Matters of Faith – Page 11

“AMAZABLE”

A preschooler had just finished her first week ever of Vacation Bible School. Apparently it had been a good experience. When asked, she told her mother “Vacation Bible School was amazable.” Now adults may smile at the use of such a word, but to a child caught up in the excitement of learning about God it was a beautiful way to express it. She probably said more than she understood. Nonetheless, she found a way to describe a profound happening in her young life. How long has it been since you had an “amazable” event in your life? How long has it been since you needed to invent a word to describe something that ordinary words do not cover?

From time to time it is good to have an “amazable” experience. It is imperative that we have some blessed events come our way lest we become morbidly pessimistic. Life is filled with too many complicated issues. There is often mystery without meaning, problems without solutions, and heartache without comfort. Tragedy, sorrow, and death can take their toll upon us. As we move closer and closer to our final destiny we need some “amazable” things to cheer us on our way. It is not easy being human. Without some unexplainable joy overtaking us on the journey we could easily give up in hopeless despair.

Sometimes we may miss that which is “amazable.” We turn a corner and there is God as big as life. If we fail to celebrate and share such an encounter it may have little or no effect upon us. The small light that shines into the darkness of our despair is better than no light at all. The more we focus upon it the brighter it glows to dispel the black that may surround us.

Friends who come our way in times of need may not overwhelm us, yet they are “amazable” in the way they can help heal our hurts. Sin may overtake us and guilt may unmercifully whip us, but grace is God’s “amazable” reaction. He forgives the repentant and encourages the wayward to sin no more.

Love is an “amazable” ingredient of life. The capacity to care and to be cared for are often unexplainable, undeserved, and “amazable.” Being alive is “amazable” when we consider the fragile nature of our existence. Let us, therefore, never get too old to look through childish eyes and discover that which is “amazable.”

JACOB’S WELL

It did not matter that she was a Samaritan, or a half-breed, as most Jews would have called her. It did not matter that she was a woman of ill repute who came to draw water at a less conspicuous time. It did not matter to Jesus that conversation with the likes of her would raise the eyebrows of the respected citizens of that area. She had hoped to get her water and go home without seeing or talking with anyone. Her sin had caused her to hide in the shadows of life. Her lifestyle could not stand the scrutiny of the public eye. She was already the topic of town talk.

As Jesus sat on the rim of Jacob’s well He saw hurt, guilt and shame written on her face. He initiated a conversation with a request “Woman, give me a drink of water.” She was startled to hear a man who appeared to be a Jewish teacher even talk to her in a public place. Her response was briskly stated. “How is that you, being a Jew, would dare ask water of me, seeing I am a Samaritan?” The cultural climate of that day was much too prejudiced for that kind of interaction. The years had created barriers of dislike between the two classes of people. A Samaritan woman could well be suspicious of a Jewish male who would make such a request. His intentions could be inappropriate.

Jesus, knowing who He was, had nothing to prove or nothing to hide. “If only you knew who was asking you for a drink you would seek from Him a water which would quench your thirst forever” was Jesus response to her surprised comment. “Give me this water!” she insisted. “Then I won’t have to come to this place of public gossip ever again.”

At this point Jesus wanted to talk about husbands. She wanted to talk about the best place to worship. Jesus explained that a time was coming and had arrived when the place of worship would be less important that the spirit and truth of worship. This prophet soon turned Messianic in the woman’s mind and she hurried into the village to announce her discovery. As a result of her uninhibited testimony, many believed.

Have you encountered a “Jacob’s well” lately where the water of “good-news grace” has washed away your bitterness, guilt and shame? Has Messiah helped you overcome the negative ways in which some folk describe you? Have you tasted the water that quenches your thirst for God? Come let us drink together of the Water of life.

PREJUDICE

Prejudice is a strange and powerful aspect of human ignorance. It has thousands of cunning ways to create unbelievable barriers. It thrives on the lack of information. It grows in the midst of suspicion and innuendoes. Prejudice does not need facts to give impetus to its horrid influence. It is propelled by the false winds of irresponsible conversation. It holds us in the grip of an unbending legalism.

It is mostly out of fear that we suspect those who are not our kind. We do not wait for truth when we want to believe the worst about those whom we dislike. Prejudice keeps us in the dark even when the light of other people’s opinions are before us. It is difficult for us to see beyond the color of skin, language barriers and any number of objectionable characteristics. Truth that comes in an unfamiliar package is unacceptable. Like Pharisees of old we cannot accept a Messiah who is different.

Even though we wish it were not so, we are all quite gullible to the Satanic devices of prejudice. We are forever looking for those folk toward whom we can feel superior. We cling tenaciously to those ideas and customs which give us security of thought and keep our traditions intact. People and ideas which challenge us to think “outside the box” are found to be objectionable. We simply cannot tolerate that which is different.

Religion is a most vulnerable prey of prejudice. Jesus found it that way in His day and strongly rebuked the religious leaders for their narrow opinions. He sought to redeem His people from established habit and give them the truth which would make them free. The mind of Christ is our only hope against the power of prejudice. His gospel is good news to everyone who is victimized by an unbending disposition. His grace can paralyze our prejudice.

POLARITIES AND PROBLEMS

Life is filled with many complicated issues. Chaos abounds. Trouble is everywhere. Evil has a way of creeping into any system we may have thought was immune to its tragic power. We cannot escape the perplexities of our times. For the most part we are locked into whatever circumstances surround us. Even church, which offers the saving grace of Jesus, is not free from the turmoil of confusion. We are in a world obsessed with selfishness, hopelessness and godliness. Despair is written on our faces. We are challenged to do the best we can with what we have as we find responsible ways to cope with life’s agenda.

As we face the complicated issues of life we do well to distinguish between that which is a polarity and that which is a problem. Polarities are situations which have no clearly defined solution. They represent un-resolvable difference of opinions on each end of the mental spectrum. Issues which are clearly non-negotiable are polarities. People with extreme opinions tend to polarize themselves from the mainstream of human thought. It is well to understand that we only manage polarities. We do not solve them.

Continue reading “POLARITIES AND PROBLEMS”

VIRTUES THAT PROTECT

Have you ever considered the virtues of the Christian life as an antidote to every evil that seeks to possess us? The protective power of goodness is strong motivation for pursuing the Godly life. Every detail of life’s temptations are covered by the extraordinary influences of the righteous life.

For example, in the presence of hate there is love to sooth and heal our heated hostilities. As we struggle with doubt, there is the fact of faith to conquer our instability. In the face of fear we are confronted with courage that eliminates danger as a deterrent to the Godly life. Every ugly thought falters in its ambition to muddy our minds in the context of sober thinking. Despair is limited when hope is our daily companion. Lust is lost in the satisfying atmosphere of prayer. Pride is overcome by the humbling experiences that produce a gentle spirit.

Everywhere there is an evil, there is a virtue to combat it. The exciting fact here is God has not left us at the mercy of the devil. We have access to divine resources in our battle with sin. We do not have to succumb to the powers and principalities of this world. There is more to us than our evil inclinations. We are created sufficiently in the image of God to make our choice. “The devil made me do it” is no longer an alibi for misbehavior.

Even when evil overwhelms us and we sin; through confession and repentance we have the force of forgiveness to sustain us. As forgiven sinners we move through every evil situation by the virtues of God’s grace. “Blessed are those who persevere under trial for they shall receive the crown of life.” Amen

DEATH DEFYING FAITH

How does one die who never prays nor talks to God about anything? How does one approach death when there has been no effort to claim God’s death defying promises? Surely it must be a shock to one’s spiritual system to face the unknown with an unknown God. The trauma of death is too much for our human resources alone. The thoughts of dying requires us to have some serious thoughts about God. Our fragile understanding of our departure from this life is proof that we need more than the human intellect to guide us into eternity.

We are not equipped to face death with calloused indifference and that too is a part of God’s grace. He requires us to have sober thoughts about our eternal destiny and then offers us a place He has gone to prepare. He frightens us with the prospects of entering the darkness all alone and then He promises to be with us always. He lures us to the edge of life with resurrection hope and bids us come unto Him and find rest.

Our hope is a matter of faith and acceptance. He does not force His house of “many mansions” upon us. He does not walk beside us as an uninvited presence. It is a simple gospel of receiving what Jesus has to offer and we complicate it greatly when we try to earn it. Heaven is a gift we do not deserve, therefore, dying as well as living is a matter of grace.

Only with Christ can we face death with the assurance that God who called us into life has something special for us in death. Who knows what we might grow to become in the hereafter.

CONTAGIOUS

The word contagious often spreads fear among us as we think of some disease or illness that is easily transmitted from one person to another. We worry every year during the flu season fearing that we will “catch” the ailment from some coughing victim. We take multiple vaccines to immunizes ourselves against any number of contagious ailments. We tend to associate the word “contagious” with that which is bad about us. Mood swings, bad attitudes and personality flaws can create a negative disposition which can be terribly contagious. We spread our emotional germs with critical conversation as we turn our backs on hurting humanity.

On the other hand, however, good things can be “catching” also. Perhaps we ought to focus more upon the fact that there are positive things about us that can be contagious. Is this not the whole idea of Christian fellowship? We come together to expose ourselves to the spiritual energy of the group. We “catch” our faith from one another. Forgiveness and repentance are highly contagious in an atmosphere of grace. Love is easily transmitted to one another when it reaches epidemic stage. Character inspires character. Commitment begets commitment. Positive speech creates wholesome conversation.

Church is a contagious fellowship where we are continually infecting one another for righteousness in the spirit of Jesus. Isn’t it encouraging to know that our best can be infectious? Would it not be sad to discover that the only thing about us that is contagious is our germs?

CHURCH

Church at its best is more than a spectator experience. It is a fellowship of people equipping themselves for ministry and witness. The call of God has always been for His people to be actively involved in making a redemptive difference in the world.

Church, therefore, is a learning resource, a training ground, and an experimental laboratory in the art of Christian living. Whatever transpires in the context of church is of great importance to every area of our lives. We cannot attend church in the same way we go to the theater. An entertainment mentality is not conducive to discipleship.

Church at its best requires a commitment to the higher things of life. There is no call like the call of God, which finds expression in the church. It challenges the moral and ethical fibers of our being. It pleads with us to minimize the things of the world as we maximize spiritual realities. Earthly ambitions are flavored with Godly motives. Love of self is defined only in the context of love for neighbor and love for God. Wealth is seen against a background of need. Stewardship becomes a matter of properly using that which we have. Ministry becomes the password of our lives as compassion grants us entrance into the hurting side of society. If we are serious about God we cannot leave events at church in the same way we leave the theater. A take-it-or-leave-it attitude does not produce commitment.

Church at its best is a fellowship of Jesus’ followers. We do not go it alone. There is a body of believers to whom we relate. In the strength of togetherness we struggle with the issues of life. God calls us into spiritual cooperation where we honor Him by honoring one another.

There is a public dimension to our faith. Lest we become spiritual hermits, we sing some of our songs and pray some of our prayers with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Church gives us a place to observe and experience the operations of grace. The power of people energizes us to seek the will of God and in so doing we find a reason for which to live.

Church at its best is our most wholesome inspiration to do our best because “the church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.”

TRUTH: OUR WAY OF SEEING THINGS

A fact we often fail to admit is that we do not always see things as they are, but as we are. It is the state of our own inner being which determines our interpretation of life’s happenings. This is not to say we are purposely dishonest about our views. It is a reminder that our objectivity is influenced by many outside factors. We are conditioned to believe what we believe by many circumstances over which we have had little control. We were born into a family of thought patterns and preconceived notions from which we rarely depart. Seldom do we go against the political, educational, racial and religious environment that has birthed us. We are cradled in the arms of a set of precepts we were taught would last forever.

This is not bad as long as we are willing to think for ourselves and make such truths a part of our own value system. We must distinguish, however, between inherited ideas and a personal encounter with God. So often we accept what is handed down with no questions asked. It is not until our faith is tested that we begin to scrutinize the content of our beliefs. There is emotional and spiritual strength in knowing what we believe and why we believe it. At some point along the journey we must stop living like spiritual parasites trying to imitate the faith of our fathers. Only when it becomes our faith do we fully appreciate what it meant to our fathers.

We are wise indeed if we understand the dynamics of a variety of influences that have converged upon us to make us who we are and cause us to think our kind of thoughts. Such knowledge frees us from inherited prejudices and enables us to find the truth that can make us free. Such freedom gives us a more objective way of looking at life’s events. We can begin to see things more as they are rather than as we are. We are able to shed our souls of biases which keep us chained to an unquestioned tradition.

Jesus came into the world with no preconceived notions. He was not locked into any set of principles He felt compelled to defend. He had no ego need to fulfill and nothing to prove. He came with love and truth as a message from the heavenly Father. The purity of His thoughts was evident in every teaching situation. His enemies were incensed by His departure from rules and regulations they held more holy than God Himself. Yet, Jesus saw things as they really were and made pronouncements on the basis of that reality.

He offers us the same spiritual objectivity today if we hunger for His truth and love. So, “let this mind be in us which was also in Christ Jesus.” Who knows, we may find the courage to admit some errors of thought as we trust God who alone sees things as they really are.

DOUBT

Sometimes in the midst of our spiritual struggles we tend to be troubled with doubt. We doubt our salvation. We doubt the existence of God. We doubt our place in God’s economy. It is a common occurrence among people who are sensitive to the pain of sin and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. It is not always as bad as it may seem, however, because doubt can be a means of stimulating our quest for the deeper life in Christ. The fact that we doubt could be an indication that our faith is authentic. Seldom if ever do we see disbelieving sinners worried about the validity of their experience in Christ. Godless people are not burdened with questions concerning their commitment to Christ.

It seems that doubt is the devil’s tool to disturb a believing heart. Only those who are trusting Christ for salvation are vulnerable to the tricky questions of doubt. Only people with a serious nature about the things of God will worry about the caliber of their commitment.

Now please do not misunderstand. Doubt is not necessarily a virtue. It is a hindrance. Doubt is designed to weaken and frustrate as it creates a mood of pessimism and defeat. Carried to its logical conclusion, doubt destroys faith and stifles all spiritual initiative. While it is inspired by the enemy, when it is overcome it creates a closer walk with our Lord. It can be a springboard to challenge our best thinking. In honestly dealing with our doubts we soon discover in whom we have believed. Doubt is always on the diet and training table of healthy Christians who are learning to deny their doubts and affirm their faith. So “Have faith in God, He’s on the throne.”