Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Disputable Matters 7/31/2013
"I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love." Romans 14:14-15
The church at Rome was one that had a very interesting history and make-up. Initially it consisted almost solely of Jewish Christians, however, this changed when the Jews were kicked out of Rome leaving Gentile believers as the members of the church. Eventually, the Jewish Christians were allowed to return. This presented a number of problems in that there were disputes among the two groups regarding a number of things, not the least of which was what type of food could legally be eaten. The Gentiles who had never really had any prohibition on types of food they could eat thought that it was ok to eat anything, included meat sacrificed to idols. The Jews had problems with certain types of food because of the prohibition against eating anything unclean or that had been sacrificed to idols. For this reason, those chose the vegetarian lifestyle at that time and place.
It is not unusual for me to get emails from people who find me on our congregation's website that want to engage in debates about what should and should not be done in worship or a worship facility. Most of these things have nothing to do with the essentials of the Christian faith. Some want to debate about whether we should support ministries that are also supported by other denominations such as the local food pantry. Some say that weddings and funerals should not be performed in the sanctuary and that it should be reserved solely for worship service. Still others feel that we should not have a kitchen facility anywhere in the building.
Beloved, these are what are called disputable matters. There is nowhere in scripture that addresses these issues specifically. Scriptures can certainly be pointed out that tell us that we should be kind to all men as we have the opportunity (food pantry), that Jesus performed his first miracle at wedding (though it does not say that it was in a church building) and that the first services were held in homes (which undoubtedly had a kitchen equivalent). This is all magnified when we would dispute with one another within the congregation over personal differences like tattoos, piercings, suits and whether women should wear pants, hats or makeup.
The point of the love of Christ is to bring people together, not to divide over non-essentials. Tragically, there are thousands of denominations today because everyone wants to have it their own way and wants to be separate from those who do not agree with them. Let us endeavor not to let our liberty cause us to judge others who may have a different opinion, method or means of expression their love and worship. Paul said, "But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God" Romans 14:10-11.
Committed,
Lee
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
God Still Speaks 7/30/2013
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." Hebrews 1:1-2
Many people claim that God has spoken to them and told them to do this or that. Many more people wonder if God has ever spoken to them. Most people assume that He has not, does not and will not speak to them. In fact, God has a long and varied history of communicating with man. In the Garden of Eden, He spoke with Adam and Eve directly. He spoke similarly to Noah. Abraham was spoken to directly as well as through the angel of the Lord. Moses was spoken to directly and through a burning bush. Joseph was spoken to by dreams and Peter had visions. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the point is that God speaks to us. And while some would ask, "Of course he spoke to all those guys thousands of years ago but what about me today?", the answer is that He still speaks!
Beloved, God desires that we get to know and love him. The only way to accomplish this is through communication. He has the power to choose whichever means to communicate that suits Him. Some will tell you that He no longer expresses Himself in dreams and visions. I am not prepared to limit God. He can do whatever He wants however He wants to do it to whom He wants to and whenever He wants to. But scripture is clear that despite all other means, discussed or not, He communicates through his word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired [breathed] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The same breath that made us living souls literally authored the Bible. Further, we know that he has communicated through his son but did you know that Jesus is also known as "the Word?" John 1:1 informs us that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is incontrovertible that God, Jesus and the Word are one. It is through and by this fact that God yet speaks to all of us to this day.
There is more to be said about hearing God's voice through the Spirit, circumstances, the words of others (such as sermons, songs and conversations) and various other ways. We must learn to tune in. Nevertheless, his voice is never farther away than your nearest Bible. Listen to what God has to say to you today.
Committed,
Lee
Many people claim that God has spoken to them and told them to do this or that. Many more people wonder if God has ever spoken to them. Most people assume that He has not, does not and will not speak to them. In fact, God has a long and varied history of communicating with man. In the Garden of Eden, He spoke with Adam and Eve directly. He spoke similarly to Noah. Abraham was spoken to directly as well as through the angel of the Lord. Moses was spoken to directly and through a burning bush. Joseph was spoken to by dreams and Peter had visions. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but the point is that God speaks to us. And while some would ask, "Of course he spoke to all those guys thousands of years ago but what about me today?", the answer is that He still speaks!
Beloved, God desires that we get to know and love him. The only way to accomplish this is through communication. He has the power to choose whichever means to communicate that suits Him. Some will tell you that He no longer expresses Himself in dreams and visions. I am not prepared to limit God. He can do whatever He wants however He wants to do it to whom He wants to and whenever He wants to. But scripture is clear that despite all other means, discussed or not, He communicates through his word. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is inspired [breathed] by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The same breath that made us living souls literally authored the Bible. Further, we know that he has communicated through his son but did you know that Jesus is also known as "the Word?" John 1:1 informs us that, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is incontrovertible that God, Jesus and the Word are one. It is through and by this fact that God yet speaks to all of us to this day.
There is more to be said about hearing God's voice through the Spirit, circumstances, the words of others (such as sermons, songs and conversations) and various other ways. We must learn to tune in. Nevertheless, his voice is never farther away than your nearest Bible. Listen to what God has to say to you today.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, July 29, 2013
The Compassion of Touch 7/29/2013
"Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him." Matthew 20:34
Jesus had become well known in his day for a variety of reasons. Most assuredly chief among them was his compassion in general and his ability to heal specifically. The story is told of two men that happened to be blind. When Jesus came to their town and happened to pass near them, they began to cry out for mercy. Though the crowd tried to quiet them, they cried out all the more. Jesus heard their cries and stopped. He then engaged them and asked what them what they would have him to do for them. They asked to be relieved of their blindness. Jesus then applied compassion through touch and healed them.
Beloved, touch is among the most human of actions we can take. There literally could be no life without it. Compassion also comes naturally to us. When we meet someone, the impulse in our culture is to reach for the person's hand. In other cultures it involves and embrace or even a kiss. When someone receives bad news or suffers a loss, our impulse is to comfort them by hugging. And when serious prayer is needed, we tend to hold hands with or lay hands on the person for whom we are going to God.
Let us consider the source of this trait. It was God who scooped up a mound of dirt and formed man. It was God who removed Adam's rib and formed woman. It was God who took on human flesh so that He could more intimately interact with the pinnacle of his creation. The apostle John famously wrote, "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—...we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" 1 John 1 & 3. God made himself available to us that we might touch him and that he might touch us. What an amazing display of compassion and love.
Committed,
Lee
Jesus had become well known in his day for a variety of reasons. Most assuredly chief among them was his compassion in general and his ability to heal specifically. The story is told of two men that happened to be blind. When Jesus came to their town and happened to pass near them, they began to cry out for mercy. Though the crowd tried to quiet them, they cried out all the more. Jesus heard their cries and stopped. He then engaged them and asked what them what they would have him to do for them. They asked to be relieved of their blindness. Jesus then applied compassion through touch and healed them.
Beloved, touch is among the most human of actions we can take. There literally could be no life without it. Compassion also comes naturally to us. When we meet someone, the impulse in our culture is to reach for the person's hand. In other cultures it involves and embrace or even a kiss. When someone receives bad news or suffers a loss, our impulse is to comfort them by hugging. And when serious prayer is needed, we tend to hold hands with or lay hands on the person for whom we are going to God.
Let us consider the source of this trait. It was God who scooped up a mound of dirt and formed man. It was God who removed Adam's rib and formed woman. It was God who took on human flesh so that He could more intimately interact with the pinnacle of his creation. The apostle John famously wrote, "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—...we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ" 1 John 1 & 3. God made himself available to us that we might touch him and that he might touch us. What an amazing display of compassion and love.
Committed,
Lee
Friday, July 26, 2013
Answering the Call 7/26/2013 (rp)
"Peter said to them, 'Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.'" Acts 2:38-39
If someone were to ask, "Are you saved?", what would you say? If someone were to ask, "How do you become saved?", how would you respond? If someone were to ask, "How can I be saved?", what would you do?
Unfortunately, questions like this are far too rare. Most Christians do not experience having people just walk up to them and ask these questions. Perhaps the world does not see the things in us that would draw them to the God that we serve. Nevertheless, it was Jesus who instructed us to go to all nations and make disciples of them. He reiterated this in his last recorded statement to his followers when he said, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be my witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even the remotest part of the earth" Acts 1:8. It was subsequent to the fulfillment of this promise that the Holy Spirit did indeed come upon Jesus' disciples and they immediately began to serve as his witness. During the very first gospel sermon, the people asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
Beloved we must not only maintain readiness to answer such a question, but to initiate the conversation. Events such as the movie theatre massacre in Aurora, Colorado on July 20th prove that we live in a sin sick world and that there are people in serious need of God's love. Would this event be part of our history if someone had shared with the man who committed this heinous act? There is no sure way to say, but it might have. What about the victims? Could they have used the opportunity to hear the gospel of the Lord? The survivors surely can.
We are here for a purpose, just as those are who shared with us. Let us do what we were created to do.
Committed,
Lee
If someone were to ask, "Are you saved?", what would you say? If someone were to ask, "How do you become saved?", how would you respond? If someone were to ask, "How can I be saved?", what would you do?
Unfortunately, questions like this are far too rare. Most Christians do not experience having people just walk up to them and ask these questions. Perhaps the world does not see the things in us that would draw them to the God that we serve. Nevertheless, it was Jesus who instructed us to go to all nations and make disciples of them. He reiterated this in his last recorded statement to his followers when he said, "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be my witness both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even the remotest part of the earth" Acts 1:8. It was subsequent to the fulfillment of this promise that the Holy Spirit did indeed come upon Jesus' disciples and they immediately began to serve as his witness. During the very first gospel sermon, the people asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?"
Beloved we must not only maintain readiness to answer such a question, but to initiate the conversation. Events such as the movie theatre massacre in Aurora, Colorado on July 20th prove that we live in a sin sick world and that there are people in serious need of God's love. Would this event be part of our history if someone had shared with the man who committed this heinous act? There is no sure way to say, but it might have. What about the victims? Could they have used the opportunity to hear the gospel of the Lord? The survivors surely can.
We are here for a purpose, just as those are who shared with us. Let us do what we were created to do.
Committed,
Lee
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
How to Handle a Bad Day 7/23/13 (rp)
The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;" Acts 16:22-25
Beloved, have you ever had a bad day? Think a moment about your worst day ever. Was it a situation that was completely outside of your control? Did it involve something you did? Was it public or private? Though it is important to understand the who, what, when and whys of negative things that happen in our lives, it is by far more important how we respond to such events.
Paul and Silas had what some would interpret as a very bad day as a result of doing the will of God. Their work was very unpopular with some people who reported them to the local authorities who in turn had them publicly beaten and thrown into jail without the benefit of any due process whatsoever. Anything remotely similar to this would be an extremely challenging situation for just about all of us. There is, however, more than one way to both look at and respond to "bad days," particularly as a child of God.
After having a similar day Peter in Acts 5:41 rejoiced that he was "counted worthy to suffer shame for his [Jesus'] name." To him, and his associates, it was not a bad day at all, but a good day of both obedience to the will of the Lord and the opportunity to share the gospel with all who heard it. This brings us back to Paul and Silas. Despite being in pain, prison and shackles, they did not bemoan their circumstance, but sang praises to the Father.
It may be counter intuitive to do such a thing, but not for the person of faith. As Christians we must grow into Job's faith who said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" Job 13:15. We must believe that according to Rom 8:28, "all things work together for good for them that love God and are the called according to His purpose." And we must remember that, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" Rom 8:18.
As an epilogue to this passage, note that the other prisoners were listening to the singing. What a tremendous testimony! If they could continue to praise God under even the worst conditions, that could cause even the most avowed unbeliever to develop questions. Further, we know that the jailer and his family came to Christ as a result.
No, we may not look forward to or enjoy "bad days" but we trust God through them and praise Him for every one in which we draw breath.
Let us comfort one another with these thoughts.
Committed,
Lee
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;" Acts 16:22-25
Beloved, have you ever had a bad day? Think a moment about your worst day ever. Was it a situation that was completely outside of your control? Did it involve something you did? Was it public or private? Though it is important to understand the who, what, when and whys of negative things that happen in our lives, it is by far more important how we respond to such events.
Paul and Silas had what some would interpret as a very bad day as a result of doing the will of God. Their work was very unpopular with some people who reported them to the local authorities who in turn had them publicly beaten and thrown into jail without the benefit of any due process whatsoever. Anything remotely similar to this would be an extremely challenging situation for just about all of us. There is, however, more than one way to both look at and respond to "bad days," particularly as a child of God.
After having a similar day Peter in Acts 5:41 rejoiced that he was "counted worthy to suffer shame for his [Jesus'] name." To him, and his associates, it was not a bad day at all, but a good day of both obedience to the will of the Lord and the opportunity to share the gospel with all who heard it. This brings us back to Paul and Silas. Despite being in pain, prison and shackles, they did not bemoan their circumstance, but sang praises to the Father.
It may be counter intuitive to do such a thing, but not for the person of faith. As Christians we must grow into Job's faith who said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" Job 13:15. We must believe that according to Rom 8:28, "all things work together for good for them that love God and are the called according to His purpose." And we must remember that, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" Rom 8:18.
As an epilogue to this passage, note that the other prisoners were listening to the singing. What a tremendous testimony! If they could continue to praise God under even the worst conditions, that could cause even the most avowed unbeliever to develop questions. Further, we know that the jailer and his family came to Christ as a result.
No, we may not look forward to or enjoy "bad days" but we trust God through them and praise Him for every one in which we draw breath.
Let us comfort one another with these thoughts.
Committed,
Lee
Monday, July 22, 2013
Such a Time as This 7/22/2013
"Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, 'Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?'” Esther 4:13-14
There are times when we wonder why we are in a particular situation or place. To be sure, we work hard to attain certain positions or circumstances but it is not unusal to occasionally look around and wonder if there is something more regarding the reason for being there. This can be especially true if we happen to have our spiritual glasses on that day.
Esther was a young Jewish orphaned woman who, through a chain of evidently God led events, became queen to the king of a vast empire. Unfortunately, one of the king's trusted noblemen developed an intense dislike for a Jewish man named Mordacai in particular and the Jewish people in general. This dislike was so intense that he plotted to kill each and every one of them. Upon hearing this, Mordecai urged his adopted daughter (Esther was actually his uncle's daughter) to get involved and make an appeal to the king. Due to a law that promised death to anyone who sought the king that was not summoned or to which he did not extend his golden scepter as permission to approach, Esther was reluctant to say the leat.
Beloved, there may be times when we find ourselved in uncomfortable situations were we may even be in some type of jeopardy. We should always be on the lookout for how we can make a positive difference. We must examine whether there is a way we can use the position or stature we have been granted by God to do the work of God. Though there may be benefits to us that result from the positions we hold or the situations we have attained, which was surely the case for Esther, it is more than possible that it is a platform for the Almighty and that we have been placed there for His glory.
Esther did indeed respond and as a result, all the Jews were spared and the enemy was destroyed. We can find ourselves enjoying our situations for many years, but let us always be ready to act on God's behalf when the opportunity presents itself. Understand that we are all placed "for such a time as this."
Committed,
Lee
There are times when we wonder why we are in a particular situation or place. To be sure, we work hard to attain certain positions or circumstances but it is not unusal to occasionally look around and wonder if there is something more regarding the reason for being there. This can be especially true if we happen to have our spiritual glasses on that day.
Esther was a young Jewish orphaned woman who, through a chain of evidently God led events, became queen to the king of a vast empire. Unfortunately, one of the king's trusted noblemen developed an intense dislike for a Jewish man named Mordacai in particular and the Jewish people in general. This dislike was so intense that he plotted to kill each and every one of them. Upon hearing this, Mordecai urged his adopted daughter (Esther was actually his uncle's daughter) to get involved and make an appeal to the king. Due to a law that promised death to anyone who sought the king that was not summoned or to which he did not extend his golden scepter as permission to approach, Esther was reluctant to say the leat.
Beloved, there may be times when we find ourselved in uncomfortable situations were we may even be in some type of jeopardy. We should always be on the lookout for how we can make a positive difference. We must examine whether there is a way we can use the position or stature we have been granted by God to do the work of God. Though there may be benefits to us that result from the positions we hold or the situations we have attained, which was surely the case for Esther, it is more than possible that it is a platform for the Almighty and that we have been placed there for His glory.
Esther did indeed respond and as a result, all the Jews were spared and the enemy was destroyed. We can find ourselves enjoying our situations for many years, but let us always be ready to act on God's behalf when the opportunity presents itself. Understand that we are all placed "for such a time as this."
Committed,
Lee
Friday, July 19, 2013
Perspectives on Lot Pt. 2: God's Salvation 7/19/2013
"...and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment," 2 Peter 2:6-9
It is said that there are some times that we do not seem to be able to get out of our way. In times like these (and at all times), it is good that we have God. Lot made the choice to live among the unrighteous heathen populating the city of Sodom. This was an interesting choice in that he could have lived elsewhere and not had the challenges he endured there. Nevertheless, he is credited in the word of God as a righteous man who was in fact grieved by the behavior of those around him. We never read where Lot committed an unrighteous act, though we can see that he made a number of questionable decisions such as offering his virgin daughters to quell the passions of a mob.
Beloved, Lot represents many of us today as we pursue Christian lives. Like Lot, we live in a world in which we are surrounded by unrighteousness, debauchery, lawless behaviors, loose morals and sin. Like Lot, we are foreigners (Genesis 19:9, John 15:19) and are unpopular with the world. Like Lot we struggle to maintain our righteousness. Like Lot we are exasperated by the things we see going on around us. And like Lot, we make questionable decisions every day about what we believe, where we go, what we do, what we say and what we think. Not infrequently, our choices put us in situations that expose us to great spiritual jeopardy.
It is good to know that the same God that sent his angels to rescue Lot from the destruction the Sodomites had brought upon themselves is the same God that will rescue His own from this present world. We must, like Lot, be willing to maintain our righteousness, remain open to the word and will of God and obediently accept and follow His direction in order to avail ourselves of the salvation He offers. Wherever it is that we wisely or unwisely choose to be, let us be sure that we remain close to the Father, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?" 1 Peter 4:17-18.
Committed,
Lee
It is said that there are some times that we do not seem to be able to get out of our way. In times like these (and at all times), it is good that we have God. Lot made the choice to live among the unrighteous heathen populating the city of Sodom. This was an interesting choice in that he could have lived elsewhere and not had the challenges he endured there. Nevertheless, he is credited in the word of God as a righteous man who was in fact grieved by the behavior of those around him. We never read where Lot committed an unrighteous act, though we can see that he made a number of questionable decisions such as offering his virgin daughters to quell the passions of a mob.
Beloved, Lot represents many of us today as we pursue Christian lives. Like Lot, we live in a world in which we are surrounded by unrighteousness, debauchery, lawless behaviors, loose morals and sin. Like Lot, we are foreigners (Genesis 19:9, John 15:19) and are unpopular with the world. Like Lot we struggle to maintain our righteousness. Like Lot we are exasperated by the things we see going on around us. And like Lot, we make questionable decisions every day about what we believe, where we go, what we do, what we say and what we think. Not infrequently, our choices put us in situations that expose us to great spiritual jeopardy.
It is good to know that the same God that sent his angels to rescue Lot from the destruction the Sodomites had brought upon themselves is the same God that will rescue His own from this present world. We must, like Lot, be willing to maintain our righteousness, remain open to the word and will of God and obediently accept and follow His direction in order to avail ourselves of the salvation He offers. Wherever it is that we wisely or unwisely choose to be, let us be sure that we remain close to the Father, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?" 1 Peter 4:17-18.
Committed,
Lee
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