We all have people
in our lives who are difficult and hard to get along with. In our efforts to keep
the peace we often bend over backwards to fix things that we can’t fix and
that are beyond our control. Paul said, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be
careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it
is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,
for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord” (Ro
12:17-19 NIV). Some things simply do not depend on us.
The Christian Ear is a forum for discussing and listening to the voice of today's church. The Lord spoke to churches,“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev 2&3
January 31, 2020
January 30, 2020
Contagious
I’ve been
housebound for the last few days with a raging sore throat, sinus drainage and
congestion. I cancelled my scheduled chiropractor appointment because I didn’t
want to take a chance on spreading germs and the receptionist said, “Oh, thank
you for thinking about us! I hope you get better soon.” I’m taking over-the-counter
medications and eating chicken noodle soup, but if I don’t snap out of this soon,
I’m calling the elders! James said, “Is any one of you sick? He
should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil
in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith
will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned,
he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each
other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:14-16 NIV).
January 29, 2020
What is Important
I’m feeling
a little under the weather with a cold, cough and flu-like symptoms. I think
the Spirit is trying to tell me that my self-imposed daily blog post is not as
important as going to bed and getting rest.
January 28, 2020
We Can All Prophesy in Turn
In today’s church
people accept the role of apostle, teacher and preacher, but seldom do we hear
of anyone acknowledging themselves as a prophet. I’m not referring to an
appointed Prophet with a capital “P”, as with Moses and Elijah, but rather a
prophet with a lower-case “p”, as one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual
and moral insight. In addressing orderly worship Paul said, “Two or three
prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is
said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first
speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so
that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits
of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God
is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Cor 14:24 NIV).
January 27, 2020
What We Put Up With
Believers applaud
one another for walking out on a movie that contains an overabundance of
expletives, markets a gay agenda, or has romantic situations that border on
pornography. However, I find it curious that we will walk out on a secular
situation, but when it comes to the religious landscape, we stay seated through
a sermon, Sunday school class, or Bible study that spins the Word of God with
false teaching. Paul warns us, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived
by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your
sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to
you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a
different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one
you accepted, you put up with it easily enough” (2 Cor 11:3-4 NIV).
January 24, 2020
The Spin
As a
reporter I attend a lot of community and government meetings. I’m always amazed
when press releases or newspaper articles from other media outlets do not
even come close to what I experienced, or what I reported on. Rather than reporting
facts, many reporters and PR people want to put their own spin on the
situation. As believers we so underestimate the magnitude of the Gospels being
in agreement and the Epistles backing up the Gospels.
January 23, 2020
Staying With the Ship
Even in the
midst of a terrible storm those sailing with Paul across the Adriatic Sea felt
a measure of security because there were lifeboats attached to the ship. Believers
too feel secure because we know that in the storms of life the Lord provides a
lifeboat. However, how many of us, in order to be saved, are prepared to cut
the lifeboat loose when called upon to do so? Luke wrote, “In an
attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the
sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with
the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes
that held the lifeboat and let it fall away” (Acts 27:30-32 NIV).
January 22, 2020
Focus on Why You are Sent
Many of us
have been taught that evangelism is not merely introducing someone to Jesus,
but it is then getting the candidate to the point of accepting Jesus as their
Lord and Savior and helping them into the waters of baptism. It’s as though we
feel an obligation to facilitate and implement some sort of Christian
conversion program. In reality, each of us may play a small part in another’s
acceptance of Jesus, but their conversion is not our job. I appreciate Paul’s
ability to focus on why he was sent. Paul said, “I am thankful that I did not
baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can
say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the
household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone
else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not
with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power”
(1 Cor 1:17 NIV).
January 21, 2020
The House of a Servant
More than a
few people have questioned our reasoning for building a new house in an old
neighborhood and on a busy street. For starters, we’ve lived in the same
neighborhood for 36 years so it is familiar. However, the real reason has to
do with ageing and the future. Someday I will no longer be able to drive, but
from the location of my house I can walk to grocery stores, restaurants,
pharmacies, the post office, movie theater, the hospital, the doctor’s office,
the fire department, library, courthouse, police department and Main Street.
And my busy street…it’s a main arterial. When it snows it is one of the first
streets in town to be plowed. I’m blessed to live in a house with all the
amenities I need close at hand. I can relate to King David’s prayer, “Who am I,
O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken
about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though
I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God” (1 Chron 17:16-17
NIV).
January 20, 2020
Experience Appearance
In the
senior population some of us have fared better than others. Often a hard life —
drugs, alcohol, bad relationships, smoking, accidents, hard work and poor
decisions take a toll on our bodies and physical appearance. After everything
Paul experienced, I’m now trying to imagine his physical appearance, “I have
worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely,
and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I
received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was
beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a
night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I
have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own
countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the
country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have
labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and
thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides
everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches” (2
Cor 11:22b-28 NIV).
January 17, 2020
Resist
I have a
hard time understanding why people stay in an abusive relationship, whether it
is physically or psychological. Although I’ve heard only one side of the
situation, my friend’s boyfriend of a year seems to be mentally abusing her. She
breaks up with him one day and the next day calls him up, or goes to see him. It’s
as though he is her Kryptonite as well as her Catnip and she can’t stay away
from the relationship. It occurs to me many of us have a similar relationship
with sin. Like Superman’s Kryptonite, the sin in our life is killing us, but
when sin is covered with Catnip, we just can’t resist the euphoria. James said,
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double–minded. Grieve, mourn and wail.
Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:7-10 NIV).
January 16, 2020
Accusations
Paul makes
it clear that church elders deserve respect and those who teach and preach are
worth double honor (financial support). However, if you have been a believer
for any length of time, you have encountered an elder here and there who proved
themselves not to be worthy of respect. Along with how to handle such
situations, Paul also has a word of caution, “Do not entertain an accusation
against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may
take warning” (1 Tim 5:19-20 NIV). No doubt the warning of a public rebuke has
stopped many from going to the leadership body, but also the idea of rounding
up two or three witnesses to present an accusation smacks of collusion.
However, it occurs to me that the witnesses are not required to come as a group
to bring an accusation, but it is the accusation itself that has a cumulative
value. If three or more people approach church leadership individually the
accusation should be entertained.
January 15, 2020
The Law of Love
Our associate
pastor of two-years, who by all appearances is a biblical scholar, is scheduled
to preach only one Sunday a month. I requested that he be allowed to preach
more often and the Chairman of the Elders responded, “After consideration, we
do not feel that a change in the preaching schedule is needed.” I’m really not surprised.
It’s not unusual for a senior pastor to want to keep the pulpit all to himself.
However, the personal needs of the preacher do not supersede the needs of the body.
Paul said, “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. Just
as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have
the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one
body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying,
let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him
serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give
generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing
mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Ro 12:3-8 NIV).
January 14, 2020
Shepherding the Flock
Our pastor
insists he wants to preach, but it is becoming more and more obvious that he is
not called to preach. The elders are aware of his deficiencies, but they continue
to hold out hope he will improve. Unfortunately, hearing the milk of the Word week
after week, coupled the with the Scriptural errors in his sermons and offering
his own personal opinion, is affecting the spiritual maturity of the church. I
understand the elders wanting to support the pastor, but it should not be at
the expense of the congregation. Speaking to elders Paul said, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under
your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are
willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to
serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being
examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you
will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2-4 NIV).
January 13, 2020
Drawing Near
An extended
family member, a young man in his mid-40’s, was recently diagnosed with
metastasized kidney cancer and he has been given a life expectancy of
two-years. Jason laid bare his health situation on Facebook, “Please pray, send
positive thoughts or good vibes for my beautiful wife and children, they’re
hurting, scared…” There has been a huge response from both the religious and the
secular community in Jason’s life. On man commented, “I am praying for you even
though this will probably scare the heck out of God. You are a great guy, a
hugely successful person and a tough, strong man. Keep on keeping on.” It is
amazing how desperate situations draw us closer to God. Paul said, “How, then,
can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in
the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone
preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are
sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good
news” (Ro 10:14-15 NIV)!
January 10, 2020
A Slap in the Face
In Iranian media
the government of Iran describes their missile attack on military bases in Iraq
as, “A slap in the face delivered to America”. At this point in time, because
no Americans were killed, President Trump has not retaliated to the attack. It’s
not lost on me that, figuratively speaking, America may just be turning the
other cheek. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and
tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil
person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matt
5:38-39 NIV).
January 09, 2020
Healing the Soul
Last week a
family member asked me to pray for the friend of her co-worker who was
hospitalized with seizures. Of course, I said yes, but I also asked if the
patient was a believer. I know the recipient of my prayers doesn’t have to be a
believer, but that information helps me pray appropriately. For instance, someone’s
spiritual health and relationship to the Lord takes priority over physical health.
Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the
soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt
10:28 NIV).
January 08, 2020
Put Off Your Old Self
Some
believers compartmentalize faith by having one set of standards for the church
and another for the world. This is especially evident in today’s world of
politics. Paul spoke to Republicans and Democrats alike when he said, “Do not let
any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph 4:29-32 NIV).
January 07, 2020
Hacker Fear
On a couple
of occasions, I’ve received a message from a friend telling me my Facebook account
may have been hacked and that I should send a warning message to all my
friends. The message gives me pause…if I have been hacked, it could be the
hacker sending me the message. It also occurs to me that if I’ve been hacked,
it’s already too late to send out a warning. Many of us fear someone with the
ability to sabotage our life, but even in this electronic age David’s words
remain true, “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD
is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When evil
men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack
me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my
heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident”
(Psalm 27:1-3 NIV).
January 06, 2020
Every Step I Take
The gym I go
to has a north facing front which gets no sunshine in the winter. The last few snow
storms, coupled with freezing temperatures, has left a 24-foot ice rink to
cross in order to get to the entrance of the gym. I find myself walking like a penguin
and praying with every step that I can remain sure-footed and not slip. I’m now
trying to picture believers walking through the valley of the shadow of death
and I wonder if they too pray with every step they take. The psalmist wrote, “Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no
evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm
23:4 NIV).
January 03, 2020
The Spirit of the World
Pastors try
to make their sermons relevant by drawing their thoughts and topics from today’s
culture. While I understand what they are trying to accomplish, they often focus
our attention on the world, rather than on God. Paul said, “We have not
received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may
understand what God has freely given us. This is what we
speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the
Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Cor 2:12-13 NIV).
January 02, 2020
Hugs
A person of
faith posted on Facebook, “I’m going to see who really cares…I need a hug or
two! To give me a hug, like and share this post. I know who will hug me and who
will not.” For starters I hate emotional blackmail. That aside, I really don’t
understand believers who, rather than turning to the Lord, feel they can be
comforted through a like or a share on Facebook. The Psalmist said, “Why are
you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for
I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5-6a
NIV).
January 01, 2020
2020
We’ve heard 2020
vision is synonymous with perfect vision, but not so. An internet search
revealed, “Despite it being a measure of your eyesight, it does not at all
mean “perfect vision”. ... You may be able to focus your vision at 20
feet, but may lack the ability to see five feet in front of you.” My prayer for
2020 is not for perfect vision, but that the Lord will open the eyes of the blind.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)