Believers are called to display such qualities as meekness, lowliness, humility and kindness. Forcing ideas and beliefs on other people is not how to win them over to any way of thinking, and Jesus understood this. He never tried to bully anyone or pressure people into following him, and yet thousands at a time were drawn to him and his message. He simply stated truth and loved others with an open heart and open arms. Those who heard him wanted to know more, wanted to understand how he could remain calm in the middle of turmoil. That is what people are still wanting today and will always want, to find peace and steadfastness in the midst of a storm.
Our duty, as Christians, is not to add to the confusion and heartache that so many people are feeling, but rather, we should be able to offer them an alternative approach to the pain of the world. Anyone can turn on the television and within moments, find someone shouting loudly (many of them claiming God as a supporter of their rants), trying to convince viewers that a certain way of thinking is the right path, while insulting those who disagree with their opinions. That may be entertaining, at some level, for some people, but it merely adds to the commotion and offers no solutions.
For peace and contentment to prevail, the message which Jesus brought must still be proclaimed today. Condemnation is to be replaced with compassion, and hardened hearts must learn about forgiveness. In light of scripture, we should ask ourselves about our own thinking and attitudes. Colossians 3:12-13 says, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Other scripture is equally plain in expressing how we are to behave.
While a gentle, forgiving spirit can be perceived as weakness from a worldly point of view, it is, most assuredly, a strength, a powerful force for change. Here's hoping for gentle days ahead; we need all the strength we can get.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Grateful
As someone who enjoys cold weather and winter, I woke up this morning trying to think of reasons I should be grateful for the summertime heat and humidity. I honestly couldn't think of many. I realize some people would rather sweat profusely under the unrelenting sun instead of warding off the chill of an overcast January day by bundling up in warm clothes. While I am happy for them, that group does not include me. We're all designed with different likes and dislikes, and I have a preference for cool temperatures.
However, even though I may not have specific reasons to be thankful for the heat, the idea of giving thanks in everything does come to mind. I know it is better to choose to be grateful for the sweltering weather, because a thankful attitude is always more productive than complaining (even when the heat index is well over a hundred degrees and my hair refuses to cooperate). Regardless of the weather, no matter what my circumstances are, I certainly do have every reason to be grateful.
I Thessalonians 16-18 urges us to, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I know that complaining and looking for the worst in every situation is not God's will for us; gratitude is. (This does not only apply to weather-related issues, obviously. Less complaining all around is definitely called for.)
So, on this hot, sticky, bug-infested, dusty day, I am thankful for a roof over my head, dependable transportation and an automatic washing machine. (I'm always grateful when I do a load of laundry because I remember the wringer washer my mother used when I was a child and how happy she was when we finally got an automatic machine.) I am grateful for jobs I enjoy, wildflowers and ice cubes. I am happy I have a healthy, fun-loving family, including a husband who is hard-working and has a good sense of humor.
Most of all, I am grateful for a God who loves us, who created each of us to be individuals, who gives us the capacity to find enjoyment in our circumstances and who blesses us with contentment and peace when we seek him. Okay, summertime, I've talked myself into it, and I'm going to try my best to love you.
However, even though I may not have specific reasons to be thankful for the heat, the idea of giving thanks in everything does come to mind. I know it is better to choose to be grateful for the sweltering weather, because a thankful attitude is always more productive than complaining (even when the heat index is well over a hundred degrees and my hair refuses to cooperate). Regardless of the weather, no matter what my circumstances are, I certainly do have every reason to be grateful.
I Thessalonians 16-18 urges us to, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I know that complaining and looking for the worst in every situation is not God's will for us; gratitude is. (This does not only apply to weather-related issues, obviously. Less complaining all around is definitely called for.)
So, on this hot, sticky, bug-infested, dusty day, I am thankful for a roof over my head, dependable transportation and an automatic washing machine. (I'm always grateful when I do a load of laundry because I remember the wringer washer my mother used when I was a child and how happy she was when we finally got an automatic machine.) I am grateful for jobs I enjoy, wildflowers and ice cubes. I am happy I have a healthy, fun-loving family, including a husband who is hard-working and has a good sense of humor.
Most of all, I am grateful for a God who loves us, who created each of us to be individuals, who gives us the capacity to find enjoyment in our circumstances and who blesses us with contentment and peace when we seek him. Okay, summertime, I've talked myself into it, and I'm going to try my best to love you.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Blessing America
I have, in recent times, given up participating in the political arena, as I believe solutions to society's problems will most successfully be addressed by individuals, by believers, by the Church. (For those of you who have read my recent book, you will understand my position on those issues.) This is not the stand the two major political parties have taken, so I choose not to be a part of either one. But I am concerned about the politicizing of the phrase "God bless America."
Clearly, we all should hope that God does bless America -- what other real hope do we have? -- but why not propose God bless America, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, China, Uganda, Mexico and every other nation on earth? Whether or not governments are properly functioning or we agree with their methods, people every where are hurting, many are living in daily squalor and danger, and they need to be blessed (happy, content, safe).
I Timothy 2:1-2 says, "...I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." The route to blessing is paved with prayer for leaders, and this does not mean only those who share our opinions.
And to truly ask for God's blessing, we must stop "cursing," (which is to wish that misfortune or evil would befall someone). No matter what we think of our leaders, saying awful things and wishing anyone anything other than well, obviously goes against scripture. In the book of James, chapter 3, we read of the importance of what we say, "...we bless our Lord and Father, and...we curse men, who have been made in the likenss of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way."
Everyone is certainly entitled to his or her own political view, but whatever view that is, the time has come to stop the hateful, hurtful sniping and insults. Do we really believe a holy God is in a position to bless a country which has fallen into the habit of cursing others so freely? Civility must reign. Love must prevail. Fresh water and bitter water don't come from the same fountain.
Clearly, we all should hope that God does bless America -- what other real hope do we have? -- but why not propose God bless America, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, China, Uganda, Mexico and every other nation on earth? Whether or not governments are properly functioning or we agree with their methods, people every where are hurting, many are living in daily squalor and danger, and they need to be blessed (happy, content, safe).
I Timothy 2:1-2 says, "...I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." The route to blessing is paved with prayer for leaders, and this does not mean only those who share our opinions.
And to truly ask for God's blessing, we must stop "cursing," (which is to wish that misfortune or evil would befall someone). No matter what we think of our leaders, saying awful things and wishing anyone anything other than well, obviously goes against scripture. In the book of James, chapter 3, we read of the importance of what we say, "...we bless our Lord and Father, and...we curse men, who have been made in the likenss of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way."
Everyone is certainly entitled to his or her own political view, but whatever view that is, the time has come to stop the hateful, hurtful sniping and insults. Do we really believe a holy God is in a position to bless a country which has fallen into the habit of cursing others so freely? Civility must reign. Love must prevail. Fresh water and bitter water don't come from the same fountain.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Being the Church
If you had never been to church before, and only had New Testament scripture to study to determine what a worship service should look like, do you suppose your idea of going to church might be different? (I use the term "going to church" because we all know what this means, even though in the New Testament the word church is not used to mean a building, a place or a denomination; it describes us, believers, the Body of Christ.) There are many ways to honor God and worship him, and no particular system is necessarily right or wrong, but when early followers of Christ met for fellowship, it must have looked different, for the most part, from what many of us have experienced over the years.
A strict schedule of meeting in the same building every Sunday morning and evening and on Wednesday is absent from scripture. As the New Testament church evolved, Christians seemed to have settled into gathering for their main time of group worship "on the first day of the week," Sunday. But there are other examples, too. We read of one occasion (Acts 16:13) where there was a riverside prayer meeting on the Sabbath, which is Saturday. In their enthusiasm, the very first followers of Christ were, "Day to day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house..." (Acts 2:46). Meeting in homes was quite typical; in fact, it was the norm.
The New Testament does give guidelines for Church leadership and how those leaders are to function, but it does not seem to imply the same person was the sole speaker or teacher each time believers assembled -- there was participation by many, which provided diversity and spontaneity. "When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation." (I Cor.14:26) We all have spiritual gifts and perspectives which are meant to be shared with others.
Since there is no specific outline mandating methods for assembling together, there are certainly many ways which must be acceptable. However, settling into a rut where nothing is fresh and new is the main danger in following the same formula week after week. We shouldn't be afraid to break the chains of tradition and find freedom, but more importantly, no matter how we choose to fellowship with one another, we need to remember that "going to church" is secondary to being the church each and every day.
A strict schedule of meeting in the same building every Sunday morning and evening and on Wednesday is absent from scripture. As the New Testament church evolved, Christians seemed to have settled into gathering for their main time of group worship "on the first day of the week," Sunday. But there are other examples, too. We read of one occasion (Acts 16:13) where there was a riverside prayer meeting on the Sabbath, which is Saturday. In their enthusiasm, the very first followers of Christ were, "Day to day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house..." (Acts 2:46). Meeting in homes was quite typical; in fact, it was the norm.
The New Testament does give guidelines for Church leadership and how those leaders are to function, but it does not seem to imply the same person was the sole speaker or teacher each time believers assembled -- there was participation by many, which provided diversity and spontaneity. "When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation." (I Cor.14:26) We all have spiritual gifts and perspectives which are meant to be shared with others.
Since there is no specific outline mandating methods for assembling together, there are certainly many ways which must be acceptable. However, settling into a rut where nothing is fresh and new is the main danger in following the same formula week after week. We shouldn't be afraid to break the chains of tradition and find freedom, but more importantly, no matter how we choose to fellowship with one another, we need to remember that "going to church" is secondary to being the church each and every day.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Trying Not to Miss the Point
While we all miss the mark from time to time, it seems especially important to not miss the point. All of us have opinions and views which might not be exactly on target, and we all make mistakes and poor choices from time to time. As followers of Christ, we should make it our goal to be familiar enough with his teachings to realize when we have errored, and then turn aside from that error (or sin), and change our way of thinking.
But consistently choosing behaviors and attitudes that are in direct conflict with what Jesus taught, especially the "big picture" view of scripture, and not making an effort to get beyond those behaviors, seems to be missing the point of being a believer.
Recently, I read several verses in Matthew chapter 12 that illustrate what I mean. Jesus had been healing many of those who were following him, and then warning them not to tell who he was. Verses 17-19 say, "This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.'"
This image of Jesus is in sharp contrast to many of the extremely vocal, political pundits operating today. These folks have mixed religion and politics and come up with a toxic brew which somehow combines the Gospel's message of love, peace, kindness and harmony with their own doctrine of hate, war, anger and discord. That's disheartening enough, but that they shout their views so loudly and attract such large audiences is the most grievous part.
Yelling and posturing is not an image I can connect with our great example Jesus, who, for the most part, worked quietly behind the scenes, ministering healing and love. I can't help but feel that those who do all of that screaming and who work so intently to rile up, rather than promote unity, are missing the point, entirely. But beyond that, it's one more reminder that when I see others operating in ways I question, I have to turn that questioning toward myself and my struggles, and make sure I'm not missing the point in my own life.
But consistently choosing behaviors and attitudes that are in direct conflict with what Jesus taught, especially the "big picture" view of scripture, and not making an effort to get beyond those behaviors, seems to be missing the point of being a believer.
Recently, I read several verses in Matthew chapter 12 that illustrate what I mean. Jesus had been healing many of those who were following him, and then warning them not to tell who he was. Verses 17-19 say, "This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: 'Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.'"
This image of Jesus is in sharp contrast to many of the extremely vocal, political pundits operating today. These folks have mixed religion and politics and come up with a toxic brew which somehow combines the Gospel's message of love, peace, kindness and harmony with their own doctrine of hate, war, anger and discord. That's disheartening enough, but that they shout their views so loudly and attract such large audiences is the most grievous part.
Yelling and posturing is not an image I can connect with our great example Jesus, who, for the most part, worked quietly behind the scenes, ministering healing and love. I can't help but feel that those who do all of that screaming and who work so intently to rile up, rather than promote unity, are missing the point, entirely. But beyond that, it's one more reminder that when I see others operating in ways I question, I have to turn that questioning toward myself and my struggles, and make sure I'm not missing the point in my own life.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Regaining Community
With increasingly-sophisticated communication technology, the world has gotten "smaller" (or more flat, as some have proposed). As young people look for work in their chosen professions, they feel the pull to leave their hometowns and families to find jobs. Our consumer-driven society has led us to want "what we want, when we want it." We may not drive to California to buy our lettuce year-round, but we buy lettuce year-round which has been delivered to us from California. (Ironically, if you live in California, your lettuce may be coming from some where else. Unless the situation has changed recently, California imports as much lettuce as it exports every year.)
Not all modern advancements or situations are necessarily bad, but these are the kinds of things which have erroded our communities and contributed to society's larger problems. For example, I can't help feeling a sense of responsibility as I see images of oil washing up on the beaches of the Gulf Coast. So many of my habits require large amounts of electricity and other forms of energy, habits which are fueled by the very oil that is ruining the livelihood of thousands of people in the South.
Ironically, one of the most appealing aspects of popular online social-networking sites is a feeling that participants are part of a community. And in a sense, it's true. It has been such a pleasure for me to meet new friends and re-connect and be in touch with people I haven't seen in years via Facebook. In fact, as someone who has anti-social tendencies, it's been the perfect way for me to be part of a community while having few real obligations. And that's why online interaction cannot take the place of daily living in a caring community where everyone looks out for and helps take care of the others living around them. Most of us know about the latest disasters in the rest of the world, but we may not be as likely to know the heartache and needs of our neighbor down the road.
In the second chapter of Acts, we read of the early believers who were "together and had all things in common...and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need ...and breaking bread from house to house." I fear that many of us have lost that very real, solid sense of community.
I'm not advocating giving up Facebook, (I like it too much!), but I have to remind myself not to forget the people right in my own little corner of the world and consider ways to take a cue from the scripture above and make small steps to change the way society works. Supporting locally-owned businesses so our hometown economies thrive, buying locally-grown food to cut down on trucking expense and fuel use, taking time for face-to-face chats and remembering that we are all connected to one another are all ways to start regaining a sense of community. Our small, daily decisions have the potential to make the greatest impact.
Not all modern advancements or situations are necessarily bad, but these are the kinds of things which have erroded our communities and contributed to society's larger problems. For example, I can't help feeling a sense of responsibility as I see images of oil washing up on the beaches of the Gulf Coast. So many of my habits require large amounts of electricity and other forms of energy, habits which are fueled by the very oil that is ruining the livelihood of thousands of people in the South.
Ironically, one of the most appealing aspects of popular online social-networking sites is a feeling that participants are part of a community. And in a sense, it's true. It has been such a pleasure for me to meet new friends and re-connect and be in touch with people I haven't seen in years via Facebook. In fact, as someone who has anti-social tendencies, it's been the perfect way for me to be part of a community while having few real obligations. And that's why online interaction cannot take the place of daily living in a caring community where everyone looks out for and helps take care of the others living around them. Most of us know about the latest disasters in the rest of the world, but we may not be as likely to know the heartache and needs of our neighbor down the road.
In the second chapter of Acts, we read of the early believers who were "together and had all things in common...and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need ...and breaking bread from house to house." I fear that many of us have lost that very real, solid sense of community.
I'm not advocating giving up Facebook, (I like it too much!), but I have to remind myself not to forget the people right in my own little corner of the world and consider ways to take a cue from the scripture above and make small steps to change the way society works. Supporting locally-owned businesses so our hometown economies thrive, buying locally-grown food to cut down on trucking expense and fuel use, taking time for face-to-face chats and remembering that we are all connected to one another are all ways to start regaining a sense of community. Our small, daily decisions have the potential to make the greatest impact.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Consider the lilies...and the Daisies
I went for a walk on a recent evening, and as I returned home, the rays from the setting sun slipped through the trees and fell across our field filled with wildflowers. A blue-gray haze had already begun to settle around the edge of the tree-rimmed field, in stark contrast to the yellow and white of the blooms which appeared to almost glow from the inside out. The sunlight shone at seemingly impossible angles, making everything it illuminated seem brand-new and perfect. The field which I've seen thousands of times, was suddenly something I did not recognize. It caught me off guard and took my breath away.
It was a moment which stopped me in my tracks and made the majesty and presence of God real beyond words. No amount of trying to explain matters of faith or hearing someone talk about what God has done for them or meant to them can compare to those brief glimpses we occasionally experience which can only be described as heavenly. In an instant like that, all doubts and fears melt away, and all that we strive for in our day-to-day existence, all of the work and worry, fades away in glorious, triumphant realization that nothing matters except God himself, God alone, and he is all we need. When our eyes are opened to that reality, we can see God in every moment, in every person, in every situation, and nothing looks the same.
I was reminded we are told to "consider the lilies," and their magnificent testimony of not "toiling" or "spinning" but merely being. It is a wonderful place when we allow ourselves to simply be in God's presence and drink in all that he is and all that he wants to be in us. When we begin to see God's majesty at every turn and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by his love and his grace, then we, too, become as the lilies and the wildflowers, inspiring others, not by our work or even our good deeds, but simply because the light has transformed us, making us different than we were. Without a word from us, people will recognize that only God could be responsible for the change and the beauty in us.
It was a moment which stopped me in my tracks and made the majesty and presence of God real beyond words. No amount of trying to explain matters of faith or hearing someone talk about what God has done for them or meant to them can compare to those brief glimpses we occasionally experience which can only be described as heavenly. In an instant like that, all doubts and fears melt away, and all that we strive for in our day-to-day existence, all of the work and worry, fades away in glorious, triumphant realization that nothing matters except God himself, God alone, and he is all we need. When our eyes are opened to that reality, we can see God in every moment, in every person, in every situation, and nothing looks the same.
I was reminded we are told to "consider the lilies," and their magnificent testimony of not "toiling" or "spinning" but merely being. It is a wonderful place when we allow ourselves to simply be in God's presence and drink in all that he is and all that he wants to be in us. When we begin to see God's majesty at every turn and allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by his love and his grace, then we, too, become as the lilies and the wildflowers, inspiring others, not by our work or even our good deeds, but simply because the light has transformed us, making us different than we were. Without a word from us, people will recognize that only God could be responsible for the change and the beauty in us.
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