October 28, 2024

                    Claim Your Faith

“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.– Joshua 24:15

 It’s easy to throw out words, isn’t it? It’s not so easy to live out our faith – especially when it might cost us more than we are willing to give.

God’s people wanted to serve Him. But they wanted to serve other gods too. Today we would label those other gods as money, power, prestige, self. We might choose to serve our church, our pastor, our political leaders. And let’s not forget comfort, financial security, and all our many possessions.

We’re not called to any of that. We are called to serve God. We are called to follow Jesus. Hatred, revenge, greed – none of those things have any part of Jesus.

We are afraid. We’re afraid we won’t have enough money. We’re afraid “illegals” will steal our jobs and our homes. We’re afraid the government will demand our guns and destroy our way of life. We’re afraid of many things and we’re fighting to control it all.

We are justifying evil and claiming Jesus at the same time. And we wonder why our nation is in such turmoil. We can’t believe people are turning away from God. We don’t understand how our actions and our words are leading people to believe that God is evil when He is really only love.

We put our idols, and our fears, above the One true God. We choose to follow evil even as we proclaim that we will follow God.

We are at a crossroads. Will you follow idols? Will you allow fear to dictate your response to the evil we face? Or will you trust God? Will you truly follow Him?

We all have choices to make. Claim your faith and live it.

September 29, 2018

What Do Your Words Reveal?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29

One of the most interesting things about all the political talk is watching people justify their words and their opinions. It would be comical if it wasn’t so sad.

One woman, someone who sees herself as a fine Christian, was taken aback by a friend who responded to yet another hateful post on Facebook. The friend said something I’ve thought many times: She called the post hateful and mean and questioned this woman for writing it.

Naturally, it produced a defensive response. It’s “my opinion,” she insisted. “I have the right to express my opinion.” “It’s not hateful. I don’t use curse words.” “I’ve got a lot at stake in this debate.” And, here’s the clincher, “Christians have been silent too long.”

It took a great deal of self-control to keep from responding to that. Jesus has no part in this hatred that has spread over our land. He’s just the excuse some folks use for speaking from their own self-interests.

Let’s try something here. “He’s so stupid! Did you hear what he said? He’s nothing but a liar and a thief. Those people should be prosecuted. How dare they condemn a good man! I know he’s good. I don’t need to meet him. He’s good and those others are just awful people. I heard they stole money. Did you hear that? I know it’s true. I can tell. Can’t you? Yes! They need to go to jail. How dare they say something bad about such a good person when they’ve done so much evil!”

If you read or heard those words would you think the person was being hateful or mean? There are no curse words in there. A little gossip. A lot of commentary about something the writer would know nothing about. Slander. Lots of opinions. Words that are designed to fuel anger and spread hurt.

I made that up. You know that. But I could have copied and pasted those words from any number of Facebook posts from this woman or dozens more. Sure, they’re entitled to their “opinions.” I’ve big on the First Amendment and our right to free speech. What makes me angry is justifying this ugliness by claiming to defend Jesus.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Luke 6:45

This is what Jesus said about evil words. Jesus isn’t in this ugliness. Unfortunately, those who don’t know Him, don’t know that God is love, turn away from the One who loves them most because of these lies.

What’s also unfortunate is what the ugly words reveal about the person saying them. The woman who got called out for her ugliness is someone I’ve known a long time. I always considered her to be a strong woman of faith, someone who is a prayer warrior. I’m starting to question that. I don’t know how someone who truly has the love of Jesus inside of them can be so consistently ugly with their words and opinions.

It’s makes me consider her heart. It makes me remember the ugly comments I’ve heard her make about the poor or about immigration. I’d excused those remarks. I’d given her a pass because she’s led such a sheltered life, without ever having to support herself or do without anything. I’d extended grace, the same grace she refuses to extend to anyone who disagrees with her opinions.

Jesus said our words reflect our hearts. What do your words reveal about you?

August 12, 2018

Are You Right?

“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” – Jeremiah 4:22

The other day a usually sweet young woman tried to explain something to me. I listened. I did. Then I tried to explain to her that she was wrong and why she was wrong. She became so upset with me that she was almost yelling. It would have been comical if it wasn’t so sad.

Here’s a simple truth: We are rarely as smart as we think we are and other people are rarely as dumb as we think they are. Let that soak in for a moment.

Sometimes we are so busy being right that we miss learning something new. Sometimes we are so set in our beliefs that we miss the truth staring right at us.

Look at the Pharisees. They knew God’s Word. They were well-versed in Jewish law. But they were so busy keeping the rules and looking down on others that they missed the Messiah. What are you missing? Be careful how you answer.

God was furious with His people because they didn’t know Him. They really didn’t. They went through the motions of sacrifice, all the while doing evil. And they somehow believed it was all okay with Him. It wasn’t.

Sometimes I see and hear the actions of others and I wonder if they heard anything the pastor said on Sunday. Maybe they didn’t think it applied to them. It does. Just like it applies to me and you. It’s not about us. It’s about God. Be honest. Do good. Put Him first. It’ll all work out.

Because when we invite God into whatever we’ve got going on, it does work out. When we get out of the way and ask Him to control the situation, He works it out for our good and His glory. And when we set our own agendas and try to manipulate a situation to fit our desires and what we think is right, it always blows up in a really nasty way.

Read your Bible. You’ll see that truth playing out again and again. God won’t tolerate disobedience, especially when it’s done in His name. Church is no place for selfish motivations and backstabbing maneuverings. Of course, we could say the same about life. Can you imagine how the world would change if God’s people always behaved like God’s people should?

We are so busy pointing fingers at everyone else that we miss the plank in our own eyes. We’re supposed to work together, to respect each other, to listen and learn and grow in His Word. We can’t see that.

Oh, we claim we do. We’re happy to tell you how things are supposed to be. I’ve had people quote the Bible to me and become really upset when I ask them to show me where the quote actually is in the Bible. Do you know why? Because the “quote” wasn’t there. They were passing on things they’d heard without bothering to read and study God’s Word for themselves.

I am not perfect. I make mistakes daily. So do you. But when we seek God’s Presence in all we do, when our hearts try desperately to do His will and to bring honor to His name, it shows up in our relationships with others. We find ourselves extending grace and mercy. We come to understand that we don’t have all the answers. He does.

The next time you get upset because you “know” you’re right and someone else is wrong, take a deep breath and hold your words. Ask God for insight and wisdom. You may not be as right as you think you are and they may not be as wrong as you think they are.

July 5, 2018

Change Begins With You

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21

Another day. Another shooting. Five killed. More wounded. Still others forever traumatized by the evil that turned a normal day into a terror-filled nightmare.

Perhaps what is so disturbing – beyond the obvious – is that everyone saw it coming and yet no one could legally stop it. The same laws designed to protect the innocent also protect those who haven’t yet crossed the line but someday will.

Evil lives in the hearts of some. Yes, there is mental illness involved. But never mistake depression and such for evil intent. Some hearts seek to control, to terrorize, to kill and destroy all those they believe have “harmed” them. Some simply want to make a statement, to be noticed and remembered for something horrible.

What has caused the increase in mass shootings? What do we do to stop it? And how do we live without becoming hard and uncaring?

Where is hope in the middle of it all? In Jesus. We complain about people taking Him out of the government and the schools and other public places. It’s all true. But the main area from which we’ve removed Him? Our homes and our daily lives.

It’s so easy to point fingers. Let’s blame the mental health professionals. Let’s blame law enforcement. Let’s condemn Congress for not passing adequate laws. But the simple and sad truth is that the blame begins with us.

It seems that so few people really live the faith they claim. We aren’t teaching our children right from wrong because, well, we’ve blurred the line so well that we really don’t know anymore. Children learn from watching the adults around them. What are they seeing?

Do they see adults who lend a hand – even when they won’t get anything in return? Do they see adults giving generously – with no thought of reward on this earth? Do they see adults reading their Bibles and praying beyond the “standard” prayers – with no thought to impressing others? Do they see adults viewing church as a privilege and honor to worship God – or as a box that must be checked when it fits into their schedule?

Then let’s look at the mental health issues we all face. The stigma remains. We aren’t treating those who are in desperate need. There aren’t enough treatment facilities for our youth. There isn’t enough insurance coverage to handle issues before they reach the violent stage.

And there aren’t enough laws to allow law enforcement and medical professionals to deal with people they know are mentally ill. It’s a fine line. I understand that. It’s an imperfect balance of rights and common sense. When law enforcement sees someone who is an obvious threat to someone else, they shouldn’t have to wait for the inevitable violence to do something. Yet that’s almost always the case.

There are no easy answers. It’s not a one-size-fits-all scenario. But the solution starts with us. Be kind to people. Be generous. Get out of your clique and see those in the margins. Live like Jesus. Get uncomfortable. And stop pointing fingers. You’re just spreading the hate you claim to despise. We’re all broken. Humble yourself and recognize that we are all in desperate need of a Savior. Share His love with everyone. That’s where real change begins.

March 25, 2018

Is Satan Real?

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. – James 4:7-8a

I have a question for you: Is Satan real? Or is he merely a symbol of evil? What does the Bible say? Do you even know what the Bible says?

Last week in Sunday School class we discussed who Satan really is. Fortunately, all who were present believe that Satan does exist. That’s amazing because it really isn’t the case for many Christians.

It doesn’t stop Satan from wreaking havoc in our lives. I think he wants us to doubt his existence. That way we won’t be on guard, ready to use the power of Jesus to thwart his plans. We’ll just kind of amble into a trap. Peter told us to be wary of that.

All throughout the Bible we are warned about Satan. He is a liar, a deceiver, a murderer. He is a serpent, a tempter, a destroyer. He plots and schemes, turning Christians against one another. He convinces unsuspecting people that just a little step away from God isn’t such a big deal. It is. Remember Eve and the apple? Yeah. Satan can be convincing as he twists God’s words.

Sometimes Satan will attack us directly. Other times he will create adversity aimed at causing us to give up and stop trying to follow God. Satan doesn’t want us to do what God has called us to do. He’d rather make God look bad.

Yes, Jesus has already defeated Satan. The devil is headed to the lake of fire. In the meantime, Satan is over the world and he will do everything in his considerable power to take as many people to his doom as he can.

Ephesians 6:10-18 refers to the armor of God. We are to put it on. All of it. Because that’s how we defeat Satan. We aren’t powerful enough on our own. Please don’t think you can. That’s exactly what Satan wants you to do. He wants you to think you don’t need God because that’s the only way he can gain victory. Satan is no match for God Almighty.

Some people are confused about that. They believe that Satan is equal, or almost equal, to God. He’s not. Satan is a created being. God created Satan and all the angels. Satan is on the same level as, say, Michael the archangel.

Remember that Satan fell to his doom when his pride led him to challenge God. Satan wanted to be God but that led to an uprising that sent Satan and about a third of the angels to their ultimate doom. Ultimate but not yet.

Be wary and watchful. Satan prowls around looking for unsuspecting Christians to devour. He is real. He is powerful. Place your trust in Jesus and fight through His might. Draw close to God and demand that Satan flee from you. Use the mighty name of Jesus. Victory belongs to Him.

February 25, 2018

Live the Change You Want to See

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:21

What should we do? Should we ban assault rifles? Should we make background checks more thorough? Should we throw money and resources at our failing mental health system? What is the answer?

Maybe the real answer, the permanent solution, lies within us. Sure, we need all those things listed above and more. But the only way to combat the kind of anger and hate that ignites mass shootings is to change ourselves.

Only someone who is truly broken inside could do something so horrendous as kill innocent students and teachers. I am not naïve. Some evil will always exist among us. But I truly believe that we manufacture much of the evil in this world by our indifference to those who are marginalized in our society.

Is it any surprise that school shootings have increased right along with incidents of bullying? Is it any wonder that violence has escalated as our families are broken, pulling away from extended families and stable neighborhoods? Are we really shocked that children who no longer grow up with a foundation of faith have no where to turn with their hurt?

Our society as a whole has taken a wrong turn and that means you and I need to be the change. We’re so focused on “my” freedom that we’ve forgotten we all belong to each other. We’re so independent that we’ve forgotten we all need each other. We’re so absorbed with ourselves that we’ve for too long ignored those who desperately need to be included.

We are all just so very busy. We are too busy to reach out to the latch-key children down the street. We are too busy to include an elderly neighbor in our dinner plans. We just don’t have the time for coffee with a co-worker going through a hard time.

We don’t want to be bothered by the troubles of others. We don’t want to deal with the hurts and trials of those around us. What if it rubs off on us? We have enough on our plates without taking on someone else.

Except what we’ve done is left hurting people with nowhere else to go. They become angrier and angrier until they finally erupt. It’s a tough scenario for an adult. Can you imagine how difficult it must be for a teenager?

We fail each other every single day. We just do. We forget to be kind and giving, to be generous with what matters. People. They’re what matters. We seem to focused on stuff, on status, on our own little world, to see those who are on the fringes, desperate to be noticed.

This debate will likely rage for quite some time. There are no easy answers. But instead of focusing on what “someone else” should do, look in the mirror and focus on what you can do. Be kind today. Smile at a stranger. Include someone who would otherwise be alone. Live the change you want to see.

January 29, 2016

Search Your Heart

"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." -- Luke 6:45

Several of us are participating in a Bible study on prayer. We are spending a lot of time looking inward at motives. How often do we tell ourselves we are doing something for someone else when in reality we are doing it for ourselves?

Let’s look at it another way: Someone at church mentions a prayer request. Prayers are good and powerful, especially when done collectively. But what happens when the questions start? Everyone is curious and pretty soon that prayer request has turned into a gossip session. Did the questions come from true concern or not? Will God bless those prayers? Maybe it all started as a genuine need but when and where did it cross the line?

Let’s consider another case: When you do something good for someone are you doing it because you truly want to do it for them or because you want to be recognized for doing good? It all comes back to motives. Maybe the truth is actually both. You want the recognition and you want to do good. Which do you think will most honor God? Yeah. To God be the glory, not you. Wrong motives are never a good idea.

Most of us want to do the right thing. We want to be good people. But that human part of us also wants recognition. We want to be in control. We are selfish. Arrogant. We “know” that we are right as we pray for others to come to our way of thinking.

Look at your heart. Search it. Be very sure that your motives are pure. Doing the “right thing” is always the wrong thing when your heart is wrong. Don’t try to bluff through it because it will blow up in your face. God knows. He sees. The heart always, always reveals itself.