Hello and Shalom to all!

(this was posted this past May, but I wanted to include it here!)

Hello to all!
I'm back, alive and well. What a trip! What a journey! I apologize for not writing sooner, but I've been recouping and been out of town on business this week. I want to let you all know that Israel is everything anyone has ever told you and more. I would highly recommend to every Christian who can to go at some point in their life - but only with an experienced tour guide and driver. It's such a land of beauty and spiritual power, but if you don't know where you are going, you'll only find trouble. I had many thoughts during my time over there and I'll work to share them in the days to come. By the way, my new profile pic was taken on top of Mt. Arbel in Galilee, as were these fine shots.



Back to the profile pic: directly behind me is a 400 meter drop, which is only accentuated by the surrounding land, as the Sea is below "sea level". The Sea of Galilee is to the right of the picture. The city of Tiberias is out of view, but was almost directly below. The small town of Magdala is directly behind me. That was the home town of Mary Magdelene. Below my left hand, sort of in the haze is the Mount of Beautitudes - so named because this is the site of many of Jesus' sermons, fully recorded in Matthew 5-7.


It is also directly near the site of the feeding of the five thousand - the only miracle of Christ recorded in all 4 Gospels.
There's no possible way that I can convey all of the visceral aspects of the place, but let me tell you that I was blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way at the Church of Beatitudes.


I wasn't expecting it, but he came and moved me to tears and sobs that were so beautiful, so cathartic, so healing, that I must praise the Lord right here and now!

A quick word
Very quickly I'd like to bring one point across in one word: devotion. This word, this action, devotion, was readily apparent in the land of Israel. As Americans, quite frankly, we have possessed a sense of entitlement in regards to our spiritual life. We abound in grace. While it is true that we are saved by grace and not by works, works need to be evident in our lives, as they demonstrate in a tangible way, our love for Jesus Christ. Once again, we aren't saved by works, but as the brother of our Lord wrote, "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead" (James 2:17, NRSV). Devotion is the recognition and admiration of the life and works of Jesus Christ here on Earth, set into motion in order to give us eternal life for all who would believe (John 6:47). In short, this means that we need to change our perspective from "what can I get away with and still be Christian?" and begin to say "as a Christian, what must I do to express my love for him?" This is a paradigm shift of immense proportions. We then no longer get concerned with the "thou shalt nots" and become wrapped up in the "thou shalts". Do you see that? I think that we tend, myself included, to skate by too often on the merits of grace. We might attend a few church services, we might even tithe and teach a class here and there. But really, what is the measure of our devotion? Have we really invested ourselves in our relationship with Christ?
I saw people in Israel who wept, who knelt before and on and who draped themselves over the places of Christ's birth, his passion and his resurrection. While the motives for doing so may be varied, one thing became apparent. Am I as devoted to Christ? Am I truly thankful, in a transformational way, for Immanuel - God with us? It's a question that doesn't have a quick answer.While other religions have a works based salvation plan, Christianity is distinct in that we are saved by grace and belief. Yet, we can still earn lessons from others. Should our devotion to the one true God and Lord of all be less than that of a person who does not? What have you done in your life to truly make Jesus your Lord, the object of your greatest love and devotion? He has given you his life so that you may live. He is the bread of life that has given life to the world. (John 6:33) Eat of it, be filled, be devoted!
Devotion may be in the form of switching off the tv and taking time in prayer and study in the Word - not just one verse, but true contemplation and meditation on his precious words. I can tell you from experience that since I have been able to see the places of the Bible, my reading and understanding of them has changed forever. I also can tell you that this feeling is possible without having to go to on a trip. By spending time with the Word, by cherishing it, by ingesting it, you too can experience. This in turn should lead to a vibrant prayer life that puts you in tune with your Lord and God - thereby increasing that ever important word in your life: devotion. Won't you do that today?Thanks so much to all who have prayed for my journey and my family while I was away. Know that I prayed for you all as well. What a privilege and honor to lift up one another in prayer before the Lord! Have a blessed day!

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1.03.01

Completing the ENTIRE Person

Foreword
I'd like to let everyone know that I have been out of town extensively this past week, hence only one post. I'm shooting to begin a new series on prayer but it is more than likely going to be interrupted for some time. I'll be in Israel from the 9th to the 18th, so my access to the internet will be limited, at best. I'd really, really appreciate your prayers for that time, as it will be difficult for everyone, yet still an experience of a lifetime!

Introduction
Just as I did with an interesting theological topic, I also like to address general topics of interest from time to time. The concept of complete health is one that is not only of interest but one that hits me between the eyes right now. I believe that a person is physical, mental, spiritual and emotional. Pastors usually do their work in the realm of the spiritual and emotional. If you are a blessed communicator, the mental aspects of a person are also addressed. However, it is rare that a pastor ever addresses the physical components that help to complete the entire person. Yet without that, we never fully minister to all of the needs that a person may have. So, in the that spirit...

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" (I Cor. 6:19, NIV)
Last week I begrudgingly agreed to get some blood work done. When the results came back, I found out that I had high cholesterol and really high triglycerides. I wasn't too thrilled, to say the least. I used to run track and was very active until a few years ago. I'm 37, 6'3" and about 215, so I figured that all was well, as far as cholesterol went. What I've not really mentioned is that for years, I would eat pretty much whatever, whenever. I did have my gallbladder removed a few years back, which has caused me to change my diet somewhat, but I guess that wasn't quite enough.I recently gave up pork and most red meat in order to deal with some typical post-op digestive issues, but this recent news has been quite sobering. I'm quite thankful that I have found out the news at my age instead of in 10-15 years. Heart disease is no joke and something that needs to be discussed on a regular basis, whether on Sunday or Wednesday night or at a time of convenience for the church. Why?The aforementioned scripture makes it very clear that our bodies are of great importance. The church is great at addressing issues of sin, but then we all shuffle off to the buffet line without giving it a second thought.

Diet changes?
I really believe that we need to become more conscious about addressing not only what goes into our hearts and minds, but into our bodies as well. The number one killer amongst human beings is heart disease. And what is the typical initial symptom of heart attack? It is typically death. That's right! In many cases, heart problems are diagnosed post-mortem. In other words, when it's too late. I believe that something can be done to reverse years of damage that we have caused, but it's not easy. It requires willpower and accountability. Frankly, this sounds familiar to areas of our lives that we already, as Christians, strive to surrender to the Lord. Should our diets be any different?If we are truly thankful for our gift of life, I believe that we need to be willing to care for bodies. Daily, regular exercise needs to begin. I'm not talking about becoming marathon runners. I'm talking about doing something: walking, lifting, stretching.. something. Granted, a doctor should be consulted if haven't exercised for many years prior to activity, but for most getting out and moving will be a great start.Next, our diets need to change. Fatty foods, while tasty, will cause problems sooner rather than later. I was shocked when I went through some food labels recently. Do I really need to get 200% of the recommended daily intake of sodium in one sandwich? I'm not saying that everyone needs to become a vegan, but the fact remains that most people have between 5-7 POUNDS of undigested meat literally rotting away in their intestines on any given day. mmmmmm - sound good?I've recently decided to kick nearly all meat to curb. This is a HARD step for a guy like me to make, but a necessary one. I've found that with Boca and GardenBurger, there are many viable and actually GOOD tasting options out there. NOW, it's not always the most cost-effective way to shop. However, most of us take better care of our vehicles and houses than we do our own bodies. Meanwhile, the church sits by and never addresses any such concerns. Sure, we may take stands against smoking, drinking and other vices, but if you want 3 quarter-pounders, knock yourself out. Really, it is time for us to be willing to address all the things that violate our personal temples. This starts at the dinner table, folks. We can have good food while still paying attention to the awful amounts of cholesterol and fat that many foods contain. More fish, more chicken - less breading on them, too, by the way.

Conclusion
So why would a pastor address these issues? Because for one thing, if they don't, they might wind up in no shape to pastor. If they say nothing, there might not be too many people left in the congregation. I believe that we have a responsibility, as pastors, to address all of the needs of the congregation that we can. Only as complete and healthy people can we fully enjoy this blessed gift of life that God has granted us. Seek to have a healthy and vibrant walk with Jesus Christ. Get your blood checked. Make appropriate dietary changes. Exercise. Pray. Read your Bible. Witness to and love others with the love of Christ. It ALL works together! Have a blessed day - and really, start taking care of your bodies as well as your spirits!

Peter and Judas: Part Three: Perspectives

Introduction
I want to thank everyone who has made a comment throughout the life of this series. This subject is both intriguing and difficult. The intrigue lies within trying to ascertain the ways in which Peter and Judas dealt with their respective failures. The difficulty lies within our attempts to empathize with Judas without forgetting about his repentance and to keep from glossing over Peter's glaring inadequacies. At no time has this series attempted to make statements about the eternal destinations of either Judas or Peter. This is in line with the Biblical mandate of Matthew 7:1-2. This statement about avoiding judgments refers to our penchant for determining the outcome of the lives of others, which clearly the work of God alone.In wrapping this topic up, I want to look at what I believe to be the final and ultimate difference between Peter and Judas. The difference can be summed up in one word: perspective.

The crisis of introversion revisited
Why is perspective important in this case? It seems that the perspective of each of these men is what drove them towards their ultimate positions, one of shame and one of honor. One man seemed to have spent three years in the presence of Christ yet remained completely focused on self, literally consumed with an internal perspective. The other man was, at least eventually, able to change their perspective to one that was conducive to helping, leading and inspiring first the remaining apostles and then much of the early Christian movement.This crisis of introversion, as spoken about in an earlier post, is what kept Judas isolated from the fellowship of his brethren. It kept him focused on his needs and desires. He illustrates this by being labeled a thief in John 12:6. Judas was so focused on self that he failed to see the enormity of Mary's act of love and lack of concern for financial security in exchange for devotion to Jesus. Morris points out the significance of this passage. "This is the one place in the four Gospels wherein Judas is shown to be of bad character prior to the betrayal... and if this is the character of the man, we may well feel that he was dissatisfied with the way the mission of Jesus was turning out" (Morris, 1995, p.513, 514). In other words, Judas cared more for self, more for money and more for personal gain than he ever did others. This would explain how Judas was both able to be possessed by Satan directly and how he was able to betray Christ. Furthermore, it would seem to illustrate how he was unable to get over his own guilt, hence his ultimate act of suicide as a type of conflict resolution.

The eventual outward perspective of Peter
Peter, the prophesied rock of the church, acted in a way that was completely contrary to his eventual status as one of the pillars of the early church. He proved himself to still be impulsive and emotional, hence his ability to deny Jesus. Yet, we still must deal with he fact that Peter ultimately behaves in a way that is quite different from Judas. Like Judas, Peter is confronted with the finality of the earthly ministry of Jesus. Similarly, Peter is wracked with guilt after his failure, as was Judas. Two things seem to separate Peter from Judas. One is the fact that Peter isn't directly possessed by Satan. This speaks of the character and internal spiritual state of the man. Despite his massive foibles, Peter still, at least on some level has a heart that loves and longs to serve Christ, if not imperfectly. Second is this idea of perspective.While Matthew tells us that Judas is alone when he confronts the priests, John 20-21 shows that Peter was constantly in the company of others. The difference that shows between Peter and Judas cannot be overstated. One would only have to look to our own day and age, at Blacksburg, Virginia to show what happens when one person is consumed and overrun by an internally focused psyche. Peter is never mentioned as being alone or isolated. This is key! Peter stayed surrounded by others. Perhaps this was due to the man himself or perhaps it is due to divine intervention. While the cause of Peter's social interaction may not be correctly ascertained from scripture, the impact of that action may be.Peter is able to be present on the day of resurrection. He is able to witness the bodily resurrected Christ not once or twice but three times because he stayed with the brethren. This leads to his ultimate restoration and fairly exalted status as leader of the apostolic group. None of this would have been possible if Peter had remained wallowed in self-pity and isolation. By keeping a perspective of outward motivation, Peter is able to stumble along the path towards restoration rather than destruction.

Conclusion
While we may never know the impetus for Peter's remaining within community, what we can take away from the comparison between Peter and Judas is this idea of perspective. Judas was consumed and destroyed by maintaining an introverted life. Peter is eventually able to be restored by Jesus largely because he stayed available and in community.We, too, need to stay connected with a body of believers, both locally, through a church if at all physically possible and globally, through evangelism and interaction with others. I cannot discount the fact that Judas fulfilled prophecy, but I believe that his choices opened the door for these actions to occur.
I've tried to be fair to both, not too light on Peter and not too heavy on Judas, in order to illustrate that both real men illustrated truths for our enrichment and growth today.

Application for us
Please, don't stay isolated from your Christian brethren and from the world at large. Don't allow yourself to be consumed by self. Even Christians can fall prey to the crisis of introversion. It is something that I constantly battle. I have both succeeded and failed with this issue. Yet through it all, it is a focus upon the Lord Jesus Christ that is responsible for lifting me up and out of my crisis of introversion. So today, please don't just walk away with having just read this post. If all that you have read our words, then I haven't been clear enough. Only by living a life guided by the Holy Spirit, directed in love for others and devotion to Jesus Christ will you be able to stretch out past an inward focus. And only by focusing outside of oneself will restoration, just like that given to Peter and just like the one that each and every one of us needs in the form of forgiveness from Jesus Christ, become readily available to you. It's all a matter of perspective. What will yours be today?

Peter and Judas: Part Two

Introduction
In the first part of this soon-to-be series, we took a look at some comparisons between Judas - insert boo here - and Peter - insert cheer here. It seems that the overwhelming view of these two men is characterized in exactly the same way as how I just presented them. Judas is hated and Peter beloved. Yet, I believe that the case for both men is not as cut and dry as we try to make it, with us having the benefit of hindsight. If we were to zoom back to their time, would we be so sure of the outcome?

One possible KEY difference
John 13:27 reads, "After he (Judas) received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do" (NRSV). Similarly, "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve" (Luke 22:3, NRSV). Luke 22:31 states, "Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you (Peter), when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers" (NRSV). These accounts point out one similarity and one difference between Judas and Peter. All of the disciples were tempted, Peter included, in a spiritual way to abandon Jesus in crunch time. However, Satan only seems to be able to tempt Peter. John and Luke both tell us that Satan actually entered into Judas. What a difference!
First of all, what must Judas's spiritual condition have been like in order to have been able to have been possessed? Second, what must Peter's have been like if he wasn't possessed? This might be the very answer to the overriding question about Judas. While demonic possession is mentioned extensively in the gospels, save for John, in no other case is it stated that Satan entered into someone directly. By the way, as a side note, I've often wondered how someone, particularly a Christian, could think that Satan doesn't exist. He seems to be very real in the gospels!
It would almost be fair to say that Judas wasn't fully under his control during the betrayal. We're not told when or if Satan left Judas, either. Possibly, just speculation here, but perhaps Judas acted under his own power in Matthew 27, when it is stated that Judas repents and seeks to take back the silver to the priests.

Back to Matthew 27:3-4 for a moment
In this text, as mentioned above and in part one, Judas is spoken about as being repentant for his actions. He feels, rightfully, culpability for his role in the betrayal of Jesus and seeks at least some form of restitution for his actions. It should be noted that perhaps Judas was acting in response to Deuteronomy 27:25, which called for a curse to put upon anyone who betrayed innocent blood for money. This is certainly a possibility as Judas specifically mentions that he betrayed innocent blood. So once again, we must notice here that Judas possesses at least a modicum of repentance - at least as much as Peter, perhaps even more.

Getting it
Another issue that has been raised throughout the interactions based on part one is the idea that somehow Peter understood the gravity of his situation more so than Judas did. Honestly, I can't really find much scriptural basis for this. I do tend to agree that in the long run Peter came to understand more than Judas did. Yet, in the immediate days of both Christ's death and resurrection, this doesn't seem to be completely accurate.We know from the text in Matthew 27:5 that Judas went and hanged himself after being unable to cope with his guilt. Later in Acts 1:18-20, Peter himself explains that scripture had to be fulfilled in regards to Judas. We may then ascertain that while Judas didn't get the concept of Jesus as a suffering messiah, he also is acting under direct satanic possession, yet all the while under God's provincial knowledge, hence the fulfillment of prophecy.
But before we slap Peter on the back, we need to do a Lee Corso (college football guru) - "Not so fast, my friend". Peter was obviously slow in some areas of acceptance of Christ. While he is applauded by Christ for acknowledging him as Lord, he is in the next moment HARSHLY rebuked - the get behind me, Satan quote of Matthew 16:23. Additionally, it must be noted that the account of Peter's threefold restoration in John 21 is the THIRD time that Jesus appears to Peter after the resurrection. Three times! John 20:19 and 26 account for the first two times. Additionally, it is recorded that Thomas - the doubting Thomas - is in fact restored BEFORE Peter. The man who said he'd only believe if he touched Jesus is restored prior to Peter. Is this to imply that unbelief is less of a sin than denial?In any way that you look at it, Peter just doesn't seem to grasp the situation. He never ACTIVELY seeks forgiveness and restoration. It sort of comes to him. Looking at the threefold restoration, some debate has arisen about the language that is used during the exchange.
It may be postulated that Jesus in both the first and second instances of "Do you love me?" is using a higher form of love, in the Greek text, than is Peter. Only in the third statement are both words for love the same. Does this imply that Peter didn't quite get it? Furthermore, does this show that Christ was willing to work with Peter, so to speak? I seem to have more questions than answers on this.

Conclusion
What I want to point out in this second part is that although we are quick to dismiss Judas as hellbound and clueless, the Bible itself paints a slightly different picture. Likewise, while we love to see that Peter is forgiven and restored, we tend to miss out on the fact that he was fairly slow in accepting that Jesus had to and needed to suffer as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We may WISH to see Peter as one who was forgiven, like us, so we readily identify with him; foibles and all. Yet, why are we so quick to distance ourselves from Judas? Is it because he couldn't absorb his guilt and merely was repentant and not truly desiring of forgiveness? Or is it because, as Lora Mae and others commented, it's hard - and even painful to identify with Judas in any way? I'll continue this next post, but I'd really love to hear your take on these issues. Thanks for reading and bringing up valuable points and comments! Have a blessed day!

Peter and Judas: Part One

Disclaimer
Every once in a while, I like to delve into areas of theological interest. I'll do this from time to time because hopefully there are some issues that are worth investigating within the grand scheme of the topic. I really want to open these types of posts to interaction, as they are largely issues rather than doctrine or straight up teaching topics. So, with that disclaimer stated, let's hit it!

Peter and Judas
This is a topic that came up on Sunday and I believe that it merits further discussion. Stanley Jones stated that the wonder isn't that Judas hanged himself but that Peter didn't. Wow! You know, I had never really given much thought to that, but this is a weighty subject. First, I want to let know that I still stand by Matthew 7:1-2, in that I am not going to judge the eternal destination of Judas. That's not my goal here or even something I have any business weighing in on, so I won't. In a comparison between Judas, one who is despised and vilified and Peter, one who is praised and admired, some comparisons can be made. One betrayed Christ and the other one denied him. Really, Peter's denial isn't as far removed from Judas's betrayal as we'd like to think. John 18:25-27 gives more detail about Peter's denial than the other gospel accounts do. I believe this is because the writer of the gospel was more than likely there. I've spoken a bit about this and the credit goes to Ben Witherington (2006) on the topic of the writer, but I agree with his thinking that the writer was the beloved disciple, Lazarus. This would account for the more exacting detail of the denial. All of that to say this. When Peter is confronted by a relative of Malchus, the servant who was de-earred by Peter in the garden and healed by Jesus, Peter folded for the third time. After this third denial, we don't hear anything about Peter until John 21, when he is restored by Jesus.
Interestingly, in Matthew's account Peter denies knowing Christ so vehemently that he swears and curses, possibly towards himself and possibly towards Jesus. Matthew builds on this and adds that Peter recognizes that he had fulfilled Jesus's words and goes out to cry bitterly.I think that Matthew puts an interesting wrinkle into this comparison in chapter 27. Judas is depicted as also being full of remorse for his actions, as he goes to the priests and changes his mind - the NRSV renders it as "repents" - and throws the 30 pieces of silver down and leaves the temple. By the way, on another rabbit trail, 30 pieces of silver was the common price of a slave. Yes, Judas betrayed Christ for the same amount of money that a slave was sold for. However, he was inadvertently fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 11:13.So, we are left with the picture that both Judas and Peter are filled with remorse and regret for their actions. Yet, they seem to take divergent paths towards restoration. Judas hangs himself and Peter languishes for a time and then goes about his regular life, which was prior to his becoming a disciple the life of a fisherman. Not to dismiss that, but let's go back to this issue of repentance.

Repentance for both Judas and Peter?
We all know that Peter repents and is restored by Jesus to truly become "Cephas" - rock - as Jesus said. This followed prophesy. Judas seems to have followed as well, as Jesus said in Matthew 26:24 that it would have been better that the betrayer would have never been born. By the way, it is largely through those words that we get our view of Judas's eternal state.Still why is the repentant state of Judas different from that of Peter? It would seem that there ISN'T any difference. "When it is all put together, I think it is extremely difficult to deny the Matthean Judas genuine repentance. His change of heart cannot be judged as less authentic than that of Peter in 26:75" (Nolland, 2005, p.1153). This would seem to state that repentance in and of itself isn't necessarily enough to grant us salvation.

Salvation issues
I believe that the ultimate difference between Judas and Peter is not in their earlier betrayals or even in their states of repentance. They aren't separated by impulsiveness. Peter was characterized by rash action before his brain kicked in. Judas seems to possess a similar disposition. It has been postulated that Judas betrayed Christ not to have him killed but to force his hand into becoming the messiah that Judas most likely visualized. So, then what's different? It seems that Peter was starting to get over his impulsiveness but Judas never did. Perhaps, even, Peter possessed the ability to forgive himself and Judas didn't. Whatever the exact reason was, we know that Judas pronounced himself judge, jury and executioner by hanging himself. Any further work from that initial state of repentance was negated in that action. Peter was able to experience both restoration through Jesus and empowerment through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Could Judas have experienced the same or was his fate sealed? That seems to be the million dollar question, as it were.I'm going to continue this discussion later.

Question
So, if I may, what do you think about this topic? Does Judas represent the inherent desire to control our own destinies? I wonder, could Judas have even changed after his betrayal. Maybe the question isn't could have rather it may be a what if question...

The Crisis of Introversion

Introduction
Let's face it, we are a nation that is captivated by introspection. We spend billions of dollars on self-help aids, on psychiatry, on self-esteem building activities and the like. We couple this with the pursuit of material gain: the desire to have the biggest house, the best car and the finest clothes that money can buy. Our Christian bookstores are filled to the brim with self-help books - Lord help you if you might want to buy a commentary or Bible study aid! Our televisions are glutted with home improvement shows and fashion tips are easily attainable.While each of these pursuits, in and of themselves are not an issue, when added together, they tend to make a potent recipe for narcissism, the overwhelming and consuming pursuit of self. This is a problem that must change, especially if the church is going to progress towards being the spotless bride of Christ and effective tool for ministering to the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Crisis of Introversion
As mentioned above, we have become a nation that is hooked on self-examination and self-promotion. This post is not a diatribe against the material excesses of America, although it should be noted that we are the most affluent nation that the world has ever seen. We are rich and our churches are as well. Unfortunately, when a church becomes too rich, it has a tendency to become fat and lazy. It quickly becomes detached from the true needs of society and quickly shifts into "country club" mentality. I am a firm believer that a pastor has a sacred duty to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. What does that mean? It means that a pastor needs to challenge and to exhort their congregations towards a headlong pursuit of Christ Jesus. It means that a pastor needs to promote discipleship and an atmosphere of genuine Christian community and service. There's the key word!! Service!
Let me make this clear. While it is of great importance to have a positive self-image and to cultivate a positive perspective on life, it must not be pursued at the expense of Christian service. We are called, as Christians, to become disciples of Jesus Christ, to live in community with others and to reach out to those who need a loving and helping hand. It's hard to extend that hand when both of them are clutching a mirror!
I was, for all intents and purposes, a very vain guy. My family could attest to the fact that I used to spend a great amount of time in front of the mirror, "checking to make sure that everything is in place" in the words of Phil Collins. The issue here isn't whether or not you care about your personal appearance, you should give some thought to it, but you don't need to be so consumed by it. This leads to an introverted thought process, in which all revolves around self. In doing so, we become guilty of creating a crisis of introversion. We become wrapped up in our own needs and desires.

How this crisis damages the church
"Well, I stopped attending that church because it just didn't fulfill my spiritual needs." "That church wasn't spiritually deep enough for me." "Those people are mere spiritual babes." "That church only fed us milk. I need meat, so I'm leaving." "Churches today are so full of hypocrites and those who aren't spiritual enough, so I'm not going back."Do any of these phrases sound familiar? Have you ever uttered any of them? all of them? I have at one time or another. All of these phrases have one thing in common. All of them reflect this crisis of introversion. If there is any truth to the latest book by George Barna, Revolutions, then the church is being crippled by introversion. My main critique of this book is that respects and even elevates the need for a Christian to leave the church when it no longer caters to their needs. Folks, this a problem!
While there are circumstances that unfortunately do merit a change in churches, they are not myriad in existence. Short of deep immoral behavior in the pulpit and a teaching of clearly unbiblical teaching and theology, our reasons for leaving a church are few. I want to make this clear in as loving a tone as I can muster. A church is not a spiritual Burger King! You can't always "have it your way." The church is full of people who are various stages in their Christian walk. There are those who can absolutely bury me in wisdom and Biblical knowledge. Similarly, there are those who haven't even cracked their Bibles since becoming involved in the church. Yet, they are all to have a place in the church!
One of the hallmarks of a truly mature Christian is the realization that you have so much more to learn and so many areas that need attention in your walk. This means that no one has arrived yet and no one is so spiritually mature that they can't benefit from the community of the Lord. AND - if you are really are mature spiritually, then you should be actively involved in helping others reach a higher state of maturity. That's right, the church isn't a buffet line! It's a community that is predicated upon love and service with the express desire to make disciples and to spread the message that there is indeed a God who loves everyone beyond their wildest imaginations!When our focus is on us, we lose that edge. We lose that focus on the world's needs when our eyes become myopic. We then become a church and a nation that is materially wealthy but Biblically poor. We become able to recite song lyrics and movie dialogue but can't recite a Bible verse longer than "Jesus wept". When this occurs, the church is bound to suffer and to be damaged.

Is change possible?
I truly believe that change can occur, though! How? By becoming committed to focusing upon the needs of others within our own household, our neighborhoods, our churches, our communities, our nations and our world, we stand to truly be the church of the Bible. When our focus turns to the needs of others, then AND ONLY THEN, do we truly love as Christ commands us to. See, the focus needs to be on love. Love, by nature, can't exist alone. It needs interaction with another. Love, as expressed throughout I Corinthians 13, is never self-serving. It gets over hurt feelings and desires to build up rather than tear down. Jesus stated that all of the commandments could be whittled down to two principles. If we love God with every fiber of our being and if we love our neighbor as ourselves, then we've got it. Love not only covers a multitude of sins, but it is the reason that Jesus came to us in the first place. John 3:16 isn't just good poster material!

Conclusion
I'm not about to say that the church is beyond repair. Yes, work needs to be done. Yes, changes must occur. But no, the church isn't beyond hope. That said, the only way that this generation will be able to have any part in this repair is if we begin to get past our desires to placate self and strive to build up others. By focusing on others, our own issues begin to smooth out. Suddenly, those problems begin to get more focused. Our hurts begin to heal. When our focus is upon restoring the fallen, we get to see mercy and grace acted out. This in turn not only changes us, it changes the church. When the church is changed, the world will begin to change. when that happens, watch out!

Judge Not: Pt. 5: Restoration
"Dear brothers and sisters, if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself" (Galatians 6:1, NLT).

Introduction
We've looked at various aspects and real-life scenarios of judging, whether it be labeled discernment or out and out legalism. This series began as an exegetical look at Matthew 7:1-2, the "judge not unless you want to be judged" verses that are bruised and battered within and without the church. In this post, I want to examine what needs to happen after rightful judgment has been made - talking about discernment of activities here, not of a person's eternal destination, in the life of someone in the church.

The landscape
To me, there is nothing more tragic, sad and disappointing than hearing about how someone was hurt in a church to the point of leaving altogether. This has become an all too common occurrence and one that I believe can and must be avoided. While the person who was hurt does possess a degree of culpability in this scenario, stories and personal experiences have led me to believe that in many cases, one could hardly be blamed for leaving.
Paul instructions to the Galatians, which by the way was likely his first church letter, speak of how a Christian should be restored to fellowship. Now, there are some notes of interest that should be expounded upon briefly. First, it should be noted that this verse pertains only to those who are already Christians. Second, Paul is stating that it is entirely possible for a Christian to sin. Might he also be implying that one could lose their salvation as well? While not implicitly stated, the thought must be considered. Third, Paul is quite specific in stating that other Christians need to rally around their fallen brother or sister. And here is the rub...
Too often, this third note never occurs. Too often, this person is rejected, thrown to wolves, shot down by the very ones who are TOLD by the very book they claim to love! This point can't be missed! Our judgments that are geared towards other Christians are never, never, never intended to be ostracizing in nature. It is our duty as Christians to bring back those who have left, either from sin and shame or from being wounded by the church.
Paul places the emphasis on restoration in this passage for a reason. We must remember that the church is set up as a community first and foremost. A community, by its very nature is intended to build and to be built upon. We can't very well be building when we are tearing down, can we? It's pretty simple, or is it? Perhaps not, because then maybe, we'd see it more often.
Christians are called to surround the hurt, the fallen and the bruised in gentleness and humility. Paul's saying that we are not to hold the sin or hurt over the damaged person. In other words, other Christians in this case aren't to revel in the fallen, they are to remember that by the same measure that they give mercy, so shall they receive it. Maybe these words aren't so simple. I admit that I haven't always been as gentle and as merciful as I should have been. It becomes very easy at times to exalt our own perceived spiritual superiority over another's "weak faith". Yet, to do so flies completely in the face of scripture - not just this verse in Galatians, either.
Once again, I do understand that this post has some preachy elements in it, but what do you expect, haha... Also, I know that there is a bit of irony in noting that some judgment is required before restoration can begin. Remember, this though, the emphasis is upon restoring and rebuilding the kingdom and not upon the act of judging another here.

Judge Not: Pt. 4: Actions might be louder than words

Introduction
In this series, we've dealt with Matthew 7:1-2 head on. The phrase "judge not and you will not be judged" refers not to a blanket statement made by Jesus to not judge. It is a statement that, through the interpretation of the original Greek, means that we are to not judge the ETERNAL DESTINATION of another person. While later verses also indicate that statements of judgment may be made within specific parameters, here Jesus refers to the ultimate form of judgment, made all too often even today, unfortunately.
In part three, we examined one way in which judgments may be made, through the lens of current events. In part four, this trend continues to focus upon social and racial equality, which was demonstrated by Jesus himself on many occasions, not the least of which was his direct and loving confrontation with the Samaritan woman at the well, as recorded in John 4.

Jackie Robinson Day
April 15th 2007, marked the 60th anniversary of the first regular season game played by Jackie Robinson in Major League Baseball. So what, some may say. Sure, this had to do with baseball, but it goes beyond that. At the time, the military was still segregated. When Jackie and other African-Americans served our nation during World War II, mere years before this game, they had to serve in separate units from their Caucasian counterparts and comrades.
These same men, when they returned home from service, still found that they couldn't stay in many of the same hotels, eat in the same sections of restaurants or even see a movie in the same theater as Caucasians. These practices weren't simply limited to the South Jim Crow states. They were also, shamefully, practiced in sections in the North, as well.
By setting foot on a professional baseball field, Jackie Robinson was taking one of the first of the civil rights movement, which was still about 15 years away. It's been recorded that at this time, Jackie was harassed on and off the field, even receiving death threats. Imagine that! He received death threats for having the "audacity" for wanting to play baseball! Yet, as bad that sounds, at least Jackie was granted the right to do so. He had no such option in the NBA or NFL. Baseball, likely Jackie's worst sport, was the only major sport to give him a chance at all.
It's been recorded that some of Jackie's "teammates" didn't want him to play on the Dodgers. One of the more vocal opposers was named Dixie Walker. Apparently though, it was made clear by Branch Rickey, the man responsible for signing Jackie, that anyone opposed to Jackie playing would be traded. In a related show of solidarity with Jackie, one day when playing in Cincinnati, the fans and others were being particularly cruel. In order to help dissuade the crowd from their actions, local hero and future Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese went up to Jackie and put his arm around his shoulders, as if to show to the crowd that Jackie was a man and Dodger, just like the the rest of the team was, no more, no less. Reese was judging the behavior of the crowd as being incorrect, but he chose to respond to that same incorrect behavior in a loving manner. Reese's actions were clearly louder than any words might have been!

Application for the Christian
It is this action by Reese that I would like to apply to the Christian life. Few of us will have the opportunity to make a stand like Jackie did. He shouldered some the most difficult and frankly despicable treatment another human being could suffer. When the opportunity arose to show support and to voice a type of judgment against such behavior, Reese's actions spoke even louder than words.
This is the type of attitude that we as Christians are to display. Perhaps not through picket signs and protests, although situations may warrant it, but through our words and loving displeasure, we may make it clear that the Bible sends a different kind of message to the world. Racism can't be allowed to exist. Sexism is incorrect. However, we are not to employ the same methods as some in the world have employed in order to get these points across.
Judgments are needed at times, but not through a pursuit of an "any means necessary" type of approach. Our stance must be like Dr. Martin Luther King or even Mahatma Gandhi's approach of peaceful resistance. Remember, we are called to not only love or friends and fellow Christians, but to love our enemies as well. It's hard to love when you are throwing rocks! It is important for our Christian witness to be seasoned with love, for we must remember whose name we carry. If our actions, even in righteous judgment, are contrary to those of Christ, we defeat ourselves outright.

Conclusion
I'd like for us to remember that there are occasions that warrant our involvement. Judgment needs to given when we are faced with clear attacks on Biblical principles. However, even when our action is mandated, what we do must always be in accordance with the very Word that we are defending. After all, how effective would Reese have been if he had chosen to go up into the stands to verbally and physically confront those who assaulted Jackie? If we are told that a gentle answer turns away wrath, we need to remember that. There is a way to get your point across while maintaining your witness for Christ, I assure you.
Our judgments need to be seasoned with love. They need to have the purpose of not tearing down the person who has displayed the wrong behavior, but they need to have the purpose of removing the malignancy from that same person. In other words, we want to remove the cancer and leave the patient intact.

Judge Not: Pt. 3: Where's the furor?

Overview
In what is quickly becoming a series of posts elaborating on one of the most brazenly abused scriptures in the Bible, Matthew 7:1-2, otherwise known as "judge not, lest you be judged, we are going to take a look at another aspect of application.
In part one, we investigated the proper exegetical meaning of the scripture, that Jesus is making a proclamation against judging one another eternally, not against judging actions that are immoral or unbiblical.
In part two, we took a look at some practical implications of how a judgmental spirit may overtake, overrun and keep a church from fulfilling its purpose on earth.
Part three will deal with another application. The question has been asked if there are times and places for judging. The answer to that is dependent upon the purpose and motives for doing so. What follows will be a building of a case for a time in which loving judgments should be made.

The Imus predicament
This past spring, much deliberation occurred over statements made by Don Imus in regards to his statement about the Rutgers women's basketball team. In one fell stroke, Imus managed to offend both the female and African-American communities. The comments have cost Imus his lucrative job, at least on CBS and MSNBC. A quick attempt to hush the matter by the respective companies initially led to a two week suspension for Imus. That proverbial slap on the wrist was eventually replaced by the firing of Imus, mostly in response to the furor of both offended communities.
This situation calls for a bit of an editorial comment on my part. First, I support the decision to fire Imus. In this day and age - frankly in any day and age, that type of misogynistic and racially charged language has no place on the airwaves. Second, I stand in full support of the comments that were made by the Rutgers coach, in which she stated that the time has come in which NO ONE should be making those types of comments: neither white, nor black, nor male nor female. In other words, no one should be saying such things, whether it be on the airwaves or in song.
Third, I also stand in support of the investigation and spotlight being turned upon the hip-hop community. As one of the most popular forms of musical expression, accountability for apparent misogny must be in place. With all respect for Snoop Dogg as a man, I think that his argument, along with that of Russell Simmons, about rap artist simply writing about what they see rings incredibly hollow. Women are not female dogs and they aren't mere objects for quenching men's desires. They are men's partners and equals. Across the board, statements against women must stop. This isn't an opportunity to swipe at the hip-hop community, it's an opportunity to speak out in judgment, motivated by my love for women and the protection of our children.
Fourth, I wonder if it might be possible that a bit of hypersensitivity didn't come into play in this Imus/Rutgers situation. Really, should the Rutgers team have cared about what some dj said about them? How do the statements of a played-out, well past his prime shock jock have to impact a fine athletic accomplishment? Just a thought...

Application for the Christian
Now, while I have stated that I contend that Imus was out of line and that his firing is justified, I wonder if the type of moral indignation that was displayed by both the African-American community leaders and women's rights activists shouldn't be carried into another arena. It seems that pundits for nearly every interest group is given a forum on a national level in order to, rightfully, voice their displeasure about unfavorable and possibly degrading race and sex based statements.
My only concern about this process, is this. Where's the furor within the Christian community in regards to statements that have been made by, for example, Bill Maher on his show about the deluded and weak need for some to rely upon religion? His statements aren't far removed from a Marxian opinion of religion being the opiate of the masses. Yet, does anyone speak out or is anyone even given the opportunity to speak out on a national stage?
Further, while Rosie was catching flak her statements of belief in a national conspiracy in regards to 9/11, who was standing up in righteous indignation about her recent comments in which she compared fundamentalist Christian to fundamentalist terrorists? Who was calling for her firing? I believe with all of my heart that Christians need to take note of the climate of sensitivity that is being displayed in this country and see if some of that might be able to be used to defend and refine thoughts about Christianity today? Or would we have yet another case of tolerance for all things, except the cross of Christ?

A time for "judging"
What I'm saying is that there are times to stand up and to "not let your good be spoken evil of". There are times to stand up in defense of the most precious gift ever given to humanity. In a similar fashion, there are times to judge statements made by individuals. I believe that I have demonstrated at least two occasions in which protest and judgment is apropos. What I would warn against, however, would be the use of that righteous indignation in statements against the person, Rosie O'Donnell. That doesn't mean that I stand in support of her public lifestyle choices. It means that any potential public forum that a Christian advocate might receive needs to and must be directed towards the hateful comments against Christianity rather than at the person who made them.
In other words, the examples of the aforementioned pundits must be followed. No credible comments were made against the person of Don Imus. It was the statements of the man that were measured and found wanting. I believe that Christians, when making discerning and Holy Spirit-led statements need to direct their furor at statements. Might there still be backlash against the brave stand? Sure, but at least the ammunition that is given to those making the statements against religion or Christianity will be diminished.

Closing Comments
So while there are times in which judgment may be Biblically given - and this particular post is only examining one time and one direction in which judgments may be vocalized - they should only be given when guided by love, correction and of utmost importance, the Holy Spirit. Love is still the rule and the guidelines of love that are given in I Corinthians 13 must be followed. Be patient, kind and never rude. Judgment can't be directed by selfish motives and can't be given in order to continue legalistic practices.

Judge Not:: Pt. 2 : The Closed Door Syndrome

Introduction
In part one, we deconstructed the popular social misuse of Matthew 7:1-2. To quickly summarize, the use of "judge not, lest you be judged" is being used today as a means of deflecting any potential judgment being meted out by those who dare make a stand. Yet, the actual words of Jesus were conveying a command against making an eternal judgment against another, not one based on behaviors or actions - when done in a loving and constructive way.
In part two, we'll begin to examine an all too familiar practical application of the dangers of passing judgment upon others too quickly or from a position of supposed moral authority. Practical and common occurrences will be examined. In a similar way, a type of judgmental attitude may be perceived. Please know that this comes from a prayerful and loving place. I love the church and believe in my heart that the church is still and always will be the bride of Christ. I'm just trying to straighten out the train on her dress here, that's all...
Just to address the issue up front: once again, I'm not saying that Christians shouldn't take stands against behaviors that are clearly against Biblical principles. I am saying that discretion needs to be used when doing so. In fact, that discretion needs to come from prayer and supplication to the movings of the Holy Spirit PRIOR to making judgment statements about behaviors. Why? Let's a take a look...

A quick overview of the church
There seems to be two viewpoints on the mission of the church. One view is to hold that the church is a haven for saints. This means that the church exists primarily to build up and edify those who are already Christians. The second view is that the church is a hospital for sinners. This means that a church stays in welcome mode and exists primarily as an entry-level church. I would argue that a third view of the church needs to exist. I believe that a careful mix of both views needs to be incorporated into the church. I believe that a church should seek to build disciples of Jesus Christ. At the same time, and here's where some difficulty lies, the church should seek to welcome in "whosoever will". In other words, the doors to a church need to remain open. How does this tie into judging? Why, thanks for asking!

The First Church of the Closed Doors
In too many churches, and in some I have attended, there is a spirit that could be called either unintentionally or even intentionally disinviting. This means that a church "feels cold". There might be few greeters. There might be little interaction amongst all people in the church, with little cliques being formed here and there. If you haven't seen this, then think about junior high. Imagine that again and you're on the right track. These churches tend to be unwelcoming to "outsiders". Even worse, there may be people who wonder, "What are THEY doing here?"
This question might not be asked out loud, but it becomes apparent to the person who came in. A visitor may actually be a rare commodity in such a church. When one brave soul does venture in, they are gawked out like some carnival side-show freak. They are asked to stand up before the church and give their name, rank and serial number. The only thing missing here is either a spotlight or a large scarlet "V" being placed on their chest. There might be various reasons for this practice, but the message comes through loud and clear: we are us, you are they.
Let's face it, it's already difficult enough for non-Christians to come into a church. The music, although precious to us who grew up in a church or who are well-versed in 18th century music, seems dated. The practices of the church, though known to members and long-timers, can make others feel out of place and on it goes. My point here is that it is HARD for "outsiders" to walk into any church, even for the most confident, normal, well-adjusted person.
Now, let's raise the stakes a little. What if a divorced, mother of three were to come into the church, a little bit late and a little bit noisily? What if a person of another race were to come into a church of one predominant race? What if someone with smoke or alcohol smells came in? A known ex-con? A known and practicing homosexual? What happens then? Are they greeted warmly or must they run the gauntlet of stares and hushed quiet as they slip into the back of the church, unannounced and uninvited?
This is a scene that plays out all too often. And then, many churches who do this will be the same ones who wonder why their churches are dying or are so "inbred" that the a visitor register might be covered in dust and cobwebs. Or in an even worse scenario: they might not even care or wonder why no one new has come in. That church has become a "members only" country club of spirituality. The doors of that church have almost literally rusted closed.

The First Church of the Open Doors
If you weren't born into the church, how did you enter in? How were you welcomed? Did it take many churches to find a good fit? These are questions that pastors and parishioners alike need to be asking themselves. We have to remember that as the church, WE are the representatives of Jesus Christ here on Earth. As children of the king, we carry the family name, so to speak. Therefore, we need to carry ourselves in that manner. With the privileges of sainthood come great responsibilities.
Jesus tells that whatever we do to the least of these, we do to him. This means that we as a church have got to become not only more welcoming INSIDE the church, but OUTSIDE of it as well. We need to walk across the street and talk with others, people that others might walk past.
If we don't, if we sit back and pass judgment on a godless world WITHOUT even lifting a finger to spread the Word lovingly, why should we expect the world to act any differently? Shouldn't we as a church, a body that has not an answer to the world's problems but THE answer in Jesus Christ, act like it?
Jesus communed with tax collectors. He ministered to and was accused of being a drunkard, a demoniac, of being insane, of being anything other than what we would think of as being a Christian. And yet, who accused him and judged his actions in such a way? Was it those who were healed? What is the woman caught in adultery or Mary Magdalene who accused him? It wasn't the Samaritan woman at the well who failed to bring people to him. She didn't put off evangelizing because she was hungry. It was the disciples, the very people who should have known better in the first place who did that. Read John 4 for more details. The Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day were the ones who were throwing the rocks of judgment at Christ. WOW!
See, Jesus mirrored for us what the church should look like. He welcomed in ANYONE and EVERYONE who wanted to be in. He reached out to those who were outcasts and social pariahs. Those who had blown their last chance were given another chance in him. Jesus welcomed in everyone and I'm confident that he'd do it today. Yet, this is only half of the story. While Jesus welcomed people in, like the overzealous Peter and the tax collector Matthew, yet he was never content with letting them stay in the condition that they were in when they walked through the door, so to speak.
This means in practical and clear language that we need to spend less time in judging and criticizing today's society. The critic's chair is the easiest one to occupy. It's safe and must have big cushions or something. What we need to do, and what I need to do, is to reach out INTO the world and at least try to reach out in LOVE and in the name of Jesus. I'd make this challenge to you. Are there any people on your friends list here on myspace or at work or in your neighborhood who do NOT profess to be Christians? If not, perhaps, you've become so insulated FROM the world that you have lost contact WITH the world. This isn't meant to be a slam. It's an admonition. It's an admonition that is directed towards myself as well. I need to be brave and to do a better job of reaching out to the very ones who need the ultimate life preserver that is Jesus Christ.
By judging the world instead of loving it, we miss out on the purpose of our lives here on Earth. If we were intended to live out our days solely in the presence of our brothers and sisters, might we all be transported directly to heaven upon salvation?

Salt and light
If we are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, isn't it so that we can spread the Word of God? It's tough to love and to reach out to others when both of our hands are clinched around a sword. While we have a moral imperative to make stands, should we do it at the EXPENSE of ministering? What I'm saying here is that in too many cases people have been wounded and injured forever by judgmental Christians. Have these people then really be able to make an informed and responsible decision to either accept or reject Christ? The turn or burn mentality tends to place us in a position of superiority rather than in the position of sinners saved by grace. I'm not saying that we shouldn't speak of both the reality and consequences of hell. We should, but it should be tempered with the reality and beauty of heaven.

Is your faith based on do's or don't's?
People are looking for and needing love. People want to see a person who is authentic in their faith and who genuinely wants to present a gift, not one who wants to judge or to force someone to take a bath before they can be cleaned. What I mean is people want to see lives that are characterized by do's. Do love. Do witness. Do read your Bible, pray and become an involved part of your local church. Few people today are looking for a list of don't when they walk through a door. By focusing on the do's of Christianity, the don'ts become fairly evident. I urge you to strive to love before you judge, to minister and to help before you speak out and to become a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem. Christians are called to be known by our love, not by our judgments. Is your faith based on a list of do's or dont's?

"Judge Not... the most abused scripture today"

This post is based upon a comment that I left earlier today on a fine blog. I feel like the topic needs further exploration...

"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get" (Matthew 7:1-2, NRSV).

It seems that "judge not, lest you be judged" is flung around ad nausem by anyone who has the desire or impetus to do so. These verses have suffered from abuse beyond compare, textually speaking. Usually, these verses are employed as a weapon. For the record, if there is one universal "bad policy" for scripture, it is the use of scripture as a weapon. The ironic thing about this particular scripture, and what makes me upset, is that it is generally employed by those who rarely, if ever, crack open a Bible.
It seems that the scripture is thrown most commonly at a Christian or another person who is seeking to take a moral stand against a particular activity or practice. Those who seek to defend their own practices or those of people they know then load their tired bow and fling this arrow. While I apologize for the irritated tone that I have at the moment, I want you to know that I am doing so for edifying purposes.

A quick exegetical background
As I believe I have stated in other entries, the key to sound and orthodox Biblical interpretation - exegesis - is taking into account the context of the verse in question. Verses don't exist in outer space. In fact, when the Bible was originally penned, chapter and verse wasn't used. Just using the New Testament as an example, these books were written in Koine Greek. This common language didn't employ either punctuation, paragraph breaks, etc., so a particular book looked like a sheet of letters. Chapter and verse is a construct of the Middle Ages. The reason for including this trivial information is to illustrate that the Bible was written to be ingested in thoughts rather than verse by verse. This means that in order for us to get an accurate picture of what a verse truly means, we must employ contextual studies.

Judge not - in focus!
Back to Matthew 7:1-2. What Jesus is talking about in this oft-quoted and even more oft-abused passage is that we are to sure that our own affairs are in order with the Father. In other words, the context of the verse in question is set with an eternal perspective in mind. The ultimate form of judgment, the final judgment before God that will take place for all, is what is being addressed here.
It should be noted that a prohibition against making statements against sin is not being made in Matt. 7:1-2.
In the Greek, the word for judgment in these verses - and throughout the book of Matthew is "used overwhelmingly for the eschatological judgment of God" (Nolland, 2005, p.318). This means that Jesus is making a prohibition not against calling sin what it is - remember, always coated in love - but rather against our judging about the eternal destination of another. That is the sole and exclusive territory of God.
By pronouncing that type of judgment on another, I am putting myself in the position of God. For the sake of argument, doing such a thing is really in violation of the First Commandment. Nothing is to be in the place of God, save God alone. This is why it is considered by many that to "damn" someone else through the use of language is sinful and plain wrong.

Again, this time with feeling...
To emphasize: Matthew 7:1-2 is speaking against the placement of self in the position of God himself, as eternal judge. To have a stand against something and to speak in a critical yet ALWAYS loving fashion is NOT being spoken against by Jesus.
We are implored as Christians to stand for what is holy and good, righteous and just. However, we are also called to always bear in mind that we are to be loving when we do so. I'm not referring to verbal abuse or putting on an air of moral superiority in the name of love. The ultimate definition of love is given to us through both the words and life of Jesus - who said that greater love has no one than the one who gives his life for another. Love itself is also to manifest itself as written in I Corinthians 13. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way" (I Cor. 13:4-5a).

Wrapping it up
So, the next time you feel led to either employ Matt. 7:1-2 or when you feel led to make a decision about another person's eternal destination, remember the context of the aforementioned verses. Let God handle the final judgment. Be sure that your heart and life are in order and that Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life. Check to make sure that love is your motivation. Always know that you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar. In other words, let's all, you, me and everyone follow the greatest commandments: to love God with all that we are and to love our neighbors - which is everyone - as we love ourselves.

Do I live in Saturday?

Friday is the day that Jesus was crucified and died. It's called "Good Friday". Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. It's called "Easter". Saturday is that...., it's called.... Oh yeah, Saturday has no special name, no special services, no anything. It seems, at best, to be a space filler between Friday and Sunday, with only debatable activity occurring on both earth and in the spiritual realm. (One of my former professors has just posted a bit on Saturday - http://kenschenck.blogspot.com). So, the question is raised, of what importance is Saturday? Furthermore, with Saturday appearing to be a filler between two bookends, do I find myself living in that time?

Second place syndrome
I believe that most of us know what it's like to be the runner-up. We tried, came so close, but not close enough. I ran track long ago. It seemed on many occasions that my best race was just good enough to finish second. I won as well, but for some reasons, those second places are more vivid in my memory. I played very competitive softball for many years. I have several trophies from that time to this very day. Yet, out of all of the trophies, some of which are bigger than my kids, only one is for a first place title. That one is also the smallest one. Actually, come to think of it, I believe it was broken this past year by one of my cats. So there you have it, no first place trophies to show for it. Oh well, I think I hurt my hamstring during that tourney anyway...
There are so many interesting titles for that second place finisher, too. Runner-up. Second fiddle. First loser. Wonderful titles... Who remembers the second place person in any band? Messina? Oates? Garfunkel? Ridgeley? Stewart? Everybody wants to be the lead singer, sit first chair in the band, be the next "American Idol" and on and on...
Second place or being in-between is so unglamorous. Who remembers the time between World Wars I & II? You had the Roaring 20's and then the Great Depression. The times were and still are interpreted by the bookends of the world wars. The in-between seem unglamorous and are readily forgotten.
Yet, in reality, despite perceptions, are the in-between times any less important, any less vital to developing the overall story? Is the backstretch any less important in running a complete race than is the start or the final meters before the finish line?
In my own life is Saturday, where I find myself right now, that self-described limbo - see my post on the ordinary being extraordinary if you would like further insight - any less important than the Friday - my past and the Sunday, my expectant future?

Saturday, in proper perspective
I would argue that without Saturday, Friday and Sunday exist without context. If I may leave my own story behind for a moment, I'd like to examine the perspective of Jesus' disciples. On Saturday, it seems clear that the disciples would have been in deep hiding. Their master, the one that they had devoted the last three years of their lives to, had been killed. On one hand, it must have seemed like they had put all of their bets on the wrong horse, so to speak. We are told on more than one occasion that the disciples didn't understand what Jesus was talking about at the time until after he was resurrected. But I jump ahead... Back to the disciples on Saturday. What a woeful time! They must have been cowering in fear. No doubt Peter was a mess, having just betrayed Jesus three times. One of their own number, Judas Iscariot, was gone. We're told that the disciples, save for the "beloved disciple", who was present at the cross with Mary and the other women, etc., all scattered and deserted Jesus. It's clear that the other members of Jesus' own family had deserted him, as his burial was attending and cared for by non-family members, a true contradiction of what those times mandated. Family members were to provide for burial, but that cross brought public shame, shame that wasn't to be messed with by a family that didn't understand Jesus to begin with. Have I painted a bleak enough picture? Saturday was really a dark, lonely and despairing day.

The promise of Saturday
Yet, as bad as Saturday was (and is), without it, Friday was just a day of suffering. Sunday wouldn't have happened, as it would still be a day off in the future. James 1:2-4 contain some truly enigmatic and strange words for those who are currently in Saturday. I wonder if, in hindsight, the perspective of James, the brother of Christ, that was colored greatly by that very Saturday, led him to write these words - when taken in proper perspective: "My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing" (NRSV).
Be joyful in trials? Enjoy Saturday? That seems impossible. And yet, that is exactly what we are to do. Why? Because without trials and testings, our faith is weak. Anyone can believe and follow Christ when life is easy and good. We pray for blessings, not trials, right? We pray for deliverance FROM trials, not TO them, right?
Back to the disciples... They were in the midst of a dark and almost undeliverable, at least from their perspective then, time. Saturday seemed to go on forever. Yet, it was that very time of despair and testing that made Sunday so remarkable. We're told that some of the disciples, when told of Jesus' resurrection on Sunday morning, actually ran to the tomb. They had been so shaken by Friday, so beaten down by Saturday, that Sunday was a jolt and shock to their system! When deliverance came, it nearly overwhelmed them! In fact, for at least one of the disciples, Thomas, his despair became so deep that Sunday morning wasn't enough for him. He was stuck on Saturday! This makes me wonder, then, am I?

Learning from Saturday
It's easy, with our present-day perspective, to gloss over Saturday. I no of no great books that have been written on the topic. I doubt one would become a best-seller, anyway. No evangelist uses Saturday for revival messages. The focus is almost always on Friday and Sunday. Why? Because it's easier and more dynamic to use those days. Yet, where are most people living their lives? I would argue that most are living their lives on Saturday, myself included.
However, we will do a gross injustice to ourselves and to the life that God has granted us if we become, like Thomas, lost in Saturday. We will become full of doubt and lacking in perspective if we become lost in Saturday. We benefit the knowledge that Sunday occurred then. The disciples didn't know until it happened. Perhaps, those of us who are currently living in Saturday would benefit from remembering that Saturday is but for a time and in the words of E.K. Bailey, "Friday is here, but Sunday is on the way!" The same may be said of Saturday. Saturday is here. I am living in Saturday. Saturday is all around me and I feel like no relief is in sight.
Even so, I must remember the blessed truth that Saturday exists to give Friday and Sunday context. Without Saturday, my faith is weak. Without trials, I receive no benefit, no joy from my faith. Therefore, in trust and faith, I must stand in the knowledge that Saturday is but for a season, but Saturday exists for a reason!

Not me!

When I read the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper, as we call it, I usually find myself feeling just a bit superior. I like to think that had I been there, I would have been able to resist the urge to question my own loyalty to Jesus aloud by saying, "Surely not I, Lord" (Matt. 26:22, NRSV). I like to think that I would have felt more secure in my belief in Jesus than his own brothers and sisters did - Mark 3 and John 7:5 show that Jesus' family had issues with his authority - John goes so far as to say that his brothers didn't believe in him at this time. But by doing this, have I become just as guilty as those who deserted Jesus on that night? Am I really capable of betraying Jesus? Or have I already?
One of the more popular worship choruses in recent years contains the line, "I'll never fall away". This declarative statement of eternal fidelity seems to fly directly in the face of observable statistics that a majority of people who are currently in the life of the church will not be there in 2-3 years. What a statistic! Those that sing "I'll never fall away" are the same who will stop attending a church because either it's filled with those that they deem as "hypocrites" or because the pastor just doesn't feed their "advanced spirituality" or because there aren't enough "mature Christians", presumably like them.
Yet, before I get too judgmental of these people, I need to ask myself, have I done the same thing? The answer is frightening.
It's so easy to pronounce judgment upon Peter for his spectacular denial. All four Gospels give an account of it: Matt. 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:31-34 and John 13:36-38. Therefore, there must really be something that is to be learned from this. If we look closer at the account in John, we see that after Jesus tells Peter that he can't follow where he is going right now, Peter proclaims to Jesus that he will gladly lay his life down for him. A familiar sentiment! Yet, right after this bold pronouncement from Peter, Jesus tells him that he won't only betray his "lord", but that he will do it three times before the sun rises! This seems astounding! How could someone who was so bold and daring for Christ one minute betray him not once, not twice, but three times that very night?
Could it be that Peter still didn't get it, much like those who greeted Christ at the city gates with palm branches and cries of "hosanna" only a few days before (see previous post for discussion on Palm Sunday)? I think so. yet how could one who followed Jesus for three years, day and night, fail to see the point? I would say because Peter still had in his mind what the messiah should be like. Peter had a picture of a triumphant messiah, not one who should suffer. He more than likely thought that life with Jesus would continue on with privileges, blessings and positions of honor! Sound familiar?
It is this very mindset that resonates both within myself and much of contemporary Christian culture today. We are searching for blessings, blessings that are tied to material wealth and gain, our best life now and earthly incentives for serving Jesus now. Yet, it was this very mindset that Jesus was addressing within Peter when he proclaimed Peter's denial. I wonder if that is the same mindset that is found within the multitudes who will leave the church. Even more so, I wonder if some of that mindset is within me.
The question that lies at hand is not an easy one to ask. I would like to think that my faith and belief system is bulletproof. I'd like to think that I couldn't possibly turn away from Christ or miss the point of serving him. I'd like to be able to confidently shout, "Not me!" Yet can I?
When I spend more time on proclaiming the sins of the people than in helping them, I miss the point. This is so excellently told by C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters. If I am spending more time pointing my finger in a self-righteous fashion without extending the rest of my hand, I've missed the point.
Further, if I am prone towards spending hour after hour in self-reflection without addressing the need for more prayer, for more study, for more witnessing, then I am missing the point. I keep coming back to this theme of missing the point because I believe that it is so vital to understand. While it is necessary to call sin what it is and while it is so important to examine ourselves regularly, neither can be a substitute for love, grace and mercy. For if we can't extend our hands to those who don't know Christ, why should they be compelled to come home? Should we think if we shine a light upon their sins that they will listen? Perhaps a few will, but so many more will be turned off. What if, instead of throwing a rock, we try to build a bridge?
If I become so wrapped up in myself, I tend to get tunnel vision. I tend to get caught up in my own piety. While it is important to live a life of personal holiness, it must not be lived in isolation. Holiness is only complete in community. A relationship with Jesus does no good when it is continually pointed inward. If I leave the church altogether because I'm not getting fed enough, was I really dining at all? Or was I, all the time, standing up and proclaiming, "Not me!"
Do you see why I said that the answer to the earlier is frightening? It's frightening because it is so obvious that I surely would have run that night, too. I'm not nearly perfected enough in my faith to have been immune to that which struck every other disciple. Oh, I can debate as much. I'm sure there even might be those of you who are reading this have had or are having the same thought that I did. "Alright, pastor, thanks for the words, but you don't know my faith. I'd never fall away." And yet, by proclaiming that, have you already? Not literally, maybe. But by placing so much emphasis on self, have you inadvertently done that?
See, if we are saved by grace and not our own merit, then we must be willing to admit that we have room for growth. If I shout, "Not me!" What am I really saying? Essentially, I am saying that I am a complete work. I am saying that I am strong enough on my own or through my faith to be immune to falling away. Is that true?
I am saved through the working of the Holy Spirit in my life alone. This is an advantage that the disciples didn't have until Pentecost. So, along with that and the benefit of 2000 years of history, I could maybe stand more confidently, but I'm not talking about today. I'm talking about me standing in the Upper Room that night. All things being equal, me standing there prior to Pentecost, hearing Jesus proclaim the upcoming betrayal, would I say "Not me" like the others or would I say nothing?
It's so easy to say "Not me!" because we both want to please Jesus and we also want to build up our own faith. Yet, by doing so, do we miss the point of the abandoning? Perhaps the disciples abandoned Christ, not because their faith in him was too weak but perhaps because it was misplaced. Perhaps, the disciples were too reliant on Jesus to take care of everything and not really able to walk on their own - within his strength to be sure, though.
In closing, I'm saying this. Perhaps, just perhaps, my faith is based upon all that which Christ can do, a wonderful thing to be sure; but if I'm not able to walk out the door of my church and go across the street to both befriend someone in need and to tell them about Christ, haven't I just missed the point? Haven't I just said, "Not me!" and then gone out and done just as the disciples did that night?

The future in exchange for the present?

I'm finding myself at a funny place in life. Some call it a time of transition. Some call it an in-between time. I call it a pain. I'm not where I was, locked into classes and a program. That's done and the next program and degree, if there is to be a next is a few months away. Independent Greek lessons for me, haha! I'm not currently in a church, that's also a few months off. So, what I guess I'm saying is that everything that seems of interest is off on the horizon. Does that mean that I should whittle away my time now? Do I get into survival mode today in order to prepare for a future that entails the unknown for my family and I?
The future holds I don't know what, I don't really know where or how it's going to be paid for. In other words, there is more up in the air than there is on the ground, at least when viewed practically and logistically. Yet, why should I pine away for that future? Perhaps it is the expectation of that next challenge. Perhaps it is the acknowledgment of my penchant for loving new challenges and seeing who God's plan for my life jibes with my current surroundings. Whatever it may be, I am finding myself quite willing to exchange my present for my future. But is that right?
I believe that many Christians live their lives in that same mode of future-longing. They become so focused on the future promise of heaven that their present life becomes something that is loathsome. The phrase for this kind of thinking is "being so heavenly-minded that they are of no earthly good." Now, understand, I believe that there is nothing wrong with being captivated with the thought of our future glory in the eternal presence of our Lord and Savior, at least for those who have made the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives.
The future
Have you ever noticed that in some circles, the future is so much more appealing to folks that their present sort of slides into a type of shadow dance with reality? I think this is dangerous and in fact is a squandering of the blessed life that we are granted daily from the Father. So, in a way, I guess I am answering my own question. i know in my heart that every day holds something blessed and important. Perhaps it is because of the lingering questions that my focus has been so far off lately. But whatever the reason for that is, I know that I need to focus on what is here right now.
We must know that first, Christ told us plainly that we should not be "worried" about the future because today has enough problems of its own for us. I believe he is telling us to focus upon the life that we have instead of the life we want or do not have as of yet. this doesn't mean we shouldn't plan ahead, it means that we shouldn't be so caught up in that which lies ahead that we spoil the precious and irreplaceable gift of today.
The rapture dilemma
On a related topic, I believe that at times, there is too much emphasis that is placed on eschatology, that is the study of the end times. We get so caught up in interpretations of prophecy that we tend to filter those prophecies only through present and the foreseeable future, at least as how it pertains to us here in America. Yet is that even the purpose of prophecy? Or is it there to continue the story of God's protection and love for his chosen people, the Israelites? Yeah, talking about our over-enamoration with a certain series of books, that in my opinion, might be better off left behind. Short of them bringing people into a current relationship with Jesus Christ - which is always of worth, and I think the overriding concept of the series, it must be recognized that the vast majority of it relies on both fictional events and certain and quite modern interpretations of Biblical passages that would have been viewed by the early church as absurd. Even the preoccupation upon a rapture helps to develop a type of bail-out mentality. I mean, the rapture is such a modern phenomenon - an 18th century Darbian interpretation. yet, if I were to google the word "rapture", I would find over 10 million instances of the word on the web. That's astounding!
Now, I'm not trying to step on any toes or to start needless debates. I believe that this issue is one of interpretation. I take Jesus at his word when he said that he would come again. I just don't personally believe that any texts conclusively prove the existence of both a rapture and a return. One event rather than two. But once again, to me, this is not an important battle. I talked about this last week under the post of "Choosing our battles."
The Point
My point is that we are given the responsibility of enjoying and maximizing our present lives. We are going to be accountable for what has and is currently being done, rather than what is to come. This means my eyes should be focused on what is around me, who is around me and how I can attempt to reach out today for the glory of Christ. I must TRUST - the key word here - that Christ will keep his word and that he is in perfect control of tomorrow. He will fulfill his word as he desires. I'm sure much surprise will come to us, as there was much the first time. My point is that all that I have any assurance of is right now. If my life is given over to Christ, my future is his. I live then in the blessed assurance that Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine! So then, my future must not become a preoccupation that overrides the beauty and even joy of the present. I can't exchange my present for the future. Although these days can't begin to compare to what lies ahead, they must not be forsaken. And yet, I press on to the high calling of Christ!
So, I leave you with the exhortation to live each day as if it were all that you have. That doesn't mean that you don't plan for the future. It means that you shouldn't walk through today with scorn. Don't give up the precious gift of life today. This is true whether or not today is great, blase or even bad. Today is ours to live out for the glory of Christ, so that others may hear and desire to also come to him. We live with the expectation of the future, but not with a preoccupation upon it. God is faithful and he will sort out what is to come. My job is to live today and to NOT exchange my present for my future.