Be Unashamed

My local newspaper is consistently making publishing errors — typos, erroneous information, misspelled names and misquotes. My first reaction was one of sloppiness and lack of proofreading. However, as it continues I now see the issues as a blatant disrespect for their readership. If these journalists were writing for a prominent national publication their submissions would be the best they could offer, polished to perfection. On the religious landscape believers too can be guilty of offering less than our best, whether to one another, or to God. Paul reminds us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 NIV).

Rain and Prayers on the Unrighteous

Recently a member of the local Humanist, Atheist, Free Thinkers and Agnostics (HAFTA) objected to the sign on our church marque which read, “Put God’s Truth over Political correctness.” In a letter to the church Mr. Read ranted and raved about God’s laws and then ended his missive, "So look, I understand that most of your congregation don't actually read the Bible or obey what it says, but I just wanted to point out how horrible out lives would be if we actually obeyed God's laws!" Secretly I wish enemies of the church would not make themselves known because then I’m obligated to love and pray for them. Jesus said, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matt 5:44-45 NIV).

Spiritual Needs continued

All right, my words are coming back to haunt me and I’m now contemplating my own spiritual needs. I’ve written before about my struggle with the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Coveting is not my problem, but I now suspect my perception and obsession with fairness may lead to envy. In The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard the workers began to grumble against the landowner who paid all the workers the same wage regardless of how much work they had done. The landowner responded, “Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous” (Matt 20:13-15 NIV)? Obviously my focus on fairness and equality keeps me from seeing generosity.

Spiritual Needs

One man in my church normally prefaces congregational prayers with, “I don’t know what your need is, but God knows. Whatever your need is, bring it to God.” The invitation is stated in such a way that my thoughts always turn toward material, financial, physical or emotional needs. At that particular moment in the worship service the thought of bringing spiritual needs to the Lord never occurs to me. Today we believers rarely talk to one another about our spiritual needs, but that is not the example we see portrayed in the New Testament where we hear, “Lord increase my faith…help me in my unbelief...give me this living water…show us the Son…tell me so I can believe…what must I do to be saved?”

In Service

On multiple occasions I’ve watched a slight built woman walking her muscular dog in the park. Actually, she’s not walking him, he’s walking her. She leans back against his pull and even with a sturdy harness and heavy duty leash he drags her along going where he wants to go. One day they were close to the bike path and when he approached I asked if he was friendly. She said, “Oh yes, he’s my service dog!” It occurs to me this dog illustrates the actions of many believers today. We call ourselves servants and refer to Jesus as our Master…and yet we strain to drag and pull the Lord to every tree, bush and friendly face we see. The psalmist wrote, “Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me” (Psalm 3:18 NIV).

Right Hand of Fellowship

In the early church the Apostles endorsed newcomer Paul with the right hand of fellowship once they saw he was entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles. Paul said, “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews” (Gal 2:9 NIV). Unfortunately, in today’s church extending the right hand of fellowship is often based on inclusiveness, rather than grace or the mission.

A Slap in the Face

Whether it’s in the biological family, or the church family, we believers often unconsciously look the other way when it comes to bad behavior, destructive actions and false teachings. I suspect that many of us confuse looking the other way, with turning the other cheek. It takes someone with the character of Paul exposes our tolerance, “You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face” (2 Cor 11:20 NIV).

Appropriately Dressed

It’s not unusual to have a themed wedding or party, but a themed funeral service gives me pause. Recently a member of our congregation passed away and the invitation to the memorial service read, “Clair loved to travel and she was particularly fond of taking a cruise. In celebration of Clair’s life, the family is asking for those attending Clair’s service to wear clothing that one might wear on a cruise (casual, Hawaiian, palm trees, no grass skirts, but you get the idea.” My closet is filled with beige, black and tailored clothes; hence if I wear my normal black funeral attire I’ll not be dressed appropriately. In the Parable of the Wedding Banquet there is conjecture from modern-day commentators as to the meaning of the wedding clothes and the customs of that period. However, with a literal reading of the text I find myself commiserating with the guest who, at the last minute, was brought into the banquet from off the street corner. Jesus said, “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless” (Matt 2:11-12 NIV).

Power in Forgiveness

A secular-leaning friend recently said, “I think forgiveness is a form of power.” I’m still digesting the thought. When I think of the character of forgiveness, the words humble, compassion, grace, and obedience come to mind. The idea that forgiveness has the attribute of power has never crossed my mind. If anything, and I’m not sure why, I sense weakness in forgiveness. I suppose forgiveness might come naturally to some folks and they could experience a sense of power…then there’s the rest of us who must keep going back to Forgiveness 101. Jesus said, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matt 6:14-15 NIV).

Suppressing the Truth

Donald Trump secured the Republican nomination and the media is now scrambling to explain how they got it so wrong. It’s no wonder the media missed all the indicators…they were too busy trying to build a reality that matched their own world view. On the religious landscape believers do something similar when they avoid passages of Scripture that don’t match their narrative and definition of God. Paul warned there is danger in suppressing the truth. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Ro 1:18-20 NIV).

Keep Watch

For the last two weeks during my early morning and evening walks, a male Red-winged Blackbird leaves his perch in a tall pine tree and flies to-and-fro over my head chirping out a warning.  He then lands on the same cottonwood tree branch and continues his verbal warning until I pass by the territory he’s protecting. The bird is focused, on guard and diligent in his duty. I’m reminded of Paul’s farewell to the elders in Ephesus, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:28-31 NIV). Paul too was focused, on guard and diligent in duty — for three years, night and day he warned them with tears.

Higher Standard

Fox News interviewed a former Islamic extremist and his view on the global Islamic problem is that the world has failed to hold darker skinned, people of color, to a higher standard. In essence, the world gives darker skinned people a pass as though we can’t expect anything more from them…which he found offensive. It occurs to me that we do something similar in the church. We give one another a pass simply on the basis of being a believer. And yet, the writer of Hebrews stressed we are capable of a higher standard, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:12-14 NIV).

More Highly Than You Ought

A recent post on social media showed a 15 second video clip of a backhoe in the final stages of cleaning up a demolished building. A viewer commented to the photographer, “Except you missed the interesting part, and wasted our time with THIS!” Seriously…15 seconds out of one’s day is a waste of time? Measuring time with self-importance is a trap that even believers fall into. Paul reminds us, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Ro 12:3 NIV).

Dead Give-Away

After Jesus was arrested Peter disowned Him three times. Twice two different servant girls identified Peter as being with Jesus; and then those standing around confronted him, “…Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away” (Matt 26:73 NIV). It wasn’t Peters actions, deeds or spoken witness that gave him away as being a disciple of Jesus…it was his accent. It’s sad to say, but many of today’s proclaimed disciples don’t even have an accent that gives them away.

Exercising Authority

Immediately following Jesus predicting his death, James and John, along with their mother, petitioned Jesus to have the boys sit on the Lord's right and left hand in his kingdom (his glory). I’ve always thought this meant sitting on the Lord’s right and left hand in heaven. However, it occurs to me that when learning of the Lord’s impending death, these boys thought someone needed to be in charge…and it should be them. It stands to reason that if the Lord endorsed them while he was alive, these boys would have a place of authority and honor on earth, as well as in heaven. Jesus called the disciples together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all” (Mark 10:42-44 NIV).

In Memory of Her

Mary had a jar of very expensive perfume that she poured on the head of Jesus as he reclined at the table. The disciples were indignant at the waste, but Jesus came to her defense, “When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.” No doubt Mary used the perfume as a form of worship and adoration to the Lord, but I doubt she had any inkling that her actions were intended to prepare for the Lord’s burial. Like Mary, many of us underestimate the significance of our actions and deeds. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Matt 26:12-13 NIV).

Wick Trimmers

A lamp trimmer on a ship specialized in maintaining oil lamps and a poorly trimmed wick resulted in a flame that was dim and smoky. Jesus told the Parable of the Ten Virgins, “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps” (Matt 25:6-7 NIV). The virgins could have simply roused from their sleep, grabbed their lamp and went out to meet the bridegroom with a dim light. However, they took care to trim their lamps so that the flame would burn bright and clear. We know that Jesus, the Bridegroom, is at the door…I suspect that some of us have dim lights and it would behoove us to trim the wicks of our lamps.

Have a Good Day

When I call people for interviews I regularly get their voice mail. People tell me they screen their calls and most want to call me back at their convenience. However, for my convenience I rarely leave a message…I don’t want people returning the call while I’m in the process of interviewing someone else. As believers we constantly hear from the Spirit and I suspect that, for the sake of convenience, many of us are guilty of letting Him hear a recorded message, “Your call is important to us. Leave Your name and number and we’ll get back to You as soon as possible. Have a good day.” The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…”” (Hebrews 3: 7-8a NIV).

Strengthening the Church

It’s poor manners to talk during a movie and movie goers will sometimes shush the offender, or call theater management to ask them to stop. For some time now our adult Sunday school class has watched video lessons and I’m amazed by all the sidebar comments that take place during the viewing. Individual comments (Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen) mingle with conversations between couples. I realize folks are making connections and sharing their insights and emotional experiences. However, when others in the room must strain to hear the lesson over the extracurricular comments it weakens the message. Paul said, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church” (1 Cor 14:26 NIV).

Power to Weight Ratio

I interviewed the owner of a 1957 Porsche 55 Spyder, 1600 cc, 120 HP, 4 cylinder, four speed stick. With only a couple of minor differences the vehicle is like the one in which actor James Dean was killed. The car weighs just 1,200 pounds and the owner described the power to weight ratio as “awesome.” As a racing car the vehicle is stripped down to the necessities — it has no top, bumpers, heater, spare tire, radio or luggage space. In a similar fashion the writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb 12:1 NIV).