Growth? (See "GOD")

[From Jan. 10, 2013]

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

(1 Corinthians 3:6-7)

We Americans love competition.  Or should I say "we American guys" love competition!?!  You name it, we'll challenge each other to it: sports, politics, entertainment, love, etc... heck, when my son was little, we made a game out of practically everything we wanted him to learn!  We love competition.

Unfortunately, however, the drive to compete has found its way even into our churches.  Who has the biggest church?  Whose church is growing faster?  Who's giving more away to missions?  Who's had the most new-member baptisms?  Who has the most active small groups?  I could go on and on...  Oh, we don't actually SAY these things out loud to each other, but they're frequently in the back (or forefront?) of our minds.

Paul gives us a wonderful perspective on this very topic.  The Church in Corinth was having problems with factions among the congregation, based on various leaders (current & past).  It doesn't matter, he says.  We're not important!  GOD GIVES GROWTH. Look to God.  Everything that is good about us and the churches we serve comes from God.  Period.  That's a lesson many of us pastors still need to learn.

Just as I am...

[From Jan. 4, 2013]

"And Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple."

(Mark 11:15-16)

It was his first day back in the big city... a city he'd been to countless times before.  But this wasn't just ANY big city... this was THE BIG CITY!  The center of life & faith!  JERUSALEM!  And the focal point of this city was undoubtedly the temple.  So it's no surprise that's where he went first.  But it was late.  So all he seemed to do was look around & leave.

The following day was a completely different story.  Once inside, he immediately began to shake things up.  Money changers had their tables overturned.  Merchants selling sacrificial animals were driven off.  The place was in chaos!  And then Mark tells us something peculiar about what Jesus did next: "...and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple" (Mark 11:16).

That one sentence struck me as quite strange.  Why not?  Was it the vendors he was trying to keep out (or at least keep out their "wares")?  Or was this truly directed towards everybody?  If so, why would he not want regular worshipers to bring things in, like their sacrifices?  Could it be that people had gotten too caught up with the "doing" of worship (ie. what animals to bring, how much money, what specific procedures were needed to carry out these "obligations," etc.) that they had no longer recognized the simple power of BEING in God's presence?  Could it be that he was physically demonstrating God's words from scripture, "I desire your heart, not your sacrifice"?

What would it mean today for us to be forbidden to "carry anything through the temple"?  What would it mean to strip away all of the familiar patterns of worship?  All of those rituals we've come to find comforting? All of the "stuff we do" on Sunday mornings... so that all that's left is just US AND GOD?  "Just as I am, without one plea..." goes the old hymn.  Maybe Jesus was on to something?!

Lord, help me unburden myself before you.  Let me let go of the need "to do" certain things before you.  Help me un-clutter all of those things that get in the way of me being with you.  Truly with you.  Just as I am.  AMEN.

Don't be a hater!

[From 12/28/12]

"By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities."

(Acts 26:11)

Hate is a powerful force.  Couple it with religion and it often becomes lethal.  Paul knows.  He'd been a Pharisee for most of his life - a strict adherent to the Law of Moses.  That's why the "People of the Way" (aka early Christians) got him so riled up.  They followed the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, who advocated things in opposition to the Law (or so he thought).  So Paul (actually, he was known as Saul at that time) pursued these Christians.  Vigorously pursued them.  Even to foreign cities!  Why?  It was his hate & anger that fueled him.  "I was so furiously enraged," he writes.

Then God changed his mind.  Turned him around completely.  Anger & passion turned to love and passion!  And so much good was accomplished!

Why is it that hate - especially "religiously-fueled" hate - is so strong with so many?  Is it fear?  Deep-seeded uncertainty?  How powerful that Jesus came to transform our fear & uncertainty into love and grace.  Don't be a hater.  All we need is love!  May people come to see all Christians as ambassadors of love & grace... always!

Hospitality Extrarodinaire

[From 12/27/12]

"...We sailed to Syria & landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload cargo there.  We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days."

(Acts 21:3b-4a)

Paul is making his way to Jerusalem with a "super offering" for the mother church from many of the mission churches he's helped establish.  Along the way, we're told that he stopped in Tyre.  I love the language: "We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days."

Though I doubt they Googled "Tyre Christians" on their iPhones and GPS'd their way into a cozy B&B with a fish symbol displayed prominently on their sign... it's still neat to hear about ancient hospitality.  No warning.  No reservations.  No checking in advance.  They simply show up and are taken care of by "the disciples."  Why?  Travelers came through all the time.  Everyone was expected to be hospitable.  But Christians especially were called (by Jesus!) to reach out to those in need.  Ergo, instant welcome!

We were made to be in COMMUNITY!  When at our best, we're surrounded by and encouraging others.  As amazing as 5-star, deluxe accommodations may be (or so I've been told), nothing beats the company of someone who has the love of God overflowing from their lives.  Praise God for all who create space for others!

"Just one question..."

"Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, 'If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended?'"

(Job 4:2)

The book of JOB is a curious one.  It begins with God vouching for the righteousness of Job, against Satan's (literally "The Accuser's") request to try and "mess with him."  Though a series of divinely-sanctioned calamities, Job loses just about everything but his wife and his life.  Oh yah, and some so-called friends.  For most of the rest of the book, Job and his friends argue about sin, righteousness, God and humanity.  The last chapters of the book have God finally speaking to Job, basically telling him that there are some things he'll just never know about life & God & people.  Period.  Deal with it.

But back to the "friends."  They dispense conventional wisdom.  They say what everyone believed.  They tell Job (over and over) that bad stuff comes to those who sin.  It's the way of the world.  Quit denying it & move on.  But we know that God sees Job as "righteous" from the start!  Anyway, one of the first comments made by one of his friends was a rhetorical question: "Job, will you get offended if I say something to you?"

That's actually a GREAT question!  How open are WE to hearing advice from others?  Granted, we'll need to filter whatever we hear through the lenses of scripture, the Holy Spirit's guidance,  general Christian teaching, and wisdom... but are we open to "constructive criticism" from others (especially when we know it's not a personal attack)?  Sometimes I know that I get defensive, and am less likely to actually HEAR what people are trying to tell me.  That's not wise.  I hope that I will endeavor to at least listen to whatever people have to say... and then allow God to confirm it in my heart if it's something I need to heed.  What about you?

Perspective

"O LORD, my heart is not lifted up,

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother, 

My soul is like the weaned child that is with me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD form this time on

And forevermore."

(Psalm 131)

I first stumbled upon this Psalm during midterms at seminary.  In the midst of papers, projects, and stress, this was a breath of fresh air.  It brought much needed perspective:

• Don't get caught up in things beyond what you're currently called to do.
• Focus on what's at hand... and that alone.
• Calm & quiet your soul in the Lord.
• God should be your hope & strength.

Today begins finals week on many high school and college campuses.  Both of my children (and many others across the country) are going through this.  My prayer for them (and all of us) is Psalm 131.  Keep it all in perspective!

A cry for Justice!

[From Dec. 7, 2012]

"And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day & night?"

(Luke 18:7)

The pastor in me wants to use the parable of the Unjust Judge to encourage people to be consistent in prayer.  (You know the parable I'm talking about, right?  A widow keeps pestering a judge and he finally grants her request because he's sick of her bothering him.)  But the other part of me is a bit bothered by the notion that God will grant whatever we ask if we just are persistent enough.  So I've sort of lived with this conundrum. 

Then I reread this parable today. And suddenly a light dawned on me.  It's not about asking God for whatever we want.  The widow came to the judge because she wanted JUSTICE.  She was somehow being taken advantage of (probably because she was a widow - some of the most vulnerable people in Biblical society).  Even the judge acknowledged it when he said, "... yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out."

God is all about justice.  The Bible is full of admonitions to care for the weak and vulnerable, to treat others with excellence, and to extend compassion.  When we come to God with a call for JUSTICE, God hears!