Friday, March 08, 2024

Both Zealous and Jealous

Both Zealous and Jealous

“Zeal” is generally regarded as a positive; “jealous,” not so much. But in the Bible, “zealous” and “jealous” are actually quite close to one another. We will look at their positive use.

First, we should notice that God describes Himself in the Bible as jealous: Ex. 34:14 — “for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”; and Deut. 4:24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”

God is jealous for His own glory. For God, that is a righteous thing, whereas if you are jealous for your own glory at the expense of others, that is a sinful thing. The difference is that God is unique, and He has no rivals. So attempts to “steal” the glory of God are an offense, and stirs God’s righteous jealousy. When you get all worked up because someone has slighted you, you’re just being petty.

God is zealous for His glory, moving him to jealousy when that glory is violated. There are some areas where this rightly applies to us. As a married person, if someone violates your spouse, you have every right to be moved to jealousy, and you should have a righteous zeal to recover or protect their honor and to see that justice is done. In fact, if you are not j(z)ealous with regard to this offense, then there is a moral nerve missing from your character.

In addition to moral jealousy with regard to horizontal, human relationships, people created in the image of God (that would be all humans) have a responsibility to their Creator to be jealous for His glory and zealous in cultivating reverence for Him. Obviously, most do not do this, but those who are Christians certainly should. And this applies to Jesus as well. Peter says, “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). We are to j(z)ealous for His honor, to fail to do so is to be missing a core element of being a Christian.

Elijah, a prophet during evil Ahab’s day, was zealous for the Lord. He boldly proclaimed God’s honor in the face of powerful, idolatrous opposition. He was involved in the vindication of God’s honor on Mt. Carmel, a lone prophet against the horde of the prophets of Baal. And God revealed His power and potency; His glory. Then .. Elijah ran for his life. Here is his testimony: “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” He is asking, “Was it worth it?”

But God gently reminds Elijah that it was indeed worth it; that the story was not finished; that Elijah was never truly alone. And God reminds us of something else. God is not only jealous and zealous for His own glory. He is also jealous and zealous for His people. He calls us “the apple of His eye:” Zech. 2:8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.” Your eye is a part of you that you instinctively guard most carefully. God’s instinct is to even more carefully guard His children. Jesus shows this instinct as He prays for His disciples and for us in John 17, just before His arrest: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. (v.11); “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (vv.20-21). If Christ is j(z)ealous for me, then I can be j(z)ealous for Him.

Friday, March 01, 2024

Mindfulness and Prayerfulness Distinguished

Mindfulness and Prayerfulness Distinguished

Of the many life strategies advocated in print and digitally, one that caught my attention was the recommendation of “mindfulness.” I would like rather to recommend “prayerfulness.”

First of all, they are not the same thing. Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone who sets their, well, “mind” to it. What exactly their “mind” is, or how it is equipped to engage in this activity, who knows? When it comes to minds, we are all dealing with a flawed tool.

But prayerfulness, and I am speaking of Christian prayer, is much different. First of all, it is a function of the soul, that non-material part of your being that doctors cannot examine but that God can. Similar to physical lungs, the soul’s “breath” is prayer. Sadly, most people’s souls don’t “breathe” much. Mindfulness need not engage the soul; true prayer does.

Prayer has an object. You are not talking to yourself in prayer, nor the ceiling. You are talking to the Creator and King of the universe, who is also, by virtue of faith in Christ, your heavenly Father. This alone sets it far apart from mindfulness. But also, Christian prayer is mediated by our ascended Lord, Jesus, who is at the right hand of the Father. He is called our High Priest, and every word or thought of our prayers reaches the ears of the Father through the Person of Jesus. And still more, this ascended Lord, Jesus, has given His Spirit into the hearts of those who believe in Him, that is, every true Christian, and this Spirit, among many functions, helps us in our prayers. He inspires us to pray; He guides us to pray aright; He edits our wrong-headed prayers. That is, we don’t pray in isolation, all by ourselves.

Now compare this to mindfulness. Since there is no divine element in mindfulness, you are indeed talking to yourself. Think about that. Whereas in prayer, you are talking to the one, true God, in mindfulness, you are talking to the biggest authority that you recognize, yourself. That is, you consider yourself to be your own god (if there are many gods, the “g” cannot be capitalized).

And in mindfulness, you are the facilitator of your own activity. Think back to the Old Testament where only Israel’s high priest could take the offering into the Holy of Holies once a year for the atonement of the people. That is now fulfilled in what Jesus did for us on the cross, a one-time event that completed fully the demands of God’s justice and also salvation for those who come to Christ. But with mindfulness, your messy mind is your own not-so-holy of holies. You are fabricating your own redemption through your half- baked thoughts collected indiscriminately from last night’s late show. And you are replacing the Spirit’s “energy” for prayer with an instinct to “reach out” or “reach up,” all the while asserting your own sovereignty and deity that starts and stops with you. You are, in essence, saying, “I can fix myself.” God’s Word says otherwise.

Now, have I overstated or been unfair? Perhaps. Christians who pray can also be mindful. But, this must be admitted. Christian’s pray. A Christian who does not pray is a contradiction of terms. And when we stand before God one day, Christian prayer is an assurance that we will not be talking to a Stranger. Mindfulness cannot make that claim.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Heaven is a World of Love

The title of this post is from Jonathan Edwards and the title of one of his essays. It describes a world in which love is pure and unsullied. Heaven is a world of love. We don’t have that now.

I would like to address just one aspect of the problem of an sullied love (definition: defiled or tainted, soiled or stained). But first we must remove a common error. “The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference.” That is a quote that I copied a couple weeks ago. I didn’t keep the source since it is a common observation. Love and hate are not opposites. You can imagine a person, perhaps a spouse, who has been betrayed by his/her partner. They have loved this person, and they continue to do so. But they also hate him/her. Love and hate can coexist in the same person and at the same time. Some would be surprised to note that the Bible calls upon us to love, but it also calls us to hate - to hate the things that God hates.

No, the opposite of love is indifference. There were very few Valentine cards shared last week that said, “I love you will all my heart, and I couldn’t care less.” Garrison Keillor from Prairie Home Companion had a sketch where he claimed that it was disinterest that drew him and his wife together in the first place. Likewise, we would never say that indifference is the glue that holds us together.

Can you imagine being a patient in a care facility, perhaps a hospital? And can you imagine that there would be a difference between a nurse or attendant who did their job with clinical efficiency, but with personal disinterest; and then contrast this with another caregiver who functions with the same clinical skills, but who provides that skill combined with love for you, the patient? Would you notice the difference? I believe you would. Why? Because they care. Caregivers are those who care. They love. It makes a difference.

But caring and loving is hard. It is painful. When you love a person, there is no guarantee that they will you love back. Or, given the illustration above, maybe they will die. I suppose the first, uncaring “caregiver” could say, “Oh well, another one bites the dust.” But not the second. He/she will grieve. It hurts to lose in love.

And so we have to ask, how was it that Jesus served us? He had the unique ability to provide redemption to sinful humanity because he was both divine and human. Only God can save, and only One can save who can walk in our shoes and die in our place. He had the ability to do the job. Now did He do so with disinterest? The beginning of John 13, describing Jesus in the Upper Room just before He was arrested, was described like this: “Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” There was no disinterest on the part of Jesus.

And so, if we claim to be followers of Jesus; if we claim to be Christians, we cannot give ourselves over to indifference. We must love, which will help prepare us for heaven, because heaven is a world of love.

How many couples do you know who continue to live with each other as they grow older, but they live with indifference toward each other? Wouldn’t it be something if Christ were welcomed into their relationship, that they might once again discover an unsullied love?

Thursday, February 15, 2024

All Paczki; No Ash

All Paczki; No Ash

It was interesting to me that Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday both shared the same day this past week. It seems that valentines won out over ashes. But more importantly is the distinction between “Fat Tuesday” and Ash Wednesday. I don’t think that there is any doubt that there were many, many more people with paczki in their  bellies than ash on their foreheads. 

Why is it that we think we can choose one and just ignore the other? Paczki may be a Polish expression of the approaching Lenten season, but it clearly has a religious connection, as does Ash Wednesday. Can you really just take one without the other? The only way to do so is to entirely remove the religious element.

Here’s another example: heaven, and hell. Many more people talk about heaven than hell. Many more people believe in heaven than hell. But can you have one without the other? If heaven is the place/state of God’s eternal favor, isn’t there then a place/state of God’s eternal disfavor? The Bible is pretty clear about this.

Biblically, this ties in to the distinction between the divine verdicts of condemnation or justification. We are not talking about self-condemnation or self-justification. This is about having a broken relationship with God or a restored relationship with God. It is something that God fixes for us through Christ, thus, justified, or that He doesn’t, thus condemned. Yes, we have a decisive part in this, but God is the Judge, not you, and if you are not one, you are the other, either condemned, or justified. There is no middle ground. 

Ignoring the issue is not a strategy. It is an option, but a foolish one, as if one approaches a debt problem as if it will work itself out all by itself. To drift through life with a broken relationship with God, thinking that it will fix itself, is the height of foolishness. We get frustrated with people when they do not address their foolish financial practices or miserable health habits, but scarcely think about the masses who fail to address a broken relationship with their Creator and their eternal destiny. 

I wonder if faith and repentance are just a little like paczki and ashes. A lot of people talk about faith in rather doughy terms, but have no category for repentance, the practice of addressing wrongs wherein we agree with God about His standards of right and wrong and seriously admit our failings. But can you have one without the other? True faith in God is only possible when we look to God rather than ourselves because we finally admit that we are broken and damaged people. Justification (a right relationship with God) is only possible when we reach out to Christ due a solemn conviction that we are under condemnation without Him. Heaven is our hope only when we understand that Hell is our deserved destiny as those who stand under condemnation and that our so-called faith has been mostly just talk. 

Regret over the paczek (singular) or paczki (plural) you consumed on Tuesday doesn’t get you to Wednesday, does it? It goes deeper than that. One must seriously consider not just one’s own appetites and feelings, and consider what God has to say about these things.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Thinking Out Loud

Thinking Out Loud

Baboons don’t think. They may have excellent instincts, but they don’t reason. It is one of the ways that humans are different. I should say, it is one of the ways that humans should be different.

Not all humans think. Many of our responses are more reactions than they are reasoned responses, almost more like a reflex. I have noticed some other instances when I’m pretty sure people are not thinking. One is rehearsing. When a person recites for me what they heard on the news show last night, they are not thinking. They are reporting. Now reporters can think, but many reporters just say what they have heard

Also, if you tell me the same story over and over, I don’t think you are thinking. It’s the first thing that comes to mind, and you are telling a story that pretty much bypasses the thought process.

But how is it that we think? Some people are gifted, having developed the interiority of their minds so that they can build a thought structure that continues to get developed over time. Most of us are not like that. We’ve got to write things down. We are helped by talking to others about it. We need to think out loud.

Also, thinking takes time. We need to turn things over in our minds, and consider other facets of a truth or theory to see if it really works out. Taking time to think is something that our culture does rather miserably because we tend to be in such a hurry.

The other question that I would mention is this: about what should we think? And the answer it limitless. We live in a world that begs to be examined, to be thought about. What makes a person righteous and what makes a person wicked is worth thinking about. The role of the sovereign and infinite God over against the roles of temporary, finite humans is worth thinking about (and, we tend to overestimate ourselves, and underestimate God, both damaging errors). And we should think out loud about these things. Find people with whom you can actually talk something serious.

I would hope that churches are places where this can happen. Hopefully, the person up front isn’t just reading what he got off the internet or now, ChatGPT. Hopefully the people will engage with one another over more issues than health and politics (though I admit that health and politics are worth thinking about - but there’s got to be more than that). Let’s use the minds that God gave us for their intended use.

If you only think about the weather, you’re probably not really thinking. If you only think about money, maybe you are just counting and measuring. If you bypass the wonders of the world and the deep things of God, then it seems to me, you are living more like a baboon.

Thursday, February 01, 2024

The Christian Economy

The Christian Economy

This article is not about money. It is about “household rules,” which
is what the Greek word, transliterated, economia, means in the
New Testament. Oh, it might have a bearing on what money is and
how it is used. But it is about the way that a family, in this case, the
family of God, conducts itself.

Jane and I listened to a podcast while driving. A man interviewed is
participating with others in seeking to construct an alternate
economy
where the products are home-grown, and thus the
purchases benefit local people and thus our own society.

But what struck me is how this speaker is seeking to do what
Christians have always been meant to do: living as Christians in
an ungodly world.
We are to carefully adopt Christian values
using Christian patterns of speech and utilizing Christ-like
relationships to accomplish lives and service that glorify Christ.

We have been very sloppy about this. There seems to have been too
much to gain by imitating the world in the pursuit of “the good
life”
for us to diligently follow the Christian text and Spirit and
marry it with distinctively Christian practices, or, to pursue “the
God-life.”
Now, when I say that we have been very sloppy, I
understand “sloppy” is not a Biblical term. The Bible doesn’t say
“sloppy.” It says “sinful.” When we are more intent in profiting from
the world’s economy than living according to God’s
“economia,”
we are guilty of being involved in, as the Old
Testament says, spiritual adultery.

Humility rather than arrogance. That’s part of God’s economia.
Love the things that God loves, and hate the things that He hates.
Be bold in faith, but show restraint in how we express ourselves,
being careful to live pure and holy lives. Serve the Lord before or
instead of serving self. Love people even when they do not love
back. Forgive, and forgive again. Repent, again and again. As you can
see, God’s economia is different from the world’s economy.

Titus 2:11-14 instructs Titus how to lead a group of Christians on the
ungodly island of Crete: “For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness
and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and
godly
in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14
who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed,
and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession,
zealous for good deeds.”

Friday, January 26, 2024

Vanity and Vapidity

Vanity and Vapidity

I don’t know if you like words, but you should. Thinking carefully about words can help us see things from a fresh perspective.

So let’s start with “vanity.” Ecclesiastes begins “vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” The dictionary gives a 3rd option which fits this passage: “Worthlessness, pointlessness, or futility.” We are not talking here of “conceited” or “arrogant.” We are thinking about people who are regarded or are occupied with worthless or pointless things.

Abel was born to Eve, a second son, and she named him “worthless.” “Abel” is from Hebrew whose only given meaning in the lexicon is our definition above. It seems that Cain was Eve’s prize. I think Eve thought that Cain was the “seed” who would triumph over the serpent and restore order to the world. As it turns out, Cain only brought about greater disorder, murdering “worthless” Abel. But it is Abel we will see in heaven, not Cain. A quick point here: just because someone is named or regarded as worthless doesn’t mean that he/she is worthless.

Our next word is vapid: “lacking flavor, zest, interest, animation, or spirit: flat, dull.” This can apply to the can of Coke that has been sitting on the counter too long; or it can apply to the person with whom you are caught in conversation. It may be a person who can only think about petty concerns; or, it can apply to a person who has filled his/her mind with small-minded things, and their minds have shrunk to accommodate the quality of its content.

You may think I’m being rude and uncaring. But that’s not my point. My point is that human beings are to be neither vain in the worthless sense, or vapid in the shallow sense. Humans are the most interesting thing on this earth (and Jesus, since He walked this earth, is the most interesting Person who ever lived here). Humans are more interesting than any (other) animal; more interesting than inter-galactic theories, more interesting than microscopic mysteries. Humans are created in the the image of God, and are created to pursue ideals and to argue for what is better and what is best. Monkeys don’t do that and never will.

And because humans are worthwhile, and are found to be interesting, than they ought to be interesting. Certainly each one is interesting in their own way, but they should not allow themselves to be boring, with no flavor or scent or, interest. And that will only happen as we consider higher thoughts and bigger things than ourselves. It only happens when we consider the One who is bigger than us, and the One who made us to be worthwhile, and interesting.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Why is it that You have Contrived this Deed in your Heart? (Acts 5:4 NAS95)

Why is it that You have Contrived this Deed in your Heart? (Acts 5:4 NAS95)

I killed a mouse recently. I named him Ananias. I was pretty sure that he wasn’t working alone, so I re-set the trap for Sapphira. They played dirty in the wrong house. Both are now dead and gone.

In the fledgling days of the New Testament church it was essential to get off on the right foot and stay on the right track. The “right foot” would be the power of the Holy Spirit, and the “right track” would be to live in humility and holiness.

This was true in the Old Testament as well, as Israel entered into the Promised Land. They needed to follow God’s lead and do things God’s way. This is why Achan’s sin in stealing some of the spoil from the destruction of Jericho was so bad (Joshua 7). It was under God’s ban. And this is why Ananias’ and Sapphira’s sin was so serious (Acts 5), with serious consequences for all involved

At the beginning of the New Testament era, people were “all in.” Here is a statement from Acts 4:34, just prior to our story: 34 “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”

Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, indeed sold land and claimed to have given all to the Lord, though they kept back part for themselves. I do not believe it would have been wrong to have kept back some. Their offense was to falsely claim they were giving all. What was involved in this sin?

First would be the word in our “critical question” in the title: they “contrived.” It was premeditated. It was not a mistake or an oversight. They wanted to look “sacrificially heroic” before others.

But Peter also implies a couple of other things in his cross-examination. He asks Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” That is parallel to the human action of contriving or plotting. They were not walking in the Spirit, but were coopting with the devil. Later, to Sapphira, Peter asks, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?” As if they could “pull one over” on Him. As if any of us could.

We would excuse such behavior. At least they gave something, right? But can Jesus’ church excuse those whose hearts have been filled with Satan rather than the Holy Spirit? Can we excuse putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test? I don’t think so. Ananias and Sapphira - they played dirty in the wrong house. Both are now dead and gone.

Friday, January 12, 2024

By what power, or in what name, have you done this? (Acts 4:7 NAS95)

By what power, or in what name, have you done this? (Acts 4:7 NAS95)

The critical question in the title of this piece refers back to a fascinating story told in Acts 3. The apostles have received power after the Holy Spirit descended upon them. They are preaching in the Temple; many people are believing in Jesus, and then Peter and John come face-to-face with a lame beggar in the Temple. Peter says, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!” (3:6), and the crowd reaction is one of joy and amazement.

It is not that the apostles are seeking attention for themselves. They are promoting and preaching Christ. Peter later says, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” (3:12); and, “on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know” (3:16). 

This, of course, is just too much for the religious leaders of the Temple and the temple industry. They are losing their constituency to this group of ragamuffin, uncredentialed apostles, and they are determined to put a stop to it. The temple guard puts Peter and John in jail, and the next day they are brought before the “rulers and elders and scribes,” along with the father-son high priests, Annas and Caiaphas. If you are familiar with Jesus’ story, these are the very same guys who conspired to put Jesus to death: hiring Judas, taking Jesus before Pilate; and demanding crucifixion. They and the devil had seemingly won, only to find that Jesus’ influence is now seemingly compounded. And so they ask the question above: “By what power, or in what name have you done this?”

Well, it wasn’t in their own name. They were not seeking to make a name for themselves, as do many of our present-day religious titans. Nor were they acting in the name of a church, marketing the latest-best-place to go to get inspired and thrilled. They were filled with the Spirit, but they didn’t talk about the Spirit. They only wanted to talk about Jesus. Because it was (and is) Jesus’ power, and Jesus’ name, that changes lives, both of the beggar, and the lives of thousands of repentant sinners who are introduced to Jesus, and find that they have no other place to turn.

We need a return to the promotion of Jesus, not preachers and leaders and organizations or high-profile churches. Preachers and leaders do not save. A college or a camp does not save. Churches do not save. It is Jesus, and Jesus alone, who saves.

Thursday, January 04, 2024

The Un-Spiritual Gift of Destruction

 The Un-Spiritual Gift of Destruction

We live in the age of take-downs. We like to see the mighty fall. We hear the stories of a giant’s faults, and then we tell them over and over, whether or not the story that we heard was true. We learned this skill, this unspiritual skill, from the media. But then, we already know that they, in large part, are not Christians. Why, then, do we as Christians, in large part, go and do the same thing?

In fact there is a whole “Christian” industry dedicated to examining the faults of Christian leaders and Christian organizations. I won’t mention any names, because I don’t to give them any more notoriety, but I believe that what they are doing is un-spiritual.

There is a wonderful word in the Bible for building people up. It is called “edification.” That is, you find someone who is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ, and you seek to “edify” them, to build them up through teaching and encouragement and perhaps some face-to-face correction. But that would be the opposite of what I have described above. The opposite of edification is destruction. Christians practice edification. Destruction is the work of the devil, and I have drawn the conclusion that this “Christian” internet industry of the take-down of brothers and sisters in Christ is the work of the devil.

This is not to say that Christian leaders and organizations are not to be held to account. There is a wonderful place for that to happen, described in the Bible, and it is called “the local church.” We all need to answer to someone. And the trouble is, some have gotten so large, people with common sense and Biblical sense are no longer in charge. Pastors of large churches are no longer accountable to the congregation, and instead answer only to a Board of Directors. They may be called “elders,” but if the pastor is “too big to fail,” that is, if your weekly attendance and cash flow depends upon the pastor’s continued popularity, then the elders will most likely act more like directors, and then, there goes the New Testament.
Para-church organizations are worse. Built like corporations, they start with a Board of Directors whose main job seems to support the “face” or “personality” of the organization who keeps the machine humming. It is a problem, and it needs to be corrected, but where? And how?

Not on the internet. Not by self-appointed faultfinders who themselves answer to no one, and who can traffic in all kinds of half-truths, leaving the rest of us to religiously read their garbage and repeat it at our church fellowships. Like I said, unspiritual.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

An Un-celebrated Christmas

An Un-celebrated Christmas

I was reading up on some of the backgrounds of “The Messiah,” written by Handel, a performance that Jane and I attended recently. It was an exceptional presentation and I was surprised at the drama of it all, following the story of the birth of Jesus and His death and resurrection and His coming in glory. It is not really a Christmas story. It is a Jesus story, a Christ story, spanning from Incarnation to Glorification. 

So why is “The Messiah” performed mostly at Christmas? It seems that in London at one time, there was trouble getting up any enthusiasm for the Christmas holiday. Can you imagine? It was Christmas, and there was absolutely nothing going on. No decorations. No gift-giving. No parties. No Christmas music. So what did they do? They stole “The Messiah.”

I don’t know why Christmas wasn’t being celebrated, but I can hazard a couple of guesses. My first thought would be “no money.” It is hard to celebrate Christmas without money. Special gifts. Special clothes. Special meals. It costs a lot to make “special.” Of course, this answer runs crossgrain with the actual Christmas story. It appears Joseph and Mary scarcely had two denarii to rub together. All the essential elements of that first Christmas were heavenly gifts, given as true gifts are, free of charge: the angels; the star; oh, and the Child. All freely given, for free.

Now that I think about it, maybe money is one of the things that actually diminishes the true celebration of Christmas. We buy so much stuff that we have little time or attention for the wonders that have been given completely free of charge. Maybe the people back then, as now, had too much, and were otherwise preoccupied.

Another reason for “an uncelebrated Christmas” might be a loss of hope. Hope is lost when the promises are forgotten. Promises are forgotten when the Bible is not read and taken seriously. God had promised to Adam and Eve and Abraham a Seed; He had promised through Balaam a Star; He had promised to David a Son who would reign forever; He had promised to Isaiah “a child will be born, and a Son given.;” to Micah that the insignificant would prove to be great. But all of those promises are of little value to those who do not listen or heed, hell-bent as they are on, you know, un-celebrating Christmas.

Yes, in London, they needed “The Messiah” to help people focus on Christmas. And today? We need to focus on the Messiah.

Thursday, December 07, 2023

An Open Heart leads to Open Pockets

 An Open Heart leads to Open Pockets

John doesn’t pull any punches:

1John 3:17 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Charity seems to abound during the Christmas season, and that’s a good thing. But let’s review just a bit the Biblical setting of this critical question from John to make sure we are thinking properly.

First of all, John is speaking more specifically in this passage about love of the “brothers.” I don’t believe this excludes “sisters,” but it definitely directs us to the care of believers and those who need help in the believing community. Most of the discussion of gifts and giving in the New Testament have the community of faith in mind. This is not to say that we should not give to those outside the faith. But we should remember the priority.

But more importantly, let’s notice the connection between our hearts and our pockets. The verse above does not reference the pocket, because the issue is the heart. Certainly a closed heart will result in a closed pocket. But we must also admit that, in our age of plenty, it is quite easy to share with others, even though our hearts may be rather closed. We can open our pockets for reasons other than having a truly generous heart, whether it be to salve the conscience, or impress other people.

These “brothers” are those around the world that we don’t know personally, but those with whom we are more closely related than any earthly relation. Think of that. You have a “brother” in Indonesia that you have not yet met, perhaps in great need, with whom you will spend eternity. Is your heart open, or closed?

The verse also mentions what we “have.” It does not say what we “own,” because, for the believer, everything we “have” is given as a stewardship, not for ownership. It is God’s gift to you to be used as God sees fit. It seems that having an open heart to God is connected to having an open heart to those of God’s people who have needs.

Finally, let me borrow from another passage and remind that true Christian generosity is not merely the sharing of leftovers, but is often sacrificial. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus tells the story of the poor widow who gives “more” than the rich. It seems she had an open heart.

Saturday, December 02, 2023

A Narrow Window

“But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.” (Ezra 9:8 NAS95)

A Narrow Window

The verse above begins with the words, “But now - for a brief moment - grace has been shown.” A narrow window of grace. Let us not miss this moment by drawing the curtains. Let us not waste this opportunity.

What were the circumstances threatening to close this window.?The text tells us: we are “an escaped remnant.” Against all odds and expectations, a small group of Israelites had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Most others were dead or had assimilated into the (now) Persian culture to the east. Only a few were seeking to make the most of a momentary opportunity. Also, the text says, “to give us a peg.” What does that mean? It will hold only so long. We might say today, “We are hanging by a thread.”

And yet God brings into our lives opportunity to see the truth afresh in certain moments, but perhaps only at those certain moments. If you miss it, you may never see it again. A guide told our group in the UP that when we get to this ridge, shinny up the tree and look. None of us did. He said, “Well, then, you missed it.” Let’s not miss that glimpse of grace that God brings, unpredictably and unexpectedly.

There are narrow windows from which to see; narrow windows to believe. There are narrow windows to listen to a story that you will never hear again, or to speak a truth only when those ears are present and attuned. There is a time for a prayer that can be prayed at no other time; time for a deed that will only work right now or be lost forever. Lord, what do you have for me right now, in this brief moment, to see or say, to pray or to do. What in this brief moment of grace?

Perhaps the greatest sins exposed at the judgment seat for Christians are those missed opportunities because we have lived with such dulled, selfish and worldly senses. Paul says, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity” Col. 4:5. And,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” Gal. 6:10.

The other phrase in our text above is this: “a little reviving.” God, in His grace, gives “a little reviving,” if we would receive it. We must be awake, not asleep; tuned in, not distracted; directed by the Spirit, not the flesh; open to God’s gracious entrance into our lives, and not considering it to be an interruption or intrusion. Thank you, Lord, for this narrow window of grace.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

That for which I Am Not Thankful

That for which I Am Not Thankful

Paul says, “In everything, give thanks.” That sounds unreasonable. Is there anything for which we should not give thanks? Perhaps.

Let me clear the deck first. I’m a bit grumpy this morning about people coming late to the Christmas parade but still insisting on free parking in places that are not parking spaces, driving over snowplow stakes to get there. Yes, I’m having a little trouble being thankful for that one. But Paul, I’ll come around, I promise.

Maybe we can be thankful for things eternal, and not so much for things temporal. But that’s not right, is it? Many things that are part of our current blessings will “pass away.” It doesn’t mean that we should be too “spiritual” to give thanks for them.

I am not thankful for sin. Sin is not one of God’s blessings in this “passing away” world. But even here, it’s not that easy, because God uses sin and the lessons of sin and sin’s consequences to teach us a great many things. But we can be thankful for our God who can even use something that He hates for good.

I am not thankful for Satan. And yet, Satan is an integral part of the story of redemption. He is the foil against which the glory of Christ shines so brightly. Are we to be thankful for Satan? No. But Satan is indeed one of God’s creatures (not human, but angelic), now confirmed in opposition against God and jealous of His glory. But no, I’m not thankful for Satan.

I am not thankful for death? Well, almost. I am thankful or life, both physical life and spiritual. And, physical death is the portal through which the believer passes to eternal rest. And so death is often welcomed by the aged saint who desires to be in the presence of Jesus. But, Paul says “death is the last enemy that will abolished.” So perhaps I can say I am not thankful for eternal death, - but, it is ordained by God for those who have rejected Christ, and therefore even eternal death somehow contributes to the glory of God. So, that’s a hard one. Note these verses

Psa. 97:10  Hate evil, you who love the LORD, 

Who preserves the souls of His godly ones; 

He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous 

And gladness for the upright in heart.

12 Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, 

And give thanks to His holy name.

I am thankful for righteousness, and the gift of Christ’s righteousness. I am not thankful for evil. I think that is Biblical.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

What Must I Do to be Saved? (Acts 16:31; 2:37)

 What Must I Do to be Saved? (Acts 16:31; 2:37)

When Peter preaches his first sermon upon receiving the gift of the Spirit, along with the other disciples, He preaches Christ, and Christ crucified, and Christ risen again. The question that is posed to him by the throngs is this: Acts 2:37 “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” In light of this man named Jesus being both “Lord” and “Christ,” what shall we do?

When Paul and Silas are miraculously delivered from the bondage of prison’s chains and locked doors by a divine earthquake, the prison guard was set to take his life due to the prisoners’ escape. Paul stops him, and the man asks, “What must I do to be saved?” Whether Peter or Paul, and whether a large crowd, the answer to question is quite simple: Believe. Believe in/into/upon Jesus. Throw yourself upon Him because of His sacrifice for you, and because of the mercy that He promises to show those who call upon Him.

Isn’t it really quite simple? We go through life trying this, that, and the other thing - all for naught. We fail to find the meaning for which we are searching, the purpose, the happiness, the satisfaction. All those things are elusive as we try and find for ourselves the key that unlocks what is behind the doors that we cannot find.

But to dive into Christ, so much so that we are immersed in Him (if I can let my Baptist bias slip in a bit), that seems to be last thing, the hardest thing for us to do. Why? Because we want to do it ourselves. We want to do it our way. We find ourselves to be theologically committed to self-salvation.

It is not that we have tried too hard. It is that we have not tried hard enough. If we had supremely struggled to achieve these things and acceptance with God, we would have more quickly come to the end of ourselves. But we live in a culture of half-hearted searching, distracted from the search to look at our phones or go shopping or watch a game. If we had honestly and zealously pursued self-salvation, we would perhaps have found “the last resort” more quickly.

Those gathered around Peter in Jerusalem as he preached were there because they were serious - seriously seeking God through slavish obedience to the Law. And they found that they could not. They needed someone other than themselves to be their Savior. That prison guard in Philippi was trying to have a good life for himself and his family as a prison guard - faithful; hard-working; honest. But the Roman government could not provide that for which his soul yearned. Until, finally, Paul answered his question: “What must I do to be saved?” And, he believed.

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:22

 Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:22

John, the young disciple of Jesus, but now an old man, is fighting

for the life of the 1st century church. The apostles have

preached and thousands have believed, but there are also sinister

teachers that are leading people astray. Why? Perhaps they have

good intentions, and are just in error. More likely they have not only

false knowledge but also malicious intentions. They have seen the

attention and honor the apostles have received, and they may want

to make a name for themselves by creating a distinctive following

for themselves. Don’t be fooled. This is not just a 1st century

occurrence. It still happens today.


John runs through a few arguments to teach the Church what to

look for in “real” Christianity. In our text, John asks the question,

“Who is the liar?” The answer lies not with obscure doctrines and

fine points of disagreement. His answer: “He who denies that

Jesus is the Christ.”


“The Christ” is the One anointed and appointed by God to be

the Point Man in the mission to create “the people of God.” The

people cannot do so themselves, and must be redeemed, saved, by

One who stands firmly in God’s holiness but who is also able to bear

man’s sinfulness. Jesus Christ, the God-man, is the One, the only

One, who is able to do so.


The Jewish people, in large part, accept the hope of a “Christ” or

“Messiah,” but they do not accept that Jesus is that Person. Jesus, in

their eyes, was a problem, an imposter, who led people away from

proper attention to and obedience of the Law of Moses.

But it is not just unbelieving (in Jesus) Jews who fall into the “liar”

category. It is also any other religion who does not see and accept

Jesus as the central figure in procuring our salvation. Moslems share

some heritage with Jews, but they do not accept Jesus as the Christ.

Cults may adopt many features of the Christian faith, but in some

way diminish the perfect necessity of Jesus Christ being both

fully God and fully man.


When Jesus met the Emmaus Road disciples soon after the

resurrection and spoke with them without their knowing that He

was indeed the risen Lord, He asks them, “Was it not necessary

for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into His

glory?” Isaiah 53, in particular, in the Old Testament, makes clear

that “the Christ” would be a Servant who would suffer for the

people that He came to save, who would then become God’s own

people. It is a central truth; central enough that if you don’t agree,

you are a liar.

Saturday, November 04, 2023

Do you Love Me (more than these)? John 21:15

 Do you Love Me (more than these)? John 21:15

This is a critical question that Jesus asks Peter, and it is a critical

question that Jesus asks each one of us. He calls us by name, as He

did Peter (Simon), and He asks, “Do you love Me more than

these?”


Jesus actually asks Peter this question three times. Some say that it

is in response to the fact that Peter denied the Lord three times

during His trial, before the crucifixion and resurrection. Now the

risen Lord addresses this Peter, bringing him back into the fold, and

commissioning him for the work that is ahead. And, it seems,

loving Jesus is critical to the mission, for all of us.


It is only in the first question that Jesus includes the words, “more

than these.” And yet, I think these words are helpful for all of us.

Love in general can be quite abstract. Love in relation to other

things becomes much more objective.


Whenever we sin, we do so because we want to. We do what we

want. It is the action of our will, our “want to.” We sin because we

love something about that sin, not necessarily everything about

it, but there is something that we love that moves us to do it. When

I sin, it is because I love something about the sin more than I love

Jesus. That’s the question Jesus asked. And here is the ugly answer. I

prove over and over that there are things that I love more than

Jesus, at least with that issue, in that moment. And it is called sin.

As believers, we want to love Jesus more than anything, and we

assume that we do. But assumptions can be wrong. That is why this

question must be applied to ourselves, and we must examine and

answer carefully. In that failure, or moment of unfaithfulness, or

selfishness - whatever it was, let’s identify what it is that we love

so much that we were willing to transgress one of the

commands of Jesus. Because we know, don’t we, and we take it as

fact that love is shown by the keeping of His commandments - John

14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one

who loves Me.”


Lots of people say “I love you,” but it is just words and they fail to

love in deed. Love is proved as we say “yes” to the things that we

should say “yes” to; and “no to the things that we should say “no” to.

If we say “yes” to things that are not in keeping with a walk with

Christ, in agreement with His will, when we should have said “no;”

or, conversely, if we say “no” to things that are in keeping with a

walk with Christ, to which we should say “yes,” but fail to do so - we

have to ask, “Do you love Jesus more than these?"