White-Haired Babies

Hebrews 5:11-14 (ESV)
¹¹ About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, ¹³ for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 

Some people think that their age makes them mature. The marketing world uses the word "mature" to describe them because "old" has become offensive. But many church leaders know the difference between maturity and getting older for many churches are filled with white-haired babies who have grown very little despite their many years of knowing the Lord.

You see, I struggle with people who come to church regularly but do not apply anything they have heard to their own living. They do not have a biblical world view. Many times my sermons make absolutely no sense to them when I speak of their spirits being made alive and able to respond to the the Holy Spirit. They do not understand that benevolent work through a civic organization fails to share the gospel message.  They participate freely in the activities of their co-workers and friends without any thought of whether their activities violate their commitment to Christ. They adopt the world's view of morality and swing whichever way the group they are in goes. They don't know the purpose of church and only read their Bibles when they are looking for a way through a crisis. They live so closely to the world that they cannot seem to escape being just like it. 

These people have claimed to be believers long enough to teach others but they are always in need of being taught the same things over and over because they never seem to get them. Church carries no importance. They only decide to come to church if it is expected like at Christmas and Easter or if there is nothing else going on. It is a social activity at best.

So, I've griped enough, right? I would like to know what to do. I would like to know that these people who have become dull in hearing. They do not understand the constant practice of distinguishing good from evil. Therefore, they cannot grow as believers into maturity.

Should these people be treated as those who do not know Christ? The writer of Hebrews didn't treat them this way though it would be naive to think that all those who claim to know Christ are believers. (Jesus addresses that in Matthew 7.) I genuinely believe that most of them are believers. They just don't grow.

I have interviewed many people during my time in the ministry. I have found some people who claim to have twenty years experience in the ministry really only have one year repeated twenty times. They have never worked beyond what they do within the first year of their ministry. Once established, they just repeat what they have done over and over.

The question I have to ask myself is: Why does anyone want to grow in their walk with Christ? My answer is to become His glory. I want and need my Lord's support. Why would He support me if I am not seeking Him?

The next question is: Why do those who have not grown fail to desire growth? This is the bigger question.  I'm afraid I am so far removed that I don't know the answer. 

Years ago in a counseling session with a married couple the counselor said, "Next week . . . ."

The husband interrupted, "There will be no next week. We're not coming back. I'm as happy as I want to be in my marriage." His wife didn't look so sure of this.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid this may be the answer for those who never grow in their walk with the Lord. They are happy with the way things are.

More Than One Way

There is only one way to salvation. I know that makes me narrow minded. You are exactly right if you think that of me but I didn't create my own narrow-mindedness. The One who grants salvation did.

John 14:6 (ESV) ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

However, that doesn't mean that the message of Jesus only comes one way. It takes many ways to present this message. We, as believers, need to stop thinking that our way is the only way.

For example, some people came to believe in Jesus. Nathanael, an Apostle, believes merely by meeting Jesus.

John 1:47-50 (ESV) ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” ⁵⁰ Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”

Others come to Christ because of the signs He performed.

John 2:23 (ESV) ²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing.

Still others came because of the testimony of someone who had met Him.

John 4:39 (ESV) ³⁹ Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.”

It took more than her testimony for those who came out to meet Him because of her testimony had to have a more real and up-close encounter with Jesus.

John 4:40-42 (ESV) ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ And many more believed because of his word. ⁴² They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Many came to Him because of the preaching of John the Baptist and their observations of Jesus.

John 10:40-42 (ESV) ⁴⁰ He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. ⁴¹ And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” ⁴² And many believed in him there.

A bunch believed in Him when He raised Lazarus.

John 12:9-11 (ESV) ⁹ When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, ¹¹ because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

But others refused to believe even with Lazarus before them.

John 12:37 (ESV) ³⁷ Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,

Some hear the word and believe.

Acts 4:4 (ESV) ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

And other examine the Scriptures to believe.

Acts 17:11-12 (ESV) ¹¹ Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. ¹² Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

I have always heard, "There is more than one way to skin a cat." I never understood why anyone would want to but the adage certainly applies  to sharing the message of Jesus Christ. There is more than one way to share Him so that He will be received. 

It is clear that the message remains true. There is no new message but there were many ways for people to hear that message. Many Christians want to criticize the methods of another church for their way of presenting the gospel. Some of these churches are using dance, movies, elaborate props and even pyro-technics to share the gospel. This is not my method and I could easily point to the fact that Jesus didn't use these methods. No, He just walked on water, raised the dead and fed five thousand with a couple of loaves and fish. Those aren't my methods either.

So, I praise God that there are those who are sharing the gospel differently than I can. I praise Him for those who are being saved.

Have You Thought about Wrestling with the Lord?

Jaccb was in a disastrous situation. It appeared that his brother, Esau,  was coming to kill him. Esau had good reason to be angry with Jacob. Jacob had enticed him to sell his birthright for a pot of stew. Then, with the help of his mother, Jacob tricked their father into giving Esau's blessing to Jacob. A blessing was more that hopes and wishes. It contained the power to accomplish what was blessed. Thus, once said, it could not be taken back. So, Esau vowed to kill Jacob as soon as their father was dead.

Genesis 27:41 (ESV) ⁴¹ Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

Jacob fled to live with his uncle Laban. His uncle does some of his own trickery on Jacob but eventually Jacob prospers and runs from him. As he is traveling he hears that Esau is coming his way.

Genesis 32:6-8 (ESV) ⁶ And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” ⁷ Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, ⁸ thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

It doesn't take a mental heavyweight to figure out what Esau's motive is for arriving with four hundred men. Jacob, goes into crisis mode.

He prays but also starts working on human means to appease his brother.. He sends out his family but stays behind.  I believe that he stays behind to pray because his prayers had already started.

Genesis 32:9-12 (ESV) ⁹ And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ ¹⁰ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. ¹¹ Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. ¹² But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

It is here that we have the story of Jacob wrestling with a man until daybreak.This wrestling match is very indicative of prayer. It engages closely with Someone who is much more powerful but still doesn't let go.

Genesis 32:25-26 (ESV) ²⁵ When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Jacob has a dislocated hip. It is clear that this was a tremedous struggle. The person wrestling with Jacob could have ended the fight but chooses to continue. Anyone who can dislocate a hip with a touch can defeat the opponent at any time. Evidently defeating Jacob wasn't the reason for the battle.

And Jacob received a blessing because he held on. It came in his name.

Genesis 32:28 (ESV) ²⁸ Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Jacob knew he had been wrestling with the Lord.

Israel means, "he strives with God" or even "one who wrestles with God." Most people don't get the significance.

God never wastes His time. Those who struggle with God in prayer will be blessed because God does not have to listen nor does He need to continue the struggle.

Many times people never engage God when they pray. They say a few words and never think another thing about it. They don't even expect an answer. They may or may not even notice if their prayer is answered.

But those who truly wrestle with God in prayer are either assured that God has heard their prayers and will do as they have asked or that He has another plan for the situation. The one who wrestles is satisfied with the blessing because he realizes it is the best answer he could receive.

One who wrestles with God is changed. Jacob limped away. Many know God like they have never known Him before. Others accept His will in a way they never could before. Somehow each person who wrestles with God is changed.

Something happened to Esau before he gets to Jacob. Both brothers weep when they meet. It appears that the bonds of brotherhood have been mended. Did God work on Esau? I think so.

Of course, we can't know what would have happened if Jacob hadn't wrestled with the Lord. Neither can we know if we don't wrestle with the Lord ourselves.

So, if there is something that seems impossible, somthing that spells destruction, something that is such a need that it will keep you up all night, why not wrestle with the Lord over it rather than just wrestling with it yourself?

Just One More Sign, Lord

Matthew 16:1-4 (ESV) ¹ And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. ² He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ ³ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.

I speak with worried believers all the time. The tell me of their faith in Jesus. Some of them tell me of healings and other times when Jesus has provided exactly what they needed. But somehow this crisis which is right in front of them is different. Their faith wains. The need one more assurance that He can deliver them.

I just don't that another sign will take away the doubt in a crisis. Faith is continuing to say and act when circumstances indicate disaster. Jesus shouldn't have to prove Himself one more time.

Jesus is the Lord. That means a whole lot more than He died on a cross. It means more than He is your master. It means that all authority on heaven and earth has been granted to Him. It means that He is able to do all the works of His Father. It means that He will never be stumped by a problem too big for Him. He is the Lord of creation and creation must obey.

We pray rather than worry when we have faith. Prayer with thanksgiving for what the Lord has done will result in peace. It does not require a sign.

Looking for a sign is offensive to our Lord. The Pharisees and Sadducees looked for a way that Jesus would prove who He was. Jesus had already healed a paralytic, a leper, the servant of a centurion and fed 5,000 (this is not a full list but a representation). Why is one more sign necessary?

Yet, worried believers who have already seen Jesus do miraculous things are still worried and looking for a sign to prove who He is. They want to know that He can still work on their miracle. They are afraid that He will do nothing at all. Maybe they are afraid that their whole faith is a sham and there is really nothing there. Will one more sign change that? And if so, for how long?

What greater sign do we need than the resurrection anyway? This is the whole basis for our belief in Jesus. Any belief beyond the resurrection has to be anticlimatic. Jesus tried to tell people this but it is still not understood.

I believe that Jesus is who the Bible and He said He is. I believe that He is Lord. I believe that He is the Messiah. I believe that He did what the Bible says He did and can do all of that today. I believe He will carry me through each crisis. I believe without needing another sign.

I've already seen Him work in my life.

The Religious Oppose the Godly

Isaiah 29:13-14 (ESV)
13 And the Lord said:
 “Because this people draw near with
                 their mouth
      and honor me with their lips,
      while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a
                 commandment taught by men,
14 therefore, behold, I will again
      do wonderful things
                  with this people,
     with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men
                  shall perish,
and the discernment of their
     discerning men shall be hidden.”

Religious people oppose those who truly walk with the Lord. The acts of the godly just don't fit in with religion.

Religion wants to put God in a box. It wants to limit Him to certain things. It wants to develop tenets in which God can be manipulated. It majors on the form of faith rather than the relationship with God. They say their prayers and recite their scriptures but they do not expect (or maybe even want) an answer. Their worship is caught up in the act of worship rather than the one they are worshiping. They are like singers who are moved by their own singing. The emotions come from the song rather than what it means or who is listening.

Those who walk with the Lord are very different. They may not know all the books of the Bible nor can they recite the theme of most of the Bible books. They they have not tried to put God in a box so they do not know that there are things He won't or can't do. They pray with the knowledge that He may give a negative answer but they still believe He will answer. They worship God because they believe He is present. They speak to Him from their hearts. They may not know formal prayers which are said again and again.

Godly people will always disrupt the worship of the religious. Godly people will turn people away from mere religion. Religion often loses its power in the presence of godly people. The godly just don't perform the religion and religious people condemn the godly.

Thus, the Pharisees opposed Jesus. And religious people didn't stop there. Throughout the time when the Holy Spirit has dwelt among believers godly people have upset the apple cart of the religious. So, they have claimed that the godly had demons, were egregious sinners, were opposed to the church and worthy of death. Many have given their lives walking with their Lord. They were very often martyred by the religious.

I have always wondered if religion takes hold from a godly experience. People have a godly experience when they read a certain scripture so they believe that every time they read that scripture a godly experience will erupt. They continue searching for religious symbols which will provide pictures of their faith. These icons begin to be the object of worship rather than enhancers of worship. The actions of ritual take hold when they are done over and over so that, just like the pictures, the action becomes the worship rather than something that promotes worship.

Then, godly people don't follow the pattern of the religious. Some of the formerly religious people realize there is more to faith than rituals. They start an intimate walk with the Lord. The rituals begin to decay and the religious determine that it is time to squelch this rebellion. They attack the ones walking with the Lord. They try to discredit them by exaggerating their flaws and minimizing their good. They warn the other religious people. They tell of the stories slippery slopes when they can't make things bad enough. "Where will this lead us?"

Should those who seek to live godly lives be surpised? Not at all for the Apostle Paul wrote:

2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

So, rejoice if you are truly seeking to walk with your Lord and religious people are calling you nuts. It should be an indication that you are on the right track.

Our Own Glory on Earth

Matthew 6:2-6 (ESV)
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Years ago I heard a televangelist say that he wanted his rewards right now. I don't think he read the Bible much or he would have known that this is not God's pattern of reward. God looks eternally while man looks temporally. People should be looking for eternal rewards.

Let's look at the principle of the above verses. I have already received my reward for my gifts or prayers if I seek the praise of others. I suppose those gifts could also apply to acts of service. Thus, we always bring the crew who fixed the fellowship meal out to applaud their service. We are so afraid that failing to do so will mean that they stop feeding us. Do we really believe this is all the reward they want?

True servants do not need recognition. I say that even though I know it is hard to watch others receive recognition for things that weren't nearly as arduous as you have done. This is a problem with pride rather than looking for rewards for service or giving or even praying.

Many Christians should ask themselves: Will I continue to pray fervently even if no one other than God knows I am praying? Will I continue to give generously even if I know no one other than God knows I am giving? Will I serve behind the scenes when no one other than God knows I am serving?

I know how hard this is. I, too, would like to ask if I could sit at Jesus right hand. I would like to count myself among the venerated. I, too, would like to see thousands coming to my church, streaming my sermons and reading my blogs. All the while, they would tell me how great I am.

Truthfully, knowing this about myself makes me sick! How can I know that eternal rewards await me if I will simply walk in faithfulness without seeking the praise of others and desperately look for the praise of others at the same time? The ambivolence is confusing.

Spiritual things become very difficult when they are not done in the Spirit. Consistently giving (and serving) and praying privately without earthly recognition works against the flesh. The flesh demands rewards here and now. Maybe this is why the "God will make you healthy and wealthy" preachers fill their churches. They are appealing to the flesh. It is so much easier to do so.

Christian maturity requires that we examine ourselves. We ask the Lord to reveal where we have fallen short of His glory. It seems strange to find that our flaw surrounds our giving, serving and praying. We want the recognition of others for our faithfulness. This is pseudo-faithfulness for we were only faithful to ourselves when our actions sought our own glory.

I was created for God's glory. I just need to remember that.

Will Your Funeral Service Be a Sham?

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

I sit down with families and ask how they would like for me to conduct the funeral services for their loved ones. The above scripture is often referred to. Sometimes it applies to those who have passed but more often it does not. The family members seem to think that services should say things about their departed that give tribute but do not relate at all to the life the loved ones lived.

The Christian life is a fight. Paul is not talking of the fight to keep a job or to raise a family. He is speaking of a fight to present the gospel is a world that is very hostile to that gospel. He is speaking of the struggle to live the Christian life in a manner that portrays a true picture of the changed life in Christ. This is a fight which is fought daily.

The Christian life is a race. A race follows a course. The course is laid out for the individual to complete. The race is won by the conpletion of the course. This course is the obedience in which the Christian walks with his Lord. He obeys in attitude and in specific actions. He loves at all times. He listens to his Lord at all times. He obeys in faith. Thus, he runs the course. His own agendas or paths are set aside so that this race may be run. It takes all the effort that the Christian has to finish this race.

Teh Christian life is faith. It believes when all the circumstances point toward something else. It listens to the Lord. It goes into dark places when it can't see. It continues when others say that it should turn back. It is counted as foolishness by those who have no faith. It continues to believe that God is what the Bible says He is. It continues to believe that God can and will do everything that He has said He will do. Faith is what allows the Christian to sacrifice all that he has for his Lord.

But I sit with these families and ask myself, "How can you say this? Your loved one did not attend church. He has no record of obedience to the Lord. Even his faith is sketchy for you are telling me that he believed but never talked about it." I dont' think this is the appropriate verse to be read for some people.

I guess some people think that funeral services are really shams. Those people have never had a son come to me and say, "Who were you talking about? My mother never had any of those qualities. She was never the Christian you made her out to be!" I have had to explain that this is what I got from other family members. The son knows better but I am rarely rebuked for saying good things about the dead. I wish I knew the truth.

Though, there have also been many times I have been pleased to read these verses at funeral services. I have known the deceased because they has been faithful to their church. I have heard them pray, known that they read their Bibles daily, watched them serve faithfully and seen their love towards all people. I have observed these believers as they fought, finished the race and kept the faith.

My question is this: What will your funeral service be? A sham or the one for the glory of God?

Your family members will probably say good things about you no matter how you lived your life but the truly only righteous Judge will know. Any you will too.