February 11, 2020

Does His Walk Match His Talk?

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. – Matthew 7:15

Do you believe everyone who claims to be a Christian actually is a Christian? It’s not a trick question. A simple yes or no will do.

Most of us realize that not everyone who professes faith actually is a person of faith. Jesus warned us about such people. But sometimes it’s hard to see past a person’s proclamations and really look at their actions. We prefer the lie because it makes our lives so much easier when perceived actions align with what we desperately want to know as truth.

Let’s make one thing clear. Only God knows the hearts of each of us. Only He truly knows if someone is saved by belief in Jesus or is just playing a part. It’s not about being “good” or “smart” or “successful” as judged by worldly standards. It’s all about Jesus. That’s something really basic that we sometimes brush aside in an effort to see the best in people.

Here’s another truth: someone who truly believes shows that belief by changed actions. No. Our actions don’t save us. Only Jesus does that. But faith changes us from the inside out so others should see a difference in our words and our behavior.

I don’t understand how people who loudly proclaim their Christian faith can look at President Trump and proclaim him as a man of true faith. His words line up perfectly with what we believe except his actions repeatedly tell us something else.

I also don’t understand how these same people can look down on those who don’t support Trump and question our faith. Some go so far as to say Democrats are atheists and only Republicans are true Christians. They don’t see their black and white judgements as contrary to biblical teaching. They don’t see the holes in their own faith as they look down on the poor, the elderly, the immigrant.

Here’s another truth: Neither political party gets it all right or all wrong. We can only pray and vote the convictions of our heart. But to praise a man who lies, degrades women and walks and talks with an arrogance that belittles anyone who disagrees with him? His words may proclaim Jesus but his actions repeatedly tell us something different.

July 30, 2018

Why Try to Fix Others?

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

– Matthew 7:3

It’s both amusing and aggravating, all wrapped up with sweet words designed to make a point without offense. Why do we believe we are better qualified to run someone else’s life than the person who is actually living that life?

And, here’s another question: Why do we believe it’s okay to stick our opinions into a conversation we weren’t invited to join? And why do we believe that our own lives are tidy enough that we’ve even got time to dictate how someone else should live?

If you don’t think this applies to you, it does. It applies to all of us. We’re just so quick to tell others how to think and feel, what kind of job they need, what type of food they should eat, even what brand of car they should buy. It’s as though we feel better about ourselves if we’re telling someone else what to do.

It also takes our focus off of our own issues. We don’t have to worry about that extra piece of pound cake when we’re lecturing someone else about all the fast food they eat. We don’t have to think about our own job situation when we’re telling someone else what type of job they should have. And we certainly don’t have to spend our own money when we’re telling someone else how to spend theirs.

It’s enough to strain the closest of relationships. I don’t need someone dictating my every move. How about you? That’s right. Most of us don’t need it.

A sweet lady I know has a son that has been in trouble more than out of it. She did all she could. She finally got help for herself, let go of trying to fix and control her son, and turned him over to God. Guess what? He’s out of trouble and appears to have completely turned his life around. What he needed most from her was space to grow up. When she gave him that, he actually did begin to accept responsibility for himself and change his life.

Another friend worries about a co-worker who is just so unhappy. She wants to fix this woman that she considers a friend. She wonders why the woman won’t listen, won’t change her eating habits and go back to church and just decide to be happy living where she’s at. Would you listen to someone – however well meaning – who constantly told you what you needed to do to “fix” your life?

It’s not about intentions. Both women had only the best of intentions. But sometimes the best gift we can give someone is to love them as they are and trust God to do any “fixing” He deems necessary.

We can’t fix anyone. It’s not our job. It’s God’s job. He doesn’t need your help and He doesn’t need my help. He’s God. And He’s good at it.

The only thing He’s told us to do is love people. Love draws more people to make right choices than anything else you could do. When you reject, criticize, and “guide” people incessantly, you push them away. And you make them dig their trenches a little deeper. We’ve all got that stubborn streak in us that doesn’t want anyone else to tell us how to live.

So, the next time you feel an urge to get that speck out of someone else’s eye, look in the mirror instead. That plank you see might take a while to get out.

June 8, 2018

Good or Bad Fruit?

“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” – Matthew 7:20

The other day I found a peach tree loaded with big, fat peaches. I was amazed and delighted. I gathered an entire basket and consider myself beyond blessed.

It’s not that I didn’t know the peach tree was there. Obviously, I did. It’s been around for many years. It’s just that every year it makes very few, very small peaches that are almost always either rotten or with worms. Over the years we have gathered only a few that were edible.

I wasn’t expecting anything different this year. Why would I? Can a tree that has never produced good fruit suddenly produce such a beautiful abundance? Apparently so.

People aren’t that much different. As Jesus noted in this parable, a good tree can’t produce bad fruit and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. But, and it’s a big but, sometimes we judge without really knowing what a tree, or a person, is capable of doing.

My parents were wonderful people who didn’t think too much of me. They loved to tell what I couldn’t do. Sometimes I lived down to their expectations. Sometimes I forged ahead anyway. And sometimes I didn’t even try. It was a constant battle between who I could be and who they needed me to be.

It was never about me. Not really. It was about their need to control me and to feel good about themselves for “helping” me. They did help me sometimes. And I helped them too. It’s funny how that all works. Sometimes the person you like the least becomes the person you need the most.

Lately I’ve become more observant about the people in my life. There are those dear friends who accept me as I am. And there are those who need to remake me to fit their needs. We all have people who fill both those categories. And we all fill both of those descriptions for others.

We may say we accept and support someone, even though we’re doing all we can to influence them to our way of thinking. We’ve all done it. Maybe even laughed about it. Maybe tried to justify our actions.

And maybe our desire comes from all the right reasons. We don’t want to see someone we care about make a mistake. But what does a mistake look like? Obviously, excessive drinking or drug use qualifies as a mistake. So does uncontrollable anger.

But what about when someone changes jobs and you don’t agree with the switch? What about when someone moves and you don’t think they should? What about when someone takes a different path and you’re certain they should remain the same? When does their right to choose become your right to force?

We can’t fix people. We can’t turn people into who we’ve decided they need to be. And the harder we try, the more we push them away. Sometimes a bad tree will continue to produce bad fruit. God is the only One who can change their hearts to do good. And sometimes a good tree will surprise us with producing really good fruit. It’s amazing what someone can do when we get out of the way and let them bloom.

February 17, 2018

Look in the Mirror

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” – Matthew 7:21-23

Hatred. It permeates our society, on every level, in every heart. We point fingers at others, all the while ignoring the hypocrisy in our own hearts. We are part of the problem.

Christians should be the most loving people around. We should be the first to forgive, the first to do good, the first to speak kindness in this dark world. Just the opposite is true. We loudly proclaim our hatred for “liberals” and “gays” and “immigrants.” We declare exactly who and what Jesus hates, calling our hard hearts justified.

Except Jesus was never about hate. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to save us. Did Jesus ever get angry? Of course, He did – at the Pharisees and others who believed themselves to be better than the common sinners of the day.

Do we all sin? Absolutely. Is sin wrong? Without a doubt. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians have the right to judge others. In fact, the Bible tells us to NOT judge others. Somehow, we don’t think it means us.

I’m not someone who believes the fairy tale some pastors preach. While God does want good for us, He never said we’d get a reward on this earth. In fact, Jesus told us to expect difficulties. We don’t like difficulties. We don’t want to suffer for our faith. And we surely don’t want to show anyone who isn’t like us grace and mercy.

Jesus loved people where they were. He didn’t hate illegal immigrants. He didn’t paint them with a brush that said “lazy,” “worthless,” or “unwanted.” Does it excuse their actions for coming into this country illegally? No. It doesn’t. But anyone who rejects them and hates them doesn’t have Jesus in his heart.

What about those of different religions? Do we reject and condemn them for not believing as we do? Jesus welcomed everyone, be they Samaritans or Gentiles or Jews. He came to save everyone. He never pushed away those who believed differently because He knew that drawing them closer with love and acceptance was the better way to change their soul.

We feel threatened by those who are different so we push them away and call it “our opinion.” Hatred spews from our mouths and then we loudly cry for help when violence once against shows up in our schools. We don’t consider what we are teaching, what we are showing the innocents with out actions and our words.

Do you want to stop the hatred and violence that lives around us? Look in the mirror. Check your words before you speak. Is it true? Is it kind? Is it something that Jesus would say? Stop wearing the Christian badge and acting like you live for Him when your life carries the message of hate to a hurting world. Change yourself first and let God’s light change the world.

February 13, 2018

Focus On Fixing Yourselves

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5

It was comical really. As we waited for a couple to cross the parking lot, he criticized the man for allowing the woman to carry a large, bulky box. “He should be ashamed,” he said with a shake of his head.

I looked to see if he was joking. He wasn’t. I laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that,” I told him.

He started to protest but it was my turn to shake my head. “If that were you and I, the situation would be exactly the same. Your back wouldn’t allow you to carry the box so it would be me toting it and you walking empty-handed beside me.”

“You’re right,” he admitted.

“We don’t know their situation. Maybe he is just lazy. Maybe she is determined to do it herself. Or maybe there’s something we can’t see at play here.”

We are just so quick to judge, aren’t we? We assume we know all the facts without really trying to learn anything about the situation. Not that it’s any of our business anyway. But that’s a different topic for another day.

It really is easy to tell other people how to live their life. It’s quite fun, actually, to focus on the “flaws” of those around us. It’s much easier to do that than to look at the person in the mirror and fix our own flaws first.

Please don’t excuse it with “At least my sins aren’t like that,” or “Well, you don’t know what he did.” It doesn’t matter. Sin isn’t about comparison. It’s not about whose sin is “greater”. We all sin and all sin condemns us to death. Except for the grace of Jesus.

I am so thankful that Jesus doesn’t look down and sort us according to our sins. I’m so grateful for His mercy and kindness. I’m filled with gratitude for the many chances He gives me each day to get it right this time.

We marvel at His grace in our own lives even as we condemn the lives of others. We fail to extend the same grace to others and we call ourselves justified in our actions.

Does it make us feel better about our own sin? We make our excuses. We defend our flaws and mistakes. We point bitter fingers at others even as we pray in Jesus’ name. We stamp ourselves with the label “hypocrite” even as we cry out to God for forgiveness.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we extended the same grace to others that Jesus has extended to us. Would we all be less angry, less hateful? Would we learn to get along better, seeing others as God’s children rather than as the enemy?

Perhaps we all need to take stock of the person in the mirror. Maybe we need to look for the good in others rather than focusing on the “flaws” we see. We are all in this together, doing life as best we can and failing Jesus every single day.

May 30, 2016

Build A Solid Foundation Today

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” -- Matthew 7:24-27

The other day someone told me they couldn’t understand how I’d managed to stay sane during all that has happened during the last year. What could I say? You just do what you have to do, taking it moment by moment.

I thought about it later and the echoes of our pastor’s sermon went through my head. She had preached on this passage. The rock that is Jesus. That solid place, the safe place, where I have hung out quite a bit.

Many years ago I decided that I wanted a deeper relationship with God. I didn’t want that surface Christianity so many people I know have. I wanted to learn and grow in Him.

So I made a commitment. Every night I read and studied my Bible for an hour. I was really quite legalistic about it. That was the only way I would stick with it. And I did.

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you turn the television off, put the cell phone away and close the door. Time multiplies. I learned so much.

I’m not quite like that now. Time is not my friend. My study is done in the mornings before the craziness consumes my day. But I do it, no matter how much sleep I give up. Because I need it. I need Him.

When the storm hit, I had no idea what was buried deep inside of me. My faith and its deep roots, along with my church family, carried me. Did the storm still hurt? Absolutely. That hurt will always be there. But I was able to stand strong amidst the attacks. I don’t think I could have done that without the hours spent building a deep foundation.

I understand now what people mean when they speak of wavering faith. When the storm seems relentless and the attacks come from people you once trusted, well, it’s hard to stand. Knowing God’s promises, believing His Word, make all the difference.

There were times when all I did was repeat Scripture over and over in my mind. I’m not good at memorizing but I’m so thankful I forced myself to do this. Because honestly, there were times when I couldn’t focus enough to read my Bible.

None of us know where and when Satan will attack next. Build a solid foundation of faith today. You might need it tomorrow.

February 20, 2016

Faith Always A Part of Election

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ -- Matthew 7:21-23

Just when we’re all already tired of the presidential race, the Pope and Donald Trump are fighting. Really? Well, I suppose it’s just part of it these days.

One friend couldn’t believe that the Pope would insert himself into a political race for a secular office. No offense, but religion has been part of the campaign for that office for a very, very long time. As it should be, I might add.

President Obama has been condemned for years about his lack of Christian faith. Honestly, none of us know his heart. Only God knows a person’s heart. It’s all speculation. He’s accountable to God, just like the rest of us. We should be more concerned about our own faith, but that’s another topic for another day.

The Pope didn’t insert religion into the presidential race. Politicians routinely tell us about their Christian values. And they routinely do things that are contrary to the values they claim. We all do. It doesn’t excuse any of us.

Trump has publicly called himself a Christian. So when he takes a political stance that the Pope believes is in direct conflict with being a Christian, well, fireworks start. Trump doesn’t like it. I understand that. But as someone in a very nasty race for president, he should expect it.

But what about the rest of us. Do our Christian values really reflect in how we vote and what and who we support? No. They don’t. We vote based on what’s good for us. We support laws and policies that benefit us. And we condemn anything else.

We don’t do handouts. We don’t want people who came illegally. We have no compassion for the poor. We throw our elderly aside. And we can be cold and heartless as we seek to better ourselves at the cost of others.

Should the Pope have spoken up? That’s something that will be debated for a while. On the other hand, maybe it’s past time we started opening our eyes to what we say and what we do. Do we really want a Christian in the White House? Or do we just want someone who will make us wealthier that we already are?

January 19, 2016

Look In The Mirror First

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” -- Matthew 7:1-2

The other day a man loudly proclaimed his upset at his ex-wife, with whom he still shares a house. She had accused him of stealing from her and, of course, it just wasn’t true. She is insane, the man insisted. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I’ve not doubt his ex probably is crazy. She didn’t just get that way. But that wasn’t what made me shake my head in disbelief. This same man had accused me of horrible things, based entirely on the assertions of someone he barely knows. It was easy to latch on to the lies. He knew better.

And here he was just a few weeks later experiencing the same type of unfair accusations -- and expecting sympathy from me. I held my tongue, though admittedly not because I was wise. I was just amazed at his audacity. He was oblivious. He didn’t see that what his ex-wife had done to him, he had done to me.

Isn’t that often how it is? We can’t see that plank in our own eye because we’re so busy pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye. I wonder what it would take for us to realize that speck we see is really a reflection of ourselves rather than a mark on the other person?

It is so easy to see the flaws in others and determine how best for them to fix those flaws. It keeps us from focusing on fixing ourselves. Or even realizing that we need to be fixed.

We all have flaws. We all have areas where we fall short of the glory of God. Each of us should consider first how we can best fix ourselves and leave the fixing of others to God.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Look First At The Person In The Mirror

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."

-- Matthew 7:3-5

It was a lecture on kindness. Laughable, really, because of the person giving the lecture. She wanted others to treat new comers nice and be careful of what they say. It all sounds good. Christian even. Except that the person giving the lecture drives people away with her hatefulness.

She’d never admit that, of course. Her sharp tongue is such a part of her personality that I’m not even sure she notices. Except that people turn away from her. Her ugliness drives them to avoid her and the fellowship that would benefit everyone.

Of course, she isn’t always that way. She has her favorites and there is something truly grade school about that. These are older folks and this is a senior center. Surely, favorites have no place among adults.

And her promotion of her own church drives a wedge, turning folks either away from Jesus or, certainly, away from that church. One man told me he wouldn’t go back senior center. “If you’re not one of them (a member of that church),” he said, “they won’t have anything to do with you.” That is not how Jesus taught us to live.

Certainly, no one around us claims to be perfect or even nice all the time. We all could use a refresher course on using words that build up and don’t tear down. We should be careful to build bridges and not cause harm.

We do cause harm. All of us. We use words carelessly. We look down on people, especially those we don’t like. We never consider that maybe, just maybe, we’re the problem. Or at least part of it.

This woman can be so very nice. She can be kind. She gives of her time to others. When she is not blasting them for being less than who she thinks they should be.

Like she is. Like she was. I’ve heard stories of her childhood and the strict parents who never let her participate in school activities like the other children. She was an outcast, an outsider where she should have belonged. Now she rules her own domain with an iron will and cruel words. And she does it all in the name of Jesus.

None of us can ever truly see ourselves, especially when we’re looking down at others. Jesus spoke such words of wisdom. We’d all do better to look in the mirror before we condemn someone else of being who we are.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Look Beyond The Exterior

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” -- Matthew 7:3

The newspaper reported that the denomination’s numbers are down. Fewer baptisms. Fewer members. It looks pretty dismal. It would be easy to proclaim that Christianity itself is on the decline. I don’t think it is. In fact, it seems that more and more people are seeking God.

So what gives? Maybe it lies with the modern-day Pharisees who inhabit some churches. They’re so busy judging who can join and who is worthy, that they’ve forgotten that all of us are sinners and none of us are worthy.

One church makes a really big deal about how a person is baptized. Sprinkled need not apply -- unless they’re willing to be dunked. As you might imagine, a person who was baptized by sprinkle might be a little unhappy to find that they’re rejected based on water levels rather than sincerity of faith.

Or what about the church with the pastor who preaches on how you should dress at church. Repeatedly. Some of the older folks nod in approval but all he’s really managed to do is push away the very people who need to be in church the most -- the young people.

Another church took the opposite approach. The members saw their numbers declining and decided to change. They started running adds that said, “Jesus wore sandals. You can too.” Now the adds promote “Come as you are.” The church’s attendance has soared. People are seeking a place of acceptance and they found it in God’s house.

Jesus didn’t turn anyone away because of how they were dressed or what they had done. He didn’t look down on people and judge them unworthy to share His Presence. Instead, He ripped down the walls and offered salvation to all who believed. How can we do any less?

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Cling To The Rock

"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." -- Matthew 7:26-27

One of the good things about all the economic turmoil has been that people maybe have learned what's important in life. It's just so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stuff, focused on jobs and chores and homework, that we forget the people time, the God time, the down time.

I've always loved this passage in the Bible. We think that a good job keeps us safe. We believe that a nice house makes us fit in, We just know that a new car will make us happy. Then, one day, all that is gone. The job is eliminated. The house is no longer affordable. And the new car comes with a high payment that can't be paid. Suddenly, everything we thought kept us safe is gone.

And there we are. All those things that kept us safe, helped us belong, made us happy are gone. We are left with ourselves -- and God. He's always there whether we see Him or not. He never leaves us, no matter how many times we turn our backs on Him.

The previous verses in this passage say to build our foundation on a rock. God is that rock. That way when our world falls down around us, we won't be destroyed. We'll survive because our foundation is solid and can't be moved. That's called depending on God for everything.

And sometimes when all the crap is out of the way and our lives are laid bare, we can clearly see God and His love. It is then that we come to understand our true value doesn't come from jobs or things. Our true value comes from belonging to Him.