Pain and Service

 

“Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something.” – The Princess Bride

This is one of the many lines from The Princess Bride that I have passively committed to memory along with “Inconceivable!” and “Anybody want a peanut?”

Pain in a Fallen World

(Genesis 3:16–19; Job 5:7; John 16:33)

Wesley's quote about pain is spoken to Buttercup at a moment when she is wallowing in her own misery. In all fairness, things were pretty miserable for her at that moment. The strange thing about pain is that we know it is coming, and yet we still let it catch us by surprise. We know people are not perfect but act shocked when they behave imperfectly. We know that everyone gets sick, but get super dramatic when it is our turn. Perhaps it is just one way that we deal with the unpleasant realities of living in a fallen world. Thinking that we may just be the lucky one who will never struggle or suffer. We will miss the cold this season, dodge the effects of the current recession, or die painlessly in our sleep.

Hurt Within the Church

(Hebrews 10:24–25; 1 John 1:8–10)

This happens with Christians a great deal. Over the years the most common reason given for people not coming to church is because of other people. It could be anything. For one person it was a mean thing that someone said, or that they heard something they didn't like from the pulpit. For another person it is that they weren't paid enough attention, and for another it is that they weren't given enough space. For this person that they couldn't find a “just right” doctrinal fit. For that person that they were challenged in their sin and they didn't care for that.

Guarded Hearts

(Proverbs 4:23)

I see these people come into our church as well, quite frequently. Guard up and ready to fight. They have been hurt before, and it is not going to happen again. Whatever happened at their last church they are looking for the church where that terrible thing could never be repeated. It sounds so obviously stupid when you say it out loud - but when we are hurting there is no place in our lives for wisdom. They can be softened to pour out their heart and explain how they were hurt, and ask for soft commitments - “That would never happen at this church, right?”

The Problem Beneath the Surface

(Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18–23)

The problem goes deeper because most of our problems are created by our sin nature rather than those of others. Addicts and co-dependents find each other. Pathological liars find the gullible and prey upon them. As sure as the Indian Scammer will find the grandmother willing to give her bank account number over the phone that visitor is going to find that same type of person who hurt them to do it all again.

The Difficulty of Forgiveness

(Matthew 18:15–22; Ephesians 4:31–32; Romans 12:19)

The conversation doesn't turn ugly until it turns to forgiveness. Explaining the Biblical importance of confronting and forgiving is a difficult thing in this world. We don't want to forgive...we want revenge! In fact, forgiveness sounds scary because if WE forgive, then GOD might forgive and if HE forgives then that person will never be punished! When asked to forgive that last church, or if they spoke to the person who offended them, the answer is usually “no” and you can be sure they are going to spend a couple more years on that merry-go-round.

The Pain of Ministry

(Acts 20:28–30; Matthew 20:26–28; 1 Peter 5:2–3)

It is no different from pastors. Almost every pastor I know who has bombed out of ministry or left the church did so because someone was mean to them. They expected the sheep to be well-behaved, grateful, and compliant. Instead, they found out that sheep bite, and smell bad, and almost never listen. They thought they were walking into a position of respect and found out that there are wolves in sheep's clothing, divisive, slanderers, and passive-aggressive personal attacks around every corner. In short, they thought the job would be easy! We say, in effect, “I wanted to serve you, Lord, but those people made it too hard!” Totally forgetting that serving THOSE people is exactly the way in which we were appointed to serve the Lord.

Paul and the Church at Corinth

(Acts 18:1–11; 1 Corinthians 1:10–13; 2 Corinthians 8:1–7)

At this point, Paul provides a powerful example. The Corinthian Church was founded by Paul. He shared the gospel with them, showed them miracles, instructed them, wrote to them, prayed for them, sent friends to visit them and they treated him with mild distain on the best of days. Corinth was a superficial city - like most cities. Appearance mattered more than character, and they valued sensation over substance. So, they were just like people today or at any other age. They were petty, divisive, and preferred to make factions over remaining united. They were among the wealthiest of the early churches, and also the cheapest when it came to sacrificial giving. To say the church in Corinth was a problem would be an understatement.

“Super-Apostles” and Criticism

(2 Corinthians 10:10–12; 2 Corinthians 11:5, 13; 1 Corinthians 4:17)

The worst of it, however, was how they treated Paul...they questioned his apostleship and were willing to listen to any goofball that walked up and claimed “Paul is an apostle, but I am a SUPER-APOSTLE!” They questioned his gifting, his character, his wisdom, and whether he was giving them reliable spiritual information. Paul continued to love them and to contend for their faith. He loved them enough to challenge these foolish ideas and encourage them to grow in faith. When he couldn't visit them in person he sent others to check up on them. He included them in ministry to other saints, and encouaged them to continue to grow in Christ.

The Scars of Faithful Ministry

(2 Corinthians 11:23–28; Galatians 6:17; 2 Timothy 4:16)

By the end of his life, Paul's body was full of scars. I can only imagine the broken, beheaded frame that was laid to rest on the day that the Apostle Paul was martyred. Yet I imagine that his soul was in much the same shape. Each of those betrayals had to leave a mark. The scars of being questioned, insulted, and slandered - both inside of the church and outside of the church surely caused him great pain. We know as much as he despaired at the end of his life that everyone had left him alone in his imprisonment. One only wonders if Paul would prefer the physical scars to the emotional. The physical might heal; personal betrayal keeps on hurting. Paul's persistence with the Corinthians shows us real ministry. Marks, scars, and betrayals are met with faithfulness, patience, and continuing pursuit in love.

Love Makes the Pain Worth It

(Hebrews 12:2; Romans 5:8)

Wesley speaks those harsh and almost cynical words to Buttercup “Life is pain.” But the theme of the movie is much more uplifting. That pain is worth something for love. The Love that Paul bore for the Corinthian church was made his efforts worth the indignities that he suffered. More to the point, the suffering of Jesus Christ at the cross was worth it to Him because of the value He placed upon us there.

What Makes a Great Story

 

People Are Built for Stories

True stories and fictional stories. This is so much the case that entertainment is among the biggest industries in the modern world, and it is all stories. This is true for every kind of entertainment. A game of chess is a sort of a story played out before your eyes - which kingdom will win the war? The story of a great chess player like Magnus Carlson or Bobby Fischer can capture the imagination of the world.

I have never watched much in the way of sports until a wise friend explained it is just a story as well. Heroes rise up and lead teams of men from nothing to greatness. They overcome difficulties and make great franchises that then get defeated by other teams who dig deep and overcome odds. It changed my perspective on the whole industry.

The Shape of a Story

The plot of a story can often be charted with a simple curve. The introduction of characters and conflict (Act I), the rising action (Act II), and the resolution/conclusion (Act III). This is true of a sports season as it is of a great novel, poetry, or music. The ending may be happy for the main characters, or it may be tragic. The important thing to the viewer is whether that ending is satisfying. That is what matters when all is said and done. So To Kill a Mockingbird, Moby Dick, Pride and Prejudice, and Lord of the Rings are all great stories with satisfying endings though they all are very different in their effect on readers. Similarly, stories like Lost, Game of Thrones, and The Dark Tower fail to stick the landing to the point that most readers feel robbed of their time and investment. We are built by God to recognize a good conclusion - comic or tragic.

A New Perspective on Romans

These thoughts were all brought about by a comment by my good friend E. Dane Rogers who pointed out that Romans 9–11 is not a parenthesis but the climax of the book of Romans. This was a jolt to my perspective on this amazing book.

The First Section of Romans – Personal Salvation (Romans 1–8)

First some background. Romans is divided into three major sections, depending on how you slice it. The first eight chapters deal with the issue of personal salvation. Walking clearly and precisely through mankind's need for salvation (Romans 3:9–23), the provision of Christ (Romans 3:24–26; 5:6–11), salvation by Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Romans 4:1–5; 5:1). Then moving on to the issues of sanctification (or Christian growth) (Romans 6:1–14; 8:1–13) and glorification (the future hope of every believer) (Romans 8:18–30). It is the most clear synopsis of the Christian life, all in one place.

The Middle Section – God’s Plan for Israel (Romans 9–11)

Then along comes Romans 9–11 and everything changes. Usually, Paul's letters have two sections - the first theological the second practical. But Romans has another section in the middle that seems a bit surprising. He begins to discuss the situation with God's chosen earthly people Israel (Romans 9:4–5). Explaining their past, present, and future.

In the past they were chosen by God, but rebellious (Romans 9:30–33). In the present they are still chosen by God, but rejecting the Messiah (Romans 10:1–4; 11:7–10). In the future they will be drawn back to faith in Him by the coming tribulation and will call out to the Messiah (Romans 11:25–27).

I had always thought that this was to answer the simple question: If God made promises to Israel of land, seed, and blessing (Genesis 12:1–3; 15:5–7; 17:7–8), and those didn't come through then how can we trust God for the amazing salvation that was just explained?

God’s Promises to Israel

These chapters DO answer that question - resoundingly. All of God's promises are "YES!" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20) and He will fulfill all of the promises of His covenants with Israel (Abrahamic, Mosaic, Palestinian, and Davidic) (Genesis 12; Exodus 19–24; Deuteronomy 30:1–10; 2 Samuel 7:12–16) in the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34) that will be fully enacted in the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ on Earth (Revelation 20:1–6).

The Church Within the Larger Plan of God

Yet, even that explanation is too short-sighted. Romans 9–11 explains this entire church story has a place in the larger plan of God to bring redemption to the world. The founding and redemption of the Church is a key part in God's plan to call the nation of Israel back to Himself (Romans 11:11–15), and bring about the glorious reign of Jesus Christ (Romans 11:26–27). God's faithfulness is one of the great themes of the Bible (Lamentations 3:22–23). Yet these chapters complete the entirety of human history, and it is a very satisfying conclusion!

The Climax of the Biblical Story

The ending of this story is already written in the sovereign mind of God Who is unconstrained by time and space (Isaiah 46:9–10). There are yet many details that we have yet to discover as it unfolds (Deuteronomy 29:29). The nation of Israel is one of the main characters in this great cosmic drama - and God is not done with His loving pursuit of, and provision for, His earthly people (Romans 11:28–29).

These three chapters in the book of Romans bring the entire narrative of scripture together. It is the climax of the book of Romans because it loops the story of the Church into the plan of God for the ages. It is the climax of the book because it brings us to the climax of all of human history.

What I know... Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind

 

Introduction: Friendship and What Truly Matters

The movie Tombstone tells the story of the friendship between Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. They stood by each other through thick and thin, took risks, and beat the bad guys together. The movie ends with a scene in a hospital where Doc is dying of consumption and Wyatt visits him (apparently weekly). In this final visit Wyatt brings a gift. A book that he has written entitled: My Friend Doc. Whatever else Doc Holliday was or did, to Wyatt Earp, Doc was his friend. That was more important than anything else.

A Man Without Hope — Human Limitation Meets Divine Power

John 9 records an account in the life of a man who was born blind. With all the advances of modern medical science there are still cases of blindness that are incurable, particularly when present from birth. Of course, a man born blind in the first century had no hope of gaining sight by natural means.

The Wrong Question — Assuming Suffering Equals Personal Sin

When the disciples see this man they ask Jesus a question that betrays our human way of thinking. Who sinned? Why is this man born blind? The question is not as strange as we might suspect. We know that a baby’s health can be affected by choices made by the mother while carrying the child. It is not so far-fetched to think that spiritual choices may likewise have an impact on a child's health.

The disciples have fallen into the false idea that every problem in this life is the result of personal sin, but this is not the case. “The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45) The result of sin in this world is that all who live in it are touched.

A Greater Purpose — Suffering Allowed for the Glory of God

Jesus gives an answer of gravity and importance, one that answers deeper questions than just the one being asked. He tells the disciples that neither this man nor his parents sinned — but rather that this was allowed for the glory of God. In the short term this happened. The man spent much of his life blind — and yet was given sight miraculously. We still glorify God today for this miracle and the evidence it provides that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Why God Allows a Fallen World — Redemption Displays His Glory

(Genesis 3; James 1:13; Romans 11:32–36; Ephesians 1:5–12)

It also answers a deeper question. Why did God allow mankind to sin? Why allow sin to enter this world? The Lord is not the author of sin, and the Lord cannot be tempted to evil and does not tempt others to evil. Why did God allow this world to continue once it was polluted by the sin of Adam and Eve? It will all bring glory to God. In redeeming this world the Lord is able to show His character in ways that are vivid and visible. He could simply declare Himself to be gracious and compassionate, loving and forgiving, but in this life He shows it before all of Creation in the worlds seen and unseen.

He gave man freewill, and was glorified by creating beings in His own image. He allowed them to reject Him and He pursued them and paid the penalty to redeem them. He shows the fullness of His righteousness, mercy, and love. Sin, sickness, decay, and death were never His desire, but they have been allowed to continue for a short time in order to display the full glory of God.

Opposition from Religious Authority — When Evidence Is Inconvenient

As the story continues we find that the Jewish leadership is troubled by the greatness of this miracle. There was no way to brush this off as some kind of trick or deception. The miracle had been done, the man and his parents were around as a living testament that Jesus Christ had done a miracle that they could not begin to explain. They were stuck. So they sought to intimidate the man. Threatening him, and trying to get him to denounce Jesus.

Simple Testimony — The Power of What I Know

His response was beautiful:

“Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

He doesn't try to defend Jesus to them, even though he clearly sees that they are in deep sin and folly. He simply reminds them of the simple fact. Jesus had given him sight. Whatever they chose to do to square with that reality meant very little. The facts were the facts.

Sharing Faith in a Hostile World

(Acts 4:19–20)

As we share the faith today, the same intimidation tactics are employed. Yet we have a great deal to share. God created the Heavens and the Earth. The world can complain, threaten, and make up their own fantasies, but nothing changes that pure and simple fact. Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the penalty for sin, and to offer salvation by His grace to all who trust in His sacrifice for sin. Those who want to put works into the equation can quibble, threaten, and whine all they want. Salvation is only by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The Greater Miracle — From Spiritual Death to Spiritual Life

(Ephesians 2:1–5; John 5:24; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

More to the point, every person who places faith in Jesus Christ experiences a greater miracle than a blind man receiving sight. We go from spiritual death to spiritual life. We are regenerated and given spiritual life and ability to see, grow, and have an impact and standing in the unseen world. The world can threaten, mock, or contradict, but nothing changes that fact: He has given us life… and He offers it to them as well.

Conclusion: What I Know — Jesus Gave Me Life

The simplicity of Wyatt's meaningful little booklet got to the real heart of the best of who Doc was. All of his accomplishments and all of his failures were of less importance than this: Doc was Wyatt's friend. Just as the man healed in John 9 stood firm on the simple facts of what the Lord had done for him, so we can say that Jesus gave us life, paid for it with His life, and offered it freely by His grace. He offers it to everyone who will trust in Him for salvation.

Crying Out - Psalm 143

 

The Joy and Pain of Parenting Adult Children

Watching my kids grow up is one of the greatest blessings of this life. Seeing those precious little babies grow from infants to toddlers, children, adolescents, and now mature young men and women has been truly amazing. I am so proud of each of them, and getting to know them as adults is the sweetest thing about getting older. (3 John 4)

The flip side to this is learning how I failed as a parent. Different problems, challenges, and shortcomings were addressed with anger or impatience. Times that served the needs of one of the children felt like favoritism to the others. Processing through all the damage I did in these children’s lives out of my own weakness, foolishness, or selfishness is a most important part of the process of parenting adult children. (James 3:2)

There are certain things that they need to recontextualize, or understand the broader picture, but much of the time I can only apologize and say, “I am sorry, I never meant for you to feel that way.” (James 5:16)

The worst of those occasions come because the child was offended, hurt, or frustrated and they chose to just suck it up. If they had cried out, we could have dealt with the problem. Because they did not, everything just went along and the hurt was allowed to stay and fester. (Ephesians 4:26–27; Hebrews 12:15)

Learning to Cry Out to the Lord

The psalms give us great language for crying out to the Lord. We so often want to put on our imaginary armor and make it appear as if we cannot be harmed, but that is simply and obviously not the case. We are all vulnerable to hurt, fear, loss, or frustration. We try to ignore, repress, or distract ourselves from this, but that doesn't bring about the healing which the Lord offers. We must cry out with David in Psalm 143:

“Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.”
(Psalm 143:1)

These words may sound a bit too forward to our modern era. Demanding attention is largely considered unattractive, and we are often punished for doing so in social and business circumstances. There is something to be said for having social awareness and knowing when to speak up and when to show deference and patience (Proverbs 25:15). Yet David seems to have no problem declaring his desire to be heard by the God of the Universe.

One reason we are trained to wait for attention is that our attention is always limited. We can only listen to one person at a time and cannot be constantly available even to our most beloved friends. God, on the other hand, has no such deficit of time or attention. Quite to the contrary, He beckons us to Him in prayer constantly. (Psalm 34:15; Jeremiah 33:3; Hebrews 4:16)

While we may often find it difficult to be patient in the things that we bring before the Lord, there is something truly powerful about the invitation which the Lord has put before us — to come before Him in prayer at any time. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Jesus’ Teaching on Persistent Prayer

Jesus addressed this issue more than once. The parable of the unjust judge is a surprising one. An old woman continues to come before an unjust judge and demand that he address her case. She cannot afford to bribe him, but because of her persistence, he answers her request. (Luke 18:1–8)

The reminder that God the Father is a better giver than an earthly father reminds us that we can ask freely of God and He will only give us things that are good and helpful for our lives. A good human father wouldn't give a child a poisonous snake when asked for a meal, how much more so the Lord? (Matthew 7:7–11)

We are told that we can ask of God in times of trouble because He cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, yet He cares for us more. (Matthew 6:25–34; 1 Peter 5:7)

At the end of His earthly ministry Jesus tells His disciples, “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name. Ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full.” This is a new bit of information. The disciples, and believers today by extension, are given permission to come before the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ the Son. We have been given an access card to the very throne room of God, and all our requests will be heard and answered. (John 16:24; Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 10:19–22)

The Real Problem: We Do Not Ask

The problem is not the Lord's answer. The problem is that we refuse to ask. There could be no end to reasons or excuses. Perhaps we want to be independent or simply think that this problem is not worth “bothering” the Lord with. Yet the discipline of crying out to the Lord is not only a privilege, it is the responsibility of every believer. The exhortation to “Cast all your cares upon Him” is not a pleasant option — it is the Lord's expectation. (1 Peter 5:7)

When we are told “Do not be anxious about anything,” we can rightly say that being anxious about anything is a sin — a failure to do the will of God. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Cry out to the Lord! Problems small and great are suitable to bring before the throne. The Lord is faithful and longs to listen. Your prayers, brought before Him, will always have impact and power — though not always the results that we thought we wanted — and praise the Lord for that. (Romans 8:28; 1 John 5:14–15)

An Illustration from Everyday Life

I have two dogs. They are rather foolish and seem to get themselves in all kinds of troubles. They eat things that make them sick, get wrapped up in rope or string, and they cause themselves all kinds of potential health problems. The sooner they come to me the sooner I can help them with the problem. Of course, I would love it if they never had any problems, but I love them so much I would far rather help them deal with their problems than see them come to greater destruction. (Luke 11:13)

This comes with some great news — the Lord loves you immeasurably more than I love my dogs. Cry out to Him today! (Romans 5:8; Psalm 55:16–17)

To Seek and to Save - The Gospel of Luke

 

Serve and Protect vs. Seek and Save

The police in the United States have long had the simple motto — “To Serve and Protect.” They are authority figures, they are crime fighters, and they are there for the protection and safety of the city. I have witnessed these courageous men and women doing their job with humility and wisdom in some of the most difficult and painful situations. They are among the people I most admire in the modern world.

Jesus Christ’s mission is described in a similar way. In Mark we find that He came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). In Luke the description of His ministry is to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10). Jesus’ famous statement, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Luke 5:31–32; cf. Matthew 9:12–13; Mark 2:17), is recorded in each of the Gospels, but Luke’s account of the life of Christ really drives the point home.

Prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners are all brought together around the gentle, saving hand of Jesus Christ (Luke 7:36–50; Luke 19:1–10). The sick are healed (Luke 4:40; 5:12–15), the demonically oppressed are liberated (Luke 8:26–39), and all are given the hope of knowing that the God of the universe came to seek and to save us — to do for us what we could never do for ourselves (Romans 5:6–8; Ephesians 2:8–9). The Lord broke into our weakness and sorrow and provided salvation for all who would come to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith (John 3:16; Acts 16:31).

Running from God — The Human Condition

The parables of Luke 15 make the heart of Christ clear to us. As sinners we know intuitively that we have rebelled against the righteous demands and standards of God (Romans 3:23; Isaiah 53:6). Most people feel as if they are on the run from God — like criminals on the lam. They avoid any mention of the Lord, and hope if they just ignore God then they will never get caught (John 3:19–20). Like a person hoping that by ignoring the warning notices they can avoid paying their taxes or going to jail, they simply do not want to hear anything about the Lord.

Mistaking Mercy for Judgment — A Moody Illustration

D. L. Moody told a story about an old widow who was in great financial distress. She waited for so long to address the issue that the bank was coming to take her home. Her church family, in the meantime, was not idle. They came together and raised enough money to pay off her debt and keep her in her home (Galatians 6:2).

The minister came to the widow’s home with a check, excited to present the gift. He knocked and knocked, and she did not answer. He called and hollered at the doorstep, and yet she did not answer. He pounded on the back door. But there was still no answer. Finally, he gave up and went back to the church.

He saw the widow on Sunday and asked her why she would not come to the door when he had tried to visit earlier that week. She explained that she thought that he was the bank coming to take her house away. She had suffered miserably for the entire week thinking that the minister’s mission of mercy was a visitation of judgment.

The Heart of God Revealed — Luke 15

Luke 15 corrects our foolish attitudes. It causes us to see clearly — the three parables all revolve around the idea of lost people recovering something that they cared about (Luke 15:1–3).

The Lost Sheep

The parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4–7) highlights the troubling math of this Shepherd who would leave the entire flock vulnerable simply to save the one who went astray. Yet this is exactly what the Lord’s love does — it reaches out and seeks to save that lost one, rather than simply “cut losses.” God’s desire is to save sinners — to redeem what was lost (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:3–4).

The Lost Coin

The parable of the lost coin is about a woman whose coin goes missing (Luke 15:8–10). Some think that this is an allusion to part of her wedding dowry — an ornate bit of jewelry where coins were woven together with string to form a personal ornamentation that was both financially valuable and precious. To find that lost coin and place it back into its setting would be a memento from the beloved memory of her wedding day. The joy over its recovery reflects heaven’s joy over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10).

The Lost Son (The Prodigal Son)

The final story is the most well-known and impactful (Luke 15:11–32). The story of the lost son records a young man who shamed and disrespected his father by asking for his inheritance before his father’s death. He takes that sum of money and wastes it on his own foolish living. He finds himself in poverty — and returns home, hoping to become a servant in his father’s house.

To his surprise, his father welcomes him back into the household. He is restored to the place of his son (Luke 15:20–24). It shows the loving heart of the Father who was willing to forgive great personal insult and injury to see his son restored (Psalm 103:10–13; Micah 7:18–19).

Yet he is not the only focus of the story. The purpose of this account is also to highlight the anger of the elder son (Luke 15:25–30). The elder son did what was right and wanted the younger son to receive no forgiveness, no mercy. He wanted to see justice enforced. His graceless attitude is more typical of human response to these situations than we may think. We see how difficult it is for mankind to accept and understand the grace of God (Ephesians 2:4–5). Oftentimes we fear that God is going to be graceless and unforgiving, and just as often we hope He is going to be graceless and unforgiving.

Christ the Substitute — The Solution to Our Problem

The Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to present Himself as the solution to our problem. He took the judgment that was due to us upon Himself at the Cross (Isaiah 53:5–6; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). He did not come to condemn the world, but to save the world (John 3:17).

The Offer Still Stands — A Window of Grace

That offer is still on the table. These days of grace and patience are characterized centrally by the chance for the vilest offender who trusts in Jesus Christ to receive eternal life and salvation from His nail-scarred hands (John 5:24; Romans 10:9–13; Revelation 22:17).

Judgment is coming — there can be no mistake (Acts 17:30–31; Hebrews 9:27). But now the window is open for all who trust in Jesus Christ to escape that judgment and to share the gospel of salvation with others (2 Corinthians 5:18–20; Matthew 28:19–20).

The Psalm 131 Principle

“LORD, my heart is not haughty,
Nor my eyes lofty.
Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
Nor with things too profound for me.

Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,
Like a weaned child with his mother;
Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.”

(Psalm 131:1–3 NKJV)

In Over Your Head

  In the novel Great Expectations, a young orphan boy is blessed with an unknown benefactor who helps him financially on his way to becoming a gentleman, a very expensive endeavor. He is totally in the dark about the identity and intention of this mystery supporter, and he spends most of the time in the dark - wrongly guessing at one person or another.

    Pip isn't just in over his head there, he is also in over his head in society in general. It turns out money isn't enough to make this new way of life easy and Pip, being raised by a poor blacksmith and wife, has a lot to learn about living among the upper crust. It is frustrating to be in over your head...as the metaphor suggests...the comparison is to the unpleasant experience of drowning!

Overwhelmed by Options?

    In today's world it is common to feel in over our heads. There is so much information, and so many things going on, we cannot keep up with all of it. The most we can do is try to pick one thing to focus on and see if we can make sense of that. Even then, we suffer from lack of perspective, information, or understanding.

    This is no less true when it comes to spiritual growth. A young believer is immediately overwhelmed with the landscape of Christian denominations, theologies, cults, and celebrities. This was never the problem in previous generations of faith. Faith was relatively simple and it was easy to tell the good from the bad. We might have discussed a theological issue, but the battles that took place were calmer and took longer, owing to lack of communication options.

Challenges of Modern Christianity

    Now, the internet and social media have changed the face of the faith. Young believers are assaulted by the unhinged extremes of Christianity on video sharing sites, and forums alike. A young believer in the 90’s would have a Bible and hopefully a mentor, and a church family. Today they have the entire world of Christendom shouting for their attention right from the phone in their pockets.

    It is a great deal of pressure for a new or immature Christian. The young believer today has much more to untangle and untie than believers of previous generations. I have a great admiration for young believers today, and by the guidance of the Lord I have confidence that the Church will grow even through this testing of information-overload.

It is Good to be Growing!

    This, however, is where the Psalm 131 principle comes in. It is okay not to "be there yet."  Not every believer is ready to weigh into the debates with modern heretics and unhinged extremists. There is a time when we ought to rest in the clear revelation of the Lord and His love and recognize that others may worry about philosophies, ideas, and doctrines that go beyond scripture, and are over our heads, but you do not need to follow. The believer can cling to Jesus and to His word. Rest in our salvation and celebrate in his love.

    Somethings that are over our heads now will make sense to us later. Other things are clear to us now, that we will discover are much more complicated than we first thought. The Lord, however, is always faithful to those who have trusted His Son for salvation. Nothing could be more important than that simple and beautiful Psalm 131 - We can quiet ourselves as a child resting at his mother’s shoulder. Read God's word simply and clearly and those things that are beyond us will sort themselves out in good time. The Lord knows exactly what He is doing.

Celebrating Jesus

 

The Cost of Digging Deeply

                As a pastor I spend a lot of time reading the Bible, studying, thinking, and praying. I interact with as many viewpoints as I can, on the chance that there is something that I have missed. This means that I spend a good deal of time reading people with whom I have fundamental disagreements, and those disagreements can yield a great deal of passion and emotion. This is not entertainment, this is the truth of the living God. It concerns salvation of souls and living in a way that pleases God. The stakes are high. It is serious and it can make us very serious people.  What is the other alternative? The admonitions for Christians in general, and pastors specifically are serious warnings indeed. Not to be taken lightly. Yes, it is no wonder the scripture exhorts us to approach the decision to teach the Bible with gravity.

    Yet it is so easy to become angry, grumpy, even curmudgeonly. Some seem to move into this place with a kind of self-deprecating humor. Others commit so deeply that they become unpleasant to be around. We may often find ourselves praying with David, "Restore unto me, the joy of Thy salvation." We defend the gospel, we defend the word of God. Yet this can become too much. In the end we are all just one small voice, one part of a stream of Church History that continues to flow down through the ages, anticipating the return of Christ.

The Need to Celebrate

    There is a daily need to celebrate. That same Lord who healed the blind, cured the lepers, and called Peter out to walk upon the sea is with us, in us. That salvation is ours to enjoy and experience. We have eternal, abundant life now, not later. The love of God, given through the person of Jesus Christ is ours to enjoy. But how, precisely, do we do that? I know of a few ways, but I am looking to learn more.

    First, listening. It is easy for me to view the Bible as a data source. A thing to be studied, understood, and rightly divided. This is a good thing. Yet it is also the word of life. Pure and simple. there must be a place in my life to simply hear the word of God and see the love and the life that have been given so abundantly to us. I grew up around pop-Christianity; hearing tropes like "The Bible is God's love letter." Such expressions are charming, but shallow, and they almost discourage the exact attitude that they hope to cultivate. The desire to read the word of God to encounter God's love afresh. The statement the Bible is a love letter is simplistic, and kind of weird when you think about it. I can't remember the last time I wrote about fiery judgement in a valentine’s day card to my wife. Nevertheless, whether reading in Isaiah 53, the Gospels, or in the Epistles - the Cross is a message of love (Romans 5:8). It may not be the case for everyone, but I know that I need daily exposure to the word of God seeking only to see His love on a personal level. I always find this message as I read through Psalms every month. It has been a daily reminder for the past 15 years, and I recommend it for all.

    Second, praise through song. I have long ago shed most of my concerns about musical style or instrumentation. The hymnal is filled with as much heresy as modern Christian music ever was. I am encouraged by a Bach chorale every bit as much as I am by some of the great contemporary Christian music that comes out today. Admittedly, however, my favorite way to praise through song is when I can get off by myself with my favorite old hymnal and sing songs of faith at the top of my voice. Good Christian music should be defined by good theology, and there is plenty of that great music available to us in the Church. And there are more wonderful songs yet to be written!

    A third practice that is always productive is prayer. I pray on my knees, pray out loud, and pray through writing. Taking the time to pray through the problems and challenges, fears and confusion of life bring my eyes of faith back to the Lord Jesus Christ. It puts me back in the right place and helps re-prioritize and order things correctly.

The Love and Grace of God

    The best part comes next - when celebrating the love and grace of God I am ready to return to study with the right motivation. Understanding God's word has been a 2000-year church project. It has involved quite a bit of difficulty. Even violence at times. We are all working on a little part of this project. Seeking to know God more, and to bring Him glory in every way. The arguments are meaningful, and important. Yet our motivation and attitude within that is equally important. It is so easy to fight to prove that I am right, but that falls short. The word of God is not a reality tv show - attempting to see who is doing the best job. The Word of God is His revelation of Himself to us. There will always be a need to correct false teaching, but the purpose of that exercise is also so that we can bring him glory. 

    I cannot pretend that I have found the perfect balance. I have spent a great deal of time in arguments that create more heat than light. Yet it is part of my goal to learn to do so with greater grace and strength. I have, in my decades of ministry, corrected people too harshly, and I have failed to correct people when my desire to be liked overwhelmed my love for someone caught in terrible errors. Jesus spoke harshly against false teachers, as did Paul, Peter, James, Jude, and John. There is a place for no-nonsense declarations of truth. But the motivation, I believe was always the same - motivation of God's kind of love. I hope and pray that His love will be the motivation of all our thoughts, words, and actions.

Asking "Why?" with Habakkuk

 

Dealing with the Fear of Fate

    Thomas Hardey was an English novelist who was also a notorious fatalist. His novels, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure, and Return of the Native were some of my favorites in high school, and they had a tremendous effect on me. The characters in Hardy's novels are all doomed to unwanted fates. They all work to overcome that fate, and they all fail. These books were instrumental in disproving fatalism for me. They always leave the main character in the same spot...stuck, hopeless, and asking (in essence) "Why, God?"

Fatalism and Rationalism

    Yet fatalism is a rational response to the reality that so much of our lives are out of our control. Having no control over the movements of nations, the weather, or the economy can often make us feel like we exist at the behest of other forces. On the small scale we experience tragedies that are beyond our control, and on the greatest scale we see a world that is running head long toward sin and rebellion against God. It is easy to find ourselves asking God "Why?"

    What is He waiting for? When will He return for the Church and judge sin? A thousand years is a day to Him, but to us a day still feels like a day.

Enter Habakkuk

    I take this entire book as an opera. A poetic work that is designed to be sung between characters representing Habakkuk and God, along with an orchestra and a full chorus. In this big drama Habakkuk is given the opportunity to stand before the Lord and ask his questions. Habakkuk is wise, humble, and earnestly seeks after the Lord's will to honor Him. There is no axe to grind, there is no whining, but rather a humble man seeking to understand what makes so little sense from his perspective.

    The dialogue happens in three cycles. Habakkuk asks a question, the Lord responds, Habakkuk asks a follow up question, and the Lord responds. and then Habakkuk closes with a song of humble praise to the Lord. I would love to have seen what a production of this dramatic work would have been like in the life of Habakkuk. Yet the words carry enough power to hold our attention.

    Habakkuk is living in a world surrounded by wickedness that is going unpunished. It brings him great frustration, and confusion because it seems like the Lord is tolerating wickedness. Yet the Lord assures Habakkuk that judgment is coming in the form of the Chaldeans - the ruthless Babylonian empire that would ultimately overtake, dominate, and deport the people of Jerusalem.

Answers We Don’t Like

    This was not the solution that Habakkuk wanted. He was hoping God would come through, judge the wicked and leave the nation to the righteous, but instead the entire nation would be brought into captivity. It shows how our simple solutions do not achieve God's ultimate desire. The Nation would be disciplined, and it would ultimately bring about God's glory. The plan was bigger than Habakkuk understood.

    This is our chief problem as humans. We want to shrink the cosmos down to the little sliver that we can see and experience, rather than accept that God's plan is greater. For Habakkuk the whole world was focused on having a godly nation of Israel within his lifetime. God's plan, however, was to redeem the entire world. The failures of Israel to walk with God would not stop His plan and ultimate victory, in fact they would be useful to the Lord.

    The Babylonian captivity had all sorts of amazing effects on the world. The Jewish people were scattered throughout the Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman empires. In each case, bringing knowledge of the One True God, and the scripture to those areas. Many would come to trust the Lord because of their being spread across the nations.

Discipline that Works

    Furthermore, Israel truly did return changed from this disciplinary action. Before the Babylonian captivity the nation struggled with Idolatry constantly. Baals and Asherah poles everywhere. Yet, after that time the greatest threats to Jewish fidelity were the legalism and self-righteousness of the Pharisees, and the syncretism of the Herodians and Sadducees. Idolatry, however, was far less of an issue.

    The book of Habakkuk always brings such comfort and encouragement. To know that the Lord's plan is not over yet, that there is more to the story than we understand, even today, is a refreshing blessing. Ultimately the Lord allows us to ask our questions. He is patient with our limited scope and perspective. The comfort will always be in our understanding of His character and trust in His sovereign plan.

Remaining on Mission

    In our simplicity, we may prefer the fatalism of Thomas Hardy, but the Lord is greater than our perspectives and our fears. He can work all things together for His glory and for the good of those who love Him. That knowledge gives us the wisdom to take our eyes of fear off the panic-palace of the 24-hour news cycle and trust in the Lord and His plan to bring about His Kingdom in His Time. Our job is to proclaim that salvation that is offered through faith alone in the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ alone. When we trust Him, we are able to remain on mission.

Jonah – A Classic Never Dies

 

Classic for a Reason

                I was sitting in my Introduction to Music History class during my freshman year as a music student at CSU when I first learned what makes a masterpiece. I expected this class to cover esoteric and hidden music from Western history. Much to my surprise, we covered Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinski, and Philip Glass. I had already heard all those composers. When would we get to the obscure stuff? My professor, dressed in a suit, with his shirt half untucked, and a bow tie holding together the ensemble.  Imparted some great wisdom that has stuck with me ever since: “You know, Brad, the classics are the classics for a reason!” I thought getting a music education would mean that I would know all the obscure composers and compositions, and when asked what my favorite composer was, I could half close my eyes and say: “You’ve probably never heard of him. After all, I have a music degree.” Later in that course, my professor would define a masterpiece as a piece of art that offers fresh insights, regardless of how many times you listen to it.

Jonah is a Classic

                This leads us to the book of Jonah. Jonah is one of the first Bible stories that most people encounter, and the one that people remember best. It is iconic in literature (see Moby Dick), entertainment, and art. Surely the fantastic nature of the miracle is compelling on a lot of levels. The length is short enough that you can read it in less than 10 minutes if you are a fast reader. Yet this classic regularly returns to our attention, and while I wouldn’t pull a Father Mapple and preach from it every week (really, you need to read Moby Dick), I find myself revisiting this account time and time again for its narrative power and shocking theme. The book of Jonah is about what happens when God’s grace is too much for us. If we read it correctly, we will find it among the most compelling indictments of our hardened hearts and our threadbare practical faith.

The Story

                The story presented in Jonah is quite simple. God tells His prophet Jonah to go to Nineveh (the capital of Assyria – a hostile nation) and preach about his coming judgment. Jonah runs the other way and books a boat trip to Spain (or thereabouts). While on the way, God sends a great storm. Jonah gets thrown overboard and is swallowed by a huge fish, which pukes him up on dry ground three days later. Jonah submits to God and goes to preach in Nineveh. Nineveh repents, God spares them, and Jonah has a temper tantrum. The End.

                The basics of the story are done in less than a paragraph! How could this account be so very powerful? It has to do with understanding what happens when God’s grace makes us uncomfortable. We get God’s wrath. Righteous anger, thunder and lightning, earthquakes, and punishment of sin. We like it even more when we can convince ourselves that we are in a protected crowd. When THEY are getting judged, they deserve it, when we are getting judged…well, let’s hope there is grace for that.

A Reason to Hate

                Jonah had every reason to hate the Assyrian Empire. They were the cruelest nation that the world had ever seen. They were gunning to overtake Israel and make everyone in Israel a slave. Actually, they would first kill as many as they could, skinning them alive and celebrating with their corpses. Those who were left would be deported, the land would be taken, families separated, and THEN they would be enslaved. There was every reason for Jonah to be salty about preaching in Nineveh. He just got a lot more salt than he bargained for.

                Jonah reveals his reasoning at the end of the book, but he was not deterred from his divinely appointed task out of fear for his own safety, nor because he didn’t want to go tell Assyria how awful they were, straight to their faces. He would have enjoyed that task, we can safely assume. Something different caused Jonah to reject this task. Something darker. Jonah was a prophet of Israel. God had warned them plenty. In the Torah, through the Judges, and by the prophets. A warning was only needed if there was a chance that they could change course – and that was unthinkable to Jonah.

                It was all well and good for God to show mercy and grace to Israel; that was the gracious and loving character of God…but saving the Assyrians? That would not be okay. But not only was Jonah meant to know that God would extend this opportunity to turn…he had to participate! Jonah must have been choking on his tongue.

A Moment to Reflect

                We must take a break here. This is where we jump on our high horse, “Jonah just didn’t want them to get saved…I am so glad I would never be that way.” Well, hold your roll for just a moment and let’s think about that. You might be the perfect one, and I hope you are, but if you are like the rest of us, there is always a “them” who we really can’t stand. It may be those folks from a different political party. You can find them if you think about who you like to call names, you know – the real scumbags. It could be racial, ethnic, ideological, or personal. For some, it is the entire other half of the human race who is of the opposite gender. If we are honest, there are probably a bunch of people who could disappear from the earth, and you would be tempted to say that it served them right. I know there are in my deepest, darkest thoughts. Individuals and groups.

                This account is not powerful for most readers because most people are deeply self-deceived. To benefit from the word of God, we must let it be the mirror that God designed and hold it up to ourselves. Take a minute, if you haven’t already, and figure out who “them” is. Discover who it is that you are ready to assign to the rubbish bin. Get out a piece of paper and write down all your reasons. If you are not too much of a coward, write “Why I hate Chicago Cubs Fans,” “Communists,” or “people who take calls on speaker phone in public” at the top of the page.  Got it? Now we are ready to get back to the book of Jonah.

Grace and Gracelessness

                The amazing irony of this book is that everybody in the story shows Jonah grace. God could have simply struck Jonah dead or let him go, but instead, he pursues him in his disobedience and rebellion. The pagans who discover that Jonah is the reason for their personal danger don’t immediately throw him overboard, but rather strain against the oars to see if they can preserve his life (Jonah 1:3). Even the people of Nineveh don’t shoot on sight, but rather give Jonah a sympathetic audience that few prophets to Israel ever enjoyed in their homeland. They repent in sackcloth and ashes! (Jonah 3:5-9)

                The last chapter of Jonah is the real pinnacle of the account. Jonah gets good and mad and goes off to the edge of town to pout and hope that God kills everybody spectacularly. When the Lord does not do that, he pops off at God directly:

“But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”” (Jonah 4:1–3 NKJV)

Jonah is so mad that he wants to die. That is some next-level human hatred. To Jonah, it would be totally defensible. Israel was God’s chosen people; the Assyrians were violent pagans of the worst order. They were going to take away everything, destroy and loot the temple, and scatter the people of Israel and Judah among the nations. They were, quite literally, the enemies of God. They were not just fighting a war of words – they wanted to eradicate God’s people from existence. He was just hating God’s enemies. Surely that was the right thing to do!

 

The Final Word

                God gets the last word on this matter, and the ending of Jonah feels almost unfinished, because we don’t know what became of Jonah. The Lord’s message is clear and poignant:

“But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”” (Jonah 4:10–11 NKJV)

Jonah’s lack of compassion was exposed. But the point of this account, and the abrupt ending, is to bring perspective. Who is not worthy of our compassion? Who is that terrible person whom God had better not save, who is it that could never be forgiven?

                Can God save them? Is that okay with you?

                The book of Jonah does not teach universalism in any way, shape, or form. The Lord saved the citizens of Nineveh from a physical, catastrophic judgment. Their individual salvation would be decided by their individual faith in the God of Israel. Furthermore, the temporary reprieve would end with the destruction of Assyria as prophesied by Nahum. The attitude in the spotlight was Jonah’s attitude, and hopefully ours.

Oh, and in case you are wondering. It’s JS Bach. JS Bach is my favorite composer of all time. Well-known, incredibly prolific, and certainly not obscure at all, he is probably one of the most recognized composers of all time. Bach changed music in a way that nobody else ever has, and there is nothing in this enormous catalog that I don’t absolutely celebrate. Because the classics are the classics for a reason.