Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)
35
And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
36
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
37
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
38
therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
I have always applied this scripture to evangelism. I have told several congregations that there are people just waiting to hear the gospel but they needed to tell them. I wasn't wrong but I didn't get the full meaning of this scripture either.
I know many people who tell me that they know Jesus as Savior but still live like they are sheep without a shepherd. They are estranged from the flock. Thus, they are not fed correctly, brought to water, protected from evil or healed when wounded. Their relationships, direction in life and daily living is ungodly. They wander from sensation to sensation without knowing what is valuable. They live like the world but, if asked, they can tell me the gospel story of salvation. They can point to their own day of salvation and will proclaim that Jesus is their Savior.
Could it be that evangelism is just a step in discipleship? Could it be that Jesus didn't intend for us to simply tell people about Himself but wanted the labor to continue? Could it be that He was calling us to be under-shepherds who will lead these people to a healthy spiritual life?
Yes, I think this is all true. There are so many people who occasionally come to church who claim to know Jesus but do not stick to living out the faith because no one has ever taken them aside to disciple them. Their coming to church once a week just isn't enough when the world is hitting them hard six days a week with a different agenda. They are a harvest which is ripe for the picking. They are a people who would like to live differently. They just need others to come along beside them.
So, what should I do? I will pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers. Yes, but I must do more. I must instruct those under-shepherds in what they must do. I must tell them how they can lead the people to life beyond evangelism.
I have heard so many preachers say that they just catch the fish; they don't clean them. Their reference is in bringing people to Christ and allowing Him to change their lives. This is still true but we haven't told people how they can help others walk with Jesus so that He will clean their lives.
So, I am praying. I want those who walk with Christ to lead others in this walk.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
You Are Not a Loser
So, you had a bad day. Maybe it was a bad week or year or decade or lifetime. At least, it seems that way. The bank account isn't just empty but the bills are due. The job isn't just hard. It isn't there at all. The prospects for love are gone. The marriage is in the toilet. Your friends have not only abandoned you; they hate you. No one would notice if you stop existing. You can't see why you keep living.
Okay, maybe it isn't that bad but it certainly seems that bad. What you are feeling is tired. You simply don't want to go on living like this. By all accounts, you are a loser.
I have a different perspective. Would you listen for just a few moments?
Maybe you have been caught in the way the world defines success. The world says that we are successful when we can satisfy our senses, our desire for possessions and our need for people to esteem us. We want to be caressed, extremely wealthy and known by everyone. These desires are built into our flesh. They stem from a separation from the Spirit of God.
Even preachers fall into this trap. They think that success is having the biggest church, the largest budget and the praise of all the other preachers. They see others building bigger and more elaborate buildings, creating huge staffs to do all the grunt work and having their names put in store windows announcing their coming to such and such town. They want to be like these other preachers. They want to write a book that sells 40 million copies, take up an offering of $21 million and invite presidents to be on the stage with them. They don't care that God's will for them may not include this. They want to be considered successful and this is undeniably the way to do so.
But most of the preachers don't get this definition of success. In fact, most people don't get the world's definition of success. I have seen so many people trying to tell me how big they really are because, down deep, they feel like failures.
So, let me tell you why you are a winner instead of a loser even when the world tells you something else.
The world thinks that this is all there is. The world is right to define success as sensuality, wealth and pride if this is it. The only heaven the world will ever know is right now. The world must exist inside itself and the rules apply to everyone who is of the world.
But you don't exist inside this world. You are in the world but not of it. You are beyond the world by one factor- your faith. Your faith extends beyond this world and connects with eternity. It connects with the true King and lives under His system of values. He says that the greatest is the one who is the servant of all. He says that you do not have to depend upon the world to give you success.
I played in a couple of football games in high school in which my team was behind the whole time. In one game we came from behind with a touchdown in the last thirty seconds. Think of it: we were losing all but thirty seconds of the game. If the game had ended thirty seconds earlier we would have lost. But the game wasn't over until the game was over. (Sounds like Yogi Berra, huh?) No one said we lost the game in the end.
Believers will never be losers. The world says we are losing and if we listen to the world; if we look at the circumstances that the world presents to us, we will believe it. But believing something is true doesn't make it true. It takes something or Someone who is reliable to determine what is true.
God has said that your faith overcomes the world. God has said you will never be a loser because the game just isn't over yet.
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Okay, maybe it isn't that bad but it certainly seems that bad. What you are feeling is tired. You simply don't want to go on living like this. By all accounts, you are a loser.
I have a different perspective. Would you listen for just a few moments?
Maybe you have been caught in the way the world defines success. The world says that we are successful when we can satisfy our senses, our desire for possessions and our need for people to esteem us. We want to be caressed, extremely wealthy and known by everyone. These desires are built into our flesh. They stem from a separation from the Spirit of God.
Even preachers fall into this trap. They think that success is having the biggest church, the largest budget and the praise of all the other preachers. They see others building bigger and more elaborate buildings, creating huge staffs to do all the grunt work and having their names put in store windows announcing their coming to such and such town. They want to be like these other preachers. They want to write a book that sells 40 million copies, take up an offering of $21 million and invite presidents to be on the stage with them. They don't care that God's will for them may not include this. They want to be considered successful and this is undeniably the way to do so.
But most of the preachers don't get this definition of success. In fact, most people don't get the world's definition of success. I have seen so many people trying to tell me how big they really are because, down deep, they feel like failures.
So, let me tell you why you are a winner instead of a loser even when the world tells you something else.
The world thinks that this is all there is. The world is right to define success as sensuality, wealth and pride if this is it. The only heaven the world will ever know is right now. The world must exist inside itself and the rules apply to everyone who is of the world.
But you don't exist inside this world. You are in the world but not of it. You are beyond the world by one factor- your faith. Your faith extends beyond this world and connects with eternity. It connects with the true King and lives under His system of values. He says that the greatest is the one who is the servant of all. He says that you do not have to depend upon the world to give you success.
I played in a couple of football games in high school in which my team was behind the whole time. In one game we came from behind with a touchdown in the last thirty seconds. Think of it: we were losing all but thirty seconds of the game. If the game had ended thirty seconds earlier we would have lost. But the game wasn't over until the game was over. (Sounds like Yogi Berra, huh?) No one said we lost the game in the end.
Believers will never be losers. The world says we are losing and if we listen to the world; if we look at the circumstances that the world presents to us, we will believe it. But believing something is true doesn't make it true. It takes something or Someone who is reliable to determine what is true.
God has said that your faith overcomes the world. God has said you will never be a loser because the game just isn't over yet.
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV)
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Friday, January 31, 2014
Do You Really Believe that Jesus Changes People?
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
I just realized that many Christians do not believe that Jesus changes people. Maybe that's because they haven't been significantly changed themselves. They believe that He is the Son of God. They believe that they are saved because of His sacrifice. Yet, they don't believe that He has changed them. They believe that any change that has been made is because of their own efforts to change. I believe that this is why they Christians are violating ethical, moral and legal boundaries as much an non-believers. They aren't being changed by the presence of Jesus.
I am convinced that they are being conformed by the world. The desire to comply with others is like an addiction which must be satisfied. Most people hate conflict so much that they will go along in little things until they are going along with big things. They become as the world in the world's thinking and cannot see the will of God as He changes them and others.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
They do not understand God's plan to change them so totally that they stand out from the world. God's plan is to make them into the image of His Son, Jesus. This is the ultimate change in their lives.
Romans 8:29 (ESV)
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Maybe that's why lots of churches preach messages that appeal to the worldly image of feeling good, getting rich and being full of yourself. No one has to change in order to believe this. It even appeals to the world.
1 John 2:16 (ESV)
16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
I watched an ad during a Christian program which touted a Bible code that would make you rich. The ad essentially said that you could have this secret code. I thought of what that was appealing to. It certainly wasn't speaking of changing the individual into the image of Christ. In fact, I could see a lot of non-believers buying this code. I could also see a lot of believers writing Christians off as those who are merely superstitious because of this code. I thought, "Is this what Jesus died for? To make us understand a secret code which will make us rich. If so, why didn't He use it?"
You see, I still believe in the power of Jesus to change lives. I believe He can put marriages back together. I believe He puts forgiveness in hearts which would normally demand revenge. I believe that He makes the most hateful person into the most loving. I believe that He changes lives so much that they resemble Him.
What do you believe?
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
I just realized that many Christians do not believe that Jesus changes people. Maybe that's because they haven't been significantly changed themselves. They believe that He is the Son of God. They believe that they are saved because of His sacrifice. Yet, they don't believe that He has changed them. They believe that any change that has been made is because of their own efforts to change. I believe that this is why they Christians are violating ethical, moral and legal boundaries as much an non-believers. They aren't being changed by the presence of Jesus.
I am convinced that they are being conformed by the world. The desire to comply with others is like an addiction which must be satisfied. Most people hate conflict so much that they will go along in little things until they are going along with big things. They become as the world in the world's thinking and cannot see the will of God as He changes them and others.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
They do not understand God's plan to change them so totally that they stand out from the world. God's plan is to make them into the image of His Son, Jesus. This is the ultimate change in their lives.
Romans 8:29 (ESV)
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Maybe that's why lots of churches preach messages that appeal to the worldly image of feeling good, getting rich and being full of yourself. No one has to change in order to believe this. It even appeals to the world.
1 John 2:16 (ESV)
16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.
I watched an ad during a Christian program which touted a Bible code that would make you rich. The ad essentially said that you could have this secret code. I thought of what that was appealing to. It certainly wasn't speaking of changing the individual into the image of Christ. In fact, I could see a lot of non-believers buying this code. I could also see a lot of believers writing Christians off as those who are merely superstitious because of this code. I thought, "Is this what Jesus died for? To make us understand a secret code which will make us rich. If so, why didn't He use it?"
You see, I still believe in the power of Jesus to change lives. I believe He can put marriages back together. I believe He puts forgiveness in hearts which would normally demand revenge. I believe that He makes the most hateful person into the most loving. I believe that He changes lives so much that they resemble Him.
What do you believe?
Thursday, January 30, 2014
What You Can't Say; What You Must Say
We still live in a country that embraces censorship even though we claim to have free speech. You can use any type foul language and get away with it. No one seems to respect others when they use such language. They are free to speak no matter how offensive they are. You can even speak negatively about our Lord Jesus without a ripple of umbrage by the media or society.
But if you criticize certain politicians, certain social groups or even say something derogatory of certain soft drink products, you will be severely castigated and censored. Political, societal and commercial groups have learned the art of bullying by appealing to a culture which does not understand the difference between temporal preference and eternal value. People have become easily conformed into whatever image the world wants them to be because they do not have a strong foundation of values. Thus, their values change as the world declares they should change. People go along with it because they want to get along with others.
But this will not always be the case. All of us will see clearly one day. The Bible tells us that no matter who you are and what you believe today, you will kneel and confess Jesus. (However, realizing who He is does not account for salvation. Even the demons called Him the Son of God and they were not saved.)
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I taught public school over thirty years ago. There were times that I had to go to the office while I left the children working on their studies. Often, they would go wild while I was gone. They posted a look out who would warn them that I was coming. That is why I would go all the way around the school and come in by the back entrance. I would catch the look out and the students in the act of disrespecting me and the school. The students acted very repentant. I knew better. Of course, there were consequences.
I wonder if many in the world are thinking that they will have some great warning before the Lord returns. I wonder if they think that the appearance of repentance will get them off the hook. No, on second thought, I don't think they believe He is returning at all.
But there will come a day when they will realize who He is and confess Him. They all will bow their knees.
But I am not waiting for that day. Today I bow my knees before my Lord Jesus. I declare who He is to me. He is the Messiah, my Savior, the One who died for me. He is the Son of God, the creator of the universe and the sacrifice of God for me. I am His; totally and without reservation. I say it and I do it.
Maybe the world will say that I can't write this publicly in a blog someday. I suppose they can bully others to say what they want or keep them from saying what they don't want.
I know I must continue saying it.
But if you criticize certain politicians, certain social groups or even say something derogatory of certain soft drink products, you will be severely castigated and censored. Political, societal and commercial groups have learned the art of bullying by appealing to a culture which does not understand the difference between temporal preference and eternal value. People have become easily conformed into whatever image the world wants them to be because they do not have a strong foundation of values. Thus, their values change as the world declares they should change. People go along with it because they want to get along with others.
But this will not always be the case. All of us will see clearly one day. The Bible tells us that no matter who you are and what you believe today, you will kneel and confess Jesus. (However, realizing who He is does not account for salvation. Even the demons called Him the Son of God and they were not saved.)
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I taught public school over thirty years ago. There were times that I had to go to the office while I left the children working on their studies. Often, they would go wild while I was gone. They posted a look out who would warn them that I was coming. That is why I would go all the way around the school and come in by the back entrance. I would catch the look out and the students in the act of disrespecting me and the school. The students acted very repentant. I knew better. Of course, there were consequences.
I wonder if many in the world are thinking that they will have some great warning before the Lord returns. I wonder if they think that the appearance of repentance will get them off the hook. No, on second thought, I don't think they believe He is returning at all.
But there will come a day when they will realize who He is and confess Him. They all will bow their knees.
But I am not waiting for that day. Today I bow my knees before my Lord Jesus. I declare who He is to me. He is the Messiah, my Savior, the One who died for me. He is the Son of God, the creator of the universe and the sacrifice of God for me. I am His; totally and without reservation. I say it and I do it.
Maybe the world will say that I can't write this publicly in a blog someday. I suppose they can bully others to say what they want or keep them from saying what they don't want.
I know I must continue saying it.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Even the Worst of Sinners Can Repent
We all know someone whom we consider to be the least likely to ever follow the Lord. Our candidate for least likely to go to heaven is opposed the Lord. He may think that faith is the belief of the feeble minded. She may believe that Christianity will just make her feel guilty in the lifestyle she would like to live. He may get angry when he hears anything about faith, spewing profanity and a hatred for all things sacred. This person may live a totally depraved life which is so bound for hell that it would take a miracle just to delay the journey.
But, even these people, whom we have called impossible to be saved, can repent and come to the Lord. We simply cannot condemn them to hell. God can still bring them to repentance.
Take Manasseh for example. He rebuilt the high places of pagan worship that his father had torn down. He erected altars to Baal and made Asherah poles of fertility. He burned his own sons as an offering, used fortune tellers, mediums, wizards and participated in sorcery. He carved an idol and placed it in the house of the Lord. He led Judah and the inhabitants to do more evil than those whom the Lord had destroyed before the people of Israel.
God spoke to Manasseh and the people and neither listened to Him.
Certainly, Manasseh sunk the needle on the "Not ever going to come to the Lord" meter. Who could imagine that he would ever repent, but . . .
2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (ESV)
11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
God's mercy is greater than our imagination. He takes the worst of us back into His arms when we repent. He brings calamity upon us just to see us repent. He wants to redeem us more than we can imagine.
I wonder: Do the people who we think will never repent believe that they can never repent?
I have told people they can repent and the Lord will take them as if the had never sinned. One young lady, with tears streaming down her face, said, "I wish I could believe that. I wish I could believe that." She condemned herself because she thought she had passed over a point of no return. She thought that her lifestyle was insurmountable. She didn't know how much grace God has for her.
Two great obstacles keep sinners from repenting. One is the believers who do not think it is possible. The fail to pray for sinners. They do not share the love of Christ with them. They don't like being around sinners and condemn them with their disdain.
The other obstacle is the sinners' belief that God doesn't want them. They believe that they cannot overcome those things which keep them from the Lord. They think that God will never forgive them if they tried to repent. They can't imagine a new life which doesn't include their sins.
Yet, God reaches out. He speaks, but they don't listen. He takes them through a struggle and calls out again.
So, we as believers should be calling out to the Lord to do whatever it takes to see the unlikeliest people in heaven.
Think who would surprise you the most to be seen in heaven. That's the person you should pray for. God still does miracles. God still takes repentant sinners. I know. I am one of them.
But, even these people, whom we have called impossible to be saved, can repent and come to the Lord. We simply cannot condemn them to hell. God can still bring them to repentance.
Take Manasseh for example. He rebuilt the high places of pagan worship that his father had torn down. He erected altars to Baal and made Asherah poles of fertility. He burned his own sons as an offering, used fortune tellers, mediums, wizards and participated in sorcery. He carved an idol and placed it in the house of the Lord. He led Judah and the inhabitants to do more evil than those whom the Lord had destroyed before the people of Israel.
God spoke to Manasseh and the people and neither listened to Him.
Certainly, Manasseh sunk the needle on the "Not ever going to come to the Lord" meter. Who could imagine that he would ever repent, but . . .
2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (ESV)
11 Therefore the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. 12 And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. 13 He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.
God's mercy is greater than our imagination. He takes the worst of us back into His arms when we repent. He brings calamity upon us just to see us repent. He wants to redeem us more than we can imagine.
I wonder: Do the people who we think will never repent believe that they can never repent?
I have told people they can repent and the Lord will take them as if the had never sinned. One young lady, with tears streaming down her face, said, "I wish I could believe that. I wish I could believe that." She condemned herself because she thought she had passed over a point of no return. She thought that her lifestyle was insurmountable. She didn't know how much grace God has for her.
Two great obstacles keep sinners from repenting. One is the believers who do not think it is possible. The fail to pray for sinners. They do not share the love of Christ with them. They don't like being around sinners and condemn them with their disdain.
The other obstacle is the sinners' belief that God doesn't want them. They believe that they cannot overcome those things which keep them from the Lord. They think that God will never forgive them if they tried to repent. They can't imagine a new life which doesn't include their sins.
Yet, God reaches out. He speaks, but they don't listen. He takes them through a struggle and calls out again.
So, we as believers should be calling out to the Lord to do whatever it takes to see the unlikeliest people in heaven.
Think who would surprise you the most to be seen in heaven. That's the person you should pray for. God still does miracles. God still takes repentant sinners. I know. I am one of them.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Could You Use a Little Laughter?
Proverbs 17:22 (ESV)
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
I took every course on preaching that my seminary offered. I'm not sure it helped.
I don't blame the professors. They tried. I just didn't get what a lot of people get. The professors tried to encourage me with good grades in preaching. I knew better. I know what a good sermon is. I rarely give one.
I made a joke while preaching in one of these seminary preaching classes. I said, "I am tired of telling how good seminary is. I lost the house I owned when I came to seminary. I lost the income I had. I have to spend time reading lots of books I couldn't care less about. And then, I have to listen to all of these seminary students come in here and tell me what a blessing seminary has been. I'm so tired of it. I saw a student with a big goofy smile coming down the hall the other day, so I slapped him! I thought I would just bring him back to reality!"
Everyone laughed. Or at least I thought everyone laughed. I meant it as hyperbole. I meant it as a joke. But one student remarked after the sermon: "You should never make people laugh. The pulpit is God's desk and you have been placed with a great responsibility."
I listened but the professor said that he enjoyed it and was glad that I engaged the class with a joke. My whole sermon wasn't intended to be a joke. I hope I made some important points.
I don't believe that laughter is all that a preacher should produce but it certainly is appropriate at times. I don't want to take myself too seriously. I don't even want to take all the things that happen to me too seriously.
Yesterday, I drove my youngest daughter to Washington Dulles airport. At Sterling, VA a state trooper pulled me over. I was driving my wife's vehicle and had not noticed that the registration was two months past due and the inspection was one month overdue. I got two tickets plus court fees. I'll admit that I was pretty miffed.
But at who? Am I supposed to be upset with the trooper who gave me the tickets? Isn't he just doing his job? Am I supposed to be upset with my wife? She had surgery for breast cancer two months ago and probably didn't notice they had expired. Should I be upset with my daughter for needing to be taken to the airport? No, I was upset with myself for not pulling over and letting the patrolman pass me so that he wouldn't have time to notice they had expired!
I told my daughter that she needed to leave the tickets where I could easily find them so that when I was stopped on the way back I could say, "I already have two of those. Do you want them back?" She laughed. I laughed too.
You know what? Laughing made the whole thing a lot easier to swallow.
Sometimes life throws a curve. You can either sit in your spilled milk and cry about it or you can just laugh. Too often, I take little things so seriously. Taking little things seriously dries up my bones. I just need to laugh at them and go on. I just need to laugh out loud.
Even fake laughter prods me toward real laughter. And like a medicine, it makes me feel so much better.
So, go ahead. Laugh!
(If you know a state trooper in Sterling, VA please send him my blog. I think he could use a laugh too!)
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
I took every course on preaching that my seminary offered. I'm not sure it helped.
I don't blame the professors. They tried. I just didn't get what a lot of people get. The professors tried to encourage me with good grades in preaching. I knew better. I know what a good sermon is. I rarely give one.
I made a joke while preaching in one of these seminary preaching classes. I said, "I am tired of telling how good seminary is. I lost the house I owned when I came to seminary. I lost the income I had. I have to spend time reading lots of books I couldn't care less about. And then, I have to listen to all of these seminary students come in here and tell me what a blessing seminary has been. I'm so tired of it. I saw a student with a big goofy smile coming down the hall the other day, so I slapped him! I thought I would just bring him back to reality!"
Everyone laughed. Or at least I thought everyone laughed. I meant it as hyperbole. I meant it as a joke. But one student remarked after the sermon: "You should never make people laugh. The pulpit is God's desk and you have been placed with a great responsibility."
I listened but the professor said that he enjoyed it and was glad that I engaged the class with a joke. My whole sermon wasn't intended to be a joke. I hope I made some important points.
I don't believe that laughter is all that a preacher should produce but it certainly is appropriate at times. I don't want to take myself too seriously. I don't even want to take all the things that happen to me too seriously.
Yesterday, I drove my youngest daughter to Washington Dulles airport. At Sterling, VA a state trooper pulled me over. I was driving my wife's vehicle and had not noticed that the registration was two months past due and the inspection was one month overdue. I got two tickets plus court fees. I'll admit that I was pretty miffed.
But at who? Am I supposed to be upset with the trooper who gave me the tickets? Isn't he just doing his job? Am I supposed to be upset with my wife? She had surgery for breast cancer two months ago and probably didn't notice they had expired. Should I be upset with my daughter for needing to be taken to the airport? No, I was upset with myself for not pulling over and letting the patrolman pass me so that he wouldn't have time to notice they had expired!
I told my daughter that she needed to leave the tickets where I could easily find them so that when I was stopped on the way back I could say, "I already have two of those. Do you want them back?" She laughed. I laughed too.
You know what? Laughing made the whole thing a lot easier to swallow.
Sometimes life throws a curve. You can either sit in your spilled milk and cry about it or you can just laugh. Too often, I take little things so seriously. Taking little things seriously dries up my bones. I just need to laugh at them and go on. I just need to laugh out loud.
Even fake laughter prods me toward real laughter. And like a medicine, it makes me feel so much better.
So, go ahead. Laugh!
(If you know a state trooper in Sterling, VA please send him my blog. I think he could use a laugh too!)
Monday, January 27, 2014
Lord, Save Us from Street Philosophers
I spoke with a police officer this past week about convicting criminals. Our church was robbed a couple of years ago and the process seemed to take forever. The criminal used every means at his disposal to avoid paying for the crime. He asked for continuance after continuance. He even pled insanity. He didn't win. He thought he could beat the system with his "street lawyer" degree.
The officer told me of a confession he got in his patrol car as he drove to the station. He had not arrested the guy yet so he had not been read his Miranda rights. The perpetrator simply began to talk and confessed to several crimes. Of course, all patrol cars have video and audio recorders going at all times. His confession was captured on tape.
The criminal claimed it couldn't be used because he was never mirandized. He had either watched too many police television shows or listened to too many street lawyers. He was never arrested and the officer wasn't asking him questions. He was bragging about the crimes he had committed and thought that he could say these with impunity because of his "knowledge" of the law.
He was convicted of each of these crimes. He may have been convicted anyway but his confession certainly helped the case.
The same thing happens when it comes to faith. I heard a line from a country song called, "God, Save Us from Religion." It said something like, "They tell me that I can't go to heaven because I don't keep their rules." The singer is appealing to God to say that he is going to make it anyway. Where does this guy think the rules come from?
Somehow people believe that preachers make us the criteria for entrance into heaven. They see me as a Pharisee who wants to keep people out. They don't know how much I pray for people to come to know Christ nor do they no what I would do to see them come to know Christ. They have listened to the street philosophers who have made all that they are doing right and all that I am doing wrong. They see God as one who is going to take them into His heaven simply because they see themselves as good at the core. They believe God can see that too.
So, if they are good and I say that they must first identify with Christ to receive forgiveness, I must be evil. After all, they are already good without having to change a thing in their lives, right?
Somehow, they believe that their own reasoning in what is right and wrong will cause God to simply let them in. They think that they can demand that God come around to their reasonableness. Certainly He has to listen to the street philosophers too.
But it isn't how good we are or think we are that gets us into heaven. It isn't how reasonable we think we are. Its the blood of Jesus Christ which was accepted as payment for our sins. We have all sinned. The preachers and the prostitutes have this in common. And each is equally offered forgiveness by Jesus.
There is no other way.
And this isn't my rule.
John 14:6 (NIV)
The officer told me of a confession he got in his patrol car as he drove to the station. He had not arrested the guy yet so he had not been read his Miranda rights. The perpetrator simply began to talk and confessed to several crimes. Of course, all patrol cars have video and audio recorders going at all times. His confession was captured on tape.
The criminal claimed it couldn't be used because he was never mirandized. He had either watched too many police television shows or listened to too many street lawyers. He was never arrested and the officer wasn't asking him questions. He was bragging about the crimes he had committed and thought that he could say these with impunity because of his "knowledge" of the law.
He was convicted of each of these crimes. He may have been convicted anyway but his confession certainly helped the case.
The same thing happens when it comes to faith. I heard a line from a country song called, "God, Save Us from Religion." It said something like, "They tell me that I can't go to heaven because I don't keep their rules." The singer is appealing to God to say that he is going to make it anyway. Where does this guy think the rules come from?
Somehow people believe that preachers make us the criteria for entrance into heaven. They see me as a Pharisee who wants to keep people out. They don't know how much I pray for people to come to know Christ nor do they no what I would do to see them come to know Christ. They have listened to the street philosophers who have made all that they are doing right and all that I am doing wrong. They see God as one who is going to take them into His heaven simply because they see themselves as good at the core. They believe God can see that too.
So, if they are good and I say that they must first identify with Christ to receive forgiveness, I must be evil. After all, they are already good without having to change a thing in their lives, right?
Somehow, they believe that their own reasoning in what is right and wrong will cause God to simply let them in. They think that they can demand that God come around to their reasonableness. Certainly He has to listen to the street philosophers too.
But it isn't how good we are or think we are that gets us into heaven. It isn't how reasonable we think we are. Its the blood of Jesus Christ which was accepted as payment for our sins. We have all sinned. The preachers and the prostitutes have this in common. And each is equally offered forgiveness by Jesus.
There is no other way.
And this isn't my rule.
John 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
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