Salad Bar Christians

Jesus used the analogy of the Shepherd and the sheep to speak of His followers more than any other. And sheep, well, they are not the smartest of the animal kingdom. When compared to horses that run with beauty, muscles rippling, nostrils flared, the sheep seem less than noble. They are defenseless. They don't run well. They amble. They have a tendency to wander...and get lost.

Sheep don't set out to get lost. They simply munch their way to "lostness" which gives us a clue on why Jesus would use them as an example. The lessons for us in the analogy are many--especially in a culture of individualism and the politically-correct statement that "everything is relative." But sheep, lose their way as they are munching a bit of this and a tuft of that.

For followers of Christ, it's good to remind ourselves then, that the Bible is not a salad bar and Christianity is not a food court. Not that I have anything against either one. I like salad bars and I like food courts. (Even if they are on the church campus!) But I can't pick and choose what I like when it comes to the Bible. And I can't pick and choose what kind of people I allow around the table. Culturally different church? Yes. Stylistically different? Yes. Different truth? No. Different gospel? No. Some things are not optional.

Healthy Community?

Sunday night we celebrated our C3 partners. Great night. Everything felt fresh. The youth did a fun dance-off with excerpts of songs through the decades.

I talked about our reaffirming our C3 values of connection, commitment and contribution and how we can do better at helping people with the first one--connection. A healthy community is a place where people connect to Christ and deeply in relationships with others. But what does that look like?

Someone said that community must include accountability, belonging and caring (ABC). What is an organization with some but not all? Name a community that has a sense of belonging but no accountability? A club. How about an org with accountablity and no sense of care? The IRS. The church needs all three. We need to communicate care but with accountability. We need accountability but with a healthy sense of belonging.

What about your circle of friends? Which is lacking?

Humility: the way to see clearly

We looked at 1 Peter 5:5-7 on Wednesday and Peter's main subject there seems to be humility. As I was prepping, I realized there isn't a lot written on the subject. Doesn't seem to be a subject for best-sellers! Yet God says it is a valuable attitude and something we should pursue. Two verses are all you need to be reminded of its value: 

"...this is the one to whom I will look:he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. (Is 66:2)

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time" (1 Peter 5:5)

What if it's true? What if God really looks on those who are humble and lifts them up? I believe it is true. Do you? If it is, why don't we make it more of a priority? Perhaps it's because we don't know how to get there. Pursuing humility is like trying to catch jello. When you think you have it, it slips through your fingers. 

One good find was "Humility" by C.J. Mahaney. He said this, "Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in the light of God's holiness and our sinfulness".

We can't find humility apart from a revelation of God's holiness and the clarity it brings to our own self-image. It is the light of God's holiness that brings awareness. If we avoid Him, we won't find humility. We will be like the guy with the comb-over; everybody knows he's not covering anything--except him. 

I share Mahaney's observation: I'm not a humble man. But I'm in pursuit of humility. 
 

Why do people suffer even when doing good?

Bishop Gerald and Rich Schroeder just returned from their trip to see the 90+ orphans that we sponsor. Pastor Thompson, the overseer there, sent us a note after they returned:

"After you left India I have been to some of the flood-affected areas and the condition of the people is so sorrowful. People have lost their homes and family members. The crops were completely damaged and it seems the drought will put the rest in great trouble. At present, the cost of living on every thing has gone higher, the condition of living to many becoming hard. Please continue to pray for all of us . I really appreciate your visit while you were here with us. All our orphan children felt great in your presence and enjoyed having you here with us..." 

Why do people suffer even when doing good? Our study in 1 Peter on Wednesdays makes it very clear that Christians will experience suffering, persecution, trouble, hardship. The Christians that Peter was writing to were suffering persecution for their faith. In a similar way, not all sickness is healed. Not every child of God is delivered from tragedy, persecution and suffering. And Christians still die of natural causes.

The reason for suffering? Here are three:

1. This is a broken world because of sin. The evil prince still has some jurisdiction over this planet because Adam relinquished his rightful place as prince. Because of Adam’s sin, nature itself was corrupted. Death became a reality.  This is the result of the curse. (Romans 8:22; Gen. 2.17, 3:17)
2. We make bad choices. People don’t make healthy choices regarding their bodies, their finances, their marriage, their employment, careers and education. As a result, there are bad outcomes. (Gal. 6:7,8)
3. We don’t pray. We don’t ask for God’s intervention. (James 4:2; Ezek. 22:30)

 There are other reasons of course. But these are three big ones.

Therefore, when we look at the promises of God as in Psalm 91, we must claim these in the light of God’s sovereignty. We ask for healing. We ask for an end to suffering. But if we still suffer then we endure it with joy knowing that God has not abandoned us. If in His divine providence, God thinks it is best for the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter, to lose their lives for the gospel, then we continue to glorify God believing that He is still just and righteous in all His ways.  It is right to ask for “divine protection.” It is right to pray, “Deliver us from evil” and “Don’t put us to the test” (Matt. 6:13 BBE). But does God sometimes STILL allow us to experience suffering and testing? Yes! Does God still allow us to go through temptation? YES!

• Sometimes for our refining (Psalm 66:10)
• Sometimes for a witness to others that as we suffer we still honor God (1 Peter 3:14-18)
• Sometimes for reasons known only to God (2 Cor. 12:9)

 The bottom line? We should still pray. We should still give thanks in all things. We should still believe that God is good, even though life is hard...sometimes.

unHooked contd.

Several members of our office staff started the South Beach Diet a couple of weeks ago. It's been fun to listen to the banter: "Was that a Mountain Dew bottle I saw in your trash can?" "Did you have a bun on that hamburger?"  Some of that is in jest, but then there is the genuine encouragement: "Wow! You lost how much? That's great!" This definitely helps. Just watch one episode of "The Best Loser." Encouragement and accountability is a big deal. Not just possibility thinking or attaboys. This goes deeper. "I believe you can do this. I know how you feel. I'm struggling through this with you." Or better still, "I've been there. I did it. You can too."

I don't study a lot in the Amplified Version but this particular verse in Hebrews 10:24 is paraphrased in a particularly insightful way: "And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up to love and helpful deeds and noble activities..."

What's a noble activity for you?

• Losing weight, getting healthy
• Quitting smoking 
• Replacing 5 hours of cable TV per day
• Memorizing Scripture
• Volunteering at a local mission

All of these are within reach by leaning on the power of the risen Christ in you and by "watching over one another studying how we may stir up to...helpful deeds and noble activities."  Are you hooked? Don't attempt change without the encouraging help of other travelers. Everybody needs encouragment. You especially need it when you're getting unhooked.

"Don't listen to PCD's version?"

Normally, I don't give the naysayers out in cyberspace the airtime they long for. But this one I can't resist. I happened to see some comments on our new single "Revelation Song." (Btw, the single is #1 in Christian radio again this week for which we are extremely grateful!)

One loyal fan of Jennie Riddle (writer of the song) posted a comment something like this: "Please don't listen to PCD's version of this song. They are getting the credit that Jennie deserves." Hmmm.

Now I happen to know Jennie. And I know as I writer myself a few things this commentator doesn't seem to get. There is no greater joy for a composer than for multiple artists and churches to be singing your song. At some level, you don't care who is singing it! You're just grateful that someone is connecting to the song, that it's getting an audience that it didn't have before.

I think the words of the apostle Paul apply here: "But what does it matter? Nothing matters except that, in one way or another, people are told the message about Christ, whether with honest or dishonest motives, and I'm happy about that. Yes, I will continue to be happy" Philippians 1.18 gwt.

Get a grip. The point is this: the message of Christ is being published and "I'm happy about that."

Downpour: Tools not Toys

Great weekend. We wrapped up our annual retreat on the Holy Spirit on Saturday. Dale Evrist from Nashville spoke and I believe he helped some people. The theme on Saturday was the gifts of the Spirit as "tools not toys." Important to understand.

I have been saying this and was glad to hear this affirmed by someone else. Many look at the gifts in 1 Cor 14 as gifts which are resident. Rather these are "owned" by the Holy Spirit, not us. I don't own the gift of healing. But the Holy Spirit can in His wisdom sovereignly give me a gift of healing--not for myself, but to be given away to someone who needs it! The gift isn't for me but for whom I might be praying for!

If we don't understand this, some will decline to pray for someone who needs healing giving the reason: "I don't have the gift of healing. You need to contact "Brother Jack" who has that gift." While some may seem to be used more frequently by the Holy Spirit with a particular "tool of the Spirit" this doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit won't use you at a given moment. If you are there and Brother Jack isn't, expect that the Holy Spirit may use you.

These gifts in 1 Cor 14 are different than those mentioned in Romans 12. Romans 12 are gifts the Father wired you with when you were born. They can be used for good or for selfish reasons. (Just consider those with the gift of government!) The gifts of the Father are "inherent" in the individual and would in my view be those gifts that remain. These gifts may be those referred to by the Scripture, "For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." (Romans 11.29, niv)

Saturday, Pr. Dave and Pr. Ryan led a session where people prayed for one another and waited for the Holy Spirit to minister. People were encouraged and blessed in these circles of prayer. That's the idea: the members edify and build each other up by the Holy Spirit as He gives them tools for the moment as needed.