It was a knee jerk reaction, I admit it, I don't know what came over me? I'm truly sorry if you were offended. Last Saturday night I read a poorly written article on-line lambasting Colin Kaepernick and his decision not to stand for the National Anthem at a pre-season football game. Maybe I was tired from a long day, but I got hot! I'm human. I react. So I posted on Facebook what I thought was a tiny little venting of justified hot air. No big deal. I accused Colin of hating America. Not smart. That was not smart. It wasn't smart for a couple of reasons: 1) It wasn't truly accurate, he didn't actually say he hated, he was just demonstrating his disagreement. 2) It put more gasoline on other people's hate. I am a pastor, and people listen to me. 3) It caused me to receive some very strong "push back" from well meaning people. Yes, they said I had the right to disagree; but not put words into his mouth. Yes, they didn't think he was going about it the right way; but they were right to say he didn't deserve to be labeled as a "hater." All of this is true, So I am sorry. But can I be honest? I am still angry about what he did and how many people think he was a hero for doing so. The American flag means something to me. My grandfather and father defended it. My grandfather went to Germany to fight a war in the trenches - - he was even exposed to poisonous mustard gas which scarred his legs for life. So, I fume over a man who I think doesn't understand the cost that was paid for our freedom; which I believe that flag represents. Respect for our country, our flag, and sacrifice was what I was taught by my dad. Yes, but I am told, Colin sees the flag as a symbol of oppression. Especially the mistreatment of the black race by law enforcement. But is it? To him it is - - so, according to most pundits and caring commentators, they tell me he has the right and moral obligation to sit. I have the right to get angry. But really, I don't. I feel like if I give my opinion with any amount of passion about any political issue I am to be considered dangerous and un-Chrisitan. You see I am part of the privileged class, white male, I vote conservative, and my voice matters little. My people have done enough damage - - we must now step aside. I am told I don't understand the plight of so many. I am told to forgive, live at peace, and learn to have my worldview changed by those who are oppressed. And most of all, don't be angry! It is not appropriate, nor does it lead to any kind of reconciliation. As I Christian I really do try to sympathetically listen. But the part about not being angry, is that true? Is anger always wrong? Well, if you were to look at the big issues of the day - - the oppressed group is allowed to get angry, they are even encouraged to rage. But not the privileged class like me. I am to shut up and take it. I don't understand. How do they know I don't understand what they are going through? How do they know I don't really get it? But sometimes anger is appropriate. Sometimes it is the only way people listen. Most people will disagree with me, because I am told, it is reasonable people that change the world. Name me one. Jesus. Wasn't Jesus reasonable? Does the story of the whip and the money changers ring a bell? Or calling Pharisees white-washed tombs seem reasonable? I do not believe anger is to be used sinfully, but I do believe it does help clarify sometimes. My anger stems from two places: 1) We Have Become a Nation of Slogans and Not Solutions. That makes me angry, especially when the slogans only point at my privilege as the problem. My anger arises because it is the "slogan" that often increases the problem. Problems are complex, and when slogans like "Black Lives Matter", "Blue Lives Matter", "All Lives Matter," are spouted, it doesn't help. Blaming the 1% or the "Systemic Systems of Injustice" says nothing. The problem is more than racial profiling, bad cops, war on drugs, unconstitutional arrests, or even who the leader who is in office. The problem is every single individual's heart, and I am tired of old warn out slogans that only inspire hate and divide people. 2) We Have to Stop Giving People Excuses for their Sin. Yes, poverty is horrible, police brutality is horrible, and black on black crime is horrible - - but focusing on symptoms only increase the main problem which is mankind's rebellion against God. Oh I know, I am too simplistic. So was Jesus. "If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Luke 9:23-23) Too simplistic, not enough activism, not enough blaming power groups, not enough holding systems of injustice responsible. I guess I am angry because people don't believe Jesus' words of individual soul liberty seriously anymore; which for me, is the only solution to the world's problems. I am only responsible ultimately for myself; I am not responsible for you. I am to pray for you, be in peace with you, try to care for you, meet your needs if I can, but I can't live your life. As Romans 14:10-12 says, "Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God...So then each of us will give an account of himself to God."
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I wanted to throw up! I really did. But I wanted to be accepted by the group more. So I went through with it. My freshman year in college I decided to join a fraternity. In order to be a part of a popular men's Greek club on campus, (more like a bunch of guys you barely know just to have keg parties with), I was required to go through 6 weeks of hazing. At the time I attended college, back in the 80's, hazing was part and parcel of private school university life. Now you can go to jail if you get caught hazing. People will do and believe the craziest and most dehumanizing of things just to be accepted. I know this first hand because I allowed myself to be humiliated just to be a frat member. One particular night we were called out of our dorms and we were told to report to the frat house for a friendly night of getting to know the brothers. All of us pledges, those who were wanting to join the fraternity, were to show up in jeans, tennis shoes and a t-shirt willing and ready to do what ever they told us. When we arrived, all 20 of us pledges where put in a dark garage where we stood along the wall to learn some of the fraternity's favorite songs. About 30 minutes into this, we were led one-by-one into the large living room of the frat house. There was a thick mahogany table in the middle of the room, and on top of the table was a large bowl of stew. In that stew sat a severed pig's head, surrounded by large onions, beets, pickled pigs feet, moldy green potatoes, spongy leafs of cabbage, which were all simmering in a lumpy green smelly gravy. "Men, are you ready to eat some stew?" Our faces dropped. Our intestines twisted. We were led back out into the garage to think about the horror that was awaiting us in that dreadful living room. To help psyche us up, one of the fraternity brothers made us chant loudly together, "We're so happy, we're going to eat some garbage! We're so happy, we're going to eat some garbage!" After 15 minutes of this nonsense we were led back into the room. This time some more nasty ingredients were included into the stew: bloody sausage, slices of liver, red kidney beans, olive loaf...you could barely even look at it without your stomach turning. Back into the garage, "We're so happy..." You know how it goes. Finally, we were led back into the room; apparently the stew was done cooking. Around the table were 20 brown lunch bags turned upside down; and we were told they were covering a bowl of the stew. Behind each of us was a fraternity brother whispering in our ear. "Try to eat it all, but if you have to throw up, throw up on the person to your right." The leader of the fraternity asked us all, "Are you sure you want to be a Chi Sig Brother?" "Yesssssss!" "Then you must eat everything underneath that paper bag. Get ready?" So one last time we sang, "We're so happy we're going to eat some garbage, we're so happy. . ." I didn't want to do it!!! I didn't want to be a part of this sick group any longer, I was even contemplating quitting the pledging process and walking away from this frat forever - - but I wanted to belong. I had no other choice, the fraternity culture demanded me to comply. It was powerful. If I wanted in, conformity was expected, not to be questioned. Even if everything inside of me was screaming to run, I just couldn't. So the leader began, "On the count of three, remove the bags and eat. Ready...One...Two...Three!" I removed my bag ready to swallow whatever garbage was there - - but it was a trick. They placed a plastic cup full of every college boy's favorite beverage underneath. And to our relief, we didn't have to eat garbage. The whole point of this night was to see how far they could make us go - -they wanted compliance! And 20 big, stupid, fearful guys fell right in line. Even I complied. A guy who prided himself on not going along with the pressure of the crowd. Even I was made to silence my better angels and be willing to eat garbage - - It is sad, and strange how easily we follow in order to be liked, accepted, and considered an important part of the community. I feel this same way about a certain behavior that we are no longer allowed to disagree with or reject. For me, discussing this topic is a bit like eating garbage; but in our culture having this opinion is considered cruel and unkind, even evil. You just can't say you don't like it even if thinking about it seems so wrong. I must now enthusiastically swallow it thinking it is normal and even "good" for society. But it isn't normal, and it is harming society - -but to be accepted and considered a valuable member of our society, we all must shut our mouths, smile and choke it down. Yes, I am speaking of homosexuality. I recently read an article by the ethicist and social commentator David Gushee called "Middle Ground is Disappearing" where he writes, "any kind of discrimination against gay people will have the same legal rights and social acceptance as any kind of racial discrimination...Sometimes society changes and it marks decadence. Other times society changes and it marks progress. Those who believe LGBT equality marks decadence are being left behind." You see, this article is a veiled threat. If I don't comply, I will be left behind. If I call-out decadence as decadence I am to be considered a dangerous non-conformist, a cast away well deserving. In the article, it points out that my conservative evangelical position is now labeled as, "Discriminatory, intolerant, 'digging in my heels', and 'anti-gay'." Society has reached the point where it is just and right to "tar and feather" people of my mindset. Pro-gay is now normal, good, and compassionate. I am the outsider, I am the problem. Scripture is no longer allowed in on the conversation. Since there are differing interpretations, even if some people are blatantly trying not to understand what the bible is saying to get their way (see 2 Peter 3:16), people now just assume that we can't trust the Bible to speak - - even if the majority of interpretations, of passages like Romans 1:26-27, are agreed upon. As Anthony Thiselton says, "The consensus among the commentators is still that homosexual behavior is the sin of rebellion against God, and outward manifestation of inward and spiritual rebellion, is still a correct reading of the text." But that interpretation now seems so cruel, how dare you take a scholar's word for it when one of your friends is gay? How insensitive. So Mr. Theologian, pastor, seminary professor, you are wrong because homosexuality has become championed by our politicians and celebrities alike. If Cher or Dr. Doogie Howser says it is O.K., it must be O.K. As one man who works in higher academia has recently told me, "We are being pressured everywhere to accept the LGBT agenda because there has been an enormous amount of money and political capital spent on promoting this issue. Personal lust and depressed desires also have a large part to play as well. You will be going against a mighty powerful current if you try to teach what the Bible actually says about this topic." He even has said many Christians he knows who once held strong to conservative theology are thinking of abandoning ship and giving in to the pressure. So in other words, open up, swallow hard, because we need to be happy eating the garbage. One last question: What do we do with those people who have been eating the garbage and want to stop because it is making them sick? Did you even know there are large numbers of people who have same-sex attraction but want out? They see their sickness, it is killing them, but everywhere they turn they are being told to choke it down and smile. Herein lies the greatest problem: Because we have labeled a moral sickness as a moral good, we have no cure for those who want to get well, and for that matter, right with God. We aren't allowed to tell them they are sick - - even though this form of perversity is killing them body and soul. Remember what 1 Corinthians 6:18 says? "Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." In other words, it is like eating garbage - - the more you eat, the sicker you will get. That is just the truth...but truth is now seen as cruel. It is no longer allowed to be spoken. We must all comply! So get ready, open wide and sing with me, "We're so happy..." A few years before his death, Johnny Cash took pen to paper and wrote a song. It was a haunting song. A song that was based on a dream where Queen Elizabeth II compared him to a "thorn tree in a whirlwind." A song that presents a God who is coming and cannot be stopped; and as Johnny writes, "will be taking names." I believe it is a song we all need to stop and consider in these strange days of lying politicians, angry mobs, unrestrained sexual perversions, and where everyone seems to be a lover of self. Throughout his life, in his ups and downs, Cash accepted the Christian faith as true and believed "that Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew, the Christ of the Greeks, was the Anointed One of God." Cash wasn't perfect, he was prone to depression and hard drink; but he believed. And as this song vividly describes, the Jesus he believed in is not someone to be trifled with. It is refreshing for me to hear faith come from this kind of rough man - - because you never hear anyone speak this way about our God anymore. Celebrities and athletes alike think they are the end all and be all. Cash knew better, Jesus to him was "the Alpha and Omega." Jesus is so often ignored, laughed at, mocked, and even cursed in our world flush with pride. Many people will say they follow him, but they are often just paying lip service to God for an hour on Sunday. But rarely, and I really mean this, do we fear him anymore. He no longer seems dangerous. Jesus has become our homeboy, our buddy, the proverbial nice guy. But this is not the biblical account of Jesus. He is "a Great King" and I believe this song captures his gravitas - - consider a few of the lyrics: The Man Comes Around There's a man going around taking names and he decides Who to free and who to blame every body won't be treated Quite the same there will be a golden ladder reaching down When the man comes around The hairs on your arm will stand up at the terror in each Sip and each sup will you partake of that last offered cup Or disappear into the potter's ground When the man comes around Hear the trumpets hear the pipers one hundred million angels singing Multitudes are marching to a big kettledrum Voices calling and voices crying It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks Till Armageddon no shalom no shalom Then the father hen will call his chicken's home The wise man will bow down before the thorn and at his feet They will cast the golden crowns When the man comes around Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still Listen to the words long written down When the man comes around Three Considerations:
I want to point out three things from this song you will never hear in the news, on TV, at the local coffee house, or even in your neighbors living room - - but they still are true none the less. When the man comes around... (1) Everybody won't be treated quite the same. There is a belief in popular Christianity today that accepts the idea "everyone is in unless you opt out." What this means is that salvation (deliverance from God's wrath) is currently and generously applied to all. Universal salvation for everyone, the doors of heaven are flung wide open to anyone and everyone. Black, white, male, female, cisgender, Christian, Jew, Muslim, atheist and even the few cannibal tribesman still chewing on human bones in the Indonesian Islands. So eternity is yours, free of charge, free of even faith, with no strings attached. That is, unless of course you don't want it. You can opt out. I suppose there are some fools who think the Grateful Dead are right when they sing, "I may be going to hell in a bucket, but at least I am enjoying the ride." But this is a small and rather minute number who would actually choose an eternity in hell. The rest of us would all someday like to see our loved ones beyond the grave in paradise. But Cash's song isn't so generous, "Not everyone is treated the same." Meaning, Jesus is a judge, and his justice is based on our actions. Some people will be deemed, "Unjust and filthy." That is why the hairs on your arm will stand up. You don't want to be accounted as guilty when he comes - - because if you are, the bible teaches "you are out and it will be too late to opt in." When the man comes around again, books will be opened, and as 2 Thessalonians writes, "when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (2) Till Armageddon no shalom, no shalom He believes in Armageddon. Who believes in Armageddon these days? We are too sophisticated for that. You can't tell me God is going to pour wrath on the earth? He is going to burn up the forests with fire, send plagues on livestock, turn water to blood? The best scholars tell us this is merely poetry - and you can't trust biblical poetry to mean anything. Can you? But what if it is more than mere poetry? What if the Bible means what it says when it writes, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Can you? (3) The wise man will bow down before the throne People these days are not bowing to him. We don't have time to stop and consider a God no one can see, and a Savior no one is sure really died. We have more important things to do than speculate about future shadows and ghosts. Jonathan Edwards once wondered what people who are currently in hell would say if you could interview them, "I thought I had more time." "I really believed the learned men of town when they said religion was all myth and fairy tales." "I though being better than the other guy was enough." "I had more important things to do." How can our lives on earth compare to eternity? How can making more money, going on one more cruise, watching one more basketball game be as significant as worshiping the God who made you? Blue haired televangelists love to scare people into heaven, they look at the current day's headlines and see another sign of Christ's return. Yes, for many of us, we know this is nothing more than a religious game - - end times charlatans stealing money from old gullible ladies. But the deceitful antics of a few religious frauds does not negate the return of Christ. He is still going to descend that golden ladder and call us all to account. Jesus is still coming back. Just ask Johnny. At the age of 71, Johnny Cash died. Complications from diabetes and a broken heart over his wife's death four months earlier were the reasons for his death. All his records, recordings, concerts were over. It was time for him to come face to face with the man... and I believe he was ready to see him. I think we need to take some time and listen to this song. Instead of fretting over politics, your mortgage or how your favorite football team will do this fall, take some time and consider when the man comes around. It might just do you some eternal good. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. James 1:13 Here is a question that was recently asked me, "If God is good, why does he allow people to become addicted?" Is God to be held responsible for the world that is currently in chaos? Should Jesus Christ be blamed, because he is currently sitting on his Father's throne? This is a tough, tough question; and it is a question that has been asked by every generation, in every time, and I believe in every human heart that has every lived. Theologians call this the question of "Theodicy": * If God is good, why did he create Satan? * If God is good, why do innocent people suffer? * If God is good, why do babies die? * If God is good, why do the scriptures threaten an eternity in hell? * If God is good, why do I hurt so much? Evil and a good all-powerful God seem mutually exclusive? I recently read an interesting twist on this question, "It appears to be part of human nature to cry out, 'Why has this happened to me?' when tragedy or suffering hits life, but hardly ever to ask, 'What have we done to deserve this?' when life is blessed with health or prosperity. Some suggest that the problem of evil can be addressed only when we ask the problem of good." This question of evil will never go away. It will always be a part of the human experience, it is what beckons us to reach out to God in faith. But have you ever looked at evil from God's point of view? He is more perplexed and frustrated about it than you are. Let me help you see the world from his perspective. THE BEST POSSIBLE CHOICE God could have created the world anyway he wanted, but being perfect he must choose the best possible world for all and that world includes "choice." Love can not be compelled, and good infers bad. As Augustine said, "Evil exists only in good; our Universe enjoys light and shade, and life and death...What is more beautiful than a fire? What is more useful than the heat and comfort?...Yet nothing can cause more distress than the burns inflicted by fire." Love is hot, and God wants us to love him, it is the basis of worship - but that must mean rejection is a possibility. If you don't believe me, try this out sometime: Tell your wife you love her because you have no other choice - - "Honey, why did you buy me flowers?" Because I am supposed to. "Did you want to?" It doesn't matter - I had to. Yuck! That is not love, it is a horror movie; "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." So in order for love to be love it must include choice. REJECTING THE BEST Now when it comes to loving God, there is a lot at stake. If I reject loving the girl across the room, it doesn't necessarily cost me much because she is a finite human being. But God is infinite in love, goodness, and righteousness in himself. He is the source of all life, and when I reject him I am rejecting what is best for me. When I reject the source of all that is good, what is left? Evil. When I reject light, what is left? Darkness. When I reject love, "God is love", what is left? Indifference, malice, hatred, envy, jealousy, rage. A PEAK INTO THE HEART OF GOD Jeremiah 2 is one of the saddest and most tragic windows into the heart of God. In verses 2-3 God pictures Israel, his people, as a beautiful bride that he was madly in love with. Like a pair of honeymooners, God was intoxicated with the beauty of his young bride. And if anybody tried to take his beloved away, "they incurred guilt; disaster came upon them." In other words, don't mess with God's woman! But in verse 5, something worse than his bride being taken away happened. The bride herself didn't want to be married anymore. God asked the question to Israel, "What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me?" God is asking his people, "What is wrong with me that you want to leave me?" Do you hear his pain? Do you feel the brokenness of his heart? God, the "perfection of beauty" (Psalm 50:2), was rejected for another lover. Romans 1:21-22 says, "Although they knew God...they exchanged his glory (heavy beauty) for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." They traded God for garbage. We trade God for garbage. I can remember after dating my wife for awhile I met a few of her past boyfriends. Compared to me, they were schmucks, and I told her so. Hey, I am not being harsh, I was in love with her - - I still am, and I still feel the same way. Compared to me they are schmucks. I know what is best for her, so even the suggestion of her going back to those silly boys makes me crazy. This is what God is saying in Jeremiah 2. Listen to verse 12, "Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate...for my people have committed two evils (the true theodicy): they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." In other words, they already had the best, "living waters", and traded it for stagnant old rain water that leaked out of the cistern. Stupid, stupid, sad, so sad. WHAT AN APPLE IS ASKING God wants to be loved, that's all. And that is what worship means, "Is he worth it?" This is why he placed a tree called "the knowledge of good and evil" in the middle of the Garden of Eden. It was the way Adam showed his choice. Is God better than a fruit that looks pleasing? Is he "worth" the sacrifice? If so, say no. * Is God worth being sexually pure for? * Is God worth being sober for? * Is God worth being kind to others for? If so, say no to your fleshly desires. Don't let them win. Love God by not turning to other lovers. Why? What happens if I do turn to other lovers? Listen to Jeremiah 2:5b, "they went after worthlessness, and became worthless." As one writer have famously said, "What you worship you become like." Listen to Romans 1:26 on this matter, "Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie...God gave them up (or over) to dishonorable passions." People become addicted to what they crave. GOD IS A CHASTE LOVER Every noble dad wants their daughter to be chaste. This means virtuous and willing to wait until the right man comes. This is one of the greatest tragedies from the sexual revolution; woman now think it is cool and freeing to "put-out" like juvenile debased men do because they want to be equal. Tragically when a woman "puts-out" they are playing into the hands of the evil heart of men's lust. Sex isn't meant to be a game, it is a sacred gift reserved for the one who protects it. When your daughter is chaste, she ultimately finds the man who really means it when he says, "I love you." You see, those words are meant to mean something - - I want what is best for you, and it isn't simply getting your body for a one night stand. God also is waiting, hiding, longing for people to love him truly. He is far too valuable to give of himself to people who are merely paying him lip service Sunday morning. He wants people who really want him. So to find those who want to worship, he places before them a tree. "If you love me, say no to the idol." Have you ever noticed, those who are addicted to things like sex, drugs, and perverted lifestyle choices seem to get mad at God. They are quick to blame him for their behavior. They see theodicy as his problem and not theirs. The truth is they don't like him being so specific. They want him to be tolerant, unchaste, a whore. But he is holy. And it is his holiness that makes him wholly beautiful. As Job says in 31:23, "For fear of his splendor I could not do such things." THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CROSS God still loves you even in your rebellion. So to rescue you while you are addicted to evil, he sends his Son to become evil. "Cursed is everyone who hangs upon the tree." Where is God in your suffering? "He is hanging on the tree!" This is his plan to rescue you. He has allowed himself to be punished for your unfaithfulness, so you can become faithful. Look at him. Is he to be blamed for evil when he willingly allowed it to kill him? He has done this for you? God has done it for you because he wants you back. Listen to him in Jeremiah 31:33: "This is the covenant I will make with Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Why is there evil, why are people addicted, why is there suffering? Because you chose garbage over God. Don't blame Jesus, but rather, believe in him. Run to him. It is the only way to escape from yourself. Just a cast away an island lost at sea-o Police, “Message in a Bottle” I lost my book, “Renovation of the Heart” by Dallas Willard. I can't believe it. Someone must have swiped it or my dog ate it like he often does to my kid’s homework. Didn’t you know? Australian Shepherds like the taste of paper. At least that is what my boys tell me. I really enjoyed that book. I guess I will have to go out and buy a new one? In the meantime I am writing this second post, on what I learned from reading this summer, entirely from memory. I wish I had the book handy, but it is now lost to me. Don’t you hate it when things go missing? When you misplace your wallet, keys, checkbook, or dentures? God does too...he hates it when a person he loves is lost to him as well. Lost - the condition of being misplaced, unusable, out of reach. Dallas Willard thinks we have been far too simplistic when we speak of a person being lost. Traditionally, being lost in the Christian sense has been understood to be describing a person who is headed for hell. The focus here is solely on the person’s hopeless eternal future. While that is true, and desperately tragic, Willard would further argue that the biblical idea of lostness incorporates a much wider and more “robust” understanding of the human condition. (Don't you love that word robust? Reminds me of drinking a hot cup of Colombian coffee.) In fact, to only define a person’s life with the future in mind belittles their image bearing capacities in the present. We are made for more than escaping flames. God has designed us with so much purpose for today, in this present moment; we are meant to enjoy and glorify him “now” with our life. Biblical Christianity even teaches eternal life begins the moment a person accepts the gospel. We are to live “in the grace in which we stand” now. Not wait for it until after we die. Lost in the fullest sense is when you are cut off from his life. When you are dwelling outside of his grace. Sin separates us from him; it is the human state of being misplaced, unusable and out of reach from him. The biblical term for lostness is alienation. Did you know there are a lot of people in the church that are saved but are still lost? You may think you are positionally o.k. with God because you once went forward at an altar call, checked a box in a bulletin saying you were a Christian, went to VBS and said you accepted Jesus when you were 7 - - but if you are not living a fruitful life for Jesus now there is a good chance you are still lost. I have even met some Christians who say they want to win the lost, but they themselves are not enjoying or glorifying God in the present at all - - they are lost believing they are found. Lostness is like my book - - it is not usable because it is out of my reach. The purpose for which it has been made is not being utilized. A book is meant to be read. But when it is lost, it cannot fulfill it’s purpose because it will never be enjoyed by the reader. To simply say the book needs to be found so I can put it back up on the shelf so it will forever look good is a nice thing - - but if it is never opened or read it is still useless. It might as well be misplaced. To simply say a Christian is a person who is saved from hell, who is now sitting in the church and is guaranteed a life in heaven is nice - - but that isn’t the purpose of being granted salvation. We are meant to be found so we can finally be used! In 1 Corinthians 9:27 the Apostle Paul expresses this view by saying, “I discipline my body and keep it under control lest after my preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Disqualified? From what? Is he worried that he might lose his salvation? Most commentators would say Paul is worried God will no longer use him to bring glory to his Son. He wants, as Galatians 1:16, to “reveal the Son in his life” and then “preach him among the Gentiles.” In other words, Paul wants to be useful to God. I’ve been glued to the Olympics. I love the spectacle and seeing athletic excellence on a world stage. I especially enjoyed watching the Rugby Sevens. I would have loved to be on the American team. Wearing a jersey sporting the American flag would be amazing - - but playing, running, tackling, and being watched by the world would be the real joy of the Olympics. Just making the team would be great - - but the joy comes in the competing. If you are a Christian, you have made the team. That is amazing, wonderful, and beyond belief! But don't be content simply with wearing a jersey. Join in the action of bringing glory to your God! That is where the joy comes in. Just think, you are being watched by the angels and Jesus himself. Are you lost, or found? Are you being used, or has God misplaced you? Are you enjoying him or alienated, far away, wondering where he is? Maybe it is you who has run away from him? "But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” Exodus 33:20 It has been one hot summer, and personally, I blame it on the sun! Why doesn't it let up? All I am asking for is a couple of weeks of cooler temps? But no, that darn sun is relentless. John Denver was wrong, sunshine on my shoulder does not make me happy - - especially when it burns. Did you know the sun can't help it's heat? The sun is the sun and it is only doing what it is being. Scientists say that at it's core the sun roasts at a cool 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. That is pretty hot. The sun's radiated heat takes 8 minutes to reach earth. So no matter how you feel about the sun's heat, it doesn't care because it is just being itself. So, if you get a sunburn at the beach, don't blame the sun, it is your fault. The sun is being the sun. Pretty obvious, isn't it? But people don't use the same logic when they consider the character and person of God. He dwells in spotless purity because he is Holy. Habakkuk 1:13 says his eyes are too pure to look upon evil. Psalm 50 says fire devours before him. Holiness, by it's nature, must burn out iniquity like the sun burns uncovered skin. Holiness, Purity, and Untainted Perfection is who God is. Approaching him being morally stained and carrying tainted flesh is an eternal death sentence. That is why God warns, "Man cannot see my face and live." This is not a statement of meanness or callousness toward us, it is just a statement of reality as it is. He is being who he is. People these days don't like God being God. So many fight against the truth of his wrath as if God had a choice in the matter. They rage against his position as judge, and the possibility of future judgement. In cynical arrogance, the unbeliever and liberal Christian mocks the notion of eternal damnation: "Unless you do not respond the right way to God, then he will torture you forever. In Hell. Huh? Sounds like a terrible story to me? How could this be good news?" Hell is real because God really is Holy. It isn't a made up story; it is statement of being. This is the way things are. And, God isn't being mean; he is just being himself. In the same way, the sun doesn't burn because it doesn't like you, it burns because it is 27 million degrees at it's core. God is hot in his Holy being. I think this is where most people misunderstand Christianity. They seem to see his character of Holiness as his personal choice, a slight against mankind, rather than a condition of his being. He is Holy, not because he chooses to be Holy. He judges because he must, not because he likes to be mean. In your being, you cannot do certain things simply because you are human. You cannot live off of poison. You cannot drink ocean water for a long period of time and live. You cannot stare at the sun without losing your sight. This is a condition of your being, not a choice you have. God is Holy. Period. Go ahead and get mad, but it won't do you any good. It would be like waving a fist at the sun and demanding it to stop shining. To avoid the heat you can go inside, wear sun block, hope for a cloudy day. But you can't stop it from shining simply because you think you are cool, smart, and an unbeliever in solar radiation. In the same way, getting mad at God is a waste of time. Psalm 2 says the nations rage against him and his Son and he laughs. It is useless to fight him. But there is a way to hide from his wrath, and be protected from his hot gaze: "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!" (Romans 5:8-9) In Christ, I am protected from the scorching heat of God's holiness. But not only that, his heat starts to work for me. It starts to change me, shines on me, and gives me life. In the same way, instead of seeing the sun only as the source of sunburn, I see the sun in new light. It is what makes plants grow, turns beaches into playgrounds, melts the winter snow. I love the sun. John Denver was right, when relating to it correctly, it does make me happy. When I have a correct relationship with God, he makes me full of joy. In Christ, I am not burned but brought into new light and life. Holiness no longer burns, but begets. In Christ, I am fully me, fully alive. His heat warms me. "Where there is strife, where there is fighting, where there is loud voices raised, red faces and fists, there is pride." Proverbs 13:10 Vacation is a nice and needed time off. Time off from deadlines, time off from meetings, and time off from time. Vacation gives your mind a rest. You are able to rethink things you once thought you knew, but they grew fuzzy and faded over time. This vacation I was able to think old thoughts. I went back to the well of what I thought I knew to reconsider what I do know. One book I read that has really helped me refresh my thinking is called "Renovation of the Heart" by Dallas Willard. I wish I read this book the first year I knew Jesus - - it puts things simply, easy to reach, a real mind cleansing book. If you still have not found a good book to read this summer, I recommend it. But if you want the highlights, that is what I will be doing in this "Simple Summer" series. Offering a chance for all of us to clear our minds and think rightly again. The first subject I offer for us to consider is the Danger of Pride: it is the number one poison to the soul. Pride is illusive, sneaky, crafty and lethal. Pride is what got Satan thrown out of heaven. Just when you think you have it under control, it begins to control you. For me personally, I know that pride is always lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce, poised to destroy. The basic idea of Pride is thinking too highly of yourself. But it is nastier and more insidious than that. I found Dallas Willard's description of Pride very revealing and something we all need to consider: "Pride is defined by desire, not by love. It is, above all, the presumption that my desires should be fulfilled and that it is an injustice, a crying shame, and an injury if they are not." Let's break this down: (1) Pride is defined by desire: Pride thinks it should always have what it wants. Why is this a bad thing? Because, not everything I want is good for me. Not everything I want is what God wants for me. And not everything I want is good for others. Pride doesn't care. Is not our whole society built on the desire to have things "my way"? Do you remember this advertisement: "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders won't upset us, all we ask is that you'll let us serve it your way." Or this one, "You deserve to have the very best." Advertising appeals to pride. Politics appeals to Pride, "You should be able to have what you want, go to the school free that you want, not have to pay for things that you want, marry who you want, sleep with who you want, have people treat you the way that you want, live the lifestyle that you want, have the health care that you want, and get paid what you want ... all simply because you want it." What do you want? Why do you think you have the right to have what you want? (2) Pride is not defined by love: Love is wanting and willing the best for the other. Pride is simply wanting and willing what I want - - and if you are in my way, you must be removed. Pride is a sick selfishness that is only focused on me. It is the core condition of the murderer, the thief, the greedy politician and the lonely hermit. Pride separates people from people and destroys community. Is Pride not the fuel of the Pro-Choice movement? Pride makes a mother believe that the an innocent human being is getting in the way of her life. Abortion is the opposite of love. Pride turns mothers into monsters. One quick side note on abortion: When women think having an abortion is giving them more freedom and independence, the truth is it is actually taking away the freedom of another human being forever. It is making men less responsible and it even encourages them to be more sexually deviant because there are no consequences for their actions. And it ruins the person's soul who had the abortion. Pride is toxic, it quenches love. (3) Pride is easily injured, angry and offended when it doesn't get what it wants. Taking offence is the tell-tale sign you are riddled with Pride - - and I believe our society is awash in feeling insulted and injured. Pride has us now believing that hard work, patience and perseverance is no longer needed to get what I want. Maybe it is because we have raised our kids on 24/7 entertainment: "Mommy, can I watch Frozen for the 10th time today?" "Dad, I need to play X-Box for another 16 hours to get to the next level - - and...bring me my dinner!" Whatever the case, Pride is poisoning even me. I get mad when my TV time is interrupted. That is Pride at work. "But don't we deserve to have what we want, when we want it, how we want it; and if I don't get it, I have the right to scream 'bloody murder'! That is all politics is this day - - the outworking of Pride. Micro-aggression is a fancy term for massive Pride in the heart of the offended person. Separating humans by categories of race, gender, riches and sexual proclivities is driven by Pride. And most people form these groups so they can be offended. Offense is now a power play. If you offend me, I can demand payment from you. In fact this is true with all of us - - we all are far too easily offended. Because insult works to my advantage. Pride uses it to get what it wants. And it is in the realm of feelings we are most ruled by Pride. Dallas Willard writes, "Pride makes some people extremely hard to reason with. Their very mind has been taken over by one or more feelings and is made to defend and serve those feelings at all costs. It is a fearful condition from which some people never escape. . .If we allow certain negative thoughts to obsess us, then their associated feelings can enslave and even blind us - that is, take over our ability to think and perceive." Are you easily offended? Are you always mad, or hurt, or demanding people to apologize? If you are, Pride is at work in your soul. Review Dallas' description of Pride again, and then ask yourself: Do I love or do I demand? The answer reveals how much Pride has gotten a hold of you. The only remedy for pride is death to self. Dallas writes, "Being dead to self is the condition where the mere fact that I do not get what I want does not surprise or offend me and has no control over me." Has no control over me. None. Is that true for you? If not, you must kill Pride by death. Death to self. |
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