Legalism And Grace

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  —  Titus 2:11–14 (NASB95)

What would really satisfy us would be a God who said of anything we happened to like doing, "What does it matter so long as they are contented?" We want, in fact, not so much a Father in Heaven as a grandfather in heaven—a senile benevolence who, as they say, "liked to see young people enjoying themselves," and whose plan for the universe was simply that it might be truly said at the end of each day, "a good time was had by all."  —C. S. Lewis, in The Problem of Pain

There are two basic approaches to living as Christians.  One might be described as legalism.  It's the idea that we've got to be good, godly people because being right with God depends on how good we are.  After all, doing things right counts for something!  The other might be described as grace.  Being right with God doesn't depend on our goodness, it depends on Jesus' goodness.  We are right with God by our faith in Jesus, whose perfect life became a sacrifice for us.  Salvation is a free gift, grace.

The fact is it's that second one that is taught in the Bible.  But that doesn't make everybody happy.  After all, if we're not right with God because of the way we live, then maybe we can just live any old way we want and let grace make up the difference.  This, apparently, was the thinking of some that Paul dealt with in sixth chapter of Romans. Verse 1 says, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?"  So, the danger is a possibility.

But this isn't what grace is, and it isn't what grace is designed to produce in a believer's life.  When Paul wrote, "the grace of God has appeared," he went on to make a bold statement about what grace teaches.  "Deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age."  That's potent teaching.

So what's the difference between legalism and grace?  Both say that we ought to live in a way consistent with God's will.  The difference is in when you fail.  You have, and you will again.  The legalist, depending on his own righteousness, is doomed from the start.  Righteousness isn't an occasional thing.  It's a total thing.  Only God is righteous because God has no sin.  The legalist is fooling only himself.  The believer living under grace can freely admit his sin.  Jesus makes us right so we can keep on trying to get it right.  The difference is huge!

Just Think About Climbing

13 My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. 14 I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done. 15 All of us who are mature should think in this same way. And if any of you think differently, God will make it clear to you.  —  Philippians 3:13–15 (CEV)

A father was trying to teach his young son to climb tree.  He lifted the boy up to the lowest limb and then encouraged him to carefully stand up and reach for the next limb, then move toward the center of the tree where it would be easier to climb higher.  But the boy was frightened and kept crying out, "I'm going to fall, I'm going to fall!"  No assurances seemed to help.  Finally, the father called to the boy, "Son! Listen to me!  Stop thinking about falling.  Think about climbing."  The boy focused on those words, and then stood up, reached the next limb, moved to the center of the tree and began climbing.  "I'm not afraid now, Dad," he said.  "I'm just thinking about climbing!"  –  (adapted from PreachingToday.com)

It's easy to be like that little boy, even if you're not climbing a tree.  If you get too focused on all the terrible possibilities, it can paralyze you and scare you to death!  That happens more often then any of us want to admit.  We often can't see the positive possibilities because we're too focused on the negatives.  We see all the potentials for failure, for disappointment, for pain.  Never mind that the rewards for success, the emotional charge of accomplishment, and everything good that might come from doing what we want.
It's no less true when it comes to our faith journey.  It looks so hard.  It appears out of reach.  It's beyond our abilities.  It's too high.  The potential for failure, for falling, is so great.  Maybe we shouldn't try at all.  But that, of course, would be counter to God's call and our own hopes.

This is something like Paul's point to the church at Philippi.  "I'm not there yet," Paul would say.  "I haven't arrived.  I've got a long way to go.  But I'm not looking back, not looking down, not going to get all caught up in the frightful things around me.  I'm going to think about climbing."  That's not exactly what he said, but it's what he meant.

You need to think about your own life.  Are you standing on a shaky limb afraid you're going to fall?  Scared you're going to slip and take a dive?  Are you aware how debilitating it is to focus on falling instead of climbing?  Look up!  Look ahead!  Think about climbing ever toward the goal for which you have been called by the gospel of Jesus.  If you ever want to get there, you've got to focus more on the goal than on where you are, or where you've been.  I'm just thinking about climbing!

You Really Are Something!

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. — 1 Peter 2:9–10 (NASB95) 

 

Remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would strongly be tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. —C. S. Lewis, in The Weight of Glory

Who are you? We answer that question in many ways. We pull out our genealogy charts and point to ancestors. Or we generalize it a bit and find identity in our race or ethnic group, our nationality, or maybe we use our profession or some other means to explain who we are.

Whoever you are, C.S. Lewis had it right. You are no mere mortal. I've read that at times, somebody takes on the identity of a comic book superhero. They actually don a costume and some of them even go out into the community and do good deeds, or try to fight crime. A lot of people want to be a superhero. They aren't satisfied with being a "mere mortal."

It sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn't it? Take a good, long look in the mirror. See anybody who looks like something but a mere mortal? Probably not, but you aren't looking deep enough. You need to look past the externals. You need to get to the heart of man, the spirit of man, and to things eternal. You were created in the image of God. That's right there at the beginning of the Bible. From the start, God intended things for you, and from you that stretch far beyond mere mortal.

The apostle Peter knew something about you as well. Mere mortal? No way. Chosen race, royal priesthood, specially chosen by God to be one of his people. No, if you think "mere mortal," you'll always shortchange your real identity. It's not something you can see with your physical eyes, but it's no less real. You were created for amazing, fantastic, mind-blowing things. Stand tall, Christian. You are really something!

Have You Missed Me?

A lady went on a three week vacation. When she returned home she was busy unloading the car when her neighbor stepped out into yard and waved.  The lady shouted to her neighbor, "Did you miss me?"  The neighbor paused with a slightly puzzled look on her face then replied, "Did you go somewhere?"

And perhaps that's how my readers will respond to me.  It's been a while since I posted to the blog.  It's also been a while since I sent out articles to my CrossTies email list.  We had some minor problems with email and internet service for a while. To be honest, I got out of the routine of sending articles and blogging. I'll be more honest.  The articles have been a regular routine for years, but the blogging has always come in spurts, so it was easy to let that one slide.

So, here's just a little note to say, I'll be combining the two efforts.  I'll post CrossTies articles here, and occasionally I'll add a blog post that's totally different.  I've toyed with that idea in the past, just never managed to make it happen.

I hope you'll read the blog, get something from the articles, and share with others.  Thanks to that handful of people who continue to encourage my writing efforts.  You know who you are.  I know who you are.

Peace On Earth And Good Will Toward Knuckleheads

Just today, I read an interesting and well-meaning article titled, "5 Ways to Keep Peace During Family Gatherings." It's well-meaning because it comes at a time when families are gathering for the Christmas holidays.  It's interesing because it actually contains some helpful information.  Few of us realize the stress of family gatherings during holidays.  The shopping, cleaning house, preparing for company, cooking, decorating, and everything else that goes into the lead up to Christmas can wear on a person.  A lot of people fret terribly over whether they bought the right present, have the house in order, where everybody is going to sleep, and. . . oh, yes, what are we going to do with the inevitable knucklehead that spoils the peace and joy of it all?

I'll list the author's five points so you will know how she provides help, but I would encourage you to read it for yourself.  Here we go:

• Check the emotional baggage
• Find a neutral zone
• Set boundaries, but stay flexible
• Fun is the ultimate buffer
• Recognize the family culture and build on it

In article, author Sandra Rodriguez Barron observes, "In truth, tensions among family members are often exacerbated by ongoing disputes, rivalry, conflicting expectations for the holiday, disputes over lifestyle, new marriages, divorce or just plain bad manners."  She's on target.  These stressor, and more, can turn a joyous family gathering into a war zone.

As much as I think the article is helpful, I'm going to offer you a "one step" solution.  It's not as visually appealing as Barron's list of five.  It's hard to make bullet points out of a single suggestion.  But here goes:  Don't cause trouble.  That's it.  I know, not so very astounding is it?  I would suggest, though, that it's amazingly effective.

Here's the Bible verse on which I'm basing my one step peace insurance policy: Romans 12:18 (NAS) — If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

The Apostle Paul doesn't always give us leaway as he seems to do here.  This statement begins, "If possible."  Perhaps he's just being kind.  Of course it's possible!  Otherwise, why even say it.  The problem is that we often think it's not possible because all the turmoil is created by others.  Maybe so.  I've certainly known people, even some family members, who seemed to delight in twisting knots in everyone else's tail.  I think Paul was not giving us an out, he was hoping we'd at least think about what he said.

What did he actually say?  ". . . as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."  Thus my, "Don't cause trouble."  My suggestion is merely the negative of Paul's more positive statement.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if every family gathering this Christmas was attended by people who were all, to a person, determined not to cause trouble for anybody?"  That elusive peace and joy finally might settle on families whose holiday season often turns sour and hostile.

So, there you are.  As you head off to Grandma's, or go to see the spouse's kin, or experience one of those multi-blended gatherings that is hard to define, go and don't cause trouble.  Instead, practice all the social arts and graces.  Be kind and considerate.  Speak gently and with compassion.  Try to understand.  Be tolerant.  Smile.  Be agreeable.  Be likeable.  I know, I know.  I said I had just one suggestion.  I do.  But isn't it true that to accomplish the one thing I suggested, "Don't cause trouble," you're going to have to make postive efforts (plural is correct).

Stop right there.  Eliminate those negative thoughts and give it a try this year.  Who knows, if it works, you just might have a good time instead of a bad one.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Peace On Earth And Goodwill Toward Knuckleheads

Just today, I read an interesting and well-meaning article titled, "5 Ways to Keep Peace During Family Gatherings." It's well-meaning because it comes at a time when families are gathering for the Christmas holidays.  It's interesing because it actually contains some helpful information.  Few of us realize the stress of family gatherings during holidays.  The shopping, cleaning house, preparing for company, cooking, decorating, and everything else that goes into the lead up to Christmas can wear on a person.  A lot of people fret terribly over whether they bought the right present, have the house in order, where everybody is going to sleep, and. . . oh, yes, what are we going to do with the inevitable knucklehead that spoils the peace and joy of it all?

I'll list the author's five points so you will know how she provides help, but I would encourage you to read it for yourself.  Here we go:

• Check the emotional baggage
• Find a neutral zone
• Set boundaries, but stay flexible
• Fun is the ultimate buffer
• Recognize the family culture and build on it

In article, author Sandra Rodriguez Barron observes, "In truth, tensions among family members are often exacerbated by ongoing disputes, rivalry, conflicting expectations for the holiday, disputes over lifestyle, new marriages, divorce or just plain bad manners."  She's on target.  These stressor, and more, can turn a joyous family gathering into a war zone.

As much as I think the article is helpful, I'm going to offer you a "one step" solution.  It's not as visually appealing as Barron's list of five.  It's hard to make bullet points out of a single suggestion.  But here goes:  Don't cause trouble.  That's it.  I know, not so very astounding is it?  I would suggest, though, that it's amazingly effective.

Here's the Bible verse on which I'm basing my one step peace insurance policy: Romans 12:18 (NAS) — If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

The Apostle Paul doesn't always give us leaway as he seems to do here.  This statement begins, "If possible."  Perhaps he's just being kind.  Of course it's possible!  Otherwise, why even say it.  The problem is that we often think it's not possible because all the turmoil is created by others.  Maybe so.  I've certainly known people, even some family members, who seemed to delight in twisting knots in everyone else's tail.  I think Paul was not giving us an out, he was hoping we'd at least think about what he said.

What did he actually say?  ". . . as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."  Thus my, "Don't cause trouble."  My suggestion is merely the negative of Paul's more positive statement.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if every family gathering this Christmas was attended by people who were all, to a person, determined not to cause trouble for anybody?"  That elusive peace and joy finally might settle on families whose holiday season often turns sour and hostile.

So, there you are.  As you head off to Grandma's, or going to see the spouse's kin, or experiencing one of those multi-blended gatherings that is hard to define, go and don't cause trouble.  Instead, practice all the social arts and graces.  Be kind and considerate.  Speak gently and with compassion.  Try to understand.  Be tolerant.  Smile.  Be agreeable.  Be likeable.  I know, I know.  I said I had just one suggestion.  I do.  But isn't it true that to accomplish the one thing I suggested, "Don't cause trouble," you're going to have to make postive efforts (plural is correct).

Stop right there.  Eliminate those negative thoughts and give it a try this year.  Who knows, if it works, you just might have a good time instead of a bad one.  Wouldn't that be nice?

Your "Unalienable Rights"

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

Recently, I received a pocket-sized copy of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States. It’s surprising in several ways. One is its size. The actual text of both documents takes up about 40 pages of a little booklet that easily fits into a shirt pocket (with room to spare!), and only about 1/8 inch thick. The type size is very readable. I don’t know for sure, but it’s probably 10 point Times New Roman. You’d think such important documents would require a larger booklet. Then again, perhaps one reason they are both historically significant is their brevity and clarity.

I constantly find myself struggling to find a political identity, but it keeps eluding me. I like much about conservatives, but they sometimes drive me up the wall and I opt for a decidedly liberal point of view. About the time I think I must be a liberal, I get fed up with what appears to be sheer ignorance, and I’m back on the side of conservatives. That lasts until I can’t take some ridiculous conservative point of view. I suspect a lot of Americans are like this. It’s probably one reason that the polls keep showing us as a rather middle-of-the-road people. We’re all just bouncing back across the net from one side to the other.

Over the years, I’ve engaged in discussions with people who claimed to be on one side or the other. I find a lot to agree with. I also find a lot to disagree with. If instead of Republicans, or Democrats (or Libertarians, or Tea Parties, or Socialists, or Communists, etc.), someone would start a “Middle-of-the-Road” party, maybe I’d join it. Then again, that would have to be some dull party. Either that, or it would perpetually be under fire for having to swing from one side of the road to the other.

My point here was not to get off on a tangent about politics, so I apologize for weaving. What I wanted to focus on was a simple, but important little concept contained in the Declaration of Independence.

The signers all agreed with the language of the document. They agreed that some truths were self-evident. I suppose such a statement has always been considered as less than agreeable. Some would likely suggest that nothing is self-evident, and others would at least question the things the signers thought self-evident. Still, we must consider their words. What is it they though self-evident? Two things are identified because they were pertinent to the document, but they were obviously not the only two things considered to be self-evident. Those two things are: 1) that all men are created equal, and 2) that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness are particular concerns of the document, but not necessarily the only unalienable rights existent.

Of course the concept of the equality of all men has likely become something today that it was not entirely at the time the Declaration was written. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just that we’ve had time, opportunity and reason to think it out and see its implications. That the signers of the document may or may not have held the same view of that statement that most hold today is not important. The point is that their statement was correct in its essential point. All men are equal.

It is the next phrase that got my attention anew. all men are not only created equal, but they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. I suggest that we might rush too quickly to a consideration of those Rights, without first acknowledging the basis for the Rights. Rights, according to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, are endowed upon men by their Creator. Rights do not exist apart from a Creator. In fact, Rights are a human concern because they have been endowed upon men (and women!). This is a major consideration.

We are able to express ourselves in words like the Declaration of Independence because there is a Creator, and because the Creator has endowed us with certain unalienable Rights. Take away the Creator, and you take away the basis for the Rights. Take away the basis for the Rights and you may as well end all discussion of Rights. The reason we have such Rights is that they are endowed by the Creator. We do not have these Rights because we fought for them, therefore they are ours to possess. We do not have them because it is philosophically desirable to possess them. We do not have them because of political superiority. They are not ours because successful diplomacy secured them. We did not purchase them. We certainly didn’t create them. No, the unalienable Rights, according to the framers of the Declaration of Independence, are ours because they were endowed by the Creator.

Life, then, is a Right endowed by the Creator. Liberty, is a Right endowed by the Creator. The pursuit (not the possession) of Happiness is a Right endowed by the Creator. Remove the Creator from any or all of these unalienable Rights, and you remove the Rights themselves. Outside of the existence of a Creator, the signers of the Declaration envisioned no source of such Rights.

This remains important today. We still depend on the Creator to endow us with these unalienable Rights. Such Rights do not come from the government. They are not bestowed upon us by any political leader. Rights do not come from military power. Rights are not the product of economy, education, political party or even religious organization. Rights do not rest in the hands of any single person, or in the collective hands of any group of persons. To use another word for Creator, the Rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence come from God.

If all this is true, then any minimizing of God (Creator) necessarily minimizes the unalienable Rights recognized in the Declaration. Be wary of those who, on one hand, argue for Rights, but on the other hand, minimize or dismiss God. If the Creator is ever cut from the picture, the rest is bound to fall. A Right endowed by God is one thing. A Right endowed by a government, a political party, a military, or any other human source, is a right tottering on feeble legs. Understand the source and basis for your unalienable Rights before you get too excited about your Rights.

Making A Better Impression On Unbelievers

I sometimes read articles and only later realize that I read something of great interest, or something catchy, or some unique perspective.  The problem is that it's often hours or even days after I read the article, and I can't remember who wrote it, or where I found it.  I usually can't quote it verbatim, but there's enough of the gist of it to make me wish I was better at writing down what I was reading, or copying bibliographical information into one my several computer resources created just for that task.  It's frustrating, but I've been doing it for a long time now.  I'm explaining all this simply because this morning one of those blurbs ran through my head and I thought, "Wow, I wish I could remember who wrote that, and exactly what the author said."  You will forgive me if I have to "wing it" just a bit.  The thought is no less significant.

The basic idea dealt with the perception held by non-Christians of those who are Christians.  Somebody did a kind of personal survey or poll.  The question was something like, "What is your opinion of people who claim to be Christians?"  Among the more frequent responses was this (in one form or another):  "They are people who are always telling you that you're wrong about something and trying to correct you."

Now from a Christian's point-of-view, we might think, "Well, that's because the problem with the world is sin, and we're just trying to help people understand what the problem is between themselves and God."  Notice I said, "from a Christian's point-of-view."

But what if we were on the other end of the discussion?  Would we think the Christian's point-of-view is good or positive, or would it turn us off?  As much as I hate to admit it, I think it would be a turn off.  I say that out of my own personal experience, and the experiences of many others who have shared similar thoughts with me.  Here's what I mean.

Most of us have had one religious group or another, sometimes those we might identify as a cult, knock on our door.  Uniformly, all the people I know have responded negatively to such efforts, mainly because the person at the door has always had a message that said (in one way or another), "You are wrong about something, and we're right, so we're here to tell you how to get right."  I know that's a terrible paraphrase, but it's not all that far off.  Do you see what's happening in that little scenario?  In this case, you're the person being told you're wrong about something, at least from the other fellow's perspective.  And we don't like it.

So why would other people like it when we're the one with the, "You're-wrong-and-I'm-right," message?  Yes, we might come across a few people who will listen to what we have to say and eventually agree with us.  But overall, this looms as one of the huge negatives in how outsiders view Christians.  They see us as judgmental spiritual snobs.  I know this disturbs us, and we don't like it, and we resist admitting that any of this is true.  You'll continue to struggle with it unless you understand and accept that I'm referring to the non-Christian's point-of-view, not ours.

Someone is likely to say, "Well, we're right when we tell people they have a sin problem and they need to change their lives in order to please God."  I understand.  But did you understand that I wasn't saying your view is wrong, I said it's not a view that goes over well with outsiders.  I'm talking about how the message is received, not the validity of the message itself.

I believe strongly that the good news message of Jesus Christ is only good in the face of the bad news about sin.  I believe that for anyone to understand the gospel, to understand their problem with God, and to appreciate their need for a Savior then they will have to deal with some things they'd rather not think about.  I even agree that it's our job to somehow penetrate the unbelief and resistance of unbelievers in order to get the good news through to them.  The question is not what we must do but how we should do it.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't have all the answers.  I have far more questions than answers.  But I do think that we've got to do something to alter the negative perspective that non-Christians have of us (as a group).  They need to see more in us than a negative, fault-finding, judgmental, critic.  That view of us is a turn off, and it creates a situation in which it is nigh on to impossible to get the message of Jesus through.

A handful of positives could help tremendously.  Not a one of them is anything new.  Instead, they are thoroughly biblical Christian principles.  We ought to ask ourselves why, if we were actually practicing these things, outsiders do not form their view of us based on these instead of concluding that we're judgmental critics.  These few truly spiritual behaviors could do wonders to change how people see us.

1.  We could do a better job loving one another.  Jesus taught his disciples to love one another, as He loved them.  He went further.  He said that others would know we're his disciples if we have love for one another (Jn. 13:34-35).  The church has known this for 2,000 years but love is still a difficult thing to practice.  Years ago, somebody observed that the church was the only organization that shot it's wounded.  It may not be the only one, but that we shoot our wounded is often too true.  We keep talking about unconditional love, but frankly, that's more rare than a raw steak.  Outsiders see this.  But if we don't do a good job of loving one another, what makes us think we're doing any better at loving those outsiders?  They don't always see a lot of love, and whether we like it or not, people know whether they are being loved.  I certainly do, and so do you.  I can take a lot from people when I know they love me, really love me.  What might otherwise sound negative and judgmental is tempered, softened, and yet no less meaningful when it is delivered in love.  You can change the perspective of people on the receiving end of our message by loving them.  One thing that says is that it might take a little time and shared life together so we can establish a loving relationship.  Prove your love to people, then see if their view of you is more positive than negative.

2.  We could quit pointing our fingers at others like they're the only one with a problem.  Want to know what's true?  We all have a sin problem.  The other guy is not the only one with an issue between himself and God.  One reason a lot of self-help groups are effective is that the whole effort is based on one person with a problem helping another person with a problem.  Perhaps we need to start off our introductions with something like, "Hi, my name is Bill and I'm a sinner. . . ."  It would surely be true, and it might encourage some other sinner to consider listening to what we have to say.  But too many Christians go through life seemingly trying to convince everybody they don't have any sins, and if they did, they were very small ones, and they were present only in the distant past somewhere.  They work hard to leave the impression that don't struggle with the things so common in the lives of unbelievers.  What a pity.  The Bible says that if we say we have no sin then we're just deceiving ourselves and truth has taken a hike (1 Jn. 1:8).  How much better it would be for sinners to know that there really is an answer for sin.  You won't convince them of that if they think you don't relate to their problems or struggle with the things they struggle with.  We would do outsiders a great favor by presenting ourselves as redeemed sinners who know all-to-well the wrongs in their lives.  It would be an encouragement to people with no answer for sin, if they could see in us, not some unstained saint, but one who was as stained as they are, but now cleaned up and made whole.  And even then, to be able to admit to the continuing struggle with temptation and sin, and to know the continuing forgiveness of Jesus is exactly what outsiders need to know because most of them are afraid they'll never be perfect, so why try.

3.  We would do unbelievers a favor if we could manage to magnify Jesus and minimize the church (Gal. 6:14).  Don't misunderstand.  I think the church is very important, but only because it is made up of redeemed sinners following Jesus.  The church is not the Savior, Jesus is.  The church can help and encourage people, but it's not the source of inner strength and faith.  The church can teach, admonish, counsel, correct - lots of things.  But only the blood of Jesus forgives sins, and only Jesus mediates between us and the Father.  Jesus is our great high priest, and it is He who continues to represent us in heaven before God.  Outsiders don't want to know how great you and I are.  They want to know if there is a great God.  We don't need to convince them that we're the best thing since sliced bread.  We need to convince them that we know the One who is truly great, truly good, with the power to help us.  We talk about us too much and we talk about Jesus too little.

Right now there's this question rolling around: "So, you think this is all there is to creating a more positive view of Christians among unbelievers?"  I do.  That's not to say there isn't more we could do, or that you couldn't extend this list by several numbers.  There is, and you could.  But these are three huge things:  Love one another; quit pointing our fingers at others; and magnify Jesus instead of the church.  All three are pointedly biblical.  They are the kind of things that make us what we ought to be as Christians.  If we were more what we ought to be, perhaps the view that others have of us would improve.  After all, their view is based on what they see in us.  If we don't like it, give them something else to look at.

Forgive. . . or Else!

Forgive. It's a biblical teaching that is absolutely clear. Read these verses:

12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]' 14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. (Matthew 6:12–15, NASB95)

21 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21–22, NASB95)

32 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' 34 "And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. 35 "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:32–35, NASB95)

If those were the only verses about forgiveness, it would still be quite clear that God intends that we forgive people who sin against us. There are three questions about forgiveness that deserve consideration. They certainly aren't the only questions, but they are three that touch on the major issues we must work through to succeed at forgiving.

The first question goes something like this: "Since only God can actually forgive sins, is it really our responsibility to forgive anyone?" There is a sense in which only God can forgive sins. Taken this way, it really doesn't matter what you or I do with the sins of other people. If I choose to forgive or not to forgive, what matters is whether God forgives. It wouldn't matter whether or not we forgive at all, except for the fact that the Bible teaches that we should forgive. That alone settles this question. That we are to forgive may puzzle or confuse you as to the reasons or other questions, but scripture is clear that we are to forgive.

The second question reflects variations on Peter's question about forgiveness. "How many times must I forgive someone?" That simplified answer is easy enough. Take however many times you think would be gracious plenty and multiply it by seventy. Even then, most scholars would probably say the point isn't the specific number of opportunities taken to offer forgiveness to a person, but that however often forgiveness is needed, that's how many times forgiveness is to be given. But I said "variations" on Peter's question because other questions about forgiveness are related to this one. For example, there is the question about the nature of the sin and the extent of forgiveness. Here's what I mean. "Isn't that sin so bad, it's just hard to forgive?" It's a variation on the 'how many times' question. There may be other ways to ask this question, but the basic idea is that a particular person, because of the nature of their sins, somehow has gone beyond forgiveness. This is particularly true if the sin has affected us seriously, or if it's one of those sins that we dislike very much.

The third question begs a difference between our sins and the sins of others. This is reflected in the story Jesus told about the two servants. The first owed a debt to his master that he would never be able to repay, yet the master forgave his debt. That servant was owed a much smaller sum by another servant, but the forgiven servant was unwilling to forgive his fellow slave. Instead he demanded that this fellow pay up. Because of his unwillingness to forgive as he had been forgiven, the master ultimately withdrew his forgiveness.

Possibly, this third problem is the greatest of all. Not that either of the first two are minor in any respect, but the idea of comparing one's own sins to the sins of others is a huge problem. Each of us wants to view our own sins as minor, but the sins of others are enormous. It's the way we tend to look at things. I've offered this idea on several occasions and often it has been met with skepticism. It seems that people would rather deny that it's true. Even if they accept the basic idea, they prefer to think that other people may have this problem, but not them. I would humbly suggest that we think hard on this one, and be willing to accept something we don't want to admit.

We struggle with each of the three questions. We all would like to think it doesn't matter whether we forgive or not. After all, God will take care of all the forgiving that's needed. Well, except for the fact that God himself teaches us that's not true. He expects us to forgive. Yes, God's forgiveness will ultimately matter far more, but it doesn't mean our forgiveness is without purpose.

We also struggle with variations on the theme of 'how many times must I forgive.' After all, some people just don't seem to deserve it, or have exceeded any reasonable expectation of being forgiven, or they've stressed us to the breaking point and we feel we don't have any forgiveness left. Whenever we reach that point, remember to multiply your forgiveness efforts. That is what Jesus expected.

We also struggle with thinking that our sins are minor and other's sins are major. Because of that, we struggle to offer to them the forgiveness they need. We don't seem to recognize the nature of sin. We love to categorize sins into big ones and little ones. Read passages where sins are listed and quite often you'll see some that we consider minor right beside others we consider awful. Division into big sins and little sins is an artificial thing.

I can illustrate from the Ten Commandments. One of the commands was to remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Two others are do not murder and do not commit adultery. Those last two are huge. The first doesn't seem nearly as bad. Failing to observe the Sabbath Day and keep it holy was on par with murder. Listen to James' observation on violating the Law:

10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. (James 2:10–11, NASB95)

All I did was use one of the other of the ten commands. The point being simply that each sinner ought to consider the serious nature of their sins. We all need forgiveness. We cannot excuse ourselves as less needy, when our sins result in the same need of forgiveness. If God is willing to forgive us, why are we so unwilling to forgive others? Is it because our sin is less offensive than theirs?

Here's the bottom line on forgiveness according to the Bible: either we forgive or we will not be forgiven. Stated another way, It's forgive, or else! Perhaps forgiving is more important than we think.

Community Of Sinners

I wrote a CrossTies article that will appear in our upcoming Sunday bulletin, and then published to the CrossTies mailing list .  In it I used a quote from Eugene Peterson.  I want to reuse that quote here and write in a slightly different direction.  I think he has identified a major issue for today's church.

The biblical fact is that there are no successful churches. There are, instead, communities of sinners, gathered before God week after week in towns and villages all over the world. The Holy Spirit gathers them and does his work in them. In these communities of sinners, one of the sinners is called "pastor" and given a designated responsibility ... to keep the community attentive to God.  –  Eugene H. Peterson, Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 4

I think we know that Peterson is correct when he calls churches, "communities of sinners."  But I'm not sure we practice this community of sinners thing nearly like we should.  Instead, it appears that many Christians work overtime to deny the truth that we are redeemed sinners, and that we are people who still struggle with sin.  At the very best, a church, any church, is a group of sinners seeking help.  We're lost, condemned people looking for salvation.  We're wrong-doers who have hurt ourselves and others.  We're the ones who violated God's will, and any guilt or consequence God sends our way is just and right.  Despite the common attitude that prevails among people today, we're really not victims, we're perpetrators.

The problem?  Many "good Christians" sit in the church assemblies on Sunday, dressed in their finest, and acting as if they are above it all.  "Sin?  Oh, yes, well that's something we might have done at one point in our lives, but even then it wasn't really that bad."  They seem to work hard to leave the impression that they have left it all behind, small and insignificant as it was.  I have known people who openly, verbally, claimed to have no sin.  They firmly believed that they no longer did anything wrong.  While making that claim, they could be some of the most unloving, hard-hearted people you'd ever want to meet, but don't bother telling them.

Could this be the problem when churches become overly concerned with the "kind" of people we want to be members of our congregations?  I've heard the comments made.  "Well, we just don't want 'those' people in our church."  Sometimes that was said because "those" people were of a different race, but just as frequently it was said because "those" people were of a different class, or lifestyle, or some other distinction that involved the way they lived.  In other words, there was something deemed "sinful" about "those" people that made them undesirable.

Here's what I know about the church.  The church is made up of saved people.  It's impossible to be a part of the church Jesus died for, unless one has been saved from their sins.  Oh, you can attend services, and maybe even get your name on a roll somewhere, but I'm talking about real membership.  Only sinners can be saved, and only the saved make up the church.  Of course, scripture makes it clear that all of us fit into the category of sinner, and so we're all eligible for membership, but we're talking about one's perception of themselves that doesn't always match reality.  So, if you're a member of local church somewhere, and a member of the larger body of Christ, something is true that you need to acknowledge.  You are a redeemed sinner.

I know something else about redeemed sinners.  While following Jesus should, hopefully, lead you into a life in which you put away the sins you find present in your life, you will be in a constant and continuing struggle against both temptation and sin.  We need to wrestle with passages like this one:

1 John 1:5-10 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. NASB95

We need to deal with the text here.  First, nobody should expect to purposely "walk in the darkness" and be in fellowship with Lord.  That makes a mockery of our redemption.  The ideal would always be that Christians live a sin-free life.  The problem is not in any effort to avoid and live a sinless life.  That is always the God-desired, ideal life.

But the Bible is also practical.  John knew the reality of human life.  That's why in the next breath, John says, "if we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."  In other words, it's possible for a people who are walking in the light to sin.  The difference between the one in the darkness and the one in the light, is that the one in the light recognizes his/her sin and keeps seeking forgiveness from the Lord.  Forgiveness here is for those who confess their sins, not for those who hide or deny their sins.  John goes on, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."  That last statement ought to get the attention of every Christian who puts on the front that says, "Sinner?  Oh, no, not me.  You must mean those other people."

The church is a community of sinners, but it's much more.  It's a community of redeemed sinners!  It's a community of hope.  The church ought to be the one group of people to whom anyone might look, not for solace or pity, but hope and an answer for sin.  We are the ones who ought to say to anyone, "Sin?  Oh, yes, I know all about that.  Let me tell you what God has done for all of us!"

See that guy in the three-piece suit?  See that lady with the cute hat and wearing the designer dress?  They're sinners.  Did you see yourself in the mirror this morning?  You're a sinner too.  Are you wondering about me?  I'll tell you quickly and truthfully, I am a sinner.  Oh, yes!  But there is hope for us all.  It's found in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  It's found in his resurrection from the dead.  He knows we're not perfect.  He wishes we knew it, and admitted it.  Jesus does his best work in people who acknowledge their problem.

So, community of sinners, what shall we do.  Continue to treat the church like it was a social club of some kind, or treat it like what it is?  We're really a community of sinners.  Redeemed to be sure, but a community of sinners nonetheless. 

Passing the Torch: Honoring the Preachers Who Were My Greatest Influences

My good friend, Les Ferguson, Jr., reminded me of another friend's blog challenge in which he asked for us to say a few words about preachers who have influenced us along the way. The only problem with this idea is that I'm sure I will forget someone. I've known a lot of preachers. Many of them have influenced me in some way or another, but I'll try to mention a few that stand out.

The first one I can remember, unfortunately, goes unnamed. I was in the first or second grade when he was preaching in my hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. I'm pretty sure his first name was Richard. I'm also sure that God will remember him. He had one of those deep, booming voices, though I don't remember that he yelled at people. It's just that his voice carried in the way that some orators manage even without sound systems. I remember two things about this man. First, I had my tonsils out and he came to see me in the hospital. Some might not think that so strange, but I was just a kid, and I could have surely gone unnoticed and nobody would have complained. But he was there. Second, I still remember his hand on my head, and in that deep voice he would say, "You're going to become a fine preacher one of these days, aren't you?" I would laugh and dash out of reach. But maybe, just maybe, a seed was planted.

The next preacher who had an influence on me was Cecil May, Jr. Cecil preached a meeting in my home town when I was a Junior in high school. At that point in time, all my friends at church were already baptized, but not me. I was the proverbial holdout! But in the spring of that year, I signed up for a Bible Correspondence Course from the Billy Graham Crusade, completed every lesson, and corresponded with my teacher in several letters. I had questions. The answers I got were not completely satisfactory. Then Cecil came to town and preached that meeting. I remember the conversation I had with myself, the struggle to choose, decide. Cecil's lessons that week helped greatly. He continued to be a major influence in my life. He sang at my wedding along with a group from the church in Vicksburg. He probably would have done the wedding, but my wife wanted the singers, so Cecil sang bass instead of doing the ceremony. A few years later, it was Cecil who encouraged me to drop my unrealistic desire to attend Harding University and opt for the White's Ferry Road School of Biblical Studies. Not that either of us had a problem with Harding, but by then I had acquired not only a wife, but two children, and financially it was smarter to go to White's Ferry Road. It was a great choice! Cecil has been a continuing influence on me since, in many ways. I'm glad he's been such a great part of my life.

I'm tempted to mention all the men who taught at the White's Ferry Road School of Biblical Studies, but that would take too much room. I will say that every one of them played a great part. I will mention two. Percy Keene was a wonderful teacher and mentor. I met Percy when he preached in Natchez, Mississippi. My brother and his family lived there and attended where Percy was the preacher. He was a kind, friendly man, but I didn't know at the time what a great influence he would be. Later, when I went to visit and check out the school at White's Ferry Road, I discovered Percy had become one of the instructors. Conversations with him proved to be the scale-tipper. Over the next several years, until his death, he was not only a teacher and mentor, but a friend I called on many times. He was full of stories, loved to laugh, spouted great wisdom, and believed that I could do far more than I ever thought possible.

The other instructor from White's Ferry Road is a fellow named Bill Smith. Students in classes ahead of mine would fill you with fear and dread of Bill Smith! I discovered a man who was a true student of God's word, and who challenged his students to think. I learned more Bible from Bill Smith than from anyone I've ever studied under. He killed a few sacred cows, and plowed new ground in my head. He introduced me to a kind of Bible study that I'd never known before. But he was never a source of fear. Those other students either didn't know him, or they were doing what many upper classmen do to the new guys, trying to spook them! Bill has always been a man who wanted his students to know God's word, and to be able to communicate it to others.

Thought I never studied under Richard Rogers in a school setting, Richard was another preacher whom I loved to hear. He taught sessions for something like 25 or more years straight at the Tulsa Workshop, and every year I made it a point to attend his lectures. I bought his audio and video tapes, and books. Richard was one of those men with the gift of teaching and I never heard him speak a word without learning something new, or seeing something old more clearly than before.

There have been many more. Ted Brooks, who preached in Riverdale, Georgia when I preached in Forrest Park was a good friend during a very bad time. We met weekly for lunch and Bible study. We sat together for hours and had those deep, personal discussions that produce a great deal of light. His personal friendship, encouragement and support has always meant more to me than I can fully explain.

I need to make a list because it's late and I'm tired, and I'm sure I could mention others. One thing I know. I've got some great teachers, mentors, and friends who have helped me learn, grow, and even recover from my own desperate mistakes. Without such men, I would never have known that Jesus came to save sinners like me, nor would I have ever been able to share that good news with others without their help.

So, "thank you" goes to many preachers. It just doesn't sound like it's enough, does it? Well, I'll let the Lord see to their reward. His will be far better than anything I could give them anyway.

Doors And Gates

Salvation remains a struggle for many Christians.  We say that Jesus saves, that his sacrifice is the one that satisfies God, and that we can’t earn our salvation.  We repeat what we’ve heard from others, that we can’t earn our salvation.  We define grace as something that can’t be earned or deserved, so we discount a works-oriented salvation.  Mercy declares that the punishment we deserve is redirected away from ourselves.  In all of this we are correct, yet listen to Christians talk and despite what we say, we end up sounding very much like we believe salvation depends on what we do, how we behave, and the level of righteous life we attain.

Writer, Paul Thigpen, put it like this:

Often we feel, as Thomas did, that the Lord isn’t living up to our expectations. Perhaps the headlines carry disturbing news that makes us wonder what God is doing in history. Maybe a new movement in the Church puzzles us, or revival comes from some direction we would have thought most unlikely. Even in our private lives, we may find that God hasn’t directed events in the way we’ve been taught to believe He “ought” to.

In those times when we, too, feel confused about God’s intentions, we must listen carefully to how the Lord answered Thomas’s question. When the disciple asked for directions, Jesus replied, “I am the way” (Jn. 14:6).

“I am the way.” Not the law. Not an instructional manual. Not a neatly arranged framework of philosophical truth, or even of systematic doctrine. The way to the Father was not a dogma, but a Person.

Because we so frequently quote this verse in reference to salvation we often neglect its immediate significance. Jesus was answering Thomas’s request for guidance for this life in this time. And Jesus replied, “I am the way.”

Most of us aren’t comfortable with that arrangement. Like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, we’d rather have maps and traffic signs to show us the way. But Jesus came to tell us that we needed more than the map of the law; we needed a personal Guide.[1]

Maps and traffic signs.  Yes, we want something to show us the way.  Largely, we want rules and regulations, a list of specifics to utilize.  We’re comfortable so long as we have a tidy list.  Invite us to live based, not on rules and regulations, but principles and we’re immediately confused.  Called to follow a man, not a set of doctrines, and our eyes cloud over with helplessness.

Yet, this is the call of the gospel of Jesus.  “Go make disciples,” Jesus said.  “Follow me,” Jesus said.  “It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master . . . .”

At some point, one must wrestle with the clear teaching of the Bible.  Jesus is the Savior, therefore, Jesus saves.  But we can’t just dash that one off carelessly.  Consider the truth of the statement in light of passages like Acts 4:12.  “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (NASB95).” Focus a moment.  “No other name.”  Want to be saved?  Jesus is it.  In fact, what else can Jesus himself mean in John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (NASB95).  That’s as exclusive as it can get.  Jesus makes no provision for any other means to the Father other than himself.  He is “the” way, “the” truth, and “the” life.  Not “a” way, truth and life, “the” way, truth, and life.

This is bigger than it might seem, for the potential “savior” immediately removed is us.  In other words, neither you nor I can possibly be a savior.  If either of us is saved, it will come at the hands of Jesus.  It is this idea that terrifies a lot a lot of otherwise good Bible students.

We invite people to have faith in Jesus, and immediately, there will be an addendum to the conversation.  “Well, yes, we must believe in Jesus, but remember, we must do something too!”  We say that as if we’re afraid that faith in Jesus won’t quite do the job.  Jesus will need a bit of help.  We don’t want to give the impression that we have fallen for a mere “mental assent” kind of salvation.  Real faith, we insist, must have some teeth, and that comes from our obedience.  So we run right past Jesus and focus on our obedience.  We “obey” the gospel, therefore we’re saved.  Too many say that as if it was their obedience, not Jesus’ sacrifice that saves.

I am not minimizing the role of obedience.  I am trying to maximize the role of Jesus.  Either Jesus is the “the” way, truth and life, or he’s not.  We can’t have it both ways.  It’s confusing to everyone, including those of us who claim to have been saved by Jesus.  We end up sounding as if we’re not really sure at all what saves or who saves.  In fact, it’s little wonder a lot of Christians are so unsure of being saved.  After all, if it depends on our performance level, who wants to really trust that?

A recent discussion about Mt. 7:13-14 brought this to light.  The passage reads: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it (NASB95).  The discussion turned “way” into “lifestyle,” or “obedience.”  But the passage is about entering a gate that everyone doesn’t find.  It’s about a gate that leads to life.  Life is found by entering a narrow gate.  I think it’s tempting to make it a lifestyle, and to suggest that finding life is discovering the way we ought to live.  Nobody is arguing against a godly, correct way to live.  But is that what Jesus meant?

John 10:7-10 is helpful to the discussion.  So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say  to you, I am the door of the sheep. “All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (NASB95).  In both passages, Jesus is represented by similar objects.  In one, a gate.  In the other, a door.  Both passages relate to finding life.  In both passages, Jesus is the means of passing from one place to another, and to finding life.  Both passages are consistent with the idea in John 6:14, that Jesus is “the” way, truth, and life.

Here are a few things we ought to get from all this:

• There is only one Savior, Jesus, who is “the” way, truth and life.
• Salvation (life) isn’t about your performance level.
• Salvation (life) comes from faith in Jesus.
• Salvation (life) isn’t about having achieved a certain lifestyle.
• To find life (salvation), you have to enter a narrow gate (in fact, there is only one).
• Salvation really is a free gift ( that’s grace).
• Life is only possible when we don’t get what we really deserve (that’s mercy).
• It would be better if we got the focus off ourselves and on Jesus.
• Once you’re saved, now go about becoming like Jesus.

You’re not ever going to be perfect or completely righteous.  That’s no reason not to try, but you need to put it into perspective.  Once you enter the narrow gate, or go through the door, which is Jesus, you now have life.  You are saved.  All that, despite your continued imperfections.  Engage the continuing effort to live and become like your master.  This is the place to encourage holy living.  Sure, God cares how you live.  But he doesn’t depend on your efforts in order to save you.  That one he has put on Jesus.  He’s a narrow gate.  He’s a unique door.  There is only one way to the Father, and it’s through him.  Once inside the gate, live the life you find there.

---

^[1]Paul Thigpen, The God of Surprises, Discipleship Journal : Issue 31., electronic ed. (Colorado Springs: The Navigators/NavPress, 1999).

So, How Good Are You? Really?

The Sermon on the Mount is a challenging section of scripture.  I've been mulling some things over recently, and renewed a line of thinking that struck me years ago.  I'd like to share a little of it with you.

The Sermon on the Mount may be one of the most familiar and best loved passages in all the Bible.  It's also more difficult than it first appears.  If you read scholars, you'll discover that there are numerous assumptions and attempts to give this sermon a theme, or to otherwise categorize it or give it a framework designed to explain what Jesus was teaching.  Some of it is good, and some of it is confusing.  For me, personally, the jury is still out on some overall view that gives meaning to all Jesus said.

Christians look at the sermon in various ways.  Some relegate it to the Old Testament period, and in doing so they end up giving the sermon little meaning for today's church.  Some lift it out of its "Law of Moses" context and turn it into a Christian Constitution.  Some think Jesus was laying down principles to be followed by his disciples forever.  There are other views.  I'll let you go sort them out.

The line of thought I've been wrestling with relates more to Jesus, the people to whom the sermon was delivered, the time frame in which it appears, and the immediate meaning and application of what he said.  That's a tall order, and I'm not going to try to deal with all of that here either.

I do think it's worth thinking about, however, because any application to us must take into consideration what Jesus said to them.  If you think this is a sermon in which Jesus just lays out thing we ought to do, I'd suggest you might have missed one of the major purposes of his teachings.  Does Jesus lay out things that would please God if they were to be found in us and practiced by us?  You bet!  But I think it misses something important.

In the section we know as the beatitudes, most commentators will state in one way or another, something to the effect that particular qualities encouraged by Jesus are simply not those commonly practiced by anybody.  That was true then, it remains true today.  Surely, those who are spiritually minded, regardless of the age in which they live, will pursue the kind of things Jesus taught.  But the truth is we don't do a very good job.  Even the best among us won't practice those things perfectly.  Yes, I think we can commend having these as a goal, and we can commend people who manage to practice them to whatever extent they do.  But why do we think anything less than perfect observance pleases God?

In Mt. 5:21-47, there is an entire section that follows a pattern of thought.  Each sub-section begins something like this:  "You've heard it said. . . but I say to you."  It's an interesting section.  Was Jesus quoting what the Law said, then giving his own interpretation of it?  It seems so in some places, but not altogether in others.  Was he quoting what the Rabbis taught, and then giving his own take on things?  I think that may come closer.  Regardless, he was certainly taking what the people of Israel had become accustomed to hearing (and practicing), and ripped it to shreds.  Take murder, for example.  The common thinking was that unless you've taken some weapon and gone out and murdered someone, then you haven't broken God's law.  Jesus said that a person is in trouble if you get angry and shoot off your mouth carelessly.  Nobody could be guilty of adultery unless they've actually committed sexual sin outside marriage.  But Jesus said that to look on a woman with lust in one's heart is to have already committed adultery.  Each sub-section follows suit.  Sin is violation of a standard human beings rarely apply to themselves.  It was true then, and it's still true today.  The arguments against the thinking of Jesus appeal to everything from common sense to consequences.  I understand the effort.  But try arguing that with Jesus, and you'll flat out miss his point.

In fact, Jesus made a statement following this section that we usually try to minimize a bit.  Matthew 5:48 says, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." NASB95  We usually point out that the word really means "mature" and not "without flaw."  I understand that.  However, there is an obvious comparison made here that we can't ignore.  It's God on one hand, you and me on the other.  You can make "perfect" mean whatever you want to, and the result is still the same.  God will manifest that quality perfectly, without flaw.  Neither you or I will come close.  The ideal is that you do it just like God.  The reality is you haven't to this point, and won't later on either.

Chapter six begins with admonitions against practicing righteousness just for the sake of being noticed by other people.  Righteousness isn't some kind of game where we try to out-point one another.  It's a heart matter.  Jesus pointed to common practices of his day like giving, praying and fasting and roundly condemned the very people who used these things as measures of personal righteousness.  Does anyone come out looking good when Jesus gets through?  If so, I don't know who they are.  It's not people who didn't pray or fast at all, and it's not people to prayed and fasted as a means of getting noticed by others.  In the text of Jesus' sermon, I can't find anyone being congratulated.  I do find where people are being shown that righteousness is something different than they had thought.

If you don't think the attitudes Jesus attacked still exist today, I'd suggest you've been asleep under a rock.  Hyper-judgmentalism is alive and well today; in our churches; among people who claim to be Christians.  If we don't realize this, I don't think we can understand Jesus, much less make an current application.

Near the end of chapter six, Jesus said something that ought to shock us, amaze us, and shame us.  In Matthew 6:33 he said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." NASB95  Jesus put seeking God's kingdom and righteousness in a place of priority above anything and everything else.  Wow.  I'm going to make a statement here that some will no doubt disagree with.  I've never met anyone who did that consistently, including me.  What I have seen is that people will make all sorts of excuses to, at least occasionally, slip something into life above God's kingdom and his righteousness.  I'm not being negative or condescending.  I'm trying to be realistic.  If we don't see how very different are the words of Jesus compared to how we really live, how can we ever appreciate what he taught?  We will forever be "dumbing-down" the real meaning of Jesus' words.

Then take things like judging others.  Basically, Jesus said we ought to get ourselves in order before we take on anyone else.  But we're likely to think, "Yes, but other people's problems are so obvious!"  Or, "Well, at least I'm not as bad as 'so-and-so'."  Really?  Then you're missed the fact that the issue isn't how you stack up against some other person, the issue is how you stack up against God.  How do you feel about things now?

The golden rule, as stated in Mt 7:12, is a fantastic maxim for life.  "Treat people the same way you want them to treat you."  I think I've known at least a handful of people who do a pretty good job at that.  But not every time, not completely consistently, and to be honest, the golden rule isn't practiced nearly as often as we'd like to think.  The real truth?  Human beings are still a pretty self-centered, selfish bunch of people.  If we can't admit to that, we miss just how powerful is the teaching of Jesus.

On and on we could go, but throughout the Sermon on the Mount, we keep bumping into the same things.  The standard Jesus upholds is a standard far different from the one we live.  I think, overall, that's the message he wanted to get across.  He wasn't preaching a sermon where anyone could get to the end and say, "Wow, do I feel great about how well I'm doing pleasing God."  No, I think anyone who really listened to his sermon got to the end and said, "Wow, I'm so far off the mark it's pitiful."  I know this sounds like a downer, but stay with me.

Nobody has ever, legitimately, been able to stand before God on the basis of their own achievements.  If you don't get that point, you will never fully appreciate the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The good news of Jesus will never be good until the bad news about ourselves is really bad.  We still struggle with this, "Well-I'm-not-such-a-bad-person-and-certainly-not-as -bad-as-a-lot" thinking.  It's so pervasive among present day humans it's almost hard to see.  This was what Jesus was fighting in his own day, and it's a common link that stretches across centuries and includes us today.

I think if you "get" the Sermon on the Mount, you'll be left with a great need.  You'll have to admit that in numerous places, Jesus just pointed out your shortcomings, failing, sin.  He put his finger on your attitudes, your mind-set and heart-set, and it's not good.  He showed you where you're on the wrong track, headed to nothing pleasing to God.  You're in deep trouble.  You really need a Savior, because you're just a mess.

So, I'll end by pointing you to one other verse.  It's found in 2 Corinthians 5:21.  "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." NASB95  You and I need a Savior.  If we are to ever be righteous in God's sight, we're going to have to have something working for us that's better than anything we'll ever produce ourselves.

Don't think what Jesus taught is unimportant.  If we really want to try to please God, give the things in the Sermon on the Mount a shot.  But don't get too caught up in how well you do.  It won't be as good as you'd like to think.  But in Jesus, when you fail, you get to get up and try again.  You're wearing his righteousness.  Let it motivate you reach higher than you ever would before.

Pray For Your President

I got an email the other day asking me to pray for the President.  No, that’s not exactly what I was asked to do.  In short, I was asked to pray a blanket prayer that all the President’s programs pass and become law.  Frankly, I was shocked.

I started paying attention to politics, Presidents, and other elected officials about the time John Kennedy competed against Richard Nixon to become President.  That would have been 1960, and I was 11 years old.  I remember sitting fascinated in front of our little black & white TV watching both the Democratic and Republican conventions, taking in speeches, and trying to figure it all out.  I admit I didn’t understand everything I heard, but most of it wasn’t all that difficult.  In the end, I was a John Kennedy fan.  I did not like Nixon, then or ever.  I remember sitting in study hall and hearing that Kennedy had been killed.  I actually watched TV with some friends as Lee Harvey Oswald was dispatched by his own assassin.  I have tried to keep up, listen, and generally stay on top of the major political events and more.  I have often prayed for every President to hold the office since I was 11 years old.

But I have never prayed that any President get everything he wanted.  I’ve never known one whose every program was a good one, or should have been passed into law.  That includes President Obama.  Sorry, but I’m not going to pray for things to become law that I don’t understand, agree with, or think would be the right thing to do.

Leave out for a moment the obvious things that probably produced such a request (health care and associated elements).  I think abortion when the life of the mother is not endangered is murder.  Obama supports abortion.  I can’t, in good conscience, pray that his view on abortion be sustained.  I’d like to see Roe V Wade reversed.  Why mention this one?  Because the request to pray for the President to get everything he wants came from a Christian.  It’s that fact that stuns me.  Are they asking me to pray in favor of abortion?

Will I pray for the President?  I’ve been doing that, and will continue to do so.  I pray for his health, stamina, and physical safety.  I pray for him to be blessed with wisdom and integrity.  I pray for his family.  I pray that as President he work as a tool in God’s hands so that God’s will is done.  Now if God wants something to happen that I disagree with, I hope God will ignore my disagreement and do what he wants.  So, if I’m wrong in my opinion or ideas, I get it right when I ask for God’s will to potentially override mine.  But to just ask that President Obama get everything he wants?  Sorry.  I haven’t prayed that way for any President since I knew we ought to pray for one, and I’m not about to start now.

Truthfully, I’d actually like for President Obama to lose some of the things he’s trying to put over on Americans.  I don’t think they’re good for anybody.  I think they are detrimental to the country.  Those who asked me to blanket-pray that Obama get all he wants would have never prayed that for George Bush (or probably any other President).  So why does Obama rate better than any other President?

I hope Mr. Obama turns out to be a good President.  Honestly, I do.  We need a good President.  They’ve been in short supply.  Prospects for the future don’t look all that bright.  Mr. Obama has a real opportunity here.  Does that mean he’s right on every point.  Nope.

So, I suggest we pray for the President.  Pray for the man and his family.  Beyond that, I get very selective.  It would be interesting to know if anyone really believes that any President ought to get every single one of the things he wants.  Does anybody really believe that?  Would you pray that way for a President who comes from a party other than yours?

Camp Musings

It's hot!
I spent a week at church camp recently so I thought I'd jot down a few observations.  First, you need to know why I have dodged camp for so long.
It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore year at Ole Miss.  That's along time ago, in case you don't know.  Anyway, it was the first summer that Sardis Lake Christian Camp had full-fledged summer camp.  The year before they only had day-camp.  I was recruited for the job of Assistant Camp Director.  The Director's job was filled each session by a different preacher.  They were there only one week.  I was there all summer!  My job was to keep the camp running.  I was the first up in the morning (even before the kitchen staff), and the last to go to bed at night.  It was great fun, but by the time all the sessions were over, I was completely exhausted.  No, it was worse than that, if you can believe it.  Though I've always been glad I had that job that summer, I made up my mind that I would not "do camp" again!
So, I surprised myself when I accepted the invitation to participate in a one-week session this summer.  I was asked to teach the staff Bible class, and then help out with various activities.  It was a good job.  I got to speak one night, took a couple of turns at "Reflections," the late-night teen devo, and the most fun was helping out with the teen ropes course!  I also got to reflect a bit on my week's experience, and a few things stand out to me.
1.  Kids haven't really changed all that much.  Oh, some of them look different.  Clothes and hair are different, but only in looks.  When I was a teenager, our clothes and hair looked different too.  But the emotions, the needs, the questions, etc., are all pretty much the same.  That was a surprise to me because after reading some experts on today's youth, I expected young folks to be something akin to aliens.  Not really true.
2.  Heat is worse now than it was when I was in college.  Well, maybe it's not the heat.  The college kids who served as counselors this summer seemed to manage it pretty well, as did the campers.  It was us old guys (and gals) who struggled with it.
3.  Singing is still a very popular spiritual activity with young people.  I'm happy about that one.  I've always believed that singing is a powerful tool to reach the minds and hearts of people.  Yes, they are sometimes tentative, but once you get them going, young folks love to sing.
4.  I'm impressed at how hard a lot of adults will work to provide a week's camp experience for kids.  Went to the chow hall one night at 11:30 for a late night cup of coffee.  There was a lady there making chicken salad for the next day's lunch.  I watched young adults work themselves silly so that the kids could have fun.  Counselors worked hard to keep the heat and activities from wearing out the kids, and handling teen tempers and hormones!
5.  I'm amazed at how serious a lot of our youth are about their faith.  I had the opportunity to study with some of them one-on-one.  They were eager, open, and fully accepting of God's will.  They love Jesus, and want to follow Him.  That's been true of young people in just about every generation.  It's good to know that desire and openness is still alive and well.
6.  I was impressed with the way young people served and took their turn at chores.  They served on the chow line, poured iced tea, cleaned up, worked in the kitchen, cleaned the cabins and shower house, picked up trash, and generally worked without too much complaining.  You didn't think they did all that without any complaining did you?  Still, they did a great job.
7.  Will I do it again?  I don't know.  Let's wait until next summer for the answer.  But I did have a great time, met some great people, and thoroughly enjoyed being there.  Maybe the best part of all is that it left an impression on me that Jesus is still able to do great things with people.  Save them, change them, grow them, use them.  It's great to be a part of all that.

Spread Love Everywhere

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. - 1 John 4:7-8, NASB95

Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor . . . Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. - Mother Teresa (quoted in Chicken Soup For The Soul, p. 3).

I feel sorry for people who don't love others. I've known some folks like that. Dealing with them is always like following a blueprint or living up to the terms of a contract. Sure, you can make a good case for blueprints and contracts. They certainly have their place and purpose. You wouldn't want to build a house or engage in business without them. But people are not houses or businesses. They are, well. . . People!

A couple of Jesus' disciples were like this. James and John were called "sons of thunder." Maybe they were loud and boisterous. It's more likely that they were ready to zap everybody who didn't exactly measure up to their liking. On one occasion, Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem. He sent messengers into a Samaritan village to make arrangements for him, but the Samaritans did not respond favorably. James and John asked Jesus, "Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

Wow! Nice guys. I wonder what an average day was like in the company of James and John? Would you have gone to these men with your problems and mistakes? How receptive do you think they were to troubled people, folks with needs, or people needing guidance or help? If you didn't measure up to their standard, would they have been ready to scorch you with a flame?

Maybe it's true that most folks don't wear the handle, "son of thunder." But most of us will testify that even without the handle, an awful lot of people leave you feeling deflated, defeated, and discouraged. If you can provide some advantage to them, they're all for you, but if not, they can turn on you quickly. The truth is that finding people who will really love you is harder than it ought to be. Even if they don't call down fire from heaven on you, they provide nothing positive to help.

We know that John, and probably James too, matured and changed. John became the apostle known as the "apostle of love." Somewhere along the line he learned that calling down fire isn't what people need. They do need the love of Christ, and the love of Christ's people.

I'm afraid the modern church has lost much of its willingness and ability to love. Yes, there are pockets of it here and there. Outstanding examples of loving people give us hope that love can revive and grow. But these examples are too few in number. Many have opted instead for non-loving relationships. We've lost the "heart" of the gospel and replaced it with legalistic mindset.

Thankfully, the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about good news. It's the good news that Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins. It's the good news about forgiveness. It's the good news about restored fellowship with our heavenly Father. It's the good news about eternal life instead of death. It's the good news that there is love to abound. When the gospel of Jesus is properly and effectively taught, the result is always that people learn to love each other. It must be this way for John himself said, "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Here's what I know. People who do not love do not know God. God is love. If we are to be the people of God, disciples of Jesus Christ, then love must rule our lives. There is no other way to see it. What a different world this would be if Christians really knew God and loved like He loves.

A Little Persecution

10"Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. -- Matthew 5:10-12 , NASB95

The cruelty of atheism is hard to believe. When a man has no faith in the reward of good or the punishment of evil, there is no reason to be human. There is no restraint from the depths of evil that is in man. The Communist torturers often said, "There is no God, no hereafter, no punishment for evil. We can do what we wish." -- Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ, p. 36.

Richard Wurmbrand's book, Tortured For Christ, is a record of the unspeakable torture he and others endured at the hands of Communists. It is not a pleasant read, but it is an important one. What Christians endure for their faith is not what one hears about in the media, and is seldom what is portrayed in books and movies.

Today, you are more likely to hear about the abuse of animals than you are to hear about the abuse suffered by people who believe in Jesus Christ. There is almost a sense that today's world has grown beyond the sharp persecution of years ago, but that would be to misunderstand the realities of our time in history.

American Christians, in particular, are sometimes isolated from the news about other believers in the world and what they must endure in order to be believers. We are much more comfortable with theological arguments, debates, and who is a notch up on the "I'm right and you're wrong" scale. Much of the rest of the world is just trying to avoid pain and death because they believe in Jesus.

Years ago, a friend of mine frequently prayed this: "Lord, send us some persecution!" I would say to him, "Jim, leave me out of that prayer!" He didn't really want to be persecuted, but he did believe that persecution would urge us to get our minds focused on the important and abandon the rest. I still don't want to be persecuted, but I haven't found the magic answer to getting us focused on the really important and away from things that just don't matter.

It's an interesting thing about this age in which we live. We seem to spend more of our time focused on things that keep us apart than on things that bring us together. Is it because we have the luxury of being able to do that? Could it happen because we aren't driven to one another by pain and death? Historically, it is said, that the church has always grown stronger under persecution. Some of that must occur because people are driven to what really matters. But the flip side of that must count as well. People are driven away from unimportant things.

I still don't think I want to be persecuted, but perhaps we need to be driven to the vitally important and away from junk. Which direction are you headed?