A senator came to Jesus at night. You can find this story in the New Testament Gospels, John's, in chapter three. Nicodemus ... let's call him Nic - it's easier to spell ... comes to talk to Jesus. Now, by this time in his public life Jesus has managed to tick off a few people. He was pretty radical and stood up to the corruption, religious distortions and abuse of the leadership of the day. You see, Roman occupation aside, the Israeli government was religious, kind of like most Muslim countries today. The leaders are the purveyors of the religious system, albeit in this case, their laws are encased in and under the scrutiny of Roman governance, i.e., they are allowed to control the people as long as it doesn't conflict with Roman law.
So, anyway, Senator Nic comes to see Jesus. I call him a senator because that's my best shot at a parallel position in our American government system. He's a member of the "ruling council." Nic comes to see Jesus at night. That's significant. He seems to come representing some of his compatriots in the council ... but only some. His nocturnal visit is secretive. He's keeping this rendezvous from others' knowledge, but his opening line indicates that he probably volunteered to represent a group of curious leaders who are a part of the larger group. The larger group is likely ticked off and maybe even threatened by now by Jesus' public statements and actions. Temple merchants had been selling their trinkets in the temple. Jesus came by and cleaned their clocks, drawing the ire of the leaders, who undoubtedly benefited from this flea market. He was unhappy that they had turned what was supposed to be a spiritual, God-focused place into something mercenary and profit-oriented.
If you'll pardon a little rabbit trail here ... This bunch in the temple sounds like some church buildings we've recently visited during their Sunday morning gigs. It's my observation that, when the "church" -- which in New Testament scriptural terms is not a building, but a group of people who follow Jesus -- when that church becomes more focused on its building and programs than on its commission to reach and serve people, something goes haywire. It may take some time because these churches take on an inertia that seems never ending, and people love inertia, especially of the religious kind. The more talented its ruling council, the more talent to perpetuate the machine, the longer they hang on. It may take time before the wires go hay, but it is inevitable. They may continue to exist and God loves people, so he puts up with a lot of our foolishness, but eventually, the focus on keeping the machinery running rather than on what God is all about among us drags people down. The monster has to be fed and the people have to feed it. If there aren't enough people to feed it, we have to figure out more gimmicks, more "ministries," more whatever to draw more people into the fold who can help us feed the machine. "After all, if we can't keep the thing running, we can't do what we were called to do in the first place, can we?" So, the energy is directed toward upping the budget. That's abackwards. And, I think I just lost some readers of this blog.
Okay, back to the Nic at Night story. Nic comes to Jesus under cover of darkness because a number of his ruling comrades wouldn't like it. His opening line is "WE know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one can perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." To which Jesus replies, "Why thank you!! Thank you for noticing. Yes, I am from God and I was hoping you could figure that out because of my amazing feats. You guys are perceptive. Would you like for me to come speak at your next conference? I'd like to show you how I do these things. In fact, I think I could teach YOU how YOU could do these things, and even greater things! What'dya says, boys?"
Okay, so I read between the lines. I did... right? You're correct! NO, I misread between the lines. Notice. Nic doesn't ask a question, although it's probably implied: "So, tell us Jesus, ARE you from God?" He doesn't say that, but that's probably what his cronies wanted Nic to pick his brains about. I can hear the conversation in back corner of the Jerusalem Boar Head Tavern. "He's GOT to be from God, right? [sip] No one can do these things if they're not, right?! We need to find out more. [sip, sip] Where's he headed with all this miracle stuff?", says the short guy. And, one guy says, "[sip] If he draws too much attention to himself, Uncle Rome isn't gonna like it. In fact, we may lose our [sip] jobs. [gulp]" Then the chap by the wall says, "But what if he IS from God? Shouldn't we be following him? or at least paying more attention to what he says?" Then, Nic says, "Okay, guys, I'll go. He's really got me curious. I gotta tell ya though, I think he's the real article." And, they bump their mugs together, "Agreed! [sip, gulp, gulp]
When Nic "asks" the question, Jesus doesn't bite. He redirects the conversation immediately. It isn't about the miracles. "I'm glad I've gotten your attention, but I didn't do all those healings for you. I did them for those who needed the healing. They hurt, I heal." (More in between the lines reading.) No, Jesus knows what these leaders are after, but doesn't talk about the miracles. He gets to the point. The point of his existence, the whole point of his arrival among us, the goal of his life. "Jesus, are you from God?" "Nicodemus, neither you nor anyone else will ever see this God you're asking about and his kingdom, his space, unless you are born from above, born again." Forget the miracles. You're on the wrong page. It's about new birth.
To which Nic replies, "Huh?" A little more eloquently than that, but the same effect. "How can a man be born when he is old." Surely, you're not talking about the Benjamin Button syndrome? "Surely he cannot enter his mother's womb a second time!" !! ... !! ... !! (Nic's eyebrows). Jesus clarifies - or tries. "Here's the truth: no one can enter the realm of God's existence, his kingdom, unless he is not only born once, but he must be born again ... Of The Spirit." We're talking about spiritual things, things beyond what you can see, like the blowing of the wind, a natural phenomenon. To which Nic again replies, "Huh?"
Jesus essentially chides him. "So, you're a man of the cloth. You're a teacher of spiritual things?! Give me a break. You can't see what I'm talking about?!" Notice where he now goes with this. Remember how Nic opened up this tete-a-tete? "WE know..." Jesus does him one better. "I'll tell you what's true. I'll tell you what's important to know here and now," in essence. "WE speak of what WE know, and WE testify to what WE have seen, but still you people do not accept OUR testimony" (my emphasis, obviously). Two things about this. One, the all hot-and-bothered senatorial wizards have had this marvelous revelation. "This guy must be from God!" Duh! Nico comes as their rep and lays this sanctimonious admission on Jesus. "Aren't we the cat's meow? Look what WE know." Jesus seems to rub this in. "Let me tell you what WE know, and what WE KNOW is true, apparently the very thing you people have been so totally dense about. I try to explain it to you with down to earth language ... the wind blows, you know. You still don't get it, do you?" Yes, he is from God. He's been with God, he IS with God and, (we eventually discover) he is God (a totally different topic for another time). "You want to know about God, about his realm, his "space," his way of doing things, these "heavenly" things. Jesus says point blank, "I've been there, I am there, and you can be there. Stop trying to wrap your mind around this. Open the eyes of your heart!"
The other observation is about who the "we" is. I think it's pretty clear in context that he is referring to his Father, the Spirit, the "Godhead" as theologians like to call it. Basically, he's saying my "we" trumps your "we." "We have seen what is real, the essence of reality, and that's what I'm talking about." Jesus now answers Nic's question and puts it in prophetic terms. Nic asks, "How can this new birth thing be?" Jesus predicts his death as the "Son of Man" and says in plain words that the new birth takes place when you see the significance of his death and believe in that significance, that there are personal implications at stake. "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son" (yes, Tebow's favorite verse). You believe that he did that so that you can enter this realm of God, this kingdom, this "heaven," really that you actually believe in Him, and you will have eternal life. Pretty simple, yet so difficult for so many to believe.
There's a bit more to this Nic at Night story, but that's the meat of it. The really cool part about Nic comes later in John's account of Jesus' life. We see Nicodemus take a bit of a stand for Jesus when his cronies are getting ready to pounce on Jesus. He asks them to slow down before judging him too quickly (chapter 7). Not much more is said, but we do know his comrades don't listen and go as far as insulting Nicodemus. Later, at the end of the Gospel of John, after the death of Jesus, Nicodemus gives a huge hint that he has crossed over into belief. He shows up with a friend and claims the body of Jesus to bury it. This time in broad daylight.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Monday, October 03, 2011
God Among Us
...When God came to be among us he didn't come as a mathematician or a scientist. He came as a story teller... And he told stories people could live. At bottom, the Judeo-Christian tradition isn't a list of rules or a set of scientific theories; it's a big long story... But Jesus didn't stop with stories; he also gave us a way to authenticate them... he told us that you tell whether a story is true by the lives of the people who tell it. You judge a story by its teller. You will know them by their fruit, he said. A good tree bears good fruit, a bad one bad fruit. If the people telling a story love each other and live together with depth and grace, then their story is true. If they don't, then their story is silliness -- or worse. A good story enables people to lay down their lives for each other and become one. To put it in Jesus' own words, "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." A few chapters later he prays that his followers "may be one... so that the world may believe that you have sent me." A story is authenticated when the people who believe it go to the cross for each other. ...Notice that Jesus doesn't require belief in his story simply on the basis of authority... evidence mattered to him: here's how people will know that you are my disciples, here's how they'll know that I'm from God -- that you love each other.
~ John F. Alexander, The Secular Squeeze
~ John F. Alexander, The Secular Squeeze
Monday, June 27, 2011
Worshiping My Common Sense
Susan hooked me on Oswald Chambers book, My Utmost for His Highest. Good stuff for a guy who died about 100 years ago.
He was talking about having grace for today and commenting on Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. All of it good. When he quoted the portion of the chapter on "having nothing," I was struck by his take on being poor, or in need. Verse 10 says, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." Chambers comments: "Never reserve anything. Pour out the best you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives. This is poverty triumphant." That doesn't sit well with some of my friends, I am sure. I didn't with me. Who wants poverty?! God doesn't ask us to be poor, does he? I don't think he does, even though some are, and we are called to alleviate suffering, pain, and dilemma where ever we can. Look at Jesus' take on this though: "Blessed are the poor [in spirit] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I've got to tell you, to honest with you, sometimes my reaction to some of the things Jesus said is laced with incredulity. If he was just some "plain Joe" (sorry to all you awesome Joes out there! nothing personal!), I'd think he was off his rocker. But, this is Jesus we're talking about. He turns things upside down so often and catches our minds off guard to help us see what is really important. This "poor" saying conveys a pretty amazing attitude and there are a couple takes on that truthful saying of Jesus. But, in a very real sense, our concern for our own need can be converted into an orchestrated mission toward blessing others.
I think what Chambers is saying is true. We are not as blessed when we hold back what we have. What God pours in, we pour out. Like the story of the widow in the Hebrew Bible. She poured out oil from the bottom of the jar and it never ran dry. Her task was to give all she had and God kept pouring back in. The picture painted of her was one of poverty, but she always had what she needed for her family. Jesus said something like, Give and it will be given back to you many times over what you gave. Chambers goes on with regard to "guarding" what we have and not allowing God to be our guard. If we try to guard ourselves and our possessions, we remove ourselves from God's deliverance. He says, "The most devout among us become atheistic in this connection; we do not believe God, we enthrone common sense and tack the name of God onto it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts."
I wonder how many times we mask our stockpiling with our common sense. We have such common sense reasoning to keep us safe that we aren't able to help others because of it. We remove ourselves from His deliverance and provision and worship our own wisdom. It's a hard lesson to learn, one that I'm still suffering some pain from. I could say a bunch more about the mental gymnastics and pain I've experienced with this over the years, but I'll spare you.
My prayer is this: May God grant me the grace to never be "diplomatic and careful about the treasure" he gives me.
He was talking about having grace for today and commenting on Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. All of it good. When he quoted the portion of the chapter on "having nothing," I was struck by his take on being poor, or in need. Verse 10 says, "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." Chambers comments: "Never reserve anything. Pour out the best you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives. This is poverty triumphant." That doesn't sit well with some of my friends, I am sure. I didn't with me. Who wants poverty?! God doesn't ask us to be poor, does he? I don't think he does, even though some are, and we are called to alleviate suffering, pain, and dilemma where ever we can. Look at Jesus' take on this though: "Blessed are the poor [in spirit] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I've got to tell you, to honest with you, sometimes my reaction to some of the things Jesus said is laced with incredulity. If he was just some "plain Joe" (sorry to all you awesome Joes out there! nothing personal!), I'd think he was off his rocker. But, this is Jesus we're talking about. He turns things upside down so often and catches our minds off guard to help us see what is really important. This "poor" saying conveys a pretty amazing attitude and there are a couple takes on that truthful saying of Jesus. But, in a very real sense, our concern for our own need can be converted into an orchestrated mission toward blessing others.
I think what Chambers is saying is true. We are not as blessed when we hold back what we have. What God pours in, we pour out. Like the story of the widow in the Hebrew Bible. She poured out oil from the bottom of the jar and it never ran dry. Her task was to give all she had and God kept pouring back in. The picture painted of her was one of poverty, but she always had what she needed for her family. Jesus said something like, Give and it will be given back to you many times over what you gave. Chambers goes on with regard to "guarding" what we have and not allowing God to be our guard. If we try to guard ourselves and our possessions, we remove ourselves from God's deliverance. He says, "The most devout among us become atheistic in this connection; we do not believe God, we enthrone common sense and tack the name of God onto it. We do lean to our own understanding, instead of trusting God with all our hearts."
I wonder how many times we mask our stockpiling with our common sense. We have such common sense reasoning to keep us safe that we aren't able to help others because of it. We remove ourselves from His deliverance and provision and worship our own wisdom. It's a hard lesson to learn, one that I'm still suffering some pain from. I could say a bunch more about the mental gymnastics and pain I've experienced with this over the years, but I'll spare you.
My prayer is this: May God grant me the grace to never be "diplomatic and careful about the treasure" he gives me.
All That Thrills My Soul
There are a few devotional songs I learned growing up that have great meaning to me to this day. This is one because it expresses to the core my relationship with my God. I always wonder what people who don't know Jesus think about when believers in Jesus write about these things. Nuts? Delirious? Wacked out? I care in one sense about that because I only wish that they could know he is real and know him intimately. Otherwise, it really doesn't bother me. I care a whole lot more about what Christians do to misrepresent this God of such amazing love. But, I covered some of that in a previous blog entry on judgmentalism. I'm not surprised that many don't believe. I only wish they could know him. Anyway, here's the old song. Some of my ole Jesus believer friends will know it and smile with me. :)
All That Thrills My Soul
Who can cheer the heart like Jesus
By His presence all divine
True and tender, pure and precious
O, how blest to call Him mine
Chorus
All that thrills my soul is Jesus
He is more than life to me
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see
Love of Christ so freely given
Grace of God beyond degree
Mercy higher than the heavens
Deeper than the deepest sea
What a wonderful redemption
Never can a mortal know
How my sin, though red like crimson
Can be whiter than the snow
Every need His hand supplying
Every good in Him I see
On His strength divine relying
He is all in all to me
By the crystal flowing river
With the ransomed I will sing
And forever and forever
Praise and glorify the King
All That Thrills My Soul
Who can cheer the heart like Jesus
By His presence all divine
True and tender, pure and precious
O, how blest to call Him mine
Chorus
All that thrills my soul is Jesus
He is more than life to me
And the fairest of ten thousand
In my blessed Lord I see
Love of Christ so freely given
Grace of God beyond degree
Mercy higher than the heavens
Deeper than the deepest sea
What a wonderful redemption
Never can a mortal know
How my sin, though red like crimson
Can be whiter than the snow
Every need His hand supplying
Every good in Him I see
On His strength divine relying
He is all in all to me
By the crystal flowing river
With the ransomed I will sing
And forever and forever
Praise and glorify the King
Monday, June 20, 2011
To My Keepers - Thoughts from Dad on Father's Day
Last week, our daughter shared with us that a high school friend's mother passed away suddenly ... well, it actually took about a week, but it was still sudden. There was no indication that she had been ill as far as we can tell, until this event, some freakish unexpected illness. Mom was there last week and gone next week. As my daughter read about this to us on her Facebook, she started to cry. I started to choke up a bit and said, "Let's make the best of the years that we all have together, okay?" Life is short, no matter how long it is. Too short to hold grudges, cast blame on others for our unexplainable insecurities and cause years of unnecessary separation, too short to not stop in to see that friend or single parent or neighbor we often forget to pay attention to. How about those elderly around and among us? How lonely they can get! "Life is too short to major in the minors," one of my mentors once said.
I posted what follows below on the kitchen refrigerator for my family not too many years ago. The kids were teens at home (one is still at home but will be out of the teen years next week). I never did get much response from them ... obviously a time when their minds were on vacating the premises in one way or another. But, I thought it was a good thought to live by, so I posted it this week again, and thought I'd share it on my Facebook Wall. (I think I may have gotten the core of this from something I read online, but I don't remember where.)
"One day a woman's husband died, and on a clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more 'just one minute.' Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away ... never to return before we can say goodbye, say 'I love you.'
So while we have it ... it's best we love it ... and care for it ... and fix it when it's broken ... and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage ... and old cars ... and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy no matter what.
Life is so important, like people we know who are special ... so we keep them close!"
You're a Keeper!
Love,
Dad
I posted what follows below on the kitchen refrigerator for my family not too many years ago. The kids were teens at home (one is still at home but will be out of the teen years next week). I never did get much response from them ... obviously a time when their minds were on vacating the premises in one way or another. But, I thought it was a good thought to live by, so I posted it this week again, and thought I'd share it on my Facebook Wall. (I think I may have gotten the core of this from something I read online, but I don't remember where.)
"One day a woman's husband died, and on a clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more 'just one minute.' Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away ... never to return before we can say goodbye, say 'I love you.'
So while we have it ... it's best we love it ... and care for it ... and fix it when it's broken ... and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage ... and old cars ... and children with bad report cards and dogs with bad hips and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a classmate we grew up with. There are just some things that make us happy no matter what.
Life is so important, like people we know who are special ... so we keep them close!"
You're a Keeper!
Love,
Dad
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Here come da judge
"Here come da judge." Remember that schtick from the old 60s Laugh In comedy show? (I'm too young to remember it. Someone told me about it. Titter, titter.) Ever felt that way about people you've known? You know that at some point your conversation is going to turn into a session of that person being critical and judging your actions or motives. You almost don't want to have a conversation with them, or at least avoid bringing up certain topics. Don't you just hate that? I wonder sometimes if I'm that guy. Man I can be so quick to judge people! In fact, I wonder if what has come to be known as Christianity isn't the living incarnation of "da judge." I know some of my non-Christian acquaintances see it that way.
Well, I'm a follower of Jesus, and these days, sad to say, I wonder how much being his follower relates to at least the public persona of Christianity. As a "disciple" of Jesus, I am quite obviously interested in what he has to say about a host of subjects. Judgmentalism is one of the big ones. Sometimes, I think it has become synonymous with Christians these days. I see/hear that topic on blogs, Facebook, or in face-to-face conversations and people rise to red-faced anger quicker on that subject than any other I know. "Who are you to judge me?!" I hear non-Christians say that to Christians. I hear Christians say that to Christians.
You know, I think there are good reasons for judgmentalism comments I hear. Having someone make a judgment call on our decision, lifestyle choice, or mistake quickly drills deep into the psyche, the spirit. All of us are broken at some level, visible or invisible. We all react to our brokenness in our own way. Some of us deny it. Some of us deny that we are anything but divine, and so therefore, just can't be broken, just unenlightened. Some of us avoid facing it. Some come clean and seek help. Some turn to Jesus, the one whom I've discovered is amazing at untwisting us, healing our wounds and damage.
Back to the question. What about it? Who ARE you to judge another person?
I really like Jesus. Seriously. He's so practical and down to earth and to the point. My friend, Penni, quotes Gandhi on her Facebook page, "I don't hate your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ." Owie. If I'm going to call myself a "Christian" or at least a follower of Jesus Christ, I think I need to know him more. I need to know what he has to say about this issue.
So, I'm looking at one of the sources, the Gospel of Matthew, chapter seven, and here's what he says about this. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you."
My first question is, what does it mean to judge? In many ways the Greek language (the original for the New Testament) is much more precise than ours. For instance, there are three or four words for love. Agape, phileo, eros. I guess we're just so efficient in English that we have all-purpose words. We just say, "love" ... and let you figure out what it means. "I LOVE that cake!" is different from "I love you, my friend!" or "[husband to wife] I LOVE you ... Baby!" "For God so LOVED the world that he gave his son." "Greater LOVE has no man than this..." Different words. It's the same here in Matthew. There is more than one word for judge. Krino, diakrino, anakrino. One means to discern, one, to evaluate. One means to make a choice or a distinction. Here it means "to pass judgment" or "sit in judgement." To be the judge over another's character. To set yourself up as the judge of someone's character or motive. A "critical spirit."
Jesus is urging us, Don't do this! This setting oneself up as the judge of one's character or motive can start with one critical statement. "Look at her. Like SHE needs to eat that dessert." "That kid is NO GOOD. He'll never amount to anything." Jesus cautions us. "Don't do that. Go easy on the people God has placed in your path." No only do you tear down and destroy a part of a person, but ... listen to this [I'm pausing for effect] ... a critical spirit can boomerang. What goes around comes around. "In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." Give THAT a second thought. Downright frightening.
Here's the upshot. You don't see the end of the story. The end of that person's story hasn't been written. NEWS FLASH. You are not God, the Judge. Stop acting like it. You don't know how God is at work in that person. I've heard people say something like, "I was fighting you on the outside, but inside something was stirring, listening."
Look at the rest of this. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" Let me tell you something straight. Your problems, the problems in your character, your "issues," are much more important to deal with than someones else's. I like that saying, "When you point a finger remember three fingers are pointing back at you."
Do you know why the stuff in the other guy's eye looks like a speck to you? Something that should be easily fixed, with a little effort? Because you're not close enough to really see what's going on inside that person. You're too far away -- even IF you are standing right in front of them. You DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD KNOWS. It may very well be a plank-sized problem, but it's just none of your business.
The other reason it looks like a speck, i.e., something different than what it really is, is that you have a dang board stuck in your eye -- obscuring your vision. You can't see accurately because of your own "stuff." Let me take it a step further. You can't understand what's in another person's heart (eye) because you are a human being with weaknesses. Not only do you not have the insight, but you don't have the strength to stand in judgment over someone else. You're not God... right?
Go easy on people. You've needed slack, so do they. Does that mean you can't help them. Of course it doesn't mean that. But, you know what? I don't think we are ever "plankless." As soon as we get the plank out, another one slides right in behind it. Our vision is always at least a bit impaired. We never have enough insight to stand in judgment over someone, to cross them off. How often do you cross people off, judge their character, think less of them because you've judged the end from the beginning? I think Jesus might be pointing us back to our "Father who sees in secret" (Matthew 6). Ask God what, if anything, you can be doing to partner with him in that person's life. If it doesn't come clear to you, go back to sawing your plank. And, pray for that person. And, don't tell anyone else. "I want to tell you about Ezzy so you can pray for her." Did you see the operable word, "secret"? A good reason for that. Look what Jesus says next. "You hypocrite." It's like he's caught us red-handed. "Ha! Caught ya!" I think he said that with a little grin on his face. [Rumor has it he loves us even in all our foibleness.]
Do you ever wonder why you feel a need to judge others? Why do you worry about it? I'm not gonna get very far into that. But, I do think that Jesus' whole emphasis in this part of his teaching in Matthew is that God's gonna take care of things, including you, including that person you are so anxious to peg. (Read the verses just prior in chapter six.) Why do you worry about this other person? God's got your back ... as well as that person's. Don't worry yourself over this other guy. You've got enough to deal with yourself ... today.
Well, I suppose that's all for now. There is a bunch more, but I see someone coming down the road, and need to hide. It's da judge.
Well, I'm a follower of Jesus, and these days, sad to say, I wonder how much being his follower relates to at least the public persona of Christianity. As a "disciple" of Jesus, I am quite obviously interested in what he has to say about a host of subjects. Judgmentalism is one of the big ones. Sometimes, I think it has become synonymous with Christians these days. I see/hear that topic on blogs, Facebook, or in face-to-face conversations and people rise to red-faced anger quicker on that subject than any other I know. "Who are you to judge me?!" I hear non-Christians say that to Christians. I hear Christians say that to Christians.
You know, I think there are good reasons for judgmentalism comments I hear. Having someone make a judgment call on our decision, lifestyle choice, or mistake quickly drills deep into the psyche, the spirit. All of us are broken at some level, visible or invisible. We all react to our brokenness in our own way. Some of us deny it. Some of us deny that we are anything but divine, and so therefore, just can't be broken, just unenlightened. Some of us avoid facing it. Some come clean and seek help. Some turn to Jesus, the one whom I've discovered is amazing at untwisting us, healing our wounds and damage.
Back to the question. What about it? Who ARE you to judge another person?
I really like Jesus. Seriously. He's so practical and down to earth and to the point. My friend, Penni, quotes Gandhi on her Facebook page, "I don't hate your Christ. I love your Christ. It's just that so many of you Christians are so unlike your Christ." Owie. If I'm going to call myself a "Christian" or at least a follower of Jesus Christ, I think I need to know him more. I need to know what he has to say about this issue.
So, I'm looking at one of the sources, the Gospel of Matthew, chapter seven, and here's what he says about this. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you."
My first question is, what does it mean to judge? In many ways the Greek language (the original for the New Testament) is much more precise than ours. For instance, there are three or four words for love. Agape, phileo, eros. I guess we're just so efficient in English that we have all-purpose words. We just say, "love" ... and let you figure out what it means. "I LOVE that cake!" is different from "I love you, my friend!" or "[husband to wife] I LOVE you ... Baby!" "For God so LOVED the world that he gave his son." "Greater LOVE has no man than this..." Different words. It's the same here in Matthew. There is more than one word for judge. Krino, diakrino, anakrino. One means to discern, one, to evaluate. One means to make a choice or a distinction. Here it means "to pass judgment" or "sit in judgement." To be the judge over another's character. To set yourself up as the judge of someone's character or motive. A "critical spirit."
Jesus is urging us, Don't do this! This setting oneself up as the judge of one's character or motive can start with one critical statement. "Look at her. Like SHE needs to eat that dessert." "That kid is NO GOOD. He'll never amount to anything." Jesus cautions us. "Don't do that. Go easy on the people God has placed in your path." No only do you tear down and destroy a part of a person, but ... listen to this [I'm pausing for effect] ... a critical spirit can boomerang. What goes around comes around. "In the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you." Give THAT a second thought. Downright frightening.
Here's the upshot. You don't see the end of the story. The end of that person's story hasn't been written. NEWS FLASH. You are not God, the Judge. Stop acting like it. You don't know how God is at work in that person. I've heard people say something like, "I was fighting you on the outside, but inside something was stirring, listening."
Look at the rest of this. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?" Let me tell you something straight. Your problems, the problems in your character, your "issues," are much more important to deal with than someones else's. I like that saying, "When you point a finger remember three fingers are pointing back at you."
Do you know why the stuff in the other guy's eye looks like a speck to you? Something that should be easily fixed, with a little effort? Because you're not close enough to really see what's going on inside that person. You're too far away -- even IF you are standing right in front of them. You DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD KNOWS. It may very well be a plank-sized problem, but it's just none of your business.
The other reason it looks like a speck, i.e., something different than what it really is, is that you have a dang board stuck in your eye -- obscuring your vision. You can't see accurately because of your own "stuff." Let me take it a step further. You can't understand what's in another person's heart (eye) because you are a human being with weaknesses. Not only do you not have the insight, but you don't have the strength to stand in judgment over someone else. You're not God... right?
Go easy on people. You've needed slack, so do they. Does that mean you can't help them. Of course it doesn't mean that. But, you know what? I don't think we are ever "plankless." As soon as we get the plank out, another one slides right in behind it. Our vision is always at least a bit impaired. We never have enough insight to stand in judgment over someone, to cross them off. How often do you cross people off, judge their character, think less of them because you've judged the end from the beginning? I think Jesus might be pointing us back to our "Father who sees in secret" (Matthew 6). Ask God what, if anything, you can be doing to partner with him in that person's life. If it doesn't come clear to you, go back to sawing your plank. And, pray for that person. And, don't tell anyone else. "I want to tell you about Ezzy so you can pray for her." Did you see the operable word, "secret"? A good reason for that. Look what Jesus says next. "You hypocrite." It's like he's caught us red-handed. "Ha! Caught ya!" I think he said that with a little grin on his face. [Rumor has it he loves us even in all our foibleness.]
Do you ever wonder why you feel a need to judge others? Why do you worry about it? I'm not gonna get very far into that. But, I do think that Jesus' whole emphasis in this part of his teaching in Matthew is that God's gonna take care of things, including you, including that person you are so anxious to peg. (Read the verses just prior in chapter six.) Why do you worry about this other person? God's got your back ... as well as that person's. Don't worry yourself over this other guy. You've got enough to deal with yourself ... today.
Well, I suppose that's all for now. There is a bunch more, but I see someone coming down the road, and need to hide. It's da judge.
Sunday, May 08, 2011
Call me crazy. That's okay! (or, Some Things I've Learned About Life)
I've been working through some things in my life and mind that I want to put on paper and share. These are things I know about myself and about my God. If you are not a believer in God, or Jesus, you might be interested in reading this anyway. Most people who don't believe in God call me crazy. Let me chronicle my craziness. I am a follower of Jesus ("Christian" carries some pretty strange un Jesus-like connotations these days), and as his follower, I can say these things with confidence:
- I am God's child. He has done something amazing in me that is born of grace and love. Most believers in Jesus call this being "born again." It's hard to explain sometimes to people who don't believe this way. That's fine though. I find it's best to live what I believe and let my life do the talking. Someone said, "If you can shut up, shut up." That didn't make sense at first. I'm beginning to understand it. I don't need to bark out my beliefs. If I can live who I am in as real a way as I can, I hope to live a life far more transformed and powerful than living by someone's religious obligations, some person's or religion's or church's idea of what I should do or not do. Doesn't make sense to you, you say? That's okay. Come walk beside me and we'll learn all about this God of love together.
- I know that Jesus chose me. I don't know how to tell you I know this. You can read about it in the source material, the writings of and about him. But, something pretty amazing is happening to me that is changing me and making me into something I've never dreamed of being. Something good. You don't see it? I'm sorry. I'll just have to keep walking this journey and maybe someday soon it will become evident and we'll get to share life in some really deep and wonderful ways. For me, though, it is a voice of truth. No, I'm not hearing voices in my head. (My atheist friends say that. *Sigh*) It is a reality that I am growing into. It is a spiritual change, a life that is growing inside, a peace that goes beyond anything I can begin to understand... You see! I told you it was hard to explain!
- I am learning that I am protected by the power of God. I am secure in his love, in my relationship with him, and it isn't based on my performance, my conduct, or my behavior. I have enough weirdness and quirkiness in me that I know doesn't commend me to any secure standing with God. People who know me, who are closest to me, can attest to that. But, I am learning that I am secure in my heavenly Father not on the basis of how I respond to life's trials and difficult times. I am secure in Jesus Christ, because of Jesus Christ, because of what he has done for me (and all the rest who will embrace this amazing God). I am secure in Jesus on the basis of his sacrificial, all sufficient death on the cross and his resurrection. Yes, I DO believe in that. Call me crazy, it's okay. I just cannot deny that it is real. The moment I let him into my life, as I said above, something new took place. I know that in some real way God assumed the responsibility of protecting me. It isn't a matter of me holding on to him -- because in my weak faith often I might let go -- but he holds onto me. I am protected and secured in him. So, when all evil breaks loose, and I don't know what to do, one thing is certain: God is holding onto me. Pretty weird, eh? As much as my "Christian" friends want to try to explain it and say it is perfectly explainable, I don't think they can. It's just beyond comprehension how an individual person can know these things. I guess you still think I'm crazy, loopy. It's okay. Once you step beyond the intellectual barrier you've put up between you and God, I think you'll understand what I'm saying. And that would be so cool for me to see. {wink, wink} But you know, when you find something really good, you always want to share it, right?
- If you know anything about the life of the patriarch, David, chronicled in the Hebrew scriptures, maybe you can see this next thing I am learning about life and God. His life speaks to me in this way: He learned some awesome truths about God by making mistakes, by failing, as well as by being faithful. He learned wonderful things about God in fear. Yep, in fear. Now I'm not talking about being afraid of God -- that's another misunderstood idea for another time. David learned some awesome truths about God in fear, as well as in courage. He learned about God's love, his faithfulness, his grace, and how near God actually is to us, about life, and how to handle life. My point is that he learned these things while he was afraid, as he worked through his fear, as he kept hanging in there with God, as he kept believing in this God. His greatest moments and deepest insights didn't come necessarily while he was this courageous, bold "man of God." I saw that David "repented" when he realized he was wrong. He wasn't afraid of being humble, admitting his errors. In all his weakness, he was still okay with God and God was okay with him. In fact, centuries later, as his story was retold, he was still referred to as "a man after God's own heart" in spite of his failure and weakness.
- Another thing I'm learning about God comes to me from a friend. Something he shared I have come to embrace. He was talking about the passage in John's gospel, in chapter 14, where Jesus is preparing for his arrest and ultimately his death and he tells his followers some pretty important things. Just like you would probably do if you knew your days were numbered. He talked about "his Father's house." I'm gonna make this shorter than it could be and say what I believe is that Jesus is talking about isn't heaven, but he is talking about the life his followers, those who believe in him, will experience in God. He is talking about being at home in God. I am now embracing the reality that I am to wake up everyday being at home in my Father, in God. I know each morning that this Father delights in me. He is at home in me and I am at home in him in spite of all my fears, all my doubts, with all the things I am still tempted to, and with all the struggles and failures in my life. This God on this day wants to be at home in me. My friend has said that if we will live there, that's where everything happens that transforms and changes us into the best of what we can be ... and I believe him.
Friday, April 22, 2011
T + P = MC
James, chapter one is about going through tough times. He starts out with some advice that sounds pretty wacky: "Consider it pure job, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
Seriously?! When EVER do we do this?! This is an oxymoronic request if I've ever seen one. There is nothing joyous about tough times. So, you’re sick. “Yay! I’m sick!” Uh. No. No “Yay.” You’ve been slammed with financial trouble and you’re supposed to rejoice about it. Right. “While you’re at it, please poke me in the eye and chop off a finger, please. I can’t get enough of this ‘joy.’”
I don’t think this is what James is after ... as though we are to be unrealistically optimistic or Disneyland giddy about our dire circumstances. I think Eugene Peterson captures it well when he translates it, “Consider it a sheer gift...” No trial or time of testing is wasted time for us. Besides surviving and getting through it -- which is usually our only focus, naturally, I think James wants us to see at the front end the real value of our difficulties. There is a dimension we can live in that takes some focus in order to gain value. Testing your faith develops something good: maturity and completeness, or as The Message puts it, “mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.”
Really, having a mature outlook and perspective is reward enough. I find that when my outlook is mature, I don’t freak out as much when the next big thing hits. (Watch me make a liar out of myself next time :) ) God has gotten me through this before, we’ve been here before, we can handle this one, too. Yes, it’s a bit more serious this time -- maybe a lot more -- but we can do this thing. You see, hard times - smack downs - aren’t an indication that God is on holiday. And, that’s the real crux of the issue. We are tempted to think that God has abandoned us -- that’s the “testing of our faith.” Faith says God told me he wouldn’t abandon me -- Jesus said as much. Faith says God does care, God is here, he’s able and willing to help me work through this and come out stronger and more mature.
There’s a very good reason beyond ourselves that maturity is good. Maturity helps others - the less mature than you, the younger than you, the weaker than you. Mature means you are out ahead of someone. As you learn the navigation issues through these particular waters of testing, you will chart a course for someone else, someone right behind you, or someone in the future who will face a similar circumstance. (I think that part is exciting.) This isn’t a matter of superiority as though you will now be able to gloat or best someone, although that seems a common human tendency.
Speaking of, I’ve known people to do this. If they’ve ever had any situation similar they’re “all over it.” Instead of offering a compassionate, steady hand, they’re quick in one of two ways. One is the you-think-you’ve-got-it-bad syndrome. Or, it’s “This is what you SHOULD do. I’ve been there. I KNOW. Or, they’re good at both. Maturity comes along side rather than dispensing auto responses. Maturity offers to walk along side, if only for a season. It says, God loves you, you’re gonna get through this. How can I help? What do you need that I can offer? … and it may not be advice.
To me, the whole value of this maturity-through-trial thing is that we come out better lovers of people. We are loved through a hard time, by God and others, and it is natural that we now know how to love others better.
So, James says, whenever you face trials of many kinds (or one kind), see the gift in them. Hard to do. Very hard to do, especially right in the middle of them. But, the benefit is worth the effort.
There’s one other element here that is part of the “formula.” Now, I don’t like formulas for Christian living. I don’t think they work. People write "how to" books on the Christian life -- I have shelves full of them -- and they don’t work, as a friend of mine says, because if they did people wouldn’t keep writing them. (Look for my big sale on Amazon.) Living in God’s love isn’t about formulas, it is about relationship. It's about living loved by God and loving others -- relationship. That said, what James lays out for us does fall out as an equation of sorts. The testing of your faith develops perseverance. When perseverance is “finished” we find that we are more mature, more complete, that we have everything we need to get us through this thing, to come out on top, to thrive. Testing + perseverance = maturity and completeness. T + P = MC.
It’s also funny how he says this. The testing of our faith develops perseverance and “perseverance must finish its work.” It’s as though perseverance is something outside of us, a thing that is at work. It’s a very passive way to say this. You might expect to hear something more like, “You must persevere if you want to get through this. Don’t give up or...” (or else). That’s not the language. Perseverance is doing something TO us. It’s working to mature us. He almost personifies it. What I’m discovering is that as I hang in there with God, acknowledging he is right in there with me, that he will get things worked out as soon as they need to be. This “trial of faith” is doing a number on me. It’s good number though. It’s “a perfect 10.” I do what I know to do, use the resources at my disposal, and … wait. I know that I am loved by a Father who loves me more than anyone ever has or ever will. As I grow in the realization of his affection and care for me, trusting him is natural. Trust is the moment by moment outcome of my always-increasing confidence in his affection for me.
He does this work. I slip my hand in his. He walks me out of the messes, most them of my own doing. Through every painful trial, perseverance must finish its work. I learn to sit still while perseverance works on me, while God works on me and in me. Really, it’s a matter of rest, of resting. And, I didn't say doing nothing. Rest doesn't necessarily mean inaction. It may, but it may also mean continuing to do what I am doing. As I rest in the reality of his love, the more I find that I am trusting him and not my own agenda for my life. That’s the difference between me grunting in perseverance and allowing perseverance to do its work. I’m really allowing God to do his work. Didn't Jesus say, “Come to me and I will give you rest"? He's saying, Your work alongside me will be restful.” If I don’t come to him, I find that I am laboring in my own strength, wallowing in my own agenda. I like how The Message relays Jesus’ words, “What I’m trying to do is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving.”
You see, this is so much like God. He works best when we are content in him. In fact, the New Testament writer, Paul, says as much when he says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Being like God is to respond to him and life with contentment. If I'm not content, then there is something to learn about his love that I haven't yet learned. He is enough. His love is enough. Resting in this reality is allowing perseverance to finish its work. Jesus grows my trust right through the middle of my mess. He continually frees me from focusing on what I don’t have and turns my attention to him. He is the author of grace and trust. He is sufficient.
The testing of my faith develops perseverance. Perseverance finishes his work, and I grow, and lack nothing I need for life. T + P = MC.
I don’t think this is what James is after ... as though we are to be unrealistically optimistic or Disneyland giddy about our dire circumstances. I think Eugene Peterson captures it well when he translates it, “Consider it a sheer gift...” No trial or time of testing is wasted time for us. Besides surviving and getting through it -- which is usually our only focus, naturally, I think James wants us to see at the front end the real value of our difficulties. There is a dimension we can live in that takes some focus in order to gain value. Testing your faith develops something good: maturity and completeness, or as The Message puts it, “mature and well developed, not deficient in any way.”
Really, having a mature outlook and perspective is reward enough. I find that when my outlook is mature, I don’t freak out as much when the next big thing hits. (Watch me make a liar out of myself next time :) ) God has gotten me through this before, we’ve been here before, we can handle this one, too. Yes, it’s a bit more serious this time -- maybe a lot more -- but we can do this thing. You see, hard times - smack downs - aren’t an indication that God is on holiday. And, that’s the real crux of the issue. We are tempted to think that God has abandoned us -- that’s the “testing of our faith.” Faith says God told me he wouldn’t abandon me -- Jesus said as much. Faith says God does care, God is here, he’s able and willing to help me work through this and come out stronger and more mature.
There’s a very good reason beyond ourselves that maturity is good. Maturity helps others - the less mature than you, the younger than you, the weaker than you. Mature means you are out ahead of someone. As you learn the navigation issues through these particular waters of testing, you will chart a course for someone else, someone right behind you, or someone in the future who will face a similar circumstance. (I think that part is exciting.) This isn’t a matter of superiority as though you will now be able to gloat or best someone, although that seems a common human tendency.
Speaking of, I’ve known people to do this. If they’ve ever had any situation similar they’re “all over it.” Instead of offering a compassionate, steady hand, they’re quick in one of two ways. One is the you-think-you’ve-got-it-bad syndrome. Or, it’s “This is what you SHOULD do. I’ve been there. I KNOW. Or, they’re good at both. Maturity comes along side rather than dispensing auto responses. Maturity offers to walk along side, if only for a season. It says, God loves you, you’re gonna get through this. How can I help? What do you need that I can offer? … and it may not be advice.
To me, the whole value of this maturity-through-trial thing is that we come out better lovers of people. We are loved through a hard time, by God and others, and it is natural that we now know how to love others better.
So, James says, whenever you face trials of many kinds (or one kind), see the gift in them. Hard to do. Very hard to do, especially right in the middle of them. But, the benefit is worth the effort.
There’s one other element here that is part of the “formula.” Now, I don’t like formulas for Christian living. I don’t think they work. People write "how to" books on the Christian life -- I have shelves full of them -- and they don’t work, as a friend of mine says, because if they did people wouldn’t keep writing them. (Look for my big sale on Amazon.) Living in God’s love isn’t about formulas, it is about relationship. It's about living loved by God and loving others -- relationship. That said, what James lays out for us does fall out as an equation of sorts. The testing of your faith develops perseverance. When perseverance is “finished” we find that we are more mature, more complete, that we have everything we need to get us through this thing, to come out on top, to thrive. Testing + perseverance = maturity and completeness. T + P = MC.
It’s also funny how he says this. The testing of our faith develops perseverance and “perseverance must finish its work.” It’s as though perseverance is something outside of us, a thing that is at work. It’s a very passive way to say this. You might expect to hear something more like, “You must persevere if you want to get through this. Don’t give up or...” (or else). That’s not the language. Perseverance is doing something TO us. It’s working to mature us. He almost personifies it. What I’m discovering is that as I hang in there with God, acknowledging he is right in there with me, that he will get things worked out as soon as they need to be. This “trial of faith” is doing a number on me. It’s good number though. It’s “a perfect 10.” I do what I know to do, use the resources at my disposal, and … wait. I know that I am loved by a Father who loves me more than anyone ever has or ever will. As I grow in the realization of his affection and care for me, trusting him is natural. Trust is the moment by moment outcome of my always-increasing confidence in his affection for me.
He does this work. I slip my hand in his. He walks me out of the messes, most them of my own doing. Through every painful trial, perseverance must finish its work. I learn to sit still while perseverance works on me, while God works on me and in me. Really, it’s a matter of rest, of resting. And, I didn't say doing nothing. Rest doesn't necessarily mean inaction. It may, but it may also mean continuing to do what I am doing. As I rest in the reality of his love, the more I find that I am trusting him and not my own agenda for my life. That’s the difference between me grunting in perseverance and allowing perseverance to do its work. I’m really allowing God to do his work. Didn't Jesus say, “Come to me and I will give you rest"? He's saying, Your work alongside me will be restful.” If I don’t come to him, I find that I am laboring in my own strength, wallowing in my own agenda. I like how The Message relays Jesus’ words, “What I’m trying to do is get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving.”
You see, this is so much like God. He works best when we are content in him. In fact, the New Testament writer, Paul, says as much when he says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Being like God is to respond to him and life with contentment. If I'm not content, then there is something to learn about his love that I haven't yet learned. He is enough. His love is enough. Resting in this reality is allowing perseverance to finish its work. Jesus grows my trust right through the middle of my mess. He continually frees me from focusing on what I don’t have and turns my attention to him. He is the author of grace and trust. He is sufficient.
The testing of my faith develops perseverance. Perseverance finishes his work, and I grow, and lack nothing I need for life. T + P = MC.
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