Collective, Not Individualistic

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how shall it be made salty? It is from then on good for nothing but to be thrown out and to be trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” 

(rf. Mt. 5:13–16 MEV)

 

            At present I am being challenged by one of the books I am reading at night before going to sleep. The title is Misreading Scripture Through Western Eyes by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien. The theme of the work is to show the reader how much of Western culture has colored the glasses through which we read and understand God’s Word. This is something that we do not realize readily, but how we were raised and educated in the Western world makes a great impact on our understanding of the Bible.

            For instance, we, especially as Americans, have been immersed in an individualistic culture where our personal choice is of utmost importance. Indeed, one could say that the American spirit is fired by and shown through how we idolize our own power to make choices for ourselves. However, as the authors clearly point out, this individualistic approach regarding the Scriptures is a relatively new phenomenon. Before the Great Awakening of the 1740s, Christians were attached to their local churches through baptism that took place shortly after birth. They continued to grow in the faith through the ministry of their local church, revealing this lifelong connection in the weddings and funerals that took place there (pp. 106-107).  After the Awakening, being a part of a local church was totally based on one’s choice. Since then, this individualistic perspective has so overrun the American church that we now have a multiplicity of denominational and non-denominational churches along with the subsequent local church variety from which to choose. This myriad of choices has only served to weaken the influence of the Church in our time. Furthermore, we can choose to stay or go and be devoted to or not to participate at will. Yet as the authors rightly point out, “This is not biblical Christianity” (p. 107).

            When Jesus spoke of His Church and the Apostle Paul wrote of God’s people, they did so, viewing the Church as a collective of people, “Jews and Greeks, male and female, slave and free” (rf. I Cor. 12:13). Jesus did not look at the Church as a group of individuals whose individuality held sway over the whole. The Good Shepherd goes after the lost sheep—why?—to bring him back to the fold (rf. Lk. 15:44). Even in Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount as quoted above, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world”, meaning all His followers collectively (the verb, “umeis”, is a plural “You” or in the South, “Ya’ll”), not referring to the individual.

            If as American Christians we would stop looking at ourselves as individuals, exalting our power of choice, and start viewing ourselves as part of God’s whole, we would see that it is the whole He is working on, the Church, not just ourselves individually. And as we work more together as Christ’s Body, the more we’ll see His work in our midst, bringing His grace to a world that so desperately needs it.

 

Conflict of Wrong and Biblical Views on Important Matters (March 2024)

            It is hard to believe that we have entered another election cycle in our country. Before long our televisions will be inundated with political ads. As Christians we have a special duty to be good citizens of the United States, to vote intelligently and spiritually, using Biblical truth and conviction as our filters to choose those who are fit, worthy and God’s choice to serve in public office. 

I am gravely concerned about the state of the Evangelical movement in America and how we are jeopardizing the efforts to rightly and accurately share the Gospel for years to come. This concern stems from our being a significant part of the polarization problem in our country. When we fall to the following wrong views or beliefs, it makes it very difficult for others to see Jesus clearly because they “muddy the waters”. These are the wrong views that Evangelicals often fall prey:

 

1.     “The end justifies the means” (quote from Prince Machiavelli) as the ultimate standard of action and belief.

2.     Hate, anger, disrespect and negativism are all worthy weapons of use in any cultural war.

3.     Division along political lines validates division and separation within the Church.

4.     Policies and promises alone by politicians (i.e. what he/she will do for us) are adequate rationalizations for supporting a person for leadership regardless of personal character and actions.

5.     “God helps those who help themselves” so only those socially and economically advantaged are special and benefitted by God; therefore, the poor, the hurting, the destitute, and the afflicted should not be objects of our care and compassion.

 

To provide a clearer, more accurate Christian approach, we should return to the truths that the Scriptures, our self-declared foundation of belief, clearly teach.

 

1.     God wants His children to glorify Him always in how and why we do things (including voting) (“Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.”—rf. I Cor. 10:31). The how and why are directly connected with how we show others His reality and love.

2.     Displaying the love of Christ shows that we belong to Him as His children (“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”—rf. Jn. 13:35). Indeed, we should never advocate, support or uphold any effort that does not have His love at its center.

3.     Unity of God’s people is paramount (“If there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy, then fulfill my joy and be like-minded, having the same love, being in unity with one mind”—rf. Php. 2:1-2). Disunity is a sin, quite frankly, stemming from pride and self-centeredness, qualities opposed to Christ Himself, His truth and His love.

4.     God holds all leaders everywhere to His standard of righteousness, removing them at will if unjust (“It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.”—Prov. 16:12; “It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings”—Dan. 2:21).

5.     The poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan are under God’s protection (“When a foreigner sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The foreigner who dwells with you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”—rf. Lev. 19:33-34). Jesus said His disciples always have opportunity to minister and support those most needy (“You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish, you may do good to them.”—rf. Mk. 14:7). Indeed, we are called by God to such ministry.

 

Imagine what a difference Evangelicals would make in a world like ours, lost in its divisiveness and negativity, if we were to display God’s love in our hearts, words and actions, including how and for whom we vote. But wait, that’s what we’re supposed to be doing as followers of Christ anyway (Note: To be “salt” and “light”? rf. Matt. 5:13-16). Our repentance and change are required if we are to reclaim the mantle of difference and distinction as given in our salvation and calling. Only by thinking and acting in a compassionate Christian manner can we affect the real change that our nation needs right now.

Jesus Meets Us Where We Are

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord. You know that I love (philo) You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord. You know that I love (philo) You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love (phileis) Me?’ Peter was grieved because He asked him the third time, ‘Do you love (phileis) Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Lord, You know everything. You know that I love (philo) You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’” (rf. John 21:15-17 MEV)

I may have touched on this in previous years of writing February articles, but it is well worth a revisit. In the New Testament particularly, the authors, including the Apostle John above, use different Greek words for our English concept of the word, “Love”. We tend to use the same word to apply to different objects. We would say, “I love my parents and siblings” or “I love my spouse” or “I love my pet” or even “I love the New Orleans Saints football team (which I don’t by the way—I am a die-hard, die-long Atlanta Falcons fan), using “love” in each, but meaning a different type of love for each.

In the Greek language of John’s time, there were different words for different types of love. Agapeo is the highest form of love possible because it is unconditional. It is freely given and never earned. Phileo is brotherly love, usually found between those committed to a lifelong friendship. It is hard to break. Stergo is familial love between family members. Eros is passionate love, usually with sexual connotations as between a husband and wife.

In the above passage, there is a dynamic interchange between Jesus and Peter concerning Peter’s love for Jesus. Yes, Jesus is recommissioning Peter after Peter’s three-fold denial of Him before Jesus’ crucifixion. Notice, however, that Jesus is asking Peter if Peter loves Him with the highest or unconditional love (derivatives of Agapeo). Peter responds with a pledge of brotherly love each of the three times (derivatives of Phileo). Only on the third question does Jesus ask Peter if Peter loves Him with brotherly love to which Peter replies “You know I do”. Jesus purposefully steps down His expectations of Agapeo to meet Peter on the level of Phileo. In essence, Jesus shows Peter how much He loves him by meeting Peter at the place where Peter is. Peter will later experience and exhibit Agapeo when he formally begins to “feed (Jesus’) sheep”.

Be encouraged to know that Jesus loves us so much that He will willingly meet us at our point of need and understanding. By His Spirit He will then over time move us, as He did Peter, to meet the expectations of showing the same love to those around us.

 

Embracing Change

“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

(rf. Php. 3:13–14 NASB)

 

I find it interesting that the Good Lord put into the very fabric of our being and existence the need and reality for change. One year morphs into another as the past gives way to the future. This is change. We can easily perceive and somewhat clearly see what has transpired through the year previous, but we have no idea what awaits us in the twelve months (or more) ahead. We will experience change one way or another. There’s no avenue around it. God has engineered time to keep us from staying in the present, encouraging us not to live in the past, but to embrace the future.

 

Knowing that such change is ordained by God Himself, it is then up to us to gauge our attitudes on how we respond to this change. Will we look forward in anticipation to what God has in store for us individually, as a church, as The Church? Or will we spend our time in mourning over a past that we were comfortable with but one that weighs us down like an anchor, preventing us from the joys God has planned for us?

 

I believe that we need to have the same attitude toward change as did the Apostle Paul in the text above. In “forgetting what lies behind”, we are not letting go of the great lessons we have learned from the past; rather, we are putting the past behind us and choosing not to look that direction any longer. We are “reaching forward to what lies ahead”, following the Lord’s lead into a future He alone knows and over which He has complete and total control. In this way alone can we ever hope to “press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. 

 

Let us then set our sails, individually and corporately as a church family, to catch the wind ahead of us and go into the future that God Himself has planned for His people.

Wonderful Counselor

 “And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor…” (rf. Is. 9:6b)

 

            I have been blessed to have had the opportunity over the years to complete two graduate degrees in counseling, namely in Human Services Counseling (M.A.) and in Pastoral Counseling (Th.M. in Practical Theology). Counseling from a Christian/Biblical point of view has always been important to me and integral to my ministry over all these years. I have seen this particular area of service grow exponentially and become an imperative part of and benefit to so many people.

            In Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter nine, he foresees the coming of Messiah. Messiah will come out of “Galilee of the Gentiles” (vs. 1) as “a child born to us, a son given to us” (vs. 6a). This child is none other than the “Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (vs. 6c) who will rule from the “throne of David” (vs. 7a) and whose government will have no end. 

            However, the Messiah will also be the “Wonderful Counselor” as the text above describes. He will not only hear the words of His people and sympathize with their problems and issues, but, unlike most modern-day counselors, Messiah will provide wise insights and proven direction that will address the real needs of the hurting and despondent. He will not only share His counsel but will also exemplify it in His own life, showing us how we should respond as we follow Him by faith.

            Since He is the “Wonderful Counselor”, Jesus the Messiah invites us to “cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us” (rf. I Pet. 5:7). It is not as if we are giving Him new information when we open our hearts and lives to Him. Rather, He knows we need to verbalize our issues to Him as a child would tell his/her parents what really is going on inside. And when words elude us, His Holy Spirit takes our feelings and translates them into clear communication with Christ (rf. Rom. 8:26). So, whether with or without an oral explanation, Jesus hears our hearts and prayers and addresses those things most needed to bring healing and restoration.

            As we celebrate the first coming of Christ with all its festivities, let us not limit ourselves to seeing Him in the manger. Rather, let us remember that Jesus came not only to give us eternal life through His gift of salvation, but also to bless our lives in the present by being our “Wonderful Counselor”, one who knows us and understands our struggles better than we could ever grasp ourselves. Let us hear His wisdom and follow His example so that we will know His healing and restorative power personally.

No Room for Negativity

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” (rf. Ps. 100:4-5 NASB)

 

We all know folks who have a difficult time seeing the good in life. Their focus is always on the negative, wanting things to go badly for others and expecting disaster for themselves. These folk remind me of Eeyore in the Winnie Pooh saga. For them, no amount of good news is good; there has to be “a fly in the ointment” somewhere. 

The one place where such people should have a difficult time with their perspective should be in church. Since our whole focus as Christians should be the glory of our God, positivity needs to be our perspective. The good God has promised to do good things for His people. We as His people should immerse ourselves in His love, mercy and grace, none of which qualities has any negativity attached.

To that end, the Psalmist reminds us that we should be thankful at all times, especially when we “enter His gates” to worship the Lord. One cannot have a heart of praise and a negative spirit at the same time. Indeed, the latter tends to snuff out the former. How do we keep this from happening to us? The Psalmist tells us: “Give thanks to Him, bless His name”. Why, you may ask? Because “the Lord is good; His lovingkindness and His faithfulness (is) to all generations”; that is the reason. God has given us ample proof of His love toward us as His children. There is no lack of evidence of His mercy and grace in our lives.

With this in mind, let’s take some time during this Thanksgiving holiday season to “give thanks to Him”. He has blessed our families, lives and those of our church family as well. Indeed, when we began the year, our church had to tighten our belt financially. Then, the Lord blessed us in unexpected ways so that we’ve been running a surplus throughout most of 2023. We’ve had large projects to be completed, all of which were paid in full with no debt accrued. Also, He has blessed St. John’s with additions to our membership and new visitors to worship. We’re seeing “new blood” and a revival of interest in our brand of traditional worship. God continues to “shine His countenance” upon us. We pray for more and more of the same blessing as we enter into 2024.

Take a few moments after reading this missive and recount the many blessings you have experienced this year, individually and as part of His work at St. John’s. I think you will agree that we all have absolutely nothing to be negative about! “The Lord is good…and His faithfulness (is) to all generations.”

 

Worship: Our Time to be Quiet and Hear from God

 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” 

(rf. Ps. 46:10-11 MEV)

 

Lori and I had the opportunity last week to return to a Pastors and Wives Retreat that we had previously attended twice before. In years past our time away proved to be immeasurably beneficial to both of us. This one was no different in outcome, though somewhat different in structure. Nonetheless we were very blessed by the time away, the new friends in ministry we met, the wonderful meals provided, and, especially, the quiet which fed our souls.

 

Everyone needs a quiet place where the noises of this world cease to be a distraction, allowing the proper background for us to truly hear the voice of God to our hearts. The quiet we experienced last week was essential in recharging our batteries for further ministry and to be able to sense God’s direction for our lives.

 

It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, the constant demands of work and family, the incessant call of “things to do”. This generation of American Christians is obviously struggling with these burdens as evidenced by their lack of faithfulness to Christ’s Church and an absence of desire to participate in the work and worship of God’s people. Many believers today would rather spend their Sundays doing anything other than being with fellow Christians. This is so sad!

 

Sunday morning worship is designed as a time to “get away” from the cares of this world, to recharge our batteries as we fellowship with one another and God’s Spirit. It is a “quiet place” where one can look into one’s own heart and pursue a stronger and deeper connection with Almighty God. Worship is specifically planned so that we are immersed in God’s Word to the end that we can be better living testimonies of God’s grace in Christ Jesus who lives within each of us.

 

As Lori and I had to make plans ahead of time to “get away” to WinShape for rest and restoration, so all of us as Jesus’ followers must plan to be with God’s people in worship each and every Sunday (barring sickness and Providential reasons, obviously). If we are faithful in the worship of our Lord and Savior, He will be responsive to our worship, inclining His ear to our prayers and speaking encouragement to our hearts through His Word and Spirit. Make the commitment going forward to setting God’s worship as a weekly priority for you and your family. He will bless your dedication to Him.