Posted by David on March 13, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Years ago we as a society were introduced to the many facets of “blame.” We correctly understood that every person is a composite of his or her experiences. Before that understanding, our response as a society to a person who endured unjust situations was this: “Suck it up!”
There are lots of ways to illustrate this attitude from the past. “So, you married an abusive man and have a horrible marriage. Suck it up and quit crying!” “So, years ago as a child, you had a mother who vented her rage on you. Suck it up and pretend it never happened!” “So, your parents do despicable things to you that make you feel more like a slave or property. Suck it up and stop whining!” “So, you have a boss who exploits his power over you. Suck it up-you have a job!” The prevailing attitude was, “So, you have (had) it tough! Big deal! So do (did) many other people!”
Gradually, we understood there are horrible experiences we endure that are neither ignored, forgotten, nor easily escaped. Gradually, we grasped the powerful impact of unjust relationships in people’s lives. Gradually, we understood that horribly unjust experiences often have a radical impact on a person’s behavior.
As usual, the pendulum tends to swing too far with new insights. Our society went from ignorance (and unjust conclusions) to blamelessness where nothing is “my” fault (and unjust conclusions). In our circuit, we returned to the same situation-from no responsibility due to an absence of insight to no responsibility because of insight. The result: we went from irresponsible conduct produced by ignorance to irresponsible conduct produced by a refusal to accept any fault. Both produce irresponsible conduct.
Facts to be accepted: (1) No one’s past is perfect. (2) No matter how hard we try, we cannot make things perfect for the next generation. (3) We live in an unjust physical world, and the next generation will live in a similar physical world.
Two things I can do: (1) I can be honest with myself concerning the impact of my past on me. (2) I can let Christ make me the best me I can be. If I am honest with myself about the impact of my past on me, I can encourage you in your transition. If I let God’s grace in Jesus’ death free me from my guilt, I can be an example to you as I challenge you to find hope in God.
If I ignore my past, I condemn myself to exist in a feeling of guilt. If I let God teach me freedom in Christ, I exist in forgiveness. In the first, I make others miserable-often including those I love the most. In the second, I bless others’ lives just by being the “me” God makes “me” in Christ. In spite of my past, I choose who I am. I can’t be perfect, but I can be better! Thank You, Lord, for freedom in Jesus Christ!
Posted by David on March 6, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In the past few weeks, the bulletin articles emphasized two points. (1) Christians are responsible to care for each others’ well being. Thus, we exercise great care in what we say. (2) Christians accept the responsibility involved in personal transformation. Thus, as a Christian, I am responsible to focus on my behavior and attitudes as well as on your example.
Wow! Tough! It is fairly simple for me to focus on your example. If I am honest with myself, it is fairly simple to focus on my example established by my attitudes and behavior. However, all of us encounter a huge problem. God who gave Christ for my sins and forgives my errors is also the God who gave Christ for your sins and forgives your errors. So, when do I treat my mistakes with God’s grace, and when do I treat your mistakes with God’s grace? When do I let God’s grace help you escape your guilt just as I allow God’s grace to help me escape my guilt?
Where is the balance? Who decides where it should be? How do I condemn you without condemning me? If I let my guilt destroy me how am I improved because I destroy you also? Does anything go with repentance? Where is the accountability line drawn? Who draws it? Are you “in” because I say you are “in” or “out” because I say you are “out?” How can we show each other disrespect and not discredit our Savior?
I understand when Elijah ran from Queen Jezebel or Peter denied Jesus when he was “under the gun.” Why? I know and grasp such weakness. I know that kind of weakness happens! However, it is difficult to understand God’s quick forgiveness of David’s adultery, or Bathsheba continuing as David’s queen, or her son by David being Israel’s next king. That puts Isaiah 55:8, 9 in a practical light-truly God’s ways are not our ways! Thankfully, God’s forgiveness does not depend on human understanding.
Congregations-from the beginning-were a delicate balance between mercy and accountability. Jewish Christians did not understand how gentile Christians could be saved without circumcision. Gentile Christians did not understand why Jewish Christians were so hung up on rules. Living congregations ALWAYS are composed of spiritual infants, children, adolescents, and adults of varying degrees of spiritual maturity. If the balance between mercy and accountability is not found and practiced in Jesus Christ, no congregation can thrive as a part of Christ’s earthly body.
In college, an admired teacher stated this in a minor prophets’ study: “You cannot get to Heaven on the mistakes of other people.”
Ouch!!!
Posted by David on February 28, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Paul knew what it was like to live in the “fish bowl.” When you live in the “fish bowl,” you exist for others to observe. If they want to make it their life’s objective, they can spend a lot of hours discovering your flaws and calling your flaws to others’ attention. There were those who seemingly defined their life’s mission to be discovering Paul’s flaws and announcing those flaws to anyone who would listen.
Paul had a huge problem. Prior to conversion, he was the “poster child” of first century Jews who hated what we call Christianity. (They often called it “the Way.”) He said in Acts 26:9, “So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth,” and in verse 11, “And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.” He so violently opposed Christianity prior to his conversion that Jerusalem Christians feared him even after his conversion (see Acts 9:26).
Paul, the Jews’ Jew, understood the Christ (the Messiah) came to save gentiles as well as Jews (see Genesis 12:3; note “all families of the earth;” and Galatians 3:16). Paul’s understanding was NOT popular among most first century Jews-Christian and non-Christian! The result: the violent man became the target. One of the first century’s great ironies: the Jews’ Jew became the Christian apostle to gentiles! Even the Christian Peter, after his Acts 10 experience, lacked the courage to admit God’s interest expressed in Paul’s mission to the gentiles (see Galatians 2:11-14).
Paul had a dream! He wanted to eliminate the gap between Jewish Christians and gentile Christians. To him, the best way to bring healing was for gentile Christians to send a gift to Jewish Christians to aid with physical necessities. Though Paul promoted the gift, collected the gift, and delivered the gift, he could not heal the breach!
Paul’s passion to heal an unnecessary problem significantly contributed to the events that resulted in his death. He wanted to end a problem that God ended in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection (read Galatians 2:11-21). He wanted to “fix” a condition that God “fixed” in Jesus Christ, and he could not! His great efforts to do things honorably in everyone’s sight failed. People continued to be people! Jewish Christians held so tightly to their views that they could not see through God’s eyes! They were so “sure” they saw correctly that they did not comprehend their blindness!
To me, there are several lessons to note. (1) Conflict always will exist among Christians. (2) Some conflicts cannot be “fixed.” (3) The challenge is not always the “fixing,” but being Christians when things need “fixing.” We can act like God’s people even when other Christians do not.
Posted by David on February 21, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
The man or woman who has the confidence in God to be a Christian accepts an unusual challenge! While forgiveness is available to all, transformation is demanding. First, through God’s act in Jesus’ cross comes ongoing forgiveness (see 1 John 1:8-10). One rises from immersion into Christ (Galatians 3:27) to begin the continuing process of transformation (Romans 12:1, 2)-a lifetime process. Most of the New Testament is devoted to the continuing process of transformation individually (Romans 12-15), as well as congregationally (Revelation 2-3).
In the verses above, notice a particular statement: “Respect what is right in the sight of all men.” The immediate context is in the matter of vengeance. The larger context is in the matter of transformation.
This statement illustrates the unusual nature of Christian existence. The Christian is not only concerned with how things “look” to Christians. He or she is also concerned with how things “look” to people not controlled by faith in the God who sent Jesus. It is not only of concern that other Christians see what he or she does as respectable, but that those without faith in God see his or her actions as respectable.
The broader context of Paul’s statement illustrates how remarkable it is. Christians in the first century lived in an idolatrous world. The empire rulers, the national government, the city establishment, the business owners and craftsmen, and the military worshipped other gods. To be against drunkenness, or lying, or merchandizing people, or fornication, or homosexuality, or unstable marriages, or other common forms of self-indulgence was extremely unpopular. For anyone to advocate such was just plain weird if not crazy! Yet, Christians-to properly represent Jesus Christ and God-accepted the responsibility to act honorably among people who often defined honor quite differently.
Does that mean everyone viewed Christian attitudes and acts as good and profitable? No! Even as Paul made the statement, he said, “If possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” If peace did not exist, it would not be the Christian’s fault! This same man detailed reactions against him in 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. His efforts to be at peace with others did not always produce peace! Perhaps Paul’s devotion to peaceableness is best illustrated in 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12-the pre-Christian arrestor of Christians became a kind, tender, caring, encouraging person.
How is such a transformation possible? Christians refuse to engage in “payback.” That attitude exceeds the remarkable in dedication to transformation!
Posted by David on February 14, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Tongue problems are not new in God’s family! That is evident in the context of the above scripture. These people, converted from an idolatrous lifestyle, did not “learn Christ this way” (Ephesians 4:20). They deceived, they acted in anger, they stole, they used words to tear down people, and they grieved God’s Spirit. Their sense of spiritual community was grossly immature! To address their problem, Paul suggested that they allow God’s forgiveness in Christ to be their model. Tongue problems are ancient, and (sorrowfully) each generation renews them by adding new vigor to them.
Consider a prayer:
God, grant us, as a community and as individuals, spiritual maturity’s courage to see and take responsibility for our tongue problems. May we refuse as individuals to allow our personal anxieties to infect the community of believers, and may we not as a community of believers encourage the abusive use of the tongue. May we be forgiving instead of bitter. May we be encouragers instead of being wrath-filled Christians. May confusion diminish because of the way we speak and our words. May we be quick to extol good and slow to destroy reputations. Instead of acting in the hate and spite of malice, give us faith’s courage to understand that evil is destroyed by doing good.
May we be as kind to each other as You are to us in Your perfect knowledge of us. May we be as tender-hearted to each other in our community as we are to one rising from baptism. May Your forgiveness be our model to forgive.
May we have faith’s courage to expect more of self because we know You. May others be attracted to Your community because our words evidence Your wisdom. Because of our words, attitudes, and emotions, may those who do not believe in Jesus not dismiss Your love. May our mouths and the actions our words produce advertise Your greatness. May our words make it obvious You live in us. May the way we treat each other declare the value of Your living in a person. May we understand the privilege of approaching You through Your son as we understand the privilege of being Your child.
Congregations too often are more discredited by Christians’ treatment of each other than by beliefs. May that awareness make each of us fear self. May we be quick to repent, and slow at self-justification. May we feel sorrow rapidly, and feel resentment slowly. May we not say things about each other that we would not repeat to God-for we shall!
May we each aspire to spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ. May we have the courage to be an example that challenges and encourages. May a godless society’s regulations never be the rules of godly spirituality. May God’s people find the direction in Jesus Christ to transform our world instead of letting the world reduce us to its level. May God in Jesus Christ form our holy manners. May the Savior teach us how to behave with the courage that transforms the immature and challenges the unformed in Christ to rise to God’s standards as His people. May our manners in our words be in His hands alone!
Posted by David on February 7, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
One of the distinctions between God and us is seen in the use of words. God takes care about what He says; we often fail to be careful about what we say. While emotions exist in God, God’s words are not chosen by His emotions; too often our emotions choose our words. God uses His words wisely; we often use our words regretfully. God knows the full context of what is said; we too often are deceived by adding or imagining context. God knows both the motives and actions produced by words; we do not. God is not deceived by words; we are.
On one occasion, those who led people religiously were certain that Jesus’ miracles could be “explained” as acts of evil. They accused Jesus of obtaining his power from Satan. Jesus declared the inconsistency between who they said they were and their acts. Jesus’ concluding observation is still chilling: “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36, 37).
Many years ago, I heard an illustration that focused on a dying man who had multiple sons. The sons could not get along. Just before death, the man asked all his sons to come to his bedside with a wooden board, a nail, and a hammer. The sons gathered around their father’s bed with the board, nail, and hammer. He asked the oldest to drive the nail through the board. He asked the middle son to pull it out. He asked the youngest son to pull the hole out. Then the father, looking at his sons, said, “Be careful what you say about each other.” Upon saying that, he died.
Too many times I have exerted every effort known to me trying unsuccessfully to unsay something I said in great confidence. Too many times I have been forced to watch the destructive impact of something I said. To say with heartfelt meaning, “I am sorry!” does not remove the hole left by what I said. God, deliver me from trying to fill the hole with self-justification, emotions I failed to control, or excuses!
Perhaps most painful of all is to discover years later (with greater spiritual maturity) the destruction caused by something I said. There are times in my study today at specific moments that I say to myself, “I said what?” There is little so foolish as the self-assurance of partial knowledge prancing in the deceptive costume of total understanding. If we could limit to ourselves the hurt done, that would be awful, but when that hurt envelops the blameless-that is horrible!
Why would Jesus include our words in our judgment? In the same incident, Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).
“But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:8-10).
Posted by David on January 31, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In the Bible’s brief account of God’s creation of the physical world, there is enormous emphasis on the power of speech and the words speech uses. In the creative acts of God, your attention is directed to two declarations: (1) the creation of the physical happened because God spoke; (2) people were made in the image of God.
It would be difficult to exaggerate the power of speech. Through speech people are encouraged, lifted to the heights, challenged to make great sacrifices, and moved to give life itself for a cause. Because of speech, great battles have been fought, the underdog has achieved the impossible, dreams become visions, movements become governments, and governments become empires. Because of speech, people live and people die. Because of speech, literally the direction of lives is changed.
We have words and phrases that acknowledge the power of speech. We acknowledge wordsmiths exist. These are the people who can create concepts and direct thoughts by the use of words. A quality wordsmith can stir our emotions and penetrate our thinking. We acknowledge spin doctors exist. They specialize in transforming undesirable words into worthwhile thoughts. (Surely, both can abuse as well as use words.)
Most of what exists in your life began with words. This is so true that you likely have a great appreciation for someone who can say or write things well. For anyone-man or woman-who can use words to inspire us or to make us think, we have profound respect. Who is your favorite author? Why? To whom do you listen (always) when he or she speaks? Why? To whom will you never read or listen? Why?
If God made things happen by speaking, and we each were made in God’s image, do you realize the power found in your speech, in the words you use? Do you realize the power your words have to challenge a life to rise to its finest efforts or to dismantle a life so that it crumbles?
If we as Christians represent the God who is so powerful that He said and it existed, always be aware of what you say and the words you use. One of the powers you have because you are in God’s image is found in your speech. In that understanding, those who seek to reflect God are quite careful about what they say.
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person (Colossians 4:6).
Posted by David on January 24, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
In a simple yet straightforward way, Genesis states our beginning. While this could be a deeply theological discussion about the origin of humanity, I prefer here and now to direct your attention to other understandings. (1) Human origin is in God. In our origin, we have great privilege and great responsibility. (2) Our privilege: humanity has a unique ability to reflect God. (3) Our responsibility: reflect Him accurately.
What a blessing for people to be able to reflect God! God’s calling: be the best human we are capable of being. We are not urged to look to our concerns, desires, or self-indulgence as we seek to be our best. We are not even urged to look at the good things around us to determine “good.” “Good” is found in reflecting the God who brought human life into existence. That is the dedication that challenges us to be unselfishly dedicated to His character, filled with grace, and compassionate. Those who first belonged to God failed miserably because they allowed greed, mistrust, and selfishness to conquer them. By submitting to characteristics unworthy of God, they alienated themselves from God. May those who belong to Him now not make Adam and Eve’s mistake! Our blessing is found in reflecting Him!
Our responsibility is seen in our willingness to reflect Him accurately. Realizing He made us (not we Him), we seek to ask the proper question. It is not, “What seems ?good’ to me?” It is, “What does the Holy God say is good?” At times we are so consumed with self-interest as we seek to endure in an ungodly situation, we are severely tempted to define good for God instead of allowing Him to show us good (“this is surely what God would say and do”). We claim to reflect Him when we actually reflect our own concerns. The end result: as we seek to do good, evil results. Perhaps the greater damage is done when we who are supposed to reflect God actually discredit God. Those who do not know God look at us who are supposed to know God and say, “If that is the way Christians act, I want no part of it.”
The wonderful news is that God is patient if we are willing to learn and act on our new understanding. He commonly is nicer to us than we are to others. He shows us how to act by using Jesus, and patiently waits for us to learn.
The weighty news involves us. We individually are responsible for our decisions and acts. It is not an “anything goes” life. It is a life devoted to learning (1) how to be responsible and (2) how appropriately to reflect God in our decisions and actions.
After 50 years of preaching, the principle thing I learned in my life and His word is this: the necessity of combining His patience with an understanding of Him. “Lord, thank you for being so patient with us! Help us learn compassion from You!”
Posted by David on January 17, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
Recently, I watched a group of scientists seeking the site of a huge sea battle occurring about 400 years ago. During that battle, a huge fleet representing European commercial interests confronted a huge Ottoman fleet. Both fleets were determined to control commerce on the Mediterranean Sea. An important by-product of the battle was the direction of world civilization.
The scientists painstakingly researched ancient records. Then they took a ship outfitted with the latest technology to the area of the battle in the Mediterranean Sea. Lastly they used divers to perform “hands on, actual sight” investigations and recovery.
It astounded me that part of the site was located after being under water for 400 years. Shorelines change! It astounded me even more that they recognized metal objects covered with the rust and corrosion of 400 years in salt water. For example, a diver recognized and recovered a sword handle. It was so corroded it did not look like a sword handle. It looked like a worthless part of the sea bed. However, the diver knew what he was looking for and recognized a valuable find when he saw it-in spite of enormous corrosion! To recognize a metal object after 400 years of rust is unthinkable!
Consider something more astounding. God recognized in us something of value after centuries of rust and corrosion through sin. He did not merely remove the corrosion so an ancient, flawed object became apparent. He removed the rust and restored us to a form that reflects His image, as He intended in creation. He has the power to remove the corrosion, restore the object, and allow the object to reflect Him! Incredibly, God sees through the corrosion of sin!
If we could see one human adult untouched by sin and compare that person to human adults submerged in centuries of sin, we would be astounded! What would astound us? We would be astounded (1) by the amount of corrosion, (2) the amount of distortion created by moral rust, (3) and by the fact God recognized anything. However, God knows what He is looking for and recognizes it when He sees it-in spite of the amount of rust and distortion.
The challenge for us as Christians is to recognize (as individuals and congregations) objects of value in people who are covered and distorted by sinfulness’ rust. The reason this challenge gives Christians so much trouble lies in our failure to see our own rustiness. Whatever has been removed from us, God removed. The goal of our obedience is merely to express our gratitude.
He or she who takes credit for the process of his or her own rust removal is sadly lacking in an understanding of God’s work in Jesus’ death and resurrection! The ultimate expression of gratitude is to see others’ need for rust removal and bring them to God. Only by removing rust can anyone reflect God.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
Posted by David on January 10, 2008 under Bulletin Articles
These were Paul’s instructions to Timothy-father to adopted son, preacher to preacher, mentor to trainee. From the beginning, it was difficult to be a godly man who deeply cared about God, God’s people, and be an elder. Elders were humans who made mistakes. They, too, lived with temptation. They, too, could be victims of bias.
Little has changed. Members’ expectations often exceed an elder’s time or training. Situations increasingly are complex. Demands are relentless. Critics rarely have the information elders have. What appears to be simple is never simple. In crisis moments, elders frequently are in “no win” situations they did not produce. While caring, they can be accused of not caring. They protect confidences as if no confidences exist. Also:
- They serve an all volunteer organization as if they were paid C.E.O.’s of a profitable company.
- Members appoint them for spiritual maturity, but treat them as immature if they “do not agree with my view.”
- They are expected to study, but keep quiet if what they learn conflicts with typical conclusions.
- They are expected to produce money to fund anyone’s passionate cause.
- They are expected to have and use people skills no one possesses.
- They are expected to understand those who misunderstand them.
- Their families silently endure grief and pay prices few know.
So why would any man agree to be an elder? For the same reason a godly person agrees to be a deacon, a business management team participant, a leader of a program, a teacher, or an involved member. (1) They love God. (2) They love people. (3) They understand God’s purposes are bigger than the physical realities of right now. (4) They seek to use their gifts to serve God rather than themselves.
If Christians are to benefit from selfless, capable leadership, we consciously need to produce the joys of leading rather than the pain of discontentment. Respond to godly leadership. Get involved. Have a servant heart rather than a controller’s mind. May godly people never decline leadership because of unnecessary heartache.
