Based on Philippians 1:1-26
It is hard for us in these times to imagine a time when Christianity was a “new” and unknown item in the world. As I read the passage for today, the opening of the book of Philippians, it is so clear in Paul’s words how precious and precarious the situation that the followers of this new faith were living through. The dedication, commitment and courage that was certainly needed and, of course, the faith in who Jesus was and what He had done for all of us, is remarkable amongst these early followers and early churches.
How often we take this for granted!
Now, we may sit in our churches, maybe we go, maybe we don’t, maybe we bounce from one church to another looking for the perfect church, and never really find perfection. Maybe we are brave in our Bible study or in church to declare Christ our savior but in front of our friends, family or co-workers we shrink back so as not to make waves among those “uncomfortable with God-talk.” Maybe we celebrate Christmas with abandonment and acknowledge Jesus somewhere in the whoopla. Maybe we regularly attend church with our children, but God, prayer and Jesus Christ are never talked about the rest of the week with our children or even with ourselves as adults. Maybe we think that our children will somehow just “become Christian” without our help, influence, teaching or role modeling. Maybe we live like most Americans live: as if the country we love and the right to believe and worship will always be there through no effort of our own. Maybe we should turn on the light of reality and seek the truth!
As we often give credit, and rightfully so, to those men and women who have fought in our armed services to preserve our freedom, as Christians, we are not so consciously aware of the people like Paul and all his followers who went before us, inspired by God directly as they carried out the mission of spreading the good news in a time filled with treachery. We forget about the struggle. The percentages for Paul and all the rest to succeed were probably, at a glance, not the best. Was God walking, standing and inspiring these men who bravely spread the word? Absolutely! This was a miracle of Biblical and historical proportions being carried out right before every ancient governments eyes, before every noble, king, before all the legions of Roman authority, before a world that had been crying out for God—and still is.
Yet, here Paul reminds us that this faith is more then a personal choice to pick a ‘belief system’ as it is so commonly labeled these days. Christ is not a system nor is He a choice as if we are choosing between apples and oranges. Yes, we make the choice for him, but he is not the ‘lumped in with every religion’ that our modern society calls for him to be. Yet, who is allowing this to happen? Is it us? Are we as guilty as the rest of this secular humanist world when we do not respond to the battering of Christianity in our country and the world? Who is supposed to answer those who make Jesus into a common prophet, a nice man or an inspired teacher? Is it our pastors or someone like Billy Graham or the Pope?
No it is us, it is all of us, who must stand up and fight the righteous fight for the faith we say that we say we believe in. If we believe that Christ is God on earth, who enabled all of us, should we choose him, to have eternal life, why do we then not cry out at a media that belittles Christians or calls people of faith “ radical extremists”, impaling them with the Islamic terrorists of 911 ( Rosie O’Donnell, Charlie Sheen etc.). Is it OK for us to not react? We seem to be unlike many other religious communities, who, if they were confronted by a similar circumstance, such as when comedian Kathy Griffin after she won her Emmy award a few weeks ago, stated, “A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. Suck it, Jesus. This award is my God now."
Last year, the Muslim communities went bizerk over political cartoon that made fun of their prophet “Mohammed”. You will recall the riots and bloodshed over a pen and ink drawing. Yet, here we are in good old USA, and a female comedian of dubious reputation can speak such an insulting and graphic remark about our “prince of peace”, our “lamb of God”, our “Lord of Lords”, our “mighty God” and we say nothing. No church denomination has cried out, and only a few people have mentioned this. As far as I know, it did not make the news on CNN or FOX or NBC etc. It has not been gone over repeatedly like a Brittany Spears antic. Are we turning the other cheek? Or is our passion for Christ laying flat on the floor?
Paul says this in Philippians 1:10 and 20 “For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.” “For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past.”
Paul often talks about not being ashamed as a follower of Christ. But here we are in this 21st century and we are seeing this dismantling of Christianity by the media, by higher education, by the culture, by our acceptance of a social order without values and, finally, even from within Christendom, as many denominations choose a path that serves the culture rather then Christ. Do we grasp any longer what Paul implored us to understand about what really matters? Our choice comes to this: whether we are ready to become unashamed and stand up for the truth or whether we will continue to hope that the diluting and shredding of Christ will just slow down or go away. Lord help us with our frailty of spirit.
Laurie Erdman
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
As You Would Serve Christ
Ephesians 6:1-24
Again, there’s so much packed into this little chapter. Parent-child relationships, strength and the armor of God, prayer, peace, and more…
But this morning, I’m most struck by something else, something that feels offensive and mysterious and incredible. Did you read verses 5-8? I often skip over the parts about slaves, because I’m not a slave, and we don’t use slaves anymore. So I read the words, but I don’t really think about them. But this morning, I can’t escape them.
I know that Roman slavery wasn’t exactly like the slavery in our American memory, but I doubt theirs was a lot more noble. Slaves were property, workers with no rights, no paychecks, nothing. Some, I’m sure, were cared for better than others, but the system was oppressive, breeding mistrust, animosity, and bitterness. I am not a slave, nor can I imagine what it was like. I’ve heard students describe their chores as slavery, and I perhaps did at times, too. Here, however, God, through Paul, addresses actual slaves, not just people who felt mistreated, people who were overworked, underappreciated, and robbed of human dignity.
And the words of God come to these slaves, saying, “obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.” What!?! Paul doesn’t even remind them of the spiritual promises in the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, much less say, “God desires for you to be free,” or “You’re more valuable to God than your earthly masters recognize.”
Here we see how incredible Jesus’ call really is on our lives. Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Love your neighbor as yourself. This is what it means. We are to love God so profoundly that we would love others so purely that, even as mistreated, undignified and beaten slaves, our goal would be to see our service to our masters as service to Christ. Although we were stripped of our identity, robbed of our God-given dignity, and barred from any right to have our complaints heard, we are to bless the people around us, that God would be glorified in our lives and in our work, and that the love of Christ might be seen in us.
No matter what our circumstances, no matter what our place in society, no matter the pain we feel or the privileges we enjoy, our sole purpose is to bring glory to God, that others might recognize in us the incredible love God has for them. Clearly the love of slaves for their masters described here is a supernatural love. Only God can cause a slave to love his earthly master like this. And it’s just as impossible for us, in our own strength, to live out the perfect family relationships described here, too. Every relationship we have reminds us of our brokenness and sin, and our need for Jesus to rescue us. And, in each relationship and every situation we face, God has the power to redeem our failed attempts at love and goodness, making His love shine through us, that others might see their need and His incredible offer of life and grace and transformation.
Again, there’s so much packed into this little chapter. Parent-child relationships, strength and the armor of God, prayer, peace, and more…
But this morning, I’m most struck by something else, something that feels offensive and mysterious and incredible. Did you read verses 5-8? I often skip over the parts about slaves, because I’m not a slave, and we don’t use slaves anymore. So I read the words, but I don’t really think about them. But this morning, I can’t escape them.
I know that Roman slavery wasn’t exactly like the slavery in our American memory, but I doubt theirs was a lot more noble. Slaves were property, workers with no rights, no paychecks, nothing. Some, I’m sure, were cared for better than others, but the system was oppressive, breeding mistrust, animosity, and bitterness. I am not a slave, nor can I imagine what it was like. I’ve heard students describe their chores as slavery, and I perhaps did at times, too. Here, however, God, through Paul, addresses actual slaves, not just people who felt mistreated, people who were overworked, underappreciated, and robbed of human dignity.
And the words of God come to these slaves, saying, “obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.” What!?! Paul doesn’t even remind them of the spiritual promises in the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, much less say, “God desires for you to be free,” or “You’re more valuable to God than your earthly masters recognize.”
Here we see how incredible Jesus’ call really is on our lives. Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Love your neighbor as yourself. This is what it means. We are to love God so profoundly that we would love others so purely that, even as mistreated, undignified and beaten slaves, our goal would be to see our service to our masters as service to Christ. Although we were stripped of our identity, robbed of our God-given dignity, and barred from any right to have our complaints heard, we are to bless the people around us, that God would be glorified in our lives and in our work, and that the love of Christ might be seen in us.
No matter what our circumstances, no matter what our place in society, no matter the pain we feel or the privileges we enjoy, our sole purpose is to bring glory to God, that others might recognize in us the incredible love God has for them. Clearly the love of slaves for their masters described here is a supernatural love. Only God can cause a slave to love his earthly master like this. And it’s just as impossible for us, in our own strength, to live out the perfect family relationships described here, too. Every relationship we have reminds us of our brokenness and sin, and our need for Jesus to rescue us. And, in each relationship and every situation we face, God has the power to redeem our failed attempts at love and goodness, making His love shine through us, that others might see their need and His incredible offer of life and grace and transformation.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
A Conversation with God
Me: Lord, not to be disrespectful or anything, but thanks a lot.
Jesus: Beloved, what is it?
Me: The blog!
Jesus: What about it?
Me: Have you seen the scripture for today??
Jesus: Well actually, I wrote it, remember?
Me: Duh, sorry. I knew that. It's just, well, couldn't you have given this text for someone else to write about? Pastor Paul would have hit this one out of the park!
Jesus: What exactly is the problem?
Me: I'm not worthy, that's the problem! The standards You have set for us, they're, well, kinda hard!
Jesus: Do you think they are any less difficult for a pastor than for you? And by the way, quit it with the "I'm not worthy" stuff. Don't you remember about the lilies of the field and the birds of the air?
Me: I know, Lord. I'm sorry. It's just that today's reading begins with "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do." I'm sure You know how much easier it would have been if you told us "Imitate God, therefore, to the best of your ability."
Jesus: My child, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If I had wanted you to try to live the Christian life to the best of your ability, I wouldn't have given you the Holy Spirit.
Me: But Lord, sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscene stories, foolish talk and coarse jokes? How can we avoid all of this? Our culture is saturated with all of this and more!
Jesus: Did you read verses 4-8? Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
Me: Do you know how much I want to be one of those people of the light? Oh yeah, I guess you do. It's just that it seems so much easier to compare myself to the world's standards than to Yours. Compared to the stuff I see on TV, I think I'm doing pretty well!
Jesus: When I said to take up your cross and follow me, I imagine that gave you some indication of how tough it might be to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk".
Me: Can't we go back to "My yoke is easy and my burden is light?"
Jesus: Beloved, I will never leave you or forsake you. You can do all things through me - I will give you strength. Be careful how you live. Don't live like a fool, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Me: I know Lord, I know. In Christ, the old has gone and the new has come! But what if the old starts creeping back in?
Jesus: Live a life of love, following my example. Let there be thankfulness to God. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music to me in your heart. And give thanks to God the Father in my name. And don't forget, if you walk in the light, as I am in the light, you have fellowship with one another and my blood will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
Me: I really don't just have to set my mind and use my own strength to live the Christian life, do I Lord? It's who I am in You and through You that lets me walk with You and live for You.
Jesus: She who was in darkness has seen a great light!
Me: Is that joke? Because since we're created in Your image, I've always wondered if you had a sense of humor.
Jesus: In the twinkling of an eye, you'll see for yourself.
Me: Cool. Next time, Jesus, can we talk about marriage? Because the only thing I can think of that would be harder than submission is loving someone as much as You love the church.
Jesus: Any time, beloved. Any time. I'll be waiting.
Jesus: Beloved, what is it?
Me: The blog!
Jesus: What about it?
Me: Have you seen the scripture for today??
Jesus: Well actually, I wrote it, remember?
Me: Duh, sorry. I knew that. It's just, well, couldn't you have given this text for someone else to write about? Pastor Paul would have hit this one out of the park!
Jesus: What exactly is the problem?
Me: I'm not worthy, that's the problem! The standards You have set for us, they're, well, kinda hard!
Jesus: Do you think they are any less difficult for a pastor than for you? And by the way, quit it with the "I'm not worthy" stuff. Don't you remember about the lilies of the field and the birds of the air?
Me: I know, Lord. I'm sorry. It's just that today's reading begins with "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do." I'm sure You know how much easier it would have been if you told us "Imitate God, therefore, to the best of your ability."
Jesus: My child, my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If I had wanted you to try to live the Christian life to the best of your ability, I wouldn't have given you the Holy Spirit.
Me: But Lord, sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscene stories, foolish talk and coarse jokes? How can we avoid all of this? Our culture is saturated with all of this and more!
Jesus: Did you read verses 4-8? Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
Me: Do you know how much I want to be one of those people of the light? Oh yeah, I guess you do. It's just that it seems so much easier to compare myself to the world's standards than to Yours. Compared to the stuff I see on TV, I think I'm doing pretty well!
Jesus: When I said to take up your cross and follow me, I imagine that gave you some indication of how tough it might be to "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk".
Me: Can't we go back to "My yoke is easy and my burden is light?"
Jesus: Beloved, I will never leave you or forsake you. You can do all things through me - I will give you strength. Be careful how you live. Don't live like a fool, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Me: I know Lord, I know. In Christ, the old has gone and the new has come! But what if the old starts creeping back in?
Jesus: Live a life of love, following my example. Let there be thankfulness to God. Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music to me in your heart. And give thanks to God the Father in my name. And don't forget, if you walk in the light, as I am in the light, you have fellowship with one another and my blood will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
Me: I really don't just have to set my mind and use my own strength to live the Christian life, do I Lord? It's who I am in You and through You that lets me walk with You and live for You.
Jesus: She who was in darkness has seen a great light!
Me: Is that joke? Because since we're created in Your image, I've always wondered if you had a sense of humor.
Jesus: In the twinkling of an eye, you'll see for yourself.
Me: Cool. Next time, Jesus, can we talk about marriage? Because the only thing I can think of that would be harder than submission is loving someone as much as You love the church.
Jesus: Any time, beloved. Any time. I'll be waiting.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Ephesians 4:1-16
GROW UP! These words still sound familiar as I think back to my growing up years with my two brothers. We were three very active boys who didn’t always get along. As it often went, my younger brother and I would get into a disagreement and then my older brother would decide who was right and join his side. Eventually, though, a funny thing happened, my older brother stopped being involved in the arguments. A couple years later I didn’t really have as many arguments either, then eventually my youngest brother followed suit and we all grew up and proved every mother right because we are now great friends.
Paul implores the church to do likewise. GROW UP! He urges us toward gentleness and patience with each other’s faults. He calls us to unity even as there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. We are to use our God given gifts to build each other up. When this doesn’t happen it is evidence of a person’s spiritual immaturity. Yet our calling is still gentleness and patience toward these people.
Part of the maturing process seems to include study and knowledge of God’s Word. The more we are exposed to the Truth the more we will “speak the truth in love” or literally, “truthing in love”. This love is more than just words, it is our actions as well.
Praise God for the gift of love and unity He is giving to the Church. We eagerly await the day when this unity will reach perfection in heaven.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Adam
YOU Belong to God
V. 21 – “Throw off your old sinful nature…your former way of life.” Quite descriptive, huh? V. 23 – “Renew your thoughts and attitudes” as a Christian. V. 25 – “Watch out for the temptation to be dishonest.” There are many, aren’t there? V. 26 – “Watch out for the danger of anger.” Oh yes. What a danger! Are there some definite sins in your life that you need to deal with NOW? V. 30 – What a fine verse to prompt us to live the good life of Christian faith! True story: A pastor was preaching his sermon, and as he did so, he leaned over the pulpit and pointing right at one of the younger men in the congregation, he said: “YOU belong to God!” (Surely that applied to everyone attending.) But it was so meaningful to that young man that he went home, knelt by his bed, and gave his life to God. Years later he was still telling that story and urging others to realize that they, too, belong to God. So do YOU. So do we all! Because that is true, what are we going to do about it? Live for God! And help others to do so too. AMEN!
Donald E. Pardun
Monday, September 24, 2007
Ephesians 3:1-21
I have been reading in the Old Testament this past month about God's interaction with Israel and their enemies. God chose Israel and didn't choose others. I keep thinking that God was so mean. Those people didn't even have a chance, but really it was God's grace that anyone was given life. Here we see once and for all God's grace extended beyond the Jewish people. Christ came that anyone who would believe would have life. We have this chance for life only because Christ came.
Paul's joy and honor in serving the Lord challenges me to a better perspective about ministry. It's not a burden, it's a privilege. It's not a demand, but a chance to serve. Paul calls himself chosen to explain God's plan. I can tend to see ministry of this thing I have to do so I don't feel guilty about doing it. I think Paul has found a better way.
Finally, I love vs 19. To think that God's love is so great that I will never fully understand. To some people not knowing things about God drives them crazy. To me it makes me fall more in love with a God who is even bigger than I knew. So big that my mind He created can't even comprehend all that He is on this earth. That is a God I will trust and a love I need.
Paul's joy and honor in serving the Lord challenges me to a better perspective about ministry. It's not a burden, it's a privilege. It's not a demand, but a chance to serve. Paul calls himself chosen to explain God's plan. I can tend to see ministry of this thing I have to do so I don't feel guilty about doing it. I think Paul has found a better way.
Finally, I love vs 19. To think that God's love is so great that I will never fully understand. To some people not knowing things about God drives them crazy. To me it makes me fall more in love with a God who is even bigger than I knew. So big that my mind He created can't even comprehend all that He is on this earth. That is a God I will trust and a love I need.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Identity with Christ
Eph 2:1-22
Raised up with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly realms is a great distinction. His actions brought us from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive—even though we are sinners.
I like fine art. I enjoy seeing people express their talents through their crafts. Experts can look at works of art and tell who the artist was. It amazes me that God considers me a work of quality. His work in me through Christ has given me a great distinctiveness. It is easy to dwell on the negatives of my life before Christ and forget that I am His workmanship, created for good works.
Christ’s blood sacrifice brings me near to him. As an artist’s work expresses his deepest thoughts and feelings, so we are brought close to Christ to be an expression of him. Closeness to be cherished and maintained through faith.
Steve Louden
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)