is a way to state this ... and a way not to state it.   Two deacons yelling at each other in the lobby of a church on Sunday morning would not be a good way to express themselves, for example.  People might witness this, and then the damage is done.  It doesn't matter who is right or wrong in that context, both people look bad (and so does the church).  

"'How dare you," we might hear one of them say.  "You have offended me for the last time" the other person may retort.  All of us have witnessed something like this in the past I suspect.  This type of grudge tends to linger for a while.  Now mind you, this becomes dangerously close to harboring unforgiveness.  Or at the very least, a lack of ability to experience empathy for the other person's position.  It's much easier to simply become offended.

Instead, listen to what 1 Peter 5:5 has to say, "... all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"  Apparently God isn't fond of spiritual pride either. 

How much happier is the life of someone who listens first, and speaks last.  I have found that people who are humble will often remain quiet for some time in fact, at least until the chatter dies down a bit.  But it doesn't mean they aren't pondering things, or that they don't care about whatever topic is being discussed.  They just choose to go through life differently, in a way that never seeks to destroy or berate another person.  Their feathers don't seem to ruffle easily. 

But real life often sneaks in, and sometimes we lose our cool.  Some of us are simply created to blow our stack right away, and we become calm only afterward.  If we do come out of the gate swinging, we must remember that an apology may be necessary later.  If we start off with 'how dare you,' we can still finish up with 'I’m sorry, and I see your point.'  It just takes more effort sometimes.  Try to place yourself in the other person's shoes, prior to responding with hostility. 

Let's all try to leave the realm of spiritual pride to the Pharisees.  Remember Jesus described them as whitewashed tombs.  I would rather throw in with the humble crowd instead.  I find myself needing to apologize much less often that way.

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Culture vs. Scripture

Evangelist and author Dr. Erwin Lutzer tells a fascinating story when asked about the difference between current cultural norms versus Scriptural values.  He begins describing a time when he went to a country club to play golf with a friend.  Beside a pond that they were standing next to, Lutzer noticed a mother duck's nest, partially hidden behind some brush.  When he walked over and took a closer look, he noticed that the nest contained a single golf ball!  The poor mother duck had mistaken it for an egg, and would soon be in for a disappointment after months go by, and no baby duckling emerges.  

Although humorous, Dr. Lutzer's point was that the mother duck had been deceived early on, and taken in what she considered to be the genuine article.  It equates to people thinking that they are worshipping the real God in Heaven, but finding out later that a false, culture-produced version of the Lord isn't going to save them.  In the same way that this poor duck was convinced she was going to be a mother someday - people all around us are guarding and nurturing a faith that may not be Scriptural or true.  

There is very real pressure for churches in the West today to begin making allowances and accommodations in order to let in fashionable beliefs and trends.  For example, some pastors may think that if their church doesn't bend to current cultural norms, they may lose parishioners.  Or take for example the extremely popular liberal ideology which says that we shouldn't ever judge sin, people can do whatever they want as long as it doesn't hurt someone else, and God is more like a fun uncle than a strict parent.  Although this diagnosis sounds odd, I do believe that many churches subscribe to this way of thinking.  

2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, "So then brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."  Here the apostle Paul is exhorting his readers to remain faithful, and not to let any other false doctrine or tradition supersede what Jesus actually said and did.  Apparently, this type of thing happened two-thousand years ago also, and required several letters from Paul to help keep believers on track.

And I think this is where the modern church finds itself today.  Many have gone apostate and shifted from Christ's commandments altogether in order to begin reflecting the passions of our current time (pro-choice abortion ethics, religious universalism, veneration of sexual sin, etc.).  

A good many other churches have begun the slow but steady process of leaving the faith one small step at a time, through a series of little concessions.  "It's okay to compromise on this or that, as long as we don't go too far" you might hear them say.  But one step in the wrong direction often invites others to follow, and before too long, the entire congregation may become spiritually lost.  Such is the power that pastors and leaders possess.  

If you are in a Biblical church that follows a Scriptural pastor, then take a moment now to give thanks and praise to God above.  If you aren't sure, then test what is taught in your church against Scripture itself; never take a leader's opinion as the ultimate truth unless it lines up with what the Word says in print.  Faithful  Christians will need to stay strong and stick together during these coming times of lukewarm religion and false teaching.  Remember always: the pulpit is designed to preach Scripture - not politics, opinion, or cultural trends.  

Not long ago, my own church engaged in an old tradition known as an alter call.  The pastor asked anyone in the congregation who wanted to accept Christ to come forward and kneel.  It was an awesome thing to behold.  In my heart I felt joy.  Not just for those who came forward that morning, but because I was confident about the type of faith they were accepting.  It was the Scriptural Jesus, and the Christian God.  I hope and pray the same for all of you who are reading this today.  May the true God of the Bible bless you and cover you.  Jesus didn't die on the cross for a "golf ball religion."  He died for you and I, so that we wouldn't be abandoned to sin.  

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God is Not a Tame Lion

My family and I visited Custer State Park in South Dakota a few years ago.  It is located in the Black Hills, and the beauty of this natural landscape permeated each day of our trip.  Although the tourists had come out in full force to join us, we often found a spot here and there on our trip when it seemed to be just us and God's sprawling landscape.  It was truly a sight to behold.  

Custer Park contains one stretch of highway called the Wildlife Loop.  It is just what it claims to be: hundreds of acres of land dotted here and there with wild horses and bison.  As we traveled down this small highway, I could feel the anticipation from my family.  

"Would we see any wild buffalo today?" they commented from time to time.  As it happens, we were just about to give up after going around several more curves without seeing anything.  And then it happened.  Our SUV pulled over one last hill and we had to come to a quick stop - there were at least a hundred buffalo herded together across the road.  Cars were stopped all along the shoulder to take photos.  

I began to get nervous as one large bull crossed in front of us and started licking the hood of the vehicle a few car lengths away!  A mother and her calf came close enough to my daughter's side of the car that she could have reached out and touched it.  I motioned to her to roll up the window quickly.  For some reason the button didn't work right away, so for a few seconds I began to sweat as the calf came closer and the window stayed down.  "When would it's mother decide to step in and protect her baby," I thought to myself.  Finally, the button worked and the window came up.  Not long afterward, the herd thinned out, and we continued down the road and on our way.  

It didn't occur to me until later, a flimsy car window would have been no match for a charging buffalo anyway.  Although everything went well that day at the park, I'm willing to bet that from time to time, a tourist gets into trouble quickly.  It isn't a petting zoo.  Maybe people decide to feed the animals, or simply get too close.  Whatever the reason may be, it is by and large, an illusion of safety for those who visit the Wildlife Loop on any given day.  

When we shift to discuss spiritual matters, I find that many churches often talk very freely and comfortably about God.  In fact, maybe from time to time, we get a little too comfortable with Him.  This is easy to do, especially sitting inside of a nice, climate-controlled church building.  We tend to think that God must certainly see the world the same way we do.  But we don't know what it was like to be Moses up on Mt. Sinai as the Lord spoke to him in claps of thunder.  We will never know what it was like to be one of the Israelites who witnessed the parting of the Red Sea.  

Those stories have grown into comfortable children’s' fables and vacation Bible lessons.  But the fact remains they really happened, and so did other stories like them.  They depict God as mighty and Holy, and not someone you want to mess around with necessarily.

In the Narnia book series, author C.S. Lewis invents a protagonist named Aslan the Lion.  It is a direct connection to Jesus of Nazareth, couched ingeniously into a kid's novel.  In the books, Aslan is often seen protecting little Lucy, Edmund, and Susan from the clutches of the evil ice queen.  At one point in the book, Susan asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is "safe" to hang around with.  Mr. Beaver replies by telling her, "Of course he isn't safe, but he is good.  He isn't a tame lion."

Lewis' implication here is that Jesus is good and he is loving, but we must come to him humbly and with awe.  God is sovereign above all things, and that includes us.  We cannot compartmentalize Him away into some kind of comfortable, fun uncle - any more than we can really control the weather.  It is God's Universe, we just live in it.

Jesus bridges the sin gap that exists between us and God.  Indeed, the Bible mentions elsewhere that to fall into the hands of the living God can be a fearful thing (at least without the covering and the blood of Christ).  Atonement is necessary in order for us to commune properly with God the Father.  Trusting Jesus in that way, allows the removal of barriers between an imperfect people and a Holy God. That is why we are “safe” with Jesus as our Lord. 

From time to time, my job as pastor required me to say unpopular things based on how I interpret the Scriptures.  Things that were often counter-cultural and politically incorrect.  When I needed to prepare something that I knew may draw rebuke from people, my mind went back to the command from James chapter 3, verse 1.  It says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."  

If I know what the Bible says, I need to preach it in just the same way ... I dare not test the Lord on this matter.  He is just and He is good, but He is not a tame lion.  It’s best I think, not to get too comfortable when it comes to the being who created everything.  Even better to trust in His son Jesus, who sacrificed himself such that we can have eternal salvation.  Now stop being comfortable, and start spreading the Gospel message.   

 

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