Christ - Our Advent

John 1:9, "There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man."

...Born to Raise the Sons of Earth
Born to Give Them Second Birth...

As we draw near the end of the Advent Season, I'm particularly mindful of why Jesus came. God truly loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son. Born to fulfill the Law of Moses. Given to end the curse of Adam. Revealed to enlighten every man. It is in the coming of Jesus that we discover the truth about our Heavenly Father, as well as, the value of every human being. It is there within the stable that we see the new beginning of humanity. Jesus - who will save His people from their sins. Emmanuel - God with us. The Light that shines in the darkness. It is my prayer for each of us as we celebrate His coming that we do not miss out on the beauty of our own becoming in Him. Jesus Christ is our advent.

One cannot read the Scriptures without discovering that God was up to something. That there was coming a day when the Fall of Adam would no longer define humanity. When the Old Covenant would be done away with and a New Covenant would take its place. All throughout the Old Testament we read of a new day, a new beginning, and an event that would transform the way in which God and humanity would relate to one another. That day began in Jesus.

We read that in the fullness of time that God sent His Son into the world. Wrapped up in human flesh, this Son of God would walk in relationship with the Father. He would overcome the temptations of the enemy, fulfill all of the Law and the Prophets, give His life as a ransom for each and every one of us, die, resurrect, and ascend to the Father. Why? So that He would bring many sons into glory [see Hebrews 2]. Jesus, the Pioneer of faith, has gone behind the veil and bid us come. We can all enter boldly to the throne of grace. We each have access to the Heavenly Father. Adopted. Chosen. Loved. Jesus' coming calls us to become all that the Father intended. We are the ones that the Earth groans to see revealed. The descendants that would outnumber the stars of the sky and grains of sand promised to Abraham. The glory of God that would fill the Earth. Jesus is our advent. It is in His coming that we begin our own becoming. Where we understand our place in relationship to the Godhead. Where we are finally able to rest in the goodness and grace of the Almighty.

In Jesus we finally see what authentic faith is all about. We being to understand that all the Law and Prophets were actually put in place that we might love God and one another. That we would live with compassion for one another, show love, grant forgiveness, and be generous givers of mercy. That we would put away any and all things that keep us from being fully human (i.e. things that keep us from living as those created in the image and likeness of God). It is in Him that religion is exposed for what it is, and is replaced with a deeper awareness of God. Where we can finally lay down all of the things that keep us weary and burdened, finding true rest for our souls.

Celebrate His coming. By all means enjoy this season. But remember that He came for you, for us, that we would become what the Father envisioned in His heart all along.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6

Merry Christmas!

Something to Ponder this Wednesday

Luke 9:50, "But Jesus said to him, 'Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.'"
I'm just going to leave this right here. No! Wait a minute. I'm actually going to say something.

I just read a wonderful article from Relevant Magazine. The title was "6 Heretics Who Should Be Banned From Evangelicalism." Now before I start to delve into some of the meat of this article, it is clear that the writer does not believe that any of these so called heretics are heretics at all. In fact, he goes on to talk about these great men of the faith in great detail. The point he is trying to drive home is a point that I have made in this blog several times. Not everyone we consider a false teacher is a false teacher, and not everyone we call a heretic is a heretic. The reality is that some people have a different interpretation of things, see things in a different light, or simply have a different upbringing in the faith than Western Christianity. I'm going to share some things directly from the article that are meant to cause us to think about how we look at people. Given much of their history within the church you may be shocked to hear what some of these people have said, believe, and/or teach. Everything within the (*) is a direct quote from the writer.

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1. C.S. Lewis
Perhaps the most celebrated Christian writer of the last century, C.S. Lewis is respected by most Christians, no matter what theological corner they occupy. And that’s what confuses me. Lewis was no evangelical by the standards of modern evangelical spokespersons. Lewis’ seven-volume, fictional masterpiece, The Chronicles of Narnia, reveals his belief that it is possible for people in other religions to inherit the Kingdom of God without knowing it.

Lewis also rejects the Penal Substitutionary theory of the atonement, which states that Christ “diverted” God’s wrath toward us and took it upon Himself. Instead, in part three of Chronicles, Lewis describes what is called the “Christus Victor” view of the atonement, which holds that the Cross is not an image of God’s wrath against us, diverted to His son, but it was the defeat of evil through an act of selfless love.


2. Martin Luther:
Where would evangelicalism be without Martin Luther? He is the father of the Reformation and the champion of Sola Scriptura.

But to the dismay of every evangelical Calvinist, I fear I must be the bearer of bad news that Martin Luther apparently didn’t believe the Bible is fully inspired, true or trustworthy.

Speaking of inaccuracies in the books of Chronicles, he states, “When one often reads that great numbers of people were slain—for example, eighty thousand—I believe that hardly one thousand were actually killed.”


3. St. Augustine:
In his work The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Augustine (to put it bluntly) thought Christians who took the Creation Story literally were a laughingstock and looked like idiots among non-Christians because they denied science and reason. This is Augustine, the one to whom we can give credit for the doctrines of original sin and Hell as eternal conscious torment (which are at the core of reformed theology).

Here is his statement:

“It not infrequently happens that something about the earth…may be known with the greatest certainty by reasoning or by experience, even by one who is not a Christian. It is too disgraceful and ruinous, though, and greatly to be avoided, that he [the non-Christian] should hear a Christian speaking so idiotically on these matters, and as if in accord with Christian writings, that he might say that he could scarcely keep from laughing when he saw how totally in error they are. In view of this and in keeping it in mind constantly while dealing with the book of Genesis, I have, insofar as I was able, explained in detail and set forth for consideration the meanings of obscure passages, taking care not to affirm rashly some one meaning to the prejudice of another and perhaps better explanation.”

4. William Barclay:
William Barclay’s iconic little blue commentaries are on the shelves of many pastors. So it's odd that Rob Bell has been so roundly rejected for holding essentially the same belief as this celebrated theologian.

Barclay writes, “I am a convinced universalist. I believe that in the end all men will be gathered into the love of God…the choice is whether we accept God’s offer and invitation willingly, or take the long and terrible way round through ages of purification.”

In that work, Barclay also lists early church fathers, Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, as two other Christian Universalists.


5. John Stott:
John Stott is one of the great evangelical Christian thinkers of the last generation. Stott rejected the view that Hell is eternal conscious torment of the wicked and suggested, instead, that the unrepentant cease to exist after enduring the penalty for their sins.

He wrote, “I believe that the ultimate annihilation of the wicked should at least be accepted as a legitimate, biblically founded alternative to their eternal conscious torment.”


6. Billy Graham:
Billy Graham is, perhaps, the epitome of the evangelical identity.

Or, so we thought…

Like C.S. Lewis, Graham believes that those who do not hear of Christ may, indeed, be saved without explicitly confessing Him as Lord.

In a 1997 interview with Robert Schuller, Graham said:

“[God] is calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they have been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don’t have, and they turn to the only light they have, and I think that they are saved and they are going to be with us in heaven.”
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At this point I want to agree with the author. "I'm sure you, as well as I, find it ridiculous to reject these great and godly people." Who hasn't read C.S. Lewis? Who hasn't heard quotes from Luther and Augustine? I wonder how many pastors I know actually have Barclay's commentaries, or had to read (as I did) John Stott's "Basic Christianity"? And who doesn't love Billy Graham and the incredible work he has done for the Kingdom? The writer went on to cite George Whitefield’s lobbying for slavery, Martin Luther’s hatred of Jews, John Calvin’s approval of burning heretics at the stake. These are real issues. Many of which have been overlooked, minimized, or even accepted.

Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, much of our great history is filled with people who don't believe everything modern evangelicalism teaches. However, we continue to celebrate their work, recommend their writings, and consider many of them heroes of the faith. With that being said, if some of these things were preached/taught from the pulpits of our churches there would be cries of heresy. Or would there? Not everyone in the Church considers themselves to be the gatekeepers of truth. Not everyone knows fully what they believe. There are, however, many who think they have the right to call out someone with whom they disagree. We saw and heard a lot of those people when "The Shack" came out and gained worldwide notoriety. I'm sure we will hear and see more when the movie hits the theaters in March. All the while forgetting the instruction that Jesus gave to His disciples in Luke 9:50 (I told you I was going to say something). Jesus is responding to John's report of trying to stop a man from casting out demons in the name of Jesus because he didn't walk with them. Jesus said (and I quote), "...the one who is not against you is for you." Just take that statement in for a moment. Think about the ramifications. What would the modern church look like and sound like if we didn't call out everyone with whom we did not agree?

Matthew Henry stated in his commentary of the Bible that "If ever any society of Christians in this world, had reason to silence those not of their own communion, the twelve disciples at this time had; yet Christ warned them not to do the like again. Those may be found faithful followers of Christ, and may be accepted of him, who do not follow with us."

Say what?
That's right!
There are actually people outside of our evangelical bubble who are walking with Christ, doing His work in the Earth, and yet they are not a part of our particular way of thinking. In fact, many of those who have had to wear the label of heretic or false teacher are neither. They just think differently. They, like you, love the Lord and seek to walk in truth each and every day. They want people to know and understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They believe a lot of the same things as you, just not everything. While you may believe that they bring much harm to the Church, they very well could have the same belief about you. Then it becomes a question of who is right? Both side will give a biblical justification for what they believe. Which brings us right back to our dilemma. Are they heretics? Or worse...ARE WE?

I don't share any of this so that you will agree with the statements that are posted above. I also don't share so that you can discredit these great men of the faith. I share so that we understand, once again, that there are many thoughts under the umbrella of evangelical thinking. The article I cited articulates this so beautifully. What I hope, in the end, is that we will be more cautious about our knee-jerk reactions. That we will actually think through this need to call out those with whom we disagree. And maybe, just maybe, consider that these people are our brothers/sisters in Christ. If anything, maybe I gave you something to ponder this Wednesday.

Have a blessed day!

'Tis the Season to be Thankful

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
A verse that seems challenging at times. However, when one considers the environment from which these words were penned, we are reminded that there are no circumstances that should keep us from being truly thankful.

I type these words as I think of the individual who has PTSD and trying to manage life. Who still has a smile on his face even though relationships have been extremely strained.
I think of the widow and widower who are learning how to navigate the holidays without that special someone. Who still gathers with family and continue to discover many reasons to be grateful.
I think of the person who has been rejected, left alone, and is trying to make sense of love and forgiveness. Who still opens his/her heart to people, understanding the risk they are taking.
I could continue to list people in much more difficult circumstances. All whom have learned that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday stuck on a Thursday towards the end of November. Men and women who have discovered that being thankful has to be a way of life.

Thankful - Adjective
1) Pleased and Relieved
2) Expressing Gratitude and Relief

I honestly don't know how the world does it without the assurance of Christ. I'm sure that there is something deep inside the human spirit that finds a place of thankfulness. However, for those of us who know Jesus personally, thankfulness should come naturally. In Christ we should be pleased and relieved. We should be able to express gratitude and relief. All one has to do is consider all that the Father has done to give us eternal and abundant life. To consider how gracious our Creator has been to us. To dwell on the fact that He chose to come into our darkness, to take our sin and shame upon Himself, and be willing to go through the agony and pain of redemption should create a swell of gratitude in each of our hearts. Maybe even more amazing is that He chose to speak to our hearts when He did; to awaken us to the reality of life in Christ.

There is so much that we take for granted:
Family, friends, relationships, and health.
Security, provision, jobs, and a roof over our heads.
Love, grace, and mercy that knows no end.
When you consider all of the things that we are willing to risk, willing to walk away from, and the things which we allow to create division; can we not stop for a moment and think of all that we have to be grateful for?

This is a season to be thankful. Regardless of what your season looks like. Regardless of how it feels. Regardless of what you have had to endure. Learn to give thanks. Learn to be pleased in all that the Lord has done in your life. Discover what it means to be pleased in Him. Express your gratitude and relief. Watch how thankfulness releases a joy and a peace that you can never explain.

Once again I'm reminded of the hymn written by Horatio G. Spafford - "IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL" - and how the Lord was able to minister peace and gratefulness to his heart during on of the most difficult times of life. A song that would stand the test of time and continue to bring others to a place of peace and rest. If he can sing, if he can be reminded of the goodness of the Lord, then surely we can find a thread of thankfulness in our own hearts.

I want to encourage you this Thanksgiving (and every other day of life) to draw your friends and family close to your heart. Capture every moment of joy. Feel the warmth of hugs and kisses. Be grateful for the time that you have and cherish the looks of contentment on every face. Be Thankful. Very Very Thankful for these moments. Feast on them. Drink from them. Life is too short to miss out on these opportunities. Then allow thankfulness to be a part of your journey. And while you are at it, be sure to give thanks to the Lord. Remembering that EVERY good and perfect gift flows down from Him.

May this Thanksgiving be the greatest thanksgiving you can remember. Blessings to you and your family during this season.

What Unites Us Is Greater Than What Divides Us

I am a thinker. Does this surprise you? I think that most people believe that I'm a talker since I'm a pastor, but the reality is that I am often content to keep my thoughts to myself. Some would argue that since I like to blog that I must be a writer. However, I don't always write what I'm thinking about. The reason is quite simple: If my thoughts are not well formulated I don't like to share them. I am quite content to allow those thoughts to stir for days and weeks on end. This is especially true when it comes to matters of faith. I like to think through things that most people don't want to think through. I like to ask questions about long held beliefs. I don't mind wrestling with things that the church doesn't want to wrestle with anymore. At times this has created disagreements. At other times it has allowed others to feel safe to join me in such a journey. The thing that I'm thinking about this morning is: WHY ARE WE CHRISTIANS SO DIVISIVE?

Psalm 133 gives us beautiful insight into what it looks like when God's people dwell together in unity and yet we continue to struggle. We seem to be more concerned with our group identity rather than being able to appreciate the whole of the church. Denominational pride, fear of losing members to other churches, and disagreements over various doctrinal positions seems to dominate among us. When did our unity become so fixed upon dogma or agreement in all matters? Is there not a unity that transcends this type of thinking?

I came across a statement this morning that quite possibly points to the root of our problem. One writer said this, "The Christian faith, more than any other, is based on doctrine." A statement that I find mind-boggling. Doctrine? That is the basis of our faith? I thought the basis of what we believe was found in a person NOT is some theological argument. I thought it was the very person of Jesus Christ that was the foundation of all that we believed. Doctrine is important, but to say that the Christian faith is based upon doctrine proves how far we have removed ourselves from the very prayer of Jesus. That we would be one as He and His Father are one. The problem with making doctrine the basis of the Christian faith is that it is way too easy to become divided. All you have to do is disagree in one point or another and the brethren no longer dwell in unity.

Please hear me out. I know that the Early Church Fathers took great pride in defending the doctrines of the Early Church. The Nicene Creed continues to be such a powerful statement of what we believe. However, what they agreed upon back then is often considered too simplistic. In other words, they did not go far enough in their statement of faith. Just take the Creed and place it along side of most churches statements of faith and you will understand what I am saying. The Creed was a response to attacks on what was considered foundational understanding for the church, but there were things that they chose not to address. Why? Probably because there wasn't a consensus in some areas or they felt that these areas could remain unverified. For whatever reason, the one thing the council did choose to put into the Creed was the belief in One Holy Catholic Church. Catholic meaning Universal. A belief that many of us need to revisit.

Paul made a statement to the Church at Rome that I think we need to understand. He encouraged the Body to "Be of the same mind toward one another..." Live in harmony together. Think of, regard, or seek after the same thing for each other. That is, whatever we regard or seek for ourselves we should seek for the brethren. He encouraged the Body of Christ to this place of unity. Where we see one another for who we are and that we contend for harmony. Recognizing this vital truth: the world will know that we belong to Christ because of our love for one another.

This is a practical side of our faith that we rarely explore. We often fail to emphasize this need in the world. That a United Church could bring so much healing, so much understanding, and so much genuineness to our faith. That we would have to do less convincing of people if they were to see the unity that we are meant to live in. Rather than having to convince someone of why we are right and others are wrong, we could simply invite them to know Jesus as we do and to join the community of faith. Does it sound too simple? Then it must be God.

The point of all of this is that WHAT UNITES US IS GREATER THAN WHAT DIVIDES US. I get it. You and I may have different views on soteriology. We may not agree on eschatology. Our beliefs about atonement, the nature of man, the finished work of Jesus, and many other things may not be in agreement. But can we not all agree on the fact that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of all? Can we not accept the fact that Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren and that we are brothers? Can we not appreciate our distinctive groups and trust that God is working in each and everyone of us to reach out to a hurting world? Jesus Christ is the Great Unifier. He alone stands as the Mediator between God and man. He is the source of our salvation, our faith, and our unity. For us to place emphasis upon anything else is to set ourselves up for failure.

How beautiful and pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity. In Christ this is possible. Consider this an invitation. By all means have your beliefs. Be willing to hold fast to your convictions. But somewhere along the way we have to see that our family is much bigger than our denomination, our proclamation of doctrinal purity, and our particular brand of Christianity. In the same way that our Father has chosen to bring together every tribe, tongue, and nation in Christ; He will also bring every denomination, every doctrinal difference, and every division together in Christ. At least...that's what I think.

Enjoy the journey!

For the Journey Ahead

Good morning my friends. A lot has happened since I last shared my thoughts with you. America has elected a new president, Tom Brady threw his first interception of the season, and the temperature outside finally feels like Fall. And none of these things have to do with what I want to share with you today.

I was thinking this morning about Abram and God's call upon his life, how he emerged out of a polytheistic religion, and what that means for us today. I mean...doesn't everyone think about these things? Honestly, have you ever considered just how difficult it must have been for Abram. Imagine that you are the one walking away from family, from your home land, and all because the One True God has asked you to go to a country that He would show you. This takes guts. But what is even more revealing in this whole scenario is how gentle the Lord was in revealing His true nature. We owe so much to the man whose name was later changed to Abraham. The father of nations. The one in whom all of the nations of the world would be blessed. This one man risked everything because he heard a voice.

In my opinion, the greatest revelation that Abraham received came during a literal mountain top experience. It was there where he took his firstborn son, a length of rope, some firewood, and a knife. Why? Because the Lord had instructed him to do so. A difficult journey to say the least. A burden that he seemed all too comfortable to carry. Has anyone ever asked why? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in Abraham's shoes? Most of us did not grow up in this kind of environment. The thought of sacrificing our firstborn and only child seems so inhumane. But in Abraham's defense this was common to his culture. What is uncommon is what would transpire on the mountain top.

Abraham was dutiful. He carried out the instructions down to every last detail. With knife in hand and both arms stretched above his head the Lord intervened. And it's here where we discover one of the greatest attributes of God's nature. Another second and we would call this mountain the place where Isaac died. Instead it became known as the Lord will provide. Too often we miss the significance of this revelation. 9 times out of 10 our focus has been on the God of Provision. We talk about the God who meets our needs. And while this is true of His nature it misses out of the full scope of what the Lord was teaching Abraham. In this moment we discover a God who does not need sacrifice. A God who provides for Himself.

So often I believe we have held to a belief about God that is more BC than AD. We see Him as one in need of sacrifices and burnt offerings. Even our worship has been described as a sacrifice of praise. Choosing to believe that our offerings of prayers, fasting, self-debasement, and the like will somehow gain His favor. Completely missing out on the reality of what we already possess in Christ. Please hear me in all of this. I'm not saying that we should not pray. I'm not calling for an end of fasting. I don't believe in self-debasement simply because there is a difference between humility and humiliation. What I am saying is that we should be fully enveloped in what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. To fully recognize what He has done in providing Himself for us. That all of our worship, our service, and all the details of our lives flow from this place.

Jesus told us to go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."
Have you ever considered the shift in thinking that this creates in a religion that was bound up in blood sacrifices? Can you imagine the anger and confusion that a statement like this would incite? Jesus stepped up the game just a little bit. He moved from a ram being caught in a thicket to being the one caught in the crossfire. God would provide Himself. As He always had. Not only that, but Jesus proves once and for all that how we treat one another matters. That mercy far outweighs any sacrifices that we could bring. That God is more concerned with how we treat others than how we approach Him.

Before we think this is something new, we have to see that this is actually an Old Testament reference. Hosea 6:6 puts it this way: "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." (NLT)
What a statement! Imagine what this must have done to the priests. What would happen to them if we removed a sacrificial system? More importantly, what would happen in the hearts of the people if they learned this all important lesson? Imagine a world where we actually were more concerned with showing love to one another. Handling mercy so graciously. Wanting to know God above our service towards Him. Think it would make a difference?

The God Who Provides needs nothing from us. What He invites us to enjoy is a relationship with Himself and our fellow man. He asks us to delight in the things that He delights in. The God who delights in mercy invites us to join in the same. Micah said it so wonderfully:
Do Justly
Love Mercy
Walk Humbly with your God.

Somewhere along the way we have been so consumed with the afterlife that we have forgotten to make much out of this one. We didn't do the math when Jesus said the first and greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God...and the second was like it, to love you neighbor as yourself. He placed them on an equal playing field. Where we would see them side by side not one on top of the other. So we would understand that to love God with all that we have is to love our neighbor as ourselves and vice versa. And that all of the Law and the Prophets are summed up in these two things. The very same God who led Abraham so patiently has continued to be patient with us. He continues to love while we are trying to pull ourselves out of our wrong thinking. Mercifully bringing us to a place where our altars aren't so significant. Where maybe we will stop trying to kill everything and rest in the provision that He is in Himself, i.e. the Lord our Righteousness, the Lord our Salvation, the Lord our Peace, and the like.

The best that we can do is to do what is right, to love the mercy of our Lord so much that we readily give it, and to walk humbly with our Heavenly Father. For the journey ahead I ask that you consider that this is a life well lived. That these things actually matter. And that your life, along with the lives of others, can be dramatically changed. I think it's time that we learned what the Lord meant when He said "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

Enjoy the Journey!

The Voters are Coming...

I went out early this morning with my daughter to vote in the presidential election. This was her first time voting. A special occasion that we were able to share together.

Turnout this morning looked to be poised for a record breaking day. I saw people that I normally don't see heading to the ballot box. A reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a country where "We The People" get to decide who governs us. WE get to decide the direction of our nation. WE choose who represents us. WE - in order to form a more perfect union - MATTER. I never like to think of an election as one group cancelling out the voice of another group. I choose to view every election as an opportunity for each individual to voice their opinion. To vote their conscience. To take part in a representative republic.

In such a divisive political climate I choose to believe that what I saw this morning was a group of people who are fed up with the direction of this nation. Even if our little dot on the map is just a small percentage of this nation's population. Every vote matters...Right? I don't care which side of aisle you choose to stand on or if you are more of a middle of the aisle person, this election has allowed us to see the corruption in each party. It has shown us that the powers that be don't like the idea of losing that power. I can honestly say that since I have been able to be a part of this process that this election season has proven to be the most chaotic. The most divisive. The most shocking. And in many ways it has shown that there is much work still needed to be done for us to be the UNITED States of America.

The voters are coming! Those who have voted for decades and those who are voting for the first time. Hopefully, by the end of this day we will have an answer to what the voice of the American people has spoken. And in the end, regardless of how this election goes, the real work begins.

Personally...I voted for three things that I believe are needed for the security and prosperity of any nation.
BORDERS
LANGUAGE
CULTURE
We The People need secure and definite borders.
We The People have the right to a common language.
We The People have the right to a culture that reflects American Values and Ideals.

In closing, allow me to say this to each and every person who will hear. This election will not hinder the Kingdom of God. He is still at work among us and will continue to be. Each and every time His children respond to His voice we see more and more of this Kingdom manifesting itself. May God continue to bless America - Continue to shed His Grace upon us - Continue to grant peace and protection to her people.

Do You See What I See?

Acts 10:15, "But the voice spoke again: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." NLT
Do you ever read something in Scripture and say: "We are going to have some explaining to do."?

The story of Peter's vision on the roof is one that is told to countless children in Sunday School, children sermons, and the like. For the most part, we have raised a generation to view others through a different lens. A lens that does not discriminate by color of skin, national origin, culture, etc. With all of that being said, the Church should be the most anti-discriminatory group in the whole world. We should have overcome all prejudice with the realization that Father has made us all ONE in Christ. A truth that is found all throughout the Bible. However, I believe we have failed miserably to apply this same revelation in other areas of life. An issue that I will gladly tackle this morning.

Before I jump into the meat of this argument, I must acknowledge the fact that there are plenty of racist people who call themselves Christians and are members of some of our churches. That may go without saying, but I felt that it needed to be said. We still tend to fellowship with those who are like us. At least this is true in our rural areas that are full of smaller congregations. We still gather with our own race, our own culture, and sometimes even our own kin. I'm not saying that this is wrong. It's just a culture fact. But what I'm talking about goes much deeper than our comfort zones. We have discovered a way to divide that goes deeper to the heart. A division that is more of a choice than an ignorant bias.

The division that I'm referring to has to do with whom we choose to exclude. Which rarely, if ever, has to do with genetics. Instead, it has to do with belonging to a particular way of thinking. Believing the same thing on every issue. Where our churches are full of the same political leanings, agreements on every social issues, and could even come down to sharing the same family values. Where is the intellectual diversity in our churches? How often do we hear of varying opinions on theology? When did we become so scared of those who think differently, or have a different interpretation of certain biblical passages? And God forbid that there may actually be a democrat among us! We have lost the ability to be challenged in a healthy manner. We have excluded so many people who think differently than we do. To the point that we sound like Peter when he first received the vision on the rooftop. We have believed that we are more righteous because we will not accept that which is unclean.

The unclean could be anything. It could be those who do not hold to our views. It could be those who don't approach Christianity the same way. The unclean may be those who just sin differently than we do. I mean...we don't want to admit it but our churches have chosen to overlook some things over others. Don't believe me? Just dare to have a different stance on marriage. Dare to think differently about homosexuality. Dare to voice an opinion that differs on people living together before marriage, having children out of wedlock, drinking, or using profanity. I'm always amazed by what causes us to turn our backs on brothers and sisters in Christ. Or how we come down so hard on the alcoholic but not the glutton. How we openly criticize the one who doesn't tithe but don't say anything about the one who brings in money from an underhanded deal in the business world. We pick and choose our battles based upon our own ideals. The things that we believe are important.

Let me give you a few scenarios. You have a choice. You have to choose who regularly attends you church.
*The heterosexual couple who lives together as if they are married OR the homosexual couple that is abstinent but dating?
*The single mom who has 3 children from 3 different fathers OR the married couple who has been divorced and remarried 3 times?
*Would you rather have a drunk addict, a drug addict, OR a porn addict?
*The person who has a prior conviction of rape, indecent liberties with a minor, OR murder?
*A gang member, a member of KKK, OR a member of an LGBT group?
We could do this all day. In fact, we do. There are certain people that we have labeled UNCLEAN without ever seeing them through the eyes of revelation. We have forgotten that God doesn't see us differently because we sin differently.

Let's take the discussion to a different level. Same scenario. You have to choose.
*The one who believes it is God's will to heal everyone OR the one who believes all disease/sickness is from God?
*The one who believes that God loves everyone OR the one who believes that God hates everyone?
*The one who believes everyone is going to Heaven OR the one who believes everyone is going to hell?
*The one who believes everything in the Bible is literal OR the one who believes that everything is metaphorical?
*The one who believes in a literal heaven/metaphorical hell OR the one who believes in a literal hell/metaphorical heaven?
Did you make your choice? Was it difficult? Which one would you include in your group? Or better yet, which one would you exclude?

I am not here to tell you what to think. I'm not here to lift up one group over the other. To be honest with you, when I look at these choices what I see so clearly is my own prejudice. I see my own convictions being brought to the forefront of my thinking. And in some cases I don't like it. But we make these choices every day. We choose which "sinner" we are most comfortable with and we choose which person thinks more like we think. Even more important to our discussion is whether or not we could choose one and still love the other? Could we choose one and still call the other clean? Who are the unclean among us? Who are we choosing not to receive because we dare not associate ourselves with such people? Ever wonder why Paul felt that he needed to say that he was not ashamed of the Gospel? Personally I believe it's because the Gospel is very offensive. It's not offensive because of who it excludes. The Gospel is offensive because of who it INCLUDES!

Hear the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:11, "In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us." I think it's high time we stopped calling unclean what the Father has called clean. There is nothing and no one common in the Lord's economy. If we will step our of our Pharisaical ways of thinking, we still stop calling out the unclean among us. We will stop dividing over so many issues. We can enlarge our family. We can begin to walk in love with one another. Something that the world desperately needs to see from us.

Enjoy the journey!

God Is Not Willing...But That...

With all of the differences of opinion concerning many of the church dogmas and doctrines, one would think that we could come to an agreement about the goodness of God toward His creation. There is so much Good News in all of Scripture. However, time after time I hear people talk about our Heavenly Father in such a way as to mar His image. To create a caricature of God that is not in line with the ancient texts nor the revelation provided for us in Jesus Christ. I was thinking of such a text this morning. Amazed at how we continue in our own line of thinking rather than all the Holy Spirit to shape our view.

Personally I believe that we have done much disservice to the verse that I'm about to share. Most people only quote half of it. Neglecting the context in which it is written. Missing out on the incredible wealth of encouragement that it possesses. 9 times out of 10 you will hear someone say that "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance." Which is not bad in and of itself. However, to neglect the context is to dismiss the incredible encouragement it should give to each and every person. Not just the one we are hoping repents. What about those who are waiting for His Kingdom to come in fullness? This verse contains so much for each of us. I hope that what I share today will build you up in the understanding of God's faithfulness. May we appreciate 2 Peter 3:9 for all its worth.

FIRST OF ALL - THE CONTEXT
Peter is writing to a group of discouraged Christians. They are waiting. In fact, they have been waiting for some time for the Lord to fulfill His promise. They have believed in the prophecy of Jesus concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. They have remained faithful. But the longer they wait, the more discouraged they have become. Questions have begun to be circulated among the brethren. Are these things going to come to pass? When will they see the salvation of the Lord? The exile they feel is overwhelming. The persecution is too great. When will these things come to pass?

Peter opens up this whole section reminding them of the words of the prophets and the commands of Jesus. He's reminding them of God's faithfulness to His Word. He's also calling attention to an aspect of the nature of God that we often forget. God isn't slow concerning His promises as some people think. What they are witnessing is the patience of their Heavenly Father.

"HE IS NOT WILLING..."
In the very next breath, Peter explains what they are witnessing from the nature of God. He isn't slow concerning His promises. What they are experiencing is the patience of God. Hear these words: "He's not willing that any should perish..." In the original language it is absolutely telling. God does not deliberately will our perishing. He does not have a reason to purpose it. He does not desire it. In fact, the "slowness" that they people were seeing was an extension of His mercy. God knows that when this thing comes down that a whole lot of people are going to get wrapped up in it. He does not want any of them destroyed. Period. This is exactly what Peter is trying to tell the church.

Think about it. If you knew that a Tsunami was going to hit your hometown, how much time would you give to each and every person to get out? Would you not save as many as possible? This is what Peter is expressing concerning the nature of God. What you see as slowness or slackness about the nature of God, so many others will see as their salvation. God does not want them to be destroyed.

"BUT THAT..."
I love this transition. God is not willing that any should perish. What He is willing to do is give each and every one of them space to repent. This is how we have to see this verse according to the original language. God has made space. This is His patience towards an unbelieving world. Always has been. To be sure, He recognizes the suffering of His children. He knows the difficulties that they are having to endure. But He has a heart for those who are still on the outside. Those who are still stuck in the Old Covenant religion. He longs for them. He waits for them. His Spirit is still at work. His Apostles are still preaching the Good News. The warning of the signs of the times continue to go out. He doesn't want them to perish but to change their mind concerning Him and His Son Jesus Christ.

God IS NOT working towards the destruction of the Jewish people. He is not desiring that everyone get caught up in the devastation that is going to come. He is working towards their salvation. You can go back and read Matthew 24 and hear Him in His own words to that generation. He told them what was going to take place. He gave them instructions about what to do and where to go. So great is His faithfulness. So wonderful is His mercy. So amazing is His grace. So tender is His compassion. It's absolutely mind boggling.

OUR CONCLUSION
Much of what we see in the world today is the same patience of our Heavenly Father. While most people are sitting around waiting on God to get fed up enough with this world to consume it or watch it be consumed, He is still at work in the hearts of men. The Good News of the Gospel continues to go out. His Spirit is still moving in our lives. The Kingdom is coming and it is coming through us. We look forward to the day that we see its culmination in Jesus. Until then...God is not slow concerning His promises. He is simply patient with those who have yet to come to the amazing truth of life in Jesus.

All we can do is continue in what we know. Share His love. Seek His Kingdom. Love one another. And Trust in His Word. His is faithful. To each and every one of us. One day we will see the answer to the Lord's prayer. One day it will be on Earth as it is in Heaven. May we strive to this end. In the words of the Apostle Paul to Timothy his son in the faith: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires ALL PEOPLE to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-4

And all of God's people said...AMEN!

Just...SELAH

With all the noise going on around us, all the chaos in the world, and the information overload that we receive day after day after day; there has to be some time to think. To pause. To reflect. To meditate on the things we need to meditate on. To just...SELAH.

The word Selah is found 71 times in the Psalms of the Old Testament. It's also found 3 times in Habakkuk. While there is no clear agreement with scholars concerning the meaning of the word, it seems that many of them have come to understand that this word serves as a pause within the songbooks of the Hebrew people. An opportunity to rest, to think, and to even praise. Some teachers have even suggested that this rest was more than a time of silence, but that musical instruments were designated to actually play the rest within that particular psalm. Regardless, it's important for each of us to recognize the need within our own soul to stop, to think, and to rest in the awareness of all that God has done.

I type these words after spending the last couple of days paying close attention to current affairs. News concerning the upcoming election. Questions about Iran, Russia, and terrorism. Hearing the hopes and fears of the future of our nation. Listening to the divisions within our country, our communities, and our churches. The list goes on an on. And somewhere in the middle of the chaos I lift up my eyes, tilt my head to the sky, and I breathe in His goodness. Selah.

I didn't plan it. I didn't schedule time to reflect. In fact, it was probably the most spontaneous thing I've done all week. As if I heard the Lord say "you need to rest." His presence in the moment was breathtaking. In just a few seconds the swirling within me had come to a complete stop. My heart was centered. The anxiety evaporated. In one brief moment I was reminded of just how close our Heavenly Father is to each and every one of us.

A couple of Scriptures had come to mind before that moment. "Be still and know that I am God." A timeless classic when we need to stop with our current activity. The other one, however, came out of the blue. It is a favorite Scripture of mine, but I have never used it in this way. It's when Paul was quoting the pagan authors in what we know as Acts 17. Not only did he quote them, but He verified that what they were saying was true. They just didn't know of WHOM they were speaking. It was before the statue designated to worship the "Unknown God" where the Apostle chose to unload this revelation. Which is a brilliant move in my opinion. This way you cannot associate the One True God with some other form. Standing before this statue (at least that is how I picture it), Paul declares that he wants to help them understand who this unknown God really is. Quoting the authors that many of them have read he describes the God in whom we all "live and move and have our being." This was the verse that came to mind in the midst of my chaos. A reminder. A treasure chest of incredible substance. A pause and praise to the One who holds all things together. Even me. Selah.

This is one of the greatest mysteries of life. An awareness of just how deep our relationship with our Creator has always been. Something that we would do well to remember every day of our lives. Especially now. With all of the divisiveness in our nation. With all of the issues within our churches and our communities. With all of the mudslinging that goes back and forth with each and every topic of conversation. With all of the demonizing that we tend to collaborate with as it relates to those on the other side. Each and Every one of us live and move and have our being in Him. Think about it. Pause and Reflect upon this moment. Embrace the revelation that these words provide. Yes, even the one who thinks differently than you. Even the one who has a different skin color, cultural background, and any other difference that you could throw in front of this path of thinking. WE ALL find our life, our movement, and even our very being in HIM. Selah.

Just takes some time today to reflect upon this amazing truth.
Stop all the noise around you. Maybe even play some soft worship music (instrumental if you have it). And just...selah.
This can be one of the most important things that you do all day. You are worth it.

Because It Needs to Be Said

Like many Americans I have been following the presidential campaign closely. I've heard the arguments and accusations on both sides. There's no doubt that this election cycle is very different from the ones we have witnessed in our lifetime. There is also something that is very clear (something that quite honestly should have been a part of every election): We Need to Vote the ISSUES.

I've often said since Obama was first elected that we have seen what I like to call the American Idol effect. Where the American people have tended to vote for the most popular, the most attractive, and the most charismatic. Substance has been thrown out the window. If that is the case, then what are you and I supposed to do when neither candidate is popular? How do you vote when neither candidate for president is your first choice? Answer: You vote the ISSUES.

Honestly, we should have been doing this all along. I realize that those who are old enough to remember "The Moral Majority" believe that if they vote republican then they are voting on the issues. They actually hold to the position that God is on the side of the GOP. However, I've also talked with people who are believers in Jesus Christ and they cannot believe that anyone would vote for a republican. They hold to the position that the liberal agenda is more in line with the teachings of Jesus. The problem for me is that our faith was never meant to endorse one party over the other. What we should always focus on are the ISSUES. What does each candidate stand for? How will this person lead our nation? What are their convictions in the areas of security, morality, fiscal responsibility? For a lot of Christians the big ticket items are abortion and marriage. But what about all the other problems that we face as a nation? How do we vote in this election?

First of all, you need to know that I've already made my mind up. I know who I'm going to vote for. In fact, I made up my mind a long time ago. There are things that I believe that are needed in our nation right now. We have lacked leadership. We have lacked transparency within our government. The voice of the American people doesn't seem to be heard in Washington D.C. I believe that needs to change. I believe that we need to get back to a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people. All things that should matter to us as Americans and as Christians. In this election, you are going to have to answer the question: What ISSUES Matter to Me?

Neither party can take the moral high ground this year. Neither party can talk about a candidate who is above controversy. Neither party can claim to have the popular candidate. Which means that this year - more than any other - the ISSUES REALLY MATTER. Some people have said that they need to vote their conscience. Which has typically meant that they are going to go third party with their vote. A position that I understand. I've wished for a long time that American could actually get out of this two party system. Until that happens I have not found a third party candidate that I believed could actually win. Nor have I found one that lines up with the things that I believe are important for our nation. We have to be careful with this approach since we know that in the current system a third party vote is a throw away. The reality is that one of the two main candidates is going to win. So...we do need to decide who we do not want leading this nation and vote in a way that ensures that does not happen.

"I feel like I'm voting for the lesser of two evils."
If that is how you feel, then please vote for the lesser of the two. Less evil is a good thing.

While I'm at it, let me just go ahead and get this off of my chest. During the last presidential election (for example) the GOP nominated Mitt Romney as their candidate for President. The evangelical vote did not come in for him. They stayed at home. They chose to not vote for someone who lined up with them on these big moral issues simply because he was a Mormon. A major voting block did not participate in the last election and they are the same ones who complained the most with the direction of our country. What this group of people did not take into account was the fact that the ISSUES are what really matter in each and every election.

Regardless of which side of the aisle you choose to stand, can we please stop with all of the moral grandstanding? This election is about the ISSUES. And each of us have to determine which candidate has the best policies for the future of our nation. This is more than a moral responsibility. It's an American responsibility. While I would love to be going to the voting booth and know that I'm voting for someone who has the ethical standing I believe a President should possess, neither of these candidates do. Therefore, the ISSUES are what matter to me. The direction of this nation is at the forefront of my thinking. I'm not here to defend or promote either candidate. I'm simply saying what needs to be said. There is an election in 27 days. We need to make a decision. May the ISSUES guide you in your decision.

I saw a t-shirt that says exactly what needs to said:
Pray
Vote
Pray

The Lion AND The Lamb

There's really no two ways to look at this. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah as well as the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the world. Too often, I believe, we have focused on one aspect. Some of us are consumed with His suffering. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, atoning for our sin. Or we have completely switched our focus to the Lion who comes to conquer. The book of the Revelation becomes our guide. Completely overlooking the fact that both images are portrayed even there.

Which brings up an important question: Can we talk about God being Almighty without recognizing the fact that He is also Al-vulnerable?
It seems to me that both are true. That our Heavenly Father has proven Himself to be able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think, while at the same time being able to be touched by the feelings of our infirmities. God, in all of His might and power, humbled Himself on our behalf. Gave Himself to our misunderstanding. Came into our darkness. What may seem like a paradox to so many, has provided incredible insight into the nature and character of God.

This insight becomes even more incredible when we hear of Jesus being described as the "lamb slain before the foundation of the world." WHAT? I thought Jesus was slain somewhere around 33 AD. Well, according to our timeline you would be correct. However, according to the purpose and intentions of the Father it was long before.

The Lion and the Lamb reminds us that we cannot put God in a box. That we cannot simply ascribe to Him just one aspect of His nature. That we cannot talk about the wrath of God without the love of God, the judgement of God apart from the mercy of God, or the grace of God without the discipline of God. Rather than being opposite sides of the spectrum, in the Father we understand that they all go together. Or another way of looking at this is that He is not like us. We cannot seem to figure this out. We know wrath but we don't understand it in the context of love. We know judgement but it's not normally given out with mercy. We think we know grace but are dismissive of discipline in the midst of it. No...our Heavenly Father knows exactly how to be Himself in all of these things. They are not contradictions but compliments of one another.

He is Almighty but He is also Al-vulnerable. In fact, I believe that we discover in Jesus a God that has been more vulnerable than mighty. That in His stooping down that He has provided so much more for life. That in giving Himself to us that He ushered in a greater reality. Where we discover that getting what you want does not always take the path of violence but often walks the road of suffering. Of course we know that Jesus could have called on legions of angels, but instead He gave His back to the whip, His head to the crown of thorns, His hands and feet to the nails, and His body to the Cross. The Lion did not become a Lamb in that moment. He just proved that He was the Lamb as well.

I find it interesting that when we want to talk about God and His might that we have to pull up a lot of Old Testament references. Verses of Scripture that prove the power of God. All the while, the Gospels seem to shed light on the fact that we have often missed the whole point. That God was much more than a localized deity acting on behalf of the Jews. That much of what had been attributed to Him was done on behalf of the entire world. To protect the Seed. To ensure that Jesus would come to save, heal, and deliver all of humanity. "In you (Abraham) all of the nations of the Earth will be blessed."

Can we be comfortable with this type of thinking? I realize that much of our teaching and preaching tends to lean to one side or the other. Not really understanding the power of God we often attribute the power of God to things that our out of our realm of understanding. Hurricane Katrina was a means of God judging the sinful people in New Orleans. Even though the French Quarter was relatively untouched. And we never seem to have an answer for all the innocent ones who were hurt in other parts of the country by the same storm. Think about it. At least in the Old Testament Scriptures areas where we believed God was demonstrating His judgement it seems to me that only that area was affected. I would dare say that we have witnessed more of God's vulnerability in our lives than His power. Which should give us an even greater humility in our understanding of God. To rejoice with the psalmist when he said, "He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities."

Maybe, just maybe, we haven't wrestled with this enough. Maybe we don't understand the power that is needed to be compassionate. Maybe we have forgotten the strength that it takes to give mercy rather than judgement. Maybe we haven't been able to appreciate the Lion and the Lamb being in perfect unison. That in giving Himself God was waging war against a greater problem than humanity. That the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world was actually the Lion of the tribe of Judah taking back what was lost. If we can somehow grasp this, somehow come to terms with the nature of God in this way, maybe we will learn what it means to rest in the goodness of God.

God is much more patient than we have appreciated. "Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Even today He calls to each of us. Even after all of these years He has not left us to ourselves. He doesn't need to demonstrate His might (at least not the way in which we have believed), He simply asks us to share the story of His vulnerability. It is the "kindness of God that leads to repentance", and the Gospel (the Good News) is still "the power of God unto salvation." How is that possible? It's only possible in the Kingdom of the Lion and the Lamb. A Kingdom where God is Almighty and Al-vulnerable. It's truly remarkable.

What Unites Us?

Philippians 2:1-2 says it appropriately, "...if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose." Which brings me to my question: What Unites Us?

Apparently the Philippian Church wasn't the only group that needed to hear this admonition from Paul. This need to find and/or discover unity among diversity was/is necessary for every fellowship of believers. A call to a different way of life. A purposeful separation from the way in which the world does things. Our world is very divided. Made even more noticeable during this election season. Right vs Left. Democrat vs Republican. Conservatism vs Liberalism. You get the point. Many "friends" are not friends right now because they cannot agree on this election. Not really sure how many of them will be friends afterwards. It just goes to prove the point that our unity cannot begin in the political arena. There must be something more central to who we are in our being that brings unity. So, I ask again: What Unites Us?

We use to say that as Americans that we were "One Nation Under God." That used to be enough, but even that is up for debate these days. We have created such division among ourselves that we struggle to find unity in this one motto. But it doesn't stop there. I would love to say that this is just an issue within our nation. I would love to say that as followers of Jesus Christ that we have chosen to live above the fray. That we haven't allowed this type of disunity within our ranks. Sadly, however, I cannot say that and be honest with you. Some even struggle to believe that the Lord is Lord of all. All meaning everyone. Every church. Every person. We have chosen, instead, to be critiqued by our labeling systems. Our tribe, our denomination, our line of thinking has got it all right and everyone else is going to Hell. That may seem like such a jump in thinking to many of you, but I hear what people are saying and have said. It just has to stop. All of it.

How can we have any unity with diversity if we cannot be different? If we cannot have opposing views? If we cannot approach issues and questions with some sense of humility? The reality is that we cannot. Unity is not uniformity. And even if we could get everyone to say the same thing, dress the same way, and carry the same message; in the end it does not mean that we are unified. Unity has to come from somewhere other than our political ideology, our interpretations of the Bible (which are all up for discussion if we were honest with ourselves), or our denominational affiliations. Our unity, first and foremost begins when we can at least see the humanity that we all share. The fact that we are created beings made in the image of God. That each of us have been loved since the foundation of the world. That God, in Christ, demonstrated that we were a species worthy of saving. Our humanity should propel us to a greater sense of unity. Red, Yellow, Black, and White - we are precious in His sight. Can we at least start here?

Not only should our humanity unite us, but the fact that we claim Jesus as Lord should bring an even great sense of unity. The Church, the Body of Christ, is bigger than what meets in our buildings on Sabbath or Sunday mornings. It's much more diverse and beautiful than our denominations have tried to portray. Jesus, as Lord, should bring an awareness that this family - the family of faith - has much more in common than our belief systems. You may choose to fellowship with the Methodist, the Baptist, the Presbyterians, and the like but it does not negate the fact that you are my brother/sister. A realization that more and more and more of us need to get in this day and age. Can we unify under Jesus? Can we allow our shared humanity and our shared confession of Jesus to bring us together, or do we need everyone to agree on every jot and tittle?

This is a broad sweeping message. I'm sharing this in terms of who we are as a Nation AND as a Church. It's not WHAT but WHO that unites us.
We are more than our political affiliations
We are more than our denominational labels
We are more than our Bible interpretations
We are more than our doctrinal stances
We are more than our worship styles
We are more than our faith practices
WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD! The more that we awaken to this reality, the greater our ability to see the other person across the aisle and/or across the table. Rather than dividing ourselves into different tribes, we have to recognize that we all belong to one tribe: A Humanity that has been reconciled in Christ.

Unity needs to start somewhere. Why not in us?

The Power of Questions

Luke 2:46-47, "Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers."

I've talked about this before, but it is so powerful. Mary and Joseph have lost Jesus. They took Him to the temple at the prescribed time. However, somewhere along the journey back home they realized He was nowhere to be found. Now...before you think they were bad parents, I honestly believe that because of the tradition of the Jews that they didn't "lose" Jesus the way we often lose our kids (or forget about them). They just expected Jesus to be making the journey back home with them. Little did they know that He had been invited to sit at the feet of great teacher in Israel. Beginning His training as a rabbi. All because of some really good questions.

Most of us know that Jesus is the answer. The problem is that most of us don't know the questions. Or we haven't learned how to ask the right questions. So much of our journey has been to sit at the feet of knowers. People who have all the answers. We have been trained to think logically, to reason Scripture with Scripture, to know "yes and no." What we haven't learned how to live with is paradox or tension. And many of us were even taught to not ask questions because we might be perceived as questioning God. Well, here is God questioning man.

Jesus, as a young boy, had to come into an understanding of who He was. I'm sure there was the counsel of His mother. The reciting of the prophecies concerning His birth. The Scriptures that He had grown to understand. Along with His own relationship with His Heavenly Father. All of these things combined to create an inquisitive boy who could ask questions that no one had dared to ask before. It was all a part of the recruiting process for rabbinical training. What amazes me in these verses is that they were amazed at His understanding (which was clearly noticed in His questions) as well as His answers. Why? Because you cannot have solid answers without asking the right questions.

Our faith is a mystery revealed. However, within this revelation is even more mystery. Not a mystery that cannot be solved, but enough mystery that keeps us coming to the Father for understanding. Enough mystery to drive us deeper into the Spirit. Enough mystery that keeps us asking questions, believing that we will receive the answers.

Questions have led to some incredible revelations in my own life. They have allowed me to know the Father at a depth that I would have not come into otherwise. They have allowed me to understand more about myself, how I do life, and how I relate to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It keeps me humble. It keeps me intrigued with life and creation. It helps me to be gracious to others who ask questions as well. I think this is important because quite honestly we have so limited our understanding of GOD. We have put God in a box, carried Him in our pocket, and somehow thought we have cornered the market on Him. We have our explanations. We can give you Scriptures. But do we really know Him and have we really experienced Him. Our questions are a vital part of this journey. Without them we become stagnated. Life cannot flow through.

Deer Season opens up here in VA and I have plans to be in a tree stand. I cannot wait. Not so much for the opportunity to be successful in my hunting, but because I love the silence. I love being in this creation. I love the peace that it brings to my spirit. And the opportunity it provides to clear my mind, fellowship with the Father, and ask the questions that I have failed to ask up to this point. So much revelation has come in a tree stand. So many intimate moments with the Lord have taken place in the middle of the woods. So many answers have been confirmed in my spirit. All because I took the time to ask.

I heard a teacher the other day say these words: "Sometimes one good question is better than a thousand answers."

Enjoy the journey!

The Grace to Lose

It doesn't take long to figure out that Paul is dealing with some major issues in the Corinthian Church. It seems as though there is division on every level. They were divided over who to follow. Divided over the gifts they carried. Divided over how to handle conflict. This letter is strong but full of love and compassion for the people. Even though there are these major issues, this letter is probably contains some of the most quoted verses. The verse I want to share with you today, however, is not one of them. In fact, I wonder how many people actually know these verses exist.

Every Friday night, our High School football team repeats a prayer. In that prayer they actually recite these words: "If we should lose, let us stand by the road and cheer as the winners go by." I don't know of anyone who actually means these words. However, it is still part of the prayer. A recognition that in the game of football there are winners and losers. We don't always play our best game. We don't always pull it out in the end. Sometimes it just doesn't come together. Winning is the ultimate goal. We pray about that as well. But here in these words we discover the right way to handle loss. A humility that is willing to recognize the accomplishment of another. Believe it or not, there is GRACE to lose.

In Chapter 6 of this letter, Paul is condemning the actions of the people. They had started taking one another to court rather than handle things themselves. He even asks if there is not an elder among them that could settle the matters they are facing. Verse 7 really highlights the difficulty we face in many of our relationships. An unwillingness on our part to give up, to give in, and to allow others to be the winner.
"Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?"
Let me ask you: How often do you quote this verse? How rare is the humility to allow others to think what they will, say what they will say, and allow yourself to be done wrong? If we are honest, most of us fight. We argue. We try to validate ourselves. We don't stand for accusation and we do not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. While I haven't seen a lot of believers take one another to an actual court, I have witnessed this need to be justified play out over and over again. What we don't realize is that when we accuse an accuser that we are operating in the same spirit. And it is one thing to be accused and quite another to take the role of the accuser. You might remember that the enemy is referred to as THE ACCUSER in Scripture. Something to think about.

I understand that this is a difficult thing to talk about. We weren't raised to be doormats. We were not brought up with the idea of giving up a fight. However, it seems that what Paul is teaching the people is that there are some fights that are not worth winning. Especially when they put the Church is such a bad light. How often do we think about that? How often do people actually consider that there actions are a reflection of the Lord to the world. Good or bad. If that is the case, and it is, then it might be time for us to lay down our arms.

Jesus stood before His accusers and was silent. Oh the grace to keep my mouth shut!
He didn't argue. He didn't fight for His life. He barely even answered their questions. He knew who He was. To fight and to argue would have only complicated the matter. He knew where He was going. He kept silent in the face of persecution, knowing that the Cross was to follow. And maybe that is the thing that we have to understand. That in the end He knew that His Father would validate Him. That there comes a time where you don't fight for what is rightfully yours but that you trust in who the Father is for you. That you believe in the face of horrible circumstances that He will work all things for good. Even the loss of possessions, reputation, or stature. How you and I handle these moments actually says a lot about who we are in Him. Paul's advice? Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

Not only is there grace to keep my mouth shut, but there is grace to know my identity in the face of false accusations. There is a grace to lose whatever I have to lose and still come out on the other side victorious. I realize that we have no idea what these people were going to court over. The letter doesn't go into detail about that. However, there is enough detail to know that the way they were fighting was wrong. That they hadn't learned how to govern themselves. Which is probably the greatest tragedy in all of this. Paul speaks this to their shame, and is a reminder to us that as believers we have an incredible amount of authority among one another. We have to trust in the judgement of the elders among us. Believing that they have the grace to carry out justice. In all honesty I believe that Paul was saying that if you are not willing to handle this within the Body then you should just give up whatever you need to give up. And if the outcome isn't what you would like then you need to trust those who are over you.

What a lesson for the church of today. Many of our churches are set up with a democratic government. Majority rules is the status quo. And while most people sign up for this type of structure, I'm amazed at how many people abandon a family because they did not like the decision of the majority. I'm not saying that this is the best style of church government, I'm just stating that there is an issue when we take our toys and go home. Does this not demonstrate how immature many adults have become? What do we think this says to the world? Forget our validations for just a moment and consider what damage we have done to the Kingdom. The admonishment of Paul still stands. Which is, in essence, why not allow another to win.

Peter told the church to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. Then he followed it up with this brilliant line: "He will exalt you in due time." I realize that this goes against everything that we have been taught in a democratic western society, but the church was never meant to be governed this way. We were never meant to treat one another in this fashion. His love among us speaks a different language, and His grace within us looks very very different. I know this isn't a popular topic. I know that most people want to know about the grace to win. I understand. But there are times when we need to learn how to lose. When we have to learn to not validate ourselves. To trust that you can be right while being wronged and the Lord knows all about it. How we carry ourselves will make all the difference. In fact, you can WIN while losing. Grace will teach you.

Praying for Our Nation

As I laid in the bed last night, the images of rioting in Charlotte continued to play out through my mind. As I prayed for the people there, I also prayed for our nation. It was during my time of prayer that I heard the words of one of my favorite Christmas carols/hymns come flooding into my heart and mind:
HIS LAW IS LOVE
HIS GOSPEL IS PEACE

Then it occurred to me that we were meant to rule together not rule one another.

May His Gospel of Peace remind us that we should be living in peace and goodwill toward all men. May we walk in love with one another. Red, Yellow, Black, and White...they are all precious in His sight. Pray for the peace of America.

It May Sound Cliché...

I have never been a fan of church marquees. It just always seems to me that so many of them went up in a hurry without any true thought going behind them. I read some of them and have to wonder where in the world they found such a bad one liner. Irregardless of how I feel, there is a church marquee that most of us have read. As cliché as it may sound there is a whole lot of truth to it.

I write this on the heels of news that broke just recently about a couple of megachurch pastors who have resigned for various reasons. The last one stated that he was tired, broken, and had been leading on empty for months. As I reflected upon his reasoning I couldn't help but wonder how many authentic relationships he had around him. How many people did he have in his life where he could be real. You know...the ones you can tell anything to without judgement. The ones who will pray for you in your struggles and actually know your struggles. The people who don't need the facade, the mask, or the celebrity self. I also wonder what in the world the rest of his staff was doing during all of this (or if he was one of those guys who felt the need to control everything). It served as a reminder of why we need to rediscover koinonia.

In Acts 2:42 we read that the people who came to know the Lord had devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching AND TO THE FELLOWSHIP. The Koinonia. It wasn't enough to simply believe. It wasn't enough to say that this was their new community. They were all in - all the time. They went from house to house. They shared life together. They committed themselves to the building up of the family. They prayed, the sang, they communed, the lived in a constant state of koinonia (shared life/fellowship/your part).

What we have witnessed in these resignations is the lack of genuine fellowship that we are supposed to share. Most of these megachurch pastors feel the need to be good CEO's rather than pastors. They step way outside of the calling and move into an executive role within the Body of Christ. The problem is, in my opinion, is that most of these guys got into ministry because of genuine call and a need to influence the lives of people. Taking on such a huge task means that their calling, their vocation, has little to do with relationship and more to do with reputation. Many of them get caught up in speaking at conferences, writing books, making public appearances, and the like. It's rare for these men and women to have actual relationships with the people that sit under their teaching. The koinonia is lost for them and it has been replaced by the corporation.

What's missing? U R!

I realize that in western society, in particular within American Christianity, we have grown accustomed to our current church models and structures. It's so ingrained within us that we honestly don't know how to function outside of the regular Sunday Christianity. We have come to expect buildings, expect programs, expect multi-layer staff, and expect big productions when it comes to church. Without much engagement on our end at all. We can come and receive what we have paid good money to receive. Plugging into the Body is really only something that we do when we want. Can you imagine what the Early Church would have looked like if they had our consumer mentality?

The Body needs U.
There are gifts and callings that U possess.
There is a part of the Lord that U carry that only U can give expression to within the church.
If U R missing then WE are missing out.

It's time for the members to step off of the sidelines. To let the leaders know that they can be counted upon. To engage in authentic relationships and stop playing church. It is time for the Body of Christ to become the community that we were always meant to become rather than be de-legitimized within the world. They need us and we need them. But we have to give them something they have not experienced: KOINONIA.

I know we have talked about this before, but I will continue to talk until this dream within the Father's heart becomes a living breathing reality among us. This is our journey. Let's go there together.

Where Did You Get That Idea?

There is no doubt about it. If you choose to proclaim a good God, a God who who is full of love, grace, and mercy, you're going to upset some people. I'm not sure why. I haven't figured out why Good News isn't good news to so many people. Especially those who speak of loving God. You talk to some people about the God who was revealed in Jesus and they stare back at you like a calf staring at a new gate. They are trying to reconcile this good God that you are sharing with the schizophrenic god that they have grown up with. You know...the one that they can't really trust. The one that they have to appease and satisfy. The one who seems to be blessing you one day and taking it all away the next. Where did we get this kind of idea about God?

Here's a thought: Why don't we lay aside any ideas we have about God and look for Him in the revelation of Jesus?
According to the writer of Hebrews, Jesus is the EXACT REPRESENTATION of the Father. It seems only right that we would get our understanding of God through Him. If I wanted to know a father in those days I would rather hear from a son rather than a servant. I would rather learn from the one who has been in relationship from the beginning rather than the one who is trying to box the father into their own understanding. Think about it! We have all met someone after hearing about them from a person who didn't have a good opinion of them. It taints our view. After we have a conversation or spend some time with them we walk away saying "That was a much better experience than I expected." I really do believe that the more we get to know Jesus' Father the more we will walk away from our misunderstandings. Amazed at just how good He is.

I was thinking along these lines the other day when I was considering the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. For the first time in my life, after 25 years of walking with the Lord - 23 of those invested in ministry, I discovered something in the fruit of the Spirit that I had never seen before. I saw the nature of our Heavenly Father. I realized that what His Spirit produces in us when we walk in Him is nothing short of the very things that our Father possesses in Himself. We are not supposed to read about the fruit of the Spirit and separate it from the character of the Spirit. However, I think that is what we often do. We read through this list and begin to ask ourselves how much we can check off. We have made them things that we must fulfill rather than things that we get to enjoy. We have placed it all on our shoulders rather than allow the Spirit to produce them. And we have completely kept the Father out of the equation.

God does not ask us to walk in anything that He is not already. He's not saying to walk in love while He walks in the contrary. He's not telling us to be joyful while He is perpetually upset. He's not requiring us to be good while He is evil. Where did we get that idea? It comes from the god of our own imagination. The god that we grew up with. The god that was fashioned in our darkness rather than the Abba of Jesus. If this is what the Spirit produces in us then it is fair to say that these things are in the Father as well.

Love - AGAPE - We have Scripture to verify this one: "GOD IS LOVE."
Joy - cheerfulness - aka calm delight. Who speaks of God in these terms? I remember reading that the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Peace - prosperity of soul - quietness - rest.
Patience - steadfastness and/or endurance. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise...but is patient towards you."
Kindness - carries the idea of peacemaking. God was in Christ reconciling the world. Oh...and why are the peacemakers blessed?
Goodness - uprightness of heart and life. "Taste and see that the Lord is good."
Faithfulness - "God IS faithful."
Gentleness - meekness - strength under control. Sounds like our Heavenly Father.
Self-Control - ability to master desires and passions. Our Heavenly Father isn't controlled by His emotions. He's driven by what He has predetermined in His heart.

This is more than God simply revealing truths about Himself. He is revealing Himself. This is a relational encounter with the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control of our Heavenly Father. This is not a list of the attribute of a Christian but a manifestation of the Spirit of God in our lives. WOW!!! What a difference.

I'm not saying that God is a teddy bear. I'm not saying that He cannot speak to us sternly, discipline us, or not be pleased with some of the boneheaded decisions we make. What I am saying is that the Father is predisposed in His affection towards us. He speaks to us as His children. Any discipline is for our good - not His. He is always working in us, conforming us into the image of His Son, reminding us of the life that He has placed within and before us. He's not for you because you are behaving correctly. He was for you before you were ever born. He loved the world and gave His Son. That love has not failed, has not been extinguished, and will not fade away. It's His choice. You may be able to choose to experience this love personally, but you will not deter what He has already chosen to do in your life or change Him from who He has decided to be for you.

Take some time to look through this for yourself. Ask Jesus to reveal His Father to you. I'm not saying that this is an exhaustive list. What I am saying is that it is a good place to start. When we walk in the Spirit we will encounter His nature, and His nature will be revealed in us. Enjoy the journey!