Articles

GUNS, SPOONS, GOOD, EVIL

The deaths and injuries from the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, this past week are truly tragic. One thing that amazes me today in the media's and people's response to such heinous acts committed by individuals is the refusal to ever concede that there is supernatural, personal evil in our world. Objects are called evil-objects such as guns. Personal convictions are first called "intolerance" which is then called evil. But, people's moral choices and consequent actions are not called evil. No credence is given to reality of supernatural forces that are evil. No concession is given that human hearts harbor evil or that some things in this world's system are truly evil. In refusal to recognize the reality of evil and attribute such acts as the shooting to evil, it is remarkable the things our society and its spokesman the media will not blame. They will never blame the constant portrayal of un-condemned evil in movies and television shows. No, Hollywood can never be blamed for such influence even though the recent shooter very possibly was emulating a violent scene portrayed in a movie. It is also remarkable, though predictable, what will be blamed. In the next days we will see this tragedy turned into a platform to condemn guns. In the media's mind, it will not be the fault of the person who pulled the trigger; it will be the gun's fault. Not believing in personal evil, something had to cause the person's deplorable actions. The object, the gun, becomes evil. To blame the shootings on guns is like blaming obesity on forks and spoons. What many do not recognize is that refusing to recognize the reality of personal evil is also to take away personal good. As certainly as there is evil in this world, there is good. The Devil may be at work, but so is God. In accepting and living with the reality of evil, there is also the accepting and living with the reality of good.

THE SPIRIT IS PUTTING US ON

Talk of the meaning of Bible words' in their original languages (Hebrew, Greek), admittedly, has been overdone in recent years to the deadness, boredom, and confusion of many believers. However, there are some real blessings of understanding and illumination to be had by honest inquiry into a word's meaning in the original. One such word is "came" in Judges 6:34: "But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon." The Hebrew word translated here as "came" is really different from other Hebrew words translated "came." In fact, most of your Bibles will indicate this difference in the margin. This "came" has the meaning of putting on clothing. Literally, the Scripture is saying that the Spirit of the LORD clothed himself with Gideon. The Spirit "came" into Gideon so that the Spirit became the Inhabitor of Gideon. More than just dwelling in Gideon as one would in a house, the Spirit dwelt in Gideon as a man does his clothes. Clothes go where the man goes. Clothes do what the man does. Clothes are formless and flat until the man fills them. In other words, there was a job to be done, and, much as one puts on work clothes and goes to work, the Spirit put on Gideon and went to work. It was the Spirit filling and moving Gideon. It wasn't Gideon's strength, wisdom, skill, prowess, it was the Spirit's in Gideon. One would have seen Gideon moving, speaking, doing his exploits for God; but, it wasn't Gideon, but the Spirit inside. The Spirit did the work, Gideon was only the clothes he wore. We need to let the Spirit fill us. We need to let the Spirit put us on.

LEAVE FIREWORKS FOR OUTSIDE THE SANCTUARY

You have to admire their audacious spunk. On July 4, 1777 the colonials celebrated their independence even before they won the war, even when by all appearances they wouldn’t, . On that day they used fireworks to punctuate their celebration. John Adams in a letter had encouraged that celebration saying the occasion of Independence, “Ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the  other, from this time forward forever more.,” and celebrate they did. It puts one in mind of some earlier warriors. God had instructed His people Israel to march around Jericho’s walls and on the last day to shout. The people of God shouted victory before the walls ever fell or one of the enemy had been killed. That was obedience and faith in action. The colonists celebrated before victory. The Israelites celebrated for victory. We too should celebrate. But we celebrate in victory. Jesus has already obtained our victory, our independence from sin and Satan. Our Independence, to adopt and modify John Adams’ words, ought to be celebrated with rejoicing and demonstration, with worship, singing, shouts of praise, handclapping, playing of instruments, outbursts of exclamations, spontaneous dances of joy from one end of this sanctuary to the other, from this time forward forever more. No matter what you are facing, what seems to bind you, what appears to be getting the better of you, celebrate. You are facing what you face in victory. Jesus has already insured your winning. Just one further note: As we celebrate in worship today in our services, leave the fireworks for outside the sanctuary.

A TERRAPIN ON A POST

Probably, it isn't something done much today, but, when I was a child, sometimes people went "for a ride." For a pleasant passing of time, the family would pile into the automobile, head for the country roads, and just drive along slowly down the gravel lanes. Going down those bumpy, dusty roads, often there was something interesting to see. One of the things-besides the huge catfish heads hanging from a fence displayed for all to envy-was an occasional evidence of some child's idea of a prank: There on top an old wooden fence post would be a terrapin (turtle). Now, when one saw Old Hard Shell perched up there, not for one second did he suppose that the terrapin had got up there on his own. He just couldn't have. A higher, bigger power-in this case a kid-had to reach down and lift him up and place him there. As a Christian, if we take a look around from the heights to which God has raised us, we know for certain that we didn't get here on our own. We couldn't have scaled those heights. He lifted us up from the pit He found us. He placed us on a rock. God "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:6). This is salvation by grace and not works.

THE ULTIMATE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

Memorial Day is just that: It is a day to refresh our memories of all those who died that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today. It is a day when we honor those who paid the "ultimate sacrifice." When one contemplates the hundreds of thousands that have died fighting America's wars, our wars, it is overwhelming. What a high price has been paid that we might, among other things, worship freely this morning. Recently, I completed reading a book chronicling firsthand accounts of the Allied invasion of Europe in World War II. It was moving to read of the almost unbelievable deprivations, hardships, suffering those soldier boys faced. Then, there were all those that were killed. One account really got to me. During the invasion, to supply the front line companies that were being rapidly depleted by casualties, new recruits were transported from here at home to the frontline with minimal training. One teen age recruit had just been a few weeks in the infantry. Days later he was transported to France. Hours later he was put into a fox hole on the front line. Minutes later, he was dead. He never fired his rifle. He was just put into a hole in the ground that had an artillery shell dropped into within fifteen minutes. He performed no heroics, yet he still gave his all. Certainly, he and the countless others paid the ultimate sacrifice. "Ultimate" means no greater. We might should just leave it at that. But, Jesus paid an even greater than ultimate sacrifice. He not only suffered the awful bodily and mental pain in the tortuous death of the cross. He, also, bore the weight of all our sins, the onslaught of all of the forces of hell, and the awfulness in that moment when the Father turned his face from Him. Perhaps we can say that Jesus paid the Ultimate Ultimate Sacrifice. We remember that today.

BRING OUT THE KLEENEX BOXES

Recently, I had to be gone over the weekend necessitating my missing Sunday services. Our family drove in early Monday morning. Sometime later that morning I came over to the church. I always enter by the door on the side of the sanctuary near the platform. That morning, when I unlocked and opened the door, light flooded in spotlighting the platform. The first thing I noticed was the Kleenex boxes. We keep them inside the pulpit and bring them out when needed in the altars. Seeing the Kleenex boxes were out, lifted my spirit. They were evidence that there had been good services while I was gone-services where the Spirit had moved and touched hearts. Spent Kleenexes in the pews also are clues to the moving of God in our midst. But, the Kleenex boxes at the altar are evidence that someone had further responded to the Word; someone had meant serious business; someone had earnestly sought help; someone had pressed on in; someone had said, "yes," to the Spirit. That doubtlessly meant someone had gotten help. Someone had left differently. Someone would never again be the same. Oh, that every service we would need to bring out the Kleenex boxes.

Don't Tell Them That You Go To Church Here

Years ago a close friend of mine led a group in the summer representing the Bible School from which we had graduated. Back in town after a trip, he and his wife were catching up on business. Paralleled parked in front of the post office, he, when he got in the full size van to leave, he couldn't see the small car parked behind him. As he backed up to exit the parking place, the bumper crashed into the car. Putting the van in park he got to check on the vehicle he had hit. A woman was getting out of the damaged car. It was evident that she was some what upset, but when he tried to assure her that her vehicle would be taken care of by saying, "Ma'am, I'm really sorry about hitting your car. Don't worry I'm from the Bible School (He named it)." and the name of the Bible School came out of his mouth the women went ballistic. It took some calming of the lady and conversing with her, but my friend finally discovered why she had become so immediately angry. Just a week before another former student had also ran into her vehicle. He had reassured her that he was from the school, and not to worry, the school would take care of her vehicle. Although he had been a student, he was not a representative of the school although he gave her a business card indicating he was. His deception had left a terrible perception of the Bible School in the lady's mind. Each member of our church represents our church. People who do not attend, judge the church by the life of the member they know, work with, are acquinted with. What they see in and think of one from the church is what think of the church. It goes a bit further than that: What they think of a member is what they think of the Church is what they think of God. If you run into someone's car and don't take care of the damage, please don't tell them you go to church here. I may run into them next week.

FORGET CHURCH?

However many faults we know it has, the haranguing against our country, the good, ole U.S.A., will get an immediate protective response from most of us. With all its hang-ups, blights, and problems, we know that we are blessed to live in this country. We feel strongly about it. We realize America isn't perfect. Yet, we know we have been recipients of a great privilege to be one of its citizens. Our country does not need apologized for; it needs applauded. Never in the history of the world has any nation been responsible for the freedom of so many, given so much to the unfortunate and victims of catastrophes, made so many advancements from which all of humanity have profited. It's a little early for Fourth of July accolades. But, this article isn't really about the U.S.A. It's about the Church. Never has the Church received such ridicule, scorn, disdain, and criticism. Some of it is deserved in matters where the Church has not behaved as the Church. What is disturbing is that much of it comes from those who were once a part of the Church. Critics are turning many against the Church. As I type this, next to me is a newsmagazine. On the front cover is a full page of a man of modern clothing wearing a crown of thorns. The label is "Forget the Church, Follow Jesus." Books and articles have been written and speeches given to propagate this contemporary ideology. It arises from "Christians." However, a closer look only reveals it is the hijacking of a pop trend of our pluralistic society. The pluralistic theme is "Spirituality without Religion." That's all the rave now. Pollsters are touting that people are becoming less religious but more spiritual. People are admitting to spiritual hunger but want to pick and choose eclectically whatever they feel will meet that spiritual hunger. Their conglomerated "god" is one unrecognizable to any but themselves. In fact, they may not even label it "god." It may just be the practice of meditation. We know that man's real spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by the God who created that hunger for Himself. "Forget the Church, Follow Jesus," is just a churchy expression of "Spirituality without Religion." Probably underlying both is a desire for spirituality without accountability. Sadly, both expressions represent ideology that is turning Church youth against Church. The truth of the matter is, it is seriously questionable whether any can truly follow Jesus without Church. Come tonight to hear more on that. Truth is, I don't like hearing criticism against the Church that has done so much for so many including me. I don't want to forget it.

FRIED PIES BEFORE CHURCH?

Reading through the proverbs again, I am once more impressed how poignant a proverb can be. Portions of Proverbs 30:8-9 proclaim: "give me neither poverty nor riches;...Lest I be full and deny thee." The wiseman observed that those who prosper most often veer from serving and respecting God and even, the word would apply, turn against Him. I am aware that the proverb is speaking primarily of material prosperity. However, it is true with anything one indulges himself. If one is full of something other than God, he has no room for, interest in, desire for God. People receive little of God at church, not because there is so little available, but because so many are so full of other things there is no room left for Him. Even if there were room, the person sees no need for God. While in elementary school, I would walk home from school and go immediately to my grandparents house. Their house was through our backyard on the parallel street. Each day my grandparents would have something for me to go to the corner store to get for them. I realize now they were often just creating a need to give me the opportunity to go. See, if I went to get them something at the store, I got to get me something for going for them. I would get a soda pop and candy bar or ice cream bar or cracker jacks or fruit-filled fried pie. Yum. A school boy is ravenous after getting home. I would make the purchases and then eat my pie and drink my coke as I watched a little black and white TV that hung over the ice cream freezer. It made for an anticipated daily event. There was one problem. My dad got home from work not long after I got home from school. Having had an early breakfast and lunch, he was ready to eat when he got home. Thus, we had supper around 4:30 when he arrived. After my visit to the corner store, my appetite had been temporary curbed. It seems like every time I had overindulged on fried pies, we would have mash potatoes for supper. They seemed the hardest to get down when one was already full. In fact, they seemed to grow as you wollered them in your mouth. Every time my mother nailed me, "You've been eating right before supper when you went to the store for Grandpa and Grandma, haven't you?" "How did you know, I inquired with the mash potatoes I had inserted in my mouth ten minutes ago escaping from its corners. Being full, I had no appetite for supper however wonderful it might have been. When folks have no appetite for God at church, it makes one wondered how many fried pies he's eaten-how much of the junk food of world he has been indulging in that he has no appetite for God.