Drop The Knife

It was different then. Primitive.

As humanity developed, they began to wonder why certain things happened the way they did – why it rained at different times, why seasons changed, why seeds planted in the ground became edible plants, why the bright light appeared every day, day after day, year after year. They began to think that a greater being than themselves surely must exist – gods – who were responsible for causing these things to happen. Over time, they began to believe that these gods required worship in order to continually bless them with rain, sun, good crops, etc. When things were bad, it meant greater worship was required, greater sacrifice, even to the point of sacrificing one’s first-born son. What a fun time to live…

Abraham lived back then. His worldview reflected his time and culture. If asked about relating
to the gods, Abraham would probably recount some of the things above. So, when God told Abraham to take Isaac and sacrifice him (Genesis 22), it made sense to him, because that’s what gods want as remuneration for blessings given and promised. Naturally, Abraham complied.

As the story goes, just as Abraham was about to end Isaac’s terror (BTW – how did this mess with Isaac’s psyche?), God showed up and told Abraham to stop. God commended Abraham for his faithfulness, and then drew his attention to a nearby bush, where a ram was trapped – a substitute sacrifice for Isaac. God taught him an important lesson – God is a provider. This communicated to Abraham that God cannot be bought, is not wanting to be appeased, and is definitely not interested in human sacrifice! Jesus devotees quickly see the allusion to Christ’s work on the cross – a sacrifice offered by God – a substitute for our own life. We learn from that event a similar lesson – God is the source of our redemption and restoration, not our works, worship, or words. But something else is messing with my attention…

I wonder how difficult it was for Abraham to drop the knife.

That may sound idiotic – what father would have such trouble? But if you’re a man of conviction and integrity as was Abraham, and every influence leading up to that point is telling you to go through with the sacrifice, dropping the knife may not have been so easy. You can almost hear the mental battle going through his mind: “I think this God is telling me I don’t have to slay Isaac. But that’s ludicrous. Of course I have to kill Isaac – that’s what gods want. The only reason I’m hearing this is because I don’t really want to sacrifice Isaac. But if I don’t, I’ll be guilty of disobedience. Do I trust the voice telling me to stop, which is contrary to everything I’ve been taught to believe, or do I follow through with destroying this life, which is the only way I’ve ever known?”

There’s our challenge.

Do we follow through with what God is calling us to do – which is quite different, deeper, healthier, liberating, and life-giving than anything I’ve ever known? Or do we follow through with what we’ve been taught, which leads to destruction?

I know that dropping the knife wasn’t easy for Abraham because it isn’t easy for me.

Don’t call Child Protective Service yet – I haven’t tried to kill my son. But I am very aware of how difficult it is to follow God when so many of the shaping forces in my life have instructed me in other ways. My culture tells me to Consume! Consume! When my God is telling me to Steward! Steward!

My culture encourages hedonism. My God instructs wise moderation.

My culture suggests that sex is recreation, and may lead to a loving relationship if I might be interested in commitment. My God tells me that a loving marriage relationship is where I find re-creation at its best, and that sex’s beauty is most fully experienced when rooted in lifelong covenant.

My culture suggests that my worth is directly related to my body fat percentage. My God tells me I am greatly valued just as I am.

My culture, ironically, encourages me to eat like a pig – or maybe a goat – whatever, whatever quantity, however wasteful. My God instructs me to treat my body as the Temple of the Holy Spirit – with great, careful consideration.

My church culture tells me that a good Christian looks a certain way, thinks a certain way, votes a certain way, etc., and that I should work hard to look the part. My God instructs me that if I love God and love others, pretty much everything else falls into place.

These culturally promoted behaviors are knives that kill and destroy that which we dearly love – ourselves, our spouse, our children, our neighbors, even our environment.

What would have happened if Abraham slayed Isaac anyway, just to be safe? We would read the story and say, “Abraham, you idiot, you just destroyed Isaac, bringing immense pain to yourself and others for no reason at all! Shame on you!”

But we do this all the time. Is it possible that while we confess our love for God, our lives embarrassingly much more reflect what we’ve been taught by our culture and time? Perhaps it’s time for us to drop the knife.

As we journey through life with Christ, maybe we should entertain a few questions along the way... What is the knife that you hold? Or, maybe more accurately, what is the kinfe that holds you? What might knife-free living look and feel like? How difficult will it be to drop the knife? What is your motivation to drop the knife?

Benediction...
May you become aware that God is bigger and better than you’ve been taught. May you hear/see/read/sense God’s ever-present communication that challenges you to cease destructive beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. May you, as Abraham, sense full life waiting to be grasped, muster the courage to go against the limiting constructs you’ve been taught, and drop the knife.

Think…

1. What was God’s primary lesson for Abraham when he was asked to sacrifice his son?
   
2. Why did God’s call make sense to Abraham?
   
3. What about God’s lesson was difficult theologically – what was the new belief Abraham was challenged to embrace?
   
4. What about God’s lesson was difficult practically – what new behavior was being encouraged based on the new belief?
   
5. What shaping forces have formed your understanding of life, God, ethics – everything?
   
6. How have you evaluated the beliefs those forces have instilled in you? How are those beliefs similar to God’s identity and ethos? Different? Which do you want? Are you willing to do the difficult task of dropping the knife?
   
7. Do we follow through with what God is calling us to do – which is quite different, deeper, healthier, liberating, and life-giving than anything I’ve ever known? Or do we follow through with what we’ve been taught, which leads to destruction?
   
8. Consider why you do what you do: your budgeting, your work ethic, your relationships, your parenting, your physical fitness – everything. Discern what’ you’ve been taught. Compare that to what you discover about God’s call. Drop the knife - choose God! Expect the change to create internal (and perhaps external) struggle. Stick with it (and get support!). Live the life you were created to live.

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God Responses to Raw Deals

Raw deals come in all shapes and sizes.

Sometimes it’s getting cut from the sports team, or not getting the part in the play, or not getting the grade you were sure you deserved.

Sometimes it’s losing your job because of company restructuring. Sometimes it’s losing your credit rating because your soon-to-be-ex -spouse ran up your joint credit cards unbeknownst to you. Sometimes it’s losing your health because your employer wasn’t paying attention to environmental hazards, and you are suffering because of it.

Sometimes it’s receiving a cold shoulder when you really needed one to cry on. Sometimes it’s a door in your face because of your gender, or your skin tone, or your language, or your age, or your… Sometimes it’s being cut off from your world because somebody just decided to.

Sometimes it’s being born in the wrong part of the world. Wrong street. Wrong zip code. Wrong country. Wrong economy. And you get the raw deal.

How is God involved in all of these raw deals?

Is God making it happen? Are raw deals part of God’s business plan? If God is all powerful, is the fact that raw deals happen regularly evidence of God’s indifference? Or worse, does it suggest that God is actually not loving, but cruel?

In the early part of our faith history, Abraham, who was called by God to become a new nation built on a new way of doing faith and life, had an old wife, Sarah, who was not bearing him a son as God promised. The husband and wife decided to do something about their infertility issue, so they used Hagar, Sarah’s servant, to provide a child for Abraham.

Nature took its course, and Hagar bore a son, Ishmael. Pretty big deal for Hagar, who probably didn’t have many prospects in that patriarchal world at landing a successful, rich businessman anytime soon.

But Sarah eventually did produce a son – Isaac – just as God promised she would. If you’ve ever watched The Bachelor when a bunch of women are vying for one man, you know what was going to come next. Let the competition begin!

Hagar lost. So did Ishmael. They never had a chance. She got a raw deal. She was ready to fold.

They were banished from Abraham’s household – kicked to the curb. Except there weren’t any curbs. No nothing – they were stuck. Hagar was pretty sure they were going to die.

How did God respond to this situation of which God was very much aware?

God showed up. In her darkest hour, somehow she was visited by God in such a powerful way that it could not be missed. The fact that her story continued is probably the greatest testament to this fact. Presence is underrated in our individualized culture. But when you’re down, nothing beats knowing you’re not alone.

God showed up with peace. When God showed up, the first words communicated were, “Do not be afraid!” God was present to give calm in spite of great anxiety.

God showed up with instruction. A great act of caring shows up in God’s instruction to Hagar to simply get up and take care of her son. Sometimes, when people are under great stress, they don’t think of obvious things they need to do, like paying bills, staying healthy, taking care of dependents, etc. God’s instruction informs us that God was aware of Hagar’s situation and responded appropriately.

God showed up with a future of hope. God not only gave her specific instruction, but hope-filled motivation as well. From her vantage point, all she could see was gloom and doom – a classic sign of depression. But God saw a much bigger picture, and communicated that vision to her. It served to get her moving again, to go after a future for her son, believing that God wasn’t yet finished with her.

How about you? Are you in a Hagar situation?

God hasn’t abandoned you. Be open to God’s presence, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you discover the Company you’re in!

God has peace to give you, and it stems from your relationship with your Creator. So listen to the voice of God whispering and shouting in your direction.

God has instruction for you. The Bible is an incredible source of ethical instruction on just about any situation you’ll ever face. Have you looked there for help? But if you don’t, God still will try to instruct you – pay attention to the voice of God, seek counsel from those who walk with God closely, and move forward.

God’s future for you is good. God has “forever” in mind for you. God sees great potential in you for healthy relationships, a meaningful life of impact, and most importantly, a relationship with God that continually defines life and success differently and better than does the world in which we live.

What about the "Hagars" in your world? What should you do about them?

Be as God to them. Be there. With peace. With instruction. With words of a great future rooted in faith.

God is with you. God desires to work through you. So Go be Jesus to somebody! Because raw deals will always be dealt in this world, but it doesn’t mean we have to fold.

Questions to Ponder...

1. Do I believe that God wills injustice to people - to me? If so, what are the theological implications? How does this belief affect my prayers?
2. Jesus once told the Pharisees, "A house divided cannot stand." This axiom communicated to them that God is not a proponent of evil - and cannot be. So, if God isn't causing bad things to happen, what possible other explanations are there?
3. What are the raw deals you're struggling with right now?
4. How have you been open to God's presence? God's peace? God's instruction? God's hopeful future?
5. Who in your immediate sphere has been dealt a raw deal? How can you be an agent of God's presence, peace, instruction, and hope?
6. Who in the far reaches of the world has been dealt a raw deal? How can you be an agent of God to them and for them before they fold?

A Benediction... May you be so overwhelmed by the reality of God's hopeful, instructive, peaceful presence that you thrive in spite of whatever raw deal you've been dealt. May you be so humbled by God's loving care that your immediate reponse is to be used of God to lift somebody else out of their pain. Shalom!

Bonus! Watch the Nairobi Videofrom Sunday. Download Here: http://www.onlinefilefolder.com/index.php?action=getshare&type=0&user_num=43737&share_id=219768&hash=ede7f1059b70a2e8b98c3c6920ec3c1f

Fatherly Advice

I don’t remember all the details exactly, but I will never forget the tentative look in my father’s eyes. He knew I had been through the required training, and that my papers were in order. But he also knew the risk inherent in his actions – he was unleashing a potentially lethal weapon upon an unsuspecting world.

A dad was giving his son the keys to his car to go run an errand. Alone.

Jesus was with his disciples, thinking on a grim reality – there were many villages filled with many people in need, but there were only 24 hours in a day, and only one Him. So, as witnessed in Matthew 10, Jesus entrusted the keys of the Kingdom ride to some of his disciples. But before they journeyed off on adventures unknown, Jesus gave them some fatherly advice…
Go into the places where the Kingdom is desperately needed, and usher it in. When you introduce the Kingdom (The Ways of God) into a system, it will be challenged, and with the Spirit’s sustenance, it will change for the better.

Go now – don’t wait until you’ve learned enough to feel like and expert, or are rich enough, or thin enough, or tall enough, or powerful enough, or secure enough, etc. Right where you are in your relationship with God is the place God can use you right now. You’ll grow along the way, and God will use you then, too. But don’t lose today because you’re so focused on tomorrow. The needs around you are screaming for Kingdom attention!

Go where God is already working. God got there ahead of you – look for the inroads He’s created – a person who is open to the Kingdom. Work with them to bring in the Kingdom. (Aside: you don’t have to be “churchy” to bring in the Kingdom. In the workplace, you don’t need to (and probably shouldn’t) refer to your faith or biblical teaching unless invited. Speaking about truth and wisdom, however, are welcome. St. Francis said it best: “Preach the Gospel. If necessary, use words.”) If nobody is open to the Kingdom, don’t feel like a loser, and don’t feel guilty dusting your sneakers off as you move on.

Go even if it’s tough. You may find that bringing Light into dark places results in a lot of squealing from the rats who’ve hidden there. The one holding the flashlight is going to take some abuse. As you usher in the Kingdom, expect the darkness to fight back, but also expect the Spirit to be with you, giving you calm, and words to see you through.

Go especially if it’s tough. The workout expression, “no pain, no gain” is true. In our journey to become increasingly like Jesus, we discover that suffering for the sake of the Kingdom is one of the most honorable, wonderful, and yet painful stretches we can hope for. While we whine during the tough spots, afterwards we realize how much we grew because of them. (Note: in working out and in bringing in the Kingdom, there is good pain that comes from pushing ourselves to new levels, and bad pain that comes from poor form. Don’t mistake bad pain for good pain. If you’re experiencing pain because of your faith, check yourself – is it your faith that’s causing the stretch, or the way you’ve communicated/butchered the faith? I am convinced that very few people will reject Christ if He is presented well. But how many people show disinterest because someone has forced Christ upon them?)

Someday I’ll look into my son’s eyes (and eventually my daughter’s) and with great trepidation hand over the keys. In doing so, I will know that I am giving them freedom to discover and experience the world in ways they can’t know otherwise. They will feel the thrill of commanding a 3,000 pound land missile through the highways and byways. More than the joy of driving, though, my hope is that they will find themselves on a greater path, which is not dependent upon metal keys, ever-increasingly-expensive fuel, or a government sponsored license. My hope is that they will discover the joy of walking hand in hand with their Creator God, their Life-Giving Savior, their Unequal Partner, the Spirit. My hope is that their journey will find every place they travel improved upon their departure because of God’s Kingdom coming through them.

My hope is the same for you. And for me.

Questions to Consider…

1. What are the dark places in your world – in your workplace, family, marriage, personal life, etc.?
2. What do you imagine would be different in those places if God ruled in them?How would Jesus handle himself in those dark places? How would he try to redeem them to Light and Life?
3. How can you emulate Jesus’ actions in your dark places, that the Kingdom might be planted, and Life thrive?

A Benediction...
May you know that all the power of the Kingdom of God has been entrusted into your care. Wherever you go, the Spirit is ready. May your words, actions, and attitude be driven by the passion and persona of Jesus. May the aroma of the Kingdom follow you wherever you go.

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The Feast of Pentecost

In Leviticus 23:15-22, we read about a mandatory feast prescribed by God for his people – a lasting ordinance. This was the Feast of Pentecost, the feast that was celebrated 50 days after Passover (that’s why it’s called Pente (50) cost), seven Sabbaths after the remembrance of God’s saving work during the Exodus.

Three things strike me this year about this feast.

First, there were two loaves offered from the firsts fruits of their harvest. Two loaves. I think this is in keeping with some other principles of “two” found in Jewish tradition. In order to get married, there had to be two witnesses. To accuse someone in court for legal wrongdoing, two witnesses were required. The idea of there being two witnesses is meaningful when we consider Pentecost. We know that the Jews were those first people called by God to be set apart, to be holy, an example to follow for all people in order that they might come to know God. But we know it didn’t end there. God loves all people and wants all people to know the blessing of experiencing life in relationship with him. Gentiles matter to God, too. The Jewish witness reminds us of our origins. The Gentile witness reminds us of God pursuit to redeem an entire world of people.

The second thing that is interesting is that the loaves were to be made with yeast. Remember that at Passover, all yeast was to be eradicated from every person’s home. Bread was to be made without yeast. Why? Because yeast represented sin, and God was looking for holy people – people who renounced sin – to come and follow him. The fact that God calls for yeast in the instructions let’s us know that there is a lesson to be learned. Paul was correct when he reminded the Jewish/Gentile church in Rome that we are all sinners, and have fallen short of the glory of God. In eating loaves made with yeast, we remember that we are not perfect. Why is this important? Humility is a prerequisite for relationship with God. Keeping ourselves in check serves to keep us humble.

The final thing that strikes me is that the loaves were to be made of the finest flour – ultra ground. The finest, most decadent pastries are made with flour ground as fine as possible. This was a symbol of our holiness in our relationship with God. We are sinful, true, but we are called to be holy. We are called to live as God’s people, reflecting his character, values, ethos – his holiness.

Two witnesses declaring God’s grace. Two witnesses confessing that they are imperfect sin addicts. Two witnesses declaring that God desires to make us holy for the redemption of the world.

May you follow in the footsteps of the millions who have gone before you. May you declare as a first-hand witness the faithful goodness of God. May you humbly walk with God, confessing your propensity toward walking away from the ways of God. May you also recognize that you are called to be holy, and that the Spirit of God will help you overcome any and all powers of darkness that serve to hold you back. May the world be redeemed because we did. Shalom!

Storm Survival

Noah was given the news of the flood – and his need to build an ark – around 100 years before the waters came.

Jesus said that the point of faith is not simply to confess with our lips that God is Lord, but to actually live as if it were true.

We know from the cross that we don’t earn our salvation. It was on the cross that Jesus took the sins of the whole world- past, present, and future; yours, mine, and everyone’s. When we get that truth, we begin living without fear of death as we walk in confident hope that when we die, we will be welcomed by God.

And yet Jesus’ parable of The Wise and Foolish Builder (Mt. 7:21-29) hints that works matter as well. Works certainly mattered for Noah and his family (not to mention all those animals). So how do we understand the connection between grace and works?

Sometimes we miss the good news inherent in the Flood Story. We focus so much on God declaring His disgust with humanity that we miss the much bigger point: He told Noah that the flood was coming. Legend tells us that the ark may have been built more by Noah’s sons than Noah himself. The thought was that Noah spent the duration traveling village to village warning them of impending doom.

Don’t focus so much on what appears to be a wrath of God story when this is, in reality, a love of God story.

God is declaring, “I see the mess you’ve made of life itself. For those with ears to hear, listen: a catastrophe is coming that will overcome all life. Don’t miss the boat!”

In his parable, Jesus is declaring, “Storms are coming. Build your life in such a way that it will withstand inevitable storms.”

The way to prepare isn’t simply belief, but action born out of that belief. Noah believed God’s word about the storm, and that belief motivated his faithful action. Most people believe in God, but is it making much difference in their life experience,?

Jesus stated that we are wise if we allow our lip service to translate into action: Believe in and do what Jesus says.

Sometimes we face storms that threaten our finances. Do you know what the Bible says about how to organize your money? If you don’t, how will you do what it says? If you don’t know, you won’t “do,” and you’ll probably experience more damage than necessary.

Parents face storms of child-rearing. Do you know what God calls you to do? Are you doing it?
Couples face relationship storms as life progresses. What is God’s call for couples? Are you doing it?

Our world is faced with a double-front storm: AIDS and hunger. What is God’s call to us regarding those who CANNOT help themselves? Do you realize that our action of faithfulness or faithlessness will affect even the most insulated of us?

May you realize that faith is more than lip service. May you hear the good news in Jesus’ parable which echoed Noah’s experience. May you believe that God is looking out for you, giving you a heads up and clear direction when and where you need it. May you be wise enough to follow, even if nobody else does.

Some questions to think about...
1. How does our doing what God asks us to do affect our level of assurance that God's promises are true, and our future hope is certain? Why?
2. How do you resolve the apparent tension between "saved by grace" and "saved by works" in Jesus' parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders? How are the two related to each other?
3. What storms are you facing right now?
4. In light of the storm(s) you're facing, what is Jesus calling you to do?
5. What storms can you anticipate in your future?
6. What can you do now to begin building a strong life structure so that when the storm hits, you'll prevail?

A prayer to offer...
Lord, we confess that we can be complete idiots at times. We are suckered into thinking, at times, that simple belief in You will make everything fine and dandy. So we confess our belief with our lips, yet our lifestyle, priorities, and values don't align with our confession. Forgive us! Help us care about what You instruct. Give us courage to do what you call us to do, even if we're ridiculed and mocked. Even if what you call for seems foreign, help us be faithful. When we prevail through the storm, we will give you praise and thanks, and will do all we can to help others know and follow you as well. Amen! So be it!