by RobertCummins | Sep 16, 2014 | 38. Balance
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
I believe that a community’s corporate identity is shaped in part by their understanding of key words. One of those key words; “apostle”, appears in our passage today. I believe it would be worth the trouble for the community of faith to work toward a common understanding of this word rather than let it divide us.
Since half my friends come from charismatic tributaries of Christianity and the other half do not, I would like to stand in the middle and serve as an interpreter. These two camps have significant problems talking to each other. Their joint strategy to maintain unity seems to be; maintain distance. Both camps confess the scriptures are inspired and authoritative but charismatics tend to look to the Holy Spirit more as a Person with an active voice, not just the author and Interpreter of scripture. (Please forgive this oversimplification.) This issue is like the continental divide within Christianity; two great rivers flowing from this point in opposite directions.
My bible-only (or bible-mostly) friends look to this passage as one that adds clarity to their understanding of the word “apostle”. The scripture informs them that this type of apostle; 1) suffered mistreatment, 2) delivered the gospel amidst persecution, 3) always leveraged character above (and as evidence of) title, 4) His method was to live among and relate to believers on their level so that they could be examples, 5) His heart motivation was to see them walk in a manner “worthy” of God’s kingdom and glory, 6) His orientation to them was as a “mother” and as a “father”, tenderly and affectionately encouraging, exhorting, and imploring them with the word of God until It became a part of them. This is not an exhaustive list of apostolic attributes but it contributes to their understanding, as I believe it should.
The more charismatic side of my family has looked at the greek definition of “apostle” and seen that it means; “one who is sent away; an emissary”. As those within particular tributaries have observed the giftings of certain individuals and watched their progress in their gift, they have honored those persons with the title of “apostle” (of that task they are called to). It can be confusing but I don’t believe it has to be divisive.
The passage today is using the word “apostle” as one with appointed and earned spiritual authority in the daily functioning Body of Christ. On the other hand, this more recent use of the title is referring instead to a special “missional” apostle with a unique task that does not necessarily carry governmental authority. If you come across a person with this title don’t run away; just see if they are “fatherly” and “motherly”; determine if they are investing their lives into the community of faith. If they are, perhaps this is an apostle of the 1 Thessalonian 2 variety. If the person is living out a specific calling (or mission) and has been given that title then honor is due them. They have proven themselves worthy of that title in that context.
I could imagine that if the original apostles were present (especially Paul) they might humbly suggest that no one use any titles to leverage (or lord) authority over another unless it was a large issue requiring the tried and true wisdom gained by walking close to the Spirit and the Word.
Father, one day all the tributaries and streams will merge and flow into an ocean of common understandings. We will then know as we have been known. Until that time may we be known to each other and by the world, by our love. And Lord, call them anything You want, but please raise up the fathers and the mothers. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Sep 22, 2013 | 38. Balance
I would encourage you to read this passage. I would love to know if this registers with you at any level.
Hebrews 10:19-26
In our relationship with God, where is the balance between “full assurance” (vs 22) and “terrifying expectation”(vs 27)? Where is that “line”, that when I cross it, my destiny shifts from paradise to perdition? Through the centuries, verses 26-29 have rattled more than a few believers who sinned after their conversion. Its been a few years but to be honest these verses have rattled me too.
For many, who have sinned after investing their faith in Christ, the internal conversation can go something like this, “Oh no, I have sinned again! Am I now in that place where there no longer remains a sacrifice for my sins!?” Another part of us responds, But, I am born again aren’t I? And, didn’t I read somewhere that there is a provision of cleansing if I confess my sins?” This schizophrenic conversation goes on within, bouncing back and forth across this imaginary line, usually taking our emotions on quite a ride and probably delighting Satan to no end.
We don’t usually go all the way from “full assurance” to “terrifying expectation”. Most of us are are just not that great of sinners. Most of us really consider our sins as kind of misdemeanor-level sins and so we have misdemeanor-level repentance and not unsurprisingly, lukewarm gratitude. Consequently, we mostly go from moderate assurance to mild concern and only moderate terror. (Check out Romans 2:15)
And from here, some of us convince ourselves that these defiled, guilt driven consciences that we lug around equate to brokenness, something we know the Lord will not despise. (Ps 51). This type of conscience creeps into our song making it sound more like a dirge and shapes our identity as those with a deep and irreparable flaw in our makeup , which is only partly true. I fear this, and variations of this confession, can become the centerpiece of our belief system and the core value of our identity. There can be a deeper veneration of our fallen natures than there is for our new ones. If, it is in fact done unto us according to our faith, shouldn’t we expect entanglement with sin, if we continually believe and confess the strength and superiority of our old nature?
I wonder how much guilt-energy and shame-motivation has been harnessed and is powering things being done in Jesus’ name? With that thought in mind, I am picturing a Christian life, with the aid of my own memory, where things are playing out like this: Albeit a weak one, I am confessing, not so much publicly, but at least to myself, that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, leaning by the way, far more heavily on the savior than Lord part. In my heart of hearts, with my track record and weak faith, I do not really feel like much more than a tolerated step-child of God’s and I hope I will be acceptable on that day when I stand before Him. I’m confident I am living a biblical life because I am behaving just as Paul said I would in Romans 7:21-24 – I am a prisoner (or victim) of the law of sin that is proving regularly what a wretched nature I have. In fact, this is precisely why I don’t do the things that I know are right and true. I am a wretch. It”s just who I am. However, the good news is that I am busy in the church serving the Lord and this provides me with some security (a little insurance never hurts) and it serves as some salve to my uneasy conscience.
I do not think the church is at risk of loosing this source of free or cheap labor anytime soon. Do you think these consciences are going to let go of their guilt and shame-driven works and just rest? What do you think would happen to that conscience when the salve is no longer applied? Wouldn’t the dread and uncertainty with God move them over the line, further toward moderate concern of judgement?
Carefully read verses 19-25. Don’t these words assure us that the author’s intent was not to frighten us into righteous behavior with the fear of hell? Can you also see how this passage would be unnerving to an alternating conscience; one that “accuses” one moment and then in the next “defends” (Ro 2:15)? The NAS uses those who “go on sinning” as the ones who should legitimately fear. The Message describes this same group as those who “give up and turn their backs on what the’ve learned, all the’ve been given and all that they now know“. The party that is to fear is the one who has totally hardened their heart toward God and has chosen a life of unapologetic, deliberate and premeditated sin. So, if we truly know Christ as our savior and our consciences are still alternating and uneasy, what is the solution? What can we do?
We can first settle something once and for all; “It is finished.” (vs 12) The only remedy for the defiled conscience was effected at the cross. Then, we can heed the council of scripture to “enter in” to the Holy place. The door or the veil to that sacred place was permanently removed for God’s children. We are to live with the awareness that there is no line out there to cross where sudden judgement may befall us. Even If it it did exist, it is redundant because His true children are not tempted to go out and see how much they can get away with before they tilt the scale. True children instinctively shun sin and are disturbed by it. The new nature is predisposed toward righteousness and will flourish when it is encouraged with grace. Alternately, the flesh flourishes when dealt with by the Law.
If we are Christians, who are captives of besetting sins, or just joyless souls who are working where they should be resting, let’s try a new approach in our battle. First of all, If (no, when) we sin, let’s not think of it as a misdemeanor. Let’s just quickly acknowledge that any of our sins, however small they may seem, were sufficient to necessitate that Jesus suffer and hang upon a cross; and then, let us confess it openly. This includes the sins of bitterness, judgements, angry words, unforgiveness, gossip – those sins of the heart that we can hide or excuse because, over time, they have become normative to us in our religious hearts and in our religious cultures.
Next, let’s elevate, even if at first it is just by faith, our understanding and confession of our new identity which is actually Christ Himself – the hope of glory. In the long run I predict that we will be more victorious over our sin by agreeing with God on this matter, confessing that we are new creations instead of always incorrectly interpreting Paul in Romans 7 as permanently casting himself and us as victims, whose identities are primarily driven and dominated by the flesh and therefore opposed to God. This would be like Paul teaching that the war he referred to that was being waged within Him, was regularly and naturally won by his flesh over the Spirit of the resurrected Christ within him. I don’t think so.
Father, help us to find those with whom we can assemble – who are able, by way of their example, to demonstrate what sincere hearts living in full assurance look like. Help us to build and sustain growing communities of grace saturated men and women who are innovators in encouragement. Together, we will hold fast our confession of hope without wavering, for You who promised are faithful. We refuse to throw away our confidence, which is going to have a tremendous reward on that Great Day. With full assurance of faith, Your love having cast out all our fear, we will look forward to Your blessed return. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Sep 22, 2013 | 38. Balance
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
How is Jesus going to complete His work on earth? I am no missiologist but as an observer it would seem the plan is; to send more people to seminary so more churches will be planted or built so that more sermons can be peached; more bible studies can be held; more programs can be sponsored; more missionaries can be sent; more crusades can be sponsored; more books can be written. In other words, we will add more gears to the existing machine and better lubricate the ones that are already whirling. Let’s call this Plan “a”.
Perhaps there is another overlooked possibility for furthering the kingdom of God. “Now as they traveled along they entered a village (a network of people) and met someone who opened their home to them“.
I have often wondered how the early church grew so rapidly without a bible, without books, without nearly so many churches and 501-c3’s. They didn’t have large buildings where they could assemble. They didn’t have the modern means of transportation and communication we consider “essential” to the completion of Christ’s work on earth. So, what was it that the early church had that God used so dramatically in the beginning?
In our passage, we just have Jesus, His friends, a house and a gracious host. What Jesus and company found in that house is what He found in every house he entered; people separated from God by sin and busily trying to make life work out somehow. It probably always involved people comparing themselves with each other and tormenting themselves and everyone around them with their protests against the inequities they perceive. One way people try and make life work is by striving to arrange their circumstances (or society’s if they are ambitious) to meet their own standards of fairness. A little fairness, that’s not too much to ask is it?
“But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
Here is another example of a question that (in spirit) is really an indictment. This is really kind of rich isn’t it? “Jesus, don’t You care?” I see Jesus, fully knowing the predicament of Martha’s heart, totally without offense, lovingly saying (perhaps with his hands on her shoulders, looking into her eyes), “Martha, Martha, you are so worried and bothered about so many things..“. In my imagination, I do not see Martha going off in a huff at Jesus’ penetrating observation. It may have stung her but I picture her drawing security from these hands which were the most loving thing that had ever touched her. I see her drawing rest from those eyes which she knew saw all there was to her but accepted her as His very own friend.
It may have also stung Martha that Jesus used her sister Mary who was the person she had (incorrectly) sighted as the source of her misery as the reference point for her repentance. Jesus was saying, “Martha, your sister is not your problem she is your example.” Ouch!
There is another element that factors in to this story and perhaps into the story of the church’s early influence. It was Mary herself, the sister who had disengaged herself from the busyness around her. Jesus was saying, “Martha, take a good long look at your sister. While Mary has provoked worry about the necessity of your service, I am telling you that she has chosen the only really “necessary” thing, which is simply “sitting at My feet and listening to Me“. Mary chose Me.”
God has done much with it and by all means press on with Plan “a” if that is where God has called you but let’s not overlook Mary’s plan that involves you and I right now. Let’s cal it Plan “A”. Don’t we have everything available to us that was in this story? It makes me think that it was perhaps this scene and millions like it occurring wherever 2 or more had gathered sharing “their story” which when energized by the Holy Spirit, was the spark of the early church – explaining its explosive growth.
I think Martha left that encounter with Jesus as a woman with a transformed heart; one armed with a story about the loving correction, the goodness and the power of God. She, along with her friends, who likely had their own stories, engaged their friends and neighbors (more networks) as “they were traveling along” just living their lives out in their natural contexts.
Father, in the war You are waging to liberate Your sons and Your daughters from the tyranny of our own delusions of fairness, raise up these catalytic types who will sit at Your feet and listen. Confront us where we are busy and distracted. Set us free from our bitternesses born of comparison. Whether we are Your Plan “a” or “b” or even “c”, release us all into this world with fresh stories of Your intimate involvement in our affairs. Help us to courageously choose the truly essential thing. Use us to provoke life in all our various networks, Amen.
An Army of Ordinary People is book by Felicity Dale that gives modern day accounts of beleivers who are breaking out of the old wineskin of church attendance into a new one of being the Church. If you would like a copy, let me know.
by RobertCummins | Sep 20, 2013 | 38. Balance
Isaiah 55:1-12
I recall trying to start a conversation about Jesus with a guy doing graduate working at Oklahoma State. I’m pretty sure He was majoring in CIM (Crushing Inferior Minds). I was prepared to offer him an honorary doctorate by the time he was done with me. That was one of those days I was pretty sure The Great Commission was just meant for the first 12 disciples. It was as if Braniac had said, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, thou worm, so are my thoughts above your thoughts”. And, in my heart, I said, “Amen brother, it is as you say”. Isn’t that a horrible feeling to know your thoughts are inferior!
How do we feel about this commentary regarding the relative impotence of our intelligence? Note; God adds that His ways, as well as His thoughts, are in the “way-higher-than-ours” category. Is this less offensive coming from God? Or, is it more? What form does the offense take? One group just walks away from that thought or that way quietly as an agnostic or an atheist. The other, which is more rare, just faces off with God as an antagonist.
Both have seen enough reality, in their assessment, to refute any possibility that an all-powerful, all knowing, all-loving God is involved directly or indirectly in the affairs of man. (especially the all-loving part). It is an interesting phenomena that life usually plays out for them just about as they suspected it would – free of any noticeable interventions by God. Could this phenomena be explained by the fulfillment of a spiritual law that is linked to Christ’s declaration; “May it be done unto them according their faith“?
Note: C.S. Lewis used the term materialist to describe those limiting their reality to only that which can be observed and quantified.
So much for atheists and agnostics. What about Christians? Are we offended by God’s word; repulsed by the notion of our smallness next to His vastness? Can Christians be materialists in that C.S. Lewis-sense of the word, where we insist on seeing before we will believe? What would that look like if we were? I am proposing that Christians can be materialists and that often our offense finds expression in our questions.
A fascinating bible chapter regarding questions is the first chapter of Luke. Zacharias has not seen adequate proof of God’s faithfulness. He and Elizabeth had been praying all their lives for a child who never came. When God finally answers their prayers, he demonstrates that in his heart he is a materialist by the spirit of the question he asked Gabriel, “How shall I know for certain?”. The words that formed the question were innocent but the spirit of the question was not.
Was Zacharias’ question really that much different than that of Mary’s, “How shall this be, since I am a virgin?”. Perhaps there is some advantage to youth. Maybe she had not accumulated enough evidence against God’s faithfulness yet to indict Him as absent in the affairs of men. Mary’s was a true question. Zacharias’ was, in spirit, an indictment. There was, in Mary, that precious innocent quality of faith that agrees with heaven and says, “For nothing is impossible with God” regardless of what I have or have not seen.
A few years back, God arranged the circumstances of my life such that I discovered I had some “Zacharias” in my heart. It was filled with questions of the wrong type. My questions and prayers were just lightly disguised complaints and indictments. The disgruntlement was always just below the surface fueling a peculiar zeal and passion that actually passed as “elder-quality” spirituality. It is too lengthy to go into here but I eventually discovered a theme, or root, of bitterness, shading my perception of everything.
I called my zeal peculiar because, while my burden as a Christ follower should have been light, mine had become unbearably heavy. Yet, I was toting it around, with a bit of pride, as “my cross to bare”. My definition of faith at that time was: trusting that God is good in the presence of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Is this the faith that we are told that pleases God? I don’t think so. I had some friends whose faith seemed peculiar in its own right. Their definition seemed to be: trusting that God is good all the time; looking for and regularly finding sufficient evidence to support it. For this group as well, it seemed that it was being done unto them according to their faith. This makes sense;
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is rewarder of those who seek Him.
Since dealing with that bitter root, it has been an unfolding discovery that God is in a much better mood than I had thought. I am no longer reading books like; Why God Does Bad Things to Good People (imaginary title) or Wilderness Spirituality (real title) or reading the scripture and only finding places where it seemed God’s word contradicts itself. There is no question that the light (or spirituality) in me is of a far better quality today. It is like having a father-filter on the lense through which I see life as opposed to a step-father filter. So, not too surprisingly, faith and trust are not nearly so difficult.
Because of my experience I no longer see agnostics, atheists or even Christian materialists as beyond coming to Christ. I believe they too are thirsting at some level. I believe, since we are made in His image, that all our interpretations and impressions about life which seem to indict God which have been stored away in our “The God Who Is Not” or the “God is Indifferent” file, might just have been sectertly slipped into a master file called, “Oh, But How I Wish It Were True”. I believe there will be some who hear afresh Jesus’ invitation which will not return to Him without accomplishing that for which it was sent, which was to win back our fractured and deceived hearts. Listen;
“Ho! Every one who thirsts (asks honest questions of God) come to the waters; and you who have no money (no discernable faith stirring that you know off), come, buy and eat….Incline your ear to me and come to Me. Listen that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you.”
Father, may You receive this reward of Your suffering; an understanding among the prodigals as well as us elder brother types of Your kind and long suffering heart. Root out the things awry within us that alienate us from Your affections and those of others. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Sep 19, 2013 | 38. Balance
Matthew 6:25-34
This teaching of Jesus was given because, “no one can serve both God and mammon“. I believe that Jesus was saying that our heart’s basic nature is to give “treasure-level” value to one thing or the other, trusting that it will meet our needs. Our “trust-wired” natures give us no choices other than Him or the material world. I believe Jesus taught (in verses 22 and 23) that our choice dramatically influences how we will perceive reality (i.e.; the capacity for “light” and “truth” in our inner most selves). So, in light of that, here is Jesus solution stated emphatically in command form;
“Don’t be anxious“.
So, is Jesus saying in order to serve Him, we must simply manage our emotions? Do we really have choices in what we feel? Instead of choosing to manage our emotions directly, I believe Jesus is saying, “Please continue to listen to Me because I am going to give you a rationale and an alternative for your trust-wired hearts”. We may not be able to immediately choose how we feel but we certainly can choose what we think. Emotions will eventually follow thoughts. Here is the rationale Jesus offers;
Life, as Jesus defines it, is not associated with what we eat or wear. He is teaching that if we are preoccupied with external material things, we will miss eternal things. He didn’t say material things weren’t issues at all. He just said that He would cover those needs if we will only focus on life as He defines it. He uses “birds of the air”, “lilies of the field” and the “grass of the field” to illustrate life. These are all things that are inherently beautiful and vibrant that never ask, “Where have I come from? How do I look? How will I survive?” To receive life we must become as “the sheep of His pasture”, creatures radically dependent on Him alone.
The alternative Jesus gives us is to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness“. He promises that if we do this the external things will be made available. The kingdom of God is a big topic but we may know more about it than we think. We know that righteousness can only be sought by receiving it as a gift. The other thing we can learn about the kingdom is inferred by Jesus statement, “Do not be anxious for tomorrow“. The kingdom of God is the now-realm of Christ’s rule. He is always offering the grace for abundant life in this moment.
We must choose life. To taste Christ’s abundant life requires that we obey His commands which He tells us are not burdensome. We can undermine any victimhood delusions we may have as “anxious ones” by taking responsibility for our thoughts. That is a domain that God has entrusted us as stewards and children of light. He instructed us through Paul to “renew” that domain. We must replace the thoughts this world has conditioned us with. Through our obedience to Christ’s counter-intuitive teachings we will learn a radical dependency on the Lord and as the hymn goes, “the things of this earth will grow strangely (and wonderfully) dim. Anxiety will be undercut as our hearts find their home (treasure) in Christ.
For those who are reeling in emotional pain, wrestling with seemingly uncontrollable worries and it seems like things might just fly apart, Jesus says, “Trust in Me. I promise I will never leave nor forsake you. There is a place within you where I dwell and this is where, together, we can expand My kingdom. Keep deferring your anxious thoughts to me. Don’t be anxious. Just trust Me.”
Father, may You succeed in awakening us to Your abundant Life – that eternal kingdom without end that is present even now within us. Where there is darkness remaining in us, come as the Light of the world to expose us and renew us. Take vengeance on our enemy. Deliver us from every lie that has entangle us in his domain. May the Light within us grow progressively bright until that day when all will see the radiance of Your glory. Amen.
by RobertCummins | Sep 17, 2013 | 38. Balance
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
I believe that a community of faith is well served by shared meanings of words; that certain levels of understanding and agreement on key words contributes to that community’s corporate identity. It is difficult to have a meaningful dialogue when a word may have multiple definitions.
The word from today’s passage that begs for a common understanding is “apostle”. This word definitely has diverse meanings. I would like to try and stand in the middle and act as an interpreter. Half my friends come from the charismatic tributaries of Christianity. The other half do not. These two camps have significant problems talking to each other. Their joint strategy to maintain unity seems to be; maintain distance. Both camps confess the scriptures are inspired and authoritative but charismatics tend to look to the Holy Spirit more as Person with an active voice, not just the author and Interpreter of scripture. This issue is like the continental divide within Christianity. Two great rivers flowing in opposite directions.
My bible-only (or bible-mostly) friends look to this passage as one that adds clarity to their understanding of the word “apostle”. The scripture informs them that this type of apostle; 1) suffered mistreatment, 2) delivered the gospel amidst persecution, 3) always leveraged character above (and as evidence of) title, 4) His method was to live among and relate to believers on their level so that he could be an example, 5) His heart motivation was to see them walk in a manner “worthy” of God’s kingdom and glory, 6) His orientation to them was as a “mother” and as a “father”, tenderly and affectionately encouraging, exhorting, and imploring them with the word of God until It became a part of them. This is not an exhaustive list of apostolic attributes but it contributes to their understanding, as, I believe, it should.
The more charismatic side of my family has looked at the greek definition of that word and seen that it means; “one who is sent away; an emissary”. As those within particular tributaries have observed the giftings of certain individuals and watched their progress in their gift, they have honored those persons with the title of “apostle” (of that task they are called to). It can be confusing but I don’t believe it has to be divisive.
The passage today is using the word “apostle” as one with appointed and earned spiritual authority in the daily functioning Body of Christ. On the other hand, this more recent use of the title is referring more to a special “missional” apostle with a unique task that does not carry “governmental – ruling authority within the local Body.
If you come across a person with this title don’t run away. Just see if they are “fatherly” and “motherly”; determine if they are “connected” to and invested in the health of the Body. If they are, perhaps this is an apostle of the 1 Thessalonian 2 variety. If the person is living out a specific calling (or mission) and has been given that title (within the culture of their tributary) then honor is due them. They have proven themselves worthy of that title in that context.
I could imagine that if the original apostles were present (especially Paul) they might humbly suggest that no one use any titles to leverage (or lord) authority over another unless it was a large issue requiring the tried and true wisdom gained by walking close to the Spirit and the Word.
Father, one day all the tributaries and streams will merge and flow into an ocean of common understandings. We will then know as we have been known. Until that time may we be known to each other and by the world, by our love. And Lord, call them anything You want, but please raise up the fathers and the mothers. Amen.
