Posted by David on May 17, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
In an earlier work, I spent years teaching, counseling, urging, associating with, and encouraging people seeking recovery. They came from all levels and involvements in life. All they had in common was a desire to recover.
This weekend I was in the mall late Saturday afternoon. I did not see one person I knew in the hour I was there. Nor did I identify with anyone in the sea of humanity flowing by me. I had the same feeling I had in the past when in a culture I did not know.
My point: if you asked people in either situation to name the top five sources of encouragement in our society, the church would not appear in their lists. I know so in my first example. I have specific memories of encouraging tearful people to come into a church building to a group meeting. Why were they crying? In their minds, church buildings were places they associated with pain, not for help with their struggles.
I confess at times I wearied of hearing about the thoughtless things Christians did or said in “the name of Christ.” I also find it troubling to read of Jesus spending time with people who lost hope. Helping struggling people is always complex. Yet, God cares about those we are often tempted to “write off.”
It is difficult to be a godly person in this society. Because of persecution? No! There is little persecution here. In this society (1) it is easy to be self-centered; (2) it is easy to substitute society’s emphasis for God’s values; and (3) it is easy to do both. In spite of all the New Testament’s examples of sufferings and hardships, it is easy to conclude that “going to church” will result in having a “good life” (as defined by the individual).
The church in Thessalonica had significant problems. (1) They misunderstood Christian suffering (3:3). (2) They needed to grow in love for each other (3:12; 4:9, 10). (3) Some were sexually immoral (4:3). (4) They needed to improve in their treatment of unbelievers (4:12). (5) They misunderstood the meaning of death (4:13). (6) They misunderstood when the end would come (5:1-11). (7) They did not respect spiritual leaders as they should (5:12, 13).
The interesting thing was Paul’s solution. It was not “sweep house and rid yourself of troublemakers.” Paul’s solution: “encourage the struggling.”
All of us have moments and situations of discouragement. God never gives up on us. Please may we not give up on each other. When we struggle, we do not need added discouragement. We need encouragement! May we as God’s people be known for our ability to encourage others! May the weak look to you for strength (Romans 15:1).
Thank all of you who are involved with things like the Hope Chest, CURE, tutoring, youth work, college work, mission efforts, the sick, visitors, and the timid. Investments in people are eternal. May we all arrive in heaven because of each other, not in spite of each other. May your holy manners be many people’s spiritual strength!
Posted by David on May 10, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
Though the Philippian Christians seemed untroubled in a casual reading of Paul’s letter, evidences in the letter suggest they had interpersonal relationship problems as Christians.
- The challenge to behave worthy of Christ’s gospel (1:27-30).
- Paul’s plea in the above text (2:1-4).
- The sending of Timothy to check on their condition (2:19).
- Paul’s explanation for his personal commitment (3:1-17).
- Recognition of the “enemies” in the congregation (3:17-21).
- The congregational conflict involving Euodia and Syntyche (4:2, 3).
In the context of internal rivalry, consider Paul’s admonition concerning proper conduct:
- “If you want to give me genuine cause for joy as I am under arrest, be of one mind (toward each other), preserve Christian love(that brought you together in Christ), be united in spirit (Jesus Christ’s spirit that produced your salvation), have a common purpose (determined by Jesus Christ’s objective).”
- “Never function in selfishness or empty conceit in the Christian community.”
- “Function in humility with high regard for other Christians.”
- “Consider the interests of other Christians as superior to your own interests.”
Paul based the example of appropriate Christian conduct on Jesus’ example in yielding to God, coming to earth, and living a life of surrender as a creature he helped bring into existence (2:5-8). He (as should we) let God magnify him (2:9-11), which God did.
One of the more difficult challenges every Christian confronts: determining appropriate behavior when a fellow Christian does not share our values, come to our conclusions, or behave like we want him or her to behave. Those moments make Paul’s injunction to contending Christians in Romans 14:10-12 extremely difficult to understand and follow. It is hard to leave such matters in God’s hands!
We understand that we practice good manners in physical matters to preserve civilized behavior. Good manners are not practiced because such are deserved. When people fail to practice good manners, civil behavior unravels. More is threatened than the moment!
Religiously, Christians practice holy manners to preserve Jesus Christ’s influence in the Christian community. Failure to do so threatens our spiritual family. Always, more is threatened than the moment! God’s influences advance with godly manners! God’s influence suffers when Christian’s use ungodly manners in His family.
Posted by David on May 3, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
As I share these thoughts, I am not one who has it all figured out. No human, man or woman, “has it all figured out.” Humans encourage. God through Jesus Christ models. Appreciating human examples of godly influence is appropriate. However, Christians revere only one model: God’s actions and behavior through Jesus Christ.
The powerful affirmation of God’s love for us is found in Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
While we were everything God is not, before we committed to any solution God gave for our salvation, before we pledged to transform our emotions or behavior, God paid the full price for our forgiveness at enormous cost to Himself. God loved us while we were His enemies. In the same context, Paul asked, “How can you doubt His commitment to you when God loved you enough to forgive you prior to your commitment to conversion?”
The relevant point to Christians as we define godly love is this: If God loves us that much, how much should we love other Christians? How much should we love people?
Love is not a weak emotion and behavior! It is infinitely challenging! To love believing, penitent, baptized Christians with whom we disagree is an enormous challenge! It is extremely difficult to understand that Christians cannot represent God’s truth by attacking people! Such does not reflect the way God in Christ functions!
In the Ephesians scripture, note Paul’s concepts. (1) There is a fitting and unfitting way for Christians to behave. (2) Fitting Christian behavior includes humility, gentleness, and patience. (3) Godly patience forbears [endures each other’s faults]. (4) Such humility, gentleness, and patience are possible in Christians because [like God] their love for one another is greater than the faults they observe. (5) These qualities preserve unity and bind Christians together in peace.
They are not unified because they conform. They are unified because their love for each other comes from God’s love for all of them. They do not live in peace because they agree on everything. They live in peace because God’s love is the source of their peace.
Anyone can live in unity and peace with those who agree with them. Only the godly can live in unity and peace with those who do not agree with them.
The #1 holy manner in Christians is to act with love-even when we endure the unlovable!
Posted by David on April 26, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
Godliness’ foundation manner is “agape” love. The Greek language (the primary, original language of the New Testament) used four words for love. The English language has only one word for love.
The Greek word often used in the New Testament is some form of “agape.” Its uniqueness is this: It is not based on feeling (emotion), but on intent. One treats others as he or she wishes to be treated. This treatment is not based on how the Christian is treated, but on how God and Jesus Christ would behave.
Four scriptures come to my mind quickly when I consider the loving Christian.
“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:46-48).
Even if I do not feel positively toward you, I treat you with respect as does my God.
“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10).
A Christian seeks good for all. He or she “goes beyond the anticipated” in doing good to other believing, repenting, baptized Christians.
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).
The ability and willingness to show love’s respect is the primary mark of discipleship among Christians.
“… We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Few care what we know until they see what we know affecting our behavior, making us better people. Until a Christian’s knowledge leads to love, it produces arrogance.
Two of these statements were made by Jesus. Two were made by Paul. All four address extremely difficult situations: (1) the treatment of those you do not like; (2) the treatment of weak Christians who fall to temptation; (3) the understanding that service is superior to control; (4) idolatry [that affected most gentile Christians].
For 2,000 years horrible things have happened in God’s family when Christians have failed to understand the manners of love.
Posted by David on April 19, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
In the elders’ and ministers’ retreat this past weekend and in the lesson Sunday morning, Charles Siburt called attention to “Holy Manners.” He emphasized that in our congregations nation-wide, many Christians do not know how to behave as Christians.
When Paul wrote 1 Timothy, he left Timothy in Ephesus to address situations needing immediate attention (1:3). Though Ephesus was one of the earliest Christian communities with an established eldership (Acts 20:17), some situations needed attention. This was principally a gentile congregation in a large, important city.
Ephesus’ reputation reached world-wide. It was one of Asia Minor’s oldest cities, likely numbering in the hundreds of thousands in the first century. The gathering place for Ephesians (the amphitheater) seated 25,000 people.
Ephesus was the home of the goddess known as Artemis [the Roman Diana]. Her temple was the largest building in the Greek world. Her existence in Ephesus produced a fierce loyalty among most Ephesians (see Acts 19:27-29).
Thus Christians existed in an idol-worshipping city where most people knew much more about idolatrous conduct than Christian conduct. Many Christians simply did not know how to act like Christians. They confronted two continuing problems: (1) It was quite acceptable to worship many gods. (2) Christians must not live like, act like, or behave like the majority who did not know or feel loyalty to Jesus Christ.
Christians simply needed to learn how to act like Christians. Idol worshippers acted in ways characterizing people believing in pagan gods. Christians should act in ways characterizing Christians. There were idol-worshipping behaviors and Christ-worshipping behaviors. There were moral standards attached to the gods and moral standards attached to Jesus. Christians must daily know and model the differences. People should be able to determine a Christian’s commitment by the way he or she lives every day.
In the above text, “household” meant family. “Church” referred to who they were 24 hours a day, every day, not a building at an address. It was men and women who believed in the resurrected Jesus Christ all the time. It was the “pillar and support of the truth” because it literally changed who they were. They learned the “new manners” of a person belonging to God through Jesus Christ.
American Christians live in a society that worships many things-materialism, pleasure, status symbols, material security, etc. Who we are and what we live for distinguishes us from those who do not know or feel loyalty to Jesus Christ. Questions: “Do you know ‘Holy Manners’? How does your behavior declare your faith in Jesus?”
Posted by David on April 12, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
If God could change me any way He wished, what would He change? How would the way I think be different? How would what I value be different? How would my priorities change? What would happen to the way I use my time? In what would I get involved? What would I discontinue? How would my “to do” list be altered?
Of this I feel certain-we all would change! The congregation, dating, marriages, parenting, job performance, and relationships would change! In fact, most of us-if not all of us-would be shocked at some of the changes God made in us. Not only would we be astounded at some areas of alteration God made, but when we knew and understood the reason, we would be even more astounded.
Some changes we prize. Many prize becoming a teenager. Many prize becoming 16 so we can acquire a driver’s license. Many prize high school graduation, college graduation, qualifying for most anything, a first paycheck, a wanted job, a wanted engagement, a wanted marriage, a wanted birth, a first home, a first car, etc.
Some changes we do not like. Many do not like turning 30 or 40 or 50 – need we go any further? Most do not like divorce, ruptured relationships, boring jobs, debt, traffic violations, unreasonable stress, being dominated by unbearable people, over commitment, impossible expectations, sickness, death, etc.
Transformation is about changing us. Generally speaking, adults least like change when it involves “changing me.” “Do not mess with my body-I like it the way it is!” “Do not mess with my mind-I like it the way it is!” “Do not mess with my priorities-I like them the way they are!” “I am okay. I have no complaints with me! Why can you not just accept me as okay? If I am pleased with me, why can’t you be pleased with me?”
Being a Christian is choosing to be transformed. Choosing to be transformed is choosing to change. It is choosing to allow God into my heart by changing the way I feel. It is choosing to allow God into my mind by changing the way I think. It is choosing to allow God into my body by changing how I use it. It is choosing to allow God to make me a person who never stops growing in His values and priorities. It is choosing to live for eternity instead of living for now.
Transformation is not about joining an organization and conforming to expectations of others. It is about becoming the person God can make me. Transformation never stops!
Posted by David on April 5, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
The Jewish Christian Paul made that statement. Did he ever understand it! The murdering blasphemer and persecutor (1 Timothy 1:13) became a Christian because God wished to verify Jesus Christ’s patience (1 Timothy 1:16). So the man who helped kill to keep Judaism pure became the apostle to idolatrous gentiles. Gentiles were ignorant– warping the view of deity, worshipping ridiculous things, and living by abusive morality.
Paul knew his old ways could not be defended. As a result, the Christian Paul approached the “untouchables” with the same kindness and mercy God showed him in Jesus Christ.
Did the majority of Jewish Christians appreciate Paul’s efforts? NO! (See Acts 15:1, 2, 5, 6-11. Please note Jewish Christians who did not like what they saw produced this emotional meeting.)
For a moment, let me role play as if I were one of those Jewish Christians. “What is going on? Does not everyone understand Christianity began in Jerusalem with Jewish converts? We are the ?mother’ church! It is unthinkable that Christians would not pray at the temple or study scripture in a synagogue! Why, many of these uncircumcised people becoming Christians do not even know Jewish traditions! Surely, they can accept Jesus Christ if first they let us teach them how to do things!”
Baptizing gentile believers meant enormous change! Many first century Jewish Christians did not like it! Yet, Jesus Christ gave his life to save sinners, and that included gentiles. God was as delighted with the repentance and baptism of a gentile as a Jew. That was difficult to understand when Jews thought they held the patent on God! Nobody did God like they did God! God was theirs for 2000 years!
Would we all agree that Jesus died to save sinners? That God does not care about the nationality or ethnicity of a person? That if a person is willing to repent of sins, God does not care if you are homeless or live in a $500,000 structure? That God forgives any background, past lifestyle, or godless behavior of the believer who repents and is baptized for the forgiveness of sin? I suspect all of us would heartily AMEN all that.
We as Christians have little trouble with the “before.” Our big challenges are with “after.” If we succeeded in our God-given-mission to convert to Jesus Christ, what would success look like? I confess freely I have no idea! I know that people who “do things like me” quickly would find themselves in the minority. Faith and repentance would be considerably more important than 100-year-old traditions!
The thoughts of success in God’s objectives in Jesus Christ make me sweat a cold sweat. How about you? Do you think God is THAT serious about saving sinners?
“… The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)
Posted by David on March 29, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
I am often grieved as I observe ungodly acts and deeds come from good intentions. That definitely includes my actions as well as others’! When we act in fear or give responsibility for our acts to others, we often commit ungodly acts with the rationale that we are acting “for godly reasons in God’s behalf.” When I think of things I did in “godly concern,” I shake my head in disbelief and thank God for His mercy. I also conclude we can justify almost anything we do!
Godly people justified killing God’s own son! When Jesus raised Lazarus, people who were “concerned for the nation of Israel” were deeply concerned!
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” (John 11:46-50)
Israel’s religious leaders were concerned about the nation’s future. Pilate was concerned about an extremely awkward situation. Rome was concerned about controlling the Jewish people at a volatile time. The soldiers were just following orders. Jewish mockers (Matthew 26:67, 68) reveled in seeing the miracle worker seemingly helpless. The twelve were concerned about the movement’s future-if Jesus died, was there a movement?
Ask them if their concern was “right,” and they would have said, “Yes!” Could God’s purposes be achieved if Israel ceased to exist? Could anything good result from a Jewish revolt? Would disobeying orders solve anything? Was not Jewish society better off without this divisive man? How could there be a movement if Jesus was dead?
The effect of seemingly legitimate concerns produced a single outcome-an innocent man’s death. We are deeply indebted to Jesus and to God for that death. However, the suffering and injustice was incredible! Only Jesus saw the true irony-they had no idea of what they did! God used it-no thanks to humanity!
Wonder how frequently God must act in our failure? Wonder how often the Christ still says, “They have not the least insight into what they do!” Wonder how often God says of us, “How do they think godless motives promote a godly cause?”
For “the name of God is blasphemed among the [godless] Gentiles BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written (Romans 2:24). Never deceive yourself: Godly results are never produced by ungodly motives. Be honest with yourself about your motives and acts.
Posted by David on March 22, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
When I think back to 1969 to my first trip out of the United States, it gives me “goose bumps” of embarrassment. To now realize how arrogant and naive I was then is incredible now! I actually thought everyone in the entire world was exactly alike in the ways they thought and reasoned, but they just spoke different languages. (We are not even alike in this country-just listen to our political wrangling, look at our divided congregations, and consider our divorce rate!)
To presume to tell other people how they should think and feel is arrogance supreme! To believe your way of reasoning is superior to other people’s ways of reasoning is horribly na?ve! Consequently, people look at us (not listen to us!), dismiss us with a wave of the hand or shake of the head, and mutter to their friends, “They are Americans.” If you wish to observe this phenomena, look at everything we do-from wage war, to seek treaties, to conduct international business!
I distinctly remember re-entering American customs in New York after living with my family for two years in West Africa. A huge American flag hung from the ceiling just past customs. Tears filled my eyes just to think of what was ahead. My first visit to a grocery store was an emotional experience. I had not seen that much food in two years-and it was so affordable! My first worship upon return was a jolt! A carpeted, air-conditioned room with padded pews after two years of split bamboo seats and dirt floors “in the bush”! Never had I appreciated life in this country as then! Never had I been filled with such a sense of privilege!
When we had guests from the population area in which we lived in West Africa, I was deeply concerned. How would they react when they saw the prosperity of American congregations? (At maximum strength, we had six families working together.) The comment of my brothers: “You people left this to come live with us?”
Hopefully, something happened in your life to make you aware of your privileges. Hopefully, something happened to make you realize that you enjoy what many never dream about (they have never seen it to dream of it!).
Do you realize the privilege of knowing Jesus Christ? Is that sense of privilege bigger than money? Bigger than possessions? Bigger than lifestyle? Bigger than social level? Bigger than health? Bigger than death? No matter how you live or when you die, do you count it an enormous privilege to know Jesus Christ?
Is it obvious you consider it the privilege of privileges? Is that privilege reflected in who you are and how you live? Is it reflected in how you treat other people-including your family whom you live with and your fellow workers with whom you labor?
We will never correctly reflect our God and our Savior unless we see each of them through eyes that see privilege! A sense of privilege must silence our complaints!
Posted by David on March 15, 2007 under Bulletin Articles
“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)
Peter made the first statement to a group that Cornelius assembled. Jesus made the second.
Were we in a situation for you to ask me questions, many would be answered with an “I do not know.” The longer I live, the more impressed I am with the enormity of evil, the enormity of caring people, the enormity of need, and the enormity of our mission.
Before you say, “You are weird!” let me confess at times I even think of myself as weird. Because I know specific individual Christians in struggling nations, I am troubled by a question. It is not, “Why do they have it so rough?” It is, “Why do I have it so good?” Some of them look at me as being powerful. I look at myself as powerless. Then I realize, “It is all a matter of perspective combined with need.”
It often troubles me to learn of others’ expectations and focus. Why? Because I remember when I had similar expectations and focus.
Perhaps I can focus you on this dilemma by challenging your perspective. Did Jesus raise every dead Israelite? Heal every sick person? Feed every hungry Israelite? Did every blind person he passed see? Did every lame person he saw walk? Did he come for a bigger purpose than raising the dead to die again, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, or curing the blind and lame? What about those who were NOT helped?
Can you personally teach every person who needs to be taught? Give guidance to every person who needs insight? Have the answer for every spiritual dilemma? Respond usefully to every situation? Solve complications created by poor choices? No!
Is everything just a matter of perspective? Or logic? Or “correct” responses? Or “sound” answers? If the destination is A, is it just a matter of plotting the human steps necessary to reach A?
If it is all up to us, why do we keep making messes? If it is not all up to us, how do we determine God’s role? Where is the balance between our efforts and God’s efforts?
You cannot do it all! You can let God work! How? By making sure you do what Jesus did-go about doing good. Let God use your good for His purposes!
