Monday, October 1, 2012

Hypocrites Are Everywhere

Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

-- Galatians 2:11-13

A few years ago I attended a local event to hear a woman share her testimony and give a talk about following God. She seemed so sweet, so mellow, so nice. Unfortunately, those qualities rarely translate into a good speaker. I felt guilty as I counted the minutes until a break so I could slip out.

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on your view, I heard her explain how she’d come to be the speaker for that particular organization. She said they’d called her on a Friday afternoon and asked her to pray about it. Of course, she explained, she couldn’t do anything else all weekend and by Monday she simply had to say yes.

Fast forward to Friday afternoon. The telephone rang and it was one of the ladies from the group. They wanted me to take over as publicity chairperson. I didn’t need to answer right away. Just take the weekend and pray about, she told me. Sound familiar? It did to me too. I was not amused.

That said, I did think about it and pray about it. I might even have gone along with it had I not attended that awful event. I was just so thankful that I hadn’t encouraged a friend to attend with me. My friend desperately needed Jesus and she wasn’t going to find her at that venue. I couldn’t imagine myself trying to publicize events with people I’d never met or heard.

I simply didn’t feel called to do this. God has called me to do a number of things, most of which I’m trying to do. (There is that one thing that still scares me half to death but I’m working on it.) Publicity for this group wasn’t one of them.

I was nice. I simply told the woman that I didn’t feel God calling me to the post but I was certain she would find someone wonderful. She was not pleased but she did attempt to hide it. We chatted briefly and said we’d see each other at the next monthly luncheon. And we did.

Except my reception was less than welcome. This woman refused to look me in the eye, let alone speak to me. The other board members were barely cordial. Needless to say, I never returned.

They are a gathering of Christian women of different faiths. They welcomed me with open arms -- until I didn’t go along with their plans for me. And while I’m sure they will forever think less of me for that, I forgave them their attitudes long ago. That said, I’ve never again encouraged anyone to participate in their group. Hypocrisy abounds. Even in the midst of Christian fellowship.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Christ Lives Within Us

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. -- Galatians 2:20

Folks are beginning to think about Easter. The ladies are shopping for a new dress with shoes to match. The kids eagerly anticipate the Easter bunny and all the chocolate they can imagine. Family gatherings are planned for after the required church service. It will be a glorious day.

Too bad we don’t spend as much time and effort remembering the days leading up to that empty tomb. We forget that sacrifice, rushing past it’s agony and moving on to the glory. But there can be no glory without the cross.

My cross. Your cross. The cross Jesus willing died on to pay for my sins and yours. We like to think of that in general terms. He died for all humanity. He died for everyone. It’s somehow easier than looking in the mirror and saying, “Jesus died for me.”

Some days I imagine myself in His shoes. I think about the whip, with nails entwined in the strap, coming down on my skin again and again. I imagine trying to carry that heavy cross beam, that scholars estimate weighed at least 75 lbs. Then the cross itself. The nails going in. The hours of agony as it becomes harder and harder to breath.

For me. He did it for me. He paid for my sins. His agony was because of me. And I died right there with Him. His victory over sin gave me life. So now I live anew, with His heart within me.

How does that change me? Do I still want what I want or do I yield those desires to the One who gave up everything for me? Do I still worry and fret over things I cannot control or change or do I give them to the One who defeated death? Because He lives within me, my life rests within His almighty hands.

It changes how I view life. It changes how I view others. Problems seem smaller when I see them through the eyes of Jesus. People seem different when I see them through the eyes of Jesus. I look out on a world that seems so dark and yet there is light. Hope. A chance of forever with a Savior who gave all He had to save you and me.

It’s fun to get all dressed up on Easter. It’s great to celebrate and gather with family and friends to share joy and great food. But let us never, ever forget the cost.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Show God’s Love With Your Actions

For the same God who worked through Peter for the benefit of the Jews worked through me for the benefit of the Gentiles. -- Galatians 2:8

Change is one of the most difficult things we ever face. Most of us know that. People we love get older. We get older. Children grow up. Jobs and financial circumstances change, growing and decreasing seemingly at will.

Some changes we accept as just being part of life. Other changes seem to ignite a fury of protests. I’ve been amazed -- sometimes laughingly so -- at the comments that have come since the formation of a new committee to minister to shut-ins, the sick and the lonely.

Who knew a committee already existed to handle this? I’d never heard of it nor had anyone else involved in this project. A committee that isn’t known, isn’t active and doesn’t really do anything isn’t worth the paper that proclaims its existence. If it exists. I’m still not convinced that it does.

The truth is that it should have existed. People should never have fallen through the cracks, seemingly forgotten when they can no longer get to church and participate in activities. Maybe that “should have” has colored the minds of some folks so that they can’t believe nothing was being done to minister to shut-ins.

Years ago, long before I became a part of this church, I witnessed this firsthand. A church member slowly lost her mind to Alzheimer’s. It was a sad progression. Her church carried Wednesday night dinner to her home. That was it. The only folks who came to visit were Mormons. I guess it was just too sad for the people who had known her most of her life.

Does your church have a special ministry for shut-ins? Or is it just one of those things that somebody else handles? Or does it depend on who you are and who you know? Sadly, that’s sometimes the case. But doesn’t everyone deserve to know that their church -- the people of Christ -- actually cares about them?

This doesn’t have to be a church-wide project. It can be a neighborhood project. Many have elderly or sick folks in their midst. They just aren’t willing to sacrifice their time to visit and do odd chores. It’s easy to point to somebody else. It’s easy to blame the family. Or the church. It’s easy to proclaim them to be somebody else’s responsibility.

A good friend has found himself in the midst of five widows. At first he was amazed. Then he realized that God had put him where he is so that he could show these widows that God cares. My friend does odd chores -- rolling the garbage can to the road or trimming hedges. He’s their advocate with repairmen. He’s there for what they need. And he is the better for it.

Stop expecting others to do what God has called you to do. Step up. Take part. Reach out. Minister to those who are forgotten and alone. Show them that God still cares.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Where Is Our Concern For The Poor?

The only thing they suggested was that we continue to help the poor, and I have certainly been eager to do that. -- Galatians 2:10

The news headlines centered on one candidate’s income tax rate. The candidate is a wealthy man. His business tactics have come under attack. And now his tax rate. Nothing illegal, you understand. Just a number that seems to point out the differences between the haves and the have nots.

Our country -- and much of the world -- has certainly experienced some tough economic times these last few years. Things seem to be improving but the economy is still a long way from recovering. Many of us have felt it, including quite a few who never, ever expected to feel the sting of unemployment.

Does that make us view candidates and their messages a little differently? Do we still cling to that notion that one party is more a “Christian” political party that the other? Because it isn’t true. It never has been. But in the political world perception is really all that matters.

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians. During this time period, there was a huge disagreement over exactly what the newly-converted Gentiles must do to be saved. Some Jews who were believers in Jesus insisted that Gentiles must be circumcised and follow the Jewish laws. Others, including Paul, insisted that Jesus died so that all who believed would be saved. It was by grace, not by laws or rules.

Paul took his petition to James, Peter and John, who Paul refers to as the pillars of the church. This James was the brother of Jesus and not the disciple who had already been put to death for his beliefs.

A compromise was reached and everyone was happy. The only thing these leaders of the church requested was that Paul, and the others taking the message to the Gentles, remember the poor. They agreed. It was important to Paul as well.

How important are the poor to the Christians in our country today? We hear about abortion and homosexuality and monuments that proclaim the Ten Commandments. But we don’t really hear a lot about the poor -- at least not from the Christians.

Some Christians that I know are quick to tell anyone who is unemployed to get a job. Or, for those who are working at minimum wage, to get a better job. As if it were as easy as filling out an application and starting on Monday. These Christians are quick to tell others what to do and how they should do it.

Where is their compassion? Where is their willingness to help? Where is their heart, because it certainly isn’t reflecting Jesus’ love and care out to a hurting world?

I have no idea who will be the best candidate in the coming election. But I do know that we need to concern ourselves with more than a few “button” issues. We need to think of the poor. We should consider the unemployed. And we should be concerned about the growing disparity between the haves and the have nots.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Who Are The Hypocrites?

When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. -- Galatians 2:11-13

What is a hypocrite? Who is a hypocrite? Seriously. How do you determine who is a hypocrite and who isn’t? To me, a hypocrite is someone who pretends to be something or someone they aren’t. To others, a hypocrite is someone who proclaims what is good and then does who is wrong.

Which is right? Both? Neither? The dictionary defines a hypocrite as someone who pretends to have admirable principles, beliefs, or feelings but behaves otherwise. So maybe both views are right.

Let me ask you another question: Should we stay away from church because of the hypocrites we’ll no doubt find there? There are many, many people who offer up that excuse when someone wants to know why they don’t attend church. Personally, I think we should attend church to worship God and not worry so much about what other people do or don’t do. It’s that whole plank in the eye thing the Bible talks about.

But we do care about what other people think and do. Especially, it seems, in church. Do we believe that somehow we cease to be sinners when we walk through the doors? Do we think those around us somehow leave all their flaws outside?

Peter cared so much about what the church leaders thought, that he pulled away from the Gentile believers lest the Jews think less of him. Remember that before Jesus, Jews and Gentiles didn’t exactly hang out together. But Jesus tore down that barrier. Didn’t He? So why did Peter care what this “circumcision group” thought?

Paul didn’t care. Paul was fearless in his faith and he challenged Peter face-to-face. He didn’t go behind Peter’s back. He didn’t discuss it with the church elders. Paul went directly to Peter and confronted him.

So how do you handle disagreements within the church? How do you react when someone does something you don’t agree with? Do you gossip and complain and leave church over it? Do you take it to the church elders? Or do confront the person directly and work it out?

Hypocrisy happens when we pretend to be better people than we are. And when we expect others to be better people than they are. The thing is, we’re all human. We’re all sinners. And we all fall short of the Glory of God. Give yourself a break. Give those around you another chance. And don’t let anyone keep you from worshipping and servicing our great God!