LET'S GET NAKED

No, I’m not suggesting we take off our clothes like some current series’ in the media are featuring.  I am suggesting that in relationships of trust and grace we get completely honest with each other about where it is we are struggling.  Ist Corinthians 10:13 should assure us that no matter where we struggle we aren’t as weird as we fear, and it tells us that God’s grace is present and sufficient to help us get it together.  

I believe that some of the things we are pained over aren’t as big a deal as they seem to us, and other things that bother us less ought to get more attention.  In either case, if we are beating around the bush in our self-disclosure and are not willing to get completely honest with ourselves and a trustworthy mature friend who can coach us with practical, biblically-based counsel, we will likely continue in our present course until we wear out and settle for living with frustration and mediocrity.  Let’s not do that.  We don’t have to take all our clothes off to get real and get better.

HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

John 7:22-24   For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."

From this passage and others we can see that Jesus was often at odds with the religious experts of His time about what God valued and what the Law really called for.  In our current Christian culture there are many who claim faith in Christ, but who reject the church and many of its teachings.  Could it be that the legalism and traditionalism of past decades in much of American Christianity has spurred the reaction of casting off all restraints of historic evangelical teaching and culture? 

Why might this be?  Whenever Bible passages are construed to refer to present situations which did not even in exist when the Bible was written, and the situations are not parallel, the credibility and authority of people teaching such things is reduced on all subjects.  Examples include teachings about the role of women in the church, hair length, jewelry, make-up, the essence of “modesty”, consumption of alcohol, aspects of sexuality, and even music styles.  Then add in conflicting dogmatic assertions about end-time Bible prophecy, spiritual gifts, worship styles, what is “proper” preaching, and a seemingly endless list of other doctrinal or practical sacred cows, and it’s not hard to see why some people want to chuck the whole “organized” church thing and just keep it simple with Jesus and the parts of the Bible they think they understand.   

While that’s very understandable and I could want to jump right into the middle of that crowd, some very clear unmistakable teachings of Jesus do not give us that option.  Surely the Lord knew that such conflicts would occur among His followers, yet He prayed that we might be “one” even as He and His Father are One. (See John 17, 1 Corinthians 1, Psalm 133, and countless other passages) It seems He intended that His Spirit in us would take the sandpaper of our differences and smooth us all into unique but unified parts of His Body that would work together and defer to the Head, maximizing the value of our distinctives rather than letting them divide us.

John 17:20-23 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;  I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

It is as we seek the Lord together and share our various and sometimes opposing viewpoints in love that we are all challenged and enriched—and also sometimes frustrated.  Ultimately, God is able to work in us all toward more Christ-like character and a clearer understanding and adoption of what His will truly is.  (See Ephesians 5:11-16)

It's No New Thing

I wrote a couple days ago about the increased tendency for people—Christians included—to believe as true whatever we want truth to be.  While it may be easier than ever to find voices of agreement with our desires in this age of limitless communication, the human inclination toward such is nothing new.  In the Life Journal reading passage for today we see that hundreds of years B.C. there were so-called prophets who were popular for telling people everything was OK, and there was no need to change their ways.  There were a far fewer number of them who actually spoke the word of the Lord and whose prophecies were fulfilled in detail according to what the Lord had said.  The question we each need to consider is: What voices are we listening to?  Do they line up with Scripture or just make us feel good about ourselves?  Here is a short passage from Jeremiah that illustrates the contradictions between a prophet of God and a self-proclaimed one. 

Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. Therefore thus says the Lord, 'Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the Lord.'" So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year in the seventh month. Jeremiah 28:15-17

How's Your Money Situation?

There are 3 essential components to successful finances:

Faith: Realizing that God cares for me.  He is the provider of my skills, opportunities, and ultimately all resources come from His almighty hands.

Knowledge: Learning and accepting economic realities of life, rather than thinking credit cards or lottery winnings will help me get ahead.

Discipline: Choosing to trust God and give to Him first, maximizing my income and minimizing my spending, choosing to save some, and spend wisely.

Getting all three of these in this order is also vital. 

Faith is the “God-factor”.  That’s huge!  It’s foundational, or “first base” as some say.

Knowledge is essential in directing Discipline on a wise course, or Discipline can be futile. 

Discipline is the implementation of Faith and Knowledge that brings success and the peace that accompanies it.

What Do You Want to Believe?

I’m guessing that most people these days believe whatever they really want to believe.  You ask “Why?”.  

A cataclysmic shift has occurred in how people’s beliefs are shaped today compared with a few generations ago.  Parents, grandparents, pastors and teachers used to be the trusted authorities and counselors on what to believe and how to live.  But with the information explosion largely fueled by the internet, alternative viewpoints and arguments on literally every subject can readily be accessed and shape thinking and behavior. 

So instead of trusting the wisdom of previous authorities, if a person wants to think and act contrary to their counsel all they have to do is google an opposing viewpoint and feel quite justified in charting a different course.

So what?  More to come on this phenomenon.

A LOOK IN THE MIRROR

Jeremiah was a young man to whom God assigned a message of judgment on the nation of Judah.  Judgments aren’t fun to read, but the transgressions cited and the judgments rendered can be very insightful and helpful if we will examine our own lives in light of them. 

God has not changed in all eternity, so certainly not in the period of history since His dealings with His people through the prophets.  Jeremiah is part of the current readings from Life Journal daily reading guide which many follow, and chapter 2 deserves personal reflection on how we are serving God or serving “the works of our own hands”.  Here are two verses from chapter 2:  (italics mine)

11"Has a nation changed gods when they were not gods? (No.  We’re pretty loyal to our idols/gods because we made them up in the first place to fit our desires.)

But My people have changed their glory (the true God) for that which does not profit.

13 "For My people have committed two evils:

They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters,

To hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

VITAMINS

"Take your vitamins."  Ever say that or hear that?  They are supposed to improve our health, energy levels, etc.  As I was going online toward my passages of Scripture for reading and meditation today I was first prompted toward a "verse of the day".  I read it and thought, "That's kind of like a vitamin.  Or maybe a triple shot mocha, depending on your preference."  In either case, it occurred to me how even one verse of Scripture taken in and considered for 10-30 seconds can energize, encourage and enrich one's heart and mind.  In addition to our "meals" of God's Word, sometimes just a "vitamin" is a great thing to take a few moments for.  BTW -That verse was Ephesians 5:1-2 "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us..."

Leaders and Followers

Leaders and Followers: We are all both to somebody.  We need to choose carefully whom to follow, and live responsibly, knowing others may be choosing to follow us.  

Hebrews 13:7-8 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

That Unsaid Last 2%

Had any “last 2% conversations” this week?  They can greatly strengthen and lubricate relationships when done in a spirit of love and value of the other person.  May God grace us toward wholesome, honest loving relationships.  No passive/aggressive.  No avoidance.  No beating around the bush when understanding is crucial.  

Jesus is the perfect example of dealing with relationships in love and truth, mercy and truth, grace and truth.  He calls us as sinners, but deals with our sin and makes us saints.  He calls us to similarly deal in love, mercy, grace and truth with each other.  Let’s determine to always do it!  (If you had to miss last Sunday’s get together, you want to catch the message @ lifepointschurch.com)