Brought Near by the Blood of Christ

Recently I found myself dropping off two of my kids at the middle school so they could clean out their lockers.  The semester ended abruptly in March, as fear of the COVID-19 virus began to grip the community.  Schools all across America (and other countries as well) closed down for the rest of the year.  Jackets and books were still in lockers, and everything went on hold.  Finally it had come time to send the young ones back to the school building so they could grab their items.  

As I pulled the car around onto the familiar S-curved side street by the school, my two boys jumped out and ran toward the front door.  All of a sudden, I had this strange pang of emotions run through me.  It was a contrast between joy, irony, and nostalgia.  I realized in an instant that I had taken for granted the simple act of dropping off youngsters at school.  Who would have thought that this little action could have meant so much?  I remember so often lamenting about not really having time to get there and back in the mornings because of my job.  Those complaints seemed silly now.  

The apostle Paul is really good at clarifying things in the New Testament.  In many of his epistles, the reader is left wondering things like, "oh yeah, why didn't I think of it that way?"  He tends to put things in a way that brings silly complaints to light. 

If we look at Ephesians 2:11-13, it says, "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 'uncircumcised' by those who call themselves 'the circumcision' (which is done in the body by human hands) - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

I believe that Paul here is exhorting the church in Ephesus to remain humble, and not get cocky when it comes to living Godly lives.  And this advice goes for everyone, even two-thousand years later.  We dare not take our salvation or inclusion in the divine family for granted.  If it weren't for God's son coming to Earth on a rescue mission for you and I, we would still be lost in our sins.

Recall that during this time-frame (and prior to the arrival of Jesus) the Jewish religious sect often considered the Gentiles (people of non-Jewish birth) as somehow lower or less pure than themselves.  In the same way that it would be frowned upon for a Samaritan to spend time with a Jew back then, they viewed the Gentile people as lacking the one true faith tradition.  You can imagine what happened when Paul began to argue in the Synagogues that regular people were loved by God just as much as the religious elect.  He wasn't always popular. 

And nowadays, some people have 'paid it forward' with this type of religious aristocracy.  But instead of the traditional religious Jew versus the Gentile, it is now the Christian zealot versus the unbeliever.  In other words, some in the church today flaunt their religious knowledge as a weapon, designed to belittle or talk down to those who don't yet know Jesus.  Same situation, different era.  We must not take the inclusion provided to us by God for granted by holding it over someone else's head.  This doesn't show the love of Jesus, and it isn't what God meant when He said that love sums up all of the prophets and commandments.  We don't deserve God's grace any more than we can earn our own salvation.  Therefore, there is no impetus for arrogance. 

What a world it would be, if we could divorce personal pride and status from religious fortitude.  If we could advertise God by way of a personal relationship with His son, instead of the rule book mentality.  Contained in the pages of the Bible resides both grace and verisimilitude, as well as edicts and commandments.   And I love God for this by the way.  It seems almost as if the Bible was constructed in just such a way so that if anyone reading it began to feel a bit overconfident about obeying the law, then the next page all of a sudden emphasizes faith instead.  Likewise, if we become too conceded about our faith walk, then it won't be long before we stumble across a Scripture that remind us that works matter also.  

Well school will be back in session at some point I would assume, whether that will consist of returning to a physical building or not.  Perhaps it will be half and half - some remote learning and some classroom work also?  At any rate, I will try never again to take for granted the simple act of dropping off my boys at the S-curve again.  Pretty soon they will be in high school anyway, and then before I know it, I will be sitting in the bleachers on graduation day.  

Don't take God for granted, nor your relationship with His son either.  You were purchased at great cost Scripture says, but trust me ... you didn't earn your way into grace (and neither did I).  We are brought near to God by the blood of Christ.  It is a gift, and if we are wise we will accept it.  Things have a tendency to go better when we listen to God, especially in the spiritual sense.  And when we really understand the sacrifice part of our Christian heritage, then pride and arrogance will have no quarter with us.  We will take nothing for granted.



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Six Feet Apart

According to most people, we are living in a time referred to as the 'new normal.'  Due to constraints put on our society from the COVID-19 pandemic, people are strongly encouraged to participate in social distancing.  This term had no meaning six months ago for most of us.  Now it is all over the nightly news.  Churches had to close, at least for a while.  People have begun working from home over the Internet.  And if you don't happen to be computer savvy or Internet wise, then you spend a lot of time at home ... alone.  Sometimes isolated from your family, friends, and even co-workers.  Phone calls and letter writing help, but it has been made clear to me in recent months that people are social creatures.  Even the staunch introvert craves personal interaction from time to time.  And if you do go out in public, the new mantra has become six feet apart.  Supposedly, this is the amount of space that ensures our safety from other people who may be carrying the virus.  

Now I want to mention here, that this feeling of loneliness and hopelessness isn't new, it has happened before in history.  There was the Spanish Flu in 1918, and the Black Plague from the middle ages.  Not to mention the recent splash of smaller pestilences in the last twenty years or so.  But I want to go even further back for a moment.  

Bible historians will recall that Jerusalem in the year 586 B.C. wasn't a pretty sight.  The city walls had been demolished by an invading army, and the town itself had many areas that were leveled.  No doubt God's people also felt alone and afraid.  This was the backdrop for the prophet Jeremiah when he wrote the Book of Lamentations.  

Listen to this piece of Scripture from chapter 3, verses 22-26: "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  'The Lord is my portion', says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!'  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.'"

It appears that the people who inhabited Jerusalem at that time were also waiting to come back together again ... to be strong once more.  They were waiting on God to rebuild their culture, infrastructure, and their way of life.  Wanting to live without fear and anxiety again.  Sound familiar?

Many of us today are seeking solace in modern medicine and technological advances.  Who wouldn't be listening to scientists and doctors right now?  But for some, I believe that whether or not we get a vaccine has become the mainstay of their faith.  We know from dealing with other types of coronaviruses (the common cold for example), that it is very difficult to pin down a cure.  These types of bugs change and mutate quickly from one season to the next.  And I know that this reality scares many people to their core.  What if there isn't a successful vaccine?

Now let me interject here that I would be just as happy as anyone else if they rolled out a cure in the next few months.  But my point is this: at the end of the day, who are we relying on to rebuild and renew our society?  I have a feeling that for many, the answer to this question isn't the Christian God.  

Post-virus Earth will survive this crisis; we always do.  Death or sickness may rule for a time, but typically not for long.  God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good.  There will be a day when we read the newspaper headline: The Pandemic is Over.  But we must also remember to trust in God during this time.  Not in a superficial way that pushes the idea that He will never let us suffer or die.  But rather, with a more mature faith that says even if the worst happens, Jesus has our soul well fortified.  We will eventually end up in a place where moth and rust do not destroy, and where God is our one true desire.  He will also rebuild us here on Earth, He will restore us ... and then it will be up to us to  obey Him.  Not to walk in fear, but with faith and hope that things will eventually get better.  

Donate money to medical research if you like, stay informed by watching and reading the news, and also trust your eternal well being to God the Father.  

I have often thought of this time as a 'sifting of the saints.'  A period when God is fortifying and rebuilding His church on this planet.  We had it really good for a very long time.  Plenty of food to eat and enough money to thrive as a nation.  But this type of relative contentment doesn't usually lead to spiritual growth.  No, I'm afraid trials and suffering are what build character.  God may not bring on the pain, but He can surely redeem it.  I suspect this is the way it's been for thousands of years.  

I believe we will come out of this crisis stronger, with a faith that was forged in fire and tribulation.  And there will be a time when we no longer need to stand six feet apart from each other ... a time when keeping a safe distance will no longer be the paramount thing on our mind.  Medical cure or not, God will rebuild and redeem His people - the same way He did for the Israelites thousands of years ago.  The challenge will be to keep praising Him in the meantime, when things look scary all around us.  We may stand apart from each other physically for a while, but we can pray together spiritually - as we have always done.  



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Wrong in the Spirit

A great many of us begin the right thing for the wrong reasons.  We may join a health club for the sole purpose of becoming more attractive, when a better reason would probably be simply to get healthy.  We may decide that we want a promotion at our job, but instead of working hard and climbing the success ladder through dedication and work ethic, we ego stroke the boss or try to win recognition through less mainstream  channels.  The point is, sometimes people think the ends justify the means.  

There is often a sort of 'economic transaction' mode of understanding the world that we bring with us to spiritual matters.  It is an easy mistake to make, but when it happens, it sticks out like a sore thumb.  Imagine for a moment an individual who may donate large sums of money so that the church can build something new, but then wants their name to be proudly displayed next to it.  Or maybe they are doing it so that the good work shows up in the media or is visible in front of others.  Even if we aren't talking about money, some can still have the notion that if I do this, then the church should give me that.  

Enter in the curious story of Simon the Sorcerer from the book of Acts.  We remember that Acts outlines the events of the early church, starting immediately after Jesus ascends to Heaven.  Simon was well known by many during this time for being able to practice strange and miraculous things, and he also boasted and bragged about it.  This happens a lot today, by the way.  Psychics and diviners who claim to talk to the dead, for example, are all over our television screens and social media.  For a certain amount of money, psychic so-and-so might claim that they can put you right through to your deceased uncle.  What makes matters worse, is that these folks often do their Internet research on their victims prior to "reading their fortune", and they grab enough of the vital information ahead of time so that it sounds legitimate.  

And we cannot forget that today, just like two-thousand years ago, a portion of these of people actually can tap into the demonic, in order to cause signs and 'miracles' to occur.  This isn't just my opinion, it is also Biblical.  Either way, God warns us to stay away from this crowd.  But it can be very tempting to listen sometimes. 

It just so happened that this particular diviner Simon heard the apostle Philip preaching the word of God one day in Samaria, and was drawn to him.  He watched as other people began converting to the Christian faith, and even watched some of the baptisms.  No doubt some of these people used to follow Simon; now they followed God.  Acts says that Peter and John showed up later, and began laying hands on people so the Holy Spirit could come upon them. 

Acts 8:18-19 goes on to describe Simon's reaction upon witnessing this event.  It says, "When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, 'Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'"

Simon really missed the boat on this one.  He brought that idea of an economic transaction into the kingdom of heaven.  He thought that the ends justified the means, and that money was a good enough bartering tool to procure what the apostles were calling forth from God. 

We cannot buy the spirit of God of course.  In fact, the Bible says that we simply receive God's grace, we receive His spirit, and we accept the gift of salvation.  You can see here, that God is holding all the cards.  It is up to us to simply accept and receive what He is offering ... don't bother trying to buy it like some common financial transaction.  Now this is a difficult concept because the rest of the world operates differently.  Indeed, if we look back throughout history, we may find situations where the church accepted large sums of money or political clout, in exchange for increased blessing.  If it feels like the handiwork of man (and not God), then it probably is.  Most economic transactions operate that way - they have the same slant to them.  

Acts 4:12 tells us clearly regarding Jesus that, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."  Jesus saves us, not money or status.  

Later in the story we find out that Peter quickly admonishes Simon and tells him that his money will perish with him, as he was most definitely wrong in the spirit.  Simon immediately begs the apostles to pray for him, so that his life may be preserved.  At least there is some fear of God present at this point.  

We don't know if Simon went on to actually repent and be saved, the account in Acts doesn't tell us that.  Did he repent of his sins?  Maybe so.  Have you and I repented of our own sins?  Only God the Father knows for certain.  Playing dress up when it comes to religion is a dangerous thing.  We can pass ourselves off as moral, upstanding people for a while in front of others.  But at the end of the day, we either know Jesus personally, or we don't.  We view the things of God as business transactions, or something more special and unique.  

Give your tithes and offerings to the church, give your heart to God, and accept salvation from Jesus.  But don't confuse material wealth for spiritual riches - they aren't the same thing.



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How Dare You?

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.  A good portion of people even wanted to change the name of the coronavirus because they thought it was too politically incorrect.  Most simply refer to it as COVID-19 now anyway. 

One symptom for this type of pride often 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 saying (or 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!

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 we 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.  

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 correct of course, 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 idea, for example.  People witness this, and then the damage is done.  It doesn't matter who is right or wrong in that context, both people look bad.  

"'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. 

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 mulling things over, 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 as easily. 

But real life often sneaks in, doesn't it?  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 'OK, 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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The Gospel Effect

The Gospel message about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is just as important now as it was two-thousand years ago.  During this time of uncertainty in the world, I have learned a couple things.  First, people need each other.  No matter how technologically advanced we get, we still have a deep desire to be in relation with others.  I have also noticed that trials and difficult times really do build character, and can also be redeemed by God for our spiritual growth.  Keeping both of these things in mind, the idea of the 'Gospel Effect' (the notion of the work that Jesus does in our hearts and minds) has become paramount.  

When I was younger, I worked countless part time jobs.  I started working in a grocery store when I was fourteen, and I've been working ever since.  As such, I've had the opportunity to work with a variety of people and personality types over the years.  I will never forget one young man in particular (we will call him Bill).  Bill and I worked together at a video store.  Week after week, we shared time in the trenches together, helping hundreds of people rent movies (you wouldn't believe how crowded those little stores would get on the weekends).  I remember him as being very secular-minded, and constantly on the go.  No time for church, rather, it was on to this tournament or that event.  Always busy, always moving.

I had lost track of Bill over the years, until one day I saw him at a local supermarket buying groceries.  We were both adults at this point.  We were a little older, and a little wiser maybe?  We talked for about half an hour.  He spoke about teaching an Alpha class, which is a series of Christian seminars typically hosted by churches.  Bill spoke also about the love of Jesus Christ, and the effect it had on him.  I could hardly believe my ears.  Not because he wasn't worthy of a Godly life, but rather, it was the night and day difference.  If you had placed the Bill of today in a room with the Bill of twenty years ago ... there would be two very different portraits.  The Gospel had changed him.  God had redeemed his soul and transformed his heart.

I want to talk about a particular story relating to transformed hearts.  It is often known as the Parable of the Leaven.  This teaching from Jesus occurs both in the book of Matthew and the book of Luke.  It is very short, but as you can probably guess, also very profound.  Matthew 13:33 says, "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."

From this little story, I believe we can take away two points in particular.  First, much like leaven (or yeast), the kingdom of heaven can take some time to develop and mature.  We ought not apply today's fast paced, technology driven lifestyle to the Gospel Effect.  Not always anyhow.  When the Spirit of God begins a work in us, it often starts slowly and might be barely noticeable to the individual.  Maybe my friend Bill was aware of how God was changing his heart over time, but maybe not.  Most certainly his wife noticed, not to mention the change I saw in him that day at the store.  

Second, I believe we can take from this teaching that the kingdom of heaven starts from the 'inside' and works its way outward.  Like leaven that permeates through the entire package of dough, Jesus begins working inside of a person's heart and mind.  The changes are often not obvious from other people's perspective, until the overflow of God's love begins to come out of that individual through the words they speak and the things they do.  At the end of that twenty year time period, Bill's born again heart was very prevalent to me.  God had started a work in him years ago, and now he was teaching the Christian classes himself!  Leaven may start small, but the end result is irrefutable.  

We are sometimes impatient with God, aren't we?  Instead of waiting for the dough to rise, we might decide that a trip to the fast food restaurant is a better idea.  We drive past the window, hand our money to the employee, and off we go with a bag full of junk food.  Quick, easy, and also not very good for us.  

By contrast, if we wait on God and allow the leaven time to work through the dough, the end result is impressive (and much better for us than fast food).  It goes without saying then, that God probably has to wait on us a good portion of the time.  The Bible says He is infinitely patient with Israel, and with us also.  And if we stop to think about things for just a millisecond, we can see how true this is.  How many times have you and I failed to meet God's holy law?  More than a few times I would think.  If you disagree, stop reading this immediately and turn to the ten commandments in the Old Testament.  Go down the list with each one, and apply it to your own life.  Humbling, isn't it?

Little doubt that God is the very embodiment of patience and love.  I often see this truth wherever I look ... even during a global pandemic.  My advice is this: allow God's Holy Spirit to make little in-roads into your life.  Give this Gospel Effect time to take hold, and work in you from the inside out.  Who cares if other people around you notice this change immediately or not.  Your sanctification walk is between you and the Creator.  Revel in that intimate time together with God; Jesus died on the cross so that you could have it.  Don't waste it.

Sooner or later, those around you will notice the end result.  You will have your own supermarket meeting epiphany, just like Bill and I.  



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Stay Humble, Stay Happy

There are so many profound parables at our disposal in the Bible.  It is quite literally, an embarrassment of riches.  They represent opportunities for people to read what the Son of God has to say about how Heaven operates.  If the majority of the world knew how much of a gift this is, Scripture would be quoted on the nightly news every day.  It is nothing short of God offering you and I the ability to know and understand what it's like to be in His presence.  He certainly didn't have to do this for us; He doesn't owe us anything.  But as an act of love, Jesus illustrated the Kingdom of Heaven to his followers, and then even took the time to explain what he meant when he was done.  Astonishing, isn't it?  So much grace, freely given. 

Luke 14 contains what some call the Parable of the Invited Guest.  It describes a wedding feast where a guest shows up and considers taking the place of honor, which according to Jewish custom, was right next to the host.  The dinner table would often resemble the shape of a "U", with the host sitting at the head.  On either side of the host then, would sit important people of high status - perhaps Pharisees or noblemen.  Jesus warns us, however, that we should not seek to seat ourselves at the head of the table in the high place necessarily.   

Luke 14:8-9 says, "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this person your seat.'  Then humiliated, you will have to take the least important place."

Now this idea is counter cultural if we stop to think about it.  So often today, people get ahead by seizing power and then cultivating it selfishly.  On a large scale, consider the garden variety despotic ruler who sets himself up as president or chancellor of a country by force.  Does he not sometimes kill whoever gets in his way?  Or more closer to home, what about that annoying person you work with at the office, who plans and schemes their way up the status ladder?  

The issue comes into play when we realize that the Kingdom of Heaven doesn't work this way.  It would seem that Jesus is telling us that God assigns the glory, we cannot take it ourselves.  Now this message would have seemed odd to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other religious leaders of the time.  They went to school, studied with masters, and put all their stock and faith in their own accomplishments.  Essentially, they 'bought' their way to the top. 

You will note here that I am not marginalizing working hard and earning a degree.  This is a good thing.  But when you attach your own self-righteous brand of pride and status to your station in life, then we have a problem.  Jesus says instead of assuming that we should take the seat of honor, why not see how it plays out, and allow the host to apply grace as he or she sees fit?  We receive grace, we don't take it.  Doubtless you can see how this parable may also serve as a metaphor for Heaven.  In the Bible, the wedding feast is often symbolic of God's gathering of believers.  The Lord is the host of the party, and He reserves the right (as sovereign king) to ask anyone to sit wherever He wants.  Better if we don't presume ourselves - through a prideful attitude - to be more important than we are.  Much safer to be humble I would think. 

The other thing that happens when we head directly toward the seat of honor, is that we can fall into the trap of believing our own hype.  It's an idolatry thing ... an issue of self-worship.  The 'look at me' mindset seeks to compare ourselves to other people, usually casting ourselves in a more positive light than reality would dictate.  If we see someone else get a pay raise in our office, then we assume we should get one also.  We deserve it more than so-and-so, right?  If we spend time comparing our situation to others, we typically end up miserable.  More often than not, what God has in store for so-and-so wouldn't work for you anyway.  You do your thing, and let them do theirs.  We receive what God gifts to us, and we don't complain. 

As I said before, the Kingdom of Heaven operates differently than life on planet Earth.  Look at Luke 14:11: "For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humble themselves will be exalted."

So what if you are a religious leader, a statesman, or something similar?  Go for the lower position at the wedding table.  Who cares if another person takes the top seat next to the host.  There is an excellent chance that even if the host doesn't ask him to move, he might be thinking it.  How wonderful it is, by contrast, if the head of the household makes his way over to you and invites you to sit right next to him.  The parable tells us that we will then 'be honored in the presence of all the other guests.'  Again, we gladly accept God's grace, we shouldn't try to force His hand.  

And when God promotes you, don't become arrogant.  Don't flaunt it to those around you, as it can be taken away in a heartbeat.  Instead, revel in the fact that you are walking your own faith walk, in obedience to God the Father, in a humble and contrite way.  It's much harder to start a fight with someone who isn't looking for trouble in the first place. 

If we let faith direct our steps, then there is no place for spiritual pride.  We haven't seized power by trampling on others, but rather, we were asked to come forward to sit at the high place during the banquet by the host himself.  Stay humble, and stay happy.  To be prideful and status hungry will usually leave you hurt and embarrassed at some point, not to mention how uncomfortable it is for the other guests at the feast as well.



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Fearful, Faithful, or Both?

Why bother to read another article about pandemic fear?  Because I think this topic is important enough to be revisited.  People in our country are scared.  We hear conflicting stories sometimes from national news sources, in addition to worrisome personal accounts where something went wrong after someone contracted the COVID-19 virus.  We are worried about ourselves, our families, and our relatives.  Seasonal allergies are picking up this time of year also.  We may wonder to ourselves, "Is this cough hay fever, or something else?"  Not to mention what other people do when they see someone sneezing or coughing  in public. 

When we address the topic of fear in the Bible, a good place to start is the book of Judges.  In fact, Judges chapter 6 recounts the story of a man named Gideon.  When we are first introduced to him, we are told that the Israelites were being bullied and dominated by a large and powerful army known as the Midianites.  Every harvest season, this army would march across the countryside and plunder the crops from Gideon and the others.  Because this sacred group of God's chosen people had turned to worshiping false gods and false idols, the true God allowed this pillaging to occur.  

The Israelites had taken to hiding out in caves in nearby mountain cliffs.  They would take as much of their own harvest as quickly as they could, and then retreat to safety while the Midianite army arrived and took the rest for themselves.  What a miserable existence it must have been.  But it sounds a lot like what is occurring today in the year 2020.  As our world is being overrun with a strange, new virus ... do we not often find ourselves 'hiding in caves' in an attempt to wait it out?

Truth be told, our government has mandated social distancing - and it is ultimately a wise decision I think.  But it also lends itself to an atmosphere of apprehension.  There is no Midianite army to run from this time, but a microbial illness instead.   It's like a pestilence straight out of the Old Testament.  The realities are the same:  we run to the grocery store and grab what we can, then retreat back to our homes and wait it out.  We may as well shut our windows while we are at it, just in case a swarm of locusts comes our way soon. 

God willing, this physical distancing will keep a good portion of our population healthy.  In the meantime, we are dealing with the psychological ramifications of prolonged fear and anxiety.  Gideon was fearful also, and the Bible says that God came to him as an angel of the Lord in order to convey a message about leadership.  Essentially, God told Gideon that he would be the one to lead a revolt against the Midianite army.  Gideon then put God to the test three times.  He wanted to make sure that the Lord was with him every step of the way, prior to taking any course of action.  After all, it was a scary mission.   

Judges 6:39 says, "Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me.  Let me make just one more request.  Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.'"   God complies with this strange request, as well as all the others.  Gideon receives his validation. 

Now I wouldn't recommend putting God to the test, generally speaking.  Some prefer to pray for a sign or signal before they act on God's behalf.  For example, prior to accepting a new job, people might pray for God to show them some type of validation.  This can work, and many have had success with this type of thing; but ultimately it can be a mixed bag.  Much better, I think, to follow what the Bible says - no matter what signs or signals we may be seeing around us.  Although this formula isn't as dramatic as witnessing prayer requests come true, it is still the most reliable way to tell whether or not you are walking in obedience with God or not.  

It is okay to be fearful sometimes, but we must continue to press on anyway.  There is a time for hiding in caves and a time to come back out and reap the harvest.  And it just might happen, that occasionally God calls us to engage the Midianite army directly.  And if we are called to do this, may we have the strength to respond to the Bible quickly and with authority, as opposed to asking God for a sign.  Are we listening to God's voice and reading His Word, or are we looking to the media or the culture for guidance first?  Sometimes the distinction isn't so easy to see, especially when something scary is going on around us.  The mountain cave can look pretty inviting sometimes.  

I should mention here that Gideon does eventually go on to lead the Israelites and defeat the enemy.  Through an ingenious plan to distract them, the Israelites gain the upper hand and witness a spectacle as God protects them.  The enemy eventually turns on each other!  Judges 7:22 recounts, "When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords."  

Remarkable what happens when God shows up, isn't it?  Gideon was afraid, but he was faithful also.  One thing does not necessarily preclude the other, as long as we don't continue walking in fear forever.  At some point - hopefully soon - we will come out on the other side of this pandemic.  People will recover from the virus in many parts of the world (and they already are).  And when it is time to come out of our caves, we will go courageously and boldly, because we will trust that God lights the way. 

Stay safe, be wise, and when it is time to go back out into society, do so with courage and joy.




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Why Didn't They Tell me Jesus was Coming?

One universal trait of the Christian convert seems to be 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 street lamps 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.  The foolish ones then pleaded with the wise followers who still had oil.  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.'"

Oil is often symbolic for the Holy Spirit in the Bible.  The idea here is not that the five foolish people should have become doomsday hoarders and stacked up a closet full of lamp oil at home.  But rather, that the Holy Spirit isn't transferable from person to person like some type of common currency.  It isn't the same idea as asking your friend for twenty-dollars so you can join in the fun.  The foolish virgins were told to 'go back to those who sell oil, and buy some for yourself.'  In the process of seeking out religious justification, the bridegroom returned and took the five who were ready.  The others simply ran out of time. 

The lesson here is relatively simple:  when Jesus comes back at the end of all things, 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 here, 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.  

Salvation is offered to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, and we are currently living in a time of grace.  We have time to weigh the Scriptures and think about the costs of following Christ.  But it won't be like this forever.  There will come a day when it's too late to run after more oil.  Jesus tells us to keep watch, because it can sneak up on us like a thief in the night.  It will happen quickly.  

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, so that you might be forgiven.  Keep the lamps clean and the oil ready.  And when the bridegroom does return, it will be natural to follow him to the banquet.   



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The Prayer Warrior's Mantra

My grandmother Kay was a very spiritual person.  She was a lifelong Catholic and Christian, and prayer was her specialty.  She would often pray - as the Bible says - without ceasing.  Grandma Kay prayed for us grandchildren, our families, and her own children as well.  I am certain that this is the reason certain things went well for me over the course of my life.  It makes a difference having a true prayer warrior in your corner.  I believe that one faithful person praying can do more than a military force.  The Bible says that prayer can affect change just as much as any physical action we do.

Some of you may know the parable of the persistent widow from the Gospel of Luke.  Chapter 18 tells us a story about a crooked judge who didn't care about God or what other people thought.  He was in it for himself.  There was also a widow in that same town who kept coming to the judge asking for assistance.  In fact, Luke 18:3 says that she wanted 'justice against her adversary.'

As the story finishes, we are told that because this woman was so persistent in calling on the judge, he eventually got fed up and granted her what she wanted.  Jesus then adds this curious phrase in verses 6-8, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?  Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly..."

What a strange story for Jesus to tell.  Does this mean our prayers annoy God?  Does it mean that in order to get justice in this world, we must bother the Creator in the same way someone might stroll into traffic court and petition a speeding ticket?  I don't think so; not quite.  But rather, it demonstrates how important it really is to pray without ceasing.  To continue to offer up our deepest, most heartfelt desires - even if we think no one is listening.

As I write this, the entire globe is struggling through a world-wide pandemic due to the almost unprecedented contagious affect of something called the coronavirus (COVID-19).  Even mentioning it out loud in public will draw dirty looks.  It has been (among other things), a time of great uncertainty.  Uncertainty about when life will return to normal, when Spring baseball practices might resume, and about whether or not there will be enough money left in the bank to enjoy anything anyway.

But worrying about the future provides an opportunity also.  It often forces us to slow down and act like the persistent widow.  No doubt some are praying daily now, when before it was only seldom.  People are seeking God, and they are listening for His answer.

I remember a time in my own life when things were looking grim.  I had been assigned a project at work which entailed lots of hours, a fair amount of stress, and an uncertain outcome.  In addition, the people driving the project kept changing the priority list.  I would eventually find out that what I was working on kept getting shifted around, but not until I was almost done each time.  The stress eventually became unmanageable, and I started having heart palpitations and shortness of breath.  

I remember praying at the time what I thought would be an unfruitful request from God.  I simply asked Him to either take this project away from me, or fix it so that things were more organized.  I was certain nothing would happen, because the clients and customers behind this task had sunk thousands of dollars and hundreds of man hours into it.  I thought for sure nothing would change, and I would end up losing my job.

About a week later, I received an email telling me that the entire thing had been cancelled, and shelved for a later date.  The stress was gone ... just like that.  I prayed, God listened, and then He answered.  I am still stunned when I think about it, even today.

Prayer pays dividends.  But the problem is that those dividends arrive according to God's timeline, and not ours.  Now we don't like this very much.  In fact, we don't like it at all.  People like to have things immediately, preferably without suffering, and delivered neatly to our door step.  Especially when it comes to watching our adversaries receive justice.  In fact, I think we often want swift justice for them, but a long delay when it comes to us.  This is just human nature.  We want our enemy to get punished, but ourselves to be forgiven. 

So what are we to do with this parable then?  How does it apply today?  We must remember not to give up when it comes to prayer.  We must cultivate our own mantra as miniature prayer warriors.  Although the term mantra does not have Christian roots, I think the affectation still holds.  

Matthew 7:7 tells us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

The power packed into this sentence of Scripture is incredible.  Are we really asking?  God is listening.  And if we are asking Him for things, what will those things accomplish in our lives for His good purpose?  Do we ask God if we might win the lottery, so that we can buy more empty goods and services?  Or are we asking Him to help shape our character and give us the heart of Jesus?  Trust me, those two kinds of prayers sound very different.  

It is also worthy to note the last verse of the parable in Luke 18.  Verse 8 says this, "... However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

That is a good question for us today.  In the midst of uncertainty, how many of us will continue the prayer warrior mantra?  How many of us will continue to praise God and give Him thanks when a paycheck is in jeopardy, or public hoarding causes nationwide grocery shortages.  Only time will tell.  

For now, just stay in contact with God the Father, even if you are struggling in your life.  He is still listening, and He is a good and just judge.



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Is a Pandemic Panic Spiritually Wise?

I don't often write about the ebb and flow of current events.  News stories seem to come and go, and are so often simply a reflection of the fear that people bring to them.  But I wanted to take a moment to address the concern over the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) outbreak in recent days.  I want to talk about it, because I believe people should have a separate avenue to plug into, when it comes to this type of fear.  News headlines are helpful, but can also be designed to promote fear and emphasize all of the bad things sometimes.  We don't hear as much about the thousands of people who came through this virus just fine ... because it doesn't make headlines.  It doesn't sell. 

Now I do believe we should take this worldwide event seriously (I would be a fool not to).  But I also wanted to talk about some spiritual things going on as well.  Some have argued that these types of things are God's wrath poured out onto a sinful world.  It is true, we do find areas of the Old Testament that describe this type of punishment.  But even so, these pestilences were administered only after repeated warnings from God's prophets, and a stern lack of repentance.  While I cannot strictly speak for God in this sense, I don't think this is what is going on today.  

This leads me to my next point.  Namely, that these types of things are indeed mentioned by Jesus in the Bible.  Luke chapter twenty-one recounts Jesus telling his disciples about what life will be like in the end times.  He says that there will be wars, and rumors of wars.  That nation will rise against nation.  There will be earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Was Jesus exaggerating here?  After all, this was two-thousand years ago.  But stop and think about the last fifty years for a moment.  Do we not see all of these things occurring together?  Many of us will recall HIV, then SARS, and then Ebola.  Now we have the corona virus.  Though this is simply my personal opinion, I do believe that every day that passes since the death of Christ, we get one day closer to the 'end times.'  

Now the good thing about prophecy is that it can also bring comfort.  Yes, God is still in charge.  And yes, He foresaw many of these things taking place in the future.  There is still an order and a chronology to things.  Eschatology (or the study of final things) always seems to follow a pattern.  

But remember also, that Jesus warned us the world would give us trouble.  In John 16:33 he also told us to "take heart, as he has overcome the world."  Be concerned, but don't panic.  God has a generous heart, and the Bible says He has not filled us with a spirit of fear.  Take necessary precautions, follow safety guidelines, but don't let hopelessness creep into your heart.  Jesus did not die on a cross so that you and I would live in some type of endless fear spiral.  It doesn't feel natural, because it isn't.  

Please remember to take heart ... he has overcome the world.  



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A Spirit Driven Faith

The Holy Spirit is one of those things that sometimes eludes organized religion.  Many of us go to church week after week.  We pray, we sing, we listen to the sermon ... but sometimes, something is missing.  Depending on which denomination you are affiliated with, the Spirit is called upon regularly, some of the time, or maybe not at all.  Instead, it is simply an idea or concept.  It is one part of the Holy Trinity for sure, but not really understood by most people.  If this describes you, then fear not - you are not alone! 

Author Carolyn Moore wrote an excellent essay entitled 'When the Holy Spirit Comes with Fire.'  Half way through this narrative, she says this: "a Christian without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is like deep-sea diving without an oxygen tank.  You can do it, but you'll never be able to dive as deeply as you want to.  Your fear of suffocating will always force you back to the surface."

So what does this mean?  Take for example, the tragic circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Titanic.  Most of us remember this story from grade school or middle school.  On April 15th 1912, the most impressive passenger liner at the time succumbed to an iceberg, and sank to the bottom of the Atlantic ocean.  Since then, many groups have undertaken to investigate the wreckage left behind at the bottom, and a few have even chartered underwater vessels to go down to the bottom and take a closer look.  These underwater crafts are outfitted with lights, manual controls arms, and all sorts of impressive machinery.  

Now imagine for a moment, that our job was to bring back a clear and detailed picture of the wreckage - such that we could help others picture what it must have looked like in its glory day.  With the underwater pod, this would be no problem.  We could look around as long as we wanted to, or at least until our oxygen supply ran out.  But what if we tried to investigate the site without any gear whatsoever?  No SCUBA gear, no oxygen tank; just a pair of swim shorts and goggles.  

I would say that the first dive team would have much better luck than the lone swimmer.  The first group (with the right equipment), would be able to send back pictures and detailed data.  The person with swim trunks and goggles could dive down maybe thirty feet or so, and then would need to come right back to the surface and gasp for air.  No matter how many times they plunged into the water, they would only ever see just a small bit of the wreckage (if anything).  Their picture of the Titanic would be almost non-existent.  

Now try to imagine a church where people were talking about God and trying to describe His attributes, but without the Holy Spirit.  I am betting that the folks sitting in the pews would only ever have a dim vision of what this God was all about.  Certainly not the type of detail that a spirit-filled body of Christ would be able to supply, with an underwater exploration pod and a team of scientists.  This type of snap shot of God would be lacking, to say the least.

And this of course begs the question: is a church without the Holy Spirit creating anything worth exporting to the general public?  Is music, preaching, and a nice building enough to change the world?

Probably not.  It's a rhetorical question, but an important one.  If we are not spirit filled, then we are preaching and teaching 'Christianity Light'.  As John Wesley once said, we would be retaining the form of religion, but not the power.  

Now when we talk about nominal Christianity (religion that exists in name only), we are really speaking about lukewarm living.  This is tempting stuff mind you.  It is always easier to talk about the transformative power of God than it is to walk in it.  Some might even feel that it's safer that way.  Less of this dancing around and speaking in tongues stuff, and more attention to the traditions and rituals.  But I think we would be missing something important.

I once attended a ministry class where we talked at length about how to interpret the Bible.  During the class, I recall that one of my teachers mentioned an analogy about how Scripture is a lot like a phone book.  You can flip it open at any point, and pull random information out of it, but you cannot necessarily assert that it makes any strong cohesive argument one way or the other.  Let this sink in for a moment.

Now mind you, I'm not of the same opinion.  I believe that the Bible does make a strong statement.  It makes a clear case for the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Trinity, the second coming, etc.  In fact, if you put someone with no religious training whatsoever on a desert island with the Bible and dropped off food and water for a month, they would come back home able to clearly discuss the things I just mentioned. The Bible says things and then backs those things up with historical accounts. It most certainly does assert something. 

But this philosophy is what is out there I think, and it is mixed in with orthodox theology here and there.  Kind of a mish-mash, lukewarm expression of an otherwise powerful faith.  It is like surveying the Titanic wreckage without the right gear, and many churches  are settling for this dim snap shot of God.  

Is there hope?  You bet.  I want to quote something from the 'phone book' for a moment if I can.  Acts chapter 1 talks about what Jesus said to his followers, directly before his ascension into Heaven.  Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Here Jesus was not simply giving his apostles hope, but stating the facts also.  I believe this offer stands for you and I today.  We can receive the power of the Holy Spirit.  And the best news of all, it is up to God to grant us this indwelling.  We can (and should) seek after it through prayer, sacraments, and worship ... but we cannot earn it on our own.  

Time to head back to the sporting goods store and visit the diving section.  If we are lucky, there might be a few oxygen tanks left on the display shelf.  Who cares if they are on sale or not - snatch them up quickly!






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