"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" We all grew up hearing that little line. And, we've all probably said it more times than we care to admit. I want to be completely transparent with you here. I've been beaten with sticks! As kids, my brother and I loved anything that involved beating one another. We had sword fights with sticks, bats, 2x4s, metal pipes...really anything that we could beat each other with! We loved dirt clod wars and would stand in the yard for hours hurling pine cones, dirt clods, or the occasional rock that was mistaken for a dirt clod. Ok, honestly, we knew the rocks weren't dirt clods, but we threw them anyway. And we would just stand there and let those stones hit us because we were boys and boys were tough! Bruises were like badges of honor. So, I've been beaten with sticks and stoned with stones and shot with bb guns and burned and shocked and run over with a bike, go cart and skateboard! Why? Just because! But, here's something I know to be true (and you do as well)...I have had words spoken to me or about me that have hurt me much worse than any of those sticks, stones or other things I mentioned! I've had words hurled at me that felt like boulders to my spirit. I've been crushed by the magnitude of things said by other people. And, I would guess that you have had those things happen too!
A few years ago I went through a particularly rough stretch in ministry. There were things said to me and about me during that time that made getting up and going to work every day a completely miserable experience. In fact, there were many times that I would have rather taken a stoning than sit in that office. Our whole church was going through a tough time and a lot of people were hurting. Honestly, our youth ministry was suffering right along with the rest of the church. In all that pain, it seemed that a few were singling me out to accept the brunt of their anxieties and hard feelings. These were pointing at me because of the perceived cracks they saw in our student ministry. I remember sitting down with one set of parents who, outright, said, "How can you stay at (church name withheld to protect the innocent) knowing that EVERYONE here hates you?!" It was actually a good question because it was one that I had been asking myself! I gave them the same answer that God had given me every time that I begged Him to let me do anything (seriously) other than stay at the church. That answer was, "Well, first of all, I know that EVERYONE doesn't hate me...there are some who support what God has called me here to do. And, secondly, God called me to this church and I won't leave until God calls me away...I will not forsake God's call regardless of what it costs me." That's at least 2 years in the past, but I can tell you that I remember that conversation as if it were yesterday because those words stung worse than any stick or stone I've ever been hit with! To hear someone verbalize that I was hated (that's a strong word) was pretty difficult for even me to handle (remember, last week I told you I'm not really all that emotional)!
I've had people, over the years, who have tried to have me fired because they disagree with me ideologically or philosophically or because we gauge success in different ways. And though I know that, for them, it may not be a personal attack; for me, it's always personal because what I do is not just a job to me...it's who I am as a man of God. I remember every encounter, every deacon's meeting, every time someone said, "guess what I heard that so-and-so said." Why? Because words affect us way more than sticks and stones. And, by the way, another saying we like to use is hogwash as well. It goes something like, "I'm rubber, you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!" Other people's words DO stick to us...and they follow us...for life! Why? Because words matter!
So, your words are important and my words are important because they carry so much potential for either encouragement or pain! In fact, the Bible actually says that words have the power of "life and death". Hey, and whether we admit it or not, we know it's true? How many people have committed suicide because of someone else's words. When I was in tenth grade, one of my good friends put a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger after a fight with his mom. Talk about a devastated mother...she could never take back those last words of anger that she spoke to him! How many people live lives of depression, anxiety, and self-doubt because of other people's words? I believe that many of the adults who struggle with depression do so because they're still trying to deal with words that were said to them during their childhood and youth! In their attempts to challenge children, parents and other adults often cross the line and end up using language that damages a child's developing personality and psyche for the rest of their lives! I'm guilty of this, myself! On the other hand, how many people have been catapulted to greatness because they had people whispering words of encouragement into their ears. "You can do it!" "You've got this!" "No matter what happens, I'm behind you." "I believe in you!" "I believe you're the best even if no one else does!" They had people who believed in them and supported them and spoke words of affirmation to them. And, because of that, they went on to do amazing things. You see, words matter!
For the past month my wife and I have been working on a room at our church that parents of children with special needs can use if their child is having a bad day. We'll have the service streaming in there for them to watch and some toys for the kids. It's a special ministry to us because we have a child with special needs. And, you better believe that every word is important when it comes to Colby. Every word on his IEP is important to us. Every word on his psyche tests and IQ tests and assessments are important to us because they describe our son! We haven't even shared some of the things we've been told about Colby because we know how those words will affect the people who hear them. We know how those words will affect their expectations of Colby and what they think he's capable of. So, this room is important to us because it symbolizes an area of ministry that most churches turn a blind eye to and one that we need for ourselves. And, we've spent an agonizing amount of time trying to figure out what to call this room because we know that WORDS MATTER!!!!
Now, our words matter for other people because of the weight they carry, but they also matter for you and me as well. Our words, perhaps more than any other indicator, reveal some things about us as people. First of all, they indicate what kind of person you are! Our oldest son has come home a few times talking about how peers have used hurtful language towards him. You know what? I don't have to meet these kids to even know what kind of people they are! Simply by the things they've said to my son, I can know they're jerks. You know this is true, because you've had similar experiences. We'll call this the law of language. This law would state that the type of language used by a person is directly indicative of the type of person he/she is. And, guess what...this law applies to you and me as well. Our words indicate the type of person we are. So, if your words are gossipy, you're a gossip! If your words are untrue, you're a liar. If your are slanderous, you're a slanderer! Got it? Good, lets move on.
Our words don't just reveal who we are now, they also shape who we will be in the future. The law of language isn't just indicative of our present, it is, also, an impetus to our future! Our words create a path that our lives tend to follow. This path could be seen as the consequence of our words, but I believe it's more that our life is like a garden and our words are seeds. Things we say to others today will take root in their lives or in our own lives and will grow. Sometimes these things will blossom into wonderful plants with beautiful fruit (these require seeds of encouragement and praise). Other times they become bitter weeds or choking vines that threaten to destroy the garden altogether (these are sown with seeds of discouragement and hate). I've heard it said that your words will always come back to you in some way. I believe that is true. The things you say today will shape your tomorrow!
That brings us to one heavy conclusion. If words are that powerful, I probably can't be trusted with them. Imagine the President of the USA calling me up and saying, "Hey, Wayne, we've decided to give you the launch codes to our nuclear arsenal. It's completely at your disposal." NOT A GOOD IDEA! I've had people say hurtful things to me, it's probably best I don't have access to missiles...right? Because those weapons are so powerful, they are under strict control. Here's a news flash...our words need to be under strict control as well! That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. I've got to give Him control over my words. That means I relinquish the talk button to Him. I speak when He says speak and I shut up when He says shut up! When I speak, I do so in a way that brings Him glory. I encourage and exhort. I praise and practice self control. Why? Because that's what Jesus would do. Notice that, throughout scripture, you never catch Jesus making off handed remarks or saying things intentionally hurtful. He never gossips or lies. He is truthful. He is gracious. He is kind. He is always completely honest, but in a way that draws others in rather than pushes them away. Jesus was the greatest user of words in all of history. Maybe that's because, according to Scripture, He is THE Word become flesh (different topic for a different day). Whatever the reason, He is our model.
So, how are your words? What do they say about you? Are you stoning people with your words or stirring people with your words? Does your mouth just run off uncontrollably or do you give control of it over to Jesus? What kinds of seeds are you sowing with the things you say to other people? Hey, words matter!!! And the truth is that you don't like being stoned any more than I do!
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Dead is dead...like, really, dead!
I'm a pretty easy going guy. No, seriously, I am! I realize that there are those who think I'm a coiled spring ready to pop, but the truth is that underneath it all I stay on a pretty even keel. Maybe it's my upbringing or perhaps it's just in my genes (all of you nature versus nurture people can argue that one out), I don't know...nor do I really care, for that matter. Most people, who really get me, know that I'm not a very emotional person. Therefore, it takes something pretty significant to violently swing my mood in one direction or the other. Yes, this can be a bad or good thing depending on the situation, but it is who I am.
There are, however, a few things that can blow my inner tranquility and, otherwise, stable temperament out of the water. One of those is computers. It has never ceased to amaze me that a computer ALWAYS works perfectly until the very moment you need it to...at which time it ALWAYS seems to come under the control of demonic forces bent on perfectly demonstrating Murphy's Law (look it up). Yep, computers are one thing that really get to me. The other is automobiles. Not working automobiles, of course...I'm talking about broken ones! Now, truthfully, I think the two are somewhat related since it's usually the automobiles that incorporate some kind of weird computer system in order for them to work that give me the most grief.
Case in point... I've, recently, been trying to determine what is causing a problem with my sister's car. The car won't crank. I don't mean it just won't start...I mean it actually won't do anything. When you turn the key it doesn't try to turn over...it doesn't even click...it...does...nothing! I know what you're thinking, "Hey, dummy, check the battery!" Well, that's been done! We actually replaced the battery...and still nothing! Having worked on vehicles before, I know that what I'm dealing with is not actually a hardware issue...I'm sure that the engine is ok, along with most of the parts attached to it. The problem is that the computer has been told by some sensor somewhere that to allow the engine to crank would be a bad thing. I've bypassed the computer and gotten the starter to turn over, but the engine still won't crank because the computer is refusing to allow any fuel to go the engine. So...the computer wins again...at least it does for now. Since I'm frustrated with it, I am now committed to seeing it run so it'll get fixed after I do all my research and hunt down the $10 part that I'm sure is causing the confusion.
The reason I even bring any of this up is because that car has gotten me to thinking about something. My sister has owned the vehicle for a couple of years. Want to know when it broke down on her though? Back in June of last year! That means it's been sitting in her driveway for 7 months now. In all that time, my sister has been the owner of a vehicle. If anyone asked her, "Hey, are you a vehicle owner?" She could emphatically argue that she was. However, was that vehicle of any use to her or anyone else? Absolutely not! You see, a dead vehicle might as well not even be a vehicle since the whole purpose of a vehicle is to be useful in getting one from Point A to Point B. If all the vehicle does is sit at Point A, we would all agree that it must be broken and is, therefore, useless until it is fixed! Everyone agree? Good, now hold on!
The whole reason I got to thinking about that vehicle today was because of something that I read in the book of James. In Chapter 2, verse 17, James says that "faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself." In other words, you may emphatically claim that you are the proud owner of faith, but if that faith doesn't "work"...in other words, it doesn't accomplish anything, then it, like my sister's car, is dead...and useless, I might add. We really get this concept when we think about things that are supposed to do something like a car or a computer or a TV or a phone or a blender or a coffee pot or a lawnmower or an airplane or a cruise liner or a smoke detector or even a yard man. However, we have a hard time grasping this concept when it comes to living out something as simple as our faith.
In the later half of James, Chapter 2, Jesus' half-brother spends a good bit of time trying to explain the futility of claiming a faith as real that doesn't actually do something. In fact, ole boy goes so far as to say that if your faith...and my faith...don't accomplish some things then it is dead and...get this...can't save you! "Whoa, wait a minute, Wayne, I walked down an aisle!" Doesn't matter! "Hold up, faith is all about believing and I believe!" Doesn't matter! "But I go to church!" Doesn't matter! "I tithe!" Well, that's good, but if that's all you got it DOESN'T MATTER!
Why doesn't all that matter? Well, it boils down to how you understand the word "faith". In modern terms, when we think of faith, we have to differentiate between "faith that is" and "faith that does". "Faith that is" is an acknowledgement of something...be it God, a set of beliefs or a code of morals that exist external to the person who holds the faith "in" these things. In other words, a person believes these exist. "Faith that does" involves a radical reorientation of one's life around what that person has faith "in" in such a way that it produces results in a person's life. In other words, this person has moved past simply acknowledging the existence of these things and has given themselves to the pursuit of what these things claim. Now, I can have "faith that is" without ever having a relationship with the things I have faith "in". I've never been on a cruise, but I have faith that they are safe and provide an enjoyable experience. I've never skydived, but I have faith that chutes open more times than they fail, therefore, it must be a relatively safe-ish activity. I never intend to have "faith that does" skydiving, but I do hope to, one day, have "faith that does" a cruise. I have "faith that is" concerning Disney World...I believe it to be a fun, family experience for kids of all ages. I ALSO have "faith that does" Disney World because my faith "in" Disney World has driven me to take my family there and experience the fun for myself. Not only that, but I intend to take my family back to Disney World, at some point, to exercise my faith "in" its family-fun atmosphere again.
Got all of that? Good! Now let's apply that to what James says about our faith in God. James is saying that it is perfectly possible for you to have "faith that is" concerning God without ever having "faith that does" anything with God. In other words, you can KNOW about God...you can go to church, study a Bible, memorize scripture, give to the church, even go on a mission trip...without ever actually KNOWING God! Simply knowing about God is not enough to produce salvation, however, knowing God involves a relationship that produces change! This "faith that does" drives one to emulate Christ in every area of life. These are the "works" that James is talking about. In other words, James would say that if the actions of your life don't demonstrate that you have "faith that does", chances are pretty good that all you have is "faith that is". And, guess what? According to Jimmy, that faith is dead...useless...kaput...it can't and won't save you!
If you're still struggling with this concept, check out what James says in verse 19. "You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe - and they shudder." In this little verse, James shoots down the concept of "easy believism". You see, it's not just about acknowledging God! Even the demons acknowledge God. And let's be honest about something here...the demons actually one up some of us because they, actually, shudder at God. What a shame that so many people who claim they "believe" in God are, in all honesty, some of the most apathetic people towards God! Want to hear this same thing from a different source? Check out Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:41-46. We get the teaching, here, straight from the mouth of Jesus. Jesus, Himself, makes it clear that your "faith that is" will not save you if it doesn't make the transition into "faith that does"! Why? Because "faith that is" puts you in the driver's seat of your life. If all you do is acknowledge your belief in something then you retain all the power...you're still the boss! However, "faith that does" demands that you allow Jesus to become your Lord.
Now, let's make something very clear here. You do NOT work in order to have salvation! You and I work BECAUSE we have salvation! So when James makes the claim that our works are the actuation, actualization, authentication and activation (look them up) of our faith, what he's claiming is that they are the PROOF that our faith is real! The truth is that you can pretty much tell if a person is REALLY a believer by watching the way they live their lives. (No, that's not "judging" them. Satan is the author of the lie that Christians aren't to "judge" other Christians! Jesus emphatically told his believers to be discerning and to inspect the fruit of those who claim His name to see if they're the real deal! What Jesus actually taught is that we shouldn't be hypocrites in our judging...but that's a different blog for a different day!)
Anyway...real, saving faith proves itself in action(s). Fake, not-saving faith just believes stuff. So, yea, right now my sister's car still sits dead in her driveway. The question is, how is your faith sitting right now?
There are, however, a few things that can blow my inner tranquility and, otherwise, stable temperament out of the water. One of those is computers. It has never ceased to amaze me that a computer ALWAYS works perfectly until the very moment you need it to...at which time it ALWAYS seems to come under the control of demonic forces bent on perfectly demonstrating Murphy's Law (look it up). Yep, computers are one thing that really get to me. The other is automobiles. Not working automobiles, of course...I'm talking about broken ones! Now, truthfully, I think the two are somewhat related since it's usually the automobiles that incorporate some kind of weird computer system in order for them to work that give me the most grief.
Case in point... I've, recently, been trying to determine what is causing a problem with my sister's car. The car won't crank. I don't mean it just won't start...I mean it actually won't do anything. When you turn the key it doesn't try to turn over...it doesn't even click...it...does...nothing! I know what you're thinking, "Hey, dummy, check the battery!" Well, that's been done! We actually replaced the battery...and still nothing! Having worked on vehicles before, I know that what I'm dealing with is not actually a hardware issue...I'm sure that the engine is ok, along with most of the parts attached to it. The problem is that the computer has been told by some sensor somewhere that to allow the engine to crank would be a bad thing. I've bypassed the computer and gotten the starter to turn over, but the engine still won't crank because the computer is refusing to allow any fuel to go the engine. So...the computer wins again...at least it does for now. Since I'm frustrated with it, I am now committed to seeing it run so it'll get fixed after I do all my research and hunt down the $10 part that I'm sure is causing the confusion.
The reason I even bring any of this up is because that car has gotten me to thinking about something. My sister has owned the vehicle for a couple of years. Want to know when it broke down on her though? Back in June of last year! That means it's been sitting in her driveway for 7 months now. In all that time, my sister has been the owner of a vehicle. If anyone asked her, "Hey, are you a vehicle owner?" She could emphatically argue that she was. However, was that vehicle of any use to her or anyone else? Absolutely not! You see, a dead vehicle might as well not even be a vehicle since the whole purpose of a vehicle is to be useful in getting one from Point A to Point B. If all the vehicle does is sit at Point A, we would all agree that it must be broken and is, therefore, useless until it is fixed! Everyone agree? Good, now hold on!
The whole reason I got to thinking about that vehicle today was because of something that I read in the book of James. In Chapter 2, verse 17, James says that "faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself." In other words, you may emphatically claim that you are the proud owner of faith, but if that faith doesn't "work"...in other words, it doesn't accomplish anything, then it, like my sister's car, is dead...and useless, I might add. We really get this concept when we think about things that are supposed to do something like a car or a computer or a TV or a phone or a blender or a coffee pot or a lawnmower or an airplane or a cruise liner or a smoke detector or even a yard man. However, we have a hard time grasping this concept when it comes to living out something as simple as our faith.
In the later half of James, Chapter 2, Jesus' half-brother spends a good bit of time trying to explain the futility of claiming a faith as real that doesn't actually do something. In fact, ole boy goes so far as to say that if your faith...and my faith...don't accomplish some things then it is dead and...get this...can't save you! "Whoa, wait a minute, Wayne, I walked down an aisle!" Doesn't matter! "Hold up, faith is all about believing and I believe!" Doesn't matter! "But I go to church!" Doesn't matter! "I tithe!" Well, that's good, but if that's all you got it DOESN'T MATTER!
Why doesn't all that matter? Well, it boils down to how you understand the word "faith". In modern terms, when we think of faith, we have to differentiate between "faith that is" and "faith that does". "Faith that is" is an acknowledgement of something...be it God, a set of beliefs or a code of morals that exist external to the person who holds the faith "in" these things. In other words, a person believes these exist. "Faith that does" involves a radical reorientation of one's life around what that person has faith "in" in such a way that it produces results in a person's life. In other words, this person has moved past simply acknowledging the existence of these things and has given themselves to the pursuit of what these things claim. Now, I can have "faith that is" without ever having a relationship with the things I have faith "in". I've never been on a cruise, but I have faith that they are safe and provide an enjoyable experience. I've never skydived, but I have faith that chutes open more times than they fail, therefore, it must be a relatively safe-ish activity. I never intend to have "faith that does" skydiving, but I do hope to, one day, have "faith that does" a cruise. I have "faith that is" concerning Disney World...I believe it to be a fun, family experience for kids of all ages. I ALSO have "faith that does" Disney World because my faith "in" Disney World has driven me to take my family there and experience the fun for myself. Not only that, but I intend to take my family back to Disney World, at some point, to exercise my faith "in" its family-fun atmosphere again.
Got all of that? Good! Now let's apply that to what James says about our faith in God. James is saying that it is perfectly possible for you to have "faith that is" concerning God without ever having "faith that does" anything with God. In other words, you can KNOW about God...you can go to church, study a Bible, memorize scripture, give to the church, even go on a mission trip...without ever actually KNOWING God! Simply knowing about God is not enough to produce salvation, however, knowing God involves a relationship that produces change! This "faith that does" drives one to emulate Christ in every area of life. These are the "works" that James is talking about. In other words, James would say that if the actions of your life don't demonstrate that you have "faith that does", chances are pretty good that all you have is "faith that is". And, guess what? According to Jimmy, that faith is dead...useless...kaput...it can't and won't save you!
If you're still struggling with this concept, check out what James says in verse 19. "You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe - and they shudder." In this little verse, James shoots down the concept of "easy believism". You see, it's not just about acknowledging God! Even the demons acknowledge God. And let's be honest about something here...the demons actually one up some of us because they, actually, shudder at God. What a shame that so many people who claim they "believe" in God are, in all honesty, some of the most apathetic people towards God! Want to hear this same thing from a different source? Check out Matthew 7:21-23 and 25:41-46. We get the teaching, here, straight from the mouth of Jesus. Jesus, Himself, makes it clear that your "faith that is" will not save you if it doesn't make the transition into "faith that does"! Why? Because "faith that is" puts you in the driver's seat of your life. If all you do is acknowledge your belief in something then you retain all the power...you're still the boss! However, "faith that does" demands that you allow Jesus to become your Lord.
Now, let's make something very clear here. You do NOT work in order to have salvation! You and I work BECAUSE we have salvation! So when James makes the claim that our works are the actuation, actualization, authentication and activation (look them up) of our faith, what he's claiming is that they are the PROOF that our faith is real! The truth is that you can pretty much tell if a person is REALLY a believer by watching the way they live their lives. (No, that's not "judging" them. Satan is the author of the lie that Christians aren't to "judge" other Christians! Jesus emphatically told his believers to be discerning and to inspect the fruit of those who claim His name to see if they're the real deal! What Jesus actually taught is that we shouldn't be hypocrites in our judging...but that's a different blog for a different day!)
Anyway...real, saving faith proves itself in action(s). Fake, not-saving faith just believes stuff. So, yea, right now my sister's car still sits dead in her driveway. The question is, how is your faith sitting right now?
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
I could be a hermit...no, really, I could!
Ok, so I'm about to bare my soul here. And, I know this is going to come really unexpected and some of you may think it even unbelievable. However, I really feel like I need to get this off my chest. It's something I've felt for a long time anyway. And, truth be told, I've finally come to grips with the fact that it's just who I am. I've realized that I need to be comfortable in my own skin and stop trying to be someone I'm not. I know that when I divulge what I'm about to tell you that I can't take it back and that, from this point forward, everyone will know this about me. Though I've tried hard to hide what I'm about to tell you over the years, I think it's time that I finally come clean. The truth will come out eventually, anyway, so it's best if I be the one that reveals it.
So, here goes... I...don't....like...people! Seriously, I really don't. People irritate me sooooo bad! I really don't like civilization very much either. No kidding! I could really do without both. In my opinion, people are inherently selfish, self-centered and self-aggrandizing (look this word up www.dicitionary.com). And what's worse, at least in my opinion, is that "Christian" people are some of the worst. Honestly, I've met "lost" people that are much more likable than some of the Christians I know...especially those pious, self-righteous types who have it out for other people. Trust me, I've been on the receiving end of some of this kind's actions. Yep, I just don't really like them... By the way, I'm a person too so that means that, when it boils down to it, I really don't even like myself! There, I said it. The truth is that I could, seriously, become a hermit. I could move off to a mountain somewhere with a dog and a gun...build me a cabin...and never come down the mountain unless I needed to buy some sugar or coffee. I've even imagined this life before. Don't get me wrong, now...I do love people, I just don't like people as a whole. I really love my family...so much so, in fact, that they're a pretty big reason I'm not on a mountain somewhere! You see, my dislike of people is nothing akin to hatred, I just tend to be an introvert who likes to be alone, enjoys nature and could spend hours off by myself just thinking. And, people tend to get in the way of all these things. And, right here and now, I just had a breakthrough! The reason I feel this way is because I, too, am selfish, self-centered and self aggrandizing! Writing is so cathartic!
Now, I know, some of you are thinking, "Well, you jerk, if you dislike people so much why don't you just go be a hermit or a monk or something...we don't need you anyway!" Well, that's just the rub. As much as I don't like people, I realize something that is very important. Regardless of how we feel about humanity, NONE OF US WERE MEANT TO BE ALONE!!! That's right, we were created for relationship! Of course, if you don't believe in a worldview that involves a Creator then you could argue that we've evolved past the need for community, but I DO believe in a Creator so I CAN'T argue that. Those of you who buy into a Biblical worldview, or at least will entertain such, may ask, "Well, Wayne, how do you know we were made for relationship?" Well, I'll answer that question for you. I know this to be true for four reasons. Here they are and I'll be brief...because I really don't like talking either!
First, God said so. Go all the way back to Genesis and look at the creation of the first man. Adam was the ultimate hermit at the beginning. It was just Adam and all his animals. They were having a grand ole time, hanging out together in the Garden. Adam was naming the animals and, I believe, he had a type of relationship with them...however, he had little in common with them. So it was, that God up and says, "Hey, it's not good for Adam to be alone...let's make him a companion." And, oh what a companion He made for him. Eve was the most beautiful woman in the world...of course, she was the only woman in the world...ba-dump-dump. Honestly, I have a feeling that Eve, probably, was a looker. She was created directly by the hand of God...no blemishes. No wonder when Adam saw her the first time he exclaimed, "Whoa Man!" (Get it?) Anyway, in his declaration that man shouldn't be alone and his subsequent creation of a companion for Adam, God demonstrated that we were meant for community. By the way...just to take that a little further...God wasn't happy for them to just keep each other company...He gave them the command to "be fruitful and multiply". In other words, "Ya'll go off and have y'all a bunch of babies, now. Build yourself a little Adam & Eve Smith (I'm sure that was their last name) community!"
Second reason I know we were made for community? Look at what was, primarily, affected by the entrance of sin into the world. Adam and Eve disobeyed God (we call this the fall). Now, there were a lot of ripple effects from this decision. God illustrates some of them in Genesis 3, however, the real WAVES all had to do with relationships. First, man's relationship with God. Because, in his disobedience, man turned his back on God, he was, by his own choice, separated from God. God kicking Adam & Eve out of the Garden was not God saying, "I don't want anything to do with you, you filthy sinner!" It was God granting mankind their wish of independence from Him. If Adam had wanted to stay in a relationship with God, he would have obeyed Him. By choosing to disobey Him, Adam was making a statement...ie, "Get out of my bidness, God!" So, God gave him his wish. If I invited someone to live with me and they decided they wanted to have nothing to do with me would I be the one to leave? Heck no! I'd say, "Well, hit the road Jack! Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!" Not only did Adam's relationship with God suffer, his relationship with Eve suffered also. Who did Adam blame for his sin? Eve! I'm sure she felt loved in that moment... Notice, also, that when God is describing the fall-out from their decision that he clearly tells them both that their relationship with one another will be, forever, altered. In Genesis 3:17, God tells the woman, "Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you." God is telling Eve that, from that point forward, she's going to demand equality of power and leadership with her husband, but that her husband (or men, for that matter) will never let it happen. So, how far do we have to look to see those effects today? Not far, right? Ladies, you can demand it all you want, but there just ain't going to be any real gender equality this side of heaven! And you have a woman...and a man...to thank for that! Anyway...Adam & Eve end up having kids, right? And what do we see in scripture? The first dysfunctional family! Cain and Abel's relationship with one another was strained, at best, I think it's safe to say. So...the primary thing that was destroyed by sin & selfishness was relationship! Relationship with God and one another...
Ok, the third reason I know we're created for relationship is Jesus. Jesus made it clear that He came for two reasons. First to reconnect us to a proper relationship with God and, secondly, to unite us in proper relationship with one another. "Whoa, Wayne, you're going to sum up everything Jesus did with that simple phrase?" Um...no...I won't...because Jesus already did that. Read Matthew 22:37-39. These guys, the Pharisees...who didn't like Jesus very much, by the way...asked Him to sum up the entirety of Scripture in a short, simple, easy to remember phrase. That, my friends, would be a pretty hard task for anyone. However, Jesus, always up for a challenge, says it all boils down to two things...first, love God more than anything (sounds a bit relational to me) and love other people as much as you love yourself (sounds a bit relational too, don't ya think). Here's something amazing...these guys disagreed with most of the things Jesus said, yet NO ONE disagreed with Him on this! Why? Because it struck a major chord of truth with them all! They realized that the major things all jacked up in this world revolved around relationships! So when Jesus said, "Hey, have a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others," they couldn't disagree. Now, what Jesus reveals throughout the rest of His teachings is that He is God's answer to the problem of bad relationships. He's the fix!
And, the final reason I know we're created for relationship is the early church. Acts is the story of the early church. In chapter 2, we get this amazing picture of what it looks like when we correctly relate to God and one another. These folks were taking care of each other, being selfless, selling off their stuff to provide for one another, praying for each other, meeting together and sharing life together. They were the quintessential picture of what God intended community to look like. Hey, and other people noticed too. In fact, people saw such a difference in this group of people that it either drove them to want to join them to get what they had OR it drove them to hate them and try to stamp them out. Not too many were like, "Eh, I'm kinda neutral on the Christians...they do their thing and I do mine." Their sense of community and relationship was radically revolutionary. These new Christians realized that God's regenerative work in them was going to be, primarily, fleshed out in the context of relationship! In fact, when you read the rest of the New Testament, almost every teaching that is brought up has something either to do with our relationship with God or one another!
So, yeah, we were created for relationship. It's been said that no man is an island unto himself...and, guess what? It's true. The reason that I don't like people is because I have a sin nature inside of me that fuels my selfishness, self-centeredness and self-aggrandization (did you look it up yet?). And, as much as I'd like to say, "forget ya'll, I'm going to my mountain", I can't because God designed me, and you, for relationship! In fact, I dare you to try to live out true Christianity...true faith...apart from relationships! It can't be done! Let's face it...if you were the only human in your little world there would be no opportunities for you to demonstrate mercy, grace, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, giving, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, praise, encouragement, service, teaching, etc. You wouldn't be faced with hard relationships that require you to respond as Christ would. Truth is that the only person who would ever see YOU live out YOUR faith would be YOU and I have a sneaking suspicion that YOU would always think that YOU were right on task. Ha!
So, when you get to the book of James and he makes claims in Chapter 2 about how your faith is demonstrated through your relationships realize that, for James, your faith is, at it's very core, relational! When he says, "speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom" understand that he doesn't think this is possible outside of relationships. Relationships are important! In fact, you could say that what is happening in your relationships with OTHER people right now is indicative of what is going on with your relationship with God right now. Does that burn anyone else out there other than me? Yep, relationships are important! Hey, how are you leveraging yours to demonstrate the love of God and the change He's made in you?
So, here goes... I...don't....like...people! Seriously, I really don't. People irritate me sooooo bad! I really don't like civilization very much either. No kidding! I could really do without both. In my opinion, people are inherently selfish, self-centered and self-aggrandizing (look this word up www.dicitionary.com). And what's worse, at least in my opinion, is that "Christian" people are some of the worst. Honestly, I've met "lost" people that are much more likable than some of the Christians I know...especially those pious, self-righteous types who have it out for other people. Trust me, I've been on the receiving end of some of this kind's actions. Yep, I just don't really like them... By the way, I'm a person too so that means that, when it boils down to it, I really don't even like myself! There, I said it. The truth is that I could, seriously, become a hermit. I could move off to a mountain somewhere with a dog and a gun...build me a cabin...and never come down the mountain unless I needed to buy some sugar or coffee. I've even imagined this life before. Don't get me wrong, now...I do love people, I just don't like people as a whole. I really love my family...so much so, in fact, that they're a pretty big reason I'm not on a mountain somewhere! You see, my dislike of people is nothing akin to hatred, I just tend to be an introvert who likes to be alone, enjoys nature and could spend hours off by myself just thinking. And, people tend to get in the way of all these things. And, right here and now, I just had a breakthrough! The reason I feel this way is because I, too, am selfish, self-centered and self aggrandizing! Writing is so cathartic!
Now, I know, some of you are thinking, "Well, you jerk, if you dislike people so much why don't you just go be a hermit or a monk or something...we don't need you anyway!" Well, that's just the rub. As much as I don't like people, I realize something that is very important. Regardless of how we feel about humanity, NONE OF US WERE MEANT TO BE ALONE!!! That's right, we were created for relationship! Of course, if you don't believe in a worldview that involves a Creator then you could argue that we've evolved past the need for community, but I DO believe in a Creator so I CAN'T argue that. Those of you who buy into a Biblical worldview, or at least will entertain such, may ask, "Well, Wayne, how do you know we were made for relationship?" Well, I'll answer that question for you. I know this to be true for four reasons. Here they are and I'll be brief...because I really don't like talking either!
First, God said so. Go all the way back to Genesis and look at the creation of the first man. Adam was the ultimate hermit at the beginning. It was just Adam and all his animals. They were having a grand ole time, hanging out together in the Garden. Adam was naming the animals and, I believe, he had a type of relationship with them...however, he had little in common with them. So it was, that God up and says, "Hey, it's not good for Adam to be alone...let's make him a companion." And, oh what a companion He made for him. Eve was the most beautiful woman in the world...of course, she was the only woman in the world...ba-dump-dump. Honestly, I have a feeling that Eve, probably, was a looker. She was created directly by the hand of God...no blemishes. No wonder when Adam saw her the first time he exclaimed, "Whoa Man!" (Get it?) Anyway, in his declaration that man shouldn't be alone and his subsequent creation of a companion for Adam, God demonstrated that we were meant for community. By the way...just to take that a little further...God wasn't happy for them to just keep each other company...He gave them the command to "be fruitful and multiply". In other words, "Ya'll go off and have y'all a bunch of babies, now. Build yourself a little Adam & Eve Smith (I'm sure that was their last name) community!"
Second reason I know we were made for community? Look at what was, primarily, affected by the entrance of sin into the world. Adam and Eve disobeyed God (we call this the fall). Now, there were a lot of ripple effects from this decision. God illustrates some of them in Genesis 3, however, the real WAVES all had to do with relationships. First, man's relationship with God. Because, in his disobedience, man turned his back on God, he was, by his own choice, separated from God. God kicking Adam & Eve out of the Garden was not God saying, "I don't want anything to do with you, you filthy sinner!" It was God granting mankind their wish of independence from Him. If Adam had wanted to stay in a relationship with God, he would have obeyed Him. By choosing to disobey Him, Adam was making a statement...ie, "Get out of my bidness, God!" So, God gave him his wish. If I invited someone to live with me and they decided they wanted to have nothing to do with me would I be the one to leave? Heck no! I'd say, "Well, hit the road Jack! Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!" Not only did Adam's relationship with God suffer, his relationship with Eve suffered also. Who did Adam blame for his sin? Eve! I'm sure she felt loved in that moment... Notice, also, that when God is describing the fall-out from their decision that he clearly tells them both that their relationship with one another will be, forever, altered. In Genesis 3:17, God tells the woman, "Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you." God is telling Eve that, from that point forward, she's going to demand equality of power and leadership with her husband, but that her husband (or men, for that matter) will never let it happen. So, how far do we have to look to see those effects today? Not far, right? Ladies, you can demand it all you want, but there just ain't going to be any real gender equality this side of heaven! And you have a woman...and a man...to thank for that! Anyway...Adam & Eve end up having kids, right? And what do we see in scripture? The first dysfunctional family! Cain and Abel's relationship with one another was strained, at best, I think it's safe to say. So...the primary thing that was destroyed by sin & selfishness was relationship! Relationship with God and one another...
Ok, the third reason I know we're created for relationship is Jesus. Jesus made it clear that He came for two reasons. First to reconnect us to a proper relationship with God and, secondly, to unite us in proper relationship with one another. "Whoa, Wayne, you're going to sum up everything Jesus did with that simple phrase?" Um...no...I won't...because Jesus already did that. Read Matthew 22:37-39. These guys, the Pharisees...who didn't like Jesus very much, by the way...asked Him to sum up the entirety of Scripture in a short, simple, easy to remember phrase. That, my friends, would be a pretty hard task for anyone. However, Jesus, always up for a challenge, says it all boils down to two things...first, love God more than anything (sounds a bit relational to me) and love other people as much as you love yourself (sounds a bit relational too, don't ya think). Here's something amazing...these guys disagreed with most of the things Jesus said, yet NO ONE disagreed with Him on this! Why? Because it struck a major chord of truth with them all! They realized that the major things all jacked up in this world revolved around relationships! So when Jesus said, "Hey, have a right relationship with God and a right relationship with others," they couldn't disagree. Now, what Jesus reveals throughout the rest of His teachings is that He is God's answer to the problem of bad relationships. He's the fix!
And, the final reason I know we're created for relationship is the early church. Acts is the story of the early church. In chapter 2, we get this amazing picture of what it looks like when we correctly relate to God and one another. These folks were taking care of each other, being selfless, selling off their stuff to provide for one another, praying for each other, meeting together and sharing life together. They were the quintessential picture of what God intended community to look like. Hey, and other people noticed too. In fact, people saw such a difference in this group of people that it either drove them to want to join them to get what they had OR it drove them to hate them and try to stamp them out. Not too many were like, "Eh, I'm kinda neutral on the Christians...they do their thing and I do mine." Their sense of community and relationship was radically revolutionary. These new Christians realized that God's regenerative work in them was going to be, primarily, fleshed out in the context of relationship! In fact, when you read the rest of the New Testament, almost every teaching that is brought up has something either to do with our relationship with God or one another!
So, yeah, we were created for relationship. It's been said that no man is an island unto himself...and, guess what? It's true. The reason that I don't like people is because I have a sin nature inside of me that fuels my selfishness, self-centeredness and self-aggrandization (did you look it up yet?). And, as much as I'd like to say, "forget ya'll, I'm going to my mountain", I can't because God designed me, and you, for relationship! In fact, I dare you to try to live out true Christianity...true faith...apart from relationships! It can't be done! Let's face it...if you were the only human in your little world there would be no opportunities for you to demonstrate mercy, grace, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, giving, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, praise, encouragement, service, teaching, etc. You wouldn't be faced with hard relationships that require you to respond as Christ would. Truth is that the only person who would ever see YOU live out YOUR faith would be YOU and I have a sneaking suspicion that YOU would always think that YOU were right on task. Ha!
So, when you get to the book of James and he makes claims in Chapter 2 about how your faith is demonstrated through your relationships realize that, for James, your faith is, at it's very core, relational! When he says, "speak and act as those who will be judged by the law of freedom" understand that he doesn't think this is possible outside of relationships. Relationships are important! In fact, you could say that what is happening in your relationships with OTHER people right now is indicative of what is going on with your relationship with God right now. Does that burn anyone else out there other than me? Yep, relationships are important! Hey, how are you leveraging yours to demonstrate the love of God and the change He's made in you?
Monday, February 3, 2014
A Little Wordy, But So What!!
Let's take a little test. I'm going to say a phrase and you see what pops into your head... Here goes: "a date which will live in infamy". When I say those words, I know that many of you immediately thought of Pearl Harbor. For those who didn't live through those horrible times, most of us have, at least, read about it in American History or have seen the movie. These were part of a speech given by Franklin D. Roosevelt, president of the United States, the day after the brutal attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese empire. Roosevelt was declaring that America would be responding to the attack and, in essence, entering the 2nd World War.
Now, for those who understand history, America's entry into the war became a pretty big turning point and determining factor in the overall success of stemming the tide of tyranny in the world. In fact, this speech was the precursor to actions by our nation that would change the course of history. Through his words, Roosevelt was sharing the reality of a horrible act AND garnering support from American citizens for the exercises that were to come. In fact, many who heard these words were so moved by them that they immediately went out to join the war effort.
Words are powerful! And...this truth is applicable in both negative ways and positive ways. How many people, alive today, suffer from all kinds of emotional struggles because of the negative use of words by people close to them? And, on the other hand, how many have been catapulted to greatness because of encouraging words from those closest to them? The way we use words matters!
Now, while random words are important, collections of words can be downright deadly or completely life changing. Enter God's Word. The most influential and powerful collection of words in the entire universe sits on the shelves or coffee tables or back dashes of cars of tons of Christians throughout the world. This collection of words has the power to wreck you and rebuild you. They have the power to completely change your outlook on life and affect the outcome of your life. They can change your marriage, family...even the future of your children. There are no more powerful words in existence.
So, when we come to the book of James, he takes the importance of these words to a new and different level. In other words, according to James, these words are not just meant to be read or seen as a bit inspiring...they are, instead, to be manifested...brought to life...applied in our lives. In fact, in chapter 1, verse 22, of the book bearing his name he says the following, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." According to James, God's word is meant for more than to, simply, be read and understood. It's power comes in the application!
According to James, a believer who reads God's word...and what it has to say about who we are to be in Christ...yet, walks away unchanged is a bit insane. In fact, James says we "deceive ourselves" when we claim a relationship with Christ but don't allow His word to change us! He even gives us a pretty good illustration....one that transcends the differences in culture and time. He says it's like someone looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what they look like. Think about that for a moment. Most of us spend, at least, a bit of time in front of mirrors everyday. My favorite aisle, at Walmart, is the mirror aisle. I love to walk down that aisle and just window shop! Most of you women out there spend a significant amount of time in front of a mirror each morning making sure that every hair is in place and every wrinkle covered. Now imagine this...what if, after spending all that time in front of the mirror, you walked away and immediately forgot what your face looked like? We would say that you have some serious issues with identity! James says that the same is true spiritually when it comes to our staring into God's word.
For believers, God's word provides us with a spiritual mirror which shows us our spiritual identity. It describes who we are...and who we should be. It identifies things that are out of place in our lives. It shows us the wrinkles that need to be covered and removed by the blood of Christ. It reveals problem areas that we need to work on. When it is applied to our lives it creates a spiritual change in the core of who we are that has a trickle down effect into every other area of our lives. So...when we look into the mirror of God's word, but refuse to obey or apply it in our lives, we are, in essence, deceiving ourselves in regards to who we really are and denying our true identity.
This little teaching on the power of God's word is why, just a chapter on into his letter, James can say that "faith without works is dead". He's already told us, by the time we get to that point, that if we aren't applying God's word to our lives then we are deceiving ourselves concerning our true identity. In other words, you can claim to know Jesus all day...you can wear a label of Christian...go to church...give...even pray...but if you aren't applying God's word to your life in a way that allows it to change your identity then you are fooling yourself! According to James...your "personal" testimony about yourself doesn't matter much if your life doesn't attest to that testimony. Your works...and the application of God's word...is the true testament to your real identity!
And that's the power of God's word...it doesn't just speak to us. God's word IDENTIFIES us! True believer, you are who God's word says you are! Fake believer, you are who God's word says you are! Non-believer, you are who God's word says you are. A hard teaching? You bet! Now I know a pushback is coming here, "Wait a minute, Wayne, all I have to do is believe in Jesus to be saved...works don't play into it!" Are you sure about that? According to scripture, even the demons believe in Jesus...in fact, most of them testified about Him when He was walking the earth...He even told them to stop! However, you know one thing the demons don't do...acknowledge Him as Lord. In other words, they hear His words, but because He's not their Lord, they don't obey or apply it. Sounds a lot like the people that James says are deceiving themselves doesn't it?
So...the question you have to process, today, is, "what are you doing with God's word in your life?" Are you identified by it? Does it define you? Are you obeying and applying it to your life? Are you
actually living the identity of a Christ-follower or, simply, claiming that identity? Is He truly your Lord? What kind of power does God's word have over you?
Now, for those who understand history, America's entry into the war became a pretty big turning point and determining factor in the overall success of stemming the tide of tyranny in the world. In fact, this speech was the precursor to actions by our nation that would change the course of history. Through his words, Roosevelt was sharing the reality of a horrible act AND garnering support from American citizens for the exercises that were to come. In fact, many who heard these words were so moved by them that they immediately went out to join the war effort.
Words are powerful! And...this truth is applicable in both negative ways and positive ways. How many people, alive today, suffer from all kinds of emotional struggles because of the negative use of words by people close to them? And, on the other hand, how many have been catapulted to greatness because of encouraging words from those closest to them? The way we use words matters!
Now, while random words are important, collections of words can be downright deadly or completely life changing. Enter God's Word. The most influential and powerful collection of words in the entire universe sits on the shelves or coffee tables or back dashes of cars of tons of Christians throughout the world. This collection of words has the power to wreck you and rebuild you. They have the power to completely change your outlook on life and affect the outcome of your life. They can change your marriage, family...even the future of your children. There are no more powerful words in existence.
So, when we come to the book of James, he takes the importance of these words to a new and different level. In other words, according to James, these words are not just meant to be read or seen as a bit inspiring...they are, instead, to be manifested...brought to life...applied in our lives. In fact, in chapter 1, verse 22, of the book bearing his name he says the following, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." According to James, God's word is meant for more than to, simply, be read and understood. It's power comes in the application!
According to James, a believer who reads God's word...and what it has to say about who we are to be in Christ...yet, walks away unchanged is a bit insane. In fact, James says we "deceive ourselves" when we claim a relationship with Christ but don't allow His word to change us! He even gives us a pretty good illustration....one that transcends the differences in culture and time. He says it's like someone looking in a mirror and immediately forgetting what they look like. Think about that for a moment. Most of us spend, at least, a bit of time in front of mirrors everyday. My favorite aisle, at Walmart, is the mirror aisle. I love to walk down that aisle and just window shop! Most of you women out there spend a significant amount of time in front of a mirror each morning making sure that every hair is in place and every wrinkle covered. Now imagine this...what if, after spending all that time in front of the mirror, you walked away and immediately forgot what your face looked like? We would say that you have some serious issues with identity! James says that the same is true spiritually when it comes to our staring into God's word.
For believers, God's word provides us with a spiritual mirror which shows us our spiritual identity. It describes who we are...and who we should be. It identifies things that are out of place in our lives. It shows us the wrinkles that need to be covered and removed by the blood of Christ. It reveals problem areas that we need to work on. When it is applied to our lives it creates a spiritual change in the core of who we are that has a trickle down effect into every other area of our lives. So...when we look into the mirror of God's word, but refuse to obey or apply it in our lives, we are, in essence, deceiving ourselves in regards to who we really are and denying our true identity.
This little teaching on the power of God's word is why, just a chapter on into his letter, James can say that "faith without works is dead". He's already told us, by the time we get to that point, that if we aren't applying God's word to our lives then we are deceiving ourselves concerning our true identity. In other words, you can claim to know Jesus all day...you can wear a label of Christian...go to church...give...even pray...but if you aren't applying God's word to your life in a way that allows it to change your identity then you are fooling yourself! According to James...your "personal" testimony about yourself doesn't matter much if your life doesn't attest to that testimony. Your works...and the application of God's word...is the true testament to your real identity!
And that's the power of God's word...it doesn't just speak to us. God's word IDENTIFIES us! True believer, you are who God's word says you are! Fake believer, you are who God's word says you are! Non-believer, you are who God's word says you are. A hard teaching? You bet! Now I know a pushback is coming here, "Wait a minute, Wayne, all I have to do is believe in Jesus to be saved...works don't play into it!" Are you sure about that? According to scripture, even the demons believe in Jesus...in fact, most of them testified about Him when He was walking the earth...He even told them to stop! However, you know one thing the demons don't do...acknowledge Him as Lord. In other words, they hear His words, but because He's not their Lord, they don't obey or apply it. Sounds a lot like the people that James says are deceiving themselves doesn't it?
So...the question you have to process, today, is, "what are you doing with God's word in your life?" Are you identified by it? Does it define you? Are you obeying and applying it to your life? Are you
actually living the identity of a Christ-follower or, simply, claiming that identity? Is He truly your Lord? What kind of power does God's word have over you?
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