Imperfect Christians

Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. Romans 3:9-11 NLT

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. Romans 10:12 ESV

It is clear from Scripture that we are all sinners before an almighty God. In Bible times it was the Pharisaic Jews who claimed the high ground of being special, but we learn very quickly that Jesus died for all, whether Jew, or Gentile including those learned and clever Greek philosophers. Today we would think that it’s the Evangelical church goers who are the special ones, and we would look down on all those others, because they don’t measure up to the right (that’s our) standards. Nothing much has changed in the past 2,000 years, has it?!

Now as then, we are tempted (and we fail at this) to see ourselves as ‘above’, and those others as ‘beneath’ because they don’t act like us. Or speak like us. Or dress like us. Or give like us. Get the picture?

Since we have God’s Word telling us that we are all sinners, and that includes those inside and outside the church, why oh why are we so quick to decide how people should behave? Those people call themselves Christians we say, and yet they might: read the wrong newspapers, or listen to the wrong music, or watch the wrong movies, or mix with the wrong people, or their conversation is too near the bone. They might not swear or curse or take the Lord’s Name in vain, but we reckon they need to clean up their vocabulary.

With all that going on, we wouldn’t want to be contaminated, or for our friends to think we were like them, but we have to be seen to do something. After all, they are not a good example of what a Christian should be like. So, they leave that church because they didn’t address all the wrongs that were going on under their noses, and look for another one with fewer faults and better Christians. My question is this: Who does that sound like? For my part it is too close to the Jewish Pharisees of Jesus day. Too close. Let me ask another question, and I will not give an answer. Faced with these less than perfect Christians, what do you think Jesus would do? I will leave that with you to think about, and ponder.

Habit or Custom?

He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. Luke 4:16 NIV

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue. Acts 17:2 NIV

Have you ever heard someone comment on your regular Church attendance by saying, “It’s only a habit you know, that’s all”? I have, but let’s be clear, it’s a good habit to start even if that’s all it is!. Both Jesus and Paul had the custom [habit] of going to the Temple regularly, and we wouldn’t say that was a bad habit! The early church knew the importance of regular attendance at the Temple or Synagogue. By their actions, we should take note and follow suit. Going to Church regularly is not an easy habit to cultivate, but be certain of this, it’s a good custom.

As I thought about this custom exercised by our Lord and Saviour and the apostle Paul, I asked myself a couple of questions. Like, before going in, did they ever double check who the speaker was? Or who was leading the singing?? Also, did they ask themselves if there was a better Temple in the next street or town? Or if they had a teacher with more charisma, or presence with a better preaching style? If we are truly using Scripture wisely, we are told only that it was their custom to go to church, and nothing is said about being sidetracked to a different, or better, or bigger, church or pastor.

Then my imagination turns to what happens after the early apostles left the Temple. Did they grumble about the speaker, talking between themselves, that he could have done better? He isn’t as good as the last Temple leader. They don’t sing the Psalms I am familiar with, and like. It begs the consideration, “What did they go to their Church for”? When the answer becomes that they are only there to worship God in His Holiness, then all other thoughts, doubts and human fears will fade and disappear.

I am not asking you, because each person must answer for themselves, but I am turning the question back on myself. What is the REAL reason for the custom or habit I have of going to church? If it’s not to worship in Holiness and truth, then I must return to my first love and set aside the other reasonings and stop hiding behind all my excuses for being unhappy with that particular Church, or Pastor, or Worship leader! To put it another way, if I am bearing the name of Christ as a Christian, then I must behave like one! Ouch, that hurts!

Brexit Chexit

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

It’s fair to say that if you live in the UK, you will probably be fed up with all things Brexit. There’s the ardent get out of Europe now, and then there’s the group who are not so sure and want another chance to see if the rules can be changed to allow the ‘exit’ to be shelved.

The more I read, and become familiar with various strands of the Christian religion and faith, the more aware I am that there is a vast movement of people who want to exit their church right now. And then there’s the group who want the rules to be changed so that they can stay in the church, but on their own, unique terms.

So, where do you stand on the Chexit (Church Exit) question? Have you had enough of the whole Christian thing? Tired of Church and the influence Jesus wants to have in your life? Or would you prefer to stay in your local church, but would like to see the rules changed in a way that relaxes the need for those overly restrictive commandments and the words of Jesus on our way of life? In fact, on MY way of life?

Of course, there is the third way that doesn’t need or want Chexit. There is a fulness of life found in no other person or place than Jesus and His Church. The so-called commandments are not a stranglehold, but the words of a loving God who wants to protect us from harm. That’s the God we praise and openly worship. He is not a burden or a liability, but a welcome friend who always has our best interests at heart. We don’t think twice about saying ‘no’ to our children if we know it’s for their own protection and good.

One last observation. Next time you have to attend a funeral, take a look around and note those who belong to the Chexit crowd. They are the ones who have no assurance of sins forgiven or a place in heaven when it’s their turn to fill the coffin at the front of the church. By contrast, the others will be the ones who can thank their Lord and Saviour for the clear assurance of their place in Glory. So, Chexit? Who needs it when the truth is so clear?

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29,30 NIV

Storms

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39 NIV

Who hasn’t been hit by a storm in their life? Not just a single storm, but they can come in multiples and even then when we don’t want or expect them. The kind of storm that affects us can be varied, but they all hit hard.

The basic ingredients of any storm system will be wind and rain. Lots of rain. It is distressing to see families uprooted and washed out of their homes because of the flood water, caused by too much rain. Water is a strange thing. In the right amounts, it feeds the vegetation to keep the Ecosystem working and producing Oxygen while getting rid of harmful CO2. However one of the side effects of any amount of rain is mud and not so glorious mud! But always keep in mind that if not for the rain, neither would we have a rainbow.

We have a choice to make when hard times hit us. A difficult choice. Do we keep looking down to see how deep the mud is? How thick the mud is? Is it clinging to our shoes and clothes? Come to think of it, how are we ever going to get rid of the mess that mud makes on us, and our belongings? Can I suggest that instead of looking down at the mud, we look up?!

The sight of a rainbow in the sky is guaranteed to lift the spirits of the most life hardened mud watcher. But to state the obvious, we must look up to see the glory of the rainbow! You will never see a rainbow if you only look down at the mud. If you know me, you will know how much I love rainbows because the promise it stands for in God’s Word is close to my heart, and a clear answer to a loud and heart-wrenching prayer. The true rainbow is God’s covenant, and not to be confused with some contrived symbol of unrighteousness that we see flaunted at a Pride March. We can find comfort in what God says about His rainbow:

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Genesis 9:13-15 NIV

Yet!

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 ESV

It is no secret that we credit our great and loving God for the answers to our prayers, or to be more accurate, the answers we want or even like. We lift our hands and voices in praise when that loved one is spared a serious and life threatening illness, or a student gets an A+ grade, we have enough money to pay our bills, our day out has good sunny weather, or I have even heard of someone thanking God for finding a parking place in an otherwise busy car park.

But what about those times that we pray earnestly, and the answer is not what we needed or wanted? That loved one was not spared the finality of her life threatening disease? Our much loved child failed their exams spectacularly, We couldn’t pay that bill and it went overdue? It rained on our Sunday School trip and the day was ruined? And perish the thought, we didn’t get that much needed parking place close to the shopping mall!

The Old Testament prophet knew all about trouble. Real trouble, and he prayed because he needed to pray, BUT he didn’t just recognise the good answers from God, he still praised Him when the storeroom was empty, the harvest failed, and the livestock died all creating a drought and famine in the land. It doesn’t make sense to us to praise God for answers like these, but that’s exactly what he did. The reason is that the prophet trusted God to know the end from the beginning. He knew that God saw the long term outlook and not just what was happening now.

May the good Lord help us to be trusting enough to know that He’s got this on our behalf. It may not be what our short sightedness sees, but it will be what will be best in the long run. I reckon we can see the funny side of the person who doesn’t get a parking slot, but what about the loved one that dies in spite of our frantic and heart wrenching prayers? That, my Christian friend is one of the biggest lessons life will ever through at you, or me. I hope, trust and pray we are up to the challenge of the “yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” just like that little known, but wise Old Testament prophet Habakkuk!

Grace and Love

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV

There is a theme which occurs constantly through the New Testament, and it is one of Love and Grace. Our verse shows the trinity of the Godhead linked directly with Grace, Love, and Fellowship. In my book that makes this theme pretty important in the mind of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As if to emphasise their importance, the apostle Paul uses them often, so we should not shy away from them either.

I never tire of hearing sermons, or even talking with friends about these real, God driven, passionate thoughts, feelings and emotions. Since we are told directly in 1 John 4:8 that “God IS love”, then the more we love in His Spirit, the more Christlike we become. In fact the verse also says, if we don’t love, then we are not like God. It’s really quite simple. Well I think so anyway.

So, I am disheartened when I hear some folks outside the church play down any or all of these Godlike characteristics. I suppose in a way, I can understand the unchurched and unsaved wanting to play down or discredit the love of God, but not a fellow believer! How can that be possible I hear you ask, and you are echoing my own thinking. Mind you, I am very thankful that I have met very few who fall into that ‘love-less’ (less-loving, not unloving!) mindset and category. But they exist, and the truth is that saddens me.

If we ever needed more proof, John, the apostle of love says it this way: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 2 John 1:3 NIV

The 'Club'

But people who are not aware that they are doing wrong will be punished only lightly. Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given. Luke 12:48 NLT

As a member of a Club, eg a football club, I would automatically fall into line with the decisions and actions of the Board, the Management, and the players, whether in the boardroom, on the pitch or the bench as a reserve. I will be committed to the ethos of that Club and all that it stands for. Otherwise, I couldn’t count myself as being a true fan, or a follower.

Sometimes one of the staff or players will act against the ‘ethos’ and find themselves in a law court. Perhaps it’s a financial irregularity, or a moral failing which went public. Whether a failing at the top, or in the locker room, it’s still a misdemeanor and the offender fails not only himself, but the Club’s good name. Well at least for a while, because it can be soon forgotten and the Club moves forward, although forever changed in the eyes of many. Members must obey the law of the land, but the thing that really counts in any club is what happens when the original terms and conditions are encroached. These can also be thought of as the Club Standards, or Regulations.

It’s bad enough when a first team player errs, but we expect more from the Board members and leaders. After all, they set the tone for those who report to them. It’s just like in business when you see the sign on the CEO’s desk which says, “The Buck Stops Here”. And it does.

As Christians we also belong to a parallel body of like minded people called the Church. We all strive to be the best, and to be like Jesus, but sometimes we fail, and maybe even openly. For the most part we are forgiving and accepting when someone in the pew steps out of line. After all, we recognise that we are not perfect ourselves. It may be unfair, but it is a Biblical and natural truth that we should expect more from our pastors, teachers and leaders because they shoulder most responsibility. It cannot be easy to stay on top of the occasional unintentional slip, or even the open and intentional sin, but that cannot and does not absolve any of us from our responsibility. After all, the longer we have been a Jesus follower, the more responsibility we shoulder too! So, whether we occupy the pulpit or the pew, let us all be careful how we reflect the image of the Christ we serve.

Scandals

In my many years on this planet, I have never experienced the media storms coming one after the other, of sex scandals. You can’t have missed them because they are everywhere. The Roman Catholic priests seem to top the list of serial offenders, followed by the nuns. Yes, even the nuns. You might think that a woman who is softer in emotion would be more protective, but it seems that many were in cahoots with some priests. I hasten to add that not all priests and nuns are a threat to children, but we are talking about life in the 1960s through to the 1990s when matters like these were not seen as severe or as serious as they are today. National leaders and Presidents have not avoided this scandal either.

I find the dilemma of life some 50 years ago, compared to now quite remarkable in this important sense. Society recoils in revulsion when we are faced with the abuses of adults and children many years ago, but we are hypocrites. Why do you think that, I hear you ask.

I suggest we have become immune to these wrongs, which is why we react against them when we see the news reports and read the latest newspapers. Hold that thought and feeling, and let your mind swing round to the sex content which is considered as ‘normal’ on TV, together with the quantity of movies which draw box office crowds because of the gratuitous violence and sex scenes portrayed in them. Added to that we have the rising threat of same sex relationships.

So, I see a dichotomy unfolding. On the one hand we are horrified by the reports of sex abuses some 50 years ago, and on the other hand society flocks to see the very movies which show these same scenes as drama. Our consciences are being seared to accept the movie industry, while our courts are rounding up the sex offenders, and rightly so. What a confusing and hypocritical message we are leaving our children and grandchildren? It is no mistake that we are left with this important warning which should be known and understood by church leaders. Especially church leaders!

It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable. 1 Thessalonians 4:3,4 NIV

Worrying Time

You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. Matthew 6:27 ERV

It started off as a slight concern, and has now gone through all the following stages until it has become a full blown anxiety. I know this verse and have quoted it often as a way to defuse other people’s fears and worries, but…. Well that’s the problem, it’s the word BUT!! What about now? What about my fears? My suspicions? What if I do nothing, and something bad happens to a loved one this time? How could I possibly live with myself?

Harm comes in many forms and from many sources, but one that doesn’t get much airtime is the harm that affects the eternal destiny of the harmed one(s). Can I afford to play along and pretend all is well, when I am growing more and more uncertain that all really is well? For me, it has changed from a game of hide and seek, to one of hide and hide and hide again.

Meanwhile we all play our part in the theatre of life. The ones who harm, the ones harmed, and those watching from the gallery. In truth there are almost certainly more than a few who see the signs, question the life and lifestyle of the harmer, and still don’t know what to do that would solve the problem, or even reduce the harm done. It is difficult not to worry about the ones you love, and that makes it hurt!

Inner Strength

Be strong and [be] very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 NIV

We all have those ‘goto’ verses where we find help, strength or comfort, and sometimes all three like this one! But like all of God’s promises, this one comes with a condition. Our salvation is free for the asking. Yes, you have to want it enough to ask for it and only then it is given as a free gift. In this verse, the condition is obedience to the law of Moses, but Jesus brought an extension to the law, so I suggest that our condition today, is to obey the commands and law of Christ.

Not straying to one side or the other is easier said than done, but it is required, no it is necessary for our success in life. Did you notice that being strong and courageous came first? Only then to taking care and obeying the law? By staying on the straight road, then and only then God’s people would be successful, and not only where they were, but wherever they went!

The strength of our convictions must come first, and the other things follow. There was a time that I thought we must not get sidetracked to the left or right, but that’s not the timeline of the verse, is it? As modern language would say, we have to ‘man up’ (or woman up!) with all the strength God will give us, and ultimately we will be successful. Just as it was for Joshua, so we are keeping good company. I can almost hear you asking, how on this earth are we supposed to find this strength. The answer is found in the very next verse where it says: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua was to be obedient to the law of Moses, but we have the greater law as given by the Son of God and the apostles. Now I must ask myself the question, am I up to reading and studying the Bible, so that I will overcome? That’s something we must each work out for ourselves, so how about you?