religion – Page 4 – Random Thoughts

THE WORD OF GOD

The word of God converges upon us in many ways to remind us of our creatureliness in relation to the Creator. At best we are limited in our understanding of who we are and how we fit into the scheme of things. We are not equipped to be God, but we are equipped to know the mind of God. Although there is mystery surrounding the Divine presence, He does not wish to remain a secret. We are invited to grasp as much of God as we are willing to seek. We are not left without resources in our search for ultimate reality.

We do not have to concoct fictitious characters and suspicious myths about the past. We do not have to worship the bizarre in the present nor do we have to fatalize the future. We have the Bible as the written word which bears witness to Christ the Living Word. We have the Holy Spirit which enhances our appreciation of both. Whatever lack of knowledge we have concerning the things of God is not because we lack the resources and one of those resources is the Bible.

WHAT WE HAVE AND WHO WE ARE

Some people come into the world with a tremendous financial advantage. Their forebears have provided them with substantial resources. Some folk make the most of it and live productive lives. Others squander their inheritance by reckless mismanagement. It is no crime to enter into life with a prosperous endowment. There is nothing wrong with having one’s life fully funded. It is a sin, however, to abuse one’s advantage. To whom much has been given much is required. There is a stewardship of life which expects us to do the best we can with what we have. There is such a thing as responsible abundance. Affluent folk are uniquely blessed with many avenues of special service to humankind. No matter what our status at birth we have a lifetime to establish our worth.

We sometimes refer to people entering life with an abundance of material resources as having been born “with silver spoons in their mouths.” Perhaps most of us feel as if we were born with “rusty spoons” in our mouths. We certainly brought nothing into the world. We had little offered us on arrival and we are leaving very little behind in terms of material wealth. Nonetheless, we are trying to do the best we can with what we have. Whatever good, whatever bad, whatever rich, whatever poor, whatever great, and whatever small there is about us, we are primarily responsible.

The kind of spoon with which we were born need not determine the quality of our contribution. Just as it is no crime to be rich, it is no crime to be poor unless our poverty is a poverty of soul. God has created us with the freedom to be the best we can be with the set of circumstances life has imposed upon us. He does not require us to build a financial fortune. He expects us to be fruitful and multiply. He wants the spot we inhabit on planet earth to be productive.

God desires that we use our creative energies in positive ways. Whether we come into the world with a “silver spoon” or a “rusty spoon” we still have a purpose. We start from where we are and move to where we can be by the grace of God. Neither riches nor poverty is an excuse for lazy living. Yet, it is not ours to harshly judge the poor or the rich without knowing the circumstances. We take hold of that bit of life we have been given and pursue the richness of God’s possibilities for us. Our investment is called “commitment.” His return is called “contentment.” No matter what kind of spoon from which we eat, we are either nourished or impoverished by what we digest.

CONVICTION WITH COURTESY

Why is it that some folk in their attempt to defend what they consider to be a Godly view of something, act so ungodly in their support of it? Why do they choose to be discourteous and crude in the affirmation of their convictions? To hear some church folk talk it sounds like they would half kill anyone who disagreed with their views. What has happened to the spirit of Jesus who taught us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves and would not permit Simon to fight for Him?

Personal views are weak, no matter how correct they are, when they have to be defended by ugliness and a spirit of contention. Such harsh argumentation reveals not so much an interest in God’s view but in promoting the pride of one’s own thought. A sinful ego cannot face another point of view without a fight. Insecurity of thought will always create an argumentative attitude. Someone who is comfortable in his or her own theological skin will be courteous in the presentation of his or her convictions. There will be kindness in disagreement.

The truth of the matter is when one has a Godly viewpoint he or she will also have a Godly attitude. When one is thoroughly immersed in the truth of God he or she has nothing to prove only something to share. A Christian witness is one whose disposition verifies the accuracy of stated convictions. It will always be open, however, to other revelations as the Holy Spirit leads. Our earnest prayer, therefore, is for meekness even as He gives us courage.

SCARS

The scars of the past reveal two things about us. For one thing, they remind us we have been injured. Secondly, they indicate healing has happened. The important thing to note here is that we are free to focus our attention on either of these two facts. If we choose, we can allow our scars to keep our injuries ever before us. We can permit them to nag us with repeated anxiety. We can rapidly recall all those folk who have caused us pain. We can continually curse the circumstances that have hurt us. If we get angry enough, we can even shake our fist at God for allowing us to have troubled times.

Bathing ourselves in self-pity, we may find a few people who will join us in our tub of tears. Some, whose scars are fresh and wounds open, may find our whining attractive and surround us with an insidious pity party. Yes, scars can be a terrible reminder of the bad things which have happened to us. Yet, if we surround ourselves with folk who keep us focused on the hurt, we will never learn the lesson of our scars.

On the other hand, however, our scars can help us focus on healing rather than hurt. If we choose, we may gratefully remember the processes of healing as our wounds were repaired.

From physical injury to spiritual pain we saw forgiveness and grace at work. The scars of both instill memories of hope as we trust God’s healing power.

We may finger lovingly the pages of scripture that brought health to our souls. In love, we may rejoice over the growth that came through our painful chastisements. In faith, we may place the scars of our past into the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, as we celebrate the future. Yes, scars are signs that healing has happened. How do you see your scars?

AFTER CHRISTMAS LETDOWN

When the Christmas activity is over, what then? When the carols have faded away, the gift wrapping paper has been burned, and families have returned, what then? When the star of Bethlehem has faded into the starless heavens of human activity, what then? Is there a letdown in your life when the most exciting season of the year has ended? Do you search diligently for something to replace the emotional high of Christmas festivities? Yes, it happens to all of us to some degree. but it should not be that way.

Depression after Christmas may indicate that we missed the real meaning of His birth. Christmas is not an end. It is a beginning. It is not the only joyous time of the year, but a symbol of the joy we may have every day in Christ. To be sad after Christmas may be a natural response to the absence of loved ones and family activities. However, there can be a lingering joy of memories and meaningful times of worship.

From a spiritual perspective Christmas should be a revival of our zest for living. It should renew our capacity to trust God and one another for a happiness that is not seasonal. It should revitalize our perception of the gift of forgiveness, love and grace, which is really what that manger birth was all about.

To be sad after Christmas is to forget that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. The new year comes to remind us that old things have passed away and that in Christ we find a place to begin again. Every day is brighter because of that Christmas star. Every song is sweeter because the angels sang. Here is where a merry Christmas gives rise to a happy New Year.

May it be so for you.

THE CHRISTMAS EVENT

The Christmas event captures our attention in many ways. Its heavenly drama accents the extent of diving participation. Its earthly response gives evidence of human anticipation. There are many impressive features of that nativity night which enable us to grasp the gospel of Christmas.

The humble setting in which it all occurred reveals the condescending nature of God. The Lord Jesus came from heaven’s glory to be birthed with the crudest of maternity care. If God would stoop to a lowly stable to usher in His Son, then surely He would stoop to share with lowly sinners His love and grace. How could it be that the shepherds, noted for their simplicity and rugged life style, were the first to come? Was it not indicative of the fact that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost? The wise men came because their scholarly insight gave them a special revelation of God’s activity. The simplest and the wisest as well as the poorest and the richest were all to share in this redeeming light.

The angelic choir reminds us that the coming of Christ was an event to celebrate. Because on that night “the heavens declared the glory of God,” today we have a reason to sing. That first Christmas music has put a song in every believer’s heart. It has been the inspiration of all our singing which truly magnifies the gospel.

The threat of Herod was but a parable of the kind of world into which our Lord had come. It was a foreshadowing of the cross which would eventually result in His painful, yet loving, sacrifice. The exodus from Egypt was symbolic of God’s protection and care. The Herods of the world would not have the last word. Crucifixion would give rise to resurrection and in that power His word would go forth. Hallelujah what a Savior!

TWO OR THREE GATHERED

In our world today of religious conglomerates, church has become big business. As we observe the electronic churches with their television personalities taking in their millions, we are tempted to ask, Is God for sale? Have we packaged religion in neat, syrupy sermons and wrapped it in emotionally draining songs to give it consumer appeal? Have we resorted to the gimmicks of Wall Street rather than the Golgotha inspired sacrifices of the New Testament? Have we allowed the search for mammon to hinder our search for souls?

Hopefully, these questions represent the extreme and the religious landscape is not what it appears. Surely the manufacturers of high-powered religious showmanship are sincere even though their product is sometimes shallow and misleading. Surely the people of God will become less gullible when they realize that para-church never becomes the full body of Christ.

It would certainly be unkind and unnecessary to discount any good from these hyper salespeople of religion. Yet, it would be devastating if that were all we had. We must never forsake the assembling of ourselves together as a body of believers to minister to one another in a humble, sincere and Godly way. There is something quite profound when two or three are gathered together in His name and God is present.

A PRAYER OF UNITY

Its a prayer of unity

that I lift to You this day, O Lord.

I pray for unity in our world

where conflicting nations have chosen war

as a means of settling their differences.

Give those who participate in such strife

a reasonable spirit

so that hostile guns may once again be silent.

I pray for unity in our country

as opposing politicians seek to blame one another

for our economic and social ailments.

Give those in authority a responsible disposition

toward the issues of our time.

May they turn their mental energies

toward solutions instead of accusations.

I pray for unity within our church,

as the lust for power is no respecter of institutions.

Give those who have a following

a sense of stewardship about their popularity.

May they humbly and responsibly

represent the cause of Christ.

Help us all to be cooperating Christians

in a body of believers who understand

that love will keep us strong.

I pray for a kind of unity where good people

have a right to disagree agreeably.

Help us to monitor our own feelings

in keeping with the spirit of Jesus.

Show us again and again

that publicans, fishermen, zealots,

and a variety of folk

can still function as disciples

of our Lord Jesus Christ.

AMEN

GETTER OR GIVER

Have you ever considered what kind of world this would be if God were a “getter” instead of a “giver?” What if God had made getting the chief goal of His creation so that everyone created in His image would have His encouragement toward a selfish life? There would be no such thing as sacrifice because the idea of a Savior-God would not exist.

Forgiveness would be a relative matter depending on its ability to manipulate others. Love would only exist in the form of affection toward oneself. Faith would only express the confidence in one’s ability to succeed through accumulation. There would be no such thing as sharing with the less fortunate and the thought of dying for another would be repulsive to say the least. The concepts of church and ministry and caring for the hurts of humanity would be ideas foreign to the thoughts of a self-centered god.

How horrible we say, if God had been oriented around getting instead of giving. How thankful we are that His word is a loving testimony of His sacrificial commitment to all humankind. With gratitude and praise we celebrate His divine compassion. We experience hope and peace as we trust His eternal kindness.

We are so impressed by His unselfish love that it becomes the theme for our songs and the inspiration for our sermons. We join Paul in giving thanks for His unspeakable Gift and all the gifts that are products of His selfless nature. Although we are grateful for a “giver” God we must take care not to let getting become the goal of our lives. Let us be done with our “getter” gods lest we lose the precious commodity of grace.

THE ENERGY OF ANGER

The energy of anger is a force to be reckoned with in our world. It can cause nation to rise against nation. It can cause neighbor to mistreat neighbor and families to crumble in pain. It can cause normally decent people to harbor hatred. It can cause all of us to lose our composure and make fools our of ourselves.

What is there about this mysterious power which causes us so much inner pain and frustration? Sometimes anger gains its strength from our exaggerated selfishness. It receives momentum from the “mighty me” complex. Anger preys on our weaknesses to make us feel strong. It makes us defensive and resentful toward those who detect the flaws in our armor. When we allow the sun to go down upon our wrath it complicates tomorrow’s relationships.

Misdirected anger can be one of our most harmful emotions. Yet it does not always need to be bad. Paul said, “Be angry and sin not.” Perhaps this is Paul’s way of acknowledging a proper anger. It is a proper anger that runs money changers from the temple when it is obvious they are keeping others from worship. It is right to be angry about the hurts of life when they rise out of mistreatment and evil. Paul is telling us to channel the energy of our wrath into constructive purposes.

As the Holy Spirit controls our lives, even the emotion of anger becomes a redemptive tool in the hands of God. As our anger is kindled against sin, we are energized to oppose it. There are things God does not want us to tolerate. He wants us to despise the sin that separates us from one another. He wants us to denounce the evils which destroy human personality.

Therefore, let us seek Him who can inspire us to be angry about sin and yet have love for the sinner. Let us be angry enough at sin to confess, repent, and turn from the awkward attitudes and actions which have stunted our spiritual growth. Let us be angry enough at hate to let love prevail, at fear to let courage inspire, at doubt to let faith direct, and at all uncleanliness so that righteousness might stand. Then and only then can we “be angry and sin not.”