PIES - post in eye syndrome

“How about that post in your own eye?” was Jesus’ gently humorous jab at those who were quick to point out the speck of sawdust in the eye of another. Reminds me of the guy who complained to the police about the teenagers speeding through his neighborhood. After being ticketed, he showed up at the city council meeting three weeks later to protest the ‘speed trap’ on his street. Yes, I’ll confess that I have been guilty of wanting others to keep the rules but looking for pass for myself!

There is the famous story from King David’s life. After he reached the throne and gained settled peace throughout his kingdom, he kicked back one spring. He sent his generals off to war while he stayed at the palace. “It’s good to be king,” he thought. One evening while he was enjoying the cool breeze on the palace roof, he happened to noticed a beautiful woman bathing next door. Somehow I think he knew he was moving in the wrong direction, but he gave himself a pass from the rules that governed ordinary mortals. He was the king, after all.  He learned she was the wife of one of his trusted soldiers but ignored that inconvenient fact. Yes, the story goes as you think it might, only worse. She got pregnant and he plotted murder by proxy. When Uriah was dead, he discreetly (don’t you love that word?) brought her into his palace and married her. For one full year, he thought somehow that nobody had noticed, not even the Lord. Until… Nathan, the prophet, showed up in court with a story about a poor farmer whose one lone sheep, a pet no less, had been stolen by his rich neighbor and served up for dinner for guests!  David’s sense of justice kicked into overdrive and he delivered a thundering edict that the man deserved to die. "You’re the man!” said Nathan. (2 Samuel 12:7, The Message) How’s that for a story about PIES- post in eye syndrome?

Here’s what Jesus said. “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5, NLT)  

He is not teaching us to just let it all go with tolerance that avoids hard truth. Too often we think it’s loving to say: “I’m a sinner, you’re a sinner, we’re all sinners together!” Nor is the lesson that one of living at the lowest common denominator. We are our brother’s keeper. The proverb says "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17, NIV) Within the Body of Christ, we must keep spurring each other on, raising the level of excellence, pursuing holiness whole-heartedly. But, never while we are in the grip of PIES – post in eye syndrome. Humility is a key here, as is love. We humbly allow for the fact that we have blind spots. We accept reproof even from the newest convert. And, we love one another enough to tell the truth; but never letting it be about our own ego or motivated by our own reputation or status.

Are you spending a lot of time tending the business of others, monitoring the morality of the church, pointing out flaws and failures?  That’s often a symptom of PIES – post in eye syndrome. The only cure is face time with the Great Physician Who says, "I counsel you to buy from me … salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." (Revelation 3:18, NIV)  As He reveals the truth about you, if you take it to the Cross, you will find that it is true: The One who knows you best, loves you most!

When David heard Nathan’s challenge of his sin, he was healed of PIES and this was his prayer. May it be ours as well.

"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.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you."
(Psalm 51:10-13, NIV) Amen.

_________________

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,

Open the eyes of my heart;

I want to see You, I want to see You.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord,

Open the eyes of my heart;

I want to see You, I want to see You.

To see You high and lifted up,

Shining in the light of Your glory.

Pour out Your pow'r and love;

As we sing holy, holy, holy.

High and lifted up,

Shining in the light of Your glory.

Pour out Your pow'r and love;

As we sing holy, holy, holy.

Holy, holy, holy,

Holy, holy, holy;

Holy, holy, holy,

I want to see You.

Open The Eyes of My Heart

Paul Baloche© 1997 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)

CCLI License No. 810055

Just off the boat

Ever heard that expression, "just off the boat"? A century ago, when immigrants arrived in America by steamboat from Europe, they came full of naïve expectations of what life would be in the land of opportunity. Many were easy prey for cruel and unscrupulous people who took advantage of their lack of knowledge of the laws and customs of these United States. My own grandfather was an immigrant from Denmark. Family lore includes stories about his own misfortunes when he was 'just off the boat.' But, he worked hard, found the Lord, and enjoyed many blessings in the second half of his life; blessings that passed down to his family.

In your Christian life have you confused faith with credulity? Simple faith, a willingness to trust God in every situation, is admirable, a rock solid foundation for the a life that pleases the Lord. Mistaking real faith with naïve expectations that are not grounded in principles of Scripture will certainly lead to disappointment and even bitterness! We are 'aliens and strangers' in this world if we belong to Christ, but we must not live like we are 'just off the boat.'

In the book of Acts we are introduced to a group of people who came to faith in Christ as a result of Paul's preaching. But, note what that for which they are commended in this passage. "The brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men." (Acts 17:10-12, NIV) They were not gullible, yet they were eager to hear. They were not quick to believe everything that was said, yet they were willing to listen. Most important is the note that they compared Paul's preaching with the Scripture!

Are you a Berean kind of Believer?
Do you prayerfully listen to teaching and ask, "does this align to the whole counsel of the Word?"
Is your faith informed by study of Scripture as the Spirit illuminates Truth through the Living Word?

As one who preaches, it pains me to admit that not every person who claims to have a message from God speaks from pure motives and sound doctrine. There are those who preach fairy tales. They substitute wishful thinking for real faith. Many preach what people want to hear rather than what God wants to say.  

Peter warns that "there were also false prophets among the people (of Israel), just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up." (2 Peter 2:1-3, NIV)

Here's a word from the Word. I pray it will help you to find a solid faith that lasts a lifetime and leads you to your eternal home. "Evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.  

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  

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 corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." (2 Timothy 3:13-16, NLT)

Monster in the closet?

Remember when you were about 5 years of age how real that monster in the closet was in the dark in the middle of the night? When you woke up at midnight, with consciousness came fear. The blankets became your security as you pulled them close. But, still that shadow cast on the wall assumed 3-D proportions and terror swept over you. After a few moments you released it all with a half-scream that barely made it out of your throat – “Mom!” And, oh what relief when she turned on the light and said, “What’s the matter?”  The monster ran off into some dark corner to remain hidden until another mid-night visit.

I’m 56 and there are still some monsters that try to terrorize me. No, they don’t live in the dark of the bedroom closet. They live in the recesses of my mind and whisper their torment into the edge of my consciousness. “You’re a complete failure, incompetent. You should quit now before you fall on your face.” is the hiss I hear from one. Another crawls out to whisper, “That pain in your side, it’s cancer. You’re going to suffer just like your Dad.”  Are they just part of my mind, suppressed thoughts that manage to find a way around the firewalls every now and then? Or, are they whispers from the demon realm, tormenters dispatched by the Devil, that attempt to paralyze me with fear and doubt?  Both! Fear are born in our minds as we process our experiences. And Scripture reveals the schemes of the Enemy who tried to discourage us with fear.

Don’t tell me that good and godly people never experience fear. The Psalm of David, a man who knew the Lord well, wrote of the monstrous fear that stalked him. "Open your ears, God, to my prayer; don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking. Come close and whisper your answer. I really need you. I shudder at the mean voice, quail before the evil eye, As they pile on the guilt, stockpile angry slander. My insides are turned inside out; specters of death have me down. I shake with fear, I shudder from head to foot. “Who will give me wings,” I ask— “wings like a dove?” Get me out of here on dove wings; I want some peace and quiet. I want a walk in the country." (Psalm 55:1-7, The Message)

Children of God, need not be victimized by the monsters! When they appear, and they will, just like a little child who is secure in his parents’ love will cry out for Mom or Dad, we cry out to our Abba, our Heavenly Father. We find security in His Promise, the monsters are banished by His Presence. "God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV)

Sometimes we must face our fears, name them, drag them out into the Light, so they are cut down to size and conquered. That’s Paul did on a couple of different occasions. When he was subjected to severe persecution, he wryly says, “What’s the worst that can happen to me? I could die!” Then, he says, "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." (Romans 14:8, NIV)  "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21, NIV)  That’s not the sigh of resignation. That is the song of security in Christ.

Are there monstrous fears threatening you this day, disciple?  Here’s a word from the Word. Live in the promise. "My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. . . . My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.  . . .  There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love." (1 John 4:1,4,18, The Message)

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27, NIV)  -- Jesus

Exposed as a fraud

He’s a fraud, his claims of heroism in Vietnam inflated tales invented because he liked the praise they brought his way. The man did not just exaggerate his war stories at a backyard picnic! He got a United States Senator to champion his claim to a Medal of Honor. He rode at the head of parades, spoke to veterans, and enjoyed local prominence. He did serve and with honor.  Now he has lost all honor and been convicted of making fraudulent claims. Reading the story in our newspaper left me sad for him and wondering about contentment in my own life.

We all are tempted to measure ourselves against the achievements of other people. When we see them receiving awards for the things they do, we begin to believe that personal worth is connected to recognition. Certificates, medals, letters, and applause become more and more important as a way to say “I matter. Look at me, I exist.”  Excellence is good and the Bible teaches us to reach for it in every part of our lives.  However, when we start to equate worth with work, we lose our way. There is always someone who can do the same work that we do faster, better, or for more people. And, if we compare, we will be left feeling worthless.

For a Christian, true worth grows out of the sure knowledge that he is beloved by his Father.  The Bible says, "he hath made us accepted in the beloved." (Ephesians 1:6, KJV) Unlike our world that loves those who beautiful, brave, and bright; God loves us all! I love the letter to the Ephesians because in it we learn of the amazing, lavish love of the Father described in one superlative after another. The Scripture says that when that love is the soil in which we are planted, God’s fullness grows from our lives. "Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." (Ephesians 3:17-19, NLT)

Are you craving recognition?

Do you find yourself tempted to pretend, exaggerate, or lay claims to spiritual achievements of which you have only read?

Don’t be a fraud! Be authentic, content to be who you are yet growing in grace, with new things emerging in your life and character all the time.

The amazing fact of grace is this simple yet profound truth:  there is nothing I can do today that would make God love me more than He does right now.

We are ‘in Christ.’  By faith, we receive from Him acceptance before God, the love and care of our Father, and the promise of abundance in life now, and unending life when we die. Nobody who knows this kind of worth is ever seriously tempted to be a fraud. Why would they need to pretend when they own such love?

Here’s the word from the Word.  "Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . .  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love." (Romans 8:34-38, NLT)

Vitamins Cause Cancer?

There it was on the news. Men who take vitamin E increase their risk of a certain kind of cancer. The evening before the report was that women who take a multi-vitamin supplement die at a younger age. But, I always thought that vitamins made me healthy. Who do I believe?  It turns out there is much more to these reports than the headlines indicate. So much of our ‘information’ comes at us in little factoids and short news bites that reduce complex studies with many conditions to a few words that capture our attention. A more careful reading of the whole story often reveals that the headline can point to a wrong conclusion.  In our hurry-up world, full of words and noise, we are tempted to try to reduce everything to a quick summary. We want to understand but often don’t take the time that is necessary to think it through.

Is your faith in Christ built around factoids and headlines? Are you a true student of the Scripture? Forming our convictions about God and Christ only from short devotional articles, anecdotes, and generalized assumptions is a serious error. The flimsy faith created on such a foundation will collapse when the going gets rough. Paul urges us to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12, NIV)  In other words, make the effort to understand your faith and apply it to every situation.  That is easier said than done!

By way of example, I point to my own life. For years I have preached the resurrection, the promise of life beyond the grave, which I believe whole-heartedly. Yet, when my mother died, I had to go deeper, to work through owning the Scripture’s promise in a personal and new way. Standing at the bare patch of ground that marks her grave yesterday, I wrestled with the promise. What I can see with natural eyes tells me that death is final. Her grave appears to be mute proof of the end. But, there is the testimony of Christ, the declaration that because He lives, we will live also. As I study that, meditate on it, and make it my own; it changes me from the inside out. The process is hard and will continue for some time, I am sure.

Here is a challenge to us all. "Stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior." (2 Timothy 2:14-16, NLT) Instead of rushing to the quick conclusion or trying to reduce complex truth to slogans, develop a mind that thinks it through, that patiently examines the facts, shines the light on every angle, and seeks the Spirit’s wisdom. Use caution when choosing your teachers. Some are more interested in sounding good than being truthful. Your applause to some is more important than your transformation.

Our word from the Word is a passage from the Gospel, Jesus’ own invitation. “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”  (Matthew 7:24-27, The Message)

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand

All other ground is sinking sand.

-      William Bradbury

Will God overlook it?

America’s troubles are far from over. A darkness lies ahead of us that will make today’s troubles look like good times. Just so you know, I dislike writing things like that even more than you dislike reading it. God judged His people in the past for lesser sins than those of this land. And, thus, I know He will allow judgment to come again. America has sown seeds of her own destruction- greed, materialism, injustice, exploitation of the poor, lewdness, sexual promiscuity - and God’s law is that “you reap the harvest of the seeds you plant.”

Even the church in America has largely lost her way. America is full of religion that uses Christian rhetoric but if you look more deeply, it is obvious that those churches are filled with people who have little or no understanding of Christian principles. In my lifetime work as a pastor of a local church, I have never found my calling more complex than I do at this time. Even those who claim to be disciples are heavily influenced by our culture, with many Christians living unconsciously with a deep divide between their spiritual life and their day to day decisions. One author observes ever so insightfully that churches are filled with ‘Christian atheists.’ Craig Groeschel writes that “For as long as I can remember, I’ve believed in God, but I haven’t always lived like He exists.”

Isaiah was moved by the Holy Spirit to declare this to his nation:  "See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! I will raise my fist against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities. Then I will give you good judges again and wise counselors like you used to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City.” Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness. But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed, and those who desert the Lord will be consumed." (Isaiah 1:21-32, NLT) How fitting for this time in America!

The revival we need is not a return to some ‘perfect yesteryear.’ My desire for spiritual renewal is not rooted in nostalgia. We must take care not to slide into the sin of the Pharisees who became obsessed with trying to live such a good life that they missed the Perfect Man when He came to live among them. The place of renewal is not in more control, longer church services, or louder harangues about holiness. We find life only when we humbly come to the Cross of Christ and die, even to our pretentions of righteousness. As we meditate on the Cross, we are made right with God. Realizing His holiness, we join Isaiah in his cry, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5, NIV)

Will the Church rise from the ashes of her corrupt state to lead men and woman to a place before Almighty God where they can find healing and wholeness in repentance or will we let ourselves be satisfied with a ‘form of godliness while denying its power?’ This I know: God has always had a people to bear His Name. He has always called a remnant, a little leftover group, from which He has sparked revival. "Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 37:31-32, NIV)

He cannot overlook the sins of our time, but we can hold fast to Him, and find safety like Noah did in that great flood. Are you hungry for holiness? Does a deep desire to know the living God live in you?  Hear the challenge from Peter that tells us "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." (1 Peter 4:17-19, NKJV)

Oh God, bring revival and start that work in me. Amen