Facebook Jesus

I must offer a couple of caveats before I get too far along. First, as the name of this blog declares, I am unapologetically Anglican. For me, it is the best way to live out my faith. It has a depth and breadth of faith and spirituality that allows me to worship the Lord, grow in my faith and serve the Lord. Plus, as a priest, there is sartorial splendor to it that just adds to the whole worship experience. The other caveat is that I am very guilty of everything I am going to criticize here. It is that awareness that brought me to this point.

 

I confess I am on Facebook. I further confess that I check it regularly to see what is happening in Vern world. I have many friends on Facebook and appreciate reading about what is happening in their lives, if they even post at all. Many are really acquaintances though. Without Facebook I probably would not know anything about them. With Facebook, I have limited contact, very superficial really. Very few of my Facebook friends I would rank as close friends. I know some people on Facebook that have several hundreds, even thousands of friends. Yet, when they are in trouble, in need of help, they have only handful (if that many) that they can truly count on. This is a commentary on the sad state of affairs of society today. We possess thousands of friends who are arm’s length friends at best.

 

And this brings me to Jesus. Too many people have this type of relationship with Jesus. They have him as a Facebook friend but they do not have him as Lord and Savior. They check in to see what he is doing without it affecting their lives. Occasionally, they may even hit the like button for something he said but it will little impact on what they are doing. They will check their page when they have time, respond if they feel like it, and basically go about their business. In many ways this reminds me of the recent Twitter barrage about bringing our girls back after they were kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram. Lots of efforts put in by fingers on iphones but no real change in the circumstances for those girls. Lots of efforts and little results, good intentions without impacting anything.

 

I can only imagine how disappointed Jesus is at all of his Facebook friends. They miss the point of Jesus saying, “I have called you friends.” (John 15:15) In the previous verse Jesus sets out the parameters for being “his friend.” “You are my friends if you do what I command.” (John 15:14) Being a friend of Jesus is much more than just pressing a button to accept his friend request. Too many times we accept this as sufficient. Yet, Jesus wants, dare I say it expects, much more. We settle for so much less than the very best Jesus has to offer. What we do not realize is that we jip ourselves by settling. We give him just enough to make ourselves feel good without ever wondering what he requires. We settle for about an hour a week and no more, without getting involved and going deeper. We prefer performances rather than his presence, productions rather than participation.

 

The biggest consequence of all of this is the impersonal quality in all of our relationships. We rationalize that we are keeping in touch by sending a message or posting on Facebook. I did this at Christmas and now need to repent of it. I devalued my relationship with some people by just sending them a greeting online. Yes, I did make some effort to contact them. What I really should have done was send a Christmas card – personalized of course – or made an old fashioned phone call. A phone call allows you to hear their voice, to interact in a more personal way. Is the reason the Church is failing in its mission because we can no longer recognize the voice of Jesus because we do not take the time to listen, to engage, to talk to him face to face? I feel guilty sometimes when I have to text my son to get an answer from him. He is just upstairs in the house but is preoccupied with his computer and headphones. It is effective but not too personal. I guess the Church will produce more fruit once Jesus learns to Facebook us back or text! This will just perpetuate this crisis in the Church though.

 

I do not think that Facebook is of the devil. But I see the devil exploiting it to make us complacent in our faith and ineffective in our witness. Jesus does call us his friend and we can call him our friend. But Jesus is more than that. Jesus deserves more than a platonic relationship and a couple of presses on keys to keep in touch. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. He wants – he deserves – more of our time and effort. Let us turn Facebook Jesus into Jesus Christ, Son of God, Lord of Lords and King of Kings. This New Year, make Jesus more than just a friend.

TGIBF (Thank God It’s Black Friday)

There’s a big sale day coming this week. Many people will do outrageous things just to save a few bucks on gifts that they want to give to others at Christmas (or keep for themselves!). People will trample others in order to get to those deals. Every year we hear horror stories about some tragic incident that certainly doesn’t demonstrate the supposed meaning of the season. In those situations we put aside common courtesy or peace on earth goodwill towards men in order to obtain those precious gifts we delude ourselves into thinking we need. But I digress.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day. The name derives from the economic fact that many retailers come out of the red and into the black based on holiday sales. The holiday sales season traditionally begins the day after Thanksgiving. There are other explanations but this one seems to be most plausible based on recent history.

But there was another black Friday about 2000 years ago. It was possibly the first black Friday. It didn’t happen the day after Thanksgiving as we know it. It did happen the day after Jesus instituted the “Lord’s Supper” which many people know as the “Eucharist.” In Greek, eucharist means “thanksgiving.” So, there may be historic precedence in Black Friday occurring after Thanksgiving. This Black Friday is commonly known as Good Friday. It is not biblically unreasonable for it to be referred to as Black Friday. Matthew 27:45 states: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.” (also Luke 24:44-45) This fulfills what the prophet Amos foretold in his utterances 750 years before Christ. “In that day,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.” (Amos 8:9) It really was a black Friday.

For Christians it was also a Good Friday. As Christians, we are Easter people, people of the resurrection, which took place on Sunday. But you cannot have Easter without Good Friday. As a famous sermon was named, “It’s Friday But Sunday’s Comin!” We do not focus on the violence of the cross – although that is very important – but we focus on the empty tomb. Yet, the empty tomb only comes as a result of death on the cross.

While I must acknowledge that all analogies breakdown at some point, I do believe we can see similarities between the modern Black Friday and the black Friday 2000 years ago. First and foremost is the bargain we receive through Jesus’ death on the cross. It costs us nothing to accept what Jesus did for us. On that cross he took all of our sins – past, present and future – upon himself and he gives us his righteousness. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) This has been called the “Great Switch.”

When you place this on the scale of deals available on any Black Friday, this one is exceptional, fantastic, out of this world. We do not pay a thing for this deal. Our wallets stay in our pocket. No charge is added to any credit card, as if we could afford to pay for it at all. This cost Jesus Christ everything. We don’t have to camp out for weeks in advance or get up before dawn to take advantage of this offer. We don’t even have to leave our homes. You won’t see this deal advertised in newspaper fliers or on billboards (much to the church’s shame). When you compare this to other Black Friday markdowns, this one is extraordinary. Whatever is purchased on the current Black Friday will wear out or become obsolete sooner than we care to admit. What is gained at the other Black Friday will last through eternity. Now that’s a deal!

However, we cannot dismiss the fact that this deal will cost us everything, our whole life. While we cannot earn it or do anything to obtain it. But upon acceptance we must commit the entirety of our lives to this transaction. As the words in the Communion service states: “And here we offer and present to you, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice.” So yes it does cost us something. There are no discount coupons or bogo’s here. This is serious business between us and God and in his kingdom nothing less than all we have and all we are will do.

While I do not want to go too deep into this and loose the point, suffice it to say that, as Christians, we celebrate a Black Friday. In fact, in God’s economy, any day can be your Black Friday. As Paul told the Corinthians, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) You do not have to wait for the calendar or day timer to register Friday. But this week, especially Black Friday, let us remember what was purchased for us on that other Black Friday. After a day of thanksgiving, what could be more appropriate?

St Francis, Where Art Thou?

October 4^th is the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi. Since I am not Roman Catholic, there are many saints – capital “S” saints - days that I do not celebrate. Even so, Francis is a good day to celebrate.


Francis was an interesting person. He renounced his wealth, affluence and worldly possessions. He is reported to have run out of the church naked after leaving his clothes behind because they came from his well-to-do father’s money. Later, he started his own religious order for which he is best known today. He is reputed to have said, “Preach the gospel and if necessary use words.” This would have been a strange saying for someone who started an order that included preaching. He created the first Christmas crèche or Nativity scene. This happened long before political correctness made it offensive to some to display the birth of the Christ child in public. He is known as the patron saint of animals and the environment. It is because of his being the patron saint of animals that the Blessing of Animals service is conducted on Francis’ feast day.


The Church – big “C” – is missing an exciting opportunity for evangelism by ignoring this day. So many people love their pets – some more than people! I know what a loss our two silly puppies would be to our family. Why? It is because they are part of the family. They normally mind better than the kids. They have no laundry to be done for them. They keep their bedrooms clean. Their food costs are a lot less. In many respects, they are better behaved than the kids. The truth is that we love our pets.


In addition, they are part of God’s creation. After God created all the animals the Bible says, “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:25) All creatures are worthy of having the blessing of God. There was a movie entitled “All Dogs Go to Heaven.” I do not think this untrue. In fact, dog spelled backwards is God! I was asked once if there were animals in heaven. After a thoughtful pause, I replied, “There must be or where else would the four horses of the apocalypse come from?” (Revelation 19:11) I’m not sure snakes make it though. They were cursed at the Fall. (Genesis 3;24) Blessing animals seems logical and thoroughly biblical.


I had always envisioned the Blessing of the Animals service to be a big deal. It is a wonderful safe way to attract people to the church. People may not come for themselves but many may come to receive a blessing for Fido or Rover. Imagine inviting the whole K-9 unit from the local police force. Advertising their presence would lend an air of a community outreach event to the proceedings. Allow the local pet rescue organization to set up shop with some of their adoptable pets. They could be introduced to a whole cadre of prospective pet owners. This is the kind of community outreach that can reap benefits.


Of course, the will have to be a sermon during the course of the “service.” This would be true to the order that St. Francis started. Ruminate on these themes for the sermon. If you focusing on adopting a pet you can point to the love, care and concern it takes from the potential new owner. Then, point the people to these same themes in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and our adoption into God’s family and our becoming children of God. Another perspective would be to remind pet owners of their love and devotion their pets have for them and the love and devotion they have towards their pets. Then you can remind them that God feels the same way about them and sent Jesus Christ to prove it. Both subjects allow the gospel to be preached without beating people over their head with the Bible. One of the drawbacks at any service where animals and kids are present is to keep to short and to the point. Use this as an opportunity to invite people to join you for a regular Sunday service. After all, if you treat their pets right, you will certainly treat them right too! Then they can hear a more complete gospel massage.


My fear is that as we let “out of the box” chances slip away we limit our prospects for reaching those outside the church. And we do so at our peril as a church. How hard is it to invite your neighbors to something as innocuous as this? They will hopefully see the benefits for their beloved pets. How could blessing them hurt? Yet it is a wide open door. Allow them to see that the walls of the church are structurally sound to withstand their visit. Invitations to events like this take the edge off of approaching friends about coming to church. Congregations need to think more evangelistically and come up with creative ways to help depopulate the kingdom of hell. Blessing the animals in memory of St. Francis is not the only way. Think of all the sermon fodder you can obtain from St. Valentine’s Day. This is in remembrance of man who gave his life – he was beheaded - for his commitment to Jesus Christ. Or think about St. Patrick. Celebrate his day with more than just green beer or corned beef and cabbage! Patrick was sold into slavery in Ireland as a child. He escaped and decided to return to Ireland to bring them the gospel of Jesus Christ. Both of these feasts have lost their original meaning and thus their potential impact on an unbelieving world. As we attempt to draw people back to their true meaning, they will hopefully see the depth of commitment to Jesus Christ that those being commemorated demonstrated. Maybe we will be able to impress on them that this “Jesus thing” is something real, something active, something life changing. Who knows? It may even encourage our life and witness to Jesus Christ as we hear and celebrate those who are part of that great cloud of witness that goes before us. Thank you Francis for your witness and testimony and the opportunity you allow us to have to tell others about Jesus Christ.

Who’s in the Audience?

I was reminded the other day of a precious promise from the Bible. I was listening to the discussion on the Christian radio station about knowing that God was always with us. When I hear things like that I am always drawn to the Collect for Purity which is read at almost every Anglican Communion (Mass, Eucharist) on Sunday’s. It states in part, “For to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid.” While I know Jesus knows all and sees all, I think part of this statement is true because Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24). Jesus' close proximity to those who know him, love him and serve him brings comfort, strength and assurance. Jesus’ departing words at his Ascension were, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) The can be no denying this fact. We are always in an audience of one.

 

That promise stuck with me most of that day. I was pleased to know that I was never alone. I drew immense comfort from this. That is until I realized that with this promise, this blessed assurance, there comes a responsibility. This is the opposite side of the same coin. If Jesus is present with me all the time, every time, wherever I am, that means I am never alone. There is never a time when I can get away with something because Jesus won’t see me. Just because other people are not with me does not mean I am free from the responsibility of being, acting, striving to be Christ-like. This became a profound reality for me very quickly.

 

At my other employment I have to deal with difficult people on a regular basis. I am used to it. In fact I am so used to it that I am becoming jaded and somewhat irreverent when they are not around. I really did not realize how far I had backslidden until I remembered that Jesus was with me all the time. As one of those difficult people left my office the other day, I said under my breath, almost inaudible to even me, something not very flattering about that person. I guess I have done that a lot lately without even being aware of it. This time I became acutely aware of it because Jesus reminded me he was there. I realized that even though no one else had heard what I said, Jesus did! Immediately I got image in my mind of Jesus covering his ears, closing his eyes, disappointed in my actions. He looked like two of those monkeys: see no evil and speak no evil both at the same time. I was instantly convicted. He reminded me of the many passages of Scripture that speak to what I had just done. I was certainly not proud of myself. We are always in the audience of one.

 

Here are two of the passages he brought to my attention. Proverbs 29:20 states: “Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” This verse can bring a smile to your face when you think there is more hope for a fool than for you. I know it did for me. I had no idea what that person was going through other than the imposition they were placing on me. Instead of seeking to offer comfort, understanding or support, I basically cursed them when they left. Jesus’ rebuke of my verbal assault was justified. It did not make me feel good either! Being a fair weather Christian is easy. It is not hard to pretend in public, to put on the good, pious Christian mask. But as Paul encouraged the church at Colossae, “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work.” (Colossians 1:10) Life is not just lived in public but before an audience of one. And, make no mistake about it; my actions did not bear good fruit. It was not a good work and any fruit coming from it was rotten, tainted and worthless. I should know better. If I did not then, I do now.

The one thing about Jesus rebuking you is that he does not leave off with a reprimand. He offers you a solution, a positive way forward, something to change about yourself to make your life more in line with his will and purpose. So, he prompted me to another verse of Scripture. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  (Matthew 5:44) Some people make it so hard to love them. And these difficult people are not really persecuting me. They just aggravate, disturb and inconvenience me. I know those are not the same things. But I think from Jesus’ point of view these are distinctions without a difference. We can try to rationalize that they are not really our enemies. They do not want to see any real harm come to us. They certainly do not want to end our lives – at least I think not. As such, we really do not have to pray for them, much less love them, right? Jesus sets the bar so high, impossibly high. If we find people aggravating, disturbing and inconvenient, then we should love and pray for them. Our job, our duty, our goal is to present Jesus Christ in a favorable light whenever possible. We should attempt to do this most especially when no one is looking, except Jesus himself.

 

I know there are times when I will not live up to the expectations of Jesus Christ. But I also know there is never a time when I should not try! Jesus’ teachings are difficult and hard to adhere to. If they were easy, everyone would do them and we would have no need for a Savior. Even in my meager attempts, I know that I could – I should – try to do better. If only because I am always in an audience of one – the ONE!

“Can’t Touch That” (Simple Math)

I guess God has presented a theme for me as I begin the New Year. I have several devotionals that I read (almost) daily. One has me reading the opening of St. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. This is a powerful indictment of society overruling the precepts of God for their own enjoyment and amusement. There is a lengthy list of things that God considers “sin” and yet people keep on participating in them. When I put that alongside a pull quote from another devotional I can see dimly. Patrick Morley wrote: "The American gospel has evolved into a gospel of addition without subtraction. Many believe we can add Christ to our lives but not subtract sin. We change our belief without changing our character. A changed life is one that added Christ and has subtracted sin - that attracts a world weary of empty words. Jesus is the answer. Our obedience is the proof."

This makes me wonder and it is so convicting as well. It got my little pea brain to ruminate. What subtractions have I made to accommodate the presence of Jesus Christ in my life? How much have I compromised the commands and promises of the gospel message to make room for my “beloved” sins? There are some – probably too many – that I have rationalized that, if God is the loving God he claims to be, he would allow me to have, to participate in, because they make me happy. But are they good for me? In this life, they may actually be neutral: they neither harm not benefit me. Yet, if they are contrary to the decrees of God, there is no way on God’s green earth they could benefit me!

On television lately, they have been airing many advertisements about the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The children on those ads tug at my heart strings and cause me to at least pray for them and thank God that I have been blessed with healthy children. Many of them did not do anything to cause these horrid diseases they are suffering from. They haven’t lived long enough to cause sustained damage to their own bodies. They are way too young to ignore the Surgeon General’s warning on the side of certain products. In these times of mental calisthenics, I wonder how I would handle some kind of devastating news about my health. How would I react to my doctor admonishing me to stop doing some habit or I will die. Or, suppose he told me that, if I wanted to live, I would have to eat liver three nights a week. Now, it may seem I’m making light of a serious situation but I’m not. I really hate liver, even to the point of gagging the last time I tried it. This is how much I dislike – because my grandmother always told me don’t hate anything – liver! Yet, I think I would acquire a taste for this life giving meal if it was my only choice. Or, suppose the doctor told me that my eyesight was failing and I would have to stop reading books altogether? I can’t tell you how quick I would pull out the old cassette player and my New Testament tapes and wear them out until the new cd’s arrived. What I am saying is that life threatening issues will have to be dealt with. Yet too many people ignore the Surgeon General’s warnings and God’s too.

Now, take this calamity to the Church. As Morley so correctly mentions, we may be good at addition but we are not so good at subtraction. God wants both. While I don’t want to mention the peril unbelievers may suffer for their ignorance, I am acutely aware of the risk many in the church are subject to. We do not take seriously God’s admonitions against, well everything. Our feel good mentality will not allow us to speak about people’s transgression. How many people hear the word “sin” mentioned in church on an average Sunday? I dare say that Joel Osteen doesn’t even know how to say the word. If we don’t talk about it, if we ignore it, it must not exist, right?

Why do we allow this to happen? Here is where the second pull quote becomes relevant. It is from CS Lewis. “We are like ignorant children who go on making mud pies in a slum because we can’t imagine God’s offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. We settle for so little.” Some deny that God’s ways are best for us. Others choose to ignore what God says. Either way, we do so at our peril. And the church is complicit in this situation. We focus on addition. The question is always, “Have you found Christ?” We never ask, “Have you repented of those willful things in your life God speaks against?” We have tried to have one without the other and then cannot understand why the church is ineffective and docile. This is becoming harder as the church itself allows its leaders to do and say all kinds of ridiculous things. Here is a very brief sample. The so-called bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC said: “if someone were to discover a tomb with Jesus remains in it the entire enterprise would not come crashing down.” (Marianne Budde) Or this jewel from the former archbishop of South Africa Desmond Tutu: “If God disagrees with me about the sinfulness of homosexual behavior, I’m prepared to spend eternity without Him, because Satan would be the preferable alternative.” As I recollect God has not given us ten suggestions. I have not read in God’s Word God saying, “I think maybe” or, “if you want to.” If he did he would not be God.

It is at this point that I find GK Chesterton’s comments so insightful: "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried." I think I have heard the Great Physician lately calling to me, “STOP! THAT WILL KILL YOU!” I feel him nudging me and encouraging me to follow the warning labels all around. I was never good at math. I never cared what “X” equaled. But this is simple math. And I love simple: KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid! I have the addition. Praise God for that. I need the subtraction. I need to take away the stuff in my life that hinders my relationship with God. I need to get out of the slums and get to the seashore. Only God can do that through simple math and our reading and following the warning labels. Make 2014 the year of simple math. God will show you how.

Who’s Rules Anyway?

I must confess that I was inspired by the election of Pope Francis. His words and actions seem to embody Jesus Christ and his humility is refreshing from a former “prince” of the church. Even though I am not Roman Catholic, and have no intention of ever crossing the Tiber to become one, I think Francis will be a blessing to all Christians worldwide, including Anglicans.

Due to the nature of Francis’ elevation and the historic resignation of his predecessor, the politics and intrigue of the papal selection were unusually heightened. Since Benedict abdicated instead of dying, as every pope for the last 600 years has done, the pundits and propagandists had a field day for over a month. Their wagging tongues and sharp pencils generally attacked the Roman Catholic Church with their version of what ails the church and how to fix it. Most of the media focused on how out of date the church was and how it must modernize and join the rest of us in the 21^st century. The two main issues were gay marriage and the ordination of women. From their perch in the cheap seats next to Bob Uecker, without the church getting on-board with these progressive issues, it was destined to be cast on the dung heap of irrelevancy. It appears that the church did not cave into the hysterics and has chosen a man who will uphold the orthodoxy and doctrines of the church.

Watching all of this as an interested bystander was fascinating. It raised several matters which got my attention. Thus, I have entitled this article, “Who’s Rules Anyway?” There are so many implications on so many levels but I will just explore a couple.

The one I had the most trouble with was the gay marriage issue. The teaching of the church has remained constant on this subject for over 2000 years. This does not include the Old Testament which begins at creation with one man and women. What makes this juicy is that by redefining marriage as society or a small minority of that society dictates makes people believe they can improve on what God has instituted. How arrogant for the creatures to tell the creator how things ought to be! That would be like Pinocchio telling Geppetto what he should do, how he should act. It is hard to imagine how in the world people can think they can tell God how to act and what to bless.

The first argument that is always raised concerns love. If God is love they suggest, he would want me to be able to marry the person I love. We tend to think that there are no boundaries or restraints on who we love, how we love or what we can love. Even without exploring the implications of this slippery slope, it is not hard to see how far this mutation can lead us away from God. God’s love is so much higher, purer and perfect than human love (or lust). God just doesn’t love, he is love. It is not an action he engages in it is his who and what he is. God is pure unadulterated love. Who knows more about love than the One who is love? Our fallen humanity can never have a concept of God’s true love.

Same sex marriage is also a life issue. God, who is the author of life, has proscribed relationships that foster life. This is more than just about pre-creation, it’s about health.  It is hard to deny the statistical fact that gay men live, on average, 12 years less than their heterosexual counterparts. Women average about ten years less. There is also a higher chance of suicide, drug abuse, depression and other physical and mental ailments associated with same sex desire. How can society encourage a life style that is so evidently pro-death? The God who created all life, who raised Jesus Christ back to life, is anything but pro-death. He is decidedly anti-death. He is pro-life! It is hard to imagine him, under any circumstances, supporting any institution that leads to premature death. When Jesus said that he came that we might have life and have it abundantly, I am fairly certain he had in mind a quantity and quality that is diametrically opposed to this. True love supports life, not destroys it.

Many supporters of same sex marriage will claim that this is a social justice issue. You will hear them whine, “If heterosexuals can, why can’t we?” At this point answering, “Because God said so,” offers little solace or help. That answer just does not sit well with them. Like little children they feel they are being denied or cheated because they do not get what they want. Good parenting requires saying “no” quite often, especially when it is in the best interest of the child. When I was young – and I must admit I still want this today – I wanted to eat candy for all of my meals. I think God allowed Reese’s Cup to be invented to tempt me beyond what I can handle! But, then as now, a steady diet of those delicious peanut butter cups would do great damage to my health. I would not be getting the proper nutrients my body required and the sugar alone would rot my teeth. Sometimes a “no” means love. Love means saying no and not indulging whims just because the child feels they are getting a raw deal. Here again, who is more just than God Almighty? He invented the principle and the practice and instituted the action.

The church inspires strong loyalties and those can be tough to overcome. During the pre-papal election coverage, I heard a lot of people spewing about “their” church. These people forget that the church is a voluntary institution and they are free to belong or not to belong. I think it really is the height of arrogance to try to tell something as big and as old as the Roman Catholic Church how she should act. In my wildest imagination, I would never think to the join the Rotary Club and try to tell them what they should be doing and why. That is the definition of the tail wagging the dog. What I would do is try to find a group whose principles and ideals I agree with and join them. Instead of constantly rowing against the rest of the boat, I would be rowing with them and making more of an impact in the process. If the Roman Catholic Church does not meet your expectations, find a church that will. (This goes for any church or denomination.) I realize this opens up a whole other can of worms about “true” churches etc. but we will save that for a later date. Freedom of association also means freedom from association.

These are just a couple of observations from the papal election. I dare say they are unique to the Roman Catholic Church or to me. There are many tails out there trying to wag the dog. The biggest dog of all is God. The distortion of reality is huge. The presumption is overwhelming. God is God because he is God. He has instituted desirable behavior for his creatures. Throughout history, we have perverted God’s pattern. We have revised Psalm 100:3. The verse states: “It is he who made us and not we ourselves.” We have made it much more palatable: "It is we who have made him and not he himself.” Both versions have implications for the way we live. The only question is, “Who’s rules anyway?”

Sympathetic Pains

I’m not a big fan of sympathetic pain. I suffer from it. If you tell me you have a tooth ache, I will feel pain in my own mouth. Stomach, head ache, any other ache, I suffer the same thing. This may make me more compassionate and caring but it can be a real pain, literally. When my wife was pregnant with our son I had real issues with her morning sickness. Maybe that is why we didn’t have any more children. At this time of year my malady becomes acute when I think back on all that Jesus went through for me on Good Friday.

I love Holy Week. I am thankful – grateful – for all that Jesus endured on my behalf. His suffering was my gain. When we read the biblical accounts of the Passions Narrative, they seem to be sanitized. They do not adequately portray what Jesus actually underwent at the hands of his tormentors. With the release of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” the actual brutality of Jesus’ suffering jumps out of the screen with such force it knocks you over, if not out. I do not know how anyone cannot suffer some form of sympathetic pain watching those scenes. It is gory and grotesque. When I viewed the film – and mind you, I could only stand to see it once – I was graciously spared from the full impact of the whipping part. I was summoned to answer the phone at the portion where Jesus was flogged. I returned at the point where Mary was wiping up the blood. Even that was too much for my fragile constitution. That movie indelibly etched the true nature of the Passion in my mind and the minds of millions of viewers. Then, each year those images are reawakened in my mind as I remember our Lord’s Passion.

The question remains, though, will the events that are portrayed in that movie have any impact on your Good Friday? For me, suffering from sympathetic pain, it does. Even writing this I am getting prickly feelings on my back just thinking about Jesus being scourged. If I take the time – which I probably will not – I could feel sensations in other areas of my body too. But these little sympathetic pains bear little resemblance to what Jesus truly suffered and endured. His pain was real. Mine is only a figment of my imagination. His blood was real. His torn flesh was real. Jesus can sympathize with the pains and our true condition we have in life because he has suffered real true pain too. These are not sympathetic pains but actual true suffering. And on the cross, when he took on all of our sins as the sacrificial Lamb of God, for the first time in his life, he knew what it meant to be cut off from intimate fellowship with God. We are used to it, he was not. For us it is normal, for him it was rude awakening. He came to return the possibility of that full relationship with God for us, and to us. It was at this point that Jesus exclaimed, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” The closeness of their relationship was ripped away from him just as brutally as the skin on his back.

 

While Jesus Christ can sympathize with us, we can never sympathize with him. Even in our most pathetic efforts to understand what he went through we come up short. The implications of what he did echo through eternity, praise God! We tend to minimize or sanitize what Jesus endured. We seldom try to fill in the details in the biblical account left out by the gospel writers. We rarely engage our imaginations to even partially enter into his suffering and pain. I was overwhelmed several years ago when I came across a medical doctor’s diagnosis of what Jesus’ body was going through during all of this. He explored all of the possible ramifications of the brutal beating, the crown of thorns, the cross bar of the execution cross, in addition to the hunger, thirst and myriad other physical ailments that were occurring. After perusing the medical record I was astounded at how Jesus even lived long enough to make it to the cross. Needless to say, for the faint-hearted like me, this was somber reading. But Jesus had a mission to complete and nothing short of the cross would accomplish the purpose for which he came.

To enter fully into Easter, we must go through Good Friday. We need to understand what Jesus accomplished on Good Friday. That is where we find its meaning, not in sympathy but in actuality. We don’t stay on Good Friday because we are resurrection people. We cannot minimize what was accomplished on that fateful day Friday 2000 years ago. With my sympathetic pain, all I can say is that I would not have survived. I am eternally grateful. I am also eternally grateful that the cross wasn’t the last word! The empty tomb is the last word. As St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death is your victory? Where O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55) Or as Tony Campolo wrote about, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin!” Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Hedging Your Bets

Have you ever “hedged” a bet? Have you ever not gone “all in,” holding a little back just in case? Whatever the topic or issue, you have chosen to keep something “in reserve.” Well, I doubt you are alone. I doubt you are the only one who has ever done this. Two main areas of hedging occur in our finances and in our love relationships. In these we tend to be leery of going all in.

This realization hit last week when I heard a song on the radio from many years back. My son said he knew of the song and it was not from the oldies radio station so I felt a little better. It was from Supertramp and it was called “Give A Little bit.” Here is the verse that caught my attention: “Give a little bit; Give a little bit of your love to me; I'll give a little bit; I'll give a little bit of my life for you.” There are times in life when going all is not prudent. I’m not sure how smart you would be to invest heavily in pet rocks or eight track tapes. Those would not be wise investments and I would stay away from any financial manager who recommended such purchases. These certainly couldn’t be good for your portfolio. But we do tend to operate under this philosophy in many aspects of our lives, especially in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to hedge our bets, not go all in; just in case Jesus isn’t who he says he is or does not fulfill his promises.  We hedge because we have some uncertainties about heaven or hell. So, just in case, we hold something back so as not to look silly or foolish. It’s a way of saving face. We may even believe it helps our reputation around town and with our neighbors. We won’t be known as a religious “freak” or “zealot.” The ultimate question is, “What does Jesus Christ think about this?” Interestingly enough Jesus had a lot to say on this subject. Jesus never did anything half way and he expects the same attitude from those who claim to be his disciples. Jesus wants us – his followers – to act as he did. When confronted with the seemingly unanswerable question, or at least unanswerable without offending someone, Jesus said that the greatest commandment was this: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30) The key word that Jesus used to negate any hedging was “all.” When Jesus said all, he meant all and nothing less than all. If we do not give him our all as he asks we fall short – way short – of what he calls us to do and be. There are times in life when part of something is better than all of nothing. This isn’t one of those times.

If it were possible, this would put us into a quandary. Which part of the blessings of being “in Christ” would you want to forego? This reminds me of some churches that go by the moniker of “Full Gospel” churches. These churches are unique because they have it all, practice it all, and believe in it all. At the same time, this implies that not all churches are full gospel. Thus, some must be partial gospel. I must confess I have attended a couple of partial gospel churches but they would never advertise that fact. These churches would view the blessings and promises of Jesus as a smorgasbord of services and rewards that are available. You choose which ones you want to receive and those you want to do without. Picture yourself in front of Jesus saying, “I’ll have a half healing with a side of medium love and an extra-large mercy! Hold the sacrifice and obedience!” Do you see where that would leave you? Far too many people though are willing to settle for less than all Jesus Christ can and will provide. It’s a shame but it is reality.

This is further compounded by our secret agent status as Christians. We are so deep under cover that nobody would suspect that we belong to Jesus Christ (if we ever truly do at this point!). This too is an aspect of hedging our bets. And, surprise, surprise, Jesus speaks to this also. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33) This is an important issue. If we imagine it from an eternal perspective, where should someone end up who only gave Jesus 50%? Are there levels or degrees in heaven? I don’t think so. Heaven and entrance into it is certainly an all or nothing proposition.  You are either in or you are out.  The entrance requirements are simple – yet wholly complete. In fact there may even be a sign at the pearly gates saying, “NO HEDGERS ALLOWED!” What a disappointment that will be to so many people. At that point it will be too late to correct having been a practical less than 100% disciple. It will be in that moment people will realize that being a sold out follower of Jesus Christ is what it takes to get in.

Think about other relationships you may be involved in. The one that closest resembles what Jesus has in mind is the marriage relationship. Too many couples view marriage as a 50-50 deal. This comes up short by at least 50% each. The marriage relationship is based on an all in mentality with no hedging your bets. This may explain why the divorce rate is so high because people never knew the price they should or would have to pay for their marriage to be successful. Jesus sets the bar high even to the extent that looking on another woman with lust is considered adultery. (Matthew 5:28) If your spouse is not front and center in your thoughts and in your life – constantly – you have to ask yourself if you are really married. Repeated violations of this adds more credence to the hedging your bet principle.

God doesn’t want just part of us. He gave us his all in his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us his all when he died for us on the cross. Imagine for a moment if Jesus had said, just prior to his passion, “Well, I’ve done enough for them. I know it was only a portion of my Father’s plan, but it is good enough. Besides, there are so many who will never believe or commit wholeheartedly. Why should I give them my all?” We would be plumb out of luck! We would be disappointed and without hope. We would still be lost.

When we accept the challenge – and trust me, it is a huge, relentless challenge – to follow Jesus Christ and love him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength we have not hedged our bets or held anything back. The rewards are worth it. Go all in with Jesus and you will never regret not hedging your bet. Why? Because it’s not a bet, it is a sure thing!

Magnitude

Now that Christmas is over and the giving season is at a close (well except for birthdays, anniversaries and other special events) people are probably quickly forgetting who gave them what for Christmas. I would dare say that thank you notes have not even been written for said gifts. Every once in a while, people will be more thankful for other types of favors that they may receive. I am reminded of a story about a two veterans on a train. One has an epileptic seizure during the trip. The other promptly puts his arms around the first vet and holds him tight until the seizure passes. Another passenger remarks about the kind gesture. The second vet responds that the first man saved his life during the war. He goes on to tell about selling all he owned after his friend discovered he had this condition so he could be there for him. The passenger was impressed. The vet stated, “After what he did for me, there is not anything I would not do for him.” This veteran remembered who gave him a gift and spent the rest of his life repaying the gift.
 

There are times when the gift received is so enormous that, no matter what we do, it can never be repaid. If you look at the current US government borrowing, the debt accumulated is so large that it may never be repaid. My head hurts when they start mentioning trillions and actually how large of a number that is. The number is overwhelming and it is hard to wrap your mind around it. Forgiving that size debt would also be overwhelming. Having a debt of that magnitude wiped away is just what God is all about. This was the original intent of the Jubilee Year in the Old Testament. Every fifty years, the Israelites were to cancel all their debts and include the property to their original owners. Also, freeing all slaves was included. The justification for this is stated by God himself, “Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God.” (Leviticus 25:17) It does not matter the reason you had to incur the debt or sell the property, it was forgiven with no penalty and no adverse effect to their reputation.

 

Many people today have accrued large amounts of debt. The economy is not as brisk as it once was and people are receiving the burden of their lifestyle choices in a down economy. The stress from this circumstance adds to the situation in a negative way. Many will never climb out of this mountain of debt. If someone came along and paid that debt, wiped the slate clean and gave them a fresh start, how much gratitude should or would they be expected to show. Lottsa! I was told that is an Italian word for "a whole bunch." How indebted would they feel to the person who paid that debt for them? Again, lottsa. In fact, people would view any expression that borders on anything less as insincerity. Jesus tells a similar story in Matthew 18. It is entitled, “The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.” In this story, a king forgives a servant a vast debt because the servant begged him. Upon receiving this forgiveness, the servant goes out and demands another servant repay him a very miniscule amount in comparison. When the king hears about these shenanigans, he canceled his deal with the first servant and had him “tortured” until he repaid the whole debt. I guess there are many people today who are thankful that mortgage and credit card companies cannot do the same thing to deadbeats. There are times when I am thankful they aren’t able to do it either.
 

Each of us has accumulated an enormous debt that we can never cancel or repay. I am not speaking of the US federal debt here (although Americans for generations do have a rather large sum to repay). I am speaking of the results of our sin in God’s economy. From God’s perspective, sin is sin. He does not have misdemeanors and felonies where sin is concerned. It is all the same in his eyes. You do not get a lesser sentence for one and a larger sentence for another. Imagine a perfect white piece of paper. Draw a huge black circle and a microscopic circle on it. From God's point of view, both are the same. Both circles offend his sense of holiness. All sin deserves punishment, which as God set out, is death. This death is not physical but spiritual. It is eternal separation from God forever. There is no time off for good behavior in hell. If you are not sure what this will look like, read Luke 16, “The Rich Man and Lazarus.” This story gives an accurate picture of how eternity will be for those who go to heaven and those who don’t. It is not a pretty story and there is a way to avoid the fate of the rich man. Being saved is more than just eternal fire insurance. While that is one result of having a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is not the main motivation. As with the story of the two vets, “After all he did for me there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.”

 

The enormous debt, the enormous mercy, the enormous forgiveness I have received because of the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ just “blows my mind.” Much like trying to think about the actual value of a trillion, my heads hurts at the magnitude of the gift I have received from Jesus. I am driven to my knees in thanksgiving for something I could never accomplish on my own. The problem I have with myself is that I diminish the magnitude by forgetting. I go about my business with no concern of the forgiveness I have received. I take it for granted and do not do “anything for him.” As the song says, “Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow.” The best analogy for this is a Kool-Aid stain in the carpet. As a parent, I have seen my share of these. There is nothing you can do to get it out. Our sins are Kool-Aid stains on our lives and hearts. They are so deep and destructive they keep us from having a right relationship with God. Thank God that the blood of Jesus removes the Kool-Aid stain of sin from our lives. I don’t know about you, but Jesus paid a whole lot to cover my misdeeds. And that is only the ones I have done or will do today. I would hate to think about adding in what the rest of my life will bring!
 

The Church (big “C”) tends to forget this aspect of our faith. Too many preachers talk about the victory we have in Jesus and how to live that out. I am afraid that living in victory is very different than living in gratitude. While we live in both, victory tends to make us arrogant and proud. Gratitude makes us humble and thankful. It is a fine line between the two and we need to portray both to the world. Yet, if we waver to one side or the other, we need to waver to the gratitude side. Why? Because “Jesus paid it all for me.” And, after what he did for me, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him. My prayer for the Church is that everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus Christ will live this out daily and make an impact on this hurting world. After what he did for me, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him.

 

Not Just a Passing Paragraph

Sometimes things hit you like a ton of bricks. The little light of insight burns dimly even when you finally get it. The wattage of my light seems lucky to get to 25 even at its brightest. It happened while I was watching one of my favorite movies of all time, “The Patriot.” If Mel Gibson had played Rhett Butler he would have starred in all of my favorite movies as “Gone With The Wind” ranks ahead of “Braveheart” and “The Patriot” as my top flicks. “The Passion of the Christ” is a close fourth and Mel did have something to do with that one also. But in “The Patriot” Mel plays the part of a patriot militia colonel who hassles the British army of General Lord Cornwallis throughout South Carolina. The movie ends with the American victory at Yorktown and sealing the future fate of the United States as a country. Watching the movie I realized how few Americans today could tell you anything about this portion of the founding of our country. It is sad and our country is paying a rather high price currently for our ignorance. I realize that as a history buff with a Bachelor’s degree in history, as someone who would rather watch The Military History Channel over ESPN, who could watch “The Patriot” for the umpteenth time and still be interested (except for the part where the cannon ball blows the guy’s head off), I am sort of a geek (or nerd or whatever the current lingo would label me) in this respect. I am well aware of this. But it so discouraging to know that history is a forgotten subject and not studied or known. I find it rather absurd for people to call themselves Americans and not know the true story (not manipulated rewritten version that passes for history nowadays) of how this great country came to be. The blood of all of those who have paid the ultimate price cries out as a testimony against this current misinformed generation.

As I sat watching Mel tomahawk several British soldiers to death, it occurred to me the same thing is happening to Anglicanism worldwide. No, not the tomahawking but the ignorance! We have no sense of our history or our place in it as a church. My son showed me his world history book the other day. The paragraph on Henry VIII spoke of his seeking a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon, as the impetus for forming the Anglican Church (Church of England). This is such a simplistic view but it is probably all that high school students need to know. Unfortunately, it seems to be all that Anglicans need to know or want to know. There is so much more to the story that goes untold. So, people inside and outside the Anglican Church believe this branch of the church was formed to secure the king a divorce. And since then nothing much has happened until the recent unseemly decline (or advance depending on your point of view) the church has suffered for being “inclusive.”

 

 

One of my problems with many churches today that claim to be “non-denominational” is that they have no collective history but for that of the founding pastor and congregation to this point. They are rarely part of the wider Church (big “C” universal or “catholic” church) except in the use of the name “church.” While they may be making in rather large impression on their locales their history could be written in a few short pages. I am not against these churches per se because I know that the main line denominations have squandered their inheritance in this aspect and lost the respect they once held. Since my crystal ball is black and has an “8” on it, I am sure not the one to predict the impact these churches may have in the future or how many histories will be written about them at a later date. But one thing is for sure, they have a long way to go to catch up to the volumes about Anglicanism and Anglicans.

 

 

As the aforementioned history buff, this subject may only interest me. In our modern times, hero worship seems to involve more of knocking people off their pedestals than remembering their great feats. A recent show about Abraham Lincoln made a point of talking about how he slept with men when Mrs. Lincoln was not around. It was as if this was more important that the role he played during the Civil War. However, there are many heroes whose names and faces we do not recognize or even know about. Just watch any History Channel story about some battle that was instrumental in the victory and the cause they are reporting on. In a country with such a storied background, this is so true. The same is true for Anglicanism. Many of the names and stories are not recognized for their contribution to history. When speaking of Anglicans and their contributions the list is extensive. The likes of Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Francis Bacon, Marconi, John Locke, Charles Darwin and many others all had some connection to the Anglican Church. In the literary field the likes of John Donne, George Herbert, Dorothy Sayers and C.S. Lewis all had Anglican roots. The influence of this church reaches far and wide. There are just too many people to name.

 

 

As an ordained priest in the Anglican Church, I have a special affinity for those who were ordained and championed the faith. Included in this list are Charles and John Wesley, George Whitefield and even Desmond Tutu. Many died for their stance but their influence has lasted through the centuries. The father of the Book of Common Prayer, Thomas Cranmer, is one of the foremost in this category. He was a tireless warrior during the Reformation in England and was burned at the stake for his participation in it. The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), no matter what version or edition you choose, is the glue that holds the Anglican Church together. The idea of the people being able to worship and participate in worship is a uniquely Anglican innovation. The BCP is based on Scripture and reformed in theology. Cranmer authored prayers in the early versions that are still be used today. The inspiration of the Holy Spirit is not bound by time or location. Those prayers still evoke the same experience and sense of awe in our God and his Son as they 450 years ago. Unfortunately, Cranmer was burned at the stake on March 21, 1556. He was placed there by Queen Mary, otherwise known as “Bloody Mary” for her burning of over 300 Protestant “heretics.” This date has been claimed as the day that Roman Catholicism died in England. As the flames grew hotter and higher, Cranmer stuck his hand into the flames first. He wanted the hand that signed several of the recantations of the Protestant doctrine to suffer the first loss. In his death, he recanted his recantations and died solidly convinced that his life accomplishments were well worth the effort. Two other victims of Queen Mary were bishops Nicholas Ridley and Hugh Latimer. They were placed on trial along with Cranmer and they were burned at the stake on October 16, 1555. Bishop Latimer is reported as saying to Bishop Ridley, just as the flames were rising, “Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.” He never realized how true his words would be.

 

 

I am not saying the being an Anglican is the best choice for everyone. I am a little prejudiced in this regard. Although, I am convinced that entrance into heaven will be alphabetical by denomination. Thus, Anglicans will get in ahead of the Assemblies of God and the Baptists! My friends in those branches of the church hate it when I say this and I know (and hope they do too) that it is not really true. Like America, the Anglican Church has a rich history and tradition. Too many people fail to remember or understand how we got where we are today. I love being connected to the past. I am thankful for all those people who paved the way for me. I am especially thankful for all of those who paid the ultimate price for everything I enjoy today, be it my denomination or my country. Our history is not just a passing paragraph but a living expression that carries us into the future. As Edmund Burke wrote, “Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it.” History is our friend. We learn from it and we are encouraged by it. Take some time to learn about the people who forged the faith you practice and the country where you practice it. It will be worth your time and effort because it was worth theirs.

New Year’s Resolutions Anytime!

You have to admit that around January 1^st, hope springs eternal. People make resolutions and attempt to make a commitment to change certain things in their life for the better (usually). They look forward to the new year being better than the one that has just past. Very rarely do you hear someone say that they want the New Year to be the same as, or worse than, last year. Almost everyone has high aspirations and wants to achieve more this year than they did previously. Many set goals with the optimism of achieving them. Some will, some will not. Most give up or forget about their resolutions before the month of January closes. But that does not deter us from making new resolutions next year. We try to convince ourselves we will do better and try harder because the change we seek will benefit us and those around us. As I said, hope springs eternal.

 

The problem with these resolutions is that we think that just because there was a change in the digits on a calendar, it will change the outlook and disposition of our life. I will not say this is foolhardy but it does seem to be inconsistent. What makes us think that a vow in January is going to have more impact than a change in July? There are not too many heart transplant patients – or other vital organs for that matter – who would say that they would wait for their transplant until next year because they are going to make a resolution to live healthier in the up-coming year. This past year we heard much about the Mayan calendar and the end of the world as we know it. While the loss of Twinkie and Ho-Ho production is a major setback to humanity, the world is still here and plugging along much as it has for centuries. In our arrogance we seem to believe that our calendar is the correct one. So, when it changes the numerals of the year, we think it is a brand new start. Yet, even our calendar in not in sync with the motions of the galaxy. We have to have a leap year every four years to compensate for the variance in accurate time measurement. While this little adjustment solves our problem it still is not perfect.

 

New Year’s Resolutions have their place and many people need them to focus and commit to needed changes. Becoming proactive to correct a lingering problem may take time but the effort will be worth it. Unlike the Lenten practice of giving up something for the duration of Lent (40 days prior to Easter), New Year’s resolution changes are sought to be permanent. I met an Anglican priest once who gave up smoking cigarettes for Lent every year. It was a laudable and noble endeavor. However, when Easter arrived and Lent was over, he could be seen lighting up just before the Easter services. He made it through Lent but his sacrifice was not life changing and he returned to his old unhealthy habits. This too occurs with New Year’s Resolutions. We quit before we are transformed, before the changes have a chance to make a positive impact on our lives. If we do follow through, we are blessed and thankful that we tried and succeeded. In and of themselves, these resolutions are not bad or ungodly. It does give us hope that we can change and change for the better. But, what does God have to say about this subject?

 

Nowhere in Scripture are New Year’s Resolutions mentioned. Basically I believe that since God is eternal and outside of time as we know it, calendars have no influence on him at all. Time was invented by God for our sake to keep everything from happening at once. Linear time is a creation of God for the benefit of man. I think of time like a piece of string. It has a definite beginning and a definite end. God holds both ends in his hands. He can see the beginning and the end at the same moment. So, from his perspective, the years all run together and there is really no clear delineation from one year to the next. Just because our calendars end and numbers change, time rolls on and on and on until Jesus comes back. It does not matter when you make a choice to do anything. God sees when you do it and he sees the results of that choice in the same instant.

The Bible is clear that God’s mercies are new every day. (Lamentations 3:23) Every day is a new start and a chance to have a different kind of life, a different quality to life. We don’t have to wait until the first of the year. God doesn’t wait and we don’t have to either. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) Our resolution should be to daily carry our cross and follow Jesus. (Luke 9:23) When that resolution is entered into, things come into proper perspective. I have quoted the saying many times about “loving Jesus and doing what you want.” I don’t know who to attribute it to but it is worth repeating. When you love Jesus to the fullest extent, with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), your wants and desired get rewired. You no longer desire to do the things you used to do because you love Jesus. We do not have to wait for the New Year to come to change this in our lives. You never know what may happen in the intervening period. Do you really have time to wait?

Even though New Year’s for 2013 has officially passed it is not too late to make a resolution. According to some study somewhere, it only takes 21 days to make something a habit. If you started today (January 2^nd), whatever you endeavor to do could become a habit before the next Super Bowl game (February 13^th). But even if you don’t do it before the Super Bowl, that does not make it too late. Resolutions can and should change your life. They should change it for the better. That is what God wants for you. It is what God wants from you. If you do not know Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, today is the day to accept him. January first only comes around once a year and after it passes you will have to wait 364 days (365 in leap years) for it to come around again. Can you afford to wait? Make that resolution right now. If you do know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, is there some issue that is blocking, delaying, or stunting your spiritual growth and maturity? Make that resolution here and now to change that issue. Three hundred and sixty four days is way too long to wait. As Nike used to say: “Just do it!” Resolutions are hard to keep. We may achieve them and feel good about ourselves. But the true life transforming resolutions, the ones that have eternal consequences, have Jesus at the center of them. Do not let the change in numerals on a calendar restrict you from making decisions, modifications and transformations that will bring you eternal security. The best year of your life can start at any point. It can start today. The great thing about Jesus is that he is not bound by a calendar or a falling lighted ball in Times Square. He will take your resolution for him anytime, anywhere. In Christ, every day is a new day, every year a new year. He is a resolution you will never regret making or keeping because hope in him really does spring eternal. Start today and see what happens because Jesus is the Lord of Life.

Prince of Peace

It is still the Christmas season and contrary to current culture the season begins on Christmas Day and goes on for twelve days. Thus, the twelve days of Christmas take us through Epiphany, which is January 6^th, not the pre-Christmas sale season. Since we are still in the season it is okay to talk about the meaning of “the season.” There has been much talk lately, due the secularization of this holiday, to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. This causes much consternation with the secularists because anything to do with Jesus is verboten. But, having come from a denomination that claimed to be Christian yet held Jesus Christ to be optional, one has to ask: “Which Jesus?” There are many neutered versions of Jesus that have nothing to do with the Son of God whose birth we celebrate on December 25^th. This is especially true when he is labeled the “Prince of Peace.”

 

 

Having heard it read at Christmas each year, many of us can recite Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of the Christ-child. Isaiah 9:6 says: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Now, he is called more than Prince of Peace but that is the title that has come under much distortion. The notion of “peace” has been so skewed that we cannot envision what it truly means. Since we live in a fallen and tainted world we have never experienced true peace. There are many definitions of peace that we may have experienced personally. Some from Merriam-Webster are: a state of tranquility or quiet; harmony in personal relations; a state or period of mutual concord between governments; a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity. But none of these go far enough to describe the peace that Jesus brings. The Prince of Peace brings a peace that “transcends all understanding.”(Philippians 4:7) It goes beyond our wildest imagination.

 

 

I cannot count the number of “peace treaties” that have been entered into by warring factions during my lifetime, and I'm not really that old (contrary to what my kids think!). Sometimes those treaties last a long time and sometimes the ink doesn’t even dry before they start attacking each other again. Either way, a cessation of hostilities, while one definition of peace is not the peace we will experience when Jesus comes and ushers in his kingdom. For many of us we just remember the Arab-Israeli conflicts and their attempts at “peace.” Their hatred for each other – or at least the Arabs innate hatred of Israel – makes true peace impossible. The animosity continues even when the bombs and bullets aren’t flying. While they are not physically attacking each other, the hatred remains. While there may be mutual concord they are devising new ways to get retribution. The conflict is not occurring externally but inwardly the battle rages on. What really happens is that people try to pretend that everything is copasetic - the Rodney King gospel of “why can’t we all just get along?” – but they are just waiting, hoping for an opportunity to try to overwhelm and overpower the enemy. The opposition remains because deep down they continue to be enemies. When one reads Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) we find the rules for kingdom living, living in peace with one another. It can be summed up as turning enemies into friends. That is when true peace is possible.

 

 

The prophet Isaiah gave us a vision of how this peace that Jesus brings will finally be lived out on earth. In two different chapters he gives us this picture of peace. Isaiah 11:6-7 tells us: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” And later in chapter 65, he says: “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.” (v. 25) Think back on any National Geographic special about Africa or the wilds anywhere for that matter. How many times have you had tears in your eyes because a young animal has become food for another animal that is too ugly to appreciate? The picture Isaiah draws for us is something that is humanly impossible. No human endeavor at peace could ever achieve this kind of harmony in nature or civilization. But the animal kingdom will one day live at peace and harmony together. I maintain that part of the fall was having carnivores. And Isaiah 65 seems to add evidence to this conclusion. It is hard to conceive of Isaiah’s perfect world when we look at the world around us. A friend in seminary told us his dad, an overly educated man, finally agreed that he saw no hope of man ever perfecting himself. It took the collapse of the World Trade Center to bring him to that pronouncement.

 

 

Like much in this life, people are looking for peace in all the wrong places. They want to have “the peace that passes understanding,” without having the one person who is capable of giving it, Jesus Christ. This is impossible and we have a whole decade to prove it. The 1960’s were called the decade of peace. Many people adhered to the mantra of making peace not war. (Some advanced the notion of making love not war because that was easier to do than to make peace.) They took John Lennon’s song “Imagine” as a sort of proto-Isaiah portrait of the peace they so desired and wanted to work towards. “Imagine” is a sentimental version of peace. The song itself is certainly a godless version of peace and fairly impractical. It is a partial truth because it does not take into consideration the underlying cause of the problems of the world: fallen humanity. It is a partial truth because it does not consider the ultimate solution: Jesus Christ. He is the peace that Isaiah foretold would come. While the song contains some laudable objectives, many of which will one day happen, they cannot be come into being apart from the person and work of Jesus Christ. He will be the one who will bring about those achievements. St. Paul summed it up perfectly. In his letter to the church at Ephesus he wrote, “For he (Jesus) is our peace.” (2:14) He does not impart peace, teach peace or inspire peace. He doesn’t preach about it, write about it or pontificate upon it. He is it. He IS peace, he IS the Prince of Peace. It not just part of his character, it is who he is. Looking for peace anywhere else or in anyone else is futile. You can imagine all you want but it ain’t going to happen. The peace we seek, we desire, is available in one and only one place, one person, Jesus Christ. All other forms of peace are counterfeit and will not satisfy our desire for peace. This Christmas you can find the “peace that passes understanding.” But you can only find it in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. This year, don’t imagine it, experience it!

Coal Again!

In the Christmas season we find a more than usual amount of accountability about what we have done during the year. I cannot tell you how many parents I have heard coaxing their kids by saying that if they aren’t good Santa will not bring them anything on Christmas. This Christmas coercion usually begins about the Black Friday. The other night I was kidding a young man about a video game he was playing. The idea of the game was for Santa’s reindeer to kick him in the bottom and knock him down the chimney. I jokingly said to the kid that if he knocked Santa too much he would get coal in his stocking. I guess it was the vacant stare I received that made me realize he had no idea what I was talking about. Being raised on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” I knew too well the supposed disappointment at having a stocking full of coal. The idea of coal in the stocking was to signify that the person who received the coal was not good during the year. However, it seems rather cruel to give someone coal so it is not done much, if at all.

The impetus behind coal is the recognition that our behavior has consequences. It seems we only worry about this just before the Christmas season. It is only then that we worry about our conduct and what it may mean to our stocking contents on Christmas morning. It reminds me of a story about the Visigoths. When they became Christians they would have four priests – two on each side of a river – and the Visigoths would walk through the river holding their swords above the water line. They would be baptized up to their swords which allowed their swords to continue to conquer and pillage without eternal consequences or reprisals. They devised a loophole to continue their way of life and still be “Christians.” We contort things to avoid an avalanche of coal on Christmas.

 

Our accountability ends up being a year-end review. We see this examination as a chance to rationalize our actions throughout the year and try to justify them. It is amazing how short our memories are when we are involved in this type of situation. It is also amazing at how lucidly we can create rationalizations for each and every misstep. Personally, I can barely remember last week, much less last month or last January. While I am sure this saves me from suffering from too much guilt I am sure it does not saves me from the need for confession and repentance. This is why it is good to keep short accounts with God. I may not remember what I have done but God surely does. If the contents of my stocking are based solely on my year-long behaviors, without Jesus Christ in my life I would get coal, coal, coal! In fact, there is not enough coal in all of West Virginia to fill my stocking to the level of my misdeeds. Even if the coal deposited in the stocking was just symbolic, the stocking would still need to be full. Coal is actually a sign of our need for a Savior, even one born in a manger. There is a song by the Newsboys that says: “When we get what we don’t deserve, it’s a real good thing. When we don’t get what we deserve, it’s a real good thing.” This is especially true on Christmas. Just think of the run on coal if all of loved ones had to be honest and give as our deeds deserve. Thank God he does not act like that. 

When we repent and confess, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins. (1 John 1:9) The Bible has three promises about our sins that offer us a sense of relief. It says that God puts them as far away as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12); he puts them behind his back (Isaiah 38:17); and he remembers them no more (Jeremiah 31:34). If you look at the earth, going from north to south you eventually hit the opposite direction. This does not occur however when you are going from east to west. You can keep going east as far as you would like and you will never reach west. When God puts our sins behind his back it means they are no longer in his sight. Now, my mother always said that she had eyes in the back of her head. This doesn’t mean God is incapable of seeing behind him but that once he places them behind his back they are no longer in his line of sight. Finally, the Bible says that God remembers our sins no more. This does not mean he is a giant senile grandfather in a rocking chair and he can’t remember things he should. This is a choice on God’s part that once confessed he will erase the board clean and not recall them ever again. This is eternal coal abatement for those of us that deserve coal in our stocking. So, as we approach Christmas and hang our stocking by the chimney with care, or wherever you hang them if you don’t have a chimney, remember this: God will not give you coal this Christmas. He will give you a Savior!

It’s Just Not Fair

As I drive my son to taekwondo there is a stretch of road that is under construction. One evening while going home, I was fooling with the GPS in the car and not paying the proper amount of attention to the road or that traffic signs. We were taking this route for the first time so I wasn’t familiar with the thoroughfare anyway. Seeing four lanes I just gunned the engine and went. I was traveling at 42 MPH, so I have been told. Until of course, the nice police officer decided to flash his colorful lights in my rearview mirror. He was nice and understood my dilemma about driving my wife’s car, the new road and speed limit and thus he only gave me a warning. I was very thankful because being in a “work zone” the speeding fines are double. In Oklahoma, the law calls for double fines in any speed zone regardless of whether there are workers present or not. That’s just not fair! It’s not like that in other states. Regardless, I got a warning and not a fine. Now, I know there are people who will say, “That’s just not fair!” You may be right. But nonetheless I was upset and I obsess about the speed limit through that section of road every time I drive it. I get upset when I get passed on that section of road by vehicles ignoring the big sign that advises of a speed limit of 25 miles per hour. I cry to the Lord for justice and fairness that they would get stopped like I did. I appeal to his sense of fairness and good that there would be a police officer anxious to apprehend speeders just over the next hill. That indeed would be true justice. That indeed would be fair! It rarely happens (okay never!).

I have been intrigued by the notion of fairness lately as it is an overused and misunderstood word. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines fair as: “marked by impartiality and honesty: free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism or conforming with the established rules: allowed.” Fairness to me means that it is not arbitrary or showing favoritism to one party over another. Fairness should be equal to all without regard to any other factors or influences. It should affect all parties to the same degree and proportion. Keep this in mind when reading the following. Ask yourself, is it fair?

 

There is a lot of talk politically about the “rich” paying their fair share. While in the US, over 80% of all taxes are paid by just 10% of the population, the battle cry now is for the rich to just pay their fair share. In this parlance, fair means more because that would just be fair. After all, they can afford it. Yet, their tax rate is currently higher based solely on the fact that they make more money. If fair means equal in proportion and degree, then the tax rates would be the same for everyone regardless of how much they make. If fairness means not arbitrary then the rich are already paying more than their fair share. When we look at the Bible, we don’t see God expecting some people to give more just because they have been blessed to make more. The tithe is proportional at the same level for everyone regardless of how much they make. God didn’t give everyone the same amount of talent, but he does expect each person to maximize their potential based on the talents he has given them. God expects each person to return to him the same percentage of what he has allowed them to make as everyone else. The tithe is God's standard and he applies it equally to all based on that standard and not on where or how they obtained it. I must confess that I have been part of congregations that thought that the richer members should carry more of the churches financial burden thus relieving the other members of having to tithe and contribute their fair share just because they can. This is man’s idea not God’s.

 

I also hear frequently that same sex marriage would be fair. It would offer the same privileges and advantages to same sex couples as their married heterosexual counterparts. The rationale behind this is that love has no barriers so the church and the government should not erect barriers either. How can it be fair to love someone and not receive the benefits and societal protections that other heterosexual couples enjoy? Here fairness has more weight and thus the argument gets cloudy. However, in the quest for fairness the culture is scuttling several thousands of years of tradition. While it may seem fair from one point of view, is it really fair to devalue and tamper with all that history. Can something be fair for one party and not the other? Whose values are to determine which is correct and valid? In the United States, until this recent election, every state that had a marriage amendment on the ballot passed them by overwhelming margins. Is it fair for courts to overturn the will of the people in the name of fairness? Now the Supreme Court will be settling the issue. You know after their decision, someone will cry, "It's just not fair!"

Another cry is that it's just not fair that everyone will not enter heaven as if entrance should be based on some arbitrary, human notion of fairness. God would never be that exclusive, restrictive and judgmental. After all, God is a loving and just God and he should want everyone to “get in (which he does by the way). While this sounds good, it goes against the very nature and character of God. God has set the bar high because he is holy and righteous. He cannot even stand to be in the presence of sin, whether it is a small tiny spot or a large cankerous blotch. Neither can sin ever be in the same space God inhabits. Since heaven is God’s dwelling place, since he is the one who created it and resides in it, he sets the requirements for admission. While many people want to impose on God their view of fairness it does not mean God will accept it. Fairness seems to be a moving target based on what we want. If we do not get what we want, it's just not fair. If it is beyond our ability to reach it, it’s just not fair. If someone who has more talent and ability has “stuff” we want it’s just not fair. Something must be done to level the playing field in the name of and for the sake of fairness. If we don’t like God’s standards because he sets the bar so high, we just need to lower the bar instead of raising our expectations and endeavors. We confuse fairness and love with caving in and being underachievers. Like much of what has been discussed here, it is not God’s plan. It is not God’s intent to lower his requirements to make us happy or give us a sense of fairness. We want the creator and sustainer of the universe to bow to our wishes instead of the other way around. Now, that’s just not fair! And I am sure God has a few things to say about that. The next time you want to complain about fairness, try looking at things from God’s perspective. He sacrificed his Son for us and yet we ignore him, deny him or just plain don't give him a second thought. If anyone has a RIGHT to cry, “it's just not fair!” it is God!

Oh No, It’s “Oh Ho the Mistletoe”

Last Sunday, on our way to church, one of the local Christian radio stations was playing the Burl Ives song, “Holly Jolly Christmas.” I must confess that hearing that song only three days after Thanksgiving Day was a little disconcerting. Hearing it on the way to church put me in a rather foul mood entering worship. Hearing it on the Christian radio station, well . . . enough said. Then, when we entered worship the first song the praise team played was “O come all ye faithful.” I must admit that my Anglican sensibilities were offended.  What ever happened to Advent, the time of preparation for the coming of the Messiah?

The past two years we have endured so much political commentary and musing that by the time the election came around, we were just worn out and disinterested in the whole affair. We grew tired of all of the posturing and name calling and opinions of people who really had no idea what was going on. We had election fatigue.

In today’s consumer society, we tend to get seasonal fatigue because the Christmas season begins after Halloween or sooner and not Thanksgiving as it used to be not too long ago. By playing Christmas music, viewing Christmas ads, and seeing Christmas displays everywhere we turn, we seem to get sick and tired of the whole season long before Christmas day comes. We are robbed of our Christmas joy by retailers who want to rob us of our hard earned dollars by having Black Friday deals continue for three weeks. The new Christmas theme is "more is better." Instead of not participating, we endure it all for the sake of the kids and try to pretend it does not affect us. Well, ask yourself, how is this long Christmas season working out for you? If we are all honest, we would admit that while we don’t like to admit it, it has caused us some consternation and aggravation.

As an Anglican, I enjoy the season of Advent as a time of preparation for Christmas. I need time to get into the mood and leave the rest of the world behind and get ready to welcome the Christ child. I also need the time to remind me that, as I look back to the manger and Christ’s birth, I must look forward to his coming again. I must not only look forward to it with joy, I must assess my life to find out if I am ready when he finally does come. This is an important time and it brings the future into the present as a reality that will one day soon be upon us. As a period of reflection and correction, this is time well-spent.

Seasons are an ever-present reality in life. We may not notice the change in seasons until it is too late, but they do actually occur on a schedule. No one season is extended, delayed or otherwise changed on the whims of our pocketbooks or thermometers. Each one happens like clockwork at its prescribed time. Never early, never late, but they happen right on schedule. We can change the method of observing time – like daylight savings time - but that does not stop time from rolling on. The seasons exist for a reason regardless of how we think or feel. Often it is better to participate in the season than to ignore it. Advent requires the same response from us. We don’t jump ahead to Christmas too soon and get worn out about it by the time it comes. We get to prepare and absorb the enormity of what we are going to celebrate.

The problem with Christmas, especially when it is all about what happens before, is that we quickly forget the reason for the season the day after Christmas is over. We do not celebrate the joy and appreciate the meaning long enough for it to have a profound impact on our life. The Christmas season actually begins on Christmas Day and ends 12 days later at Epiphany. Those are the true 12 days of Christmas. That is the season to celebrate the birth of the Christ child. But during this time period we focus only on the consumer driven excitement of the cashing in gift cards and the exchange of unwanted or foolish gifts. The celebration ends and we get back to normal as quickly as possible. In my house, my wife has to have the Christmas tree up right after Thanksgiving and down right after New Year’s Day. She gets mad – actually tired of the Christmas mess – when we keep the signs of the season up until Epiphany. She becomes fatigued with it and I really do too. To date, I haven’t been able to get her not to decorate for Christmas any later than the middle of December. A nice compromise but even with this the fatigue still sets in.

Now, please do not call me a Grinch. I really love Christmas. I love all of the Christmas hymns and music. But Christmas is more than just about the music, the presents and the decorations. Our secular world would like us to believe otherwise. To diminish the “reason for the season” is to remove from Christmas its identity and meaning. To take it lightly means we see only a babe in a manger and not the Son of God. I was once told by a wise bishop about the purpose of pre-marriage counseling. He said we should be more concerned about the marriage than the wedding. The same principle should be applied to Christmas. We must be more concerned about who the Christ child is rather than when or how he came into the world, if we even recognize those parts of Christmas at all. I am not advocating the mass distribution and dissemination of Advent music, but the proper use of an Advent wreath can add meaning to the Christmas preparation. Most of those hymns are unsingable and sound more like funeral dirges. The contemporary Christian music scene would never gravitate to this suggestion. Instead of using Christmas music, maybe we should just forego it until we get closer the day and continue it through the true Christmas season. 

It is tough not to cave into the secular environment which we inhabit. But that is the call of being a follower of Jesus. Let us prepare wisely for the season of which we are looking forward to. Sunday December 2^nd is the first Sunday of Advent. Participate in the preparation. Enjoy the experience so that when Christmas comes, you can not only appreciate what God has done and will do, but you will be ready for it like Jesus calls us to. I am holding tight to a new motto this time of year, “Experience Christmas again for the first time!” Make this the best Christmas of your life by preparing for it properly and intentionally. Focus and enjoy because Jesus is the Lord of Life.