A Disruption to the Norm

Fifty2 Sundays ~ Listening for God

Now days it is a thing to talk about disruption in fields of business and technology as something that upsets the usual way of operating; as defined “A disruption is a major disturbance, something that changes your plans or interrupts some event or process” (dictionary). The sermon I heard last Sunday provided a bit of a disruption to my thinking. The lesson was taken from Luke 16:1-9, the story of the shrewd manager who is called upon by the rich man (aka ‘God’) to give an account of how he has managed his boss's possessions. The manager recognizes that he is at risk of losing his job and quickly has those who are in debt to the rich man alter what they owe him which brings him the praise for being shrewd. On initial examination it appears as if deceitful behavior is recognized as being the right way to do business. The preacher was quick to say that this text is not condoning lying, cheating or the use of trickery. 

Jesus said the people of this world are “more shrewd with dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light” (verse 8). The implication of this statement is that as ‘people of the light’ we should be the shrewdest of all in how we conduct ourselves and interact with the world. According to the preacher, the word shrewd in Hebrew means “intense creative thinking”. It is the sort of thinking necessary when options are few, needs are significant and a solution is urgently required. The preacher described the manager’s behavior as creating “positive networking to promote gratitude”, or to my way of thinking, he was ‘paying it forward’- because as the scripture notes, the manager wanted to be welcomed into people’s houses if and when he lost his job (verse 4). 

In striving to become fully mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28) we are to “turn the other cheek” (Luke 6:29), be clothed “with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12), and “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us...” (Ephesians 5:2). On top of that, we should be "…sheep among wolves… and… “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). In doing these things we will be disruptors of the norm much as Jesus was and still is.

Silent Tears & the Daddy Hole

Last Sunday I heard an excellent sermon - it was one of a series of sermons on healthy relationships. It was Father's Day and I imagine I was not the only one of 1000+ in attendance who did not expect the focus to be about fathers who wound their children. Although the silence that quieted the auditorium communicated the audience was truly listening, it must have been the Holy Spirit that guided the message to the hearts and souls there as I heard and saw a significant number of people sniffling and wiping away silent tears. The "Daddy Hole’ is how I term what this sermon was about and there are lots of adults who have in their heart this gaping hole with fragile edges that can easily retraumatized by life.

Using Genesis 3 (the fall of Adam and Eve) as the scriptural background the preacher discussed the role sin plays in perpetuating the cycle of dysfunctional and destructive relating and how it wreaks havoc through the generations if unbroken. Ephesians 6:4 was cited because it specifically addresses how fathers should treat their children; “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” This verse the preacher said, is God’s way of telling fathers – ‘don’t make it hard for your children to understand the way I love them’. Another tragedy for some so wounded is the difficulty they have in relating to God as “Father”. To illustrate this point, the preacher told a poignant story of a young man with whom he had worked who eventually was able to forgive his father and found by addressing God using one of this other names, he was able to come to faith. Thus the cycle of multi-generational dysfunctional relationships can be broken in Christ. 

I too at one point would have been sniffling and crying-listening to this sermon. My parents divorced when I was very young and my father became a rare and distant presence in my life leaving a daddy hole in my heart that was more like a black hole where anything that entered disappeared and yet still exercised great power and influence in my life. Fortunately before he died, I was able to forgive him for the hurt he never appreciated he had caused me. My own faith development was no doubt influenced by the lack of fathering as much as by the absence of any real spiritual guidance I received as a child. Even though I had no formal church or religious upbringing, God was present in my life. Like Ecclesiastes 3:11 says the human heart hears the call of eternity and for me that started about the age of 7 or 8. I recall wrestling on my own with how to address God. At first I decided to use “Lord”, and then I progressed to “Father” and eventually I gave myself permission to use “God”.  I realize how silly that might sound, but in my childlike thinking it was a combination of reverence and uncertainty. 

Today as a believer and follower of Christ, I feel confident in how I address God, most often it is as “Father". Maybe this comes naturally ... “Because you are his sons (& daughters), God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba Father” (Galatians 4:6). 

Amen

            

Does God’s Truth Need Protecting?

What I heard last Sunday (while attending my own church) was a question concerning God's word - does it need protecting? The minister did not articulate out loud that question-but at some point during his sermon he mentioned in the history of 'our' church movement there were those who felt the need to protect the word (the doctrine) of the church. This in part he said was due to a "suspicious (mis)understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit".

The question is paradoxical in nature – it is like asking ‘Does God need protecting’? If the answer is ‘yes’ then whose job is it to protect it? And if it is ‘no’ does that mean there is no need to be concerned with what is done with the word of God? The biblical text for Sunday’s sermon was Paul’s letters (I and II Timothy and Titus) that contain much about individual behavior and manners fitting of a follower of Christ, including how the word of God is handled.

In the letters to Titus and Timothy, Paul addressed known problems that the young churches in Crete and Ephesus were experiencing. Issues such as: “false doctrine”, “foolish controversies”, “arguments and quarrels”, “godless myths and old wives tales”, “endless genealogies”, false teachers and “godless chatter” along with “opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge", what is  “ungodly” and how such teaching was spreading "like gangrene" (I Timothy 1:4, 4:7, 6:20; II Timothy 2:14,16, 17 & 23;Titus 3:9;). He warned Timothy that “a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine” (II Timothy 4:3) and in “later times” there will be those who abandon their faith and “follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (I Timothy 4:1). This certainly would seem to support the need for some sort of policing of the Word of God.

In the same letter(s) Paul offered Timothy and Titus encouragement and guidance when he wrote that “all scripture is God breathed”.... “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (II Timothy 3:16). Timothy was urged by Paul to be devoted to “public reading” of the scriptures and “preaching and teaching” (I Timothy 4:13) and to “correctly” handle the “word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15) and do so with “great patience and careful instruction” (II Timothy 4:2). Titus was instructed by Paul to “straighten out what was left unfinished” (Titus 1:5), “teach what is in accord with sound doctrine” along with other words of guidance (Titus 2:1-10).

The fact is the infallible Word of God has been left to fallible people without anyone to 'police' it other than the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 55:11 says that God's word will accomplish what He intends it to.  As believers and followers our job is to let God's Word be “a lamp unto our feet” (Psalm 119:105) and be transformed by it (Romans 12:2). Perhaps the most sobering words on this matter were spoken by Jesus; "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day" (John 12:47 & 48). 

Set Free

Stories of human interest are frequently used by ministers (and others) to deliver a poignant message.  Last Sunday the story was about a well-respected sports icon who fell from grace when details of his salacious “double life" became known by the public. The minister used the story to look at how motivation and motive operate in human life; he said many people (and quite often parents) can get caught up in the “hero system of American culture” – which is the desire to be great at something and “not feel so ordinary”. 

The ultimate driving force is the fear of death-the minister said “death is the boss” – as it is the “power that rules all the other forces” (fear, lust, greed, etc.) and none can escape this “pending existential reality” and the “rapid passing of life”. This sermon got personal. I am sure many sitting in the pews felt the pinch of these words like I did. I can acknowledge being influenced by our hero culture and more currently by the ‘how to stay young and be youthful again’ phenomena that marketers hark in their effort to sell medications, surgical procedures, cosmetics, clothing, etc. I wish I could naturally hang on to being young rather than getting old and avoid the inevitable – like Enoch who was “taken from this life” (Hebrews 11:5 & Genesis 5:24).  

Truth is we are all riding a bullet train towards death and there is no opportunity to get off, or slow it down or suspend time such that the train never arrives at its destination.  As people say—this is not a dress rehearsal and there are no redo’s of this life.  In order to be free of the fear of death—our confidence must be in the one who has the power to destroy death! Consider these scriptures:

·       I Corinthians 15:24-26: “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 

·       Hebrews 12:14 & 15: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

·       Galatians 5:11 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Someday at the time of death as our spirit departs from the body we then will be completely free - but until then, we can claim that we have been set free from the fear of death. Let us live and rejoice in that freedom now!

The Power to Amaze

        Memorial Day weekend marks the sixteenth year I have lived in Nashville and thanks to the church I attended, I learned about Holland N. McTyeire, a Methodist Bishop who served in Nashville at the end of the Civil War. The Bishop believed one way to help heal a fractured society following the war was through education. Due to his efforts he was able to secure money from the Vanderbilt family to start a university here that later became Vanderbilt University.  The minister linked this piece of local history to the story of the Roman Centurion who sought help from Jesus  (Luke 7:1-10).  

 In the story the Centurion petitioned some elders to ask Jesus to heal his beloved servant who is very ill and close to death. They succeeded in persuading Jesus to do this, but before he reaches the Centurion's house, he is stopped and told he does not need to come any further, instead, (Jesus) just needs to "say the word” and the servant would be made well (Luke 7:6-8). This act of faith by the Centurion amazed Jesus and caused him to turn to those with him and comment that he “had not found such great faith in all of Israel” (Luke 7:9).The minister made the point that this story is about healing and power.

     The simple (Webster's online dictionary) definition of power is:

•   the ability or right to control people or things
•   political control of a country or area
•   a person or organization that has a lot of control and influence over other people or organizations

 Few of us have this sort of power. The Centurion definitely did and he exercised it the following ways:        

• His wealth. He had given to the building of the synagogue.
• His leadership. He earned the respect of the community. 
• His authority. He had considerable responsibility and command over many.
• His respect. The Centurion recognized and respected Jesus as one with power and authority.

     Jesus has power we can’t begin to fathom. Scripture quotes him saying he could call on his Father, “and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53). Also consider:

• He was “meek and lowly” (Matthew 11:29)
• He was “anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and power” (Acts 10:38)
• He  healed people of their diseases and “those troubled by impure spirits were cured” (Luke 6:18)
• He fed 5000 with five fishes and five loaves of bread (Matthew 14:17-21)
• He raised people from the dead (John 12:17)
• He was “crucified in weakness” but made alive by the power of God (II Corinthians 13:4)

      I have been thinking about power ever since I heard this sermon. It may be due to the fact that the presidential election is constantly in the news. The ‘most powerful position” in the world is up for grabs and no matter one's political leanings, the responsibility of being president is mind boggling, awe inspiring and neither for the faint of heart nor for the impetuous. 

At present it would appear that the politically disillusioned are swarming like a mob of angry hornets behind a candidate that is against the so called status quo. Another candidate is trying to start a revolution and has captured the pulse and passion of a surprising number of people. The third candidate has given some people pause that if elected – we can anticipate a repeat of the past 8 years. 

While all the media attention is focused mainly on the candidates who are running for this office; I have been pondering what the supporters of each of the candidates say about us as a nation. There obviously is not (and never has been) a consensus on what experience or qualities of character would make a good president. Today it seems that we have a populous that is much divided in their opinions about what this country needs and which candidate will be able to deliver on their promises. Certainly every American should exercise their right to vote as a citizen. 

No matter the outcome, it is good to remember that God is ultimately in charge; “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1).