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?