Thursday, June 26, 2008

Nothing Else

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, . . . (Mark 10:21)

Jesus, looking at you, loved you and said . . .

What would He say? In the text above, Jesus says to the man that he needs to sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and he would have treasure in heaven. Then Jesus said, “come, follow me.”

For this man, his stuff was the problem. His stuff was where he found security and comfort. His stuff mattered more to him than anything else. Jesus loved him enough to speak this truth. His stuff was keeping him from the kingdom of heaven. His stuff needed to go before this man could truly follow Jesus. And really, it wasn’t the stuff that was the problem, it was this man’s dependence on his stuff. He depended on inanimate objects for his comfort and security. And there Jesus stood in front of him, a living, breathing human being. What this man needed was Jesus – nothing else.

And for us, too, stuff is often one of the greatest challenges we face in following Jesus. Agree?

Have you ever been asked this question?

Your house is on fire. You have to get out. You can only grab three items. What do you take? What matters the most of all the “stuff” you have?

Let’s do it a different way.

You only have one life. What do you have to have to live this life? What are you dependent upon? What can’t you go with out?

We tend to be people who like the “both and” approach when it comes to questions like this. Especially those of us who live in affluence, we are tempted to rationalize our affluence and how it doesn’t hinder us from following Jesus. So we go with the “both and” approach. We can acquire basically whatever we want (within reason and if we can afford it) AND we can be a faithful follower of Jesus at the same time.

We want to follow Jesus and not give up our stuff. We want them both and we work hard to rationalize how we can have them both. “Stuff isn’t bad in and of itself – it’s the love of stuff, that’s bad. I don’t love my stuff like I love Jesus.” Really? How important is your stuff to you?

Do you see what happens to this man when he is forced to choose? He chooses his stuff over Jesus. He is saddened by Jesus’ words and probably will go look for another rabbi who will tell him what he wants to hear – probably a rabbi committed to his stuff, too.

Once Jesus says the well known words about it being pretty much impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven – like a camel going through the eye of a needle impossible, they cry out, “Who then can be saved?” A good question with an even better response.

You can’t save yourself. It is impossible to “earn” your way. You can’t do it. But hear also what that means to this text. You can’t give up all your possessions. You can’t give your money to the poor. You can’t inherit your treasures in heaven. You can’t do it. You are mortal. You are human. You are sinful. You will choose your stuff.

BUT, it doesn’t have to be this way because all things are possible with God, not you. But, Jesus says, you have to follow me – just me. And if you follow me, Jesus says, I will help you give up your dependence on your stuff. I will help you see that what you need is me not more money or a new outfit or a new video system. You need me. And what you’ll find with me is sufficient. No, not just sufficient, it is abundant. Your cup will overflow. You’ll have to give some away because they’ll be too much for you to keep for yourself.

Jesus looks at you. He loves you. And He loves you enough to say, you need nothing else but me.

Unclean

The Pharisees were hung up on cleanliness. They kept tattling on the disciples for not following all of the man-made rules of cleanliness. “They didn’t wash their hands, Jesus.” “They ate with sinners, Jesus.” “They are not following the rules, Jesus.” “What are you going to do about it?”

Jesus responded with,
These people honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.
Mark 7:6b-8

We face some of the same challenges, don’t we? We are also tempted to hang on to the traditions of men at the expense of God. Sometimes we let our traditions rise above God’s direction or we elevate traditions of men and put them with commands of God.

But I want to talk about a specific area in this topic that is difficult to address. Not only do we get caught up in the traditions of men and judge those who don’t adhere to these traditions, but we also are tempted to see people who are different than us as unclean just because they are different.

We stereotype. We judge. We discriminate. We avoid. We actually act like some people are actually unclean and must be avoided or they will make us unclean.

Jesus touched a leper. Jesus associated with tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus interacted Samaritans and Gentiles. Jesus even washed other peoples’ feet.

Are there people in your life who you treat or see as unclean? Is there any prejudice, racism, or discrimination in your life? What would happen if our church became ethnically diverse? What would happen if “sinners” started coming through our doors? What about people with AIDS? What about homosexuals? What about those who speak a different language? What about those who look and act differently than we do? How would we respond?

Is there such a thing as an untouchable in God’s eyes? What about in your eyes?

To Jesus, every person is a person. Every human He created, He created. His love for each one is the same.

Discernment & Humility - Smith

The following are quotes from Gordon T. Smith’s book, The Voice of Jesus. Note the interesting relationship found between discernment and humility. Can we really know the will of God if we continue in self-centeredness and self-exaltation? Can we really discern God’s will without humility?


Discernment, then, is not merely a matter of rational analysis, of weighing the pros and cons and seeking to respond with a biblically informed mind to the options we are facing. Neither is discernment a matter of pure revelation, what some call “a word from the Lord.” Rather, it is a way of knowing and seeing that is experienced as a profound interplay of intellect and emotion in which head and heart are informing and guiding each other. Discernment is a matter of attending to both the circumstances of our lives and the emotional contours of our hearts. (53)

(Jonathan) Edwards had a basic assumption that guided his investigation (of discernment): the real test of the validity of spiritual experience is the outcome – the fruit of the experience. For example, he stressed that if we feel grief for sin, it should result in a life that moves away from sin. If we have great joy in the midst of worship, it should lead to a life in which joy is more fundamental and central to our day-to-day experience. In other words, if God is truly present, personal and corporate transformation will occur. Edwards challenged the view that dramatic emotional experience meant that God was present and that transformation necessarily followed. What mattered was not the depth of emotion or feeling; the trust test was whether the experience led to genuine spiritual growth. (48)

Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant. Mark 10:43

Yet the wonder of Jesus’ words is that those who make a difference are those who have learned to give power away, to serve in such a way that others are enabled through that service to be all they are called to be. In other words, the genius of making a difference in our world is not through the exercise of power, and even less through the accumulation of power, but through the empowerment of others. We make a difference through service. (150-151)

Humility is critical. The Spiritual Exercises (by Ignatius) include a word that expresses the hope of humility for which we long: indifference. Holy indifference is not apathy; it is rather the inner posture of freedom, where we are able to say and feel that we are open to whatever God wills. If God gives wealth, this is good. If God withholds wealth, this too is good. If God grants us the position for which we have applied, that is good. If God grants it to another, this is good as well. We are indifferent. It is not that we do not care, but we have chosen to place our hopes and longings in God, and come what may, we will be content with how God provides. It also means that we will trust God to do His work in His time. (152)

On a basic level, humility includes an awareness of sin and the need for repentance. Humility also fosters a courageous self-disclosure and honesty with God and self. . . Further, a person of humility is disposed to the purposes and will of God. For (Charles) Wesley, without a fundamental humility or meekness, expressed in a submission of the spirit before the holiness and goodness of God, there can be no knowledge of God. This submission is the antithesis of self-exaltation and self-centeredness. (46)

I have it all together. Don't you?

I have it all together. Don’t you?

It’s true. I’ve got this life thing figured out. Even when difficult times come, I handle them. I keep the struggle to myself. I act like everything is OK. You don’t have to worry about me.

You may wonder how I do it. You may wonder how someone who claims to “need” Jesus has no need for anyone else. Well, I guess the truth is that I do need help, but I am not willing to run the risk of having you see me in a negative way. I’d rather you see the “fake” me than the “needy” me. The fake me has it all together and that is the person I want you to see – even though we both know it’s not true.

Part of the reason I may be this way is that is how I was raised. I grew up keeping my needs private. I grew up with the value of keeping the “stiff upper lip.” It may hurt, but you won’t see me cry. I may have needs, but I will not burden you with them. I’ll handle it. I’ll get by. It’s what you do.

It could also be because I’ve been hurt. I’ve opened myself up to others and shared my need only to have confidences broken and to be treated with pity not love. I’ve even had people reprimand me for not keeping it together. It’s not worth the hurt to admit the truth of my need. It’s much easier to let people see the fake me and distract myself with all sorts of activities so I don’t think much about it.

Where this gets a little dicey is in my family. I can’t put the fake me on with the kids. I may try for a while, but they know the truth. Same thing goes for my spouse. She knows the truth, although I’m pretty good at focusing on her faults in order to avoid confronting my own. She has her own set of issues, so I just think about how she needs to change. My family is in on the plan, though. They know how to act in public. They know what to say and not say to other people. They know how to look like everything is good and we are a family who has it together. Family issues are family issues and must be kept in the family. It is an important value I’ve instilled in my family.

Yep, I need Jesus, but that’s as far as I’m going to go in admitting any needs or weaknesses. And that’s why I am pretty silent when you ask me how you can pray for me. It is not near as hard expressing the needs of others and how you can pray for them, but admitting to you how I really need help and really need Jesus to intervene in my life, that’s a little too personal. I feel a little too vulnerable.

Plus, I have issues. I see things in me I don’t like – in fact, I even detest. I’m not proud of what I do at times or the things I allow in my mind. I can’t share that with you or anyone. What would you think? You would treat me different. There is too much internal shame already to run the risk of experiencing shame from you.

So I guess, no I know, I don’t have it all together. In fact, at times I feel like I’m falling apart. I know you are probably in the same boat. But I won’t admit it to you if you don’t admit it to me. Let’s make that pact and keep it. It’s easier that way.

Jesus says to Paul (and to us) in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (So Paul responds as we should) So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

One of the most important phrases we say to God and to one another is “I need your help.” Because it’s true. I need your help.

General Synod - RCA

General Synod is the annual Reformed Church in America denominational meeting. People from all over the United States come to discuss the business of the RCA. The meeting lasted for six days in Holland, MI, at DeVos Fieldhouse on the campus of Hope College and I was there – at least for most of it.

There were 242 delegates (those who could vote), a hundred or so corresponding delegates (those with voice but no vote), and denominational staff and guests. We hear reports, discuss, pray, and listen to a variety of people speak.

Honestly, I was not excited about going. I went in 2003 and did not have a great experience. I also was not looking forward to being away from my family. I went because it was in Holland and decided I would rather go here than to New York or Iowa. The classis was also having a hard time finding someone to go, so I went.

I’m glad I did. I can’t say every moment was pure joy. There were definitely parts of the experience that were tedious. Plus, when I first registered and was given the packet of materials, they also include a seat cushion. I did not see this as a good sign. And true to my assumption, we spent a lot of time in chairs. I could have used two seat cushions.

One of the reasons I’m glad I went was the encouragement I felt about the direction of the Reformed Church in America. They really have determined to focus in some very specific directions and are not only saying this with words but are backing it up with resources and attention. Churches are being revitalized. New churches are starting. There is a definite commitment to reaching outside of our four walls. I heard a lot of encouraging reports and participated in some stimulating discussion.

A few of the highlights:
1. Discussion about what it means to be “missional” and “Reformed” and whether or not these two are compatible.
2. Incredibly challenging and important conversation about racism with General Synod adopting in their “Our Call” a sixth component – end racism in the denomination.
3. Listening to Richard Mouw (president of Fuller Seminary) speak on the importance of being Reformed and its foundational vision of being “missional.”
4. Meeting some people from around the country.
5. Spending some time with a few friends in Holland / Grand Rapids.
6. Being reminded that Community Reformed Church is headed in the right direction in terms of reaching out to those outside of the church.

One thing I heard which I continue to wrestle with and have not determined what it means is a comment made by Denise Kingdom-Grier during a sermon she gave during morning worship. The following is a paraphrase of what I heard her say,

So often we try and reach out to people because we believe they need what we have. We give and serve because we have something to give that they need. But what we really need to do if we are to truly reach out to those in need is to do so out of our weakness and not from our strength. In essence, we ought to lead with our weakness and dependence not with some misconstrued belief that we have more to offer.

Because when we reach out in weakness, we truly connect with those in need because we are in need too.

This is a poor paraphrase of what she said, but it has challenged me. What does it mean to reach out in weakness? How do we lead with our need? I definitely don’t know the answer, but very much resonate with the idea that connections have in relationships when there is not hierarchy of need. When we present ourselves as having it all together and willing to sacrifice something we have for others, we construct barriers in relationships. We don’t have it all figured out. We don’t have it all together.

I’ll stop here. Please don’t hesitate to ask further questions if you are interested. There is a whole bunch of information about General Synod at the denominational web site: www.rca.org. I’d encourage you to read Wesley Granberg-Michaelson’s General Secretary’s address. It is worth reading.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Grow in Grace

I can’t help but share these excerpts from Hannah Whitall Smith’s book, A Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.

Grace. . . is the unhindered, wondrous, boundless love of God, poured out upon us in an infinite variety of ways without measure. Although we do not deserve it, grace comes from the measureless heart of love. (160)

Put together all the tenderest love you know, the deepest and strongest you have ever felt, heap upon it all the love of all the loving human hearts in the world, multiply it by infinity, and you will begin perhaps have some faint glimpse of the love and grace of God!

In order to grow in grace, the soul must be planted in the very heart of this divine love, enveloped by it, steeped in it. The soul must give itself to the joy of it, and must refuse to know anything else. Day by day the soul must entrust everything to the care of this divine love and must not doubt that all will be well ordered. (161)

. . . though we may work hard trying to make beautiful spiritual garments for ourselves, and though we may work hard in our efforts to gain spiritual growth, we shall accomplish nothing. For no man by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature, and no array of ours can ever equal the beautiful dress with which the great Husbandman (God) clothes the plants that grow in His garden of grace and under His fostering care.

If I could make each of my readers realize how utterly helpless we are in this matter of growing, I am convinced a large part of the strain would be taken out of many lives at once.

Imagine a child possessed of the worry that he would not grow unless he made some personal effort to do so. Suppose he tried to use a combination of ropes and pulleys to stretch himself up to the desired height. He might, it is true, spend his days and years in weary strain. There would be no changing the fact that “No man by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature.” His weary efforts would be only wasted, and might even actually hinder the long-awaited end.

Neither a child nor a lily is ever found doing such a vain and foolish thing as trying to grow. But I fear many of God’s children are doing exactly this foolish thing. They know that they ought to grow, and they feel within them an instinct that longs for growth. But instead of letting the divine Husbandman care for their growing, as it surely His business to do, they try to accomplish it themselves. Consequently, they waste their energies and find themselves not growing at all.

What we all need is to “consider the lilies of the field” and learn their secret. Grow, by all means, dear Christians, but grow in God’s way. See to it that you are planted in grace, and then let the divine Husbandman cultivate you in His own way and by His own means. Put yourselves out in the sunshine of His presence and let the dew of heaven come down upon you. See what the results will be. Leaves and flowers and fruit must come in their season, for your Husbandman is skillful and never fails in His harvesting. Only see to it that you do not hinder the shining of the Sun of Righteousness, or the falling of the dew from heaven. The thinnest covering may serve to keep off the sunshine and the dew, causing the plant to wither. So the slightest barrier between your soul and Christ may cause you to dwindle and fade as a plant in a cellar or under a bush. Keep the sky clear. Receive the blessed influences your divine Husbandman may bring to bear upon you. Bask in the sunshine of His love. Drink of the waters of His goodness. Keep your face upturned to Him as the flowers do the sun. Look, and your soul will live and grow. (162-164)

It is the great prerogative of your divine Husbandman that He is able to turn any soil, whatever it may be like, into the soil of grace, the moment we put our growing into His hands. He does not need to transplant us into a different field. Right where we are, with just the circumstances that surround us, He makes His sun to shine and His dew to fall upon us. He transforms the very things that were our greatest hindrances to the most blessed means of our growth. I don’t care what the circumstances may be, His wonder-working power can accomplish this. We must trust Him with it all. We can trust. And if He sends storms, or winds, or rains, or sunshine, all must be accepted at His hands with the most unwavering confidence that He who has undertaken to cultivate us and to bring us to maturity, knows the very best way of accomplishing His end. (165-166)

. . . what is needed for happy and effective service is simply to put your work into the Lord’s hands and leave it there. Do not take it to Him in prayer, saying, “Lord, guide me. Lord, give me wisdom. Lord, arrange for me,” and then rise from your knees, take the burden all back, and try to guide and arrange for yourself. Leave it with the Lord. (183)

If we are to walk as Christ walked, it must be in private as well as in public, at home as well as abroad. It must be every hour all day long, and not at stated periods or on certain fixed occasions. We must be Christlike everywhere and to all. It is in daily living that practical holiness can best show itself, and we may well question any “professions” that fail under this test of daily life.

An anxious Christian, a discouraged, gloomy Christian, a doubting Christian, a complaining Christian, an exacting Christian, a selfish Christian, a cruel, hard-hearted Christian, a self-indulgent Christian, a Christian with a sharp tongue or bitter spirit, may be a very earnest worker and have an honorable place in the Church. But, he or she is not a Christlike Christian, and knows nothing of the lessons of this book concerning the higher Christian life. (188)

I have noticed that wherever someone has been truly faithful following the Lord, several things have inevitably followed sooner or later. Meekness and quietness of spirit in time become characteristics of the daily life. A submissive acceptance of the will of God is shown as it comes in the hourly events of each day. There is a willingness in the believer whose life is in the hands of God to do or to suffer all the good pleasure of His will. There is sweetness when provoked. There is a calmness in the midst of turmoil. There is a yielding to the wishes of others, and an insensibility to slights and affronts. There is absence of worry or anxiety. There is deliverance from care and fear. . .

We see such Christians sooner or later laying aside thoughts of self and becoming full of consideration for others. They dress and live in simply healthful ways. They renounce self-indulgent habits and surrender all purely fleshly gratifications. Some helpful work for others is taken up, and useless occupations are dropped out of life. God’s glory, and the welfare of His creatures, become the absorbing delight of the soul. The voice is dedicated to Him, to be used in singing His praises. Money is placed at His disposal. The pen is dedicated to write for Him. The lips are dedicated to speak for Him. The hands and the feet are dedicated to do His bidding. Year after year such Christians are seen to grow more unworldly, serene, heavenly-minded, transformed, and more like Christ, until even their faces express so much of the beautiful, inward, divine life, that all who look at them can see that they live with Jesus. They are abiding in Him. (190)

Self-Righteous Prayer?

I am discouragingly amazed how quickly my mind can focus on how other people need to change. I am amazed at how judgmental and self-righteous I can be. I see this tendency in me to think, “If only he or she or they would . . . . . .” And really, the conclusion of that phrase tends to all fall into the same category. “If only they would be more like me.”

I couch all these unhealthy ponderings under the category of “I just want them to grow and enjoy life more.” My self-righteousness is hidden behind the veil of compassion and sympathy. It is not true compassion I feel. It is veiled self-righteousness. I am disheartened by how much time and emotional energy I can invest in thinking about how others needs to change, how they just don’t get it, or how frustrating it is for me to live with them. I move from self-righteousness to self-pity. What a sad progression.

So here I am investing all sorts of time and energy into thinking about another person(s) in unhealthy ways. I argue with them in my minds. I think poor thoughts about them. And it consumes my day. It consumes my thoughts and emotions. I cannot do anything else. I am hindered by these unhealthy emotions.

Satan wins. This is his goal. I succumb to sin too easily.

God is helping me to see this tendency, to confess, and to respond in helpful and healthy ways. He is calling me – He is calling you – to pray. Now be careful about this. That tendency to be self-righteous can filter its way into our prayer life as well. We don’t really pray for the person, but we pray that this person would change so it would be easier for me. That is not the prayer I am talking about.

First, do you believe that God loves everyone unconditionally? Do you believe He looks with compassion upon every person including those who you struggle with?

If your answer is ‘yes’, then it is clear we should love them too. Now I know that doesn’t change your heart, but it is an important place to start, because here you recognize that your heart needs to change. If God loves them, so can I. Regardless of what they've done (or not done), God not only calls us to love them, He gives us the love so we can. And what also happens is that if we are unable to love, meaning to long for them to experience God’s love, we begin to see our own part of the problem. Something about us is keeping us from this love. This is a tough place to arrive at because as much energy as you’ve devoted in judging and pointing out the faults of another, you begin to see that your faults are a significant barrier to loving as God does. Maybe it comes from jealousy or insecurity or maybe there is bitterness that has been harbored and allowed to fester, or maybe it goes back to some experience in your past that you’ve never addressed – whatever it is, it must be dealt with (by God) before God’s love can be found in your love towards this person.

Second, know that you are not alone in this struggle. Know that God promises to help you overcome whatever it is that is keeping you from loving this person. See the compassion and love God extends to you – IN SPITE OF YOU. If God can love me, He can love you.

Finally, pray. Instead of letting the mind take you down that path of judgmentalness or self-righteousness, pray for this person. Place them in God’s hands. Pray blessing upon them. Pray they would experience and know of God’s love for them. Pray that God would help them to see Him. Pray that God would help your heart be changed toward them. Confess your sin of judgmentalness, bitterness, anger, self-righteousness, etc.

For me it seems, that in those places like this that are hard, God is doing His most important work on me. It is hard work. I don’t like it. But I need it.

“As Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd . . .” (Mark 6:34)

Selfish people were in that crowd. Self-righteous people were, too. People with unhealthy motives, people who doubted Jesus, people who just wanted to get something from Him. But Jesus responded with compassion not judgment, love not rebuke, and humility not pride. We’re in that crowd and so are those we struggle with. May we look upon all people in our lives with compassion, with an earnest desire for them to experience and know the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. May they see it and experience it in us.