Just Talk?

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy6:6-7NIV

Our biggest, best, and most important mission field is our family. Not the world, or the nation, or even the community, all of which are important, but not as significant as our children. The biggest influence on any child is their mum and dad, especially in their younger formative years, so what are we doing about it?

I don’t know about your church fellowship, but I was used to missionary meetings which always featured brave men and women who left home and family to take the gospel to the poor tribes in the third world. What amazing stories they told, but every convert was a tough challenge, and certainly not easy. Going into a culture which is contrary to the Christian Gospel, and going against the grain for every convert is not easy and every one should be commended.

We are not all called to be missionaries, preachers, or teachers, but every parent has the ability to tell their children about the love of God, and better still, they can show that love first hand. The impact is clear and unmistakeable, and our verse shows the importance. But why do it at all? Taking the following verses in context shows God’s heart and intention for using the family unit as the mission field that most adults can identify with, and He gives us good reason to talk so that we don’t forget the Lord. Just talk with your family, and walk the talk!

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deuteronomy6:10-12NIV

Effort or Works?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9NIV

We are so used to quoting these verses while thinking about those good works of charity outside the doors of our church. Things like, running a food bank, visiting the sick, working with the homeless, and there are other good works which a Christian will be involved with. Our good works in the community come from a heart of faith and we know they do not give us salvation. But what about ‘good works’ inside the doors of the church itself?

I would suggest that there could be an expectation or requirement of some good works inside the church too. There are some well known denominations and sects which openly operate on the principle of good works being necessary for salvation, but in a Bible believing evangelical church? Surely not?

Recently I became aware of the expected effort being placed on a congregation to behave in a certain prescribed way during the worship time. More effort should be placed on things like hand clapping, raising hands, swaying, bouncing on the spot, and generally singing with more expression, whether you were comfortable with it or not. All this while the leader is encouraging the folks with words like, “C’mon church” during the song. Granted, this mainly comes from some online mega-churches, but are we slowly in danger of becoming more like this model ourselves? Is the worship time starting to take over from the preaching of the Word? Is this not like the tail wagging the dog??

The Emperor

You know the story. The Emperor desperately wants and needs to be seen as superior and special in the eyes of his subjects, so he gathers his advisers together to come up with a plan which will do just that. Ideas come thick and fast, but nothing suits the Emperor. Until, that is, one of the courtiers brings in a new wardrobe of clothes, and this leader loves new threads above everything else. As he peers at the adviser’s arms, over which these new clothes are draped, he utters the words, “I don’t see any new clothes, there are no new clothes”.

The rest of the story is legend. The courtier convinces the Emperor that these are the finest clothing lines that have ever been produced, and his staff and subjects will be beside themselves when he goes out in public. The Emperor is convinced, and not only that, everyone else is told that they cannot see them because they are so fine. Word gets around that their leader is going on a procession through his Empire to the adulation of his subjects. To a man and woman everyone convinces themselves that these clothes are so fine, they are magical. The crowds ooh and aah as he passes by because no one wants to admit to being so backward that they cannot see these fine clothes. In the end it takes a small boy, who shouts in innocence, “the Emperor has no clothes!” The game was up, and it took a little lad who hadn’t been told and convinced that the clothing was special.

Oh how we are like the crowds gasping at the finely dressed Emperor, convinced that he is wearing the best suit that money can buy. To say anything else would tell everyone that we were the stupid ones. So we stay silent as the new fad, phase, program, or advance is rolled out to the adoring crowds. Now put yourself in the church seat or pew, when a newbie comes in to sweep clean, and introduces a new way to do your church. You are the ‘simple faithful Christian’ and they are the enthusiastic graduate who has convinced everyone that their way is best and will work a treat (and they have the diploma to prove it).

Do we, like the crowds around the Emperor in his underwear, accept the patently obvious confusion, or wait for a young believer to shout the thing that we all know to be the truth, that the new program or system is without the warmth of decent covering and has left us hanging out cold and dry? What?? This isn’t the first time??? It has happened before????

What If Church?

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians6:7-9ESV

What is your idea of church? If you are older, and have been going to church for a number of years, you must have seen changes. I am guessing you accepted some, but held your nose with others mostly because church attendance was important to you, and it is Scriptural after all.

There are many denominations within the Reformed tradition, so if you were unhappy with the changing direction of your own doctrine and fellowship, what would you do?

What if church was viewed as a morning or evening out with friends? Or a way to have a nice time? Or to be entertained? Or a social event? Any kind of gradually reducing Spiritual content would then be taken as part of the territory and would be accepted as normal going forward.

A friend from a different denomination made a refreshing comment which warmed my heart. It wasn’t about the programs in his church, or the outreach, or the growth figures. No, he said simply, “all I know is that Jesus is my Saviour, my sins are forgiven, and I am bound for heaven.” I mean, who talks like that anymore? (said with my tongue firmly in my cheek). Seriously, shouldn’t our conversation with Christian friends be more like that, and not our football team, or our latest baking experience, a photo of our dinner plate, or even our latest diet? Just sayin’.

Expectations

Whether we like it or not, we place our expectations on others whose life impacts us. We think they have a mark to reach to be true to the person we think they are. Let me expand that to the people they lead you to think they are! That’s a very different thing, isn’t it? There are jobs and professions that we instinctively know what to expect, and we are seldom, if ever, wrong. Doctors, nurses, police officers, and I’m sure you could add others. But these are professions. Trained professionals in fact. But what about a work or vocation that is spread across all kinds of people, young and old, experienced or not, man or woman?

The Christian is such a person, and we have our expectations in each of them, whether in the community, or other churches, or dare I say even our own church. While in mixed company, have you ever heard the words, “I never thought you….(fill the action yourself)”. It’s akin to suggesting that you are a hypocrite, and that is a word I dislike intensely.

You see, the truth is: As much as we place our expectations on others, those same ‘others’ are placing their own expectations on us. I suppose that’s a fair balance, but I still don’t like it. The bottom line is that I think we should be very careful about the measuring stick we use on our Christian brothers and sisters, because they could use that same stick to beat us up if we fall short of their expectations! How then do we ALL live up to the expectations placed on us? The short answer is that we don’t, because we can’t in our own strength. The apostle Paul gives us the answer when he wrote to the Christians at the growing church in Colossae.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. Colossians1:9,10NIV

Royalty

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Peter2:9NIV

It doesn’t get much better than this, does it? We are chosen, royal, a holy nation, special possession, declaring praises, into His light!! To get the full weight of this verse you have to read it more than once, and slowly to let it sink in.

When you wonder what God thinks of you, and the failings you have, consider this verse. When you have struggled and tripped up on the way, read this verse. When you doubt your salvation let that verse drip feed into your soul.

I have heard it said that if God had a fridge, He would have our photo on it. Certainly not scriptural, but it carries the sentiment well. God loves us completely, and the list of ways He loves us runs through this verse and the whole of Scripture like the lettering on a stick of Blackpool rock. All we have to do is believe, and trust in the same God who says them in His Word.

One Hundred Years

‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ Numbers14:18NIV

Older folks, we have a great responsibility on our shoulders. There are a few verses which record the same thing, that our Great-Great Grandchildren’s society will pay the price for the sins of our generation, and since the average age of a generation is around 25 years, we will be well gone from this scene of time but our family will still be affected, and it will be our fault.

We cannot claim that this is an old testament ‘curse’ only. Take a look around the great nations who once were Christian in word and deed, and look at those same countries now. You will see that in the space of 100 years, so much has changed. For two examples, think of the UK and the USA, and look back those 4 generations. What a change in morality, and there can be no doubt that while they sowed the wind, we are reaping the whirlwind. So it will be four generations hence.

This is more a warning for each and every present generation, and less a punishment on our succeeding generations. They are solely and directly inheriting the mistakes (sins) of their ancestors. The children in 100 years time are not at fault, we are. They are innocent, and we are guilty of neglecting God and His Word. The Children of Israel did it time and again, but God was patient and kept taking them back when they repented. But the cycle repeated.

Although each individual at every generation has the freedom to repent and put God first, this truth still works. The general state of society will reflect the rejection of God at every generation until there is a revival and the ordinary man and woman comes to their senses and turns our god-less nations around. Lord, let is begin in our generation. With us. With me!

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus34:7NLT

Natural?

News outlets like to carry stories that a same sex ‘couple’ have had a baby. Both are quoted as being ‘naturally excited’ after successful IVF treatment. The ‘couple’ may be excited, but no one can say the process is natural. They are not the first to go through this process, and certainly will not be the last. This usually only becomes newsworthy because of the celebrity status of the people involved making some ‘newsy’ contribution on a slow day.

Was intimacy or physical love involved? No. Instead the process will have been intrusive, very unnatural, and certainly not born out of any physical union. Will the ‘father’ or ‘mother’ (if known) be involved in the child’s life? No. Certainly not a desirable outcome.

I understand that this kind of ‘operation’ is becoming more frequent, but by no stretch of the imagination can it be called, natural. We have become so PC that we cannot express an opinion contrary to their decision. After all, they have every right in the law of the land to use this procedure to allow a baby to be born. We do it with normal couples, so why not everyone and anyone? Does our society condone this just because the process is possible, although abnormal? Probably. But does that make it right, or moral, or ethical? No.

The baby, and growing child, will lack either a mum or a dad in their young formative life, and we have been deceived into thinking that children are equally secure and stable in any loving relationship, whether heterosexual, lesbian, or homosexual. We, as a society and community, are on the cusp of finding out the truth of this theory. I for one am glad that I will not be around to see the consequences, but my heart aches for my children and grandchildren. What has my generation done in haste that must be repented at leisure??

Words

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! Proverbs15:23NIV

The words we use are very important in all aspects of our lives, and that includes the church. In fact, it matters even more in the church because it is by our words and actions that we are judged by those inside AND outside the church. We usually talk about the conversations we choose to undertake or join because they may not be suitable. But what about those answers we give to the words used by others? They are important too.

The verse above is very clear that we gain joy as we give our ‘apt reply’ when our friends talk to us. I suggest this is more than a ‘smart’ or ‘cleverly crafted’ or even ‘academic’ response. If someone is hurting, they don’t need a smart answer. If they are struggling with their faith, they can’t use a cleverly crafted reply. When a child in the faith needs advice or direction, the last thing they want is an academic treatise.

Giving an apt reply can be a gift from the Holy Spirit from you to that friend, for that time. But I found myself asking, how do I gain that insight to the much needed ‘apt reply’ because there are many hurting and needy people who need that ‘word in season’? I believe the true and good response we should give is governed by our ‘hearts being fully committed to the LORD our God’. May our Lord help us to be the carrier of that ‘apt reply’.

And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” 1Kings8:61NIV

Sarcy

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians4:6NIV

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians4:29NIV

I need to nail something down. Right now. My Scottish culture almost demands that you are sarcastic, and the more sarcastic you can be, the better. To soften the barbs, we find it goes by other names like, ‘a bit of fun’, ‘banter’, ‘harmless chatter’, ‘inoffensive laughs’ and the favourite, ‘everybody does it’. It doesn’t sound so bad like that, does it? However, sometimes it feels like a competition and I’m getting tired of it.

The little brother of sarcasm is irony, and there is a better place in our language for that, than for being sarcastic. Let me throw a lifeline. Done well, sarcasm can be very funny and more so when no one is affected personally. Scottish menfolk are not good at light sarcasm. It has to be full bore or not at all. In fact, the more personal you can make your sarcastic comments, that would seem to work for many. Because this is a cultural failure, the ailment has seeped into the church, and good Christians have become quite adept at the ‘art’. Social media is a favourite gallery to display your prowess’.

I wonder how Jesus views our conversations? We do have good evidence that God would prefer we didn’t sink to that level as seen in the two verses above. There are many more taken in context which would support this.

The ground has been pierced by my sword from here on. I cannot do anything to stop my friends being who they are, or holding to this kind of so called humour, but I can exert some pressure to change myself, from the inside. So, when addressed in sarcasm, whether personally or aimed at another, I will not react or respond. For my own part, it dies right there. I feel I have been here before, but each time I backslide, the worse the error of my sarcasm becomes. Is my target too high, and perhaps unattainable? I hope not because I don’t like myself when I slide back, even a little.

Sarcasm defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary: “The use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way.” Or how about this definition?: “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.” ...and still the answer comes back, “..it’s only a bit of banter, a bit of fun!” Somehow I don’t see my culture changing anytime soon!