storiesofvalue

Kingdom Disobedience

Kim Davis, County Clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky is exercising civil disobedience. She is refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in defiance of the law. Kim Davis has said, “To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience,”

I understand the viewpoint of those who believe Kim Davis should be forced to step down from public office, since she has refused to uphold the law. It is worth noting she is well aware of the possible consequences of her actions and has already decided she is willing to accept what comes. This is the true spirit of civil disobedience: the willingness to stand against a law that violates one’s conscience, and accept the consequences with courage.

In the interest of full disclosure, I need to make you aware that I align myself with Kim Davis’ definition of marriage. Whether or not she should serve as County Clerk while disobeying a law is something the courts will ultimately decide.

My thoughts here, however, are intended for those of every persuasion. I humbly ask that you consider them regardless of your position on marriage, sexual orientation, government authority or civil disobedience. I am troubled that we sometimes let an emotional social issue takes us down a road that leads to a place where we don’t really want to be. Even if we win a war, we can unwittingly sacrifice a piece of personal autonomy we might someday wish we had back.

To understand the danger before us, we need to go back to the first days of the church. The early church faced persecution at the hands of government authorities who grew weary of their disobedience. What led Christians to disobey an authority that could crush them like ants? First and foremost, they were compelled to proclaim the message of Jesus. In the process they offered divine deliverance from spiritual bondage, sometimes putting themselves at odds with merchants and government authorities. Idol worship was big business, and in some instances refusing to worship the Roman Emperor was considered an act of treason. Polycarp, the famous Bishop of Smyrna, who was tortured and killed for his faith in Jesus, was accused of being an atheist because he refused to worship the Roman gods.

Early Christians were also persecuted by religious authorities. Perhaps you remember Peter and John’s famous words before the Sanhedrin when they were being threatened for proclaiming Christ: “We must obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).

As we scroll through the years we find many examples of civil disobedience which brought about positive change. In our own nation, this is clearly seen in the courage of Rosa Parks who refused to give up her seat on a bus.  In the words of Martin Luther King Jr.: “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law”

Here is my question in regards to Kim Davis and the opinion she should just step aside and obey the law. Do we really want to give our government that kind of power over our lives? Yes, we are commanded to respect and obey the authorities (Romans 13:1-7), but this principle doesn’t prohibit non-violent protest. Certainly Kim Davis’ methods and demeanor have been peaceful.

My suggestion is, even if you disagree with this gutsy County Clerk’s position, it is wise to respect her right to her opinion. And it is also healthy to allow her to carry her convictions through to their ultimate conclusion, even if that means she is removed from office or incarcerated for her disobedience.

In a sense, the people throughout history who have been truly free aren’t necessarily those who have found protection under the law, but rather those who have remained faithful to their personal convictions. They have been willing to accept the consequences of their actions and have avoided selling their souls to any earthly power.

God is our final authority and we must all struggle with how we are going to function as citizens of two kingdoms. Just be careful you don’t think your government is on your side because they have ruled in your favor.

And perhaps more importantly, don’t convince yourself it doesn’t matter one way or another as long as you win (Proverbs 26:24-28).

Kingdom Crash

A few days ago the global stock market began to “correct” itself. You are probably aware a correction in the stock market is a rather abrupt return to a more realistic valuation. In other words, when stocks are valued too highly, sooner or later something happens to stop the momentum and they come crashing down.

On Monday morning of this week I saw a news headline that predicted a “brutal” stock opening. It was indeed brutal.

It has always been difficult to determine a true value for things in this world. What is something worth? Whatever people are willing to pay. And what is a “rock bottom” price? Zero! Everything in-between is a matter of personal preference and perspective.

The Bible predicts an ultimate world-wide devaluation. In a passage on the end of time Peter writes, “That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.” (2 Peter 3:12) Regardless of one’s view of future events, it is obvious we should not put stock in this world from an eternal perspective.

But what about those things that are eternal? How safe are they?

We know for certain, whatever form our treasures have in heaven, they cannot be taken away. Jesus said, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20) The book of Revelation gives us this picture of the New Jerusalem: “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21:27)

While this may seem like an irrelevant subject for the “here and now”, it certainly is important for kingdom servants who are following Jesus’ directive. If we are storing up our treasures in heaven, we want to know it will be there when we get there. Otherwise, we might as well live for ourselves here.

It might be good to remind ourselves of the nature of our heavenly reward. It is, of course, eternal. And it is spiritual. But it is also tangible and real. We are inclined to think heavenly things are created with fluffy clouds and dazzling starbursts. However, the Bible tells us we will have new bodies (1 Corinthians 15:32). We can also assume if God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden to find fulfillment by caring for His creation, certainly He will have a meaningful role for us in heaven.

Will our rewards in heaven be received all at once, or be revealed throughout eternity? Will we be organized into teams for ministry, or will we be free to follow our heart, unencumbered by duty? Some people speak of their rewards in terms of those things we will receive and others those things we will not endure. For example, we will have plenty of joy in heaven, and there will be no trouble or trials.

During the most recent downturn in the stock market someone told me, “Well, you can’t take it with you.” He was right. I can’t take money with me to heaven. I can’t even be sure how long I will have it here. Come to think of it, my reward systems here on earth and in heaven are both matters of trust. I trust I will have what I need here to sustain me, and I trust I will have what I need in heaven.

The uncertainty of this life doesn’t stop me from preparing for the future here. Therefore, nothing should stop me from preparing for eternity. I haven’t seen my reward, but I know who is managing it, and have total confidence in His ability to keep me safe and secure. In fact, He will do more than keep me safe and secure. He will pour out His blessings on me and fill my existence with everlasting peace.

Heaven won’t crash. Our eternal investments won’t disappear, and we will receive more than we can imagine.

I understand the anxiety we have when the market here is down. We just can’t let what happens here keep us from getting ready for what will happen there.

The “futures” for heaven always look good.  The kingdom will crash…”crash the gates of hell,” that is.  Nothing has or ever will stand in its way.

Kingdom Agents

Have you ever looked for secret agents?

I have heard Federal Air Marshalls randomly fly airliners as a deterrent to terrorism. When I walk on a plane, I try to spot them. Is he the man in the back wearing a company flight uniform, or the guy with the beard, wearing a Yankees cap? Or is “he” a “she” quietly knitting a blanket for her grandchild in the fire exit row?

Not all agents are secret agents. An agent is merely someone representing a higher authority. My insurance agent doesn’t wear disguises or hide from me when I walk in his office.

If you are a follower of Jesus, did you know you are His agent? Jesus’ high-level agents while He was on earth were called “apostles.” There were twelve at first, until Judas became a double-agent and betrayed His Master. The word “apostle” means “sent out one.” While we may not have the authority of the first agents Jesus recruited to lead His church, we are apostles with a small “a”. We have been sent to a lost and dying world with a glorious message of hope.

And sometimes we are secret agents.

Stick with me here. I am not suggesting we should pretend to be something we are not, then pull out our bibles and confront people when we see them sinning. Instead, I am thinking of how we find ways to bring the kingdom into a variety of settings, and adapt our message to work within the restrictions our world places on us.

One of the ladies at the store where I buy my daily caffeine is a believer. She has to be careful about talking “religion” in the workplace. But while she is taking my money, she sings a soft song of praise. She is a secret agent.

Some teachers I know encourage student-led expressions of faith. There’s no law against listening to a child when he draws a picture of a cross and talks about his love for Jesus. Listening is a form of affirmation. Teachers are secret agents.

They are everywhere. They volunteer to schedule snacks for their child’s soccer teams. They hold hands with families who are praying in a hospital waiting room. They even sit on airplanes as Air Marshall. The Lord’s agents aren’t unethical, but they are subversive. In all situations, they attempt to undermine the power of Satan by pouring the grace of the Lord Jesus into their world.

This is the time of year when students go back to school and parents fret over their welfare. If you are a parent I want to encourage you in this! God has secret agents everywhere! While it is true Satan has agents of his own, they are no match for the people of the Lord. Of Jesus, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16) Jesus works through human messengers and supernatural angels. He brings His agents into our loved one’s lives overtly and covertly.  He hears our prayers and works providentially in ways we cannot see.

I am also convinced God calls those of us who serve Him to be His agents, secret or otherwise. We are dispensing grace on a momentary basis. Every kind word we speak and every loving act we perform is our way of claiming kingdom authority.

Who knows? You may have unknowingly made contact with one of God’s secret agents today. At the risk of sounding mentally insane I must remind you they are everywhere. And they might be the people you least suspect!

God loves working through the people we least suspect.

Kingdom Drone

Drones are in the news. Have you seen one?

A couple of years ago my wife and I travelled to Chincoteague, Virginia to watch the famous Chincoteague ponies swim home. We stood patiently on the bank waiting for the arrival of the ponies. Then it appeared. A small drone hovered over the water in front of the gathered crowd and darted to the left and right before flying away.

Some people think drones are cool. Others point to the perilous situations they can create with commercial aircraft. While our society debates the value of drones, some companies are already profiting from their use. One thing is certain: drones aren’t going away any time soon.

Neither are angels.

That’s right. I’m going there. Don’t close the devotion yet, though. Hear me out. I am not suggesting the biblical record of angels indicates earlier visits from a technologically advanced alien culture. Although, there is that interesting scene in Isaiah 6:2: “Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” And this one in Revelation 4:8: “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.”

Could it be?  Nah!  For one thing, there is no record of an angel crashing in the Bible. Given the number of shepherd boys with slings at the time, and the deadly accuracy of their aim, it is hard for me to believe one of them wouldn’t have brought down a drone.

So why am I teasing you with this subject? It seems to me, in a day when people are trying to figure out how to regulate drones, it is worth noting God has always used a winged force to care for our individual needs. He even had the foresight to put angels in another dimension so they wouldn’t interfere with air traffic!

When we give our lives to Jesus, God sustains us with angels. In Hebrews 1:14 we read, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” I don’t believe this means only those who follow Jesus have angels watching out for them, but rather that all angels participate in the lives of believers. They provide comfort and deliverance as if God Himself was doing the work.

Which, in fact, He is! Through His angels, God can minister anywhere, anytime to anyone. While it is true He can also intervene by altering the course of natural processes, and with His own hand (Isaiah 59:16), angels are one of God’s principle means of providential care.

One of the most exciting suggested uses for drones is the delivery of life-saving supplies in inaccessible locations. Medicine and survival equipment can be air-lifted to stranded climbers and lifeguards can quickly dispatch floatation devices to swimmers in trouble. The possibilities are endless.

Well, not exactly. Only God is inherently endless, and His ability to meet our needs goes beyond anything human technology can provide.

“Give us time!” you say?  “We can eventually do it all!”

Hmmmmm… Paul says,  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

And it never will.

Kingdom Self-Righteousness

A few hours ago a newborn baby was pulled from a toilet pipe in China. The baby girl was presumably abandoned by her mother for financial reasons. Baby girls are not as desirable as baby boys in China, and if a genetic condition or deformity is detected at birth, they often join the group of approximately 10,000 babies reported as abandoned each year. In this specific case, the rescued baby had no genetic issues, and is expected to be fine.

When I was a kid I was taught to view the Chinese government as evil. They were a communist country with lots of secrets, and the immoral steps they took to prevent overpopulation proved God couldn’t possibly be on their side! As a steady stream of unwanted Chinese children made their way to our country my perceptions of a place where life is cheap and government is oppressive were reinforced. The public punctuation point for Chinese culture came at the Beijing Olympics when a beautiful little girl pretended to sing the revolutionary national anthem as a girl deemed less attractive gave the actual performance off-stage.

We all thought it: “of all the arrogant, dishonest and disgraceful things to do! That just shows what happens when communists control the truth.”

Lest you think badly of me, I am not in any way sympathetic to communism. I believe in the common good. I just don’t think government should be in the business of redistributing wealth and controlling commerce.

Still, I am shocked that people in our culture are willing to believe the best about the horrific news that Planned Parenthood employees were trying to sell baby body parts, but our news agencies don’t hesitate to let us know about the tragedy of a baby girl stuffed down a toilet in China. Both are tragic! But somehow we like to believe the best about ourselves and the worst about others.

The figures regarding abortion numbers in our country are documented, and I am not going to spend time here recounting all of the reasons the practice is immoral and destructive. What I am concerned about is the apparent absence of outrage from the American church over the Planned Parenthood videos. Perhaps we are afraid to speak until all of the facts are in. Certainly, there have been times when Christians have embarrassed themselves by stirring up trouble based on bad information. Or, it could be we are hoping the problem is isolated, and Planned Parenthood is, as its leader claims, a “compassionate” organization.

I say “no.” It is possible to show compassion to mothers with unwanted children without taking a child’s life. And the claim the Planned Parenthood videos were “heavily edited” and should therefore be disallowed is insane. Too many people have lost their jobs over short video clips or soundbites to make me buy such logic.

Do we really believe we are so righteous God will somehow overlook our sin? Does the good we do cancel out the evil we ignore? More importantly, do we believe God is going to cut us some slack because of our good track record, or our constitution which grants us the freedom to worship His Son?

Our kingdom citizenship isn’t tied to a track of land, and we should not presume an inherited righteousness. I have not decided how I am going to personally engage in the public debate over this present situation. But if nothing else, we must recognize we are not immune from God’s wrath. He blessed us and He can “un-bless” us. Really? But we are a Christian nation! We are the moral authority of the world and everyone wants to come here! Look at what we have!

Yes. Look at what we have. And look at what we have lost.

Kingdom Tragedies

A few days ago Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of the late Whitney Houston, passed away. She never recovered from a bathtub drowning that is still under investigation.

I realize some people don’t have a lot of compassion for Bobbi and her mother. After all, in light of those who die as innocent victims of circumstances, it is hard to feel sorry for people who contribute to their own demise. The case is incomplete in regards to Bobbi, but certainly Whitney’s choices were a major contributing factor in her own death.

Ok.  I must admit I am biased here. I believe Whitney Houston had one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard (second only to my mother – “Hi Mom!”) and I am personally saddened at her loss. We must also remember a tragedy, in the classical sense, can involve people who are responsible for their own trouble. In theater a tragedy might focus on a character that evokes pity when his or her vice leads to an unfortunate reversal of fortune. This is certainly the case with Whitney, and the coroner’s report suggests it was likely a factor in Bobbi’s death.

The facts in this case are hard for me to wrap my mind around. A famous mother dies, and a little over three years later her daughter dies at the age of 22. She leaves behind an estate of over 100 million dollars, and a certain legacy of court battles yet to come.

Why am I pondering this subject? I believe it illustrates the notion of a “kingdom tragedy” for those who know the Lord and stop short of reaching their potential. Vices and bad company aside, Whitney and Bobbi knew the Lord. One might argue they had a strange way of showing it. They were conflicted in so many ways. But aren’t we all? I mean, how many of us are also a part of a kingdom tragedy?

I have met people who allow bitterness to rot their hearts from the inside out and use the pain of yesterday as an excuse to act in the most unchristian ways. That’s a tragedy. I know those who find fault with the efforts of others who serve the Lord, but always seem to have a good reason why they can’t contribute. I understand the psychology that leads to this behavior, as our criticisms are a defense mechanism against personal guilt, but it is still a tragedy. And I have watched people use the church family as a safe place to teach their children good morals, then seek other interests when their kids are gone. It never occurs to them many of the people who cared for their children did so after their own children were raised: another tragedy.

“Wait a minute! What are you talking about?  I’m a good person!” you say. Here’s the deal. When we float along in our faith and take the best the Lord’s church has to give while finding every reason imaginable to justify our own lack of commitment, that’s a tragedy. We are throwing away the time, gifts and resources God gave us, and tossing them to the wind where the world will use up what remains of the possibilities we were given.

Just so you know I have not lost perspective. I am aware people with serious addictions usually end up hurting a lot of other people. Had Whitney Houston been able to overcome her problems, she would have been around to help guide her daughter. Instead, Bobbi Brown was left with a major void in her life and a trap set by Satan that eventually led to her demise. Certainly a good citizen who takes care of his or her family and avoids sinful practices deserves our respect.

All I am saying is, biblically speaking, there isn’t much difference between the tragedy of potential destroyed and potential unused. You don’t believe me? Consider Jesus’ parable where a wealthy master gave three individuals three separate measurements of wealth (talents) before he went on a journey. The ones with five and two talents made wise investments and doubled the master’s money. But the one with one talent hid it in the ground. When the master came back he praised those who had used his money wisely, but to the one who hid his talent he said: “You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:26-30)

See what I mean? Don’t be a tragedy.

Kingdom Sufferer

Ok. So the phrase “kingdom sufferer” doesn’t inspire. But it does make a connection.

We instinctively avoid the topic of suffering because we would rather find relief from our pain than swim in it. Few of us want to be perceived as a self-absorbed hypochondriac who dominates group prayer meetings and fails to reach out to others in need.

Yet, I know human suffering is a part of our daily reality because of the response I receive when I preach on the subject.  My focus varies, but the topics that seem to always strike a chord are breakdowns in relationships, depression, and grief. Aside from the fact almost any trial can involve some aspect of these they all have one thing in common: they can all be experienced in silence.

I use the word “silence” instead of “private” because it is possible to suffer in silence when we are surrounded by others. Who can forget the pain Jesus experienced as He sweat drops of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane? He cried, “Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me!” His disciples were in the Garden with Him, and Peter, James and John were about a stone’s throw away (Luke 22:41). Yet, as Jesus poured out His heart before His father, His disciples slept. His suffering wasn’t private, but it was silent, since none of the disciples seemed to fully grasp what was about to happen to their Master.

Have you ever suffered in silence? If you have, then you know what it means to go to bed with your head spinning and wake up with a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. You know how it feels to walk through a room and wonder if anyone noticed you were there. And you have experienced that awkward moment when your thoughts start to flood in a conversation with a friend, and his or her body language suggests you have said too much.

We must acknowledge it truly is possible to let our struggles overtake our good sense, and our Christian charity. If we find ourselves over-generalizing others’ lack of concern, or being critical of people for failing to meet our expectations, we should spend some time in prayer and reflection. We should ask, “Have I been a friend to others?” “Am I aware of the trouble my brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing?” “Am I being totally honest about what others have or have not done for me, or am I maligning the people who love me to gain sympathy?” These things may or may not be occurring in our lives, but they are common pitfalls in the sufferer’s life and we should work to avoid them.

However, our silent suffering is often overlooked. And if people in our lives are preoccupied with their own issues, we can slide deeper into the pit before anyone notices. We might identify with Elijah as he ran from Ahab: “I have had enough, Lord!” (1 Kings 19:4).

The important thing is to remember kingdom people suffer internal anguish just like everyone else. I realize we have the Lord in our lives and the indwelling Holy Spirit as our Counselor, and I don’t mean to diminish their importance. But being in the kingdom doesn’t make us immune from suffering, silent or otherwise. In fact, believers face the additional dilemma of reconciling their circumstances with God’s presence and providence.

I must interject this critical word of advice: If you ever suspect you are clinically depressed, get help. Don’t hold out, thinking God will deliver you in time. He could be delivering you by making you aware of your condition and prompting you to seek professional counseling.

Apart from this, try practicing three simple acts. “Pray,” because God needs to hear from you so He can comfort you and help you avoid the root of bitterness in your heart. “Push,” since we must consciously make ourselves interact with others when our emotional and mental energy is spent. And “Ponder.” Alright, so I had to find a third word that starts with “P” and Ponder might be stretching it. I only know we need time to refresh our minds and heal our hearts, and sometimes the best place to do this is walking, jogging, reading, or even sleeping. I know people who Ponder best when they are rocking a baby.

I haven’t addressed other kingdom suffering, such as persecution and physical illness. These and other forms of suffering have unique characteristics of their own and similarities with the things I have shared here. I do want you to know there is no reason to lose heart. No matter how much we suffer, God will never leave or abandon us. And He never stops loving us.

He is here right now. I hope you can sense His presence. And if you are suffering I hope you know you in His hands.

Kingdom without a Country

Occasionally, I find myself in a discussion with other Christians concerning the relationship between church and government.  I am aware Christians are often inconsistent in their behavior in this respect.  When I was a young minister a rather conservative member of the church I served supported a political candidate with glaring moral flaws because he promised to fix a road that led to his farm.

However, I find the majority of devoted believers are willing to put their personal needs aside for higher ideals.  This is why what happens in government is important, and why we care about the personal positions our leaders take on moral issues.

In the interest of full disclosure, I need to share a couple of my own perspectives on this topic.  First, I am a strong proponent of the phrase “God and country,” but perhaps not as understood by some.  We can’t make our country “holy” by using God’s name, any more than we can call ourselves Christians because we have a fish on our car bumper.  Yes, we want God to bless our country, and we want to pursue godly principles as a people, but God doesn’t belong to our country.  Our country belongs to God.  He is in charge of every nation and no leader rises or falls without His permission (Daniel 2:21). This means we must be very careful how we use God’s name as we seek to justify our collective actions.  I am pretty sure God isn’t amused when we claim He has blessed something specifically condemned in His Word.

Secondly, I am thankful for, and forever indebted to those who have preserved my liberty throughout the generations.  I am not happy about everything that happens in my country, but I am glad I’m free.  In my humble opinion, Christians who mock the concept of country and patriotism because they think they are taking the high spiritual road are…well…just plain nuts.  The fact that my country protects my most basic right to pursue my own destiny is something I must never take for granted.

But with this said, we still need to understand the Kingdom of God can never be equated with any man-made political system.  I am all for promoting a system that is friendly toward the Kingdom.  Yet, if we are in Christ, we are citizens of a greater country.  In Philippians 3:20 the Apostle Paul wrote, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)

This means we should not be surprised when the world turns against the church.  Yes, sometimes the church is responsible for her own trouble when she acts unwisely.  But no one should fault the Lord’s people for standing their ground on moral issues, or seeking to spread the gospel.  This is, after all, what has been commanded (1 Peter 3:17, Matthew 28:19-20).  The church is persecuted because she calls out sin and speaks truth.  It is only natural for those who want to design their own style of morality to dislike her.

How then, do we respond to our culture?  If we have opportunities to change laws to reflect biblical morality, I think we should pursue them.  Man-made countries are not the Kingdom of God, but there is no reason why we can’t honor God in the way we govern.  And if biblical morality produces a place where our children and grandchildren can experience greater joy, why would we not want the best?

We should respond with confidence.  The Lord holds sway over all other kingdoms.  He owns the outcome of history and works in the midst of sin and corruption.  Sometimes Jesus is the only reality that brings hope, and we must let our world know He is still on the throne.

It is important that we not give up on the world.  It bothers me when people write the world off because they feel the end is near.  The end might be near, but if it is, then that is all the more reason to share the love of Jesus with lost people.  If the time is short, we should ramp up our efforts instead of throwing up our hands.  However, as I understand scripture, none of us know when the end will come, so we should simply keep doing what we are called to do and let God take care of the details only He knows.

If we are in Christ, we are the Kingdom.  His Kingdom is in us, and everywhere we go we represent Him as Kingdom parcels.

The Kingdom of God is not an earthly country, but an earthly country can welcome the Kingdom.  And regardless of what happens in society, the Kingdom of God remains.  “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” (Isaiah 54:10)

Be the Kingdom!

Kingdom Peace

We don’t like to talk about the wrath of God.  It seems so harsh and unsettling in a world where a lot of people already carry around a burden of guilt.  If we want to attract people to the Lord we might focus on His attributes of love and compassion, but certainly not His wrath.

Perhaps you read Jonathon Edward’s sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” in school.  In the sermon Edwards uses three metaphors to leave a lasting impression on his audience.  One is a rising wave of water held back for an eventual release.  The second is an arrow that bends back until the tension becomes so great the arrow flies.  The third portrays God holding a sinner like a spider over a hot fire, prepared to drop him into the flames at any moment.

Chances are you won’t find these word pictures on many church guest packets.  This is, of course, a good thing.  God is more than wrath, and it makes little sense to choose this one characteristic as the first thing a broken sinner discovers in a church setting.  We should also not use fear as a tactic to move someone in a direction they might not otherwise be prepared to go.

On the other hand, fear isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially since there really is such a thing as God’s wrath.  Out of curiosity I did a quick search of the word “wrath” in my Bible program and found 190 verses.  I typed in the word “compassion” and only found 73 verses.  Surprised?

Fear is a good thing if it makes us aware of something dangerous.  It is only irrational when it causes us to be afraid of a threat that doesn’t exist, or paralyzes us to the point we are unable to respond.

We must remember, if we have been washed clean by Jesus, we don’t need to fear God’s wrath.  It would be irrational for those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior to live in fear.  The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)  The grace of Jesus casts out fear because it reminds us the wrath of God was turned away when Jesus took our place and endured our punishment on the cross.

This is where the subject of peace enters the picture.  It is difficult to understand peace if we are unaware of the conflict.  In our relationship with God, the peace we have with Him makes little sense unless we recognize we once stood in the crosshairs of His wrath.  We are also more easily lured into sin when we forget the seriousness of our past disobedience and the price that was paid for our salvation.

Please don’t get me wrong.  I don’t enjoy talking about the wrath of God.  People used to say, “Some preachers preach about hell as if they want people to go there and others preach to keep people out.”  I suspect I don’t preach about the wrath of God enough, but when I do I certainly want to be counted among those who are looking out for the welfare of my audience.

No, we won’t be changing the “Welcome” wording on our guest brochure to “Don’t go to hell”, anytime soon.  And we must be wise as we reach out to a culture that had already pegged the church as a judgmental place.  Just as we can’t understand the peace of God without understanding His wrath, we must realize it is hard to accept His wrath if we aren’t aware of His love, grace and compassion.  Indeed, God’s heart has always been to love us and save us from ourselves.  If He enjoyed the thought of punishing sinners He would never have allowed His Son to die in our place.

There is no reason to worry about the past if you know the Lord.  In Philippians 4:7 we read, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

He is our peace.  And where there is peace there is no reason to fear.

Kingdom Indignation

The recent events at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, were on the hearts of believers last Sunday. It was Father’s Day, but instead of celebrating, the families of innocent victims who were gunned down after a church Bible study were in mourning. And the church mourned with them.

When I say “the church” mourned with them, I am not just referring to the church family at Emanuel, although I know they are experiencing an unimaginable grief. In addition, we all mourn. We do so because we are a part of the same kingdom and have been washed clean by the same blood.

I am inspired by the reaction of my brothers and sisters at Emanuel. They were stricken with grief, but in the midst of their pain they managed to be obedient to Jesus’ command to love and forgive their attacker. This doesn’t mean they aren’t angry, or that they don’t care about justice. But they have chosen to trust God with the outcome and let Him dispense any vengeance that is required.

The church family of Emanuel AME are showing the world what it means to be a follower of Jesus. I think our role, in addition to sharing in their grief, is to make sure we proclaim their works as an example of Christ-centeredness.

But let’s return to the topic of justice for a moment. This horrific incident raises the question of how Christians should respond to violent offenses. Certainly, we have the right to defend ourselves against our attackers. We would be taking Jesus’ words “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39) out of context if we interpreted this to mean we were supposed to let others perpetrate lawless acts of bloodshed.

As far as prosecuting those who hurt us, and as long as we have a reliable system of justice in government, we should respect the processes being led by those in authority (Titus 3:1). If the system is flawed, we should seek change, but not with a vengeful spirit. Vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19).

In the case of the good people of the Emanuel church, they would have had a biblical right to protect themselves had they been able to predict the actions of their killer. And now their family members can pursue justice through the courts. They should not have to seek vengeance to find justice.   And they are even free to plead for mercy for the killer, should they choose to do so.

These principles apply to everyone in our society.  How then, are followers of Jesus different?

For starters, leaving vengeance in the hands of God is huge! This requires a high level of confidence in God’s power, and incredible patience as we wait for the outcome.

But beyond the justice we witness here on earth, the chief difference between a believer and a non-believer is the ability to leave eternal matters up to God, and even feel compassion for those whose souls are in danger. We might say the hottest parts of hell are reserved for those who commit evil crimes, and this might be true. But the journey into the final presence of the Lord is a complicated one, and none of us can know the heart for sure.

Should we be angry? Absolutely! Can we seek the full extent of justice? We certainly can. Genesis 6:9 tell us, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.” (Genesis 9:6)

Yet, as we seek justice, we should remember God’s tender mercy toward us. We cannot presume to judge the eternal souls of others when our personal hope is rooted in the grace of God.

This is what strikes me about my brothers and sisters in Charleston. They are processing all of these biblical principles at a time when they are in shock and the eyes of the world are upon them. I suspect not everyone will say and do the right things in the days and months ahead. It would be unfair for any of us to have such a lofty expectation. Still, for now, somehow, these wonderful believers are keeping everything in balance, and they are showing the world what it means to know Jesus.

There are plenty of people around who wear the name of Jesus who don’t have any business being quoted on the news. But the people of the Emanuel AME church are lifting up the name of Jesus. For this reason we should celebrate their witness and lift them up as a testimony.

Right now, they are the Jesus people see.