Generations at war?

At age 61, I suppose I qualify as one of those “old white guys” that a recent New York Times Op-Ed piece blamed for the ills of American Christianity. I read it with a sad but knowing heart. Are some of the things the author said true? They certainly are and my prayer is that a loving, gentle, Spirit-guided conversation will move Christ’s people to a presentation of the amazing Gospel for this time and culture. But, the arrogance that broadly paints some very generous and sacrificial pastors and teachers with nothing but disdain is equally wrong.

No generation gets it right every time. When I was 30, I caused the leaders who were a generation older than I some heartburn with my broad, sweeping, and often quite negative generalizations about their faith practices. More than once I remember thinking, “How can they not see their faults, the way that their preconceptions and ideas are holding back the Church?” And, I was foolish and sinful in my dismissive attitude.  One of my biggest regrets in life is my harsh criticisms of those men and women on whose shoulders I stood.

In my reading of the Gospels for Advent, I came upon those dreaded ‘begats’ again. Both Matthew and Luke include genealogies, listing of the generations of Jesus’ family. Why are they there? Because those lists of names represent people, lives, choices of previous generations that were the foundations for Jesus’ life and times. Jesus did not arrive to a blank slate, into a brand new world.  He came to a culture shaped by decisions of many fathers and mothers. The ‘begats’ are a recognition of that as well as a connection to the prophecies of His descent from the line of David.

If we are wise, we too will recognize our ‘begats.’ We not only have earthly parents who gave us life, we are descendants of spiritual parents whose choices laid a foundation for the experience of Christ that we know. There were both heroes and scoundrels in Jesus’ genealogy. He had an adulterer or two in his line. He had a murderer back there, too. There were also many who are just a name to us, whose accomplishments are lost to time.  In our spiritual heritage we will have a mixture, too. There will be those who got some things completely wrong and there will be those who have huge influence because of their heroic efforts. Mostly there will be a lot of earnest, nearly anonymous people who just did their best to pass the faith along as best they could given the knowledge and opportunities that came their way.

Let all of us beware of the sins that beset us. The young tend to see the need to change for some anticipated future. The old tend to see the glories of the past and the need to hang onto treasured traditions. The wisest among us, young and old, will blend those streams.  The elders will offer a steadying influence as the youngers will pull Christ’s church into the future with innovative ways of making the Truth known. Paul, in his inspired instructions to a younger Timothy, shows us the way to a healthy cooperation of generations. "Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters." (1 Timothy 5:1-2, The Message)  A kind of respectful love should cause our conversations to include gentleness and understanding.

The word from the Word is for all of us – young and old – and compels us to an attitude that ultimately allows the beauty of Jesus to shine through us despite our flaws, failures, and foolishness. May we have ears to hear the Spirit’s words.

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, 
and endures through every circumstance.

 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages 
and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!

But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-11, NLT)

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Faith Of Our Fathers (St Catherine)

Faith of our fathers living still
In spite of dungeon fire and sword
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word

Faith of our fathers holy faith
We will be true to thee till death

Our fathers chained in prisons dark
Were still in heart and conscience free
How sweet would be their children's fate
If they like them could die for Thee

Faith of our fathers we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee
And through the truth that comes from God
Mankind shall then be truly free

Faith of our fathers we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife
And preach Thee too as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life

Frederick William Faber | Henri Frederick Hemy
© Words: Public Domain

Faith or Fate?

It’s that time of year when I invest some time planning for coming months and reviewing the year past.  I like to remember the ‘wins’ the moments when I see God at work and I try to learn from the flops and failures.  One of the things that brings me joy is taking note of how ‘things have worked out’ and not because I forced circumstances to my desires, but because I walked in daily obedience to the Lord of life. In those moments, my hope for the future is renewed for He knows all of my tomorrows.  It is not fate to which I resign, but rather faith that is my choice. 

Years ago I was ‘certain’ that I belonged on the staff of a church in a state far away. They offered a position to me that I felt I could fill. As Bev and I  began to prepare to relocate, uneasiness grew in me. I even became physically sick! Finally, I gave up my dream and said, “yes,” to obedience to the Spirit.  About six months later, that church fell into major conflict and disarray. The Lord spared me from being drawn into that mess and likely becoming unemployed and broke!

I do not believe in fate. I do believe that Faith is not just an idea, but a way of life. We are assured that when we “keep step with the Spirit,” He always leads ‘in paths of righteousness.’  The Word tells us that "If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37:23-24, NIV) What a promise for each of us, who respond to His leading, who love His ways. WE never walk alone.

Peter heard Jesus talking about going to the Cross. In love, he could not understand how such a terrible thing could be allowed by God so Peter "took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him." (Mark 8:32, NIV) “Don’t talk that way, Jesus. What purpose could such a thing serve?”   We, from our point in time, know that the Cross was the plan of God.  Peter's good intentions earned him strong correction. "Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. "Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works."  (Mark 8:33, The Message)  Let’s make sure we listen before we speak, understand before we declare what God’s will is.

Disciples need a heart that obeys without argument, without hesitation.  Even as I write that line, I want to remind you that none of us should allow fear of somehow missing God’s purpose to paralyze us. He's a big God who is perfectly capable of guiding and keeping us and that is reason for us to live confidently.  The thing that we need to guard against is stubbornness.

As you look back over 2016 and forward to the New Year, don’t resign to fate. Choose to walk in faith in the One who knows tomorrow.

Our word from the Word is taken out of Psalm 37.
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."  (Psalm 37:1-7, NIV)

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Father, I thank you for the promise that You will always guide us.
I am often tempted to walk by fate! Teach me to walk by faith!
Open my eyes to the possibilities that exist in Your purpose,
And keep me from seeing only the ‘obvious.’

My greatest joy is to do what You want me to do, to be where You desire me to be.
Make the way plain, Lord, and gently, yet firmly, keep me in the center of Your plan where there is great joy, wonderful peace, and blessings for this life and eternity.

In Jesus' Name, I ask this today. Amen.

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Hopeful?

On Sunday, Margaret handed me a yellowed copies of two magazine pages from 1994. It was an article I had written titled “Fearless Living in Fearful Times.”  22 years ago I wrote of the fear that so many experience when change comes. “Change is  frightening to most of us.    We are made comfortable  by  the traditions and habits of our lives, shaped by time and tradition. However, America is a society in a time of re-structuring.  ... Yes, the church is changing too.  … Christians are wrestling with choices about behavior trying to discover the guidelines for a holy life in these changing times.”  22 years later, the pace of that change of which I wrote is increasing.  Fear is rampant. From it, hopelessness grows to take over so many people’s lives. I hear this from many, “I am overwhelmed by life.  I just exist because I cannot see the future.”

There is HOPE for us, dear friend.  There is a future. We have a promise that holds even through death itself! The writer of Hebrews reminds us that though the world is under the judgment of God, those who trust in Jesus are secured in a hope that is certain. "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure." (Hebrews 6:10-11, NIV)  Speaking of God’s inability to lie, the Word continues to say that "We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Hebrews 6:18-19, NIV)

Time changes everything except the promise of eternal life in Christ! When I look back over my brief life, I remember finding temporary hope in so many things;  love, family, accomplishments, experiences of delight, and recognition that came my way.  The light of each of those things dimmed with the passing of time. The kids grew up, moved away, and found their own lives as they should. My achievements were surpassed by those who came after me.  Even, love was shattered by death’s arrival. But, God’s love and promise only grows stronger.  

Advent is a time that looks in two directions.  We remember the coming of the Baby to Bethlehem, God in flesh, to save the world from sin. Our hope, as we read in Hebrews, is anchored in the Cross and the Resurrection. And we turn to the future, anticipating the coming of the Lord of Glory.  His arrival will make all things right, bring justice, and erase the Curse that causes suffering and death.  And so we sing- both remembering and hoping – ‘Joy to the World, the Lord has come. Let Earth receive Her King!’

Christian, are you just existing day to day, surviving, but without vision, struggling to find meaning and purpose?  Like that guy in the old Dunkin’ Donuts™ commercial do you rise each morning with a groan because ‘it’s time to make the donuts.’?  It is no cliché to say, “Look to Jesus!”  We are more than flesh and blood, more than creatures destined to die.  We are, through Him, children of the Heavenly Father, who work with Him to bring Life and Light to this world and then, because HE has promised, we will go home to a place prepared for us.

Meditate on this word from the Word. Matthew quoted this passage from Isaiah’s prophecy as a wonderful description of the promise we find in Jesus. My prayer is that these ancient words will take life for you today and become a source of hope as they point you to the One who is our true hope for life  - now and forever.  

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
he will not falter or be discouraged ‘till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands (the far flung nations of the earth) will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:1-4, NIV)

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O Come O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)

O come O come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice rejoice Emmanuel

Shall come to thee O Israel

O come Thou Dayspring come and cheer

Our spirits by Thine advent here

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night

And death's dark shadows put to flight

O come Desire of nations bind

All peoples in one heart and mind

Bid envy strife and quarrels cease

Fill the whole world with heaven's peace

John Mason Neale | Thomas Helmore

© Words: Public Domain