“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
The focus of the second Sunday in Advent is Peace. Last week we looked at the concept of Hope, and how that helps us look beyond the immediate and keep the future in our sights. Peace is Hope's companion. Peace is not the absence of conflict and strife, but rather the calm assurance in the midst of such turmoil that, in the long run, everything will be okay.
Coupled together, Hope and Peace help us to keep things in perspective. One of my favorite mantras for when things are especially rough is, "This is just temporary". No matter what is going on, and what emotions I'm experiencing, it's only a temporary situation. Even in the face of great loss, how I respond and what I feel is tempered by knowing that this is not the end of the story.
One of the great benefits of Jesus walking in the flesh and sharing our human condition is that He was well-acquainted with the daily struggles that we all face. He also knew that, just because He came as a ransom for humanity, these struggles would not suddenly cease to exist. He bluntly reminded His disciples that troubles are part of the deal. As long as we draw breath on this earth, we will face troubles. But He also gave us an antidote - the peace of knowing that He has overcome the world and all its troubles.
What does it mean for us when Jesus makes this claim of overcoming the world? For me, it means that, in spite of appearances, everything really will be okay. He has the ultimate victory over everything that is broken in this world. While I may not be able to see that victory right now, I know that it is an irrefutable spiritual truth, and therefore I can have peace in this confident assurance.
True inner peace that comes from Jesus isn't just some warm and fuzzy feeling or the result of positive thinking. It is something that wells up in our spirit and reassures us that no matter what we may be going through, He's got it covered. I can sleep at night knowing that nothing is going to happen that He doesn't already know about and has worked out the resolution according to His perfect will.
It is no coincidence that the greeting of the angels on the night of Jesus' birth included the blessing of peace:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
Jesus imparted peace to His disciples, and continues to impart it to those of us who believe in Him. May your Christmas season and all the coming days be filled with this amazing peace.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Advent 2015 - Hope
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:23-25)
As we enter the Advent season this year, I find a strange paradox in place: while this is supposed to be a season of celebration of all that is good, we are faced with the reality that our world is a mess. The news is filled with stories of terrorist attacks, the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, wars on multiple fronts, political candidates stirring up hatred and fear among their supporters, and so much more. We are daily reminded that a large part of this world in which we live is in turmoil, and that people are in desperate need of hope.
Hope is a funny thing. Proverbs 13:12 tells us:
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Yet, hope is also what can sustain us in times of despair and disappointment. When we cling to the hope of something better, yet see no evidence of its fulfillment, our faith can easily waiver. This was the case during the days of the early Church, and is still the case today. In the months and years following the ascension of Christ, the Church held on to the expectation of His imminent return. Yet, as time passed, people began to doubt whether Jesus really was coming back, and many abandoned the faith as their hope faded.
Here we are, 2,000 years later, and we're still waiting for Jesus to return and fulfill His promise. That promise holds out the hope that, one day, we will have a life free from pain, disease, heartache and death. Poverty, turmoil, conflict and oppression will fade into history, and a golden era of peace and prosperity will be ushered in. At least, that's what we've been told. And we desperately want to believe it because, face it, life is pretty hard right now. Granted, we Americans have it better than most of the people in the world, but our personal struggles are no less real. Human suffering knows no nationality, no political affiliation, no economic status. We all experience pain, sickness, broken relationships, death. Spend five minutes browsing a news site and this is more than confirmed. Life here is fragile and fleeting, and we need something better to pin our hopes to.
Those of us who claim the name of Christian have that hope, but it sometimes seems elusive and tardy. How many of us have said to ourselves or others, "Today would be a good day for Jesus to come back"? We try to find the good in the people and things around us, but sometimes the suffering that we see and experience can become overwhelming, overshadowing the good. And that's why we mark the seasons with celebrations, as a reminder that the best is yet to come.
The first Sunday in Advent reminds us to hope. Hope in the goodness of God and His ability to fulfill the promises He has made to us. That first Christmas was the beginning of that fulfillment, when the Creator of the universe took the form of human flesh, so that He could give is the hope of redemption from this life of woe. After the birth of Jesus, when He was presented at the temple, his appearance was seen by the saints as the fulfillment of their hopes. All that they had longed for throughout their lives was right there, wrapped up in a little bundle of squirming flesh. They didn't live to see the final outcome of the ministry and sacrificial death of Jesus, but they left this earth knowing that all would be well.
What is it you hope for this Christmas season? Better health? Financial security? A devoted spouse? Inner peace? Whatever it is that you long for, be assured that God already knows your needs and desires, and wants to bless you as His beloved child. Never lose hope in a better tomorrow, whether in this life or the next. In spite of all that is going on in the world, know that none of this escapes God's attention. He has not abandoned us, nor forgotten the promises He made so long ago. Hold on to your hope and be patient. It really does get better.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
As we enter the Advent season this year, I find a strange paradox in place: while this is supposed to be a season of celebration of all that is good, we are faced with the reality that our world is a mess. The news is filled with stories of terrorist attacks, the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, wars on multiple fronts, political candidates stirring up hatred and fear among their supporters, and so much more. We are daily reminded that a large part of this world in which we live is in turmoil, and that people are in desperate need of hope.
Hope is a funny thing. Proverbs 13:12 tells us:
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Yet, hope is also what can sustain us in times of despair and disappointment. When we cling to the hope of something better, yet see no evidence of its fulfillment, our faith can easily waiver. This was the case during the days of the early Church, and is still the case today. In the months and years following the ascension of Christ, the Church held on to the expectation of His imminent return. Yet, as time passed, people began to doubt whether Jesus really was coming back, and many abandoned the faith as their hope faded.
Here we are, 2,000 years later, and we're still waiting for Jesus to return and fulfill His promise. That promise holds out the hope that, one day, we will have a life free from pain, disease, heartache and death. Poverty, turmoil, conflict and oppression will fade into history, and a golden era of peace and prosperity will be ushered in. At least, that's what we've been told. And we desperately want to believe it because, face it, life is pretty hard right now. Granted, we Americans have it better than most of the people in the world, but our personal struggles are no less real. Human suffering knows no nationality, no political affiliation, no economic status. We all experience pain, sickness, broken relationships, death. Spend five minutes browsing a news site and this is more than confirmed. Life here is fragile and fleeting, and we need something better to pin our hopes to.
Those of us who claim the name of Christian have that hope, but it sometimes seems elusive and tardy. How many of us have said to ourselves or others, "Today would be a good day for Jesus to come back"? We try to find the good in the people and things around us, but sometimes the suffering that we see and experience can become overwhelming, overshadowing the good. And that's why we mark the seasons with celebrations, as a reminder that the best is yet to come.
The first Sunday in Advent reminds us to hope. Hope in the goodness of God and His ability to fulfill the promises He has made to us. That first Christmas was the beginning of that fulfillment, when the Creator of the universe took the form of human flesh, so that He could give is the hope of redemption from this life of woe. After the birth of Jesus, when He was presented at the temple, his appearance was seen by the saints as the fulfillment of their hopes. All that they had longed for throughout their lives was right there, wrapped up in a little bundle of squirming flesh. They didn't live to see the final outcome of the ministry and sacrificial death of Jesus, but they left this earth knowing that all would be well.
What is it you hope for this Christmas season? Better health? Financial security? A devoted spouse? Inner peace? Whatever it is that you long for, be assured that God already knows your needs and desires, and wants to bless you as His beloved child. Never lose hope in a better tomorrow, whether in this life or the next. In spite of all that is going on in the world, know that none of this escapes God's attention. He has not abandoned us, nor forgotten the promises He made so long ago. Hold on to your hope and be patient. It really does get better.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Lions, Poachers and Protesters, Oh My!
Then the King will say to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For
I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you
gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Matthew 25:34-36
The news and social media have been filled with stories and commentaries this past week regarding the hunting and slaughter of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe. The man who killed Cecil is an American dentist who claims to have thought he was within the bounds of the law to hunt and kill this lion. The outrage that ensued around the globe has been somewhat overwhelming. This dentist has received death threats, had to close down his practice, and has gone into hiding. Rallies have occurred around the world protesting this senseless act of savagery. Or so the hyperbole goes.
I do not support the sport of trophy hunting in any manner, and I think it is rather barbaric to lure a beautiful stately creature like Cecil to an unprotected area where he could be wounded with an arrow, and then tracked down for a day before finally being put out of his misery. I'm all for conservation and protecting animals that are dangerously close to becoming endangered species. But I find the public reaction to this situation to be somewhat puzzling.
How many people would have cared about this poaching if the target hadn't been Cecil, practically a national mascot in Zimbabwe? Would they have had the same response if the lion was just another nameless big cat shot down for his head and skin? After all, these types of things happen all the time without warranting so much as a headline, let alone an international scandal.
As much as Cecil's demise is most regrettable, I wonder how outraged the masses would be if they bothered to learn about all the other senseless deaths that occur every day around the world. Deaths that do not make headlines, and do not result in rallies and protests.
I'm not talking about animals being poached. I'm talking about children. Millions of children. Here are a few statistics that no one is talking about:
I wonder how many more children in the world would be given the opportunity to grow up and live healthy, productive lives if the same amount of energy and resources being spent over the death of one lion was used to benefit organizations such as FMSC.
Jesus taught us that we will be commended for feeding the hungry. He never mentioned anything about lions. I'll take my chances and strive for the former. How about you?
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Matthew 25:34-36
The news and social media have been filled with stories and commentaries this past week regarding the hunting and slaughter of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe. The man who killed Cecil is an American dentist who claims to have thought he was within the bounds of the law to hunt and kill this lion. The outrage that ensued around the globe has been somewhat overwhelming. This dentist has received death threats, had to close down his practice, and has gone into hiding. Rallies have occurred around the world protesting this senseless act of savagery. Or so the hyperbole goes.
I do not support the sport of trophy hunting in any manner, and I think it is rather barbaric to lure a beautiful stately creature like Cecil to an unprotected area where he could be wounded with an arrow, and then tracked down for a day before finally being put out of his misery. I'm all for conservation and protecting animals that are dangerously close to becoming endangered species. But I find the public reaction to this situation to be somewhat puzzling.
How many people would have cared about this poaching if the target hadn't been Cecil, practically a national mascot in Zimbabwe? Would they have had the same response if the lion was just another nameless big cat shot down for his head and skin? After all, these types of things happen all the time without warranting so much as a headline, let alone an international scandal.
As much as Cecil's demise is most regrettable, I wonder how outraged the masses would be if they bothered to learn about all the other senseless deaths that occur every day around the world. Deaths that do not make headlines, and do not result in rallies and protests.
I'm not talking about animals being poached. I'm talking about children. Millions of children. Here are a few statistics that no one is talking about:
- More than 70 percent of the world's 146 million underweight
children under age five years live in just 10 countries, with more than
50 per cent located in South Asia alone;
(Source: Progress for Children: A Report Card on Nutrition, UNICEF, 2006) - 10.9 million children under five die in developing countries
each year. Malnutrition and hunger-related diseases cause 60 percent of
the deaths;
(Source: The State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2007) - The cost of undernutrition to national economic development is estimated at US$20-30 billion per annum; (Source: Progress for Children: A Report Card on Nutrition, UNICEF, 2006)
- One out of four children - roughly 146 million - in developing countries are underweight;
(Source: The State of the World's Children, UNICEF, 2007) - Undernutrition contributes to 53 percent of the 9.7 million deaths of children under five each year in developing countries. (Source: Under five deaths by cause, UNICEF, 2006)
I wonder how many more children in the world would be given the opportunity to grow up and live healthy, productive lives if the same amount of energy and resources being spent over the death of one lion was used to benefit organizations such as FMSC.
Jesus taught us that we will be commended for feeding the hungry. He never mentioned anything about lions. I'll take my chances and strive for the former. How about you?
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Sunday, July 26, 2015
God In A Box
"Jesus did many other things as well.
If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole
world would not have room for the books that would be written."
John 21:25
Having spent the better part of my life as a fundamentalist, I am all too familiar with the rigidity of the doctrinal orthodoxy related to this particular brand of Christianity. Somewhere along the way, we concluded that everything we need to know about God (and life) was conveniently contained between the pages of Genesis 1 and Revelation 22. If it wasn't in the Bible, it wasn't true or worth discussing.
This line of thinking places God in a very small box. Not only does it confine Him to a specific collection of ancient texts, but it ignores the fact that those texts are merely snapshots of the intersection of divinity and humanity. Furthermore, they are only concerned with God's interactions with a very small subset of humanity, and only those interactions which the authors felt were worth recording.
I find it rather audacious to think that everything we can know about God - His character, His power, His infinite wisdom and love - can be contained within the pages of 66 books. Even John admitted in his gospel that there was no way to record everything that Jesus did in his short time on this earth. How much more so all the vast works of God throughout the ages?
When we limit God to what we know about him as recorded in the Bible, we strip Him of the ability to do amazing new things in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We tend to think that God's story ended with Revelation 22, and there was nothing left to say about who God is and how He wants to relate to His creation. Nothing could be further from the truth. God's story is still being written every day in the hearts and minds of His followers. The official canon of scripture may have been closed centuries ago, but God continues to reveal Himself to us in new and astounding ways, if we allow Him.
We must be careful to never think that God can't do this or that, simply because there is no precedent for it in Scripture. God is unlimited in His creativity and imagination. If he could create all of the plants and animals and minerals and stars and planets and galaxies, and things we don't yet even know about, who is to say that He doesn't have new ways of healing and restoring and blessing His people?
It's time we let God out of the tiny little box that we've created for Him called "the Holy Bible". I have come to a place in my spiritual journey where I am no longer content to think that everything I need to know about who God is and what He can do is contained within these pages. My God is bigger than that, and I marvel every time He reveals some new aspect of Himself to me.
Jesus told His disciples that we can only truly enter into the kingdom of God if we approach it as little children. Children have an innate ability to see the world around them with awe and fascination, free from the jaded cynicism that comes with adulthood. I want to foster that "gee whiz" mindset in my life, always waiting to see what new and amazing thing God wants to do in me and through me.
How about you? Is your God stuck in a box, or free to work wonderful new things in your life?
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
John 21:25
Having spent the better part of my life as a fundamentalist, I am all too familiar with the rigidity of the doctrinal orthodoxy related to this particular brand of Christianity. Somewhere along the way, we concluded that everything we need to know about God (and life) was conveniently contained between the pages of Genesis 1 and Revelation 22. If it wasn't in the Bible, it wasn't true or worth discussing.
This line of thinking places God in a very small box. Not only does it confine Him to a specific collection of ancient texts, but it ignores the fact that those texts are merely snapshots of the intersection of divinity and humanity. Furthermore, they are only concerned with God's interactions with a very small subset of humanity, and only those interactions which the authors felt were worth recording.
I find it rather audacious to think that everything we can know about God - His character, His power, His infinite wisdom and love - can be contained within the pages of 66 books. Even John admitted in his gospel that there was no way to record everything that Jesus did in his short time on this earth. How much more so all the vast works of God throughout the ages?
When we limit God to what we know about him as recorded in the Bible, we strip Him of the ability to do amazing new things in our lives and in the lives of those around us. We tend to think that God's story ended with Revelation 22, and there was nothing left to say about who God is and how He wants to relate to His creation. Nothing could be further from the truth. God's story is still being written every day in the hearts and minds of His followers. The official canon of scripture may have been closed centuries ago, but God continues to reveal Himself to us in new and astounding ways, if we allow Him.
We must be careful to never think that God can't do this or that, simply because there is no precedent for it in Scripture. God is unlimited in His creativity and imagination. If he could create all of the plants and animals and minerals and stars and planets and galaxies, and things we don't yet even know about, who is to say that He doesn't have new ways of healing and restoring and blessing His people?
It's time we let God out of the tiny little box that we've created for Him called "the Holy Bible". I have come to a place in my spiritual journey where I am no longer content to think that everything I need to know about who God is and what He can do is contained within these pages. My God is bigger than that, and I marvel every time He reveals some new aspect of Himself to me.
Jesus told His disciples that we can only truly enter into the kingdom of God if we approach it as little children. Children have an innate ability to see the world around them with awe and fascination, free from the jaded cynicism that comes with adulthood. I want to foster that "gee whiz" mindset in my life, always waiting to see what new and amazing thing God wants to do in me and through me.
How about you? Is your God stuck in a box, or free to work wonderful new things in your life?
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Sunday, May 3, 2015
"Christians" Who Hate Jesus
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone
who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear
are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John 14:22-24
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
John 15:12
My Facebook newsfeed has been filling up lately with links to a plethora of articles regarding various religious and political leaders around the country speaking out against marriage equality. What is so disconcerting about these statements is just how vitriolic and hateful they have become. It seems that it is no longer sufficient to just claim that they oppose same-sex marriage (as if anyone really cares what they think). But now, seeing that the tide of public opinion has shifted toward marriage equality, and the seemingly imminent decision by the Supreme Court to make it the law of the land appears to be looming in the very near future (June, to be exact), they have dug in their heels and escalated their tirades to apocalyptic levels.
These are the blood-curdling screams of creatures facing extinction.
Sadly, these so-called "Christians" have resorted to fear-mongering, lying and political machinations to try to suppress anything that they disagree with, all in the name of God. Some recent examples:
In response to same-sex marriage, Mike Huckabee last week said, “Christian convictions are under attack as never before. Not just in our lifetime, but ever before in the history of this great republic. We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity.”
This week, End Times broadcaster Rick Wiles said, “I believe I am speaking under the unction of the Holy Spirit. I’m telling you there will be swift, sudden and devastating consequences for the United States of America. America will be brought to its knees, there will be pain and suffering at a level we’ve never seen in this country. The word that I hear in my spirit is ‘fire.’ I do not know if it refers to riots or looting or war on American soil or a fireball from space. I simply know that a sweeping, consuming fire will come across the United States of America and this country will be charred and burned.”
Political activist Alan Keyes has gone so far to say that marriage equality is grounds for a civil war: "The United States Supreme Court may presently make a decision discarding marriage as an unalienable (natural) right. By defect of reason and respect for the Constitution, the decision will return the people of this country to the condition of constantly impending war characteristic of the human condition when and wherever the just premises of government are abandoned."
Bill Johnson of the American Decency Association stated, "If the Supreme Court announces that it will approve same sex marriage when it makes its historic announcement sometime in June, be ready for an assault on the Freedom of Religion that will surely come. Pastors and non-profit Christian organizations as American Decency will be targeted for merely preaching and teaching the counsel of God - what God’s word has to say about many things including homosexuality."
On Thursday, Pat Robertson warned that the U.S. will face divine punishment if gay marriage becomes legal nationwide.
I could go on. There are volumes of such alarmist speeches and broadcasts readily available across the internet.
The one glaring omission in all of this is Jesus. He is nowhere to be found among all of the anti-gay, anti-marriage equality rhetoric. It strikes me as rather odd that the very people who call themselves Christians aren't doing and saying the things Jesus did and said. My understanding of the term "Christian" is that it signifies one who follows Christ. A person who follows Christ naturally will emulate their Master. In contrast to the multitude of laws embedded in the Old Testament, Jesus handed down so few "rules" that they can be counted on one hand: 1) Love God, 2) Love your neighbor as yourself, and 3) Obey my teaching (see 1 and 2 above).
In Matthew 25, Jesus told the parable about the sheep and the goats. He said that whatever we do to the least of society's outcasts, downtrodden, and marginalized people (the "least" of these), we do to him. Good or bad. The people who are blatantly fighting to ensure that an entire class of Americans are kept sitting in the back of the bus are fighting against Jesus.
Jesus never screened the people He ministered to. He didn't withhold love, compassion and mercy from people unless they met specific criteria. He lavished these things on people indiscriminately. He gladly fed thousands of people without first making sure that there were no "undesirables" in the crowd. He healed Gentiles and Jews alike. He sat and talked with a Samaritan woman and hung out in her village for a couple of days ministering to the hated half-breeds. The only people Jesus criticized were the self-righteous religious and political leaders of His day.
I do not believe that you can love Jesus and not do the things he did. If you are actively engaged in doing the exact opposite of what He did, and the opposite of love is hate, then do you not hate Jesus? I would never call into question a person's salvation - that is between them and God. But don't call yourself a Christian if you are doing and saying things diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ.
Jesus was all about love. And that's what He wants us to be all about. My prayer is that love will prevail against those who seem to have forgotten what love is.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
John 14:22-24
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."
John 15:12
My Facebook newsfeed has been filling up lately with links to a plethora of articles regarding various religious and political leaders around the country speaking out against marriage equality. What is so disconcerting about these statements is just how vitriolic and hateful they have become. It seems that it is no longer sufficient to just claim that they oppose same-sex marriage (as if anyone really cares what they think). But now, seeing that the tide of public opinion has shifted toward marriage equality, and the seemingly imminent decision by the Supreme Court to make it the law of the land appears to be looming in the very near future (June, to be exact), they have dug in their heels and escalated their tirades to apocalyptic levels.
These are the blood-curdling screams of creatures facing extinction.
Sadly, these so-called "Christians" have resorted to fear-mongering, lying and political machinations to try to suppress anything that they disagree with, all in the name of God. Some recent examples:
In response to same-sex marriage, Mike Huckabee last week said, “Christian convictions are under attack as never before. Not just in our lifetime, but ever before in the history of this great republic. We are moving rapidly toward the criminalization of Christianity.”
This week, End Times broadcaster Rick Wiles said, “I believe I am speaking under the unction of the Holy Spirit. I’m telling you there will be swift, sudden and devastating consequences for the United States of America. America will be brought to its knees, there will be pain and suffering at a level we’ve never seen in this country. The word that I hear in my spirit is ‘fire.’ I do not know if it refers to riots or looting or war on American soil or a fireball from space. I simply know that a sweeping, consuming fire will come across the United States of America and this country will be charred and burned.”
Political activist Alan Keyes has gone so far to say that marriage equality is grounds for a civil war: "The United States Supreme Court may presently make a decision discarding marriage as an unalienable (natural) right. By defect of reason and respect for the Constitution, the decision will return the people of this country to the condition of constantly impending war characteristic of the human condition when and wherever the just premises of government are abandoned."
Bill Johnson of the American Decency Association stated, "If the Supreme Court announces that it will approve same sex marriage when it makes its historic announcement sometime in June, be ready for an assault on the Freedom of Religion that will surely come. Pastors and non-profit Christian organizations as American Decency will be targeted for merely preaching and teaching the counsel of God - what God’s word has to say about many things including homosexuality."
On Thursday, Pat Robertson warned that the U.S. will face divine punishment if gay marriage becomes legal nationwide.
I could go on. There are volumes of such alarmist speeches and broadcasts readily available across the internet.
The one glaring omission in all of this is Jesus. He is nowhere to be found among all of the anti-gay, anti-marriage equality rhetoric. It strikes me as rather odd that the very people who call themselves Christians aren't doing and saying the things Jesus did and said. My understanding of the term "Christian" is that it signifies one who follows Christ. A person who follows Christ naturally will emulate their Master. In contrast to the multitude of laws embedded in the Old Testament, Jesus handed down so few "rules" that they can be counted on one hand: 1) Love God, 2) Love your neighbor as yourself, and 3) Obey my teaching (see 1 and 2 above).
In Matthew 25, Jesus told the parable about the sheep and the goats. He said that whatever we do to the least of society's outcasts, downtrodden, and marginalized people (the "least" of these), we do to him. Good or bad. The people who are blatantly fighting to ensure that an entire class of Americans are kept sitting in the back of the bus are fighting against Jesus.
Jesus never screened the people He ministered to. He didn't withhold love, compassion and mercy from people unless they met specific criteria. He lavished these things on people indiscriminately. He gladly fed thousands of people without first making sure that there were no "undesirables" in the crowd. He healed Gentiles and Jews alike. He sat and talked with a Samaritan woman and hung out in her village for a couple of days ministering to the hated half-breeds. The only people Jesus criticized were the self-righteous religious and political leaders of His day.
I do not believe that you can love Jesus and not do the things he did. If you are actively engaged in doing the exact opposite of what He did, and the opposite of love is hate, then do you not hate Jesus? I would never call into question a person's salvation - that is between them and God. But don't call yourself a Christian if you are doing and saying things diametrically opposed to the teachings of Christ.
Jesus was all about love. And that's what He wants us to be all about. My prayer is that love will prevail against those who seem to have forgotten what love is.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Sunday, April 5, 2015
The Saturday of Not Knowing
"Early on the first day of the
week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the
stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter
and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the
Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!” So Peter and
the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other
disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at
the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was
behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying
there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth
was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple,
who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the
dead.) Then the disciples went back to their homes."
John 20:1-10
(From a sermon I preached on Easter Sunday, 2007)
For centuries, countless sermons have been preached on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus during this holy season the world calls “Easter”. I'm sure every preacher tasked with delivering a message on this most important day of the Church calendar has struggled with trying to bring some new revelation to the table about the passion, suffering and disgrace our Lord experienced on Good Friday, or what new angle of wonderment can be achieved by revisiting the amazing story of the empty tomb?I seriously doubt that there is any shred of truth left uncovered after two millennia of Holy Week observances.
We are all too familiar with the
events of Friday and Sunday. But what about Saturday? The fact is, there is
very little information in Scripture regarding what happened on Saturday.
Sure, we know that Jesus was
somewhere in the nether world releasing the captives who had previously died in
sin.
And we know that the chief priests
went back to Pilate to have the tomb sealed.
But where were the disciples? Where
were the women who had followed Jesus to care for His needs? Where were
His mother and brothers?
After what had just transpired on
Friday, one would hardly expect that they were in temple as usual Saturday
morning. We do know that the disciples were holed up some place, because when
Mary returned from the empty tomb, she found them all together. The fact that
Peter and John were the only ones who went to investigate the tomb indicates
that the other nine weren’t about to be seen in public. And even after they saw
the tomb and the grave clothes for themselves, they still wouldn’t allow
themselves to believe that Jesus was really alive.
After all, John was an eyewitness of
the final moments of Jesus’ life. There is no indication that any other
disciples were even at the crucifixion, since John is the only one mentioned in
any of the Gospels. He saw Jesus take His last breath. He saw the soldier
plunge a spear into His side, and water and blood gush out. He saw Nicodemus
and Joseph take down the body and wrap it in linen strips and spices. He saw
the tomb where Jesus’ body was laid. He saw the rock rolled in front of the
cave. There was no denying it – Jesus was dead.
The one whom Jesus loved had just
seen all of his hopes and dreams dashed to the ground like discarded pottery.
Everything he had trusted in, believed in, put his faith in, was lying in a
dark cave. John had to have been wracked with grief and agony. What was ahead,
now that Jesus was gone? What would he do? The religious leaders surely would
be looking for the disciples soon enough, to do the same thing they did to
Jesus. I seriously doubt that John had any idea what was about to happen on
Sunday.
Yet Sunday came, and with it, the
unbelievable news that Jesus was alive! How could this be?
Sure, Jesus raised others from the dead.
But could He raise Himself back to life? John held in his hands the empty grave
clothes that had bound the body of the Lord just two days earlier. Everything
was so neat and orderly - hardly the work of grave robbers. Could it be that
this is what Jesus meant when He said that the Son of Man would be betrayed,
tortured, crucified, buried, and resurrected? Later that day, John’s questions
were answered, when Jesus appeared to His disciples in the flesh once again.
But what if John and the others
hadn’t waited until Sunday?
Judas didn’t wait, and he sealed his
fate for all eternity. The others could have run back to Galilee. They could
have hidden in their fishing villages, going back to their former professions,
and putting the whole nightmare behind them. But they didn’t.
Somewhere between the tragedy of
Friday and the triumph of Sunday, the Saturday of not knowing occurred.
There was no way that the disciples
could have known for sure that Jesus would be raised to life on Sunday. They
may have wondered if it was going to happen. But according to the repeated
accounts of their disbelief, it is almost certain that they didn’t hold out
much hope. Yet they held on.
The “Saturday of not knowing” in our
lives can be a very difficult place to dwell. When we are going through the
midst of Friday’s tragedy, it is very difficult to hold out hope for a
triumphant Sunday. Even when we know that Sunday is on the way, we don’t know
what Sunday is going to look like.
And what if Sunday comes late, or
even worse, not at all? What if the rest of our life is meant to be lived in
Saturday?
It is during the Saturdays of our
lives that verses like Romans 8:28 (“And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose”) can be very irritating. We can’t always see how God is working in our
Friday tragedies. Sometimes we don’t even care if He is working in them. We
just want Sunday to come and bring us some relief.
But God never promised that we won’t
have to experience the Friday tragedies in life. But He did promise that there
would always be a triumphant Sunday. The hardest part is getting through the
Saturday in between Friday and Sunday.
Unlike a real Saturday with exactly
24 hours in it, these virtual Saturdays can seem to last a lifetime. They’re
even worse if we’ve experienced a string of Fridays, loss upon loss, grief upon
grief. We begin to wonder if it could possibly get any worse. That’s when we
need to hold on tighter than ever to the truths and the promises of God’s Word.
When every sentence of the Bible
seems to fly in the face of reality, we have to remember that we serve a God
that transcends our physical plane. The God who created the physical realm
cannot be limited by it. The disciples did not know what would happen on
Sunday. As far as they knew, Sunday could have been just as bad as Saturday, or
maybe even worse. But they still held on. Out of fear, or confusion, or grief,
we don’t know, but they held on.
And then, miracle of miracles,
Sunday did come, and the news of a risen Savior lifted their spirits, and
eventually turned the world upside down.
What would have happened if the
disciples gave up on Saturday and left town? What if the women had gone back to
their homes and families?
Would anyone have noticed that the
tomb was empty?
Would anyone be around to see the
holes in Jesus’ hands and His side?
Would anyone have been there when He
stood on the mountain and proclaimed the great commission?
Would anyone have stood there gazing
up at the sky as Jesus ascended to His Father and His heavenly throne?
Would we be here today if the
disciples had not made it through Saturday?
There are many examples throughout
Scripture where people missed out on God’s blessings because they couldn’t wait
for their Sunday.
Lot’s daughters didn’t know if God
would provide them husbands after they fled Sodom, so they committed incest
with their father, and the result was the birth of two nations that would be a
constant source of struggle with Israel (Genesis 19:30-38).
Abram and Sarai got tired of waiting
in their “Saturday of not knowing” and decided to take matters into their own
hands when God took too long to make good on His promise. The result was the
birth of Ishmael, the forefather of the Arabs, and ultimately, the Muslim
religion (Genesis 16:-16).
King Saul decided his Sunday wasn’t
coming, and so he disobeyed a direct order from Samuel, and lost his kingdom as
a result (1 Samuel 13:5-14).
No matter what we go through on
Friday, Sunday will come. But we have to hang on through the “Saturday of not
knowing”. That’s when we need to stick together, to encourage and support each
other, just as the disciples did. And when Sunday finally arrives, we will be
able to stand and shout a victory cry: "He is not here, He is risen, just
as He said. Hallelujah! Amen."
Have a joyous Easter and a blessed
week!
Pastor David
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Imaginary Doors
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
I watched an interesting video this past week. It is a compilation of dogs refusing to walk through doorways that had always been a barrier to them, but the glass panes or screens had been removed. Here's a link to the video so you can get the context.
After a lifetime of encountering these barriers, these dogs refuse to pass through the now open spaces, regardless the amount of coaxing from their masters. In the dog's mind, the barrier still exists because it has always existed.
The video is at once both entertaining and sobering. It's entertaining because we, as rational humans, think the dogs are being silly for not availing themselves of the freedom that awaits on the other side of the imaginary doors. It's also sobering to think that we "rational" humans exhibit some of the same behaviors when it comes to casting off the remnants of the past that keep us bound from enjoying the freedom we have in Christ.
In church today, Pastor Nathan spoke about the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). But how often have we missed some of those spiritual blessings because we still feel bound by the imaginary doors of our past? We've all been held captive by something in our lives, whether bad habits, negative attitudes, past mistakes, abuse or injustice that we've endured, or any number of things that have created a virtual prison.
When we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we are set free from the bondage that kept us back from receiving all of the spiritual blessings that God has prepared for us to enjoy: peace, forgiveness, joy, hope, love, faith, and so on. But often times, we fail to recognize that there is no longer a barrier separating us from those blessings. Christ has removed their power over our lives. But there we stand at the threshold, paralyzed by the things of the past, and unable to move toward the Master.
Like some of those dogs, we may whine and cry and bemoan our fate, failing to see that there is nothing left to hold us back. It's interesting to see that there is an occasional dog who gladly walks or runs right through the imaginary door. These are the ones who trust their masters enough to know that it's okay to pass that threshold. They represent the believers who have found their freedom in Christ and are no longer restrained by the barriers of the past.
What's holding you back today and preventing you from experiencing all the wonderful spiritual blessings that God wants to bestow upon you? Your sins have been canceled out; they have no power over you. Your mistakes are in the past and do not define you. Those negative tapes that someone else recorded in your head when you were a child are lies and need to be replaced with the tapes of God's message of love, acceptance and deliverance. The people that abused you, bullied you, or deprived you of love and security as a child can no longer hurt you. Walk through those imaginary doors and enjoy the freedom that was bought with a great price, just for you.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
Galatians 5:1
I watched an interesting video this past week. It is a compilation of dogs refusing to walk through doorways that had always been a barrier to them, but the glass panes or screens had been removed. Here's a link to the video so you can get the context.
After a lifetime of encountering these barriers, these dogs refuse to pass through the now open spaces, regardless the amount of coaxing from their masters. In the dog's mind, the barrier still exists because it has always existed.
The video is at once both entertaining and sobering. It's entertaining because we, as rational humans, think the dogs are being silly for not availing themselves of the freedom that awaits on the other side of the imaginary doors. It's also sobering to think that we "rational" humans exhibit some of the same behaviors when it comes to casting off the remnants of the past that keep us bound from enjoying the freedom we have in Christ.
In church today, Pastor Nathan spoke about the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14). But how often have we missed some of those spiritual blessings because we still feel bound by the imaginary doors of our past? We've all been held captive by something in our lives, whether bad habits, negative attitudes, past mistakes, abuse or injustice that we've endured, or any number of things that have created a virtual prison.
When we enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ, we are set free from the bondage that kept us back from receiving all of the spiritual blessings that God has prepared for us to enjoy: peace, forgiveness, joy, hope, love, faith, and so on. But often times, we fail to recognize that there is no longer a barrier separating us from those blessings. Christ has removed their power over our lives. But there we stand at the threshold, paralyzed by the things of the past, and unable to move toward the Master.
Like some of those dogs, we may whine and cry and bemoan our fate, failing to see that there is nothing left to hold us back. It's interesting to see that there is an occasional dog who gladly walks or runs right through the imaginary door. These are the ones who trust their masters enough to know that it's okay to pass that threshold. They represent the believers who have found their freedom in Christ and are no longer restrained by the barriers of the past.
What's holding you back today and preventing you from experiencing all the wonderful spiritual blessings that God wants to bestow upon you? Your sins have been canceled out; they have no power over you. Your mistakes are in the past and do not define you. Those negative tapes that someone else recorded in your head when you were a child are lies and need to be replaced with the tapes of God's message of love, acceptance and deliverance. The people that abused you, bullied you, or deprived you of love and security as a child can no longer hurt you. Walk through those imaginary doors and enjoy the freedom that was bought with a great price, just for you.
Have a blessed week!
Pastor David
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