Talk to ten people near an election day and at least eight of them will tell you the government needs reform in some area or another. Candidates themselves speak of their goals for change and what their administration will do for the people: healthcare reform, tax reform, welfare reform, reform of the public education system, economic reform. And the list goes on and on.
As Christians there is another type of reform that is infinitely more important than reform on social and political issues, but is talked about in public arenas far less. It is personal reform. While governments exist to play an integral role in the development of societies, they can never alone be the cause of change within people’s lives on an individual level. Change begins from within individual people and extends to the culture around them. One person said, “Be the change you want to see in others.”
Recently I was driving to work on Route 22 toward Harrisburg early in the morning before the sun had even begun to bring about the dusk. It’s amazing how another driver on the road can quickly knock the morning slumber out of your eyes – especially when they tick you off.
I was happily sailing down the road in the passing lane just a few modest miles per hour above the speed limit when I came upon a car riding in the passing lane just barely reaching the speed limit. Next to him was another car going just fast enough to keep up with the bumper of this car in the left lane. In Pennsylvania we have a law that says drivers must “keep right, pass left.” So as I came up on the car riding in the passing lane, instantly I became annoyed. How could this driver be so obviously ignorant of the rules of the road and of all the drivers around him? The nerve! Doesn’t this driver realize that some people like to drive as fast as possible to get to work on time – er, uh – as early as possible? (Not realizing that I too was riding in the passing lane, only faster.)
As I sped up and cut in front of the vehicle in the right lane and also passing the “left lane rider,” just narrowly fitting in the gap between these two cars, the Holy Spirit instantly shined something like a spotlight right into my heart and I became convicted. I realized that the impatience and unjustified anger I felt toward another person whom I have never even met is sin.
That’s when I realized I need heart reform. My heart is so wicked that something as small as an unknown driver occupying a space on the road that I believe should be my lane of traffic can set off sin within my heart. Ironically I had been in prayer up until that incident that morning, and my lack of patience and discernment not only caused me to give in to an attitude of pride, but also caused me to make an aggressive driving maneuver which could have endangered myself and others on the road.
As I drove on to work I began to reflect on the true nature of the heart. Although we love to think of ourselves as being overall good at heart, the Bible actually says that the heart is “desperately wicked.” I began to pray, “Lord, please give me heart reform.”
In what ways do you need to experience heart reform? What events in your life have revealed the sin in your heart? Have you offered those areas to the Father for Him to have His way?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Open Hand
I once heard a preacher talk about giving with the symbol of an open hand. He said that the open hand is a symbol of giving, or generosity, because when you give something to somebody, you reach out your hand and let go of whatever it is that you possessed so that they can receive it.
Conversely, the closed hand is a symbol of holding onto something. The interesting thing about this illustration I heard was the connection between the open hand and receiving. You see, not only must you open your hand so that the recipient of your generosity may take what they are about to receive, but also you, when you are about to receive, must open your hand.
When your hands are closed guarding what you have and holding on to protect your possessions, they cannot at the same time be open to receive fresh goods. That is the really interested paradox at work behind the spiritual truth that Jesus revealed when He said, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, crushed down, full and running over, they will give to you. For in the same measure as you give, it will be given to you again.”
The principle is that you cannot receive without also giving. You can, but you will be corrupted. It is similar to a pond with a stream in but no outlet. The pond becomes stagnant and nothing can live in that pond. In order for a healthy ecosystem to occur, there has to be both a source feeding the pond, and an outlet.
The other important thing that Jesus was revealing in this passage is that measure that you use to judge others, forgive others, express generosity, love or any other action, is the same measure that will be used to determine what you receive. You cannot give with a half heart, instead wanting to save what you are giving, then expect what you want to be generously given to you.
What areas do you need to “open your hand” in? Is there any way you feel that you need to adjust your measuring scale?
Conversely, the closed hand is a symbol of holding onto something. The interesting thing about this illustration I heard was the connection between the open hand and receiving. You see, not only must you open your hand so that the recipient of your generosity may take what they are about to receive, but also you, when you are about to receive, must open your hand.
When your hands are closed guarding what you have and holding on to protect your possessions, they cannot at the same time be open to receive fresh goods. That is the really interested paradox at work behind the spiritual truth that Jesus revealed when He said, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, crushed down, full and running over, they will give to you. For in the same measure as you give, it will be given to you again.”
The principle is that you cannot receive without also giving. You can, but you will be corrupted. It is similar to a pond with a stream in but no outlet. The pond becomes stagnant and nothing can live in that pond. In order for a healthy ecosystem to occur, there has to be both a source feeding the pond, and an outlet.
The other important thing that Jesus was revealing in this passage is that measure that you use to judge others, forgive others, express generosity, love or any other action, is the same measure that will be used to determine what you receive. You cannot give with a half heart, instead wanting to save what you are giving, then expect what you want to be generously given to you.
What areas do you need to “open your hand” in? Is there any way you feel that you need to adjust your measuring scale?
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe
Seeing is believing. We have all heard that line. It is a very popular philosophy today. Many people are convinced that if they could just see God – or some evidence of Him, that they would have plenty of reason to believe.
But they do not understand how faith works. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And Paul, writing to the early Christians at Corinth said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7) implying a dichotomy between the two. Basically, Paul was saying that you can either choose to walk by faith, or else you can choose to walk by sight – but the two choices are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Indeed, even Jesus affirms the fact that true faith is not based upon visual evidence. Let’s take a look at His encounter with Thomas after the Resurrection. (John 20:24-29) Here we read about Thomas, one of the twelve disciples. According to John’s Gospel, Thomas was not with the other disciples when they first saw the resurrected Christ. When they confront Thomas to tell him of their encounter with Jesus, he reply’s by saying, “Unless I see in His hands the nail prints, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Since the text often does not completely reveal the mood of the speaker, it is difficult to tell whether Thomas is literally as skeptical and cynical as he sounds, or if he is simply astonished. But we get some insight into that from what occurs next.
About a week later the disciples are all gathered together, this time Thomas with them. They are indoors somewhere and according to the text the doors are shut when Jesus suddenly appears in their midst. After greeting them and calming them down a little, Jesus turns to Thomas and says: “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” After this incredible rebuke, Thomas humbles himself and worship’s Jesus, calling Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Something to note is that Jesus doesn’t only rebuke Thomas, but He also offers Thomas what it was that he said he needed in order to believe. He invites Him to come and examine to see if it is really true. We are not told in the text that Thomas then get’s up and examines Jesus before believing. No, Thomas seems to respond the right way, by doing what he failed to do in the first place – trust Christ.
Finally Jesus gives Thomas and the rest of the disciples a little lesson on faith, and how it looks in real life. He says to them, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
But they do not understand how faith works. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And Paul, writing to the early Christians at Corinth said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7) implying a dichotomy between the two. Basically, Paul was saying that you can either choose to walk by faith, or else you can choose to walk by sight – but the two choices are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Indeed, even Jesus affirms the fact that true faith is not based upon visual evidence. Let’s take a look at His encounter with Thomas after the Resurrection. (John 20:24-29) Here we read about Thomas, one of the twelve disciples. According to John’s Gospel, Thomas was not with the other disciples when they first saw the resurrected Christ. When they confront Thomas to tell him of their encounter with Jesus, he reply’s by saying, “Unless I see in His hands the nail prints, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Since the text often does not completely reveal the mood of the speaker, it is difficult to tell whether Thomas is literally as skeptical and cynical as he sounds, or if he is simply astonished. But we get some insight into that from what occurs next.
About a week later the disciples are all gathered together, this time Thomas with them. They are indoors somewhere and according to the text the doors are shut when Jesus suddenly appears in their midst. After greeting them and calming them down a little, Jesus turns to Thomas and says: “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” After this incredible rebuke, Thomas humbles himself and worship’s Jesus, calling Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Something to note is that Jesus doesn’t only rebuke Thomas, but He also offers Thomas what it was that he said he needed in order to believe. He invites Him to come and examine to see if it is really true. We are not told in the text that Thomas then get’s up and examines Jesus before believing. No, Thomas seems to respond the right way, by doing what he failed to do in the first place – trust Christ.
Finally Jesus gives Thomas and the rest of the disciples a little lesson on faith, and how it looks in real life. He says to them, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Monday, July 21, 2008
Revenge vs. Grace
Proverbs 20:22 says, "Do not say, 'I'll pay you back for this wrong!' Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you."
James 1:19-20 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Recently I was provoked to anger on account of close family members who were treated unfaily and taken advantage of in a business situation. Because I love them, and because they were victims I felt justified to be angry. I decided that I was going to take action. My family members, however, did not want me to fight for them. I couldn't understand it - why would anybody let themselves be bullied by someone, then not be willing to allow someone else to come to their defense? It just didn't make sense to me.
Then the Lord reminded me of that old verse from James, "the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
But what about Jesus? He got angry in the temple and turned over the money changers tables?
"You aren't Jesus, and Jesus wasn't just a man. His righteousness IS the rightousness of God."
OK, so what should I do?
Then it hit me. I remembered the words of the Lord when he spoke to the multitudes that we read about in Matthew chapter 5 - the Sermon on the Mount.
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you. love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors (*who were apparently the epitome of spirtually destitute people in that day) do so? In this way you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
(from Matthew 5:43-48)
OK, Lord, so you want me to pray for those people and bless them? Are you kidding?
"Do you want to work your righteousness or Mine? The only way you'll work Mine is by following what My Son told you to do."
So I decided to give it a try. I prayed for the people who were causing such grief to my family. I admitted to God that I was upset with these people, then I confesed that I forgive them for what they did, and asked God to be graceful toward them. I also asked God to sincerely bless them, since Jesus told me to bless those who curse me. Since I still do not agree with their actions, I also asked God to help them realize that they cannot take advantage of others.
As it turned out, although my family members still suffered alot of stress through the ordeal, I believe God's will was done. The situation came to a amiable resolution for both parties, and my family was able obey Jesus by showing love toward these people who were actually cursing them.
I'll never forget the words that Jesus said in John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this the world will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
James 1:19-20 says, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Recently I was provoked to anger on account of close family members who were treated unfaily and taken advantage of in a business situation. Because I love them, and because they were victims I felt justified to be angry. I decided that I was going to take action. My family members, however, did not want me to fight for them. I couldn't understand it - why would anybody let themselves be bullied by someone, then not be willing to allow someone else to come to their defense? It just didn't make sense to me.
Then the Lord reminded me of that old verse from James, "the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."
But what about Jesus? He got angry in the temple and turned over the money changers tables?
"You aren't Jesus, and Jesus wasn't just a man. His righteousness IS the rightousness of God."
OK, so what should I do?
Then it hit me. I remembered the words of the Lord when he spoke to the multitudes that we read about in Matthew chapter 5 - the Sermon on the Mount.
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you. love your enemies, bless those who curse you, and do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors (*who were apparently the epitome of spirtually destitute people in that day) do so? In this way you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
(from Matthew 5:43-48)
OK, Lord, so you want me to pray for those people and bless them? Are you kidding?
"Do you want to work your righteousness or Mine? The only way you'll work Mine is by following what My Son told you to do."
So I decided to give it a try. I prayed for the people who were causing such grief to my family. I admitted to God that I was upset with these people, then I confesed that I forgive them for what they did, and asked God to be graceful toward them. I also asked God to sincerely bless them, since Jesus told me to bless those who curse me. Since I still do not agree with their actions, I also asked God to help them realize that they cannot take advantage of others.
As it turned out, although my family members still suffered alot of stress through the ordeal, I believe God's will was done. The situation came to a amiable resolution for both parties, and my family was able obey Jesus by showing love toward these people who were actually cursing them.
I'll never forget the words that Jesus said in John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this the world will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Friday, July 11, 2008
An Attitute of Gratitude
Today I want to share a brief word of encouragement on the matter of GRATITUDE. The Lord has been working in my life in this area alot lately. The fact is, when you are grateful, you are honoring God. Gratitude is a form of humility, and we know from James 4:10 that when we humble ourselves before God, He'll lift us up in due time. That's His promise. I believe that gratitude simply means honoring God by being thankful. Each day remembering that He granted the very life you have, and that He gave every good and perfect blessing you enjoy about your life (James 1:17). It is an act of humility and worship to thank Him for those things.
Thanksgiving is also an act of faith. According to Hebrews, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). So that means if we do not see the things God has given us, like when trials are so great that they overshadow God's blessings to our human perspective, it would be an act of faith to thank God for the things which He has provided inspite of our inability to "feel them" right now, or to "see" them. One terrific way of doing this is simply to thank God for His purpose behind every time we suffer something. Sometimes it hardly makes sense to say, "Thank you God for all the wonderful blessings in my life" when we are suffering something terrible. It almost feels fake - like we are ignoring the suffering that is louder at that moment than the blessings. Well one very real response we can have to suffering that has hurt us very loudly is not to pretend to ignore the suffering, but to thank God for allowing it to come our way. That way we are exercising faith that He does have our best interest at heart in what He permits in our lives.
A wise person I know used to always say, "Your attitude determines your altitude." There is alot of truth to that statement - and having gratitude in our hearts is a great way of keeping a good attitude in life.
KEY VERSES:
2 Cor. 9:15
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"
Psalm 95:2
"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms."
Psalm 100:4
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."
Phillipians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be makde known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:16
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
Thanksgiving is also an act of faith. According to Hebrews, "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). So that means if we do not see the things God has given us, like when trials are so great that they overshadow God's blessings to our human perspective, it would be an act of faith to thank God for the things which He has provided inspite of our inability to "feel them" right now, or to "see" them. One terrific way of doing this is simply to thank God for His purpose behind every time we suffer something. Sometimes it hardly makes sense to say, "Thank you God for all the wonderful blessings in my life" when we are suffering something terrible. It almost feels fake - like we are ignoring the suffering that is louder at that moment than the blessings. Well one very real response we can have to suffering that has hurt us very loudly is not to pretend to ignore the suffering, but to thank God for allowing it to come our way. That way we are exercising faith that He does have our best interest at heart in what He permits in our lives.
A wise person I know used to always say, "Your attitude determines your altitude." There is alot of truth to that statement - and having gratitude in our hearts is a great way of keeping a good attitude in life.
KEY VERSES:
2 Cor. 9:15
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"
Psalm 95:2
"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms."
Psalm 100:4
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name."
Phillipians 4:6-7
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be makde known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:16
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
Monday, June 30, 2008
Following Jesus During an Election Year
This morning I read the sermon notes from a pastor's message about Christian's role in the election process, entitled "How Would Jesus Vote?" The Sermon was preached by Fred Miller, pastor of the Cumberland Valley Church where my wife attened for several years before we met. The message is from a couple months ago and makes some great points. Since the elections are just months away, I thought I'd share some of this with you. Fred made several great points for how we as Christians can view politics in an election year.
The first question is "Would Jesus Vote?" Although we cannot answer definitively, we can ascertain from His actions that Jesus definitely did choose to use flawed (disciples and sinners) and temporal (feeding and healing people's physical needs) things to accomplish God's will, an eternal purpose. The implication is that even though candidates for political office are still flawed and human, they can do a job which promotes good works and the purposes of God here on earth, such as giving the community the freedom to share God's message, aiding the poor and oppressed such as minorities or immigrants, and carrying out the justice system. The Scripture supports that Government does provide two things that God is very much concerned with: 1. Doing good for people (Romans 13:4) and 2. Promoting freedom to live and proclaim our faith in Jesus (1 Timothy 2:2-4).
The second question, and rather the main point, is "How would Jesus vote?" In his sermon Fred noted Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus is quoting Isaiah the prophet. In that passage you will find both spiritual and social implications to the Gospel - which affects both our relationship to God and our relationship to others. Fred's conclusion is that Jesus would likely vote "for the candidate who will do the most good for people, and who will free us up to share the gospel." It's important to realize that we cannot force others to follow the teachings of Jesus by law, thus creating a "theocracy." Christian morality cannot be legislated. The government can, however, do things for the common good that many individuals within the general public will not do on their own. Consider Isaiah 58:10, and Zechariah 7:9-10, for example, to understand God's perspective of how we should treat people within our midst. The government can also play a key role in those causes and carrying them out.
Finally, some practical points to what Jesus would look for in a candidate to support are as follows:
How does the candidate...
1. Value all human life (Acts 17:25)...how does the candidate view the young, the elderly, minorities, the unborn, the disabled, those from other countries, and even those in other countries? "Jesus would want a leader who is pro-world, not just pro-America."
2. Care for the welfar of all, especially the poor (Proverbs 29:14)...how does the candidate view assistance to those who are the least well off? Is the candidate most concerned with benefiting those who are already rich, or with assisting those who are needy?
3. Support economic and social justice (Psalm 82:3-4)..."To pursue justice is to protect he weak from the strong" Justice includes more than just punishment of evildoers and convicted criminals.
4. Pursue peace (Psalm 34:14)...war is not God's best plan for the nation of the world. Although it is inevitable, and a clear sign of the last days, there is still a way to seek resolution without violence. Leaders should be in the forefront of such pursuits. "[Pursuing peace] makes violence a very last resort because violence kills life - and it stirs up resentment and anger in future generations."
5. Care for the earth's resources (Psalm 24:1)...Jesus teaching always included the concept that God considers us as stewards of all that we have, and will ultimately give account to Him for every one of the those things. Is the earth not also part of our stewardship? "The earth belongs to God - but he has given it to us to use and care for. We must not just consider 'today', but how our actions will affect generations to come."
6. Maximize religious freedom (Matthew 22:21)...Jesus definitely spoke out agains the spritual injustices in His day - the hypocrisy of the pharisees and condemned their laws that actually hindered true relationship with God. He would most likely do the same today. "He would not vote to make our government more Christian - he would vote to give Christians freedom from the governement. We have only one primary allegiance - Jesus."
*All key points and quotes in grey were taken from Fred Miller's sermon notes, titled "How would Jesus vote?" You can download the entire document in pdf here, or you can visit this page for all of Fred's recent sermon notes: http://www.cvclife.org/dnn/SpiritualResources/RecentSermonsAudioandOutlines/tabid/75/Default.aspx
**After this article was originally sent (via email) there was alot of heated discussion and response primarily, I suspect, becaue the topic mixes religion and politics, something that people tend to get very passionate (or annoyed) over. The following message was my email response in conclusion to clarify the purpose of sending this article:
Hey All,
I'm happy to hear so many responses to my email. That was actually the point - to get everyone thinking, because I know that - at least for me - so many times the tendancy is to NOT think about it until we hear a soundbyte on the news, or somebody else voicing their opinion.
Just to clarify two things...
One, my email was not intended to endorse or encourage endorsement for any candidate. I did not say or imply that it was.
Two, my email was actually not even from my own content - as noted it is based on the sermon notes of a friend who was merely giving his congregation some things to consider when evaluating the candidates. I was only paraphrasing some thoughts that I appreciated hearing, because they helped me to think about the election from a different perspective that the traditional capitalistic, patriotic, democratic/republican media perspective. None of the points made in the message were given with specific intent toward one or another candidate. In fact, at the time of the sermon - there were several candidates yet in the race (many months ago).
Again, I'd like to emphasize the Pastor was not actually hinting at any form of endorsement, but rather providing some examples of how Jesus might think about an election, thus encouraging the congregation to question, "what would Jesus value, and in turn, what should I value?" The point here is to encourage asking what God wants us to value, not who does God want us to vote for. If the question was who does He want us to vote for, I think that would take away alot from the point of having a democratic process. God doesn't always tell us what choices to make - He gives us wisdom, to forsee how our choices might affect our lives, He gives us His Word, to know clearly what His will is, He gives us a freedom to make our own choices, so we can exercise our own faith and obedience, and He gives us grace and mercy, so that when we do make poor or wrong choices, we are not destroyed by them. Apart from that, God isn't going to tell us who to vote for. Neither will I. But the conversation, and examination of our options is surely a positive part of the process.
The first question is "Would Jesus Vote?" Although we cannot answer definitively, we can ascertain from His actions that Jesus definitely did choose to use flawed (disciples and sinners) and temporal (feeding and healing people's physical needs) things to accomplish God's will, an eternal purpose. The implication is that even though candidates for political office are still flawed and human, they can do a job which promotes good works and the purposes of God here on earth, such as giving the community the freedom to share God's message, aiding the poor and oppressed such as minorities or immigrants, and carrying out the justice system. The Scripture supports that Government does provide two things that God is very much concerned with: 1. Doing good for people (Romans 13:4) and 2. Promoting freedom to live and proclaim our faith in Jesus (1 Timothy 2:2-4).
The second question, and rather the main point, is "How would Jesus vote?" In his sermon Fred noted Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus is quoting Isaiah the prophet. In that passage you will find both spiritual and social implications to the Gospel - which affects both our relationship to God and our relationship to others. Fred's conclusion is that Jesus would likely vote "for the candidate who will do the most good for people, and who will free us up to share the gospel." It's important to realize that we cannot force others to follow the teachings of Jesus by law, thus creating a "theocracy." Christian morality cannot be legislated. The government can, however, do things for the common good that many individuals within the general public will not do on their own. Consider Isaiah 58:10, and Zechariah 7:9-10, for example, to understand God's perspective of how we should treat people within our midst. The government can also play a key role in those causes and carrying them out.
Finally, some practical points to what Jesus would look for in a candidate to support are as follows:
How does the candidate...
1. Value all human life (Acts 17:25)...how does the candidate view the young, the elderly, minorities, the unborn, the disabled, those from other countries, and even those in other countries? "Jesus would want a leader who is pro-world, not just pro-America."
2. Care for the welfar of all, especially the poor (Proverbs 29:14)...how does the candidate view assistance to those who are the least well off? Is the candidate most concerned with benefiting those who are already rich, or with assisting those who are needy?
3. Support economic and social justice (Psalm 82:3-4)..."To pursue justice is to protect he weak from the strong" Justice includes more than just punishment of evildoers and convicted criminals.
4. Pursue peace (Psalm 34:14)...war is not God's best plan for the nation of the world. Although it is inevitable, and a clear sign of the last days, there is still a way to seek resolution without violence. Leaders should be in the forefront of such pursuits. "[Pursuing peace] makes violence a very last resort because violence kills life - and it stirs up resentment and anger in future generations."
5. Care for the earth's resources (Psalm 24:1)...Jesus teaching always included the concept that God considers us as stewards of all that we have, and will ultimately give account to Him for every one of the those things. Is the earth not also part of our stewardship? "The earth belongs to God - but he has given it to us to use and care for. We must not just consider 'today', but how our actions will affect generations to come."
6. Maximize religious freedom (Matthew 22:21)...Jesus definitely spoke out agains the spritual injustices in His day - the hypocrisy of the pharisees and condemned their laws that actually hindered true relationship with God. He would most likely do the same today. "He would not vote to make our government more Christian - he would vote to give Christians freedom from the governement. We have only one primary allegiance - Jesus."
*All key points and quotes in grey were taken from Fred Miller's sermon notes, titled "How would Jesus vote?" You can download the entire document in pdf here, or you can visit this page for all of Fred's recent sermon notes: http://www.cvclife.org/dnn/SpiritualResources/RecentSermonsAudioandOutlines/tabid/75/Default.aspx
**After this article was originally sent (via email) there was alot of heated discussion and response primarily, I suspect, becaue the topic mixes religion and politics, something that people tend to get very passionate (or annoyed) over. The following message was my email response in conclusion to clarify the purpose of sending this article:
Hey All,
I'm happy to hear so many responses to my email. That was actually the point - to get everyone thinking, because I know that - at least for me - so many times the tendancy is to NOT think about it until we hear a soundbyte on the news, or somebody else voicing their opinion.
Just to clarify two things...
One, my email was not intended to endorse or encourage endorsement for any candidate. I did not say or imply that it was.
Two, my email was actually not even from my own content - as noted it is based on the sermon notes of a friend who was merely giving his congregation some things to consider when evaluating the candidates. I was only paraphrasing some thoughts that I appreciated hearing, because they helped me to think about the election from a different perspective that the traditional capitalistic, patriotic, democratic/republican media perspective. None of the points made in the message were given with specific intent toward one or another candidate. In fact, at the time of the sermon - there were several candidates yet in the race (many months ago).
Again, I'd like to emphasize the Pastor was not actually hinting at any form of endorsement, but rather providing some examples of how Jesus might think about an election, thus encouraging the congregation to question, "what would Jesus value, and in turn, what should I value?" The point here is to encourage asking what God wants us to value, not who does God want us to vote for. If the question was who does He want us to vote for, I think that would take away alot from the point of having a democratic process. God doesn't always tell us what choices to make - He gives us wisdom, to forsee how our choices might affect our lives, He gives us His Word, to know clearly what His will is, He gives us a freedom to make our own choices, so we can exercise our own faith and obedience, and He gives us grace and mercy, so that when we do make poor or wrong choices, we are not destroyed by them. Apart from that, God isn't going to tell us who to vote for. Neither will I. But the conversation, and examination of our options is surely a positive part of the process.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Is It (__________) God's Will?
Recently a friend asked me how to know God's will on a specific issue. I thought in response, "Wow, that's the million dollar question for Christians." I can't count how many times I find myself wondering the very same thing. Sometimes the answer is pretty cut and dry. Other times it's very difficult to know whether God cares at all about a decision. "Which shirt should I wear today? Should I get my oil changed this week or wait until pay day? Should I buy such and such thing? Is God calling me to do this?"
Part of what makes it so difficult for us may be that we are so used to hearing do's and don'ts that are associated with our faith. However, this is not the whole point of knowing God. Part of being a servant of Christ is obeying Him and doing what He wants us to do. However, God's whole plan for us is not restricted only to the things He wants us to do (and not do). It also includes exercising the abilities He created us with - including free will. In exercising our ability to make choices, sometimes God remains silent, effectively passing the decision back into our own lap, even if we have offered it up to Him in prayer or in our hearts. By doing this, I believe God want's us to learn some things, for examply how to exercise our faith and other virtues like love or patience.
Never the less, in answer to my friend's question, I belive there are some principles God gives us to help guide us even when He is being silent.
1. God gives us freedom and a free will. Alot of times we over analyze whether God wants us to do something or not in life. There are specific do's and don'ts in the Bible (like DO love God and love others, and DON'T live only for yourself or for money, to name a couple). However alot of the activites and actions we engage in on a daily basis may be hard to measure by those clearcut standards. It's what some people call "gray areas." Areas that may be God's will or may not. But one thing to remember is that in Christ we have FREEDOM to make decisions and choices under God's guidance. (Check out 1 Cor. 10:29; Galations 5:1; 5:13; I Peter 2:16)
2. The Good vs. the Best principal. This is a principal which loosely interpreted means there are sometimes in life when you must choose between two or a number of positive choices. In those instances, you can ask God to help you look for the BEST choice or option. For example, in Luke 10:38-42, we read that when Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, He found two women that loved Him deeply but showed it in different ways. In the end, Mary choose the BEST option by choosing to sit at Jesus feet and listen to His words, whereas Mary chose a good option, but not the best one. Similarly, but not always quite so spiritual, we may find instances in life where there are two good choices and our responsibility is to seek the BEST.
3. Having faith in God's ability to oversee all of life's activities and situations. Proverb's 3:5,6 promise that if we trust in God and acknowledge His power to guide us, He will lead us in every avenue. Similarly we find Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33,34 that admonish us to seek God and His kingdom as though nothing else matters, and when we do God will take care of our every needs. To me, the real principle at work here is that God honors when we have faith in Him and He honors when we seek His will by simply asking Him. If we are willing to acknowledge His place in our lives, by asking Him what He may want of us, then even in those instances that do not require any clearcut course of action, I believe God will lead us in a way that we'll find His blessing. The important thing is to believe He is able to lead and make His plan clearly known.
4. To piggy back off the last point - sometimes taking some advice from simply "roadsigns" can be a good way to find God's plan, but we must have faith that God is behind it all. What I mean by this is that sometimes life answers our questions for us, by canceling out one of our options or clearly indicating one that is best. In those times, we can move forward in faith, trusting that God is at the helm of all that's going on. It's like a corny saying goes that says, "When God closes one door, He opens up a window." Well the point is that sometimes God will simply eliminate an option, and we can trust that He is leading then by His providence. If a door is closed, walk through a different one.
I think the key point here behind all of these points is that we must remember that God desires for us to become responsible individuals, managing our time, our actions, our resources, our throughts and words all in such a way that we ultimately honor Him. That requires us to seek His direction. Often then when we do, we find He grants us the freedom again to make a choice, in hopes that ultimately we will learn from our decisions.
Part of what makes it so difficult for us may be that we are so used to hearing do's and don'ts that are associated with our faith. However, this is not the whole point of knowing God. Part of being a servant of Christ is obeying Him and doing what He wants us to do. However, God's whole plan for us is not restricted only to the things He wants us to do (and not do). It also includes exercising the abilities He created us with - including free will. In exercising our ability to make choices, sometimes God remains silent, effectively passing the decision back into our own lap, even if we have offered it up to Him in prayer or in our hearts. By doing this, I believe God want's us to learn some things, for examply how to exercise our faith and other virtues like love or patience.
Never the less, in answer to my friend's question, I belive there are some principles God gives us to help guide us even when He is being silent.
1. God gives us freedom and a free will. Alot of times we over analyze whether God wants us to do something or not in life. There are specific do's and don'ts in the Bible (like DO love God and love others, and DON'T live only for yourself or for money, to name a couple). However alot of the activites and actions we engage in on a daily basis may be hard to measure by those clearcut standards. It's what some people call "gray areas." Areas that may be God's will or may not. But one thing to remember is that in Christ we have FREEDOM to make decisions and choices under God's guidance. (Check out 1 Cor. 10:29; Galations 5:1; 5:13; I Peter 2:16)
2. The Good vs. the Best principal. This is a principal which loosely interpreted means there are sometimes in life when you must choose between two or a number of positive choices. In those instances, you can ask God to help you look for the BEST choice or option. For example, in Luke 10:38-42, we read that when Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, He found two women that loved Him deeply but showed it in different ways. In the end, Mary choose the BEST option by choosing to sit at Jesus feet and listen to His words, whereas Mary chose a good option, but not the best one. Similarly, but not always quite so spiritual, we may find instances in life where there are two good choices and our responsibility is to seek the BEST.
3. Having faith in God's ability to oversee all of life's activities and situations. Proverb's 3:5,6 promise that if we trust in God and acknowledge His power to guide us, He will lead us in every avenue. Similarly we find Jesus' words in Matthew 6:33,34 that admonish us to seek God and His kingdom as though nothing else matters, and when we do God will take care of our every needs. To me, the real principle at work here is that God honors when we have faith in Him and He honors when we seek His will by simply asking Him. If we are willing to acknowledge His place in our lives, by asking Him what He may want of us, then even in those instances that do not require any clearcut course of action, I believe God will lead us in a way that we'll find His blessing. The important thing is to believe He is able to lead and make His plan clearly known.
4. To piggy back off the last point - sometimes taking some advice from simply "roadsigns" can be a good way to find God's plan, but we must have faith that God is behind it all. What I mean by this is that sometimes life answers our questions for us, by canceling out one of our options or clearly indicating one that is best. In those times, we can move forward in faith, trusting that God is at the helm of all that's going on. It's like a corny saying goes that says, "When God closes one door, He opens up a window." Well the point is that sometimes God will simply eliminate an option, and we can trust that He is leading then by His providence. If a door is closed, walk through a different one.
I think the key point here behind all of these points is that we must remember that God desires for us to become responsible individuals, managing our time, our actions, our resources, our throughts and words all in such a way that we ultimately honor Him. That requires us to seek His direction. Often then when we do, we find He grants us the freedom again to make a choice, in hopes that ultimately we will learn from our decisions.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
An Easy Journey?
Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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 burden is easy and My yoke is light."
I Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Insight into the Christian life is knowing that God has our best interests at heart, and believing that. Jesus told his followers that they would have to die to themselves and follow Him to truly find life. That sounds like a pretty tough task to most of us. But He also indicated that when we do we would have every resource of our Heavenly Father on our side. In fact, Jesus told his disciples that yes, while they would have a burden to carry, it was easy and light. He even told them that if they carried His burden they would find rest for their souls! Paul seems to echo that truth when writing to the Corinthians buy pointing out that there is no trial or temptation that we may experience which is exclusive only to me. God does not wish to see us fail. He promises to give us a way out of temptation is we simply choose to take it. The toughest part about carrying our own burden is that we are all by ourselves with it. When we exchange our burdens for His burdens, we eventually find that He will help us carry His burden - we're no longer on our own.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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 burden is easy and My yoke is light."
I Corinthians 10:13
"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."
Insight into the Christian life is knowing that God has our best interests at heart, and believing that. Jesus told his followers that they would have to die to themselves and follow Him to truly find life. That sounds like a pretty tough task to most of us. But He also indicated that when we do we would have every resource of our Heavenly Father on our side. In fact, Jesus told his disciples that yes, while they would have a burden to carry, it was easy and light. He even told them that if they carried His burden they would find rest for their souls! Paul seems to echo that truth when writing to the Corinthians buy pointing out that there is no trial or temptation that we may experience which is exclusive only to me. God does not wish to see us fail. He promises to give us a way out of temptation is we simply choose to take it. The toughest part about carrying our own burden is that we are all by ourselves with it. When we exchange our burdens for His burdens, we eventually find that He will help us carry His burden - we're no longer on our own.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Good Friday Indeed
Romans 5:6-8
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Isaiah 53:10
"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief."
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Isaiah 53:10
"Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief."
Two thousand and some odd years ago, on what tradition says was a Friday, Jesus Christ endured the worst suffering that many of us could imagine. He was betrayed and abdoned by his closest family and friends. He was accused and convicted falsely before a corrupt justice system. He was beaten with whips that had glass shards in them, beard yanked out, punched, spit on, and forced to carry a huge wooded cross up hill, all while wearing a crown made out of thorns, and being mocked and cursed at by an angry crowd who was thrilled to see him die. A crowd who just days before had honored him as their own king. Then soldiers drove nails into his hands and feet - nailing him to the cross that he was unable even to carry the whole way to the top of this place they called Golgatha - or "the place of the skull." Finally he was hoisted up into the air nailed to the cross to suffer a death by what was actually asphyxiation - lack of oxygen. Being nailed to a cross at hands an feet one would have to put the pressure of their whole body on a single nail driven through their feet to give their lungs enough of a foundation to even breathe - something that would be excruciatingly painful, and after so many hours of doing even impossible.
Yet all of this was not even the real kicker. There were actually two other men there that day on their own crosses, next to Jesus. Their situations were not exactly the same, however. Yes, it was a common practice for men to die on a cross in that fashion during the days of Rome's rule. But the real kicker of this story is this: Jesus was innocent. He was perfect, sinless and blameless. And to top if off, when He suffered this death, He accepted the very penalty of sin iteself - something that literally billions of people who have lived since the dawn of mankind should have suffered. But Jesus paid it all. God laid the sins of every man on Jesus, His own Son, so that every man could become a member of God's own family.
Good Friday? For Jesus it must have been tough - in fact nearly impossible to call "good." For us - "good" can barely begin to describe it.
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin hath left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
(chorus from Jesus Paid It All - by Elvina Hall, 1865)
(chorus from Jesus Paid It All - by Elvina Hall, 1865)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thirsting For God
Psalm 42:1-2
"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with my God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While people say to me all day long, 'where is your God?'"
King David, perhaps the most prolific King in Israel's history, and a man God called "a man after My Own heart," suffered some incredible things. He also made some pretty big mistakes in his career. However, the redeeming quality in David's life was that He always knew where to turn - back to God. Even when others were saying "where is your God now, buddy?", David opened up his heart and cried out to Him. I'd like to encourage you to follow the example of a man who accomplished great things and made great mistakes, but whose greatest accolade is that He was a "man after God's own heart."
"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with my God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While people say to me all day long, 'where is your God?'"
King David, perhaps the most prolific King in Israel's history, and a man God called "a man after My Own heart," suffered some incredible things. He also made some pretty big mistakes in his career. However, the redeeming quality in David's life was that He always knew where to turn - back to God. Even when others were saying "where is your God now, buddy?", David opened up his heart and cried out to Him. I'd like to encourage you to follow the example of a man who accomplished great things and made great mistakes, but whose greatest accolade is that He was a "man after God's own heart."
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Psalm 139:13-14
"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet were none of them."
"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet were none of them."
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