A Singer of Love Songs

Jeremiah had a problem. God gave him a message for His people, which he was taking faithfully to them. Those people were hearing it, but not the way they needed to listen. "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” (Ezekiel 33:30-33, NIV)  Jeremiah had become a diversion, regarded as an entertainer.

Is going to church just a weekly diversion? Is your pastor’s message a kind of entertainment?  Do you evaluate the sermon based on how often you laughed, or if you cried? Do you listen to him (or her) like you listen to a love song on the radio, just for the emotional content of the moment?

From life-long experience, (It’s been my privilege to preach thousands of time) I can tell you that going for the quick audience response is very tempting. When the congregation laughs at my story, it feels good. When they’re drawn to tears by a compelling tale of human interest, I love it! But, drama can never replace solid teaching. Entertaining stories can never take the place of a real message from the Lord. My point is not to excuse boring preaching or poor communication skills. I’m asking each of us to examine what we expect in a message and to pray for understanding. Jesus says, “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." (Revelation 2:29, NLT)

The Word gives this charge to preachers even as it warns us about going for the cheap, quick emotional response. "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." (2 Timothy 4:2-4, NIV)

Hear the Word! Hunger for it. Love it. Encourage your pastor to preach the Word! Don’t turn him into an entertainer, demanding laughs and clever speeches. Pray that he will be a prophet, a person whose heard from God and who is filled with the courage to say, “this is what the Lord says…”  

There is great reward when we receive the Word. May we live in the promise.

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

You will live in joy and peace.

The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” (Isaiah 55:10-13, NLT)

Stop Talking Badly about God's Wife

The man said, "I really do believe in God and Jesus, but I hate church." The irony underlying the conversation hit me hard. How could I, a man who has spent his entire adult life working for a church, speak honestly about his statement?   I understood what he meant though, for I, too, have found myself despising parts of organized religion. I confess that there are days when I am seriously tempted to run away from religious enterprise to do something really 'spiritual.' Lots of people who believe in Jesus Christ are abandoning His Church.

They point to the politics that get mixed up with the Gospel. The platform of a party get tangled up in the proclamation of Christ’s Kingdom. I agree that making a political view a litmus test for ‘real’ Christianity is an error but, should not our deepest convictions about life find expression in the kind of nation we desire? The things Jesus talked about: compassion, justice, expressing the love of the Father to others; are connected to real life and will affect the way we vote. If we erect a high wall between our faith and our politics, as some would insist we should, our faith becomes worthless Sunday sentiment! As James says, “Faith without works is dead.” (2:26)

Some point to the conflict of science and the message of their church. Arrogance abounds on both sides of that issue! Those who insist on only one interpretation of the Genesis story are rigid and doctrinaire, but so are those who dismiss the Scripture’s story because of a scientific theory that becomes like Gospel to them. Humility will keep the dialogue going. True science has nothing to fear from faith, nor does real faith turn a blind eye to honest inquiry!

Others point to the money thing! “All the churches want is my money.” Yes, it's true that churches need money, just like government, business, you, and me! It’s a cheap shot to focus on the few celebrity preachers who lives extravagantly at the expense of their congregation as the norm. Most people who serve in church ministries are compensated in a way that is far below what is common in the secular world. And, they do so gladly. Their reward is not earthly treasure, but changed lives.

Other canard hurled at the Church repeatedly is about the hypocrites that live in her. Do all Christians live their faith fully and authentically? Nope! And, I’m one of them. I fail to live up to my aspirations too often. I'm sometimes less than loving. I allow fear to overtake faith. I misjudge others. I become the victim of my own preconceived ideas. Does this make me a hypocrite? I don’t think so. Why? Because, I am, like all Christians, a 'becomer,' a work in progress, growing in Christ.

If you're throwing stones at the 'hypocrites' in the church, watch out, because your own inconsistencies are likely to be revealed sooner or later. Yes, it is true that in some churches image has overtaken substance, tradition is worshipped on a higher level than God Himself, and where conformity to the accepted rule is king! But, don’t confusion failure to perfectly live the Christ-life with hypocrisy.

And, many claim that church is irrelevant to their life. What exactly does that mean?

We are called to Christ and that call can be difficult to accept, hard to understand, and require profound change in us! The message of the Church should not comfort us or fit neatly into our cultural norms. It should disturb us, irritate it, and compel us to become holy people, who will be seen as ‘irrelevant, out of touch’ by those who are not lovers of God. Too much accommodation of the culture destroys the distinctive quality of a Christian’s life. Our calling is to be 'the salt of the earth.' The Christian who has become 'worldly' no longer functions in that way.  

The church isn't just about being relevant. God has given the Church (and Christians) a message of transformation that conflicts with the sins of whatever culture into which it is spoken! A church that is so compromised by a search for relevance has lost her voice to call people to live in love, in mercy, in justice.

Who needs to be a part of the church? Every Christian!   The Christian life is not a “Lone Ranger” one.   The highest and best spiritual life is not lived in isolation from other disciples. Christianity is a communal experience according to the will of God. We abandon His Church to our own peril and in defiance of His command ‘not to forsake the assembling of the saints.’

Here’s the word from the Word: "God has put all parts of our body together in the way that he decided is best. A body isn’t really a body, unless there is more than one part. It takes many parts to make a single body. That’s why the eyes cannot say they don’t need the hands. That’s also why the head cannot say it doesn’t need the feet.

In fact, we cannot get along without the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest. We take special care to dress up some parts of our bodies. We are modest about our personal parts, but we don’t have to be modest about other parts. God put our bodies together in such a way that even the parts that seem the least important are valuable. He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.

Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body." (1 Corinthians 12:18-27, CEV)

Want to be the best Christian you can be? Commit yourself to the church Christ loves as His Bride. Stop talking badly about God’s wife! Work at it. Give your all, for God's sake.

The Bible says that the results will be simply amazing: "we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love-like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love." (Ephesians 4:13-16, The Message) 

Cowards and Confrontation

Cowards and Confrontation

"What do I say to my friend who is wandering spiritually?" Answers are much easier in the abstract than to practice in reality. What do you say to that fellow Christian who starts missing church every other week to sleep in? He says he needs the rest because of all the overtime. Do you speak up to that guy at lunch whose eyes constantly drift to stare at attractive women while you're together? He thinks you're unaware of his roving eye! Do you say anything about the profanity that slips out with increasing frequency? He thinks it's proof of his spiritual liberty.

I confess that I have too often been a coward in this regard. My need to be liked, to not appear judgmental or rude, has sealed my lips. Consider this. Would we be reluctant to say something to a friend who thinking about driving when he was intoxicated? Taking the keys would be a no-brainer! Risking our friend's anger would be well worth keeping him from hurting himself or someone else. But, when it comes to choices that may well have consequences for the rest of his life and perhaps even for eternity, we become cowards, unable to find the words for confrontation.

There is a word in the Bible that many of us avoid like a disease. "Rebuke." This command for church leaders provokes real discomfort- "Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning." (1 Timothy 5:20, NIV) A rebuke is a correction, a sharp reprimand. If we love others, we will do it, for their good and for the sake of Christ's kingdom. And, we will earn the wrath of many otherwise devout Christians who will accuse us of intolerance.

Paul called on the church at Corinth to withdraw fellowship from a man who was living sinfully. "Don't let him sit down at your love feasts," he said. That church was proud of their tolerance, confusing their willingness to let this man go on without confrontation, with genuine love. The apostle told them they were confused about how to show real love. Was allowing the man to increase his own judgment before God really loving? Was allowing his actions to hurt other Christians by influencing them to unholy ways really what the love of Christ was meant to do? "You must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns. Your boasting about this is terrible. Don't you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?" (1 Corinthians 5:5-6, NLT) But the act was always aimed towards correction not exclusion alone. Later on, after this man had turned around, and Paul urged the church to "forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him." (2 Corinthians 2:6-8, NLT)

How we confront is an important consideration.  Are we driven by fear or anger? If so, our words will be destructive, harsh, and without the possibility of redemption. If we are driven by love, we will seek the best for our brother, risking his wrath, but always looking for restoration. Oh yes, it's a road full of hazards, particularly in our society that so highly prizes individuality and freedom. "Get out of my face!" is a much more likely response to the most loving rebuke than "Help me to change my heart. Hold me accountable." Then, too, if we are hypocritical, our own sins and failures will either keep us silent or give our erring friend real reason to ignore us. Jesus' oft-quoted parable about the man with the post in his eye trying to take the speck from his brother's eye is misunderstood as a reason not to correct. A closer reading does not bring that conclusion. Jesus' true point was not to stop speaking to others about sin, but rather to get ourselves right with God first! Only then can we speak with integrity. The Word does not urge us to be busy-bodies setting everybody straight, as we think they should live. But, for those we love, those who claim the Name of Christ, we have a great responsibility to encourage them on the Way.

May this word from the Word help us to overcome our fear and to 'speak the Truth in love.'    

"The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: 'When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself.  

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.' "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.  

But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself." (Ezekiel 33:1-9, NIV) 

A Wild Swing, a bloody mess

A wild swing, a bloody mess

If you corner a animal it is likely to respond with hostility, bared teeth, claws, or fangs. Sam, my Irish setter, is the most docile creature you could imagine, but her hair will rise and a deep growl will rumble from her throat if she feels that she has no way to run. Ever feel cornered, desperate to escape with no apparent way out?  That kind of physical danger is not part of my life experience, thankfully!  But, there are those moments when I feel as though circumstances push me into the corner, cutting me off. What then?

Stress levels were high following the Passover dinner where Jesus spoke at length about His impending death. The disciples were trying to sort out their confusion during the short walk through the darkness to the olive grove where there was a garden called Gethsemane.  Jesus prayed. The disciples fell asleep. With a start they awoke when one of them saw the light of flaming torches coming their way. Tension rose, but Jesus would not run.  Danger came; Roman soldiers and armed temple police, accompanied by Judas. Jesus stepped forward, they fell back. He asked them who they sought. They answered that they were looking for Jesus. Judas moved forward and kissed the Master in betrayal, a signal that led the soldiers to seize Him. Peter, cornered and desperate, pulled a sword from his waistband and took a wild swing at the nearest man, who ducked, but not quickly enough to save his ear which was sliced away. Before further chaos could break out, the Man in custody showed amazing grace and leadership. He told Peter to put his sword away, asked the soldiers to let His disciples go, and then gently healed Malchus’ ear. He was not cornered at all. He was walking in His Father’s will. "Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11, NIV)

Two men, same place; such different responses. One was full of fear, the other full of faith. One was moving to the will of God, the other running from it. One was secure in God’s hand, the other adrift in his own confusion.

Has life apparently cornered you, Christian?
Are the problems overwhelming, the future non-existent?

Is there no way out, no way around?

Don’t flail about, wildly swinging cutting words, slashing in the darkness. Kneel! Find your place in the Father’s will. Wrestle with the emotions. Jesus did! His stress was intense, His desire to walk away from the Cross, but He didn’t.  Instead, He submitted Himself to the plan of god. "Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39, NIV) The way out of the corner was not the path He preferred but it was the way to great glory! 

Here’s a word from the Word. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV)  If you own this promise, you will never be cornered by circumstances again.

It's just karma, isn't it?

It’s just karma, isn’t it?

A man recently was comparing his life to mine.  He bemoaned his circumstances and pointed out my blessings. With more than a little envy, he side-stepped his responsibility for his situation: “It’s just karma, isn’t it?”  In fact, I knew him well enough to know that he had made some very short-sighted choices that were now costing him dearly. Even I recognized that, I also knew that he had not enjoyed some of the rich blessings of heritage that I have.  But, I don’t accept that destiny is fixed. God gives each one of a great privilege called – choice.

Do you believe in fate? Perhaps you call it luck, or karma, or destiny. Some Christians bring those words to their understanding of the will of God, confusing His power over all persons and things with a fate pre-determined by Him that is unchanging. I am not a fatalist, I don’t believe in luck, and I know that God works with me to create my destiny! There is a dense mix of threads of choice that come together to create the fabric we call ‘life.’

There is no way that Jerry Scott could ever claim to be the sole creator of his destiny. I am who am I today because of choices made by generations of people and because of the work of God. Yet, I cannot avoid my responsibility. There are pivotal moments of choice that set in motion a series of events that create yet more opportunities.  Two statements in the Bible form my understanding of such things. One tells me to "make the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5, NIV)  The other reminds that "by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." (1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV)

We will not live the best life possible without humble recognition of the gifts of grace God provides to us through the choices of others, through the divinely orchestrated circumstances that are simply beyond our ability to grasp given the limits of our humanity. Equally true is that fact that we will rob ourselves of myriad blessings if we throw ourselves adrift in life, failing to meet the challenges, to work at tending the garden for which He has given us stewardship.

Disciple, do not be passive towards life, just letting it happen to you! Take this day as His gift to you and choose to serve Him. Then, don’t be anxious about those things over which you have no control, for those are in the hands of God. The Word clearly calls us to responsibility and trust, to acceptance and effort. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15, NIV)  I have the choice to allow Christ to be the umpire who makes the call in my life, and you do, too.  Choose wisely.

Here’s a word from the Word. "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith." (Galatians 6:7-10, NLT)

______________

Father, keep me from living in pride

When I enjoy success,

And protect me from despair

When my way is dark.

Help me to trust You with each day, the same.

I pray for wisdom to see the opportunities
that lie before me,

For courage to seize them,
and grace to walk in Your purposes.

Help me to let go of regret,
to give and accept forgiveness,

And to encourage others, receiving grace for this moment.

May my greatest desire always be to honor Christ,

In each choice I make.

Holy Spirit, be my guide.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.