God's Guerrillas

God’s guerrillas

You are on a mission for God!  Your aim?  Reconciliation of people; to each other and with God. It’s a dangerous calling, often putting you into the cross-fire.  It can be thankless and is best accomplished when you keep a low profile, gently moving others without attracting much attention to yourself.  Here’s how the Bible describes this mission: "We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21, The Message)  Jesus said that being a guerilla warrior who sabotages the Devil’s work of hate, death, and separation creates a reputation we desire. "God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!" (Matthew 5:9, CEV

The message of Christ was first adopted by Jews who accepted Jesus as their Messiah, but within a few years, first Peter, and then Paul, were directed by the Holy Spirit to take the Good News of Jesus to Gentiles, too.  Many Jewish Believers resisted that. They thought that as God’s chosen people, Christ belonged exclusively to them. If a person wanted to be a Christian, they insisted that he first become a Jew – keeping their religious laws (Sabbath rules, kosher dietary laws, and the rite of circumcision).   But Paul, inspired by the Spirit, said that Jesus had a new plan - a plan to include those who were once excluded.  Paul took up the mission of reconciliation! "Now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away (Gentiles) have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, (Jew and Gentile) thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." (Ephesians 2:13-18, NIV)  Plainly stated, bcause God reached out to us and brought us 'in,' we reach out to others and bring them 'in.'   

Christians ought to be the most inclusive people in the world, inviting everyone into the same relationship with Christ and celebrating that we  " are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, NLT) Do you see people who are estranged from God or others? Invite them in, extending a welcome, going the distance to bridge the gap. As you create trust and discover common ground, you will also create opportunities to share the love of Christ.

As a Christian, are you consciously focusing on the Cross and the Spirit that bind you to others who are in the family of God, or ... are you falling into the natural (and sinful!) pattern of playing up the differences, creating division and disunity in the world, or in the Church?  Be a peace-maker!  Build up the Body.  Create unity- for God's sake. And others will say, "I knew he was a real child of God!"

More to his life than . . .

More to his life than . . .

Most morning as I page through the local newspaper, I scan the obituaries.  Lives are compressed into a few paragraphs that tell us the essential facts but seldom very much about the person. We remember others and often just a few things remain from all their days among us; a favorite phrase, an image burned into our brain, or – and this is most tragic – a singular moment of failure.  For example, if you mention President Richard Nixon what comes to mind? Watergate!  Bill Clinton’s legacy will forever be marked by his stupidity over a young White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. 

Is it morbid for me to think about my obituary? I wonder what things will be remembered, what will stand out about me? Will it be noble things or failures, selfish acts or Christ-honoring decisions? The Holy Spirit can bring about health and wholeness in our thoughts and plans. He will, if we walk with Him, keep us from the temptations that call out seductively.  We need to pray- "Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!" (Psalm 90:12, The Message)

We remember this, too. Should we somehow fall or fail, and we will; the Scripture is replete with illustrations of the redemption God offers to those who turn to Him. David, the poet–king of Israel, fell long and hard into deep sin. When the ugly facts were exposed, he turned to God in humble prayer. "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. … Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (Psalm 51:1-2, 10-12, NIV)  

People may never forget those things we do wrong, but God will put our failures far from His mind. "Where is another God like you, who pardons the sins of the survivors among his people? You cannot stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing mercy. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised with an oath to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago." (Micah 7:18-20, NLT)  What a powerful image – our sins buried in dark, deep ocean.  Why? Because He delights in restoring us, when we call on Him.

Disciple, be vigilant about those choices that really matter. Walk near to the Lord. Respond quickly to the Spirit’s gentle prompts.  
“Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes." (Matthew 6:9-13, The Message)
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O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Our Shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal Home!

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Still may we dwell secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

O God, our Help in ages past,
Our Hope for years to come,
Be Thou my Guide while life shall last,
And our eternal Home.

O God Our Help In Ages Past

Watts, Isaac / Croft, William© Public Domain

The Dark Side of Justice?

The dark side of justice?

The red sedan passed me on the interstate like I was parked, though I was cruising along at 70 MPH.  He probably was going about 85 MPH.  A couple of miles down the road I saw that sedan pulled over with a police cruiser behind it, lights flashing.  “Good for him,” I crowed. “He got what he deserved.”   I am a hypocrite on that count, however. When I am the one pulled over, I am not exactly thinking, “I got what I deserved!”   That is the nature of justice, isn’t it? We love it when the other guy is brought in, but when we’re held accountable, we have an excuse for our malfeasance.

We serve a God of justice! The glorious part of that fact is that we live in hope for wrongs being made right, for the oppressors being brought down, for evildoers to be held to account.  The ‘dark side,’ if you will, of this doctrine is that we cannot reject His will with impunity, either!  The Scripture teaches us that the Lord is gracious, long-suffering, and patient as He draws us to love and serve Him.  Peter explains the delay in judgment this way: "God has also commanded that the heavens and the earth will be consumed by fire on the day of judgment, when ungodly people will perish. But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent." (2 Peter 3:7-9, NLT)

God’s loving grace is amazing. Thankfully, for those who trust Christ and receive the gift of salvation through His death on the Cross, justice has been done!  My sin is forgiven, the debt satisfied. But, if I abuse the grace of God, ignore the Spirit’s call, and walk away from Him – He must be just. Many Christians argue strenuously against the clear statement of the Word that warns about bringing justice down on our own heads. "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." (Hebrews 10:26-27, NIV)  

There is no need for terror, nor for uncertainty about living at peace with our Abba!  If we trust in Jesus Christ, if we live joyfully in His will, there is no fear.  We cannot unknowingly ‘lose’ our salvation;  but we can repudiate the Lord, turning from Him.  If we do, we reject the very grace that secures us near His heart.  Jude points to those who were chosen by Him in the past, who rejected His love, as an example of the justice of the Lord. "I must remind you—and you know it well—that even though the Lord rescued the whole nation of Israel from Egypt, he later destroyed every one of those who did not remain faithful. And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the day of judgment." (Jude 5-6, NLT)

Here’s a word from the Word.  Read it for all it’s worth!  It is a promise of grace and goodness. Let’s live it.

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:12-18, NIV)

My Trustworthy Guide

My Trustworthy Guide

“Do you sit in judgment on the Bible or does the Bible sit in judgment on you?”  I don’t remember who first asked that question or where I read it, but it is an extremely important one.  When we encounter teaching that goes counter to our preferences or even cultural conditioning, whose authority will prevail – the Bible’s or our own ‘wisdom?’  In our time, there are a plethora of issues on which the Scripture speaks challenging conventional wisdom;  speaking to gender issues, to leadership issues, to our sexuality, about our origins.  We, yes those who are Spirit-filled Christians, will be tempted to sit in judgment on passages that seem ‘out of date,’ as if we are wiser than God.

Rosaria Champagne Butterfield, author of The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, was a gay woman, a professor of English and women’s studies, who encountered the Bible. After observing the lives of a couple of authentic Christians, she re-examined the Bible.  She writes, “I started reading the Bible. I read the way a glutton devours. I read it many times… in multiple translations. …  A transgendered friend corned me and warned, ‘This Bible reading is changing you, Rosaria.’ … I continued reading the Bible all the while fighting the idea that it was inspired. But the Bible got bigger inside me than I.” (Christianity Today, 2/2013)  Today she is a Christian, serving God, but it did not happen without a struggle of her will with the wisdom of God!

When I come to certain parts of the Bible I am tempted to dismiss them as ancient superstition and would, except for one major fact! I have a high view of the Scripture as the inspired word of God. There is a big step between saying, "I just don't get it," and outright rejection of a passage.  Some people seem to delight in tearing up the Bible because of obscure and difficult passages. Ignoring the beauty of much of the Holy Scripture- the prayers and meditations of the Psalms, the accounts of God's love and provision for His people, the amazing revelations of the grace of God in Jesus Christ - they go to passages like Numbers 5 and say, "That's your Bible?" Yes, I answer, that is a part of my Bible, a part that I honestly admit I do not understand. But I do understand, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NLT)

We are called to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) That includes the "huh?" passages that defy our full understanding as much as those that yield easily to our minds and that feed us with Truth.  We must come to the Bible with humility. We cannot assume to be its judge. It judges us! Yet, at the same time, I am not gullible, nor do I give up my mind to simplistic, overly literal methods of interpretation of the Scripture.

If we would please God, we will remain submitted to the God who gave the Word to us. This is the Truth: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

Are you a student of the whole Bible? Do you read the words with reverence and love, praying for the Spirit to guide you into all Truth? 

Here’s a word from the Word. Make it your prayer. "How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise again: I will obey your wonderful laws." (Psalm 119:103-106, NLT)

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How Firm A Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in His excellent word.

What more can He say, than to you He hath said,

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed!

For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid.

I'll strengthen thee, help thee,

And cause thee to stand,

Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent Hand.

Anne Steele | George Keith | John Rippon | Joseph Funk

Public Domain

When you're with the sick

The door on the hospital room had a large red stop sign attached. On it was a note: "See nurse before entering." They gave me a mask to wear and cautioned me not to touch the patient or his bed. The virus that had infected his body was highly contagious and the only way to stop its spread was to avoid contact. I talked with Joe (not his real name) from a distance of about 4 feet and, as is my custom, as we concluded our visit, I asked to pray. Out of habit, I reached out my hand toward him, as I almost always touch the person for whom I am praying, especially those who are ill. He stopped me! "No, Pastor, don't take what I have with you," he said. We have a healthy respect for germs, but do we have the same respect for sin?

Jude gives this warning. It is to be taken seriously. "Show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others to whom you need to show mercy, but be careful that you aren't contaminated by their sins." (Jude 22-23, NLT) Because we live in a sinful world, we will rub shoulders with people who are struggling with habits that are sinful and destructive. Even in our churches and Christian communities, there will those who are wrestling with doubt, disbelief, or controlling habits.

So, how do we deal with this challenge?

Some suggest complete separation! They adopt an 'us versus them' mentality, excluding those who are 'not us' and building high walls! This strategy flies in the face of the example of our Savior, Jesus, who lived among and loved those who were 'sinners.' In fact, He was condemned by the separatists of His time as a "glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!" (Luke 7:34, NLT) It was true. And, He brought wholeness to those with whom He ate and drank.

Some suggest that we just keep our 'religion' to ourselves. We live among those who are spiritually sick, but even though the Gospel is their only hope, we are urged to keep it to ourselves. These so-called 'secret saints' live and die having no effect for the Kingdom, hiding their light out of a mistaken respect for privacy.

Jude teaches us first to 'show mercy.' Instead just pointing out the sin of another, we extend understanding. We try to meet them where they are. Yes, our primary message can never be, "You're headed for Hell!" It must always be, "There is a Father who loves you, Who wants you to come home."

Some, Jude says, need to be 'snatched from the flames.' They are so near to the edge, we must launch a rescue. The Church has dozens of ministries that reaches out to those who need rescue, those who lives are in such ruin, they must be dragged back from the edge of Hell itself. Ministries to the addicted, those with life-controlling habits, to the self-absorbed are critically important and require a high level of training and a strong network of people to keep the rescuers safe.

And some, we learn from this first century pastor,need to be shown the mercy of Christ, even as we maintain a distance from their sinfulness! Like my friend, Joe, theirs is a contagion that we can catch. A bitter Christian, for example, needs to be shown mercy, but if you spend too much time listening to him, you may get dragged down. A rebellious Christian, one whose life is full of disorder because he refuses to submit to spiritual leadership, needs to experience loving mercy, but carefully. The phrase that has become a cliché has real truth in it: We truly must love the sinner, but hate the sin.   This demands wisdom and humility that God gives to us as we ask Him for it. The key in all of this is to remain part of a healthy network of Christians. Those in our society who function as 'first responders,' going to accident scenes, fighting fires, living near disaster, do so only in teams! They know the dangers, both physical and emotional, of living too near to danger without having people who give support, who hold the life-lines, who help to share the burden. This is how we who want to be God's people in a sick world must live.

Here's a word from the Word. Make them words to live by.

"Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:19-25, NIV) 

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Near The Cross

Jesus, keep me near the cross

There a precious fountain,

Free to all a healing stream,

Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.

Near the cross a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me.

There the Bright and Morning Star

Sheds its beams around me.

In the cross, in the cross,

Be my glory ever.

'Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river.

Fanny Jane Crosby | William Howard Doane

Public Domain