We like change at times and we loathe change at times. Recently a story was recounted to me as a young American soldier in the Middle East had strayed into the wrong zone. Coming face to face with the enemy the American soldier was warned not to proceed beyond this point as he would be killed. The enemy soldier had killed enough and did not want to kill anymore but those behind him would not show the same restraint. Oscar Schindler is best known from the Spielberg movie as a hero to the Jews. Yet, it did not start out that way. Schindler became very wealthy as a manufacturer utilizing concentration camp inmates as a source of cheap labor. Eventually the circumstances surrounding Schindler would lead him to finding ways to spare the lives of concentration camp inhabitants. Even our presidential elections are centered on the promise that things will be different. In each case we are applauding the act of change as positive. But when change affects our comfort zone it is frowned upon. Change requires effort which scares us at times.
Jesus was all about change. Luke 4:14-21 …18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”…. This became a radical change which affected the lives of all people. Isn’t this type of change that which fuels our desire to serve Jesus as faithful disciples? Where would the American soldier be without the radical change of an enemy soldier? I think we know the answer. Where would the Jews whom Schindler rescued be without radical change? Maybe they would be alive but that’s highly unlikely. Where would we be if not for radical change promised by politicians? Slavery might still exist and women may not have the right to vote. Based on a radical change that Jesus creates in us brings about a desire to proclaim the Easter Story every day which allows us to make a difference in the lives of others.
Each and every one of you at Church of the Palms has made a difference in the lives of others and in my life too. From the first day until now I have experienced the grace of God’s love in my relationships with you. You were there to give me a ride when my truck broke down, you fed me, and I have always felt like I belong here. I will miss the Friday morning coffee talk, the Bible study, meetings, and many other events. As the recipient of God’s grace from you it is I who has been blessed. Where would I be without you? Not really sure but I can say that I know have the strength to follow God wherever He leads. Thank you for being that presence of Christ in my life. The grace and peace of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you. See y’all soon.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Good Vs. Evil
December of 1999 was a month charged with visions of the end times as the antichrist would establish his one world government and Christians, particularly in the United States, would feel his wrath. The gentleman I mentioned in the introduction is one who had been taught the antichrist was ready to rear his ugly head. In fact, the one world government has already laid down its groundwork. My friend told me the United Nations was on the way to take away all armament from the citizens of the U.S. Christians would soon be placed in concentration camps across the country with Baptists being the first to be imprisoned. Much of Tim LaHaye’s writings veer off in this direction. If I did not know any better I would say the pastor where my customer attended church was preaching not from the Bible but from Left Behind. LaHaye supports the notion of the U.N., as an organization is a classic example of one-world governments. It will be from this organization the antichrist will establish atheism as the only religion. These very attitudes strike fear in the heart of those seeking a deeper relationship with God and run counter active to the goal of drawing others to Christ. The word “goal” was used intentionally since one can get the feeling the ultimate goal is to see how many souls can be “saved” by one person. Two possible scenarios result from this teaching. The first is a person will turn closer to God but the flip side is the usual result where a person turns their back on the church.
Are we living in the end times? LaHaye thinks that we are. Daniel, I believe, gives us an insight into the final days. Historically, we know about Antiochus Epiphanes IV and how he reacted against the Jews. He was a powerful ruler who governed with a rule of terror. As Antiochus continued his military campaigns to grow his kingdom he would loot the Temple to finance these battles. He also had a stake in the high priest of the Temple. Menelaus would be the first high priest under Antiochus as payment was offered for appointment to the office of high priest. Antiochus would not exactly experience a windfall but this generated much needed income. Maybe this is what is meant when disrespect is shown for the god of his fathers. The pride of Antiochus and his religious policies have been defined. After one battle news had spread that Antiochus The Jews would experience cruelty and oppression upon the return of Antiochus. Sacrifices were outlawed, the Temple was desecrated by the sacrificing of a pig on the alter and Antiochus would declare himself to be a god. Daniel could read in this fashion if it was a historical account of the Jewish plight during the intertestamental period. Other references coming from this time frame may also be applied to the Roman rulers as well. However, in some of the commentaries references were made about Adolph Hitler and Karl Marx. Hitler was able to woo the people with his oratory skills and talk about how the Germanic people could be glorious once again. Nationalism developed from this style of speech. Hitler was able to win over certain sects and as each group of people came over to his side, including some Jews, the real purpose of his plans came. Hitler set off to dominate the world and cleanse it of sub-human cultures. Could not Daniel apply in this instance? World leaders have come and gone but in many instances they fit the prophecies in Daniel.
Antiochus would face a rebellion that would cause his empire to crumble. He was not without his enemies. Whenever a king comes to power and amasses great wealth whether it is in the form of money or territory a natural antithesis will develop. Rivals will spring up as jealousy abounds as a result of the possessions of another. Antiochus would become angry with the Jews and those in opposition to him. He would set out to destroy the enemy. Many battles would take place only to see Antiochus defeated. Yes, the Maccabean revolt could be that king of the south who rises up against the king of the north. Yet, is it only Antiochus we see in this passage? In the not too distant past a great country, political system, known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic existed with great power and wealth. One of the satellite countries would fight for its life, as the U.S.S.R. would seek to further amass wealth and territory. Afghanistan, like the Maccabeans, would rise up against the enemy of the north and defeat the evil king. After the defeat of the U.S.S.R. the republic would no longer exist as the once mighty power. However, the rage of this once great kingdom continued as Russia tried to hold onto some of its possessions. Even the small country of Georgia would prove too much only bringing what was once left of a mighty king to its knees. Could not Daniel be read this way?
Why is it in the U.S. we try to view ourselves as the center of the prophecies in the Bible? Recently the U.S. experienced one of the most active hurricane seasons on record. September 11, 2001 saw the twin towers of the Word Trade Center fall victim to an act of terrorism. Immediately the end times were ushered in and the prophecies of the Bible were being fulfilled. The same was said back in 1993 when Osama bin Laden attacked them the first time. We cannot dismiss the prophecies of Nostradamus who also predicted such events taking place. His prophetical visions are a bunch of hooey that could be applied to any situation. They are so vague in their description we actually can apply or interpret their meaning to any situation we please. We do the same thing for Biblical prophecy. Value has been assigned to not only the antichrist but to the false prophet as well. National origin, according to LaHaye, will be someone from Romania or close to this geographical location. I feel the point or purpose of Daniel is being missed. The identity of the antichrist is given but not one identifies the risen Lord in this passage. Maybe, just maybe, the king of the south is Jesus. He was born in southern Judah in the town of Bethlehem. He was then taken to Egypt so he would not be caught up in the rage of King Herod’s jealousy. In the this king of the north. The common people enjoyed the words of the king of the south who pitched his tent between the sea and the Holy Mountain. The people also feared the king of the north. As people turned to the king of the south the king of the north was disturbed by the increased following of the king of the south. The king of the north would plot to kill the king of the south as a result of the rage, which developed from the disturbing news. Anger abounded in the people as the king of the north stirred up the crowds into a frenzy spewing blasphemous comments against the king of the south. I remember these words, “He came into His own and His own recognized Him not”. The king of the south was nailed to the cross in this final battle of good and evil only to find evil destroyed. The antichrist is the church and the false prophet are those who abide in it. Could not Daniel read this way?
Daniel has given us a comprehensive picture of how evil moves in opposition to the word of God. I cannot find one specific individual but realize there will be many events that reflect what Daniel says. Apocalyptic writings bring comfort to the oppressed as they ask “how long”. Yet, God’s word transcends all time. Maybe the comfort gained then versus now is not quite the same but does it only apply to one generation. We take apocalyptic literature and place limits on its meaning. Centuries from now I know someone will take Daniel 11 and apply the peser to the raz in a context they will understand. Daniel was meant to bring about immediate comfort to the people then and yet does the same for us now. I have enjoyed reading apocalyptic literature and have gained a new respect for its purpose. It is wisdom writing and requires the wisdom of God to interpret its meaning.
Are we living in the end times? LaHaye thinks that we are. Daniel, I believe, gives us an insight into the final days. Historically, we know about Antiochus Epiphanes IV and how he reacted against the Jews. He was a powerful ruler who governed with a rule of terror. As Antiochus continued his military campaigns to grow his kingdom he would loot the Temple to finance these battles. He also had a stake in the high priest of the Temple. Menelaus would be the first high priest under Antiochus as payment was offered for appointment to the office of high priest. Antiochus would not exactly experience a windfall but this generated much needed income. Maybe this is what is meant when disrespect is shown for the god of his fathers. The pride of Antiochus and his religious policies have been defined. After one battle news had spread that Antiochus The Jews would experience cruelty and oppression upon the return of Antiochus. Sacrifices were outlawed, the Temple was desecrated by the sacrificing of a pig on the alter and Antiochus would declare himself to be a god. Daniel could read in this fashion if it was a historical account of the Jewish plight during the intertestamental period. Other references coming from this time frame may also be applied to the Roman rulers as well. However, in some of the commentaries references were made about Adolph Hitler and Karl Marx. Hitler was able to woo the people with his oratory skills and talk about how the Germanic people could be glorious once again. Nationalism developed from this style of speech. Hitler was able to win over certain sects and as each group of people came over to his side, including some Jews, the real purpose of his plans came. Hitler set off to dominate the world and cleanse it of sub-human cultures. Could not Daniel apply in this instance? World leaders have come and gone but in many instances they fit the prophecies in Daniel.
Antiochus would face a rebellion that would cause his empire to crumble. He was not without his enemies. Whenever a king comes to power and amasses great wealth whether it is in the form of money or territory a natural antithesis will develop. Rivals will spring up as jealousy abounds as a result of the possessions of another. Antiochus would become angry with the Jews and those in opposition to him. He would set out to destroy the enemy. Many battles would take place only to see Antiochus defeated. Yes, the Maccabean revolt could be that king of the south who rises up against the king of the north. Yet, is it only Antiochus we see in this passage? In the not too distant past a great country, political system, known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic existed with great power and wealth. One of the satellite countries would fight for its life, as the U.S.S.R. would seek to further amass wealth and territory. Afghanistan, like the Maccabeans, would rise up against the enemy of the north and defeat the evil king. After the defeat of the U.S.S.R. the republic would no longer exist as the once mighty power. However, the rage of this once great kingdom continued as Russia tried to hold onto some of its possessions. Even the small country of Georgia would prove too much only bringing what was once left of a mighty king to its knees. Could not Daniel be read this way?
Why is it in the U.S. we try to view ourselves as the center of the prophecies in the Bible? Recently the U.S. experienced one of the most active hurricane seasons on record. September 11, 2001 saw the twin towers of the Word Trade Center fall victim to an act of terrorism. Immediately the end times were ushered in and the prophecies of the Bible were being fulfilled. The same was said back in 1993 when Osama bin Laden attacked them the first time. We cannot dismiss the prophecies of Nostradamus who also predicted such events taking place. His prophetical visions are a bunch of hooey that could be applied to any situation. They are so vague in their description we actually can apply or interpret their meaning to any situation we please. We do the same thing for Biblical prophecy. Value has been assigned to not only the antichrist but to the false prophet as well. National origin, according to LaHaye, will be someone from Romania or close to this geographical location. I feel the point or purpose of Daniel is being missed. The identity of the antichrist is given but not one identifies the risen Lord in this passage. Maybe, just maybe, the king of the south is Jesus. He was born in southern Judah in the town of Bethlehem. He was then taken to Egypt so he would not be caught up in the rage of King Herod’s jealousy. In the this king of the north. The common people enjoyed the words of the king of the south who pitched his tent between the sea and the Holy Mountain. The people also feared the king of the north. As people turned to the king of the south the king of the north was disturbed by the increased following of the king of the south. The king of the north would plot to kill the king of the south as a result of the rage, which developed from the disturbing news. Anger abounded in the people as the king of the north stirred up the crowds into a frenzy spewing blasphemous comments against the king of the south. I remember these words, “He came into His own and His own recognized Him not”. The king of the south was nailed to the cross in this final battle of good and evil only to find evil destroyed. The antichrist is the church and the false prophet are those who abide in it. Could not Daniel read this way?
Daniel has given us a comprehensive picture of how evil moves in opposition to the word of God. I cannot find one specific individual but realize there will be many events that reflect what Daniel says. Apocalyptic writings bring comfort to the oppressed as they ask “how long”. Yet, God’s word transcends all time. Maybe the comfort gained then versus now is not quite the same but does it only apply to one generation. We take apocalyptic literature and place limits on its meaning. Centuries from now I know someone will take Daniel 11 and apply the peser to the raz in a context they will understand. Daniel was meant to bring about immediate comfort to the people then and yet does the same for us now. I have enjoyed reading apocalyptic literature and have gained a new respect for its purpose. It is wisdom writing and requires the wisdom of God to interpret its meaning.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
YOU KNOW BETTER THAN I
“I thought I did what's right, I thought I had the answers, I thought I chose the surest road, But that road brought me here, So I put up a fight, And told you how to help me, Now just when I have given up
The truth is coming clear.”
Chorus: “You know better than I, You know the way, I've let go the need to know why, For You know better than I”
“If this has been a test, I cannot see the reason, But maybe knowing, I don't know is part of getting through, I tried to do what's best, But faith has made it easy, To see the best thing i can do, Is to put my trust in You.”
Chorus
Coda: “I saw one cloud and thought it was a sky, I saw a bird and thought that I could follow, But it was You who taught that bird to fly, If i let You reach me, Will You teach me.” (Repeat Chorus)
The lyrics printed above are from the song “You Know Better than I” in the movie “Joseph: King of Dreams”. After being sold into slavery, Joseph engages on a journey that perplexes his sensibilities. Where was God in all of this? Surely the trials and hardships being experienced by Joseph pointed to an issue of abandonment. Logic, while often wrong, dictates a thought process which has us to believe God’s blessings are synonymous with our successes. Consequently anything negative reflects God’s disapproval of a person. Joseph, the youngest of Jacob’s sons, was loved. However, Joseph’s brothers were jealous of this love and knew that to regain their father’s favor, the problem had to be eliminated. Jacob’s heart was broken at the loss of his son. Joseph also grieved for his loss. Once in Egypt, Joseph served faithfully and earned the favor of his master Potiphar. Just when things were going great, in a strange turn of events, Joseph was imprisoned over false accusations. My guess is Joseph was screaming out, “Oh come on!!!!” What is the point of Joseph’s journey?
Sometimes Christians believe their belief alone will spare them from the difficulties in life. Yet, have the promises of God included being spared from the difficulty experienced in the world? The answer for this question is a resounding “NO”. God does promise that while our situations may seem hopeless at times better days are coming as God’s kingdom continues to be made known by the church today but brought to completeness with the second coming of Christ. Not at one point did God abandon Joseph. God is always there and will continue to be there. The question is do we see God in the midst of our difficulties today?
I feel that each of us can relate to Joseph’s story at some point in our life. Recent events in my own life have left me feeling as though God is punishing me. As most of you know my family remained in Greenville while I came to Okatie. Approximately 4 hours (driving time) separate my family from me. After being appointed to Church of the Palms I knew deep down that the problems in my marriage would be exposed. Worst of all separation from Meghan and Jackson has been difficult. A marriage that is on the rocks is difficult enough, but with my children brought into the mix, emotions tend to become uncontrollable at times. Many nights have been spent sleepless missing two children who have brought me such great joy.
After receiving my appointment to Church of the Palms I was nervous. Not once did I even entertain the notion of asking for reconsideration (by seeking a different appointment closer to Greenville). I can relate to the first part of the song which says “I thought I had made all the right choices”. I have no regrets coming to CotP because I have met and been embraced by a loving congregation. We have experienced a few difficult moments but the blessings have been abundant. From missions to meetings to fellowship I know I have been blessed by God. In the midst of such joy my personal life has been a mess. The pain has not subsided. This has prompted me to seek a “leave of absence” from the conference. In other words I will be taking a break so I may get my personal life back in order.
As it turned out Joseph’s journey into Egypt was both a personal and professional blessing. Had it not been for Joseph, the Egyptians and Joseph’s family would have been devastated by the impending famine. While in my case as well as Church of the Palms we do not know what faces us in the future there is no doubt in my mind God will be made known through each of us. Like Joseph, I hope we will place our trust in the Triune God who knows us better than we know ourselves. Trusting in God enables our future to be bright and full of great joy. In God’s love we see clearly. I do love each and every one of you.
David Norrell
Thursday, March 17, 2011
No Longer a Christian
I read this particular article a few years ago. In fact I stumbled over it quite accidentally. After much thought I found value in the article as I examined my beliefs as they relate to my faith. Whether you as a reader agree or disagree with the content it certainly is food for thought. Please enjoy:
Published on Monday, October 25, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
No Longer a Christian
by Karen Horst Cobb
I was told in Sunday school the word "Christian" means to be Christ-like, but the message I hear daily on the airwaves from the �christian � media are words of war, violence, and aggression. Throughout this article I will spell Christian with a small c rather than a capital, since the term (as I usually hear it thrown about) does not refer to the teachings of the one I know as the Christ. I hear church goers call in to radio programs and explain that it was a mistake not to kill every living thing in Fallujah. They quote chapter and verse from the old testament about smiting the enemies of Israel. The fear of fighting the terrorists on our soil rather than across the globe causes the voices to be raised as they justify the latest prison scandal or other accounts of the horrors of war . The words they speak are words of destruction, aggression, dominance, revenge, fear and arrogance. The host and the callers echo the belief in the righteousness of our nation's killing. There are reminders to pray for our �Christian� president who is doing the work of the Lord: Right to Life, Second Amendment, sanctity of marriage, welfare reform, war, kill, evil liberals. . . so much to fight, so much to destroy.
Let me tell you about the Christ I know. He was conceived by an unmarried woman. He was not born into a family of privilege. He was a radical. He said, �It was said an eye for and eye and a tooth of a tooth, but now I say love your enemies and bless those who curse you.� He said, �Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.� (Matthew 5: 3-9) He said, �All those who are called by my name will enter the kingdom of heaven." He said, "People will know true believers if they have the fruit of the spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control.�
He knew he would be led like a sheep to the slaughter. He responded with �Father forgive them.� He explained that in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, slave or free male nor female. He explained that even to be angry is akin to murder. He said the temple of God is not a building, but is in the hearts of those are called by his name. He was called "the Prince of Peace." His final days were spent in prayer, so that he could endure what was set before him, not on how he could overpower the evil government of that day. When they came for him he was led away and didn�t resist his death sentence.
This is a stark contrast to the call of the religious Christian right, who vote for war and weapons, and suggest towns and villages be leveled to bring freedom and peace to the people. They proudly boast this country�s superiority, suggesting God has blessed our nation. Today, as I listened to a popular Christian news network, I was reminded that in the last days, even God�s elect will be deceived, (II Timothy 3:13). When the religious media moguls preaching prosperity spout their rhetoric, I am reminded of the difficulty Jesus described of a rich man�s ability to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19: 24) (http://www.4religious-right.info/rr_economics.htm) Some who believe they are fighting evil will cry to the Lord, and he will say �I never knew you.� (Matthew 22). They will have a form or godliness but will deny the power (II Timothy 3:5) to move mountains through prayer. (Matthew 17:20). Jesus explained that he has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:17) I wonder if the innocent moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas who were the victims of US military weapons (the never reported collateral damages we are protected from in the �liberal� nightly news) felt the love of Jesus with the shock and awe. I wonder if the surviving family members now understand His radical love and that they no longer have any need for weapons or defense.
The solutions to the social issues used to manipulate good, decent people have no resemblance to how Jesus responded to the social concerns of his time. He never once mentioned the �right to life� the year he was born King Herod ordered the execution of all babies. (Matthew 2:16). He knew that passing laws does not change the heart. As a follower of his teaching I believe in the right to life, including the children in Iraq who stumble onto land mines, cross the street at the wrong time, or who are snugly tucked within the warm bellies of their wounded or grieving mothers as US fighter jets fly overhead. These are living, breathing children. The killing of these little ones are never even reported, and our tax dollars pay for these bombs. I believe in the right to life for those in the United States who are unwanted and impoverished. I believe in the right to life of the naive kid who was promised by the recruiter they could choose a desk job and still get their education paid or could see the world or could accelerate their life or could play a very realistic video game from a cockpit.
I've worked at a shelter, and I know first hand the reality of unwanted children. I know the reality of this right wing rhetoric when week after week I begged and pleaded with people to give up only one night every three months to sit with these unwanted living children for a few hours while the overworked house parents had a night off. Of the few I found, many changed their minds when they discovered that they would need to wear rubber gloves to change the babies diapers. These �believers� stand on the street corners holding right to life signs and then vote against medical assistance for the mothers and their unwanted children creating an impossible existence for them. The few of these abortion activists who might adopt some of these unwanted children generally want the white and the healthy. The ones with hydrocephalous, tracheotomies, emotional/ mental problems and communicable diseases along with their life long medical expenses can be someone else�s problems.
I cringe as many christians vote for policies that deny help to the poor in our own county, who vote to support the war and military strength, assuring the latest weapons are developed and that the heavens will be dominated by the military of the United States. We develop electromagnetic weapons to shatter skulls , split the earth (http://www.raven1.net/emr13.htm) and silently destroy a body as a thief in the night. Studies are even now searching for the frequencies to override the freewill. These unbelievable technologies are a reality and DNA specific weapons can or soon will target a specific nationality (http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/981116/1998111619.html ).I weep as the waters Jesus walked on become contaminated with uranium. (http://www.greendove.net/resources3.htm) I grieve as the missiles fly through the atmosphere on the continent where Jesus rose into the sky, defying death and the grave and where the Holy Sprit first descended. I cry out at the horrors of war and the indignity of the prisons so close to where He took captivity captive. So I am no longer a Christian if Christianity has become what is presented to us by our Christian president and Christian media. I cannot support the right of the United States and Israel to develop and use the most heinous weapons ever imagined. I want no part of a temple built on the blood of the innocent. The sheep have been lead astray by the teachings of prosperity and misinterpretation of the final battle between good and evil. Many no longer can recognize the voice of the good Shepherd.
Some �good Christians� even work at weapons facilities. It is not a stretch to say that a woman who tightens a last rivet on a shiny new missile just off the assembly line might be the same woman who licks the gold star on the attendance chart in morning Sunday school. The missile could be launched by the kid in the youth group who reads the invocation and it will find it�s destiny at a �target of interest� which might or might not have been a result of good intelligence. The collection plate circulates children are taught to love their enemies and bless those who curse them.
The statements and lifestyle of Jesus are difficult for me to understand. What would he say to evil dictators? This God would not justify 15,000 or more deaths. Even the wrathful jealous God of the old testament spared whole cities for a few righteous souls. For Christians, to support mass killings as a way to prevent future deaths is not at all like Christ. He would not say,"When I am talking about war I am really talking about peace," like the self professed Christian President proudly states. Who but God has the right to determine what price a people should pay for their freedom? The religious leaders on the airwaves today respond to the voices of the few brave peacemakers who dare to speak out. They say that pacifism is insane, and that it doesn�t make sense, but what is forgotten is that logic and faith are separate entities. I believe in the example of Jesus and his admonition to love your enemies and bless those who curse you . Do I understand how this works on the global scale? Do I know what Jesus would say to all the world�s leaders? No, nor do I totally understand how the example of Christ�s life and his message of love works in the world today. That�s why I need faith. Am I always correct in my assessments and actions? No, that�s why I need grace. Am I brave and unafraid? No, that�s why I need the perfect love that casts out fear. Some put trust in Chariots and some in horses but I will remember the name of the lord our God--the Prince of Peace. Perhaps politics has no place for imitators of Christ.
Who will show the face of Christ to the world? Who will speak His radical message? I hear from these so called imitators of Christ that the pacifists are a collection of kids, hippies, socialists and communists who haven�t got a clue. Some of us, however, have come to our beliefs as a result of careful and prayerful study of the scriptures and admonishment from our elders. Many are Mennonite, Amish, Quaker and other Anabaptists, whose ancestors did not resist their torturers and were drowned, burnt at the stake and flogged for their pacifist stand. They truly followed the example of Christ, and their resistance against the catastrophic effects of the merging of church and state cost them a great price. Churches today have signed onto the government plan and have agreed to look the other way in exchange for tax free privileges. The true message of Christ still exists to some degree in the quiet of the land to peacemakers, but sadly these good people have been deceived by the angry words from a righteous sounding religious media majority broadcasting in cars and trucks and tractors all over our land ironically preaching the �good news of war for peace� and convincing 24-7 �liberal� bashing. I suspect there are many who share my sorrow at the loss of what it means to be Christ-like, but our voice is seldom heard. The blaring rhetoric drowns out the still small voice of the mighty God. Peace used be the opposite of war, Conservative used to mean the tendency to conserve resources. Liberal used to mean kind and generous, and Christian used to mean like Christ.
So I am no longer a Christian but just a person who continues trying to follow the example of Christ. I�ll let him call me what he wants when I see him face to face. Until then, I will pray that someday people like me will be able to reclaim the meaning of Christ�s identity, and the world will see the effects of the radical message of Christ�s love--the perfect love that casts out fear.
Karen Cobb is a freelance writer and artist in Santa Fe, NM and can be contacted at cairnhcobb@msn.com.
Published on Monday, October 25, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
No Longer a Christian
by Karen Horst Cobb
I was told in Sunday school the word "Christian" means to be Christ-like, but the message I hear daily on the airwaves from the �christian � media are words of war, violence, and aggression. Throughout this article I will spell Christian with a small c rather than a capital, since the term (as I usually hear it thrown about) does not refer to the teachings of the one I know as the Christ. I hear church goers call in to radio programs and explain that it was a mistake not to kill every living thing in Fallujah. They quote chapter and verse from the old testament about smiting the enemies of Israel. The fear of fighting the terrorists on our soil rather than across the globe causes the voices to be raised as they justify the latest prison scandal or other accounts of the horrors of war . The words they speak are words of destruction, aggression, dominance, revenge, fear and arrogance. The host and the callers echo the belief in the righteousness of our nation's killing. There are reminders to pray for our �Christian� president who is doing the work of the Lord: Right to Life, Second Amendment, sanctity of marriage, welfare reform, war, kill, evil liberals. . . so much to fight, so much to destroy.
Let me tell you about the Christ I know. He was conceived by an unmarried woman. He was not born into a family of privilege. He was a radical. He said, �It was said an eye for and eye and a tooth of a tooth, but now I say love your enemies and bless those who curse you.� He said, �Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.� (Matthew 5: 3-9) He said, �All those who are called by my name will enter the kingdom of heaven." He said, "People will know true believers if they have the fruit of the spirit--love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control.�
He knew he would be led like a sheep to the slaughter. He responded with �Father forgive them.� He explained that in Christ there is neither Jew nor gentile, slave or free male nor female. He explained that even to be angry is akin to murder. He said the temple of God is not a building, but is in the hearts of those are called by his name. He was called "the Prince of Peace." His final days were spent in prayer, so that he could endure what was set before him, not on how he could overpower the evil government of that day. When they came for him he was led away and didn�t resist his death sentence.
This is a stark contrast to the call of the religious Christian right, who vote for war and weapons, and suggest towns and villages be leveled to bring freedom and peace to the people. They proudly boast this country�s superiority, suggesting God has blessed our nation. Today, as I listened to a popular Christian news network, I was reminded that in the last days, even God�s elect will be deceived, (II Timothy 3:13). When the religious media moguls preaching prosperity spout their rhetoric, I am reminded of the difficulty Jesus described of a rich man�s ability to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19: 24) (http://www.4religious-right.info/rr_economics.htm) Some who believe they are fighting evil will cry to the Lord, and he will say �I never knew you.� (Matthew 22). They will have a form or godliness but will deny the power (II Timothy 3:5) to move mountains through prayer. (Matthew 17:20). Jesus explained that he has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:17) I wonder if the innocent moms and dads, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles, and grandmas and grandpas who were the victims of US military weapons (the never reported collateral damages we are protected from in the �liberal� nightly news) felt the love of Jesus with the shock and awe. I wonder if the surviving family members now understand His radical love and that they no longer have any need for weapons or defense.
The solutions to the social issues used to manipulate good, decent people have no resemblance to how Jesus responded to the social concerns of his time. He never once mentioned the �right to life� the year he was born King Herod ordered the execution of all babies. (Matthew 2:16). He knew that passing laws does not change the heart. As a follower of his teaching I believe in the right to life, including the children in Iraq who stumble onto land mines, cross the street at the wrong time, or who are snugly tucked within the warm bellies of their wounded or grieving mothers as US fighter jets fly overhead. These are living, breathing children. The killing of these little ones are never even reported, and our tax dollars pay for these bombs. I believe in the right to life for those in the United States who are unwanted and impoverished. I believe in the right to life of the naive kid who was promised by the recruiter they could choose a desk job and still get their education paid or could see the world or could accelerate their life or could play a very realistic video game from a cockpit.
I've worked at a shelter, and I know first hand the reality of unwanted children. I know the reality of this right wing rhetoric when week after week I begged and pleaded with people to give up only one night every three months to sit with these unwanted living children for a few hours while the overworked house parents had a night off. Of the few I found, many changed their minds when they discovered that they would need to wear rubber gloves to change the babies diapers. These �believers� stand on the street corners holding right to life signs and then vote against medical assistance for the mothers and their unwanted children creating an impossible existence for them. The few of these abortion activists who might adopt some of these unwanted children generally want the white and the healthy. The ones with hydrocephalous, tracheotomies, emotional/ mental problems and communicable diseases along with their life long medical expenses can be someone else�s problems.
I cringe as many christians vote for policies that deny help to the poor in our own county, who vote to support the war and military strength, assuring the latest weapons are developed and that the heavens will be dominated by the military of the United States. We develop electromagnetic weapons to shatter skulls , split the earth (http://www.raven1.net/emr13.htm) and silently destroy a body as a thief in the night. Studies are even now searching for the frequencies to override the freewill. These unbelievable technologies are a reality and DNA specific weapons can or soon will target a specific nationality (http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/981116/1998111619.html ).I weep as the waters Jesus walked on become contaminated with uranium. (http://www.greendove.net/resources3.htm) I grieve as the missiles fly through the atmosphere on the continent where Jesus rose into the sky, defying death and the grave and where the Holy Sprit first descended. I cry out at the horrors of war and the indignity of the prisons so close to where He took captivity captive. So I am no longer a Christian if Christianity has become what is presented to us by our Christian president and Christian media. I cannot support the right of the United States and Israel to develop and use the most heinous weapons ever imagined. I want no part of a temple built on the blood of the innocent. The sheep have been lead astray by the teachings of prosperity and misinterpretation of the final battle between good and evil. Many no longer can recognize the voice of the good Shepherd.
Some �good Christians� even work at weapons facilities. It is not a stretch to say that a woman who tightens a last rivet on a shiny new missile just off the assembly line might be the same woman who licks the gold star on the attendance chart in morning Sunday school. The missile could be launched by the kid in the youth group who reads the invocation and it will find it�s destiny at a �target of interest� which might or might not have been a result of good intelligence. The collection plate circulates children are taught to love their enemies and bless those who curse them.
The statements and lifestyle of Jesus are difficult for me to understand. What would he say to evil dictators? This God would not justify 15,000 or more deaths. Even the wrathful jealous God of the old testament spared whole cities for a few righteous souls. For Christians, to support mass killings as a way to prevent future deaths is not at all like Christ. He would not say,"When I am talking about war I am really talking about peace," like the self professed Christian President proudly states. Who but God has the right to determine what price a people should pay for their freedom? The religious leaders on the airwaves today respond to the voices of the few brave peacemakers who dare to speak out. They say that pacifism is insane, and that it doesn�t make sense, but what is forgotten is that logic and faith are separate entities. I believe in the example of Jesus and his admonition to love your enemies and bless those who curse you . Do I understand how this works on the global scale? Do I know what Jesus would say to all the world�s leaders? No, nor do I totally understand how the example of Christ�s life and his message of love works in the world today. That�s why I need faith. Am I always correct in my assessments and actions? No, that�s why I need grace. Am I brave and unafraid? No, that�s why I need the perfect love that casts out fear. Some put trust in Chariots and some in horses but I will remember the name of the lord our God--the Prince of Peace. Perhaps politics has no place for imitators of Christ.
Who will show the face of Christ to the world? Who will speak His radical message? I hear from these so called imitators of Christ that the pacifists are a collection of kids, hippies, socialists and communists who haven�t got a clue. Some of us, however, have come to our beliefs as a result of careful and prayerful study of the scriptures and admonishment from our elders. Many are Mennonite, Amish, Quaker and other Anabaptists, whose ancestors did not resist their torturers and were drowned, burnt at the stake and flogged for their pacifist stand. They truly followed the example of Christ, and their resistance against the catastrophic effects of the merging of church and state cost them a great price. Churches today have signed onto the government plan and have agreed to look the other way in exchange for tax free privileges. The true message of Christ still exists to some degree in the quiet of the land to peacemakers, but sadly these good people have been deceived by the angry words from a righteous sounding religious media majority broadcasting in cars and trucks and tractors all over our land ironically preaching the �good news of war for peace� and convincing 24-7 �liberal� bashing. I suspect there are many who share my sorrow at the loss of what it means to be Christ-like, but our voice is seldom heard. The blaring rhetoric drowns out the still small voice of the mighty God. Peace used be the opposite of war, Conservative used to mean the tendency to conserve resources. Liberal used to mean kind and generous, and Christian used to mean like Christ.
So I am no longer a Christian but just a person who continues trying to follow the example of Christ. I�ll let him call me what he wants when I see him face to face. Until then, I will pray that someday people like me will be able to reclaim the meaning of Christ�s identity, and the world will see the effects of the radical message of Christ�s love--the perfect love that casts out fear.
Karen Cobb is a freelance writer and artist in Santa Fe, NM and can be contacted at cairnhcobb@msn.com.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
There is no Shell gas station in heaven
The summer prior to my senior year in college I was prepared to make a trek from Montgomery, Alabama to Enid, Oklahoma where my parents lived at that time. My mother helped me prepare to make the trip by sending me cash and a Shell gas credit card. While cash is a staple item for every college student, by comparison a gas credit card is the Holy Grail. Better yet was the knowledge that I was traveling into oil country. There was no real need for concern because I had all I needed. A couple of days before my departure I made good use of the cash. Yes, it was a great night out on the town. Up at the crack of dawn I loaded my tired body along with all my possessions. Included were the necessary provisions to support life such as a Godfather’s pizza. What a beautiful day as I went through Tuscaloosa, Al., Aberdeen, Miss., and Tupelo, Miss. Northern Mississippi left me awe struck. Memphis was just around the corner from Oxford, Miss. Soon I would cross the mighty Mississippi River only to be mesmerized by the rice fields of East Arkansas. Everything was perfect. All the while during the trip stops had been made to purchase coffee or other beverages without much thought of conserving the remaining cash supply. Just outside of Little Rock I looked down at the gas gauge which edged closer and closer to the letter “E”. No problem since I had a gas credit card at my disposal. Funny thing about oil country, not many people live there. As a result, demand for gas stations where the people are not is very low. Using my last $10 for gas I saw a sign for a toll road to Muskogee, Ok. After paying the toll to get on the road my priority was to find a gas station, particularly Shell. Did you know not one Shell gas station was seen from I-40 and the toll road from Memphis to Muskogee? Upon reaching Muskogee I was out of cash and gas. If that wasn’t bad enough I then had to make a collect call (this was there era prior to cell phones). If only I had been more aware of my situation? Only when I was in trouble did I call out for help.
We tend to approach our faith life in much the same way. When everything in life is going well the world is a beautiful place that takes our breath away. Most of us cruise through life with little thought to what God has given us only to find we have squandered away a valuable gift. Then in a panic we search for a gas station (i.e. church). When nothing we want can be found we franticly seek alternate routes only to find the situation is made even worse. Wounded is our pride when we reach out for Jesus because we need help. If only we had realized that we needed help from the very start. If only we had listened to God from the very beginning the problems we are experiencing may not even exist.
Our journey starts now. Yes, it just so happens we reserve Ash Wednesday as the day to kick off the Lenten season. We should be engaged in such a journey all year long as we are intentional about recognizing our limitations and the need for help. This is help which can only be given by Jesus Christ. By opting for a way to the Father apart from the Son will find a journey falling short of its destination as our faith runs out of fuel. Lent is a time for self examination that hopefully points us to the one who has all we need for our journey. During this period of examination we need to ask ourselves what stands in between us and our destination. Will we trust Jesus to prepare us for our journey? Jesus has already made the journey and prepared the way for us. All we really need to do is trust in Christ to guide us through the wilderness.
Since that journey to Oklahoma I have never used a Shell gas station again nor will I. Also with the utmost confidence I will venture a guess by saying you will not find a Shell station in heaven.
We tend to approach our faith life in much the same way. When everything in life is going well the world is a beautiful place that takes our breath away. Most of us cruise through life with little thought to what God has given us only to find we have squandered away a valuable gift. Then in a panic we search for a gas station (i.e. church). When nothing we want can be found we franticly seek alternate routes only to find the situation is made even worse. Wounded is our pride when we reach out for Jesus because we need help. If only we had realized that we needed help from the very start. If only we had listened to God from the very beginning the problems we are experiencing may not even exist.
Our journey starts now. Yes, it just so happens we reserve Ash Wednesday as the day to kick off the Lenten season. We should be engaged in such a journey all year long as we are intentional about recognizing our limitations and the need for help. This is help which can only be given by Jesus Christ. By opting for a way to the Father apart from the Son will find a journey falling short of its destination as our faith runs out of fuel. Lent is a time for self examination that hopefully points us to the one who has all we need for our journey. During this period of examination we need to ask ourselves what stands in between us and our destination. Will we trust Jesus to prepare us for our journey? Jesus has already made the journey and prepared the way for us. All we really need to do is trust in Christ to guide us through the wilderness.
Since that journey to Oklahoma I have never used a Shell gas station again nor will I. Also with the utmost confidence I will venture a guess by saying you will not find a Shell station in heaven.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
What if the church...?
What if the church, your church, closed its doors today, would it be missed? At one church I previously served the answer was “Yes, we have been going here for a long time” or “Yes, it would be sad if we no longer heard the chimes”. Even though the answer was “yes” the underlying reason for keeping the doors open was somewhat flawed. These responses beg the question “What is the purpose for keeping the doors open”? Are the members experiencing God? Does the community see the body of Christ?
My initial thought turns to Matthew 25:31-45. The church is called to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit people in prison, and welcome strangers. In other words, the church is to be the body of Christ reaching out to the world in missions. As United Methodists we acknowledge we are part of the universal church reaching engaged in missions. This suggests the church pursues love of neighbor and strives to employ its spiritual gifts, so that the church is a place where a person may experience the reign of God. The church is where the body grows in love, and experiences the beginnings of eternal life. In the body of the church people engage in a fellowship that helps deepen a person’s faith as the church supports and prays for each other. The church is a place where people celebrate the love of God revealed in Christ. The church resides in the hearts of all believers.
While the church is nurturing the spiritual life of others, there can be a tendency to forget the church is also to take care of a person’s physical needs. In Luke 9:2 and 10:9 Jesus sent the twelve apostles, then later the 72, into the world to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. Not only is the church to proclaim the gospel so others may hear about the hope found in Jesus Christ, it is to be a physical presence in the world. The world is made up of real people who are hurting, torn apart by physical conflict, or are oppressed by situations beyond their control.
If the Kingdom of God is cemented by the belief that the Kingdom is both a present and future reality then shouldn’t the Kingdom of God is present in the church today through its activities? Through the activity of the church people get a glimpse of eternal life. Yet at the same time the church awaits the second coming of Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. The church in the world today is to be the first place where the reign of God can be identified and witnessed. The reign of God is more than a personal vision of God’s future, as the church is to be a place which transforms the world until God’s love, justice, and mercy prevail throughout the whole world. It is also a future event where the world will experience a complete healing and redemption.
Christians look forward to the fulfillment of God’s work in the redemption of humanity and all of creation. This gives hope to persons individually and communally. This hope motivates a person’s service and witness for Christ, and helps them not to give up spreading God’s word. Christians are called to live in the world, not separate from the world. Living separately from the world emphasizes the Kingdom of God as a future event only. Engaging in social justice ministries, for example Meals on Wheels or prison ministry, brings the reality of God’s love to those who feel forgotten by society. In the busyness of the day, maybe we can take a break and pray for others. Christians help usher in the Kingdom of God by embracing others in the unconditional love of God. As the body of Christ, people are reaching out to a world in pain which is looking for hope. In this hope for the future, people find the desire to serve in God’s kingdom now.
Let’s Keep This Hope Alive!!!!
My initial thought turns to Matthew 25:31-45. The church is called to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit people in prison, and welcome strangers. In other words, the church is to be the body of Christ reaching out to the world in missions. As United Methodists we acknowledge we are part of the universal church reaching engaged in missions. This suggests the church pursues love of neighbor and strives to employ its spiritual gifts, so that the church is a place where a person may experience the reign of God. The church is where the body grows in love, and experiences the beginnings of eternal life. In the body of the church people engage in a fellowship that helps deepen a person’s faith as the church supports and prays for each other. The church is a place where people celebrate the love of God revealed in Christ. The church resides in the hearts of all believers.
While the church is nurturing the spiritual life of others, there can be a tendency to forget the church is also to take care of a person’s physical needs. In Luke 9:2 and 10:9 Jesus sent the twelve apostles, then later the 72, into the world to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick. Not only is the church to proclaim the gospel so others may hear about the hope found in Jesus Christ, it is to be a physical presence in the world. The world is made up of real people who are hurting, torn apart by physical conflict, or are oppressed by situations beyond their control.
If the Kingdom of God is cemented by the belief that the Kingdom is both a present and future reality then shouldn’t the Kingdom of God is present in the church today through its activities? Through the activity of the church people get a glimpse of eternal life. Yet at the same time the church awaits the second coming of Christ to establish God’s Kingdom on earth. The church in the world today is to be the first place where the reign of God can be identified and witnessed. The reign of God is more than a personal vision of God’s future, as the church is to be a place which transforms the world until God’s love, justice, and mercy prevail throughout the whole world. It is also a future event where the world will experience a complete healing and redemption.
Christians look forward to the fulfillment of God’s work in the redemption of humanity and all of creation. This gives hope to persons individually and communally. This hope motivates a person’s service and witness for Christ, and helps them not to give up spreading God’s word. Christians are called to live in the world, not separate from the world. Living separately from the world emphasizes the Kingdom of God as a future event only. Engaging in social justice ministries, for example Meals on Wheels or prison ministry, brings the reality of God’s love to those who feel forgotten by society. In the busyness of the day, maybe we can take a break and pray for others. Christians help usher in the Kingdom of God by embracing others in the unconditional love of God. As the body of Christ, people are reaching out to a world in pain which is looking for hope. In this hope for the future, people find the desire to serve in God’s kingdom now.
Let’s Keep This Hope Alive!!!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
What shall my Lenten offering be?
Have you decided what you will give up for Lent? Ash Wednesday is then the decision should be made. My choices are starting to narrow down a bit. Since I am not so sure what to choose, I will give up all of the remaining choices which are sweet potatoes, asparagus, cooked carrots, and cantaloupe. Here is the twist since these choices are given up on a daily basis. I am not really making a sacrifice but I make myself feel good. This is the same as a dyed in the wool Gamecock fan saying they will give up pulling for Clemson except when the two teams play each other. Giving up that which is of no real sacrifice means the act in itself is superficial.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season which is a time of personal reflection and examination. Lent is associated with what we plan to give up as a form of discipline. There is truly nothing wrong with that as it becomes a means of worshiping God. Opening ones self up to God through the denial of self is what we have been called to do as Christians. However, it is what motivates us which is the concern of what is given up for Lent. After all, Lent is about focusing our lives on Christ again through ways such as meditation on God’s word and prayer.
Do you realize approximately 85% of people growing up outside of the church perceive Christians to be hypocritical? We can obviously rationalize this characterization by blaming the actions of only a few people. For example, those saying one thing and doing another. However, I believe it is more subtle than that. Simply we may be trying to publicly portray ourselves in a favorable fashion especially on Ash Wednesday as ashes are spread on our foreheads. Our motivations and desires play an important role in the actions of our faith. When our goal is to portray ourselves in a favorable light through our acts of faith then we compromise our Christian walk. Yes, we do “good” since that is what Methodists do. Do no harm, do all the good that you can, and attend to all the ordinances of God. Yet, it can sometimes be perceived that when we do it may be seen as a form of offering that we may receive some form of social benefit. For example, monetary offerings provide tax breaks or participation in events bring about new contacts in church. Same can be said for our service in the church. Serving on a committee can bring about attention. Why are we on the committee? Are we advancing our own agenda or the message of Christ? Are we serving in a mission field solely for the purpose of earning favor with the Pastor or even God? Jesus warns us about our motives and desires when we engage in public acts of faith. “Do not draw attention tour selves for public acclamation but when you give, do not let others know what you are doing for our reward is in heaven. Not a future reward, but they are the ones we find in the company of God.”
Our faith should be one of authenticity. We should be real about who we really are. We should acknowledge the inconsistencies in our lives by being open and honest about our faults especially to God. Maybe take an honest assessment about our lives thus making ourselves transparent by acknowledging we are fallen people who need God in our lives. During the Season of Lent we should desire to do as Jesus has commanded by developing a balance in our spiritual walk. Let Jesus be a part of our whole being not just part. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor for God’s grace has been revealed in Jesus and through the cross. Let our hearts be transformed by Jesus so that they are pure. To understand that forgiveness is about restoration as children of God. Forgiveness transforms self centered people into God centered people. Our sense of purpose should be derived from acts of love and service. It is not dependent on who gets the credit since such acts are done in the authentic love of Jesus Christ. Our spiritual discipline strengthens the capacity to please God through our acts of faith all year. Do these acts without drawing attention, be public with our forms of worship, use them as a way to be a witness of Jesus. Let people see the smudge on your forehead as Lent begins. And if they ask, tell them about what it means for an imperfect people to live in the freedom Jesus Christ offers. What is the purpose of Lent? It calls us to reflection and repentance, invites us to prepare Good Friday and Easter, and reminds us of our humanity and sinfulness. In the end, it is about a grace filled return to the Lord our God. This year for Lent, I am giving up the notion that the Kingdom of God can't make it without me and I am the perfect Christian.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season which is a time of personal reflection and examination. Lent is associated with what we plan to give up as a form of discipline. There is truly nothing wrong with that as it becomes a means of worshiping God. Opening ones self up to God through the denial of self is what we have been called to do as Christians. However, it is what motivates us which is the concern of what is given up for Lent. After all, Lent is about focusing our lives on Christ again through ways such as meditation on God’s word and prayer.
Do you realize approximately 85% of people growing up outside of the church perceive Christians to be hypocritical? We can obviously rationalize this characterization by blaming the actions of only a few people. For example, those saying one thing and doing another. However, I believe it is more subtle than that. Simply we may be trying to publicly portray ourselves in a favorable fashion especially on Ash Wednesday as ashes are spread on our foreheads. Our motivations and desires play an important role in the actions of our faith. When our goal is to portray ourselves in a favorable light through our acts of faith then we compromise our Christian walk. Yes, we do “good” since that is what Methodists do. Do no harm, do all the good that you can, and attend to all the ordinances of God. Yet, it can sometimes be perceived that when we do it may be seen as a form of offering that we may receive some form of social benefit. For example, monetary offerings provide tax breaks or participation in events bring about new contacts in church. Same can be said for our service in the church. Serving on a committee can bring about attention. Why are we on the committee? Are we advancing our own agenda or the message of Christ? Are we serving in a mission field solely for the purpose of earning favor with the Pastor or even God? Jesus warns us about our motives and desires when we engage in public acts of faith. “Do not draw attention tour selves for public acclamation but when you give, do not let others know what you are doing for our reward is in heaven. Not a future reward, but they are the ones we find in the company of God.”
Our faith should be one of authenticity. We should be real about who we really are. We should acknowledge the inconsistencies in our lives by being open and honest about our faults especially to God. Maybe take an honest assessment about our lives thus making ourselves transparent by acknowledging we are fallen people who need God in our lives. During the Season of Lent we should desire to do as Jesus has commanded by developing a balance in our spiritual walk. Let Jesus be a part of our whole being not just part. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor for God’s grace has been revealed in Jesus and through the cross. Let our hearts be transformed by Jesus so that they are pure. To understand that forgiveness is about restoration as children of God. Forgiveness transforms self centered people into God centered people. Our sense of purpose should be derived from acts of love and service. It is not dependent on who gets the credit since such acts are done in the authentic love of Jesus Christ. Our spiritual discipline strengthens the capacity to please God through our acts of faith all year. Do these acts without drawing attention, be public with our forms of worship, use them as a way to be a witness of Jesus. Let people see the smudge on your forehead as Lent begins. And if they ask, tell them about what it means for an imperfect people to live in the freedom Jesus Christ offers. What is the purpose of Lent? It calls us to reflection and repentance, invites us to prepare Good Friday and Easter, and reminds us of our humanity and sinfulness. In the end, it is about a grace filled return to the Lord our God. This year for Lent, I am giving up the notion that the Kingdom of God can't make it without me and I am the perfect Christian.
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