Not Quarrelsome

Bulletin Article

by Merrill Pence

January 15, 2023

14 "Remind them… and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness… (2 Timothy 2:14-16 NASB) In Paul’s first letter to his young friend and co-worker Timothy, the apostle referred to the violent zeal of his early life “as an example for those who would believe in him (Jesus) for eternal life”—encouraging them to trust that Jesus’ “perfect patience” could save them also (1 Timothy 1:16). Paul wanted to demonstrate, using his own life as an example, how zeal can often be misguided—how those who are most convinced they are right are commonly those whose convictions need to be re-examined. Paul may well have had in mind the first-century Jewish leaders—those in Jerusalem who had instructed him in his youth—for they also displayed this same kind of unexamined zeal. These leaders (the Sanhedrin) had once tried to stop the other apostles, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in [Jesus’] name…” Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:28-29), an answer that provoked a murderous rage in the leaders. Yet a wise teacher named Gamaliel reasoned with his fellow Jews, reminding them of other failed movements in their recent history. He remarked how “Theudas…claiming to be somebody,” led four hundred followers to their death. And “Judas of Galilee” rebelled “in the days of the census” ending with his predictable death and his followers dispersal (Acts 5:36-37). Gamaliel summed up his advice, saying, “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men… Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:35-39 NIV) The Jewish leaders, like many others in history, convinced of their rectitude, were even willing to “go to war for God.” Yet, Scripture often warns us that we cannot advance or even protect God’s kingdom through force. When we pray as we should, as Jesus taught us, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), we are requesting that God will extend the kingdom by using his power! No one else has the authority and no one has ever been commissioned to advance God’s kingdom by use of force! Indeed, the opposite is true. When we engage in violence to enforce God’s will or extend his kingdom borders, we only do harm—even if the violence is merely verbal! That’s why Jesus instructed his disciples, “If anyone does not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.” (Matthew 10:14 NIV) Jesus told his disciples if people did not receive their message, they were not to stay and “win the fight.” Instead, they were to move on to the next house or town where the good news might be received. The apostle Paul, again addressing his friend and co-worker Timothy, wrote, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV) No one was ever advised to advance the gospel of Christ by arguing… even less by violence or force! Instead, God’s servants should be patient and prayerful—knowing the battle belongs to the Lord! mp

Cleaning House

January 1, 2023

by Merrill Pence

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB) The company that builds Jeep automobiles [or someone working for them in advertising] created a campaign in the year 2011 that attempted to sell their new “Grand Cherokee” model using a surprisingly profound insight—a slogan they hoped would connect with consumers who were considering buying a Jeep that year. The slogan, memorably stated in an aphorism, went: “The things we make, make us.” Their point could not have been more Biblical! As human beings, we all express creativity by “making things.” Those “things” illustrate and, more importantly, reinforce what is important to us. (Whether we made or bought them is of little consequence. Our relationship with them and their presence in our lives still send the same message.) Our “things” have a way of creating paths in which we are forced (or often volunteer!) to live. Like a hoarder who must build paths through their possessions to navigate through their own home, our possessions can also limit and control how we live! We surround ourselves with things we find attractive, desirable, and valuable. Yet our continued use and possession of those things create paths we must follow, and our “things” seize control of our lives and define how we live. Just as the slogan says: “The things we make, make us,” that is, our possessions eventually possess us! Under the Old Covenant, the Israelites were responsible for the construction of some very important buildings and artifacts—most important among them, the Lord’s Temple and its hardware. The Temple was not a product of human imagination, but the exact materials and exact dimensions were defined by the Lord [described in its first incarnation as the Tabernacle]. Israel also had other projects beyond the Temple that they were assigned to construct… and deconstruct. Indeed, they were responsible for restructuring the entire promised land—the way of life and altars of worship they allowed to exist in their society, villages, and homes. In Deuteronomy chapter seven, the Lord told Israel to “show no mercy” to the pagan idolaters who occupied the promised land before them. Israel was commanded to act as “iconoclasts” [those who deface or destroy what other people consider sacred]. The Lord was very clear: “This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles and burn their idols in the fire.” [Deuteronomy 7:5] The Lord knew if Israel allowed these things to remain, not only would Israel possess the artifacts and idols of the Canaanite religion, but the idols and artifacts of the Canaanite religion would eventually possess them—and supplant the Lord and his religious structures. Now you may not see a parallel between life in ancient Israel and your life in the second decade of the twenty-first century, but let me assure you—real similarities exist. We, too, must decide not only what will inhabit our lives but what our lives will inhabit! We must choose the “things” we will allow to “remain in the land” where we live. We, like Israel of old, are too easily tempted. Too often, we let pagan objects and ideas establish their anti-Christian forms and practices in our lives. Sometimes we don’t even realize what we are doing, for the pagans around us accept these things as “good” and encourage us (shame us?) to join in. Take a good look at the materials you have used and the paths you have constructed in your life. Did they originate with God, or do they mirror the mind and the values of (sinful) man? mp

Grace for Asa

by Merrill Pence

Bulletin Article for November 20, 2022

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1 The Spirit of the Lord came on Azariah son of Oded. 2 He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you… 7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 8 When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah, son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple. 9 Then he assembled all Judah and Benjamin and the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them, for large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw how the Lord his God was with him. (2 Chronicles 15:1-9) Long ago, in the early centuries of the Christian faith, a man named Marcion of Sinope began to teach an eponymous heresy labeled “Marcionism.” To support his heretical teachings, Marcion compiled and published the earliest extant form of the New Testament—the letters he believed were the only authorized letters, including an edited form of Luke’s gospel (called the “gospel of Marcion”) and the letters of Paul. His heretical teaching stood apart from orthodox Christianity because he believed that the Hebrew God, the God of the Old Testament, was distinct and different from the one portrayed in the New Testament by Jesus and Paul. According to Marcion, under the Old Covenant, God was vengeful and angry, while in the New Testament, the God of Jesus and Paul was gracious and full of love. Many of us have been exposed to or have heard others teaching similar beliefs because, in case you missed it, there are people today, in one form or another, who still believe and teach this heresy! To these people, the God of the Old Testament—the God of Sinai and the Law of Moses, the God who destroyed the ancient world with a flood, who judged the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and held Adam and Eve responsible for their disobedience—this God, they say, is distinct from the God revealed in Jesus. The God of Jesus, they assert, is a God of love and grace. Indeed, as they see it, these two pictures of God cannot be harmonized. But please read the passage cited above. During this event in the life of Asa, king of Judah, we find just one example [of many] that denies this separation, this opposition. Notice the prophet of the Lord came to Asa and reassured him before he had removed the idols and before he had repaired the altar in the Lord’s temple, before he had deposed his grandmother, Maakah, from her position as “queen-mother,” due to her idolatrous association. King Asa and his people took these faithful actions only after the prophet had assured them that “the Lord is with you.” The life of King Asa stands as an Old Covenant example of grace, for, in grace, God acts first with kindness and reassurance… then the people respond with obedience, not vice-versa. Today, under God’s New Covenant, he has acted in grace in his Son Jesus to save us from our sin—and now, it’s our move! mp

 

The Kingdom’s Advance

by Merrill Pence

Bulletin Article for November 13, 2022

“If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” [Psalm 139:19-24] What does it mean to count ourselves among those who are enlisted in God’s army? What responsibilities come with our “enlistment”? Surely we are convinced that the Lord intends for his church, the body of Jesus, to be a militant presence here on earth. Surely we believe the Lord expects us to broaden the kingdom's borders? But in what way… and by what means? Counting ourselves as part of God’s army does not mean we are to fight his battles by using the same instruments of power and influence that the world employs to fight their battles. For Jesus told Pilate, the Roman governor at the time of his death, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest…” (John 18:36) And when the apostle Peter attempted to intervene in the arrest of Jesus by employing the battle instruments of the world (drawing a sword), Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Matthew 26:52-53) Some of those who count themselves among God’s people today are confused. They are attempting to extend the influence of God’s kingdom by employing instruments of worldly power. However, those who understand the Lord’s will are, instead, praying for God’s kingdom to come through his use of power. David prayed in the Psalm cited above, “If only you, God, would slay the wicked!” When we pray as Jesus taught us to pray, our request is, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) When we pray that God’s kingdom will come, we are asking God to intervene, to advance the borders of his influence in the world—in a way that we never could! Our engagement is described by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “The weapons we fight with...demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God….” But, ultimately, the “battle belongs to the Lord!” That’s why we are willing to be patient and let God, the just and impartial judge, take whatever steps are needed to rid the world of those who hate him. We are also willing to let him judge “any offensive way” in ourselves that the kingdom may advance in our lives, that we might follow him in “the way

 

Rare as Hen’s Teeth

November 6, 2022

Bulletin Article

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling….” (Philippians 2:12-15) Many of us remember, as children, being told the story of the little red hen, but just in case you weren’t exposed to this brief but pithy little morality tale, I’ll remind you its basic elements: The little red hen was an industrious fowl who, one day, came across a kernel of wheat. When she decided to plant her potential windfall, she asked several of her barnyard friends to help her accomplish the work. Unfortunately, all the other animals refused to help. As time passed, the plant needed cultivation (as well as other attention) since the plant was growing quite nicely. She again asked her friends for help, and they all refused. Harvest time came, and the wheat needed reaping, but again she was refused help. She needed to grind the grain into flour; again, no help. She had to knead the flour into dough; again, no help. She needed help baking the loaf of bread she had made from the wheat and…well, you know the response. Finally, as the little red hen baked the bread, the aroma filled the barnyard, and the other denizens smelled the bread baking. They saw the beautiful brown loaf coming out of the oven and, at that moment, decided they were ready to help…ready to help the hen eat the freshly made bread! So, they all gathered to accept their slice, yet, the little red hen, much to their chagrin, did not invite them to share in her bread, for none of them had contributed to its production (now, how she was going to eat it, I don’t know—you know how rare hen’s teeth are!). I want to draw a parallel between this industrious little hen and God’s people. The apostle Peter wrote, “…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge…” (2 Peter 1:5) The list doesn’t stop there, but you get the idea; according to Peter, we have a responsibility to make an effort to grow. Too many people, however, who say they want to be people of faith, just like the hen’s barnyard buddies, want the benefits without the labor. They want others to do the heavy lifting when it comes to prayer, spending time in their Bibles and praise. They have become consumers of religion rather than people who are committed to doing what it takes to, “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18a) Too many people sit back and complain about the worship or their leaders’ failure to inspire them and their resulting lack of spiritual strength; why, they even blame God for his unwillingness to supply them with these things when, the truth is, they have put little to no effort into seeking the results they desire. God didn’t call consumers who will pick up ready-made burgers at the drive-through religion dispensary but people who will put in their own effort to prepare and cook what they eat. The sad fact seems to be, though, that anymore, such people are rare as hen’s teeth. mp

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Blowing Off Steam

BULLETIN ARTICLE

OCTOBER 23, 2022

"Fools give full vent to their anger but the wise keep themselves under control." (Proverbs 29:11) A common way we human beings explain and understand our anger is to describe it as a corrosive substance whose continuing presence “eats away” at our insides—something akin to the constant drip of water over centuries, concentrated on a single spot, or a caustic substance like acid eating away at an otherwise solid surface. Another popular metaphor used to explain the mechanism of our anger is that of a liquid over fire, heating up, under pressure, until, finally (BOOM!) The pressure cooker boils over and explodes, spewing its contents all over the room! In this last metaphor, as the pressure rises, the danger heightens exponentially. We are warned, therefore, in order to minimize the possibility of damage or severe injury, we should “vent our anger.” Prevailing wisdom counsels us to process our anger by “blowing off some steam” or “getting things off our chest.” Indeed, we are advised, even warned, that “holding it in” may be unhealthy, even self-destructive. Perhaps, if unaddressed resentments continue to boil below the surface, they may even prove fatal! And, no doubt, letting ourselves simmer and stew, long-term, over insults and personal slights will do us no good—however, the proverb cited above seems to take issue with the idea of “blowing off steam.” Is this another case where our human wisdom has failed us and led us astray, or is this a case where Biblical wisdom has been supplanted by the long history of human experience, where the Bible, this ancient book, has simply become outdated? If we will examine the proverb closely, its sage wisdom becomes obvious. According to this proverb, giving “full vent” to our anger is ill-advised because it demonstrates a serious lack of wisdom, a lack of self-discipline. The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Ephesus, saying, “In your anger, do not sin.” (Ephesians 4:26) wherein he was quoting no less an authority than King David in the Psalms (Psalm 4:4). These verses would suggest that there is a way to be angry without sinning, which is, indeed, supported by the fact that even Jesus was angry on occasion—yet was sinless (Mark 3:5; Hebrews 4:15). But neither Jesus nor Paul nor David endorsed all forms of anger. This would especially be true of unbridled rage or what we commonly call “blowing off steam.” Only fools let their anger go all out—only fools express their temper without restraint. A wise individual exercises discipline, for he understands his anger is an occasion to grow in wisdom. A wise individual keeps himself under control, harvesting the wonderful benefits resulting from a disciplined life's fruit. mp

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The Reward Incentive

ROLAND BULLETIN ARTICLE

OCTOBER 16, 2022

The Reward Incentive. “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they HAVE RECEIVED THEIR REWARD IN FULL. But when you give to the needy, do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then YOUR FATHER, who sees what is done in secret, WILL REWARD YOU. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have RECEIVED THEIR REWARD IN FULL. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then YOUR FATHER, who sees what is done in secret, WILL REWARD YOU… Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:1-6, 19-20 NIV) According to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew chapter six, we can and will receive a reward [or rewards] for the ‘acts of righteousness or good deeds we perform in this life. Some people find this troubling. Some even object, saying, “But Jesus told that parable about the workers in the vineyard where the workers hired last were paid the same as those hired at the beginning of the day (Matthew 20:1-16). If there are degrees of reward, it appears to contradict what that parable is teaching.” Of course, as the Gershwin boys asserted, “it ain’t necessarily so.” Just read the passage cited above, and you come away with the distinct impression—even conviction—that the Father will one day reward those who do their acts of righteousness in secret, where only he can observe them, while those who do their pious acts in public, for men to see, have received their reward already...in full! Everyone, then, is rewarded for the righteous acts they perform; just some are rewarded with the applause of men while others receive their reward from the Father. Jesus encourages us to do our good deeds with the intent to please the (unseen) Father. Indeed, knowing that our good deeds please the Father should be enough to motivate us to get busy! But Jesus here increases the incentives for doing good—not only are we pleasing the Father, but Jesus promises that we will be rewarded for our actions. He wants us to enjoy not just the bare bones of eternity but an eternal experience enriched by the rewards we will be granted for what we did in preparation for that day! mp

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“You can’t quit a family…”

October 09, 2022

by Merrill Pence

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“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2 NIV) The Scripture has always described God’s people as a “family.” From the beginning, God set Abraham and his descendants apart, blessing them until they grew into a great nation. Yet Israel was, at its base, a family—those who were blood relatives. In the New Testament, the idea of “family” was carried over, becoming a metaphor used to describe the church. Jesus himself introduced this idea among his disciples when he remarked, “For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother!” (Matthew 12:50 NASB) Again, in Jesus’ denunciation of the Pharisees, he said, “Don’t ever let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters.” (Matthew 23:8 NIV) The writer of Hebrews observed: “Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers, in the presence of the congregation, I will sing your praises.’” (Hebrews 2:11-12 NIV) Families come in different shapes, sizes, and degrees of difficulty. And while we may wish at times we could—and some of us do—separate ourselves from our families, the truth is, you can’t quit a family. No matter how far you may roam or how long it has been since your last contact, you will always be a part of your family—missing or otherwise. What is true of biology is also true of the Spirit. The universal church is the family of God, for they all have the same Father, older brother, destiny, and origin in the gospel. Local congregations are the place where Christians live and interact with that family; they are the location where we celebrate and enjoy the fellowship of God’s Holy Spirit. Does it seem strange to you, then, when members of God’s family commonly neglect family gatherings—those opportunities to worship God and encourage loved ones? Stranger still are those who walk out on their family. How many are missing (lately) from your local family? Have these siblings decided they do not love their family? Does that even make sense? If we follow Jesus, we stay with our family and love them, no matter the difficulty. mp

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 The Good Fight

October 2, 2022

by Merrill Pence

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“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV) Sin is entrenched in our world, yet we humans always seem to be at work trying to improve our lives and the lives of others. Still, we must admit, beneath it all, our attempts to do good are a mixed bag. The apostle Paul confessed his own failed attempts at “doing good.” He wrote to the churches in Rome, “I do not understand what I do… For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:15, 19 NIV) Even though Paul understood the reason he did these things was, ultimately, due to an evil, indwelling presence (“…it is sin living in me that does it…” [7:20]), he didn’t view that as an excuse. He continued to be genuinely disturbed by his failure to do good rather than evil. Some of us think Paul is making too much of all this. If sin is insurmountable—if its presence guarantees we will always lose our fight as we struggle with sin—why not simply stop fighting? If “sin living in him” is the reason he continues to “do what he does not want to do,” why fight it? Of course, that same logic could also be applied to the human struggle with disease. Disease also appears to be an insurmountable foe—for no sooner do we find a cure for one disease than another illness rears its ugly head. Yet who among us, because of the continuing presence and expansion of illnesses in this world, would advise humanity to stop seeking cures? I dare say none of us would counsel such an approach—especially those among us who are suffering from disease! In the same way, Jesus told his disciples, “The poor you will always have with you.” (Mark 14:7 NIV) Yet, who among us believes Jesus was saying the systemic presence of poverty in this world means we should stop trying to help those in need? Surely none of us would recommend such a careless attitude. Life in this world involves struggle, and it appears the only real way to fail is to surrender our faith to these entrenched problems. “I have fought the good fight… I have kept the faith,” Paul told Timothy (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV). As long as we continue in faith to fight, we have not lost! Bravely soldier on until Christ returns! mp

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Taking Gratitude For Granted

September 25, 2022

by Merrill Pence

Luke’s gospel has many unique parables and miracles not found in other synoptics, yet the account of the healing of ten lepers in Luke chapter seventeen stands out among them. In this chapter, Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem when he enters a village and encounters ten leprous men. The text reports they respectfully “…stood at a distance…” raising their voices, pleading for mercy. Jesus did not touch them or even address their condition except to tell them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” (17:14)  As they obeyed, they were instantly healed. One immediately reversed his course and returned to Jesus—praising God. Indeed, we are told, “...he fell on his face at (Jesus’) feet, giving thanks to him.” (17:16) Jesus was troubled that this man alone had returned to give thanks, for he was a Samaritan. Jesus “answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?’” (17:17-18 NASB) This event demonstrates a deep fault in the character of humanity—even God’s people! That fault is ingratitude. It is remarkable (but no less true) that we humans, who depend on others to sustain us, refuse to recognize our debt! We are born into this world, unable to protect or provide for ourselves. Our transition into adulthood continues our dependence on the support and kindness of others. Yet many of us do not give this arrangement a second thought. We just assume this is the way it should be and take for granted those things for which we actually should be offering gratitude! Several scholars have pointed out that the original sin in the garden of Eden was not lust or pride, as so many have suggested, but ingratitude. The serpent tempted Eve to covet and focus on what she had been forbidden rather than being grateful for all she had been granted—all the good, wonderful things God had provided to address her and her husband’s needs. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the churches in Rome, listed ingratitude as one of the sins that stirs God’s wrath, for he wrote, “…the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness… For even though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:18, 21) Notice they did not honor (literally, glorify) God as God or “give thanks.” This planet is populated with so many who daily take for granted the good and plentiful gifts God provides to sustain the world and their lives: his air, his food, and his weather patterns. [Matthew 5:45] Most people enjoy these benefits without giving them a second thought. The sun rises every morning to bless us with its warmth and heat. Indeed, many think God owes them such things! “He created us with these needs,” they will say, “therefore, he owes us! He must provide these things!” My advice to such people is: Think again! Our refusal to glorify God and our ingratitude have led us to such “futile...speculations…” Our hearts are darkened and foolish. Gratitude alone can open our eyes to the daily blessings we receive from our Father’s hand. mp

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Distracted Hearts

September 18, 2022

John Lennon, history tells us, was an original member of the popular musical group known as “The Beatles,” a world-famous quartet who came to prominence in the decade of the nineteen-sixties. This group of musicians, it has been argued, had an outsized influence, not only on popular music but cultural attitudes as well. Yet, before their influence was firmly embedded in the hearts and minds of their admirers, Lennon almost ruined it all with what became an infamous statement, quoted in an interview he had with the London newspaper Evening Standard (3/4/1966). In that newspaper, Lennon mused: “...Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right, and I’ll be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now; I don’t know which will go first—rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity. Jesus was all right, but his disciples were thick and ordinary. It’s them twisting it that ruins it for me.” How do you react when reading this quote? Does it offend you? Does it raise the hackles on your neck… or do you tell yourself, “Maybe he has a point?” Predicting the musical form “rock ‘n’ roll”—a musical form which, at the time Lennon made this statement, had only been around perhaps a little over a decade—would outlast Christianity, a faith that had survived persecutions, pogroms and two-thousand years of history, certainly showed John Lennon’s ignorance… or at least seriously brought his ability as a prophet into question! Still, let’s give him credit; part of his statement, despite its shock value, may have actually been true! In the world of nineteen sixty-six—and certainly, among “baby-boomers”—the Beatles were prominent among many popular distractions competing for the attention of young and old people alike. Television, movies and popular music (especially the Beatles) consumed people’s time more than ever. And time spent in those activities couldn’t help but compete with devotion and service to the Lord—even among those who “attended church every time the doors were open” (a colloquial phrase that describes the people whose lives revolved around church and its activities). The appeal of pop culture and the latest technology have always been (and remain to this day) a siren’s call, a way to distract our hearts. It was true in nineteen sixty-six, and it’s still true today. It has only become worse over time. Today there are even more attractions, distractions, and alternate activities available to us. And there are those who, because access to such things is so readily available, spend their entire lives in “alternate realities.” Indeed, this is Facebook’s latest appeal to its users. Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Facebook, has transformed this social media platform into something he calls “Meta,” by which he encourages people to create their own reality. If you don’t like how your life, your apartment, or your face appears… change it! Create your own. Make it into whatever you desire in the “virtual world.” A sad truth is, that people are now so involved with cyber-space and alternate realities that many might never interact with the “present” if they weren’t forced to do so by the demand to address their biological functions. Perhaps we should have listened to Lennon’s observation… and taken a warning. Certainly, Jesus advised us to be careful, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) mp

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Perfect Enemies

September 4, 2022

     In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus took issue with the traditional understanding of the Mosaic Law. The Jewish leaders were teaching one thing, and Jesus was teaching his disciples another, saying—

     “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends his rain on the righteous and the unrighteousness. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” [Matthew 5:43-48]

     “Be perfect…” Jesus commands. What a request! Is Jesus being “literal”? Does he really expect us sinful, compromised human beings to be perfect, faultless? As if that were not enough, a careful reading of this text demands even more, for he goes on to say, “Be perfect… as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Now surely this is impossible. He must be joking, right? Or at least speaking hyperbolically? Jesus can’t really expect us to be perfect like God is perfect… can he?! Yet, according to Peter’s second letter, it is possible for disciples to “participate in the divine nature.” [1:4], so Jesus’ request that we “Be perfect… as your heavenly Father is perfect” doesn’t really sound all that incredible. In fact, in the context of Matthew’s gospel—and, in particular, the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5-7—Jesus has something specific in mind that is possible for us to achieve.

     You have no doubt heard how important it is to pay attention to the context from which a Bible verse is taken. Well, this is one occasion where context is indispensable for understanding the passage. Jesus’ request for perfection, in this context, is focused specifically on the way our Father treats his enemies. The passage above this verse says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” These are the activities and attitudes we are to imitate in our heavenly Father—these are the ways in which we are called to be “perfect” as he is perfect. Jesus reveals that our heavenly Father blesses even his enemies! He sends his sun and rain on the righteous and the unrighteous—on those who try to do right and those who do not. God is [so] good—he not only blesses and cares for those who try to honor him but he blesses everyone—even those who consider themselves his enemies, who actively oppose him!

     And this is the “perfection” disciples of Jesus are called to live. We must love—that is, seek the best interest or highest good—not only of those who love us, but more, much more! We are salt and light; we are meant to be “set apart”/different from the rest of humanity. It takes no special commitment to love those who love us; it takes no sacrifice to treat with respect those who respect us. Loving those who love and honor us does not make us different, it does not “set us apart.” Everyone does that! No, we must love those who insult, persecute and slander us; we must bless and actively pray for our enemies. This is how we are to “participate in the divine nature,” and to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” mp

Flat-Earth Aliens

August 21, 2022

     It’s rare one reads a retraction in a bulletin article, but over a decade ago, I prematurely announced, in writing, the death of the “Flat-Earth Society.” Today, as it turns out, their death [like Mark Twain’s] was exaggerated. 

The Flat-Earth Society (established 1956) was the brainchild of a sign-writer from Dover, England named Samuel Shenton, and, to my own chagrin, the society (unlike its late founder) is still around—with a number of devotees. Like all those who believe in a flat-earth Shenton was convinced the earth was a plane rather than a sphere. Indeed—after viewing satellite images of the globe taken from outer space—Shenton dismissed this evidence with the rejoinder, “It’s easy to see how a photograph like that can fool the untrained eye!”

     Like the Flat-Earth Society, victims of alien abductions, Bigfoot encounters, psychic ghost hunters, and conspiracy theorists—all believe in the truth of their convictions, with or without supporting evidence. And most of us dismiss their claims outright. However, could they be right? Are you sure?

     Let’s ask ourselves the same question: How do you know that what you believe is true? That is, how can you be sure that your convictions as a Christian are true?” You should know that there are many people who do not believe what we, as disciples of Christ, believe. In fact, there are many people who find what we believe to be just as incredible as believing in the “alien-abduction of Bigfoot’s ghost”! Many ask, “Do you really believe that the Red Sea literally parted into two walls of water and two million Israelites passed through its midst on dry ground? Do you really believe that Moses struck a flat rock in the middle of a desert, and enough water (a river that satisfied the thirst of those same two-million Israelites) came gushing out? Do you really believe that a man appeared physically alive and unaffected on the third day after he was tortured, killed through the process of crucifixion, and buried?” How can you claim such things are true while rejecting reports of UFOs, Sasquatch, and haunting spirits?

These are critical questions, for they ask us to justify the source of our knowledge. It demands we answer the question, “How do you know that what you know is true?” Most of us get our knowledge by depending on an authority. We learn what we know from those we trust: our grandpa and grandma, our mom and dad, our teachers and professors—those we consider experienced and informed: experts or professionals in a field. We listen because we respect their authority.

     The apostle John once wrote, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” (1 John 4:1 nasb) The final court of appeal for believers is the word of God, both its living and written form. That’s because God alone has the knowledge, the expertise, as Creator, to inform us of all we need to know; he alone can speak with authority to all of life. If we can’t agree on this foundation, you can be sure we will find little to share and little to discuss.       

 

                                                                    

The Best for Last

August 14, 2022

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     6 "Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification [ceremonial washing—NIV], each holding twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine [saved the best—NIV] until now.” (John 2:6-10 ESV)

     Most of us (who are happily married!) would agree that our wedding was one of the most blessed events in our lives. The men among us would heartily agree with Solomon’s proverb, “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.” (18:22, NIV)

     Consider the importance then of the wedding to which we are witnesses in John chapter two. The gospel of John presents Jesus’ first miraculous sign—thus revealing his glory—at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. Mary (his mother), Jesus and his disciples were all invited to this important, traditional event in the Jewish culture. Think about it: the fact that Jesus accepted an invitation to a wedding feast is really very revealing. It shows us something about his character (and, thus, the character of God). It reveals that God chooses, as he enters into and interacts with his creation, to engage in celebration and enjoyment—to experience, yes, the delicious elements of his good creation! We tend to forget that “in the beginning” God, after he finished his work of creating, called the creation “very good”—which was apparently why he loved walking “in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8)—a Creator who, not only loves humanity, but all of his “very good” creation.

     There are many of us who are afraid to enjoy life and the abundant blessings God has provided. The ascetic tradition, with its belief that the human body is evil, started early in Christian tradition but was never rooted in Scripture. It seems to have its roots in Greek philosophy, which taught that mankind’s body was inimical to his spirit and in opposition to his “better nature.”

     However, God was the one who created both the human body and the human spirit—both our physical-material nature and a spiritual-immaterial nature. “In the beginning” God described his work as “very good” (Genesis 1:31)— and this included humanity. When God planted the garden in Eden as a domicile for mankind, he populated it with all kinds of trees: “every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food…” (Genesis 2:9) We might ask: “Was it necessary for God to make trees that were “pleasing to the eye” (NIV, i.e., beautiful) and “good for food” (NIV, i.e., flavorful, tasty)?” The answer to this question is, “No. Of course it wasn’t necessary.” But God—having given us the capacity to enjoy beauty and flavor, wanted us to share in the good things he created. Like Jesus, who turned water into “good” or “the best wine” (quoting the master of the feast), God created this world to overflow with good things—that this world might be known for its beauty, value and fruitfulness.

     The apostle Paul warned the young Timothy that a time would come when “some would abandon the faith and turn to deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1-4) And what do deceiving spirits or demons teach? “They will forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good.” (4:4) We live in a world populated, even overflowing, with good gifts—for it was created by a good Creator! Let us reject the lie that tells us the good gifts of our God are something to be avoided—and let us instead embrace and enjoy those good gifts with gratitude and thankfulness! mp

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The Temple of the LORD

August 7, 2022

Immediately following the final construction of the temple in Jerusalem, King Solomon prayed: “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day. May your eyes be opened toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” (1 Kings 8:27-30) At the dedication of this historic, monumental structure, Solomon praised God for his faithfulness to the house of David, his father, as demonstrated in the completion of the Temple. Solomon then asked the Lord to continue demonstrating his faithfulness by forgiving those who turned toward the Temple in prayer and repentance. Thus, in the minds of the Israelite nation, the Temple became exclusively identified with the LORD, which wasn’t a problem—until the Lord became exclusively identified with the Temple! Here is the problem: Solomon’s Temple was supposed to remind Israel of their God’s omnipresent (everywhere at once) Spirit in this world; it was meant to be a place where heaven and earth intersected (or overlapped). It was meant to be a place where the unseen heavenly realm could be seen symbolically, where the invisible became visible. Israel limited God’s presence to the Temple and ignored Solomon’s observation: “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27) Israel’s pagan neighbors believed a god’s power was limited by their geographic location. The “high places” spoken of so often in the Old Testament were physical locations (e.g., groves of trees, hills or mountain tops) where the pagans believed the gods lived and could be worshipped (Deuteronomy 12:2). The Arameans betrayed their belief by telling their king that Israel’s God was a god of “the mountains (hills, NIV). That is why they are too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they.” (1 Kings 20:23) However, Israel’s God—although he required them to worship him in only one place, that is, Jerusalem, and more specifically the Temple—was not limited to that location. His presence was not limited to that one place! Even before the Temple was constructed, David wrote a Psalm expressing this idea: “Where can I flee from your presence?” he asked. “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there…” (139:7-8) Many today convince themselves they can avoid God by avoiding the church, avoiding the assembly and worship. Such people are only fooling themselves. Though the gathered church is God’s Temple today, his presence is not limited to that location or that occasion. May we always seek and cultivate an awareness of his presence in our world and our lives, no matter where we are located in God’s good creation. mp