Sometimes Christians Annoy Me!

Yesterday, circumstances placed me in two different places with two different groups of people. The first was a group of people that make the claim of Christianity in their lives. I have no idea what the claim of the second group is, and I am not yet in a position with this group to inquire. However, in the group of Christians, I encountered rigid rule-keeping and the natural result of such—self-righteousness. In the second group (the ones whose religions beliefs I do not yet know), I was met with genuine interest in me, a smiling face, approachable attitude, and a sincere respect. In fact, I even got a hug from a man I did not really even know. That was his way of saying hello. The events took me back to a time in college, my freshman year, when I encountered a self-interested group of Christians in a particular campus ministry. Each was very confident in his own standing with God, in his own practice of righteousness, and his own understanding of scripture. This group, much like the one I met yesterday, lacked that thing that John talks about in John 15 when he says, “love one another as I have loved you.”

For me, one of the most frustrating things I deal with in life is people who say they know Christ yet lack the love that is characteristic of Him. I fear I fail too often to communicate to you (those of you who are Christians and those of you who are not) that I love you. I hope you know that I care deeply.

You do realize don’t you (church) that if the world loves better than we love, we lose?!?

Thoughts from Yesterday

What a great day at HBC yesterday!  You endured a history lesson on the Apostle John.  Doesn’t it draw you in to the story when you remember that we’re reading the words of the guy who touched Him, saw Him with his own eyes, and heard Him with his own hears?  Remember that our beliefs, according to John, are inextricably LINKED to how we live and love.  We’ll see more in the days ahead.

The Message is Linked to the Man!  We don’t have a message outside of proclaiming Christ.  Remember that.  Our gospel (good news) is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is a relief, I believe, for the Christian to realize that you don’t have to become bogged down with getting the message right—our message is JESUS, and our joy is bringing Him to our friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and relatives.  You cannot separate the message from the person…and neither can they.  If you take JESUS to them, the MESSAGE will be clear.

Sunday’s Message

Talking about the Wrath of God is never a fun task, but it is necessary.  Paul reminds us of the reality of it in Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”  Yesterday, though time was short in the 9:00 a.m. service, we tackled this uncomfortable aspect of the Character of God.  It is only by wading into the deep waters of wrath that we can enjoy the swim in His grace.  Today, I’ll simply remind you of the truth we discovered in our time together on Sunday.

1.  God’s wrath is never impulsive.  He is only angered when anger is just and right and fair. 

2.  God’s wrath is revealed against all sin and against all sinners.  Without two elements, our sin and God’s wrath, the gospel makes no sense.  Paul goes to great lengths to make sure we understand the bad news before he ever gets around go glorying in the gospel.  We must understand what it is that we need to be saved from, God’s wrath against us for sin.

3.  We see examples of God’s wrath in the death that comes to all humans (Romans 5:15 & 16); in the events of this life that seem useless and futile, when  suffering and misery abound (Romans 8:18-21) – but suffering is allowed in “hope” of a Savior; and in the sinking degradation of the human heart (Romans 1:19-28).

4.  For the unbeliever, that hope is always present, even in experience of suffering – God’s mercy is always the undercurrent and those who see it, heart it, sense it can run to Jesus.

5.  For the believer, “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1), and “God has not destined us for wrath” (I Thessalonians 5:9).  The Christian’s experience of the wrath of God is forever altered by the cross of Jesus Christ. 

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

(In Christ Alone, by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend)

We must not avoid or retreat from talking about the wrath of God.  For only in embracing that aspect of God’s character can we truly understand His love and tenderness toward us.

I’ll leave you with the quote I shared in the message Sunday from Dorothy Sayers:

"We have very efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certifying Him ‘meek and mild,’ and recommended Him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.”

A Little Appreciation

So, what ever happened to the pastor’s blog?  I must confess, time is short these days.  I’m going to be attempting to write more in the days ahead, but in the meanwhile, I am posting this link.  You probably never knew this about me.

http://en.tackfilm.se/?id=1269370869531RA18

An Email from A Missionary

This is an email from a friend of a friend, but I wanted to share it with you all as we think about International Missions and our Lottie Moon offering!

Merry Christmas 2009

I have returned to the thick of things in the office in these past weeks.  The overwhelming theme that continues to permeate everything that we are doing is where we can cut the budget.  Where can we find a little more money so that we are able to have funds for ministry?

My task this week was to purchase a vehicle for a new missionary family.  I planned for it last year and had budgeted enough for the task based on the value of the dollar last year.  The issue is the dollar is no longer worth as much and when converted to the local currency, I did not have enough money.  No big deal.  This is God’s domain.  He has it figured out while we stand around pondering what to do.

So, the car salesman comes in and begins to tell me about all the bells and whistles on each of the vehicles, and I permit him to go through his pitch.  When he finishes, I thank him and explain that this is the amount of money that I have to work with, and I know that your prices are higher than that, but would you be willing to negotiate?  I think the definition of car salesman is the same no matter in what culture they are found, and we began the negotiations. J

But as we completed the negotiations, the conversation turned in a spiritual direction.  It began that evening at the car dealership and continued the next day in my office.  He wants to come back from time to time to discuss “spiritual matters.”  When I completed with the car salesman, I then journeyed down to the bank to look for our funds that had been transferred and for some reason had not shown up on the books.

That conversation also took a while and was one with the beginnings of building of a relationship with an office filled with young professionals that desired to speak English.  I inquired as to whom they were able to find to speak English so that they could improve. He began to tell me how they will choose one day a week to speak only English to each other.  I suggested that I could come and speak English with them once a week if he were interested.  I enjoy telling stories, and I would be glad to come and share some stories from God’s Word with them every week.  He was thrilled, and we are going to begin this week.

But then the kicker was last night.  I had dinner with several from the travel agency with whom I work almost every day.  They are from India and were asking me so many questions about what I do.  What is my purpose for being in the country?  How are you funded?

Clearly the Lord opened that door to share His reason for me and my colleagues to be here, and then I was able to tell them about you.  You, all of the people that continue to work cooperatively to fund the Lord’s work around the world.  Because of your part, 1 car salesman heard the Gospel.  Because of your part, 5 young bank professionals will hear the Gospel in the coming weeks.  Because of your part, 3 people from India were asking what does the Baptist Mission do and heard the Gospel.  Because of your part, the truck drivers in West Africa will hear.

We are one body in Christ.  The feet are ready to go and going.  Thank you for giving to Lottie Moon so that we can continue……………………….

Merry Christmas!  I love you, Kathy

Nothing Special

Yesterday, Johnny Stevens came by the church.  As he drove down Highway 88, he noticed a man who was laying in the road there in front of the church halfway on the sidewalk, halfway in the road.  Johnny stopped to check on him and learned that he had a prosthetic leg, was quite elderly, and was unable to get himself up.  He lay there an hour before anyone came by willing to stop and help.  Johnny helped him up…put the man in the car…drove him home several miles away…then came by the church to pack a box of food for him before going to the grocery store to buy him some meat and bread.  The man had been on his way to the food bank to get some much needed supplies but his physical and mental condition made the trip impossible.

Sound familiar?  Yep, Luke 10:25-37!  Jesus tells of the Samaritan man who stopped to help a forsaken traveler after a couple of “churchgoers” passed him by.  He bandaged his wounds, put him on his own donkey, carried him into town, and paid for stay in a bed-and-breakfast place while he recovered from his injuries.

(Just for the record, I did not travel on Highway 88 yesterday morning….whew!!!!  I’m off the hook!)

When Johnny came by, I thought, “what if I had seen the man?”  I decided to quickly pass over that thought process.  I HOPE I would have noticed him and helped him.  Then, I thought about you all.  Were any of you passersby yesterday morning?

Jesus didn’t elevate the Samaritan man.  Generally speaking, Samaritans weren’t that good.  But this guy put the needs of the helpless man in the road ahead of his own and did what was right, though it was probably inconvenient.  Jesus’ story about this man was just a parable, but Johnny got to live it out.  Johnny Stevens is a special man, but not because of what he did yesterday.  Yesterday, he didn’t do anything special.  He just did what any Christian would do, right?!?  After all, Jesus’ tells us at the end of that story, “Go and do likewise.”

What I Didn’t Tell You Sunday!

There’s this weird little incident near the end of Act 1 where the disciples do something that we would consider strange.  Judas Iscariot has committed suicide after his betrayal of Jesus, and now there’s only eleven left in Jesus’ band of disciples.  So, in the midst of all the turmoil we talked about yesterday that they are facing in the first chapter of Acts, you can add this to it.  They are dealing with Jesus’ departure, waiting on the promised Holy Spirit, and going through all the emotions that are attached to losing a friend (remember….though Judas was a traitor, he had been one of them).  It is messy, and they are grieving.  Committed, they know the ministry must go on.  They must fill the vacancy left by Judas.  Look at what they do. 

“And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”  And they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:24-27).

How crazy is that?  They’re facing one of the biggest decisions of their lives, and they just roll the dice, play the lottery, gamble for the right decision!?!  Why would they do that?  Why would they choose Matthias that way?   Would we ever make such a vital decision based on what seems like chance?  No!   And the reason is because we cannot fathom making a decision like that without the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  But, the Holy Spirit had not come yet…remember?  They didn’t have this constant presence of God with them like we do.  They had not experienced that supernatural energy we talked about yesterday.  They didn’t know the ever-present bidding and power of the Holy Spirit yet.

The most exciting part of this story to me is that you will never find it in scripture again.  NEVER!!  You will never find anyone casting lots, rolling the dice, consulting the stars, or calling the Psychic Hotline to determine the will of God again.  Why?  Because in Acts 2, the Spirit came.  In Acts 1, they are anticipating what God might do.  Hereafter, they are empowered with the very Spirit of God.

You have received power.  The Holy Spirit is in you.  You will be His witness…Won’t You?