Tag: hope

Even to…

Acts 11:1–18; Galatians 3:27–29

Depending on the translation, Acts 11:18 is phrased something akin to, “even the Gentiles got the gift.” It’s not exactly the most positive response. It shows us that at the beginning of the church the new reality of a faith that transcended Gentile and Jew still had to be learned.

We are still confronting this today. As of right now, the current cultural memes of concern are women and minorities (specifically, African-Americans). While there are understandable scriptural interpretations in other denominations and traditions not allowing women as leaders in the church, it often has gone hand-in-hand with demeaning women.

Even in the Church of the Nazarene (the denominational perspective from which I attempt to write), there has been the theological acceptance of women as leaders, but the cultural acceptance of such has been a significant issue.

While the Church of the Nazarene has been effective in other nations and cultures, within the confines of the US, the denomination has been predominately white. Both situations leave the Church of the Nazarene in conflict with itself.

The blessing of the cultural memes that have been disrupting our society is that the Church of the Nazarene just might be confronting the incongruities with a plan to fix it. Just as in society-at-large, the fix will be slow and hard.

The denomination is trying to fully live out what it does believe but has been mired in the culture from which it came.

What does this have to do with, “even them”? One of the founding churches of the Church of the Nazarene (it was a number of churches that decided to band together) was in the “skid row” area of Los Angeles. Alcoholism, drunkenness, prostitution all had a prominent and visible place there.

“The least, the last, the lost” were those served by that church, and who the church sought to bring into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

This comes from the older “Wesleyan” tradition, where John Wesley preached outdoors to the miners who were often banned from church as the coal dust would follow them. They were a new kind of “unclean.”

Even they were called into relationship with Jesus Christ. Even to them was the Gospel message sent.

“Even” sounds so belittling, yet we use similar language and constructs when we talk about “Democrats” or “Republicans” or “Trump-ers” or “Never Trump-ers” or immigrants (documented or not) or Muslims or Hindus or…you name them.

Why do we try to limit the Gospel? What is it we hope to achieve?

We often think we don’t limit the gospel, but what about that different person who walks through the door at church (if you’re worshiping there)? How about that person walking down the street talking to themselves?

To even them…

※Prayer※

Jesus, thank you for your Gospel. Holy Spirit, guide to those you have for us to share the message of Jesus with. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Can you think of a people group that you are inclined to think of as “even them”? Why do think that is?

2) Why do we often think in terms of us and them?

2020-08-12
Lamenting Forward

Ezekiel 2:1–3:3; Lamentations 3:17–33; Ecclesiastes 3:1–8

There are two prevailing feelings currently: fear and anger. Neither one is productive over time. In the end, they can destroy a person emotionally and spiritually.

Ezekiel ate words of lament, mourning, and woe. In the vision, the edible scroll tastes a sweet as honey. At the same time, there was no joy in the words themselves.

One of the biggest lessons that the current atmosphere can teach us is that we need to mourn what we have lost. We are even still in the midst of losing our perception of culture(s), country, and even church. We fight the loss.

We don’t want to lose all that we hold dear. At the same time, there is another feeling that is harder to quantify… God is doing something new. We don’t know what that new is, which causes us to be even more emotionally reactive.

God can (and does) handle our anger and fear. God is greater than that. We, though, need to lament, grieve, and mourn.

When we lose a loved one, we miss them. We grieve. We mourn. We understand that it is not only acceptable, it is also healthy. We also must—as hard as it is—find a way to move forward.

That is currently the way many things are right now. One of the great difficulties is to choose what to mourn and move past, and what to struggle for. As the situation around COVID continues, we will continue to have to work and walk together to find a way forward.

We all must be grace-filled as people struggle with their grief masked in fear and anger. Only the God of hope can turn the anger and fear into a drive to move forward in faithfulness. Let us all be people of hope.

※Prayer※

Heavenly Father, guide us to be people of hope, not just any hope, but the hope of the crucified and risen Son. Amen.

※Questions※

1) What is one thing you are angry about right now? How about fearful? What about grieving?

2) If you were to rank each of these in order, what would they be, and why?

3) Which of these has the greatest effect upon your Christian walk? How so?

2020-08-11
Did You Fail?

1 Kings 18:19–19:5; Malachi 4:5–6; Matthew 17:10–13

This is a famous story. It really is very impressive how the priests of Baal were humiliated in their bloody ritual, and how God delivered magnificently and undeniable. In a quick turnaround, they went from following the Baal priests to killing them.

This actually doesn’t say much about the Israelites that’s particularly positive. They just follow the flow and the show. Really, though, that’s often the way we are, too.

After the show, it appears that the Israelites are all on God’s side, even Ahab…except that really isn’t the case. Ahab runs home to his wife, who promptly threatens Elijah.

The drought is over. Things are looking up. So, let’s kill that guy!

No thanks or gratitude. No real recognition that God was in this. From Jezebel’s response she is both an enemy of God and is more about her power than even her husband’s (who power she really is supplanting).

Nothing really changed. After that, nothing really changed.

We tell this tale. We are excited for the good guy (Elijah and God). Yet, nothing really changed.

What should give us hope and courage, however, is that even Elijah got scared. That huge public event where God shows up…and Elijah runs away.

Yes, Elijah was threatened. Yet, God had just shown up in such a huge way…and Elijah runs away.

Many people have had a defining experience with God and then “run away”. Or, they may have a powerful healing or action and then appear to not believe that God is capable of the next thing. It is a pretty normal human behavior.

Elijah was normal. He heard from God and he spoke through the Holy Spirit. He was still normal.

You’re normal, too. You were called by God. You were claimed by God. You just may be in a difficult place. You could be wondering if God even cares.

Often, we question our faith when we struggle. We question our salvation. We question the depth of our relationship with Jesus.

Yes, we are weak. Yes, we are normal. Yes, God loves us.

Many people think they would want to have such a powerful experience of God as Elijah did. Through it all, Elijah still feared. Through it all, God still loved him…just as God loves you.

2020-08-07
…Who’s There?

Matthew 7:7–12; Luke 13:22–30; Revelation 3:14–22

“Knock, Knock” jokes rank up there with “dad” jokes. Most of the time they are a play on words, and almost all the time they’re only cute (or funny) when a kid says them.

These passages with knocking in them are probably quite familiar to you. If not, hang around Christian circles, and they will show up.

The first passage is probably number two on the knocking list. It is filled with a great promise. However, some have misunderstood the promise, and that has caused a lot of pain.

When taken out of context, the passage sounds like God is some cosmic vending machine. You just put your prayer in and out comes whatever it is you want. Within those same circles, there is an added, God just wants you to be happy.

In context, though, the passage is about entering the Kingdom of God. It’s not about wealth or health. It’s about where your citizen is while on Earth, and where you will be after your time here is gone.

The second knocking passage is similar to the first, however, it adds a rejection clause. The implication is people trying to force their way “past” the gates. The implication in this passage is that just because you’re at the right place (let’s say, church) and saw God, that doesn’t mean your heart has submitted to God.

As Jesus continues, he goes so far as to poke at the Jewish pride of being the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Just because they were born in the right place of the right blood did not give them the right to enter the Kingdom of God.

The third of our knocking passages is probably the most famous of them all. It sounds so warm and fuzzy that Jesus is knocking on the door. However, when we have the warm fuzzy feelings, we should often double-check them.

The message isn’t Jesus come on in. The message is really a question, do you know Me? One generally does not open one’s doors strangers without some caution. One certainly doesn’t invite them in for dinner. The implication is that they don’t know or forgot Jesus!

Knocking is making one’s presence known to another. It can be a sound of warning. It can be a sound of greeting. What it is exactly depends on the relationship between those on the other sides of the door.

Knocking doesn’t stop at knocking. There is a choice that goes along with it: yelling, “go away”; opening the door grudgingly; opening the door gladly with a warm welcome; ignoring the knocker, and hope they go away; there are probably other responses, too.

Which door will Jesus walk through?

※Prayer※

Lord Jesus, there are many doors in this life. Help us to view them as opportunities to seek and see you, and to also bring others through those doors to you. Amen.

※Questions※

1) What feelings did/do each of today’s passages create in you? Why?

2) The first two passages are about the Kingdom of God. How does the third passage affect your understanding of the first two?

3) We all want to believe that we would warmly and gladly welcome Jesus if he knocks. How comfortable are you if he knocks right now? Now what?

2020-07-31
Always the Same

Jeremiah 16:10–15; Malachi 3:1–7

Many years ago, in a bible study, an older woman said to the study leaders, “I do not believe in the God of the Old Testament. That God is cruel and unjust. I only believe in the loving God of the New Testament.”

Many people walked away from the church and/or were deeply scarred and hurt by the church by the incessant drumming of hellfire and brimstone. Far too often, judgmentalism, legalism, and ostracism came with it.

In response to this, and to such people like the woman in the beginning, there has been an overreaction, perhaps even over-emphasis on the love of God. Instead of good theology and analysis, it continues (even to this day) to be an overreaction to a time when the church Hell and condemnation at every turn.

What can become frustrating and also deceiving is that God is only love. God is love. The love of God is a good thing to think about and focus on.

However, God doesn’t let a good crisis go to waste. Sounds kind of harsh, doesn’t it? As many parents and teachers can tell you, sometimes you can only explain something so many times until pain teaches a child.

Most lifelong lessons are gained through pain of some sort. It is, sadly, the way we are. This is also why confronting a false view of the God of the Old Testament is crucial to our Christian walk and to our ability to evangelize.

As the impending doom approaches Jerusalem, and the people ask why, God in many more words says, “because you didn’t listen the first thousand times I told you!” Yet, that isn’t the end!

God tells Jerusalem that this exile will be as (or more) defining for them than the Exodus was for all of Israel. That’s a big order! It just so happens to have occurred that way, too.

Some would call this the carrot and stick method, yet it really isn’t. The opportunity for the carrot is gone. In many respects, this is no longer a stick. For the donkey (or mule) that this method is supposedly used on, there is required to be a hostler doing it.

The hostler (God) left the animal (Jerusalem) on its own to fend for itself in the wilderness. The time for carrots and sticks was passed.

This does not mean God didn’t love them. Quite the contrary! God knew that they had to learn on their own.

For God’s own sake, God put hope in front of them. For God’s own sake, Judah would not be lost forever. For God’s own sake, he would bring a tempered people home.

From the opening story, the study leaders stopped the study and gently taught her, “God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament.”

God has not changed.

※Prayer※

Lord, help us to recognize your discipline as love, as much as we don’t like it. Help us to look at our pains and trials as something through which you are teaching us and others. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Do you tend more toward the “God of Punishment” or the “God of Love”? Why do you think that is?

2) Do you really learn better or for longer-term through pain or pleasure?

3) How would you respond to someone like the woman in the story? How would you guide her through thinking about God being unchanging?

2020-07-24
There’s Lots More

Matthew 13:1–23; 2 Corinthians 9:6–15; James 1:5–8

One of the arguments against God and the saving work of Jesus Christ is that people can’t see God. And there isn’t much to say against that.

What often goes along with that is seeing the “work” of God. This is ever present, and ever available. People are often blind to it.p>God’s grace flows over each and everyone of us. It is an amazing thing. It’s right there. You still have to be open to it and look for it.

God is not just the sower. God is a generous sower. The kind of sowing presented in the parable is just plain nuts.

No farmer, whether now or then, would cast good seed on bad ground. The farmer would prepare the ground, and not just leave it to chance.

God doesn’t leave it to chance either, nor are we “just” the ground that receives God’s seeds of faith, hope, and love. Our response is the kind of ground we are.

Sometimes, bad ground requires extra work. The seed may be cast while the ground is poor, but overtime the ground can be changed to the point where the falling seed now falls on fertile ground.

Beyond human comprehension (and selfishness), God spreads the Word of God liberally, not only so that no one may claim that they received nothing; God is generous and does so being that way.

As we walk in this world, we need to look for God’s generous sowing. Help to be God’s co-laborers in sowing the seeds of love, hope, and faith.

※Prayer※

Lord, in our weakness, help us be strong. Grant us the wisdom and endurance to be the same as you, generously sowing the word in love and generosity. Amen.

※Questions※

1) Do you view the world from a perspective of scarcity or plenty?

2) Why does God sowing generously everywhere matter? What does that tell you about God?

2020-07-11
Under Yoke

Jeremiah 27:1–11; Jeremiah 28:1–17; Matthew 11:28–30

One of the ongoing themes of contemporary Christianity is to look at stories such as Jeremiah, and say, “of course he’s God’s prophet!” Looking back it is obvious to us. We’ve had a lot of history since then.

We know that Jeremiah was one of the 66 books of the Bible that was affirmed. We know that Jewish tradition also upholds Jeremiah. It’s obvious to us.

For the Jews, it wasn’t so clear. Sure, the “real” prophets usually were not full of good news. However, the thought of submitting to Babylon felt like a bad joke. God wouldn’t allow that, would he?

The cultural concept of American Exceptionalism and founding documents invoking God (honestly, though, more in a Deistic fashion, rather than a Christian one) and individuality, a yoke is an awful thing to contemplate.

A yoke means that one is not choosing the way. Another is choosing the way for you.

A yoke is usually pairing two or more together. So, not only is the way not of your choosing, but neither is your companion.

If a yoke is born by a single person, they are carrying a very heavy load, and often the load would not be their own.

This doesn’t fit into the thinking of many Americans raised and taught a particular “brand” of individual freedom. While contemporary American thinking and Jewish thinking have differing perspectives of the yoke (individual freedom versus Babylon), the end conclusion is the same.

The yoke must be broken!

The “prophet” Hananiah admonished Jeremiah. Hananiah, just like everyone else (even Jeremiah), didn’t want the yoke of Babylon.

What they wanted, however, wasn’t what was necessary. Why was the yoke of Babylon necessary? Pride.

Israel was quite prideful. Americans are quite prideful. Often that is what really hurts when we are confronted by yokes…our pride.

Hananiah responded to Jeremiah (and God) in pride (and blind hope). He broke the symbol of shame, and received a different yoke (death), and gave (through the example Israel followed) a heavier yoke for Israel.

Jesus promises a lighter yoke. The heaviness of Jeremiah’s yoke (and subsequently Hananiah’s) is ultimately based upon our pride. Jesus’ yoke is his pride.

This means that the yoke that Jesus offers us allows us to cast aside our concerns of our pride, for Jesus will take care of his own pride. Jesus’ pride was so humble and faithful, that it lead to his death on the cross.

Another way to think of it is that if Jesus is paired with us, Jesus bears his and our weight. That is a very light yoke indeed.

※Prayer※

Jesus, may we look for the lighter burden you seek to give us. Help us to relinquish the yoke of our pride, so that we are paired with you. Amen.

※Questions※

1) In what areas do you feel pride? What might the “yokes” be in those areas?

2) Why is it often easier to bear our burdens and not the burdens of others? How does Jesus turn that upside down?

3) Can a burden be so light that it doesn’t weigh you down? Does a burden always need to be compared to another burden?

2020-07-06
La, La, La, I Can’t Hear You

Jeremiah 26:1–15; Romans 5:1–10 (read online ⧉)

The news is filled with doom. Doom, doom, doom. Many of our movies and entertainment are filled with doom. In the middle of doom, hope is a breath of fresh air.

On the other hand, some times a message of doom in a time of despair isn’t doom upon doom, but a message of God. Granted, the message of God may not seem all that positive. If one is set in their ways, even a message of hope can seem like a message of doom.

That’s exactly what happens, too. The priests, the (false) prophets, and the people heard the words of Jeremiah. They were very unhappy. “We’re fine.” “The [false] prophets say we’re good.” “The [false] prophets say that God will only bless us.” “God wouldn’t really do that to us. We’re the People of God.”

Who knows what else they said? We might have a pretty good idea if we were to examine ourselves and the wider Christian community, however. This isn’t about LGBT+. This isn’t about politics. This isn’t even about racial issues. Yes, each of these is a part. None are the whole.

Perhaps God is allowing COVID-19 to show what is truly important…a deep and meaningful relationship with God. That same relationship in turn would create deep and meaningful relationships with others.

Yet, there are those who still call this God’s curse as a result of sinful behaviors, though as this is global, it is unlikely (based on Biblical examples). Others look at this as a huge cultural shift that will transform human behaviors and relations for some time to come. They are probably correct. Others are looking at this as a troubling time, but insist on trying to return to pre-COVID-19 ways either too early, or without weighing all the consequences.

COVID-19 does show a very human tendency. “Hurry up!” God’s timing is not our timing. Yet, in the COVID-19 season, humanity cannot stop being short-sighted. This echoes the people of Israel spoken to by Jeremiah.

On the other side of COVID-19 (if there is an “other” side), we might look at Paul’s words to the Romans and give God the glory that God has given us afflictions. Then we might see that we can, did, and will endure to the future. Producing [Godly] character in this time might be the biggest gift we receive (though there is misery in the training) at this time.

All of this should be producing an outpouring of hope, according to Paul. Christians are called to be the voice of hope in all things, though especially in hard and uncertain times.

※Prayer※

Hope giving God, fill us with hope. With this hope, may we fill the world in turn with the hope it so desperately needs. May we set aside our desires and wants to be the hope. Amen.

※Questions※

1) How’s your hope? Is your hope (or lack thereof) contagious?

2) What is the primary tone of the conversation that you are seeing in your social media (e.g., Facebook)? What are you doing to bring hope into that?

3) What place does hope hold in your life? What purpose does hope hold in your life?

2020-06-23
Planned Disruption

1 Samuel 16:1–5; Luke 14:28–33; James 4:13–17 (read online ⧉)

But mouse-friend, you are not alone
in proving foresight may be vain:
the best-laid schemes of Mice and Men
go oft awry,
and leave us only grief and pain,
for promised joy!
Still, friend, you’re blessed compared with me!
Only present dangers make you flee:
But, ouch!, behind me I can see
grim prospects drear!
While forward-looking seers, we
humans guess and fear!
From “To a Mouse”, by Robert Burns
modern English translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The current situation with COVID-19 should put to rest how fleeting our plans really are. However, while everything is in an uproar and rather chaotic, we are still coming up with plans. What becomes emblematic of human behavior is that we know we are making plans for a target that doesn’t yet exist.

These are strange times indeed.

Samuel had a plan. In fact, at one point it seemed a pretty solid plan, since it appeared to be God’s plan. The Israelites decided they wanted a king, “just like the countries around them”. So, while Samuel was upset (along with God), it was done. This king, Saul, seemed to be destined for great things. He was physically imposing. He was successful militarily. He even had a starting bought of prophesying.

While we cannot say that Samuel loved Saul, there does seem to be some sort of strong emotion that Samuel had for Saul. We see this in God’s words to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul?” Samuel knew that Saul wasn’t dedicated to God, yet Samuel still mourned the fact that Saul would lose his kingship and was not blessed by God.

The plans for the King of Israel changed. Now, a new path would be before Samuel. In obedience, he followed it to a boy named David. While it might have not been as abrupt as all that has come with COVID-19, for a culture such as this “just” changing the king was a big deal. This is clear when Samuel brings his worry of being killed before God. It shouldn’t be ignored that God gave Samuel a way around a reprisal coming from the king or his minions.

Plans are worthwhile. It’s not as if they should not be made. Jesus even used the example of construction and war plans to lay out to wannabe disciples that they need to plan for the costs of following him. Jesus makes it clear that if we follow him, we can expect a lot of worldly things to be prioritized at a much lower ranking than the Kingdom of Heaven.

Often we count the cost…and we lie to ourselves. “God doesn’t really want…” “I can grow by just…” “My life is too busy to…” “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” We count the cost, and determine that following Jesus isn’t really worth the price.

Sometimes, and especially in times of turmoil, our plans need to be laid at the feet of God, and not at our comfort. When James talks about people making plans (in particular speculative plans about enterprising and wealth-building), he’s warning each an everyone of us that all of our plans are worthless if they do not begin with God.

What should especially concern us is when we hold so tightly to our plans, that we do not respond to God’s prompting to change the plan.

※ Prayer ※

Father God, you know the plans you have for us. May we be ready to respond. Jesus, help us to follow your example of obedience and submission even unto death. Holy Spirit, guide our hearts into all Truth, hope, and love. Amen.

※ Questions ※

1) What are your current plans (personal, professional, family, religious)? How does God fit into those plans (even the religious ones)?
2) How will you know if God wants you to continue your plans, or change them?
3) How often do you still count the cost of following Jesus, whether it’s your family, your profession, your stuff, your time, or something else?

2020-05-25
Foot Care

John 17:1–11; Ephesians 1:17–23 (read online ⧉)

I thought how ironic it was that I’d dismissed dog meat as a cultural idiosyncrasy in Vietnam; that “who I am to judge?” extended to Islamic laws in Uzbekistan and Buddhist temple restrictions in Cambodia, but not to Republicans, hunters or gun owners. I’d shaken my head at the prejudices some nations had for their closest neighbors, only to discover that, among my cultural neighbors, I was just as prejudiced.
Liz Dodd, Welcome to the New World

Liz Dodd is a self-avowed liberal who, on a spiritual journey, discovered a few things about herself. If we’re honest about ourselves, we all have some serious issues with this. You may the Republican, hunter, and gun-owner who struggles with the Democrat, vegan, pacifist who you think is un-American.

And? We are called to pray for one another. Often when praying for the other, it is not they who are changed, we are the ones who change.

When Jesus prayed to the Father for the Father and the Son, it can seem a little odd. If the Trinity holds true, God is praying for God and, well, God. On top of that God is praying for the glory of God, which could seem selfish and arrogant.

In this unique time, Jesus isn’t “just” God. Jesus is human. Jesus isn’t quite on the inside of the Godhead. It’s strange. It’s okay that it’s strange.

Jesus then prays for others. He specifically prays for those that have accepted him as the Messiah, and in Jesus’ obedience, the Holy Spirit will come to them. It should be noted that Jesus does not pray for the world. Later, he commissions them to go into all the world. He is focused, at this time, on those that are (less Judas Iscariot) going to move forward with the Gospel.

Moving forward with the Gospel often means that we have to let go of a lot of things. In the Newsboys song, “Landslide of Love” they say, “Every time we shout our rights out we get all grouchy and gray.” In the USA, letting go of our rights is a hard thing, and we often hold one “right” tightly, while another person calls it a “privilege”.

Paul tells the Ephesians that he prays that they receive Holy Spirit empowered revelation and knowledge of God. This is so that they have a hope beyond what is going on around us. For this hope to be effective, often the Holy Spirit will nudge us out of our comfort zone of political association, hobbies, work, career. The Holy Spirit will nudge us when we don’t have God in mind.

However, often we are too immature or blind or deaf to hear the Holy Spirit nudges. If we haven’t felt or heard the Holy Spirit nudging us, then the likelihood is that we have become blind or deaf, or have a new place of spiritual immaturity to be worked on.

Our prayers for others must exceed our discomfort with others. Our rights are under the feet of God. Our enemies are under the feet of God. We are under the feet of God. In other words, everything is equaling under the feet of God. We are to be One Church, Under God. Everything else may well be a barrier between us and a full relationship with God.

※ Prayer ※
Father, help us to pray as Jesus did…for your glory. Thank you, Jesus, for your earthly example of what it means to serve the Father. Holy Spirit, bind us to the plan and goals of the Father. Amen.

※ Questions ※
1) Why has what divides us overwhelmed what unites us, whether as Christians or as humans (who bear the image of God)?
2) What is your immediate “gut” response to the lyrics from the Newsboys? What rights do you hold onto?
3) What has the Holy Spirit been nudging you regarding breaking the barriers you have placed between yourself and others?

2020-05-24