Have You Heard The Rooster Crow?

             Sunday (at my church) I was very moved by the words spoken prior to our taking of the bread and the cup. The presenter told the story from the perspective of Peter. He started with the institution of the Lord's Supper and told of the events that led up to Peter denying that he knew Jesus. The man leading us in the prayer for the Lord’s Supper was a good story teller and managed to capture both my imagination and emotions with his words.  The most challenging statement he made was when he asked the congregation if they had “ever heard the rooster crow” -meaning had one ever denied knowing Christ as Peter did in the courtyard (Luke 22:60-62).

           I am convinced that Peter, in his heart of hearts, never meant to deny knowing Jesus, but unfortunately he succumbed to the pressure of the moment. For those who might suggest I am offering excuses for Peter and attempting to dilute the reality of what he did—I am not. Rather—I think I am being honest about human nature—my human nature—your human nature. I would like to think, if I were Peter, I would have followed through on what he said when he told Jesus; “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you” (Matthew 26:35).

This makes me think of several unrelated things:

First I think of all the times in my own life I have said “never” about something and only in turn to do what I said I wouldn’t. (Case in point, I said I would never buy a brick ranch house-well my present house is a brick ranch.) Now days I try to say "never" very rarely because it may mean having to take back what I said.  

 Secondly, I think Peter’s denial came from being pulled and pushed by forces within as well as without. The internal battle is waged in our mind and heart and by what we are tempted (I Corinthians 10:13). The external battle, as Ephesians 6:12 tells us, is against the rulers, powers and authorities of “this dark world” and those in the “heavenly realms”. Along these lines, it is worth remembering that Jesus had warned Peter that Satan had asked to “sift him as wheat” (Luke 22:31). [Maybe this is the origin of the saying “put through the mill”?]

Lastly, I am reminded of the scripture that says “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels” (Luke 9:26). This is a worrisome verse to contemplate. The counter verse to that is "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). This is how one keeps the roosters away and never has to worry about hearing them crow. 

A Chasing After The Wind

          Last Sunday I heard a sermon preached from one of my favorite books of the bible. The text for the sermon was taken from Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; King Solomon's desire to “find out what was worthwhile for men to do” (Ecc 2:3). He “undertook great projects” and denied “nothing” his “eyes desired” and delighted in the results and the rewards of his labor (Ecc 2:10). He concluded that “when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;” (Ecc 2:11).

The book of Ecclesiastes is as relevant to our times as any in the bible.  If Solomon were living in America in this day and age he would be seen as an extremely successful business entrepreneur (and world leader) who had accomplished much and amassed great wealth. Some might say ‘Solomon had it all’ as there was nothing of the material or sensual world of his time that he did not have or experience. He would be counted among the “one percent”- those people whose income and wealth puts them in the top tier of the wealthiest in our nation. This is a term we have become familiarized with over the past decade as a reminder of the enlarging gap between the richest of the rich and the rest of us (Map of US & income of the "1%").

I doubt there is a person living who hasn’t at some point wondered what it would be like to have fame, fortune, power, prestige or a place on the world’s stage. Many people desire to achieve these things and some by chance do, others do by hard work. In our media crazed world we get to have a peek into the life of some of the people who are recognized as belonging to this elite group. And while we can perhaps get a glimpse of where they live, what they do, what they possess,how much they are worth, who they associate with, where they vacation, etc. we can’t really know what their inner life is like, if they are truly content, at peace with themselves, others and their creator.

Solomon did not just focus on material things, the scripture says he applied himself to “the understanding of wisdom, and of madness and folly” and he learned “that this too, is a chasing after the wind” (Ecc 1:17). This summation by Solomon (along with other such conclusions throughout the book) contribute to what I have labeled the “Ecclesiastes Syndrome”. A condition that has at times forced me to question what I was doing, how I was living and left me feeling temporarily despondent. What is worth pursuing in life? Beyond the necessities for living (food, shelter, clothing, etc.) what should one spend time, energy and effort on? And is there anything that will outlive us? These questions are common to all humanity. 

Solomon’s concludes at the end of the book:

“Now all has been heard;

here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.” (Ecc 12:13 & 14).

I would add the following as to how I have answered these questions:

Seek God (Isaiah 55:6) and love him with all our being (Luke 10:27).

Trust God for our every need (Mark 12:29 & 30; Luke 12:22-32).

Efforts to accumulate and achieve should focus on that which cannot be destroyed (Matthew 6:19 & 20). [Love cannot be destroyed (I Corinthians 13:8) -so any act of love – real love -- has lasting (eternal) possibilities.]

Enjoy and take satisfaction in the simple pleasures of life, in one's work and if one does accumulate wealth-hopefully-the ability to enjoy it (Ecc 5:18-20).

Praise-give thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18 & I Chronicles 16:34).

The challenge is in living the answers. In my life, it is a work in progress - thus the ‘steep’-they are difficult (at times) but not unattainable.

A Degree of Skepticism

A reminder of my intention here…as I go out and about in my community on Sundays attending different churches (along with my own) – I am ‘listening for what God is saying’. What I mean by that is –what scriptures were read/cited, what words were said, what songs sung, what thoughts inspired or questions prompted. Here below is what I ‘heard’ this past Sunday.

                                                       *~*

Sunday I heard a sermon taken from John 20:24-29 concerning the disciple Thomas, the apostle who missed seeing Jesus resurrected with the other apostles.  “Doubting Thomas” as he is commonly known was notably skeptical and said that unless he could “see and touch” the nail marks and where Jesus was pierced he would not believe that he had risen from the dead (verses 24&25). It would be a week after the other apostle saw Jesus that he encountered the risen Christ. As they were gathered together Jesus suddenly appeared and instructed Thomas to look and touch and then told him to “Stop doubting and believe” (verses 26 & 27).  

Even though I’d like to think I would not have, I can imagine I might have reacted the same way that Thomas did initially. I am guessing I am not alone in this among those who call themselves believers and followers of Jesus. It is said that ‘seeing is believing,’ but that does not mean that not seeing isn't believing. Those of us who place our faith in Jesus have not necessarily left behind all our doubts, questions and desire for tangible proof to provide our unbelieving family and friends. These things do not make us any less a true follower than the person who seems to have been a believer since birth and doesn’t wrestle with questions that challenge their faith.

A simple definition of skepticism is to have “an attitude of doubting the truth of something“(skepticism defined). Even the most enduring of saints and committed followers will likely have to wrestle with doubts and questions at some point during their lives. Obviously one cannot be a person of faith if one does not believe in the basic tenets of the Christian faith, the Trinity (Jesus the Son of God, God the Father and the Holy Spirit), the Holy Scriptures as the word of God, etc.) as summarized in the Apostles Creed (The Apostles Creed).

Faith is what we hope for and are certain of what we have yet to see (Hebrews 11:1 paraphrased). To some, this description of faith may sound over simplified and childlike and reek of naïveté and ripe with opportunity for being accused of being weak from the world’s point of view. However, let’s not forget that Jesus said in our faith we needed to “become like little children” (Matthew 18:3) and children tend to take things at face value.  It seems to get a whole lot more complex as we get older. God has room for questions and I would contend, even for a degree of skepticism-especially if it prompts one to seek for answers, insights and understanding. Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7 & 8). There is also the verse that tells us to “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12) suggesting it is our responsibility to work through the questions and the doubts that we have. But we are not without help – much like the man who said to Jesus “I believe; help me with my unbelief” (Mark 9:24)- God is ever-ready to respond to the sincere heart that seeks him-no matter the questions and doubts one has.