Saturday, December 31, 2011

LET'S BE HONEST

Let's be honest. Aren't there times when believing is very hard--when life isn't working--when your faith seems not to work? But belief in God and Jesus is easy when life is not tested and when faith is not tested. A faith that is true faith calls for examination.

I love the honesty of the Scriptures. Those who talk of it being a book of "goody-goody" things all the time--a book of just trite sayings to make people feel good have just not read the Scriptures. The Scripture is most of all honest. And it points us beyond ourselves to "light and truth" for living life in a questioning, struggling, disbelieving world.

For example, Psalms 42-43, probably originally one psalm. (Remember, psalms were songs, written to be sung by the Jewish congregation. As you read this psalm, can you believe it was sung in worship? Would you sing it in your time of praise and worship?)

This (these) are written in a time of distress, discouragement, hardship. And not only are the circumstances not good, but enemies or unbelievers are attempting to provide more reason to disbelieve God's goodness and even His existence. Job's friends had much advice for Job, but Job was honest and knew what his circumstances were, better than anyone else (except for God).

Notice thoughts that reoccur in Ps. 42-43, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (NIV) (See 42:5, 11; 43:5)

What is the composer doing? A little pep talk during the time of discouragement. He honestly expresses his discouragement, but attempts to point himself to the help, which is God, the Savior. When we are down, we too, often give ourselves a pep talk--a little "self-talk"--to attempt to have hope in the midst of turmoil and depression. (This is a good thing, by the way.)

But the psalm writer is honest about his feelings. Note 42:9, "I say to God my Rock, 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?'" (NIV)

And notice a very similar thought in the questions in 43:2, "You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" (NIV)

Honest questioning in the midst of turmoil. But in each time of asking questions, there is a contrast. "God, you are my Rock--God you are my stronghold."

If indeed You are this, God, then "why"?

But what we find, (for use in corporate worship) is a faith in the midst of honest questioning and need. This becomes a tested faith, a faith that understands the genuine circumstances of "God is good and loves me," but also the "things are not going as they should if God is good and loves me." This is honest faith--honest trust--honesty seeking a reason to believe and hope.

But notice, the Psalmist keeps coming back to the right place for help with the questioning. "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." (42:1) And, "I say to God, my Rock," ... and "Vindicate me, O God," ... "You are my God my stronghold'.

But notice especially 43:3. "Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." (NIV)

What is most needed when times of discouragement and lack of hope come, when questioning is where you live, is the genuine light and truth.

And where are genuine light and truth found? The Psalmist sings (and believes and points others) to God Himself--to His Person and His presence.

Light points the way when in darkness. Truth helps us make wise decisions when we are tempted to believe untruth--things false and dark and wrong.

If indeed, God is a good God and a loving God, then He is also the source of light and truth. Henry Blackaby said in Experiencing God that we do not have the FULL TRUTH until we have God's truth on a subject. Many do not believe that, and therefore they will not seek, nor find, the real truth of their situation.

When in discouragement and questioning, one needs God's light (Himself and His Word), and truth (same sources).

"Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me"--let them guide me instead of my anxious thoughts, my doubts, my discouragement.

And where do the "light and truth" of God lead us? "Let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell." In other words, let light and truth bring me to YOU. Back to His Presence--to Him--to the source. This is not just living by my faith or my hope nor even the words of a book or a philosophy or my doubts. But going back to the original Source of everything--God Himself. The One who wants a relationship with ME!

Then, (43:4), back to church (corporate worship), back to praise, back to God Himself, who is the believers's joy and delight. Faith is not dependent on circumstances--neither is joy. It is based on God Himself and a relationship with Him. Gaining His perspective from Him Personally--not just the words of someone else (even a preacher).

Honesty--you and I need it, in the midst of hard circumstances. Honesty--they are found in God's Scriptures, the songs and writings of those who have gone before us, attempting to live by faith in circumstances where the goodness and love of God are tested against doubtful and hopeless times.

The pep talk for those times--"Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

I need the pep talk right now. Do you?

Be honest!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

ALL RELIGIONS ARE THE SAME

A few days ago, I heard again the belief that "all religions are the same," or something to that effect. (I can't find the post to respond to it now.) But to me, that just does not make sense. It is not intellectually compelling nor satisfying for me.
There are certainly differences in the major religions of the world. Islam, Judaism and Christianity are all monotheistic (i.e., they believe in one God only). Hinduism believes in polytheism (many gods), and Buddhism may believe in god or may be atheistic.
Islam, Judaism and Christianity believe in life after this life in a place of bliss or torment. Others may believe in reincarnation, and in Buddhism, if I understand (which I admit, I do not totally understand), the goal is to be "blown out" or absorbed into the world soul. It is to be removed from the endless cycles of being born and reborn (reincarnation) due to how one's life is lived.
All certainly try to have us become better people, as do some other philosophies of life. This may be living by ethics and doing more good than evil or having the right mindset toward things, so that one does not worry over suffering that cannot be changed.
So how can one say that "they are all alike." They seem to have different purposes, different ways of achieving their ends, even different ways of looking at life (Islam, Judaism, Christianity are moving linearly, while Hinduism and Buddhism are cycles of life, to be repeated and hopefully, at some point, left behind).
Could it be that there is one God; one who did create this world; one who did set up the idea of ethics or doing good toward others? Could it be that this God seeks people to be in relationship with Him, even though they, on their own, do not seek Him or His ways? Could it be that this God set us rules about what is right and wrong?
I have read books by John Hick, Wilfrid Cantwell Smith, and others who say that "all religions are alike." But I just don't feel their arguments are compelling for me. Yes, I grew up in a "supposedly" Christian nation with Christian parents in a Christian church. Yes, I have read the Bible extensively and believe it to be God's revelation to humans. I have also read lots on this pluralism issue (many religions being equal). But for me, the "all" argument is just not satisfying to my mind, nor to my heart.
I also believe that the majority of real "followers" of other major religions do not believe that each is equally valid. They must believe that "theirs" is the one most satisfying, most beneficial, most compelling to them and their walk of life. Otherwise, why stick with it--why continue to practice it? And for many, who have switched their "religion," there must be some reason they have moved from one to the other; not believing each was equally valid and alike, but they must have come to believe, probably not only with the intellect but also with the heart, that there is some compelling difference. Therefore they sought after that rather than the other.
Each person has the right to his/her own decisions as to what religion (or none) to practice. Each person has the right to believe what she/he wills to believe. And each person is accountable for making those decisions, if indeed there is a God.
What for me is compelling is that there is one God, the God of Judaism and Christianity--Yahweh (or Jehovah). He is Creator of the world and all that is in it. He is the sustainer of it all, so that it is still here by His design and His mercy. He is also the redeemer of His creation, sending His Son, Jesus, to earth as a model and example of how to live to please Him. But also, Jesus, as One who was sent to redeem us from our wrongdoing, our attempts to do what displeases God, our moving away from what is best for others. This, to me, is the God, revealed in the Old Testament Scriptures and revealed even more in the New Testament teachings of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
I respect people of other faiths and those of none. I try to show them honor and friendship and support. I genuinely care for those who disagree with me. (One said, "we should learn to disagree agreeably.") But I also believe in the one who said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." And I believe that He also said, "When you have seen me, you have seen the Father." (John 14:9)
Dialogue--not angry argument. Openness to truth--not closedness (by either side). Genuine love for others, even if we disagree. (At some point, we will.)
Don't let others make the decision for you. Read the documents for yourself and see what compels you most. For me, that is the God of Judaism and Christian faith--Yahweh. And that is why I celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, once again. I could never repay the debt I owe Him!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

Was watching a Hallmark Channel movie with the wife last night. At one point, the oldest child had to babysit the others so the mother could work. When the mom got home, the toddler had awaken in the night and done some mischief in the bathroom. Later, mom was asleep and the toddler woke up and put peanut butter all around the room, including mom's nose--a big mess to clean up. Interesting movie.
After being awake in the night, I went back to bed and back to sleep. I often have dreams when that happens. My dream--I was climbing a high and challenging hill--very hard to get myself up there--a real struggle. And I climbed it twice. When I got there, there were three kids, (not mine), two older and one baby.
The second time I got up there, I was focusing on something else when I noticed that the baby was getting very close to the edge of the 100 foot drop. I could not, or did not, move to get there, but asked one of the other kids to "please grab the baby, because he is so close." The child tried, but it was too late. The baby had gone over the edge.
We went the long way around to get there--a long path. When we got there, the baby was very bloody and in very bad shape. I picked up the baby and tried to call the parents, to tell them what had happened, but with no success. My cell phone was destroyed also, and I was fiddling with that. That took my focus and attention off the baby.
At that point, I thought to pick up the baby, and attempt to take the baby to the parents. But when I picked up the baby, the baby was beginning to get stiff, in the process of dying. I felt so terrible, and prayed, "Please God, no--please God, no!" I had not only been negligent about watching the baby, but I also had focused more, at a crucial moment for the baby, on a thing, the cell phone, than I had the gravely ill baby.
Then I woke up. Yes, I saw a t.v. show that replayed during my sleep. But could there be a message for me--and for you? For the believer in Christ, while we are climbing our high hill or ladder, could there be people who are very near the edge and needing someone to save them from falling off? Could there be some that need our love and tender care--our attention to them, instead of our attention to "things" in our lives?
And then a phone text from my daughter this morning--a Scripture verse from 1 John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him."
There are people I need to pray for. There are people I need to rescue and hold and pay attention to. There are people I need to be alert for. There are people that I need to focus more on than I do the concerns or things in my life. They do not ultimately belong to me. I am a babysitter, watching SomeOne elses' kids.
So what is the message--for YOU--today?

Saturday, December 3, 2011

LOVE PRAYS

Love prays. If you are a person of prayer or if you generally aren't, if you pray, you will tend to pray for those close to you. Paul mentions his prayer for the Thessalonian church in 1 Thess. 1:2-3.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy apparently had good memories of the church in Thessalonica. So not only did Paul pray for the believers there, but they all prayed. "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers."
One thing for us to do for people we are thankful for is to "thank God for them." Thank God for putting them in your life. Do you do that? Did you create all the relationships you have--family members, friends, colleagues--especially those you have lots in common with? Not really. The one who brings us together and the one who binds us together is God. He provides those whom we love. Therefore we should give God thanks for those people we love.
Paul apparently felt this love for the Thessalonian church as he did for the Philippian church. Those were two churches that especially blessed him and gave him joy (a theme of Philippians). So he gives thanks to God when he prays.
What is Paul reminded of when he thinks of the Thessalonian believers? (v. 3) There are three Christian graces mentioned here that we find in other New Testament letters as well--"faith, love and hope." (See 1 Corinthians 13, for example)
But not only are the graces--things given by God--things not deserved or earned--mentioned. But how they were lived out in the believers.
Notice "work, labor, endurance" (patience or perseverance).
The three graces--things given the believer by God--will produce something. They will not just be something hoarded and kept, but will lead to action.
"Work produced by faith"--Genuine faith will lead to work, service, acts coming forth from that faith. James said that "faith without works is dead." If one has faith, there will be some actions that will occur as a result of that faith. Faith is proven out by work (service) that is done from that. (See James again)
"Labor prompted by love"--Labor is not the same as "work" mentioned before. This word refers to toil, hard work, something that may take long hours and arduous service. The word, "love," is agape, God's kind of love that is self-sacrificing, caring for others with no thought of return, a giving love. It is produced by the Holy Spirit of God living within and producing His love in the believer, the disciple, the follower of Jesus. It is beyond a human kind of love.
Think of a mother "laboring" when she has her child. Going through labor is not a fun thing, it seems, but it is done to produce fruit of the husband and wife's love, and done to introduce this new life--this new love into the world. But think also of a man or woman, working hard to provide for their family. They may work very hard, even at tasks they do not like, but they do so to provide, out of their love for their family. This is what Paul saw in the church members in Thessalonica. They "labored out of love" and did it all for the good of others and the God they loved as well.
"Endurance inspired by hope"--Endurance, patience, perseverance, continuing on despite hardship and discouragement and trials. How does the believer do this when they get discouraged and down, like every one else at times? Out of the hope that we believe in. Paul saw this in the Thessalonians. Hope is not just an "wish--I wish it will happen, but am not sure it will." It is instead dependent on faith and trust in God. God will bring about what He said He would. It WILL occur. Therefore, this hope is based in God and His trustworthiness--His ability to produce and His willingness to do so--and His always following through on His promises.
So they could endure hardship (2 Timothy says, "as a good soldier of Jesus Christ). Because they knew, in time, the promise would be fulfilled. The savings bond would be good for the face value, not because of government backing, but because of God behind it all.
And the hope is in One worthy of hope--the Lord Jesus Christ--the Master, Jesus the Messiah. That leads to a belief, a trust, a hope that one day that same Lord Jesus Messiah will return for those who persevere in faith, love, hope in Him.
Circumstances change. People change. God and His Son, Jesus Christ, do not change, and are therefore worthy objects of our faith, love, and hope.
So one can work in faith, labor from our sacrificial love (produced by God in us), and endure in hope that God will follow through on His promises. And all of that is based on the rock-solid Lord, Jesus Messiah.
Who do you give thanks for when you pray? Do you especially pray for those who "work from faith, labor out of love, and persevere in hope"? Who could you give thanks for and pray for today? Would you pray these Christian graces and these actions for me today? (Thanks.)
Would Paul pray for you because of these characteristics? Would other believers see these things in your life and give thanks for you because they see the nature of God and the character of God being produced in your life?
Let work be produced from your faith in Jesus. Show labor prompted by your love of Jesus and those He loves. And continue in endurance with assured hope in Jesus that He will follow through on His promises in time. He is something you can "bank" on. Will you?

Friday, December 2, 2011

GRACE TO YOU

Years ago now, I went to a Christian missions conference. And one song they did was this: Grace to you, grace to God, God's great grace to you. As you walk through this life, through joy or strife, God's grace, God's grace to you." (I think a second verse was "peace to you ...")
This often was a greeting we find in Paul's letters. In fact, a very common greeting among believers in the early church was grace and peace.
In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul greeted this church with those words.
Apparently Paul, his ministry partner, Silas (2nd missionary journey), and Timothy were the ones sending their greeting to this church in Thessalonica. Silas or Timothy may have been Paul's secretary (technically called an "amanuensis") for the writing of this letter.
Paul writes to the church or assembly of the Thessalonians. Why were they a church? Because of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) and His Father God. A church is a church only as they are those who have accepted faith in God through Jesus. A church is a church only as it follows the teachings of God and Jesus. Otherwise ... well ...
If you look back at Acts 17:1-9, you find the beginning of the church in Thessalonica by Paul. Paul goes to a Jewish synagogue, as was his pattern and teaches about Jesus being the Messiah that they were looking forward to. He was there 2-3 weeks. It says he was there for three Sabbath days, reasoning with them about Jesus being Messiah.
Some believed him and accepted the message about Jesus, including some Jews, God-fearing Greeks (Gentiles) and several prominent women.
But a problem arose and Paul and Silas had to leave this city. Jason, who had hosted Paul (he was a person of peace--see Luke 10 for this idea), was taken into custody but released. Paul and Silas moved on to Berea to continue their missionary work--evangelism and church planting.
But a church apparently formed from those who accepted the message of Jesus as Messiah. Was it Jason who helped it form? Was it the God-fearers and prominent women? Probably. (Remember, Paul was only there a maximum of three weeks, according to Acts 17.) So in time, Paul writes this letter to the church in Thessalonica that had formed and was meeting.
Now back in 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul writes a greeting which is also a blessing, "Grace and peace to you." Grace is the mercy and favor given by God. It is not deserved or earned, but granted as a gift from God. The Thessalonians had received it, but Paul is blesses them with this reminder they had it and a prayer that God would continue to give them His grace in days to come as well.
Peace is not the absence of conflict, but strength and a feeling of "all-rightness" even in the midst of conflict. It is based on one's relationship with Jesus the Messiah. If you have this relationship, you can have peace inside even when turmoil is occurring. Jesus had it, and we need it. Paul here reminds the Thessalonians that they possessed it but also blessed them by asking that more be given them. Thus Paul begins with this blessing, this prayer, this greeting--"Grace and peace to you." And all because of Jesus the Messiah and His Father God. It is a blessing and a gift of God granted through His Son, Jesus.
So today, I greet you and bless you by asking for grace and peace to be yours today, as you go through whatever you will go through. May you feel the favor of God and the overwhelming peace that only God can give as your day progresses. And as you read this, I hope you will also give this as a prayer for me too--that I will experience and feel these as my day progresses.
Bless someone today by asking for grace and peace for them, even if you do it silently. Or say it to them, as a blessing and a reminder. Maybe you need to write someone or some former church, like Paul did here, to greet them with this wonderful blessing.
Grace and peace, my friend! All because of Jesus the Messiah and God His Father.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

WAITING IS NOT EASY

I think waiting is the hardest thing we do. Maybe not, but that is what I am experiencing now.
It has now been three months that I have been unemployed. I resigned my church effective September 1st and now it is December 1st. And I seem to be no closer to my next step--my next assignment--the next call of God than I was three months ago. As I hear of unemployment statistics--(by the way, pastors who resign are not able to get unemployment, at least not to my knowledge)--I understand why they talk of people just giving up looking for jobs after they have tried for some time. People just wonder if anything they can do will help and wonder if anyone cares. I guess this experience has been one in which I, at least to some extent, understand people going through job searches.
Today I feel no closer to the next step than three months ago. I wonder whether I have missed the call of God when He called. I have done supply preaching about every other week, but no one has called back. One that was pursuing me however, I closed the door, just not feeling God's move in that way. Did I miss it--miss something?
I have felt myself in limbo--caught between here and there. I feel known but not known. I feel like I have some acquaintances but few real friends or people who know me. I feel indecisive or weak. I feel like I do not know how to make myself known--almost like Elijah felt when he felt like the "only one of God's prophets left"--so that even God did not know He existed. (Neither of these, however, was or is true.)
I have some people who have given me advice, and at times, I even feel like Job with the advice of his friends (were they really his friends?).
Am I supposed to plant a church? Am I supposed to pastor an existing congregation? Am I supposed to teach? Am I supposed to go back to substitute teaching (Yech!) or work at some secular job, and if so, what skills do I have with all of my years of ministry fulltime (33 since seminary and two years before that)? What am I supposed to do when I grow up (I'm 60 by the way)?
I read an article online today of a church planter who talked about giving up fulltime ministry and seeking to work in the secular world. He is retraining himself to do computer programming, but he talked about how hard it is to find a job and do that which he is in process of doing--especially in our economy today. (By the way, he is not 60.)
Does God have a plan in all of this? Well, of course He does. But there are times when we cannot see it or feel it or touch it. And that is hard for people who so often live by five senses, and that includes religious workers as well.
Today I played guitar and sang. I sang Michael W. Smith's, "This is the Air I Breathe." And I guess at this point, I am "desperate" for Him--for God, for His Presence, for His Purpose to be fulfilled and His direction to be made known. I sang another of my favorites, Dallas Holm's, "Waiting."
"Can't see the light at the end of the tunnel; can't see that far down the road.
Waiting in darkness, I'm tempted to stumble; weary from bearing this road.
Desperately weighing all of my options; scheming to find my own way.
But after all my planning is over, this is the most I can say:
Lord, I'm waiting, I'm waiting,
and I'm not gonna move til I'm able to prove Your will.
Lord, I'm waiting, waiting; listening for You with my heart."
I also sang "Spirit Song,"
"Oh may the Lord of God enfold you, with His Spirit and His love.
May He fill your life and satisfy your soul.
Oh may He have the things that hold you,
and His Spirit like a dove
will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Jesus, Jesus, come and fill your lambs;
Jesus, Jesus, come and fill your lambs."
I am a lamb needing filling by the Spirit today.
Does anyone really know that I am here? Does God know where I am? Of course He does, even if others do not or even if they do not acknowledge me or in their busyness, do not notice this plight. We all live busy lives, focused on our things. And we often do not hear those who are not squeaky wheels. Squeaky wheels draw attention to themselves.
Unfortunately, I too have been so busy with life at times to not notice when others around me are hurting, struggling, have needs spiritual, financial, emotional, etc. Is that a lesson I am learning through all of this? I hope so, but who knows? It may be forgotten when I am through this crisis.
Yes, there are some possiblities--in January or February or ? In the meantime, I wait. I wait on God to supply in the meantime. I wait on God to give me directions to go. I wait on God to help me know what I can do in the waiting time.
You ever have an experience like this? Probably. What did you learn from it? And what did you learn that could help others around you cope when they go through something similar or something very different? Or when we work through the time of waiting, do we just forget it and move on, instead of it being an opportunity for us to disciple others--minister to others--support others? (2 Corinthians 1 talks of letting our experiences be later times for us to minister to others.)
"Waiting--and I'm not gonna move til I'm able to prove Your will."
God, I'm still waiting.