February 7, 2023

 

Financial Gain

 

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

– 1 Timothy 6:3-5

 

Paul didn’t use soft words. He’d just written about slaves having respect for their owners and then he went right on to false teachers, unrest and money. God surely shows us exactly what we need and when.

 

I’ve written about our divided local church and the path toward a vote on disaffiliating from the United Methodist Church. There are those who insist it’s over “traditional values” but the hard truth is that it’s all about money. And power. Oh, and control. It’s coming from people who think it’s okay to write a check, tell everyone else how to run the church, and then most of the time don’t bother to even show up. And it’s about judgmental people who point fingers without bothering to exam themselves.

 

At times I beat myself up for my own judgmental attitude. I struggle with anger at the pointlessness of it all. Where is Jesus in all this? Why do people think it’s okay to blame others for all the church’s flaws when they don’t bother to show up?

 

Money. Money. Money. There unfortunately are people who truly believe that money should give them the right to “own” church property. There are those who truly believe that money should give them the right to control all the decisions in the church, whether it’s hiring, Bible studies or various ministries.

 

I am a thorn that keeps drawing blood. Jesus’ blood. Because I believe that the church and all its properties belong to God. I believe that Jesus Himself should dictate hiring and Bible studies and all ministries.

 

I could provide my “credentials” if you will. I could talk about family history and ministry activities and volunteer hours. But why? I do what God calls me to do. I have nothing to brag about other than what Jesus has done for me.

 

We are stewards of what God has placed in our care, whether people or things. There are those who would destroy what is His because of their own greed and lust for power. It’s nothing more than a business deal to them.

 

I have no idea how it will all turn out. Satan seems determined to destroy what God has built. His minions are hard at work, spreading lies and constantly causing unrest. Deep inside, a peace fills me. This battle belongs to God.

January 27, 2023

 

Who’s in Charge?

 

After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” – Nehemiah 4:14

 

In many ways it’s a fight between those who have money and power and those who are regular people. Factor in people who want to be part of the money and power group and it appears a landslide toward disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church. But God has never been One to sit on the sidelines while people try to destroy His church.

 

What’s going to happen? I really don’t know. It’s impossible to predict what God will do. He could leave people who claim to know Him to their own devices. He could allow evil to rise up and use His name to further themselves. Or He could raise His might against those who seek to control what is His.

 

Satan is doing his best to destroy what God has built. At least that is what appears to be happening. I wonder now how long Satan has been a part of this church. How long have people masqueraded as Christ followers all the while only knowing the darkness of evil in their hearts?

 

People are afraid. They follow like little puppets, assured that going against those in power will result in destruction. They’ve witnessed the business dealings, the legal proceedings, the horror of opposing a ruling class that appears unstoppable. This is the Deep South. This is still a small town. Certain families are in charge.

 

Until they’re not. If we truly believe in the Gospel, if we truly know that God judges our hearts, if we truly understand the power of the Holy Spirit, then how can we give up without a fight?

 

I’ve seen miracles happen. I’ve witnessed God showing up in the midst of the impossible. I’ve watched as those who seemed untouchable were brought low by the mighty power of Jesus.

 

I have no idea how this will end. But I do believe that in this moment God has called me to stand still and watch His mighty sword. Perhaps Whatever happens, I follow Christ. I call on Him for strength and wisdom. I pray for light to guide the way. His will be done.

September 8, 2018

Who Gets Hurt?

You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

– 1 Corinthians 3:3-6

People like to squabble, don’t we? We don’t care if it’s college football, political ideology or the type of music played during worship services. We’ll have an argument, not because we particularly care about the issue, but because we’re determined to be right.

Being in control makes us feel confident. Our opinions are always right. We don’t want to compromise. We don’t want to share the glory. It’s all about us anyway.

Oops. No. It’s not all about us. It’s not about us at all. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s about giving glory to God. We lose sight of that when we’re pushing ahead to get our own way.

One thing that I have witnessed again and again in different churches is the political maneuvering that goes on behind the scenes. We lobby fellow church members to have the carpet changed to the color we’ve chosen. We “bless someone’s heart” even as we tell others they don’t have good sense when it comes to decorating the Fellowship Hall.

We get so focused on what we want that we miss loving others. We’re so intent on being right that we forget it’s much more important to include others than to have our own way.

The women knew exactly how they wanted it to be done. It was to be done the way it had always been done. They’d been decorating tables for funeral meals, bridal showers and church fellowship for years. They were tired but they soldiered on. No one could do it like them.

Until another woman joined the church. She had plenty of experience with arranging flowers and centerpieces. She carried a bright smile and she was always willing to help. It might have worked out if she’d stayed silent and just gone along with those in charge. When she dared to do something different, they let her know with harsh words and bruising assessments. She cried. They didn’t seem to care.

Is anyone surprised that she’s no longer a member of the church? Does anyone even care that those same ladies with the biting tongues are now too old and frail to do the things they valued so much? They retained control, they hurt someone who didn’t deserve their hateful words, and all to control a task that was always temporary.

Where was Jesus in all of that? He wasn’t there at all. He wasn’t invited. He wouldn’t have fit in anyway. Jesus was all about welcoming everyone to the table. Those ladies were all about exclusion.

Sometimes I see people fussing about things that just don’t matter. They get so upset about worldly things, about power and control and pride. We really cling to our pride. We place it high above kindness and mercy and inclusion.

We are all only servants here with one purpose: to bring glory to God. We are to care for His people and do good where we can. And we’re to get along with each other, refusing to let Satan divide us with pettiness.

The next time you get ready to tear someone down for disagreeing with you, think about it before you fling those words out. They can’t ever be taken back. They harm others and, in so doing, they hurt Jesus. Is that what you really intended?

July 8, 2018

What’s Your Price?

And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. – Luke 22:4-5

What would you do for the promise of money or power? Don’t deny that it would ever happen. Most people have a price, the amount of money or the level of prestige, that would cause them to betray those closest to them.

Judas had a price. It was 30 pieces of silver, roughly about $600. Looking back, we see that Judas betrayed the Messiah. We understand that it was planned from the beginning. God had made a way to reconcile us to Him. Judas’ actions fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

But step back for a moment and consider this: Judas betrayed his friend. He handed Jesus over for money. He ignored the three years he had traveled with Jesus and sat at the table with Him. He shoved aside the miracles and the memories. He did it all for money.

So, let me ask you again: What’s your price? Who will you betray for a nice promotion at work? What will you take credit for to get a bonus? How many times will you tell yourself “it’s just business” as you do what you know you shouldn’t in order to elevate your worldly goods and status?

Maybe it’s more about money than position for you. Will you lie to bring in more money? Will you cheat someone? Will you take advantage of someone who trusts you? What’s your price? How much is your family worth? Your friends? Your coworkers?

Many years ago there was a big scandal involving the son of a famous actor. A “friend” sold her story to a television tabloid. She took advantage of his tragedy to put money in her own pocket and give her those 15 minutes of fame she craved. I wonder how much it cost her?

She and I had a mutual friend. He promptly ended the friendship. Who wants to be around someone you can’t trust? I don’t know if anyone else did the same but I suspect that they did. Yes, she got money and fleeting fame. But she lost a great deal too.

Do we ever count the cost? Did Judas understand what those 30 pieces of silver would cost him? He attempted to return the silver. He realized he had betrayed an innocent man and now that man, Jesus, would be crucified. Judas paid with his life, though we don’t know whether it was from hanging (Matthew 27:5) or from a fall (Luke says this in Acts 1:18). Shame for a betrayal that could never be undone.

We like to get lofty when talking about what we will or won’t do. We pretend all is well until the day comes and we are faced with a choice: Do what is right or do what will benefit you financially. The world is littered with people who did all they could to benefit themselves only to have their evil plans derailed. And the world is littered with their victims.

Satan knows each person’s sweet spot. He knows just what it will take to lead you down a path you thought you were above. Never get so cocky as to think he doesn’t know your price. And never get so arrogant to think you won’t fall to temptation. Everyone has a price. What’s yours?

February 11, 2018

Ignore the Hypocrites

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” – Matthew 23:2-3

She was upset. Someone had lied to her. He’d told her two different things and she was so disappointed in him.

He is a man who quotes the Bible with great proficiency. He can offer up beautiful prayers that draw you in. He can make you believe he is on a different level of faith, one you’ll probably never achieve.

Except it’s all an illusion. It really hurts to learn that lesson. It happens when we think some people are greater than we are in the kingdom of God. They will let us down every time. They are only people, just like you and me.

I have known this man my entire life. I have seen the hypocrisy play out again and again. Those closest to him have no respect left for him. There have been too many lies, too much skirting of the law, too many comments about those “he” has saved.

Because you see it’s not about Jesus with him. Maybe once upon a time it was. I don’t know. But in my adult years every comment, every outreach, every thing he has done, has been to bring glory to himself. I have a problem with that. Our lives are to be spent glorifying God, not the other way around.

He can certainly quote the Bible. He’s spent hours memorizing its words. But he doesn’t seem to think those words apply to his life. He explains it all away. He speaks with authority. Few people bother to search the Scriptures for themselves. Few dare to challenge someone who can throw God’s word back at them.

The Pharisees were like that. They were scholars and teachers of the law. They knew exactly what the Scriptures said. Yet they missed the most important part. They missed Jesus.

They didn’t see it that way. They were just so proud of themselves and all their rules. They knew exactly what to say. And who to condemn. And they understood that Jesus was a threat to them. Why? Because He came to tell the truth, to show the way, to love on people where they were and offer mercy and kindness.

The Pharisees liked their power. They basked in the respect of their positions. They wanted to continue to look down on people and lift themselves up. But that was never the way it was supposed to be in the kingdom of God.

Don’t let anyone cause you to feel inferior as you learn and grow in Christ. Don’t lift anyone up onto a pedestal and believe that their faith is somehow greater or their prayers were powerful than your own.

God looks at the heart. When you don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. You are just as valuable to God as anyone else.

And when someone starts talking about how “he” has saved souls, run in the opposite direction. When someone tries to throw Scripture in your face, remind them that God reveals Himself to all who seek Him. It’s not about memorization. It’s about growing more like Christ with each passing day.

God loves you. Don’t worry about the hypocrites. Spend your days trying to live so that others can see Him in your life. Love the LORD your God with all your heart. Then love others as yourself.