Nobody likes rules. In fact, there is a certain pool, to remain nameless, that I don't like to visit because there are rules on top of rules. If there was a rule against smiling, I think they'd have it. You can't throw your kids. You can't wrestle in the water. You can't carry them on your back. Now, I understand the need for rules. I spent my summers in high school, college, and into seminary lifeguarding at pools and teaching swim lessons. So I get the need for rules. But this is too much! It feels like every where you turn, there is another rule to followed, another thing that you can't do, another thing you must do.
That happens in the church.
On the one hand, sometimes people look at the church and say, "There are too many rules and regulations. These commandments from God take all the fun out of life." Sometimes people look at the church and think, "All they care about are my actions."
And on the other hand, sometimes the church will preach and teach that very truth, "All we really do care about are rules and regulations. All we really do care about are actions." There are Christian churches out there that really do preach and teach a message that says, "Your actions are what really matter. In fact, you can save yourself by them."
The apostle Paul was writing a letter to a congregation who was starting to listen to preachers and teachers who were doing that sort of thing. It started out simple enough, "Believe in Jesus AND get circumcised." It grew from there. These teachers were telling the Galatians that faith in Jesus was just the beginning. They had to do something more. "Your actions are what really matter. In fact, you can save yourself by them."
What a lie! Oh, it looks good. It sounds good. But, as Paul says, if we're trying to be justified, if we're trying to be righteous and holy by what we do - then we're alienated from God, alienated from grace, separated from Christ! Then we're doomed.
Here's the truth! It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! (Galatians 5:1). In Christ and through faith in him, the curse of the law for failing to keep it has been removed! In Christ and through faith in him, the demands of the law have been met in us. In Christ, we have fulfilled the commands of God's law. We're free!
Luther says it this way: A Christian is a perfectly free lord, subject to no one! (He says this in "On the Freedom of the Christian." You can read it here.)
Now what? What next?
That's what we'll look at in Sunday (10/27/13) as we continue to look at Paul's letter to the Galatians, chapter 5:13-25.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
Bonking? Fill up.
Last weekend I spent some time watching the Hawaii Ironman Championships. They were streaming it live! I only watched the last half of the marathon, but it always amazes me to watch these athletes and then to think about the planning and preparation that they've got to go through. Someday... at least on my bucket list, I'll qualify and then go to do that race.
One of the things that I've learned about endurance racing is the need to eat and drink throughout the race. Early on in my marathon racing I'd drink very little and eat only at the very end. I used to think that I didn't need to drink anything if I was running anything under 90 minutes. But here's what happened - at least, as I look back: I bonked! It didn't matter what the race, but almost always at the end of a marathon, somewhere around mile 20-21 I'd just crash and have no energy. Why? Because suddenly my fuel for running had to come from body fats instead of from the sugars in gels or energy bars. I bonked because I didn't have fuel in the tank.
It strikes that this is what happens to me as I serve my family, my church and my community. I used to always think that I needed to cut back my activities (and maybe I do). I used to think that the reason I'd get burned out was because I was doing too much (and maybe I was). But it strikes me that the problem wasn't with the activities but WITH ME.
I mean look at Paul. He was constantly on the move. He taught people God's Word by day and made tents by night. One night he preached all night and then went on a road trip when the sun rose. If anyone was too busy with too much going on, I'd say it was him. Yet, Paul - even in prison - overflowed with joy!
Or look at Jesus. His ministry was one of constant movement. Just take his activities on a Sabbath day as Mark tells the story. Jesus taught in the synagogue in the morning. He went back to the house of Peter's mother-in-law where he cared for her. When night came, the whole city came to her doorstep. So, Jesus tired as he was went out to a mountainside to pray...but the crowd chased him down even there when he tried to relax in the arms of his Father and pour out his heart to him. Another time, Jesus wanted to take his disciples away to rest after their missionary journey. Didn't happen. A crowd of 5000 found out where they were and wanted Word service and food service. Yet, Jesus - even when he and his disciples were exhausted - always served with joy.
When I'm tired, when I'm getting burned out and worn out, when I'm bonking in my service to God's people, the problem is with me. And the same is true for you when you're bonking, when you're getting tired and burned out. The problem is with you.
And maybe part of the solution is to cut back in some of the activities that you're doing. It's good for us to remember the truth of God - we're not the savior of the world; the world won't fall apart if we don't get to this or that; it doesn't depend on us! It depends on God and his power, his mercy, his love.
And that, dear family, is the solution. When we get tired, burned out, and begin to bonk we're often depending on ourselves to get it done, to bring success, to figure it out. But it doesn't depend on us. It depends on God! He's our Father who promises to care for us, to love us. He's our Savior who did everything - and I mean everything - to rescue us from sin, death, and hell. He's our Comforter and Guide - who will teach us everything and remind us of everything Jesus said.
The solution is REST, but not necessarily rest from work. REST from working to save ourselves. The good that we do in Jesus' name can't save us. Our salvation is already won and done; won and done for us by the life and death of Jesus. Of this there is no doubt. God loves us and is pleased with us for the sake of Jesus and not because we've worked so hard or because we've done the right thing.
There is REST from working out of fear. Sometimes people will jokingly ask me, "What are you running from? I only run from dogs." We're not running from anything. Satan has been crushed. All our sins have been forgiven. The total debt for all our sins has been paid. There is nothing for us to fear! Our salvation is sure and certain!
There is REST from working to save anybody else. It is true that God has made us to be his chosen people, holy and pleasing to him. It is true that God has called us to be his witnesses wherever we do and whatever we do. It's good for us to get out there and tell people, invite people, comfort people. It is important for us to work. BUT, it's not on us to work faith in their hearts or to save them. The real work, the hard work, the saving work is God's to do. And wonder of wonders, he let's us be part of the way he does it!
Are you bonking? Fill up. Fill up with the good news about the saving work of Jesus.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
One of the things that I've learned about endurance racing is the need to eat and drink throughout the race. Early on in my marathon racing I'd drink very little and eat only at the very end. I used to think that I didn't need to drink anything if I was running anything under 90 minutes. But here's what happened - at least, as I look back: I bonked! It didn't matter what the race, but almost always at the end of a marathon, somewhere around mile 20-21 I'd just crash and have no energy. Why? Because suddenly my fuel for running had to come from body fats instead of from the sugars in gels or energy bars. I bonked because I didn't have fuel in the tank.
It strikes that this is what happens to me as I serve my family, my church and my community. I used to always think that I needed to cut back my activities (and maybe I do). I used to think that the reason I'd get burned out was because I was doing too much (and maybe I was). But it strikes me that the problem wasn't with the activities but WITH ME.
I mean look at Paul. He was constantly on the move. He taught people God's Word by day and made tents by night. One night he preached all night and then went on a road trip when the sun rose. If anyone was too busy with too much going on, I'd say it was him. Yet, Paul - even in prison - overflowed with joy!
Or look at Jesus. His ministry was one of constant movement. Just take his activities on a Sabbath day as Mark tells the story. Jesus taught in the synagogue in the morning. He went back to the house of Peter's mother-in-law where he cared for her. When night came, the whole city came to her doorstep. So, Jesus tired as he was went out to a mountainside to pray...but the crowd chased him down even there when he tried to relax in the arms of his Father and pour out his heart to him. Another time, Jesus wanted to take his disciples away to rest after their missionary journey. Didn't happen. A crowd of 5000 found out where they were and wanted Word service and food service. Yet, Jesus - even when he and his disciples were exhausted - always served with joy.
When I'm tired, when I'm getting burned out and worn out, when I'm bonking in my service to God's people, the problem is with me. And the same is true for you when you're bonking, when you're getting tired and burned out. The problem is with you.
And maybe part of the solution is to cut back in some of the activities that you're doing. It's good for us to remember the truth of God - we're not the savior of the world; the world won't fall apart if we don't get to this or that; it doesn't depend on us! It depends on God and his power, his mercy, his love.
And that, dear family, is the solution. When we get tired, burned out, and begin to bonk we're often depending on ourselves to get it done, to bring success, to figure it out. But it doesn't depend on us. It depends on God! He's our Father who promises to care for us, to love us. He's our Savior who did everything - and I mean everything - to rescue us from sin, death, and hell. He's our Comforter and Guide - who will teach us everything and remind us of everything Jesus said.
The solution is REST, but not necessarily rest from work. REST from working to save ourselves. The good that we do in Jesus' name can't save us. Our salvation is already won and done; won and done for us by the life and death of Jesus. Of this there is no doubt. God loves us and is pleased with us for the sake of Jesus and not because we've worked so hard or because we've done the right thing.
There is REST from working out of fear. Sometimes people will jokingly ask me, "What are you running from? I only run from dogs." We're not running from anything. Satan has been crushed. All our sins have been forgiven. The total debt for all our sins has been paid. There is nothing for us to fear! Our salvation is sure and certain!
There is REST from working to save anybody else. It is true that God has made us to be his chosen people, holy and pleasing to him. It is true that God has called us to be his witnesses wherever we do and whatever we do. It's good for us to get out there and tell people, invite people, comfort people. It is important for us to work. BUT, it's not on us to work faith in their hearts or to save them. The real work, the hard work, the saving work is God's to do. And wonder of wonders, he let's us be part of the way he does it!
Are you bonking? Fill up. Fill up with the good news about the saving work of Jesus.
Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Lost? Set your GPS (The Story - chapter 6)
The Israelites felt like God was doing that. They were wandering around in the wilderness of Sinai and they complained about the food service. They sent in 12 spies to get a sneak peak at the land that God was giving them and they complained that the enemies were too big. They didn't like where their God Positioning System had led them. They would have rather been in Egypt where they were slaves! At least there, they said, we had food and drink. We knew what to expect! "We can't go in and take over that land. Let's go back to Egypt."
They had forgotten where they had come from. And even more than that, they forgot what God had done to bring them out. They quickly forgot God's powerful works on their behalf. They forgot how God had showed himself to be their Savior and their Father.
And they forgot where they were headed. They were headed to the promised land, a land that their spies told them was a land flowing with milk and honey. And even more than the destination they forgot who was going to bring them there. They took their eyes off of God's promise to bring them into this land. They forgot that God could and would do what he had promised. They forgot that God was still their Savior and their Father.
And they forgot why God was doing what he was doing; they forgot God's purpose in all of this. They were God's chosen people with a purpose bigger than the inhabitation of the land of Canaan. They were God's chosen people through whom God had promised, "The Seed will come from you to crush the Serpent's head."
They forgot God's past works for them. They forgot God's promised works for them. They forgot God's purpose for them and through them.
How does this happen to you? How do you forget God's past works in your life? When do the enemies of the land seem bigger than the God who saved you from sin?
How do you forget the promise of God's future to you? When do the enemies of the land and the challenges before you seem bigger than the promises God has given you?
How do you forget your purpose in this world? When are you tempted to forget that you too are God's chosen people to proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light?
It's so easy to do. And so often it happen.
So, set your GPS to the works of God. He's redeemed you from sin, death, and the Devil. He's made you his own child, holy, chosen and precious to him. Set your GPS, your eyes, on the promises of God. He has promised, most of all, to rescue you from your bondage to decay, your bondage to the evils of this world and bring you into his eternal kingdom. Set your GPS, your faith, on the purpose that God has given you. You're here as a witness to the marvels of God's grace so that others will marvel at it too.
Set your GPS on the words, works, and promises of God's Word and you won't get lost because his Word is a lamp for your feet and light for your path (Psalm 119:105).
Here’s how you can get ready for Sunday's Bible study:
- Read The Story, chapter 6.
- And/or Read complete sections about the wandering of the Israelites in Numbers 10-14, 20-21, 25, 27; Deuteronomy 1-2, 4, 6, 8-9, 29-32, 34.
- Answer the study questions below. Write down any additional questions you have.
- Listen to sermon podcast from Crosswalk Lutheran that is addressed to this chapter of The Story: http://www.crosswalkphoenix.com/worship/message-series/the-story.aspx
- Fill out the sermon notes as you listen to the podcast: (same web address)
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Be who you are and do what you do...
From time to time someone will apologize to me about their offerings. I think they think I know what they're giving, how much they're giving and that their giving has changed. People have also expressed a desire to give more and apologized for not giving more.
On the one hand, I think that's awesome. I think it's awesome - and more than that, it's a gift of God that they desire to give large gifts of grace to the work of Christ's church. That is the work of God in their hearts to desire to give offerings, to support the work of the congregation. When God's people express a desire to give to him, I give thanks to God for giving them that desire. That was God's grace to the Macedonian congregations.
But on the other hand, I'm always a little worried because what I hear in the apology is a sense of guilt as if they were sinning by not giving more; I sense some shame because they're not giving like others give; I sense that they don't think they're that valuable to the church because they don't give more money. I'm sad about this.
First of all, there is no guilt! We don't give offerings to God as if there was a transaction taking place, as if we were paying God, as if we were letting God down because we didn't give a bigger offering. The whole debt of our salvation has been paid by Jesus, by his blood on the cross, by his holy precious, blood, by his innocent suffering and death. There is no guilt because all our guilt has been atoned for on the cross.
Second of all, there is no shame or comparison in the body of Christ. God doesn't ask us to give what we don't have! Paul knew that and told the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8:11,12): Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. So, what's Paul saying to you as you give your offerings? Consider all God's gifts to you and give to him from what you have!
On top of that, the reality is that Christ has bound you, the members of his body, to himself and given each of us different gifts, different abilities. He has given some members of his body an amazing ability to support the work of the church. A few people really can carry the work of the church with their offerings. That's awesome! That's God's gift to his people. Thank God that he has blessed some members like that and has given them those gifts.
And then thank him for the gifts he has given you. He's given you gifts to pray for his people, to encourage him people, to serve his people in other ways in addition to your generous offerings.
Romans 12: 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
So, be who you are.
Do what you do.
Give from what you've been given.
It's all God's grace to you in Christ.
On the one hand, I think that's awesome. I think it's awesome - and more than that, it's a gift of God that they desire to give large gifts of grace to the work of Christ's church. That is the work of God in their hearts to desire to give offerings, to support the work of the congregation. When God's people express a desire to give to him, I give thanks to God for giving them that desire. That was God's grace to the Macedonian congregations.
But on the other hand, I'm always a little worried because what I hear in the apology is a sense of guilt as if they were sinning by not giving more; I sense some shame because they're not giving like others give; I sense that they don't think they're that valuable to the church because they don't give more money. I'm sad about this.
First of all, there is no guilt! We don't give offerings to God as if there was a transaction taking place, as if we were paying God, as if we were letting God down because we didn't give a bigger offering. The whole debt of our salvation has been paid by Jesus, by his blood on the cross, by his holy precious, blood, by his innocent suffering and death. There is no guilt because all our guilt has been atoned for on the cross.
Second of all, there is no shame or comparison in the body of Christ. God doesn't ask us to give what we don't have! Paul knew that and told the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 8:11,12): Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. So, what's Paul saying to you as you give your offerings? Consider all God's gifts to you and give to him from what you have!
On top of that, the reality is that Christ has bound you, the members of his body, to himself and given each of us different gifts, different abilities. He has given some members of his body an amazing ability to support the work of the church. A few people really can carry the work of the church with their offerings. That's awesome! That's God's gift to his people. Thank God that he has blessed some members like that and has given them those gifts.
And then thank him for the gifts he has given you. He's given you gifts to pray for his people, to encourage him people, to serve his people in other ways in addition to your generous offerings.
Romans 12: 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
So, be who you are.
Do what you do.
Give from what you've been given.
It's all God's grace to you in Christ.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
God is not a "sir." (Chapter 5 - The Story: The 10 Commandments)
I didn't always feel this way, but I don't like it when my kids address me and say, "yes, sir."
As I grew up and even in my normal interactions with those whom I consider my elder and those for whom I have respect, I address them as "yes, sir" or "yes, ma'am." It's an appropriate and even a good way to address those whom we respect. But when I heard my kids respond to me with a "yes, sir" I cringed just a little bit. I'm glad they address their teachers in that way. I'm glad for them to address a police officer in that way. I'm glad for them to use Mr. and Mrs. in their regular conversations with adults. But I don't want to be a "sir" to my own children.
See, I'm trying (and failing) to pattern the fathering of my children after God's fathering of me. And God isn't "sir" to me, nor does the Bible present him that way to us. God is our Father, the almighty Creator. God is our Redeemer, our Savior, Christ, our brother. God is our Counselor, the Holy Spirit of God. He is all those things. He worthy of our honor and respect. But he is not "sir" to us.
For me "sir" calls to mind images of servitude and maybe even slavery. It calls to mind pictures of fear and terror. It calls to mind fearful obedience not free service. And that's not what our relationship with God is like. He has invited us to walk in a relationship with him. In fact, not only has invited us into that relationship but he has created a way for that relationship to exist through Jesus. Yes, he has even created that relationship with us by giving us faith by the work of the Holy Spirit.
That changes everything for me. As God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, he brought me out of bondage to sin, to death, to the devil's power. As God brought the Israelites through the waters of the Red Sea and so rescued them from Pharaoh's arm, so God has doused all the flaming arrows of the Evil One with the waters of my baptism. God is my Father the one who loves me.
And that's what God called to mind for Israel as they gathered at the base of Mt. Sinai: Exodus 19:4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
God had already created a covenant relationship with his people through the promises made long ago to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob. They walked in a covenant relationship with God - but not because they deserved it or had done a thing. So, here, God makes sure his people already know that they, by his grace, walk in a covenant relationship with him.
And then, then he gives them the 10 Commandments.
God gave his people - and us - the 10 commandments not so that we could get into a relationship with him, not so that we could stay in a relationship with him. No, our relationship with God is totally grace. No, God gave us the 10 Commandments BECAUSE we were in a covenant relationship with him and as a Father he wanted to bless us and guide us as we walk with him in this relationship.
Yes, when we stumble and sin, God hates it.
Yes, God hasn't taken back the simple, clear statement: "The soul who sins is the soul who will die" (Ezekiel 18:4).
But for you and I - who know the good news of the saving work of Jesus, who walk in a relationship with God through faith, who have been brought into this relationship with God, we walk in freedom and joy - as the psalmist says, "I love to run in the paths of your commands for you have set my heart free!" (Psalm 119:32). God is not a sir to us.
And that's why I cringe when my kids call me sir. I'm not saying you're wrong if you want your kids to address you as 'sir' or 'ma'am.' But here's what I want and pray as I father my kids. I want to reflect and show my Father's love to my kids. I want them to know that I'm their dad regardless of their obedience or disobedience, just like God does for me. I do long for them to respect and obey me as we walk together toward heaven. But not because I'm "sir," but because I'm "dad." God grant that to us as we walk with our Father until we join him in heaven.
For the Sunday School teachers:
There are a lot of ways to approach this section of God's Word and the challenge is this, even in just studying the 10 Commandments we have far more than can be covered in a 45 minute lesson. Help the kids imagine the setting and the scene in chapter 19-20. The scene and image is fearful and terrifying, yet at the same time when the people tremble God says, "Don't be afraid."
Perhaps, a focus on the first commandment can suffice here. God demands that he is the only God in the signs he gives his people around the mountain; God commands that they have no other gods; but then they go and do it anyway when they worship the golden calf. We studied the first commandment for three weeks at AF Kids - challenge the kids to see if they know it AND the what does this mean? (Do you know it?). We've been doing the second command for the last two weeks - can they do that one? The meaning is harder for that one.
Have fun with this one. The sights and sounds on Mount Sinai and then afterwards are amazing.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
God - a giver or a taker?
As we begin a conversation about giving and offerings, we have to be able to answer this question: Is God a giver or a taker? If God is demanding, requiring, taking from us, then offerings will be difficult, painful, and hard to give. We will give them with a duplicitous heart because we’re holding something back for ourselves. We’re giving with tight fists (when God told his people to give with open hands); then, we’re not giving with a single-mindedness.
Is God a giver or a taker? All gods of this world, all gods that men have created are takers. Mammon is a taker. Ecclesiastes explains how Mammon and the pursuit of stuff is a taker. It takes our every waking moment to gather it; it takes our every waking moment of desiring it; it takes every moment so that we don’t really get to enjoy it; and then, sometimes, it takes what we have away (think of recession - so many people thought that they had made it when things were good; they bought houses bigger than their wallets and those houses were taken from them. Every god of every false religion is the same.
We can’t walk through this discussion without realizing that God's law does make demands of us. To the one man who worshipped Mammon and found in that god is joy and pleasure, God demanded his life. “This very night your life will demanded of you? Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself” (Lk 12:20). And in that sense, God is a taker.
But is he really? Is he really asking anything of us? No, because it’s all his to begin with. Everything that we are and have is his. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). “The Lord gave and the Lord took away, may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job).
It is the very nature of God to give. He gave Adam and Eve his image in the garden. He gave them the rule, control, and care for all of creation. It was all given to them. Even after they sinned against them, it was God’s nature to give them a promise of rescue from the demands for justice - the taking of their life. He took life from Another in the place of their own life; he pictured that in the taking of life from a passover lamb, an innocent, blemish free lamb. He did it in the person of his Son, whose life he demanded (Isaiah 53:10 - “though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin.”). This is what God demanded. This is what God took.
But that’s why he gave! He GAVE his Son (John 3:16) so that he might GIVE eternal life to all who might believe. God is a giver of the most extreme kind, crazy, extreme, overflowing gifts. Even his own Son. And then more on top of more. “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:16).
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