The Apostle Paul said few things that are harder to live out than being thankful in all circumstances (Eph. 5:20; I Thess. 5:18). Times can be rough. Pain and suffering are widespread. Relationships are bruised or broken. Life goes on when all desire to live has ceased. The best laid plans fall flat on their face. Dreams come crashing down. Helplessness and hopelessness are far more common than either help or hope.
Then Paul rises up before us and says, "In all things give thanks!" We have to ask what world is this guy living in. Is he for real? Does he know what life is all about? Has he had to sacrifice more than a little comfort? What does he know about pain, long term pain? What does he know about broken bones and broken hearts?
We want to point our finger in his face and tell him that he knows nothing about the depth of agony one can experience in this life. We want to tell him that he hasn't experienced the day in and day out struggles we have in this 21st century world. Sure, he can give thanks, but he has no right to expect that from someone who has to live in this day and time.
I see Paul going quiet and rather introspective. Then he quotes a few selections from some of the letters he wrote to the churches he helped start. He might mention 2 Corinthians 11:21-29 or 12:7-10. Maybe he would throw in part of his letter to the Philippians, 4:10-13, to show how he had made it through all the times of sacrifice. He would say that yes, times could be very difficult, dangerous, even life-threatening. Yet even in the worst of times we can and should give thanks.
Paul might tell us that in the midst of tragedy, God can still bring out good (Romans 8:28). Even in the midst of suffering and pain, we can see God's hand at work to make us stronger. Paul would tell us that God is greater than any natural or moral evil that may come upon us. We cannot settle for the short view. A much bigger picture demands our attention. Even in the worst of times, we can give thanks because God is sovereign and can bring something better out of the mess we might be facing.
Perseverance might be seen as an active waiting. God wants us to persevere through the rough times because he has something better waiting for us. We might not experience that something better if we don't hang in there. Heed the lesson of the butterfly escaping from its cocoon. We don't just sit back and wait. We are working with God to prepare ourselves for what he has planned. That's perseverance. That's walking and working by faith. Paul says we are to rejoice in the midst of the struggle, not because we are struggling but because the struggle produces something beautiful that could never be without the pain (Romans 5:1-5).
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America. This day is special to our country. It is a unique part of our national history. For followers of Jesus Christ like the Apostle Paul, it should be a standard part of our daily existence. Every day should be a day of thanksgiving. It's not easy. Sometimes we have to look hard to find a reason to believe that good is on its way. Sometimes we have to be thankful simply because God is in control and not us.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Persecuted Church
November 13 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. The event is sponsored and promoted by such organizations as The Voice of the Martyrs, <persecution.com>. The free Church of the west would do well to remember its many brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who must worship their God in darkened rooms and secret places in wilderness areas. Persecution is real. Loss of financial support, jobs, homes, health, and even life are risks that believers of Christ must often face if they seek to remain faithful.
Throughout the year I notice how our nation remembers those who have contributed to its strength and progress. Not all notables are military. We memorialize those who have made life safer, easier, and its materials and cultural blessings more accessible to more people. We have celebrations, parades, speeches, offer awards and examples to those who have succeeded and to those who would follow.
How do we as Christians measure up in celebrating the heroes of our Father's Kingdom? Even setting aside some names that would raise disagreement, we have more than enough martyrs in our faith heritage to give us reason to remember with pride those who have gone before. Not considering the martyrs, individuals beyond count have made sacrifices that resulted in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. They turned their backs on family, material comforts, and positions of privilege. Do our church members celebrate these individuals? Do our church members know what they have done? Do our church members know their names?
David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills, has a special interest in the persecuted church, the Secret Church, due to his contact with them in various countries. His broadcasts of Bible studies under that name have been received by more than 50,000 people at a time through simulcasts. His experiences in working with the persecuted church have led him to see the strength of the church can never be in its material image or possessions but only in its faithful sacrifice. His book, Radical, is a result of this faith pilgrimage.
At least once a year our churches should remember that not all Christians enjoy religious freedom. We should remember that many Christians are paying heavy prices for living out their faith. We should remember that the freedom to worship openly without government interference is a blessing and a freedom granted by man and as such can be taken away by man. We should also remember that the strength of our faith is not determined by the laws of the land but by the Lord of our hearts. Our persecuted brethern know that all too well.
My plea is that on at least one day of the year our churches remember that the strength of our own fairh may well be dependent upon the faithful prayers of individuals who cannot share their prayers. The strength of our faith may be dependent upon the faithful lifestyles of individuals for whom such a lifestyle will result in imprisonment, torture, or death. It may well be that as we enjoy our freedom to worship, we do so because people who have no such freedom are praying for us. Let us take the time to pray for them.
Throughout the year I notice how our nation remembers those who have contributed to its strength and progress. Not all notables are military. We memorialize those who have made life safer, easier, and its materials and cultural blessings more accessible to more people. We have celebrations, parades, speeches, offer awards and examples to those who have succeeded and to those who would follow.
How do we as Christians measure up in celebrating the heroes of our Father's Kingdom? Even setting aside some names that would raise disagreement, we have more than enough martyrs in our faith heritage to give us reason to remember with pride those who have gone before. Not considering the martyrs, individuals beyond count have made sacrifices that resulted in the advancement of the Kingdom of God. They turned their backs on family, material comforts, and positions of privilege. Do our church members celebrate these individuals? Do our church members know what they have done? Do our church members know their names?
David Platt, pastor of the Church at Brook Hills, has a special interest in the persecuted church, the Secret Church, due to his contact with them in various countries. His broadcasts of Bible studies under that name have been received by more than 50,000 people at a time through simulcasts. His experiences in working with the persecuted church have led him to see the strength of the church can never be in its material image or possessions but only in its faithful sacrifice. His book, Radical, is a result of this faith pilgrimage.
At least once a year our churches should remember that not all Christians enjoy religious freedom. We should remember that many Christians are paying heavy prices for living out their faith. We should remember that the freedom to worship openly without government interference is a blessing and a freedom granted by man and as such can be taken away by man. We should also remember that the strength of our faith is not determined by the laws of the land but by the Lord of our hearts. Our persecuted brethern know that all too well.
My plea is that on at least one day of the year our churches remember that the strength of our own fairh may well be dependent upon the faithful prayers of individuals who cannot share their prayers. The strength of our faith may be dependent upon the faithful lifestyles of individuals for whom such a lifestyle will result in imprisonment, torture, or death. It may well be that as we enjoy our freedom to worship, we do so because people who have no such freedom are praying for us. Let us take the time to pray for them.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Halloween Is a Lie
(A little time spent indisposed while dealing with a minor medical problem kept this entry from going out on the proper date. It's late, but I wanted to address the subject anyway. TL)
When we look past the cute costumes (some of them at least) and the creative pumpkins and the incredible edible chocolate, we have to admit that Halloween is just a lie. Costumes and masks, the threat of tricks if we don't get treats, and games of skill designed to take very little skill make Halloween a time when we throw reality out the window. We have a great time in pretending, but we know that it is all just a lie.
Sad to say we carry that into our churches. To say someone has lied or to call them a liar to their face is a rather harsh way to say that we disagree with the veracity of their statements. Society frowns upon such blunt statements of disagreement. The recent episode which got a member of Congress censored because he said, "You lie!" in the middle of a presidential address is a prime example. We can disagree with how someone is handling facts or making up facts, but the use of the term "lie" or any of its derivatives is not acceptable in polite company.
Jesus didn't use the word lie very often. His favorite word for such occasions where words and actions contrasted was hypocrite. The intent was the same and his listeners had the same response that modern society has to the word lie. Being told that your lifestyle does not reflect your words does not make for pleasant conversation. Yet Jesus never hesitated when the situation called for the unpleasant task of stating the truth.
In our churches we allow power plays to take place based upon lies and half truths, lies that just sound better. We tolerate it from church leaders because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. We accept it from our ministry staffs because we believe the work of finding another pastor or staff member whom we can trust is not worth the effort of stirring up a confrontation. We allow the hypocrites to destroy the Body of Christ because we believe that any action we take will cause even more serious damage. There is little damage that can be done to the Body of Christ that is more severe than the toleration of lies.
In recent months I have seen this in action as pastors twist history to give themselves a better resume. I have seen it among members who redefine the playing field through deception to keep themselves in power. I have seen it among committee leaders who make decisions based ostensibly upon doing the will of God when it is apparent to everyone that the decisions reflect a self-centered and self-supporting agenda.
We do not expect truth to rule the world when the lord of the world is the father of lies. Within the Body of Christ, however, we should and must expect better. Standing up for the truth got Jesus crucified. Standing up for the truth is never a healthy thing for the individual to do in the eyes of the world. Yet when we bring the deceit of Halloween into the patterns of church life, then we have handed the Body of Christ over to the father of lies. God's judgment will not be pretty.
When we look past the cute costumes (some of them at least) and the creative pumpkins and the incredible edible chocolate, we have to admit that Halloween is just a lie. Costumes and masks, the threat of tricks if we don't get treats, and games of skill designed to take very little skill make Halloween a time when we throw reality out the window. We have a great time in pretending, but we know that it is all just a lie.
Sad to say we carry that into our churches. To say someone has lied or to call them a liar to their face is a rather harsh way to say that we disagree with the veracity of their statements. Society frowns upon such blunt statements of disagreement. The recent episode which got a member of Congress censored because he said, "You lie!" in the middle of a presidential address is a prime example. We can disagree with how someone is handling facts or making up facts, but the use of the term "lie" or any of its derivatives is not acceptable in polite company.
Jesus didn't use the word lie very often. His favorite word for such occasions where words and actions contrasted was hypocrite. The intent was the same and his listeners had the same response that modern society has to the word lie. Being told that your lifestyle does not reflect your words does not make for pleasant conversation. Yet Jesus never hesitated when the situation called for the unpleasant task of stating the truth.
In our churches we allow power plays to take place based upon lies and half truths, lies that just sound better. We tolerate it from church leaders because we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. We accept it from our ministry staffs because we believe the work of finding another pastor or staff member whom we can trust is not worth the effort of stirring up a confrontation. We allow the hypocrites to destroy the Body of Christ because we believe that any action we take will cause even more serious damage. There is little damage that can be done to the Body of Christ that is more severe than the toleration of lies.
In recent months I have seen this in action as pastors twist history to give themselves a better resume. I have seen it among members who redefine the playing field through deception to keep themselves in power. I have seen it among committee leaders who make decisions based ostensibly upon doing the will of God when it is apparent to everyone that the decisions reflect a self-centered and self-supporting agenda.
We do not expect truth to rule the world when the lord of the world is the father of lies. Within the Body of Christ, however, we should and must expect better. Standing up for the truth got Jesus crucified. Standing up for the truth is never a healthy thing for the individual to do in the eyes of the world. Yet when we bring the deceit of Halloween into the patterns of church life, then we have handed the Body of Christ over to the father of lies. God's judgment will not be pretty.
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