Those of you who generally read my West Plains Daily Quill column may have noticed its absence this past Friday. The last couple of weeks have been extra busy for me with a big project and lots of "brain energy" used up in contemplating a big decision, so I took a vacation day and didn't write my column for the paper. It gives me an opportunity to post something here that might not be appropriate for my Quill column.
I have not been closely following the situation about what the Muslim community in New York is proposing for "ground zero," so I don't feel prepared to comment on that specific topic. But I have been considering how we, as Christians, should feel about Muslims, in general. As always, since Jesus is our example, we should only look to him for the answer.
My friend Dick Davidson made an excellent point a few days ago with a post on Facebook: "'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:39 'And so he asked Jesus who is my neighbor?' Luke 10:29. And Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan. A Samaritan in that day was to a Jew as a Muslim would be to to a Christian today. So who is your neighbor?"
There is a large percentage of the followers of Islam who fall into the category of our "neighbors" in the same sense as Jesus declared the Samaritan to be a good neighbor. They have different religious views and a different cultural background, but they do want to live in peace and co-exist with Christians. I know this is true because I have a family member who married a Muslim, and he has not attempted to harm or convert her Christian family. We are to love those Muslims because they are our "neighbors."
Then, there is a small percentage of Muslims, who can only be called our enemies. They are our enemies because they hate us (Christians/Americans) and want to cause us harm, for a variety of reasons, some religiously-motivated, some not. For that group, we can ask the question, not "Who is my neighbor?" but "Who is my enemy, and how should I treat him?"
Jesus said we are to:
- love our enemies and do good to those who hate us (Luke 6:27)
- bless those who curse us, pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:28)
- never pay back evil for evil to anyone (Romans 12:17)
- feed our enemy if he is hungry and give him a drink if he is thirsty (Romans 12:21)
- not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:22)
It doesn't work to say, "I know I'm supposed to love my enemies, but...[fill in the blank with any excuse you want]." Jesus said those words in a time filled with religious practices which would make most of us drop our jaws in disbelief and also during the time of a Roman occupation so brutal it was almost beyond comprehension. Take for example, the way Jesus died....he know what was in store for him, and yet, he forgave and loved the Romans even before he was crucified.
The bottom line is this: Whether Muslims are our "neighbors" or our enemies, we have no choice but to love them and pray for them. The hate being stirred up by Christians against Muslims is beginning to boil over, and if cooler heads and loving hearts can't prevail, we will bring disaster on ourselves because of a love which has grown cold and minds set on things below, not on things above.
Note: For another perspective about Muslims, I invite you to read a blog post by my friend Ken Brown. http://ozarkuncle-too.blogspot.com/2010/08/most-evil-muslims-gays-or-serpents.html?spref=fb
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
A Personal History with Jesus
There has been quite a lot of discussion lately, amongst my friends and acquaintances, as to how there seems to be a great deal of difference between what the Bible teaches and the way many Christians behave. For example, if Jesus told us to love, why is there so much hatefulness? If Jesus told us not to judge, why the emphasis on passing judgment? If Jesus told us not to worry, why are so many stressed out? Etc.
Oswald Chambers, in "My Utmost for His Highest," provides an answer to this question. He uses the scripture reference of John 20:11-18. Jesus has just risen from death, and when he encounters his follower Mary, she does not immediately recognize him. Here is what Chambers says:
"It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person's soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. '. . . Jesus said to her, "Mary!" ' Once He called Mary by her name she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke."
It is not only sad, but detrimental to God's kingdom, when those who claim to believe in Jesus do not follow in his footsteps. Having knowledge of scripture is not the same as knowing Jesus, remembering the demons we have overcome through his grace, recognizing him in others and realizing what he is calling us to do . . . namely, minister life, not criticism and death, to those around us.
II Corinthians 3:4-6 says it well, "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Knowing doctrine, and twisting it around to wound others, is never an acceptable substitute for having a relationship with Jesus and operating according to the wisdom imparted through his Spirit.
Oswald Chambers, in "My Utmost for His Highest," provides an answer to this question. He uses the scripture reference of John 20:11-18. Jesus has just risen from death, and when he encounters his follower Mary, she does not immediately recognize him. Here is what Chambers says:
"It is possible to know all about doctrine and still not know Jesus. A person's soul is in grave danger when the knowledge of doctrine surpasses Jesus, avoiding intimate touch with Him. Why was Mary weeping? Doctrine meant no more to her than the grass under her feet. In fact, any Pharisee could have made a fool of Mary doctrinally, but one thing they could never ridicule was the fact that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (see Luke 8:2); yet His blessings were nothing to her in comparison with knowing Jesus Himself. '. . . Jesus said to her, "Mary!" ' Once He called Mary by her name she immediately knew that she had a personal history with the One who spoke."
It is not only sad, but detrimental to God's kingdom, when those who claim to believe in Jesus do not follow in his footsteps. Having knowledge of scripture is not the same as knowing Jesus, remembering the demons we have overcome through his grace, recognizing him in others and realizing what he is calling us to do . . . namely, minister life, not criticism and death, to those around us.
II Corinthians 3:4-6 says it well, "Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Knowing doctrine, and twisting it around to wound others, is never an acceptable substitute for having a relationship with Jesus and operating according to the wisdom imparted through his Spirit.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
God's Will and Our Joy
One of the key components of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray is "Thy will be done." Discovering God's will and putting it into practice in our lives is of utmost importance to believers. It truly is at the heart of what we're trying to figure out in our daily lives. Living in his will is our path to peace, joy and contentment.
The larger issues associated with the will of God are readily apparent; his desire is that we grow in our love for him and for others and that our lives are filled with compassion, mercy and other "fruits of the Spirit."
The finer points of God's will -- in our vocations, our relationships, for example -- are sometimes more difficult to discern. Strictly operating within our own limited human perspective, we often make brash decisions and readily choose a course of action that is not God's will because sometimes his path doesn't seem to be what we would call "enjoyable." Paul's life, as recorded in the book of Acts, is a fairly good example.
Specifically, in chapter 21 we read of some of his friends who are pleading with him not to go to Jerusalem because they are certain it will be bad news for Paul. He says to them, " 'What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready . . . even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' And since he would not be persuaded, [they] fell silent, remarking, 'The will of the Lord be done!' " (verses 13-14) I think they recognized God at work in Paul's life, but that didn't make it easier, at that moment, for them to deal with possibly losing a friend to those who were seeking to permanently do away with him.
Because of complicating factors, this week a friend of mine felt compelled to pass up an opportunity to move on from a current, unhappy job situation. But he did so with assurance that there was a reason things didn't seem to go his way, and that ultimately, everything would work out. I commented on his maturity in accepting the apparent set-back. He said even though he didn't like it, he believes that's the way it works sometimes; we know something happens for a reason, but we can still be disappointed, as long as we move forward and don't dwell on the disappointment.
God's will is not usually the easiest route (or the path of least resistance), but the joys and benefits of finding and living in his will are worth the struggle to get there.
The larger issues associated with the will of God are readily apparent; his desire is that we grow in our love for him and for others and that our lives are filled with compassion, mercy and other "fruits of the Spirit."
The finer points of God's will -- in our vocations, our relationships, for example -- are sometimes more difficult to discern. Strictly operating within our own limited human perspective, we often make brash decisions and readily choose a course of action that is not God's will because sometimes his path doesn't seem to be what we would call "enjoyable." Paul's life, as recorded in the book of Acts, is a fairly good example.
Specifically, in chapter 21 we read of some of his friends who are pleading with him not to go to Jerusalem because they are certain it will be bad news for Paul. He says to them, " 'What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready . . . even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' And since he would not be persuaded, [they] fell silent, remarking, 'The will of the Lord be done!' " (verses 13-14) I think they recognized God at work in Paul's life, but that didn't make it easier, at that moment, for them to deal with possibly losing a friend to those who were seeking to permanently do away with him.
Because of complicating factors, this week a friend of mine felt compelled to pass up an opportunity to move on from a current, unhappy job situation. But he did so with assurance that there was a reason things didn't seem to go his way, and that ultimately, everything would work out. I commented on his maturity in accepting the apparent set-back. He said even though he didn't like it, he believes that's the way it works sometimes; we know something happens for a reason, but we can still be disappointed, as long as we move forward and don't dwell on the disappointment.
God's will is not usually the easiest route (or the path of least resistance), but the joys and benefits of finding and living in his will are worth the struggle to get there.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Measurements
According to the website of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Weights and Measures Division, its job is to promote "uniformity in U.S. weights and measures laws, regulations, and standards to achieve equity between buyers and sellers in the marketplace." We are all in hearty agreement that if we pay for two pounds of grapes, we should get two pounds, not a pound and three-quarters.
Such precise measuring is fine for produce, but we should set aside the scales in our estimation of those around us. Luke 6:37-38 says,"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon and you will be pardoned. Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure -- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
It could not be more clear that we are not to judge others, and we are not to condemn them for their actions. And yet, judgment and condemnation are running rampant within the ranks of Christianity. People are "sized up" at a glance, on a regular basis: they look different, they act funny, their lifestyle is wrong, their worship habits are suspect and the list goes on.
One of the biggest questions I ask myself almost daily is, "Why does the Church love to judge, when our job is only to love?" God is perfectly capable of judging; we are not. Our calling is to practice righteousness (right-doing, right-being) as it applies to our own lives, but we are never to be self-righteous, defined as "smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others."
I challenge all of us to consider how we measure and judge those around us. If we are not willing to pardon, we will not be pardoned, and I can only speak for myself, but I know I need God's mercy and grace every day. And I further know he expects me to be merciful, just as he is merciful. Keeping score of how I've been wronged and constantly tracking the way others are behaving is not the nit-picky life a believer should live. How do I measure up in applying God's lavish standards of unconditional love?
Such precise measuring is fine for produce, but we should set aside the scales in our estimation of those around us. Luke 6:37-38 says,"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon and you will be pardoned. Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure -- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
It could not be more clear that we are not to judge others, and we are not to condemn them for their actions. And yet, judgment and condemnation are running rampant within the ranks of Christianity. People are "sized up" at a glance, on a regular basis: they look different, they act funny, their lifestyle is wrong, their worship habits are suspect and the list goes on.
One of the biggest questions I ask myself almost daily is, "Why does the Church love to judge, when our job is only to love?" God is perfectly capable of judging; we are not. Our calling is to practice righteousness (right-doing, right-being) as it applies to our own lives, but we are never to be self-righteous, defined as "smugly moralistic and intolerant of the opinions and behavior of others."
I challenge all of us to consider how we measure and judge those around us. If we are not willing to pardon, we will not be pardoned, and I can only speak for myself, but I know I need God's mercy and grace every day. And I further know he expects me to be merciful, just as he is merciful. Keeping score of how I've been wronged and constantly tracking the way others are behaving is not the nit-picky life a believer should live. How do I measure up in applying God's lavish standards of unconditional love?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Unexpected Opportunities
In Luke chapter 5, is the story of how Simon Peter met Jesus. Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, teaching, and a crowd was pressing in around him. He got into Simon's boat and asked him to go out into the lake, where he sat down and spoke to the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon told him he had been fishing all night and hadn't caught anything, but he would do as Jesus said. After letting the net down, he pulled up so many fish the net began to break, and he had to call his partners to help.
I've read this story many times, and there is a lesson in it which is familiar to me. Namely, sometimes we work and strive to achieve our goals, seemingly with no success. Then, Jesus shows up on the scene, and suddenly, when we obey what he says, our goals are achieved, and our lives are changed in a moment. That's a pretty standard interpretation from the teachings I have encountered.
However, as I read this story recently, another thought occurred to me. When Simon and his companions were seized with amazement over what had transpired, Jesus said, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." Then, in verse 11, we read when they brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
If Simon had been asked before he went fishing what his goal was, he might have said to catch enough fish to pay the bills, and afterward, he was likely disappointed and disheartened when his long hours of work were unfruitful. Then, he caught more fish than he could have imagined, but just as suddenly as that success came to him, he had a new realization. As important as the fish were to his livelihood, he sensed there was something even more valuable, more intriguing, in the words Jesus said, and he was willing to leave the comfort of familiar work behind to discover what this new challenge might mean.
As we achieve one goal, another goal will present itself. We should always be open to opportunities in unexpected places because sometimes, what we think we want is not what we truly want, or need, at all.
I've read this story many times, and there is a lesson in it which is familiar to me. Namely, sometimes we work and strive to achieve our goals, seemingly with no success. Then, Jesus shows up on the scene, and suddenly, when we obey what he says, our goals are achieved, and our lives are changed in a moment. That's a pretty standard interpretation from the teachings I have encountered.
However, as I read this story recently, another thought occurred to me. When Simon and his companions were seized with amazement over what had transpired, Jesus said, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." Then, in verse 11, we read when they brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
If Simon had been asked before he went fishing what his goal was, he might have said to catch enough fish to pay the bills, and afterward, he was likely disappointed and disheartened when his long hours of work were unfruitful. Then, he caught more fish than he could have imagined, but just as suddenly as that success came to him, he had a new realization. As important as the fish were to his livelihood, he sensed there was something even more valuable, more intriguing, in the words Jesus said, and he was willing to leave the comfort of familiar work behind to discover what this new challenge might mean.
As we achieve one goal, another goal will present itself. We should always be open to opportunities in unexpected places because sometimes, what we think we want is not what we truly want, or need, at all.
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