storiesofvalue

Kingdom Zika

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed the first Zika-related microcephaly birth in the state.  Microcephaly is a condition involving the abnormal development of a child’s brain before and after birth.  Perhaps you have seen the pictures of affected children on the news.  It isn’t hard to understand why the word “Zika” strikes fear in all of us, and especially pregnant women who have travelled to parts of the world where the virus is spreading.

These fears, along with warnings from health officials, have led a number of athletes to pull of the Rio Olympics.  Just a few hours ago golfer Jason Day added his name to the list.

Poor Rio.

First there were fears of criminal activity, then a financial emergency, and now Olympic glory has been brought to its knees by a virus.

Exactly how big is the Zika virus? A website I viewed says it is about 40 nanometers in diameter.  A nanometer is 1 billionth of a meter.  I am way out of my field of expertise here, but I think it is safe to say the Zika virus is small.  Very small.

For years we have known how vulnerable we are as a human race, but when something so small impacts our world in such a big way, we are humbled. We should be.

In Psalm 8:4 David wrote, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Of life itself, James wrote, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14).

We build cities and name them after famous people. We advance careers and celebrate them with plaques on the wall.  We achieve athletic greatness and wear medals around our necks.  And we accumulate possessions and post them on Facebook.

Then a virus appears and gets our attention.

Obviously, we can’t spend our lives worrying about every possible catastrophe.  Take it from someone who grew up with atomic bomb drills.

On the other hand, we also shouldn’t live with the illusion we can protect ourselves from every danger. Even if we could, we would still have to find a way to escape the greatest risk of all: ourselves.  I just read an excerpt from a Stephen Hawking interview where he said the biggest threats to humankind are still pollution, coupled with “human greed and stupidity.”  I don’t agree with all of Stephen Hawking’s views, but I’m with him on this one.

Tragically, the Zika virus targets babies and brings great sorrow into the hearts of their loved ones. But it sends a message to all of us.  Bigness and brilliance are no guarantee life will be painless.

I leave you with two pieces of advice:

First, remember, none of us are able to control every circumstance in our lives. Our perfect plans can come to ruin in a moment.  This doesn’t mean we can’t avoid trouble with wise choices, but life has no guarantees.  For this reason we should remain humble in God’s presence and seek His protection daily.  When trouble comes, we should turn to God for strength and comfort.

Secondly, be thankful. If you haven’t faced any huge tragedies in your life, you are fortunate.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have escaped trouble because you are a good person, or one of God’s favorites.  Some of God’s greatest servants in the Bible fell into both of these categories, and yet they suffered.  Thank God every day for your blessings, and never be too big to bow in humble adoration.

Don’t stop planning for tomorrow.

Don’t live in constant fear something bad is going to happen.

Both of these mindsets are unscriptural.

Just remember something the size of 40 nanometers can change everything. That’s why people are willing to trade a gold medal for peace of mind.

Kingdom Running Mate

We have entered the season in the Presidential campaign where candidates choose their running mates.  In the event a President is not able to continue to perform his (or her) duties, it is good to have a replacement.  There is a progression of succession for the office of President, but it is good that the first option is elected by the people.

Of course, we don’t elect Vice-Presidents so they can just sit around waiting for something to happen to the President. They preside over the Senate, cast the deciding vote in case of a deadlock, and represent the President when He is called elsewhere.

Beyond this, a Presidential candidate selects a running mate that increases her (or his), chances of getting elected. Considerations include someone who can unify a political party or appeal to a distinct population of voters.

In the Kingdom of God, we don’t have political running mates, because we have “one Lord over all” (Ephesians 4:6). The Father, Son and Spirit are “one”, so we can’t refer to them as “mates”, and there is no need for anyone to be on standby in case the Lord is unable to perform His duties.  He doesn’t technically have duties since He doesn’t answer to anyone, no one else is capable of filling His role, and there will never be a time when He is unable to lead.

Yet, there are running “running mates” in the Kingdom of God. Hebrews 12:1 reads, “let us run with perseverance.”  The Christian life is a race, and we are not alone.

Just as political candidates choose running mates to complement their campaigns, we have running mates that enhance our work for the kingdom. However, we aren’t ultimately in charge of this dynamic.  It is God who arranges members of His church exactly as He wants them to be (1 Corinthians 12:18).  This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do our best to discern each other’s strengths and weaknesses and find ways to serve in ways we are most likely to be successful.  Rather, it reminds us, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are God’s gift to each other, drawn together as the redeemed to be the church on earth.

Have you ever thought about how important it is to have running mates move with you in your Christian walk? Unfortunately, sometimes we view other people in the kingdom as something else.  We might see them as caterers who show up at the rally to make sure we have everything we need.  Or we consider them constituents who are expected to support our agendas.

Nope.

They are precious gifts from God who serve alongside us with one mind and heart. It is impossible for them to fill our shoes, because each of us has our own calling from God, but they can fill up the ministry God has prepared for them to perform in concert with us.

This raises a meddlesome question: how do we treat our running mates in the kingdom? When we volunteer for an important task, do we shirk our responsibility and expect others to take our place? I’m not talking about emergencies that call us away from our duties. Rather, I am thinking of an attitude that says, “It doesn’t matter.  Someone else will do it.”

Is that how running mates treat each other? Does this sound like a willingness to “run with perseverance?”

Do we treat our running mates favorably when we need help and ignore them when we don’t? Are we condescending, critical, unkind and unloving toward our running mates?

I know, I know! We didn’t choose our running mates, and sometimes we wonder why in the world they decided to run the race with us.

Maybe the same thought has occurred to them.

Maybe this campaign we call the Christian life is somewhat of a mystery to all of us.

But we should be thankful for our running mates. We may not run at the same pace, use the same stride, or follow the same strategy. Yet, we run together, and more are joining the race every day.

Everyone needs a running mate. If you think you are alone, let me know.

I’ll have a word with the Coach.

Kingdom Soul

As our last worship service concluded this past Sunday, news of the horrible terrorist shooting in Orlando started to make its way through our congregation. I quickly pulled up a news website on my phone and began reading the gruesome details.

It is hard to imagine how the family members of those who were killed feel. Their loved ones are gone, and their deaths were a result of an act of hatred directed at our country and a particular lifestyle.  Many of those who were injured and survive will spend the rest of their lives rehabilitating.

This event is despicable, as are all of the mass shootings that have taken place over recent years in our nation. Each one robs us of a piece of our sense of security and well-being.

What happened in Orlando reminds us of a few things that should matter to all of us:

First, every soul is precious to God.  Anyone in the Orlando nightclub who died without Jesus passed from this life without the hope of salvation.  If I believe everyone needs to be covered by grace, then I should ask myself what I am doing to make sure no one dies without knowing what Jesus did for him or her on the cross.   If I have convinced myself there are those in my world who are so far away from God they can’t possibly find their way back home, I need to re-examine the Bible.  Perhaps I am the one who has wandered too far.

Hate is contagious.  Maybe you have read this statement by Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), a Protestant minister who spent seven years in a Nazi concentration camp:  “First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Trade Unionist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.  Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” We don’t have to agree with a lifestyle to understand the implications of hate and lawlessness. We should pray for our country and for our leaders as we find the best ways to reduce violent crimes against people groups, as well as senseless acts of terrorism.

This is a time for weeping. It is a time to weep for those who have lost their lives and those who are injured.  We should grieve that we live in a world where people use the name of God as a vehicle to undermine the foundations of our civilization.

This is a time for prayer. If you aren’t accustomed to praying on your knees, this is a good time to start.  Before you go to bed tonight, get down on your knees and pour your heart out to God.  Confess we are incapable of solving our world’s problems by ourselves and ask God to show us the way out of the mess we are in.

This is a time for humility. It seems everyone knows exactly how to solve the world’s problems.  If this is the case, then why do we continue to struggle?  You say it isn’t because you aren’t in a position to do anything?  If you were in power, you would fix the problem?  Perhaps we have too many repairmen and not enough manufacturers.  It is time to build on the firm foundation of God’s truth and grow His kingdom from the ground up.

We must search our souls.  The day has passed when we can sit in the peanut gallery and tell others what needs to be done. It is time to do.

If we don’t, we are done.

Kingdom Endorsement

Well, I am ready to do it! For months I have been hem hawing around about the one I believe can best lead our country back to its foundation.   Please understand, I haven’t reached my conclusion lightly.  I am also aware I might lose some friends as a result of my choice.  But my patience has run out and I must speak.  I can only ask that you will view me with as much grace as possible.

My choice for the one most likely to restore our sensibilities and help us rebuild a society that loves and honors God is…

Us.

That’s right. We are the ones God has called to bring order out of chaos and rekindle hope in the hearts of fellow-citizens.

Don’t get me wrong.  We should not hold ourselves accountable for the bad decisions elected officials make.  I also believe those in authority over us can set a good moral direction for our country with wise laws and a positive example.

Yet, as a country, I am convinced the real power to change our present course rests in “we the people”, not government. This is true in terms of the Constitution, but also the church, and the home.

I’m going to meddle. But what’s new, right?

I believe churches and families still constitute the bedrock of our society. I know things are changing and I realize there are a number of important issues facing both the church and the family.  But I have some honest questions I would like to ask.

We are angry at our government for neglecting the moral fiber of our country, but where are we investing our time, resources and energy? Are we doing everything possible to build the kingdom of God in our community, or are we spectators who expect other, more “religious” people to keep the work of Lord going while we do our own thing?  The church was there for our children.  Are we there for the next generation?  Church members reached out to us when we were hurting.  Are we actively involved in a church family where we can join with believers in caring for others?

Have I meddled enough yet?

In regards to our families, are we leading them with a spiritual agenda, or a worldly agenda? I can count at least five young people who presently need to make decisions for Christ.  They have expressed a desire to their parents and their parents have told me they will get with me when “things settle down.”  In the meantime the window of opportunity for their children’s interest in the Lord is closing.  “But they have their whole life to make a decision,” you might say.  True, depending on how long they live.  However, in the future they will have to overcome the perspective that the Lord Jesus is important, but not important enough to stop what they are doing to consider a core decision that will affect their life here and their eternal destiny.

Please don’t misunderstand my intent here. I do not wish to heap guilt on anyone or trivialize the trouble we are in as a nation.  However, I am convinced of this: no good law will stand if the majority of the people don’t want it, and no bad law will be repealed if the majority of the people don’t fight it.  In the final analysis, the future of our country has as much to do with the decisions we make every day as it does the one we make every four years in a Presidential election.

With this sad, I want to be sure you know I see a connection between our elected officials and the spiritual lives of our citizens. A politician with godly values who governs effectively and leads with grace and faith can set an example others want to follow.

Just don’t wait for the government to do our job as believers. And when believing candidates are voted into office, don’t be surprised if their influence doesn’t last.  We can’t expect others to do our job for us.   We also can’t blame others for something they really don’t have the power to decide.  Remember?  “We the people?”

Believers in Jesus are the ones who must ultimately decide what it means to be a people of faith. But then, this is nothing new.  It’s a tale as old as time.  If you don’t believe me read the sad history of the “on again-off again” faith of God’s people in the Old Testament.

Have you made your choice? One thing is for sure: no one can make it for you.

Kingdom Memorial

Today it rained. All day it rained.

This afternoon my wife called from the Hermitage in Nashville where she had traveled to celebrate the wedding of a special family member. It wasn’t raining there.  In fact, she was sitting under a tree to keep from getting a sun burn.

I talked with some parents of two young children yesterday at the church I serve on the East Coast. Their children were disappointed because they had beach plans.  And it was raining.  It is still raining.  Did I mention it has rained all day?

Actually, I don’t mind rainy days when I can cocoon and work on a variety of writing projects (such as this devotion). I have also had an opportunity to catch some scenes from my favorite war movies.  In fact, as I write, some young men are in the process of landing the badly damaged Memphis Belle “on a wing and a prayer.”

Is it wrong to enjoy a day dedicated to those who have died to preserve our freedom? No.  But we must take time to remember, and to remember well.  A peaceful day in the neighborhood with birds chirping and children laughing (or raindrops falling lightly on the skylights), stands in sharp contrast to the horror awaiting the brave men who were to land on the beaches of Normandy, June 6, 1944.  Whether we offer a special prayer of thanksgiving before eating our Memorial Day meal, visit a National Cemetery, or attend a community service of remembrance, the sacrifice of so many is worthy of our deepest devotion.

There is a good parallel in the Bible that helps us understand the balance between a memorial and a celebration. Before Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross of Calvary He instituted the supper we call “The Lord’s Supper” or “communion.”  This supper commemorated the future event of Jesus’ death on the cross and defined bread and a cup as symbols of Jesus body and blood.  When we take communion we remember what Jesus did on the cross and we thank Him for His sacrifice.  We also reflect on our sin, the root cause of Christ’s suffering.

However, even though Jesus left this supper behind, He didn’t want our gatherings as believers to be solemn. Here is how the Bible describes the tone of the first church services in Jerusalem: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47)  Did you catch that?  Early Christians met to remember Jesus’ death and they “ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” They had such a good time in the Lord the news got around and other people wanted to join them!

But as time passed, an unfortunately thing happened at the church in Corinth. Evidently, some believers there were coming early to their gatherings and gorging themselves on food and wine.  When the others arrived and it was time to honor Jesus with communion, there was nothing left to use for the Lord’s Supper and the early arrivals were drunk! (1 Corinthians 11:21)  This is why the Apostle Paul harshly rebuked the church and warned the Corinthians not to take the Lord’s Supper in an “unworthy manner.”  The problem wasn’t that the church was having fun, or even that they were having “too much” fun (depending on how one defines “fun”).  The issue was focus, or the lack thereof.  The focus of worship for Christians should be Jesus, and when it is time to remember what He did on the cross, we should be prepared to give His sacrifice our full attention.

In a similar fashion, the focus of Memorial Day is on those who have died for freedom’s sake. Have fun on Memorial Day!  Enjoy your family, your barbecue ribs, and any other traditions you deem important.  But when it is time to remember, make it a point to truly remember.  Imagine what our country would be like had the villains of the past been allowed to succeed.  Most of us have never known anything but freedom, and it serves us well to read about the experiences of others in our world who have watched it slip away.

Enjoy the day, but honor the remembrance.

It continues to rain. But you will never catch me complaining.

Kingdom Groin

Yes. I’m going to talk about it.

A couple of days ago in an NBA playoff game, Golden State Warrior Draymond Green kicked Oklahoma Thunder Steven Adams in a most sensitive area of his body. The infraction has since been upgraded to a “flagrant two” foul with a fine of $25,000.

If you are concerned that I would discuss such things in a devotional, I need to remind you God has never shied away from these kinds of subjects. One of the most famous biblical accounts about male incapacitation can be found in Joshua 5 before the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into Canaan.  It seems the men of military age who had been born since leaving Egypt had not been circumcised.  To bring them up to speed (as far as God’s covenant was concerned), Joshua had them circumcised.  That’s right.  Before the mighty men of war from the camp of Israel entered Canaan land to do battle, God instructed Joshua to orchestrate a strategic operation, “so to speak.”

I have often wondered what Joshua thought when God asked him to perform these circumcisions. What did the men of war think?  Maybe they called “flagrant foul!”  But to no avail.

The purpose of God’s command to Joshua was clear. While the ritual of circumcision might have temporarily incapacitated the men of war in Israel, it did set the record straight on the source of their strength.  They would only be as successful in their battles in Canaan as their humility before God would allow.  Completing their obedience with the male sign of God’s covenant with his people was crucial in expression this humility.

Incapacitation can be a good thing for the kingdom.   When any of us are knocked down we are forced to revisit why we are here and who is directing our paths.  The Apostle Paul had an unknown infirmity that plagued him throughout his ministry.  He prayed for God to take it away, but God denied his request.  Paul reached a place of peace with this speculation:  ‘To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

There is an old gospel song that says “sometimes you have to be knocked down to make you look upward.” (Imperials)  Indeed, there are times when God has to humble us in no uncertain terms before He has our full attention.

A kick in the groin will certainly get our attention. But so will a lot of other experiences.  Perhaps you have been knocked down by an illness, a financial failure, a sin, the end of a relationship, or some other event that rocked your faith.  During these seasons in our lives we discover what is inside of our hearts and who is in charge of our future.

God doesn’t always have to bring us to our knees to get our attention. We can choose to follow a path of daily reflection on His Word as well as confession and petition through prayer.  This doesn’t mean spiritual discipline makes us immune to hardship.  It’s just that God doesn’t intend for us to learn everything the hard way.

Should we refer to the times when God humbles us as a “kick in the groin?” Well, maybe.  But you won’t hear me call it that in any of my sermons.  That too could become a “flagrant two” foul.

Just be ready. If you think nothing can put you flat on the ground you obviously have never met Draymond Green.

Kingdom Filter

It is very human to speak before we think. Thousands of years ago the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote, “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2)

One of the reasons I don’t like to use Twitter is because I have an unusual sense of humor. I am afraid I will tweet something that sounds really funny, with disastrous consequences.

People often speak of “filters” when it comes to speech. Filters are the thought processes we go through as we decide what we should or should not share.  Long before this use of the word “filters” became popular, people in my family talked about those who had “diarrhea of the mouth.”

Yikes! Should I have said that?  Well, hopefully, you get the idea.

Today I was working my way through some Facebook posts and found a couple of complaints from people who felt they had been wronged by others. Both posts provided just enough detail to evoke sympathy from friends, but not quite enough to reveal the whole situation.

This morning’s news was filled with commentary on thoughtless statements from public figures. Some of the statements were recent and some were old.  It doesn’t matter.  Once our words are recorded in a sound bite or social media platform they begin to define us, especially if we have celebrity status.

As a public speaker, I feel sorry for those who misspeak. People truly do not mean everything they say.  But whether we mean what we say or not, if our words are hurtful toward others or misrepresent the truth in some way, they can still cause great damage.

Maybe this is why the Bible is full of passages commanding us to guard our tongues, as well as our hearts where evil thoughts and words are born. There isn’t room here to list every passage, but I will share some biblical points on the subject:

Unfiltered words can be dangerous.  James said the tongue is like a wild animal or a fire.  When we don’t control it, it has the power to destroy.  James writes, “No man can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 2:8).

Unfiltered words can be eternally fatal.  Jesus once said anyone who calls his brother a “fool” (a worthless person), is in danger of “the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:23).  That’s right.  Assassinating someone’s identity is as serious as physical murder.  Some might see this as an exaggeration, intended to grab our attention.  Maybe so, but I wouldn’t be too sure.

Unfiltered words can indicate a deeper problem. Once, Judas criticized a woman by the name of Mary for anointing Jesus with expensive perfume.  He thought the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor.  But John tells us Judas’ complaint had nothing to do with the poor.  He was a thief, and he was overwhelmed with jealousy when he thought of how he might have spent the money on himself (John 12:6).  While our unfiltered words might gain a little sympathy from others, most people see through us and realize we are trying to feed a dangerous creature within.

Unfiltered words can cost us our credibility. Followers of Jesus are always on stage.  We may not think this is fair, but it goes with the territory.  When we put on Jesus, we agree to represent or “profess” Him in our lives.  This is why the Apostle Paul reminded us to let our conversation be “full of grace” and “seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).  We might get a few sympathetic comments from others when we vent publicly, but at the same time we undermine our witness and reinforce non-believers’ resistance to the Lord.

Unfiltered words can send a soul to hell.  I saved this one for last because it is pretty strong.  This isn’t a reference to Jesus’ warning against calling a brother a “fool”.  I am thinking our words can send someone else to hell.  I am not saying people aren’t ultimately responsible for their own souls.  On the other hand, we must never forget the weight of our words, realizing they have the power to turn someone away from the Lord.  This is why Paul told us to let our conversation be “full of grace.”  He was concerned about how believers are perceived by non-believers, or “outsiders” (Colossians 4:5).

Are words really this big of a deal?

It is possible I have painted too bleak a picture. But words have one distinction I can’t get around: once I use them, I can’t take them back.

And that’s a deal no one has the power to break.

Kingdom Ounce

The gospel of Jesus possesses an inherent tension. On one hand, we want people to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, and like Him, we should reach out to everyone.   In His earthly ministry, Jesus never stopped to ask about someone’s background or circumstances before loving them.  This is evidenced in His encounter with the adulterous woman, the demon possessed man of the Gadarenes, Zacchaeus, and a host of others.

On the other hand, Jesus called the people He loved to a life of holiness. If they were trapped in sin, His grace gave them the courage to leave their old life behind and cling to what is good.  He told the adulterous woman to “go and sin no more.”  The demon possessed man wanted to follow Jesus, but was told to stay in his community so he could be a constant witness to the power of God.  Zacchaeus gave away half of his possession to the poor and offered restitution to those He had defrauded.

I believe the church should reach out to those who are hurting and living without hope. We should never turn people away because their sin is too big.  Still, there is an expectation. The expectation is that once people commit their lives to Jesus they will engage in the process of becoming like Him.

One might say, “But that sounds like conditional love!”  No.  Jesus never stops loving anyone.  Neither should we.  But a Christian, by definition, is someone who makes a commitment to Jesus Christ and steps into a life of obedience.   When we ignore this aspect of our walk with the Lord we are actually the ones practicing conditional love.  We are saying, “Jesus, I love you when I need your grace, but not when you ask me to change.”

I say all of this in defense of believers who continue to challenge a sinful world to a godly ideal. Just because someone challenges sin in the lives of others doesn’t mean he is unloving or judgmental.  In fact, it probably means he is willing to put his relationships with others on the line to help them avoid Satan’s snare.   Yes, there is a spirit of legalism that turns the smallest imperfection into a matter of eternal damnation.  But we shouldn’t let the reputation of those who lose perspective frighten us into pretending sin doesn’t matter.

If sin didn’t matter, Jesus wasted a lot of blood on the cross. The Apostle Paul wrote, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This then, is the tension in the gospel. We reach out to the fallen, but we lead them to a place where they can not only shed their shackles of sin, but put distance between themselves and the prison of their past.

The instruction God gives us in His Word for a holy life is the proverbial “ounce of prevention” that is greater than a “pound of cure.” The book of Proverbs is packed full of these “ounces” and the letters in the New Testament are largely written to help believers take off the old self of sin and put on the image of Jesus (Colossians 3:1-17).

I don’t want to be a part of a church that turns away sinners.  But neither do I want to be a part of one that fails to hold people accountable to a life that honors Jesus.  In the gospels Jesus was extremely kind to those who didn’t understand His Father’s will, but He was harsh with those who knew better.  In his letters, the Apostle Paul is just as confrontational with believers in the church who were living as if sin didn’t matter (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).

This approach is not just about doing the right things.  An ounce of kingdom holiness can prevent a lot of heartache. Many of the broken people I have ministered to in my life have spent years overcoming a sin, or carrying the burden of a sin committed against them. If someone had warned them earlier, or confronted others in their lives with the truth, much of the pain might have been avoided.

It is hard to reach a proper balance between grace and truth, but I would suggest you really can’t understand one without the other. Grace is only meaningful when we grasp the condition of sin and the pursuit of truth and holiness is only feasible when we know we can walk confidently in grace.

Never turn away a sinner, but keep sharing the truth. The church must continue to cure the ills of our world, but it makes no sense to do this while neglecting the principles that can prevent sin from taking root in the first place.

An ounce is really a very small thing. But it can make cover a world of hurt.  “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:20)

Kingdom Anger

People are angry. So what’s new?

It took just one generation following Adam and Eve’s banishment from the Garden of Eden for the first murder to occur. Cain killed Abel in a fit of jealousy.  People have been acting out in anger ever since.

Obviously, not all anger ends in murder. Some leads us to act out of character, such as Moses’ foolish reaction to the Israelite’s challenge to his leadership (Numbers 10:1-13). He drew water out of a rock, and took credit for something God did  One kind of anger spares the flesh but kills the spirit.  Jesus said we commit murder in our hearts when our anger toward a brother leads us to demean him (Matthew 5:21-22). James wrote, “What causes fights and quarrels among you?  Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1).

Yes, anger has been with us for a long time. So why does it seem as though anger in our culture has reached a fever pitch?  At the risk of sounding simplistic, I believe it is because we have lost our way.  We have forgotten God’s instruction on the subject.

Anger is not inherently sinful. Jesus was angry when He drove the corrupt money changers out of the temple.  The concept of “God’s wrath” is rooted in His divine anger against sin.  While we must be careful drawing parallels between ourselves and the Father and Son, as we do not possess such authority or perfect insight into life’s circumstances, it is also true we are made in God’s image.  It seems reasonable that anger is one of those emotions that have been placed in us for a purpose.

Perhaps, if we wish to determine if our anger is acceptable, we should discover what stirs God’s wrath and use that as our template. Consider Proverbs 6:16-19: “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,  a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” (Pro 6:16-19 NIV)

God is angry when we look down on others. “Haughty eyed” people are condescending.  They presume to know everything about everything and tear others down to build themselves up.

God is angry when we lie.  Lying can damage reputations and undermine the good that others do.

God is angry when we cheapen life.  Innocent blood includes innocent victims of violence, abortion and genocide.  Our selfish pursuits should never be an excuse for ignoring the intrinsic worth of those made in God’s image.

God is angry when we make evil plans.  Our fallen human nature leads us to think evil thoughts.  But when we harbor these thoughts and devise a means to act on them, we are giving Satan a foothold in our hearts.

God is angry when we support evil causes.  Those who “rush into evil” are those who gravitate toward sinful behaviors without asking what God might expect of them.  In contrast, those who stand for God resist evil and attempt to point others to a higher ideal.

God is angry with false witnesses.  If we are spread half-truths and lies about others, or gossip, we destroy lives and dishonor God.

God is angry with those who create dissention.  We can unwittingly create environments for conflict.  However, we sin when we purposely stir up trouble between others.  Some people use this methodology when they don’t get their way.  Whatever the reason, God is not pleased.

It is acceptable to be angry about the things that anger God, as long as we remember we don’t have His perfect wisdom and proceed with extreme caution. However, if we spent more time guarding against the things that anger God in our own lives, we would be sufficiently humbled and less prone to be angry at others.  Jesus said it this way: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5)

I wonder how different our lives would be if we were angry about the right things?

Kingdom Rain

The world is mourning the passing of pop star Prince. Death in one’s 50s is tragic, and the thought someone so famous would die alone in an elevator reminds us all of life’s uncertainties.

I will go ahead and get my disclaimers out-of-the-way. Indeed, some lyrics from Prince’s songs were raunchy, and come into conflict with God’s Word.  Prince was a Jehovah’s Witness, a group with which I have sharp theological disagreements.

But I wish to make an appeal. Before we publicly pass eternal judgment on Prince, or any other celebrity who has died, let’s stop to think about the opportunities we might miss.  I am not saying we shouldn’t use these events as teaching opportunities for our children.  This is especially true if the circumstances surrounding death are criminal.

However, I wish to propose that non-believers really don’t care what we think about a celebrity’s spiritual life or moral integrity if we are out to condemn.  They certainly don’t want to hear us criticize someone they adore.

I am not suggesting we get caught up in the emotion of our culture and forget our convictions. On the other hand, if we look at the passing of someone like Prince as an open door to talk about spiritual things with others, we might consider the following:

Sometimes the personal values of celebrities reflect biblical principles, and we can use their example as an opportunity to talk about the behaviors that please God.  While I don’t think denying Jesus as God’s Son pleases God, I am impressed with Prince’s desire to be a simple member of a small congregation who was willing to participate in the mission and ministry of his spiritual family.  He witnessed door-to-door with other church members and enjoyed discussing the Bible.  It is obvious Prince craved a simple faith without the chaos he experienced in other parts of his life.  Many people want what Prince wanted when it comes to faith, and I feel certain discussing his life in this regard can open a pathway to someone’s heart.

Sometimes the world view of celebrities, though doctrinally askew, can point their fans in the general direction of God.  Prince believed in a Creator and he humbly acknowledged his life and talent was a gift from God.  In a world where famous people mock the idea of God or reduce Him to a universal force, we can build on a talented musician’s opinion to the contrary.

Sometimes celebrities defy the trappings of stardom and remind us we all have a responsibility to bless others as we have been blessed.  As information about Prince’s generosity has emerged it has become obvious he gave incredible sums of money to good causes.  Interestingly, he focused on efforts that encouraged people to work hard and succeed rather than those that robbed people of their dignity and ambition.  The Bible tells us not to brag about our contributions and teaches us to help others help themselves.  While we may not be in agreement with every cause Prince supported, his attitude toward money is Christ-like.

I do not intend to use this devotion as a tribute to a celebrity with whom I am only casually familiar. But as I look at his life I see numerous places to connect with others.  As you know, people live vicariously through musicians and their music.  While it may seem strange to mourn for someone one doesn’t know, I am certain there are people who are impacted on a deep level by Prince’s death and they are willing to receive comfort and encouragement from people who have a relationship with God.

Choose your words wisely as you talk about Prince. Consider the open door created by an event so many people are talking about.  And as with anything in our lives, pray God might somehow use it and us for his glory.

After all, we all hurt and need someone to care about us. Don’t you know “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life?”