Really Inconvenient Truth

"You shall have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:3

When I was kid I took religion class once a week all through grade school. The Catholic kids; because there were so many more of them, had their class in the gymnasium, which for some reason seemed like way more fun to me. My Protestant classmates and I were relegated to one of the larger classrooms which made the long hour seem like the last thing I wanted – more schooling.

I can remember sitting at my desk fidgeting, bored beyond comprehension, searching for anything that might help the time pass. My standard issue “Good News Bible” was good for a few minutes of diversion with its stick men drawings of fishermen and farmers but honestly most of the lessons were wasted on me if recollection is any indicator. I can remember the day the Gideon’s visited and presented me with a little red New Testament and Psalms (I still have it and the sinner’s prayer is signed in my wobbly grade five signature). For some unknown reason I can remember the day the lesson was on the Good Samaritan, and I can remember being taught the Ten Commandments which to my shame (and most likely somewhere out there; Padre Blacks stern disapproval) I still have not committed to memory.

That first commandment always struck me as being a little odd, unnecessary even. Why would anyone want a god other than the true God? In my mind I pictured some poor misguided individual bowing down before a lifeless carved image while all along the creator of heaven and earth could be plainly seen by anyone with the least good sense.

In Mark 10; when an anxious young seeker approaches Him with an urgent question, Jesus brings this first commandment a little closer to our modern reality.

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honour your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." – Mark 10:17-20

This young man, it seems, has been doing a pretty good job of keeping the law; but is he “in”? Will he inherit eternal life? He’s been good since he was a boy, but is it enough? Why does he feel that something is lacking?

That’s when Jesus does something that no respectable church growth trained modern church leader would ever consider doing. He lays down the law... and offends a seeker!

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"

Jesus looked at him... and loved him. Isn’t that just what we would expect? Gentle Jesus meek and mild, looking lovingly at this eager lad? What comes next though is the opposite of what we would do or what we would expect Jesus to do.

He lays down the law.

He confronts this young man with a truth that crushes him. He hears what Jesus says and his face falls, he turns and walks away sad. Why? Why would Jesus do such a thing? This is not the formula for growing a successful ministry. This is not in keeping with addressing the felt needs in the community. This is harsh, this turns people off, and this certainly seems anything but loving. So, what is going on here?

Jesus is using the law to do what the law is meant to do.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. – Romans 3:19-20

We are supposed to be so crushed by the demands of the law, made so conscious of our sin, that we realize our need of Christ.

This rich young man is feeling good about his performance on commandments 5 though 10, so much so that he is completely overlooking his complete violation of commandment numbers 1 and 2. This young man has a small “g” god that is more important to him than the one true GOD. He loves his money and he cannot part with it... not even when presented with the opportunity to follow the Messiah in His earthly ministry.

This whole exchange blows the disciples away.

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?"
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." - Mark 10:24-27

If this is the standard Peter says, who can be saved?
With man it is impossible. If salvation is based on human performance... it is impossible, nobody will be saved; but with God, with the sacrificial lamb, with the righteousness that is a free gift imparted by faith to all who believe... with God all things are possible... even the salvation of the likes of you and I.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. - John 3:18

For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:40

Today I Need A Savior.

Today I need a savior.

I hear a lot of anger directed toward God and those who claim to proclaim His gospel these days.
“How can you serve a God, how can you even dare to believe in a God, who would condemn good people to eternal damnation?” they cry.

Hmmm, so many things wrong with that line of thought, where does one begin?

Could it be that, in our fallen state, we have so lowered the criteria as to what or who is “good”, that it now somehow actually includes some people? Do you know any “good” people?

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. – Mark 10:18

Have you somehow managed to overlook the glaring reality, have you somehow managed to convince yourself that you are a “good” person? Have you seriously earned the right to heaven? Are you meeting God’s perfect standard?

Blind Pharisee.

I started today with prayer and Bible study. I asked the Lord to help me to listen to His leading, to help me to walk in the Spirit, denying the flesh. I set out determined to love God with my whole being and my neighbour as myself; but... I cannot do it. No matter how hard I try, I fail. I do things I know I am not to do, but worse than that, I leave undone so many things I know I am meant to do. I say wrong words, I think wrong thoughts, I make harsh and wrong judgements, and I almost without fail prefer myself above my fellow man. I am not a good person.

Today I need a savior.

Not just to get me “in”.
Not just for some one time salvation experience, some momentary “rebirth”.
I need a savior today and every day, at every moment; because I cannot even come anywhere close to meeting the perfection required by the law.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. – James 2:10-11

Today I need a savior

... And thankfully, graciously, before I even realized that this need existed...

One has been provided.

Now, my detractors may fume and spit, they may correctly point to the sins I have committed, they may more justifiably rail against my sins of omission. Let them.

Today I have a savior.

Today I know freedom.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. – Romans 8:1-3

Care to join me?
Not sure how? How does one get a savior? What must I DO to be saved?

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." - Acts 16:30-31

“It can’t be that easy” you say? Trust me it is!

Forgiving the Unrepentant

I was listening to local radio talk show host Charles Adler yesterday afternoon and the hot topic was forgiveness. The discussion arose as a result of the recent tragic event within the Amish community and the widely publicized decision they have made to forgive the now dead murderer of their children. The discussion was excellent and two guests shared some incredible insights into the freedom that is gained by the forgiver in making the choice not to remain bitter and angry. Eventually a caller came on the line and said that he thought it was all complete drivel, that forgiveness was not possible unless there was repentance and restitution offered by the offender. This is an idea I have heard expressed many times over the years I have been in ministry and it illuminates a basic misunderstanding of how we are to direct our lives.

First of all I want to address the idea that Jesus does not expect us to forgive others unless they repent of their wrongdoing. Mathew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-35, Mark 11:25, and many more clearly state that we are to forgive others and there is no mention whatsoever of them having to seek that forgiveness first. Look at these words of Jesus in Matthew 5:43-45:

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

Notice that we are not to withhold our love until our enemies are sorry and become friends.

In Matthew 7:2 we are essentially told that the way we dish it out is the way it will come back to us from the Father. How do you want to be forgiven? Only for the offenses you are aware of and repentant for, or do you want complete and total release from all guilt - even of offenses you are unaware you have committed or that you did not think were wrong at the time.

That brings about the big question - How exactly does one do that? How do we forgive someone who is not sorry or who acknowledges no wrongdoing? How does a father forgive his sons murderer? How does the abuse victim forgive the abuser?

A couple of things need to be understood.

1. Forgiveness does not necessarily mean restoration of relationship.

2. Forgiveness is an act of the will, not the emotions.

If you are under the impression that in order to forgive someone there will have to be full reconciliation of relationship then you are not going to be able to do it, nor should you. For an abuse victim to send the message that what was done was okay is unconscionable. To forgive in this instance is to say, I forgive, I refuse to give that person any further power in my life. I release all anger and bitterness toward them and I pray that God brings them to a place of repentance and that they get help for the problem that lead them to do what they did. End of story, end of association. If the offense was criminal then any effort that can be made should be made to prevent the offender from victimizing anyone else.

Most people understand the idea of letting your will set the direction for your life rather than your emotions. We all do it in some areas of life. For some reason, however, in forgiveness and often in relationships we think we should follow the direction of our emotions rather than the will. Allow me to illustrate.

We wake up on Monday morning and we don't feel like going to work. Our emotions are telling us to roll over and go back to sleep, we override those emotions with our will, which has determined that we want to keep on living in the house we are buying, and driving the car etc. The will sets the direction for life. We start a diet or exercise program. Our will is to be thin and healthy and to live a long and active life. Our emotions fight this every step of the way. We feel like eating junk food and sitting around watching TV, even though we know that the end result of that behavior is poor health and likely premature death. To the degree that we allow our emotions to set the direction in our lives we suffer unnecessarily.

So to forgive by the will, a decision must be made! Write it down if it helps.

"As of October 6, 2006, I forgive (fill in the blank)."

Now when you wake up tomorrow you will still feel the same feelings of anger and resentment you always have. Instead of dwelling on those emotions declare to yourself (out loud if no one is around), "No, I refuse to think and feel that way, I forgave that on Oct. 6" Repeat this exercise as often as it takes. Eventually your emotions will catch up to the direction that you set with your will - and you will be free!

Thoughts on Freedom

Galatians 5:1
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.

I think most of us have romantic notions about our love of freedom and its importance to us, what we would do to defend it and that sort of thing. What we don't seem to be so fond of is accepting the responsibility that comes with freedom. What I mean is, that if we use our freedom to do things that "feel good"; even though they may be morally or ethically wrong, we need to face the reality that there will, at some time in the future, be a price to pay.

If you eat McDonalds three times a day, seven days a week and you wind up fat or suffering from heart disease, it is not McDonald’s responsibility.

We love to play the blame game these days. I think the tag line for our society should be “It’s not my fault.”

The problem is this: when we refuse to accept responsibility for the choices freedom allows, we set in motion a process that leads to the loss of those freedoms.

Look at smoking as an example, how long do we have before it will be illegal to buy cigarettes in Canada? Or maybe they will sell them but you will have to smoke them in a bullet proof shed at least two miles from any other living thing. I may not be a smoker but their plight perfectly illustrates my point.
- I got lung cancer
- It is not my fault
- Give me some money to make me feel better
- Take away the freedom of others to keep it from happening again.

It is a slippery slope and it is evident all over our society. We are ready and willing to give up freedom at the first sign of danger. Lock up the guns, close down the purveyors of fat, arrest the cartoonists, silence the talk show hosts, ban the books and quick - dress the women in sleeping bags. After all, if I have an evil thought it must be that wicked seductresses fault, not my own, I mean how can I be held responsible for the thoughts I allow myself to think?

Say good bye to freedom and welcome to 1984.

Job 19:23-27

Well here we are into week two of our reading and we run smack into the book of Job. How is everyone doing with that? Does it seem a little depressing? How about if I help you out a little by telling you that this entire book happens to Job in less than a six month period and that in the end he winds up better off than he was at the start? Still tough? Just keep going and remember to ask God to reveal the things that will bring life and revelation to your spirit.

For Lectio Divina this week I am focusing on Job 19:23-27.

23 "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

The thing that first jumps out to me is that Job’s words were being recorded; though he clearly does not realize it at the time, and that they were set down forever! Here we are reading and seeking God with them nearly 6000 years later! Awesome. I wonder if any of the words we speak are being recorded by God in this manner? Have you ever been on a rant and stopped to think that God may use your little tirade some day to teach others? Interesting thought.

I also find it fascinating that Job knows His Redeemer lives and that He will come to earth some day and that Job will see Him with his own eyes after he leaves his flesh behind! For this moment his heart yearns.

The two things I am praying and reflecting on from all of this in myself are:
1. Am I too loose at the mouth. I know I am better now than I was in my youth but am I careful enough to honor God with my words?
2. Am I yearning for that day when I see Him face to face or is too much of my treasure tied up in this realm and in things that will pass away?

The Dinner or the Destiny

The New Year is one of those measuring times for me. You know; a time to examine my life and see how things are really going. How is the dream progressing? Am I on track? Is this anywhere near where I believe God wants me to be?
In Genesis 25 Esau trades his divine destiny for a bowl of stew. This is not something that is looked mercifully upon anywhere else in scripture. The writer of Hebrews describes him as “Godless” for this act. Why, do you suppose, this one action is judged so severely? Why was he not able to get the birthright back later on when he came to his senses? I think there are several reasons. First of all; he has been replaced. The plan of God does not just cease when we decide not to play the roll he has for us, another son steps up to fill the part. (That doesn’t mean we should just go off and die; there is always a second chance for those who return to God in Christ.) Secondly, and I think most importantly, God is revealing through the life of Esau, a fatal flaw that each of us is susceptible to if we do not guard our hearts. Each of us need to take care that we do not trade our divine destiny, that we do not give up all that we could be, all that we should be, in exchange for momentary pleasure.
Think about it. There is no Bible verse that says, “Thou shalt not do drugs”. There is no command not to watch television from the time you get home from work until you can no longer keep your eyes open. As a pastor who regularly councils frustrated wives I really wish there was a verse that said playing on the computer every spare moment was against the will of God, but there isn’t. What there is though is this story of Esau; the story of a man who lived like there would be no consequence for doing what he wanted to do in the moment.
If you find yourself, this January, suddenly aware that you are somehow missing the plan of God for your life, then ask yourself this question:
“What am I trading it for?”
Is it a bowl of food? Is it sexual gratification? Some guilty pleasure that you have convinced yourself is, “No big deal.” Maybe you are just playing Peter Pan and refusing to grow up and be a man. Eventually you need to discover that hanging out with the boys is something that “BOYS” do. Whatever you are doing, drinking, binge eating, sleeping, shopping, surfing; realize this; these little issues are the “bowl of stew” in our lives. Now I ask you, what’s it going to be?
- The dinner or the destiny.

Reading Through the Bible 2006

I am reading through the Bible this year and challenging my congregation, and all of you, to join me.
From the first two days readings two passages stand out to me:
Genesis 3:8-9
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Genesis 5:21-24
When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
What stands out to me here is that God comes to walk with man and when Adam does not show up He asks ,”Where are you?” In Chapter 5 The only information given about Enoch is that he walked with God, it says it twice, for 300 years and then God just took him.
That just wows me. I want to walk with God, God wants to walk with me. When I don’t show up His question for me is “Where are you Dan?” He knows where I am so I must not.

Like Enoch I want the defining characteristic of my life to be my relationship with God.