June 27, 2023

 

Focus On Jesus

 

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. – James 3:1

 

I respected him. He seemed called by God and someone who would always follow Jesus. Then he stumbled and became the human he always was. It was I who had placed him on an impossible pedestal.

 

Perhaps the truth is that he hadn’t changed. I just didn’t want to see him as he is and chose to view him as I desperately wanted him to be. Isn’t that how it works with our religious leaders? We need them to live righteous lives of truth and integrity. And when they don’t, it’s as though we ourselves have stumbled.

 

Recent months have been filled with disappointment. A pastor who vowed to remain United Methodist suddenly changing course and taking the big payday and, in his mind, the guaranteed job. The pastor who said he supported one thing and yet took the easy road of job security. The church leader who lied to sway votes. The council president who used political talking points to whip those who never check facts into a frenzy. And those who said none of it really mattered.

 

Hatred and failure to love everyone equally is alive and well in God’s church. We’re so busy using the Bible as a weapon that we neglect Jesus’ words about love. We’re so focused on winning the day that we ignore Paul’s warning not to cause conflict within the body of Christ.

 

James tells us that those of us who lead and teach in the church will be held to a higher standard. I understand why. We should know better. We should be well acquainted with God’s Words so that we don’t sin in our own words and actions. We don’t get a pass caused by ignorance.

 

I condemn myself for judging what’s not mine to judge. God will repay because He alone knows the heart. Selfish ambition and greed are sins. His wrath is bound to come. My heart cries for mercy, for conviction, for outward change of behavior. I don’t want people I once cared for to suffer greatly. I am thankful that God handles all of that – for them and for me.

 

My heart still struggles to grasp what I have witnessed. Some moments in time are directors for where we have been and where our course now heads. We are different. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s a warning for us all.

 

Be very careful of those who appear on a higher religious plane. Everyone stumbles. Stay focused on Jesus, who alone is perfect. He will never lie, never stumble, never cast His church aside for a bigger payday or a more powerful position. Hold tightly to Him. Worship Him. All praise and glory to Jesus Christ, our Lord!

January 23, 2022

 

Hold Church Leaders Accountable

 

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. – Proverbs 12:20

 

How well do you know your pastor? How much do church politics play in the administration of your church? How much should politics play? Somehow it seems the church of all places should be above the pettiness that surrounds so much of our world. Maybe we can pretend it’s all fine – until one day it isn’t.

 

I have a deep dislike for politics in the church. It always seems to place the wishes of an individual – whether it be a pastor, generous donor, or lifelong member – above God. They don’t view it that way. In their arrogant minds, they know best and everyone else had better get on board.

 

There was a time I would remain silent. Most people do. We stay in our own lane and try to keep the peace. Isn’t that what the Bible tells us? Keep the peace. Hold our tongues. Pray for those who seek to do harm. But at what cost?

 

Perhaps God is calling us to throw out the moneychangers. Maybe He is waiting for His people to demand justice. Perhaps we are being called to actually live our faith, demanding honesty and accountability from those who call themselves leaders.

 

Jesus died at the hands of the religious elite of His day. Yes, it was God’s will so that all of us could be saved. But there’s also an important lesson here. Those who claim to have all knowledge of God sometimes don’t know Him at all. It’s not about words. It’s about actions that reflect our hearts.

 

We expect the leaders of our churches to be honest, filled with integrity that is demonstrated by their actions. We have a right to expect that. Sure. We all fail God on a daily basis. But when that failure is orchestrated over a period of time, intent on harming people without cause, that’s not something we can explain away.

 

Rise up, oh people of God, and demand an accounting.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Cling To Jesus, Not People

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. -- John 3:30

John the Baptist knew his role and it was to prepare the way for Jesus. He rejected those who wanted to proclaim him the Messiah and focused instead on the mission God had given to him.

Shouldn’t we all be focused on what God has called us to do and not what God has called others to do? And shouldn’t we all live our lives to give greater glory to Jesus and less and less to ourselves?

I recently met a wonderful woman in the midst of a recovery program. She loudly proclaimed her devotion to Jesus. She seemed to finally have grasped the One who could hold her hand and steady her life as she ventured beyond a structured treatment program and into the world.

Shortly before she completed the program, her Sunday school teacher was absent and class members were asked to attend another class. I invited her to our class. She refused to go to any other class, insisting that she was devoted to her teacher. It was only for the one week. There were several class options. She just couldn’t do it.

It was then that I began to wonder how much of her recovery was based on Jesus and how much on the people who had come to represent Jesus to her. The difference likely will mean success or failure for her recovery.

As people, we fail each other repeatedly. It doesn’t matter how hard we try to always be there for each other, to do and say the right things, we can’t and we don’t. We’re humans and we let each other down. Just like her Sunday school teacher had let her down by being absent one week.

This woman moved out-of-state when she completed her recover program. I have no idea how she’s doing. We haven’t heard. All we can do is pray for her, pray that she will truly cling to the One who can save her from the demons that haunt her.

John the Baptist recognized the difference between his mission and what he could do and Jesus’ journey toward the cross. He might not have foreseen all the details, but he knew that Jesus was the Messiah who had come to save us all. One could guide. The other could offer eternal salvation.

It’s important to listen to church leaders and pastors. We can learn a great deal and they can guide us toward a deeper faith and understanding. But it’s far more important to understand the difference between fallible humans and our Heavenly Father. One is an unwavering Rock we cling to in all circumstances. The other will always let us down.