Not all 'truth' is created equal

There is the parable told of an English captain whose compass was wrong, but by a couple of degrees. He set out for New York and ended up in Florida. That tale may make us smile, but it should caution us about how we calibrate our compass that sets our course through life. How tragic would it be to come to the end of life and to be filled with regret at the realization that we have spent our days misguided, focused on good things but not true things;  or most terribly, to find that we are far from the Heavenly home we thought was our destination?

Is your true North in life Jesus Christ; God come in flesh, Savior of the World, Risen Lord, and Coming King?

Or, are you taken by ‘high sounding philosophy’ of human potential, success, prosperity, pleasure, or power?

The free flow of information that is possible through digital communications in the 21^st century is a double-edged sword. How wonderful is it that the world has become our neighborhood, that we can befriend people literally on the other side of the globe? With a click on the screen, we can sit at the feet of teachers from every nation. This demands a new kind of discernment, a deep caution, and an anchor in the Truth.  Not all ‘truth’ is created equal. There are many ideas that are appealing without context, that seem right but which are untethered from the truth of Christ and thus to be rejected.

John, when an old man, saw the ravages that smooth-talking teachers were bringing to the Church. They came denying that Jesus was the God, Incarnate. They, like thousands since then, used the language of Christianity, but turned the meanings inside out. The old man, an elder, who loved deeply, warned them and us with uncompromising words. "There are a lot of smooth-talking charlatans loose in the world who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ was truly human, a flesh-and-blood human being. Give them their true title: Deceiver! Antichrist! And be very careful around them so you don’t lose out on what we’ve worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son. " (2 John 7-9, The Message)

If you are reading this and believe that I am making an appeal for a return to some ‘old time religion’ you are mistaken. The holiness codes of my youth that substituted rigorous rules to govern behavior were often misguided and led to guilt, not fullness of joy in the Lord. The appeal is that we should live a life centered on the revelation of Jesus Christ, a faith placed in His offering on the Cross, an assurance that rests on His bodily Resurrection.  

Listen to Paul’s words. This man, once an ardent religionist, met Jesus and in Him found the meaning, the purpose, and the hope that would lead him to his eternal home. "I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:7-11, NLT)  Truth!

Have you become your own god? Are you convinced that you are wise enough, that you have insight that reaches far enough, to discard the wisdom of the Word, to ignore the accumulated experiences of Christians through the ages, to live outside of the community of faith, creating your own ‘truth’? A century ago, G. K. Chesterton wrote of the conceit of self-confidence. "Shall I tell you where the men are who believe most in themselves? For I can tell you. I know of men who believe in themselves more colossally than Napoleon or Caesar. I know where flames the fixed star of certainty and success. I can guide you to the thrones of the Super-men. The men who really believe in themselves are all in lunatic asylums. … Complete self-confidence is not merely a sin; complete self-confidence is a weakness.” - Orthodoxy

Here is a word from the Word. The Spirit calls us to anchor our hope in Jesus Christ, to walk in the truth, and to remain deeply connected to the Body of Christ. Will we? "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." (Hebrews 10:19-25, NLT)

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In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend

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CCLI License # 810055

More hate ... murder in the streets

Many of us come to this Wednesday morning with mixed emotions – sorrow, anger, confusion – all competing to own our thoughts. Just in case you have not heard, about 3 pm yesterday in New York City, a man driving a rented truck sped into a bike lane, mowing down bikers in his path. He continued until he slammed into a school bus. 8 died, 12 more are injured, several critically. He left his truck, shouting  "Allahu Akbar" and carrying a paintball gun, which he waved at police, apparently hoping to be killed. Is he deranged? Was this an act of terror? A note in his truck reportedly said he was acting on instructions from ISIS.  

When I saw the story unfolding in the news, I was sad for the families who will grieve the murder of their loved ones and for those who will carry scars, physical and emotional, for the rest of their lives. My prayers for them were groans, deep sighs, and a cry for healing. There was an awful dread that rose in me at the same time, as I realized that this man’s actions will stoke the fires of hatred with fuel. So many will use this man’s horrific actions as a reason to vilify others, to dig deeper into a fortress mentality that divides the world into ‘us’ and ‘them.’  The volume of the words of war will be turned up and the drums of war will beat louder.

I desire justice, a measured response that is fed by thought, not emotion! I am very thankful for those who stand for me to keep order – police and soldiers who say to those intent on destruction – “Not here!”  I pray for their safety and their wisdom. At the very same time, Christ Jesus teaches me that my first response must not be finding a bigger gun, nor is it to hate all those of Islamic faith. Are you saying, “Oh, come on, Jerry. What’s wrong with you?”  What’s wrong is the world in which I live, a world held captive by sin and Satan.  As a disciple of the Prince of Peace, I cannot hope to build His kingdom, if I join the chorus of voices seeking revenge.

Christian, center yourself, anew, in the Promise of God’s care.
Gather up your thoughts and carry them to a place of prayer.  
Afraid for the future? Tell Him.
Confused by the rise of evil? Tell Him. 

Yes, it is a familiar line but the familiarity does not diminish the truth of it.  "He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress." (Psalm 46:9-11, NLT)

Pray for those in law enforcement and those in our government, that the Lord will grant them insight and wisdom. They are mere mortals and times like these demand so much of them. It is good to pray often for those who lead us, asking God to draw them to Himself. I pray that those who hold power will be blessed with the likes of Daniel who stood before kings with godly wisdom.

And, in the discussions of the day, be a voice that builds bridges, that resists blind rage, that seeks understanding. The Spirit of God will help you, if you will ask Him. Remember Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV)  

More than anything, I want to live in a way that honors my Father, don’t you?

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Abba, Father, my heart is torn up –
a jumble of sorrow, anger, and confusion this morning.
I ask, Holy Spirit, that Your Presence will surround me,
that your peace that confounds human understanding will steady me.

I pray for those who protect me – that You will protect them.
Grant them wisdom and insight.

For those who are making decisions of response today, I pray for wisdom, Lord.
Temper the desire for revenge with a commitment to justice.

And, as You taught us, Jesus, we pray -
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name,

Your kingdom come,

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13, NIV)

Let Your grace and mercy own my heart today, I pray

in Jesus’ Name, Amen.